OBJECTIVETo investigate the epidemiological characteristics, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of Brucella orchitis, so as to provide reliable evidence for the prevention and treatment of the disease.

METHODSWe conducted retrospective statistical analyses on the medical records of 48 outpatients and 21 inpatients with Brucella orchitis.

RESULTSBrucella orchitis was diagnosed in 6.67% of the male patients with brucellosis (69/1 034). The disease exhibited typical epidemiological features, with a higher incidence rate among those in frequent contact with sheep and elderly people, in the period from April to July, and in the areas with sheep husbandry. All the Brucella orchitis patients had such local symptoms as testicular pain and swelling, more frequently involving both testes, and other most common symptoms included fever, chills, sweating, and painful joints. Based on IIEF-5, 45 of the patients suffered from severe erectile dysfunction, with their reproductive function temporarily affected in the course of the disease. Misdiagnosis easily occurred in the early stage of the disease. Therapeutic options mainly included doxycycline hydrochloride and rifampicin, administered orally or intravenously, which could effect a cure, though relapse might occur in some cases.

CONCLUSIONBru- cella orchitis has distinct epidemiological characteristics, with clinical manifestations of testicular pain and swelling. Though a transient disease, it affects the reproductive function of the patient before cured. It can be treated by combined oral and intravenous medication, with painkillers or ice bags for testicular pain and swelling.

Animals ; Brucella ; pathogenicity ; Brucellosis ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Orchitis ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Sheep

OBJECTIVE:To establish a method for the rapid identification of Sanjiu weitai granule and quantitative analysis of moisture. METHODS:Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy was adopted. 38 batches of Sanjiu weitai granule were collected,NIR spectrum was determined by integrating sphere diffuse-reflectance. Conformity test model was performed by comparing consistency index(CI)value and CI limit,and quantitative model of moisture was established using partial least squares(PLS)algorithm. RE-SULTS:When CI value was less than 6,the established model can accurately distinguish Sanjiu weitai granule,the model was proven feasible;the correlation coefficient (r2) of quantitative model was 97.44,the root mean square error of cross validation (RMSECV) was 0.453,the root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) was 0.748. CONCLUSIONS:The method is simple and rapid without destroying,which can be applied to fast screening of Sanjiu weitai granule in site and fast determination of mois-ture content.

OBJECTIVE:To study the compatible stability of puerarin injection with 10 commonly-used drugs.METHODS:The changes in appearance,pH,particulate and puerarin content after mixing with 10 drugs were observed and assayed.RESU_LTS & CONCLUSION:Puerarin injection mixing with adenosine triphosphate,coenzyme A and ribavirin showed significant change in pH,which indicats that they are incompatable each other,however,when puerarin injection was mixed with vitamin B6,potassium chloride,etamsylate,cimetidine,gentamycin,amikacin and erythromycin,no significant changes in pH,particulate and puerarin content were found,which indicates their compatibility.

ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of caspase-3 in the brain of acutely pentylenetetrazole(PTZ)-kindled rats.MethodsThe caspase-3 positive cells were revealed using immunohistochemical SP method. CMIAS image analysis system was used to analyse the expression of caspase-3 hemi-quantitatively. ResultsFollowing PTZ induced epilepsy, the expression of caspase-3 increased both in the hippocampus and in the cortex, and that was more remarkable in the hippocampus than in the cortex.ConclusionCaspase-3 may be activated during neuronal apoptosis after epilepsy. Hippocampus is more sensitive to the neuronal damage due to epilepsy than the cortex is.

ObjectiveTo observe the dose of methadone and the compliance of patients to the methadone maintenance treatment(MMT).MethodsWe analyzed the status of 69 patients who were addicted to opiate medication and 44 patients who dropped out in our clinic until July 31,2010.ResultsThere was no significant relationship between patients' urine test and the dose.Crime caused the patients who dropped out.The percentage of positive urine did not decline as the dose increased,but the rate of patients who dropped and the number of positive urine test showed a significant correlation( r =0.523 P =0.000).Crime was the main reason that affected the compliance to MMT and caused dropping out.ConclusionThe use of MMT dose should be individualized.

BACKGROUND: The precartilaginous stern cells are limited regarding in vitro proliferative capacity, but the immortalized cell lines can provide a large number of stable immortalized cells, and simian virus 40 large T antigen gene (SV40Tag) is one of gene fragments which are commonly used and effective in vitro immortalized ceils. OBJECTIVE: To construct human immortalized precartilaginous stem cells (IPSCs) using human precartilaginous stem calls induced by SV40LTAg gane. METHODS: The human immortalized precartilaginous stem calls were isolated from aborted fetus and purified with enzyme digestion and immunomagnetic beads screening method. By using liposome-mediated gene transfection technology, plasmid pCMVSV40T/PUR containing SV40Tag was transfected in primary embryonic precartilaginous stem cells, while non-transfected cells sewed as negative controls. Positive clones were cultured to observe the cell morphology and the passage recovery, to calculate cell survival rata and population doubling time, to drew call growth curve. Immunofluorescence cytochemistry was used to detect the expression of IPSCs fibroblast growth factor receptor 3, the expressions of SV40Tag and fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 in the human precartilaginous stem cells were determined by RT-PCR. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Morphology of human IPSCs seemed coincidence with primary human precartilaginous stem cells. The survival rate of human IPSCs was not influenced by subculture, freezing and recovery, but the survival rate was descended in the human precartilaginous stem cells at the 6~(th) and 10~(th) passages (P < 0.01). Compared with cells at the 6~(th) and 10~(th) passages, the proliferation of human IPSCs was greater, with short population doubling time and high growth rate (P < 0.01). The immunofluorescence showed that fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 was positive in human IPSCs at the second passage, and the RT-PCR results of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 revealed a specific amplification band at 400 bp,.while that of SV40Tag revealed at 560 bp. No band was seen in the primary cells. It is indicated that SV40Tag human IPSCs can be constructed successfully using immunomagnatic bead screening technology and liposome transfection technique.

Objective To study the role of epidermal growth factor (EGF),epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR),extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (p-ERK1/2) in the pathogenesis of endometriosis under estrogen deprivation conditions.Methods The estrogen was quickly-stripped in medium and the female nude mice were castrated by bilateral oophorectomy to build estrogen deprivation in vitro and in vivo experimental models,respectively.(1) In vitro experiments:according to different treatments the estrogen deprived ectopic endometrial cells were classified into 4 groups:①EGF group:the ectopic endometrial cells were cultured for 72 hours with different concentrations of EGF (0.01,0.1,1,10,50,100 ng/ml),the results of EGF group were represented by the result of cells treated by 10 ng/ml EGF cultured for 72 hours ; ②EGF + PD98059 group:the ectopic endometrial cells were cultured for 72 hours with 5 × 10-2 mol/L PD98059 (inhibitor of ERK),followed by a cultivation for 72 hours treated by 10 ng/ml EGF + 5 × 10-2 mol/L PD98059 ; ③EGF + ICI182780 group:the ectopic endometrial cells were cultured for 72 hours with 10-6 mol/L ICI182780 [inhibitor of estrogen receptor(ER)],followed by a cultivation for 72 hours treated by 10 ng/ml EGF + 10-6 mol/L ICI182780; ④Blank control group:the ectopic endometrial cells were cultured with no treatment.The proliferation activity of ectopic endometrial cells in all groups after treatment were examined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) method represented by absorbance value (A).The expression of p-ERK1/2 protein were detected by western blot.(2) In vivo experiments:64 female nude mice were randomly divided into control and castration groups (both n =32) using random number chart.The mice in castration group were castrated by bilateral oophorectomy on 3 weeks after the endometriosis model was established.The levels of EGF,EGFR,p-ERK1/2 protein in ectopic lesions of both groups were measured on 4,6,8 and 10 weeks after the endometriosis model was established by western blot.Results (1) The proliferation activity of ectopic endometrial cells:the proliferation activity of ectopic endometrial cells treated by different concentrations of EGF (0.01,0.1,1,10,50,100 ng/ml) for 72 hours were 0.310 ± 0.010,0.340 ± 0.020,0.670 ± 0.010,0.980 ± 0.030,1.360 ± 0.020,1.670 ± 0.020,respectively,the proliferation activity was increased along with of EGF concentrations.The proliferation activity was 0.680 ± 0.030 at EGF + PD98059 group,the differences exhibited significant difference when compared with that at EGF group with 100 ng/ml for 72 hours(P ＜0.01).The proliferation activity of EGF + ICI182780 and blank control groups were 0.330 ±0.030 and 0.310 ±0.030,respectively,which did not reached statistical differences(P ＞ 0.05).(2) The expression of EGF,EGFR,pERK1/2 protein:① In vitro experiments:the levels of p-ERK1/2 protein in EGF and blank control groups were 0.670 ± 0.020 and 0.600 + 0.010,respectively,which reached statistical differences (P ＜ 0.05).The level of p-ERK1/2 protein in EGF + PD98059 group was 0.610 ± 0.020,which exhibited significant differences with that at blank control group(P ＞ 0.05).② In vivo experiments:at 4,6 and 8 weeks after the endometriosis models were established,the expression of EGF protein in the ectopic lesions of castration group and control group were (0.530±0.015 versus 0.610 ±0.015),(0.400 ±0.029 versus 0.620 ±0.018),(0.560 ±0.026versus 0.630 ± 0.021),respectively,the levels of EGFR protein were (0.500 ± 0.030 versus 0.640 ±0.030),(0.470 ± 0.020 versus 0.630 ± 0.020),(0.510 ± 0.030 versus 0.610 ± 0.020) respectively,and the level of p-ERK1/2 protein were (0.500 ± 0.020 versus 0.580 ± 0.020),(0.490 ± 0.020 versus 0.580 ±0.020),(0.570 ±0.020 versus 0.590 0.020),respectively.The difference of EGF,EGFR,pERK1/2 protein expression levels between two groups did not exhibited significant difference(P ＜ 0.01,P ＜0.01,P ＜0.05).At 10 weeks after the endometriosis models were established,the levels of EGF protein in castration group and control group were both 0.620 ± 0.020,the levels of EGFR protein were both 0.610 ±0.020,and the level of p-ERK1/2 protein were 0.590 ±0.010 and 0.600 ± 0.020.No statistical difference (P ＞0.05) was found between those two groups (P ＞ O.05).Conclusions EGF could stimulate the proliferation of ectopic endometrial cells by activating the ERK pathway under estrogen deprivation conditions.The inhibition of EGF signaling system in ectopic lesions was alleviated along with the prolongation of the period of estrogen deprivation.

Objective To observe left ventricular transmural peak radial strain and strain time-to-peak of peri-infarct different layers myocardium using tissue Doppler strain imaging, to assess its mechanical pattern during acute myocardial ischemia.Methods Left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) were ligated in experimental open-chest Beagle dog models (n = 9),the two-dimensional apical short-axis views of left ventricle in three complete cardiac cycles were acquired and stored in TDI-Q workstation at baseline(the control group of peri-infarc myocardium) and during acute myocardial ischemia respectively.Sampling volume was uesd to measure the peak radial strain and the strain time-to-peak consesquently on the derived M -mode tissue Doppler velocity images at peri-infarct myocardium before and after ischemic segments and different layers(subendocardium, medium, subepicardium).Statistical analies was performed using student's t- test or Pearson's correlations.Results Peak radial strain decreased at peri-infarct subendoeardium (P<0.05) with no significant difference between those at baseline and at peri-infarct medium (P >0.05), the peak radial strain increasd at peri-infarct subepieardium (P < 0.05) ,and the strain time-to-peak at different layers of peri-infarct myoeardium was significantly postponed (P< 0.05).There was a good correlationship of peak radial strain between subendocardium and segment as well as between the medium and segment (r = 0.617, P<0.01 ; r = 0.556, P<0.01).This correlationship disappeared at peri-infarct myocardial segment (r = 0.287, P > 0.05, r = 0.243, P > 0.05).Conclusions The left ventricular transmural mechanical remodeling at peri-infarct myocardium is the integrant of result of mechanical interactions between ischemic and nonischemic myocardium,which might be one of the trigger the structural and fundational remodeling processes involving in the pathophysiological foundation of ischemie cardiomyopathy.

Objective To study the effect of long-term salmon calcitonin on bone mineral density (BMD), bone metabolism biochemical indicators and subjective score of bone pain in maintenance hemedialysis (MHD) patients with osteopenia. Methods Thirty-four MHD patients diagnosed as osteopenia by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXEA) were enrolled in this study. All the patients were treated with hypodermic injection of salmon calcitonin (50 U, thrice a week) for 12 months. The detecting parameters were as follows: BMD with DEXA in lumbar spine (L1-L4), femoral neck, troch, inter, and Ward's triangle before and after the study;serum bone metabolism biochemical indicators before and 6 and 12 months after the study;subjective scores of bone pain before and 1, 6, and 12 months after the study. Results Thirty-two patients were followed-up successfully. As compared to BMD parameters before study, the total T-score (-1.98± 2.20 vs 1.26±1.88, P=0.009) and total Z-score (-0.90±2.15 vs 0.08±2.05, P=0.002) of lumbar spine, the total T-score (-1.72±1.53 vs 1.06±1.58, P=0.016) and totle Z-score (-0.66±0.80 vs 0.08±1.08, P=0.029) of hip, the T-score of L3 (-2.02±2.51 vs 1.24±2.02, P=0.033), the Z-score of L2 (-0.44±1.82 vs 0.06±1.63, P=0.016), the Z-score of femoral troch (-0.65±1.11 vs 0.48±1.12, P=0.034) and the Z-score of inter (-0.58±0.94 vs 0.02±1.12, P=0.006) were increased significantly after study. But there were no significant differences in other examined regions and serum biochemical parameters. The subjective scores of bone pain were decreased rapidly for 41.7% after 1 month (P<0.01) and 76.6% after 6 months (P<0.01). The subjective score of bone pain after 12 months was similar to 6 months. The side effects of salmon calcitonin included nausea and vomitting in 5 cases (14.71%, 5/34), dizziness, blushing and flustered in 1 case respectively (3.13%,1/32). Conclusions Long-term hypodermic injection of salmon calcitonin can improve BMD and bone pain for MHD patients with osteopenia but has no significant effect on serum bone metabolism biochemical indicators. Salmon calcitonin is safe for MHD patients with seldom side effects, such as nausea and vomitting.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Brain Edema ; prevention & control ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; prevention & control ; Progesterone ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar