Objective:To investigate the relationship between epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness and left ventricular geometry in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).Methods:Two hundred and twenty-one OSAS patients were enrolled consecutively from the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January to December 2019. According to left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and relative wall thickness (RWT), OSAS patients were divided into 4 groups based on the left ventricular geometry: 110 with normal geometry (NG group), 56 with concentric remodeling (CR group), 32 with concentric hypertrophy (CH group), and 23 with eccentric hypertrophy (EH group). The patients were examineel by echocardiography, the left ventricular end diastolic diameter, LVMI, interventricular septal thickness, left ventricular posterior wall thickness, left ventricle ejcetion fraction, E/A were collected. Age, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), apnea hypopnea index (AHI), nocturnal lowest oxygen saturation (Lowest-SaO 2), nocturnal mean oxygen saturation (Mean-SaO 2), the percentage of the time that oxygen desaturation below 90%(T90), oxygen desaturation index(ODI), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), EAT thickness and the echocardiography parameters were compared among the four groups. The relationships between EAT thickness and the above-mentioned parameters and left ventricular geometry were analyzed by univariate and multivariate linear regressions. Results:①The higher EAT thickness was found in the CH group [(0.50±0.09)cm] and EH group [(0.46±0.07)cm] compared with the NG group [(0.33±0.11)cm] and CR group [(0.36±0.15)cm] (all P<0.05). In addition, age, SBP, DBP, AHI, ODI, T90, LVMI, RWT and E/A ratio were all significantly different among the groups (all P<0.05). ②Univariate linear regression analysis showed that EAT thickness was positively correlated with age, SBP, DBP, AHI, TG, TC and LVMI, RWT, left ventricular geometry, and negatively correlated with Mean-SaO 2 and Lowest-SaO 2. ③Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that EAT thickness was independently correlated with AHI, TG, TC and left ventricular geometry. Conclusions:EAT is independently related to abnormal left ventricular geometry, suggesting that EAT may be involved in the process of left ventricular remodeling.

AIM: To investigate the processing and HPLC fingerprint of Radix Scutellariae processed with wine,and to set up appropriate quanlity control standard. METHODS: chromatographic condition of HPLC-UV fingerprint consisted of Hypersil C_18 column(200 mm?5.0 mm,5 ?m),mixture of methanol,0.4% phosphoric acid and acetonitrile as a mobile phase in a gradient mode.Flow rate was 1.0 mL/min and detection wavelength was set at 277 nm. RESULTS: There were no evident differences among fingerprints of Radix Scutellariae that was normatively processed from the production areas. CONCLUSION: The process is feasible,and can be used to provide a basis for quanlity control of Radix Scutellariae.

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Anemia ; chemically induced ; Benzene ; poisoning ; Humans ; Male ; Nitro Compounds ; poisoning

Mean hemoglobin (Hb) concentration of about 3 500 subjects derived from 17 studies of Himalayan highlanders (Tibetans, Sherpas, and Ladakhis) was compared with lowlanders (Chinese Han, Indian Tamils) lived in the Himalayas, and European climbers during Everest expeditions as well as Andean natives. The results found that Hb concentration in Himalayan highlanders was systemically lower than those reported for Andean natives and lowland immigrants. These comparative data demonstrated that a healthy native population may successfully reside at high altitude without a significant elevation in Hb, and the lower Hb levels of Himalayan highlanders than those of migrated lowlanders and Andean natives are an example of favourable adaptation over the generations. In addition, excessive polycythemia has frequently been used as a marker of chronic mountain sickness (CMS). Altitude populations who have a higher Hb concentration also have a higher incidence of CMS. The low Hb in Himalayans suggested as showing adaptation over many generations in Tibetan stock. Recent work in Tibet, suggested that Tibetans there may have adapted to high altitude as a result of evolutionary pressure selecting for genes which give an advantage at altitude. All of the population genomic and statistical analysis indicated that EPAS1 and EGLN1 are mostly likely responsible for high altitude adaptation and closely related to low Hb concentration in Tibetans. These data supported the hypothesis that Himalayan highlanders have evolved a genetically different erythropoietic response to chronic hypoxia by virtue of their much longer exposure to high altitude.
Adaptation, Physiological ; Altitude ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Hemoglobins ; genetics ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-Proline Dioxygenases ; genetics ; Tibet

OBJECTIVETo explore the procedures of dynamic infusion cavernosometry and cavernosography (DICC) and their application in the diagnosis and classification of venous erectile dysfunction (VED).

METHODSThis study included 103 ED patients, aged 20 to 43 years, highly suspected of VED, with disease courses of 4 months to 6 years. DICC was performed and analyses were made on the results, especially the parameters of flow-to-maintain (FTM) and pressure decay (PD) in the corpus cavernosum.

RESULTSBased on the parameters of FTM and PD, 21 of the patients were normal, 5 were suspected of VED, 39 had mild VED, 25 had moderate VED, and 13 had severe VED. Penile subcutaneous hematoma was found in 4 of the patients, all recovered after 3 to 5 days, with no other complications.

CONCLUSIONDICC is a reliable, safe and minimally invasive method for the diagnosis and classification of VED.

Diagnostic Techniques, Urological ; adverse effects ; Hematoma ; etiology ; Humans ; Impotence, Vasculogenic ; classification ; diagnosis ; Male ; Penile Diseases ; etiology ; Penis ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; Radiography ; Veins

Objective To examine the difference of neurological soft signs (NSS) among the remittent schizophrenia patients,first-degree non-psychotic relatives of schizophrenia patients and healthy controls.Methods The Cambridge Neurological Inventory (CNI) (the Chinese version) was administered to 86 remittent schizophrenia patients (patient group),86 first-degree non-psychotic relatives of schizophrenia patients (relative group) and 86 healthy controls (control group).Results Compared with relative group,NSS total-score,the subscore of motor coordination and sensory integration were significantly higher in patient group (P＜0.01).Compared with control group,NSS total-score,the subscore of motor coordination and sensory integration were significantly higher in patient group (P＜0.01).Compared with control group,NSS total-score and the subscore of motor coordination were significantly higher in relative group (P＜0.01).Conclusions The levels of NSS in remittent schizophrenia patients and their first-degree non-psychotic relatives are higher than normal control,and the patients have more NSS than their relatives.The motor coordination nay be a potential endophenotype for schizophrenia.

Objective To identify the trend of endemic situation among surveillance sites in Jiagsu Province from 2000 to 2002. Methods Twelve schistosomiasis surveillance sites were es-tablished ,and the longitudinal, surveillance was carried out. Results The related index of snail increased in most of surveillance sites, the rates of positive snails rose rapidly in marshlands. The infection rates of Schitosoma janponicum of cattle decreased and infection rates of human were relatively steady. However, there was still the danger of heavy endemic. Conclusion Current control strategies can not effectively adapt to the endemic situation of schistosomiasis, although which have some effects on control of morbidity. We need to study the new characteristics and rule of the endemic of schistosomiasis, and make out more effective control strategies which can suit with the current society, economies and nature environment.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of deep electroacupuncture (EA) at Baliao points in treating stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Methods: A total of 60 female patients with SUI were divided into two groups according to the order of consultation, with 30 cases in each group. The control group was treated with pelvic floor muscle training. The treatment group was treated with deep EA at Baliao points [Shangliao (BL 31), Ciliao (BL 32), Zhongliao (BL 33) and Xialiao (BL 34)]. Results: The total effective rate was 93.3％ in the treatment group, versus 33.3％ in the control group, and the total effective rate of the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the scores of international consultation on incontinence questionnaire-short form (ICIQ-SF) and the volume of urinary leakage in both groups were lower than those before treatment (all P<0.05), and the ICIQ-SF score and the volume of urinary leakage in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group (both P<0.05). Conclusion: Deep EA at Baliao points with long needles can improve the clinical symptoms in female patients with SUI, and it has a better curative effect than pelvic floor muscle training.

Objective To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS) in patients with ischemic stroke (IS).Methods A total of 596 consecutive patients with ischemic stroke underwent cerebrovascular and renal angiography at our hospital from January 2008 to March 2013.Renal artery stenosis was defined as at least one of renal artery narrowing ≥ 50％ of luminal diameter.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the association of the clinical variables with ARAS.Results Intracranial arterial stenosis (ICAS) was identified in 203 patients (34.1％),including 108 cases (18.5％) with arteriostenosis ≥ 50％.Extracranial arterial stenosis (ECAS) was identified in 250 patients (41.9％),including 149 cases (25.0％) with arteriostenosis ≥ 50％.The prevalence of ECAS was higher than that of ICAS(x2 =7.86,P ＜ 0.05).ARAS was identified in 77 patients (12.9％),and the prevalence of ARAS in patients with ECAS ≥50％ was higher than that in with ICAS ≥50％ (30.2 ％ vs.18.5％,x2 =4.52,P ＜0.05).Multivariate analysis showed that the age≥ 60 y (OR:2.48,P ＜ 0.05) and ECAS ≥ 50％ (OR:5.37,P ＜ 0.05) were independent risk factors for prevalence of ARAS.Conclusion ARAS is a relatively common finding among patients with ischemic stroke,suggesting that renal angiography should be performed in elderly IS patients,especially for those combined with severe ECAS.

Objective To study the effects of health management on cardiovascular events in the elderly patients with hypertension. Methods A total of 182 elderly patients with hypertension were randomly assigned to the control group (n = 61 ), pharmacologic therapy group (n = 61 ) or health management group ( n = 60). Serum biomarkers, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity ( baPWV ), and blood pressure were tested at baseline and after intervention. Results There were no differences between the 2 groups in clinical characteristics at baseline. The average following-up period was (21 ± 7 ) months. The improvement of systolic blood pressure ( t = 3.915, P = 0. 000 ), pulse pressure ( t = 3. 966, P = 0. 000), and baPWV ( t = 3. 093, P = 0. 002) in the health management group was more significant than the control group;the systolic blood pressure ( t = 2. 008, P= 0. 046 ) was bitterly improved than the pharmacologic therapy group. The accumulative survival rate of the health management group (96. 7% ) was higher than the control group (83.6%; x2 =5. 921 ,P =0. 015) ,similar to the pharmacologic therapy group (93.3%; x2 =2. 821,P=0.091 ). Decreased systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure and baPWV were protective factors. After adjusted by age and gender,the improvement of systolic blood pressure was found to be an independent protective factors ( RR = 0. 75, P ＜ 0. 05 ). Conclusion Health management in elderly patients with hypertension could more significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.