Humans are exposed to the ubiquitous radiofrequency (RF, 100 kHz-300 GHz) electromagnetic fields because of the mushroom development of wireless communications,raising concerns over the possible hazards of RF radiations.Epidemiological investigation has showed that chronic use of cellphones increases the risk of brain tumors.Since genetic damage is closely related to tumors, researchers have been trying to find out whether cellphones and other RF devices are genotoxic.However, the investigations have yielded both negative and positive results.This review summarized the recent in vitro and in vivo researches about genotoxicity of RF radiations and proposed a possible mechanism by which of RF radiations cause genetic damage.

Objective To explore the relationship between some single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP)loci of interferon regulatory factor 6(IRF6)gene,transforming growth faetor-?(TGFA)gene and nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate(NSCL/P)in nuclear families consisting of fathers, mothers and affected offspring with NSCL/P from southeast China.Methods Some SNloci of IRF6 and TGFA were detected by applying microarray technology in nuclear families,and then haplotype relative risk (HRR)and transmission disequilibrium test(TDT)were performed.Results There were no significant difference in genotypes and alleles distribution between patients and their parents.The SNP locus——V274I of IRF6 was associated with NSCL/P(HRR:?~2=4.5816,P

Objective To investigate and compare the curative effect between delayed percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for patients with acute myocardial infarction presenting 12-24 hours from symptom onset and medical therapy on acute myocardial infarction patients presenting with ST-segment elevation (STEMI). Methods Using a prospective,open,parallel,controlled research approach,186 patients with STEMI were divided into delayed PCI group(n=89),which received PCI within 12-24 hours after STEMI and medical therapy group(n=97),which received medical therapy after STEMI. All patients were followed up 1-6 months with average follow-up (5.6 ± 1.4) months. Data of hospitalization period, the cardiac structures detected by echocardiography such as left atrial diameter (LAD), left ventricular diastolic diameter(LVDd),left ventricular ejection fraction LVEF,left ventricular fractional shortening(LVFS),composite end point events and major adverse cardiac events(MACE)were compared between the two groups.Results Compared with medical therapy group, the hospitalization cycle was significantly shorter in delayed PCI group. Data of the LAD and LVDd were significantly decreased,but LVEF and LVFS were increased in delayed PCI group compared with those of medical therapy group at 30 d and 6-month follow-up. The incidence of MACE and composite end point events were significantly less in delayed PCI group than those of medical therapy group (P<0.05). Conclusion Delayed PCI treatment can decrease the time of hospital stay and decrease the incidence rates of MACE and composite end point events,and improve left ventricular function and prognosis of patients.

OBJECTIVETo develop an simple and sensitive method for detecting anti-coronavirus IgG antibodies in bat sera based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

METHODSA commercial ELISA kit for detecting SARS-CoV antibody was modified for detecting coronavirus antibodies in bat serum samples. The second antibody in the kit was replaced with horseradish peroxidase-conjugated protein-A (HRP-SPA) based on the characteristics of binding between Staphylococcus aureus protein A (SPA) and mammal IgG Fc fragment. The sera of 55 fulvous fruit bats (Rousettus dasymallus) were tested using the SPA-ELISA.

RESULTSThe test results of the positive and negative controls in the kit and the serum samples from convalescent ;patient were consistent with expectation. Coronavirus antibody was detected in 2 out of the 55 bat serum samples. Serum neutralization test confirmed the validity of the SPA-ELISA method.

CONCLUSIONThis SPA-ELISA method is applicable for detecting coronavirus antibody in bat sera.

Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Chiroptera ; virology ; Coronavirus ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; methods ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the perinatal management and outcome of different types of fetal arrhythmia.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was conducted among the fetuses with arrhythmia identified by M-mode and pulsed Doppler echocardiography in a single institution between October 2003 and December 2010.

RESULTSA total of 130 fetuses were found to have fetal arrhythmia. The most common arrhythmia during pregnancy was extrasystole (n=59), followed by bradycardia (n=23), tachycardia (n=16), atrial flutter (AF, n=3), atrioventricular block (AVB, n=12) and other arrhythmia (n=17). The overall incidence of cardiac anomalies (commonly fetal bradycardia) was 9.2% in these cases. The prognosis of arrhythmia differed significantly between cases of different classifications. The type of fetal arrhythmia (P=0.024), presence of congenital heart defect (CHD, P=0.000) and fetal hydrops (P=0.008) were significant risk factors associated with termination of pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONFetal arrhythmias without CHD or hydrops under close monitoring often have good clinical outcome, while fetal bradycardia is associated with a high mortality rate. CHD and the presence of fetal hydrops are significant risk factors for pregnancy termination.

Adult ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; classification ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Fetal Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the association between cutaneous adverse drug reactions (CADRs) caused by antiepileptic drugs and HLA-B*1502 allele. Methods In 31 epileptic patients presented to the Epilepsy Clinic of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College between January 2007 and May 2008, 13 had CADR to carbanazepine (CBZ) including 6 with Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and 7 with mild maculopapular exanthona (MPE);15 were CBZ-tolerant, and 3 had lamotrigine (LTG)-indueed MPE. All the patients underwent examinations using polymerase chain reaction with sequence specific palmers to analyze HLA -B*1502 allele frequencies, with 30 healthy subjects without a history of using CBZ or LTG as the control. Results HLA-B*IS02 allele frequency was 100% (6/6) in patients with CBZ-SJS, 57% (4/7) in patients with CBZ-induced MPE, and 33% (1/3) in patients with LTG-induced MPE. The frequency was 7% (1/15) in CBZ-tolerant patients and 10% (3/30) in the control subjects. Compared with the CBZ-tolerant patients and the control subjects, the patients with CBZ-induced SJS and MPE had significantly increased HLA -B*1502 allele frequency (P<0.05). Conclusions HLA-B*1502 allele is associated with CADRs to CBZ in epileptic patients.

Fibrosis is the common end stage of most liver diseases. Unfortunately, there is no effective treatment available currently. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of Flk1+ mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) from murine bone marrow (Flk1 + MSC) on fibrosis formation induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). In this study Flk1+ MSC were isolated from bone marrow of male BALB/c mice. A CCl4 induced hepatic fibrosis model was used. Flk1+ MSC were systemically infused immediately or one week after the female mice were challenged with CCl4. Fibrosis index and donor cell engraftment were assessed two or five weeks after CCl4 challenge. We found that Flk1+ MSC transplantation immediately, but not one week after exposure to CCl4, significantly reduced CCl4-induced liver damage and collagen deposition. In addition, levels of hepatic hydroxyproline and serum fibrosis markers (HA, P-III-P) in mice receiving immediate Flk1+ MSC transplantation after CCl4 challenge were significantly lower compared to those of control mice. More importantly, histological examination suggested that hepatic damage recovery was much better in these immediately Flk1+ MSC-treated mice. Immunofluorescence, PCR, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis revealed that donor cells engrafted into host liver, had epithelium-like morphology and expressed albumin (ALB), although at low frequency. In conclusion Flk1+ MSC might initiate endogenous hepatic tissue regeneration, engraft into host liver in response to CCl4 injury, and ameliorate its fibrogenic effects.
Animals ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Female ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; chemically induced ; therapy ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; physiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) to obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) in patients with resistant hypertension (RH).

METHODSUPPP and modified UPPP were performed on 36 moderate and severe OSAHS patients, who also suffered from RH [who taking more than three kinds of antihypertensive drugs (including diuretics) and still not able to control blood pressure at 140/90 mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa)]. Polysomnography monitoring, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, apnea hypopnea index (AHI), lowest saturation of blood oxygen (SaO2) and the changes of antihypertensive medication dosage were performed to the patients before and 6 months after the surgery.

