Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of microscopic observation drug susceptibility assay (MODS) in extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Methods MODS technology was constructed by using 24-well cell culture plate and liquid culture.Ziehl-Neelsen smear,Lowenstein-Jensen culture and MODS were used to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 74 pleural fluid samples collected from patients with tuberculous pleurisy,63 cerebrospinal fluid samples collected from patients with tuberculous meningitis and 18 samples collected from non-tuberculosis suspects.The immunochromatography was used to distinguish Mycobacterium tuberculosis from nontuberculosis mycobacteria. The results of Ziehl-Neelsen smear, Lowenstein-Jensen culture and MODS were compared by x2 test.Results The positive rates of MODS,Lowenstein-Jensen culture and Ziehl-Neelsen smear were 58.1 ％ (43/74),18.9 ％ (14/74 ) and 6.8％ (5/74),respectively in tuberculous pleurisy patients; 54.0％(34/63),20.6％ (13/63) and 4.8％ (3/63),respectively in tuberculous meningitis patients.The positive rate of MODS technology was significantly higher than that of Lowenstein Jensen culture in tuberculous pleurisy patients (x2 =24.00,P＜0.01) and tuberculous meningitis patients (x2 =14.97,P ＜ 0.01). Each Mycobacterium obtained from MODS and Lowenstein-Jensen culture was identified as Mycobacterium tuberculosis by immunochromatography.All of the 18 pleural fluid and cerebrospinal fluid samples which collected from non-tuberculosis suspects were all negative detected by Ziehl-Neelsen smear,Lowenstein-Jensen culture and MODS.The median time to culture positive of MODS was 9 days in cerebrospinal fluid and 14 days in pleural fluid samples,which were both significantly shorter than that of Lowenstein-Jensen culture (31 days in both cerebrospinal fluid and pleural fluid samples). Conclusion Compared to conventional microbiological diagnosis methods,MODS is a rapid detection method of Mycobacterium tuberculosis with a higher positive detection rate,which is suitable for rapid diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis.

Objective: The aim of this study is to compare the clinical data and result between transcatheter closure and surgical repair for the treatments of secundum ASD in patients above 50 years old, and explore the indications for these two methods. Methods: From January 1998 to December 2003, 53 patients with surgical repair and 42 patients with transcatheter closure were enlisted according to the diagnosis of ASD. The ages of all of cases were above 50 years old. The interventional approach was administrated with Amplatzer device. The surgical approach mended the defect directly or with autologous pericardium. These patients were followed up by echocardiography (Echo). The clinical data including the diameter of the right ventricle (RVD), the pulmonic flow velocity, the pulmonary pressure and the tricuspid valve regurgitation. Results: In surgery group, surgical mortality was 1 9% (1/53). Cerebral embolism occurred in 4 (7 5%) patients. Pericardial effusion and other complications occurred in 24.5%. All 42 patients with ASD were effectively closed with Amplatzer occlude. One occluder displaced and moved into pulmonary artery on the fourth day after the treatment. The short term effective rate was 97 6% in transcatheter closure group. The diameter of ASD showed by Echo was significantly less in patients treated with transcatheter closure than that in surgical repair group. The hospitalization time was significantly less in patients treated with transcatheter closure. The follow up data recorded decreased load of right ventricle, the decreased diameter of right ventricle as well as the relief of pulmonary artery hypertension. Conclusion: The data suggested that of surgical approach of ASD has a wider indication for patients in different stages of the disease, whereas surgical morbidity may increase in elderly patients due to their pre existed diseases. However, the transcatheter closure for ASD is feasible for patients with smaller defects.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the neuroprotective effect of epigallocatechin gallate ( EGCG ) for PC12 cells induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-pyridinium ( MPP+ ) and activating nuclear factor-related factor 2 ( NRF2 ).Methods Well differentiated PC12 cells treated with MPP+ were used as the in vitro cell models,and PC12 cells were pretreated with different concentrations of EGCG.MTT assay was used to investigate the cell viability.Western blot was used to observe the expression of NRF2 in cells and distribution in the nucleus and the cytoplasm.Real-time PCR was used to observe the antioxidant enzymes,HO-1 and NQO1 mRNA expression.Results Pretreatment of PC12 cells with different concentrations of EG CG for an hour could restore cell viability.Western blot showed that expression of NRF2 in cells treated with MPP+ for 24 hours was increased 148％ +5％ compared with the control group (t =6.102,P ＜0.01 ).The level of NRF2 in EGCG pretreated group was 188％ + 6％ compared with the control group(t =11.172,P ＜0.01 ).Moreover the NRF2 protein level in the nuclear was also increased.Western blot showed that the NRF2 protein level in the nuclear was 258％ +2％ compared with the control group (t =21.995,P ＜ 0.01 ).Further research found U 120,an inhibitor of ERK,could inhibit the effect of EGCG.The levels of NRF2 in both samples were 148％ ± 15％ and 158％ ± 1％ compared with their respective control groups(t =6.118,8.058,both P ＜0.01 ).In accordance with the NRF2 data,real-time PCR indicated that the levels of HO-1 and NQO1 mRNA expression increased obviously in the group pretreated with EGCG.Likewise,U120 could also inhibit HO-1 and NQO1 mRNA expression induced by EGCG.Conclusions EGCG can repair oxidative damage to PC12 cells induced by MPP+.The protective effect may be related through the ways to activate ERK-NRF2 and induce downstream of antioxidant enzyme expression,such as HO-1 and NQO1.

Objective To explore the value of interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH) in the detection of trisomy 8 in patients with hematologic disorders. Methods Seventy-seven patients were vestigated by directly labeled centrome DNA probes specific for 8 chromosome. The results were compared with that of conventional cytogenetic (CC) analysis. Results The proportion of trisomy 8 of 77 cases of hematologic disorders detected by FISH is higher than by G-banding karyotyping and FISH could offer the result when conventional cytogenetic methods failed to diagnose. Conclusion Interphase FISH is more sensitive in the detection of trisomy 8 than CC, and FISH displays its superiority in the detection of small clone.

Objective: To assess the accuracy and application value of type III portable monitor (III PM) of sleep apnea (SA) for in-hospital patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods: A total of 101 CVD patients received sleep apnea monitoring by both type II polysomnography ( II PSG) and III PM were enrolled to compare the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) measured by 2 instruments. AHI was assigned into 4 grades: Normal (AHI<5), Mild grade (5≤AHI<15), Moderate grade (15≤AHI<30) and Severe grade (AHI≥30). Kendall correlation coefficient and Kappa value were calculated, pair wise t test was conducted in relevant patients. Results: II PSG and III PM measured AHI were (18.0±16.6) events/h and (18.6±17.4) events/h, P>0.05. Kendall correlation coefficient for 4 AHI grades was 0.701, P<0.01 which assumed strong correlation; Kappa value of consistency was 0.493, P<0.01 which assumed medium strong correlation. Using AHI≥15 as cut-off point, Kappa coefficient for the consistency between II PSG and III PM was 0.679, P<0.05, which meant high consistency. Taking II PSG as standard and AHI≥15 as cut-off point, the AUC of III PM measured AHI was 0.918 with the specificity at 80.4% and sensitivity at 87.3%. The best diagnosing cut-off value of III PM was AHI=15.70, at this point, the maximum Youden's index was obtained as 0.695. Conclusion: Using AHI≥15 as standard, III PM and II PSG had the favorable consistency and accuracy for monitoring the severity of SA for in-hospital patients with cardiovascular disease. AHI=15.7 was the best cut-off point of III PM in diagnosing moderate and severe SA in relevant patients.

The volume-time curve change in patients with normal left ventricular (LV) diastolic function and diastolic dysfunction was evaluated by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE). LV diastolic dysfunction was defined by E'0.05). It is concluded that PFR, as a diastolic filling index of RT3DE, can reflect the early diastolic function and serve as a new non-invasive, quick and accurate tool for clinical assessment of LV diastolic function.
Diastole/physiology ; Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional/*methods ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/physiopathology ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/*ultrasonography ; Ventricular Function, Left/*physiology

Objective To explore the preventive effect of Fluconazole on invasive fungous infections in premature infants.Methods Two hundred and thirty-four cases of preterm infants hospitalized in Jiangmen Central Hospital from Feb.2008 to Oct.2013 were analyzed by retrospective study.The subjects were divided into 3 groups based on whether Fluconazole was used and it was used orally or intravenously for the prevention of invasive fungous infections in premature infants.The Fluconazole prophylaxis was not given to group A,whereas oral Fluconazole prophylaxis [6 mg/(kg · times),every other day] and intravenous Fluconazole prophylaxis [3 mg/ (kg · times),once every 3 days] were applied in group B and group C.The incidence of invasive fungous infections and the clinical effects of Fluconazole on the 3 groups were evaluated and compared.Results The number of cases analyzed in the study were 53,115 and 66 cases in group A,group B and group C,respectively.There were no significant differences between the 3 groups in terms of gender,gestational age,birth weights,length of hospitalization,intravenous nutrition,and number of peripherally inserted central catheter,antibiotics and invasive mechanical ventilation use days (all P ＞ 0.05).The incidences of invasive fungal infections were 11.32％ (6/53 cases),6.96％ (8/115 cases) and 0 in group A,group B and group C,respectively.The prophylaxis effects between the 3 groups were significantly different (x2 =7.078,P =0.029).Group A and group B were not significantly different (x2 =0.905,P =0.342),but group C was better than group A and group B,and the differences were significant (P =0.007,0.028).Conclusions Prevention of invasive fungous infections by intravenous Fluconazole has good curative effects,and which can be used as the first choice.

The volume-time curve change in patients with normal left ventricular (LV) diastolic function and diastolic dysfunction was evaluated by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE). LV diastolic dysfunction was defined by E'＜A' in pulse-wave tissue Doppler for inter-ventricular septal (IVS) of mitral annulus. In 24 patients with LV diastolic dysfunction, including 12 patients with delayed relaxation (delayed relaxation group) and 12 patients with pseudo-normal function (pseudo-normal group) and 24 normal volunteers (control group), data of full-volume image were acquired by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography and subjected to volume-time curve analysis. EDV (end-diastolic volume), ESV (end-systolic volume), LVEF (left ventricular ejection fraction), PER (peak ejection rate), PFR (peak filling rate) from RT3DE were examined in the three groups. Compared to the control group, PFR (diastolic filling index of RT3DE) was significantly reduced in the delayed relaxation group and pseudo-normal group (P＜0.05). There were no significant differences in EDV, ESV, LVEF, PER (P＞0.05). It is concluded that PFR, as a diastolic filling index of RT3DE, can reflect the early diastolic function and serve as a new non-invasive, quick and accurate tool for clinical assessment of LV diastolic function.

OBJECTIVETo study the intestinal expression of defensin-5 (RD-5), soluble phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) and lysozyme in acute liver failure (ALF) using rat models, and to determine the relation of these expressions to intestinal bacterial translocation.

METHODSForty-eight healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into a control group (n=8) and a model group (n=40; intraperitoneal injection of 10% D-galactosamine). The model group was further divided into five subgroups according to the time lapse after model establishment (8, 16, 24, 48, and 72 hours). At the end of the experiments, homogenates of mesenteric lymph nodes, liver and spleen were cultured in agar for bacterial outgrowth.Hematoxylin-eosin stained sections of liver and terminal ileum were examined under an optical microscope to assess pathological changes. mRNA expression of RD-5, sPLA2 and lysozyme in the terminal ileum was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase reaction (RT-PCR), and protein expression of sPLA2 and lysozyme from the same anatomic location was determined by western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Means between groups were compared with one-way analysis of variance.

RESULTSALF was successfully induced in the D-galactosamine injected rats. No bacteria grew in the organ cultures from the control group, while 8.3%, 37.5% and 58.3% of the rats in the 24-, 48-and 72-hour model groups showed positive cultures. Despite this, the structure of the terminal ileum from the rats in the 72-hour model group was nearly intact, without obvious necrosis of mucosal epithelial cells. Expression of RD-5 and sPLA2 mRNA in the model groups gradually increased at early time points and peaked at 16 hours after induction of ALF (1.291+/-0.153 and 1.131+/-0.128), which was significantly higher than that detected in the control group (0.725+/-0.116 and 0.722+/-0.112, t=69.25, 95.71, all P<0.01). After that, the expression of RD-5 and sPLA2 mRNA progressively decreased, and by 72 hours after the induction of ALF, the expression (0.415+/-0.104 and 0.425+/-0.076) was significantly lower than that of the control group (t=31.55 and 44.98, all P<0.01). Lysozyme mRNA expression in the model group peaked at 8 hours after ALF induction (1.211+/-0.107), which was higher than that of the control group at this time point (0.853+/-0.093), and by 72 hours after ALF induction it declined to 0.704+/-0.103, which was significantly lower than that of the control group (t=9.224; all P=0.009). In addition, at 72 hours after ALF induction the protein expression of both lysozyme and sPLA2 was significantly lower in the model group (0.327+/-0.086 and 0.382+/-0.057) than in the control group (0.583+/-0.121 and 0.650+/-0.093, t=12.28 and 15.83, P=0.004 and 0.001). Similar results were obtained with immunohistochemical staining.

CONCLUSIONThe function of the ileal mucosal immune barrier in the rat model of acute liver failure decreased, along with decreases in expression of RD-5, sPLA2 and lysozyme in the Paneth cells.At the same time, the rate of organ bacterial translocation increased without obvious injury to the intestinal mucosa structure.

Animals ; Bacterial Translocation ; Defensins ; Disease Models, Animal ; Galactosamine ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Intestines ; Liver Failure, Acute ; Male ; Muramidase ; Phospholipases A2 ; Protein Precursors ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of genetic damage in patients with arsenism caused by coal-burning in 9 years. To analyze the relationship between the changes of genetic damage and disease progression and provide a basis for condition monitoring.

METHODSOf 206 arsenism patients from the area with endemic arsenism in Guizhou province were tracking surveyed in February 1998 and divided into 4 groups, including suspicious, mild, moderate and severe poisoning group. Another 67 healthy residents from a neighbour township 12 km away where arsenic was not prevalent were surveyed. Over a 9-year follow-up, 131 arsenism patients and 45 controls with the complete biochemical indexes among them were selected as subjects in December 2006. Arsenic (As) concentration of urine and hair were detected by silver diethyldithiocarbamate spectrophotometry (Ag-DDC). Micronucleis (MN) and chromosome aberrations (CA) were analyzed by conventional methods. DNA single-strand breaks of peripheral blood were measured by single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE), and the tail lengths of comet were used to measure DNA damage.

RESULTSAmong the control, suspicious, mild, moderate and severe arsenic poisoning group, the As contents of urine and hair were respectively (34.16 ± 10.25), (52.35 ± 22.41), (62.26 ± 31.13), (71.43 ± 49.92), (78.45 ± 50.64) µg/L and (1.37 ± 0.56), (3.69 ± 1.78), (4.88 ± 3.49), (5.21 ± 3.10), (6.25 ± 4.04) µg/g in 2006, which were lower than that 9 years before (urine as contents were (36.07 ± 20.70), (73.65 ± 41.33) , (90.92 ± 82.14) , (126.55 ± 107.31) and (139.44 ± 90.90) µg/L, and hair As contents were (1.41 ± 1.18), (4.85 ± 4.20), (5.72 ± 4.07) , (6.43 ± 4.32) and (7.19 ± 4.68) µg/g, respectively, F value was 10.63, 7.72, 14.66, 11.00 respectively, all P values were < 0.05). Except for suspicious poisoning group, the differences of urine As contents in the other groups all showed significance (P < 0.05). The incidences of MN were (0.238 ± 0.130) %, (0.268 ± 0.192) %, (0.283 ± 0.157) % and (0.391 ± 0.233)%; the incidences of CA were (14.36 ± 5.44) %, (18.09 ± 6.49) %, (19.38 ± 5.63)% and (19.83 ± 5.84) %; the tail lengths of comet were (29.88 ± 13.81) , (29.84 ± 12.80) , (34.50 ± 9.88) and (41.58 ± 12.98) µm respectively in 2006 for all poisoning groups; which were higher than that 9 years before(the incidences of MN were (0.163 ± 0.051) %, (0.186 ± 0.117) %, (0.196 ± 0.104) % and (0.273 ± 0.142) %; the incidences of CA were (13.18 ± 5.17)%, (14.48 ± 6.61)%, (15.67 ± 8.49) % and (16.90 ± 8.38) %; the tail lengths of comet were (15.07 ± 12.93) , (19.57 ± 8.80) , (27.03 ± 10.77) and (34.71 ± 14.95) µm) , except for the incidences of MN and CA in suspicious poisoning group and of MN in mild poisoning group , the differences of the three indexes in the other groups were significant (P < 0.05) . The state of illness of arsenic poisoning patients aggravated 9 years later. With the increase of urine and hair As contents and the development of arsenism, the incidences of MN, CA and the tail lengths of comet of all poisoning groups increased. There were positive correlations among them (r values were respectively 0.212, 0.316, 0.232, 0.263, 0.321, 0.654 and 0.760) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe exacerbation of genetic damage was related to constantly high arsenic loads. The accumulation of genetic damage and its irreversibility might be one of the important reasons of the development of arsenism and cancer.

Arsenic ; Arsenic Poisoning ; Coal ; DNA Damage ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans