Objective To express TmpA recombinant antigen of Treponema pallidum in E.coli and to develop an Enzyme linked Immunoassay (EIA) based on the recombinant antigen for diagnosing syphilis. Methods The target TmpA gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR products of the gene were inserted into pBluescript T vector, and then expressed in E.coli, using pQE 30 system. Then the recombinant antigen was purified by an affinity chromatography and used for the development of EIA. Results The antigenicity of the recombinant antigen was identified by western blotting (WB) and EIA. The sensitivity and specificity of EIA were 100%(10/10) and 100% (20/20), respectively. The positive rates of anti TmpA antibodies were 91.67% (11/12) for the patients with Ⅰ phase of syphilis and 100% for the patients of Ⅱ and late stage of the disease. Conclusions The TmpA recombinant protein can be used to diagnose syphilis since 97.2% (35/36) of patients with syphilis were positive for the anti TmpA antibody by EIA.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma.Methods From January 2000 to October 2006,a total of 16 patients(aged from 32 to 65 with a mean of 42 years) with pheochromocytoma received retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy in our hospital.Among the cases,6 had the tumor on the right side,and 10 on the left.The size of the tumors ranged from 2.5 to 4.6 cm in diameter(mean,3.1 cm).Results The mean preoperative preparation time in this series was 11 days(range,6 to 28).The retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy was completed in all but one of the patients,who were converted to open surgery because of extensive adhesion of the tumor to surrounding tissues and massive bleeding.The mean operation time was 110 minutes(90 to 170),and the mean blood loss was 135 ml(80 to 650).Three cases,who had normal blood pressure and thus received no noradrenalin immediately after the surgery,was given noradrenalin emergently 4,6,or 56 hours later owing to a sudden drop of systolic pressure(from 135 mm Hg to 80 mm Hg in 2,and from 140 mm Hg to 85 mm Hg in 1).Postoperative examination showed benign pheochromocytoma in 15 of the cases,and low-grade malignant pheochromocytoma with local invasion of the capsule in the patient who was converted to open surgery.The mean postoperative hospital stay was 12 days(9 to 20).The patients were followed up for 3 to 24 months(mean,13),during which only one received antihypertensive drugs;the others restored normal blood pressure spontaneously.No patient had abnormal levels of 24-hour urine noradrenalin,adrenalin,and catecholamine.Conclusions Retroperitoneoscopic surgery is an effective and minimally invasive treatment for patients with adrenal pheochromocytoma.The patients have a few complications and recover quickly after the operation.Preoperative preparation and postoperative treatment are important for the outcomes of the disease.

Objective To investigate the possibility of microsatellite alteration (MA) in diagnosis of bladder cancer of Chinese people, and find the better panel which will be used in clinic. Methods A total of 6 and 10microsatellite markers were chosen, PCR-SSLP silver staining assay was performed in 31 and 32 bladder cancers tissue,exfoliate cells in urine and 10, 15 non-bladder cancers exfoliate cells in urine, respectively. Results MA (+) was found in 28 out of 31, 30 out of 32 bladder cancers, and the sensitivity was 90.3%, 93.7% respectively. The MA of urine sediment of 25 non-bladder cancers was negative, and the specificity was 100%. The cytology was carried out among 19 out of 31, 20 out of 32 bladder cancers at the same time, 2 cases ( 10.3 %) and 3 cases ( 15 % ) were found cancer positive, and the sensitivity is significantly lower than that by the analysis of MA in exfoliated cells. Conclusion MA was not associated with grade and stage of the bladder cancer. MA assay is a sensitive and effective method for the early detection of bladder cancer and post-operation surveillance.

Deafness ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Genetic Counseling ; Humans

3' Untranslated Regions ; genetics ; 5' Untranslated Regions ; genetics ; Enterovirus B, Human ; genetics ; Genome, Viral ; genetics ; Humans ; Poly A ; genetics

Anti-Infective Agents ; therapeutic use ; Burkholderia pseudomallei ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Male ; Melioidosis ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Skin Diseases, Bacterial ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; pathology ; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination ; therapeutic use

Objective To investigate the application value of anatomic segmental hepatectomy in treatment of left hepatolithus.Methods The 80 patients with left hepatolithuswere divided into the control group (n =40)and the observation group (n =40)in accordance with dif-ferent surgical methods,and they were given traditional surgery and precise pedicle anatomic segmental hepatectomy respectively.Operation index levels,postoperative complications and stress reaction levels before and after surgery of the two groups were compared.Results The blood loss,operative time,the time of drainage tube remove,time of analgesic drug use,and postoperative hospital stay of the observation group were significantly less than the control group,and the difference was statistically significant (P <0.05).The rate of postoperative com-plications was 17.50% in the control group,while it was 15.00% in the observation group,which showed no significant difference between the two groups (P >0.05).During the surgery,epinephrine,cortisol,IL-6 and CRP levels of patients decreased after a slight increase, while NK cell levels of patients decreased firstly and then increased.There were statistically significant differences in trems of the above inde-xes immediately after surgery to 24 hours after surgery (P <0.05),and the rangeability of the observation group was less than the control group (P <0.05).Until 48 hours after surgery the above indexes recovered to the preoperative level.Followed up for 3 to 24 months,the calculi recurrence rate and abdominal ache recurrence rate of the observation group were lower than the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P <0.05).Conclusion Precise pedicle anatomic segmental hepatectomy applied in the treatment of left hepatolithus showed makedly curative effect,and it has little effect on the stress response of patients.

Air Pollutants ; toxicity ; Air Pollution, Indoor ; adverse effects ; Animals ; DNA Damage ; drug effects ; Female ; Interior Design and Furnishings ; Male ; Mice ; Mutagenicity Tests

Objective To improve the diagnostic and therapeutic levels for spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma(SSEH) by summarizing the effect of microsurgery and clinical diagnosis of SSEH. Methods The therapeutic efficacy of 21 patients with SSEH undergoing microsurgery from March 1996 to March 2003 was retrospectively analyzed. Results On discharge from hospital, muscle strength of the bilateral lower extremities of 13 patients was restored to grades Ⅲ or Ⅳ, 5 to grade Ⅴ but no change was found in 3 patients. Conclusion Early diagnosis of SSEH and surgical treatment are helpful to restoring the function of the injured spinal cord and decrease of sequelae.

AIM To study the effect of ketamine on proliferation,cell cycle in the cultured rat neural stem cells. METHODS The growth inhibition of ketamine on neural stem cell was evaluated by an MTT assay. The effect of ketamine on cell cycle was measured by flow cytometry. RESULTS Ketamine inhibited the growth of cultured rat neural stem cells. Flow cytometry analysis showed that G 0/G 1 phase rate was increased but S phase rate was decreased. CONCLUSION Ketamine can inhibit proliferation of cultured rat neural stem cells,and this inhibitition is associated with cell cycle block.