Objective To evaluate the specificity of Architect chemiluminescence immunoassay ( CLIA) for diagnosis of syphilis in the clinical screening test.Methods 65 774 syphilis specific antibody results in the Beijing Tongren Hospital were retrospectively analyzed.In this study, Architect CLIA for diagnosis of syphilis was used as a screening test for the pre-operative patients from August 2011 to July 2012.All the repeatedly reactive samples were tested by the tolulized red unheated serum test ( TRUST) and Treponema pallidum particle agglutination ( TPPA) assay.Samples with with discordant results were verified by western blot ( WB) Finally, all the results were statistically analyzed by software SPSS 17.0.Results Among 65 774 samples, 940 (1.43%) were found to be repeatedly reactive using the Architect CLIA.Of these sera, 330 ( 35.11%) were reactive and 610 ( 64.89%) were nonreactive by TRUST.Because a TRUST titer of 1:1was not always sufficient to confirm a TPPA reactive result, all the samples with CLIA reactive results were finally performed by TPPA assays.The results showed that 843 ( 89.68%) were positive and 97 (10.32%) were negative.After arbitrated by the WB, out of 97 TPPA negative sera, 18 (18.56%) were positive;7(7.22%) were indeterminate and 72(74.23%) were negative.Conclusions The specificity of Architect CLIA for diagnosis of syphilis was 99.89%.The results showed that confirmation by TPPA on sera with screening test for syphilis by Architect CLIA effectively decreased the false-positive results and could be suitable for a routine supplementary for syphilis.However, if necessary, the WB should be further utilized.

OBJECTIVE: To test cathepsin L as a biomarker of myocardial ischemia by examination of cathepsin L expression in plasma after myocardial ischemia and ischemia-reperfusion in rats. METHODS: The rat models were established and divided in acute myocardial ischemia model (myocardial ischemia 30 min, 1 h, 2 h groups), ischemia-reperfusion model (ischemia-reperfusion group), and isoflurane-pretreated ischemia-reperfusion model (isoflurane-pretreated group), respectively. Normal control group and sham-operated group were established as contrast. The contents of cathepsin L in plasma were examined by ELISA and myocardial infarction areas were measured after TTC staining. RESULTS: No statistical significant changes were found among the experimental groups compared with the normal control group and sham-operated group (P>0.05). The cathepsin L from the ischemia-reperfusion group increased to 2.37 times compared with the normal control group (P<0.05). The cathepsin L and myocardium infarction size of isoflurane-pretreated group decreased compared with the ischemia-reperfusion group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION The cathepsin L in plasma is not a promising biomarker of acute myocardial ischemia. Isoflurane preconditioning can reduce the cathepsin L in plasma caused by ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Animals ; Biomarkers/blood* ; Cathepsin L/analysis* ; Isoflurane ; Myocardial Infarction/metabolism* ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury/metabolism* ; Myocardium ; Rats

Adolescent ; Adult ; Burns, Chemical ; Eye Burns ; Fisheries ; Humans ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Injuries ; Young Adult

Objective:To investigate the relationship between T/N take-up value and the clinic feature of breast cancer, and explore the predictive ability of T/N take-up value for breast cancer prognosis.Methods:Breast cancer patients treated at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University and undergoing BSGI examination before surgery from Jan 2014 to Nov 2018 were collected. The relationship between T/N take-up value and the clinical features of breast cancer and DFS was analyzed.Results:A total of 419 breast cancer patients were collected. The median follow-up time after operation was 34 months. At the end of the follow-up, 43 cases relapsed and 376 cases did not. The average T/N values of CC position and MLO position before surgery were 2.74 and 2.58. The T/N value of CC is related to tumor stage (χ 2=22.077, P<0.05), lymph node metastasis ( Z=2.138, P<0.05) and degree of invasion ( Z=3.371, P<0.05). The T/N value of MLO is related to tumor stage (χ 2=23.091, P<0.05), lymph node metastasis ( Z=2.531, P<0.05) and degree of invasion ( Z=2.99, P<0.05). The best cut-off values of CC position and MLO position calculated by ROC curve are 2.59 and 2.97. Univariate analysis showed that tumor staging ( HR: 2.039, 95% CI: 1.404-2.962, P=0.001), T/N value at CC position ( HR: 4.349, 95% CI: 2.141-8.883, P<0.001) and T/N value at MLO position ( HR: 2.767, 95% CI: 1.520-5.039, P<0.001) is an independent risk factor for the prognosis of breast cancer. Multivariate COX regression analysis showed that tumor stage ( HR: 1.959, 95% CI: 1.302-2.946, P=0.001) and T/N value at MLO position ( HR: 3.498, 95% CI: 1.531-7.992, P=0.003) are independent risk factor of breast cancer prognosis. Conclusion:The BSGI T/N value has a certain correlation with breast cancer DFS.

