Objectives: To analyze the strategies of the diagnosis and treatment in patients with the pulmonary infection after renal transplantation. Methods: A retrospective analysis was made on 28 cases of pulmonary infections among 285 patients undergoing renal transplantation. Results: The morbidity of pulmonary infection was 9.82%(28/285). The majority pathogens of pulmonary infection in this study were pseudomonas, staphylococcus epidermidis, canadida and cytomegalovirus. Chest X ray was important in the diagnosis, but there was no specificity to determine the pathogens. The mortality in 28 pulmonary infection patients was 32.1%(9/28). Most of the patients suffered from pulmonary infection within 4 months after the operation, and the postoperative period from 2 months to 4 months was a high risk time window for death caused by pulmonary infections. Conclusions: The morbidity and mortality of pulmonary infections, especially severe pneumonia, in patients with renal transplantation, are higher than healthy people. Treatment following clinical epidemiology and strategy of microbiology play a very important role to reduce the mortality in those patients.

Objective To investigate the rule of the cerebral tissues aquaporin-4(AQP-4) expression in acute and chronic hepatic failure mice.To study the molecular biologic mechanism of the diffusion weighted imaging(DWI).Methods Sixty five male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups randomly,including acute(n=25),chronic hepatic failure(n=25)and control group(n=15). Thioacetamide(TAA)intraperitoneal injection produces the acute and chronic hepatic failure models.All rats in groups were examined with MR DWI.We Observed the distribution of abnormal signal on DWI.The DWI single values of top and lateral cortex of parietal lobe,peripheral region of lateral ventricle in the highest hyperintensity section of brain were measured.Blood ammonia values were examined.The pathologic and immuno-histochemistry and RT-PCR examination for brain specimen were performed.All date were analyzed with statistical methods.Results The mean values of blood ammonia were significantly different (P0.05).Conclusions Increase of the blood ammonia was the main cause for the brain energy metabolic abnormality and AQP-4 mRNA and protein expression.The hyperammonemia was the key factor in the occurrence and development of the hepatic brain edema.The abnormal findings in DWI signal could reflect the range and degree of the brain edema and AQP-4 protein expression.

OBJECTIVETo compare the effect of transurethral resection of the prostate combined with endocrine therapy (TURP + ET) with that of αlA-blockers combined with ET ((αlA-b + ET) in the treatment of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) in patients with advanced prostate cancer (PCa), and to investigate the safety of the TURP + ET for the treatment of PCa with BOO.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 63 cases of PCa with BOO, 28 treated by αlA-b + ET and the other 35 by TURP + ET. We obtained the residual urine volume (RV), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and quality of life score (QoL) before and after treatment along with the overall survival rate of the patients, followed by comparison of the parameters between the two methods.

RESULTSAt 3 months after treatment, RV, IPSS, and QoL in the TURP + ET group were significantly decreased from (137.8 ± 27.6) ml, (22.3 ± 3.6), and (4.2 ± 0.8) to (29 ± 13.6) ml, (7.8 ± 2.1), and (1.6 ± 0.5) respectively (P < 0.05), while Qmax increased from (5.6 ± 2.1) ml/s to (17.6 ± 2.7) ml/s (P < 0.05); the former three parameters in the αlA-b + ET group decreased from (133.6 ± 24.9) ml, (21.5 ± 3.2), and (4.7 ± 1.1) to (42 ± 18.3) ml, (12.8 ± 2.6), and (2.5 ± 0.7) respectively (P < 0.05), while the latter one increased from (6.3 ± 2.4) ml/s to (11.7 ± 2.3) ml/s (P < 0.05), all with statistically significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.05). The overall survival rate of the TURP + ET group was not significantly different from that of the αlA-b + ET group (51.4% vs 46.4% , P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTURP + ET is preferable to αlA-b + ET for its advantage of relieving BOO symptoms in advanced PCa without affecting the overall survival rate of the patients.

Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal ; therapeutic use ; Combined Modality Therapy ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; complications ; drug therapy ; pathology ; surgery ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; Treatment Outcome ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction ; drug therapy ; etiology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of tanshinone IIA on HL-60 and K562 cells apoptosis, and to assay the inhibition of the telomerase activities in the leukemia cell apoptosis induced by Tanshinone.

METHODUsing the techniques of cell culture in vitro, flow cytometry and PCR-TRAP observed the telomerase activities and apoptosis of HL-60 and K562 cells which treated by Tan IIA.

RESULT0.5 microg x mL(-1) Tan IIA could obviously inhibit HL-60 and K562 cell lines growth (P < 0.05), down-regulate c-myc, bcl-2 gene and up-regulate c-fos and p53 gene expression as well as induce leukemia cell apoptosis, the apoptotic rates of HL-60 and K562 cells were 11.8% and 21.8% respectively. The telomerase activities significant decreased, the inhibiting rates in HL60 and K562 cells were 30.8% and 50.8% respectively.

CONCLUSIONTan IIA could significantly inhibit the proliferation and telomerase activities of HL-60 and K562 cells and induce the leukemia cell apoptosis.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Phenanthrenes ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc ; metabolism ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; Telomerase ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEThe multiple levels fragmentations of five furocoumarine (psoralen, xanthotoxin, bergapten, oxypeucedanin, and byakangelicol) in Angelica dahurica have been demonstrated using LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometry with high resolution and high mass accuracy to discover the possible,fragmentation regularity.

METHODDuringcollsion-induced dissociation (CID), the MS(n) data of the five compoundswhich were gained in the positive ion mode at 35ev collision energy by direct injection syrings method were analyzed using Xcalibar 2.0 Software to infer the formula of these fragmentations.

RESULTThe results indicated that the five compounds have similar fragmentation process with CO meutral lost at C5,C8-subsituents and furan ring, meanwhile the meutralloss of CO2 occurred easily at lactone group.

CONCLUSIONThis method is helpful in identifying the structures of other furocoumarinein Angelica dahuricaand their metabolites in vivo.

Angelica ; chemistry ; Chemical Phenomena ; Coumarins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Molecular Structure

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect on increasing bone cement-bone interface micro-gomphosis intensity with bone cement oscillator.

METHODSOne hundred femoral bones of adult pig were randomly divided into 6 groups: oscillating group (A1) and control group (A2) of anti-tensile force, oscillating group (B1) and control group (B2) of anti-pressure (n = 20 in each group), oscillating group (C1) and control group (C2) of imaging (n = 10 in each group). Mechanics and CT test was performed, micro-gomphosis intensity of bone cement-bone interface between oscillating group and control group was compared.

RESULTSMechanics and CT test showed bone cement-bone interface micro-gomphosis intensity in oscillating group was significantly stronger than control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBone cement oscillator can significantly increase micro-gomphosis intensity of bone-cement interface, and reduce long-term aseptic loosening of artificial prostheses.

Animals ; Bone Cements ; Cementation ; Equipment Design ; Femur ; Joint Prosthesis ; Male ; Materials Testing ; Mechanics ; Random Allocation ; Swine ; Vibration

PURPOSE: Cockroaches are the second leading allergen in Taiwan. Sensitization to Per a 2, the major American cockroach allergen, correlates with clinical severity among patients with airway allergy, but there is limited information on IgE epitopes and tissue localization of Per a 2. This study aimed to identify Per a 2 linear IgE-binding epitopes and its distribution in the body of a cockroach. METHODS: The cDNA of Per a 2 was used as a template and combined with oligonucleotide primers specific to the target areas with appropriate restriction enzyme sites. Eleven overlapping fragments of Per a 2 covering the whole allergen molecule, except 20 residues of signal peptide, were generated by PCR. Mature Per a 2 and overlapping deletion mutants were affinity-purified and assayed for IgE reactivity by immunoblotting. Three synthetic peptides comprising the B cell epitopes were evaluated by direct binding ELISA. Rabbit anti-Per a 2 antibody was used for immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Human linear IgE-binding epitopes of Per a 2 were located at the amino acid sequences 57-86, 200-211, and 299-309. There was positive IgE binding to 10 tested Per a 2-allergic sera in 3 synthetic peptides, but none in the controls. Immunostaining revealed that Per a 2 was localized partly in the mouth and midgut of the cockroach, with the most intense staining observed in the hindgut, suggesting that the Per a 2 allergen might be excreted through the feces. CONCLUSIONS: Information on the IgE-binding epitope of Per a 2 may be used for designing more specific diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to cockroach allergy.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Cockroaches ; DNA Primers ; DNA, Complementary ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epitope Mapping* ; Epitopes ; Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte ; Feces ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoblotting ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mouth ; Peptides ; Periplaneta* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Protein Sorting Signals ; Taiwan

OBJECTIVE: To construct and identify 2 secreted human GAD65 fragment DNA vaccines. METHODS: The GAD(190-315), GAD(490-570) cDNA and hIL-2 signal peptide cDNA were linked through overlapping PCR, respectively. The fusion gene was cloned into eukaryotic expression vector pBudCE4.1. After the DNA vaccine being determined to contain the correct target nucleotide sequence, the expression of fusion proteins was detected by Western blot. RESULTS: The nucleotide sequence of the cloned gene was the same as the reported sequence, and their open reading fragment was correct. The products of these DNA vaccines were expressed and secreted in eukaryotic cell using Western blot. CONCLUSION The pBudCE4.1/SGAD(190-315) and pBudCE4.1/SGAD(490-570) secreted human GAD65 fragment DNA vaccines were successfully constructed, which is a foundation for immune prevention of type 1 diabetes.
Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; Genetic Vectors ; Glutamate Decarboxylase ; classification ; genetics ; Humans ; Open Reading Frames ; Peptide Fragments ; genetics ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; Vaccines, DNA ; biosynthesis ; genetics

With the development of molecular pathology,many types of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations have been identified.The efficacy of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with different types of EGFR mutations,especially in patients with single rare mutations or complex mutations (co-occurrence of two or more different mutations),has not been fully understood.This study aimed to examine the efficacy of EGFR-TKIs in NSCLC patients with different types of EGFR mutations.Clinical data of 809 NSCLC patients who harbored different types of EGFR mutations and treated from January 2012 to October 2016 at Renmin Hospital and Zhongnan Hospital,Wuhan,were retrospectively reviewed.The clinical characteristics of these patients and the efficacy of EGFR-TKIs were analyzed.Among these patients,377 patients had only the EGFR del-19 mutation,362 patients the EGFR L858R mutation in exon 21,33 patients single rare mutations and 37 patients complex mutations.Among these 809 patients,239 patients were treated with EGFR-TKIs.In all the 239 patients,the disease control rate (DCR) was 93.7％ with two patients (0.2％) achieving complete response (CR),the median progression free survival (PFS) was 13.0 months (95％ confidence interval [CI],11.6-14.4 months),and the median overall survival (OS) was 55.0 months (95％ CI,26.3-83.7 months).Subgroup analysis revealed that the DCR in patients harboring single rare or complex mutations of EGFR was significantly lower than in those with del-19 or L858R mutation (P＜0.001).Patients with classic mutations (del-19 and/or L858R mutations) demonstrated longer PFS (P＜0.001) and OS (P=0.017) than those with uncommon mutations (single rare and/or complex mutations).Furthermore,the patients with single rare mutations had shorter median OS than in those with other mutations.Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified that the type of EGFR mutations was an independent risk factor for PFS (hazard ratio [HR]=0.308,95％ CI,0.191-0.494,P＜0.001) and OS (HR=0.221,95％ CI,0.101-0.480,P＜0.001).The results suggest that the single rare or complex EGFR mutations confer inferior efficacy of EGFR-TKIs treatment to the classic mutations.The prognosis of the single rare EGFR mutations is depressing.EGFR-TKIs may be not a good choice for NSCLC patients with single rare mutations of EGFR.Further studies in these patients with uncommon mutations (especially for the patients with single rare mutations) are needed to determine a better precision treatment.

A systemic treatment of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is known to improve healings of damaged tissues. However, recent studies suggested local actions of G-CSF on the healing processes of damaged tissues. We investigated the treatment effect of locally injected G-CSF and compared to that of systemically injected G-CSF in a rat model. A wound was created on the rat dorsum and treated either by local injection or by systemic injection of G-CSF. Wound healing rate, deposition of collagen, and gene expression were evaluated. G-CSF receptor (G-CSFR) protein was detected by Western blotting. The wound healing rate in the local injection group was significantly higher than that in the systemic injection group at days 9 and 15; it was also significantly higher than that in the control group at days 3, 9, and 15. The expression of G-CSFR protein in wound tissues was higher than in normal skin tissues. The local injection of G-CSF is more effective than systemic injection of G-CSF in promoting wound healing, which may implicate the local action of G-CSF treatment in wound healing processes.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Collagen ; Gene Expression ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Models, Animal ; Rats* ; Receptors, Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Skin ; Wound Healing* ; Wounds and Injuries*