Objective To investigate toe-brachial index ( TBI) in the diagnosis of peripheral artery disease ( PAD) and its risk factors in the patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods TBI was examined in the 238 patients with type 2 diabetes.The patients were divided into the group with low TBI ( TBI≤0.7 ) and the group with normal ABI ( TBI>0.7 ) .The two groups were compared for clinical parameters.Results Thirty two patients (13.4%)with abnormal ABI (TBI≤0.7) showed older age [(63.8 ±9.9) yrs vs (54.9 ±10.8) yrs, P =0.000] , lower diastolic blood pressure [(70.5 ±6.9) mmHg vs (74.9 ±9.1) mmHg, P =0.003], more frequency of hypertension (56.3%vs 38.3%, P =0.043), coronary artery heart disease (28.7%vs 10.7%, P =0.020) and cere-bral vascular disease (15.6%vs 4.4%, P =0.025).Step-wise analysis screened that age and diastolic blood pressure were the inde-pendent risk factors for TBI .Conclusions Aging and hypertension were the risk factors in the patients with abnormal TBI in type 2 di-abetes.TBI was an easy and economical method for diagnosing PAD in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The core-crosslinked polymeric micelles were used as a new drug delivery system, which can decrease the premature drug release in blood circulation, improve the stability of the micelles, and effectively transport the drug into the therapy sites. Then the drug bioavailability increased further, while the side effect reduced. Most drugs were physically entrapped or chemically covalent with the polymer in the internals of micelles. Based on the various constitutions and properties of polymeric micelles as well as the special characteristics of body microenvironment, the environment-responsive or active targeting core-crosslinked micelles were designed and prepared. As a result, the drug controlled release behavior was obtained. In the present paper, the research progress of all kinds of core-crosslinked micelles which were published in recent years is introduced. Moreover, the characteristic and application prospect of these micelles in drug delivery system are analyzed and summarized.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Cross-Linking Reagents ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Humans ; Micelles ; Molecular Structure ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Particle Size ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; administration & dosage ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Polymers ; chemistry ; metabolism

AIMTo determine the feasibility of establishing the heterologous expression model of human- serotonin transporter(hSERT or 5-HTT).

METHODScRNA of SERT was transcribed from cDNA, which was cloned in the pOTV vector. Each oocyte of mature xenopus laevis was injected with transcribed cRNA in vivo and incubated at room temperature for 4-9 days. Recording the current induced by 5-HT with voltage clamp technique tested the function of the expressed 5-HT transporter.

RESULTSThe transporter current could be observed in Ringer's solution containing 5-HT, and the 5-HT induced current were concentration-dependent. Norepinephrine and dopamine could not induce the transporter current while the 5-HT induced current could be specifically inhibited by 5-HTT blocker, desipramine.

CONCLUSIONThe results demonstrate that the heterologous expression product in xenopus laevis oocytes is human 5-HT transporter.

Animals ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Models, Animal ; Oocytes ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Serotonin ; metabolism ; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Xenopus laevis

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the safety and effectiveness of GreenLight 120-W laser photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) versus transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

METHODSWe searched PubMed, Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, Wanfang, CNKI, and VIP for randomized control trials and their references addressing 120-W PVP versus TURP in the treatment of BPH. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, two reviewers independently accomplished the screening, quality assessment, and data extraction of the identified studies and performed meta-analyses using RevMan 5.2.

RESULTSTotally, 6 randomized control trials were included in this analysis, involving 703 cases, 351 treated by PVP and 352 by TURP. Compared with TURP, PVP showed significantly decreased time of catheterization (by 32. 55 hours, 95% CI 15.3 -49.8, P < 0.01), hospital stay (by 1.85 days, 95% CI 1.2-2.5, P < 0.01), and intraoperative blood loss (by 15.6 g/L, 95% CI 10.0-21.2, P < 0.01), but increased time of operation (by 9.37 minutes, 95% CI 5. 1-13.6, P < 0.01). There was also a significant reduction in blood transfusion, TUR syndrome, and capsular perforation in the PVP group. At 12 months after surgery, no statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in the improvement of maximum urinary flow rate, IPSS, postvoid residual, and sexual function.

CONCLUSIONGreenLight 120-W laser PVP is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of BPH, with similar effectiveness to TURP but less blood loss, shorter time of catheterization and hospital stay, and lower incidences of blood transfusion, TUR syndrome and capsular perforation.

Blood Loss, Surgical ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Prostate ; surgery ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; surgery ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: Electrical stimulation has been recommended as an effective therapy to prevent muscle atrophy after nerve injury. However, the effect of electrical stimulation on the proliferation of satellite cells in denervated muscles has not yet been fully elucidated. This study was aimed to evaluate the changes in satellite cell proliferation after electrical stimulation in nerve injury and to determine whether these changes are related to the restoration of myofiber cross-section area (CSA). METHODS: Sciatic nerve crush injury was performed in 48 male Sprague-Dawley rats. In half (24/48) of the rats, the gastrocnemius was electrically stimulated transcutaneously on a daily basis after injury, while the other half were not stimulated. Another group of 24 male Sprague-Dawley rats were used as sham operation controls without injury or stimulation. The rats were euthanized 2, 4, and 6 weeks later. After 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling, the gastrocnemia were harvested for the detection of paired box protein 7 (Pax7), BrdU, myofiber CSA, and myonuclei number per fiber. All data were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni post-hoc test. RESULTS: The percentages of Pax7-positive nuclei (10.81 ± 0.56%) and BrdU-positive nuclei (34.29 ± 3.87%) in stimulated muscles were significantly higher compared to those in non-stimulated muscles (2.58 ± 0.33% and 1.30 ± 0.09%, respectively, Bonferroni t = 15.91 and 18.14, P < 0.05). The numbers of myonuclei per fiber (2.19 ± 0.24) and myofiber CSA (1906.86 ± 116.51 μm) were also increased in the stimulated muscles (Bonferroni t = 3.57 and 2.73, P < 0.05), and both were positively correlated with the Pax7-positive satellite cell content (R = 0.52 and 0.60, P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the ratio of myofiber CSA/myonuclei number per fiber among the three groups. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that satellite cell proliferation is promoted by electrical stimulation after nerve injury, which may be correlated with an increase in myonuclei number and myofiber CSA.

Objective To evaluate the appearance of CT in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in the recovery phase, and to study the correlation of CT findings with pulmonary function.Methods From June to August in 2003, 100 patient with confirmed SARS accepted examination in our hospital. Among them, 91 patients (39 men, 52 women, mean age 36.4 years, age range 19- 66 years) received CT examination and pulmonary function test on the same day. The interval between SARS onset and the examination ranged from 52 to 125 days (mean 87.4 days). CT appearances of pulmonary parenchymal abnormalities including distribution and extent of involvement were quantitatively analyzed, and four levels on CT scan including the aortic arch, the tracheal carina, the pulmonary venous confluence, and the dome of right diaphragm were selected to score the lesions. The correlation of CT scores with the results of pulmonary function tests was studied.Results Of the 91 cases, 47 patients had normal CT appearance in the recovery phase, whereas the other 44 patients still had parenchymal abnormalities, including residual ground-glass opacification and reticular shadow. CT visual score had correlation with DLco% ( r =-0.618, P

AIMTo establish a method to determine the isotope ratios of 13C to 12C of dehydroepiandrosterone and its metabolites in urine, for detecting the source of dehydroepiandrosterone or its metabolites.

METHODSPreliminary separation of endogenous anabolic androgenic steroids could be achieved using solid phase extraction, enzymolysis and thin layer chromatography. The source of dehydroepiandrosterone and other endogenous anabolic androgenic steroids could be detected by their delta values with gas chromat ography-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry.

RESULTSThe 5 values of some metabolites of dehydroepiandrosterone reduced after the administration of dehydroepiandrosterone preparation. In these cases the data indicated that exogenous anabolic androgenic steroids were administrated.

CONCLUSIONThe source of dehydroepiandrosterone or its metabolites in urine could be detected by measuring their delta values with this method.

