Tuberculous meningitis is an important global medical problem which gives rise to high morbidity and mortality. It is the most severe form of extrapulmonary Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Comprehensive prevention effort, prompt diagnosis and rational treatment are all keys to improving treatment outcomes; yet many unsolved problems remain. On the other hand, the new problems, such as HIV co-infection and drug-resistance are posing important challenges. This review outlines the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, management and prognosis of tuberculous meningitis. We mainly focus on research carried out in the recent decades, giving special attention to the work done among the Asian populations
Tuberculosis, Meningeal

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the medical orders in terms of the medication for the inpatients with tuberculosis in our hospital.METHODS:The medical orders for the inpatients in Tuberculosis institute from Dec.7th,2007 to Jan.6th,2008 were synchronously monitored and analyzed.RESULTS:Of the total 5 592 medical orders monitored,1 461 were warned by PASS,of which,562 were warnings about drug interactions,884 about dosage and 15 were about incompatibility.CONCLUSION:Medical orders synchronously monitored by PASS could help correct and monitor the irrational medication.But the function of PASS remained to be strengthened and the data base remained to be enriched and renewed in time.

Objective: To analyze the phytosterols content in cereals and legumes commonly consumed in China, and to estimate the intake of phytosterols in Chinese people. Methods: 25 cereals and 16 legumes were chosen as samples. The content of ?-sitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, ?-sitostanol, campestanol were analyzed by GC methods and the total phytosterols were calculated; The intake of phytosterols in Chinese people were estimated using the data of “Survey on the Status of Nutrition and Health of the Chinese People” in 2002. Results: The content of phytosterols in wheat flour was higher than that in rice. The refinements of cereals will decrease the phytosterols content. Phytosterols content in soybean was higher than other legumes. The intake of phytosterols in Chinese people was estimated to be 130.76mg/d from cereals and 7.86mg/d from legumes. Conclusion: The analysis of phytosterols in food and the estimation of daily intake is valuable for chronic disease prevention. The higher consumption of wheat flour and legumes in diet is recommended.

Electric Stimulation ; Facial Nerve ; physiopathology ; Facial Paralysis ; therapy ; Humans

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of immunoglobulin G (IgG) extravasated from blood circulation on the expression of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) induced by peripheral lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rat brain. Methods The rats were divided into four groups in random, 5 rats in each. Group one received LPS 100μg/kg by intraperitoneal administration, normal saline was given by intravenous injection 6 hours later; group two was injected with adrenalin (AD) 15μg/kg intravenously; group three was treated with LPS intraperitoneally, AD was injected 6 hours later; group four was injected normal saline intravenously as control. For all groups, the animals were sacrificed 30 min after the last injection, and the brains were taken for investigation of the TLR4 expressions by immunofluorescence staining and RT-PCR. Result Immunofluorescence staining showed that IgG immunoreactive product was patch-like, distributed in the brain parenchyma in all the animals that received AD. In the LPS+normal saline group, IgG was found merely around the blood vessels. Meanwhile, in LPS+AD animals, TLR4 immunoreactive product coexisted with microglia marker Iba-1 within the IgG extravasated area. The double-labeled cells dispersed in the brain parenchyma and near to the cerebral vessels. In the LPS+saline group, TLR4 positive cells were endothelial-like. RT-PCR results indicated that the expression level of TLR4 in the LPS+AD group were significantly higher than that in the LPS+saline group or AD group or the saline control (P<0.01). Conclusion Extravasated circulating IgG may enhance the TLR4 expression in the rat brain induced by peripheral LPS.

Objective　To study the similarities and differences on in vitro replication and expression of hepatitis C virus (HCV) between human fetal hepatocytes (HFH) and 7721 cell line. Methods　Human fetal hepatocytes and a hepatoma cell line 7721 were incubated with a serum from hepatitis C patient. After incubation, the presence of HCV RNA, the expression of HCV NS3 antigens in cells and/or supernatant were examined by RT-PCR, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Results　It was found that: ①The intracellular HCV RNA was first detected on d 2～3 post-incubation and then could be intermittently detected in cells and/or supernatant subsequently (HCV RNA could be detected in 7721 cells during a period of at least 66 days. In HFH, HCV RNA could be detected up to 25 days after incubation); ②HCV-NS3 antigen could be expressed in infected cells; ③Minus-strand RNA of HCV was mainly located within cytoplasm by in situ hybridization. Conclusion　The results suggest that both the fetal hpatocytes and the hepatoma cell line 7721 are susceptible to HCV, and especially 7721 cell line can stably support HCV replication in vitro and may be used as the target cell for long-term cultures of HCV.

AIM:To investigate the correlation between matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9),tissue metalloproteinase inhibitor-1(TIMP-1),MMP-9/TIMP-1 and carotid atheromatous plaque stability in cerebral infarction patients.METHODS:80 patients with cerebral infarction were categorized as microemboli-negative group(n=70)and microemboli-positive group(n=10),20 normal human were served as control group.The MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels in plasma were determined by mean of ELISA in 3 groups.RESULTS:The levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in plasma were significantly higher in cerebral infarction patients than those in control group(P

Objective To investigate the short-term outcome of vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) in the treatment of infection early after tibiofibular fracture surgery.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 19 patients sustaining early infection after tibiofibular fracture surgery from December 2012 to December 2014.The patients consisted of 13 males and 6 females,aged from 26 to 57 years [(37.0 ± 5.3) years].There were 4 cases of isolate tibial fracture,2 isolate fibular fracture,and 13 tibial and fibular fracture.Open fractures were noted in 13 cases and close fractures in 6 cases.Infection occurred 14-21 days [(18.0 ± 3.3) days] after open reduction and internal fixation and was treated with gentamicin and VSD.Parameters were monitored dynamically after operation,including white blood cell count (WBC),C-reactive protein (CRP),erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and limb perimeter.Results The wound was basically debrided 7-10 days after VSD.Eighteen cases had one-stage wound closure with instrumentation preservance,and one case with progressed infection from soft tissue to bone marrow had instrumentation removal and wound suture.VSD decreased markers of inflammation including WBC,CRP,and ESR as well as limb perimeter.A follow-up of 6-24 month [(11.0 ± 2.3)months] showed fracture healing,without complications of detectable deformity growth,dysfunction,or chronic osteomyelitis.Conclusion VSD results in sufficient wound drain,reduction of swelling,decreased levels in CRP and ESR and controlled wound infection,which facilitates wound closure.

Objective To evaluate the biomechanical effect of horizontal, vertical, and cruciate suture repairs and partial meniscectomy on contact mechanics. Methods Control group (complete meniscus), buckethandletear group and suture repaired group were recorded. The contact map of the control group was firstly recorded; simulated bucket handle medial meniscal tears were then created. Tears were treated with 1 of 3 suture repair techniques or partial meniscectomy. The 24 samples were treated randomly and thus there were 6 samples evaluated for every operation method. Instantaneous contact area (CA), mean contact pressure (MCP), and peak contact pressure (PCP) measurements were recorded with a pressure sensing system. CA, MCP, and PCP for intact stifles (control), stifles with simulated tears, and stifles after treatment were recorded and compared using 1-way repeated measures ANOVA. Results Stifleswithbuckethandletearshadsignificantlydecreased CA, increased MCP and increased PCP when compared with control group. All meniscal repair techniques reestablished normal contact mechanics. When comparing meniscal repair and partial meniscectomy, stifles with partial meniscectomy had lower CA, higher MCP and PCP than stifles undergoing repair (P = 0.851 and 0.987, respectively). Conclusions Contact mechanics obtained from each repair technique were mechanically superior to partial meniscectomy. Performing meniscal repair instead of partial meniscectomy with select meniscal tears may mitigate the development of degenerative joint disease.

Super-selective transcatheter prostatic arterial embolization is a newly-developed minimally invasive treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia with good maneuverability, safety and fewer complications. The short-term and mid-term follow-up has proved that it has higher clinical efficacy in improving the quality of life by alleviating lower urinary tract symptoms. It emerges as an innovative technology in urology and interventional radiology. In order to ensure a successful procedure with satisfactory clinical outcome the most important considerations when performing prostatic arterial embolization are to precisely identify the prostatic artery, to correctly differentiate the anastomoses with surrounding arteries, and to properly select embolic agents. This paper aims to make a comprehensive review on the progress and current situation of prostatic arterial embolization with a focus on the clinical issues and technical challenges.