Child ; China ; Humans ; Rheumatic Diseases

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical features and risk factors of patient with Wegener's granulomatosis complicated with pulmonary infection.Methods Patients with Wegener's granulomatosis admitted to our hospital in the past 11 years were retrospectively analyzed.Comparisons between groups were performed by t tests or Fisher test.ResultsPulmonary infection occurred in 27 cases with an incidence rate of 29％.Twenty-six percent of pulmonary infections occurred at the initial diagnosis,and 44％ occurred within 6 months,while 30％ occurred later than 6 months.The clinical manifestations of pulmonary infection were productive cough (89％),hemoptysis (63％),fever and fatigue (56％),chest pain and pactoralgia (33％).The most common causative pathogen were bacteria(59％ ),fungi(37％ ),and tubercle bacillus(37％ ).Sinus infection(P=0.01),hypoproteinemia(P=0.03),hypoimmunoglobulinemia (P=0.007),and methylprednisolone pulse therapy(P=0.002) were the risk factors for pulmonary infection.ConclusionThe occurrence of Wegener's granulomatosis complicated with pulmonary infection is high within 6 months.The most common clinical manifestation is productive cough.The most common causative pathogens are bacteria,tubercle bacillus and fungi.Sinus infection,hypoproteinemia,hypoimmunoglobulinemia,and methylprednisolone pulse therapy are risk factors of pulmonary infection.

ObjectiveTo study the clinical features, arterial involvement, therapeutic strategies and outcomes of Takayasu arteritis (TA). MethodsThe clinical symptoms, arterial images, inflammatory parameters and follow-up information of 173 patients with TA were retrospectively studied. Comparisons between groups were performed by t-test. ResultsThere were 136 female and 37 male patients in this study. The mean age at onset was(26±11 ) years. Hypertension, pulse deficit or asymmetrical pulse, and fever were present in 46.6％, 41.1％, 28.7％ of patients, respectively. The distribution of arterial involvement were 64.7％in aorta, 9.8％ in pulmonary artery, 19.1％ in innominate artery, 65.9％ in common carotid arteries, 65.3％in the subclavian artery, 36.2％ in the renal artery, 12.1％ in the vertebral artery, and 5.8％ in coeliac axis.Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR) was found in 61.0％ patients. Active tuberculosis or history of tuberculosis was implicated in 45 patients(26.0％). Ten patients(5.8％) were hepatitis B virus carriers.Among 105 followed-up patients, 98 patients(94.2％) achieved persistent remission, 17 patients relapsed when corticosteroids were tapered. ConclusionCorticosteroids combined with or steroid alone, supplemented with endovascular intervention procedures or surgical bypass procedures when necessary, can effectively control the clinical symptoms and inflammatory parameters and improve the quality of life of patients.

The endophytic microorganisms found widely in many kinds of plants mediate various effects to theirs hosts. In this study, seven different dominant endophytes (SDE01 to 07) isolated from a Hy-peraccumulator-Solanum nigrum L. were resistant to Cd2+, and the strain SDE06 survived even in the medium containing 80 mg/L of Cd2+. Bacteria strain SDE06 was identified as Bacillus sp.. The removal of Cd2+ of SDE06 in different conditions were studied. Under the optimal conditions, the incubating time was 36 h, the solution pH 6.0, the temperature was 37?C and the Cd2+ concentration of medium was 20 mg/L, the highest removal rate was up to 80.2% at this condition.

Connexin-43 (Cx43) expression in prostate cancer (PCa) cells and the potency of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) in the cells were investigated, with an attempt to elucidate the reason why the so-called "bystander effect" mediated by thymidine kinase (TK) suicide gene therapy on PCa cells is not of significance and to explore the role of GJIC in PCa carcinogenesis. mRNA and protein expression of Cx43 in a PCa cell line PC-3m was detected by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and strapt-avidin-biotin-enzyme complex (SABC) immunohistochemical staining, and inherent GJIC of PC-3m cells was assayed by scrape-loading and dye transfer (SLDT) assay. The expression of Cx43 in human normal and malignant prostate tissues was determined by SABC immunohistochemistry as well. It was found that Cx43 mRNA and protein expression in PC-3m cells was slightly reduced as compared with positive controls and the location of Cx43 protein was aberrant in cytoplasm rather than on membrane. Assessment of paraffin sections demonstrated that the expression of Cx43 protein in PCa cells was abnormally located and markedly diminished as compared with normal prostatic epithelial ones, displaying a negative correlation to the pathological grade (chi2=4.025, P<0.05). Additionally, capacity of inherent GJIC in PC-3m cells was disrupted, which was semi-quantified as (+) or (-). It was indicated that both down-regulated expression of Cx43 mRNA and aberrant location of Cx43 protein participated in the mechanisms leading to deficient GJIC in PC-3m cells. Lack of efficient GJIC is a molecular event, which may contribute not only to limited extent of "bystander effect", but also to initiation and progression of prostatic neoplasm.

In this study, we investigated the pharmacokinetics parameters of SPIO-shRNA dual functional molecular probe and observed the main organ distribution by MRI in vivo. Eighteen New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups and injected intravenously with different doses of SPIO-shRNA molecular probe, respectively. The blood samples were collected to analyze the pharmacokinetic parameters by measuring the iron content at 30 minutes before and after the injection. Twenty-four Kun Ming (KM) mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: the control group was injected intravenously with physiological saline 200 µL per mouse via the tail vein, the other 3 groups were injected intravenously with different doses of SPIO-shRNA molecular probe. MRI observation was performed in 24 hours, and the liver, spleen, kidney, brain and muscle were collected for iron quantification with Prussian blue staining to determine distribution of the SPIO-shRNA molecular probe in the main organ in vivo. Our results suggest that the molecular probe blood half-life is more than 3 hours. The data of MRI suggest the probe was distributed in liver and spleen, and the MRI signal was reduced with the increase in probe's doses (P < 0.05). The results of Prussian blue staining confirmed the results of MRI. Most of the probe could escape the phagocytosis of mononuclear phagocyte system. Our data provide the pharmacokinetic and distribution of SPIO-shRNA molecular probe in organs. Meanwhile, it suggests the choice of the time and dose of probe for MR imaging of tumor in vivo.
Animals ; Half-Life ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetite Nanoparticles ; Mice ; Molecular Probes ; pharmacokinetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; chemistry ; Rabbits

Objective To retrospectively assess diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)in preoperative assessment of local extent of breast ductal carcinoma in situ(DCIS)and DCIS with small invasive foci,compared with the mammography and ultrasonography(US)imagings.Methods Results of MRI,mammography,and US imaging from 17 consecutive women with known breast DCIS and DCIS with invasive foci were analyzed,and then compared with pathologic examination.Results(1) Fourteen lesions showed enhancement on dynamic breast MRI,of which 11 lesions were no-mass-like enhancement.Six of 11 lesions appeared segmental enhancement,and 2 were regional enhancement.Ductal and multiple focal areas enhancement were 1 case respectively.Symmetric diffuse enhancement in bilateral breast was showed in 1 patient.Ductal dilation was visible in ipsilateral breast on pre-contrast MRI in 2 cases,which manifested bloody nipple discharge in clinical examination,and duct enhanced on post- contrast imaging in one of them.Two lesions appeared mass enhancement with irregular shape and homogeneous signal.Linear enhancement surrounding the oval homogeneous mass with smooth margin found in 1 case.(2)Thirteen of 17 patients underwent bilateral mammography.There were various findings in mammograms,including microcalcifications(6 cases),normal mammograms(2 cases),calcifications with other appearance(2 cases),and non-calcification abnormity(3 cases).In 8 lesions with calcifications, 5 were noted higher probability of malignancy calcifications and 3 intermediate concern calcifications. Calcifications distributed clustered(5 cases),regional(2 cases)and diffuse(1 case)shape.(3)Sixteen of 17 patients were performed breast US examination.Eleven lesions,which were correct diagnosed, appeared higher echo spots within irregular lower echo area.One lesion diagnosed benign and 4 were negative on US examination.(4)Regarded the size measured on pathologic examination as golden standard, accordance of lesion extent was 13 of 17 case in MRI,7 of 13 in mammography,and 7 of 16 in US.There were 2 lesions overestimation of extent in MRI,3 in mammography,and 2 in US.Underestimation of extent showed 1 case and 3 cases in mammography and US imaging respectively.The difference was not significant (P = 0.161).Conclusion The MR imaging features of DCIS and DCIS with small invasive loci were characteristic.The combination of MRI and mammography could improve diagnostic accuracy.

Forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii), a rare wild medicinal animal, is listed under the category of the state key protected wildlife list of China. Musk, secreted by the musk glands, is with high economic and medicinal value and used as precious traditional medicine in China. In order to meet the needs of musk in Chinese traditional medicine, forest musk deer farming was conducted in 1950s, but the research progress on musk secretion mechanism was slow. Therefore, by reviewing the histological and anatomical structure of forest musk deer musk gland, the relationship between sex hormones and the musk secretion process, and the molecular mechanism of the musk secretion, the existing problems in investigating the musk secretion mechanism were analyzed and the development trends in this field were also discussed, in order to provide a reference for further studies on the musk secretion mechanism and improve musk production of forest musk deer.
Animals ; Deer ; metabolism ; Exocrine Glands ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; secretion ; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Male

Objective To study the renal damage of patients with juvenile primary Sjgren's syndrome (pSS)and its clinical manifestations,pathologic characteristics with biopsy,treatment and prognosis.Methods Ten patients with juvenile pSS complicated with renal impairments were retrospectively analyzed.Data of these 10 patients were compared with those without renal impairments.Results Ten patients complicated with renal impairments in 24 patients with juvenile pSS,9 of them presented with type I renal tubular acidosis(RTA), 5 with hypokalemia paralysis,3 with calcification of the renal tissue,3 with positive urine protein.1 with dia- betes insipidus.There was no significant difference between patients with renal impairments and those without. Three patients underwent kidney biopsy that showed chronic interstitial nephritis(CIN)with extensive lymp- hoplasmie cell infiltration.Two patients had glomerular lesions and one of them was diagnosed as pSS over- laped with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE).Steroid and immunosuppressive agents had significantly alle- viated symptoms and the hypergammaglobulinemia was significantly improved.Conclusion Renal impairment may be the major complication in juvenile pSS.The major clinical manifestations are RTA and the glomeruli are involved occasionally.Treatment with steroid anti immunnsuppressive agents should be given to those who have evidence of systemic involvement.

This study presented our experience in the treatment of testicular torsion, which may help achieve early diagnosis and improve therapeutic effects. A retrospective analysis was conducted in 71 patients with testicular torsion who were treated in our hospital from October 2007 to April 2011. The age of the patients ranged from 16 days to 34 years. All the patients had unilateral testicular torsion, which took place on the left side in 43 cases and on the right side in 28 cases. The course of the disease varied between three hours to 30 days. Post-operative follow-up was conducted until October 2011. Items examined included signs and symptoms at their first clinical visit, ultrasound findings, treatment in emergency surgery, and post-operative follow-up. In this study, the 71 patients were diagnosed with testicular torsion by color Doppler sonography, 7 had testicular fixation, 63 patients received orchiectomy, while 1 patient did not undergo surgery due to pressure from family members. Post-operative follow-up showed that the one patient's testicle, which had been reserved, atrophied, while all the other survived. No recurrence was found during the follow-up visits. It is concluded that an early diagnosis and surgery is important in improving the survival rate of testicular torsion, and the diagnosis and treatment by the first attending clinician is of critical importance.