Demographics, Usage Patterns, and Safety of Male Users of Clomiphene in the United States

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to characterize the demographics, usage patterns and complication rates of clomiphene use in male patients.MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed male patients from ages 20 to 55 years old who were prescribed clomiphene citrate from 2001 to 2014 using the Truven Health MarketScan, a US claims database. We collected data regarding associated medical diagnoses, diagnostic testing, duration of use, and reported side effects including thrombotic events, vision problems, gynecomastia, mental disorders, liver disease, nausea, or skin problems.RESULTS: In total, 12,318 men took clomiphene and represented the primary study cohort, with a mean age of 37.8 years. The percentage of men prescribed clomiphene increased over the study period, as did the average age of clomiphene users. Associated diagnoses included male infertility (52.0%), testicular hypofunction (13.5%), erectile dysfunction (2.4%), and low libido (0.4%). Associated testing included semen analysis (43.7%), testosterone (23.5%), luteinizing hormone (19.3%), and follicle-stimulating hormone (21.1%) levels. The median time of clomiphene use was 3.6 months, with 63% of men stopping within 6 months. No increased risk of reported clomiphene side effects were apparent in men taking the medication.CONCLUSIONS: There is a rising prevalence of clomiphene usage without associated adverse side effects in the US. The variability in associated diagnoses, diagnostic testing, and duration of use suggest a need for greater awareness of the proper evaluation and treatment of the men who are prescribed clomiphene.

Public health service assessment: enlightenments from worldwide experience / 中华医院管理杂志

An assessment is a key to public health management. This article reviewed the experiences and researches of assessment on public-health system, as well as public health service quality of medical institutions in America, the United Kingdom and Australia among other countries. On such basis, suggestions were provided on assessments of public health service in China, in order to help the government to improve its indicator evaluation system.

Public health service delivered by public hospitals in China: function analysis and policy advices / 中华医院管理杂志

Hospitals, especially public hospitals, are an important part of the public health service system. To clarify public health functions of secondary and tertiary public hospitals in China and provide evidences for related health policy decisions, this article introduced the public health services of hospitals in the United States, Britain, Australia and Canada, and then analyzed public health functions of secondary and tertiary public hospitals in China through literature review and case study. The authors summed up eight kinds of public health service functions, and put forward policy advices to promote the performance of public health functions of public hospitals in China.

Public health service assessment: enlightenments from worldwide experience / 中华医院管理杂志

An assessment is a key to public health management. This article reviewed the experiences and researches of assessment on public-health system, as well as public health service quality of medical institutions in America, the United Kingdom and Australia among other countries. On such basis, suggestions were provided on assessments of public health service in China, in order to help the government to improve its indicator evaluation system.

Public health service delivered by public hospitals in China: function analysis and policy advices / 中华医院管理杂志

Hospitals, especially public hospitals, are an important part of the public health service system. To clarify public health functions of secondary and tertiary public hospitals in China and provide evidences for related health policy decisions, this article introduced the public health services of hospitals in the United States, Britain, Australia and Canada, and then analyzed public health functions of secondary and tertiary public hospitals in China through literature review and case study. The authors summed up eight kinds of public health service functions, and put forward policy advices to promote the performance of public health functions of public hospitals in China.

The abnormal expression and effects of CD38 positive natural killer cells in rheumatoid arthritis / 中国医师杂志

Objective To study the distribution of natural killer (NK) cells and the CD38 positive subpopulations in different tissues in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and the mechanism of CD38 agonist.Methods The levels of NK cells,CD38 positive subpopulation and NK cell surface chemokine receptors (CXCR3,CCRS),as well as granzyme B and perforin were detected by flow cytometry in peripheral blood and knee synovial fluid.The isolated cells were then cultured in vitro and divided into 3 groups,namely blank control group,IB4 stimulation group (Anti-CD38 mAb),IL-2 and IB4 co-stimulation group.And the concentration of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-6 in culture supernatants was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Liposome CD38-siRNA was transfected into peripheral blood lymphocytes of RA patients,and transfection efficiency was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).The effect of CD38 and CD38-siRNA silencing on the expression of phospholipase C-gamma 1 (PLC-γ1) protein in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of RA was detected by Western blot.Results The expression of CCR5 and CXCR3 in NK cells in peripercal NK cells of RA was significantly higher than that in normal healthy subjects (P ＜ 0.05).The two chemokine receptors (CXCR3,CCRS) were mainly expressed in CD38 + NK cell subsets.The levels of granzyme B and perforin in synovial lymphocytes cells were significantly higher than those in peripheral blood lymphocytes (P ＜0.05).The secretion of IL-6 and TNF-α in synovial and peripheral blood lymphocytes cells existed significant difference only in IL-2 and IB4 co-stimulation group (P ＜0.05).The levels of PLC-γ1 protein in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of RA patients was significantly decreased than that in the blank control group after the treatment with CD38-siRNA (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The synovial NK cells are more lethal than the peripheral NK cells in the RA patients.CD38 might mediate the phosphorylation of intracellular proteins via the Protain kinase C (PKC) pathway.Blocking CD38 molecules can reduce the phosphorylation level of intracellular proteins.CD38 maybe involved in the mechanism of chemotaxis and killing capability of NK cells.

The abnormal expression and effects of CD38 positive natural killer cells in rheumatoid arthritis / 中国医师杂志

Objective@#To study the distribution of natural killer (NK) cells and the CD38 positive subpopulations in different tissues in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and the mechanism of CD38 agonist.@*Methods@#The levels of NK cells, CD38 positive subpopulation and NK cell surface chemokine receptors (CXCR3, CCR5), as well as granzyme B and perforin were detected by flow cytometry in peripheral blood and knee synovial fluid. The isolated cells were then cultured in vitro and divided into 3 groups, namely blank control group, IB4 stimulation group (Anti-CD38 mAb), IL-2 and IB4 co-stimulation group. And the concentration of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-6 in culture supernatants was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Liposome CD38-siRNA was transfected into peripheral blood lymphocytes of RA patients, and transfection efficiency was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The effect of CD38 and CD38-siRNA silencing on the expression of phospholipase C-gamma 1 (PLC-γ1) protein in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of RA was detected by Western blot.@*Results@#The expression of CCR5 and CXCR3 in NK cells in peripercal NK cells of RA was significantly higher than that in normal healthy subjects (P<0.05). The two chemokine receptors (CXCR3, CCR5) were mainly expressed in CD38+ NK cell subsets. The levels of granzyme B and perforin in synovial lymphocytes cells were significantly higher than those in peripheral blood lymphocytes (P<0.05). The secretion of IL-6 and TNF-α in synovial and peripheral blood lymphocytes cells existed significant difference only in IL-2 and IB4 co-stimulation group (P<0.05). The levels of PLC-γ1 protein in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of RA patients was significantly decreased than that in the blank control group after the treatment with CD38-siRNA (P<0.05).@*Conclusions@#The synovial NK cells are more lethal than the peripheral NK cells in the RA patients. CD38 might mediate the phosphorylation of intracellular proteins via the Protain kinase C (PKC) pathway. Blocking CD38 molecules can reduce the phosphorylation level of intracellular proteins. CD38 maybe involved in the mechanism of chemotaxis and killing capability of NK cells.

The Impact of Clostridium Histolyticum Collagenase on the Prevalence and Management of Peyronie's Disease in the United States

PURPOSE: We evaluated the impact of collagenase clostridium histolyticum (CCH) on rates of diagnosis, treatment, and corporal rupture in Peyronie's disease (PD). We examined the impact of CCH on cost of PD treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We extracted data on PD diagnosis (ICD-9 607.95 and ICD-10 N48.6), corporal rupture (ICD-9 959.13 and ICD-10 S39.840A), CCH use (J0775), penile injections (CPT 54200), and corporal rupture repair from 2008 to 2016 in men over 40 years old using the Clinformatics® Data Mart Database (3.7 to 4.9 million males). We analyzed for prevalence of PD, rates of PD treatments, cost associated with treatment, and rates of corporal rupture and repair by year. RESULTS: The prevalence of PD was 0.29% in 2013 and did not increase after CCH entered the market in 2014. An average of 2.52% of men with PD received treatment before CCH, compared with 3.75% after (p<0.0001). Penile injection rates increased (1.34% vs. 2.61%, p<0.0001), while rates of surgical treatments decreased between these periods. There was no change in rate of corporal rupture in men with PD before (0.024%) and after (0.024%) CCH. Overall, only 20.0% of corporal ruptures were repaired. After CCH entered practice, a significant increase in cost occurred (p=0.013). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of men with PD did not change after CCH. However, more men with PD received treatment due to an increase in penile injections. The cost of treating PD increased after CCH became available. The overall prevalence of corporal rupture did not change after CCH entered the market.

Protective effects of decorin on blood-retinal barrier function under high-glucose plus hypoxia conditions / 眼科新进展

Objeetive To evaluate the protective effects of decorin on the inner blood-retinal barrier function under high-glucose plus hypoxia conditions,and explore its potential mechanism.Methods The human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were cultured,and the effect of decorin with different concentrations on HUVEC viability was determined by using the cell counting kit-8 assay (CCK-8).At different hours after incubation under high-glucose plus hypoxia conditions (25 mmol · L-1 D-glucose + 100 μmol · L-1 CoCl2),the suppression effects of various concentrations of decorin on the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression of HUVEC was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).HUVEC were divided into normal control group (5.5 mmol · L-1 D-glucose),high-glucose plus hypoxia group (25 mmol · L-1 D-glucose + 100 μmol · L-1 CoCl2),mannitol control group(5.5 mmol· L-1 D-glucose +19.5 mmol · L-1 mannitol) and decorin treatment group (25 mmol · L-1 D-glucose+ 100 μmol · L-1 CoCl2 + 100 nmol · L-1 decorin).HUVEC barrier function was evaluated by detecting transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) and permeability of fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran (FITC-dextran).The content of tight junction proteins (claudin-5,occludin,and ZO-1) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation were examined by Western blotting.Results According to the results of CCK-8,the survival rates of HUVEC in all groups were more than 90％,different concentrations of decorin showed no significant effect on HUVEC survival (all P ＞ 0.05).According to the results of CCK-8 and ELISA,the stimulation of hypoxia for 48 hours and 100 nmol · L-1 decorin was taken as the condition of further experiment.At 14 days,TER of HUVEC reached its peak of (170.67 ±9.07) Ω.TER of high-glucose plus hypoxia group (97.33 ±6.11)Ω was significantly lower than that of decorin treatment group (157.67 ± 11.72)Ω (P ＜0.05).The FITC-dextran permeability of high-glucose plus hypoxia group increased to (2.12 ±0.07) times of normal control group(P ＜0.05).Decorin reversed this effect to (1.16 ± 0.03) times of normal control group (P ＜ 0.05).The expression of claudin-5,occludin and ZO-1 in high-glucose plns hypoxia group were 0.38 ±0.05,0.43 ±0.02,0.25 ± 0.02,compared to the normal control group (0.72 ±0.05,0.90 ±0.01,0.75 ±0.02),there were statistical differences (all P ＜0.05).The expression of claudin-5,occludin and ZO-1 m decorin treatment group were 0.65 ±0.08,0.87 ±0.03,0.60 ±0.01,there were statistical differences compared with high-glucose plns hypoxia group (all P ＜0.05).The ration of p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK in high-glucose plus hypoxia group (0.88 ± 0.02) was increased,while the decorin treatment group (0.58 ± 0.04) reached the level of the normal control group (0.56 ±0.02),there was statistical difference compared with high-glucose plns hypoxia group (P ＜0.05).Conclusion Decorin can protect the HUVEC barrier function under high-glucose plus hypoxia conditions and inhibit the activation of p38 MAPK signaling pathway.So it may be used to treat diabetic retinopathy.

The current status and progress of the pathological changes and related molecular mechanisms of neuroretinal injury in diabetic retinopathy / 中华眼底病杂志

The neuroretinal injuries of diabetic retinopathy (DR) include retinal neuronal damage and reactive gliosis,both of which are induced by hyperglycemia and presented as early features of DR.They promote to develop mutually and accelerate the progression of DR.The molecular mechanisms study of neuronal damage mainly focuses on the alterations of extracellular environment and related signaling pathways,include inflammation,oxidative stress,endoplasmic reticulum stress,the formation of advanced glycation end products,glutamate toxicity and so on.These alterations mainly result in neuronal apoptosis and autophagy.The damaged neurons activate the glial cells with apparent changes in morphology,cell counts and the level of intracellular protein expression.In non-proliferative DR,glial cells are moderately hypertrophic and slightly increased in numbers.In proliferative DR,there is a significant rise in glial cell number with enhanced level of inflammatory factors and vascular active substances which lead a further neuronal damage.Signaling pathways of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2,c-Fos and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase are associated with their activation.Researches on the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways of the DR will promote controlling the DR progression at the cellular level.

Hypertension and Male Fertility

As the age of paternity rises in the developed world, issues of chronic disease may affect prospective fathers. Given the high prevalence of hypertension, researchers have begun to explore the relationship between hypertensive disease and male fertility. The current literature suggests an association between hypertension and semen quality. The use of various antihypertensive medications has also been linked to impaired semen parameters, making it difficult to discern whether the association exists with hypertension or its treatment. Further investigation is warranted to determine whether the observed associations are causal.

Advances in cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy / 国际脑血管病杂志

Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is the most common hereditary cerebral small vessel disease.NOTCH3 missense mutation causes its coded cysteine occurring odd change and then affects the conformation and function of protein of NOTCH3.The abnormal NOTCH3 protein has vascular smooth muscle toxicity and finally deposits in the cerebral small blood vessels and causes the disease.Usually,CADASIL can be suspected by its typical clinical manifestations and neuroimaging findings.Its diagnosis needs genetic testing or skin biopsy to find the outer granular osmiophilic deposits of small vascular smooth muscle cells or immunohistochemical NOTCH3-ECD staining positive.For nearly two decades,the studies on genetics,pathogenesis,clinical manifestations,and diagnostic techniques of CADASIL have made great progress,however,many important questions have not been fully clarified and have new discoveries,such as the NOTCH3 gene mutation pattern and loci,and the relationship between gene phenotype and clinical phenotype,optimization of diagnosis process,depth study of pathogenic mechanism,exploration of new discoveries,new therapeutic targets and concepts.This article reviews the genetic characteristics,pathogenesis,and clinical diagnosis and treatment technology of CADASIL.

Analysis of clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis factors of gastric cancer in young patients / 中国基层医药

Objective To compare and analysis clinicopathological characteristics,and to investigate progno-sis factors of gastric cancer in young patients.Methods Clinicopathological data of 103 gastric cancer in young patients (YGC,18-44 years) who underwent surgery,endoscopic and pathology diagnosis in the affiliated Jincheng Coal General Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 2010 to December 2014 were analyzed retrospective-ly.A total of 315 gastric cancer in older patients ( OGC,≥60 years) during the same period patients were selected and compared to the young gastric cancer patients.Results The male to female ratios was 1 1.5 and the percentage of female patients was predominant in the 103 YGC patients,and there was statistically significant different (χ2 =32.03,P<0.01).The first clinical symptoms were upper abdominal pain and hemorrhagic anemia in most of the YGC group.Gastric antruma was most common in the occurrence site of the tumor of the YGC group.The incidence of the BorrmannⅢtype andⅣtype in YGC patients was statistically higher than that of the OGC group.With regard to his-tological type,the most frequency type in the YGC group was diffuse adenocarcinoma (83%),which was statistically significant different.As compared with the OGC patients,poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma and ring cell carcinoma were predominant pathological type in YGC (χ2 =41.51,P<0.01).Nothing can be compared with T3 stage and T4 stage of the depth of invasion,and clinical stage wereⅢstage andⅣstage in most of the YGC group (χ2 =48.78, P<0.01).Patients with a family history of cancer in YGC were higher than OGC,which was statistically different (χ2 =17.39,P<0.05).There were no statistical significant difference in tumor size,Hp infection rate,level of albu-min,level of serum CEA,vascular cancer embolus and incisal edge between the two groups.On univariate and multiva-riate analysis showed that the depth of invasion,degree of differentiation,lymph node metastasis,clinical stage and sur-gical methods were the independent risk factors associated with the prognosis of YGC.Conclusion The YGC patients are usually female,obviously hereditary tendency,and tumor most locate at gastric antruma.The first clinical symptoms are lacking in specific,but upper abdominal pain and hemorrhagic anemia in most of the YGC patients.Ⅲstage andⅣstage was most common of clinical stage.The YGC patients are usually poorly differentiation,highly ma-lignant,early metastasis and poorer prognosis.

Correlation between connexins and atrioventricular node / 心血管康复医学杂志

Atrioventricular node is responsible for conducting impulse from atria to ventricles.Connexin within atri-oventricular junction play a key role in conducting function of atrioventricular junction;because it presents diversi-fied expression,so its conducting junction is diversified in different areas of atrioventricular junction.Knowing ex-pression type of connexins can approximately determine conductive function in atrioventricular junction area.

Expression of Topo-Ⅱ, GST-π in gastric cancer tissues and their significance / 肿瘤研究与临床

Objective To explore the expressions of Topo-Ⅱ,GST-π in gastric cancer tissues and normal gastric mucosa tissues,to reveal its relationship with clinical pathological features and significance.Methods Immunohistochemical method was used to detect Topo-Ⅱ,GST-π expressions in 100 cases of gastric carcinoma and 20 cases of normal gastric mucosa,make a comprehensive analysis combined with clinical pathology data.Results There were significant difference of expression of Topo-Ⅱ,GST-π between the normal gastric mucosa tissues and gastric cancer of different degree of differentiation.Topo-Ⅱ positive expression rate of 5.0 ％ (1/20),100 ％ (30/30),96.7 ％ (29/30) and 87.5 ％ (35/40) respectively; GST-π positive expression rate were 60.0 ％ (12/20),83.3 ％ (24/30),96.7 ％ (29/30) and 100.0 ％ (40/40) respectively (P ＜ 0.05).The expressions of Topo-Ⅱ,GST-π in gastric cancer tissue were not relevant to patient' s sex,age,tumor location,infiltration depth (P ＞ 0.05).Topo-Ⅱ associated with the differentiation degree and lymph node metastasis of tumors,with the decreasing degree of tumor differentiation,lymph node metastasis,Topo-Ⅱ expression also decreased.GST-π was associated with tumor diameter,degree of differentiation and lymph node metastasis,the lower the degree of differentiation,lymph node metastasis,tumor diameter the more,GST-π expression increased (P ＜ 0.05).GST-π and Topo-Ⅱ were negative correlation and both expressed in gastric cancer tissue (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions The expressions of Topo-Ⅱ in gastric cancer tissue is associated with the differentiation degree and lymph node metastasis of the tumor.GST-π is associated with tumor diameter,the degree of differentiation and lymph node metastasis.GST-π and Topo-Ⅱ in gastric cancer tissues are negatively correlated.

Renal sympathetic nerve ablation treatment for hypertension and its research progress / 心血管康复医学杂志

Excessive activation of renal sympathetic nerves may be a key factor for occurrence and maintenance of hypertension.Renal sympathetic nerve ablation is a selective sympathetic denervation therapy,Which provides neW route for antihypertensive treatment.This article made an overvieW on further expansion of safety,effectiveness and indications of renal sympathetic nerve ablation treatment for hypertension.

The effects of senile osteoporosis on fracture healing / 中国综合临床

Objective To explore the fraction risk in patients with osteoporosis and effects of antiosteoporosis therapy on fracture healing.Methods All the recruited subjects were senile patients with fracture in lower extremity and were treated in the Department of Orthopaedics in Shandong Qianfoshan Hospital from Aug.2006 to Feb.2011.In the total 15 cases,10 were female and 5 were male,aged from 53 to 65 years (average 56.7 years old).After surgical reduction and internal fixation,all the 15 patients did free-weight and continous passive motion (CPM) functional exercise and received anti-osteoporosis treatment.X-ray was taken to show the preoperative and postoperative lumbar vertebrae and fracture position.Meanwhile,bone mineral density and blood calcium level and phosphate level were measured.Results Thirteen out of 15 patients were healed for bone fracture after a 3-month treatment,meeting the clinical standards of the fracture healing.The clinical fracture healing rate was 86.67％.Blood calcium level,phosphate level and the bone mineral density were significantly different between that before and after the treatment ( P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusion Osteoporosis not only increases the risk of fracture,but also has an adverse effect on the bone healing.Anti-osteoporosis therapy has a positive role to the fracture healing in the senile patients with osteoporosis.

Pre-hospital scoring system for evaluation of coal mine gas explosion injury / 中华创伤杂志

ObjectiveTo explore and establish pre-hospital scoring system (respiration, pulse,motor and burn, RPMB) for evaluation of coal mine gas explosion injury. MethodsAfter analysis of characteristics of blast injury caused by coal mine gas explosion, a new pre-hospital scoring system,RPMB, for evaluation of blast injury was established on the basis of pre-hospital evaluation of coal mine injuries (respiration, pulse and motor, RPM). From January 2003 to December 2009, 251 patients with blast injury caused by coal mine gas explosion were collected in this study for a retrospective study. ISS≥16 points was set as the gold standard for severe wound. All the injuries were assessed by RPMB, RMP,pre-hospital index (PHI) and trauma triage rule (TTR). The consistency and detection rate of severe wounds were compared. The sensitivity and specificity were also calculated. ResultsOf 251 patients,41 patients were evaluated as severe, with high consistency rate between AIS-ISS and RPMB (kappa =0.985). The sensitivity of RPMB, RPM, PHI and TTR was 97.6％, 26.8％ , 22.0％ and 17.1％ respectively and the specificity of those was 88. 1 ％ , 97.6％ , 87.6％ and 95.7％ respectively. ConclusionRPMB is a simple and easy scoring method, with high detection rate of severe wound and potential of clinical applications.

Effects of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate on antioxidant enzymes in cardiomyopathy induced by adriamycin in rats.

OBJECTIVE: The clinical usefulness of adriamycin (ADR) is restricted by the frequent induction of dose-dependent chronic cardiomyopathy. Previous studies on ADR cardiotoxicity have reported that the formation of free reactive oxygen radicals might be involved in ADR cardiotoxicity. Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) is a potent antioxidant in vivo and in vitro. The present study was undertaken to examine the effects of PDTC on antioxidant enzymes in cardiomyopathy induced by ADR in rats. METHODS: Thirty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control, ADR, PDTC, and ADR+PDTC. After 30 days, myocardial histopathological and electron microscopic examinations were performed: the myocardial content of superoxide anion and lipid peroxides were examined; the myocardial total antioxygenation capability (T-AOC) and activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were examined; myocardial GSH-Px, Mn-SOD and Cu,Zn-SOD gene expressions were examined by RT-PCR analysis, and the myocardial expression of GSH-Px, Mn-SOD and Cu,Zn-SOD proteins was assessed by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: At 30 days, ADR-induced cardiomyopathy was confirmed by structural examination. The changes were prevented by PDTC. Myocardial superoxide anion and lipid peroxides were increased by ADR, and these changes were also inhibited by PDTC. ADR decreased myocardial T-AOC and the activity of GSH-Px and SOD, and these changes were likewise inhibited by PDTC. mRNA and protein expression of GSH-Px and Mn-SOD were depressed by ADR treatment and prevented by PDTC. Cu,Zn-SOD mRNA and protein levels were not significantly changed by ADR or PDTC. CONCLUSION: PDTC prevented ADR cardiomyopathy in rats by upregulating GSH-Px and SOD activation, which is associated with changes in the expression of GSH-Px and Mn-SOD transcript and protein levels.

MRI findings of the brain after gas explosion and its relationship with post-traumatic stress disorder / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To investigate MR findings and dynamic changes of the brain after gas explosion,and to evaluate the relationship between MR findings and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).Methods Forty-nine survivors of a gas explosion (group A) were examined with brain MRI within 1 to 3 days,and serial MR follow-up examinations were also performed.Forty miners not under the ground that day were assigned as group B,and 40 staff working on the ground as group C.The signal intensity values of hippocampus and globus pallidus on T2WI were measured in the three groups and F test was performed by using SPSS 13.0.The relationship between signal intensity values of hippocampus/globns pallidus and PTSD was explored,and the relationship between ADC values of hippocampus and PTSD was also investigated.Results In group A,slight low signal on T1WI and high signal on T2WI were detected on initial MRI in hippocampus (33 cases),globus pallidus (12 cases),cortex (10 cases),and midbrain (2 cases),respectively.On follow-up MRI at 2 months,lesions in hippocampus disappeared (25 cases) or remained slight high signal on T2WI (8 cases),lesions in globus pallidus disappeared (3 cases,5 sides) or showed shrinkage and encephalomalacia (9 cases),cortical lesions resulted in encephalomalacia in 2 cases and returned normal in the others,and lesions in the midbrain showed encephalomatacia.For comparison of T2 signal intensity values in hippocampus and globus pallidus,there was significant difference between group A and group B(P <0.01),and also between group A and group C(P <0.01),but no difference was detected between group B and group C (P>0.05).In group A,the T2 signal intensities of PTSD and non-PTSD were 455±37 and 462±53 in the left hippocarnpus,and 458±36 and 460±43 in the right hippoeampus on 1 to 3 days,and the T2 signal intensities of PTSD and non-PTSD were 438±29 and 424±37 in the left hippocampns,and 442±31 and 430±32 in the right hippocampus at 2 months.The T2 signal intensities of PTSD and non-PTSD were 361 ±35 and 366±63 in the left globus pallidus,and 363 ±41 and 375±62 in the right globus pallidus on 1 to 3 days,and the T2 signal intensities of PTSD and non-PTSD were 341±24 and 337±39 in the left globns pallidus,340±26 and 332±35 in the tight glohus pallidns at 2 months.There was no difference of T2 signal intensity values in hippocampus and globus pallidus between PTSD and non-PTSD( t=0.350,0.826,0.503,0.907,P>0.05).In group A,ADC values of PTSD and nun-PTSD were (8.1±1.1)×10-4 and(8.1 ±0.9)×10-4mm2/s in the left hippocampus,and (8.2±1.0)×10-4 and(8.2±0.8)×10-4mm2/s in the tight hippocampus on 1 to 3 days,ADC values were (8.8±0.7)×10-4 and (9.0±1.0)×10-4mm2/s in the left hippocampus,and (8.5±0.9)×10-4 and (9.3±1.1)×10-4mm2/s in the tight hippocampus at 2 months.ADC values in hippocampns showed no difference between PTSD and non-PTSD(t=0.016,0.081,P>0.05)on initial MRI,but showed significant difference between PTSD and non-PTSD in tight hippocampus (t=7.407,P < 0.05) on follow-up MRI at 2 months,while no difference in left hippocampus (t =0.333,P>0.05) was observed at 2 months.Conclusion Hippocampns and globus pallidus are the most vulnerable structures in gas explosion.The occurrence of PTSD may be related to the injury of fight hippocampus,but not related to the injury of globns pallidus.