Acute suppurative thyroiditis (AST) is a rare non-specific infectious disease of thyroid gland.The signs and symptoms of AST may mimic those of a variety of noninfectious inflammatory conditions or other anterior neck infectious diseases.AST is a progressive disease and is also potentially life threatening if devoid of prompt diagnosis and proper treatment.Herein,we report a case in order to call attention to the diagnosis and treatment of AST.

AIM To investigate the efficacy and safety of Chinese Jing Liqueur (Curculiginis Rhizoma,Angelicae sinensis Radix,Cistanches Herba,etc.) in relieving main symptoms of patients with Kidney Yang Deficiency Syndrome.METHODS Within eight-week trial,one hundred and twenty patients randomly and equally assigned to control group and experimental group took 50 mL Chinese Jing Liqueur and 50 mL 10％ diluted Chinese Jing Liqueur,respectively.The grading scale for Kidney Yang Deficiency Syndrome and change curve for body surface temperature after drinking were established on day 0,the 4th week day and the 8th week day.The blood samples were collected for blood hemorheologies detection as well.An array of measurements before and after drinking,the Kidney Yang Deficiency Syndrome scores,single symptom scores,body surface temperature and hemorheologies between the two groups were thus compared.RESULTS The experimental group displayed a significantly higher clinical cure rate (31.034％) than the control group (5.172％) (P =0.000),total effective rate (69.966％)than the control group (34.483％) (P =0.000).The experimental group didn't compromise its superiority to the control group if evaluated by improvement in chilly sensation and the cold limbs (35.593％ to 6.667％,P =0.000);and by the fibrinogen level [(2.845 ± 0.724) g/L to (2.500 ± 0.395) g/L,P =0.004)].No significant difference in incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups was observed (P =0.619).Meanwhile,Chinese Jing Liqueur's power in improving the patients' fatigue and weakness of waist and knees,hyposexuality,listlessness,nocturia and lower extremity edema was noticed as well.CONCLUSION For patients with Kidney Yang Deficiency Syndrome,Chinese Jing Liqueur proves its efficacy in improving their main symptoms through enhancing the basic skin temperature and prolonging the duration of skin temperature rise.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism by which heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) regulates 26S proteasome in hyperthermia.

METHODSHyperthermic HepG2 cell models established by exposure of the cells to 42 degrees celsius; for 3, 6, 12, and 24 h were examined for production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cell proliferation, and the changes in Hsp90α and 26S proteasome were analyzed.

RESULTSROS production in the cells increased significantly after hyperthermia (F=28.958, P<0.001), and the cell proliferation was suppressed progressively as the heat exposure time extended (F=621.704, P<0.001). Hyperthermia up-regulated Hsp90α but decreased the expression level (F=164.174, P<0.001) and activity (F=133.043, P<0.001) of 26S proteasome. The cells transfected with a small interfering RNA targeting Hsp90α also showed significantly decreased expression of 26S proteasome (F=180.231, P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONThe intracellular ROS production increases as the hyperthermia time extends. Heat stress and ROS together cause protein denature, leading to increased HSP90 consumption and further to HSP90 deficiency for maintaining 26S proteasome assembly and stability. The accumulation of denatured protein causes unfolded protein reaction in the cells to eventually result in cell death.

HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Hep G2 Cells ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism and the suppression effect of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) on hematopoietic system.

METHODSSemi-solid culture system was used to observe the effect of HCMV AD169 strain on colony forming unit granulocyte/macrophage (CFU-GM), CFU-erythroid (CFU-E), CFU-multipotent (CFU-Mix) and CFU-megakaryocyte (CFU-MK) growth. The techniques of in situ polymerase chain reaction (IS-PCR) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to demonstrate the existence of HCMV DNA in the colony cells of cultured CFU-GM, CFU-Mix, CFU-MK and CFU-E, respectively. The immediate early antigen (IEA) mRNA in CFU-MK and late antigen (LA) mRNA in CFU-E were detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). HCMV early protein P52 was detected with immunohistochemical technique.

RESULTSHCMV AD169 suppressed the differentiation and proliferation of CFU-GM, CFU-E, CFU-Mix and CFU-MK in vitro significantly (P < 0.05). The suppression was dose-dependent. HCMV DNA was successfully detected in CFU-GM, CFU-Mix, CFU-MK colony cells from viral infection groups by IS-PCR, and was detected in CFU-E by PCR, while it was negative in blank control or mock control groups. CFU-MK colony cells expressed HCMV IEA mRNA with the size of 340 bp in virus infection groups of 10(3) plague forming unit (PFU), 10(4) PFU and 10(5) PFU, respectively. The HCMV LA mRNA was detected by RT-PCR and was 263 bp long in positive control group of HCMV-infected human embryonic fibroblasts. The expression of HCMV LA mRNA in CFU-E was negative. The early protein P52 of HCMV in 10(4) PFU group was also identified by immunohistochemical staining.

CONCLUSIONHCMV AD169 strains inhibited the differentiation and proliferation of CFU-GM, CFU-E, CFU-Mix and CFU-MK by the infection of the hematopoietic progenitors. HCMV might cause the suppression of hematopoiesis by direct infection, which is thought to be one of the reasons of HCMV infection associated with thrombocytopenia, neutropenia and anemia.

Colony-Forming Units Assay ; Cytomegalovirus ; genetics ; DNA, Viral ; genetics ; Erythrocytes ; virology ; Hematopoietic System ; cytology ; virology ; Humans ; Megakaryocytes ; virology ; Multipotent Stem Cells ; virology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the combined chemotherapy with docetaxel, capecitabine and cisplatin (TXP) in the treatment of metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

METHODSThis retrospective analysis involved 22 patients with metastatic NPC receiving treatment with the TXP regimen. The patients were given docetaxel at 60 mg/m² on day 1, cisplatin at 20 mg/m² on days 1-3, and capecitabine at 1 250 mg/m² on days 1-14, and the treatment cycle was repeated ever 3 weeks.

RESULTSOf the 22 patients, 14 (63%) achieved partial remission, 2 (9%) had complete remission, and 5 (23%) showed stable disease. The overall clinical response rate of the patients was 72% with a 1-year survival rate of 68%, median progression-free survival of 8 months, and overall survival of 14 months. The main toxicity was myelosuppression; 7 (32%) patients experienced grade 3/4 neutropenia, and 5 (23%) had grade 3/4 anemia. All the other adverse effects were tolerable and reversible.

CONCLUSIONThe TXP regimen is safe and effective for treatment of metastatic NPC, and the results are comparable with those of the reports in recent literatures.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Bone Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; secondary ; Capecitabine ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Deoxycytidine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; secondary ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Taxoids ; administration & dosage

OBJECTIVETo compare the therapeutic effect and adverse effects of two regimens, namely cisplatin and docetaxel (DC) regimen and fluorouracil (PF) regimen, both with concurrent radiotherapy, in the treatment of advanced esophageal squamous cancer.

METHODSForty-eight patients with esophageal squamous cancer were randomly assigned in DC regimen and PF regimen groups. All the patients received conventional radiotherapy at a total dose of 60 Gy (in 30 fractions) for 6 weeks. In DC regimen group, the patients received intravenous infusion of docetaxel (75 mg/m(2)) for 1 h on day 1 and DDP (25 mg/m(2) daily) on days 1-3, with every 28 days as one cycle. PF regimen consisted of cisplatin (25 mg/m(2)) on days 1-3 and continuous intravenous infusion of fluorouracil (500 mg/m(2)) for 5 days, with every 28 days as one cycle. All the patients were suggested to have no less than 2 cycles.

RESULTSThe 3-year median survival time in DC regimen was slightly longer than that in PF regimen group (26 vs 23 months, Χ2=3.4041, P=0.065). The same result was also found in the short-term effect and adverse reactions including ?myelosuppression and gastrointestinal reactions. Only the adverse reaction of radiotherapy-induced esophagitis showed a significant difference between the two groups (P=0.049).

CONCLUSIONDC regimen with synchronous radiotherapy is effective and safe for treating advanced esophageal squamous cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Protocols ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To explore whether alcohol promotes the development of breast cancer in TA2 mice and the possible potential mechanism. Methods Thirty-two 6-8-week old nulliparous female TA2 mice were randomly divided into control and ethanol-exposure groups, 16 mice in each group. The mice of the ethanol-exposure group were given 2%ethanol in drinking water, and the mice of control group received regular drinking water. Serum ethanol concentration in the TA2 mice was measured using an ANALOX AM1 alcohol analyzer. The incidence of breast cancer, tumor growth rate and tumor size of the ethanol-exposure and control groups were observed and compared. The estrogen levels of the two groups was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELASA) . Results Compared with the control group, the tumor for-mation rate of spontaneous breast cancer in the alcohol-exposure group was significantly increased (62. 5% vs. 43. 75%, P<0. 05), the average number of days of tumor formation was shortened (285 days vs. 335 days, P<0. 05), the tumor weight and volume were increased but not significant ( P>0. 05 ) , and the level of estrogen in the ethanol-exposure mice was significantly higher than that in the control group ( P>0. 05 ) . Conclusions Alcohol promotes the tumorigenesis of spontaneous breast cancer in TA2 mice, which may be associated to the increase of estrogen levels.

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence and characteristics of neuropathic pain (NP) in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) according to subgroup analysis of symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively enrolled subjects with LSS (n=86) who were scheduled to undergo spinal surgery. The patients were divided into two groups according to a chief complaint of radicular pain or neurogenic claudication. We measured patient's pain score using the visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Leads Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS). According to LANSS value, the prevalence of NP component pain in patients with LSS was assessed. Statistical analysis was performed to find the relationship between LANSS scores and the other scores. RESULTS: From our sample of 86 patients, 31 (36.0%) had a NP component, with 24 (63.4%) in the radicular pain group having NP. However, only seven patients (15.6%) in the neurogenic claudication group had NP. The LANSS pain score was not significantly correlated with VAS scores for back pain, but did correlate with VAS scores for leg pain (R=0.73, p<0.001) and with ODI back pain scores (R=0.54, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: One-third of the patients with LSS had a NP component. The presence of radicular pain correlated strongly with NP. The severity of leg pain and ODI score were also closely related to a NP component. This data may prove useful to understanding the pain characteristics of LSS and in better designing clinical trials for NP treatment in patients with LSS.
Adult ; Aged ; Back Pain ; Decompression, Surgical ; Disability Evaluation ; Female ; Humans ; *Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuralgia/*complications/epidemiology ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Pain Measurement/*methods ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Severity of Illness Index ; Spinal Stenosis/epidemiology/*surgery ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDNa + /Ca 2+ exchanger (NCX) plays a crucial role in pentylenetetrazol-induced convulsion. However, it is unclear whether NCX is critically involved in hyperthermia-induced convulsion. In this study, we examined the potential changes in NCX3 in the hippocampus and cerebrocortex of rats with hyperthermia-induced convulsion.

METHODSTwenty-one Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to control group, convulsion-prone group and convulsion-resistant group (n = 7 in each group). Whole-cell patch-clamp method was used to record NCX currents. Both the Western blotting analysis and immunofluorescence labeling techniques were used to examine the expression of NCX3.

RESULTSNCX currents were decreased in rats after febrile convulsion. Compared to the control group, NCX3 expression was decreased by about 40% and 50% in the hippocampus and cerebrocortex of convulsion-prone rats, respectively. Furthermore, the extent of reduction in NCX3 expression seemed to correlate with the number of seizures.

CONCLUSIONSThere is a significant reduction in NCX3 expression in rats with febrile convulsions. Our findings also indicate a potential link between NCX3 expression, febrile convulsion in early childhood, and adult onset of epilepsy.

Animals ; Cerebral Cortex ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Female ; Fever ; complications ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seizures ; etiology ; metabolism ; Sodium-Calcium Exchanger ; metabolism

[Objective]To explore the diagnostic value of urine ErbB3 protein in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.[Methods]We collected 31 urine samples of clear cell renal cell carcinoma patients who received operations in the Urology Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University from April 2,2016 to August 31,2016.Meanwhile we collected 50 urine samples of normal people as control.We tested the expression of urine ErbB3 protein in experimen-tal group and control group,and analyzed the differences between the two groups.Then we established the ROC curve of which diagnosing clear cell renal carcinoma by urine ErbB3 protein. Also,we analyzed the relation between ErbB3 pro-tein in urine and the patients'BMI,preoperative creatinine,tumor diameter and underlying diseases such as hyperten-sion and hyperglycemia.[Results]①The expression of urine ErbB3 protein in clear cell renal cell carcinoma group was significantly lower than normal group(P<0.001). ② When diagnosing clear cell renal carcinoma by ErbB3 protein,the AUC of ROC was 0.802(P<0.001). When setting the cutoff as 13.98 pg/mL,the max Youden index was 0.525,the sensitivity was 0.645 and the specificity was 0.880. The Kappa value of diagnostic test was 0.542(P<0.001). ③ There was no correlation between the ErbB3 content and patients'BMI,tumor diameter or preoperative creatinine by correlation analysis. Also,there was no correlation between the urine ErbB3 protein content and blood pressure or blood glucose.[Conclusion]The urine ErbB3 protein of clear cell renal cell carcinoma was significantly lower than normal people,and it is meaningful for applying urine ErbB3 protein to early diagnosis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma.