Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; urine

AIM: To observe the role of confocal microscopy in infectious keratitis management.
METHODS:Totally 466 patients (467 eyes) diagnosed as infectious keratitis from January 2010 to December 2013 were retrospectively studied. the corneas were examined early by in vivo confocal microscopy. The characteristics of their images and clinical features were studied and summarized.
RESULTS:All patients were recorded, the average age was 54. 4±13. 0 years, in which 264 cases (56. 7%) were male, and 202 cases ( 43. 3%) were female. In the 466 patients, 190 (40. 8%) were fungal keratitis, 148 (31. 8%) were viral keratitis, 125 (26. 8%) were bacterial keratitis and 3 ( 0.6%) were acanthamoeba keratitis. There were fungal hyphae in the images of fungal keratitis. Amebic cysts were found in acanthamoeba keratitis.
CONCLUSION:Confocal microscope can help the early diagnose and treatment of infectious keratitis. It is a noninvasive imaging technique that provides high resolution images of ocular structures at a cellular level and infectious keratitis represents one of its most important clinical uses.

AIM: To provide experimental evidence for gene therapy of thrombophilia disease, we constructed the eukaryotic expression plasmid with human thrombomodulin (hTM) gene and observed the alteration of hTM expression on the surface of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with and without the reconstructive plasmid. METHODS: The whole expressive fragment of hTM gene was amplified by PCR from human genome. Both hTM gene and pcDNA3.1(+)/neo empty vector was digested by HindⅢ and EcoRⅠ. Two digested fragments were ligated into pcDNA3.1/hTM with T_4DNA ligase. After identifying, the reconstructive plasmid transfected into HUVECs using lipofectin. The hTM antigen on the HUVECs was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The hTM reconstructive plasmid was confirmed by double endonuclease redigesting and sequencing. About 10% HUVECs were transfected by pcDNA3.1/hTM plasmid with lipofectin and the high-level hTM was detected on the transfected cells. CONCLUSION: We constructed the pcDNA3.1/hTM plasmid successfully, and it could be expressed on the HUVECs. [

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of air pollution on stroke mortality in Tianjin, China, and to provide basis for stroke control and prevention.

METHODSTotal data of mortality surveillance were collected by Tianjin Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Meteorological data and atmospheric pollution data were from Tianjin Meteorological Bureau and Tianjin Environmental Monitoring Center, respectively. Generalized additive Poisson regression model was used in time-series analysis on the relationship between air pollution and stroke mortality in Tianjin. Single-pollutant analysis and multi-pollutant analysis were performed after adjustment for confounding factors such as meteorological factors, long-term trend of death, "days of the week" effect and population.

RESULTSThe crude death rates of stroke in Tianjin were from 136.67 in 2001 to 160.01/100000 in 2009, with an escalating trend (P = 0.000), while the standardized mortality ratios of stroke in Tianjin were from 138.36 to 99.14/100000, with a declining trend (P = 0.000). An increase of 10 µg/m³ in daily average concentrations of atmospheric SO₂, NO₂ and PM₁₀ led to 1.0105 (95%CI: 1.0060 ∼ 1.0153), 1.0197 (95%CI: 1.0149 ∼ 1.0246) and 1.0064 (95%CI: 1.0052 ∼ 1.0077), respectively, in relative risks of stroke mortality. SO₂ effect peaked after 1-day exposure, while NO₂ and PM₁₀ effects did within 1 day.

CONCLUSIONAir pollution in Tianjin may increase the risk of stroke mortality in the population and induce acute onset of stroke. It is necessary to carry out air pollution control and allocate health resources rationally to reduce the hazard of stroke mortality.

Air Pollutants ; analysis ; Air Pollution ; analysis ; China ; epidemiology ; Environmental Monitoring ; Humans ; Models, Theoretical ; Particulate Matter ; analysis ; Poisson Distribution ; Stroke ; epidemiology ; mortality ; Survival Rate ; Time Factors

Objective To investigate the rule of the cerebral tissues aquaporin-4(AQP-4) expression in acute and chronic hepatic failure mice.To study the molecular biologic mechanism of the diffusion weighted imaging(DWI).Methods Sixty five male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups randomly,including acute(n=25),chronic hepatic failure(n=25)and control group(n=15). Thioacetamide(TAA)intraperitoneal injection produces the acute and chronic hepatic failure models.All rats in groups were examined with MR DWI.We Observed the distribution of abnormal signal on DWI.The DWI single values of top and lateral cortex of parietal lobe,peripheral region of lateral ventricle in the highest hyperintensity section of brain were measured.Blood ammonia values were examined.The pathologic and immuno-histochemistry and RT-PCR examination for brain specimen were performed.All date were analyzed with statistical methods.Results The mean values of blood ammonia were significantly different (P0.05).Conclusions Increase of the blood ammonia was the main cause for the brain energy metabolic abnormality and AQP-4 mRNA and protein expression.The hyperammonemia was the key factor in the occurrence and development of the hepatic brain edema.The abnormal findings in DWI signal could reflect the range and degree of the brain edema and AQP-4 protein expression.

Introduction:Recent studies examining the association of Toll-like receptor 3 ( TLR3) gene polymorphisms with the risk of developing various types of cancer have reported conflicting results. Clarifying this association could advance our knowledge of the influence of TLR3 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on cancer risk. Methods:We systematically reviewed studies that focused on a collection of 12 SNPs located in the TLR3 gene and the details by which these SNPs influenced cancer risk. Additionally, 14 case-control studies comprising a total of 7997 cases of cancer and 8699 controls were included in a meta-analysis of 4 highly studied SNPs (rs3775290, rs3775291, rs3775292, and rs5743312). Results:The variant TLR3 genotype rs5743312 (C9948T, intron 3, C>T) was significantly associated with an increased cancer risk as compared with the wild-type allele (odds ratio [OR]=1.11, 95%confidence interval [CI]=1.00–1.24, P=0.047). No such association was observed with other TLR3 SNPs. In the stratified analysis, the rs3775290 (C13766T, C>T) variant genotype was found to be significantly associated with an increased cancer risk in Asian populations. Additional y, the rs3775291 (G13909A, G>A) variant genotype was significantly associated with an increased cancer risk in Asians, subgroup with hospital-based controls, and subgroup with a smal sample size. Conclusion:After data integration, our findings suggest that the TLR3 rs5743312 polymorphism may contribute to an increased cancer risk.

OBJECTIVETo explore the role and mechanisms of FOXO3a nuclear translocation in neuronal apoptosis after hypoxia-ischemia (HI).

METHODSOne hundred and sixty 10-day-old Sprague-Dawly rats were randomly divided into two groups: HI and sham-operated. The right common carotid artery was ligated followed by hypoxia exposure for 2.5 hours in the HI group. The sham-operated group rats were not subjected to carotid artery ligation or hypoxia treatment. Rat cerebral cortex was collected at 0.5, 2, 4, 8 and 24 hours after hypoxia. Western blot was used to detect expression of total FOXO3a protein, pnuclear and cytoplasmic FOXO3a and Bim. TUNEL staining was used to detect apoptotic cells.

RESULTSThe nuclear protein of FOXO3a obviously increased from 0.5 to 24 hours after HI in a time-dependent manner compared with the sham-operated group (P<0.01). On the contrary, cytoplasmic protein evidently decreased from 0.5 to 24 hours in the HI group compared with the sham-operated group (P<0.01). Bim protein increased from 0.5 hour, peaked at 2 hours, started to decline at 4 hours (P<0.01), and returned to baseline level at 8 and 24 hours after HI in the HI group compared with the sham-operated group. TUNEL positive cells started to express at 4 hours, and peaked at 24 hours after HI (P<0.01). However, TUNEL positive cells were rarely found in the sham-operated group.

CONCLUSIONSHI induces FOXO3a translocation from cytoplasm to nucleus, and enhances protein expression of its target gene Bim in the neonatal rat brain. The upregulation of Bim expression might be related to neuronal apoptosis.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Apoptosis ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; analysis ; Bcl-2-Like Protein 11 ; Female ; Forkhead Box Protein O3 ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; genetics ; physiology ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; pathology ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; analysis ; Neurons ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate expression of Human papillomavirus (HPV) 11 type E7 protein antigen in prokaryotic cells and its potential use for the serodiagnosis of condyloma acuminatum (CA).Methods The full-length gene encoding for HPV11 E7 protein was amplified by PCR,and cloned into vector pET32a(+) to form recombinant pET32a(+)/HPVll E7 plasmid.The fusion His-E7 protein was expressed and analyzed by using SDS-PAGE and Western blotting.Using ELISA assay,HPV11 E7 fusion protein were also used to screen human serum IgG antibody from 93 patients with CA,43 patients with cervix cancer and 58 healthy control subjects.Results Highly expressed fusion His-E7 protein was obtained,and purified protein served as a special diagnostic antigen to screen human serum antibody for CA serodiagnosis.It showed that CA group,cervix cancer group and healthy control human serum IgG antibody average value were 1.545?0.131,0.586?0.155 and 0.674?0.150 respectively,positive rate were 76.3% (71/93),11.6% (5/43) and 5.2% (3/58).There was significantly difference between the CA group to compare cervix cancer group and healthy control (P

OBJECTIVETo observe the preventive protection of Kangdu Bufei Decoction (KBD) on acute severe respiratory syndrome (SARS) in medical personnel of Hong Kong at the epidemic period.

METHODSAt the epidemic period of SARS in Hong Kong, there were 2,601 medical staffs administered with KBD distributed by the Center. It was confirmed that 1,063 persons had taken it for successive two weeks according to the request and returned the effective questionnaire, they were regarded as the TCM group. The control group was consisted of 15,374 subjects who didn't take Chinese herbal medicine. Contents of the questionnaire including the condition of testee in terms of quality of life (QOL), changes of influenza-like symptoms and Warm disease symptoms. Serum immunological examination had been conducted in 37 of the persons in the TCM group.

RESULTSNo one in the TCM group got SARS infection while in the control group, 64 (0.4%) had got. Self-control before and after treatment examination showed that significant improvement appeared in the TCM in aspects of influenza-like and Warm disease symptoms and QOL. The results of serum immunological examination showed that after administration of KBD, the immunity of organism was improved and elevated.

CONCLUSIONKBD could prevent the occurrence of SARS, it is possibly realized through improving symptoms, elevating QOL and enhancing immunity of organism.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Cross Infection ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hong Kong ; Humans ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional ; prevention & control ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; prevention & control ; transmission ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo improve the diagnosis and treatment of testicular teratoma in children by analysis of clinical data.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data about 64 cases of testicular teratoma treated in the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from 1995 to 2014.

RESULTSSixty-one of the cases presented painless scrotal mass with a sense of bearing down and the other 3 cases were confirmed because of empty scrotum diagnosed as cryptorchidism. The level of serum alpha fetal protein ( AFP) was obviously increased in 46 cases but normal in the other 18 preoperatively. Ultrasonography manifested abnormal inhomogeneous echo zones with calcification or necrosis. X-ray examination presented patchy or curvilinear high-density shadows in 28 cases. Forty-one of the patients underwent testis-sparing surgery (TSS) , 20 received high inguinal orchiectomy, and 3 refused surgical treatment. Pathological examination revealed 3 mature germinal layers in the 49 cases of mature teratoma and immature germinal tissue, including the original neural tube, and 11 cases of immature teratoma. The mature cases were exempted from chemotherapy, while the immature cases received the combination of cisplatin, etoposide, and bleomycin (PEB). The patients were followed up for 2 years postoperatively, which revealed no recurrence or metastasis.

CONCLUSIONMost children with testicular teratoma presented painless scrotal mass with a sense of bearing down and with abnormal serum AFP in most cases. Ultrasonography and plain radiography of the scrotum contribute to the diagnosis of the tumor. TSS is the main treatment option and intraoperative frozen-section can help the surgeons decide on the surgical mode. Postoperative chemotherapy is necessitated for immature teratoma but not for mature cases.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Bleomycin ; administration & dosage ; Child ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Cryptorchidism ; diagnosis ; Etoposide ; administration & dosage ; Gonadal Dysgenesis, 46,XY ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Orchiectomy ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Scrotum ; Teratoma ; blood ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy ; Testicular Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy ; Testis ; abnormalities ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; analysis