Objective To investigate the clinical significance of thyroglobulin antibody (ATG) and thyroid peroxidase antibody (ATPO) in patients with vitiligo. Methods Venous blood samples were obtained from 87 patients with vitiligo and 90 age- and sex-matched normal human controls. Chemiluminescence was applied to measure the serum levels of ATG, ATPO, free triiodothyronine, free tetraiodothyronine and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Results There was a significant increase in the positivity rates of ATG (23.0% vs 6.7%, P < 0.01) and ATPO (24.1% vs 7.8%, P < 0.01) as well as the serum level of TSH (3.4 ± 2.4 vs 2.4 ± 1.2 pmol/L, P < 0.05) in the patients with vitiligo compared with the normal human controls. It is worth mentioning that all patients positive for ATG or ATPO were diagnosed with vitiligo vulgaris. The positivity rates of ATG and ATPO in patients with vitiligo aged from 11 to 20 years and 21 to 40 years were significantly higher than those in age-matched normal controls (all P < 0.05). Also, female patients had a higher positivity rate of ATG and ATPO than female controls did (34.1% vs 8.5%, χ2 = 8.90, P < 0.01; 34.1% vs 10.6%,χ2 = 7.29, P < 0.05). The highest positivity rates of both ATG and ATPO were 53.3%, which were observed in vitiligo patients aged from 11 to 20 years, followed by patients from 21 to 40 years (ATG 34.5%, ATPO 34.5%). In patients with vitiligo positive for both ATG and ATPO, the occurrence of autoimmune thyroid disease was 70% (14/20), significantly higher than that in ATG- and ATPO- positive healthy controls (16.7%, χ2 = 5.4, P < 0.05). Conclusions ATG and ATPO were observed in young female patients with vitiligo vulgaris, and they may be associated with the development of autoimmune thyroid diseases.

Antiviral Agents ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Drug Combinations ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; Polyethylene Glycols ; Recombinant Proteins ; Ribavirin

Objective To investigate the inhibitory mechanism of emodin on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced nitric oxide(NO)generation in rat peritoneal macrophages.Methods NO production and iNOS expression were measured through nitrite assay and Western blotting assay,respectively.NF-kB activity and nuclei P65 expression were estimated by dual-luciferase and Western blotting assay,respectively.Intracellular free Ca2+([Ca2+]i)was detected using the ratiometric fluorescent calcium indicator dye,Fura-2,and a microspectrofluorometer.PLC-γphosporylation was analyzed by Western blotting assay.Results First,emodin was found playing active roles in suppressing LPS-induced NF-kB activation in rat peritoneal macrophages.Second,emodin down-regulated transient[Ca2*]i and could increase in NF-kB upstream signal.Finally,emodin suppressed phosphorylation of PLC-γ by LPS stimulation in the upstream of[Ca2+]i.Conclusion Suppression of PLC-γ phosphorylation is involved in emodin inhibiting NO generation by LPS stimulation in rat peritoneal macrophages.

Objective To evaluate the value of transperineal targeted biopsy with real-time fusion images of transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)and multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI)for the diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa).Methods Clinical and imaging data of 62 consecutive patients suspected of PCa at the mpMRI scan and PSA>4.0 μg/L were retrospectively analyzed.Targeted biopsies (TB)were carried out for each cancer-suspicious lesion,and followed a systematic 12-core biopsy (SB) protocol.Pathological findings of TB and SB were analyzed.Results The age of the patients was (68.38± 6.57)years (range 5 1 -79 years).The preoperative PSA value was (10.21 ±5.57)μg/L (range 4.5 -30.1μg/L).Preoperative prostate volume was (34.05±9.86)ml (range 19-64 ml).The PCa patients detected by SB and/or TB were 34 (54.8%).Cancer-detected rates of SB and TB cores were 7.53% and 26.2%, respectively (P <0.001).The positive core length of SB and TB cores were (3.71 ±2.77)mm (range 1 -14 mm)and (5.00±3.04)mm (range 2-1 7 mm),respectively (P =0.016).The positive core percent of SB and TB cores were (28.77 ± 20.13 )% (range 7 - 100%)and (35.76 ± 1 8.73 )% (range 1 1 % - 100%), respectively (P =0.048).Moreover,clinically cores detected by the SB and TB for final diagnosis of PCa were 19 cores (2.6%)and 48 cores (1 8.5%),respectively (P < 0.001 ).Conclusions Transperineal TB using real-time TRUS and mpMRI fusion imaging can improve sampling quality and elevate clinically detection rate of PCa when application combined with SB.

OBJECTIVETo detect the enterotoxin genes of Staphylococcus aureus (SA) isolated from clinical specimens and analyze the correlation between enterotoxin genes and drug resistance of SA.

METHODSThe mecA gene and enterotoxin genes A-F of clinical SA isolates were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the genes were sequenced to investigate the correlation of these genes to drug resistance.

RESULTSThe detection rate of enterotoxin genes was 100% in 67 methicillin- resistant SA (MRSA), showing no significant difference from the rate in 57 methicillin-sensitive SA (MSSA) (83.5%, χ(2)=0.203, P>0.05). Of the 116 strains carrying enterotoxin genes (93.5%), the detection rates of SEA, SEB, SEC, SED and SEF were 90.5%, 6.9%, 61.3%, 5.2%, 25.9% and 93.5%, respectively, and none of the strains were positive for SEE gene. In these strains, 78 (67.2%) carried 2 or more enterotoxin genes, and the main genotypes were SEA and SEC (33.6%), SEA and SEF (7.8%), and SEA and SEC and SEF (13.8%). Compared with the strains carrying a single enterotoxin gene, those with multiple enterotoxin genes showed a higher drug resistance rate, among which 75% of the SA strains carrying SEA+SEC+SEF were resistant to SXT, significantly higher than the rates of SA carrying SEA (28.6%) and SEA+SEC (38.7%) (P<0.05). The SA strains carrying SEA+SEC+SEF and SEA+SEF showed significantly higher amikacin resistance rates than SA strain carrying SEA (75.0%, 77.0%, 21.5%, respectively, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONClinical isolates of SA carrying multiple enterotoxin genes have a higher drug resistance rate than those with a single enterotoxin gene, suggesting the the important role of enterotoxin in multidrug resistance.

Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial ; genetics ; Enterotoxins ; genetics ; Humans ; Staphylococcal Infections ; microbiology ; Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects ; genetics ; isolation & purification

Seventy patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) aged 65 or above were treated with epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) erlotinib or gefitinib from February 2006 to September 2010. The efficacy and toxicities of treatment were retrospectively analyzed.The overall response rate and disease control rate were 31.4％ and 84.3％,respectively. Themedian progression-free survival time and median survival time were 8.0 months and 13.5 months,respectively(P ＜ 0.05 ). One-year survival rate was 54.3％. Response rate ( CR + PR) ( 42.9％ ) anddisease control rate (94.3％ )in female patients were superior to males (20.0％ and 74.3％ ) (P ＜ 0.05 ).Non-smoking and PS score ＜ 2 were good predictors for survival.The side effects were generally mild and mainly were skin rash and diarrhea.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of throat disease in secondary school teachers of Urumqi. METHOD: Use Stage-Two random sampling at 11689 teachers from 109 secondary schools in Urumqi; Draw 3 217 from 11689 teachers in 109 secondary schools to accept voice self-assessment questionnaire survey and routine examination of throat, and the one who were confirmed abnormal in routine inspection would be underway stroboscopic laryngoscopy. RESULT: The total illness prevalence rate of throat disease in secondary school teachers of Urumqi is 28.23%; there is no statistic difference of illness prevalence rate between male and female teachers (P > 0.05). However, results showed statistical significance of illness prevalence rate in teachers of different racial-groups with different years of teaching experience (P < 0.05). Teachers who have 5 to 15 years of teaching experience suffer a high incidence of throat diseases. Among eight racial groups involved in investigation, Kazak teachers are in the highest illness prevalence rate. The results of assessment for voice disorder index between teachers with and without throat diseases showed statistical difference in total score TVH (P < 0.05), which is shown significant in the physical and emotional areas (P < 0.05), while there is no statistical difference in function. Diseases of pharyngeal portion are mainly chronic pharyngitis and hyperplastic tonsil in tongue root; Diseases of laryngeal portion are mainly chronic laryngitis and vocal nodule for female, while mainly chronic laryngitis and vocal polypus for male. CONCLUSION There is no significant difference in illness prevalence rate of throat disease for secondary school teachers in Urumqi between genders; the highest prevalence rate is in teachers who have 5 to 15 years teaching experience; among different racial groups, Kazak teachers are of the highest illness prevalence rate; the illness prevalence of throat diseases is related with voice disorder index.
Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Faculty ; Female ; Humans ; Laryngeal Diseases ; epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; Pharyngeal Diseases ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Voice Disorders ; epidemiology ; Voice Quality ; Young Adult

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features, diagnosis and differential diagnosis of dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLPS) with inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT)-like features. Methods: Five cases of DDLPS with IMT-like features were collected from the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the First People′s Hospital of Qinzhou between 2013 and 2018. EnVision method and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were used to detect the immunophenotype of the tumor cells and the profile of MDM2 gene amplification respectively. Results: All five cases were male and the median age was 61 (range 53 to 65) years. The clinical symptoms were mainly related to the space-occupying lesions. The tumors were located in duodenal mesentery (two cases), intestinal wall (one case), retroperitoneum (one case), and spermatic cord (one case). Grossly, the tumors were not well encapsulated, ranging from 3 to 13 cm (median 6.7 cm) in diameter, with tan to gray and firm cut surface. Histologically, the dedifferentiated component closely resembled inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT), with spindle/polygonal/stellate-shaped cells arranged in storiform, sheet-like, or random pattern, with varying degrees of chronic inflammation and fibrosis. All three major patterns seen in IMT (myxoid, cellular and hypocellular fibrous) were observed, the hypocellular fibrous pattern was the most common. Well-differentiated liposarcomatous component was found in the peripheral areas of all the tumors. One case had high grade dedifferentiated component. Four cases were strongly positive for MDM2 and p16. Two cases were positive for SMA, and one case was focally positive for desmin and one for CD34. None of the cases stained for ALK-1. FISH demonstrated MDM2 gene amplification in all five cases. Clinical follow-ups were available in all five cases and the interval ranged from 3 to 66 months (median 23 months). Two patients developed recurrences and one patient had metastasis. The remaining two patients were alive with no evidence of tumor recurrence at 3 and 14 months after surgery respectively. Conclusions DDLPS with IMT-like features is a more aggressive neoplasm than its histological mimic (IMT), and should not be misdiagnosed as other intermediate or low-grade malignant tumors, such as IMT, sclerosing liposarcoma, inflammatory liposarcoma, aggressive fibromatosis, solitary fibrous tumors, low-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma, and low-grade fibrosarcoma.