Animals ; Calmodulin ; metabolism ; Epimedium ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression ; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Pituitary-Adrenal System ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by enterbaeterial repetitive intergenic consensus-polymerase chain reaction(ERIC-PCR)DNA fingerprint. Methods Mycobacterium tuberculosis positive sputum samples between September 2003 to May 2006 were collected and cultured.Chromosomal DNA were extracted and ERIC-PCR DNA fingerprinting was analyzed by software,such as RAPD PHYLIP and Treeview.Results A total of 42 different fingerprints were detected.Phylogenetic analysis showed that they could be classified into three clusters,the clustering rate was 72.6%.The characteristics of ERIC-PCR fingerprint patterns were related to age,drug resistance,and type of resistance.Conclusions ERIC-PCR DNA fingerprinting technique used in this study is good for epidemiological studies with its strong discrimination,simplicity and rapidness.A high level of recent transmission is found in our city.

Background The diagnosis of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) is mainly dependent onfluorescine fundus angiography (FFA). However, the combination of optical coherence topography (OCT) with FFA offers a new approach to the research of the pathogenesis of CSC. Objective This clinical study was designed to study the combined application of the FFA and OCT for the research of the pathogenesis of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). Methods Forty-four eyes of 44 patients with CSC were included in this study with 36 cases of males and 8 cases of female. The patients were aged 39.3 ± 5.3 years and the visual acuity was 0. 64 ±0. 27. FFA and OCT examinations were performed in all patients and the FFA images were imported into the Topcon 3D OCT 1000 device to locate the conformity of OCT lesions with the leakages of FFA. The neuroepithelial layer thickness at the fovea and the height of the neuroepithelial layer detachment were measured using 3-D OCT. Results OCT showed serous REP detachment in 34 eyes (77.3%) and rough surfaces of RPE in 10 eyes (22. 7% ). In thirtyfour eyes with RPE detachment, the OCT lesions and FFA leakage spots conformed to the same locations in 31 eyes, but the other three eyes did not. The mean foveal neuroepithelial thickness was (138.5±19.4) μm in CSC eyes and that of normal eyes was ( 131.35±5. 01 ) μm ,showing a significant difference between them( t=0. 39 ,P＞0. 05 ). The mean height of neuroepithelial detachment was (263.3 ± 126.7 ) μm in CSC eyes. Conclusion RPE detachment occurs in CSC eyes and further induces macular neuroepithelial detachment. Leakage lesion of fluorescine corresponds to RPE detachment. CSC without RPE detachment may be related to the increase in RPE permeability. OCT can accurately measure the thickness of the macular neuroepithelial layer and the height of the neuroepithelial detachment.

OBJECTIVETo establish whether Coblation is a suitable modality for removal of early glottic carcinoma.

METHODSFourteen patients with early glottic carcinoma (Tis-T2) without lymph node metastasis underwent resection of laryngeal cancer lesions using transoral endoscopic coblation (TEC), without pre- or post-operative radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

RESULTSNo severe complication such as bleeding and dyspnea occurred in the cases. Only mild postoperative pain happened to the patients. All patients could eat and pronounce on the surgery day. With following-up of 25 - 37 months, no recurrence was observed in 13 cases. One case, with poorly differentiated squamous cell lesion in the anterior commissure invading subglottic, recurred 3 months postoperatively. The patient received the re-resection of laryngeal lesion by coblation, but another recurrence happened to the patient 6 months postoperatively, and then was cured by partial laryngectomy, with recurrence-free survival 21 months postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONThe observation suggests that transoral endoscopic coblation is a reliable and safe modality for the resection of early glottic carcinoma.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Glottis ; pathology ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Laryngectomy ; Male ; Neoplasm Staging

It is a challenging and important project to prolong the in vivo half life of protein and peptide drugs by physicochemical methods without new molecular entities generation. Protein crystallization provides a new strategy for improving the stability and in vivo delivery of these drugs. We show here that recombinant human interferon-alpha (rhIFN) can form spherical crystals. The physical and chemical features of the crystals were characterized, and drug dissolution was determined in vitro. The pharmacokinetics of crystallized interferon after sc injection in rabbit at 1.5 x 10(7) U x kg(-1) was compared to that of soluble form. The crystals were characterized as mono-dispersed spheres, with yield of > 80%, mean diameter size of about 16 microm and crystallinity of 23.2%. The in vitro dissolution behavior of crystallized rhIFN was featured as low initial burst release (21% within the first 2 h) and prolonged cumulative dissolution time up to 72 h without biological potency lost. After sc administration of soluble and crystallized interferon in rabbits, the peak time (T(max)) and half life (t1/2) were prolonged from (1.80 +/- 0.45) h and (1.35 +/- 0.35) h to (13.20 +/- 2.68) h and (10.68 +/- 1.97) h, respectively. The corresponding peak concentration decreased from (1 411.10 +/- 575.28) U x mL(-1) to (721.37 +/- 206.55) U x mL(-1). PK/PD analysis indicated that (96.87 +/- 20.30) % of relative bioavailability was obtained. The research results of this work will provide important academic value and application prospect for improving clinical therapeutic effect and development of biomacromolecules delivery system for protein and peptide drugs.
Animals ; Antiviral Agents ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Biological Availability ; Crystallization ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Half-Life ; Humans ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Interferon-alpha ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Proteins ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Solubility ; Surface Properties

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile ((99)Tc(m)-MIBI) imaging in predicting the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) and prognosis in patients with operable breast cancer.

METHODSSixty five patients with breast cancer underwent (99)Tc(m)-MIBI scintimammography before NCT, and static planar images were taken at 10 min and 180 min after scintimammography. The clearance rate was calculated in each patient, correlation between the clearance rate and efficacy of NCT, and the disease free survival rate were analyzed.

RESULTSThe mean clearance rate of 65 patients was (17.4 ± 6.8)%. The efficacy of NCT was 86.2% (CR 4 cases, PR 52 cases, SD 8 cases, and PD 1 case), and the mean clearance rate of patients with good response or poor response of chemotherapy were (15.5 ± 5.0)% and (29.2 ± 3.2)%, respectively. There was a significant difference between the two groups. The average disease free survival rate in the group with low clearance rate was (75.8%, P = 0.046), significantly higher than that in the group with high clearance rate (53.1%).

CONCLUSIONScintimammography of (99)Tc(m)-MIBI may be used to evaluate the efficacy and prognosis of NCT for patients with operable breast cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; Carcinoma, Lobular ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Cyclophosphamide ; therapeutic use ; Disease-Free Survival ; Epirubicin ; therapeutic use ; Etoposide ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; therapeutic use ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Neoplasm Staging ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; Remission Induction ; Taxoids ; therapeutic use ; Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi

OBJECTIVETo explore the associations between fasting serum lipids and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP).

METHODSSerum triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and hsCRP were measured in residents of Chengdu, China. Subjects with potential factors which might influence lipids and hsCRP were excluded, 580 subjects [mean age (62.3 ± 6.6) years; male: 58.7%] were finally recruited by random sampling methods.

RESULTSThere was a weak positive relationship between TG and hsCRP (r = 0.108, P = 0.01) and a weak negative relationship between HDL-C and hsCRP (r = -0.197, P < 0.001), this was also true in the sub-group with BMI < 24 kg/m(2) (r = 0.236, -0.140 respectively, all P < 0.001). In subjects with BMI < 24 kg/m(2), the hsCRP concentration was significantly higher in subjects with higher TG or lower HDL-C (all P < 0.05). hsCRP increased in proportion with the degree of dyslipidemia. After adjusting for gender, age, TC, LDL-C, fasting blood glucose, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, history of hypertension and diabetes, smoking and alcohol drinking, logistic regression analysis showed that the odds ratio for increased hsCRP was 1.970 in subjects with either increased TG or lower HDL-C (P = 0.105) and 9.098 in subjects with both higher TG or lower HDL-C levels (P = 0.031). However, the observed relationship between TG, HDL-C and hsCRP in subjects with BMI < 24 kg/m(2) could not be observed in subjects with subjects with BMI > 24 kg/m(2) despite significant more cardiovascular risk factors in these subjects.

CONCLUSIONSA weak positive correlation between TG and hsCRP as well as a weak negative correlation between HDL-C and hsCRP was evidenced in the whole cohort suggesting dyslipidemia might be related to enhanced inflammatory status. However, this relationship is not observed in subjects with BMI > 24 kg/m(2) despite existence of more cardiovascular risk factors in these subjects.

Aged ; Alcohol Drinking ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; blood ; epidemiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Dyslipidemias ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Smoking ; Triglycerides ; blood

OBJECTIVETo study clinical effects of one-hole microplate internal fixation for the treatment of collateral ligament injuries of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb combined with fracture.

METHODSTwenty-two patients (16 males, 6 females) with collateral ligament injuries of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb combined fracture were treated with one-hole microplate internal fixation. The age of the patients ranged from 18 to 53 years old with a mean age of 28.5 years old. The duration from injury to surgery ranged from 2 hours to 2 months, and the mean time was 6 days. All the patients had collateral ligament injuries combined with fracture of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb. Thirteen patients had injuries in the right hand and 9 patients had injuries in the left hand. There were 18 cases of closed wound and 4 cases of open wound. Eighteen patients had fresh injuries (< 2 weeks) and 4 had old injuries (> 2 weeks). Sixteen patients had injuries in the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb combined with fracture, 6 patients had radial collateral ligament injuries of the thumb combined with fracture, 4 cases of which were complicated with injuries of abductor pollicis brevis and the end of the flexor pollicis brevis tender. The size of the avulsed fragment was about 3.0 mm x 4.0 mm to 6.0 mm x 7.0 mm.

RESULTSThe incisions of 22 patients healed by first intention. The follow-up periods ranged from 6 months to 5 years old,with an average of 2.5 years old. The thumb function was evaluated by Saetta and other evaluation criteria, and 20 patients got an excellent result and 2 good.

CONCLUSIONThe application of one-hole microplate internal fixation in treating collateral ligament injuries with fracture of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb is an effective method.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Plates ; Collateral Ligaments ; injuries ; surgery ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Fractures, Bone ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Metacarpophalangeal Joint ; injuries ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Thumb ; injuries ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the relationship between the clearance rate of technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile ((99m)Tc-MIBI) in scintimammography and multidrug-resistant proteins expression in breast cancer tissues.

METHODSSeventy-six patients with breast cancer underwent (99m)Tc-MIBI scintimammography before treatment, and static planar images were taken at 10 min and 180 min after scintimammography. The clearance rate of (99m)Tc-MIBI was calculated in each patient. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on pathological specimens of the 76 breast tumors to determine the expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), glutathione S-transferase Pi (GST-pi) and topoisomerase II (Topo II).

RESULTSThe clearance rate was significantly higher in 36 patients with positive P-gp expression when compared with that in 40 patients with negative P-gp expression. There was no significant relationship between GST-pi, Topo II and the clearance rate of (99m)Tc-MIBI.

CONCLUSIONThe clearance rate of (99m)Tc-MIBI in breast imaging may be used to evaluate the P-gp level in breast cancers.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family B ; analysis ; Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; chemistry ; diagnostic imaging ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; chemistry ; diagnostic imaging ; DNA Topoisomerases, Type II ; analysis ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Female ; Glutathione S-Transferase pi ; analysis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Middle Aged ; Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins ; analysis ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi

Poplar(Pupulus x Xiao zhannica, cv. "balizhuang-yang") transferred with mtl-D gene was used as an experimental material. Through tissue culture, aquaculture and pot culture transgenic poplars are tested with variant Nacl salt gradient. In it transgenic poplar raises its initial days for differentiation, differentiation rate, bud intensity, bud height and growth potential than control plant. At the same time, the transgenic poplar has higher rooting rate and more top roots, side roots and higher root length than control under the same salt stress. The result shows that the transgenic poplar has better tolerance ability than control plant in the salt 4@1000 contensity mediums.
Adaptation, Physiological ; genetics ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Resistance ; genetics ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Populus ; drug effects ; genetics ; growth & development ; Sodium Chloride ; pharmacology