Objective To analyse the antibiotics susceptibility result of Neisseria gonorrhoeae(N.g) isolates.Method 95 strains of N.g were performed the in-vitro susceptibility test.MICs of penicillin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, cefepime, and spectinomycin were determined by agar dilution.Results Almost all of the N.g strains were susceptible to the first-line antibiotics used for treating the infection. The resistance rate to ciprofloxacin, tetracycline and penicillin were 100%, 78.9% and 68.4% respectively.Conclusion Although N.g is susceptible to first-line antibiotics used for treating the infections at the clinics, the situation of resistance to penicillin, tetracycline and ciprofloxacin is very serious.

Objective To evaluate HRCT features of otosclerosis.Methods HRCT findings of 61 ears with the diagnosis of otosclerosis based on clinical diagnostic criteria in 34 patients were evaluated retrospectively.Results Hypodense regions in the bony otic capsule were found on HRCT in 55 ears and no abnormality was identified on HRCT in 6 ears.In 55 ears with abnormal HRCT findings, HRCT demonstrated the hypodense region of bony otic capsule anterior to oval window alone in 6 ears, the hypodense region anterior to oval window associated with thicked stapedial footplate and pericochlear hypodensity in 6 ears, the hypodense region anterior to oval window associated with thicked stapedial footplate and hypodensity posterior to oval window in 11 ears, the hypodense region anterior to oval window associated with thicked stapedial footplate in 20 ears, the hypodense region anterior to oval window associated with pericochlear hypodensity in 10 ears, and pericochlear hypodensity in the bony otic capsule alone in 2 ears.Conclusion HRCT can detect abnormalities in the bony otic capsule and the stapedial footplate,contributing to confirming diagnosis of otosclerosis.

Objective To investigate protein expression of telomerase reverse transcriptase(TERT),telomerase-associated protein 1(TP1) and telomeric repeat binding factor 2(TRF2) in human fetal cadiacmyocytes.Methods Using immunohistochemical method,sections of human fetal hearts were stained with antibodies against TERT,TP1 and TRF2.Results Expression of TERT was gradually decreased with development in human fetal cadiacmyocytes nuclear.Expression of TP1 and TRF2 was gradually increased with development in human fetal cadiacmyocytes cytoplasm.Conclusion Down-regulation of TERT and up-regulation of TP1 and TRF2 may promote the permanent withdrawal of cardiomyocytes from the cell cycle and enter terminal differentiation and myocardium hypertrophy.

OBJECTIVETo compare the early clinical effects of Activ C cervical disc replacement (ACDR) and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) in treating single-level cervical spondylosis.

METHODSThe clinical data of 76 patients with single-level cervical spondylosis underwent surgery from July 2009 to September 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 28 patients were treated with ACDR (ACDR group), including 18 males and 10 females, aged from 32 to 62 years old with an average of (45.2±6.2) years; and 48 patients were treated with ACDF (ACDF group), including 28 males and 20 females, aged from 33 to 60 years old with an average of (45.8±6.4) years. Visual analogue scale (VAS), Japanese Orthopedics Association (JOA) score, Short Form-36 (SF-36), imaging data were used to assess the clinical effects after operation.

RESULTSA total of 76 patients were followed up from 6 to 24 months with an average of 13.2 months. VAS of neck pain and brachialgia were improved in all patients after operation (P<0.05), there was no significant difference between two group (P>0.05). Somato-score and psycho-score of SF-36 of two groups were obviously increased (P<0.05), ACDR group was better than that of ACDF group (P<0.05). In ACDR group, there was no significant difference in the range of motion of surgical segments and adjacent segments between preoperative and postoperative (P>0.05); heterotopic ossification around the edge of vertebral body occurred in 1 case on the 6th month after operation, no fusion was found on the 1st year after operation. In ACDF group, the adjacent vertebral disease occurred in 1 case and the patient underwent the reoperation.

CONCLUSIONActiv C cervical disc replacement can reduce the degeneration of adjacent segments and its early outcomes for the treatment of single-level cervical spondylosis are satisfactory, but the long-term effects still need study.

Adult ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Diskectomy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Spondylosis ; surgery ; Total Disc Replacement ; methods

OBJECTIVETo observe the time course of interleukin (IL)-21 and related cytokines expression in rats with experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM).

METHODSAntigen was prepared with an emulsion of porcine cardiac myosin in complete Freund's adjuvant, plus Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra strain. EAM model was made by hypodermic injection of myosin in hind legs of Lewis rats.mRNA expression of IL-21 and related cytokines (IL-21R, IL-17, TGF-β, IL-6) in different tissues (heart, liver, spleen, kidney) were determined at 2 weeks after immunization by RT-PCR and quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Furthermore, the time course of IL-21 and related cytokines expression in the acute phase of EAM (2 w, 3 w, 4 w) was determined by quantitative real-time RT-PCR, and IL-21, IL-17 protein expression was determined by Western blot and ELISA. The location of IL-21R was examined by immunohistochemistry at 2 w after immunization.

RESULTSHistopathology examination evidenced abundant mononuclear cells in the myocardium of 2 weeks EAM rats. Fibrosis and multinucleated giant cells were observed in the myocardium of 3 weeks EAM rats. Inflammation was reduced and large amount of fibrosis could be found in 4 weeks EAM rats. The heart weight/body weight ratio in normal, EAM 2 w, 3 w, 4 w group was (3.011 ± 0.117) mg/g, (4.736 ± 1.279) mg/g, (7.200 ± 0.308) mg/g and (4.622 ± 0.978) mg/g respectively. IL-21 mainly expressed in heart and spleen, IL-21R, IL-17, TGF-β mainly expressed in spleen, and IL-17, IL-6 mainly expressed in heart of EAM rats. IL-21R mainly distributed in cardiomyocytes of 2 weeks EAM rats. In line with pathological EAM course, the expression of IL-21 and related cytokines peaked at 2 weeks and then returned to normal at 4 weeks after immunization.

CONCLUSIONIL-21 and related cytokines were involved in the pathological process of EAM, upregulated IL-21 expression might promote Th17 cell differentiation and enhance Th17 cell secretion.

Animals ; Autoimmune Diseases ; immunology ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Interleukin-17 ; immunology ; Interleukin-6 ; immunology ; Interleukins ; immunology ; Male ; Myocarditis ; immunology ; pathology ; Myocardium ; immunology ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred Lew ; Th17 Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; immunology

Objective To investigate the effect of transplantation of mouse marrow stromal cells (mMSCs) on Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) transgenic mice through cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) injection.Methods We delivered 5 × 105 mMSCs into SOD1 transgenic mice by single injection to CSF at the age of 8 weeks or by multiple injections at the age of 8,10 and 12 weeks.Neurologic phenotype observation,weight measurement,hanging wire test and motor neuron counts were used to assess disease progression of SOD1 mice.Results Single transplantation of mMSCs didn' t show beneficial effect on SOD1 mice.Compared with vehicle-treated mice,SOD1 transgenic mice with multiple transplantations of mMSCs demonstrated attenuated weight loss,improved motor performance,decreased motor neuron loss,and importantly,prolonged survival by 17 days ((157 ± 15) d vs (140 ± 11) d; x2 =7.56,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion Intrathecal injection could be an effective route of cell transplantation,and multiple transplantations of mMSCs are needed to achieve the therapeutic effect on SOD1 mice.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of Qishen Xiaodian Decoction combined with laser acupoint irradiation for treatment of recurrent Hen?ch-Sch?nlein purpura (HSP) in children. Methods Totally 120 cases of children with recurrent HSP were divided into treatment group and control group according to the digital random table method, with 60 cases in each group. The control group was given anti-allergy, hormones, immunosuppressive agents and other conventional treatment for 4 weeks, while the treatment group was treated with Qishen Xiaodian Decoction based on conventional treatment, 1 dose each day, morning and night (age 4–5 take 1/3 dose, age >5–10 take the half dose, and age >10–14 take the whole dose), for 4 weeks. Zusanli, Xuehai, and Sanyinjiao acupoints were under laser vertical irradiation, 12 min for each time, once a day for 2 weeks. The disappearing time of the main symptoms and the total effective rate of the two groups were compared. Peripheral blood contents of Th17 and Treg cells and serum interleukin-17 (IL-17), and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) level before and after the treatment were observed. The recurrence rate in 6 months and in 12 months of the two groups were compared. Results The disappearing time of rash, abdominal pain and joint swelling pain and kidney damage of the treatment group were less than those of the control group (P<0.01). The total effective rate was 95％(57/60) in treatment group, significantly higher than control group 80％ (48/60), with statistical significance (P<0.05). Compared with before treatment, Th17 cell content, serum IL-17 and TGF-β1 decreased, and Treg cell content increased after treatment of the two groups (P<0.01). Compared with the control group, contents of Th17 cell and serum IL-17 of the treatment group decreased (P<0.01). The recurrence rate was lower than that of the control group in 6 and 12 months after treatment, with statistical significance (P<0.05). Conclusion Based on the conventional western medicine treatment, Qishen Xiaodian Decoction combined with laser acupoint irradiation on recurrent HSP in children can quickly relieve symptoms and reduce the recurrence rate.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of attention networks impairment in Parkinson' s disease patients.Methods Attention network test was performed in 28 PD patients and 28 normal controls on the efficiency of three anatomically defined attentional networks:alerting,orienting,and executive control.Results The correct rate of attention network test was significantly lower(P0.05).The relative analysis showed that the Hoehn Yahr stage was positively correlated with the value of executive netwok(r=0.794,P

Objective To analyze the diseases responsible for ophthalmoplegia and determine the optimal technique identifying the lesions. Methods CT and MR imaging findings of 1376 patients with ophthalmoplegia were analyzed. The total positive rate and ratio of the diseases causing ophthalmoplegia were calculated. The efficiency of various methods and sequences was compared in the evaluation of cavernous sinus inflammation and other lesions. Multi-paired samples Friedman test was used to compare five kinds of images from different methods and sequences, and Wilcoxon test was used to compare between every two kinds of images. Results The total positive rate was 91.9% (1264/1376). In 50 patients who underwent both CT and MRI, the positive rate of MRI (92. 0% ,46/50) was higher than that of CT (48.0% ,24/50)(Z = -4. 8, P ＜ 0. 01). There were 552 cases (43.7%) of cavernous sinus lesions, 518 cases (41.0%)of extraocular muscle diseases, 108 cases (8. 5%) of cranio-orbital communicating lesions and 86 patients (6. 8%) of other lesions. The five kinds of images from various methods and sequences had significant difference in the detection of 283 cavernous sinus inflammation (χ2 = 1047. 1, P ＜ 0. 01) cases. Transverse T1WI with thin slice thickness[(2. 71 ± 0. 69)scores]was better than that with thick slice thickness [(1.67 ± 0. 64) scores], contrast transverse T1 WI with thin slice thickness[(3.92 ± 0. 27) scores]was better than transverse T2WI with thick slice thickness, transverse T1WI and coronal T1 WI with thin slice thickness[(3. 10 ± 0. 39) scores]. Coronal T1 WI with thin slice thickness was better than transverse T1 WI with thin slice thickness and transverse T2WI, and the contrast coronal T1WI with thin slice thickness [(3.95 ± 0. 22) scores]was better than transverse T, WI with thin slice thickness, transverse T2 WI and coronal T1WI (P ＜0. 01 separately). The positive rate of enhanced MRI (100% ,39/39) was higher than that of nonenhanced MRI (82. 1% ,32/39) (Z = - 2. 1, P ＜ 0. 05). Conclusion CT and MRI can show the lesions responsible for ophthalmoplegia. MRI is the best examination method in displaying these lesions.

Objective To investigate the characteristic imaging findings of metastatic neuroblastoma in the craniofacial bone in children. Methods Imaging findings in 12 patients with metastatic neuroblastoma in the craniofacial bone were analyzed retrospectively. Among them, 10 patients underwent plain CT scan, 6 underwent MRI and 7 underwent whole body single-photon emission computed tomography bone scanning.Results In the 10 patients with CT images, lytic bone destruction and soft tissue masses were found in 9 cases, in which periosteal reaction was observed in 8 patients with spiculated periosteal reaction in 3 patients.The remaining 1 patient didn't show any abnormalities on CT images but had abnormal findings in bone scanning.Six patients with MR images showed abnormal signal intensity in the bone marrow of the craniofacial bone and adjacent soft tissue masses. Postcontrast T1-weighted imaging in 5 patients demonstrated remarkable enhancement of the bone marrow and soft tissue masses. Bone scanning of 7 patients showed abnormal foci of increased radionuclide activity of the craniofacial bone in 7 patients and metastasis at other body parts in 6 patients.Conclusion The metastatic neuroblastoma in the craniofacial bone has its characteristic imaging findings which are helpful for correct diagnosis.