Objective To evaluate the significance of dilated intercellular space (DIS) of squamous epithelium in lower-esophagus which was measured at light microscopy (LM) in the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Methods This study was divided into two parts. The first part consists of 133 GERD patients with typical symptoms, including 75 erosive esophagitis (EE) and 58 non-erosive reflux disease (NERD);the second part consists of 25 healthy volunteers as control; ambulatory 24-hr esophageal pH monitoring, endoscopy and biopsies which were taken in lower esophagus were performed in all individuals. NERD patients with negative ambulatory 24-hr esophageal pH monitoring were undertaken PPI test. We selected 43 individuals randomly (4 control, 11 NERD and 28 EE) to measure the intercellular space diameter with LM and transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) simultaneously. All the samples were observed at immersion objective, taken pictures and make the scale at the same time; all the pictures were measured by the computer-assisted morphometry and in the samples for one ease should be measured 100 points and then calculate the mean intercellular space diameter, while the TEM has the same procedures. Results A total of 158 individuals (90 male, 68 female) were enrolled in this study. The mean intercellular space diameter with LM of the controls, the NERD and the EE patients were (0.61±0.10)μm, (1.12±0.61)μm and (1.30±0.19) μm, respectively, with significant differences between the control and NERD group, the control and EE group, the EE and NERD group (P <0.05); the mean intercellular space diameter with LM of EE subgroup of LA-A, LA-B, LA-C, LA-D were (1.31±0. 23)μm, (1.27±0.17)μm, (1.31±0.14)μm, (1.33±0.11)μm, respectively, without significant differences among every two subgroups (P > 0.05);NERD patients with positive and negative 24-hr ambulatory pH monitoring were 40 and 17 cases, and the mean intercellular space diameter with LM were (1.12±0.16) μm, (1.11±0.31) μm, respectively, without significant differences between them (P >0.05) ;the cut-off value of mean intercellular space diameter with LM was 0. 85 μm, if combination the clinical GERD symptom, endoscopy and 24-hr ambulatory pH monitoring as gold standard, its sensitivity was 95.5% and specificity was 100%;the intercellular space diameter of the controls, the NERD patients and the EE patients with TEM were (0. 30±0.14)μm, (1.33±0.28)μm, (1.40±0. 22)μm, respectively,with significant differences between the control and NERD group, the control and EE group (P < 0.05). It was significant correlation in intercellular space diameter between LM and TEM (r=0.737, P=0.000).Conclusions The intercellular space diameter of squamous epithelium in lower esophagus of GERD patients can make quantitative study with LM. It is significant correlation with TEM. DIS with LM is one of sensitive, specific and objective marker of GERD.

Objective To establish a method for simulataneous determination of 18 free amino acids in snake venom. Methods Preparation of free amino acid samples by membrane. HPLC analysis was performed after derivatization by using phenyl isothiocyanate (PITC) as a derivative reagent, samples were analyzed on Ultimate LP-C18 column with gradient elution column of 0.05 mol/L sodium acetate buffer and methanol-acetonitrile- water (40:40:20), and current speed was1.0 mL/min, and the column temperature was set at 35℃, and detection wavelength was 254nm. Results The 18 kinds of amino acids showed a good linearity with the correlation coefficients ≥0.99. The recovery rate was 74.59%~110.62%. Snake venom contained 17 kinds of amino acids, the total content of amino acids was 0.2%. Conclusion The method was accurate, reproducible and reliable, and can be used for the determination of amino acids in snake venom and related products.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of dermoscopy and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) alone or in combination for melanocytic nevus.Methods A total of 37 patients with clinically diagnosed melanocytic nevus were collected.Skin lesions were firstly examined by dermoscopy and RCM,then were resected to be subjected to histopathological examination for final diagnosis.The imaging features of melanocytic nevus were summarized.The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value and accuracy of different skin imaging techniques were calculated,and the consistency was analyzed between skin imaging techniques and histopathological examination.Results Based on the dermoscopic and RCM findings,2 kinds of nevus cells with different morphological features were observed in the dermis of intradermal nevus.One kind of nevus cells was characterized by a nonfusional,highly-refractive round structure in the papillary dermis under RCM,and by a brown or light brown homogenous pattern under dermoscopy,which was observed in 5 skin lesions.The other kind of nevus cells appeared as irregular,highly-refractive cell clumps in the papillary dermis under RCM,and by a cobblestone or globular pattern under dermoscopy,which was observed in 31 skin lesions.For the diagnosis of melanocytic nevus,the sensitivity,specificity,accuracy,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of RCM combined with dermoscopy were 91.7％,87.5％,90.9％,97.1％ and 70％ respectively,those of RCM were 86.1％,75％,84％,93.9％ and 54.5％ respectively,and those of dermoscopy were 77.8％,87.5％,75％,96.3％ and 41.2％ respectively.All the diagnostic indices of RCM combined with dermoscopy were higher than those of RCM or dermoscopy alone,except that the specificity was equal to that of dermoscopy alone.RCM showed higher sensitivity,accuracy and negative predictive value,but lower specificity and positive predictive value compared with dermoscopy.There were no significant differences in the diagnostic yield in melanocytic nevus between RCM combined with dermoscopy or RCM alone and histopathological examination (x2 =0.25,0.57,P =0.63,0.45,Kappa value =0.72,0.53,respectively).However,a significant difference in the diagnostic yield in melanocytic nevus was observed between dermoscopy and histopathological examination (x2 =5.81,P =0.012).Conclusion RCM combined with dermoscopy shows higher diagnostic accuracy for melanocytic nevus compared with RCM or dermoscopy alone.

