Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Brain ; metabolism ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; metabolism ; therapy ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; Organotin Compounds ; poisoning ; Poisoning ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

Objective To evaluate the effects of the range and the frequency of the compression load on the accuracy for discerning target stiffness differences in ultrasound elastography.Methods Quantitative ultrasound elastography was achieved by integrating two compression force sensors,a laptop computer and a clinical ultrasound elastographic system.The force sensors and the ultrasound probe were assembled in a 3D printed mounting bracket for continuous monitoring of compression loads during ultrasound elastography. Both the force measurements and the elastographic maps were acquired and displayed on the laptop computer in real time.Four targets of the same diameter(10.4 mm),the same depth (3 cm) and different stiffness levels (8,14,45 and 80 kPa) were examined by a HITACHI preirus,L74M linear-array transducer.Each target was evaluated 45 times with two different method(i.e.,freehand elastography and quantitative elastography),yielding 1 80 evaluations.The data were divided into the following three groups:group Ⅰ(80 kPa vs 45,14 and 8 kPa),group Ⅱ(80,45kPa vs 14,8 kPa)and group Ⅲ(80,45 and 14 kPa vs 8 kPa).Area under ROC curves(AUC)were calculated for different stiffness levels.Results In group Ⅲ, quantitative elastography yielded an greater AUC level than that of freehand elastography(P =0.0379).In group Ⅰ and group Ⅱ,two methods yielded the similar AUC levels (P = 1 .000).However,quantitative elastography was able to discern 8 kPa and 14 kPa targets (P <0.001),while freehand elastography was hard to differentiate them(P =0.258).Conclusions In comparison with freehand elastography,quantitative ultrasound elastography is able to improve the accuracy for discerning different target stiffnesses.

Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic ; metabolism ; Arteriovenous Malformations ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; metabolism ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Sclerosis ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology

AIMTo compare the use of the suprapubic puncture method versus the transurethral method in pressure-flow studies in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

METHODSTwenty-three men with benign prostatic hyperplasia underwent both suprapubic and transurethral pressure-flow studies during a single session. Standard pressure-flow variables were recorded in all patients with both methods, enabling calculation of obstruction using commonly used grading systems, such as the urethral resistance algorithm, the Abrams-Griffith (AG) number and the Schaer linear nomogram.

RESULTSThere were statistically significant differences between the methods in the mean values of maximum flow rate (P < 0.05), detrusor pressure at the maximum flow (P < 0.01), urethral resistance algorithm (P < 0.01), AG number (P < 0.01) and maximum cystic capacity (P < 0.01). Of the men in the study, 10 (43.5%) remained in the same Schaer class with both methods and 18 (78.3%) in the same AG number area. Using the transurethral method, 12 (52.2%) men increased their Schaer class by one and 1 (4.3%) by two. There were also differences between the suprapubic and transurethral methods using the AG number: 4 (17.4%) men moved from a classification of equivocal to obstructed and 1 (4.3%) from unobstructed to equivocal.

CONCLUSIONThe differences between the techniques for measuring intravesical pressure alter the grading of obstruction determined by several of the commonly used classifications. An 8 F transurethral catheter significantly increases the likelihood of a diagnosis of bladder outlet obstruction when compared with the suprapubic method.

Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pressure ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; physiopathology ; Punctures ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction ; diagnosis ; Urinary Catheterization ; Urination ; physiology ; Urodynamics

Pseudorabies virus (PRV), an alpha-herpesvirus, has been used as a vector for live-viral animal vaccines. The recombinant PRV TK- / gE- / GP5+, which expressing GP5 of PRRSV, is developed based on the PRV genetic-depleting vaccine-virus strain, TK- / gE- /LacZ+. However, this strain stimulated poorly the vaccinated animals to produce neutralizing antibodies against PRRSV. In order to develop a booster specific immunized response of the PRV recombinant, the ORF5 gene of PRRSV TK- / gE- / LacZ+ was substituted by a modified ORF5 gene, ORF5m. The resultant recombinant PRV, TK- /gE- / GP5m+, was verified by PCR, Southern blotting and Western blotting. TK- / gE- / GP5m+ and TK- / gE- / GP5+ expressed GP5 proteins were inoculated into balb/c mice to evaluate their immunogenicity. The results demonstrated that the amount of neutralization antibodies and cell-immunity responses induced by TK- / gE- /GP5m+ against PRRSV were higher than that of TK- / gE- / GP5+. This study indicated that the new recombinant PRV expressing the modified GP5m protein is a candidate for the development of bivalent genetic engineering vaccines against PRRSV and PRV.
Animals ; Genetic Vectors ; Herpesvirus 1, Suid ; genetics ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus ; genetics ; immunology ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Swine ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Viral Vaccines ; genetics ; immunology

Objective To estimate the health risk due to the consumption of aquatic products contaminated by Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Shanghai , and provide the basis for control of foodborne diseases associated with this pathogen . Methods According to the guidelines provided by Codex Alimentarius Commission ( CAC) , we performed a quantitative microbial risk assessment model with four steps :hazard identification , hazard characterization , exposure assessment and risk characterization .The surveillance data of Vibrio parahaemolyticus concentration in aquatic products from Shanghai during 2011 and 2013 and Shanghai residents ’ aquatic products consumption data were added in the model .And the parameters were set in this model based on the FAO/WHO scientific literature .A Monte Carlo simulation method was employed to analyze the increase of Vibrio parahaemolyticus concentration in aquatic products from market to table, and quantify the exposure and health risk of Vibrio parahaemolyticus by consuming aquatic products in Shanghai . Results The mean value of probability of infectious illness caused by aquatic products contaminated by Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Shanghai was 1.2 ×10 -6 .That indicated the number of infectious illnesses associated with Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Shanghai might reach 10 746 cases every year based on the population data from Shanghai Statistical Yearbook in 2014 . Conclusion There is the certain health risk of suffering from the disease due to the consumption of aquatic products contaminated by Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Shanghai .Decreasing the occurrence of eating raw aquatic products and controlling the temperature and time of aquatic products processing and storage were determined as the critical factors for suppressing foodborne diseases caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

Objective:To investigate the effect of Bifidobacterium combined with ulinastatin on the immunologic function of sepsis rats.Methods:One hundred male SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group,model group,Bifidobacterium treatment group,Ulinastatin treatment group,combining treatment group.Cecal ligation and punctured was used to prepare sepsis model in rats.Survival rate was observed.The number of intestinal floras were determined.The tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6)were tested by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).T-lymphocyte subset was tested by flow cytometry.Serum endotoxin was tested by TAL method.Results:Serum endotoxin,Escherichia coli,CD8+T cell,TNF-α and IL-1β of model group were significantly higher than the sham operation group (P＜0.05).CD3+,CD4+T cell and ratio of CD4+/CD8+T cell,Bifidobacterium and lactobacillus were significantly higher than the sham operation group (P＜0.05).Compared with model group,Serum endotoxin,Escherichia coli,CD8 +T cell,TNF-α and IL-1 β of combining treatment group were significantly decrease (P＜0.05).CD3+,CD4+T cell and ratio of C D4+/CD8+T cell,Bifidobacterium and lactobacillus were significantly increase (P＜0.05).Serum endotoxin,TNF-α and IL-1 β of combining treatment group were significantly lower than that in Bifidobacterium treatment group and Ulinastatin treatment group.CD3+,CD4+T cell and ratio of CD4+/CD8+T cell,Bifidobacterium and lactobacillus were significantly higher than that in Bifidobacterium treatment group and Ulinastatin treatment group.Conclusion:Efficacy is significantly improvement while Bifidobacterium combined with ulinastatin,which can restrain TNF-α and IL-6 of CLP rats,decrease the increasing of serum endotoxin,and regulate the balance of intestinal floras,also improve the immune function of CLP rats.

OBJECTIVETo determine the number of goblet cells, the change of MUC5AC expression in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and the relationship of smoking with goblet cell, MUC5AC, and lung function.

METHODSEighteen patients undergoing lung resections for a solitary peripheral carcinoma were classified by lung function as having COPD. Twenty patients with normal lung function served as the control group. Normal lobe bronchioles far away from the lesion site were taken for paraffin section. Goblet cells were identified by AB/PAS staining and the expression of MUC5AC in the paraffin's section was tested by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSGoblet cell hyperplasia was observed in the COPD group. The positive rate of goblet cell in COPD group (0.20% +/- 0.10%) was significantly higher than that in the normal lung function group (0.13% +/- 0.06%, P < 0.05). The positive rate of MUC5AC expression in the COPD group (0.27% +/- 0.09%) was higher than that in the normal lung function group (0.20% +/- 0.10%, P < 0.05). The positive rate of goblet cell in smokers (27.93% +/- 9.00%) of the COPD group and normal lung function group was higher than that in non-smokers (17.70% +/- 9.37%, P < 0.05), while MUC5AC expression had no significant difference between smokers and non-smokers (17.88% +/- 6.44% and 10.88% +/- 7.10%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONFor COPD patients with declined lung function, there were goblet cell hyperplasia and increased expression of MUC5AC. MUC5AC expression up-regulation may due to goblet cell hyperplasia. Smoking may be an important factor for goblet cell hyperplasia.

Aged ; Bronchi ; pathology ; Cell Proliferation ; Epithelium ; pathology ; Exocrine Glands ; metabolism ; Goblet Cells ; pathology ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Middle Aged ; Mucin 5AC ; Mucins ; biosynthesis ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; metabolism ; pathology ; Smoking ; Up-Regulation

BACKGROUNDProgrammed cell death 5 (PDCD5) is a novel apoptotic regulatory gene that promotes apoptosis in various tumor cells. Studies have shown that PDCD5 accelerates the apoptosis of synoviocytes in vitro, implying a potential role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis. This study examined the expression of PDCD5 in serum and synovial fluid of RA patients, its effect on the expression of inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-17 (IL-17), and the assessment of disease activity in RA.

METHODSPDCD5 and IL-17 levels in serum and synovial fluid from 18 patients with RA and 22 patients with osteoarthritis (OA) were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Concentrations of serum PDCD5 in 40 healthy people were also detected as controls. As disease activity indices, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), rheumatoid factor (RF), and X-ray grading scale were also evaluated.

RESULTSSerum and synovial fluid PDCD5 levels in RA patients were significantly higher than those in OA and healthy controls. Serum PDCD5 level was inversely correlated to CRP and ESR, and was significantly higher in the RF negative group than in the positive group. PDCD5 level was also negatively correlated with IL-17 levels both in serum and synovial fluid of RA patients. However, differences in synovial fluid PDCD5 level from RA patients at different Larsen stages were not detectable.

CONCLUSIONSPDCD5 affects RA pathogenesis. Insufficient apoptosis of fibroblast-like synoviocytes and inflammatory cells in RA could increase the expression of PDCD5 protein. As PDCD5 levels correlated negatively with disease activity indices and IL-17 level, PDCD5 could become a target in the diagnosis and treatment of RA.

Aged ; Apoptosis ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; analysis ; blood ; physiology ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; etiology ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-17 ; analysis ; blood ; physiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; analysis ; blood ; physiology ; Synovial Fluid ; chemistry