Association of Thyroid Nodules with Various Elements in Urine and Blood Serum: A Case-Control Study

Thyroid nodules are a common clinical problem caused by various factors,including environmental and nutritional factors and genetic background.The environment can modulate and influence not only the risk of thyroid nodules but also the severity of disease in humans[1].The environment is awash with elements,and all mineral elements,including heavy metals and trace elements,are considered potentially toxic.A significantly higher incidence of thyroid cancer has been reported in populations exposed to low doses of metallic elements in volcanic areas over a long period[2].As research on thyroid disorders continues,it is becoming clear that abnormalities in trace elements in the body can affect the development of thyroid-related disorders.

Effect of Wheat Based Diet Supplemented with Xylanase on Blood Sugar and Total Protein in Serum of Geese

[Objective] The effects of wheat based diet supplemented with xylanase on blood sugar and total protein in serum of geese were studied. [ Method ] By using the randomized design of single factor, the 1-day-old healthy goslings were divided into 6 groups and fed with corn based diet, wheat based diet and wheat based diet supplemented with xylanase at different concentrations respectively, the contents of blood sugar and total protein in serum were determined. [ Result] The wheat based diet supplemented with xylanase could increase the blood sugar and total protein in serum of geese and wheat based diet supplemented with 0.2% xylanase generated the best effect, which was higher than those of corn based diet group. As for the concentration of protein in serum, wheat based diet supplemented with 0.2% xylanase was significantly different from corn based diet and wheat based diet. [ Conclusion] The wheat based diet supplemented with xylanase could enhance geese production.

Flow injection spectrophotometric determination of vitamin E in pharmaceuticals,milk powder and blood serum using potassium ferricyanide-Fe(Ⅲ) detection system

A simple and sensitive flow injection spectrophotometric method is reported for the determination of vitamin E using potassium ferricyanide-Fe(Ⅲ) detection system.In the presence of vitamin E,Fe(Ⅲ)/ferricyanide reduces.The in situ reduced ions are then reacted with unreduced portion of ferricyanide/Fe(Ⅲ) to make soluble Prussian blue,which is monitored at absorption wavelength of 735 nm.Linear calibration graph was obtained in the concentration range of 0.1-40μg mL^(-1).The relative standard deviations (n=4) were in the range of 1.1-3.6%,with limits of detection(3 s blank) of 0.04μg mL^(-1).The proposed method allowed 12 injections h^(-1).The method is applied to determine vitamin E in pharmaceuticals,infant milk and blood serum samples using hexane extraction with the recoveries in the range of 93±3 to 97.5±4%.The method is validated using certified reference materials SRM 968c for blood serum samples.

The effects of consumption of raw garlic on serum lipid level, blood sugar and a number of effective hormones on lipid and sugar metabolism in hyperglycemic and/or hyperlipidemic individuals ——Benefit of raw garlic consumption

Diabetes mellitus is one of the worldwide largest growing metabolic diseases. In this study the effects of consumption of raw garlic on serum lipid level, blood sugar and a number of effective hormones on lipid and sugar metabolism (thyroid hormones and insulin) in individuals either with high level of blood sugar or lipid were investigated. Eighty five volunteers having following clinical history enrolled in the study: Group 1: having blood sugar more than 126 mg/dl (30 vo-lunteers);Group 2: having cholesterol higher than 245 mg/dl (30 volunteers);Group 3: having blood sugar over 126 mg/dl and cholesterol more than 245 mg/dl (25 volunteers). In group 1, there wasn’t a sig-nificant differences between biochemical factors be-fore and after garlic consumption, whereas, in the second group after 6 weeks of garlic consumption a decline in cholesterol (P < 0.001), FBS and TG (P < 0.01) was observed but HDL-C (P < 0.001) was in-creased. Six weeks after termination of garlic con-sumption, cholesterol (P < 0.001), FBS and TG (P < 0.05) were in- creased and HDL-C (P < 0.01) was de-creased. In the third group, total cholesterol (P < 0.001), FBS (P < 0.01) and HbA1c decreased while HDL-C was in- creased. Other factors, including thy-roid hormones (T3, T4), TSH and insulin showed no significant alte- ration. In conclusion our results shown that raw garlic consumption can reduce the FBS and Lipid in hyperglycemic and/or hyperlipidemic individuals.

Relationship between Obesity, Serum Uric Acid, Serum Potassium and Glomerular Filtration Rate with Electric Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Blacks Central Africans with High Blood Pressure

The authors conducted a retrospective study over a period of 6 months in a hypertensive population in order to determine the correlation between serum uric acid on glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and estimated serum potassium with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and obesity. This study enrolled 122 patients including 63 women (51.6%). The mean age was 55.9 ± 10.6 years (range 30 to 74 years). Obesity weight was found in 38 cases (31.1%) of which 20?were men (33.9%) and 18 women (28.6%). Abdominal obesity was found in 104 cases (85.2%). The average serum uric acid in patients with obesity weight was 63.3 ± 18.9 mg/L vs 62.4 ± 14.2 mg/L for no-obese patients (p?= 0.63). The average serum potassium in obese patients was 4.06 ± 0.42 mEq/L vs 4.02 ± 0.46 mEq/L for no-obese (p?= 0.65). The average GFR was 73.4 ± 21.4 ml/L in obese patients vs 66.6 ± 22.6 ml/min in no-obese (p?= 0.03). The LVH was found in 81 cases (66.4%). The LVH was found in 65 (62.5%) obese patients vs?16 (88%) non-obese patients (OR = 4.8, 95% 1.04?-?22?p?= 0.02). Only abdominal?obesity has been correlated with left ventricular hypertrophy after multivariate analysis. Emphasis must be focused on public health actions for effective and appropriate measures against obesity and hypertension, whose prevalence is increasing in our region.

Oligosaccharide and Creatine Supplementation on Glucose and Urea Nitrogen in Blood and Serum Creatine Kinase in Basketball Athletes

Summary： The effects of oligosaccharide and creatine （Cr） supplementation on glucose, lactic acid and urea nitrogen levels in blood and activity of serum creatine kinase （CK） were explored. Twenty CUBA male athletes were divided into 4 groups： group A （supplementation of Cr alone）, group B （supplementation of oligosaccharide）, group C （supplementation of oligosaccharide and Cr） and group D （placebo control group）. By using orthogonal L4 table （2a ）, the experiment was performed. There were factors including oligosaccharide （carbohydrate, CHO）, Cr and their correlation. Each factor had two levels： supplementation and no-supplementation. The results showed that the supplementation of CliO or Cr alone, combined supplementation of CHO and Cr could significantly reduce the glucose, urea nitrogen levels in blood and serum CK activity after competition in the athletes. Moreover, the effects of combined supplementation of CHO and Cr were more satisfactory. It was concluded that supplementation of CliO and Cr could promote the recovery of physical performance and athletic abilities after athletics in basketball athletes.

The Correlation between the Activities of Digestive Enzymes in the Pancreas and Blood Serum in Chicken

It is presently an established fact that pancreatic enzymes (amylase, lipase, and trypsin) can enter the bloodstream as well as the intestine. These enzymes normally circulate within the bloodstream in definite concentration ranges. There is a lack of available information on the interrelationships between the enzymatic activities in pancreatic juice and blood serum in poultry. The study presented was aimed at the determination of possible correlation between the activities of the digestive enzymes in pancreatic juice or pancreatic tissue and in blood serum in chicken. The study was performed on Leghorn cockerels with chronically fistulated main pancreatic duct, and broiler chicks at different ages (14, 24, 28, and 35 days). Activities of all digestive enzymes in pancreatic juice in cockerels were found to grow in 1 hr after the feeding: amylase by 1.8 times, lipase 1.5 times, and proteases 1.3 times compared to basal level (after starving). Activity of trypsin in serum significantly increased by 67.4% in 1 hr after the feeding (P 0.001) while activities of amylase and lipase remained at their respective preprandial levels. The activities of pancreatic enzymes in the pancreas and blood serum in broilers at different ages were positively correlated: r = 0.54 for amylase, r = 0.96 for lipase, and r = 0.99 for trypsin. The strong positive correlation between tryptic activities in the pancreas or pancreatic juice and in blood serum in chicken can be a starting point for further research on the functions of circulatory trypsin which can include the regulation of exocrine pancreatic activity and other vital functions.

Determination of Magnesium in whole Blood and Serum of Ischemic Heart Disease(IHD) Patients by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination of magnesium in whole blood and serum of ischemic heart disease patients and control with different ages and sex was proposed. The limiting interfering phosphate/magnesium ratio have been estimates.2%w/v AlCl3.6H2O was found to be very influential in removing phosphate interference effects. The detection limit was 0.065 μg/mL .Magnesium added to blood and serum sample, and carried through this method may be recovered completely (96% - 100%) recovery percentage. The suggested method is simple, fast and selective. The statistical analysis of magnesium levels in blood and serum showed that blood and serum magnesium levels in patients were lower than magnesium contents of control group. Magnesium levels in blood and serum of males were significantly lower than females and the magnesium levels were age independent. These findings indicates that there was an association between blood and serum magnesium deficiency which can induce an entire array of path physiological phenomena known to be important in ischemic heart disease.

Age and Gender Differences in Cytokine Profile of Lymph and Blood Serum

We studied the cytokine profile (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, GM-CSF, interferon-γ, TNFα,) of the lymph, blood serum and conditioned medium of the lymph cells of Wistar rats. It was found that the concentration of cytokines investigated in the lymph of Wistar rats was significantly higher compared to the serum. Age and gender differences between the concentration of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the lymph and blood serum were found. The concentration of the cytokines was determined using the test system “Bio-Rad”.

Study of blood fat concentration based on serum ultraviolet absorption spectra and neural network

Blood plays an important role in the clinical di-agnosis and treatment, the analysis of blood will be of very important practical significance. The experiment shows that the absorption spectra of blood are of serious noise in the wave band of 200 to 300 nm, which hides the useful spectral characteristics. The effective separation of the noise was achieved by db4 wavelet transform, and the signals of reconstruction have been obviously improved in the noise serious wave band, reflecting some useful information. The absorption peaks of different samples are displaced to some degrees. The correlation between absorbance at 278nm and blood fat concentration is no significant and random. Based on the evident correlation between serum absorption spectrum and blood fat con-centration in the wave band of 265 to 282nm, a neural network model was built to forecast the blood fat concentration, bringing a relatively good prediction. This provides a new spectral test method of blood fat concentration.

Altered Levels of Blood Glucose and Serum Lipids in Sudanese Patients with Ovarian Cancer

Background: The etiology of ovarian cancer is not well-understood;numerous metabolomics profiling, epidemiological, and hospital-based case control studies have associated abnormal levels of blood glucose and serum lipids with the risk and the prognosis of various types of cancers including ovarian cancer. The association between the risk of the incidence of ovarian cancer and the alterations in the levels of blood glucose and serum lipids is not well defined. Objective: In this study we aimed to compare the levels of blood glucose, triacylglycerols, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in patients with different stages of ovarian cancer and healthy controls to determine how they relate to the risk and prognosis of ovarian cancer. Methodology: In a case-control cross sectional study, we enrolled ninety-nine Sudanese women, diagnosed with ovarian cancer but had not received any kind of treatment as the study group, and a control group of forty-one age-matched, apparently healthy women. The patients were classified according to the International Federation of Obstetricians and Gynecologists staging system into two groups: early stages (stage I & II) and late stages (stages III & IV). Blood glucose and serum lipids;triacylglycerols, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were determined by enzymatic colorimetric methods using commercially available analytical kits. The IBM SPSS version 20 software was used for statistical analysis. A Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of the median concentrations of blood glucose, triacylglycerols, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the study groups. Logistic regression model was used to estimate the relative risk of ovarian cancer in relation to levels of blood glucose and serum lipids. P value of 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Our data indicated significantly higher levels of blood glucose (p < 0.001), triacylglycerols (p = 0.002), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < 0.001), and lower levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.023), in ovarian cancer patients compared to the control subjects. No significant difference was found in the levels of blood glucose or any of the serum lipids between patients in the early stages (stage I & II) and those in late stages (stage III & IV) of ovarian cancer. The logistic regression analysis indicated significant association between the elevated levels of the blood glucose, triacylglycerols and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and the risk of the ovarian cancer. Conclusion: We conclude that the levels of blood glucose, triacylglycerols, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol differ significantly between ovarian cancer patients and the healthy control subjects. The risk of ovarian cancer was positively associated with the levels of blood glucose, triacylglycerols and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and negatively associated with levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Therefore, determination of blood glucose and serum lipids, particularly, triacylglycerols, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol may be helpful as diagnostic indicators of ovarian cancer (OC).

