Objective To characterize CD4+CD8+double-positive T ( DPT) cells in PBMCs from patients with tuberculosis(TB).Methods PBMCs were isolated from peripheral blood samples collected from patients with TB and healthy subjects.The subsets and percentages of CD4+T, CD8+T and DPT cells in PBMCs were determined by flow cytometry.Cell surface markers ( CD45RO, CCR7 and CD25 ) and intracellular cytokines ( IFN-γand TNF-α) were detected directly and after ESAT-6/PPD stimulation.Re-sults Patients with TB showed a significantly increased DPT cells as compared with the cured individuals and healthy subjects (P<0.005).The levels of DPT cells were gradually decreased down to normal upon the treatment of pharmacotherapy.DPT cells expressed higher levet of CD25 than CD4+T and CD8+T cells ( P<0.005 ) . DPT cells could express more IFN-γand TNF-αupon the stimulation of ESAT-6/PPD (P<0.005).The analysis of memory phenotype indicated that DPT cells were memory T cells.Conclusion DPT cells in peripheral blood of the patients with tuberculosis played a critical role in protective immunity against tuberculosis.The alterations of DPT cells in PBMCs during the period of pharmacotherapy might be a potential indicator for the prognosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Objective To assess the impact of atrial fibrillation (AF) on the early outcomes of patients underoin aortic valve replacement (AVR). Methods The clinical data of 961 adult patients who underwent AVR in Department of Cardiothoracic Surery, Chanhai Hospital between Jan. 2000 and Dec. 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients with pre-operative AF were assined to AF roup (= 54) and the rest to non-AF roup (n = 907). Pre-, intra-, and postoperative findinswere compared to assess the impact of AF on early outcomes. Possible risk factors affectin the early mortality were identified usin loistic reression analysis. Results AF patients compared with non-AF patients had an elder age(P<0. 001), hiher NYHA functional classification ff (P = 0. 039), lower left ventricular ejection fraction (P = 0. 017), and hiher proportionof pulmonary hypertension (P < 0. 001). Accordinly, the postoperative early mortality, mechanical ventilation time, and incidences of low cardiac outputsyndrome, cardiac arrest/ventricular fibrillation, and acute renal failure were sinificantly hiher in the AF roup than those in the non-AF roup (P<0. 05). Loistic reression analysis showed that age, NYHA functional classification ff, AF and cardiopulmonary bypass time>120 min were independent risk factors for early mortality. Conclusion AF has a neative impact on the early outcomes of patients underoin AVR. AF patients have hiher pos-operative early mortality and more related complications compared with non-AF patients.

Objective To study the genotypes of 102 strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA)collected consecutively in 2002 in our hospital Method Multiplex PCR was used to genotype Staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec(SCCmec)element and its variants.Results Among 102 strains of MRSA,the genotypes were as follows:SCCmec-Ⅲ(94 strains),SCCmec-ⅢA(4 strains), SCCmec-Ⅳ(2 stains),SCCmec-Ⅰ(2 stains).Conclusion The predominant genotype of MRSA circulating in this hospital in 2002 was SCCmec-Ⅲ by multiplex PCR.

Objective:To provide a scientific basis for the standardized operation of clinical disinfection by comparing and analyzing the influence of disinfection times on the accuracy of digital intraoral scanning.Methods:The author prepared 10 brand-new intraoral scanning heads (Trios, 3Shape, Denmark), scan the same plaster standard dentition model after 1, 20, 40, and 60 times of pressure steam sterilization, and obtained the data of four groups of experimental groups A, B, C, D, and scan the model 5 times repeatedly after each disinfection cycle of each scanning head. A model scanner (D2000, 3Shape, Denmark) was used to scan the standard dentition model, and the scan results were used as the control group data. Vernier calipers and measurement software were used to measure the arch length (the distance between the mesial cheek tips of the first molars on both sides of the maxillary) and the front and back length (the distance from the tongue protrusion of the right incisor to the buccal tip of the first molar on the right of the upper jaw) of the plaster model and the data of the 4 experimental groups. The line distance results of the 4 groups of experimental groups were compared for statistical analysis, and the trueness and precision values of the 4 groups of experimental groups were compared for statistical analysis.Results:The length of the arch across the 4 experimental groups increased with the increase in the number of disinfection ( P<0.05), and there were statistical differences compared with the measurement results of the plaster model ( P<0.05); the differences in the length of the dental arch were not statistically significant ( P>0.05). The treness of the 4 experimental groups is statistically significant ( P<0.05), and the trueness was from high to low in order of group A [(114.85±3.75) μm], group B [(124.65±3.85) μm], group C [(131.45±3.04) μm] and group D [(144.64±3.34) μm]; the precision of the 4 experimental groups was not statistically significant ( P>0.05). Conclusions:The number of times of pressure steam sterilization can affect the accuracy of the scanning results of the digital intraoral scanner, and with the increase of the number of sterilizations, the error of the scanning results also tends to increase. The number of sterilizations has no effect on the repeatability of the digital scanning results. The increase in the number of times of pressure steam sterilization affects the accross of the arch but has no effect on the length of the dental arch, and the range of change of the length of the arch is within the clinically acceptable range. After 60 times of pressure steam sterilization, the accuracy of digital scan data can still meet clinical needs.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of cigarette smoke on the sexual function of male rats.

METHODSBased on Ozyurt's smoking model, we equally divided 30 male adult Sprague-Dawley rats into a control and a smoking group, and exposed the latter to cigarette smoke for 60 days. A week before the end of the experiment, we added 5 female rats to each group and observed their mating through 24-hour video surveillance. Sixty days later, all the rats were killed for the determination of the level of testosterone (T) in the plasma and the activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the corpus cavernosum, and Masson-dyeing image analysis of the penile tissue.

RESULTSCompared with the controls, the rats in the smoking group showed a significant reduction in the times of mating, the level of plasma T (P < 0.05) and the activity of NOS in the penile cavernous tissue (P < 0.05), but a slight increase in the collagen fibers and obvious changes in the blood sinuses.

CONCLUSIONCigarette smoke seriously affected penile erection in the experimental rats. The decrease in plasma T, NOS activity and the area of smooth muscle may be an important mechanism underlying their erectile dysfunction.

Animals ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Penile Erection ; Penis ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Smoke ; adverse effects ; Testosterone ; blood ; Tobacco ; adverse effects

Adult ; Bronchopulmonary Sequestration ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal

Methanol fuel is a most promising substitute for gasoline. It is scarcely reported about methanol-fueled exhaust on the health effect, neither about genotoxicity research between methanol- and gasoline-fueled exhaust. In the present study, the two kinds of exhaust were sampled directly from tailpipe at the same type bus, the same state, L5178Y thymidine kinase (TK) gene mutation assay was used to investigate their genotoxicity at the same dose range, and compared with micronucleus and comet assay. The results showed that the genotoxicity of gasoline-fueled exhaust is stronger than that of methanol-fueled exhaust, while the cytotoxicity of methanol-fueled exhaust is stronger than that of gasoline-fueled exhaust at dose range. The study demonstrated that L5178Y TK gene mutation assay is more sensitive than micronucleus and comet assay.
Gasoline ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Methanol ; adverse effects ; Motor Vehicles ; Mutagenicity Tests ; Mutation ; Thymidine Kinase ; genetics ; Vehicle Emissions ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo study the changes of platelet in May-Hegglin anomaly (MHA) and the molecular pathogenesis mechanism.

METHODSPeripheral blood was drawn from the MHA proband, her father and her uncle. Platelet count and morphology were examined by automatic blood cell counter and microscopy, respectively. The platelet membrane protein was examined by flow cytometry. Membrane antibodies were determined by ELISA. PCR was used to amplify the exons 25, 31 approximately 32, 38 and 40 of the MYH 9 gene in the MHA patient and her diseased father. Furthermore, PCR products were sequenced, a specific point mutation was identified and inclusions (Dohle's body) in the neutrophil was detected by indirect immunofluorescence technique.

RESULTSIt was proved that in MHA patients, platelet count was higher by cell counter than by microscope (P < 0.01). Giant platelet was 94% but platelet membrane proteins (CD41, CD61, CD42A, CD42b) were in normal range. Membrane antibodies was undetectable. An A5521G mutation (GAG-->AAG) in the exon 38 was found in the proband and her diseased father, resulting in a characteristic change of NMMHC-A1841 (Glutamic acid-->Arginine), which was not found in other members of the family and in normal controls. Spindle-like inclusions with fluorescence were clearly displayed in neutrophil cytoplasm.

CONCLUSIONThe molecular pathogenesis mechanism of May-Hegglin anomaly is the mutation in MYH 9 gene.

Adult ; Base Sequence ; Blood Platelets ; metabolism ; pathology ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Granulocytes ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Inclusion Bodies ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Molecular Motor Proteins ; genetics ; Mutation ; Myosin Heavy Chains ; genetics ; Pedigree ; Platelet Count ; Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; Thrombocytopenia ; blood ; genetics ; pathology

OBJECTIVEPrader-Willi syndrome (PWS) with different pathogenesis has different clinical manifestations, prognosis and genetic risks. Pathogenesis of the disease cannot be explained by conventional diagnostic method MS-PCR. This study employed methylation-specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MS-MLPA) for the diagnosis of PWS in order to explore the role of this method in the diagnosis and assessment of pathogenesis of PWS.

METHODSA system antithetical method was employed. Peripheral blood samples were collected from 30 children for MS-PCR. Of the 30 children, 16 were diagnosed with PWS by MS-PCR and the other 14 showed negative MS-PCR. MS-MLPA kit Me028 was used to detect DNA extracted from the 30 samples.

RESULTSThe results showed by MS-MLPA and MS-PCR were identical. MS-MLPA demonstrated that 4 cases were maternal uniparental disomy and 12 cases were paternal dfeletion in 15q11-q13 region.

CONCLUSIONSMS-MLPA is a reliable method of genetic testing for PWS which can distinguish pathogenesis of PWS.

Child, Preschool ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; methods ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prader-Willi Syndrome ; diagnosis ; genetics

Objective To identify the epidemic characteristics and risk factors of an emerging infectious disease-severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) in Hubei province.Methods Active surveillance program on SFTS was set up in monitoring sites-hospitals,at the township level or above,in Suizhou,Huanggang and Wuhan from January to December,2010.Specific surveillance program on SFTS was launched across the province in hospitals above the county level.Cases that matched the definition of surveillance case were identified and reported to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCs).Cases were interviewed and their blood samples collected and detected using PCR and virus isolation.We also conducted serum antibody surveys among healthy population and livestock and surveillance on vector ticks in those high-epidemic areas.Results 188 cases that matched the definition of surveillance case and 21 deaths were reported in 11 cities,32 countries and 100 towns in 2010,with an incidence rate of 0.33/106.The fatality rate was 11.2％.Data showed that the patients were from hilly areas at the altitude elevated between 28-940 meters.The epidemic period was between April and December with the peak from May to September.The youngest case was an 11-year old,while the eldest was 81 with median age as 56-year old.95.3 ％ of the patients were farmers.All Patients did not have the history of traveling,two weeks before the onset of SFTS.93.6％ of the patients engaged in different kind of work which was associated with agriculture.52.8％ of the patients had been exposed to ticks.22.0％ of the patients had been bitten by ticks.Skin injury was found in 64.2％ of the patients.Samples from 129 cases (68.6％) were collected and detected,with 67.4％ of them (87 cases) showed positive by Real time-PCR for SFTS virus.An elevation in antibody titer by a factor of four or evidence of sero-conversion was observed in 11 patients; SFTS virus was isolated from 2 patients.The total antibody positive rates were 3.8％,55.0％ (6/11 ),36.7％ (2/3) and 80.0％ (4/5) respectively in healthy population,dogs,sheep and cows.Ticks from grass,cattle and sheep were detected positive by Real time-PCR.Conclusion Most cases of SFTS in Hubei were infected by SFTS virus,and cases of livestock were infected by SFTS virus.Ticks might serve as an important vector.Skin injury,exposure to tick bites seemed to be the risk factors.