Objective To establish a method of analyzing total uranium and 235U/238U ratio in urine using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and uncertainty assessment.Methods Urine sample was digested with HNO3 and H2O2,and total uranium was determined using ICP-MS method directly.The digested urine sample was separated to concentrate uranium with tributyl phosphate (TBP) column,and 235U/238U ratio was analyzed using ICP-MS.The uncertainty was evaluated through sample pre-treatment,measurement and standard curve calculation.Results The recovery of total uranium in urine was 98.4％-102.4％,detection limit was 0.002 μg/L.The relative expanded uncertainty of total uranium concentration in urine was 0.26 (k =2).235 U/238 U ratio was 0.001 1 (k =2).Conclusions This study offers a low detection limit,good recovery and precision method for rapid determination of total uranium and 235U/238 U ratio in urine samples.It is potential used for both in occupational exposure assessment and nuclear emergency situation.The uncertainty evaluation of total uranium and 235U/238U ratio in urine are reliable.

Objective To evaluate the specificities and sensitivities of neuron-assoeiated(Neu-A) autoantibodies in the diagnosis of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus(NPSLE)and explore its role in the pathogenesis of NPSLE.Methods The ncuro-associated autoantibodies including anti-neuroblastoma cell,anti-neuroglioma cell,and anti-brain,anti-spinal antibodies were tested using neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-SH.ueuroglioma cell line U251 or cerebrum and spinal meduHa of mice C57BL/10 as substrates respec tively,Serums of 121 SLE patients fincluding 36 NPSLE patients and 85 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)patients without CNS involvement),34 rheumatoid arthritis(RA)patients and 34 healthy controls were tested by indirect immunofluorescence(IIF)assay.Cerebrospinal fluid of 24 NPSLE patients and 22 CNS dis eases controls were also tested.Results The positive rates of anti-neuroblastoma cell antibodies,anti-brain and anti-spinal antibodies in serums of SLE patients were 17.4%,25.6%and 29.8%,respectively.Only 2.9%, 5.9%,0 in 34 RA patients and 0,2.9%,0 in health controls were positive(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).The specificity of the three antibodies in SLE was 98.5%.95.6%and 100%respectively.Anti-neuroblastoma cell antibodies, anti-brain and anti-spinal antibodies were closely associated with SLEDAI score.The NPSLE patients with positive anti-neuroblastoma cell antibodies,anti-brain or anti-spinal antibodies had frequent seizure atlacks, headache,acute confusion state and mood disorders.There was a higher prevalence of anti-neuroblastoma cell.anti-brain and anti-spinal antibodies in NPSLE than those in SLE patients.29.2%anti-brain and anti- spinal antibodies were detected in the eerebrospinal fluid of NPSLE patients.which were significantly higher than those of disease control group(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).The specificities of these two antibodies jn NPSLE were 100%and 95.5%respectively.Conclusion Anti-neumhlastoma cell antibody.anti-brain and anti spinal antibodies are valuable markers for the diagnosis of SLE.They are closely associated with the disease activity of SLE and neuropsychiatric symptoms.Anti-spinal antibody may be a sensitive and specific marker for the diagnosis of NPSLE while anti-brain and anti-spinal antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid are more specifie for the diagnosis of NPSLE.

Objective To investigate the diagnosis and therapy of the sclerosing hemangioma of the lung.Mothods The case history of 15 patients were analyzed retrospectively and summarized the diagnosis and therapy of the Sclerosing hemangioma of the lung.Results There were 2 males and 13 females(1:6.5).No patients were diagnosed this disease before operation for there were no specific imageology features.The tumor cell indicated pantomorphia and there were 3 cases were misdiagnosed during the operation frozen section pathology.The optimization therapy methods was to resect the tumor with the VATS.The prognosis of this disease was well and there were no cases recurrence in these 15 patients.Conclusion The sclerosing hemangioma of the lung was the benign tumor and there were no specific imageology features.The misdiagnosis was frequently before operation.To resect the tumor with the VATS was the optimal therapy method.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of single stage cavernostomy and myoplasty on the aspergillus thoracic empyema. Method Four patients suffering from aspergillus thoracic empyema were treated with single stage cavernostomy and myoplasty. They got the inflammation of aspergillus after the operation for tuberculosis in 2, bronchiectasis in 1 and lung cyst in 1. They were performed rib resection, cavernostomy, closure of the bronchial openings and total/partial obliteration of the cavity with a muscle flap as a single stage technique. Pectoralis major muscle was used for the myoplasty in 1, latissimus dorsi in 1 and intercostal muscle in 2. All patients were given the therapy of nutritional support, local pressure dressing and oral anti-fungus drugs. Result Two patients got the primary healing, the chest tube were pulled out 2 days later and they were discharged 12 days after the operation. One patient′s cavity became little and there was pus drained from the chest tube, he cured after prolonged draining and washed with the anti-fungus drugs. One patient dead for pneumonia 67 days after the operation. Conclusion Cavernostomy and myoplasty as a single stage technique is safe and reliable in the management of patients with aspergillus thoracic empyema.

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and the inhibitory effect of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) on testosterone production in rat Leydig cells.

METHODSRat Leydig cells were primarily cultured and the expression of RAGE in the Leydig cells was detected by RT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining. The Leydig cells were treated with AGEs at the concentrations of 25, 50, 100 and 200 microg/ml, respectively, and the testosterone content was determined by ELISA.

RESULTSRT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining exhibited the expression of RAGE in the rat Leydig cells. AGEs remarkably suppressed hCG-induced testosterone production in the Leydig cells in a concentration-dependent manner in the 50, 100 and 200 microg/ml groups as compared with the control (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONRAGE exists in rat Leydig cells and AGEs can significantly inhibit the secretion of testosterone in primarily cultured rat Leydig cells.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Glycation End Products, Advanced ; pharmacology ; Leydig Cells ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Male ; Rats ; Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products ; Receptors, Immunologic ; biosynthesis ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Testosterone ; biosynthesis

Objective To ascertain the uranium isotopic ratios in surface water samples around nuclear power plants.Methods Water samples were collected in Jiangsu,Shandong and Zhejiang provinces.An efficient separation procedure for the trace uranium concentrated from surface water by tributyl phosphate (TBP) was used.Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was applied to determination of low abundance uranium isotopes.Results The 234 U/238 U isotope ratio varied from 4.575 × 10-5to 7.752 × 10-5 and 235U/238U from 7.273 × 10-3 to 7.639 × 10-3.Conclusions The 234U is enriched in the surface water.

Objective To ascertain the concentrations of uranium in drinking water around nuclear power plants.Methods A total of 106 water samples were collected from June 2009 to March 2010 in Jiangsu,Zhejiang,Liaoning and Shandong provinces.Inductively coupled plasma-msgs spectrometry(ICPMS)was applied to determine uranium content in local water source and drinking water.The detection limit of U was 0.8 ng/L.The recovery was 100.9%.Results The uranium concentrations in all samples were less than 15μg/L which was the limit given by World Health Organization(WHO).Conclusions The concentration of uranium in water sources was as follows:Liaoning>Shandong>Jiangsu>Zhejiang.The concentration of uranium in drinking water W88 maximal in Shandong Province and minimal in Zhejiang Province.

Objective To present the experience of laparoscopic extraperitoneal radical prostatectomy and evaluate its safety and efficacy. Methods A total of 91 patients diagnosed with localized prostate carcinoma were admitted from February 2003 to June 2008. The level of serum PSA ranged from 7. 5 - 47. 0 ng/ml(mean 14. 0 ng/ml). The volume of the prostate ranged from 35 - 75 ml(mean 52 ml). Biopsy was performed before the operation and the pathological results revealed prostate carcinoma with Gleason score no more than 8. CT, MR and ECT revealed there was no lymph node or seminal vesicle involvement and there was no bone metastasis. The procedures were performed with an-tegrade techniques and pelvic lymphadenectomies were performed in 32 cases and nerve-sparings were performed in 11 cases. Results The operation duration ranged from 105 - 270 min (mean 173 min). Intraoperative blood loss was 110 - 1200 ml(mean 315 ml). Incontinence occurred in 19 cases in early stage and 18 cases recovered within 3 months. Positive surgical margin occurred in 11 cases. There was no complication of urethra stricture during 3 - 30 months' follow-up. No lymph node was involved in 32 cases with pelvic lymphadectomy. Five of the 11 cases received nerve-sparing prostatectomy had normal erectile function during the follow-up. Conclusions Laparoscopic extraperitoneal radical prostatectomy is a safe, effective and efficient surgical procedure with the minimal invasion, less morbidity and rapid recovery. Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy is emerging as an alternative to open radical prostatectomy.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in serum YKL-40 level and humoral immune function and their significance in children with recurrent pneumonia.

METHODSBlood samples were collected from 30 children with recurrent pneumonia (recurrent pneumonia group), 30 children with acute pneumonia (acute pneumonia group), and 30 healthy children (control group). Serum YKL-40 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The correlation between serum YKL-40 level and laboratory indices related to humoral immune function was analyzed. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the diagnostic value of serum YKL-40 level for recurrent pneumonia.

RESULTSThe recurrent pneumonia group had a significantly higher serum YKL-40 level than the acute pneumonia and control groups (P<0.05). The acute pneumonia group had a significantly higher serum YKL-40 level than the control group (P<0.05). Serum levels of IgG and complement 4 in the recurrent pneumonia group were significantly lower than in the acute pneumonia group (P<0.05). Serum YKL-40 level was negatively correlated with serum IgG level (r=-0.309, P=0.047) and serum complement 4 level (r=-0.324, P=0.039). The area under the ROC curve of serum YKL-40 level for diagnosing recurrent pneumonia was 0.958 (95%CI: 0.921-0.994).

CONCLUSIONSHumoral immune function is low in children with recurrent pneumonia. Serum YKL-40 may be involved in the occurrence of recurrent pneumonia and can be used as a reference index for diagnosing recurrent pneumonia.

Child, Preschool ; Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1 ; blood ; Complement C4 ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Immunity, Humoral ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Male ; Pneumonia ; immunology ; Recurrence

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features of follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (FDCS) and its differential diagnosis.

METHODSTen cases of FDCS were studied by light microscopy, immunohistochemistry and in-situ hybridization. The clinical features and follow-up information were analyzed.

RESULTSAmongst the 10 cases of FDCS studied, the male-to-female ratio was 1:1. The mean age of the patients was 42 years. Six of them were located in cervical and peritoneal lymph nodes and four in extranodal sites (including tonsil, pelvic cavity, tail of pancreas and spleen). Histologically, the tumor cells had whorled, storiform or diffuse growth patterns. They were spindle in shape and contained syncytial eosinophilic cytoplasm, with round or oval nuclei, vesicular chromatin, distinct nucleoli and a variable number of mitotic figures. Multinucleated tumor giant cells and intranuclear pseudoinclusions were occasionally seen. There was a sprinkling of small lymphocytes and neutrophils within the tumor as well as in the perivascular region. Immunohistochemical study showed that the tumor cells were diffusely or focally positive for CD21, CD23, CD35 and D2-40, but negative for LCA, CD20, CD3, CD1a, HMB45 and CK. Some of them showed EMA, CD68 and S-100 reactivity. In-situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus-encoded RNA (EBER) showed positive signals in only one case (which was diagnosed as inflammatory pseudotumor-like FDCS). Of the 7 patients with follow-up information available (duration: 2 months to 39 months; mean: 14 months), 2 cases with paraneoplastic pemphigus died of pulmonary infection at 5 and 7 months respectively. The remaining 5 patients were alive and disease-free after surgical excision (+/- chemotherapy and radiotherapy).

CONCLUSIONSFDCS is a rare low to intermediate-grade malignant tumor. Appropriate application of FDC markers, such as CD21, CD35 and D2-40, would be helpful for arriving at a correct diagnosis. Most cases are associated with good prognosis after surgical treatment, with or without chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Patients with paraneoplastic pemphigus carry a less favorable prognosis.

Adult ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; metabolism ; Dendritic Cell Sarcoma, Follicular ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Dendritic Cell Sarcoma, Interdigitating ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Meningioma ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Paraneoplastic Syndromes ; complications ; Pemphigus ; complications ; Receptors, Complement 3b ; metabolism ; Receptors, Complement 3d ; metabolism ; Receptors, IgE ; metabolism ; Tonsillar Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Young Adult