RESULTSSix months after surgery,the total efficiency was 61.1% (22/36). The AHI median [25 quartile; 75 quartile] from 37.5 [26.0; 48.3]/h to 9.5 [9.0; 21.3]/h, the lowest the SaO2 average (x(-) ± s, the same below) increased from 0.655 ± 0.114 to 0.860 ± 0.037, the differences were statistically significant (P value < 0.05). 24 h systolic blood pressure, daytime systolic blood pressure, night contraction, diastolic and mean arterial pressure decreased from (160.8 ± 6.8), (170.5 ± 2.5), (163.6 ± 10.5), (100.8 ± 5.6) and (96.8 ± 7.5) mm Hg to (142.5 ± 7.3), (150.8 ± 7.6), (140.1 ± 6.4), (81.8 ± 7.4) and (93.7 ± 2.4) mm Hg, the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The degrees of AHI descent and the average SaO2 improvement were concerned with the degree of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure decent (r > 0.80 and r(2) > 0.50). The average numbers of antihypertensive drugs decreased form (3.6 ± 0.5) to (2.9 ± 0.5) compared preoperatively and postoperatively, the difference was statistically significant (t = 5.537, P < 0.01). The use of antihypertensive medication reduced in 23 cases (23/36, 63.8%) compared preoperatively and postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONSThe blood pressure of the patients with OSAHS and RH dropped significantly after UPPP surgery. Recent follow-up shows that the varieties of antihypertensive drugs taken in these patients are reduced significantly after operation.

Adult ; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Palate ; surgery ; Pharynx ; surgery ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; complications ; surgery ; Uvula ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence rates of snoring disease and obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) and their risk factors among truck drivers in Guangzhou, China.

METHODSA questionnaire survey was conducted in 374 truck drivers who were selected from 5 logistics companies in Guangzhou by cluster sampling. Those who had potential snoring disease or OSAHS underwent polysomnographic monitoring at night. The obtained data were analyzed to calculate the prevalence rates of snoring disease and OSAHS and determine the risk factors for OSAHS.

RESULTSA total of 335 subjects completely questionnaires, with a response rate of 90%. Among the 335 subjects, 125 (37.3%) had habitual snoring, and 42 (12.5%) had OSAHS according to the diagnostic criterion (apnea-hypopnea index ≥ 5 times/h). The multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that the risk factors for OSAHS were age, alcohol use, family history of snoring, body mass index, and upper airway abnormality. Of the subjects with grade ≥ 2 snoring and OSAHS, 65.4% often felt sleepy when driving during daytime, and 42% had suffered or nearly suffered traffic accidents due to sleepiness when driving. Moreover, 95.5% (320) of the 335 truck drivers did not consider snoring a disease, and 98% did not think traffic accident might be related to snoring.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence rates of snoring disease and OSAHS among truck drivers are 37.3% and 12.5%, respectively. Therefore, prevention measures should be established according to the epidemiological characteristics to help the truck drivers realize the hazards of snoring disease and OSAHS, thus minimizing the prevalence and hazards of the diseases.

Adult ; Automobile Driving ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; epidemiology ; Snoring ; epidemiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

The correlation of serum arylesterase (PON1) activity on phenylacetate determined by an integrated method to classical biochemical indexes of liver damage was investigated for the use of PON1 activity to evaluate liver damage. PON1 reaction curve as absorbance at 270 nm for 0.20 mmol/L phenylacetate hydrolysis was analyzed by the integrated method to determine maximal PON1 reaction rate. Classical biochemical indexes of liver damage were determined routinely. The 95% confidence threshold of PON1 activity in sera from healthy individuals was 2.12 mkat/L [(4.73+/-1.31) mkat/L, n=105]. PON1 activity in clinical sera was closely correlated to serum albumin, total protein and the ratio of albumin to globulins, but was weakly correlated to both direct and total bilirubin in serum. There were no correlations of PON1 activity to gamma-glutamyltransferase, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. Among 127 clinical sera with PON1 activity>2.12 mkat/L, there were 92% healthy individuals examined by albumin, 90% healthy individuals examined by total protein, 88% healthy individuals examined by total bilirubin, 86% healthy individuals examined by direct bilirubin and 64% healthy individuals examined by the ratio of albumin to globulins, respectively. In each group of healthy individuals judged by classical biochemical indexes of close correlation to PON1 activity, percentage of healthy individuals examined by PON1 activity was always >80%. These results suggested PON1 activity on phenylacetate estimated by the integrated method was also suitable for the evaluation of liver damage.
Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Aryldialkylphosphatase ; blood ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Biomarkers ; Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases ; blood ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; blood ; enzymology ; Liver Function Tests ; Phenylacetates