Objective To investigate the correlation factors for hot flashes in climacteric women so as to improve their quality of life. Methods A questionnaire was distributed among 792 climacteric women. The questionnaire items included general information, characteristics of menstruation, reproduction history, information of hot flashes, lifestyle and sexual life. Weight, height, blood pressure, waist and hip circumferences were measured. Logistic regression analysis was made to find out the correlation factors for hot flashes. Results Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that age, education, income, present characteristics of menstruation, dietary habit, soy products intake, physical exercise, satisfaction of sexual life, body mass index (BMI) and systolic blood pressure were significantly associated with hot flashes. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that irregular menstruation or menopause, frequent exercise and higher systolic blood pressure were risk factors for hot flashes in climacteric women. However, higher education, soy products intake and satisfaction of sexual life were protection factors. Conclusion Guiding climacteric women to take moderate physical exercise, knowing more about climacterium, consuming more soy products and controlling diastolic blood pressure are likely to decrease the incidence of hot flashes.

Hemangioendothelioma, Epithelioid ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Cavity ; pathology ; Nose Neoplasms ; pathology

Objective To analyze the karyotypes of 11 cases of Turner syndrome with marker chromosome,and study the phenotypic effects resulting from the abnormal karyotype.Methods Eleven Turner syndrome patients had a mosaic karyotype and carried a marker chromosome,and 6 marker chromosomes were ring chromosomes.Their karyotypes were showed as mos.45,X/46,X,+mar or mos. 45,X/46,X,+r.Fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH)technique with X/Y centromere probes was performed to determine the origin of the marker chromosome.Reverse chromosome painting technique was used to identify the breakpoints of two largest markers.Phenotype effects with different chromosome breakpoints were compared.Results All the 11 marker chromosomes were ring X chromosomes.The breakpoints of the r(X)were involved in Xp22,Xq22,Xq24 and Xq26,etc.Conclusions The marker chromosomes in Turner syndrome mainly originate from X chromosome and form ring chromosome X.Each r (X)in our patients was mosaic,indicating it was originated from mitosis error during early embryo development.To analyze the origin of the marker chromosome and the breakpoint of r(X)will provide guidance for the therapy and prognosis of the Turner syndrome patient.

A multiplex real-time PCR was developed to detect ctxA of Vibrio cholerae, gyrB and tdh of Vibrio parahaemolyticus simultaneously. The multiplex real-time PCR were evalidated by detection for the three genes in 47 toxigenic V. cholerae O1 and O139 strains (ctxA+; O1=3, O139=44), 25 non-toxigenic V. cholerae strains (ctxA-; O1=12, O139=6, non-O1 and non-O139=7), 116 V. parahaemolyticus strains with or without tdh (73 or 43) and 9 other bacteria strains. The specificity and sensitivity of the multiplex real-time PCR in detection for the ctxA and the tdh genes in the strains tested were both 100.0%, compared to the results by routine PCRs. In the detection for V. parahaemolyticus specific gyrB using the multiplex real-time PCR, all of 116 V. parahaemolyticus strains were positive, and 9 other strains and 72 V. cholerae strains were all negative. The multiplex real-time PCR is a sensitive, specific and quick assay not only for detecting virulence genes of V. cholerae and V. parahaemolyticus but also for identifying V. parahaemolyticus at species level. In addition, two real-time PCRs for detection of V. parahaemolyticus virulence genes trh1 and trh2 were also developed.

Using the latency of paw withdrawal (PWL) from a noxious thermal stimulus as a measure of hyperalgesia, the effects of i.p. injection of meptazinol and its isomers, 112824 and 112825, on carrageenan-induced thermal hyperalgesia were studied in awaked carrageenan-inflamed rats. Peripheral inflammation was induced by intraplantar (i.pl.) injection of carrageenan (2 mg/100 microl) into one hindpaw in rats. Carrageenan produced marked inflammation (edema and erythema) and thermal hyperalgesia in the injected paws, which peaked at 3 h after injection and showed little change in magnitude for another 3 h. Injection of 0.1 mg/kg meptazinol (i.p.) at 3 h after carrageenan had no effect on the PWLs of either inflamed or non-inflamed hindpaw during the next 100 min (P>0.05, n=8). At the dosage of 1 and 10 mg/kg, meptazinol produced marked anti-nociception and anti-hyperalgesia in non-inflamed and inflamed hindpaw, respectively (P<0.05, n=8-11). The prolonging effect of meptazinol on PWL in inflamed hindpaw was more potent than that in non-inflamed hindpaw. Pre-administration of 1.5 mg/kg naloxone significantly antagonized meptazinol-induced anti-nociception and anti-hyperalgesia. Intraperitoneal injection of an isomer of meptazinol, 112825 (1.5 mg/kg), but not 112824 (1 mg/kg), markedly increased the PWL of the non-inflamed hindpaw. Nevertheless, both the isomers produced similar anti-hyperalgesic effect to that of meptazinol (P<0.05, n=8), which was completely reversed by naloxone (1.5 mg/mg). The results suggest that meptazinol and its isomers have anti-nociceptive and anti-hyperalgesic properties with the former more potent. The effects are mainly mediated by mu opioid receptors. This study provides an important clue for extending clinical utilization of meptazinol and its isomers.
Analgesics, Opioid ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Carrageenan ; Hyperalgesia ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; Inflammation ; chemically induced ; Isomerism ; Male ; Meptazinol ; pharmacology ; Nociceptors ; drug effects ; Pain ; physiopathology ; Pain Measurement ; methods ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Bushen Huoxue Fang (BSHX) on the apoptosis of epithelial cells in the prostatic ductal system of rats with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and its possible action mechanism.

