Objective To evaluate the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) combined with drug therapy on patients with delayed encephalopathy caused by carbon monoxide poisoning ( COP). Methods Twenty to forty sessions of HBO therapy were used to treat 34 COP patients. Assessment relied on 99mTc-ethyl cysteinate dimer (~(99m)Tc-ECD) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging of cerebral perfusion before and after treatment. Results After HBO therapy, cerebral perfusion in the COP patients improved significantly. There was a significant difference of the SPECT images before and after treatment. Conclusions SPECT imaging of cerebral perfusion can play an important role in the diagnosis of delayed encephalopathy caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, and it can be used for the therapeutic surveillance of HBO treatment.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect and safety of L-carnitine in the treatment of idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia based on current clinical evidence.

METHODSWe searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CNKI, VIP, CBM and Wanfang Database from the establishment to April 2014 for the published literature on the treatment of idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia with L-carnitine. We conducted literature screening, data extraction, and assessment of the methodological quality of the included trials according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, followed by statistical analysis with the RevMan 5. 2 software.

RESULTSSeven randomized controlled trials involving 751 patients with idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia met the inclusion criteria, and 678 of them were included in the meta-analysis. L-carnitine treatment achieved a significantly increased rate of spontaneous pregnancy as compared with the control group (RR = 3.2, 95% CI 1.74 to 5.87, P = 0.0002). After 12-16 and 24-26 weeks of medication, total sperm motility (WMD = 5.21, 95% CI 2.78 to 7.64, P < 0.0001 and WMD = 9.29, 95% CI 1.28 to 17.29, P = 0.02) and the percentage of progressively motile sperm (WMD = 12.44, 95% CI 4.58 to 20.31, P = 0.002 and WMD = 9.76, 95% CI 3.56 to 15.97, P = 0.002) were remarkably higher than those in the control group, but no statistically significant differences were observed in sperm concentration between the two groups (WMD = 4.91, 95% CI -2.63 to 12.45, P = 0.2 and WMD = 0.93, 95% CI -3.48 to 5.34, P = 0.68). After 12-16 weeks of treatment, the percentage of morphologically abnormal sperm was markedly decreased in the L-carnitine group as compared with the control (WMD = -2.48, 95% CI -4.35 to -0.61, P = 0.009), but showed no significant difference from the latter group after 24-26 weeks (WMD = -4.38, 95% CI -9.66 to 0.89, P = 0.1). No statistically significant difference was found in the semen volume between the two groups after 12-16 or 24-26 weeks of medication (WMD = -0.13, 95% CI -0.43 to 0.18, P = 0.42 and WMD = 0.28, 95% CI -0.02 to 0.58, P = 0.07). No serious L-carnitine-related adverse events were reported in 4 of the randomniized controlled trials.

CONCLUSIONThe current evidence indicates that L-carnitine can improve spontaneous pregnancy and semen parameters in the treatment of idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia, with no serious adverse reactions.

Asthenozoospermia ; drug therapy ; Carnitine ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility

BACKGROUNDThis study was to evaluate whether anergic cells induced by the blockade of CD40-CD154 and CD28-B7 costimulatory pathways can act as potent immunoregulatory cells in vitro and prolong cardiac allograft survival after adoptive transfer.

METHODSAnergic cells were induced in vitro by the addition of anti-CD154 and anti-CD80 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to primary MLR (mixed lymphocyte reaction) consisting of BALB/c as responder and C3H as stimulator. Anergic cells were added to a newly formed MLR in assessing the regulatory capacity and antigen specificity of anergic cells. The ability of anergic cells to respond to antigen and/or exogenous recombinant mouse interleukin-2 (rmIL-2) was tested. For in vivo studies, anergic cells were intravenously injected into 3.0-Gy gamma-irradiated BALB/c mice immediately after heterotopic abdominal cardiac transplantation. To prolong allograft survival, recipient mice injected with anergic cells received rapamycin therapy [1 mg.day(-1).kg(-1)].

RESULTSAnergic cells strongly suppressed the proliferation of naicaron;ve BALB/c splenocytes against the original (C3H) stimulator in a dose-dependent manner, but they failed to suppress the proliferation of naicaron;ve BALB/c splenocytes against the third-party (C57BL/6J) stimulator. The anergic state was reversed by both original (C3H) stimulator and additional exogenous IL-2. In in vivo studies, untreated irradiated BALB/c mice rejected C3H cardiac allografts with a mean survival time of (8.6 +/- 1.1) days, whereas those injected with the anergic cells rejected the allografts with a mean survival time of (11.8 +/- 1.9) days, which was slightly longer than that of the untreated mice. The protocol based on anergic cells injection plus rapamycin therapy could prolong allograft survival significantly [(29.6 +/- 4.4) days].

CONCLUSIONSAnergic cells induced by the blockade of CD40-CD154 and CD28-B7 costimulatory pathways can act as potent immunoregulatory cells in vitro, and prolong cardiac allograft survival after adoptive transfer in the presence of rapamycin therapy. This procedure might be clinically useful for prolonging allograft survival if optimal protocols are developed.

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; pharmacology ; B7-1 Antigen ; physiology ; CD28 Antigens ; physiology ; CD40 Antigens ; physiology ; CD40 Ligand ; physiology ; Graft Survival ; Heart Transplantation ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C3H ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology ; Transplantation, Homologous

OBJECTIVETo present the experience in using the Snodgrass technique, Duckett repair and bladder mucosa grafting for hypospadias.

METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed 251 cases of middle and posterior hypospadias treated by the Snodgrass technique, Duckett repair and bladder mucosa grafting from February 1997 to December 2008.

RESULTSThe success rates of the Snodgrass technique, Duckett repair and bladder mucosa grafting were 80.3% (53/66) , 76% (19/25) and 78.9% (15/19) for middle hypospadias and 68. 3% (41/60) , 63.6% (14/22) and 88. 1% (52/59) for the posterior type without statistical significant differences (all P > 0.05). Bladder mucosa grafting showed a significantly higher success rate than the other two procedures in either one-stage or two-stage surgical repair of posterior hypospadias (P < 0.05). Duckett repair achieved a significantly higher rate of success in children under 14 years than in the older ones (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOf the three surgical options, bladder mucosa grafting is the most suitable for posterior hypospadias, and Duckett repair is recommended for children under 14 years of age.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Hypospadias ; surgery ; Infant ; Male ; Mucous Membrane ; surgery ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Bladder ; surgery

OBJECTIVEThe study was conducted to reveal the distribution of genetic polymorphism of four Y chromosome specific short tandem repeat (Y-specific STR) loci in Li ethnic groups in Hainan Island, China.

METHODSFour tetranucleotide STR loci were simultaneously amplified with fluorescently labeled primers, and genotypes were determined with an automated DNA sequencer.

RESULTSAmong 230 unrelated males, the alleles at the four Y-specific STR loci were composed of some complex repeat structure. 4,5,4,5 alleles were observed in loci DYS3891, DYS390, DYS391, DYS393 respectively. A set of human allele ladders for the typing of the four Y-specific STRs was obtained in Li ethnic population. Gene diversity index (D) and haplotype diversity data were estimated for the four Y-STRs.

CONCLUSIONThe preliminary study indicates a reference population for detecting male migration events and should be useful in population genetics and forensic applications.

China ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; genetics ; DNA ; chemistry ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Variation ; Haplotypes ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVETo detect beta-catenin mRNA levels in sporadic colorectal cancers (SCRC) and adjacent normal colorectal mucosa, and to investigate the association between the beta-catenin mRNA level and its aberrant expression and clinicopathological parameters.

METHODSThe concentration of beta-catenin mRNA in 81 SCRCs and 28 adjacent normal colorectal mucosa specimens was determined by TaqMan real-time quantitative RT-PCR. The ratio of beta-catenin cDNA copies/GAPDH cDNA copies was used to represent the mRNA expression level in different tissues. The beta-catenin protein expression was determined by the EnVision two-step immunohistochemical method.

RESULTSbeta-catenin mRNA levels in SCRCs (2.527 +/- 2.284) were lower than those in the adjacent normal colorectal mucosa (5.003 +/- 3.326), P < 0.05. In addition, beta-catenin mRNA levels in lymph node-positive cases and tumors with ulcerative and infiltrating growth types were significantly lower (1.827 +/- 1.288, 2.202 +/- 2.035) than those in lymph node-negative cases and polypoid growth type tumors (3.359 +/- 2.881, 3.108 +/- 2.610), P < 0.05. No significant difference of beta-catenin mRNA level was found between cases with aberrant beta-catenin cytoplasm or nuclear expression and those without.

CONCLUSIONSSCRCs express lower levels of beta-catenin mRNA than normal colorectal mucosa. Such lower level expression is associated with lymph node metastasis and tumors with ulcerative and infiltrative growth pattern. Aberrant cytoplasmic and nuclear expression of beta-catenin appears unrelated to the lower mRNA levels. Quantitative detection of beta-catenin mRNA may be a useful approach to monitor the biological behavior of SCRCs.

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intestinal Mucosa ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; beta Catenin ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Objective To study the clinical value of serum cytokeratin 19 fragment (CYFRA21-1) as a biomarker in evaluating its prognosis,monitoring and follow-up of the postoperative patients with non- small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods Serum CYFRA21-1 was determined by radioimmunoassay for 207 patients with NSCLC before and after surgical operation at Tongji Hospital,Shanghai.Relationship between serum CYFRA21-1 and the prognosis,recurrence and metastasis of lung cancer was analyzed retrospectively.Results The patients were followed-up for 37 months in average.Preoperative serum CYFRA21-1 was positive in 42.0% (87/207) of all the cases,48.8% (60/123) of squamous cell earcinama and 34.6% (27/78) of adenocarcinoma,with statistical significance (X~2=3.901,P

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether Candida albicans-native phospholipomannan (PLM) induce an inflammation response through Toll-like receptor(TLRé2 in human acute monocytic leukemia cell line (THP-1) cells.

METHODSHuman THP-1 monocytes were challenged with PLM in vitro. The mRNA expressions of TLR2, TLR4, proinflammatory cytokine [interleukin(IL)-6], and chemokine (IL-8) were assayed by real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The secretions of IL-6 and IL-8 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of TLR2 was analyzed with Western blot.

RESULTSPLM increased the mRNA expressions and secretions of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6) and chemokines (IL-8) in THP-1 cells (all P=0.0000). PLM up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of TLR2 (P=0.0000), whereas the mRNA level of TLR4 was not altered. PLM hydrolyzed with β-D-mannoside manno hydrolase failed to induce gene and protein expressions of TLR2, IL-6, and IL-8. Anti-TLRS-neutralizing antibody blocked the PLM-induced secretions of IL-6 and IL-8 in THP-1 cells (P = 0.0003, P = 0.0010).

CONCLUSIONCanidada albicans-native PLM may contribute to the inflammatory responses during Candida infection in a TLR2-dependent manner.

Candida albicans ; chemistry ; Cells, Cultured ; Glycolipids ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-8 ; metabolism ; Monocytes ; drug effects ; immunology ; metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 2 ; metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the plasma levels of ascorbic acid and vitamin E in patients with liver cirrhosis and to explore their significance.

METHODSThe plasma levels of ascorbic acid,vitamin E and lipoperoxides in patients with liver cirrhosis were measured, and the results were compared with those of sex-and age-matched healthy subjects.

RESULTThe plasma levels of ascorbic acid, vitamin E and lipoperoxides in the patients group were (42.94 +/-6.99)micromol/L, (17.99 +/-3.51)micromol/L and (14.09 +/-1.28)micromol/L, respectively, while those in the control group were (53.30 +/-9.45)micromol/L (t=9.50, P=0.000), (24.59 +/-7.22)micromol/L (t=7.94, P=0.000) and (12.11 +/-1.20)micromol/L (t=17.21, P=0.000), respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe levels of ascorbic acid and vitamin E in patients with liver cirrhosis decrease significantly,which may indicates the disturbance of balance between oxidation and antioxidation.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Ascorbic Acid ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxides ; blood ; Liver Cirrhosis ; blood ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Vitamin E ; blood

Objective To study the fundus diseases that primary and middle school students may be susceptible to suffer, and to understand the prevalence rate and constituent ratio of these diseases. Methods A total of 9 504 students were examined from November 2015 to February 2017 to find out their ocular fundus conditions. They were from all the primary and secondary schools directly subordinate to Dagang Oilfield headquarters. Among the 9 504 participants 4 998 were male and 4 506 were female,with the age span of 5 to 23 and the average age of(13.40±3.41).Our medical examination included uncorrected visual acuity examination and fundus oculi photography. The distribution of fundus diseases was analyzed,including gender,vision acuity and age composition of patients with major diseases. Results Among the 9 504 students,4 314 had emmetropic eyes,and 5 190 had refractive errors.A total of 9 126 out of the 9 504 examined students had normal ocular fundus(96.02%),while those with abnormal ocular fundus accounted for 378(3.98%).The main types of abnormal ocular fundus included the tessellation fundus 354 (3.72%), followed by the large depression of optic disk 16 (0.17%). Among all the 354 cases with tessellation fundus, 179 were male and 175 were female. There were 257 students whose visual acuity≤0.3/0.3,and the prevalence was higher in 17-19 years old students(5.86%).Conclusion It has been revealed in this epidemiological survey that the main abnormal ocular fundus of primary and middle school students in Dagang is tessellation fundus.Most of the tessellation fundus are caused by middle and high myopia,and very few are found in emmetropic students. It has also been found that the incidence of tessellation fundus increases significantly with the increase of age. The large depression of optic disk ranks the second in the abnormal ocular fundus, which is mostly physiological.