0.05).However,there was no significant difference in the AMPAR-mediated basal synaptic transmission on hippocampal CA1 between those at the later period(6 weeks) of epilepsy induced by pilocarpine and controls,while LTP was inhibited(P

It is unanimously accepted that stroke is a highly heterogeneous disorder.Different subtypes of ischemic stroke may have different risk factors,clinical features,and prognoses.The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors,clinical characteristics,and prognoses of different subtypes of ischemic stroke defined by the Trial of ORG10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) criteria.We prospectively analyzed the data from 530 consecutive patients who were admitted to our hospital with acute ischemic stroke within 7 days of stroke onset during the study period.Standardized data assessment was used and the cause of ischemic stroke was classified according to the TOAST criteria.Patients were followed up till 30 and 90 days after stroke onset.It was found that large-artery atherosclerosis was the most frequent etiology of stroke (37.4％),and showed the highest male preponderance,the highest prevalence of previous transient ischemic attack,and the longest hospital stay among all subtypes.Small artery disease (36.4％) was associated with higher body mass index,higher plasma triglycerides,and lower plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol than cardioembolism.Cardioembolism (7.7％),which was particularly common in the elderly (i.e.,individuals aged 65 years and older),showed the highest female preponderance,the highest prevalence of atrial fibrillation,the earliest presentation to hospital after stroke onset,the most severe symptoms on admission,the maximum complications associated with an adverse outcome,and the highest rate of stroke recurrence and mortality.Our results suggest that ischemic stroke should be regarded as a highly heterogeneous disorder.Studies involving risk factors,clinical features,and prognoses of ischemic stroke should differentiate between etiologic stroke subtypes.

Objective To explore the effect of iodine on the pathogenesis of postpartum thymiditis.Methods Forty-four female C57BL/6J mice,8-week old,fed by low iodine dietary(the concentration of iodine≤35 μg/kg),were randomly divided into 4 groups:non-pregnancy experimental autoimmune thymiditis(non-pregnancy EAT)group with 8 mice,EAT of mice was induced by immunization with pig's thyroglobulin(Tg)in the presence of complete Freund's adjuvant.Six mice in non-pregnancy EAT group survived at the end of experiment;normal iodine-PPT(NI-PPT)group,10-fold high iodine-PPT(10HI-PPT)group and 50-fold high iodine-PPT(50HI-PPT)group with 12 mice in each group.The last 3 groups mice,who received the same immunization schedule as the above,were mated with adult male mice followed by induction of EAT.In the end,7,6 and 6 mice were noticed to be pregnant in each group.All animals were killed 4 weeks after postpartum.Histological severity of thyroid specimens was evaluated.The serum level of thyroglobulin antibody(Tg-Ab),thyroid pomxidase antibody(TPO-Ab),TT3 and TT4 were measured by radioimmunoassay(RIA).The expression level of IFN-γ/IL-4 mRNA in spleenwere assayed by RT-PCR.Results Pathological examination showed the infiltration of inflammatory cells.epithelial cell applanation,follicle atrophy or destruction.The severity of inflammation in non-pregnancy EAT bgroup.NI-PPT group and 10HI-PPT group was less serious than that in the 50HI-PPT group,the difference has bstatistical significance(P＜0.05).The level of TPO-Ab in non-pregnancy EAT group,NI-PPI-group,10HI-PPTgroup and 50HI-PPT group wag(14.32±8.85)%,(64.45±10.52)%,(38.46±5.57)%and(90.09±9.98)%.respectively the difference being statistically significant between any two groups(P＜0.05).There was no statisticaldifference(F＝0.484,P＞0.05)of Tg-Ab among non-pregnancy EAT group[(33.74±3.71)%],NI-PPT group [(29.65±2.06)%],10HI-PPT group[(37.21±3.87)%]and 50HI-PPT group[(33.87±4.17)%].There was no statistical difference(F＝1.596,P＞0.05)of TT3 among non-pregnancy EAT group (2.47±0.69)%,NI-PPT group(1.57±0.25)%,10HI-PPT group[(1.60±0.28)%]and 50HI-PPT group[(1.82±0.75)%].The level of TT4 in 50HI-PPT group[(66.68±5.47)%]was lower than that in non-pregnancy group,NI-PPT group and 10HI-PPTgroup[(99.87±5.97)%,(89.13±7.64)%and(91.05±5.82)%],the difference being statistically significant(P＜0.05).The expression level of IFN-γ mRNA was increasing,being 1.02±0.10,1.37±0.10,1.39±0.12 and 1.68±0.06 in non-pregnancy EAT group,NI-PPT group,10HI-PPT group and 50HI-PPT group.The difference had a statistical significance between any two groups except for NI-PPT group and 10HI-PPT group(P＜0.05).The expression level of IL-4 mRNA in 10HI-PPT group(0.49±0.04)and 50HI-PPT group(0.53±0.06)were all higher than non-pregnancy EAT group(0.24±0.05)and NI-PPT group(0.35±O.05),the differences being statistically significant (P＜0.05).Conclusions Adequate iodine supplementation during pregnancy and postpartum period is necessary,but iodine excess could induce postpartum thyroiditis.So iodine supplementation during pregnancy and postpartum should be adequate and reasonable.

Antimicrobial peptides, a cluster of small peptides secreted by the majority of creatures, have been demonstrated with activity against a wide range of microorganisms including bacteria, protozoa, yeast, fungi, viruses and even tumor cells. These peptides have some features such as broad spectrum , high effi-cacy and stability, little drug resistance. A lack of new antibiotics combined with emerging multi-drug resis-tance issues demands that new antimicrobial strategies be explored for treating these infections. It has been proposed that the antimicrobial peptides might form the foundation for a new class of clinically useful an-timicrobials. We review the advantages of these molecules in construction features and bioactivity, with the focus on the mechanism and clinical applications.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the epidemiologic features of disseminated histoplasmosis (PDH) in Hubei province.

METHODSBone marrow smears of 12 patients diagnosed as Kala-azer in Hubei province including 4 patients in Jingsan, 2 patients in Shashi and each 1 in Yichang, Jinmen, Zhongxiang, Luotian, Xianning and Guanghua respectively were re-examed under microscope. Peripheral blood and bone marrow smears of several patients were detected. After inoculated the bone marrow, peripheral blood, liver and spleen tissue of patients in MLI, the single colony was trans-inoculated in BHIB, SDA and CMA and incubated at 25 degrees C and 35 degrees C. Bone marrow, peripheral blood and bacterial fluid of yeast-phase Histoplasma capsulatum (H.cap) were injected into the abdominal cavity of Kunming mice and nude mice. When symptoms and signs developed, the spleen tissue was separated, then observed under microscope and cultured. Mycelium-phase and Yeast-phase H.cap were inoculated in urase and gelatin medium, then incubated at 25 degrees C and 35 degrees C. Histoplasmin was injected subcutaneously into patients, and then followed for 48 - 72 hours. Amphotericin B was selected to treat the PDH patients.

RESULTSMoriform cell cluster and sausage-shaped cell were not observed in mononuclear-macrophages in the bone marrow smears from 12 patients. Leishman-Donovan body was found only in one patient. There wasn't kinetoplast in the cellular plasm of spores in 11 patients and no transeptae was found. The reaction of H.cap to urease was positive and H.cap did not liquefy the gelatin. It appeared to be mycelium-phase at 25 degrees C but no penicillus and catenulate conidia was found. The characteristic denticle macroconidia was observed but produced red coloring matter. It also appeared to be yeast-phase at 35 degrees C. Yeast-phase spores were observed under microscope. No sausage-shaped spore and transeptae were identified. H.cap could be acquired in the spleen tissue in Kunming mice and nude mice. Bacterium forms, characteristics under microscope and biochemical reaction of mycelium-phase and yeast-phase H.cap were different from some other kinds of dimorphic fungi such as Penicillium marneffei and Histoplasm duboisii etc.

CONCLUSIONThere were scattered epidemics of PDH in Hubei province. The detection rate of PDH was higher in the southeast area then in the northwest area. The golden standards of clinic diagnosis were mycological culture and inoculation to animals. Amphotericin B was necommended as the first choice for treatment.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Amphotericin B ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Antifungal Agents ; therapeutic use ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Histoplasma ; isolation & purification ; Histoplasmin ; immunology ; Histoplasmosis ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Middle Aged ; Skin Tests

OBJECTIVETo analyze the prevalence and distribution of cervical node metastases in squamous cell carcinoma of hypopharynx and evaluate the efficacy of selective neck dissection (SND) on the treatment of the neck metastases.

METHODSA retrospective review was performed for 63 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of hypopharynx from January 1990 to December 2004. Lymph nodes were clinically negative in 17 patients and positive in 46 patients. There were 15 unilateral SND, 22 bilateral SND and 16 modified radical neck dissections (MRND). Ipsilateral MRND or radical neck dissections (RND) and contralateral SNDs were performed in 10 cases. Forty-eight patients were followed up and the follow-up interval ranged from 24 to 143 months and the median was 41 months.

RESULTSLymph nodes were pathologically negative (pN0) in 22 and positive (pN +) in 41 patients. A total of 106 positive nodes were found in 95 neck dissections. The distribution of the positive nodes were as follows: Level II 47.2% (50/106), Level III33.0% (35/106), Level IV11.3% (12/106), Level V2.8% (3/106), Level VI 5.7% (6/106). Contralateral nodal metastases and recurrence were observed in both cN0 and cN + cases. There were 18 neck recurrent cases. High incidence of neck recurrence after SND was found in level II and III. The 3-year estimated survival rate analysis were 58.1% for the pN0 and 44.9% for pN1 and 41.1% for pN2 patients. Cox regression analysis suggested N stage was the most important prognostic factor. The risk ratio was 1.7 in pN1 and 2.2 in pN2.

CONCLUSIONSLymphatic metastases was the most significant prognostic factor of hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Bilateral selective neck dissection, when carefully indicated, offers functional advantages without oncologic compromise.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck Dissection ; Retrospective Studies

Energy metabolism plays an important role in life survival for species living in high altitude hypoxia condition. Air-breathing organisms require oxygen to create energy. Tibetans are the well-adapted highlanders in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. It was thought that different metabolic approaches could lead to different adaptation traits to high altitude hypoxia. Recently identified hypoxia inducible factors pathway regulators, endothelial PAS domain protein1 (EPAS1)/HIF-2a and PPARA, were involved in decreasing hemoglobin concentrations in Tibetans. Because EPAS1 and PPARA also modulated the energy metabolism during hypoxia, we hypothesized that positive selected EPAS1 and PPARA genes were also involved in unique energy metabolisms in Tibetans. In this brief review, we take a look into genetic determinations to energy metabolisms for hypoxia adaptations traits in Tibetans and mal-adaptive conditions such as high altitude diseases.
Acclimatization ; genetics ; Altitude ; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Energy Metabolism ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; metabolism ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; Phenotype ; Tibet

OBJECTIVEThe main purpose of this work was to give the evidence of reasonable and feasible dust control measures which will be taken in the future by analyzing the trend of dust concentration from 1991 to 2010 and identifying working faces with the severe dust contamination in one underground iron mine.

METHODSThe data was from routine monitoring between the years 1991 and 2010, which enclosed the total dust concentrations and silica contents. China National Standard of Occupational exposure limits for hazardous agents in the workplace used to judge whether the dust concentration exceeded the National Standard.

RESULTSThe general trend of total dust concentration from 1991 to 2010 was decreased, especially maximum and average levels. The highest exceeding rate was 43.16% in 1993 and the best years were 2009 and 2010, but the exceeding rates were still over 30%. The dust exposure levels varied with different work faces. The mining and supporting were the most severe dust pollution faces which the highest ultra exceeding rates were 51.61% and 51.48% and the maximum exceeding times were 64.6 and 16.4 respectively. The next was constructing face with 40.23% exceeding rate and 24.6 times more than standard.

CONCLUSIONThe trend of total dust concentration from 1991 to 2010 was decreased, but the dust exceeding rate was still high. The strong measures should be taken to control the dust pollution in this iron mine, especially mining and supporting faces.

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Dust ; analysis ; Environmental Monitoring ; Iron ; analysis ; Mining ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo assess the clinical features and therapeutic efficacy of anterolateral thigh (ALT) flaps for the intraoral defects reconstruction.

METHODSThe clinicopathologic data of 67 cases with oral tumors were obtained from School of Stomatology, Nanjing University Medical Center from Dec. 2008 to Dec. 2010. All the patients underwent the simultaneous tumor resection and intraoral defects reconstruction with free anterolateral thigh flaps. The defects included the tongue, buccal, gingival, mouth floor, and so on. The descending branch of lateral femoral circumflex artery was anastomosed to the external maxillary artery or superior thyroid artery; the vein was anastomosed to the common facial vein or external jugular vein. The flaps were divided into three types: musculocutaneous ALT flap, fasciocutaneous ALT flap and thinned ALT flap.

RESULTSThere were 38 male patients and 29 female. The anterolateral thigh flaps included 35 musculocutaneous flaps, 17 fasciocutaneous flaps and 15 thinned flaps. The success rate was 98.5% (66/67). Partial necrosis happened in one case with diabetes, which healed after debridement and dressing. 1 flap was totally necrosis. Double venous anastomosis was performed in 41 flaps, and one venous anastomosis was performed in 26 flaps. 8 patients required operative exploration in the perioperative period including 6 flaps with thrombotic events (5 flaps were complete survival after the salvages, and 1 flap was failure) , 1 flap with hematoma, and 1 flap with twisting of perforator. The follow-up period ranged from 2 to 24 months( mean, 8.7 months). The result was satisfied. The donor sites were closed directly in all patients, and the wounds healed uneventfully.

CONCLUSIONSThe free anterolateral thigh flap is an ideal soft tissue flap for the intraoral defects reconstruction with good functional result at recipient area and less morbidity at the donor site.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Neoplasms ; surgery ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Thigh ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of the Tinnitus Evaluation Questionnaire (TEQ) in clinical application.

METHODSCronbach's α coefficient was used to examine the reliability of the TEQ internal consistency. Examined the re-measured reliability by the correlation coefficient by two doctors' 1 - 3 hours interval questionnaires' scores. And inspected criteria validity according to the correlation coefficient of the TEQ and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI).

RESULTSIn the 202 tinnitus patients, the TEQ Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.76 and re-measured reliability was 0.938. The THI correlation coefficient was 0.769. Among which, 99 patients feel tinnitus alleviated obviously after the treatment, the TEQ scores were significantly lower than that before the treatment (t = 21.42, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSThe TEQ reflects the severity of tinnitus completely, and has preferable reliability and validity. The characteristics are concise, practical and exact. It is worthy of clinical application.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reproducibility of Results ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tinnitus ; diagnosis ; Young Adult