Objective To investigate the clinical value of detection of procalcitonin(PCT ) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in early diagnosis of bloodstream infection(BSI) .Methods The serum levels of PCT and hs-CRP of 58 BSI patients(test group) and 58 non BSI patients(control group) were detected .The early diagnosis value of PCT and hs-CRP was evaluated by ROC curve .Results There were significant difference between the serum PCT and hs-CRP levels of test group and control group(P<0 .05) .The ROC AUC of PCT and hs-CRP were 0 .902(95% CI:0 .850-0 .955) and 0 .706(95% CI:0 .611-0 .801) ,respectively . With 2 .24 ng/mL being the diagnostic cut-off value ,the diagnostic sensitivity ,specificity ,positive predictive value ,and negative pre-dictive value of PCT were 77 .6% ,91 .4% ,90 .0% ,and 80 .3% ,respectively .With 64 .83 mg/L being the diagnostic cut-off value ,the di-agnostic sensitivity ,specificity ,positive predictive value ,and negative predictive value of hs-CRP were 74 .1% ,62 .1% ,54 .4% ,and 59 .5% , respectively .Conclusion Detection of serum PCT and hs-CRP has important clinical value in early diagnosis of BSI .

Background and purpose: Docetaxel plus prednisone chemotherapy can improve the patients' survival for castrate-resistant prostate cancer. Angiogenesis inhibitors can also inhibit the growth of tumor. The curative effect of combined treatment is still not clear. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of docetaxel plus prednisone combined with thalidomide in treating castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients with bone metastasis. Methods:A total number of 78 CRPC patients were selected in Fuzhou General Hospital from Dec. 2008 to Jun. 2015. Seventy-eight patients were divided into two groups: 40 patients in chemotherapy group (docetaxel plus prednisone) and 38 patients in combined treatment group (docetaxel plus prednisone combined with thalidomide). A total number of 78 subjects were evaluated by the effective rate, the remission rate of bone pain, the prostate specific antigen (PSA) progression-free surviv-al, the overall survival and adverse effect. Results: The response rate (65.79%) and the remission rate of bone pain (86.84%) in combined treatment group were both higher than those in chemotherapy group (40.00% and 60.00%, P<0.05). The PSA progression-free survival (4.13 months), progression-free survival (4.25 months) and the overall survival (18.06 months) in combined treatment group were all longer than those in chemotherapy group (3.54, 3.75 and 16.26 months). The PSA pro-gression-free survival was significantly longer in combined treatment group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the overall survival between two groups (P>0.05). The rates of adverse effects including peripheral neuritis and lethargy in combined treatment group (26.32% and 55.26%) were higher than those in chemotherapy group (5.00% and 17.50%, P<0.05). Conclusion: Thalidomide combined with docetaxel plus prednisone in CRPC patients with bone metastasis can prolong the PSA progression-free survival and overall survival. The adverse effects are mild. It may become a new choice of treatment for CRPC.

AIM: To investigate the expression and function of apoptosis-related protein, Fas, FasL, and Bcl-2 in the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroiditis. METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining was performed on 20 Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), 20 Graves' disease (GD), and 20 thyroid follicular adenoma (TFA, as control). RESULTS: All the cases expressed Fas, mainly on the cell surface and cytoplasm. FasL was found in all except 3 of the TFA. Bcl-2 in 15 of HT, 19 of GD, 17 of TFA. In TFA follicular cells expressed moderate Fas and minimal or absent FasL. In HT, follicles adjacent to infiltrating lymphocytes showed a increased levels of Fas and FasL, but infiltrating lymphocytes exhibited weaker staining of Fas and FasL than thyrocytes. In GD, thyrocytes and lymphocytes showed nearly similar Fas with HT, but rather weaker for FasL than HT. Bcl-2 was nearly similar in GD and TFA, but follicular cells in vicinity of lymphocytes and lymphocytes located in germinal centers of HT tissues exhibited significantly weaker. CONCLUSION: The expression of Fas, FasL and Bcl-2 in Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease was nearly similar. Strong FasL expression and weak Bcl-2 expression on the follicles in HT may induce apoptosis. These results provide further proof that the functions of Fas and its ligand and Bcl-2 may play an important part in the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid diseases. The lymphocytes do not seem to be directly engaged in the process with their own FasL, but they may provide some cytokines that, in turn, up-regulates Fas and/or FasL leading to apoptosis.

Objective To evaluate long-term changes in health-related quality of life (QOL) of patients with local advanced prostate cancer after intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) combined with androgen deprivation therapy.Methods The patients who met the criteria for this study were enrolled and were treated with IMRT combined with androgen deprivation.The total dose of radiation was 68.2Gy(2.2Gy per fraction).QOL was evaluated before and 3,12,36,48 and 60 months after treatment using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite(EPIC),a validated tool that assesses four primary domains (urinary,bowel,sexual and hormonal).Results From 2002 to 2007,87 patients were enrolled.At each follow-up time point,the number of cases was 87,87,86,81,75,65,56 and 47,respectively.The median follow-up time was 76.8 months.Compared with baseline assessment,all of four domain scores were declined in follow-up assessments.The mean score of urinary,bowel and hormonal domains were significantly reduced.At 3 months after treatment,the scores of bowel domain were lowest,in which the total,function and symptom scores were 75.7,78.4 and 72.8,respectively.However,there was no statistically significant difference in the mean sexual domain score.The mean change scores in urinary incontinence and obstructive were-13.0±8.3 and-6.12±3.9,respectively.Conclusions IMRT combined with androgen deprivation therapy was well tolerated in patients with local advanced prostate cancer.QOL was decreased in urinary,bowel and hormonal toxicity,most of which could be tolerated in five years.

Transcription factor is one of the key factors in the regulation of gene expression at the transcriptional level. It plays an important role in plant growth, active components biosynthesis and response to environmental change. This paper summarized the structure and classification of bHLH transcription factors and elaborated the research progress of bHLH transcription factors which regulate the active components in plants, such as flavonoids, alkaloids, and terpenoids. In addition, the possibility of increasing the concentration of active substances by bHLH in medicinal plants was assessed. The paper emphasized great significance of model plants and multidisciplinary research fields including modern genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics and bioinformatics, providing the contribution to improve the discovery and function characterization of bHLH transcription factors. Accelerating the research in the mechanism of bHLH transcription factors on the regulation of active components biosynthesis will promote the development of breeding and variety improvement of Chinese medicinal materials, also ease the pressure of resources exhaustion of traditional Chinese medicine home and abroad.

Objective To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic factors of hepatolithiasis associated with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (HLAIHCC).Method A ret rospective study was conducted on 36 patients who suffered from histopathologically confirmed HLAIHCC.These patients received surgical resection of the tumor from June 2006 to September 2009.Results The overall 1,3,5 year survival rates for patients with HLAIHCC were not significantly better than those patients with ICC (63.6％,36.4％,and 30.3i％ vs.65.4％,34.3％,and 28.6％,P=0.57).For the patients who received curative resection,the 1-,3-,and 5-year survival rates (81.4 ％,61.7 ％,and 58.6 ％) were significantly better than those who received palliative resections (x2 =20.426,P＜0.001).The white blood cell count was significantly higher in the HLAIHCC group than in the ICC group (x2 =19.70,P＜0.001) and tumor size was significantly smaller in the ICC group than in the HLAIHCC group (P=0.04).Serum CA19-9 level (P=0.049) and resection margin (P=0.019) were independent risk factors of prognosis.Conclusions This study showed HLAIHCC to have different clinicopathological characteristics from ICC.Curative resection was the optimal surgical treatment for HLAIHCC.Serum CA19-9 level and resection margin were independent risk factors of prognosis.

Objective To determine the utility of single energy CT value and spectrum energy curve in identifying different cause of diffuse spleen enlargement.Methods 43 patients confirmed by either surgical pathology,aspiration biopsy or clinical comprehensive diagnosis and follow-up were assessed,including lymphoma with spleen infiltration(lymphoma group,n=18) and cirrhotic splenomegaly(liver cirrhosis group,n=25).All patients underwent upper abdomen CT scans in GSI mode and the GSI data were transferred to the Workstation AW 4.6 to acquire single energy CT value(40-140 keV,10 keV's interval) and spectrum energy curve of the spleen on the venous phase.All single energy CT values and the slope of curves were comparatively analyzed through independent-samples t test.The diagnostic efficiency were evaluated by ROC analysis.Results Under 40-140 keV energy range,single energy CT values were significantly lower in the lymphoma group than in the liver cirrhosis group(all P＜0.05).The spectrum energy curve were both types of decreasing.Under 40-90 keV,100-140 keV energy range,the slop of curves in the lymphoma group(2.42 ± 0.70,0.27± 0.08) were also significantly lower than in the liver cirrhosis group (3.11 ± 0.62,0.34± 0.07),respectively(all P ＜0.05).When the slope of curve under 40-90 keV energy range was selected as a diagnostic indicator,the area under the curve(AUC) would reach 0.77.If threshold value of 1.39 was taken,the sensitivity and specificity would be equal to 86 ％ and 64 ％,respectively.Conclusion Single energy CT value and spectrum energy curve are helpful for differentiation of lymphoma with spleen infiltration from cirrhotic splenomegaly.

The medicinal fungi, which are of great importance in traditional medicine, are facing the problems of wild resources scarcity and low concentration of bioactive compounds. Velvet family and LaeA global regulator play a vital role in secondary metabolism and developmental programs, which are found in a wide variety of fungi ranging from Chytridiomycota to Basidiomycota. This review elaborates the structures and functions between Velvet family and LaeA protein. The Velvet family which shares the Velvet protein domain, including VeA (Velvet), VelB (Velvet like B), VosA (viability of spores A) and VelC (Velvet like C), acts on the regulation function is secondary metabolism and developmental programs such as asexual and sexual development. Furthermore, the function is affected by environmental factors such as light and temperature. LaeA protein which owns S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methyltransferase domain, coordinately regulates development and secondary metabolism by regulating and modifying the Velvet proteins. The regulation of LaeA is mediated by light receptor proteins. Therefore, clarifying the mechanism of Velvet and LaeA proteins in medicinal fungi will pave the way for nurturing medicinal fungi and improving production of bioactive compounds.

AIM: To study the protective effect of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) on alveolar type II cells (AT-Ⅱ) damaged by lipopolysaccharide (LPS).METHODS: AT-Ⅱ were placed in a 6 well cell culture cluster (0.5?106 cells/cm2) and divided into 3 groups: (1) control group (n=6), the medium consisted of RPMI-1640 without FBS. (2) LPS group (n=6), the medium consisted of RPMI-1640 without FBS supplemented with LPS (1 mg/L). (3) ANP group (n=6), the medium consisted of RPMI-1640 without FBS supplemented with LPS (1 mg/L) and ANP (10-8, 10-7, 10-6 mol/L). After 4, 12 and 24 h, the cell culture mediums of control group, LPS group and ANP (10-7 mol/L) group were collected, and those of the ANP (10-6, 10-8 mol/L) group were collected after 12 h. Alkaline phosphatase(AKP), lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), malondialdehyde(MDA), total phospholipids (TPL) and surface tension (ST) in the medium of every group were examined. RESULTS: AT-Ⅱ were characterized by AKP staining. The contents of LDH, AKP and MDA in the medium of every ANP group were lower than those in the corresponding LPS group. The TPL content in the medium of every ANP group was higher than that in the corresponding LPS group, and the change of ST of the medium was opposite to that of TPL. The effect at 12 h was the most significant, for example, at 12 h, the activities of AKP in the mediums were: control (43.5?10.4) U/L, LPS (98.1?16.4) U/L, LPS+ANP (10-6) (46.4?10.5) U/L, LPS+ANP(10-7) (60.7?9.5) U/L, LPS+ANP(10-8) (91.3?13.9) U/L.CONCLUSION: ANP protects the AT-Ⅱ from being damaged by LPS and promotes the secretion of pulmonary surfactants.

Objective To assess the protective effect of the normobaric oxygen (NBO)and hyperbaric oxygen (HBO)on the acute ischemic stroke of rat using MR diffusion weighted imaging (DWI).Methods 30 adult male SD rats were subjected to right middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)model using the suture method and transferred into a MRI scanner at 30 minutes after the onset of MCAO,then 30 rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=10 in each group),control,NBO and HBO group.NBO group rats were exposed to 100% oxygen for 2 hours,HBO group rats were administrated with hyperbaric oxygen for 2 hours respectively at 45 minutes after the onset of MCAO.Brain MRI scanner was performed at 12 h after the onset of MCAO,then pathological change of brain tissue was observed with hematoxylin-eosin (HE)staining and compared with DWI-infarct lesion.The relative cerebral infarction area and relative apparent diffusion coefficient (rADC)values of every group were measured on ADC maps.Results High signal intensity on MRI was found in the right cerebral ischemic region on DWI in three groups.The increased rates of the infraction lesion area in both NBO and HBO group were lower than that in control group (P<0.01),however,there was no significant difference between NBO and HBO group (P>0.05).The reduction rates of rADC in NBO and HBO group were significantly less than that in the control group (P<0.01),however,there was no significant difference between NBO and HBO group (P>0.05).HE staining confirmed that the cerebral infraction occured in three groups.There were significant positive correlations of the relative infarction lesion area between HE staining and DWI at 12 h after MCAO in three groups (P<0.01).Conclusion MRI shows that NBO and HBO could reduce the growth rates of cerebral infarction lesion area and the reduction rates of rADC,which proves that NBO and HBO have the neuroprotective effect on acute ischemic stroke of rats.