Objective To investigate the serovar distribution of Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) isolated from male patients with urethritis in sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic.Methods Urine specimens were collected from male patients with urethritis in STD clinic at Hospital of Dermatology,Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences between January 2013 and December 2013.Fluorescence-based quantitative PCR was performed to detect Ct DNA in these specimens.DNA was extracted from Ct-positive urine specimens,and nested PCR was conducted to amplify the VS1-VS2 regions of the outer membrane protein A (ompA) gene,followed by gene sequencing.The resulting sequences were aligned to reference sequences by the DNAStar5.0 software to determine Ct serovars.Results A total of 432 urine specimens were collected,and 33.1％ (143/432) of them were positive for Ct.The VS1-VS2 regions of the ompA gene were amplified from 127 out of the 143 Ct-positive specimens,but not from the other 16 specimens.Nine serovars were identified by gene sequencing among the 127 specimens,including serovar E (29 strains,22.83％),F (28 strains,22.05％),D (19 strains,14.96％),G (16 strains,12.60％),J (16 strains,12.60％),K (8 strains,6.30％),H (5 strains,3.94％),I (3 strains,2.36％) and B (3 strains,2.36％),and Ct serovars E,F,D,J and G accounted for 85.02％ among all the strains.Synonymous mutations were identified in 14 out of the 127 strains when compared with reference strains.Conclusions E,F,D and G serovars were the main Ct serovars in male patients with urethritis in STD clinic.The proportion of Ct serovar E strain was decreased,but that of serovar J strain was increased compared with 20 years ago.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of therapeutic bloodletting at Jing-well points and hypothermia on acute cerebral edema after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats.

METHODSSeventy-five SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group (Sham), TBI group (TBI), bloodletting group (BL), mild-induced hypothermia group (MIH), and bloodletting plus MIH group (BL + MIH) (n = 15). The model of TBI was established by electric controlled cortical impactor (eCCI). The rats of BL group were bloodletting at Jing-well points immediately after injury, twice daily. While the MIH group was settled on a hypothermia blanket promptly after TBI for 6 hours, so that the temperature dropped to 32 degrees. Each of measurement was performed after 48 hours. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to evaluate the dynamic impairment of cerebral edema after TBI (n = 3). In addition, mNSS score, measurements of wet and dry brain weight, and Evans Blue assay were performed to investigate the neurologic deficit, cerebral water content (n = 8), and blood-brain barrier permeability (BBB), (n = 4), respectively.

RESULTSMRI analysis showed that the cerebral edema, hematoma and midline shifting of rats in TBI group was more serious than other treatment group. Meanwhile compared with TBI group, the mNSS scores of every treatment group were meaningfully lower (all P < 0.05). Furthermore, treatment with BL+ MIH group was superior to the separated BL and MIH group (all P < 0.01). In addition, brain water content of each intervention group reduced to varying degrees (all P < 0.05), especially that of MIH group and BL + MIH group (P <0.01). BBB permeability of each treatment group was also significantly improved (all P < 0.01), and the improvement in MIH group and BL + MIH group was much better than the BL alone group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONOur major finding is that bloodletting at Jing-well points and MIH can reduce cerebral edema and BBB dysfunction and exert neuroprotective effects after TBI. The results suggest that the combination of BL and MIH is more effective than other treatment being used alone.

Animals ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; Bloodletting ; Brain ; pathology ; Brain Edema ; prevention & control ; Brain Injuries ; therapy ; Hypothermia, Induced ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

A new method of using photoactivable ester with azido group was described to immobilize urease on polyether sulfone(PES) film surface. The effects of photoactive enzyme concentration, temperature, pH, irradiation time on the activity of immobilized urease were investigated. Reused times and storage stability were also studied. The results showed that the surface concentration of urease immobilized on PES surface was about 0.33 mg/cm2. When the irradiation time was 5 minutes, the relative activity of immobilized urease was the highest and the activity increased with the increase of the concentration of photoactive urease solution. The optimum pH and temperature of immobilized urease were 7 and 50 degrees C respectively. The relative activity of immobilized urease was stable (50%) after 12 times reused at 50 degrees C.
Enzyme Stability ; Enzymes, Immobilized ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Membranes, Artificial ; Photochemistry ; Polymers ; Sulfones ; Urease ; metabolism ; radiation effects

Among congenital brachymetatarsias fourth metatarsal bone shortening is most common form and unusually involves multiple metatarsal bones. We report a case of the patient with bilateral 1st and 4th multiple rays brachymetatarsia treated with callostasis. Twenty eight months after procedure, right side showed 1st metatarsal lengthening about 11.5 mm (29.23%) and 4th metatarsal 17.86 mm (35.87%). Twenty one months later, left side showed 1st metatarsal lengthening about 14.58 mm (36.8%) and 4th metatarsal 20.52 mm (43.01%). In healing index right side showed 1st metatarsal 3.4 month/cm, 4th metatarsal 2.5 month/cm and left side showed 1st metatarsal 4.2 month/cm, 4th metatarsal 2.3 month/cm. Final follow-up results presented excellent outcome in cosmetic problem, easy wear of shoes, and measurement of patient's self satisfaction.
Cosmetics ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Metatarsal Bones ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Shoes

In the patient who has intradural mass associated with spinal stenosis, if the operation for spinal stenosis is performed alone, the symptom may remain. We report with literature review that we achieved the successful outcome after simultaneous decompression of spinal stenosis and space occupying mass removal in the case of intradural and extradural compression. A 71-year-old female patient suffering from low back pain and radiating pain of both lower extremities admitted. In magnetic resonance imaging, spinal stenosis on L4-5 and spondylolisthesis on L5-S1 compressed dural sac and intradural space occupying mass on L4 level compressed. By posterior approach, decompression and interbody fusion were carried out. Then mass was removed with median durotomy. Pathologic diagnosis was schwannoma and the symptom was improved remarkably.
Aged ; Decompression ; Female ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; Lower Extremity ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neurilemmoma ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spondylolisthesis ; Stress, Psychological

Objective To observe the effects of triptolide on drebrin and cofilin expression in the hippocampus of rats with Alzheim-er's disease (AD). Methods Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were equally divided into control group, model group and triptolide-treated group with 20 cases in each group. The AD model was established with unilateral injection of beta amyloid 1-40 (Aβ1- 40) into hippocampus in rats. The control group was established with unilateral injection of normal saline with the same volume into hippocampus in rats. The triptolide-treated group was administered triptolide intraperi-toneally, 0.4 mg/kg, once a day, for 15 days after modeling. Spine density of hippocampal neurons was assayed by Golgi staining. Drebrin and cofilin expression of hippocampal neurons was assayed by immunohistochemical staining and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results The spine density of hippocampal neurons was higher in the triptolide-treated group than in the model group (P<0.05). The average optical density of drebrin was higher in the triptolide-treated group than in the the model group (P<0.01), while the cell number and average optical density of cofilin were lower (P<0.05). The drebrin mRNA expression was higher in the triptolide-treated group than in the model group (P<0.05), and the cofilin mRNA expression was lower (P<0.01). Conclusion Triptolide may delay the degeneration of dendritic spines in hippocampal neurons of AD rats by regulating the expression of drebrin and cofilin.

Aging is a significant risk factor for various diseases, including asthma, and it often leads to poorer clinical outcomes, particularly in elderly individuals. It is recognized that age-related diseases are due to a time-dependent accumulation of cellular damage, resulting in a progressive decline in cellular and physiological functions and an increased susceptibility to chronic diseases. The effects of aging affect not only the elderly but also those of younger ages, posing significant challenges to global healthcare. Thus, understanding the molecular mechanisms associated with aging in different diseases is essential. One intriguing factor is the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), which serves as a cytoplasmic receptor and ligand-activated transcription factor and has been linked to the aging process. Here, we review the literature on several major hallmarks of aging, including mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, autophagy, mitophagy, epigenetic alterations, and microbiome disturbances. Moreover, we provide an overview of the impact of AhR on these hallmarks by mediating responses to environmental exposures, particularly in relation to the immune system. Furthermore, we explore how aging hallmarks affect clinical characteristics, inflammatory features, exacerbations, and the treatment of asthma. It is suggested that AhR signaling may potentially play a role in regulating asthma phenotypes in elderly populations as part of the aging process.

Internal impingement syndrome is characterized by the posterior shoulder pain when the arm is abducted and external rotated, and articular partial rotator cuff tear with posterosuperior labral fraying in throwing athletes. Osteochondral lesion of humeral head as an associated lesion is reported in some cases but, not considered to be a main origin of the symptoms. We found the similar features of osteochondral lesion on humeral head in three cases of internal impingement syndrome irrespective of conservative treatment for over three months and report good results obtained from arthroscopic debridement and microfracturing for these lesions with a review of the literatures.
Arm ; Athletes ; Cartilage Diseases ; Debridement ; Humans ; Humeral Head* ; Rotator Cuff ; Shoulder Pain ; Shoulder*

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of naoyian (NYA) serum on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein in cultured rat cerebral microvascular endothelial cell (RCMEC) with hypoxia. METHODS: NYA serum was separated from rat heart which had been filled stomach with NYA successively for 3 days. The rat cerebral microvascular endothelial cells were taken from the Sprageu-Dawley rat brain at postborn 7 days. The rat cerebral microvascular endothelial cells were incubated at anaerobic incubator to establish the hypoxia models. The vigo of RCMEC was determined by MTT. The level of expression of VEGF protein was measured by cell immunohistochemistry and Western blot. RESULTS: The OD value of NYA serum group was higher than the control groups after hypoxia for 18 hours. VEGF protein was increased by hypoxia in cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (P < 0.05). The content of VEGF protein in NYA serum containing medium was more significantly elevated than those cultured in other control media (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION VEGF protein was induced by hypoxia in rat cerebral microvascular endothelial cells, and NYA could upregulate the expression of VEGF protein, which may be one of the protection mechanisms for cerebral microvascular endothelial cells.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Capillaries ; cytology ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cells, Cultured ; Cerebral Cortex ; blood supply ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; metabolism ; Female ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serum ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Objective The goal of this clinic study is to evaluate the application performance for 2 new HBV DNA Quantitative Fluorescence Diagnostic Kits, which are recently emerged in the market.Methods Serial diluted HBV serum samples and 1001 clinical serum samples with random virus load were tested quantitatively with the 3 diagnostic kits A, B and C. By studying their linear range, specificity,precision and sensitivity, the two new reagents (A and B ) were used to test these samples and also to compare them with the quantitative results from the boiling method kit (C) which is of better quality and reliability than similar diagnostic kits in current market. Furthermore, the immunoassy results of these samples were evalued and compared with their quantitative results. Results The quantitative results of 767 samples showed that their average values of the 3 kits have no significant difference. However, in the low viral load group, the results of kit A showed the best sensitivity(1.00E + 01 IU/ml)and had much better sensitivity than kit B (1.00E + 02 IU/ml), while kit C kit ( 5.00E + 02 IU/ml ) failed to test positive for most of the low concentration samples. Conclusion The nucleic acid extraction-free method ( kit B) showed much better accuracy and much larger linear range than the conventional method. In this method, the nucleic acid templates extracted by lysis buffer all went into the PCR reaction, resulting in high extraction efficiency and minimum nucleic acid loss. With a simple procedure, great accuracy and good sensitivity, this new test kit is suitable for routine clinical lab usage.