OBJECTIVETo explore the diagnostic value of combined modified Alvarado scores (MAS) and computed tomography imaging in the pathological types of acute appendicitis in adults.

METHODSClinical data of a total of 396 adult patients with acute appendicitis confirmed by surgery and pathology were analyzed retrospectively from June 2007 to July 2010. Case-control study was used to investigate the MAS. CT signs were studied in 115 patients who underwent preoperative CT scan. Univariable analysis was performed using each indicator among different pathological types. Discriminant classification was formed by applying significant variables identified from univariable analysis and a Fisher discriminant function was created.

RESULTSTwenty three variables were statistically significant among different pathological types after univariable analysis(P<0.05) and were selected for discriminant analysis. Six variables including temperature(X1), leucocyte count(X2), the proportion of neutrophil(X3), MAS points(X4), periappendiceal fat stranding(X5), and extraluminal air(X6) were enrolled. The discriminant function equation was Y1=0.012X1+0.041X2+0.069X3-0.039X4+2.653X5+1.418X6, Y2=0.327X1+0.041X2-0.034X3-0.140X4-1.114X5+2.982X6. The accuracy was 76.5%(88/115) in retrospective assessment and 77.8%(21/27) in prospective assessment.

CONCLUSIONThe combined use of MAS and CT imaging signs is useful in identifying the pathological types of acute appendicitis in adults, so it is helpful in choosing reasonable therapeutic option for surgeons.

Acute Disease ; Appendicitis ; diagnosis ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo explore the influence of obesity on surgical procedure and short-term surgical outcome in patients with gastric carcinoma.

METHODSA total of 426 patients with gastric carcinoma underwent laparotomy in our hospital during January 2006 and June 2008. All the patients were divided into obesity group and non-obesity group according to body mass index (BMI). The thickness of subcutaneous fat (SCF), abdominal anterior-posterior diameter (APD) and transverse diameter (TD) at the umbilicus level were measured by abdominal CT. Furthermore, the surgical data and postoperative conditions including short-term outcome were reviewed and compared between two groups.

RESULTSThe incidence of obesity was 29.8% in gastric carcinoma patients. Mean values of SCF thickness, APD and TD in obesity group and non-obesity group were (21.8+/-7.1) mm vs (14.4+/-7.5) mm, (223.2+/-24.6) mm vs (181.8+/-23.5) mm and (323.6+/-23.8) mm vs (285.8+/-24.4) mm (P=0.000). Longer operative time (P=0.007) and less amount of dissected lymph nodes were found in obesity group as compared to non-obesity group (P=0.000). Also, obesity group lasted a longer postoperative period of fever (P=0.000) and experienced more post-operative complications (P=0.005) than non-obesity group did.

CONCLUSIONSAbdominal CT scan may display the abdominal shape of gastric carcinoma patients, hence, it is useful to evaluate the difficulty of surgical procedure. These patients may involve in complicated surgical procedure and worse short-term outcome due to obese abdominal shape. Therefore, perioperative management should be emphasized for these patients.

Abdomen ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Body Mass Index ; Female ; Gastroplasty ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo assess the value of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in the diagnosis of bladder cancer.

METHODSUrine samples from 100 patients suspected of having bladder cancer were collected before cystoscopy for immediate urine cytology and FISH analysis. The criteria for FISH abnormality were determined by evaluating the urine specimens from 20 subjects without urogenital neoplasm.

RESULTSThe overall sensitivity of cytology and FISH was 43.2% and 82.4%, and their specificity was 92.3% and 88.5%, with diagnostic concordance rate of 56.0% and 84.0%, respectively. The differences between FISH and cytology showed statistical significance in the sensitivity, diagnostic concordance rate, non-muscle-invasive cancer and primary cancer.

CONCLUSIONThe sensitivity and efficiency of FISH in the detection of bladder cancer are superior to those of cytology, especially for prophase cancer.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; diagnosis ; Cytodiagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Urine ; cytology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the main risk factors associated with intra-abdominal infection(IAI) following gastrectomy in gastric cancer patients.

METHODSCase-control study was used to investigate the clinical data of 1728 gastric carcinoma cases retrospectively by Logistic regressive analysis.

