Animals ; Depression ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Electric Stimulation Therapy ; methods ; Frontal Lobe ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serotonin ; metabolism ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ; methods

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy of the Chinese medicine Yiqigushen Capsule combined with levofloxacin on type III A prostatitis.

METHODSA total of 180 patients with type III A prostatitis were equally randomized into a treatment group, which received Yiqigushen Capsule combined with levofloxacin, and a control group, which was given Yiqigushen Capsule only, both for 4 weeks. NIH-CPSI scores and leukocyte counts in the expressed prostatic secretions of all the patients were analyzed before and after the treatment.

RESULTSAfter the treatment, NIH-CPSI scores and leukocyte counts in the expressed prostatic secretions of both the groups were significantly decreased compared with pre-treatment (P < 0.05 or 0.01), with statistic differences in NIH-CPSI scores but not in leukocyte counts (P < 0.05) between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONYiqigushen Capsule combined with levofloxacin is highly effective for type III A prostatitis.

Adult ; Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary ; therapeutic use ; Capsules ; Chronic Disease ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Levofloxacin ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Ofloxacin ; therapeutic use ; Prostatitis ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To establish a multiplex STR genotyping method for autosomal STR and Y-STR loci in forensic biological practice. METHODS: Widely used autosomal STR loci and Y-STR loci were selected. A set of PCR primers was designed, and a 5-dye fluorescent labeled STR multiplex PCR reagent kit was developed. RESULTS: A kit was developed which can simultaneously detect 15 autosomal STR loci, 10 Y-STR loci, and an Amelogenin. CONCLUSION The 15 autosomal STR plus 10 Y-STR kit in combination with capillary electrophoresis method was used to STR genotyping with accurate and reliable results. The new one-step testing kit can potentially be widely used in forensic cases and DNA databank in the future.
Amelogenin ; Chromosomes, Human, Y/genetics* ; DNA Primers ; Databases, Nucleic Acid ; Forensic Genetics/methods* ; Genotype ; Genotyping Techniques/instrumentation* ; Humans ; Indicators and Reagents ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction

This study was purposed to investigate the molecular basis for RhD negative phenotype in Yiwu population in Zhejiang Province of China. The RhD negative samples were screened by saline agglutination test in blood donors. Some real RhD negative and RhDel phenotypes were identified using anti-human globulin test and absorbtion elution test. Ten exons of RHD gene in these samples were amplified by PCR-SSP, and positive exons were DNA sequenced. The results indicated that 30 real RhD negative and 8 RhDel phenotypes were identified in 38 initial RhD negative samples. Ten exons were complete negative in 28 real RhD negative samples and only exon 1, 2 and 10 were positive in 2 real RhD negative samples amplified by PCR. All 10 exons in 8 RbDel samples were positive and a DNA variant (1227G > A) was found in 8 RhDel samples. It is concluded that all exons are absence in most real RhD negative phenotypes, and the partial exons absence is also found in some real negative phenotypes among Yiwu population in Zhejiang province of China. The G to A mutation at position 1227 is found in all RhDel phenotypes.
Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; China ; Exons ; Genotype ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Rh-Hr Blood-Group System ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo construct the co-culture models of salivarya denoid cystic carcinoma (SACC) cells and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of chickens and investigate the promotive effects of SACC on neural tissue.

METHODSGlass-base culture dish was adopted to construct co-culture model of SACC-83 cells and DRG. SACC-83 cells were seeded in the medium pore with DRG around them. Outgrowth of neuronal processes was observed. Then DRG was cultured in the conditioned medium of SACC-83, with the groups of conditioned medium of MC3T3-E1 and HGF, the group of cell lysis buffer, the groups of serum-free medium and serum-plus medium as the controls. Outgrowth of neuronal processes was also recorded and compared with control groups.

RESULTSIn the co-culture model of tumor and neuronal tissue, SACC-83 cells produced a suitable microenvironment in which neuronal processes remarkably grow. Neuronal processes of most DRG displayed growth tendency toward SACC. The group of conditioned medium from SACC-83 manifested obvious promotive effects on DRG.

CONCLUSIONSCo-culture model of tumor and neuronal tissue was successfully constructed, with which the promotive effects of tumor on outgrowth of neuronal processes could be observed. So hypothesized that SACC could secrete some neurotrophic factors to guide peripheral nerves gemmating and to trigger the cascade of the neural invasion in succession.

Animals ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; pathology ; Cell Line ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Chickens ; Coculture Techniques ; Culture Media ; Ganglia, Spinal ; growth & development ; Gingiva ; cytology ; Humans ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; Salivary Gland Neoplasms ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnostic value of imageology of giant cell tumour of tendon sheath (GCTS) including X-ray, CT and MRI.

METHODSThirty-five patients with GCTTS confirmed by operation and pathology were retrospectively analyzed. There were 16 males and 19 females. The average age was 39.4 years, ranged from 7 to 66 years. All the patients underwent X-ray examination, 8 patients underwent CT examination, and 16 patients underwent MRI examination.

RESULTSThere were 2 patients in knee joint, 6 patients in ankle joint, 1 patient in capitulum radius, 2 patients in wrist joint, 14 patients in hand and 10 patients in foot. Ten cases were the diffuse form, and 25 cases were the focal form. The X-ray results: the slightly high density soft tissue mass surrounding the bone were shown in 32 cases, 3 cases were normal. The bone erosion were shown in 9 cases, the obvious destruction of bone were shown in 5 cases. CT results: The soft tissue mass and the destruction of bone were shown clearly. MRI results: On T1WI, the signal intensity of GCTTS almost was similar to those of skeletal muscle in 9 cases and was slightly lower than those of skeletal muscle in 7 cases. On T2WI, the signal intensity presented mainly hypointensity with patchy isointensity or hyperintensity signal. A little of fluid was shown in 6 cases.

CONCLUSIONX-ray can demonstrate the lesion and erosion of bone, destruction of bone can clearly be shown on CT. The low intensity signal on MRI T1WI and T2WI is the characteristic appearance of GCTTS. And it can clearly show the lesion range and type of GCTTS.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Giant Cell Tumors ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Tendons ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUNDCystic echinococcosis due to Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus) is one of the most important chronic helminthic diseases, especially in sheep/cattle-raising regions. The larval stage of the parasite forms a cyst that grows in the liver, lung, or other organs of the host. To ensure a long life in the host tissues, the parasite establishes complex inter-cellular communication systems between its host to allow its differentiation toward each larval stage. Recent studies have reported that this communication is associated with the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade in helminth parasites, and in particular that these protein kinases might serve as effective targets for a novel chemotherapy for cystic echinococcosis. The aim of the present study investigated the biological function of a novel ERK ortholog from E. granulosus, EgERK.

METHODSDNA encoding EgERK was isolated from protoscolices of E. granulosus and analyzed using the LA Taq polymerase chain reaction (PCR) approach and bioinformatics. Reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) was used to determine the transcription level of the gene at two different larval tissues. Western blotting was used to detect levels of EgERK protein. The expression profile of EgERK in protoscolices was examined by immunofluorescence.

RESULTSWe cloned the entire Egerk genomic locus from E. granulosus. In addition, two alternatively spliced transcripts of Egerk, Egerk-A, and Egerk-B were identified. Egerk-A was found to constitutively expressed at the transcriptional and protein levels in two different larval tissues (cyst membranes and protoscolices). Egerk-A was expressed in the tegumental structures, hooklets, and suckers and in the tissue surrounding the rostellum of E. granulosus protoscolices.

CONCLUSIONSWe have cloned the genomic DNA of a novel ERK ortholog from E. granulosus, EgERK (GenBank ID HQ585923), and found that it is constitutively expressed in cyst membrane and protoscolex. These findings will be useful in further study of the biological functions of the gene in the growth and development of Echinococcus and will contribute to research on novel anti-echinococcosis drug targets.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Computational Biology ; DNA, Helminth ; genetics ; Echinococcus granulosus ; enzymology ; genetics ; Genome, Helminth ; genetics ; Helminth Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of leucine-rich repeats and immunoglobulin-like domains 3 (LRIG3) on the biological activity of glioblastoma cell line GL15.

METHODSGlioblastoma GL15 cells were cultured and transfected with LRIG3-EGFP plasmid. The location of LRIG3 in GL15 cells was observed with confocal microscopy. The proliferation and invasiveness of GL15 cells were detected with methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) and Transwell methods respectively; the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and LRIG3 mRNA and protein were detected with reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot respectively.

RESULTAfter transfection with the plasmid LRIG-EGFP, LRIG3 fusion protein was found in cytoplasm of GL15 cells and cell proliferative and invasiveness were reduced. The expression of EGFR and LRIG3 varied with the duration of EGF treatment (100 ng/ml): the expression of EGFR decreased while the expression of LRIG3 increased as time prolonged.

CONCLUSIONLRIG3 can inhibit the proliferation and invasiveness of glioblastoma cells and may be used as a target gene in gene therapy of glioblastoma.

Brain Neoplasms ; pathology ; Cell Proliferation ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; genetics ; Glioblastoma ; pathology ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Plasmids ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo investigate of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) convalescent stool shedding by RT-PCR.

METHODSOne hundred and three stool samples from 46 SARS patients were collected on May 16th, 20th, and 23rd, 2003. For each sample, RNA was extracted using commercial kit and 7 Nest RT-PCR using a 14-pair different SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) special primers were carried out simultaneously.

RESULTSAmong these 46 SARS patients, 17 cases (37.0%) were stool SARS-CoV RT-PCR negative, and 29 cases (63.0%) were SARS-CoV RT-PCR positive. The duration of positive cases lasted (31.76 +/- 10.78) d (12-64 d). The longest stool shedding case in this study lasted 64 days. Two serial stool samples and for each sample 2 RT-PCR tests using different primers were positive in this case.

CONCLUSIONSOur study observed longest stool shedding of SARS patients to be 64 days after initial onset of SARS. The average stool shedding was 32 days. Hence it is important to think highly of SARS convalescent patient stool sterilization.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Feces ; virology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Viral ; analysis ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; SARS Virus ; isolation & purification ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; transmission ; virology ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of excess iodine intake on neurogranin expression in cerebrum of filial mice and the intervention of selenium.

METHODSSixty BALB/c mice were divided randomly into four groups with different drinking water: control group (tap water, NC), excess iodine group (3000 microg/L I, EL +), supplementing selenium group (200 microg/L Se, Se +) and the excess iodine plus selenium (3000 microg/L + I 200 microg/L Se, EI + Se +) group. The mice were mated at the end of the fourth month. Serum T4 and T3 were determined on postnatal day 14 and 28. The expression level of neurogranin in filial cerebrum was measured by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.

RESULTSSerum T4 level in EI (68.78 +/- 11.10 nmol/ L) + was lower significantly than that in NC (100.85 +/- 11.47 nmol/ L) and EI + Se + (93.15 +/- 12.10 nmol/ L) on postnatal day 14. Western blot analysis showed that the relative level of neurogranin in EI + (0.621 +/- 0.041) was lower than that in NC (0.841 +/- 0.039) and EI + Se + (0.781 +/- 0.029) on postnatal day 14 (P < 0.05). No significant difference in serum T4 and neurogranin level between four groups on postnatal day 28.

CONCLUSIONExcess iodine intake might change the expression of neurogranin in filial cerebrum and the selenium supplementation might alleviate it.

Animals ; Female ; Iodine ; adverse effects ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Neurogranin ; biosynthesis ; Selenium ; pharmacology ; Telencephalon ; metabolism ; Thyroxine ; blood ; Triiodothyronine ; blood