METHODSOne hundred 3- month-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups of equal number (control, castrated, BPH model, and BSHX). BPH models were made by subcutaneous injection of testosterone following castration; the rats in the BSHX group were treated intragastrically with BSHX at 2.34 g/ml after modeling, while those in the other two groups with equal volume of saline, all for 37 days. On the 38th day, all the rats were sacrificed and their prostates harvested for detection of the distribution of TGF-beta1 and alpha-actin and the count of positive cells in the prostatic ductal system by immunohistochemical staining. The apoptosis rate of epithelial cells in the prostatic ductal system was determined by TUNEL assay.

RESULTSThe expression of TGF-beta1 was significantly increased in the rats of the BSHX group as compared with the BPH models in both the proximal prostatic duct ([15.28 +/- 4.30]% vs [36.42 +/- 8.10]%, P < 0.01) and the distal prostatic duct ([4.42 +/- 2.07]% vs [8.71 +/- 2.28 ]%, P < 0.05), while the expression of alpha-actin in the proximal duct was remarkably higher in the BSHX-treated rats than in the models ([28.14 +/- 7.43]% vs [18.28 +/- 4.07]%, P < 0.01), but lower than in the control animals ([33.57 +/- 6.85]%, P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the BPH models and BSHX-treated rats both exhibited markedly decreased apoptosis of epithelial cells in the proximal prostatic duct ([39.42 +/- 9.20]% vs [3.86 +/- 1.34]%, P < 0.01, and [31.14 +/- 5.64]%, P < 0.01) and distal prostatic duct ([17.60 +/- 4.86]% vs [3.07 +/- 1.14]%, P < 0.01, and [12.37 +/- 2.25]%, P < 0.05). The apoptosis rate of epithelial cells in the prostatic ductal system was significantly higher in the BSHX-treated rats than in the BPH models (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBy upregulating the expression of TGF-beta, BSHX can suppress the reduction of smooth muscle cells in the proximal prostatic duct, promote the apoptosis of prostatic epithelial cells, and thus effectively inhibit benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Actins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo develop a multiplex real-time PCR for the detection of Salmonella invasion protein A gene (invA), enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) heat-labile I enterotoxin gene (elt), and Shigella or enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC) invasive plasmid antigen H gene (ipaH).

METHODSUnder the optimized reaction conditions of the multiplex real-time PCR, invA, elt, and ipaH were determined in 10-fold series of dilution of DNA extracted from Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, ETEC 44815 strain and Shigella F301 strain. The three genes were examined in 90 fecal samples from diarrhea patients using the multiplex real-time PCR. When PCR-positive samples were found, the target strains were isolated and identified.

RESULTSThe detectable concentration for this multiplex real-time PCR was 10 CFU/microl for Shigella F301 strain, 10(2) CFU/microl for S. enterica serovar Typhimurium and ETEC 44815 strain, respectively. Out of 90 fecal samples from diarrhea patients, thirteen were found positive for elt gene (14.4%), and five were found positive for ipaH gene (5.6%). Three E. coli strains positive for elt gene and four E. coli strains positive for ipaH gene were isolated successfully from the PCR-positive samples mentioned above. The detection of invA, elt and ipaH genes was completed in 10 h, which included an enrichment period of 6 h.

CONCLUSIONThe multiplex real-time PCR assay can detect invA, elt, ipaH simultaneously in a single reaction, moreover, it can detect for virulence genes in strains of Salmonella, ETEC, and Shigella or EIEC and screen these pathogens in fecal specimens from patients with diarrhea with a high specificity.

