Objective The study was to investigate a new method of rapid expansion by biomechanical methods. Methods Dogs were set up as animal models. Six areas, 5 cm?8 cm each, were symmetrically designed on a dog. Expanders of 240 ml were implanted in each area. Four groups were divided: A. Injection of 2 weeks. B. Injection of 6 weeks. C. Sham operation group. D. Blank control group. The first two groups were subdivided into three groups respectively according to maintaining times: one week, two weeks and four weeks. The following indexes were measured on the second stage surgery: biomechanical properties of the skin, stress strength, stress strain, stress relaxation and creep, the collagen content and alignment of skin. Results After expansion, maximal stress strength fell off, and stress strain curve moved backward. Relaxation curve fell off as well, as creep curve rose up. With elongation of the maintaining period, viscoelasticity of the skin gradually approximated normal skin, and had less relation with injection time. With the maintaining period increased, the collage content increased distinctly, and the alignment became much order. Conclusion Two week maintaining period is very important for expanded skin to recover the biomechanical properties and the content of collagen and alignment.

Objective To investigate the curative effect of methotrexate in treating systemic lupus erythema-tosus(SLE). Methods The chosen outpatients were divided into 2 groups,group A(28 cases) :MTX combined with small dosage of prednisone (prednlsone 10mg/d) ; group B (20 cuses) : medium dosage of prednisone (prednisone 30rag/d). Observation includes SLE disease activity index(SLEDAI) ,relapse while dosage of prednisone was reduced to small amount and drug side effects. Results The SLEDAI score of group A was reduced from (9.4±2.1) to (4.1±0.9) ,and group B from (8.6±2.5) to (4.0±1.0). Compared the result of before and after treatment be-twcen the two groups, the curative effect is obvious (P<0.01). However, there was no significant difference of efficacy between the two groups(P>0.25). While dosage of prednisone was reduced to 10mg/d ,there were 8 cases of relapse in group B,and only 3 cases in group A during the entire observation period. The difference is significant (P<0.025). The side effect of group A is gastrointestinal reaction and for B is mainly the cushing syndrome. Conclusion MTX is an effective treatment fw the light and medium activity SLE,and can reduce the dose of prednisone, prevent long-term using large dose of prednisone which will cause side effect.

A simple, rapid and sensitive colorimetric reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) was developed for rapid detection of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). The method employed six primers that recognized sequences of a nucleocapsid gene for amplification of nucleic acids under isothermal conditions at 63 degrees C for 60 min. Products were detected through a LA-320c Loopamp Turbidimeter (real-time RT-LAMP) or visual inspection of color change by pre-addition of Hydroxynaphthol Blue dye (visual RT-LAMP). Specificity of RT-LAMP was validated by detection of several human coronaviruses and common respiratory viruses. MERS-CoV real-time RT-LAMP had a linear correlation (R2) of 0.995 at 10(3)-10(6) copies. The limit of detection of real-time RT-LAMP, visual RT-LAMP and quantitative real-time PCR was 500, 1000 and 100 copies/reaction, respectively. The established RT-LAMP assay was demonstrated to be a rapid screening tool for MERS-CoV infection, and could be suitable in resource-limited clinical sites and for field studies.
Coronavirus Infections ; virology ; DNA Primers ; genetics ; Humans ; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; methods ; Reverse Transcription

Objective To evaluate the effect of the integrated strategy in prevention and control of intestinal nematodiasis in Hongze County,so as to provide the evidence for formulating the control strategies and measures in the future. Methods Since 1995,the integrated strategy has been carried out for intestinal nematodiasis,and the measures included deworming,health ed?ucation,safe water,sanitation and environmental remediation. The effects of the integrated strategy were evaluated by the inves?tigations of the prevalence of soil?transmitted nematodiasis,awareness of health knowledge and behaviors of residents. Results From 1995 to 2014,601 900 person?times were administrated with deworming medication and the coverage rate of villages and towns was 100%. The benefit rate of safe water was 100%. The popularity rate of harmless toilets was 92.77%. The prevalence of intestinal nematodiasis decreased from 26.04%in 1995 to 0.56%in 2014,and the difference had statistical significance(χ2=693.54,P < 0.01). The awareness rate of health knowledge and correct rate of health behaviors increased from 43.13% and 40.94%in 1995 to 98.00%and 96.80%in 2012,respectively(χ2=181.97 and 182.14 respectively,P<0.01). Conclusion The prevalence of intestinal nematodiasis has been controlled effectively through the integrated strategy in Hongze County ,Jiang?su Province.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the genotype of staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec (SCCmec) in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated from burn wards and its current status of drug resistance.

METHODSOne hundred and seventy-nine strains of Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from wound excretion, blood, and sputum samples of patients that were admitted to ICU or public wards of our Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery from September 2012 to September 2013. Among them, 68 strains were from ICU and 111 strains from public wards. The MRSA phenotype of Staphylococcus aureus was detected with cefoxitin K-B disk diffusion method, and the isolation rates of MRSA in ICU and public wards were compared. Genotyping of SCCmec was performed by PCR in strains of MRSA. In the meantime, the identification result of MRSA by K-B method was verified through detecting methicillin-resistant determinant mecA. The antimicrobial resistance of MRSA and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) to 23 kinds of commonly used antibiotics in clinic were detected by K-B disk diffusion method. Except for the antibiotics to which the resistant rates of MRSA were 100.0% or 0, the resistant rates of SCCmecIII MRSA and non-SCCmec III MRSA to the rest of antibiotics were compared. Data were processed with Pearson chi-square test or corrected chi-square test.

RESULTSOne hundred and forty-eight strains out of the 179 Staphylococcus aureus were identified as MRSA (accounting for 82.7%), among which 62 were originated from ICU and 86 from public wards. The rest 31 strains of Staphylococcus aureus were MSSA, accounting for 17.3%. The percentage of MRSA in the isolated Staphylococcus aureus was 91.2% (62/68) in ICU, which was significantly higher than that in the public wards [77.5% (86/111), χ2 = 5.526, P = 0.019]. PCR detection showed that the 148 strains of MRSA harbored the mecA gene, out of which 106 strains were SCCmec III positive, accounting for 71.6%. The percentages of SCCmec III type MRSA in MRSA isolated from ICU and public wards were respectively 72.6% (45/62) and 70.9% (61/86), showing no statistically significant difference (χ2 = 0.048, P = 0.826). The 148 strains of MRSA were 100.0% resistant to a total of 8 kinds of antibiotics including penicillin and cephalosporins, but it was 0 for vancomycin, teicoplanin, linezolid, tigecycline, nitrofurantoin, and quinupristin/dalfopristin. Except for the 6 kinds of antibiotics to which the resistant rates of MRSA and MSSA were 0, resistant rates of MRSA to the remaining 17 kinds of antibiotics were significantly higher than those of MSSA (with χ2 values from 4.091 to 138.546, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Resistant rates of the 106 strains of SCCmecIII type MRSA to levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, rifampicin, tetracycline, erythrocin, lincomycin, gentamicin, clindamycin were respectively 56.6% (60/106), 85.8% (91/106), 89.6% (95/106), 86.8% (92/106), 84.9% (90/106), 78.3% (83/106), 92.5% (98/106), 74.5% (79/106), and they were significantly higher than those of the 42 strains of non-SCCmec III type MRSA [33.3% (14/42), 61.9% (26/42), 71.4% (30/42), 66.7% (28/42), 69.0% (29/42), 57.1% (24/42), 71.4% (30/42), 52.4% (22/42), with χ2 values from 4.801 to 11.377, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01].

CONCLUSIONSIsolation rate of MRSA from burn wards in our hospital is high, and drug resistance status of this strain against antibiotics is very serious. SCCmec III is the major genotype of the isolated MRSA, but no strains resistant to the glycopeptide antibiotics are found.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Burns ; microbiology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; genetics ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Genes, Bacterial ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Staphylococcal Infections ; drug therapy ; epidemiology

Given the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and the risks of spread to other regions, a rapid, sensitive and simple method for the detection of the Ebola virus (EBOV) is of great significance for the prevention and control of Ebola. We developed a simple colorimetric isothermal multiple self-matching initiated amplification (IMSA) for rapid detection of the Zaire subtype of the Ebola virus (EBOV-Z). This method employed six primers that recognized seven sites of the EBOV-Z nucleoprotein gene for amplification of nucleic acids under isothermal conditions at 63 degrees C for 1 h. Amplification products were detected through visual inspection of color change by pre-addition of hydroxyl naphthol blue dye. Relative sensitivity was validated by detection of serial tenfold dilutions of virus-like particles containing the partial EBOV-Z nucleoprotein gene and mock clinical sample. Specificity of IMSA was validated by detection of the plasma of 30 healthy volunteers, the dengue virus, and Japanese encephalitis virus. IMSA had comparable sensitivity to Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and cross-reaction with human plasma or other viruses was not observed. Reverse transcription-isothermal multiple self-matching initiated amplification (RT-IMSA) was also evaluated and compared in parallel with the commercial RT-qPCR kit for detection of EBOV-suspected samples of human blood in Sierra Leone. Sensitivity and specificity of the RT-IMSA was 91.4% and 100%, respectively. These data suggest that RT-IMSA is a valuable tool for the detection of the EBOV with the distinct advantages of simplicity and low cost compared with RT-qPCR.
Colorimetry ; methods ; DNA Primers ; genetics ; Ebolavirus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola ; diagnosis ; virology ; Humans ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; methods

Objective To explore the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in improving the diagnosis ability for xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis ( XGC ) and wall-thickening gallbladder cancer ( GBC) . Methods Forth-three patients with XGCs and 31 patients with wall-thickening GBCs proved by pathology were enrolled in this study ,the features on conventional ultrasound and CEUS were recorded ,and the preliminary diagnosis before and after CEUS were given by doctors . Results Significant differences were found in continuous gallbladder inner wall and arterial blood supplement on conventional ultrasound , 58 .1％ (25/43) had continuous inner wall and 34 .9％ (15/43) had arterial blood flow in XGCs compared to 19 .4％ (6/31) and 100％ in GBCs . On CEUS ,72 .1％ (31/43) demonstrated continuous gallbladder inner wall and 48 .8％ (21/43) had hypoechoic nodules in the wall in XGCs compared to 16 .1％ (5/31) and 19 .4％ (6/31) in GBCs ,respectively ( P <0 .05) . No significant difference was found in intra-calcification , infiltration to adjacent organs ,gallbladder stones and fast-in and fast-out enhanced pattern( P >0 .05) . The area under ROC curve was improved from 0 .701 to 0 .899 after combining with CEUS ( P < 0 .05 ) . Conclusions Conventional ultrasound combining with CEUS could help acquiring more effective ultrasonic information and may improve the differential diagnosis ability of XGCs and GBCs .

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between different types of lymph node metastasis and contralateral neck metastasis and their impacts on prognosis. METHOD: Two hundred and forty-eight patients with supraglottic carcinomas and complete follow-up were analyzed retrospectively. Transparent lymph node detection and continuous sectioning methods were applied on postoperative neck specimens. RESULT: Cervical lymph node metastases were found in 115 patients and the lymph node metastatic rate was 46.4%. There were three types of lymph node metastases, 39 cases with single type, 34 with multiple type, 42 with fusion type. Contralateral metastatic rates were 5.1%, 44.1% and 61.9% in single, multiple and fusion type respectively. Contralateral metastasis was also related with tumor extension across midline and clinical N stages. The 3- and 5-year survival rates were 79.5% and 74.4% in single type, 61.8% and 41.2% in multiple type, 61.9% and 35.7% in fusion type. CONCLUSION Bilateral neck dissections should be undertaken in multiple and fusion types of lymph node metastasis. The lymph node metastatic type should be an important criteria to judge prognosis.
Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: By detecting the myelin structure in acoustic tumor tissues, the cell origin and state of acoustic tumor tissues were investigated. METHOD: Immunofluorescence labeling, immunoblot analysis and electron microscopic study were performed to identify myelin structure and myelin protein in acoustic tumor tissues. RESULT: In this work, we found some early stage of myelin forming in acoustic tumor tissues, but there were no axon nor compact myelin formed and the myelin basic protein whose expression indicates the beginning of myelination was negative detected. We also found that the cell of acoustic tumor express p75,a marker for immature Schwann cells and mature non-myelin-forming Schwann cells. CONCLUSION The date shown in this experiment indicates that the cell of acoustic tumor is in a remyelinating state.
Humans ; Microscopy, Electron ; Myelin Sheath ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Neuroma, Acoustic ; pathology ; Schwann Cells ; pathology

The guanine-nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) RalGPS1a activates small GTPase Ral proteins such as RalA and RalB by stimulating the exchange of Ral bound GDP to GTP, thus regulating various downstream cellular processes. RalGPS1a is composed of an Nterminal Cdc25-like catalytic domain, followed by a PXXP motif and a C-terminal pleckstrin homology (PH) domain. The Cdc25 domain of RalGPS1a, which shares about 30% sequence identity with other Cdc25-domain proteins, is thought to be directly engaged in binding and activating the substrate Ral protein. Here we report the crystal structure of the Cdc25 domain of RalGPS1a. The bowl shaped structure is homologous to the Cdc25 domains of SOS and RasGRF1. The most remarkable difference between these three Cdc25 domains lies in their active sites, referred to as the helical hairpin region. Consistent with previous enzymological studies, the helical hairpin of RalGPS1a adopts a conformation favorable for substrate binding. A modeled RalGPS1a-RalA complex structure reveals an extensive binding surface similar to that of the SOS-Ras complex. However, analysis of the electrostatic surface potential suggests an interaction mode between the RalGPS1a active site helical hairpin and the switch 1 region of substrate RalA distinct from that of the SOS-Ras complex.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Binding Sites ; Catalytic Domain ; Cloning, Molecular ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Escherichia coli ; Guanosine Diphosphate ; metabolism ; Guanosine Triphosphate ; metabolism ; Humans ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plasmids ; metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; ral GTP-Binding Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; ral Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism