Objective To investigate the ultrasound characteristics of prenatal fetus otocephaly . Methods Three prenatal fetus with otocephaly were examined with two -and three-dimensional ultrasoundand examined results were compared with the those of induced labor or autopsy ,and ultrasound characteristicsof prenatal fetus were analyzed and summarized .Results The ultrasound performance of three prenatal fetuswith otocephaly and the examination of the appearance after induced labor showed :(1) The most intuitiveinitial sonographic performance of otocephaly was manifested by the absence of stomach bubble andoverabundance of amniotic fluid.Among three fetus,one fetus had overabundance of amniotic fluid at the midstageof pregnancy,one fetus had normal amniotic fluid at the mid-stage of pregnancy and one fetus hadextremely high amount of amniotic fluid and absence of stomach bubble at late stage of pregnancy .(2) Allthree fetus showed agnathy and synotia (shifts of both ears to the midline) and microstomia deformity.(3) All three fetus had associated complications with deformity in other systems including two cases of patients withcleft lip and palat,both were the fracture unilateral cleft lip derived from small mouth .One fetus withdysmelia and one fetus with complicated cardiovascular deformity and situs inversus and .(4) The results ofexamination after induced labor or autopsy were consistent with those of the prenatal ultrasound examination . Conclusions Prenatal ultrasound examination is an effective and feasible means for the diagnoses ofotocephaly.When the symptoms of “absence of stomach bubble and extremely high amount of amniotic fluid ”occurred,the fetal ear and submaxilla should be examined to confirm stand -alone otocephaly prenatally.

Objective To investigate the effects of partial body weight supported treadmill training (BW- STT) on post-stroke depression (PSD) and on patients' quality of life.Methods Sixty patients with PSD were re- cruited and divided into a training group (n=30,male 17,female 13) and a control group (n=30,male 16,fe- male 14).All patients were treated with routine internal medication and rehabilitation.The patients of the training group also received BWSTT in addition to their routine treatment.All patients' neurological impairment was evaluated using the Modified Edinburgh-Scandinavian Stroke Scale (MESSS).The Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) was used for evaluating the degree of depression.The Fugl-Meyer scale and the Barthel index were used to assess ambula- tion and balance,and facility in the activities of daily living.All patients were assessed before and after the treat- ment.Results After four weeks of treatment,depression in the training group had improved significantly more than in the control group.Conclusion BWSTT intervention is very important for patients with PSD:it can reduce the degree of depression and improve the quality of life.

The deubiquitinating enzyme ubiquitin specific peptidase 15 (USP15) is regarded as a regulator of TGFβ signaling pathway. This process depends on Smad7, the inhibitory factor of the TGFβ signal, and type I TGFβ receptor (TβR-I), one of the receptors of TGFβ. The expression level of USP15 seems to play vital roles in the pathogenesis of many neoplasms, but so far there has been no report about USP15 in psoriasis. In this study, immunohistochemical staining of USP15, TβR-I and Smad7 was performed in 30 paraffin-embedded psoriasis specimens and 10 normal specimens to investigate the expression of USP15, TβR-I and Smad7 in psoriasis and to explore the relevance among them. And USP15 small interfering RNA (USP15 siRNA) was used to transfect Hacat cells to detect the mRNA expression of TβR-I and Smad7. Of 30 cases of psoriasis in active stage, 28, 24 and 26 cases were positive for USP15, TβR-I and Smad7 staining, respectively. The positive rates of USP15 and Smad7 were significantly higher in psoriasis specimens than in normal skin specimens (44.1%±26.0% vs. 6.1%±6.6%, 47.2%±27.1% vs. 6.6%±7.1%), and positive rate of TβR-I (20.3%±22.2%) in psoriasis was lower than that in normal skin specimens (46.7%±18.2%). There was a significant positive correlation between USP15 and Smad7 expression, and significant negative correlations between USP15 and TβR-expression, an I d between TβR- and Smad7 expression I in psoriasis. After transfection of USP15 siRNA in Hacat cells, the expression of TβR-mRNA was up I -regulated and that of Smad7 was down-regulated. It is concluded that USP15 may play a role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis through regulating the TβR-I/Smad7 pathway and there may be other cell signaling pathways interacting with USP15 to take part in the development of psoriasis.

Objective To investigate the levels of serum vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) and relationships with c1inicopatho1ogica1 characteristics and their clinical significance. Methods The concentrations of serum VEGF and bFGF were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) in 40 patients with NSCLC before and after chemotherapy. Results The level of serum VEGF in patients with Ⅳ stage NSCLC was significantly higher than that of Ⅲ stage(P

To investigate the influence of Anxin granules combined with tirofiban on acute myocardial infarction (AMI) Patients after elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). One hundred and twenty AMI patients were randomly divided into treatment group and control group. The patients in the two groups were all given Tirofiban 30mins before PCI . The treatment group was added Anxin granules 30 mins before and after PCI. Tissue factor (TF) and von willebrand factor (vWF) were tested at 6 hours after operation. Syndromatology alteration of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and bleeding complications were observed at 4 weeks after operation. Both TF and vWF at 6 hours after operation of the treatment group was lower than the control group significantly (P < 0.01), while the condition of myocardial ischemia at 90 mins after operation of the treatment group was better than control group with significance. The syndromatology alteration of TCM especially spontaneous perspiration and hypodynamia of the treatment group were improved significantly compared to control group 4 weeks after operation. All patients in both groups had no bleeding complications and thrombopenia. The study suggests that Anxin granules combined with tirofiba can improve the clinical efficacy and the endothelial function of AMI patients after PCI with no increase in bleeding events.
Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; complications ; metabolism ; surgery ; Postoperative Hemorrhage ; drug therapy ; etiology ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Thromboplastin ; metabolism ; von Willebrand Factor ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effects of protein kinase C (PKC) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) their and mechanisms in liver ischemic preconditioning.

METHODSIn rat models of liver ischemia-reperfusion (IR) and ischemic preconditioning (IP), the liver function was evaluated by examining serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels, and the morphological changes of the liver cells were observed under microscope. PKC activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate(PMA) and inhibitor chelerythrine(CHE), as well as MEK inhibitor PD98059, were utilized to analyze the phosphorylation of PKC and P44/42 MAPKs.

RESULTSCompared with the control rats, the liver function was best protected in rats of IP group, but not in those of IP group with PD98059 or CHE treatment. The rats in IR group showed improved liver function after PMA treatment. Similarly, the phosphorylation of PKC and P44/42 MAPKs was correlated with the liver function, and highly enhanced PKC and P44/42 MAPKs activity was observed in IP and IR+PMA groups, but decreased activity in IR and IP+CHE groups.

CONCLUSIONPhosphorylation of PKC and MAPKs plays a pivotal role in the preservation of the hepatocytes during IP.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Benzophenanthridines ; pharmacology ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; Liver ; blood supply ; enzymology ; Male ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; drug effects ; Protein Kinase C ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; blood ; physiopathology ; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVEWernicke's encephalopathy (WE) is an acute neuropsychiatric syndrome resulting from thiamine deficiency, which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The disorder is still greatly underdiagnosed in children because of either a relatively non-specific clinical presentation in some cases or unrecognized clinical setting. The aim of this literature review was to provide knowledge of pediatric WE in an effort to assist in early diagnosis, thereby reducing the morbidity and mortality.

METHODSThe clinical manifestations, characteristic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), diagnosis and treatment of one case and the other 35 cases reported in the last decade in children were summarized.

RESULTSThirty-six cases (22 boys and 14 girls, 2-month to 16-year-old) were analyzed. All the other 35 cases except for our case had underlying diseases: improper feeding in 25/35 cases, long-time vomiting in 5/35 cases, immunosuppressive therapy in 4/35 cases, long-time total parenteral nutrition without multivitamin preparations supplementation in 3/35 cases and anorexia nervosa in 1/35 case. The classic triad (mental-status changes, nystagmus and ophthalmoplegia, and ataxia) was seen in 6/36 cases. The other clinical manifestations included consciousness disturbance in 24/36 cases, infection in 22/36 cases, pathological reflex and muscular tension changes in 18/36 cases, convulsion in 17/36 cases, developmental delay in 4/36 cases and failure to thrive in 2/36 cases. Cerebrospinal fluid examination was performed in 31/36 cases, and a slightly raised protein concentration was seen in 7/31 cases. The cerebrospinal fluid lactate levels were detected in 4/36 cases (all increased), serum lactic acid levels in 7/36 cases (6/7 cases increased), serum pyruvate in 4/36 cases (all increased), thiamine pyrophosphate effect (TPPE) in 9/36 cases (all increased), and serum thiamine in 2/36 cases (increased in 1/2 cases). The brain computed tomography (CT) scan was conducted in 20/36 cases and 16/20 cases showed abnormal hypodensity in bilateral basal ganglia, one case revealed diffuse cortical atrophy. The brain MR scan was conducted in 13/36 cases and all the 13 cases revealed symmetrical abnormal signal in bilateral mamillary body and basal ganglia, and 7/13 cases showed abnormal signals in the tegmentum of midbrain, cerebral aqueduct and white matter around the third and fourth ventricles. The diagnosis of WE was confirmed by MR in 12 cases, triad combined with MR in 3 cases, autopsy in 1 case among the 13 cases who underwent MR scan. The diagnosis of WE was confirmed by the TPPE and/or lactate levels in 9/11 cases. The initial thiamine was given by intravenous or intramuscular infusion in 33/36 cases, unknown method in 1 case, orally in 1 case and no thiamine was used in 1 case. The dosage of thiamine was 100 mg daily in 29/35 cases, unknown in 3/35 cases, 50 mg daily in 2/35 cases, 600 mg daily in 1/35 case. 34/35 patients' clinical symptoms improved during 24 hours to 1 week after initial treatment, and 1 case died due to no response to thiamine. Nineteen patients were followed up for 2-2.5 months and 17 cases recovered completely.

