Scleroglucan produced by Sclerotium spp. is a non-ionic polysacchari de biopolymer which has excellent viscosifying power in a wide variety of reservoi r brines snows high shear resistance and possesses good thermal stability. This article reviews the production of Scleroglucan , the influence of the conditions to the fermentation, and the application in the oil field.

AIM: To investigate the relationship among MCP-1 and monocyte chemoattract protein activity (MCA) and pathogenesis of lung cancer. METHODS: 173 patients were involved in the study and divided into three groups: group A: lung cancer group (60 patients); group B: benign lung disease group (55 patients) and group C: healthy control group (58 patients). MCP-1 level and MCA in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured. RESULTS: The concentration of MCP-1 and MCA in BALF in group A were much higher than those in group B and group C (P

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

BACKGROUNDA prospective 2-night polysomnographic (PSG) study in Chinese snorers was designed to assess the role of the first night effect (FNE) in PSG parameters and the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).

METHODSSeventy-two snorers from two teaching hospitals underwent overnight PSG on two consecutive nights. The night-to-night variability of PSG parameters were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTSSixty-six patients were analyzed. Among all the PSG parameters, only the total time of stage 2 presented a significant difference between two nights: 219.50 (83.50 - 353.50) vs. 215.25 (59.50 - 342.50) (P = 0.000). Subgroup assessment showed a slight night-to-night difference in about 1 - 2 parameters in the group with the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 20 events per hour as well as the group with AHI < 20 events per hour, but there was no night-to-night difference in the AHI in each group. And slighter FNE was found among patients ≥ 40 years old. There was no significant difference in diagnosis of OSAHS. In the decision of severity, a slight difference was found between the two nights with a Kappa value = 0.531.

CONCLUSIONSOnly mild FNE can be found on two consecutive nights of PSG in adult Chinese snorers, but it has no effect on the diagnosis of OSAHS. A single polysomnographic night may be adequate for the diagnosis of OSAHS.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polysomnography ; methods ; Prospective Studies ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; physiopathology ; Snoring ; physiopathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the methods and effects of secondary intervention for mid-long term complications of endovascular repair (EVR) in aortic diseases.

METHODSFrom May 1999 to Jun 2007, 21 patients with mid-long term complications after EVR were treated in our center. Of these cases, 15 cases received first EVR for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), 3 cases for thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) and 3 cases for aortic dissection (TAD). The mid-long term complications included 11 cases of type I endoleak, 4 cases of type II endoleak, 2 cases of type III endoleak and 4 cases of migration of stent grafts. Proximal or distal extensions were used for type I and III endoleak in 9 cases. Fenestrated, scallop and bifurcated stent grafts were used to reconstruct the aortic arch in 3 cases. Emboli technique was used in treating type II endoleak. Thrombectomy and bypass technique were used in 4 cases with stent graft limb occlusion. One ruptured AAA accepted open surgery.

RESULTSSecondary endovascular technique were undergone in 20 (95.2%) cases. One case died in 30 days after the secondary intervention and endoleak remained after the secondary operation in 5 cases. Three cases died of the secondary intervention.

CONCLUSIONSEndoleak and limb occlusion were the chief mid-long complications after EVR. Secondary endovascular technique can be used in most cases and carries great challenges in aortic arch lesions.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aortic Diseases ; surgery ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation ; adverse effects ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; adverse effects ; Treatment Outcome

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo summarize the change of bladder tumor cells in irrigating solution after partial cystectomy by 2 microm continuous wave laser.

METHODSFrom May 2008 to December 2008, a total of 30 patients of bladder cancer, the diameters of tumors from 0.5 to 3.0 cm. The diameter being regarded as the standard, patients were divided into two groups, 10 cases in group A (diameter < 2.0 cm) 20 cases in group B (diameter >or= 2.0 cm). The pre-operative pathologic histology diagnoses of all patients by biopsy were bladder urothelial carcinoma. Partial cystectomy by 2 microm continuous wave laser was given in operation. Due to the patients in group a with smaller tumors, the tumors were washed out of the bladder through the sheath of cystoscope directly. In group B, the larger tumors were cut into blocks by laser in the bladder, and washed out. After removing the tumors and debris, bladder irrigation was performed with about 150 ml solution for 5 times, then irrigating solution was centrifuged and numbered respectively before cellular pathology examination.

RESULTSIn group A, there were no tumor cells but epithelial cells and red blood cells could be seen in 8 cases. In the other 2 cases, a small amount of integrity and shape broken tumor cells could be seen in the No.1 and No.2 piece. There was no tumor cell in No.3, No.4, and No.5 pieces. In group B, tumor cells can be seen in No.1, No.2 and No.3 pieces in 14 cases, but cell density decreased gradually. There was no tumor cell in No.4, No.5 pieces, and tumor cells can be seen in No.1 to No.4 pieces for another 6 cases, and cell density also decreased gradually, there was no tumor cell in No.5 piece.

CONCLUSIONAfter the surgery, 5 times of bladder irrigation in all cases of partial cystectomy by 2 microm continuous wave laser can reduce the remnants of the bladder tumor cells effectively.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies ; Therapeutic Irrigation ; Treatment Outcome ; Urinary Bladder ; pathology ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery

This study was aimed to investigate the immunological effect of modified dendritic cells (DC) which inducing cytotoxic T cells (CTL) against lymphoma cells. The DC were isolated from the lymph node and peripheral blood of patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). DC were transfected with recombinant adenovirus vector carrying human p53 gene (rAd-p53-DC). The expression of p53 gene was detected by flow cytometry. Western-blot was used to detect the expression of P53. ELISA was used to detect IL-12 level in supernatant. The mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) was used to detect the proliferative ability of auto-lymphocyte stimulated by DC. The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release test was used to determine the cytotoxicity of CTL. The results indicates that the expressions of DC surface molecule (except for CD1a) such as CD83, CD80, CD86 and HLA-DR were significantly higher in experiment group than that in control group and blank control group. The secretion of IL-12 in supernatant was higher in experiment group than that in control group. The autologous T lymphocyte proliferation and cytotoxic activity against the same kind of DLBL-cells increased in experiment group as compared with control group and blank control group (P < 0.05). The ability to stimulate T lymphocyte proliferation increased with the rising of the ratio of DC and T lymphocyte. However, there was statistically significant difference between rAd-p53-DC derived from Lymph node and peripheral blood (P < 0.05). It is concluded that rAd-p53-transfected DC can induce CTL response in vitro against lymphoma cells.
Adenoviridae ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Genes, p53 ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; blood ; immunology ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility of MRI navigation in identifing the safe surgical margin of the maxillofacial malignancy.

METHODSThe pathology results of the surgical margin identified by the technique of MRI navigation form 20 patients with maxillofacial malignancy were compared with those of 45 patients with maxillofacial malignancy who underwent the routine operation without MRI navigation.

RESULTSThere was no difference between the two groups of patients in age, sex, size of tumor, tumor stages, pathologic diagnosis (P > 0.05). The negative rate of the surgical margin of the lesions treated by surgery with the technique of MRI navigation was significantly lower than that of the lesions treated without MRI navigation (P = 0.007) and highly correspondent with the pathology results.

CONCLUSIONSMRI navigation was helpful in identifying the safe surgical margin of the maxillofacial malignancy.

Aged ; Carcinoma ; pathology ; surgery ; Facial Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Interventional ; Male ; Maxillary Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Monitoring, Intraoperative ; methods ; Sarcoma ; pathology ; surgery ; Surgery, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Tumor Burden

OBJECTIVETo explore the changes of surface antigen and function of rituximab on dendritic cells derived from patients with Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) to further understand the effective mechanism of immunotherapy.

METHODSThe peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from remission patients with ITP before and after low-dose rituximab infusion, and the PMNCs were stimulated for 5 days by rhGM-CSF and rhlL-4 in 5% CO2 air at 37°C incubator. Then all of DCs were cultured with TNF-α for 48 hours. The morphology of DCs was monitored under inverted microscope daily, and the surface antigens of the DCs were analysed by flow cytometry, meanwhile the levels of IL-12p70 and TGF-β1 in supernatants were detected by ELISA, mix lymphocyte reaction was performed by MTT assay.

RESULTS(1) Rituximab-treated-DCs showed no obvious tree-like protruding compared with untreated-DCs. The former cells were small and most of nucleus were centric. (2) The expressions of HLA-DR, CD80, CD83 and CD86 on rituximab-treated-DCs \[56.37 ± 3.95)%, (36.41 ± 2.82)%, (30.45 ± 4.61)% and (41.98 ± 4.17)%, respectively\] were significantly lower than those untreated-DCs \[(73.71 ± 7.61)%, (55.14 ± 7.30)%, (80.91 ± 7.09)% and (59.03 ± 3.43)%, respectively\](all P < 0.05), the concentration of IL-12p70 was significantly lower, \[(66.87 ± 4.29)% vs (50.17 ± 14.52)%\], while that of TGF-β1 \[(9.70 ± 0.31)%\] higher than the untreated-DCs \[(2.70 ± 0.36)%\] (P < 0.05). (3) The abilities to activate T cells proliferation of rituximab-treated-DCs reduced compared with untreated-DCs.

CONCLUSIONThe surface antigen of ITP-DCs and the concentration of IL-12p70 reduced after the low-dose rituximab infusion. The abilities to activate T cells proliferation reduced while the concentration of TGF-β1 increased. Rituximab may achieve its therapeutic effect on ITP by downregulating the immunoreactivity of DCs.

Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; secretion ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-12 ; metabolism ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Male ; Rituximab ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Thrombocytopenia ; drug therapy ; immunology ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism