HIV Infections ; immunology ; HIV-1 ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Mutation ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo introduce a modified surgery for total auriculoplasty and the experience in one hundred and forty-six cases (155 ears).

METHODSThe procedure was a two-stage operation. The first stage involved fabrication and grafting of a costal cartilage framework. A U-shaped skin incision was made on the posterior edge of the lobule and the remnant ear cartilage was removed completely. The area for the insertion of the cartilage framework was undermined. Skin flaps were sutured after insertion of the cartilage framework. The second-stage surgery was usually performed six months after the first-stage operation. The reconstructed auricle was elevated, and a costal cartilage block was fixed to the posterior part of the auricle. A temporoparietal fascia flap was then used to cover the costal cartilage block. Finally, the posterior aspect of the projected auricle was covered with a spit-thickness skin graft.

RESULTSThe incisions healed in one hundred and forty-one patients (150 ears) after the first stage operation. Partial necrosis of the postauricular flap was observed in five cases (5 ears) after the first stage operation, but no exposure or absorption of the cartilage took place. The skin grafts survived in one hundred and thirty-nine cases (147 ears) after the second-stage surgery. Partial necrosis of the skin graft was observed in seven cases (8 ears), but healed after one-week of dressing changes. Ninety-four cases (97 ears) were followed up, but fifty-two cases (58 ears) were lost to follow up. The follow-up at six months to two years showed satisfactory contour and projection of the constructed ears.

CONCLUSIONThis two-stage surgery is simple and ideal for auricloplasty with few complications.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Ear Auricle ; surgery ; Ear, External ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; Young Adult

This study was aimed to detect the peripheral blood serum neopterin (Npt) level in the patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) and to explore its significance in HLH. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied to detect the serum Npt level and sCD25 level in 20 HLH patients before and after treatment and 15 healthy controls. The results indicated that the serum Npt and sCD25 levels in HLH patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls (P < 0.0001). The serum Npt and sCD25 levels in the HLH group decreased significantly after treatment, respectively (P < 0.0001). The correlation analysis of Npt with sCD25 before and after treatment showed that they had significant correlation (r = 0.81, P < 0.05 before treatment; r = 0.65, P < 0.05 after treatment). Meanwhile, the level of serum Npt and ferritin had a significant correlation in newly diagnosed HLH patients (r = 0.55, P < 0.05). It is concluded that the serum Npt may play an important role in the HLH pathogenesis, the enhancement of Npt levels has an important significance for diagnosis and evaluation for HLH.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic ; blood ; diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neopterin ; blood ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the epidemiological factors and tendency of paragonimiasis in Jin Miaopu township in Zezhou county of Shanxi Province, and to understand the current status of public awareness for providing references to paragonimiasis education and prevention.

METHODSA questionnaire survey was conducted among 2172 villagers probing awareness of paragonimiasis and their experiences of eating crabs; Infection screening and antibody test were also performed by means of ELISA.

RESULTSThe paragonimiasis knowledge coverage rate was zero, and 67.7% (1471/2172) of the respondents claimed their histories of crab eating and 96.7% (29/30) of crabs were infected with metacercaria of paragonimus. Of all the study subjects, 11% (241/2172) of them were infected with the positive rate of 4.1% (89/270).

CONCLUSIONThe incidence of paragonimiasis is closely related to dietetic habit in local residents. It is extremely necessary to increase the public awareness of paragonimiasis prevention and control and to improve the living conditions and dietetic habits.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Animals ; Cats ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Dogs ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Parasitic ; epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paragonimiasis ; epidemiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires