OBJECTIVETo investigate the abnormal change of immune function in patients with Pi-Qi deficiency Syndrome, and to explore the genomic mechanism of its genesis by cDNA chip techniques.

METHODSThe cross probe was made by extracting and microamplifying the total RNA and mRNA of peripheral white blood cells (WBC) in healthy subjects and patients with chronic gastritis and ulcerative colitis, which were labeled by Cy3 and Cy5 respectively. Then equal quantity of the two labeled probes were mixed and hybridized with cDNA chip, fluorescent signal of the chips were scanned with scanner. Data obtained were analyzed for comparing the difference of the expressive levels of immune associated genome in peripheral WBC in healthy subjects with those in patients.

RESULTSExpressions of CD9, CD164, PF4 and RARB gene in WBC of patients, both gastritis and colitis, were down-regulated while those of IGKC, DEFA1 and GNLY were up-regulated.

CONCLUSIONThe genesis of Pi-Qi deficiency syndrome has its immune associated genomic basis, and the immune functions are disordered in patients with that syndrome.

Adult ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; genetics ; immunology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Gastritis ; genetics ; immunology ; Genome ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Qi ; Splenic Diseases ; genetics ; immunology ; Yang Deficiency ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVEThe cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) could be obtained by measuring pulse wave velocity (PWV) and blood pressure (BP). This method is associated with various technical drawbacks. We evaluated the accuracy and usefulness of CAVI measured by ultrasound via detecting the aortic and ankle flow directly by ultrasonic probe.

METHODSCAVI was determined in 96 subjects [64 male, mean age (41.2 +/- 8.9) years] who took part in the annual check up program in our department by means of the professional equipment (BP-203RPEII, VP-1000, Japan, CAVIp), the M-mode (CAVIm) and color Doppler flow imaging (CAVId). Measurement reproducibility on was obtained by repeat the measurements in 20 subjects choose randomly from the 96 subjects. Carotid ultrasound (CU) was performed to obtain intima-media thickness (IMT) and beta index in all subjects.

RESULTSCAVI obtained by various methods were similar and comparable (CAVIm 7.74 +/- 1.62, CAVId 7.77 +/- 1.59, CAVIp 8.74 +/- 1.57, all P > 0.05). Inter-group and inter-observer variance was negligible (r1 = 0.98, r2 = 0.97). There were also significant correlations between CAVIm and IMT, CAVIm and beta (r1 = 0.824, r2 = 0.812, all P < 0.01), and between CAVId and IMT, CAVId and beta (r1 = 0.815, r2 = 0.813, all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSCAVI could be correctly measured by ultrasound technique.

Adult ; Ankle ; blood supply ; Atherosclerosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Blood Flow Velocity ; physiology ; Blood Vessels ; diagnostic imaging ; Carotid Arteries ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulse ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the prognostic significance of Omi/HtrA2 expression, and the correlation between Omi/HtrA2 and Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α in primary hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

METHODSThe expression of HIF-1α and Omi/HtrA2 in 43 cases of hepatic carcinoma tissues were detected immunohistochemically. Follow-up data were obtained to perform the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. The change of Omi/HtrA2 expression in HepG2 cell was measured after HIF-1α expression of HepG2 in vitro was regulated by Tet-on expression system.

RESULTSOmi/HtrA2 expression was correlated with lymph node metastasis and recurring within liver during 2 years. Statistical analysis estimation showed the cumulative survival rate of post-hepatectomy for the patients with the positive expression of Omi/HtrA2 was higher than that for other patients with the negative expression of Omi/HtrA2 (χ(2) = 6.13, P = 0.013). In the common paraffin-embedded specimen of hepatocellular carcinoma, most of the samples showing negative or weak positive HIF-1α immunopositivity showed moderate positive or strong positive Omi/HtrA2 immunopositivity, while most of the samples showing moderate positive or strong positive HIF-1α immunopositivity showed negative or weak positive Omi/HtrA2 immunopositivity. The mRNA expression intensity of Omi/HtrA2 was decreasing with the HIF-1α expression increasing, and the difference was statistically significant(F = 106.766, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSOmi/HtrA2 may be an important prognostic marker for primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Omi/HtrA2 expression is reversely correlated with HIF-1α expression in hepatocellular carcinoma. During the apoptotic process Omi/HtrA2 participating in hepatocellular carcinoma cells, HIF-1α is involved in the controlling and regulating of Omi/HtrA2 expression.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hep G2 Cells ; High-Temperature Requirement A Serine Peptidase 2 ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; genetics ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitochondrial Proteins ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; metabolism ; pathology ; Prognosis ; Serine Endopeptidases ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Young Adult

Objective: To observe the effects of laurocapram and borneol as transdermal penetration enhancers applied to herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion on liver lipids, hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase in hyperlipidemia rabbits.Methods: Forty New-Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups using the random number table method, with 8 rats in each group. Rabbits in the blank group were fed routinely with a normal diet; rabbits in the other groups were fed with high-fat diet for 12 weeks to establish the hyperlipidemia model. Rabbits in the blank and the model groups were not given any intervention. After the model was prepared successfully, rabbits in the non-transdermal penetration enhancer group received herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion without transdermal penetration enhancers; rabbits in the laurocapram group and the borneol group received herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion with laurocapram or borneol respectively. After 4 weeks of treatment, the serum was isolated and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied for the detection of HSL and HMG-CoA reductase. The liver tissues were isolated, and total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) were measured by enzymatic methods. One-step method was applied for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) detection, and transmission turbidimetry was for apolipoprotein A1 (Apo-A1) and apolipoprotein B (Apo-B) detection. Results: The serum concentrations of the drugs in the laurocapram and the borneol groups were significantly higher than those in the non-transdermal penetration enhancer group (both P<0.05); all drug penetrations in the borneol group were significantly higher than those in the laurocapram group (both P<0.05), except for tanshinone ⅡA. Compared with the non-transdermal penetration enhancer group, the HSL was significantly increased while the HMG-CoA reductase was significantly decreased in the laurocapram and the borneol groups (both P<0.05); between groups, the HSL in the borneol group was significantly higher than that in the laurocapram group (P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, the levels of LDL-C, TG, TC and Apo-B in rabbit liver were significantly increased in the model group (P<0.05); compared with the model group, the levels of LDL-C, TG, TC and Apo-B in the non-transdermal penetration enhancer, the laurocapram, and the borneol groups were significantly decreased (all P<0.05); between groups, the TG and TC in the laurocapram group and the LDL-C, TG, TC and Apo-B in the borneol group were significantly lower than those in the non-transdermal penetration enhancer group (all P<0.05), and the TG, LDL-C and Apo-B in the borneol group were significantly lower than those in the laurocapram group (all P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, the HDL-C and Apo-A1 were significantly decreased in the model group (both P<0.05), while compared with the model group, the HDL-C and Apo-A1 were significantly increased in the non-transdermal penetration enhancer, the laurocapram, and the borneol groups (all P<0.05). Between groups, the Apo-A1 in the laurocapram group, the HDL-C and Apo-A1 in the borneol group were significantly higher than those in the non-transdermal penetration enhancer group (all P<0.05).Conclusion: The application of laurocapram and borneol, as transdermal penetration enhancers, in herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion can promote the penetration of the drugs in the herbal cake, increase the levels of HDL-C and Apo-A1, improve the metabolism of HSL and HMG-CoA reductase, and also simultaneously reduce the levels of TC, TG, LDL-C and Apo-B in the liver. The transdermal penetration enhancement effect of borneol is slightly better than or equivalent to that of laurocapram.

Objective To investigate the prognostic sequelae in neontes with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and ven-tricnlar dilatation.Methods Seventy-six full term newborns infants with HIE were followed up at the age from 3 to 19 months after therapy. Twenty-five infants among them were followed up by telephone in the epidemic period of SARS.Results Among 76 infants of 88 newborn infants with HIE(84.6%), 73 infants were normal (96.1% ). 1 infant had cerebral palsy (1.3%), 2 infants died (2.6 %).Among 39 cases with mild HIE, none of them had cerebral sequelae; among moderate HIE. 1 infant had cerebral palsy (2.9%) 1 infant died (2. 9 %), interlenkin-4 among severe HIE 50 % died (P00.5 The poor outcome of HIE in those infants were related to intrauterine growth retardation,severe birth asphyxia;and inadequate treatment.Cranial ultra-sonography of 49 infants were done on follow-up,and 12 of them (24.5 % ) had ventricular dilatations, which appeared after birth with 6 infants. Others occurred on follow-up with 1 infant had cerobral palsy,all ventricular dilatations recovered to normal at 12- 19 months except the cerebral palsy.Conclusions The poor outcome of HIE depends on the infants with intranterine growth relarda-tion,severe birth asphyxia and inadequate treatment.The prognosis of transient ventrealar ddatation are good except cerebral palsy.J Appl Clin pediatr,2004,19(12) : 1045- 1047

Objective To study the feasibility and clinical values of diffusion tensor tractography (DTT)in the spinal cord at 3.0 T MR.Methods Forty patients with spinal cord compression including cervical cord herniation and cervical spondylosis(30 cases),tumors in spinal canal(9 cases)and old injury in cervical vertebrae(1 cases)and 20 healthy volunteers participated in this study.Single-shot spin- echo echo-planar diffusion tensor sequence for tractography of the spinal cord was performed.The fibers of spinal cord were visualized by using fiber tracking software.Results On the DTT maps,the normal spinal cord was depicted as a fiber tract showing color-encoded cephaloeaudally,which indicated anisotropy in the cephalocaudal direction.By setting two ROI,the main spinal cord fiber tracts,such as corticospinal or spinothalamic tract,were visualized.The tracts from two sides of the brain did not completely cross.It was asymmetric in the number of tracts on the two sides in most normal subjects(8/10).The tracts of all patients with cord compression were seen oppressed or damaged in different degrees.The DrrT in patients with cervical spondylosis and extramedullary-intradural neurolemmoma demonstrated that tracts were oppressed but not damaged.The DTT in one ependymoma showed that tract was markedly compressed and slightly damaged.Conclusion DTT is a promising tool for demonstrating the spinal cord tracts and abnormalities,can provide useful information for the localization of compression and evaluation of the impairment extent on the white matter tracts of the spinal cord.

OBJECTIVETo determine whether hepatitis B virus X (HBX) protein expression affect the oval cells' response to anti-proliferative effect of transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) in oval cells.

METHODSReal-time PCR, Western blot analysis were performed to detect the expression of TGFβRII in HBX-transfected oval cells named HBX-EGFP-LE/6, and EGFP-LE/6, LE/6 control cells. In addition, exogenous TGFβ1 was added into all three oval cell lines, MTT assay was preformed to clarify different responses to the anti-proliferative effect of TGFβ1.

RESULTSThe TGFβRII mRNA levels in LE/6 and EGFP-LE/6 cells were (10.2 ± 1.8) and (8.8 ± 0.9) folds of those in HBX-EGFP-LE/6 cells, the difference was significant (P < 0.05). HBX protein expression also reduced the protein levels of TGFβRII in HBX-EGFP-LE/6 oval cells, compared to the control cells. The MTT results exhibited that, after TGFβ1 addition, proliferative inhibition rate in the HBX-EGFP-LE/6 cells was 18.1% ± 1.5% while those in control cells were 42.2% ± 2.8% and 41.9% ± 5.0%, the difference was significant (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONHBX protein expression affects TGFβRII transcriptional activity and protein synthesis, and insensitive oval cells to anti-proliferative effect of TGFβ1.

Animals ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; Liver ; cytology ; metabolism ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Trans-Activators ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the patterns of cervical lymph nodes metastasis and the surgical managements of cervical lymph nodes in clinical N0 (cN0) papillary thyroid carcinoma.

METHODSFifty-one consecutive patients with papillary carcinomas without clinical evidence of cervical lymph node involvement were included in the study between August 2007 and September 2010, in which 53 sides underwent neck lymph node dissection. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy intra-operative hand-held gamma probe detecting and blue dye technique were used to detect the sentinel lymph node (SLN). SLNs were sent to frozen-section and the results were compared with specimen of routine selective neck dissection. All the pathologic specimens were reviewed by pathologists, counting the numbers of pathologic positive nodes and mapping the localization of positive nodes in level II, III, IV, V and VI respectively. The following criteria were used to study the predictive value of lateral neck compartment lymph node metastasis: age, multifocality of the tumor, extracapsular spread (ECS), tumor size, and the number of central compartment metastasis nodes. Univariate analysis with the χ2 test was used to analyze the statistical correlation between lateral neck compartment lymph node metastasis and the other clinical factors. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify the multivariate correlates of lateral neck compartment metastasis.

