Objective To evaluate the value of transthoracic echocardionraphy(TTE)and angiographic appearance for measurement of the diameter of patent ductus arteriosus(PDA)in transcatheter interventions.Methods In 52 patients,the position,diameter and length of ductus arteriosus between the descending aorta and the pulmonary artery were observed and the narrowest diameter of PDA was measured by TTE.In angiographic appearance,pig catheter was selected to perform left lateral aortography and measure the narrowest diameter of PDA.Comparative studies were performed on the numbers measured by 2 methods.Results Aortography showed that 45 patients had funnel shape PDA and 5 patients had tubular shape PDA,while 1 patient had funnel plus tubular shape PDA and 1 patient had residual shunt after operation.TTE showed that 46 patients had funnel shape PDA,4 patients had tubular shape PDA and 1 patient had window shape PDA,1 patient had residual shunt after operation.The mean diameter of PDA measured by angiographic appearance was(3.72?2.51)mm,which was statistically lower than those by TTE(4.47?2.31)mm(t=5.17 P

Objective To screen the arsenic content situation of drinking water in lower reaches of Yellow River and survey the amount of threatened people drinking high arsenic water and the condition of endemic arsenism.Methods Four counties of Yuncheng,Jiaxiang,Dongchangfu and Boxing were selected to colleft the water samples by CroOSS-sectional survey method.The water arsenic content wag determined by semi-quantitative rapid kit.All water samples having arsenic were re-determined by atomic fluorescence spectrometry.And the nurober of threatened people who drinking high arsenic water were investigated.Results In 4765 water wells screened,303 water samples had contained arsenic,arsenic content of 35 samples Was≥0.030 mg/L,12 samples were exceeding the international standard (arsenic content≥0.050 ms/L),they distributed in 3 counties of Dongchangfu,Yuncheng and Jiaxiang.The residents drinking water wells of arsenic content≥0.030 mg/L were surveyed by epidemiological investigation.And in the 28 villages 13 032 residents and 11 Bu8picious patient8 wlere checked out.Conclusion The wells with excesive water arsenic content are existing in the lower reaches of Yellow River and people suspicious of endemic arsenism need to be further identified.

0.05).However,the shorter the history of the disease,the better the efficacy of the treatment.The younger the patient was,the better the efficacy of the treatment.Conclusions Vulva dystrophy can be treated with focused ultrasound effectively and safely.This approach appears to be a new promising treatment method.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and adverse reaction of total glucosides of paeony (TGP) combined with sulfasalazine (SSZ) in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

METHODSSixty-seven AS patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups: the treatment group (34 cases) treated with TGP and SSZ, the control group (33 cases) with methotrexate (MTX) and SSZ. Changes of clinical efficacy related indexes including lumber pain index, morning stiffness time, peripheral joint pain index, thoracic expansion, Schober test, Bath AS disease active index (BASDAI), Bath AS functional index (BASFI), the levels of erythrocyte sedimentation (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP), and X-ray of sacroiliac joint were observed.

RESULTSThe clinical efficacy indexes were significantly improved after treatment in the two groups (P < 0.05). Except that the improvement of lumber pain index and peripheral joint pain index was better in the treatment group than that in the control group (P < 0.05), no significant difference was found in the other indexes between the two groups. The occurrence of adverse reation was less in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTGP treatment combined with SSZ shows favorable effect on AS with less and milder adverse reaction.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antirheumatic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Glucosides ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; drug therapy ; Sulfasalazine ; therapeutic use

Objective To understand the current status of the prevention and control of endemic fluorosis in the southwestern area of Shandong province. Methods In 2007, the progress of water-improving defluoridation, the operating state and water fluoride content of the water-improving project, which was determined by fluorosis selective ion electrode, and the inhabitant related indexes of endemic fluorosis were extensively surveyed in the three main fluorosis counties-Jiaxiang, Yuncbeng and Liangshan of the southwestern area of Shandong province. Results Among 1371 fluorosis villages in the 3 counties, 53.61%(735/1371) of which had undergone water-improving defluoridation, the rate in Jiaxiang, Yuncheng and Liangshan being 38.0% (220/579),65.51% (378/577) and 63.72% ( 137/215 ) respectively; the normally functioning rate of this project was 76.73% (564/735), projects out of order accounted for 23.27% (171/735). Among 263 well-functioning projects from the three counties, the rate with water fluoride higher than 1.0 mg/L was 35.36%(93/263), the maximum value being 4.17 mg/L. The urine fluoride content of 440 children aged 8 - 12 years and 484 adults over 30 years old were examined in 13 fluorosis villages of the three counties, the geometric mean was 2.98,3.06 mg/L respectively; the individual maximum was 12.83,14.49 mg/L respectively; the detectable rate of dental fluorosis among children aged 8 - 12 was 84.28% (649/770) ,17.66%(136/770) had defect and the index of dental fluorosis was 1.89; the rates of the clinical and X-ray skeletal fluorosis of the adults aged more than 30 were 44.40%(234/527) and 24.67%(130/527) respectively, and the abnormal electrocardiography rate was 32.43% (168/518) in the adult, mostly T-wave abnormality. Conclusions The progress of the water-improving defluoridation in the southwestern area of Shandong province was relatively slow, the water fluoride content of the water-improving projects seriously exceeded standard, and the condition of the fluorosis had not been effectively controlled.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of leuprolide acetate in the treatment of endometriosis. Methods From Nov. 2007 to Oct. 2012, the patients who confirmed to be endometriosis were randomly divided into test group of 113 cases and control group of 116 cases. The test drug was the sustained-release agent of leuprolide acetate. The control drug was Enantone. The drugs were used for 3 times in total. After treatment, the ovarian mass volumes measured with type-B ultrasound, the scores of the patient′s subjective symptoms during non-menstrual and menstruation days, the pelvic signs during non-menstrual days, the changes of hormones [estradiol (E2), FSH, LH], and adverse events were observed. Results After the treatment, the rate of changes of ovarian mass volume (among them, at 12 weeks after the first injection, the median was -55.83% in the test group, -68.22% in the control group, P=0.336), the distinct improvement rate of symptom scores and pelvic signs during non-menstrual days [among them, at 12 weeks after the first injection, the rate of lower abdomen pain was 47.5%(48/101) in the test group, 44.0%(44/100) in the control group, P=0.881], the hormone (E2, FSH, LH) levels [among them, at 12 weeks after the first injection, the serum level of E2, was (33±38) pmol/L in the test group, (38± 40) pmol/L in the control group, P=0.414;the serum level of FSH, was (5.1±2.8) U/L in the test group, (5.3± 2.3) U/L in the control group, P=0.666;the serum level of LH, was (0.6±0.8) U/L in the test group, (0.6±0.9) U/L in the control group, P=0.907], had no statistically significant difference between the two groups (all P>0.05). The distinct improvement rate and improvement rate of symptom (lower abdomen pain, low back pain) scores during menstruation days at 12 weeks after the first injection, the rates of lower abdomen pain were 73.9%(34/46), 15.2%(7/46) respectively in the test group, 72.3%(34/47), 2.1%(1/47) respectively in the control group, had statistically significant difference between the two groups (P=0.026). There was no serious adverse event occurred in both two groups. The incidence rate of adverse event was 33.6%(38/113) in test group, 23.2% (27/116) in control group, there was no significant difference between the two groups (P=0.082). Conclusion Leuprolide acetate is effective and safe in the treatment of endometriosis.

Objective To explore the correlation between environmental selenium(Se) levels and cognitive ability among rural elderly population, and the effect of Se on cognitive skill of the elderly. Methods Two study sites(Zichuan district and Gaomi city of Shandong) with different environmental Se levels were selected according to rural elderly people ≥ 65 years were extracted by stratified random sampling method in each site. A retrospective survey was carried out using dietary intake questionnaire for the elderly for the past 1 year, and their daily total Se intake was calculated. Questionnaire was also used to obtain cognitive skill information in the elderly people. The Community Screening Instrument for Dementia, the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD) Word List Learning Test, the Indiana University (IU) Story Recall Test, the Animal Fluency Test, and the IU Token Test were applied to assess the cognitive ability. Se level in these samples was analyzed. Correlation between the Se levels of environment and those of human body were analyzed statistically. Results There were 0.163), (0.405 ± 0.086)]mg/kg and nail Se[(147.44 ± 17.42), (117.38 ± 22.48)μg/L]between the two groups (U = 31.59, 25.00, 23.67, all P ＜ 0.01 ). There were positive correlation among the nail Se, environmental Se and Se in all subjects(r = 0.51,0.46, 0.60, all P ＜ 0.01 ). The differences of the CSID total score, the CERAD Word List Learning Test, the CERAD Word List Recall Test and the IU Story Recall Test between the two sites were statistically significant(F = 2.56, 9.18, 7.48, 4.42, all P ＜ 0.05), excluding the Indiana University Story Recall Test.After eliminating possible confounding factors, the Se levels and the CSID total score, the IU Story Recall Test, the Animal Fluency Test and the IU Story Token Test had a significantly positive correlation (r = 0.076, 0.138, 0.042,0.107, P ＜ 0.05 or ＜ 0.01 ), excluding the CERAD Word List Learning Test. Conclusions This study supports the hypothesis that a life long low Se level is associated with lower cognitive ability. The cognitive abilities in the elderly population lived in areas with high environmental selenium levels are significantly higher than that of the elderly lived in areas with low environmental selenium levels.

