Objective Investigate the clinical efficacy of treating retreated smear-positive tuberculosis patients with conventional anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy combined with levofloxacin. Methods Divide 60 retreated smear-positive tuberculosis patients registered in our hospital between October 2012 and October 2014 into two groups using random number table method: levofloxacin group and conventional treatment group. Each group contains 30 patients that were treated for 9 months , and the efficacy the both treatment methods were compared. Results The sputum conversion rate in the levofloxacin group is 93.33% and 96.67% after treating for 6 months and 9 months , respectively; which are substantial higher than that of the conventional treatment group with sputum conversion rate of 70% and 73.33% after 6 months and 9 months of treatment , respectively (P < 0.05). The absorption rate of the levofloxacin group is significantly higher than that of the conventional treatment group (P < 0.05). The cavity improvement rate of the levofloxacin group is 73.33%, which is significantly higher than that of the conventional treatment group (33.33%) (P < 0.05). The clinical efficacy of the LVFX group is substantially higher than the routine treatment group (P < 0.05). The overall effectiveness of LVFX group reached 100% , which is significantly higher than that of the conventional treatment group (86.67%) (P < 0.05). Conclusions Levofloxacin combined with conventional anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy can effectively improve the clinical efficacy in the treatment of tuberculosis.

Objective To investigate the selective oncolytic role and antitumor action of a novel recombinant adenovirus containing E1A and IL-24 on hepatocellular carcinoma cell(HCC). Methods The recombinant adenovirus expressing IL-24 (Ad. HS4. AFP. E1A/IL-24) was constructed by using modified human alpha-fetoprotein (HS4-AFP) promoter to drive adenovirus E1A gene and II-24 gene.Cell Counting Kit-8 were performed to test the selective cytotoxicity of the virus in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines SMMC-7721, Hep3B, MHCC97-H and hepatocyte cell line L02 . The mRNA and protein expression of IL-24 gene were detected by RT-PCR and western blot. Cell growth curves and Annexin V/PI assay were used to study cell proliferation and apoptosis of MHCC97-H. The anti-metastatic effects of the recombinant adenovirus were evaluated in cell adhesion, migration, and cell motion. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) expression was examined by RT-PCR and zymography.Results Selective replications of Ad. HS4. AFP. E1A/IL-24 adenovirus were observed in over expression AFP cell line MHCC97-H, a highly metastatic potential HCC cell line but not in hepatocyte cell line L02. The mRNA and protein of IL-24 were also over expressed in MHCC97-H. This recombinant adenovirus also showed the significant oncolytic action on MHCC97-H but not on L02 (P＜0. 05). Besides, the recombinant adenovirus significantly inhibited MHCC97-H metastatic potential such as cell adhesion, migration and invasion as well(P＜0.01). Conclusion The selective oncolytic adenovirus expressing E1A and II-24 has a selective antitumor effect and play an inhibitory role in metastasis of HCC.

BACKGROUND:Bone marrow stem cells are defined by their multi-potential ability, and can be differentiated into intrinsic cells in the kidney.
OBJECTIVE:To study the effects of mobilizing autologous bone marrow stem cells by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor plus stem cellfactor on cellapoptosis and proliferation of rats with renal ischemia-reperfusion injury.
METHODS:Total y 160 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups:control group, model group, cytokine treatment group, cytokine control group. Rat models of unilateral renal ischemia-reperfusion injury were established in the model and cytokine treatment groups. Rats in the cytokine treatment group and cytokine control group received subcutaneous injection of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (50μg/kg) and stem cellfactor (200μg/kg), once a day, for 5 continuous days. Rats in the model and control groups had no treatment. Apoptotic cells were detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling method, and the expression of CD34-positive cells, Caspase-3, Bcl-2, proliferating cellnuclear antigen in the kidney were measured using immunohistochemistry staining.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The number of CD34-positive cells in renal tissue of the cytokine treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group and model group (P<0.05). The apoptotic index and expression of Capase-3 in the model group and cytokine treatment group were higher than those in the control group and cytokine control group (P<0.05). The apoptotic index and expression of Capase-3 in the cytokine treatment group were lower than that in the model group (P<0.05). The expression of Bcl-2 in the model group and cytokine treatment group was higher than that in the control group and cytokine control group (P<0.05). The expression of Bcl-2 in the cytokine treatment group was higher than that in the model group (P<0.05);however, as time went on, Bcl-2 expression was obviously decreased. Proliferating cellnuclear antigen expressed both in the model group and in the cytokine treatment group. Additional y, the proliferative index reached peak at 24 days in the model group, and then decreased gradual y;while in the cytokine treatment group, it reached the peak at 10 days, maintained a high level until the 17th day, and then decreased gradual y. Mobilization of autologous bone marrow stem cells by combination of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and stem cellfactor can increase proliferation and decrease apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells after renal ischemia-reperfusion injury, and thus, promote the recovery from renal tubular injury.

Occupational chromium rhinopathy is chronic nasal damage caused by chromic anhydride, chromate and dichromate 6-valent chromium compounds. In 2016, 700 people who were exposed to chromium slag in steel plant were checked out. 24 people were found to have nasal injuries. The expert group confirmed 1 case of occupational severe chromium rhinosis and 23 cases of occupational mild chromium rhinosis.There was no significant difference in the incidence, type of work and duration of injury among 24 patients (P>0.05) . Active measures should be taken to prevent chromium rhinopathy and the technological process should be reformed. Occupational health education and occupational health monitoring should be strengthened to avoid exposure of chromium and its compounds through nose and respiratory tract, and to reduce or eliminate the occurrence of chromium rhinosis.

To identify the regulatory region that are responsible for the expression of mPC-1, we have isolated and characterized the mPC-1 gene promoter. Sequence analysis of the mPC-1 5' -flanking region and a series of truncated constructs were performed, which were transiently transfected into the prostate cancer cell lines and non-prostate cancer cell lines and analyzed through Dual-luciferase reporter assay system. The relative activity of mPC-1 gene promoter was by far higher than pGL3-control containing SV40 promoter and enhancer and p61-PSA containing hPSA 6 kb promoter in AR (androgen receptor, AR ) -positive prostate cancer cell lines. The region from 599 bp to 449 bp of mPC-1 promoter might contain a negative regulatory element. The expression of mPC-1 1.1 kb fragment is mainly restricted into prostate cancer cell lines. The relative activity of mPC-1 1.1 kb 5'-flanking region was regulated by androgen. The results demonstrated that the 1.1 kb fragment of mPC-1 5' -flanking region was relatively strong and prostate cancer cell specific promoter region.The 1.1 kb promoter of mPC-1 gene might be well suited to prostate cancer gene therapy if the promoter was properly modified.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to measure the elasticity of normal placentas using the Virtual Touch quantification (VTQ) technique. METHODS: This study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee. Fifty randomly selected, healthy pregnant women in their second trimester and 50 randomly selected, healthy pregnant women in their third trimester with a single fetus were included, and their placentas underwent VTQ through shear wave velocity (SWV) measurements. The measurements were performed at different locations to sample different areas of the placenta. Measurements were performed 3-4 times in each location, the mean shear wave velocities were calculated without the highest and lowest values of measurements in each region, and the results were compared. RESULTS: The SWV of the placenta was 0.983±0.260 m/sec, and the minimal and maximal speed was 0.63 m/sec and 1.84 m/sec, respectively. There was no significant difference between the second and third trimester of VTQ of the placenta in terms of SWV (0.978±0.255 m/sec vs. 0.987±0.266 m/sec, P=0.711). The maternal age between second and third trimester was 27.9±4.3 years and 29.2±4.4 years, respectively; there was no significant difference between them (P=0.159). CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that the SWV of normal placenta tissue is 0.983±0.260 m/sec, it has little variation between the second and third trimesters, and the VTQ technique may potentially play an additional role in placenta evaluation.
Elasticity Imaging Techniques ; Elasticity* ; Ethics Committees ; Female ; Fetus ; Humans ; Maternal Age ; Placenta* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Pregnant Women ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of variations in fatty liver on the ultrasonographic detection of focal liver lesions. METHODS: A total of 229 patients with varying degrees of fatty liver and focal liver lesions and 200 patients with focal liver lesions but no fatty liver were randomly selected for inclusion in groups I and II, respectively. Findings of focal liver lesions identified on computed tomography were taken as the reference, and findings on ultrasonography were compared with them. RESULTS: The number of focal liver lesions in groups I and II were 501 and 413, respectively. The ultrasonographic detection rates of focal liver lesions in groups I and II were 86.8% (435/501) and 94.2% (389/413), respectively. Comparison of the detection of the focal lesions between patients with and without fatty liver or different grades of fatty liver were as follows: mild fatty liver (162/177) vs. liver without fat infiltration (389/413) (P=0.277); mild fatty liver (162/177) vs. moderate fatty liver (190/212) (P=0.604); mild fatty liver (162/177) vs. severe fatty liver (83/112) (P<0.001); moderate fatty liver (190/212) vs. liver without fat infiltration (389/413) (P=0.051); moderate fatty liver (190/212) vs. severe fatty liver (83/112) (P<0.001); severe fatty liver (83/112) vs. liver without fat infiltration (389/413) (P<0.001); and fatty liver (435/501) vs. liver without fat infiltration (389/413) (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Mild and moderate fatty liver are not significantly associated with the visualization of the lesion, while severe fatty liver usually impairs the detection of focal lesions in the liver. If a patient with severe fatty liver is suspected to have a liver tumor, ultrasonography should only be chosen cautiously in case of a missed diagnosis.
Diagnosis ; Fatty Liver* ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Neoplasms ; Ultrasonography*

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a deadly malignancy with regard to mortality and prognosis, and the 5-year survival rate for all patients diagnosed with ESCC remains poor. A better understanding of the biological mechanisms of ESCC tumorigenesis and progression is of great importance to improve treatment of this disease. In this study, we demonstrated that the glutathione metabolism pathway is highly enriched in ESCC cells compared with normal esophageal epithelial cells in an in vivo mouse model. In addition, treatment with L-buthionine-sulfoximine (BSO) to deplete glutathione decreased the ESCC tumor burden in mice, thus demonstrating the critical role of glutathione metabolism in ESCC progression. BSO treatment also led to decreased cell proliferation and activation of cell apoptosis in ESCC. Finally, BSO treatment blocked NF-κB pathway activation in ESCC. Our study reveals a new pathway that regulates ESCC progression and suggests that inhibition of glutathione metabolism may be a potential strategy for ESCC treatment.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Proliferation ; Epithelial Cells ; Esophageal Neoplasms* ; Glutathione* ; Humans ; Metabolism* ; Mice ; Mortality ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Burden

Background and Objectives: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease, which the mechanisms behind its initiation and development are related to many factors. DMSCs (dermal mesenchymal stem cells) represent an important member of the skin microenvironment and play an important role in the surrounding environment and in neighbouring cells, but they are also affected by the microenvironment. We studied the glucose metabolism of DMSCs in psoriasis patients and a control group to reveal the relationship among glucose metabolism, cell proliferation activity，and VEC (vascular endothelial cell) differentiation in vitro, we demonstrated the biological activity and molecular mechanisms of DMSCs in psoriasis. Methods: and Results: We found that the OCR of DMSCs in psoriatic lesions was higher than that in the control group, and mRNA of GLUT1 and HK2 were up-regulated compared with the control group. The proliferative activity of DMSCs in psoriasis was reduced at an early stage, and mRNA involved in proliferation, JUNB and FOS were expressed at lower levels than those in the control group. The number of blood vessels in psoriatic lesions was significantly higher than that in the control group (p＜0.05), which the mRNA of VEC differentiation, CXCL12, CXCR7, HEYL and RGS5 tended to be increased in psoriatic lesions compared to the control group, in addition to Notch3. Conclusions We speculated that DMSCs affected local psoriatic blood vessels through glucose metabolism, and the differentiation of VECs, which resulted in the pathophysiological process of psoriasis.