Many flaviviruses are emerging and reemerging pathogens, such as West Nile virus (WNV), dengue virus (DENV), yellow fever virus (YFV), and Japanese encephalitis virus. Serological assay is the dominant method for diagnosis of flavivirus infections in human. Because antibodies generated during flavivirus infections cross-react with other flavivirus members, plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) is the only available assay to determine the infecting flavivirus type.Since PRNT requires culturing raw viruses, it must be performed in biosafety level-3 or level-4 containment for many flaviviruses, and takes more than ten days to complete. To overcome these problems, we have developed flavivirus viral-like particles (VLPs) that could be used to replace raw viruses in the neutralization assay. The VLPs were prepared by trans packaging a luciferase-reporting replicon with viral structural proteins. This novel assay involves three simple steps: (ⅰ) VLPs from a panel of flaviviruses are incubated with flavivirus-infected sera at 37℃ for 1 h; (ⅱ)the neutralized VLPs are used to infect Vero cells; and (ⅲ) the infected cells are measured for luciferase activities at 22 h post-infection. The virus type whose VLP is most efficiently neutralized by the serum specimen (as quantified by the luciferase activities) is the etiologic agent. As a proof-of-concept, we show that a WNV-infected mouse serum neutralized the WNV VLP more efficiently and selectively than the DENV and YFV VLPs. Our results demonstrate that the VLP neutralization assay maintains the "gold standard" of the classic PRNT; importantly, it shortens the assay time from ＞10 days to ＜1 day, and can be performed in biosafety level-2 facility.

Blood Cell Count ; Child ; Fever ; Histiocytosis, Non-Langerhans-Cell ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy between elongated needle therapy and regular needle therapy at Tiantu (CV 22) on the basis of xingnao kaiqiao (activiting brain and regaining consciousness) acupuncture therapy so as to explore the effective therapeutic method in treatment of dysphagia induced by bulbar palsy.

METHODSSeventy one cases of dysphagia induced by bulbar palsy were randomized into two groups. The xingnao kaiqiao acupuncture therapy was applied at Shuigou (GV 26), Neiguan (PC 6), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and the others in the two groups. In the elongated needle therapy group, on the basis of xingnao kaiqiao acupuncture therapy, the elongated needle was used to puncture Tiantu (CV 22). In the regular needle therapy, the regular acupuncture technique was used at Tiantu (CV 22). In both groups, the treatment was given once a day in a week except Sunday and lasted for 4 weeks totally. Before and after treatment, the swallowing condition and the standardized swallowing assessment (SSA) were observed in the patients and the efficacy was compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 97.2% (35/36) in the elongated needle therapy group, which was better than 77.1% (27/35) in the regular needle therapy group (P<0.05). After treatment, SSA score was reduced significantly as compared with that before treatment in the two groups (both P<0.05). SSA score in the elongated needle therapy group was reduced much more apparently as compared with that in the regular needle therapy group after treatment (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONOn the basis of the xingnao kaiqiao acupuncture therapy, the elongated needle therapy at Tiantu (CV 22) achieves the superior effect on bulbar palsy-induced dysphagia as compared with the regular acu- puncture at Tiantu (CV 22).

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Bulbar Palsy, Progressive ; complications ; Deglutition Disorders ; etiology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS), an X-linked recessive genetic disorder of sex development, is caused by mutations in the androgen receptor (AR) gene, and is characterized by partial or complete inability of specific tissues to respond to androgens in individuals with the 46,XY karyotype. This study aimed to investigate AR gene mutations and to characterize genotype-phenotype correlations. Ten patients from unrelated families, aged 2-31 years, were recruited in the study. Based on karyotype, altered hormone profile, and clinical manifestations, nine patients were preliminarily diagnosed with complete AIS and one with partial AIS. Genetic analysis of AR gene revealed the existence of 10 different mutations, of which five were novel (c.2112 C>G[p.S704R], c.2290T>A[p.Y764N], c.2626C>T[p.Q876X], c.933dupC[p.K313Qfs∗28], and c.1067delC[p.A356Efs∗123]); the other five were previously reported (c.1789G>A[p.A597T], c.2566C>T[p.R856C], c.2668G>A[p.V890M], c.2679C>T[p.P893L], and c.1605C>G[p.Y535X]). Regarding the distribution of these mutations, 60.0% were clustered in the ligand-binding domain of AR gene. Exons 1 and 8 of AR gene each accounted for 30.0% (3/10) of all mutations. Most of the truncation mutations were in exon 1 and missense mutations were mainly located in exons 4-8. Our study expands the spectrum of AR gene mutations and confirms the usefulness of AR gene sequencing to support a diagnosis of AIS and to enable prenatal or antenatal screening.

Objective To review the experience of perioperative management and effect of valve replacement combined with renal dysfunction.Methods 536 cases of valve replacement.According to preoperative glomerular filtration rate(GFR),renal dysfunction was classified as normal in 322 cases,mild in 162,moderate in 40 and severe in 12.Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the effect of preoperative renal dysfunction on operative mortality and morbidity.Results Patients with a lower GFR were older and more likely to have hypertention.They also tended to have larger left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and worse left ventricular ejection factor.Operative mortality rose inversely with declining renal function,from 2％ for those with normal renal function to 17％ for patients with severe renal dysfunction.Renal dysfunction was significantly associated with a large blood transfusions,re-intubation,longer mechanical ventilation,intensive care unit stay and hospital stay.Conclusion Preoperative renal dysfunction is an important factor of postoperative mortality and morbidity for valve replacement.We must pay more attention to perioperative management.

Objective To evaluate the effect of deep and moderate neuromuscular blockade on surgical conditions during minor laparoscopic gynecologic surgery.Methods Sixty-five patients,with expected surgery time ＜ 3 h,aged 18-60 yr,with body mass index＜30 kg/m2,of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ orⅡ,scheduled for elective laparoscopic gynecological surgery,were allocated into deep neuromuscular blockade group (group D,n =33) and moderate neuromuscular blockade group (group M,n=32) using a random number table.After induction of anesthesia,the patients were tracheally intubated and mechanically ventilated.Cisatracurium was continuously infused to maintain the degree of neuromuscular blockade in both groups to achieve the target degree post-tetanic count of 1 or 2 in group D and train-of-four (TOF) count of 1 or 2 in group M.Surgical conditions were assessed and scored after surgery.The recovery index,time for TOF ratio returning to 0.7 and 0.9,surgery time,mean intra-abdominal pressure,extubation time and TOF ratio at extubation were recorded.Results Compared with group M,the mean intra-abdominal pressure was significantly decreased,and the extubation time and time for TOF ratio returning to 0.7 and 0.9 were prolonged in group D (P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the other parameters between the two groups (P＞0.05).Conclusion Moderate neuromuscular blockade can provide better surgical conditions for minor laparoscopic gynecological surgery with shorter recovery time.

Objective To observe the relationship between plasma level of homocysteine(HCY) and ischemic stroke in young and middle-aged adults,explore the clinical signficance concerning the occurrence and development of ischemic stroke in young and middle-aged adults.Methods The plasma homocysteine level of 132 young and middle-aged adults patients with ischemic and 86 control peoples were measured by means of enzymatic cycling assay.Results The plasma homocysteine level in ischemic stroke was higher than that in control group( P ＜ 0.01 ).The higher the plasma homocysteine level,the larger infarcted focus in acute ischemic stroke group of young and middleaged adults.The plasma homocysteine level and the infarcted focus was positively linearly correlated.Conclusion Hyperhomocysteinemia is a risk factor of ischemic stroke among young and middle-aged adults.The higher the plasma homocysteine level,the larger infarcted focus in acute ischemic stroke group.The plasma homocysteine level can reflect the size of the infarcted focus and the degree of disease,and the plasma homocysteine level should serve as a kind of regular examination or as an index intervention can be taken,all of which are great importance to prevent ischemic stroke and reduce its morbilily.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of MRI-navigation system EMT-100 in assisting the performance of precise percutaneous puncture biopsy.Methods With the help of MRI-navigation system EMT-100,percutaneous puncture biopsy of thoracic and abdominal lesions was performed in 42 patients.The puncture success rate was used as the main index to evaluate the effectiveness of MRI-navigation system EMT-100.The success rate of puncture biopsy,the total time used for procedure,the average number of puncturing,the average number of scanning,and the incidence of complications were recorded.Results In the 42 patients,the success rates with single and twice puncturing were 86％ (36/42) and 14％ (6/42) respectively.The success rate of puncture biopsy was 100％.The mean time used for locating puncture site was (11.5±5.5) min;the average number of puncturing was (1.4±0.5) times,and the average number of scanningwas(4.2±0.8) times.Among the 32 patients with pulmonary lesions,bloody sputum occurred in 2 patients (6.2％) and small amount pneumothorax in one patient (3.1％),and no serious complications occurred in other patients.Conclusion In performing percutaneous puncture biopsy of thoracic and abdominal lesions,the use of MRI-navigation system is safe.This technique has certain advantages,such as accurate positioning,high puncture success rate,wide range of application,radiationless,etc.It can help precisely obtain the lesion tissue and get pathological diagnosis.Therefore,it is really a valuable guiding technology.(J Intervent Radiol,2017,26:263-265)

Objective:Explore the dendritic cells to soak gallbladder carcinoma tissue,to explain the relation dendritic cells and tumor immunity.Methods:Adopt immune histochmistry S-P method.Results:The extent of dendritic cells to soak gallbladder carcinoma tissue is not relate to age,gender and types of pathhistology but negative contact with degree of pathological differentiation (P

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; secondary ; Adult ; Aged ; CDX2 Transcription Factor ; Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Colonic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Homeodomain Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Keratin-20 ; metabolism ; Keratin-7 ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; secondary ; Trans-Activators ; metabolism ; Young Adult