Objective To evaluate the clinical value of the quantitative detection of plasma 1,3-β-D-glucan in penicilliposis marneffei. Methods The 1,3-β-D-glucan concentrations were detected by using a G test. Results In 60 New Zealand rabbits infected by Penicillium marneffei,the levels of 1,3-β-D-glucan were positively correlated with infectious severity. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive rate and negative predictive rate were 88.3%、100%、 100% and 58.8% respectively,which were significantly higher than those of the control group(P <0.01 ).Conclusion The quantitative method for the detection of 1,3-β-D-glucan in plasma was simple,sensitive and reliable, and could be used as the assisting diagnosis of penicilliposis marneffei at early stage.

Objective To investigate the site,MR signal types and morphological characteristics of ulnar nerve in cubital tunnel for healthy adults,in order to improve the awareness of ulnar nerve.Methods Unilateral elbow of forty healthy volunteers were scanned with MR,the sequences were as follows:T1-weighted-spin-echo,T2-weighted-spin-echo-fat-suppression,PD-weighted-spin-echo-fat-suppression,among 40,13 were supine,27 were prone.The site and MR signal types and morphological characteristics of ulnar nerve were observed,the long diameter and short diameter of the ulnar nerve on different axials were respectively measured.Results On axial,ulnar nerve was posterior to the medial condyle of the humerus at proximal elbow,lied between the flexor carpi ulnaris and the flexor digitorum profunds and superficialis muscles distally.The shape of the ulnar nerve was roundness or elliptic,the signal of 40 volunteers'(100％) ulnar nerve was isointensity on T1-weighted,the signal of 17 volunteers'(42.5％)ulnar nerve was isointense on T2-weighted or PD-weighted,the MRI signal of 23 volunteers' (57.5％) ulnar nerve was slight hyperintense on T2-weighted or PD-weighted,especially on the axial of medial condyle of humerus.The variation range of long diameter and short diameter of the ulnar nerve respectively were 1.4-3.8 mm,1.0-3.0 mm.Conclusion The certain location,MR signal types and morphological characteristics of normal ulnar nerve play an important role in the diagnosis of cubital tunnel syndrome.

rvice employees had a low scores as comparing with their salaries, benefits and workloads.And 28.2% employees had once the idea of resigning.

Objective To observe the protective effect of Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (XZD) on vascular endothelial cells (VEC) injured by the serum of blood_stasis_syndrome ( BSS) rabbits. Methods The morphological features of VEC cultured with norma l rabbit serum (Group A), BSS rabbit serum(Group B), the serum of normal rabbit medicated with XZD(Group C) and the serum of BSS rabbit medicated with XZD(Group D) were observed respectively under light microscope and electron microscope. Results Under light microscope, VEC was shrinked, intercellular space widene d and cytoplasm contained dark granules in Group B. The change of intercellular space was not obvious in Group D. Under electron microscope, pinocytotic vesicle s increased, rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) decreased and dilated, mitochondr ia became smaller and indistinct and only a small amount of microvilli appeared on cell membrane with top expanded and merged in VEC of Group B as compared with Group A and Group C. Less RER but no dilatation and fewer microvilli without to p merged were found in VEC of Group B. Conclusion The serum of BSS rabbits c an injury normal VEC cultured in vitro and XZD exerts a certain protective effe ct on VEC injured by the serum of BSS rabbits.

Objective To discuss the ultrastructural pathological characteristics and dynamic changes of brain vessel after subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH),and the mechanism of these changes in delayed cerebral vasospasm.Methods SAH model was made by infusing blood twice into the cistern magna of Japanese rabbits.The animals were divided randomly into SAH group,saline group,puncture group and blank group,at 1 h,3 d,5 d,7 d and 10 d after the first infusion the animals were perfused and basilar artery was harvested.Ultrastructural changes were observed under light microscope and electron microscope.Results Under the light microscope,the vessel wall became thick,the vessel cavity became narrow,the endothelia cells became swollen,vacuoles could be found in the chromatin,inner elastic membrane became reductus and broke.Under the electron microscope,the close connection between the endothelial cells disappeared,the membrane of the cells fell off,and the mitochondria became swollen,vacuoles could be seen,the chromatin became concentrated,heterochromatin could be seen,smooth muscle became deformed,chromatin became uneven, myofilament had derangement and fragmentation and dissolved,vacuolus could be seen in the kytoplasm,mitochondrion became swollen.The structural change of basilar artery under the light microscope got similar to that under the electron microscope;slight change was observed right after 1 h of SAH,significant change was observed at 3 d,and most obvious change was observed between 5 d and 7 d.Conclusion Ultrastructural changes were observed in the basilar artery after SAH,and significant dynamic changes were observed in the progress.The damage of endothelia cells may be the important factors which cause delayed cerebral vasospasm.

BACKGROUND:Currently, there are a lot of studies addressing oral microflora variation in patients wearing fixed orthodontic appliance. OBJECTIVE:To determine the changes in Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacil us and oral health in teenagers wearing metal orthodontic appliances. METHODS:Twenty-three who were subjected to fixed metal orthodontic appliances as testing group and 18 adolescent volunteers with no oral diseases served as controls. We col ected saliva samples from al the participants immediately, 90 days and 180 days after fixed metal orthodontic treatment to detect changes in Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacil us, which can lead to dental caries, and other oral parameters, including gingival index and oral hygiene index. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In the control group, there were no difference in Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacil us, gingival index and oral hygiene index at three time points. In the testing group, the hazard levels of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacil us were significantly increased at 90 and 180 days than immediately after fixed metal orthodontic treatment (P<0.05), as wel as the gingival index at 90 days and oral hygiene index at 180 days became worse (P<0.05). At 180 days after fixed metal orthodontic treatment, the hazard levels of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacil us, gingival index and oral hygiene index were severer in the testing group than the control group (P<0.05). These findings indicate that the fixed metal orthodontic appliance could lead to increasing of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacil us, and reduce oral health status badly.

AIM: To investigate the effects of polidatin on phospholipase A_2(PLA_2),nitric oxide(NO),and endothelin-1(ET-1) levels in serum and lung homogenate of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension rats.METHODS: 29 healthy Spraugue-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control group,chronic hypoxic group and hypoxic plus polidatin group.The model of chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension was made by method of intermittent isobaric hypoxia for 21 days.The mean pulmonary arterial pressure(mPAP) was measured by inserting a microcatheter into the pulmonary artery.The ratio of right ventricular wall and that of left ventricular wall and ventricular septum weight(R/L+S) was measured as well.RESULTS: After exposed to hypoxia for 21 days,the mPAP,R/L+S,PLA_2 and ET-1 activities in blood and lung homogenate increased significantly. The NO concentration decreased significantly.Pretreatment with PD attenuated these changes mentioned above.CONCLUSION: Pretreatment with PD effectively prevents the formation of chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension.Its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of PLA_2 and ET-1 and promotion of NO production.

Objective:To compare the effects of rotational night shifts on the micturition patterns of fe-male nurses.Methods:A total of 58 nurses without lower urinary tract symptoms were recruited,who worked in the Peking University People’s Hospital during January and June in 2014.The nurses aged 20 -43 years were divided into two groups,the night-shift group (n =28)and the non-shift group (n =30).The alcohol or coffee intaking were forbidden.In the night-shift group,nurses had worked on rota-tional shifts for at least 6 months.Their average age was (26.75 ±4.11)years.In the non-shift group, nurses took regular day-time work,whose average age was (27.80 ±5.60)years.A voiding diary was kept for 7 consecutive days at the end of 6 months,starting 2 days before their night duties until 4 days after completion of their night duties.For comparison,the non-shift group with regular shifts completed a 7-day voiding diary.In the 7-day recording voiding diary,the nurses were required to have the normal in-take of liquid about 1 500 -2 000 mL/d.The frequency volume charts of nocturia,the 8-hour interval urine production and frequency were compared between the two groups.Results:Nocturia frequency was increased in the night-shift group [0.5 (0 -2.4)]compared with the non-shift group [0 (0 -2),P =0.02].The volume of nocturia was increased in the night-shift group [125 mL (0 -660 mL)]compared with the non-shift group [0 mL (0 -340 mL),P <0.01].The 8-hour interval indices showed that urine production changed with shift (P <0.01).In the consecutive 7 days,the nocturnal volume of the night-shift group increased on the day after night shift.When the night-shift nurses returned to daytime duty, the volume of urine decreased but nocturnal urine production remained high,and the frequency of noctu-ria also increased significantly (P <0.05).Compared with the 8-hour interval indices,the night-shift group’s voiding volume [(542.35 ±204.66)mL]and voiding frequency (2.24 ±0.69)were more than those of the non-shift group at the afternoon time (from 2 pm to 10 pm).During the 8 h interval night time (from 10 pm to 6 am),the volume of nocturia in the night-shift group [(309.74 ±162.74) mL]was more than that in the non-shift group [(199.38 ±153.98)mL,P =0.01];the frequency of nocturia in the night-shift group (1.31 ±0.52)was increased than that in the non-shift group (0.82 ± 0.55,P <0.01).Conclusion:The rotational shifts affect the micturition patterns of nurses who go through the night shift work,which increases the volume and frequency of the nocturia.

Transforming growth factor-β is an important cytokine with various bioactivities, including embryonic development, wound healing, chemotaxis and cell cycle regulation. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is the main pathway of tumor cell to obtain the ability of invasion and metastasis. The TGF-β is the key factor known to induce EMT in cancer cells and plays an important role in the process. In recent years, some progress has been obtained. Some TGF-β inhibitors have approved in the market or in clinical trials. TGF-β inhibitors can play an important role on the treatment of tumors, glaucoma, liver and kidney fibrosis disease and scar repair. Novel TGF-β inhibitors reported in recent years were reviewed in this article.
Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Wound Healing