In this study, chemistry, biology and pharmacology were combinated to screen pseudoallergenic substances of Shuang-huanglian injection (SHLI) so that to establish a scientific and systematic approach to screen pseudoallergenic substances of traditional Chinese medicine injections. The mouse pseudoallergic reaction models were used to screen the pseudoallergic reaction of SHLI's intermediate extract and the intermediate extract's component or ingredient. Among the three intermediates of Shuanghuanglian injection (extract of Scutellaria baicalensis, extract of Lonicera japonica, extract of Forsythia suspensa) , pseudoallergic action of Forsythia suspensa was the strongest, Forsythia suspesnsa's pseudoallergic reaction mainly associated with the composition with largerchemical polarity. Further it was found that forsythiaside A and arctiin which existed in the the composition with largerchemical polarity caused obvious pseudoallergic reactions. SHLI with removal forsythoside A with the technology of HPLC-MS displayed reduced pseudoallergic reaction and a significant improved safety. This study provided a scientific basis for SHLI process improvements and also offered idea and research foundation for screening pseudoallergenic substances injections in other TCM injections.
Animals ; Drug Hypersensitivity ; etiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; analysis ; Furans ; adverse effects ; Glucosides ; adverse effects ; Glycosides ; adverse effects ; Injections ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR

OBJECTIVETo isolate, culture and identify glioma stem cells from human malignant glioma cell line U87, and investigate the changes of pro-angiogenic factors production by glioma stem cells followed by activation of CXCR4 and observe their tumorigenesis as well as the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor when implanted into nude mice.

METHODSThe ratio of CD133 positive cells was detected by flow cytometry. Magnetic separation of CD133 positive cells was carried out on the magnetic cell sorting system (MACS). Expression of nestin, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and CXCR4 on tumorspheres was detected by indirect immunofluorescence under confocal laser scanning microscopy. The functional activation of CXCR4 was assessed by calcium mobilization experiments. ELISA was used to detect the production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in conditioned medium. Glioma stem cells were implanted into nude mice to assess their tumorigenesis ability and the expression of VEGF.

RESULTSThe ratio of CD133 positive cells with stem cell property was 0.5% in U87 cells. Activation of CXCR4 on glioma stem cells induced calcium mobilization and increased VEGF and IL-8 protein secretion. CD133 positive cells secreted more VEGF and IL-8 than their negative counterparts in vitro. Tumors derived from CD133 positive cells grew more rapidly and expressed elevated level of VEGF than their negative counterparts.

CONCLUSIONSThere are a small fraction of glioma stem cells in human glioblastoma cell line U87. Expressing functional CXCR4 and secreting more pro-angiogenic factors may be involved in tumor angiogenesis mediated by glioma stem cells.

AC133 Antigen ; Animals ; Antigens, CD ; analysis ; Brain Neoplasms ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; metabolism ; Glioblastoma ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Glycoproteins ; analysis ; Humans ; Interleukin-8 ; metabolism ; Intermediate Filament Proteins ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; metabolism ; transplantation ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; Nestin ; Peptides ; analysis ; Receptors, CXCR4 ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study genetic damage of workers alone occupationally exposed to methotrexate (MTX) with three end-points.

METHODSThe blood samples from 21 workers exposed to MTX and 21 controls were detected with micronucleus test, comet assay, hprt gene mutation test and TCR gene mutation test.

RESULTSThe mean micronuclei rate (MNR) and mean micronucleated cells rate (MCR) in 21 workers were 10.10 per thousand +/- 0.95 per thousand and 8.05 per thousand +/- 0.75 per thousand, respectively, which were significantly higher than those (5.48 per thousand +/- 0.82 per thousand and 4.38 per thousand +/- 0.58 per thousand) in control (P < 0.01). The mean tail length (MTL) of 21 workers and 21 controls were (1.30 +/- 0.06) microm and (0.07 +/- 0.01) microm, respectively, there was significant difference between workers and controls (P < 0.01). But the difference between workers and controls for mean tail moment (MTM) was not significant (P > 0.05). The average mutation frequency (Mf-hprt) of hprt and (Mf-TCR) of TCR in workers were 1.00 per thousand +/- 0.02 per thousand and (6.87 +/- 0.52) x 10(-4), respectively, which were significantly higher than those [0.86 per thousand +/- 0.01 per thousand and (1.67 +/- 0.14) x 10(-4)] in control (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe genetic damage to some extent appeared in workers occupationally exposed to methotrexate.

Adult ; Comet Assay ; DNA Damage ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase ; genetics ; Male ; Methotrexate ; toxicity ; Micronucleus Tests ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Occupational Exposure