RESULTSThe occult lymph node metastasis and lateral neck metastasis rates were 77.4% and 58.5% respectively, central compartment metastasis ≥3 nodes was the only independent predictive factor for the metastasis in lateral neck. Twelve sides were pN0 and other 41 sides were pN+ in all 53 side specimens. Of 41 sides with pN+, 17 sides (41.5%) involved single site and 24 sides (58.5%) involved multi-sites. The distribution of metastasis lymph nodes:level VI 62.3%, level III 52.8%, level IV 30.2%, level II 18.9%, and level V 0%.

CONCLUSIONSCervical occult lymph node metastasis in cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma mainly localizes in level VI, level III, level IV and level II.Selective neck dissection including level VI, III, IV, II is enough for papillary carcinoma without clinical evidence of cervical lymph node involvement.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prospective Studies ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; pathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of comprehensive control strategy of schistosomiasis with emphasis on infection source control in Anhui province.

METHODSForty endemic villages in Guichi district, Chizhou city, Anhui province were selected as national pilot villages in the years from 2006 to 2008, and another 10 provincial pilot villages were respectively selected from 10 highly endemic villages in 7 cities in 2007. The comprehensive infection source control measures, including "replace cattle with machines", "raise livestock in pens", "improve the sanitary toilets", "supply safe water " and so on were carried out among the above pilot villages. At the end of 2008, 13 national pilot villages and 6 provincial pilot villages were selected to investigate the popularity of schistosomiasis, and the effect of the comprehensive control strategy in those villages were compared.

RESULTSAfter implementing the comprehensive control strategy, the infectious rate of schistosomiasis in national pilot villages decreased from 4.57% (487/10 659) to 1.76% (147/8370), with the reduction rate at 61.49%, whose difference showed statistical significance (χ(2) = 115.16, P < 0.01); and the density of infected snails decreased from 0.0067/0.1 m(2) to 0.0008/0.1 m(2), the infectious rate of snails decreased from 0.28% to 0.04%, whose reduction rates were 88.06% and 85.71% respectively. While as to the provincial pilot villages, the infectious rate of schistosomiasis decreased from 1.27% (54/4254) to 0.21% (14/6592), with the reduction rate at 83.46%, whose difference showed statistical significance (χ(2) = 94.57, P < 0.01); and the density of infected snails decreased from 0.0025/0.1 m(2) to 0.0003/0.1 m(2), the infection rate of snails decreased from 0.13% to 0.05%, whose reduction rates were 88.00% and 61.54% respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe comprehensive control strategy with emphasis on infection source control implemented in marshland and lake regions can effectively control the transmission of schistosomiasis.

Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Reservoirs ; parasitology ; Humans ; Infection Control ; methods ; Livestock ; Pilot Projects ; Rural Health ; Schistosomiasis ; epidemiology ; parasitology ; prevention & control ; Snails ; parasitology

BACKGROUNDThe 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is associated with the high risk of severe complications and is spreading more rapidly throughout the world than other reported seasonal influenzas. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the nature herbal medicine Lianhuaqingwen capsule (LHC) in patients infected with influenza A (H1N1) virus.

METHODSA total of 244 patients aged 16 - 65 years confirmed with influenza A (H1N1) virus infection by the real time RT-PCR were randomized to one of two treatment groups of 122 patients each. Each group assigned to receive either LHC or Oseltamivir for five days and observation for seven days. The patients were enrolled within 36 hours of illness onset if they had an axillary temperature of ≥ 37.4°C and with at least one of the following symptoms: nasal obstruction, runny nose, cough, sore throat, fatigue, headache, myalgia, chills and sweating. The primary end point was the duration of illness.

RESULTSOf 244 patients, 240 (98.36%) patients with a median age 21 years completed the study between October 24, 2009 and November 23, 2009. There were no significant overall differences between LHC treated and Oseltamivir treated patients in the median duration of illness (LHC 69 hours vs. Oseltamivir 85 hours P > 0.05) or the median duration of viral shedding (LHC 103 hours vs. Oseltamivir 96 hours, P > 0.05). However, it was worthwhile to note that LHC significantly reduced the severity of illness and the duration of symptoms including fever, cough, sore throat, and fatigue (P < 0.05). Both study medications were well tolerated. No drug related serious adverse events occurred during the study.

CONCLUSIONSCompared with Oseltamivir, LHC achieved a similar therapeutic effectiveness reduction of the duration of illness and duration of viral shedding. Therefore, LHC might be an alternative therapeutic measure for influenza A (H1N1) virus infections.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; pathogenicity ; Influenza, Human ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult