Objective To compare the efficacy of the conventional PPD skin test and a new enzymelinked immunospot assay(TSPOT-TB)for diagnosing latent tuberculosis infection(LTBI)in patients with rheumatic diseases.Methods Two hundred and sixty rheumatic patients were enrolled,and all were screened for LTBI based on clinical history,chest X-ray,PPD skin test or TSPOT.Results The positive rate of TSPOT assay was 24.1%and that of PPD skin test was 39.4%.The overall concordance rate between the 2tests was 61.0%.Among PPD negative patients (n=149).29 were TSPOT(+)(19.5%).Among PPD(+)patients(n=98),69 were TSPOT(-)(70.0%).The patients who got BCG vaccination or had history of tuberculosis infection showed a significantly higher rate of positive result of PPD skin test than those who did not (P<0.05 or P<0.01).While in TSPOT assay,the BCG vaccination or history of tuberculosis infection did not show influence on TSPOT results(P>0.05).Of the 127 patients who received biological agents after screening for LTBI,9 patients were pretreated with isoniazide.Twenty-seven patients stopped biological agent treatment because of the positive results of PPD or TSPOT.Twenty three patients who had positive PPD but negative TSPOT results received biological agent treatment without isoniazide,and none of them developed active tubereulosis after 6 to 18 months of follow-up.Conclusion BCG vaccination affects the result of PPD test in rheumatic patients,but has no influence on TSPOT results.The infection rate of latent tuberculosis of rheumatic patients in our research is 23.8%detected by TSPOT.

Objective To study the prevalence of dilated cardiomyopathy and the quasi-latent Keshan disease in villages of non-endemic areas of six Keshan disease endemic provinces in China,and to provide reference values for proposing a elimination standard of keshan disease.Methods County,township and village was selected as the study area by using multi-stage sampling in non-Keshan disease areas of Sichuan,Shanxi,Henan,Shandong and in Keshan disease areas of Chongqing and Yunnan.In each county two townships were selected and in each township one village was chosen.The residents of the villages sampled were surveyed by questionnaire,physical examination,electrocardiogram (ECG) and cardiac echocardiography.Suspected dilated cardiomyopathy patients had chest X-ray.Dilated cardiomyopathy patients were diagnosed according to the criteria proposed by 2006 World Health Organization/International Society and Federation of Cardiology (WHO/ISFC).Results The number of investigated villages was 126 and 54 139 people were surveyed by questionnaire and clinical examination.Ten patients with dilated cardiomyopathy were found,the prevalence was 18.47/100 000(10/54 139),and its 95％ confidence interval was 18.11/100 000-18.84/100 000.A total of 197 patients with quasi-latent Keshan disease were found,the prevalence was 363.88/100 000 (197/54 139),and its 95％ confidence interval was 362.27/100 000-365.49/ 100 000.The prevalence of male quasi-latent Keshan disease was 353.34/100 000(83/23 490) and of female was 372.07/100 000(114/30 639).The number of subjects with normal and abnormal ECG was 45 222 and 8917,respectively,and the rate of abnormal ECG was 16.47％.The highest rate of abnormal ECG was 38.28％ (1585/4141) in Chongqing.The lowest rate of abnormal ECG was 8.10％ (1175/14 507) in Yunnan.The highest detection rate of T wave and ST segment changes was 4.67％ (2528/54 139).In abnormal ECG indices,the detection rate of Henan,Shandong and Chongqing was higher,and all of them were higher than 10.0％.Conclusions We suggest that the reference baselines of dilated cardiomyopathy and quasi-latent Keshan disease in Keshan disease areas of the six provinces in the south of China be 18.47/100 000 and 363.88/100 000,respectively.

Objective To study the effect of PHENIX therapeutic apparatus using in the early time after delivery on the lactation volume of puerpera.Methods Totals of 300 puerperas were randomly divided into control group(n =150) and experimental group(n =150).The control group had breast feeding after delivery as usual,while the experimental group used PHENIX postpartum with difference and targeted therapeutic schedulebesides having the normal breast feeding in order to observe the time of their first lactation,the amount of lactation and the course of breast feeding in four months after childbirth.Results The time of first lactation of the experiment group was obviously earlier than that of the control group (x2 =96.18,P ＜ 0.01),in addition,the rate of breast feeding of the experiment group was higher than that of the control group in four months (94.6％ vs 72.7％ ; x2 =28.50 ; P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions It can minimize the time of the first lactation,increase the amount of lactation by using PHENIX for a puerpera after childbirth.Meanwhile,it is able to enhance the rate of breast feeding and the puerpera's and baby's health.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Ganoderma lucidum spores on Cytochrome C (Cyt-C) and mitochondrial calcium in the testis of NIDDM rats.

METHODSFifty male Wistar rats were divided randomly into three groups: model, ganoderma and normal control, the first two groups injected with 2% STZ through vena caudalis, and the last one with half-and-half sodium citrate/citrate buffer solution. Two weeks after normal diet, glucose tolerance tests were performed and the rats with abnormal glucose tolerance from the model and ganoderma groups received high-fat and high-carbohydrate food, the ganoderma group given Ganoderma lucidum spores (250mg/[ kg x d] ) in addition, both for 10 weeks. Glucose tolerance tests were repeated 1 day before the end of the experiment and the rats were castrated and relevant indexes measured.

RESULTSThe NIDDM model was successfully constructed. In the model group, the levels of mitochondrial Cyt-C and mitochondrial calcium were significantly lower (P <0. 05) while that of the plasma Cyt-C was significantly higher than in the ganoderma and the control groups.

CONCLUSIONCyt-C and calcium ion are involved in the damage of the testis. Ganoderma lucidum spores can protect the testis of NIDDM rats.

Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cytochromes c ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; drug therapy ; Male ; Mitochondria ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reishi ; Testis ; drug effects ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the expressions of HO-2 and CO in the corpus cavernosum of castrated rats in order to further study the pathogenesis of erectile dysfunction (ED).

METHODSWe randomly divided 72 male SD rats into four groups: normal control, sham operation, castration, and castration + ZnPP. We detected intracavernous pressure (ICP) and penile erection in the basic condition and after apomorphine (APO) induction, determined the expression of the HO-2 protein in the corpus cavernosum by laser scanning confocal microscopy, and measured the level of CO by spectrophotometry during different periods of penile erection.

RESULTSThe ICP in the basic condition and that after APO induction and the rate of penile erection were decreased significantly in the castration group ([11.68 ± 0.69] mmHg, [54.81 ± 3.86] mmHg, and 33.3%) and the castration + ZnPP group ([11.20 ± 0.71] mmHg, [41.17 ± 5.41] mmHg, and 22.2%) as compared with the normal control ([22.83 ± 2.66] mmHg, [66.92 ± 7.77] mm-Hg, and 100%) and the sham operation group ([23.35 ±2.22] mmHg, [70.43 ?7. 22] mmHg, and 100%) (all P <0. 01). After APO induction, ICP in the castration + ZnPP group was remarkably reduced in comparison with that in the castration group (P < 0.01), and so was the expression of the HO-2 protein before and during penile erection in the castration (445.4 ± 23.7 and 847.4 ± 35.0) and the castration + ZnPP group (390.1 ± 29.7 and 526.0 ± 52.5) compared with the normal control (512.7 ±57.4 and 1145.2 ± 89.8) and the sham operation group (583.7 ± 8.0 and 1016.3 ± 79.8), the expression of the HO-2 protein significantly decreased in the castration group (445.4 ± 23.7 and 847.4 ± 35.0) (P < 0.05 or 0.01), markedly lower in the castration + ZnPP than in the castration group during penile erection (P < 0.01) but with no significant differences among the four groups after it. Before, during and after penile erection, the levels of CO were remarkably decreased in the castration ([20.59 ± 1.01], [32.53 ± 1.26], and [18.71 ± 1.22] x 10(-7) nmol/L) and the castration +ZnPP group ([12.52 ± 1.05], [21.90 ± 1.02], and [16.56 ± 0.55] x 10(-7) nmol/L) as compared with the normal control ([26.76 ± 1.41], [48.25 ± 1.01], and [27.10 ± 1.58 ] x 10(-7) nmol/L) and the sham operation group ([25.41 ± 2.09], [ 47.90 ± 1.22], and [25.67 ± 1.20] x 10(-7) nmol/L) (P < 0.05 or 0.01), significantly lower in the castration + ZnPP than in the castration group during penile erection (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONDecreased expressions of HO-2 and CO may correlate with erectile dysfunction in castrated rats.

Animals ; Apomorphine ; pharmacology ; Carbon Monoxide ; metabolism ; Dopamine Agonists ; pharmacology ; Erectile Dysfunction ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Chaperones ; metabolism ; Orchiectomy ; Penile Erection ; drug effects ; Penis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between gene expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and its clinical characteristics in leukemia.

METHODSThe protocol of RT-PCR was used to detect the hTERTmRNA expressing levels in peripheral blood samples from leukemic patients under primary treatment(n=42), in complete remission(n=21), with recurrent leukemia (n=4); and from normal subjects (n=5), respectively.

RESULTSThe positive percentage of hTERTmRNA expression was 73.81% for the primary treatment cases, and 19.05% for the complete remission cases. All of the recurrent cases gave positive results. One of the normal controls presented low level of hTERTmRNA expression. The expressing level of hTERTmRNA in primary treatment cases was 0.64+/-0.21, in complete remission leukemia 0.31+/-0.16, in recurrent cases 0.84+/-0.09, and in normal controls 0.10.

CONCLUSIONThe activation of telomerase may be an essential factor in the development of leukemia and usually be the late event in its progression. As an indicator of leukemia cell, the detection of hTERT mRNA may be used in clinical analysis, disease monitoring and prognosis judgement.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Infant ; Leukemia ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Remission Induction ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Telomerase ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo report a case of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with the insertion (8;21)(q22;q22.1q22.3). A 33-year-old Chinese woman was referred to our hospital. Hematologic data showed WBC 42.7 x 10(9)/L with monocytosis (monocyte counts 7.296 x 10(9)/L). Bone marrow aspirate was hypercellular with 4.5% monoblasts and 7.5% promonocytes. At first she was diagnosed with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) according to the FAB criteria. Initially the patient received supportive care only, but her general condition rapidly became worse three months later. The monoblasts and promonocytes in the bone marrow rose to 20.5%. After two cycles of combined chemotherapy she obtained complete remission.

METHODSChromosome specimens were prepared by short-term culture of bone marrow cells. Karyotype analysis was carried out by R-banding technique. Three fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analyses were performed using AML1-ETO dual color, dual fusion probe, whole chromosome painting 8 and 21 probes, and cen-8 and Tel 21qter probes, respectively. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay for detecting the AML1-ETO fusion transcript was also performed.

RESULTSConventional cytogenetic analysis showed a karyotype of 46,XX,ins(8;21) (q22;q22.1q22.3)[7]/46,XX[3]. FISH tests confirmed the insertion. RT-PCR analysis detected the AML1-ETO fusion transcript.

CONCLUSIONWe consider that this patient should be rediagnosed as acute myeloid leukemia according to the criteria proposed by World Health Organization (WHO) and that FISH and RT-PCR play an important role in verification of the ins(8;21).

Chromosome Banding ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 19 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Karyotyping ; Leukemia, Myeloid ; genetics ; Translocation, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo study the anticancer effects of Baicalin on an orthotopic transplantation mouse model of mismatch repair gene deficient colorectal cancer.

METHODSSixty orthotopic transplantation mice model of human colon cancer cell line HCT-116 expressing eGFP were established, which were divided randomly into negative controlled group (5% NaHCO3) and 50, 100, 200 mg/kg Baicalin groups. The nude mice were treated with intragastric infusion twice a day. Nude mice growth state, average weigh, inhibition rate of transplanted tumor, tumor metastasis and survival state were observed.

RESULTSAt 14, 21 and 28 days after treatment with different dose of Baicalin, tumor growth velocity was significantly slower in the treatment groups, and tumor volume was significantly smaller than the controlled group (there were (832 ± 637), (2012 ± 1566) and (2494 ± 1557) mm(3) respectively in 14, 21 and 28 days) (F = 4.433, P < 0.05). At the end point of study, survival state of 100 mg/kg group (13/15) was superior to controlled group (8/15) and 200 mg/kg group (8/15) (χ(2) = 4.665 and 3.980, P < 0.05).However, there were no significant differences in tumor metastasis and tumor surface vessel density.

CONCLUSIONSBaicalin has statistically significant effects in inhibiting tumor growth in an orthotopic transplantation mouse model of mismatch repair gene deficient colorectal cancer, and 100 mg/kg may be an ideal treatment dose.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; genetics ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Flavonoids ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Gene Deletion ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; MutL Protein Homolog 1 ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Objective To study the effect of ulinastatin on no reflow or slow flow in the infarct related artery in patient with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing emergency percutaneous coronary interventional therapy (PCI).Methods 180 STEMI patients were divided into the control group (n=100) and the ulinastatin treatment group (n=80).The control group received conventional PCI treatment and the treatment group received conventional PCI treatment plus ulinastatin. The level of serum inflammatory factors IL-6,IL-10,superoxide converting enzyme,the infarct related coronary artery reperfusion TIMI flow grade (TFG) and myocardial perfusion grade (TMPG),the results of postoperative cardiac ultrasound examination and clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups.Results Compared with the control group,the level of IL-6 was decreased,while the levels of IL-10 and superoxide converting enzyme were increased significantly in the ulinastatin treatment group(P<0.05).The TFG and TMPG of the infarct related vessels were increased significantly in the ulinastatin treatment group. The left ventricular end diastolic diameter[(54.6 ± 5.2 mm vs. (50.4±4.6) mm,P=0.046)]and left ventricular ejection fraction [(58.4±10.2) % vs. (62.2±9.8) % P=0.048] showed statistical difference between the two groups.Compared to the control,the major cardiovascular event rate of the treatment group during hospitalization (1% vs. 5%, P=0.038), after one month (1.2% vs. 3%,P=0.046) and 6 months (3% vs 12%,P=0.018) were all significantly lower .There was no significant difference in mortality between the 2 groups.Conclusion Ulinastatin may lower the incidence of no flow and slow flow after emergency PCI,improve heart function and the lower the rates of MACE.