Diagnostic Errors ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Thyroid Nodule ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography ; Zenker Diverticulum ; diagnostic imaging

Objective To explore the biological characteristics and karyotype of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)and hematopoietic sup- port of MSCs.Methods MSCs were isolated from bone marrow of 11 SLE patients and 6 healthy controls by density centrifugation and adhesive culture in vitro.The surface markers were detected by flow cytometry (FCM).The morphological changes of MSCs were observed in primary and passage cultures.The growth curves were assayed.The karyotype of MSCs was detected by blocking cellular mitosis with colchicines.The MSCs from SLE patients and healthy controls were infused to ICR mice after high-dose chemotherapy.The changes of peripheral blood counts of the mice were recorded.Results Approximately(6～9)?10~9 MSCs from SLE were obtained after 5 passages and their growth was slower than normal controls(P＜0.01).Both groups were positive for CD29,CD44 and CD105,and negative for CD14,CD34,CD45 and HLA-DR.MSCs from SLE had a normal karyotype.MSCs infusions of the two groups were accompanied by no adverse event and the recovery of white blood cell,hemoglobin and platelet count was quicker when compared with the controls(P＜0.05).Conclusion MSCs from SLE have demonstrated abnormalities in expansion in vitro.MSCs from SLE have a normal karyotype.Ex vivo MSCs infusion from SLE patients can support hematopoiesis as normal MSCs.

Objective To learn about electrolytes imbalance and water intoxication in children treated with high-dose cyclophosphamide(HD-CTX)as well as the renal function and the relative clinical symptoms,and study the mechanisms of hyponatremia.Methods Patients' clinical manifestations during and after HD-CTX therapy were summarized.Serum electrolytes and creatinine(Cr)were detected before and 6 or 8 hours after therapy with HD-CTX,antidiuretic hormone(ADH) in some patients were measured.Results Of 108 therapeutic cases 24 accompanied with vomits and 22 with a decreased urine output,in which 4 developed eyelid or ankle edema.Seven cases had neural-sarcous symptoms and 5 cases had abdominal pain or diarrhea.Serum sodium decreased significantly after HD-CTX[(139.12?3.30) mmol/L vs(134.06?8.23) mmol/L] in whom rechecked after 6 h,(141.77?3.59) mmol/L vs(133.26?6.41) mmol/L in those rechecked after 8 h(Pa0.05].Serum Cr increased 8 h after therapy[(29.95?13.61) ?mol/L vs(43.33 ? 17.25) ?mol/L P

Adult ; Delivery of Health Care ; Female ; Health Education ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Health

Objective To investigate the correlation between dose volume histogram(DVH)of tumor targets and organs at risk(OAR)at CT-image based 192Ir brachytherapy and effects and complications for patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. Methods Ten patients with FIGO stage ⅢB cervical cancer received CT image-based 192Ir intracavitary brachytherapy after 54 Gy of three-dimentional four-field pelvic external beam radiotherapy and concurrent weekly cisplatin chemotherapy. Before each brachytherapy,CT images were acquired with applicators in place. Gross tumor volume(GTV), clinical target volume (CTV)and OAR were contoured and inverse treatment planning was designed and optimized by using PLATO treatment planning system. Conventional two-dimensional plans were also designed for comparison.The total intracavitary brachytherapy dose was 30 -42 Gy in 5 -7 fractions. The patients were followed, and the local control and complications were analyzed. The biologically equivalent dose(BED)and biologically equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions(BED2)for GTV, CTV and OAR were calculated. The minimum dose in the most irradiated tissue volume 2 cm3(D2 cm3)adjacent to the applicator of the sigmoid colon, rectum,bladder and small bowel was determined from the DVH. Results The 1-year local pelvic control rate was 90% and grade 1-2 late complication of sigmoid colon and rectum was 50%. No grade 3 or more complications developed. On CT-image based planning, the BED and BED2 to 90% of the CTV(D90)were 95.50 Gy ± 7. 81 Gy and 79. 73 Gy ± 6. 57 Gy. The BED and BED2 to 90% of the GTV(D90)were 101.86 Gy ± 7.27 Gy and 84. 95 Gy ± 6. 1 Gy. The volume enclosed by 90% of prescribed dose(V90)for GTV and CTV were 92% ±4% and 87% ±7% respectively. The D2cm3 for rectum and sigmoid colon were 74. 97 Gy ±1.64 Gy and 67. 93 Gy ± 4. 30 Gy(EQD2, α/β = 3). Comparing with 2D brachytherapy plans , CT - image based planning has improved D90 and V90 for GTV and CTV with similar dose at point A and rectum reference point. Conclusions Computer tomography-image based 192Ir brachytherapy has resulted in the better dose distribution to the tumor targets with excellent tumor control and acceptable toxicity.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of male reproductive tract infection (RTI) with semen parameters and sperm DNA damage.

METHODSWe classified 1 084 males attending the infertility clinic into an RTI group (n = 300) and a non-RTI control group (n = 784). According to the WHO standards, we obtained routine semen parameters, detected sperm morphology, and determined the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) by sperm chromatin structure assay.

RESULTSThere were statistically significant differences between the RTI and control groups in the semen volume ( [2.58 ± 1.20] vs [3.00 ± 2.10] ml), grade a + b sperm ([50.6 ± 17.2] vs [53.2 ± 15.8]%), grade d sperm ( [39. 8 ± 17.8] vs [36.5 ± 16.2]%), and total sperm count ([218.5 ± 185.0 ] vs [278.5 ± 375.5 ] x 10(6)/ejaculate) (all P < 0.05), but not in the males' age, sperm concentration or pH value (P > 0.05). The percentage of morphologically normal sperm was significantly lower ([3.46 ± 2.90] vs [4.61 ± 3.60%, P < 0.05) but the DFI was markedly higher in the RTI group than in the control ([19.4 ± 11.4] vs [15.2 ± 8.8]% , P < 0.01). The percentage of the cases with DFI > 30% was remarkably higher (13.0 vs 5.74% ) while that of the cases with DFI < 10% dramatically lower in the former than in the latter (16.0 vs 28.0%). The level of seminal plasma elastase was correlated negatively to sperm concentration, sperm count, and the percentage of morphologically normal sperm (P < 0.05) but positively to DFI and grade d sperm (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONMale reproductive tract infection not only affects semen parameters and sperm morphology but also causes serious sperm DNA damage.

DNA Fragmentation ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; physiopathology ; Male ; Reproductive Tract Infections ; physiopathology ; Semen ; chemistry ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Spermatozoa ; pathology

Aged, 80 and over ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Granuloma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Keratins ; immunology ; Male ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Skin Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

BACKGROUND:Santoni put forward the cortical bone trajectory technology by changing the traditional pedicle screw placement for lumbar internal fixation in order to obtain better control of the screw and bone in 2009. OBJECTIVE:To analyze biomechanical stability of cortical bone trajectory system in the lumbar fusion. METHODS:Twenty fresh newborn calf L3/4, L5/6 motion segment specimens were obtained, and their ranges of motion were detected under different states, as normal controls. Subsequently, twenty samples were divided into cortical bone trajectory screw group and traditional pedicle screw group, which underwent cortical bone trajectory screw fixation combined with posterior lumbar fusion and traditional pedicle screw fixation combined with posterior lumbar fusion, respectively. Without destruction, ranges of motion were detected under different states in both groups. In the revision group, after the test in the traditional pedicle screw group, screw was withdrawn, and cortical bone trajectory screw was used to detect its range of motion under different states. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Ranges of motion at bending to the left and right, anteflexion, posterior extension and axial rotation were significantly lower in the cortical bone trajectory screw group and traditional pedicle screw group than in the normal control group (P<0.05). No significant difference in bending to the left and right, anteflexion, posterior extension and axial rotation was detected between the cortical bone trajectory screw and revision groups and traditional pedicle screw group (P>0.05). These results confirmed that cortical bone trajectory technology combined with posterior lumbar fusion can obtain identical stability as the traditional pedicle screw fixation combined with posterior lumbar fusion. Simultaneously, it is a new choice for revision after traditional pedicle screw fixation.

Objective To develop and validate a simple and reliable HPLC method for the analysis of L-carnitine in human seminal plasma and to investigate its clinical significance as a potentially useful index of infertile.Methods After proteins in seminal plasma are precipitated with acetonitrile,L-carnitine in seminal plasma was derivatized to form its ester.HPLC separation of the sample solution was performed on a Lichrospher SiO_2 column and detected by ultraviolet absorbance at 260 nm.A mobile phase composed of acetonitrile-citrie acid buffer(containing 12 mmol/L triethanolamine,pH 5.0)was found to be the most suitable for this separation at a flow rate of 1.2 ml/min and enabled the baseline separation of the L-carnitine from interferences with isocratic elution.The L-carnitine levels in seminal plasma were studied in both 87 patients with infertility and 30 control subjects.Results Under the chromatographic conditions described, the L-carnitine derivative had a retention time of approximately 13 min.Good separation and detectability of L-carnitine in human seminal plasma sample were obtained.The method proved to be linear in the range of L-carnitine from 0 ?mol/L to 1000 ?mol/L.The relative standard deviations of within-and between-assay for L-carnitine analysis were 1.23% and 1.36%,respectively.The recoveries were 91.6% -96.5% for the human seminal plasma samples.L-carnitine concentrations in the populations were(392.7?107.2)?mol/L in the fertile group(n=30),(270.0?83.9)?mol/L in asthenozoospermia group(n=29),(187.9? 43.9)?mol/L in oligozoospermia group(n=19)and(175.7?67.1)?mol/L in oligoasthenozoospermia group(n=39).The large difference(P0.05).Conclusion The determination of L-carnitine level in seminal plasma may prove useful as a potentially biochemical marker of fertility and this is a useful guidance for the clinic therapy and the mechanismic study on the male reproduction.