RESULTSUnivariate Logistic regressive analysis showed 16 factors, including age, malnutrition, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD), diabetes mellitus(DM), heart diseases, prothrombin time, lymphocyte count, tumor size, ascites, invasion to the adjacent organ, neoplasm TNM staging (UICC, 1997), methods of gastrectomy, blood loss, operative time, blood transfusion and extent of lymph nodal dissection,were associated with postoperative intra-abdominal infection. Binary Logistic regression analysis found that extent of lymph nodal dissection(N(2)(+) approximately N(3) and N(2)), invasion to the adjacent organ, DM, operative time, age and lymphocyte count were the independent risk factors associated with mortality.

CONCLUSIONNecessary interventions should be carried out to prevent IAI referring to above risk factors.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Risk Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms ; microbiology ; pathology ; surgery ; Surgical Wound Infection ; etiology ; Young Adult

Objective To determine the hosts of hantavirus (HV) and its molecular epidemiological characteristics, to provide evidence for prevention and control on hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). Methods Rodents were captured by a special trap within the residential area. The antigens of HV in lung tissues were detected by direct immuno-fluorescence assay (DFA). Nucleotide sequences of HV were amplified by RT-PCR with HV genotype-specific primer. The amplified genes were then sequenced. Phylogenetic tree were built on nucleotide sequence with Clusta1X 1.83 software. Results 1421 rodents were captured and classified into 8 species of 4 Genera in the epidemic area within 10 counties of Chuxiong prefecture, Yunnan province, between 2005 and 2006. Out of the 1421 rodents, 1056 (74.31%) of them were Rattus norvegicas and 280 (19.70%) belonged to Rattus flavipectus. The antigens of HV were detected by DFA in lung tissues and the total positive rate of HV was 5.15% (53/ 1029). After applying the sequencing nucleotide method to the 53 positive specimens, data showed that 21 specimens were positive and all of them belonged to Seoul type ( 15 samples were from Rattus norvegicus, 4 samples Rattasflavipectas, 2 samples Rattus nitidas). The partial S segments from 12 specimens were sequenced which appeared homologic with R22, L99 and HLD65 from GenBank in relatively high level (87.1%-99.7%). When compared to 76-118 strain of Hantaan type, their homologic degree was only 64.4%-69.1%. Results from Phylogenetic analysis showed that 12 specimens belonged to Seoul type. As for their homology, they were significantly similar to Seoul type and could be tentatively divided into two subtypes S1 and S3. Conclusion It was confirmed that the Seoul type virus, as HFRS' s pathogenetic agent mainly carried by rats, prevailed widely in Chuxiong prefecture. Owing to the local ecological environment, we also noticed the characteristics of different HV subtypes among Seoul type.

To develop a stable cell line that could express the RSV NS1, the full-length RSV NS1 gene was generated by RT-PCR amplification from respiratory syncytial virus. NS1 gene was ligated with pBABE-puro to construct the recombinant retroviral expression plasmid pBABE-NS1, which was cotransfected into 293FT packaging cells with PIK packaging plasmid by calcium phosphate co-precipitation. The supernatant of 293FT was collected to infect HEp-2 cells, the resulting cell clones stably expressing NS1 were screened by puromycin. Using QPCR, CPE staining method and indirect immunofluorescence assay, the expression of NS1 at both gene and protein levels was identified. The recombinant plasmid pBABE-NS1 was identified by EcoRI and BamHI endonuclease digestion and the sequence analysis. QPCR results showed that the NS1 gene amplification in HEp-2-NS1 cells was 8483 fold higher than that in HEp-2 cells. Although the exogenous interferon was added, all cells were destroyed after 48 hours post infection using CPE staining method, showing that HEp-2-NS1 cells remained sensitive to the VSV virus. The results of RT-PCR and indirect immunofluorescence assay showed that the NS1 gene in HEp-2 cells could not only transcribe mRNA, but also express NS1 protein steadily. We had successfully established HEp-2-NS1 cell lines with stable expression of respiratory syncytial virus non-structural protein NS1.
Cell Line, Transformed ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses ; genetics ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics