Objective To analyze X-ray findings of diaphragm and other related features in the diagnosis of hyperthyroid cardiopathy.Methods Forty cases without any other disease were taken chest plain film before therapy.The X-ray findings were analyzed.Results In all of X-ray features,low and flat diaphragm;barrel chest;increased and wide lung marking,which presented as network-like structure with mottling in bilateral inferior lung were closelv related to pathologic changes.Pneumonemia;pulmonary stasis;prominence of pulmonary artery segment;dilatation of right inferior pulmonary artery were related to othe change of heart and pulmonary circulation.Conclusion X-ray findings are closely related to the severe degree of pathologic changes in hyperthyroid cardiopathy.It is valuable for clinical diagnosis and treatment to recongnize these X-ray findings accurately.

Objective To study the changes of serum level of high mobility group box-1(HMGB- 1)in patients with multiple trauma in order to forecast organ dysfunction(OD)and deaths.Methods The optical densities of HMGB-1 in serum of 35 patients with multiple trauma were determined on 1st,3rd, and 7th days after trauma,and the incidence of organ dysfunction and deaths were evaluated,then analyzed statistically to learn the relation between the serum levels of HMGB-1 and deaths with an attempt of predic- ting the incident of organ dysfunction and deaths.Results (1)As OD was concerned,there was a statis- tically significant difference in optical density of HMGB-1 on 1st and 3rd days between the two groups of multiple injury patients(t=4.411,P

Objective To observe the effect of pioglitazone on peroxisome proliferators activated receptors (PPARγ) mRNA expression in rats with acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP). Methods 54 rats were randomly divided into sham group, ANP group, and pioglitazone group. ANP was induced by the retrograde injection of sodium taurocholate into pancreatic duct. The levels of serum amylase at 3 h, 6 h, and 12 h after ANP induction were determined and pancreatic pathological scores were measured, and the expression of pancreatic PPARγ mRNA was determined by RT-PCR. Results The levels of serum amylase and pancreatic pathological scores at 6 h in ANP group were (7171 ± 1636) U/L and 13.00 ±2.36; which were significantly higher than those in sham group [ (523 ± 166)U/L and 1.67 ± 234, P < 0. 01 ]. While the expressions of PPARγ mRNA were weakly expressed in ANP gyoup and sharm group(0. 18 ± 0.05 vs 0. 22 ±0. 03, P > 0. 05). The levels of serum amylase and pancreatic pathological scores at 6 h in pioglitazone group were (4504 ± 1901 )U/L and 9.00 ±0.89, which were significantly lower than those in ANP group (P <0. 05).While the expressions of PPARγ mRNA was higher than that in ANP group (0.56 ±0.05 vs 0. 18 ±0.05, P <0.05). Conclusions The protective role of pioglitazone on ANP rats was closely correlated with up-regulation of PPARγgene expression.

Objective To explore further the abilities of cerebellar lesions in skills of time estimation, and to test the hypothesis that cerebellum is involved in the special network of time perception. Methods Time reproduction was required for 3 time intervals of 600-milliseconds, 3 and 5 seconds with visual discrimination for control. Participants reproduce those time intervals after 1-second or 5-seconds of delay. Twenty-six patients with cerebellar lesions were compared to 26 healthy controls, matched for age, handedness, education. Results 600-milliseconds was overestimated by both cerebellar lesions and healthy controls, however, both 3-seconds and 5-seconds were underestimated. Patients with cerebellar lesions were significantly impaired on 600-milliseconds reproduction task ( delaying 1 s or 5 s, 1.37 ± 0.24, 1.26 ± 0.29 respectively, Z=-5.347, -4.230, both P<0.01). No group differences were found for the 3-seconds and 5-seconds time reproduction (delaying 1 s or 5 s, Z=-1.200,-0.092,-1.519, -0.723, all P>0.05). Conclusion The findings suggest that patients with cerebellar lesions perform poorly during measurement of the shorter interval, but show no impairment of longer intervals perception, supporting the hypotheses that cerebellum is specifically involved in the perception of sub-second intervals.

20(Z= -2.117, P=0.034), and between the patients with OD and without OD (Z=-3.089, P=0.002), but PCT was not so between the non-surviror and survivor (Z=-1.307, P=0.191). The serum PCT level correlated with the incidence of organ dysfunction (x~2=14.82, P=0.033) and APACHEII (x~2=12.83, P

OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of detecting of Y-STR of fetal DNA in maternal plasma using Ion Torrent PGM™ System. METHODS: A total of 16 fetal DNA samples from maternal plasmas (8 cases from 38 weeks gestational age and 8 ones from 12 weeks) were prepared and a multiplex assay with 7 STR loci (DYS390, DYS391, DYS393, DYS438, DYS437, DYS456, DYS635) was designed for multiplex-PCR amplification. Using Ion Torrent PGM™ System, the results of Y-STR sequences and capillary electrophoresis were obtained and compared. RESULTS: Y-STR specific alleles were detected in the maternal plasma of all the pregnant women having male babies of second and third trimester, which were higher than that detected by capillary electrophoresis. Consistent Y-STR genotypes were observed between fetal DNA from maternal plasma and genomic DNA from the newborn babies. CONCLUSION Based on Ion Torrent PGM™ System, the prenatal Y-STR detection method may provide a high-sensitive and high-throughput choice for prenatal STR detection in forensic testing.
Alleles ; Chromosomes, Human, Y/genetics* ; DNA/blood* ; Family ; Female ; Fetal Blood/chemistry* ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Pregnancy ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sex Determination Analysis ; Tandem Repeat Sequences/genetics*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEDetection of label retaining cells (LRCs) has been a method to confirm existence of stem cells, and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) has commonly been used for labeling. In this study, to verify stem cells in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), LRCs were established and detected in NPC cell line 5-8F.

