Objective To investigate the vaginal flora characteristics,clinical symptoms and signs of lactating women 6-8 weeks after delivery and the influence factors.Methods Two hundred and twenty-three puerpera 6-8 weeks after delivery who went to outpatient department of Peking University First Hospital for postpartum review (study group) and 200 normal non-pregnant women (control group) from April to May,2010 were enrolled into this study.All in study group were evaluated by a questionnaire regarding their symptoms,sexual behavior,breast-feeding situation and delivery mode.Vaginal secretions from upper 1/3 of vagina were collected and evaluated by vaginal microbial evaluation system.Bacterial vaginosis (BV) was diagnosed if Nugent score ≥ 7.Enumeration data between groups was compared by t test,and quantitative data by Chi-square test.Results The density of vaginal flora in study group was different from that of control group (x2 =96.302,P＜0.001) ; so did the flora diversity of two groups (x2 =69.871,P＜0.001).There was no difference between mean age of study group [(30.5 ± 3.9) years] and control group [(30.9 ± 2.4)years],P＞0.05.The cesarean section rate was 52.7％ (89/169),13 women (7.7％) had began their sexual behavior before interview,116 women (70.3％) took breast-feeding.Dominant bacteria in the vagina of lactating women were Gram-positive cocci (69/175,39.4％) and Gram-positive bacillus (54/175, 30.9％), which was different from control group (Gram-positive bacillus,180/189,95.2％),P＜0.001.The vaginal pH of study group was 5.0±0.5,which was higher than that (＜4.5) of control group.In study group,incidence of lower hydrogen peroxide level of vagina was 84.3 ％ (177/210) ; positive rate of sialidase was 6.7 ％ (14/210) ; positive rate of leukocyte esterase was 91.0％ (191/210).A large number of postpartum women had an abnormal Nugent score,most of them showed a state of intermediate BV (132/195,67.7％) or BV (8/195,4.1％),while a few patients had symptoms of BV (23.5％,33/140).Sexual behavior had no significant effect on postpartum vaginal flora.The proportion of abnormal vaginal flora in breast feeding mothers (74.1 ％,86/116) was significantly higher than that (57.1％,28/49) in artificial feeding mothers,P=0.034.Delivery mode also affected postpartum vaginal flora.Women underwent cesarean section were more susceptible to abnormal vaginal flora (77.5％,69/89) than those underwent vaginal delivery (57.5％,46/80),x2 =7.726,P=0.005.Conclusions Vaginal flora of postpartum women 6-8 weeks after delivery had significant difference from that of nonpregnant women.The incidence of asymptomatic abnormal vaginal flora was high.Breastfeeding and delivery mode are influence factors of abnormal vaginal flora.

Background It is well known that tissue factor (TF) is expressed in tumor cells and neovascular endothelial cells of tumor.It plays an important role in the formation of new blood vessels as well as the growth and metastasis of tumor.However,whether TF is expressed or not in choroidal melanoma(CM)is unclear.Objective This study is to investigate the expression of TF in a choroidal melanoma cell line and human choroidal melanoma.Methods The expression of TF was studied in the optimal choroidal melanoma-1 (OCM-1) cell line and ten specimens from CM patients using immunhistochemistry.Ten normal eye specimens from donators were used as controls.Results The TF protein was mainly expressed in the cytoplasm.It is over-expressed in OCM-1 cells with positive rate of 85.33±5.47%.Hyper-expression of TF also was found in human choroidal melanoma with a positive rate of 41.60±14.17%.The integrated optical density (IOD) of positive cells in CM was 33853.67±16445.30,and only 5.65±4.26% of positive cells was found in normal human choroidal tissue.The IOD of TF expression in normal human choroidal tissue was 426.43±316.62.Conclusion The overexpression of TF in CM cells may be a new immunotherapy target for CM treatment.

