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OBJECTIVES@#To study the application of three-dimensional speckle-tracking imaging in evaluating left ventricular systolic function and its correlation with peripheral arterial elasticity in children with simple obesity.@*METHODS@#Random sampling combined with convenience sampling was used to obtain research samples, and then the samples were divided into an obesity group (23 cases), an overweight group (21 cases), and a normal group (24 cases). Three-dimensional speckle-tracking imaging was used to measure the global longitudinal strain (GLS), global radial strain (GRS), and global circumferential strain (GCS) of the left ventricle. An automatic arteriosclerosis tester was used to measure ankle-brachial index (ABI) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). These parameters were compared among the three groups. The correlation of three-dimensional speckle-tracking parameters with ABI and baPWV was evaluated.@*RESULTS@#There were no significant differences in GLS, GRS, and GCS between the obesity and normal groups (P>0.05). The overweight group had a significantly higher GLS than the normal group [(-24±7) vs (-19±12), P<0.05]. The obesity and overweight groups had a significantly lower ABI than the normal group [(1.00±0.09)/(1.09±0.13) vs (2.25±0.13), P<0.05). The obesity group had a significantly higher baPWV than the normal group [(978±109) vs (905±22), P<0.05]. In the children with obesity, GLS was positively correlated with baPWV (r=0.516, P<0.05) , but not correlated with ABI (P>0.05), and GCS and GRS had no significant correlation with ABI or baPWV (P>0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#There are varying degrees of changes in left ventricular systolic function and peripheral arterial elasticity in children with simple obesity, and there is a certain correlation between them.
Subject(s)
Child , Humans , Ankle Brachial Index , Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional/methods , Elasticity , Obesity , Overweight , Prospective Studies , Pulse Wave AnalysisABSTRACT
Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of Tuina (Chinese therapeutic massage) manipulation for pediatric adenoid hypertrophy (AH). Methods: A total of 60 children with AH were randomized into an observation group and a medication group, with 30 cases in each group. The observation group was treated with pediatric Tuina treatment, and the medication group was treated with 0.05％ mometasone furoate nasal spray. The changes of main clinical symptom score, quality of life (QOL) score and X-ray nasopharynx lateral film were observed, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated. Results: The total effective rate of the observation group was 90.0％, and that of the medication group was 66.7％. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). After treatment, the A/N value [ratio of adenoid thickness (A) and nasopharyngeal cavity width (N)] of posterior nasopharyngeal lateral film did not show significant change in either group (P>0.05). After treatment, the clinical symptom scores in both groups decreased, and the intra-group differences were statistically significant (P<0.001), but there was no statistical difference between the two groups (P>0.05). After treatment, the QOL scores of children in both groups decreased, and the intra-group differences were statistically significant (P<0.001), and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.001). Conclusion: Tuina manipulation is effective in treating pediatric AH, and produces a better effect in improving traditional Chinese medicine symptoms and QOL than 0.05％ mometasone furoate nasal spray.
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Objective@#To investigate the potential value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT in predicting the survival of patients with primary tracheal malignant tumors. @*Materials and Methods@#An analysis of FDG PET/CT findings in 37 primary tracheal malignant tumor patients with a median follow-up period of 43.2 months (range, 10.8–143.2 months) was performed. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to assess the associations between quantitative 18F-FDG PET/CT parameters, other clinic-pathological factors, and overall survival (OS). A risk prognosis model was established according to the independent prognostic factors identified on multivariate analysis. A survival curve determined by the Kaplan-Meier method was used to assess whether the prognosis prediction model could effectively stratify patients with different risks factors. @*Results@#The median survival time of the 37 patients with tracheal tumors was 38.0 months, with a 95% confidence interval of 10.8 to 65.2 months. The 3-year, 5-year and 10-year survival rate were 54.1%, 43.2%, and 16.2%, respectively. The metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG), maximum standardized uptake value, age, pathological type, extension categories, and lymph node stage were included in multivariate analyses. Multivariate analysis showed MTV (p = 0.011), TLG (p = 0.020), pathological type (p = 0.037), and extension categories (p = 0.038) were independent prognostic factors for OS. Additionally, assessment of the survival curve using the Kaplan-Meier method showed that our prognosis prediction model can effectively stratify patients with different risks factors (p 5.19, a TLG > 16.94 on PET/CT scans, squamous cell carcinoma, and non-E1 were more likely to have a reduced OS.
