Child ; Humans ; Pediatrics ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Tonsillectomy ; United States

Objective To establish a serum-free primary culture method for cortical neurons of new-born rats .Methods The cortical tissue was digested and the cells were planted in the medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum ,and then maintained feed-ing with neurobasal medium containing B27 after 4 to 8 h .The morphology was observed under phase-contrast microscope .RT-PCR ,Western blot and immunocytochemistry were applied to identify the expression of NSE gene and protein in neurons .Results A large number of neurons began to adhere to the cover glasses after 2 to 8 h .They showed different shapes-shuttle ,triangle pyram-idal ,or no regular after clinging to the plate .Their processes connected to nets and were different in length and thickness .They well developed at the 7th to 10th day .The isolated and cultured cells were confirmed as neurons by RT-PCR ,Western blot and immuno-cytochemistry .Conclusion This technique is an easy and practical tool for primary culture of new-born rats cortical neurons with high purity ,and can be used as an in-vitro model of research .

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Endothelin-1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Hepatocytes ; metabolism ; Liver ; cytology ; metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis ; prevention & control ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Simian virus 40 ; genetics ; Transfection

BACKGROUNDA comprehensive assessment of various vascular anomalies and variants associated with venous pulsatile tinnitus (PT) by radiography is essential for therapeutic planning and improving the clinical outcome. This study evaluated the incidence of various vascular anomalies and variants on the PT side and determined whether these lesions occurred as multiple or single entities.

METHODSThe dual-phase contrast-enhanced computed tomography images of 242 patients with unilateral venous PT were retrospectively reviewed. The vascular anomalies and variants on the symptomatic and asymptomatic sides were analyzed, and the incidences of anomalies or variants on each side were compared. The number of anomalies and variants on the symptomatic side in each patient was calculated.

RESULTS(1) A total 170 patients (170/242) had more than one anomaly or variant on the symptomatic side, and 58 patients (58/242) had a single lesion on tomography. (2) There was a statistically significant difference in the incidence of dehiscent sigmoid plate (P = 0.000), lateral sinus stenosis (P = 0.014), high jugular bulb (P = 0.000), sigmoid sinus diverticulum (P = 0.000), jugular bulb diverticulum (P = 0.000), dehiscent jugular bulb (P = 0.000), and a large emissary vein (P = 0.006) between the symptomatic and asymptomatic sides. (3) Dehiscent sigmoid plate (86.4%) was the most frequent lesion on the symptomatic side, followed by lateral sinus stenosis (55.8%), high jugular bulb (47.1%), sigmoid sinus diverticulum (34.3%), jugular bulb diverticulum (13.6%), dehiscent jugular bulb (13.6%), large emissary vein (4.1%), sinus thrombosis (1.2%), and petrosquamosal sinus (0.8%).

CONCLUSIONSVarious vascular anomalies and variants occur more frequently on the venous PT side. Preliminary findings suggest that venous PT patients may have multiple vascular anomalies or variants on the symptomatic side.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tinnitus ; diagnostic imaging ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype, serum viral load and ALT levels, and the factors associated with the viral relapse after IFN treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

METHODSThe HCV RNA levels were determined with Cobas Amplicor Monitor Test, version 2.0, and HCV genotypes were examined by means of PCR products of 5' NTR digested with restriction endonucleases. The patients with chronic hepatitis C were treated with PEG-IFN alpha -2a and Roferon-A for 24 weeks. Those with a viral response after 24 week treatment were followed for an additional 24 weeks. The association of clinical characteristics, such as sex, age, the way of the HCV infection, IFN treatment history and platelet counts, and the HCV genotype, virus load and medicine used for the viral relapse after IFN treatment were analyzed.

RESULTSOf the 208 chronic hepatitis C patients, the ALT levels were not related to HCV RNA levels (r = 0.093, P > 0.05). No difference of ALT levels between HCV genotypes was found, and the HCV RNA load was also of no difference between HCV genotype 1 patients and non 1 patients. Of the 119 patients with viral response after 24 week treatment, 58 cases (48.7%) relapsed after another 24 week's follow-up. Relapse was not significantly related to the clinical characteristics, such as sex, age, mode of the infection, treatment history of IFN, AST/ALT ratio, platelet counts and the baseline viral load. Among patients with genotype 1 virus, the relapse rate was significantly higher than those patients with non-genotype 1 virus (54.5% vs 32.1%, P=0.039). The relapse rate after PEG-IFN alpha -2a treatment was lower than that of Roferon-A treatment (47.0% vs. 52.8%), but not significantly.

CONCLUSIONThe viral relapse of chronic hepatitis C patients after IFN treatment was significantly associated with the genotypes of the HCV.

Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Viral ; blood ; Recombinant Proteins ; Recurrence ; Treatment Outcome ; Viral Load

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and investigate the influencing factors of the interferon (IFN) retreatment for patients with chronic hepatitis C relapsed after a previous IFN treatment.

METHODSA retrospective study was designed to analyze the retreatment with IFN of 60 relapsed chronic hepatitis C patients. All patients were from a randomized, opened and multi-center clinical trial about the efficacy and security of PEG-IFNalpha-2a compared to CIFNalpha-2a in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in China. There were 35 patients treated with PEG-IFNalpha-2a and 25 with CIFNalpha-2a. The main parameter to evaluate the efficacy was sustained viral response (SVR) rate. The influence of viral concentration in serum, genotype and drug categories on the responses to IFN were analyzed.

