Oxidative stress and damage induced by abnormal free radical reactions and IgA nephropathy

Objective: To estimate the oxidative stress and oxidative damage induced by abnormal free radical reactions in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) patients' bodies. Methods: Seventy-two IgA N patients (IgANP) and 72 healthy adult volunteers (HAV) were enrolled in a random control study design, in which the levels of nitric oxide (NO) in plasma, lipoperoxide (LPO) in plasma and in erythrocytes, and vitamin C (VC), vitamin E (VE) and β-carotene (β-CAR) in plasma as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in erythrocytes were determined with spectrophotometric mothods. Results: Compared with the HAV group, the averages of NO in plasma, and LPO in plasma and in erythrocytes in the IgANP group were significantly increased (P＜0.0001), while those ofVC, VE and β-CAR in plasma as well as those of SOD, CAT and GPX in erythrocytes in the IgANP group were significantly decreased (P＜0.0001). Linear correlation analysis showed that with the increase of the values of NO, and LPO in plasma and in erythrocytes, and with the decrease of those ofVC, VE, β-CAR,SOD, CAT and GPX in the IgAN patients, the degree of histological damage of tubulointerstitial regions was increased gradually (P＜0.0001); and that with the prolongation of the duration of disease the values of NO, and LPO in plasma and erythrocytes were increased gradually, while those of VC, VE, β-CAR, SOD, CAT and GPX were decreased gradually (P＜0.005). The discriminatory correct rates of the above biochemical parameters reflecting oxidative damage of the IgAN patients were 73.8%-92.5%, and the correct rates for the HAV were 70.0%-91.3% when independent discriminant analysis was used; and the correct rate for the IgAN patients was increased to 98.8%, the correct rate for the HAV was increased to 100% when stepwise discriminant analysis was used. The above biochemical parameters' reliability coefficient (alpha) were used to estimate the oxidative damage of the IgAN patients as 0.8145, the standardized item alpha=0.9730, F=53273.5681, P＜0.0001. Conclusions: A series of free radical chain reactions caused serious pathological aggravation in the IgANP' bodies, thus resulting in oxidative damage in their bodies. In treating IgANP, therefore, it is necessary that suitable dose antioxidants should be supplemented to them so as to alleviate the oxidative damage in their bodies.     

真菌与慢性鼻窦炎伴鼻息肉发病的关系探讨

目的：探讨真菌与慢性鼻窦炎伴鼻息肉发病的关系。方法：回顾分析2005．1-2005．8月在我科住院48例慢性鼻窦炎伴鼻息肉患者的临床资料。结果：48例患者真菌过敏原皮试阳性9例；鼻分泌物涂片嗜酸细胞阳性31例，真菌阳性13例，鼻窦CT窦腔实变，呈云雾状或有散在钙化点6例，其中1例上颌窦腔扩大，窦壁骨质吸收；病理检查均证实鼻息肉诊断，真菌阳性6例，变应性真菌性粘蛋白阳性4例，组织内均无真菌侵袭。所有48例患者术后随访6个月以上，有效率为93．8％。结论：真菌是鼻窦炎鼻息肉的致病因素之一，术前确诊变应性真菌性鼻窦炎非常必要。     

慢性心力衰竭患者生活质量及干预措施研究进展

慢性心力衰竭(chronic hear failure,CHF)是一种极为复杂的临床综合征,是各种心脏病发展的最终阶段,严重危害患者及家属的生命安全和心理健康。生活质量能较全面评价生活优劣。近年来对影响心力衰竭患者生活质量的因素及干预措施不断涌现。文章结合循证医学证据和国内外最新研究,对慢性心力衰竭的生活质量及干预措施研究进展作一综述。     

Lipid abnormalities in chronic renal failure

Lipid abnormalities remain to be a major cause of early mortality in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). In present study, 114 (one hundred fourteen) CRF patients without any additional cause of dyslipidemia were divided into groups on the basis of etiologies of CRF. Blood samples from each group were analyzed for total cholesterol, triglyceride and HDL cholesterol along with blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine. 25 healthy individuals without any obvious disease were taken as control. Patients from all the groups showed a marked hypertriglyceridemia of 232 (SD±77) mg/dl (P<0.001) as compared to control. Levels of HDL cholesterol were found to be significantly low 20 (±11) mg/dl (p<0.001) in all the groups. LDL cholesterol showed an increase 104 (±30) mg/dl as compared to control group which is not statistically significant. Present study reveals that, CRF patients show an uniform dyslipidemia irrespective of etiologies leading to CRF. This dyslipidemia is also independent of serum creatinine levels. Although, these lipid abnormalities may not solely cause mortality in CRF patients, they may act as modulators in accelerating atherogenesis which in turn cause early mortality in CRF patients.     

Study of sEGF level in chronic atrophic gastritis with either Chinese traditional medicine or western medicine

This study was aimed to investigate the level of sEGF in CAG with different therapies of either Chinese traditional medicine or western medicine. Patients were divided into spleen-reinforcingⅠ, spleen-reinforcing Ⅱ,dampness-resolving and western medicine group by Differentiation Syndrome. Healthy volunteers acted as controls. The sEGF was investigated before and after treatment. The level of sEGF in CAG was higher than that in control group(P<0.01). In patients of spleen-reinforcingⅠgroup and spleen-reinforcing Ⅱgroup, the symptoms and pathological manifestations were improved dramatically (P<0.01) and sEGF dropped markedly after treatment(P<0.01 and P<0.05).The level of sEGF in the dampness-resolving group increased after treatment (P<0.05). But the level of sEGF in the western-medicine group dropped a little after treatment (P>0.05). The inflammation of gastric mucosa may cause the elevation of sEGF in CAG reflectively. After being effectively treated with Chinese traditional medicine, the symptoms of CAG improved simultaneously with the return of sEGF. SEGF is a sensitive index to prognosis of CAG.     

Subtypes of ADH2 gene in alcoholics

Alocholism is the multifactorial disease influenced by genetic environmental interaction and genetic variation of the genes may be associated with alcohol dependence due to its modified function in behavioral and physiological responses. In the present study, genetic variation was detected in the subtypes of gene, coding for the alcohol metabolizing enzyme Alcohol Dehydrogenase 2 (ADH2). Blood samples were collected from the alcoholic and non alcoholic subjects and genotyping was performed using PCR-RFLP (Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism), analysis to determine genetic polymorphisms in the ADH2 gene subtypes. The three subtypes of ADH2 gene (ADH2.1, ADH2.2 and ADH2.3) were found in both alcoholics (Family History Positive and Family History Negative) as well as non alcoholics.     

浅谈中医防治慢性前列腺炎

慢性前列腺炎中医属于＂淋证＂、＂尿浊＂等范畴。其病因主要为湿热下注。中医辨证分为湿热蕴结型、肝气郁滞型、瘀血阻滞型、脾肾阳虚型、肾阴亏虚型。外治法有针刺疗法、灸法、按摩法、坐浴疗法、中药煎汤保留灌肠。慢性前列腺炎应未病先防,中医辨证论治效果良好。     

Tai Ji Quan as an exercise modality to prevent and manage cardiovascular disease: A review

BackgroundRegular exercise is beneficial for adults with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD risk factors. Tai Ji Quan is popular among older adults and may offer additional exercise options. The present article aims to review the scientific literature published within the past decade on Tai Ji Quan as an exercise modality to prevent and manage CVD.MethodsAn electronic literature search of four databases (PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and AMED) was conducted from April 2003 through March 2013. Studies that examined Tai Ji Quan, were published in English, and specified a target study population of participants with a known CVD condition (e.g., coronary artery disease, chronic heart failure, or stroke) or studies conducted among participants with a CVD risk factor (e.g., hypertension, dyslipidemia, or impaired glucose metabolism) were included.ResultsA total of 20 studies met the inclusion criteria: 11 randomized clinical trials, seven quasi-experimental studies and two cross-sectional studies. The effect of Tai Ji Quan was examined on more than 20 different study variables among persons with coronary artery disease (n = 5 studies), chronic heart failure (n = 5 studies), stroke (n = 4 studies), and CVD risk factors (n = 6 studies). These studies were conducted primarily in Asia (n = 9, 45%) or the United States (n = 8, 40%). Overall, participants enrolled in Tai Ji Quan had better outcomes, though mixed results were reported.ConclusionCollectively, these studies indicate that Tai Ji Quan is a safe form of exercise to prevent and manage CVD. Further research is needed with more rigorous study designs, larger sample sizes, adequate Tai Ji Quan exercise doses, and carefully chosen outcome measures that assess the mechanisms as well as the effects of Tai Ji Quan, before widespread recommendations can be made.     

Adverse childhood experiences,chronic diseases,and risky health behaviors in Saudi Arabian adults: A pilot study

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been linked with risky health behaviors and the development of chronic diseases in adulthood. This study examined associations between ACEs, chronic diseases, and risky behaviors in adults living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2012 using the ACE International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ). A cross-sectional design was used, and adults who were at least 18 years of age were eligible to participate. ACEs event scores were measured for neglect, household dysfunction, abuse (physical, sexual, and emotional), and peer and community violence. The ACE-IQ was supplemented with questions on risky health behaviors, chronic diseases, and mood. A total of 931 subjects completed the questionnaire (a completion rate of 88%); 57% of the sample was female, 90% was younger than 45 years, 86% had at least a college education, 80% were Saudi nationals, and 58% were married. One-third of the participants (32%) had been exposed to 4 or more ACEs, and 10%, 17%, and 23% had been exposed to 3, 2, or 1 ACEs respectively. Only 18% did not have an ACE. The prevalence of risky health behaviors ranged between 4% and 22%. The prevalence of self-reported chronic diseases ranged between 6% and 17%. Being exposed to 4 or more ACEs increased the risk of having chronic diseases by 2–11 fold, and increased risky health behaviors by 8–21 fold. The findings of this study will contribute to the planning and development of programs to prevent child maltreatment and to alleviate the burden of chronic diseases in adults.     

老年慢性肺心病伴发急性心肌梗死的分析

目的探讨老年慢性肺心病伴发急性心肌梗死(AMI)的临床特点.方法对66例老年慢性肺心病伴发AMI的病人(A组)进行分析,并与老年单纯冠心病AMI152例(B组)作比较.结果A组疼痛发生率(45.4%)显著低于B组(83.9%)(p＜0.01),A组急性左心衰、心源性休克发生率显著高于B组,分别为53.1%与25.0%,48.4%与21.7%(p＜0.05),A组病死率(42.4%)显著高于B组(15.7%),肺心病对其伴发AMI的发生部位无影响.结论对老年肺心病患者突然发生的急性左心衰和/或心源性休克应高度警惕伴发AMI的可能.