Objective To investigate the feasibility and prospects of nested real-time PCR(NR-PCR)technique for Treponema palladium(Tp)detection in various samples of different stages of syphilis from patients preliminarily diagnosed as syphilis. Methods Targeting the Tp polA gene, NR-PCR was performed to detect Tp DNA in various samples from the patients with various stages of syphilis at the first clinic visit, including skin tissue fluid swabs, serum, whole blood, cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)and earlobe blood. Data were analyzed with SPSS software version 13. Results A total of 368 clinical samples were collected from 200 patients with syphilis. With a detection limit of 2 Tp/ml, NR-PCR showed that the total positive rate for Tp DNA was 71.7%(264/368). The Tp DNA positive rate was highest in earlobe blood samples (92.0%, 23/25), followed by CSF samples(90.2%, 46/51), skin tissue fluid swabs(74.3%, 26/35), serum samples(66.9%, 99/148)and whole blood samples(64.2%, 70/109). There was good agreement between NR-PCR results and serologic test results, with a consistency rate of 76.0%(152/200). Furthermore, the Tp DNA positive rate did not differ between patients with primary(12/19)and secondary syphilis(14/16)in skin tissue fluid swabs(χ2 = 2.62, P > 0.05), and was slightly but insignificantly higher in patients with secondary syphilis than those with primary syphilis in the serum samples(χ2=3.6, P=0.06). The Tp DNA positive rate of whole blood samples was also higher in patients with secondary syphilis than those with any other types of syphilis. Among patients with neurosyphilis, no significant difference was observed in the Tp DNA positive rate between earlobe blood samples and CSF samples(P=0.06). Among patients with latent syphilis, the Tp DNA positive rate was significantly higher in serum samples with an RPR titer of ≥ 1:8 than those with an RPR titer of≤1:4. Conclusion NR-PCR is feasible for detecting Tp DNA in various kinds of samples, and the Tp DNA positive rate is influenced by stages of syphilis and types of samples, as well as RPR titers.

so as to increase inclusion body by 32%when compared with placebo.Conclusion As a disulfide bond isomerase,DsbG may also have chaperone activity during EB infecting to host cell.

Objective To profile the omp1 genotypes of Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) in patients with nongonococcal urethritis (cervicitis) in Guangzhou region. Methods Swab samples were obtained from the urethra of males and cervix of females in clinical settings of venereology and gynecology as well as at outreach sites for the prevention and control of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). DNA was extracted from the swabs and nested PCR was performed to amplify the variable domain (VD) 1 - 3 of omp1 gene of Ct followed by gene sequencing. The genotypes of Ct were determined based on the amino acid mutation in VD 1 - 2 of omp1 gene. Results Totally, 1208 swabs were collected. Of them, 132 were Ct positive, and 130 positive samples underwent genotyping. Ten ompl genotypes were determined in total, including serotype E (38, 29.23%), D (25, 19.23%), J(24, 18.46%), F(21, 16.15%), G(7, 5.38%), H(5, 3.85%), K(5, 3.85%), B(2, 1.54%), Ja (2, 1.54%), I (1, 0.77%). E, D, J and F were the dominant type of Ct in this region, and amounted to 83% of all the Ct isolates. Mutations were observed within VD 1 and 2 of omp1 gene in serotype D, B and K.Serotypes were undetermined for Ct in 2 patients with mixed infection. Conclusions In Guangzhou region, E,D, F and J are the predominant genotypes of Ct, and amount to 83% of all the Ct isolates. Ct serotype B is also observed in the urethra of males and cervix of females in this region.

Objective To examine the effects of gross tumor volume (GTV) and radiation dose on the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients treated with whole body gamma knife.Methods The clinical data of 69 HCC patients who underwent body gamma knife treatment from January 2012 to June 2015 in the Radiotherapy Center of the PLA General Hospital were retrospectively reviewed.Based on a 50% or 60% isodose coverage of the planning target volume (PTV), patients were treated with a radiation dose of 4-5 Gy per fraction, and a total marginal dose of 36-50 Gy (median dose 45 Gy).Short-term efficacy, overall survival (OS), and the adverse effect of the treatment were evaluated.The optimal cut-off tumor volume was identified using the receiver operating characteristic curve, and survival was determined by the Kaplan-Meier method.Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using the log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards regression model, respectively.Results The overall short-term response rate of the 69 patients was 67%.The 1-and 2-year OS rates were 62% and 40%, respectively, with a median survival of 18.6 months.The multivariate analysis showed that gross tumor volume (GTV)<93 cm3(P=0.013) and short-term efficacy of radiotherapy (P=0.000) were significant independent prognostic factors for survival.When GTV was<93 cm3, prognosis was significantly better in patients treated with a dose of ≥45 Gy than in those with<45 Gy (P=0.019).In contrast, radiation dose had no significant effect on survival among patients with GTV>93 cm3(P=0.665).Conclusions GTV is an independent prognostic factor for overall survival of HCC patients.Although high-dose radiotherapy provides survival benefits to patients with small GTV, it is not necessarily suitable for patients with large GTV.