14 strains were isolated from pits sludge by anaerobic cultivation,two Clostridium butyricum strains were identified by physiological and biochemical experiments and the sequence analysis of 16S rDNA.The physiological characteristics and security of Clostridium butyricum B1 were studied,in vitro research indicated it was tolerant against low pH,bile concentration and antibiotics and has antagonism effects against pathogens.

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.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of intermittent liver-nourishing and mind-regulating acupuncture in preventive treatment of migraine. Method One hundred and twenty migraine patients were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, 60 cases each. The treatment group received intermittent liver-nourishing and mind-regulating acupuncture and the control group took flunarizine hydrochloride capsules orally. The migraine score, the visual analogue scale (VAS) score and the headache severity rating score were recorded in the subjects before treatment and at the end of treatment and the 4-week, 8-week, 12-week, 16-week and 20-week follow-ups. The Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) score and the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) were recorded before and after treatment.Result After one course of treatment, the total efficacy rate was 98.3% in the treatment group and 89.5% in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in the migraine score between before treatment and at the end of treatment in the two groups (P<0.05) and between the two groups at the same follow-ups (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in the VAS score between before treatment and at the end of treatment in the two groups (P<0.05) and between the two groups at the same follow-ups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in the SAS and SDS scores between before treatment and at the end of treatment in the two groups (P<0.05) and between the two groups after treatment (P<0.05).Conclusion Intermittent liver-nourishing and mind-regulating acupuncture has marked efficacy in preventive treatment of migraine. It can increase the total efficacy rate and reduce the number of relapses.

Objective To evaluate the blood supply features and effectiveness of arterial chemoembolization for pedunculated hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods Angiography and chemoembolization via supplying blood arteries of tumor were performed in five patients with pedunculated hepatocellular carcinoma.Interventional procedure was carried out with tumor vascular infusion of 350 mg hot elemene emulsion and tumor embolization by cisplantin-lipidol emulsion(cisplantin 60-80 mg+lipidol 8-15 ml)and glutin.Results Ten interventional procedures(TACE)were undertaken in 5 patients.Angiography showed that tumor blood supply mainly coming from collateral circulation adjacent to the tumors,but partially from hepatic artery.Tumor sizes decreased from 30% to 50% in 5 cases,and AFP declined in 4 cases after the treatment. Conclusion Pedunculated hepatocellular carcinoma possessing different blood supply features from intrahepatocellular carcinomas.But transarterial ehemoembolization is still an effective method of choice for this treatment.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a neoplasm of a terminally differentiated B-cell. Human myeloma cell lines were shown to be suitable model systems for use in various fields of the biological sciences. This study was aimed to investigate the genetic aberrations in human multiple myeloma cell lines. Interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with probes for the regions containing 13q14 (RB-1), 13q14.3 (D13S19), 14q32 (IGHC/IGHV) , 1q12 (CEP1), 17p13 (TP53) were was used to detect 7 HMCL and 85 cases of newly diagnosed MM. FISH with LSI IGH/CCND1 , LSI IGH/FGFR3 and LSI IGH/MAF probes were used to detect t(11;14) (q13;q32) , t(4;14) (p16;q32) and t(14;16) (q32;q23) in HMCL and MM with 14q32 rearrangement. The results showed that molecular cytogenetic aberrations were found in all 7 HMCL, six (85.7%) HMCL simultaneously had 13q14, 13q14.3 deletion. Chromosome 1q21 abnormality was found in six (33.3%) HMCL with at least 3 copies amplifications. Illegitimate 14q32 rearrangement was found in five (71.4%) HMCL, including one with t(11;14), two with t(4;14) and three with t(14;16). 17p13 deletion was detected in 5 HMCL. Chromosomal changes were observed in 85.9% of the 85 cases of newly diagnosed MM. The del(13), 1q12 amplification, del(17p), 14q32 rearrangement, t(11;14), t(4;14), t(14;16) were present in 44.7%, 52.9%, 20%, 62.4%, 27.1%, 24.7% and 3.5% of the patients respectively. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of genetic abnormalities of del(13q), 14q32 rearrangement, 1q12 amplification, t(11;14), t(4;14) except del(17p) and t(14;16). It is concluded that HMCL representative of the most aggressive phase of plasma cell neoplasms accumulated a large amount of genetic aberrations. Loss of p53 are strikingly common in HMCL suggesting that the impairment of the P53 tumor suppressor pathway is an important contributor to extramedullary tumor expansion.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Marrow ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; genetics ; pathology ; Translocation, Genetic ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics

Objective To investigate the correlation between the CT perfusion and microvessel density (MVD),expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)in neoplasm of head and neck.Methods Eighty-eight lesions of head and neck were scanned by spiral CT.The largest axial surface of the mass was searched on unenhanced imaging,and at this level the dynamic contrast enhanced scan series was acquired.Time-density curves (TDC)were created from circular or oval regions of the interest drawn over the mass,target artery by Toshiba Xpress/SX spiral CT with perfusion functional software.The parameters were measured including:peak height (PH ),peak time (PT ),mean transit time (MTT), contrast enhancement ratio(RPH),and perfusion flow (PF).Histopathological slides of 35 masses were carefully prepared for the anti-CD34 and VEGF immunohistochemical staining and tumor microvessel density and calculation of VEGF expression scores.The parameters of CT perfusion were correlatively study with MVD and VEGF.Results(1)The TDC of CT perfusion imaging could be classified into 3 types.The TDC of 53/77 (68.9% )malignant tumors presented the type with rapid ascending and rapid descending after injecting contrast.The TDC of 6/9 malignant lymphomas showed low platform curve。(2)The PF median of thyroid carcinoma was 82.2(41.0,183.4)ml?min~(-1)?100 g~(-1).There was significantly difference in the parameters of CT perfusion among thyroid carcinoma and squamaous cell cancer (Median 23.8 (7.0, 108.4)ml?min~(-1)?100 g~(-1))and lymphomas (Median 24.5(13.2,78.6)ml?min~(-1)?100 g~(-1)).(3) MVD in benign tumors was (44.7?3.4),and in malignant tumors,it is (49.6?14.8 ).There was no significantly difference in MVD between benign and malignant tumors.High VEGF expression was found in 15 malignant tumors and 1 benign tumors,low VEGF expression was found in 9 malignant tumors and 10 benign tumors.(4)There were no significantly difference in VEGF expression and MVD.There was good correlation between MVD (M 40.0 )and PH (M 26.9 ),RPH (M 14.5 ),PF (M 46.8 )(r = 0.35,45.49, 0.41 ).There was correlation between VEGF(M 4.0)and MTT(M 16.7 )(r = -0.41 ).Conclusion The TDC and CT perfusion could be helpful to differentiate benign from malignant tumors. CT peffusion in neoplasm of head and neck is correlated with MVD and VEGF,and may reflect MVD and expression of VEGF.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and investigate the influencing factors of the interferon (IFN) retreatment for patients with chronic hepatitis C relapsed after a previous IFN treatment.

METHODSA retrospective study was designed to analyze the retreatment with IFN of 60 relapsed chronic hepatitis C patients. All patients were from a randomized, opened and multi-center clinical trial about the efficacy and security of PEG-IFNalpha-2a compared to CIFNalpha-2a in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in China. There were 35 patients treated with PEG-IFNalpha-2a and 25 with CIFNalpha-2a. The main parameter to evaluate the efficacy was sustained viral response (SVR) rate. The influence of viral concentration in serum, genotype and drug categories on the responses to IFN were analyzed.

RESULTSFor all the patients, the end of treatment virus response (ETVR) and SVR rates were 55.00% and 35.00% respectively. ETVR rate of PEG-IFNalpha-2a was significantly higher than that of CIFNalpha-2a (74.29% and 28.00% respectively, P < 0.01). SVR rate of PEG-IFNalpha-2a was also markedly higher than that of CIFNalpha-2a (45.71% and 20.00% respectively, P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the high and low viral load groups. Among the patients with genotype 1, ETVR and SVR rates of PEG-IFNalpha-2a (75.00%, 45.83%) were significantly higher than those of CIFNalpha-2a (22.22%, 11.11%), (P < 0.01, P < 0.05 respectively), but in patients with genotype non-1, there were no such differences between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSome relapsed patients were not responsive to the IFN retreatment. The efficacy of PEG-IFNalpha-2a was superior to CIFNalpha-2a. The conventional IFN was not suggested to be used in the relapsed cases with genotype 1. The viral load was not associated with the efficacy of IFN retreatment.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Interferon-beta ; Interferons ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyethylene Glycols ; therapeutic use ; Recombinant Proteins ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; Glycoproteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Humans ; Hyaluronan Receptors ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Liver ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Osteopontin ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype, serum viral load and ALT levels, and the factors associated with the viral relapse after IFN treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

METHODSThe HCV RNA levels were determined with Cobas Amplicor Monitor Test, version 2.0, and HCV genotypes were examined by means of PCR products of 5' NTR digested with restriction endonucleases. The patients with chronic hepatitis C were treated with PEG-IFN alpha -2a and Roferon-A for 24 weeks. Those with a viral response after 24 week treatment were followed for an additional 24 weeks. The association of clinical characteristics, such as sex, age, the way of the HCV infection, IFN treatment history and platelet counts, and the HCV genotype, virus load and medicine used for the viral relapse after IFN treatment were analyzed.

RESULTSOf the 208 chronic hepatitis C patients, the ALT levels were not related to HCV RNA levels (r = 0.093, P > 0.05). No difference of ALT levels between HCV genotypes was found, and the HCV RNA load was also of no difference between HCV genotype 1 patients and non 1 patients. Of the 119 patients with viral response after 24 week treatment, 58 cases (48.7%) relapsed after another 24 week's follow-up. Relapse was not significantly related to the clinical characteristics, such as sex, age, mode of the infection, treatment history of IFN, AST/ALT ratio, platelet counts and the baseline viral load. Among patients with genotype 1 virus, the relapse rate was significantly higher than those patients with non-genotype 1 virus (54.5% vs 32.1%, P=0.039). The relapse rate after PEG-IFN alpha -2a treatment was lower than that of Roferon-A treatment (47.0% vs. 52.8%), but not significantly.

CONCLUSIONThe viral relapse of chronic hepatitis C patients after IFN treatment was significantly associated with the genotypes of the HCV.

Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Viral ; blood ; Recombinant Proteins ; Recurrence ; Treatment Outcome ; Viral Load

OBJECTIVETo reconfirm the association of KPNB3 with schizophrenia in Chinese population.

METHODSTwo single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs2588014 and rs626716 at the KPNB3 locus, were genotyped in 304 Chinese Han family trios consisting of fathers, mothers, and affected offsprings with schizophrenia. These 2 SNPs were detected by PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for genotypic distributions was estimated by the goodness-of-fit test. The UNPHASED program was used to perform transmission disequilibrium test (TDT), haplotype analysis, and pair-wise measure of linkage disequilibrium (LD) between these 2 SNPs.

RESULTSThe genotypic distributions of both rs2588014 and rs626716 were in the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P > 0.05). The TDT revealed allelic association with rs626716 (chi2 = 9.31, P = 0.0023) but not with rs2588014 (chi2 = 3.44, P = 0.064). The global P-value was 0.0099 for 100 permutations. The haplotype analysis also showed a disease association (chi2 = 25.97, df = 3, P = 0.0000097).

CONCLUSIONThe present study provides further evidence in support of the KPNB3 association with schizophrenia in Chinese population.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Schizophrenia ; epidemiology ; genetics ; beta Karyopherins ; genetics