Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Fluorescence ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; isolation & purification ; Paraffin Embedding ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Young Adult

Objective To explore the anatomical basis,safty and manipuility of the puncture technique through anterolateral cervical approach.Methods Twenty two embalmed cadavers and 50 patients who underwent operation through anterolateral cervical approach were used to observe the cervical anatomical characteristics.During the cadaver dissection and operation,the following information was observed:the movement of the carotid sheath while the visceral sheath was pushed left,the features of interspace between the two sheaths at each cervical level,the movement of the esophagus and the interfascial space in which the esophagus moved while the trachea was pushed medially,and the movement of the carotid sheath while it was pushed medially and laterally.From January 2007 to December 2011,206 patients diagnosed as cervical discogenic pain or cervical vertigo were treated by radiofrequency using puncture technique through anterolateral cervical approach,including 93 males and 113 females,aged from 22 to 71 years (average,48years).A total of 434 discs were involved.Results Both in cadaver dissection and in operation,the following results were observed:there was no natural interspace between the carotid sheath and visceral sheath below the C4 level,as a result,manual separation was needed to create a interspace between the two sheaths for the puncture; the two layers of the prevertebral fascia could be separated easily; keeping the visceral sheath intact,the esophagus moved following the trachea when the latter was pushed medially,and the movement of the visceral sheath relative to the cervical vertebra occurred between the two layers of prevertebral fascia; the carotid sheath was primarily constituted by continuation of the prevertebral fascia,as a result,the movement of the carotid sheath was limited by its own tension and the prevertebral fascia.A total of 434 cases of puncture to cervical disc were performed smoothly with no complications related to the carotid artery,esophagus and cervical disc.Conclusion The puncture technique through anterolateral cervical approach requires a correct,thorough understanding of the anterior cervical anatomy,based on which this technique is safe and feasible.

Seven terpenoids and three sterols were isolated from the methanol extracts of the aerial parts of Ricinus communis by chromatography methods and their structures were identified by spectra analysis as ficusic acid( 1), phytol(2), callyspinol(3) , lupeol(4), 30-norlupan-3beta-ol-20-one(5) , lup-20(29)-en-3beta,15alpha-diol(6) , acetylaleuritolic acid( 7), stigmast4-en-3-one(8) , stig-mast-4-en-6beta-ol-3-one(9) , and stigmast4-en-3,6-dione(10). Compounds 1-3 and 5-10 were obtained from this species for the first time and 5 and 6 showed significant inhibitive activity and good selectivity against 11beta-HSD of mouse and human in vitro. [Key words] Ricinus communis; terpenoids; sterols; 11beta-HSD
11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; 11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Mice ; Ricinus ; chemistry ; Sterols ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Terpenes ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

This study was purposed to investigate the immune reconstitution of T-cells in patients who received haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (hiHSCT). The peripheral blood was harvested from 22 patients before transplantation and at month 1, 3, 6 after hiHSCT. The proportions of T lymphocyte subtypes including CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+), CD45RO(+), and CD45RA(+)CD62L(+) were analyzed by flow cytometry, followed by the calculation of T cell numbers according to the amounts of peripheral blood leukocytes. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) value in CD4(+) T cells was measured by ImmuKnow method to evaluate the function of lymphocytes. The results showed that the CD3(+) cell absolute value before transplantation was 833.75 ± 359.84/µl, but those values at month 1, 3, 6 after transplantation were 318.87 ± 266.71/µl, 1006.76 ± 512.32/µl and 1296.38 ± 958.77/µl respectively. The CD4(+) cell absolute value before transplantation was 336.99 ± 211.11/µl, but such values at month 1, 3, 6 after transplantation were 45.89 ± 44.21/µl, 142.97 ± 114.85/µl, and 181.78 ± 120.61/µl respectively. The CD8(+) cell absolute value before transplantation was 430.21 ± 159.48/µl, but those values at month 1, 3, 6 after transplantation were 230.44 ± 195.89/µl, 621.64 ± 318.83/µl, and 823.07 ± 633.55/µl respectively. The CD4(+)CD45RO(+) memory T cell absolute value before transplantation was 227.44 ± 73.34/µl, but such values at month 1, 3, 6 after transplantation were 43.47 ± 43.40/µl, 138.69 ± 110.17/µl, 147.73 ± 82.94/µl respectively. The CD8(+)CD45RO(+) memory T cell absolute value before transplantation was 212.70 ± 98.48/µl, but such values at month 1, 3, 6 after transplantation were 184.76 ± 168.65/µl, 445.90 ± 252.50/µl, 519.80 ± 475.53/µl respectively. CD4(+)CD45RA(+)CD62L(+) naive T cell number before transplantation was 68.94 ± 59.74/µl, but such cell numbers at month 1, 3, 6 after transplantation decreased to 2.44 ± 2.93/µl, 3.14 ± 3.48/µl, 23.22 ± 38.38/µl respectively. The CD8(+)CD45RA(+)CD62L(+) naive T cell absolute value before transplantation was 124.82 ± 60.95/µl, but those values at month 1, 3, 6 decreased to 19.37 ± 17.71/µl, 76.63 ± 50.85/µl, and 114.49 ± 174.29/µl respectively. The ATP value in CD4(+) T cells decreased to 210.19 ± 119.37 ng/ml at month 1 after transplantation and increased to 280.62 ± 110.03 ng/ml at month 3, and 357.28 ± 76.18 ng/ml at month 6 after transplantation. It is concluded that CD8(+) memory T cell reconstruction contributes critically to T cell recovery early after hiHSCT, while the thymic output function remains low. However, T cell function recovers to normal range at month 3 after transplantation.
Adolescent ; Adult ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Haplotypes ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Lymphocyte Count ; Male ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: Estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) have been used as indicators of endocrine system status since the mid-1970s in the clinical management of breast cancer. The predictive role of ER in endocrine therapy is undisputed, but the prognostic value of PR is still debated. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of ER positive breast cancer with different PR expression levels. METHODS: A population cohort of 3,030 primary invasive ER positive breast cancer patients from a single cancer center underwent surgery and received adjuvant endocrine therapy from 2004 to 2010. The clinical and biological features of these patients with high PR-expressing tumors were compared with those of patients with low PR-expressing tumors. The follow-up data for disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and breast cancer specific survival (BCSS) was obtained from 2,778 patients. Cox regression analysis was used to correlate biomarkers and tumor characteristics with DFS, OS, and BCSS. RESULTS: Tumors with low PR expression had more invasive pathological features and biological indexes than those with high PR expression. Low PR expression was an independent poor prognostic factor for DFS (p=0.014; hazard ratio [HR], 0.781; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.641–0.950), OS (p=0.002; HR, 0.699; 95% CI, 0.560–0.873), and BCSS (p=0.005; HR, 0.714; 95% CI, 0.566–0.902). Furthermore, in low PR expressing tumors, patients who received chemotherapy had better DFS (p=0.002; HR, 0.449; 95% CI, 0.268–0.751), OS (p<0.001; HR, 0.341; 95% CI, 0.192–0.606), and BCSS (p<0.001; HR, 0.292; 95% CI, 0.156–0.549) than patients who did not received chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Patients with ER positive invasive breast cancer with low PR expressing tumors have a worse prognosis than those with high PR expressing tumors, and these patients can benefit from chemotherapy.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Biomarkers ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Cohort Studies ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy ; Endocrine System ; Estrogens* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Progesterone* ; Prognosis ; Receptors, Progesterone* ; Tamoxifen

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the immunohistochemical detection of epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) mutations using two EGFR mutation-specific monoclonal antibodies: delE746-A750 and L858R.

METHODSA total of 175 paraffin-embedded lung adenocarcinoma tissue samples previously genotyped by directive DNA sequencing were subject to immunostaining using delE746-A750 and L858R antibodies.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference of mutation detection between DNA sequence analysis and delE746-A750 and/or L858R immunostaining (33.7% vs 30.9%, P > 0.05). The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of immunostaining using these two EGFR mutation-specific antibodies were 83.1%, 95.7%, 90.7% and 90.9%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONWith high sensitivity and good specificity, immunohistochemistry using EGFR mutation-specific monoclonal antibodies is an adequate, easy and cost-effective prescreening method to detect EGFR mutations using paraffin-embedded tissue specimens of lung adenocarcinomas.

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Gene Deletion ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paraffin Embedding ; Point Mutation ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo develop a fast, high-throughput screening method with suspension array technique for simultaneous detection of biothreat bacteria.

METHODS16 S rDNA universal primers for Bacillus anthracis, Francisella tularensis, Yersinia pestis, Brucella spp.and Burkholderia pseudomallei were selected to amplify corresponding regions and the genus-specific or species-specific probes were designed. After amplification of chromosomal DNA by 16 S rDNA primers 341A and 519B, the PCR products were detected by suspension array technique. The sensitivity, specificity, reproducibility and detection power were also analyzed.

RESULTSAfter PCR amplification by 16 S rDNA primers and specific probe hybridization, the target microorganisms could be identified at genus level, cross reaction was recognized in the same genus. The detection sensitivity of the assay was 1.5 pg/microl (Burkholderia pseudomallei), 20 pg/microl (Brucella spp.), 7 pg/microl (Bacillus anthracis), 0.1 pg/microl (Francisella tularensis), and 1.1 pg/microl (Yersinia pestis), respectively. The coefficient of variation for 15 test of different probes was ranged from 5.18% to 17.88%, it showed good reproducibility. The assay could correctly identify Bacillus anthracis and Yersinia pestis strains in simulated white powder samples.

CONCLUSIONThe suspension array technique could be served as an opening screening method for biothreat bacteria rapid detection.

Bacillus anthracis ; isolation & purification ; Bioterrorism ; prevention & control ; DNA Primers ; DNA, Bacterial ; analysis ; Francisella tularensis ; isolation & purification ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; methods ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; genetics ; Yersinia pestis ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of propranolol on the left ventricular (LV) volume during CT coronary angiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The LV volume of 252 normal Chinese subjects (126 subjects with propranolol medication and 126 age- and gender-matched Chinese subjects without medication) was estimated using 64 slices multi-detector CT (MDCT). The heart rate difference was analyzed by the logistic linear regression model with variables that included gender, age, body height, body weight, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and the dosage of propranolol. The following global LV functional parameters were calculated: the real-end diastolic volume (EDV), the real-end systolic volume (ESV) and the real-ejection fraction (EF). RESULTS: The female subjects had a greater decrease of heart rate after taking propranolol. The difference of heart rate was negatively correlated with the dosage of propranolol. The real-EDV, the real-ESV and the real-EF ranged from 48.1 to 109 mL/m2, 6.1 to 57.1 mL/m2 and 41% to 88%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the SBP and DBP between the groups without and with propranolol medication (123 +/- 17 and 80 +/- 10 mmHg; 120 +/- 14 and 80 +/- 11 mmHg, respectively). The real-EDV showed no significant difference between these two groups, but the real-ESV and real-EF showed significant differences between these two groups (69.4 +/- 9.3 and 70.6 +/- 8.9 mL/m2; 23.5 +/- 5.7 and 25.6 +/- 3.7 mL/m2, 66.5 +/- 5.1% and 63.5 +/- 4.6%, respectively). CONCLUSION: The difference of heart rate is significantly influenced by gender and the dosage of propranolol. Propranolol will also increase the ESV, which contributes to a decreased EF, while the SBP, DBP and EDV are not statistically changed.
Adrenergic beta-Antagonists/*administration & dosage ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Contrast Media/diagnostic use ; *Coronary Angiography ; Diastole ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Heart Rate/*drug effects ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Propranolol/*administration & dosage ; Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; Systole ; *Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Triiodobenzoic Acids/diagnostic use ; Ventricular Function, Left/*drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the osteogenesis mechanism by analysis of the expression of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-1) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the reconstruction of cleft palate (CP) with distraction osteogenesis (DO) in rhesus.

METHODSThe CP animal models were established surgically. 21 rhesus in experimental group underwent DO to close the soft and bony defect, followed by consolidations. Every 3 animals were killed and the specimen were taken out after consolidation of 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24 weeks. The mRNA of IGF-1 and ALP were detected with Real-time RT-PCR technique. The expression of IGF-1 and ALP was quantitatively analyzed by ELISA. The results were compared with those in control and sham groups (each of 2 animals), respectively.

RESULTSSince consolidation, the mRNA of IGF-1 and ALP increased significantly at one week and reached the peak at two weeks, but decrease to control level after 12 weeks of consolidation. The expression of IGF-1 also increased to peak level after two weeks of consolidation. The expression of ALT increased significantly since consolidation and reach the peak value after six weeks. They all decreased to nearly control level after 8-12 weeks.

CONCLUSIONSThe palate cleft can be successfully closed with new formed bone after DO. The mechanism of bone consolidation is intramembranous bone formation.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Bone Regeneration ; Cleft Palate ; metabolism ; surgery ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; Macaca ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Postoperative Period

Coal ; Dust ; analysis ; Gases ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis ; etiology