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Abstract Objective Early diagnosis of Severity Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Pneumonia (SMPP) has been a worldwide concern in clinical practice. Two cytokines, soluble Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid cells (sTREM-1) and Interferon-Inducible Protein-10 (IP-10), were proved to be implicated in bacterial infection diseases. However, the diagnostic value of sTREM-1 and IP-10 in MPP was poorly known. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of sTREM-1 and IP-10 for SMPP. Methods In this prospective study, the authors enrolled 44 children with MPP, along with their clinical information. Blood samples were collected, and cytokine levels of sTREM-1 and IP-10 were detected with ELISA assay. Results Serum levels of sTREM-1 and IP-10 were positively correlated with the severity of MPP. In addition, sTREM-1 and IP-10 have significant potential in the diagnosis of SMPP with an Area Under Curve (AUC) of 0.8564 (p-value = 0.0001, 95% CI 0.7461 to 0.9668) and 0.8086 (p-value = 0.0002, 95% CI 0.6918 to 0.9254) respectively. Notably, the combined diagnostic value of sTREM-1 and IP-10 is up to 0.911 in children with SMPP (p-value < 0.001, 95% CI 0.830 to 0.993). Conclusions Serum cytokine levels of sTREM-1 and IP-10 have a great potential diagnostic value in children with SMPP.
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OBJECTIVE@#To explore the risk and location of multiple malignancies in patients with hematologic malignancies who were followed up for 9 years in Jiangsu Province Hospital and to evaluate the impact of the second primary malignancy on survival of patients.@*METHODS@#The incidence and survival of multiple malignancies in 7 921 patients with hematologic malignancies from 2009 to 2017 were analyzed retrospectively.@*RESULTS@#A total of 180 (2.3%, 180/7 921) patients developed second malignancy, of whom 58 patients were diagnosed with hematologic malignancies as the first primary malignancy, and 98 patients developed hematologic malignancies as second primary malignancy, and the other 24 cases were diagnosed with the second malignancy within 6 months after the first primary malignancy was diagnosed, which was difined as multiple malignancies occurring simultaneously. In 180 patients, 18 cases developed two hematologic malignancies successively, and 11 patients developed more than 3 primary cancers (among them, 2 female patients were diagnosed with 4 primary cancers). Patients with lymphoma and multiple myeloma (MM) as the second primary malignancy had poorer survival than patients with lymphoma and MM as the first primary malignancy. Patients with chronic myeloid leukemia as the second primary malignancy were also associated with inferior overall survival.@*CONCLUSION@#In this study, 2.3% of hematologic malignancy patients had multiple mali-gnancies, lymphoma and MM as the second primary malignancy had poor survival.
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Humans , East Asian People , Hematologic Neoplasms/complications , Lymphoma/complications , Multiple Myeloma/complications , Neoplasms, Second Primary , Retrospective Studies , Survival AnalysisABSTRACT
Objective: To analyze the effects of transient receptor potential vanilloid type 4 (TRPV4) activation on the function and endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), as well as to explore the effects of TRPV4 activation on blood perfusion and survival of rat perforator flap and the mechanism. Methods: The experimental research methods were used. The 3rd to 6th passages of HUVECs were used for experiments and divided into 0.5 μmol/L 4α-phorbol 12, 13-didecanoate (4αPDD) group, 1.0 μmol/L 4αPDD group, 3.0 μmol/L 4αPDD group, 10.0 μmol/L 4αPDD group, and phosphate buffer solution (PBS) group, which were cultivated in corresponding final molarity of 4αPDD and PBS, respectively. The cell proliferation activity at 6 and 12 h of culture was detected using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). Another batch of cells was acquired and divided into PBS group, 1 μmol/L 4αPDD group, and 3 μmol/L 4αPDD group, which were treated similarly as described before and then detected for cell proliferation activity at 6, 12, 24, and 48 h of culture. The residual scratch area of cells at post scratch hour (PSH) 12, 24, and 48 was detected by scratch test, and the percentage of the residual scratch area was calculated. The number of migrated cells at 24 and 48 h of culture was detected by Transwell experiment. The tube-formation assay was used to measure the number of tubular structures at 4 and 8 h of culture. The protein expressions of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Slug, and Snail at 24 h of culture were detected by Western