Effect of VEGF on neuronal degeneration and interaction between Alzheimer's disease biomarkers.

The article "Effect of VEGF on neuronal degeneration and interaction between Alzheimer's disease biomarkers" by H.-C. Yuan, C.-W. Jiang, L.-Y. Hou, Y.-B. Lv, X.-Z. Feng, L.-F. Guo, G. Sun, K. Liu, Y.-J. Liu, B. Xu, C.-Y. Wang, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2017; 21 (16): 3649-3657 has been withdrawn.

[Clinical evaluation value of visual analogue scale combined with C-reactive protein for the prognosis of peritonsillar abscess].

Objective:The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical value of visual analogue scale combined with serum C-reactive protein in evaluating the prognosis of peritonsillar abscess. Method:Thirty-one patients be hospitalized with peritonsillar abscess were enrolled in this study, who were treated by puncture and antibiotic from January 2016 to February 2017. VAS and CRP level were detected on the 1, 3, 5 day of hospitalization for all the patients. Result:Twenty-five patients were cured after 5 days. The 1, 3, 5 day's VAS of forty-seven patients were 8.20±1.25, 4.42±1.05, 1.41±0.55, respectively, and the CRP level were (62.41±8.61), (20.46±5.32), (5.41±1.95)mg/L, respectively (P<0.05) in the three days. The 1, 3 day's VAS of six patients were 8.41±1.44, 7.37±1.15, respectively, and the CRP level were (59.85±8.35), (45.33±7.46)mg/L, with no significant difference (P>0.05) in the two days. But the fifth day' VAS was 1.55±0.65, and the CRP level was 10.24±2.57 mg/L, with statistically significant difference (P<0.05)) compared with the first day. Conclusion:Subjective evaluation used by VAS and objective evaluation used by CRP level to assess the prognosis of peritonsillar. Therefore, VAS score combined with C-reactive protein detection is more accurate for the prognosis of tonsil abscess evaluation..

Chronic alcohol administration affects purine nucleotide catabolism in vivo.

AIMS: To investigate the relationship between chronic alcohol administration and purine nucleotide metabolism in vivo. MAIN METHODS: Rat models of alcohol dependence and withdrawal were used. The concentrations of uric acid (UAC), urea nitrogen (UREA), creatinine (CREA), and beta-2-microglobulin (ß2-M) and creatinine clearance rate (CCR) in plasma were measured. The PLC method was used to detect the absolute content of purine nucleotides in different tissues. Enzymatic activities of adenosine deaminase (ADA), xanthine oxidase (XO), ribose 5-phosphate pyrophosphokinase (RPPPK), glutamine phosphoribosylpyrophosphate amidotransferase (GPRPPAT), hypoxanthine-guanine phosphate ribose transferase (HGPRT), and adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (APRT) in the tissues were analyzed. Real-time PCR was used to determine the relative level of ADA and XO. KEY FINDINGS: The renal function of rats with alcohol dependence was normal. Further, the content of purine nucleotides (GMP, AMP, GTP, and ATP) in tissues of the rats was decreased, which indicated that the increased uric acid should be derived from the decomposition of nucleotides in vivo. The activity of XO and ADA increased, and their mRNA expression was enhanced in the alcohol dependence group, but there was no significant difference in the activity of RPPPK and GPRPPAT in the liver, small intestine, and muscle; furthermore, no significant difference in the activity of HGPRT and APRT was observed in the brain. SIGNIFICANCE: These results indicate that chronic alcohol administration might enhance the catabolism of purine nucleotides in tissues by inducing gene expression of ADA and XO, leading to elevation of plasma uric acid levels.

Common variant rs7579169 is associated with preeclampsia in Han Chinese women.

As a heterogeneous group of disorders in pregnancy, many genetic factors are involved in the development of preeclampsia. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs7579169, located on chromosome 2q14.2, has been shown to be associated with pregnancy-induced hypertension in Europeans. In this study, we examined whether the SNP rs7579169 is associated with the susceptibility to preeclampsia through a case-control research model in Han Chinese women. Genotypes of 145 patients with preeclampsia and 150 healthy pregnant subjects were identified by direct sequencing. The correlation between the rs7579169 genotype and the susceptibility to preeclampsia was evaluated using an unconditional logistic regression model. Although there were no differences of having the rs7579169 SNP between early onset and late onset preeclampsia, patients carrying the CT or TT genotype were more likely to develop preeclampsia than those carrying the CC genotype (CT vs CC: OR = 1.76, 95%CI = 1.07-2.87, P < 0.05; TT vs CC: OR = 5.03, 95%CI = 1.99-12.73, P < 0.05; CC vs CT + TT: OR = 2.05, 95%CI = 1.27-3.30, P < 0.05). In conclusion, although no differences of the rs7579169 SNP were identified between the early onset and late onset preeclampsia groups, we found that the CT or TT genotype and the CT+TT genotype were significantly associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia in Han Chinese women.

Regulating effect of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in pituitary adenoma invasion.

Pituitary adenomas can cause endocrine disorder and organ damage, with some aggressive ones leading to a high postoperative recurrence rate. The occurrence and development of these type of tumors is closely related with matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and endogenous specific tissue inhibitor of MMPs (TIMPs). In this study, the relationship between pituitary adenoma invasion and the changes in MMP-8 and TIMP-1 expressions is analyzed. Specimens from sixty patients with pituitary adenoma were collected in our hospital after surgery, including thirty cases of invasive pituitary adenomas and thirty cases of noninvasive pituitary adenomas. Western blotting and real-time PCR were used to detect MMP-8/TIMP-1 protein and mRNA levels, respectively, in the two types of pituitary adenomas, while ELISA was used to detect both compounds' levels in the patient's serum. Compared with noninvasive pituitary adenomas, MMP-8 was significantly overexpressed in invasive pituitary adenomas, while TIMP-1 was obviously lower (P < 0.05 for both). Moreover, MMP-8 mRNA expression in invasive pituitary adenomas was significantly higher than in noninvasive pituitary adenomas, while TIMP-1 mRNA expression was markedly lower (P < 0.05 for both). Finally, MMP-8 expression in the serum is upregulated in patients with invasive pituitary adenomas relative to the noninvasive ones, and the expression of TIMP-1 significantly reduced (P < 0.05 for both). These results show that increased MMP-8 and decreased TIMP-1 expressions are closely related to the invasive pituitary adenoma, and can be helpful for the evaluation.

Association of body composition with bone mineral density in northern Chinese men by different criteria for obesity.

UNLABELLED: With impressive economic development, obesity has emerged as a critical public health issue in China. Recently it was reported that obesity has taken an adverse effect on osteoporosis. Because there is different body mass index (BMI) for obesity globally, studies based on BMI levels on association of obesity with osteoporosis were quite few. Therefore, we discussed the relationship of body composition with skeletal BMD according to WHO BMI and BMI on Working Group on Obesity in China (WGOC). METHODS: A total of 502 adult men aged 20-89 were enrolled as healthy subjects for osteoporosis study at Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University between September 2008 and August 2010. According to WHO BMI, all subjects were divided into three groups: normal weight (18.5 ≤ BMI < 25 kg/m(2), n = 202), overweight (25 ≤ BMI < 30 kg/m(2), n = 242), and obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m(2), n = 58). According to WGOC BMI, normal weight (18.5 ≤ BMI < 24 kg/m(2), n = 137), overweight (24 ≤ BMI < 28 kg/m(2), n = 225), and obesity (BMI ≥ 28 kg/m(2), n = 140). Total body and regional BMD, lean mass (LM), lean body mass index (LBMI), fat mass (FM), percent body fat (%BF) and fat mass index (FMI) were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Age-partial Pearson correlation analyses between body composition-related parameters and BMD. Multiple regression analyses were performed to explore the associations of BMD with LM, LBMI, FM, %BF and FMI. RESULTS: Fat mass (FM), %BF, FMI, LM and LBMI were positively correlated with BMD at almost sites (P < 0.001) in all subjects. However, the relationship was not different among groups. LM, LBMI, FM and FMI were positively correlated with BMD (P < 0.01) in normal weight. LM and LBMI appeared significantly positive with BMD in overweight and obesity according to WHO and WGOC criteria. %BF and FMI were negative significance with BMD at total body and some regional BMD according to WHO criteria in overweight (P < 0.05). In two obese groups, %BF appeared negatively significant with BMD (P < 0.05) according to WGOC criteria, and %BF and FMI appeared negatively significant with BMD (P < 0.05) according to WHO criteria. In regression of independent variables as FM and LM, LM showed statistically positively significant relations with BMD at almost sites (P < 0.05) in all groups. FM appeared positively significant with BMD in normal groups and overweight group according to WGOC criteria. In regression of independent variables as %BF and FMI, %BF and FMI appeared statistically negatively significant relations with BMD in overweight and obesity, but %BF and FMI were inconsistent in same site. CONCLUSIONS: Lean mass (LM) and LBMI could help to determinant of BMD, and %BF and FMI were adverse to BMD in overweight and obesity. Comparing with two criteria, we found the differences in fat-related parameters and BMD according to WHO criteria were more obvious than that according to WGOC criteria. We also found that %BF and FMI were useful to research the relationship between osteoporosis and obesity at the same time.

Quantification of Phase Values of Cerebral Microbleeds in Hypertensive Patients Using ESWAN MRI.

PURPOSE: The presence of cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) may have predictive and diagnostic value for cerebrovascular diseases. The purpose of our study was to measure the phase values (PVs) of CMBs by phase maps. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 75 patients with hypertension who had CMBs using enhanced T2*-weighted angiography (ESWAN). The PVs of CMBs were measured and documented. The mean PVs of CMBs were correlated with demographic features and the grade of white matter lesions for seven brain regions. RESULTS: A total of 275 CMBs were found. Their mean PV was - 1.39 ± 0.29 radians. The mean PV of CMBs in seven brain regions was significantly lower than that of red nucleus and substantia nigra of healthy controls (P < .05). The mean PV of CMBs in the basal ganglia gray matter was significantly lower than that of the brainstem, subcortical white matter, and cerebellum (P < 0.05). In subcortical white matter, the PVs were significantly lower in patients with hypertension < 10 years than for those patients with hypertension ≥ 10 years (P < 0.05). In basal ganglia gray matter, the PVs were significantly lower in men than in women (P < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between the PVs of CMBs and the demographic features addressed or the grade of white matter lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Measurement of the PV of phase maps using ESWAN sequence provides quantitative information for detection of CMBs. The measurement data reported herein will provide a reference for a longitudinal study of CMBs in the future.

Comparison of ESWAN, SWI-SPGR, and 2D T2*-weighted GRE sequence for depicting cerebral microbleeds.

PURPOSE: We aimed to compare images obtained with an Enhanced 3D multi-echo GRE T2*-weighted angiography (ESWAN) sequence with those obtained with a susceptibility-weighted imaging-spoiled gradient-recalled echo (SWI-SPGR) sequence and a two-dimensional (2D) T2*-weighted gradient-recalled echo (GRE) sequence for the description of cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) in hypertensive patients (elderly people). METHODS: A total of 273 elderly hypertensive patients were imaged in a 3.0-T MR scanner using ESWAN, SWI-SPGR, and 2D T2*-weighted GRE sequence, respectively. The presence, number, and location of CMBs and scanning and postprocessing time were recorded for both sequences, and the differences were tested using nonparametric McNemar and Friedman tests. RESULTS: CMBs were detected by 2D T2*-weighted GRE images in 54 participants, SWI-SPGR images in 83 participants, and ESWAN images in 88 participants. The participants with CMBs detected by 2D T2*-weighted GRE sequence were fewer than those with CMBs detected by SWI-SPGR or ESWAN sequences (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between SWI-SPGR and ESWAN sequences to detect the CMBs in number (P > 0.05). Among the participants with CMBs visualized in both sequences, most patients had CMBs in the subcortical white matter and at deep locations. The participants who had CMBs in the infratentorial region were fewer. The acquisition time of ESWAN images was slightly longer than that of SWI-SPGR images. CONCLUSIONS: ESWAN sequence was not superior to SWI-SPGR sequence in depicting CMBs at 3.0-T MR, but both of these sequences were superior to 2D T2*-weighted GRE sequence.

[Electrophysiological effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide on isolated sinoatrial node of the rabbit].

The purpose of this study was to investigate the electrophysiological effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on the pacemaker cell of rabbit sinoatrial node (SAN) and to determine whether I(Ca) is involved in the effects. Action potentials (AP) were recorded from the isolated SAN with microelectrode technique. It was found: (1) CGRP (1 nmol/L) had no effect on AP configuration; CGRP (10 nmol/L) increased the maximal diastolic potential, AP amplitude and depolarization velocity of 0 and 4 phases, and decreased sinus cycle length and AP duration. After applying CGRP for 20 min the above effects reached to a maximum. (2) CGRP (100 nmol/L) caused arrhythmia in the SAN. (3) Calcium channel antagonists, CdCl2 and verapamil attenuated the electrophysiological changes in AP of SAN induced by CGRP (20 nmol/L). The results indicate that a calcium-dependent mechanism may underlie the CGRP effects.

[Monitoring of FiO2 mask under nebulized oxygen therapy for post-heart surgery patients].

Using Oxygen-Meter measure FiO2 directly inside the patient's mask in different oxygen flow. The purpose was to realize the actual FiO2 that patient inspirated. So oxygen therapy can be carried on correctly and scientifically and provide basis for respiratory monitoring and management post heart surgery. When patient breathe in oxygen in mask nebulize way, a porbe of oxygen meter was put in through a side hole 10 minutes later, the result was recorded. It demonstrated that when oxygen flow was 5L/min FiO2 inside mask was 56% approximately 58%. That means it's not correct to determine FiO2 according to the oxygen flow meter. The oxygen-meter should be used to monitor in order to avoid complications caused by incorrect adjustment and ensure the post heart surgery patient to recovery quickly.