Choristoma ; Ear Diseases ; Female ; Glioma ; Humans ; Mastoid ; Middle Aged

Objective To investigate the reliability of a novel rating scale, unified multiple system atrophy rating scale, section Ⅰ(UMSARS-Ⅰ) in the evaluation of illness severity in patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA). Methods A retrospective analysis and a prospective follow-up study were conducted by using UMSARS-Ⅰ in 46 patients with MSA, and the Schwab and England scale was employed and illness severity was graded. The reliability, validity and sensitivity to change of UMSARS-Ⅰ in evaluating the illness severity of MSA were estimated. Results UMSARS-Ⅰ enjoyed high internal consistency (standard Crohnbach's ?=0.88) and sound content, criterion-related, construct and discriminant validity in the evaluation of illness severity of MSA, and a moderate sensiti-vity to change was found(effect size=0.61). Conclusion UMSARS-Ⅰ is a reliable and multidimensional semi-quantitative scale in the measurement of severity and progression of impairment in MSA.

Deafness ; complications ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Osteochondrodysplasias ; complications ; Rhinitis ; complications ; Sinusitis ; complications

Adult ; Aged ; Copper ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mining ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology

Objective To investigate the association of angiotensinogen(AGT)gene A-6G、T174M and G-217A polymorphisms with the risk of essential hypertension(EH)in the elderly of Han nationality.Methods Genotypes of AGT gene A-6G,T174M and G-217A polymorphisms in 177 aged EH patients and 86 sex and age-matched controls were analyzed with gene chip technology.Results The A-6G and T174M polymorphisms of AGT gene were significantly associated with EH.The numbers of the three genotypes of A-6G were 113,58 and 6 in the patient group and 70,15 and 1 in the control group(P= 0.014)and those of T174M were 94,77 and 6,60,25 and 1(P=0.031),respectively.G-217A polymorphism was not related to EH.Individuals carrying A-6G AA and T174M CC genotypes showed 57% and 56% lower risk of EH(OR=0.43;95%CI=0.23-0.82 and OR=0.44;95%CI=0.25-0.79, respectively).Conclusions The A-6G AA and the T174M CC genotype may be related with decreased risk of EH and G-217A polymorphism may have little role in the etiology of EH in Han nationality.

Objective To analyze the electrocardiography(ECG)data of pressure overload-induced cardiac hy pertrophy rats.Methods Pressure overload cardiac hypertrophy was induced by abdominal aorta constriction. Echocardiogram and heart weight measurement demonstrated the occurrence of cardiac hypertrophy.Standardized ECG parameters of limb and chest were measured and statistically analyzed.Results Two weeks after hypertrophy models were established,echocardiogram showed greater LVPWTd,IVSTd,LVDd.ECG showed that left axis deviation and higher R waves in V_A,V_B,V_C(P

Objective To explore the best time point for the ipsilateral hepatocellular apoptosis and the contralateraI hepatic hypertrophy after selective portal vein embolization(SPVE)in rabbit.Methods In a randomized study design,forty rabbits were divided into 5 groups with 8 rabbits per-group,including one as the control and the other 4 were treated with SPVE during open surgery.The rabbits were killed postoperatively,in 3,7,14,21 days respectively after the embolization.The hepatic lobes volume,the ipsilateral hepatocellular necrosis rates and apoptosis index,and liver functions were determined as well. Results In the treatment groups,the average amount of the right liver volumes decreased from 46.4 cm~3 preoperatively to 46.0,44.4,42.0,39.7 cm~3 in groups of 3,7,14,21 days postoperatively;meanwhile,the left liver volumes increased from 54.0 cm~3 preoperatively to 54.5,56.3,61.7,63.9 cm~3 respectively during 3, 7,14,21 days after the procedures.The rates of future remaining live volumes(FRLV)increased from 53.8% preoperatively to 54.2%,55.9%,59.0%,61.0% at 3,7,14,21 days postoperatively.The apoptosis indexes of hepatocells from group A to E were 8.1%,12.2%,19.4%,20.1%,14.2% respectively.Conclusions SPVE leads to atrophy of the ipsilateral hepatic lobe and hypertrophy of contralateral lobe,indicating that hepatocytes undergone apoptosis,rather than necrosis.The time point is 7 to 14 days.

Animals ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; physiology ; RNA, Small Interfering ; physiology ; RNA, Untranslated ; physiology

Obesity is an established risk factor for endometrial cancer. Leptin, a secreted protein of the ob gene by white adipose tissue, plays an important role in the regulation of food intake and energy consumption in the brain and acts as a potential growth stimulator in normal and neoplastic cancer cells. However, a direct role for leptin in endometrial cancer has not been demonstrated. In the present study, the effect of leptin on the proliferation of Ishikawa endometrial cancer cells was investigated as well as the possible mechanism(s) underlying this action in endometrial cancers which express both short and long isoforms of leptin receptors. The expression of leptin receptor (ObRb) in Ishikawa cells was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting. The cells after serum starvation, were treated by leptin with various concentrations (0, 10, 50, 100, 150 ng/mL) for different durations (6, 12, 24 h). The effect of leptin treatment on cell proliferation was examined by MTT assay. Meanwhile, inhibitory effect of Janus tyrosine kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) inhibitor AG490 or extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) inhibitor PD98059 on the proliferation of Ishikawa cells induced by leptin was also studied. Ishikawa cells were treated with 100 ng/mL leptin for various periods (0, 20, 40, 60 min), and the levels of STAT3 phosphorylation and ERK1/2 phosphorylation were examined by Western blotting. The results showed that leptin induced the phosphorylation of STAT3 and the activation of ERK1/2 in a time- and dose-dependent manner in the Ishikawa endometrial cancer cells. Blocking STAT3 phosphorylation with the inhibitor AG490, or blocking ERK1/2 activation by the specific ERK1/2 kinase inhibitor, PD98059, abolished leptin-induced proliferation of Ishikawa cells. In addition, leptin was found to potently induce the invasion of endometrial cancer cells in a Matrigel invasion assay. Leptin-stimulated invasion was effectively blocked by pharmacological inhibitors of STAT3 (AG490) and ERK1/2 kinase (PD98059). These results suggested that leptin promotes endometrial cancer growth and invasiveness by activating STAT3 and ERK1/2 signaling pathways and therefore blocking its action at the receptor level can be a rational therapeutic strategy.

Objective To explore the methods and clinical value of transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) in detecting rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumor(GIST) with head scanning probe.Methods A total of 12 patients had the ultrasonic examination through the rectum with the head scanning probe.Preoperative ultrasonic findings were compared with the pathological results.Results Of the 12 patients,the patients were divided into three groups,including 3 cases with low-degree severity,6 cases with moderate-degree severity and 6 cases with high-degree severity.The lymph node metastasis was not found near intestines.Rectal GIST appeared as a hypoechoic mass with clear limit、regular form and expanded growth under TRUS.The CDFI showed abundant flow in the tumor and TRUS had an overall accuracy rate of 75.0%(9/12)in the diagnosis of rectal GIST.The accuracy of TRUS in the staging diagnosis of rectal GIST was 83.3%(10/12).Conclusion The TRUS with the head scanning probe is of great value for pre-operative diagnosis and staging of rectal GIST.Rectal water window and felicitous check-up technique can enhance the accuracy of TRUS.