Objective Understand the variation of serum creatinine measurement in clinical laboratories of some hospitals in Beijing.Methods 8 samples of mixed frozen human serum added different creatinine concentration standard materials(the creatinine concentration were80-1 000 ?mol/L)and 8 samples of mixed frozen serum of patients(contained different creatinine concentration)were distributed to 13 clinical laboratories(31 series of detection systems)with the way of spot investigation.Every clinical laboratories measured the samples followed the standard operating procedure.Results As to the mixed frozen human serum added different creatinine standard materials,the CV of different detection systems results were 5.74%-9.68%;as to the mixed frozen patients' serum,the CV was 5.90%-11.69%. Compared with Beckman closed detection systems,the results of Dade systems(which used the kinetic alkaline pieric acid method)showed the bias were-5.99%-0.35%,and as to the other systems which measured by alkaline picric acid method,when creatinine concentrations were 200 ?mol/L,the results showed negative bias,and the greatest bias was-8.45%.The bias plots revealed negative for all of the detection systems with enzymatic method over the whole concentration range,and the greatest bias was -8.88%.Conclusions The creatinine determination results of Beckman and Dade closed detection systems were consistent.The results of detection systems which used enzymatic method were generally lower than Beckman detection systems.What's more,the creatinine measurement variations of clinical laboratories were very large,especially for the results of unclosed detection systems,so it was urgent need to solve the standardization of creatinine measurement.

OBJECTIVEThe present study investigated the effects of rapamycin on Aβ1-42-induced deficits in working memory and synaptic plasticity.

METHODSAfter bilateral hippocampal injection of Aβ1-42 and rapamycinin rats, spontaneous alternation in Y-maze and in vivo hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) of rats were recorded. All data were analized by two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA).

RESULTS(Hippocampal injection of Aβ1-42 alone impaired working memory of rats; (2) Rapamycin did not affect working memory of rats, but alleviated Aβ1-42-induced working memory deficits, compared with Aβ1-42 alone group; (Aβ1-42 remarkably suppressed in vivo hippocampal LTP of fEPSPs in the CA1 region; (4) Pretreatment with rapamycin prevented Aβ1-42-induced suppression of LTP.

CONCLUSIONThese data indicates that rapamycin could protect against Aβ1-42-induced impairments in working memory and synaptic plasticity in rats.

Amyloid beta-Peptides ; adverse effects ; Animals ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; Long-Term Potentiation ; Maze Learning ; Memory, Short-Term ; drug effects ; Neuronal Plasticity ; drug effects ; Peptide Fragments ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Sirolimus ; pharmacology

Objective To investigate the measurement of serum calcium by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) and to validate the method for use as a candidate reference method. Methods Serum was diluted by 50 fold with 50 mmol/L hydrochloric acid containing 10 mmol/L LaCl3 and analyzed for calcium on an AA 6800 atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Dilution solutions and FAAS conditions were optimized and the performance of the method was evaluated. Results The method showed within-run, between-run and total CVs of 0. 31%～0.38%, 0.16%～0.30% and 0.35%～0.49%, respectively, and analytical recoveries ranging 98.9%～101.1%. No significant interferences were detected. Conclusions A FAAS method for the measurement of serum calcium has been established. The method is simple and accurate and may be used as a candidate reference method for serum calcium.

Objective To investigate the precision and trueness of results from six imported commercial systems for measurement of gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) in serum in order to provide reference for the clinical laboratories to verify the target accuracy. Methods Five fresh frozen human serum samples that differed in catalytic concentration were analyzed in two candidate domestic reference laboratories and the target values for GGT were assigned using IFCC reference measurement procedure. The same samples were tested by six commercial systems which were calibrated using the matched calibrator. Each system consisted of five instruments in five laboratories, which had been well maintained before measurement. The data was collected. Precision from the same manufacturer and different manufacturers and biases between target values and mean values from each system were calculated. Results The differences of the mean values for five levels of commercial systems varied from 16. 1% to 35.4%. For the five levels, the coefficients of variation (CVs) of the results from all measurement system were from 5.3% to 8. 8% , and CVs from each level were A 2. 17%- 5.07%, B 4. 21%-10. 98%, C 0. 52%-2. 38%, D 1.35%-2. 59%, E 0. 23%-1..54%-), F 1.83%-2. 38%. Biases between the mean values of each commercial systems and the target values were A 0. 43% -8.41% ), B -1.49% - -13.04% ), C 11.20% -17.73% ), D 0. 19% -4. 62% ), E -0. 30% - -2. 63% ), F 4). 46%-7.90%, respectively. The investigation showed that biases of two manufacturers were less than a quarter of the total allowable error (TAE) of The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA'88) in the whole range of investigated concentrations and the other two manufacturers' biases could meet a quarter of TAE in a relative limited range. The biases of two manufacturers were near or more than half of TAE in most levels. It also revealed that the biases of more than half of manufacturers were more than a quarter of TAE in the low or high level of investigated concentrations. Conclusions The mean values of each manufacturer were significantly different. The variances of commercial systems from different manufacturers were much higher than those from the same manufacturer. Some imported commercial systems for measurement GGT should be better calibrated with the reference method, especially in the whole measurement linearity.

Objective To obtain acquired immunity evidence in hamsters elicited by third stage hookworm larvae of Necator americanas(NaL3).morphology changes of NaL3 and inflammatory responses in the skin and undedying subcutaneous tissue and muscles of hamsters were observed.Methods Hamsters were immunized subcutaneously with one dose of 150 NaL3 at 2 weeks earlier,and then challenged pereutaneously with 900 NaL3.Skins were excised from post-challenge hamsters at 6,24,72 hours and 1,2 weeks,and then examined under light microscopy.Non-immunized hamsters served as negative controls.Results In non-immunized hamsters the number of NaL3 were 15,33,11.0 and 0 at 6,24,72 hours and 1,2 weeks post-infection.No damaged or dead NaL3 section was observed.All NaL3 exhibited no structural damage and infihrating inflammatory cells were absent from the sunDunding tissues.There were no cutaneous changes.In contrast.the total number of Nak sections in the skin of immunized hamsters were 25,53,15,5 and 4 at 6,24,72 hours and 1,2 weeks post-challenge.Among these NaL3 sections,damaged and dead section number were 0,24,6,0,0 and 0,0,7,5,4.At 24 hours post-challenge the Nak exhibited cutieular swelling and damage.By 72 hours post-challenge pyknosis of the somatic cells nuclei and sparseness or loss of definition in the internal structures of NaL3 were seen.One or two weeks after chanenge,the NaL3 showed severe damage or even dead with remnants.Inflammatory responses including macrophages,epithelioid cells and eosinophils infiltrating and granulomata forming were mainly seen around the NaL3 sections in the skin of immunized hamsters.Conclusions Hamsters initially immunized with NaL3 exhibited obvious acquired immunity protection against percutaneously challenged infection as evidenced by vigorous inflammatory responses in the skin and underlying subcutaneous tissue and muscle.

Objective To evaluate abdominal imaging in AIDS.Methods The imaging examinations(including US,CT and MR)of 6 patients with AIDS associated abdominal foci were analysed retrospectively.All the cases were performed US,and CT scan,of which 4 performed enhanced CT scan and 1 with MR.Results Abdominal tuberculosis were found in 4 patients,including abdominal lymph nodes tuberculosis(3 cases)and pancreatic tuberculosis(1 case).The imaging of lymph nodes tuberculosis typically showed enlarged peripheral rim enhancement with central low-attenuation on contrast-enhanced CT. Pancreatic tuberculosis demonstrated low-attenuation area in pancreatic head and slightly peripheral enhancement.Disseminated Kaposi's sarcoma was seen in 1 case:CT and MRI scan demonstrated tumour infiltrated along hepatic portal vein and bronchovascular bundles.Pelvic tumor was observed in 1 case:CT scan showed large mass with thick and irregular wall and central low attenuation liquefacient necrotic area in the pelvic cavity.Conclusion The imaging findings of AIDS with abdominal foci is extraordinarily helpful to the diagnosis of such disease.Tissue biopsy is needed to confirm the diagnosis.

OBJECTIVETo explore the influence of the DNA repair gene ERCC2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs13181, rs1618536, and rs1799793 on male idiopathic infertility in Ningxia, China.

METHODSUsing MassArray, we conducted a case-control study and genotyped three ERCC2 SNPs rs13181, rs1618536, and rs1799793 for 351 males (aged 31.0 +/- 4.2 years) with idiopathic infertility and another 327 normal fertile men (aged 33.0 +/- 5.9 years) as controls.

RESULTSThe ERCC2 AnyG-anyA-anyA genotypes were significantly associated with an increased risk of idiopathic infertility (OR 0.414, 95% CI 0.176 - 0.970), while the three single ERCC2 SNPs rs13181, rs1618536, and rs1799793 showed no significant differences between the cases and controls (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe ERCC2 SNPs rs13181, rs1618536, and rs1799793 play a role of interaction in male idiopathic infertility in Ningxia, contributing to the risk of the disease.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; DNA Repair ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; genetics ; Male ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Xeroderma Pigmentosum Group D Protein ; genetics

BACKGROUNDAlthough video-assisted radical operation for lung cancer has been widely accepted for treatment of nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the debate over video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) segmentectomy still remains. This study analyzed the clinical outcomes using VATS segmentectomy for stage I NSCLC patients to explore the safety and efficacy of VATS segmentectomy for Ia NSCLC.

METHODSRetrospective review was conducted of patients who underwent VATS segmentectomy for clinical stage I NSCLC at Shanghai Chest Hospital between November 2009 and May 2012. VATS segmentectomy was performed on 36 patients. Analyses of the patient group were performed on patient demographics and clinical characteristics, intraoperative parameters, complications, and postoperative survival.

RESULTSThirty-five of thirty-six patients underwent VATS segmentectomy with only one conversion to open thoracic surgery. There was one peri-operative mortality from the segmentectomy group and all other patients are alive with a median follow up of 327 days. The mean volume of chest tube drainage after operation for segmentectomy was 1021.4 ml. Among other parameters, the mean blood loss was 162.5 ml (50.0 - 1600.0 ml), the mean operation time 124.8 minutes (75.0 - 271.0 minutes), chest tube duration 4.1 days (2 - 8 days), and the mean length of hospital stay 6.2 days (4 - 11 days). There was one (2.8%) locoregional recurrence after segmentectomy. Two patients successfully underwent bilateral segmentectomies and are still disease free.

CONCLUSIONFor patients with stage I NSCLC, VATS segmentectomy offers a safe and equally effective option and can be applied to complicated operations such as bilateral segmentectomy.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Pneumonectomy ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; methods

Objective To investigate the accuracy and comparability of ?-glutamyltransferase (?- GT) measurement results on human serum samples and controI materials before and after calibration with a common human serum calibrator.Methods A human serum calibrator was prepared by pooling fresh serum aliquots and assigning a value for ?-GT with the IFCC reference method.The calibrator together with 5 human serum samples and 10 control samples were sent to 15 clinical laboratories and the sermn and control samples were measured with different analytical systems before and after a calibration with the calibrator.The results were analyzed for biases and interlaboratory variations.Results For the serum samples,the calibration resulted in reductions in biases from -9.0%～-14.2% to -0.8%～-7.9%,and in interlaboratory variations from 6.9%～11.6% to 2.8%～4.4%.No improvement was observed on the control samples.Conclusions Accuracy and comparability of serum ?-GT measurements can be improved by using a common human serum calibrator.Some control materials may not be commutable for human serum in ?-GT measurements.