Objective BOLD-fMRI was used to observe the activated auditory cortex evoked by pure tone stimuli in patients with sensorineural hearing loss and this paper is to discuss the objective measure for patient with sensorineural hearing toss. Methods BOLD-fMRI examinations were taken in 22 patients with unilateral moderate to severe sensorneural hearing loss and 15 control subjects. The volumes and intensities of the two hemispheres of the activated auditory cortex were analyzed quantitatively. Results Significant activation was found in the temporal lobe in control subjects, and significant differences in the volume and intensity were noted between the contralateral and ipsilateral activated auditory cortexes in them (P<0.01), exhibiting clearly eontralateral predominance. When the normal ear of patients with sensorineural hearing loss received signals, there was no significant difference be-tween contralateral and ipsilateral activated auditory cortexes (P>0.05). Conclusion When the normal ear of pa-tients with sensorneural hearing loss was stimulated by pure tone, the contralateral hemisphere predominance disap-peared. This result seems to show the plasticity of auditory cortex of patients with unilateral hearing loss.

Child ; Eosinophilia ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Fasciitis ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Myositis ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy

Blood Platelets ; Humans ; MicroRNAs

0.05).Conclusions The expression of myostatin gene mRNA is increased in myotonic dystrophy.Up-regulated expression of myostatin in skeletal muscle might be associated with the mechanism of myotonic dystrophy.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the implication of ultrasonographic features of primary breast cancer tumors and axillary lymph nodes in predicting axillary lymph nodes metastasis in patients with breast cancer.MethodsA total of 108 patients with breast cancer were underwent examination of primary breast tumors and axillary lymph nodes by high frequency linear-array probes of ultrasound.The ages of patients,locations of primary tumors,numbers of tumors,maximum diameters of tumors,the longitudinal transverse axis ratio of tumors,mass boundary,ultrasonic patterns,micro-calcification,classification of blood supply,color pixel density(CPD),peak systolic velocity,resistance index,the longitudinal transverse axis ratio of axillary lymph nodes and maximum cortical thickness of axillary lymph nodes were recorded.ResultsOut of 108 patients with breast cancer,the longitudinal transverse axis ratio of tumor were greater than 1 in 75 (69.4 ％ ),micro-calcification in 57(52.8 ％ ),classification of blood supply were Ⅱ - Ⅲ in 57 (52.8％ ),CPD were greater than or equal to 10％ in 48 (44.4％),maximum cortical thickness of axillary lymph node were greater than or equal to 3 mm in 51 (47.2％),and longitudinal transverse axis ratio of lymph nodes were less than 1.5 in 59 (54.6％).Univariate analysis revealed that these six parameters were correlated to the axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer ( P ＜0.05).However,ages of patients,location of tumor in the breast,numbers of tumors,maximum diameters of tumors,mass boundary,ultrasonic patterns,peak systolic velocity and resistance index were not related to the axillary lymph node metastasis( P ＞0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that CPD (OR:16.337,95％ CI:4.537- 58.826),longitudinal transverse axis ratio of lymph nodes (OR:3.754,95％ CI:1.269- 11.108) and microcalcificationand (OR:3.033,95 ％ CI:1.040 - 8.840) were risk factors of axillary lymph nodes metastasis in patients with breast cancer.ConclusionsThe application of ultrasonography in patients with breast cancer is useful in predicting axillary lymph nodes metastasis.

Objective To analyze the significance of the Calgary Syncope Seizures Scores (CSSS)and the Modified Calgary Syncope Seizure Scores (MCSSS)for differential diagnosis of syncope or epilepsy in children. Methods Totally 201 children[95 male,and 1 06 female,aged 5 -1 8 years,mean age (1 1 .76 ±3.03)years]with syncope or epilepsy who visited the syncope clinic or admitted to the Department of Nerve Specialty Clinic of Pediatrics, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from October 201 3 to April 201 4 were included in the study. Patients were eligible if they had ≥1 loss of consciousness.The diagnosis was analyzed by the CSSS and the MCSSS and receiver operating characteristic (ROC)curve was used to explore the predictive value of different scores in differential diagnosis of syncope or epilepsy in children.Results There were significant differences in the CSSS be-tween syncope[-4(-6,1 )]and epilepsy[2(-3,5)]in children(Z =-1 1 .63,P <0.01 ).When the score was ≥1 ,the sensitivity and specificity of the differential diagnosis between syncope and epilepsy were 91 .46% and 95.80%, respectively;and Youden index was 0.87.Epilepsy should be considered when the score was ≥1 .There were significant differences in the MCSSS between syncope[-4(-6,1 )]and epilepsy[3(-3,6)]in children(Z =-1 1 .71 ,P <0.01 ).When the score was ≥1 ,the sensitivity and specificity of the differential diagnosis between syncope and epilep-sy were 92.68% and 96.64%,respectively;and Youden index was 0.89.Epilepsy should be considered when the score was ≥1 .Conclusions CSSS and MCSSS might be used as an initial diagnostic method in differential diagnosis be-tween syncope and epilepsy in children,based on the history of the patients.MCSSS in the differential diagnosis between syncope and epilepsy in children was more objective,easier to operate in the clinical work than CSSS.

BackgroundHuman retinal gliocytes play an important role in proliferative diseases,which are the basis of in vitro studies.Researchers have cultured human retinal gliocytes in the past.In our study,we found that the cells we cultured presented a unique shape different from those by other researchers.ObjectiveThis study was to design to produce a new culture and purification method for retinal gliocyte in vitro.Methods Retinal tissue was isolated from human eyeballs and digested using the two-step digestion method (2％ pancreatin and 0.133％collagenase Ⅵ) to harvest the retinal glio cytes.The cells were collected and cultured in endothelial cell-targeted nutrient culture containing 10％ fetal calf serum and supplemented with β-endothelial cell growth factor (ECGF) and sodium heparin,and the culture dishes were coated with fibronectin(FN) to promote the attachment of retinal gliocyte.During the culturing process,the gliocytes were identified by the observation of morphological characteristic and regular histological examination.The identification of the cells also was performed by immunochemistry targeting glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP),Vimentin,neuron specific enolase ( NSE ),S-100,CD34,and Ⅷ factor.Results Retinal gliocytes were isolated successfully from the human retina by the two-step digestion method.Primary cultured cells attached after 72 hours and achieved confluency between day 9 and 10 that were aligned petaliform in shape.Regular histological examination after H&E staining showed blue cell nuclei and light red cytoplasm.The target cells presented with strong responses for GFAP and Vimentin and no response for NSE,S-100,CD34 and Ⅷ factor.ConclusionsLarge amount of purified human retinal gliocytes can be obtained by two-step digestion and cultured in endothelial cells-targeted culture medium supplemented with β-ECGF and sodium heparin in plates coated with FN.The cultured cells expressed markers for retinal gliocytes.However,specific features of these cells remain to be further elucidated.

Objective To prepare high-titer monoclonal antibodies against STX2A1 subunit of enterohemorrhagic E.coli(EHEC) O157∶H7.Methods BALB/c mice were immunized with GST-STX2A1 fusion protein and the spleen cells of BALB/c mice which were not immunized were used as feeder cells.Hybridoma technique,natural STX2A protein and ELISA test were used to prepare and screen the hybridoma cell lines of monoclonal antibodies against STX2A1.The ascites developed by injecting the hybridoma cells into abdominal cavity of the BALB/c mice and was purified with Protein A-Sepharose.The subclasses and isotypes were identified by mouse monoclonal antibody isotyping kit.The antigenic epitopes that can be recognized by STX2-1A3,STX2-1E10 and STX2-3A7 were analyzed by the ELISA additivity test.Results Three hybridoma cell strains were obtained and named as STX2-1A3,STX2-1E10 and STX2-3A7,respectively,all of which produced monoclonal antibodies specifically against STX2A1.The isotypes of the monoclonal antibodies were IgG1?,IgG1?,and IgG3? and the affinity constant was 5.76 ?109,1.21 ?109 and 3.97 ?108,respectively.Conclusion We have successfully prepared three hybridoma cell strains which secrete high-titer and highly specific monoclonal antibodies against STX2A1.Our study provides a basis for researching the early diagnosis,prevention and cure of the disease induced by EHEC O157∶H7.

OBJECTIVETo construct lipL32/1-lipL41/1 fusion gene and its prokaryotic expression system and to determine frequencies of carrying and expression of lipL32 and lipL41 genes in L.interrogans wild strains and specific antibody levels in sera from leptospirosis patients.

METHODSlipL32/1-lipL41/1 fusion gene was constructed using linking primer PCR method and the prokaryotic expression system of the fusion gene done with routine techniques. SDS-PAGE was used to examine expression of the target recombinant protein rLipL32/1-rLipL41/1. Immunogenicity of rLipL32/1-rLipL41/1 was identified by Western blot. PCR and MAT were performed to detect carrying and expression of lipL32 and lipL41 genes in 97 wild L.interrogans strains. Antibodies against products of lipL32 and lipL41 genes in serum samples from 228 leptospirosis patients were detected by ELISA method.

RESULTSThe homogeneity of nucleotide and putative amino acid sequence of lipL32/1-lipL41/1 fusion gene were 99.9 % and 99.8 % in comparison with the reported sequences. Expression output of the target recombinant protein rLipL32/1-rLipL41/1, mainly present in inclusion body, accounted for 10 % of the total bacterial proteins. Both the rabbit antisera against rLipL32/1 and rLipL41/1 could combine to rLipL32/1-rLipL41/1. 97.9 % and 87.6 % of the L.interrogans wild strains had lipL32 and lipL41 genes, respectively. 95.9 % and 84.5 % of the wild strains were positive for MAT with titers of 1:4 - 1:128 using rabbit anti-rLipL32s or anti-rLipL41s sera, respectively. 94.7 % - 97.4 % of the patients'serum samples were positive for rLipL32s antibodies, while 78.5 % - 84.6 % of them were rLipL41s antibodies detectable.

CONCLUSIONlipL32/1-jlipL41/1 fusion gene and its prokaryotic expression system were successfully constructed. The expressed fusion protein had qualified immunogenicity. Both the lipL32 and lipL41 genes are extensively carried and frequently expressed by different serogroups of L.interrogans, and their expression products exhibit cross-antigenicity.

Antibodies, Bacterial ; blood ; Antigens, Bacterial ; genetics ; immunology ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genes, Bacterial ; genetics ; Humans ; Leptospira interrogans ; genetics ; Leptospirosis ; immunology ; microbiology ; Lipoproteins ; genetics ; Prokaryotic Cells ; metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology

Objective To compare the biomechanical effect of three fixation instruments for SchatzkerⅥtibial plateau fractures.Methods Twenty four fresh knee specimens were made into models of SchatzkerⅥtibial plateau fractures.The specimens were divided randomly into three groups.Group A were fixed with a lateral periar- ticular plate and a posteromedial antiskid plate,and group B with a lateral periarticutar plate and an anteromedial lim- ited contact dynamic compression plate(LC-DCP),and group C with a lateral periarticular plate and a medical exter- nal fixator.Each model was tested for its biomechanical performance in resisting compression,bending and rotation. Results The performance of group B was higher than group A in anti-compression,anti-bending and anti-rotation, and group C was the poorest,there was no significant difference between group A and group B,and there was signifi- cant difference between group B and group C.Conclusion The biomechanical performance of group B was good. The method might have clinical applications in the treatment of SchatzkerⅥtibial plateau fractures.