A modified multipoint method for enumeration of bacteria capable of various biochemical degradation reactions in soil is described.After continuous two\|crop winter wheat and summer corn rotation with no\|tillage for many years,the counts of hydrolysis of starch,xylan,pectin,protein,cellulose,chitin,lecithin and lipids bacteria were all increased significantly in no\|tillage 0\|10 cm soil depth compared to conventional tillage and direct drilling.

Objective To investigate the application value of free plasma metanephrines metanephrine(MN) and normetanephrine (NM) measured with enzyme immunoassay (EIA), NM in diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. Methods Histologically confirmed pheochromocytomas (n=30) and control patients with hypertension (n=51) were enrolled in the study. Blood tests for free plasma metanephrines(MN and NM) were performed with a commercially available EIA kit and the results were compared with [3] I-metaiedobenzyl guanidine (MIBG) whole body scan findings. Results The whole body scan was positive in all pheochromocytoma patients and negative in 15 control patients with 100% accuracy. The median values in the 2 groups were 59.3 ng/L and 33.7 ng/L (Z=-2. 440, P<0.05) for MN, 652.0 ng/L and 36. 3 ng/L (Z=-6.699, P<0.001) for NM, with 96. 7% (29/30) sensitivity, 86. 3% (44/51)specificity and 90.1% (73/81) accuracy for their combination ( either or both positive). There was no significantly statistical difference when compared with 13I-MIBG whole body scan findings (100. 0% ,P >0. 05). Conclusion The results show that the EIA method may be eligible as an alternative to HPLC for plasma metanephrines determination in the identification of pheochromocytoma.

Background and purpose:Bone metastases leads to the destruction of bones by changing the level of bone turnover markers.The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical application value of bone turnover markers in bone metastases for non-small cell lung cancer,which included the diagnosis and spread behavior of bone metastases.Methods:AKP,β-CTx,OST and BALP were measured in 76 NSCLC with bone metastases patients and 44 normal people.Results:The level ofAKP,β-CTx and BALP in patients with bone metastasis was significantly higher than in the subjects without bone metastases.There were significant correlations among the bone turnover markers.The levels of BALP and OST were significantly positively correlated with the extent of bone metastasis.Patients with high-levels of CTx and low-levels of BALP had a higher risk of pathologic fracture.Conclusion:In patients with bone metastases from NSCLC,bone turnover markers can help make diagnoses and evaluate severity of disease.It potentially has a wide range of uses in clinical practice.

BACKGROUND:Studies have demonstrated that prosthetic valve endocarditis is primarily caused by bacteria adhering on the surface of the materials.Thus,the relationship of prosthetic valve materials with bacteria adhesion and growth is an important subject.OBJECTIVE:To explore the influence of prosthetic valve materials on bacteria growth through observing the relationship of bacteria adhesion on prosthetic valve materials and bacteria growth.DESIGN,TIME AND SETTING:Repetitive measurement was performed at the Department of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery,Third Hospital of Kunming Medical College from January to March 2001.MATERIALS:Terylene(Dacron)was purchased from Man-made Blood Vessel Laboratory of Suzhou Weaves Belt Factory;polytetrafluoroethylene was provided by Teflon-GoreTexW.L.Gore & Associates,Inc.Arizona,USA;pyrolytic carbon was provided by Department of Biological Material of Sichuan Union University;staphylococcus anreus,Escherichia coli,staphylococcus epidermidis,and Pseudomonas aerugmosa were prepared by our laboratory.METHODS:The growth curve of staphylococcus aureus,staphylococcus epidermidis,Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa on dacron,pyrolytic carbon and pelytetrafluoroethylene were quantitatively determined respectively by plate counting and gamma.ray counting of 125 Ⅰ radiolabeled bacteria in vitro.Bacteria growing normally served as control.All bacteria were cultured for 30 hours,and bacteria concentration was determined every 2 hours.In addition,the adhesive capacities of foMr kinds of bacteria on dacron,pyrolytic carbon and polytetrafluoroethylene were detected Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa on dacron,pyrolytic carbon and polytetrafluoroethytene.RESULTS:There were no significant differences in adhesive capacities of each bacterium on dacron,pyrolytic carbon and polytetrafluoroethylene at the same time point(P>0.05).The differences in growth curve of four kinds of bacteria on prosthetic valve materials were not remarkable compared to the control(P>0.05).Different bacteria showed different adhesion degree on the materials:staphylococcus aureus exhibited strongest adhesion on dacron;staphylococcus epidermidis on pyrolytic carbon;Escherichia coli on dacron.The adhesive capacity of Pseudomonas aerugmosa on dacron reached peak within 12 hours,and gradually decreased,but maintained strong adhesion on the other materials.The adhesive capacmes of four bacteria on the materials did not increase or maintain with time.CONCLUSION:The adhesive capacity of one bacterium to different artificial valve materials and different bacteria to one prosthetic valve materials is different.The materials.show little influence on bacterium growth cycle.

Cerebral venous thrombosis, as a rare extraintestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease, is often neglected in the course of clinical diagnosis and treatment. This article reviews the advances in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease related cerebral venous thrombosis.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a biofilm model of Haemophilus influenzae and observe the effect of ambroxol on biofilm of Haemophilus influenzae and bactericidal action. METHOD: Thirty strains of Haemophilus influenzae were isolated from adenoids of children with adenoidal hypertrophy. Two strains which could build stronger biofilms was selected in a 96-well plate. The effect of ambroxol on biofilms were determined by crystal violet, and the structure of biofilms were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The numbers of viable bacterial in biofilm after ambroxol treatmented determined by plate culture count. RESULT: Through crystal violet assay, significant difference (P < 0.01) between the two group after treatment was found when ambroxol concentration reached at 0.25 mg/ml and 0.49 mg/ml. The biofilms was destroyed by SEM. Ambroxol had the positive effect on bacterial killing by plate culture count,and the effect was in a dose dependent. CONCLUSION Ambroxol could destroy the biofilm of Haemophilus influenzae, and had bactericidal function in vitro.
Ambroxol ; pharmacology ; Biofilms ; drug effects ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Haemophilus influenzae ; drug effects ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests

Objective To investigate the patterns of change in thyroid functional parameters ( serum TSH,FT3, and FT4 ) in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) before and after the initial 131I treatment for thyroidal remnant ablation. Methods Seventy-four PTC patients, treated with 3.7 GBq 131 I therapy, were divided into two groups, group A with serum TSH＜30 mIU/L and group B with serum TSH ≥30 mIU/L the day before 131I treatment. Five days after the treatment, the patients were re-examined for serum FT3, FT4, and TSH levels.Results In group A (22 cases), 5 days after the 131I ablation treatment, FT4significantly increased by 88% and FT3 by 87%, while TSH decreased by 87% (all P＜0. 05 ), and 45% (10/22)cases manifested the signs of transient thyrotoxicosis. In group B (52 cases)after treatment, individual variance of FT3 and FT4 was obvious,with FT4 decreased by 13% and FT3 decreased by 14% ( both P＜0. 05 ), while TSH slightly increased by an average of 6% ( P＞0.05 ). Conclusion After the initial 131 I ablation therapy for thyroidal remnant, the thyroid hormone levels in some PTC patients significantly increase while in others may slightly decrease in the early stage. The supplementary and suppressive therapy after 131I ablation for PTC patients might be individualized depending on the thyroid hormone determination.

