Objective To evaluate the value of 18F-FDG PET in predicting the prognosis of pancreatic cancer. Methods Fifty-four cases of pancreatic cancer were divided into two groups. Taking standard uptake value(SUV) at 4 as the cut off point, patients (22 cases) with that not more than four were classified into group A, and those (32 cases) with SUV greater than four were into group B. The prognosis of patients by SUV was analyzed statistically. Results There was a statistically significant difference in survival between the two groups ( P =0. 01 ). The 1-,3-year survival rate was 68. 18% 、34. 91% in group A in those the SUV≤4, and 33.61% 、11.95% in group B( SUV ＞4), respectively. Cox proportional hazard model showed that tumor staging and SUV were the significantly independent prognostic factors in patients with pancreatic cancer. Conclusions 18F-FDG PET is of value in predicting the prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer.

Objective To evaluate the prognostic value of the Cancer of the Liver Italian Program (CLIP) score system in a study of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who underwent radical resection. Methods Clinical pathological and follow-up data of 157 HCC patients, who underwent radical resection in our hospital from 1996 to 2004, were reveiwed retrospectively. Patients were divided into four groups according to CLIP scores. Disease-free survival rate was compared between groups, and within groups, the disease-free survival rate of patients receiving anatomic liver resection was compared with that of irregular liver resection. Results The overall 1,3,5-year disease-free survival rate was 63.6%、45.2%、35.7%,and there were significant differences among the four groups. For the zero score group, the recurrence rate of patients undergoing anatomic liver resection was lower than that of irregular liver resection (P = 0.003). Conclusions CLIP score system can be used to evaluate the recurrence rate of HCC patients receiving hepatectomy. CLIP score system can be used as a guidance for liver resection.

BACKGROUND: Glucose metabolism disturbance, one of clozapine's adverse effects, has received increasing attention from endocrinologists. Insulin resistance is believed to be associated with clozapine-induced glucose metabolism disturbance. Does it have direct effects on secretion function of islets?OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of different concentrations of clozapine on the secretion function of pancreatic islets in vitro.DESIGN: A completely randomized controlled design for the experimental study.SETTING: Department ofPsychiatry, People's Hospital of Wuhan University.MATERIALS: The experiment was conducted in the Laboratory Center of Stomatology Hospital of Wuhan University from September 2003 to January2004. Three healthy male Wistar rats of clean grade were used.METHODS: [1] Classical collagenase digestion method was used to isolate and purify the rat islets of Langerhans. [2] Hank's solution containing 2 g/L bovine serum albumin and 3.3 mmol/L glucose was added for preincubation for 30 minutes. The supernatant was removed. The wells were divided into five groups with 12 wells in each group. The control group was added with 1 g/L dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and 3.3 mmol/L or 16.7 mmol/L glucose, 1 mL per well. The four experimental groups were added with 1 mL 0.2 μmol/L, 1 μmol/L, 5 μmol/L, or 10 μmol/L clozapine apart from the above DMSO and glucose. Six wells in each group were incubated for 1 hour, and another six wells were incubated for 4hours. The supernatants of the different groups were collected and stored at-20℃ in the refrigerator for later testing. The above procedures were repeated three times. The insulin released into the medium supernatant was examined by radioimmunoassay. [3] One-way ANOVA was used to compare the differences between the experimental groups and control group; LSD-t test was used for multiple comparison.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The level of insulin secretion in the supernatants in culture solution containing 3.3 mmol/L or 16.7 mmol/L glucose which was incubated for 1 hour or 4 hours.RESULTS: [1] At 3.3 mmol/L glucose, no difference in insulin secretion was found between the four clozapine groups and control group after 1-hour incubation (P ＞ 0.05). After 4-hour incubation, the level of insulin in clozapine groups decreased significantly [(0.92±0.4), (1.02±0.3),(1.06±0.4), (0.74±0.2), (1.66±0.4) mU/IEQ, P ＜ 0.05]. There was no significant difference in the volume of insulin among the four clozapine groups with different concentrations (P ＞ 0.05). [2] At 16.7 mmol/L glucose, the level of insulin at the four concentrations of clozapine did not differ from that of control group either after 1 hour or 4 hours of incubation (P ＞ 0.05).CONCLUSION: Clozapine inhibits basal insulin secretion, but the effect is not correlated with its dosage.

BACKGROUND: Among atypical antipsychotic drugs (AAPDs), clozapine has the greatest effect on glucose metabolism, while risperidone, between clozapine, olanzapine and traditional antipsychotics, affects glucose metabolism less severely than clozapine.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the path through which the most commonly used AAPDs influence glucose metabolism by comparing the effects of risperidone, clozapine, and the metabolites of clozapine, desmethylclozapine (DCLO) and clozapine N-oxide (CNO), on insulin secretion in vitro.DESIGN: A completely randomized controlled design.SETTING: Center of Public Health of People's Hospital, Wuhan University.MATERIALS: The experiment was conducted in the Experiment Center of Stomatology Hospital, Wuhan University, from September 2003 to January 2004. Three healthy male Wistar rats of clean grade were used.bovine serum albumin and 3.3 mmoL/L glucose was added into each well (1 mL) for preincubation for 30 minutes. Then the supernatants were removed. Six wells were set as one group, and there were five groups altogether, namely, control group, risperidone group, clozapine group, DCLO group, and CNO group. All the groups were added with 1g/L dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), 3.3 mmol/L or 16.7 mmol/L glucose per hole (1 mL).Rrisperidone group, clozapine group, DCLO group, and CNO group were also added with 1 μmol/L risperidone, clozapine, DCLO, or CNO, respectively. For each group, three wells were incubated for another 1 hour, and the other three wells were incubated for 4 hours. Supernatants were collected and stored at -20 ℃ in the refrigerator. The experiment was repeated for three times. The level of insulin in the supernatants before and after study were expressed as the median (M) and quartile (P25, P75). Mann-Whitney test was used for data comparison.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The level of insulin in the supernatants in the 5 groups.tion (GSIS) was significantly higher than that of basal insulin secretion, either 1 hour or 4 hours after incubation [1.91(1.68-2.62), 2.21(1.59-3.05) μU/IEQ;1.05(0.71-1.15), 1.65(1.16-1.84) μU/IEQ, P ＜ 0.05], which suggested that ferences in the level of basal insulin secretion and GSIS in risperidone group and CNO group were not significant either 1 hour or 4 hours after incubation. The level of basal insulin secretion of clozapine group after 4-hour incubation was lower than that of control group [1.65 (1.16-1.84),1.08 (0.88-1.20) μU/IEQ, P ＜ 0.05]. The level of GSIS in DCLO group was significantly lower either after 1-hour or 4-hour incubation [1.15(0.84-1.32), 1.91(1.68-2.62) μU/IEQ;1.08 (0.62 -1.33), 2.21(1.59-3.05) μU/IEQ, P ＜ 0.05,0.01].CONCLUSION: Clozapine affects basal insulin secretion, and its metabolite DCLO inhibits glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in vitro.Risperidone does not cause impairment in insulin secretion.

Objective To investigate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the schizophrenia cognition rating scale ( SCoRS) . Methods 112 cases of schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder inpatients were recruited and assessed using the SCoRS( Chinese version) ,the brief assessment of cognition in schizophrenia (BACS) and personal and social performance scale(PSP). The principle component analysis,reliability analysis and correlation analysis were used to analyze the data. Results Standardized Cronbach α = 0.964. All the 20 i-tems were significantly correlated. Except item 1 ,9,18,19 ( r=0. 830,0. 890,0. 871,0. 890) ,the interrater correlation coefficiency (ICC) of the rest of the items was over 0.9. The ICC of global rating scores between two raters was 0. 921. Factor analysis procedure identified three factors. Factor 1 reflected the neurocognitive state; factor 2 reflected the social cognitive state;and factor 3 mainly reflected the daily life function. The SCoRS rating scores were significantly correlated with the BACS and PSP scores. Conclusion The validity and reliability of SCoRS are acceptable. SCoRS is a useful tool for assessing the deficits of the cognitive function for Chinese schizophrenia patients.

Objective To explore the diagnosis and treatment of cystic pancreatic tumors. Methods The clinical data of 21 cases with cystic pancreatic tumors were retrospectively analyzed. Results This group enrolled 21 cases including serous cystic neoplasm of the pancreas (SCN, 11 cases), mucinous cystic neoplasm of the pancreas (MCN, 6 cases), intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN,2 cases), solid posudopapillary tumor of the pancreas (SPTP,2 cases). Seven cases had certain symptoms or typical signs, while others were asymptomatic and tumors were found by regular physical examinations. All of the cases were diagnosed by CT scans, and the value of serum tumor markers was within normal range. Twenty patients underwent pancreatic tumor resections and there was no perioperative death. Pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed in 8 cases, and distal pancreatectomy was performed in 6 cases including 1 patient undergoing laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy. Middle segment resection was performed in 4 cases, and tumor enucleation was performed in 2 cases. These 20 patients were followed up for 11 to 96 months, and there was no tumor recurrence or metastasis. One patient with mucinous cystic carcinoma underwent palliative operation and survived 4 months after surgery. Conclusions Preoperative imaging was not able to confirm the definite tumor pathological category. Laparotomy should be performed in a patient with cystic pancreatic tumor. The selection of surgical approach should be individualized, and the laparoscopic operation is an alternative.

Objective To study the effect of hypothermia on cerebral mitochondrial respiratory function and ultrastructure after traumatic brain injury(TBI). Methods Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to moderate brain injury by using lateral fluid-percussion(LFP)and randomly divided into sham operation group,normothermic TBI group(rectal temperature for 36-37℃)and hypothermic TBI group(rectal temperature for 31-32℃ lasting for two hours).The ipsilateral brains were dissected and homogenized brain tissues were extracted to obtain mitochondfia by density-centrifugation and speed-centrifugation at 2,24 hours and at days 3 and 7 after TBI.The mitochondrial uhrastructure was studied by electron microscope.The indices of respiratory control rate(RCR)and P/O ratio of mitochondrial respiratory function were measured after oxygen consumption was determined with a Clark-type electrode.Results The mitochondrial uhrastructure of normothermic TBI group was damaged severely while that of hypothermic TBI group kept relatively integrated.The RCR and P/O ratio were markedly decreased two hours after TBI and reached the lowest level at the 24th hour(P＜0.01).At day 7,RCR kept at a lower level compared with sham operation group but P/O ratio recovered to normal.Change of RCR was similar in hypothermie TBI group and normothermic TBI group.However,RCR of the hypothermic TBI group was significantly higher than that of the normothermic TBI group within three days after TBI.In the meantime,P/O ratio recovered to normal three days after TBI. Conclusion Hypothermia can improve cerebral mitochondrial respiratory function and protect the mitochondrial structure after TBI.

Objective To investigate the measurement of serum calcium by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) and to validate the method for use as a candidate reference method. Methods Serum was diluted by 50 fold with 50 mmol/L hydrochloric acid containing 10 mmol/L LaCl3 and analyzed for calcium on an AA 6800 atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Dilution solutions and FAAS conditions were optimized and the performance of the method was evaluated. Results The method showed within-run, between-run and total CVs of 0. 31%～0.38%, 0.16%～0.30% and 0.35%～0.49%, respectively, and analytical recoveries ranging 98.9%～101.1%. No significant interferences were detected. Conclusions A FAAS method for the measurement of serum calcium has been established. The method is simple and accurate and may be used as a candidate reference method for serum calcium.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the pathogenic and clinical presentation and laboratory tests of bullous rash in hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Xi'an from January 2013 to December 2014 by retrospective analysis.

METHODA total of 224 specimens were collected from clinically diagnosed HFMD cases who were characterized by widespread mucocutaneous bullous reactions in Xi'an Children's Hospital from January 2013 to December 2014, the identification and subtyping of the isolates were conducted with real-time fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR. A retrospective analysis was performed to analyze the clinical presentation, laboratory tests and late follow-up problems of the HFMD.

RESULTIn the clinically diagnosed HFMD cases who were characterized by widespread mucocutaneous bullous reactions, 207 were caused by coxsackievirus A6 (CA6), accounting for 92. 4% of all cases with bullous, 4 were caused by enterovirus 71 (EV71), accounting for 1.8%, 10 were caused by coxsackievirus A16 (CA16), accounting for 4. 5%; 4 cases were negative for these viruses. In the cases positive for intestinal virus-nucleic acid, 130 were male, 90 were female; male to female ratio was 1. 44: 1, 203 were <5 years old, accounting for 92. 3%. Leukocytosis was found in 75 cases (34. 1%); high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) increased in 200 cases (90. 9%); elevated myocardial enzyme CK-MB was found in 35 cases (15. 9%), alanine aminotransferase increased in 15 cases (6. 8%); 187 cases had fever (85. 0%). None of the cases had serious complications such as encephalitis or myocarditis. In the course of the critical phase bullous rash or large vesicle-like changes, obvious itching, and facial rash appeared. After the fluid in the bullae was absorbed or the bullae ruptured or became ulcerated, scar formation and large areas of exfoliation occurred, with no effusion on the newly formed epithelium in the base, without significant pigmentation on later follow-up. In the late follow up process, 52 cases in CA6-positive patients (25. 1%) developed onychomadesis within 2-4 weeks after onset, 1 to 8 nails, an average of 4. 3 fell off, new nails grew, the nail bed showed no structural abnormalities and hyperplasia after falling off, the surface was smooth, had no hypertrophy, left no sequelae.

CONCLUSIONThe pathogen in HFMD characterized by widespread bullous reactions was mainly the CA6, this kind of HFMD was mainly mild type, with significant itching, later the bullae may have scar formation and skin exfoliation, in some cases onychomadesis may occur.

Child ; Enterovirus A, Human ; Enterovirus Infections ; pathology ; Exanthema ; pathology ; Female ; Fever ; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Pruritus ; Retrospective Studies

Recently, the droplet microfluidic system attracts interests due to its high throughput and low cost to detect and screen. The picoliter micro-droplets from droplet microfluidics are uniform with respect to the size and shape, and could be used as monodispensed micro-reactors for encapsulation and detection of single cell or its metabolites. Therefore, it is indispensable to characterize micro-droplet and its application from droplet microfluidic system. We first constructed the custom-designed droplet microfluidic system for generating micro-droplets, and then used the micro-droplets to encapsulate important amino acids such as glutamic acid, phenylalanine, tryptophan or tyrosine to test the droplets' properties, including the stability, diffusivity and bio-compatibility for investigating its application for amino acid detection and sorting. The custom-designed droplet microfluidic system could generate the uniformed micro-droplets with a controllable size between 20 to 50 microm. The micro-droplets could be stable for more than 20 h without cross-contamination or fusion each other. The throughput of detection and sorting of the system is about 600 micro-droplets per minute. This study provides a high-throughput platform for the analysis and screening of amino acid-producing microorganisms.
Amino Acids ; isolation & purification ; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques ; Microfluidics ; instrumentation