Objective To study the morphologic and pathological characteristics of cat scratch disease(CSD).Methods Eight cases with clinical data and tissue blocks were collected in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Hainan Province.The tissues were successively stained by hematox- ylin and eosin,Warthin-Starry(W-S),acid fast and periodic acid-schiff(PAS)methods to study the histopathological changes and pathogens.Results W-S positive Bartonella henselae was the major pathogen of CSD and there was no acid-fast or PAS positive pathogen could be found in the tissues. There were three forms of histological representation as follows:plasmocytoid monocytes(PMO)and monocytoid B-cells(MBC)hyperplasia plus neutrophils immersion in lymphatic sinus(2 cases); MBC rich granuloma and micro-abscess formation(3 cases); starlit abscess with little or no bacteria in the granuloma(3 cases).Conclusions Bartonella henselae mainly transmits through cats.Contact histo- ry with cats and lymphadenectasis suggest the possibility of CSD.The diagnosis can be confirmed by the presence of W-S staining positive bacteria,MBC rich granuloma or micro-abscess and neutrophil reactions in histopathological exam.

OBJECTIVETo study the association between susceptibility to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-related hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) and the null genotypes of detoxication gene gstM1 and gstT1.

METHODSPeripheral blood white blood cells DNA samples were obtained from all the subjects including 140 HCC cases and 536 controls from AFB1 high risk area Guangxi. gstM1 and gstT1 polymorphisms were detected by polymerase chain reaction technique.

RESULTS(1) gstM1- and gstT1-present were associated with decreasing risk of HCC. gstM1- and gstT1-null were associated with the increasing risk of HCC [adjusted OR (95 % CI) = 2.07 (1.20-3.57) and 1.44 (0.85-2.45), respectively]; (2) The appearance of both gstM1- and gstT1-null genotypes were more susceptible to HCC than either one of them(adjusted OR and 95% CI are 2.43 and (1.19-4.97); (3) From low/median to high level of AFB1 exposure, both gstM1- and gstTl-null genotypes were associated with significantly conspicuous increasing risk of HCC [adjusted OR(95% CI) = 12.76(5.38-30.24) and 7.82(3.61-16.90) respectively].

CONCLUSIONIt was suggested that: genetic polymorphisms of gstM1 and gstT1 were susceptible to HCC; individuals who were gstM1- or gstT1-null would have an increasing risk of developing HCC while individuals with both nulls were more susceptible. There was evidence of interaction between gstM1- and gstT1-null and the level of AFB1 exposure which was associated with the increasing risk of HCC.

Adult ; Aflatoxin B1 ; toxicity ; Aged ; Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; complications ; etiology ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Environmental Exposure ; adverse effects ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Hepatitis B ; complications ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; complications ; etiology ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo study the genetic susceptibility to chemical carcinogens of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients in a high-risk area in Guangxi.

METHODSPCR technique was used to examine the frequency of glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 gene deletion in a matched case-control study of 91 patients with NPC and 135 control subjects.

RESULTSThe deletion frequency of control subjects was 47.4% (65/135) for GSTM1 and 40.7% (55/135) for GSTT1, whereas that of NPC patients was 61.5% (56/91) for GSTM1 and 59.3% (54/91) for GSTT1 with statistically significant difference between the patients and the controls (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). Furthermore, the frequency of codeletion of both genes was also higher in NPC patients than the control with statistically significant difference (chi2 = 12.533, P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONIn high-risk area, nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients and local residents have high frequency of GSTM1 and/or GSTT1 gene deletion. It suggests that a genetic susceptibility to putative chemical carcinogens may be responsible for NPC clustering in the high-risk area studied.

Case-Control Studies ; China ; Gene Deletion ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; enzymology ; genetics

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the association between susceptibility to aflatoxin B1(AFB1)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the polymorphism of detoxication gene GSTM1.

METHODSThe peripheral white blood cell DNA samples were obtained from all the subjects including 140 HCC cases and 536 controls from an AFB1 high risk area in Guangxi province. The GSTM1 polymorphism was detected using PCR technique.

RESULTS(1) The GSTM1-present was associated with a decreased HCC risk. The GSTM1-null was associated with an increased HCC risk [adjusted OR (95% CI)= 2.07 (1.20-3.57)]. (2) In the cohorts of both low/median and high exposure levels of AFB1, GSTM1-null genotype was associated with a conspicuous significantly increased risk for HCC [adjusted OR (95% CI) = 1.92 (0.92-4.00) and 1.80 (0.77-4.17)].

CONCLUSIONThe results suggest that genetic polymorphism of GSTM1 was susceptible to HCC and individuals who are GSTM1-null have an increased risk of developing HCC. There is evidence of interaction between GSTM1 polymorphism and AFB1 exposure, especially with low/median degrees of AFB1 exposure.

Aflatoxin B1 ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic

This study was purposed to investigate the acute myeloid leukemia with complex karyotype t(2;21;8)(p12;q22;q22) (AML-M(2)) by using morphologic, immunologic, cytogenetic and molecular biologic classification technique (MICM) and to analyze the MICM characteristics of AML-M(2) and their diagnostic significance. The FAB typing of bone marrow cells (BMCs) was performed by Wright-Giemsa staining and histochemical staining of BM smears; the immunophenotype of leukemic cells was detected by flow cytometry; the karyotypes of chromosome samples prepared by short-term (48 hours) conventional culture of fresh BMCs were analyzed by RHG banding technique; the FISH signaling in mitotic metaphase was determined by dual color and dual fusion AML/ETO probe and chromosome painting probe, and was compared with results of conventional cytogenetic assay; the AML/ETO fusion transcripts were detected by nested RT-PCR. The results indicated that the bone marrow smears of case 1 showed extremely hyperplasia with myeloblasts in which a ratio of eosinophilic granulocytes and monocytes increased. Case 2 accorded with AML-M(2b) in which abnormal increase of myelocytes mainly appeared. The complex karyotype t(2;21;8)(p12;q22;q22) was detected by cytogenetic analysis combined with FISH in both two cases and AML1/ETO fusion transcripts were found by RT-PCR as well. The immunophenotype assay showed high co-expression of CD34 and HLA-DR accompanied with CD19 and CD56 expressions. It is concluded that application of MICM has an important significance for correct diagnostic typing of AML-M2 with complex karyotype variant of t(8; 21)(p12;q22;q22).
Adult ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 2 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 ; Female ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Karyotyping ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; diagnosis ; genetics ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To explore the possible role of voltage-gated potassium channel-interacting protein 1 (KChIP1) in the pathogenesis of epilepsy. Methods Sprague Dawley female adult rats were treated with pentylenettrazole (PTZ) to develop acute and chronic epilepsy models. The approximate coronal sections of normal and epilepsy rat brain were processed for immunohistochemistry. Double-labeling confocal microscopy was used to determine the coexistence of KChIP1 and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Results KChIP1 was expressed abundantly throughout adult rat brain. KChIP1 is highly co-localize with GABA transmitter in hippocampus and cerebral cortex. In the acute PTZ-induced convulsive rats, the number of KChIP1-postive cells was significantly increased especially in the regions of CA1 and CA3 (P < 0.05); whereas the chronic PTZ-induced convulsive rats were found no changes. The number of GABA-labeled and co-labeled neurons in the hippocampus appeared to have no significant alteration responding to the epilepsy-genesis treatments. Conclusion KChIP1 might be involved in the PTZ-induced epileptogenesis process as a regulator to neuronal excitability through influencing the properties of potassium channels. KChIP1 is preferentially expressed in GABAergic neurons, but its changes did not couple with GABA in the epileptic models.

OBJECTIVETo explore the value of CT perfusion in early diagnosis and management of superacute local cerebral infarction in rhesus monkeys.

METHODAcute local cerebral infarction was induced in the rhesus monkeys during digital subtraction angiography (DSA) by introduction of pale thrombus prepared from autologous blood into the M1 branch of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). Plain CT scan and CT perfusion scanning were performed at different time points before and after DSA operation, and the results were analyzed in conjunction with the pathologic changes.

RESULTSIschemic lesions were displayed on CT perfusion images, which showed local hypoperfusion, reduced cerebral blood flow and volume, and mean transit time delay in the compromised area. Local hypointense infarct area was identified in plain CT scan 24 h after the DSA operation, and the results were in good agreement with pathological examination during autopsy.

CONCLUSIONCT perfusion imaging of the brain can accurately capture the cerebral perfusion deficits in acute ischemic stroke before morphologic changes take place, and therefore provides good means for thrombolytic treatment evaluation of stroke.

Acute Disease ; Animals ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; Brain Ischemia ; diagnosis ; Cerebral Infarction ; diagnosis ; Contrast Media ; administration & dosage ; Early Diagnosis ; Macaca mulatta ; Perfusion ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVE: To study the trinucleotide repeats of GCN (GCA, GCT, GCC, GCG) encoding Alanine in exon 3 of the PHOX2B gene among healthy individuals from southwest China and two patients with Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS). METHODS: The number and sequence of the GCN repeats of the PHOX2B gene were analyzed by capillary electrophoresis, Sanger sequencing and cloning sequencing of 518 healthy individuals and two newborns with CCHS, respectively. RESULTS: Among the 1036 alleles of the 518 healthy individuals, five alleles were identified, including (GCN)₇, (GCN)₁₃, (GCN)₁₄, (GCN)₁₅ and (GCN)₂₀. The frequency of the (GCN)₂₀ allele was the highest (94.79%). And five genotypes were identified, which included (GCN)₇/(GCN)₂₀, (GCN)_13/(GCN)₂₀, (GCN)₁₄/(GCN)₂₀, (GCN)₁₅/(GCN)₂₀, (GCN)₂₀/(GCN)₂₀. The homozygous genotypes were all (GCN)₂₀/(GCN)₂₀, and the carrier rate was 89.58%. Four GCN sequences of the (GCN)₂₀ homozygous genotypes were identified among the 464 healthy individuals. The GCN repeat numbers in the exon 3 of the PHOX2B gene showed no significant difference between the expected and observed values, and had fulfilled the,Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The genotypes of the two CCHS patients were (GCN)₂₀/(GCN)₂₅ and (GCN)₂₀/(GCN)₃₀, respectively. CONCLUSION It is important to determine the GCN repeats and genotypic data of the exon 3 of the PHOX2B gene among the healthy individuals. The number of GCN repeats in 518 healthy individuals was all below 20. The selection of appropriate methods can accurately detect the polyalanine repeat mutations (PARMs) of the PHOX2B gene, which is conducive to the early diagnosis, intervention and treatment of CCHS.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Homeodomain Proteins/genetics* ; Hypoventilation/congenital* ; Mutation ; Sleep Apnea, Central/genetics* ; Transcription Factors/genetics*

Objective To understand the respiratory protection competency of staff in hospitals.Methods Staff from six hospitals of different levels and characteristics in Beijing were selected,including doctors,nurses,medical technicians,and servicers,to conduct knowledge assessment on respiratory protection competency.According to exposure risks of respiratory infectious diseases,based on actual cases and daily work scenarios,content of respira-tory protection competency assessment was designed from three aspects:identification of respiratory infectious di-seases,transmission routes and corresponding protection requirements,as well as correct selection and use of masks.The assessment included 6,6,and 8 knowledge points respectively,with 20 knowledge points in total,all of which were choice questions.For multiple-choice questions,full marks,partial marks,and no mark were given respective-ly if all options were correct,partial options were correct and without incorrect options,and partial options were correct but with incorrect options.Difficulty and discrimination analyses on question of each knowledge point was conducted based on classical test theory.Results The respiratory protection competency knowledge assessment for 326 staff members at different risk levels in 6 hospitals showed that concerning the 20 knowledge points,more than 60％participants got full marks for 6 points,while the proportion of full marks for other questions was relatively low.Less than 10％participants got full marks for the following 5 knowledge points:types of airborne diseases,types of droplet-borne diseases,conventional measures for the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infec-tion with respiratory infectious diseases,indications for wearing respirators,and indications for wearing medical protective masks.Among the 20 knowledge questions,5,1,and 14 questions were relatively easy,medium,and difficult,respectively;6,1,4,and 9 questions were with discrimination levels of ≥0.4,0.30-0.39,0.20-0.29,and ≤0.19,respectively.Conclusion There is still much room for hospital staff to improve their respiratory protection competency,especially in the recognition of diseases with different transmission routes and the indications for wearing different types of masks.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the risk factors of detection of uric acid crystals by dual energy CT (DECT) in patients with gout diagnosed by gold standard. METHODS: From June 2011 to December 2018, clinical data of 29 patients were collected who were diagnosed with acute or chronic gout by positive polarized light analysis of joint synovial fluid in First Hospital of Peking University. Chi-square test, Logistic regression and t-test were used. The relationship between DECT and the clinical data, laboratory examination and drug treatment were analyzed. RESULTS: In this study, 29 patients were included, of whom, 22 patients were detected with uric acid crystals by DECT, and 7 patients were not. According to whether the uric acid crystals were detected or not by DECT, the patients were divided into two groups. Compared with the negative group, the patients were older in positive group [(47±12) vs. (39±11) years, P=0.15], had higher body bass index (BMI) [(27.9±3.7) vs. (22.8±2.1) kg/m², P=0.002], longer gout disease duration [(135±102) vs.(45±53) months, P=0.035], higher in the highest serum uric acid in history [(643±121) vs. (543±103) μmol/L, P=0.043]. Although uric acid near DECT in positive group was higher than in negative group, there was no statistical difference [(558±150) vs. (513±89) μmol/L, P=0.497]. Comparing positive group with negative group, the percentage of the patients in acute phase was higher than in chronic phase [18(81.8%) vs. 4(57%), P=0.311];the percentage of the patients taking uric-acid-lowering drugs was higher than the other group [22(100%) vs. 5 (71%), P=0.052];the percentage of the patients with recurrent typical attacks was higher than that of those without typical attacks [22 (100%) vs.6 (85%), P=0.241]. The consistency of symptoms and the finding of uric acid crystals by DECT had been compared between the joints. The right knee joint had the highest consistency (Kappa=0.627), followed by the left MTP1 (Kappa=0.58), the right metatarsophalangeal 1(MTP1, Kappa=0.551) and the left knee (Kappa=0.494), all of which had statistical significance. The consistency of the ankle joint was lower (the right ankle joint: Kappa=0.19, the left ankle joint: Kappa=0.256), showing no statistical significance. BMI (kg/m²) [2.307 (1.139-4.670), P=0.02], gout duration (years) [0.306 (0.906-4.881), P=0.186], and the highest uric acid level in history (mg/dL) [0.023 (0.981-2.764), P=0.137] had relationship to the positive result of urate crystals in DECT. CONCLUSION Gout patients with larger BMI, higher previous highest uric acid value and longer gout duration had higher sensitivity of the positive result in DECT.
Arthritis, Gouty ; Gout/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Risk Factors ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Uric Acid