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Objective: To systematically evaluate the efficacy of Lianhua Qingwen (LQC) on COVID-19, and provide evidence for the formulation and optimization of clinical therapy on COVID-19. Methods: Six databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Wanfang, Weipu, CBM and CNKI) were searched up to May 27, 2020. The Cochrane collaborative bias risk tool was used for risk evaluation and quality assessment; Meta-analysis was carried out by Stata 15 software. Begg's test was used for publication bias. Results: Seven clinical trials were included with 665 COVID-19 patients. Compared with Western medicine alone, integrated Lianhua Qingwen significantly improved the effective rate of clinical symptoms [RR = 1.24, 95% CI (1.12, 1.38), P < 0.05] of COVID-19, increased CT improvement [RR = 1.14, 95% CI (1.02, 1.28), P < 0.05] and reduced the proportion of progressing into sever clinical level [RR = 0.48, 95% CI (0.31, 0.72), P < 0.05]; In addition, integrated Lianhua Qingwen could effectively shorten the duration of fever [SMD = -0.87, 95% CI (-1.22,-0.52), P < 0.05], time of clinical symptoms disappearance [SMD = -1.19, 95% CI (-1.56, -0.82), P < 0.05] and hospital stay [SMD = -0.61, 95% CI (-0.91, -0.30), P < 0.05]. Conclusion: Lianhua Qingwen could be used as adaptive and complementary medicine to improve clinical symptoms and CT for COVID-19.
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Background@#Cascade analysis is an effective method to analyze the processing data of an event, such as a provided service or a series of examinations. This study aimed to develop a primary cervical cancer screening cascade in China to promote the quality of the screening process.@*Methods@#We designed a cervical cancer screening cascade in China according to the program flow chart. It had three stages, each with two steps and one result. Data from 117,522 women aged 35 to 64 years in the Rural Cervical Cancer Surveillance Project from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2014, were collected to analyze the main results of the cascade. The data and proportion are used to describe the follow-up of cervical cancer and pre-cancer detection rate.@*Results@#In 2014, 117,522 (80.94% of all cases reported by the Rural Cervical Cancer Surveillance Project) women aged 35 to 64 years had not received cervical cytology in the previous 3 years. The pre-cancer and cancer detection rates were 256.12/100,000 and 16.16/100,000, respectively. A total of 3031 cases failed to follow-up through the screening process, and 1189, 1555, and 287 cases were lost at cervical cytology, colposcopy, and histopathological screening stages, respectively. The estimated cases of pre-cancer and cancer cases would have been 544 and 34, respectively, and the estimated detection rates of pre-cancer and cancer would have been 462.89/100,000 and 28.93/100,000, respectively.@*Conclusion@#In order to increase the detection rate of cervical cancer, cervical cancer screening staff should focus on increasing the rate of follow-up of those who are positive for cervical cancer screening (ie, those with positive cytology results), especially for the 40 to 44 years age range.
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BACKGROUND@#Cascade analysis is an effective method to analyze the processing data of an event, such as a provided service or a series of examinations. This study aimed to develop a primary cervical cancer screening cascade in China to promote the quality of the screening process.@*METHODS@#We designed a cervical cancer screening cascade in China according to the program flow chart. It had three stages, each with two steps and one result. Data from 117,522 women aged 35 to 64 years in the Rural Cervical Cancer Surveillance Project from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2014, were collected to analyze the main results of the cascade. The data and proportion are used to describe the follow-up of cervical cancer and pre-cancer detection rate.@*RESULTS@#In 2014, 117,522 (80.94% of all cases reported by the Rural Cervical Cancer Surveillance Project) women aged 35 to 64 years had not received cervical cytology in the previous 3 years. The pre-cancer and cancer detection rates were 256.12/100,000 and 16.16/100,000, respectively. A total of 3031 cases failed to follow-up through the screening process, and 1189, 1555, and 287 cases were lost at cervical cytology, colposcopy, and histopathological screening stages, respectively. The estimated cases of pre-cancer and cancer cases would have been 544 and 34, respectively, and the estimated detection rates of pre-cancer and cancer would have been 462.89/100,000 and 28.93/100,000, respectively.@*CONCLUSION@#In order to increase the detection rate of cervical cancer, cervical cancer screening staff should focus on increasing the rate of follow-up of those who are positive for cervical cancer screening (ie, those with positive cytology results), especially for the 40 to 44 years age range.
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Objective The relationship between metabolic syndrome(MetS), metabolic syndrome score (MSS) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) in Urumqi was investigated by the MSS, reflecting the aggregation of MetS components. Methods The subjects were divided into non-NAFLD and NAFLD group by abdominal B ultrasound. The results of physical examination and blood biochemical examination were analyzed. The MSS was calculated and the relationship between the different aggregation of MSS and NAFLD was analyzed by Log-binomial regression. Results A total of 20 569 subjects were included in the study. The detection rate of MetS was 16.7%, the detection rate of NAFLD was 32.4%. Compared with non-NAFLD group, the systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure,body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, fasting plasma glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were all increased in the NAFLD group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). After adjusting for gender, age, ethnicity and education level, Log-binomial regression analysis showed high BMI, hypertension and hyperglycemia. High triglycerides and low-density lipoproteins are the main risk factors for NAFLD (PR values were 3.194, 1.331, 1.623, 1.981, 1.254, respectively); the risk of NAFLD increased corresondingly when MSS, MSS0, MSS1, MSS2, MSS3, and MSS4 increased. The PR were 3.127, 4.983, 6.437, and 7.331, respectively. Conclusions The formation of NAFLD is not a single accumulation of liver fat, combined with abnormalities such as blood lipids, blood pressure, and blood sugar. The detection rate of male MetS and NAFLD was higher than that of female, but women with two abnormal metabolic indicators were more likely to develop into NAFLD. BMI as the obesity index has the strongest relationship with NAFLD, and NAFLD prevention should focus on obese people.
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Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) is widely used to study white and gray matter (GM) micro-organization and structural connectivity in the brain. Super-resolution track-density imaging (TDI) is an image reconstruction method for dMRI data, which is capable of providing spatial resolution beyond the acquired data, as well as novel and meaningful anatomical contrast that cannot be obtained with conventional reconstruction methods. TDI has been used to reveal anatomical features in human and animal brains. In this study, we used short track TDI (stTDI), a variation of TDI with enhanced contrast for GM structures, to reconstruct direction-encoded color maps of fixed tree shrew brain. The results were compared with those obtained with the traditional diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) method. We demonstrated that fine microstructures in the tree shrew brain, such as Baillarger bands in the primary visual cortex and the longitudinal component of the mossy fibers within the hippocampal CA3 subfield, were observable with stTDI, but not with DTI reconstructions from the same dMRI data. The possible mechanisms underlying the enhanced GM contrast are discussed.
