Objective To identify the gene mutation of G protein?-subunit (Gsct) in multiple affected tissues of a patient with McCune-Albright syndrome.Methods The peripheral blood,bone tissue,lesion skin and pleura samples of the patient were collected.Genomic DNA was isolated from these samples,and PCR and direct sequencing were performed.Results The peripheral blood and bone tissue of the patient showed a mutation R201C in Gs?gene.No mutation was detected in the skin and pleura samples of the patient.Conclusion The gene diagnosis confirms that the patient has a classical R201C mutation in Gs?gene and multiple tissues are affected.The mutation occurs early in embryogenesis and clinical features can be polymorphic.

The active ingredient of traditional Chinese medicine, silybin (SBN), can inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells and enhance the anticancer effect of doxorubicin (DOX). However, due to non-targeting and short half-life of SBN and DOX, as well as different administration routes and pharmacokinetic processes, this combination drug cannot act on the tumor in the set order, seriously eliminating the synergistic effect between them and limiting the effect in vivo. Therefore, we intended to construct a nano-delivery system based on molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂), modified by polyethylene glycol (PEG) and sialic acid (SA), and co-loaded with SBN and DOX. The system induced the release of combined drugs under the dual-stimulation of pH and near infra-red (NIR), increased the free concentration of intracellular drugs, so as to achieve the synergistic effect between them. The animal welfare and experimental procedures were in accordance with the regulations of the Animal Ethics Committee of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. MoS₂-PEG-SA-SBN/DOX circulated in vivo, and effectively accumulated at tumor sites through enhanced permeability and retention effect (EPR) and SA-mediated active targeting. Under near infrared light irradiation, MoS₂-PEG-SA-SBN/DOX realized the combination of synergistic chemotherapy and photothermal therapy for tumor, thus achieving excellent anti-tumor effect in vivo. This study can provide a new idea and strategy for the clinical treatment of lung cancer. Taken together, MoS₂-PEG-SA-SBN/DOX can offer a new idea and strategy for the clinical treatment of lung cancer.

Teaching management is an important link in hospital training of high-quality medical talents and an indispensable part of the overall construction of hospitals.Aiming at the confusion of the teaching work and combined the teaching management practice of the hospital,we put forward "54321" teaching management model,introduced the operation and effectiveness of this model.In conclusion,we provide a way to further strengthen the teaching management for general hospitals.

Chronic hepatitis B virus ( HBV) infection is a principal risk factor for liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in China , representing one of the major public health problems .Horizontal trans-mission of HBV in vaccinated children was greatly reduced due to widespread HBV vaccination in mainland China, which had limited effects on vertical transmission .Thus, vertical transmission became one of the main causes of HBV chronic infection .High HBV load (≥10 6 copies/mL ) and hepatitis B e antigen ( HBeAg )-positivity in maternal peripheral blood were independent risk factors for HBV intrauterine infection .Compared to HBV infection in early childhood and in adult , intrauterine HBV infection was more prone to developing chronic infection .To decrease vertical transmission of HBV , we recommend that young pregnant women with sero-positive for HBeAg and high serum HBV DNA level should receive antiviral treatment with nucleotide analogues since the 28 th gestation weeks .For newborns born to HBeAg-positive mother , hepatitis B immunoglobulin ( HBIG ) injection should be administrated in combination with HBV vaccination .

Objective To investigate the proliferation potential of the basal stem cells in intralobar pulmonary sequestration syndrome (ILS) for revealing the pathogenesis of ILS. Methods In this study, lung tissue samples were collected from healthy control subjects(n=4)and abnormal lung lobes of ILS patients(n=4).The pathological changes were compared by HE staining between the two groups.The proportion of goblet cells was compared by PAS staining between the two groups.The expression and secretion of MUC5AC and MUC5B were compared by immunofluorescence staining and real-time PCR between the two groups. The distribution of ciliated cells and the proliferation of basal cells were compared by immunofluorescence staining between the two groups.Results The abnormal lobe of ILS group was filled with inflammatory cells, and the airway epithelium was disrupted. The airway goblet cells of ILS were obviously hyperplastic. The mucin proteins of MUC5AC and MUC5B were hypersecretion in the abnormal lobe of ILS patients.KRT5-positive basal stem cells proliferated only slightly in ILS patients, although there was no significant difference in KRT5 expression between two groups. Conclusion These data suggest that the pathogenesis of ILS may be associated with defects in basal stem cell function. Restoring airway integrity by targeting epithelial regeneration can be a future non-surgical treatment for patients with ILS.

BACKGROUNDThe current diagnostic algorithms for chronic cough require the establishment of the primary presumptive causes followed by the confirmation of diagnosis with the specific therapies. The aim of the study was to investigate the discrepancy between presumptive and definite causes and its clinical implication.

METHODSA total of 109 patients with chronic cough underwent laboratory investigations to identify the cause of cough; including sinus computerized tomography (if needed), histamine bronchial provocation, induced sputum cytology and 24-hour esophageal pH or multi-channel intraluminal impedance combined with pH monitoring. The presumptive causes were confirmed by treating them sequentially. The difference between presumptive and definite causes of chronic cough was compared.

RESULTSSingle cause was more frequent in the definite diagnosis than in the presumptive diagnosis (78.9% vs. 54.1%, χ(2) = 15.01, P = 0.0001). In contrast, multiple causes were significantly fewer in definite diagnosis than in the presumptive diagnosis (15.6% vs. 37.6%, χ(2) = 13.53, P = 0.0002). There was a discrepancy between definite and presumptive causes in 30 patients (27.5%). Compared with the presumptive causes, definite upper airway cough syndrome (24.8% vs. 11.9%, χ(2) = 6.0, P = 0.01) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (6.4% vs. 0, χ(2) = 7.23, P = 0.007) was more frequent as a single cause of chronic cough while cough variant asthma plus gastroesophageal reflux disease (3.7% vs. 11.9%, χ(2) = 5.17, P = 0.02) and upper airway cough syndrome plus nonasthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis (0 vs. 9.2%, χ(2) = 10.48, P = 0.001) were fewer as multiple causes of chronic cough.

CONCLUSIONSA discrepancy was common between presumptive and definite causes of chronic cough. To treat presumptive causes sequentially may be a suitable solution for avoidance of erroneous multiple causes and possible over-treatment.

Adult ; Chronic Disease ; Cough ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

BACKGROUNDOxidative stress has been implicated in the onset and progression of diabetes. Tongxinluo is a traditional Chinese medicine with potent antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that pretreatment with Tongxinluo has similar effects as melatonin on preventing hyperglycemia and beta-cell damage in a rat model of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes.

METHODSForty male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 10 each): normal control (NC) group; STZ group (70 mg/kg, i.p.); Tongxinluo (1.0 g×kg(-1)×d(-1)) pretreated (TXL + STZ) group and melatonin (200 µg×kg(-1)×d(-1)) pretreated (MLT + STZ) group. Tongxinluo and melatonin were administered by gavage beginning 8 days before STZ injection and continuing until the end of the study (15 days after STZ administration). Blood glucose levels and body weights, malondialdehyde (MDA), and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were measured, and immunofluorescence studies were performed in all of the groups.

RESULTSPretreatment with Tongxinluo, as with melatonin, attenuated severe hyperglycemia and weight loss induced by STZ. In pancreatic homogenates, MDA levels were significantly lower and GSH levels were significantly higher in Tongxinluo pretreated group and in melatonin pretreated group than those in STZ group. Values of insulin staining were significantly improved in Tongxinluo pretreated group and in melatonin pretreated group as compared with those in STZ group.

CONCLUSIONSTongxinluo, as melatonin, prevented hyperglycemia and beta-cell destruction induced by STZ in rats through reducing oxidative stress in pancreatic tissues. Tongxinluo may provide an alternative therapy for the prevention and treatment of diabetes.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Body Weight ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Hyperglycemia ; drug therapy ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Streptozocin

OBJECTIVETo observe the secretion of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells (CCSMCs) in rats of different ages and explore the possible relationship of IGF-1 with aging-related erectile dysfunction (ED).

METHODSWe primarily cultured CCSMCs of rats aged 4, 12 and 24 months, and identified them by immunohistochemistry. We quantitatively cultured the CCSMCs in 6-well culture plates, determined the levels of IGF-1 secreted from the CCSMCs by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and analyzed the effect of age on the IGF-1 level.

RESULTSCCSMCs were successfully cultured in vitro. The level of IGF-1 secreted from the CCSMCs was decreased with the increase of age, with 7.1 ng/10(5) cells in the 4-month-old group, 2.2 ng/10(5) cells in the 12-month group, and 1.9 ng/10(5) cells in the 24-month group, with statistically significant differences among the three groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe secretion of IGF-1 is reduced with the increase of age, and the decreased expression of IGF-1 might be associated with aging-related ED.

Aging ; Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; secretion ; Male ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; secretion ; Penis ; cytology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study the factors in relation to severe acute respiratory syndromes (SARS) among health care workers and to develop related protective measures.

METHODSCase-control study was applied. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect SARS related information for health care workers who had contacted or treated SARS patients. Univariate analysis was conducted using SPSS 10.0 software package and multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted using SAS 6.12.

RESULTSTwenty-seven of the 49 factors under study were significantly associated with SARS infection, in which 22 factors were protective, and the other 5 were risk factors. 27 factors were included for multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results showed that six factors as wearing eye glasses, wearing protection gowns, exposure to secrets/mode of contact with SARS patients, types of mask and the working years atc, remained significant association with hospital infection of SARS.

CONCLUSIONSARS infection in heath care workers was related to many factors during the process of diagnoses and/or treatment. It is recommended that adequate masks, eye-protection and protective gowns should be adopted for heath care workers during the process of clinical diagnoses and treatment of SARS patients.

Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross Infection ; prevention & control ; Female ; Health Personnel ; Humans ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional ; prevention & control ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; epidemiology ; transmission ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility and safety of gene transfer into porcine myocardium via the pericardial cavity by a homemade easy device.

METHODSReplication-deficient recombinant adenoviral vector carrying LacZ report gene (Ad-LacZ) was constructed by the calcium phosphate precipitation method. Twelve healthy Chinese mini-swine were randomly divided into experimental group (n = 6) and control group (n = 6). Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) model was established by balloon occlusion of the distal part of D1 branch of left anterior descending (LAD) artery, at the same time the intrapericardial cavity injections were performed through the small incision of the abdominal wall below the xyphoid appendix using a homemade device. Then gene transfer was performed using a central venous catheter. The pericardium was pretreated with injection of a mixture of collagenase (1,200 U) and hyaluronidase (3,000 U) in both groups. Then 2.0 x 10(9) plaque formation unit (PFU) Ad-LacZ was injected into the pericardial cavity in experimental group, while 1 mL of normal saline was injected in the control group. The beta-galactosidase activity detection and X-gal staining of the ischemic myocardium were performed on the 3rd, 7th, and 28th day after injection.

RESULTSThe LAD artery was occluded completely and infarction and ischemia were detected by histological assessment In experimental group, the X-gal staining positive cells and beta-galactosidase activity quantification were detectable on the 3rd day after injection, increased markedly on the 7th day, and then declined on the 28th day. The transfer efficiencies indicated by the positive myocardial cells were 16.7%, 45.6% , 22.8% on the 3rd, 7th, 28th day, respectively. In control group, no positive cells and beta-galactosidase activity were observed.

CONCLUSIONAdenovirus can be transferred into ischemic myocardium and express target gene in the AMI model for four weeks with the homemade easy device via pericardial cavity pretreated by collagenase and hyaluronidase.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Genes, Reporter ; Genetic Vectors ; Heart ; Lac Operon ; Myocardium ; enzymology ; Pericardium ; physiology ; Punctures ; methods ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature ; beta-Galactosidase ; genetics