Tsutsugamushi disease is an acute infectious rickettsial disease caused by the intracellular parasite Orientia tsutsugamushi. Due to its variety of clinical signs, this disease is often misdiagnosed. This article examines a total of 4 patients who visited our clinics with fever and sore throat. 3 of them had body temperature of 39.5 Celsius degrees when admitted. The characteristic black eschar occurred on 4 of them. Lymphadenopathy occurred on 2 of them. Cough occurred on 1 of them. Lab tests showed that 3 of them had Leukocytosis, 1 of them had increased bronchovascular markings, and 3 of them had Weil-Felix test positive. After admission, all patients, who were confirmed of diagnosis of tsutsugamushi disease instead of tonsillitis, received the comprehensive treatment and cured afterwards.
Diagnostic Errors ; Humans ; Orientia tsutsugamushi ; Pharyngitis ; etiology ; Scrub Typhus ; complications ; diagnosis ; Tonsillitis ; diagnosis

Objective To investigate the expression of CD158b in NK cells after allogeneic kidney transplantation.Methods In 62 patients with allogeneic kidney transplantation, blood samples were collected on the day before operation, first, 7th day after operation, the moment the graft (reco)-(vered) and the acute rejection occurred. The expression of CD158b was detected in peripheral blood NK cells. The ratio of CD3~-CD16/56~+CD158b~+ was measured.Results There were 38 patients without acute rejection during the whole transplantation period. The ratio of CD3~-CD16/56~+ cells and CD3~-CD16/56~+CD158b~+ cells were stable before and after the transplantation. Twenty-four patients experienced acute rejection post-transplantation. The ratio of CD3~-CD16/56~+ cells was increased significantly after acute rejection, the ratio of CD3~-CD16/56~+CD158b~+ cells decreased significantly, and the percentage of CD3~-CD16/56~+CD158b~+ cells of total NK cells decreased significantly.Conclusion There are not too much factors interfering with the expression of CD158b in NK cells, and the ratio of CD3~-CD16/56~+CD158b~+ cells had already decreased significantly before the clinical diagnosis of (acute) rejection. Monitoring of CD158b in NK cells is more accurate and sensitive for the evaluation of immune state.

The quality of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) has been mainly evaluated based on chemical ingredients, yet recently more attentions have been paid on biological ingredients, especially for pill-based preparations. It is a key approach to establish a fast, accurate and systematic method of biological ingredient analysis for realization of modernization, industrialization and internationalization of TCMs. The biological ingredient analysis of TCM preparations could be abstracted as the identification of multiple species from a biological mixture. The metagenomic approach based on high-throughput-sequencing (HTS) and big-data-mining has been considered as one of the most effective methods for multiple species analysis of a biological mixture, which would also be helpful for the analysis of biological ingredients in TCMs. Simultaneous identification of diverse species, including the prescribed species, adulterants, toxic species, protected species and even the biological impurities introduced through production process, could be achieved by selecting appropriate DNA biomarkers, as well as applying large-scale sequence comparison and data mining. By this approach, it is prospective to offer an evaluation basis for the effectiveness, safety and legality of TCM preparations.

The quality of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) has been mainly evaluated based on chemical ingredients, yet recently more attentions have been paid on biological ingredients, especially for pill-based preparations. It is a key approach to establish a fast, accurate and systematic method of biological ingredient analysis for realization of modernization, industrialization and internationalization of TCMs. The biological ingredient analysis of TCM preparations could be abstracted as the identification of multiple species from a biological mixture. The metagenomic approach based on high-throughput-sequencing (HTS) and big-data-mining has been considered as one of the most effective methods for multiple species analysis of a biological mixture, which would also be helpful for the analysis of biological ingredients in TCMs. Simultaneous identification of diverse species, including the prescribed species, adulterants, toxic species, protected species and even the biological impurities introduced through production process, could be achieved by selecting appropriate DNA biomarkers, as well as applying large-scale sequence comparison and data mining. By this approach, it is prospective to offer an evaluation basis for the effectiveness, safety and legality of TCM preparations.
Biological Products ; chemistry ; Data Mining ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Metagenomics ; methods

Objective:To explore the influential factors of cognitive change among Chinese oldest-old.Method: Three waves of data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey(CLHLS)were analyzed with a two-level repeated measures model.Results:In baseline,the male had a higher mean MMSE score than the female(27.0?3.7/24.4?5.6,P

ObjectiveTo identify the association of HLA-DQA1*0302 and DQB1*0303 alleles with vitiligo in Uygur nationality in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. MethodsPolymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers(PCR-SSP) was performed to analyze the distribution of HLA-DQA1*0302 and HLA-DQB1*0303 alleles among 300 patients with vitiligo and 300 normal human controls of Uygur nationality in Xinjiang region. ResultsA significant increase was observed in the frequency of HLA-DQA1*0302 and -DQB1*0303 alleles in patients with vitiligo compared with the controls(20.5％ vs. 13.83％, 30.17％ vs. 13.33％, both P ＜ 0.01 ). Increased frequency of HLA-DQA1*0302 and -DQB1*0303 alleles was also seen in patients with adult vitiligo (onset age ＞ 12 years) and those with childhood vitiligo (onset age ≤≤ 12 years) ascompared with the normal controls(both P ＜ 0.01). The frequency of DQB1*0303 allele was higher in both patients with and without family history of vitiligo than in the normal controls(both P ＜ 0.01), while that of DQA 1*0302 was higher in only patients without family history (P ＜ 0.01 ). No significant difference was observed in the frequency of HLA-DQA 1*0302 or HLA-DQB1*0303 between patients with adult vitiligo and those with childhood vitiligo or between patients with and without family history(all P ＞ 0.05). Conclusions HLADQA 1*0302 and DQB 1*0303 alleles may be associated with vitiligo in Uygur nationality in Xinjiang region,and there seems to be genetic heterogeneity between patients with adult and childhood vitiligo and between vitiligo patients with and without family history.

Objective To investigate the effect of dietary fiber on carbohydrate metabolism of healthy volunteers after the intake of corn starch meal. Methods Totally 12 healthy volunteers aged (25. 8 ± 5. 3) years were enrolled in this study, and they were equally randomly divided into two groups (group A and group B). This was an open, randomized, cross-over, and two-period study, and each period lasted for one day. In period 1, the subjects in group A received fiber-free corn starch and group B received high-fiber corn starch (containing 16 g dietary fiber). In period 2, the two groups are crossed. There was a one-week wash-out time between the two study days. On the study day, breath samples of fasting and 0. 5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0,7. 0, 8. 0 hours post meal were collected to measure13 CO2. Results The delta over baseline at 0. 5, 1.5, 2. 0,2. 5, 3. 0, 4. 0 hour after test meal in fiber free group and in high fiber group were 0. 79, 2. 03, 2. 57, 2. 86,3. 02, 3. 18 and 0. 16, 1. 33, 1.77, 2. 10, 2. 34, 2.42, respectively (the P value was 0. 014, 0. 014, 0. 011,0.018, 0. 036, and 0.020, respectively). Peak concentration of delta over baseline of fiber free group and high fiber group was 3.18 and 2. 56 respectively, there was no significant difference between two groups (P > 0. 05) ,peak time of the group at 4. 0 hour and 3. 5 hour respectively, showed significant difference (P = 0. 032). The cumulative percentage dose recovered 0. 5-6. 0 hours after test meal in fiber-free group and in high-fiber group were 0.41, 1.46, 3.15, 5.50, 8.28, 11.30, 14.42, 17. 62, 23. 65, 28. 78 and 0. 09, 0. 55, 1.61, 3.22,5.23,7.53, 10.09, 12.68, 17.60, 22.27 respectively (the P value was 0.014, 0.018, 0.018, 0.014, 0.013,0.014, 0.018, 0.020, 0.025, and 0.044, respectively). However, there was no significant difference 6.0 hours after meal (P > 0. 05 ). Conclusion The dietary fiber used in this study can delay the absorption of carbohydrate 6. 0 hours within intake without influencing its total absorption amount.

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of fluvastatin combined with aspirin on the related indicators of patients with diabetic lower extremity arteriosclerosis occlusive desease(LEAOD). METHODS:80 patients with diabetic LEAOD were ran-domly divided into control group(40 cases)and observation group(40 cases). Based on convertional treatment,control group was given Rosuvastatin calcium tablet 5 mg+Aspirin enteric-coated tablet 100 mg every evening;observation group was given Fluvas-tatin sodium capsule 40 mg+Aspirin enteric-coated tablet 100 mg. They were treated for 3 months. Fibrinogen,plasma D-dimer, blood viscosity, cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAlc), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), carotid intima-media thickness, compliance situation of TC, TG, HbAlc,LDL-C and HDL-C,cases of carotid intima thickening,plaque formation,stenosis and occlusion before and after treat-ment were observed,and the incidence of adverse reactions was recorded. RESULTS:After treatment,fibrinogen,plasma D-di-mer,blood viscosity,TC,TG,HbAlc,LDL-C and carotid intima-media thickness in 2 groups were significantly lower than before treatment,and observation group was significantly lower than control group;HDL-C in 2 groups was significantly higher than be-fore,and observation group was significantly higher than control group,with statistical significance (P<0.05). Compliance rates of TC,TG,LDL-C and HDL-C in observation group were significantly higher than control group,proportion of carotid intima thickening and carotid plaque formation were significantly less than control group,with statistical significance (P<0.05),there were no significant differences in the compliance rate of HbA1c,proportion of carotid stenosis and occlusion and the incidence of adverse reactions in 2 groups(P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Fluvastatin combined with aspirin can significantly improve the pa-tients 'blood viscosity,blood lipid,vascular endothelial function in the treatment of diabetic LEAOD,it can reduce the thrombotic disease risk,and does not increase the incidence of adverse reactions.

Objective To analyze the relationships between body mass index (BMI), blood pressure and the cerebral vascular function in middle-aged population that underwent health checkup. Methods Participants from health management centers of Renmin Hospital of Hubei province, the Second Hospital Affiliated to Nanhua University, Hospital of Shandong Electric Power and Chinese People's Liberation Army No. 180 Hospital aged 45 to 64 years were selected from health checkup population by cluster sampling. Levels of height, weight and blood pressure as well as the cerebral hemodynamics were checked. Subjects were grouped according to age, BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The differences and distribution of cerebrovascular function scores (CVFS) between groups were compared and described. Moreover, the risk of stroke in the population was evaluated. Results Of the 17 258 individuals who met inclusion criteria, the abnormal rate (the score below 75 points) of CVFS was 20.9 percent. The CVFS in normal, overweight and obese groups were 91.0±15.4, 83.3±21.3, 70.3±26.5 and differences in all age groups were statistically significant (P<0.01). The CVFS in systolic blood pressure<120,120-139, 140-159,≥160 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) groups were 93.9±12.9, 86.5±18.9, 72.1±23.5, 56.2±25.7 and differences in all age groups were statistically significant (P<0.01). CVFS in normal diastolic pressure<80, 80-89, 90-99,≥100 mmHg groups were 91.0±16.1, 85.5±20.2, 75.4±23.6, 62.7±25.0 and the differences among all age groups were statistically significant (P<0.01). Conclusions The abnormal rate of cerebrovascular function integral and high risk stroke individuals in middle-aged health checkup people was approximately 21 percent. The overweight, obese and the high level of systolic and diastolic pressure may induce the injury of cerebrovascular function and the severity will increase with the level of BMI and blood pressure.

OBJECTIVETo compare the tissue engineered cartilage constructed with chondrocytes derived from auricular and articular cartilage.

METHODSChondrocytes were isolated from porcine auricular and articular cartilage, and BMSCs were obtained from bone marrow aspirate and cultured. Each kind of chondrocytes were resuspended alone or mixed with BMSCs at a ratio of 1:1, and seeded onto PGA/PLA scaffolds to construct tissue engineered cartilage (n = 4). The constructs were cultured for 8 weeks in vitro and then subcutaneously implanted into nude mice for 6 weeks. The differences between chondrocytes monoculture from articular and auricular cartilage or between each of them co-cultured with BMSCs were evaluated by gross view, measurement of thickness and wet weight, histological examinations including H&E, Safranin O, type II collagen, and Ponceau's & Victoria blue staining, and gene expression analysis of cartilage related genes.

RESULTSNo obvious differences were found histologically among the complexes constructed in vitro 8 weeks except for few elastic fibers secreted in the auricular chondrocytes + BMSCs co-culture group. Neo-cartilage is thicker in the groups of articular chondrocytes (38. 1% than the group of auricular chondrocytes, P < 0.05) and articular chondrocytes + BMSCs co-culture (19.3% than the group of auricular chondrocytes + BMSCs, P < 0.05). However, after 6 weeks in vivo the elastic fibers were found positive in the complexes constructed by auricular chondrocytes, and its staining was even stronger and more homogenous in the group of auricular chondrocytes + BMSCs co-culture. The tissues generated by articular chondrocytes alone and co-cultured with BMSCs both formed the characteristic features of three-layer structure of hyaline cartilage and ossified in vivo with significant up-regulation of COL10A1 and MMP-13. To summarize, auricular chondrocytes formed the elastic cartilage while articular chondrocytes formed the hyaline cartilage during the development of tissue engineered cartilage either by monoculture or the co-culture with BMSCs.

CONCLUSIONSThe chondrogenic response of chondrocytes from different cartilage origins demonstrates that an initial chondrocyte and cartilage type recapitulates the same in later tissue-engineered development.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cartilage, Articular ; cytology ; Cells, Cultured ; Chondrocytes ; Coculture Techniques ; Ear Auricle ; cytology ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Mice, Nude ; Swine ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds