Objective To improve the recognition and diagnosis of pulmonary Lophomonas blattarum infection. Methods Two cases of bronchopulmonary Lophomonas blattanan diagnosed in this hospital were reported. The clinical features of 13 cases in the literature during the period of 1993 to 2006,1 case with sinus infection and 12 cases with bronchopulmonary infection, were also analyzed. Results For the 2 cases diagnosed in this hospital, severe asthma and bronchiectasis withprolonged infection were the underlying diseases, respectively. The diagnosis of these 2 cases and the 13 cases reported in the literature were all confirmed by the presence of parasites in airway samples. The most common symptoms included fever (64.3% ), cough and expectoration (71.4%). Fifty percent of the patients showed increased eosinophils in peripheral blood. Chest radiograph and CT scan showed changes similar to pneumonia(83.3%). Chronic cases were manifested with asthma attack, branchiectasis or lung abscess. Smear preparations of sputum or specimen by bronchoscopy were direct methods for diagnosis. Conclusion Pulmonary Lophonomas blattarum infection is an emerging infectious disease caused by protozoon of hypermastigote parasitized in the bronchus or the lung. Epidemiological characteristics including host, route of transmission and susceptible population of Lophomonas blattarum infection are not fully understood. The optimal treatment also needs further investigation.

Objective:To investigate the prognosis of patients with liver metastasis or local recurrence after radical resection of rectal cancer,in order to provide reference for the further screening of high-risk patients for the precise therapeutic methods.Methods:The clinicopathological factor and follow-up data of 485 patients who underwent surgical treatment for rectal cancer from March 2005 to January 2016 were retrospectively analyzed.Including 75 liver metastasis and 32 local recurrence.The prognosis were compared between the patients with liver metastasis and with local recurrence.Results:The difference was statistically significant in CEA level,primary tumor position,surgical methods,tumor cell differentiation,tumor infiltration depth between liver metastasis and local recurrence after radical resection of rectal cancer (P＜0.05).The 1-,3-and 5-year overall survival rates were 76.6％,53.1％ and 18.8％ respectively of patients with liver metastasis,The 1-,3-and 5-year overall survival rates were 81.3％,62.5％ and 37.5％ respectively of patients with local recurrence,the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion:There were different clinicopathological characteristics of patients between liver metastasis and local recurrence.The prognosis of patients with local recurrence was better than patients with liver metastasis.

AIM: To investigate the inhibitory effect s of a synthetic CRE-transcription factor decoy oligodeoxynucleotide (CRE-decoy ODN) on the upregulation of the expression of cholecystokinin (CCK) and fosB mRN A induced by chronic morphine administration in SK-N-SH cells. METHODS: The CRE cis-element, TGACGTCA, was palindromic, a sy nthetic single-stranded phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide composed of the CR E sequence self-hybridizes to form a duplex/hairpin. The CRE-palindromic decoy a nd control oligodeoxynucleotides were added to the medium (1 h before exposure t o morphine) at 150 nmol/L in the presence of cationic lipid DOTAP. After the cel ls were treated with 100 ?mol/L morphine for 48 h, 10 ?mol/L naloxone was use d for 15 min. The effects of CRE-decoy ODN on the DNA-binding activity of CREB, the expression of CCK and fosB mRNA were detected by electrophoresis mobi lity shift assay (EMSA) and RT-PCR, respectively. The stability of cell-incorpo rated [ 32P]-labeled CRE-decoy ODN was extracted with phenol:chloroform a nd then subjected to 20% nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and au toradiography. RESULTS: Chronic morphine administration and acute naloxone-prec ipitated withdrawal significantly activated the DNA-binding activity of CREB and the expression of CCK and fosB mRNA in SK-N-SH cells. The CRE-decoy ODN pen etrated into the cells, specifically downregulated these indexes. CONCLUSIONS: CRE-decoy ODN can significantly downregulates the e xpre ssion of CCK and fosB mRNA through specifically suppressing the DNA-binding activity of CREB activated by chronic morphine administration in SK-N-SH cells.

AIM: To investigate the effect of phospholamban antisense RNA (asPLB) on the activity of sarco-endoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca 2+-ATPase, and the change of intracellular free Ca 2+ concentration ([Ca 2+]i) in rat cardiomyocytes by adeno-associated virus(AAV) vector. METHODS: rAAV-asPLB and rAAV-LacZ were constructed by AAV Helper-Free System. RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to determine the mRNA and protein expression of PLB. The activity of SR Ca 2+-ATPase and the [Ca 2+]i were measured. RESULTS: Compared to controls, the PLB mRNA and protein expression reduced in rat cardiomyocytes transfected with rAAV-asPLB. The activity of Ca 2+-ATPase was increased. In rest state, the level of [Ca 2+]i in rAAV-asPLB transfected group was decreased. The level of [Ca 2+]i was increased when induced by isoproterenol. CONCLUSION: rAAV-asPLB vector disrupts the expression of PLB, enhances the activity of Ca 2+-ATPase, reduces the resting [Ca 2+]i and enhances the isoproterenol-induced [Ca 2+]i.

Objective:To investigate the expression and diagnostic value of microRNA-335-5p (miR-335-5p) and Human Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR-1, FLT1) in serum exosomal bodies of patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) .Methods:Gene Expression Omnibus database (GEO) analysis was performed and differentially expressed miRNA in breast cancer tissues was screened. From Jan. 2016 to Nov. 2017, the peripheral blood samples of 56 TNBC patients in People’s Hospital Affiliated to Ningbo University were collected, and the exosomes were isolated and identified. FLT1 was selected as the target gene of miR-335-5p by using bioinformatics analysis. Expression levels of miR-335-5p and FLT1 in serum exosome were detected by qRT-PCR. The relationship between miR-335-5p and clinicopathological parameters of TNBC patients was analyzed. The diagnostic value of miR-335-5p was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) , and the survival prognosis of miR-335-5p and FLT1 was analyzed by Kaplan Meier survival curve.Results:The expression of miR-335-5p in the serum exosome of TNBC patients was lower than that of the control group, while the expression of FLT1 in the serum exosome was higher than that of the control group ( P<0.05) . The expression of miR-335-5p was related to tissue grade ( χ2=22.02, P<0.000 1) , degree of differentiation ( χ2=20.67, P<0.000 1) and lymph node metastasis ( χ2=4.667, P=0.030 8) in patients with TNBC ( P<0.05) . The area under ROC diagnosed by miR-335-5p was 0.809 8 (95% CI: 0.726 3-0.893 2, P<0.000 1) . Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the overall survival time of patients with low expression of miR-335-5p was significantly shorter than that of patients with high expression of miR-335-5p ( P=0.004 5) . The high expression of its target gene FLT1 was associated with low survival rate ( P=0.048 0) . Conclusion:Serum exosomal miR-335-5p can be used as an important index to predict the prognosis of TNBF and is expected to play a role in diagnosis and treatment of TNBC.

Objective To investigate the risk factors of reflux esophagitis after total gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma patients.Methods Clinical data of 68 cases with reflux esophagitis after total gastrectomy in gastric carcinoma patients were analyzed retrospectively,the related risk factors of reflux esophagitis were analyzed.Results Reflux esophagitis showed correlations with type of surgery,cholecystectomy,patient somatotype,length of jejunal reservoir for stomach replacement.No correlations were found between reflux esophagitis and gender,age,stage of the tumor,length of esophageal excision,size of anastomosis.With the extension of postoperative time,the reflux esophagitis was gradually relieved.Conclusion There is a correlation between reflux esophagitis and type of surgery,history of cholecystectomy,patients' somatotype,length of jejunal reservoir for stomach replacement.

Objective To investigate the risk factors of reflux esophagitis after total gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma patients.Methods Clinical data of 68 cases with reflux esophagitis after total gastrectomy in gastric carcinoma patients were analyzed retrospectively,the related risk factors of reflux esophagitis were analyzed.Results Reflux esophagitis showed correlations with type of surgery,cholecystectomy,patient somatotype,length of jejunal reservoir for stomach replacement.No correlations were found between reflux esophagitis and gender,age,stage of the tumor,length of esophageal excision,size of anastomosis.With the extension of postoperative time,the reflux esophagitis was gradually relieved.Conclusion There is a correlation between reflux esophagitis and type of surgery,history of cholecystectomy,patients' somatotype,length of jejunal reservoir for stomach replacement.

To improve the stability and gene-carried capability of gene-attached microbubbles, the method for manufacture of albumin microbubbles was modified and new gene-loaded microbubbles were synthesized by incorporated gene-PEI complex into the shell of microbubbles. Agarose gel electrophoresis and bacteria transformation showed that PEI had the ability to provide the protection of plasmid DNA from ultrasonic degradation. The new gene-loaded microbubbles exhibited excellent acoustical and hemorheological properties. Moreover, they could carry more plasmid DNA than gene-attached microbubbles. beta-galactosidase plasmid transfection into cardiac myocytes was performed by using ultrasound targeted destruction of new gene-loaded microbubbles or gene-attached microbubbles. Gene expression in cardiac myocytes was detected by beta-galactosidase in situ staining and quantitive assay. It was shown that beta-galactosidase activity in cardiac myocytes was enhanced 107-fold by ultrasonic destruction of gene-loaded microbubbles compared with naked plasmid transfection and new gene-loaded microbubbles resulted in 6.85-fold increase in beta-galactosidase activity compared with optimal transfection mediated by gene-attached microbubbles. These results suggested that ultrasonic destruction of the gene-loaded microbubbles can enhance the cardiac myocytes exogenous gene transfer efficiency significantly and new gene-loaded microbubbles is an efficient and safe gene delivery vehicle.
Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Genes, Reporter ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; Imines ; Microbubbles ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Polyethylenes ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sonication ; Transfection ; methods ; beta-Galactosidase ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Objective:To evaluate the value of lung ultrasound (LUS) in the early assessment of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).Methods:A prospective double-blind cohort study was conducted. Patients with ARDS conformed to the Berlin diagnosis criteria admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Ningbo Yinzhou People’s Hospital from July 2016 to January 2020. According to the oxygenation index (OI), the patients were divided into the mild to moderate group (100 mmHg

Objective:Hepatic fibrosis is a common pathological basis for many chronic liver diseases and can progress to cirrhosis,a leading cause of mortality in liver diseases.Early identification and reversal of hepatic fibrosis are key in the treatment of chronic liver disease.This study aims to compare the expression levels of serum core fucosylated low molecular weight kininogen(LMWK-Fc)and alpha-galactosylated(α-Gal)antibodies in patients with hepatic fibrosis at different stages,and to evaluate their diagnostic efficacy for hepatic fibrosis. Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 275 patients with chronic liver disease who visited the Department of Infectious Diseases at the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University between June 2022 and March 2023.Among these,115 patients underwent liver biopsy.Based on the extent of collagen deposition and its impact on liver structure and microcirculation,patients were staged from 0 to 4:S0(no significant collagen deposition in liver tissues;liver structure and microcirculation are normal),S1(mild collagen deposition in liver tissues,with partial disruption of lobule structure,but microcirculation remains largely normal),S2(moderate collagen deposition in liver tissues,with partial disruption of lobule structure and microcirculation),S3(extensive collagen deposition in liver tissues,with substantial disruption of lobule structure and microcirculation),and S4(development of cirrhosis,with heavy collagen deposition,complete disruption of lobule structure,and severe impairment of microcirculation).Patients were grouped as no fibrosis(S0),fibrosis(S1-S2),and significant fibrosis(S3-S4).For the 160 patients without liver biopsy,they were categorized based on liver stiffness measurement(LSM)value:no fibrosis(F0:LSM＜7.3 kPa),fibrosis(F1-F2:LSM 7.3-12.4 kPa),and significant fibrosis(F3-F4:LSM＞12.4 kPa).Demographic data(age,gender)and laboratory indicators(alanine transaminase,aspartate transaminase,gamma-glutamyl transferase,alkaline phosphatase,alpha-fetoprotein,platelet count)were collected to calculate the fibrosis-4 index(FIB-4)and aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index(APRI).Serum LMWK-Fc and α-Gal antibodies were measured and compared across the groups,and their correlation with fibrosis severity was analyzed.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to assess the predictive value of serum LMWK-Fc and α-Gal antibody levels for hepatic fibrosis. Results:Among the 160 patients without complete liver biopsy,serum α-Gal antibody and LMWK-Fc levels increased progressively from the no fibrosis group to the significant fibrosis group,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).Among the 115 patients with liver biopsy,serum LMWK-Fc levels were significantly higher in the fibrosis group and the significant fibrosis groups compared with the no fibrosis group,and α-Gal antibody levels were significantly higher in the significant fibrosis group compared with the no fibrosis group and the fibrosis group(P＜0.001,P=0.032,respectively).Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses showed that hepatic fibrosis was correlated with gender and LMWK-Fc levels(both P＜0.05),but not with age,α-Gal antibody levels,FIB-4,or APRI(all P＞0.05). Conclusion:The expression levels of serum LMWK-Fc and α-Gal antibodies vary across different stages of hepatic fibrosis,suggesting a potential association with fibrosis progression.LMWK-Fc levels have a certain predictive value for the diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis.