OBJECTIVETo explore the characteristics of cellular immunity in drug abusers with pulmonary tuberculosis.

METHODSSixty drug abusers with pulmonary tuberculosis and 60 non-drug abusers with pulmonary tuberculosis (control) were enrolled in this study. Three days after establishment of a definite diagnosis, peripheral blood was taken from the patients for lymphocyte subgroup (CD3(+), CD3(+)/CD4(+), CD3(+)/CD8(+) T lymphocyte subgroups and NK cells) examination by flow cytometry, and the CD4(+)/CD8+(+) ratio was calculated. The difference of cellular immunity between the drug abusers and control group was analyzed statistically.

RESULTSCD3(+) and CD3(+)/CD4(+) T lymphocytes subgroups and NK cells of the drug abusers were significantly lower than those of the control patients (P=0.037, 0.028 and 0.015), and the former patients had also significantly lower CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio (P=0.021). The pulmonary tuberculosis types and CD3(+)/CD8(+) T lymphocyte subgroup were not significant different between the two groups (P=0.053 and 0.85).

CONCLUSIONDrug abuse might depress cellular immunity in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, which further complicate the treatment of this disease.

Adolescent ; Adult ; CD3 Complex ; metabolism ; CD4 Antigens ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Substance-Related Disorders ; complications ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; metabolism ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; complications ; immunology ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Young Adult

Objective: To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and the causes of two outbreaks of upper respiratory tract infection in our city. Methods: The epidemiological investigation was carried out on the outbreaks and the pharyngeal swabs were collected to do the pathophysiologic examination by using real-time PCR. Hexon gene of adenovirus was amplified by PCR. Then the positive products were sequenced and BLAST searching was done in GenBank. Results: The clinical symptoms of the two cases were high fever, sore throat and cough, etc, while the main signs were pharyngeal congestion and tonsil swelling; 32 students of a class in Yunxing primary school had respiratory infection related symptoms, of which the incidence rate was 55%; while 12 of 38 students in a class of Fangcun primary school were infected. All these students were on school in the same class, and the incidence was aggregate without proliferation. The duration of the disease was about 5 days and the prognosis was good, no death occurred. The positive result of real-time PCR showed adenovirus. BLAST search analysis on hexon gene showed AdV14. Conclusions According to epidemiological investigation and laboratory test results, the cause of these two outbreaks of upper respiratory tract infection was adenovirus type 14.

BACKGROUNDThe neurogenic bladder dysfunction caused by spinal cord injury is difficult to treat clinically. The aim of this research was to establish an artificial bladder reflex arc in rats through abdominal reflex pathway above the level of spinal cord injury, reinnervate the neurogenic bladder and restore bladder micturition.

METHODSThe outcome was achieved by intradural microanastomosis of the right T13 ventral root to S2 ventral root with autogenous nerve grafting, leaving the right T13 dorsal root intact. Long-term function of the reflex arc was assessed from nerve electrophysiological data and intravesical pressure tests during 8 months postoperation. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) tracing was performed to observe the effectiveness of the artificial reflex.

RESULTSSingle stimulus (3 mA, 0.3 ms pulses, 20 Hz, 5-second duration) on the right T13 dorsal root resulted in evoked action potentials, raised intravesical pressures and bladder smooth muscle, compound action potential recorded from the right vesical plexus before and after the spinal cord transaction injury between L5 and S4 segmental in 12 Sprague-Dawley rats. There were HRP labelled cells in T13 ventral horn on the experimental side and in the intermediolateral nucleus on both sides of the L6-S4 segments after HRP injection. There was no HRP labelled cell in T13 ventral horn on the control side.

CONCLUSIONUsing the surviving somatic reflex above the level of spinal cord injury to reconstruct the bladder autonomous reflex arc by intradural microanastomosis of ventral root with a segment of autologous nerve grafting is practical in rats and may have clinical applications for humans.

Anastomosis, Surgical ; Animals ; Atropine ; pharmacology ; Male ; Models, Theoretical ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reflex, Abdominal ; drug effects ; physiology ; Trimethaphan ; pharmacology ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic ; physiopathology

Objective By comparing biomechanical properties of two-screw rod and three-screw rod for fixing pelvic fracture, the difference in mechanical effects of different screw rod fixation positions in pelvic minimally invasive surgery was studied.Methods The mechanical models of pelvis fixed by two-screw rod and three-screw rod were established, and biomechanical characteristics of the pelvis during standing on both legs, during single-legged standing on healthy side or affected side, as well as in sitting posture were compared and analyzed by finite element simulation, and the fixation effect of three-screw rod was verified by clinical experiments.Results Both fixation methods could restore mechanical transmission of the pelvis. But for three-screw rod fixation, the stress on both sides of the pelvis was more balanced, and the displacement of the whole body and fracture surface was also lower during single-legged standing.Conclusions The three-screw rod fixation has an excellent effect in stability, which is more beneficial for fracture recovery.

Catheterization ; adverse effects ; Child ; Humans ; Jugular Veins ; injuries ; Male ; Punctures

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to evaluate the changing of alveolar cleft bone volume before and after bone graft.

METHODS11 complete unilateral alveolar cleft patients were scanned with dental CT before bone graft surgery and 3 months after surgery. Matlab7.0 software was used to calculate the bone volume of alveolar cleft before bone graft and bone bridge volume after bone graft. The method was clockwise identify the irregular area of alveolar cleft by several points at different vertical level, then calculated the irregular area of alveolar cleft and the volume of alveolar cleft using Matlab7.0 software. The volume of implant bone was evaluated with same method after 3 months surgery. The ratio of graft bone bridge volume and alveolar cleft volume was calculated.

RESULTSThe maximum ratio of bone bridge volume and alveolar cleft volume was 114.99%, the minimum ratio was 13.36%. The average ratio was 71.80%, coefficient variation was 47.987.

CONCLUSIONBone bridge volume after bone graft is varying.

Alveolar Process ; Bone Transplantation ; Cleft Lip ; Cleft Palate ; Female ; Humans ; Male

Objective: This study aimed to assess the technical feasibility, efficacy, and safety of the safe triangular working zone (STWZ) approach applied in percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) for spinal metastases involving the posterior part of the vertebral body. Materials and Methods: We prospectively enrolled 87 patients who underwent PV for spinal metastasis involving the posterior part of the vertebral body, with or without the STWZ approach, from January 2019 to April 2022. Forty-nine patients (27 females and 22 males; mean age ± standard deviation [SD], 57.2 ± 11.6 years; age range, 31–76 years) were included in group A (with STWZ approach), accounting for 54 vertebrae. Thirty-eight patients (18 females and 20 males; 59.1 ± 10.9 years; 29–81 years) were included in group B (without STWZ approach), accounting for 57 vertebrae. Patient demographics, procedure-related variables, and pain relief as assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) were collected at different time points. Tumor recurrence in the vertebrae after PV was analyzed using Kaplan–Meier curves. Results: The STWZ approach was successful from T1 to L5 without severe complications. Cement filling was satisfactory in 47/54 (87.0%) and 25/57 (43.9%) vertebrae in groups A and B, respectively (v< 0.001). Cement leakage was not significantly different between groups A and B (p= 1.000). Mean VAS score ± SD before and 1 week and 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after PV were 7.6 ± 1.8, 4.2 ± 2.0, 2.7 ± 1.9, 1.9 ± 1.5, 1.7 ± 1.4, 1.7 ± 1.1, and 1.6 ± 1.3, respectively, in group A and 7.2 ± 1.7, 4.0 ± 1.3, 3.4 ± 1.6, 2.4 ± 1.2, 1.8 ± 1.0, 1.4 ± 0.5, and 1.7 ± 0.9, respectively, in group B. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed a lower tumor recurrence rate in group A than in group B (p = 0.001). Conclusion The STWZ approach may represent a new, safe, alternative/auxiliary approach to target the posterior part of the vertebral body in the PV for spinal metastases.

AIM:To investigate the effects of kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside(KR)on the proliferation,migration of vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMC)and the activation of transforming growth factor βreceptor 1(TGFBR1)signaling pathway in the cells.METHODS: The viability of VSMC was detected by MTT assay.The proliferation of VSMC was measured by EdU staining.The migration ability of VSMC was examined by Transwell assay.The protein levels of the mi-gration-associated proteins matrix metalloproteinase 2(MMP2)and matrix metalloproteinase 9(MMP9)were detected by Western blot.Molecular docking study was conducted to explore the interaction between KR and TGFBR 1.The protein le-vels of the phosphorylated TGFBR1,Smad2 and Smad3 were determined by Western blot.RESULTS: KR inhibited the viability of VSMC in a dose-and time-dependent manner.KR reduced the ratio of EdU-positive cells in a dose-dependent manner.KR dose-dependently suppressed the migration ability of VSMC and decreased the protein levels of MMP 2 and MMP9(P<0.05).KR docked into TGFBR1 with the binding energy of -9.804 kcal/mol by forming hydrogen bonds with SER-280,ARG-215,ASP-290 and LYS-335 of TGBFR1.KR dose-dependently suppressed the activation of TGFBR 1 and its downstream proteins Smad2 and Smad3(P<0.05).CONCLUSION: KR inhibits the proliferation and migration of VSMC,possibly via blocking the TGFBR1 signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVETo study the applicability of MultiCalc software to prenatal screening of Down's syndrome in Jiangsu province, China.

METHODSThe gestational age-specific median of maternal serum marker was calculated by means of regression method. Regression functions for adjustment of Multiple of the Median (MoM) by weight were established for our own population.

RESULTSBefore the adjustment by weight, the average level of alpha fetal protein(AFP) was 16% higher and the free beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta-hCG) was 14% higher than those of the Caucasian in MultiCalc software respectively. But when the AFP and free beta-hCG results were converted to weight-adjusted MoM levels, the values were 0.99 and 1.02 respectively. The median of MoM of AFP and the free beta-hCG were 1.00 through the regression model of gestational age and weight adjustment.

CONCLUSIONThere was no difference of average weight-adjusted MoM levels between the Jiangsu population and the Caucasian, and the MultiCalc software was applicable to maternal serum screening for Down's syndrome of Jiangsu.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Body Weight ; China ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; blood ; Down Syndrome ; diagnosis ; Female ; Fetal Diseases ; diagnosis ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mothers ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; blood ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; methods ; Reference Values ; Regression Analysis ; Software ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effects of high-dose ulinastatin on the vital organs in patients undergoing total arch replacement for type A aortic dissection.

METHODSBetween September 2014 and March 2016, 66 patients with type A aortic dissection underwent total arch replacement at our center. Thirty-six of the patients received ulinastatin treatment at 300 000 U/8 h from admission to 3 days postoperatively and at 300 000 U/2 h during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery (UTI group), and the other 30 patients did not receive perioperative ulinastatin treatment (control group). The surgical data and blood biochemistry profiles on days 1, 3, and 5 postoperatively were compared between the two groups, and the postoperative ICU stay, re-operation for bleeding, ventilation for over 7 days, ultrafiltration for postoperative renal failure, tracheotomy, incidences of pulmonary and neurological complications and hospital death were also compared.

RESULTSs The operating time, cardiopulmonary bypass time, ACP time, cardiac arrest time, the lowest rectal temperature and frequency of bilateral and unilateral antegrade selective cerebral perfusion were similar between the two groups (P>0.05). Compared with those in the control group, patients in UTI group had lower lactate, S-100 and neuron specific enolase levels on the first postoperative day and higher OI on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th postoperative days (P<0.05), but serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, total bilirubin, and alanine aminotransferase levels were comparable between the two groups (P>0.05). No significant differences were found in the frequency of re-operation for bleeding, ultrafiltration for renal failure, tracheotomy, neurological complications or hospital death after the operation between the two groups, but the patients in UTI group had a shorter ICU time, a less frequent long-term ventilation and a lower incidence of pulmonary infection (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONHigh-dose ulinastatin offers protection on pulmonary function and lowers the specific brain injury markers in patients with type A aortic dissection after total arch replacement, but its protective effects on brain is uncertain.

Aneurysm, Dissecting ; surgery ; Aorta, Thoracic ; surgery ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; surgery ; Body Temperature ; Brain ; drug effects ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; Glycoproteins ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lactic Acid ; blood ; Lung ; drug effects ; Perfusion ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; blood ; Postoperative Period ; Protective Agents ; therapeutic use ; S100 Proteins ; blood ; Time Factors