OBJECTIVETo improve the sample collection methods and bacteriologic localization patterns in male genital tract infection, and to investigate the influence of specimen collection and pathogen isolation on the diagnosis and treatment of prostatitis.

METHODSWe collected the samples of the initial urinary stream, the third portion of the urinary stream, expressed prostatic secretion (ESP), and semen from 200 adult males with chronic prostatitis-like symptoms, inoculated them quantitatively in culture media for isolation of microorganisms, and evaluated their laboratory diagnostic significance according to the count of colonies and distribution of the isolates.

RESULTSA total of 468 strains of microorganisms were isolated from the samples, including 414 strains of bacteria spp (88.5%), 12 strains of fungi spp (2.6%), 40 strains of mycoplasma spp (8.5%), and 2 strains of chlamydia spp (0.4%). Pathogens were isolated from the ESP in 66 cases (33.0%), from the semen in 34 cases (17.0%), and from both the ESP and semen in 100 cases (50.0%). Only 1 species of pathogen was found in the ESP samples of 36 cases (18.0%), in the semen samples of 20 cases (10%), and in both the ESP and semen samples of 39 cases (19.5%); 2 species in the ESP samples of 30 cases (15.0%), in the semen samples of 14 cases (7.0%), and in both the ESP and semen samples of 60 cases (30.0%); and 3 species in both the ESP and semen samples of 1 case (0.5%).

CONCLUSIONMultiple microbial infection (MMI), multi-organ infection (MOI) and drug-resistance strains infection are common in patients with prostatitis-like symptoms, frequently leading to missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis in clinic and laboratory, and affecting the effect of antimicrobial therapy. MMI and MOI can be diagnosed and differentially diagnosed with the improved sample collection methods and bacteriologic localization patterns.

Adult ; Bacterial Load ; Chronic Disease ; Genital Diseases, Male ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatitis ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Reproductive Tract Infections ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Semen ; microbiology ; Specimen Handling ; methods ; Urethra ; microbiology

OBJECTIVETo explore the influence of non-gonococcal Neisseria on the diagnosis and treatment of male genitourinary infection.

METHODSThe samples of urethral exudates, prostatic secretions or/and semen were collected from 8 cases of male patients with acute urethritis or chronic prostatitis, then inoculated into gonococcal agar medium, blood agar medium, Sabouraud agar medium and Mycoplasma agar medium, respectively. Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasmae, fungi and other bacteria were isolated, Chlamydiae examined by Gemenez staining, and the gram-negative diplococci from the samples identified by oxidase test, biochemical examination and drug sensitivity test. The PCR products of the cryptic plasmid pJD1 gene of the isolated strains were amplified for the identification of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Based on the results of drug sensitivity tests, intravenous or oral antibiotics were selected for treatment.

RESULTSEight strains of gram-negative diplococci were isolated in this study, 3 identified as N. mucosa, 4 as N. cinerea and the other 1 as N. lactamica. The PCR identification test of the cryptic plasmid pJD1 gene showed the same positive results in all the strains as in N. gonorrhoeae. The non-gonococcal Neisseria isolated from the male genital tract secretions exhibited a multidrug resistance, especially to quinolones and fosfomycin. All the symptoms disappeared and no pathogens were detected in the patients after a 7-day treatment with Cephalosporins or/and Minocycline.

CONCLUSIONSome Neisseria species normally parasitizing the upper respiratory tract can also cause male genitourinary infections, such as gonorrhea-like urethritis and chronic prostatitis. Neisseria gonorrhea could be clinically and etiologically misdiagnosed through such conventional methods as morphological examination, oxidase test and PCR identification test of cryptic plasmid and other nonspecific genes. Intravenous and/or oral antibiotic medication based on the results of drug sensitivity tests can cure acute urethritis and chronic prostatitis induced by non-gonococcal Neisseria in males. Drug resistance of non-gonococcal Neisseria directly affects the success of treatment.

Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neisseria ; isolation & purification ; Neisseriaceae Infections ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Prostatitis ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Urethritis ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; microbiology

Objective To know the quality of iodized salt and the current situation of the salt coverage in Tibet,and to provide scientific basis for proposing proper prevention and control measures to Iodine dificiency disorders(IDD). Methods In 2008, according to the "Sampling Methods of the Main Products in the Salt Industry",one batch fifteen salt samples were collected in iodized salt processing factory in Tibet. Five townships were chosen in each county based on 5 different directions of east, south, west, north and center. If the monitoring county has less than five townships, then all of the townships were sampled. In each township, four villages were selected withrandom sampling and importance sampling. In each township, 15 households were selected for salt collection. Results A batch of 15 salt samples in a salt processing plant were tested, and all of them were qualified with salt iodine(34.6±1.58) mg/kg. A total of 21 107 edible salt samples were tested, and 11 203 of them were qualified iodized salt. These results meant that the provincial iodized salt coverage rate was 53.08%. Shannan iodized salt coverage rate was 94.31% (3395/3600) which was the highest in Tibet. Those of Nagqu, Changdu, Ngari were lower, they were 29.84% (897/3006), 24.94% (823/3300) and 17.08% (205/1200), respectively. Conclusions The quality of iodized salt in Tibet is up to the national standard, but the coverage rate of iodized salt is very low.We suggest that the strategy should be carried out according to the national overall program strategy and supplement iodized oil capsule for special groups.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect and mechanism of Shenqi Compound on diabetic angiopathy modeled rats.

METHODSTotally 18 SD rats were randomized into 3 groups, i.e., the normal control group, the diabetic mellitus (DM) group, and Shenqi Compound group, 6 in each group. The DM rat model was established by feeding high-fat diet (to induce hyperlipidemia) +intraperitoneal injection of small dose streptozotocin (STZ). Shenqi Compound was given to rats in the Shenqi Compound group at the daily dose of 2 g/kg. Equal volume of normal saline was given to rats in the model group and the normal control group by gastrogavage. All treatment was lasted for 12 weeks. Then 2-D and ultrasonic integrated backscatter technique were used to evaluate structural and functional changes of abdominal aorta in the progression of diabetic macroangiopathy. The fibrosis degree of the aorta vessel and myocardium capillaries were observed by using HE and Masson trichrome staining. The tension of the aortic vascular ring was determined. The transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) mRNA expression was detected by real time PCR (RT-PCR). The protein expression of TGF-beta, collagen I, collagen III, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and phosphorylation P38 MAPK were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, abdominal aortic systolic inner diameter, diastolic inner diameter, Peterson elastic modulus, stiffness index, and backscatter integral significantly increased; the rangeability of integral backscatter and the extension coefficient of cross section significantly decreased in the DM group (all P < 0.05). After 12 weeks aforesaid indices were obviously improved in the Shenqi Compound group (P < 0.05). Results of HE and Masson staining showed that the fibrosis degree of the aorta vessel and myocardium capillaries was obviously alleviated in rats of the Shenqi Compound group (P < 0.05). Results of the aortic vascular ring tension showed that acetylcholine induced vasodilatation and maximum diastolic percent were obviously elevated in the Shenqi Compound group (P < 0.05). Compared with the normal control group, the mRNA expression of TGF-beta, and the protein expression of TGF-beta, collagen I, and collagen III, and phosphorylation of P38 MAPK all significantly increased in the DM group (P < 0.05). Compared with the DM group, the mRNA expression of TGF-beta, and the protein expression of TGF-beta, collagen I, and collagen III, and phosphorylation of P38 MAPK all decreased (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSShenqi Compound could effectively improve the arterial function in diabetic marcoangiopathy and microvascular dysfunction. The mechanism might be due to the down-regulating the expression of TGF-beta, and further suppressing the phosphorylation of P38 MAPK, reducing the synthesis of collagen I and collagen III, therefore, ameliorating arterial and myocardial interstitial fibrosis.

Animals ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Collagen Type III ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Diabetic Angiopathies ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

Based on a pair of specific primers, a 804-bp fragment was amplified from the plasmid pT-Cap containing Cap gene of Porcine Getah Virus(PGETV) and cloned into the prokaryotic expression vector pCold I which carried the His tag, this recombinant plasmid was then determined by enzyme digestion, PCR and DNA sequencing. This recombinant plasmid pCold-Cap was transformed into E. coli Rosetta 2, and PGETV Cap fusion protein was expressed through IPTG induction. The results showed that the Cap gene obtained efficient and soluble expression in Rosetta 2 induced by 0. Immol/L IPTG under 15"C for 24h, the expression quantity was 40. 2%. The product had a molecular mass about 32. 3kD as expected. The target protein was separated in gel slices and used to immunize Balb/c mice. The polyclonal antibody with high titer against Cap protein specifically analyzed by Western blot was obtained. The successful preparation of the polyclonal antibody laid the foundation for the further study on the detection and identification of PGETV.
Alphavirus ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Alphavirus Infections ; immunology ; veterinary ; virology ; Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; immunology ; Blotting, Western ; Capsid Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; DNA Primers ; genetics ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; Swine ; Swine Diseases ; immunology ; virology ; Zoonoses

Objective:To explore an efficient method of practical teaching for ultrasonography.Methods:There were 41 five-year clinical medical students intending to learn ultrasonography in the spring semester of 2019. After completing common theory courses, they were divided into two groups randomly for practice courses, which consisted of two modules: Lecture and Hands-on. Lecture included case-based learning while Hands-on included pictures reading. Each group followed different sequence of modules. There were assessments of ultrasound theory, practice or the combination of both before, during and after practice courses.Results:The theory and practice ability of each group improved significantly after practice courses ( P < 0.05). Moreover, the group whose Hands-on module preceded Lecture module got the higher scores in the evaluation of the combined ability of theory and practice ( P < 0.05). Conclusion:The theory was as important as the practice during the clerkship of ultrasonography. The clinical practical teaching pattern that Hands-on precedes Lecture has achieved better teaching effects.

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical value of plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) detection in the diagnosis of diastolic heart dysfunction.

METHODSNinety patients with diastolic heart dysfunction and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)>or=45% were divided into 3 groups according to the findings by conventional echocardiography and/or tissue Doppler imaging, namely impaired relaxation pattern group (n=58), pseudonormal pattern group (n=22) and restrictive filling pattern group (n=10). Ten patients with normal heart function served as the control group. Plasma NT-proBNP level was determined in all the subjects and its correlation to diastolic heart dysfunction was analyzed.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, all the 3 case groups had significantly higher plasma NT-proBNP level (P<0.01). Plasma NT-proBNP level increased gradually with the severity of diastolic dysfunction. Spearman rank correlation analysis indicated that lg(NT-proBNP) was positively correlated to the severity of diastolic dysfunction. Simple linear regression showed that 52.7% of the total variation of lg(NT-proBNP) was correlated to the severity of the condition. The ROC curve demonstrated a sensitivity of 80%, specificity of 90%, positive predictive value of 84.2% and the negative predictive value of 87.1% for NT-proBNP level of 133 ng/L in predicting diastolic heart dysfunction regardless of the clinical manifestations, and the sensitivity was 81.7% and specificity was 75% for NT-proBNP level at 280.25 ng/L in predicting symptomatic diastolic heart dysfunction; the sensitivity was 81.2% and the specificity was 92.6% for NT-proBNP at 655 ng/L in predicting moderate to severe diastolic heart dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONPlasma NT-proBNP level increases gradually with the severity of diastolic dysfunction and has a high clinical value in severity rating and assisting the diagnosis of diastolic dysfunction.

Aged ; Diastole ; Female ; Heart Failure ; blood ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Peptide Fragments ; blood ; Stroke Volume

OBJECTIVETo discuss the reliability of SARS-CoV antibody detection for SARS diagnosis.

METHODSUsing SARS-CoV ELISA kit to detect relevant antibody in fresh serum of healthy, fever, probable, and suspect cases.

RESULTSThe positive rate is 0%, 40%, and 95% respectively in healthy, probable, and suspect cases.

CONCLUSIONSIt is reliable to detect SARS-CoV antibody in late suspect patients, but there will be high false-positive result in ordinary fever cases.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Fever ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; SARS Virus ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo detect the genes of Neisseria spp. isolated from patients with male genitourinary tract infections, and to study the pathogenicity of non-gonococcal strains of Neisseria and the laboratory diagnosis for the infections caused by Neisseria spp.

METHODSUsing polymerase chain reaction and nucleotide sequencing, we amplified and sequenced 4 genes of Neisseria spp. isolated from patients with male genitourinary tract infections, including 16S rRNA, orfl, cppB and nspA.

RESULTSFourteen Neisseria strains were identified through analysis of the 16S rRNA gene, including 3 N. mucosa strains, 3 N. cinerea strains, 2 N. gonorrhoea strains, 2 N. sicca strains, 2 N. subflava strains, 1 N. lactamica strain, and 1 N. polysaccharea strain. Among them, 9 showed positive results in gonococcal fluorescence-labeled multiplex-PCR detection, 1 in cppB gene reaction, 5 in orfl gene reaction, and 3 in nspA gene reaction. The consistency rate was 85.7% between the above results from our gene detection and those from the routine bacteriological methods.

CONCLUSIONThe cppB gene is absent in the non-gonococcal strains of Neisseria spp. that can cause male genitourinary tract infection. Most of the strains not only lack virulence-associated orfl and nspA genes, but also show positive results in gonococcal fluorescence-labeled multiplex-PCR detection, which is one of the important reasons for the misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis of gonorrhea infection. The combination of routine bacteriological methods and gene detection in laboratory examinations may help improve the accuracy rates of Neisseria species identification and clinical diagnosis of the infections caused by Neisseria spp.

Genes, Bacterial ; Gonorrhea ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Humans ; Male ; Neisseria gonorrhoeae ; classification ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Urinary Tract Infections ; microbiology

Objective To summarize the treatment principle of acupuncture-moxibustion in treating Bi-impediment syndrome from the application rules of meridians and acupoints in Ming-Qing Dynasties by sorting out and analyzing the Chinese medicine literatures about acupuncture-moxibustion for Bi-impediment syndrome in Ming-Qing Dynasties, for providing literature evidence for basic and clinical research of Bi-impediment syndrome.Method Via electronic retrieval ofZhong Hua Yi Dian (Zhen Jiu Tui Na Lei) (Chinese Medical Encyclopedia,Chapter of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina), the data related to Bi-impediment syndrome in Ming-Qing Dynasties were extracted to establish a database categorized by meridians and acupoint features in Excel for analysis.Result There were 267 items of records about acupuncture-moxibustion in treating Bi-impediment syndrome in Ming-Qing Dynasties, involving the fourteen ordinary meridians, and 131 acupoints including 5 extra points; the frequency of using the Gallbladder Meridian ranked the top, followed by the Large Intestine Meridian; points from the Bladder Meridian were predominant, followed by the Gallbladder Meridian; there were 28 commonly-used acupoints (frequency>5), which were Quchi (LI 11, 26 times), Huantiao (GB 30, 23 times), Hegu (LI 4, 22 times), Chize (LU 5, 16 times),Yanglingquan (GB 34, 15 times), and Weizhong (BL 40, 14 times). Of the specific acupoint, the five Shu points were most frequently used, with a frequency of 217.Conclusion In the treatment of Bi-impediment syndrome with acupuncture-moxibustion, doctors in Ming and Qing Dynasties selected yang meridians more often than yin meridians, and Gallbladder, Large Intestine and Bladder Meridians had comparatively higher frequencies; regarding the application of acupoints, the specific acupoints were often used, especially the five Shu acupoints. The study results provide reference for acupoint selection in the treatment of Bi-impediment syndrome with acupuncture-moxibustion.