Objective:To check RNA binding protein QKI-5's expression level in breast cancer cells and inhibiting effect on cancer cell proliferation.Methods:QKI-5's expression level was checked in different breast cancer cells by Western blotting,cancer cells of overexpressed QKI-5 gene could be stabilized by slow virus infection construction,MTT and FCM were used to check cell period to express QKI-5's influence on cell proliferation and period.Results:MCF-7 cells have relatively low QKI-5 expression level in three breast cancer cells,MTT experiment result has obvious reduced influence on QKI-5's expression of MCF-7 cell proliferation P＜0.05,mean-while,cell period inspection shows that overexpressed QKI-5's MCF-7 cells have obvious G1 retardant,cells in S and G2/M periods are reduced.Conclusion:High expression of QKI-5'in breast cancer could cause slow cell proliferation by inhibiting cancer cell period,hence causing limited tumor growth.

Objective:To explore the curative effect and safety of febuxosta for the patients with primary gout complicated with mild to moderate renal insufficiency.Methods:60 male patients with primary gout complicated with mild to moderate renal insufficiency were enrolled in the affiliated Hospital of integrated traditional Chinese and Westem Medicine,Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from January 2015 to August 2016 and randomly divided into two groups,the control group (n=30) was treated by allopurinol,and the study group (n=30) was treated by febuxosta treatment.The blood uric acid (BUA) and hepatorenal function were compared in the treatment period,and the incidence of adverse reactions and the recurrence of gout in post-treatment were compared.Results:At 1,2 and 3 month after treatment,the serum level of BUN in the study group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P＜0.05).The renal function of all patients were significantly improved compared with pre-treatment (P＜0.05),but the no significant difference was found between two groups at the same time(P＞0.05).The control group showed the adverse reactions with limb discomfort,drowsiness,nausea,abdominal distension,diarrhea and itch of skin,and the study group showed limb discomfort,drowsiness and abdominal distension,and one patients presenting allergic skin rash and discontinuation of allopurinol.The total incidence of adverse reactions in the study group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P＜0.05).Conclusions:Febuxosta could effectively and safely decrease the blood uric acid levels and improve the renal function of patients with primary gout complicated with mild to moderate renal insufficiency.

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics,diagnosis,treatment and outcome of patients with cardiac amyloidosis (CA).Methods Clinical data from 18 patients diagnosed as CA by endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) from 1995 to 2005 were retrospectively analyzed.Results Among the 18 patients with CA,all patients had reduced diastolic dysfunction; 12 had mitral valve early diastolic blood flow peak velocity/late diastolic blood flow peak velocity (E/A) ＞ 2.0 and ventricular diastolic early filling deceleration time (DT) ＜ 150 ms; 12 had left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ＜50％ ; and 13 had New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification Ⅲ or Ⅳ.The 1-year,3-year and 5-year survival rates of 18 patients with CA were 67％,44％ and 17％,respectively.Kaplan-Meier analysis showed,NYHA functional class ＞ Ⅱ,E/A ＞ 2.0 and DT ＜ 150 ms were associated with increased mortality (log-rank statistic P =0.026 and 0.001,respectively).CA patients with chemotherapy before heart failure were associated with decreased mortality and extend survival.Conclusions The mortality rate goes up and survival rate gradually descends as prolonged onset time.NYHA functional class ＞ Ⅱ and E/A ＞ 2.0 (DT ＜150 ms) are associated with mortality.

Objective To investegate the effect of ginsenoside Rg1 on the apoptosis related protein FLICE-inhibitory protein(FLIP),Fas-associated death domain protein (FADD)and Caspase-3 in the subatania nigra(SN)of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahyd-ropyridine (MPTP)-induced mouse models of Parkinson’s disease(PD), and to investigate the role of FADD and FLIP in the pathogenesis of PD and the protective effect of ginsenosides Rg1 on dopaminergic neurons.Methods 45 C57BL/6N mice were randomly divided into control group,model group and ginsenoside Rg1 group (n=15).The mice in model group were injected with MPTP by intraperitoneal,the mice in Rg1 group were injected with ginsenoside Rg1 before injecting MPTP,and the mice in control group were injected with normal saline by intraperitoneal. The behavioral changes of the mice in various groups were observed, and immunohistochemistry and Western blotting methods were used to observe the expressions of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH),FADD,FLIP and Caspase-3 in substantia nigra of the mice.Results Compared with control group,the mice in model group presented with typical symptoms of PD, the TH-positive neurons in the subatania nigra was significantly reduced (P<0.01 ), the number of FADD, FLIP and Caspase-3 positive cells was significantly increased(P<0.01),and the cytoplasm was deeply stained;the protein expression levels of FADD,FLIP and Caspase-3 were significantly increased (P<0.01).Compared with model group,the PD symptoms of the mice in ginsenoside Rg1 group reduced, the number of TH-positive neurons was significantly increased, the number of positive cells of FLIP,FADD and Caspase-3 were significantly reduced(P<0.01),and the cytoplasm was lightly stained;the protein expression levels of FADD, FLIP and Caspase-3 were significantly reduced (P<0.01 ). Nonlinear correlation analysis found that there was a positive relationship between the number of FADD and Caspase-3 positive cells (r=0.791,P<0.05).Conclusion Ginsenoside Rg1 may play a neural protective effect dopaminergic on neurons by modulating the FADD and FLIP expressions in SN of PD model mice.

Objective To evaluate the association between 8 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF ) gene and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD ) in Shaanxi Han population.Methods We examined the potential association between AD and 8 SNPs of VEGF gene using the MassARRAY system.The participants enrolled in this study included 214 patients with AD and 249 healthy controls from Shaanxi Han population.SPSS16.0 and Haploview 4.2 were employed to analyze differences in genotypes, alleles and haplotypes between the two groups.Results The results showed that rs3025039 (3’UTR)were significantly associated with AD (P<0.05).Greater frequency of rs3025039 T allele (P=0.008,OR=1.527,95%CI=1.116-2.088)was found in AD subjects.Furthermore,strong linkage disequilibrium (LD)was observed in 2 locks (block1:rs699947-rs1570360-rs2010963;block 2:rs3024997-rs3024998-rs3025006)(D’>0.9).There were no significant haplotypes in block 1 and block 2 (P=0.034)found between the patients and controls.Conclusion These findings point to the role for VEGF gene polymorphisms (rs3025039)in AD of a Shaanxi Han population. Individuals with T allele of rs3025039 may be at a higher risk for AD.

ABSTRACT:Objective To study the effect of curcumin on the learning and memory ability in a rat model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).Methods AD rat model was prepared using intraventricular injection of Aβ1-42. Curcumin was acutely (single injection before the behavioral tests)or chronically (injected for 6 consecutive days) injected intraperitoneally at doses of 50,100 or 300 mg/kg.Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)protein (1 μg/side)or BDNF shRNA (2×10 5 units/side)was infused into the hippocampus.The behavioral changes in Y-maze,open field test and Morris water maze and the expression of BDNF in the hippocampus were analyzed. Results Acute treatment with curcumin had no significant effects on the spontaneous alteration,locomotor activity or water maze latency of AD rats.AD rats treated chronically with curcumin (300 mg/kg ) showed significant elevation in the spontaneous alternation (P <0.000 1)in Y-maze and memory ability in the water maze test (P <0.05 )compared with those in the saline group.Chronic treatment with 100 and 300 mg/kg of curcumin induced an increased level of BDNF in the hippocampus as compared with the saline controls (P <0.05 and <0.000 1). Intrahippocampal injection of BDNF significantly decreased the escape latency of AD rats in the water maze (F 4,2 9 5=5.813,P <0.01 ).Rats chronically injected with curcumin combined with shBDNF showed no difference in the swimming time in Ⅱ quadrant as compared with saline controls (P =0.657).However,rats in 100 mg/kg curcumin group,BDNF group and sham group had significantly increased swimming time than the saline controls (P <0.05, P <0.05 and P <0.000 1,respectively).Conclusion Curcumin may activate the downstream signaling pathways by upregulating the expression of BDNF and ultimately contribute to the improvement of learning and memory in AD rats.