Serum folate status among blood donors in south-central China

Folate deficiency has been confirmed to be related to various diseases.Unfortunately,there are few reports on the folate status of Chinese adults.This study aims to evaluate the serum folate status of blood donors in south-central China.In this study,248 blood donors were included.The information on subjects was collected by a brief questionnaire concerning alcohol consumption habits,smoking habits,fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity.The serum folate concentration was measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay.The geometric mean serum folate concentration was 13.4 nmoll-1(95%CI,12.7-14.1).The prevalence of serum folate concentrations below 6.8 nmoll-1 was 5.2%(95%CI,2.5-8.0).There were significant differences in serum folate concentrations with respect to sex(p-values<0.05),age(p-values<0.05),fruit and vegetable consumption(p-values<0.05),and alcohol consumption habits(p-values<0.05).The concentration of serum folate increased with age(p-values<0.05)and fruit and vegetable consumption(p-values<0.05).Individuals with an age of 30 years or younger were nearly 3.5 times as likely as those aged over 30 years to have an insufficient level of serum folate(OR=3.48;95%CI:1.01-11.99).An age of 30 years or younger was a risk factor for folate deficiency.Most blood donors had sufficient serum folate concentrations in south-central China.National surveys of folate status should be implemented in China.

Monitoring of Heart Ischemia in Blood Serum

Our aim was to study the selected cases of the patients with ischemic heart disease and to analyze the structure of blood serum of patients in comparison with control serum of healthy subjects by methods: synchronous fluorescence fingerprint and atomic force microscopy that are still not used in clinical practice. Our results of fluorescence analysis showed that blood serum of all patients with ischemic heart disease decreased intensity of fluorescence in comparison with control blood serum. Endogenous fluorescence of synchronous fluorescence fingerprint of blood serum of patients with unstable angina pectoris state after non ST elevation myocardial infarction;angina pectoris and arterial hypertension 3 was similar, but atomic force microscopy revealed differences in the structure of blood serum of patients with the angina pectoris. Blood serum of patients with angina pectoris exhibited disappearance of fluorescence peak with maximum fluorescence and showed lower fluorescence intensity than control blood serum and blood serum of patients with arterial hypertension 2. Profiles of synchronous fluorescence fingerprint of blood serum of patients with arterial hypertension stage 2 showed formation of the new fluorescent peak with maximum fluorescence, similar shape of synchronous fluorescence fingerprint and higher fluorescence intensity than blood serum of healthy subjects. Blood serum sensitively revealed changes in the body by using untraditional novel techniques which enable the analysis of the mixture of blood serum and might be a new possibility in study of heart ischemia diseases.

Study of blood sugar concentration based on serum UV absorption spectra＊

UV absorption spectrum and neural network theory was used for the analysis of blood sugar concentration. Experimental investigation shows that absorption spectrum has the following characteristics in the wave band of 200-300 nm： （1） The absorption spectrum is of complex shape, there is more absorption peak in UV-band, it shows that there is a complex absorption phenomenon in blood group macromolecules; （2） The curve shapes of absorption spectra are similar to different samples ,the reason is that the spectrum is synthesis of some group macromolecules absorption spectrum; （3） There is a degree of displacement of absorption peak to different samples; （4） There is no significant correlation between absorbance and blood sugar concentration at 278 nm, but random. Based on the wave band of 280 nm to 300 nm, a neural network model was built to determine the blood sugar concentration.

An Experimental Study on RBC Count and Serum Potassium Concentration Changes During Compression Transfusion of WBC-removal Whole Blood

Objective： To observe changes in RBC count, changes, RBC morphology, and serum potassium during compressed transfusion of WBC-removal whole blood. Methods： Prepared human WBC-removal whole blood and connected transfusion apparatus with different sizes of intravenous detaining needles （18G, 20G, 22G and 24G）. Observed RBC count and serum potassium concentration under different pressures （100 mmHg, 200 mmHg, and 300 mmHg） as blood flowed out of the pinhead end of the intravenous detaining needle. Samples obtained with the 20G needle were smeared on glass slides, and RBC morphologic changes were observed under an oil immersion lens. Results： RBC count and serum potassium changed slightly under different pressures with different sizes of intravenous detaining needles as blood flowed through the transfusion apparatus. In addition, the observation of blood samples under a common light microscope revealed that coarse- prick, oblong, and spindle cell counts in the visual fields increased gradually as the pressure increased. Additionally, a portion of cells had undergone splintering. Conclusions： While applying 18G, 20G, 22G and 24G intravenous detaining needles for blood transfusion under less than 300 mmHg of pressure, no significant RBC count change was found in blood samples in the short term. However, there were significant RBC morphologic changes. The results could offer more basis to ensure the clinical safetv of oatients undereoing blood transfilsion.

Clinical effect of tiotropium bromide on pulmonary function,arterial blood gas and serum inflammatory cytokine in elderly patients with COPD at stable stage

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of tiotropium bromide in elderly patients with COPD at stable stage and its effects on pulmonary function,blood and serum inflammatory cytokine. Methods: 80 elderly patients with COPD s at stable stage were randomly divided into treatment group and control group with 40 patients in each group. The control group was treated with normal treatment. The treatment group was treated with tiotropium bromide on the basis of control group. 3 months after treatment, the pulmonary function、arterial blood gas and serum inflammatory cytokine were detected and compared in the two groups. Results:There was no significant difference in lung function index and TNF- alpha level between the two groups before treatment (P>0.05). The levels of FVC, FEV1% and PEF were increased and serum TNF-α was decreased significantly after treatment in two groups (P<0.05), and they were better than in treatment group than those in control group (all P<0.05);There was no significant difference in blood gas index between the two groups before treatment (P>0.05);In addition, there were no significant difference in the level of PCT, PaO2, PaCO2 and PaO2/FiO2 after treatment in control group, but the level of PCT and PaCO2 were higher and PaO2 and PaO2/FiO2 were lower obviously after treatment (P<0.01). The treatment group was superior to the control group (all P<0.05);Moreover, the curative effect of treatment group was better than that in control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Tiotropium bromide can improve pulmonary function, pulmonary function、arterial blood gas and serum inflammatory cytokine in elderly stable COPD patients.

An Analysis of Health Factors Affecting Employees’ Absenteeism: Influences of HDL Cholesterol and Blood Sugar Levels

Background: Workers’ health condition is an important issue. It affects not only the well-being of workers but also the firms and society as a whole through medical costs and productivity losses due to absenteeism and presenteeism. Data and Methods: Data were obtained from 1136 employees at an operational site of a large corporation. The dataset contained both medical checkups and working record information. Health factors affecting long-term absence (over three days in three months) were analyzed. Logistic regression models and the procedure for selecting proper covariates based on likelihood test statistics and the Akaike information criterion were used. Results: Among health factors, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and blood sugar levels were important in the selected model. For HDL-C, the odds ratio (OR) based on one standard deviation difference was 0.75 with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.59 - 0.95. For blood sugar, the OR was 1.20 with a 95% CI of 1.01 - 1.42. Improving HDL-C and blood sugar levels would reduce long-term absence by 25% and 20%, respectively. Conclusion: Controlling HDL-C and blood sugar levels is important to reduce long-term absenteeism. These factors can be improved by modifying eating habits. Since the operational site has its own company cafeterias, which most employees use, nutritional intervention is relatively easy with little or no cost. It may be worthwhile to implement nutritional intervention, especially for patients with low HDL-C or high blood sugar levels. Limitations: The results of this study were based on one operational site of a corporation. The employees were mainly operators working inside the building. The results may be different from other types of jobs and working conditions, such as fieldwork. Analyses of different types of jobs and working conditions are necessary.

Analysis of Serum Cys-C,TBA,and Routine Blood Parameters of Patients with Hepatitis B-Related Decompensated Cirrhosis

Objective:To study the levels of serum cystatin C(Cys-C),total bile acid(TBA),and other routine blood parameters on patients with decompensated hepatitis B cirrhosis.Methods:Study group 1 consisted of 30 patients with hepatitis B-related decompensated cirrhosis,and study group 2 consisted of 30 patients with hepatitis B;while the control group consisted of 30 healthy people who underwent physical examination.The blood parameters were used to evaluate the clinical treatment effect of patients.Results:The TBA,Cys-C,alanine transaminase(ALT),total bilirubin(TBIL),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),and international normalized ratio(INR)in study group 1 were significantly higher than those of study group 2 and the control group;while the platelet count(PLT),hemoglobin(Hb),albumin(ALB),and estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR)were significantly lower in the study group 1 compared to the control group and study group 2(P<0.05).The Cys-C,PLT,TBA,AST,TBIL,and INR of patients in study group 1 who were successfully treated were significantly lower than the patients who were not successfully treated(P<0.05).Conclusion:Serum Cys-C,TBA,and routine blood parameters are useful in predicting the condition and the prognosis of patients of hepatitis B-related decompensated cirrhosis.