The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors of fascioliasis in yaks, Bos grunniens, from 3 counties of Gansu Province in China. A total of 1,584 serum samples, including 974 samples from white yaks from Tianzhu, 464 from black yaks from Maqu, and 146 from black yaks from Luqu County, were collected and analyzed using ELISA to detect IgG antibodies against Fasciola hepatica. The overall F. hepatica seroprevalence was 28.7% (454/1,584), with 29.2% in white yaks (284/974) and 27.9% in black yaks (170/610). The seroprevalence of F. hepatica in yaks from Tianzhu, Luqu, and Maqu was 29.2%, 22.6%, and 29.5%, respectively. Female yaks (30.9%) had higher F. hepatica seroprevalence than male yaks (23.4%). Also, F. hepatica seroprevalence varied by different age group from 24.1% to 33.8%. Further, the seroprevalence ranged from 21.8% to 39.1% over different seasons. Interestingly, the season and age of yaks were associated with F. hepatica infection in yaks in the investigated areas. These findings provided a basis for further studies on this disease in yaks from 3 counties of Gansu Province in northwestern China, which may ultimately support the development of effective control strategies of fascioliasis in these areas.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Cattle* ; China* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fasciola hepatica ; Fascioliasis* ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Male ; Ranunculaceae ; Risk Factors* ; Seasons ; Seroepidemiologic Studies*

OBJECTIVETo discuss the characteristics of lumbar disc herniation (LDH) with symptom aggravated caused by spinal manipulative therapy (SMT).

METHODSDetailed clinical profiles of a total number of 10 LDH patients with symptoms aggravated after SMT were reviewed including 5 males and 5 females with age from 46 to 68 years old, 7 patients of them were more than 50 years old. The clinical data of 10 patients were analyzed involving age, gender, clinical symptoms, signs, imaging findings, surgical treatment and prognosis. Laminectomy and discectomy were performed, and follow-up was carried out in all patients.

RESULTSThe duration of symptoms in all the patients before SMT was 4 to 15 years. After the therapy, an acute exacerbation of back and radicular pain was observed within 24 hours. MRI showed intervertebral disc herniation, 7 patients were observed in L4-L5. The time internal between the exacerbation of presentation and surgery was 23.1 days. No perioperative complications occurred. All the patients were relieved of radicular pain a few days after surgery. During postoperative follow-up, all patients regained the ability to walk; Eight patients reported a complete resolution of presentation and the rest two patients were significantly improved.

CONCLUSIONSSMT should be prohibited in some LDH patients to prevent neurological damages, in whom there are 5 possible risk factors.

In order to study whether Paris forrestii could be developed as a substitute of Paridis Rhizome, chemical compositions of P. forrestii and P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis were investigated by UPLC-Q-TOF MS. In addition, the contents of eight primary steroidal saponins in 77 batches of P. forrestii samples from different habitats were simultaneously determined by HPLC-UV. The results showed that P. forrestii and P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis have similar chemical compositions, and all 22 major common peaks were identified as steroid derivatives. Meanwhile, there were some differences in the contents of saponins in P. forrestii samples from different habitats. The contents of 4 steroidal saponins in Chinese Pharmacopoeia ranged from 0.068% to 3.30%, and the highest content of the 8 kinds of steroidal saponins was 6.18%, while the lowest was just 0.71%. Moreover, 78% of P. forrestii samples were in conformity with the requirements of Chinese Pharmacopoeia, indicating that P. forrestii samples had relatively stable quality and could be further studied as a substitute for Paridis Rhizome.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the electrical signals propagated along Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian (BL) in a rat model.

METHODSThe experiments were performed on Dark-Agouti (DA), DA.1U and Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. The antidromic electrical stimulation was applied on the nerve innervating "Pishu" (BL 20) to mimic the acupoint electro-acupuncture (EA). The activities recording from adjacent nerve innervating acupoint "Danshu" (BL 19) or "Weishu" (BL 21) were recorded as indics for acupoint, including the mechanical threshold and discharge rate.

RESULTSAfter mimic EA on BL 20, C and Aδ units from adjacent BL 19 or BL 21 were sensitized including the decrease in mechanical threshold and increase in discharge rates in DA, DA.1U and SD rats, especially in DA rats. The average discharge rate increased from 2.40±0.26 to 6.06±0.55 and from 1.92±0.42 to 6.17±1.10 impulse/min (P<0.01), and the mechanical threshold decreased from 0.52±0.12 to 0.24±0.05 and from 0.27±0.02 to 0.16±0.01 mmol/L (P<0.01) in C (n=15) and Aδ (n=18) units in DA rats. The net change in discharge rates from C units were 152.5%, 144.7% and 42.4% in DA, DA.1U and SD rats, respectively, among which DA rat's was the highest (P<0.05). In Aδ units, the net change in DA rats were also the highest (221.5%, 139.2% and 49.2% in DA, DA.1U and SD rats).

