Objective To investigate the association between the target organ damage and morning blood pres- sure surge(MBPS) in the elderly hypertensives.Methods Three hundred thirty-two patients submitted to 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring were categorized as with MBPS (n=173),and non-MBPS(n=149).Total cholesterol,body mass index(BMI),left ventricular mass index (LVMI),carotid endothelial medium thickness (CCA-IMT and ICA-IMT) and corrected QT dispersion(QTcd) were determined.Results 24 h,day and night mean systolic blood pressure in MBPS group were significantly higher than that in the non-MBPS group(P

Objective To evaluate the features of the encapsulated papillary thyroid carcinoma (EPTC) by ultrasound and histopathology.Methods The EPTC were classified into the following two types based on the shape,characteristics of the border,size of the nodule,echogenicity,a hypoechoic halo and microcalcification by ultrasound features:papillary carcinoma (PC) type and follicular tumor (FT) type.Results Of all the 33 cases,21 cases were PC type and 12 cases were FT type.The histopathological result of PC type was papillary carcinoma.PC type had a jagged border,an irregular tumor shape with marked hypoechogenicity by ultrasound.PC type were composed of papillae by histopathology,completely surrounded by a fibrous capsule with tumor cells having the nuclear features of papillary thyroid carcinoma,densely interstitial fibrosis and microcalcification;FT type had a smooth border,a regular shape (spherical to oval),isoechogenicity and a hypoechoic halo by ultrasound.FT type were completely or significantly composed of follicles by histopathology,completely surrounded by a fibrous capsule with tumor cells having the nuclear features of papillary thyroid carcinoma.Hypoechoic halo were more frequently observed in FT type than in PC type.The nodule size of FT type(1.8-7.0 cm)was larger than that of PC type(0.8-5.2 cm).Fine and multiple strong echoes were characteristically present only in PC type.Conclusion The EPTC have characteristic features that are similar to those of the benign follicular thyroid tumor by ultrasound.

This study is to investigate the effect of ethyl gallate on invasion capabilities and its mechanism of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. Using cell adhesion and transwell assay, separately, the effects of ethyl gallate on the invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells were measured. The Akt-NF-κB signal pathway protein expressions were analyzed with Western blot. Also, the mRNA levels of MMP-9 and MMP-2 were analyzed by RT-PCR. Ethyl gallate inhibited the abilities of motility, adhesion and invasion of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro (P<0.05), inhibited the mRNA levels of MMP-9, MMP-2, phosphorylation of AKt and protein expression of NF-κB. It is concluded that ethyl gallate can inhibit the abilities of invasion of breast cancer in vitro by inhibiting the mRNA levels of MMP-9/MMP-2, phosphorylation of Akt and protein expression of NF-κB.
Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Gallic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; Signal Transduction

Child, Preschool ; Fatal Outcome ; Female ; Humans ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; complications ; Shock, Septic ; etiology ; Streptococcal Infections ; complications

Objective To investigate the clinical features and prognostic factors in children with idi-opathic pulmonary arterial hypertension(IPAH). Methods The data of children with IPAH diagnosed in Beijing Children′s Hospital from January 2006 to December 2015 were collected. The cases were divided into survival group and death group according to the prognosis. The risk factors influencing prognosis in children with IPAH were identified by Logistic regression analysis. Results Total 26 patients were enrolled in this study,and 17 of them survived and 9 of them were dead. IPAH was found to be more common in school-age children. The average age of the patients was(6. 6 ± 3. 6)years and the male to female ratio was 1. 17∶1. All of the children had the symptoms with decreased activity tolerance and fatigue. The incidence of syncope and dyspnea and edema of lower extremity were 34. 6%,23. 1%. Accentuated pulmonic second sound(P2) was detected in 92. 3% of patients during physical examination, which was also the most common sign. About 50. 0% patients were functional class Ⅲ-Ⅳ. Echocardiography showed that all childrens′ mean pulmonary artery systolic pressure(PASP) was(79. 0 ± 20. 3) mmHg(1 mmHg=0. 133 kPa) and 16 of them with right ventricular dilatation. Electrocardiogram with ST-T changes and right ventricular high voltage were common. The average plasma level of brain natriuretic peptide(BNP) in all cases was(870. 4 ± 720. 9) pg/ml. The single factor analysis illustrated that syncope(OR=26. 25,95%CI 3. 04 -226. 60,P=0. 003),heart func-tional class Ⅲ-Ⅳ(OR=19. 199,95%CI 1. 88 -196. 53, P=0. 0128), PASP≥70 mmHg(OR =9. 936, 95%CI 1. 81-∞,P=0. 005),BNP≥850 pg/ml(OR=59. 991,95%CI 4. 69-767. 62,P=0. 002) indica-ted the worse outcome. Conclusion IPAH in children is rare and the prognosis is poor. Syncope, cardiac function grade,PASP and the levels of BNP are the main important factors affecting the prognosis of children with IPAH. BNP has important clinical significance for the evaluation of IPAH and the prognosis of the disease.

This study was aimed to establish a method for simultaneous determination of seven anions and organic acids in Huo-Xue Tong-Luo (HXTL) injection by HPCE. With tartaric acid as the internal standard, separation was performed on an uncoated fused silica capillary (50 μm × 64. 5 cm, 56 cm of effective length). The 14 mmol·L-1 potassium acid phthalate and 0.1 mmol·L-1 hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride were selected for the running buffer solution (pH 5.6). The separation voltage was -16 kV. The detection wavelength was set at 210 nm. The column temperature was maintained at 25 ℃ . The sample was injected at 50 mbar×4 s. The results showed that
calibration curves of chloride ion, sulfuric acid root ion, formate ions, malic acid, succinic acid, iodate ion and acetic acid ions showed good linear relationship 41.4-248.2 μg·mL-1 (r = 0.999 3), 12.5-74.8 μg·mL-1 (r = 0.999 8), 18.2-109.1 μg·mL-1 (r = 0.999 8), 20.3-121.6 μg·mL-1 (r = 0.999 5), 17.2-103.1 μg·mL-1 (r=0.999 1), 17.6-105.6μg·mL-1 (r=0.999 6), 51.6-309.6μg·mL-1 (r=0.999 7), respectively. The average recoveries were 102.6%, 97.3%, 102.2%, 99.0%, 99.2%, 97.8%, and 103.4%, respectively. The RSD were 1.7%, 2.0%, 1.6%, 2.6%, 2.1%, 2.9%, and 1.0%, respectively (n = 6). It was concluded that the method was accurate and reproducible. It was suitable for the determination of anions and organic acids in HXTL injection.

ObjectiveTo analyze the prevalence and epidemic trend of human brucellosis between 2007 -2010 in Qian'an county,and to provide a basis for future prevention and control measures. Methods Epidemiological data of brucellosis between 2007 - 2010 were obtained from the national disease surveillance report on management information system, population data were from the national disease surveillance information management system for basic information reporting system, and descriptive epidemiological methods was used for statistical analysis. Results A total of 86 cases were infected with brucellosis in Qian'an county from 2007 to 2010, with 68 cases of male and 18 cases of female, and male to female ratio was 3.78 : 1. Patients were mainly in the age of 20 - 55, with 40 - ＜ 45 year-old group the highest. All patients were local residents. Most professional were livestock acquisition, processing and aquaculture personnel. The majority of patients lived in Jianchang town,with 51 cases, accounting for 59.30％. Thirteen patients were reported in 2007, incidence was 0.0201‰(13/ 647 983). Thirty-nine patients were reported in 2010, and incidence was 0.0563‰(39/657 380). There was a fluctuations increase from 2007 to 2010. In 2007 brucellosis occurred in only two townships(towns), which spread to eight townships (towns) and urban areas in 2010. ConclusionsThe epidemic of human brucellosis in Qian'an is in a spreading trend. We recommend the government to strengthen the quarantine of livestock, and the infected livestock should be timely treated. Strengthen the prevention and control in Jianchangying. At the same time increase the brucellosis propaganda, and enhance self-protection awareness of the occupational groups.

OBJECTIVEThe study examined the changes of serum caspase-3 and IL-8 levels following selective head cooling with mild hypothermia (SHC) treatment in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in order to explore the mechanism of neuroprotection of SHC against HIE.

METHODSThirty-three neonates with moderate or severe HIE were randomly assigned to two groups: SHC treatment (n=16) and conventional treatment (n=17). Serum levels of caspase-3 and IL-18 were measured using ELISA before treatment and 24 hrs, 48 hrs, 72 hrs and 5 days after treatment.

RESULTSSerum caspase-3 levels in the SHC group decreased 24 and 48 hrs after treatment (3.8±1.9 and 2.6±1.2 ng/mL, respectively) compared with 6.1±2.3 ng/mL at 24 hrs and 7.2±3.1 ng/mL at 48 hrs in the conventional treatment group (P<0.05). Serum IL-18 levels in the SHC group decreased 24 hrs, 48 hrs and 72 hrs after treatment (119±30, 76±33 and 71±40 ng/mL, respectively) compared with those in the conventional treatment group (138±28 ng/mL at 24 hrs, 156±60 ng/mL at 48 hrs and 182±54 ng/mL at 72 hrs; P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSSHC treatment can inhibit the release of caspase-3 and the expression of IL-18 in neonates with moderate or severe HIE. This may contribute to the neuroprotection of SHC against HIE.

Caspase 3 ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Hypothermia, Induced ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; blood ; therapy ; Infant, Newborn ; Interleukin-18 ; blood ; Male

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of baicalin on proliferation and apoptosis of HL-60 cells and its mechanism. Cell proliferation was assayed by using Cell Counting Kit-8. The morphological changes of HL-60 cells were examined by light microscopy and nucleolus morphological changes were observed by fluorescent microscopy after Hoechst 33342 staining. The early cell apoptosis was detected by using flow cytometry with Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining. The expression of caspase-3, caspase-9, Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot assay was carried out to examine Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-8 and cleaved caspase-3 expression. The results showed that Baicalin inhibited the proliferation of HL-60 cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. HL-60 cells exhibited typical morphological features (for example, cell shrinkage, membrane blebbing and formation of apoptotic bodies). Cell apoptosis in early stage could be detected, the expression of caspase-3, caspase-9 and Bax mRNA was obviously up-regulated, while the Bcl-2 expression down-regulated, and accordingly Bcl-2/Bax ratio decreased. Such results were consistent with the expression of these proteins. In addition, the expression of cleaved caspase-8 protein was induced significantly after treated with baicalin. It is concluded that baicalin can significantly inhibit the proliferation of HL-60 cells and induce the apoptosis of HL-60 cells, which may occur through decreasing Bcl-2/Bax ratio by intrinsic pathway and through extrinsic pathway. It suggests that baicalin may be a promising drug for the therapy of acute myeloid leukemia.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Caspase 8 ; metabolism ; Caspase 9 ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVESTo develop a method by which large and purified populations of spermatids can be isolated in semen of male infertile patients.

METHODSA total of fifteen ejaculates containing cellular elements from infertile patients with various andrological pathologies were obtained after a 24-hour abstinence. A modified discontinuous Percoll gradient (15%, 22%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%) centrifugation method was used to isolate the spermatids. After centrifugation at 2,000 r/min for 30 min at 18 degrees C, the single Percoll fractions were separated and analyzed in order to select the one with the greatest purity of spermatid. The germinal cells in each isolated fraction were counted using a Macro sperm counting chamber, then the contents of spermatids were determined by morphology (Wright-Giemsa staining method) and flow cytometry (FCM) analysis, while the contaminated leukocytes were assessed by anti-CD45 immunocytochemistry.

RESULTSAfter Percoll centrifuged, six single fractions were obtained. Morphology and FCM analysis showed that the 22% fraction contained mostly spermatids [(91.85 +/- 5.18)%, P < 0.005] and the mean density in this fraction was (1.010 +/- 0.786) x 10(5)/ml. While in the 30% fraction, various immature spermatogenic cells including spermatids were present and leukocytes mostly presented in the 60% fraction.

CONCLUSIONSA large population of relatively purified spermatids can be isolated from the ejaculates of infertile patients by using this modified discontinuous Percoll gradient centrifugation method.

Cell Separation ; methods ; Centrifugation, Density Gradient ; methods ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Infertility, Male ; pathology ; Leukocyte Common Antigens ; analysis ; Leukocytes ; chemistry ; cytology ; Male ; Semen ; cytology ; Spermatids ; chemistry ; cytology