Antiviral Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; complications ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Mental Disorders ; complications ; Middle Aged

Objective To investigate the incidence of Keshan disease(KSD) in Shandong province and to supply evidence for scientific control of the disease.Methods According to the scheme of KSD monitoring in Shandong province,the KSD cases were searched in 7 counties,and representative 3 counties and 6 villages were selected as key monitoring sites.In each site,about 420 residents were checked by asking detailed disease history,physical examination,and electrocardiography (ECG) tracings.Suspected cardiac abnormalities were taken chest posteroanterior X-ray film.At the same time,residents hair and food samples were collected to detect selenium levels in internal and external environments,and residents' income and per capita share of grain and other basic information were collected.Results ①Two hundred and fifty-nine medical units were searched,1132 cases of myocardial disease were found out and 638 suspected cases were identified and 142 chronic KSD cases were diagnosed.②In the 6 monitoring sites,2538 residents were surveyed and 91 cases of KSD were detected(of which 77 cases of potential,14 cases of chronic),the detection rate was 3.58％.A total of 2127 residents were traced ECG and the incidence of abnormal ECG was 24.5％ (521/2127),of which ST-T changes,T-wave changes,sinus bradycardia,sinus arrhymia,sinus tachycardia,and atrial premature beats et al were more common.Of the 75 X-ray films,39 cases had enlarged heart(in which 21 of mild,13 of moderate,5 of severe).③A total of 406 hair and grain samples were collected,respectively,and the selenium content of hair was approaching the level of appropriate,and the selenium content of food was still low.The annual per capita incomes of each site were between 3000 - 5900 Yuan,and residents main staple food was flour.Conclusions KSD in Shandong province is in a relatively stable situation.But latent and chronic KSD cases can still be detected.The internal environment selenium levels are elevated since the local living standards and dietary nutrition are improved.

Objective To observe the electrocardiogram changes of threatened crowds in Keshan disease (KSD) endemic area in Shandong province. Methods In 2008,inhabitants from 21 villages of Zoucheng,Sishui,Tengzhou, Yishui, Pingyi, Wulian, Juxian and Qingzhou regions were selected as subjects undergoing electrocardiogram. No less than 100 people were chosen from each village and the examination rate was not lower than 85%. Results Among the 3378 inhabitants investigated,460 cases showed abnormal electrocardiogram and the total incidence of abnormal electrocardiogram was 13.62% (460/3378). The relatively high incidence was T-wave changes,QRS low voltage and ST-T changes,the detection rate being respectively 2.69% (91/3378), 1.92% (65/3378) and 1.72% (41/3378). The highest incidence of abnormal electrocardiogram (26.76%,55/213),the intermediate(21.50%,43/200) and the lowest(5.50%,12/218) was respectively found in Pingyi,Qingzhou and Sishui. Conclusions The threatened crowds in KSD endemic area in Shandong province are still in a state of high abnormal electrocardiogram detection,and electrocardiogram is of great value in the evaluation of KSD patients.

OBJECTIVETo explore the influence of Chinese medicine constitution type on the susceptibility of hypertensive patients to intracerebral haemorrhage.

METHODSPrimary hypertensive patients were studied and divided into the hypertension and the hypertensive intracerebral haemorrhage groups, depending on whether or not the patients had intracerebral haemorrhage. The demographic characteristics, physiological characteristics, living habits, biochemical tests, other chronic diseases, Chinese medicine constitution type, etc. were collected and compared between the two groups. The neurological deficit in the hypertensive intracerebral haemorrhage group was also compared among the different constitution types.

RESULTSA total of 304 patients participated in this investigation, including 213 cases in the hypertension group and 91 cases in the hypertensive intracerebral haemorrhage group. The percentages of dampness-heat and qi-depression types in the intracerebral haemorrhage group were greater than those with the same types in the hypertension group (20.9% vs 6.1%, 22.0% vs 8.0%; P<0.05). The percentages of each constitution type were different between genders in both groups. In addition, there were more male cases (14/20) with qi-depression type and more female cases (7/8) with phlegm-dampness type in the hypertensive intracerebral haemorrhage group than those with the same types (3/17 and 9/34, respectively) in the hypertension group (P<0.05). The cases with phlegm-dampness and qi-depression types had greater levels of blood lipids in the intracerebral haemorrhage group than those with the same types in the hypertension group (P<0.05). Furthermore, the cases with the qi-deficiency type presented with a more severe neurological deficit than those with the other types (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSChinese medicine constitution type might have an impact on the susceptibility of hypertensive patients to have an intracerebral haemorrhage. The heat-dampness and qi-depression types might lead to greater susceptibility than the other types. In addition, the patient's gender and blood lipids might also influence the susceptibility along with the constitution type.

Aged ; Body Constitution ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; etiology ; Disease Susceptibility ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Nervous System ; pathology

BACKGROUNDAssessing the radiographic features of knee osteoarthritis (OA), especially joint space narrowing, is important for evaluating disease progression. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively analyze joint space narrowing by measuring 2 new variables: the average joint space width (aJSW) and the articulate angle (AA) on X-ray films, and to evaluate the relationship between the 2 variables, knee function and OA symptoms.

METHODSUsing the web-based radiology viewer (Cedara I-Reach™ 4.1.1), we measured the 2 variables in 50 knees of 41 patients with knee OA participating in the Shanghai OA Study. We also evaluated the Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grade, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities OA Index (WOMAC), and additional questionnaire in OA knees. The study was approved by the ethics committee of Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital (No. 2009 - 28).

RESULTSThe aJSW correlated with the K-L grade (r = -0.57, P < 0.001), kneeling (r = -0.29, P = 0.04), sitting cross-legged on the floor (r = -0.31, P = 0.03), WOMAC pain (r = -0.31, P = 0.03), WOMAC disability (r = -0.35, P = 0.01), pain while squatting (r = -0.37, P = 0.01), and defecating in a squatting position (r = -0.39, P = 0.01). The AA correlated with defecating in a squatting position (r = 0.29, P = 0.05), WOMAC disability (r = 0.30, P = 0.04) and K-L grade (r = 0.44, P = 0.003). The K-L grade also correlated with pain while squatting (r = -0.40, P = 0.005) and defecating in a squatting position (r = -0.34, P = 0.02), WOMAC pain (r = 0.30, P = 0.04), and WOMAC disability (r = 0.30, P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONSThe aJSW closely correlated with knee OA symptoms and function scores, and was more sensitive to knee OA related disabilities than K-L grade and the AA. The aJSW could be used as a new variable for knee OA evaluation.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Pain Measurement ; Radiography

To decrease the hemolysis side effect of puerarin, the basic formula and preparation of puerarin submicron emulsion were optimized and the physicochemical properties were evaluated. Puerarin submicron emulsions were prepared by phase inversion-ultrasound combining with phospholipids complexes technology. The effects of preparative parameters, such as emulsification time, stirring velocity and ultrasound time, on mean diameter, span of dispersity, entrapment efficiency and overall desirability were investigated. The three dimensional response surface graphs were produced by second-order polynomial and liner equation, which predict the optimal experiment conditions. All response variables were found to be greatly dependent on three independent variables. Second-order polynomial equations were fitter than liner equations for this study. The optimal emulsification time, stirring velocity and ultrasound time was 15 min, 2 000 r x min(-1), 30 min, respectively. The mean diameter, span of dispersity, entrapment efficiency, drug content and zeta potential of emulsions prepared by the method were 228.23 nm, 0.628 4, 84. 32%, 9.98 mg x mL(-1), - 29.03 mV, respectively. Puerarin submicron emulsion was prepared by the optimized preparation method. The narrow particle diameter distribution, high envelopment efficacy and good stability were obtained. The physicochemical properties were suitable for the requirement of the intravenous emulsion.
Emulsions ; Isoflavones ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Particle Size

Objective To explore the plague epidemical trend of nearly a 10 years data in Qinghai province to provide basis for making the prevention and control measures. Method The regional distribution and time distribution of animal and human plague, monitoring and plague foci of survey data in Qinghai from 2001 to 2010 were analyzed with Excel software 2003. Results In Qinghai province, a total of 167 strains of Yersinia pestis were isolated from infected animals and insects in 10 years. Yersinia pestis was mainly distributed in Wulan,Delinha, Geermu, and Tianjun, along the Qinghai-Xizang railway. Human plague was occurred every year from 2001 to 2010 except 2002, 2007, 2008, and 2010. In the 10 years, there were 37 plague cases and 16 of these cases died, the mortality was 43.24％. The plague cases were mainly distributed in Nangqian, Qumalai, Chenduo,Zhiduo, Xinghai, Tongde, Tianjun, Wulan and Qilian. And these cases were found mostly in the period from May to October, especially in the period from August to October. Major clinical type of the plague cases was lung-type (62.16％,23/37). Conclusions The plague epidemic situation in Qinghai province is still severe, animal plague occurred year after year, and human plague outbreaks occasionally. Monitoring and early warning in the key areas should be strengthened, and the comprehensive measures of plague prevention and control should be carried out to reduce the incidence and prevalence of plague.

Saliva and blood were collected from two patients who had not received post exposure prophylaxis in the cities of Wenzhou and Xinning respectively. Both patients were confirmed as positive for rabies by detection of rabies virus specific nucleoprotein antibodies in the sera by Western Blot. However, rabies virus specific RNA was only identified in the saliva collected from the patient in Wenzhou. Furthermore, the isolate Zhejiang Wz0 (H) was obtained by inoculating one-day-old suckling mice. Both nucleoprotein (N) and glycoprotein (G) genes from the isolate were amplified by RT-PCR and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the isolate belonged to classic rabies virus, and shared a higher homology with the street viruses from dogs in the main endemic areas in China and the street virus from dogs in Indonesia than with other known strains. Further comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences between the isolate and the vaccine strains used in China showed that the virus had a higher level of homology with the vaccine strain CTN than with the other vaccine strains (3aG, PV, PM and ERA). In particular, amino acid residues substitutions located in antigenic site Ⅲ in the G protein, which could react with the neutralizing antibodies, were observed. These results suggested that the virus belonged to the classic rabies virus, and both N and G genes diverged from the current vaccine strains used in China at either the nucleotide or the amino acid level.

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether apollon immunoexpression in breast cancer tissues helps to predict pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).

METHODSThe expressions of Apollon, Her-2, estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) were detected immunohistochemically in biopsy tissues from 124 breast cancer patients. The clinical responses to NAC were evaluated in line with the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST). The pCR rate was analyzed for different types of breast cancer. The correlations between Apollon status with Her-2, ER, PR, lymph node status and tumor size were analyzed. Immunohistochemistry was used to compared the changes in Apollon expression in the breast cancer tissues before and after NAC.

RESULTSThe pCR rate was 18.5% (23/124) in these patients. Negative expressions of apollon, ER and PR were all associated with a higher pCR rate after NAC. Apollon was significantly correlated with Her-2, ER, PR and lymph node involvement. Chemotherapy significantly down-regulated apollon expression in the tumor cells.

CONCLUSIONA negative apollon expression might be a predictor of pCR in patients with breast cancer.

Biopsy ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; metabolism ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; metabolism ; Receptors, Estrogen ; metabolism ; Receptors, Progesterone ; metabolism