Objective To analyze clinical charaCteristics and diagnostic experience on thyrotropinoma (TSHoma).Methods Clinical characteristics,laboratory findings,diagnostic experience,and surgical outcome were summarized from 16 cases of TSHoma in our hospital from January 2006 to September 2011.Results ( 1 )Among 16 cases ( 9 male,7 female ) aged ( 51.63 ± 13.23 ) years,14 ( 87.5 ％ ) cases presented with hyperthyroidism and 2 were diagnosed by physical examination. None of them had exophthalmos, acropachy, or pre-tibial myxedema.( 2 ) Serum FT4 and FT3 levels were all above normal range with serum TSH ( 4.37 ± 2.77 ) μIU/ml.There were 25％ (4/16) cases with positive serum thyroglobulin antibody and/or thyroid peroxidase antibody,none with positive TSH receptor antibody.TRH stimulating test was performed in 9 cases,3 were with positive response ( peak TSH level increased by 5.45-9.20 μIU/ml compared with baseline),and 6 without response (peak TSH level increased by -0.01-3.15 μIU/ml compared with baseline).TSH was suppressed to 27.15％ (5.19％-99.15 ％ ) of the baseline in 11 cases in which somatostatin suppression test was carried out.Prolactin and insulin-like growth factor-Ⅰ levels were increased in 2 cases.MRI performed in 15 patients showed 10 cases of microadenomas and 5 cases of pituitary adenoma.A mass in nasal cavity was found in one case,where no mass was found in the pituitary.( 3 )Surgery was made in 11 cases ( 9 patients underwent transsphenoidal operation,one craniotomy,and one underwent operation via endoscopic nasal septum ). All patients (11/11) were proved to yield pituitary adenoma pathologically.Conclusion Thyrotropinoma should be considered in hyperthyroidism with unsuppressed TSH level,and dynamic tests facilitated early diagnosis.Ectopic thyrotropinoma shoull be considered when normal pituitary morphology was shown by MRI.

Objective To explore the therapeutic effect and medication safety of low-dose erythromycin treatment on intractable allergic rhinitis(AR) associated with bronchus asthma.Methods Totally 173 cases of children received outpatient treatment because of AR associated with asthma,their ages ranging from 3 to 14 years.Among them,78 cases developed intractable AR with symptoms of asthma having been controlled or satisfactorily controlled after 2 courses of conventional treatment.Seventy-six children with intractable AR received full follow-up and were randomly divided into observation group and control group.The control group was given different second-generation antihistamines,when necessary,supplemented by nasal glucocorticoids.In the observation group,the same treatment as it was done in control group was continued,plus oral treatment with erythromycin enteric-coated capsules(10 mg?kg-1?d-1,which were taken 3 times a day for 1 month) to the observation group.Both observation group and control group were in accordance with the norms of the treatment of asthma.Results The improvement rate,inefficiency and the total efficiency were different between observation group and control group,and the diffe-rence was statistically significant(?2=12.629,8.412,8.412,Pa0.05).Their liver function was also monitored and was found normal before treatment and after the replacement of drugs for 1 month,including alanine ami-notransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,albumin,globulin,and were found normal.Conclusions On the basis of conventional treatment,low-dose erythromycin treatment of intractable AR is effective and safe.However,the treatment must be limited to the refractory cases,and the appropriate indications must be strictly observed.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the potential of Gomphidius viscidus, a kind of ectomycorrhizal fungi, for phytoremediation of anthracene in soil.

METHODSAbsorptioe changes of micro-habitat were studied in detail.

CONCLUSIONEctomycorrhizal plants have a strong potential for remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarn characteristics of both active and inactivated mycelia.

RESULTSA high calculated adsorption capacity of 1,886.79 mg/g and 1,515.15 mg/g at 25 °C, pH 6.0 for active and inactivated mycelia respectively, was obtained based on Langmuir model. The ANT biosorption was more ideally characterized by the Langmuir model than by the Freundlich model. The biosorption of anthracene to biomass was extremely fast and could be modeled with pseudo-second order adsorption kinetics. Moreover, ectomycorrhizal mycelia demonstrated a strong ability to adjust the physiological process to get adapted to the change of micro-habitat.

Adsorption ; Anthracenes ; analysis ; Basidiomycota ; growth & development ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Mycelium ; growth & development ; Mycorrhizae ; growth & development ; Soil Pollutants ; analysis ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo clarify the role of RhoC in the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma cells and its molecular mechanism, so as to explore the molecular target of tumor cell growth.

METHODSsiRNA-RhoC plasmid was constructed and RhoC gene silencing the cell-line of hepatocellular carcinoma was setup. Cell growth was assessed by MTT assay. AgNORs staining was applied to determine cell proliferation. Plate cell clone test was conducted to examine the capacity of cell clone formation. FACS was adopted to measure the course of cell cycle and semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to determine the expression of cell cycle proteins. In order to further determine the effect of RhoC expression on cell growth, a RhoC over-expression human hepatocellular cell line was setup by PcDNA3-RhoC plasmid transfection.

RESULTSThe inhibition rate of RhoC was 82.3%. From the fourth day of cell culture, the growth of cells in RNAi group was significantly slower than that in parental Bel7402 and negative control groups (0.41 ± 0.10 vs. 0.73 ± 0.11 and 0.71 ± 0.07 respectively, P < 0.05). AgNORs staining showed that average cell stained particles in RNAi group was significantly lower than that in parental Bel7402 and negative control(1.23 ± 0.35 vs. 3.47 ± 0.93 and 3.17 ± 0.78, P < 0.01). Plate clone formation test showed that clone formation efficiency in the RNAi group was notably lower than that in the control group [(20.33 ± 5.42)% vs. (70.58 ± 10.10)% and (69.83 ± 14.77)%, respectively, P < 0.01]. Cell cycle analysis by FACS showed that G(0)/G(1) cell percentage in the RNAi group was significantly higher than that in the control group [(73.14 ± 5.93)% vs. (57.05 ± 5.97)% and (52.99 ± 4.80)%, P < 0.05]. Compared with Bel7402 and negative control groups, the expression of following growth associated genes was significantly decreased: cyclin D1(0.45 ± 0.21 vs. 1.25 ± 0.24 and 1.12 ± 0.15, respectively, P < 0.05)and CDK4 (0.55 ± 0.08 vs. 1.18 ± 0.32 and 1.10 ± 0.29, respectively, P < 0.05); the following genes were notably increased: p16(1.07 ± 0.23 vs. 0.36 ± 0.12 and 0.35 ± 0.13, respectively, P < 0.01)and p21(0.42 ± 0.12 vs. 0.17 ± 0.06 and 0.19 ± 0.08, respectively, P < 0.05). RhoC was highly expressed in PcDNA3-RhoC transfected hepatocellular cell line. From the third day on of the cell culture, cell growth in PcDNA3-RhoC group was remarkably higher than that in the HL7702 and PcDNA3 groups (0.83 ± 0.10 vs. 0.54 ± 0.11 and 0.58 ± 0.55, respectively, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSRhoC is the key molecule in promoting hepatocellular cell growth, and is a promising target for tumor cell growth controlling.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Plasmids ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transfection ; rho GTP-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; rhoC GTP-Binding Protein

Objective To optimize the extraction technology for Yangxin Anshen Granules. Methods With yield of volatile oil as index, single factor tests were adopted to investigate effects of water, soaking time and distillation time on extraction technology of volatile oil. Using water amount, extraction time and extraction times as factors, the contents of paeoniflorin and total solid as indexes, orthogonal test was employed to optimize the extraction technology of Yangxin Anshen Granules. Results The optimical extraction technology conditions were as follows:Cinnamomi Ramulus, Saposhkoviae Radix, and Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus were extracted to get volatile oil with eight-folds amount water of herbs for 6 hours; other herbs were boiled with eight-folds amount water of herbs and extrancted for two times, 1 h each time. Conclusion This extraction process is reasonable and practical, and can well guarantee the quality of preparation.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and adverse effects of transdermal fentanyl in management of patients with cancer pain.

METHODSA total of 4492 patients (aged 3-90) with cancer pain were enrolled in this multicenter study. The mean age was 58.5 (3 approximately 90) years old. All patients received transdermal fentanyl. The patients were asked to record the attacks of pain, quality of life, and any side effects of the treatment.

RESULTSBaseline mean pain intensity was 7.37. On days 1, 3, 6, 9, 15, and 30, the mean scores of pain were decreased to 4.04, 2.98, 2.52, 2.19, 1.85 and 1.61, respectively (P < 0.01). The effective rate was 96.8%. The mean doses of fentanyl were 32.37 microg/h (25-200 microg/h) on the initial day, 42.57 microg/h and 49.57 microg/h (25-225 microg/h) on days 15 and 30. The quality of life was significantly improved after treatment (P < 0.01). The common side effects were constipation (9.8%), nausea (13.6%), dizziness (6.5%), vomiting (3.9%), sedation (2.0%) and respiratory depression (0.2%). The incidence of constipation was related to age, and the incidence of vomiting and difficulty of urination was related to gender. The majority (84.5%) of patients preferred continuation of the treatment with transdermal fentanyl.

CONCLUSIONTransdermal fentanyl for the patients with cancer pain is effective, safe, convenient and can improve the quality of life. Transdermal fentanyl can be recommended as one of first-line drugs for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe cancer pain.

Administration, Cutaneous ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Analgesics, Opioid ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Digestive System Neoplasms ; complications ; Female ; Fentanyl ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain Measurement ; Pain, Intractable ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Quality of Life

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of reducing THM precursors and controlling bromate taste and odor in drinking water taken from the Yellow River by an ozonation combined system.

METHODSThe appropriate ozone dosage was determined, and then the changes of TOC, UV254 and THM formation potential (THMFP) in the combined system were evaluated.

RESULTSOne mg/L ozone could effectively remove taste and odor and meet the maximum allowable bromate level in drinking water. The pre-ozonation increased THMFP, but the conventional treatment system could effectively reduce the odor. The bio-ceramic filter could partly reduce CHCl3FP, but sometimes might increase CHCl2BrFP and CHClBr2FP. The biological activated carbon (BAC) filter could effectively reduce CHCl3FP and CHCl2BrFP, but increase CHClBr2FP. Compared with other filters, the fresh activated carbon (FAC) filter performed better in reducing THMFP and even reduced CHClBr2FP.

CONCLUSIONThe combined system can effectively reduce taste, odor, CHCl3FP, and CHCl2BrFP and also bring bromate under control.

Bromates ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; China ; Chlorine ; Humans ; Odorants ; analysis ; prevention & control ; Ozone ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Rivers ; chemistry ; Taste ; Trihalomethanes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Water Supply ; analysis ; standards

OBJECTIVETo investigate the reduction of chlorination by-products (CBPs) precursors using the fluidized-bed biofilm reactor (FBBR).

METHODSReduction of total organic carbon (TOC), ultraviolet absorbance (UV254), trihalomethane (THM) formation potential (THMFP), haloacetic acid (HAA) formation potential (HAAFP), and ammonia in FBBR were evaluated in detail. Results The reduction of TOC or UV254 was low, on average 12.6% and 4.7%, respectively, while the reduction of THMFP and HAAFP was significant. The reduction of ammonia was 30%-40% even below 3 degrees C, however, it could quickly rise to over 50% above 3degrees C. Conclusions The FBBR effectively reduces CBPs and ammonia in drinking water even at low temperature and seems to be a very promising and competitive drinking water reactor for polluted surface source waters, especially in China.

Biofilms ; Chlorine ; Water Purification

In order to profoundly understand the clinical and laboratorial characteristics and inducing factors of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis syndrome (HLH), 28 HLH patients received from 2004 to 2009 years in our hospital were analyzed retrospectively. The results indicated that all of the patients had a history with prolonged fever (more than 1 week), pancytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly, elevated ferritin level, hypofibrinogen, and hemophagocytosis in bone marrow. HLH was the first characteristic sign of malignant lymphoma in 9 patients; 1 patient had a clinical manifestation similar to fulminant hepatic failure; severe psycho-abnormality occurred in 1 HLH patient and pronounced hemophagocytosis were detected in his cerebrospinal fluid; 1 patient was eventually diagnosed as having HLH by the findings in a lymph node biopsy showing obvious hemophagocytosis. Additionally, the analysis of underlying factors in 28 patients with HLH indicated 11 patients with EB virus-associated HLH, 11 with lymphoma-associated HLH, 2 with Leishmania-associated HLH, and 3 with autoimmune disease-associated HLH. It is concluded that HLH disease is characterised with high heterogenicity in both clinical features and inducing factors; in addition, the patients from a pasturing area should be paid attention to parasite infection such as leishmania.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Autoimmune Diseases ; complications ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Leishmania ; isolation & purification ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic ; complications ; diagnosis ; parasitology ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the infectivity of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) during its incubation period by investigating chains of transmission and individuals isolated for medical observation with a view to providing scientific evidence for updating protocols of medical isolation.

METHODSIndividuals related with the two SARS chains of transmission in Beijing in 2003 and a group of individuals isolated for medical observation in Haidian district of Beijing during the SARS outbreak were selected as subjects of study. Contactors with SARS patients and those with symptom development following the contacts were investigated via questionnaire. Serum samples were collected from super transmitters and tested for SARS-CoV antibody by neutralization test and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSA total of 1112 contactors were investigated in three surveys. Of them, 669 had a history of close contact with symptomatic SARS patients, 101 developed symptoms with a rate of 15.1%, 363 had a history of close contact with patients in their incubation period, none of whom developed symptoms (0%). Serum samples were collected from 32 highly-exposed individuals, of whom 13 developing SARS symptoms after contact had serum samples positive for SARS-CoV antibody. Samples collected from the asymptomatic contactors were all negative for SARS-CoV antibody.

CONCLUSIONSARS cases are infectious only during their symptomatic period and are non-infectious during the incubation period. Isolation for medical observation should be placed for individuals who are in close contact with symptomatic SARS patients. The results of our study are of decisive significance for the Ministry of Health to the definition of SARS close contactor.

China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Humans ; Infectious Disease Incubation Period ; SARS Virus ; physiology ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; epidemiology ; transmission ; virology