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Brain Mapping , Diffusion Tensor Imaging , Methods , Hippocampus , Diagnostic Imaging , Image Processing, Computer-Assisted , Methods , Neural Pathways , Diagnostic Imaging , Tupaiidae , Visual Cortex , Diagnostic ImagingABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the actual glomerular filtration rates (GFR) in patients with nonfunctioning kidneys as shown by intravenous pyelography (IVP) using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) dynamic renal scintigraphy and dual-plasma sample clearance method.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We retrospectively analyzed 107 patients with nonfunctioning kidneys shown by IVP who underwent renal dynamic 99Tcm-DTPA SPECT imaging. GFR was measured by Gates' methods (GFRGates') and dual-plasma sample clearance method (GFRdual-plasma). Based on the dynamic functional images and GFRdual-plasma measurements, the patients were categorized into mild renal impairment (GFRdual-plasma≥30 mL/min), moderate renal impairment group (GFRdual-plasma of 20-30 mL/min), severe renal impairment group (GFRdual-plasma of 10 to 20 mL/min), and nonfunctioning kidney group (GFRdual-plasma≤10 mL/min), and GFRGates' were compared among the groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>According to GFRdual-plasma, the numbers of patients having mild, moderate, and severe renal impairment and nonfunctioning kidneys were 12(11.2%), 33(30.8%), 41(38.3%), and 21(19.6%), respectively. GFRdual-plasma and GFRGates' were not significantly different in mild and moderate renal impairment groups, but in patients with severe renal impairment, GFRdual-plasma was significantly lower than GFRGates' (13.9∓6.2 vs 18.8∓4.2 mL/min; t=-2.73, P=0.03), which was also the case with patients with nonfunctinging kidneys (4.5∓2.1 vs 7.2∓3.2 mL/min; t=-3.81, P=0.005).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Of the patients with nonfunctinging kidneys shown by IVP, only 58% of them actually have severe renal impairment or worse, and further SPECT dynamic renal scintigraphy is necessary to assess the actual risk of renal function impairment before operation.</p>
Subject(s)
Humans , Glomerular Filtration Rate , Kidney , Diagnostic Imaging , Renal Insufficiency , Diagnostic Imaging , Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon , UrographyABSTRACT
The PET tracer 5-([11C]methyloxy)-L-tryptophan (5-(11)CMTP) was prepared by nucleophilic fluorination and alkylation reaction via a two-step procedure in order to develop specific tumor probe. The biodistribution and microPET imaging of 5-(11)CMTP were executed. The results unveiled that the overall radiochemical yield with no decay correction was (14.6 ±7.2) %, the radiochemical purity was more than 95% and high uptake and long retention time of 5-(11)CMTP in liver, kidney and blood were observed but low uptake in brain and muscle were found, furthermore, high uptake of 5-(11)CMTP in tumor tissue was observed. It seems that 5-(11)CMTP will be a potential amino acid tracer for tumors imaging with PET.
Subject(s)
Animals , Amino Acids , Neoplasms , Diagnostic Imaging , Positron-Emission Tomography , Radioactive Tracers , Tissue Distribution , TryptophanABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the pathogenic infection and its drug resistance in expressed prostatic secretion (EPS) and its correlation with serum PSA, and provide some evidence for the systematic and normalized diagnosis and treatment of prostatitis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three EPS swabs were collected from each of the 320 prostatis patients following measurement of the serum PSA level, 1 for bacterial culture and identification, 1 for detection of Mycoplasma and drug sensitivity, and the other for examination of Chlamydia trachomatis antigen by colloidal gold immunoblot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Totally 244 strains were isolated from the 320 EPS samples, including 188 bacterial strains (dominated by Staphylococcus and sensitive to vancomycin or linezolid) and 44 Mycoplasma and Chlamydia strains (mainly Ureaplasma urealyticum and susceptible to josamycin or doxycycline). The serum PSA level was significantly higher in the pathogen-positive than in the pathogen-negative group ([6.98 +/- 0.56] microg/L vs [2.32 +/- 0.12] microg/L, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Prostatitis may lead to the elevation of the serum PSA level and the pathogens involved vary in their resistance to different antibacterial spectrums. Therefore, appropriate and individualized antibiotic therapy should be selected according to etiological diagnosis and the results of drug sensitivity test.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Prostate , Microbiology , Bodily Secretions , Prostate-Specific Antigen , Blood , Prostatitis , Blood , MicrobiologyABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Growing epidemiologic evidence has indicated that genetics can predispose individuals to the occurrence of lone atrial fibrillation (AF). The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) gene has been established to be associated with hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy. The objective of our study was to investigate the association of ACE2 gene polymorphisms with lone AF.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 265 consecutive lone AF patients and 289 healthy controls were successfully investigated. The polymorphisms rs2106809 and rs2285666 were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing. A Logistic regression model was used to determine the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of variations of ACE2 for lone AF.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The T allele of rs2106809 conferred an increased risk for lone AF (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.01-1.52, P = 0.03) in males after adjustment for conventional risk factors. SNP at rs2285666 in males was not significantly different between AF patients and controls. No association was found between the two polymorphisms in the female population with lone AF. After (36.3 ± 4.5) months of follow-up, the end point data were obtained: death (cardiac and noncardiac), ischemic stroke, and heart failure. In the male subgroup, the associations between rs2106809 T male carriers and combined end points including ischemic stroke, heart failure, and death in our study were of significance (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.0-13.1, P = 0.04).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The results indicate that polymorphism at ACE2 gene is associated with male lone AF in a Chinese Han population. Lone AF males who carry the rs2106809 T allele are associated with adverse cardiac events.</p>
Subject(s)
Aged , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Asian People , Genetics , Atrial Fibrillation , Genetics , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Genotype , Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A , Genetics , Polymorphism, Genetic , GeneticsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe changes of brain glucose metabolism by needling at Waiguan (SJ5) in cerebral infraction (CI) patients using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron-emission computer tomography (PET/CT), thus exploring its effect and mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 21 patients with CI were recruited in this study. The location of lesion was limited to the left basal ganglia by CT or MRI scan. All patients were randomly assigned to three groups. i.e., the acupoint group (Group A), the non-acupoint group (Group B), the blank control group (Group C), 7 in each group. Patients in Group A were needled at right Waiguan (SJ5). Those in Group B were needled at non-acupoint [10 mm beside Waiguan (SJ5)], whereas those in Group C did not receive any treatment. All patients underwent PET/CT head scan. All data were statistically analyzed using SPSS 13.0 Software and SPM8 Software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with Group C, glucose metabolism increased in bilateral superior temporal gyrus (BA38), right superior frontal gyrus (BA9), left cingulate gyrus (BA24), left culmen and pyramid of cerebellum, and right cerebellar tonsil of cerebellum in Group A. Compared with Group C, glucose metabolism increased in bilateral superior frontal gyrus (BA6, BA9, BA10), bilateral middle frontal gyrus (BA6, BA10), left middle frontal gyrus (BA4), bilateral uncus of limbic lobe (BA36, BA38), left cingulate gyrus (BA24, BA31), left posterior cingulate gyrus (BA30), left precuneus (BA7), left inferior parietal lobule (BA4), and left lingual gyrus of occipital lobe (BA18) in Group B. Compared with Group B, glucose metabolism increased in bilateral superior temporal gyrus (BA22, BA38), right inferior frontal gyrus (BA47), left culmen and cerebellar tonsil of cerebellum in Group A. Activated encephalic regions of needling at Waiguan (SJ5) were mainly dominated in the healthy side, bilateral superior temporal gyrus, and right inferior frontal gyrus. Activated encephalic regions of cerebellum were located at the left cerebellar hemisphere, left culmen of anterior cerebella lobe, and bilateral cerebellar tonsil of posterior cerebella lobe.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Needling at Waiguan (SJ5) of CI patients induced increased glucose metabolism in local cerebral regions. Functional neuroimaging using PET/CT could directly reflect changes of brain glucose metabolism by acupuncture.</p>
Subject(s)
Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Acupuncture Points , Acupuncture Therapy , Brain , Metabolism , Cerebral Infarction , Metabolism , Therapeutics , Glucose , MetabolismABSTRACT
Licorice is a traditional Chinese medicine commonly used in clinic. The products,what contain licorice or licorice extract, has early been involved in the field of cosmetics except for the field of pharmaceuticals and food. Consequently, the reporting on adverse reactions induced by licorice preparations are more frequent. Based on the clinical data of licorice preparations adverse reactions, we described the characteristics of the licorice-related adverse reactions, and proposed specific measures to reduce the incidence of adverse reactions, provided a reference for the rational use of licorice preparations.
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Drug Therapy , Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions , Drugs, Chinese Herbal , Glycyrrhiza , ChemistryABSTRACT
The paper described the rationality of traditional and modern application of prepared decoction pieces of herbal medicine on basis of application, statistics and comparison analysis of three forms of drugs of traditional Chinese herbal pieces prepared for decoction, prepared decoction pieces in small packing and granules; and illustrated different opinions correlative to the three forms of drugs; put forward the counter-measures and proposals for the problems facing the traditional Chinese herbal pieces for decoction; the paper stated clearly that the traditional Chinese herbal pieces for decoction should not be replaced, instead, the viewpoint and the reasons on its application must be holding on; and the trend of development and expectations of the Chinese herbal pieces for decoction were predicted as well.
Subject(s)
Dosage Forms , Drugs, Chinese Herbal , Medicine, Chinese Traditional , Methods , Phytotherapy , MethodsABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and geometric abnormality are associated with morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Hypertension is the major cause of LVH. Yet the prevalence and other risk factors of LVH and geometric abnormality in Chinese hypertensive population are unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of LVH and geometric abnormality in community-based Chinese hypertensive population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The study was a community-based cross-sectional study, and comprised 4270 hypertension patients with integrated clinical and echocardiographic data. Left ventricular mass was measured by transthoracic echocardiography. LVH was diagnosed by using the criteria of over 49.2 g/m(2.7) for men and 46.7 g/m(2.7) for women. LV geometric patterns (normal, concentric remodeling, concentric or eccentric hypertrophy) were calculated according to LVH and relative wall thickness. Logistic regression model was used to determine the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the risk factors of LVH.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The prevalence of LVH was 42.7% in 4270 hypertensive patients, with 37.4% in males and 45.4% in females, respectively. The prevalence of concentric remodeling, concentric or eccentric hypertrophy was 24.7%, 20.2%, and 22.6%, respectively. In Logistic regression model, female (OR 1.3, 95%CI 1.1 - 1.5, P < 0.01), age (OR 1.02, 95%CI 1.01 - 1.03, P < 0.01), body mass index (OR 1.2, 95%CI 1.15 - 1.20, P < 0.01), systolic blood pressure (OR 1.02, 95%CI 1.01 - 1.03, P < 0.01), and serum triglyceride (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.00 - 1.20, P < 0.01) were risk factors of LVH. Female, age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure and serum triglyceride were also risk factors of left ventricular geometric abnormality.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The echocardiographic LVH is the major complication of patients with hypertension in rural area of China, especially for women. To effectively treat hypertension, weight loss and control of serum triglyceride may help to prevent LVH in hypertensive population.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Cross-Sectional Studies , Echocardiography , Heart Ventricles , Pathology , Hypertension , Epidemiology , Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular , Epidemiology , Prevalence , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects qufeng zhidong Simplified Recipe (QZSR) on the behavior of the tic disorder (TD) rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty male SD rats were randomly divided to the normal group, the model group, the QZSR-1 group, the QZSR-2 group, and the QZSR group, 10 in each group. Two mg/kg apomorphine (APO) was intraperitoneally injected to rats in the model group, the QZSR-1 group, the QZSR-2 group, and the QZSR group, while equal volume of normal saline was intraperitoneally injected to rats in the normal group, both once daily for 7 successive weeks. At the 4th week equal volume of normal saline was intraperitoneally injected to rats in the model group and the normal group, while corresponding medicinal liquid was intraperitoneally injected to those in the rest groups, both once daily for 7 successive weeks. At the 2nd and 4th week of intervention, rats' improvement degrees of stereotyped behavior and the open-field test were monitored, and their experimental results were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At the 2nd and 4th week of intervention, when compared with those of the model group, the score of stereotyped behavior decreased, the numbers of passing-panel, straightening, and dejecta pill were reduced, and the number of grooming increased in the QZSR-1 group, the QZSR-2 group, and the QZSR group. But there was no difference among the three groups (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>QZSR could significantly reduce APO induced stereotyped behavior scores of TD rats, improve their locomotor activities, and reinforce their adaptive faculty.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Rats , Behavior, Animal , Drugs, Chinese Herbal , Pharmacology , Therapeutic Uses , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Tic Disorders , Drug Therapy , PsychologyABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Tumor necrosis factor-induced protein 3 (TNFAIP3) gene has been shown important in cardiac remodeling. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the variants of TNFAIP3 gene are associated with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in hypertensive patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Four representatives of all the other single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TNFAIP3 gene were tested for association with hypertrophy in two independent hypertensive populations (n = 2120 and n = 324).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>We found that only the tag SNP (rs5029939) was consistently lower in the hypertensives with cardiac hypertrophy than in those without cardiac hypertrophy in the two study populations, indicating a protective effect on LVH (odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval (CI)) 0.58 (0.358 - 0.863), P = 0.035; OR (95%CI) = 0.477 (0.225 - 0.815), P < 0.05, respectively). Multiple regression analyses confirmed that the patients with G allele of rs5029939 had less thickness in inter-ventricular septum, left ventricular posterior wall, relative wall thickness and left ventricular mass index than did those with CC allele in the hypertensive patients in both study populations (all P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These findings indicate that the SNP (rs5029939) in the TNFAIP3 gene may serve as a novel protective genetic marker for the development of LVH in patients with hypertension.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Cross-Sectional Studies , DNA-Binding Proteins , Echocardiography , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Genotype , Hypertension , Genetics , Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular , Genetics , Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins , Genetics , Nuclear Proteins , Genetics , Phenotype , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide , Genetics , Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha-Induced Protein 3ABSTRACT
Objective To assess the value of integrated 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT in differentiation of malignant and benign pericardial effusion. Methods 18F-FDG PET/CT were performed in 23 patients with pericardial effusion. The detected soft tissue tumor or nodulous lession in pericardium or the thickened pericardium, with the maximum standardized uptake value( SUVmax ) ≥2.5, was defined as PET/CT-positive. The invaded lession in pericardium with SUVmax ≥2.5 was also as the positive. The difference of SUVmax of benign and malignant lesions was analyzed with two-independent-sample test of nonparametric tests. The final diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy or post-operative pathology. Results The diagnosis were confirmed with 14 malignant and 9 benign lesions. The median of SUVmax was 6.0 in malignancy group and 2.2 in benign group (z= -3. 279, P =0.001 ). According to the pathology results, there were one false negative case and two false positive cases with PET/CT imaging interpretation. The sensitivity, specificity,accuracy, positive predictive value ( PPV ) and negative predictive value ( NPV ) of 18 F-FDG PET/CT in diagnosis of benignity or malignance of pericardium effusion were 92.9% ( 13/14), 7/9, 87.0% (20/23),86.7% (13/15) and 7/8, respectively. Conclusion For the patients with pericardium effusion 18F-FDG PET/CT may be a helpful modality for malignancy differentiation
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<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a primary autosomal dominant inheritant myocardial disease with heterogeneity in clinical manifestations, natural history and prognosis. Even carrying an identical gene mutation among family members, a variety of clinical phenotypes have been found in patients with HCM. Modifier genes may contribute to the diversity. The plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptides (ANP) were found previously to be elevated in HCM. Our studies suggested that ANP gene promoter polymorphism is associated with left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertension. The present study aimed to determine whether the two SNPs in the ANP gene are associated with HCM.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We determined the relationships between the ANP gene polymorphism and HCM in 262 HCM patients and 614 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals. All of the subjects were genotyped for -A2843G and A188G polymorphisms.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The genotype frequency in the -A2843G and A188G polymorphisms of the ANP gene was not significantly different between the HCM patients and controls. The -A2843G and A188G polymorphisms were also not associated with clinical phenotype in cardiomyopathy patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The polymorphisms of the ANP gene are not associated with increasing risk of HCM or clinical phenotypes. The variations of the ANP gene may not serve as a genetic modifier for the development of HCM.</p>