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

Poroid hidradenoma has both features of hidradenoma and poroma. The histological hidradenoma framework consisting of solid and cystic components, and the presence of poroid and cuticular cells resembling a poroid neoplasm. Despite transforming into malignant neoplasm only in < 1% of cases, its histological characteristics may resemble those of malignant neoplasms. Although the risk of malignant transformation is very low, surgical excision is recommended to prevent growth and/or recurrence. To date, very few cases of poroid hidradenoma have been reported in the literature. Herein, we present a case of poroid hidradenoma on the scalp of a 74-year-old woman.

Poroid hidradenoma has both features of hidradenoma and poroma. The histological hidradenoma framework consisting of solid and cystic components, and the presence of poroid and cuticular cells resembling a poroid neoplasm. Despite transforming into malignant neoplasm only in < 1% of cases, its histological characteristics may resemble those of malignant neoplasms. Although the risk of malignant transformation is very low, surgical excision is recommended to prevent growth and/or recurrence. To date, very few cases of poroid hidradenoma have been reported in the literature. Herein, we present a case of poroid hidradenoma on the scalp of a 74-year-old woman.

Sclerotic fibroma is a rare fibrous tumor of the skin associated with Cowden’s disease. In 1989, Rapini described sclerotic fibroma without Cowden’s disease as solitary sclerotic fibroma of the skin. It is a solid, well-circumscribed, slow-growing nodular tumor and it looks similar to a keloid scar. Consequently, it is extremely difficult to make a differential diagnosis of solitary sclerotic fibroma with keloid scar based on clinical findings only. The authors report a case of solitary sclerotic fibroma arising at the left lateral thigh of a 25-year-old man.

OBJECTIVE: To establish standardized methods and parameters of the isolated heart coronary angiography through the experiment of in vitro porcine heart by MSCT. METHODS: Based on different perfusion volume (50, 60 and 70 mL) and different perfusion-imaging time (5, 10 and 20 min), the in vitro porcine coronary artery was injected liposoluble and water-soluble contrast agents using remodel angiography equipment and scanned by MSCT. And the 3D image results were compared. The images were recorded and evaluated by 2 radiologists and analyzed by statistical software. RESULTS: Liposoluble contrast agent affected the images by damaging and infiltrating the fats around the coronary artery, while the water-soluble contrast agent didn't affect the images. The groups with 60 mL or 70 mL perfusion and 5 min perfusion-imaging time had the best images. CONCLUSION The suitable parameters of the angiography lay the foundation of postmortem coronary angiography.
Animals ; Coronary Angiography/veterinary* ; Coronary Vessels/diagnostic imaging* ; Heart ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional/methods* ; In Vitro Techniques ; Multidetector Computed Tomography/veterinary* ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Software ; Software Validation ; Swine

Cholecystitis ; diagnosis ; Diagnostic Errors ; Granuloma ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Xanthomatosis ; diagnosis

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of aortocranial DSA in collateral circulation in elderly patients with serious stenosis or occlusion of the internal carotid artery. Methods Twenty-three elderly patients with serious stenosis or occlusion of the internal carotid artery, admitted to our hospital from August 2008 to July 2010, were chosen; their DSA findings and prognoses were retrospectively analyzed. Results Of these 23 patients, the collateral circulation was seen in 18(78.3%), including compensations from anterior communicating artery (n=16), posterior communicating artery (n=6), anterior together with posterior communicating artery (n=3), anterior choroidal artery (n=5),meningina artery between anterior cerebral artery and posterior cerebral artery (n=5), meningina artery between posterior cerebral artery and middle cerebral artery (n=4), ophthalmic artery (n=15), blood vessel between posterior cerebral artery and superior cerebellar artery (n=3), and blood vessel among superior cerebellar artery, anterior inferior cerebellar artery and posterior inferior cerebellar artery (n=2); after conservative treatment and long time follow-up (1 to 22 months with a mean of 11.2 moths),disappearance of clinical symptoms and no recurrence were found in these 18 patients. Five patients were noted without compensatory collateral circulation: the 2 paralysis patients could not take care of themselves even with the improvement of myodynamia from grade 0 to grade Ⅲ; the 2 patients with disturbance of consciousness showed no recovery and died from lung infection; the left 1 patient was having aphasia. Conclusion DSA can accurately define ways and compensative ability of collateral circulation in elderly patients with serious stenosis or occlusion of the internal carotidartery, which can put forward reliable evidences for their treatments and prognoses.

Cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM), generated from the process of decellularization, has been widely considered as an ideal source of biological scaffolds. However, current ECM preparations are generally difficult to be applied to generate cardiac tissue. Our research was aimed to improve decellularization protocols to prepare cardiac ECM slices. Adult murine ventricular tissues were embedded in low melting agarose and cut into 300 μm slices, and then were divided randomly into three groups: normal cardiac tissue, SDS treated group (0.1% SDS) and SDS+Triton X-100 treated group (0.1% SDS+0.5% Triton X-100). Total RNA content and protein content quantification, HE staining and immunostaining were used to evaluate the removal of cell components and preservation of vital ECM components. Furthermore, murine embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (mES-CMs) and mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) were co-cultured with ECM slices to evaluate biocompatibility. The relative residual RNA and protein contents of ECM slices significantly decreased after decellularization. HE staining showed that SDS+Triton X-100 treatment better destroyed cellular structure and removed nuclei of ECM slices, compared with SDS treatment. Immunostaining showed that collagen IV and laminin were better preserved and presented better similarity to original cardiac tissue in ECM slices acquired by SDS+Triton X-100 treatment. However, collagen IV and laminin were significantly decreased and arranged disorderly in SDS treated group. We observed effective survival (≥ 12 days) of MEFs and mES-CMs on ECM slices acquired by SDS+Triton X-100 treatment, and signs of integration, whereas those signs were not found in SDS treated group. We concluded that, compared with traditional SDS method, new combined protocol (SDS+Triton X-100) generated ECM slices with better component and structural preservation, as well as better biocompatibility.
Animals ; Extracellular Matrix ; chemistry ; Heart Ventricles ; cytology ; Mice ; Octoxynol ; Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of cigarette smoking on thyroid gland volume, thyroid function and thyroid autoantibodies in the areas with different iodine intakes.

METHODSA cross-sectional epidemiological study in Panshan (mild iodine-deficient area), Zhangwu (more than adequate iodine intake area) and Huanghua (iodine-excessive area) was conducted in 3761 subjects in 1999.80.2 % of them were followed up in 2004. Questionnaires, thyroid function, thyroid autoantibodies, urinary iodine concentration,and thyroid B ultrasound were performed.

RESULTSThe prevalence of goiter was higher in smokers than in non-smokers (15.1% vs. 11.5%, P< 0.05). The average thyroid volume was higher in smokers with phenomenon more obvious in Panshan and Huanghua areas. Data from logistic analysis showed that smoking cigarette was an independent risk factor of goiter. There was no difference in serum TSH and Tg level between smokers and non-smokers. The positive rate of TPOAb (>100 IU/ml) was higher in smokers than in non-smokers(10.8% vs. 9.0 % , P <0.05) and was especially obvious in Huanghua area. Smoking was a independent risk factor of increasing positive rate of TPOAb. During the prospective observation,it was found that the incidence of positive TPOAb(>,100 IU/ml) was 7.4% in the subjects that were from non-smokers turning to smokers and 2.9% in those whose smoking behavior did not change. Logistic analysis indicated that the shifting from non-smoking to smoking was independent risk factor for the increase on high incidence of positive TPOAb.

CONCLUSIONSmoking cigarette was a independent risk factor of goiter. Smoking was also a risk factor of increasing TPOAb positive rate. Shifting from not smoking to smoking was an independent risk factor of increasing high incidence of positive TPOAb.

Autoantibodies ; blood ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Goiter ; blood ; epidemiology ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyroid Gland ; physiopathology ; Thyroid Hormones ; blood

Objective Viral encephalitis is an infectious disease severely affecting human health.It is caused by a wide variety of viral pathogens,including herpes viruses,flaviviruses,enteroviruses,and other viruses.The laboratory diagnosis of viral encephalitis is a worldwide challenge.Recently,high-throughput sequencing technology has provided new tools for diagnosing central nervous system infections.Thus,In this study,we established a multipathogen detection platform for viral encephalitis based on amplicon sequencing. Methods We designed nine pairs of specific polymerase chain reaction(PCR)primers for the 12 viruses by reviewing the relevant literature.The detection ability of the primers was verified by software simulation and the detection of known positive samples.Amplicon sequencing was used to validate the samples,and consistency was compared with Sanger sequencing. Results The results showed that the target sequences of various pathogens were obtained at a coverage depth level greater than 20×,and the sequence lengths were consistent with the sizes of the predicted amplicons.The sequences were verified using the National Center for Biotechnology Information BLAST,and all results were consistent with the results of Sanger sequencing. Conclusion Amplicon-based high-throughput sequencing technology is feasible as a supplementary method for the pathogenic detection of viral encephalitis.It is also a useful tool for the high-volume screening of clinical samples.