Objective To observe the dynamic serological test results of 28 patients with acute brucellosis,and to investigate the relationship between serological test results and diagnosis,curative effect and prognosis of brucellosis.Methods Twenty eight patients(infected with sheep brucellosis) with acute brucellosis in the Department of Brucellosis in Heilongjiang Provincial Land Reclamation Headquarters General Hospital were selected as research subjects,and their serological changes were tested by means of tube agglutination test (SAT)and clinical outcomes were compared before and after each stage of treatment.In addition,symptoms of fever,weakness,sweating,joint pain,swollen lymph nodes and biochemical parameters [alanine aminotransferase (ALT),lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)] were also tested 3,6 and 9 weeks after the treatment.Results Antibody titer reached the peak at the third week,1 ∶ 400(++),which accounted for 39.29％ (11/28); 2857％(8/28) of the patients became negative at the sixth week; 50.00％ (14/28) became negative at the ninth week.Before the treatment,20(71.43％) patients had the symptom of fever,8 (28.57％) patients had the symptom of hyperhidrosis,28 (100.00％) patients had the symptom of joint pain,7(25.00％) patients had the symptom of lymph node enlargement,28 (100.00％) patients' ALT was elevated,and 26(92.86％) patients' LDH was elevated.After three weeks of treatment,except the three patients (10.71％) who occasionally had fever,the rest of the patient's temperature was returned to normal.Also the numbers of patients with the symptoms of fatigue,sweating and joint pain were significantly reduced,and specifically,the conesponding number was 13(46.43％),2(7.14％),and 21 (75.00％)patients,respectively.ALT and LDH returned to normal(only one patient's ALT was out of the range).At the sixth week,all the patients' symptoms of fever and hyperhidrosis disappeared.The number of patients with the symptoms of joint pain and lymph node enlargement reduced to 12(42.86％) and 3(10.71％),respectively.The results of biochemical tests(ALT and LDT) returned to normal.At the ninth week,most patients' clinical symptoms disappeared.A few patients still had the symptoms of weakness[2(7.14％)] and joint piin[6(21.43％)].Conclusions After effective treatment,antibody titer of patients decreases rapidly,at the same time,the clinical symptoms improve quickly.There is a parallel relationship between the change of antibody titer and clinical symptoms.It is demonstrated that the appearing time of brucellosis specific antibodies,the ampfitude and speed of change of antibody titers can be used in diagnosis,therapeutic evaluation and prognosis of the disease.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical outcome of accessory navicular fusion for treatment of the painful accessory navicular bone of type II in adults.

METHODSFrom June 2006 to June 2012, a total of 38 feet (in 35 adult patients) with painful accessory navicular with type I underwent an fusion operation of the primary and accessory navicular bones,including 26 males and 9 females with a mean age of (32.4±7.3) years old ranging from 18 to 44 years old. The course of disease ranged from 3 to 10 months. The perioperative complications and radiological outcomes were observed and recorded. The foot function before and after operation were assessed by the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) midfoot score, and the easement of the pain was evaluated by visual analog score (VAS).

RESULTSTwo patients had transient superficial inflammation of the incision, no obvious perioperative complications occurred. All patients were follow-up for (53.5±14.7) months (12 to 84 months). Bone union was confirmed on plain radiography in 32 cases (35 feet). The mean time from the operation to union was (13.7±2.3) weeks (9 to 18 weeks). Postoperative pain VAS score was improved obviosly than preoperative (V=12.14,P< 0.01). The talar-to-first metatarsal angle [(9.4±3.5)° vs (8.3±2.7)°, t=0.736, P>0.05)], calcaneal tilt angle [(17.7±2.2)° vs (18.9±3.4)°, t=0.794, P>0.05],talonavicular uncoverage angle [(14.3±3.4)° vs(12.5?4.6)°,t=0.947, P>0.05) ],and height of the first tarsometatarsal joint [(14.8±3.1) mm vs (15.9±2.8) mm,t=0.814,P>0.05)] before and after operations had no statistic difference. The AOFAS midfoot score was improced from preoperative 45.6±5.3 to postoperative 82.5±7.4 (t=3.214,P< 0.01).

CONCLUSIONFor the painful accessory navicular bone of type II in adults, if the patient has a large navicular bone and not complicated with rigid flatfoot, once the conservative treatment fails, fusion of the primary and accessory naviculars may be a successful intervention. Overall, the procedure provides reliable pain relief, definite foot function improvement, and good patient satisfaction.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot Diseases ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Tarsal Bones ; abnormalities ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

The factors for the undergraduate thesis design in biomedical engineering specialty were analyzed from the as-pects of tutor, student and administration, and some suggestions were proposed accordingly to enhance the undergraduate thesis design in biomedical engineering specialty.

Objective To observe the clinical features of brucellosis spondylitis and analyse the reasons for its misdiagnosis,and improve the level of diagnosis and differential diagnosis.Methods Forty-two clinically diagnosed patients with brucellosis spondylitis were studied retrospectively,and these patients were diagnosed and hospitalized in the General Hospital of Heilongjiang Land Reclamation Bureau.Their medical records were analyzed,which included the general information,medical history,clinical symptoms,results of magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) and serum tube agglutination test(SAT) and so on.Results Main clinical symptoms and signs were severe persistent neck,back and leg pain.They also had plate shape low back but without kyphosis.In addition,patients had to keep in one posture because their spinal activity was limited.Also,scoliosis or pelvic tilt and lameness may occur when standing,which were typical symptoms of nerve root compression.Thirteen cases were diagnosed as tuberculosis,accounting for 30.95％(13/42); 6 cases were diagnosed as lumbar disc herniation,accounting for 14.28％ (6/42); 2 cases were diagnosed as ankylosing spondylitis,accounting for 4.76％ (2/42).Therefore,the total rate of misdiagnosis was 50％ (21/42).Abnormal MRI signal intensity can be seen in the pathological vertebrae.Specifically,T1-weighted images (T1WI) showed low signal,T2-weighted images (T2WI) showed high signal,or mixed high and low signal intensity was observed.Vertebral showed wedge deformation without collapse and sequestrum; strip and sheet abnormal signal can also be found within the intervertebral disc.Normal structure disappeared and disc space became narrow.Accordingly,the plane dural sac was compressed to form visible abscess near the spine,but psoas abscess was not found.Patients with positive SAT result accounted for 92.85％ (39/42).Conclusion Reasons for misdiagnosis include lack of detailed medical records,atypical clinical symptoms and similar imaging changes and so on.

The study is to develop a method to determine 3 batches leaves of Nauclea officinalis and stems of N. officinalis by HPLC. The differences between strictosamide contents and fingerprints was compared, then chromatographic peak of fingerprints was validated with the assistance of LC-MS. The strictosamide contents in stems of N. officinalis were higher than leaves of N. officinalis. The main chemical composition in leaves of N. officinalis and stems of N. officinalis were alkaloid which revealed by LC-MS. There are 7 chemical compositions were same between them, but the chemical composition in leaves of N. officinalis is more than stems of N. officinalis. This provides a scientific basis for the development of the potential medicinal value of leaves of N. officinalis and the sustainable utilization of N. officinalis.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Rubiaceae ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dexamethasone ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Male ; Prednisolone ; therapeutic use ; Prognosis

English for science and technology (EST) is the language medium for academic communication among scientists and technologists. The expression of EST is characterized by concise-ness, correctness, objectiveness and understandability. The EST course is regarded as a key process for the undergraduate students to reinforce the English foundation and improve the capacity of English application after their College English study. In this paper, the authors introduced an interest-motivated, output-dominated, snowballing and interactive teaching strategy, according to the accumulated experi-ence of EST teaching in the past few years coupled with the unique medicine-engineering combined characteristics for the major of biomedical engineering.

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study is to investigate the changes of hard tissue profile in anterior-posterior and vertical direction in bimaxillary protrusion patients after orthodontic treatment.

METHODSA total of 24 bimaxillary protrusion patients (male 8, female 16), aged from 11.2 to 29.0 (average 16.9 years old), were selected to be treated with standard edgewise technique consisted of 4 first premolars extraction. Cephalometrics were taken before and after treatment. The changes of hard tissue profile were studied using the computer-aid X-ray cephalometric analysis.

RESULTS1. The length of the maxillary and the mandible increased significantly, but the anterior-posterior relationship of the maxillary and the mandible did not change significantly. 2. The anterior and posterior facial height increased significantly, but the ratio of anterior and posterior facial height and the angle of MP-FH which reflected the inclination of the mandible plane did not change significantly. 3. The height of the upper and lower first molar increased significantly along with the increase of the anterior and posterior facial height. 4. The height of the upper incisors increased significantly, but the height of the lower incisors decreased significantly.

CONCLUSIONThe anchorage in anterior-posterior and vertical direction were controlled preferably, the patients did not manifest disadvantageous vertical growth trend.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cephalometry ; Child ; Facial Bones ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Orthodontic Wires ; Orthodontics, Corrective ; Prognathism ; therapy ; Skull ; pathology

Aged ; Alcoholic Beverages ; Humans ; Hyponatremia ; etiology ; Male ; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome ; complications

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of OPCML gene in ovarian epithelial carcinoma and determine the relationship between mRNA expression and methylation of their promoters.

METHODTwenty normal ovarian tissues and 89 ovarian epithelial tumor specimens (72 malignant, 17 benign), as well as 3 ovarian carcinoma cell lines (SKOV-3, CAOV3, and 3AO), were collected for detection of OPCML gene expression by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and for detection of promoter methylation by restriction enzyme cut analysis from 7. 1999 to 7. 2003.

RESULTSAmong ovarian epithelial carcinoma 19.4% expressed OPCML mRNA, while 85% of normal ovarian tissue and 76.5% of benign ovarian tumor. The ratio of expression of OPCML mRNA in ovarian epithelial carcinoma was significantly lower than those of normal (chi2 = 30.108, P = 0.0000) and benign tumors (chi2 = 21.162, P = 0.000). No OPCML mRNA expression was found in SKOV-3 and CAOV3, but was found in 3AO. Methylations were detected in 44.4% of cancer cells promoter, while 0% in normal ovarian tissue and benign ovarian tumors. The ratio of methylation of ovarian epithelial carcinoma was significantly higher than those of normal (chi2 = 13.630, P = 0.0000) and benign tumors (chi2 = 11.797, P = 0.000). Methylation was found in SKOV-3 and CAOV3, but not in 3AO. The relationship between gene expression and promoter methylation was correlated (r = 11.589, P = 0.002), especially at Hap I1 site (r = 11.640, P = 0.004). Methylation was also found in SKOV-3 and CAOV3 cell lines, but not in 3AO cell line.

CONCLUSIONDeletion of OPCML gene exists in ovarian epithelial carcinoma cell. The gene promoter methylations, especially Hap II motif, may be one of pathways that contribute the inhibition of OPCML expression.

Adult ; Aged ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; CpG Islands ; genetics ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; GPI-Linked Proteins ; Gene Deletion ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction