Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that severely threatens human health and affects the socioeconomic development. The causative agent that parasitizes in humans mainly involves Schistosoma japonicum,S. mansoni,S. haematobi-um,S. intercalatum and S. mekongi. As the firstly identified schistosome,S. haematobium infection is found to strongly correlate with bladder cancer. This paper mainly reviews the discovery,morphology and life cycle of S. haematobium.

Autoantibodies ; blood ; immunology ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Radiography ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Thyroid Diseases ; blood ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Thyroid Function Tests ; methods ; Thyroid Gland ; diagnostic imaging ; immunology ; Thyroid Hormones ; blood

Body Height ; Child ; Female ; Ghrelin ; pharmacology ; Growth Disorders ; physiopathology ; Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone ; pharmacology ; Human Growth Hormone ; blood ; physiology ; urine ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; blood ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; physiology ; Male

OsRacD belonging to rice Rho family of the small GTP binding proteins,is a pivotal gene involved in rice photoperiod fertility conversion of photoperiod sensitive genic male sterile rice,which influences rice fertility via controlling the pollen tube growth.T20N site-directed mutation was introduced into its highly conserved G1 motif by PCR-mediated method to mimic its GDP-binding state based on the sequences alignment and conserved domains analysis.The prokaryotic expression vector of OsRacD and T20N-OsRacD were constructed,and the His6 tag fused proteins were expressed and purified from E.coli.After identified by Western blot,the GTP hydrolysis activities were detected.The results showed that the GTPase activities of T20N-OsRacD were significantly reduced comparing with that of OsRacD,suggested that OsRacD and T20N-OsRacD have different biochemical characteristics.

Objective: Medical therapy to prevent persistent ectopic pregnancy (PEP) after conservative laparoscopic operation was investigated. Methods:236 patients with ectopic pregnancy were divided into three groups according to the time of hospitalization. 83 cases were in group A, hyperosmolar glucose was injected into the fallopian tube lumen after laparoscopic salpingostomy. 81 cases were in group B, MTX was injected in the same way, 72 cases were in group C as control group. Serum β-HCG was tested for four times, before the operation, the first, third and a week after the operation respectively. Results:There were 6 patients of PEP in this study. One patient in group A, one patient in group B, the rest four patients in group C. The incidence of PEP was not statistically significant between group A and B( P>0. 05), while the difference was significant between group A and C ( P<0. 05). Serum β-HCG in three groups descended significantly in the first 24 hours after operation, but there were no differences among these groups. As for the descending of β-HCG in day 3 and 7, there was no difference between group A and B, but the difference was magnificent between group A and C( P < 0.05). Conclusions: Compared with the MTX, hyperosmolar glucose is an effective and safer method to prevent PEP.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of serum (1-3)-β-D-glucan detection for invasive fungal infection (IFI) in neonates. Methods Eighty-seven neonates who were suspected to be IFI cases in neonatal intensive care unit from May 2008 to January 2010 were enrolled into this study. All subjects had infection symptoms, while did no react to the antibiotics treatment. The diagnosis of IFI was made according to Invasive pulmonary fungal infection diagnostic criteria of children set by Subspecialty Group of Respiratory Diseases, the Society of Pediatrics, Chinese Medical Association and Invasive fungal infection diagnostic criteria for critical patients set by the Society of Critical Care Medicine, Chinese Medical Association. Circulating (1-3)-β-D-glucan levels were determined with GKT-5M set kinetic fungus detection kit. Levels of (1-3)-Β-D-glucan in IFI group and that in the control group were compared; optimal cut-off value was established with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve; and the sensitivity and specificity at the cut-off value of 20.0 pg/ml and optimal cut-off value were calculated and compared. Results Among the 87 suspected cases, 59 cases were not diagnosed as IFI and 28 cases were diagnosed as IFI finally. Five patients were confirmed to be IFI; seven cases were clinically diagnosed and 16 cases were still suspected IFI. Among the five confirmed cases, four cases were blood culture positive for Candida parapsilosis, one case Candida albicans positive and two cases both cerebrospinal fluid culture and blood culture positive for Candida albicans. The median levels of (1-3)-β-D-glucan of patients diagnosed as IFI (n=28) was 131.6 pg/ml(18.6-9999.0 pg/ml), which was higher than that of the patients without IFI (8.5 pg/ml, 5.0-34.6 pg/ml)(Z=-5.064, P<0.05). Area under ROC curve was 0.806 (95% CI: 0.725-0.886, P<0.05). The sensitivity (96.43% vs 69.49%) and specificity (72.22% vs 84.21%) for (1-3)-β-D-glucan were different as 20.0 pg/ml and 53.7 pg/ml were used as the cut-off values for diagnosing IFI. Conclusions (1-3)-β-D-glucan level could be used to diagnose IFI of neonates, but further studies are needed to evaluate false-positive rates and its cut-off value in IFI diagnosis.

Objective To analyze the clinical and radiographic features of short stature combined with skeletal deformity in children,and to diagnose exactly and cure promptly in children.Methods One hundred and twenty children were collected,included 69 males and 51 females.All of the children were collected detail medical history including history of birth,feeding,growth and development and family history and taken both physical and X ray examination that bone age could be evaluate by Gruelich-Pyle method.The children were taken a laboratory examination including calcium,phosphours,alkaline phosphatase,chromosome karyotype,and so on.Results Among 120 children,there were 36 cases(30.0%) of achondroplasia,20 cases(17.0%)of Turner syndrome,10 cases(8.0%)of multiple epiphyseal dysplasia,1 case(0.8%)of spondyloepiphseal dysplasia congenital,7 cases(5.8%) of spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda,2 cases(1.6%) of osteogenesis imperfecta,1 case(0.8%) of cleidocranial dysplasia,5 cases(4.2%)of mucopolysaccharide Ⅳ,5 cases(4.2%) of pseudoachondroplasia,9 cases(7.5%)of hypophosphatemic ricket,24 cases(20%)of short limb dwarf.Among 120 cases,27 were regularity dwarfism(22.5%),93 cases were irregularity dwarfism(77.5%);Among 93 cases of irregularity dwarfism,80 cases were short limb dwarfism including 36 cases of short upper limb(short upper arm 35 cases,shortforearm 1 case),20 cases of short lower limb,24 cases of proportional short stature,13 cases of short trunk.X ray bone age lag 46 cases,ahead of schedule 15 cases(12.5%),normal 59 cases.Conclusions The main causes of short stature combined with skeletal deformity are genetic bone disease.To analyze the feature of clinical and radiographic is a valuble instrument for the children diagnosis of short stature combined with skeletal deformity.Part of them skeletal age were lagged.

Objective To compare the quadriceps strength and short-term outcome in patients who had undergone primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with minimally invasive (MIS) or conventional surgical technique.Methods Sixty-eight knees undergoing TKA were evaluated and they were randomly divided into two groups.One group included 34 knees which were undergone conventional approach,and the other group included 34 knees undergone MIS approach.The age,BMI,quadriceps strength,extension lag,American Knee Society Score (KSS),Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) osteoarthritis index and visual analogue scale (VAS) of pain of all patients were evaluated at the day before surgery and the 1st,2nd,3rd,6th,and 12th months after surgery.Results At the 1st,2nd,3rd,6th,and 12th months after surgery,the quadriceps strength in MIS group was 0.59±0.12,0.74±0.18,0.86±0.16,1.02±0.17,1.05±0.04 N·m/kg respectively,while in conventional group was 0.46± 0.56,0.56±0.12,0.70±0.16,0.94±0.19,1.04±0.03 N· m/kg respectively.The extension lag in MIS group was 13.11°±6.56°,8.53°± 5.12°,4.79°±3.62°,1.53°±2.64°,1.62°±1.76° respectively,while in conventional group was 22.47°±8.41°,16.23°±6.26°,10.58°± 4.4°,2.58°±2.85°,1.62°±1.76° respectively.There were significantly differences in the two groups.Meanwhile,compared with conventional patients,MIS patients demonstrated significantly higher KSS scores at the 1st and 2nd months postoperatively.WOMAC scores were significantly lower in MIS group than in conventional group at the 1st month after surgery.During the first postoperative week,MIS technique significantly decreased VAS scores,showing significance.On the other hand,no significant difference was observed with respect to deep infection incidence and radiological outcome between two groups.Conclusion MIS TKA offers a significant improvement in extensor muscle strength over conventional surgery.These results suggest that the MIS approach results in better outcomes with regard to maintaining extensor strength than the conventional surgical approach.

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy and safety of sildenafil in the treatment of high altitude heart disease associated with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in children.

METHODSFifty children (aged 2 months to 2 years) with high altitude heart disease associated with severe PAH, who were continuously transferred to the Intensive Care Unit between January 2011 and October 2013, were randomly assigned to observation and control groups. The control group was given conventional treatment, while the observation group received oral sildenafil [1 mg/(kg . d)] three times daily for 7-10 days in addition to the conventional treatment. Before and after treatment, hemodynamics, blood gas, routine blood parameters, and blood biochemical parameters were recorded.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the observation group had a significantly higher decrease in mean pulmonary artery pressure and significantly higher increases in arterial partial pressure of oxygen, cardiac output, cardiac index, and oxygenation index compared with the control group (P<0.05). In the observation group, there were no significant changes in mean arterial pressure, routine blood parameters and blood biochemical parameters (P>0.05), and no obvious adverse reactions were found.

CONCLUSIONSFor children with high altitude heart disease associated with severe PAH, sildenafil can effectively reduce pulmonary artery pressure and improve cardiac function and does not cause adverse reactions. This therapy has good safety according to the preliminary evaluation.

Altitude ; Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension ; Female ; Heart Diseases ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; complications ; physiopathology ; Infant ; Male ; Piperazines ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Purines ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Sildenafil Citrate ; Sulfones ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Vasodilator Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo explore the therapeutic efficacy of unilateral multiple channels approach in percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) for osteoporotic vertebral fractures.

METHODSA retrospective review (from March 2003 to October 2012) was conducted on 685 consecutive patients, a total of 885 vertebrae were involved. Eighty-two cases (99 vertebrae) with bone cement leakage when less than 0.3 ml bone cement was injected to fill the fracture were given PVP procedure by unilateral multiple channels approach. 38 cases were male (45 vertebrae) and 44 cases were female (54 vertebrae). The average age was 75.4 years old (from 69 to 92). The operation time, amount of injected bone cement and complications were recorded. Rate of excellent and good outcomes was studied by measuring the cement distribution on the X-ray film. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score and Oswestry disability index (ODI) system were used to evaluate the pain relief and improvement of daily activity function respectively at preoperation and 1 hour, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after operation.

RESULTSAll these ninety-nine vertebrae were treated in 82 cases with PVP of unilateral multiple channels approach. The average operation time was 33 minutes. The rate of excellent and good outcomes of cement distribution was 98.8%. The VAS score was (8.40 +/- 0.73) before surgery,and (2.50 +/- 0.43), (2.00 +/- 0.33), (1.80 +/- 0.28), (2.10 +/- 0.17) at 1 hour, 1 month,3 months and 6 months respectively after operation. ODI was (40.94 +/- 2.72) before surgery, (9.64 +/- 2.60) at 1 month after surgery, (8.52 +/- 2.30) at 3 months after surgery and (7.77 +/- 2.15) at the final follow-up. The differences of the VAS and ODI between pre-operation and post-operation had statistical significance (P<0.01). No spine or nerve injuries occurred intraoperatively.

CONCLUSIONThe unilateral multiple channels approach in percutaneous vertebroplasty can obviously relieve the pain and effectively improve the functional activity, provide a satisfied cement distribution in vertebral body with cement leakage after a small amount infusion.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Cements ; Female ; Fractures, Compression ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Osteoporosis ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Vertebroplasty