Calcinosis ; complications ; Decalcification Technique ; Humans ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; complications ; Meningioma ; complications ; Specimen Handling ; methods ; Ultrasonics

Objective To explore the predictive value of serum CEA and cytokeratin-19 fragments (CYFRA21-1)prior treatment for the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation and efficacy of tyrosine kinase inhibitors ( TKI ) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.Methods The study was a clinical research.Totally 101 matched tissue and plasma samples were collected from Peking University People′s Hospital from 2012 to 2013.All clinical specimens were analyzed for EGFR mutations in exons of 18, 19, 20 and 21 by ADx-ARMS and direct sequencing, and the serum levels of CEA and CYFRA21-1 were analyzed by ECLI.The correlation between EGFR mutant status and efficacy of EGFR-TKI and clinicopathological parameters were analyzed by χ2 test, Log-rank text and Cox proportional hazards regression model.Results The mutation rate was 60.4%(61/101) by ADx-ARMS and 33.7%(34/101) by direct sequencing.Mutations were more frequently observed in the higher serum CEA level patients(≥5μg/L,78.8%).However, the rates of EGFR mutations of different CEA levels were similar.Among the patients receiving TKI therapy, the efficacy of EGFR-TKI was closely related to serum CYFRA21-1 level prior treatment and EGFR mutation (χ2 =8.903, P =0.003; χ2 =28.590, P <0.001 ).And serum CYFRA21-1 level prior treatment and EGFR mutation were independent factors for EGFR-TKI treatment affecting PFS (RR=0.298, P<0.001;RR=0.086, P<0.001).Conclusion The mutation rate of EGFR was significantly related with the expression level of CEA prior treatment, and serum CEA and CYFRA21-1 levels prior treatment could be potential predictors of EGFR-TKI efficacy.

Objective:To investigate the prognostic value of preoperative red blood cell distribution width (RDW) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 1 025 HCC patients who were admitted to three medical centers (586 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 248 in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University and 191 in the Qinghai University Affiliated Hospital) between April 2002 and August 2017 were collected. There were 809 males and 216 females, aged (54±11)years, with a range from 16 to 83 years. The average coefficient of variation of RDW (RDW-CV) of 1 025 patients was 14.3%. Of 1 025 patients, 347 cases had high RDW of RDW-CV >14.3%, and 678 had low RDW of RDW-CV ≤14.3%. Observation indicators: (1) clinico-pathological data of HCC patients; (2) influencing factors for prognosis of HCC patients; (3) follow-up and survival. (4) stratified analysis of independent influencing factors. Follow-up was performed by outpatient examination, telephone interview or internet interview to detect postoperative survival of patients up to October 2017. Measurment data with normal distribution were represented as Mean±SD, and measurment data with skewed distribution were described as M (range). Count data were described as absolute numbers, and comparison between groups was analyzed using the chi-square test. The Graphpad Prism 7.0 was used to draw survival curves, and Log-rank test was used for survival analysis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using the COX proportional hazard model. Results:(1) Clinicopathological data of HCC patients: cases with age ≤70 years or >70 years, cases without cirhhosis or with cirhhosis , cases of Child-Pugh grade A or Child-Pugh grade B or C, cases with the level of alpha fetoprotein (AFP) ≤200 μg/L or >200 μg/L, cases with single tumor or multiple tumors were 313, 34, 152, 186, 161, 53, 158, 143, 186, 109 for high RDW patients, versus 641, 37, 359, 310, 415, 48, 367, 227, 547, 131 for low RDW patients, respectively, showing significant differences in above indicators between the two groups ( χ2=6.709, 6.787, 23.906, 7.114, 34.375, P<0.05). (2) Influencing factors for prognosis of HCC patients: results of univariate analysis showed that age, Child-Pugh grade, AFP, RDW-CV, tumor diameter, the number of tumors were related factors for prognosis of patients ( hazard ratio=1.388, 1.432, 1.534, 1.455, 2.813, 1.505, 95% confidence interval as 1.004-1.920, 1.086-1.887, 1.263-1.864, 1.211-1.748, 2.293-3.450, 1.173-1.932, P<0.05 ). Results of multivariate analysis showed that age, RDW-CV, tumor diameter and the number of tumors were independent factors for prognosis of patients ( hazard ratio=1.020, 1.340, 2.427, 1.438, 95% confidence interval as 1.007-1.032, 1.027-1.749, 1.801-3.272, 1.057-1.956, P<0.05). (3) Follow-up and survival: 1 025 patients were followed up for 1-124 months, with a median follow-up time of 25 months. The median survival time was 23 months for high RDW patients, versus 44 months for low RDW patients, showing a significant difference in the overall survival between the two groups ( χ2=11.640, P<0.05). (4) Stratified analysis of independent influencing factors: the results of stratified analysis of 3 independent influencing factors including age, tumor diameter and the number of tumors showed that in the 954 patients with age ≤70 years, the median survival time was 25 months for high RDW patients, versus 48 months for low RDW patients, showing a significant difference in the overall survival between the two groups ( χ2=14.030, P<0.05). In the 71 patients with age >70 years, the median survival time was 11 months for high RDW patients, versus 29 months for low RDW patients, showing no significant difference in the overall survival between the two groups ( χ2=0.933, P>0.05). In the 459 patients with tumor diameter ≤5 cm, the median survival time was 44 months for high RDW patients, versus 76 months for low RDW patients, showing a significant difference in the overall survival between the two groups ( χ2=8.660, P<0.05). In the 487 patients with tumor diameter >5 cm, the median survival time was 14 months for high RDW patients, versus 18 months for low RDW patients, showing no significant difference in the overall survival between the two groups ( χ2=2.950, P>0.05). In the 733 patients with single tumor, the median survival time was 20 months for high RDW patients, versus 48 months for low RDW patients, showing a significant difference in the overall survival between the two groups ( χ2=13.530, P<0.05). In the 240 patients with multiple tumors, the median survival time was 15 months for high RDW patients, versus 20 months for low RDW patients, showing a significant difference in the overall survival between the two groups ( χ2=6.820, P<0.05). Conclusions:Preoperative RDW can be used as a predictive index for prognosis of HCC patients, and patients with high RDW have poorer prognosis. RDW have better predictive value in patients with age ≤70 years or tumor diameter ≤5 cm.

The fertility potential of infertile men can be enhanced to a great extent by the application of assisted reproduction techniques such as intrauterine insemination or in-vitro fertilization with or without intracytoplasmic sperm injection, but how to obtain semen from men with ejaculatory dysfunction remains a problem. The development and refinement of penile vibratory stimulation (PVS) and electroejaculation (EEJ) have significantly brightened the prospects for the treatment of ejaculatory dysfunction. Because vibratory stimulation is non-invasive and easy to perform, and needs no anaesthesia, it is preferred by most of the patients to EEJ, and recommended to be the first choice of treatment for ejaculatory dysfunction. Approximately 80% of all ejaculatory dysfunction men with an intact ejaculatory reflex arc (above T10 ) can obtain antegrade ejaculation by PVS. Any condition which affects the ejaculatory mechanism of the central and/or peripheral nervous system including surgical nerve injury may be treated successfully by EEJ. The purpose of this review is to present the current understanding of PVS and EEJ procedures and their clinical use in men with ejaculatory dysfunction.
Ejaculation ; Electric Stimulation Therapy ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; therapy ; Male ; Vibration ; therapeutic use

