Objective To investigate the clinical significance of NKp44+NK cells in the peripheral blood and synovial fluid of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.Methods The proportions of NKp44+NK cells in the PB of 20 active and 15 remission patients with RA and 20 healthy individuals were detected using flow cytometry.The proportions of NKp44+NK cells in the SF of 10 active patients were detected.Multiple nonparametric test was used to compared the difference of NKp44+NK cells proportions.Clinical data including DAS28,anti-CCP antibody and RF were collected.The relationship between NKp44+NK cells and clinical data was analyzed by Spearman correlation analysis.Results The proportions of NKp44+NK cells in PB of active and remission patients and healthy individuals were (1.480±4.750)%,(0.540±0.590)%,(0.000±0.000)%respectively.The proportion of NKp44+NK cells in PB of active patients was significantly higher than that of remission patients and healthy individuals (x2=46.708,P=0.000).The proportion of NKp44+NK cells in the SF of ten active RA patients was significantly higher than matched PB.There was positive correlation between NKp44+NK cells proportion in PB and SF of active patients and DAS 28 and anti-CCP antibody level.There was no correlation between NKp44+NK cells proportion in PB,SF and RF.Conclusion There is a marked increase in the proportion of NKp44+NK cells in PB and SF of RA patients.Moreover,NKp44+NK cells are positively correlated with DAS28 and anti-CCP antibody,suggesting that NKp44+NK cells may be correlated with disease activity and severity.

Objective:To compare the dosimetric difference between knowledge-based planning (KBP) volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) models for predicting the dose distribution during IMRT, aiming to investigate the feasibility of VMAT model to predict the IMRT plans.Methods:Fifty prostate cancer patients who had completed radiotherapy were selected. Manual planning was performed on each selected patient to generate the corresponding IMRT and VMAT plans. The IMRT and VMAT manual plans of the 40 randomly-selected patients were adopted to generate the KBP VMAT and IMRT models. The remaining 10 patients were utilized to predict IMRT plans. VMAT library-derived IMRT model (V-IMRT) and IMRT library-derived IMRT model (I-IMRT) were generated. Dosimetric parameters related to organ-at-risks (OARs) and planning target volume (PTV) were statistically compared among the manual IMRT (mIMRT), V-IMRT and I-IMRT plans.Results:Compared with the mIMRT plan, I-IMRT could significantly better control D max of the PTV ( P=0.039), whereas V-IMRT and I-IMRT plans could better protect the bladder and bilateral femoral heads (both P<0.05). V-IMRT plan could better protect the D max of bilateral femoral heads and the D 15% of the right femoral head (both P<0.05), whereas no significant difference was observed in other OARs and PTV (all P>0.05). Conclusions:Compared with the manual plans, KBP IMRT plan has significant advantages in protecting the OARs. KBP VMAT and IMRT models are both feasible in clinical practice, which yield equivalent accuracy for predicting IMRT plan.

In this study, 17 kinds of Dendrobium species of Fengdous including 39 individuals were collected from 4 provinces. Mitochondrial gene sequences co I, nad 5, nad 1-intron 2 and chloroplast gene sequences rbcL, matK amd psbA-trnH were amplified from these materials, as well as nrDNA ITS. Furthermore, suitable sequences for identification of Dendrobium species of Fengdous were screened by K-2-P and P-distance. The results showed that during the mentioned 7 sequences, nrDNA ITS, nad 1-intron 2 and psbA-trnH which had a high degree of variability could be used to identify Dendrobium species of Fengdous. However, single fragment could not be used to distinguish D. moniliforme and D. huoshanense. Moreover, compared to other combined fragments, new type combined fragments nrDNA ITS+nad 1-intron 2 was more effective in identifying the original plants of Dendrobium species and could be used to identify D. huoshanense and D. moniliforme. Besides, according to the UPGMA tree constructed with nrDNA ITS+nad 1-intron 2, 3 inspected Dendrobium plants were identified as D. huoshanense, D. moniliforme and D. officinale, respectively. This study identified Dendrobium species of Fengdous by combined fragments nrDNA ITS+nad 1-intron 2 for the first time, which provided a more effective basis for identification of Dendrobium species. And this study will be helpful for regulating the market of Fengdous.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcome of mini-tract vs standard-tract percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in staghorn calculi. METHODS: Between May 2009 and May 2011, 122 patients with renal staghorn calculi were treated by PCNL. Fifty-six patients underwent mini-PCNL and the others underwent standard-PCNL. The therapeutic effect and complication of the 2 groups were compared. RESULTS: The two groups had comparable demographic conditions. Although the operation time was significantly longer in mini-PCNL group [(126±24.5) min vs (98±18.9) min], there was no striking difference in hospital stay [(5.7±1.3) d vs (5.3±1.1) d], hemoglobin drop [(9.5±3.2) g/L vs (10.5±3.3) g/L], stone-free state before charge (91.1% vs 89.4%) and complications. CONCLUSION The efficacy and safety of mini-PCNL and standard-PCNL are not significantly different.
Adult ; Humans ; Kidney Calculi ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Miniaturization ; Nephrostomy, Percutaneous ; methods ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To investigate the phenotypic and genetic characteristics of the lysostaphin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus variants induced by recombinant lysostaphin in vitro .Methods Three clinical isolates of S . aureus ,including two resistant to methicillin (MRSA ) and one susceptible to methicillin (MSSA ) were induced by treatment with sub‐MIC of recombinant lysostaphin via one‐step selection in vitro .Susceptibility of the variants to antibiotics were determined and compared with their parental strains .The full length of femABX genes was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and sequenced to identify the potential mutation sites in these genes .The growth‐curve in liquid medium and virulence in a mouse systemic infection model of both parental and variant strains were observed . Results The frequency of lysostaphin resistance in S . aureus was between 10-4 to 10-8 following induction by lysostaphin . Resistance to lysostaphin was associated with a significant decrease in growth rate in vitro and virulence in vivo ,as well as increased susceptibility toβ‐lactams evidenced by the M IC of β‐lactams against the variants as low as 1/4 000 to 1/2 of the M IC against their parental strains . Sequencing of f emA BX genes showed mutation in femA gene in both variants ,which resulted in a premature termination codon .Conclusions Resistance of S . aureus to lysostaphin may develop following induction by recombinant lysostaphin in vitro . The lysostaphin‐resistant S . aureus variants are characteristic of lower growth rate , decreased virulence ,and higher susceptibility to β‐lactams .

OBJECTIVE: To analyze efficacy and safety of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in the management of staghorn calculi with solitary kidney. METHODS: Between April 2009 and December 2011, 13 patients with renal staghorn calculi in solitary kidney were treated by PCNL in our hospital. The therapeutic effects and complications were the main points of the analysis. RESULTS: Of the 13 patients, surgery time was 92-164 (117.2±21.5) min; 9 cases underwent PCNL through a single access tract, 4 cases through multi-access tracts. The stone removal rate in one session of PCNL was 76.9%, and the total clearance rate was 92.3%. Hemoglobin dropped 11-32 (16.4±4.6) g/L; one case required blood transfusion; no patient had embolism. Hospital stay was 5-10 (6.9±1.5) days postoperatively. Serum creatinine before PCNL in these patients was 83-237 (146.24±38.73) μmol/L compared to 81-242 (134.56±21.52) μmol/L by the end of the 1-month follow-up period (not statistically different). Similar findings were observed in glomerular filtration rates: before PCNL it was 42-114 (71.32±20.82) mL/min and by the end of the 1-month follow-up it was 55-117 (79.40±22.14) mL/min (not statistically different). CONCLUSION PCNL is effective and safe for the treatment of staghorn stones in solitary kidney, and has advantages such as short surgical duration, fewer complications, rapid recovery, short hospital stay, effective stone removal rate, and so on.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Calculi ; surgery ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nephrostomy, Percutaneous ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

In the context of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), characterized by dysregulated lipid metabolism in hepatocytes, the quest for safe and effective therapeutics targeting lipid metabolism has gained paramount importance. Sanhuang Xiexin Tang (SXT) and Baihu Tang (BHT) have emerged as prominent candidates for treating metabolic disorders. SXT combined with BHT plus Cangzhu (SBC) has been used clinically for Weihuochisheng obese patients. This retrospective analysis focused on assessing the anti-obesity effects of SBC in Weihuochisheng obese patients. We observed significant reductions in body weight and hepatic lipid content among obese patients following SBC treatment. To gain further insights, we investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of SBC in HFD-fed mice. The results demonstrated that SBC treatment mitigated body weight gain and hepatic lipid accumulation in HFD-fed mice. Pharmacological network analysis suggested that SBC may affect lipid metabolism, mitochondria, inflammation, and apoptosis-a hypothesis supported by the hepatic transcriptomic analysis in HFD-fed mice treated with SBC. Notably, SBC treatment was associated with enhanced hepatic mitochondrial biogenesis and the inhibition of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/NF-κB pathways. In conclusion, SBC treatment alleviates NAFLD in both obese patients and mouse models by improving lipid metabolism, potentially through enhancing mitochondrial biogenesis. These effects, in turn, ameliorate inflammation in hepatocytes.
Humans ; Mice ; Animals ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/metabolism* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Organelle Biogenesis ; Retrospective Studies ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Obesity/metabolism* ; Liver ; Inflammation/metabolism* ; Body Weight ; Lipid Metabolism ; Lipids ; Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects*