d be used to evaluate the function of severely obstructive hydronephrotic kidneys with no image on IVU, which can reflect its objective function, especially one to two weeks after nephrostomy in hypertonic hydronephrostic kidneys, and is better than IVU.

OBJECTIVETo assess the necessity of routine prophylactic irradiation at the level Ib for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

METHODSNewly diagnosed NPC patients between January, 2001 and June, 2005 were enrolled in this study. The nodal distribution in each region was calculated from the data of transversal contrast enhance CT or magnetic resonance scan of the head and neck.

RESULTSCervical node involvement was found in 75.1% of the 338 patients enrolled. The rates of involvement at levels Ib, IIa, IIb, III, IV, Va, Vb and in the supra-clavicular region were 0.9%, 49.1%, 60.7%, 26.0%, 5.9%, 9.5%, 3.8% and 0.9%, respectively. Skip metastasis occurred only in 2.4% of the cases. The high risk region (defined by a probable risk>5%) of nodal metastases was (1) the ipsilateral levels III, IV, Va, and Vb in case of level II involvement, (2) the ipsilateral levels II, IV, Va, and Vb in case of level III involvement, (3) the ipsilateral levels II, III, Va, Vb and the supra-clavicular region in case of level IV involvement, (4) the ipsilateral levels II, III, IV, Vb and the supra-clavicular region in case of level Va involvement, (5) the ipsilateral levels II, III, IV, Vb, and the supra-clavicular region in case of level Vb involvement, (6) the contralateral levels II, III, and Va in case of unilateral cervical node involvement.

CONCLUSIONNodal involvement in NPC patients rarely occurs at the level Ib, which is not a high risk region whatever the regions may be to have lymph node metastasis and therefore does not need routine prophylactic irradiation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Neck ; Neoplasm Staging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; DNA, Viral ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Lamivudine ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAV) vectors have been shown to mediate long-term transgene expression in mice and nonhuman primates. We have adapted viral vector system based on two rAAV vectors, namely rAAV1 and rAAV2. We have generated rAAV vectors expressing the envelope glycoprotein (E1 and E2) derived from Chinese HCV patient (genotype 1b) and used these to immunize BALB/c mice. We detected the total antibody titer by IFA and neutralizing antibody (nAb) using in vitro HCV neutralizing assays based on HCV pseudotyped particles. Furthermore, IFN-gamma ELISpot assay was used to assess the T cellular response against HCV at 12 weeks after rAAV1-E1E2 immunization. We also analyzed HCV envelope glycoprotein expression in muscle of rAAV1-E1E2 immunized mice. Our data showed: (i) rAAV1 directed long-term expression of HCV genes in mice; (ii) immunized intramuscularly with a single dose of rAAV elicited durable and effective immune responses in mice; and (iii) Moreover, rAAV1-E1E2 induced higher total antibody and nAb titers than rAAV2-E1E2 did. These data suggest that rAAV1 vectors could stimulate robust, durable, and effective immune responses against HCV.
Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Dependovirus ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis C ; immunology ; virology ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Vaccines, DNA ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology ; Viral Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology

Objective To explore the intervention effect of the modified continuous bladder irrigation device on preventing urinary tract infection after operation of plasmakinetic resection of prostate (PKRP).Methods A total of 261 patients from January 2011 to December 2012 were divided into two groups,126 cases from January 2011 to December 2011 used traditional device as control group,while 135 cases from January 2012 to December 2012 used modified device as observation group.The time of bladder irrigation,the total of white blood cells and bacteria,the time of urethral catheterization,ureter blockage,leakage urine,bladder spasm and urinary tract infection and so on after operation of PKRP were observed.Results After the intervention,the number of bladder spasm (15 vs 68),ureter blockage (11 vs 43),leakage urine (13 vs 58),and urinary tract infection(2 vs 12) in observation group was significantly less than that in control group(x2 =55.194,26.805,43.610,8.304,respectively; P ＜ 0.01).And the time of bladder irrigation and urethral catheterization in observation group respectively was (22.91 ± 10.181) h,(129.89 ± 46.632) h,and that in control group respectively was (35.63 ± 8.663) h,(190.18 ± 57.744) h,and the difference was statistically significant (t =-16.380,-11.511,respectively ; P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions The use of the modified continuous bladder irrigation device can reduce the chance of urinary tract infection,and prevent hospital infection,which is worth promoting widely.

INTRODUCTIONTreatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) using intensive chemotherapy has resulted in high cure rates but also substantial morbidity. Infective complications represent a significant proportion of treatment-related toxicity. The objective of this study was to describe the microbiological aetiology and clinical outcome of episodes of chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropaenia in a cohort of children treated for ALL at our institution.

MATERIALS AND METHODSPatients with ALL were treated with either the HKSGALL93 or the Malaysia-Singapore (Ma-Spore) 2003 chemotherapy protocols. The records of 197 patients who completed the intensive phase of treatment, defined as the period of treatment from induction, central nervous system (CNS)-directed therapy to reinduction from June 2000 to January 2010 were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTSThere were a total of 587 episodes of febrile neutropaenia in 197 patients, translating to an overall rate of 2.98 episodes per patient. A causative pathogen was isolated in 22.7% of episodes. An equal proportion of Gram-positive bacteria (36.4%) and Gram-negative bacteria (36.4%) were most frequently isolated followed by viral pathogens (17.4%), fungal pathogens (8.4%) and other bacteria (1.2%). Fungal organisms accounted for a higher proportion of clinically severe episodes of febrile neutropaenia requiring admission to the high-dependency or intensive care unit (23.1%). The overall mortality rate from all episodes was 1.5%.

CONCLUSIONFebrile neutropaenia continues to be of concern in ALL patients undergoing intensive chemotherapy. The majority of episodes will not have an identifiable causative organism. Gram-positive bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria were the most common causative pathogens identified. With appropriate antimicrobial therapy and supportive management, the overall risk of mortality from febrile neutropaenia is extremely low.

Candidiasis ; epidemiology ; Chemotherapy-Induced Febrile Neutropenia ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Child ; Cohort Studies ; Escherichia coli Infections ; epidemiology ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections ; epidemiology ; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; Klebsiella Infections ; epidemiology ; Mycoses ; epidemiology ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; drug therapy ; Pseudomonas Infections ; epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Singapore ; epidemiology ; Staphylococcal Infections ; epidemiology ; Virus Diseases ; epidemiology

Objective To assess the current status and factors associated with the mental health condition of older adults. Methods A convenience sampling survey was conducted using symptom check list 90 (SCL-90) among the Chinese older adults aged 60 or above from January to March, 2018. The older adults aged 80 or above were selected for this study. Chi-square test and binary logistic regression model were used to analyze the influencing factors. Results The total participants were 485. The SCL-90 positive detection rate was 20.21%. The symptoms of the four highest detection rates were somatization (39.38%), others (25.15%), obsessive-compulsive symptoms (24.33%) and depression (22.68%). The older adults with normal BMI (OR=0.537, 95% CI: 0.250-0.857, P=0.027) and lived in county town (OR=0.224, 95% CI:0.075-0.667, P=0.007) showed lower SCL-90 positive detection rate. These who had been educated for 1-5 years (OR=11.092, 95% CI: 4.446-27.671, P<0.001), 6-8 years (OR=9.800, 95% CI: 3.464-27.721, P<0.001), 9~11 years (OR=19.279, 95% CI : 6.722-55.297, P<0.001), 12 years and above (OR=24.321, 95% CI: 7.894-74.929, P<0.001) had higher SCL-90 positive detection rate compared with those who were uneducated. Conclusion The mental health condition of Chinese older adults is mainly influenced by residence place, education level, family income self-evaluation and BMI status.

were no significant differences in the detection rate of recto-sigmoid colon,mid colon,right colon and total detection of polyps among the 3 groups (P >0.05).Conclusion 4-L split-dose PEG is better than the oth-er 2 regimens in the colon cleansing quality,so it can better reach the intestinal cleaning standards before enteroscopy,which is a more suitable regimen for bowel preparation.

OBJECTIVEGerm cells are much more susceptible to oxidative stress than somatic cells. Accumulating evidence indicates that uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) prevents the apoptosis of multiple types of cells induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The present study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) against oxidative damage to human sperm.

METHODSSemen parameters were obtained from 97 semen samples by computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA), and the samples, based on the percentage of grade a + b sperm, allotted to Groups I (n = 25, grade a + b sperm > 50%), II (n = 24, grade a + b sperm 25%-50%), III (n = 24, grade a + b sperm 10-25%) and IV (n = 24, grade a + b sperm < 10%). The expressions of sperm UCP2 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR, and the malonaldehyde (MDA) content in ROS was determined in the sperm suspension.

RESULTSThe expressions of UCP2 mRNA in sperm were 1.51 +/- 0.24, 1.28 +/- 0.15, 1.17 +/- 0.20 and 0.69 +/- 0.18, and the MDA contents were (14.66 +/- 2.55), (16.00 +/- 2.09), (17.44 +/- 1.40) and (21.20 +/- 3.50) nmol/10(8) sperm in Groups I, II, III and lV, respectively. There was a significant negative correlation between the expression of UCP2 mRNA and the content of MDA (r = -0.633, P < 0.01), the former obviously reduced while the latter remarkably increased in the groups of lower sperm motility (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONUCP2 plays an important protective role against oxidative stress damage to human sperm by diminishing ROS production.

Adult ; Humans ; Ion Channels ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitochondrial Proteins ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; metabolism ; Uncoupling Protein 2

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between the expression of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) and ratio of interleukin-10/interferon-gamma (IL10/IFNgamma) in the macrophages from patients with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA).

METHODSTwelve women undergoing selective termination of normal early pregnancy (control) and 11 having URSA were included in this study. Magnetic cell sorting (MACS) was used to isolate the macrophages in the decidua, and the expression of UCP2 was detected with flow cytometry. Cytokine (IL10 and IFNgamma) secretion by the macrophages was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot-forming (ELISPOT) cell assay.

RESULTSCompared to the control group, the women with URSA showed significantly decreased expression of UCP2 on decidual macrophage (136-/+25 vs 201-/+31, P<0.01), and the expression of UCP2 was positively correlated to the ratio of IL10/IFNgamma(r=0.73, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONUCP2 may play an important role in the regulation of macrophage activity and cytokine secretion to contribute to spontaneous abortion.

Abortion, Habitual ; metabolism ; Adult ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Decidua ; cytology ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; secretion ; Interleukin-10 ; secretion ; Ion Channels ; metabolism ; Macrophage Activation ; Mitochondrial Proteins ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Uncoupling Protein 2