Objective To investigate the relationship between thyroid function indexes and plasma level of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) among patients who had high risks for cardiovascular diseases without thyroid diseases and heart failure.Methods Totally 166 elderly type 2 diabetic patients aged 80 years and over with normal range of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were divided into group of euthyroid sick syndrome (ESS,n=62) and group of normal thyroid hormones (NESS,n=104).The patients in normal thyroid hormones group were divided into three subgroups according to the levels of total triiodothyronine (TT3),(low-level group,n=26; middle-level group,n=50; high-level group,n=28).Levels of thyroid hormones,NT-proBNP,cholesterol,low-density lipoprotein cholesterol,fibrinogen,HbA1C,glomerular filtration rate (eGRF),left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and the incidences of concomitant diseases were measured and detected.lgNT-proBNP was used to calculated after NT-proBNP was changed by Log transformation.Results Compared with NESS group,ESS group showed that age was increased,systolic pressure and LVEF were decreased [(86.3 ± 5.8) years vs.(85.6 ± 5.2) years,(126.6±15.5) mmHg vs.(135.6±17.8) mmHg,(63.9±7.6)％ vs.(67.4±7.5)％,all P＜0.01].Compared with NESS group,ESS group showed that the levels of serum total T3 and free T3 were decreased [(0.89±0.17) nmol/L vs.(1.45±0.31) nmol/L,(3.31±0.55) pmol/L vs.(3.96± 0.59) pmol/L,both P＜0.01].The lgNT-proBNP level was higher and serum total thyroxine (TT4) level was lower in ESS group than in NESS group [(2.40±0.40) ng/L vs.(2.26±0.44) ng/L,(101.80±36.11) nmol/L vs.(111.07±23.29) nmol/L,both P＜0.05].Pearson analysis revealed that serum levels of TT3,TT4 and FT3 were negatively correlated with lgNT-proBNP (r=-0.217,-0.180,-0.174,respectively,all P＜0.05) after adjustment for age,systolic pressure and LVEF.Stepwise regressive analysis showed TT3 was the risk factors for lgNT-proBNP (β=-0.267,P＜ 0.01).Compared with the low-level group,the lgNT-proBNP were significantly reduced in the middle-,and high-level groups [(2.19±0.42) ng/L,(2.19±0.46) ng/L vs.(2.44±0.39) ng/L,both P＜0.05].Conclusions TT3 has a close correlation with NT-proBNP in elderly type 2 diabetic patients with normal TSH.It has a significant meaning to test TT3 level for monitoring heart function in clinical medicine.

Objective To study the effects of vitamin E(VitE) on TNF-?,IL-1? and nitric oxide(NO) secretion from human monocytes stimulated by advanced glycation end products.Methods Human peripheral blood monocytes(PBMCs) from 20 hemodialysis(HD) patients and 15 normal volunteers were isolated.These PBMCs were cultured in vitro with advanced glycation end products(AGE) and vitamin E.All of these PBMCs were divided into control group,AGE-inducing group,different doses VitE group and different culture VitE group.The levels of TNF-? and IL-1? in supernatants were detected by ELISA.The levels of NO were detected by biochemical method.Results The basal secretion of TNF-?,IL-1? in monocytes from HD patients was more than those from normal volunteers.AGE induced significantly more secretion of TNF-? and IL-1?(P

Objective:Marrow mesenchymal stem cells differentiates into neuron-like cells when induced by Gastrodia,which verifies the multipotentiality of the stem cells.Here to detect the immunogenic properties of the neuron-like cells after differentiation.Methods:Human mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from bone marrow by wall sticking method,amplified by in vitro culture,and differentiated into neuron-like cells by oriented induction with Gastrodia.The morphology of cells was observed under light microscopy.Neuron-specific enolase (NSE),nestin and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were detected by imnunocytochemistry.The expression of HLA-DR protein after induction was tested by flow cytometry(FCM).The immunogenic properties of the neuron-like cells induced from hMSCs were detected by one-way mixed lymphocyte reaction(MLR).Results:Human mesenchymal stem cells could be separated and amplified in vitro.After being induced by Gastrodia for 3 hours,most of the cells would be differentiated into neuron-like cells,revealing cytodendrite.By immunochemical staining,the cells showed positive of NSE,nestin,and negative of GFAP.HLA-DR was not detectable on differentiated hMSCs by FCM.MLR assays demonstrate that differentiated hMSCs fail to stimulate proliferative response of hPBLs.Conclusion:Human mesenchymal stem cells could be induced to differentiate into neuron-like cells by Gastrodia.MLR assays demonstrate that differentiated hMSCs fail to stimulate proliferative response of hPBLs.They are low immunogenic.

Objective To investigate the effect of fluvastatin sodium on the risk factors of atherosclerosis in patients with previous coronary heart disease.Methods 58 cases meeting the inclusion criteria and diagnosed coronary heart disease history of chlamydial infection were selected and randomly divided into study group and control group, 29 cases in each group, the control group were given routine treatment, study group on the basis of conventional treatment of fluvastatin sodium(20 mg pertime, once daily) treatment.A total of 4 weeks treatment for a course, the blood lipid and vascular endothelial function, matrix metalloproteinases and inflammatory factor levels were determined before and after treatment, and adverse reactions were recorded between the two groups.Results Compared with the control group, the total cholesterol ( TC ) , triglyceride ( TG ) , low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C) and lipid comprehensive index(LCI) in study group after treatment were lower, the high density lipid-cholesterol(HDL-C) was higher, the soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1(sI-CAM-1) and endothelin-1(ET-1) were lower, the NO was higher, matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), MMP-9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1(TIMP-1) were lower, and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta(IL-1β), high-sensitivity c-reactive protein( Hs-CRP ) and IL-6 were lower ( all P <0.05 ).All patients were followed up, only slight gastrointestinal adverse reaction, there was no significant difference in adverse reactions between the two groups.Conclusion The fluvastatin sodium can reduce the blood lipid, the level of matrix metalloproteinases, improve vascular endothelial function and inflammatory state, with high safety.

Objective To investigate the association of osteoporosis and coronary artery calcification in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods A total of 82 elderly T2DM patients underwent dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scanning (DXA) of lumbar spine and femur neck for getting bone mineral density (BMD),and dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) of coronary artery for calculating calcification score and total calcification score (TCS).All subjects were divided into two groups:osteoporosis group and non-osteoporosis group.The levels of serum calcium (Ca),parathyrin (PTH),phosphorus (P),alkaline phosphatase (AKP),triglyceride (TG),total cholesterol (TC),high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C),low density lipoproteincholesterol (LDL-C) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were detected.Results Compared with non-osteoporosis group,the levels of serum Ca,PTH and TCS were higher [(2.32± 0.15)mmol/L vs.(2.04±0.20) mmol/L;(5.64±1.97) pmol/L vs.(5.01±1.93) pmol/L;(374.4±433.5) scores vs.(242.5±224.8) scores,t=5.790,5.331 and 2.248,all P<0.05] in osteoporosis group.Correlation analysis showed TCS was negatively associated with BMD of L2-4 and femur neck,while was positively associated with serum Ca and PTH (r=0.310,0.246,0.290,0.284 and 0.324,0.575 all P<0.05).Conclusions Osteoporosis is associated with coronary atherosclerosis.TCS could be considered as an index for judging the relationship between osteoporosis and coronary atherosclerosis.

Objective To evaluate plasma natriuretic peptide brain (BNP) levels in elderly male patients with type 2 diabetes and primary osteoporosis.Methods A total of 122 elderly male patients with type 2 diabetes were divided into 3 groups according to bone mineral density(BMD):normal group (41 cases),osteopenia group (40 cases) and osteoporosis group (41 cases),and another 33 age matched healthy subjects as control group.Plasma BNP levels were determined by ELISA.Results Plasma BNP levels in osteoporosis group [(1.95 ± 0.49) pmol/L] and osteopenia group [(1.64±0.48) pmol/L] were significantly elevated compared with that in normal group [(1.32±0.38) pmol/L] and control group [(1.26±0.39) pmol/L] (all P＜0.01).There was a statistical difference between osteoporosis group and osteopenia group (t=3.539,P＜0.05),and also between normal group and control group (t=2.726,P＜0.05).Plasma BNP levels had negative correlation with BMD of 2na-4th lumbar vertebra (r=-0.366) and femoral neck (r=-0.375),body mass index (r=-0.288) and estrodiol (E2) (r=-0.352) (all P＜0.05); while had a positive correlation with parathyroid hormone (PTH) (r=0.353,P＜0.05).Conclusions With BMD declining,plasma BNP levels are elevated in elderly male type 2 diabetes,which may be related to the compensatory increase in PTH and the decrease in estradiol.

Objective To construct DNA vaccine expressing Mycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb) immunodominant antigen Ag85A and analyze its anti-tuberculosis T cell responses in BCG primed-mice after DNA vaccination boosting.Methods The coding gene of Ag85A mature fragment was amplified by PCR with H37Rv genomic DNA as template,and then cloned into the eukaryotic expression vector pVAX1 to construct Ag85A DNA vaccine.After purification,Ag85A DNA vaccine was injected intramuscularly twice in BCG primed-mice with BCG vaccination and DNA vaccination alone as control.Eight weeks post-vaccination,spleen lymphocytes were separated and were then used to analyze Mtb antigen specific effector T cell response and polyfuntional IFN-γ/TNF-α/IL-2 secreting CD4+ T cell frequencies and intensities,and CD8+T cell responses by IFN-γ ELISPOT assay and intracellular staining,respectively.Results Compared to BCG vaccinated-and DNA vaccinated-mice,Ag85A DNA boosting not only enhanced significantly BCG primed-mice IFN-γ+TNF-α+IL-2+,IFN-γ+ IL-2+,TNF-α+IL-2+ and IL-2+ CD4+ T cell frequencies and IL-2 secretion,but also improved significantly IFN-γ-secreting and IL-2-secreting CD8+ T cell frequencies.Condusion Ag85A DNA vaccine was constructed successfully and was demonstrated to enhance significantly BCG primed-mice Mtb antigen specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses when boosting,which is beneficial to improve BCG immunogenicity and its waning immune protection against Mtb.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of Anxin Granules on dyslipidemia in rabbits caused by high fat plus high cholesterol diet. METHODS: Thirty-two healthy New Zealand male white rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal control group, untreated group, Zhibituo Tablet-treated group and Anxin Granule-treated group. Rabbits in the normal control group were fed with regular chow, while rabbits in the other three groups were fed with high fat plus high cholesterol diet. Zhibituo Tablets and Anxin Granules were administered to the rabbits in Zhibituo Tablet-treated group and Anxin Granule-treated group at a daily oral dose respectively. At the end of the 10th week, the levels of serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), apolipoprotein A(1) (ApoA1) and apolipoprotein B (ApoB) were tested in each group, and the ultrastructures of the aorta were also observed by an electron microscope. RESULTS: Anxin Granules could reduce the levels of TC, TG, LDL-C and ApoB. The results observed by electron microscope showed that, as compared with the untreated group and the Zhibituo Tablet-treated group, the atherosclerosis of aorta in the Anxin Granule-treated group was lighter. And it was found that there were few lipid droplet vacuoles in cytoplasm of the endothelial cells, and various cell organs and elastic membrane were existed, but no lipid droplet vacuoles in cytoplasm of the medial smooth muscle cells. CONCLUSION: Anxin Granules can regulate the metabolism of blood lipid and inhibit the formation of atherosclerosis caused by hyperlipidemia in rabbits.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; Young Adult

Abstract Falls are the leading cause of accidental injury deaths among the elderly. Currently, the incidence and disease burden of falls among the elderly remain high. By understanding the influencing factors of falls among the elderly and formulating targeted preventive measures, the risk of falls can be effectively reduced. Studies have found that falls among the elderly are results of the interaction of multiple factors. When formulating fall prevention strategies, attention should be paid to fall risk assessment and stratification, fall prevention exercise support and health education, living environment improvement, and primary healthcare service enhancement. Reviewing publications pertaining to the epidemiological studies of falls from January 2004 to January 2024, this article summarizes the epidemiological characteristics, risk factors, prevention and control strategies of falls among the elderly, aiming to provide the reference for prevention and control.