blotting. All the sample numbers in each group at each time point in vitro experiments were 3. A total of 36 male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 8 to 10 weeks were divided into delayed flap group, 4αPDD group, and normal saline group according to the random number table, with 12 rats in each group, and iliolumbar artery perforator flap models on the back were constructed. The flap surgical delay procedure was only performed in the rats in delayed flap group one week before the flap transfer surgery. Neither rats in 4αPDD group nor normal saline group had flap surgical delay; instead, they were intraperitoneally injected with 4αPDD and an equivalent mass of normal saline, respectively, at 10 min before, 24 h after, and 48 h after the surgery. The general state of flap was observed on post surgery day (PSD) 0 (immediately), 1, 4, and 7. The flap survival rates were assessed on PSD 7. The flap blood perfusion was detected by laser speckle contrast imaging technique on PSD 1, 4, and 7. The microvascular density in the flap's choke vessel zone was detected by immunohistochemical staining. All the sample numbers in each group at each time point in vivo experiments were 12. Data were statistically analyzed with analysis of variance for factorial design, analysis of variance for repeated measurement, one-way analysis of variance, least significant difference t test, and Bonferroni correction. Results: At 6 and 12 h of culture, there were no statistically significant differences in cell proliferation activity in the overall comparison among PBS group, 0.5 μmol/L 4αPDD group, 1.0 μmol/L 4αPDD group, 3.0 μmol/L 4αPDD group, and 10.0 μmol/L 4αPDD group (P>0.05). At 6, 12, 24, and 48 h of culture, there were no statistically significant differences in cell proliferation activity in the overall comparison among PBS group, 1 μmol/L 4αPDD group, and 3 μmol/L 4αPDD group (P>0.05). At PSH 12, the percentages of the residual scratch area of cells in 1 μmol/L 4αPDD group and 3 μmol/L 4αPDD group were close to that in PBS group (P>0.05). At PSH 24 and 48, compared with those in PBS group, the percentages of the residual scratch area of cells in 3 μmol/L 4αPDD group were significantly decreased (with t values of 2.83 and 2.79, respectively, P<0.05), while the percentages of the residual scratch area of cells in 1 μmol/L 4αPDD group showed no significant differences (P>0.05). At 24 h of culture, the number of migrated cells in 1 μmol/L 4αPDD group and 3 μmol/L 4αPDD group were close to that in PBS group (P>0.05). At 48 h of culture, the number of migrated cells in 1 μmol/L 4αPDD group and 3 μmol/L 4αPDD groups were significantly greater than that in PBS group (with t values of 6.20 and 9.59, respectively, P<0.01). At 4 h of culture, the numbers of tubular structures of cells in 1 μmol/L 4αPDD group and 3 μmol/L 4αPDD group were significantly greater than that in PBS group (with t values of 4.68 and 4.95, respectively, P<0.05 or <0.01). At 8 h of culture, the numbers of tubular structures of cells in 1 μmol/L 4αPDD and 3 μmol/L 4αPDD groups were similar to that in PBS group (P>0.05). At 24 h of culture, compared with those in PBS group, the protein expression level of E-cadherin of cells in 3 μmol/L 4αPDD group was significantly decreased (t=5.13, P<0.01), whereas there was no statistically significant difference in the protein expression level of E-cadherin of cells in 1 μmol/L 4αPDD group (P>0.05); the protein expression level of N-cadherin of cells in 3 μmol/L 4αPDD group was significantly increased (t=4.93, P<0.01), whereas there was no statistically significant difference in the protein expression level of N-cadherin of cells in 1 μmol/L 4αPDD group (P>0.05); the protein expression levels of Slug of cells in 1 μmol/L 4αPDD group and 3 μmol/L 4αPDD group were significantly increased (with t values of 3.85 and 6.52, respectively, P<0.05 or P<0.01); and the protein expression level of Snail of cells in 3 μmol/L 4αPDD group was significantly increased (t=4.08, P<0.05), whereas there was no statistically significant difference in the protein expression level of Snail of cells in 1 μmol/L 4αPDD group (P>0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the protein expression levels of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Slug, or Snail of cells between 1 μmol/L 4αPDD group and 3 μmol/L 4αPDD group (P>0.05). The general condition of flaps of rats in the three groups was good on PSD 0. On PSD 1, the flaps of rats in the three groups were basically similar, with bruising and swelling at the distal end. On PSD 4, the swelling of flaps of rats in the three groups subsided, and the distal end turned dark brown and necrosis occurred, with the area of necrosis in flaps of rats in normal saline group being larger than the areas in 4αPDD group and delayed flap group. On PSD 7, the necrotic areas of flaps of rats in the 3 groups were fairly stable, with the area of necrosis at the distal end of flap of rats in delayed flap group being the smallest. On PSD 7, the flap survival rates of rats in 4αPDD group ((80±13)%) and delayed flap group ((87±9)%) were similar (P>0.05), and both were significantly higher than (70±11)% in normal saline group (with t values of 2.24 and 3.65, respectively, P<0.05 or P<0.01). On PSD 1, the overall blood perfusion signals of rats in the 3 groups were basically the same, and the blood perfusion signals in the choke vessel zone were relatively strong, with a certain degree of underperfusion at the distal end. On PSD 4, the boundary between the surviving and necrotic areas of flaps of rats in the 3 groups became evident, and the blood perfusion signals in the choke vessel zone were improved, with the normal saline group's distal hypoperfused area of flap being larger than the areas in delayed flap group and 4αPDD group. On PSD 7, the blood perfusion signals of overall flap of rats had generally stabilized in the 3 groups, with the intensity of blood perfusion signal in the choke vessel zone and overall flap of rats in delayed flap group and 4αPDD group being significantly greater than that in normal saline group. On PSD 7, the microvascular density in the choke vessel zone of flap of rats in 4αPDD group and delayed flap group were similar (P>0.05), and both were significantly higher than that in normal saline group (with t values of 4.11 and 5.38, respectively, P<0.01). Conclusions: After activation, TRPV4 may promote the migration and tubular formation of human vascular endothelial cells via the EndMT pathway, leading to the enhanced blood perfusion of perforator flap and microvascular density in the choke vessel zone, and therefore increase the flap survival rate.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Male , Rats , Cadherins , Endothelial Cells , Necrosis , Perforator Flap , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Saline Solution , TRPV Cation ChannelsABSTRACT
When this paper was first published the following ethical statement was omitted in error: Animal experiments were conducted in accordance with the guidelines of Laboratory Animal Ethics Committee of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM-LAEC2019071). The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused. DOI of original article: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chmed.2018.10.002
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OBJECTIVE:To preliminarily study the antitumor mechanism of Periplaneta americana extract C Ⅱ-3 on MFC tumor-bearing mice. METHODS :Balb/c mice were randomly divided into model group (normal saline 20 mL/kg)and C Ⅱ-3 group (200 mg/kg),with 6 mice in each group. MFC cell suspension (0.2 mL)was injected under the right armpit of mice. On the next day,mice were given relevant medicine intragastrically ,once a day ,for consecutive 10 d. 24 h after the last administration ,Based on the measurement of tumor size , 1H-NMR technology combined with unsupervised PCA ,supervised PLS-DA and OPLS-DA were used to compare metabolic spectrum of liver tissue from tumor-bearing mice of 2 groups,to analyze differential metabolites and to explore the potential antitumor mechanis m of C Ⅱ -3. RESULTS :Compared with model group ,the tumor body was significantly reduced in tumor-bearing mice of C Ⅱ-3 group. There were differences in 1H-NMR spectra between the 2 No.81960712); groups. According to unsupervised PCA ,supervised PLS-DA and OPLS-DA ,totally six potential differential metabolites ,as glycogen (increased),pyruvate (decreased),arginine (de- creased),hydroxyproline (increased),inosine (increased) and niacinamide (increased),were identified in the liver tissue,which were mainly attributed to the metabolism of arginine ,energy and nucleic acid. CONCLUSIONS:The anti tumor effect of C Ⅱ-3 may be related to the regulation of arginine metabolism ,energy metabolism and nucleic acid metabolism.
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Hemorrhagic anaemia caused by chronic gastrointestinal bleeding is a common complication of BRBNS that has the greatest impact on the patient′s quality of life, even life-threatening. Traditional treatments cannot slow down the overall progress of the disease. The curative effect is limited and has certain limitations. Sirolimus can effectively treat vascular malformations of the soft tissues, and it can control gastrointestinal lesions to correct iron deficiency anemia caused by bleeding, improve quality of life, and can inhibit disease progression and improve prognosis. This new emerging medication may become one of the powerful treatments for BRBNS in the future.
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@#Objective: To investigate the effects of nuclear factor 5 of activated T cells (NFAT5) on proliferation and apoptosis of human gastric cancer MGC803 cells and to explore the possible mechanisms. Methods: Three siRNAs targeting NFAT5 gene (siRNA2567, siRNA2714 and siRNA4562) and one negative control siRNA were designed and chemically synthesized before transfected into human gastric cancer cell line MGC803 by liposome. Real-time PCR was used to detect the changes of N F AT 5 mRNA expression in MGC803 cells to further pick out the siRNA that most effectively inhibit the expression of N F AT 5 . Further, Real-time PCR and Western blotting assay were carried out to test mRNAand protein levels of NFAT5 and S100A4 in cells 48 h after N F AT 5 -siRNAtransfection. Then, CCK-8 assay and FCM assay were used to detect the influence of silencing N F AT 5 on cell proliferation and apoptosis, respectively. Results: siRNA2567 was the most effective siRNA that significantly inhibited the expression of N F AT 5 mRNA ( P <0.01), and thus was validated as NFAT5-siRNA. Real-time PCR and Western blotting assay confirmed that both mRNA and protein levels of NFAT5 and S100A4 were down-regulated in cells 48 h after N F AT 5 -siRNAtransfection. Compared with NC-siRNAgroup, the proliferation ability of MGC803 cells in the N F AT 5 siRNAgroup was significantly down-regulated at 72 h and 96 h ( P <0.01).And FCM assay showed that compared with NC-siRNA group, cell apoptosis rate of N F AT 5 -siRNA group was significantly increased from (2.7±0.2)% to (7.9±0.2)%, ( P <0.01) 48 h after N F AT 5 -siRNA transfection. Conclusion: N F AT 5 -siRNA transfection can silence N F AT 5 gene expression in gastric cancer MGC803 cells effectively. N F AT 5 may inhibit proliferation and promote cell apoptosis of gastric cancer cells possibly through regulating S100A4 expression.
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Objective To evaluate the curative effect and safety of percutaneous argon-helium knife cryoablation in treating patients with liver metastases from gastric cancer.Methods The clinical data of 24 patients with liver metastases from gastric cancer,who had received percutaneous argon-helium knife cryoablation therapy,were retrospectively analyzed.A total of 33 metastatic lesions could be used for evaluation.CT-guided percutaneous argon-helium knife cryoablation of liver metastases was carried out in all patients.The 3-month,6-month and 12-month local control rate,overall survival (OS) rate,progression -free survival (PFS),incidence of recurrence,preoperative and postoperative quality of life,and complications were documented.Results The median follow-up time was 14 months (6-48 months).After cryoablation therapy,the quality of life was improved significantly.The 3-month,6-month and 12-mouth local control rates were 91.7%,73.9% and 52.6% respectively.Mter cryoablation therapy,the median PFS was 8 months (1-16 months),the median survival time was 16 months,and the one-year and 2-year survival rates were 75.0% and 37.5% respectively.No severe complications occurred.Conclusion For the treatment of liver metastases from gastric cancer,percutaneous argon-helium knife cuoablation is safe and effective with reliable short-term curative effect,the patient's quality of life can be well improved.
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Objective To discuss the clinical significance of peripheral neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) changes in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) after receiving argon-helium cryoablation.Methods A total of 33 CRPC patients,who were treated with argon-helium cryoablation at Tianjin Medical University Cancer Hospital,were included in this study.The clinical and pathological data were collected and analyzed.The following factors that might affect the postoperative overall survival (OS) of patients were analyzed with univariate and multivariate analysis:age,baseline PSA level,hemoglobin,white blood cell count,platelet count,albumin,alkaline phosphatase,NLR,platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR),hormone sensitive time,chemotherapy,bone metastasis,Gleason score,ECOG score,PSA effective rate.Results A total of 33 patients were enrolled in this study,the average age was 69 years (50-82 years) and the median survival time was 28 months (6-55 months).Univariate analysis showed that the baseline PSA level,alkaline phosphatase,NLR,hormone sensitive time,chemotherapy,bone metastases,Gleason score and PSA effective rate were significantly correlated with OS of CRPC patients after receiving cryoablation (P<0.05).Multivariate analysis showed that the baseline PSA level (P=0.003),NLR (P=0.009),Gleason score (P<0.001) were independent predictive factors for OS of CRPC patients after cryoablation therapy.Conclusion NLR can be used as a prognostic predictor for CRPC patients undergoing argon-helium cryoablation,and the increased NLR indicates a poor prognosis.(J Intervent Radiol,2017,26:237-242)
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China implemented the public hospital reform in 2012.This study utilized bootstrapping data envelopment analysis (DEA) to evaluate the technical efficiency (TE) and productivity of county public hospitals in Eastern,Central,and Western China after the 2012 public hospital reform.Data from 127 county public hospitals (39,45,and 43 in Eastern,Central,and Western China,respectively) were collected during 2012-2015.Changes of TE and productivity over time were estimated by bootstrapping DEA and bootstrapping Malmquist.The disparities in TE and productivity among public hospitals in the three regions of China were compared by Kruskal-Wallis H test and Mann-Whitney U test.The average bias-corrected TE values for the four-year period were 0.6442,0.5785,0.6099,and 0.6094 in Eastern,Central,and Western China,and the entire country respectively,with average non-technical efficiency,low pure technical efficiency (PTE),and high scale efficiency found.Productivity increased by 8.12%,0.25%,12.11%,and 11.58% in China and its three regions during 2012-2015,and such increase in productivity resulted from progressive technological changes by 16.42%,6.32%,21.08%,and 21.42%,respectively.The TE and PTE of the county hospitals significantly differed among the three regions of China.Eastern and Western China showed significantly higher TE and PTE than Central China.More than 60% of county public hospitals in China and its three areas operated at decreasing return scales.There was a considerable space for TE improvement in county hospitals in China and its three regions.During 2012-2015,the hospitals experienced progressive productivity;however,the PTE changed adversely.Moreover,Central China continuously achieved a significantly lower efficiency score than Eastern and Westem China.Decision makers and administrators in China should identify the causes of the observed inefficiencies and take appropriate measures to increase the efficiency of county public hospitals in the three areas of China,especially in Central China.
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Objective To investigate the influence of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in peripheral blood in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) before argon-helium cryoablation on the patient's prognosis.Methods The related clinical and pathological data of 72 HCC patients,who had received percutaneous argon-helium cryoablation,were retrospectively analyzed.Based on the preoperative NLR value,the patients were divided into low NLR group (NLR<3.5) and high NLR group (NLR > 3.5).The postoperative overall survival time of the patients in the two groups were statistically analyzed,and the risk factors that might affect the prognosis were evaluated by using univariate and multivariate analysis.Results Argon-helium cryoablation was carried out in all patients.The median overall survival time was 22.4 months;the median overall survival time of the high NLR group and the low NLR group was 13.2 months and 24.2 months respectively,the difference in the overall survival time between the two groups was statistically significant (P=0.003).Univariate analysis showed that the primary tumor size,liver function Child-Pugh classification,albumin,total bilirubin,cholinesterase and NLR value were the related factors that affected the postoperative overall survival time of HCC after argon-helium cryoablation (P<0.05).Multivariate analysis revealed that the primary tumor size and NLR value were the independent prognostic factors that affected the postoperative overall survival time of HCC after argon-helium cryoablation (P<0.05).Conclusion Preoperative NLR value in peripheral blood can be used as a prognostic indicator for patients with HCC undergoing argonhelium cryoablation;the larger the primary hepatic lesion is and/or the higher the NLR value is,the worse the prognosis of the patient will be.
