Objective To set up the reference value of serum glyeated albumin (CA) in Chinese for using in clinical practice through a multi-center clinical trial. Methods Three hundred and eighty individuals with normal weight and normal glucose regulation, including 183 males and 197 females ranging from 20 to 69 years, were recruited from 10 hospitals in China. Serum GA levels were measured with liquid enzymatic method. Results (1) The GA level of the 380 subjects was (14. 5±1.9)%. When dividing these subjects by age into 3 subgroups, there was no difference in the GA levels among the 3 subgroups (P>0.05). Compared with the women, the men had higher GA level in the first subgroup aging from 20 to 39 (P =0.028). However, no significant difference was detected after adjusting with BMI as confounder.(2) When dividing those subjects by BMI into 3 subgroups, with BMI ranging from 18. 5-20. 9 kg/m2,21.0-22. 9 kg/m<'2>and 23.0-24. 9 kg/m<'2>respectively, we came to the following results: for men, there was no difference in the GA levels among the 3 subgroups (P>0.05), but for women, the GA level of the first subgroup was higher than that of the second subgroup (P =0.024). (3) The level of GA in the 2. 5th to 97.5th percentile was 10. 8%-17. 1%. (4) Sixty normal subjects were chosen to repeat evaluation of GA levels after 2-3 weeks and the GA levels were of no difference (P>0.05).Conclusion The normal range of serum GA for the Chinese population could be suggested at 11%-17%.

Temporal features of sound convey information vital for behaviors as diverse as speech recognition by human and echolocation by bats. However, auditory stimuli presented in temporal proximity might interfere with each other. Although much progress has been made in the description of this phenomenon from psychophysical studies, the neural mechanism responsible for its formation at central auditory structures especially at the inferior colliculus (IC), a midbrain auditory nucleus which practically receives massive bilateral projections from all the major auditory structures in the brainstem, remains unclear. This study was designed to investigate it in vivo by using electrophysiological recording from the inferior collicular neurons of the big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus. In our results, the responses of 12 (38%, n= 31) neurons to the test sound (leading sound) were obviously inhibited by the masker (lagging sound). The inhibitory effects in these neurons were correlated with the inter-stimulus level difference (SLD) and the inter-stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) interval. The strength of backward masking increased with the masker intensity increasing, the test sound intensity decreasing and the SOA interval shortening. There were no obvious effects of backward masking on the responses of many other neurons (52%, 16/31), and yet in a part of these neurons, the neural inhibition of responses to the test sound was observed at the special SLD and the special SOA intervals. Moreover, few of the 31 sampled IC neurons (10%, 3/31) displayed facilitating responses to the test sound at the special SLD and the special SOA intervals. These data demonstrate that a lot of IC neurons are involved in the generation of the backward masking of acoustical perception. It is conjectured that the temporal dynamic integration between the leading inhibitory inputs evoked by the masker sound and the excitatory inputs evoked by the test sound might play a key role in shaping the acoustical response characteristics of the IC neurons.
Acoustic Stimulation ; Animals ; Auditory Perception ; physiology ; Chiroptera ; physiology ; Echolocation ; physiology ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory ; Inferior Colliculi ; cytology ; physiology ; Male ; Neurons ; physiology ; Perceptual Masking ; physiology

The echolocating big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) emit trains of frequency-modulated (FM) biosonar signals with duration, amplitude, repetition rate, and sweep structure changing systematically during interception of their prey. In the present study, the sound stimuli of temporally patterned pulse trains at three different pulse repetition rates (PRRs) were used to mimic the sounds received during search, approach, and terminal stages of echolocation. Electrophysiological method was adopted in recordings from the inferior colliculus (IC) of midbrain. By means of iontophoretic application of bicuculline, the effect of GABAergic inhibition on the intensity sensitivity of IC neurons responding to three different PRRs of 10, 30 and 90 pulses per second (pps) was examined. The rate-intensity functions (RIFs) were acquired. The dynamic range (DR) of RIFs was considered as a criterion of intensity sensitivity. Comparing the average DR of RIFs at different PRRs, we found that the intensity sensitivity of some neurons improved, but that of other neurons decayed when repetition rate of stimulus trains increased from 10 to 30 and 90 pps. During application of bicuculline, the number of impulses responding to the different pulse trains increased under all stimulating conditions, while the DR differences of RIFs at different PRRs were abolished. The results indicate that GABAergic inhibition was involved in modulating the intensity sensitivity of IC neurons responding to pulse trains at different PRRs. Before and during bicuculline application, the percentage of changes in responses was maximal in lower stimulus intensity near to the minimum threshold (MT), and decreased gradually with the increment of stimulus intensity. This observation suggests that GABAergic inhibition contributes more effectively to the intensity sensitivity of the IC neurons responding to pulse trains at lower sound level.
Acoustic Stimulation ; Animals ; Bicuculline ; pharmacology ; Chiroptera ; Echolocation ; Electrophysiological Phenomena ; GABA-A Receptor Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Inferior Colliculi ; cytology ; Neurons ; cytology

Objective To investigate the affection of negative life and events coping style to youthful breast cancer patients and their psychological stress state preoperation. Methods 60 youthful breast cancer patients preoperation were investigated with Life Events Scale (LES) and somatization, depression and anxiety in Self-reporting Inventory Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90). Results The score of somatization, depression and anxiety were (1.89 ±0.31), (2.28 ± 0.56) and (1.99 ± 0.63). the anxiety and depression were obvious in patients who had lower education level (P < 0. 05). Sematization, depression and anxiety were more severe in patients who was single, divorced and widowed than married (P < 0. 05). The levels of depression and anxiety were higher in patients who had higher income (P < 0. 05). Conclusions The youthful breast cancer patients have severe psychic trauma, and they need humanistic care.

is restored and the laryngeal function is preserved as far as possible. The preservation of laryngeal function and the laryngeal and pharyngeal reconstruction are based on the premise that the tumor was excised completely.

This study was purposed to investigate the effect of highway transportation on the quality of blood components so as to provide experimental basis to meet the needs of military operations. The transport condition was simulated by random vibration test. The red blood cells, leukocyte-reduced red blood cells, washed red blood cells were randomly vibrated (C Road) for 4 hours. Then, these blood components were stored in refrigerator for 15 days (4 degrees C). Six milliliters of blood were collected before vibration, after vibration, and at day 15 days of storage after vibration, respectively. The suspension was isolated. The free hemoglobin (FHb), routine hematological parameters, and biochemical indexes were determined. The results showed that FHb, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), K(+) of red blood cells and leukocyte-reduced red blood cells did not significantly change after vibration and storage. However, FHb, LDH and K(+) of washed red blood cells increased significantly after simulated transportation (p < 0.05). The levels of these parameters at day 15 of storage after vibration were also significantly higher than those after vibration (p < 0.01). The changes of other hematological parameters were not significant in three blood components after vibration (C Road) and storage for 15 day. In conclusion, red blood cells and leukocyte-reduced red blood cells were qualified for clinic transfusion even after transportation within 4 hours for 15 day storage later, if they were kept in proper blood container and protected from damping. However, the washed red blood cells could not be used for clinic after similar transport in the military operations.
Blood Preservation ; Cryopreservation ; Erythrocytes ; chemistry ; Humans ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; blood ; Transportation ; Vibration

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of the depth of jaundice, the duration of jaundice and preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) on postoperative complications and mortality after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).

METHODSA retrospective review was performed of the medical records of 1025 patients who underwent PD between June 1986 and December 2010. The patients comprised 659 men and 366 women, ranging from 4 to 81 years old with a mean age of (54 ± 12) years. The indications for PD were malignant disease in 869 patients (84.78%) and benign or borderline tumors in 156 patients (15.22%). The operative procedures performed were pylorus-preserving modification in 279 patients and conventional PD, i.e. Whipple's operation in 746 patients. Complications after PD were compared among the different groups which was classified according to the depth of obstructive jaundice, the duration of obstructive jaundice and whether undergoing preoperative biliary drain or not, and the analysis was made by variance analysis and χ(2) test respectively.

RESULTSThe depth of jaundice did not significantly affect the incidence of complications after PD except for the hemorrhage complication (χ(2) = 11.06, P = 0.03). The duration of jaundice had no much influence on the postoperative complications and mortality. PBD could not reduce the postoperative complications and mortality, however, it would increase the incidence of postoperative incision infection (χ(2) = 9.84, P = 0.01). No significant relationship was observed between the duration of PBD and the postoperative complications and mortality.

CONCLUSIONSEither the depth or duration of obstructive jaundice has no relationship with the postoperative complications and mortality after PD but the postoperative hemorrhage. Patients undergoing PD can not be benefited from PBD. Consequently, PBD should not be performed routinely, but it can be used in some serious patients with severe depth of jaundice who can not received surgery at once.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drainage ; Female ; Humans ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; adverse effects ; mortality ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo construct the virus-like parcel expressing hepatitis B virus (HBV) C gene and identify its immunogenicity.

METHODSHBV C gene was cloned into the shuttle vector pSC11, and the resulted plasmid pSC11-C was transfected into modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA).

RESULTSpSC11-C was correctly constructed as verified by sequence analysis and PCR, and the recombinant virus-like parcel possessed good immunogenicity.

CONCLUSIONThe MVA-C expressing HBV C gene has been successfully constructed to provide important basis for gene therapy research of chronic HBV infection.

Genes, Viral ; Genetic Vectors ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; genetics ; Recombination, Genetic ; Vaccinia virus ; genetics

BACKGROUNDTalaromyces (Penicillium) marneffei (TM) is an emerging dimorphic human pathogenic fungus that is endemic to Southeast Asia. TM mostly occurs as an opportunistic infection in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The objective of this study was to compare the clinical and laboratory parameters of patients with TM infections who were HIV-positive and HIV-negative and to assess therapies and outcomes.

METHODSThis was a retrospective analysis of 26 patients diagnosed with disseminated TM infection from September 2005 to April 2014 at Fujian Provincial Hospital, China.

RESULTSPatients with TM infection tend to present with fever, weight loss, and anemia. The time from symptom onset to confirmed diagnosis was greater for HIV-negative patients (n = 7; median: 60 days, range: 14-365 days) than for HIV-positive patients (n = 19; median: 30 days, range: 3-90 days, Mann-Whitney U = 31.50, P= 0.041). HIV-negative patients were more likely to have dyspnea (57.1% vs. 5.3%, χ2 = 8.86, P= 0.010), low neutrophil count (Mann-Whitney U = 27.00, P= 0.029), high CD4 count (Mann-Whitney U = 0.00, P= 0.009), and high lymphocyte count (Mann-Whitney U = 21.00, P= 0.009). There were no significant differences in other demographic, clinical, or biochemical characteristics. Among all the patients, 12 HIV-positive patient and 1 HIV-negative patient received amphotericin and fluconazole treatment, 9 of whom improved, 1 died, 2 had kidney damage, 1 had hypokalemia due to exceeded doses.

CONCLUSIONSHIV-negative patients with TM infections tend to have a longer diagnostic interval, a higher percentage of dyspnea, higher levels of CD4 and lymphocytes, and lower neutrophil counts than TM infection in HIV-positive patients. Treatment programs with amphotericin and fluconazole are mostly effective.

Adult ; Aged ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Female ; HIV Infections ; complications ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycoses ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Retrospective Studies ; Talaromyces ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo detect lymphangiogenesis by labeling the lymphatic endothelial marker, lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor-1 (LYVE-1), and study the prognostic relevance of lymphangiogenesis in laryngeal squamous carcinoma.

METHODSClinical files and specimens of 78 patients with histologically diagnosed laryngeal carcinoma were stained with LYVE-1 as a specific lymphatic endothelial marker. The lymphatic vessel density (LVD) was measured, and the correlation between LVD and clinicopathological features of the tumor cases was analyzed.

RESULTSThe mean LVD in laryngeal carcinoma (13.24 ± 5.09) was significantly higher than that in adult laryngeal papilloma (5.54 ± 3.15) and squamous dysplasia (6.76 ± 4.45, P < 0.05). The LVD of poorly differentiated tumors (15.74 ± 5.24) was significantly higher than that in the moderately differentiated tumors (13.84 ± 6.20), and the LVD in the moderately differentiated tumors was significantly higher than that in the well-differentiated tumors (11.68 ± 6.34). The LVD in stage 0 to stage II group (10.66 ± 5.70) was significantly lower than that in the stage III to IV group (17.01 ± 6.35). The lymph node metastasis group (17.25 ± 7.37) was significantly higher than non-lymph node metastasis group (8.60 ± 5.23, P < 0.05). There was no significant association between LVD and age, sex, primary site and distant metastasis. The overall survival in the patients with a LVD higher than the mean value was 33.5 month, and that of cases with a LVD lower than the mean value was 81.6 month (P < 0.05). The multivariate survival analysis showed that the clinical stage and LVD were independent prognostic factors of laryngeal cancer.

CONCLUSIONSThe LYVE-1 staining histochemistry demonstrates that the lymphangiogenesis occurrs mainly at the edge of the tumors, and lymphangiogenesis plays an important role in the carcinogenesis, cancer progression and lymph node metastasis in laryngeal cancer. LVD may be an independent indicator of poor prognosis of laryngeal cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphangiogenesis ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Lymphatic Vessels ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Papilloma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Precancerous Conditions ; metabolism ; pathology ; Survival Rate ; Vesicular Transport Proteins ; metabolism