Objective To investigate the effects of Mycobacterium vaccae vaccine on immunological function and clinical character in elderly patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). MethodsA total of 100 elderly patients with stable COPD were randomly divided into immunotherapy group (group A, n= 50) and non-immunotherapy group (group B, n= 50), and normal control group (group C, n = 50). The levels of peripheral blood T-lymphocyte subsets (CD3+ , CD4+, CD8+ , CD4+/CD8+ ratio), natural killer cells (NK cells), immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM) and cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, TNF-a) were measured respectively before and after therapy. Group A and B were followed up for 1 year, then the times of acute outbreak and hospitalization of patients in the two groups were also compared. Results The levels of CD4 + ,CD4+/CD8+ ratio and NK cells in group A, B were significantly lower before therapy (P＜0. 05～0. 01＝, and the levels of IL-6, IL -8, TNF-a and IgA were significantly higher than in group C (P＜0. 01＝. After treatment with Mycobacterium vaccae vaccine in group A, the levels of CD4+ , CD4+/CD8+ ratio and NK cells were significantly higher (P＜0. 05-0. 01＝ and IL-6, IL-8, TNF-a and IgA were significantly lower than before treatment (all P＜0. 01＝. These levels showed no significant changes in group B after treatment (P＞0. 05). After 1-year follow-up, the times of acute outbreak and hospitalization on patients were statistically lower in group A than in group B (P＜ 0. 01 ).ConclusionsMycobacterium vaccae vaccine can improve cellular immunity function and reduce the times of acute outbreak and hospitalization in patients with stable COPD, so it has a higher clinical application value.

Animals ; Hypoxia ; classification ; metabolism ; Male ; Oxygen Consumption ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects of endoscopy for palliative treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer. Methods A typical case of un-resectable advanced pancreatic cancer was reviewed, who underwent obstruction of upper gastrointestinal tract, obstructive jaundice and alimentary tract hemorrhage subsequently. The patient received multiple placement of intestinal tract stents, common bile duct stents and hemostatic treatment endoscopically. Because of the obstruction of upper gastrointestinal tract, jejunalostomy and retrograde endoscopy through the orificium fistulae were performed to place bile duct stents. Results The patient survived for 10 months with good life quality after diagnosis, obstruction of upper gastrointestinal tract, obstructive jaundice and alimentary tract hemorrhage were cured and didn't recur till death.Conclusion Therapeutic endoscopy, safe and effective, is the first choice for advanced pancreatic cancer complicated with obstruction of digestive tract (including gastrointestinal tract, bile duct and pancreatic duct).

Culture medium and fermentation conditions for lipid production by Rhodosporidium toruloides were optimized with single factor and uniform design experiment. The best medium recipe was found with 70 g/L glucose, 0.1 g/L (NH4)2SO4, 0.75 g/L yeast extract, 1.5 g/L MgSO4. 7H2O, 0.4g/L KH2PO4, sterilized at 121 degrees C for 15 min, and then supplemented with ZnSO4 1.91 x 10(-6) mmol/L, CaCl2 1.50 mmol/L, MnCl2 1.22 x 10(-4) mmol/L and CuSO4 1.00 x 10(-4) mmol/L. The optimal fermentation conditions were as follows: 50 mL of medium (pH 6.0) in 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask with 10% inoculum (28h) under orbital shaking at 200 r/min for 120h at 30 degrees C. Under these conditions, yeast biomass accumulated lipids up to 76.1%.
Basidiomycota ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Copper ; pharmacology ; Culture Media ; Fermentation ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Lipids ; biosynthesis ; Magnesium Sulfate ; pharmacology ; Zinc ; pharmacology

Objective To observe the role of Osterix in controlling bone volume in vertebral body and to investigate the possible mechanism .Methods X-ray radiology ,micro CT and HE staining were used to evaluate the change of bone volume in both Osterix knockout and transgenic mice .TRAP staining was used to assess the activity of osteoclasts and immunohistochemistry was used to examine the expression level of RANKL .Results No obvious changes were found in Osterix transgenic mice ,while X-ray examina-tion ,micro CT and HE staining showed that the bone density and bone volume in the lumbar vertebral body increased significantly in OSX null mice 12 weeks after birth .TRAP staining showed that the number of osteoclasts decreased in OSX null mice .IHC re-vealed that the expression level of RANKL was down-regualted in OSX null mice .Conclusion Osterix play an important role in controlling bone volume of vertebral body in mice .

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility and therapeutic effect of thinned posterior tibial artery free perforator flap for the reconstruction of soft tissue defects at dorsum of hands.

METHODSSix fresh adult lower limbs specimens were injected with red latex via arterial cannula and dissected. The number, distribution, branches, and outer diameter of posterior tibia artery perforators were observed. Based on the anatomic study, the perforator flaps were designed to reconstruct soft tissue defects at dorsum of hands and wrists. The redundant fat on the flaps was removed, but preserving the nutrient vascular system. 11 flaps were used with the size ranging from 2 cm x 5 cm to 10 cm x 14 cm.

RESULTS43 skin perforators of posterior tibial artery were observed in six lower limbs, 29 perforators with the outer diameter is greater than 0.5 mm when they threading over the deep fascia plane, on average every 4.8 bundles of sides. The mean outside diameter of perforating artery is (1.8 +/- 0.5) mm, and the length is (44 +/- 15) mm. 6 perforators were founded both in the second and fifth zone which could be used for anastomosis for its better diameters. All flaps survived completely without any complication at donor sites. 7 cases were followed up for 3-12 months. Both satisfactory functional and cosmetic results were achieved with a soft and thinned appearance.

CONCLUSIONSThe thinned posterior tibial artery free perforator flap has a reliable blood supply and good appearance. It is very suitable for the reconstruction of small or medium-sized defects at the dorsum of hands and wrists.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Hand Injuries ; surgery ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; anatomy & histology ; blood supply ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Perforator Flap ; blood supply ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Tibial Arteries ; anatomy & histology ; transplantation ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDTumor involving the septum pellucidum is uncommon. Surgery as the main therapeutic procedure for this lesion is a challenge to neurosurgeons. We analyzed the clinical characteristics and pathological features of septum pellucidum tumor in 41 patients and compared the curative effects of frontal transcortical, trans-sulcal and interhemispheric transcallosal approaches.

METHODSClinical characteristics and the pathological features of septum pellucidum tumor were investigated retrospectively in 41 patients. The differences in postoperative residual rates, extents of tumors and resection of normal brain tissues after use of the three approaches in these patients were analyzed statistically.

RESULTSSeptum pellucidum tumor is more likely to attack young or middle-aged persons. The tumor mainly presents itself as a central neurocytoma or cerebral low-grade glioma in pathology and manifests as intracranial hypertension clinically. No difference was found in the extent of tumor resection but significant difference in the extent of normal brain tissue resection and in postoperative disability rate among the three approaches. The transcortical approach brought about the most serious injury to brain tissue and the highest disability rate, Whereas the frontal transcallosal approach the lightest injury and the lowest disability rate. The injury to brain tissue and the disability rate brought about by the front trans-sulcus approach were between the above two approaches.

CONCLUSIONSOperation is still regarded the major treatment for septum pellucidum tumor. Transcallosal and trans-sulcus approaches are fit with the concept of minimally invasive surgery, and transcallosal approach is the first choice for septum pellucidum tumor.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Septum Pellucidum

To analyze and evaluate predictive value of preoperative changes of serum levels of brain natri‐uretic peptide (BNP) and homocysteine (Hcy) levels for therapeutic effect and prognosis of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG ) in patients undergoing CABG .Methods : Clinical data of 115 patients undergoing CABG in our hospital were collected .Preoperative serum levels of BNP and Hcy were compared among patients with different disease severity , therapeutic effect and prognosis .Influence of serum BNP and Hcy levels on therapeutic effect and prognosis of CABG were analyzed .Results : Compared with medium and mild disease group , there were significant rise in preoperative serum levels of BNP [ (151.86 ± 22.57) pg／L vs.(82.57 ± 10.26) pg／L vs.(283.51 ± 32.47) pg／L] and Hcy [ (18.37 ± 4.51) μmol／L vs.(12.74 ± 2. 04) μmol／L vs.(31.56 ± 5.17) μmol／L] in severe disease group , and those of medium disease group were significantly higher than those of mild disease group , P＝0.001 all ;compared with effective group and ineffective group , there were significant reductions in preoperative serum levels of BNP [ (227. 49 ± 24. 52) pg／L vs.(308.26 ± 34.12) pg／L vs.(90.13 ± 10. 75) pg／L] and Hcy [ (29. 12 ± 5. 83) μmol／L vs.(46.15 ± 7.49) μmol／L vs.(19.03 ± 3.77) μmol／L] in markedly effective group , and those of effec‐tive group were significantly lower than those of ineffective group , P＝ 0.001 all.Compared with stenotic graft group and smooth graft group , there were significant rise in preoperative serum levels of BNP [ (271. 47 ± 25.18) pg／L vs .(92.41 ± 11.06) pg／L vs.(312. 54 ± 35.06) pg／L] and Hcy [ (33.08 ± 6. 14) μmol／L vs.(20. 05 ± 3. 68) μmol／L vs.(50.21 ± 7.75 ) μmol／L ] in death group , and those of stenotic graft group were significantly higher than those of smooth graft group , P＝0.001 all .Spearman correlation analysis indicated that serum BNP and Hcy levels were significant positively correlated with severity of CHD and prognosis of CABG ( r＝0. 624～0.814 , P＜0.05 or ＜0. 01).Multifactor Logistic regression analysis indicated that serum BNP and Hcy levels were independent risk factors for prognosis after CABG in CHD patients (OR＝ 5.133 , 1. 803 , P＝ 0.001 both ).Conclusion : The higher preoperative levels of BNP and Hcy before CABG are , the worse therapeutic effects are , and the higher risk of adverse prognosis of vascular stenosis and death are .

Objective To test the effectiveness of an integrated intervention to improve control and management of type 2 diabetic patients.Methods The study was designed as a randomized and multi-center clinic trial for 24 weeks.150 overweight patients from 2 companies and one hospital in Shanghai were recruited.The principal objective of the project was to compare the effectiveness of a structured diabetes management program consisting of 200 kcal breakfast as a meal replacement with low glycemic index (GI),scheduled blood glucose monitoring(6 times per week),low GI diet consulting,monitoring and medical check up and nutritional education (diet consulting,health education on nutrition and healthy lifestyle) in overweight individuals with type 2 diabetes.Results At 12th week,the level of fasting blood glucose(FBG) in both groups decreased by 16.5% and 10.6%,and at 24th week,the FBG also decreased by 25.0% in intervention group,but in control group FGB increased 2.8% (P＜0.01).Meanwhile,there were 8.2% and 11.1% reductions in HbA1C respectively at 12th week and at 24th week in intervention group,while the values were increased slightly in control group(P＜0.01).Compared with control group,waist circumference,hip circumference,and blood pressure were significantly reduced after treatment for 24 weeks in intervention group (P＜0.01).Conclusions Integrated intervention is an effective approach in managing FBG,HbA1C blood pressure,and weight control in overweight diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of interleukin 6 gene (IL-6) promoter region 634C/G (rs1800796) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) with the genetic susceptibility to endometriosis (Ems) in south Han Chinese women.

METHODSA case-control study was performed in 432 Ems patients and 499 control women to evaluate the SNP of IL-6 634C/G by using a fluorescent quantitative PCR-based high resolution melting (HRM) method.

RESULTSThere were statistical significances in the IL-6 634C/G alleles, whether or not to carry allele G and genotype distributions between Ems patients and control women (P=0.032, 0.014 and 0.045, respectively). Allele C enhanced the risk of Ems 1.057 times while allele G reduced the risk of Ems 0.835 time. Carrying allele G reduced the risk of Ems 0.822 time, whereas not carrying allele G enhanced the risk of Ems 1.143 times. Compared with genotype CC, the risk of Ems with genotype CG reduced 0.704 time (95% CI: 0.533-0.931). There was no significant difference in whether or not carrying allele G distribution between Ems patients and control women (P=0.729).

CONCLUSIONThe present study demonstrated significant association between the SNP of IL-6 634C/G and genetic susceptibility to Ems in south Han Chinese women.

Alleles ; Case-Control Studies ; Endometriosis ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; genetics