OBJECTIVE: We wanted to describe the retrospective CT features of subtle pleural metastasis without large effusion that would suggest inoperable lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 14 patients who had open thoracotomy attempted for lung cancer, but they were proven to be inoperable due to pleural metastasis. Our study also included 20 control patients who were proven as having no pleural metastasis. We retrospectively evaluated the nodularity and thickening of the pleura and the associated pleural effusion on the preoperative chest CT scans. We reviewed the histologic cancer types, the size, shape and location of the lung cancer and the associated mediastinal lymphadenopathy. RESULTS: Subtle pleural nodularity or focal thickening was noted in seven patients (50%) having pleural metastasis and also in three patients (15%) of control group who were without pleural metastasis. More than one of the pleural changes such as subtle pleural nodularity, focal thickening or effusion was identified in eight (57%) patients having pleural metastasis and also in three patients (15%) of the control group, and these findings were significantly less frequent in the control group patients than for the patients with pleural metastasis (p = 0.02). The histologic types of primary lung cancer in patients with pleural metastasis revealed as adenocarcinoma in 10 patients (71%) and squamous cell carcinoma in four patients (29%). The location, size and shape of the primary lung cancer and the associated mediastinal lymphadenopathy showed no significant correlation with pleural metastasis. CONCLUSION: If any subtle pleural nodularity or thickening is found on preoperative chest CT scans of patients with lung cancer, the possibility of pleural metastasis should be considered.
Adenocarcinoma/radiography/secondary ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/radiography/secondary ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/*pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pleural Effusion, Malignant/pathology ; Pleural Neoplasms/*radiography/*secondary ; Preoperative Care ; Retrospective Studies ; *Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo establish quality standard of Zhuang medicine Lonicera dasystyla, and provide scientific basis for the quality control of L. dasystyla.

METHODCharacteristics of materia medica, microscopic features, TLC indentification, inspection, extractum and determination of chlorogenic acid, macranthoidin B, dipsacoside B were carried out through the experience, microscopic, physical and chemical methods, respectively. The standard of quality control was formulated thereafter.

RESULTThe characteristics of materia medica, microscopic features, TLC indentification were specified, the average contents of water, total ash, acid-insoluble ash, alcohol-soluble extracts, chlorogenic acid were 11.6%, 6.6%, 0.2% , 24.4%, 1.16%, respectively, the total amount of macranthoidin B and dipsacoside B was 3.13%. Quality standard of L. dasystyla was proposed according to experimental results.

CONCLUSIONThe quality of L. dasystyla can be controlled effectively with the quality standard.

Chlorogenic Acid ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; standards ; Lonicera ; chemistry ; Oleanolic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Quality Control ; Saponins ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Solubility

OBJECTIVETo preliminarily investigate the relationship between the Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) and dental caries initiation.

METHODS100 S. mutans strains derived from caries-active and caries-free individuals were cultured in BHI medium supplemented with glucose. Cells were extracted and ruptured, and the extracted liquid protein was quantified with Coomassie brilliant blue G250 staining methods. LDH activity was assayed using the pyruvate-dependent oxidation of NADH-with and without FDP.

RESULTSLDH activity of the two groups strains had no difference (P > 0.05), but the distribution of differ class enzyme activity strains in the two groups was different (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLDH activity of S. mutans is correlated to the initiation of dental caries to some extent. The measurement methods in this study can be applied in preliminary quantitation of LDH activity and the screening of S. mutans strains.

Case-Control Studies ; Dental Caries ; microbiology ; Humans ; Lactate Dehydrogenases ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Streptococcus mutans ; metabolism

Objective To develop a rapid, accurate, visual, and portable detection method for adenovirus types B (AdvB) and E ( AdvE).Methods Universal primers were targeted on type-specific conserved regions to allow the simultaneous detection of both human Adv (HAdV) species.A detection method based on the combination of recombinase polymerase amplification ( RPA) and lateral flow dipstick ( LFD) was established the sensitivity and specificity evaluated , and throat swab specimens of 19 patients infected with AdvB and AdvE as well as 10 healthy volunteers were detected with this method.Results The detection limit of the method was 10 copies/μl Adv DNA, which was close to that of qPCR , and there were no cross-reactions with other species of Adv and unrelated virus .The detection could be finished within 15 to 20 min within the temperature range of 25 to 45℃.When applied to clinical samples , this method showed 100% sensitivity and specificity.Conclusion This detection assay is a sensitive , specific, rapid and simple method that eliminates the need for expensive equipment , trained personnel or laboratories .The characteristics of this system render it suitable for use in grass-roots healthcare departments , and the system is especially effective for field testing and on-site testing.

Necrobiotic xanthogranuloma (NXG) is a rare, progressive, histiocytic disease characterized by destructive cutaneous lesions, a close association with paraproteinemia, multiple myeloma, hypertension, and multiple extracutaneous manifestations. Multiple indurated yellow-red plaques or nodules are commonly present in this disorder. The pathogenesis of NXG is poorly understood. Histopathologically, NXG features with hyaline necrosis or necrobiosis are present. We describe a patient with typical cutaneous and histologic findings of NXG with an associated monoclonal gammopathy.
Humans ; Hyalin ; Hypertension ; Multiple Myeloma ; Necrobiotic Disorders ; Necrobiotic Xanthogranuloma ; Necrosis ; Paraproteinemias

HIV-associated eosinophilic folliculitis is characterized by recurrent crops of severely-pruritic follicular papules, pustules and plaques that occur mainly on the face, trunk and upper extremities of AIDS patients. This disease is distinguished from Ofuji's disease by severe pruritus, leukopenia, sparing of the palm and sole and a good response to phototherapy. Up to now, only three such cases have been reported in the Korean literature. A 55-year-old man, who was confirmed as being HIV positive 6 months previously, presented with severely-pruritic, erythematous pinhead to half pea sized papules and nodules on the face, neck and anterior chest. The skin biopsy from a nodular lesion on the face revealed perifolliculitis with a predominant eosinophilic infiltrate.
Biopsy ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Folliculitis ; HIV ; Humans ; Leukopenia ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Peas ; Phototherapy ; Pruritus ; Skin ; Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous ; Thorax ; Upper Extremity

OBJECTIVETo identify a novel human leukocyte antigen (HLA) B allele and explore its family heritage.

METHODSA novel HLA allele was suspected upon routine HLA typing using a polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific oligonucleotide probe (PCR-SSOP) assay. The sequence was confirmed with DNA sequencing and compared with its closest matching allele, B*55:02. The family was also investigated.

RESULTSAn unusual reaction pattern was detected during routine HLA typing. The sequence was confirmed to be a novel HLA-B allele, which differed from the closest matching allele, B*55:02 in 7 nt positions in exon 2. Among the 7 mutations from 6 codons, there were two amino acids changes including 69Glu→Met and 70Glu→Ala.

CONCLUSIONA novel HLA-B allele has been identified and officially named as B*55:35 by the WHO Nomenclature Committee for Factors of the HLA System (GenBank accession number FJ898284).

Alleles ; Base Sequence ; HLA-B Antigens ; genetics ; Histocompatibility Testing ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVETo analyze the characteristics of acquired pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) secondary to T cell large granular lymphocyte leukemia (T-LGLL).

METHODSFourteen patients with T-LGLL associated with PRCA between 2000 and 2006 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSThe median age at diagnosis was 61 years with equal gender distribution. The PRCA had indolent process, mainly presenting with anemia. Of the 14 patients, 9 had mild to moderate splenomegaly, one hepatomegaly and one lymphadenopathy. The median Hb level was 61.5 g/L and the median WBC count 4.3 x 10(9)/L. The median percentage and count of LGL in peripheral blood were 0.36 and 1.9 x 10(9)/L respectively. The median percentage of LGL in BM was 0.165 (0.085 - 0.410). Some patients had serologic abnormalities. All the 12 cases with available bone marrow cell cytogenetics showed normal karyotypes. With cyclosporine A or glucocorticoid immunosuppressive therapy, the overall response was 91%.

CONCLUSIONT-LGLL was one of the major causes of acquired PRCA. This type of PRCA has the similar clinical and laboratory feature to that of other type of PRCA and has a good response to immunosuppressive therapy.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia, Large Granular Lymphocytic ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure ; complications ; Retrospective Studies

The present study investigated the role of peripheral P2X receptors in inflammatory pain transmission in the orofacial area in rats. Experiments were carried out on male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 220 to 280 g. Formalin (5%, 50 microL) and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA, 25 microL) was applied subcutaneously to the vibrissa pad to produce inflammatory pain. TNP-ATP, a P2X(2,2/3,4) receptor antagonist, or OX-ATP, a P2X(7) receptor antagonist, was then injected subcutaneously at 20 minutes prior to formalin injection. One of the antagonists was administered subcutaneously at three days after CFA injection. The subcutaneous injection of formalin produced a biphasic nociceptive behavioral response. Subcutaneous pretreatment with TNP-ATP (80, 160 or 240 microg) significantly suppressed the number of scratches in the second phase produced by formalin injection. The subcutaneous injection of 50 microg of OX-ATP also produced significant antinociceptive effects in the second phase. Subcutaneous injections of CFA produced increases in mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity. Both TNP-ATP (480 microg) and OX-ATP (100 microg) produced an attenuation of mechanical hypersensitivity. However, no change was observed in thermal hypersensitivity after the injection of either chemical. These results suggest that the blockade of peripheral P2X receptors is a potential therapeutic approach to the onset of inflammatory pain in the orofacial area.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Animals ; Formaldehyde ; Freund's Adjuvant ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Male ; Nociception ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Cutaneous bronchogenic cysts are rare, and stem from developmental abnormalities of the tracheobronchial tree. The condition is often misdiagnosed clinically, with the correct diagnosis usually established by histopathologic examination. Published reports of bronchogenic or branchial anomalies are increasing, and the traditional defining characteristics of location and histopathology are proving to be less reliable for the identification of cutaneous bronchogenic cysts. In this report, we describe a case of a cutaneous bronchogenic cyst that presented with unusual histologic features, and was associated with several lymphoid follicles.
Bronchogenic Cyst