METHODSThe 5-8F cells were cultured with BrdU and inoculated subcutaneously into nude mice. By immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry, and immunofluorescence, BrdU was detected in 5-8F cells and xenograft tumors.

RESULTSBrdU was strongly positive in cells on the 2nd and the 7th day after being added BrdU, while negative when cells were cultured without BrdU. However, only sporadic cells were positive on the 14th day after BrdU being washed out, and these cells were thought to be LRCs. The average percentage of LRCs was (0.67 +/- 0.32)%. After being cultivated with BrdU for 48 h, 5-8F cells were inoculated into nude mice subcutaneously. After chasing 8 weeks, only sporadic LRCs were detected in xenograft tumors, with a proportion of (0.55 +/- 0.36)%, and these LRCs were located at cancer margin.

CONCLUSIONThe existence of LRCs in 5-8F cells indicates the existence of cancer stem cells in NPC.

Animals ; Bromodeoxyuridine ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism

Background Surgery is regarded as the most effective treatment to relieve pain and reduce complications in chronic pancreatitis (CP).Two major strategies exist:duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (DPPHR) and pancreatoduodenectomy (PD).Many studies suggest that DPPHR offers advantages during surgery and in the short-term; however,the long-term effects have not been thoroughly investigated.We analyzed the long-term outcomes of DPPHR and PD,over follow-up times of at least 1 year,to determine the optimal surgical treatment for CP.Methods We systemically reviewed all CP surgical treatment reports,and only included randomized controlled trials (RCT) comparing DPPHR and PD,excluding unqualified studies using several pre-specified criteria.When multiple publications of a single trial were found,the most comprehensive current data were selected.Characteristics of the study populations and long-term postoperative outcome parameters were collected.The quality of the studies and data was analyzed using RevMan 4.2 software.Results Five trials were qualified for meta-analysis,with 261 participants in total (114 in the DPPHR group and 147 in the PD group).There were no significant differences in the age,gender,or indications for surgery of each group.At the mean of 5.7-year (1-14 years) follow-up examination,DPPHR and PD resulted in equally effective pain relief,exocrine and endocrine function,and similar mortality rates (P ＞0.05); however,DPPHR patients had improved global quality of life and weight gain,and reduced diarrhea and fatigue (P ＜0.05).Conclusion DPPHR and PD result in equal pain relief,mortality,and pancreatic function; however,DPPHR provides superior long-term outcomes.

OBJECTIVETo study the dynamic change of the ingredients of Coptis chinensis and evaluate the quality of the crude drugs from main producing areas.

METHODThe ingredients of samples from Shizhu and Wuxi counties in Chongqing, Hongya and Dayi counties in Sichuan, Zhenping county in Shanxi, Lichuan county in Hubei were analyzed for berberine, coptisine, jatrorrhizine, palmatine and the total alkaloids by HPLC and UV methods.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe contents of measured indexes were mostly highest in 5-years-old C. chinensis. Considering factors such as the yield, it is reasonable to harvest the 5-years-old C. chinensis. There are minor differences in condents of C. chinensis from different areas, all tested samples met the pharmacopoeial standards. It is concluded that the general quality of C. chinensis was good and acceptable.

Alkaloids ; analysis ; Berberine ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Berberine Alkaloids ; analysis ; China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Coptis ; chemistry ; classification ; Ecosystem ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether training in the department of urology will help interns acquire more knowledge on male reproductive health in such aspects as male erectile dysfunction (ED), premature ejaculation, male infertility (PE), male contraception, and so on.

METHODSSixty interns receiving rotatory training in the Department of Urology of the Peking University Third Hospital were recruited to complete a questionnaire designed by ourselves. A comparison was made of their knowledge on male reproductive health before and after their training in the department by using the chi-square statistical test in SPSS 11.0 software.

RESULTSWith regard to ED in such questions as "Do you regard ED as a disease affecting the aging male?" and "Do you regard ED as a local symptom of some male systemic disease?", all the interns knew significantly better after trained in the department of urology. Concerning the definition of ED and the effect of sildenafil citrate on ED, no significant difference was found in their knowledge between pre-training and post-training. As to patients' questions about ED, most of them showed interest but rarely made any initiative inquiries, which was not significantly changed after the training. Regarding PE, most of them knew very little even after trained, but they all thought of it as a disease affecting life quality. As regards male infertility, although some knew something about its definition and the normal parameters of semen routine analyses, others remained quite ignorant. As for male contraception, most of them knew little even after trained in the department.

CONCLUSIONInterns generally acquire more knowledge on male reproductive health after trained in the department of urology. However, in regard to male infertility and male contraception, their knowledge is quite insufficient, which implies the need for strengthening the training in the related aspects.

Adult ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; Internship and Residency ; Male ; Reproduction ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urology ; education