Cholesteatoma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Humans ; Petrous Bone ; pathology

RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq) is a newly-developed method in transcriptome research, it can afford more accurate transcription information and be more quickly by using Next-generation Sequencing (NGS) technology. RNA-Seq has been widely used in various biological fields. Genuine traditional Chinese medicines (TCM), with good quality and therapeutic effect, were always praised highly and used by famous physicians. The geo-herbalism formation of TCM is based on the product of the gene expression at specific space and time. So it has been a research hotspot to analyze the mechanism of biosynthesis through RNA-Seq in the study on the secondary metabolism of medicinal plant. This article mainly illustrates the RNA-Seq and its advantages, it also discusses the potential application in genuine TCM, and it can provide useful information for other researchers.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Gene Expression Profiling ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal ; genetics ; RNA ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Transcriptome

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of the treatment for long-term disease-free survival (DFS) of post-remission patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

METHODSTwenty-nine AML patients with completely remission (CR) and 17 with partial remission (PR) were treated with Chinese medicine, Longchan Cigu Decoction 1 dose per day and Lingxiong Piaoling Powder 7 doses per month, and combined with DA or HA regimen of chemotherapy one course per year. Patients peripheral blood picture, bone marrow smear, biopsy and human leukocyte antigen DR (HLA-DR) cells were examined before and after treatment, and their disease-free survival (DFS) was followed up.

RESULTSAfter treated with above mentioned treatment for 2 months, percentage of patients with normal peripheral blood count increased, including patients with WBC > or = 4.0 x 10(9)/L raised from 46% to 70%, with Hb > or = 120 g/L from 17% to 46% and with PLT > or = 100 x 10(9)/L from 63% to 85%; nucleated cell volume in bone marrow increased from 35.83 +/- 28.42% to 60.46 +/- 17.73% (P < 0.01); HLA-DR cell was also increased significantly from 10.55 +/- 4.95% to 14.84 +/- 4.94%, (P < 0.01); while the residual leukemia cells were not increased in one year, from 5.90 +/- 5.09% before and 5.82 +/- 2.42% after treatment (P > 0.05). The maximal DFS in patients was 123 months. The 3-year survival rate was 64.15 +/- 1.96% and 5-year survival rate was 51.19 +/- 16.25%.

CONCLUSIONThe integrative Chinese and western medicine treating program used in this study is beneficial for the long-term treatment of AML patients after complete remission.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; drug therapy ; Male ; Mercaptopurine ; administration & dosage ; Methotrexate ; administration & dosage ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Remission Induction ; Survival Rate

To investigate the practicability of establishing zebrafish lipid-lowering drug screening model and the effect of berberine (BBR) on hyperlipidemic zebrafish. Three-month-old zebrafishes were fed with 4% cholesterol for 0, 2, 4, 8, 14, 20, 25, 30 days, and the level of total cholesterol in serum was measured. Zebrafish were randomly divided into four groups: the control group, the high cholesterol diet group, the 0.01% simvastatin-treated group, the 0.1% berberine-treated group and the 0.2% berberine-treated group. The levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) in serum were measured; the expression of hepatic HMGCR, LDLR and CYP7A1a mRNA expressions were detected by real time PCR. Oil red O staining was performed to observe the changes in fat content in the liver. According to the result, the level of serum TC in the 4% cholesterol diet group significantly was higher than that of the normal control group in a time-dependent manner and reached a stable level at the 20th day. The BBR group showed significant decreases in the levels of TC, TG and LDL-c, HMGCR mRNA expression and fat content and increases in LDLR and CYP7A1a mRNA. The hyperlipidemia zebrafish model was successfully established by feeding with 4% cholesterol for 20 days. The findings lay a foundation for further screenings on lipid-lowering drugs.
Animals ; Berberine ; administration & dosage ; Cholesterol ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Triglycerides ; metabolism ; Zebrafish ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the medical cost and its related factors of clinically confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) cases in Beijing.

METHODSThe average medical cost per person/day was calculated on 1272 SARS cases with complete hospitalization data from the Beijing SARS clinical database. Factors associated with medical expenditure were explored by both single factor and multi-factor analyses.

RESULTSThe medical costs of SARS patients in Beijing were 18 767.50 RMB/case and 632.02 RMB/day/case. Expenses on medication accounted for the highest proportion (0.66%). The increase in expenses on medication was significantly associated to the increase in total expenditure. Analyses by single factor, factor stratification as well as multi-factor analyses showed that: the expenditure increased significantly with the following factors of the patients: prolonged days of hospitalization, severe symptoms and signs, hospitalization at the early stage of disease onset, being medical staff themselves, with baseline diseases, being applied mechanical ventilation, and with medical insurance.

CONCLUSIONSThe medical expenditure on SARS patients at the hospital was higher than that on patients with common diseases which was associated to the following factors as: days of hospitalization, severity of disease, stage of the disease break-out, patient's occupation, baseline disease status, medical insurance status etc.

Age Factors ; China ; Cost of Illness ; Female ; Hospitalization ; economics ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; economics ; Linear Models ; Male ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; economics ; therapy ; Sex Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the short-term efficacy and safety of triple semicircular canal occlusion (TSCO) in the treatment of intractable Meniere's disease (MD), so as to provide an alternative surgical procedure for treating MD.

METHODSSeventeen patients, who had received standardized conservative treatment for at least one year with poor effect, underwent TSCO were retrospectively analyzed. Vertigo control and auditory function were evaluated. Pure tone audiometry, caloric test, and vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) were performed for evaluation of audiological and vestibular function. Postoperative follow-up period was 6 - 13 months, with an average of ten months.

RESULTSAccording to the preoperative staging of hearing, among the 17 patients, there were 2 cases in stage II (with an average hearing threshold of 25 - 40 dBHL) and 15 in stage III (41 - 70 dBHL). No vertigo was found during the follow-up period, with 100% control rate of vertigo. During the same period, we had performed endolymphatic sac decompression operation in 25 MD patients. The control rate of vertigo was 72.0%. The vertigo control rate of TSCO was significantly higher than that of endolymphatic sac decompression operation (χ(2) = 3.87, P < 0.05). Three months after surgery, 12 patients showed no significant change in comparison to primary status, 5 patients presented with an mild increase in the average hearing threshold of less than 20 dBHL, with 29.4% of hearing loss rate. Post-operatively, all patients suffered from temporary vertigo and balance disorders. Vertigo was disappeared in all patients within 3 days, while, balance disorders were disappeared in 10 patients within 1 - 2 weeks after surgery, and in another 7 patients within 2 months, with an average recovery time of 12.6 days. Three months after treatment, loss of semicircular canal function by caloric test was found in the operation side of all patients and no change in VEMP test was noted. All patients had no facial paralysis, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, and other complications.

CONCLUSIONSTSCO, which can reduce vertiginous symptoms in patients with intractable MD, represents an effective and safe therapy for this disorder. TSCO is expected to be used as an alternative procedure for the treatment of MD in selected patients suffering from moderate to severe hearing loss.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meniere Disease ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Otologic Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Semicircular Canals ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the therapeutic effect of interleukin-11 (IL-11) on high-dose methotrexate (HDMTX) induced mucositis in Wistar's rats, the proliferative effect on CEM leukemia cell line and the antitumor effect on HDMTX.

METHODSNinety-five 5-week old, 120 - 150 grams weight Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups. Group A is normal control (n = 15), group B MTX control (n = 20), group C IL-11 pretreatment group before MTX injection (n = 20), group D (n = 20) the high dose IL-11 group (475 microg.kg(-1).d(-1)) after MTX injection, group E (n = 20) the low dose IL-11 group (150 microg.kg(-1).d(-1)) after MTX injection. All rats in group B approximately E were given 1 ml MTX intraperitoneally (100 mg/kg). Rats were killed at day 1, 3, 5, 7 after MTX injection. The mortality rates, changes of small intestine tissue morphology and ultra structure were observed. The proliferation of small intestine crypt cell was assayed by proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunohistochemical staining. MTT method was used to detect the proliferation of CEM cell line.

RESULTIL-11 treatment resulted in a significant increase of survival of HDMTX treated rats, increased of small intestinal villus length and villus/crypt ratio. IL-11 administration was associated with enhancement of small intestine mucosa recovery after HDMTX therapy. Group C showed a greater effect than group B (P < 0.01). IL-11 had no effect on CEM cell proliferation.

CONCLUSIONIL-11 has a significant mitigating effect on high-dose MTX induced intestinal mucositis in rat, and significantly increase the survival of the rats. IL-11 could be safely used in the HDMTX treatment of childhood acute lymphocyte leukemia.

Animals ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; toxicity ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Interleukin-11 ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Intestinal Mucosa ; drug effects ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Intestine, Small ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Methotrexate ; toxicity ; Microscopy, Electron ; Mucositis ; chemically induced ; mortality ; prevention & control ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; analysis ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Survival Rate

Relevant data including diagnosis and treatment model, operation situation, etc. are analyzed in our wound care center and compared with abroad based-on literature retrieval, to find out a suitable way for setting up wound care centers in our country. Wound care center with mode of multidisciplinary cooperation that is "specialist-oriented" was established in our hospital, mirroring the experience of foreign wound care centers. The investigation showed the demands of patients could be met, their psychological and economic pressures as well as social burden might be greatly relieved in our center. For an example, we achieved our purpose readily by setting up a clinical pathway of diabetic foot according to the features of our hospital. The model of multidisciplinary cooperation, with minor adjustments, may be applicable for wound care centers at home and abroad. Our wound care center will establish better system of diagnosis and treatment to conform to the situation in our country.
Burn Units ; organization & administration ; Critical Pathways ; Humans ; Patient Care Team ; Surgicenters ; organization & administration ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of apoptosis stimulating protein 2 of p53 (ASPP2) phosphorylation status in the regulation of ASPP2-p53 apoptotic pathway activity.

METHODSCells were individually transfected with green fluorescent protein (GFP)-encoding vector, constitutively non-phosphorylatable ASPP2 mutant-ASPP2 (Am)-encoding vector, and wild type ASPP2 (Aw)-encoding vector) plasmids, respectively, to make them overexpressing phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated ASPP2 proteins, respectively. Cell apoptosis was induced by oxaliplatin. The apoptosis rate of cells was determined by flow cytometry after staining with FITC-conjugated annexin V and PI. ASPP2 protein level and its phosphorylation status were observed by Western blot. The interaction between ASPP2 and p53 was observed by immunoprecipitation assay.

RESULTSOxaliplatin induced cell apoptosis and caused phosphorylation of ASPP2 at ser92/ser361 in the HCT116 cells. The apoptosis rate of Aw and Am plasmids-transfected cells were (3.8 ± 1.0)% and (3.9 ± 1.2)% respectively, statistically with a non-significant difference (P > 0.05) in comparison with that of the GFP plasmid-transfected cells [(4.0 ± 0.8)%]. After oxaliplatin treatment, the apoptosis rate of Aw plasmid-transfected cells was (46.7 ± 3.9)%, significantly higher than that of the Am and GFP plasmid-transfected cells [(40.1 ± 10.2)% and (37.1 ± 6.9)%, respectively, P < 0.05], however, there was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) between Am and GFP plasmid-transfected cells. These results indicate that phosphorylated ASPP2 promoted the oxaliplatin-induced apoptosis of HCT116 cells through a p53-dependent pathway. Phosphorylation status of ASPP2 influenced its binding activity to p53.

CONCLUSIONPhosphorylation status of ASPP2 modulates p53 apoptotic function in oxaliplatin-induced apoptosis of colorectal cancer HCT116 cells.

Apoptosis ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; metabolism ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; HCT116 Cells ; Humans ; Organoplatinum Compounds ; Phosphorylation ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo establish an animal model of Bell's palsy induced by the reactivation of latent herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), and observe the effect of interferon and IgG on the facial nerve paralysis induced by HSV-1 infection. METHODS Totally 64 four-week-old female Balb/c mice weighted 16-18 gram were selected. Using scratching the surface of bilateral auricles by a 26-gauge needle, 25 microl HSV-1 with a titer of 6.7 x 10(8) PFU/ml was inoculated into the left auricle and the same volume of PBS was placed in the right in order to develop a mouse model of latent HSV-1. In this study, interferon and IgG administration were performed before and after facial nerve paralysis and continued for 3 days. Controls were given normal sodium instead of interferon and IgG, and the incidence and duration of facial nerve paralysis were compared in the groups interferon and IgG and control. Ciclosporin was given to the mice eight weeks after recovery from facial nerve paralysis caused by inoculation with HSV-1. The HSV-1 DNA in bilateral facial nerve and bilateral trigeminal ganglion after the treatment were examined with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. RESULTS There were 10 mice of facial nerve paralysis in the first group. The incidence of facial nerve paralysis was 50% and the duration of facial nerve paralysis was (7.2 +/- 2.2) days. There were 6 mice of facial nerve paralysis in the second group. The incidence of facial nerve paralysis was 30% and the duration of facial nerve paralysis was (4.5 +/- 1.8) days. There were 16 mice of facial nerve paralysis in the control group. The incidence of facial nerve paralysis was 67% and the duration of facial nerve paralysis was (8.9 +/-2.6) days. IgG didn't reduce the incidence and duration of facial nerve paralysis by statistics analysis (P > 0.05), but interferon reduced the incidence and duration of facial nerve paralysis (P < 0.05). After administration of ciclosporin, 3/28 of mice developed facial nerve paralysis. The HSV-1 DNA was detected from facial nerve of all the mice of facial palsy. No facial palsy was observed in mice in which no HSV-1 DNA was detected from facial nerve.

CONCLUSIONSFacial nerve paralysis might be caused by reactivation of latent HSV-1, and the reactivation might be related with immunosuppression. Administration of interferon reduces the incidence and duration of facial nerve paralysis. Administration of IgG can't reduced the incidence and duration of facial nerve paralysis.

Animals ; DNA, Viral ; isolation & purification ; Disease Models, Animal ; Facial Paralysis ; etiology ; prevention & control ; virology ; Female ; Herpes Simplex ; complications ; pathology ; Herpesvirus 1, Human ; pathogenicity ; Immunoglobulin G ; therapeutic use ; Interferons ; therapeutic use ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Recurrence