Objective To investigate the relationship between refractory hypertension and renal hemodynamics in end stage renal diseases (ESRD) patients.Methods ESRD patients were classified into:patients with refractory hypertension (group A) and patients with normal blood pressure(group B).Renal hemodynamic indices were ex- amined by duplex ultrasonography.Fasting serum lipid (TC,TG,HDL-C,LDL-C,Lp(a),ox-LDL) and serum parathyroid hormane (PTH) were determined in all patients.Results Significant differences were found in renal hemodynamic indices such as peak systolic velocity (PSV),mean flow velocity (MV),pulsatility index (PI),renal- aortic ratio (RAR) and in clinical index such as Lp(a) and ox-LDL between the two group.Refractory hyperten- sion patients had lower renal hemodynamic indices and higher Lp(a) and ox-LDL levels than in patients with con- trolled BP.Logistic regression analysis revealed that refractory hypertension was related with PSV,EDV,Pl and RAR,but not relevant with sex,age,dialysis time,hematocrit,BUN,creatinine,TC,TG,HDL-C,LDL-C, PTH,MV and RI.Conclusion Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis and severe disorder in renal hemodynamics is likely the cause for refractory hypertention in ESRD patients.The rise of serum Lp(a) and ox-LDL might acceler- ate renal artery atherosclerosis.

Background Oxygen-induced retinal neovascularization is the main pathological basis for many retinal vascular diseases.Research showed that light exposure at night can suppress retinal neovascularization in oxygen-induced retinopathy(OIR),but there were few reports discussing its effect on ROP.Objective This study aimed to observe the effect of light exposure at night on retinal neovascularization in an OIR mouse model.Methods Sixty-four newborn C57 BL/6J mice were randomly divided into four groups,with 16 mice for each group.OIR models were established by rearing the newborn C57BL/6J mice with their mothers in a(75±2)％ oxygen environment from postnatal day 7(P7)to Pl2,and then transferred to room air.In the OIR model group,the environmental illumination level was the same as the normal control group,and the model mice were exposed to 100 lx light at night in the OIR+ light exposure group.In the simple light exposure group,normal mice were reared in room air and were exposed to light at night from P12 to P17.All the mice were sacrificed on P17,and retinal flat mounts were prepared to assess the oxygen-induced changes of retinal vessels using the adenosine diphosphatase(ADPase)histochemical technique.The amount of proliferative neovascularization was quantified by counting the number of endotheliocyte nuclei in new vessels extending from the retinal inner limiting membrane into the vitreous in ocular cross-sections.The expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)protein was detected by immunohistochemistry.Real-time PCR analysis was performed to examine the expression of VEGF mRNA.The rearing and usage of the animals complied with the Statement of ARVO.Results Less free-vascular areas and new blood vessels were seen in the OIR+light exposure group compared with the OIR model group.On day 17 of the mouse life,the number of the endotheliocyte nuclei in new vessels extending from retinal inner limiting membrane were 0.97±0.83,1.00±0.72,38.57±5.01 and 16.92±3.39 in the normal group,simple light exposure group,OIR model group and OIR+light exposure group,respectively,showing significant differences among them(F =78.767,P =0.000).The number of nuclei in the OIR+light exposure group were less than that of the OIR model group(t=20.446,P＜0.01).Immunochemistry showed that the expression of VEGF in retina was weaker in the OIR+light exposure group than the OIR model group.The relative expression values of VEGF mRNA were 1.00±0.00,0.94±0.07,2.08±0.50 and 1.43±0.21 in the normal group,simple light exposure group,OIR model group and OIR+light exposure group,respectively,showing a significant difference (F=11.268,P =0.003),where the VEGF mRNA level in the OIR+light exposure group was lower than that of the OIR model group(t =20.163,P＜0.05).Conclusions Light exposure at night can weaken retinal neovascularization in OIR mice

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the surgical methods and the outcome of management for traumatic arterial aneurysm (TAA) and traumatic arteriovenous fistula (TAVF).

METHODSA total of 121 patients with TAA or TAVF were treated by surgery. Clinical, operative and postoperative data were collected and analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSThe surgical techniques included aneurysmectomy and arterial end-to-end anastomosis or vascular grafting or artery ligation, aneurysm ligation and bypass, vascular repair, fistula excision and vascular ligation or vascular grafting or repair and so on. One patient died (0.83%). The follow-up rates of TAA and TAVF were 65.7% and 60% respectively.

CONCLUSIONSComplicated TAA and TAVF in different sites should be treated with different methods.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aneurysm ; surgery ; Arteriovenous Fistula ; surgery ; Child ; Extremities ; injuries ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Wounds and Injuries ; complications ; surgery

Objective To explore the correlation between myeloperoxidase(MPO) and white blood cell (WBC) and other related numerical values in blood .Methods 50 common patients were randomly selected .The two blood samples in each patient were re-spectively collected by the biochemical tube anticoagulated by heparin sodium and the blood routine tube anticoagulated by ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid kalium(EDTA-K2 ) .Then plasma MPO content and WBC count ,absolute neutrophils count ,percentage of neutrophils ,platelet count in whole blood were detected .The MPO content and the above 4 items of detection results were per-formed the correlation analysis .Results The correlation coefficients(r) between plasma MPO with WBC count ,neutrophils count , percentage of neutrophils and platelet count in whole blood were 0 .253 ,0 .220 ,0 .111 and 0 .133 respectively ,which indicating that no correlation existed between them .Conclusion Blood MPO is mainly derived from polymorphonuclear neutrophils ,but WBC count ,neutrophils count and platelet count in whole blood do not cause the change of the myeloperoxidase content .

Volatile oil components and the contents and types of amino acid in spica of Prunella vulgaris were analysed by GC-MS and amino acid analyzer. Esters, fatty acids, aromatic hydrocarbon, ketone and several alcohol compounds were identified by mass spectrum comparison. In these ingredients, beta-ionone smelled aroma of cedar, raspberry, nerolidol showed weak sweet soft orange blossom flavor, neroli tasted sweet and fresh, nerolidol tasted sweet with light aroma of wood, hexadecanal showed a weak aroma of flowers and wax, alpha-sinensal had rich and fresh sweet orange flavor. To some extent, these types of aromatic substances can affect the taste of herbal tea or decoction made of Spica Prunellae. Among amino acids detected, natural amino acids accounted for a larger proportion, and those natural amino acids showed bitterness, slight bitterness, sourness (freshness), sweetness, slight sweetness, sourness (slight freshness). The results indicated that bitter and slightly bitter amino acids have the greatest impacts on the sense of Spica Prunellae.
Amino Acids ; analysis ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Oils, Volatile ; analysis ; Prunella ; chemistry ; Taste

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of early rapid virological response on the outcomes of hepatitis B associated acute on chronic liver failure during antiviral treatment.

METHODS106 acute on chronic liver failure patients in our hospital from January 2008 to July 2010 were enrolled in present study retrospectively. Besides internal medicine therapy, all patients received lamivudine (100 mg/d) or entecavir (0.5 mg/d) treatment. The profile of liver biochemistry, prothrombin time activity and viral load were detected at baseline and week 4, respectively. The patients were divided into HBV DNA negative group and HBV DNA positive group according to the viral load at week 4. The clinical features and treatment outcomes were compared between groups. Frequency variables were compared by x2 test or Fisher's exact test. Continuous variables were compared using independent samples T-test. The factors that impact on the treatment outcomes were determined using stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSAt the week 4, the TBil and PTA in HBV DNA positive group [(261.6+/-205.6)mumol/L and 44.7%+/-19.7%, respectively] were significantly different from those in HBV DNA negative group [(160.1+/-173.4) mumol/L and 56.8%+/-23.1%, respectively] ( t = 2.190 and -2.077, respectively, P less than 0.05). The non-effective rate of HBVDNA positive group (50%, 9/18) was significantly higher than that of HBV DNA negative group (14.8%, 13/88) (x2 = 9.235, P less than 0.01). By using stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis, the disease stage and HBV DNA undetectable at week 4 were the independent factor. The OR values of disease stage and HBV DNA undetectable were 6.559 and 0.209, respectively, and 95% CI was 2.316~18.576 and 0.058~0.747, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe rapid suppression of viral load by nucleotide analogue may improve the efficacy of hepatitis B associated acute on chronic liver failure treatment. The early rapid virological response within first 4 weeks may contribute to the prediction of the treatment outcomes.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; End Stage Liver Disease ; drug therapy ; virology ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Liver Failure, Acute ; drug therapy ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Viral Load

OBJECTIVETo transfect pcDNA3.1/hTM plasmids containing human thrombomodulin (hTM) gene into human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and investigate the expression of hTM and anticoagulating function of transfected HUVECs.

METHODSHUVECs were transfected with pcDNA3.1/hTM by lipofectin. Expression of hTM mRNA was determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR, hTM antigen on HUVECs membrane by immunohistochemistry, and activated protein C (PC) in HUVECs by chronometry. By using a semiautomatic coagulator, the effect of the reacting liquid from transfected HUVECs mixed with PC from normal peripheral blood was assayed.

RESULTSAbout 10% HUVECs were transfected by pcDNA3.1/hTM with high-level hTM mRNA and protein expression. Activated PC produced by pcDNA3.1/hTM group, pcDNA3.1(+)/neo group and untransfected group was (2.80 +/- 0.43) microg/ml, (0.75 +/- 0.08) microg/ml and (0.85 +/- 0.11) microg/ml, respectively. APTT was (51.68 +/- 2.73) s, (38.38 +/- 2.44) s, (39.65 +/- 2.39) s, (33.93 +/- 1.73) s and (34.60 +/- 1.86) s and PT was (21.89 +/- 1.66) s, (20.56 +/- 1.74) s, (20.42 +/- 2.04) s, (19.57 +/- 1.36) s and (20.16 +/- 1.35) s in pcDNA3.1/hTM group, pcDNA3.1(+)/neo group, untransfected group, inactivating PC group and control, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe pcDNA3.1/hTM plasmid could be transfected into endothelial cells and expressed biologically functioning hTM protein on HUVECs membrane. Activated PC could inhibit intrinsic coagulation pathway obviously with slight effect on extrinsic pathway.

Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genes, Transgenic, Suicide ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Plasmids ; Protein C ; Prothrombin Time ; Thrombomodulin ; genetics ; Transfection ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo detect the expressions of miR-122 and miR-224 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by real-time fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR and investigate the significance of miRNAs in early diagnosis of HCC.

METHOD2(-Delta Delta CT) method was used for quantitative analysis of the expression pattern of miR-122 and miR-224 in 35 HCC and adjacent normal tissues. All the quantitative results were confirmed by Northern blotting.

RESULTSCompared with adjacent normal tissues, the HCC tissues showed significant miR-122 down-regulation (P<0.01) and miR-224 over-expression (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONSHCC has obvious alteration in the expression patterns of miR-122 and miR-224, and real-time fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR provide a new means for early, efficient, and accurate diagnosis of HCC.

Adult ; Aged ; Base Sequence ; Blotting, Northern ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Spectrometry, Fluorescence ; Time Factors

This study was aimed to investigate the expression characteristics of two transcriptional factors in Ikaros family, Ikaros and Helios isoforms and their mechanism, as well as their correlation with clinical parameters, which play important roles in transcriptional regulation of hematopoiesis. Expression of Ikaros and Helios isoforms in a total of 163 patients with leukemia and correlations between Ikaros and Helios isoforms were analyzed by PCR. The results showed that different expression patters of Ikaros and Helios isoforms existed in leukemia patients, that is, Ikaros isoform (Ik-6) was predominantly expressed in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with BCR/ABL fusion gene, while Helios isoform (He-i) was overexpressed in T-cell ALL patients. The results of cloning and sequencing demonstrated that the isoforms of Ikaros and Helios had different genetic alterations. The statistical correlation between these two isoforms not was found in this study, although interaction between Ikaros and Helios has been reported. It is concluded that although Ikaros and Helios belong to the same family with similar structure of zinc fingers, their isoforms have different expression profile, specific genetic alterations, and different clinical relevance in patients with leukemia. The connection and interaction between Ik-6 and He-i needs further research.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Ikaros Transcription Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Leukemia ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Protein Isoforms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Young Adult

Objective To establish information management systems of drinking water defluoridation project in water-related endemic fluorosis areas and investigate the status of drinking water defluoridation project in Liaoning, provide the basis for the development of control measures. Methods Global positioning systems (GPS)and geographic information systems(GIS) were used in the study in August 2006 - July 2008. Water defluoridation projects of 1234 in 48 counties(cities, districts) in drinking water type of fluorosis areas were positioned. Latitude and longitude, water samples, water fluoride content were collected or tested. GIS was used to establish information management system of water defluoridation projects. Results We have established information management system for the facilities of decreasing water fluorine in drinking water type of endemic fluorosis regions in Liaoning. One thousand two hundred and thirty four defluoridation facilities distributed in east longitude between 39.39° - 43.37°,north latitude between 119.25° - 125.50°, and altitude between - 6.60 and 801.14 meter in 48 endemic fluorosis counties in 13 cities. Nine hundred and twenty seven facilities for decreasing fluorine were able to supply water regularly, accounting for 75.1% of investigated projects;29 facilities was .not yet completely rebuilt, accounting for 2.4%;278 facilities(supply water for 344 villages) were out of order or discarded for 22.5% of investigated projects.Water fluorine contents of 63 facilities were greater than 1.2 mg/L, accounting for 6.8% of investigation project.Facilities working regularly and water fluorine was in accord with hygienic standard for drinking water facilities were 70.0%. Conclusions The establishment of Liaoning province defluoridation project information management system in the whole province of drinking water type of fluorosis areas provides scientific basis for accurate decision-making on prevention and control of the disease.