Objective To evaluate the value of lymphoscintigraphy in diagnosis of chylous ascites in children.Methods Lymphoscintigraphy was done in 6 cases,computed tomography(CT) was done in 4 cases,X-ray exam was done 42 times.And their video repore were compared.Results Lymphoscintigraphy was done in 6 cases,5 cases′ results were positive which diagnosed chylous ascites,and their leaking positions were also found.Conclusion Lymphoscintigraphy has the qualitative and orientational effect on diagnosis of children with chylous ascites.

OBJECTIVETo assess the clinical effect and safety of the Chinese medicine Longbishu Capsule combined with mesylate doxazosin in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) of the kidney deficiency and blood stagnation type.

METHODSThis was a randomized, double-blind, double-simulation control study. We equally assigned 60 men diagnosed with BPH of the kidney deficiency and blood stagnation type to an experimental and a control group, the former treated with mesylate doxazosin plus Longbishu Capsule and the latter with mesylate doxazosin plus placebo. We compared the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QOL), Chinese symptom score (CSS), maximal urinary flow rate (Qmax), and prostate volume between the two groups of patients before and after 6 months of medication.

RESULTSAfter treatment, there were 5 cured cases, 13 markedly effective cases, 9 effective cases, 1 ineffective case, and 2 eliminated cases in the experimental group, as compared with 2 cured cases, 8 markedly effective cases, 10 effective cases, 7 ineffective cases, and 3 eliminated cases in the control group. The total effectiveness rate was obviously higher in the former (96.4%) than in the latter (74.1%). IPSS, Qmax, and CSS were improved in both of the groups after medication, even more significantly in the experimental than in the control group (IPSS: 15.22 ± 2.98 vs 18.15 ± 5.88, P <0.05; Qmax: [13.56 ± 2.26] ml/s vs [11.78 ± 2.97] ml/s, P <0.05; CSS: 6.18 ± 2.13 vs 9.52 ± 3.15, P <0.05). Because of the difference in the QOL score between the two groups at the baseline (P = 0.038 <0.05), no more comparison was made in this aspect after treatment.

CONCLUSIONThe combination of Longbishu Capsule with mesylate doxazosin is safe and effective for the treatment of BPH.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Capsules ; Double-Blind Method ; Doxazosin ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Quality of Life ; Treatment Outcome ; Urination

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether GSM 1800 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF EMF) can change the gene expression profile in MCF-7 cells and to screen RF EMF responsive genes.

METHODSSubcultured MCF-7 cells were intermittently (5-minute fields on/10-minute fields off) exposed or sham-exposed to GSM 1800 MHz RF EMF, which was modulated by 217 Hz EMF, for 24 hours at an average specific absorption rate (SAR) of 2.0 W/kg or 3.5 W/kg. Immediately after RF EMF exposure or sham-exposure, total RNA was isolated from MCF-7 cells and then purified. Affymetrix Human Genome U133A Genechip was applied to examine the change of gene expression profile according to the manufacturer's instruction. Data was analyzed by Affymetrix Microarray Suite 5.0 (MAS 5.0) and Affymetrix Data Mining Tool 3.0 (DMT 3.0). Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to validate the differentially expressed genes identified by Genechip analysis.

RESULTSA small number of differential expression genes were found in each comparison after RF EMF exposure. Through reproducible and consistent analysis, no gene or five up-regulated genes were screened out after exposure to RF EMF at SAR of 2.0 W/kg or 3.5 W/kg, respectively. However, these five genes could not be further confirmed by RT-PCR.

CONCLUSIONThe present study did not provide clear evidence that RF EMF exposure might distinctly change the gene expression profile in MCF-7 cells under current experimental conditions, implying that the exposure might not affect the MCF-7 cell physiology, or this cell line might be less sensitive to the RF EMF exposure.

Cell Line, Tumor ; radiation effects ; Electromagnetic Fields ; adverse effects ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Radiation Dosage ; Radio Waves ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of GSM 1800 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMF) exposure on protein expression profile of human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7), as to exploring the possible effects on normal cell physiological function.

METHODSMCF-7 cells were continuously or intermittently (5 minutes field on followed by 10 minutes off) exposed to RF EMF for different duration (1 hour, 3 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, or 24 hours) at an average specific absorption rate (SAR) of 3.5 W/kg. The extracted proteins were separated by 2-dimensional electrophoresis and the protein-spot distribution of the silver-stained gels was analyzed by using PDQuest software 7.1. Each experiment was repeated three times.

RESULTSOn the average, around 1100 proteins were detected using pH 4 - 7 IPG strip. There were no differential proteins found under continuous exposure at SAR of 3.5 W/kg for 6 hours. Under other exposure conditions, we found various differentially expressed proteins in exposure groups as compared with the sham-exposed controls. Especially in 3 hours intermittent exposure and 12 hours continuous exposure, eighteen and seven differential proteins were detected, respectively. The categories and functions of these differentially expressed proteins were analyzed by searching of SWISS-PROT protein database, which suggested that these proteins should be related to the functions of biosynthesization, signal transduction, and DNA damage and repair.

CONCLUSIONSData indicated that the protein expression changes induced by RF radiation might depend on exposure duration and mode. Many biological processes might be affected by RF exposure.

Cell Line, Tumor ; radiation effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation ; Electromagnetic Fields ; adverse effects ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Proteome ; Radio Waves

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether 50 Hz magnetic fields (MF) can change the gene expression profile in MCF-7 cells and to screen MF responsive genes.

METHODSIn vitro cultured MCF-7 cells were continuously exposed or sham-exposed to 0.4 mT of 50 Hz MF for 24 hours. Affymetrix Human Genome Genechips (U133A) were applied to analyze gene expression profiles in MF exposed and sham-exposed MCF-7 cells and the data were processed with Genechip data analysis software MAS 5.0 and DMT 3.0. Real-time RT-PCR assay was employed to examine the differentially expressed genes.

RESULTThirty differentially expressed genes were screened with 100 % consistency change calls in the MF exposed MCF-7 cells. Six independent real-time RT-PCR analyses showed that SCNN1A, METTL3 and GPR137B were slightly but statistically significantly changed in MCF-7 cells after exposure to 50 Hz MF (P<0.05), while other analyzed genes exhibited slight up-and down-fluctuations in expressions and no increase or decrease in each gene expression reached statistical significance (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe present study identified three 50 Hz MF responsive genes in MCF-7 cells and the biological consequences of expression changes in these MF responsive genes need to be further investigated.0.4 mT 50 Hz MF exposure for longer duration might induce DNA double-strand breaks in human lens epithelial cells in vitro.

Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded ; radiation effects ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Gene Expression ; radiation effects ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Radio Waves ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo evaluate radionuclide scrotal imaging (RSI) in the diagnosis of varicocele.

METHODSWe performed physical examination (PE) and RSI for 126 patients with infertility for at least 12 months and seminal abnormality, obtained the scrotal blood-pool index (SBPI), observed the reflux in the spermatic vein during RSI, typed and graded varicocele by color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) and compared the results of PE and RSI with those of CDFI.

RESULTSThe rates of sensitivity and specificity of RSI in the diagnosis of varicocele (96.5% and 97.1%) were both higher than those of PE (71.7% and 69.1%).

CONCLUSIONSimple, accurate and noninvasive, RSI is an effective method for the diagnosis of clinical and subclinical varicocele.

Adult ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radionuclide Angiography ; methods ; Reproducibility of Results ; Scrotum ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Varicocele ; complications ; diagnosis

Insulin-like growth factor binding-protein-7 (IGFBP7) was obtained from our previous colonic adenocarcinoma (CRC) and normal mucosa suppression subtraction hybridization (SSH) cDNA libraries. By RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, we found that IGFBP7 was overexpressed in CRC tissue compared to normal tissue. However, our in vitro experiments performed in 10 CRC cell lines showed that IGFBP7 expressed only in SW480 and Caco2 cell lines, which implied an underlying reversible regulatory mechanism. Using methylation-specific PCR (MSP) and bisulfite sodium PCR (BSP), we found that its expression was associated with DNA hypomethylation of exon1. This was further supported by the in vitro study which showed restored IGFBP7 expression after demethylation agent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine treatment. Correlation analysis between IGFBP7 expression and prognosis indicated that overexpression of IGFBP7 in CRC tissue correlated with favourable survival. Investigation of the functional role of IGFBP7 through transfection studies showed that IGFBP7 protein could inhibit growth rate, decrease colony formation activity, and induce apoptosis in RKO and SW620 cells, suggesting it a potential tumor suppressor protein in colorectal carcinogenesis. In conclusion, our study clearly demonstrated that IGFBP7 plays a potential tumor suppressor role against colorectal carcinogenesis and its expression is associated with DNA hypomethylation of exon 1.
Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Apoptosis ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; DNA Methylation ; Exons ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; genetics ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

Insulin-like growth factor binding-protein-7 (IGFBP7) was obtained from our previous colonic adenocarcinoma (CRC)and normal mucosa suppression subtraction hybridization (SSH) cDNA libraries. By RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, we found that IGFBP7 was overexpressed in CRC tissue compared to normal tissue. However, our in vitro experiments performed in 10 CRC cell lines showed that IGFBP7 expressed only in SW480 and Caco2 cell lines, which implied an underlying reversible regulatory mechanism. Using methylation-specific PCR (MSP) and bisulfite sodium PCR (BSP), we found that its expression was associated with DNA hypomethylation of exon 1. This was further supported by the in vitro study which showed restored IGFBP7expression after demethylation agent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine treatment. Correlation analysis between IGFBP7 expression and prognosis indicated that overexpression of IGFBP7 in CRC tissue correlated with favourable survival. Investigation of the functional role of IGFBP7 through transfecfion studies showed that IGFBP7 protein could inhibit growth rate, decrease colony formation activity, and induce apoptosis in RKO and SW620 cells, suggesting it a potential tumor suppressor protein in colorectal carcinogenesis. In conclusion, our study clearly demonstrated that IGFBP7 plays a potential tumor suppressor role against colorectal carcinogenesis and its expression is associated with DNA hypomethylation of exon 1.

BACKGROUNDThe epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) maybe changed by strict infection control measures, and the impact of empirical antibiotic therapy on the outcomes of MRSA infection was not clear. We aimed to investigate the present epidemiological status of MRSA infection and empirical antibiotic therapy for MRSA infection in university teaching hospitals in mainland China.

METHODSThe present study was a multicenter prospective observational study conducted in five university teaching hospitals. Patients who were consecutively admitted to the intensive care unit and signed a consent form from March 3, 2011 to May 31, 2011 were included. Patients with age <18 years or with a length of hospital stay <48 hours were excluded from this study. The following variables were collected or recorded: demographic data, general status, APACHE II score of the patient at the time of admission, infections, and the use of antibiotics during a stay. Primary outcomes and prognostic indicators included length of hospital stay and 28-day and 90-day mortality. The differences between the patients with appropriate empirical therapy and patients with inappropriate therapy were analyzed to detect the influences of antibiotic therapy on the prognosis of MRSA infection.

RESULTSA total of 682 cases were enrolled. Thirty (66.2%) of 88 MRSA cases were treated with effective antibiotics for MRSA infection; only 20% received appropriate empirical antibiotic treatment. The empirical therapy group compared with the target therapy group had a shorter length of stay, but there were no significant differences in mortality rates. There were no significant differences in the length of hospital stay, length of stay, and 28-day and 90-day mortality between MRSA-infected patients who received or not received effective antibiotics. Two hundred and eighteen cases received sensitive antibiotics for MRSA.

CONCLUSIONSThe MRSA infection rates are at relatively low levels in university teaching hospitals in China. The empirical use of sensitive antibiotics for MRSA infection was at relatively high rate, and there is a tendency of overusing in patients without MRSA infection. On the other hand, the rate of appropriate empirical antibiotic therapy for patients with MRSA infection is relatively low.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Staphylococcal Infections ; drug therapy ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo determine the karyotype of a patient with Prader-Willi-like syndrome features.

METHODSChromosomal high resolution banding was carried out to analyze the karyotype of the patient, and methylation-specific PCR was used to analyze the imprinting region of chromosome 15. Subtelomeric region was screened by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA), and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and real-time quantitative PCR were further performed to identify the deleted region.

RESULTSNo abnormality was discovered by high resolution karyotype analysis and methylation-specific PCR studies. MLPA analysis showed that the patient had a deletion of 1p subtelomeric area, which was confirmed by FISH analysis. The deleted region was shown within a 4.2 Mb in the distal 1p by 3 BAC FISH probes of 1p36 combined with real-time PCR technique. Family pedigree investigation showed the chromosome abnormality was de novo. Therefore, partial monosomy 1p36 was likely responsible for the mental retardation of the patient.

CONCLUSIONMolecular cytogenetic techniques should be performed to those patients with Prader-Willi-like syndrome features, to determine their karyotypes.

Child ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1 ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Prader-Willi Syndrome ; genetics