Objective To dynamically observe the concentrations of plasma neuropeptide Y(NPY)in the patients with lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans(ASO)before and after vascular interventional therapy.Methods The levels of plasma NPY were detected by radioimmunoassay in 13 patients with lower extremity ASO(ASO group)before vascular intracavitary therapy and immediately,1 d,3 d and 5 d after vascular intracavitary therapy.Meanwhile,15 healthy subjects were served as control group.Besides,the ankle-brachial indexes(ABI)and clinical staging of ASO group were also obtained and compared before and 3 d after vascular intracavitary therapy.Results Compared with control group,the level of NPY in ASO group was much higher before vascular intracavitary therapy[(250.67?88.27)pg/mL vs(168.40?64.64)pg/mL,P

Background Researches demonstrated that corneal dystrophy is associated with the mutation of transforming growth factor beta induced gene(TGFBI)located at chromosome 5q31 domine.Recent study showed that the gene mutation location is in R124H of TGFBI gene. Objective This study was to identify the mutation characteristics of TGFBI gene in a Chinese family with Avellino corneal dystrophy. Methods This Chinese family with Avellino corneal dystrophy were determined and surveyed in Peking University Third Hospital.Periphery blood from 8 patients with Avellino corneal dystrophy and 2 unaffected subjects were collected from a Chinese family with corneal dystrophy for the extraction of DNA.Exons 4,11,12 of the TGFBI gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR),and the amplified products were sequenced directly and compared the gene sequence with that of TGFBI in GenBank.Written informed consent was obtained from each Subject prior to any medieal process. Results This family included 27 members of consecutive 4 generation.The hereditary pattern W88 in accordance with the autosomal dominant inheritance.Directly sequencing of 8 affected members revealed a G tO A transition at codon 124 (CGC to CAC),producing R124H mutation of TGFBI gene.Two synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)of TGFBI gene occurred in the family.including a C to T transition at eodon 472(CTC to CTT)in 8 members,and a T to C transition at codon 540(TTT>TTC)in 9 members,which wag unrelated with disease. Conclusion R124H mutation of the TGFBI gene is found in this Chinese family with Avellino corneal dystrophy.

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of Qilin Pills combined with clomiphene on idiopathic oligoasthenospermia.

METHODSWe randomly assigned 300 patients with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia to a trial (n = 156) and a control group (n = 144) to be treated with Qilin Pills (6 g, tid) combined with clomiphene (50 mg, qd) and clomiphene alone (50 mg, qd), respectively, both for a course of 12 weeks. Before and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of medication, we determined sperm concentration, the percentages of grade a and grade a + b sperm, sperm motility, and the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone (T), followed by evaluation of the clinical efficacy of Qilin Pills with the pregnancy rate in the patients' spouses as the secondaty therapeutic indexes.

RESULTSCompared with the baseline, both groups of patients showed remarkably improved semen parameters and hormone levels after treatment (all P < 0.01). After 4, 8, and 12 weeks of medication, statistically significant differences were observed between the trial and control groups in sperm concentration ([17.06 ± 2.24] vs [15.07 ± 2.48], [22.10 ± 2.65] vs [18.11 ± 2.97], and [28.13 ± 3.59] vs [21.21 ± 3.60] x 10(6)/mL, P < 0.01), the percentage of grade a sperm ([15.03 ± 2.39] vs [13.08 ± 2.51], [21.08 ± 3.16] vs [16.04 ± 3.05], and [28.08 ± 4.70] vs [20.14 ± 4.74]%, P < 0.01), the percentage of grade a + b sperm ([30.10 ± 5.07] vs [26.21 ± 3.96], [38.08 ± 5.64] vs [30.07 ± 4.80], and [48.04 ± 6.49] vs [35.28 ± 4.77]%, P < 0.01), sperm motility ([42.04 ± 4.86] vs [40.29 ± 4.19], [52.05 ± 5.58] vs [48.03 ± 4.40], and [65.03 ± 5.13] vs [56.67 ± 4.99]%), the FSH level ([7.75 ± 1.38] vs [7.20 ± 1.17], [10.83 ± 1.23] vs [9.10 ± 1.32], and [14.22 ± 0.84] vs [12.06 ± 1.45] IU/L, P < 0.01), the LH level ([10.05 ± 1.68] vs [9.18 ± 1.54], [13.96 ± 1.68] vs [11.99 ± 1.71], and [19.01 ± 2.42] vs [15.86 ± 2.08] IU/L, P < 0.01) and the T level ([19.19 ± 192] vs [18.34 ± 1.79] [21.06 ± 1.63] vs [20.06 ± 1.56], and [24.63 ± 1.06] vs [22.03 ± 1.49] nmol/L, P < 0.01). The pregnancy rate in the patients' spouses was significantly higher in the trial than in the control group at 4, 8, and 12 weeks (1.92 vs 0.69, 4.81 vs 3.47, and 11.54 vs 8.33%, P < 0.01). There were no statistically significant differences in drug tolerance between the two groups (P > 0.05). No obvious adverse reactions were observed.

CONCLUSIONQilin Pills combined with clomiphene can evidently improve the seminal quality and hormone level of oligoasthenospermia patients with no obvious adverse events. However, its long-term efficacy and tolerance deserve further clinical investigation.

Asthenozoospermia ; blood ; drug therapy ; Clomiphene ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fertility Agents ; therapeutic use ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Semen ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo compare the short-term curative effect of clozapine (CZ) and its combination with electroacupuncture (EA) in treating schizophrenia.

METHODSNinety schizophrenia patients were randomly divided into two groups equally: the EA group treated with combination of CZ (200 - 300 mg/d in mean) and EA, and the CZ group treated with CZ alone. The effects of treatment were evaluated with PANSS, CGI and TESS before and at the 2th, 4th, 6th and 8th weekend of the treatment.

RESULTSThe initiation of effect in the two groups was the same, the total effective rate was 75% in the EA group and 73% in the CZ group. However, somatic complaint was lower and compliance was higher in the EA group than that in the CZ group respectively.

CONCLUSIONWith the effect equal to CZ, combination of CZ and EA shows higher compliance in treating schizophrenia, which would be beneficial in the later stage treatment for consolidation.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Clozapine ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Schizophrenia ; therapy

To study the chemical constituents of K. oblongifolia, silica gel column chromatography, MCI and Sephadex LH-20 were used to separate the 70% acetone extract of the stems of K. oblongifolia. The structures of the isolated compounds have been established on the basis of physicochemical and NMR spectroscopic evidence as well as ESI-MS in some cases. Twenty compounds were obtained and identified as heteroclitalignan A (1), kadsulignan F (2), kadoblongifolin C (3), schizanrin F (4), heteroclitalignan C (5), kadsurarin (6), kadsulignan O (7), eburicol (8), meso-dihydroguaiaretic acid (9), kadsufolin A (10), tiegusanin M (11), heteroclitin B (12), (7'S)-parabenzlactone (13), angeloylbinankadsurin B (14), propinquain H (15), quercetin (16), kadsulignan P (17), schizanrin G (18), micrandilactone C (19) and (-)-shikimic acid (20). Compouds 1, 5, 8, 11-15, 18 and 20 were isolated from this plant for the first time. Toxicity of compounds 1-10 were evaluated with zebrafish model to observe the effect on its embryonic development and heart function. The results showed that compounds 7, 9 and 10 caused edema of zebrafish embryo and decreased the heart rate of zebrafish, which exhibited interference effect on heart development of zebrafish.
Animals ; Embryo, Nonmammalian ; drug effects ; Guaiacol ; analogs & derivatives ; toxicity ; Kadsura ; chemistry ; Lignans ; toxicity ; Plant Extracts ; toxicity ; Quercetin ; toxicity ; Triterpenes ; toxicity ; Zebrafish ; embryology

OBJECTIVETo detect the changing profiles of three factors in nasal fluid before and after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS), including platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and hyaluronic acid (HA), to investigate the predictive factor of healing quality after sinus surgery.

METHODSNasal secretions were obtained from 22 patients with nasal polyp before ESS and at 1, 4, 8, 12 weeks after ESS compared to 22 controls. Nasal fluid was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for PDGF, TNF-alpha and HA. The healing quality was evaluated at 1, 4, 8, 12 weeks postoperatively for every one. Finally, we performed a multiple logistic regression model to assess whether the healing quality was associated with age, gender, body mass, preoperative stage, and concentrations of PDGF, TNF-alpha, HA before ESS.

RESULTS1. Each factor before surgery showed different level when compared to controls, PDGF was constant, TNF-alpha was high (P = 0.034), and HA was low (P = 0.003). Comparing patients at 1 week after surgery with control subjects, a significant increase in the concentrations of PDGF, TNF-alpha, HA in nasal secretions could be demonstrated (compared to controls, P = 0.000, 0.020, 0.038, respectively). After that, decreasing amounts of these factors were found, reaching normal conditions at 12 weeks for PDGF (compared to controls, P = 0.087), 8 weeks for TNF-alpha (compared to controls, P =0.104), 4 weeks for HA (compared to controls, P = 0.304). There was another peak for TNF-alpha at 12 weeks (compared to controls, P = 0.002). 2. The percentage of good healing at 1, 4, 8, 12 week postoperatively was 0, 4.5%, 36.4%, 81.8%, respectively. The healing quality after ESS was significantly and independently correlated to the age of patient and preoperative PDGF concentrations in nasal secretions. The younger, the better healing. The lower PDGF concentration, the better healing.

CONCLUSIONSDuring the wound healing of nasal mucosa, the levels of PDGF, TNF-alpha, HA were different at each postoperative stage. Age and PDGF concentrations preoperatively were suitable factors to predict the healing quality after ESS.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Body Fluids ; secretion ; Case-Control Studies ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid ; secretion ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Mucosa ; metabolism ; secretion ; Nasal Polyps ; metabolism ; surgery ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; secretion ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; secretion ; Young Adult

A differentially expressed cDNA fragment obtained from a cDNA-AFLP analysis, which performed on floral buds of male sterile and fertile lines of cabbage, was used as a querying probe to blast the Genbank and Arabidopsis databases. Based on the assembled homologous cDNA sequences, a full-length cDNA of 633 bp for BoDHAR was cloned by RT-PCR. Furthermore, we have experimentally cloned and sequenced the 5' flanking sequence of gene BoDHAR by genomic walking method based on ligation-mediated PCR. The full length DNA sequence with 1486bp, containing two introns, was achieved. Homologous analysis shows that gene has 82.3% identity at nucleotide level, and 79.6% identity at amino acid level with Arabidopsis dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) gene AT1 G19570.1. Structurally, BoDHAR encodes a polypeptide of 210 amino acids, which contains a GST-c-DHAR domain highly conserved among other members of the DHAR superfamily and has multiple phosphorylation sites. Promoter predictions software indicated that the 5' upstream region contained putative transcription signals and conserved sequences, one CAAT-box, one G-box and four TGAC-like motifs. To advance our understanding of gene BoDHAR, tissue expression pattern were analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The results indicate that expression level of gene BoDHAR is higher in fertile buds than that in sterile buds, and expressed intensively in the anther.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Brassica ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oxidoreductases ; genetics ; Plant Infertility ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; complications ; mortality ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; complications ; mortality ; Male ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating ; Prognosis ; Thrombosis ; etiology ; Vena Cava, Inferior

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between the genetic variant of miRNA-1 target gene COG6 rs9548934 C→T and the risk of premature coronary artery disease (pCAD).

METHODSThis study included 226 pACD patients and 275 gender and age matched pCAD-free controls hospitalized in our hospital, diagnosis was made based on coronary angiography (CAG) results. The genotypes of miRNA-1 target gene COG6 rs9548934 C→T were detected by PCR-RFLP.

RESULTSCompared with the wide genotype CC, subjects with the variant genotypes CT of rs9548934 C→T was associated with a 45% lower risk of pACD (adjusted OR = 0.55, 95%CI = 0.36 - 0.82, P = 0.003), and the subjects with CT/TT genotypes were also associated with a significantly lower risk of pACD (adjusted OR = 0.64, 95%CI = 0.44 - 0.92, P = 0.015). Using the median serum TG level (1.20 mmol/L) in control group as the cutoff value, subjects with higher serum TG levels were associated with increased risk of pACD after adjustment for age, gender and BMI (adjusted OR = 2.32, 95%CI = 1.57 - 3.41, P < 0.001). In addition, subjects with higher HDL-C levels were associated with significantly lower risk of pACD (adjusted OR = 0.48, 95%CI = 0.31 - 0.75, P = 0.001). Stratified analyses showed that the risk reduction for pCAD in CT/TT genotypes carriers was more significant in the female subjects (adjusted OR = 0.54, 95%CI = 0.30 - 0.97, P = 0.040), and in subjects with lower TG, TC, HDL-C and LDL-C levels (adjusted OR = 0.62, 95%CI = 0.39 - 0.98, P = 0.040; adjusted OR = 0.55, 95%CI = 0.35 - 0.85, P = 0.008; adjusted OR = 0.43, 95%CI = 0.22 - 0.87, P = 0.018; adjusted OR = 0.49, 95%CI = 0.32 - 0.75, P = 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONThe polymorphism of miRNA-1 target gene COG6 rs9548934C→T is associated with lower risk of pCAD, especially in female subjects and subjects with lower serum lipid levels.

Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport ; genetics ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Coronary Artery Disease ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

OBJECTIVETo discuss feasibility of minimal-invasive surgical treatment of the pelvis fractures.

METHODSTwenty-six patients with pelvis fractures were treated by micro-surgical treatment. There were 15 male and 11 female with an average age of 40 years ranging from 20 to 62 years. All patients were closed fractures, 17 patients were hemi-pelvis fractures, 9 patients were bilateral-pelvis fractures. The fracture type of posterior ring of pelvis as follows:8 patients were sacro-iliac joint dislocation, 12 patients were vertical section fractures in the outboard of the sacrum. The fracture type of anterior ring of pelvis as follows: 9 patients were hemi-fracture of rami ossis pubisi or hemi-fracture of rami ischi, 7 patients were bilateral-fracture of rami ossis pubisi or bilateral-fracture of rami ischii, 6 patients were separation of symphysis pubis. Six patients accompanied with shock. Anterior ring of pelvis was fixation by lag screw via superior ramus of pubis and pubic symphysis; Posterior ring of pelvis was fixation by lag screw via sacroiliac joint or intrasacral rod via ilium. X-ray films and multi-slice spiral CT of pelvis was obtained in order to understand exterior and inner details about pelvis fractures. Adopt orientation in body and inducted by C-arm digital subtracting X-ray system when operating.

RESULTSBlood loss was about 10 to 50 ml (mean 30 ml). Operation time was 30 to 50 minutes. Time of fracture union was 8 to 12 weeks (mean 11 weeks). Wound infection, ununion of fracture and nerve injuries had not been found.

CONCLUSIONMinimally invasive operation has the merit of short operation time, fine effect, soon recovering and few complication.

Adult ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Fractures, Bone ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Fractures, Closed ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Pelvic Bones ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; surgery ; Radiography