OBJECTIVE: To study the causes of false-positive hyoid fractures and forensic identification. METHODS: Twelve cases of false-positive hyoid fractures were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Improper dissection technique (4 cases) and congenital separation (8 cases) were the main reasons for false-positive hyoid fractures. CONCLUSION True fractures can be differentiated from false-positive hyoid fractures. False-positive hyoid fracture caused by improper dissection technique can be identified through examination of peripheral muscle, soft tissue hemorrhage, and the characteristics of fracture end.
Autopsy ; Cell Differentiation ; Diagnostic Errors ; Fractures, Bone/diagnosis* ; Humans ; Hyoid Bone/injuries* ; Muscles

E were all found in the above three aspects (P

OBJECTIVETo discuss that pathogenesis evolvement regularity of Chinese miniature swine with phlege-stasis cementation syndrome of coronary heart disease.

METHODEighteen Chinese miniature swine were randomly divided to the normal control group, the model group and the Danlou tablet group, with six swine in each group. Except for the normal control group, all of the other groups were fed with high fat diet for two weeks. The coronary heart disease model with phlegm-stasis cementation syndrome was established by injuring left anterior descending artery with interventional balloons and continuously feeding with high fat diet for eight weeks. The levels of BMI, hemorheological parameters, lipids in serum and inflammatory cytokines were observed at the 0th (before the experiment), 2nd (before operation or drug administration), 6th (four weeks after drug administration) and 10th week (eight weeks after drug administration) of study. The levels of TG and TC in liver and the pathological changes in coronary artery tissues were also observed at the end of study.

RESULTCompared with the normal control group, the model group had showed significant increase in the levels of TC, TG, LDL-C and VLDL-C in serum (P < 0.01) from the second week to the end of the experiment, with notable rise in the whole blood viscosity under the shear rates of 5 s(-1) and 60 s(-1). At the 6th week, the levels of BMI and TG and TNF-alpha in serum significantly increased. At the 10th week, the levels of BMI and hs-CRP, IL-6 and TNF-alpha in serum significantly increased as well, with remarkable increase in coronary stenosis, intimal thickness and the ratio between intimal thickness and media thickness (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01), and significant rise in TC and TG in livers (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the Danlou tablet group showed obvious reduction in severity of coronary artery lesion, intimal thickness and lumen stenosis ratio and ratio between intimal thickness and media thickness (P < 0.01), BMI, TC, TG, LDL-C and VLDL-C in serum, TC and TG in liver, as well as hs-CRP, IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels in serum (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01), with notable decline in the whole blood viscosity under the shear rates of 5 s(-1) and 60 s(-1).

CONCLUSIONThe interaction of phlegm, blood stasis and toxin syndromes helps promote the progress and development of AS plaques, which is the key pathogenesis of phlegm-stasis cementation syndrome in coronary heart disease.

Animals ; Body Weight ; Coronary Disease ; blood ; physiopathology ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; Inflammation Mediators ; metabolism ; Lipids ; blood ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy of Shugan Yiyang Capsules in the treatment of asthenospermia and its action mechanisms.

METHODSWe randomly assigned 135 asthenospermia patients to groups A (n = 47), B (n = 45), and C (n = 43) to be treated with Shugan Yiyang Capsules, oral levocarnitine, or combination of the two. We observed sperm quality and the level of α-glucosidase in the seminal plasma before and after medication.

RESULTSThe total effectiveness rate was 70.21% in group A (markedly effective in 16 cases and effective in 17), 68.89% in group B (markedly effective in 15 cases and effective in 16), and 83.72% in group C (markedly effective in 16 cases and effective in 20), significantly higher in C than in A and B (P < 0.05). Both sperm quality and the level of α-glucosidase in the seminal plasma were improved in the three groups of patients, most obviously in group C.

CONCLUSIONShugan Yiyang Capsules can be used for the treatment of asthenospermia, and its effect can be enhanced in combination with oral levocarnitine.

Asthenozoospermia ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; Biomedical Research ; Capsules ; Carnitine ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Semen ; enzymology ; Spermatozoa ; alpha-Glucosidases ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence and distribution of HCV genotypes and the clinical effect of interferon-alpha combined with ribavirin treatment in chronic hepatitis C patients in Kunming.

METHODS60 patients were divided into two groups based on drug therapies: PEG-interferon-a plus ribavirin treatment group for HCV 1b and interferon-a plus ribavirin treatment group for non-HCV-1b. Serum ALT levels and HCV RNA quantitations of the patients were detected during treatment and follow-up.

RESULTSThe HCV genotypes of 60 patients were determined by type specific probe assay, and five different types were found. Their overall prevalence were 21.7% for type 1b, 5% for type 2a, 16.7% for type 3a, 48.3% for type 3b, and 8.3% for type 6a. Sustained viral response rates for PEG-interferon treatment group were 46.1%, for interferon treatment group were 74.4%. The abnormal rate of serum ALT after the treatment had no significant difference between HCV-1b and non-HCV-1b patients (P>0.05). All patients with early viral responses got sustained viral response.

CONCLUSIONHCV-3b is the most dominant genotype in Kunming. The effect of PEG-interferon-a plus ribavirin treatment for genotype 1b is unsatisfactory. The early viral response is a good predictor for the responses to antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis C patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Genotype ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Viral ; Ribavirin ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the differential plasma protein profiles in patients with hyperlipidemia & atherosclerosis (H&A) of different patterns of phlegm-stasis syndrome (PSS) for seeking their biomarker proteins.

METHODSTwo-dimensional gel electrophoresis and gel screening graphical analysis were performed on plasma proteins got from 146 patients; corresponding protein spots were fetched from the gel for two-stage mass-spectrometric analysis by quadruple time-of-flight mass spectrometry; then the differential proteins for PSS were discriminated by Fisher discriminate analysis.

RESULTSExcepting two uncertain proteins, 7 differential proteins were screened out from the 11 differentially expressed plasma protein spots with variability over 100% in the inter-block matching. Classic analysis found that haptoglobin precursor and fibrinogen gamma chain were possibly the plasma biomarker proteins for H & A; fibrinogen beta chain and apolipoprotein A-I precursor were that set apart PSS from non-PSS; fibrinogen gamma chain, albumin and apolipoprotein A-I precursor were for phlegm syndrome; haptoglobin precursor, adrenomedullin binding protein precursor, albumin and complement component C4 were for stasis syndrome; albumin and adrenomedullin binding protein precursor were for the phlegm-stasis mutual blocking syndrome. Moreover, the above mentioned expressions of possible marker proteins had their own special rule of changing in the transforming progress of PSS.

CONCLUSIONThis study reported, for the first time, the existence of evident variation of functional protein constitution in different patterns of PSS, and definite compatibility being detected in some functional proteins, which may be the marker proteins for making diagnosis and prognosis of PSS in H&A. Besides, preliminary proof for the transformation of PSS has gained at the functional protein level.

Adult ; Atherosclerosis ; blood ; diagnosis ; Blood Proteins ; analysis ; Case-Control Studies ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; blood ; diagnosis ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Proteomics

Objective To evaluate the value of iterative modal reconstruction (IMR) for reducing radiation dose and controlling image quality in cardiac CT. Methods Ten pigs were included. All pigs were scanned on a 256?slice prospectively ECG?gated cardiac CT utilizing routine dose (group A) and tube current reduced by 30%(group B), 50%(group C) and 70%(group D), respectively. Filtered back projection (FBP), hybrid iterative reconstruction (iDose4) and IMR were used for all data, respectively. Image noise and contrast?to?noise ratio (CNR) of ascending aortic root were measured, while overall image quality and coronary artery image quality was rated (five point scale). All results reconstructed by FBP, iDose 4 and IMR were compared. Objective measurements were compared with one?way analysis of variance, and subjective assessments were compared with Kruskal?Wallis H test andχ2 test. Results Compared with that of FBP and iDose4, image noise of IMR was(15.1 ± 6.1),(18.8 ± 5.5),(22.1 ± 4.8)and(33.0 ± 4.0)HU, respectively in group A, B, C and D with significant reduction (F=82.77, 90.71, 96.59, 95.51 respectively, all P<0.01). Using IMR, groups A, B, C, D had higher CNR (42.0±11.1, 37.2±10.4, 31.4±8.7, 23.7±7.0;F=50.65, 53.55, 76.60, 57.36, all P<0.01) and overall image quality (5.0 ± 0.0, 4.8 ± 0.4, 4.6 ± 0.5, 4.5 ± 0.5;H=20.96, 15.63, 18.66, 23.56, all P<0.01) than FBP and iDose4. Using IMR, group A (100%, 40/40) and group B (100%, 40/40) had no significant difference (P>0.05) in the diagnosis rates of proximal coronary arteries compared with that using FBP and iDose4, while group C (100%, 40/40) and group D(92%, 37/40) had significantly increased diagnosis rates (χ2=20.05, 45.72, both P<0.01). The diagnosis rates of distal coronary arteries of IMR reconstruction which were 100%(50/50), 98%(49/50), 90%(45/50), 78%(39/50), respectively in groups A, B, C, D had significant increase compared with that of FBP and iDose4 reconstruction (χ2=7.39, 16.75, 34.62, 81.33, all P<0.05). Conclusions IMR can significantly reduce image noise, improve CNR and image quality compared with iDose4. Application of IMR can reduce radiation dose but without compromising image quality.

Objective To study lymph node micrometastasis in N0 colorectal cancer patients and its clinical significance. Methods In this study, 548 lymph nodes obtained from 62 cases of No colorectal cancer undergoing curative operation were examined by fluorescent quantity polymerase chain reaction assay for the expression of cytokeratin 20 (CK20) mRNA. Results Micrometastasis was detected in 55 lymph nodes (10.0% ) of 24 cases (39%). According to lymph node anatomical locations, micrometastasis was identified in 15. 8%, 5.0% and 3.3% lymph nodes in group Ⅰ ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ (grouped by the distance from the tumor), respectively. Micrometastasis was correlated with invasion depth of primary tumor, but was notrelated to gender, age, tumor size, tumor site and differentiation. Conclusions The expression of CK20mRNA in lymph nodes in patients with No coloreetal cancer could be used to improve the accuracy of clinical staging, and provide information for rational adjuvant therapy.

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) for improving the cardiac function of Sjogren's syndrome (SS) model rats based on Keapl-Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway.

METHODSTotally 48 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups by random digit table, i.e., the blank control group,the model control group,the APS group, and the hydroxychloroquine group, 12 in each group. Except those in the blank control group, 0. 1 mL mixed antigen protein of sufficiently emulsified Freund's complete adjuvant and submandibular gland protein was injected from two feet plantar to induce SS model. The intervention was started from 19th day after inflammation induction. Equal volume of normal saline was given to rats in the blank control group (1 mL/100 g), APS was administered to those in the APS group (1 mg/100 g), and hydroxychloroquine (0.03 125 g/kg) was administered to those in the hydroxychloroquine group. All rats were intervened once per day for 30 consecutive days. Changes of rats' body mass and drinking water quantity, submandibular gland index, spleen index, histological changes of glands were observed. Changes of the heart function were monitored using invasive hemodynamics. Serum reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and interleukin-35 (IL-35)were detected using ELISA method. The pathological changes were observed using HE staining. The protein expression of ROS, reactive nitrogen species (RNS), glutathione (GSH), and thioredoxin (TRX) were observed by immunohistochemical staining. The mRNA expression of Keap1, Nrf2, and ARE was detected using real time fluorescent quantitative PCR. The protein expression levels of gamma-glutamic acid and a half long glycine synthetase (gamma-GCS) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) in the myocardial tissue were determined by Western blot method. Results Compared with the blank control group, the quantity of drinking water, submandibular gland index, spleen index, heart rate (HR), cardiac index (HI), left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), left ventricular diastolic pressure (LVEDP), MDA, ROS, TNF-alpha, ROS protein expression, RNS protein expression, Keap 1 mRNA expression, Maf mRNA expression, Nfr2 mRNA expression, and HO-1 protein expression, and gamma-GCS protein expression significantly increased (P <0.01); body mass, +/-dp/dtmax, SOD, TAC, IL-35, GSH, and TRX significantly decreased (P <0.01) in the model group. Compared with the model group, the quantity of drinking water, submandibular gland index, spleen index, LVEDP, MDA, ROS, TNF-alpha, ROS protein expression, RNS protein expression, Keap1 mRNA expression, Maf mRNA expression, Nfr2 mRNA expression, and HO-1 protein expression, and gamma-GCS protein expression significantly decreased (P<0.05); body mass, +/-dp/dtmax, SOD, TAC, IL-35, GSH protein expression, and TRX protein expression significantly increased (P < 0.05, P <0.01) in the AR group and the hydroxychloroquine group. In the hydroxychloroquine group HR increased (P <0.05). In the AR group HR and LVSP decreased (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Compared with the hydroxychloroquine group, HR, LVEDP, - dp/dtmax, y-GCS protein expression significantly decreased (P <0. 05, P <0. 01); SOD, TAC, GSH, TRX, HO-1 protein expression increased (P <0.01 )in the AR group. HI was positively correlated with ROS (P <0. 05). LVSP and LVEDP were positively correlated with Keap1 -Nrf2/ARE signaling pathways (P <0. 01) , and negatively correlated with TAC (P <0. 05, P <0. 01 ). +/-dp/dtmax was negatively correlated with Keap1-Nrf2/ARE signaling pathways(P <0.05), and positively correlated with TNF alpha (P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONSDeclined heart function exists in SS rats. The mechamechanism of APS for improving the heart function might be closely correlated with activating Keap1-Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway.

Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; Blotting, Western ; Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases ; metabolism ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; metabolism ; Hydroxychloroquine ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; enzymology ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; therapeutic use ; Polysaccharides ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Sjogren's Syndrome ; Submandibular Gland ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Thioredoxins ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore changes of B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), total antioxidant capacity (TAOC), reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS), malondialdehyde (MDA) in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients, and the effect of Xinfeng Capsule (XFC) on them.

METHODSTotally 120 AS patients were assigned to two groups according to random digit table method, the XFC group (3 XFC pills each time, 3 times a day) and the SASP group (4 SASP tablets each time, twice a day), 60 in each group. All patients were treated for 3 months. Another 60 healthy subjects were recruited as a healthy control group. The expression frequency and activation levels of BTLA were detected using flow cytometry. Serum oxidative stress indices (such as SOD and CAT, TAOC, ROS, RNS, MDA) and contents of cytokines [tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), IL-1β, IL-4, and IL-10] were detected using enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was detected using Westergren method. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) was detected using HITACHI 7060 type automatic biochemical analyzer. Clinical efficacies of ASAS 20 and BASDAI50 were assessed using VAS. Correlation analysis between scoring for quality of life and BTLA expression frequency was performed.

RESULTS(1) Clinical efficacies of ASAS 20 and BASDAI50 were significantly better in the XFC group than in the SASP group (P < 0.01). (2) Compared with the healthy control group, BTLA expressions in the peripheral blood of AS patients decreased significantly (P <0. 05); SOD, CAT, and TAOC values significantly decreased (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); ROS, RNS, and MDA values significantly increased (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); TNF-α, IL-1β, ESR, and Hs-CRP values significantly increased (P < 0.01); IL-4 and IL-10 values decreased significantly (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). (3) Compared with pre-treatment in the same group, BTLA/CD19 + B, BTLA/CD24 + B, SOD, TAOC, IL-4, SF-36 [physical functioning (PF), social functioning (SF), role limitation due to physical problems (RP), role limitation due to emotional problems (RE), body pain (BP), mental health (MH), vitality (VT), general health (GH)] were significantly elevated; ROS, MDA, TNF-α, ESR, Hs- CRP, VAS, BASDAI and BASFI, BAS-G were significantly lower in the peripheral blood of the two groups after treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Better effect was shown in the XFC group in elevating BTLA/CD19+ B, BTLA/CD24 + B, SOD, TAOC, IL-10, BP, MH, VT, and SF; and lowering ROS, IL-1β, MDA, TNF-α, ESR, Hs-CRP, VAS, BASDAI, BASFI, and BAS-G (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). (4) Pearson correlation analysis showed, BTLA/CD19 + B expression of the peripheral blood was positively correlated with SOD, CAT, TAOC, IL-4, IL-10, GH, RP, BP, and SF (r = 0.431, 0.325, 0.318, 0.316, 0.348, 0.314, 0.358, 0.318, 0.326, respectively, P < 0.05, P < 0.01), while it was negative correlated with ROS, MDA, TNF-α, IL-1β, ESR, VAS, and BASDAI (r = -0.342, -0.368, -0.334, -0.354, -0.324, -0.372, -0.342, respectively, P < 0.05, P < 0.01). BTLA/CD24 B expression of the peripheral blood was positively correlated with SOD, TAOC, IL-4, IL-10, GH, RP, BP, SF, RE, MH, VT (r = 0.358, 0.352, 0.372, 0.436, 0.435, 0.326, 0.352, 0.345, 0.326, 0.343, 0.332, respectively, P < 0.05, P < 0.01), while it was negative correlated with ROS, RNS, MDA, ESR, Hs-CRP, VAS, BASDAI, and BASFI (r = -0.447, -0.336, -0.405, -0. 395, -0. 358, -0.436, -0.338, -0.425, respectively, P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONXFC could improve BTLA expression in the peripheral blood of AS patients, negatively regulate activation and proliferation of B cells, and reduce abnormal immune responses and oxidative stress injury, thereby effectively alleviating joint stiffness and pain.

B-Lymphocytes ; physiology ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Capsules ; Catalase ; metabolism ; Cytokines ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Quality of Life ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; drug therapy ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes ; physiology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism