Objective To explore the risk factors of surgical treatment for children’ s tethered cord syndrome. Methods Retrospective-ly analyzed the clinical data of 43 tethered cord syndrome children who had undergone surgical treatment from January 2007 to December 2009,and to evaluate the efficacy of the surgical treatment. Meanwhile,The Cox proportional hazards regression model was adopted to evaluate the surgical efficacy. Results 28 children received effctive curative effect after the surgical treatment in 43children with tethered cord syn-drome,the total effective rate was 65. 12%. Cox medol showed that tight filum terminale(P<0. 05), operation methods (P<0. 05)and the duration of the disease(P<0. 05)were independent risk factors of surgical treatment for children’s tethered cord syndrome. Conclusion The operativeefficacy of children’ s tethered cord syndrome were influence by the tight filum terminale,operation methods and the duration of the disease.

Objective To retrospectively study pathological characteristics of 1561 patients with colorectal cancer in Nanchang area.Methods Analysis was made regarding the results of colonoscopy and pathological examination in patients from 1990 to 2004.Results Totally 21 853 patients received colonoscopy during the period,and 1561 patients were diagnosed as colorectal cancer.The overall diag- nostic yield was 7.1%.The average age diagnosed was 52 years old.Ratio of male to female was 1.4: 1.The lesion located in rectum accounted for 43.4%.The percentage of cancer in left colon was higher than that in right side (30.5% vs 26.1%,P＜0.05).The proportion (57.5%) of patients with rectal can-cer under 30 years old was the highest in all patients with rectal cancer.Cancer located in sigmoid colon and left side of the colon increased with age.Well and moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma was observed in 83.6% of the patients.Comparing the clinical characteristics of every five years,increasing diagnostic yield was noted from 1990 to 1999,hut the decreased trend was found in last five years.The propor- tions of rectal cancer was also increased in the last fifteen years,and overall proportions of cancer located in left side of colon was decreased.Conclusions The overall diagnostic yield of colorectal cancer in Nanchang area was lower than other province,especially rectal cancer.The proportion of cancer of left side of colon was increased with age.The well and moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma was found increasing in the last fifteen years, while the poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma was decreased.

Objective To assess the distribution of vaginal microflora in healthy women and investigate their cognition of lower reproductive tract infection-related knowledge as well as personal hygiene habits and character of behavior in seeking medical treatment. Methods Total of 1660 healthy women who had physical check-ups at the Medical Center of Renji Hospital were selected and received gynecologic examination, as well as routine examination, pH examination and bacterial culture of the vaginal discharge. In addition, 860 of them were randomly selected for questionnaire survey, in which reproductive tract infection -related knowledge and personal hygiene habits as well as behavior in seeking medical treatment were involved. Results Among the 1660 eensused women, vaginal average pH was 4. 16±0.21. The positive rate of Candida in vaginal discharge routine examination was 3.86% (64/1660), which was lower than that in aerobes culture 7.71% (128/1660). Candida alhicans was the most populous species 78.9% (101/128) ,followed by 7.8% (10/128) and 7.0% (9/128) for the Candida glabrata and Candida krusei respectively. The most populous species of vaginal microflora were hemolytic streptococcus A (63.80%, 1059/1660), Staphylococcus epidermidis (14.28%, 237/1660), and Enterococcus faecalis (D) group ( 11.44%, 190/1660). The questionnaire survey showed that 88.4% (760/860) of 860 women took active treatment when feeling unwell, 92.1% (792/860) of them had good hygiene practices, and only 21.2% (182/860) had the habit of vaginal douching. In addition, 50.0% (430/860) of them had the desire to obtain reproductive health knowledge through out-patient consultation. Conclusions Vulvovaginal Candida disease ranks the first in all types of vaginitis, among which, Candida albicans is the most populous species followed by the Candida glabrata and Candida krusei. Hemolytic streptococcus A and Staphylococcus epidermidis are the most common species of vaginal mieroflora in healthy women. The censused women have high awareness of reproductive health care and pay mueh attention to common gynecologic diseases such as lower reproductive tract infection. Nevertheless, we should strengthen the public education of reproductive health-related knowledge.

