OBJECTIVES: To establish a novel method for the separation of sperm cells in mixed stain, and to evaluate its application value. METHODS: Totally 40 mixed stain samples were collected from sexual assault cases. Sperm cells were separated by the conventional differential lysis method and the nylon membrane bushing separation technique, respectively. The DNA of sperm cells was extracted with the silicon membrane kit （Forensic DNA Extraction Kit for Soft Tissues）. The PCR amplification was performed using AmpFℓSTR® Identifiler® Plus kit, and the products were electrophoresed by 3500xL genetic analyser. The results of two separation methods were then compared. RESULTS: Complete and single-source male STR genotypes could be obtained from all the 40 mixed stain samples except three samples with minimal residual of female DNA by the nylon membrane bushing separation technique. The STR genotypes of sperm cells could not be detected in 25 samples, which were obtained in 15 samples （seven were of incomplete male STR genotypes, six with residual of female DNA, two were complete and single-source STR genotypes of sperm cells）. CONCLUSIONS The nylon membrane bushing separation technique developed in present study can be used in the separation of sperm cells in mixed stain, especially for the extraction of a small amount of sperm from a large quantity of female cells, which is inexpensive, rapid and simple.
Coloring Agents ; DNA/genetics* ; DNA Fingerprinting ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Nylons ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Semen ; Sex Offenses ; Spermatozoa

ween WHO histological subtype and Masaoka clinical stage, and their combination is valuable for guiding postoperative treatment in thymoma.

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and treatment-related toxicity of stereotactic body radiation therapy(SBRT)in patients with medically inoperable stage Ⅰ/Ⅱ non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC). Methods SBRT was applied to 30 patients, including clinically staged T1 ,T2(≤5cm)or T3(chest wall primary tumors only), N0, M0 ,biopsy-confirmed NSCLC. All patients were precluded from lobotomy because of physical condition or comorbidity. No patients developed tumors of any T-stage in the proximal zone. SBRT was performed with the total dose of 50 Gy to 70 Gy in 10 - 11 fractions during 12 - 15 days. prescription line was set onthe edge of the PTV. Results The follow-up rate was 100%. The number of patients who completed the 1-, and 2-year follow-up were 15, and 10, respectively. All 30 patients completed therapy as planned. The complete response(CR), partial response(PR)and stable disease(SD)rates were 37%, 53% and 3%, respectively. With a median follow-up of 16 months(range,4-36 months), Kaplan-Meier local control at 2 years was 94%. The 2-year overall survival was 84% and the 2-year cancer specific survival was 90%. Seven patients(23%)developed Grade 2 pneumonitis, no grade ＞ 2 acute or late lung toxicity was observed. No one developed chest wall pain. Conclusions It is feasible to deliver 50 Gy to 70 Gy of SBRT in 10 - 11 fractions for medically inoperable patients with stage Ⅰ / Ⅱ NSCLC. It was associated with low incidence of toxicities and provided sustained local tumor control.The preliminary investigation indicated the cancer specific survival probability of SBRT was high. It is necessary to perform similar investigation in a larger number of patients with long-term follow-up.

A 10-year-old boy presented with a 3-year history of erythematous flat keratotic papules and brown-yellow, nail-like prominent keratotic plaques all over the body surface. Dermatological examination showed verrucous or nail-like prominence over multiple erythematous keratotic plaques on the head, face,trunk and limbs. The lesions, most of which confluenced, were covered with brown-yellow and greasy crusts,and gave a porcupine-like appearance. Skin biopsy of lesions from the back revealed epidermal hyperkeratosis,focal columnar parakeratosis, acanthosis, few acantholytic and dyskeratotic cells in stratum corneum, irregular upward proliferation of dermal papilla cells, and a superficial perivascular lymphocytic infiltration. A diagnosis of ichthyosis hystrix was established based on the histopathological findings. The boy was treated with oral acitretin and topical 0.1% acitretin cream for 8 years. The initial and maximum dose of oral acitretin was 0.5 mg·kg-1·d-1 and 1 mg·kg-1·d-1, respectively. Liver and kidney function, body height and weight were examined during the treatment, and no side effect was observed except for skin xerosis.

Background and objectiveSurgical resection remains the mainstay of treatment for patients with early-staged thymic tumors, while chemotherapy is most commonly used in stage IV cases. As for locally advanced thymic tumors, especially those unsuitable for surgery, the optimal therapy is still controversial. hTus, we conducted this retrospective study by comparing three nonsurgical treatment modalities to ifnd some clues.Methods hTree treatment modalities were used in 42 pa-tients from October 2000 to December 2010, including radiotherapy (RT) alone, sequential chemoradiation (SCRT) and con-current chemoradiation (CCRT). Objective response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS) and toxicity of the three regimens were compared accordingly.Results The ORR in all 42 patients was 61.9%, and 5-year OS was 46%. The ORR of RT, SCRT and CCRT were 43.8%, 50% and 87.5%, respectively (RTvs SCRT,P=0.692; RTvs CCRT,P=0.009; SCRTvs CCRT,P=0.051). The 5-year OS of RT, SCRT and CCRT were 30%, 50% and 61.9%, respectively (RTvs SCRT,P=0.230; RTvsCCRT,P=0.011; SCRTvs CCRT,P=0.282). Eleven patients developed neutropenia of grade 3-4, with 7 in CCRT group and 4 in SCRT, respec-tively. Nine patients experienced esophagitis of grade 3 with 2 in RT, 3 in SCRT and 4 in CCRT. There were also two cases of grade 3 radiation induced pneumonitis in CCRT group. No life-threatening side effects were noted.Conclusion When used to treat locally advanced thymic tumors unsuitable for surgery, CCRT performed more favorably than RT alone or SCRT in both tumor response and long time survival, but probably with the increasing risk of pulmonary damage. CCRT may offer the best chance of disease control in the management of locally advanced disease.

Berberine (BBR) as one of the most effective natural products has been increasingly used to treat various chronic diseases due to its immunosuppressive/tolerogenic activities. However, it is unknown if BBR can be applied without abrogating the efforts of vaccination. Here we show that priming of CD8⁺ T cells in the presence of BBR lead to improved central memory formation (Tcm) with substantially reduced effector proliferation, primarily orchestrated through activation of AMPK and Stat5. Tcm derived from vaccinated mice fed with BBR were able to adoptively transfer protective immunity to naïve recipients. Vaccination of BBR-fed mice conferred better memory protection against infection without losing immediate effector efficacy, suggesting appreciable benefits from using BBR in vaccination. Thus, our study may help to lay the groundwork for mechanistic understanding of the immunomodulatory effects of natural products and their potential use as adjuvant that allows the design of novel vaccines with more desirable properties.

POEMS syndrome is a rare condition associated with plasma cell disorders， and it often involves multiple systems and has diverse clinical manifestations. This article reports two cases of POEMS syndrome with hepatosplenomegaly as the initial manifestation. During the course of the disease， the patients presented with lower limb weakness， hepatosplenomegaly， lymph node enlargement， ascites， hypothyroidism， positive M protein， and skin hyperpigmentation， and ¹⁸F-FDG PET-CT imaging revealed bone lesions mainly characterized by osteolytic changes and plasma cell tumors. There was an increase in the serum level of vascular endothelial growth factor. The patients were finally diagnosed with POEMS syndrome， and the symptoms were relieved after immunomodulatory treatment.