The biological characters of Sindbis virus strain of Yunnan(YN87448 strain) were studied by the test of the filtration, acid-resistant, ether-resistant, CPE, susceptibility of animal, HA, plague, determination of virus titres, and the cross-HI, cross-IFAT and PRNT as well.The results indicated that YN87448 strain belongs to Sindbis virus, Alphavirus, Togaviridae. YN87448 strain virus was plaque purified(PYN87448). The biological character of PYN87448 strain virus was studied too. PYN87448 strain virus will be used in the molecule biological test.

Objective To measure and analyze the set-up errors of postoperative intensity modulated radiation therapy of rectal cancer (PIMRTRC)with electronic portal imaging device (EPID),and to provide theoretical foundation for clinical realizing of accurate PIMRTRC.Methods Totally 30 patients after rectal carcinoma resection underwent sagittal and coronal photographing with EPID before the first time of therapy and one time per week during the treatment course.The obtained images were compared with DRR images in treatment planning system to get the setup errors at X(left-right),Y(head-foot) and Z (front-back)directions,and the extending margins of CTV and PTV in postoperative intensity modulated radiation therapy were calculated.EPID was used for setup correction,and SPSS 19.0 was involved in to execute statistical analysis. Results The linear displacement had the mean values plus/minus standard deviation at X, Y and Z directions before and after error correction being(-1.392 4±3.670 9)mm vs(-0.816 5±2.670 5)mm,(0.969 7±4.076 1)mm vs(0.418 2±2.911 4)mm, and(0.704 4±1.805 6)mm vs(0.471 7±1.641 3)mm respectively;the extending margin had the values being 7 mm vs 5 mm, 6 mm vs 4 mm, and 4 mm vs 3 mm respectively.Conclusion EPID ensures the correctness and accuracy in postoperative intensity modulated radiotherapy of rectal cancer,which makes target area gifted with maximized dose,the surrounding tissue and organs at risk protected adequately,and provides theoretical support for extending CTV margin.[Chinese Medical Equip-ment Journal,2018,39(5):59-63]

PURPOSETo investigate the potential correlation between two different types of hip fractures and serum calcium levels.

METHODSWe consecutively studied 101 cases of femoral neck fracture and 95 cases of femoral inter- trochanteric fracture between January 2011 and December 2013. Fasting blood samples were taken and serum calcium measurements were performed respectively in three periods: the time of admission, postoperation, and discharge. Creatinine, alkaline phosphatase and albumin were also analyzed.

RESULTSConsidering the levels of serum calcium between two groups at the time of admission, post- operation and discharge, there was significant difference at admission and discharge (p <0.05), while there was no significant difference at the time of postoperation (p > 0.05). The magnitude of serum calcium fluctuation was larger in femoral neck group than femoral intertrochanteric group. Concerning alkaline phosphatase and albumin levels at admission, there was no significant difference between two groups (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe capability of reservation and restoration of serum calcium in patients with femoral neck fracture is better than that in patients with femoral intertrochanteric fracture. A low serum calcium level may be susceptible to femoral intertrochanteric fracture.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; blood ; Calcium ; blood ; Female ; Hip Fractures ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Serum Albumin ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo continuously observe the long-term effects of synovectomy for improving joint damage and quality-of-life in patients with the rheumatoid knee.

METHODSTwenty-one consecutive patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) involving 24 knees underwent open synovectomy from November 1988 to January 1997 between November 1988 and January 1997. The changes in radiographic damage were assessed with Larsen score on plain films before and 6 months after surgery with subsequent annual assessment for 8 years, and the functional recovery of the patients was also evaluated with Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) at the same time.

RESULTSThe radiographic joint damage and juxta-articular osteoporosis or bone erosion was ameliorated after surgery in all the patients. Larsen score began to decrease 6 months after the operation, and the best effects were achieved at one year and maintained for at least 5 years after the operation, but then followed by recurrence of joint lesions. HAQ scores were improved after the surgery with the best effects observed 6 months after the operation lasting for over 2 years. HAQ score gradually decreased 4 years after the operation till reaching the preoperative scores.

CONCLUSIONSynovectomy in the patients with rheumatoid knee not only reverses progressive joint damage, but also improves juxta-articular bone erosions and the patients' quality of life. However, radiographic joint damage and functional deterioration may recur due to hyperplasia of the inflammatory synovium in the long term after operation, suggesting that the inflammatory synovium participates in local joint damage with bone erosions and systemic pathologic process of RA.

