Nanobacteria (NB) is a kind of new bacteria with a diameter of 8 0~500 nm. It has specific mineralizing ability. As a active nidus it can attac h, invade and damage the renal epithelium of collecting ducts and papilla, and t hen form apatite which being the center to induce formation of kidney stones. I n the paper, the research progress on nanobateria contained in kidney stones and its role in kidney stones formation were summarized. The simulation in vitro a nd animal models of kidney stones formation induced by nanobateria were discusse d.

There are two populations of bacteria to affect the formation of urinary stones in humanity. The first one can promote the formation of urinary stone by increasing urinary pH, decreasing concentration of urinary inhibitors , and damaging the protective urothelial glycosaminoglycan layer. The second inhibit the formation of urinary stones. These bacteria ( mainly the intestinal oxalate degrading bacteria such as Oxalobacter formigenes, lactic acid bacteria, Enterococcus faecalis etc) can decrease urinary oxalate concentration by regulating exogenous oxalate. The problems faced and the developing direction were also indicated.

OBJECTIVETo seek the methods in the prevention and cure of urinary stones in the Zhujiang valley in Guangdong province.

METHODSTwenty random urinary stones were quantitatively and morphologically analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD).

RESULTSCalcium oxalate (about 70%) was the main composition of urinary stones in the Zhujiang valley in Guangdong province; while 30% of which was uric acid stones. Most calcium oxalate stones contain phosphate; however, its content usually was less than 10%.

CONCLUSIONSCalcium oxalate, uric acid and phosphate are the main compositions of urinary stones in the Zhujiang valley in Guangdong province. The compositions and phases of urinary stones can be obtained accurately by the combination of XPS and XRD.

Adult ; Aged ; Calcium Oxalate ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Powder Diffraction ; Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission ; methods ; Uric Acid ; analysis ; Urinary Calculi ; chemistry ; X-Ray Diffraction ; methods

Effects of serotonin (5-HT) on spontaneous discharges of single hypothalamic arcuate neurons were observed in rat brain slices by extracellular recordings. The results showed that (1) of 149 neurons selected randomly and tested for 5-HT application, 33 (22.2%) were excited, 82 (55.0%) were inhibited, and 34 (22.8%) showed biphasic responses or failed to respond; (2) substitution of low Ca(2+)-high Mg(2+) artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) for normal aCSF abolished the 5-HT-induced inhibitory effect but failed to affect the 5-HT-induced excitatory effect; (3) cyproheptadine, a non-selective 5-HT receptor antagonist, could block either the 5-HT-induced excitatory or inhibitory effects in all neurons tested; and (4) bicuculline, a GABA(A)-receptor antagonist, blocked the 5-HT-induced inhibitory effect. These results imply (1) 5-HT excites arcuate neurons through a mechanism that is insensitive to the decreased extracellular Ca(2+), suggesting a direct postsynaptic action of 5-HT on the 5-HT-receptors located in the membrane of the neurons recorded; and (2) 5-HT might elicit the inhibitory effect through a Ca(2+)-sensitive release of GABA from intercalated GABAergic local neurons that are excited first by 5-HT.
Animals ; Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus ; drug effects ; physiology ; Cyproheptadine ; pharmacology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Neurons ; drug effects ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Serotonin ; pharmacology ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; physiology

Objective To study the cotransfection mB7-1 and mCD1D gene into pancreatic cancer cells of rats and to observe its anti-tmor responses.Methods Recombinant retroviral vectors expressing mB7-1and mCD1D gene were packaged into GP2-293 cell lines and transfected.The expressions of mB7-1 and mCD1D were detected with PCR and Western blot.The positive cells of mB7-1 and mCD1D were used to induce the anti-tumor immunity in vitro.Results Anti-tumor immunity was induced after B7-1 and CD1D positive cells were coinoculated in syngeneic mice.Furthermore,the growth of tumor was inhibited.Conclusions Cotransfection of B7-1 and CD1D could induce anti-tumor effect.This study provide a foundation for the application of B7-1 and CD1D gene therapy in tumor.

OBJECTIVETo introduce our experience in diagnosis and treatment of 33 patients with Tessier craniofacial clefts.

METHODS33 patients with craniofacial clefts were classified by Tessier classification. According to the type and severity of the clefts, various techniques, from simple local flap transfer to complicated osteotomy and bone grafting were used to correct the deformity in 29 patients.

RESULTSAll patients who underwent corrective operation were satisfied with the result, and there were no complications.

CONCLUSIONS(1) Tessier classification is very important for plastic surgeon to find potential craniofacial deformities related to main signs. (2) No. 7 cleft is one of most common Tessier craniofacial clefts. (3) Each Tessier cleft is unique, therefore, the treatment plans cannot be standardized. Specific corrective operation must be performed on each patient according to the type and severity of the cleft, including simple local flap transfer to complicated osteotomy and bone grafting or distraction osteogenesis.

Craniofacial Abnormalities ; classification ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Humans

To study the chemical constituents of the fruits of Psoralea corylifolia L., the constituents were isolated and purified by chromatography. Two new compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of the ethanol extract. On the basis of chemical and spectroscopic data 1D and 2D NMR, they were identified as 2-(3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl)-8, 8-dimethyl-8H-pyrano[2, 3-h]chromen-4-one (1) and 5-(2-hydroxyl-1-methyl)-ethyl-4, 5-dihydrofurano[2, 3-h](4'-hydroxyl-3', 5'-dimethoxy)-isoflavone (2), and named as coryfolia D and bavarigenin separately.
Chromones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Isoflavones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Psoralea ; chemistry

Objective To compare the effectiveness of ureteroscopic via urethral Peel-away sheath and transurethral ureteroscopy in treatment of bladder calculi. Methods Clinical data of 76 cases of bladder calculi patients were collected from January 2013 to December 2015. All the patients were randomly divided into two groups: Group A was performed by ureteroscopic lithotripsy via urethral Peel-away sheath (n = 45). Group B was transurethral ureteroscopic lithotripsy (n = 31). Results 76 cases of bladder calculi were successfully treated by one-time lithotripsy. Lithotripsy time: group A was (17.8 ± 5.9) min, group B was (22.7 ± 8.3) min (t = 2.96, P = 0.004); stone clearance time: group A (12.6 ± 4.9) min, group B (24.5 ± 5.3) min (t = 9.90, P = 0.000);Intraoperative urethral mucosa injury : group A (1.0 ± 0.5), group B (2.1 ± 0.4) (t = 9.47, P = 0.000); VAS score:group A (1.9 ± 0.6), group B (2.6 ± 0.6) points (t = 4.72, P = 0.000); indwelling catheter time: group A (1.0 ± 0.2) d, B group (1.4 ± 0.9) d (t = 2.59, P = 0.012); There was no significant difference in hospitalization expense, group A was (7437.4 ± 356.7), group B was (7296.8 ± 333.8) (t = -1.73, P = 0.087). There were no complications such as hemorrhage, perforation and rupture of the 2 groups, without convertion to open surgery either. After the treatment of oral antibiotic, 1 case of postoperative urinary tract infection was cured in group B. In our study, case of postoperative urinary retention was 1 in group A, versus 5 in group B, with statistical difference (χ2 = 6.43, P = 0.011). Follow up: 13 patients were lost to follow-up, the other patients were followed up for 6 ~ 12 months. There was 1 case of elderly male patient with urinary retention due to BPH in each of the 2 groups, the other patients had no recurrence of calculus. By analyzing the statistical results, it was found that the experimental group had obvious advantages over the control group in the lithotripsy time, stone clearance time, urethral mucosa injury, postoperative pain and postoperative indwelling catheter time. Conclusion There is no significant difference in efficacy of the treatment of bladder calculi between ureteroscopic via urethral Peel-away sheath and transurethral ureteroscopy. However, our study shows the Peel-away ureteroscopy has the advantages of shorter lithotripsy time, shorter time of stone clearance and less injury of urethra mucosa menbrane, there was no significant difference in operation cost between two groups. Therefore, Ureteroscopic via urethral Peel-away sheath is an effective method for endoscopic bladder lithotripsy.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in preoperative T-staging of gastric cancer.

METHODSA sulfur hexafluoride-filled microbubble ultrasound contrast agent and a continuous real-time imaging technique of contrast pulse sequencing were used. Normal gastric wall was examined by CEUS in 8 healthy volunteers and the results were compared with the findings on multislice computed tomography. Sixty-two patients with gastric cancer proved by biopsies who received preoperative CEUS examination were involved in this study, and the CEUS result was compared with postoperative pathological findings.

RESULTSThe normal gastric wall presented a one-layer structure in the portal venous phase and a three-layer structure in the arterial and equilibrium phase including a slightly hyper-enhanced inner layer, a hypo-enhanced intermediate layer, and a markedly hyper-enhanced outer layer, which corresponded histologically to the mucosal, submucosal, and muscular-serosal layer, respectively. The accuracy of transabdominal ultrasonography and CEUS in determining the T stage of gastric cancer was 72.9% and 88.1% respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (chi(2)=4.37, P=0.036).

CONCLUSIONSCEUS shows the normal gastric wall as a one- or a three-layer structure, which provides a theory base for CEUS in preoperative T-staging of gastric cancer. CEUS is a useful diagnostic method for preoperative T-staging of gastric cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Contrast Media ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; methods ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Sulfur Hexafluoride ; Ultrasonography ; methods

The quantitative identification and enrichment of viable regulatory T cells (Treg) requires reliable surface markers that are selectively expressed on Treg. Foxp3 is the accepted marker of natural Treg, but it cannot be used to isolate cells for functional studies. CD127 is a new surface marker expressed in Treg cells. In this study, two populations of Treg, including CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(low/-) and CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+)T cells, and profiles of the Foxp3 expression in CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(low/-) cells were compared to evaluate which population is better. The peripheral blood cells were collected and spleen suspension of BALB/C mice were prepared, and using triple staining CD4, CD25, CD127 and CD4, CD25, Foxp3. The profiles of Treg, including CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(low/-) and CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) were detected by flow cytometry. The quadruple staining CD4, CD25, Foxp3 and CD127 were used to determine the CD127 expression in CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) cells. The results showed that on T cell subset the median expression levels of CD4(+), CD4(+)CD25(+) were 39.02%, 5.35% in peripheral blood and 23.49%, 3.86% in spleen. On CD4(+) T cell subset, the median expression level of CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(low/-) and CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+)T cells were 7.13%, 3.97% in peripheral blood and 12.8%, 8.23% in spleen. The ratio of CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(low/-) T cells was higher than that of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) cells in both peripheral blood and spleen cells (P < 0.01). The CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(low/-) cells highly expressed Foxp3, while the CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+)T cells lowly expressed CD127. It is concluded that compared with the CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) populations, CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(low/-) T cells better fit the definition of naturally occurring regulatory T cells in peripheral blood cells and spleen of BALB/C mice. CD127(low/-) is a characteristic marker on surface of CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg cells, and has been confirmed to be more specific marker for quantitatively sorting Treg cells.
Animals ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Female ; Interleukin-7 Receptor alpha Subunit ; analysis ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Spleen ; cytology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; metabolism