Objective To evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of deep fungal infection by detecting the serum galactomannan ( GM) and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid ( BALF) GM, serum G test and fungal culture of BALF in patients with suspected invasive fungal infection ( IFI) in lungs.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed of the results of serum /BALF GM test ,serum G test and BALF culture from 148 patients with suspected pulmonary IFI .The indexes involved sensitivity , specificity , positive predictive value , negative predictive value , as well as diagnostic capacity for deep fungal infection with separated or combined tests .Results Among the 148 cases, 48 cases were clinically diagnosed with IFI and the rest were excluded.Among the 48 IFI cases, 3 cases were positive in serum GM test , 25 cases were positive in BALF GM test , 31 cases were positive in G test and 30 cases were positive in fungal culture .The combined detection showed a sensitivity of 91.6%,specificity of 70.0%, positive predictive value of 59.5% and negative predictive value of 94.6%.Conclusion The combination of GM/G tests and fungal culture can significantly improve the clinical diagnostic efficiency of pulmonary IFI .

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of surgical resection extent and other clinicopathological characteristics on the prognosis in patients with clinical stage I endometrial carcinoma.

METHODSThe data of 135 surgically treated patients with clinical stage I endometrial carcinoma were retrospectively analyzed. Fifty-seven patients (group A) underwent simple hysterectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy with or without pelvic lymphadenectomy. The other 78 patients (group B) received sub-radical or radical hysterectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy with or without pelvic lymphadenectomy. The impact of surgery extent and other clinicopathological characteristics on the prognosis in patients with clinical stage I endometrial carcinoma were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences between two groups in the pathological stage, pathologic type, tumor grade, depth of myometrial invasion, vascular tumor emboli, ovary invasion, lymph node metastasis, positive peritoneal cytology and adjuvant therapy (P > 0.05). However, the patients in group A had a significantly shorter operating time (105 vs. 145 min), less estimated blood loss (150 vs. 300 ml) and blood transfusion (0 approximately 600 vs. 0 approximately 1200 ml), and a shorter postoperative hospital stay (12 vs. 13 days) than that in group B (all P < 0.05). The overall rates of post-operative complications were 15.8% in group A versus 26.9% in group B (P > 0.05). The recurrence rate in the group A was 14.0% versus 6.4% in group B (P > 0.05). Furthermore, the five-year survival rate in group A was 76.9% versus 85.8% in group B (P > 0.05). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the important risk factors for clinical stage I endometrial carcinoma were deep myometrium invasion, high pathological grade, positive peritoneal cytology and ovarian metastasis, rather than surgical resection extent.

CONCLUSIONSurgery extent is not an important factor affecting the prognosis in patients with clinical stage I endometrial carcinoma, and extended surgery does not improve their survival. Therefore, excessive resection should be avoided in such cases.

Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell ; pathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; Carcinoma, Adenosquamous ; pathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Carcinoma, Endometrioid ; pathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; methods ; Length of Stay ; Lymph Node Excision ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

Through potted inoculation test at room temperature and indoor analysis, the photosynthetic parameters and physiological and biochemical indexes of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis were observed after 28 arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi were injected into the P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis growing in a sterile soil environment. The results showed that AM fungi established a good symbiosis with P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis. The AM fungi influenced the photosynthetic parameters and physiological and biochemical indexes of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis. And the influences were varied depending on different AM fungi. The application of AM fungi improved photosynthesis intensity of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis mesophyll cells, the contents of soluble protein and soluble sugar, protective enzyme activity of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis leaf, which was beneficial to resist the adverse environment and promote the growth of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis. Otherwise, there was a certain mutual selectivity between P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis and AM fungi. From the comprehensive effect of inoculation, Racocetra coralloidea, Scutellospora calospora, Claroideoglomus claroideum, S. pellucida and Rhizophagus clarus were the most suitable AM fungi to P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis when P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis was planted in the field.
Fungi ; classification ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Liliaceae ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Mycorrhizae ; classification ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Leaves ; metabolism ; Rhizome ; microbiology

Pineapple (Ananas comosus) leaves contain mainly phenolic components with antioxidant and hypolipidemic effects. One of the principle components is p-coumaric acid. In this study, the transport behavior of p-coumaric acid, was observed after the administration of pineapple leaf phenols in vitro. Simultaneously, the effect of the phenols on glucose, total cholesterol and triglycerides transportation and metabolism in HepG2 cells was also observed. The results showed that the phenols had good transport characteristics. 5 min after the administration, p-coumaric acid of the phenols could be detected, and the content of p-coumaric acid reached the peak concentration after 60 min of the administration. p-coumaric acid of phenols have time-and dose-dependent manner. While promoting glucose transporter (GLUT4) and low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) expression, the phenols decreased intracellular lipid content. This reduction of intracellular lipid content was highly correlated with the promotion of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic triglyceride lipase (HTGL) expression, while the reduction of intracellular glucose levels was correlated with glycogen synthesis in the cells.
Ananas ; chemistry ; Biological Transport ; drug effects ; Cholesterol ; metabolism ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Lipid Metabolism ; drug effects ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry

AIM: To purify human yolk sac mesenchymal ste m cells (hYS-MSC) and investigate its osteogenic and neurogenic differentiation potentials. METHODS: hYS-MSC were separated from yolk sac and purified via p assage culture. The karyotype of hYS-MSCs was analyzed via G-banded characterist ics. Flow cytometric analysis was used to determine the cell cycle and phenotype of hYS-MSC. The AKP expression of hYS-MSC was also tested. Osteogenic different iation of hYS-MSCs was induced by 10 -8mol/L dexamethasone, 10 mmol/L ?-gl ycerophosphate and 50 mg/L vitamin C. Alizarin red S stain was used for identifi cation of mineralization. ?-mecaptoethanol or salviae miltiorrhizae were used t o induce neurogenic differentiation of hYS-MSCs. The expressions of NSE, NF and GFAP were identified by immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: hYS-MSCs could be purified at passages 2 or 3. The cell cycle analysis suggested that hYS-MSCs showed strong proliferational potentials by which the cells kept normal diploid karyotype during the in vitro cultur e. Flow cytometry showed the phenotype of purified hYS-MSCs was uniformly positi ve for CD29, CD44, CD105, and CD166, and negative for reactivity to antigens CD3 4, CD45, or CD86. hYS-MSCs were weakly but clearly positive in AKP. Osteogenic d ifferentiation was appeared after induction of osteogenic differentiation. hYS-M SCs, which were of spindle shape, uniform in size, were induced to pleomorphism osteoblast-like cells which expressed high level of AKP. Aggregates or nodules w ere formed at day 7 and calcium accumulation was detected by alizarin red S stai ning on day 10 or day 14. Neurogenic differentiation of hYS-MSCs was induced by ?-mecaptoethanol or salviae miltiorrhizae. NSE, NF or GFAP positive cells were detected by immunohistochemical staining. CONCLUSIONS: hYS-MSCs have strong proliferation potential and th e normal diploid karyotype is kept during the in vitro culture. The phenoty pe of hYS-MSCs is coincident with adult hMSCs. hYS-MSCs could be induced to dif ferent iate into osteogenic or neurogenic cells.

OBJECTIVETo compare the survival of patients with stage IIc or IV epithelial ovarian cancer treated either with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) followed by cytoreductive surgery or primary cytoreductive surgery (PCS) followed by adjuvant chemotherapy.

METHODSThe clinical and pathological data of 160 patients with stage IIIc or IV epithelial ovarian cancer diagnosed pathologically between 1997 and 2005 were retrospectively reviewed. Forty-two patients were treated with NAC followed by cytoreductive surgery (NAC group) and 118 patients with PCS followed by adjuvant chemotherapy (PCA group).

RESULTSThe overall response rate of NAC group was 69.1%. No significant difference was observed between the NAC group and PCS group in operating time, intra-operative blood loss and units of blood-transfusion (P > 0.05). Optimal cytoreductive surgery was performed in 88.1% of NAC group versus in 71.2% of PCS group (P < 0.05). In those who had optimal cytoreductive surgery, the recurrent rate was 43.2% in NAC group versus 56.0% in PCS group without significant difference between two groups (P > 0.05). The disease-free survival and progression-free survival was 7 and 8 months in NAC group, which were significantly shorter than 13 and 18 months in PCS group (P < 0.05), however, the median overall survival (OS) was 34 months in NAC group versus 43 months in PCS group without significant difference (P > 0.05). In the patients with optimal cytoreductive surgery, it was 34 months in NAC group versus 48 months in PCS group without significant difference either between two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONNeoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by cytoreductive surgery can improve the rate of optimal cytoreductive surgery for the patients with stage IIIc or IVepithelial ovarian cancer, but this regimen may neither reduce the recurrent rate nor prolong the survival when compared with the patients treated with primary cytoreductive surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Cisplatin ; therapeutic use ; Cyclophosphamide ; therapeutic use ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Papillary ; drug therapy ; pathology ; surgery ; Disease Progression ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; surgery ; Paclitaxel ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Taxoids ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Nutrition MCT and Nutrition MF enteral nutrition on nutritional status of patients after major abdominal operation.

METHODSIn a double- blinded and randomized cross- cover study, Nutrition MCT and Nutrition MF enteral nutrition were fed in patients when the gut function restored after operation. The total calorie was 104.6 kJ(25 kcal) x kg(-1) x d(-1) and the period of full dose of enteral nutrition was 5 days. The blood samples were collected before operation,before enteral nutrition and the sixth day after full dose of enteral nutrition for the measurement of pre- albumin, total protein,albumin, transferrin and triglyceride. The urine, stool and drainage fluid were collected to analyze nitrogen balance.

RESULTSThe plasma protein and fat were obviously dropped in patients after abdominal operation and improved after the enteral nutrition support in two groups. However, the pre- albumin level increased more in patients of Nutrition MCT than Nutrition MF.

CONCLUSIONNutrition MCT can obviously improve the nutritional status of patients after major abdominal operation.

Abdomen ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Cross-Over Studies ; Double-Blind Method ; Enteral Nutrition ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nutritional Status ; Proteins ; therapeutic use ; Triglycerides ; therapeutic use

Objective To evaluate diagnosis and preoperative management of cases with interrupted aortic arch(IAA)in infancy.Methods Fifty-three infants who were admitted to our hospital from Jan.2001 to Nov.2007 were involved.Clinical data,findings of echocardiogram(Echo),spiral CT,MRI,angiocardiography,preoperative management,surgical repair and postoperative outcome were analyzed retrospectively.Results There were 38 boys and 15 girls,weighted 2.18-10.0(4.32?1.60)kg,aged 1 day to 12(3.05?3.53)months,of which 50.94% were neonates.Symptoms at presentation were 90.57% with tachypnea and 83.02% with difficulty in feeding.Eighty three point zero two percentage cases had different degree of congestive heart failure,37.74% of which were in grade Ⅲ heart function.All cases had weakened femoral pulse.All cases were performed Echo,38 cases of them diagnosed as IAA,6 cases as IAA or severe coarctation of aorta(CoA);they were diagnosed as IAA by CT,and 9 as severe CoA who were diagnosed as IAA via CT or operation.Thirty-three cases were performed CT,of which 15 underwent surgical repair,cardiovascular abnormalities revealed by CT were the same as those in surgical findings.Three cases were taken MRI,and 7 cases were performed angiocardiography.According to the results of Echo,CT,MRI,angiocardiography and surgical findings,35 cases were type A,15 cases were type B and 3 cases were type C.Preoperative treatment included maintaining patent ductus areriosis,management of heart failure and supportive treatment.After proper preoperative management of medication,most cases with congestive heart failure were improved.Twenty-six cases underwent surgical repair,16 survived,10 died du-ring perioperative stage.Main cause of death was severe low cardiac output.Conclusions Value of Echo in diagnosis of IAA is limi-ted.Combination of Echo with CT or MRI is a convenient and safe way to diagnose IAA,it can replace the traditional method of Echo combined with angiocardiography.Proper preoperative management is helpful to patients with IAA to pass to surgical repair,and makes for successful operation.

OBJECTIVETo study the serum proteome of rat endotoxemia treated by figwort root (FR).

METHODThe differences of serum proteome among rats treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), FR, LPS + FR and saline respectively were analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE) assay.

RESULTThe volumes of sixteen serum proteins (xPr) in LPS induced-endotoxemia group were greatly changed compared with those of the control group. Among them, the volumes of xPr 16, 19 were significantly decreased, and the volumes of xPr 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 18, 23 were significantly increased. When treated with FR, the volumes of xPr 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 18, 23 were significantly decreased, and the volumes of xPr 8, 9, 11, 12, 23, 14 were back to normal level. Two factors statistic analysis showed that FR had interaction with LPS for xPr 1, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, and FR might be the functional antagonist of LPS. We also observed that the volumes of xPr 10, 13, 15, 20, 21, 22 were found to change significantly only in FR treated group but not in LPS treated group or control group. Interestingly, the volume of xPr 13, 20, 21, 22 were increased and the volume of xPr 10, 15 were decreased.

CONCLUSIONThe molecular basis of therapeutic effect of FR on endotoxemia might be through the regulation of xPr 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 18, 23. We can use proteomic techniques to study the molecular mechanisms of diseases treated by functional Chinese herbs and the combination of different herbs is necessary for the treatment of endotoxemia, as FR can not regulated all the changed proteins induced by LPS.

Animals ; Blood Proteins ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Endotoxemia ; blood ; chemically induced ; Injections, Intravenous ; Lipopolysaccharides ; administration & dosage ; Male ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Proteome ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Scrophularia ; chemistry

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Leiomyoma ; diagnosis ; Middle Aged ; Muscle Neoplasms ; complications ; surgery ; Uterine Neoplasms ; complications ; surgery