Adult ; Androstane-3,17-diol ; urine ; Androsterone ; urine ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; methods ; Dehydroepiandrosterone ; metabolism ; Doping in Sports ; Etiocholanolone ; urine ; Female ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnanetriol ; urine ; Substance Abuse Detection ; methods

OBJECTIVETo quantify human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) DNA in the blood and urine of infants of different ages with suspected HCMV infection, and in the breast milk of their mothers, and to evaluate the significance of HCMV DNA detection in the three specimen types in the diagnosis of HCMV infection among infants of different ages.

METHODSA total of 170 infants with suspected HCMV infection were divided into groups A (<28 days; n=43) and B (28 days to 5 months; n=127) according to their ages. Blood and urine were collected from the infants, and breast milk was collected from their mothers. The specimens were examined by fluorescence quantitative PCR for detection of HCMV DNA.

RESULTSIn group A, HCMV DNA detection rates in blood, urine and breast milk were 65.1%, 18.6% and 93.0% respectively. In group B, HCMV DNA detection rates in blood, urine and breast milk were 64.6%, 92.9% and 72.4% respectively. HCMV DNA detection rate in urine in group B was significantly higher than in group A (P<0.01), however, HCMV DNA detection rate in mothers' breast milk in group B was significantly lower than in group A (P<0.01). Among the 82 infants with positive results for blood and urine, the copy number of HCMV DNA in urine was significantly higher than that in blood.

CONCLUSIONSHCMV DNA detection rates in urine and breast milk are different among infants of different ages, so use of suitable specimens according to age is of great significance for improving detection rate.

Animals ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; diagnosis ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; blood ; urine ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Milk, Human ; virology ; Pregnancy

In the present study, isoelectronic focusing with different pH gradients (pH 3-5, 2-6) or migrating distances (8.5, 12 and 17 cm) and SDS-PAGE was used to separate continuous erythropoietin receptor activator (CERA), recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO), darbepoetin and endogenous EPO spiked in human urine with 37 degrees C overnight incubation. Double blotting and chemiluminescent visualization were used to detect the IEF and SDS-PAGE profiles. The bands of CERA profile were detected and well separated from the endogenous EPO and the other two EPO preparations with both SDS-PAGE and the IEF method using a gradient pH 3-5 and a migrating distance of 17 cm, and a significant particular band of CERA profile was found in the IEF result. These preliminary results indicated that the methods were reliable and reproducible for detecting CERA, and could be used as a routine procedure for anti-doping analysis.
Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Erythropoietin ; urine ; Humans ; Isoelectric Focusing ; methods ; Polyethylene Glycols ; Recombinant Proteins

Objective To evaluate interventional therapy for biliary stricture (BS) after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Methods The efficacy of interventional therapy for BS after OLT from Oct 2003 to Jan 2006 was analyzed retrospectively. Fifty-three patients received 107 times of interventional therapy through endoscopic retrograde cholangiography ( ERC) which included 68 nasobiliary catheter placements,26 biliary balloon dilatations and stent placements and 13 ERC. Nine patients received 11 times of interventional therapy through percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography ( PTC) including 2 PTC, 7 percutaneous drainages,3 biliary balloon dilatations and 1 biliary stent replacement. One patient received bile drainage through T tube. Results The success rate of ERC was 88. 8% (95/107) , that of nasobiliary catheter placement 94% (64/68) , biliary stent placement 88. 5% (23/26). The success rate of PTC was 81. 8% (9/11) , that of percutaneous drainage was 100% (7/7) , biliary stent replacement 100% (1/1). The curative rate of interventional therapy for 53 patients with BS was 28. 3% (15/53) ,the improvement rate was 41. 5% (22/53). The curative rate of interventional therapy for anastomotic, extrahepatic, intrahepatic hilar and diffuse BS was respectively 66. 7% (4/6)、66. 7% (10/15)、50% (1/2)、0 (0/7) and 0 (0/22). Conclusions The efficacy of interventional therapy for BS after OLT was not satisfactory. The result relates to the type of BS, for anastomotic, extrahepatic and solitary intrahepatic BS this therapy was effective, while that for hilar and diffuse BS the prognosis was poor.