Objective To investigate the role of gray-scale sonography in the diagnosis of thyroid microcarcinoma(TMC).Methods The sonographic characteristics of 58 TMC and 61 benign thyroid nodules(≤1 cm)were retrospectively reviewed and compared with each other.The size,echogenicity,internal solid/cystic component,configuration,anteroposterior to transverse dimension ratio(A/T),margin,halo sign and calcification type of the nodules were studied.Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test.The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value and accuracy of individual sonographic characteristics were calculated respectively.Results In ultrasonography,TMC manifested as marked hypoechoic in 48.3%,solid lesion in 98.3%,irregular-shape in 74.1%,irregular halo sign in 37.0%,with internal microcalcifications in 62.1%.There were significantly statistical differences between the benign and malignant nodules in those findings (P＜0.001).However,there was no obviously statistical difference in the obscure margin.The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy were 86.2%,77.0% and 81.5% respectively when using marked internal hypoechoic echo,A/T≥1 and microcalcification as a new combined criterior.Conclusions The gray-scale sonographic findings between the small benign and malignant thyroid nodules(≤1 cm)are different.Combining these sonographic signs can significantly improve diagnostic value of TMC.

Objective To study the correlation between serum hepatitis B virus large surface protein (HBV-LP)and hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV-DNA) load in hepatitis B patients treated with lamivudine, and the application of serum HBV-LP measurement in evaluation of lamivudine therapeutic effect and end point judgement.Methods HBV DNA was detected by fluorescent quantitative PCR (FQ-PCR), serum HBV-LP was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Both HBV-DNA and HBV-LP decreased in patients responding to lamivudine therapy, and HBV-LP turned negative 3 months later than HBV-DNA. In patients resistant to lamivudine therapy, neither HBV-DNA nor HBV-LP turned negative. In patients whose symptoms relapsed, HBV-LP didn't turn negative, while HBV-DNA was undetectable only transitorily. Conclusion Measuring serum HBV-LP dynamically can be useful in evaluation of lamivudine therapeutic effect.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) on electroencephalography (EEG) in vascular dementia (VD) patients.

METHODSAccording to the Hasegawa dementia scale (HDS), the severity of 46 VD patients were classified into three grades as gentle, medium and severe, in the same time, they were divided into the EA group (n = 23) and the nimotop group (n = 23) randomly. Changes of EEG in the patients were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe degree of normality of EEG in VD patients were positively correlated with the severity of their illness, i. e. the severer VD, the more obvious the abnormal EEG changes.

CONCLUSIONEEG can be accessible for evaluating the severity of VD, and the electrical activity of brain in VD patients could be improved by EA therapy.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Aged ; Dementia, Vascular ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Electroencephalography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Soxhlet extraction is a common method of sample preparation. However, there has been no discussion about the efficiency of Soxhlet extraction from different batches and the factors that cause content fluctuation. In this study, Panax ginseng was selected as a model sample. Soxhlet extraction by means of a water bath, which has always been neglected, was identified as a novel key factor in the poor repeat-ability in different batches of Soxhlet extraction, as it can affect the siphon times and reflux time, which have been positively correlated with the ginsenoside contents. By substituting round bottom flasks in the same column, the relative standard deviation of the most fluctuated compound, ginsenoside Rb1, was decreased from 24.6% to 5.02%. Scanning electron microscopy analysis confirmed that the breakdown of the surface of the ginseng powder in the Soxhlet extraction led to a better dissolution of ginsenosides, indicating that chloroform may promote the extraction of ginsenosides by disrupting the cell structure. Moreover, 70% methanol was regarded as the better solvent for extracting the ginsenosides. Overall, this work offers a practical and effective protocol for improving the accuracy and repeatability of Soxhlet extraction methodology for ginsenosides and other analytes.

OBJECTIVETo study effective operation method of congenital velopharyngeal insufficiency by reviewing clinical data of 29 patients with pharyngoplasties.

METHODS29 patients (9 male and 20 female, ranged from 4 to 25 years old, mean age was 13.5) with congenital velopharyngeal insufficiency were available for this study. All cases received Chinese speech intelligibility test and blowing test before and after the pharyngeal flap surgery.

RESULTSChinese speech intelligibility of 29 cases who underwent pharyngoplasties was improved from 33.86% to 43.13%, and the blowing time was increased from 4.60 to 17.72 seconds, the degree of abnormal speech was reduced.

CONCLUSIONThe pharyngeal flap surgery is an effective method for congenital velopharyngeal insufficiency, which reduces hypernasality and increases oral pressure, improves the velopharyngeal function.

Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pharynx ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgical Flaps ; Velopharyngeal Insufficiency

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important opportunistic human pathogen. It encodes many virulence factors and one of them is type III secretion system (TTSS). Effectors proteins can be delivered into host cells directly by this system, causing necrosis or apoptosis. popN gene is the first gene in the popN operon of TTSS gene cluster. To investigate its function, popN gene deletion mutant was generated in this study, and we found this mutant can secrete effectors proteins constitutively under non-inducting condition in DMEM medium containing serum. The results indicated that PopN is a negative regulator of the TTSS expression. However, no secreted effector proteins were detectable when the popN- mutant was grown in LB medium under non-inducting condition. To investigate the possible reasons, effects of growth status and protease (s) inhibitors on the TTSS were investigated. We present evidences that indicate protease mediated degradation of secreted effector proteins played a key role in the phenotypic inconsistency of popN- mutant.
ADP Ribose Transferases ; metabolism ; secretion ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; secretion ; Bacterial Toxins ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Mutation ; Peptide Hydrolases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins ; genetics ; secretion ; Protease Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathogenicity

Objective To examine the E-cadherin and β-eatenin expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma of tongue (OSCCT) and investigate the relationship of these markers with clinicopathologic features and patient prognosis.Methods Quantitative immunohistochemistry analysis was used to examine E-cadherin and β-catenin expression in lesions of 30 OSCCT patients.The relationship between the expression of E-cadherin and β-catenin and clinicopathologicical features was analyzed.Results The decreased expression of E-cadherin was observed in 19 of 30 (63%) tumours from patients who eventually developed a recurrent tumour and was also associated with recurrence (P = 0.007).The expression of E-cadherin was associated with survival (P = 0.018) and an independent prognostic factor in univariate analysis.There was no correlation between the expression level of E-cadherin and sex, age, histological differentiation, tumour size, clinical stage, or lymph node metastasis.The high expression of β-catenin was observed in 18 of 30 (60%) tumours.No correlation between β-catenin expression and clinicopathological features was observed.Conclusions The absence or reduced expression of E-cadherin was closely associated with recurrence and survival in OSCCT patients.The aberrant expression of E-cadherin may provide a useful prognostic marker in OSCCT.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the genetic polymorphism of 9 STR loci in 5 ethnic groups (including Tu, Sala, Dongxiang, Baoan and Yugu) in Gansu and Qinghai, and to evaluate its application. METHODS: Nine STR loci (D3S1358, FGA, TH01, D7S820, VWA, CSF1PO, D5S818, D13S317 and TPOX) were selected as genetic markers. With STR compound amplification and genescan methods, in which STR loci were marked by fluorescence, the genotype of 5 ethnic groups were examined in 606 unrelated individuals by ABI 377 sequencer. These parameters, such as polymorphism information content (PIC), heterozygosity (H), discrimination power (DP) and probability of paternity exclusion (PPE) were calculated. RESULTS: The genotype frequencies of the 9 STR loci were in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. PIC was within 0.6054 - 0.8735, H was within 0.6158 - 0.8736, DP was within 0.7964 - 0.9691, and PPE was within 0.4610 - 0.8838. Cluster analysis based on allele frequencies in genesis showed Tu, Sala, Dongxiang and Baoan ethnic groups were very close, but Yugu was a little bit far. There were obvious gene exchanges among the populations in north and south of China. CONCLUSION All the 9 STR loci are highly polymorphic in the 5 ethnic groups, which can be useful genetic markers in forensic medicine and population genetics.
China ; ethnology ; Cluster Analysis ; Ethnic Groups ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Genetics, Population ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Tandem Repeat Sequences ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between the polymorphism of ApoE gene and TCM syndrome type of primary hyperlipemia.

METHODSApoE genotype of 102 patients with hyperlipemia was detected by gene PCR sequencing.

RESULTSA total of five genotypes were detectable, they were E2/2, E3/3, E4/4, E2/3 and E3/4. The frequency of E3/4 + E4/4 and epsilon4 allelotype detected in the patients of Gan-Shen Yin deficiency syndrome type were significantly higher than those in patients of Pi-Shen Yang-deficiency type or of phlegm stagnation type (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and which in patients of Qi-stagnation caused blood stasis type were significantly higher than those in patients of phlegm stagnation type ( P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPolymorphism of ApoE gene is related in a certain degree to TCM syndrome type of primary hyperlipemia.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Apolipoproteins E ; genetics ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Yin Deficiency ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression and clinical implication of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in colorectal carcinoma.

METHODSTIMP-1 expression in 54 colorectal carcinoma was observed by SP immunohistochemical method, and the results were analyzed in relation to the clinical data of patients.

RESULTSTIMP-1 was localized on the membrane and in the cytoplasm of the enteric epithelial cells, and its expression rate was 100% in normal tissue but only 59.6% (31/52) in colorectal carcinoma tissues. In addition, the expression rate of TIMP-1 was higher in the tumor tissues without lymph node metastasis than in tissues with lymph node metastasis (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of TIMP-1 is inversely correlated to lymph node metastasis of colorectal carcinoma, and decreased TIMP-1 expression may play a role in the progression of colorectal carcinoma.

Adult ; Aged ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Epithelial Cells ; chemistry ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; biosynthesis