OBJECTIVETo investigate the application of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) in food-borne outbreak.

METHODSPathogens were isolated and further characteristics identified by traditional methods. The strains isolated were carried out with molecular typing with using PFGE. PFGE was performed by Laboratory Directions for molecular subtyping of Salmonella by PFGE (CDC, USA) and the results of PFGE were analyzed by BioNumerics soft.

RESULTSTotally 14 Salmonella serotype Muenchen strains were isolated from 19 patients, 3 of 9 suspicious foods were positive for S. muenchen and 7 strains were isolated from 18 cooks. The biochemistry characterization and antimicrobial susceptibility of all the strains isolated were the same. 23 S. muenchen isolates were all shown indistinguishable by PFGE.

CONCLUSIONPFGE should play a key role in identifying the outbreak-associated isolates and distinguishing them from unrelated sporadic isolates. It might also demonstrate that the genetic fingerprints of serotype Muenchen isolates derived from patients were indistinguishable from those derived from drinks. PFGE might provide precise information on bacterial food-borne pathogens, promptly identify the source of infection, and effectively prevent from spreading. It should be one of the early warning method on controlling outbreak of the food-borne disease.

China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; methods ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Salmonella Food Poisoning ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Salmonella enterica ; classification ; isolation & purification ; Serotyping

BACKGROUNDWith the significant improvement in the survival of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) undergoing radiotherapy and the growing availability of the sophisticated imaging modalities, the number of radiation encephalopathy (RE) cases relating to NPC radiotherapy is increasing. In this study, we investigated the metabolic and density changes of the compromised brain tissues during delayed RE using a positron-emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) to provide clinical evidences for the diagnosis of delayed RE following radiotherapy for NPC.

METHODSThe PET/CT manifestations and the clinical data of 53 pathologically confirmed NPC patients with delayed RE following radical radiotherapy and 15 healthy volunteers were investigated. The standardized uptake values (SUV) of the bilateral temporal lobes, the occipital lobe and the brain stem were measured respectively; and then the metabolic reduction rate of 88 temporal lobes and 13 brain stems were calculated for a statistical comparison between the two groups.

RESULTSThe earliest case of delayed RE in the investigated patients occurred 1.5 years after radiotherapy. Delayed RE frequently involved the inferior temporal lobe. For patients with delayed RE confirmed by clinical symptoms and imaging findings, PET maintained a 100% coincidence rate with CT; however, in the 25 temporal lobes of the 35 delayed RE patients, PET revealed obvious hypometabolic changes whereas CT displayed normal density. The incidence of brain stem metabolic reductions was 24.5% (13/53) in the investigated patients, including 4 patients with hypometabolic changes shown by PET and negative finding shown by CT. The incidence of granuloma adjacent to the hypometabolic region in the temporal lobe was 12.5% (11/88).

CONCLUSIONDelayed RE patients exhibit significant hypometabolic changes in the inferior temporal lobe, captured by PET much earlier than by CT. PET/CT offers a valuable means for the diagnosis of delayed RE in subacute stages and granuloma formation.

Adult ; Aged ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; radiation effects ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Radiotherapy ; adverse effects ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effect of penoplasty with scrotal skin flap for the treatment of buried penis in children.

METHODSThe narrow ring was cut vertically at the ventral side of penis and the prepuce inner plate was circularly cut 0.5 cm from the coronary sulcus. The prepuce was degloved to the base of penis. The abnormal aponeurosis was removed completely. The prepuce was designed to cover the coronary sulcus. The scrotal flaps at both sides were formed and advanced to cover the penile base. Then the prepuce was sutured to reconstruct penile-scrotal angle and scrotum plasty was completed.

RESULTSFrom March 2009 to July 2011, 24 children with buried penis were treated with scrotal flaps. Adhesion at external orifice of urethra was happened in two cases which recovered after urethra expansion. There was one case of necrosis at the distal end of prepuce. All the cases were followed up for 6 months to 2 years with no penile shrinkage. The penile appearance was good without rotation or lateral curvature during erection.

CONCLUSIONSThe buried penis can be best corrected with scrotal flap. It is an ideal method with less complication.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Penis ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Scrotum ; surgery ; Surgical Flaps ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDGrowing preclinical evidence shows that zoledronic acid (ZOL) exhibits direct antitumor activity in various cancer cell lines. However, the cytotoxic effects of ZOL on human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells have not been established. In the present study, we investigated the effect of ZOL on HCC both in vitro and in vivo.

METHODSCytotoxicity and cell cycles were assessed with Sulforhodamine B colorimetric assay and flow cytometry. Expression levels of cell cycle phase-linked proteins were examined. The effect of ZOL on HCC in vivo was explored based on H22-subcutaneous injection (s.c.) and H22-intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) mice model.

RESULTSZOL inhibited the growth of SK-HEP-1 and H22 cells and induced S-phase arrest through downregulating cdc2 protein and upregulating cyclin A. It inhibited the growth of s.c tumors, and increased the survival of both H22-s.c. and H22-i.p. mice in vivo.

CONCLUSIONZOL inhibits growth of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo.

Animals ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Diphosphonates ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Mice ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

OBJECTIVETo develop a method performed on an oligonucleotide array for HLA-DR53 group genotyping.

METHODSAccording to the specific allelic frequency and sequence of HLA-DRB loci in Chinese Han population, HLA-DR53 group typing probes which were immobilized on a glass supports were synthesized. A pair of group-special primers labeled by the Cy5-dCTP were designed, and the primers were used in the PCR, thus the PCR products were labeled with Cy5. The labeled PCR products were hybridized with array. The signals were scanned by scanner and analyzed by image software. The typing results were confirmed by standard DNA and PCR-SSO. One hundred and eleven samples were typed by this array.

RESULTSThere were 72 HLA-DR53 group loci typed by oligonucleotide array. Among them, 34 loci were DR9, 25 were DR4, and 13 were DR7. No false positive or false negative typing results were observed. The specificity and reproducibility were 100% and the overall time of genotyping was 5 hours.

CONCLUSIONThe oligonucleotide array technique is a precise, rapid molecular method for HLA-DR53 genotyping, suited for clinical practice.

Genotype ; HLA-DR Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DRB4 Chains ; Humans ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of finger reconstruction in child with second toe transplantation,and evaluate the postoperative appearance and function regarding the reconstructed donor feet.Methods From June 2002 to May 2011,sixteen cases were reconstructed in sub-emergency with second toe transplantation.Two thumbs,eight index fingers,and 6 middle fingers were reconstructed.All patients were followed-up from 12 to 24 months.The functions of reconstructed fingers were analysed.Results All the reconstructed fingers survived.Vascular crisis occurred in 1 patient,and survived after re-anastomosis.Necrosis of skin grafts at the domon site with exposed tedons was seen in 1 ease,and healed after changing dressings.All the reconstructed fingers showed good in growth and development,and performed good functions as grabbing,grasping and nipping.Two-point discrimination was between 6 mm and 10 mm.The donor site of the foot had normal gait,without obvious influence on walking.Also,no pain was complained.Conclusion The method of transplanting the second toe can reconstruct the appearance and function of the finger defects in child,and has little effect on the appearance and motion of feet.It is an effective treatment method.

Objective To explore the process and technique ofneuroendoscopic operation in obstructive hydrocephalus caused by cysts of the posterior fossa. Methods An analysis of 31 patients with obstractive hydrocephalus caused by cysts of the posterior fossa, admitted to our hospital from April 2004 to August 2010, was performed; CT and MRI were performed on these patients. Among all the 31patients, 19 had arachnoid cyst of the posterior fossa, 5 Dandy-Walker malformations, 2 Blake' s pouch cyst, and 5 cysts after resection of the tumor. Treatment efficacy was determined according to the improvement of clinical symptoms, imaging manifestations and appearing of relative complications.Results Endoscopic management (n=14), microsurgery (n=9) and ventriculoperitoneal shunt (n=8) were performed. All the patients' postoperative hydrocephalus was alleviated in early stage of treatnent.Subsequent follow-up, ranged from 0.6 to 6 years, revealed a sharp reduction of sizes of the cyst and ventricle system under MRI in 28 patients, with a total effective rate of 87.1％. The effective rate and incidence of complications were 92.9％ and 14.3％ in patients performed endoscopic management, 88.9％and 33.3％ in patients performed microsurgery, and 75％ and 50％ in patients performed ventriculoperitoneal shunt, respectively.Conclusion Neuroendoscopic procedure is a safe and effective technique for hydrocephalus caused by cysts of the posterior fossa; as compared with those with microsurgery and ventriculoperitoneal shunt, higher success rate and less operative complications are achieved in patients with endoscopic management.

Objective To establish the activation of NF-κB in middle ear cholesteatoma, discuss the relationship of NF-κB and the gene expression of IL-6 and explore the pathogenesis of middle ear cholesteatoma. Methods Ten cases of cholesteatoma and 6 cases of normal external meatal skin were obtained from middle ear surgery. The NF-κB DNA binding activity and the mRNA level of IL-6 in these two kinds of tissues were detected by electrophoretic motility shift assay (EMSA) and Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) respectively. The relationship of NF-κB DNA binding activity and the mRNA level of IL-6 were analyzed. Results The NF-κB DNA binding activities of cholesteatoma [(15.9±8.2) %] were higher than those in normal skin [(1.36 ± 0.94) %, t = 3.502, P < 0.05]. The expression of IL-6 mRNA was increased significantly in patients with cholesteatoma, as compared with that in the control specimens (t = 2.166 ,P < 0.05) and had a significant positive correlation with NF-κB DNA binding activity (r = 0.752, P < 0.05). Conclusions The II.,-6 mRNA expression in cholesteatoma is closely related with the activity of NF-κB. It is tempting to speculate that NF-κB play a key role in the activation of cytokine in cholesteatoma.

Objective To investigate the effect of third-party logistics applied on clinical nursing.Methods Third-party logistics was introduced in the hospital and provided indirect service such as collecting and delivering patients' test samples,blood products,medicine and consultation notices by non-medical professionals.Results On the introduction of third-party logistics,hospital administration became more standardized,and explicitly defined responsibilities of nurses,medical orderlies and cleaners,doctors' and nurses' satisfaction on the medical orderlies was increased from 91％ to 99％,and the differences were statistically significant ( U =5.08,P ＜ 0.01 ).The server time needed for collecting test samples,medicine,consultation sheet were significantly shorter than that of before [ ( 5.30 ± 0.48) min vs (8.30 ± 0.88) min,(13.00 ± 1.41)min vs (20.00 ±2.00) min,(4.10 ±0.21)min vs (7.20 ±0.32)min;t =6.69,6.39,18.09,respectively ;P ＜ 0.01 ].Conclusions The widespread introduction of third-party logistics is worthwhile for the hospital,which makes nurses more focusing on the direct patients' care,saves much cost for the hospital in terms of human resources,and it better ensures the timeliness and accuracy of logistics.

Glucocorticosteroid-induced osteoporosis is the most frequent of all secondary types of osteoporosis, and can increase the risk of vertebral compression fractures (VCFs). There are promising additions to current medical treatment for appropriately selected osteoporotic patients. Few studies have reported on the efficiency of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) or kyphoplasty for whole thoracic and lumbar glucocorticosteroid-induced osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. We report a case of a 67-year-old man with intractable pain caused by successional VCFs treated by PVP.
Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy ; Fractures, Compression/*radiography ; Glucocorticoids/*adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Kyphoplasty ; Lumbar Vertebrae/radiography/surgery ; Male ; Osteoporosis/*chemically induced/radiography/surgery ; Pulmonary Fibrosis/drug therapy ; Thoracic Vertebrae/radiography/surgery ; Vertebroplasty