Acupuncture Points ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bloodletting ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pruritus ; therapy

Objective To investigate the perfusion characteristics of intraductal breast lesion by real-time gray-scale contrast ultrasound and to determine the value of real contrast ultrasound in the diagnosis of breast masses.Methods A total of 30 breast lumps by ultrasound contrast enhancement were observed from the enhanced level.An enhanced mode and enhanced border were observed when the lesion was clear.The perfusion characteristics were compared between the benign and malignant lesions.Results Thirty breast lumps include 17 benign lumps and 13 benign lumps by pathological operation.After injected with the microbubble contrast medium,all breast lumps enhanced to varied extent.And malignant lesions showed significant enhancement for more than 3 grade(69.2%,9/13).The radial enhancement around lesion were mainly observed in the malignant lesions (P＜0.05).Conclusion The microvascular perfusion of breast intraductal lesions can be clearly displayed by real-time gray-scale contrast-enhanced ultrasound.The feasibility of differentiation between benign and malignant lesions according to their perfusion characteristics appears to be promising.

Mycoplamas are a group of wall-less prokaryotes widely distributed in nature, some of which are pathogenic for humans and animals. There are many lipoproteins anchored on the outer face of the plasma membrane, called lipid-associated membrane proteins (LAMPs). LAMPs are highly antigenic and could undergo phase and size variation, and are recognized by the innate immune system through Toll-like receptors (TLR) 2 and 6. LAMPs can modulate the immune system, and could induce immune cells apoptosis or death. In addition, they may associate with malignant transformation of host cells and are also considered to be cofactors in the progression of AIDS.
Animals ; Humans ; Lipids ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Mycoplasma ; physiology ; Mycoplasma Infections ; immunology ; metabolism ; microbiology ; pathology ; Protein Binding ; Signal Transduction

Objective To build a clinical key disciplines evaluation index system for county level hospitals in Chengdu city.Methods Literature meta analysis, focus group discussion, expert consultation method, boundary value method, brainstorming and hierarchy analysis method were comprehensively used.Results The clinical key disciplines evaluation index system for county level hospitals in Chengdu city comprises 5 level-1 indexes,1 6 level-2 indexes,47 level-3 indexes.Among the level-1 indexes,service capacity,medical quality,technical personnel,scientific research and education, and foundation of specialty was 0.474 6,0.202 7,0.148 2,0.097 7,0.076 8 respectively.Conclusion The clinical key disciplines evaluation index system for county level hospitals in Chengdu city is scientific, guiding and practical,which can be used to evaluate the status of the clinical key disciplines for county level hospitals in Chengdu city.

Endovascular embolization has increasingly been applied for brain arteriovenous malformation (BAVM). With our better understanding of BAVM and the continuous improvement of micro-catheter technology and embolic materials, the therapeutic effectiveness has constantly increased. This paper reviews recent advances in research on BAVM and the application of endovascular embolization.
Embolization, Therapeutic ; Humans ; Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations ; therapy

Mycoplasmas, the smallest free-living, self-replicating bacteria with diameters of 200 to 800 nm, have been reported to be associated with human diseases. It is well known that the mycoplasma lipoprotein/peptide is able to modulate the host immune system, whose N-terminal structure is an important factor in inducing immunity and distinguishing Toll-like receptors (TLRs). However, there is still no clear elucidation about the pathogenic mechanism of mycoplasma lipoprotein/peptide and the signaling pathway. Some researchers have focused on understanding the structures of these proteins and the relationships between their structure and biological function. This review provides an update on the research in this field.
Lipoproteins ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Mycoplasma ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptors ; chemistry ; metabolism

To investigate the role and mechanism of ceramide (Cer) regulation in alcohol-induced neuronal proliferation and the newborn neurons formation, we used sphingomyelin synthase 2 (predominant enzyme of Cer metabolism) knockout (SMS2(-/-)) and wild type (WT) female mice to establish the model of prenatal alcohol exposure. In 24 h after being given birth (postnatal day 0, P0), the offspring of model mice received blood sphingomyelin (SM) measurement with enzymatic method. On P0, P7, P14 and P30, the proliferation of granule cells in the dentate gyrus and newborn neurons were investigated with immunofluorescent labeling. The expression of protein kinase Cα (PKCα) in the hippocampus was tested with Western blot analysis. The results showed that the SM level of blood in SMS2(-/-) pups was significantly lower than that in WT pups. No matter in SMS2(-/-) or WT mice, the prenatal alcohol exposure down-regulated the SM levels in pups with dose-dependency. In both SMS2(-/-) and WT pups, the number of proliferative neurons and newborn neurons in the dentate gyrus gradually decreased with the growing age. Compared with the WT pups, SMS2(-/-) pups showed significantly more proliferative neurons and newborn neurons in the dentate gyrus. Notably, prenatal alcohol exposure dose-dependently increased proliferative neurons and newborn neurons in the dentate gyrus in both WT and SMS2(-/-) pups. The hippocampal expression of PKCα protein in SMS2(-/-) mice was lower than that in WT mice, and prenatal alcohol exposure could up-regulate the PKCα protein expression in both WT and SMS2(-/-) mice with dose dependency. These results suggest that alcohol exposure during pregnancy can induce the compensatory neural cell proliferation and the production of newborn neurons in offspring, and the Cer-ceramide-1-phosphate (C1P) pathway is involved in alcohol-induced neural cell proliferation. The activation of PKCα may be a key step to start the Cer-C1P pathway and up-regulate the alcohol-induced neural cell proliferation and the newborn neurons formation.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Ceramides ; metabolism ; Dentate Gyrus ; cytology ; Ethanol ; toxicity ; Female ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Neurons ; cytology ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ; physiopathology ; Protein Kinase C-alpha ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transferases (Other Substituted Phosphate Groups) ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the impact of prenatal exposure to lipopolysaccharide on renin-angiotensin system of offspring rats.

