Objective:To investigate the regulation and mechanism of chronic Trichinella spiralis ( Ts) infection on liver immunopathology in mice co-infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA( PbA). Methods:According to body weight, 64 specific pathogen free female Kunming mice (6 - 8 weeks old, weighting 22 - 25 g) were divided into 4 groups by using random number table method. Control group: uninfected; Ts group: mice were mono-infected with 30 Ts larvae by oral gavage on day 0; PbA group: mice were mono-infected with 1 × 10 6PbA-infected red blood cells in 0.1 ml of phosphate buffer (PBS) administered by intraperitoneal injection on day 121; co-infected ( Ts+PbA) group: mice were infected with 30 Ts larvae by oral gavage and intraperitoneal injected with 1 × 10 6PbA-infected red blood cells in 0.1 ml PBS on day 121 after Ts infection. There were 16 mice in each group, in which 10 mice in each group were monitored for the survival rate. The peripheral red blood cell parasitemia of PbA group and Ts + PbA group were monitored every other day by light microscope examination of Giemsa-stained thin tail-blood smears from day 3 after PbA infection. Mice were sacrificed at day 135 after Ts infection and/or at day 15 after PbA infection, the mouse body weight and liver weight were measured, and the liver index were calculated. Ts-infected mice were monitored by a light microscope examination of diaphragm compression slide. Under a light microscope, the liver pathology and liver fibrosis of mice were observed and compared with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Sirius red staining, respectively. The F4/80 + Kupffer cells in liver of mice were examined by immunohistochemical staining. Results:After infection with Ts or PbA, Ts larvae cysts were observed in diaphragm tissues and PbA were observed in red blood cells under the light microscope. After PbA infection, there was no significant difference in survival rate between PbA group and Ts+ PbA group ( P > 0.05). Compared with PbA group, the peripheral red blood cell parasitemia was significantly decreased in Ts+ PbA group on days 11 and 15 after PbA infection (%: 27.104 ± 7.623 vs 45.032 ± 9.849, 60.218 ± 2.776 vs 76.778 ± 6.351, P < 0.05), and the liver index and the liver pathology score were significantly decreased in Ts+ PbA group ( P < 0.05). Sirius red staining showed that the positive area of liver fibrosis in Ts+ PbA group was significantly higher than that in PbA group ( P < 0.05). Immunohistochemical staining showed that the average optical density value of F4/80 + Kupffer cells in Ts+ PbA group was significantly higher than that in PbA group ( P < 0.01). Conclusion:Chronic Ts infection may reduce the peripheral red blood cell parasitemia, increase F4/80 + Kupffer cells expression in liver, and attenuate liver pathology in mice co-infected with PbA.

OBJECTIVE: To examine various pneumatized extensions of the sphenoid sinus of Chinese people. METHOD: The sphenoid sinus and its surrounding structures were examined from 100 computed tomography images of the sinus. The type of the sphenoid sinus was classified according to the various extensions of the sinus. RESULT: The type of the sphenoid sinus was classified into the following 6 basic types based on the direction of pneumatization: sphenoid body, lateral, clival, lesser wing, anterior, and combined. CONCLUSION The variations in the extensions of pneumatization of the sphenoid sinus may facilitate entry into areas bordering the sphenoid sinus.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Humans ; Sphenoid Bone ; anatomy & histology ; Sphenoid Sinus ; anatomy & histology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Parasitic diseases still remain the world's greatest health problems and cause huge economic burden in poor areas. The drugs currently used to treat protozoiases and helminthiases have certain defects, and it is urgent to develop more effective therapeutic drugs for these diseases. Berberine is one kind of important anti-inflammatory agents originally derived from Coptis rhizoma. The derivatives of berberine are obtained by modifying the structural site of berberine. In addition to its anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial activities, berberine and its derivatives also have significant anti-parasitic activity. In this paper, we summarized recent progress in the use of berberine and its derivatives against the infections of protozoa ( Leishmania spp ., Trypanosoma spp. , Toxoplasma gondii, Plasmodium falciparum, and Eimeria tenella) and helminths ( Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma. japonicum, Echinococcus granulosus, and Toxocara canis), which may providea useful reference for researchers in this field.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the necessity of postural restrictions after repositioning maneuvers in posterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). METHOD: Sixty-eight consecutive patients diagnosed of posterior canal BPPV with a positive Dix-Hallpike test. Thirty-two patients were instructed to follow postural restrictions after repositioning maneuvers, and 36 patients did not receive any postural restriction after treatment. All the patients were reevaluated at 1 week and 3 months later respectively. RESULT: There was no statistical difference in number of maneuvers needed to resolve symptoms between two groups. CONCLUSION Epley maneuver is effective to treat patients with posterior canal BPPV, and postural restrictions does not improved the efficacy. Above all, we do not recommend any postural restrictions to patients with posterior canal BPPV.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patient Positioning ; Treatment Outcome ; Vertigo ; therapy

BACKGROUNDMutations in PAX6 gene have been shown to be the genetic cause of aniridia, which is a severe panocular eye disease characterised by iris hypoplasia. However, there is no study to do genetic analysis of aniridia, although there are several case reports in China. Here, we describe a mutation analysis of PAX6 in a large Chinese family with aniridia.

METHODSGenomic DNA from venous blood samples was prepared. Haplotype analysis was performed with two genetic markers (D11S904 and D11S935). Fourteen exons of the PAX6 gene were amplified from genomic DNA. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products of each exon were analysed by single strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP). The PCR products having an abnormal pattern were sequenced to confirm the mutation.

RESULTSSignificant evidence for allele sharing in affected patients was detected suggesting that PAX6 mutation links to aniridia in this family. An extra band corresponding to exon 9 in PAX6 was found by single strand conformational polymorphism analysis in all the aniridia patients in this family, but not detected in the unaffected members. A mutation of C to T was detected by sequencing at the nucleotide 1080 that converts the Arg codon (CGA) to the termination codon (TGA).

CONCLUSIONSAniridia is caused by a nonsense mutation of PAX6 gene in the large Chinese kindred. Genetic test is important to prevent the transmission of aniridia to their offsprings in the kindred by prenatal diagnosis.

Aniridia ; genetics ; Eye Proteins ; genetics ; Female ; Homeodomain Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; PAX6 Transcription Factor ; Paired Box Transcription Factors ; Pedigree ; Repressor Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo prepare a novel strontium-containing calcium sulfate and assess its and biocompatibility.

METHODSA novel strontium-containing α-calcium sulfate hemihydrate (Sr-caS) bone substitute as prepared with hydrothermal reaction and examined for X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and thermogravimetric differential scanning calorimetric (TG-DSC) patterns. The biocompatibility of the material was evaluated by in vitro cytotoxicity test in L-929 cells, hemolysis test of blood, and in vivo implantation test in SD rats.

RESULTSThe XRD spectra of the prepared Sr-CaS powder highlighted 3 strong characteristic peaks of α-CaSO4 at 14.63°, 25.72° and 29.80° with a strontium-specific peak at 24.78°. The FTIR patterns of Sr-CaS resembled those of CaS. TG-DSC results showed that the material contained a non-evaporable water content of 6.03%. In vitro cytotoxicity test in L-929 cells suggested that the material had a class 1 cytotoxicity, and the hemolysis rate of its aqueous extract was 4.3%. The material implanted in the muscular tissues of SD rats maintained a steady state in the surrounding tissues.

CONCLUSIONThis strontium-containing calcium sulfate material we prepared shows an excellent biocompatibility for potential use as a novel artificial bone material.

Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Bone Substitutes ; chemistry ; Calcium Sulfate ; chemistry ; Cell Line ; Mice ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Prostheses and Implants ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; Strontium ; chemistry ; X-Ray Diffraction

OBJECTIVETo discuss the early diagnostic methods and therapeutic principles of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and evaluate the therapeutic efficacy objectively.

METHODSUsing neuro-imaging examinations combined with case history and clinical symptoms to make the early diagnosis of 96 case with aneurysmal SAH, and Guglielmi detachable microcoil (GDC) was utilized for early intracapsular embolization in the ruptured aneurysms. Efficient symptomatic treatment was done early after operation.

RESULTSAll of 96 cases were early diagnosed and successfully embolized; Among them, the aneurysmal lumen was 100% occluded in 83 cases, 95% in 8 cases, 90% in 5 cases. There were 3 cases complicating with aneurysms rupture during operation, 5 cases with cerebral vasospasm. One case was affected by microcoil terminal escape after operation, 3 recurrent cases were all cured with secondary GDC embolization. There were 9 complications associated with embolization techniques and 13 cases (13.5%) occurring permanent sequelae associated with SAH. According to the Glasgow prognosis score, 77 patients got grade I, 7 grade II, 6 grade III, 3 grade IV, and 3 grade V. The mortality rate was 3.1%.

CONCLUSIONSTo make early etiological diagnosis of the SAH patients, using GDC to embolize the aneurysms, and earlier efficient symptomatic treatment are important methods to improve the curative rate and reduce the mortality rate.

Adult ; Aged ; Aneurysm, Ruptured ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Angiography ; methods ; Early Diagnosis ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

This study was purposed to investigate the apoptosis-inducing effect of Annexin A2 gene (AnxA2) on multiple myeloma (MM) cells and its mechanisms. The human MM cell lines U266 and RPMI8226 were transfected by using siRNA targeting at AnxA2; the expressions of AnxA2 mRNA and protein in the siRNA-transfected cells were detected by real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively; the cell apoptosis was assayed by flow cytometry. The results showed that silencing AnxA2 gene by siRNA resulted in decreased expressions of AnxA2 gene and protein, increased apoptosis of U266 and RPMI8226 cell lines (P < 0.05), at the same time resulted in down-regulation of apoptosis-related gene expressions including p65NF-κB, IL-2, IL-6 (P < 0.05), and up-regulation of P53 gene expression (P < 0.05). It is concluded that the AnxA2 silence plays a promoting role in apoptosis of MM cell lines U266 and RPMI8226.
Annexin A2 ; genetics ; Apoptosis ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; genetics ; pathology ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the genotype and gene characterization of measles wild viruses circulated in Jilin provinces, and to provide scientific evidences for setting down controlling and preventing strategy and measures.

METHODS38 strains of measles virus isolated in 2001-2006 were genotyped by RT-PCR-RFLP, some strains of measles virus in Jilin province were chosen for the phylogenetic analysis and for the homology analysis of nucleotide and amino acid sequences.

RESULTSAll the 38 strains of measles virus were identified as H1 genotype by RT-PCR-RFLP, and 29 strains of them were identified further as H1 a by sequence analysis. The homology of nucleotide was 88.0%-89.4% and the homology of amino acid was 91.8%-92.7% .The average diversity was less than 1.4%.

CONCLUSIONThe measles virus of H1a genotype was the circulating virus within recent years in Jilin province. There were the same measles virus strains circulating and transmitting at different years and also the different H1a measles virus strains co-circulating at the same year. There were the same transmission chain caused by the same measles virus with other provinces.

China ; epidemiology ; Genotype ; Humans ; Measles ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; virology ; Measles virus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Phylogeny ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods

OBJECTIVEA new simple RT-LAMP method was applied to detect measles virus nucleic acid and compared with nest-RT-PCR.

METHODSCompare the detection rate of the RT-LAMP method with that of nest-RT-PCR by detecting measles virus nucleic acid from measles virus and clinical samples.

RESULTSThe nucleic acid positive rates of all 23 strains of measles virus are all 100% by the two methods. But to the detection of 18 clinical samples which are negative in measles isolation, the nest-RT-LAMP showed 56.52% positive rate of nucleic acid of measles virus and nest-RT-PCR showed 47.83%.

CONCLUSIONRT-LAMP is more sensitive than nest-RT-PCR.

Genome, Viral ; Humans ; Measles ; virology ; Measles virus ; isolation & purification ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods