Objective To explore the value of Toll-like receptor 2(TLR2) on the diagnosis of neonatal septicemia especially for the early diagnosis.Methods Twenty-two newborns with septicemia were divided into 2 groups according to the time of onset:early-onset group(n=12) and late-onset group(n=10).Another 14 non-infectious newborns were collected as control group.The TLR2 mRNA in peripheral blood was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction,and mononuclear cells were isolated by the density gradient centrifuga-tion;the C reaction protein(CRP) was detected,and the co-relationship of the indexes was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis.Results 1.The level of CRP in early-onset group were(157.89?32.96) ng?L-1,and(89.78?16.24) ng?L-1 in late-onset group,and there was significant difference between both groups(P=0.001);(6.91?1.20) ng?L-1 in control group,which was significantly lower than that in early-onset group and late-onset group(P=0.000,0.001).2.The expression of TLR2 mRNA in early-onset group and late-onset group was(57.38?10.72)?1012 copies?L-1and(32.74?4.65) ?1012 copies?L-1,which was significantly higher than that in control group[(4.12?0.68) ?1012 copies?L-1].3.CRP is positively correlated with TLR2 mRNA(C=0.972,P=0.000).Conclusions TLR2 expression is proven to be related to both the level of CRP and the stage of onset and may play a key role in the pathogenesis of neonatal septicemia.Detection for TLR2 may assist the earlier diagnose of atypical neonatal septicemia.

Objective To observe changes of serum concentrations of interleukin-18(IL-18) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1) in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy(HIE) and to explore the correlation of the 2 indices and its effect on patients′condition.Methods Thirty newborn infants met the criteria for HIE.There were 16 cases in mild HIE group,14 cases in moderate and severe HIE group.Twenty normal newborn infants were used as control group.The serum concentrations of IL-18 and ICAM-1 of HIE group and control group were detected using ELISA on the third day and 7th day.Results 1.The IL-18 levels of the mild,moderate and severe HIE and control groups measured within 3 days of life were (120.1?12.7),(175.1?15.4),(100.3?12.5) ng/L,respectively.The concentrations of IL-18 in HIE groups were higher than that of control group(Pa

Objective Analyse the change of left ventricular (LV) longitudinal and radial strain in patients with aortic regurgitation (AR) and discuss the relationship between the 2D strain parameter and the filling and ejection of LV. Methods Thirty healthy controls and 45 patients with AR (24 patients with moderate AR and 21 with severe AR) were enrolled in this study, LV systolic global peak radial strain(GRS), systolic global peak longitudinal strain(GLS) and systolic peak longitudinal strain(S), systolic peak longitudinal strain rate(SRs), early diastolic peak longitudinal strain rate(SRe) of every segment were measured or calculated using 2D-STE, early and late diastolic transmitral flow velocity (E, A) were recorded by pulsed Doppler echocardiography and early diastolic mitral annular velocity (Ea) were assessed by tissue Doppler imaging,the E/A and E/Ea ratio were calculated. Discuss the relationship of GLS and LV ejection fraction (LVEF), GLS and E/Ea using the Pearson correlation analysis. Results The GLS were (-20.09±1.47)%, (-18.68±1.52)%, (-12.56±3.25)%and the GRS were (46.71±7.65)%, (43.01±5.95)%, (28.52±6.13)% in control group, patients with moderate and severe AR (MAR group and SAR group) respectively. There were significant differences among the groups (F =82.08,47.69, both P < 0.01) as following:SAR group with control group and MAR group [ q=17.56,13.60 (GLS), q=13.44, 10.20 (GRS), all P<0.01),MAR group and control group [ q=3.42 (GLS), P<0.01]. The SRs of the apical segment were (-1.24±0.22)s-1, (-1.19±0.25)s-1, (-1.04±0.28)s-1 in control group,MAR group and SAR group respectively. There were significant differences among the groups (F=4.47, P < 0.05) as following:SAR group with control group and MAR group ( q=4.02,3.28, both P<0.01). The S, SRe of apical segment and the S,SRs,SRe of basal and midventricular in MAR group were all lower than the control group ( q=4.42, 5.01, 3.48, 3.24, 4.78, 4.12, 3.61, 6.72, all P < 0.01). Pearson correlation analysis revealed the GLS had a relationship with LVEF and E/Ea ( r=-0.73, 0.64, both P<0.01). Conclusion The reduced longitudinal strain and strain rate could detect LV dysfunction in patients with AR in early stage and the GLS had the ability to reflect the diastolic filling and systolic ejecting of the LV.

To investigate the role and mechanism of ceramide (Cer) regulation in alcohol-induced neuronal proliferation and the newborn neurons formation, we used sphingomyelin synthase 2 (predominant enzyme of Cer metabolism) knockout (SMS2(-/-)) and wild type (WT) female mice to establish the model of prenatal alcohol exposure. In 24 h after being given birth (postnatal day 0, P0), the offspring of model mice received blood sphingomyelin (SM) measurement with enzymatic method. On P0, P7, P14 and P30, the proliferation of granule cells in the dentate gyrus and newborn neurons were investigated with immunofluorescent labeling. The expression of protein kinase Cα (PKCα) in the hippocampus was tested with Western blot analysis. The results showed that the SM level of blood in SMS2(-/-) pups was significantly lower than that in WT pups. No matter in SMS2(-/-) or WT mice, the prenatal alcohol exposure down-regulated the SM levels in pups with dose-dependency. In both SMS2(-/-) and WT pups, the number of proliferative neurons and newborn neurons in the dentate gyrus gradually decreased with the growing age. Compared with the WT pups, SMS2(-/-) pups showed significantly more proliferative neurons and newborn neurons in the dentate gyrus. Notably, prenatal alcohol exposure dose-dependently increased proliferative neurons and newborn neurons in the dentate gyrus in both WT and SMS2(-/-) pups. The hippocampal expression of PKCα protein in SMS2(-/-) mice was lower than that in WT mice, and prenatal alcohol exposure could up-regulate the PKCα protein expression in both WT and SMS2(-/-) mice with dose dependency. These results suggest that alcohol exposure during pregnancy can induce the compensatory neural cell proliferation and the production of newborn neurons in offspring, and the Cer-ceramide-1-phosphate (C1P) pathway is involved in alcohol-induced neural cell proliferation. The activation of PKCα may be a key step to start the Cer-C1P pathway and up-regulate the alcohol-induced neural cell proliferation and the newborn neurons formation.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Ceramides ; metabolism ; Dentate Gyrus ; cytology ; Ethanol ; toxicity ; Female ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Neurons ; cytology ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ; physiopathology ; Protein Kinase C-alpha ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transferases (Other Substituted Phosphate Groups) ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Wenyang Yiqi Huoxue Recipe (WYHR) on the apoptosis of photoreceptor cells in retinal degeneration slow (RDS) mice, and to investigate its molecular mechanisms.

METHODSRDS mice were randomly divided into the model group and the Chinese medicine group,and C57BL/6J mice were selected as the normal control group. Each group consisted of 4 female mice and 2 male mice. Mice in the Chinese medicine group were administered with WYHR (10 mg/g) by gastrogavage since mating. Baby mice drunk WYHR decoction instead of drinking water once they were born. The offspring were administrated with low dose WYHR decoction by gastrogavage from the 7th postnatal day, and the dose was increased to that for adult mice from the 21st postnatal day. Physiological saline was administrated to mice in the model group and the normal control group by gastrogavage. At 18, 28 and 48 postnatal days, electroretinogram (ERG) was used to evaluate the retina functional variation, and the apoptotic rate of photoreceptor cells was determined by TUNEL staining. HE staining was performed. The number of photoreceptor cells of the outer nuclear layer was calculated. Furthermore, effect of WYHR on Rhodopsin and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) expression was examined using immunochemical assay.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, a- and b-wave latency and amplitude, as well as the bFGF expression sharply increased in the Max-ERG of the Chinese medicine group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) at 18 postnatal days. At 28 and 48 postnatal days, a- and b-wave latency and amplitude sharply increased, photoreceptor cell layer numbers of the outer nuclear layer obviously increased, the apoptosis rate of retinal photoreceptor cells obviously decreased, expressions of Rhodopsin and bFGF in the Chinese medicine group significantly increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONWYHR could effectively inhibit the apoptosis of photoreceptor cells in RDS mice, which might be attributed to up-regulating bFGF expression.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate ; cytology ; drug effects ; Retinal Degeneration ; metabolism ; pathology

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; enzymology ; Female ; Glutathione S-Transferase pi ; metabolism ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; enzymology ; Male ; Methylation ; Methyltransferases ; metabolism ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of intracellular interaction between fibroblasts and colorectal cancer cells on the expression of insulin growth factor binding protein7 (IGFBP7).

METHODSColorectal cancer cells SW480 were cultured with or without fibroblasts HELF cells in RPMI 1640 medium for 0 h, 48 h, 7 2 h and 96 h, respectively. By RT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining methods,the expression of IGFBP7 was detected in mono-and co-cultured cells.

RESULTWhen SW480 cells were co-cultured with HELF cells, IGFBP7 expression in SW480 cells was significantly upregulated. Furthermore, IGFBP7 was induced in HELF cells both at mRNA and protein levels, which did not express when cells were mono-cultured.

CONCLUSIONFibroblasts-colorectal cancer cells interaction induces the expression of IGFBP7, which indicates tumor-stroma interactions may play an important role in colorectal cancer development.

Cell Communication ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Coculture Techniques ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Fetus ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEThe study was designed to evaluate adenovirus infection in hospitalized children with diarrhea.

METHODStool specimens were collected from 519 hospitalized children with diarrhea during 2010, including those defined as community-acquired diarrhea (CAD) who developed diarrhea symptoms within 48 hours after admission, and those defined as hospital-acquired diarrhea (HAD) whose symptoms of diarrhea occurred beyond 48 hours after admission. PCR was employed to identify adenovirus in fecal samples by using universal primers for adenoviruses of all types, and specific primers for adenovirus group F. PCR products with expected size were sequenced for adenovirus typing. Clinical data for children with adenovirus positive specimens were analyzed.

RESULTA total of 519 hospitalized children, including 289 with CAD and 230 with HAD, were enrolled in the study. Out of 519 stool specimens, 76 showed PCR products with expected 301 bp and identified as adenovirus by sequencing, and the overall positive rate was 14.6%. Out of 289 CAD samples, 43 were positive (positive rate was 14.9%). Of them, 20 were identified as enteric adenovirus infection (adenovirus type 41, Ad41). Thirty-three out of 230 HAD samples were positive (positive rate was 14.3%). Of them, 13 were characterized as enteric adenovirus infection (one was Ad40 and others were Ad41). Ad41 in this study could be divided into two genotypes by phylogenetic tree analysis. Non-enteric adenoviruses were identified in 43 specimens (43/76, 56.6%) including 5 of serotype 1, 8 of serotype 2, 15 of serotype 3, 10 of serotype 7, 1 of serotype 12, and 4 of serotype 31. In this study, the positive rate of adenovirus between CAD children and HAD children did not differ (χ(2) = 0.03, P > 0.05), while the positive rate of enteric adenovirus was high in CAD children.

CONCLUSIONAdenovirus infection was the main cause of diarrhea in hospitalized children. In this study, the positive rate of adenovirus was similar between children with CAD and with HAD. Enteric adenovirus (adenovirus group F) was the most common adenovirus serotype detected in 2010 in Beijing, and Ad41 was the dominant type.

Adenoviridae ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Adenoviridae Infections ; epidemiology ; Age Distribution ; Child, Hospitalized ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; Diarrhea ; epidemiology ; virology ; Diarrhea, Infantile ; epidemiology ; virology ; Feces ; virology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sex Distribution

BACKGROUNDDespite psycho-oncological concerns and studies having thrived these past decades, sparse reports illustrate to what extent Chinese cancer patients are involved and influenced by comorbid mental health problems. To investigate the mental health condition of cancer patient, as well as its possible impacts on prognosis, the first large-scale survey was performed in the west of China.

METHODSFor standardizing and facilitating the assessment of mental illness in inpatients with cancer, a multidisciplinary rating flow was designed and established. On the basis of this system, between May 1st and 31st 2009, 2279 cancer inpatients from nine medical centers received preliminarily screening executed by oncologists using screening scales Mental Health Screening Questionnaire (MHSQ), Zung self-rating depression scales (SDS), Zung self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), and posttraumatic stress disorder checklist-civilian version (PCL-C). Further analyses of the ones screened positively were conducted by psychiatrists applying corresponding symptom-rating scales (HAMA/HAMD/BPRS). We summarized the overall proportion of patients with impaired mental health based on the data acquired from preliminary screening, and then calculated occurrence rates of each clinical syndrome of mental disorder according to symptom conclusions. The impact of comorbid mental illness was evaluated through the follow-up scheduled 1 year later, by comparing the survival rate, progression of disease, and quality of life (QoL) between subgroup patients with or without clinical syndrome of mental disorder.

RESULTSIn preliminary screenings, 26.1% (595/2279) yielded positive results. Further symptom conclusions confirmed 15.8% (359/2279) with clinical syndrome of mental disorder. Regarding specific type of syndrome, the occurrence rates of depression, anxiety, psychotic symptoms, and stress-related disorders were 13.3%, 10.2%, 2.8%, and 1.4%, respectively. Follow-up assessments were successfully performed in 1918 subjects (84.2%). Further analyses indicated that although insignificant influence was observed in terms of 1-year survival rate and disease progression, cancer patients with a clinical syndrome of mental disorder obtained significantly lower levels (P < 0.05) in five domains of QoL (scored by QLQ-C30).

CONCLUSIONIn China, at least 26% of cancer patients experienced impaired mental health, of which 60% already had a detectable clinical syndrome of mental disorder, which could significantly undermine their QoL.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; epidemiology ; Comorbidity ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Mental Disorders ; epidemiology ; Mental Health ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms ; psychology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical outcome of reconstruction of maxillary defects with vascularized iliac crest flap and simultaneous osseointegrated implant embedding.

METHODSDuring September to October 2003, two patients with maxillary defects from tumor resection underwent microsurgical reconstruction. The free iliac osteomuscular flap transferring and simultaneous osseointegrated implant embedding were performed to repair the defects. Three months after the reconstructive surgery, an abutment operation was preformed and denture was applied in both cases.

RESULTSThe flaps survived well. Postoperative follow-up for 8 to 9 months showed that the patients obtained good zygomaxillary appearance, normal occlusion, and satisfactory pronunciation, without oronasal fistula or other serious complications.

CONCLUSIONSThe free iliac crest osteomuscular flap with simultaneous osseointegrated implant embedding is an ideal, effective and cosmetically acceptable method for maxilla reconstruction.

Adult ; Bone Transplantation ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Ilium ; transplantation ; Male ; Maxilla ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Treatment Outcome