An electrophoretic karyotype of Acanthamoeba polyphaga has been preliminarily analysed by means of pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).Ten chromosomal DNA bands are distinguishable on the gel.Using yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) chromosomal DNA as size standard,we estimate the size of the chromosomes to be between about 200 kilobase pairs (kb) and 2 megabase pairs (mb).

Objective To observe the changes of serum soluble form of triggering receptors expressed on myeloid cell-1 (sTREM-1) level in full-term newborns with infection and to investigate the relationship between serum sTREM-1 and neonatal bacterial infection.Methods Eighty-five full-term newborns admitted to the neonatal ward of Shanghai Children s Hospital of Shanghai Jiaotong University were selected into this study.According to the locations and severity of infection,patients were divided into 3 groups: severe infection group (n = 27),mild infection group (n = 28),non-infection group (n = 30).The samples of infection groups were collected before using antibiotics and within 48 h after infection symptom occurred; others were collected during hospitalization.For the neonates with organ dysfunction in the severe infection group,samples were also collected at the third and seventh day of infection.Serum sTREM-1 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Analysis of variance was used to compare the difference between groups.Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to calculate the sensitivity,specificity,positive and negative predictive value and Youden index.Results (1) Serum sTREM-1 level of severe infection group[(91.2±47.3) pg/ml] was significantly higher than that of mild infection group[(68.8 + 30.4) pg/ml] and non-infection group[(35.5±17.6) pg/ml],respectively (P＜0.05).(2) Serum sTREM-1 level of the survival newborns (n= 17) in the severe infection group was lower than that of dead ones[(73.1±34.9) pg/ml vs (121.6±49.3) pg/ml,t= - 2.995,P = 0.006].(3) For the survival patients,the serum sTREM-1 level decreased in the first week of infection,while that of dead patients increased,the cut-off value was 100.6 pg/ml.(4) Based on the ROC analysis,43.8 pg/ml was selected as the the cut-off value,area under the curve was 0.868,and sensitivity was 85.5%,specificity 80.0%,positive predictive value 0.887,negative predictive value 0.750,Youden index 0.655.Conclusions Serum sTREM-1 level increases in neonatal infection.The change of serum sTREM-1 level in patients with severe infection is correlated to the prognosis.

Objective To evaluate and compare the value of interleukin(IL)-6,IL-8,tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α,and soluble form of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells (sTREM)-1 in neonatal infection and detect the relationship between them.Methods Eighty-five full-term newborns who were admitted to the neonatal ward of Shanghai Children's Hospital of Shanghai Jiaotong University were enrolled,according to the locations and severity of infection,the patients were divided into three groups:systemic infection group (n =27),local infection group(n =28),and non-infection group (n =30).The level of plasma sTREM-1 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,and the levels of IL-6,IL-8 and TNF-α were measured using cytometric bead array.Results (1) The levels of sTREM-1,IL-6,IL-8 and TNF-α were significantly higher in infants with systemic infection group than local infection group and non-infection group(P ＜0.05).(2) There were 17 survivors and 10 deaths in systemic infection group,and the level of sTREM-1 in the non-survivor [(121.64 ±49.31) pg/ml] was higher than the survivor[(73.13 ± 34.92) pg/ml,P =0.006].But the levels of IL-6,IL-8 and TNF-α were not statistically significant in the survivor and the death (P ＞ 0.05).(3) Based on the receiver operating characteristic analysis,cutoff values were identified for each variable that maximized both the sensitivity and specificity.These markers were considered positive if sTREM-1 ≥43.75 pg/ml,IL-6 ≥ 89.80 pg/ml,IL-8 ≥569.55 pg/ml and TNF-α ≥ 24.80 pg/ml.Among these indexes,the sensitivities were 85.5％,89.1％,70.1％ and 69.5％ respectively; the specificity were 80.0％,100％,100％ and 93.3％ respectively.Compared the area under curve(AUC) of them,IL-6(AUC =0.981)＞ sTREM-1 (AUC =0.868) ＞ TNF-α (AUC =0.864) ＞ IL-8 (AUC =0.852).sTREM-1 was correlated with IL-6,IL-8 and TNF-α(Spearman coefficient of rank r =0.532,P ＜0.01 ;r =0.420,P ＜0.01 ;r =0.531,P ＜0.01).Conclusion (1) The levels of plasma sTREM-1,IL-6,IL-8 and TNF-α were higher in neonatal infections;(2) sTREM-1 was associated with prognosis; (3) sTREM-1 was correlated with IL-6,IL-8 and TNF-α.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of sonohysterography (SHG)in uterine cavity diseases. Methods 48 patients suspected to suffer from uterine cavity diseases on the basis of transvaginal sonography underwent sonohysterography,hysteroscopy and biopsy.The results of sonohysterography were compared with those from hysteroscopy and biopsy. Results The diagnostic accuracy,sensitivity,specificity of SHG in detecting abnormal uterine cavities were 93.8%(45/48),91.4%(32/35),100%(13/13) and respectively. Conclusions SHG is a simple,effective and cheap method in the detectiou of uterine cavity diseases.

