Death-associated protein kinase (DAPK) is a muhidomain calcium/calmodulin (CaM)-de- pendent Ser/Thr protein kinase with an important role in apoptosis regulation and tumor suppression. DAPK may serve as a diagnostic and prognostic tool to evaluate disease severity, progression, metastatic rate, and re- currence, and may serve as a target for therapeutic intervention.

Objective: Blue dye was one of the methods for sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer, but the success rate was affected by multiple factors. This study was to determine the related factors contributing to the success of sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer using blue dye method. Method:From Jan. 2007 to Aug.2008, sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed by periareolarly injecting 1% methylene blue in 141 breast cancer patients followed by axillary clearance. Pathological diagnosis was performed for all of the lymph nodes by conventional HE staining. Unconditional logistic regression was applied to make both univariate and multiva-riate analysis. Results:Sentinel lymph node was successfully detected in 126 patients. But the biopsy was failed in the 15 patients. The success rate was 89.4% and the false negative rate was 6.82%. Univariate analysis showed that success rate of biopsy was in association with patients' age, body mass index (BMI), tumor size, preoperative axillary node's status, pathological grade as well as ≥4 positive axillary lymph nodes involved. Multivariate analysis indicated that the patients'age (OR=4.587, P=0.024), BMI (OR=4.882, P=0.011) as well as 4 or more of the axillary nodes involved (OR=3.143, P=0.013) were independent predicting factors for the success of sentinel lymph node biopsy. Conclusions:Methylene blue dyeing is a reliable method for sentinel lymph node biopsy. The rate of success is associated with patients' age, BMI as well as the number of metastases in axillary lymph nodes.

OBJECTIVETo control the quality of the product, quantitative fingerprint was used to evaluate the composition of the amino acids in the Xingnao Tongluo injection.

METHODThe method of the quantitative fingerprint to the amino acids composition was established through AccQ Tag precolumn derivatization. The quality was evaluated by the quantitative test of the amino acids and the similarity in ten batches.

RESULTThe Xingnao Tongluo injection contained 12 amino acids and the contents of these amino acids were stable. All the ten batches of the samples had similarity of more than 0.90.

CONCLUSIONThe method was accurate, feasible and could be a simple and effective way to evaluate the quality of the traditional Chinese medicine.

Amino Acids ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Quality Control

Objective To explore the plague epidemical trend of nearly a 10 years data in Qinghai province to provide basis for making the prevention and control measures. Method The regional distribution and time distribution of animal and human plague, monitoring and plague foci of survey data in Qinghai from 2001 to 2010 were analyzed with Excel software 2003. Results In Qinghai province, a total of 167 strains of Yersinia pestis were isolated from infected animals and insects in 10 years. Yersinia pestis was mainly distributed in Wulan,Delinha, Geermu, and Tianjun, along the Qinghai-Xizang railway. Human plague was occurred every year from 2001 to 2010 except 2002, 2007, 2008, and 2010. In the 10 years, there were 37 plague cases and 16 of these cases died, the mortality was 43.24％. The plague cases were mainly distributed in Nangqian, Qumalai, Chenduo,Zhiduo, Xinghai, Tongde, Tianjun, Wulan and Qilian. And these cases were found mostly in the period from May to October, especially in the period from August to October. Major clinical type of the plague cases was lung-type (62.16％,23/37). Conclusions The plague epidemic situation in Qinghai province is still severe, animal plague occurred year after year, and human plague outbreaks occasionally. Monitoring and early warning in the key areas should be strengthened, and the comprehensive measures of plague prevention and control should be carried out to reduce the incidence and prevalence of plague.

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is one of the most adverse obstetric outcomes.Our aim is to detect the risks of multilevel PPH in different cesarean section (CS) groups [including nulliparous CS with indications,nulliparous CS without indications,repeat cesarean (RC),vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC),cesarean after vaginal birth (CAVB)].We conducted a retrospective cohort study,and the data on 127 145 women collected from January 2014 to May 2016 and from 35 tertiary hospitals in Shanxi province,China,were reviewed.Based on the measuring results of PPH,an ordered logistic regression model was used to analyze the adjusted PPH risks for each of the CS groups,and comparisons were drawn between them.Finally,a total of 99 066 nulliparous (77.92％) and 28 079 multiparous (22.08％) women were observed.The number of CS cases was 61 117,and the rate for CS was 48.07％.A total of 10 029 women did not show indications for CS and accounted for 16.41％ of the CS parturient,whereas 9103 women underwent a repeated cesarean,with a CS frequency of 14.89％.The number of VBAC cases was 989,whose rate was 9.88％ in prior CS women.The number (proportions) of PPH was 3658 (2.88％) in LI (PPH volume:≥900 and ＜1500 mL),520 (0.41％) in L2 (PPH volume:≥1500 and＜2100 mL),and 201 (0.16％) in L3 (PPH volume:≥2100 mL).The Ln (n=1,2,3,etc.) represented the increasing order of PPH severity.In the adjusted results,compared with spontaneous vaginal delivery (SVD) as the reference group,in the adjusted result for nulliparous,there was a decreased PPH risk in CS with indications (OR:2.32;CI:2.04-2.62),which was lower than that of CS without indications (OR:2.50;CI:2.01-2.96).The highest PPH risk in all subgroups (i.e.nulliparous and multiparous groups) was observed in the RC (OR:3.61;CI:3.16-4.17),which was nearly twice higher than that of the VBAC (OR:1.82;CI:1.33-2.52).CAVB (OR:1.03;CI:0.65-1.62) showed no significant difference with the reference group.Thus,we deemed that CS should be avoided in nulliparous pregnancies unless indicated,to prevent or reduce the rates for the use of RC or VBAC which are high risks of severe PPH to the parturient women.

OBJECTIVETo detect the expressions of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sI- CAM-1) in the seminal plasma of infertile men and explore the role of inflammatory cytokines in male immune infertility.

METHODSBased on the results of the sperm-bound antibody immunobead test, 123 males with clinically suspected infertility were divided into an immune infertility group (n = 41), other infertility group A (n = 37), and other infertility group B (n = 45). The immune infertility patients were further subdivided into a leukocyte-positive and a leukocyte-negative group according to the results of leukocyte peroxidase staining. The control group included 31 males confirmed to be fertilein the clinic. Statistical analyses were conducted on the differences in inflammatory cytokines expressions and main parameters in the seminal plasma among different groups. The seminal liquefaction time was measured by visual and microscopic observation, sperm concentration and motility detected using the computer-assisted sperm analysis system, sperm viability determined by hypotonic swelling assay, and the expression levels of IL-6 and sICAM-1 meas- ured by ELISA.

RESULTSThe infertility groups showed significantly lowers perm viability (P < 0.05) and progressive motility (P < 0.01) than the fertile control, but no remarkable differences from the latter in sperm concentration (P > 0.05) and semen liquefaction time (P > 0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed in seminal parameters between the immune infertility group and other infertility groups (P > 0.05). The IL-6 and sICAM-1 levels in the seminal plasma were extremely significantly higher in the im- mune infertility group ([37.92 ± 17.01] ng/L and [89.15 ± 41.82] ng/ml), other infertility group A ([22.23 ± 13.77] ng/L and [67.81 ± 33.24] ng/ml), and other infertility group B ([18.75 ± 14.32] ng/L and [53.25 ± 27.09] ng/ml) than in the normal control group ([9.47 ± 5.76] ng/L and [19.46 ± 9.77] ng/ml) (P <0.01) , with remarkable differences between the immune infertility group and the other two infertility groups (P < 0.05). The leukocyte-positive patients showed significantly increased levels of IL-6 ([49.25 ± 21.46] ng/L) and sICAM-1 ([104.36 ± 46.41] ng/ml) as compared with the leukocyte-negative ones ([31.38 ± 15.54] ng/Land [80.38 ± 35.52] ng/ml) (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIL-6 and sICAM-1 in the seminalplasma are involved in male immune infertility.

Biomarkers ; analysis ; Cytokines ; analysis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; classification ; immunology ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; analysis ; Interleukin-6 ; analysis ; Male ; Semen ; chemistry ; immunology ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Spermatozoa

OBJECTIVETo observe the protective effect and mechanism of intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (IHH) on cardiomyocytes induced by hydrogen dioxide.

METHODSMale guinea pigs were divided randomly into two groups (n = 10): intermittent hypoxia group (IHH), and control group (non-IHH). The IHH guinea pigs were exposed to a simulated 5,000 m high altitude and hypoxia in hypobaric chamber for 28 d, 6 h/d. The control guinea pigs were kept in the same environment as IHH except hypoxia exposure. Cardiomyocytes were enzymatically isolated from left ventricle of non-CIHH or CIHH guinea pigs. The contractile was assessed in guinea pigs by a video-based motion edge-detection system. The contents and activities of malondialdehyde(MDA), lactate hydrogenase(LDH) and antioxidant enzymes were evaluated by using biochemical methods.

RESULTS1. Hydrogen peroxide could induce contractile and diastole dysfunction, the latent period was longer in IHH cardiac myocytes. 2. After hydrogen peroxide(300 micromol/L, 10 min) perfusion, LDH and MDA contents in supernatant increased significantly in non-IHH and CIHH cardiomyocytes (P < 0.01), Whereas the contents of MDA and LDH in IHH cardiomyocytes were lower than those in non-IHH cardiomyocytes (P < 0.01). 3. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were significantly increased in the myocardium of IHH guinea pigs, after hydrogen peroxide (300 micromol/L, 10 min) perfusion, SOD and CAT activities decreased significantly in non-IHH and CIHH cardiomyocytes (P < 0.01), whereas the activities of SOD and CAT in CIHH cardiomyocytes were still higher than those in non-IHH cardiomyocytes.

CONCLUSIONIHH had a protective effect on cardiomyocytes injury induced by hydrogen peroxide, which might relate with its antioxidation effects.

Altitude ; Animals ; Catalase ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Guinea Pigs ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; pharmacology ; Hypoxia ; metabolism ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the MRI manifestation of testicular tumor and the value of MRI in the diagnosis of the disease.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 23 cases of pathologically confirmed testicular tumor, and observed the morphological characteristics, signals and surrounding conditions of the tumor using plain and enhanced MRI scanning.

RESULTSOf the 23 cases, seminoma was identified in 7, mixed germinoma in 3, teratoma in 3, endodermal sinus tumor in 2, epidermoid in 1, Leydig cell tumor in 1, leucoma in 1, nonspecific inflammatory mass in 3, and tuberculosis in 2. MRI revealed the precise locations and specific characteristics of

CONCLUSIONBased on MRI findings and clinical manifestation, most testicular tumors can be diagnosed correctly.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Carcinoma, Embryonal ; diagnosis ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Endodermal Sinus Tumor ; diagnosis ; Germinoma ; Humans ; Infant ; Leydig Cell Tumor ; diagnosis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Seminoma ; diagnosis ; Teratoma ; diagnosis ; Testicular Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Compound Tongtu Granule (CTG) on intestinal permeability in elderly sepsis patients.

METHODSEighty elderly sepsis patients were randomly assigned to the experimental group and the control group by randomized double blinded method, 40 in each group. On the basis of conventional antiseptic treatment program, patients in the experimental group took CTG, while those in the control group took placebos. The dosage for CTG or placebos was 14.3 g each package, one package each time, twice daily for 14 successive days. Patients' abdominal symptoms and signs, levels of serum inflammatory factors (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and procalcitonin), levels of plasma endotoxin, and the intestinal permeability (IP, represented by urinary lactulose/mannitol excretion rate) were compared between the two groups before and after treatment.

RESULTSAfter 14-day treatment, patients in the experimental group had improved abdominal symptoms, increased frequency of defecation, significantly decreased levels of plasma endotoxin and IP, when compared with the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCTG could improve the intestinal barrier function in elderly sepsis patients.

Aged ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Calcitonin ; metabolism ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; Defecation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Endotoxins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Intestines ; metabolism ; Permeability ; Protein Precursors ; metabolism ; Sepsis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology