Animals ; Epilepsy ; immunology ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; immunology ; metabolism

AIM AND METHODSThe relation between AT sclerosis (loss of neurons and proliferation of astrocytes) and long-lasting epileptic susceptibility was investigated by thionine staining, GFAP immunohistochemistry and observing the behavior of rats, after scorpion venom (SV) or normal saline (NS) administrated for three week.

RESULTSCompared with NS+ NS group, both the loss of neurons and proliferation of astrocytes were very marked in KA+ NS group (epileptic susceptible rats) (P < 0.05), but those changes were not visible in KA+ NS group (epileptic nonsusceptible rats).

CONCLUSIONSIt suggested that AT sclerosis may be one of important reasons of the long-lasting epileptic susceptibility.

Animals ; Astrocytes ; pathology ; Epilepsy ; pathology ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; metabolism ; Male ; Neurons ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Aim: To study theapoptotic rate (AR) and the androgen and estrogen milieu in the proximal and distal ductal sys tems of prostate, in order to help exploring the effects of these factors on prostatic growth and the pathogenesis of be nign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). Methods: The proximal and distal ends of the ductal system were incised from 20 normal prostate as well as the hypertrophic prostate tissue from 20 patients with BPH. The AR was determined by the DNA end-labeling method and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estrodiol (E2), by radioimmunoassay. Results:There was no significant difference in DHT and E2 density between the proximal and distal ends of the ductal systems in normal prostate. E2 appeared to be higher in BPH than in normal prostatic tissues, but the difference was statistically in significant. In normal prostatic tissue, the AR was significantly higher in the distal than in the proximal ends of the ductal system ( P ＜ 0.05), while the AR of the proximal ends was significantly higher ( P ＜ 0.01) than that in the BPH tissue. No significant correlation was noted between the DHT and E2 density and the AR both in the normal prostate and BPH tissues. Conclusion: The paper is the first time describing a difference in AR in different regions of the ductal system of normal prostate, while the hormonal milieu is similar, indicating a functional inhomogeneity of these regions. A low AR in the proximal duct, where BPH originates, and an even lower AR in the BPH tissue, sug gesting the participation of apoptosis in the BPH pathogenesis.

OBJECTIVETo describe the epidemiologic features of an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in urban and suburb areas in Beijing and to explore their differences between these two areas.

METHODSData of SARS cases were collected from daily notification of China Ministry of Health and a database of infectious diseases was established by the Beijing Municipal Center for Disease Prevention and Control (BCDC). All the data were put into dataset files by Microsoft Excel-2000 and analyzed with SPSS version 10.0 software.

RESULTSThe respective urban incidence and mortality rate were 29.06 and 2.21 per 100,000, while the case fatality rate was 7.62%. In contrast, the respective suburb incidence and mortality rate were 10.61 and 0.78 per 100,000, and the case fatality rate was 7.32%. No significant differences were found in demographic characteristics between the urban and suburb areas.

CONCLUSIONBeijing urban area suffered a more serious SARS epidemic than the suburb area in 2003.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Cities ; Female ; Health Occupations ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; epidemiology ; mortality ; Suburban Population ; Urban Population

Salivary analysis can be used to assess the severity of caries. Of the known salivary proteins, a paucity of information exists concerning the role of proteinase 3 (PR3), a serine protease of the chymotrypsin family, in dental caries. Whole, unstimulated saliva was collected from children with varying degrees of active caries and tested using a Human Protease Array Kit and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A significantly decreased concentration of salivary PR3 was noted with increasing severity of dental caries (P<0.01); a positive correlation (r=0.87; P<0.01; Pearson's correlation analysis) was also observed between salivary pH and PR3 concentration. In an antibacterial test, a PR3 concentration of 250 ng·mL⁻¹ or higher significantly inhibited Streptococcus mutans UA159 growth after 12 h of incubation (P<0.05). These studies indicate that PR3 is a salivary factor associated with the severity of dental caries, as suggested by the negative relationship between salivary PR3 concentration and the severity of caries as well as the susceptibility of S. mutans to PR3.
Child ; Dental Caries ; enzymology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Myeloblastin ; metabolism ; Saliva ; enzymology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the status of c-kit and PDGFRA mutations of GIST in a the large sample of Chinese patients.