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Objective To investigate the effect of incomplete cryoablation on the biological behavior of prostatic cancer RM-1 cells and its mechanism.Methods RM-1 cells of prostatic cancer were placed in -20℃ icebox to be frozen for 5 min.After the recovery of the cell state,the RM-1 cells were frozen again for 10 min and 15 min successively.After culture for one day,the cellular morphology was microscopically examined.A total of 20 C57/BL mice were used to establish the tumor-bearing models,which were randomly and equally divided into the control group and the incomplete cryoablation group with 10 mice in each group.At scheduled time points the tumor lesion size was measured for all mice.The mice were sacrificed at 14 days,the lung tissues were collected and were stained with lE;the numbers of metastatic lesions in the lung were calculated.Transwell assay was used to test the cell migration and invasion,immuno-blotting method was adopted to determine the epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related (EMT-related) protein expression level,and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to check the secretion volume of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β).Results After incomplete cryoablation,RM-1 cells became disorderly arranged,their morphology was changed,and antenna structure might be formed.At 3 and 7 days after cryoablation,the tumor size in the incomplete cryoablation group was slightly smaller than that in the control group,but only the difference at 7 days after cryoablation was statistically significant between the two groups (P=0.019).At 10 and 14 days after cryoablation,the tumor volume of the two groups was almost equal.The pulmonary metastatic lesions in the incomplete cryoablation group were obviously much more than those in the control group (P<0.001).Transwell assay indicated that the cell migration and invasion ability in the incomplete cryoablation group was stronger than that in the control group (P<0.05).Immuno-blotting test revealed that,when compared with the control group,in the incomplete cryoablation group the expressions of N-cadherin,MMP-9 and Vimentin were up-regulated,while the expression of E-cadherin was downregulated.ELISA test showed that increased secretion of TGF-β was observed in the incomplete cryoablation group.Conclusion Incomplete cryoablation can enhance the migration and invasion ability of RM-1 cells,increase the number of pulmonary metastatic lesions in tumor-bearing mice,and affect the EMT-related protein expression level.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the relationship of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)-308G/A gene polymorphisms with Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) in children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using the direct DNA sequencing method, polymorphisms in the TNF-α promoter region (-308) were genotyped in 110 Han children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP group), including 52 children with nephritis and 58 children without nephritis. Plasma TNF-α levels were measured using ELISA. Ninety ethnically matched healthy children were used as the control group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were no significant differences in the polymorphisms of TNF-α (-308G/A) between the HSP and control groups (P>0.05). The GA genotype (29% vs 10%) and A allele frequency (18% vs 7%) in HSP children with nephritis (HSPN) were more common than in those without nephritis (P<0.05). Plasma TNF-α levels in HSPN children with GA+AA genotype (7.1±2.3 pg/mL) were significantly higher than those with GG genotype (5.7±1.5 pg/mL) (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>TNF-α-308GA genotype and A allele may contribute to the increased risk for the development of nephritis in children with HSP.</p>
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Adolescent , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Gene Frequency , Genotype , Polymorphism, Genetic , IgA Vasculitis , Genetics , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha , GeneticsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the prevalence of influenza virus infections in children in 2006 using the real-time PCR method.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>(1) Consulting the most conserved sequence NP gene of influenza virus, after comparing with the NP gene sequences of influenza virus in GenBank, one pair of specific primers and one TaqMan probe were designed for each subtype of influenza virus by the software Primer Express. The sensitivity of influenza was evaluated by testing known positive samples which had been two-fold diluted. The specificity of real-time PCR for influenza virus detection was assessed by cross testing 60 isolates of influenza A, 16 isolates of influenza B, and by testing a variety of other respiratory viruses positive samples; (2) 281 nasopharyngeal aspirate samples were detected by real-time PCR and virus isolation; (3) the 12 301 specimens from the patients of Guangzhou Children's Hospital were tested by using the real-time PCR method. Furthermore, the real-time PCR reagent was evaluated by comparing with the result of virus isolation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The sensitivity of real-time PCR developed in this study for influenza A detection was 1:2(22) and for influenza B was 1:2(20) in two-fold serially diluted way. (2) No positive results were found in cross testing of other viruses positive specimens. (3) Influenza virus was detected from 1687 cases (13.71%) out of the 12 301 cases, including 773 cases (45.8%) positive for subtype A and 914 cases (54.2%) positive for subtype B; 455 out of 525 (86.7%) of influenza B positive specimens and 70 out of 525 (13.3%) of influenza A (H1N1) positive specimens were from patients seen during January to April; 419 out of 1118 (37.5%) specimens positive for influenza B and 699 out of 1118 (62.5%) specimens positive for influenza A (H1N1) were from patients seen from May to August. Influenza virus could be identified from 1380 samples by the methods of virus isolation, accounting for 81.80% of the 1687 positive samples detected by real-time PCR. All the influenza virus subtype A was H1N1.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The real-time PCR method developed in this study was sensitive and specific for detecting influenza A and B in clinical specimens. During 2006, influenza A and influenza B co-circulated. The predominant virus was influenza B from January to April, peaking in April. Influenza A (H1N1) prevailed from May to August, with the peak in June.</p>
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Child , Humans , China , Epidemiology , Epidemics , Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype , Influenza, Human , Epidemiology , Virology , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Methods , Prevalence , RNA, Viral , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinical value of 3-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of the liver and its ductal structures using 64-slice spiral CT data in hepatobiliary surgery.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The image data of 64-slice spiral CT scanning was obtained from patients with biliary calculi. Image segmentation was performed both using computer programs and manually, and 3D reconstruction of the liver was carried out using Mimics software. The reconstructed model of the liver and the ductal system was exported in STL format, and then into the FreeForm Modeling System for modification and smoothing, followed by image registration of the liver with the ductal system and the calculi.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The reconstructed liver model accurately represented the actual size of the liver and its anatomic landmarks, and by adjusting the transparency of the liver, the hepatic and intrahepatic arteries, veins, the portal vein, some abdominal vessels and the biliary system with the calculi were clearly visualized. The calculi in the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts were distinct in terms of the location and number, and dilation and stenosis of the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts were also clearly observed. The model presented with realistic profile of the liver that allowed vivid 3D observation. The model also allowed zooming and rotation for observation in full views.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The reconstructed model of the liver and its ductal system can be useful for preoperative planning and intraoperative complete removal of the calculi from the bile duct, and for the bile duct dilation and stenosis detected in the model, appropriate measures should be taken to reduce the residual calculi and prevent reoccurrence.</p>
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic , Diagnostic Imaging , General Surgery , Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic , Diagnostic Imaging , General Surgery , Gallstones , Diagnostic Imaging , General Surgery , Imaging, Three-Dimensional , Methods , Models, Anatomic , Tomography, Spiral Computed , MethodsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the difference of VP7 fragment at the nucleotide level between rotavirus Guangzhou field strain R97-196 and rotavirus Beijing field strain or prototype strains.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The VP7 fragment amplified from Guangzhou field strain R97-196 by RT-PCR was cloned into the T-A cloning vector pUCm-T and sequenced.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The VP7 fragment from Guangzhou field strain R97-196 was 1,062 bp in length and contained two open reading frames which is consistent with that reported in the literature. The sequence analysis revealed that the cDNA from R97-196 shared higher nucleotide and amino acid identities with Beijing field strain T73 (98% and %, respectively) than with serotype 2-4 (G types) rotavirus (from 74% to 77% and 73% to 81%, respectively). The divergence of amino acid sequences is mainly within the nine divergence regions. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the VP7 fragment from R97-196 was far away from rotavirus serotype G1 strain Wa.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The VP7 gene fragment from rotavirus Guangzhou field strain R97-196 belongs to rotavirus serotype G1. And variation of rotavirus VP7 gene fragment seems to be a geographic matter.</p>
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Humans , Infant , Amino Acid Sequence , Antigens, Viral , Capsid Proteins , Genetics , Diarrhea, Infantile , Virology , Molecular Sequence Data , Phylogeny , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , Rotavirus , Classification , Rotavirus Infections , Virology , Sequence Analysis , SerotypingABSTRACT
<p><b>AIM</b>To study asymmetric total synthesis of 14-nor-huperzine A 2 and its inhibitory activity on acetylcholinesterase.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Highly enantioselective synthesis of compound 5 from beta-keto-ester 3 and 2-methylene-1,3-propanediol diacetate 4 by palladium-catalyzed bicycloannulation was carried out using new chiral ferrocenylphosphine ligands, such as 10, 11, followed by regioselective double-bond migration to produce compound 6. Optically pure 6 was obtained after enantio-enrichment recrystallization. Then, according to similar procedures of huperzine A synthesis, the target compound 14-nor-huperzine A 2 was prepared. The inhibitory activity was tested with rat erythrocyte membrame acetylcholinesterase.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The inhibitory activity of synthetic (-)-14-nor-huperzine A was 8 fold less potent than that of (-)-huperzine A.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A hydrogen-bond between 14-methyl group of (-) huperzine A and the main-chain oxygen of His 440 is necessary for the highly acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of huperzine A.</p>