Objective To observe the efficacy of 810 nm diode laser therapy for keratosis follicularis.Methods A total of forty-eight patients with keratosis follicularis were treated by 810 nm diode laser,energy range from 9 to 10 J/cm2,frequency 10 Hz,pulse width 400 ms.Treatments were carried out in three times at 8-week intervals,and clinical efficacy was evaluated after third treatment (6 months).Results The total effective rates of keratosis follicularis were 91.7％.With the increase of the number the curative effect were obviously improved.The treatment effective rate was 52.1％ (25/48) for the first time.The treatment effective rate was 75.0％ (36/48) for the second time.And the third time was 91.7％ (44/48).the patients skin texture was obviously improved in the six-month of follow-up except adverse reaction appeared in five patients in the short term.Conclusions 810 nm diode laser is safe and effective for keratosis follicularis.

Abstract: Objective　To analyze the nucleic acid detection results of severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) by droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) and compare with the detection results of real-time fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR), so as to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of detection, and to provide data support for optimizing the nucleic acid detection scheme of SARS-CoV-2. Methods　According to the SARS-CoV-2 specific primer probe published by the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, a ddPCR detection method for SARS-CoV-2 was designed. One sample was selected for sensitivity test after gradient dilution; six respiratory virus nucleic acid positive samples including seasonal H3N2 influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 positive samples were selected for specificity test; five SARS-CoV-2 positive samples were selected for repeatability test; in addition, 30 positive and 20 negative SARS-CoV-2 samples were selected for multiple clinical samples testing, and the results were analyzed and compared with those of qRT-PCR. Results　The ddPCR method can specifically detect SARS-CoV-2, and directly obtain the original copy number of the sample target gene to achieve accurate quantification; the sensitivity test of gradient dilution positive samples showed that qRT-PCR detected target genes in part of the 10-5 dilution of samples, and no target genes were detected in 10-6 dilution, while ddPCR detected all target genes in both 10-5 and 10-6 dilution of samples. The detection limit of ddPCR was two orders of magnitude higher than that of qRT-PCR, and the sensitivity was higher than that of qRT-PCR; in the comparison of the repeatability test results of the two methods, the coefficient of variation of ddPCR was 1.266%-11.814%, lower than 1.729%-26.174% of qRT PCR, and the repeatability was higher than qRT-PCR; among 50 clinical samples, 30 positive samples of confirmed cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) were detected by both methods, SARS-CoV-2 was successfully detected by both methods, and 20 negative samples of COVID-19 were detected by both methods, and the results were negative, with a coincidence rate of 100.00% (50/50). Conclusion　The ddPCR method can accurately quantify SARS-CoV-2 with strong specificity, and its sensitivity and repeatability are higher than those of qRT-PCR, but it also has certain detection limitations and is more suitable for the detection of low load samples. In the actual detection, the two methods can be reasonably combined to improve the detection accuracy.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of policosanol on serum lipid and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in patients with hyperlipidemia.

METHODSThis randomized, open study included 72 patients with hyperlipidemia. The patients were randomly assigned to treatment group (policosanol, 20 mg/d, n = 36) or placebo group (placebo, two tablets/d, n = 36). The levels of serum lipids, hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), HO-1 were assessed before and after 16 weeks treatment. Drug-induced adverse effects and events were recorded during the observation period. The serum HO-1 was measured by ELISA.

RESULTS(1) After 16 weeks, all parameters remained unchanged in the placebo group; the level of TC decreased from (7.01 ± 1.03) mmol/L to (5.66 ± 0.83) mmol/L (-19.4%, P < 0.01), the level of LDL-C decreased from (4.78 ± 0.72) mmol/L to (3.70 ± 0.69) mmol/L (-22.5%, P < 0.01) in the treatment group. TG and HDL-C levels remained unchanged (P > 0.05) while the level of HO-1 significantly decreased from (1.82 ± 1.08) µg/L to (1.45 ± 0.81) µg/L (P < 0.01) and the level of hs-CRP decreased from (3.40 ± 3.64) mg/L to (1.86 ± 2.02) mg/L (P < 0.01) in the treatment group. (2) Safety index was similar between placebo and treatment groups (P > 0.05) and there was no adverse events including allergic reaction, muscle pain in all subjects during the observation period.

CONCLUSIONThe short-term data obtained from this small hyperlipidemia patient cohort suggest that policosanol is a safe lipid-lowering and anti-inflammatory agent for hyperlipidemia patients.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Anticholesteremic Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Fatty Alcohols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; blood ; drug therapy ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged

Abstract: Objective　To evaluate the influence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevention and control measures on the transmission and epidemic of influenza in Chongqing, so as to provide references for formulating targeted influenza prevention and control strategies. Methods　The influenza surveillance data, during the year 2018 to 2020, were collected through the "China Influenza Surveillance Information System", and the seasonal characteristics of influenza epidemic were analyzed. The percentage of influenza like cases (ILI%) and influenza virus positive rate between 2020 and 2018-2019 were compared, so as to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 prevention and control measures on influenza epidemic characteristics. Results　The annual proportions of ILI cases in Chongqing were respectively 3.53%, 2.23% and 1.2% from 2018 to 2020, while the positive rates of influenza virus were respectively 13.97%, 23.81% and 2.65%. The distribution trend of ILI% from 2018 to 2019 fluctuated were similar, but it continued to drop and remain at a low level since February 2020. The positive rate of influenza virus showed an epidemic peak from December to March in 2018-2019, also peaked from November 2019 to January 2020, but decreased to 0 in March. ILI% was positively correlated with the positive rate of influenza virus (r=0.404 8, P<0.05). In 2020, compared with the same period of 2018-2019, the growth rate of ILI% was -66.09% and -46.32%, respectively. The positive rate of influenza virus in 2020 decreased by 81.03% and 88.87% compared with the same period of 2018-2019, respectively. The growth rates of influenza virus positive rate in January 2020 were decreased with a small rate of about 39.87%, and with a significantly decline of more than 93.65% from February. No influenza epidemic was found after March. Conclusions　Since COVID-19 prevention and control measures were implemented in January 2020 in Chongqing, the ILI% and the positive rate of influenza virus in sentinel hospitals decreased significantly. In the season of high incidence of respiratory infectious diseases, personal protection and other measures can effectively reduce influenza virus infection.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between chromosome anomaly and spontaneous abortion, and to provide useful information for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis in reproductive clinic. METHODS: A total of 1 780 patients who had a history of spontaneous abortion before 24 weeks of gestation were enrolled. The lymphocyte culture and harvest were performed according to standard methods. Karyotypes were analyzed by G-banding in all cases and C- banding in some cases in addition. RESULTS: Altogether 57 abnormal karyotypes were found and the overall incidence of chromosomal abnormalities was 3.20% (women 3.32%; men 2.12%). Among them 23 cases were the balanced translocation; 14 cases were the Robertsonian translocation, 3 cases were the complex chromosomal rearrangement, and the other 17 cases were the other abnormalities. In women with 1, 2, 3 or more spontaneous abortion, the incidence of chromosomal abnormalities was 1.7%, 2.3%, and 5.8%, respectively. CONCLUSION Translocations are the major abnormal karyotpes associated with spontaneous abortions. The chance of finding chromosomal aberration increases with the number of abortions. Chromosomal abnormalities are more common in women with 3 or more spontaneous abortions.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; genetics ; pathology ; Adult ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Translocation, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo evaluate whether ultrasonic microbubble destruction (US/MB) could enhance the therapeutic effects of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) gene transfer for acute myocardial infarction (MI).

METHODSMI was induced by left anterior descending artery ligation in male SD rats. Two to 4 hours thereafter, MI rats were randomly treated with tail vein infusing pc-DNA3.1-HGF plasmid mixed with microbubbles (US/MB-HGF group, n = 18); tail vein infusing pc-DNA3.1-HGF plasmid mixed with saline (US-HGF group, n = 18); tail vein infusing empty plasmid mixed with microbubbles (US/MB-P group, n = 18). All rats were exposed to ultrasound treatment thereafter till contrast imaging disappeared in cardiac region. Rats were sacrificed at 24 hours, 7 days or 14 days, respectively (n = 6 each) and myocardial protein expression of bcl-2 and HGF as well as microvascular density (MVD) were determined.

RESULTSThe myocardial protein expressions of bcl-2 and HGF in US/MB-HGF group were significantly higher than those in US-HGF and US/MB-P groups at 7 days post MI (all P < 0.01) and MVD was significantly higher in US/MB-HGF group (367.6 +/- 17.6) than that in US-HGF (268.9 +/- 0.8) and US/MB-P (186.8 +/- 11.8) groups (all P < 0.05) at 14 days post MI.

CONCLUSIONSUltrasound-mediated microbubble destruction could enhance systemic HGF administration induced myocardial angiogenesis and reduce systemic HGF administration induced myocardial apoptosis in rats with acute MI.

Animals ; Genetic Therapy ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Microbubbles ; Myocardial Infarction ; therapy ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVEThe cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) could be obtained by measuring pulse wave velocity (PWV) and blood pressure (BP). This method is associated with various technical drawbacks. We evaluated the accuracy and usefulness of CAVI measured by ultrasound via detecting the aortic and ankle flow directly by ultrasonic probe.

METHODSCAVI was determined in 96 subjects [64 male, mean age (41.2 +/- 8.9) years] who took part in the annual check up program in our department by means of the professional equipment (BP-203RPEII, VP-1000, Japan, CAVIp), the M-mode (CAVIm) and color Doppler flow imaging (CAVId). Measurement reproducibility on was obtained by repeat the measurements in 20 subjects choose randomly from the 96 subjects. Carotid ultrasound (CU) was performed to obtain intima-media thickness (IMT) and beta index in all subjects.

RESULTSCAVI obtained by various methods were similar and comparable (CAVIm 7.74 +/- 1.62, CAVId 7.77 +/- 1.59, CAVIp 8.74 +/- 1.57, all P > 0.05). Inter-group and inter-observer variance was negligible (r1 = 0.98, r2 = 0.97). There were also significant correlations between CAVIm and IMT, CAVIm and beta (r1 = 0.824, r2 = 0.812, all P < 0.01), and between CAVId and IMT, CAVId and beta (r1 = 0.815, r2 = 0.813, all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSCAVI could be correctly measured by ultrasound technique.

Adult ; Ankle ; blood supply ; Atherosclerosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Blood Flow Velocity ; physiology ; Blood Vessels ; diagnostic imaging ; Carotid Arteries ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulse ; Ultrasonography

Adult ; Fatty Liver ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; diagnostic imaging ; Liver Circulation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; virology ; Humans ; Male

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of intracellular 5-lipoxygenase on oxidation of benzidine in HBE cells and to provide further evidence that lipoxygenase is an alternative pathway for the oxidation of xenobiotics mediated by cytochrome P450.

METHODSEnzyme system test: Soybean lipoxygenase (SLO), substrate (benzidine) and other components reacted in the enzyme system, followed by detection of the reaction products by spectrophotometry. In vitro test: After HBE cells were exposed to benzidine, the protein levels of 5-lipoxygenase in HBE cells were assessed by Western-blot, and the DNA damage by the single cell gel electrophoresis. At last, the effect of the specific inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase (AA861) on 5-lipoxygenase protein expression and DNA damage in HBE cells were detected.

RESULTSSLO could catalyze the co-oxidation of benzidine to generate benzidine diimine in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Under optimal condition, numax value of the oxidation of benzidine catalyzed by SLO was 1.42 nmol*min(-1) SLO, and the Km value of benzidine was 1.48 mmol/L. EGCG could inhibit the oxidation of benzidine by SLO. Benzidine could induce 5-lipoxygenase protein expression in HBE cells, but AA861 was invalid. Benzidine caused DNA damage in HBE cells, which could be significantly inhibited by AA861.

CONCLUSION5-LOX protein expression in HBE cells can be regulated by benzidine, which suggests that the co-oxidation of benzidine by 5-LOX could produce into electrophile that could covalently bind to DNA and induce DNA damage, which could be one of the mechanisms for carcinogenesis of BZD. 5-LOX inhibitor AA861 can inhibit this effect.

Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase ; metabolism ; Benzidines ; pharmacokinetics ; toxicity ; Cells, Cultured ; DNA Damage ; drug effects ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Humans