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

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.

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

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.

Through collecting and collating the development process of traditional Chinese medicine dispensing, the development of modern Chinese medicine dispensing on the basis of experience could be promoted. "Heyaofenji", "Hehe", " Heji" in ancient Chinese medicine, herbal medicine literature and law were collected, and then things were sorted out according to traditional Chinese medicine dispensing theory, skills and legal norms. Firstly, "Tang Ye Jing Fa" is the earliest book which marks the rudiment of traditional Chinese medicine dispensing. Secondly, traditional Chinese medicine dispensing theory formed in "Shen Nong's herbal classic". Thirdly, Zhang Zhongjing's "Treatise on Febrile Diseases" marked the formation of Chinese medicine dispensing skills. Lastly, Provisions in Tang Dynasty law marks the development of traditional Chinese medicine dispensing.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; education ; history ; legislation & jurisprudence ; methods ; China ; Dosage Forms ; Drug Compounding ; history ; methods ; Drug and Narcotic Control ; history ; legislation & jurisprudence ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; History, Ancient ; Medicine in Literature ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; history ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of four traditional Chinese medicines distributed along lung meridian, namely Ephedrae Hebra, Zingiberis Rhizoma, Scutellariae Radix and Mori Cortex, on TLR2 and NF-κB expressions in mice with lung heat syndrome, in order to study the intervention effect of the four traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) on the lung heat syndrome.

METHODOne hundred KM mice were randomly divided into the normal control group, the model group, the Ephedrae Hebra group, the Zingiberis Rhizoma group, the Scutellariae Radix group and the Mori Cortex group (20, 10 g x kg(-1)), nasally dripped with streptococcus pneumoniae to establish the mouse lung heat syndrome model, and then administered with different TCMs. The expressions of TLR2, NF-κB p65 proteins in lung tissues were analyzed by the immunohistochemical method. The expressions of TLR2, NF-κB p65 mRNA were measured by real time PCR.

RESULTCompared with the normal control group, the expressions of TLR2 and NF-κB p65 proteins in lung tissues in the model group were higher (P < 0.01), and the expressions of TLR2 and NF-κB p65 mRNA in lung tissues were up-regulated (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, Ephedrae Hebra high and low dose groups, the Zingiberis Rhizoma low dose group and the Scutellariae Radix high dose group showed decreased expression of TLR2 protein (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01); Ephedrae Hebra high and low dose groups, the Zingiberis Rhizoma low dose group, Scutellariae Radix high and low dose groups and Mori Cortex high and low dose groups showed reduced expression of NF-κB p65 protein (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Ephedrae Hebra high and low dose groups, Zingiberis Rhizoma high and low dose groups, Scutellariae Radix high dose group and Mori Cortex high dose group showed down-regulated expression of TLR2 mRNA (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEphedrae Hebra, Zingiberis Rhizoma, Scutellariae Radix and Mori Cortex can induce the TLR2/NF-κB inflammatory signal pathways by down-regulating the expressions of TLR2 and NF-κB p65 in protein and mRNA, so as to alleviate the lung tissue injury in mice with lung heat syndrome.

Animals ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; classification ; pharmacology ; Female ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung ; drug effects ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Meridians ; Mice ; Phytotherapy ; methods ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification ; Pneumonia, Pneumococcal ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry ; Species Specificity ; Syndrome ; Toll-Like Receptor 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transcription Factor RelA ; genetics ; metabolism

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)

Near-infrared (NIR) was used as rapid analysis method to identify the sulfur fumigated Puerariae Lobatae Radix. NIR spectra of the cross-sectional and longitudinal selection of samples were acquired. Principal component analysis was conducted. The samples were randomly selected. The different pretreatment methods were compared. Discriminant models were established for every type of spectra to calculate the recognition rate. The orthogonal test and nonparametric test were used to test data normality. The result showed that absorbance values of different sections were different due to the different structure, and the raw spectra were analyzed by PCA method. The result founded that the cumulative contribution rate was arrived at 99.2% while the PC numbers were arrived at 3. The pretreatment method based on the MSC + 1D + Savitzky-Golay was the best to establish the model. For the 50 models constructed with cross-section and longitudinal spectra and total spectra, the recognition rate were (94.4 ± 0.66)%, (94.4 ± 0.66)%, (95.3 ± 0.65)%, respectively, and no difference was observed. The NIR method could be used to identify the sulfur fumigated Puerariae Lobatae Radix.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Discriminant Analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Fumigation ; Pueraria ; chemistry ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; Sulfur ; chemistry