Air Pollution, Indoor ; statistics & numerical data ; Hong Kong ; Noise, Occupational ; statistics & numerical data ; Restaurants ; statistics & numerical data ; Temperature

Abstract: Objective To explore the influencing factors of serum HBeAg loss in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and and provide evidence for effective treatment of CHB. Methods A follow-up cohort of HBeAg-positive CHB patients was established in the the Infectious Diseases Outpatient Clinic of hospital. Regular follow-up and laboratory test indicators were collected to analyze the changes of serum HBeAg in HBeAg-positive CHB patients during the follow-up period. The subjects were divided into the case group (serum HBeAg loss) and the control group (serum HBeAg not loss) according to whether serum HBeAg loss occurred. The baseline data characteristics of the two groups were analyzed and compared, and the influencing factors of serum HBeAg loss were analyzed by Cox univariate and multivariate regression. Results A total of 634 HBeAg-positive CHB patients were enrolled, with a total follow-up of 2 570.01 person-years. Among them, 237 cases of serum HBeAg loss occurred, with the mean follow-up time of 40.92 months, and the rate of HBeAg loss was 9.22/100 person-years. There were significant differences in HBV family history, antiviral therapy, baseline WBC, PLT, ALT, AST, T˗Bil, GGT, AFP, quantitative HBsAg and quantitative HBeAg between serum HBeAg loss group and serum HBeAg not loss group (P<0.05). Cox regression analysis showed that family history of HBV (HR 0.68, 95％CI:0.50-0.92, P=0.012), ALT (HR2.06, 95％CI:1.52-2.79, P<0.001), quantitative HBsAg (HR 0.68, 95％CI:0.48-0.95, P=0.024), quantitative HBeAg (HR 0.48, 95％CI:0.31-0.74, P=0.001) were independent influencing factors for HBeAg loss in HBeAg-positive CHB patients. Conclusions HBeAg-positive CHB patients without family history of HBV, initial ALT≥80 U/L, quantitative HBsAg<1 000 IU/ml, quantitative HBeAg<1 000 C.O.I are more likely to have serum HBeAg loss.

China ; epidemiology ; Epidemiologic Methods ; Humans ; Wounds and Injuries ; epidemiology

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a novel Zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPcH(1)) based photodynamic therapy (PDT) on acute monocytic leukemia cell lines SHI-1 and its mechanism, so as to provide theory basis for bone marrow purging in vitro for patients with leukemia. The killing effect of ZnPcH(1)-PDT on SHI-1 cells were assessed by MTT method; the SHI-1 cell death patterns were analyzed by AO/EB fluorescence staining, TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), DNA ploidy analysis, and Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining.Cell mixture was established by integrating SHI-1 cells with normal bone marrow MNC (by 1:100-1:10 000). Purging effect of ZnPcH(1)-PDT against SHI-1 mixed into normal MNC was assessed by analyzing the expression of fusion gene MLL/AF6 mRNA using nested RT-PCR. The results showed that ZnPcH(1)-PDT could effectively inhibit SHI-1 cell proliferation in dose-dependent manner, and ZnPcH(1)-PDT could induce cell apoptosis in time-dependent manner. 0.5 µmol/L ZnPcH(1)-PDT could completely photoinactivated kill SHI-1 cells in the simulated remission bone marrow. It concluded that ZnPcH(1)-PDT may be a effective and convenient promising purging technique for leukemia.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Bone Marrow Purging ; methods ; Cell Death ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Indoles ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Organometallic Compounds ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Photochemotherapy ; Photosensitizing Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

Objective To evaluate hemodynamic changes in liver treated by transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt(TIPSS)with hepatic computed tomography(CT)perfusion,Doppler ultrasound and portal vein pressure measurement,as well as the correlation among these methods.Methods Hepatic CT perfusion was performed in 9 cirrhotic patients one week before TIPSS and 72 hours after TIPSS. Intraoperative portal vein pressure was measured before and after portosystemic shunt establish.The follow- up hepatic CT perfusion were carried out in 3 cases at 3 months and 6 months postoperatively.The hemodynamic surveillance by Doppler ultrasound were performed in 48 hours and 3 months after TIPSS for 9 cases,and in 6 months after TIPSS for 6 cases.Two cases underwent venography and portal vein pressure measurement in 6 months after TIPSS treatment.Results The mean of portal vein perfusion(PVP),total hepatic blood flow(THBF),hepatic perfusion index(HPI)and portal vein free pressure(PVFP)before TIPSSwere(0.92?0.18)ml?min~(-1)?ml~(-1),(1.28?0.17)ml?min~(-1)?ml~(-1),(28?8)%,and (23.92?0.86)mmHg,respectively.In 72 hours after TIPSS,the mean of PVP,THBF,HPI and PVFP were(0.21?0.15)ml?min~(-1)?ml~(-1),(0.74?0.18)ml?min~(-1)?ml~(-1),(74 +13)%,and (12.62?1.54)mm Hg,respectively.After treatment,the mean of PVP was(0.49?0.05)ml?min~(-1)? ml~(-1)at 3 months and(0.57?0.03)ml?min~(-1)?ml~(-1)at 6 months,respectively.There was negative correlation between PVP and PVFP before TIPSS(r=0.678,P0.05).Moreover,a signifieant correlation was found between the degree of portal vein pressure decrease and portal vein perfusion decrease(r=0.867,P

UNLABELLEDTo evaluate the detection rate of myocardial bridging by 64-slice spiral CT coronary angiography.

METHODSThe data of 3011 patients with suspected coronary artery disease undergoing 64-slice spiral CT coronary angiography were collected and analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSA total of 174 cases (5.8%) with myocardial bridging were detected by 64-slice spiral CT coronary angiography, among which 168 (96.6%) had single foci of involvement and 6 (3.4%) had were multiple foci. Involvement of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) was detected in 167 out of the 174 cases (96.0%). The length of the myocardial bridge varied between 5 and 120 mm (mean of 30.5 mm), and the depth of the tunneled artery ranged between 1.3 and 2.8 mm (mean 2.3 mm). Seventy-nine of the cases (45.4%) had uncomplicated myocardial bridging and 95 (54.6%) had myocardial bridging complicated by coronary atherosclerosis.

CONCLUSIONMulti-slice spiral CT coronary angiography is a reliable and noninvasive modality for diagnosis of myocardial bridging to allow direct measurement of the length and depth of the myocardial bridge and detection of concurrent coronary and cardiac lesions.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; epidemiology ; Coronary Angiography ; methods ; Coronary Artery Disease ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Bridging ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVETo determine the difference of post-operative mortality between ORIF (open reduction internal fixation) and hip replacement for the treatment of intertrochanteric fracture in elderly by using survival analysis.

METHODSThe clinical data of 110 patients above 60 years old who underwent surgical treatment (ORIF or hip replacement) for the intertrochanteric fracture between April 2003 and May 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Among the patients, 83 cases were treated with ORIF (ORIF group), there were 32 males and 51 females, aged from 61.44 to 98.75 years old with an average of (78.52 ± 7.98) years old; and 27 cases were treated with hip replacement (arthroplasty group), there were 8 males and 19 females, aged from 71.82 to 96.54 years old with an average of (79.99 ± 6.11) years old. A survival analysis was performed on the clinical data by using SPSS 110 software. The survival rate of 1-year,2-year, 5-year and the mean survival time for the total patients, the mortality rate of 1-year, 2-year in each group, the survival rate of 1-year, 2-year and mean survival time and survival curve in each group were included.

RESULTSAll wounds achieved primary healing and no deaths were found in stay hospital. All patients were followed up from 1 to 125 months with an average of (46.93 ± 29.53) months. Among all 110 cases, 31 were dead and 79 survived. The survival rate of 1-year, 2-year and 5-year was (90.7 ± 2.8)%, (82.5 ± 3.9)% and (57.6 ± 6.5)%, respectively,while the ensemble mean survival time was (84.137 ± 5.902) months. The mortality rate of 1-year, 2-year in ORIF group was 7.2% and 12.0%, respectively; and in arthroplasty group, there was 14.8% and 25.9%, respectively. There was no significant difference in mortality rate of 1-year and 2-year between two groups. According to the survival analysis of the ORIF group, the survival rate of 1-year, 2-year was (92.6 ± 2.9)%, and (85.8 ± 4.3)%, respectively, and the mean survival time was (87.508 ± 6.063) months. In arthroplasty group, the survival rate of 1-year, 2-year was (85.2 ± 6.8)% and (73.9 ± 8.5)%,and the mean survival time was (67.294 ± 11.180) months. There was significant difference in mean survival time between two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONORIF can achieve a better postoperative survival compare with hip replacement in treating intertrochanteric fracture in elderly.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Hip Fractures ; mortality ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

In recent studies some urea derivatives have been identified as potent anti-tuberculosis agents by targeting mycobacterial membrane protein large 3 (MmpL3). However, this compound series as exemplified by AU1235 exhibited poor in vitro pharmacokinetic profile. With AU1235 as the lead, we have identified a novel benzimidazole series as potential anti-tuberculosis agents by using scaffold hopping approach. Among these synthesized compounds, 2-aminobenzimidazole derivative 8b showed the potent anti-tuberculosis activity with the MIC value of 0.03 microg x mL(-1). This compound also showed improved metabolic stability compared to AU1235. Our investigation indicated that benzimidazole derivatives are the promising lead for further optimization as anti-tuberculosis agents.
Antitubercular Agents ; pharmacology ; Benzimidazoles ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Drug Design ; Humans ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Tuberculosis ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of the time interval from the end of semen processing to artificial intrauterine in semination with husband's sperm (AIH-IUI) on the rate of clinical pregnancy.

METHODSThis study involved 191 AIH-IUI cycles with the same ovulation induction protocol. After Percoll density gradient centrifugation, we divided the sperm into four groups based on the incubation time: 0-19, 20-39, 40-59, and 60-80 min, and again into another four groups according to the total progressively motile sperm count (TPMC): (0-9), (10-20), (21-30), and > 30 x 10(6). We analyzed the correlation of the clinical pregnancy rate with the time interval from the end of sperm processing to AIH-IUI and with other influencing factors, such as maternal age, infertility duration, and semen quality.

RESULTSThe rate of clinical pregnancy was significantly higher in the 20-39 min group (18.3%) than in the 0-19, 40-59, and 60-80 min groups (12.7, 11.4 and 9.1%) (all P < 0.05). The (10-20) x 10(6) group achieved a remarkably higher pregnancy rate (16.7%) than the (0-9), (21-30), and > 30 x 10(6) groups (0, 11.4, and 8.3%) (all P < 0.05). Logistic multivariate analysis showed that the rate of clinical pregnancy was decreased with the increased age of the women (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.83-0.94) but significantly elevated in the 20-39 min group (OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.34-3.13) and of (10-20) x 10(6) group (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.32-3.46).

CONCLUSIONThe time interval from the end of sperm processing to AIH-IUI is a most significant factor influencing the rate of clinical pregnancy of AIH-IUI.

Centrifugation, Density Gradient ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility ; therapy ; Insemination, Artificial, Homologous ; statistics & numerical data ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Spermatozoa ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo construct a co- culture system of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and multiple myeloma (MM) cells and investigate the alterations of connexin 43 (CX43) expression and stromal derived growth factor (SDF)- 1α secretion of MSC.

METHODSCX43 expression and SDF- 1α secretion of MM cell lines (RPMI8226) and human primary MM cells were analyzed by western blot and immunofluorescence. Western blot, RT- PCR and immunofluorescence were employed to detect the alterations of CX43 expression and distribution in MSC directly and indirectly co-cultured with myeloma cells. Lucifer yellow dye spread was utilized to evaluate gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) between co- cultured MSC. Transwell was applied to study the transmigration of RPMI8266 induced by MSC under the condition of 18α- glycyrrhetinic acid (18α-GA). The level of SDF- 1α was detected by EILSA.

RESULTSRPMI8266, U266 and one-third primary MM cells expressed CX43 at low or moderate levels. CX43 wasn't expressed in XG- 4 and XG- 7 cells but highly expressed in MSC. The expressions of CX43 mRNA of MSC were up- regulated after directly and indirectly co- cultured with RPMI8226, 1.36 and 2.10 times that of MSC cultured alone respectively. Western blot analysis showed that CX43 protein expression of MSC was also up-regulated, mainly distributed in cytoplasm. Lucifer yellow dye spread showed that GJIC was up-regulated in MSC. SDF-1α concentration in supernatant of MSC directly and indirectly co-cultured with RPMI8226 were (373.02±10.11)pg/ml and (309.71±10.71)pg/ml respectively, which were higher than that of MSC cultured alone (237.84±9.23)pg/ml (P<0.01), and could be inhibited by 18α-GA [(237.84±9.23)pg/ml and (94.31±6.44)pg/ml] respectively (P<0.01). 18α-GA could inhibit the transmigration of RPMI8226 induced by MSC, decrease from (8.00±0.67)% to (4.82±0.19)%.

CONCLUSIONCX43 expression of MSC was up-regulated after directly and indirectly co-cultured with MM cells, which could improve the level of SDF-1α secretion of MSC. GJ inhibitor could downregulate SDF-1α secretion of MSC and inhibit the transmigration of MM cells induced by MSC.

Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; secretion ; Coculture Techniques ; Connexin 43 ; secretion ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Multiple Myeloma ; metabolism ; pathology