Objective To evaluate the survival benefit of amphotericin B (AmB) plus flucytosine or fluconazole for treatment of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-associated cryptococcal meningitis.Methods The following database were searched from the beginning to October 2013,including Cochrane library,PubMed,OVID,Embase,Wanfang Date,CNKI and Chinese Biomedical Database,and the references of eligible studies were manually screened.Reference lists of relevant articles were screened according to selection and extraction criteria.Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.2.Results Four prospective controlled studies with a total of 399 patients with cryptococcal meningitis were identified,including 386 patients with AIDS-associated cryptococcal meningitis and 13 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative patients.Two hundred and twentyseven patients were treated with AmB and flucytosine combination therapy,including 217 patients with AIDS-associated cryptococcal meningitis and 10 HIV-negative patients.One hundred and seventy-two patients were treated with AmB and fluconazole combination therapy,including 169 patients with AIDS-associated cryptococcal meningitis and 3 HIV-negative patients.The Meta-analysis revealed that the mortality rate in AmB plus flucytosine combination therapy group was 6.6％ (95％ CI:18.5％-31.6 ％) at two weeks point,which was significantly lower than that in AmB plus fluconazole combination group (19.7％,95％CI:-23.6％-62.9％; OR=0.51,95％CI:0.27-0.93,P＜0.05).But at 10 weeks point,the mortality rate in flucytosine combination group was 12.9％ (95％oo CI:-22.2％-48.0％),which was lower than that in fluconazole combination group (31.4％,95％ CI:-23.1％-85.9 ％).However,there was no statistically significant difference between these two groups at 10 weeks point (OR=0.70,95％CI:0.44-1.13,P=0.15).Conclusion Administration of AmB plus flucytosine at early stage can reduce the mortality rate in patients with AIDS-associated cryptococcal meningitis.

Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Atractylodis Rhizoma were widely used in strengthening spleen under different disease conditions, and were easily and often misused each other. Therefore, DNA barcode was used to distinguish Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Atractylodis Rhizoma from their adulterants to ensure the safe use. The sequence lengths of ITS2 of Atractylodes macrocephala, Atractylodis Rhizoma (A. lancea, A. japonica and A. coreana) were both 229 bp. Among the ITS2 sequences of A. macrocephala, only one G/C transversion was detected at site 98, and the average GC content was 69.42%. No variable site was detected in the ITS2 sequences of A. lancea. The maximum K2P intraspecific genetic distances of both A. japonica and A. coreana were 0.013. The maximum K2P intraspecific genetic distances of A. macrocephala, A. lancea, A. japonica and A. coreana were less than the minimum interspecific genetic distance of adulterants. The ITS2 sequences in each of these polytypic species were separated into pairs of divergent clusters in the NJ tree. DNA barcoding could be used as a fast and accurate identification method to distinguish Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, Atractylodis Rhizoma, from their adulterants to ensure its safe use.
Atractylodes ; classification ; genetics ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; classification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Quality Control ; Rhizome ; classification ; genetics

Objective The aim of the study was to analyze the predictive value of the European system for cardiac operative risk evaluation score (EuroSCORE) and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons predicted risk of mortality (STS-PROM) in -dult patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR).Methods We carried out a retrospective statistical analysis on 521 adult patients undergoing AVR between 1999 and 2008 in Changhai hospital.Patients with concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting were also included.Excluded from this study were patients having surgery for congenital heart defects,aneurysm of thoracic aorta and atrial fibrillation.Operative mortality was defined as death before discharge from the hospital.The mortality risk calculation of EuroSCORE and STS-PROM for aortic valve procedures was performed by the online available EuroSCORE or STS score calculator.Based on the additive EuroSCORE risk calculation,patients were divided into low-risk,medium-risk and high-risk groups.The valuation of three different algorithms depended on the assessment of two features:calibration and discrimination.A comparison of observed and predicted mortality rates was also performed.Results A total of 521 patients were identified as having undergone aortic valve replacement.In-hospital mortality was 4％ (21 cases) overall.The expected mortality for the additive,logistic EuroSCORE and the STS-PROM was 3.36％,2.82％ and 1.25％,respectively.The observed to expected ratio was 1.2 for additive EuroSCORE,1.43 for logistic EuroSCORE and 3.23 for STS-PROM.The STS-PROM underpredicted observed mortality significantly ( P ＜ 0.01 ) and showed poor calibration in predicting in-hospital mortality in the entire cohort,medium- and high-risk subgroups.The logistic EuroSCORE underpredicted observed mortality in the mediumrisk subgroup ( P ＜ 0.05 ).EuroSCORE underpredicted in-hospital mortality in the high-risk subgroup with the observed-expected mortality rate of 1.84 for additive EuroSCORE and 1.46 for logistic EuroSCORE.The EuroSCORE in three subgroups showed poor discrimination in predicting mortality as well as the STS-PROM did in the medium- and high-risk subgroups ( ROC ＜ 0.7).Conclusion Both the EuroSCORE and the STS-PROM give an imprecise prediction for individual operative risk in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement in our study.These algorithms seem unsuitable to identify a high-risk patient population undergoing isolated AVR.It is necessary to construct a risk stratification model for valve surgery according to the profiles of Chinese patients.

BACKGROUND:It is reported that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell(BMSC)transplantation might be a promising treatment for liver fibrosis.But the mechanism is still unclear.OBJECTIVE:To observe the hepatic stellate cells apoptosis induced by BMSC transplantation,and to study the mechanism of BMSC in treating hepatic fibrosis in vivo.METHODS:CCl_4 subcutaneous injection was performed to induce rat liver fibrosis.After 8 weeks of CCU injection,20 rats which underwent successful model establishment were randomly divided into experimental group and control group,10 in each group.The experimental group received MSC transplantation via tail vein injection,and the control group were given DMEM instead.The rats were killed and the livers were harvested at three time point,the day of MSC transplantation,3 days after transplantation,and 7 days after transplantation.The hydroxyproline content was detected by HE and Masson staining,and the expression changes of α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)proteins were determined using immunohistochemistry.The apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells were determined by α-SMA and TUNEL(terminal dUTP nick-end labeling)dual-staining.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After 8 weeks of CCU injection,the hydroxyproline content increased and histology indicated progress of liver fibrosis.At 7 days after MSC transplantation,the hydroxyproline in the liver was decreased,and the liver fibrosis was alleviated in the experimental group but aggravated in the control group.Immunohistochemistry indicated that α-SMA positive cells were increased at 8 weeks after CCU injection.At day 7 after transplantation,α-SMA positive cells in the experimental group were significantly less than control group(P ＜ 0.05).At 3 days after transplantation,the hepatic stellate cells apoptosis in the experimental group was significantly aggravated compared with control group(P ＜ 0.05).This suggested that MSC transplant was an effective treatment for liver fibrosis.MSC inducing hepatic stellate cells apoptosis may be one of the mechanisms.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of the approach of parasymphyseal mandible osteotomy combined with set-back tongue flap in treatment of tongue base carcinoma.

METHODSIn total 18 patients with cancer of tongue base, 13 were males and 5 females aged of 30 to 65 y (average 52.9 y). Eighteen patients were treated by parasymphyseal mandible osteotomy combined with set-back tongue flap in our hospital from June 2001 to June 2006.

RESULTThe range of follow-up period was 2 to 5 years. All patients had satisfactory speech, swallowing and taste function.

CONCLUSIONParasymphyseal mandible osteotomy provides good exposure, and set-back tongue flap to reconstruction of the base of tongue can partially restore the function of tongue.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Osteotomy ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; Tongue ; surgery ; Tongue Neoplasms ; surgery

Objective To analyse the preliminary clinical results of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for 122 untreated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC)pafients.Methods 122 NPC pa- tients received IMRT alone from Feb.2001 to Jun.2004,with 31 females and 91 males,and a median age of 45 years(range 25-66).According to the Fuzhou Stage Classification,there were StageⅠ11 patients, StageⅡ34,StageⅢ62,and StageⅣa 15.IMRT was carried out using an inverse planning system (COR- VUS 5.0,Peacock plan) developed by the NOMOS Corp.The treatment was given with the Multi-leaf Inten- sity Modulating Collimator (MIMIC) using a slice-by-slice arc rotation approach.The prescription dose was 68 Gy/30f to the nasopharynx gross tumor volume (GTV_(nx)),60-66 Gy/30f to positive neck lymph nodes (GTV_(nd)),60 Gy/30f to the first clinical target volume (CTV_1) and 54 Gy/30f to the second clinical target volume (CTV_2).Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the overall survival rate (OS),distant metas- tasis-free survival rates (DMFS),and local-regional control rates from the last date of therapy.Log-rank test was used to detect the difference between groups.Results The median follow-up time was 20 months ( range 6 to46 months).The 1-,2-,and 3-year OS was 95.2%,91.4%,85.1%,DMFS was 91.9%, 88.6%,85.6%,and the local-regional control rates was 96.5%,93.2%,93.2%,respectively.Statistics of the local control rate was insignificant either for advanced T(T3+T4) stage or early T(T1+T2) stage diseases(P=0.148).The 2-year regional control rate was insignificant either for patients with N(+) or N (-),but the 2-year DMFS was significant both for patients with N(+) and N(-)lesions(P=0.004).For 17 patients who failed,there were two with residual disease and one with recurrence at the primary site (17.6%),three patients in the neck (17.6%),twelve patients (70.6%) in distant metastases.Conclu- sions Intensity modulated radiation therapy does provide excellent local-regional control for untreated NPC, especially in patients with advanced T stage or N(+) lesion.Distant metastasis is the main cause of failure. N (+) is significantly correlated with distant metastasis.

Objective To report nine cases of descending necrotizing mediastinitis(DNM)and to summarize the management experience.Methods Between December 2005 and December 2008,nine patients(mean age,55.7 years;age range,38 to 78 years)with DNM were treated.Eight patients underwent surgical drainage of the involved cervical region and mediastinum(4 with cervical drainage alone;4 with cervical drainage and right thoracotomy).Results Two patients died,one of them refused surgical therapy and the other one died of multiorgan failure related to postoperative septic shock.Seven patients recovered.The mortality rate was 22%.Conclusions Delayed diagnosis and inadequate drainage are the main causes of high mortality rate of DNM.Aggressive surgical drainage and debridement of the neck and mediastinum by a multidisciplinary team of surgeons are very important in the treatment of DNM.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility, toxicity and tumor control of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

METHODSFourty-nine patients (Karnofsky performance status (KPS) >or= 80) with local-regional recurrence in the nasopharynx were treated with full course IMRT. Three patients with cervical lymph node metastasis (N1 2 and N3 1) were further supplemented with 5 to 6 courses of chemotherapy (Cisplatin + 5-Fu) after IMRT.

RESULTSThe results of treatment plan showed that the mean dose of covering gross tumor volume (GTV) (D(95)) in the nasopharynx was 68.09 Gy and the mean volume of GTV (V(95)) receiving the 95% dose was 98.46%. The mean dose of GTV, clinical target volume CTV1 and CTV2 in the targets were 71.40 Gy, 63.63 Gy and 59.81 Gy. The median follow-up time was 9 months (range 3 to 16 months). The local-regional progression-free survival was 100% with local-regional residual disease in 3 (6.1%) cases but was complicated with nasopharyngeal mucosa necrosis in 14 (28.6%) cases after IMRT.

CONCLUSIONIntensity modulated radiation therapy, as a re-treatment option for recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma, is able to improve the tumor target coverage and spare the adjacent critical structures. As high dose IMRT can result in radio-necrosis of nasopharyngeal mucosa, the prescription dose of GTV should be suitably decreased to 60 - 65 Gy.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; radiotherapy ; Neoplasm Staging ; Radiation Injuries ; pathology ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; methods

OBJECTIVETo analyze three cases with partial 21q trisomy, and correlate their genotypes with phenotypes.

METHODSG-banding chromosomal analysis and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP array) were performed for the three cases and their parents.

RESULTSSNP array has detected partial 21q trisomy in three cases and one mother, with variable size and location of the duplications. Case 1 harbored a 12.35 Mb duplication at 21q22.11q22.3, which spanned the Down syndrome critical region. Case 2 harbored a 35.32 Mb duplication at 9p24.3p13.3 and a 14.42 Mb duplication at 21q11.2q21.3, with the former spanning the partial 9p trisomy syndrome critical region excluding the Down syndrome critical region, and was inherited from his mother. Case 3 harbored a 4.17 Mb tetraploidy at 21q11.2q21.1 in the form of mosaicism, which spared the Down syndrome critical region. His mother carried a 4.17 Mb triploidy at 21q11.2q21.1, which was also a mosaicism.

CONCLUSIONPartial 21q trisomy may occur in various forms and its clinical phenotypes are heterogeneous. Combined use of genetic techniques, particularly SNP array, is crucial for diagnosing partial 21q trisomy and delineating its genotype-phenotype correlation.

Child, Preschool ; Chromosome Banding ; Down Syndrome ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Microarray Analysis ; methods ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical characteristics and genetic mutation in a family affected with hypophosphatemic rickets.

METHODSWhole exome sequencing (WES) was used to screen potential mutations in genomic DNA extracted from peripheral venous blood sample from the proband. Suspected mutation was confirmed with Sanger sequencing. Amniotic fluid was sampled from the proband for prenatal diagnosis. Potential maternal contamination was excluded by analysis of short tandem repeat (STR) markers.

RESULTSWES has identified a heterozygous c.2058_2059insAGTT (p.L686fs) mutation of the PHEX gene in the proband, which was confirmed by Sanger sequencing in other affected individuals from the family. The mutation was detected in the amniotic fluid sample from the fetus but not among healthy members from the family.

CONCLUSIONIdentification of the PHEX mutation by WES has facilitated genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis for the family affected with hypophosphatemic rickets.

Adult ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exome ; Familial Hypophosphatemic Rickets ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Mutation ; PHEX Phosphate Regulating Neutral Endopeptidase ; genetics ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Whole Genome Sequencing