Critical Care ; Critical Illness ; Emergencies ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care Units, Pediatric ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Transportation of Patients

This study aims to analyze and compare the effect of cell wall-broken decoction pieces, conventional decoction pieces and conventional powder of Rhodiolae Crenulatae Radix et Rhizoma on the intestinal flora of normal mice. The conventional bacterial culture and PCR-DGGE (polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) were adopted for the mice after the oral administration for 14 days. According to the bacterial culture results, the 1/8 dose cell wall-broken decoction pieces group showed fewer Enterococcus and Escherichia coli bacillus but more Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium than the conventional decoction pieces group and the traditional powder group (P <0.05). Meanwhile, on the basis of the PCR-DGGE results, the 1/8 dose cell wall-broken decoction pieces group revealed the highest Shannon-Wiener index (H) and species richness (S) among the seven groups, with extremely significant differences compared with the normal group (P <0.01), significant differences compared with the conventional decoction pieces group and the conventional powder group (P <0.05) and a high intra-group similarity. In conclusion, the long-term intake of 1/8 dose Rhodiolae Crenulatae Radix et Rhizoma cell wall-broken decoction pieces showed a certain effect in regulating intestinal tract by promoting the growth of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Furthermore, the intestinal flora community will become more stable.
Animals ; Bifidobacterium ; drug effects ; genetics ; growth & development ; Cell Wall ; Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ; Intestines ; microbiology ; Lactobacillus ; drug effects ; genetics ; growth & development ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rhizome ; Rhodiola

OBJECTIVETo compare with the clinical applications of routine-subtraction and dual-energy subtraction cervical arteries computed tomographic angiography (CTA) for cervical arteries imaging.

METHODSScanning was performed in 45 patients with clinically suspected cervical arteries disease with dual-source CT. The data of two different energy were collected only at one scanning. The data post processing include: conventional bone-removal digital subtraction (routine-subtraction) was performed with plain and 80 kV enhanced scanning. Volume render (VR) and maximum intensity projection (MIp) reconstruction were finished. Direct bone-removal digital subtraction (dual-energy subtraction) was performed with 80 and 140kV enhanced scanning that have different energy, and saving the data of subtraction. VR and MIp reconstruction were finished. The image quality, which was divided into four grades, was compared between these two groups. The effective radiation dose was also compared.

RESULTSFor normal vessels, no abnormality was found in 24 of 45 cases, with the common carotid artery and its branches clearly displayed with both two methods. The image quality was not significantly different between dual-energy subtraction CTA and routine subtraction CTA (P>0.05) . For stenotic vessels, 45 stenotic vessels in 21 cases were clearly displayed clearly with both two methods (P>0.05) . The effective radiation dose was decreased by 17.3 % for dual-energy subtraction CTA when compared with routine-subtraction CTA (P<0.01) .

CONCLUSIONSBoth routine-subtraction and dual-energy subtraction CTA can clearly display normal and stenotic vessels. The radiation exposure dose is relatively lower in dual-energy CTA. The dual-energy subtraction CTA has better effectiveness when used for non-cooperation patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; methods ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiation Dosage ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

Anastomosis, Surgical ; Anastomotic Leak/surgery* ; Drainage ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Suction

Objective To analyze the molecular characteristics of the newly isolated two Japanese encephalitis virus strains(JEV) in Wuhan. Methods The mosquitoes were collected in Wuhan from April to October in 2009. The envelope (E) protein gene of JEV was detected using RT-PCR and sequenced.Sequence comparisons and phylogenetic analysis were conducted using DNAstar and MegAlign. Results Two Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) strains (WHJX09-9, WHJX09-10 ) were isolated from Culex tritaeniorhynchus among 16 mosquito pools and identified as genotype I. The result showed that the homology of the two strains was 98. 9％ in nucleotides and 100％ in deduced amines. The comparison between the new genotype 1 JEV strains and live attenuated vaccine strain SA14-14-2 in E gene showed that the homology of nucleotide sequence was 87.4％ and 87.9％ ,the homology of amino acid was 96. 9％ (totol 15 amino acid were different) in E gene. The mutation sites of amino acid distributed among three different coding domain,but no antigen binding site and neurotoxin-involved site of amino acid were changed. Conclusion Wuhan had appeared a new genotype of JEV which was different from the former strain isolated in Wuhan,the new JEV strains still had neurotoxicity but had high homology with the vaccine strains adopted in Wuhan. The vaccine could still be adopted to prevent Japanese encephalitis if steps were take to eradicate mosquitos at the same time. laboratory surveillance were also an important task to build an early-warning mechanism against JEV.

This study was aimed to investigate the immunological effect of modified dendritic cells (DC) which inducing cytotoxic T cells (CTL) against lymphoma cells. The DC were isolated from the lymph node and peripheral blood of patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). DC were transfected with recombinant adenovirus vector carrying human p53 gene (rAd-p53-DC). The expression of p53 gene was detected by flow cytometry. Western-blot was used to detect the expression of P53. ELISA was used to detect IL-12 level in supernatant. The mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) was used to detect the proliferative ability of auto-lymphocyte stimulated by DC. The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release test was used to determine the cytotoxicity of CTL. The results indicates that the expressions of DC surface molecule (except for CD1a) such as CD83, CD80, CD86 and HLA-DR were significantly higher in experiment group than that in control group and blank control group. The secretion of IL-12 in supernatant was higher in experiment group than that in control group. The autologous T lymphocyte proliferation and cytotoxic activity against the same kind of DLBL-cells increased in experiment group as compared with control group and blank control group (P < 0.05). The ability to stimulate T lymphocyte proliferation increased with the rising of the ratio of DC and T lymphocyte. However, there was statistically significant difference between rAd-p53-DC derived from Lymph node and peripheral blood (P < 0.05). It is concluded that rAd-p53-transfected DC can induce CTL response in vitro against lymphoma cells.
Adenoviridae ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Genes, p53 ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; blood ; immunology ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate CT findings and incidence rate of gastric bare area involvement (GBAI), left adrenal gland involvement (LAGI) and perirenal space involvement (PSI) in acute pancreatitis, and to also explore the value of these appearances in predicting complications and mortality of patients.

METHODSCT imaging data of 575 patients with AP diagnosed by clinic from October 2009 to April 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 339 male and 236 female patients, aging from 16 to 93 years with a mean of (51 ± 16) years. Involvement with or without gastric bare area, left adrenal gland, perirenal space were focused, and the relationship were analyzed between these CT findings and complications and mortality of patients.

RESULTSAmong 167 patients (29.0%) with GBAI, 132 had complications and 16 died. The sensitivity and specificity of GBAI for predicting complications were 45.4% and 87.7%, respectively, and 84.2%and 72.8% for predicting mortality. In all 107 patients (18.6%) with LAGI, 81 had complications and 18 died. The sensitivity and specificity of LAGI for predicting complications were 27.8% and 90.8%, respectively, and 94.7% and 84.0% for predicting mortality. Among 335 patients (58.3%) with PSI, 201 had complications and 19 died. The sensitivity and specificity of PSI for predicting complications were 69.1% and 52.8%, respectively, and 100% and 43.2% for predicting mortality. Of all patients, 210 (36.5%) owned two or more positive CT findings among GBAI, LAGI, and PSI. One hundred ninety-eight of these patients had complications and 19 died, that predicted the sensitivity and specificity for complications were 68.0% and 95.8%, respectively, and 100% and 65.6% for mortality. The risk of complications in the patients with GBAI or LAGI was increased than normal gastric bare area or left adrenal gland 5.9 or 3.8 times respectively, and the risk of death was improved 14.3 or 94.5 times respectively. The risk of complications in those patients with two or more positive findings increased by 48.3 times. By analyzing receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the combination of GBAI, LAGI, and PSI was the best way to predict the complications of AP. The area under the ROC was 0.819.

CONCLUSIONSThe CT imaging could effectively indicate the signs of GBAI, LAGI and PSI of AP. The GBAI. LAGI and PSI were related with the severity and prognosis of AP, and these findings could be clinical indicators for evaluating prognosis of AP.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adrenal Glands ; diagnostic imaging ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatitis ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stomach ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDUlcerative colitis (UC) is associated with differential expression of genes involved in inflammation and tissue remodeling. MicroRNA (miRNA) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of UC by regulating the gene expression at the post-transcriptional level and control crucial physiological processes. This study aimed to identify aquaporin 8 (AQP8) expression and its relationship with miRNA in UC patients.

METHODSHuman colon samples, in this study, were obtained from 20 patients with UC and 16 healthy subjects undergoing diagnostic colonoscopy at the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital between December 2009 and June 2010. We screened different genes from UC tissues and healthy subjects using genome-wide microarray, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting. Regulation of gene expression by miRNAs was assessed by luciferase reporter construct assays and transfection of specific miRNA mimics and inhibitor.

RESULTSWe identified that 1596 genes were increased and 1301 genes were decreased in UC patients compared to healthy subjects. Among them, we focused on the analysis of AQP8 which was decreased three folds in UC tissues (P < 0.01). The expression of AQP8 mRNA and protein were decreased in UC tissue and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α treated HT29 cells compared with controls (P < 0.05). We searched candidate target miRNAs of AQP8 through bioformatics and the luciferase report assay analysis indicated that miR-424, miR-195, miR-330, miR-612, and miR-16 which has complementary site in the 3-untranslated region (3'UTR) of AQP8 could decrease the relative luciferase activities by 10% - 45%.

CONCLUSIONAQP8 and its relationship with miRNAs may be involved in the pathogenesis of UC.

Adult ; Aged ; Aquaporins ; genetics ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; HT29 Cells ; Humans ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; physiology ; Middle Aged ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology

Acute myocardial ischemia is the most common cause of sudden cardiac death.The diagnosis of early myocardial ischemia is a hot point in forensic medicine,which is also an early and important part for a prevention against myocardial infarction.This paper conducts a comprehensive discussion of the structure,function,clinical value and forensic medicine application prospect of ischemia modified albumin (IMA) and heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP),aiming to determine whether the two proteins can be used as biochemical detection indicators of early myocardial ischemia for the diagnosis of sudden cardiac death in forensic medicine.

OBJECTIVETo detect micrometastasis in regional lymph nodes using RT- PCR assay and evaluate the significance of the new assessment of nodal status in determining pN staging in gastric carcinoma.

METHODSIn addition to HE,RT- PCR assay for cytokeratin-20 gene marker was used to detect micrometastasis in 850 lymph nodes from 30 patients with gastric carcinoma who underwent gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy from Dec. 2003 to Apr. 2004.

RESULTSThe detection rate of HE staining was 27.1% (233/850), the detection rate of RT-PCR assay was 36.5% (310/850) (Pa< 0.01). Lymph node micrometastasis was further detected in 77 nodes from 14 patients. The detection rate of RT- PCR assay from the routine negative lymph nodes was 12.5% (77/617). Seven of those patients were up- staged (from IB stage to II stage, from IB stage to III A stage, from I stage to III A stage, from III A stage to III B stage, from III A stage to IV stage in one patient respectively, and from III B stage to IV stage in 2 patients).

CONCLUSIONRT- PCR assay can increase the detection rate of lymph node metastasis and have a significant impact on the staging system of gastric carcinoma.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology