Objective To retrospectively investigate the effect of finasteride on bone mineral density in elderly patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).Methods 120 elderly patients with BPH were retrospective studied in our hospital,and grouped into the finasteride group and the control group according to taking finasteride or not.Bone mineral density in all patients was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry at baseline and 12-15 months after follow-up,and peripheral blood was collected for measuring serum biochemical indicators including calcium,phosphorus,creatinine and alkaline phosphatase (ALP).Results There were no significant differences in indexes of bone mineral density,serum calcium,phosphorus,creatinine and ALP between the finasteride group and the control group.Conclusions Finasteride may not increase the risk of osteoporosis in elderly patients with BPH.

Objective To analyze and compare the Eucommia ulmoides leaves from different producing areas by IR;To establish a TLC method for identification of Eucommia ulmoides leaves;To provide a reference for its quality control. Methods The characteristic absorption peaks were identified and the positions and intensities of Eucommia ulmoides leaves from 6 producing areas were compared by IR and second derivative spectrum, including clustering analysis; Separation and identification of the active components in Eucommia ulmoides leaves were conducted by TLC. Results There a difference exited in the characteristic absorption peaks in peakshapes, positions and intensities. And the samples from 6 producing areas could be divided into one category. Results found 6 batches of sample spots of consistent by TLC, but between samples of different producing areas trace components spots existed differences. Conclusion The two methods are direct, simple, fast and convenient, which can provide a reliable evidence for identification and quality control of the Eucommia ulmoides leaves.

Ahigh-resolutionmethodforhumanleukocyteantigen-B(HLA-B)genotypingwasestablished based on the optimized polymerase chain reaction, cloning and sequencing technology. The exon2 and exon3 of HLA-B gene were amplified with primers based on the HLA-B gene sequence. These produced heterozygous alleles were effectively cloned into plasmid DNA based on the principle of plasmid incompatibility, and were followed by bacterial culture. Then Sanger sequencing was carried out and after analyzing the result by software ClustalX2 and IMTG/HLA database comparison, the HLA-B genotype of the samples was achieved. Seven clinical samples were detected, and the results were consistent with those of PCR-SBT genotyping method. The method was cost-effective, high-resolution and it did not require technical software. The use of universal primers simplified the cumbersome design and optimization process of specific primers.

Objective To investigate the reliability of Berg Balance Scale (BBS) applied in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods 121 PD inpatients from March to December, 2011 were assessed with BBS by 2 raters, and the testing procedure was videoed. One of the raters assessed with BBS via video 4 weeks later. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Kappa coefficient between raters and between tests were investigated. Results The ICC was 1.00 of the total score between raters and 0.99 between tests, while the Kappa co-efficient were 0.66 to 0.93 and 0.69 to 0.99 of the items. Conclusion BBS is reliable in interrater and test-retest as applied in PD patients.

AIM: The purpose of the present study was to detect intracellular Ca 2+ changes in living brain slices during focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) and reveal the role of intracellular Ca 2+ in the cerebral I/R injury. METHODS: The model of focal cerebral I/R was established in rats by reversible inserting a nylon thread, and dynamic change of intracellular Ca 2+ in brain slices was determined using laser confocal imaging system. RESULTS: ① Ca 2+ gradually enhanced with increase in ischemic time in cortex and striatum. ②At 1 h ischemia/ 10 min reperfusion, Ca 2+ increased significantly in striatum, but Ca 2+ decreased at 3 h reperfusion compared with 10 min reperfusion. ③ Ca 2+ markedly enhanced at 6 h ischemia compared with 1 h ischemia, and after 3 h reperfusion Ca 2+ decreased, but was still higher than that in sham-operation group. ④The striatum is more sensitive than cortex to ischemia/reperfusion. CONCLUSION: Ca 2+ overload in the area of cortex and striatum may play an important role in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.

Pyrosequencing is one of the important genetic polymorphism detection methods currently, but the complicated pretreatment procedure limits its application in clinical test. To simplify the whole process of pyrosequencing, on the basis of the linear_after_the_exponential_polymerase chain reaction ( LATE_PCR) , we improved the primer design method of LATE_PCR, increased the length and the concentration of the excess primer, applied direct amplification technology with whole blood, and established a whole blood_imLATE_PCR method based on common rTaq polymerase and “HpH Buffer” ( High pH buffer ) . The amplification system was optimized, and the influences of blood anticoagulant and the amount of whole blood template were investigated. The single stranded template for the pyrosequencing was obtained by PCR amplification using a single tube in one_step process, and the alcohol dehydrogenase gene polymorphisms of 24 clinical blood samples were then detected successfully. The results could be used to guide clinical individualized medication. The genotypes of ADH1B locus of 24 samples were 6 cases of AA homozygote, 14 cases of AG heterozygote, and 4 cases of GG homozygote. The genotypes of ADH1C were 20 cases of GG homozygote, 4 cases of AG heterozygote, and no cases of AA homozygote.

Objective To detect serum levels of thyroid hormones in patients with thyroid nodules (TN), and investi-gate their relationship with the nature of TN. Methods A total of 245 patients with TN were recruited in the study. Accord-ing to levels of thyroid antibodies and postoperative pathological results, all patients were divided into nodular goiter (NG) group, thyroid adenoma (TA) group and thyroid cancer (TC) group. TC group was further classified as the TC with increased level of thyroid antibodies (TC-AB+group) and the TC with normal level of thyroid antibodies (TC-AB-group). The serum levels of free T3 (FT3), free T4 (FT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were detected for all patients before operation, and differences of thyroid hormones were analyzed between different groups. Results The serum level of TSH was signifi-cantly higher in TC group than that of NG group and TA group (P<0.05). The serum level of FT3 was significantly lower in TC-AB+group than that of NG group and TC-AB-group. The serum level of FT4 was significantly lower in TC-AB+group than that of NG group, and the serum TSH level was significantly higher than that of other groups (P<0.05). Conclusion The increased serum levels of TSH were found in some patients with TC, which may partly attribute to their coexistence with autoimmune thyroiditis and subsequent hypothyroidism. The increased serum TSH level may not be the inherent characteris-tics of TC.

Objective Acquiring genetic information of Y-SNPs and Y-STRs genetic makers from samples with the surname of Kong, which is useful for exploring the correlation between surname and Y chromosome in forensic applications studies.Methods Two multiplex genotyping assays and SNaPshot assay were used to analyze 255 unrelated male blood samples who share the same surname Kong and 330 unrelated male blood samples obtained randomly. 17 Y-STRs were typed for the surname Kong population samples. The software Arlequin 3.5.1.2 and the program Network 4.6.1.1 were used for data statistical analysis.Results 13 haplogroups were observed. The highest haplogroup frequency in the two populations were O3a2c1a-M117 (21.57%, 14.85%). 196 haplotypes in Kong population deifned by 17 Y-STRs locus were obtained and the haplotype diversity was 0.9939. 14-12-25-28-19-15-12-19-12-11-12-22-12-11-14-10-19 is the typical haplotype. Median Joining algorithm and Mismatch Distribution were adopted to analyze the Y-STR haplotye under haplogroup O3-M122, and the result shows that there are two “central star” distribution. Conclusion Combined with Y-SNP and Y-STR analysis showed that the Kong population had experienced complicated exchanges and expansion or continued growth, which has more than one surname origin. Hence, its population genetic structure and historical differences have potential applications in forensic science.

Objective:To investigate frequency of blood stasis syndrome(BSS) defined by traditional Chinese medicine in cerebral infarction and its correlations with carotid atherosclerotic plaque(CAP).Methods: All subjects comprised 151 patients aged 40 to 80 years(Mean ? SD age,65 ?11 years) with 67.9% for males and 32.1% for females.With the use of ACUSON7 color Doppler ultrasound,carotid atherosclerosis was evaluated by the plaque score,the left plaque score,the right plaque score,the numbers of the plaque respectively as defined by the sum of all plaque heights in bilateral carotid arteries.On the basis of neurological signs and symptoms,medical history,and brain MRI,we diagnosed stroke and its subtypes as follows: stroke(n=117),and vertebrobasilar insufficiency(VBI)(n=34) without the history of the stroke,which were based on Diagnostic Criteria for Cerebral Vascular Diseases in 2005.Diagnosis for syndromes defined by traditional Chinese medicine were made according to Diagnostic Criteria for Stroke in 1994.One-way ANOVA was used in comparison between groups,and multivariant Logistic Regression Analysis was conferred in correlations between several variables.Results: 47.0% of all cases with cerebral infarction presented the BSS,with as lower than syndrome of fire-heat(51.0%),as but significantly higher than syndrome of Qi deficiency(32.0%),liver-wind syndrome(27.0%),phlegm syndrome(23.0%) and syndrome of asthenic yin causing predominant yang(6.0%).There is a significant difference between groups for 44(79.0%) cases of 56 patients with cerebral infarction and the BSS have CAP,and only 35(57.0%) cases of 61 patients with cerebral infarction but without the BSS have CAP(P

This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 1 case of spermatic cord leiomyosarcoma admitted to the urology department of the Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical College. The clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis was discussed with the literature review. Radical resection of the left testicle and high ligation of the left spermatic cord were performed. Postoperative pathology was spermatic cord leiomyosarcoma. Its clinical manifestations are painless masses, which are mainly confirmed by pathological examination. The treatment is mainly radical resection, and postoperative radiotherapy can improve the prognosis and reduce recurrence.