OBJECTIVETo investigate the contents of poison in fishes in the Zhoushan Fishery and to analysis its relationship with the degree of ocean pollution.

METHODNine kinds of major fishes in the Zhoushan Fishery were sampled and tested. Canonical correlation was conducted to evaluate the correlation between contents of poison in fishes and the degree of ocean pollution.

RESULTSThe average contents of nickel among 9 kinds of fishes exceeded normal value by 1.177 times. No significantly statistical differences were found between the levels of poison contents in nine kinds of major fishes during 1997 to 2003 in the Zhoushan Fishery (the P values are all less than 0.05), except that the levels of cadmium and hydrargyrum in some fishes (the P values are all more than 0.05). The coefficient of fishes accumulated from different poisons ranged from 101.80 to 71 210.97. The canonical correlation coefficients of the variables of the contents of plumbum, arsenic and benzene hexachloride, chlorophennothane between fishes and ocean were 0.784 and 0.808 respectively. Positive correlation between them was shown (chi(2) = 20.994, P < 0.01; chi(2) = 38.017, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe sanitary quality indexes of all poisons which had been tested fell in the normal ranges except for nickel. The degrees of poisons accumulated among distinct fishes varied, showing the relationship of medium positive correlation between the poison contents of fishes and the degree of the ocean pollution.

Animals ; China ; Fishes ; Food Contamination ; analysis ; Metals, Heavy ; analysis ; Nickel ; analysis ; Seawater ; analysis ; Water Pollutants ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of the combined use of Shenmai Injection (SMI) and enteral nutrition on postoperative fatigue syndrome (POFS) in patients with gastric cancer (GC).

METHODSFifty-eight GC patients were randomized into the parenteral nutrition group (PNG, 19 cases), enteral nutrition group (ENG, 19 cases) and combined treatment group (CTG, 20 cases). The post-operative recovery in patients was observed; patients' conditions of fatigue, mood and sleep were evaluated respectively by visual analogue scale of fatigue, profile of mood states (POMS) and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI). Meanwhile, nutritional variables, such as serum contents of total protein, albumin, pre-albumin, were measured at different time points: before operation (d0) and the 1st, 5th, and 9th day (d1, d5 and d9) after operation. Immune variables such as subsets of lymphocytes (CD3, CD4, CD8), serum immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM, IgA) were also determined.

RESULTSConditions of recovery, POMS and PSQI were better and the postoperative fatigue reduced more significantly in CTG than those in the other two groups (P < 0.05). On d9, levels of pre-albumin, CD3, CD4, CD4/CD8 in CTG were significantly higher than those in the PNG and ENG (P < 0.05), meantime, levels of albumin and IgA were higher in CTG than those in PNG (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCombined treatment of SMI and enteral nutrition can regulate mood and sleep to some extents, and reduce the postoperative fatigue through improving nutritional status and immune function, thus speeding up the recovery of patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Enteral Nutrition ; Fatigue ; therapy ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parenteral Nutrition ; Phytotherapy ; Postoperative Complications ; therapy ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery

Objective To explore the present condition of endemic arsenism, the implementation of control measures and the effect of the monitored county (Tongyu County) and the monitoring spot (Baiyintuhai Village) in 2006 and 2007. Methods According to the National Survey Scheme of Endemic Arsenism, the progress of anti-arsenic water in Tongyu, and the management and running of all engineering projects and the arsenic content in water were surveyed. The patients with endemic arsenism in Tongyu were generally surveyed. The arsenic content of the improved drinking water in Tongyu and the arsenic in urine of children aged 8-12 and adults over 18 years of age were determinted. The causes of resident death in the monitoring spot from the year of 2006 and 2007 were investigated. Arsenic content of drinking water and the urine of local residents was examined with "Model AFS-930 Double-Channel Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometer". Results There were 30 endemic arsenism areas, 157 areas with high arsenic content and all population of 57 576 in Tongyu. Six areas had improved water till 2006, where 20.0% of water had improved, and six water-improving projects were all running normally, benefiting a population of 1670. Eight high arsenic areas changed water, in a rate of 5.09%. Eight water-improving projects were functioning well, benefiting a population of 4350. Until 2007, 28 areas had improved water in Tongyu, accounting for 93.33%. These 28 projects were well running, covering a population of 7980. One hundred and fouty-eight high arsenic areas had changed water, reaching a rate of 94.27%. One hundred and fouty-eight projects changedg water were running normally, benefiting a population of 46 214. In the surveyed spots, arsenic content was between 0.004 mg/L and 0.005 mg/L in 2006 and between 0.010 mg/L and 0.021 mg/L in 2007, all in the normal range to the time being. The arsenic contents in urine of the children aged 8-12 in the monitoring spots were determinted, averaging at 0.024 mg/L in 15 samples, fluctuating between 0.005 mg/L and 0.048 mg/L in 2006. The average content in urine from adults was 0.019 mg/L in 53 samples, fluctuating between 0.005 mg/L and 0.087 mg/L in 2007. The arsenic contents in urine were all in the normal range in 2006 and 2007. In 2006 14 endemic arsenism patients, all in light symptoms, had been checked out, the morbidity being 6.19%. In 2007, 17 patients who were all in light symptoms were identified in a rate of 6.94%. There was no significant difference of morbidity between the two years(χ2=0.1059, P>0.05). Two patients died, unrelating with drinking high arsenic water in 2006 and 2007. Conclusions The prevention and control measures are well implemented in Tongyu. The water-improving projects are functioning well. The condition of endemic arsenism is slight and hasn't changed so much in these two years. The arsenic contents in urine of children and adults within the normal range, showing that improving water can control the occurrence and the development of endemic arsenism.

Objective To investigate the relationship between arsenic in drinking water and skin lesions in endemic arsenism area in Shanyin County of Shanxi Province,in order to provide epidemiologic data for further arsenism research.Methods One hundred and eighty-nine endemic arsenism patients and 59 controls were randomly selected in 17 endemic amenism countries in Shanyin County of Shanxi Province.The content of arsenic in drinking water which wa8 collected indoom was half-quantitatively screened by a kit made by Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention,then quantitatively determined by HPLC-ICP-MS.Patients of endemic arsenism were diagnosed by "The Standard of Diagnosis for Endemic Amenism"(WS/T 211-2001).Results There were 64.9% (87/134)samples above the arsenic level(50μg/L)of drinking water and the median value of arsenic in drinking water was 91.43 μg/L in 134 water samples.The OR(95%CI)value between arsenic in drinking water and hyperkeratosis,hyperpigmentation,depigmentation was 2.46(1.22-4.94),3.34(1.50～7.44)and 2.86(1.50-5.46),respectively.The prevalence of hyperkeratosis,hyperpigmentation and depigmentation increased,as the arsenic in drinking water increased(≤10,≤50,≤200,＞200μg/L),especially in＞200μg/L group(OR=6.15,13.96,11.41,P＜0.05).The arsenic level in drinking water of Ⅲ degree of depigmentation patients(318.300μg/L)was higher(P＜0.05)than that of 0,Ⅰ and Ⅱ degree groups(86.670,131.800,1 10.590μg/L,P＜0.05).Conclusions Shanyin County is a medial arsenic pollution area. Arsenic in drinking water is considered as a risk factor of skin lesion. The degree of skin lesions increased,as the arsenic in drinking water increased.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on the gene expression of hepatic TNF-α and IL-1β by crush injury of rat's soft tissues. METHODS: Rats were randomly divided into sham group, crush group, crush+aminoguanidine (AG) group, and crush+L-arginine (L-Arg) group. Activities of ALT and AST as well as NO level in serum were measured. Gene expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β were detected with RT-PCR. RESULTS: Obvious increase in TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA expression was detected in the crush group compared with the sham group (P<0.05). After pretreated L-Arg, expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA were markedly increased (P<0.05). After pretreated AG, those indices obviously decreased (P<0.05). Activities of ALT and AST enhanced and NO level increased in the crush group compared with the sham group (P<0.05). Pretreatment with L-Arg or AG led to substantial increased or reduced activities of ALT and AST as well as NO levels, respectively. CONCLUSION Endogenous NO mediated TNF-α, IL-1β mRNA up expression in liver induced by increased production of NO after crush injury of rat's soft tissues.
Animals ; Gene Expression ; Interleukin-1beta/metabolism* ; Liver ; Nitric Oxide/physiology* ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Wounds and Injuries

As a common malignant tumor, breast cancer has seriously affected women's physical and psychological health even threatened their lives. Breast cancer has even begun to show a gradual trend of high incidence in some places in the world. As a kind of common pathological assist diagnosis technique, immunohistochemical technique plays an important role in the diagnosis of breast cancer. Usually, Pathologists isolate positive cells from the stained specimen which were processed by immunohistochemical technique and calculate the ratio of positive cells which is a core indicator of breast cancer in diagnosis. In this paper, we present a new algorithm which was based on modified watershed algorithm and concavity points searching to identify the positive cells and segment the clustered cells automatically, and then realize automatic counting. By comparison of the results of our experiments with those of other methods, our method can exactly segment the clustered cells without losing any geometrical cell features and give the exact number of separating cells.
Algorithms ; Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; Cell Separation ; Epithelial Cells ; chemistry ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Immunohistochemistry ; methods

OBJECTIVETo introduce a new procedure of laparoscopic adrenal surgery.

