Background Nerve growth factor (NGF) plays an important role in the maintenance of the tear film stability.It is well known that the damage of ocular surface causes dry eye in the patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO).However,if NGF is helpful for the stability of tear film is unclear.Objective This study was to investigate the relationship of NGF concentration in tear with tear film stability in TAO patient before and after glucocorticoid treatment.Methods Prospective observational cohort study was designed.This study was approved by the Ethic Committee of Binzhou Medical College,and written informed consent was obtained from each subject before entering this trial.Thirty-eight patients with active TAO and thirty age-and gender-matched controls were enrolled in the study.Prednisolone acetate tablets were administered in TAO patients for 4 weeks at a back-titration regimen.The tear fluid was collected and NGF level was detected by ELISA.Clinical activity score (CAS) was evaluated under the slit lamp lamp.Schirmer Ⅰ test (S Ⅰ t) was performed and breakup time of tear film (BUT) was obtained in controls and patients with active TAO before and 4 weeks after steroid treatment.Results Baseline NGF levels in tear was higher in the patients with active TAO than in the controls (U=-5.026,P＜0.01).NGF level decreased from 46.23 (42.34,51.42) ng/L to 27.45 (19.38,29.12) ng/L 4 weeks after steroid treatment (Z=-6.172,P＜0.05),and CASdecreased significantly from 6 (5,7) to4 (2,5) (Z=-2.496,P＜0.01).SⅠtvalue increased from 6 (4,11) mm to 11 (7,16) mm 4 weeks after steroid treatment (Z =-4.286,P＜0.05),and the BUT prolonged from 5 (3,9) seconds to 11 (6,14) seconds(Z=-3.160,P＜0.05).NGF levels in active TAO was significantly correlated with CAS (r=0.645,P＜0.01),S Ⅰ t value (r =-0.530,P＜0.01) and BUT (r =-0.430,P＜0.01).Conclusions Tear NGF may stabilized the tear film.The application of steroid anti-inflammation drug can reduce the tear NGF level,increase the tear secretion and improve the tear film stability in patients with active TAO.

Objective To explore the effects of low serum-albumin on maternal and neonatal outcomes in severe pre-eclampsia. Methods Two hundred and thirty-three women with severe preeclampsia admitted to our hospital from Jan. 2000 to Mar. 2006 were retrospectively investigated and were divided into two groups according to the serum-albumin level: low serum-albumin group (Group A, n= 133) and normal serum-albumin group (Group B, n=90). Maternal and fetal outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results The proportion of women with abnormal retention of fluid (6.8%, vs 0), elevated liver enzymes (60.9% vs 38.9%) renal involvement (30.1% vs 11.1%) and complications (23.3% vs 11.1%) (placental abruption and postpartum hemorrhage) in group A were significantly higher than those in group B (all P<0. 05). Birth weight in group A was lower than that in group B[(2192. 78±795. 31) g vs (2454. 92±776. 24) g, P<0. 05] and neonatal mortality in group A was higher (26.0%vs 13. 6%, P<0. 05). Conclusions Severe pre-eclampsia with low serum-albumin is associated with severe maternal and neonatal outcomes. Appropriate termination of pregnancy should be considered following adequate and careful assessment of maternal and fetal well-being in order to improve perinatal outcomes.

Objective Clinical strains of Shigella dysenteriae isolated from eastern parts of India in 1988, 1995 and 2002 were examined for the presence of class 1, 2 and 3 integrons which closely related with drug resistance and the distribution of resistance gene cassette in order to clarify the influence of integron system on drug resistance of Shigella dysenteriae. Methods Susceptibility to antimicrobial agents was tested by the disk agar diffusion method. Class 1, 2 and 3 integron genes (intI) were screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 16 clinical strains with drug resistance.The variable regions of gene cassette of positive strains were sequenced. Results All 16 isolates were resistant to at least 4 agents including β-lactams, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, sulfonamides,chloramphenicols and quinolones. Class 1 integron gene was detected in 13 strains and all isolates carried class 2 integron which indicated that strains with two integron structures were detected simultaneously and class 3 integron was not detected. Class 1 integron inserted gene cassette was mainly blaara30 -aadA 1 family, conferring resistance to β-lactamase, spectinomycin and streptomycins isolates carried class 2 integron were mainly dfrAl-satl genes cassettes conferring resistance to methoxybenzyl aminopyrimidine and streptothricin, while dfrA\-sat\-aadA\ genes were present only in 4 isolates. Conclusions These data indicate that class 2 integrons are widespread in Shigella dysenteriae strains, and closely associated with multidrug resistance of Shigella.

Magnetic resonance (MR) images can be used to detect lesions in the brains of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). An automatic method is presented for segmentation of MS lesions using multispectral MR images in this paper. Firstly, a Pd-w image is subtracted from its corresponding T1-w images to get an image in which the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) is enhanced. Secondly, based on kernel fuzzy c-means clustering (KFCM) algorithm, the enhanced image and the corresponding T2-w image are segmented respectively to extract the CSF region and the CSF-MS lesions combinatoin region. A raw MS lesions image is obtained by subtracting the CSF region from CSF-MS region. Thirdly, based on applying median filter and thresholding to the raw image, the MS lesions were detected finally. Results were tested on BrainWeb images and evaluated with Dice similarity coefficient (DSC), sensitivity (Sens), specificity (Spec) and accuracy (Acc). The testing results were satisfactory.
Algorithms ; Brain ; pathology ; Humans ; Image Enhancement ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Multiple Sclerosis ; diagnosis ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective:To investigate the immunogenicity of pORF5 plasmid protein,and further to screen and identify its im-munodominant domian.Methods: 10 different fragments of pORF5 gene including full length were amplified from the DNA of Chlamydia trachomatis serovar D by PCR and cloned into appropriate site of pGEX-6p vector to construct recombinant vectors after digested with BamHⅠand NotⅠrestriction endonucleases.After identification by PCR and sequencing,the recombinant plasmids were transformed into XL1 Blue E.coli to express the GST fusion proteins.ELISA and Western blot were carried out to identify the immunogenicity and immunoreaction of pORF5 plasmid protein.10 different fragments were reacted with sera from patients urogenitally infected with Chlamydia trachomatis, mouse polyclonal antibodies and mouse monoclonal antibodies of pORF5 plasmid protein with ELISA method.Results: pORF5 plasmid protein displayed strong immunogenicity and could induce a strong antibody response in human.The reactivity of human antibodies almost completely disappeared,when the native structure of pORF5 plasmid protein was de-stroyed.F6 that only lacked the N-terminal 66 amino acids was recognized by antibodies in ELISA as strongly as the whole pORF5 plasmid protein was.However,no other fragments were significantly recognized although there was a minimal reactivity of F2 and F3 with antibodies.Conclusion:pORF5 plasmid protein was an immunodominant antigen containing conformation-dependent epitope,and the C-terminal three quarters of pORF5 amino acid sequence was required for maintaining its immune dominance and conformation.The significance of the above findings lay a foundation for the further study on pORF5 protein function and vaccine development.

Objective Through the two D-dimer content detection of the fracture patients and healthy con-trols,and analyze the difference between them ,to explore the correlation between fractures were detected two D-dimer and the importance and the patient′s condition.Methods 306 of fracture patients were collected for determination of D-dimer content were detected at the same time ,100 healthy people as control two D-dimer content;analysis of the correlation between the fracture in 306 cases patients with D-dimer content .Results The plasma D-dimer level of pa-tients with two fracture(10.7 ±2.6)mg/L,which was significantly higher than that of healthy subjects (0.3 ±0.1) mg/L(t=11.07,P<0.01);The fracture number,fracture patients plasma D-dimer detection results content is high-er,the more serious condition .Conclusion The plasma D-dimer level was significantly higher in patients with two fractures,coagulation Stata ,fibrinolytic enhancement ,easily lead to venous thrombosis and disseminated intravascular coagulation in patients with more complications such as fracture;fracture,the higher the content of plasma D-dimer, patients with more serious ,there is correlation .

Objective To determine main factors associated with quality of life in epileptics in northen China especially seizure severity and stigma, and the variations between men and women. Methods All patients with epilepsy aged 18-65 years were selected from the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, tested from March 2014 to March 2015. All of them completed the general social science data, the Quality of Life Inventory in Epilepsy-31 (QOLIE-31), Liverpool Adverse Events Profile (LEAP), the National Hospital Seizure Severity Scale (NHS3), Epilepsy Stigma Scale (ESS), Self-rating Anxiety Scale ( SAS) and Hamilton Depression Scale ( HAMD) assessment. Results A total of 123 patients with epilepsy (60 men, 63 women) were interviewed. QOLIE-31 scores were 55. 81 ± 10. 17 in female patients, 65. 35 ± 10. 89 in male patients, the difference being statistically significant (t=2. 90, P<0. 05). ESS (1(0,2)), SAS(31. 85 ± 8. 16), HAMD (4. 38 ± 2. 90) scores of female patients were higher than that of male patients (0(0,0), 26. 93 ± 3. 45, 2. 80 ± 1. 39;U= -2. 710, t=2. 48, 2. 20, all P<0. 05). Multiple factors analysis and multiple stepwise regression analysis on quality of life revealed that depression (β= -0. 516, P<0. 01) and the severity of epilepsy (β= -0. 338, P=0. 01) were two strong predictors of QOLIE-31 overall scores. The linear regression showed that there was a direct link between shame and degree of depression (β = 0. 515, P= 0. 001 ) . Conclusions The main factors affecting the quality of life in epileptics in northen China are depression and seizure severity. Compared with male patients, female patients have a lower quality of life, and poorer psychological status, such as shame, depression and anxiety. There is a direct link between shame and depression in epileptics.

Objective To investigate the expression and significance of transforming growth factor beta receptors (TGF?RⅠ, TGF?RⅡ) in basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Methods The expression of TGF?RⅠand TGF?RⅡwere assessed by quantitative real-time PCR and streptavidin -peroxidase (SP) immunohistochemical techniques in specimens of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and normal control skin. Results Eighteen patients with basal cell carcinoma and twenty-four with squamous cell carcinoma were enrolled in the study. The expression levels of TGF?RⅠand RⅡmRNA were significantly down-regulated in basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma in comparison with those in control skin specimens (P

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of comprehensive therapy on forearm extensor myotenositis.Methods72 cases were divided into two groups: a control group of 36 cases who were given routine treatment,and an experiment group of 36 cases who were given thermotherapy,computerized medium-frequency electrotherapy,physiotherapy,and ADL instruction,etc.After two courses,a simple grading score(for forearms) was used to assess the effect.ResultsOf the control group,22 cases were cured,10 remarkably effective,4 effective;of the experiment,30 cured,4 remarkably effective,2 effective(u=2.04, P<0.05).The difference of average score for forearms before and after the treatment were(6.58±3.17) points for the control and(8.19±3.55) for the experiment(t=2.03,P<0.05).The average days of cure were(5.60±2.54) d for the experiment group,shorter than those for the control(7.00±2.27) d(t=2.05,P<0.05).ConclusionComprehensive therapy is effective on forearm extensor myotenositis.

Adolescent ; Colon, Ascending ; pathology ; Colonic Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Colonic Polyps ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Follow-Up Studies ; Ganglioneuroma ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male