The animal models for pharmacologic assessment of drugs against premature delivery arereviewed, which include the measure of spontaneous delivery time between the first and the second pups in term pregnancy rats, the delay in the onset of labor in rats and premature delivery artificially induced by lipopolysaccharide, interleukin 1 ? and prostaglandin F 2? in mice.

Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Leiomyosarcoma ; pathology ; Parotid Gland ; pathology ; Parotid Neoplasms ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To investigate the relationship between corneal basal nerve change and type 2 diabetic retinopathy based on confocal laser microscopy.Methods Together 118 patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) were collected in our hospital from February 2016 to February 2017,including 57 patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR group) and 61 patients without DR (NDR group).For comparison,60 healthy volunteers were selected as the control group.And all the subjects were examined by corneal confocal laser microscopy to analyze the relationship between the morphological parameters of the corneal nerve and clinical variables.Results Corneal nerve fiber density,corneal nerve branch density and corneal nerve branch length in DR group were (20.03 ±4.22) · mm-2,(22.01 ± 7.05) · mm-2 and (9.50 ± 1.76) mm ·mm-2,significantly less than those of the control group and NDR group (all P ＜ 0.05);and corneal nerve fiber curvature was (0.30 ± 0.03),significantly higher than that of the control group and NDR group (all P ＜ 0.05);In DR patients,phase Ⅲ patients had smaller the corneal nerve fiber density,corneal nerve branch density and corneal nerve branch length,but the larger corneal nerve fiber curvature than the phase Ⅰ and Ⅱ patients (all P ＜ 0.05);course of disease of DR group was (12.04 ± 2.48) years,which was significantly higher than that of NDR group (P ＜ 0.05),while fasting C peptide and fasting insulin were (1.41 ± 0.58) μg · L-1 and (20.05 ± 7.91) mU · L-1,respectively,significantly lower than those of NDR group (all P ＜ 0.05);The duration of T2D was negatively correlated with the corneal nerve branch density and corneal nerve branch length (r =-0.322,-0.317,all P ＜0.05);Fasting C peptide was positively correlated with the corneal nerve branch density (r =0.298,P ＜ 0.05),and negatively correlated with the corneal nerve curvature (r =-0.311,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Patients with T2D retinopathy have abnormal morphology of corneal nerve.And confocal laser scanning microscopy is conducive to the early detection of microvascular disease in T2D patients with a longer course of disease or a low level of fasting C peptide.

A 27-year-old woman was admitted to a hospital due to intermittent fever for 20+ days and swelling pain in knee joint for 7 days.Patients was with persistent fever,the highest temperature to 40.1°C,the double knee joint swelling pain,a large number of scattered red needle-like rash were visible on bilateral hands and legs,lymph-adenectasis,splenectasis,bilateral hands interphalangeal joint and knee joint swelling pain,lymph nodes were con-fined to the bilateral axillary with soft texture,local tenderness,and good activity.Pathological results of left axil-lary lymph node showed the following finding:fragmental lymph node tissue with incomplete structure,lymphoid follicles existed,there were diffuse histocytes,immunoblasts,and a few small lymphocytes proliferation in the re-duced or disappeared area of follicular,caryokinesis could be easily seen,there were patches of necrosis foci with varied size,nucleus disintegrated,fibrinoid necrosis blood vessel with bleeding could be seen.Immunohistochemical detection showed the following results:CD3 (diffuse +);CD20 (follicular +);CD79α(follicular +);CD68 (+);EMA (-);ALK (-);CD15 (a small amount of cells +);CD30 (+),CD4 (-),CD5 (+);CD10 (-);bcl-2 (+);CD21 (+);telomerase B (-);TIA-1 (-);EBV(-)Ki-67 (+).Through a combination of clinical and immunohistochemical detection results,the diagnosis of histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis was made.Patient discontinued antimicrobial drugs,after she was treated with 5% glucose 100 mL + hydrocortisone sodium succinate 200 mg intravenous drip for 3 days,patients had no fever,axillary lymph node gradually dwindled.Then patients was treated with methylprednisolone 8 mg/d,twice a day,reduced 1 tablet every two weeks,and stopped eventual-ly.Patients was followed up for two years,repeated examination of blood routine,liver and kidney function were in the normal range,bilateral knee didn’t swell,could walk freely,there appeared no enlargement of lymph node.

Objective To assessed the expression of inducible costimulator(ICOS)on peripheral blood and joint fluid CD4,CDS,CD45RO T cells and B cells in rheumatoid arthritis(RA).Methods Expression of ICOS and ICOS/CD45RO on peripheral blood and joint fluid CD4~+CD8~+T cells and ICOS ligand(ICOSL)on CD19 B cells from RA patients and healthy volunteers were determind by three-color flow cytometry.Compar- ision with active and inactive RA,initial and relapsed RA had been done.Results Joint fluid CD4 and CD8 T cells expressing ICOS,ICOS/CD45RO were significantly increased than peripheral blood in RA patients and healthy subjects.Joint fluid B cells expressing ICOSL were significantly reduced than peripheral blood in RA patients.Meanwhile,peripheral blood B cells expressing ICOSL were significantly reduced in active RA than inactive RA patients.Conclusion Hyperexpression of ICOS and ICOS/CD45RO on joint fluid CD4 and CD8 T cells and lowexpression of ICOSL in B cells from RA patients,expecially in active RA may contribute to the local immunopathological roles and joint destructions in the pathogenesis of RA.

OBJECTIVETo explore the etiology, clinical aspects, diagnosis and therapeutic strategies of acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss (ALHL).

METHODSThirty patients (31 ears) with ALHL were selected for this study. Detailed history collection, otological examination and systematic audiological evaluations were conducted. The hearing tests included pure tone audiometry, acoustic immittance, auditory brainstem response (ABR) and otoacoustic emissions (OAE). All cases received therapeutic trial of corticosteroid for 15 days with 6 to 14 months' following-up.

RESULTSALHL mainly affected young people. Low-tone tinnitus, a sensation of ear fullness and hearing impairment were the frequent complains. Otological examinations showed normal results. Mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss at low frequencies and type "A" tympanograms were found in all patients. Acoustic stapedial reflexes were elicited in 26 of 31 affected ears, and 14 of them had positive results on the Metz test. ABR responses were normal in all 20 tested ears. In 14 out of 20 ears, TEOAEs were absent and DPOAE grams at low frequencies (0.5, 0.75 kHz) were abnormal on the first visit. After steroid therapy, 24 ears demonstrated complete recovery, but 4 ears showed partial recovery and 3 ears unchanged. The total improvement rate was 90.3%.

CONCLUSIONSALHL patients are clinically characterized by low-tone tinnitus, aural fullness and hearing loss, which mainly involved unilateral ear. Audiological findings indicate a cochlear impairment, which only invades low frequency region. The basic pathological feature may be endolymphatic hydrops involves immune response. Conflicting data exist on whether ALHL is an independent disorder or a subtype of Meniere's disease. Ideal therapeutic strategy has not been established by now and corticosteroid is probably an effective agent.

Acute Disease ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Audiometry, Evoked Response ; Endolymphatic Hydrops ; etiology ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Meniere Disease ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous

OBJECTIVETo investigate the characteristics of the hepatic pathological and clinical features of patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) in immune tolerant stage and find the better measure of diagnosing patients chronic infected by HBV in immune tolerant phase.

METHODS135 patients with HBV chronic infection and persistently normal serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were involved in this study, whose serum HBeAg and HBV DNA were positive. Statistical analysis included the ages, sex, serum levels of HBVDNA, ALT and histological grade. The grades of inflammation and fibrosis were obtained through hepatic biopsy performed on all the patients.

RESULTSMean age in those patients was 22.61 +/- 8.95 years old. All those patients were divided into two groups according to histological grade: low- histological grade group, G < or = 1 and S < or = 1; and high-histological grade group, G > or = 2, S > or = to 2. Levels of histological grade were low in most of patients (99/135). Patients of low-histological grade had no difference in age, sex and family history of HBsAg carriers. Compared with low-normal ALT (ALT less than 30U/L), those with high-normal ALT (ALT > or = 30U/L) had a greater frequencies of high-histological grade. Compared with high HBVDNA (HBVDNA > or = 10(7) copies/ml), those with low HBVDNA (HBVDNA less than 10(7) copies/ml) had a greater frequencies of high-histological grade.

CONCLUSIONLevels of histological grade were low in most of patients with HBV chronic infection, serum HBeAg and HBVDNA positive, persistently normal serum ALT levels, but some of them were high-histological grade. It showed those patients were not all in immune tolerant stage of chronic HBV infection. Examination of ALT and HBVDNA are helpful to evaluate hepatic pathological damage for them.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; immunology ; pathology ; virology ; Humans ; Immune Tolerance ; Male ; Middle Aged

Aim:To investigate the effect of Hemangiopoietin (HAPO) on the hematopoiesis reconstitution in sub-lethally irradiated Balb/c mice.Methods: Balb/c mice were underwent total body irradiation at 700 cGy 137Cs ? radiation and were treated with HAPO or recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) after irradiation. The hematopoiesis reconstitution of mice were detected. Cells from bone marrow of Balb/c mice were cultured with HAPO or rhG-CSF for 24 hours or 72 hours before or after the cells were irradiated. The viability of cells were assessed and the ability of in vitro hematopoiesis reconstitution were also detected. Result: rhG-CSF and HAPO treated mice both showed increased survival rate and increased colony forming units. The peripheral WBC number increased greatly. The HAPO group was most quickest compared with rhG-CSF group and PBS control group. The number of bone marrow cells at day 14 of rhG-CSF group was higher than that in HAPO group, but the number of bone marrow cells at day 32 of rhG-CSF was lower than that in HAPO group. The number of bone marrow cells at day 42 of rhG-CSF was below normal. The number of bone marrow cells at day 42 of HAPO group was nearly normal. The number of CFU-GEMM in HAPO group was most compared with that in rhG-CSF group and PBS control group at day 7, 14 and 21 after radiation. The survival rate of cells after radiation in HAPO group was markedly higher than that in PBS control group, but the survival rate of cells after radiation in rhG-CSF group was no notable difference compared with that in PBS control group. In MTT assay, both HAPO and rhG-CSF incubation stimulated proliferation of bone marrow cell at 72 hours after radiation. Bone marrow cells formed Hematopoietic islands in HAPO group after radiation and were positive for sca-1 and CD31. CD31 positive endothelial cells increased around the Hematopoietic islands. There was no Hematopoietic islands formation, few CD31 positive endothelial cells and no sca-1 positive cells in PBS control group. Conclusion: HAPO can promote hematopoiesis reconstitution in sub-lethally irradiated Balb/c mice. It can increase the survival rate of mice and stimulate the proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells.

OBJECTIVETo retrospectively compare the clinical outcome in patients with portal hypertension treated with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) using Fluency stent-graft (PTFE-covered stents) or bare stents.

METHODSApproval of study and treatment protocol and waiver of informed consent for the retrospective study were obtained from institutional review board. Informed consent was obtained from each patient before procedure. Sixty consecutive patients with portal hypertension treated with TIPS from April 2007 to April 2009 were included. TIPS creation was performed with Fluency stent-graft in 30 patients (group A) and with bare stents in 30 patients (group B). Liver function, TIPS patency and clinical outcome were evaluated every 3 months.

RESULTSDuring hospitalization, there was no hepatic encephalopathy and recurrency of variceal bleeding.Acute shunt occlusion was observed in one patient with group A and another patient with group B.Follow-up was performed with average time of (6.2 +/- 3.9) months in group A and (8.3 +/- 4.4) months in group B. The rates of recurrent bleeding, acute shunt occlusion, hepatic encephalopathy and death were 3.3% and 20.0%, 0 and 30.0%, 16.7% and 20.0%, 0 and 13.3% in group A and B. The rates of recurrent bleeding, acute shunt occlusion and death in group A was lower than those in group B. There was no difference of hepatic encephalopathy between group A and B. The decrease of portal pressure and portosystemic pressure gradient, and the increase of portal flow and shunt flow in group A were higher than those in group B. There were no difference of liver function, ammonia and MELD between group A and B.

CONCLUSIONSFluency stent-graft is safe and effective in TIPS creation, with high patency rate. Covered-stent can improve the clinical outcome of portal hypertension.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic ; instrumentation ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDCytogenetic and molecular studies of azoospermic and oligozoospermic males have suggested the presence of azoospermia factors (AZF) in the Y chromosome. Deletion in AZF regions has been reported to disrupt spermatogenesis and cause infertility. Several candidate genes responsible for spermatogenesis have been identified in this region and some of them are thought to be functional in human spermatogenesis. And we reported clinical and molecular studies of Y chromosome microdeletions in Chinese. This study aimed at assessing the frequency of microdeletions in Chinese men with idiopathic and nonidiopathic infertility problems and dicussing the clinical significance of the AZF region.

METHODSIn this study, we screened 143 infertile men (62 with idiopathic infertilitas and 81 with nonidiopathic infertilitas), in whom karyotype, sperm count, hormonal parameters and fine needle aspiration cytology were evaluated. Genomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral leukocytes. Molecular analysis was performed by two multiplex polymerase chain reactions (PCR) using a set of a sequence tagged sites (STS) from 3 different regions of the Y chromosome: AZFa (sY84, sY86), AZFb (sY127, sY134), AZFc (sY254, sY255).

RESULTSNineteen point four percent of idiopathic males (12/62, 19.4%) had microdeletions of either the AZFa, AZFb, AZFc or AZFb + c region. Significantly, a high frequency of microdeletions (9/81, 11.1%) was found in nonidiopathic patients with varicocele and cryptorchidism. No deletions were found in healthy fertile men. There were no significant differences in the localization and extent of deletions between idiopathic and nonidiopathic patients.

CONCLUSIONSThe knowledge of the presence of these deletions in idiopathic and nonidiopathic cases is important to understand the prognosis, better management and counsel these patients accordingly. Furthermore, a more extended screening for Y chromosome microdeletions in idiopathic and nonidiopathic men, particularly candidates for intracytoplasmic sperm injection, is recommended.

Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; Cryptorchidism ; genetics ; pathology ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Testis ; pathology ; Varicocele ; genetics ; pathology