Objective To investigate clinical features and therapeutic protocols of vulvovaginal-gingival syndrome(VVGS). Methods Clinical data were collected from 11 female patients with VVGS and analyzed. Results Among the 11 patients, the mean and median ages at a definite diagnosis of VVGS were both 46 years, and the average disease duration was 4 years. Painful erosive erythema was found on the vaginal vestibule in 7 patients, on the gingiva in 10, as well as on the bilateral buccal mucosa in 5. Additionally, 8 and 4 patients reported dyspareunia and vaginal hemorrhage, respectively. Seven patients were treated with low-dose oral methylprednisolone combined with hydroxychloroquine or colchicine, and the other 4 were treated with oral hydroxychloroquine alone. Furthermore, all of the 11 patients applied topical tacrolimus 0.1%ointment. Finally, 8 patients were cured or markedly improved. No obvious adverse reactions were observed in any of the patients. Conclusions VVGS mostly occurs in middle-aged women, with the vaginal vestibule and gingiva as predilection sites of painful erythema and dyspareunia as common symptoms. Patients have good responses to methylprednisolone combined with hydroxychloroquine, and hydroxychloroquine alone also shows good efficacy in patients with mild VVGS. Tacrolimus 0.1%ointment can be one of drugs for topical maintenance treatment of VVGS.

Objective To investigate the feasibility of ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide- enhanced(USPIO)-enhanced MR imaging for monitoring synovitis of antigen-induced arthritis in rabbit model and explore the optimal MR imaging sequences.Methods Nine female white rabbits with antigen(0.5 ml mBSA,2 mg/ml)induced arthritis of the right knees were used in the study.The left knees of these rabbits and both knees of another 3 rabbits served as the control.Nine to 28 days(mean 21.3 d)after successful model induction,all knees were imaged before and 24 h after intravenously injection of USPIO (0.3 ml/kg),among which 2 rabbits were also imaged at 48 and 72 h after administration of USPIO respectively.The MR protocol included spin-echo(SE) T_1WI,fast spin-echo(FSE)T_2WI,gradient echo (GRE)T_2~* WI and short tau inversion recovery(STIR).Images were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively based on signal characteristics and patterns of the synovium.Paired t-test was used for the analysis of the signal intensity of inflammatory synovial membrane before and 24 h after injection of USPIO. MR findings were correlated with histopathology.Results Arthritis was successfully induced in all 9 right knees with intraarticular injection of mBSA.Pathological examination revealed hyperplasia of synovium with infiltration of USPIO-loaded-macrophages.MR depicted synovial thickening(thickness 2.07?0.97 mm) and joint effusion.Synovium and joint fluid appeared as slightly hypo- or iso-intense on T_1 WI and hyper- intense on T_2 WI or T_2~* WI.Twenty four hours after USPIO injection,significant T_1 enhancement(ASNR 41.91%?27.94%),negative T_2 and T_2~* enhancement(△SNR -34.92%?11.77% and -57.24%? 16.05%)were demonstrated in the region of synovial inflammation respectively.The signal at 48 h and 72 h changed less than that at hour 24.No signs of arthritis occurred in all left knees and in all knees of the artificial model group.Conclusion Iron oxide phagocytized into macrophages can be a root cause resulted in signal change on USPIO-enhanced MR images.The gradient echo sequence should be the optimal sequence to be used in USPIO-enhanced MR imaging in antigen-induced arthritis.

Ras is best known for its ability to regulate cell growth, proliferation and differentiation. Mutations in Ras are associated with the abnormal cell proliferation which can result in incidence of all human cancers. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) is a downstream effector of Ras and plays important roles in prognosis of tumors. Recently, evidence has gradually accumulated to demonstrate that there are other effectors between Ras and ERK, these proteins interact each other and constitute the thorough Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway. The pathway has profound effects on incidence of esophageal carcinoma and clinical applications of some chemotherapeutic drugs targeting the pathway. Further understanding of the relevant molecular mechanisms of Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway can be helpful for the development of efficient targeting therapeutic approaches which contribute to the treatment of esophageal cancer. In this article, roles of Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway in esophageal carcinoma as well as pharmacological targeting point in the pathway are reviewed.