METHODSSix pregnant SD rats were randomly divided into 2 groups. The rats in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group were treated with LPS 0.79 mg/kg (i.p.) on the 8th, 10th and 12th day of gestation, and rats in the control group were treated with saline at the same time points. The blood pressure of offspring rats was measured by the tail cuff method. Protein expression of Angiotensin II (AngII) in thoracic aorta vessel was determined by immunohistochemistry. Protein expressions of AngII type 1 and type 2 receptor in thoracic aorta vessel were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSBlood pressure of 12-week-old offspring rats of LPS group was significantly higher than that of 12-week-old offspring rats of control group (P < 0.01). The protein expression of AngII and AngII type 1 receptor in thoracic aorta vessel were significantly higher while protein expression of AngII type 2 receptor was lower in 15-week-old offspring rats of LPS group than in control group, resulting in a significant increase in the ratio of AngII type 1 receptor/AngII type 2 receptor in the aorta at 15-week-old of offspring rats than in 15-week-old offspring rats of control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPrenatal lipopolysaccharide exposure results vascular renin-angiotensin system dysfunction, which may play an important role on the pathogenesis of hypertension development in offspring rats.

Angiotensin II ; metabolism ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Blood Pressure ; Female ; Hypertension ; etiology ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; adverse effects ; Maternal Exposure ; adverse effects ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; drug effects

OBJECTIVESince 2011 EB-APS conference, we hypotheses that phase switching of inspiration-expiration is dominantly initiated by oscillatory information PaO2, PaCO2 and [H+] via fast peripheral chemical receptors. However, the evidence of the waveform of ABG is lack.

METHODSSix surgery patients with normal heart function and negative Allen test, had been placed the arterial catheterization directly connected to 3 x 1 000 mm pre-heparin plastic pipe for continuous collecting arterial blood. We counted the number of heart beat for the blood collecting time, and separated the blood pipe into the heart beat numbers' short pieces using haemostatic forceps, then put pipe into iced water at once fir analyzing PaO2, PaCO2, pH and SaO2 as soon as possible. We selected two breaths cycles of waveform from each patient for data calculations of magnitudes and time interval.

RESULTSThe heart beat numbers for filling blood into pipe were 16 ± 2, and all covered more than 2 breathing cycles. Each breathing cycle is cover 5 ± 0.6 heart beat. There were significant changes of PaO2, PaCO2, [H+] a and SaO2 (i.e. the highest high values compare to the next lowest values, P < 0.05). The time interval of changing PaO2, PaCO2, [H+]a and SaO2 magnitudes were 11.28 ± 1.13 mmHg, 1.77 ± 0.89 mmHg, 1.14 ± 0.35 nmol/L and 0.52% ± 0.44% respectively.

CONCLUSIONThis simple continuous beat-by-beat arterial blood sampling and ABG analyzing method is new and practicable. We obtain a clear evidence of periodic parameters ABG waveform, which following breathing cycle.

Arteries ; physiology ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; methods ; Respiration

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical features and to identify the DAX-1 gene mutation in a Chinese kindred with X-linked adrenal hypoplasia congenital(AHC).

METHODSClinical data and peripheral blood samples were obtained from the affected individuals and their relatives. The genomic DNA was isolated from whole blood. Four pairs of primers were used to amplify the two exons of the DAX-1 gene, and PCR products were purified and sequenced directly. Sequencing results were compared to the human DAX-1 sequence in the public database.

RESULTSA novel hemizygous frameshift mutation (428delG) in exon 1 of the DAX-1 gene was found in both patients (the index case and his cousin). Some clinical features such as the age of onset were different although these 2 patients carried the same mutation. Three females in the family, including the mothers of the 2 patients and their grandmother were carriers of this mutation. No such mutation was detected in other healthy persons in the family.

CONCLUSIONThe result suggested that X-linked AHC in the kindred was caused by a novel mutation of 428delG in the DAX-1 gene, and the same mutation can give rise to variable phenotypes.

Adolescent ; Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital ; genetics ; pathology ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Child ; DAX-1 Orphan Nuclear Receptor ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Diseases, X-Linked ; genetics ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Phenotype ; Receptors, Retinoic Acid ; genetics ; Repressor Proteins ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA