Objective To observe the effectiveness of comprehensive rehabilitation on the recovery of motor function of patients with severe cerebral injury in recovery phase.Methods 72 cases with severe cerebral injury in recovery phase were randomly divided into rehabilitation group (n=38) and control group (n=34). Patients in control group were treated with routine method, and those in rehabilitation group with comprehensive rehabilitation treatment in addition.Results Motor function, activities of daily living (ADL) and complication of patients were evaluated at the first day and two months later after be in hospital. The effect of comprehensive rehabilitation treatment were better than that of control group(P<0.05,P<0.01). Conclusion Comprehensive rehabilitation is important to the patients with severe cerebral injury of recovering, not only in recovery of motor function but also in reducing the complication.

OBJECTIVEAdrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare but highly malignant tumor, and its diagnosis is mostly delayed and prognosis is poor. We report estrogen receptor (ER) expression in this tumor and our clinical experiences with 17 ACC cases.

METHODSThe data of the 17 patients (9 females and 8 males, age range from 16 to 69 years, mean age of 42.6 years) with ACC were reviewed, and symptoms, diagnostic procedures, treatment, and results of follow-up were evaluated. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect ER expression in tumor samples from the 17 patients.

RESULTSAt the time of diagnosis, 4 tumors were classified as Stage I, 4 as Stage II, 3 as Stage III, and 6 as Stage IV. Eight patients demonstrated positive nuclear immunostaining of ER. The prognosis of patients with ER positive was significantly better (P<0.05) than that of patients with ER negative, with 1- and 5-year survival rates at 86% and 60% for ER-positive patients, and 38% and 0% for ER-negative patients, respectively.

CONCLUSIONER-positivity may be one of the factors associated with a worse prognosis of ACC.

Adolescent ; Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; mortality ; Adrenocortical Carcinoma ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; mortality ; Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; analysis ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; analysis ; Receptors, Estrogen ; analysis ; Risk Assessment ; methods ; Risk Factors ; Survival Analysis ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) on radiosensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in relation to TNFalpha-induced cell cycle synchronization.

METHODSThe radio-resistance of a NPC cell line subclone CNE-2Z-S1 was verified by in vivo experiments and flow cytometry was performed to evaluate cell cycle synchronization in TNFalpha-treated CNE-2Z-S1 cells. The radiosensitivity of the cell synchronized CNE-2Z-S1 cells was determined by clone formation in vitro and in vivo experiment in nude mice.

RESULTSTNFalpha was capable of inducing cell cycle arrest and synchronization of CNE-2Z-S1 cells. Pretreatment with TNFalpha remarkably enhanced the radiosensitivity of CNE-2Z-S1 in vitro, and in vivo experiments with nude mice also suggested the role of TNFalpha in enhancing the radiosensitivity of NPC.

CONCLUSIONTNFalpha can enhance the radiosensitivity of NPC cells by inducing cell cycle synchronization.

Animals ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Radiation-Sensitizing Agents ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

OBJECTIVETo explore the synthetical index for diagnosing schistosomiasis with ultrasound and to assess the prevalence rate with the index.

METHODSUltrasound indexes of schistosomiasis Japonicum were analyzed by principal component analysis, and the synthetical indexes were assessed by ROC curve.

RESULTSAmong the abnormal rates of the 6 indexes, the lowest was 1.6% comparing with the highest of 59.5%. Significant difference was noficed among the abnormal rates (chi(2) = 631.1, P < 0.01). The individual correlation of the six indexes to each other as will as with age distribution was significant (P < 0.05). The three principal components reflected the degree of pathological changes on liver and spleen. The first principal component was the factor reflecting the degree of liver pathological changes, and the second and third principal components reflected the degree of pathological changes on spleen. The synthetical index D(1) = 0.047X(1) + 0.428X(2) + 1.247X(3) + 0.095X(4) + 0.002X(5) + 0.213X(6) - 12.837 was found by adding the three weight principal components, and it's area under the ROC curve was 0.957. When -1.70 was taken as the critical value, the abnormal rate of population was 66.3%, close to the resident's actual prevalence rate 66.9%.

CONCLUSIONUltrasonography was considered as a method which could rapidly assessing the resident's prevalence rate in the endemic areas of schisitosomiasis Japonicum, and could also provide powerful information for development of strategy on chemotherapy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Principal Component Analysis ; ROC Curve ; Schistosomiasis japonica ; diagnostic imaging ; epidemiology ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVEThis study was undertaken to observe the change in the local level of angiotensin II (Ang II) and the expression of its corresponding receptors AT1 and AT2 during wound healing, and explore the possible role of Ang II in wound healing .

METHODSA model of full-thickness cutaneous wound was developed on the back of C57/BL6 mice. Specimens were taken from the wound of each mouse on the day 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15 after wounding. The change in the generation of Ang II in wounded tissue during the healing process was detected with ELISA. The proliferation and the apoptosis of cells were detected by bromodeoxyuridine (Brdu) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL) method in wounded skin during the healing process, respectively. The cellular localization and the mRNA level change of Ang II receptors in wounded tissue during healing were detected with immunostaining and RT-PCR.

RESULTSAng II produced in wounded skin was increased in the first 7 days to reach the peak, and then gradually decreased during wound healing. BrdU labeling index was increased gradually in the first 7 days to reach the peak, and then gradually decreased during wound healing. The number of TUNEL-positive cells was increased slowly in the first 7 days after wounding. The increase in the number of TUNEL-positive cells was more markedly after epithelization of the wound. In normal mice, AT1 and AT2 receptor were found positively expressed in the whole epidermal layer, while positive expression was only found in the endothelial cells of the capillary vessels within the dermal layer, and positive expression was also found in appendages of the skin, i. e. hair follicle, sweat gland and sebaceous gland respectively. Positive staining signal of both AT1 and AT2 receptors were increased in the first 7 days to reach the peak, then gradually decreased. Expression of AT2R was increased again following the epithelization of wound. The result of RT-PCR showed that the expression of both AT1 and AT2 receptors was detectable, and AT1 receptor was increased in the first 7 days to the peak, and then gradually decreased during wound healing, while AT2 receptor expression reached its peak value on day 7, then gradually decreased, and increased again following the epithelization of wound.

CONCLUSIONSThese results indicate that Ang II participate in wound repair and related to remolding in the late stage of wound healing through the change in production of angiotensin II and expression of AT1 and AT2 receptors. AT1 receptor might be closely associated with cell proliferation, while AT2 receptor might play a role in cell apoptosis and remolding during wound healing.

Angiotensin II ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Proliferation ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Receptors, Angiotensin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Skin ; injuries ; metabolism ; pathology ; Wound Healing ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo analyze the impact of depletion of the twin arginine translocation (TAT) system on virulence and physiology of Yersinia enterocolitica for a better understanding of its pathogenicity.

METHODSWe constructed a DeltatatC::SpR mutant of Yersinia enterocolitica by P1 phage mediated transduction using Escherichia coli K-12 DeltatatC::SpR strain as a donor.

RESULTSA P1-mediated genetic material transfer was found between the two species of enterobacteria, indicating a great potential of acquisition of antibiotic resistance in emergency of a new threatening pathogen by genetic material exchanges. Periplasmic trimethylamine N-oxidase reductase activity was detected in the wild type Y. enterocolitica strain and translocation of this enzyme was completely abolished by the DeltatatC::SpR mutation. In addition, the DeltatatC::SpR mutation showed a pleiotropic effect on the metabolism of Y. enterocolitica. However, the tat mutation did not seem to affect the mobility and virulence of Y. enterocolitica under the conditions used.

CONCLUSIONUnlike other pathogenic bacteria studied, the TAT system of Y. enterocolitica might play an important role in the pathogenic process, which is distinct from other pathogens, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and enterohemorrhagic E. coli O157:H7.

Drug Resistance, Microbial ; genetics ; Genes, Bacterial ; Mutation ; Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group Donors ; metabolism ; Transduction, Genetic ; Virulence ; Yersinia enterocolitica ; enzymology ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathogenicity

BACKGROUNDHypertension is a complex biological trait that influenced by multiple factors. The encouraging results for hypertension research showed that the linkage analysis can be used to replicate other studies and discover new genetic risk factors. Previous studies linked human chromosome 14 to essential hypertension or blood pressure traits. With a Chinese population, we tried to replicate these findings.

METHODSA linkage scan was performed on chromosome 14 with 14-microsatellite markers with a density of about 10 centi Morgen (cM) in 147 Chinese hypertensive nuclear families. Multipoint non-parametric linkage analysis and exclusion mapping were performed with the GENEHUNTER software, whereas quantitative analysis was performed with the variance component method integrated in the SOLAR package.

RESULTSIn the qualitative analysis, the highest non-parametric linkage score is 1.0 (P = 0.14) at D14S261 in the single point analysis, and no loci achieved non-parametric linkage score more than 1.0 in the multipoint analysis. Maximum-likelihood mapping showed no significant results, either. Subsequently the traditional exclusion criteria of the log-of-the-odds score-2 were adopted, and the chromosome 14 with lambda s > or = 2.4 was excluded. In the quantitative analysis of blood pressure with the SOLAR software, two-point analysis and multipoint analysis suggested no evidence for linkage occurred on chromosome 14 for systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

CONCLUSIONThere was no substantial evidence to support the linkage of chromosome 14 and essential hypertension or blood pressure trait in Chinese hypertensive subjects in this study.

Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14 ; Genetic Linkage ; Humans ; Hypertension ; genetics ; Lod Score ; Middle Aged

Objective The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of cardiac integrin-linked kinase (ILK) overexpression in a rat model of doxorubicin-induced heart failure and the underlying mechanisms.Methods Rat heart failure model was induced by intraperitoneal administration of doxorubicin (6 injections within 2 weeks: total dose =15 mg/kg).Five weeks after the first injection,rats with heart failure were confirmed by echocardiography and then randomly divided into Ad-ILK group (intramyocardially injected with adenoviral vector expressing ILK) and Ad-null group (intramyocardially injected with empty ad-null,n =20 each).After 4 weeks,ILK expression and activity were detected by Western blot,cardiac function was determined by echocardiographic and hemodynamic examinations.Apoptosis was measured by TUNEL analysis and cardiomyocyte proliferation was estimated by phosphohistone-H3 staining.Results Western blot analysis revealed higher expression of ILK as well as the phosphorylation levels of Akt in AdILK hearts as compared with ad-null controls.Four weeks after transfection,LVEF and LVFS were significantly higher in Ad-ILK group as compared with control group [LVEF: (60.56 ± 2.61)％ vs.(51.94±2.28)％,P＜0.05; LVFS: (28.10± 1.83)％ vs.(22.82 ± 1.68)％,P ＜0.05].The LVEDD and LVESD,as well as LVEDP were significantly lower in Ad-ILK group compared with control group [LVEDD: (6.22 ± 0.24) mm vs.(7.15 ± 0.21) mm,P ＜ 0.05 ; LVESD: (4.42 ± 0.23) mm vs.(5.65±0.25) mm,P＜0.05; LVEDP: (12.96±2.10) mmHgvs.(21.45±2.48) mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa),P ＜0.05].Reduced levels of serum BNP was also seen in the Ad-ILK group.TUNEL analysis showed that ILK treatment significantly inhibited the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes [(0.23 ± 0.02) ％ vs.(0.45 ± 0.04)％,P ＜ 0.05].Moreover,increased cardiomyocyte proliferation was found in Ad-ILK group through the phospho-histone H3 staining [(0.60 ± 0.07) ％ vs.(0.24 ± 0.03) ％,P ＜ 0.01].Conclusion ILK gene therapy improves cardiac function in this rat model of heart failure,and is associated with reduced apoptosis and increased cardiomyocyte proliferation.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the epidemiological and molecular typing features of the pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica strains isolated in China,using pulsed field gel electrophoresis(PFGE) and standardized PFGE method as well as typing database of Yersinia enterocolitica.

METHODSPFGE analysis was performed as Laboratory Directions for molecular subtyping of Salmonella by PFGE (PulseNet,USA) with some modifications and the results of PFGE were analyzed by BioNumerics soft (Version 4.0, Applied Maths BVBA, Belium).

RESULTS114 O:3 Yersinia enterocolitica strains were typed by 25 patterns to have found that K6GN11C30012 (50 strains), K6GN11C30015(19 strains) and K6GN11C30016(10 strains) were the major patterns. K6GNllC30012 had 92.2% cluster similarity with K6GN11C30009-K6GN11C30023. This clone included 91.23% strains of 114 0:3 Yersinia enterocolitica strains. 51 0:9 Yersinia enterocolitica strains were typed by 14 patterns; K6GN11C90004 (22 strains) and K6GN11C90010 (13 strains)were the major patterns. K6GN11C90004 had 81.8% cluster similarity with K6GN11C90010 patterns. The major patterns of 0:3 and 0:9 serotypes were quite different.

CONCLUSIONO:3 Yersinia enterocolitica strains might originate from the same clone and had very few variation in different years and provinces but O:9 Yersinia enterocolitica strains from two different clones with some changes.

China ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Humans ; Yersinia enterocolitica ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo compare the 4 test kits on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) gene, antigen and antibody for early diagnose of SARS patients.

METHODSThree enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits were used to detect SARS-CoV IgG, IgM and N protein and fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (F-PCR) kit was used to detect SARS-CoV RNA.

RESULTSIn 162 serum samples, 90.2% (55/61) became N protein positive in 1 - 5 days and 92.8% (13/14) became positive IgM and IgG in 15 - 18 days after the onset of disease, respectively. On 82 gorgling samples, the positive rates of F-PCR were 56.3% (14/24) in 1 - 5 days and 71.4% (10/14) in 6 - 9 days after the onset.

CONCLUSIONOther than F-PCR, N protein had good effect in the early detection on dubious patients which could lead to effective prevention and control of the epidemic.

Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Nucleocapsid Proteins ; blood ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Viral ; blood ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; standards ; SARS Virus ; isolation & purification ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; diagnosis ; virology