METHODOne hundred and sixty-five cases were evaluated for the presence of c-kit and PDGFRA mutations. Exon 9, 11, 13, 17 of c-kit and exon 12, 18 of PDGFRA were analyzed by PCR amplification and direct sequencing.

RESULTSImmunohistochemical demonstrations of KIT (CD117) were seen in 94% of the cases (155/165). Overall, c-kit mutations were identified in 76.1% (118/155) of CD117 positive cases: 67.1% (104/155) involving exon 11, 7.1% (11/155) involving exon 9, 1.3% (2/155) involving exon 13 and 0.6% (1/155) involving exon 17. The c-kit exon 11 mutations were mostly heterogeneous and clustered in the classic "hot spot" at the 5' end of the exon, including in-frame deletion and point mutation. The second "hot spots" were internal tandem duplications (ITD) at the 3' end of the exon, which were associated with female patient, older age, stomach location and low mitotic counts. The exon 9 mutations correlated with a distinct subset of GISTs involving the small bowel of young male patients. A new point mutation of L641P was identified in exon 13. PDGFRA mutations were present in 50% (5/10) of CD117-negative GISTs, all involving exon 18 with the majority of mutations being D842V. One novel in-frame deletion of IMHD mutation at codon 843 - 846 with S847T was identified. GISTs with PDGFRA mutations were often larger tumors arising from the omentum/mesentery of young male patients with high risk of aggressive behavior.

CONCLUSIONSThe vast majority of GISTs in this study harbored c-kit and PDGFRA mutations, there were non-random relations between the gene mutation patterns and the locations of GISTs. It appears that Chinese GIST patients have some unique mutation patterns. It is necessary to evaluate the gene mutations status of GISTs to guide target therapy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Child ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; DNA, Neoplasm ; chemistry ; genetics ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha ; genetics ; metabolism ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

Objective:To identify and quantify spatiotemporal and kinematic gait parameters in a group of early-stage Parkinson′s disease (PD) patients compared with healthy subjects.Methods:Eight patients with PD (PD group, Hoehn-Yahr stage≤2.5) and seven age-matched healthy subjects (control group) were enrolled from the Department of Neurology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine between May 2017 and August 2018 for the study. The spatiotemporal and kinematic gait parameters were obtained by Vicon 3D optical motion analysis system under three conditions: single-task walking, dual-task walking and turning. The linear mixed model was used to compare the gait parameters between the two groups and analyze the interactive effects.Results:Arm swing amplitude in the PD group was lower than that in the control group ((0.63±0.15) m vs (0.89±0.27) m in single-task walking, (0.64±0.16) m vs (0.99±0.22) m in dual-task walking, β=-0.353, 95% CI -0.558--0.148, P=0.002). The PD group showed significantly higher arm swing asymmetry than the control group (12.48%±5.48% vs 6.96%±4.39% in single-task walking, 17.13%±4.05% vs 7.67%±5.23% in dual-task walking, β=8.992, 95% CI 4.148-13.836, P=0.001). A notable interactive effect of groups and task factors in arm swing asymmetry was found. The arm swing asymmetry of the PD group increased more than the control group in dual-task walking than in single-task walking (β=3.916, 95% CI 1.367-6.466, P=0.003). As for the gait characteristics of the lower limbs, stride length and step length of the PD group were lower than those of the control group ((1.10±0.17) m vs (1.31±0.10) m in stride length, β=-0.169, 95% CI -0.300--0.038, P=0.015; (0.55±0.09) m vs (0.65±0.04) m in step length, β=-0.081, 95% CI -0.150--0.013, P=0.023). For both groups, statistically significant differences were not observed in step width, stride length and step length between single-task and dual-task walking ( P>0.05). The PD group completed the turning process faster than the control group ((1.66±0.30) s vs (1.37±0.23) s, β=0.302, 95% CI 0.049-0.555, P=0.023). As for the rotation-onset pattern, no statistically significant differences were found between the PD and the control group for the onset of the head, trunk and pelvic rotation ( P>0.05). Participants started to rotate their heads before the pelvis in all groups (β=-0.060, 95% CI-0.107--0.014, P=0.011). Conclusions:The quantified gait parameters can more accurately reflect the gait characteristics of early PD. Patients with PD exhibited smaller arm swing magnitude, greater arm swing asymmetry, shorter stride length, and slower turning speed compared to the controls. Arm swing asymmetry further differs between subjects with early PD and controls under dual-task walking.

Purpose: This study assessed the correlation between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) biomarkers and the eighth American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system and the prognostic values of IgG antibodies against replication and transcription activator (Rta-IgG), IgA antibodies against Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 1, and BamH1 Z transactivator (Zta-IgA) in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients. Materials and Methods: Serum EBV antibody levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 435 newly diagnosed stage III-IVA NPC patients administered intensity-modulated radiation therapy±chemotherapy. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Results: Rta-IgG and Zta-IgA levels were positively correlated with the N category and clinical stage. Patients with high Rta-IgG levels (> 29.07 U/mL) showed a significantly inferior prognosis as indicated by PFS (77% vs. 89.8%, p=0.004), distant metastasis–free survival (DMFS) (88.3% vs. 95.8%, p=0.021), and local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) (91.2% vs. 98.3%, p=0.009). High Rta-IgG levels were also significantly associated with inferior PFS and LRFS in multivariable analyses. In the low-level EBV DNA group (≤ 1,500 copies/mL), patients with high Rta-IgG levels had significantly inferior PFS and DMFS (both p < 0.05). However, in the high-level EBV DNA group, Rta-IgG levels were not significantly associated with PFS, DMFS, and LRFS. In the advanced T category (T3-4) subgroup, high Rta-IgG levels were also significantly associated with inferior PFS, DMFS, and LRFS (both p < 0.05). Conclusion Rta-IgG and Zta-IgA levels were strongly correlated with the TNM classification. Rta-IgG level was a negative prognostic factor in locoregionally advanced NPC patients, especially those with advanced T category or low EBV DNA level.

Salivary analysis can be used to assess the severity of caries. Of the known salivary proteins, a paucity of information exists concerning the role of proteinase 3 (PR3), a serine protease of the chymotrypsin family, in dental caries.Whole, unstimulated saliva was collected from children with varying degrees of active caries and tested using a Human Protease Array Kit and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Asignificantly decreased concentration of salivaryPR3was notedwith increasing severity of dental caries (P,0.01); a positive correlation (r50.87; P,0.01; Pearson’s correlation analysis) was also observed between salivary pHand PR3 concentration. In an antibacterial test, a PR3 concentration of 250 ng?mL21 or higher significantly inhibited Streptococcus mutans UA159 growth after 12 h of incubation (P,0.05). These studies indicate that PR3 is a salivary factor associated with the severity of dental caries, as suggested by the negative relationship between salivary PR3 concentration and the severity of caries as well as the susceptibility of S. mutans to PR3.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of itraconazole for secondary prophylaxis of previous proven or probable invasive fungal infection (IFI) in patients undergoing chemotherapy or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in agranulocytosis state.

METHODSA phase IV prospective, open-label, multicenter trial was conducted to evaluate itraconazole (200 mg q12h intravenously d1-2, 200 mg/d) as secondary antifungal prophylaxis in patients (18-65 years old) undergoing chemotherapy or HSCT with previous proven or probable IFI. Itraconazole was started when patients' neutrophils＜1.5 × 10⁹/L, and stopped when chemotherapy patients' neutrophils ＞0.5 × 10⁹/L and stem cell transplant recipients' neutrophils＞1.0 × 10⁹/L. The primary end-point of the study was the incidence of proven, probable or possible IFI.

RESULTSSeventy one patients from November 2008 to September 2010 were enrolled in the trial. The median duration of itraconazole prophylaxis was 14 (4-35) days. No patients died of drug-related toxicity within trial. Five cases occurred IFI during the trial. The cumulative incidence of invasive fungal disease was 7.0%. One patient was withdrawn from the study due to treatment-related adverse events (liver malfunction and severe phlebitis).

CONCLUSIONItraconazole appears to be safe and effective for secondary prophylaxis of systemic fungal infection after chemotherapy and allogeneic HSCT. The observed incidence of 7.0% is considerably lower than the relapse rate reported in historical controls, suggesting that itraconazole is a promising prophylactic agent in this population.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antifungal Agents ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Itraconazole ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycoses ; prevention & control ; Prospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult