OBJECTIVE:To discuss the accuracy of detecting tacrolimus(FK506) concentration in whole blood by ELISA and its application in organ transplantation.METHODS:The ELISA was used to detect FK506 valley point concentrations in 5 liver transplanted recipients at different postoperative periods .Based on the results combined with clinical findings, the dosages were adjusted.The accuracy of the method and guidance action in FK506 clinical application were described.RESULTS: In 131 detections of 350 samples, the results of quality control samples were all in the control range .The detecting RSDs of high and low concentration quality control samples were 9.09% and 11.90%, respectively.The control range of FK506 concentrations in whole blood were similar to that reported in literature .CONCLUSION :ELISA is a sensitive and specific method for routine FK506 concentration monitoring in whole blood,which is suitable for application in hospital.

A dispute about the decreasing-price problem of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has recently arisen. This article analyzes the statistical data of 1995-2011 in China, the results showed that the main responsibility of expensive health care has no direct relationship with the drug price. The price index of TCM rose significantly slower than the medicine prices, the production margins of TCM affected by the material prices has been diminishing since 1995, continuous price reduction will further depress profits of the TCM industry. Considering the pros and cons of raw materials vary greatly in price, decreasing medicine price behavior will force enterprises to use inferior materials in order to maintain corporate profits. The results have the guiding meaning to medicine price management.
Commerce ; economics ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Health Care Sector ; economics ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; economics

Objective To investigate the effect of plasma erythropoietin ( EPO) concentration on left ventricular systolic function and its relationship with acute mountain sickness ( AMS ) .Methods A total of 289 healthy young men were recruited in this study and divided into five groups:plain control group (Ⅰ) with 55 subjects;acute high altitude exposure group(Ⅱ) with 74 subjects(3700 m exposure for 24 h); the group of acute exposure after acclimatization (Ⅲ) with 68 subjects(4400 m exposure for 24 h after 1 week acclimatization at 3700 m); high altitude migrate group (Ⅳ) with 19 subjects ( migration to 3700 m for more than 1 year ); and the group of exposure after migration (Ⅴ) with 73 subjects (4400 m exposure for 50 d after more than one year migration to 3700 m).Lake Louise Self-assessment Scoring System ( LLSS) was used to assess AMS .Plasma concentrations of EPO and echocardiography were also determined .Results EPO was significantly increased after acute high altitude exposure .There was no significant difference in EPO between groupⅡand Ⅲ(P>0.05), but significantly higher than in group Ⅰ (P<0.05).No significant difference was found between group Ⅳ,Ⅴ and Ⅰ (P>0.05).In group Ⅱ, positive correlation was found between EPO concentration and stroke volume (SV) as well as left ventricular diastolic diameter (LVDD) (R=0.278 and 0.236,respectively,P<0.05), while negative correlation was expressed between EPO concentration and the AMS score (R=-0.249,P<0.05).In other groups,there was no relationship between EPO concentration and the index of left ventricular function .Conclusion EPO may work on AMS through left ventricular systolic function enhancement after acute high altitude exposure .

Objective To analyze the clinicopathological features and prognosis of patients with occult breast cancer ( OBC) , as well as to explore the best treatment .Methods The clinical data of 72 patients with OBC confirmed by pathology were retrospectively analyzed , while 320 cases with other kind of breast cancer were the control group .Results Axillary mass was the first sign of the 72 patients with OBC.The diagnosis rate of MRI was higher than mammary graphy ( 71.4% vs 53.5%) .The difference had statistical significance (χ2 =11.876, P=0.001) .The characteristics of OBC with axillary lymph node metastasis was mainly moderately or low differenti -ated, usually with diffuse infiltrative cancer cells , flaky, like large Apocrine cells.Compared with the control group, the positive rate of CK7, CK20 and TTF-1 had no statistical differences (χ2 =0.058, P=0.810).The posi-tive rate of ER and PR was 46.7% and 36.7%, lower than the control group (χ2 =4.535, P=0.033).Clinical stage, operating method and the number of lymph node metastasis may be the independent factors influencing prog -nosis.Conclusions Axillary mass is the first symptom of OBC .To combine MRI with immunohistochemistry is helpful in diagnosis and differential diagnosis of the disease .The positive rate of ER and PR for OBC patients is low.Modified radical mastectomy combined with adjuvant therapy may be the better choice .

Objective To study the local irritation of repeated intrathecal injection of Ziconotide Acetate,and to provide reference for irritancy evaluation ofintrathecal injection.Methods Sixteen New Zealand rabbits were assigned into two groupsat random:Control group and Ziconotide Acetate group,eight animals each group.Totally 50 μL saline or Ziconotide Acetate (100 μg/mL) were administrated by repeated lumbar intrathecal injection once daily for 7 d.Animal behavior was observed every day,and four animals in each group were sacrificed 2 d later after the last injection,the lumbar spinal cord was removed for histopathological examination and irritancy evaluation.The remaining animals were sacrificed for initancy evaluation 14 d later after the last injection.Results Only one animal died after anesthesia on day three in saline group,while no obvious adverse reactions were observed in other rabbits during the entire study,and no intrathecal irritant reactions of histopathological examination were found in both groups.The reversible minor mechanical damage was observed at the injection point,2 d after the last administration.Conclusion For 7 d repeated lumbar intrathecal injection in rabbits,no intrathecal irritant reactions observed in Ziconotide group,and the New Zealand rabbit could be used as a local irritation evaluation model.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal ranibizumab injection combined with triamcinolone acetonide (TA) for macular edema secondary to type Ⅱ optic disc vasculitis.Methods Totally 19 cases(19 eyes) with macular edema secondary to type Ⅱ optic disc vasculitis from January 2013 to December 2015 were injected ranibizumab intravitreally and triamcinolone acetonide 2 weeks later.The visual acuity,intraocular pressure,ocular fundus,OCT,FFA and related complications were observed during the 6 months follow-up period.If the macuiar edema returns during the follow-up period,the eyes would be given ranibizumab and TA again until the macular edema subsided.Results The visual acuity was 0.16 ± 0.09 and the central retinal thickness was (694.88 ± 79.06) μm before treatment.Compared with pretreatment,the visual acuity of all cases were improved in different degree except for one at 1 month,3 months and 6 months (all P ＜ 0.05).Also central retinal thickness were decreased and macular edema were subsided,there were statistical differences (all P ＜0.05).Compared with results at 1 month,the visual acuity and central retinal thickness was no significant different at 3 months and 6 months (all P ＞ 0.05).The intraocular pressure of all cases were normal throughout the follow-up period but one was increased transitorily in the first day after intravitreal rauibizumab injection.FFA examination at 1 month showed retinal hemorrhage and effusion absorbed obviously,besides,the optic disc and macular fluorescein leakage reduced significantly.The macular edema of 1 eye returned at 3 months and subsided after giving ranibizumab and TA again.The average number of injected eyes was 2.11 times.No complications associated with intravitreal injection and drugs were observed during the follow-up period.Conclusion It is effective and safe that intravitreal ranibizumab junction combined with TA for macular edema secondary to type Ⅱ optic disc vasculitis,which not only shorten the period of treatment but also reduce the times of drug injection,surgical trauma and complications.

OBJECTIVETo study the natural head posture (NHP) of edentulous patients compared with dentate people and to understand NHP shift immediately inserting complete dentures and three months after denture wearing.

METHODSThe NHPs of twenty edentulous patients and twenty-two dentate subjects were recorded with cephalometric technique. The NTPs of edentulous patients were exposed three times, before inserting, right after inserting and three months after inserting dentures. The NHPs of dentate subjects were recorded once as a controlled group. Six angles measured from the radiographs were evaluated for the NHP and three angles and two linear measures for the mandibular position.

RESULTSCompared with dentate subjects, the craniomandibular angles of the edentulous patients increased and the camber of the cervical columns decreased, but changes of the NHP were not significant. The mandible showed a significant upward moving (P < 0.05) and an insignificant forward moving. At the time of denture insertion, the camber of the cervical columns significantly increased (P < 0.05). Three months after using the dentures, the craniomandibular angles of the patients obviously decreased. (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe shift of NHP after denture inserting does exist. The shifted NHP of the patients with dentures is a new balanced posture and closer to the normal position than the NHP of them without dentures.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cephalometry ; methods ; Denture, Complete ; Female ; Head ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Rehabilitation ; methods ; Mouth, Edentulous ; physiopathology ; rehabilitation ; Neck ; physiopathology ; Posture

Microalgae biodiesel can solve these problems currently of plants materials,such as:shortage of arable land,impact of climate change for production and to lead high crop prices and so on.Constructing "engineered microalgae" through transgenic technology,the microalgae have capacity of high growth,shorter periods of growth and several times higher oil production than terrestrial plants.Furthermore,sea water can be as its natural medium for industrial production.The advantages of microalgae biodiesel,current status and progress of researches on engineered microalgae as well as product technologies of microalgal biodiesel was introduced.

Here we report a case of 41-year-old man with a soft tissue density mass at right upper lung and palpable abscesses at right upper backside and right wrist. ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography demonstrated a 7.8 × 5.0 cm mass with soft-tissue density in the upper lobe of the right lung with high metabolic activity. The infiltrative mass extended to adjacent chest wall soft tissue. Final diagnosis of pulmonary actinomycosis with multiple abscesses was made. The patient responded well to antibiotics treatment.
Abscess ; Actinomycosis/*diagnosis/drug therapy/microbiology ; Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18/chemistry ; Humans ; Lung Diseases/*diagnosis/drug therapy/microbiology ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology ; Male ; *Positron-Emission Tomography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective Sperm screening is an essential step in IVF procedures. The swim-up method, an assay on sperm motility, is used clinically to select the ideal sperm for subsequent manipulation. However, additional parameters, including acrosome reaction capability, chemotaxis, and thermotaxis are also important indicators of mammalian sperm health. To monitor both sperm motility and chemotaxis simultaneously during sperm screening, we designed and constructed a microdevice comprising a straight channel connected with a bi-branch channel that mimics the mammalian female reproductive tract. Methods The width and length of the straight channel were optimized to select the motile sperm. Cumulus cells were selectively cultured in the bi-branch channel to generate a chemoattractant-forming chemical gradient. Sperm chemotaxis was represented by the ratio of the sperm swimming towards different branches. Results The percentage of motile sperm was improved from ( 58. 5 ± 3. 8 ) % to ( 82. 6±2.9)% by a straight channel 7 mm in length and 1 mm in width. About 10% of sperm were found chemotactically responsive in our experiment, which is consistent with previous studies. Conclusion The combined evaluation of both sperm motility and chemotaxis was achieved for the first time, and the motile and chemotactically responsive sperm can be easily enriched on a lab-on-a-chip device to improve IVF outcome.