Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; blood ; surgery ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; analysis ; Splenectomy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and therapy of Keutel syndrome, and thereby to minimize the misdiagnosis.

METHODData of a case of Keutel syndrome diagnosed at the Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University were analyzed and related literature were reviewed.

RESULTAn 8-month-26-day-old boy was presented with inspiratory and expiratory stridor and wheezing after movement on lung auscultation. His craniofacial appearance was characterized by midfacial hypoplasia with a broad depressed nasal bridge. The nose was small and flat. A grade 2-3/6 systolic murmur was heard between the second and third ribs at left edge of the sternum. The end phalanges of his fingers were thickened. Chest radiograph showed tracheobronchial cartilage calcification and tracheobronchial stenosis. Echocardiographic examination revealed the right pulmonary stenosis. With endoscopic surgery, antiobstructive and antibiotic therapy clinical symptoms were improved. Three weeks later he died of lung reinfection after he was discharged from our hospital. English literature search with "Keutel syndrome" as the key word at "PubMed" showed 22 articles covering 26 patients, and the clinical symptoms were hearing loss (91%), persistent respiratory symptoms (68%), recurrent otitis media/sinusitis (67%), growth development delay (52%) in turn, and signs were brachytelephalangism (100%), low nasal bridge (95%), midfacial hypoplasia (93%), cardiac murmur (69%), and auxiliary examinations showed abnormal cartilage calcification (100%), pulmonary arterial stenosis (72%), tracheobronchial stenosis (50%).

CONCLUSIONThe diagnosis of Keutel syndrome should be considered in patients with brachytelephalangism, abnormal cartilage calcification, peripheral pulmonary stenosis, and midfacial hypoplasia. Tracheal stenosis was main clinical manifestation in part of patients.

Abnormalities, Multiple ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Bone and Bones ; diagnostic imaging ; Calcinosis ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Cartilage ; diagnostic imaging ; Cartilage Diseases ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hand Deformities, Congenital ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tracheal Stenosis ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism of the different levels of serum bisphenol A (BPA) between rat and mouse after oral administration.

METHODSA total of 18 specific pathogen free (SPF) male rats and 18 mice were treated with 300 mg/kg BPA by oral administration, blood samples were taken from rats and mice after BPA administration at 0.5, 1.0, 12.0 h time points (n = 6 at each point). Serum BPA levels were quantified using fluorescence-high performance liquid chromatography (FL-HPLC) analysis. The rats and mice (n = 6, respectively) were perfused with 100 ml of 0.1 mmol/L BPA by intestinal absorption in situ, then the BPA levels of perfusion fluid at 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 h time points and serum at 2.0 h after BPA perfusion were determined by FL-HPLC analysis. The levels of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 2B1 (UGT2B1) mRNA expression in the liver of rats and mice were analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and UGT2B1 enzymatic activity was determined by FL-HPLC method. The rats and mice (n = 6, respectively) were treated with 300 mg/kg BPA by oral administration after fasting 24 h, the feces were collected during 24 h and the levels of BPA in feces were determined by FL-HPLC analysis.

RESULTSAt 0.5, 1.0, 12.0 h after oral administration at 300 mg/kg BPA, the levels of serum BPA in mice ((66.57 ± 14.95), (51.16 ± 16.06), (22.73 ± 5.00) µg/ml, respectively) were significantly higher than in rats ((15.63 ± 5.65), (18.34 ± 5.02), (7.65 ± 2.58) µg/ml, respectively) (F values were 50.660, 17.957, 8.420, respectively, P < 0.05), the rates of absorption in mice small intestine during 0 h-, 0.5 h-, 1.0 - 2.0 h ((10.20 ± 4.20), (1.49 ± 0.67), (1.31 ± 0.55) µg × cm(-2) × min(-1), respectively) were higher than that in rats ((1.87 ± 0.69), (0.47 ± 0.13), (0.36 ± 0.08) µg × cm(-2) × min(-1), respectively) (F values were 14.954, 8.877, 11.536, respectively, P < 0.05), the serum BPA levels in mice ((22.64 ± 4.35) µg/ml) were significantly higher than in rats ((4.13 ± 0.83) µg/ml) after 2 h perfusion with 0.1 mmol/L BPA (F = 74.643, P = 0.000), the levels of UGT2B1 mRNA expression and enzymatic activity in the rats liver were obviously higher than in the mice liver. After oral administration at 300 mg/kg BPA, the feces BPA levels of rats ((1.50 ± 0.32) mg/g) were significantly higher than that of the mice ((0.57 ± 0.35) mg/g) (F = 21.215, P = 0.001) during 24 h.

CONCLUSIONThe serum BPA level of mouse is significantly higher than the rat after oral administration at 300 mg/kg BPA, which may be caused by BPA high absorption rate of mouse small intestine and strong ability of BPA glucuronidation and excretion of the rat.

Animals ; Benzhydryl Compounds ; Intestinal Absorption ; Lethal Dose 50 ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; metabolism ; Phenols ; blood ; metabolism ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical materials of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) in different ages of patients, and explore their clinical characteristics and prognosis.

METHODSA retrospective review was conducted by the clinical symptoms, predisposing factors and prognosis in SSNHL patients with different ages in the past two years (from 2008 to 2010). All patients were divided into three groups according to age, including Group 1 (0-18 years old), Group 2 (19-59 years old), and Group 3 (over 60 years old).

RESULTSPart of patients (28.1%) had a clear history of virus infection in Group 1. Some patients (18.7%) had obvious history of emotional fluctuations or fatigue before the onset of SSNHL. Three groups of patients with "aural fullness" symptom accounted for 3.1%, 41.3% and 29.4% respectively. The proportions of patients with profound hearing loss in three groups were 62.5%, 40.0% and 33.3% respectively. Most patients improved hearing level during systemic internal medicine treatment. However, many patients (68.8%) in Group 1 showed poor therapeutic effect.

CONCLUSIONSSSNHL in different age stages has different clinical features. We can improve the personalized treatment program to this disease through the classification and grading treatment.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

The undifferentiated form of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is the most common malignant head and neck cancer in South China, especially in Cantonese populations. However, few NPC cell lines have been established from the patients in this region. In this study, we established a new NPC cell line, termed SUNE2, from a Cantonese patient with undifferentiated NPC. This cell line had extremely low concentrations of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA in long-term culture and expressed low levels of latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1), latent membrane protein 2A (LMP2A), BamH1-A right frame 1 (BARF1), EBV-encoded RNA-1 (EBER1), and EBV-encoded RNA-2 (EBER2) in early passages. SUNE2 cells also showed much stronger transforming ability than 5-8F cells in colony formation assays and anchorage-independent growth assays in soft agar, and they only need 2 weeks to form tumors in nude mice. In summary, the SUNE2 cell line is a new in vitro model that can be used for further research on the mechanisms underlying the occurrence and development of NPC.
Adult ; Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Colony-Forming Units Assay ; DNA, Viral ; metabolism ; Female ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; genetics ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; virology ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; RNA, Viral ; metabolism ; Viral Matrix Proteins ; metabolism ; Viral Proteins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo retrospectively analysis the curative effect of wrist scaphoid bone fracture,and explore the causes and preventive methods of misdiagnosis.

METHODSFrom September 2007 to September 2010,16 patients with wrist scaphoid bone fractures were treated with plaster cast and cannulated screws fixation. There were 10 males and 6 females,ranging in age from 26 to 44 years with an average of 35 years. Among them, 12 cases manifested swelling pain of radial lateral wrist, tenderness at snuffbox area, wrist pain aggravated when stretching wrist joint, thumb or forefinger; 4 cases manifested no obviously symptoms and limited movement; 9 cases were early diagnosed; 5 cases were treated by plaster cast; 4 cases were treated with cannulated screws fixation; Among 7 cases with misdiagnosis, there were 4 cases without obvious symptoms and they were dealt with activating blood to dissipate swelling and pain process in preliminary stage. Four cases were treated with plaster cast and 3 cases with cannulated screws fixation.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up from 3 months to 39 months (averaged 21 months). Among 16 patients, 9 cases were early diagnosis, 7 cases were misdiagnosis and the rate of misdiagnosis was 43.8%. Seven cases with screws fixation were no wound infection. There was 1 case with occurred chronic pain and declining wrist mobility in both plaster cast and screw group, and both of them were misdiagnosed. According to curative effect rating criteria,these 2 cases were classified into moderate, other 14 cases were excellent.

CONCLUSIONWrist scaphoid bone fracture are easy to misdiagnose, so early diagnosis and treatment is particularly important. The main causes of misdiagnosis are nonspecific symptoms at early stage, combination with other injuries, lack of knowledge and ignorance of the further examination. Therefore, detailed inquiries and particular examination, multi-dimensional radiography and CT scan or MRI scan are the main measures for prevention.

Adult ; Bone Screws ; Casts, Surgical ; Diagnostic Errors ; prevention & control ; Female ; Fractures, Bone ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Scaphoid Bone ; injuries

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of compound Puerarin on collagen IV of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

METHODSDiabetic nephropathy rats were induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Rats were allocated randomly to control group (10), diabetes model group (10), Vitamin C group (10), Puerarin group (10), vitamin C plus Puerarin group (10). The study period lasted for 12 weeks. During and after the treatment, the general state, blood glucose levels, glycosylated hemoglobin, blood urea nitrogen, serum collagen IV, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, urinary albumin excretion rate of the 24-hour, and clearance rate of creatinine collagen IV protein were determined by immunohistochemistoche analysis as well as type the gene expression of collagen IV alpha 1 mRNA were determined by in situ hybridization analysis in the kidney tissue of different groups.

RESULTS(1) Diabetes mellitus and renal function lesion occurred in the four groups. (2) Vitamin C and Puerarin could improve the general conditions of diabetic Rats, decrease blood urea nitrogen [(8.68 +/- 0.43), (7.98 +/- 0.47) and (5.76 +/- 0.82) micromol/L, serum creatinine [(74.68 +/- 8.20), (75.52 +/- 7.98) and (58.66 +/- 6.65) mmol/L], and urinary albumin excretion rate of the 24-hour [(18.40 +/- 0.37), (17.24 +/- 0.30) and (9.97 +/- 1.27) mg/24 h x 10(-3)]; increase clearance rate of creatinine [(0.59 +/- 0.21), (0.61 +/- 0.14) and (0.69 +/- 0.32) ml/min], the expression of collage IV absorbance [(111.56 +/- 14.61), (110.78 +/- 9.69) and (95.44 +/- 9.97) ] in the diabetic Rats were significantly inhibited at the same time.

CONCLUSIONThe compound Puerarin might have some functions on preventing ren by inhibiting expression of type IV collagen.

Animals ; Collagen Type IV ; antagonists & inhibitors ; biosynthesis ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Purpose: Gastric cancer (GC) is the second most lethal cancer globally and is associated with poor prognosis. Fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) can regulate biological properties of carcinoma cells. FABP5 is overexpressed in many types of cancers; however, the role and mechanisms of action of FABP5 in GC remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical and biological functions of FABP5 in GC. Materials and Methods: We assessed FABP5 expression using immunohistochemical analysis in 79 patients with GC and evaluated its biological functions following in vitro and in vivo ectopic expression. FABP5 targets relevant to GC progression were determined using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Results: Elevated FABP5 expression was closely associated with poor outcomes, and ectopic expression of FABP5 promoted proliferation, invasion, migration, and carcinogenicity of GC cells, thus suggesting its potential tumor-promoting role in GC. Additionally, RNA-seq analysis indicated that FABP5 activates immune-related pathways, including cytokinecytokine receptor interaction pathways, interleukin-17 signaling, and tumor necrosis factor signaling, suggesting an important rationale for the possible development of therapies that combine FABP5-targeted drugs with immunotherapeutics. Conclusions These findings highlight the biological mechanisms and clinical implications of FABP5 in GC and suggest its potential as an adverse prognostic factor and/or therapeutic target.

UNLABELLEDStudy on human case of avian influenza in Guangzhou 2006 without causing human-to-human transmission

OBJECTIVETo explore the possibility of transmission from a human case of avian influenza to his close contacts.

METHODSClose contacts of the human case of avian influenza in Guangzhou 2006 were found out according to the definition and methods publicized by the Ministry of Health, People's Republic of China. Epidemiological investigation and medical observation were carried out. Serum antibodies were tested in some of the close contacts.

RESULTSThe avian influenza patient had never left Guangzhou in the month prior to disease onset. No contact history with dead or diseased poultry was found. A total of 56 close contacts, including his girl friend, relatives, friends and medical staff who had taken care of him, were brought under medical observation for 7 days but none of them showed signs of infection.

CONCLUSIONUnlike SARS, direct contact with patient contracted with avian influenza at the end of incubation period and in the stage of illness through flying droplets, saliva, mucous membrane and skin injuries will not lead to human-to-human transmission, indicating the virus' ability to pass from human to human is limited.

Animals ; China ; Contact Tracing ; Female ; Humans ; Influenza, Human ; transmission ; Male

Activated nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) plays an important role in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) through its regulated genes and microRNAs (miRNAs). However, the gene regulation profile remains unclear. In this study, primary mouse vascular endothelial cells (pMVECs) were employed to detect CVD-related NF-κB-regulated genes and miRNAs. Genechip assay identified 77 NF-κB-regulated genes, including 45 upregulated and 32 downregulated genes, in tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα)-treated pMVECs. Ten of these genes were also found to be regulated by NF-κB in TNFα-treated HeLa cells. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) assay confirmed the up-regulation of Egr1, Tnf, and Btg2 by NF-κB in the TNFα-treated pMVECs. The functional annotation revealed that many NF-κB-regulated genes identified in pMVECs were clustered into classical NF-κB-involved biological processes. Genechip assay also identified 26 NF-κB-regulated miRNAs, of which 21 were upregulated and 5 downregulated, in the TNFα-treated pMVECs. Further analysis showed that nine of the identified genes are regulated by seven of these miRNAs. Finally, among the identified NF-κB-regulated genes and miRNAs, 5 genes and 12 miRNAs were associated with CVD by miRWalk and genetic association database analysis. Taken together, these findings show an intricate gene regulation network raised by NF-κB in TNFα-treated pMVECs. The network provides new insights for understanding the molecular mechanism underlying the progression of CVD.
Animals ; Cardiovascular Diseases/genetics* ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells/drug effects* ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Mice ; MicroRNAs/physiology* ; NF-kappa B/physiology* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/pharmacology*