DNA, Bacterial ; analysis ; Diarrhea ; microbiology ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Feces ; microbiology ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Salmonella ; genetics ; Shigella ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo elucidate the clinicopathologic features, immunophenotype and differential diagnosis of intracystic papillary carcinoma (IPC).

METHODSThe clinical and pathological characteristics of 14 cases of breast IPC were studied. Immunohistochemical study of SMA, MSA, ER, PR, p63, AE1/AE3, 34betaE12 and CK5/6 was performed using Envision method.

RESULTSThe age of IPC patients ranged from 42 to 79, with a mean age of 65.4 years. A palpable mass was the most common symptom. There were two morphological features: (1) Slender papillae lined by tall columnar epithelial cells which were present directly on the fibrovascular cores without an intervening myoepithelial cell layer (9 cases). (2) The proliferation may assume a cribriform architecture with rigid, punched-out regular spaces or a solid glandular pattern, studded with fibrovascular cores (5 cases). Low nuclear grade is typically seen. Among the 14 cases of IPC, 11 were of pure type. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in adjacent ducts was found in one case, and invasive carcinoma was found in two cases. Immunohistochemical results showed that the tumor cells were homogenously strongly positive for ER and PR, but were negative or focally and weakly positive for CK5/6 and 34betaE12. Myoepithelial cell staining was negative within the tumor; and was diminished or scattered at the periphery of the tumor.

CONCLUSIONSIPC is a rare entity that usually arises in older women. It is specific enough in its clinical presentation and morphologic appearance to warrant distinction from other breast lesions.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; analysis ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating ; pathology ; secondary ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical value of humidified high-flow nasal cannula (HHFNC) as a respiratory support after extubation by comparing it with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) in neonates with meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) and persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN).

METHODSA total of 78 neonates with MAS and PPHN were randomly administered with HHFNC or NCPAP immediately after extubation. The following indices were compared between the two groups: blood gas parameters, duration of noninvasive ventilation, rate of extubation failure, and incidence of complications, such as nasal damage, abdominal distension, and intraventricular hemorrhage.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in the rate of extubation failure, PaO, PCO, and PaO/FiOratio at one hour after NCPAP or HHFNC, duration of noninvasive ventilation, time to full enteral feeding, length of hospital stay, and incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage between the two groups (P>0.05). The HHFNC group had significantly lower incidence of nasal damage (5.0% vs 31.6%; P<0.05) and incidence of abdominal distension (7.5% vs 34.2%; P<0.05) than the NCPAP group.

CONCLUSIONSBoth NCPAP and HHFNC can be used as the sequential therapy for neonates with MSA and PPHN after extubation, and they both have a definite effect. As a new strategy of respiratory support, HHFNC is better tolerated, and has fewer side effects than NCPAP.

Airway Extubation ; adverse effects ; Continuous Positive Airway Pressure ; instrumentation ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; therapy ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Meconium Aspiration Syndrome ; therapy ; Noninvasive Ventilation ; instrumentation ; methods

OBJECTIVE The purpose of the present study was to investigate the impact of fluvas-tatin formulation on the pharmacokinetics-genetic polymorphis relationship. METHODS We compared the difference between the pharmacokinetics of fluvastatin as an extended-release (ER) 80 mg tablet and an immediate-release(IR)40 mg capsule in terms of drug metabolism enzyme and transporter ge-netic polymorphisms. In this open-label, randomized, two-period, two-treatment, crossover study, ef-fects of BCRP, SLCO1B1, MDR1, CYP2C9, and CYP3A5 polymorphisms on the pharmacokinetics of fluvastatin were analyzed in 24 healthy individuals.Each treatment duration was 7 days with a washout period of 7 days between the crossover.Serum concentration of fluvastatin was evaluated using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS The SLCO1B1 T521C genotype had no statistically significant effect on IR 40 mg capsule of fluvastatinafter single or repeated doses.However,for the ER 80 mg tablet,the SLCO1B1 T521C genotype correlated with the AUC0-24of repeat doses (P=0.01). The CYP2C9*3 genotype correlated with the AUC0- 24after the first dose IR 40 mg capsule (P<0.05); however, the difference between CYP2C9*1/*1 and CYP2C9*1/*3 was not statistically significant after repeated doses. CONCLUSION The effect of SLCO1B1 T521C on fluvas-tatin exposure was observed and was more profound in ER and repeated dose administration than in IR and single dose administration.We recommend that formulation should be incorporated into future pharmacogenomics studies and clinical implication guidelines.