To provide the basis for preparation of diagnostic kits and vaccines in Toxoplasma gondii infection, the gene coding for the qualified recombinant p30 protein (SAG1) of this parasite was amplified by PCR, and the amplified gene was cloned into prokaryotic expression vector pET-30a(+) to construct the recombinant plasmid, and then transformed to E.coli DH5α. The positive recombinant plasmid was screened by PCR and double enzymes digestion, and the nucleotide sequence of p30 gene was determined by automated DNA sequencing. Meanwhile, the identified recombinant plasmid was transformed to E.coli BL21(DE3) with the expression of p30 on bacteria induced by IPTG and the expressed protein was identified by SDS-PAGE. The protein obtained was then further purified and refolded, and its biological activity was checked by Western blotting. It was shown that the size of the amplified gene was 750 bp with molecular weight of 30 ku, and this protein could specifically react with monoclonal antibody against p30 protein.

Objective To explore the MRI finding of female normal levator ani muscle and the levator ani muscle injuries and to evaluate the correlation between childbirth and levator ani muscle injuries. Methods One hundred asymptomatic nulliparous women(control group)and 200 vaginally primiparous women(study group)were selected as the object of this study.Moreover,the study group was divided into two subgroups:group A(100 cases)with stress incontinence,group B(100 cases)without clinical symptoms.Multiplanar proton density magnetic resonance images were obtained at 0.5 cm intervals from these study individuals.All images were used to analyze the differentiation of MRI features between normal levator ani muscle and levator ani muscle injuries.Results No levator ani injuries were identified in the control group.Fifty-four primiparous women(27%)had visible injuries in their levator ani muscles,42 in group A and 12 in group B.Injuries were identified in the puborectalis muscle in 49 cases and in the iliococeygeus muscle in 5 cases(X~2=41.447,P

ObjectiveTo study the role and mechanism of resisitin in prophylactic and therapeutic treatments of rosiglitazone,a specific peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ(PPARγ) ligand,in rats with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and pancreatitis-associated pulmonary injury.MethodsThe levels of amylase ( AMY ),Resistin,TNF-α,IL-1 β and C reactive protein (CRP) in blood plasma,lung myeloperoxidase ( MPO ) activity,pancreas/body weight ratio and lung wet/dry weight ratio were evaluated.Pancreatic and pulmonary pathology were observed.The expression of resistin in pancreas was detected byimmunohistochemistry.The gene expression of resistin mRNA was investigated by real-time PCR.ResultsBoth prophylactic and therapeutic treatments with rosiglitazone could obviously ameliorate the levels of AMY,resistin,TNF-αt,IL-1β and CRP ( all P ＜ 0.01 ).Compared with the control group,both prophylactic and therapeutic treatment groups were higher( all P ＜ 0.01 ).The prophylactic treatment group was not different from the therapeutic treatment group.Both prophylactic and therapeutic treatments with rosiglitazone could significantly reduce pancreas/body weight ratio,pancreatic pathology,MPO,pulmonary pathology ( all P ＜ 0.01 ).Compared with the SAP group,the expression of resistin mRNA in the prophylactic and therapeutic treatment groups were obviously decreased.ConclusionRosiglitazone could obviously ameliorate pancreatitis and pulmonary injury induced by L-arginine.

No abstract available.
Colon* ; Lymphangioma, Cystic*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of the CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy for the solitary pulmonary nodules smaller than 15 mm in diameter. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between April 2002 and May 2003, we evaluated twenty-five patients (11 men, 14 women, mean ages: 52.5 years) who had solitary pulmonary nodules, which we could not discriminate as being benign or malignant on the CT findings. All the subjects had CT-guided percutaenous cutting needle biopsy (PCNB) performed on them at our institution. A definitive diagnosis of benignity or malignancy was established to retrospectively analyze the patient's records. We evaluated the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and complications of PCNB for the definitive diagnosis of benignity or malignancy. The sensitivity and specificity of PCNB were determined using the Chi-square test, and the correlations with pneumothorax and emphysema after biopsy were analyzed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. RESULTS: In two nodules of the twenty-five nodules, no definitive diagnosis could be established. Of the remaining twenty-three nodules, 7 (30.4%) were malignant and 16 (69.6%) were benign. Twenty (87%) of the twenty-three definitively diagnosed nodules were correctly diagnosed with PCNB. Of the twenty nodules, 6 (30%) were malignant and 14 (70%) were benign. The sensitivity and specificity of the malignant nodules were 85.7% (6/7) and 100% (16/16), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the benign nodules were 87.5% (14/16) and 85.7% (6/7), respectively. Post-biopsy complication occurred in nine patients (36%): Hemoptysis (n=4, 16%) and pneumothorax (n=5, 20%). However, there was not a statistical significance between pneumothorax and emphysema after biopsy (r=0.3, p=0.15). CONCLUSION: When CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy of the solitary pulmonary nodules smaller than 15 mm in diameter was performed without an on-site cytopathologist, we know that PCNB can yield high diagnostic accuracy and very few complications.
Biopsy ; Biopsy, Needle* ; Diagnosis ; Emphysema ; Female ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Needles* ; Pneumothorax ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule*

AIM To explore the curative effects,adverse events,effects on immunity function and cost-effectiveness of Aiyu Capsules (Cremastrae pseudobulbus,Solanum lyratum,Angelicae sinensis Radix,etc.) or Fufang Banmao Capsules (Mylabris,Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma,Astragali Radix,etc.) combined with icotinib hydrochloride in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC).METHODS One hundred and sixty patients with advanced NSCLC were randomly divided into three groups.The patients in icotinib hydrochloride group (n =80) took icotinib hydrochloride,125 mg each time,three times a day;the patients in Aiyu Capsules + icotinib hydrochloride group or Fufang Banmao Capsules + icotinib hydrochloride group were treated with Aiyu Capsules (40 cases,three pills each time,three times a day) or Fufang Banmao Capsules (40 cases,one pill each time,three times a day) combined with icotinib hydrochloride (125 mg each time,three times a day),respectively.Curative effects,adverse events,serum tumor markers,dendritic cell subsets and cost-effectiveness among the three groups were compared.RESULTS Eight weeks after the treatment,effective rates in the Aiyu Capsules + icotinib hydrochloride group (82.50％) and Fufang Banmao Capsules + icotinib hydrochloride group (97.5％) were significantly higher than that in the icotinib hydrochloride group (73.5％) (P ＜ 0.05).Six-month survival rates in the icotinib hydrochloride group,Aiyu Capsules + icotinib hydrochloride group and Fufang Banmao Capsules + icotinib hydrochloride group were 93.7％,97.5％ and 97.5％,respectively;one-year survival rates in the three groups were 53.7％,72.5％ and 75.0％,respectively;two-year survival rates in the three groups were 20.0％,37.5％ and 40.0％,respectively.One-year,two-year survival rates in the Aiyu Capsules + icotinib hydrochloride group and Fufang Banmao Capsules + icotinib hydrochloride group were significantly higher than those in the icotinib hydrochloride group (P ＜ 0.05).Myeloid dendritic cell (mDC) subsets' increases (d8week-d1) in the Aiyu Capsules + icotinib hydrochloride group and Fufang Banmao Capsules + icotinib hydrochloride group were significantly higher than that in the icotinib hydrochloride group (P ＜ 0.05).There was no statistical significance in plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC) subsets' change among the three groups (P ＞ 0.05).Changes of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA),cytokeratin-19-fragment (CYFRA21-1),neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in the Aiyu Capsules + icotinib hydrochloride group and Fufang Banmao Capsules + icotinib hydrochloride group were higher than those in the icotinib hydrochloride group (P ＜ 0.05).Treatment costs in the Aiyu Capsules + icotinib hydrochloride group and Fufang Banmao Capsules + icotinib hydrochloride group were significantly lower than that in the icotinib hydrochloride group (P ＜ 0.05).No obvious statistical difference in adverse events was found among the three groups (P ＞ 0.05).CONCLUSION The curative effects and cost-effectiveness of Aiyu Capsules or Fufang Banmao Capsules combined with icotinib hydrochloride are better than those of icotinib hydrochloride alone in the treatment of advanced NSCLC.

The traditional treatment of splenic artery aneurysm (SAA) is generally surgery and/or transcatheter arterial embolization, but recently, the treatment of SAA using a stent graft has been reported. However, the acute angle of the celiac axis, as well as the tortuous path of the splenic artery makes the use of stent graft difficult for treatment of aneurysms. We report here a case of SAA treated with the technique of double overlapping metallic stents.
Aneurysm* ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis ; Splenic Artery* ; Stents*

We report a case of multiple myeloma with gastric involvement occurring in a patient who underwent an upper gastrointestinal series (UGIS), CT and MRI. UGIS depicted a luminal protruding mass, while contrast-enhanced CT demonstrated marked thickening of the gastric wall, with subtle contrast enhancement. At T1- and T2-weighted MR imaging, the mass showed iso- and intermediate signal intensity, respectively. After the administration of contrast material, subtle homogeneous enhancement was apparent.
Case Report ; Contrast Media/administration & dosage ; Human ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Age ; Multiple Myeloma/pathology/*radiography ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology/*radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

An asymptomatic 26-year-old man was initially admitted with a suspicious mediastinal mass. On the basis of the contrast-enhanced chest CT findings, aneurysm formation involving the left cervical aortic arch associated with subaortic left innominate vein was diagnosed. The aneurysm was confirmed by MR angiography and DSA. The arch aneurysm was surgically removed. We describe this case, and review the literature.
Adult ; Aneurysm* ; Angiography ; Aorta, Thoracic* ; Brachiocephalic Veins* ; Humans ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Expression of HLA class Ⅱ antigens(HLA-DR, DQ and DP), interleukin2 receptors(IL-2R) and transferrin receptors(TfR) of blood monocytes from 10 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes meIlitus (IDDM) were assayed with the indirect immune fluorescence technique using corresponding monoclonal antibodies and the FITC-labelled second antibody. The results showed that the number of HLA-DQ~+ monocytes was much more in diabetics than in normal controls. The percentages of HLA-DR~+ and HLA-DP~+ monocytes in diabetics were not different significantly from those in normal controls. Besides, IL-2R~+ and TfR~+ monocytes were also found to be very much increased in diabetics as compared with controls. It was possible that increased expression of HLA-DQ antigen, IL-2R and TfR of monocytes in patients with IDDM might play a role in the pathogenesis of the autoimmune reaction.