Objective To assess the prevalance and distribution of pain in Parkinson' s disease (PD) patients, and to describe the relationship between pain and development of disease and its impact on the quality of life. Methods 113 PD patients were assessed with Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), Unified Parkinson' s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Hoehn-Yahr Scale (H-Y), Hamilton Anxiety and Depression Scale (HRSD, HAMA) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Patients were divided into no pain group, PD-pain group and non-PD-pain group. PD-pain group was divided into PD-pain direct group and PD-pain indirect group. And statistical analysis was performed for each group. Results The incidence of PD-pain was 42. 5% (48/113). And compared with no pain group, PD-pain group had earlier age at onset of disease, longer duration, higher HAMA, HRSD, UPDRS and H-Y score, higher daily L-dopa dose, with statistical significance. Compared with non-PD pain group, the differences in the onset of age (57.4±9.6 vs 65.9±8.7, t= -2.596, P =0.012), HRSD(12. 9±7.9 vs 8.7±3.7, t =2.605, P=0.014) and VAS (61.6±25.9 vs 38.0 ± 30. 1, U = -2.290, P =0.022) were also statistically significant. BPI was different between PD-pain direct group and PD-pain indirect group except normal work and relations with other people. Conclusion Pain is frequent in Parkinsonian population. Most pain was chronic and related to PD (PD-pain). These patients always have earlier onset age and poorer quality of life.

Objective: To study if the immune-enhancing effect of Arg was mediated via liver.Methods: The direct effect of Arg on T cell proliferation was measured by 3H-TdR incorporation. Rat hepatocytes were primarily cultured in serum-free DMEM/F12 medium, and then cultured in medium containing Arg(?mol/L:0,7.5,75,750,7 500), and the supernatant was collected at 0, 24, 48, 72 hours, and added to splenocytes culture, and T cell proliferation, NK cell activity and IL-2 activity,〔Ca 2+〕i were measured respectively.Results: Arg had no direct effect on splenocyte proliferation. The hepatocyte culture supernatant significantly increased the lymphocyte〔Ca 2+〕i ,IL-2 activity and T lymphocyte proliferation; 7 500 ?mol/L was most effective. Conclusion: Arg may enhance immune function via secretion of bioactive molecules by hepatocytes.

Objective To study the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of primary pulmonary peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS). Methods Two cases of primary pulmonary PTCL-NOS were studied and relevant literature were reviewed. Results Case 1 diagnosed as primary pulmonary PTCL-NOS was a 44 years old woman and disease progressed after GLD (Gem+L-OHP+ DXM) chemotherapy regimen. At last, the patient died of respiratory failure after one month. Case 2 diagnosed as primary pulmonary PTCL-NOS was a 46 years old man and reach partial response after CHOP regimen, and still alive now.Conclusion Primary pulmonary PTCL-NOS is very rare. It is easy to be misdiagnosed due to non-specific clinical and imaging manifestations. Acquiring enough tissue specimens for pathologic examination is the key to a definitive diagnosis. At present, there is no standard chemotherapy regimen for these patients, the prognosis is relatively poor.

Objective To compare the efficacy of gradient and swim-up semen preparation techniques on pregnancy rates in couples undergoing intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles with human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG) stimulation. Methods Five hundred and seventy one cycles were devided into the swim up or the gradient technique groups for sperm preperation. The clinical pregnancy rates per cycle were evaluated. Results The clinical pregnancy rates per cycle were significantly higher in the gradient group (17.8%) than that in the swim up group (11.4%)(P < 0.05). In the subgroup of unexplained subfertile couples, the gradient group also revealed significantly higher clinical pregnancy rates per cycle (33.7%) than that in the swim up group (20.3%)(P<0.05). In couples with mild male factor subfertility, the gradient group also revealed significantly higher clinical pregnancy rates per cycle (11.6%) than that in the swim up group (7.6%)(P < 0.05). Conclusion The gradient technique significantly improves clinical outcome in IUI cycles of unexplained subfertile and male subfertile couples.

BACKGROUND: Cytogenetic evidence suggests that chromosomal alteration are not randomly occurring events and some malignancies are characterized by specific chromosome abnormalities, which provides cytogenetic basis for the expression of oncogenes.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics of chromosomal karyotype and marker chromosome of breast cancer cell lines Bcap-37and MCF-7 by means of G-banding chromosomal analysis.DESIGN: A controlled experiment with breast cancer cells as observation subjects.SETTING: Department of Medical Genetics, Peking University Health Science Center.MATERIALS: This study was carried out in the Department of Medical Genetics of Peking University Health Science Center from April 1991 to May 1992 using breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and Bcap-37.METHODS: The chromosomes of human breast cancer cell lines Bcap-37and MCF-7 were obtained by growth synchronization induced by hypothermia and colchicines treatment. The cells at prometaphase or metaphase underwent G-banding chromosomal analysis. For each cell line, 50 to 60 mitotic figures were counted and 15 or 16 G-binding karyotypes were analyzed, including the mitotic figure at the level of about 320- and 500-band .MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Abnormality in chromosome number and structural aberration of the two breast cancer cell lines.RESULTS:The modal chromosomal number of Bcap-37 cell line was 63, of which 17 marker chromosomes had identifiable structure, as compared with 13 out of 56 chromosomes in modal number of MCF-7 cell line.CONCLUSION: Both of the two breast cancer cell lines have complex cytogenetic abnormality in the modal number and structure of the chromosomes, which might result in the rearrangement of DNA sequence of the cancer-related genes or DNA depletion, so as to play important roles in the pathogenesis and development of breast cancer.

Objective To evaluate the values of CD64 expression in diagnosis of infected patients referred to intensive care unit.Method Sixty febrile children referred to the hospital intensive care unit from 2009.11 to 2010.03 were enrolled for a retrospective study.Fever was defined as a body temperature reaching 38℃ or higher with specifically bacterial infection or highly suspected with bacterial infection or viral infection.There were 28 patients with bacterial infection and 32 with viral infection.The non-infectious diseases such as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and Kawasaki disease were excluded.The controls were 50 healthy children asking for physical examination.On admission,CD64 were measured by using flow cytometry,and blood routine examination,ESR,PCT,blood cultures and sputum cultures were simultaneously detected in all febrile patients.Data were statistically analyzed by using SAS 16.0 software.Data are given as means±SE.Categorical variables were analyzed using X2 test and continuous variables were compared by applying paired 1-tailed t test,Significance level was set at less than 0.05.Results of them,57.1%bacterial infection patients and 71.9%viral infection patients contracted pneumonia.CD64 in bacterial infection patients、viral infection patients and the subjects of control group were(12.6±9.7),(5.4±2.42)and (2.9±0.77),respectively.The CD64 in the bacterial infection patients were significantly higher than those in the virus infection patients(F=11.002,P=0.004).Conclusions CD64 in infected children referred to a hospital intensive care unit can be clearly distinguished between bacterial infections and viral infections, providing an important guidance and a flexible strategy for clinical treatment and determine the timing of withdrawal.