Codon ; Computational Biology ; methods ; Evolution, Molecular ; Influenza A virus ; classification ; genetics ; Influenza Vaccines ; immunology ; Molecular Biology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Viral ; chemistry ; Viral Proteins ; chemistry

Objective To understand the relationship between clinical manifestations and Kashin-Beck disease(KBD) and their contribution to diagnosis of KBD and to construct the diagnosis model for KBD in adolescents.Methods A total of 2248 subjects under the age of 18 were collected from 6 KBD endemic and 1 non-KBD areas of the Shaanxi province in China.Analysis of 32 indicators,including gender,age,and KBD clinical indicators.Indicators of the distribution of measurement data between the two groups using t test and analysis of variance,x2 test with count data,multi-category ordered response variables Logistic regression analysis for model building.Results It showed the KBD prevalence rate in adolescent had an increasing tendency with age.Analysis of indicators between the two groups,in addition to the age factor(P ＜ 0.05),the difference of ankle pain,knee pain,wrist movement disorder and other 5 indicators(P ＜ 0.05) and the last bend,elbow movement disorder,syndactyly and other 9 indicators(P ＜ 0.01 ) were statistically significant.Sixteen clinical and radiographic features in the clinical manifestations were significantly related with the clinical severity grading with KBD(P ＜ 0.01 ).Four models on the diagnostic indictors were constructed by cumulative logit model for adolescent KBD (-21ogL,Score,Wald x2 test,P ＜ 0.01 ).Conclusions The establishment of the diagnostic model based on their contribution of the joint involvement in systemic performance-related indicators has an important role for clinical diagnosis of KBD.

Objective To analyze the results of postoperative conventional radiotherapy supplemen- ted by stereotactic radiotherapy for glioma and with analysis of prognostic factors.Methods From Dec. 1998 to Dee.2004,143 patients with brain glioma were postoperatively treated with conventional radiotherapy supplemented by stereotactic radiotherapy.Steretactic radiotherapy of 5-7 Gy/fraction,to totally 5-7 fractions were added as boost to the GTV following the conventional radiotherapy.The conventional radiotherapy,ai- ming at the peri-tumoral subclinical micro-loci,was about 50 Gy.Results The KPS grades were 81?9, 71?9 in patients 3-6 month after treatment in contrast to that prior to operation (t=5.98,P＜0.01 ).CR 39 patients (27.3%) ,PR 70 patients(49.0% ) ,NC 25 patients(17.5%),PD 9 patients(6.3%),with an effi- ciency rate of 76%.The 1-,3-,and 5-year survival rate was 56.6%,36.0% and 21.7%,respectively. Prognostic factor analysis showed that patients with low grade glioma had better survival time.Age,tumor site and dose,etc were unrelated to prognosis.Conclusion Stereotactic radiotherapy supplementing conven- tional radiotherapy is effective for postoperative brain glioma,which method not only shows excellence in physical dose distribution but strictly in accordance with the principle of radiobiology also.

OBJECTIVETo clarity the original plants and the main application varieties of White Flos Gentianae.

METHODHerbal textual research, wild specimen collection, investigation and collection of the samples from Tibetan hospital, Tibetan pharmaceutical factory and medical material market were carried out simultaneously to identify the original plants of White Flos Gentianae.

RESULTThe results of varieties textual research and specimen identification showed that Gentiana szechenyii, G. purdomii and G. algida were in accord with the record of Tibetan herbal textual The three species above were the original plants of White Flos Gentianae. The identification of 20 batches samples showed that G. szechenyii was the main application variety. The other varieties were only used in Tibetan hospitals. All the samples above were flowering branches.

CONCLUSIONIt was necessary to strengthen the research on variety systematization of White Flos Gentianae make a further discussion on the taxonomy position of G. purdomii, G. algida and the white flos population. Its was also nessary to establish and improve the quality standard of different variety based on the principle of "one species, one name". The quality specification of White Flos Gentianae should be established and improved to standard clinical utilization and produce feeding. More study of resources investigation and cultivation of G. szechenyii should be carried on to meet the demand of produce and clinic.

China ; Drug Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Flowers ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Gentiana ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; classification ; growth & development ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Medicine in Literature ; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; history ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification ; growth & development

Objective To study the accuracy and the clinical significance of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB)after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.Methods A total of 90 patients with StageⅡorⅢbreast cancer and negative axillary node after neoadjuvant chemotherapy were enrolled in the study.Mapping proce- dure and SLNB were performed using methylene blue injected at the site of the primary breast cancer,followed by the axillary lymph node dissection.Results The sentinel lymph node(SLN)was successfully identified in 82 out of 90 patients(91.1%).The number of sentinel harvested nodes ranged from 1 to 4(average 1.6).The accuracy of SLNB to predict the axillary lymph node status was 93.9 %(77/82),the sensitivity,positive predictive value,nega- tive predictive value and false negative rate were 87.5 %(40/45),100 %,88.1% and 11.1%(5/45),respectively. The SLN identification rate tended to be higher and false negative rate tended to be lower in patients with T2 prima- ry tumor before neoadjuvant chemotherapy.Conclusion Our study indicated that SLNB after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with StageⅡorⅢbreast cancer had a similar effect as SLNB in non-neoadjuvant studies. SLNB was considered to be able to accurately predict the axillary lymph node status in patients with T2 primary tu- mor before neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

BACKGROUNDTo investigate the relation between FLIP expression and apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSFLIP expression was examined in forty-eight paraffin-embeded NSCLC samples and 16 benign pulmonary disease tissues by immunohistochemistry method. Apoptosis of NSCLC cells was detected by TUNEL technique.

RESULTSThe positive rate of FLIP expression in NSCLC was 83.33%(40/48), which was significantly higher than that in benign pulmonary disease tissues (P < 0.01). The expression level of FLIP was closely related to TNM stages and lymph node involvement, but not to histological classification and cell differentiation. No correlation was observed between the expression of FLIP and apoptosis index of tumor cells (r=-0.211,P > 0.05 ).

CONCLUSIONSOverexpression of FLIP may be involved in the progression of NSCLC, but its expression may not be related to cell apoptosis in NSCLC.

Twenty Newcastle disease virus(NDV)strains were isolated from diseased chicken and geese in field outbreaks during 2005 and 2006 in some regions of Jiangsu and Guangxi,and the antigenic analysis of the all NDV isolates had been done based on the reaction spectrum with a panel of monoclonal antibodies to the HN glycoprotein.The entire ORFs encoding HN protein of these NDV isolates were amplified by RT-PCR successfully,cloned and sequenced.The resultant sequences of HN genes of 13 isolates of chicken origin and 7 isolates of goose origin were gained and analyzed.The results of reaction spectrum showed that there were some distinct differences in the antigenic epitopes among the 20 NDV isolates.And the sequences revealed that the coding regions of the HN genes of these isolates all consisted of 1716 nt characteristic of virulent strains of NDV,coding for 571 amino acids.Neucleotides sequence homology were found to be from 94.8%to 100%among 18 NDV isolates of genotypeⅦ,and the neucleotides sequence homology between all the isolates and the other genotypeⅦstrains of recent years in China ranged from 92.1%to 99.6%.The deduced amino acid sequences and the receptor-binding regions of HN proteins between the NDV isolates of chicken origin and of goose origin were compared and analyzed.The results showed that some unique amino acid substitutions were found in the genome of the NDV isolates,and the close genetic similarity provided evidence for epidemiological linkage between the NDV isolates of chicken origin and of goose origin in the same period.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the potential effect of bifidobacterial supplement on intestinal mucosal immunity associated with severe burns.

METHODSWistar rats were randomly divided into burn control group (BC group, n = 30), treatment group (BT group, n = 30), and sham-burn group (NC group, n = 10). Rats in BT group were fed bifidobacterial preparation (5 x 10(9) CFU/ml) after 30% total body surface area full-thickness burns, 1.5 ml, twice daily. Rats in BC group and NC group were fed normal saline, 1.5 ml, twice daily. Samples were taken on post-burn 1-, 3-, and 5-day. The incidence of bacterial translocation and bifidobacteria counts in the cecum mucosa were determined with standard methods. The sIgA levels in the mucus of the small intestine were measured by RIA. The positive sIgA expression in the lamina propria was detected by immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSThe incidence of bacterial translocation was 42% and 16% in BC and BT groups on post-burn day 3 (P = 0.004), 30% and 8% on day 5 (P = 0.002), respectively. Plasma endotoxin levels were markedly higher in BC and BT groups than in NC group at the early stage post-burn. There was a significant decrease between BT group and BC group on post-burn day 1 (P = 0.0412). Bifidobacteria counts in cecum mucosa were reduced by 10- to 60-fold after thermal injury, but there was a remarkable increase in bifidobacteria counts in animals fed with bifidobacteria. sIgA levels in the intestinal mucus were significantly decreased in group BC, but they returned to normal range in BT group on post-burn day 5. Similarly, sIgA expression in the lamina propria was also weakened after burns, and had a tendency to recover after prescription of a 5-day bifidobacteria-supplemented formula. A strong positive correlation was observed between the counts of bifidobacteria in the cecal mucosa and the levels of sIgA in the intestinal mucus (r = 0.7534, P = 0.0000).

CONCLUSIONSThe expression and excretion of sIgA in the intestine appear to be markedly inhibited following a severe thermal injury. The supplement of exogenous bifidobacteria could improve sIgA formation in the small intestine, thereby reducing the incidence of bacterial/endotoxin translocation secondary to major burns.

Animals ; Bacterial Translocation ; Bifidobacterium ; physiology ; Burns ; immunology ; microbiology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory ; biosynthesis ; Intestinal Mucosa ; immunology ; microbiology ; Male ; Probiotics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo explore the pharmacologic effects of Chinese medicine Bushen Huayu Jiedu Compound Recipe (BSHYJDR) in drug-resistance cells of lung cancer.

METHODSHuman lung adenocarcinoma A549/DDP cell strain was selected, serum pharmacology and flow cytometer (FCM) method were adopted, S180 tumor-bearing mice and normal mice were given, through gastrogavage, different doses of a decocted concentration of BSHYJDR. Serum from the abdominal aorta was taken to observe the effect of drug-serum on cisplatin (DDP) concentration, free Ca2+ concentration and the expression of lung drug-resistance protein LRP-56 in A549/DDP cells.

RESULTSCompared with the drug-resistance group, the intracellular DDP concentration in the group taking a high dose and the normal group of Chinese medicine showed significant difference (P<0.05), while no significant difference was found in the low-dose group (P>0.05). Compared with the drug-resistance group, the Ca2+ concentration in cells and the expression of LRP in lung cancer drug-resistance cells A549/DDP of the high-dose group, the low-dose group and the normal group of Chinese medicine were significantly different (all P<0.01), the LRP expression of the normal group was obviously higher than that of the drug-resistance group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONIt was indicated that serum containing Chinese medicine BSHYJDR in the tumor-bearing mice and the normal mice had certainly different, tumor-bearing mice serum containing could improve drug concentration in lung cancer drug-resistance cells, prevent the inflow and release of Ca2+, and inhibit the expression of the drug-resistance gene in the lung cancer drug-resistance cells, which might be the mechanism of BSHYJDR in enhancing the efficacy in reversing and inhibiting tumor.

Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mice ; Vault Ribonucleoprotein Particles ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the pathological course in intracranial aneurysms.

METHODSNormal intracranial artery tissue (cortex fistulization) from 1 case, ruptured aneurysms tissuses from 11 cases, unruptured aneurysm tissues from 2 cases were obtained by neurosurgical excision. Routine HE staining was used to observe histological characteristics. In situ hybridization was used to observe the expression of the monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) mRNA in the walls of the normal artery and aneurysms.

RESULTSBy the HE staining showed that the wall of the ruptured aneurysms (10 cases) and unruptured ones (2 cases) had increased intima and connectivum extima. The fibroblast in the intima was arrayed in the disorder. Monocyte-like cells can be seen in the whole aneurysm wall. In one case aneurysms wall (ruptured) glass-like fiber structure was left over, few cells could be seen. In 9 cases, mural thrombus was found. The thrombus represented with organization. In situ hybridization, MCP-1 mRNA was not detectable in the normal artery. The hybridization signal could be observed in the ruptured aneurysms (10 cases) and unruptured ones (2 cases) often in the intima. MCP-1 mRNA appeared to be expressed by fibroblast cells in its cytoplasm. Monocyte-like cells had little cytoplasm, and the signal was seldom seen. The hybridization signal was discontinuous in the intima, MCP-1 mRNA expressed where fibroblast and monocyte-like cells assembled. One ruptured aneurysm had no signal because there were no cells only glass-like fiber. Mural thrombus showed upregulated hybridization signal in the cytoplasm of fibroblasts, phlogocytes and endotheliocytes of its micrangium.

CONCLUSIONThe pathological representation of the ruptured and unruptured aneurysms and the upregulated expresion of MCP-1 in the aneurysm wall suggest that the development of aneurysm may be a course of chronic inflammation in which main inflammatory cells are monocyte-like cells.

Aneurysm, Ruptured ; Chemokine CCL2 ; Endothelium, Vascular ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; RNA, Messenger