Objective To evaluate the feasibility and the clinical value of MRI in the diagnosis of small-bowel disease. Methods Sixty-three patients with suspected small-bowel diseases and 3 volunteers without signs of small bowel disease underwent MRI examination. Thirty-one patients whose diagnoses were confirmed by pathology or clinical results were categorized into two groups (neoplastic and normeoplastic). The conspicuity of bowel wall, the sensitivity of MRI in detecting small-bowel lesions, and the accuracy rate of diagnosis were calculated. The average bowel wall thickness between the two groups was assessed by using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes, mesenteric infiltration, and small-bowel stenosis were analyzed by using Fisher's exact test in each group respectively. Results MRI examinations of all 66 subjects were successfully performed. Images were rated on a continuous 4-peint scale. Sixty-two cases (93.9%) were scored as 2 or 3. The diagnoses of 31 patients (neoplastic group (n = 10) and nonneoplastic group (n = 21) were confirmed by pathology or clinical results. The sensitivity, accuracy of MRI in identifying small bowel diseases were 100% (31/31) and 77.4% (24/31) respectively. The average bowel wall thickness of the two groups was 23 mm(7.0-65.0 mm) and 5 mm(2.0-35.0 mm) respectively, and there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (Z = - 2.949, P < 0.01). Enlarged lymph nodes in mesentery were found in 7 cases in neoplastic group and 4 cases in nonneoplastic group, and there was a statistically significant difference between the two group (P < 0.05). Small-bowel stenosis was depicted in 10 cases in both groups and there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P <0.01). The mesenteric infiltration sign was seen in 5 cases and 17 cases respectively, and showed no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion MRI can depict the location and extension of the small-bowel disease accurately and it is an effective method in the diagnosis of small-bowel disease.

Activation of acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) plays an important role in neuroinflammation.Macrophage recruitment to the sites of inflammation is an essential step in host defense.ASIC 1 and ASIC3 have been reported to mediate the endocytosis and maturation of bone marrow derived macrophages.However,the expression and inflammation-related functions of ASICs in RAW 264.7 cells,another common macrophage,are still elusive.In the present study,we first demonstrated the presence of ASIC 1,ASIC2a and ASIC3 in RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line by using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR),Western blotting and immunofluorescence experiments.The non-specific ASICs inhibitor amiloride and specific homomeric ASIC 1 a blocker PcTx 1 reduced the production of iNOS and COX-2 by LPS-induced activating RAW 264.7 cells.Furthermore,not only amiloride but also PcTx 1 inhibited the migration and LPS-induced apoptosis of RAW 264.7 cells.Taken together,our findings suggest that ASICs promote the inflammatory response and apoptosis of RAW 264.7 cells,and ASICs may serve as a potential novel target for immunological disease therapy.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the status of genital infection as well as distribution of types of human papillomavirus (HPV) in women in Shenzhen and provide population data for the future vaccine intervention on cervical cancer.

METHODSWomen with age between 15 and 59 years were selected in cluster stratified sampling from Huaqiaocheng community, Nanshan district, Shenzhen and received a population-based cervical cancer screening. After consent, every woman was interviewed by using questionnaire and tested by liquid-based cytology and HPV DNA (hybrid capture 2 and gene chips typing) separately.

RESULTSTotally 1 137 women were screened. The rate of high risk HPV of hybrid capture 2 test (14. 0% ) was higher than gene chips typing test (9. 8%) (chi(2) = 27. 198, P < 0. 001) ; the consistency of the two tests was acceptable ( kappa = 0. 498, P < 0. 001). The rates of low risk HPV types and other types of gene chips typing test in this population were 1. 9% and 0. 2% respectively. The percentages of HPV 16, 18 and 58 in HPV positive women were 29. 7% , 18. 9% and 18. 9%. The rates of different age group of low risk HPV were 1. 4% (17-34), 1. 7% (35-44) and 3. 2% (45-59) , respectively.

