Aim To evaluate the potency of anti-D. acutus venom IgY neutralizing the main activities of D. acutus venom.Methods After mixing the different a-mounts of IgY with snake venom and incubating togeth-er,the main activities of snake venom were assayed by biochemical methods.Results The in vitro assays in-dicated that anti-D.acutus venom IgY obviously neu-tralized the activities of PLA2 ,5′-nucleotidase,hyalu-ronidase,metalloprotease and serine proteinase (fi-brinogenase)in D.acutus venom.Mouse experiments showed that the ED50 value of IgY for mouse was 1 131.09 μg.Conclusion Anti-D.acutus venom IgY antibodies have good effects in neutralizing D.acutus venom without the toxicities themselves.

Objective To explore a new method of functional reconstruction of hand digits and joints with free transfer of foot tissues so as to increase the success rate of the operation.Methods After micro-anatomic study of the plantar and dorsal metatarsal arteries,retrograde and free grafts of foot tissues pedicled with plantar metatarsal arteries were designed and applied in transplantation to treat 76 cases of hand digital or joint defects.The surgeries included 58 cases of transfer of the second toe,four cases of transfer of composite tissues of the second toe, eight cases of transfer of proximal interphalangeal joint,and six cases of nail flap transfer.Results The mi- cro-anatomic study found that the first plantar metatarsal artery was anatomically constant and the diameter of its branch to the second toe was larger than that of the first dorsal metatarsal artery.Flaps survived in 75 of the 76 patients(98.7%),with fine appearance and significantly improved function.One patient who had received free transfer of the second toe to reconstruct the thumb function had to undergo a second repair with infraclavicula skin tube because of refractory arteriospasm of anastomosed vessels.Conclusion Transfer with free retrograde grafts of foot tissues pedicled with plantar metatarsal artery to reconstruct hand functions can effectively improve the success rate of the operation,because it is free of the shortcomings of great anatomic variation of blood vessels and time-consuming and complex procedures in conventional transfer.

Objective To investigate the relationship between fragmented QRS (fQRS) complex and the early left ventricular remodeling or heart function in patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI).Methods A total of 76 patients with AMI hospitalized in CCU of the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University were enrolled in the study.Patients were divided into fQRS group (n=29) and non-fQRS group (n=47). The clinical data including ECG, laboratory indicators, coronary angiography results and real-time three-dimensional (RT-3D) echocardiography parameter were collected in two groups.The relationship between fQRS and baseline data,fQRS and RT-3D echocardiography parameter were analyzed.At the same time,the influencing factors of left ventricular remodeling and heart function were discussed in the study. Results Compared with non-fQRS group, left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) and left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV)were significantly higher,and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)was significantly lower in fQRS group(P<0.05).Several three-dimensional parameters including Tmsv16-SD(%)and Tmsv 16-Dif(%)were significantly higher in fQRS group than those in non-fQRS group(P<0.05).There were no significant differences in Tmsv 16-SD(ms),Tmsv 12-SD(ms),Tmsv 12-SD(%),Tmsv 6-SD(ms),Tmsv 6-SD(%),Tmsv 16-Dif(ms),Tmsv 12-Dif(ms),Tmsv 12-Dif(%),Tmsv 6-Dif(ms)and Tmsv 6-Dif(%)between two groups.Logistic regression analysis showed that fQRS and Gensini scores had effects on heart function.At the same time,fQRS was an independent predictor for left ventricular remodeling. Conclusion Left ventricular remodeling is more obvious in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated with fQRS,and fQRS can predict left ventricular remodeling better.

Objective To introduce a new technique for urethral coverage in Snodgrass hypospadias repair,and to evaluate its effectiveness and complications.Methods From April 2003 to February 2006, this new procedure was performed in 289 children with hypospadias aged 3 months to 12 years (mean age,2. 4 years).The native meatus of urethra was identified subcoronal in 78 cases,penile/shaft in 136,penoscrotal in 36 and scrotal in 16;and 23 cases had undergoneⅡstage operation and re-operation.The overlapping coverage with bilateral shaft based vascularized dartos pedicle was done in the new urethra by Snodgrass hy- pospadias repair in these children.Results All the cases were followed for 3 months to 2 years.Postoper- atively,urinary fistulas developed in 32 cases (11%).Of them,11 were cured spontaneously within 4 weeks. The incidence of actual urinary fistula was 7% (21/289).Of the 21 fistulas which were not cured,11 (5%) occurred in 214 cases of distal hypospadias;and 10 (13%) in 75 cases of proximal hypospadias,Ⅱstage and re-operation.No dehiscence and diverticulum was found.Combined with mucosal collar technique,the ventral skin of the penis was sewn on the midline.During the follow-up,excellent cosmetic results with normal-ap- pearing circumcised penis were achieved in most patients.Conclusions Bilateral shaft based vascularized dartos pedicle urethral coverage procedure is a reliable and effective method for preventing urethral cutaneous fistulas and dehiscence.This method can reconstruct a satisfactory cosmetic appearance of the penis.

Human lymphocyte antigen (HLA) is the most complicated human dominant polymorphic genetic system. Accurate HLA genotyping is clinically important for hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation, also important for research on many human diseases. Polymerase chain reaction-sequence based typing (PCR-SBT) provides the highest resolution level and defines new alleles, so it is widely used for HLA typing. One great disadvantage of PCR-SBT method is the fact that it cannot resolve sequences of heterozygous samples in diploid genomes, leading to ambiguous typing results which make much trouble to the accurate definition of HLA genotype. This article reviewed the occurring reasons and solution method of ambiguous allele combinations in the HLA high resolution genotyping as well as the research prospect in this field.
Genotype ; HLA Antigens ; genetics ; immunology ; Histocompatibility Testing ; Humans

The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic polymorphism of Y-chromosome specific short tandem repeat (Y-STR) loci in Zhuang ethnic group of China. Nine Y-STR loci were amplified by single multiplex and the PCR products were detected by using ABI Prism(TM) 3100 DNA Sequencer. The allele frequencies and haplotype frequencies at 9 Y-STR loci were determined in a total of 85 unrelated male individuals from Zhuang ethnic group of China. The results indicated that in the 85 unrelated male individuals, except for the DYS426 locus with a low GD value, the GD values for other 8 Y-STR loci ranged from 0.4387 to 0.8129. A total of 70 haplotypes at 9 Y-STR loci were found, the haplotype diversity was 0.9926. It is concluded that the haplotype polymorphism of 9 Y-STR loci are highly polymorphic in Zhuang ethnic group and also significantly different from our previous reported data of unrelated male individnals in southern Chinese Han population.
Alleles ; China ; ethnology ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; genetics ; Genetic Loci ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic

Blast injury is the main cause of injury in the battlefield, which also occurs frequently in the civil field and modern society. The damage caused by blast is more complicated than other types of trauma. Primary blast injury is a common type of blast injury, which can cause multiple organ damage with complex mechanism. Tissue and vascular endothelium damage and organ hypoperfusion are the consistent manifestations of most organ damage. However, due to the concealed damage caused by the primary blast injury, it is difficult to recognize it in time. The study of coagulation function and acid-base balance change after primary blast injury can bring benefits to its early diagnosis and intervention, thus improving the prognosis and mortality of blast injury. However, at present, the research on primary blast injury mostly focuses on single organ damage. Lack of research on systemic coagulation and acid-base balance changes calls for further research. Such research has a practical significance for the early diagnosis and optimization of tactical care for primary blast injury. This article reviews the injury characteristics, epidemiology, mechanism and the relationship with trauma-induced coagulopathy (TIC) in primary blast injury to provide reference for related researches.

OBJECTIVES(1) To evaluate the prevalence, phenotypes and suppressive function of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) among the in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and tumor-infiltration lymphocytes (TILs) from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients and patients with chronic hepatitis B. (2) To investigate the correlation between the frequency of CD4+CD25+ Tregs and clinical characteristics of HCC patients.

METHODSPBMCs and TILs in 18 HCC patients, 10 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and 15 healthy donors were evaluated for the phenotypes of CD4+CD25+ Tregs and the proportion of CD4+CD25+ Tregs as a percentage of the total CD4+ cells, by flow cytometric analysis with three or four color staining. The relationship between the frequency of CD4+CD25+ Tregs and tumor TNM stages was analyzed. The CD4+CD25+ Tregs and CD4+CD25- T cells were isolated from PBMC of HCC patients and donors. The suppressive function of CD4+CD25+ Tregs was analyzed.

RESULTSThe percentages of CD4+CD25+ Tregs of the HCC patients (6.38% +/- 6.30%) and CHB patients (4.29% +/- 1.82%) were significantly higher than those of the healthy donors (1.58% +/- 0.55%, P less than 0.01). Among the TILs, the percentage of CD4+CD25+ Tregs was higher (t = 4.39, P < 0.01). There were significant differences in the prevalence of CD4+CD25+ Tregs in early and advanced stage HCCs (stage II vs. III, P less than 0.05; stage II vs. IV P < 0.01). The proliferative capacity of CD4+CD25- T cells was inhibited by the presence of CD4+CD25+ T cells in a dose-dependent manner where the level of suppression was correlated to the ratio of the two-cell populations.

CONCLUSIONThese results suggest that the increase in frequency of CD4+CD25+ Tregs might play a role in the suppression of the immune response against HCC, which may contribute to the HCC cells that escaped from immunological surveillance.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as the major cause of chronic liver injury. Intestinal barrier plays an important role in the pathogenis of NAFLD. The aim of this article was to assess intestinal immune barrier function during the development of NAFLD.

METHODSTotally 60 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into 2 groups: normal diet (ND) group and high-fat diet (HFD) group. NAFLD rat model was established in the HFD rat group. Portal blood endotoxin level was assessed by limulus test. The percentage of CD4+ cells and CD8+ cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and lymphocytes in Peyer's patches (PP) were analysed by flow cytometry. Intestinal secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) level was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Paired Student's t test was used for the statistic analysis.

RESULTSHFD rats presented with simple steatosis at the 4th and 8th week and progressed to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis at the 12th week. Elevated lipopolysaccharides (LPS) level in HFD rats was observed at the 8th week ((1.54 ± 0.30) times of ND group, P < 0.01). CD4/CD8 ratios in PBMC and PP of HFD rats were increased at the 4th week ((1.50 ± 0.47) and (1.63 ± 0.34) times of ND group, P < 0.05) and decreased at the 8th week ((0.50 ± 0.16) and (0.61 ± 0.26) times of ND group, P < 0.05). At the 12th week, CD4/CD8 ratio ((1.47 ± 0.46) times, P < 0.05) in PP increased to levels observed in the 4th week. Intestinal SIgA expression of HFD rats was remarkably up-regulated at 12th week ((2.70 ± 1.65) times, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLiver-gut axis in rats with NAFLD may mediate and improve intestinal immune function by increased CD4/CD8 ratio in PP and increased production of SIgA.

Animals ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Diet, High-Fat ; adverse effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fatty Liver ; chemically induced ; etiology ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory ; immunology ; Intestines ; immunology ; Male ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo evaluate some currently used surgical approaches to the correction of congenital penile curvature.

METHODSSeventy-six patients with congenital penile curvature underwent surgical correction, of whom 67 were accompanied with hypospadias, 5 with epispadias and 4 with normal urethral meatus. The methods for straightening the phallus included 5-week preoperative hCG treatment, complete degloving of penile skin, release of periurethral fibrous bands extending proximally to the meatus, plication of dorsal or ventral tunica albuginea, and embedding of dermis and tunica vaginalis grafts.

RESULTSAll the cases were followed up for 2 months to 2 years, and the mean follow-up time was 9.3 months. Satisfactory phallus straightening was achieved in 67 cases (88%), mild residual chordee remained in 6 (8%), which needed no reoperation for the time being unless warranted by follow-up, and relapse occurred in 3 (4%), which needed further operation.

CONCLUSIONMost cases of congenital penile curvature can be corrected sufficiently with the above methods.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Penis ; abnormalities ; Urogenital Abnormalities ; surgery ; Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male ; methods