BACKGROUND: Since polymerase chain reaction(PCR) was devised by Saiki in 1985, it has been used extensively in various fields of molecular biology. Clinically, PCR is especially useful in situation when microbiological or serological diagnosis is limited by scanty amount of causative agents. Thus, PCR can provide rapid and sensitive way of detecting M. tuberculosis in tuberculosis pleurisy which is diagnosed in only about 60% of cases by conventional method. METHOD: To evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of PCR in tuberculosis pleurisy, The results of PCR was compared with those of conventional method, including pleural biopsy. The pleural effusion fluid was collected from 7 proven patients, 7 clinically suspected patients and control group(7 patients with malignant effusion). We extracted DNA from pleural fluid by modified method of Eisennach method(1991). The amplification target for PCR was 123 base pair DNA, a part of IS6110. RESULT: 1) Sensitivity of PCR: We detected upto 50fg DNA. 2) In patients with pleural effusion of proven tuberculosis, the positive rate of PCR was 85.7% (6/7). In patients with pleural effusion of clinically suspected tuberculosis, the positive rate was 71.5% (5/7). In control group, positive rate was 0% (0/7). CONCLUSION: We concluded that PCR methd could be a very rapid, sensitive and specific one for diagnosis of M tuberculosis in pleural effusion. Further studies should be followed for the development of easier method.
Base Pairing ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; DNA ; Humans ; Molecular Biology ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Pleural Effusion* ; Pleurisy ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tuberculosis

Objective To explore the CT findings of mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) of the tracheobronchial tree and improve the diagnostic accuracy. Methods The CT images, histopathological and clinical data in 24 patients with pathologically proved MEC of the tracheobroncbial tree were retrospectively analyzed. Results The clinical symptoms included cough, sputum, fever, wheezing, chest pain and hemoptysis. The patient was proved to be low-grade (n=19) and high-grade (n=5) MEC histopathologically. One lesion was located in trachea, 6 in main bronchus, 12 in lobar bronchus and 5 in segmental, subsegmental and distal bronchus. The tumor presented as no-invasive endotracheobronchial well-defined round-like nodule (n=13, locating in lobar and higher bronchus) and columnar sharp (n=3, locating in main bronchus), or intra-and-extraluminal well-defined round-like nodule or mass (n=6, locating in lobar and lower bronchus) and irregular mass with invasive pattern (n=2, high-grade type). The density of lesion was similar to the muscule and the calcification within lesion was showed in 4 patients on non-enhanced CT. The lesion had marked enhancement in 17 patients on enhanced CT. Obstructive changes were found in 20 patients. Conclusion MEC of the tracheobronchial tree is usually low-grade malignancy and locates in main and lobar bronchus with no-invasive well-defined airway mass, marked enhancement and calcification on CT.

In 1947, Liver described adenoid squamous cell carcinoma under the title of "adenoacanthoma of sweat gland". This tumor is not rare, but reported cases in literatures were relatively few. The tumor were frequently found in the sun-exposed skin; such as face, ear, neck etc.. The cases involving non-sun-exposed area, such as oral and labial mucosa, nosopharynx and vulva etc., were also reported. Therefore, the relation between the pathogenesis of adenoid squamous cell carcinoma and sun damage has been still debated. Immunohistochemical studies have recently suggested that this tumor is squamous cell carcinoma undergoing acantholysis. The authors experienced a case of adenoid squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva in a seventy-one year old female patient. She had suffered from itching sensation on vulva for 10 years, and palpable mass on vulva for 1 month. On gross examination, a pale gray pigmentation and erosion, was noted at the right labia major, the minor extending left labia major and minor. On microscopic examination, nests of atypical epithelial cells extending into the cornium showed an adenoid architecture. These were composed of a peripheral layers of cuboidal cell in a lacy pattern. And the glandular spaces contained dyskeratotic acantholytic tumor cells in central portion. Therefore we diagnosed this case as adenoid squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva.
Female ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo explore the analgesic mechanism of small knife needle for treating transverse process syndrome of the third vertebra (TPSTV) by observing peripheral and central changesof β-endorphin (β-EP) and enkephalin (ENK) contents.

METHODSTotally 30 Japanese white big-ear rabbits of clean grade were divided into 5 groups according to random digit table, i.e., the normal control group, the model group, the small knife needle group, the electroacupunture (EA) group, and the small knife needle plus EA group, 6 in each group. The TPSTV model was established by inserting a piece of gelatin sponge into the left transverse process of 3rd lumbar vertebrae. Rabbits in the small knife needlegroup were intervened by small knife needle. Those in the EA group were intervened by EA at bilateralWeizhong (BL40). Those in the small knife needle plus EA group were intervened by small knife needleand EA at bilateral Weizhong (BL40). Contents of β-EP and ENK in plasma, muscle, spinal cord, and hypothalamus were determined after sample collection at day 28 after modeling.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, contents of β-EP and ENK in plasma and muscle increased significantly, and contents of β-EP and ENK in spinal cord and hypothalamus decreased significantly in the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Contents of β-EP and ENK approximated normal levels in the three treatment groups after respective treatment. Compared with the model group, the content of β-EP in muscle decreased, and contents of β-EP and ENK in hypothalamus increased in the three treatment groups after respective treatment (P < 0.05). There were no significant difference among the three treatment groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSmall knife needle treatment and EA had benign regulation on peripheral and central β-EP and ENK in TPSTV rabbits. Small knife needle treatment showed better effect than that of EA.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Enkephalins ; metabolism ; Hypothalamus ; metabolism ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; pathology ; Muscle, Skeletal ; metabolism ; Needles ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Spinal Cord ; metabolism ; Spinal Diseases ; therapy ; beta-Endorphin ; metabolism

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Brain ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning ; diagnostic imaging ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

Objective To investigate the proper selection of methods of hepatic vascular control during(resection) of liver carcinoma.Methods Ninety-foury cases of liver carcinoma underwent hepatectomy using 4 different types of hapatic vascular control in our hospital.The operative time,amount of intraoperative blood loss,transfusion,and postoperative drainage,changes of postoperative liver function and complications were analyzed and compared between the 4 groups.Results Of the 94 cases,38(40.4%) underwent routine Pringle′s maneuver,34(36.2%) had selective hemihepatic vascular exclusion,18(19,1%) without(hepatic) inflow occlasion and 4(4.3%) had total vascular exclusion during hepatectomies.All tumors were entirely removed and operations were performed smoothly.Postoperative complications occurred 24 case-times and 2 patients(2.1%) died.Conclusions The selection of method of hepatic vascular control during(hepatectomy) for massive liver carcinoma should be comprehensively determined,based on the size and location of tumor,preoperative liver function,diffculty of hepatectomy and findings at intraoperative exploration.Proper method manner of hepatic vascular control is crucial for successful operation and uneventful recovery of the(patient).

Primary extracranial and extraspinal meningiomas are rare. Cases involving the orbit, skin, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, oral cavity and parotid gland have been reported. The histogenesis of primary extracranial meningioma is still nucertain, but it has been thought that this tumor originates from arachnoid cell rests in displaced during embryonal development. The authors observed a case of primary meningioma of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses occurring in a thirty-eight year old male patient in Feb. 1989. He suffered from bulging in the medio-superior portion of left orbit for 15 years, and left nasal obstruction and headache for 5 years, A head CT scan revealed numberous polypoid masses filling the left frontal sinus left ethmoidal sinus, left maxillary sinus and left nasal cavity. During the operation, a connection to the dura was not found. Microscopically, there were discrete lobules or netst of meningothelial cells, beneath the nasal mucosa. They showed an occasional whorling pattern and psammoma bodies. Therefore, this case was diagnosed as primary meningioma, meningotheliomatous type involving the left nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses.
Male ; Humans ; Meningioma

Objective To analyzed the treatment of intracranial aneurysms by mierosurgical clipping, endovascular embolization and embolization combined clipping therapy.In order to explore the ideal and effec- tive treatment plan of intracranial ruptured aneurysm.Methods The clipped group of 30 aneurysms.The embolized group of 34 aneurysms.The combined group of 15 aneurysms.Results Clipped group:All of aneurysms was clipped well,no recurrence,mortality 6%(2/30).Embolized Group:complete embolization rate 70.6%(24/34),recurrence rate 17.6%(6/34),mortality 11.8%(4/34).Combined group:no recur- rence,mortality 6.7%(1/15).All patients of three groups were evaluated by Glasgow Outcome Scale one month later and the rate of recovery well was 80.0%,79.4%and 80.0%.Following up for six months the data were 90.0%,88.2%and 86.7%.Conclusion Microsurgical clipping aneurysm(?)neck is still an ef- fective therapy.Meanwhile it has an absolute advantage of high completely cure rate and low recurrence rate, furthermore it is an available remediation method for those cases that failure of embolization,and for those re- currence aneurysms that have been embolized,microsurgical clipping should be,taken as soon as possible in case of aneurysms re-ruptured.For the patients the aneurysms are narrow shape,irregular shape,small(≤3 nun)or with cerebral hematomas microsurgical clipping is a fitting choice.

OBJECTIVETo study association of uridine-diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase1A1 (UGT1A1) Gly71Arg, UGT1A1 promoter TATA-box and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) gene mutations with the occurrence of neonatal unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia.

METHODSThe TATA-box, exon 1 and exon 5 of the UGT1A1 gene and the exon 12 of G6PD gene were amplified by PCR. The products of PCR were analyzed by direct DNA sequencing. Clones for the mutations of the UGT1A1 gene and the G6PD gene were constructed in order to identify the results of the products of PCR. Seventy-two neonates with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia (case group) and 65 healthy neonates (control group) were enrolled. The genotypes and allele frequencies of the polymorphisms of UGT1A1 Gly71Arg and UGT1A1 TATA-box were compared between the two groups. The effects of UGT1A1 Gly71Arg, UGT1A1 promoter TATA-box and G6PD gene mutations on the development of neonatal unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia were estimated using logistic regression models.

RESULTSThere were significant differences in the genotype distribution of Gly71Arg polymorphism of UGT1A1 gene between the case and control groups (P<0.01). The Arg allele frequency of the polymorphisms of UGT1A1 gene in the case group was significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.01). There were no significant differences in the genotype distribution of the UGT1A1 promoter TATA-box between the two groups (P>0.05). The OR and 95%CI values of UGT1A1 Gly71Arg, UGT1A1 TATA-box and G6PD gene mutations associated with the development of neonatal unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia were 5.468 (2.274, 12.818), 0.688 (0.266, 1.778) and 5.081 (1.070, 24.133) respectively.

CONCLUSIONSUGT1A1 Gly71Arg and G6PD gene mutations may be involved in the development of neonatal unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia.

Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase ; genetics ; Glucuronosyltransferase ; genetics ; Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia, Neonatal ; etiology ; genetics ; Infant, Newborn ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; TATA Box

BACKGROUNDAntioxidants and the duration of treatment after noise exposure on hearing recovery are important. We investigated the protective effects of an antioxidant substance, edaravone, and its slow-release dosage form, edaravone solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), in steady noise-exposed guinea pigs.

METHODSSLNs loaded with edaravone were produced by an ultrasound technique. Edaravone solution or edaravone SLNs were administered by intratympanic or intravenous injection after the 1 st day of noise exposure. Guinea pigs were exposed to 110 dB sound pressure level (SPL) noise, centered at 0.25-4.0 kHz, for 4 days at 2 h/d. After noise exposure, the guinea pigs underwent auditory brainstem response (ABR) threshold measurements, reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected in their cochleas with electron spin resonance (ESR), and outer hair cells (OHCs) were counted with silvernitrate (AgNO 3 ) staining at 1, 4, and 6 days.

RESULTSThe ultrasound technique was able to prepare adequate edaravone SLNs with a mean particle size of 93.6 nm and entrapment efficiency of 76.7%. Acoustic stress-induced ROS formation and edaravone exerted a protective effect on the cochlea. Comparisons of hearing thresholds and ROS changes in different animal groups showed that the threshold shift and ROS generation were significantly lower in treated animals than in those without treatment, especially in the edaravone SLN intratympanic injection group.

CONCLUSIONSEdaravone SLNs show noticeable slow-release effects and have certain protective effects against noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).

Animals ; Antipyrine ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Ear, Inner ; drug effects ; injuries ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced ; prevention & control ; Lipids ; chemistry ; Nanoparticles ; chemistry ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism