Objective To evaluate the value of serum galactomannan (GM) detection for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) diagnosis. Methods The suspicious IPA patients were divided into proven,clinical and possible IPA groups. The patients excluded of IPA were recruited as controls. The serum GM concentration was detected by Platelia Aspergillus double?sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Re?sults In the 103 patients,there were seven cases diagnosed as proven,nineteen cases diagnosed as clinical and forty cases diagnosed as possible IPA patients. Setting 0.5 as the optimal result for GM detection,the sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive values and negative predictive values of GM were 85.7%,86.5%,55%and 97%,respectively. In non?neutropenia patients combinded with the pulmonary chronic diseases,the sensitivity, specificity,positive predictive values and negative predictive values of GM detection were 71.4%,84.4%,66.75%and 87.1%,respectively. Conclu?sion Index>0.5 for GM test could increase the sensitivity without obvious decreased specificity. GM detection could provide valuable information in patients of non?neutropenia underlying the pulmonary chronic diseases,which had a better sensitivity and specificity versus conventional diagnostic tests.

Objective To observe the phosphorylation levels of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients and the effects of ERK5 selective inhibitor XMD8-92 on human platelet activation in vitro,and to explore its mechanism.Methods Western blot was applied to detect the phosphorylation levels of ERK5,Akt473 and Akt308 in AMI patients (n =34) and stable angina patients (n =33,control).The effects of different concentration of XMD8-92 on human platelet aggregation induced by collagen was tested by aggregometer in vitro.The release of ATP was measured simultaneously by luciferase detection.The effects of XMD8-92 on integrin aIIbβ3 were detected by platelet spreading on immobilized fibrinogen and clot retraction.The effects of XMD8-92 on phosphorylation levels of Akt473,Akt308 PTEN370 and ERK5 were detected by Western blot.Results The levels of phosphor-Akt473,Akt308 and phosphor-ERK5 were significantly higher in AMI patients than that in control group (P＜0.05).ERK5 inhibitor XMD8-92 diminished collagen-induced platelet aggregation,ATP secretion,the average area of platelet spreading on immobilized fibrinogen and the clot retraction extent.The levels of phosphor-Akt (Ser-473/Thr-308) and phosphor-PTEN (Ser370) were significantly down-regulated in the presence of XMD8-92.Conclusions ERK5 plays a role in platelet activation in AMI process.It regulates platelet activation by regulating PTEN and Akt phosphorylation.Its specific inhibitor is hoped to be new antithrombotic drug.

Objective This paper aims to make clear the post-disaster medical needs of residents in the disaster areas and changes among the poor population, for the purpose of policy recommendations on post-disaster medical assistance. Methods Such methods as in-home questionnaire survey and literature study were used to study the income, prevalence rate and mental health of 4 380 households in 10 counties (cities and districts) in the disaster areas. Results In the hardest hit areas, 80. 4% and 52. 8% of residents in rural and urban areas are dependent on government relief respectively;the proportion of poor population resulting from the disaster rose from 5% before the disaster to over 75% afterwards in the hard-hit areas, while such a population rose to 15% in the hardest-hit areas and about 10% in general disaster areas;It is estimated that the new medical aid funds in Sichuan Province will reach 350 million yuan, two-fold that of the budget for 2009;In the hardest hit areas, the two-week prevalence rate per thousand people is twice that found in the third survey of health services in 2003, characterized of acute respiratory illness and rheumatoid;In the hardest-hit areas, nearly 70% of the residents are exposed to high mental health risks. Conclusion Recommendations: Strengthening the raising and use of medical aid fund;dynamic management for the population in need of post-disaster medical aid;Developing appropriate medical aid packages to fit post-disaster health needs and postdisaster disease characteristics;and consolidating the connection between medical aid and primary medical insurance system.

Objective To investigate the effects of metformin on serum visfatin and the level of visfatin mRNA in visceral adipose tissue of type 2 diabetic rats.Methods Forty Wistar rats were randomly assigned into normal diet group (NC) and diabetic group.The rats in the diabetic group were fed with high glucose and high fat diet, and then injected with streptozotocin (STZ).The diabetic rats were divided into diabetic control (DC), metformin (MET), and insulin-treatment (INS) groups.Eight weeks later, body weight (BW) , visceral adipose tissue weight, and biochemical indicators were assessed.Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and Lee index were calculated.The serum visfatin levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunoassay (EIA), and the visfatin mRNA levels of visceral adipose tissues were detected by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).Results Compared to group DC, the visfatin levels of serum and visceral adipose tissue mRNA were lower in INS group, but did not have significant difference (P ＞ 0.05);the visfatin levels of serum and visceral adipose tissue mRNA in MET group were significantly lower (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions Metformin can reduce the visfatin levels of serum and visceral adipose tissue mRNA, and improve the insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic rats.