CONCLUSIONSHPV 16, 18, and 58 are the most popular types in the study population. The differences of infection rates of high risk HPV are due primarily to the variation of HPV16 distribution among age-specific population. The chances of being affected by low risk HPV will increase with age.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Alphapapillomavirus ; classification ; isolation & purification ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Papillomavirus Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; Tumor Virus Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; Uterine Cervical Diseases ; epidemiology ; virology

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of C-terminal domain of ADAMTS13 on its cleaving activity.

METHODSThe full-length wild-type (WT) and C-terminal domain truncated type (TT, TSP8 + CUB domains were deleted) of human ADAMTS13 recombinant protein were transfected into and permanent expressed on Hela cells. Western blot and R-CBA were used to directly detect the activities of the two recombinant proteins under the static and stressed condition respectively. ELISA was used to compare the binding abilities of the two proteins by coating with vWF.

RESULTSThe recombinant proteins were identified by Western blot with anti-his-tag or anti-ADAMTS13 antibodies. With pretreatment of 1.5 M urea, the enzyme activity of TT was significantly higher than that of WT, and so did in binding ability with vWF While, only WT could cleave vWF under high stress.

CONCLUSIONThe distal carboxyl-terminal TSP8 together with CUB domains of ADAMTS13 may affect the enzyme activity by regulating the binding of ADAMTS13 to vWF in different conditions, and they are very important for the enzyme activity under high stress force condition.

Galium ; Humans ; Recombinant Proteins ; metabolism ; Transfection ; von Willebrand Factor ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the role of baseline risk factors in predicting the onset of diabetes among essential hypertensive patients with metabolic syndrome (MS) and to evaluate an ideal therapeutic regime that could reduce the risk factors and risk of onset of diabetes.

METHODSA randomized parallel clinical trial in essential hypertensive patients of grade 1 or 2 was conducted. Two of the three components (1) increased waist circumference and/or BMI; (2) increased triglycerides (TG) and/or decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; (3) impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) were present define the MS. The three intervention therapy groups were: indapamide + fosinopril (I + F, n = 151); atenolol + nitrendipine (A + N, n = 160); atenolol + nitrendipine + metformin (A + N + M, n = 152). Each case was followed-up monthly and the dosage of medicine taken be adjusted according to their BP level. The plasma glucose during fasting and two hours after taking 75 g glucose orally was also measured every six months. The new onset of diabetes was diagnosed according to the criteria. OGTT, insulin release test, lipid analysis, body weight and waist circumference were measured again at the last follow-up.

RESULTS(1) The lowering of BP was similar among the three groups (P > 0.05). 23 new diabetes onsets occurred, being 10 in group I + F and 8 in group A + N and 5 in group A + N + M, respectively (P > 0.05); (2) Proportions of patients' risk factors decreased significantly in group A + N or A + N + M, e.g. the proportions of high TG in each group reduced by 14.7% and 9.3% respectively (P < 0.05), the central fat distribution reduced by 16.7% and 15.9% respectively (P < 0.05) and the IGT reduced by 6.6% and 29.6% respectively (P < 0.05). However no changes were found in group I + F; (3) After 1 year and 5 months' follow-up, the proportions of main risk factors (high TG, central fat distribution and IGT) in the three groups were 91%, 96%, 83% and 90%, 88%, 47%, respectively. The difference of IGT was significant between two groups (P < 0.01) and the proportions of having three risk factors were 70% and 31% in the two groups (P < 0.01); (4) I + F group was better than A + N group in reduction of TG and central fat distribution. And A + N + M group improved in all risk factors.

CONCLUSIONSIGT alone or combined with increased TG plus abdominal obesity are the most important risk factors in predicting a new onset of diabetes among essential hypertensive patients with MS. Metformin in combination with atenolol plus nitrendipine can significantly prevent the onset of diabetes as well as improve patients' metabolic abnormality.

Adult ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; prevention & control ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Glucose Intolerance ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; drug therapy ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; complications ; drug therapy ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors

Iron-doped titanium dioxide nanosheets was prepared by hydrothermal method using tetrabutyl titanate (C16H36O4Ti) and iron trifluoride (FeF3) and modified on ITO electrode.ITO/Fe : TiO2/CdS photoelectrochemical sensor was fabricated by successive ionic layer absorption and reaction(SILAR) method for determination of copper ion.The band gap of electode material was narrowed by iron doped TiO2 nanosheets,which made its absorption red-shifted and its response range of light was magnified.Based on the sensitization effect of CdS,the absorption and utilization of visible light of sensor was significantly enhanced and the photoelectric signal was amplified via reducing the recombination of electrons and holes.The sensor displayed excellent analytical performance for detection of copper ion with linear range of 0.2-4.0 μmol/L and 4.0-80.0 μmol/L and with the detection limit of 85 nmol/L.The sensor was used to detect copper ion in tap water,drinking water and Yongjiang river water with recoveries ranging from 94% to 111%.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) and incidence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in female populations in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China.

METHODSTotally 1137 women aged 15-59 from Shahe Community, Nanshan District, Shenzhen were investigated for cervical cancer during an population-based epidemiological screening from November 2004 to December 2004. Visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA), colposcopy, liquid-based cytology test (LCT), and hybrid capture 2 (HC-) were performed to detect the high-risk HPV types in cervical secretions. Biopsy under colposcope was performed in women who were HPV-positive with LCT >or= atypical squamous cells of undetermined sign (ASCUS) or HPV-negative with LCT >or= low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), with the pathological results as the golden standards.

RESULTSThe detection rate of high-risk HPV-DNA was 14.0%. HPV detection rates in 15-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, and 50-59 age groups were 15.5%, 17.7%, 12.6%, 8.8%, 10.2%, 15.3%, and 21.0%, respectively (P < 0.05). HPV detection rates in 25-29 years group and 50-59 years group were significantly higher than those in other groups (P < 0.05) and 35-39 group had the lowest detection rate. The curve of HPV infection rates in all groups was 'V' type. The overall incidence of CIN was 4.4%. The incidences of CIN , CIN , and CIN were 3.2%, 1.0%, and 0.3%, respectively, in which the incidence of CIN was significantly higher than those of CIN and . HPV detection rates increased with cervical lesion grades, which in >or=CIN groups and normal group were 100.0% and 8.3%, respectively. No cervical cancer was identified in this research. The sensitivities of VIA, colposcopy, LCT, and HC-II for high-risk HPV screening were 35.7%, 50.0%, 92.9%,and 100%, respectively, in detecting high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), the specificities of these four methods were 96.0%, 87.2%, 88.4%, and 86.9%, respectively. Satisfactory negative predictive values were obtained for all methods.

CONCLUSIONSHPV infection is the main risk factor for CIN. Cervical cancer among female populations in Shenzhen is still in early stages. Prevention of HPV infection and treatment of CIN are key for the prevention of cervical cancer.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; epidemiology ; Chi-Square Distribution ; China ; epidemiology ; DNA, Viral ; isolation & purification ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mass Screening ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Papillomaviridae ; genetics ; Papillomavirus Infections ; epidemiology ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the prevalence of oncogenic type of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and identify the high risk population for conducting immuno/chemoprevention of cervical cancer.

METHODSAll married women aged 30 to 50 with no history of hysterectomy, pelvic radiation and non-pregnant from certain villages of Xiangyuan and Yangcheng County were invited. This study was conducted through two phases. In phase one, subjects sampled the vaginal secretions using the collectors after signing the informed consent. And physicians sampled exfoliated cells from cervix in the phase two. All the specimens were tested with the Hybrid Capture 2 test. The data was managed and analyzed by VFP and SPSS software.

RESULTSThere were 9,683 women participated in this study. Local women welcomed this study and population compliance rate was 75.4%. In tested population, we found 2,666 subjects of HPV DNA positive and HPV prevalence was 27.5%. The rates of different age group were 24.5% (30-34 yrs), 27.4% (35-39 yrs), 28.2% (40-44 yrs), 27.4% (45-50 yrs) respectively and had no significant differences (P = 0.604). The rates were slightly increased with the higher education level and had no differences (P = 0.106). The rate in mountain areas was higher than that in half-mountain areas (P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence of HPV infection is indeed high in this region. Local women and health professionals welcome the activities of cervical cancer screening and prevention. It is an emergent task to improve their sanitary condition and prevent them from cervical cancer in these women. A women health cohort is established successfully among high HPV exposed women in rural China. The extensive biologic specimen repository has been successfully established to simultaneously study the etiology, early detection, and immuno/chemoprevention of cervical cancer.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Middle Aged ; Papillomaviridae ; isolation & purification ; Papillomavirus Infections ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Prevalence ; Tumor Virus Infections ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; virology ; Vaginal Smears

OBJECTIVEWe observed the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of different antidepressants as well as the correlation between symptomatic improvement of depression and improvement of chest pain in patients with susceptible "angina pectoris" and negative coronary angiogram complicating comorbid depression.

METHODSIn this double-blinded randomized study, a total of 123 eligible patients were allocated into three groups: (1) Group F: fluoxetine 20 mg QN (n = 41); (2) Group P: Placebo 1 tablet QN (n = 40); (3) Group F + O: fluoxetine 20 mg + olanzapine 2.5 mg QN for the former 2 weeks and only fluoxetine 20 mg QN for the latter 2 weeks (n = 42). The total therapy duration was 4 weeks. HAMD, HAMA and self-evaluation table of chest pain were obtained before therapy, at the end of 1 and 2 weeks after therapy.

RESULTSBaseline HAMD and HAMA scores and self-evaluation score of chest pain were similar among 3 groups and all scores were significantly improved post various therapies in the order of group F + O > group F > group P. The rate of score decrease were seen after 1 week treatment in group F + O and after 2 week treatment in group F. There was a significant positive correlation between the rates of self-evaluation chest pain score decrease and HAMD (r = 0.867, P < 0.001) and HAMA (r = 0.854, P < 0.001) score decreases after 4 weeks therapies (P < 0.05). During the whole course of treatment, no serious adverse reaction was found in all patients.

CONCLUSIONIn patients with suspected "angina pectoris" and negative coronary angiogram complicating comorbid depression, the antidepressants were safe and significantly improved the symptoms of depression and anxiety and chest pain. Low dose fluoxetine plus short term olanzapine regimen was superior to fluoxetine alone regimen in terms of stronger and quicker symptom improvement.

Aged ; Angina Pectoris ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation ; therapeutic use ; Benzodiazepines ; therapeutic use ; Coronary Angiography ; Depressive Disorder ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Fluoxetine ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

BACKGROUNDData on the epidemiology of hypertension in Chinese non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are limited. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in the non-dialysis CKD patients through a nationwide, multicenter study in China.

METHODSThe survey was performed in 61 tertiary hospitals in 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China (except Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan). Trained physicians collected demographic and clinical data and measured blood pressure (BP) using a standardized protocol. Hypertension was defined as systolic BP ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg, and/or use of antihypertensive medications. BP < 140/90 mmHg and < 130/80 mmHg were used as the 2 thresholds of hypertension control. In multivariate logistic regression with adjustment for sex and age, we analyzed the association between CKD stages and uncontrolled hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients.

RESULTSThe analysis included 8927 non-dialysis CKD patients. The prevalence, awareness, and treatment of hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients were 67.3%, 85.8%, and 81.0%, respectively. Of hypertensive CKD patients, 33.1% and 14.1% had controlled BP to < 140/90 mmHg and < 130/80 mmHg, respectively. With successive CKD stages, the prevalence of hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients increased, but the control of hypertension decreased (P < 0.001). When the threshold of BP < 130/80 mmHg was considered, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension in CKD 2, 3a, 3b, 4, and 5 stages increased 1.3, 1.4, 1.4, 2.5, and 4.0 times compared with CKD 1 stage, respectively (P < 0.05). Using the threshold of < 140/90 mmHg, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension increased in advanced stages (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence of hypertension Chinese non-dialysis CKD patients was high, and the hypertension control was suboptimal. With successive CKD stages, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension increased.

Adult ; Aged ; Awareness ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; complications