There has been continued controversy on the taxonomy of Ascaris lumbricoides Linnaeus,1758 from humans and Ascaris suum Goeze,1782 from pigs.This article reviews a range of comparative studies related to host susceptibility,morphology,karyotype,immunology and biochemistry,as well as molecular genetics in recent years.

To investigate the therapeutic effect of high-dosage gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on acute tetramine (TET) poisoning, 50 Kunming mice were divided into 5 groups at random and the antidotal effects of GABA or sodium dimercaptopropane sulfonate (Na-DMPS) on poisoned mice in different groups were observed in order to compare the therapeutic effects of high-dosage GABA with those of Na-DMPS. Slices of brain tissue of the poisoned mice were made to examine pathological changes of cells. The survival analysis was employed. Our results showed that both high-dosage GABA and Na-DMPS could obviously prolong the survival time, delay onset of convulsion and muscular twitch, and ameliorate the symptoms after acute tetramine poisoning in the mice. Better effects could be achieved with earlier use of high dosage GABA or Na-DMPS. There was no significant difference in prolonging the survival time between high-dose GABA and Na-DMPS used immediately after poisioning. It is concluded that high-dosage GABA can effectively antagonize acute toxicity of teramine in mice. And it is suggested that high-dosage GABA may be used as an excellent antidote for acute TET poisoning in clinical practice. The indications and correct dosage for clinical use awaits to be further studied.
Acute Disease ; Antidotes/*administration & dosage ; Antidotes/therapeutic use ; Bridged Compounds/*poisoning ; Random Allocation ; Rodenticides/*poisoning ; Unithiol/therapeutic use ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid/*administration & dosage ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid/therapeutic use

Objective To discuss clinical results of the percutaneous minimally invasive LC DCP plating in treatment of tibiofibular fractures which was based on biological osteosynthesis and indirect reduction. Methods 28 patients with tibiofibular fractures were treated with indirect reduction and LC DCP plating through the tunnel inside tibia. Results All the patients were followed up for 10 to 18 months (averaging 15 m). X ray films showed that the callus appeared 4 to 7 weeks postoperatively (averaging 4.6 w). The fracture healing time were 12 to 18 weeks (averaging 12.8w). All the patients healed without fracture nonunion, delayed union or plate loosening. Plates were removed without refracture in 15 patients. Conclusions The percutaneous minimally invasive LC DCP plating for tibiofibular fractures can meet the major requirements of biological osteosynthesis and result in good results.

Falls occurring in populations of elder people are prevalent as dangerous public health events that can result in the considerable institutionalization or even postfall morbidity and mortality. The prevention and intervention of falls in the elderly are the important fields of geriatric rehabilitation medicine. This paper reviewed the literature related to the falls in the elderly, involving the conception, incidence, evaluation and identification of risk factors, and multiple-risk-factor intervention strategy, and indicates the further research direction.

Objective To explore the feature of balance function and falling risk in the elderly knee osteoarthritis patients with single knee pain or double knees pain. Methods 30 elderly knee osteoarthritis patients without pain, 30 with single knee pain and 32 with double knees pain were tested with timed up and go test (TUG), postural stability (PS), limits of stability (LOS) and dynamic fall index (DFI). Results There was significant difference in the elderly between no pain and single or double knee pain (P<0.05) in TUG, but not between the single knee pain and double knees pain (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the elderly between single knee pain and no pain (P>0.05) in PS, but was between double knees pain and the other 2 groups (P<0.05). There was significant difference between no pain and single or double knee pain (P<0.05) in LOS, but not between single knee pain and double knees pain (P>0.05). There was significant difference between no pain and single or double knee pain (P<0.05) in DFI, and between single knee pain and double knees pain (P<0.05). Conclusion The elderly osteoarthritis patients with single knee pain are in high falling risk with their dynamic balance injury, while those with double knees pain are in higher falling risk with their static and dynamic balance injury.

ObjectiveTo investigate the test-retest reliability about the lower extremities static joint position sense which was tested with the Tetrax balance-test-training system, and the dynamic joint position sense which was tested with the Functional Squat System; and to investigate the relationship between the static and the dynamic joint position sense of lower extremities of the patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods30 patients with knee osteoarthritis were tested with the lower extremities static and dynamic joint position sense twice within 7 d with the Tetrax balance-test-training system and the Functional Squat System. ResultsThe intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of the sum of the coefficient of medium-to-high-frequency in postural sway was 0.95 (P<0.001). The ICC of the reposition accuracy error mean of the unaffected/mild or affected/severe extremity were respectively 0.59 and 0.60 (P<0.001). The Pearson correlation coefficients of the sum of the coefficient of medium-to-high-frequency in postural sway and the reposition accuracy error mean of the unaffected/mild or affected/severe extremity were respectively 0.40 and 0.54 (P<0.05). ConclusionThe lower extremities static joint position sense test of the Tetrax balance-test-training system is well reliable, as well as the dynamic joint position sense of the Functional Squat System. They can be used together to evaluate the lower extremities proprioception in the patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Objective To investigate whether functional Wnt-?-catenin signaling is present in activated hepatic stellate cells (HSC),and the effect of blocking this signaling on activation of HSC. Methods?-catenin expression in HSC was examined by immunocytochemistry.Wnt signalings in HSC-T6 were assessed using a T cell factor (TCF)-dependent luciferase reporter gene (pTOP- FLASH) assay.Wnt signalings in HSC-T6 were blocked by transfecting with a dominant negative TCF (dnTCF) expression plasmid,then the expression of alpha smooth muscle actin (?-SMA) and collagen typeⅠwere examined by Western blot.Results?-catenin staining was positive in the nuclei of HSC-T6.Luciferase activity in the cells transfected with pTOPFLASH was significantly higher than that in the cells transfected with pFOPFLASH (P

A mouse model for acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection was established by using the hydrodynamical injection of mouse tail vein, in which the immunocompetent BALB/c mice were hydrodynamically injected with a competent replication plasmid pAAV-HBV1.2 having 1.2 fold over-length of HBV DNA. On day 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 after injection, the levels of HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV DNA in blood serum were detected by using ELISA and fluorogenic quantitative PCR assay (FQ-PCR). And on day 8. HBsAg and HBeAg in liver tissue were assayed by immunohistochemical staining. It was found that HBsAg in blood serum could be detected on day 1 after infection in 14 of 16 mice (85.7%) injected with pAVV-HBV1.2 by using ELISA assay and the peak levels of HBsAg and HBeAg were attained during the first day after injection and then it dropped down gradually up to day 8 following injection. The titer of HBV DNA in blood serum attained its peak on day 2 and maintained a high level later on. On day 8 after injection, its titer was 1.9×10~4 copies/mL. The percentage of HBcAg-positive hepatocytes and HBsAg-positive hepatocytes in liver tissues were 5% and 2% respectively. Thus, by using the hydrodynamic injection with the competent replication plasmid, a mouse model for acute HBV infection is successively developed.

Objective To investigate the effects of the site for access to internal jugular vein (lateral versus anterior),lying position of patients (supine versus Trendelenburg),and head rotation (0°,20°,and maximum) during central venous catheterization on the location depth and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the right internal jugular vein (IJV).Methods Fifteen healthy volunteers were recruited in this prospective observational study from September 2008 to October 2008.Healthy volunteers were placed in flat supine position and 15°.Trendelenburg position separately.In each position,IJV were measured ultrasonographically from lateral site and anterior site with the head oriented at 0°,20°,and maximum rotation separately.Data of measured CSA and location depth of internal jugular vein in different positions were compared.Results The largest CSA (2.16 ±0.89) cm2 and location depth [(1.38 ± 0.43)cm] were occurred at the lateral approach in Trendelenburg position with head oriented at maximum rotation.The CSA in Trendelenburg position was larger than that in flat supine position.Only at the maximum head rotation,lateral approach got statistically larger CSA.The effects of head rotation varied with different degrees of rotation.Conclusions Site of approach,lying position and head rotation had noticeable effects on internal jugular vein cross-sectional area.Trendelenburg position increased the CSA of IJV.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of several methods in eliminating Mycoplasma contamination in cell culture of human hepatoma-derived cell line C3A. Methods PCR was performed to detect the Mycoplasmas contamination in cell cultures. The contaminated samples were treated by ciprofloxa-cin, heating, Plasmocure or co-culturing with macrophages. Transmission electron microscope ( TEM) and Q-PCR were used to comparatively analyze the cell morphology and gene expression before and after Plas-mocure treatment. Results Plasmocure succeeded in eliminating Mycoplasma contamination, while cipro-floxacin showed temporary efficacy. Heating and co-culturing with macrophages failed to eliminate Mycoplas-ma contamination. No Mycoplasma contamination in the Plasmocure-treated group was observed under TEM and the expression of ALB, TF and CYP3A4 genes were higher than the genes expressed in the contaminated group (P<0. 01). Conclusion Plasmocure treatment was effective in eliminating Mycoplasma contamina-tion in cell culture. Moreover, the cell morphology and gene expression in Plasmocure-treated group were re-stored to normal.