Objective To investigate the effects of DNaseⅠ-treated streptococcal antigens on peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC)proliferation in psoriasis patients.Methods PBMC from 15 patients with psoriasis and 10 healthy controls were stimulated with three concentrations(2,10,25?g/mL) of streptococcal antigens(SA), nd DNaseⅠ-treated streptococcal antigens(DNaseⅠ-SA).After 72 h of culture,cellular proliferation was determined by ~3H thymidine incorporation.Results The DNaseⅠ-SA,at all the concentrations tested,was less potent than the corresponding concentrations of SA(P0.05),however,the lower concentrations(2,10?g/mL) of DNaseⅠ-SA were less potent than those of SA(P0.05).Also,the extent of proliferation response to SA and DNaseⅠ-SA was higher in the patients than in the controls(P

OBJECTIVERecently studies showed infections of Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cp), Helicobacter pylori (Hp) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) played roles in the development of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to study relationship between infection of Cp, Hp and CMV, systemic inflammation and coronary artery disease (CAD).

METHODSFourty-five patients with at least one coronary artery stenosis > 50% and 33 control subjects with negative coronary angiography were recruited for this case-control study from May 2000 to October 2001. Antibodies against Cp, Hp and CMV were measured and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels determined for each case. CRP level > 0.8 mg/dl was defined at elevated CRP level.

RESULTSThe prevalence of Cp IgG, Hp IgG or Hp IgA antibody was associated with CAD (P = 0.017, P < 0.001, P = 0.009). After adjustment for age, gender, smoking, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes, the association was still seen. Mean CRP value was significantly higher in patients with CAD, compared to those without CAD (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed statistical significance (P = 0.03). Elevated levels of CRP were found to be an important parameter for CAD (P = 0.032). The prevalence of Cp IgG antibody, Hp IgG and CMV IgG antibody all showed no association with elevated levels of CRP (P = 0.391, P = 0.253, P = 0.724). The ratio of elevated levels of serum basic CRP in the group with IgG antibodies to 3 pathogens was 32.1% while in the group with IgG antibodies to

CONCLUSIONSTwo chronic infections, Cp and Hp, might increase the risk of CAD. There was no association of CMV infection with CAD. C-reactive protein was an independent parameter of CAD, but the increased systemic inflammation in CAD did not seem to be related to aforesaid infection.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Chlamydophila Infections ; complications ; Chlamydophila pneumoniae ; Coronary Disease ; etiology ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; complications ; Female ; Helicobacter Infections ; complications ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Inflammation ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To evaluate systematically whether administration of hypertonic saline transfusion affects clinical outcomes with compared to standard fluid in the early stage of resuscitation for traumatic shock patients.Methods Seven English and Chinese routine biology and medicine databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from January 2002 to August 2012,and established inclusion and exclusion criteria to evaluate these RCTs.The quality assessment was based on the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions Version 5.0.1 and Jadad' s score scale.RevMan 5.0 statistical software was used for meta-analysis.Results After evaluated 211 related literatures,five RCTs met all the inclusion criteria and were enrolled for meta-analysis.The meta-a nalysis demonstrated that early hypertonic transfusion did not decrease short-term (first 48 hours after admission) mortality (RR =1.04,P =0.74); nor did it decrease later-term (7day to 3month after injury) mortality (RR =0.97,P =0.72).It also did not decrease the total volume of fluid and blood transfusion required during the first day (P =0.38).Similarly,it did not affect the incidents of infections (RR =1.04,P =0.70),the length of stay in ICU (P =0.2) and total length of stay in the hospital.Conclusions Compared to standard fluid,there was no advantage on mortality and hospital infection by using hypertonic supplement transfusion in the early stage of resuscitation for traumatic shock patients.Hypertonic transfusion did not have any significant effect on the volume of total fluid and blood transfusion required the first day,and no trend of reduction for the length of ICU and hospital stay.Further well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed to demonstrate the cost effectiveness of hypertonic transfusion to traumatic shock patients while in ICU.

Background The condition of the sclera is associated with many ocular diseases.The measurement of human scleral thickness in vivo is helpful for us to understand the features of the sclera and related diseases.Objective The present study was to measure the anterior sclera thickness(AST) in patients with senile cataract and to analyze the relationship among AST and other associated ocular parameters.Methods This study was approved by the Ethic Commission of First Hospital of Peking University.Written informed consent was obtained from each individual prior to examination.One hundred and five senile cataract patients were recruited in this study.Central corneal thickness (CCT),corneal curvature (CCV) and axial length were measured using ultrasonic pachymeter,keratometer,and A-scan unit,respectively.The AST was measured at 2 mm posterior to the scleral spur in the temporal meridian using ultrasound biomicroscope (UBM).The differences of CCT,CCV,ocular axial length and AST between bilateral eyes and the different sexes were compared by the Paired test and independent sample t test.The correlations among various parameters were assessed by the Pearson linear correlation analysis.The differences of CCT and AST among different axial length groups were evaluated by one-way ANOVA.Results No significant differences were found in the CCT,CCV,axial length and AST between bilateral eyes (t =0.584,P =0.561 ; t =1.161,P =0.248 ; t =0.140,P =0.889 ; t =0.342,P =0.773).Temporal AST at 2 mm posterior to the sclera spur was (0.589 ±0.051)mm in the right eyes.An insignificant decline in CCT was found in the male group compared with the female group (right eyes:t =0.469,P =0.641 ; left eyes:t =0.465,P =0.643).However,compared with the female group,the increase of axial length,reduction of the mean CCV value and enhancement of the mean AST were observed(right eyes:all P＜0.01 ;left eyes:all P＜0.01).CCV showed a negative correlation with ocular axial length (r =-0.50,P＜0.01),but no significant correlation was found among age,CCT,ocular axial length and AST(P＞0.05).No remarkable differences were found in CCT and AST among the various axial length groups (CCT:F =0.998,P=0.372;AST:F=1.919,P=0.383).Conclusions In senile cataract patients,correlation is not found between AST and CCT;the increase of axial length is not associated with the thinning of the eyeball wall to a certain extent.Differences exist in some ocular parameters between different sexes.

Background A close relation between sclera thickness and glaucoma has been determined.Clinical features vary in different types of glaucoma patients,which hints that the scleral thickness might be distinct among these patients.Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the differences of central corneal thickness(CCT),anterior scleral thickness(AST) and axial length in glaucomatous patients.Methods This study was approved by the Ethic Commission of First Hospital of Peking University.Written informed consent was obtained from each individual prior to the examination.A retrospective descriptive study was designed.One hundred and sixty consecutive patients were recruited from March,2009 to November,2010 in First Hospital of Peking University,including 35 eyes with primary angle closure glaucoma(PACG) (35 cases),34 eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma POAG) (34 cases),37 eyes with normal tension glaucoma(NTG) (37 cases)and 17 eyes of ocular hypertension OHT) (17 cases).Thirty-seven eyes of 37 subjects with incipient cataract served as the control group.CCT and ocular axial length were measured with ultrasonic pachymeter and A-scan unit,respectively,and AST at the temporal quadrant 2 mm posterior to the scleral spur was measured by ultrasonic biomicroscopy (UBM).The measuring parameters among different groups were compared by analysis of covariance,and the correlations of AST,CCT with ocular axial length were analyzed using Pearson linear correlation and linear regression.The differences and correlation of CCT,AST and AL among five groups were analyzed.Results The CCT values in PACG group,POAG group,NTG group,OHT group and control group were (535.54 ± 5.20),(550.47 ± 5.28),(521.61 ± 5.07),(575.75 ± 7.76) and (535.06± 5.06) μm,respectively,showing a significant difference among them (F =9.560,P =0.000),and the CCT value of OHT group was increased in comparison with POAG group,PACG group,NTG group and control group(all P =0.000).The CCT of the POAG group was thicker than that in the PACG group,NTG group and control group(P=0.046,0.000,0.040).No significant difference was found in CCT among NTG group,PACG group and control group(P=0.950,0.060).The AST values of PACG group,POAG group,NTG group,OHT group and control group were(0.593±0.050),(0.600±0.050),(0.592-±0.060),(0.610-±0.060) and(0.604±0.060) mm,respectively,showing a insignificant difference among them (F =0.700,P =0.590).The axial length in the patients with PACG was shorter than that of the POAG group,NTG group,OHT group and control group (all P =0.000).The Pearson correlation analysis showed significantly positive correlation between CCT and AST in POAG group and NTG group(r=0.445,P=0.008;r=0.400,P=0.014).Conclusions This study confirms that there is dissimilarity in CCT but not in AST among different types of glaucomatous patients.The changes of CCT and AST are consistent in POAG and NTG patients.

OBJECTIVETo find out the relativity among starch quantity, polysaccharides content and total alkaloid content of Dendrobium loddigesii.

METHODMicroscopy-counting process was applied to starch quantity statistics, sulfuric acid-anthrone colorimetry was used to assay polysaccharides content and bromocresol green colorimetry was used to assay alkaloid content. Pearson product moment correlation analysis, Kendall's rank correlation analysis and Spearman's concordance coefficient analysis were applied to study their relativity.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONExtremely significant positive correlation was found between starch quantity and polysaccharides content, and significant negative correlation between alkaloid content and starch quantity was discovered, as well was between alkaloid content and polysaccharides content.

Alkaloids ; analysis ; Dendrobium ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; analysis ; Starch ; analysis

Critical Care ; Critical Illness ; Emergencies ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care Units, Pediatric ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Transportation of Patients

OBJECTIVETo demonstrate the alterations of DPC4/SMAD4/MADH4 gene in paraffin-embedded tissues of pancreatic carcinomas.

METHODSForty-six cases of resected specimens containing carcinomatous tissue and normal pancreatic tissue were analysed for possible DPC4 gene mutations by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)and single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP). The DNA sequencing technique was applied to determine the patterns of gene mutation in the PCR-SSCP positive cases. Fifty-six cases of pancreatic carcinoma along with the specimens corresponding normal pancreatic tissues were studied by in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) techniques for gene expression in mRNA and protein level.

RESULTSThe homozygous deletion rate of exon 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 11 of DPC4 gene in pancreatic carcinoma was 28.26%, while the mutation rate of DPC4 gene was 21.74%. In these tumors, there were 3 cases of nonsense mutation, 5 cases of missense mutation, 1 case of deletion and missense mutation, 1 case of insertion mutation. Positive rates of SMAD4 in carcinomatous tissues detected by the ISH and IHC were 53.57% and 58.93% respectively, whereas they were 91.07% and 89.29% in the matched normal tissue respectively. There were significant difference between cancer and normal tissue (P < 0.05). Thrity-two cases were positive of DPC4/SMAD4 with all methods mentioned above, the coincident rate was 87.50% (28/32). The coincidence between gene detection and ISH of SMAD4 was 87.50%, and it was 96.88% between gene detection and IHC of SMAD4. Of all 56 cases, the coincidence of the positive rates of SMAD4 detected by ISH and IHC was 91.07%. No significant difference among the positive rates of DPC4/SMAD4 as detected by the three different techniques (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe main mechanisms of inactivation of DPC4 gene in pancreatic carcinoma are homozygous deletion and mutation. The product of DPC4 expression is significantly decreased in cancer group compared with the normal tissues. As a tumor suppressor gene, DPC4 alteration is an important molecular event in pancreatic carcinoma, and probably plays a crucial role in cancer development and progression.

Adult ; Aged ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Paraffin Embedding ; Proto-Oncogenes ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Smad4 Protein ; Trans-Activators ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of negative pressure therapy in the treatment of superficial partial-thickness scald in children.

METHODSThree hundred and seven children with superficial partial-thickness scald hospitalized from August 2009 to May 2012 were divided into negative pressure therapy group (NPT, n = 145) and control group (C, n = 162) according to the random number table. Patients in group NPT were treated with negative pressure from within post injury day (PID) 3 to PID 9 (with -16 kPa pressure), while traditional occlusive dressing method was used in group C. Changes in body temperature, wound healing condition, frequency of dressing change were compared between group NPT and group C. Bacterial culture results of wounds were compared before and after treatment in group NPT. Volume of drained transudate per one percent of wound area was recorded in group NPT on PID 1 to PID 3. Data were processed with t test or chi-square test.

RESULTSThe incidence of high fever was significantly lower in group NPT (26.9%, 39/145) than in group C (63.6%, 103/162, χ(2) = 41.419, P < 0.01). On PID 9, complete wound epithelization was observed in 138 patients in group NPT, and in 7 patients there were a few residual wounds which healed after dressing change for 2 days. The wound healing time of patients in group NPT [(9.2 ± 0.6) d] was obviously shorter than that in group C [(10.1 ± 1.6) d, t = 6.895, P < 0.01]. The frequency of dressing change among patients in group NPT [(2.05 ± 0.22) times] was significantly decreased as compared with that in group C [(4.82 ± 0.81) times, t = 39.878, P < 0.01]. Bacteria were found in wound secretion of seventeen patients in group NPT before treatment, while no bacterium was discovered in all patients after treatment. Volumes of drainage fluid in group NPT were proportional to wound areas, which were respectively (9.8 ± 3.2), (6.2 ± 2.1), (4.1 ± 1.6) mL per one percent of wound area on PID 1, 2, and 3.

CONCLUSIONSNPT can decrease times of dressing change, and alleviate infection and inflammatory response by drainage of transudate, which promotes wound healing at last. NPT is proved to be a safe and effective approach for treatment of children with superficial partial-thickness scald.

Bandages ; Body Temperature ; Burns ; therapy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drainage ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the role of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the selection of recipients.

METHODSOLT was performed in 60 patients with HCC at Organ Transplantation Centre of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between September 1993 and September 2002. Medical records were retrospectively analyzed with regard to the response to OLT and survival.

RESULTSOne-month, 1, 2, 3-year survival rate of 23 liver transplant performed from September 1993 to July 2002 were 73.9%, 60.9%, 43.5% and 29.0%, respectively. One-month, 1, 2-year survival rate of 37 liver transplant performed from August 2000 to September 2002 were 89.2%, 75.8% and 61.2%, respectively. One-month survival rate was significantly greater in the patients with a preoperative liver function of Child A or B than Child C (P < 0.05). One-month, 1, 2, 3-year survival rate of small HCC (single tumor 5 cm diameter, n = 41) were 84.2%, 76.6%, 65.6%, 65.6% and 82.9%, 63.1%, 46.7%, 37.4%, respectively. The median survival of large HCC was 18.0 months and mean survival of small HCC was 29.6 months, respectively. The recurrence rate of small HCC and large HCC were 15.8% and 27.7%, respectively. There was no significant difference between the cumulative survival of small HCC and large HCC. The quality of life of patients with long-term survival was good.

CONCLUSIONSHCC associated with cirrhosis can be effectively treated by OLT on condition that no extrahepatic spread and no vascular involvement. OLT is recommended for treatment of small HCC combined with liver cirrhosis, meanwhile, OLT performed in the partial large HCC still is reasonable at the present time.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; drug therapy ; mortality ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Function Tests ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; mortality ; surgery ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; prevention & control ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Analysis ; Survival Rate ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome