Breast ; pathology ; Breast Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; diagnosis ; Endometrium ; pathology ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Female ; Hematoxylin ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Staining and Labeling ; methods

OBJECTIVE: To better understand the characte ristics of the neurogenic motor evoked potential (NMEP) before and after acute s pinal cord injury. METHODS: We recorded and characterized the spinal cord NMEP fro m 48 normal rats and from 38 rats with spinal cord hemisection lesion. Spinal co rd NMEPs were elicited by applying a range of current intensities with bipolar m icroelectrode stimuli to the C4 cord segment and recording the responses from sc iatic nerves with bipolar microelectrodes placed in the neurilemma. RESULTS: The evoked potentials consisted of three stable and re producible negative and three positive peaks. The meanplus minusSD latencies of N1 were 2.89plus minus0.22 ms on the right side and 2.89plus minus0.24 ms on th e left side. The mean conduction velocity was 47.9 m/s. The meanplus minusSD am plitudes of N1 were 3.61plus minus2.10 muV on the right side and 3.83plus minus2.3 2 muV on the left side. The amplitudes of N1 were signific antly different among the eight stimulus intensity groups (right side: F=2.22, df=7201, P=0.03; left side: F=2.11, df=7206, P=0.04). The amplitude was largest when the stimulus intensity was 1.1-2.5 mA. The latencies of N1 were not si gnificantly different among the eight stimulus intensity groups (right side: F=0.40, df=7201, P=0.9; left side: F=1.20, df=7206, P=0.3. The amplitudes and latencies of N2, N3 were not significantly different among the eight stimulus intensity groups. There were no significant changes in latency and amplitude between the left and the right side nerve responses. Thirty-eight rats underwent T9 cord right side hemisection. Among them, 20 (53%), 30 (79%), and 32 (84%) rats could not be reco rded in corresponding to N1, N2, and N3, respectively, in the right-side sciati c nerves; and 13 (79%), 18 (47%), and 21 (55%), in corresponding to N1, N2, and N3 in the left-side sciatic nerves. The latency was significantly delayed on th e both right and left sides. The amplitude N1 was significantly depressed on the both sides, with N3 significantly depressed on the right side and N2 not signif icantly depressed. CONCLUSIONS: The amplitude of N is significantly different amon g the eight stimulus intensity groups. The amplitude is largest when the stimulu s intensity is 1.1-2.5 mA. The light injury results in a significant la tency delay in N1, N2, and N3 waves and a significant amplitude attenuation in N1. The N1 amplitude is sensitive to the degree of the lesion and conducts bilate rally. N2 and N3 conduct mainly along the ipsilateral posterolaterial tracts in the rats.

Bovine theileriosis is a tick-borne disease that is hampering the development of the domestic cattle industry in northern China. This study involved a molecular survey of bovine Theileria species in 137 blood samples from cattle in the Jilin province of China. The DNA samples were screened by species-specific 18S rRNA PCR. Results revealed that 19.7% (27/137), 17.5% (24/137) and 10.9% (15/137) were found to be infected with Theileria sinensis, Theileria orientalis, respectively. Mixed infection was found in 8.8% (12/137). The overall detection rates of Baishan, Yanji, Jilin and Liaoyuan districts was 60.0%, 17.5%, 5.3% and 0%, respectively. There is little information on the detection and distribution of bovine Theileria species in northern China. Therefore, this study provides important data for understanding the epidemiology of Theileria species and designing appropriate approaches for the diagnosis and control of bovine theileriosis in northern China.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide, with large variation of the incidence and mortality across regions. Although the mortality of lung cancer has been decreasing, or steady in the US, it has been increasing in Asia for the past two decades. Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, and other risk factors such as indoor coal burning, cooking fumes, and infections may play important roles in the development of lung cancer among Asian never smoking women. The median age of diagnosis in Asian patients with lung cancer is generally younger than Caucasian patients, particularly among never-smokers. Asians and Caucasians may have different genetic susceptibilities to lung cancer, as evidenced from candidate polymorphisms and genome-wide association studies. Recent epidemiologic studies and clinical trials have shown consistently that Asian ethnicity is a favorable prognostic factor for overall survival in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), independent of smoking status. Compared with Caucasian patients with NSCLC, East Asian patients have a much higher prevalence of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation (approximately 30% vs. 7%, predominantly among patients with adenocarcinoma and never-smokers), a lower prevalence of K-Ras mutation (less than 10% vs. 18%, predominantly among patients with adenocarcinoma and smokers), and higher proportion of patients who are responsive to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The ethnic differences in epidemiology and clinical behaviors should be taken into account when conducting global clinical trials that include different ethnic populations.
Adenocarcinoma ; ethnology ; genetics ; metabolism ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; ethnology ; genetics ; metabolism ; European Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Far East ; epidemiology ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; ethnology ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mutation ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; metabolism ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; United States ; epidemiology ; ras Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

Every influenza pandemic in history would end up with disastrous outcomes on mankind, of which the most notorious one was the "Spanish flu" pandemic in 1918. In the past century, with advanced knowledge on influenza viruses, laboratory technologies and surveillance methods, human beings were not as helpless when facing the influenza pandemic. In order to control the outbreaks and reducing the negative impacts, programs as: setting up and improving the influenza pandemic preparedness and response plan were recognized as important issues on early detection or prompt warning of any influenza virus strain that might lead to potential pandemics. The scheduled and planned control measures towards the pandemic preparedness and response plan had been considered of key importance in mitigating the peak of pandemic or controlling the transmission of virus. Since the "1918 influenza pandemic" , we had reviewed the evolution and development of plans regarding the preparedness and response on influenza pandemic issued by both WHO and China. We also emphasized on the variety of strategies which were linked to the preparedness and response at different historical stages, to provide reference for the pandemic preparedness of the disease, in the future.
China/epidemiology* ; Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control* ; Forecasting ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; Influenza, Human/virology* ; Pandemics/prevention & control*

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020. A definitive diagnosis of COVID-19 is made after a positive result is obtained on reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay. In Singapore, rigorous contact tracing was practised to contain the spread of the virus. Nasal swabs and chest radiographs (CXR) were also taken from individuals who were suspected to be infected by COVID-19 upon their arrival at a centralised screening centre. From our experience, about 40% of patients who tested positive for COVID-19 had initial CXR that appeared "normal". In this case series, we described the temporal evolution of COVID-19 in patients with an initial "normal" CXR. Since CXR has limited sensitivity and specificity in COVID-19, it is not suitable as a first-line diagnostic tool. However, when CXR changes become unequivocally abnormal, close monitoring is recommended to manage potentially severe COVID-19 pneumonia.
Adult ; Betacoronavirus ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; Coronavirus Infections ; complications ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Radiography ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVE: To prepare monoclonal antibody against cotinine (COT) and to establish immunoassay for detecting COT in human urinary samples. METHODS: BALB/c mice were immunized with synthesized cotinine-bovine serum albumin (COT-BSA) to screen monoclonal antibody with technique of cell fusion. The monoclonal antibody was used for the indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ic-ELISA) and colloidal gold immunochromatographic strip assay for the detection of COT in human urine. RESULTS: The monoclonal antibody against COT was identified by ic-ELISA with a 50%inhibitive concentration (IC CONCLUSIONS The ic-ELISA and colloidal gold immunochromatographic strip assay using the prepared monoclonal antibody against COT have been proved to be reliable for the rapid detection of COT in human urines, which may be used for monitoring of environmental tobacco smoke.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Cotinine/urine* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gold Colloid ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Urinalysis/methods*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of polysaccharide nucleic acid-fraction (BCG-PSN) in the treatment of vasomotor rhinitis. METHOD: Sixty patients were randomly divided into BCG-PSN group (n = 30) and control group (n = 30). The patients in BCG-PSN group were administered with BCG-PSN 1.0 mg twice a week for two months, and intranasal azelastine was used if needed. The patients in control group were administered with intranasal azelastine solely twice a day, which could be decreased with the symptom relief. Follow-up was 6 months. Symptom and medication scores were recorded. Side effects were registered. RESULT: The symptom and medication scores of BCG-PSN group were significantly lower than that of control group (P < 0.01) after BCG-PSN treatment. There was no significant difference in symptom score between the two groups at 6 months after BCG-PSN treatment (P > 0.05), while the medication score of BCG-PSN group was still much lower than that of control group (P < 0.01). No serious adverse events were reported in BCG-PSN group except for local pain on the injection place in one patient. CONCLUSION BCG-PSN is effective and safe in the treatment of vasomotor rhinitis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; BCG Vaccine ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rhinitis, Vasomotor ; drug therapy ; Single-Blind Method ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVESTo explore the mechanism of development and aggressiveness in gastric carcinomas by investigating the expression and role of CD97 and its cellular ligand CD55 in gastric carcinomas.

METHODSTumor and corresponding normal mucosal tissue, collected from 39 gastric carcinoma patients, were examined by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR for the expression of CD97 and CD55.

RESULTSCD97(stalk) was strongly stained on scattered tumor cells or small tumor cell clusters at the invasion front of gastric carcinomas. The expression of CD97(stalk) was frequently observed in tumors of stage I and T1 gastric carcinoma patients. The expression of CD97(stalk) between Stage I and Stage II, III, IV specimens showed significant difference (P<0.05), between T1 and T2, T3, T4 specimens also showed significant difference (P<0.05). Specimens with tumor invasion depth limited in mucosa of T1 specimens showed higher positive CD55 expression than specimens with the same tumor invasion depth in T2, T3, T4 specimens, the expression of CD55 between T1 and T2, T3, T4 specimens was significantly different (P<0.05). There was strong correlation between the distribution patterns of CD97(stalk) and CD55 on tumor tissues (r=0.73, P<0.05). Signet ring cell carcinomas frequently contained strong CD97(stalk) and CD55-staining.

CONCLUSIONSOur results suggest that CD97(stalk) is probably involved in the growth, invasion and aggressiveness of gastric carcinomas by binding its cellular ligand CD55. CD97(stalk) and CD55 could be useful as molecular markers for prognosis and therapy of gastric carcinoma patients.

Antigens, CD ; genetics ; metabolism ; Base Sequence ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; genetics ; metabolism ; CD55 Antigens ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Neoplasm ; genetics ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; immunology ; pathology ; therapy ; Tissue Distribution

The aim of this research were to prepare CI-921 mixed micelles(CI-Micelles), to establish a method for determining the entrapment efficiency of CI-Micelles, to optimize the formulation and to evaluate their in vitro properties. CI-Micelles were prepared by film dispersion. Dialysis and fitting were used to calculate true entrapment efficiency(EE)and drug loading(DL)of CI-Micelles. The influences of polymer concentration, polymer radio and hydrating media on the entrapment efficiency, drug loading and particle-size were investigated. The stability at 4 °C in 6 days was evaluated. The optimal formulation of CI-921-Micelles consisting of polymer concentration of 72 mg/mL, a mass radio of Pluronic F127/Solutol HS15 at mass ratio of 1 ∶2 and 5% glucose solution as hydrating medium, showed a EE of more than 90%, and mean particle-size of 17-25 nm and PDI< 0. 210. There were no significant changes to CI-Micelles in EE and particle-size after treatment at 4 °C for 6 days. The applied method of dialysis and fitting could be used to determine EE for micelles loaded with weakly basic drug which was difficult to meet sink conditions. Adjustment of the mass radio of Pluronic F127 to Solutol HS15 had resulted in uniform particle size distribution, high entrapment efficiency and drug loading capacity and better stability of CI-Micelles.