Objective:To investigate the difference between simple posterior interbody fixation and fusion and posterior interbody fixation combined with focus debridement and bone graft fusion for the treatment of mono- and bi-segmental lumbar brucella spondylitis.Methods:A total of 63 patients (42 males and 21 females), aged 50.9±8.18 years (range from 38 to 69 years) with mono- and bi-segmental lumbar brucella spondylitis who received surgical treatment from June 2014 to Feb 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 44 cases of mono-segmental and 19 cases of bi-segmental. Thirty-one cases were treated with single posterior interbody fixation and fusion (PIFF group), and 32 caseswere treated with posterior interbody fixation combined with focus debridement and bone graft fusion (debridement group). The main observation indicators include operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative medication time, Visual Analogue Scale(VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), Frankel score and clinical efficacy.Results:All of 63 patients were followed up for 27.16±6.07 months (range 15 to 38 months). The operation time of mono-segmental patients of PIFF group was 105.86±16.66 min,the intraoperative blood loss was 295.00±55.11 ml, and the postoperative hospitalization was 4.45±1.53 days, which was significantly shorter than debridement group ( P<0.001), while the postoperative medication time was without significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05). The opration time of bi-segmental patients of PIFF group was 150.33±26.29 min, the intraoperative blood loss was 242.05±50.56 ml, and the postoperative hospitalization was 4.56±1.50 days, which was significantly shorter than debridement group ( P<0.001), while the postoperative medication time was also without significant difference between the two groups. At the last follow-up time, the VAS scores and ODI values of mono- and bi-segments in PIFF group and debridement group were lower than those preoperation, but there was no significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference in CRP between mono-segments of PIFF group and debridement group at the preoperation, 3 months after operation and the last follow-up time ( P>0.05). The CRP in mono-segments of PIFF group and debridement group decreased at 3 months after the operation compared with that preoperation, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.001). There was no significant difference in CRP between bi-segments of PIFF group and debridement group at 3 months after operation and the last follow-up time ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference in ESR between mono- and bi-segments of PIFF group and debridement group at 3 months after operation and the last follow-up time ( P>0.05). There was significant difference in ESR between mono- and bi-segments of PIFF group and debridement group at the preoperation, 3 months after operation and the last follow-up time. There was no statistical difference in the proportion of excellent postoperative clinical efficacy between the two groups. Complications were observed in two patients in PIFF group (6.5%, 2/31) compared with 8 patients in debridement group (25%, 8/32, χ2=4.057, P=0.044). Conclusion:On the basis of standardized anti-brucella drug therapy, simple posterior interbody fixation and fusion for the treatment of brucella spondylitis has a satisfactory surgical effect, and has the advantages of less surgical trauma, shorter time, earlier postoperative movement time and fewer complications.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality.The aim of the current study was to determine the risk factors for AKI in patients undergoing OLT.A total of 103 patients who received OLT between January 2015 and May 2016 in Tongji Hospital,China,were retrospectively analyzed.Their demographic characteristics and perioperative parameters were collected,and AKI was diagnosed using 2012 Kidney Disease:Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) staging criteria.It was found that the incidence of AKI was 40.8％ in this cohort and AKI was significantly associated with body mass index,urine volume,operation duration (especially ＞ 480 min),and the postoperative use of vasopressors.It was concluded that relative low urine output,long operation duration,and the postoperative use of vasopressors are risk factors for AKI following OLT.

Objective To study the changes in coagulation factors stored for different lengths of time after fresh frozen plasma(FFP)thawing.Methods Thirty-two samples of thawed FFP were detected by an automated coagulation analyzer SYSMEX CA-1500 to observe the changes in coagulation function and coagulation factors stored for different lengths of time at 4℃.Results Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) was significantly prolonged 12 hours after thawing.However, no significant changes were observed in prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time (TT) or fibrinogen (FIB).Coagulation factors showed varying degrees of attenuation in 24 hours.FⅤ, FⅦ and FⅧ were attenuated significantly in 6 hours by 17.2%, 9.47% and 12.5%, respectively.FⅨ began to attenuate in 12 hours and reached, the lowest rate of 21.1%, while FⅧ had the highest attenuation rate (52.0%) and showed the lowest stability.Conclusion The activity of coagulation factors is decreased with time after FFP thawing ,so it should be transfused as soon as possible to ensure the curative effect and clinical application.

ObjectiveTo establish the methodology for identification of clinical isolates of Mycobacterium and to identify the distribution of Mycobacterium species in hospitalized patients with tuberculosis in Heilongjiang province.It would provide the basis for accurate diagnosis of infections with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and non-tuberculous Mycobacterium (NTM) as well as for effective therapy.Methods Three hundred and thirty Mycobacterium isolates from 330 tuberculosis patients hospitalized and clinically diagnosed in Harbin Chest Hospital from May 2007 to December 2008 were collected.Genomic DNA from the isolates was extracted after inactivation of Mycobacterium.Molecular identification was carried out using PCR,PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and sequencing.ResultsAmong 330 clinical isolates,328 were identified as MTB complex (MTBC),accounting for 99.4％ (328/330); 2 were NTM,accounting for 0.6％ (2/330).Among 328 MTBC isolates,326were MTB,one was Mycobacterium Africanum(M.African) and one was Mycobacterium microti(M,microti),accounting for 99.4％ (326/328),0.3％ (1/328) and 0.3％ (1/328),respectively.It was found that the homology between the two NTM isolates and Mycobacterium avium intracellulare (MAC)was 99％ and 93％,respectively,suggesting that the two NTM isolates were MAC.The homology between the two NTM isolates was 93％.ConclusionsPCR plus PCR-RFLP and sequencing provides an ideal method for precise identification of Mycobacterium species.In the clinically diagnosed tuberculosis patients,the predominant Mycobacterium species is MTB,however M.African,M.microti as well as NTM are also found.

OBJECTIVETo observe the spermicidal effect of alcohol extracts from different ratios of Sophora flavescens Ait/Chinese Bulbul in vitro.

METHODSSemen samples aseptically obtained by masturbation and prepared by density gradient centrifugation from 15 healthy men were incubated in the alcohol extracts from 9 different ratios of Sophora flavescens Ait/Chinese Bulbul for 20 seconds, 2 minutes and 4 minutes. Then the motility and movement parameters of the sperm were detected by computer-assisted semen analysis, and the minimal effective concentrations of the instant spermicidal effect of the extracts were determined.

RESULTSAt the ratio of 3:1, the extract at 0.5 mg/ml significantly inhibited the sperm motility and other sperm movement parameters VCL, VSL, VAP, ALH, WOB and MAD, as compared with the control group. The minimal effective concentration of the instant spermicidal effect of the extracts was 3.5 mg/ml at 3:1.

CONCLUSIONThe alcohol extracts from Sophora flavescens Ait and Chinese Bulbul at the ratio of 3:1 have the best spermicidal effect in vitro.

Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Pulsatilla ; Semen Analysis ; Sophora ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Spermatocidal Agents ; pharmacology ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of fluid shear stress on the eNOS gene expression and NO production in endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs).

METHODSThe peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy volunteers were inducted into EPCs and divided into stationary group (0 dyn/cm(2), 1 dyn/cm(2) = 0.1 Pa), low-flow shear stress group (5 dyn/cm(2)), medium-flow shear stress group (15 dyn/cm(2)) and high-flow shear stress group (25 dyn/cm(2)). The effects of shear stress on the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene expression and nitric oxide (NO) production in human EPCs were measured.

RESULTSTypical "spindle-shaped" appearance was shown in EPCs derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and were positively labeled by acetylated-LDL, lectin, FLK-1 and vWF. After 4 hours treatment with various shear stresses, the ratio of eNOS/beta-actin mRNA expression by human EPCs in low, medium and high-flow shear stress group was 0.364, 0.505 and 0.548 respectively, which was significantly higher than that in stationary group (0.183, all P < 0.05) and the NO secretion in human EPCs in low, medium and high-flow shear stress group was also significantly higher than that in stationary group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONFluid shear stress enhances the eNOS mRNA expression and NO secretion in human EPCs, therefore, shear stress could potentiate the repair efficacy of EPCs for endothelial injury.

Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; secretion ; Humans ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; genetics ; metabolism ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; secretion ; Stress, Mechanical