Objective To perform a spatial analysis of myocardium uhrastructure and the activity of mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase in sub-acute Keshan disease. Methods Myocardium samples were collected from the cases with sub-acute Keshan disease and non-myocarditis(control), and their ultrastructure was observed under electron microscope. The density of mitochondrion volume and cristal membrane and its volume were measured by a point-counting method, while mitochondrion volume was estimated by water displacement method, succinate dehydrogenase activity of mitochondrion by iron-copper method in sub-acute Keshan disease and non-myocarditis cases. Results The volume ratio of mitochondrion to the cell on myoeardium [(47.79±6.20)%], the area ratio of mitochondrion to sarcoplasm [(55.06±6.50) %], mitochondrion to myofibrils [(1.43±0,41)%], mitochondrion section area[(0.78±0.15)μm2], and ratio of the lesion of cristal membrane area to the matrix area and mitochondrion volume[(67.14±13.96)%, (44.62±13.44)%]in sub-acute Keshan disease group were obviously higher than those in control [(33.20±7.62)%, (38.07±9.43)%, (0.71±0.33)%, (0.44±0.07)μm2, (14.11± 12.51)%, (9.34±11.28)%; t = 3.75,7.93,6.61,36.40,52.65,37.51, all P < 0.05]. The volume ratio of myofibrils to cell[(34.52±5.12)%]and the area ratio of cristae mitochondria to matrix[(32.43±14.42)%]in sub-acute Keshan disease group was obviously less than those in control [(48.51±4.30)%, (86.04±12.37)%; t = 9.85, 53.46, both P < 0.05)]. Succinate dehydrogenase activity was negative in sub-acute Keshan disease group. Conclusions Myocardium ultrastructure changes in sub-acute Keshan disease including the increase of volume and areas of mitochondria and the damage of the cristal membrane in mitochondria. Succinate dehydrogenase activity is decreased or even disappeared.

AIMTo explore the adapting metabolic mechanisms of the plateau zokors to the hypoxic-hypercapnic environment.

METHODSThe activities of lactate dehydrogenase in serum and tissues, and the content of lactate in serum of plateau zokors in spring, summer and autumn were determined by using method of enzyme analysis. The spectrums of lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in serum and tissues of plateau zokors in spring, summer and autumn were analyzed by using method of the discontinuous systemic poly-acrylamide perpendicular plank gel electrophoresis.

RESULTSThe activities of lactate dehydrogenase in serum had obvious seasonally difference that were higher in spring and lower in autumn, and the content of lactate in serum showed same changing pattern. The spectrums of lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in serum showed five bands that were LDH1, LDH2, LDH3, LDH4 and LDH5 from positive pole to negative pole respectively, it showed clearly two bands in serum of summer that were LDH4 and LDH5 and one band in serum of autumn that was LDH5. The activities of LDH in tissues of skeleton muscle, cardiac muscle and brain were higher compared with the other tissues, it decreased markedly from spring to summer to autumn. In tissues of liver, kidney and lungs, activities of LDH were lower. Activities of LDH in livers, were significantly higher in spring compared that in summer and autumn, which had no obvious difference between summer and autumn. Activities of LDH in kidneys and lungs, showed no obviously difference between spring and summer, which decreased markedly in autumn. The spectrums of lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in tissues of cardiac muscle, liver, lungs, kidney, brain and skeleton muscle showed five bands, the spectrums were obvious different in different tissues, and the content of LDH isoenzymes showed seasonal changes in different tissues.

CONCLUSIONGlycolysis levels in plateau zokors had obvious seasonally change which increased in spring and decreased in autumn significantly. It related to the activity of plateau zokors in different seasons and seasonal fluctuation of oxygen and carbon dioxide in burrows of plateau zokors.

Animals ; Carbon Dioxide ; metabolism ; Isoenzymes ; analysis ; metabolism ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; analysis ; metabolism ; Rodentia ; metabolism ; Seasons

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between the polymorphism of thromboxane synthase gene (CYP5A1) and myocardial infarction (MI) of Uigur nationality patients in Xinjiang.

METHODSRs10487667 site polymorphism in CYP5A1 gene of 318 patients with MI (MI group) and 232 healthy control subjects (control group) were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. The serum thromboxane B(2)(TXB(2)) concentration was also detected in all subjects. The relationship of multiple factors and myocardial infarction was evaluated comprehensively by non-condition logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSThe frequencies of CYP5A1 gene Rs10487667 site polymorphism in MI group and control group were: GG type 0.204 (65/318) and 0.155 (36/232), GT type 0.553 (176/318) and 0.466 (106/232), TT type 0.242 (77/318) and 0.379 (88/232), respectively. There was significant difference in frequencies of GG genotype (χ(2) = 12.193, P = 0.002) between two groups and G allele frequency in MI group (0.481 (306/636)) was significant higher than control group (0.388 (180/464)) (χ(2) = 9.449, P = 0.021), but no difference in frequencies of GT and TT genotypes (χ(2) = 0.699, P > 0.05)between controls and MI cases. There was significant difference in serum TXB(2) level between MI ((184.3 ± 34.7) pg/ml) and control ((124.3 ± 28.1) pg/ml) groups (t = 5.503, P = 0.034). In the case and control group, the serum TXB(2) level of the person with GT + GG genotype ((164.21 ± 22.56) and (134.26 ± 19.83) pg/ml)) was significant higher than those of TT genotypes ((113.67 ± 54.23) and (98.54 ± 13.11) pg/ml) (t values were 5.433 and 5.108, respectively, both P values < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that the T allele of the CYP5A1 gene was one independent risk factor of MI (OR = 1.673, 95%CI: 1.020 - 2.156) after adjustment of risk factors.

CONCLUSIONRs10487667 polymorphism in CYP5A1 gene might be a risk factor of MI in Uigur population in Xinjiang, which maybe related with the significant high serum TXB(2) level.

Alleles ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Ethnic Groups ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Thromboxane B2 ; blood ; Thromboxane-A Synthase ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between the polymorphism of the thromboxane synthase gene and Uigur patients with myocardial infarction (MI) in Xinjiang.

METHODSThree hundred and fifteen patients with MI and 218 healthy control subjects were detected by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. The serum thromboxane B2 (TXB2) in all subjects was detected with radioimmunoassay kit.

RESULTSThe genotype distributions of the MI group and control group were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (Chi-square=0.375,0.029, P>0.05). The frequencies of CC and TC were 0.933 and 0.067 in MI group while they were 0.977 and 0.023 in controls. There was significant difference in frequencies of the TC genotype and T allele but no difference in frequencies of CC genotype between controls and MI cases. There was significant difference in serum TXB2 level between the MI and control group (P<0.05), and between individuals of the TC and CC genotypes (P<0.05). The serum TXB2 level in the MI cases with TC genotype was increased compared with that of other genotypes (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe TC genotype and T allele of thromboxane synthase gene might be risk factors of MI in Uigur population in Xinjiang, which might result from the increased serum TXB2 level.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; ethnology ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation, Missense ; Myocardial Infarction ; blood ; enzymology ; ethnology ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Thromboxane B2 ; blood ; Thromboxane-A Synthase ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the application value of magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) combined with routine T2WI sequence in the determination of pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant therapy for rectal cancer.

METHODSClinical data of 51 cases with locally advanced mid-low rectal cancer undergoing neoadjuvant therapy plus radical resection in the Rectal Cancer Center at The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from June 2012 to April 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. Magnetic resonance DWI and T2WI sequences scanning were performed within 1 week before neoadjuvant therapy and within 1 week before operation. Routine single T2WI sequence and DWI combined with T2WI sequence were used separately to predict the residual tumor and to compare with postoperative pathological examination. The prediction values of two methods were compared.

RESULTSOf 51 patients, 12 cases had pathological complete response (pCR). Prediction of DWI combined T2WI sequence was correct in 8 cases of pCR, whose sensitivity and specificity were higher than those of routine single T2WI sequence (66.7%, 94.9% vs. 33.3%, 84.6%). Prediction value of DWI combined T2WI sequence for pCR was significantly higher as compared to routine single T2WI sequence (AUC, 0.808 vs. 0.590, P=0.001).

CONCLUSIONCompared with the routine single T2WI sequence, DWI combined with T2WI sequence can improve the prediction accuracy of pathological complete response.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Rectal Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the chromium (Cr) levels in blood and urine among general population in China between 2009 and 2010, and thereby to analyze its prevalent features.

METHODSFrom year 2009 to 2010, a total of 11 983 subjects of general population aged between 6 and 60 year-old were recruited from 24 districts in 8 provinces in eastern, central and western China mainland, by cluster random sampling method. The information about their living environment and health status were collected by questionnaire, and 11 983 blood samples and 11 853 urine samples were also collected. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was applied to test the Cr level both in blood and urine; and the Cr distribution in blood and urine among groups of population in different ages, genders and districts, were then analyzed.

RESULTSAmong general population in China, the geometric mean (GM) of Cr concentration in blood was 1.19 µg/L, with median at 1.74 µg /L and 95% percentile at 5.59 µg/L. The Cr concentration in blood among males and females were separately 1.18 µg/L and 1.20 µg/L(P > 0.05); while its GM in the groups of population aged 6 - 12, 12 - 16, 16 - 20, 20 - 30, 30 - 45 and 45 - 60 years old were 1.00, 1.22, 1.01, 1.40, 1.27 and 1.30 µg/L (P < 0.01), respectively; and the figures in populations from eastern, central and western China were 1.00, 1.70 and 1.98 µg/L (P < 0.01), respectively. Among general population, the GM of Cr concentration in urine was 0.53 µg/L, with median was lower than 0.42 µg/L and 95% percentile at 3.53 µg/L. The Cr concentration in urine among males and females were separately 0.52 µg/L and 0.53 µg/L (P > 0.05);while its GM in the groups of population aged 6 - 12, 12 - 16, 16 - 20, 20 - 30, 30 - 45 and 45 - 60 years old were 0.56, 0.60, 0.52, 0.50, 0.52 and 0.46 µg/L (P < 0.01), respectively;and the figures in populations from eastern, central and western China were 0.58, < 0.42 and 0.60 µg/L (P < 0.01), respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe study reported the Cr levels in blood and urine among general population in China, and thereby provided basic data evidence for the following Cr biological monitoring studies in near future.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; China ; Chromium ; blood ; urine ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Population Surveillance ; Young Adult