Objectives To compare clinical manifestations and electrophysiological features in patients with chron?ic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) and Type-I Charcot Marie Tooth Disease (CMT-I) for guiding dif?ferential diagnosis. Methods Data including clinical manifestations and electrophysiological indexes was collected from thirty-one CIDP cases and 28 CMT-I cases. Correlation analysis was used to assess the association of the severity of electrophysiology with the severity of clinical symptoms. Results There were statistically significant differences in onset site, sensory dysfunction, foot deformity and cerebrospinal fluid protein between these two groups (P<0.05). There were significant differences in indexes of nerve conduction and needle electromyography between these two groups (P<0.05). The severity of clinical symptoms was not related with the severity of electrophysiology in CMT-I group (r=0.27,P>0.05). Conclusions Differential diagnoses of CIDP and CMT-I can be made based on clinical manifestations and electro?physiological features.

Background and purpose: The incidence and mortality of lung cancer ranked first in China. This study aimed to describe lung cancer survival in Shanghai, and provide background information for cancer prevention and treatment evaluation. Methods: Data of lung cancer cases diagnosed during 2002-2006, follow-up information and death report were collected from Shanghai Cancer Registry. Life table method and Ederer Ⅱ were used to calculate observed survival (OS) and relative survival (RS) respectively. Related demographic characteristics and status were also analyzed to present the survival situations of the lung cancer survivors in Shanghai. Results: In this study, 41802 lung cancer cases were included in analysis. The 5-year OS and RS for lung cancer were 13.75% and 20.23% respectively, and median survival time was 318 days. Survival rate was higher among females than males, with the 5-year OS of 15.49% and 13.00% respectively. The 5-year OS was higher among suburban residents (14.25%) than urban residents (13.23%). Survival rates decreased with increasing age and advanced stage. Patients aged 0-34 had a 5-year OS of 38.21%, while patients aged above 75 had a 5-year OS of 5.48%. Patients diagnosed with stage Ⅰ had a 5-year OS of 55.47%, while patients diagnosed with stage Ⅳ had a 5-year OS of 5.27%. Survival of lung cancer patients differed by tumor histological subtype. The 5-year OS of squamous lung cancer (24.40%) was higher than other histological types, followed by adenocarcinoma (22.26%), large cell (20.27%) and small cell lung cancer (12.22%). From 1972-1976 to 2002-2006, the 5-year OS of urban male patients increased from 6.8% to 12.4%, and 5-year OS of urban female patients increased from 7.3% to 14.9%. Analysis of RS gave the similar results. Conclusion: During the past 30 years, survival rate of lung cancer patients in Shanghai improved steadily, and the survival condition is above average among different countries and areas. However, survival rate of lung cancer is still low compared with other types of cancer. Future focus should be placed on the control of tobacco smoking, early detection by low-dose helical computed tomography and targeted therapy to further improve lung cancer survival.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of berberine on lipid metabolism disorder and lipid deposition in liver cells of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) rats induced by high fat diet.

METHODSAfter one week adaptable feeding, 45 SPF level male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, the normal control group, the model group, and the berberine group, 15 in each group. Except those in the normal control group, all rats were fed with high fat diet to prepare NAFLD model. As for rats in the berberine group, Berberine Hydrochloride was administered by gastrogavage. HE staining and oil red O staining were performed to identify the model after 8 weeks. Hepatocytes were isolated, and their activities and purities were tested by Typan blue staining and flow cytometry (FCM). Serum levels of TC, TG, HDL-C, and LDL-C were detected using automatic biochemical analyzer. mRNA expression levels of LXRα and FAS in liver cells were analyzed by Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Protein levels of LXRα and FAS in liver cells were examined by Western blot.

RESULTSThe NAFLD rat model was successfully established by high fat diet. The yields of purified liver cells in each rat were (6.0-7.5) x 10(8). The viability of isolated liver cells with purity over 90% (tested by FCM analysis) was higher than 95%. Compared with the normal control group,the expression of LXRα and FAS at mRNA and protein levels was higher in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the expression of LXRα and FAS at mRNA and protein levels was obviously down-regulated in the berberine group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSLXRα/FAS signaling pathway was one of important signaling pathways of NAFLD lipid metabolism disorders. Berberine could recover hepatocyte fatty deposits in NAFLD rats by adjusting the LXR/FAS signaling pathway of hepatocytes, which might be one of important mechanisms for fighting against NAFLD.

Animals ; Berberine ; therapeutic use ; Diet, High-Fat ; Down-Regulation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Fatty Liver ; Hepatocytes ; Lipids ; Male ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; drug therapy ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes on lipopolysaccharide(LPS) induced hepatocyte inflammation of rats and TLR4/p38MAPK signal pathway.

METHODThe hepatocytes of SD rats were cultured and identified in vitro. The medicated serum of soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes was prepared. The hepatocytes were treated with soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes. Then Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expression in cultural supernatants were assayed by ELISA. The expressions of Toll-Like 4 (TLR4), p38 mitogen activated protein kinases (p38MAPK) and p-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38MAPK) were detected by Western blot.

RESULTThe rat medicated serum of soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes was extracted for 2-3 mL. The purified rat hepatocytes were 1.5 x 10(8)-2.0 x 10(8). The cell viability was above 95% detected by Typan blue staining. The hepatocytes were identified by immumofluorescence assay. The detection of hepatocyte cultural supernatants: compared with that of the control group, IL-6 and TNF-α expression were increased in the LPS group (P < 0.01). While compared with that of the LPS group, the expressions of IL-6 and TNF-α were decreased after soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes intervention (P < 0.01). The detection of hepatocyte proteins: compared with that of the control group, the protein expressions of p38MAPK, p-p38MAPK and TLR4 were all increased significantly in the LPS group (P < 0.01). Compared with that of the LPS group, the protein expressions of p38MAPK was decreased significantly in SB239063 group and it was also decreased in the soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes group, but with no significant difference. Compared with that of the LPS group, p38MAPK expression was reduced significantly in the soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes group and the SB239063 (p38MAPK pathway inhibitor) group (P < 0.01). TLR4 protein expression was decreased markedly in the soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes group (P < 0.01) but had no difference between the SB239063 group and the LPS group.

CONCLUSIONThe soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes may regulate hepatocyte inflammatory injury of rats through TLR4/p38MAPK signaling pathway.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Hepatocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides ; adverse effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; injuries ; metabolism ; Male ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Spleen ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; genetics ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism

Pancreatic panniculitis is a rare type of disorder associated with pancreatic diseases. We describe here a case of 54-year-old man who was admitted to the Department of Dermatology with the diagnosis of erythema nodosum. The patient presented with a 9-month history of painful erythematous nodules on the extremities, joint pain and swelling, and weight loss. A highly elevated level of pancreatic lipase was found on the laboratory examinations. The biopsy specimens from the skin lesions showed subcutaneous fat necrosis. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a large mass with central necrosis in the body and tail of the pancreas. Distal pancreatectomy, splenectomy and partial transverse colectomy were successfully performed on day 17 of the hospitalization. The histopathologic findings supported the diagnosis of acinar cell carcinoma of the pancreas (ACCP). Postoperatively, the level of serum lipase returned to normal, and the skin lesions and joint manifestations gradually regressed. However, the swelling did not significantly resolve in the left knee. In view of the non-specific clinical presentation of this disease, clinicians should be alert and have a high index of suspicion for pancreatic panniculitis.
Acinar Cells ; Arthralgia ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Acinar Cell ; Colectomy ; Dermatology ; Erythema Nodosum ; Extremities ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Lipase ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Pancreas ; Pancreatectomy ; Pancreatic Diseases ; Panniculitis ; Skin ; Splenectomy ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Weight Loss

Pancreatic tuberculosis (TB) is extremely rare and mimics pancreatic carcinoma both clinically and radiologically. This paper discusses the occurrence of 2 heterogeneous masses located in the head and tail of the pancreas in an adult male. In this patient, laparotomy was performed because of the high suspicion of pancreatic carcinoma. Intraoperative fine needle aspiration biopsy revealed the coexistence of pancreatic carcinoma with pancreatic TB, and a combined resection of the distal pancreas and spleen was successfully performed. Following surgery, the patient received standard chemotherapy for TB. At 7-month follow-up, computed tomography showed resolution of the mass in the pancreatic head. Clinicians must maintain a high index of suspicion for pancreatic TB in patients with pancreatic masses. The coexistence of malignancy and TB should be considered when patients present with multiple pancreatic masses.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Male ; Pancreas ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Spleen ; Tuberculosis

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Shugan Jianpi Recipe (SJR) on LXRα/FAS signaling pathway mediated hepatocyte fatty deposits in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) rats.

METHODSTotally 75 SPF grade male SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, i.e., the normal control group, the model group, the Shugan Recipe (SR) treatment groups, the Jianpi Recipe (JR) treatment group, and the SJR group. Except rats in the normal control group, the NAFLD rat model was duplicated using high fat diet (HFD). SR (Chaihu Shugan Powder) was administered to rats in the SR group. JR (Shenlin Baizhu Powder) was administered to rats in the JR group. SJR (Chaihu Shugan Powder plus Shenlin Baizhu Powder) was administered to rats in the SJR group. Changes of liver fat were analyzed using automatic biochemical analyzer. Liver cells were separated by low-speed centrifugation. Their activities and purities were identify using Typan blue and flow cytometry (FCM). Expression levels of LXRα and FAS mRNA in hepatocytes detected by Real-time quantitative PCR. Expression levels of LXRα and FAS protein were detected by Western blot.

RESULTS(1) Pathological results showed in the model group, hepatocytes were swollen with nucleus locating at the cell edge after oil red O staining; unequal sized small vacuoles could be seen inside cytoplasm. Some small vacuoles merged big vacuoles. All these indi- cated a NAFLD rat model was successfully established by high fat diet. Pathological structural changes could be impaired to some degree in all medicated groups, especially in the SR group. (2) Compared with the normal control group, expression levels of LXRα and FAS genes and proteins obviously increased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, their expression levels were obviously down-regulated in the JR group and the SR group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLXRα/FAS signaling pathway was an important signaling pathway for mediating lipid metabolism disorders of NAFLD rats. SJR could make hepatocyte fatty deposits tend to repair by adjusting the LXRα/FAS signaling pathway in NAFLD rats, which might be one of important mechanisms for SJR to prevent and cure NAFLD.

Animals ; Diet, High-Fat ; Down-Regulation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hepatocytes ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; metabolism ; Orphan Nuclear Receptors ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; fas Receptor ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the mechanism of reverse redistribution (RR) on dipyridamole 201Tl myocardial perfusion studies in the patients with coronary artery spasm. Methods Twenty-six patients with coronary artery spasm and presented as RR on dipyridamole 201Tl myocardial perfusion studies were enlisted as RR group, while other 16 patients with no coronary artery stenosis nor RR were enlisted as control group. Dipyridamole test was repeated during coronary angiography. Corrected thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame count (CTFC) and TIMI myocardial perfusion grade (TMPG) were measured at RR related and non-RR related coronary arteries before and after dipyridamole infusion respectively.All of the data were analyzed by Student's t-test orχ2-test and correlation analysis. Results Coronary artery angiography showed slower blood flow and lower myocardial perfusion in RR related vessels when compared with non-RR related vessels in RR group, but there was no significant difference among the main coronary arteries in control group. The perfusion defects of RR area at rest were positively related to slowerblood velocity at corresponding coronary arteries ( r = 0.79, t = 10.18, P ＜ 0.001 ). In RR related vessels,CTFC were (36 ±6) frames and (26 ±7) frames (t =4.15, P ＜0.01 ), while TMPG were (2.02 ±0.39)grades and (2.92 ± 0.12) grades ( t = 2.25, P ＜ 0.05 ) before and after dipyridamole infusion, respectively.In non-RR related vessels, CTFC were (29 ±7) frames and (25 ±5) frames (t =2.31, P ＜0.05), while TMPG were (2.56 ± 0.31 ) grades and (2.96 ± 0.06) grades ( t = 2.17, P ＜ 0.05 ) before and after dipyridamole infusion, respectively. However, there were no significant changes of CTFC and TMPG before and after dipyridamole infusion in control group ( t = 0.932, 0.867, respectively, both P ＞ 0.05 ). Conclusion RR is related to the decreased blood flow and myocardial perfusion induced by coronary artery spasm at rest,which may be improved by stress test such as intravenous dipyridamole infusion.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the operative effect of PFNA combined with reconstructive locking plate on the treatment of comminuted femoral intertrochanteric fracture which involving the lateral wall.

METHODSA total of 35 patients with comminuted femoral intertrochanteric fractures involving the lateral wall were surgically treated from November 2014 to January 2016. According to whether there was reconstruction of the lateral wall or not and the internal fixation method, the patients were divided into PFNA group (no reconstruction of the lateral wall), PFNA recontruction group (reconstructive locking plate was used to reconstruct the lateral wall, PFNA internal fixation). The clinical curative effect was evaluated by the analysis of operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative activity time, the time of fracture healing, complications, and hip joint Harris score at 12 months after operation.

RESULTSAll 35 patients completed the operation successfully. All the incisions were healed by first intention and no incision infection or fat liquefaction occurred. All 35 patients were followed up from 12 to 16 months with an average of 14.4 months. All patients had bone healing. There was no statistical significant in surgery time and intraoperative blood loss between two groups(>0.05). There were 5 postoperative complications in the PFNA group and 1 in the PFNA combined with reconstructive locking plate group. There was a statistical difference between two groups(<0.05). The postoperative activity time, bone healing time, complications, and Harris score of PFNA reconstruction group were all superior to PFNA group, there were statistically significant differences between two groups.

CONCLUSIONSAlthough the operation time and blood loss of PFNA combined with reconstructive locking plate in treatment of comminuted femoral intertrochanteric fracture which involving the lateral wall are more than those in the PFNA group, and the surgical trauma is larger than PFNA, the fracture healing time, postoperative activity time, and hip joint function were all superior to those of the PFNA group, which can effectively shorten the postoperative bed rest time, and reduce bed complications as well as improve hip joint function.

A high affinity polyclonal antibody-based enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the quantification of zeranol in bovine urine. On the basis of urine matrix studies, the optimized dilution factors producing insignificant matrix interference were selected as 1:5 in pretreatment. In the improved ELISA, the linear response range was between 0.02 and 1 microg/ml, and the detection limit was 0.02 microg/ml for the assay. The overall recoveries and the coefficients of variation (CVs) were in the range of 82% to approximately 127% and 3.5% to approximately 8.8%, respectively. Thirty-six bovine urine samples spiked with zeranol (ranging from 0.2 to 10 microg/ml) were detected by the ELISA and liquid chromatography (LC) method, and good correlations were obtained between the two methods (R(2)=0.9643). We conclude that this improved ELISA is suitable tool for a mass zeranol screening and can be an alternative for the conventional LC method for zeranol in bovine urine.
Animals ; Calibration ; Cattle ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; methods ; Indicator Dilution Techniques ; Zeranol ; immunology ; urine