To evaluate the value of silicone intubation and ring-fixed method in canalicular laceration.
●METHODS: A retrospective study of 36 cases with laceration of lacrimal canaliculus. For all the patients, microscope was used to find the broken ends of the lacrimal canaliculus, and then straight insertion was performed to the distant and near broken ends through the upper and lower lacrimal points, then passed the dacryocyst to insert nasolacrimal canal and ended up in inferior nasal meatus. Thus, clinical data about forming annular support to treat laceration of lacrimal canaliculus was presented here.
● RESULTS: All 36 patients with traumatic canalicular laceration were anastomosed successfully and all patients healed without infection. The surgery went well, intubation was smoothly, all patients were followed - up for another 6mo after the stent was removed. The accidental fall off of the stent was not observed during the follow - up. During the follow - up 10 - 18mo after extubation, when the stent was removed, 32 cases (88. 9%) recovered to normal lacrimal drainage function;4 cases ( 11. 1%) remained epiphora with obstructed lacrimal passage. All cases were no lower eyelid ectropion.
●CONCLUSlON: For the patients with inferior canalicular laceration, the silicone intubation and ring-fixed method is effective, low irritation and less complication.

The cupping spot is considered as one kind of skin change due to cupping treatment. With literature regarding cupping spot, the influencing factors and value of cupping spot in clinical diagnosis and treatment were analyzed, which could make a further exploration on the action mechanism of cupping treatment. The literature showed that the formation of cupping spot was related with cupping temperature, pressure, cup-retaining time, cupping area, individual difference and health condition, etc; cupping spot had the ability to assist diagnosis, prevent disease, cure disease and evaluate clinical efficacy. Previous studies on cupping spot have already made some progress, and played a positive significance on finding cupping rule and studying its mechanism. However, the research for this area is still in the primary stage, which needed deeper study to reveal scientific connotations of cupping spot.
Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Skin ; anatomy & histology ; blood supply

Objective To study the impacts of the Three Gorges dam and change of water level on the survival of the local rodents, and to provide scientific basis to control the outbreak of rodent-borne diseases.Methods Four villages located around the Three Gorges dam were selected in the study. The mouse populations by using Elton night trapping method was monitored. Metallic spring traps were set for two consecutive nights. The mouse density and identified the mouse species was calculated. The mouse species indoor and outdoor, as well as the mouse density indoor and outdoor were compared. The impacts of water level in the dam and cleaning work on local mouse density were also analyzed. Results A total of 678 mice were caught in this study, 517 were caught indoor and 161 outdoor. Indoor dominant species was flavipectus; accounting for 36.49%(189/517), while outdoor was apodemus, reaching 56.88% (91/161). For mouse species, there was a significant difference between indoor and outdoor(x2 = 678.00, P ＜ 0.01 ). The average mouse density was 8.44%(678/8036) in trap nights. Indoor mouse density reached 14.44%(517/3581 ), which was significantly higher than that of outdoor(3.61%, 161/4455 ).For mouse density, there was a significant difference between indoor and outdoor(x2 = 301.04, P ＜ 0.01 ). When the water level was up to 156 m, mouse density reached 10%(513/5132), which was higher than that of before (5.68%, 165/2904). There was a significant difference in mouse density before and after reserving water (x2 = 44.68, P ＜ 0.01 ). With the change of water level, upstream mouse density formed a high platform from May 2007 to May 2008, followed by 12.25%(80/653), 13.16%(90/684), 12.95%(90/695), and decreased to 8.38%(28/334) after cleaning of the dam. Conclusions The Three Gorges dam and change of water level actually alter the survival environment of the local mouse, and affect local mouse density and mouse species. These may lead to local outbreak or epidemic of rodent-borne diseases.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of the generation 4 polyamidoamine/vascular endothelial growth factor antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (G4PAMAM/VEGFASODN) compound on the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its mRNA of breast cancer cells and on the inhibition of vascular endothelial cells.

METHODSWe examined the morphology of G4PAMAM/VEGFASODN compound and its pH stability, in vitro transfection efficiency and toxicity, and the expressions of VEGF and its mRNA. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay was used to detect the inhibitory function of the compound on vascular endothelial cells.

RESULTSThe compound was about 10 nm in diameter and was homogeneously netlike. From pH 5 to 10, it showed quite a buffered ability. The 48-h transfection rate in the charge ratio of 1:40 was 98.76%, significantly higher than that of the liposome group (P<0.05). None of the transfection products showed obvious toxicity on the cells. The expressions of both VEGF protein and its mRNA after G4PAMAM/VEGFASODN transfection decreased markedly.

CONCLUSIONWith a low toxicity, high safety, and high transfection rate, G4PAMAM/VEGFASODN could be a promising gene vector. Specifically, it inhibits VEGF gene expression efficiently, laying a basis for further in vivo animal studies.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; genetics ; Breast Neoplasms ; blood supply ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dendrimers ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Nylons ; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense ; genetics ; pharmacology ; ultrastructure ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Transgenes ; genetics ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism ; ultrastructure

OBJECTIVETo study the mutations in exons 3, 6, 7, 11 and 12 of the phenylalanine hydroxylase gene (PAH) in Shanxi population.

METHODSThe mutations in exons 3, 6, 7, 11 and 12 and flanking sequences of PAH gene were detected by PCR-DNA sequencing, in 59 patients with phynelketonuria(PKU) and 100 healthy children from Shanxi province.

RESULTSBy sequence analysis, three single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) Q232Q (CAA>CAG), V245V (GTG>GTA) and L385L (CTG>CTC) were detected in both the patients and healthy children, with the frequencies of nt 696, 735 and 1155 of the PAH cDNA up to 96.2%, 76.1% and 7.6% in patients respectively, and 97.0%, 77.3% and 8.3% respectively in the healthy controls. In addition, 72 different mutations accounting for 61.0% of mutant alleles were identified in the patients only. In exon 3, R111X, H64>TfsX9 and S70 del were found accounting for 5.1%, 0.8% and 0.8%; EX6-96A>G in exon 6 was found accounting for 10.2%. In exon 7, R243Q was the highest incidence accounting for 12.7%, followed by Ivs7+2 T>A(5.1%) and T278I(2.5%); the lowest incidences were G247V, R252Q, L255S, R261Q and E280K accounting for 0.8 %, respectively. In exon 11, Y356X (5.9%) and V399V (5.1%) were found; in exon 12, R413P and A434D were found accounting for 5.9% and 2.5%. In total, 9 missense mutations, 3 splice site mutations, 2 nonsense mutations and 2 deletions were included in 16 kinds of different mutations.

CONCLUSIONThe mutation characteristics and distribution in exons 3, 6, 7, 11 and 12 of the PAH gene have been identified, and it suggested that the EX6-96A>G and R243Q were the hot spots of PAH gene mutations in Shanxi PKU population.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mutation ; Phenylalanine Hydroxylase ; genetics ; Phenylketonurias ; enzymology ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) in transgenic safflower and lay the foundation for the use of the plant bioreactor large-scale production aFGF.

METHODThe haFGF gene was transformed into plant preference of the aFGF sequence as a basis for design of primers, plant preferences aFGF gene sequences was amplified by PCR. The vegetable body expression vector was constructed by using digested connection method and then transferred to Agrobacterium tumefaciens EHA105 by the freeze-thaw method. It transferred to safflowers by agrobacterium-mediated transformation method, and identified by PCR, southern blot and RT-PCR.

RESULTThe full-length aFGF gene sequences were amplified through PCR and constructed into plant expression vector with soybean oleosin and promoter, and transformed into safflower. Three independently transformed safflower plant units with point insertion were successfully obtained, which showed the same size of aFGF expression at the transcriptional level.

CONCLUSIONThe plant oil body expression vectors were successfully constructed, and the optimal condition for genetic transformation was selected. The transgenic safflower plants were obtained.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens ; genetics ; Carthamus tinctorius ; genetics ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transformation, Genetic

BACKGROUNDPrevious studies indicated that the time to positivity (TTP) of blood culture is a parameter correlating with degree of the bacteremia and outcome in patients with bloodstream infections caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli). The objective of this study was to further investigate the diagnostic and prognostic power of using TTP to predict E. coli bacteremia.

METHODSA retrospective cohort study at two university hospitals was conducted. We retrieved all the medical records of those with E. coli bloodstream infection according to the records generated by their microbiology departments. Univariate and multivariate analyses were applied to identify clinical factors correlating with fast bacterial growth and significant prognostic factors for hospital mortality.

RESULTSMedical records of 353 episodes of E. coli bacteremia diagnosed between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2009 were retrieved in the investigation. Univariate analysis demonstrated that the TTP ≤ 7 hours group is associated with higher incidence of active malignancies (41.7% vs. 27.2%, P = 0.010), neutropenia (30% vs.14.3%, P = 0.007), primary bacteremia (55.0% vs. 33.4%, P = 0.002), and poorer outcome (hospital mortality 43.3% vs.11.9%, P = 0.000) than the TTP > 7 hours group. Multivariate analysis revealed that the significant predictors of hospital mortality, in rank order from high to low, were TTP (for TTP ≤ 7 hours, odds ratio (OR): 4.886; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.572 - 9.283; P = 0.000), neutropenia (OR: 2.800; 95%CI: 1.428 - 5.490; P = 0.003), comedication of steroids or immunosuppressive agents (OR: 2.670; 95%CI: 0.971 - 7.342; P = 0.057).

CONCLUSIONSIncidence of malignancies, neutropenia and primary bacteremia correlates with fast bacterial growth in patients with E. coli bacteremia. The parameter of TTP has been identified as a variable of highest correlation to hospital mortality and therefore can be potentially utilized as a mortality prognostic marker.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bacteremia ; blood ; epidemiology ; mortality ; pathology ; Escherichia coli Infections ; blood ; epidemiology ; mortality ; pathology ; Female ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo establish a simple, rapid, inexpensive and sensitive method for detecting hot region for mutations in exon 7 of PAH gene.

METHODSHigh-resolution melting (HRM) technology was used to detect a c.728G>A mutation in exon 7 in 88 patients with classical type phenylketonuria. Suspected mutations were validated by direct DNA sequencing.

RESULTSThe results detected by HRM are in good agreement with the results obtained by direct sequencing.

CONCLUSIONHRM analysis is a simple, rapid, inexpensive and sensitive method for detecting hot mutational region in exon 7 of PAH gene.

Base Sequence ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; methods ; Exons ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Mutation ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; methods ; Nucleic Acid Denaturation ; Phenylalanine Hydroxylase ; genetics ; Phenylketonurias ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Transition Temperature

Aged ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Grading ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; blood ; etiology ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of G4PAMAM/VEGFASODN compound on expression of VEGF and VEGF mRNA in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells and the growth inhibition of vascular endothelial cells.

METHODSThe diameter of G4PAMAM/VEGFASODN granule was measured by transmission electron microscopy, and its stability under different pH was also observed. The efficiency of transfection in vitro was detected by flow cytometer and the positively transfected cells were detected by laser scanning confocal microscope. The survival rate and the inhibitory rate of vascular endothelial cells were determined by MTT assay. The expression of protein VEGF was detected by immunohistochemical method and the expression of VEGF mRNA was detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTThe diameter of G4PAMAM/VEGFASODN granules was about 10 nm and it arranged as homogeneous netlike. Under pH 5-10 G4PAMAM/VEGFASODN presented highly stable and no dissociation was observed with different charge ratios. The 48-hour transfection rate of G4PAMAM/VEGFASODN in charge ratio of 1:40 was significantly higher than that of the lipofectamine group. None of the transfection products in each group showed cell toxicity. The staining of VEGF protein in the cytoplasm of MDA-MB-231 cells after G4PAMAM/ASODN transfection weakened markedly, and the positive expression rate decreased. Meanwhile, the VEGF mRNA expression was also decreased.

CONCLUSIONWith good stability and transfection rate, compound G4PAMAM/VEGFASODN can be a promising new nanometer vector of gene transfer system. The G4PAMAM/VEGFASODN can inhibit the expression of VEGF gene specifically and efficiently, which may be used for in vivo animal experiment.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Breast Neoplasms ; blood supply ; genetics ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Dendrimers ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Nanoparticles ; Nylons ; pharmacology ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism