Objective To investigate the effect of compound preparation of Astragalus mongho-licus on subsets of lymphocytes in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG), and to explore its regulatory mechanism. Methods 60 MG patients were randomly divided into test group (n=30, given compoundpreparation of Astragalus mongholicus for 12 wks) and control group (n=30, given prednisone tablets for 12 wks). Flow cytometry was applied to examining the distribution change of the subsets of lym-phocytes in patients before and after treatment. Results After treatment, the percentages of CD4+ T cells and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ in both groups decreased compared with those before treatment.The ratio of CD4+/CD8+ in test group was significantly lower than that in control group (P<0.05).The percentage of CD8+ T cells in test group after treatment increased significantly (P<0.05) com-pared with that before treatment, but had no significant difference compared with that in control group(P>0. 05). Conclusion The result from the current study suggests that one of the mechanisms of the compound preparation of Astragalus monghoticus regulating immune response may be achieved through its modulating effect on the distribution of subsets of lymphoeytes and humoral immune func-tion.

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant tumor that develops in bone. Since chemotherapy was introduced into the multi-modality treatment regimen for high-grade osteosarcoma, its prognosis has been impressively improved; about two-thirds of all patients could achieve long-term survival. This review summarized the history of chemotherapy for osteosarcoma and current chemotherapeutic treatment strategies for classical osteosarcoma. The review also emphasized the necessity that the patients should be treated in specialized centers and prospective, multi-institutional trials are needed.

Automatic Data Processing ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Pulse

Most of the soil microorganisms are unculturable,which limits the exploitation and application of microbial resources.Metagenomics has great potential in the research of unculturable microorganisms in soil.Progress on the research of metagenomic DNA purification,metagenomic library construction and screening of soil microorganisms are reviewed briefly.

Acrolein ; poisoning ; Humans

Objective To evaluate the use of bunching forceps during radical prostatectomy. Methods 14 cases of radical prostatectomy/cystectomy were performed with the use of bunching forceps to control bleeding from the dorsal vein complex. Results The procedure resulted in minimal bleeding from dorsal complex and was helpful in rhabdosphincter. Conclusions The bunching forceps is very valuable for controlling bleeding from dorsal vein complex and for preserving rhabdosphincter.

Objective To study the diagnostic value of repetitive nerve stimulation test in myasthenia gravis. Method The repetitive nerve stimulation test was performed at axillary nerves, ulnar nerves and facial nerves in 36 patients with myasthenia gravis which treated in our hospital from 1996. 10 to 1999. 10. 108 nerves were tested. Result The RNS test positivity rate of amplitude decrement in 108 nerves was 60. 2% ( 65 nerves). Among them, the highest(77. 8% )positivity rate was deltoid mucle supported by axillary nerve, the lowest(41.7% ) was abductor digiti minimi mucle supported by ulnar nerve. There were 31 cases(86. 1% ) had one or more than one nerves with positive results in 36 patients. The best stimulation frequancy were 3 ～ 5 Hz. Conclusion Stimulate the axillary nerve, facial nerve and ulnar nerve in the same patient, would improve the RNS positivity rate in diagnosis of MG.

Objective To study the species and drug resistance of Mycobacterium isolated from patients with spu-tum smear positive for acid-fast bacillus in Wuj iang city,and provide reference for the prevention and control of tu-berculosis. Methods Sputum specimens with positive smear were cultured,isolated bacteria were identified and performed drug susceptibility testing,drug resistance among different species of strains and between patients with initial and repeated treatment were compared.Results A total of 1 03 Mycobacterium isolates were included in the study,13 of which were nontuberculous Mycobacterium,drug resistance rate was 100.00% ,multidrug resistance (MDR)rate was 84.62% ;90 isolates were Mycobacteriumtuberculosis,81(90.00% )of which were Mycobacteri-umhominis. Drug resistance rate of Mycobacteriumtuberculosiswas 35.56% ,MDR rate was 14.44% . Of 70 ini-tially treated tuberculosis patients with positive sputum smear,14(20.00% )were resistant to drugs,MDR rate was 4.28% (3/70);Of 20 repeatedly treated tuberculosis patients with positive sputum smear,18(90.00% )were resist-ant to drugs,MDR rate was 50.00% (10/20).Conclusion Mycobacteriumtuberculosisis the major isolated strain from patients with positive sputum smear. Drug resistance and MDR rates of nontuberculous Mycobacterium are very high. Drug resistance and MDR rates of Mycobacteriumtuberculosisin repeatedly treated patients are higher than initially treated patients.

In order to evaluate the use of transendoscopic miniature ultrasonic probe (TEMP) in the diagnosis of gastric submucosal tumor, 18 patients were investigated. The results obtained by TEMP were compared with those of gastroscopy, and endoscopical ultrasonography (EVS). The result showed that among those 18 patients, gastric submucosal leiomyomas, were common and accounted for 88.9％. Most of them were intramural. The diagnostic accuracy of TEMP for the size of tumor and gastric submucosal tumor was 88.9％ and 100％ respectively. Which were much higher than those of gastroscopy (33.3％ and 61.1％ respectively). The sonogrophic characteristics of gastric submucosal tumors in TEMP imaging were related to the nature of the tumors, hut the common manifestations were that all the tumors were hypoechoic under the hyperechoic mucosal layer with clear bell shaped origin, and usually appeared as round or nearly round intragastric eminence. It is concluded that the selective use of TEMP has great value in the diagnosis of gastric submucosal turmor, especially for those lesions which were small and difficult to be detected by EUS.

Objective To develop a new technique of air purification by plasma combined with photocatalysis. Methods Taken trichloroethylene as the air pollutant, the combined tests of the plasma unit and photocatalysis unit were conducted in different ways of combination (plasma and photocatalysis, photocatalysis and plasma) by adjusting the distance and setting some nets between them, then the purify efficiency was evaluated. Results The way of combination (plasma and photocatalysis) showed the best purify efficiency, when the distance was 32.5 cm, purify efficiency was more than 90%, steel net could increase purify efficiency by 6%, non-woven fabric by 9%. Conclusion The combined usage of plasma and photocatalysis, keeping a fit distance and setting a net of special material, may produce a considerable synergistic effect in air purification.