Objective To evaluate the application value of X-ray,echocardiogram,pulmonary perfusion scintigraphy,EBCT,Magnetic resonance Pulmonary angiography in diagnosis of PTE.Methods Twenty-five consecutive patients clinically diagnosed of having PTE were examined from july 2003 through March 2004. Patients underwent X-ray chest plain film, echoeardiogram, electronic beam computed tomographie (EBCT)angiography,ventilation-perfusion (V-P)seintigraphy,Magnetic resonance Pulmonary angiography (MRPA)and puhnonary angiography according to a strict diagnostic protocol.Two of the independent readers reviewed the pulmonary angiography and record all of the lobe and segmental involved in PTE and compared with other image method.Results Pulmonary angiography:all of the patients success underwent the technique,the pulmonary artery branch with PTE was in 556 of 775 branches (71.7%). Chest radiography had hints of diagnosis in 12 of 25 patients.Nine patients diagnosed with echocardiogram. Right heart enlargement was in 21,and pulmonary hypertension in 18.V-P scintigraphy revealed 247 segmental involved with PTE of 500 (52.0% ),and the sensitivity was 64.66% compare with the pulmonary angiography.There were 523 pulmonary branches involved PTE with EBCT pulmonary angiograpy of 775 branches,and the sensitivity was 94.06%.MRPA: 8 of 10 patients succeed in the technique, 155 branches of 248 were detected with PTE(62.5% ),the sensitivity was 81.29%.Conclusions EBCT is a high sensitivity method in diagnosis of PTE.Chest radiography and echocardiogram are the first-line modality of PTE.V-P scintigrapby is the valid compensation in diagnosis subsegmental pulmonary artery with PTE when EBCT miss diagnosis.Gd-CE-MRPA may be the second-line modality in diagnosis of PTE.

This article is based on the possible common mechanism of pain and depression. Recent 10 years' reports on basic and clinical studies related to acupuncture treatment for pain and depression have been retrieved to explain that acupuncture can stop pain from many aspects to relieve depression. It is hoped that acupuncture can become a green and safe alternative therapy, reduce the toxic side-effects of drugs, and be popularized and applied to clinical treatment.

OBJECTIVETo compare clinical therapeutic effects of phased integral acupuncture and routine acupuncture on patients with cerebral infarction.

METHODSOne hundred and thirteen cases were randomly divided into a treatment group (n = 63) treated by phased integral acupuncture and a control group (n = 50) treated by routine acupuncture. Their clinical therapeutic effects were compared after treatment.

RESULTSThe treatment group in the decreases of both the diagnostic score for TCM diseases of stroke and the score for neurological function defect, and the therapeutic effect was superior to the control group with significant differences (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe phased integral acupuncture is an effective therapy with a therapeutic effect better than that of the routine acupuncture for treatment of hemiplegia due to cerebral infarction.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Cerebral Infarction ; Hemiplegia ; therapy ; Humans ; Research Design ; Stroke ; therapy

Ultrasound therapy is a new type of therapy technology, there are hyperthermia and high intensity focused ultrasound surgery (HIFUS). Compared with a single frequency system, mutiple frequency system has an additional function to combine power patterns of different frequencies. This function increases the availability of power patterns to treat tumors of various shapes and depths. Therefore, we have in this article proposed a system with the ability to drive ultrasonic phased arrays of multiple resonant frequencies for ultrasound hyperthermia and HIFUS. The results show that this system is able to (1) drive multi-element applicators or phased arrays of a single resonant frequency through the multichannel power amplifiers, (2) concurrently drive transducer with different resonant frequencies, (3) adjust the relative phase and output power of each channel for the scanning ultrasonic focus, and (4) operate each channel with good output stability.
Equipment Design ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; therapy ; Transducers ; Ultrasonic Therapy ; instrumentation

BACKGROUNDThe capsule associated protein 10 gene (cap10) is indispensible for the formation of the polysaccharide capsule, and is important in maintaining virulence of the Cryptococcus (C.) neoformans. In this study, we aimed to construct an short hairpin RNA (shRNA) expression vector targeting C. neoformans cap10 gene expression and confirm its biologic relevance.

METHODSA pair of oligonucleotides targeting the cap10 cDNA sequence was designed and synthesized. It was cloned into the plasmid psilencer4.1-CMV neo to construct an eukaryotic shRNA expression vector. The vector was transfected into C. neoformans cells using the LiAc method. The expression of cap10 was assessed by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. Groups of C. neoformans cells were incubated with murine macrophage-like J774A.1 cells, and the phagocytic indexes and ratios were determined by the microscopic observation method.

RESULTSThe expression of cap10 in C. neoformans cells transfected with ps4.1 neo-cap10 ((175,535.00 ± 47,004.00) copies/µl) was lower than that of cells transfected with the empty vector ((512,698.89 ± 32,318.02) copies/µl) and mock transfected cells ((562,931.66 ± 65,928.41) copies/µl). The average phagocytic ratio and phagocytic index of J774A.1 cells following incubation with C. neoformans were higher for cells transfected with ps4.1 neo-cap10 (0.21 ± 0.02, (19.06 ± 1.66)%) than for the control experimental group (0.08 ± 0.02, (6.57 ± 1.23)%) and the blank experimental group ((0.07 ± 0.01), (5.89 ± 1.07)%) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe cap10 shRNA vector was successfully prepared and transfected into C. neoformans cells. The effect of RNA interference on the expression of the C. neoformans cap10 gene is effective, and it can induce phagocytosis of C. neoformans.

Animals ; Cell Line ; Cryptococcus neoformans ; genetics ; metabolism ; Fungal Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Phagocytosis ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transfection

We delineated the molecular characteristic of recombinant strain GⅡ.P16/GⅡ.2 of norovirus associated with acute viral gastroenteritis outbreaks in Fujian Province in winter of 2016.Norovirus were detected in specimens of patients collected from the gastroenteritis outbreaks by real time reverse transcription-PCR and reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR).The PCR products of the positive samples were purified,and partial RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene and partial capsid gene were sequenced.The sequences were analyzed using bioinformatics software and online database,and phylogenetic tree were also constructed.Norovirus were detected in all 18 stools.Analysis of 9 positive sequences indicated an emergence of norovirus GⅡ.P16/ GⅡ.2 and confirmed being the cause of gastroenteritis outbreaks.All the strains shared homology of 98％ with strains of Kawasaki 194 of Japan detected in 2016 and 97.7％-98.8％ with IPH2161-08VG06 of Belgium detected in 2008,RdRp and capsid separately.These outbreak strains showed some degree of differences from the predominant strain,2012 Sydney GⅡ.4 variant.This is the first time to have found norovirus GⅡ.P16/ GⅡ.2 causing viral gastroenteritis outbreaks in Fujian.More in-depth analysis of the Norovirus GⅡ.P16/ GⅡ.2 could be useful to optimize preventative strategies and develop new and more effective therapeutic measure.

OBJECTIVEThe study was designed to investigate the clinical characteristics and the effects of therapeutic proposal on Kawasaki disease (KD).

METHODSClinical features, diagnosis and treatment for totally 942 patients with KD hospitalized during Jan, 2000 to Dec, 2004 were reviewed. Clinical features of typical and incomplete KD were compared. Also, influential factors for KD resistant to intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) therapy were analyzed. Five hundred and ten cases were followed up for analyzing the prognosis of coronary artery lesion (CAL).

RESULTS(1) 774 cases were diagnosed as typical KD, and 168 cases as incomplete KD. The incidence of infants with incomplete KD was higher than that of infants with typical KD (18.5% vs. 10.1%, P < 0.01). As compared with typical KD, the cases of incomplete KD had a long duration of fever before final diagnosis [(7.7 +/- 2.9) d vs. (7.0 +/- 2.4) d, P < 0.01], high hemoglobin level [Hb, (106.6 +/- 13.4) g/L vs. (103.5 +/- 12.3) g/L, P < 0.01], high hematocrit [Hct, (32.0 +/- 4.3)% vs. (31.0 +/- 4.0)%, P < 0.01], and high prevalence of CAL (23.8% vs. 16.8%, P < 0.05), respectively. The occurrence rate and emerging time of clinical manifestations in incomplete KD and in typical KD were presented, respectively: non-exudative conjunctivitis [occurrence rate, 64.9% vs. 93.5%; emerging time, (4.4 +/- 1.4) d vs. (4.0 +/- 1.6) d, respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01)], erythema and cracking of lips [occurrence rate, 50.6% vs. 94.8%; emerging time, (4.9 +/- 1.4) d vs. (4.5 +/- 1.6) d, respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01)], rash [occurrence rate, 35.1% vs. 87.7%; emerging time, (3.9 +/- 1.9) d vs. (3.4 +/- 1.7) d, respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01)], erythema and edema of extremity [occurrence rate, 26.8% vs. 71.4%; emerging time, (6.7 +/- 1.5) d vs. (5.3 +/- 1.7) d, respectively (P < 0.01)], cervical lymphadenopathy [occurrence rate, 34.5% vs. 68.0%; emerging time, (4.3 +/- 2.5) d vs. (3.6 +/- 2.2) d, respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01)], strawberry tongue [occurrence rate, 31.0% vs. 59.8%; emerging time, (5.6 +/- 2.2) d vs. (4.9 +/- 1.8) d, respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01)], membranous desquamation of fingertips [occurrence rate, 34.5% vs. 56.3%; emerging time, (11.7 +/- 3.3) d vs. (10.3 +/- 2.7) d, respectively (P < 0.01)], and desquamation peri-anus [occurrence rate, 42.9% vs. 50.0%; emerging time, (6.7 +/- 2.7) d vs. (6.9 +/- 2.5) d, respectively (P > 0.05)]. Except for peri-anus desquamation, other clinical manifestations in incomplete KD were sporadical as compared to typical KD. (2) Six per cent (51/857) of cases were resistant to the IVIG therapy. As compared to the group responding to IVIG therapy, high prevalence of CAL (31.4% vs. 17.1%, P < 0.05), long fever duration [(10.6 +/- 3.9) d vs. (7.5 +/- 2.3) d, P < 0.01], low Hb level [(99.9 +/- 14.1) g/L vs. (104.3 +/- 12.4) g/L, P < 0.01], low Hct [(30.1 +/- 4.5)% vs. (31.2 +/- 4.0)%, P < 0.05], low platelet [PLT, (256.9 +/- 142.4) x 10(9)/L vs. (309.7 +/- 131.5) x 10(9)/L, P < 0.05], and low albumin level [ALB, (27.8 +/- 8.4) g/L vs. (33.5 +/- 6.7) g/L, P < 0.01] were found in the group resistant to IVIG therapy, respectively. (3) In patients who received IVIG 1 g/kg and 2 g/kg, the recovery rates from CAL were 83.1% and 89.7% (P > 0.05), respectively. The prevalence of CAL in those without CAL in acute and subacute stages was 0.9% and 3.5% (P > 0.05), respectively, during 2 year-follow-up period.

CONCLUSION(1) Infants appeared to have more chances to suffer from incomplete KD. Incomplete KD had high prevalence of CAL. The peri-anus desquamation might be an important clue for early diagnosis of incomplete KD. (2) In acute stage, the influential factors for KD resistance to IVIG therapy included prolonged fever, non-elevated PLT, and persistent decrease in Hb, Hct and ALB levels. (3) Children receiving IVIG 1 g/kg and 2 g/kg had the similar effects on recovery and prevention from CAL within the first two years after KD onset.

Adolescent ; Blood Platelets ; drug effects ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Coronary Aneurysm ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Coronary Artery Disease ; complications ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Fever ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Immunologic Factors ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of the miR-155 in human primary breast cancer and its clinical significance.

METHODSFrom February to June 2009, 45 pairs of specimens of human primary breast cancer and matched nontumor breast tissues were collected from the patients who received operation for breast cancer. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the miR-155 expression in those specimens.