METHODSThirty patients with adrenal disease underwent surgery by a 70 degrees lateral decubital trans-abdominal laparoscopic approach, which wa compared with 30 degrees decubital laparoscopic operation in 26 patients.

RESULTSThe procedure is superior to open laparotomy. There was significant difference in average operative time (77.2 min vs. 215.7 min), blood lost volume (27.0 ml vs. 94.5 ml), and postoperative complications (13.3% vs. 46.0%). Postoperative feeding time and hospitalization time were shortened markedly.

CONCLUSIONSThis modified technique is safe, straightforward, with a good anatomic view during operation. It could be widely adopted for the treatment of benign adrenal disease, especially pheochromocytoma.

Adrenal Gland Diseases ; surgery ; Adrenalectomy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Intraoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Posture ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Tongluo Xingnao effervescent tablets on learning and memory capacity and expression of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase in hippocampus of rats with chronic cerebral ischemia-induced learning and memory dysfunction model.

METHODThe 2-VO method was used to establish sd rat model learning and memory dysfunction induced by chronic cerebral ischemia. The 50 rats in the successfully established model were randomly divided into the model control group, the Dihydroergotoxine Mesylate tablets group (0.7 mg x kg(-1), Tongluo Xingnao effervescent tablets high dose (7.56 g x kg(-1)), middle dose (3.78 g x kg(-1)) and low dose (1.59 g x kg(-1)) groups and the sham operation group (n = 10) as the control group. The groups were orally given 10 ml x kg(-1) x d(-1) drugs for consecutively 90 days. On the 86th day, Morris water maze was adopted for them. On the 90th day, a leaning and memory capacity test was held. The brain tissues were fixed with 10% formaldehyde and observed for pathomorphism after routine slide preparation and staining. The expression of hippocampal Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase was detected with immunohistochemistry and image quantitative analysis.

RESULTCompared with the model group, all of Tongluo Xingnao effervescent tablets groups showed significant decrease in the escape latency at the 5th day in the Morris water maze, and notable increase in the frequency of the first quadrant dwell, the frequency passing the escape platform and the frequency entering effective area (p < 0.05). According to the pathomorphological detection, the control group showed a significantly higher pathological score than the sham operation group (p < 0.01), the middle dose group showed a significantly lower pathological score than the model group (p < 0.05). According to the immunohistochemistical detection, the model control group showed a remarkably lower mean OD value of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase than the sham operation group (p < 0.05), high and middle dose groups showed a significantly higher mean od value than the model control group (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONTongluo Xingnao effervescent tablets can improve the learning and memory capacity, reduce pathological changes of hippocampal tissues of rats with chronic cerebral ischemia-induced learning and memory dysfunction model, and promote the expression of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase in hippocampus.

Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; psychology ; Chronic Disease ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Humans ; Learning ; drug effects ; Male ; Memory ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tablets ; administration & dosage

Objective To reversing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus(MRS) to methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus(MSS) by changing nutritional conditions and continuous transfer of culture .Methods MRS trains separating from clinical specimens were cultured in different conditions ,continuous cultural transfer ,and drug sensitive test were proceeded periodically to observe the phe-notypic and chemical reaction change of MRS .The mecA gene were detected of the original and mutant strains by polymerase chain reaction(PCR) ,then the gene sequenced and compared .Results 53 MRS strains were studied .6 strains were phenotype successful-ly converted to MSS in different cultural conditions ,among them mecA gene was undetected in 2 strains ,and down expressed in 4 strains .Conclusion The MRS strains separated from clinical specimens may revert to MSS by culture under different nutritional conditions .The mecA gene of MRS may be lost or lower expressed and the MRS and mutant strains may be different in genomics .

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1) on the oxidative stress in the skeletal muscles of rats with postoperative fatigue syndrome (POFS) and to study its anti-fatigue mechanisms.

METHODSThe POFS model was established using resection of 70% of mid-small intestine. Ninety-six Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were screened using grasping test. The rats were randomly divided into the control group, the model group, and the GRb1 treated group (at 10 mg/kg) by the body weight. The maximum grip strength of rats was detected on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, and 10th day after operation, respectively. The contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) were detected.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, the maximum grip strength was obviously enhanced on the postoperative day 7 and 10 (P < 0. 05), the MDA content obviously decreased on the postoperative day 3 and 7 (P < 0.05), the SOD activity obviously increased in the GRb1 treated group (P < 0.05). There was no obvious change in the activities of CAT and GSH-PX among the three groups at each time point (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONGRb1 could reduce the oxidative stress injury in the skeletal muscles, improve the activities of antioxidant enzymes, and enhance the functions of the skeletal muscles in POFS rats, which may be important reasons for fighting against POFS.

Animals ; Catalase ; metabolism ; Fatigue ; etiology ; metabolism ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; analysis ; Muscle, Skeletal ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Postoperative Period ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism