OBJECTIVETo evaluate the sensitivity of an interferon-gamma release assay T-SPOT. TB in the diagnosis of bacteriologically or histologically confirmed extrapulmonary tuberculosis.

METHODTotally 31 patients with bacteriologically or histologically confirmed extrapulmonary tuberculosis in Peking Union Medical College Hospital received T-SPOT. TB assay to detect early secreting antigen target 6 or culture filtrate protein 10 peptides-specific T cells in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

RESULTST-SPOT. TB assay showed positive results in 29 patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis and the sensitivity was 93.5% (95% CI 84.8% - 100%). The median of spot forming cells (SFCs) in response to early secreting antigen target 6 peptides was 196/10(6) PBMCs (interquartile range, 72-532/10(6) PBMCs), the median of SFCs in response to culture filtrate protein 10 peptides was 276 SFCs/10(6) PBMCs (interquartile range, 72-568/10(6) PBMCs), and the median of the incorporate SFCs was 612/10(6) PBMCs (interquartile range, 192-1 152/10(6) PBMCs).

CONCLUSIONT-SPOT. TB is highly sensitive in diagnosing extrapulmonary tuberculosis.

A quantitative HPLC-DAD method was developed for simultaneous determination of N-trans-p-coumaroyloctopamine and N-trans-p-coumaroyltyramine in Solani Melongenae Radix from different cultivation regions in China The separation was performed on an Agilent Eclipse XDB C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) at 30 degrees C with a gradient elution of methanol and 0.1% formic acid in water as mobile phase. The flow rate was set at 1.0 mL x min(-1) and the detection wavelength was 300 nm. The calibration curves of N-trans-p-coumaroyloctopamine and N-trans-p-coumaroyltyramine were linear over the ranges of 2.84-68.16, 3.10-74.40 mg x L(-1), and the average recoveries (n = 9) were 99.30% and 102.8%, respectively. The developed method was successfully applied for the analysis of sixteen samples from different cultivation regions in China, which indicated that the method is simple, rapid, accurate, and reliable for quality evaluation of Solani Melongenae Radix.
Amides ; analysis ; China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Solanaceae ; chemistry ; classification

OBJECTIVETo identify a rare α-thalassemia gene mutation in a family from south China and perform a pedigree analysis and genetic diagnosis of hemoglobin H (HbH) disease caused by this mutation.

METHODSPeripheral blood samples were collected from the family members for analysis of the hematological phenotype and routine test of thalassemia genes. DNA sequencing was carried out for samples that showed genotype and phenotype inconsistency.

RESULTSA rare α-thalassemia *92A>G gene mutation was detected within this family. The proband and his sister were confirmed to have non-deletional HbH disease with α--/αα genotype. The proband's brother was confirmed to have an α-thalassemia trait with the genotype of -α/αα. The proband's father was identified as an α-thalassemia silent carrier with the genotype of αα/αα.

CONCLUSIONA rare α-thalassemia *92A>G gene mutation was identified for first time in south China. The description of the basic phenotypic characteristics of α-thalassemia trait and silent carrier caused by this mutation enriches the α-thalassemia gene mutation spectrum in Chinese population and helps in population screening, clinical molecular diagnosis and genetic counseling.

In this paper, a design of the portable acquisition system for autonomic nervous function data based on the microcontroller is introduced. The system contains an electrocardiogram amplifier and an AD convertor, using SD memory card as its storage device and thus it can record data for a longer time and exchange data with PC easily. The system with a simple structure realizes its miniaturization and low energy consumption.
Autonomic Pathways ; Data Collection ; instrumentation ; Equipment Design ; Heart Rate ; Miniaturization ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; instrumentation

As a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, the pregnane X receptor (PXR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor. PXR is highly expressed in liver and intestinal tissues, and also found in other tissues and organs, such as stomach and kidney. After heterodimerization with retinoid X receptor (RXR), PXR recruits numerous co-activating factors, and binds to specific DNA response elements to perform transcriptional regulation of the downstream target genes. As an acknowledged receptor for xenobiotics, PXR was initially considered as a nuclear receptor regulating drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters. However, nowadays, PXR has also been recognized as an important endobiotic receptor. Recent studies have shown that PXR activation can regulate glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, steroid endocrine homeostasis, detoxification of cholic acid and bilirubin, bone mineral balance, and immune inflammation in vivo. This review focuses on the role of PXR in metabolism of endogenous substances.
Animals ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Pregnane X Receptor ; metabolism ; Xenobiotics ; metabolism

objective To evaluate the acute toxicity of recombinant trivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines.Methods Wistar rats were randomly divided into negative control and HPV groups with 20 rats in each group.Rats in HPV groups were sc administered with a single-dose of 1.5 mL of HPV vaccines (three times of human dose/each rat),while rats in negative control group were given equal volume of saline.The clinical state of animals was observed,and the body mass changes were detected.Rats were dissected after 15 d of treatment and examined by gross pathology.Results Following a single injection with high-dose HPV vaccines,there were not obvious abnormalities in clinical symptom.Compared with negative control group,the body weight of rats from HPV vaccines-treated group had no significant difference.No obvious macro-pathological change was found in all animals.Conclusion Single sc injection with recombinant trivalent HPV vaccines is well tolerated and no obvious toxicological change is found in Wistar rats.These results will facilitate further preclinical safety studies of HPV vaccines.

Ovarian cancer is one of the three most common gynecological cancers in the world, and is regarded as a priority in terms of women's cancer. In the past few years, many researchers have attempted to develop and apply artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to multiple clinical scenarios of ovarian cancer, especially in the field of medical imaging. AI-assisted imaging studies have involved computer tomography (CT), ultrasonography (US), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this review, we perform a literature search on the published studies that using AI techniques in the medical care of ovarian cancer, and bring up the advances in terms of four clinical aspects, including medical diagnosis, pathological classification, targeted biopsy guidance, and prognosis prediction. Meanwhile, current status and existing issues of the researches on AI application in ovarian cancer are discussed.
Artificial Intelligence ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Ovarian Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging* ; Prognosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Chemokine-like factor super family member (CMTM) is a novel generic family firstly reported by Peking University Center for Human Disease Genomics. CMTM8 is one member of this family and has exhibited tumor-inhibiting activities. It can encode proteins approaching to the transmembrane 4 superfamily. CMTM8 is down-regulated in most carcinoma cell lines and tissues. Over-expression of CMTM8 may inhibit the proliferation,migration,and invasion of carcinoma cells. However,the exact mechanism of its anti-tumor activity remains unclear. CMTM8 may be involved in various signaling pathways governing the occurrence and development of tumors. CMTM8 may be a new target in the gene therapies for tumors,while further studies on CMTM8 and its anti-tumor mechanisms are warranted.
Chemokines ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; MARVEL Domain-Containing Proteins ; metabolism ; Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of transurethral resection of bladder neck on primary female bladder neck obstruction and to analyze the expression of three kinds of sex hormone receptor (SR) in female bladder neck tissues diagnosed as primary bladder neck obstruction by the immunochemistry and statistics. METHODS: The clinical data of 40 female patients, admitted into Peking University People's Hospital for difficulty of voiding during Oct.2008 and Dec.2013 and eventually diagnosed as bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) by urodynamics, were retrospectively reviewed. BOO was defined as a maximum flow rate (Q_max) less than 12 mL/s together with a detrusor pressure at maximum flow rate (Pdet Q_max) more than 25 cmH₂O in urodynamic study in the absence of neurological disorders. Diagnosis was confirmed by the cystoscopy. Preoperative and postoperative AUASS scores were recorded and analyzed for observation of curative effects and complications. The immunochemical expression of SR of primary female bladder neck obstruction (PBNO) tissues and normal control was examined and applied to statistical analysis. RESULTS: There were significant changes postoperatively in voiding scores, storage scores and total scores (P<0.001). Postoperatively, 1 patient newly presented with overactive bladder (OAB), 4 patients newly presented with hematuria, and 1 patient underwent cystostomy. The symptoms of urinary retention with overflow incontinence in 2 patients disappeared after the surgery, and 3 patients complicated with OAB complained without urgency. In addition, pre-hydronephrosis improved postoperatively in six patients. The subjective satisfactory rate to the surgery of TURBN was 77.5% (31/40). Sex hormone receptor, including androgen receptor (AR), estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), expressed in both bladder neck tissues of normal control and PBNO patients. In PBNO group, the expression of PR was significantly lower than that of control group (P<0.05), while the other 2 SRs expressed with no significantly statistical difference. PBNO patients were divided into 2 groups, according to their symptoms scores, and the expression of SRs showed no significant differences among the mild, moderate and severe groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION The transurethral bladder neck resection is valid in treating with female PBNO patients, with rarely occurrence of complications. PR expressed less in the female bladder neck tissues, and is possibly correlated with the occurrence of female PBNO.
Female ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction/surgery* ; Urodynamics

In mammals, the gonad is composed of germ cells and somatic cells. The gonads have the potential of bidirectional differentiation before sex determination. The differentiation of somatic cells in the gonad determines the development of testis or ovary, and this process is regulated by many factors. SRY, SOX9, SOX3, SOX8, SOX10, FGF9/FGFR2, PGD2, AMH, and DMRT1 are involved in the differentiation of testis. By contrast, FOXL2, CTNNB1, RSPO1, WNT4, Follistatin, ERα/β, and BMP2 play important roles in ovary development. If these molecular regulatory networks are damaged by endogenous or exogenous factors, disorders of sex differentiation, even sex reversal, will occur. In this review, the regulation of somatic cell fate during gonad primordium formation and sex determination in mouse model was discussed.