Animals ; Birds ; virology ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Influenza A virus ; classification ; pathogenicity ; Influenza Vaccines ; Influenza in Birds ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; prevention & control

Atherosclerosis ; metabolism ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; metabolism ; Humans

ObjectiveTo investigate the association between catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT)gene polymorphism and Gilles de la Tourette' s syndrome(GTS).MethodsUsing Amplification Refractory Mutation System(ARMS) PCR genotyping assay method,a polymorphism (val158met) of COMT gene was genotyped in 112 of all GTS patients ( total GTS group) including 54 GTS-alone patients group,48 GTS + ADHD patients group among of them and 71 healthy controls.The correlation between positive association of polymorphism (val158met)of COMT gene in GTS and the age of onset in patients with GTS was also analyzed.ResultsCompared with healthy controls group,genotype of val158met did not differ in total GTS patients group or alone-GTS patients group (χ2 =0.56,P=0.756;χ2 =1.05,P=0.600 respectively).There was also no significant difference (P＞0.05)in allele distribution of val158met in total GTS patients group or alone-GTS patients group compared with controls group respectively (χ2 =0.18,P=0.669;χ2 =0.29,P=0.593 respectively).However,genotype distribution of val158met was significantly different between GTS + ADHD patients group and controls group( χ2 =6.35,P =0.041 ).The frequency of the val allele of this locus was significantly higher in GTS + ADHD patients group than those in controls group ( χ2 =5.49,P =0.019 ).The mean age of onset (6.80 ± 1.54 ) in 36 children within GTS + ADHD patients group with the val/val geantype of COMT gene val158met polymorphism was significantly earlier than the mean age of onset (8.04 ± 1.54)in 12 children in val/val genotype (P =0.016 ).ConclusionPolymorphism (val158met) of COMT gene may be associated with GTS children with comorbid ADHD,which may play an important role to make the age of onset in children with GTS become earlier.

AlM: To investigate the relationship among carotid atherosclerosis, homocysteine ( Hcys ) and anterior ischmic optic neuropathy( AlON) .METHODS: Sixty-five AlON patients enrolled in AlON group and 70 non - AlON controls enrolled in control group. All the participants in 2 groups were examined by carotid artery color doppler flow imaging to evaluate the incidence of carotid atherosclerosis. Plasma levels of Hcys, vitamin B12 and folate were measured by automatic biochemical analyzer. The incidence of carotid atherosclerosis, plasma levels of Hcys, vitamin B12 and folate were compared statistically between AlON and control group.RESULTS: Fifty - six AlON patients ( 86%) exhibited carotid atherosclerosis, which was found in 43 control subjects ( 61%) . Fifty - nine AlON patients ( 91%) exhibited increased plasma levels of Hcys compared with that in 38 control subjects ( 54%) . Lowered vitamin B12 was found in 37 patients with AlON ( 57%) and in 43 control subjects ( 61%) . Lowered folate was found in 54 AlON patients ( 83%) and in 32 control subjects ( 46%) . The incidence of atherosclerosis in carotid artery ( P =0. 001), mean Hcys level (P=0. 0005) and lowered folate ( P = 0. 0006 ) were different statistically between AlON group and control group. Mean vitamin B12 level was indifferent between AlON group and control group ( P=0. 0722). Logistic regression analysis showed that carotid atherosclerosis was an a risk factor for AlON (OR=1. 312, 95%CI:0. 927~1. 772), whereas elevated Hcys level (OR=2. 378, 95% CI: 1. 479 ~ 3. 821 ) was also shown to be significant risk factor for AlON. CONCLUSlON: Carotid atherosclerosis and elevated Hcys were related with AlON. Reducing above-mentioned risk factors related to thrombus may be crucial to the prevention and cure of AlON.

OBJECTIVE:To establish an HPLC method for the determination of the contents of Ligustrazine in rat's plasma,brain and liver.METHODS:Ligustrazine was separated on Hypersil ODS-C18 column with aspirin as internal standard.The mobile phase consisted of methanol-1.5% glacial acetic acid solution(45∶55,V/V)at a flow rate of 1.0 mL?min-1.The UV detection wavelength was 279 nm.RESULTS:The linear range of ligustrazine in rat's plasma,brain and liver was 0.006 25～7.813 ?g?mL-1,The lowest detectable limits were 0.5 ng?mL-1,1.55 ng?mL-1,and 1.55 ng?mL-1 and the average recoveries were 97.26%,96.44%,and 95.43% respectively with RSD at 3.40%,4.19% and 4.94%,respectively.CONCLUSION:With good linearity,precision and recovery,the method is sensitive and simple,and suitable for pharmacokinetic study and the research of Ligustrazine preparation.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of the innate immune factors TLR2 and TLR4 in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) by detecting their expression in different clinical types of CRS and the normal control group. METHOD: Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of TLR2 and TLR4 respectively in 21 cases (chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, CRSwNP) group, 15 cases (chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyos, CRSsNP) group, 11 cases recurrent CRSwNP group and 13 cases control group. Positive cells were counted under the microscope artificially, Mann-Whitney U analysis was applied for the ranked data, and one-way anova analysis was adopted to analyze the experimental group and control group. RESULT: (1) TLR2 and TLR4 expression had the same characteristics. Expression mainly concentrated in parts of the whole layer of epithelial basement membrane, cytoplasm of glandular cells, very few inflammatory cells such as monocytes and plasma cells in the cytoplasm, sometimes unknown cell nuclei positive expression. (2) The glandular cells were stained manual counting and color grading. TLR2 and TLR4 packet application Wilcoxon rank test Mann-Whitney U test analysis was not statistically significant (P > 0.05), measurement data within the group variance statistical difference between the groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The Nasal mucosa can produce the innate immune factors TLR2 and TLR4. The different expression of TLR2 and TLR4 in the various clinical types of CRS suggests that they play the certain role in the pathogenesis of CRS.
Chronic Disease ; Epithelial Cells ; immunology ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Nasal Mucosa ; immunology ; metabolism ; Nasal Polyps ; immunology ; metabolism ; Rhinitis ; immunology ; metabolism ; Sinusitis ; immunology ; metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 2 ; metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the regulatory effects of electroacupuncture with different acupoints combinations on blood lipid and atherosclerosis index (AI) in rats with hyperlipemia, so as to make a preliminary screening for the optimal acupoints combination for hyperlipemia.

METHODSOne hundred and five clean-grade SD male rats were randomly divided into 9 groups, including a normal group, a model group, a Quchi group, a Zhongwan group, a Fenglong group, a Quchi+Zhongwan group, a Quchi+Fenglong group, a Zhongwan+Fenglong group and a Quchi+Zhongwan+Fenglong group (three acupoints group), 17 rats in the normal group and 11 rats in the rest groups. The normal group was fed with normal diet, while the rest groups were fed with high-fat diet for 3 weeks to prepare the hyperlipemia model. All the rats were given unlimited water. After the establishment of model, the normal group was fed freely without any treatment; the model group was bundled and immobilized everyday; the rest groups were bundled, immobilized and treated with electroacupuncture at corresponding acupoints with disperse-dense wave, 20 min per time, once a day. After 4 weeks, the blood examples were collected from abdominal aorta to measure the total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), and analyzed the AI in each group.

RESULTSAfter the treatment, TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C and AI in each acupuncture group were all lower than those in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with single acupoint group and the Quchi+Zhongwan group, the content of TC in the three acupoints group was lower (P<0.01). The differences of content of TG among each acupuncture group were not significant (all P>0.05). Compared with the rest 6 acupuncture groups, the content of HDL-C and AI in the three acupoints group were significantly different (all P<0.05). The content of LDL-C in the three acupoints group was decreased as compared with the Quchi group and the Zhong-wan group.

CONCLUSIONThe electroacupuncture at "Quchi" (LI 11), "Zhongwan" (CV 12) and "Fenglong" (ST 40) has more advantages on regulating the content of HDL-C and LDL-C as well as improving AI in hyperlipemia rats, and it has superior effects on blood lipid metabolism.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; blood ; therapy ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To explore the main factors affecting medical expenses of patients with colorectal cancer(CRC)and reduce such expenses by optimizing the clinical pathway of CRC according to the influencing factors.Methods Data of 467 discharged and medical insured CRC patients at Shanghai Cancer Center,Fudan University,were collected from 2009 to 2010.A multiple linear regression model was applied to analyze the influencing factors of medical expenses.The clinical pathway of CRC was optimized,and medical expenses before and after optimization were compared.Results Our data found days of stay and complications had impact on the medical expenses.Also,medical expenses were decreased accordingly with optimization of clinical pathway of CRC.Conclusion This study provides evidence for decision-making on single disease payment and medical insurance compensation on CRC.It is also meaningful to reduce the economic burden of patients with CRC.

Objective To investigate the relationship between hemodynamic parameters from quantitative analysis of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and pathological tumor differentiated grades. Methods Seventy-seven HCC lesions were examinated and off-line analyzed with dynamic images. Quantitative parameters such as slope of decrease to half of peak (SD), increased signal intensity (ISI), area under the curve (AUC) and blood flow coefficient (BF) were acquired, and the standardized values (sISI, sAUC and sBF) included the ratio of parameters from tumor to those from hepatic parenchyma. These quantitative parameters were correlated with tumor grades according to Edmonson criteria. Results There was significant difference (P＜0.05) of SD, AUC and BF, as well as standardized values (sISI, sAUC and sBF) between different grades of HCC. AUC, BF, sISI, sAUC and sBF were negative correlated with differentiated grades, respectively (P＜0.05). Well-differentiated HCC had significantly higher perfusion values than HCC of other grades (P＜0.05). Conclusion Quantitative analysis of CEUS can assess differentiation of HCC indirectly, and might reveal biological behavior of malignant tumors.