Objective To investigate the relationships between genetic polymorphism of CYP2A6 alone or in combination with smoking and hereditary susceptibility to bladder cancer.Methods Based on case-control study,CYP2A6*4 was determined by the nested polymerase chianreaction(nPCR)in 186 patients with bladder cancer and 192 nontumorous controls.The relations between the genetypes of CYP2A6*4 alone or combinated with smoking and bladder cancer was estimated with the X2 test and logistic regression model.Results In the case subjects,the number of the wil/wil genetype was 168,the number of the wil/del genetype was 13,and the number of the del/del genetype was 5.In the control subjects,the number of the wil/wil genetype was 150,the number of the wil/del genetype was 32,and the number of the del/del genetype was 10.The frequency of CYP2A6 del allele was significantly lower in the case Subjects(9.68%)than the controls(21.88%,P＜0.05,OR:0.383).When eombinated with smoking,the risk of bladder cancer in smokers was significantly higher than nonsmoker(P＜0.05,OR=2.322).In smokers,the frequency of CYP2A6 del allele was significantly lower in cases(7.88%)than controls(28.00%,P＜0.05,OR=0.221).In smoking people,the one with CYP2A6 del genotype had a lower risk of bladder cancer than the one with CYP2A6 wild genotype(OR=0.221,95%CI:0.092,0.534).Conclusions Genetic polymorphisms of CYP2A6 are associated with the susceptibility to bladder cancer and have interaction with smoking in carcinogenesis of bladder cancer.Deficient CYP2A6 activity to genetic polymorphism mayreduee bladder cancer risk in smokers.

Objective To study the relationship between cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) polymor phisms and the susceptibility of bladder cancer.Methods Polymerase chain reaction restricted frag ments length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and the primer introduced restriction analysis (PIRA-PCR)assay were used to genotype the COX-2-765G/C, 1195G/A and 8473T/C polymorphisms in a case control study of 180 bladder cancer cases and 180 cancer free controls in a Chinese population.Re stilts The distribution of the genotype frequencies of 765G/C and 1195G/A were not statisticallydifferent between the cases and controls (P=0.582 for-765G/C and P=0.270 for-1195G/A).Poly morphisms of COX 2-8473T/C were associated with the susceptibility to bladder cancer.The individ uals with the 8473C allele had a decreased risk of bladder cancer (OR=0.56,95% CI=0.35 0.88).Conclusions Polymorphisms of COX-2-765G/C and-1195G/A are not associated with the suscepti bility to bladder cancer.However,COX-2-8473T/C can reduce the risk of bladder cancer.

There have been very few studies on the effect of Gualou Xiebai Banxia decoction combined with Xuefu Zhuyu decoction in inhibiting apoptosis in myocardial ischemial injury caused by coronary heart disease. In this experiment, Gualou Xiebai Banxia decoction combined with-Xuefu Zhuyu decoction were used to intervene the miniature swine phlegm and blood stasis type coronary heart disease model, in order to observe the effect of the combined prescription on the myocardial apoptosis and the expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase-3, Caspase-9 in the model. Totally 15 Chinese experimental miniature swine were adopted and randomly divided into the control group, the model group and the phlegm and stasis-treating group. The model group and the stasis-treating group were fed with high fat diets for two weeks, intervened with the coronary artery injury and then given drugs and high fat diets for eight weeks. The control group was fed with ordinary diets for 10 weeks, without the coronary artery injury. After the experiment, myocardia at the juncture of infracted areas were collected and made into formalin-fixed paraffin sections. The TDT-mediate dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay was used to detect the myocardial apoptosis. The immunohistochemistry (IHC) technique was applied to detect Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase-3, Caspase-9 levels in myocardial tissues. According to the findings, the apoptosis indexes (AI) for the control group, the model group and the phlegm and stasis-treating group were 0.92%, 27.68%, 17.28%, respectively. The AI of the phlegm and stasis-treating group was significantly lower than that of the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the phlegm and stasis-treating group showed significantly higher Bcl-2 protein expression (P < 0.01) and lower Bax, Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 protein expressions (P < 0.01). In conclusion, Gualou Xiebai Banxia decoction combined with Xuefu Zhuyu decoction have a significant protective effect against the myocardial apoptosis in miniature swine phlegm and blood stasis type coronary heart disease model.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspases ; metabolism ; Coronary Disease ; drug therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Phytotherapy ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; analysis ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; analysis

Objective To observe the impact of alone or combined use of ezetimibe and simvastatin on transient outward potassium current (Ito) in ventricular myocytes of rat model of ischemia and reperfusion (IR). Methods Seventy-five male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups, control group (CON), control-IR group (CIR), ezetimibe treatment group (EIR), simvastatin treatment group (SIR) and combined ezetimibe and simvastatin treatment group (ESIR). After two weeks of treat?ment with intragastic normal saline or drugs (ezetimibe or simvastatin), myocytes were isolated from right ventricular with colla?genaseⅡ, and Ito was recorded by whole-cell patch clamp technique. Results (1) The Ito current density at+60 mV was sig?nificantly decreased in CIR group than that of CON group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in Ito current density between SIR group and ESIR group (P>0.05). The Ito current densities were higher in SIR group and ESIR group compared to those of CIR group. There was no significant difference in Ito current density between SIR group and ESIR group (P>0.05). (2) There was a significant increase in the half-inactivation (V1/2) in CIR group than that of CON group, but no significant differ?ence between EIR group and CIR group (P >0.05). There was a significant difference in the half-inactivation (V1/2) in SIR group and ESIR group compared to that of CIR group (P<0.05), but no significant difference between SIR group and ESIR group (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the slope factor (K) between five groups (P>0.05). (3) The time-con?stant (τ) of Ito recovery curves from inactivation was significantly higher in CIR group than that of CON group (P<0.05), which was no significant difference between EIR group and CIR group (P>0.05). There was a significant difference in the time-con?stant (τ) of Ito recovery curves from inactivation in SIR group and ESIR group compared to that of CIR group (P<0.05), but no significant difference between SIR group and ESIR group (P>0.05). Conclusion Simvastatin pre-treatment or ezetimibe+simvastatin pre-treatment can reverse the effect of IR on Ito of ventricular myocytes, but ezetimibe shows no such effects.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate therapeutic effects of Rigidfix cross pins combined with Intrafix pins for the reconstruction of anterior or posterior cruciate ligament under arthroscopy.

METHODSFrom January 2009 to June 2010,34 patients with anterior or posterior cruciate ligament injuries were divided into two groups : group A and group B. There were 24 patients in group A, including 19 males and 5 females,with an average age of (31.83±9.57) years old. The patients in group A were treated with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction under arthroscopy; Rigidfix cross pins and Intrafix pins were used to fix femoral and tibial side respectively. Among the 10 patients in group B, 8 patients were male and 2 patients were female, with an average age of (27.20+7.59) years old. The patients in group B were treated with posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction under arthroscope; Intrafix pins and Rigidifix cross pins were used to fix femoral and tibial side sepectively. The drawer test and Lachaman test were used to evaluate postoperative knee stability. All the patients were followed up at least 18 months. Lysholm and Tegner knee scores were used to evaluate the clinical therapeutic effects.

RESULTSAll the 34 patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 18 to 26 months,with an average of (20.79±2.39) months. All the patients obtained good pain relief and knee stability. In group A,Lysholm scores significantly increased from 43.04±7.57 preoperatively to 85.41±4.68, 92.50±3.05, and 93.45±2.57 at 6,12, and 18 months postoperatively; Tegner scores significantly increased from 2.62±0.92 preoperatively to 7.45±1.14, 8.58±0.77, and 8.95±0.55 at 6, 12, and 18 months postoperatively. In group B,Lysholm scores significantly increased from 46.20±8.27 preoperatively to 86.40±5.14,90.40±2.67,and 92.00±3.85 at 6,12,and 18 months postoperatively ;Tegner scores significantly increased from 2.00±0.66 preoperatively to 7.10±0.99, 8.60±0.84, and 8.80±0.42 at 6,12, and 18 months postoperatively. There were no differences in Lysholm and Tegner scores between group A and B at different times during follow-up. Lysholm scores of all patients significantly increased from 43.97±7.79 preoperatively to 85.70±4.76,91.88±3.06,and 93.02±3.01 at 6,12,and 18 months postoperatively. Tegner scores of all patients significantly increased from 2.44±0.89 preoperatively to 7.35±1.09, 8.58±0.78, and 8.91±0.51 at 6,12,and 18 months postoperatively. During the follow-up period,there were no serious immunological rejection and complications.

CONCLUSIONReconstruction of anterior or posterior cruciate ligament under arthroscopy with Rigidfix cross pins and Intrafix pins fixation is feasible therapy for anterior or posterior cruciate ligament injuries, and the fixation is rigid. The therapy restores knee stability and provides a satisfactory short-term results.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; surgery ; Arthroscopy ; methods ; Bone Nails ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Posterior Cruciate Ligament ; surgery ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; instrumentation ; methods

BACKGROUND:Previous experiments have prepared shape memory polymer based on D,L-poly(lactic acid). According to domestic technical requirements for biological y evaluating biomaterials and medical equipments, tissue-engineered grafts must be subjected to preclinical experiment for biosecurity and cytocompatibility evaluation.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the biosecurity of the shape memory polymer based on D,L-poly(lactic acid).
METHODS:(1) Bacterial endotoxin test:polymer extract, endotoxin working standard solution and checking
standard water were added into limulus reagent, respectively. (2) Sensitization test:Polymer extract+Freund’s complete adjuvant+physiological saline and Freund’s complete adjuvant+physiological saline were injected into the scapula of Kunming mice. After induction by intradermal injection, local induction and excitation, stimulate skin erythema and edema degree were observed in animals. (3) Acute toxicity test:Kunming mice received intraperitoneal injection of 100%, 50%, 25%polymer leaching solution and physiological saline, respectively. (4) 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay for cel proliferation:The direct method was that human umbilical cord vascular endothelial cel s were inoculated onto the polymer film, lactic acid and glass, respectively;the indirect method was that human umbilical cord vascular endothelial cel s were inoculated into the polymer leaching solution, acrylamide solution and 1640 culture solution.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:This shape memory polymer based on D,L-poly(lactic acid) is free of bacterial contamination in compliance with the biosecurity standards, and it has no al ergenic and toxicity but has good cytocompatibility.