Extremities ; Humans ; Joint Prosthesis

6.24 mmol/L) and sixty healthy persons in the health center of our hospital were investigated as hyperhpidemia group (Hyperlipidemias) and control group (Controls) respectively.Hyperlipidemias were given simvastatin 20 mg?d~(-1) for twelve weeks (Statins).Blood samples of ulnar vein were extracted from Statins at the end of twelve weeks as well as Controls and Hyperhpidemias at the beginning of the experiment. Blood serum,plasma and mononuclearcell were extracted and stored at a refrigerator of-80℃.The level of plasma angiotensinⅡwas detected by the method of radioimmunity.While the expression of RANTES mRNA and protein on mononuclearcell were assessed by real time reverse transcription polymerse chain reaction and Western blot respectively.Results①The plasma angiotensinⅡof Hyperlipidemias was higher than that of Controls [(92.13?22.03) vs (50.85?12.12),P

OBJECTIVETo estimate the feasibility of 16-multidetector spiral computed tomography (16-MDCT) on detecting coronary plaques in comparison with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).

METHODSSixty-eight patients suspected of coronary heart diseases were examined by 16-MDCT, quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) and IVUS. Coronary stenosis was defined as lumen diameter reduction (DS) >or= 50%. Hounsfield units (HU) were used to determine different types of plaques: soft plaque (or= 120 HU).

RESULTSCompared to QCA, the sensitivity and the specificity for patients with DS >or= 50% were 91.8% (112/122) and 97.8% (556/568) respectively, the positive and negative predictive value were 90.3% (112/124) and 98.2% (556/566) respectively. In 96 plaques evaluated both by 16-MDCT and IVUS, 20 and 21 soft plaques, 37 and 36 fibrous plaques, 39 and 38 calcified plaques were identified by 16-MDCT and IVUS respectively. HU value of soft (11 +/- 36), fibrous (83 +/- 20), and calcified (292 +/- 80) plaques were significantly different (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSNoninvasive 16-MDCT could correctly estimate coronary stenosis and coronary plaques compositions.

Aged ; Atherosclerosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Coronary Angiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

Virus-like particles (VLPs) are composed of multiple copies of one or more expressed recombinant viral structural proteins which spontaneously assemble into particles upon expression. VLPs are non infectious because they assemble without incorporating genetic material. VLPs have structural characteristics and antigenicity similar to the parental virus because they mimick the wild-type virus structure. Hence, they are recognized readily by the immune system which induces strong anti-viral immune responses to stop virus infection. VLPs have therefore shown dramatic effectiveness as candidate vaccines and diagnostic reagent for virus. Here, in order to provide reference to the research of influenza VLPs, we reviewed the current research progress of influenza VLPs, and discussed the characteristics associated with producing VLPs for influenza virus.
Animals ; Humans ; Influenza Vaccines ; genetics ; immunology ; Influenza, Human ; immunology ; virology ; Orthomyxoviridae ; genetics ; immunology ; physiology ; Viral Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Virion ; genetics ; immunology ; physiology ; Virus Assembly

Schmallenberg virus (SBV), a novel orthobunyavirus, was first isolated in 2011. SBV preferentially infects the central nervous system of cattle and sheep and causes fever, diarrhea, a drop in milk yields, congenital malformations and stillbirths. Until June 2014, more than 200 scientific publications regarding SBV have been published. Although more than 20 articles on SVB were published in China, most of these articles provided only a brief introduction of the disease without fully discussing the associated disease characteristics. As a new disease, it has been made a focus of the National Research Center for Exotic Animal Diseases at the China Animal Health and Epidemiology Center. In this review, in order to provide a reference for research into SBV in China, we have reviewed the state of current research progress on the etiology, diagnosis and epidemiology of SBV, and vaccine development.
Animals ; Bunyaviridae Infections ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; veterinary ; virology ; Cattle ; China ; epidemiology ; Goats ; Host Specificity ; Orthobunyavirus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Sheep

Introduction:The 2010 targets of the China Hepatitis B Prevention Programme were a prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) less than 1.0% for children less than five years old and less than 6.0% for the total population. This survey assessed the prevalence of Hepatitis B infection in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, China in 2009–2010.Methods:Multistage sampling was used with 2372 subjects among 17 selected villages. Blood specimen collection and testing by enzyme-linked immunosorbnet assay (ELISA) were completed using the following markers for hepatitis infection: HBsAg and antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs); hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and antibody to HBeAg (anti-HBe); and hepatitis B core antibody (total anti-HBc). The data were analysed with Epi Info, version 3.3.2.Results:The prevalence of HBsAg was 2.4% (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.8–3.0; Adjusted Prevalence [AP] 2.9%); anti-HBs prevalence was 51.1% (95% CI: 49.1–53.1; AP 49.2%) and total anti-HBc prevalence was 41.7% (95% CI: 39.8–43.7; AP 45.5%). The prevalence of HBsAg and total anti-HBc positivity increased from young to older age groups, yet the prevalence of anti-HBs positivity decreased from young to older age groups (P< 0.001 for all). There was no difference in the prevalences of HBsAg and anti-HBs among females and males (P= 0.108 and 0.089), but females had a higher prevalence than males for total anti-HBc positivity (P< 0.001). Discussion: This survey showed that in 2010 the prevalence of HBsAg among children aged less than five years was lower than the national target of 1.0% and that the prevalence of HBsAg for the total population was lower than the national target of 6.0%.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the evolution pattern of the Runx3 gene 5'-CpG island ~3478 bp region methylation in human salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma (SGACC).

METHODSQuantitative MSP method was used to detect the methylation status of CpG island in various regions (No.1-10) of Runx3 promoter region, and Western blot was used for detection of the expression of Runx3 protein in 41 salivary gland SGACC samples and corresponding non-neoplastic salivary gland tissues. A Logistic model was used to analyze the risk ratio between the methylation status of CpG island in Runx3 gene and development of salivary SGACC, meanwhile, the possible association among the methylation of Runx3 gene, the clinicopathological parameters of SGACCs, and Runx3 protein expression was compared.

RESULTSThe results of qMSP showed that the hypermethylation initially occurred at the most 5' region of the Runx3 CpG island and spread to the transcription start site. The methylation rate was highest in region No. 1 and No. 2 among the successive ten regions ranging from the 5' region to the transcription start site within the Runx3 CpG island, and lowest in the transcription start site both in SGACCs and normal salivary glands. Furthermore, there was no methylation in the transcription start site in nomal salivary glands tissues. Together with the results of Logistic model analysis, those results indicate that the transcription start site within the Runx3 promoter CpG island is critical for gene silencing. Western blot results revealed that the Runx3 protein level in SGACC was significantly lower than that in normal salivary glands (P < 0.01). In combination of the results of qMSP, it is presumed that the Runx3 gene methylation is one of the reason inducing the down-regulation of Runx3 in SGACCs.

CONCLUSIONSMethylation of the Runx3 CpG island spreads from the most 5'-region to the transcription start site in human salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma, and the transcription start site may be a critical region for the methylation of Runx3. The evolution pattern of Runx3 gene methylation is related to the tumorigenesis of SGACCs.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 3 Subunit ; genetics ; metabolism ; CpG Islands ; genetics ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Salivary Gland Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Salivary Glands ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo carry out expert survey for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome characteristics of different clinical types of coronary artery disease (CAD).

METHODSBy using Delphi method, we carried out two rounds of nationwide expert surveys for modern TCM characteristics of syndrome elements and syndrome types of CAD.

RESULTSBased on expert consensus, qi deficiency, blood stasis, phlegm turbidity, qi deficiency blood stasis, and intermingled phlegm and blood stasis are common TCM syndromes for different clinical types of CAD. Of them, qi stagnation, blood stasis, phlegm turbidity, heat accumulation, cold coagulation, yang deficiency, deficiency of both qi and yang were more often seen in patients with unstable angina than in those with stable angina. Qi deficiency, yin deficiency, and deficiency of both qi and yin were less seen. We could see more excess syndrome and less deficiency syndrome (such as qi deficiency, yin deficiency, etc.) in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) than acute non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Qi deficiency, blood stasis, water retention, yang deficiency, phlegm turbidity, yin deficiency, Xin-qi deficiency, and qi deficiency blood stasis induced water retention are the most common TCM syndrome types of CAD heart failure (HF). Blood deficiency, yin deficiency, heat accumulation, deficiency of both Xin and Pi, deficiency of both qi and blood, deficiency of both qi and yin, yin deficiency and fire hyperactivity were more often seen in CAD arrhythmias.

CONCLUSIONSTCM syndrome distributions of different clinical types of CAD have common laws and individual characteristics. Results based on the expert consensus supplied evidence and support for clinical diagnosis and treatment of CAD.

Angina Pectoris ; Angina, Unstable ; China ; Coronary Artery Disease ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Coronary Disease ; diagnosis ; Data Collection ; Heart Failure ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Qi ; Syndrome ; Yang Deficiency ; diagnosis ; Yin Deficiency ; diagnosis

BACKGROUNDThe association between vulnerability of plaque assessed with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and plasma levels of fibrinolytic biomarkers was determined in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, few data are available on the relationship between the levels of tissue type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and virtual histological intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS) signs of plaque instability.

METHODSEighty-nine patients with ACS were enrolled in the study. Blood was collected to measure t-PA levels by liquid phase bead flow cytometry. Eighty-nine nonbifurcate lesions (identified by coronary angiography and ECG) were investigated using IVUS before catheterization. IVUS radiofrequency data obtained with a 20 MHz catheter were analyzed with IVUS virtual histological software. The areas of plaque and media were calculated and lesions were classified into two groups: VH-IVUS derived thin cap fibroatheroma (VH-TCFA) and non-VH-TCFA plaque.

RESULTSPlasma t-PA level in the patients with TCFA was significantly lower than that with non-TCFA ((1489+/-715) pg/ml vs (2163+/-1004) pg/ml). Decreased plasma levels of t-PA were associated with plaque vulnerability. Plasma levels of t-PA correlated negatively with plaque plus media and necrotic core in plaque in patients with ACS.

CONCLUSIONSt-PA is an independent risk factor and a powerful predictor of vulnerable plaques. Decreased levels of t-PA may reflect instability of atherosclerotic plaques and might therefore serve as noninvasive determinants of those at high risk for consequent adverse events.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; blood ; pathology ; Aged ; Coronary Artery Disease ; pathology ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator ; blood ; Ultrasonography, Interventional