Eustachian Tube ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prosthesis Implantation ; Stents ; Tympanoplasty

Objective To establish a rapid assay for genotyping of IL-6-597G/A and-572G/C polymorphisms by duplex real-time PCR assay.Methods One pair of primers and two pairs of fluorescent hybridization probes had been used to genotype two mutation sites in the promoter region of IL-6 gene by fluorescent resonance energy transfer and melting curves.Results Duplex real-time PCR method for genotyping of two mutation sites simultaneously had been developed and 123 health people samples were analyzed by this new method.The results showed that three genotypes were found in IL-6 gene-572G/C polymorphisms.They were GG,GC and CC genotypes.IL-6 gene promoter-597G/A polymorphism analysis showed 4 cases displayed GA genotype and other possessed GG genotype.No AA genotype had been found.Conclusions Duplex real-time PCR method is simple and fast.It provided an accurate and economic method which is suitable for clinical gene genotyping.

Mild-symptom erectile dysfunction (MSED) is commonly seen in clinical practice, but receives inadequate attention from both the patients and clinicians. Increasing researches have indicated that MSED is associated with not only unhealthy living habits and psychological factors but also the early progression of endothelial, metabolic and endocrine diseases. The diagnosis and treatment of MSED should be based on the relevant guidelines, with consideration of both its specific and common features. The therapeutic principle is a combination of integrated and individual solutions aimed at the causes of the disease. Drug intervention should be initiated if psychological therapy fails. Negligence of MSED may affect the quality of life of the patients and their partners, and what's more, might delay the management of some other severe underlying diseases. Adequate attention to the early diagnosis and treatment for MSED is of great significance for a deeper insight into the etiology of ED, the prevention of potential cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, and the improvement of the overall health of males.
Attention ; Erectile Dysfunction ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Quality of Life

This study was aimed to explore the correlation between IL-6 gene promoter polymorphisms and coronary heart disease (CHD) by investigating the polymorphisms (-572G/C, -597G/A) in IL-6 gene promoter area, body mass index (BMI), inflammatory factors and other biochemical parameters in Han nationality of North China. The genotypes of IL-6 gene promoter-572G/C, -597G/A were detected by fluorescent probe hybridization with fluorescent resonance energy transfer and melting curve techniques in 194 CHD patients and 123 healthy people as control. The effects of genotype on plasma lipids, apoproteins, high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and BMI were also studied. Logistic regression was performed to observe the risk factors of CHD. The results indicated that genotype of IL-6 gene promoter -597G/A polymorphism in 7 cases were GA and were GG in others, whereas no AA genotype had been found and no associations between polymorphism of IL-6 gene -597G/A, BMI and inflammatory factors were found. No differences had been found between the frequencies of IL-6 gene -572G/C genotypes and alleles in CHD and control group. However, significant difference was found between the G allele carrier (GG+GC) and non-G allele carrier (CC) of CHD and control group (p=0.0425). In the control group, median levels of systolic blood pressure of G allele carrier were significant higher than non-G allele carrier (p=0.02). Among all the subjects, median levels of BMI, hsCRP and systolic blood pressure in the group of G allele carrier were significantly higher than that in the group of non-G allele carrier, p values were 0.026, 0.022, 0.005 respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age, triglyceride, sex, high blood pressure, apoprotein C2, cholesterol and lipoprotein-a) were the risk factors for CHD, and apoprotein A1 was a protective factor. The G allele of IL-6 gene -572G/C has been not found to be a risk factor for CHD. It is concluded IL-6 gene -597G/A polymorphism is not correlated with the susceptibility to CHD; IL-6 gene -572G/C polymorphism may be correlated with the susceptibility to CHD in Han nationality of North China, the mechanisms may be related with the changes of BMI, hsCRP and blood pressure levels resulted from the polymorphism of IL-6 -572G/C.
Adult ; Aged ; Body Mass Index ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Coronary Disease ; etiology ; genetics ; Disease Susceptibility ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the creativity of medical students and study their personality characteristics using personality questionnaires.

METHODSThis investigation was conducted among 310 medical students using 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF) and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ).

RESULTSA total of 302 students completed the questionnaires. The male and female students showed significant differences in two sub-factors with similar creativity. Four subfactors were identified to positively or inversely correlate to the creativity. The number of male students without either high or low scores was greater than that of female students. The incidences of abnormal scores in 16PF showed significant difference between students with typical EPQ scores and those with atypical scores for introversion-extroversion.

CONCLUSIONSThese medical students do not show high creativity in this study. Compared with the male medical students, the female students are more likely to have extroverted personality, and their scores for 16 basic personality factors easily exceed the normal ranges, suggesting the necessity of mental health education. The students with at least 5 abnormal scores in 16PF may show a typical introversion-extroversion personality, and individual psychological counseling can be considered when necessary.

China ; Creativity ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Personality ; Students, Medical ; psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

The aim of this study was to obtain the capsid protein VP2 of human bocavirus (HBoV) identified in Beijing recently and construct virus-like particles (VLPs) in insect cells for further study of this virus. The full-length VP2 gene of HBoV from BJ3722 was inserted into the baculovirus expression transfer vector (pFastBac 1) to obtain the recombinant Bacmid, and generation of recombinant baculoviruses was followed by transfection of the recombinant Bacmid into insect cells. Then the recombinant VP2 protein was recognized by SDS-PAGE using Coomassie-blue staining and Western blot using hyper-immune serum against VP2 of HBoV from rabbit. The recombinant baculoviruses were harvested and amplified to gain large amounts of viruses with high titers to infect insect cells at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 0. 5. After 7-10 days or 4-5 days of the infection, the supernatants of culture or the cell lysates treated with lysing solution were harvested, and ultracentrifuged twice through 40% sucrose cushion to obtain purified VLPs, which were followed by Western blot and IFA for VLPs' composition and specificity analysis, by electron microscopy for VLPs' morphologic structure. The recombinant VP2 protein with molecular weight of approximately 61 kD expressed in recombinant baculoviruses was recognized by SDS-PAGE using Coomassie-blue staining and Western blot. The presence of VP2 on VLPs was demonstrated by Western blot and IFA from samples collected during the purification of VLPs from the supernatants of culture or the cell lysates, and the expression of VP2 in insect cells led to the formation of VLPs which formed the typical icosahedral appearance of parvoviruses with a diameter of approximately 20 nm. In conclusion, the recombinant baculoviruses were constructed, the HBoV VP2 protein was expressed in insect cells with high specific antigenicity and VLPs was formed successfully.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Capsid Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Human bocavirus ; genetics ; metabolism ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Spodoptera ; Virion ; genetics ; metabolism ; ultrastructure

To characterize the genomic sequence and arrangement of WU polyomavirus (WU virus) identified in clinical specimens collected from children with acute respiratory infections in Beijing, China, the sequences of capsid proteins VP1, VP2, and the large tumor antigen (LTAg), as well as the 5'-terminal sequence of WU virus, were amplified from the clinical specimen with ID number of BJF5276 which was determined as WU virus positive by PCR amplification. The PCR amplicons were sequenced, and genomic sequence analysis was performed by using the software DNAStar. In addition, VP2 coding-region sequences were amplified from other 21 clinical specimens identified as WU virus positive to investigate the gene diversity of WU virus. The genomic sequence of WU virus BJF5276 with accession number of HQ218321 in GenBank was 5,229 base pairs in length with 3 major coding domain sequences (CDS) sited on one strand coding for capsid proteins VP2, VP3 and VP1, and two CDS sited on the complementary strand coding for small tumor antigen (STAg) and LTAg; These 22 VP2 CDS sequences including 5 sequences submitted to GenBank were compared with 64 corresponding sequences downloaded from GenBank by MegAlign of DNAStar software, indicated that these sequences coming from children in Beijing shared high homology (over 98.8%) with those from GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis of these VP2 CDS by using Neighbor-joining (NJ) analyses with 2,000 bootstraps (Mega 4.0) showed that 20 sequences out of 22 belonged to clade Ia, and other 2 of them belonged to clade III, including 1 clustered in IIIa and 1 in a novel cluster proposed as IIIc. In conclusion, the genomic sequence of WU polyomavirus detected from clinical specimens from children in Beijing is closely related to other WU polyomaviruses in the feature of genomic coding region arrangement. Overall variation of VP2 CDS was very low, and there were different clades circulating in Beijing with a dominant clade Ia, which is different from dominated Ib circulating in other parts of the world reported previously, and a novel clade IIIc was proposed.
Acute Disease ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Genome, Viral ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Polyomavirus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; virology ; Viral Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of laparoscopic-assisted resection of rectal carcinoma on perioperative levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), immunoglobulins(Ig) and complements.

METHODSFifty-four patients with rectal carcinoma were divided into laparoscopic group (n=26) and open operation group(n=28) according to the patients' will. C-reactive protein (CRP), IgG, IgA, IgM, C(3), C(4) and CH(50) of peripheral blood were assayed preoperatively and on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 7th day postoperatively.

RESULTSCompared with the preoperative period, the CRP levels in both groups were significantly increased on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd day(P<0.01) and peaked on the 2nd day postoperatively. The postoperative CRP levels were significantly lower in the laparoscopic group than those in the open operation group(P<0.01). After operation, the immunoglobulin levels were significantly decreased in both groups(P<0.01), and there were no significant differences in IgG and IgM. The levels of C(3), C(4) and CH(50) were significantly decreased after operation in both groups(P<0.05) and returned to the preoperative levels during postoperative 48-72 hours in laparoscopic group.

CONCLUSIONLaparoscopic-assisted resection of rectal carcinoma results in less wound, lower levels of stress response, and less effect on immune function compared to open surgery, which recovers the immune function of patients more rapidly after operation.

C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Immunity, Humoral ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rectal Neoplasms ; blood ; immunology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo assessment result with multi-measures operation for adhering otitis media.

METHODSA retrospective review of 108 cases (male 45, female 63), double ears 12, all was 120 ears. Of 20 ears had been radical operated for cholesteatoma some years ago. Of 46 ears had incorporate cholesteatoma now. Of 54 ears had only adhering in middle ear but no had been radical or incorporate cholesteatoma who underwent operation from January 1999 to May 2003 for chronic ear disease as well as ossiculoplasty with multi-technique measures (for example auto-bone cup-pole or gung-pole as total and partial ossicular replacement prostheses; scute rebuild by auto-bone; absorbable Metrogel; tympanic chorda nerve as a spring press prostheses etc) were used in operation, and were followed up mean (26.11 +/- 11.31) months (range 12 approximately 53 months).

RESULTSOne hundred and twenty ears mean AB gap was (38.60 +/- 12.70) dB pre-operation. It was (15.28 +/- 11.69) dB post-operation. Partnership t test, t = 21.24, t 0.01 = 2.60 < 21.24, P < 0.01. The air-bone gap (AB gap) closure to within 20 dB as succeed achieved in 70% (84 ears). AB gap closure in 10 dB as best result in 40% (48 ears). Air conduction was under 40 dB in 70% (83 ears). AB gap closure not enough 10 dB and Air conduction over 40 dB as no effect was 6% (7 ears) .

CONCLUSIONSAs long as technique measures is right, even though adhering middle ear had much difficult in operation, it still can gain succeed to 70%. But had still 30% no succeed, more study is necessary.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Otitis Media with Effusion ; pathology ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Tissue Adhesions ; pathology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Tympanoplasty ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the influence of Fuzheng Huayu Tablet on mental state and social activity of patients with post-hepatitis B liver cirrhosis (LC-HB).

METHODSAdopting grouped randomized double-blinded control method, 180 LC-HB patients in 3 research centers were distributed to 2 groups, the treated group and the control group, 90 in each group. Patients in the treated group were administered with FZHYT; while those in the control group treated with conventional therapy combined with placebo, the course for all patients were 6 months. Their mental state and social activity were evaluated before treatment, after 3 months' treatment and at terminal of the 6-month therapeutic course by estimating with Zung self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), self-rating depression scale (SDS) and social deficit screening scale (SDSS). Additionally, the basic demographic materials, liver function, cirrhosis index, hepatic and splenic images, blood coagulation function, etc. in the patients were tested and compared as well.

RESULTSAs compared with before treatment, the normal rate of SAS and SDS scores increased and the social deficit rate decreased in the treated group significantly after treatment, showing statistical significance (P<0.05 or P<0.01); while in the control group, change was only shown in the social deficit (P<0.01), inter-group comparisons after treatment showed significant differences in all the three indexes (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Additionally, after treatment, levels of liver function, cirrhosis, blood coagulation function and splenomegaly in the treated group were all improved significantly P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the improvements were better than those in the control group (P<0.01) in levels of total bilirubin (TBIL), albumin (ALB), type IV collagen (IV-C), prothrombin time (PT), prothrombin activity (PTA).

CONCLUSIONMost patients of LC-HB have mental disturbance and social activity deficit, which could definitely be improved by intervention with Chinese FZHYT.

Blood Coagulation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B ; complications ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; physiopathology ; psychology ; Liver Function Tests ; Patient Dropouts ; Social Behavior ; Tablets