This paper reports the observations on morphological characteristics and locations of TNC in tree shrew(Tupaia beiangeri Chinensis)under EM.It is confirmed that all the TNC in 8 newborn tree shrews locate in the cortical area of the thymus.The characteristics of its ultrastructure are similar to what have been observed in the thymic cortex of human/mouse. The desmosomes of TNC and the structure that is in contact with the capillary in the human TNC have not been observed in the tree shrew.

Objective To understand the clinical features and laboratory examination and diagnosis of Langerhas cell histio-cytosis (LCH) in newborns. Methods Retrospective analysis of the clinical data of a neonatal case of LCH was performed. Results A one-day-old girl was admitted with chief complaint of eating less, less crying and skin rash for one day. The unequal sized rash was on the head, limbs, trunk, toe and oral mucosa. The skin rashes were protruding from the skin and were partially broken and crusted. Biopsy of the skin tissue showed the expression of S-100 and CD1α, consistent with the diagnosis of LCH. Conclusions When new-borns have special rash after birth, LCH should be considered. To avoid misdiagnosis, skin biopsy should be performed.

Objective To investigate the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of 3p D3S1300 and D3S1289 loci of plasma DNA of lung cancer (LC) patients and evaluate its value for a tumor marker of lung cancer.Methods Two microsatellite markers,D3S1300 and D3S1289,were analyzed by PCR and silver staining to investigate LOH of the plasma DNA and cancer tissue DNA from 69 cases of primary lung cancer,and the plasma DNA from 40 control subjects.Results The percentages of D3S1300 LOH detected in the tumor tissue and plasma DNA of LC patients were 40.6% and 29.0% respectively,while the percentages of D3S1289 LOH were 31.9% and 24.6% respectively.In contrast,only 2 cases of D3S1300 LOH and 3 cases of D3S1289 LOH were found in plasma DNA of control group (P

0.05).In LADA patients,multipe linear regression analysis showed that the risk factors related to the intima media thickness of common carotid artery were age,smoking and LDL-C and the risk factors related to the intima medial thickness of femoral artery were age,sex and LDL-C.Conclusion The prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis between LADA and type 2 diabetes is similar.LDL-C,age,sex and smoking may be the risk factors of subclinical AS in LADA patients.

Objective To screen the serum biomarkers by surface-enhanced laser desorption-ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) and establish the decision-tree model for the silica-exposed populations.Methods In addition to 20 healthy people without silica-exposed history chosen as control group,all the subjects diagnosed as different stages (stage 0 group,silica-exposed population,n=20;stage 0+ group, doubtful silicosis,n=20;stage Ⅰ group,stage Ⅰ silicosis) of silicosis according to the national diagnostic criteria (GBZ70-2002) of pneumonoconiosis with no complications were recruited. SELDI-TOF-MS and CM10 chip assay were applied to acquiring serum protein finger printing. The bioinformatic software was adopted to perform data ananlysis and establish Wilks'lambda decision equation and decision tree.Results As compared with that of control group, differential peaks appeared in three groups of silica-exposed population, accounting for 80% of total differential peaks. Wilks'lambda decision equation was established with M/Z 3711.73, M/Z 4183.66, M/Z 5487.28 and M/Z 6124.64, which sensitivity and specificity in differentiating healthy controls and silica-exposed population was 95% and 90% respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of decision tree was 100% and 95% respectively. Neither single peak nor Wilks'lambda decision equation worked well for discrimination of silica-exposed population, while the discriminating rates of decision tree accounted for 100%, 95%, 85% and 90% for healthy control group, stage 0 group, stage 0+ group, stage Ⅰ group respectively.Conclusion M/Z 5933.63,M/Z 4183.66,M/Z 5487.28,M/Z 6124.64,M/Z 5915.14,M/Z 2745.7, M/Z 3711.73, M/Z 2954.78 and M/Z 3401.03 are potential biomarkers for discriminating healthy controls and silica-exposed population, and the decision-tree works well for discrimination of controls, silica-exposed population, doubtful silicosis patients and stage Ⅰ silicosis ones.

Objective To investigate the effects of quercetin on the growth of lung cancer cell line A549 and the expression of hTERT gene. Methods The number of viable cells was ascertained by trypan blue dye exclusion test. Morphological changes of apoptotic cells were observed by electronic microscopy and DNA ladder assay. The telomerase activity was analyzed by PCR-TRAP assay and hTERT mRNA expression was detected by quantitative RT-PCR. Results Quercetin had a significant inhibition on the proliferation of A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The IC50 was 22.5 ?mol/L after exposure to quercetin for 48 h. The results from electron microscopy and DNA ladder showed that apoptosis occurred in the A549 cells of treatment groups. The results of quantitative RT-PCR and PCR-TRAP revealed that the expression of hTERT mRNA was significantly inhibited by quercetin and telomerase activity was decreased. Conclusion Quercetin inhibits the growth of lung cancer cell line A549 in a dose-dependent manner,and induce their apoptosis. The down-regulated expression of hTERT,suppression of telomerase activity and destruction of telomere stability may all contribute to the mechanism of apoptosis induction.

Objective To establish a continuous monitoring assay of serum argininosuccinate lyase (ASL) activity with automatic biochemistry analyzer, and perform methodology validation and preliminary clinical application.Methods According to the chemical reaction catalyzed by ASL and the working characteristics of automatic biochemistry analyzer, an enzyme coupled reaction system with high specificity was set up, and the methodology validation was performed.Three hundred and nine patients with various liver diseases, 269 non-liver disease patients and 40 healthy controls were enrolled in this study.Serum ASL, ALT, and AST level were determined in all subjects.Results A new kinetics assay of ASL activity was set up with automatic biochemistry analyzer.The methodological validation demonstratod that inter-assay and intra-assay coefficient of variation were 4.0% and 5.9% respectively and the mean recovery was 100.5%.The linear range was 0-167.7 U/L.The lowest detection limit was approximately 0 U/L.The interference test showed that there is no significant interferences while the concentration of bilirubin is less than 342 μmoL/L or commonly used anticoagulants is employed at their routine concentrations.However,interference was significant when Hb level is more than 0.06 g/L.Preliminary study of clinical application showed that there was no significant difference of serum ASL level between non-liver disease group and healthy group ( q = 0.027, P = 0.979 ), but there was significant differences for both serum ALT and AST levels (ALT:q =6.461,P =0.000;AST:q =6.481,P =0.000).Conclusions A continuous monitoring assay for the determination of serum ASL activity is successfully established. Serum ASL may be a good biomarker for liver injury.

BACKGROUND: Vertigo caused by vertebral artery stenosis accounts for a corresponding large percent in vertigo patients. There is not a unified criterion in diagnostic method, which affects accuracy of diagnosis. Application of simply check such as neck rolling-flexion and head hypsokinesis test can give first diagnosis to patients with vertebral artery stenosis in clinic. Then examination of transcranial Doppler(TCD) and nuclear magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) can be given to increase accuracy of clinical diagnosis.OBJECTIVE: To appraise diagnostic value of vertebral artery stenosis by neck rolling-flexion test, TCD and MRA examination.DESIGN: Cases analysis based on patients.SETTING: Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical College.PARTICIPANTS: Totally 41 patients with diagnosis of vertigo were chosen in Clinic of Neurological Department in Affiliated Hospital of Inter Mongolia Medical College from February to April 2004. The cases with vertigo that were not caused by vertebral artery stenosis were excluded.METHODS: Totally 41 patients with vertigo whose symptoms were induced by neck rolling-flexion and head hypsokinesis test were given later examination of TCD and MRA to vertebral arteries and basilar artery.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Three checking results of 41 patients.RESULTS: Totally 41 patients with vertigo whose symptoms were induced by neck rolling-flexion and head hypsokinesis test were chosen. Vertigo occurred after left-right neck rolling in 32 cases, which accounted for 78% in detectable rate, and vertigo occurred after neck flexion and head hypsokinesis in 25 cases, which accounted for 61% in detectable rate. Thirty cases were found dissymmetry of blood flow in vertebral arteries on two sides and diameter differences of vertebral arteries on two sides between 0.5-2.0 mm by examination of TCD, which accounted for 73% in detection rate. Thity-nine cases were found dissymmetry in inner diameter of vertebral arteries and the differences in diameter were between 0. 5-2.6 mm, which accounted for 95% in detection rate. The other two cases were detected vertebral artery stenosis.CONCLUSION: Neck rolling-flexion and head hypsokinesis test can induce vertigo symptom, which helps to give final diagnosis whether it is caused by vertebral artery stenosis. TCD examination has a corresponding higher accuracy in diagnosis of vertebral artery stenosis. MRA examination has the highest accuracy in diagnosis of vertebral artery stenosis.

ObjectiveTo describe the status of depressive symptom among children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus(T1DM) and explore the related factors.MethodsThis was a multi-plot cross-sectional survey.136 cases in Hunan province were investigated by questionnaires.The questionnaires included General Information Questionnaire,Depression Self-Rating of Children( DSRS),Quality of Life Scale for Children and Adolescents.ResultsThe DSRS score of all subjects was (9.51 ± 5.19),24 cases suffered from depressive symptom (17.6％).The multi-factor non-condition logistic regression analysis showed that age(OR =2.831 ),current education status (OR =9.822 ),parents' current marital status (OR =0.061 ),yearly household income (OR =0.415 ),hospitalization in the past 6 months (OR =8.797 ),peer relationship (OR =0.133 ),parent-child relationship(OR =0.182 ),FBS(OR =0.061 ) and sample source(OR =8.366 ) were factors which independently predicted depressive symptom in children and adolescents with T1DM.ConclusionThe influential factors of depressive symptom among children and adolescents with T1DM include age,current education status,parents' current marital status,yearly household income,hospitalization in the past 6 months,peer relationship and parent-child relationship,FBS and sample source.