Congresses as Topic ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity, Immediate ; immunology ; Rhinitis ; immunology

Thyroid hormones (TH) play an imp or tant role in the development and maturity of the mammalian brain. Maternal TH de ficiency, even subclinical hypothyroidism, leads to poor neurodevelopment of the fetus. Screening of pregnant women for hypothyroidism is recommended. Identific ation of the TH-responsive genes in the developing brain and investigation on t heir functions are helpful to provide insights into the molecular mechanisms by which TH influence brain development.

Objective To evaluate the long-term therapeutic effect of Ruangan pills on advanced schistosomiasis combined with ascites. Methods The data of 54 advanced schistosomiasis patients with ascites were collected,and the patients were divid-ed into two groups namely a treatment group and a control group according to whether taking Ruangan pills. The effective rates,im-provement status of symptoms and levels of serum albumin(ALB)and hyaluronic acid(HA)of the two groups were compared. Re-sults The effective rates of the treatment group and control group were 92.59%and 44.44%,respectively,and the difference be-tween them was statistically significant(P<0.05). After the treatment for 9 and 12 months,the percentages of patients without as-cites and patients with symptom improvement in the treatment group were 77.78%and 92.59%,92.59%and 96.30%,respective-ly,while those in the control group were 29.63%and 37.00%,48.15%and 51.85%,respectively,and the differences between the two groups by different time were all statistical significant(all P<0.05). After the treatment for 9 months,the percentages of patients with the normal levels of ALB and HA were 88.89% and 59.26%,while those in the control group were 40.74% and 14.81%,respectively,and the differences between the two groups were statistically significant(both P < 0.05). Conclusion The long-term treatment of Ruangan pills can not only improve clinical symptoms but also control the ascites recurrence,however, the therapeutic effect and the recurrence rate of ascites in longer-term still need further observation.

BACKGROUND:The pathogenesis of knee osteoarthritis is stil not very clear, and there is a lack of early diagnosis methods. Because it is more common in middle-aged women, it is suggested that the pathogenesis of knee osteoarthritis may be closely related to serum estradiol levels in the human body. OBJECTIVE:To explore the correlation between the level of serum estradiol and the severity of osteoarthritis in female patients with knee osteoarthritis. METHODS:Seventy-six female patients with knee osteoarthritis admitted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from February 2012 to December 2013 were enroled, and divided into premenopause group (n=42) and postmenopause group (n=34). According to Kelgren-Lawrence (K-L) grading, both two groups were subdivided into K-L 0, II and IV groups. The knee function was evaluated with Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) Knee Score Standard in USA, the serum estradiol levels were detected with electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Then, the correlation analysis was performed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The serum estradiol levels of the premenopause group and postmenopause group were decreased significantly with the increase of K-L grade and age (P < 0.05). Under the same K-L grade, the serum estradiol levels in the postmenopausal patients were significantly lower than those in the premenopausal patients. Linear regression analysis showed that there was a negative relationship between age and serum estradiol level (R2=0.222,P < 0.05), and there was a positive correlation between HSS scores and serum estradiol levels (R2=0.415,P < 0.05). The severity of knee osteoarthritis in female patients shows a negative correlation with the level of serum estradiol but a positive correlation with age.

Background and purpose:MicroRNAs (miRNAs, miR) are directly involved in cancer initiation, progression and metastasis. Alterations of miRNAs expression in cancer tissue may be reflected in circulation. We attempted to investigate the expression and clinical signiifcance of plasma miR-221 in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The plasma and tissues levels of miR-221 in 51 SCLC patients and 20 controls were evaluated and compared among various clinicopathological characteristics. Methods: Confirmation of higher miR-221 levels in primary SCLC tissues than normal lung tissues. Evaluation of plasma miR-221 concentrations by comparing results from 51 consecutive SCLC patients and 20 healthy volunteers. Evaluation of the assay for monitoring tumour dynamics in SCLC patients. Results:Expression of miR-221 was signiifcantly higher in SCLC tissues than in para-carcinoma tissues and normal lung tissues. Plasma miR-221 concentrations were signiifcantly higher in SCLC patients than those in normal people (P<0.05). The expression of plasma miR-221 was not associated with gender, and age (P>0.05), correlated with significantly chemosensitivity, overall survival and clinical stage (P<0.05). Cox regression analysis indicated that plasma miR-221 expression and disease stage were found to be significantly independent prognostic factors for the SCLC patients. Conclusion: Plasma miR-221 could be a useful biomarker for cancer detection, monitoring tumour dynamics and predicting malignant outcomes in SCLC patients, and may contribute to clinical decision making in treatments.

OBJECTIVE To investigate and elucidate the role of histamine on the regulation of tight junctions(TJs) gene expression of the airway epithelial cells. METHODS We cultured primary human bronchial epithelial cells from healthy and asthmatic individuals in the presence of histamine for 96 hours in air-liquid interface (ALI) culture system. The TJs expression on the level of mRNA and protein was determined by RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence (confocal microscopy), respectively. RESULTS A RT-qPCR analysis revealed that the mRNA expression of several TJs were up- or down-regulated by histamine. However, examination by confocal microscope revealed no detectable alterations in the morphology of the tight junctions after stimulating with histamine. CONCLUSION Our findings that histamine could regulate the mRNA expression of TJs of bronchial epithelial cells. That might contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic airway inflammatory diseases.

Objective To observe any changes in spinal cord hemodynamics after spinal cord injury and to investigate their mechanism. Methods Twenty female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into a control group and a moderate injury group,10 rats in each group.A rat model of spinal cord injury caused by moderate compression was established using Nystrom's method.Changes in the velocity and volume of blood flow and in the diameters of vessels of the spinal cord were monitored for 6 hours using laser speckle imaging. Results No changes in the velocity or volume of blood flow or in the diameter of vessels were observed in the control group,but all of these indices diminished significantly in the injury group. Conclusions Laser speckle imaging can be used to monitor changes in spinal cord hemodynamics.Such changes after acute spinal cord injury indicate progressive post-injury ischemia.The occlusion of veins may be an important contributor to post-injury ischemia.

[Objective]To compare the complications of simultaneous versus staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty.[Methods]The databases of Cochrane library,Medline,Embase and Chinese Biomedical Databases were searched online.All the trials comparing simultaneous versus staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty were included.Methodology quality of the trials was assessed and the data of the complications in both groups was extracted,and the RevMan 5.0.18 was used for data-analysis.[Results]In this study,18 controlled trials and 101 084 cases were included(26 536 SB-TKA /74 548 Staged B-TKA).The result of Meta-analysis showed that the 30-day mortality(OR=2.92),3-month mortality(OR=2.11) and pulmonary embolism(OR=2.46) were higher in the SB-TKA group than in the staged B-TKA group.[Conclusion]Campared with staged B-TKA,SB-TKA has a higher risk of mortality and pulmonary embolism.The predominant cause of death after TKA was the cardiopulmonary complications.More and stronger evidence will be needed for supporting the outcomes.

0.05).Conclusion The significantly reduced serum IGFBP-3 level is helpful for the diagnosis of HCC,especially in patients without chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis.