OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to develop RT- PCR assay for Rapidly detect and distinguish between Norovirus genogroup I and genogroup II with a pair of primers.

METHODSA pairs of primers specific to capsid prote in ORF2 gene of G I and G II Norovirus were dsigned according to the published complete genome sequence, with which the RNA of Norovirus was extracted and RT-PCR amplification. The sensitivity, specificity of the RT- PCR assay was estimated and apply it to the detection of Norovirus in clinical specimens.

RESULTSThe results showed that the assay possessed high specificity for Norovirus detection and without any evident cross-reaction with other viruses, including rotavirus, enteric adenovirus and hepatitis A virus. The detection limit of RT-PCR assay for Norovirus G I and G II were up to 100 pg/ml and 10 pg/ml respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe RT- PCR assay provide rapid and sensitive detection of Norovirus G I and G II and should prove to be useful for Norovirus diagnosis in the outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis.

Caliciviridae Infections ; diagnosis ; virology ; DNA Primers ; genetics ; Gastroenteritis ; diagnosis ; virology ; Humans ; Norovirus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; instrumentation ; methods

Objective To study the sources and the relationship between the management and the outcome of hemorrhage after cephalic pancreatoduodenectomy.Methods The clinical data of 370 patients who underwent pancreatic resection at the Lihuili Hospital and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University were retrospectively analyzed.Results Postoperative bleeding occurred in 35 patients with 11 deaths.Among those intraabominal bleeding occurred in 14 cases and gastrointestinal hemorrhage occurred in 22,with one case suffering from both.Bleediug developing within 72 hours after operation in 12 cases (early-stage group),which was caused by improper intraoperative homeostasis.In other 23 cases,bleeding 72 hours after operation(later stage group)was caused by the erosion following pancreatic and/or bile leakage.Relaparotomy was performed in 13 cases and endoscopic homeostasis was performed in 3. Relaparotomy or endoscopic homeostasis was superior to that of conservative therapy in the early-stage group (P0.05).Pancreatic or bile leakage was identified as the significant risk factors for the postoperative bleeding.Conclusions In order to prevent the postoperative hemorrhage and to reduce the mortality of pancreatic resection,skillful techniques,expeditious homeostasis,proper management of stump pancreas and the prevention of pancreatic and bile leakage are essential.

Endotoxemia ; metabolism ; pathology ; HMGB1 Protein ; Humans ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology

Endotoxins ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins ; Liver Cirrhosis

Animals ; Endotoxemia ; complications ; Fatty Liver ; etiology ; Hepatitis ; etiology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of endotoxin on the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARa) in the development of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in rats.

METHODSA model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) was developed with Wistar rats fed a chow containing 20% maize oil for 14 weeks. The endotoxin group rats were intraperitoneally injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 g/L, 3.0 ml/kg) once 4 hours before the end of the experiment. The concentrations of lipids, endotoxin, tumor necrosis factor-a, malondialdehyde, free fatty acid in plasma and hepatic tissues were determined and the degree of hepatocytic steatosis was studied. The expression of PPARa mRNA in hepatic tissues was measured using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSThe expression of PPARa mRNA in the hepatic tissue of the LPS group was downregulated markedly in comparison to that of the control group. The level of free fatty acid and endotoxin by secreting tumor necrosis factor-a increased and triglyceride accumulated in the liver caused malondialdehyde content to increase, then lipid peroxidation process enhanced and ALT activity increased. Thus, hepatic injury and inflammatory reaction could be accelerated.

CONCLUSIONEndotoxemia can enhance hepatocellular steatosis and lead to NASH due to its downregulating the expression of PPARa mRNA.

Animals ; Down-Regulation ; Endotoxins ; pharmacology ; Fatty Liver ; metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; PPAR alpha ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cytokines ; blood ; Endotoxemia ; complications ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; complications ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology

Adult ; Female ; Hamartoma ; complications ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Humans ; Kidney Calculi ; complications ; Spleen ; pathology ; surgery ; Splenectomy ; methods ; Splenic Diseases ; complications ; diagnosis ; surgery

BACKGROUNDHyperparathyroidism (HPT) occurs at an early age and has a high disability rate. Unfortunately, confirmed diagnosis in most patients is done at a very late stage, when the patients have shown typical symptoms and signs, and when treatment does not produce any desirable effect. It has become urgent to find a method that would detect early bone diseases in HPT to obtain time for the ideal treatment. This study evaluated the accuracy of high field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) combined with spiral computed tomography (SCT) scan in detecting early bone diseases in HPT, through imaging techniques and histopathological examinations on an animal model of HPT.

METHODSEighty adult rabbits were randomly divided into two groups with forty in each. The control group was fed normal diet (Ca:P = 1:0.7); the experimental group was fed high phosphate diet (Ca:P = 1:7) for 3, 4, 5, or 6-month intervals to establish the animal model of HPT. The staging and imaging findings of the early bone diseases in HPT were determined by high field MRI and SCT scan at the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th month. Each rabbit was sacrificed after high field MRI and SCT scan, and the parathyroid and bones were removed for pathological examination to evaluate the accuracy of imaging diagnosis.

RESULTSParathyroid histopathological studies revealed hyperplasia, osteoporosis and early cortical bone resorption. The bone diseases in HPT displayed different levels of low signal intensity on T(1)WI and low to intermediate signal intensity on T(2)WI in bone of stage 0, I, II or III, but showed correspondingly absent, probable, osteoporotic and subperiosteal cortical resorption on SCT scan.

CONCLUSIONHigh field MRI combined with SCT scan not only detects early bone diseases in HPT, but also indicates staging, and might be a reliable method of studying early bone diseases in HPT.

Animals ; Bone Diseases ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Calcium ; blood ; Female ; Hyperparathyroidism ; complications ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Osteoporosis ; diagnosis ; Phosphorus ; blood ; Rabbits ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate a new technique for functional treatment of chronic facial paralysis.

METHODSBased on anatomy of intramuscular neurovascular structure in the rectus femoris muscle, 7 consecutive patients with facial paralysis were treated by using a technique of microsurgically free-transferring neurovascular rectus femoris muscle segment to the face in one-stage. Follow-ups were 10 to 24 months.

RESULTSAll of the 7 patients showed significantly improvement in the appearance of the oral commissure and oral competence. No complications occurred in the donor site.

CONCLUSIONSThe above mentioned technique may have the advantages of preventing the intramuscular nerve and vessel from the surgical injury during splitting the muscle. It could also maintain the transferred muscular segment in a proper tension in the recipient site.

Facial Paralysis ; surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Microsurgery ; methods ; Quadriceps Muscle ; blood supply ; innervation ; transplantation ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Transplant Donor Site ; Treatment Outcome