Objective To develop a quick quantitative detecting method for point of care testing (POCT) of human serum procalcitonin (PCT) by fluorescence immunochromatographic technology.Methods Applying a double-antibody sandwich immunofluorescent assay (one antibody coated on the nitrocellulose membrane and the other antibody labeled with fluorescent micropaticles) to develop a PCT quantitative detecting kit by immunochromatography technology.The kit was used to test PCT in 472 serum samples from suspected bacterial infection patients of Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital,including 240 male and 232 female patients.The methodology and diagnostic performance were evaluated in the aspects of linearity,precision,accuracy,specificity,stability experiments and comparison with foreign PCT detecting kits.Results The report range of the PCT quantitative diagnostic kit was 0.1-125.0 μg/L The coefficient of variation (CV)values of repeat 20 tests for low,median,and high concentration control samples respectively were all less than 15％ and bias can be acceptable (P ＞ 0.05).Common interfering substances in human serum specimens such as bilirubin (2.0 g/L),triglyceride (30.0 g/L) and cholesterol (15.0 g/L) were found no significant affect on quantitative detection of PCT.The shelf time of the PCT diagnostic kit should be longer than 12 months as the relative deviation of detected concentrations of 0.5,1.0,22.0,65.0 μg/L PCTcontrol sample can be controlled less than 20％ within 14 months.Considering VIDAS BRAHMS PCT to be the standard quantitative test for PCT,472 serum samples were detected by both our kit and the control VIDAS BRAHMS PCT kit simultaneously,which showed high correlation (YVIDAS =0.180 + 1.006Xwondfo,R2 =0.988,P ＜ 0.01) and low deviation (Z =-1.6,P ＞ 0.05) without statistic significance between two methods.And the results of these two diagnostic kits showed good consistency as the area under curve of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) of Wondfo-PCT at the three cut-off values (0.5,2.0,10.0 μg/L)were 0.997,0.994,0.998 respectively,P ＜ 0.01,using diagnostic result of the control product as standard.Kappa values were 0.899,0.905,0.973 respectively.Conclusions The method of quantitative detection of PCT by fluorescence immunochromatography for POCT was established in this study.All the observed indicators reached the clinical diagnostic requirements and can be applied for the quick detection of clinical human serum PCT.

Objective To explore the acquired immunity against Schistosoma japonicum infections in the offspring of mother-mice infected with Trichinella spiralis.Methods The offspring of mother-mice infected with Trichinella spiralis and the mice after passively transferring the offspring's sera were sacrificed at day 42 post infection with S. japonicum cercariae. The percentage of reduction in worm burdens was calculated to determine the protective effects. Results Comparing with the control group, the reduction rates of the worm were 24.31% in the offspring, 18.65% and 20.77% in mice with passively transferring the offspring's sera by intravenous injection and muscular injection respectively. Conclusion The offspring of mother-mice infected with Trichinella spiralis and the mice with passively transferring the offspring's sera could acquire protective immunity against Schistosoma japonicum infections.

ZENG Tian-zhi, as one of the disciples of Mr. CHENG Dan-an, is considered as one of the major successors of the Chengjiang acupuncture school in the South of the Five Ridges. By collecting Mr. ZENG's works and papers as well as the interviews with his followers, his life and achievements are verified and his existing representative works are introduced. It is found out that following CHENG Dan-an's steps, ZENG Tian-zhi has practiced the medicine and performed great deeds, established schools and taught students. Also he established the first educational institution of acupuncture in Hong Kong, namely College of Scientific Acupuncture. He has traveled to many places to promote the acupuncture and cultivate a large number of acupuncturists. His works are characterized by organized edition, bringing in modern medical theory and focusing on clinic applicability.
Acupuncture ; education ; history ; methods ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Books ; China ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; Male

Objective:To construct DNA vaccines expressing prostate-specific membrane antigen(PSMA) and/or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor(GM-CSF) and to determine their immunoactivity.Methods: Recombinant plasmids pIRES-PSMA-mGM-CSF,pIRES-PSMA,and pIRES-mGM-CSF were constructed with DNA vaccine vector pIRES.After identified by endonuclease digestion,the above 3 plasmids and blank pIRES vector were used to immunize C56BL/6 mice(n=15).LDH release assay was used to exam the cytotoxicity of cytolytic T lymphocytes in each group.Results: We successfully constructed the above mentioned recombinant plasmids.Mice in pIRES-PSMA-mGM-CSF immunized group had the highest specific cytotoxicity,followed by pIRES-PSMA and pIRES-mGM-CSF immunized groups.The blank pIRES group had the lowest cytotoxicity(P

OBJECTIVE To summarize the clinical features, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of laryngeal rhabdomyosarcoma.METHODS The clinical data of 5 cases of adult laryngeal rhabdomyosarcoma treated in Beijing Tongren Hospital between 2003 and 2015 were analyzed retrospectively.RESULTS All the 5 cases firstly presented with hoarseness. 1 case was treated by combined therapy (surgery followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy). 2 patients received surgical treatment combined with chemotherapy. 1 patient received surgical treatment only. Another patient received chemotherapy only. Pathological type: 4 patients were embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, 1 patient was pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma. In the follow-up of a period from 11 months to 8 years, 2 cases were alive without tumor, 3 patients were dead.CONCLUSION Adult laryngeal rhabdomyosarcoma is rare. Surgical resection combined with chemotherapy is the main treatment method, and the prognosis is related to the pathological type and tumor stage.

OBJECTIVE To study the incidence,pathogenesis,diagnosis and treatment of laryngeal cyst after partial laryngectomy.METHODS The clinical data of 228 cases of partial laryngectomy from January 2003 to June 2009 were retrospectively analyzed,and related literature was reviewed.RESULTS Two cases were found to have laryngeal cysts after partial laryngectomy during the post-operative follow-up.One occurred after 20 months,and the other occurred after 19 months.The cyst located on the tongue surface of the epiglottic was removed by CO2 laser under suspended laryngoscope,while the one located at the subglottic area was removed via cervical approach.So far,a total of 9 cases were reported.CONCLUSION Laryngeal cyst after partial laryngectomy is uncommon.That may be the mucosa planted during the operation.It could be misdiagnosed as recurrent laryngeal carcinoma.CT or MRI is helpful for diagnosis.Operation with CO2 laser under suspended laryngoscope or via cervical approach may be chosen.

The existing processing methods, commercial specification and grades, and the marketing of Coptidis Rhizoma were systematical researched, referring to ancient, modern and contemporary medical literatures with the combination of our fieldwork on main origins of Coptidis Rhizoma and some herbs markets. Results showed that Coptidis Rhizoma processing methods mainly included sun-dried method and baked method anciently. For now, the processing methods become various, including thin paper-covering under the sun drying, direct drying, oven drying and microflame-fry drying. In the literatures, the main chemical constituent berberine was determined of its content to analyze the processing methods, finding that the sun drying and baked drying affect the berberine content, so the temperature must be controlled when drying. The thin paper-covering drying method is so cumbersome for large quantities of medicinal herbs and in wind conditions that it has been eliminated. Eventually, direct drying, oven drying and microflame-fry drying are chosen to the large-scale socialized production for their convenient and simple operation, making up the current main processing methods. Coptidis Rhizoma products have 3 specifications of Weilian, Yalian, Yunlian, of each specification there are 2 levels, but in fact the market of Weilian commodities overtakes the Yunlian, which only sold in parts of Yunnan, and the no-sale Yalian. The mainstream commercial Weilian are often sold in general way, gradeless and uniformly-priced. There are regional differences of the processing methods on Coptidis Rhizoma, which needs unified research and development of relevant standard operating procedures to ensure the quality of medicine, urgently. Coptidis Rhizoma product specifications and the intrinsic quality-grade correlation need to be further improved, which could provide a more reliable standard for quality at competitive prices, and it is recommended that "medicinal commercial specification and grade standard" content be increased into the Herbs part of Chinese Pharmacopoeia.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Coptis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Rhizome ; chemistry

OBJECTIVE To reverse multidrug resistance(MDR)to chemotherapeutic agents in human laryngeal cancer cells(LSC-1/TAX)by knockdown the expression of P-glycoprotein(P-GP), the MDR1 gene product, using RNA interference(RNAi)technique.METHODS LSC-1/TAX cells were transfected with lentivirus vector that contains the shRNA construct targeting MDR1 mRNA.The drug resistance was measured by MTT assay in vitro, and sensitivity of the laryngeal cancer cells to various anti-neoplasm agents was quantified in vivo.The knockdown of MDR1 gene expression was assessed by immunocytochemistry in vitro and vivo.RESULTS Multidrug resistance phenotype in human laryngeal cancer cell line (LSC-1/TAX)was reversed in vitro.Tumor growth assay in vivo revealed a reverse of MDR in the laryngeal cancer cells.Immunocytochemistry showed that P-GP expression was significantly inhibited.CONCLUSION MDR1 shRNA lentivirus vectors can significantly inhibited MDR1 expression.Inhibition of MDR1 gene expression conferred an increased sensitivity of drug-resistant in laryngeal cancer cells to conventional chemotherapeutic agents.

OBJECTIVE To observe the effects of RNA interference mediated PIK3CA gene silencing on the proliferation and invasiveness of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma(LSCC) cells, and investigate the feasibility of PIK3CA gene as a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of LSCC. METHODS The lentiviral vector system expressing short hairpin RNA targeting PIK3CA gene(PIK3C-shRNA)was constructed and transfected subsequently into Hep-2 cells mediated by liposome in vitro. The expression of PIK3CA gene was detected by real-time RT-PCR and Western blot respectively. The proliferation of Hep-2 cells was measured by MTT, colony formation, and cell growth curve. The invasive power was determined by Boyden chamber model in vitro. RESULTS The lentiviral vector system expressing short hairpin PIK3CA- shRNA was constructed successfully. Compared with the control groups, the mRNA and protein expression of PIK3CA were significantly down-regulated(75% and 70% respectively)in the experimental group (P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs) modified bovine serum albumin (AGE-BSA) on the expression of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in human renal mesangial cells (HRMCs).

METHODSHRMCs were cultured in vitro with medium containing different doses of AGE-BSA or BSA (50,100, 200, 400 mg/L) for 48 hours, or with AGE-BSA (200 mg/L) for different times (12, 24, 48, 72 h). Immunocytochemistry assay was used to estimate the protein level of RAGE. The ROS in cells were measured by flow cytometry and the mRNA expression of MCP-1 were analyzed by semi-quantiative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) after treatment with AGE-BSA or BSA.

RESULTSThe protein level of RAGE was upregulated in the HRMCs with AGE-BSA. The expression of ROS and MCP-1 significantly enhanced by incubation of AGE-BSA in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The effects of AGE-BSA-induced up-regulation of ROS and MCP-1 level was significantly blocked by neutralizing antibodies to RAGE, while the expression of ROS and MCP-1 stood nearly unchanged after cultured with huamn IgG.

CONCLUSIONThe expression of ROS and MCP-1 in HRMCs is induced by AGE-BSA through RAGE, which may have potential effects in the pathgenic mechanism of diabetic nephropathy.

Cells, Cultured ; Chemokine CCL2 ; metabolism ; Glycation End Products, Advanced ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Mesangial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products ; Receptors, Immunologic ; metabolism ; Serum Albumin, Bovine ; pharmacology