BACKGROUND: Pancreas-kidney transplantation is an effective treatment for diabetes combined with final stage renal disease. However, as the patients suffer diabetes for a long period of time, and cardiovascular system disease is complex, pre- and post-transplantation treatment is very important for successful pancreas-kidney transplantation.OBJECTIVE: To discuss immunosuppressant, coagulant, perioperative and postoperative treatment during pancreas-kidney transplantation to provide some clinical experience for pancreas-kidney transplantation.METHODS: Clinical data of 5 cases undergoing simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation in Department of Urinary Surgery, the 309 Hospital of Chinese PLA General Hospital between 2003 and 2008 were retrospectively analyzed to summarize the application of immunosuppressants and anticoagulant drugs and perioperative clinical monitoring focus. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: There were 5 male patients with an average age of 43 years, and suffered type I diabetes mellitus complicated with final stage renal disease. The preoperative insulin dosage was 1.5-2.4 U/(kg·d). One case had diabetic retinopathy and fundus oculi hemorrhage for many times; two cases showed apparent coronary atherosclerotic heart disease with preoperative cardiac ejection fraction of 52% and 50%. Exocrine of transplanted pancreas had been considered by the intestinal fluid drainage. A total of 3 cases were complete rehabilitation. Of them, 1 case developed acute rejection in the first seven days after operation, but renal function restored with the hormones impact; 1 case had postoperative acute rejection of transplanted duodenum as well as intestinal fistula, eventually, transplanted pancreas was ectomized, but transplanted kidney was preserved; two cases succeeded in restoring and no complications occurred; 1 had postoperative gastrointestinal bleeding and died from multiple organ failure. Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation is the most effective way to treat the diabetes mellitus with terminal nephropathy. Because of complications in the transplanted exocrine pancreas with bladder drainage, it has been replaced by the enteric drainage. Recovery of the transplanted kidney function is important for successful transplantation. After operation, oral FK should be taken when the serum creatinine returned to 300 umol/L. The application of clotting drug is one of the important factors for recovery of transplanted pancreatic function. Jejunostomy is an important therapeutic measure to prevent the reflux of intestinal juice to the transplanted pancreas in perioperative period. In the follow-up period cathartic drugs are recommended to prevent constipation and reduce the occurrence of acute pancreatitis caused by intestinal fluid reflux.

BACKGROUND: Living-donor kidney transplantation is not only associated to prognosis of recipients, but also donors' healthy. Complete medical and psychological assessment should be performed prior to transplantation to ensure the safety of donors. OBJECTIVE: To analyze and summarize the assessment experience of living-relative kidney donors prior to transplantation. METHODS: Totally 77 cases of living-relative kidney donors admitted at Organ Transplantation Center, Second Affiliated Hospital of General Hospital of Chinese PLA between January 2006 and March 2008 were reviewed. Among them, the analysis was carried out respectively according to the live donor nephrectomy guide of the United Kingdom (2005 Edition) before January 20, 2008, and live donor kidney transplantation consensus Boao meeting after January 20, 2008. In common practice, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular system, infectious disease study, age, obesity, proteinuria, renal artery, renal function, receptor for HLA typing and medical ethics, were systematically evaluated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Of the 77 cases of assessed patients, 69 were qualified, successful donors, and completely cured, without complications. Totally 8 cases of non-donors were due to: 2 cases for hypertension combined with end organ damage; 2 for diabetes mellitus; 1 confirmed malignant tumor in kidney-donated surgery; 1 in the activity period of hepatitis B; 1 for resistance from his wife with medical ethics. The average age of donors was 45.3 years old, including and 7 cases above 60 years old, 24 of 50-59 years old, 29 of 30-49 years old, and 9 below 30 years old. There were 39 cases of parent child donation, 1 child parent donation, 19 siblings donation, 7 cases of three generations of collateral serum, and 3 cases of donation between husband and wife. Of successful donors, blood pressure was above 140/90 in 8 cases; Successful donors were without symptoms of myocardial ischemia but 14 cases had consciously ECG ST-T changes; 3 cases had abnormal fasting blood glucose. The successful donors' body mass index (BMI) reached the average of 23.05 kg/m~2, were below 30 kg/m~2; In assessment of infectious diseases, 3 cases were hepatitis B HBs and HBc-positive in a non-activity period, and the antibody titers were below 500 IU/L. In renography, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was assessed to average (137.3±28.5) mL/min, and no significant statistical difference emerged (P < 0.05). Vascular three-dimensional CT prompted many left renal artery root in 3 cases, accounting for 4% in successful donors, 1 case did not match, accounting for 1%. It demonstrated that the primary purpose of assessment of -living-donor renal transplantation is to ensure that the adaptability, safety and health of donors. In order to avoid the omission of important medical information and unnecessary invasive inspection, as well as reducing the fees of medical assessment, the assessment should be based on the familiar, universally recognized, clinical evidence-based and reasonable procedures and the flexible assessment process.

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility for therapy of spinal cord injury (SCI) by genetic engineering neural stem cell (NSC) modified by lentiviral vector.

METHODSFollowing the construction of the genetic engineering NSC modified by lentivirus to secrete both neurotrophic factor-3 (NT-3) and green fluorescence protein (GFP), hemisection of spinal cord at the level of T10 was performed in 56 adult Wistar rats that were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 14), namely 3 therapeutic groups and 1 control group. The therapeutic groups were dealed with NSC, genetic engineering NSC, and concentrated lentiviral supernatant which carries both GFP and NT-3, respectively. Then used fluorescence microscope to detect the transgenic expression in vitro and in vivo, migration of the grafted cells in vivo, and used the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) open-field locomotor test to assess the recovery of function.

RESULTSThe transplanted cells could survive for long time in vivo and migrate for long distance. The stable transgenic expression could be detected in vivo. The hindlimb function of the injured rats in 3 therapeutic groups, especially those dealed with genetic engineering NSC, improved obviously.

CONCLUSIONIt is feasible to combine NSC with lentivirus for the repair of SCI. NSC modified by lentivirus to deliver NT-3, acting as a source of neurotrophic factors and function cell in vivo, has the potential to participate in spinal cord repair.

Animals ; Cell Line ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; transplantation ; Female ; Genetic Engineering ; methods ; Genetic Vectors ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; Neurons ; transplantation ; Neurotrophin 3 ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility to construct genetic engineering human neural stem cells (hNSCs) mediated by lentivirus to express multigene in order to provide a graft source for further studies of spinal cord injury (SCI).

METHODSHuman neural stem cells from the brain cortex of human abortus were isolated and cultured, then gene was modified by lentivirus to express both green fluorescence protein (GFP) and rat neurotrophin-3 (NT-3); the transgenic expression was detected by the methods of fluorescence microscope, dorsal root ganglion of fetal rats and slot blot.

RESULTSGenetic engineering hNSCs were successfully constructed. All of the genetic engineering hNSCs which expressed bright green fluorescence were observed under the fluorescence microscope. The conditioned medium of transgenic hNSCs could induce neurite flourishing outgrowth from dorsal root ganglion (DRG). The genetic engineering hNSCs expressed high level NT-3 which could be detected by using slot blot.

CONCLUSIONSGenetic engineering hNSCs mediated by lentivirus can be constructed to express multigene successfully.

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Feasibility Studies ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Engineering ; methods ; Genetic Therapy ; methods ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Rats ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Stem Cells ; metabolism ; Transgenes

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes and their association with the risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) in elderly residents in Haizhu District of Guangzhou.

METHODSStratified random sampling was employed to select a total of 1800 resident aged 50 years or older in the region. The fasting fingertip blood glucose>5.6 mmol/L was used as the criterion for the initial screening. The data were collected from qualified subjects via scheduled questionnaire surveys, blood collection and testing, and physical examination. The subjects were divided into the 3 groups, namely normal blood glucose, prediabetes, and diabetes groups. The combination rates of the relevant risk factors (hypertension, hyperlipemia, obesity, and central obesity) were compared among the groups by Framingham Heart Study to predict the occurrence of CHD in 10 years.

RESULTSThe incidence was 11.00% for prediabetes and 7.56% for diabetes in the elderly residents in Haizhu District. The occurrence of hypertension, hyperlipemia, obesity, and central obesity was significant higher in the prediabetes and diabetes group than in the normal blood glucose group, and showed no significant differences between the former two groups. The 10-year risks for CHD were markedly higher in both the prediabetes and diabetes groups than in the normal blood glucose group, but similar between the former two groups.

CONCLUSIONElderly patients with prediabetes and diabetes have significantly increased 10-year risk for CHD in comparison with those with normal blood glucose, but the risk is similar between the former two groups, indicating a close association of IGR (impaired fasting glucose+ impaired fasting glucose) with CHD. Early control of blood glucose is essential to the prevention and control of CHD.

Aged ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; China ; epidemiology ; Coronary Disease ; blood ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prediabetic State ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Sampling Studies

OBJECTIVETo explore effects of Yougui recipe (see text) and salmon calcitonin acetate in preventing osteolysis surrounding artificial prosthesis.

METHODSThirty-two SD male rats with weighted (250 +/- 20) g, aged 8 weeks, were randomly divided into four groups: blank group, model group, salmon calcitonin acetate group and Yougui recipe (see text) group, and 8 rats in each group. Blank group did not undergo any process, other 24 rats underwent anesthesia by chloral hydrate, their knee joints were exposed through medial patellar side,drilling from fermoral condyle nest to marrow cavity,high density of polythlene particles were injected into hole, titanium nail were put into, bone wax closed the window, then suturing step by step. After the molding, saline were used to gavaged in blank group and model group, Yougui recipe (see text) for Yougui recipe (see text) group, salmon calcitonin maximus injection for calcitonin group. After 10 weeks' mediation, rats were executed, and arterial blood and bilateral femoral organization were collected to biochemical, imaging morphology, tissue pathology and molecular biology detection.

RESULTSThe key gene expression of activiting osteoclast were inhibited in Yougui recipe (see text) group and calcitonin group. The level of OPG, Ca, ALP in Yougui recipe group were higher than calcitonin group (P<0.01); the content of RANKL were lower (P<0.01). There were no significance meaning in RANK, Trap5b, P between two groups.

CONCLUSIONBoth of Yougui recipe (see text) and calcitonin can slow and treat surrounding osteolysis of artificial joint prosthesis, and Yougui recipe (see text) has better effect in promoting bone formation. The effect of Yougui recipe (see text) in promoting bone formation, inhibiting osteoclasts to provide a new method to treating surrounding osteolysis of artificial joint prosthesis.

Animals ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Interleukin-1 ; genetics ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; Male ; Osteolysis ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Prostheses and Implants ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases ; genetics

Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection status of blood donors in a southern city in China was investigated by immunological assays and nucleic acid testing. Overall, 17 (0.19%, 95% CI: 0.11%-0.30%) of the 9023 HBsAg negative samples were found to be positive for the presence of HBV DNA. "A" epitope sequences were obtained from 14 among them. Mutation(s) in aa124-aa147 existed in 6 (42.9%, 6/14) samples and 4 (66.7%, 4/6)were G145R mutation. Ratio of genotype C in occult donors (10/17) was statistically higher than HBs-positive donors (0/15, P<0.01), which implied that HBV genotype C leaded to occult infection more easily.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Blood Donors ; China ; epidemiology ; DNA, Viral ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B ; epidemiology ; immunology ; virology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis B virus ; classification ; genetics ; immunology ; physiology ; Humans ; Immunologic Tests ; Male ; Mutation ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Young Adult

The invasive fungal infections (IFI) in immunocompromised patients are associated with a high mortality rate and diagnostic difficulty. Serological methods such as aspergillus galactomannan assay (GM test) and (1, 3)-beta-D glucan (BG) assay (G test) can be used as an adjunctive method for IFI diagnosis based on their characteristics of easy-operating, rapidness and high sensitivity. Compared with GM test, G test can be more widely used except for the diagnosis of aspergillosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of G test in the diagnosis of IFI in patients with hematological disorders. The plasma was collected from 162 suspected IFI patients with hematological disorders in Beijing Daopei Hospital, including 85 patients after chemotherapy and 77 patients after stem cell transplantation from May 2007 to May 2008, BG level was measured with MB-80 Microbiology Kinetic Rapid Reader and the measured results together with the clinical characteristics were retrospectively analyzed. According to the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group (EORTC/MSG) criteria, there were 2 patients diagnosed as proven IFI, 18 as probable IFI, 75 as possible IFI and 67 as no IFI. The results showed that at a cutoff of 20 pg/ml, the sensitivity and specificity of G test were 75% and 91% respectively, with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 71.4% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 92.4%. 51 out of the 75 possible IFI patients with elevated BG level were responsive to antifungal treatment but non responsive to broad-spectrum antibiotics, retrospectively were diagnosed as IFI, suggesting that G test improved the IFI diagnostic rate by 31.4%. In conclusion, G test is a rapid and simple method for early diagnosis of IFI in patients with hematological disorders.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Female ; Hematologic Diseases ; blood ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycoses ; blood ; diagnosis ; Plasma ; chemistry ; Young Adult ; beta-Glucans ; blood

BACKGROUNDAtopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disease characterized by chronic recurrent dermatitis with profound itching. Most patients have personal and/or family history of atopic diseases. Several criteria have been proposed for the diagnosis of AD. Although the clinical features of childhood AD have been widely studied, there has been less large-scale study on adult/adolescent AD. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical features of adult/adolescent patients with chronic symmetrical eczema/AD and to propose Chinese diagnostic criteria for adult/adolescent AD.

METHODSA hospital-based study was performed. Forty-two dermatological centers participated in this study. Adult and adolescent patients (12 years and over) with chronic symmetrical eczema or AD were included in this study. Questionnaires were completed by both patients and investigators. The valid questionnaires were analyzed using EpiData 3.1 and SPSS 17.0 software.

RESULTSA total of 2662 valid questionnaires were collected (1369 male and 1293 female). Of all 2662 patients, 2062 (77.5%) patients had the disease after 12 years old, while only 600 (22.5%) patients had the disease before 12 years old, suggesting late-onset eczema/AD is common. Two thousand one hundred and thirty-nine (80.4%) patients had the disease for more than 6 months. One thousand one hundred and forty-four (43.0%) patients had a personal and/or family history of atopic diseases. One thousand five hundred and forty-eight (58.2%) patients had an elevated total serum IgE and/or eosinophilia and/or positive allergen-specific IgE. Based on these clinical and laboratory features, we proposed Chinese criteria for adult/adolescent AD. Of all 2662 patients, 60.3% were satisfied with our criteria, while only 48.2% satisfied with Hanifin Rajka criteria and 32.7% satisfied with Williams criteria, suggesting a good sensitivity of our criteria in adult/adolescent AD patients.

CONCLUSIONLate-onset of eczema or AD is common. The clinical manifestations of AD are heterogeneous. We have proposed Chinese diagnostic criteria for adolescent and adult AD, which are simple and sensitive for diagnosis of adult/adolescent AD.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Eczema ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires

INTRODUCTIONPatients with metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) have variable survival outcomes. We have previously shown that an elevated peripheral blood lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) is associated with an increased metastatic risk in patients with primary NPC. The present study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of pretreatment LMR in a large cohort of metastatic NPC patients.

METHODSClinical data of 672 patients with metastatic NPC diagnosed between January 2003 and December 2009 were analyzed. The peripheral lymphocyte and monocyte counts were retrieved, and LMR was calculated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and univariate and multivariate COX proportional hazards analyses were performed to evaluate the association of LMR with overall survival (OS).

RESULTSUnivariate analysis revealed that an elevated absolute lymphocyte count (≥1.390×10(9)/L) and LMR (≥2.475) as well as a decreased monocyte count (<0.665×10(9)/L) were significantly associated with prolonged OS. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis showed that LMR (hazard ratio [HR]=0.50, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.41-0.60, P<0.001), absolute lymphocyte count (HR=0.77, 95% CI=0.64-0.93, P=0.007), and monocyte count (HR=1.98, 95% CI=1.63-2.41, P<0.001) were independent prognostic factors. By stratification analyses, only LMR remained a significant predictor of prognosis.

CONCLUSIONWe identified pretreatment LMR as an independent prognostic factor for patients with metastatic NPC. Independent validation of our findings is needed.

Carcinoma ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Count ; Lymphocytes ; Monocytes ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; Prognosis ; ROC Curve