Breath Tests ; methods ; Child ; Humans ; Infant ; Lung Diseases ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Lung Volume Measurements ; Maximal Voluntary Ventilation ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Tidal Volume

Epidemiologic Studies ; Translational Medical Research

Objective To compare the prophylactic efficacy of combination of ganciclovir and acy- clovir or acyclovir alone against cytomegalovirus pneumonia in renal transplant recipients.Methods A to- tal of 217 renal transplant recipient(124 men and 93 women;mean age,32 years;age range,16-72 years) were divided into 3 groups randomly.In 51 cases,acyclovir was taken orally at a dose of 400 mg,3/d,from the third d to 3 months after transplantation.In 74 cases,ganciclovir was administered at a dose of 250 mg/d intravenously from the 21st d to 27th d to replace Acyclovir.In 92 cases,no prophylaxis against eytomegalov- irus pneumonia was performed.All patients were followed 3 months after transplantation.Comparison of the incidence rates of cytomegalovirus pneumonia among the 3 groups was performed using Fisher's exact test. Results Cytomegalovirus pneumonia developed in 20 cases in the 3 groups,including 4 cases(5.4%) in combined use group,2 cases(3.9%)in acyclovir alone group,and 14 cases(15.2%)in control group. Significant difference existed between the 2 experimental and control groups(P＜0.05).However,no signifi- cant difference existed between the 2 experimental groups(P＞0.05).Of the 20 cases,17(85.0%)were cured,and 3 died of respiratory failure.Conclusions Ganciclovir and acyclovir have prophylactic effect a- gainst cytomegalovirus pneumonia in renal transplant recipients.These 2 medications are inexpensive,and the patients have good compliance.

Objective To discuss the different clinical features and prognosis of single cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) and multiple CVT. Methods The site and the number of vein and thrombosed sinuses of 136 patients with CVT were summarized. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the numbers of thrombosed sinuses. The clinical features and outcome of the patients with single CVT were analyzed in comparison with those with multiple CVT by univariate analysis. Results In 44 patients (32.4%), only 1 cerebral sinus was involved. In 92 patients (67.6%), 2 or more cerebral veins and sinuses were involved (2 sinuses in 45, 3 sinuses in 35, 4 sinuses in 9, 5 sinuses in 3). The lateral sinus and the sigmoid sinus were the most frequent thrombosed sinuses which were found in 86.8% of patients; the followings were superior sagittal sinus (58.1%), straight sinus (18.4%) , deep venous system (7.4%), and cortical veins (2.9%). Mean ages were significantly older but the short-term prognosis was better in the group of patients with single CVT in comparison with those in the group of patients with multiple CVT. The patients with multiple CVT also presented more serious intracranial hypertension, more frequent parenchymal lesions and systematic thrombotic events than those with single CVT (P＜0.05). Conclusion In most CVT patients, 2 or more veins and sinuses are involved and thromboses most commonly implicate the lateral sinus and the superior sagittal sinus. Patients with multiple CVT usually present higher intracranial pressure, more serious clinical course, worse outcome and higher incidence of systematic venous thrombotic events in comparison with patients with single CVT. And the multiple sinus thrombosis is more likely to cause venous infarctions and intracranial hemorrhage than the single one.

OBJECTIVETo assess the diagnostic value of tumor markers in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for meningeal carcinomatosis (MC).

METHODSTwenty-one MC patients (including 13 adenocarcinoma and 8 non-adenocarcinoma patients), 72 patients with tuberculous meningitis (TBM) and 23 with primary intracerebral tumors (PIT) were enrolled in this study. Blood and CSF tumor markers including CEA, CA125, CA15-3, CA19-9, CA72-4, CYFRA21-1, AFP and NSE were measured by Roche E170 electrochemiluminescence analyzer and sandwich assay.

RESULTSCSF tumor markers CEA, CA125, CA199 and CYFRA21-1 and the serum tumor markers CEA, CA125, CA153, CA199 and AFP were significantly higher in MC group than in the other two groups. CSF CEA and CA15-3 were significantly higher in adenocarcinoma MC than in non-adenocarcinoma MC patients, but no significant differences were found in the serum tumor markers between the two groups (P>0.05). CSF tumor markers including CEA, CA125, CA15-3, CA72-4 and CYFRA21-1 were positively correlated to the serum tumor markers (P<0.05). CA199 was positively correlated to the disease course (P<0.05), and age was not correlated to any of the indexes (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONDetection of the tumor markers in the CSF, especially CEA, CA125, CA19-9 and CYFRA21-1, may help in the early diagnosis of MC. CEA and CA15-3 can serve as indicators for differential diagnosis of adenocarcinoma and non-adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma ; cerebrospinal fluid ; diagnosis ; Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; cerebrospinal fluid ; CA-125 Antigen ; cerebrospinal fluid ; CA-19-9 Antigen ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Female ; Humans ; Keratin-19 ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; cerebrospinal fluid ; diagnosis ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between physical and biological effects of alternating magnetic field and study the influence of the magnetic field on the reproductive function of murine testes.

METHODSThirty ICR mice were randomized into 5 groups: normal control, X-ray radiation, weak magnetic field (1000 Hz), 1 h strong magnetic field and 2 h strong magnetic field (2000 Hz). The mice were sacrificed at 7 days after the exposure for the analysis of testicular sperm motility, observation of histopathological changes in the testis by HE staining and evaluation of the changes by modified Johnsen grade criteria.

RESULTSThe rates of sperm motility were (42.37 +/- 10.24)% in the normal control group, (39.00 +/- 12.35)% in the X-ray radiation group, (36.00 +/- 17.28)% in the weak magnetic field group, (10.72 +/- 5.67)% in the 1 h strong magnetic field group and (4.44 +/- 2.87)% in the 2 h strong magnetic field group, respectively. Johnsen's scores decreased and the testis damage increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONMagnetic field, either strong or weak, may damage the testis function by inducing injury to seminiferous tubules and Leydig cells, thickening of the basal membrane, derangement, exfoliation, massive apoptosis and necrosis of spermatogenic cells in the lumen, situation of the epididymis, and consequently the absence of sperm.

Animals ; Electromagnetic Fields ; adverse effects ; Leydig Cells ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Sperm Motility ; Testis ; cytology ; pathology ; radiation effects

OBJECTIVETo explore the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors (flt-1 and flk-1) in the retina of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and its relation to the alteration of retinal blood vessels.

METHODSEighty-six newborn Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into hyperoxia and air groups, then each group was further divided into 1, 3, 7 and 14 days subgroups. The rats in hyperoxia group inhaled 75% oxygen and ROP model was thus set up. These animals were sacrificed respectively after 1, 3, 7 and 14 days, then the retinal endothelial cells were marked by CD34 to observe the change of retinal blood vessels. The expression of VEGF, flt-1 and flk-1 in the retina was measured by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe retinal capillary density index (RCDI) in control group increased as days went on (F = 21.589, P < 0.01, but it was the least on the 7th day in hyperoxia group, after the rats had been returned to air for 7 days, RCDI increased significantly (F = 67.885, P < 0.01); In the control group, the expression of VEGF and flk-1 was the strongest in the retina on the 7th day, the result had significant difference as compared with the 1st and 14th day (P < 0.05). The expression of VEGF and flk-1 on the 7th day in hyperoxia group was weaker than that of control group (P < 0.05). But on the 14th day in hyperoxia group, they were stronger than that of control (P < 0.05). The localization of the expression of flt-1 was changed when blood vessels altered, but there was no significant difference in expression intensity as a whole (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONWhen the premature retina was exposed to hyperoxia, the expression of VEGF and flk-1 was reduced, and retinal blood vessels were also decreased; but the expression of VEGF and flk-1 was stronger in retina when premature rats were exposed to relative hypoxia, and the retinal blood vessels also increased significantly. It is concluded that VEGF and flk-1 may play important roles in the development of retinal blood vessels and its change in ROP. However, flt-1 has less effect compared with flk-1.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Hypoxia ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ; analysis ; Retina ; chemistry ; pathology ; Retinal Diseases ; metabolism ; pathology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effect of Lugua polypeptide on active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODSFifty patients with active RA were selected for the study and were randomly divided into study group and control group. Patients in study group were treated with Lugua polypeptide intravenously at a dose of 16 mg per day and those in control group were given Celecoxib 200 mg twice a day for successive 2 weeks. Two groups were given the same basic treatment. Tenderness and swelling of joints, morning stiffness, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein,rheumatoid factor and so on were recorded before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe above index on joints in study group was significantly improved compared with that in control group and the level before treament. No apparent side effects were observed.

CONCLUSIONLugua polypeptide is effective and safe on active RA. It is a promising agent in the treatment of RA.

Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; administration & dosage ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Injections ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peptides ; administration & dosage

Objective To analyze the effects of S100A6 on Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and its molecular mechanism. Methods The expression of GST-hS10OA6 was induced with IPTG in Escherichia coli BL21, and the fusion protein was purified with glutathione-sepharose 4B beads. β-catenin level of human colon cancer cell line MG63 and human osteosarcoma cell line HCTl16 cells infected with AdS10OA6 was measured by Western blot. Luciferase activity assay was applied to analyze the effect of S100A6 on the β-catenin/TCF4 activity. The interactions between S100A6 and β-catenin/GSK-3β/Dvl/Axin were detected by GST-pulldown/Western blot. Results The β-catenin level in AdS100A6-infected MG63 and HCT116 cells was significantly increased in comparison with that in the AdGFP control group (P<0.01). The luciferase activity in human embryonic renal cell line 293 cells transfected with pTOP-Luc and followed by GST-hS100A6 treatment was increased by 20. 2-fold in comparison with that in the GST control group (P<0.01). The interaction between GST-hS100A6 and Axin was not found. Conclusion S100A6 up- regulates the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and this may be attributed to the interaction between S100A6 and β-catenin/GSK-3β/Dvl.

Objective To analyze the effects of S100A6 on Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and its molecular mechanism. Methods The expression of GST-hS10OA6 was induced with IPTG in Escherichia coli BL21, and the fusion protein was purified with glutathione-sepharose 4B beads. β-catenin level of human colon cancer cell line MG63 and human osteosarcoma cell line HCTl16 cells infected with AdS10OA6 was measured by Western blot. Luciferase activity assay was applied to analyze the effect of S100A6 on the β-catenin/TCF4 activity. The interactions between S100A6 and β-catenin/GSK-3β/Dvl/Axin were detected by GST-pulldown/Western blot. Results The β-catenin level in AdS100A6-infected MG63 and HCT116 cells was significantly increased in comparison with that in the AdGFP control group (P<0.01). The luciferase activity in human embryonic renal cell line 293 cells transfected with pTOP-Luc and followed by GST-hS100A6 treatment was increased by 20. 2-fold in comparison with that in the GST control group (P<0.01). The interaction between GST-hS100A6 and Axin was not found. Conclusion S100A6 up- regulates the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and this may be attributed to the interaction between S100A6 and β-catenin/GSK-3β/Dvl.