Background Takayasu arteritis is a non specificity inflammation of aorta and its branch.The incidence of Takayasu arteritis is low and its ocular secondary disease is rare.The correct diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis is very important for its early treatment in clinic.Objective This study is to analyze the fundus findings and characteristic of fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) of Takayasu retinopathy.Methods The FFA and clinical data of 12 patients (24 eyes) with Takayasu arteritis were retrospectively reviewed.Written informed consent was obtained from all the patients before and initiation of any study protocol.Results In 12 patients,chronic ischemic retinopathy was found in 15 eyes of 9 patients.The arm to retina circulation time(A RCT) prolonged to (19.20±2.95) s in 5 eyes,and the retinal circulation time (RCT) delayed to 10.62±6.15 s in 5 eyes.Peripapillary arteriovenous anastomosis was found in 2 eyes of 2 patients.Macular arch ring was incomplete in 6 eyes of 4 patients.Eight patients (14 eyes) had telangiectasis and microaneurysm,and 2 eyes of 2 patients presented neovascularization on the disc or elsewhere.In 12 patients,hypertensive retinopathy was found in 4 eyes of 3 patients,showing narrow retinal artery,arteriosclerosis,hemorrhage,cotton wool spots and hard exudates.Ten patients were diagnosed as Takayasu arteritis before FFA examination,and 2 patients were determinedly diagnosed after FFA was performed.Conclusion The main features of Takayasu retinopathy are hypertensive retinopathy and chronic ischemic retinopathy.It is important for ophthalmologist to correctly recognize the clinical features of TA.

The concepts of two modes of government Procurement,invitation bidding and public bidding,are explained. Their characteristics are also analyzed and compared to each other. That is very propitious for us to choose the better mode and get the most benefit of the public bidding.

Objective To construct a nomogram for estimating disease free survival of node-positive penile cancer treated with surgery.MethodsThe clinicopathological data of 32 node-positive penile squamous cell carcinoma patients were retrospectively reviewed.All patients had undergone primary tumor excision and regional lymphadenectomy.The pathological records showed that 10 were N1,13 were N2 and 9 were N3.Median level of preoperative squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCAg) was O.9 μg/L.With a median follow-up of 16.5 months,13 patients developed recurrence.Based on the stage,histological grade and preoperative serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen level,a nomogram was drawn on the basis of the Cox regression model.Results Stage and preoperative serum SCCAg levels were independent prognostic factors for disease free survival in node-positive penile cancer treated with surgery.The hazard ratio of SCCAg level and N stage was 2.76 (95％ CI:1.40-5.44,P=0.0034) and 28.51 (95％ CI:2.55 -319.11,P =0.0066).The nomogram demonstarted good discrimination and calibration with a concordance index of 0.855.Conclusions Based on the N stage and preoperative serum SCCAg level,a nomogram to predict disease free survival in node-positive penile cancer treated with surgery was set up.The prediction model could be helpful in predicting the risk of recurrence.

OBJECTIVETo study the protective effect of Sanhuangyinchi Fang drug serum (SF) against hydrogen peroxide-mediated DNA oxidative damage in LO2 cells.

METHODSThe LO2 cells were randomly divided into the control group, H(2)O(2) group, SF groups (5%, 10%, and 15%) and vitE group. The morphological features of the treated LO2 cells were observed under inverted microscope. The viability of the treated cells was assessed with CCK-8 method, and the activity of SOD, CAT and GSH-PX were detected biochemically. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, the content of 8-OHdG, and DNA damage of the cells were evaluated by flow cytometry, ELISA, and Comet assay, respectively.

RESULTSCompared with H(2)O(2) group, the cells in SF groups (10% and 15%) and vitE group showed higher cell survival rate (P<0.05) and higher SOD, CAT, GSH-PX (P<0.05) and ROS scavenging activities (P<0.01) with markedly decreases the content of 8-OHdG (P<0.01) and reduced tailing ratio, tail length, tail moment and Olive tail moment (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSF drug serum, especially at the concentration of 15%, can protect LO2 cells from H(2)O(2)-mediated DNA oxidative damage.

Cell Line ; Comet Assay ; DNA Damage ; Deoxyguanosine ; analogs & derivatives ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; toxicity ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxidative Stress ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Reactive Oxygen Species

Background and purpose: Platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) is an important factor reflected systematic inflammation. The clinical value of PLR has not been confirmed. The present study was to explore the value of preoperative PLR in predicting clinical stage and prognosis in upper tract urothelial carcinoma. Methods:Patients who underwent surgical therapy with postoperative pathology upper tract urothelial carcinoma without metastasis from Jan. 2007 to Mar. 2012, were collected. Following up was done by telephone and clinic work, 150 vs 1 was taken as the threshold value of PLR, and the association of PLR with tumor stage, whether suffered bladder cancer as comorbidity, recurrent or metastasis, overall survival, tumor lesion, preoperative hematuria, gender and age was analyzed. We further analyzed the association difference of disease free survival (DFS) time and overall survival (OS) time between different PLR groups. Results:Fifty-one cases of UTUC were collected, and the postoperative mean following up time is 21 (9–51) months. Twenty cases recurred or metastasis and 9 cases died. The mean DFS time was 15 (2–51) months,and the mean OS time was 21 (9–51) months. One-factor analysis of variance showed that preoperative PLR was associated with tumor stage, overall survival rate, hematuria and gender, and the P value were 0.028, 0.008, 0.045, 0.036 respectively. High PLR group was intended to be non-organ confined disease, the sensitivity was 57%and the specificity was 74%. Survival analysis by Kaplan-Meier method showed there is no statistical difference in DFS between high and low PLR groups (P=0.155). But OS time in high PLR group was significantly less than that in low PLR group (P=0.006). Cox regression confirmed that only tumor stage is an independent prognostic factor of OS (P=0.029). Conclusion:PLR has potential clinical value in predicting advanced stage disease and Cox regression confirmed that only tumor stage is an independent prognostic factor of OS.

Objective To investigate the roles of mouse erythroid differentiation and denucleation factor (MEDDF), newly cloned in our laboratory, in erythroid terminal differentiation. Methods Mouse erythroleukemia cells (MEL) were transfected with eukaryotic expression plasmid pcDNA-MEDDF. The changes of cell growth rate, mitotic index and colony-forming rate in semi-solid medium were investigated.The expressions of c-myc and β-globin genes were analysed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Results MEL cells transfected with pcDNA-MEDDF showed significant lower growth rate, mitotic index, and colony-forming rate in semisolid medium(P＜0.01).The percentage of benzidine-positive cells was 32.8% after transfection. The expression of β-globin in cells transfected with pcDNA-MEDDF was 3.43 times higher than that of control (MEL transfected with blank vector, pcDNA3.1 ), and the expression of c-myc was decreased by 66.3%.Conclusions MEDDF can induce differentiation of MELcell, and suppress its malignancy likely.

Objective To investigate the current situation in Chinese rheumatologic physicians' clinical diagnosis and evaluation of Takayasu's arteritis (TA).Methods Nineteen rheumatology experts and three vascular surgery specialists in China were invited to make the nationwide investigation for the first time about the diagnosis and disease activity evaluation of TA in China,through the questionnaire survey on the internet.Weighted average was used to calculate the average scores of corresponding problems.Results Chinese experts mainly adopted 1990 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria for clinical diagnosis of TA.In details,symptoms of age,limb claudication and amaurosis,signs including pulselessness or pulse weakening,vascular bruits,increasing bilateral pulse pressure and hypertension and acute phase reactants (APR) were critical to the clinical diagnosis of TA.Besides,noninvasive imaging examinations,such as computed tomography angiography (CTA),magnetic resonance angiography (MRA),vascular ultrasonography,and positron emission tomography (PET) were also of great importance.In the aspect of disease activity assessment,Chinese experts mainly used Kerr scoring tool.APR and noninvasive radiological examinations were considered with vital value.Some TA patients with carotid artery involvement were recommended using vascular ultrasonography,while others with pulmonary artery and thoracic/abdominal aorta trunk involvement were preferred CTA other than MRA.Conclusions APR and noninvasive imaging examinations were thought with great help to make clinical diagnosis and evaluation of TA for Chinese physicians.

Primers were designed based on ompTS gene reported recently. With the specific primers, one target fragment about 1024 bp lacking the signal sequence of ompTS gene was amplified from A. hydrophila genomic DNA via PCR. The ompTS gene was hyperexpressed using gene fusion expression vector pRSET system, and the recombinant OMP exhibited a size of 39.9 kD with SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis, which showed about 51% of total lysate proteins. Antibody to the purified recombinant OMP reacted not only to the recombinant OMP but also to the purified OMPs from A. hydrophila in ELISA and the 36.9 kD OMP in Western blot. The result indicates that the recombinant OMP has the same epitope with the nature one.
Aeromonas hydrophila ; genetics ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Base Sequence ; Gene Expression ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Proteins ; immunology

OBJECTIVESTo analyze the epidemiology information of prostate cancer from three centers of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and to reflect the current situation of prostate cancer in China, and to analyze the information of 272 patients with advanced prostate cancer who received hormonal therapy to find the prognostic factors of hormone therapy.

METHODSCollect the information of 525 patients with prostate cancer from three centers. Two hundred and seventy-two cases of advanced prostate cancer with full information were selected from the 525 cases to analyze the prognostic factors of hormone therapy.

RESULTSThree hundred and fifty-seven cases (68.0%) had advanced disease at diagnosis and 80.2% patients received hormone therapy as the main therapy. Prognostic analysis indicated that Gleason score, bone metastasis and prostate specific antigen nadir were independent prognostic factors of progression-free survival time.

CONCLUSIONSIn this report, most patients are advanced prostate cancer at diagnose, and hormonal therapy is the main therapy. Gleason score, bone metastasis, prostate specific antigen nadir are independent prognostic factors of advanced prostate cancer after hormone therapy.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Androgen Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal ; therapeutic use ; China ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; pathology ; therapy ; Survival Analysis