CONCLUSIONSThese results showed that mimic acupoint EA activated adjacent acupoints along BL in three rat strains, which might be related to propagated sensation along meridians (PSM). In addition, DA rats were more sensitive and might be a good model animal for PSM research.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; methods ; Male ; Meridians ; Pain Threshold ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Urinary Bladder ; innervation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between a diverse of clinical factors and bone metastases of prostate cancer.

METHODSThe clinical data of 80 patients with prostate cancer were collected and analyzed. The correlations of age, alkaline phosphotase (ALP), prostate specific antigen (PSA), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), Gleason score, and expressions of androgen receptor (AR) and Ki-67 with bone metastases were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Logistic regression analysis. The cutoff value, sensitivity and specificity of the independent correlation factors were calculated.

RESULTSForty-five of the 80 patients (56%) were found to have bone metastasis, who had significantly older age and higher levels of ALP, PSA, ESR, Gleason score, and expressions of AR and Ki-67 than those without bone metastasis (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis identified PSA, Gleason score and AR expression as independent factors correlated with bone metastasis with OR (95% CI) of 1.005 (1.001, 1.009) (P=0.008), 5.356 (1.431, 20.039) (P=0.013), and 18.594 (2.460, 140.524) (P=0.005), respectively. The cutoff values of PSA, Gleason Score and AR were 67.1 ng/ml, 7.5, and 2.5, respectively; their sensitivities were 55.6%, 75.6%, and 84.0% for predicting bone metastasis with specificities of 97.1%, 82.9%, and 91.4%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONOf the factors analyzed, PSA, Gleason score and AR expression, but not age, ALP, PSA, ESR, or Ki-67 expression, are the predictive factors of bone metastasis of prostate cancer.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Bone Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; secondary ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm Grading ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Receptors, Androgen ; metabolism ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo explore the key technique for preparation of the frozen platelet and efficacy of its clinical application.

METHODSThe influences of the donators' peripheral platelet count, starting time of freeze, injection rate and evenness of the freeze-protective agent, storage mode, re-melting temperature and the capacity of water-bath etc. on the quality of the frozen platelets were analyzed retrospectively in 3 257 samples of frozen platelets before platelet pheresis. Then, the platelet counts were examined in 150 cases transfused with frozen platelets at the time-points of 1, 24, 48 and 72 hrs after transfusion, 90 cases suffered from the obstetrical bleeding were transfused with 200 parts of the re-melting frozen platelets, and then the peripheral blood platelet count, platelet increasing index(CCI), bleeding time and blood clot retraction rate etc. were observed for determining the clinical efficiency of the frozen platelets.

RESULTSThe floccule in the re-melting frozen platelets from the donators with (175-250)×10(9)/L platelets were decreased significantly(P<0.01). The quality of frozen platelets was influenced by the following factors, such as injection of DMSO at a too fast and heterogeneous rate, blood bags stored in a multilamminar space, and re-melting in a water-bath of small capacity etc. The routine storage for 0 and 3 days did not influence the quality of the frozen platelets. The recovery rate of one year-freezing platelets all was higher than 80%. The effects of the frozen platelets transfused into the patients with obstetrical bleeding displayed good haemostatic results, and the blood transfusion reaction did not occur. However, the frozen platelets immediately were exhausted and displayed their function, but the counting after 48 hrs could not display a good effect of raising platelet number.

CONCLUSIONSThe peripheral platelet count before platelet pheresis, the injection rate and evenness of the protective agent, the number of stratum for blood bags and the capacity of re-melting water-bath etc. all are the key factors influencing the quality of the frozen platelets. The frozen platelets prepared in this study shows a good efficacy of clinical application.

Blood Platelets ; Blood Preservation ; Blood Transfusion ; Freezing ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; Platelet Count ; Platelet Transfusion ; Plateletpheresis ; Transfusion Reaction

The effect of stereoscopic cultivation on the growth, photosynthetic characteristics and yield of Tulipa edulis was studied to explore the feasibility of stereoscopic cultivation on efficient cultivation of T.edulis. Total leaf area and photosynthetic parameters of T.edulis under stereoscopic cultivation (the upper, middle and the lower layers ) and the control were measured using LI-3100 leaf area meter and LI-6400XT photosynthesis system in the growing peak period of T.edulis.Plant biomass and biomass allocation were also determined.In addition, the bulb regeneration and yield of T.edulis were measured in the harvesting time.The results indicated that in the middle layer of stereoscopic cultivation, leaf biomass proportion was the highest, but total bulb fresh and dry weight and output growth (fresh weight) were the lowest among the treatments.And total bulb fresh weight in the middle of stereoscopic cultivation reduced significantly, by 22.84%, compared with the control.Light intensity in the lower layer of stereoscopic cultivation was moderate, in which T.edulis net photosynthetic rate and water use efficiency were higher than those of the other layers of stereoscopic cultivation, and bulb biomass proportion was the highest in all the treatments.No significant difference was detected in the total bulb fresh weight, dry weight and output growth (fresh weight) between the middle layer of stereoscopic cultivation and the control.In general, there was no significant difference in the growth status of T.edulis between stereoscopic cultivation and the control.Stereoscopic cultivation increased the yield of T.edulis by 161.66% in fresh weight and 141.35% in dry weight compared with the control in the condition of the same land area, respectively.In conclusion, stereoscopic cultivation can improve space utilization, increase the production, and achieve the high density cultivation of T.edulis.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) has been found to be centrally involved in the development of ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI)-induced inflammation and apoptosis. Knockdown of TNF-α gene using small interfering RNA (siRNA) may protect renal IRI. Renal IRI was induced in mice by clamping the left renal pedicle for 25 or 35 min. TNF-α siRNA was administered intravenously to silence the expression of TNF-α. The therapeutic effects of siRNA were evaluated in terms of renal function, histological examination, and overall survival following lethal IRI. A single systemic injection of TNF-α siRNA resulted in significant knockdown of TNF-α expression in ischemia-reperfusion injured kidney. In comparison with control mice, levels of BUN and serum creatinine were significantly reduced in mice treated with siRNA. Pathological examination demonstrated that tissue damage caused by IRI was markedly reduced as a result of TNF-α siRNA treatment. Furthermore, survival experiments showed that nearly 90% of control mice died from lethal IRI, whereas more than 50% of siRNApretreated mice survived until the end of the eight-day observation period. We have demonstrated for the first time that silencing TNF-α by specific siRNA can significantly reduce renal IRI and protect mice against lethal kidney ischemia, highlighting the potential for siRNA-based clinical therapy.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Disease Models, Animal ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Inflammation ; genetics ; pathology ; therapy ; Kidney ; drug effects ; injuries ; pathology ; Mice ; RNA, Small Interfering ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; Reperfusion Injury ; genetics ; pathology ; therapy ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of heart valve calcification (HVC) on cardiovascular outcomes in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD).

METHODSWe enrolled 302 Chinese patients on MHD between 2009 and 2011 including 99 with HVC identified by echocardiography screening. All the patients were followed up for 2 years and survival analysis was performed with all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality and new onset cardiovascular events as the endpoints. Cox regression analysis was used for analyzing the impact of heart valve calcification on the cardiovascular outcomes of the patients.

RESULTSThe mean age of the total patients was 58.2∓15.0 years when receiving the initial MHD, and 53.6% were male patients. The overall mortality, cardiovascular mortality and new on-set cardiovascular events in HVC and non-HVC groups were 30.3% vs 16.3%, 22.2% vs 6.9%, and 48.5% vs 25.6%, respectively (P<0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed a significant difference in all-cause mortality (P=0.006), cardiovascular mortality (P<0.001) and new-onset cardiovascular events (P<0.001) between HVC and non-HVC groups. After adjustment, Cox regression analysis identified HVC as a risk factor for increased all-cause mortality (HR=1.88; 95%CI: 1.11-3.19), cardiovascular mortality (HR=3.47, 95%CI: 1.76-6.84) and cardiovascular events (HR=1.64, 95% CI: 1.09-2.47).

CONCLUSIONSHVC is an independent risk factor for increased cardiovascular mortality and new cardiovascular events in patients on MHD.

Adult ; Aged ; Calcinosis ; pathology ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart Valve Diseases ; mortality ; pathology ; Heart Valves ; pathology ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Renal Dialysis ; Risk Factors

ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation between the premature ejaculation diagnostic tool (PEDT) and International Index of Erectile Function-15 (IIEF-15) in different types of premature ejaculation (PE).

METHODSWe performed a cross-section survey among 352 PE patients received in the andrology clinic from December 2014 to December 2015 and 104 healthy men from the health examination center using basic demographic information (as on age, height, weight, education status, occupation, income, etc.), PEDT results, and IIEF-15 scores of the subjects.

RESULTSThe PE patients had remarkably higher PEDT and lower IIEF-15 scores than the healthy men (P<0.01). The PEDT score of the PE patients was negatively correlated with their total IIEF-15 score as well as with the scores in the domains of erectile function, sexual intercourse satisfaction, and overall satisfaction after adjusted for age (P<0.01). The patients with acquired PE (APE) showed a lower IIEF-15 score than those with lifelong PE (LPE) (P<0.01). The PEDT score of the APE patients was correlated negatively with the total IIEF-15 score (r=－0.391, P<0.01) and the scores in the domains of erectile function (r=－0.362, P<0.01) and overall satisfaction (r=－0.621, P<0.01), but not correlated with intercourse satisfaction, sexual orgasm, or sexual desire. The PEDT score of the LPE group was correlated negatively with intercourse satisfaction (r=－0.286, P<0.05) but not correlated with either the total IIEF-15 score or the scores in the domains of erectile function, overall satisfaction, sexual orgasm, or sexual desire.

CONCLUSIONSPE patients have a higher PEDT score and a lower IIEF-15 score than normal males. The PEDT score of APE patients is significantly correlated with the total IIEF-15 score, while that of LPE patients is correlated not with the total IIEF-15 score but with intercourse satisfaction.

Adult ; Andrology ; Case-Control Studies ; Coitus ; psychology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Erectile Dysfunction ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Libido ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Penile Erection ; physiology ; Personal Satisfaction ; Premature Ejaculation ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Surveys and Questionnaires