OBJECTIVETo investigate the possible role of mycobacteria in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis.

METHODSWe used nested polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (nPCR-RFLP) and gene sequencing method to examine 31 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens (including 19 skin lesions and 12 lymph nodes ) obtained from patients with sarcoidosis, 14 normal skin specimens, and 3 cutaneous tuberculosis specimens.

RESULTSThe 65kD mycobacterial heat shock protein gene was found in 4 out of 19 (21.1%) skin specimens of sarcoidosis. The mycobacteria included M. tuberculosis (n = 1), M. chelonei (n = 2), and M. gordonae (n = 1). Mycobacterial DNA was negative in 12 lymph node specimens and 14 normal skin specimens. M. tuberculosis gene was detected in all 3 specimens of cutaneous tuberculosis.

CONCLUSIONMycobacteria may play a role in the pathogenesis of cutaneous sarcoidosis.

Adult ; Aged ; DNA, Bacterial ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; microbiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycobacterium ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Mycobacterium Infections ; microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Sarcoidosis ; microbiology ; Skin ; microbiology ; Young Adult

12E7 Antigen ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Bone Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; metabolism ; Chondrosarcoma, Mesenchymal ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hemangiopericytoma ; pathology ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonectomy ; methods

Objective To clarify the role of insulin resistance on spontaneous recanalization of infarct-relat-ed arteries in the early phase of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in patients with normal glucose tolerance. Methods 141 consecutive patients with normal glucose tolerance and acute STEMI were enrolled in our study. Subjects were divided into TIMI 0-1 group (n =91 ) and TIMI 2-3 group (n =50) by primary coronary angi-ngraphy (CAG). The Gemini score and 0-3-vessel disease score estimated the severity and extent of coronary artery disease (CAD). Metabolic parameters and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (IRI) were deter-mined. Results Serum level of fasting insulin, IRI and Gemini score were higher in TIMI 0-1 group than in TIMI 2-3 group [ (11.52±6.22)mU/L vs (7.54±3.65)mU/l,(2.79±2.32) vs (1.73±1.26),(59.17±26.95) vs ( 38.46±22.74) ( P <0.01)]. IRI was positively associated with Gemini score (r=0.185,P <0.05 ). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that IRI was independent risk factor influencing spontaneous recanalization of in-farct-related urteries(OR=2.87,95% CI=1.09-7.57,P<0.05). Conclusion Insulin resistance is independent risk factor influencing spontaneous recanalizafion of infarct-related arteries in the early phase of acute STEMI in pa-tients with normal glucose tolerance.

Objective To analyze the clinical feature, diagnosis and treatment of Alstrom syndrome. Method The clinical data of a case of Alstrom syndrome and the result of her ALMS1 sequencing by the two generation sequencing were retrospectively reviewed. Results The 12 year and 10 month old female suffered from dilated cardiomyopathy, obesity, optic nerve diseases, sensorineural hearing loss, high blood glucose and irregular menstruation since one month of birth. Laboratory examination showed she had high testosterone level, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and fatty liver. High-throughput sequencing confirmed there was ALMS1 gene mutation which includes hybrid frameshift mutations of c.5418delC and p.Y1807Tfs*23, and heterozygous nonsense mutation of c.10549C>T and p.Q3517*, and c.5418delC was a new variation reported for the first time. Conclusion Alstrom syndrome is an autosomal recessive genetic disease, which is characterized by multiple organ dysfunction and metabolic syndrome, and can be diagnosed by gene detection.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of lung fibroblast activation in radiation-induced lung injury.

METHODSThirty-five male Wistar rats were exposed to a single-dose 30 Gy irradiation of the right hemithorax or sham right lung irradiation. At 1, 7, 14, 28, 56 or 84 days after the irradiation, the rats were sacrificed for examination of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) expression in the bilateral lung tissues using immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSalpha-SMA expression in fibroblast increased significantly in the out-field and in-field lung tissues within 24 h after irradiation after the irradiation (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONActivation of the lung fibroblasts occurred within 24 h after irradiation and found in ont-field and in-field lung tissues, suggesting that radiation-induced lung injury may not have an obvious latency.

Actins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Fibroblasts ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lung ; cytology ; pathology ; Male ; Radiation Injuries ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of Shengli capsules on the sexual ability of normal and castrated male rats.

METHODSShengli capsules were given by intragastric administration to 100 experimental male rats at different doses of 0.35, 0.70 and 1.40 g / kg. Data were collected and analyzed, including capture latency period, times of capture, sexual endurance and times of ejaculation, to assess the effects of Shengli capsules on the sexual ability of the rats. The Castrated Animal Impotence Model was employed to determine the erectile latency period and the function parameters of the preputial gland, seminal vesicle and prostate, so as to test the effects of Shengli on the development of the rats'sexual organs.

RESULTSShengli was proved to be effective in shortening copulation latency in the dose groups of 0.35, 0.70 and 1.40 g / kg (P < 0.01), increasing significantly the frequency of capture in the high- and low-dose groups of 0.35 and 1.40 g / kg (P < 0.05), reducing the latency period to erection in the low-dose group of 0.35 g / kg, and blocking the shrink of the seminal vesicle and prostate in the medium-dose group of 0.70 g / kg.

CONCLUSIONShengli is significantly effective in enhancing the sexual ability of male rats: it can boost libido, increase erection frequency and improve sexual performance. However, further studies have yet to be done on its action mechanisms.

Animals ; Capsules ; Copulation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Male ; Orchiectomy ; Ovariectomy ; Penile Erection ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sexual Behavior, Animal ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the methods of CT-guided percutaneous removal of osteoid osteoma.

METHODSFrom February 2003 to December 2003, there were 11 patients, at a mean age of 19.3 years old (from 14 to 32 years old). Seven cases were male, and 4 cases were female. Diagnosis was supported by the complete clinical and imaging file. Eleven cases with osteoid osteomas were treated with CT-guided percutaneous excision. The location involved were femoral neck (6 cases), acetabulum (4 cases), humeral neck (1 case). At first, CT scanning was done in the whole nidus with thin slices (2 mm thick), and the CT scan slice passing through the center of the nidus was selected. Then the whole nidus was removed by trephine along the guidewire which was inserted into the bone up to the nidus and was protected by the trocar. Finally complete lesion resection was checked with CT.

RESULTSNine cases had a final pathological diagnosis of osteoid osteomas. Complete pain relief was obtained in these patients after the day of operation. There were no complications, no recurrence and patients remained symptom free at follow-up of 8-18 months (mean, 15.2 months).

CONCLUSIONThe methods of CT guided percutaneous removal of osteoid osteoma is a minimally invasive technique that represents the efficacy and safety.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Osteoma, Osteoid ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Radiography, Interventional ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUNDNontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) had been reported to cause cutaneous infections which are difficult to interpret due to the variability of the clinical manifestations. Among NTM infections, Mycobacterium marinum (M. marinum) are mostly seen to cause skin infection. It is therefore important to establish a rapid approach for detection and identification of M. marinum from lesions of patients with suspected M. marinum infections.

METHODSSpecimens were obtained from 5 patients with swimming pool granuloma. DNA was extracted and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed. PCR products were digested with Hae III and BstE II, then analysed by pattern restriction analysis to detect heat shock protein (hsp) 65 kD gene.

RESULTSThe 65 kD hsp gene was found in all specimens from patients with swimming pool granuloma. PCR restriction analysis (PRA) identified all 5 samples to be M. marinum infections, and the result was consistent with that of routine bacteriological identification. The lesions subsided or markedly improved upon treatment.

CONCLUSIONSPRA is a sensitive, specific and rapid method in identification of mycobacteria. Application of this method will be helpful for early diagnosis of mycobacterial skin infections.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; Chaperonin 60 ; Chaperonins ; genetics ; Female ; Granuloma ; microbiology ; Humans ; Male ; Mycobacterium marinum ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Skin Diseases, Bacterial ; diagnosis ; Staining and Labeling ; Swimming Pools

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate the enhancement patterns of liver metastases and their influencing factors using dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). METHODS: A total of 240 patients (139 male and 101 female; 58.5±11.2 years of age) diagnosed with liver metastases in our hospital were enrolled in this study to evaluate tumor characteristics using CEUS. A comparison of enhancement patterns with tumor size and primary tumor type was performed using the chi-square test. The differences between quantitative variables were evaluated with the independent-sample t-test and one-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: The enhancement patterns of liver metastases on CEUS were categorized as diffuse homogeneous hyperenhancement (133/240, 55.4%), rim-like hyperenhancement (80/240, 33.3%), heterogeneous hyperenhancement (10/240, 4.2%), and isoenhancement (17/240, 7.1%). There were significant differences in the enhancement patterns during the arterial phase based on the nodule size (p=0.001). A total of 231 of the nodules showed complete washout during the portal phase, and 237 nodules were hypoenhanced during the delayed phase. The washout time was correlated with tumor vascularity, with a longer washout time observed in hypervascular metastases compared to hypovascular metastases (p=0.033). CONCLUSIONS: Diffuse homogeneous hyperenhancement followed by rapid washout was the most common enhancement pattern of liver metastases on CEUS and was affected by the nodule size and tumor vascularity. Small metastases were prone to show diffuse homogeneous hyperenhancement. Hyper-vascular metastases showed a significantly longer washout time compared to hypovascular metastases.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Contrast Media/*therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Liver/diagnostic imaging/pathology ; Liver Neoplasms/blood supply/*diagnostic imaging/secondary ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic/diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography/*methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of amino acid substitution in conserved sequence of penicillin-binding protein (PBP) 1A, 2B, 2X on antimicrobial activity of beta-lactams against Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP).

METHODMinimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 6 beta-lactams was determined by the E-test in 59 SP strains. The penicillin-binding protein genes pbp1a, 2b, 2x in every SP strain were amplified by nested-polymerase chain reaction (nPCR), then the PCR products were sequenced using automatic genetic analyzer directly. To analyze the amino acid substitutions, the DNA sequences were converted to protein sequences and aligned by Clustalx software. According to amino acid substitution in conserved sequence of PBP2B, 3 phenotypes were observed, including: PBP2B phenotype I (no amino acid substitution); PBP2B phenotype II (Glutamine 432-->Leucine and/or Threonine 445/451-->Alanine/Serine, Glutamic 481-->Glycine, 1 strain had proline insertion between residues 431/432); PBP2B phenotype III (Alanine 624-->Glycine with the addition of phenotype II). According to amino acid substitution in conserved sequence of PBP1A, 3 phenotypes were observed, including: PBP1A phenotype I (no amino acid substitution); PBP1A phenotype II (Threonine 574-->Asparagine, Serine 575-->Threonine, Glutamine 576-->Glycine, Phenylalanine 577-->Tyrosine, 574TSQF-->NTGY); PBP1A III (Threonine 371-->Alanine/Serine, Proline 432-->Threonine with the addition of 574TSQF-->NTGY). According to amino acid substitution in conserved sequence of PBP2X, 4 phenotypes were observed, including: PBP2X phenotype I (no amino acid substitution); PBP2X phenotype II (Histidine 394-->Leucine or Threonine 338-->Alanine); PBP2X phenotype III (Threonine 338-->Alanine, Isoleucine 371-->Threonine, Arginine 384-->Glycine and Leucine 546-->Valine); PBP2X phenotype IV (Methionine 339-->Phenylalanine, Methionine 400-->Threonine with the addition of PBP2X phenotype III).

RESULTAmong 59 SP strains antibacterial activities distribution (sensitive strains, intermediate strains and resistant strains) of 6 beta-lactams were penicillin (12, 29, 18); amoxicillin(49, 9, 1); cefuroxime (16, 16, 27); ceftriaxone (47, 1, 11); cefotaxime (47, 3, 9); imipenem (49, 10, 0). beta-lactam antibiotics insensitive strains (intermediate + resistant strain) in PBP2B phenotype III, PBP1A phenotype III, PBP2X phenotype III and IV were significantly increased, the MIC(50) of these strains were significantly higher than that of the others.

CONCLUSIONThe amino acid substitutions in or vicinal conserved sequence of PBP of SP increase MIC for beta-lactam antibiotics.

Amino Acid Substitution ; Aminoacyltransferases ; genetics ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Penicillin-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Peptidyl Transferases ; genetics ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; drug effects ; beta-Lactam Resistance ; genetics ; beta-Lactams ; pharmacology