Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Lead ; blood ; Lead Poisoning ; blood ; epidemiology ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation of insulin resistance (IR) with TCM syndrome type and activity of fibrinolytic system in patients with coronary arterial disease (CAD).

METHODSOne hundred and twelve CAD patients were classified according to TCM Syndrome into 4 types, the Xin-blood stasis (XBS) type, the phelgm blocking Xin-channel (PBXC) type, the Qi-insufficiency with blood stasis (QIBS) type and the both Qi-Yin deficiency (QYD) type. Patients' fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting blood insulin (FIns) were measured, the insulin sensitive index (ISI) calculated. Data were compared between various types, also with those obtained from 30 healthy persons in the control group respectively. Moreover, activity of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and content of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) were determined in 90 patients selected from the 112 to conduct linear correlation analysis of IR with t-PA activity and PAI-1 content.

RESULTSFBG and FIns levels in the CAD patients were higher than those in the healthy control significantly (P < 0.01); ISI in the 4 syndrome type of CAD patients were all lower than that in the control (P < 0.01). IR existed in all the 4 types, but the level in the XBS type and the PBXC type was more severe than in the other two types. Correlation analysis showed that IR was correlated with t-PA activity and PAI-1 content (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONIR often exists in CAD patients, the severity of IR varies in patients of different TCM syndrome types, and IR is correlated with the abnormality of fibrinolytic system activity.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angina Pectoris ; blood ; diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Fibrinolysis ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; blood ; diagnosis ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; metabolism ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator ; metabolism

Objective To study the relationship between hepatocellular carcinoma and the interaction of polymorphisms in DNA repair gene XPD with environmental factors. Methods A hospital-based ease-control study on hepatoeellular carcinoma was conducted. All the hepatocellular carcinoma eases (n=300) were newly diagnosed and controls (n=312) were diagnosed with non-tumor cases. XPD genotype (Lys751 Gin and Asp312 Ash) from blood derived DNA was determined using TaqMan MGB Real-time PCR. Unconditional logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results For XPD condon 751 genotypes, there was no significant difference between frequencies of the AC or CC among patients and controls (P>0.05) (referent AA). The frequency of XPD312A allelic gene was higher in eases than that in controls and was associated with an increased risk (adjusted OR = 2.62,95% CI: 1.626-4.222) for hepatocellular carcinoma when compared with GG genotype. Interactions were found between infection of HBsAg and XPD312 (OR=7.348), as well as between smoking and non-wild type gene of XPD751 (0R=4.291) and XPD312 (OR=5.341). Conclusion DNA repair XPD312A allelic gene might increase the risk of Hepatocellular carcinoma. Interactions between HBsAg infection, smoking and XPD were observed in Hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVEHepatic stellate cells (HSC) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) transdifferentiate into extracellular matrix-producing myofibroblasts. Activated HSC can promote invasion and metastasis of HCC. To understand the differences of HSC in normal liver and HCC, we compared the gene expression patterns in HCC cell induction-activated and culture-activated rat HSC.

METHODSHSC were isolated by density centrifugation and exposed to conditioned medium from rat HCC cell line C5F. Expression of 22 012 genes in quiescent HSC, culture-activated HSC and HCC induction-activated HSC was analyzed by cDNA microarray and confirmed by real-time RT-PCR and Western blot.

RESULTS1672 genes were differentially expressed in culture-activated HSC, including proinflammatory factors, cell adhesion molecules, cell surface receptors, signaling transduction molecules and immune factors. 711 genes were differentially expressed in HCC induction-activated HSC. Some of them were identical to those in culture-activated HSC. HCC Induction-activated HSC showed specific gene expression patterns, including Raf1, Rac2, Adam17, Wnt6, MMP-9 and TNF, suggesting that HCC cells can specifically induce HSC activation.

CONCLUSIONThe gene expression patterns in HCC induction-activated HSC are different from those in culture-activated HSC. HCC induction-activated HSC may play a major role in the invasion and metastasis of HCC. In vivo activation should be considered as the standard for the study of HSC biology. HCC induction-activated HSC should be considered as the standard for HSC biology studies.

Animals ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cells, Cultured ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred F344

Different factors including hybridization solution components, hybridization temperature, and the concentration and proportion of the labelled primer, which affected the sensitivity and specificity of single mutation identification, were exploited. Asymmetric PCR increased the hybridization sensitivity, and the asymmetric multi-PCR did not affect the specificity, while the sensitivity was improved a little. Among 30 lung cancer samples detected with the oligonucleotide microarray, 12 was found P53 gene mutations and 5 had K-ras gene mutations. The P53 gene mutations identified by the oligonucleotide microarray was proved 80% same as the sequencing results. The obvious statistical relations of K-ras and P53 gene mutations with tumor type, tumor stage and smoking were not obtained because of less samples and mutation sites.
Genes, ras ; genetics ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Mutation ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; methods ; Oligonucleotides ; genetics ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the status of job burnout in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) doctors and explore the effect of occupational commitment on job burnout.

METHODSA test of occupational commitment and job burnout was carried out in 507 TCM doctors with occupational commitment questionnaire and Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS).

RESULTSThe age group of < 30 years scored lowest (2.352 +/- 0.660) in personal accomplishment compared with 30 years old group and 40 years old group [(2.136 +/- 0.704) and (2.127 +/- 0.628) respectively] (P < 0.01). The score of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization increased with educational levels. There was significantly negative correlation between job burnout and occupational commitment (P < 0.01). Occupational commitment had significant effect on job burnout (P < 0.01). Occupational trouble commitment was a major predictor for emotional exhaustion (P < 0.01). Professional self-efficacy commitment was a major predictor for depersonalization (P < 0.01). Affective commitment was a major predictor for personal accomplishment (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONOccupational commitment is a good predictor for job burnout. Improving occupational commitment is an important measure to prevent job burnout.

Adult ; Burnout, Professional ; psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Physicians ; psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEPelvic lymph node metastasis is an important prognostic factor of cervical cancer. The prognosis of cervical cancer patients with common iliac lymph node metastasis is poor, but few systematic studies have been reported . This study was to investigate the characteristics, risk, treatment and prognosis of stage IB-IIB cervical carcinoma patients with common iliac lymph node metastasis.

METHODSA total of 960 patients with cervical cancer receiving radical hysterectomy and bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy were selected from the hospitalized patients in the Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University between January 1995 and December 2005, and analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSOf the 960 patients, 288 (30.0%) had pelvic lymph node metastasis, and 45 (4.7%) had positive common iliac lymph node. The 5-year overall survival rate (OS) of patients with common iliac lymph node metastasis was 46.1%, and 67.5% in patients with other pelvic lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). Univariate analysis showed that clinical stage, serum level of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) > 4 microg/L before treatment, depth of cervical invasion > or =2/3 and positive parametrial margin were associated with common iliac lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). Patients with > or =3 pelvic lymph node metastasis (excluding common iliac lymph node) or recurrence had poor prognosis (P < 0.05). Factors predictive of common iliac lymph node metastasis on Logistic forward regression were SCC-Ag > 4 microg/L (P = 0.026, OR = 2.303) before treatment and positive parametrial margin (P = 0.045, OR = 2.634).

CONCLUSIONSCervical cancer patients with common iliac lymph node metastasis had poorer prognosis compared with patients with other pelvic lymph node metastasis. SCC-Ag >4 microg/L before treatment and positive parametrial margin were the independent predictive factors for common iliac lymph node metastasis of cervical carcinoma. Pelvic lymph node metastasis (excluding common iliac lymph node) > or = 3 or recurrence was prognostic factors for patients with common iliac lymph node metastasis.

Adenocarcinoma ; blood ; pathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; blood ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; blood ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; methods ; Iliac Artery ; Iliac Vein ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Pelvis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Serpins ; blood ; Survival Rate ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; surgery

Objective To improve the quality of personal dose equivalent measurement by exploring optimal annealing temperature conditions.Methods Totally 60 pieces of thermoluminescent detectors were randomly and equally divided into 6 groups.The 6 groups underwent 10-min annealing under 200,220,230,240,250 or 260 ℃ respectively,and then were cooled with the same conditions and went through measurement after irradiation by the calibrated radiation source.The above operation of annealing,cooling and measurement were repeated for 10 times,and the 6 groups were compared on dispersity,sensitivity and glow curve.Results Single test proved that under 240 ℃ the dispersity,sensitivity and glow curve gained optimal results comprehensively,while repeated tests showed that the dispersity had the optimal value under 250 ℃ and the sensitivity decreased significantly as the times of annealing rose.Conclusion Annealing conditions have to be selected according to the requirements of the thermoluminescent detector.

Objective To investigate the distribution of water fluoride and the present status of water- improving delluoridation projects in the endemic fluorosis areas in Gansu Province. Methods According to "The National Technical Scheme for Endemic Disease Control in 2004" for the water improving projects, water fluoride content was determined from fluorosis villages in 34 counties of 11 cities in Gansu Province. The fluoride content in drinking water was assessed by F-ion selective electrode. Results Water fluoride content was determined in 1576 fluorosis villages of 34 counties. Water fluoride content of 7829 water samples was determined, and the fluoride content of 1891 samples was over standard. Water fluoride content was ≤ 1.00 mg/L(accounting for 75.19%) in 1185 villages and 1.00 mg/L(accounting for 24.81%) in 391 villages; the highest water fluoride content was 6.78 mg/L Nine hundred and ninety three water-improving and defluoridation projects were determined. Water fluoride content of 867 water-improving and defluoridation projects was determined; 768 projects had water fluoride content ≤1.00 mg/L(accounting for 87.67%) and water fluoride content of 108 projects was 1.00 mg/L(accounting for 12.33%),with the highest water fluoride content being 5.27 mg/L. Water-improving and delluoridation projects mostly relied on drilling a well to obtain under-grand water. Abandoned projects accounted for 30%. Conclusions In 34 counties of 11 cites(prefecture), nearly 30% of the villages had water fluoride content exceeding the standard. The situation of endemic fluorosis control is still serious in Gausu Province, countermeasures for endemic fluorosis must be carried out as soon as possible and surveillance of water-improving and defluoridation projects must be strengthened.

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether the polymorphism of DNA repair genes XPC (Ala499Val and Lys939Gln) and XPG (His1104Asp) is associated with the susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSA hospital-based case-control study was conducted in 500 cases with HCC and 507 controls. Genotypes of XPC and XPG were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction with the TaqMan MGB probe.

RESULTSCompared to the CC genotype, the CT genotype and the TT genotype of XPC Ala499Val were not associated with the susceptibility to HCC (adjusted OR = 1.34, 95% CI: 0.85-2.12; adjusted OR = 1.30, 95% CI: 0.68-2.51, respectively). Compared to the AA genotype, the AC genotype and the CC genotype of Lys939Gln were not associated with the susceptibility to HCC (adjusted OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 0.78-1.85; adjusted OR = 1.81, 95% CI: 0.88-3.73, respectively). Compared to the CC genotype, the CG genotype and the GG genotype of XPG His1104Asp were not associated with the susceptibility to HCC (adjusted OR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.56-1.27; adjusted OR = 1.12, 95% CI: 0.67-1.87, respectively) However, the stratified analysis revealed that the females with the AC+CC genotype of XPC Lys939Gln had increased risk of HCC compared to those with AA genotype (OR = 2.17, 95% CI: 1.01-4.64).

CONCLUSIONOur results suggest that XPC and XPG polymorphisms do not independently affect on the susceptibility to HCC, but the joint effect of C allele of XPC Lys939Gln and female may modify the risk of HCC.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; DNA Repair ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Endonucleases ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Transcription Factors ; genetics