This study was aimed to apply the electronic nose (E-nose) in the research of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The discussion was made on difficulties of using E-nose. The solution plan was proposed and the discrimination model was established. It provided a simple, rapid and effective analysi method in the identification of TCM. It also provided new ideas for the research and application of gas sensor arrays. E-nose was used in the ex-traction of TCM scent characteristics. Based on ion mobility spectrometry of MOS sensor, the fingerprint of TCM scent was established. The maximum response value of the sensor was used as analysis index. According to the diffi-culties of identification, two solution plans were proposed. Firstly, different detectors were employed to complete the classification. Secondly, radial basis function (RBF) and random forests (RF) were combined and then a cascade classifier was constructed in order to achieve the maximum of information obtained in conditions where the number of measurements, metal oxide semiconductor sensors in E-nose was limited. The results showed that both plans were accurate and practical with relatively high upper correct judge rate and better cross-validation (The highest upper correct judge rates were 95% and 100%, 96% and 80%, respectively). It was concluded that this study firstly ap-plied cascade classifier in the establishment of TCM identification by E-nose. With limited amount of sensors, the maximum information was received through data mining. Using E-nose in the identification of TCM was rapid and accurate. The established pattern recognition method was maneuverable with accurate identification rate and stability compared to conventional sensory identification method. It provided a simple and rapid analysis method for the iden-tification of TCM.

Aims: Dietary intake of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) by human is insufficient to exhibit properties of anti-cancer, antiinflammatory, anti-atherosclerosis, anti-obesity and enhancing immune system. Thus, enrichment of CLA in chicken by bacteria is a suggestion to solve the problem. It would be an advantage to have bacteria capable of producing CLA and has probiotic potential in chicken. Thus, probiotic properties of CLA-producing bacteria were accessed in this study. Methodology and results: In this study, 47 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from gastrointestinal tract of chickens were screened for conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) production. Lactobacillus salivarius strain P2, Enterococcus faecium strain P1 and Lactobacillus agilis strain P3 were shown to produce 21.97, 23.35 and 31.08 µg/mL of CLA in MRS broth containing free linoleic acid (0.5 mg/mL) and 2% (w/v) Tween 80, respectively. Lactobacillus salivarius strain P2, E. faecium strain P1 and L. agilis strain P3 were found to be able to tolerate 0.3% oxgall (Difco, France) and pH 2.5. Lactobacillus agilis strain P3 and L. salivarius strain P2 showed better acid tolerance compared to E. faecium strain P1. Besides that, L. agilis strain P3 and L. salivarius strain P2 were resistant to two out of eight types of antibiotics tested, able to produce 220.04 mM lactic acid and 200.17 mM of lactic acid, respectively. Enterococcus faecium strain P1 was resistant to five out of eight types of antibiotic tested, produced 90.39 mM lactic acid and showed hemolytic activity. Only L. agilis strain P3 can produce acetic acid at a concentration of 2.71 mM. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: These results showed that the CLA-producing L. salivarius strain P2 and L. agilis strain P3 could be potential probiotic bacteria for chickens, which may eventually lead to production of chicken with better meat quality.
Linoleic Acids, Conjugated ; Probiotics

Objective To establish and evaluate criteria applied to review of complete blood counts (CBC)and differential results from automated hematology analyzers.Methods Temporary criteria were established by using alarm system of XE-2100 automated hematology analyzer and by consulting the 41 suggested rides of international consensus group.2 795 out-and in-patient samples were run as clinical samples.Stained blood films were prepared and manual differential with smear review were performed on all samples.Statistical analysis was done for each temporary rule and instrument flag which indicated abnormal cell quantity and morphology.Results Of all rules,instrument flags of ‘Immature Gran/Left Shift?’, ‘ Atypical Lympho?’and‘NRBC(nucleated red blood cell)?’showed most frequent false positive and false negative instrument flag.Evaluation on rnles about cell quantity change showed false positive and false negative rates were both low.Results of morphology evaluation showed that true positive rate was 17.44%, false positive rate was 15.82%,true negative rate was 63.49%,false negative rate was 3.25%.‘ Atypical Lymphocyte?’,‘Immature Gran?’and‘blast?’were the most frequent false positive flags.According to those results and clinicians opinions,our hematology review criteria for action following automated CBC and leukocytes differential was established.Conclusions The hematology review criteria have high true positive rate and low false negative rate.To clinical hematology laboratory using automated hematology analyzer,new criteria can reduce work load,bring lower false negative rate and higher work efficiency.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of immunosuppressive therapy on the expression of TNF-α/IFN-γ in cytoplasm of peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with aplastic anemia (AA). The expression of TNF-α and IFN-γ in cytoplasm of peripheral CD3(+) lymphocytes were measured by flow cytometry in 25 cases of de novo AA patients and 20 cases of AA after immunosuppressive therapy. The results showed that the positive rates of CD3(+)/TNF-α(+) and CD3(+)/IFN-γ(+) in de novo AA patients were (5.97 ± 6.78)% and (15.20 ± 11.28)% respectively, and (1.56 ± 0.87)% and (1.76 ± 0.87)% in normal controls respectively. There was significant difference between de novo AA patients and normal controls (p < 0.05). The positive rates of CD3(+)/TNF-α(+) and CD3(+)/IFN-γ(+) in immunosuppressive therapy group were (1.67 ± 1.26)% and (4.35 ± 4.33)% respectively. The difference between immunosuppressive therapy group and de novo AA group was statistically significant (p < 0.05). It is concluded that the levels of intracellular TNF-α and IFN-γ in AA patients are higher than those in normal controls. Immunosuppressive therapy significantly reduces the expression of intracellular TNF-α and IFN-γ. Its relationship with the clinical treatment is worth further observing.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Anemia, Aplastic ; blood ; metabolism ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; Young Adult

Introduction: Steven-Johnson syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis are rare but life threatening severe cutaneous adverse reactions to drugs. To determine the epidemiology of SJS, TEN and SJS/TEN overlap in University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). Methods: All patients admitted to UMMC from year 2013-2015 for SJS, SJS/TEN, TEN were recruited. The classification of SJS, SJS/TEN overlap and TEN was made based on the criteria laid down by Bastuji et al.2 Results: A total of 32 patients were recorded to have SJS, SJS/TEN overlap and TEN from 2013 to 2015. Drugs (n=32, 86.49%) remained the most common aetiology of SJS and TEN. The top three commonest drugs are allopurinol (n=6), followed by carbamazepine (n=5) and bactrim (n=3). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that drugs were the most common cause of SJS/TEN. Antibiotics were the most common drug group that caused SJS/TEN. Awareness of the common etiology such as drug is important and high index of suspicion of SJS and TEN is needed if patients were on the above medications.

Objective To analyse the prognosis of 117 newly diagnosed nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients underwent intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). Methods From Jan to Nov 2005, 117 NPC patients who were treated by IMRT were enrolled. There were 81 males and 36 females with a median age of 42 years (range 18-76 years). According to Chinese Fuzhou Staging system(1992), 11 cases were Stage I , 15 Stage Ⅱ, 54 Stage Ⅲ and 37 Stage ⅣA. IMRT was carried out with Peacock plan. The prescription dose to the gross target volume(GTVnx) of nasopharyngeal tumor was 68 Gy, that of positive neck lymph nodes (GTVnd) was 60-66 Gy, clinical target volume 1 (CTV1) was 60 Gy, and CTV2 was 54 Gy. Results After a median follow-up time of 48 months (range 10.5-59.5 months), the 3-and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 95.7 % and 89.7 %, the disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 91.5 % and 87.2%, and the local-regional control rates were 94.0 % and 91.5 %. Univariate analysis showed the KPS, stage, Fuzhou clinical stage, status of blood platelet before treatment and uric acid after treatment were correlated with OS rate. T stage was the only independent factor of prognosis in the COX stepwise regression model. Conclusion Radical IMRT significantly prolongs the survival of NPC patients. T stage is the only independent prognostic factor for NPC patients.

OBJECTIVETo assess the expression of HER-2 and leptin in gastric cancer and evaluate their relationship with VEGF expression and clinicopathological features, and their prognostic value for gastric cancer patients.

METHODSOne hundred and ten gastric cancer specimens and the corresponding metastatic lymph nodes were detected for HER-2 by immunohistochemistry (IHC). All primary cancer tissues were detected for leptin, OB-Rb and VEGF. Ninty-six specimens of normal gastric mucosa served as the control.

RESULTSThe expression level of HER-2, leptin and OB-Rb in gastric cancer tissues were significantly higher than those in normal tissues (19.1% vs. 8.0%, 49.1% vs. 34.0%, and 60.9% vs. 46.0%, P < 0.05). HER-2 overexpression was moderately homogenous in primary gastric cancer and matastatic lymph nodes (P = 0.607, Kappa = 0.581). There was a correlation between the expression of HER-2 and leptin, both of which were significantly correlated with tumor invasion depth, metastatic lymph nodes ratio (NR), distal metastasis, TNM stage and VEGF expression. However, there was no significant correlation between OB-Rb expression and the clinicopathological features evaluated. Cox regression multivariate analysis showed that tumor size, histological grade, NR, stage, chemotherapy and HER-2 expression were independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONSHER-2 is stably expressed in primary gastric cancer and metastatic lymph nodes. HER-2 and leptin play an important role in the progression and angiogenesis of gastric cancer. High expression of HER-2 is a prognostic factor for poor outcome.

Adenocarcinoma ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Leptin ; metabolism ; Lymph Nodes ; metabolism ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; metabolism ; Receptors, Leptin ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Burden ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

This study was purposed to investigate the ratio of Th17 cells and CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells in peripheral blood of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and to explore their roles in the pathogenesis and clinical diagnosis. Based on the number of peripheral lymphocytes and treatment condition, the CLL patients were divided into 2 groups: untreated group (n = 30) and remission group (n = 15), the healthy control group (n = 20) was set up as well. The frequencies of Th17 and Treg cells of all cases were detected by flow cytometry (FCM). The results showed that frequencies of CD3(+)CD4(+)T cells and Th17 cells were significantly higher in untreated group than that in healthy control group (P < 0.05), the frequencies of CD3(+)CD8(+)T cells and Treg cells were significantly lower in untreated group than that in healthy control group (P < 0.05), the ratio of Th17/Treg was significantly higher in untreated group than that in healthy control group (P < 0.05). The frequencies of Th17 were not statistically different between remission and healthy control groups, the frequencies of Treg cells were significantly lower in remission group than that in healthy control group (P < 0.05), the ratio of Th17/Treg was significantly higher in remission group than that in healthy control group (P < 0.05), frequencies of Th17 cells were markedly lower in remission group than that in untreated group (P < 0.05). It is concluded that Th17/Treg imbalance exists in patients with CLL, which may play a key role in pathogenesis and development of CLL.
Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; pathology ; Lymphocyte Count ; Male ; Middle Aged ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; cytology ; Th17 Cells ; cytology

OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to investigate the mechanism of primary cortical neuron injury induced by high concentrations of copper by observing the effect of aceticum culture medium on apoptosis of rat primary cortical neurons and expression of cleaved caspase 3, caspase 8 and caspase 9.

METHODSPrimary cortical neurons were cultured for 72 hrs and then exposed to different concentrations of aceticum culture medium (20, 40 and 80 microM). The viability of neurons was detected by the MTT method. Apoptosis was observed by Hoechst33258 and flow cytometry Annexin V/PI. Expression of caspase 3, caspase 8 and caspase 9 was measured by Western blot.

RESULTSFollowing incubation with aceticum culture medium, apoptosis of neurons was induced. Theviability of neurons was remarkably reduced and the rate of apoptosis was tremendously increased in a concentration dependent manner. Caspase 8 and caspase 9 were activated in 20 microM of copper aceticum culture medium 4 hrs after incubation and peaked at 48 hrs in various concentrations of copper aceticum culture medium, presenting with a time and concentration dependent manner. The activated caspase 3 was observed in 20 microM of copper aceticum culture medium 24 hrs after incubation, which was later than the activated caspase 8 and caspase 9. Caspase 3 expression reached a peak 48 hrs in various concentrations of copper aceticum culture medium, presenting with a time and concentration dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONSThe apoptosis of primary cortical neurons can be induced by copper. Caspase 3, caspase 8 and caspase 9 cascade reaction may involve in the apoptosis of copper induced rat primary cortical neurons.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 3 ; physiology ; Caspase 8 ; physiology ; Caspase 9 ; physiology ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Cerebral Cortex ; drug effects ; Copper ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective Clinical data of 19 Chinese patients with 21 hydroxylase deficiency (21OHD) were analyzed to improve the diagnosis and treatment level. Methods Clinical features and laboratory data were collected from 19 patients with 21OHD before and after treatment. Results In male patients, the average age of early appearance of secondary sexual character was (9.3?2.8)yrs, and excess androgen resulted in phallic enlargement. Primary amenorrhea was the most common complaint in female(87.5%), and the signs included a varying degree of labioscrotal fusion and clitoral enlargement. The average level of 17-hydroxy progesterone(17OHP) was (63.42?35.07) ?g/L, and adrenocorticotrophic hormone(ACTH), dehydroepiandrosterone(sodium) sulfate(DHEAS) and testosterone(T) were obviously elevated. CT scan showed bilateral adrenal hyperplasia. The level of 17OHP was significantly decreased after treatment[(63.42?35.07) ?g/L vs (3.15?2.71) ?g/L](P