Adolescent ; Adult ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Child ; Female ; Hemoglobinuria, Paroxysmal ; complications ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Child ; Crush Syndrome ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pulmonary Edema ; complications

Objective To preliminarily evaluate the value of color power doppler ultrasonography in the diagnosis of sacroiliitis in ankylosing spondylitis(AS). Methods Fifty-seven sacroiliac joints in 31 patients with active AS and 40 sacroiliac joints in 20 volunteers were detected by color power doppler ultrasonography.The color flow signs inside the sacroiliac joints were observed,and the resistance index(RI) was measured. Results In active AS,color flow signs were seen in 55 joints,and the mean RI value was 0.53?0.08 in 45 joints,while the other 10 color flow signs represented reversed phase in diastolic phase on pulse doppler ultrasonography.In the volunteers,color flow signs were seen in 16 joints,and the mean RI value was 0.97?0.01 in 6 joints,while the other 10 color flow signs represented reversed phase in diastolic phase on pulse doppler ultrasonography. Conclusion The abnormal flow signs at the sacroiliac joints can be detected by color power doppler ultrasonography.Low RI values provide diagnosis evidence for active AS.

Objective To analyze the safety and effectiveness of photoselective green-light laser vaporization of the prostate(PVP)in treatment of large prostate with volume more than 80 ml. Methods Retrospective analysis was performed in 25 benign prostatic hypertrophy patients undergoing the PVP treatment,whose prostate volume was more than 80 ml.Results Twenty-five patients with prostate mean volume of 151.8(84.0-270.0)ml were treated by PVP and 23 cases were finished successfully.One operation was suspended because of bleeding and the other because of damaging orifice.No blood transfusion was needed and no“transurethral resection(TUR)syndrome”happened.Five cases had acute retention and 2 of them needed second PVP.In a mean of 7.9(3.0- 12.0)months follow-up,maximal urinary flow rate(Qmax),international prostate symptom score (IPSS),quality of life score(QOL),and prostate-specific antigen(PSA)level were improved significantly.The volume of prostate reduced after PVP than before PVP but no significant difference was found.Conclusions PVP is feasible in treating large prostate even the volume is more than 80 ml,although it needs better skill.Catheterization for some time is helpful in reducing the incidence of early postoperative acute urinary retention.

OBJECTIVETo determine if Ganoderma polysaccharides can antagonize prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)-induced suppression of murine splenocyte interferongamma (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) mRNA expression.

METHODSMixed lymphocyte culture reaction was used as the experimental model. The expressions levels of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha mRNA were measured by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSAfter the cultures were treated with PGE2 for 4 h, IFN-gamma mRNA expression was reduced as compared with the control, which was especially obvious when PGE2 concentrations exceeded 10 micromol/L (P<0.01). Ganoderma polysaccharides above 100 mg/L showed partial antagonistic effect against the inhibition of IFN-gamma by PGE2 at the fixed concentration of 20 micromol/L. Further studies indicated that PGE2 (20 micromol/L) impaired the expression of TNF-alpha mRNA after an 8-hour incubation and Ganoderma polysaccharides above 100 mg/L could partially antagonize this effect.

CONCLUSIONGanoderma polysaccharides can partially antagonize PGE2-induced suppression of murine splenocyte IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha mRNA expression.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Dinoprostone ; pharmacology ; Female ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Interferon-gamma ; genetics ; Lymphocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Reishi ; chemistry ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Spleen ; cytology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the effectiveness of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in treating patients with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA) and the effect of IVIG on the level of soluble human leucocyte antigen G (sHLA-G).

METHODSThis prospective trial conducted at PUMC Hospital between 2004 and 2008 included 60 women with URSA. The patients were allocated into IVIG group (30 cases) and control group (30 cases). IVIG was intravenously used before conception at a dose of 0.2g/kg; once pregnancy was confirmed,IVIG was continued every 4 weeks till the 20th gestational week. Traditional Chinese medicine or/and progesterone were used in control group. The outcome of pregnancy was evaluated by live birth rate and effective rate(defined as the embryo living 4 week longer than previous pregnancy). Serum samples were collected randomly before pregnancy and in the 6th-8th gestational week from IVIG group (15 samples),control group (15 samples),and healthy women (20 samples). The levels of sHLA-G,interferon γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA).

RESULTSThe pregnancy rate was 93.3% in IVIG group. The live birth rate and effective rate were 85.7% (24/28) and 92.9% (26/28) in IVIG group,which were significantly higher than those in control group [56.7% (17/30) (P=0.021) and 63.3% (19/30) (P=0.011)]. Emesis occurred in one woman (3.3%) in IVIG group had during IVIG infusion but was relieved by lowering the speed of infusion. The mean sHLA-G level was (61.37∓35.57) U/ml in control group and (62.70∓37.24) U/ml in IVIG group (P>0.05); both of them were significantly lower than that of healthy women (88.49∓25.37) U/ml (Pü0.05). After pregnancy was achieved, the levels of sHLA-G and IL-10 were (34.19∓14.21) U/ml and (11.71∓2.75) pg/ml, respectively in the IVIG group, which were significantly higher than those in control group [(23.71∓12.83) U/ml and (8.71∓3.01) pg/ml, respectively] (P=0.008).

CONCLUSIONSLow-dose IVIG before and after pregnancy is a safe and effective in treating URSA. IVIG improves the development of fetus by up-regulating sHLA-G and IL-10 levels.

Abortion, Habitual ; blood ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Adult ; Female ; HLA-G Antigens ; blood ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; therapeutic use ; Pregnancy ; Prospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the antitumor effect of saponin extracted from Tupistra chinensis Baker (STCB) against mouse sarcoma S-180 cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo and explore the primary mechanism of this effect.

METHODSCytotoxic effect of STCB on S-180 cells in vitro was evaluated by MTT colorimetry, and its effect against in vitro tumor growth was tested in Kunmin mice bearing S-180 implanted tumor. The morphological and ultrastructural changes of S-180 cells after saponin treatment in vitro were examined with light and transmission electron microscope. Flow cytometry was performed to examine the cell cycle and apoptosis of S180 cells treated with different concentrations of STCB with propidium iodide staining.

RESULTSSTCB could markedly inhibit S-180 cell proliferation in vitro with 50% inhibitory concentration of 34.64 microg/ml. STCB given by intragastric administration also significantly inhibited the growth of S-180 solid tumor, and the inhibition rate exceeded 30% at the dose of 0.5 g/kg, reaching 54.86% at 2 g/kg. Electron microscopy and flow cytometry revealed increased S180 tumor cell apoptotic rate with the increment of saponin concentration, along with increased percentage of cells in S phase and decreased cells in G(2)/M phase in response to 10 or 30 microg/ml STCB treatment. At the concentration of 60 microg/ml, however, STCB resulted in an opposite effect on the cell cycles, presumably due to its interference with mitosis at high concentrations.

CONCLUSIONSSTCB inhibits the growth of S-180 cells both in vivo and in vitro possibly by inducing cell apoptosis and interfering with the cell cycle progression of the tumor cells.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Liliaceae ; chemistry ; Male ; Mice ; Phytotherapy ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Sarcoma 180 ; drug therapy ; pathology

Primary pigmented nodular adrenal disease (PPNAD) is a kind of autosomal dominant inherited disease. Patient in the study presented with Cushing's syndrome, and clinical and pathological diagnosis of PPNAD was confirmed. It is now confirmed that there are two relevant genes and their mutations may lead to PPNAD. This study showed no mutations in the patient, surpecting if there would be an alternative mechanism or a new gene in playing the role.

Colectomy ; Colorectal Neoplasms/surgery* ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Treatment Outcome

The genital organ is innervated by autonomic and somatic nerve. The former is both sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve and the later is comprised by sensory and motor fibers. The symptoms of male sexual dysfunction are sexopathy, erectile dysfunction, disorder of ejaculation and orgasm, and pianism. Not only different symptom but the same symptom can be induced by different injured nerve. The relationship between peripheral nerve injury and male sexual dysfunction should be understood correctly.
Erectile Dysfunction/etiology* ; Humans ; Male ; Parasympathetic Nervous System/injuries* ; Pelvis/innervation* ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; Peripheral Nerves/anatomy & histology* ; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological/etiology* ; Spinal Cord Injuries/complications* ; Sympathetic Nervous System/injuries* ; Trauma, Nervous System/complications*