Objective To approach a semi-quantitative diagnostic criteria of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy(HIE) by comprehensive scoring, including history, clinical manifestation and laboratory data,which can be used for early diagnosis,severity grading and the institution of therapy.Methods We analyzed history, clinical manifestation and some parameters of laboratory data,and established criteria for scoring and grading,and compared this grading with the grading determined by clinical data and follow-up,which brought forward a semi-quantitative diagnostic criteria, and applied this criteria to other 41 patients with HIE to test its reliability.Results The grading criteria were established as the following:if total score ≥20.0,the patient was graded as severe one;total score between 10.5-19.5, moderate one; between 5.5-10.0,mild one;≤5.0,non-HIE one. The scoring system was used in other 41 patients with HIE,the specificity and sensitivity were 100% and 96 .9%,97.2% and 100%,100% and 100%, respectively.Conclusions For severe HIE cases who are not permitted to receive compated tomography(CT) examination or no CT can be used, this scoring system can be used to diagnoze HIE and grade the severity. This method is simple and easy to perform.Both specificity and sensitivity are high for diagnosis and severity judgment of HIE.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Qingfei Peiyuan Micro-pill (QPM) on HIV/AIDS patients with pulmonary infection of phlegm heat obstructing lung syndrome (PHOLS).

METHODSTotally 141 HIV/AIDS patients with pulmonary infection of PHOLS were randomly assigned to the treatment group (94 cases) and the control group (47cases). On the basis of Western medicine, patients in the treatment group took QPM. The therapeutic course for all was 28 days. The improvement of symptoms and signs was observed. The body temperature (BT), chest X ray, and white blood cells (WBCs) were detected.

RESULTSThe Chinese medical syndrome score was lower in the treatment group than in the control group at the 7th, 21st, and 28th day of treatment, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). The efficacy was better in the treatment group than in the control group at the 7th, 21st, and 28th day of treatment, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). The BT was lower in the treatment group than in the control group on the 7th day. There was no statistical difference in the patient number with normal WBCs on the 7th day (P > 0.05). But there was statistical difference in the patient number with normal WBCs on the 14th, 21st, and 28th day of treatment (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the patient number with normal chest X ray on the 7th and 28th day of treatment (P > 0.05). But there was statistical difference in the patient number with normal chest X ray on the 14th and 21 st day of treatment (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONQPM had certain complementary effect on HIV/AIDS patients with pulmonary infection of PHOLS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; complications ; Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; complications ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of down-regulated miR-9 expression on ultraviolet rays (UV)-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) damage in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells.

METHODSThe NPC cells were transfected with inhibitors of miR-9 by lipofectamine to decrease the expression of miR-9, and the cells transfected with inhibitor control as the control. ROS levels following UV exposure were examined with DCF-DA method and the concentration of glutathione was analyzed via the benzoic acid method; DNA damage and apoptosis also were evaluated.

RESULTSThere was significant difference in ROS levels between miR-9 expression-inhibited cells and control cells (26 895 ± 218 vs 15 765 ± 927, t = 39.754, P < 0.001), and also there were significant differences in DNA damage rates (28.0% ± 10.0% vs 23.6% ± 9.2%) and in apoptosis rates (8.0% ± 0.9% vs 4.5% ± 0.8%) following UV exposure between two groups of cells. The miR-9 expression-inhibited cells showed lower level (1.87 ± 0.15) µmol/L of glutathione compared with the control cells (9.85 ± 0.15) µmol/L (t = -48.832, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONInhibition of miR-9 expression promoted UV-induced ROS damage in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.

Apoptosis ; Carcinoma ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA Damage ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; metabolism ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical performance of free prostate-specific antigen (fPSA) detection by ECLIA method, and evaluate whether ECLIA is suitable for clinical use.

METHODS341 samples were collected and tested prostate-specific antibodies with CMIA and ECLIA methods. These samples contain: 97 samples with abnormal high PSA value tested by CMIA method, and 244 normal PSA samples. Use CMIA as the reference method, and detect fPSA, tPSA levels, and the ratio of fPSA/tPSA. Analyze the testing results with statistical methods.

RESULTSCompared with CMIA, correlation coefficent of ECLIA fPSA detection is 0.99; correlation coefficent of f/tPSA ratio detection is 0.96; the sensitivity, specificity of ECLIA f/tPSA ratio detection are 85.71%, 92.6% respectively, the agreement rate with ECLIA is 87.4%. No cross reaction with bilirubin, lipohemia, hemolysis, RF, CEA, AFP, CA125, CA153, CA199 were found in the tests.

CONCLUSIONThe ECLIA method for free prostate-specific antigen detection showed good clinical performance; and is suitable for clinical use.

Electrochemical Techniques ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; Sensitivity and Specificity

This study was purpose to investigate apoptosis pathway of leukemia K562 cells induced by anticoagulant fraction from Agkistrodon acutus venom (AVVC-1). The mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨm) of leukemia K562 cells was detected by flow cytometry with JC-1 single staining. The expression of cytochrome C in the mitochondrial of leukemia K562 cells was analyzed by Western blot after AVVC-1 treatment. The distribution of cytochrome C in leukemia K562 cells was measured by immuno-fluorescence test. The results showed that the potential of mitochondrial membrane decreased after treatment with different concentrations of AVVC-1 (12.5, 25, 50, 100 µg/ml) for 6 h (P < 0.01). The expression level of cytochrome C protein in mitochondria obviously declined after treatment with 30 µg/ml AVVC-1 for 48 h, and the fluorescent intensity of cytochrome C in cytosol was enhanced at the same time. It is concluded that AVVC-1-induced K562 cell apoptosis is related with mitochondrial damage, and cytochrome C may be a useful agent for investigating human leukemia therapy by using AVVC-1.
Agkistrodon ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cytochromes c ; metabolism ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; Mitochondria ; metabolism ; Snake Venoms ; pharmacology

Objective To study the co-infection of tick-borne pathogens in Ixodes persulcatus collected in Charles Hilary,Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region (Xinjiang).Methods Ticks were collected by flagging in grassy areas in Charles Hilary,Xinjiang from June 2012 to June 2013.The 5S-23S rRNA intergenic region from Borrelia (B.) burgdorferi,16S rRNA gene from Anaplasma,ompA gene from spotted fever group Rickettsia,comI gene from Coxiella (C.) burneti and Nss-rRNA gene from Babesia were amplified with nested polymerase chain reaction (nested PCR),respectively.Results Among 204 lxodes persulcatus,104 were positive for tick-borne pathogens with the positive rate of 50.98％,and among them the positive rates of B.burgdorferi,spotted fever group Rickettsia and Anaplasma phagocytophilum were 34.31％ (n =70),28.92％ (n =59),9.31％ (n =19),respectively.And no C.burnetii and Babesia were detected.The overall co-infection rate was 19.12％ (39/204),the co-infection rate was 16.18％(33/204) for B.garinii and spotted fever group Rickettsia,4.90％ (10/204) for B.burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum,2.94％(6/204) for spotted fever group Rickettsia and Anaplasma phagocytophilum and 2.45％ (5/204) for B.burgdorferi,Anaplasma phagocytophilum and spotted fever group Rickettsia.Conclusion The results indicated that the natural co-infections of B.garinii,B.afzelii,Anaplasma phagocytophilum and spotted fever group Rickettsia existed in Charles Hilary Ixodes persulcatus collected in Xinjiang.

OBJECTIVETo assess the time course of Q value after myopic laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and preliminarily evaluate the determinants of the difference of Q value between before and after LASIK.

METHODSWe performed a retrospective, longitudinal investigation on patients undergoing wavefront optimized LASIK therapy for emmetropization. A total of 418 eyes from 222 cases were examined preoperatively, and partly followed up at one week (172 eyes), one month (134 eyes) and three months (51 eyes) after surgery. The horizontal, vertical and total Q values of cornea were calculated from eccentricity measured at the central 6-mm corneal zones respectively. Potential determinants of the change of Q value were analyzed using multiple linear regressions.

RESULTSThe mean Q value was -0.17 +/- 0.13 preoperatively, and 0.99 +/- 0.70, 0.97 +/- 0.66, and 0.86 +/- 0.41 one week, one and three months postoperatively, respectively. One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) demonstrated significant differences between measurements made before surgery and at all postoperative times (at one week, one and three months; all P<0.0001, Bonferroni post hoc), but no significant differences were found among postoperative groups. Significant differences of Q values between horizontal and vertical meridians were found before surgery and at all postoperative times (all P<0.0001). Multiple regression analysis revealed that change of Q value significantly correlated with manifest refraction spherical equivalent (r=0.116, P<0.0001) and axial length (r=0.264, P<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONSOver the study period, the primary changes in Q value occur within 1 week after surgery, and then become slightly decreased and nearly stable. Manifest refraction spherical equivalent and axial length play a significant role in the change of postoperative Q value.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cornea ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myopia ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effectiveness of small interfering RNA (siRNA) on inhibiting severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated coronavirus replication, and to lay bases for the future clinical application of siRNA for the treatment of viral infectious diseases.

METHODSVero-E6 cells was transfected with siRNA before SARS virus infection, and the effectiveness of siRNA interference was evaluated by observing the cytopathic effect (CPE) on Vero-E6 cells.

RESULTSFive pairs of siRNA showed ability to reduce CPE dose dependently, and two of them had the best effect.

CONCLUSIONsiRNA may be effective in inhibiting SARS-associated coronavirus replication.

Animals ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; RNA, Small Interfering ; pharmacology ; SARS Virus ; drug effects ; Transfection ; Vero Cells ; Virus Replication ; drug effects

To clone human interleukin-26 (hIL-26) and express it in E. coli efficiently. Two pairs of primers were synthesized according to the hIL-26 gene reported on GenBank. The hIL-26 gene was cloned by nest PCR following the first round RT-PCR from human peripherial blood monocytes total RNA, and then the PCR product was cloned into pMD18-T vector. Colony PCR, restriction analysis and sequence analysis showed that the gene cloned was the same as the reported hIL-26. The recombinant was cut with BamHI and EcoR I to obtain the hIL-26 fragment, and then the fragment was inserted into pBV220 which was cut with the same enzymes. The recombinant expression vector was induced to express hIL-26 at 42 degrees C, SDS-PAGE analysis showed that the recombinant protein accounted for up to 20% of the whole protein of E. coli, and the protein was also confirmed by Western blotting. Purity of the protein was found to be above 90% after purified with molecular sieve. After renaturalized with glutathione buffer, the promoting effect of it on the production of IFN-y in PBMC was detected by RT-PCR. A recombinant bacterial strain for expressing hIL-26 with biological activity was constructed successfully.
Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Interleukins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo investigate the ectopic grafts of mouse testicular cells by observing the reconstruction of seminiferous tubules, colonization of spermatogenic cells and spermatogenesis using immunodeficient mice as recipients.

METHODSThe testes of newborn male ICR mice were digested to obtain single cell suspension. The cells were then mixed with matrigel and subcutaneously grafted into the dorsal region of the male nude mice. The mice were castrated after the operation and the grafts were dissected from 5 of the nude mice at 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks, respectively. The success rates of transplantation and the graft diameters were calculated, and the structure of the reconstituted seminiferous tubules, colonization of the germ cells and spermatogenesis were observed by HE staining and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSAll the mice recipients survived after the testicular cell transplantation. Within 10 weeks after the operation, tissue masses could be observed, with the diameter increased from (3.91 +/- 0.71) mm at 4 weeks to (6.69 +/- 0.50) mm. Neovascularization was detected at the surface of the masses and seminiferous tubule structures found in the grafts. The germ cells that developed from spermatogonia to round spermatids were observed, but with no sperm in the tubules. Germ cells, Sertoli cells and Leydig cells were identified by immunochemical detection of Mvh, Gata4 and P450Scc in the grafts at 8 weeks.

CONCLUSIONSeminiferous tubules could be ectopically reconstructed from suspension of neonatal mouse testicular cells. Ectopic grafting provided a preferable model for the studies on testis tissue engineering and interactions between testicular cells during testicular development and spermatogenesis.

Animals ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Mice, Nude ; Seminiferous Tubules ; cytology ; Sertoli Cells ; cytology ; transplantation ; Spermatids ; cytology ; Spermatogenesis ; Testis ; cytology ; transplantation ; Transplantation, Heterologous