CONCLUSIONWernicke's encephalopathy can be difficult to diagnose because of a relatively non-specific clinical presentation. The characteristic MRI findings and the dramatic response of neurological signs to parenteral thiamine will assist early clinical diagnosis. Early and timely thiamine supplementation could reverse the clinical features and improve the prognosis in most cases.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Sepsis ; complications ; Wernicke Encephalopathy ; complications ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical characteristics of hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure patients with familial aggregation.

METHODS275 patients with hepatitis B virus--related acute-on-chronic liver failure were investigated. The patients were divided into familial aggregation and non-familial aggregation group basis on their epidemiological features. Clinical data and biochemical indicators between the two groups were analyzed statistically.

RESULTS93 of 275 patients (33.82%) case were family aggregation. There was no significant difference compared with chronic hepatitis B patients (38.3%). The mean age of the two groups was 45.98 and 43.61 years old, respectively (P > 0.05). The rates of liver cirrhosis in family aggregation group were significant higher than non-familial aggregation group (73.91% vs 58.24%, p < 0.05). Serum total (TBil) and prothrombin activities (PTA) were no significant difference between the two groups, but ALT level in familial aggregation group was much higher (407.80 U/L vs 256.45 U/L, P 0.05).

CONCLUSIONFamilial aggregation were not related to acute-on-chronic liver failure in chronic HBV hepatitis patients. But the rate of liver cirrhosis were higher in patients with familial aggregation.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; End Stage Liver Disease ; etiology ; genetics ; Family ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; complications ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and in peripheral CD34(+) cells in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and explore their role in AMI.

METHODSEnzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) was employed for measuring the levels of VEGF and SDF-1 in AMI patients on days 1, 3, 7, 10, and 14 of onset and in normal control subjects. The absolute counts of CD34(+) in the peripheral blood were measured on days 1, 7, and 14 by flow cytometry in AMI patients, with their myocardial enzyme and troponin I detected and electrocardiography (ECG) and echocardiography (UCG) recorded.

RESULTSPeripheral CD34(+) cells obviously increased on day 7 after AMI onset (2.35-/+0.72/microl vs 1.48-/+0.49/micro, P<0.05). VEGF levels were significantly higher in AMI patients than in the control subjects, reaching the peak level and on day 14 (197.56-/+39.87 vs 53.79-/+18.12 pg/ml, P<0.01). SDF-1 level obviously decreased on day 1 after AMI onset (1683.12-/+224.79 vs 2178.67-/+265.34 pg/ml, P<0.01), followed by gradually increased to the control level. Obvious correlation was noted between the level of VEGF on day 7 and the peak level of peripheral CD34(+) cells, and the peak plasma VEGF level was obviously associated with the peak serum CK-MB and troponin I levels.

CONCLUSIONThe stem cells are mobilized into the peripheral blood in the event of AMI. Obviously increased VEGF level following AMI may persist for at least 2 weeks, whereas SDF-1 level undergoes temporary decrement after AMI. The dynamic changes of VEGF and SDF-1 can be related to the mobilization and homing of the stem cells to the injured myocardium.

Adult ; Antigens, CD34 ; blood ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; blood ; Time Factors ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood

OBJECTIVETo study the molecular types of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from a severe food-poisoning and to trace the possible strains.

METHODSReal-time PCR was applied to detect nuc gene as a specific marker for S. aureus, mecA gene encoding methicillin resistance and 5 other genes encoding staphylococcal enterotoxins (sea, seb, see, sed, see). Isolates were also performed with 16S rRNA oligonucleotide sequence analyzing by DNAStar MegAlign 5.0 software and pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) by BioNumerics Version 4.0 software.

RESULTSThe nuc gene was detected from the 10 isolated strains, sea and seb genes were detected from 7 strains. There were 4 16 S rRNA types and 5 PFGE types found from all the strains.

CONCLUSIONSThree relative S. aureus strains were involved in the severe food-poisoning at least. Molecular subtyping might give a molecular epidemiological evidence and support the source tracing of an outbreak.

Bacterial Typing Techniques ; China ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Enterotoxins ; Humans ; Staphylococcal Food Poisoning ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Staphylococcus aureus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification