Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ; etiology ; Humans ; Occupational Diseases ; etiology

Objective To investigate whether the vohage-gated chloride channel CLC-2 gene— CLCN2 is associated with idiopathic generalized tonie-clonic seizures(often called a grand mal seizure, GME)of Jinuo people and Han people from Yunnan province.Methods Three regions,including Intron 2, Exon 5 and Exon 19(Intron 18),of CLCN2 were selected to conduct sequence analysis.The case-control study design was used to detect association between gene polymorphism and idiopathic generalized tonic- clonic seizures of Jinuo people and Han people from Yunnan province.Results No previously reported susceptible mutations were found in Intron 2,Exon 5 and Exon 19 in Jinuo people and Han people from Yunnan province.However we found a single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)at site 146 of Intron 18. Case-control study were carried out,using this SNP.Distribution of the 3 genotypes(TT,TC,CC)has a significant difference between the IGTCS patients of Han people and the normal controls of Han people(9, 3,29 cases and 22,9,26,respectively,x~2=16.079,P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of detection of hepatitis C virus core antigen (HCV-cAg) for screening blood donor by using the internal reagent enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and anti-HCV antibody.

METHODSThe first and repeat assays were performed for detection of serum anti-HCV and HCV-cAg ELISA in 3972 donor's serum specimens from August to October of 2004. Twenty-five donors positive for anti-HCV were tested with HCV-cAg EIA kits and the results were compared with the results of HCV RNA determination with RT-PCR method.

RESULTSIn 3972 donor's serum samples, only 1 serum specimen was positive for HCV RNA identification among 10 specimens which were positive for anti-HCV in first assays, and only 1 serum specimens was positive for HCV RNA identification among 12 specimens positive for anti-HCV in repeat assays, only 2 serum specimens were positive HCV RNA identification in 3 specimens which were positive for HCV-cAg assays.

CONCLUSIONThe sensitivity of HCV-cAg ELISA is similar to HCV RT-PCR, but it is much cheaper. Therefore, HCV-cAg ELISA and anti-HCV may be used together to screen blood donor.

Blood Donors ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Hepatitis C Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis C Antigens ; blood ; Humans ; RNA, Viral ; blood ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Viral Core Proteins ; blood

Objective To observe the effects of casein and excessive iodine on histomorphalogY and ultrastructure of mouse thymicL Methods Based on 2 × 3 factorial design,the experimental mice were divided into 6 groupg Animal models were estabhshed by feeding the mice with different levels of iodine water and casein food.The levels of iodine were 50,600 μg/L in drinking water and 0(Ⅰ),10%(Ⅱ),20%(Ⅲ)of casein in food respectively.After 12 months,the thyroid weight was measured and the morphology of thyroid was observed under optical and electron microscope.Results Factorial analysis showed that iodine factors obviously affected the thyroid absolute and relative weiights of mice(F=16.23,9.47,P＜0.01),and there was interaction between casein and iodine(F=5.29,4.68,P＜0.01 or＜0.05).Compared wiht 150Ⅰ[(5.91±0.82)rag,(117.0±22.2)mg/kg]and 50Ⅲ[(4.90±0.63)rag,(106.1±13.3)mg/kg]groups.thyroid absolute and relative weights of the mice increased in 600 Ⅰ[(7.60±2.40)mg,(143.3±43.2)mg/kg]and 600Ⅲ[(8.63±1.88)mg,(166.2±39.4)mg/kg]groups(P＜0.05 or＜0.01),respectively.But compared with 600 Ⅰ and 600Ⅲ groups.they were reduced obviously in 600Ⅱ[(5.76±1.13)mg,(109.8±16.5)mg/kg]group(P＜0.05 or＜O.01).Colloid goiter,lymphocyte infiltration were found,some of the follicles epithelial cells appeared active under light and electron microscope in iodine excels group,which,however,decreased obviously along with the increase of casein dose.Conclusions Long-term excessive iodine may cause colloid goiter and inflammation injury of mice,possibly leading the development of thyroiditis in mice,which may be partly reduced by casein.

Injury or inflammation affecting sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) causes hyperexcitability of DRG neurons that can lead to spinal central sensitization and neuropathic pain. Recent studies have indicated that, following chronic compression of DRG (CCD) or acute dissociation of DRG (ADD) treatment, both hyperexcitability of neurons in intact DRG and behaviorally expressed hyperalgesia are maintained by activity in cGMP-PKG signaling pathway. Here, we provide evidence supporting the idea that CCD or ADD treatment activates cGMP-PKA signaling pathway in the DRG neurons. The results showed that CCD or ADD results in increase of levels of cGMP concentration and expression of PKG-I mRNA, as well as PKG-I protein in DRG. CCD or ADD treated-DRG neurons become hyperexcitable and exhibit increased responsiveness to the activators of cGMP-PKG pathway, 8-Br-cGMP and Sp-cGMP. Hyperexcitability of the injured neurons is inhibited by cGMP-PKG pathway inhibitors, ODQ and Rp-8-pCPT-cGMPS. In vivo delivery of Rp-8-pCPT-cGMPS into the compressed ganglion within the intervertebral foramen suppresses CCD-induced thermal hyperalgesia. These findings indicate that the in vivo CCD or in vitro ADD treatment can activate the cGMP-PKG signaling pathway, and that continuing activation of cGMP-PKG pathway is required to maintain DRG neuronal hyperexcitability and/or hyperalgesia after these two dissimilar forms of injury-related stress.
Animals ; Cyclic GMP ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Ganglia, Spinal ; physiopathology ; Hyperalgesia ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; Thionucleotides ; metabolism

Blood Donors ; DNA Virus Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; Hepatitis Viruses ; classification ; isolation & purification ; pathogenicity ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human ; epidemiology ; virology ; Humans ; Transfusion Reaction

Adult ; Coronary Aneurysm ; complications ; Endocarditis, Bacterial ; complications ; Fistula ; complications ; Humans ; Male

Objective To compare the effect of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) and right ventricular apex (RVA) pacing on ventricular systolic synchrony using gated blood pool SPECT (GBPS).Methods A total of 50 patients implanted with pacemaker due to high degree or complete atria-ventricular block were enrolled in the study. Twenty-three patients were RVOT paced ( Group A, n = 23) and 27 were RVA paced (Group B, n=27). Twenty-four patients with malignancy, normal echocardiographic findings and no history of cardiac diseases were scheduled for pre-chemotherapy evaluation of cardiac structure and function and were enrolled as control group ( Group C, n = 24). All patients underwent GBPS imaging and the values of phase angle (PS), mean phase of each wall, standard deviation (SD) of mean phase of each wall, lateral-septal motion delay of left ventricle ( LV Sep-Lat Delay), septal-right ventricular (RV) delay of LV ( LV Sep-RV Delay) and LV-RV Delay were acquired. The parameters of ventricular systolic synchrony among the three groups were compared using one-way ANOVA. Results The mean phase of LV lateral wall in Groups A and B were significantly higher than that in Group C: Group A (120.50 ±40.58) ms; Group B (103.23±28.34) ms; Group C (84.63 ±22.38) ms (F=7.72, P ＜0.05). There was no significant difference between Groups A and B ( t = 1.30, P ＞ 0.05 ). The mean phase of RV in Group A was significantly larger than those in Groups B and C: Group A ( 137.05 ± 39.27) ms, Group B ( 100.85 ± 23.79) ms,Group C (59. 13 ±30.52) ms (F=35.55, P＜0.05). PS, SD and LV Sep-Lat Delay in Groups A and B were significantly higher than those in Group C: (85.73 ± 12.00)°vs (89.85 ± 15.61 )°vs (58.95 ±9.87)°, (27.68±10.66) ms vs (26.15 ±13.02) ms vs (15.63 ±8.35) ms, (25.06±34.23) ms vs (2. 62 ± 60. 31 ) ms vs ( - 23.66 ± 31.39) ms, F = 41.54,8.55,6.81, all P ＜ 0.01 ), however, there was no significant difference between Groups A and B ( t = 0. 68, 0.68, 1.30, all P ＞ 0.05 ). LV Sep-RV Delay and LV-RV Delay were significantly different among the three groups ( LV Sep-RV Delay: Group A (57.60 ±56.77) ms, Group B (6.36 ±61.88) ms, Group C ( -41.89 ±35.78) ms; LV-RV Delay:Group A (47.36 ±42.59) ms, Group B ( 3.08 ± 38.81 ) ms Group C ( - 26.50 ± 20.99 ) ms, F = 20. 32,25.38, both P ＜ 0.01 ). Conclusion Both RVA and RVOT pacing increase the segmental phases detected by GBPS, causing inter- and intra- ventricular asynchrony compared with patients without pacemakers.

BACKGROUND: Three-dimensional magnetic field positioning and three-dimensional electric field positioning are two main technologies used in heart ablation, but their required equipments are very expensive. OBJECTIVE: To develop a new method of ablation catheter positioning by combining ultrasonic probe with ablation catheter. METHODS: Three-dimensional data of human heart were obtained from the anatomical data set of the body, and then a three-dimensional vector model of the endocardial surface was established. The basic parameters and scanning strategy of ultrasonic probe were designed and calculated, to compile a corresponding simulation software. Based on the three-dimensional endocardial vector model, the detection data of the ultrasonic probe were obtained by simulation calculation and processed. Then, the target surface characteristics were reconstructed, matching with the surface features of the proposed vector model. The position of the probe was finally determined. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The three-dimensional model of the endocardium was established based on the anatomical data set, and the ultrasonic surface detection data were obtained by the simulated ultrasonic irradiation. The reconstructed surface model with high accuracy exhibited a desired match with the target area in the three-dimensional model of endocardium. The error of the probe position and its theoretical position fulfilled the requirement of positioning accuracy. In conclusion, the use of ultrasonic imaging technology can accurately position the catheter probe in the heart during heart ablation, providing an accurate and reliable navigation for the implementation of heart ablation.