Objective To assess the effects of physical labor on cardiac function of laborers at high altitude and changes in cardiac function after returning to lower altitude. Methods According to symptomatic scores on Chinese acute high altitude reaction (AHAR), 96 male officers and soldiers, who rapidly entered high altitude areas (3700m altitude),and engaged in heavy physical work for 50 days, were be scored and graded. Levels of creatine kinase isoenzymes -MB (CK-MB) and lactic dehydrogenase isoenzyme -1 (LDH-1) in the serum, Tei index, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) were measured in the 96 servicemen at the 50th day of residing at high altitude, and the 2nd and 15th day after returning to lower altitude (1500m altitude), and the results were compared with that of 50 healthy controls residing at 1500m. Results Among the 96 male servicemen, 71 developed AHAR, and 24 of them had severe AHAR, 47 mild to moderate AHAR, and the rest 25 had no AHAR. Levels of serum CK-MB, LDH-1 and Tei index were higher in the severe AHAR group than in the mild to moderate AHAR group, higher in the mild to moderate AHAR group than in the no AHAR group and higher in the no AHAR group than in the healthy group. As far as the values of LVEF and LVFS were concerned, the severe AHAR group < mild to moderate AHAR group < no AHAR group < control group. Significant difference was found in these levels between every two successive groups (P<0.01). Linear correlation analysis showed that levels of CK-MB and LDH-1 of persons staying at 3700m altitude for 50 days were positively correlated with Tei index (r= 0.625, 0.598, respectively, P<0.01), and negatively correlated with LVEF(r=- 0.716, -0.658, respectively, P<0.01), and also negatively correlated with LVFS (r=-0.639, -0.727, respectively, P<0.01). Level of serum CK-MB, LDH-1 and Tei index at 3700m altitude for 50 days were significantly higher than those 2 days and 15 days after returning to 1500m altitude and those in control group (P<0.01), and were significantly higher on the 2th day than on the 15th day. Moreover, the values of LVEF and LVFS were significantly lower than those at 2 and 15 days after returning to 1500m altitude and those in control group (P<0.01), and significantly lower on the 2th day than on the 15th day. All parameters after 15 days returning to low altitude showed no significant difference compared with control group (P>0.05). Conclusion Heavy physical work at high altitude could obviously impair human cardiac function. The impairment may aggravate along with increase in severity of AHAR. However, cardiac function may be improved significantly after returning to low altitude for 2 days, and recover to normal status 15 days later.

Objective To assess the effects of physical labor on cardiac function of laborers at high altitude and changes in cardiac function after returning to lower altitude. Methods According to symptomatic scores on Chinese acute high altitude reaction (AHAR), 96 male officers and soldiers, who rapidly entered high altitude areas (3700m altitude),and engaged in heavy physical work for 50 days, were be scored and graded. Levels of creatine kinase isoenzymes -MB (CK-MB) and lactic dehydrogenase isoenzyme -1 (LDH-1) in the serum, Tei index, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) were measured in the 96 servicemen at the 50th day of residing at high altitude, and the 2nd and 15th day after returning to lower altitude (1500m altitude), and the results were compared with that of 50 healthy controls residing at 1500m. Results Among the 96 male servicemen, 71 developed AHAR, and 24 of them had severe AHAR, 47 mild to moderate AHAR, and the rest 25 had no AHAR. Levels of serum CK-MB, LDH-1 and Tei index were higher in the severe AHAR group than in the mild to moderate AHAR group, higher in the mild to moderate AHAR group than in the no AHAR group and higher in the no AHAR group than in the healthy group. As far as the values of LVEF and LVFS were concerned, the severe AHAR group < mild to moderate AHAR group < no AHAR group < control group. Significant difference was found in these levels between every two successive groups (P<0.01). Linear correlation analysis showed that levels of CK-MB and LDH-1 of persons staying at 3700m altitude for 50 days were positively correlated with Tei index (r= 0.625, 0.598, respectively, P<0.01), and negatively correlated with LVEF(r=- 0.716, -0.658, respectively, P<0.01), and also negatively correlated with LVFS (r=-0.639, -0.727, respectively, P<0.01). Level of serum CK-MB, LDH-1 and Tei index at 3700m altitude for 50 days were significantly higher than those 2 days and 15 days after returning to 1500m altitude and those in control group (P<0.01), and were significantly higher on the 2th day than on the 15th day. Moreover, the values of LVEF and LVFS were significantly lower than those at 2 and 15 days after returning to 1500m altitude and those in control group (P<0.01), and significantly lower on the 2th day than on the 15th day. All parameters after 15 days returning to low altitude showed no significant difference compared with control group (P>0.05). Conclusion Heavy physical work at high altitude could obviously impair human cardiac function. The impairment may aggravate along with increase in severity of AHAR. However, cardiac function may be improved significantly after returning to low altitude for 2 days, and recover to normal status 15 days later.

Discomfort of right eye and right maxilla region occurred after a dental implant placement in a patient who surfered stabilized osteofibrous dysplasia (OFD) of sphenoid sinus. In this article, the case was discussed and the relevant literature was reviewed. The possible causes of eye and maxilla discomfort may be associated with OFD, hyper allergic response to implant material and surgical trauma, and psychical factors as well.
Dental Implantation, Endosseous ; Dental Implants ; Humans ; Maxilla ; Maxillary Sinus

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanisms involved in the ligustrazine alleviation of the pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) in patients of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) associated with chronic cor pulmonale (CCP) during exacerbation.

METHODSSeventy patients of COPD and CCP with acute exacerbation were randomly and equally divided into control group and treatment group. The control group received standard treatment with antibiotics, antiasthmatic and expectorant medications, and oxygenation; and the ligustrazine treatment group received ligustrazine treatment (80 mg/d; i.v.; for 2 weeks) in addition to the standard treatment. Before and at the end of 2 week treatment, the clinic responses of the two regimens were evaluated, plasma levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) were determined; arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2, mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP), outflow tract of right ventricle (RVOT), and internal diameter of right ventricle (RV) were measured.

RESULTSGood clinic benefits were achieved in both the standard and ligustrazine regimens, plasma level of ET-1, values of mPAP, RV and RVOT decreased significantly, plasma level of NO and PaO2 values decreased (all P < 0.01 vs pre-treatment to all parameters). Compared with the control group, ligustrazine greatly enhanced the clinic efficacy from 77.1% to 97.1% (P < 0.05), and also resulted in more significant changes of all these parameters (P < 0.01 vs control group for all parameters). For both groups, the levels of plasma ET-1 were positively correlated with values of mPAP, RVOT, and RV (r = 0.710, 0.853, and 0.766, respectively, all P = 0.000), and negatively correlated with plasma NO and PaO2 (r = - 0.823, and - 0.752, respectively, all P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONLigustrazine is effective in treating pulmonary artery hypertension during acute exacerbation of COPD and CCP in patients from the plateau area. The observed changes in the plasma levels of NO and ET-1 in response to ligustrazine treatment suggest that ligustrazine may act through the selective effect on pulmonary blood vessels to enhance the synthesis and release of NO and suppress those of ET-1 from lung vascular endothelial cells, thus reducing pulmonary artery pressure and decreasing pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Altitude ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Chronic Disease ; Endothelin-1 ; blood ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; drug therapy ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Pulmonary Artery ; physiopathology ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; drug therapy ; Pyrazines ; therapeutic use ; Respiration

Methyl parathion hydrolase (MPH, E.C.3.1.8.1) coding gene mph from Pseudomonas sp. WBC-3, isolated and identified by our lab, was successfully expressed in E. coli AD494 (DE3)/ pET32a(+) system as soluble fusion form at high level. The recombinant MPH showed nearly 4～5 fold higher specific activity to parathion than the enzyme from Pseudomonas sp. WBC-3. In addition, the thermal stability of the recombinant enzyme was improved comparing with the wild type enzyme.

As one of the most common malignancies of the salivary glands, mucoepidermoid carcinoma had a rare frequency in mandible. A case of central mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the mandible was reported and relevant literatures were reviewed. The possible etiology, clinical symptom, radiology, histopathology, diagnosis and treatment of central mucoepidermoid carcinoma were discussed.
Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) on the expression of transforming growth factor beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor-1 of metalloproteinase (TIMP-1) in rats with pulmonary damage induced by paraquat (PQ).

METHODSFifty-four healthy male SD rats were randomly assigned into the control group (normal saline), the PQ-treatment groups (4 groups) and the PDTC treatment groups (4 groups). Except the rats in the control group, the rats in the PQ group were gavaged only with 40 mg/kg PQ, and PDTC group with 40 mg/kg PQ plus immediate injection 120 mg/kg PDTC (i.p). On the 3rd, the 7th, the 14th and 28th day after treatments, one group rats of each treatments were sacrificed and lung and blood samples were collected. The level of TGF-beta(1) protein in the plasma, the mRNA expression of TGF-beta(1), MMP-2 and TIMP-1 were evaluated using RT-PCR and real-time quantitative PCR, while pathological changes of lung were examined under optical microscope and electrical microscope.

RESULTSThe TGF-beta(1) protein, TGF-beta(1) and MMP-2 mRNA expression were increased significantly in the earlier stage and then decreased after PQ administration (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), while the mRNA level of TIMP-1 was augmented continuously (P < 0.01) throughout the study compared to the control group. In comparison with the PQ group, in the PDTC treatment group, the TGF-beta(1) mRNA expression on the 3rd and the 14th day, 0.54 +/- 0.08 and 0.72 +/- 0.04 respectively, the MMP-2 mRNA expression on the 7th and 14th day, 1.62 +/- 0.50 and 1.97 +/- 0.34 respective-ly, and the TIMP-1 mRNA on the 7th and 21st day, 1.79 +/- 0.21 and 2.00 +/- 0.34 respectively, were significantly decreased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPDTC could attenuate paraquat-induced up-regulation of TGF-beta(1) and its mRNA expression, MMP-2 and TIMP-1 mRNA levels, which indicates that PDTC may exert its protective effects on paraquat-induced pulmonary damage by alleviating the earlier inflammation damage and adjust-ing the balance between MMPs and TIMPs. However, further studies are still warranted to investigate and clarify the underlying mechanisms involved in this complicated process.

Acute Lung Injury ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; Pyrrolidines ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thiocarbamates ; pharmacology ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of dimethoate on the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in peripheral blood lymphocytes of human beings and to explore the feasibility of HSP70 in biomonitoring among workers exposed to organophosphorous pesticides.

METHODSPeripheral blood lymphocytes were isolated from subjects, comprising 11 people of the control group and 35 workers of the exposure group exposed to dimethoate. Flow cytometry was used for detecting both the basic level and the level of the dimethoate-induced expression of HSP70. The activity of whole blood acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was examined at the same time. Then the potential influential factors to HSP70 expression and AChE activity were analyzed.

RESULTSThe basic level of HSP70 expression in the exposure group and the control group was 41.24% +/- 10.45% and 23.97% +/- 4.29% respectively. The activity of AChE in these two groups were (125.23 +/- 7.97) and (145.36 +/- 8.78) U/ml respectively. Both differences were statistically significant (P < 0.01). Among the exposure group, the basic level of HSP70 expression of the two categories comprising operators and packers, were 47.34% +/- 11.87% and 38.05% +/- 8.20% respectively (P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in AChE activity between these two categories. The factors that had significant influence on the HSP70 basic level of the exposure group were the health condition, the environmental concentration of dimethoate and the exposure time in order, according to their significance of influence. At least 88% variance of HSP70 could be explained by these factors. The only factor that could influence AChE activity significantly was the exposure time, and it could only explain about 12% variance of AChE activity. After the treatment of dimethoate in vitro, the level of the induced expression of HSP70 in the control group was significantly higher than that of the exposure group (P < 0.01). The increasing order was the control group, the group of packers and the group of operators according to the increasing extent and there were significant difference among them (P < 0.01). The factors that could significantly influence the change ratio of HSP70 expression were the environmental concentration and the exposure time.

CONCLUSIONHSP70 is a potential index that can reflect the individual and environmental conditions of workers exposed to dimethoate comprehensively.

Acetylcholinesterase ; blood ; Adult ; Cells, Cultured ; Dimethoate ; toxicity ; Female ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Humans ; Insecticides ; toxicity ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure

OBJECTIVETo explore the correlation between the results of the nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) test and the efficacy of tadalafil in the treatment of ED.

METHODSA total of 188 ED patients were divided into a normal NPT group (n = 136) and an abnormal NPT group (n = 52) according to the results of the NPT test. All of them were treated with tadalafil at 20 mg 3 times a week. The IIEF-5 score, SEP2, SEP3 and GAQ score were compared between the two groups before and 1 month after the treatment.

RESULTSTadalafil treatment significantly improved IIEF-5 score, SEP2 and SEP3 of both groups of the patients (P < 0.01). Compared with the abnormal NPT group, the normal NPT group showed a remarkable increase in the IIEF-5 score, SEP2, SEP3 (P < 0.05) and GAQ score (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAfter 1 month of tadalafil treatment, the normal NPT group achieved a more significant improvement of erectile function and sexual satisfaction than the abnormal NPT group, suggesting that tadalafil has a better therapeutic effect for ED patients with normal NPT.

Carbolines ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Penile Erection ; drug effects ; Tadalafil

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of saponins from Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge (SAaB) (Botanical Name: Anemarrhena Asphodeloidis Rhizoma) on the growth of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).

METHODSCell proliferation was measured by a newly developed cell proliferation reagent, WST-1. Cell apoptosis was assayed by flow cytometry through detecting annexin V. Nitric oxide production was evaluated using confocal laser scanning microscopy with diaminofluorescein diacetate (DAF-2, DA). Cell aldose reductase (AR) activity, as well as the effect of Epalrestat and interleukin-1beta were also explored.

RESULTSWST assay showed that cell proliferation induced by serum was significantly inhibited by SAaB (P<0.01). Flow cytometry analysis revealed that SAaB could enhance apoptotic rate of VSMCs (P<0.01). Nitric oxide production was significantly enhanced after administration of SAaB and interleukin-1beta. Moreover, AR activity of VSMCs was also remarkably inhibited by both SAaB and Epalrestat (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSAaB can inhibit proliferation and enhance apoptosis of VSMCs. It may protect vascular cells by inhibiting VSMC proliferation and augmenting apoptotic rate of VSMCs via NO-dependent pathway.

Anemarrhena ; chemistry ; Animals ; Annexin A5 ; metabolism ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Flow Cytometry ; Fluorescein ; chemistry ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Saponins ; pharmacology