OBJECTIVETo investigate the epidemiological characteristics, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of Brucella orchitis, so as to provide reliable evidence for the prevention and treatment of the disease.

METHODSWe conducted retrospective statistical analyses on the medical records of 48 outpatients and 21 inpatients with Brucella orchitis.

RESULTSBrucella orchitis was diagnosed in 6.67% of the male patients with brucellosis (69/1 034). The disease exhibited typical epidemiological features, with a higher incidence rate among those in frequent contact with sheep and elderly people, in the period from April to July, and in the areas with sheep husbandry. All the Brucella orchitis patients had such local symptoms as testicular pain and swelling, more frequently involving both testes, and other most common symptoms included fever, chills, sweating, and painful joints. Based on IIEF-5, 45 of the patients suffered from severe erectile dysfunction, with their reproductive function temporarily affected in the course of the disease. Misdiagnosis easily occurred in the early stage of the disease. Therapeutic options mainly included doxycycline hydrochloride and rifampicin, administered orally or intravenously, which could effect a cure, though relapse might occur in some cases.

CONCLUSIONBru- cella orchitis has distinct epidemiological characteristics, with clinical manifestations of testicular pain and swelling. Though a transient disease, it affects the reproductive function of the patient before cured. It can be treated by combined oral and intravenous medication, with painkillers or ice bags for testicular pain and swelling.

Animals ; Brucella ; pathogenicity ; Brucellosis ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Orchitis ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Sheep

The pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis ( MS) involves alterations to multiple pathways and processes, which represent a significant challenge for developing more-effective therapies.In MS, abnormalities have been identified in several cytokine-signaling pathways, as well as those of other immune receptors.Among the downstream molecules implicated are Jak/Stat, NF-κb, ERK1/2, p38 or Jun/Fos, current MS drugs target some of these pathways.This article will with the aid of the latest research results of systems biology approaches that study pathway dysregulation in the process of MS development, targeting these relevant MS-signaling pathways, offers the opportunity to accelerate the development of novel individual or combination therapies for the future of new drug research.

Objective To compare the efficiency of oscillation with sonication in preparing nano-scale microbubbles (NBs).Methods Nano-scale microbubbles were prepared using oscillation and sonication respectively,and then compared the NBs' size,size distribution,concentrations and time-consumption of the two methods.Results The sizes of nanobubbles prepared by sonication and oscillation were (373.88 ±18.43)nm and (360.74 ± 14.39)nm,respectively.There was no significant difference in size between the two methods (P =0.523).The polidispersity was larger in sonication before centrifugation,there was significant difference between the two methods (P ＜0.001).The concentration of nanobubbles prepared by oscillation was (1.48 ± 0.15) × 1010,which was higher than that by oscillation [(8.07 ± 0.62) × 108],there was significant difference between the two methods (P ＜ 0.001).The consuming time was shorter in oscillation,the difference was significant when compared with sonication (P ＜0.001).Conclusions Both two methods can successfully prepare NBs.Compared with sonication,oscillation can effectively produce NBs with smaller polidispersity,higher concentration and shorter time-consumption.

Objectives To explore the perceived stigma among family members of people with schizophrenia and to identify the influential factors related to perceived stigma in socio-demographic characters of family members and patient characters.Methods Total 127 family members of people with schizophrenia in a psychiatric hospital in Beijing were surveyed by the Perceived Devaluation-Discrimination Scale developed by Link.Results The mean score of the perceived devaluation-discrimination scale is 2.60±0.44.It was significantly higher than the 2.5 midpoint(t=2.53,P<0.05).Family member's perceived stigma was significantly different between different groups of residence area,education level,occupation and family income (P<0.05).Perceived stigma were not affected by patient characters (P>0.05).Family members'education level was the influencing factors of stigma,and the R~2 Square is 0.213.Conclusions The family members of people with schizophrenia suffered from high stigma.Education level of family member may be one of the influential factors.

Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have been confirmed to play an important role in biological processes,such as cell proliferation,differentiation and apoptosis.Founded on the high stability and minimal invasiveness,circulating miRNAs could be applied to the clinical practice as biomarkers.There are many technological approaches and platforms for circulating miRNAs detection but without a consistent protocol.Meanwhile,there are various factors affecting circulating miRNAs detection.In this review,technical factors and preanalytical factors in the circulating miRNA profiling are explored.

Background5-Nitro-2-(3-styrene-acrylic amine) benzoic acid ( NPPB),a chloride channel inhibitor,has a promoting effect on cell apoptosis in myocardial ischemia and reperfusion of domestic rabbit.The CIC chloride channel has been found in the ocular trabecular cells.However,the effect of NPPB on the shape and function of trabecular cells is unclear. Objective This study was performed to investigate the effect of NPPB on the proliferation,cell cycle progression and apoptosis of human trabecular meshwork cells.MethodsThe immortalized human trabcular cell strain was cultured,and logarithmic-phase cells were incubated in 96-well plates at a density of 1 ×106/ml.Different concentrations of NPPB (10,50,100 μ mol/L) were added to the medium,and the MTT assay was used to assess the growth and proliferation of the cells.Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the cell cycle.Then,100 mg/L 5-FU or 100 mg/L 5-FU + 100 μmol/L NPPB was used to induce cell apoptosis,which was assessed by Annexin V-PI.The membrane potential of mitochondria was examined using rhodamine 123 (△ψm).Results After 48 hours of treatment with NPPB,the abosorbency (A value) of the cells was gradually lowered with the increasing dose of NPPB,with significant differences among the 4 groups (F =7.230,P =0.006).Compared with the 10 μmol/L NPPB group,the A values were significantly declined in the 50 and 100 μmol/L NPPB groups (t =1.610,P =0.025 ;t =12.270,P =0.001 ).Forty-eight hours after exposure to NPPB,the percentage of cells in G0/G1 phase was increased and that in the S phase was decreased.The percentages of cells in different phases of cell cycle were significantly different in comparison with their control groups (without NPPB)( P＜0.05 ).Twenty-four and 48 hours after the treatment with 100 mg/L 5-FU,the apoptosis rates of the cells were raised in the 100 mg/L 5-FU group and 100 mg/L 5-FU + 100 μmol/L NPPB group compared to the without NPPB group (t24h =2.130,P =0.023;t48h =4.810,P=0.011 ) ;while that in the 100 mg/L 5-FU+100 μmol/L NPPB group was higher than the 100 mg/L 5-FU group ( t24 h =1.980,P =0.037 ; t48 h =1.290,P =0.028 ),and the mitochondrial membrane potential was lowered ( t24h =1.580,P =0.029 ; F48 h =6.200,P =0.015 ).Conclusions NPPB suppresses the proliferation of human trabecular cells and promotes the cells to enter S phase via the G1/S check point.In addition,ClC might be involved in an anti-apoptosis mechanism through the internal mitochondrial pathway.

BACKGROUND:Distal femur is a predilection site for primary bone tumors, most of which are treated with salvage treatment. There are many reports on the early-stage, mid-term and prognosis of the distal femur tumor-type artificial knee joint prosthesis, but reports on long-term function and prognosis are less.
OBJECTIVE:To study the long-term prognosis and limb function after treatment with rotating-hinge knee prosthesis.
METHODS:Thirty-four patients with distal femoral bone tumors admitted to the Department of Orthopedics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University between January 2000 and June 2008 were retrospectively analyzed, including 19 males and 15 females. Al patients were subjected to rotating hinge knee prosthesis replacement.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The mean fol ow-up period was 62.4 months (range 11 to 126 months). At the final of fol ow-up, 23 patients were event-free alive and 11 patients were dead. Seven of 23 survival patients suffered from prosthesis related complications, including four cases of prosthesis revision and three cases of amputation. The event-free survival rate of 23 patients undergoing replacement of domestic tumor prosthesis around the knee was 67.6%in 5 years. The mean functional score of affected limb was 19.30 (7 to 27 points):excellent in 6 cases, good in 16, fine in 5 and poor in 2. The excellent-good rate was 75.9%. The clinical outcomes suggested that the satisfactory limb function and survival rate could be achieved with the application of domestic tumor prosthesis replacement for treatment of malignant bone tumors around the knee.

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical phenotypes of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) caused by exon 13 A606T mutation in low deusity lipoprotein receptor.MethodsClinical data of the suffered family were collected and analyzed,as well as measurement of perivascular intima-medial thickness and follow-mediated-dilation function by ultrasonography.ResultsThere were totally 11 sufferers including 4 males and 9 females,aged 8-90 years,with 2 homozygotes and 9 heterozygotes.Among them, one homozygote showed angina pectoris and hematuria,both homozygotes had skin xanthomata.TC,TG,LDL-C and HDL-C were(7.39 ± 1.30) mmol/L,(0.93 ± 0.36) mmol/L,( 11.76 ± 1.10) mmol/L and ( 1.22 ±0.17) mmol/L,respectively.The left/right sided intima-medial thickness of the common,internal,external and bulb carotid artery were ( 1.15 ±0.45) mm/( 1.30 ±0.60) mm,(0.82 ±0.30) mm/( 1.00 -0.66)mm,(0.77 ±0.28) mm/(0.78 ±0.30) mm and ( 1.40 ±0.59) mm/( 1.46 ±0.71 ) mm respectively.The brachial artery flow mediated dilation rate was (4.85 ±4.80)％.Echocardiography revealed 2 patients with cardiac valvular disease and 3 with atrium septum aneurysm. ConclusionFH patients show a variety of phenotypes incuding extraordinary hypercholesterolemia,subcutaneous xanthomata and premature coronary heart disease.

Objective To analyze the prognostic factors and trerapy strategy of lung cancer in the patients aged 80 years and over.Methods Totally 107 patients aged ≥ 80 years with lung cancer were retrospectively reviewed.Patients' clinical characteristics and treatment were analyzed.Results Median survival time of the patients was 6.9 months.92.9％ (13/14) of small cell lung cancer patients and 34.4％ (31/90) of non small cell lung cancer patients were treated.Life cycle of patients who accepted effective treatments and supportive treatments were 16.5 months and 8.7 months,respectively (P=0.008).In the early stage of tumors,survival time of patients undergoing surgery was 36.7 months,15.5 months in patients without surgery (P=0.023),while in the late stage,survival time of patients receiving combined chemotherapy was 13.4 months,4.6 months in patients receiving single agent chemotherapy(P=0.002).In small cell lung cancer,survival time of patients who received radiotherapy was 12.8 months,6.4 months in patients who did not receive radiotherapy (P=0.049).Performance status (PS),clinical stage,early surgery,late chemotherapy and radiotherapy(x2=38.236,18.831,5.187,9.827,4.186,P＜0.05),but not sex and pathology type affected the prognosis.PS score (P=0.003)and clinical stage(P=0.046) were the independent influencing factors.Conclusions Performance status and clinical stage are the independent influencing factors of lung cancer in the patients aged over 80 years.Patients may improve survival if receiving surgery,chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy when they have good PS,otherwise patients may choose best supportive care.

Intracranial branch atheromatous disease (BAD) was proposed by Caplan in 1989.It has been widely studied in Japan in recent years.With the application of high-resolution magnetic resonance,BAD has become a hot topic.This article reviews the concept,etiology,pathology,diagnosis and treatment of BAD as well as its relationship with ischemic stroke.