Objective:To analyze the cause of varicocele (VC) recurrence and investigate the efficacy of sub-inguinal microsurgical varicocelectomy (MV) for recurrent VC.Methods:All of 16 inpatients diagnosed as recurrent VC, in the Department of Andrology of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from 2015 April to 2019 April, were performed sub-inguinal MV. The age of the inpatients was 18-36 years old, median 27 years old.5 cases were originally performed retroperitoneal high ligation of spermatic vein and other 11 cases were originally performed laparoscopic varicocelectomy. During the review one to three years after the previous operation, all of 16 patients were diagnosed as VC recurrence. The complains of these patients during the review included male subfertility (10 cases) and scrotal pain (12 cases), in which 6 cases’ complains were male subfertility with scrotal pain. After admission, 13 patients were classified as Grade Ⅲ (left in 8 cases, bilateral in 5 cases) and 3 patients as Grade Ⅱ (all left). The median of their visual analogue scale (VAS) was 2.5. Color doppler flow imaging (CDFI) grading showed: Grade Ⅲ in 12 cases (left in 7 cases, bilateral in 5 cases), Grade Ⅱ in 4 cases (all left). Particularly, 12 of them were Graded as Ⅲ simultaneously accompanying with Nut-cracker Phenomenon (NCP). Preoperative tests showed that the average serum testosterone was (16.2±4.9)nmol/ml, the average sperm concentration was (11.8±3.9)×10 6/ml and the progressive motility rate (PR) was (24.4±4.2)%. All of the patients were performed sub-inguinal MV using general anesthesia and supine position. The spermatic cords were clearly exposed and padded up by inserting gauze strips under them. During the operation, the field was magnified 4-6 times with the microscope. Then all of the dilated external and internal spermatic veins were ligated, at the same time the internal spermatic artery and lymph vessels were well preserved. During these operations, 11 patients underwent left-side MV, while other 5 did bilateral MVs. During these MVs, we found twisted and dilated external and internal spermatic veins in all cases and well preserved the internal spermatic arteries and lymph vessels. The number of ligated left and right external spermatic veins were(2.1±0.6) and (1.4±0.5)respectively and the number of ligated left and right internal spermatic veins were (10.1±1.1) and (6.6±0.5) respectively. We also found out(1.3±0.5) internal spermatic arteries and (3.0±1.0)lymph-vessels on left side. On right side, there were (1.4±0.5) internal spermatic arteries and (2.6±0.5) lymph-vessels respectively. At last, we summarily analyzed the pre-operative and post-operative VAS, serum testosterone, CDFI and semen analysis data. Results:All of the 16 sub-inguinal MVs were successfully performed. All patients were reviewed comprehensively 6 months after MV. The reviewed results showed that the post-operative VAS was significantly reduced ( Z=-2.994, P<0.05), palpable scrotal vessels disappeared and Valsalva tests were negative. No obvious reflux of internal spermatic veins were detected by CDFI. Interestingly, the sperm concentration and motility were both significantly improved 6 months after MV ( P<0.05), while there was not remarkable increase of the serum testosterone after MV ( P>0.05). During the follow up, no testicular atrophy, hydrocele and other complications were found. Up to submission, five of the ten patients who presented for male subfertility have impregnated their wives. Conclusions:The most possible cause of VC recurrence could be the omission of the external and internal spermatic veins, particularly in the grade Ⅲ VC patients or VC accompanied with NCP. The sub-inguinal MV, which can discover more twisted spermatic veins and at the same time preserve the spermatic artery and lymph-vessels, shows better clinical efficacy than other procedures.

Carotid atherosclerosis,especially unstable carotid plaque,is closely related to stroke.Serum biomarkers have unique value for screening and identifying high-risk carotid plaque.This article reviews the serum biomarkers of unstable carotid plaque.

Objective To explore the relationship between the distribution characteristics and the habitat factors of the invasive B. straminea in South China. Methods From October 2016 to August 2017, the breeding condition and habitat factors of B. straminea were investigated in the rivers of Shenzhen and its adjacent areas in the dry season, normal season and wet reason. The generalized additive model (GAM) was used to study the main habitat factors affecting the distribution density of B. straminea. Results The distribution characteristics of B. straminea showed obvious aggregation and unevenness in space. In terms of time, the density of snails was the highest in the dry season, followed by the normal water season and the least in the wet season. The GAM model analysis showed that the main habitat factors affecting the distribution density of B. straminea were water depth, water temperature, flow velocity, dissolved oxygen, and total phosphorus. When the flow velocity and water temperature were 0.25 m / s and 26 °C, respectively, the largest distribution density of snails might appear. The distribution density of B. straminea was positively correlated with dissolved oxygen and total phosphorus. Conclusion B. straminea is suitable to live in the water environment with poor water quality. In the future, the monitoring should be strengthened to provide reference for the prevention and control of the spread of the snails.