Mini health technology assessment (Mini-HTA) was developed from traditional HTA,based on the hospital needs.It is a very important decision making method and reference tool for the hospital policy makers.Currently there is no report of using Mini-HTA ease on introducing new equipment in China.Present paper introduces the Mini-HTA to provide reference for others hospitals in China.

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics ,diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of phaeohyphomycosis. Methods Clinical data were collected, including history, physical examination, cranial and spinal imaging. Brain biopsy was performed. Data of the pathology and incubation of brain tissue were analyzed. Responsiveness to treatment was followed up. Results A previously healthy three and half years old boy was presented to our unit, with a three- month history of recurrent headache, vomiting, progressive paraplegia accompanied by urinary continence and constipation. A computed tomogram scan and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed multiple lesions located in the region of the parietal - occipital lobes, periventricular area and frontal lobe, with prominent surrounding edema and irregular peripheral enhancement of the mass after the administration of contrast materials. A cerebral biopsy was performed and the pathological report was cerebral phaeohyphomycosis. The culture of the tissue and cerebrospinal fluid grew a same fungus identified as exo-phiala dermatitidis. The patient's response to therapy was poor, the parents of the boy gave up therapy, and the boy died 1 month later. Conclusions Cerebral Phaeohyphomycosis caused by Exophiala dermatitidis is rare, but the most serious form of fungus infection. Pathology and incubation of the tissue are essential for diagnosis. There is no curative therapy and the prognosis is poor.

Objective To investigate the meaning of PURA gene and its protein in nephridial tissue of the rats with endemic fluorosis of coal burning. Methods Thirty-six SD rats of 80 - 100 g, body weight were randomly divided into control group, low fluorosis group and high fluorosis group according to body weight, 12 in each group, the number of female and male in each group was the same respectively. The control group, Low fluorosis group and high fluorosis group rots were fed with 1.5,25.0,60.0 mg/kg fluoride content in feedstuff, to establish the animal model of fluorosis. Expressions of both mRNA and its protein of PURA gene in rat nephridium tissue, were determined by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry after four-month experimental period. Results The expressions of PURA mRNA[(2.74± 1.06),(4.29 ± 2.11)] and its protein[ (28 827.91 ± 4801.94),(61 146.96 ± 4997.55)] in low fluorosis group and high fluorosis group was higher than that in the control group[ ( 1.13 ± 0.87), (7131.95 ± 1524.54), all P < 0.05]. And the expressions of PURA mRNA and protein in high fluorosis groups was higher than that in low fluorosis greup(all P < 0.05). Conclusion High fluoride can lead to the high expression of PURA gene mRNA and protein in the rat nephridium tissue exposed to sodium fluoride.

ObjectiveTo explore the method of co-culture of Schwann cell(SCs) with fascia and provide experimental basis for repairing transected nerve.MethodsSCs were co-cultured with fascia.Double staining by anti-BrdU and anti-S-100,S-100 fluorescent staining and anti-BrdU staining were used.ResultsThere were a plenty of SCs around fascia proliferated rapidly and disposed in parallel. SCs could be distinguished from fibroblastic cells by S-100 fluorescent staining and also be staining positive by anti-BrdU antibody,implying their high proliferous ability. Anti-BrdU and anti-S-100 staining showed numerous double staining positive SCs on the fascia: nucleus was stained deep blue while cytoplasm was stained red.ConclusionMany SCs with high proliferous ability were seen on the fascia, which can be used to repair transected nerve.

Objective To explore the influence of G4 cyberknife treatment of large hepatocellular car-cinoma on liver function,and to evaluate its treatment safety.Methods Sixty-three large liver cancer patients treated with routine G4 cyberknife treatment were retrospectively analyzed,and then statistical analysis of the difference in liver function before and after treatment was conducted.Results After G4 cyberknife treatment of 1 2 months,the levels of ALT,ALP,TBIL,PA were respectively 23.00 U /L,1 1 1 .00 U /L,1 3.70 μmol/L, (81 .87 ±1 3.94)%.Compared with the levels before treatment [28.00 U /L,32.00 U /L,1 1 .30 μmol/L, (86.07 ±1 4.07)%],there were no signi-ficant differences found (Z =-1 .677,P =0.094;Z =-0.504, P =0.61 4;Z =-1 .945,P =0.053;t =1 .271 ,P =0.21 3).The level of ambumin was (34.84 ±4.75)g/L at 1 2 months after treatment,which decreased and the difference compared with the level before treatment [(37.45 ±4.1 4)g/L]was significant (t =3.357,P =0.002).The Child-Pugh grade was 5.80 ±1 .1 7 respectively at the time points of 1 2 months after treatment,and no significant difference was found compared with the Child-Pugh grade before treatment (5.48 ±0.81 ,t =-1 .668,P =0.1 06).Conclusion G4 cyberknife treatment does not cause liver injury.It is safe and reliable in large liver cancer treatment.So,it is worth widely clinical popularizing.

Re-evaluation of bioequivalence of generic drugs is one of the key research focus currently. As a means to ensure consistency of the therapeutic effectiveness of drug products, clinical bioequivalence has been widely accepted as a gold standard test. In vitro dissolution testing based on the theory of the BCS is the best alternative to in vivo bioequivalence study. In this article, the conventional dissolution method and flow-through cell method were used to investigate the dissolution profiles of domestic amoxicillin capsules in different dissolution media, and the absorption behavior of the drugs with different release rates (t85% = 15-180 min) in the gastrointestinal tract was predicted by Gastro Plus. The flow-through cell method was thought better to reflect the release characteristics in vivo, and amoxicillin capsules with regard to the release rates up to 45 min (t85% = 45 min) were having a satisfied bioequivalence with the oral solution according to the C(max) and AUC. Although two different dissolution profiles of domestic amoxicillin capsules were found by flow-through cell methods, prediction results revealed that domestic capsules were probably bioequivalent to each other.
Amoxicillin ; pharmacokinetics ; Capsules ; Computer Simulation ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Software ; Solubility ; Therapeutic Equivalency

Objective To analyze the prevalence and characteristics of skin diseases in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods Clinical out patient records for both elderly and non-elderly individuals with T2DM were collected from the dermatology department of Beijing Hospital.Statistical comparisons were performed between the elderly group and the non-elderly group on the prevalence of common skin complications and disease characteristics.Analysis was performed in the elderly group to identify any association of common skin disorders with gender,age,duration of T2DM,or level of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c).Results Among 679 elderly T2DM cases,pruritus was the most common complication (26.1％),followed by eczema (21.t ％) and tinea pedis/onychomycosis (18.3％).Pruritus was more prevalent in the elderly group (177 cases,26.1％) compared to the non-elderly group (34 cases,9.8％) (x2 =6.006,P＜0.01).On the other hand,tinea pedis/onychomycosis was less prevalent in the senior group (124 cases,18.3 ％) than in the non-senior group (112 cases,32.2 ％) (x2 =37.437,P＜0.01).In the senior group,pruritus was more prevalent among male patients (105 out of 358 cases,29.3％) than among female patients(72 out of 321 cases,22.4％) (x2 =4.181,P =0.041).On average,patients with eczema were older[(72.3 ± 2.2)years] and had a longer history of T2DM [(8.3 ± 0.3)years] compared with patients without eczema[age:(65.2±1.9)years,history of T2DM:(5.2±0.1)years] (t=1.250,P=0.023 for age;t=1.680,P=0.033 for disease duration).Patients with tinea pedis/onychomycosis had higher HbA1c levels (6.7 ± 0.4) ％ than patients without tinea pedis/onychomycosis (6.1 ± 0.3) ％ (t =0.790,P＜0.01).Conclusions Pruritus is the most common skin complication in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes and is more common in elderly patients and male patients.Risk factors for developing eczema in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes may include older age and long disease duration.High levels of glycosylated hemoglobin in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes indicates increased risk for foot fungi infections.