OBJECTIVE To study the value of the application of the neutrophil volume distribution width(NDW) in diagnosing acute bacterial infection generated by Coulter LH750 hematology analyzer.METHODS To do whole blood cell analysis of 80 blood samples of the bacteremic patients.Observed the white blood cell counts(WBC),the percentages of neutrophils,the value of the NDW and microscopic examination,to compare them with 50 controls.RESULTS A significant increase in the NDW was observed in the bacteremic patients compared with the controls(P

BACKGROUND:It is a mature technology to culture MC3T3-E1 cels in the self-assembling peptide hydrogel, RADA16-NBD. Moreover, it is confirmed that a variety of metal ions, such as Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, are involved in normal bone metabolism.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of Cu2+and Fe3+ on the proliferation and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cels cultured in the self-assembling peptide hydrogel, RADA16-NBD.
METHODS: Osteoblasts cultured with RADA16-NBD were divided into three groups and respectively cultured in culture medium containing Cu2+, Fe3+ or serum-free medium (control group), respectively. After 24, 48 and 72 hours, cel proliferation was detected by cel counting kit-8. After 1, 3, 5 days, alkaline phosphatase activity was detected. At 21 days, formation of calcified nodules was observed. Cel migration ability of cels was observed at 24 hours of Transwil chamber culture.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the control group, the proliferative ability of cels cultured in the Cu2+, Fe3+ groups was significantly higher (P < 0.05,P < 0.01). At 72 hours of culture, there was no difference in the cel proliferation among the three groups. At 1, 3, 5 days of culture, the alkaline phosphatase activity in the Cu2+, Fe3+ groups was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05); while at 3 and 5 days of culture, the alkaline phosphatase activity in the Cu2+ group was significantly higher than that in the Fe3+ group (P < 0.05). In addition, the number of migrated cels was higher in the Cu2+ group than the Fe3+ group (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that both Cu2+ and Fe3+, especialy the former one, can promote MC3T3-E1 cel proliferation, differentiation and migration.

OBJECTIVEThis study was designed to investigate the prevalence, clinical characteristics and outcome of upper respiratory infection (URI) caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) in children.

METHODSPharyngeal cultures for MP antibody were performed in 960 children with acute URI. The samples were randomly collected from the outpatient room or emergency room (Observed group). Of the Observed group, there were 232 cases under 1 year of age, and the remainder, were between 1-12 years old. The samples from 100 healthy children aged from 6 months to 12 years were used as the Control group. The prevalence of MP infection between the two groups was compared. The clinical manifestations and the outcome between the patients with MP positive and negative were compared.

RESULTSMP antibody was positive in 31.7% (304/960) of the Observed group but only 9.0% (9/100) in the Control group (P < 0.05). The URI patients under 1 year of age had a lower positive rate of MP than those over 1 year old (P < 0.05). Coughs and tonsillitis were more common (P < 0.05), but catarrh, gastroenteritic symptoms, herpes, and tetter were rare (P < 0.01) in URI patients with MP positive compared with those with MP negative. Pneumonia developed in 14.8% of the patients with MP positive but only 7.0% in those with MP negative (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSMP is one of the main pathogens of acute URI in children. Acute pharyngotonsillitis symptoms are predominately presented in children with MP infection. MP infection was commonly seen in children over 1 year old and they are prone to develop pneumonia.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae ; isolation & purification ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; microbiology

BACKGROUND:Gene-enhanced tissue engineering can promote the proliferation and differentiation of seed cells,reduce allogeneic immunity,promote vascularization,and facilitate the repair of osteochondral defects.OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of lentivirus-mediated human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) transfected rebbit adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) cultured on polylactic acid/polyglycolic acid copolymer scaffold (PLGA) on osteochondral defect repair.METHODS:Thirty male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into control group (n=15) and experimental group (n=15).Animal models of bilateral femoral cartilage defects were made in all rabbits.The experimental group was implanted with BMP-2-enhanced ADSCs/PLGA copolymer scaffold,and the control group was implanted with ADSCs/PLGA copolymer scaffold.In both groups,autologous osteochondral mosaicplasty was then performed.After 3 months of implantation,bone tissues at defect region were taken for biomechanical and proteoglycans detection.Histological observation was done at 3,6,12 months after implantation.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) The compressive modulus and proteoglycan content of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group at 3 months after implantation (P ＜ 0.01).(2) At 3,6 and 12 months after implantation,with the increase of postoperative time,the joint surface in the experimental group became more and more smooth,the color became more and more shallow,and the healing degree of the defect increased to different extent.However,there were no obvious changes in the joint surface,color,morphology and histomorphology in the control group.To conclude,BMP-2-enhanced ADSCs/PLGA copolymer scaffold could significantly promote the repair of osteochondral defects.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of capecitabine as first-line therapy in patients with advanced and recurrent colorectal cancer.

METHODSFrom December 2000 to November 2001, sixty patients with advanced and recurrent colorectal cancer received first-line capecitabine treatment given at a dose of 1250 mg/m(2) twice daily, on days 1 - 14 every 21 days. At least 2 cycles were administered.

RESULTSThe overall response rate was 23.3% with 14 PR, 24 SD (40.0%) and 15 PD. The median survival time was 14.7 months. The survival rate was 63.9% at 12-months and 33.4% at 24-months. Grade III-IV adverse effects were diarrhea in 4 patients (6.6%), anemia in 2 (3.3%) and hand-foot syndrome (HFS) in 1 (1.7%); Grade I-II adverse effects were hyperpigmentation in 20 (33.3%), HFS in 18 (30.0%) and diarrhea in 10 (16.7%).

CONCLUSIONCapecitabine is an efficacious and better-tolerated alternative treatment for the patients with advanced and recurrent colorectal cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; therapeutic use ; Capecitabine ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; mortality ; Deoxycytidine ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; analogs & derivatives ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Survival Rate