RESULTSThe stem-loop RT-PCR was sensitive and specific enough to detect the expression of the miR-155. The median relative expression of miR-155 was 0.360 in tumor samples, and it was 0.135 in matched nontumor breast tissues, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). It's indicated that the up-regulation of miR-155 expression was associated with advanced TNM clinical stage (median 0.316, 0.358 and 0.417 respectively for stage I, II and III tumor, P = 0.002), lymph node metastasis (median 0.383 and 0.355 respectively for cases with positive and negative lymph nodes, P = 0.034), higher proliferation index [median 0.387 and 0.353 respectively for cases with high proliferation index (Ki67 > 10%) and low proliferation index (Ki67 ≤ 10%), P = 0.019], estrogen receptor-positive (0.367 and 0.318 respectively for cases with positive estrogen receptor and negative group, P = 0.041) and progesterone receptor-positive (0.398 and 0.335 respectively for cases with positive progesterone receptor and negative group, P = 0.029) in patients with breast cancer.

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of miR-155 is up-regulated in primary breast cancer, especially in patients with positive estrogen and progesterone receptor. miR-155 may play an important role in the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of human primary breast cancer, and it could be a indicator in the diagnosis and prognosis of primary breast cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Estrogen Receptor alpha ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, Progesterone ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo determine the methods for establishing an in vivo model of long-term hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the Chinese tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri chinensis).

METHODSSeventy-seven neonate (1-3 days old) and 49 young adult (2 weeks to 1 year old) tree shrews were inoculated with different HBV sources (chronic hepatitis B (CHB) human patient serum, single or pooled; HBV-infected tree shrew serum, single only; HBV-infected HepG2.2.15 cells' culture medium supernatant; HBV genome-transfected HepG2.2.15 cells' culture medium supernatant) through various routes of injection (subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, and direct liver via abdominal skin; adults also received intravenous and indirect liver via spleen). Serum and liver biopsies were collected from the animals at various time points post-inoculation for detection of HBV markers by fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, time-resolved immunofluorescence, Southern blotting, dot blotting, immunohistochemistry, and microscopy.

RESULTSAmong the neonatal group of tree shrews, six (7.8%) were confirmed as HBV-infected for more than 72 (up to 228) weeks after inoculation and another seven (9.1%) were suspected of persistent infections. None of the young adult tree shrews developed persistent infection. Inoculation with single-source serum from either CHB humans or tree shrews were responsible for the most cases of infections, and the subcutaneous injection produced more infections than the other inoculation routes. The most reliable methods of determining HBV infection status were detection of serum HBV immunoreactive markers and intrahepatic HBV DNA.

CONCLUSIONIn order to establish an in vivo model of CHB in the tree shrew, the animals should be inoculated in the neonatal period using subcutaneous injection.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Hep G2 Cells ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Tupaia

OBJECTIVETo detect the expression and variation of p53 gene during tree shrews' hepatocarcinogenesis induced by hepatitis B virus (HBV) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1).

METHODSTree shrews were divided into four groups: the tree shrews were infected with HBV and fed with AFB1 in group A, only infected with HBV in group B, fed with AFB1 alone in group C, and normal control in group D. All the tree shrews were performed liver biopsy every 15 weeks. The tissues of liver and tumor were detected by immunohistochemistry and molecular biotechnologies.

RESULTS(1) The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in group A (66.7%) was higher than that in Group B and C (30%). HCC appearance in group A was earlier than that in group C (120.0 weeks +/-16.6 weeks vs 153.3 weeks +/-5.8 weeks, t = 3.336, P<0.01). (2) Mutated p53 protein was not found before the 75th week of the experiment in each group. (3) At the 105th week, the expression rates of mutated p53 protein were 78.6%, 60% and 71.4% in group A, B and C respectively, which were much higher than that (10%) in group D (x2 > or = 5.03, P<0.05). An abnormal band of p53 gene was detected in both group A and C. (4) The mutation points of p53 gene in liver cancer of tree shrew were at codon 275, 78 and 13. The nucleotide sequence and amino acids sequence of tree shrew's wild-type p53 showed 91.7% and 93.4% homology with those of human p53 respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThere is a remarkable synergistic effect between HBV and AFB1 on HCC. Mutated p53 protein is expressed before HCC occurrence, which promotes the development and progress of HCC. HBV and AFB1 may synergistically induce p53 gene mutation.

Aflatoxin B1 ; toxicity ; Animals ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; Cocarcinogenesis ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genetic Variation ; Hepatitis B ; virology ; Hepatitis B virus ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; genetics ; Point Mutation ; RNA, Neoplasm ; analysis ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics ; Tupaiidae