Background and purpose: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a new minimally invasive method in the dignosis for mediastinal lymph nodes. This study was to evaluate the diagnostic yield of EBUS-TBNA for mediastinal lymph nodes. Methods: Twenty patients with mediastinal lymph nodes found by CT underwent the dignosis by EBUS-TBNA form April 1st 2009 to July 16th 2009. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy of EBUS-TBNA were evaluated. Results: Twenty patients with 37 lymph node groups were studied. Overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy of EBUS-TBNA for diagnostic were 84.62%, 100%, 100%, 77.78% and 90.00%, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy for cancer was 100%. The operation time was 11.9min per group in average with no serious complication. The median length of hospital stay was 1 (range from 1 to 17 days) day after operation. There were significant differences in the average operation time between the first three patients and the others (36.25 min vs. 7.76 min; z=3.247, P=0.001). Conclusion: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration proved to be a safe procedure with a high yield for the diagnosis of mediastinal lymph nodes.

Three bactreiophages of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated from sewage and named as PaP1, PaP2 and PaP3. All belong to double-strand DNA phages, their genome is about 47kb, 34kb and 24kb respectively. The titre (pfu/mL) of three phages is respectively 109, 1011 and 1011, PaP1 is lytic phage, both PaP2 and PaP3 are lysogenic. Under electron microscope, All show icosahedral heads with diameter of 70nm, 55nm and 65nm respectively. PaPl belongs taxonomically to Myoviridae, and both of PaP2 and PaP3 belong to Pedoviridae. The phage-re-sistance and substitution phenomenon of the resistant flora for the sensitive were observed, and the mutation frequence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistant to the phage is about 1.4 ? 10-7 ~ 7.9 ?10-7 determined by end-point -titer method.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the survival status and prognostic factors of patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer.

METHODSThe survival rate and prognostic factors of 112 patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer, who had complete follow-up data, were retrospectively assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariate regression analysis.

RESULTSThe median survival time of the 112 patients was 18.25 months. The 1-, 2-, 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 60.8%, 35.0%, 20.3% and 4.8%, respectively. Univariate analysis demonstrated that gender, age, primary tumor site, chemotherapy and pathological types had no significant correlation with the overall survival. But the treatment of primary tumor, time of liver metastasis, gross type of tumor, resection of liver metastases and clinical stage status were all independently related with the prognosis of patients. Multivariate regression analysis showed that resection of liver metastases, gross type of tumor and clinical stage were key factors affecting the prognosis of patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer.

CONCLUSIONPatients with advanced stage, infiltrative gross type of colorectal cancer should be followed-up closely so that liver metastases from the cancer can be diagnosed and treated early. Resection of both the primary tumor and liver metastasis may improve survival of the patients.

Adenocarcinoma ; pathology ; secondary ; surgery ; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; pathology ; secondary ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colonic Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; secondary ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Rectal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult

Objective:To detect the expression of BTLA on Treg cells of HIV-infected patients and investigate the role of BTLA in HIV infection.Methods: Forty-four HIV-1-infected patients (twenty-four early HIV infection,fourteen chronic HIV-infected patients with CD4+ T counts> 200 cells/μl,AIDS patients with CD4+T counts<200 cells/μl) and nine healthy people served as normal controls were selected to detect the expression of BTLA on Treg cells by flow cytometry.The correlations between BTLA expression on Treg cells and disease progression or immune activation were studied.Results: There was a higher percentage of BTLA on Treg cells in chronic HIV patients and AIDS patients than that in early HIV infected patients(P<0.05,P<0.01),and the expression of BTLA on Treg cells in AIDS patients was higher than that in normal controls(P<0.05).The expression of BTLA on Treg cells was negatively correlated with CD4+T lymphocyte counts and positively correlated with viral load (P<0.001,P<0.01).The percentage of BTLA on Treg cells was positively correlated with CD4+CD38+T lymphocytes and CD4+HLA-DR+T lymphocytes(P<0.001,P<0.001).Conclusion: Increased BTLA expression on HIV-infected Treg cells is associated with disease progression,suggesting that it may accelerate disease progression by enhancing Treg cells inhibitory function and may provide intervention information for HIV infection in the future.

Objective To investigate the prevalence,genotype and epidemiology of plasmid- mediated AmpC enzyme of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.Methods A total of 67 clinical isolates of nonrepetitive cefoxitin-resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae collected by Fuzhou General Hospital and Fujian Provincial Hospital during a period of Sept.2004 to Mar.2005 were detected by three-dimensional extract test for AmpC enzyme,and PCR for AmpC enzyme and other ?-lactamase gene amplification and DNA sequencing were carried out for genotype of ?-lactamase.Plasmid transformation experiment was used to study the transfer of cefoxitin resistance.The homology of the isolates was determined by ERIC-PCR fingerprinting.Results At two hospitals in Fuzhou,the prevalence of plasmid-mediated AmpC enzyme among cefoxitin-resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were 16.7% and 10.5%, 8.0% and 0,respectively.Two isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae produced DHA-1 plasmid-mediated AmpC enzyme,and 4 isolates of Escherichia cob and one strain of Escherichia coli produced CMY-2 and CMY-22 plasmid-mediated AmpC enzyme respectively.Furthermore,5 strains of Escherichia coli with CMY AmpC enzyme were also found simuhaneously to produce TEM-144,CTX-M-27,CTX-M-14 and TEM-1 ?-lactamase respectively.Three strains of Escherichia coli and one isolate of Klebsiella pneumoniae could transfer cefoxitin resistance to acceptant bacillus.ERIC-PCR fingerprinting reveals 2 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae came from same clone,but 5 strains of Escherichia coli came from different clones.Conclusions The clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae producing DHA-1 plasmid-mediated AmpC enzyme and Escherichia coli producing CMY-2,CMY-22 plasmid-mediated AmpC enzyme are found in Fuzhou.CMY-22 AmpC enzyme and TEM-144 ?-lactamase are the first reported in the world,GenBank accession number: DO256079,DO256080

Differentiation, the stepwise specialization of cells, and transdifferentiation, the apparent switching of one cell type into another, capture much of the stem cell spotlight. But dedifferentiation, the developmental reversal of a cell before it reinvents itself, is an important process too. In multicellular organisms, cellular dedifferentiation is the major process underlying totipotency, regeneration and formation of new stem cell lineages. In humans, dedifferentiation is often associated with carcinogenesis. The study of cellular dedifferentiation in animals, particularly early events related to cell fate-switch and determination, is limited by the lack of a suitable, convenient experimental system. The classic example of dedifferentiation is limb and tail regeneration in urodele amphibians, such as salamanders. Recently, several investigators have shown that certain mammalian cell types can be induced to dedifferentiate to progenitor cells when stimulated with the appropriate signals or materials. These discoveries open the possibility that researchers might enhance the endogenous regenerative capacity of mammals by inducing cellular dedifferentiation in vivo.
Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; physiology ; Humans ; Regeneration ; Salamandridae ; physiology ; Serum ; physiology ; Thrombin ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate changes of brain mast cells after transient global ischemia in rats.

METHODSTransient global ischemia damage was induced by four-vessel occlusion. After 1 h to 14 days of ischemia, rats were perfused intracardially by 4% paraformaldehyde. The brains were dissected to serial sections using freeze microtome, and then stained with toluidine blue. Brain mast cell was observed under microscope.

RESULTMost brain mast cells were located in thalamus. The number of mast cells in thalamus markedly decreased during reperfusion after transient global ischemia. However, the degranulation rate of thalamus mast cells showed reverse change after ischemia.

CONCLUSIONBrain mast cells markedly degranulate after transient global ischemia, which may be involved in the pathological process after ischemia.

Animals ; Brain ; pathology ; Cell Degranulation ; Ischemic Attack, Transient ; pathology ; Male ; Mast Cells ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; pathology

AIMNucleoside analogues have become the most promising candidates of anti-HBV drugs. In this study, beta-L-D4A was synthesized and explored its inhibitiory action against hepatitis B virus (HBV) in 2. 2. 15 cells derived from HepG2 cells transfected with HBV genome.

METHODSbeta-L-D4A was stereo-controlled synthesized from D-glutamic acid, and the structure was identified by IR, 1H NMR and MS. 2. 2. 15 Cells were placed at a density of 5 x 10(4) per well in 12-well tissue culture plates, and treated with various concentrations of beta-L-D4A for 6 days. At the end, medium was processed to obtain virions by a polyethlene glycol precipitation method. At the same time, intracellular DNA was also extracted and digested with Hind III. Both of the above DNA were subjected to Southern blot, hybridized with a 32P-labeled HBV probe and autoradiographed. The intensity of the autoradiographic bands was quantitated by densitometric scans of computer and EC50 was calculated. 2. 2. 15 cells were also seeded in 24-well tissue culture plates, and cytotoxicity with different concentrations was examined by MTT method. IC50 was calculated.

RESULTSThe synthesized compound structure conformed with beta-L-D4A; Autoradiographic bands showed similar for supernatant and intracellular HBV DNA. Episomal HBV DNA was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. EC50 0.2 micromol x L(-1). The experiment of cytotoxicity gained IC50 200 micromol x L(-10.

CONCLUSIONbeta-L-D4A has been synthesized successfully. beta-L-D4A possessed potent inhibitory effect on replication of HBV in vitro with low cytotoxicity, TI value was 1 000. It is expected to be developed clinically into a new anti-HBV drug.

Antiviral Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; DNA Replication ; drug effects ; DNA, Viral ; drug effects ; Dideoxyadenosine ; analogs & derivatives ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Genome, Viral ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Transfection ; Virus Replication ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo explore the molecular basis of an individual featuring an ABx variant of ABO blood group system.

METHODSSerological assays were used to characterize the erythrocyte phenotypes and salivary ABH secretors. All of the seven exons and flanking introns of ABO glycosyltransferase gene were amplified with polymerase chain reaction (PCR). And the products were sequenced bidirectionally following enzyme digestion. Exons 6 and 7 were also subcloned and analyzed for haplotypes of the ABO gene.

RESULTSErythrocytes of the proband have expressed a strong A antigen and a weak B antigen, which was identified as a rare ABx variant in addition with other serological features. Nine heterozygous sites in exon 6 (297A/G) and exon 7 (467C/T, 526C/G, 657C/T, 703G/A, 796C/A, 803G/C, 808T/A, 930G/A) of the coding region of the ABO gene were identified. Based on haplotype analysis, one allele was determined as common A102, whilst another was consistent with B101 except for an 808T>A mutation which has resulted in replacement of phenylalanine with isoleucine at position 270 of glycosyltransferase B.

CONCLUSIONThe 808T>A mutation of the glycosyltransferase B gene may decrease the enzymatic activity and result in the Bx variant.

ABO Blood-Group System ; genetics ; Adult ; Exons ; Female ; Glycosyltransferases ; genetics ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Mutation

Biomarkers ; DNA ; blood ; DNA Methylation ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Female ; Fetus ; metabolism ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnancy ; blood ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; methods ; Serpins ; genetics