Adult ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Synovectomy ; Time Factors

The aim of the research is to investigate the genetic characteristics of Legionella pneumophila serogroup1 (LP1)in Sichuan Province.The sequence-based typing (SBT) and multiple-locus VNTR analysis (MLVA) were used to describe the genetic polymorphism of 42 strains which were isolated from 1989-2016 in Sichuan Province,China.According to the reference,PCR was used to detect the 8-VNTR loci and 7 housekeeping genes respectively.The VNTR results were determined by using capillary electrophoresis,and the SBT results were sequenced and compared with the database of EWGLI.Results showed that totally 42 stains were divided into 8 MLVA types with the advantage types were M08 (47.6 ％) and M07 (23.8 ％).Twelve ST types were obtained with 3 main clonal complex and 2 singleton,including 2 novel ST types,among those,ST1 was the predominant type,accounting for 52.3 ％,following by ST630 (14.2 ％).In conclusion,our results demonstrated MLVA and SBT were both applied to the research for molecular epidemiological investigation of LP1 and showed the high genetic polymorphism and the regional specificity.The results also suggest that the isolates are a potential threat to the public,effective control and prevention strategies are urgently needed.

OBJECTIVETo report an X-linked dominant Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMTX) Chinese family with vocal cord paresis and to identify the mutation of gap junction protein beta 1 gene (GJB1).

METHODSPart of the family members with dysphagia, dysphonia and lethal respiratory failure were studied through flexible laryngoscope, clinical, brain MRI and electrophysiological examinations. After excluding large fragment tandem duplication containing peripheral myelin protein 22 gene (PMP22), direct sequencing was performed to analyze the mutation of the GJB1 gene in 5 patients including the proband, 5 unaffected family members and 50 unrelated healthy individuals.

RESULTSEight members spanning 3 generations in this family were affected with CMTX characterized by progressive atrophy and weakness of the anterior tibial and peroneal muscles, especially in the proband. Vocal cord paresis was observed through flexible laryngoscope in total of 4 affected members with dysarthria and dysphagia, 2 of them died of severe respiratory failure due to complete bilateral vocal cord involvement. Normal brain MRI was observed in the proband. The electrophysiological data showed predominant demyelization involving the motor and sensory nerves in the proband. DNA sequencing revealed a de novo c.186 C>G missense mutation in exon 2 of the GJB1 gene, the mutation cosegregated with phenotype.

CONCLUSIONRespiratory failure associated with vocal cord involvement may be a rare and severe symptom in CMTX. The present report provides further evidence for clinical and genetic heterogeneity in the X-linked Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Case-Control Studies ; Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease ; genetics ; Connexins ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation, Missense ; Myelin Proteins ; genetics ; Pedigree ; Vocal Cord Paralysis ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo assess the value of preoperative serum albumin level in predicting the survival of patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) undergoing transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT).

METHODSTwo hundred and sixteen newly diagnosed patients with NMIBC who underwent TURBT between January, 2007 and April, 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were categorized into low albumin (<40 g/L) and normal albumin (≥40 g/L) groups. The patient survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and univariate and multivariate Cox proportional analyses were used to determine the hazard ratios (HRs) for the overall survival (OS).

RESULTSOf the patients with available data, 82 (39%) and 127 (61%) patients were classified into low albumin (<40 g/L) and normal albumin (≥40 g/L) groups, respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a significantly worse 5-year OS in low albumin group than in normal albumin group (P=0.017). In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, after adjusting for confounding variables, the preoperative albumin level remained as an independent predictor for 5-year OS (HR: 3.102, 95%CI: 1.200-8.020, P=0.020).

CONCLUSIONA low preoperative albumin level predicts a poor 5-year OS in patients with NMIBC who underwent TURBT. Preoperative serum albumin can be a good prognostic factor for predicting survival of the patients with NMIBC treated with TURBT.

BackgroundTotal knee arthroplasty (TKA) is the most frequently performed procedure in treating advanced knee osteoarthritis. Excessive perioperative blood loss can sometimes lead to postoperative anemia. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is a potent fibrinolysis inhibitor which has been extensively used at the surgical incision and closure to lower overall blood loss in adult reconstruction surgery. Our previous study suggested that about two-thirds of the total blood loss (TBL) came from hidden blood loss (HBL) on postoperative days 1 and 2. The role of reducing HBL with TXA administration in postoperative TKA patients is unknown. The current study was designed to evaluate the efficiency and safety of supplemental intravenous (IV) TXA in further reducing HBL after primary TKA.

MethodsA prospective pilot study was conducted at a single institution on 43 consecutive patients who underwent unilateral TKA from September 2014 to February 2015. All patients were given 1 g of IV TXA 10-15 min before operation and another 1 g of IV TXA at the time of wound closure on the day of surgery. On postoperative days 1 and 2, the supplemental group (n = 21) was given additional 1 g of TXA intravenously twice a day, whereas the control group (n = 22) received an equal volume of saline. Drain output, hemoglobin (Hb), and hematocrit (HCT) were recorded preoperatively and 5 consecutive days postoperatively in both groups. HBL was calculated with the Gross formula. Pre- and post-operative lower extremity Doppler venous ultrasound was performed in all patients to detect deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The indexes were compared using the Mann-Whitney test, whereas the results of Hb and HCT were analyzed by repeated-measures analysis of variance. The difference was considered statistically significant if P < 0.05.

ResultsThe demographics and surgical characteristics of the two groups were comparable. Supplemental group had higher Hb level on postoperative days 1-5 compared to the control; however, the difference was not significant (F = 2.732, P = 0.106). The HCT of the supplemental group was significantly higher than that of the control group on postoperative day 5 (F = 5.254, P = 0.027). No significant difference was found in drainage volume and TBL, but the HBL was reduced in the supplemental group (supplemental 133.1 [71.8, 287.3] ml and control 296.0 [185.3, 421.4] ml, Z = 2.478, P = 0.013, median [interquartile range]). There was one DVT in the control group and none in the supplemental group. All patients were followed at 1 year after surgery, and no further complications were reported.

ConclusionBased on the current study, additional doses of IV TXA could potentially further reduce HBL after primary TKA without increasing the risk of venous thromboembolism.

Aged ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; prevention & control ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pilot Projects ; Prospective Studies ; Tranexamic Acid ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo explore the electrophysiological properties of differentiation of rat bone marrow-derived stromal stem cells (rBMSCs) to neuron-like cells in vitro by edaravone, a new type of free radical scavenger.

METHODSStromal stem cells were separated from rat bone marrow with Ficoll-Paque reagent and expanded in different culture medium in vitro. rBMSCs were induced by edaravone containing serum-free L-DMEM. Morphologic observation and Western blot analysis including the expression of Nav1.6, Kv1.2, Kv1.3, Cav1.2 were performed, and whole patch-clamp technique was used.

RESULTSCyton contraction and long processes were shown in differentiated stromal stem cells. Nav1.6, Kv1.2, Kv1.3 and Cav1.2 were expressed in both differentiated and undifferentiated cells. However, the expression of channel proteins in differentiated cells was up-regulated. Consistently, their resting potential and outward currents were also enhanced in the differentiated cells, which was especially significant in the outward rectifier potassium current.

CONCLUSIONIn vitro, neuron-like cells derived from rBMSCs, induced by edaravone, possess electrophysiological properties of neurons.

Animals ; Antipyrine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Blotting, Western ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; physiology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Male ; Neurons ; cytology ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stromal Cells ; cytology ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo construct esat6-ppe68 fusion gene and its prokaryotic expression vector for expression in E. coli.

METHODSWith GeneSOEing method, a fusion gene was constructed by splicing esat6 gene and ppe68 gene and cloned into pGEX-4T-1 plasmid to construct the recombinant prokaryotic expression plasmid pGesat6-ppe68. After identification with restriction enzyme analysis, PCR and nucleotide sequencing analysis of the plasmid, E. coli BL21 was transformed with the recombinant plasmid and induced with IPTG to obtain the expression of the fusion protein ESAT6-PPE68 with GST-tag (about 69 kD), which were purified with GST-fusion protein purification kit. The expression of esat6-ppe68 fusion gene was subsequently detected by SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis.

RESULTSThe sequence of esat6 and ppe68 in the recombinant plasmid was consistent with that in GenBank report. The fusion protein was detected in the cytoplasm in soluble form and represented approximately 40% of the total bacterial protein of E. coli. After purification, the purity of the fusion protein reached 90%, and its antigenicity was confirmed by Western blotting.

CONCLUSIONThe prokaryotic expression vector pGesat6-ppe68 has been constructed and the fusion protein ESAT6-PPE68 obtained successfully, which provides an experimental basis for potential application of the recombinant ESAT6-PPE68 in the diagnosis of tuberculosis.

Antigens, Bacterial ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transformation, Genetic