Objective To analyze the effects of Litsea cubeba oil on gene expression profile of Candida albicans by comparing the differential gene expression profile after exposure to Litsea cubeba oil using genome-wide gene expression array.Methods Candida albicans ATCC90028 was exposed to Litsea cubeba oil for 90 min.Then RNA was isolated and gene expression profiles were compared to identify the differential gene expression profile using cDNA microarray analysis.Results A total of 491 geneswerefoundtoberesponsivetoLitseacubebaoil,accountingforabout11% ofthetotalnumberofgenesinCandida albicans (491/4 634),of which 216 genes were up-regulated and 275 down-regulated.These differentially expressed genes included genes encoding the key target enzyme in ergosterol biosynthesis pathway,genes in stress response,DNA replication and repair,molecular transport,and energy metabolism.Conclusions Litsea cubeba oil has significant effect on the expression of about 1 1% genes of Candida albicans genome.We presume that the genes encoding the key target enzyme in ergosterol biosynthesis pathway may contribute to the action of Litseacubeba oil on Candidaalbicans,which is similar to azole antifungal drugs.However,the role of other differentially expressed genes in the action of Litseacubeba oil on Candidaalbicans remains unclear,which deserves further study to characterize their potential association with the antifungal effect of Litsea cubeba oil.

OBJECTIVETo determine the efficacy and incidence of complications of extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) compared with pneumatic ureteroscopic lithotripsy (URSL) in the treatment of lower uretheral calculi.

METHODSFrom August 1997 to June 1999, 210 patients with lower ureteric calculi were treated with ESWL and the other 180 with URSL. The stones were fragmented with pneumatic lithotripter. The outcome was assessed by evacuation, retreatment and complication rates.

RESULTSESWL for lower ureteric calculi resulted in a stone evacuation rate of 78.1%, compared with 93.3% for URSL (P < 0.05). ESWL had a retreatment rate of 11.9% and a perforation rate of 0, while URSL caused perforation of ureters in 3.3% of patients and a refreatment of 2.2%.

CONCLUSIONFor the management of lower ureteric calculi, ESWL provides a non-invasive, simple and safe option, and URSL has a higher stone evacuation rate but causes ureter perforation more frequently than ESWL does. Both ESWL and URSL have their respective advantages. It is recommended, however, that URSL be extensively developed for better treatment efficacy, given that the operator has an adequate technical background.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Lithotripsy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ureteroscopy ; Urethral Diseases ; therapy ; Urinary Calculi ; therapy

Objective To explore the association between anemia and 3-year all-cause mortality among the oldest old people in longevity areas in China. Methods In August 2012, questionnaire survey,health examination and blood test were conducted among 929 old people aged≥80 years in 7 longevity areas in China,who were included in Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey(CLHLS)2009. Cox regression model was used to evaluate the association between anemia or different hemoglobin levels and mortality. Results Among the 929 subjects,the prevalence of anemia was 49.6%,the main form of anemia was normocytic anemia. During the three year follow-up period,a total of 447 subjects died,the overall mortality was 49.8%(56.0%in subjects with anemia and 43.3% in subjects without anemia). Compared with the subjects without anemia,the mortality risk increased by 25% in the subjects with anemia after adjusting confounding factors(HR=1.25, 95%CI:1.03-1.52). Macrocytic anemia,simplex microcytic anemia and microcytic hypochromic anemia were all associated with the increased mortality in the oldest old people. Compared with the subjects with low hemoglobin concentration,the subjects with high hemoglobin concentration had a lower mortality risk,and the association was more obvious in women. Conclusion Anemia and low hemoglobin concentration were associated with higher mortality risk in the oldest old people in China, indicating the importance of anemia prevention and treatment among this population.

Objective To explore association between serum albumin level and cognitive performance in elderly Chinese.Methods All the subjects aged ≥65 years in the 8 longevity areas in Chinese longitudinal health longevity survey (CLHLS) were invited to participate the biomedical in-depth CLHLS study,information about subjects' demographic characteristics,lifestyle,prevalence of diseases and health status was collected through household-interview.The cognitive performance was assessed with Mini Mental State Evaluation (MMSE) scale.Health examination was conducted by medical personnel and fasting venous blood samples were collected to detect the levels of triglycerides,total cholesterol,fasting glucose,creatine and blood albumin.MMSE score was compared and the trend was analyzed with generalized linear model.Association between albumin concentration and cognitive impairment was analyzed by logistic regression model.Results Generalized linear model showed that adjusted MMSE score increased from 23.22 in the lowest quartile group to 25.07 in the highest quartile group (P for linear trend ＜0.001).Logistic regression analysis results showed that the higher albumin level was associated with the lower risk of cognitive impairment (P＜ 0.001),the OR decreased linearly with the increasing level of albumin (P＜0.01),with the OR (95％CI) for the lower,higher and highest quartile groups was 0.64(0.45-0.91),0.60(0.40-0.89) and 0.43 (0.27-0.69),respectively,compared with the lowest quartile group.Conclusion High level of serum albumin was associated with low risk of cognitive impairment.

OBJECTIVETo explore the association between anemia and 3-year all-cause mortality among the oldest old people in longevity areas in China.

METHODSIn August 2012, questionnaire survey, health examination and blood test were conducted among 929 old people aged ≥ 80 years in 7 longevity areas in China, who were included in Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) 2009. Cox regression model was used to evaluate the association between anemia or different hemoglobin levels and mortality.

RESULTSAmong the 929 subjects, the prevalence of anemia was 49.6%, the main form of anemia was normocytic anemia. During the three year follow-up period, a total of 447 subjects died, the overall mortality was 49.8% (56.0% in subjects with anemia and 43.3% in subjects without anemia). Compared with the subjects without anemia, the mortality risk increased by 25% in the subjects with anemia after adjusting confounding factors (HR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.03-1.52). Macrocytic anemia, simplex microcytic anemia and microcytic hypochromic anemia were all associated with the increased mortality in the oldest old people. Compared with the subjects with low hemoglobin concentration, the subjects with high hemoglobin concentration had a lower mortality risk, and the association was more obvious in women.

CONCLUSIONAnemia and low hemoglobin concentration were associated with higher mortality risk in the oldest old people in China, indicating the importance of anemia prevention and treatment among this population.

Aged, 80 and over ; Anemia ; epidemiology ; Anemia, Hypochromic ; epidemiology ; Cause of Death ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Longevity ; Longitudinal Studies ; Male ; Prevalence ; Risk ; Surveys and Questionnaires