PurposeSpinal cord is one of the most frequently involved sites of multiple sclerosis (MS), which seriously affects the life quality of patients. In this paper, we investigate the application value of voxel-based morphology (VBM) and resting-state magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI) in multiple sclerosis patients with single spinal cord involvement (MS-SSCI).Materials and Methods Three-dimensional T1WI data and RS-fMRI data were acquired from 20 patients with MS-SSCI and 20 normal controls, grey matter volume (GMV), changes of white matter volume (WMV), total intracranial volume (TIV) and local nuclei volume were compared between the two groups using VBM, posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) was regarded as the seed point and the functional connectivity about whole brain was compared between the two groups by using resting-state functional connectivity analysis, the relationships between MS-SSCI structure, function change parameters and expanded disability states scale (EDSS) scores were further explored.Results①Compared with the control group, GMV, WMV, TIV of MS-SSCI group were not significantly reduced, only the volume of some regions (bilateral middle temporal gyrus, left inferior temporal gyrus) showed significant atrophy (P<0.01); MS-SSCI exhibited increased functional connectivity (FC) in the left medial prefrontal cortex, left inferior temporal gyrus, left caudate nucleus and right supplementary motor area (two-sample t test, after AlphaSim correction,P<0.01, voxel size >40).②There was no significant correlation (P>0.05) between MS-SSCI structure change parameters and EDSS; while a significant correlation between EDSS scores and FC was noted in the left inferior temporal gyrus (r=0.633,P<0.05).Conclusion Both structural abnormalities and altered FC with PCC can be detected in MS-SSCI, but only functional parameters are associated with clinical abnormalities, which are more sensitive than microstructural changes.

A system analysis about the microbial flora of normal and abnormal soybean sauce liquor from the high-salt-level watery state fermentation was made and the dominant bacteria and yeasts were identified.On the other hand,a discussion of effect of temperature on microbial flora was made.The results indicated that there were no obvious differences about the count of aerobe,spore-producing bacteria,enterobacteriaceae,lactic acid bacteria and anaerobe between the normal and abnormal soybean sauce liquor and there were marked differences about the count of yeasts and salt-tolerant bacteria.The predominant yeasts in normal soybean sauce were Torulopsis and Saccharomyces,accounting for 55.9% and 35.3% of the total yeasts separately,and in abnormal soybean sauce were Pichia,candida and Saccharomyces,accounting for 62.8%,17.9% and 9.0% respectively.

These years with industrial antiseptics and disinfectants widely used, especially unscientifically used, the resistance of microorganisms is more and more serious, which brought much more difficulties to industrial producing. The developments on the resistance of microorganisms to industrial antiseptics and disinfectants, their resistant mechanisms and the control strategies are reviewed, which aids us to reasonably use industrial organic antiseptics and disinfectants in existence and provides academic and scientific basis.

China ; epidemiology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Humans ; Listeria monocytogenes ; physiology ; Listeriosis ; epidemiology ; Serotyping

AIM: To explore the fundus fluorescein angiographic characteristics and relevant clinical significance of age-related macular degeneration(AMD).METHODS: Fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) was performed on 149 eyes of 112 patients using Nikon NF-505 fundus camera.RESULTS: Out of 149 eyes, 90 eyes were atrophic AMD (60.4%), 59 eyes were exudative AMD (39.6%) which were further divided, according to the composition and location of lesion, into subfoveal choroidal neovasculari-zation (CNV)(7 eyes of classic type, 26 eyes of occult type, 9 eyes with disciform cicatrices, juxtafoveal CNV(2 eyes of classic type, 12 eyes of occult type), and extrafoveal CNV(3 eyes of occult type).CONCLUSION: FFA can show CNV of AMD patients and its quality and location, which is helpful to guide the treatment and evaluate the prognosis.

Objective To investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)in cytokine IL-6, IL- 10 genes and HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). Methods A hospital-based case-control study was conducted in 381 cases with HBV-related HCC, 340 HBsAg carriers and 359 non-tumor controls. Genotypes of-572 site of IL-6 gene and-819, -592 sites of IL-10 gene were determined by real-time polymorphism chain reaction. Unconditional logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios(ORs)and 95 confidence intervals(C/s). Results For the G/C alleles of -572 loci on IL-6 gene, there were significant differences between the three groups(P＜0.05). Compared with CC genotype, GG genotype increased the risk of HBV infection (OR=2.171,95% Ch 1.068-4.415), but did not seem to be associated with HCC. For the alleles of-819 and -592 site of IL-10 gene, there were significant differences between the three groups(P＜0.05). Compared with CC genotype, TT genotype increased the risks of both HCC(OR=2.791,95%CI:1.326-5.874), and HCC in HBsAg carriers(0R=3.522,95%CI: 1.707-7.266). When compared with CC genotype on -592 site, the AA genotype reduced the risk of both HCC(OR=0.389, 95% CI:0.173-0.875), and HCC in HBsAg carriers(OR=0.336, 95% CI: 0.154-0.734). Conclusion The SNPs in -572 site of IL-6 gone might be associated with the risk of HBV infection. The SNPs in -819 site of IL-10 gene increased the risk of HCC, but -592 site of IL-10 gene decreased the risk of HCC.

· ATM:To analyze bacterial spectrum and drug sensitivity in conjunctival sac of cataract patients of Kazak.
· METHODS:A total of 538 cases of conjunctival sac secretion in cataract patients of Kazak were collected.The samples were cultured and their sensibilities to antibiotics were tested.
· RESULTS: The bacterial culture was positive in 214 cases.The positive rate was 39.8%. The variety of pathogenic bacteria were mainly made up of gram positive cocci ( 88.3%), and most of them were Staphylococcus epidermidis ( 66.4%), followed by Micrococcus(9.8%).Sex had no effect on conjunctival bacteria rate in the cataract patients of Kazak, while age, place of residence had an effect on camier rate. The camier rate of conjunctival bacteria was significantly higher in people over 60 years old than that in people with age between 40 to 59 years old.And the people from city had a significant lower bacteria positive rate than those from countryside and pastoral. Most of grams were sensitive to Vancomycin, Teicoplanin, Rifampicin, Duly cloth mildew mutual and Amikacin, the tolerance was less than 20%, and they usually had higher tolerance to Penicillin, Erythromycin, Tetracycline and Chloramphenicol (>70%) .
·CONCLUSlON:Gram positivecocci is the most common bacteria in conjunctival sac in cataract patients of Kazak. Staphylococcus epidermidis was most common, followed by Micrococcus.The germ-carrying rate of conjunctival SAC in Kazakh population is associated with the patient’s age and area of residence.The clinical use of antibacterial drugs should be strictly grasp the indications, to reduce the incidence of bacterial resistance.

To study the relationship between the interleukin (IL)6 -572G/C polymorphism and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in men.A hospital-based case-control study was conducted with 500 male HCC patients without tumor history in other organs and 590 healthy male controls without history of tumors or chronic diseases. All HCC cases were diagnosed by histopathology. The controls were recruited from the Department of Orthopedic Trauma and Ophthalmology at the same hospital. The IL-6 promoter -572G/C polymorphism and its genotype variants were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. The Chi-squared test and unconditional logistic regression analyses were applied to determine the risk of HCC among men carrying the different genotype variants.The frequencies of alleles and distribution of genotypes in the -572G/C loci were not significantly different between the HCC cases and controls (P more than 0.05). The Chi-squared test indicated that the polymorphisms of the loci were not associated with HCC in our male population. However, after adjusting by multivariate logistic regression, the odds ratio (OR) of HCC for the G allele (CG + GG genotypes) carriers was 1.31 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00 - 1.71) compared with the CC genotype. Among the male HBV carriers, the CG genotype increased HCC risk significantly (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.14 - 2.24) compared with the CC genotype. A trend test indicated that HCC risk was significantly increased with the numbers of G alleles (P trend less than 0.05). Breslow-Day tests of homogeneity of the ORs indicated an interaction between hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and polymorphisms of IL-6 (P less than 0.05). The synthetic odds ratio (OReg) of HBV infection and harboring a G allele was 5.95 (95% CI: 3.99-8.87), which represented a super multiplication interaction.Polymorphism of the IL-6 promoter -572 loci may be associated with HCC occurrence in men. Moreover, there is a super multiplication interaction for HCC risk between HBV infection and harboring the IL-6 G allele.
Adult ; Alleles ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; pathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Genotype ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate if the interaction between TGF-beta1/Smad pathway and ERK pathway in vascular smooth muscle cells exists.

METHODSThe rat arota was removed. The primary VSMC were isolated and cultured in vitro, then the VSMC were divided into four groups: (1) control group, (2) (TGF-beta1 group, (3) ERK blocking agent group, (4) TGF-beta1 + ERK blocking agent group. The expression of Smad2/3, ERK1/2 proteins, the content of phosphorylated ERK1/2 and Smad2/3 proteins were detected by Western blot, and the expression of Smad2/3 mRNA was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) .

RESULTS(1) In contrast to control group, the content of phosphorylated Smad2/3 and phosphorylated ERK1/2 proteins in TGF-beta1 group was increased (P < 0.05), that in ERK blocking agent group was decreased (P < 0.05). There was no difference between control group and TGF-beta1 + ERK blocking agent group. Compared with TGF-beta1 group, the contents of phosphorylated Smad2/3 and phosphorylated ERK1/2 proteins in TGF-beta1 + ERK blocking agent group was decreased (P < 0.05). There was no difference in the expression of Smad2/3 and ERK1/2 proteins among different groups. (2) There were no differences in expression of Smad2 and Smad3 mRNA among different groups.

CONCLUSION(1) TGF-beta1 can induce Smad2/3 proteins to be phosphorylated dependent on the activated ERK pathway. (2) ERK pathway does not effect the expression of Smad2/3 at the level of protein and mRNA.

Animals ; Aorta ; cytology ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; physiology ; Male ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; metabolism ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; physiology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; physiology ; Phosphorylation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Signal Transduction ; Smad Proteins ; metabolism ; physiology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo study the safety, effectiveness and feasibility of suprapubis-assisted umbilical laparoendoscopic mini-dual-site surgery (SAU-LEMDS) in the treatment of varicocele.

METHODSThis study included 80 varicocele patients aged 24 - 44 (mean 28.5 +/- 2.6) years, 25 cases of grade I, 45 cases of grade II and 10 cases of grade III, 58 cases in the left side, 6 in the right and 16 in both sides, and all with asthenospermia. The patients were treated by SAU-LEMDS under subarachnoid anesthesia combined with general anesthesia in a supine position with a head-down-feet-up slope of 15 degrees. Two 5 mm trocars were inserted bilaterally at the umbilical edge, one with a 5 mm 30 degrees laparoscope placed in it, and another into the abdominal cavity below the pubic hairline with a 5 mm laparoendoscopic clipper placed in it. The operation procedure was similar to that of standard laparoscopic ligation of spermatic veins, with reservation of the spermatic artery and double-ligation of spermatic veins. And the procedure was repeated for the contralateral lesion in the bilateral cases. Postoperative follow-up was conducted for the incidences of orchiatrophy and testicular hydrocele and changes of seminal parameters.

RESULTSAll the operations were successful, with the mean operation time of (10 +/- 5.0) min (range 8 to 25 min) for the unilateral cases and (18 +/- 6.5) min (range 15 to 30 min) for the bilateral cases, the mean blood loss of (1.5 +/- 0.5) ml (range 1 to 2 ml), and the mean postoperative hospital stay of (2 +/- 0.5) d (range 1.5 to 3 d). The patients were followed up for 6 -24 (12 +/- 2.5) months, which showed significant improvement in sperm motility as compared with the baseline ([28.53 +/- 5.21] vs [19.62 +/- 3.56]%, P < 0.05), with 28 cases (35.0%) restored to normal. Recurrence was found in 4 cases (5.0%). Testicular hydrocele occurred in 7 cases (8.75%), but orchiatrophy in none. The scars in the umbilicus and suprapubis were invisible because of the wrinkles and pubic hair.

CONCLUSIONSAU-LEMDS is safe, effective and feasible for the treatment of varicocele. It is superior to umbilical laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (U-LESS) for its less invasiveness, simpler operation, and better cosmetic appearance.

Adult ; Asthenozoospermia ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Length of Stay ; Ligation ; methods ; Male ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Period ; Recurrence ; Spermatic Cord ; blood supply ; Testicular Hydrocele ; etiology ; Treatment Outcome ; Umbilicus ; Varicocele ; surgery ; Veins