Objective: To investigate the differential expression of serum soluble TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (sTRAIL) between ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and rheumatoid arthritis patients (RA) and to discuss its clinical significance. Methods: Sixty AS patients, including 38 HLA-B27-positive ones and 22 HLA-B27-negative ones, 20 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and 30 healthy individuals were included in the present study. The AS patients were divided into active group and inactive group based on bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI). The concentrations of serum sTRAIL were measured by ELISA in all groups. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were detected automatically by ESR automatic analyzer and specific protein analyzer. Results: The serum sTRAIL concentration was significantly higher in AS patients (both HLA-B27-positive and -negative AS patients) than in RA patients and healthy controls (P<0.01); no significant difference was found between HLA-B27-positive and -negative AS patients. Serum sTRAIL concentration was significantly higher in active AS group than in inactive AS group (P<0.01). Serum sTRAIL and CRP concentrations were correlated with each other in HLA-B27 positive AS patients (r = 0.609, P = 0.000), but not in HLA-B27-negative ones. Serum sTRAIL concentration was not correlated with ESR in AS patients. Conclusion: Serum sTRAIL is obviously up-regulated in AS patients, which is not associated with the status of HLA-B27. However, the association between sTRAIL and CRP is influenced by the status of HLA-B27.

Child ; Chronic Disease ; Cough ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Humans ; Practice Guidelines as Topic

Objective To investigate the clinical significance of pre-operative ancl intra-operative insulinomas localization, and improve the diagnostic accuracy. Methods 75 patients with suspected insulinomas who were treated surgically were enrolled; all the patients had pathological evidence of insulinomas. The data of pre-operative ultrasound, CT, MRI and intra-operative ultrasound and surgical palpation were collected and analyzed. Results The sensitivity of localization procedures was as follows: ultrasonography 30.7% ( 23/75 ), CT 40.0% (24/60) , MRI 45.4% ( 22/48 ) , while surgical palpation was 80.4% , intra-operative ultrasound 96.4%. The accuracy of intra-operative procedures was higher than that of pre-operative procedures. Conclusions It was difficult to accurately localize insulinomas before operation, but intra-operative palpation and iutra-operative US was easy to perform and highly accurate. Therefore, too much emphasis should not be placed on pre-operative imaging tests.

Laser techniques are widely applied in medical research and military affairs. The characters of laser make it the best way to evoke pain.Pain induced by laser stimuli is influenced by laser parameters such as wavelength, pulse duration and stimulus area in addition to the properties of skin such as the distance from the brain, type and color of skin. In this review,both laser evoked pain and factors influencing it are discussed.

0.05).However,the percentage of patients with cholecystolithiassis was 86.5% in IGC group,and 50.6% in GC group(P=0.000).Besides the percentage of IA stage in IGC group(29.7%) was relatively higher than that(9.0%)in GC group(P=0.03);the surgical resection rate of tumor in IGC group was 56.8% and 32.6% in GC group(P=0.01).Nevertheless,the percentage of advance stage in IGC group(43.2%) was relatively lower than that in GC group(74.2%)(P=0.001).The overall 1,3,and 5-year survival rate of IGC group was 70.0%,31.2% and 26.8% repectively,and the mean survival time was17 months(51?13);which were significantly higher than those in GC group,in which the 1,3,5-year survival rate was 27.0%,17.7% and 15.1% repectively and the mean survival time was(25?8),5 months(all P=0.006).Single factor analysis showed that the survival time in IGC patients was influenced by the TNM stage(P=0.000),pT-category(P=0.000),operation-category(P=0.008);however,postoperative pathological grade(P=0.080),age(P=0.188) and sex(P=0.234) had no influence on survival rate.According to multivariate analysis,pT-category(P=0.000)was an independent factor for the survival time of IGC.Conclusions Comparing with GC group,IGC has a higher percentage of cholecystolithiassis,IA tumor stage and surgical resection rate,and thus,it has relatively better progonosis.pT-category is the vital independent prognostic factor in IGC.If a patient in ICG has been misdiagnosed during the primary operation,the patient should be re-operated for radical excision as soon as possible,except when the tumor is in stage Tis or T1a.

Objective To investigate whether cell lines expressing apolipoprotein E-enhanced green fluorescence protein (apoE-EGFP) can support assembly of infectious hepatitis C virus particles. Methods apoE stably down-regulated Huh7. 5. 1 cell lines (sh-apoE cell lines) were established by shRNA gene silencing technique, and cell lines expressing apoE-EGFP fusion protein (apoE-EGFP cell lines) were established. The culture supernatants of wild-type Huh7. 5. 1 cells, control cells (sh-NT cells), sh-spoE cells and apoE-EGFP cells transfected with HCV RNA were collected and the HCV titer of supernatants was determined by TCID50. The interaction of apoE with HCV structure protein E2 was examined by immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy, and the expression of apoE-EGFP on the surface of HCV particles purified by FLAG-specific affinity gll was analyzed by Western blotting analysis. Results The apoE-EGFP fusion protein was highly expressed in sh-apoE cell lines. The infectivity of HCV from apoE-EGFP cell culture supernatant was not significantly different with those of HCV from Huh7. 5. 1 and sh-NT cells. apoE-EGFP infused protein had fluorescent co-location with HCV structural protein E2, and was detected on the surface of HCV particles purified by FLAG-specific affinity gll. Conclusion The apoE-EGFP fusion protein is an important component of HCV particles and apoE-EGFP cell lines can support the assembly of HCV particles.

Adult ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human ; complications ; Histiocytic Sarcoma ; complications ; Humans ; Male

Nitric oxide (NO), which is involved in the regulation of the cardiovascular system, nervous system, immune system, reproductive system, digestive system and other physiological activities, is an important biological substance with activity. Under normal physiological conditions, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) can precisely regulate the nervous system NO production, release, diffusion and inactivation processes. But an excess of NO associates with the development of cerebral ischemia, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's psychosis nervous system diseases, while inhibition of nNOS activity can regulate the content of NO in vivo, and produce a therapeutic effect on some of the nervous system diseases. This review mainly describes the structure and regulation of nNOS and recent developments of small molecule inhibitors of nNOS.
Alzheimer Disease ; physiopathology ; Brain Ischemia ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Parkinson Disease ; physiopathology

To identify the prevalence and the distribution of ticks infected with spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGR) in Xunke Area of Heilongjiang Province ,China ,partial outer membrane protein A gene (ompA) and citrate synthase gene (gltA) specific fragments were assessed using the PCR method .The positive products were sequenced .Result showed that the pres-ence of SFGR was 14 of 60 in detection Dermacentor silvarum cases ,while the overall positive rate was 23 .33% .Its nucleotide sequence of ompA showed 99 .3% and 99 .18% similarity with nucleotide sequence of Rickettsia sp .JL-02 and Rickettsia rao-ultii respectively .And the evolutionary positions of SFGR species were similar with Rickettsiamontana and Rickettsiamassili-ae .It's concluded that the nature focus of tick-borne spotted fever did exist in the area of Xunke Area of Heilongjiang Province , China .

Objective To investigate the correlation between subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and cerebral atherosclerosis burden in patients with large artery atherosclerotic stroke.Methods Consecutive inpatients with acute large artery atherosclerotic stroke were enrolled.SCH was defined as TSH 4.50-10.0 mU/L and serum thyroxine level was normal.Cerebral atherosclerosis burden score was used to evaluate the severity of cerebral atherosclerosis.The total score of 1 or 2 was defined as mild atherosclerosis,and >2 was defined as severe atherosclerosis.Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between SCH and severe cerebral atherosclerosis.ResultsA total of 263 patients with large artery atherosclerotic stroke were enrolled,including SCH 62 (23.6%),mild atherosclerosis 119 (45.2%),and severe atherosclerosis 144 (54.8%).The age (63.6±10.9 years vs.60.5±11.4 years;t=2.274,P=0.024),homocysteine (17.10±6.20 μmol/L vs.15.63±5.17 μmol/L;t=2.058,P=0.041),National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (8.0 [5.0-10.0]vs.6.0 [5.0-9.0];Z=2.059,P=0.039),as well as the proportions of patients with hypertension (72.9%vs.58.8%;χ2=5.812,P=0.016),smoking (38.2%vs.26.1%;χ2=4.366,P=0.037),and SCH (30.6%vs.15.1%;χ2=8.610,P=0.003) in the severe cerebral atherosclerosis group were significantly higher than those in the mild cerebral atherosclerosis group.Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that SCH was an independent risk factor for severe atherosclerosis in patients with large atherosclerotic stroke (odd ratio 3.345;95%confidence interval 1.692-6.612;P=0.001) after adjusting for age,sex,hypertension,smoking,homocysteine,and NIHSS score.ConclusionSCH is an independent risk factor for severe cerebral atherosclerosis in patients with large atherosclerotic stroke.