Objective To develop real-time quantitative PCR method for measuring the amount of fetal DNA in maternal plasma and the changing patterns of fetal and maternal DNA with the pregnant progress. Methods Fifty-eight women were recruited at 7～42 weeks of gestation with singleton pregnancy determined by ultrasound scan. QIAGEN DNA kits was used to extract fetal DNA from maternal plasma. Fluorescent quantitative PCR(FQ-PCR) were applied to determine the concentration of ?-actin and SRY gene in extracted DNA. Results Thirty-seven male fetus were all identified among the 58 pregnant women (100%) and no Y signal was detected in the other 21 pregnancies with female foetus. The median level of fetal DNA in those pregnancies with male foetus was 9.08 copies/ml (3.5～12.8) in early pregnancy,45.41 copies/ml (14.38～76.5) in mid-pregnancy and 300.95 copies/ml (84～840) in late pregnancy. Conclusions The concentration of fetal DNA increases with the progress of pregnancy. Maternal plasma may be valuable in noninvasive prenatal diagnosis.

Objective To compare negative expiratory pressure (NEP)technique with conventional test in detecting expiratory flow limitation (EFL)in chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases( COPD) patients. Methods EFL was measured with NEP technique and conventional method respectively in 72 COPD patients;EFL was measured with NEP technique in 20 COPD patients who failed to perform conventional test. Results EFL was detected in 54 of the 72 COPD patients. NEP test was successfully performed on the 20 patients, and 19 of them were found with EFL. The level of forced expired volume in one second percentage( FEV_1 % ) of the patients with 2-score group (46. 92 ± 12. 74) % and 3-score group (33. 35 ± 8.96)% were significantly lower than that of the 1-score group(63. 60 ±16.65)%. Area under curve of NEP technique and conventional test in ROC is 0. 903 and 0. 761 respectively. Conclusions As compared with conventional test, EFL detected with NEP technique is more reliable in evaluating dyspnea of COPD patients. It is simple and doesn't require any cooperation of the patients. NEP technique can be applied in COPD patients who fail to receive conventional test.

BACKGROUND: Stellate ganglion block (SGB) has become a technique frequently used in the field of pain management for its wide indication spectrum. Its ameliorative effect on cephal-facial pain may be achieved by regulating the cerebrovascular diastolic and systolic functions and intensifying cerebral perfusion.OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of SGB on the blood velocity of anterior cerebral artery (ACA), middle cerebral artery (MCA), posterior cerebral artery (PCA) and vertebral artery with three-dimensional transcranial Doppler (TCD) in patients with caphal-facial diseases caused by is chemia or vascular spasm.DESIGN: A before-after control observation.SETTINGS: Department of Pain Management, Guizhou Provincial Orthopaedic Hospital; Department of Anesthesiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College; Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.PARTICIPANTS: Twenty patients of 18-50 years old were selected from the Department of Pain Management of Guizhou Provincial Orthopaedic Hospital from March 2004 to December 2005, including 6 cases of migraine,3 of cluster headache, 4 of muscle tension-type headache, 2 of nervous tinnitus and earache, and 5 of derangement of temporomandibular joint.METHODS: Unilateral SGB was performed by means of paratracheal anterior technique, with the following compound prescription: lidocaine (20 g/L)2.5 mL and dexamethasone 1 mg in normal saline with a total volume of 10 mL. SGB was performed once a day for 7 consecutive days as one course.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The changes of blood velocity of ACA,MCA, PCA and vertebral artery were observed with three-dimensional TCD before SGB and at 30 minutes after SGB.RESULTS: All the 20 patients finished the treatment and entered the analysis of results. After treatment, the blood velocities of ACA, MCA and PCA of the blocked side were increased remarkably as compared with those before treatment [(76.20±3.83), (61.95±2.50) cm/s; (83.65±2.36),(77.55±2.69) em/s; (65.20±2.99), (58.70±2.2.35) cm/s; P ＜ 0.01], but that of vertebral artery had no significant change before and after treatment [(47.20±2.04), (45.55±2.23) cm/s, P ＞ 0.05]. CONCLUSION: The blood velocities of the blocked side are obviously increased after treatmeut, the increased blood velocities of ACA, MCA and PCA have important clinical significance for the blood supply of cerebral hemisphere, especially the anterior 2/3 part, but had little great influence on vertebral artery, indicating that SGB has great pertinence to the caphalfacial diseases caused by ischemia or vascular spasm, and can ameliorate the cerebral blood perfusion.

Objective To investigate the role of dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase-2 (DDAH-2)/asymmetric dimethylarginine(ADMA)in pathophiology of preeclampsia by detecting expression of DDAH-2 in placenta and serum plasma ADMA.Methods From Jan.2004 to Jan.2005,30 preeclampsia patients(PE group)were chosen in the Third Affiliated Hospital.Guangzhou Medical College matched with 10 normal third trimester women as control(control group).The placental DDAH-2 mRNA expression was detected by fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(FQ-PCR)and the plasma concentration of ADMA WSB determined by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC).Results(1)The level of ADMA in PE group was significantly higher that than of control group[(18.0±7.2)mg/L vs.(10.3±1.7)mg/L,P<0.01].The expression level of ADMA in preeclampsia occurring before 34 gestatinal weeks WaS significantly higher than that of preeclampsia occurring after 34 gestational weeks[(22.0±7.0)ms/L vs.(12.7±2.8)mg/L,P<0.01].(2)The Placental DDAH-2 mRNA expression in preeclampsia patients was remarkably lower than that of control group[1×10(5.23±0.45)copy/μlvs.1×10(5.65±0.08)copy/μl,P<0.01].The Placental DDAH-2 mRNA in preeclampsia occurring before 34 gestatinal weeks was significantly lower than that of preeclampsia occurring after 34 gestational weeks [1×10(5.02±0.46)copy/μl vs.1×10(5.61±0.19)copy/μl,P<0.01].Conclusion Our results suggested that low expression of DDAH-2 in placenta and increased serum ADMA level might confer the susceptibility to preeclampsia.

Objective To study the clinical features of hand-foot-mouth disease(HFMD) in neonates.Method From April 2015 to May 2016,the clinical manifestations,laboratory examinations,treatments and prognosis of neonates with HFMD in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed.Result A total of 6 cases of neonatal HFMD were included,with 4 males and 2 females.The ages of 2 patients were ≤7 days and the other 4 patients 8 ～ 28 days.5 patients developed this disease during April to July,while the other one in January.2 cases had a definite contract history of HFMD.4 cases presented with fever and rashes in hand and foot,one case with fever,rash and oral ulcer,and one case with rash in hip and oral ulcer without fever.The nucleic acid test of enterovirus were positive in 4 cases.The symptoms of these neonatal HFMD were mild and recovered after symptom-relieving treatment.Conclusion HFMD in neonates with fever and/or rash should be considered during the HFMD epidemic period.

Objective To investigate the feasibility and efficiency of monitoring noninvasive respiratory effort and respiratory load-capacity ratio in patients undergoing weaning from mechanical ventilation by mean inspiratory pressure(Pi) which were calculated on the basis of the formula, Pi = 5 × P 0.1 × Ti, as well as the noninvasire tension index calculated from Pi(TTIi). Method Totally 12 patients undergoing weaning from mechanical ventilation were enrolled in the study and their underlying diseases included COPD( n = 9), ARDS( n = 2) and status asthmaticus(n = 1) respectively. Esophageal pressure(PesoM) was monitored via the insertion of esophageal balloon and corrected esophageal pressure(Peso) was acquired by subtracting elastic pressure of chest wall from PesoM. P 0.1, Maximal inspiratory pressure on esophageal pressure curve(MIPeso) and on airway pressure curve(MIPaw) was measured with conventional technique. Pi was calculated on Pi = 5 × P 0.1 × Ti. Pi and MIPaw were used to calculate the noninvasive tension-time index TTIi, whereas Peso and MIPeso were used to calculate the invasive counterpart TTIeso. Comparisons, Correlation and Bland-Altman agreement analysis were made between P0.1 and Peso as well as between TIIi and TTIeso. Results There were no significant differences between Pi and Peso as well as between TTIi and TTIeso(P > 0.05) ,and the correlation coefficients were 0.974 and 0.957 respectively. In the agreement analysis, the mean difference between Pi and Peso, and between TTIi and TTIeso were lower than the minimal values of(Peso + PiSB )/2 and of(TIIi + TTIeso)/2, respectively. Conclusions There is a good correlation between Pi and Peso as well as between TTIi and TTIeso, in which Pi is calculated calculated from P 0.1 and in turn the TTIi is calculated from Pi. The noninvasive indices including Pi and TTIi can be used to monitor respiratory effort and respiratory load-capacity in patients undergoing weaning from mechanical ventilation.

OBJECTIVE: To study the role of P-JNK and P-c-Jun of JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase) on nasal mucosa remodeling in allergic rhinitis rats. METHOD: Sixty male Wistar rats (weighing about 200-250 g) were randomly divided into AR group (A group) and B group(control group). The rats in A group were sensitized for inducing AR by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin and Al(OH)₃. Rats in group A were randomized into A4, A8 and A12 group (each had 10 rats). Ovalbumin was dropped in each nasal cavity of every rat for 4,8,12 weeks, respectively. Rats in group B were sensitized by saline instead of OVA, and were also divided into B4, B8 and B12 group. Each group had 10 rats. Pathological changes of nasal mucosa in each period were observed by hematoxylin and eosin stain dyeing. The phosphorylation of JNK and c-Jun were tested by immunohistochemistry. RESULT: In A8 group, mucosal congestion and edema thickening with inflammatory cells infiltration of eosinophils were observed in the eighth week, and the inflammatory changes were significantly increased as time went on. The mean absorbance values of P-JNK and P-c-Jun in A group were significantly higher than those in the corresponding B group (all P < 0.01). Moreover, the mean absorbance values of A12 group were significantly higher than A4 group and A8 group (all P < 0.01 ). CONCLUSION The expression of P-JNK and P-c-Jun in the process of nasal mucosa remodeling in allergic rhinitis rats were increased, which suggested that P-JNK and P-c-Jun played important roles in nasal mucosa remodeling of the allergic rhinitis rats.
Airway Remodeling ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Eosinophils ; cytology ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Male ; Nasal Mucosa ; metabolism ; Ovalbumin ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats, Wistar ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of Changqin No. 1 combined with Western therapy for severe traumatic brain injury and its effects on prognosis. Methods Totally 65 cases of severe traumatic brain injury were randomly divided into the treatment group (n=32) and the control group (n=33). The control group was treated with basic Western therapy (dehydration reduction of intracranial pressure, nutrition nerve, scavenging oxygen free radicals, improve cerebral circulation, nutritional support and maintain the internal environment stability, anti-infection, prevention and treatment of complications, hyperbaric oxygen). The treatment group was treated with Changqin No. 1 plus the basis of routine treatment, 1 dosage per day, 2 times stomach tube nasal feeding or blunt, for 14 d. One month after treatment, awake rate, awake time, the incidence of complications and MMSE in both groups were compared. Three months after treatment, the prognosis of two groups were compared by GOS. Results One month after treatment, the awake rate in treatment group was 77.4% (24/31) and 53.1% (17/32) in the control group, with statistical significance (χ2=4.089, P=0.043), and the death rate was 0. The awake time in the treatment group was significantly shorter than that of the control group (t=2.458, P=0.017). The incidence of pulmonary infection in the treatment group was lower than the control group (P=0.001). There was no statistical significance in urinary tract infection, epilepsy, liver and kidney dysfunction rate of the two groups (P>0.05). The number of awake case was 24 in the treatment group and 17 in the control group. The number of normal MMSE cognitive function was 3 in the treatment group and 2 in the control group, and the treatment group was better than the control group (Z=-2.205, P=0.027). Three months after treatment, the good prognosis was 58.08% (18/31) in the treatment group and 28.12%(9/32) in the control group, with statistical significance (χ2=5.763, P=0.016). Conclusion Changqin No. 1 combined with Western basic treatment can help patients with severe traumatic head injury awake early, reduce pulmonary infection complications, and improve the cognitive function of sober patients and improve the prognosis.

Purpose:To study the expression of T lymphocyte activation associated membrane molecule in peripheral blood of patients with non small cell lung cancer and study the changes in its immunity function.Methods:The lymphocyte from the peripheral blood in patients with non small cell lung cancer were immunologically double fluorescent labeled by CD3 PE and CD25/ HLA DR/ CD69 FITC were determined by flow cytometry. 25 normal donors served as controls.Results:Peripheral blood CD3 + /CD25 + ,CD3 + /HLA DR + and CD3 + /CD69 + in T lymphocyte with lung cancer were significantly lower than those in normal controls ( P

Objective To study the frequency of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator(CFTR)mutations in patients with congenital bilateral absence of vas deferens(CBAVD).Methods Eighty-five CBAVD patients were collected from May 2007 to May 2009.The diagnosis of CBAVD included azoospermia,normal of 4 sex hormone items,absence of seminal vesicle,normal volume of testicular and epididymis dilated siltation.And 85 normal fertile men served as controls.Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood.The mutations of CFTR exons 10,11 were detected by PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism,and direct sequencing was performed on 85 cases of CBAVD and the control males.Results Of the 85 CBAVD,10 cases(11.8％)exhibited an abnormal CFTR gene mutation,with 4 cases I556V,2 cases M469V,and 1 case of E527N,A F508,L558S,S485C.No mutations were detected in 85 controls.There was a significant difference between the 2 groups(x2 =8.606,P =0.003).Conclusions CBAVD might be caused by the CFTR mutations.The frequencies and the spectrum of CFTR mutations might be different from those Caucasian population in the west country.