RESULTSFor all the patients, the end of treatment virus response (ETVR) and SVR rates were 55.00% and 35.00% respectively. ETVR rate of PEG-IFNalpha-2a was significantly higher than that of CIFNalpha-2a (74.29% and 28.00% respectively, P < 0.01). SVR rate of PEG-IFNalpha-2a was also markedly higher than that of CIFNalpha-2a (45.71% and 20.00% respectively, P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the high and low viral load groups. Among the patients with genotype 1, ETVR and SVR rates of PEG-IFNalpha-2a (75.00%, 45.83%) were significantly higher than those of CIFNalpha-2a (22.22%, 11.11%), (P < 0.01, P < 0.05 respectively), but in patients with genotype non-1, there were no such differences between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSome relapsed patients were not responsive to the IFN retreatment. The efficacy of PEG-IFNalpha-2a was superior to CIFNalpha-2a. The conventional IFN was not suggested to be used in the relapsed cases with genotype 1. The viral load was not associated with the efficacy of IFN retreatment.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Interferon-beta ; Interferons ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyethylene Glycols ; therapeutic use ; Recombinant Proteins ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

0.05),the difference of ALT,AST level and AST/ALT ratio between high viral load (serum HCV RNA≥8.5?10~5 IU/ml) group and low viral load (serum HCV RNA

OBJECTIVETo investigate the seminal parameters, zinc concentration and antibacterial activity in patients with non- inflammatory chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS).

METHODSSeminal parameters, zinc concentration and antibacterial activity of seminal plasma were detected in 60 CP/CPPS patients and 20 normal men.

RESULTSStatistically significant differences were found in the duration of semen liquefaction, sperm vitality, sperm motility, zinc concentration and antibacterial activity of the seminal plasma between the CP/CPPS and the control males ( P < 0.01). Zinc concentration was significantly correlated with the duration of sperm motility (r = 0. 272, P = 0.015) and antibacterial activity of the seminal plasma (r = 0.449, P < 0.01) in the CP/CPPS patients.

CONCLUSIONCP/CPPS has a significant negative impact on semen liquefaction, sperm motility and vitality, zinc concentration and antibacterial activity of seminal plasma. The antibacterial activity of seminal plasma is positively correlated with zinc concentration and sperm motility.

Chronic Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Pelvic Pain ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Prostatitis ; physiopathology ; Semen ; chemistry ; cytology ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Syndrome ; Zinc ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo study the targeted point and mechanism of the function of the blood-activating and stasis-removing Chinese drugs, Paeoniae Radix 801(PR801) in its cardiovascular protective effects and its specific binding with endothelin 1 (ET-1) as well as the dynamics of the two's interactive function by means of using affinity biosensors: IAsys Plus and quartz crystal microbalance (IAQCM).

METHODSET-1 was immobilized on the surfaces of IAQCM by using the new surface modification methods. The PR801 in the solution was detected by modified substrates and the specific binding between PR801 and ET-1 was studied.

RESULTSThe curves went up or down after adding PR801. There is specific binding between PR801 and ET-1. The bound mass were 0.458 ng/mm(2) and 133.54 ng/cm(2), respectively. There exists relatively good stability with these two methods.

CONCLUSIONThe affinity biosensors: IAQCM can be used to study the interaction mechanism between PR801 and ET-1, providing a new way to study the interaction mechanism of TCM. PR801 can bind ET-1 specifically in the experiments. Therefore, ET-1 is another target that PR801 can bind specifically besides thromboxane A(2).

Biosensing Techniques ; standards ; Blood Circulation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; metabolism ; therapeutic use ; Endothelin-1 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Quartz

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical characteristics of triple-negative (TN) breast cancer and non-triple-negative (NTN) breast cancer, enrich the information of TN patients, and provide evidences for individualized combined treatment.

METHODSThe data of 408 cases received operation in the year of 2002 was enrolled in this study. TN patients were confirmed according to the immunohistochemical (IHC) test of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and HER-2/neu. The clinical characteristics, recurrence, metastasis and survival were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSSeventy-seven patients (18.9%) were confirmed TN cases. The median follow-up was 64 months (range, 3-79 months). Of all the cases, 58 occurred local recurrence or metastasis and 51 died, it was 19 and 12 in TN group. Compared with the NTN group, the TN patient tended to be younger and the tumor mass larger (P=0.015 and 0.011). However, axillary lymph nodes metastasis occurred more often in NTN patients than in TN patients (P=0.001). The rate of local recurrence and metastasis in TN group was significantly higher than in NTN group (P=0.005 and 0.025), and TN cases were more likely to develop lung metastasis than NTN patients (P<0.01). The 3-year and 5-year overall survival rate in TN group were significantly lower than in NTN group (86.4% vs. 93.4%, P=0.0205; 77.7% vs. 87.9%, P=0.0215). The 3-year and 5-year disease-free survival rate in TN group were also significantly lower than in NTN group (78.4% vs. 92.4%, P=0.0038; 72.8% vs. 85.8%, P=0.0041). Tumor size, lymph node status and triple-negative were the most important factors influencing the prognosis on multivariate Cox regression analysis.

CONCLUSIONSTN breast cancer haa some specific clinical characteristics. The prognosis of TN patients is worse than that of NTN patients. Further study is needed to find individualized treatment for TN breast cancer patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Prognosis ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Receptors, Estrogen ; metabolism ; Receptors, Progesterone ; metabolism ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Analysis ; Young Adult