Objective To explore the method of intervening measure applied at dynamic state during ultrasonic scaling treatments and may control the aerosols and spatters in dental department so that we may provide safe clinical environment for dental personnel and patients. Methods 40 patients received ultrasonic scaling treatments were divided into experiment and control group. The experimental group received measures by the ozone air disinfector at the beginning of ultrasonic scaling treatments (the ozone air disinfector worked 5 minutes) and the control group was not received the device treatment.. Air samples were collected at different appointed period. Results A Mann-Whitney test was conducted to determine significant difference between the ultrasonic scaling treatments with the ozone air disinfector and the ultrasonic scaling treatments without the device at different appointed time. The general bacterial population in the air were lower in experimental group than in control group (P < 0.01). Conclusions The ozone air disinfector applied at dynamic state during ultrasonic scaling treatments may control the quantities of colony-forming units of aerosols and spatters in dental clinic. After dynamic disinfection, the quantities of colony-forming units may conform to the National Disinfection Technology Criteria.

OBJECTIVEHematologic relapse remains the greatest obstacle to the cure of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), especially T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) in children. Recent studies have shown that patients with increased risk of relapse can be identified by measuring residual leukemic cells, called minimal residual disease (MRD), during clinical remission. Current polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods, however, for measuring MRD are cumbersome and time-consuming. To improve and simplify MRD assessment, the author developed a real-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR) assay for the detection of leukemic cells that harbor the tal-1 deletion. In addition, the author discussed the significance of MRD levels at different stages in treatment and prognosis of children with T-ALL.

METHODSA total of 50 consecutively enrolled patients with T-ALL were analysed for detection of leukemic cells harboring the most common tal-1 deletion. Serial dilutions of leukemic DNA were studied to find the sensitivity of detection with RQ-PCR assay. The MRD of 28 samples in clinical remission from 10 patients were quantified by RQ-PCR assay and limiting dilution assay. The results detected by both methods were compared statistically with correlation analysis.

RESULTS(1) A total of 10 patients presented tal-1 deletion involving the sildb1 breakpoint rearranged to tal1db1 in 50 cases with T-ALL. The breakpoints of relapsed samples are the same as those of the corresponding diagnostic samples; (2) The RQ-PCR assay had a sensitivity of detection of one leukemic cell among 100,000 normal cells. In 24 samples, MRD levels > 10(-5) could be detected with both methods. The percentages of leukemic cells measured by the two methods correlated well (r = 0.898, P < 0.001); (3) The MRD levels of 3 patients out of the 8 cases undergoing disciplinary regimen were over 10(-4) at the end of induction chemotherapy. They all relapsed in bone marrow during chemotherapy. The higher the MRD levels, the earlier the relapse. The other 5 patients with MRD levels < 10(-4) had been relapse-free survival (RFS) for 4-59 months, one of whom with increased MRD levels > 10(-4) for twice at the continuation stage had been RFS for 27 months till now.

CONCLUSIONSThe sildb1-taldb1 deletion presents in 20% of T-ALL, and is an ideal PCR marker for its specificity, uniform and stability; The tal-1 RQ-PCR can be used for the rapidly, sensitively and accurately quantitative assessment of MRD in T-ALL with the tal-1 deletion. MRD levels at different stages of chemotherapy have different significance in prognosis and treatment.

Adolescent ; Base Sequence ; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Gene Deletion ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Neoplasm, Residual ; diagnosis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; diagnosis ; genetics ; mortality ; Prognosis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; genetics ; T-Cell Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Protein 1

Objective To evaluate the role of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 ( Nrf2 ) signaling pathway in endoplasmic reticulum stress response during lipopolysaccharide ( LPS)-induced acute lung injury ( ALI) in mice. Methods Forty clean-grade healthy male C57BL∕6 mice, aged 6-8 weeks, weighing 22-26 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=10 each) using a random number table method: control group ( group C) , group ALI, salubrinal group ( group S) and salubrinal plus brusatol group ( group S+B) . Animals were intratracheally instilled with 5 mg∕kg of LPS diluted in normal saline to establish the model of ALI. Animals were intratracheally instilled with 100 μl of normal saline in group C. Mice in group S were intraperitoneally injected with endoplasmic reticulum stress response inhibitor 1 mg∕kg salubrinal at 1 and 24 h after LPS instillation. Mice of group S+B were intraperitoneally injected with brusatol 2 mg∕kg once every other day for 10 days prior to LPS instillation, and the other treatments were similar to those previously de-scribed in group S. Mice were sacrificed at 48 h after LPS administration, and lungs were removed for mi-croscopic examination of the pathological changes of lung tissues which were scored and for determination of contents of IL-17A, tumor necrosis factor-alpha ( TNF-α) and interleukin-6 ( IL-6) in lung tissues ( by en-zyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and expression of Nrf2, CCAAT∕enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) and caspase-12 in lung tissues (by Western blot). Lung water content was calculated. Results Compared with group C, the lung water content and contents of IL-17A, TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly increased, the expression of CHOP and caspase-12 in cytoplasma was up-regulated, and the ex-pression of Nrf2 in nuclei was down-regulated in ALI and S+B groups, and the lung water content and con-tents of IL-17A, TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly increased, the expression of Nrf2 in nuclei and CHOP in cytoplasma was up-regulated, and the expression of caspase-12 was down-regulated in group S ( P<0. 05) . Compared with group ALI, the lung water content and contents of IL-17A, TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly decreased, the expression of CHOP and caspase-12 in cytoplasma was down-regulated, the ex-pression of Nrf2 in nuclei was up-regulated ( P<0. 05) , and the pathological changes were significantly at-tenuated in group S. Compared with group S, the lung water content and contents of IL-17A, TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly increased, the expression of CHOP and caspase-12 in cytoplasma was up-regulated, the expression of Nrf2 in nuclei was down-regulated ( P<0. 05) , and the pathological changes of lung tis-sues were accentuated in group S+B. Conclusion Nrf2 signaling pathway is involved in the process of en-doplasmic reticulum stress response during LPS-induced ALI in mice.

OBJECTIVETo construct a gene knock-out mutant of response regulator named RevS in Streptococcus suis serotype 2 virulent strain 05ZYH33, and to investigate the effects of its deletion on the biological characters of this pathogen and the pathogenesis to mice and piglets.

METHODSRecombinant gene knock-out vector consisting of Spc(r) cassette was constructed and flanking was constructed consisting of Spc(r) cassette with flanking homology regions to the RevS genes while the isogenic RevS-deficient mutant was screened by allelic replacement. The effects of RevS deletion on the basic biological characters of 05ZYH33 including growth stability, colonial morphology, haemolysis, Gram staining, growth curve and protein expression were examined in vitro. The mice and piglets were infected with 10(8) CFU wild virulent and mutant isolates.

RESULTSPCR analysis confirmed that the coding genes of RevS were replaced completely by Spc(r) cassette and the basic biological characters of 05ZYH33 did not undergo any apparent change. Balb/c mice infection assay indicated that RevS play a role in the pathogenesis of Streptococcus suis infections, while no remarkable difference was observed in the piglets' pathogenesis infection rates between mutant isolates deltaA05ZYH33 and wild-type isolates 05ZYH33.

CONCLUSIONThe mutant of Streptococcus suis 05ZYH33 response regulator was successfully constructed, while the mutation did not obviously affect the bacterial biological characters, while the knock-out mutant of RevS was shown to be attenuated in pathogenesis to mice and piglets.

Animals ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; methods ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Models, Genetic ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Streptococcal Infections ; microbiology ; Streptococcus suis ; genetics ; pathogenicity

Objective To study antioxidant role and mechanism of Rg1 in rats with cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI).Methods One hundred and twenty healthy male rats were randomly divided into six groups: control group, sham operation group, model group, different concentration (30,60,90 mg/kg) of Rg1 treatment group.MCAO SD rats model was established by suture－occluded method;the Rg1 treatment groups were given Rg1 i.p. in advance, after 24 hours of reperfusion, neurobehavioral scores of all groups were examined by Longa’s standard;The expression of Nrf2 and HO－1 were analyzed by western blot;The content of SOD and MDA was detected by kit.Results The score of model group rats are significantly higher than control group,compared with the model group, the score of different concentration of Rg1 treatment group was decreased (P＜0.05) . The Nrf2 and HO－1 expression in model group was mildly higher than the control or sham group (P＜0.05) . Both of them in every Rg1 treatment group was higher than model group. Compared with control or sham group, SOD content was observably depressed but MDA content was dramatically increased in model group,interestingly,SOD content was enhanced, MDA content was attenuated in different concentration of Rg1 treatment group (P＜0.05). Conclusion Rg1 increases Nrf2 and HO－1 protein expression and SOD content, reduces MDA content,improves neurofunctional performance of rats after MCAO,and alleviates cerebral cerebral IRI.

This study was aimed to investigate the clinical value of quantification of AML1/ETO fusion transcripts using real-time reverse transcription PCR. Fourteen AML1/ETO positive children out of 52 AML children were selected. A serial dilution of AML1/ETO plasmid was used as a template for the AML1/ETO real-time PCR. AML1/ETO was quantified according to the expression of the GAPDH housekeeping gene at new diagnosis and during/after chemotherapy and transplantation. SPSS statistics was used to analyze the data. The results showed that the ratio of AML1/ETO: GAPDH expression level at new diagnosis varied in the range 0.219-2.080 (median 0.648) among the patients, without relevance with percentage of blasts. The detection sensitivity was up to the dilution of 1:10(5). Six patients showed a slight decline of AML1/ETO (higher than 5 x 10(-2)) at 1 month, three of whom relapsed in the early stage and one later. Five patients had a higher level than 5 x 10(-3) at 3 months, three of whom relapsed. Four patients with always a higher level than 5 x 10(-3) all relapsed in early stage. After six months, four out of them with constant low-level expression (10(-4) - 10(-6)) were in continuous complete hematological remission (CCR). In another patient, a rapid rise of AML1/ETO transcripts could be detected at CR stage and he relapsed 5 months later. The AML1/ETO gene expression leveling off by 10(-5) - 10(-6) could be detected in 3 patients at their complete remission after 9 months. It is concluded that real-time RT-PCR is a suitable approach for quantifying AML1/ETO transcripts in monitoring of AML patients with t(8;21) during/after chemotherapy and provides data of diagnostic relevance.
Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid ; diagnosis ; genetics ; therapy ; Male ; Neoplasm, Residual ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; genetics ; RUNX1 Translocation Partner 1 Protein ; Reproducibility of Results ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Transcription, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo study natural history of small hepatocellular carcinoma (sHCC) and value of MRI in this research.

METHODSFrom 1999 to 2002, serial MR imagings were performed in 192 patients with cirrhosis no less than twice in order to detect sHCC focus. Characteristic MRI findings of focus were analysed. Diameters of focus (D) were measured. Tumorigenesis detected time (T) was counted; T and D were analysed by statistics and tumor volume doubling time (T(d)) was calculated.

RESULTSFifty-eight new tumor foci in 33 patients were found, including 31 foci in 23 patients developed on the basis of cirrhosis, with a 12.0% cumulative tumorigenic rate of three years. The tumorigenesis detected time (T) was 386.9 +/- 256.4 days and the maximum diameter (D) was 2.258 +/- 1.074 cm. T was statistical correlated with D(3) (P < 0.01) and regressive formulas were established: D(3) = -2.69 + 0.058T (P = 0.0007), D(3) = -72.13 + 16.04lnT (P = 0.0064). Tumor volume doubling time was 20 approximately 279 days (mean: 104 days).

CONCLUSIONThe percentage of tumorigenesis is high in patients with cirrhosis. Regular MRI examinations are necessary to detect sHCC early. The optimal interval time is 3 approximately 6 months.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged

BACKGROUNDRecent studies have discovered that nuclear translocation of nerve growth factor (NGF) and its receptor fragments function differently from the traditional model. This study aimed to uncover the nuclear expression of NGF in astrocytoma and its biological significance.

METHODSNinety-four paraffin-embedded astrocytoma specimens were subjected to immunohistochemical (IHC) and hemotoxylin & eosin (HE) staining. Preoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens and intraoperative snap-frozen astrocytoma tissues were assayed for NGF expression by ELISA and Western blotting. The outcome of patients who contributed samples was tracked. Each ten tissue samples from patients with traumatic brain injury who had received decompression surgery and CSF samples from patients undergoing spinal anesthesia but with no history of nervous system disease were taken as control.

RESULTSNGF-positive immunoreactive products were distributed in both the cytoplasm and nucleus of astrocytoma, but were only located in the cytoplasm of traumatic brain injury (TBI) tissue. NGF nuclear-positive rate (NPR) of grades III - IV astrocytomas (70.0%) was higher than that of grades I - II astrocytoma (28.6%, P < 0.05). NGF-NP expression positively correlated with the NGF concentration in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (r = 0.755, P < 0.01). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated that the median survival time was 25 months for NGF-NP astrocytoma grade I - II patients and 42 months in NGF nuclear negative (NGF-NN) astrocytoma grade I - II patients (P < 0.05). In astrocytoma III - IV patients, the median survival was 7 months for NGF-NP patients and 24 months for NGF-NN patients (P < 0.01). Two types of NGF with molecular weights of 13 and 36 kDa were present in astrocytoma, but only the 36 kDa NGF was found in the CSF. NGF expression elevated as the malignancy increased.

CONCLUSIONSNGF-NP expression and NGF level in CSF were significant prognostic factors in astrocytoma patients. Because of the easy access of CSF, it may be developed as an index for early diagnosis and surveillance of astrocytoma.

Astrocytoma ; metabolism ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVESTo evaluate the clinical value of breath-hold magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) combining with dynamic enhanced MRI in the diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma.

METHODSMRCP findings of 88 cholangiocarcinoma patients proved surgically and pathologically were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSMRCP examination succeeded in all the 88 patients and the pancreaticobiliary ducts were shown satisfactorily. The accuracy of MRCP in the location of both hilar and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma was 100%, and the accuracy of detecting hilar and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma were 100% and 52.2%, respectively. Combining with dynamic enhanced MRI, the detecting accuracy of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma improved to 91.3%.

CONCLUSIONSMRCP examination has a high successful rate and can accurately determine the location of hilar and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and the accuracy of qualitative diagnosis for the former two is high. Combining with dynamic enhanced MRI, the specificity of determining extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is also high.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; Cholangiography ; Female ; Humans ; Image Enhancement ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective:To explore the relationship between hemoglobin variability (Hb-var) and risk of all-cause death and cardiovascular death in patients with peritoneal dialysis (PD), and to provide basis for reducing the risk of death in PD patients.Methods:It was a multicenter retrospective cohort study. The clinical data of regular PD patients from Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shunde Hospital of Southern Medical University, Foshan First People's Hospital and Ganzhou People's Hospital from July 1, 2008 to December 31, 2019 were collected. Hb-var was calculated based on hemoglobin at baseline before PD and in the first year after PD. The patients were divided into low Hb-var group, moderate Hb-var group and high Hb-var group according to the tertiles of first year Hb-var, and the differences of baseline clinical data among three groups were compared. Follow-up endpoints included death, transfer to hemodialysis, transfer to kidney transplantation, transfer to other centers, loss of follow-up, or on December 31, 2021. Cox regression analysis model was used to analyze the association of the first-year Hb-var with all-cause death and cardiovascular death. Fine-Gray competitive risk regression model was used to evaluate the impact of competitive events on mortality risk.Results:A total of 1 562 patients with PD were included in the study, aged (47.6±13.8) years old, with 821 males (52.6%) and baseline hemoglobin of 81 (69, 94) g/L. Hb-var in the first year of PD was 26.6 (16.7, 40.3) g/L. There were statistically significant differences in age, body mass index, serum albumin, hemoglobin, serum creatinine, serum calcium, serum phosphorus, intact parathyroid hormone and the proportion of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors among low Hb-var group (<20.0 g/L), moderate Hb-var group (20.0-35.5 g/L) and high Hb-var group (≥35.5 g/L, all P<0.05). The follow-up time was 33 (19, 51) months, and 208 patients (13.3%) died, among which 111 patients (53.4%) died of cardiovascular death. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the higher Hb-var in the first year, the lower the risk of all-cause death ( HR=0.98, 95% CI 0.97-0.99, P=0.018) and cardiovascular death ( HR=0.98, 95% CI 0.97-0.99, P=0.041) in PD patients. Compared with low Hb-var group, the risk of all-cause death ( HR=0.56, 95% CI 0.37-0.82, P=0.003) and cardiovascular death ( HR=0.54, 95% CI 0.31-0.95, P=0.032) was lowest in the high Hb-var group. The competitive risk regression model analysis showed that Hb-var in the first year was still negatively correlated with the risk of all-cause death ( HR=0.98, 95% CI 0.97-0.99, P=0.041) and cardiovascular death ( HR=0.98, 95% CI 0.97-0.99, P=0.039). Conclusion:High Hb-var in the first year is associated with low risk of all-cause death and cardiovascular death in PD patients with severe anemia at baseline.