Objective To investigate the feasibility and prospects of nested real-time PCR(NR-PCR)technique for Treponema palladium(Tp)detection in various samples of different stages of syphilis from patients preliminarily diagnosed as syphilis. Methods Targeting the Tp polA gene, NR-PCR was performed to detect Tp DNA in various samples from the patients with various stages of syphilis at the first clinic visit, including skin tissue fluid swabs, serum, whole blood, cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)and earlobe blood. Data were analyzed with SPSS software version 13. Results A total of 368 clinical samples were collected from 200 patients with syphilis. With a detection limit of 2 Tp/ml, NR-PCR showed that the total positive rate for Tp DNA was 71.7%(264/368). The Tp DNA positive rate was highest in earlobe blood samples (92.0%, 23/25), followed by CSF samples(90.2%, 46/51), skin tissue fluid swabs(74.3%, 26/35), serum samples(66.9%, 99/148)and whole blood samples(64.2%, 70/109). There was good agreement between NR-PCR results and serologic test results, with a consistency rate of 76.0%(152/200). Furthermore, the Tp DNA positive rate did not differ between patients with primary(12/19)and secondary syphilis(14/16)in skin tissue fluid swabs(χ2 = 2.62, P > 0.05), and was slightly but insignificantly higher in patients with secondary syphilis than those with primary syphilis in the serum samples(χ2=3.6, P=0.06). The Tp DNA positive rate of whole blood samples was also higher in patients with secondary syphilis than those with any other types of syphilis. Among patients with neurosyphilis, no significant difference was observed in the Tp DNA positive rate between earlobe blood samples and CSF samples(P=0.06). Among patients with latent syphilis, the Tp DNA positive rate was significantly higher in serum samples with an RPR titer of ≥ 1:8 than those with an RPR titer of≤1:4. Conclusion NR-PCR is feasible for detecting Tp DNA in various kinds of samples, and the Tp DNA positive rate is influenced by stages of syphilis and types of samples, as well as RPR titers.

The body mass index (BMI)is one of the important indexes to evaluate the nutrition / health status.BMI is weight in kilograms divided by height in per square meter (unit of kg/m2).BMI is changing with age.However,there are no BMI guidelines for the elderly.It is really necessary to set up a proper BMI range for the elderly.This research analyzed the relationship of BMI with all-cause mortality,cardiovascular mortality and body composition change in the elderly.The result showed that an appropriate higher BMI could help to decrease the all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in the elderly and could also increase bone density and lean body mass,which could prevent the geriatric fracture and sarcopenia.Furthermore,underweight-related mortality was much higher than overweight-related mortality.

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a member of FGF family. It has been demonstrated that FGF21 is an independent, safe and effective regulator of blood glucose levels in vivo. In order to improve the activity of FGF21, we exchanged the beta10-beta12 domain of the human FGF21 with that of the mouse FGF21 to construct a novel FGF21 gene (named hmFGF21), and then subcloned hmFGF21 gene into the SUMO expression vector to create pSUMO-hmFGF21 and transformed it into E. coli Rosetta for expression of the fusion protein SUMO-hmFGF21. Both in vitro and in vivo glucose regulation activity of hmFGF21 was evaluated. The SDS-PAGE result showed that compared with wild-type hFGF21, the soluble expression of hmFGF21 increased about 2-fold. HmFGF21 was more potent in stimulation of glucose uptake in HepG2 cells in vitro. The results of anti-diabetic effect on db/db mice demonstrated that hmFGF21 had better efficacy on controlling the blood glucose of the db/db diabetic animals than wild-type hFGF21. These results suggest that the biological properties of FGF21 are significantly improved by optimization.

Objectives To establish a cost-effective and reproducible procedure for induction of chronic left ventricular aneurysm (LVA) in rabbits. Methods Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was induced in 35 rabbits via concomitant ligation of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery and the circumflex (Cx) branch at the middle portion. Development of AMI was co n-firmed by ST segment elevation and akinesis of the occluded area. Echocardiography, pathological evaluation, and agar i n-tra-chamber casting were utilized to validate the formation of LVA four weeks after the surgery. Left ventricular end systolic pressure (LVESP) and diastolic pressure (LVEDP) were measured before, immediately after and four weeks after ligation. D i-mensions of the ventricular chamber, thickness of the interventricular septum (IVS) and the left ventricular posterior wall (LVPW) left ventricular end diastolic volume (LVEDV) and systolic volume (LVESV), and ejection fraction (EF) were recorded by echo-cardiography. Results Thirty one (88.6%) rabbits survived myocardial infarction and 26 of them developed aneurysm (83.9%). The mean area of aneurysm was 33.4% ± 2.4% of the left ventricle. LVEF markedly decreased after LVA formation, whereas LVEDV, LVESV and the thickness of IVS as well as the dimension of ventricular chamber from apex to mitral valve annulus significantly increased. LVESP immediately dropped after ligation and recovered to a small extent after LVA formation. LVEDP progressively increased after ligation till LVA formation. Areas in the left ventricle (LV) that underwent fibrosis included the apex, anterior wall and lateral wall but not IVS. Agar intra-chamber cast showed that the bulging of LV wall was prominent in the area of aneurysm. Conclusions Ligation of LAD and Cx at the middle portion could induce develo pment of LVA at a mean area ratio of 33.4%±2.4%which involves the apex, anterior wall and lateral wall of the LV.

Objective To evaluated the effectiveness and safety ofLianhua Jizhi Tablets for acute trachitis and bronchitis with syndrome of phlegm-heat obstructing.Methods A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled and multi-center clinical trial design was selected. Totally 240 cases were randomly divided into experimental group and control group, 120 cases in each group, of which 237 cases were included in the analysis of FAS. Experimental group was givenLianhua Jizhi Tablets, while control group was given placebo, 12 tablets/day, 7 days for a course. Curative effect of acute trachitis and bronchitis, TCM syndrome and disappearance of cough, cough and sputum symptom scores and area under the curve (AUC) were observed. The safety was evaluated. Results The cure rates of disease in experimental group and control group were 66.67% (78/117) and 29.17% (35/120), respectively;cure rates of TCM syndrome in experimental group and the control group were 68.38% (80/117) and 27.50% (33/120), respectively;there was statistically significant difference in area under the curve of cough and sputum symptom score between the two groups (P<0.01). Disappearance rates (cure) of daytime cough in experimental group and control group were 52.99% (62/117) and 13.33% (16/120), respectively;disappearance rates (cure) of nocturnal cough in experimental group and control group were 76.52% (88/115) and 31.90% (37/116), respectively;there were no side effects in experimental group.ConclusionLianhua Jizhi Tablets can significantly relieve clinic symptoms in the treatment of acute trachitis and bronchitis, and have good clinical efficacy and safety.

Ulcerative colitis (UC)is a chronic non-specific inflammatory disease involving colon and rectum,and its etiology is not yet fully defined. UC is recurrent and can develop into colorectal cancer. Non-coding RNA (ncRNA)such as microRNA,long non-coding RNA (lncRNA),circular RNA (circRNA)plays a significant role in the process of growth and development of diseases. NcRNA can induce UC via promoting inflammatory cell infiltration,weakening intestinal mucosal barrier function and inducing intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis,and participate in its cancerization. This article reviewed the advances in study on role of ncRNA in UC.

Objective To study the short-term effectiveness of robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy in high-risk prostate cancer.Methods From March 2012 to March 2017,400 patients with high-risk prostate who underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy were reviewed.The median age was 68 years old(ranged from 49 to 83 years),and the median PSA was 23.1 ng/ ml(ranged from 5.2 to 999.0 ng/ml).Preoperative parameters,surgical interventional data,postoperative pathology and follow-up data were collected.Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of positive surgical margin in postoperative pathology.Results All the operations were successfully completed.Median operation time was 115 min(ranged 50-555 min),and median estimated blood loss was 110 ml(ranged 30-500 ml).Six patients had perioperative complications,among which two were rectal injury,two were cardio-cerebrovascular disease and two were hemorrhage.There was no perioperative death.Positive surgical margin was detected in 151 patients,accounting for 37.8％.A total of 345 cases (86.3％) underwent lymphadenectomy,of which 253 cases (63.3％) were performed standardized resection and 92 cases (23％) were performed extensive resection.The median number of resected lymph nodes was 9 (ranged 3-36).Eighty cases (23.2％,80/345) were positive in resected lymph nodes.Regression analysis showed that preoperative PSA ＞ 20 ng / ml or clinical stage ≥ T2c were risk factors for positive surgical margins.After a median follow-up of 14.4 months (ranged 2.0-58.8 months),the overall incidence of biochemical recurrence was 33.4％ (107/320),and the urinary continence rate one year after operation was 86.6％ (277/320).Conclusions Robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy in patients with high-risk prostate cancer was a feasible,safe and effective approach.Preoperative PSA and clinical stage were the risk factors for positive surgical margin.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of Dermatix Ultra silica gel and asiaticoside cream for the treatment or repair of scar hyperplasia which was external used in internal corner incision of patients after the internal canthus correction operation. Methods: A total of 90 patients were randomly chosen and divided into three groups. All patients with epicanthus were treated with the same internal canthus correction method by one doctor. There were 30 patients in each group: 30 cases in the control group were treated without any medication, and the postoperative incision healed naturally; 30 cases were treated with Dermatix Ultra silica gel; 30 cases were treated with asiaticoside cream. Patient and observer scar assessment scale (POSAS) was used as the end points to evaluate the clinical efficacy of Dermatix Ultra silica gel and asiaticoside cream 4 weeks and 12 weeks after the operation. The satisfactory degree from all the patients were collected after 6 months follow-up and we compared the scores of three groups. Results: Compared with the control group, the POSAS scores in Dermatix Ultra silica gel group and asiaticoside cream group were low (P<0.05) at 4 weeks and 12 weeks after operation. At 4 weeks after operation, the POSAS score in Dermatix Ultra silica gel group was lower than that in the asiaticoside cream group (P<0.05). At 12 weeks after operation, there was no significant difference in POSAS score between Dermatix Ultra silica gel group and asiaticoside cream group (P>0.05). Follow-up for 6 months, the satisfaction degree of patients in Dermatix Ultra silica gel group and asiaticoside cream group was higher than in the control group (P<0.05); the satisfactory degree of patients in Dermatix Ultra silica gel group was higher than that in asiaticoside cream group (P<0.05). Conclusions Dermatix Ultra silica gel and asiaticoside cream have good clinical effects in repair of scar tissue after the epicanthoplasty. Dermatix Ultra silica gel is better than asiaticoside cream in scar early improvement.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the blood flow in sequential and individual saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) and to analyze the influence of the location of the target vessel in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB). METHODS: A total of 464 SVGs in 412 patients receiving OPCAB were nested into individual SVG (n=206), double (n=241) or triple sequential SVG (n=15), and analyzed. RESULTS: The blood flow in double and triple SVGs was significantly higher than in individual SVGs [(43.4±22.5), (43.7±19.2) and (28.9±18.7) mL/min, respectively, P<0.001, P=0.047]. There were no differences between flow in double and triple SVGs (P=0.96). Pulsatility index (PI) of the three groups were similar (2.6±1.2, 2.5±1.6, 2.8±0.9, respectively, P=0.49, P=0.49). In individual SVGs to right coronary artery, the blood flow was higher than in the posterior descending branch (PDA) (P=0.047) and posterior branch of left ventricle (PBLV), the flow-time in systole period was longer than diagonals (P=0.003), obtuse marginal (OM) (P=0.013) and PDA (P=0.002), PI was significantly lower than PDA (P=0.033) and PBLV (P=0.032). The blood flow in individual SVGs to diagonals was significantly lower than in other target vessels except for PBLV (P<0.05). Flow in double SVGs to PDA-PBLV was significantly lower than in PDA-OM. CONCLUSION The mean blood flow in double and triple sequential SVGs is about 1.5 times higher than in individual SVGs. Individual, double, and triple SVGs have similar pI. Flow in individual SVGs to diagonals was significantly lower than in other target vessels except for PBLV.
Adult ; Aged ; Angina, Unstable ; surgery ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump ; methods ; Coronary Circulation ; Coronary Disease ; surgery ; Female ; Graft Survival ; Humans ; Male ; Mammary Arteries ; transplantation ; Middle Aged ; Saphenous Vein ; physiopathology ; transplantation

Purpose :To investigate the relationship of peripheral blood T-lymphocyte subsets with the acuterejection or severe CMV infection in transplanted patients. Methods :T-lymphocytes subsets of peripheral bloodwere consecutively detected by using mice-verse-human T-lymphocytes subsets monoclonal antibody-OKT serialsand flow cytometer. Results:The difference of CD4/CD8 ratios between the no acute rejection group and the acuterejection group, or between the acute rejection remission group and the resistant acute rejection group was signif-icant ( P ＜0.05); In patients with intensive CMV infection, the CD4/CD8 ratios were converse to the acute re-jection group. Conclusions:These results indicated that monitoring of peripheral blood T-lymphocyte subsets wasof much benefit to early diagnosis and differential diagnosis of acute rejection of intensive CMV infection and rea-sonable treatment.