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ObjectiveTo analyze the distribution of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） patterns as well as factors related to acute exacerbation in group E of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD）. MethodsThe general data of 161 COPD patients， including gender， age， body mass index （BMI）， disease course， smoking history， and past history， were collected. In terms of the four examinations of TCM， the differentiated patterns included phlegm-heat obstructing the lung， turbid phlegm obstructing the lung， phlegm stasis obstructing the lung， lung-spleen qi deficiency， and lung-kidney deficiency. The modified British Medical Research Council （mMRC） scale and COPD assessment test （CAT）， the pulmonary function indicators including forced expiratory volume in the first second （FEV1） and ratio of forced expiratory volume to forced vital capacity at second 1 （FEV1/FVC）， GOLD grade， and the patient's acute exacerbations in the previous year were recorded. Multivariate regression analysis was performed using logistic regression model to determine the relevant factors of patients in COPD group E. The distribution of acute exacerbations in different TCM symptom patients in group E was analyzed. ResultsThere were 80 patients （49.69%） in group E and 81 patients （50.31%） in non-group E. In group E， 23 （28.75%） patients had a history of two acute exacerbations， while 35 （43.75%） had three acute exacerbations， and 22 （27.5%） had more than three acute exacerbations. There were 13 （16.25%） cases of phlegm-heat obstructing the lung pattern， 6 （7.5%） cases of turbid phlegm obstructing the lung pattern， 8 （10%） cases of phlegm stasis obstructing the lung pattern， 22 cases （27.5%） of lung-spleen qi deficiency pattern， and 31 （38.75%） cases of lung-kidney deficiency pattern. There were significant differences in smoking history， disease course， TCM pattern， TCM syndrome score， mMRC score， and CAT score between groups （P＜0.05）. A total of 107 of the 161 patients completed pulmonary function tests， and the differences in FEV1， FEV1/FVC and GOLD grades between groups were statistically significant （P＜0.05）. Multivariate regression analysis showed that TCM pattern， TCM syndrome score and CAT score were statistically significant factors for COPD patients in group E （P＜0.05）. There were statistically significant differences in the number of acute exacerbations in different TCM patterns in group E （P＜0.05）. The patients with two acute exacerbations in the past year were mainly phlegm-heat obstructing the lung and lung-spleen qi deficiency patterns， while the three acute exacerbations were mainly seen in lung-spleen qi deficiency and lung-kidney deficiency patterns， and more than three exacerbations were more common with lung -kidney deficiency pattern. ConclusionsPatients in COPD group E were mainly the lung-spleen qi deficiency and lung-kidney deficiency patterns. Deficiency of healthy qi is the main reason for the increase in the number of acute exacerbations， and TCM patterns and CAT score were the main related factors.
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The exogenous gene expression and its impacts on the bacterial population are important to study quorum sensing systems and synthetic biology industry. However, the behavior of exogenous protein expressing bacteria remains poorly understood. To find out which factors are playing a critical role in the growth of population and exogenous gene expression, we measured Lux-type receptor-regulated exogenous gene expression under the induction of N-acyl homoserine lactone (N-AHL) signaling molecules and impacts on the bacterial population dynamics after such stimulation. To analyze the cause of fitness burden of bacteria, we set up a hypothetical mathematical model. Previous studies often arrogate this phenomenon to the synthesis cost and the toxicity of N-AHL signaling molecule. However, we suggested another possible cause of the fitness burden.
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Bacteria , Gene Expression , Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial , Quorum SensingABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the clinical value of CT in the diagnosis of early peripheral lung cancer , and to analyze the CT features of early peripheral lung cancer .Methods From November 2016 to November 2017 , 120 patients with suspected early peripheral lung cancer in Yongkang Long Chuan Family Hospital were selected in the study All patients underwent chest X -ray examination and CT examination ,and the pathological diagnosis results of puncture biopsy were taken as reference .The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of X -ray CT in the diagnosis of early peripheral lung cancer were calculated , and the detection of lung lesions and extrapulmonary lesions between X-ray and CT was compared .Kappa consistency test was used to analyze the consistency between X -ray CT diagnosis of early peripheral lung cancer and pathological diagnosis of puncture biopsy .The X -ray signs of early peripheral lung cancer were observed and the CT findings of early peripheral lung cancer were analyzed .Results The diagnostic sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of CT for early peripheral lung cancer were 97.70％,96.97％, 97.50％,respectively,which of X -ray were 89.66％,81.82％ and 87.50％,respectively,the differences were statistically significant(χ2 =4.755,3.995,8.649,all P<0.05).By Kappa consistency test,the consistent Kappa values between the diagnostic results of X-ray and CT in early peripheral lung cancer and the pathological diagnosis of puncture biopsy were 0.514,0.748,respectively,which were moderate,good for lung lesions.The detective rates of intrapulmonary lesions and extrapulmonary lesions of CT were 94.03％and 96.43％,respectively,which were higher than those of X-ray(82.09％,78.57％,χ2 =4.542,4.082,all P<0.05).The X-ray signs of early peripheral lung cancer were mainly vacuole sign,lobulation,spiculation,pleural indentation,empty sign,visible low density,small transparent area,while the CT findings were lobulation ,spiculation,vascular convergence sign ,cavitation sign,pleural indentation ,visible spherical or oval nodules .Conclusion In the clinical diagnosis of early peripheral lung cancer , CT examination has significant diagnostic value .
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Objective To study the gender differences in echocardiography in essential hypertensives. Methods Echocardiography measurement was performed in 108 subjects with Grade 1-2 essential hypertension (52 in female patient group, PGf, and 56 in male patient group, PGm). Forty two normotensive subjects (20 in female control group, CGf, and 22 in male control group, CGm) were as controls.Data were obtained by averaging measurements of the traced heart chambers and velocity curves in 5 cardiac cycles. Results Compared with PGm, the following echocardiographic features in PGf were showed:LAID (37.24±5.88 vs 32.14±3.80)mm,P＜0.01] and MVa[(84.18±12.13 vs 81.71±12.30)cm/s, P＜0. 05] were greater; LVMI [ ( 119.26 ± 22.33 vs 128.17 ± 27.00 ) g/m2 , P＜0. 05], EF ( 75.13 % ±6.69% vs 83.00% ±3.68%,P＜0. 01), FS (41.67% ±7.99%0 vs 49.03% ± 7.35%, P＜0.01), MVe[(68. 28±8.66 vs 73. 73±11.46)cm/s, P＜0. 05] and MVe/a(0.83±0. 08 vs 0. 93±0.11, P＜0.01)were lower. The differences between CGf and CGm were not significant. Conclusion There are echocardiographic differences between sexes in hypertensives including cardiac structural and functional changes. Hypertensive woman is more susceptible to both cardiac structure damage and cardiac dysfunction.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate whether transdermal scopolamine increased cardiac vagal activity in patients during the acute phase of myocardial infarction.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>30 patients with a first acute myocardial infarction and preserved sinus rhythm who were on no drug that could influence the sinus node were randomly assigned to either treatment group or placebo group. Measures of heart rate variability (HRV) in patients given drug or placebo were obtained by digital 24 hour Holter recording before and after treatment. Baroreflex sensitivity was performed using the phenylephrine method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No significant differences was found in the indices of the time domain and the frequency domain in both groups before treatment. Patients with transdermal scopolamine showed a significant increase in the standard deviation of normal RR intervals (SDNN), standard deviation of all five min mean normal RR intervals (SDANN), root mean square of differences of successive normal RR intervals (rMSSD), total power (TP, 0.000. - 0.40 Hz), low frequency peak (LF, 0.040 - 0.15 Hz), high frequency peak (HF, 0.15 - 0.40 Hz), and Baroreflex sensitivity after treatment (P < 0.05 - 0.01). These indices did not change in patients given placebo.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Low doses of transdermal scopolamine safely increase cardiac parasympathetic activity and improve autonomic indices in patients with acute myocardial infarction.</p>
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Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Administration, Cutaneous , Baroreflex , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Heart , Heart Rate , Myocardial Infarction , Scopolamine , Pharmacology , Vagus NerveABSTRACT
Objective To compare serum potassium concentrations in type 2 diabetic and nondiabetic patients in the early phase of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Methods Seven hundred and forty-five consecutive patients with ACS underwent cardiac catheterization from January, 1999 to March, 2003. Patients were stratified by duration of symptoms,type2diabetes,and?-receptor blocker therapy before admission. Results Serum potassium concentration was significantly higher in type 2 diabetic patients with ACS than that in nondiabetic patients with ACS 〔(4.34?0.48)mmol/L vs (4.00?0.52)mmol/L,P
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Objective To investigate the association between the MTHFR gene C677T mutation and CAD in patients with hypertension. Methods Of the 103 cases of patients with hypertension who underwent coronary angiography, 58 were CAD and 45 were not. MTHFR genotypes were identified by PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis with Hinf I digestion. Plasma folate was determined by radioimmunoassay. Plasma HCY was determined by HPLC. Results The frequencies of T677 allele (0.45) in the CAD group were markedly higher than those in the control group (0.33, P=0.03), plasma homocysteine level in the CAD group (17.73?2.22 ?mol/L) was also significantly higher than that in the control group (12.18?1.23 ?mol/L, P=0.037). There was no significant difference in the concentrations of folate for the two studied groups. Conclusion The MTHFR gene T677 variant is the genetic high risk factor for CAD in patients with hypertension. It can induce the hyperhomocysteinemia, potentially contributing to the pathogeny of CAD.