Extracellular matrix protein-1 (ECM-1) is a secretory glycoprotein. Recent studies found that the protein may be related to the digestive tract tumor growth, invasion and metastasis. In this paper,the basic structure and function, as well as the possible mechanism in gastrointestinal cancer have been reviewed.

Adult ; Aged ; Botulinum Toxins, Type A ; therapeutic use ; Dysphonia ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Laryngoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To explore the expression of COX-2 and p38MAPK in patients with trauma MODS. Methods Forty MODS patients were evaluated. The levels of peripheral blood mononuclear cells COX-2 and p38MAPK in MODS patients and 40 normal controls was detected by enzyme linked immunosor-bent assay (ELISA). RT-PCR was used to measure the COX-2 mRNA and p38MAPK mRNA expression of in PBMCs. ANOV and correlation analysis were used in statistical analysis. Results The levels of COX-2 and p38MAPK of PBMCs and the mRNA expression in MODS group were higher than in control group (all P <0.05). The levels of COX-2 and p38MAPK of PBMCs and the mRNA expression in dead group were higher than in survival group( all P <0.05). The levels of COX-2 and p38MAPK of PBMCs were positively correlated, (r =0.6 147, P<0.01). The expression of COX-2 mRNA, p38MAPK mRNA of PBMCs and APACHE I scoring were positively correlated (r1 =0.5 009, P1 <0.05,r2 =0. 5 316, P2 <0. 05). Conclusions COX-2 and p38MAPK of PBMCs take part in the onset of MODS, and may service as index to judge the prognosis of MODS.

Objective To evaluate the value of the short-segment nerve conduction studies (SSCSs, inching test) in the diagnosis and localization of cubital tunnel syndrome (CubTS).Methods The clinical and electrophysiologic data of 46 patients (92 limbs from 32 men and 14 women, aged from 19 to 59 years, with average age of 41.2 years) with CubTS were collected.The symptoms occurred in unilateral arm in 41 patients and bilateral arms in 5 patients, involving 35 left arms and 16 right arms.SSCSs were performed in both arms in all the 46 patients.Sixty ulnar nerves were studied in 30 healthy control subjects using SSCSs.Results The 51 symptomatic arms with CubTS were abnormal in long segment motor nerve conduction studies.There were 68 abnormal arms ( 51 symptomatic arms, 17 asymptomatic arms ) in SSCSs.The lesions were located 2 cm proximal to the elbow-the elbow segment ( AE2-E ) in 41 arms (44.6%),the elbow-2 cm distal to the elbow segment (E-BE2) in 23 arms (25%), 4 cm proximal to the elbow-2 cm proximal to the elbow segment (AE4-AE2) in 18 arms (19.6%), 6 cm proximal to the elbow-4 cm proximal to the elbow segment (AE6-AE4) in 9 arms (9.8%), 2 cm distal to the elbow-4 cm distal to the elbow segment (BE2-BE4) in 8 arms(8.6%) and 4 cm distal to the elbow-6 cm distal to the elbow segment (BE4-BE6) in 6 arms(6.5%),respectively.Conclusions SSCSs are more sensitive in detecting CubTS than the conventional long segment motor conduction studies.SSCSs could precisely localize the entrapment lesions in patients with CubTS ,might be a useful tool for the detection of ulnar mononeuropathy at the elbow, especially for diagnosing the patients with CubTS who have no clinical features or have a normal long segmental nerve conduction findings.

Objective To explore the risk factors affecting prognosis of invasive fungal infection .Methods The clinical data of 208 hospitalized patients diagnosed with invasive fungal infection in Sun Yat-sen memorial hospital from 2007 to 2011 were reviewed . The factors affecting prognosis were determined by univariate and logistic regression analysis .Results The fatality rate of adult inpa-tient with invasive fungal infection was 21%.The univariate analysis showed that difference of seven indicators was significant between the survive group and death group:advanced age (over 60 years old), hospitalization time,fasting plasma glucose level, hypoalbumin-emia, using more than two kinds of broad spectrum antibiotic for more than two weeks , kinds of invasive operations , and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome ( MODS) .Binary logistic regression showed that the difference of five indicators was significant between the two groups:advanced age (over 60 years old), hypoalbuminemia, using more than two kinds of broad spectrum antibiotic for more than two weeks, kinds of invasive operations , and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome .Conclusions The indicators such as advanced age (over 60 years old), hypoalbuminemia, the use of more than two kinds of broad spectrum antibiotic for more than two weeks , kinds of invasive operations , and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome might be independent risk factors of death in patients with invasive fungal infection.Early medical intervention should be made in clinical work , in order to reduce fatality rate of patients with invasive fungal in-fection.

Adult ; Aminosalicylic Acid ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Manganese Poisoning ; drug therapy

Objective To study the identification of rare Nocardiaotitidiscaviarum and its drug sensitivity .Methods Morpho-logical ,physiological and biochemical phenotype identification methods combined with 16S rRNA sequence analysis were employed to identified the bacteria strains .Broth method was used to detect their drug sensitivity .Results The clinically isolated Nocardia strain was identified as Nocardiaotitidiscaviarum which was resistant to piperacillin ,erythromycin ,ceftazidime ,cefoperazone ,gen-tamicin ,cefoxitin ,piperacillin/tazobactam ,and was sensitive to vancomycin ,levofloxacin ,imipenem ,etimicin ,ciprofloxacin ,amika-cin ,sulfamethoxazole .Conclusion 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis can be used to identify Nocardia otitidiscaviarum ,and sulfa drugs shows good therapeutic effect .

Objective To investigate the effect of surfactant protein A (SP-A) on the production of MIP-2 and binding activity of NF-?B in rat tubular epithelial cells, and evaluate its possible role in renal inflammation. Methods Confluent cultures of NRK-52E cells (a renal tubular epithelial cell line of rat origin) were pretreated with various concentrations of SP-A(0 to 80 ?g/ml) and stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (10 ?g/ml) with 2% serum. MIP-2 expression was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The effect of SP-A on NF-?B binding activity was assessed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Results MIP-2 mRNA and protein was expressed and up-regulated in NRK-52E cells stimulated by LPS. The expression of MIP-2 was down-regulated by SP-A. NF-?B binding activity was inhibited by SP-A in a concentration-dependent manner. Conclusion SP-A binding activity and down-regulates the expression of MIP-2 in renal tubular epithelial cells, which may play an important role in the modulation of renal tissue inflammation.

Objective To evaluate the effect of ALD on podocyte apoptosis and the possible roles of Akt in ALD-induced apoptosis. Methods The cultured rat podocytes were incubated with increasing concentrations of ALD (10-9~10-5 mol/L) for variable time periods. Apoptosis was evaluated by cell nucleus staining and flow cytometry. RT-PCR was used to examine the expression of mineralocorticoid receptor (MR)and 11 Beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11?-HSD2) mRNA in podocyte. Activation of Akt/PKB was evaluated by performing Akt kinase assay. Results ALD induced podocyte apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The proapoptotic effect was attenuated by the presence of spironolactone (10-7mol/L). The expression of MR and 11P-HSD2 mRNA was demonstrated in the podocytes by RT-PCR. ALD also inhibited the activity of Akt in a dose-dependent manner, but the inhibitory effect was significantly ameliorated by the presence of spironolactone. The activity of Akt was negatively correlated with podocyte apoptosis. Conclusion ALD induces apoptosis in rat podocytes through the signaling mechanism by which Akt is inhibited.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the induc-ing factors of Bell’s palsy. METHODS From Febru-ary to May 2005, 262 outpatients of Bell’s palsy were surveyed for 9 inducing factors. RESULTS The mean age of onset was 39?17 years old. The ratio of male to female and of left to right were 48:52. Forty-eight patients denied all inducing factors, while 214 pa-tients (81.7 %) had at least one factor. Cold was found in 53.5 % of the patients, fatigue in 22.5 %, viral infec-tion in 18.7 %, recurrence in 11.8 %, psychological stress in 11.5 %, family history in 7.6 %, puerperal period in 1.5 %, and molar infection of the affected side in 1.5 %. CONCLUSION Bell’s palsy is likely to be a set of disease. Most of patients with Bell’s palsy had inducing factors. Avoid these factors may reduce the incidence of Bell’s palsy. Further investigate will fractionize Bell’s palsy to several diseases includ-ing true idiopathic peripheral facial paralysis and some definite diseases.