Objective:To study the combined use of endoscopic balloon dilation with endoscopic biliary brushings in diagnosis of bile duct strictures.Methods:A prospective single center study was conducted at the Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. All patients with suspected malignant bile duct strictures shown on CT or MRI imaging from January 2018 to January 2020 were reviewed. All patients gave informed consent to the endascopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography procedures. Their clinical and follow-up data were analyzed. All patients underwent endoscopic balloon dilation of bile duct strictures. Before and after balloon dilation, biliary brush cytology was performed, and the results were used to classify the patients into the control group and the experimental group. Pathological examination of the brush cytology samples was carried out by a single chief pathologist. Presence of cancer cells or significant heterogeneous cells indicated a positive brush cytology test. Negative patients who still highly consider cholangiocarcinoma and agree to surgery and whose gross specimen is confirmed to be malignant after surgery should be considered as false negative by brush examination; it is difficult to judge that patients with cholangiocarcinoma have progress after 2 months of follow-up should be considered as false negative by brush examination. Any progression of disease indicated that the brush test was wrong and the test was again classified as false negative. Only when there was no progression of strictures was the possibility of a benign biliary stricture being considered. The advantage test (McNemar test) was used to analyze the difference between the two diagnostic methods.Results:Of 39 patients who were included in this study, there were 26 males and 13 females, with an age of (68.0 ± 5.2) years. Cholangiocarcinoma was diagnosed by histopathology, surgery or at 2 months follow-up in 35 patients. In the control group, 17 patients had a positive brush test (sensitivity rate was 48.6%, 17/35). In the experimental group, 26 patients had a positive brush test (sensitivity rate was 74.2%, 26/35). In addition, 2 patients in the control group had a positive brush test, while in the experimental group, a negative brush test. A total of 28 patients were positive in the two groups. The sensitivity rate of the brush test was 80.0% (28/35). There were significant differences between the two groups ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Endoscopic balloon dilation combined with endoscopic biliary brushings improved the sensitivity of pathological diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma, and endoscopic biliary brushings before and after balloon dilation improved the sensitivity of diagnosis.

Objective To investigate the correlated pathogenetic factors and vaginal local immunity in vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). Methods A case control study was conducted to compare VVC group (60 cases) with normal group (60 cases). All of the women filled up the specific questionnaires. Routine examination, pH test and bacterial culture were done on the vaginal discharge. Cytokines of the vaginal lavage were measured by enzyme linked immanosorbent assay. Results (1) Outcomes of the questionnaires: there was no significant difference between the two groups in educational background,knowledge of gynecologic infection, history of gynecologic infection, hygienic habit, sex life, or use of medicine (P >0. 05). The incidence of chronic cervicitis in normal group (43%, 26/60) was higher than in VVC group (22%, 13/60; P <0.05). (2) There was no difference in vaginal pH between the two groups ( P > 0. 05 ). (3) Detection rate of candida albicans by vaginal discharge routine examination was 72% (43/60). (4) The concentrations of interleukin (IL) 2, and IL-4 in vaginal lavage did not show significant difference between the two groups ( P > 0. 05 ), but the concentrations of human defensin 5,human beta-defensin (HBD) 1, and HBD2 in WC group [(0.94±0.44) mg/L, (3.1±0.4) μg/L,(10±6) μg/L] were higher than normal group (P < 0.05). Conclusions VVC is a common vulvovaginitis. There is no significant correlation between the incidence of VVC and educational background,knowledge of gynecologic infection, history of gynecologic infection, hygienic habit, sex life, or use of medicine in the child-bearing period. Human defensin may be closely correlated with the pathogenesis of VVC.

Objective To investigate the profile of local immunity of vagina and the immune defense mechanisms against lower genital tract infections. Methods Vaginal lavage was collected from healthy women and patients of vulvovaginal candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis, Trichomonol vaginitis, human papilloma virus infection(VVC), and chlamydia trachomatis infection. Each group included 60 cases. The level of interleukin (IL) 2,4,5, 13,8 and human defensin 5 (HD5) were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Results (1) Cytokine of helper T cell 1(Th1): the level of IL-2 between healthy women and VVC/ bacterial vaginosis (BV)/ trichomonol vaginitis (TV)/ chlamydia trachomatis (CT) patients had no significant difference. The IL-2 level(96±33 )×10-3 pg/L of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection patients was significantly higher than that of healthy women( P<0.05). (2)Cytokine of helper T cell 2 (Th2) : the level of IL-4 between healthy women and VVC/CT patients had no significant difference. The level of IL-5 between healthy women and BV patients had no significant difference. The IL-13 level(42±15)×10-3 pg/L of TV patients was significantly higher than that of healthy women (30±29)×10-3 pg/L (P<0.05). The IL-4 level (103±28)×10-3 pg/L of HPV infection patients was significantly higher than that of healthy women (36±22)×10-3 pg/L (P<0. 05 ). (3) IL-8 : the IL-8 level (5.8± 2.7) pg/L of TV infection patients was significantly higher than that of healthy women (2. 6±2.4) pg/L (P<0.05). The level of IL-8 between healthy women and BV patients had no significant difference. (4)HD5:the HD5 level of TV , BV, VVC, HPV and CT infection patients were significantly higher than that of healthy women (P<0.05). Conclusions (1) HD5 plays an important role in the defence of vaginal epithelial cell. (2) Th2 may be more important than Thl in lower genital tract infections.(3) IL-8 plays an important role in extrinsic source infections.

Atropa belladonna is a medicinal plant and main commercial source of tropane alkaloids (TAs) including scopolamine and hyoscyamine, which are anticholine drugs widely used clinically. Based on the high throughput transcriptome sequencing results, the digital expression patterns of UniGenes representing 9 structural genes (ODC, ADC, AIH, CPA, SPDS, PMT, CYP80F1, H6H, TRII) involved in TAs biosynthesis were constructed, and simultaneously expression analysis of 4 released genes in NCBI (PMT, CYP80F1, H6H, TRII) for verification was performed using qPCR, as well as the TAs contents detection in 8 different tissues. Digital expression patterns results suggested that the 4 genes including ODC, ADC, AIH and CPA involved in the upstream pathway of TAs, and the 2 branch pathway genes including SPDS and TRII were found to be expressed in all the detected tissues with high expression level in secondary root. While the 3 TAs-pathway-specific genes including PMT, CYP80F1, H6H were only expressed in secondary roots and primary roots, mainly in secondary roots. The qPCR detection results of PMT, CYP80F1 and H6H were consistent with the digital expression patterns, but their expression levels in primary root were too low to be detected. The highest content of hyoscyamine was found in tender stems (3.364 mg x g(-1)), followed by tender leaves (1.526 mg x g(-1)), roots (1.598 mg x g(-1)), young fruits (1.271 mg x g(-1)) and fruit sepals (1.413 mg x g(-1)). The highest content of scopolamine was detected in fruit sepals (1.003 mg x g(-1)), then followed by tender stems (0.600 mg x g(-1)) and tender leaves (0.601 mg x g(-1)). Both old stems and old leaves had the lowest content of hyoscyamine and scopolamine. The gene expression profile and TAs accumulation indicated that TAs in Atropa belladonna were mainly biosynthesized in secondary root, and then transported and deposited in tender aerial parts. Screening Atropa belladonna secondary root transcriptome database will facilitate unveiling the unknown enzymatic reactions and the mechanisms of transcriptional control.
Alkaloids ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Atropa belladonna ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; genetics ; Hyoscyamine ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; genetics ; metabolism ; Scopolamine Hydrobromide ; metabolism ; Tropanes ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of astragalus (As) on cytokines in patients undergoing heart valve replacement (HVR).

METHODSThirty patients undergoing HVR were randomized into the As group and the control group. Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was set up routinely and to the As group, As injection (40 mL, 10 mL containing 2 g of crude drug) was added into the prime solution just before CPB. Blood samples were collected at different time points during and after CPB for cytokines determination, including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8 and IL-10 by ELISA.

RESULTSAll the indexes measured were insignificantly different between groups before skin incision, they began to increase by the end of CPB (P < 0.05), reached the peak 3 h after CPB and then decreased gradually, TNF-alpha returned to the baseline level 24 h after operation. Meanwhile, levels of IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 decreased obviously but still above the baseline. Comparisons between groups at different time points showed that levels of IL-6 were not different significantly (P > 0.05), those of IL-10 were higher at all time points, and TNF-alpha and IL-8 at 3 h, 6 h and 12 h after CPB were significantly lower in the As group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAstragalus may decrease the inflammation cytokine promoting factors, and increase the level of anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10), so it could attenuate the inflammation reaction in patients after HVR.

Adult ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Cytokines ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation ; Humans ; Male ; Postoperative Period ; Time Factors

Objective To investigate the clinical value of 18 F?FDG PET/CT in staging multiple myeloma ( MM) and evaluating the glucose metabolic activity of MM. Methods A total of 25 MM patients ( 13 males, 12 females, age:39-67 years) from May 2010 to April 2015 were enrolled in this retrospective study. The SUVmax of each patient was recorded. D?S plus staging according to 18 F?FDG PET/CT was com?pared with the traditional D?S staging. The SUVmax and the percentage of plasmacytes of bone marrow of phase Ⅲ and non?phase Ⅲ ( phaseⅠand Ⅱ) according to D?S plus staging were compared. Two?sample t test and Wilcoxon rank sum test were used to analyze the data. Results In 25 MM patients, the range of SUVmax of lesions was 1.8-12?0 and the mean value was 5.15±2.74. According to D?S staging, the numbers of patients with phase Ⅰ,Ⅱ andⅢwere 7, 4 and 14, respectively. While the numbers were 3, 1 and 21 by D?S plus staging. Based on the D?S plus staging system, stages of 7 patients ( 28%, 7/25 ) were changed. According to the D?S plus staging system, the SUVmax between phaseⅢand non?phaseⅢpatients was significantly different (5.75±2.54 vs 3.00±0?70; t=2.12, P<0.05), while the percentage of plasma?cytes of bone marrow between the 2 groups had no significant difference ( 17. 50%( 4. 25%-41. 75%) vs 11?15%(10.25%-36.57%);z=0.05, P>0.05). Conclusion 18F?FDG PET/CT is of clinical importance for MM staging and metabolic activity assessment of MM.

OBJECTIVETo prepare and characterize monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the recombinant nucleocapsid (N) protein of 3 human coronaviruses SARS-CoV, 229E and OC43 and study the antigenic relationship between the 3 N proteins.

METHODSBALB/c mice were immunized with the recombinant N proteins of SARS-CoV, 229E and OC43 to obtain the mAbs by means of hybridoma. Screening and identification of the mAbs were performed using indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blotting and indirect immunofluorescence assay. Cross-reactivity between the N proteins of the 3 coronaviruses was analyzed with the prepared mAbs.

RESULTSThe mAbs against the recombinant N proteins of SARS-CoV, 229E and OC43 were obtained, which reacted specifically with the corresponding viral N protein as shown by indirect ELISA, Western blotting and indirect immunofluorescence assay. No cross-reactivity was found between the 3 N proteins.

CONCLUSIONThe prepared mAbs against the recombinant N proteins may provide valuable assistance in studying antigenic relationships of N proteins between the 3 human coronaviruses.

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; immunology ; Blotting, Western ; Coronavirus 229E, Human ; genetics ; immunology ; Coronavirus OC43, Human ; genetics ; immunology ; Cross Reactions ; immunology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Nucleocapsid Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Recombinant Proteins ; immunology ; SARS Virus ; genetics ; immunology