Objective:To investigate the clinical features of ocular involvement and the application of Rose criteria in patients with relapsing polychondritis (RP).Methods:The data from RP patients with ocular involvement were collected and analyzed. Patients included must have at least one major criteria of Michet criteria and the application Rose criteria was also investigated. Demographic data of these patients was presented as percentages. The difference between types of disease onset was tested by Mann-Whitney U and comparison among groups was tested by False Discovery Rate. Results:A total of 192 patients were enrolled 98 males and 94 females. The mean age of disease onset was (42±14) (0.5-79) years old, the median disease duration (DD) was 13(0.5, 600) months. The median RP disease activity index (RPDAI) was 39(9-74) and the median RP organ damage index (RPODI) was 2.5(0.1, 108). The median RP damage index (RPDAM) was 3(1-6). The statistical significant difference was identified in median DD between groups of nose and pinna ( Z=10.775, P<0.01), nose and OEH ( Z=9.277, P<0.01), in RPODI between groups of nose and pinna ( Z=7.999, P=0.031), nose and and extra-cranial organs ( Z=8.115, P=0.030) and eye and airway involvement of RPDAM could be seen between groups ( Z=7.683, P=0.037) respectively. Ocular involvement(50.0%), auricular chondritis(21.4%) and airway chondritis(13.5%) were the top three most common symptoms at disease onset. The ocular involvement(100%), airway chondritis (75.0%) and inner ear involvement(69.3%) were the top three most frequent affected organs. All parts of eye could be involved in RP ocular damage. Single-organ involvement was 59.9%; and multi-organ involvement could be seen in 40.1% patients. Diagnostic strength was enhanced by application of Rose criteria in 171 cases fulfilled Michet criteria and 21(10.9%) cases partially fulfilled Michet criteria fulfilled Rose criteria. Active screening for organ (especially inner ear and airway) involvement would improve the rate of early diagnosis. The pinna and airway involvement suggested nose and middle-ear might be involved. Conclusion:Ocular involvement in RP can involve all parts of the eye ball. Examining the inner ear and airway may help to confirm the diagnosis. It is worthy to apply this to clinical practice.

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility of in vitro chondrogenesis by co-culture of chondrocytes and adipose-derived stromal cells (ADSCs) so as to confirm the hypothesis that chondrocytes can provide chondrogenic microenvironment to induce chondrogenic differentiation of ADSCs.

METHODSHuman ADSCs and porcine auricular chondrocytes were in vitro expanded respectively and then were mixed at the ratio of 7:3 (ADSCs: chondrocytes). 200 microl mixed cells (5.0 x 10(7)/ml) were seeded onto a polyglycolic acid/polylactic acid (PGA/PLA) scaffold, 8 mm in diameter and 2 mm in thickness, as co-culture group. Chondrocytes and ADSCs with the same cell number were seeded respectively onto the scaffold as positive control group and negative control group. 200 microl chondrocytes (1.5 x 10(7)/ml) were seeded as low concentration chondrocyte group. There were 6 specimens in each group. All specimens were harvested after in vitro culture for 8 weeks in DMEM plus 10% FBS. Gross observation, histology, immunohistochemistry, wet weight measurement and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) quantification were used to evaluate the results. Multiple-sample t-test statistics analysis was done to compare the difference of wet weight and glycosaminoglycan(GAG) content between the groups.

RESULTSCells in all groups had fine adhesion to the scaffold and could secrete extracellular matrix. In co-culture group and positive control group, cell-scaffold constructs could maintain the original size and shape during in vitro culture. At 8 weeks, cartilage-like tissue formed in gross appearance and histological features, and abundant type II collagen could be detected by immunohistochemistry. Wet weight and glycosaminoglycan(GAG) content of co-culture group were respectively (174 +/- 12) mg and (7.6 +/- 0.4) mg. There were respectively 75% (P < 0.01) and 79% (P<0.01) of those of positive control group. In negative control group, however, constructs shrunk gradually without mature cartilage lacuna in histology. In low concentration chondrocyte group, constructs also shrunk obviously with small amount of cartilage formation at the edge area of the construct, and wet weight was (85 +/- 5) mg, which was 37% (P<0.01) of that of positive control group.

CONCLUSIONSChondrocytes can provide chondrogenic microenvironment to induce chondrogenic differentiation of ADSCs and thus promote the in vitro chondrogenesis of ADSCs.

Adipocytes ; cytology ; Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Chondrocytes ; cytology ; Coculture Techniques ; Humans ; Swine ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds

Objective To study the feasibility and clinical values of diffusion tensor tractography (DTT)in the spinal cord at 3.0 T MR.Methods Forty patients with spinal cord compression including cervical cord herniation and cervical spondylosis(30 cases),tumors in spinal canal(9 cases)and old injury in cervical vertebrae(1 cases)and 20 healthy volunteers participated in this study.Single-shot spin- echo echo-planar diffusion tensor sequence for tractography of the spinal cord was performed.The fibers of spinal cord were visualized by using fiber tracking software.Results On the DTT maps,the normal spinal cord was depicted as a fiber tract showing color-encoded cephaloeaudally,which indicated anisotropy in the cephalocaudal direction.By setting two ROI,the main spinal cord fiber tracts,such as corticospinal or spinothalamic tract,were visualized.The tracts from two sides of the brain did not completely cross.It was asymmetric in the number of tracts on the two sides in most normal subjects(8/10).The tracts of all patients with cord compression were seen oppressed or damaged in different degrees.The DrrT in patients with cervical spondylosis and extramedullary-intradural neurolemmoma demonstrated that tracts were oppressed but not damaged.The DTT in one ependymoma showed that tract was markedly compressed and slightly damaged.Conclusion DTT is a promising tool for demonstrating the spinal cord tracts and abnormalities,can provide useful information for the localization of compression and evaluation of the impairment extent on the white matter tracts of the spinal cord.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEEarly diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is difficult due to the insufficient specificity of the conventional examination method. This study was to investigate potential and consistent biomarkers for NPC, particularly for early detection of NPC.

METHODSA proteomic pattern was identified in a training set (134 NPC patients and 73 control individuals) using the surface-enhanced laser desorption and ionization-mass spectrometry (SELDI-MS), and used to screen the test set (44 NPC patients and 25 control individuals) to determine the screening accuracy. To confirm the accuracy, it was used to test another group of 52 NPC patients and 32 healthy individuals at 6 months later.

RESULTSEight proteomic biomarkers with top-scored peak mass/charge ratios (m/z) of 8605 Da, 5320 Da, 5355 Da, 5380 Da, 5336 Da, 2791 Da, 7154 Da, and 9366 Da were selected as the potential biomarkers of NPC with a sensitivity of 90.9% (40/44) and a specificity of 92.0% (23/25). The performance was better than the current diagnostic method by using the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) capsid antigen IgA antibodies (VCA/IgA). Similar sensitivity (88.5%) and specificity (90.6%) were achieved in another group of 84 samples.

CONCLUSIONSELDI-MS profiling might be a potential tool to identify patients with NPC, particularly at early clinical stages.

Adult ; Aged ; Algorithms ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Antigens, Viral ; blood ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Capsid Proteins ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; Neoplasm Proteins ; blood ; Proteomics ; methods ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the main inhalant allergens and their distribution patterns in children with allergic diseases from Xi'an and the surrounding area and to provide evidence for the prevention and treatment of allergic diseases in children.

METHODSSkin prick test was performed using liquid with 13 standardized allergens (ALK-ABELL, Denmark) on 3085 children from Xi'an and the surrounding area who were treated for allergic diseases between July 2006 and July 2011, to detect inhalant allergens.

RESULTSOf the 3085 patients, 1368 (44.34%) had positive SPT results, with the most prevalent inhalant allergen being Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (804 cases, 26.06%), followed by Dermatophagoides farinae (793 cases, 25.71%), Blomia tropicalis (440 cases, 14.26%), mugwort (282 cases, 9.14%), and cat hair (204 cases, 6.61%). The positive rates were 28.66% in the <4 years group, 41.85% in the 4-6 years group, and 58.61% in the 7-15 years group (P<0.01). Males had a significantly higher SPT positive rate than females (47.78% vs 38.50%；P<0.05). The SPT positive rate was highest in children with allergic rhinitis (72.41%), followed by bronchial asthma (62-25%), allergic dermatosis (45.83%), and allergic purpura (36.28%).

CONCLUSIONSIn children from Xi'an and the surrounding area, the main inhalant allergens for allergic diseases include Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, Blomia tropicalis, mugwort and cat hair. The SPT positive rate increases with age. Male children have a higher SPT positive rate than female children. The SPT positive rate is highest in children with allergic rhinitis.

Adolescent ; Allergens ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; diagnosis ; Infant ; Male ; Skin Tests

OBJECTIVE: To explore the application value of Expressmarker 22 STR loci direct PCR amplification kit. METHODS: One thousand nine hundred and forty-eight samples (including samples spotted on FTA cards, filter papers and case samples) were tested using Expressmarker 22 STR loci direct PCR amplification kit. At the same time, all were tested using Sinofiler kit, Identifiler kit and PowerPlex 16 kit respectively for comparison. The genotypes were compared at the same STR loci among these four kits to test the sensitivity and accuracy of Expressmarker 22 STR loci direct PCR amplification kit. RESULTS: 97.79% samples were successfully typed using Expressmarker 22 STR loci direct PCR amplification kit. The genotype profiles of the same samples using Expressmarker 22 STR loci direct PCR amplification kit were consistent with Sinofiler kit, Identifiler kit and PowerPlex 16 kit at the same STR loci. CONCLUSION Expressmarker 22 STR loci direct PCR amplification kit can provide huge information and accurate results
Alleles ; DNA/genetics* ; DNA Fingerprinting/methods* ; DNA Primers ; Forensic Genetics/methods* ; Genetic Loci/genetics* ; Genotype ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods*

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of closed-loop rehabilitation therapy by brain-computer interface(BCI)combined with exoskeleton robotic hand in patients with hand dysfunction after cerebral infarction and analyze the influence of patients'cognitive function and implicit motor imagery ability on the recognition rate of BCI.Methods A total of 50 patients with cerebral infarction were randomly assigned to the observation group and the control group,25 patients in each group.Both groups received routine rehabilitation programs.In addition to the conventional rehabilitation treatment,the observation group received the closed-loop BCI rehabilitation trainingby brain-computer interface(BCI)combined with exoskeleton robotic hand.The scores of Fugl-Meyer Assessment of the Upper Extremity(FMA-UE),Action Research Arm Test(ARAT),Wolf Motor Function Test(WMFT),and Modified Ashworth scale(MAS)of the wrist flexors were compared between the two groups before and after treatment.Before intervention,the mental rotation test and Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA)were used to assess the baseline implicit motor imagery ability and cognitive level of patients in the observation group.The correlation analysis between these scores and the recognition rate of BCI was conducted to analyze the relevant factors affecting the closed-loop rehabilitation effects of BCI.Results The two groups showed no significant difference in all outcomes before treatment(both P>0.05).After intervention,the observation group exhibited the significantly higher scores of FMA-UE,ARAT,and WMFT(all P<0.05),and significantly lower MAS scores of wrist and finger flexors compared with the control group(all P<0.05).In addition,the recognition rate of BCI was positively correlated with the accuracy of mental rotation test and MoCA score(P<0.05),and negatively corre-lated with the reaction time of mental rotation test(P<0.05).Conclusions Closed-loop rehabilitation training with BCI combined with exoskeleton robot hand can promote the recovery of upper limbs and hand motor function in patients with cerebral infarction.Additionally,the implicit motor imagery ability and cognitive function of patients are suggested to be used for screening the patients suitable for BCI training before the implementation of BCI treatment.

Objective To evaluate the pharmacokinetics of cefbupera-zone in Chinese healthy volunteers.Methods The study was designed as an open, randomized, self-control study.12 subjects were received 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 g of cefbuperazone, respectively. Cefbuperazone was determined by high performance liquid chromatography. WinNonlin 5.2.1 software was used to calculate the pharmacokinetic parameters. Results Linear range of cefbuperazone was 2 -250 μg? mL-1 .The main pharmacokinetic parameters of three doses(1.0, 2.0, 3.0 g) of cefbu-perazone were as follows: Cmax were (81.74 ±15.95),(145.47 ±42.22), (198.16 ±36.03)μg? mL-1, tmax were (1.01 ±0.03),(1.02 ±0.04), (1.01 ±0.03), t1/2 were (1.80 ±0.30),(1.88 ±0.31),(1.74 ±0.27), AUC0-t were (136.37 ±43.31), (263.74 ±93.95), (335.76 ±68.47)μg? mL-1? h, respectively. Urinary recovery rate with 16 h was ( 45.24 ±17.50 )%, ( 48.27 ± 15.18 )%, ( 40.82 ± 14.24 )%. Conclusion The characteristic of cefbuperazone is linear.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; blood ; Neoplasm Proteins ; blood ; Neural Networks (Computer) ; Prognosis ; Proteomics ; Reproducibility of Results ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

Objective To analyze and detect the whole genome sequence of human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) by Ion Torrent PGMTM platform and to study the differences of mtDNA sequence in different tissues.Methods Samples were collected from 6 unrelated individuals by forensic postmortem examination,including chest blood,hair,costicartilage,nail,skeletal muscle and oral epithelium.Amplification of whole genome sequence of mtDNA was performed by 4 pairs of primer.Libraries were constructed with Ion ShearTM Plus Reagents kit and Ion Plus Fragment Library kit.Whole genome sequencing of mtDNA was performed using Ion Torrent PGMTM platform.Sanger sequencing was used to determine the heteroplasmy positions and the mutation positions on HV Ⅰ region.Results The whole genome sequence of mtDNA from all samples were amplified successfully.Six unrelated individuals belonged to 6 different haplotypes.Different tissues in one individual had heteroplasmy difference.The heteroplasmy positions and the mutation positions on HV I region were verified by Sanger sequencing.After a consistency check by the Kappa method,it was found that the results of mtDNA sequence had a high consistency in different tissues.Conclusion The testing method used in present study for sequencing the whole genome sequence of human mtDNA can detect the heteroplasmy difference in different tissues,which have good consistency.The results provide guidance for the further applications of mtDNA in forensic science.