Adult ; Female ; Fungi ; Humans ; Laryngitis ; microbiology ; Mycoses ; Vocal Cords ; microbiology

Objective To observe the effect of fleabane injection on serum level of D-dimer, fibrinogen and hypersensitive C-reactive protein in patients with IgA nephropathy and to explore the mechanism of fleabane injection for treating IgA nephropathy. Methods 29 patients with IgA nephropathy were given fleabane injection together with routine treatment. Another group of 28 patients with IgA nephropathy were only treated with routine treatment as con-trol. Determinations of 24 hours urine protein output(24HPQ), serum level of D-dimer(D-D), Fibrinogen(Fib) and hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were carried out pre- and post-study. Results Significant decrease in 24HPQ , serum level of D-D, Fib and hsCRP were observed in both treatment group and control group(P <0. 01 ～0. 05), but more significant in treatment group as compared with control group ( P < 0. 05). Conclusion Flea-bane Injection plus routine treatment could significantly decrease 24HPQ in patients with IgA nephropathy, and this maybe contribute to regulation of D-D, Fib and hsCRP by fleabane injection.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate breast reconstruction with a combined skin flap of the deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) and the transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM).

METHODSThe DIEP and TRAM united flap was elevated with the vessel pedicle of the deep inferior epigastric perforator on the affected side and the rectus abdominis muscle pedicle on the intact side. The reconstructive breast was shaped after the deep inferior epigastric vessels were anastomosed to the internal mammary vessels or the thoracodorsal vessels ipsilaterally.

RESULTSWe have used the DIEP and TRAM united flaps for breast reconstruction in 17 cases. All of the flaps survived, and the reconstructed breasts were well-shaped with the follow-up of 6-18 months.

CONCLUSIONSThe DIEP and TRAM united flap possesses of advantages such as rich blood supply, abundant tissue volume and easy shaping. It is especially applicable to the cases who have large chest defect and need large volume tissue.

Adult ; Epigastric Arteries ; transplantation ; Female ; Humans ; Mammaplasty ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Rectus Abdominis ; transplantation ; Skin Transplantation ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply

Objective To understand how social and cultural factors influence sexual perceptions, sexual practices, and HIV transmission among men who have sex with men at selected sites in China. Methods Qualitative methodology was used and face to face, semi-structured, in-depth interviews conducted from April 2013 to October 2015 in Sichuan, Jiangxi, Henan, Heilongjiang provinces and Chongqing municipality of China. Results A total of 184 men who have sex with men participated in the interviews. Forty-eight originated from Henan Province, and 12, 50, 47, and 27 from Jiangxi, Heilongjiang, Sichuan provinces and Chongqing municipality, respectively. A total of 122 participants (66.3%) were under 30 years of age, 111 were college graduates (61.3%), 140 were unmarried (76.5%), and 74 were HIV positive (40.2%). Among interviewees, 6% (11 MSM) were employed at nongovernmental organizations. The main findings revealed that:Owing to sociocultural influences and social norms, most homosexual men concealed their sexual orientation and married females so as to fulfill their family obligation;this may encourage HIV transmission from a high-risk population to the general population; the main features of male homosexual behaviors, as well as those of the associated community and subculture, included hedonism, less concern about health, drug abuse, encouraging of high risk behaviors among men who have sex with men, and negative attitudes regarding HIV prevention; subgroups among MSM were found to have differential HIV transmission risk behaviors, with young men more vulnerable to infection with HIV. Conclusion Sociocultural factors, including external socioenvironmental circumstances and internal MSM community subcultures, have adverse impacts on HIV transmission among men who have sex with men. Because there were varied behavior modes and HIV transmission risks among MSM subgroups, further study focusing on MSM subgroups is imperative, to provide a basis for more targeted and effective prevention strategies.

AIM To explore the clinical effects of Bushen Huoxue Ointment Formula on patients with ankylosing spondylitis of Kidney Deficiency and Blood Stasis Pattern.METHODS One hundred and sixty-seven patients were randomly assigned into control group(55 cases)for 2-year intervention of conventional treatment,exposure group(54 cases)for 2-year intervention of both Bushen Huoxue Decoction and conventional treatment,and high exposure group(58 cases)for 2-year intervention of Bushen Huoxue Ointment Formula,Bushen Huoxue Decoction and conventional treatment.The changes in clinical effects,BASDAI score,ASDAS-CRP,BASFI score,spinal pain score,PGA score,BASMI score,ASQoL score,SPARCC score,Kidney Deficiency and Blood Stasis Pattern score,ESR,CRP,IL-6,TNF-α,IL-17,IL-23,IL-35,NLR,PLR and safety indices were detected.RESULTS The high exposure group demonstrated more ASAS40,ASASAS5/6,BASDAI50 cases than the exposure group and the control group(P<0.05).After the treatment,the high exposure group displayed lower BASDAI score,ASDAS-CRP,BASFI score,spinal pain score,PGA score,BASMI score,SPARCC score,ASQoL score,Kidney Deficiency and Blood Stasis Pattern score,ESR,CRP,IL-6,TNF-α,IL-17,IL-23 than the other two groups(P<0.05),and higher IL-35(P<0.05).After adjusting confounding factors by logistic regression analysis,Bushen Huoxue Decoction and Bushen Huoxue Ointment Formula reduced BASDAI score,ASDAS-CRP(P<0.05),and enhanced clinical effects(P<0.05).No serious adverse reactions were found in the three groups.CONCLUSION For the patients with ankylosing spondylitis of Kidney Deficiency and Blood Stasis Pattern,Bushen Huoxue Ointment Formula can safely and effectively inhibit inflammation,reduce disease activity,alleviate bone marrow edema,improve clinical symptoms,and enhance joint functions and life quality.

Objective To understand how social and cultural factors influence sexual perceptions, sexual practices, and HIV transmission among men who have sex with men at selected sites in China. Methods Qualitative methodology was used and face to face, semi-structured, in-depth interviews conducted from April 2013 to October 2015 in Sichuan, Jiangxi, Henan, Heilongjiang provinces and Chongqing municipality of China. Results A total of 184 men who have sex with men participated in the interviews. Forty-eight originated from Henan Province, and 12, 50, 47, and 27 from Jiangxi, Heilongjiang, Sichuan provinces and Chongqing municipality, respectively. A total of 122 participants (66.3%) were under 30 years of age, 111 were college graduates (61.3%), 140 were unmarried (76.5%), and 74 were HIV positive (40.2%). Among interviewees, 6% (11 MSM) were employed at nongovernmental organizations. The main findings revealed that:Owing to sociocultural influences and social norms, most homosexual men concealed their sexual orientation and married females so as to fulfill their family obligation;this may encourage HIV transmission from a high-risk population to the general population; the main features of male homosexual behaviors, as well as those of the associated community and subculture, included hedonism, less concern about health, drug abuse, encouraging of high risk behaviors among men who have sex with men, and negative attitudes regarding HIV prevention; subgroups among MSM were found to have differential HIV transmission risk behaviors, with young men more vulnerable to infection with HIV. Conclusion Sociocultural factors, including external socioenvironmental circumstances and internal MSM community subcultures, have adverse impacts on HIV transmission among men who have sex with men. Because there were varied behavior modes and HIV transmission risks among MSM subgroups, further study focusing on MSM subgroups is imperative, to provide a basis for more targeted and effective prevention strategies.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between the genetic polymorphisms of myxovirus resistance 1 (MxA) gene and susceptibility to severe acute respiratory syndromes (SARS).

METHODSA case-control study was conducted and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to detect the T/G polymorphism at position-88 in the mxA gene promoter. Information on related factors of SARS was collected using a pre-testing questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate logistic analyses were conducted with SPSS software package.

RESULTSSixty-six cases and sixty-four controls were selected for the study. Comparing with GG genotype, the proportion of GT genotype were significantly higher in the case group (81.3%) than that in the control group (62.5%)) with an OR (95% CI) of 2.700 (1.208-6.037). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the significant association remained after factors as wearing masks, protection gowns and eye-protection when contacting with SARS patient etc. were adjusted with an OR (95 % CI) of 2.911 (1.027-8.250).

CONCLUSIONmxA promoter-88G/T SNP might be confered to host genetic susceptibility to SARS in Chinese Han population.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; GTP-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Myxovirus Resistance Proteins ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; genetics

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of asiaticoside （AC） on the expression of T helper 17 （Th17） cells and regulatory T （Treg） cells in DBA/1 mice with collagen-induced arthritis （CIA）. MethodMale SPF DBA/1 mice were randomized into six groups according to body weight： control group， CIA group， methotrexate group （MTX group， ip， 0.5 mg·kg^-1）， and AC low-， medium-， and high-dose groups （ig， 5， 15， 45 mg·kg^-1， respectively）. Modeling was performed in rats other than the control group. To be specific， they were immunized with bovine type Ⅱ collagen and complete Freund's adjuvant on the first day and with bovine type Ⅱ collagen and incomplete Freund's adjuvant on the 21^st day. Administration began on the day of the second immunization， once a day for 28 days. On the 49^th day， related tissues were collected. Then， hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was performed to observe the pathological changes of the joints. Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of interleukin-17 （IL-17） and forkhead box protein-3 （FoxP3）， the markers of Th17 and Treg cells， respectively， immunofluorescence double staining the expression of IL-17 and FoxP3 in CD4⁺T cells of mouse joint tissue， and flow cytometry the proportions of Th17 and Treg cells in mouse lymph nodes. ResultCompared with the control group， CIA group demonstrated joint disorder， damage of articular cartilage and bone， severe bone erosion （P<0.01）， increase in stained CD4 and IL-17 and the integral absorbance （IA） （P<0.01）， decrease in stained FoxP3 and the IA （P<0.01）， rise of Th17/Treg ratio （P<0.01）， elevation of Th17 expression in mouse lymph nodes （P<0.01）， and reduction in Treg expression （P<0.01）. Compared with CIA group， MTX group and three AC groups showed normal joints， alleviated bone erosion and damage， intact and smooth joint surface， and decrease in stained IL-17 and IA （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and MTX group and AC medium-dose and high-dose groups registered decrease in stained CD4 and IA （P<0.01） and reduction in Th17/Treg ratio （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Moreover， AC medium-dose and high-dose groups showed rise in stained FoxP3 and IA （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In the lymph nodes of mice， decrease in expression of Th17 cells （P<0.05， P<0.01） and the increase in expression of Treg cells （P<0.05， P<0.01） were observed in all the three AC group. ConclusionAC can regulate Th17/Treg balance by inhibiting the expression of Th17 cells and promoting the expression of Treg cells in CIA mice.

Animals ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Genetic Therapy ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Myocardial Infarction ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Swine ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; Ventricular Function, Left

Objective To investigate Chinese patients' preferences for different types of incisions for breast augmentation surgeries and to evaluate the impacts of preoperative education on patients' choices.Methods The 403 patients who underwent implantation surgeries during May 2012 to Dec.2016 were included in the survey.These patients were investigated with questionnaires before and after receiving preoperative education in order to ascertain their preferences and concerns based on comprehensive understanding of different types of incisions.Results After receiving the preoperative education on incisions,158 (39.21％) patients changed their initial choices.The number of patients who chose axillary or periareolar approaches decreased to 205 (50.87％) and 31 (7.69％) respectively,while the number of patients who chose IMF incisions increased to 167 (41.44 ％).The majority of patients who chose the axillary of periareola incisions cited easily-hidden scars as their primary selection criterion (81.95 ％ and 93.55 ％,respectively).However,the patients who opted for IMF incisions primarily concerned about the lower capsular contracture rate (31.74 ％),less tissue trauma (22.75 ％)and lower possibility of injury to the breast parenchyma (21.56 ％).Conclusions The preoperative education materials help the Chinese patients fully understand the characteristics of different types of incision locations and make proper decisions.