Objective To evaluate the clinical significance of intercellular space diameters (ISD)of squamous epithelium by light microscopy (LM) in lower esophagus of erosive reflux esophagitis (ERD),non-erosive reflux disease ( NERD), Barrett esophagus (BE) and healthy controls. Methods A total of 21 ERD and 21 NERD patients with reflux symptoms and confirmed with 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring, 13 BE patients diagnosed by gastroscopy and biopsy, and 20 other healthy controls were enrolled in the study.Samples of ERD, NERD and control group were collected at 2 cm above dentate line, and made HE slides in the conventional way. Images for measurement of ICS were acquired with oil lens ( × 1000). ICS of squamous epithelium was quantitatively measured by computer-assisted morphometry. Ten cells were taken for each sample, 10 consecutive ISD for each cell, i.e. 100 ISD for each subject. Mean ISD was calculated.Results Mean ISDs by LM in control, BE, ERD, and NERD groups were 0. 59, 0. 99, 1.29 and 1.06 μm, respectively. The mean ISDs in BE, ERD, and NERD group were much greater than that in control (P＜0. 05). The mean, maximal and minimal ISDs of group ERD were greater than those of NERD and BE (P = 0. 000). However, the ISDs of NERD and BE are of no significant difference ( P ＞ 0. 05 ). The cut-off value of mean ISD for diagnosis of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) was 0. 85 μm. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for ERD, NERD and BE were 89. 1% and 100. 0%, with reference to clinical symptoms, endoscopy and ISDs above the cut-off value. Conclusion Larger ISDs in lower esophagus by using LM will be found in all subgroups of GERD, including ERD, NERD and BE. Increased ISDs may be one of the markers for diagnosis of ERD, NERD and BE.

OBJECTIVETo observe the airway inflammatory change in asthmatic rats complicated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to assess the intervention effects of Chinese herbs for reinforcing Shen and supplementing qi (CH) on it.

METHODSEighty-four Norway rats were randomized into 7 groups, the normal control group (A), the COPD model group (B), the asthma model group (C), the combined COPD and the asthma model group (D), and the three CH treated groups (E, F and G, combined model rats administered by low-, moderate- and high- dose CH, respectively), 12 rats in each group. Changes of symptoms, pathologic changes of the lung tissue, airway reactivity, and serum levels of interleukin-4, interleukin-6, interleukin-8 (IL-4, IL-6, and IL-8) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in rats were observed.

RESULTSSymptoms were alleviated in the three CH treated groups. Similar pathological features were shown in group B and D, showing inflammatory cell, mainly lymphocyte, infiltration in bronchial and lung tissues, with cilia denudation, partial alveolar wall rupture, alveolar cavity expansion, and accompanied with evident eosinophilic infiltration. These inflammatory exudation in group E-G was alleviated, while in group C, it developed showing a trend similar to that in group D. Airway resistance raised along with the concentration of Mch used. In group D, the serum level of IL-4 was higher than that in group B, and level of INF-gamma was lower than that in group A, B and C (all P <0.05). CH showed a lowering effect on serum levels of IL-4 and -8, and a dose-dependent rising effect on IFN-gamma.

CONCLUSIONSIL- 4 significantly increased and INF-gamma decreased in rat model of combined COPD and asthma, its mechanism is similar to that of Th1/Th2 imbalance in asthma. Chinese herbs for reinforcing Shen and supplementing qi could improve the symptoms and inhibit the airway inflammation in the combined COPD and asthma model rats, its mechanism might be related with the alleviation of TH1/TH2 imbalance.

Animals ; Asthma ; complications ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Inflammation ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-8 ; metabolism ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; complications ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Qi ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred BN

Objective To explore the guidance significance of the functional MRI and DTI (fMRI ,DTI) ,intraoperative ultra-sound(IOUS) ,neuronavigation ,electrocorticography(EcoG) monitoring used in surgical treatment of low-grade gliomas with epi-lepsy as main symptom located near the eloquent brain regions .Methods 23 neurosurgical patients in the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University during 2009-2010 were performed the retrospective analysis .The preoperative fMRI ,DTI deter-mined the positional relation between the lesions with the conduction bundle and the eloquent brain regions ,the electrophysiological and imageological examinations positioned the epileptogenic focus and lesions ,the MRI-mediated neuronavigation system was adopt-ed to formulate the surgical plan and choose the best surgical approach ,IOUS was used to perform the realtime monitoring for pre-cisely positioning the lesion range and determining the extent of resection ,and the intraoperative EcoG was adopted to determine the epileptogenic focus localization ,the lesions and the epileptogenic focus was dealed by the operating microscope for avoiding the func-tional region ,and the patient′s prognosis was evaluated and recored in detail after operation .Results By the precisely positioning the lesions and epileptogenic focus by fMRI ,DTI ,neuronavigation and ultrasound ,the lesion resection degrees by the operative mi-croscope and intraopertaive pathological guidance were 17 cases of Ⅰ-Ⅱ grade ,4 cases of Ⅲ grade and 2 case of Ⅳ-Ⅴ grade .1 case of motor aphasia ,4 cases of hemiplegia and monoplegia and 1 case of disturbance of consciousness after operation were improved by the treatment of neurotrophy ,dehydration and hyperbaric oxygen and discharged from hospital with rehabilitation .No death case occurred .The evaluation of the life quality :20 cases ofⅠ-Ⅱ grade ,3 cases of Ⅲ grade and no vegetable survival case of Ⅳ grade . The evaluation of resection clinical effect :20 cases of cure ,3 cases of improvement ,no case of as before and exacerbation .After fol-lowed up for 6-24 months ,according to Engel classification of seizure efficacy assessment :Ⅰ-Ⅱ grade in 21 cases ,Ⅲ grade in 2 case ,no case of Ⅳgrade .Conclusion fMRI ,DTI ,neuronavigation ,IOUS and EcoG for guiding the operation of low grade gliomas located near the eloquent brain regions can resect the lesion to the largest extent and simultaneously deal with epileptogenic focus , effectively protect the neurological function of the functional region ,greatly reduce the side-injury of the normal brain tissues in the functional region ,at the same time increase the curative effect of symptomatic epilepsy .

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of wheat-sized moxibustion in assisting the treatment of mild—to-moderate persistent chronic bronchial asthma in the elderly with Salmeterol xinafoate and fluticasone propionate aerosol. Method Eighty-four old patients with mild—to-moderate persistent chronic bronchial asthma were randomized into an observation group and a control group by using the random number table, 42 each. The control group was given Salmeterol xinafoate and fluticasone propionate aerosol, 1 inhalation each time, twice a day;the observation group was additionally given wheat-sized moxibustion by selecting Pishu (BL20), Feishu (BL13) and Geshu (BL17), twice a week. The two groups were both treated for 2 months. Before and after the intervention, Asthma Control Test (ACT), Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ), and pulmonary function parameters [peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and forced vital capacity (FVC)] were observed, and the clinical efficacies were compared. Result The total effective rate was 92.9% in the observation group versus 78.6% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05); the ACT and AQLQ scores, as well as PEF, FEV1 and FVC were significantly increased after the intervention in both groups (P<0.05); after the treatment, the improvement in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Wheat-sized moxibustion is effective in assisting the treatment of mild-to-moderate persistent chronic bronchial asthma in the elderly with Salmeterol xinafoate and fluticasone propionate aerosol. It can effectively controlasthma and enhance the quality of life.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of stone needle therapy plus medication in treating early-mid stage senile knee osteoarthritis (KOA).Method Seventy elderly patients with early-mid stage KOA were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 35 cases each. The control group was intervened by oral administration of Meloxicam tablets, while the treatment group was intervened by stone needle therapy based on the medication. The two groups were treated 5 times a week, for successive 3 weeks. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Lysholm Knee Scoring (LKS) were observed before and after the treatment, and the clinical efficacies of the two groups were also compared. Result The total effective rate was 94.3％ in the treatment group versus 80.0％ in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). After the treatment, the VAS and LKS scores were significantly changed in both groups (P<0.05). The VAS and LKS scores of the treatment group were significantly different from those of the control group (P<0.05).Conclusion Stone needle therapy plus medication is an effective method in treating early-mid stage senile KOA.

Objective:To evaluate the rapid nucleic acid amplification detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP)-DNA and MP-RNA in the diagnosis of MP infection and therapeutic values in children. Methods:Patients who were diagnosed with pneumonia were enrolled from the Department of Respiration, Children′s Hospital of Capital Institute of Pediatrics from January 2018 to December 2018.Specimens were detected using the MP and Macrolide-Resistant isolates Diagnostic Kit (PCR Fluorescence Probing, Jiangsu Mole Bioscience Co., Ltd.) and MP Diagnostic Kit (Isothermal RNA amplification, Shanghai Rendu Biotechnology Co., Ltd.).Results:Among them, 42.1%(840 cases) of the 1 994 cases were positive for MP-DNA, and the macrolide associated gene mutations were detected in 96.0% (806/840 cases) of them, while 33.9% (551 cases) of 1 624 cases were positive for MP-RNA.Seven hundred and fifty-eight specimens were simultaneously detected by adopting MP-DNA and MP-RNA, and the positive rate was 43.1% (327/758 cases) and 36.7% (278/758 cases), accordingly, which were inconsistent (Kappa=0.604) in 613 (80.9%, 613/758 cases) cases, with significant differences ( χ2=6.60, P=0.01). Part of the specimens were rechecked with the interval of 7 days: MP-RNA was negative in 70.1% (47/67 cases) specimens and MP-DNA was negative in 36.1% (22/91 cases) specimens ( χ2=33.20, P<0.01). Conclusions:The positive detection rate of MP was at a high level in 2018, in Beijing, China.The results of MP-DNA and MP-RNA are consistant.But RNA detection can help to diagnose MP in the early stage, and monitor the survival of MP and its efficiency.

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL) and clinicopathological features and prognosis of serous ovarian cancer retrospectively. Methods A total of 73 patients with serous ovarian cancer treated in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Tianjin Medical University General Hospital from January 2000 to December 2015 were included in this study. The relationship between serum FSH, LH, PRL and clinicopathological features was analyzed by Mann-Whitney U method. Kaplan-Meier (K-M) method was used to analyze survival rates of patients with different clinical features. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to analyze prognostic factors of serous ovarian cancer patients. Results The mean concentrations of serum FSH and LH were significantly higher in the>50 year-old group than those in the<50 year-old group (P<0.05). The mean concentrations of FSH and LH were significantly higher in menopause group than those in non-menopause group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in serum levels of FSH and LH in patients with other different clinicopathological features (P>0.05). There was no significant correlation between serum PRL concentration and clinicopathological features (P>0.05). Analysis results showed that poor prognosis of patients was related with high serum levels of FSH (>40.13 IU/L), PRL (>14.96 μg/L) and FIGO stage (Ⅲ+Ⅳ) (P<0.05). There was no significant correlation between serum LH concentration and prognosis (P>0.05). COX regression analysis showed that the serum PRL>14.96 μg/L was risk factor for prognosis of serous ovarian cancer [HR(95%CI): 3.530(1.180-10.557),P=0.024]. Conclusion The serum levels of FSH and LH are significantly increased in postmenopausal women than those in menopause women. The serum level of PRL is correlated with the prognosis of serous ovarian cancer.