Objective To evaluate the reproducibility of quality intima-media thickness(QIMT) and quality arterial stiffness (QAS) technique in assessment of carotid under different measuring methods.Methods Between December 2012 and January 2014,carotid QIMT and QAS examinations were carried out in 30 health volunteers.QIMT and QAS indicators included IMT in QIMT and distensibility coefficient (DC),compliance coefficient(CC),stiffness index α(α),stiffness index β(β),pulse wave velocity(PWV) in QAS.The measurement employed unilateral/once,bilateral/twice,and unilateral/twice methods.Using intra observer and inter-observer variability,the reproducibility was compared between different QIMT and QAS indicators and measuring methods.Results Extremely high level of intra-observer reproducibility was found for both QIMT and QAS technique (ICC＞0.8).QIMT also showed an excellent inter observer reproducibility (ICC＞0.8).In contrast,the reproducibility of QAS technique varied in different indicators (PWV ＞ β ≈ α ＞ CC ＞ DC) and method ( unilateral/once ＞ bilateral/twice ＞ unilateral/twice).Conclusions QIMT measurement was highly reproducible.Whereas the reproducibility of QAS technique varied in different indicators and methods.Due to low reproducibility,the study result did not support the clinical application of DC indicator and unilateral/once method.

14 strains were isolated from pits sludge by anaerobic cultivation,two Clostridium butyricum strains were identified by physiological and biochemical experiments and the sequence analysis of 16S rDNA.The physiological characteristics and security of Clostridium butyricum B1 were studied,in vitro research indicated it was tolerant against low pH,bile concentration and antibiotics and has antagonism effects against pathogens.

Objective To summarize the sonographic features and pathological features of ovarian tumor during pregnancy. Methods One hundred and five women with 114 pathologically proved ovarian tumors during pregnancy in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were retrospectively recruited. According to pathological diagnosis, the clinical treatment, the result of the pregnancy and sonographic examinations were reviewed and analyzed. The sonographic features of benign tumors were compared with low-grade malignant tumors. Results Among the 105 pregnant women with a total of 114 ovarian tumors, 65 tumors were found by ultrasound exam. The other 49 tumors were found during cesarean section. The sonographic features of pathologically proved ovarian tumors include regular shape and well-deifned margins, with 58 of benign tumors and 7 of borderline or low-grade malignant tumors. Compared with borderline or low-grade malignant tumors, benign tumors manifested as strong echoes or high echogenic mass without papillae in the tumors (50/58). As for borderline or low-grade malignant group, tumors manifested as papillae within the tumors (5/7). Pathological classiifcation of the 114 ovarian tumors included 84 germ cell tumors, 19 epithelial tumors, 9 sex cord-stromal tumors, and 2 germ cell tumors combined epithelial tumors. Surgical treatments were performed in 7 cases during the ifrst trimester, while 11 cases during the second trimester, and 87 cases during the third trimester. Pregnancy outcome of the 105 pregnant women included term delivery in 82 cases, premature delivery in 18 cases, artiifcial abortion during ifrst trimester in 4 cases, and induced abortion during second trimester in 1 case. Conclusions Most ovarian tumors treated in pregnancy are benign. The sonographic features of benign tumors include regular shape with well-deifned margins, strong echoes or high echogenic mass within the tumors. While the sonographic features of borderline or malignant tumors include papillae within the tumors. Ultrasound assessment of ovarian tumors can help to determine the risk of malignancy and guide the surgical management.

OBJECTIVETo probe in the possible acting mechanism of Bizhongxiao Decoction (BZXD) for treatment of early active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by way of observing the two-dimensional gel electrophoresis map of proteins in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of healthy persons and RA patients (intervened or un-intervened with BZXD), analyzing the differential proteins and seeking out the RA associated proteins.

METHODSEighteen patients with early active RA were randomized into the BZXD group and the methotrexate (MTX) group, nine in each group, they were treated with BZXD (contained 15 Chinese herbs, as Herba Hedyotis diffusae, Herba Sarcandrae glabrae, Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae, Caulis Trachelosperi, Rhizoma Drynariae, Semen Coicis, etc.) and MTX combined with nimesulide Tablets respectively, three months as a treatment course, and their blood samples were collected for observation. Besides, blood samples from 9 healthy persons were taken as normal controls. PBMCs were isolated from blood using lymphozytes separation medium, and total protein in the cells was extracted through immobilized pH gradient two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. After Coomassie brilliant blue G250 staining, gel-image analysis was performed using PDQuest software. The differentially expressed proteins were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Then partial proteins were validated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSThe 2-DE protein profile of PBMCs from healthy persons and RA patients before and 3 months after treatment were obtained, and 23 differential protein spots were found, 14 from 18 differential protein spots were successfully identified, of which 8 proteins were up-regulated and 6 proteins were down-regulated in RA patients as compared with control. After 3-month treatment, 5 differentially expressed proteins showed more obvious in the BZXD group than in the MTX group. RT-PCR verified that the expression of ApoA-I in all the three groups was consistent with the outcomes of 2-DE.

CONCLUSIONSSome differentially expressed proteins exist in the PBMCs of RA patients, which may play a potential role in the pathogenesis of RA; BZXD may treat RA by way of regulating the expression of some differential proteins in patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; blood ; drug therapy ; Blood Proteins ; analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Female ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; Male ; Methotrexate ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Proteome ; analysis ; Proteomics ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate how network education can improve college students' knowledge on sexual and reproductive health in Ningbo city.

METHODSFrom December 2012 to June 2013, we conducted a questionnaire investigation among college students in Ningbo city about the effects of network education on their knowledge about sexual psychology, sexual physiology, sexual ethics, and reproductive health.

RESULTSA total of 7 362 college students accomplished the investigation, of whom 2 483 (42.1% males and 57.9% females) received network education, while the other 4 879 (24.1% males and 75.9% females) did not. Approximately 47.1% of the male and 28.0% of the female students acquired sexual and reproductive knowledge via network education. Reproductive health-related network education significantly enriched the students' knowledge about the reproductive system and sex, pubertal development, sexual physiology, conception and embryonic development, methods of contraception, sexual psychology, sexually transmitted diseases and their prevention, pregnancy care and eugenics, and environment- and occupation-related reproductive health (P < 0.01). It also remarkably improved their cognitive attitude towards reproductive health knowledge (P < 0.01). Those who received reproductive health-related network education showed a significantly higher rate of masturbation (P < 0.01) but markedly later time of the first masturbation (P < 0.01) than those who did not.

CONCLUSIONNetwork education can enhance the effect of reproductive health education among college students and improve their sexual experience and health.

China ; Contraception ; Female ; Health Education ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Male ; Masturbation ; Pregnancy ; Reproduction ; Reproductive Health ; Sexual Behavior ; physiology ; psychology ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases ; Students ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Universities

Objective To explore the investigate of X-chromosome-linked inhibitor of apoptosis pro- tein(XIAP)and its effect on chemotherapeutic sensitivity in bladder carcinoma.Methods Using immu- nohistochemistry methods,the expression of XIAP was evaluated in 47 bladder carcinomas and 6 normal bladder tissues.The XIAP gene was transfected into bladder cancer cell line T24 by liposome and the positive clone was screened by G418.Cellular XIAP mRNA level was detected by RT-PCR.The apoptosis of T24 cells was induced by low-dose of mitocycin C(0.005 mg/ml and 0.05 mg/ml,respectively).The in vitro cellular growth activities were assayed by MTT color imetry;and the apoptosis rate was assayed by TUNEL methods. Results The expression rate of XIAP was 78.7%(37/47)in bladder carcinoma samples,with no corre- lation with carcinoma stages and grades(P＞0.05).XIAP mRNA level in transfected T24 ceils was signifi- cantly increased by 3.8 times.Treated with 0.005 mg/ml and 0.05 mg/ml of mitomycin C,the growth rates of XIAP transfected T24 cells were increased [(11.60?0.25)% and(16.51?0.87)% ,respectively,P＜0.05];and the apoptosis rates were decreased [(10.1?0.2)% and( 11.9?0.2)% ,respectively,P＜0.05]compared with those in control cells.Conclusions XIAP is highly expressed in humun bladder car- cinoma samples.Overexpression of XIAP in T24 cells results in decrease in bladder carcinoma cell apoptosis induced by MMC,which may decrease the chemotherapeutic sensitivity of T24 cells.

OBJECTIVETo preliminarily study the essence of wind syndrome caused by Gan-yang hyperactivity (WSGH) in Chinese medicine at the protein expression level.

METHODSWSGH was strictly differentiated from wind stirring due to yin deficiency syndrome in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and those with cerebral infarction (CI); from Gan-yang hyperactivity syndrome in patients with cervical spondylosis (CS); from wind syndrome induced by blood deficiency in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) according to Chinese medicine syndrome typing standard. Control studies were performed. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from all patients of the aforesaid syndromes and healthy subjects. The total proteins were extracted, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) conducted and analyzed by PDQuest software. The peptide mass fingerprint (PMF) was determined using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). The SwissProt database was inquired using Mascot reference system. Proteins of different and same expressions in PBMCs of patients suffering from the same disease of different syndromes, different diseases of the same syndrome, and syndromes of the same kind were compared.

RESULTSThe 2-DE map of PBMCs' total proteins in the aforesaid syndrome groups and healthy subjects was established. Through comparison, analysis, and appraisement, there was 1 protein dot of the same expression and 22 protein dots of different expressions between ICH patients of WSGH and ICH patients of wind stirring due to yin deficiency syndrome. There were 6 protein dots of the same expression and 21 protein dots of different expressions between CI patients of WSGH and CI patients of wind stirring due to yin deficiency syndrome. There were 3 protein dots of the same expression and 12 protein dots of different expressions between CS patients of WSGH and CS patients of Gan-yang hyperactivity syndrome. There was no protein dot of the same expression and 12 protein dots of different expressions between PD patients of WSGH and PD patients of wind syndrome induced by blood deficiency. There were 13 protein dots of the same expression in different diseases of the same syndrome. There was 1 protein dot (Thioredoxin-dependent peroxide reductase, TPx) of the same expression in the four diseases of the same kind syndrome.

CONCLUSIONSDifferent connotations of the essence existed (having multiple different protein expressions) in patients with the same disease of different syndromes. Syndromes of the same kind share the same material bases (having the same protein expression). These suggested that Chinese medicine syndrome has its own material bases and essence findable.

Adult ; Aged ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Cerebral Infarction ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Proteins ; metabolism ; Proteomics ; methods ; Stroke ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Yin-Yang ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnosis and treatment of malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the retroperitoneum (MFHR).

METHODSThe clinicopathological features, treatment and prognosis of 31 patients with MFHR were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSThe mean age of the patients was 52.7 +/- 14.1 years. Male:Female = 22:9. The primary symptoms were abdominal mass and pain. The average diameter of tumor was 15 cm. The histopathologic types of the tumor were inflammatory, storiform-pleomorphic, myxoid and giant cell in 16, 10, 4 and 1 cases. The overall survival rate of 1-, 3- and 5-year was 61.3% +/- 9.8%, 31.6% +/- 11.3% and 21.1% +/- 11.4% with a median survival time of 17.0 +/- 6.3 months. Complete resection of the tumor was the major prognostic factor. Postoperative radiotherapy of 20 - 45 Gy was able to prolong the median survival from 12.1 +/- 11.6 months of surgery alone to 26.4 +/- 22.0 months of surgery plus postoperative radiotherapy though without statistical significance (P = 0.051). Postoperative CHOP chemotherapy was not shown to be beneficial.

CONCLUSIONChemotherapy remains the important method of cure. The survival in patients with MFHR might be improved by complete resection combined with chemotherapy or/and radiotherapy.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Cyclophosphamide ; administration & dosage ; Doxorubicin ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous ; secondary ; surgery ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Pancreatectomy ; Postoperative Period ; Prednisone ; administration & dosage ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Retroperitoneal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Splenectomy ; Survival Rate ; Vincristine ; administration & dosage

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of ursolic acid (UA) on T-cell proliferation and activation, as well as to examine its effect on nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway in T cells.

METHODST-cells isolated from BALB/c mice were incubated with UA at concentrations ranging from 5-30 μmol/L in the presence of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or PMA plus ionomycin. The proliferation of T cells was measured by the MTT assay. The expressions of CD69, CD25, and CD71 on T-cell surface were analyzed using flow cytometry. The level of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in the culture supernatant of activated T cells was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The level of phosphorylated IκB-α (p-IκB-α) in total protein and p65, a subunit of NF-κB, nuclear translocation were measured by Western blot analysis.

RESULTSUA in a dose-dependent manner significantly decreased the proliferation and inhibited the surface expressions of CD69, CD25, and CD71 in murine T lymphocytes upon in vitro activation (P<0.01). Significant reduction of IL-2 production was found in activated T cells treated with UA (P<0.01). The PMA-induced increase in p-IκB-α protein was inhibited, and nuclear translocation of p65 from the cytoplasm was blocked by UA.

CONCLUSIONUA is a potent inhibitor for T cell activation and proliferation; these effects are associated with the inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway.

Animals ; Cell Nucleus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; I-kappa B Proteins ; metabolism ; Interleukin-2 ; secretion ; Ionomycin ; pharmacology ; Lymphocyte Activation ; drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; drug effects ; Protein Transport ; drug effects ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; secretion ; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate ; pharmacology ; Triterpenes ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of job psychological demands and job control on mental health and their interaction.

METHODS93 male freight train dispatchers were evaluated by using revised Job Demand-Control Scale and 7 strain scales. Stepwise regression analysis, Univariate ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis H and Modian methods were used in statistic analysis.

RESULTSKruskal-Wallis H and Modian methods analysis revealed the difference in mental health scores among groups of decision latitude (mean rank 55.57, 47.95, 48.42, 33.50, P < 0.05), the differences in scores of mental health (37.45, 40.01, 58.35), job satisfaction (53.18, 46.91, 32.43), daily life strains (33.00, 44.96, 56.12) and depression (36.45, 42.25, 53.61) among groups of job time demands (P < 0.05) were all statistically significant. ANOVA showed that job time demands and decision latitude had interaction effects on physical complains (R(2) = 0.24), state-anxiety (R(2) = 0.26), and daytime fatigue (R(2) = 0.28) (P < 0.05). Regression analysis revealed a significant job time demands and job decision latitude interaction effect as well as significant main effects of the some independent variables on different job strains (R(2) > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONJob time demands and job decision latitude have direct and interactive effects on psychosomatic health, the more time demands, the more psychological strains, the effect of job time demands is greater than that of job decision latitude.

Humans ; Mental Health ; Occupational Diseases ; psychology ; Regression Analysis ; Stress, Psychological ; psychology