Objective: To observe the difference in clinical efficacy between acupuncture with point selection based on syndrome differentiation along the meridians and acupuncture at non-meridian and non-acupoint points for functional dyspepsia (FD). Methods: A total of 74 FD patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group, with 37 cases in each group. Both groups received acupuncture treatment. Zusanli (ST 36) and Neiguan (PC 6) were selected in the observation group, with Taichong (LR 3) and Neiting (ST 44) added for excess syndrome, and Gongsun (SP 4) and Yinlingquan (SP 9) added for deficiency syndrome. Four non-meridian and non-acupoint points were selected in the control group. The treatments in both groups were performed once a day with a 2-day break after 5 consecutive treatments, which constituted one treatment course. A total of 4 courses were performed. The scores of Nepean dyspepsia index (NDI) and Leeds dyspepsia questionnaire (LDQ) were recorded before and after treatment, and during follow-up (8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 weeks after recruitment) to assess the clinical efficacy. Results: The NDI scores in the two groups after treatment and at each time point during follow-up were higher than those before treatment (all P<0.05), and the LDQ scores were lower than those before treatment (all P<0.05). The NDI scores after treatment and at each time point during follow-up in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (all P<0.01); the total LDQ score and scores of upper abdominal pain, postprandial satiety and upper abdominal burning sensation after treatment and at each time point during follow-up in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.01 or P<0.05).. Conclusion: Acupuncture with point selection based on syndrome differentiation along the meridians has a better curative effect than acupuncture at non meridian and non-acupoint points in the treatment of FD.

Background Cooking oil fumes are closely related to immune response, and adipose tissue also plays an important role in immune regulation. At present, the biological effect and mechanism of inflammation of adipose tissue induced by oil fume exposure are not clear yet. Objective To investigate the inflammatory effect of different exposure duration of cooking fumes on adipose tissue in mice and explore the role of Nod-like receptor pyrin domain 3 (NLRP3)/cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 1 (Caspase 1)/interleukin (IL)-1β signaling pathway. Methods Forty 8-week-old female C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 3-day control group (CON₃ group), 7-day control group (CON₇ group), 3-day oil fume exposure group (COF₃ group), and 7-day oil fume exposure group (COF₇ group), with 10 mice in each group. The mice were exposed to oil fumes in a cooking oil fume formation and exposure equipment (COFFEE) for 20 min, followed by a 10-min pause, 1 h a day for consecutive 3 d or 7 d. General condition of mice was observed and body weight was measured every day. After exposure, blood was sampled from the eyeball. Serum levels of IL-6, IL-27, and IL-1β were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The adipose tissue of mice was collected and observed after hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The percentages of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺T cells in adipose tissue were detected by flow cytometry. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the expression levels of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), NLRP3, Caspase 1, and IL-1β in adipose tissue. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of NLRP3, Caspase 1, and IL-1β in adipose. Results Compared with the corresponding control group, serum IL-6, IL-27, and IL-1β contents in the COF₃ group and the COF₇ group were significantly increased (P<0.05) except IL-6 in the COF₃ group, and the levels in the COF₇ group were significantly higher than those in the COF₃ group (P<0.05). Vacuolar lipid droplets in adipocytes decreased, cytoplasm shrank, and inflammatory cells infiltrated in the COF₇ group after HE staining. The flow cytometry results showed that the proportions of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺T cells in adipocytes of the COF₃ group and the COF₇ group were increased compared to the corresponding control group, with a significant increase in the COF₇ group (P<0.05), and the CD4⁺/CD8⁺T ratio also significantly increased progressively in the two groups (P<0.05). The results of RT-qPCR showed that compared with the corresponding control group, the mRNA expression levels of NF-κB, NLRP3, Caspase 1, and IL-1β in adipose tissue of mice in the COF₃ group and the COF₇ group were significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). The mRNA expression levels of mice in each exposure group gradually increased over time. The Western blot results showed that compared with the corresponding control group, the protein expressions of NLRP3 and Caspase 1 in the COF₃ group were significantly increased (P<0.01), and the expression of IL-1β protein also increased but without statistical significance. The protein expressions of NLRP3, Caspase 1, and IL-1β in the COF₇ group were significantly higher than those in the CON₇ group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion Acute exposure to cooking oil fumes can induce significant inflammatory response in adipose tissue, and the effect gradually increases with the extension of exposure time. The mechanism of action may be related to the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy and safety of standard or reduced doses of bortezomib combined with adriamycin and dexamethasone (PAD) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM).

METHODSEighty-two newly diagnosed or refractory/relapsed patients received bortezomib [either 1.2-1.3 mg/m(2) (standard dose) or 1.0-1.1 mg/m(2) (reduced dose) on day 1, 4, 8 and 11], and adriamycin (10 mg/m(2)) plus dexamethasone (40 mg/m(2)) on day 1-4 at 3-week intervals for 1 to 6 courses. The International Myeloma Working Group Criteria were used to evaluate the response. Adverse events were graded according to the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria (Version 3.0).

RESULTSTwo courses of standard dose of PAD resulted in a similar response rate of partial and very good partial complete remissions (PR) compared with reduced dose (80.0% vs 80.8%, P=0.728). Grade III- Ⅳ neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were higher with standard dose than that with reduced doses of PAD (21.1% vs11.1%, P=0.270; 10.5% vs 6.3%, P=0.619, respectively). Grade III-Ⅳ bortezomib-induced peripheral neuropathy, herpes zoster, fatigue or abdominal distention were significantly higher with standard dose than that with reduced dose of PAD (15.8% vs 1.6%, P=0.037; 26.3% vs 6.3%, P=0.028; 36.8% vs 14.3%, P=0.046; 15.8% vs 1.6%, P=0.037, respectively).

CONCLUSIONReduced dose of PAD appears to result in a similar overall response rate, but a better tolerance and safety compared with standard dose.

Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Boronic Acids ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Bortezomib ; Dexamethasone ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Doxorubicin ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; drug therapy ; Pyrazines ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the risk factors, clinical features, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes of encephalopathy in high-risk late preterm infants.

METHODSHead MRI scan was performed for late preterm infants with high-risk factors for brain injury who were hospitalized between January 2009 and December 2014. The risk factors, clinical features, and head MRI features of encephalopathy in late preterm infants were analyzed.

RESULTSA total of 1 007 late preterm infants underwent MRI scan, among whom 313 (31.1%) had imaging features in accordance with the features of encephalopathy of prematurity. Of all infants, 76.7% had white matter damage. There was no association between the development of encephalopathy and gestational age in late preterm infants, but the detection rate of encephalopathy gradually increased with the increasing birth weight (P<0.05). The logistic regression analysis showed that a history of resuscitation was an independent risk factor for encephalopathy of prematurity (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSEncephalopathy of prematurity is commonly seen in high-risk late preterm infants, especially white matter damage. A history of resuscitation is an independent risk factor for encephalopathy in late preterm infants.

Brain Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Logistic Models ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Risk

Animals ; Blood Coagulation Tests ; Liver ; blood supply ; metabolism ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Peroxidase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; Thromboplastin ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome bunyavirus is a newly emerging virus in China, enveloped with a tripartite, single-stranded RNA genome of negative polarity. The regulatory elements for viral transcription and replication, as well as encapsidation and packaging signals, are thought to be located within these noncoding regions (NCRs). The terminal nucleotides are genus specific and highly conserved. The function of the remaining nucleotides of the NCRs is still not well understood. In this study, we developed the plasmid-driven RNA polymerase I minireplicon system for SFTSV firstly, using reporter genes GFP and luciferase. The function of the noncoding regions of the three Bunyaviridae RNA segments (L, M, S) in transcription was analyzed. Reporter genes are successfully expressed in SFTSV minireplicon system. Our results suggest that the NCRs of SFTSV from all three segments contain the necessary signals to initiate transcription. Quantitative detection of the luciferase expression level shows that promoter activity in the three segments is different.
Bunyaviridae Infections ; virology ; Cloning, Molecular ; Genome, Viral ; Humans ; Phlebovirus ; genetics ; physiology ; Replicon ; Viral Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Virus Replication

Betacoronavirus ; genetics ; Coronavirus Infections ; diagnosis ; Genetic Variation ; Humans ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; diagnosis ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the different features of hyperplasia in castrated and uncastrated mice after testosterone (T) treatment.

METHODSForty-eight BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 6 groups of 8 in each: castrated (A), uncastrated (B) , castrated + low T (C), uncastrated + low T (D), castrated + high T (E), uncastrated + high T (F). Groups C and D were treated with testosterone solution at the dose of 12.5 mg/(kg d) and Groups E and F at 125 mg/(kg d) for 20 consecutive days, while Groups A and B received saline only. All the mice were sacrificed on the 21st day, their ventral and dorsal prostate glands weighed and their pathological features studied.

RESULTSAtrophic prostates were observed in Group A, but normal in Group B; prostatic hyperplasia was found in both Group C and D, but more obvious in the latter (P <0.05); and a slightly higher degree of hyperplasia was noted in Groups E and F than in C and D. There was an increase in serum T and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentration and a decrease in serum estrogen (E2) concentration in the testosterone treated groups.

CONCLUSIONBoth castrated and uncastrated mice develop prostate hyperplasia after short-term testosterone treatment, although in different degrees and with different features, which may help further the studies on the association of castration and androgen with prostate diseases.

Animals ; Hyperplasia ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Orchiectomy ; Prostate ; pathology ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Testosterone ; therapeutic use