Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of antibody to group A streptococcal polysaccharide (ASP) in diagnosing atypical rheumatic fever (RF). Methods Fifty-seven cases including 33 atypical RF and 24 recurrent attack of RF with chronic rheumatic heart disease were included, and 57 patients suffered from other diseases were used as control. Nitrous acid extraction and molecular sieve chromatography was adopted to extract and purify the polysaccharide. The isolated portion of polysaccharide which possessed strongest antigenity was used to detect the level of serum ASP by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), antistreptolysin-O (ASO) and anti-deoxyribonuclease B (anti-DNase B) were tested with the same samples. Results The sensitivity and specificity of ASP in the diagnosis of atypical RF was 73.7% and 76.6%; while 47.4% and 46.4% for ESR respectively. As for the evaluation of streptococcal infection, the sensitivity and specificity of ASP, ASO and anti-Dnase B were 73.7%, 15.6%, 65.4% and 76.6%, 94.6%, 44.6%, respectively. ROC curve analysis and discriminant analysis were adopted to compare these laboratory measurements. The results demonstrated that ASP was superior to other methods. Conclusion ASP has a higher sensitivity together with a higher specificity than the other three methods for diagnosing the activity of RF and the infection of streptoccus. It should be a promising diagnostic test for atypical RF.

Objective To understand current prevalence of fluorosis, of drinking tea type in Pengyang County of Ningxia to offer scientific basis for preventing and curing, monitoring, health education. Methods Four towns were chosen as investigating spots in Pengyang County of Ningxia in 2007, from each 50 children aged 8-12 year old and 50 adults who either had tea or did not were investigated. Dean method was used to measure dental fluorosis of children and adult; meanwhile fluoride content in water, urine and drinking tea was tested using the fluoride ionic electrode method and that in brick tea using water immersion electrode method. χ2 testing, analysis of variance, u test, q test were performed. Results In adult drink tea group, control group, and children, the detaction rate of dental fluorosis were respectively 24.75%(99/400),9.5%(38/400)and 15.96%(71/445), obviously higher in drink tea group than the control group(χ2= 32.73, P<0.05). Urine average concentration of fluoride was (3.38±2.37), (2.09±1.33 ). (1.41±0.67)mg/L, obviously higher in drink tea group than the control group(u= 9.49, P<0.05). In 4 investigation spots tea fluoride averaged at (3.63±2.05)mg/L, fluoride content in drinking water was averagely (1.01±0.49) mg/L, with that of Wangwa Town [(1.31±0.33)mg/L] exceeding the national standard for drinking water (1.0 mg/L), where dental fluorosis rate was higher and fluoride content was higher than that in 3 other investigation spots (P<0.05). Conclusions Residents in Pengyang County in Ningxia who drink brick tea can cause accumulation of fluorine to poison in Ningxia, leading to fluorosis of drinking tea type; Wangwa Town have both drink tea and water fluorine poison.

Objective To investigate the role of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation in repairing injured intestinal mucosa of acute pancreatitis.Methods MSCs were harvested and cultured from femurs of male SD rats.Twenty female SD rats were divided into three groups,and serve acute pancratitis (SAP) model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of L-arginine (2 g/kg) twice.Twelve hours after SAP model established,MSC transplantation group (n=8) were injected MSCs (5 × 106 cell/rat) through tail vein for three days,and SAP group (n=6) were injected the same volume of saline through tail vein as control.Control group (n=6) were only injected the same volume of saline without any treatment.All the rats were sacrificed at 72 hours after model established.The small intestinal tissues were taken for HE staining and pathological score,the TNF-α mRNA and IL-1β mRNA expression level in small intestine and pancreas were tested by RT-PCR.Y chromo-some (Sry) gene in pancreatic and intestinal tissue was examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).Results The relative expression quantity of TNF-a mRNA and IL-1β mRNA in pancreas was significant higher in SAP group and MSC transplantation group than in control group (7.22 ± 1.99,3.46± 1.75 vs 1.32 ± 1.04 ; 2.71 ± 0.56,1.92 ± 0.28 vs 0.61 ± 0.45 ),the difference was statistically significant (F=18.375,F=22.701; P＜0.05).Compared with SAP group,the expression quantity of TNF-α mRNA and IL-1β mRNA in pancreas was significantly decreased in MSC transplantation group,the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).The relative expression quantity of TNF-α mRNA and IL-1β mRNA in small intestine was significantly higher in SAP group and MSC transplantation group than in control group (3.93 ± 1.08,2.13 ± 0.53 vs 0.68 ± 0.42 ; 2.44 ± 1.54,1.02±0.44 vs 0.60±0.14),the difference was statistically significant (F=21.772,F=6.132; P＜0.05).The expression of TNF-αmRNA and IL-1β mRNA in MSC transplantation group was lower than that in SAP group,the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).Compared with SAP group,pathological score indicated that small intestine injure was slighter in MSC transplantation group (3.83±0.28 vs 2.83±0.56),the difference was statistically significant (F=12.013,P＜0.05).Sry gene could be detected in the pancreatic and intestinal tissue of MSC transplantation group.Conclusion Allogeneic MSC transplantation group can inhibit Pro-inflammatory cytokines expression in acute pancreatitis,relieve the intestinal mucosa injury and may involve in the intestinal tissue repair.

Objective To study the changes of the amplitude of ion channels currents in developing hippocampal neurons.Methods Using whole-cell patch-clamp techniques in cultured hippocampal neurons whose cultured day were 6 d and 16 d,respectively,changes of the amplitude of ion channels currents in developing hippocampal neurons were explored.Results Compared with the hippocampal neuron whose cultured day was 6 d,there were no statistical differences of the amplitude of voltage dependent sodium currents of hippocampal neuron whose cultured day was 16 d.The amplitude of voltage dependent potassium currents of hippocampal neuron whose cultured day was 16 d were significantly increased(P

Objective To study the changes of N-methyl-D-aspartate(NMDA)-receptor-channels current in developing hippocampal neurones during hypoxia and effect of adenosine intervention.Methods Whole-cell patch-clamp techniques cultured hippocampal neurons whose cultured day were 6 days and 16 days respectively,the amplitude of the NMDA-receptor-channels currents of hippocampal neuron were determined.And the effect of hypoxia on the NMDA-receptor-channels current,and adenosine regulatory mechanisms in cultured hippocampal neurons were explored.Results During hypoxia,compared with control group,the amplitude of the NMDA-receptorchannels currents of hippocampal neuron whose cultured day was 6 days were significantly increased(P

Actinomycosis ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Ovarian Diseases ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery

Objective To evaluate the safety and feasibility of natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery(NOTES)with current available techniques and endoscopic accessories.Methods Transgastric and transvaginal endoscopic abdominal cavity exploration were performed in 6 female pigs.A needle-knife and a ERCP scalpel were used to make an anterior gastric wall incision,and a dilating balloon to expand the passage,through which a therapeutic gastroscope was sent into the abdominal cavity to seek the target organ.Partial liver resection was performed in 2 cases.For incision closure,a clip was applied to the incision orifice or it was just given putting-aside therapy.One week later,the abdominal cavity was examined via vagina.Another week later,it was observed via other incision of the stomach.Four weeks after the operation,the pigs were sacrificed.Adhesion,injury to the organs and closure of the incision were evaluated.Results Transgastric procedures were performed 12 times and transvaginal procedures 6 times.Mean operation time via stomach was 33.4±10.9 min.and that via vagina WaS 10.1±2.5 min.All animals recovered and gained weight after the operation.The incision healed up with no obvious complications.Re-exploration showed adhesion of various degrees,no effusion,or injury to the organs were observed.Ketamine plus propofol achieved satisfactory anesthetic effect with no complications.One of the two animals which underwent liver partial resection died of disphragmatic muscle perforation.Hemarrhage occurred twice,both in the procedures via satisfied.One case developed abdominal abscess.Conclusion It Was feasible and safe to perform NOTES via transgastric and transvaginal approach to the abdominal cavity and liver resection.But development of NOTES specific instruments is essential to the procedure.

Adult ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Tripterygium ; chemistry

Adolescent ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; diagnosis ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Graves Disease ; complications ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Humans

Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; Male ; Polymorphism, Genetic