Adult ; Ameloblastoma ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Dental Implants, Single-Tooth ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Whole Body Imaging

Metastasizing pleomorphic adenomas without histological evidence of malignancy have rarely been reported. A case of 30-year-old woman with a mass which showed a benign pleomorphic adenoma appearanced histologically in the left submandibular gland and right supercollarbone respectively was described. Eight years ago, the patient suffered from pleomorphic adenoma of the left submandibular gland. It revealed histopathologic features consistent with the recurrent and metastasizing tumor. The clinic pathological features, possible mechanism and prevention approach of metastasizing pleomorphic adenoma were discussed based on previously reports in the literature.
Adenoma, Pleomorphic ; Female ; Humans ; Parotid Neoplasms ; Salivary Gland Neoplasms ; Submandibular Gland

OBJECTIVETo assess the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38MAPK) in the protective effect of remifentanil preconditioning (RPC) on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

METHODSNinety-six male SD rats were randomly assigned into sham-operated group, ischemia-reperfusion group (I/R group), RPC group, and SB (an inhibitor of p38 MAPK) +RPC group. The rats were sacrificed at the end of reperfusion, and serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were measured. HE staining was used to observe the hepatic histopathological changes, and Western blotting was employed to examine p38MAPK and pp38MAPK protein expression. TUNEL staining was used to examine cell apoptosis in the liver tissues.

RESULTSCompared with sham-operated group, I/R group showed significantly increased serum levels of AST, ALT, TNF-α and IL-1β with obvious histopathological changes and cell apoptosis in the liver. RPC significantly decresed the elevated serum levels of AST, ALT, TNF-α and IL-1β and lessened hepatic histopathological changes, and caused reduced p38MAPK phosphorylation and hepatic cell apoptosis index. The protective effects of RPC were abolished by SB 203580 pretreatment.

CONCLUSIONRPC attenuates the production of inflammatory factors by activating p38MAPK signal pathway to improve hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury, and these effects can be blocked by SB203580, a p38MAPK inhibitor.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Imidazoles ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-1beta ; blood ; Ischemia ; physiopathology ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; methods ; Liver ; blood supply ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Male ; Piperidines ; therapeutic use ; Pyridines ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Opioid ; agonists ; Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDPulmonary embolism (PE) is rare and seldom considered in adolescent patients; however it occurs with a greater frequency than is generally recognized, and it is a potentially fatal condition. The aim of the current study was to understand its epidemiology, clinical features and the cause of delay of its diagnosis in adolescents.

METHODSA retrospective analysis of nine adolescents with acute PE admitted to the Peking University Third Hospital over the past 16-year period was performed. The epidemiology, clinical features and risk factors of the adolescents were described and compared with those of adults and elderly patients. The time to diagnosis and misdiagnosed diseases were analyzed. Pretest probability of PE was assessed retrospectively by the Wells score and revised Geneva score.

RESULTSThe incidence of PE was 43.6 per 100 000 hospitalized adolescents in our hospital. The incidence of PE in adolescents was much lower than that in adults and PE is diagnosed in about 1/50 of elderly people. The clinical features in adolescents were similar to those in adults. But fever and chest pain were more common in adolescents (P < 0.05). The major risk factors included surgery, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), thrombocytopenia, long-term oral glucocorticoids and trauma. The mean diagnostic time was (7.8 ± 8.4) days. Six cases had a delayed diagnosis. The mean delay time from symptom onset to diagnosis was (11.0 ± 8.8) days. The time of presentation to diagnosis in patients initially admitted to the emergency department was less than one day, and was much shorter than the time in outpatients, (9.4 ± 7.5) days. Most of the patients were initially misdiagnosed with a respiratory tract infection. Most patients' values of Wells score or revised Geneva score were in the moderate or high clinical probability categories; 88% by Well score vs. 100% by revised Geneva score.

CONCLUSIONSPE was seldom considered in the adolescent patients by physicians, especially outpatient physicians, so the diagnosis was often delayed. If adolescent patients complain of dyspnea or chest pain or syncope with/without fever, and they had risk factors such as surgery, thrombocytopenia and trauma, PE should be considered and included in the differential diagnosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diagnostic Errors ; Humans ; Male ; Probability ; Pulmonary Embolism ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo analyze the in-hospital mortality and factors affecting in-hospital mortality for patients with transposition of the great arteries (TGA) undergoing arterial switch operation (ASO).

METHODSBetween January 2004 and December 2007, ASO was performed in 169 patients [129 male, 40 female; mean age (11.71 ± 26.3) months] with TGA. The patients were divided in intact ventricular septum group (n = 56): TGA with intact ventricular septum and ventricular septal defect group (n = 113): TGA with ventricular septal defect. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors of in-hospital mortality.

RESULTSThe overall in-hospital mortality was 11.24% (19/169). The yearly in-hospital mortality was similar between intact ventricular septum group and ventricular septal defect group. With the improvement of perioperative treatment, the in-hospital mortality decreased from 16.67% in 2004 to 3.92% in 2007. The multivariate analysis revealed that body weight ≤ 3 kg (OR: 4.571, P = 0.0409), complicating ventricular septal defect (OR: 4.444, P = 0.0406), complex TGA (OR: 4.321, P = 0.0140), coronary anomalies (OR: 4.867, P = 0.0104) and non-type A coronary arteries (OR: 3.045, P = 0.0243) were independent predictors for poor early postoperative survival.

CONCLUSIONBody weight ≤ 3 kg, complicating ventricular septal defect, complex TGA, coronary anomalies are independent predictors for increased in-hospital mortality in patients with transposition of TGA and undergoing arterial switch operation.

Arteries ; surgery ; Body Weight ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; mortality ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; complications ; mortality ; surgery ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Infant ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Transposition of Great Vessels ; mortality ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical effects and application value of intraoperative CT in treatment of severe scoliosis with posterior total pedicle screws.

METHODSThirty-two cases of severe scoliosis were retrospectively analysed in our hospital from June 2009 to June 2011,which were treated by posterior total pedicle screws with intraoperative CT including 12 males and 20 females with an average age of 16.8 years ranging from 10 to 38 years. There were 19 cases combined with thoracic kyphosis among 32 cases. Multiple planar reconstruction technology of intraoperative CT was applied to assess screw position. The numbers (rates) of pedicle screws were calculated and evaluated as different grades in upper thoracic vertebra (T1-T4) ,middle thoracic vertebra (T5-T8), lower thoracic vertebra (T9-T12) and lumbar vertebra. The pedicle screws of 2 grade and 3 grade were defined as malpositioned screws. Times of applicating intraoperative CT were calculated. Cobb angle of all cases and kyphosis angle of the cases combined with thoracic kyphosis were measured before and after surgery. Scoliosis correction rates and kyphosis correction rates were calculated.

RESULTSThere were 686 pedicle screws placed in thoracolumbar of 32 patients (including 544 thoracic pedicle screws,142 lumbar pedicle screws) and 14 patients underwent osteotomy. The rate of malpositioned screws in thoracolumbar was 7.3% by evaluating with intraoperative CT,and it respectively was 5.6%,11.1%, 6.7% and 4.3% in upper thoracic vertebra, middle thoracic vertebra,lower thoracic vertebra and lumbar vertebra. The malpositioned screws were amended in surgery. The mean times of intraoperative CT was 2.6 times (ranged from 2 times to 4 times). The mean preoperative Cobb angle was 95 degrees (ranged from 78 degrees to 123 degrees) and the mean postoperative Cobb angle was 340 (ranged from 19 degrees to 53 degrees). The mean correction rate of Cobb angle was 64%. The mean preoperative kyphosis angle of the patients combined with thoracic kyphosis was 69 degrees (ranged from 46 degrees to 82 degrees) and the mean postoperative kyphosis angle was 32 degrees (ranged from 22 degrees to 45 degrees). The mean correction rate of kyphosis angle was 54%. Four patients suffered cerebrospinal fluid leak after surgery. No infection, vascular lesion and nervous lesion were found. All patients had an average 18-month follow-up (ranged from 12 to 26 months). No broken nails, broken rods and pseudarthrosis were founded.

CONCLUSIONApplication of in traoperative CT in severe scoliosis with posterior total pedicle screws can detect and amend malpositioned screws timely in surgery, to avoid secondary surgery for malpositioned screws and protect the safety of surgery. The effects of surgery is satisfactory.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Screws ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Monitoring, Intraoperative ; Retrospective Studies ; Scoliosis ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the anti-HBV effect of fusion protein thymosin alpha1-interferon alpha (TA1-IFN) in vitro and to compare its effect with a combination of interferon alpha and thymosin alpha1.

METHODSAfter 2.2.15 cells were seeded for 24 hours, drugs of five serial concentrations (8000, 4000, 2000, 1000, 500 U/ml) were added to the wells, then the medium was changed every three days. After 2.2.15 cells were treated with drugs for 6 days, the medium was collected. The inhibitory rates on HBsAg and HBeAg were determined using Abbot kit, and the cytotoxicity of different drugs by means of MTT colorimetric assays was also observed.

RESULTSThe inhibitory rate of fusion protein on HBsAg, HBeAg was dose-dependent and reached the maximum at 8000 U/ml concentration. In the meantime, the inhibitory rates of fusion protein on HBsAg and HBeAg were 72.2% +/- 0.8% and 60.4% +/- 1.1% respectively, and the cell survival rate was 85.2% +/- 2.0%; In the corresponding concentration, the inhibitory rates of combination thymosin alpha 1 and interferon alpha on HBsAg and HBeAg were 40.0% +/- 0.7%, 34.5% +/- 3.2% respectively. The results showed significant statistical differences between them; cell survival rate 70.0% +/- 1.9%, and the difference of the results was also significant. Cytotoxicity of fusion protein was weaker than a combination of thymosin alpha 1 and interferon alpha.

CONCLUSIONFusion protein TA1-IFN exerted stronger anti-HBV effects in vitro. Its anti-HBV effects in vitro were stronger than the combination of thymosin alpha and interferon alpha, and its cytotoxicity was weaker than the combination of thymosin alpha and interferon alpha. Our studies provided important evidence for clinical research on TA1-IFN, and also brought new hope for hepatitis B therapy.

Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Thymosin ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo determine the prevalence of Streptococcus suis and major pathogenic serotypes in middle part of Jiangsu province.

METHODSTonsillar specimens from 303 slaughtered pigs aged 6 to 8 months were investigated for the presence of Streptococcus suis and major pathogenic serotypes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Bacteriological examination compared with molecular genetics identification for three Streptococcus suis isolates were also done.

RESULTSThe overall carrier rate of Streptococcus suis was up to 88.0%, with the percentages of serotype 1(14), 2(1/2), 7 and 9 were 9.6%, 8.5%, 11.3% and 29.5% respectively in 2005. While in 2006, the prevalence of Streptococcus suis was 82.5%, with capsular types 1 (14), 2 (1/2), 7 and 9 were accounted for 17.6%, 2.4%, 25.8% and 20.0% of all the specimens. All the three isolates belonged to Streptococcus suis serotype 2,named 2a, 2f and 14e, which exhibiting the virulent phenotype cps2+/gdh+/mrp-/lepf-/sly-/fbps+/orf2+/89k-, cps2+/lgdh+/mrp-/epf-/sly-/fbps-/orf2-/89k- and cps2+/gdh+/mrp-/epf-/sly-/fbps/orf2-/ respectively. These isolates were all susceptible to amoxicillin, ampicillin, penicillin and resistant to amikacin and tetraycline. Clinical signs were not noted in BALB/c mice and rabbit.

CONCLUSIONPrevalence of the Streptococcus suis among the healthy herds in the areas was very high, with various capsule types of Streptococcus suis involved in the same herds, and the virulent phenotype of these 3 isolates were very different from those prevalent Streptococcus suis serotype 2 virulent isolates frequently discovered from the epidemic areas.

Amikacin ; therapeutic use ; Amoxicillin ; therapeutic use ; Ampicillin ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Molecular Epidemiology ; methods ; Penicillins ; therapeutic use ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Streptococcal Infections ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Streptococcus suis ; classification ; drug effects ; genetics ; pathogenicity ; Tetracycline ; therapeutic use ; Virulence

With the development of biotechnology, forensic DNA identification technology in protection of wild animals has been used more and more widely. This review introduces the global status of wildlife crime and the relevant protection to wildlife, outlines the practical applications of forensic DNA identification technology with regard to species identification, determination of geographic origin, individual identification and paternity identification. It focus on the techniques commonly used in DNA typing and their merits and demerits, as well as the problems and prospects of forensic DNA technology for wildlife conservation.
Animals ; Animals, Wild/genetics* ; Commerce/legislation & jurisprudence* ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Crime/legislation & jurisprudence* ; DNA/genetics* ; DNA Fingerprinting/methods* ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics* ; Forensic Genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods* ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sequence Analysis, Protein ; Species Specificity

BACKGROUNDOur previous study had demonstrated that ulinastatin (UTI) had a neuroprotective effect in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Methylprednisolone has been recommended to be a standard drug in multiple sclerosis (MS) therapies. The present study was to investigate the protective effects of UTI combined methylprednisolone in EAE.

METHODSMice were divided into a UTI treatment group, a methylprednisolone treatment group, a combined treatment group with UTI and methylprednisolone, a normal saline treatment group, and a normal control group. EAE mice were induced in groups receiving different combined treatments, or respective monotherapies. Demyelination was evaluated by Solochrome cyanin staining. 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNP)/ myelin basic protein (MBP)/ the precursor form of nerve growth factor (proNGF)/p75/ inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) proteins in cerebral cortex of EAE were detected by Western blotting.

RESULTSThe combined treatment group had a lower clinical score (0.61 ± 0.06) and demyelinating score (1.33 ± 0.33) than the groups with normal saline (clinical score: 1.39 ± 0.08, P < 0.001; demyelinating score: 2.75 ± 0.49, P < 0.05) or monotheraphies. Compared with the saline treated EAE group, UTI combined methylprednisolone significantly increased expressions of CNP (1.14 ± 0.06 vs. 0.65 ± 0.04, P < 0.001), MBP (1.28 ± 0.14 vs. 0.44 ± 0.17, P < 0.001), and decreased expressions of proNGF (1.08 ± 0.10 vs. 2.32 ± 0.12, P < 0.001), p75 (1.13 ± 0.13 vs. 2.33 ± 0.17, P < 0.001), and iNOS (1.05 ± 0.31 vs. 2.17 ± 0.13, P < 0.001) proteins in EAE. Furthermore, UTI combined methylprednisolone could significantly upregulate MBP (1.28 ± 0.14 vs. 1.01 ± 0.15, P < 0.05) expression and downregulate iNOS (1.05 ± 0.31 vs. 1.35 ± 0.14, P < 0.05) expression compared to methylprednisolone treatment EAE group. And proNGF expression was significantly lower in combined treatment (1.08 ± 0.10) than that in UTI (1.51 ± 0.24, P < 0.05) or methylprednisolone (1.31 ± 0.04, P < 0.05) treatment group.

CONCLUSIONCombination treatment of UTI with methylprednisolone was shown to protect EAE, suggesting that combination therapy is a potential novel treatment in MS.

Animals ; Drug Combinations ; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Female ; Glycoproteins ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Methylprednisolone ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Multiple Sclerosis ; drug therapy