BACKGROUND: Some studies suggest that pre-injection of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)can protect focal cerebral ischemia in mice. Cerebral ischemia tolerance is related to the increase of TNF-α level; on the other hand, TNF-α is an injurious cytokine associated with stroke. Circulating antibody against anti-TNF-α can protect reperfused injury.OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of TNF-α pretreatment and post-treatment on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury and explore possible mechanism.DESIGN: Randomized controlled study.SETTING: Neurological Department, the Second Hospital Affiliated to Harbin Medical University.MATERIALS: The experiment was conducted at the Animal Experiment Center of Harbin Medical University from January to April 2002. Totally 120 healthy adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the following 8 groups: TNF-α 0.05 μg, 0.5 μg and 1.0 μg pretreatment groups and PBS group, TNF-α 0.05 μg, 0.5 μg and 1.0 μg post-treatment groups and PBS group with 15 in each group.METHODS: The focal brain ischemia model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was made using inserting thread method. TNF-α of different doses (0.05 μg, 0.5 μg or 1.0 μg) or PBS was injected intracisternally and 22-hour reperfusion, 8 rats from each group were killed. Then the perhour reperfusion, 7 rats from each group were killed. Then pathological changes were observed, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression were inspected by immunohistochemical method. Histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation was made with the computer-assisted image analyzing system,and the number of GFAP positive cells and ICAM-1 positive vessels in each hemisphere was counted.riliary acidic protein and ICAM-1.infarct volume: TNF-α 0.5 μg and TNF-α 1.0 μg pretreatment groups showed reduced volume of lesion; infarct volume reduced by 70.9% in TNF-α 0.5 μg pretreatment rats and 66.5% in TNF-α 1.0 μg pretreatment rats. TNF-α 0.5 μg and TNF-α 1.0 μg post-treatment groups showed increased volume of lesion; infarct volume increased by 22.3% in TNF-α 0.5 μg post-treatment rats and 46.7% in TNF-α 1.0 μg post-treatment rats.TNF-α 0.05 μg and 1.0 μg pretreatment groups did not differ significantly (P ＞ 0.05), but there was an obvious difference between TNF-α 0.5 μg and pared with PBS pretreatment group, TNF-α 0.5 μg and 1.0 μg pretreatment groups showed lessened tissue damage and edema. Compared with PBS post-treatment group, TNF-α 0.5 μg and TNF-α 1.0 μg post-treatment fibriliary acidic protein and ICAM-1: TNF-α 0.5 μg and TNF-α 1.0 μg pretreatment groups showed reduced volume of glial fibriliary acidic protein and ICAM-1 (P ＜ 0.05); but TNF-α 0.5 μg and TNF-α 1.0 μg posttreatment groups showed increased volume of glial fibriliary acidic protein and ICAM-1 (P ＜ 0.05). TNF-α 0.05 μg and 1.0 μg pretreatment groups did not differ significantly (P ＞ 0.05); but there was an obvious difference between TNF-α 0.5 μg and 1.0 μg post-treatment groups (P ＜ 0.05).cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury. This effect is not related to the repair given after cerebral ischemia reperfusion, ischemia exacerbates, which is α are determined by whether TNF-αis given before or after cerebral ischemia in a dose-dependent manner.

Objective To explore the relationship between tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (TIC) of the fimbria and pelvic high-grade serous carcinoma.Methods All 34 cases of pelvic high-grade serous carcinoma with clear fimbria were evaluated from January 2009 to June 2010,including ovarian carcinoma (n=26),tubal carcinoma (n=7) and peritoneal carcinoma (n=1).Among of these ovarian carcinomas,12 cases were surface deposits and the other 14 cases within ovarian parenchyma.All 42 cases of non highgrade serous carcinoma in this period including 13 endometrioid ovary carcinomas,11 clear cell ovary carcinomas,11 mucinous ovary carcinomas,6 low-grade serous ovary carcinomas,1 low-grade serous tubal carcinoma,were also collected as a reference.The presence of tubal intraepithelial carcinomas was assessed.Based on the presence of TIC,high-grade serous ovary carcinomas were divided into TIC positive (+) and TIC negative (-) groups,and the clinical and pathological features of them were also evaluated.Results Fifteen cases (44％) were identified TIC in 34 high-grade pelvic serous carcinomas,and all of them were in the fimbria only,while none of TIC was found in control cases.There were significant difference between the two groups (x2=23.086,P=0.000).Eleven cases(42％) were identified TIC in all 26 high-grade ovarian serous carcinomas,in which 8 cases with unilateral ovary carcinomas were associated with ipsilateral TIC,2 cases with bilateral ovary carcinomas associated with unilateral TIC and one case with bilateral ovary carcinoma was associated with bilateral TIC.Four TIC (4/7) were identified in 7 cases with high-grade tubal serous carcinomas,and there was no presence of TIC in the 1 high-grade serous peritoneal carcinoma.Of all 26 high-grade ovarian serous carcinomas,6/11 cases were surface deposits,and 5/11 were parenchyma tumors in TIC (+) group while 6/15 cases were surface deposits and 9/15 were parenchyma tumors in TIC (-) group,in which there were correlated in distribution of TIC between the two groups( P＞0.05 ).The average diameter of ovarian cancer were 6.9 and 6.5 cm between the two groups with no significant differences ( t=0.409,P=0.690).Conclusion TIC is specific to high-grade serous carcinomas and maybe have something to do with the pathogenesis of pelvic serous carcinomas.

Objective: To explore the effect of moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) on myocardial structure and function in exercise-induced fatigue rats. Methods: A 12-week treadmill running training was performed to create an exercise-induced fatigue rat model. Sixty eligible male specific-pathogen-free grade Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a control group, a model group, a non-meridian non-acupoint group, a Zusanli (ST 36) group and a Shenque (CV 8) group, with 10 rats in each group. Rats in the blank group did not receive treadmill running training or moxibustion. Rats in the control group did not receive treadmill running training but received mild moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8). Rats in the model group received treadmill running training but no moxibustion. Rats in the non-meridian non-acupoint group, the Zusanli (ST 36) group and the Shenque (CV 8) group received moxibustion at the non-meridian non-acupoint points, Zusanli (ST 36) or Shenque (CV 8) immediately after each treadmill running training, 15 min each time, once a day for 5 consecutive days a week at a 2-day interval, 60 times of moxibustion in total. Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESd), left ventricular diastolic volume (LVDv), left ventricular systolic volume (LVSv), ejection fraction (EF), stroke volume (SV), early diastolic peak flow velocity of mitral valve (E) and late diastolic peak flow velocity of mitral valve (A) of each group before and after the last treadmill running training were measured. Blood was collected 6 h after the last treadmill running training, and serum C-reactive protein (CRP), myoglobin (Mb), creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB), cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) levels were detected. Finally, the heart was separated, the heart mass (HM) was measured, the cTnT level of the myocardial tissue was detected, the ultrastructural changes of the left ventricular myocardium were observed by transmission electron microscope, the left ventricular fraction shortening (LVFS), E/A and heart mass index (HMI) were calculated. Results: Compared with the same group before treatment, the rat cardiac LVEDd, LVESd, LVDv, LVSv, SV, E and A were significantly increased (all P<0.01), and the rat LVFS, E/A and EF were significantly decreased (all P<0.01) in the model group and the non-meridian non-acupoint group after treatment; the rat cardiac SV, LVDv, LVSv, E and A were all increased (all P<0.01), while E/A and EF were decreased (all P<0.01) in the Zusanli (ST 36) group after treatment; the rat cardiac LVDv, E and A were significantly increased (P<0.01 or P<0.05), and E/A was significantly decreased (P<0.01) in the Shenque (CV 8) group after treatment. After treatment, compared with the blank group, the rat cardiac LVEDd, LVESd, SV, LVDv, LVSv, E, A, the serum CRP, Mb, CK-MB, cTnI, cTnT and HMI, and the myocardial cTnT were increased (all P<0.01), and the LVFS, E/A and EF were all reduced (all P<0.01) in the model group; compared with the model group and the non-meridian non-acupoint group, rats in the Zusanli (ST 36) group and the Shenque (CV 8) group showed decreased LVEDd, LVESd, SV, LVDv, LVSv, E, A, serum CRP, Mb, CK-MB, cTnI, cTnT and HMI, and myocardial cTnT (P<0.01 or P<0.05), along with increased LVFS, E/A and EF (all P<0.01); compared with the Zusanli (ST 36) group, Mb and A of the Shenque (CV 8) group were decreased (both P<0.01), while both E/A and EF were increased (P<0.01, P<0.05). Transmission electron microscopy examination showed that myofibrils in the blank group and the control group were neatly arranged with clear light and dark bands; the model group and the non-meridian non-acupoint group showed different degrees of myofibril disintegration and breakage, increased and aggregated mitochondria of different sizes, and increased electron density. The myofibrils in the Shenque (CV 8) group and Zusanli (ST 36) group were arranged neatly with clear light and dark bands, and compensatory hyperplasia of mitochondria. Conclusion: Moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) and Zusanli (ST 36) both can effectively improve the occurrence of myocardial remodeling in exercise-induced fatigue rats, and the effect of moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) is better in improving cardiac function.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Joint Instability ; complications ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Canal ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Spinal Stenosis ; complications ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features, immunophenotype, differential diagnosis and prognosis of uterine epithelioid trophoblastic tumor(ETT).

METHODSFrom 2000 to 2007, 5 ETTs cases were diagnosed in the affiliated Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University. The pathologic characteristics and immunophenotype of the tumors were analyzed by histological examination and immunohistochemistry of CK18, p63, inhibin-alpha, HCG, HPL, PLAP and Ki-67. The clinical prognostic factors were evaluated based on a following-up data with a period of 11 - 50 months.

RESULTSThe overall prevalence of ETT was 0.48% among all the gestational trophoblastic diseases patients received in the same period. Five ETT patients were in the reproductive ages with a median of 33 years. Histologically, the tumor showed an invasive, nodular growth consisting of uniform mononuclear trophoblastic cells. There were zones of hyaline material in the tumour nests. Necrosis was commonly seen with a characteristic geographic pattern. Immunohistochemically, all cases displayed a diffuse CK18 and p63 positivity, to be either positive focally or negative for HCG, HPL and PLAP staining. Inhibin-alpha staining was positive or negative either in the 5 cases. Two patients died of the tumour relapse: one died after 1 year with the tumor having a high mitotic activity (averagely 15 mitotic figures per 10 high-power fields), and the other died of lung metastasis 2 years after the diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONSETT is a rare trophoblastic disease with distinct clinicopathological features and immunostaining patterns. A high mitotic index and lung metastasis are indicators for an unfavorable prognosis.

Adult ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; metabolism ; Epithelioid Cells ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; GPI-Linked Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Inhibins ; metabolism ; Isoenzymes ; metabolism ; Keratin-18 ; metabolism ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Lung Neoplasms ; secondary ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Placental Lactogen ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Trophoblastic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; secondary ; surgery ; Uterine Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo examine vibrio cholera (V.C) in aquatic products of littoral area, Zhejiang Province and to provide scientific evidence for administration of aquatic products and cholera epidemic control.

METHODSAll 990 samples of aquatic products collected from local markets, eateries and aquafarms in three chosen areas. Samples were proliferated in alkaline liquid medium, and purified in NO: 4 medium, the isolations were identified biochemically, and phenotype of strains were defined by phagocyte and coagulation with V.C. diagnostic serum. Three virulence genes (ctx, ace, zct) of the isolated strains were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

RESULTSThere were 1.41% samples caught by V.C., having a carrying rate highest in turtles of 8.9%. 14 strains were defined as three serogroups, and the numbers of Inaba, Ogawa, and Hikojima types were 2, 2, 10 respectively. Virulence genes had detected in 9 of 12 stains. All genes were detected in 5 strains, only ZOT genes in 3 strains, and both CTX and ACE genes in 1 strain.

CONCLUSIONSAquatic products from inshore in Zhejiang Province caught with V.C. strains might be divided into three serogroups. Most of them should be virulence genes. Cholera epidemic outbreak might be caused by those contaminated products.

China ; Food Microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; Seafood ; microbiology ; Vibrio cholerae ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Virulence Factors ; genetics

BACKGROUNDA novel anti-rheumatic drug, T-614, has been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect and to improve abnormal immunological findings in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To assess the safety and efficacy of T-614 versus placebo in patients with active RA we conducted a 24-week clinical study in 280 Chinese patients.

METHODSIn a multicenter, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study, 280 patients were randomly assigned to receive placebo (n = 95) or T-614 at 50 mg (n = 93) or 25 mg (n = 92) daily. Active disease was defined by 4 of the following 5 criteria: >or= 5 tender joints, >or= 3 swollen joints, morning stiffness lasting for >or= 60 minutes, and Westergren erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) >or= 28 mm/h, the assessment of pain at the rest by patient as moderate or severe. Clinical and laboratory parameters were analyzed at baseline, 2, 4, 6, 12, 18 and 24 weeks. The primary efficacy variable at week 24 was the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) response rate using the intent-to-treat population.

RESULTSThe ACR response rate was significantly higher in the T-614 treatment group compared with the placebo group within 8 weeks after the initiation of treatment. After 24 weeks, the 25 mg/d and 50 mg/d dosage groups and the placebo group showed 39.13%, 61.29% and 24.21% in ACR20 and 23.91%, 31.18% and 7.37% in ACR50, respectively. A time-response in ACR response was observed, with clear superiority for the 25 mg/d and 50 mg/d dosage groups compared to placebo (P < 0.0001), and the 50 mg/d dose compared to the 25 mg/d dose (P < 0.05) when using the ACR response analyses after 24 weeks. ESR and c-reactive protein (CRP) were significantly different in the treatment groups after 24 weeks. The incidence of adverse events (AEs) was not significantly higher with T-614 than with placebo, but upper abdominal discomfort, leucopenia, elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (sALT), skin rash and/or pruritus were more common in the 50 mg and 25 mg dosage groups.

CONCLUSIONT-614, a new slow-acting drug, is effective in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and is well tolerated.

Adult ; Aged ; Antirheumatic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; Benzopyrans ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sulfonamides ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the cost effectiveness of HIV testing strategy in hospitals from 2006 to 2010 in Guangzhou.

METHODSAccording to the HIV test strategy costs and the number of HIV patients found in Guangzhou, following aspects were calculated as the total cost of HIV testing strategy in hospitals from 2006 to 2010 of Guangzhou, the cost of finding each HIV patient, and the cost of obtaining one quality adjusted life year (QALY) using Markov model.

RESULTSThe total HIV test strategy costs increased from 11 106.98 thousand Yuan to 25 105.58 thousand Yuan, and 4599 HIV positive patients were found due to this strategy. The cost-effectiveness of HIV testing were different in hospitals from 2006 to 2010 in Guangzhou. The lowest cost-effectiveness ratio of HIV testing strategy was 11 810 Yuan per HIV positive patient, the highest was 23 510 Yuan, and the average was 16 070 Yuan. According to the Markov model result, 7.2855 QALYs could be gained per HIV patient on average via HIV testing strategy in 113 hospitals in Guangzhou, and the cost of obtaining one QALY was 2210 Yuan.

CONCLUSIONThe cost effectiveness ratio of HIV testing strategy in hospitals in Guangzhou was significantly lower than the standard of WHO recommended, and it was cost-effective to carry out the HIV testing strategy in Guangzhou.

Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures ; economics ; HIV Infections ; diagnosis ; economics ; Hospitals ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo observe the treating effect of collage-heparin sulfate after the 10 mm rat sciatic nerve defect was bridged by it.

METHODSA new kind of nervous tissue engineering scaffold was produced by freeze-drying technique from collagen-heparin sulfate. Thirty-two SD rats were randomly divided into A, B, C and D groups. Sciatic nerve defect in group A was bridged by collagen-heparin sulfate. In group B, sciatic nerve was bridged by auto-nerve transplantation. Group C was the blank control group. Animals in group D were normal. And 10 mm sciatic nerve defect was bridged in the experiment. Thirty-six weeks after the operation, the experimental animals were detected by HRP labeled retrograde trace, HE staining, toluidine staining, silvering staining, S100, GAP-43 and NF immunohistological staining, MBP immunofluorescence staining and transmission electron microscope to observe the nerve regeneration inducing effect of this new scaffold.

RESULTSNine months after operation, the collage-heparin sulfate scaffold was replaced by newly regenerated nerve. The number of HRP labeled spinal cord anterior horn cells and the area of sensation nerve fiber at the posterior horn were similar with that was repaired by auto-nerve. GAP-43, NF and S100 labeled regenerated nerve fiber had passed the total scaffold and entered the distal terminal. The regenerated nerve fibers were paralleled, lineage arranged, coincide with the prearranged regenerating "channel" in the collagen-heparin sulfate scaffold. MBP immunofluorescence staining also proved that the newly regenerated nerve fiber could be ensheathed. In the experimental group, the area of myelinated nerve fiber and the thickness of the myelin sheath had no obvious difference with that of the group repaired by auto-nerve, except that the density of the regenerated myelinated sheath fiber was lower than that of the control group.

CONCLUSIONNervous tissue engineering scaffold produced by collagen-heparin sulfate can guide the regeneration of nerve fibers. The nerve function recovers fine. This kind of material has great application potential.

Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; Heparitin Sulfate ; Male ; Prosthesis Implantation ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sciatic Nerve ; injuries ; pathology ; surgery ; Sulfuric Acid Esters ; Tissue Engineering ; methods

BACKGROUNDRupture of unstable plaque with subsequent thrombus formation is the common pathophysiological substrate of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). It is of potential significance to explore the blood indexes predicting plaque characteristics. We investigated the relationship among soluble CD105, hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and coronary plaque morphology.

METHODSA clinical study from April 2004 to December 2006 was conducted in 130 patients who were divided into 3 groups: 56 patients (43.1%) in stable angina (SA) group, 52 patients (40.0%) in unstable angina (UA) group and 22 patients (16.9%) in acute myocardial infarction group. The concentrations of soluble CD105 and hs-CRP were measured in all of the patients by cardioangiography (CAG). Plasma samples of arterial blood were collected prior to the procedure. The levels of soluble CD105 and hs-CRP were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSUnstable and ruptured plaque was found more frequently in patients with acute myocardial infarction and UA. External elastic membrane cross-sectional area (EEM CSA), plaque area, lipid pool area and plaque burden were significantly larger in the ruptured and unstable plaque group. Positive remodeling, thinner fabric-cap, smaller minimal lumen cross-sectional area (MLA), dissection and thrombus were significantly more frequent in the ruptured and unstable plaque group. Remodeling index (RI) was positively correlated with the levels of soluble CD105 in the UA group (r = 0.628, P < 0.01) and the acute myocardial infarction group (r = 0.639, P < 0.01). The levels of soluble CD105 and hs-CRP were higher in the ruptured plaque group. Soluble CD105 > 4.3 ng/ml was used to predict ruptured plaque with a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve area of 0.77 (95% confidence interval (CI), 66.8% - 87.2%), a sensitivity of 72.8%, a specificity of 78.0% and an accuracy of 70.2% (P < 0.01), similarly for hs-CRP > 5.0 mg/ml with a ROC curve area of 0.70 (95% CI, 59.2% - 80.2%), a sensitivity of 70.2%, a specificity of 76.2% and an accuracy of 67.2% (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe plaque characteristics correlate with the clinical presentation. The elevation of soluble CD105 and hs-CRP is related to the plaque instability and rupture.

Aged ; Angina Pectoris ; blood ; pathology ; Antigens, CD ; blood ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Coronary Vessels ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Endoglin ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; blood ; pathology ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; blood ; Ultrasonography, Interventional ; methods