Objective Sirolimus is a new, potent immunosuppreasant considered to be nonnephrotoxic. There is limited experience with the use of sirolimus in liver transplant recipients. This study was to investigate the clinical experience of conversion from tacrolimus-based to sirolimus-based immunosuppression in liver transplant recipients. Patients switched to cyclosporine-based immunosuppression during the same period were also enrolled as controls. Methods This retrospective study examined liver transplant recipients who had been switched from tacrelimus-based to sirolimus-based or cyelosporine-based immunosuppressive therapy between January 2004 and January 2008 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those switched to sirolimus-based immunosuppression (group A; n=32); and those switched to cyclosporine-based immunosuppression (group B; n=15). Results The rate of successful conversion was 34.5% in group A (10/32) compared with 45.5% in group B (7/15); this difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). After conversion, renal function in patients in group A remained normal, while the renal function in patients in group B become abnormal 4 months after conversion (P<0.05). In group A, some simlimus-associated adverse effects occurred but were mild and easy to control. Conclusion Sirolimus can be used safely in place of tacrolimus in liver transplant recipients.

To establish and manage of multicentral collection bio-sample banks of malignant tumors from digestive system, the paper designed a multicentral management system, established the standard operation procedures (SOPs) and leaded ten hospitals nationwide to collect tumor samples. The biobank has been established for half a year, and has collected 695 samples from patients with digestive system malignant tumor. The clinical data is full and complete, labeled in a unified way and classified to be managed. The clinical and molecular biology researches were based on the biobank, and obtained achievements. The biobank provides a research platform for malignant tumor of digestive system from different regions and of different types.
Biological Specimen Banks ; organization & administration ; Digestive System ; pathology ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; Specimen Handling

The efficacy of ~(131)I treatment of hyperthyroidism in children and adolescents was evaluated. Being unsuitable for medical therapy,31 patients (aged 11-18 years) with hyperthyroidism received ~(131)I treatment with a dose of 0.925-3.33 MBq/g of thyroid and were followed-up for 20 to 76 months.Fifteen patients were euthyroid,5 suffered from late-onset hypothyroidism,and 11 were still hyperthyroid,but their symptoms and signs of hyperthyroidism were markedly improved.Of the 18 patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO),8 patients recovered,4 were improved,TAO in 1 patients deteriorated and in S patients remained unchanged.~(131)I is a relative safe and effective treatment for children and adolescents above 10 years old with hyperthyroidism,being unsuitable for medical therapy.

We analyzed the genetic characteristics of coxsackievirus A4 (CV-A4) based on the entire VP1 coding region. Samples were isolated from patients with acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) in Shaanxi, China from 2006 to 2010. We wished to ascertain the predominant genotype and the relationship between CV-A4 infection and AFP. Sixty-eight non-polio enteroviruses were inoculated onto RD cells (to increase the virus titer) and molecular typing was undertaken. The entire VP1 coding region was amplified. Percentage of CV-A4 was 10.3% (7/68). Analyses of genetic identify and creation of phylogenetic trees revealed that CV-A4 could be classified into A, B and C genotypes. Seven CV-A4 strains from Shaanxi and other CV-A4 strains from China formed an independent evolution lineage located in group 4 and belonged to the C2 sub-genotype. These data suggested that CV-A4 strains of sub-genotype C2 were the predominant genotypes in China. These strains co-evolved and co-circulated with those from other provinces in China, so continued monitoring of CV-A4 (by clinical and genetic surveillance) should be enhanced.
China ; Enterovirus A, Human ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Enterovirus Infections ; virology ; Genotype ; Humans ; Paralysis ; virology ; Phylogeny ; Viral Proteins ; genetics

Objective To identify the infection and the replication of Tick-borne encephalitis virus(TBEV) in human neuroblastoma cells.Methods After being inffected with TBEV,the cell culture supernatant of human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-SH was collected and assayed at different time points.Byusing real-time RT-PCR and plaque assay to measure the titer of virus in the supernatant,the replication andproliferation of TBEV in human neuroblastoma cell was identified.Meanwhile,the morphological change of SK-N-SH after TBEV infection was also visualized by observation under microscope and immunmquorescenceassay.Results Real-time RT-PCR and plaque assay both demonstrated that TBEV could replicate effectively in SK-N-SH cells,the peak titer could reach 2.92× 107 PFU/ml on 3 days post-inoculation.And significant morphological change occured on infected SK-N-SH cells after 2 days post inoculation.By immunofluorescence assay,the virus particles could be detected and visualized.Conclusion TBEV can replicate andproliferate effcctively and cause significant cell morphological changes in human neuroblastoma cell SK-N-SH,which demonstrated that SK-N-SH could be a suitable cell model for TBEV culture.

Objective·To investigate the correlation of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of complement factor H (CFH) gene with schizophrenia in Chinese Han population.Methods·The genotype,allele,and haplotype frequencies of 5 SNP loci (rs800292,rs 1061170,rs 10801555,rs 10922096 and rs2019727) in CFH gene were compared between 418 patients with schizophrenia (case group) and 655 normal people (control group) by SNaPshot technique.Results·All SNP loci were well genotyped in the subjects.Correlation analysis showed that rs1061170 locus allele frequency distribution difference between case group and control group was statistically significant (corrected P=0.045),while genotype and allele frequencies of other SNP loci were not significantly different (all corrected P＞0.05).The frequency of haplotype C-A-T-A-A (rs800292-rs1061170-rs10801555-rs10922096-rs2019727) in case group was different from that in control group (corrected P=0.013).Conclusion·The allele polymorphisms of rsl061170 and the haplotype C-A-T-A-A of rs800292-rs 1061170-rs 10801555-rs 10922096-rs2019727 may be associated with schizophrenia in Chinese Han population.

Bacteriophage lysin is characterized by high stability, wide bactericidal activity and efficacy, and safty. It is able to lyse bacteria specifically and is not susceptible to bacterial resistance. In the presence of phage, phage infecting bacteria and coding for endolysin then it lyse the bacteria, In the absence of the phage, holin assists the endolysin lysis the bacteria from external. In addition, the research progress on the treatment of Gram-positive bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Gram-negative bacteria, such as Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, was also discussed in this paper.

Objective:To describe long-term results of locking plate used for the treatment of non-osteoporotic fresh three-and four-part proximal humeral fractures with at least 2 years follow-up.Methods:The functional outcomes and the complications of non-osteoporotic three-and four-part fresh proximal humeral fractures treated with locking plate were assessed retrospectively.The active range of motion,the Constant score,the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder score,the visual analogue score (VAS) were employed to evaluate the postoperative shoulder function,and the radiographic images were taken to evaluate the neck-shaft angle of the proximal humeral and postoperative implant-related complications.Results:From January 2007 to October 2014,107 consecutive fresh three-and four-part non-osteoporotic fresh proximal humeral fractures were treated with a locking plate in our department.Among them,67 patients completed at least 2 years follow-up.The average follow-up time was (43.9 ± 23.3) months (range:24-108 months).The mean Constant score was 87.1 ± 11.7 (range:51-100),the mean UCLA score was 30.5 ± 3.9 (range:18-35),the mean VAS score was 1 ±2 (range:0-7).The mean active forward flexion was 159.0° ± 19.3° (range:80°-180°),the mean external rotation was 36.8°± 19.5° (0°-80°) and the mean internal rotation was T11 level (T2-LS level).There were 11 patients who suffered from complications.Screw perforations were observed in 5 (7.5％) patients,avascular necrosis of the humeral head was observed in 9 (13.4％) patients and traumatic osteoarthritis was observed in 5 (7.5 ％) patients.Six patients showed two or more complications.There was no significant difference in outcomes when comparing the patients with three-part fractures (31 patients) with those with four-part fractures (36 patients).The rates of complications and avascular necrosis were significantly higher in the four-part fracture group than in the three-part fracture group.Conclusion:The locking plate is an effective method in treating three-and four-part non-osteoporotic fresh proximal humeral fractures.Strict surgical indication and precise surgical skill are the key points for successful treating non-osteoporotic fresh proximal humeral fractures.There is a higher rate of complications and avascular necrosis of the humeral head in the four-part fractures than in the three-part fractures.

OBJECTIVETo summarize and analyze the clinical characteristics and diagnostic and therapeutic measures for the first human case of H5N1 avian influenza pneumonia in mainland of China.

METHODSThe clinical data of the first case of H5N1 avian influenza virus infection in China were analyzed and summarized.

RESULTSThe case is a 9-year old boy, who developed acute symptoms of a light common respiratory infection, including fever and dry cough without obvious catarrh. On the 7th day after onset, his temperature reached 40 degrees C, tachypnea occurred, distinct rales could be heard and large areas of consolidation were seen in the lungs on chest X-ray. The patient's peripheral blood leukocyte count was 2.81 x 10(9)/L and neutrophils dominated. After comprehensive therapeutic approaches, including antiviral therapy (amantadine) and use of low-dosage glucocorticoid, the patient's temperature returned to normal on the 3rd hospitalization day, chest X-ray showed absorbed inflammatory change on the 5th day after admission, and leukocyte count became normal on the 6th day. No complication occurred during the whole course. The case was diagnosed by the 4 fold raised antibody to the H5N1 influenza virus in recovery stage serum because the H5N1 nucleic acid test in early stage was negative. The case was cured and discharged after 3 weeks comprehensive treatment.

CONCLUSIONSIt is very important for clinicians to pay enough attention to epidemiological history, especially history of exposure to avian influenza virus contaminated material, which will be very helpful for early detection, early diagnosis of the disease, and also very important for effective treatment and better prognosis.

Amantadine ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; immunology ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Birds ; Child ; China ; Glucocorticoids ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Influenza in Birds ; transmission ; Influenza, Human ; complications ; diagnosis ; Male ; Pneumonia ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; virology ; Treatment Outcome

AIMTo develop a high-throughput multiplex, fast and simple assay to scan azoospermia factor (AZF) region microdeletions on the Y chromosome and establish the prevalence of Y chromosomal microdeletions in Chinese infertile males with azoospermia or oligozoospermia.

METHODSIn total, 178 infertile patients with azoospermia (non-obstructed), 134 infertile patients with oligozoospermia as well as 40 fertile man controls were included in the present study. The samples were screened for AZF microdeletion using optimized multi-analyte suspension array (MASA) technology.

RESULTSOf the 312 patients, 36 (11.5%) were found to have deletions in the AZF region. The microdeletion frequency was 14% (25/178) in the azoospermia group and 8.2% (11/134) in the oligospermia group. Among 36 patients with microdeletions, 19 had deletions in the AZFc region, seven had deletions in AZFa and six had deletions in AZFb. In addition, four patients had both AZFb and AZFc deletions. No deletion in the AZF region was found in the 40 fertile controls.

CONCLUSIONThere is a high prevalence of Y chromosomal microdeletions in Chinese infertile males with azoospermia or oligozoospermia. The MASA technology, which has been established in the present study, provides a sensitive and high-throughput method for detecting the deletion of the Y chromosome. And the results suggest that genetic screening should be advised to infertile men before starting assisted reproductive treatments.

Adult ; Azoospermia ; epidemiology ; genetics ; China ; epidemiology ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; genetics ; ultrastructure ; DNA ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Female ; Gene Deletion ; Genetic Loci ; Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases ; genetics ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Infertility, Male ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Probes ; Oligospermia ; epidemiology ; genetics ; metabolism ; Protein Array Analysis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Seminal Plasma Proteins ; genetics