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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Objective To compare the short-term efficacies of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) in the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus,and to investigate the relationship between the body weight loss and the decrease of glucose of the 2 treatment methods.Methods The clinical data of 40 patients with obesity combined with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were admitted to the Changhai Hospital of the Second Military Medical University from January 2010 to December 2011 were retrospectively analyzed.There were 14 patients treated by LAGB (LAGB group) and 26 by LSG (LSG group).The body weight loss and the decrease of glucose at postoperative year 1 of the 2 groups were compared.The differences in the body weight and glucose before and after operation within groups were compared using the paired t test,and the differences in the body weight and glucose between the 2 groups were compared using the multiple analysis of variance.The correlation between the body weight loss and the decrease of glucose was analyzed using the linear regression analysis.Results Laparoscopic surgery was successfully done without conversion to open surgery or intraoperative complications.The operation time and volume of blood loss were (69 ± 16)minutes and (31 ± 14)mL in the LAGB group,(120 ± 15) minutes and (148 ± 48) mL in the LSG group.Complications including postoperative malnutrition,electrolyte disturbance,delayed gastric emptying,bleeding,anastomotic leakage did not occurr in the 2 groups.Two patients were complicated with abdominal incision fat liquefaction,and were cured by symptomatic treatment.(1) The body weight,body mass index (BMI) and waistline had a decrease trend.The body weight,BMI and waistline in the LAGB group were decreased from (117 ± 28)kg,(40 ± 8)kg/m2 and (118 ± 15) cm before operation to (94 ± 28) kg,(33 ± 8) kg/m2 and (92 ± 15) cm at postoperative week 48.The body weight,BMI and waistline in the LSG group were decreased from (119 ± 25)kg,(42 ± 6)kg/m2 and (123 ± 14)cm before operation to (74± 16)kg,(26± 4)kg/m2 and (86 ± 13)cm at postoperative week 48.The EWL had an increase trend in the 2 groups.The EWL in the LAGB group was increased from 7％ ± 2％ at postoperative week 1 to 53％± 24％ at postoperative week 48,and the EWL in the LSG group was increased from 11％ ± 4％ at postoperative week 1 to 90％ ± 20％ at postoperative week 48.There were significant differences in the changes of body weight,BMI,waistline and EWL between the 2 groups (F =60.660,74.490,57.650,90.020,P ＜ 0.05).(2) The levels of glycosylated hemoglobin,fasting glucose,fasting insulin,HOMA-IR,triglyceride,total cholesterol,low-density lipoprotein and high density lipoprotein in the LAGB group were decreased from 8.1％± 0.8％,(8.4±0.6)mmol/L,(21±8)μmol/L,7.9 ±2.9,(1.68±0.50)mmol/L,(6.0±1.1)mmol/L (4.1 ± 0.8) mmol/L,(1.09 ±0.15)mmol/L to 6.4％ ±0.8％,(6.3 ±0.3) mmol/L,(10 ± 3) μmol/L,2.7 ±0.9,(1.04 ± 0.09) mmol/L,(4.3 ± 0.8) mmol/L,(2.3 ± 0.4) mmol/L,(1.22 ± 0.09) mmol/L at postoperative week 48 ; the levels of glycosylated hemoglobin,fasting glucose,fasting insulin,HOMA-IR,triglyceride,total cholesterol,low-density lipoprotein and high density lipoprotein in the LSG group were changed from 7.9％ ± 1.0％,(9.0±1.0)mmol/L,(21 ±9) μ mol/L,8.5 ±3.5,(2.09 ± 0.70) mmol/L,(6.0 ± 1.2)mmol/L,(3.9 ± 1.1) mmol/L,(1.06 ± 0.21) mmol/L before operation to 5.1％ ± 0.8％,(5.2 ± 0.4) mmol/L,(4 ± 1)μmol/L,0.9±0.2,(1.22±0.17)mmol/L,(4.2±0.8)mmol/L,(2.3 ±0.6)mmol/L,(1.30±0.13)mmol/L at postoperative week 48.There was a decrease trend of the glycosylated hemoglobin,fasting glucose,fasting insulin,HOMA-IR,trigluceride,total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein and a increase trend of the high density lipoprotein in the 2 groups.There were significant differences in the levels of glycosylated hemoglobin,fasting glucose,fasting insulin,HOMA-IR,triglyceride,total cholesterol,low-density lipoprotein and high density lipoprotein between the 2 groups (F =57.650,74.270,36.750,42.960,10.870,30.650,32.560,11.490,P ＜0.05).The levels of glucose of the LAGB group at postoperative month 1 and 3 were influenced by BMI (b =0.543,0.753,P ＜ 0.05),while the levels of glucose of the LAGB group did not be influenced by BMI at postoperative month 6 and year 1 (b =0.130,0.222,P ＞0.05).The levels of glucose of the LSG group did not be influenced by BMI at postoperative month 1,3,6 and year 1 (b =0.185,0.035,0.212,0.126,P ＞0.05).Conclusions The efficacy of LSG is superior to LAGB for the treatment of obesity combined with type 2 diabetes mellitus.The efficacy of LAGB is correlated with the change of body weight,while the efficacy of LSG does not correlated with the change of body weight.

Objective Increased renal mast cells have been found in significant correlation with clinicopathological features of diabetic nephropathy ( DN) .However, the exact pathological significance of mast cells still remained to be elucidated.As one of the most abundant serine proteases, tryptase is specifically expressed by mast cells.The study was to observe the expression of tryptase in the urine of patients with diabetic nephropathy and realize the pathological significance of urinary tryptase and renal mast cells in the development of diabetic nephropathy. Methods Urine samples from 103 patients with diabetic nephropathy who were hospitalized at the clinical unit of the nephrology centre of Jingling Hospital from January 2012 to June 2013 were collected.According to concentra-tion of urinary albumin excretion rate, the patients were conducted to early-stage DN group (microalbuminuria,n=10), middle-stage DN group (proteinuria stage, n=31) and end-stage DN group (renal insufficiency stage,n=62).Meanwhile, urine samples from 20 normal persons were taken as the normal control group.Tryptase level in each urine sample was measured by using an ELISA kit.The average tryptase levels were compared among different groups and the correlation between urinary tryptase level and clinical indices was analyzed. Results ①In most cases, tryptase was not detected in the urine samples from normal persons(0.7 ±1.4 ng/mg creati-nine).However, the urinary trypatse level increased significantly with the development of diabetic nephropathy (11.6 ±10.5 ng/mg creatinine for early stage, 29.7 ±19.2 ng/mg creatinine for middle stage, and 44.6 ±43.4 ng/mg creatinine for late stage group).②The urinary tryptase level was found in significant correlation with ser-um creatinine (r=0.325, P<0.01), serum cystatin C (r=0.391, P<0.01), serum urea nitrogen (r=0.27, P<0.01), 24 hour uri-nary protein (r=0.389, P<0.01), urine C3 (r=0.276, P<0.05), urine retinol-binding protein (r=0.365, P<0.01), urine lysozyme (r=0.461, P<0.01), urine N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase level (r=0.568, P<0.01), urinary kidney injury molecule-1 (r=0.434, P<0.05) and interleukin-18 level (r=0.375, P<0.05).No significant correlation was found between urinary tryptase level and age, gender, fasting blood sugar, postprandial blood sugar, HbA1c, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein or low density lipo-protein. Conclusion Mast cells play an important role in the development of diabetic nephropathy and might be a novel and effective target for the treatment of DN.