The external stimuli and other reasons may result in hyperplasia and abnormal angle of the upper corner of the thyroid cartilage. The upper corner of the thyroid cartilage has anatomical variations. To oppression stimulate carotid artery, cervical sympathetic dry section and so on, could causing pharyngeal foreign body sensation and sore throat. By surgical removal of the thyroid cartilage hyperplasia upper corner, postoperative symptoms would be resolved.
Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Thyroid Cartilage ; pathology

Objective Since integrons play an important role in the spread of antibiotic resistance genes in bacteria,the characterization of a new resistance gene cassette in class 1 integron positive strains of E.coli was analyzed. Methods The presence and genetic content of class 1 integron were examined by PCR and sequencing.The sequence was analyzed by using some bioinformatics softwares.Results 5 class 1 integron positive strains were amplified by primers of in-F and in-B which were set for amplifying the region of antibiotics resistance genes.Among the 5 strains,an amplicon of 1009 bp was yielded.Sequencing analysis revealed that amplicon of 1009 bp harbored a 780 bp ORF.Further analysis with bioinformatics software showed that it was 99.6% and 99.5% identical to the known aadA23 and aadA21 cassette,and was just 66.4% identical to the known aadA5 cassette.It was conferring resistant to spectinomycin and streptomycin,and was given a new name aadA23b.Conclusions Multi-drug resistance genes has been proved changeable in E.coli clinical strains.The result not only stressed the need for continuing surveillance of antibiotic resistance in the molecular level,but also the need caring for genetic variation of drug resistance gene cassettes.

Objective To study the sensitivity of the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in detecting group B streptococcus (GBS) in late pregnant women and the influence of vaginal/rectal GBS colonization on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Methods Microbiological culture and RT-PCR for GBS were both performed for each sample taken from the vagina and rectus in 617 gravidas at 35-37 weeks of gestation, with an average age of 30.1, among which 80 aged over 35. Forty-one out of the 617 women were multiparous and 576 primiparous. The laboratory results were collected and the pregnant outcomes were followed. Results (1) Out of the 617 gravidas, 21 (3.4%) were GBS positive by culture (all positive in RT-PCR) and 57 (9.2%) were GBS positive by RT-PCR. Thirth-six cases with PCR positive but culture negative results were analyzed by sequencing, and 34 showed GBS positive and 2 negative. (2) The sensitivity and specificity of RT-PCR was 100% (55/55) and 99.6% (560/562) respectively. (3) The average age of GBS positive gravidas was 30 ± 4, without significant difference compared with that of GBS negative women (31±4), P>0.05. The GBS positive rates were also similar between the primiparas and the muliparous [7.3% (3/41) vs.9.4% (54/576)] , between elderly women and those under the age of 35, and between those women who had abortions over and less than 3 times (all P>0.05). (4) No significant difference was found in the cesarean section rate between the GBS postitive and negative group [54.4% (31/57) vs.44. 6% (250/560), P>0.05]. (5) Compared with the GBS negative group, the GBS positive group had higher incidence of intrauterine infection [6.6% (37/560) vs. 15.8% (9/57)], postpartum hemorrhage (2.9% vs.10.5%) and fetal distress (25.9% vs. 38.6% ) all P <0.05, but had similar incidence of premature rupture of membranes [25.0% (140/560) vs. 33.3% (19/57) ], pretcrm birth and meconium-stained amniotic fluid. (6) The neonatal infection rate in the GBS positive group was significantly higher than that of the GBS negative group [29.8% (17/57) vs. 13.2% (77/560), P < 0.05]. One neonate in the GBS positive group developed early-onset severe GBS infection and achieved better outcome under proper treatment. Conclusions Maternal GBS carrier at 35-37 weeks of gestation can lead to adverse pregnant outcomes by increasing the incidences of intrauterine infection and neonatal infections. However, RT-PCR could be a routine method to detect GBS status in late pregnant women with its higher sensitivity and specificity.

Objective: To establish microbiological method for determining biotin in foods and feeds. Methods: Using biotin dependent microorganisms Lactobacillus plantarum(ATCC 8014), the biotin content was detected indirectly by the growth of cultrued bacteria spectrophotometrically.Results: The detection limit was 0.03 ng. The relative standard deviations(RSD) of within and between run assays were 2.2%-3.8%,2.1%-5.3% respectively. The recovery of added biotin was 93.4%-104.6%, and RSD was 3.1%-4.1%. Conclusion: This assay is sufficiently accurate and repoducible for determining biotin in foods and feeds.

BACKGROUND: Embryonic stem cell (ESC) is a kind of highly undifferentiated totipotent cell. It can proliferate and maintain its totipotency in the system cultured in vitro. It is one of most promising stem cells in thetreatment of central nerve injury.OBJECTIVE: To observe the survival and migration of induced transplanted ESC in mice with spinal injury and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.DESIGN: A completely randomized grouping design, controlled animal experiment.SETTING: Laboratory of Developmental Biology Research Center of Shanghai Second Medical University.MATERIALS: Sixty C57/BL6J mice, of clean grade and either gender, aged 6 to 8 weeks (n =30) and 7 days (n =30)were provided by the Shanghai Experimental Animal Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences [Permission No, SCXK (hu)2003-0003]. This animal experiment was approved by Animal Ethics Committee. Mouse ESC strain S8, labeled LacZ marker gene (Provided by Shanghai Developmental Biology Research Center). X-gal dyeing reagent (Sigma Company).METHODS: This experiment was carried out in the laboratory of Shanghai Developmental Biology Research Center (Shanghai Key Laboratory) from October 2002 to December 2003. ① Experimental grouping of spinal injury: Sixteen C57/BL6J successful mice models, aged 6-8 weeks, were randomized into 2 groups: experimental group (n =8), in which, following right spinal semi-sectioning, derivated cell suspension for inducing the in vitro differentiation of ESC was injected at 1 cm away from injury through vertebral canal, and control group (n =8), in which, following right spinal semi-sectioning, phosphate buffer solution (PBS) was injected at the peripheral region of injury. ② Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy experimental grouping: Sixteen successful C57/BL6J mice models, aged 7 days, were randomized into 2 groups: experimental group (n =8), following ligation of right common carotid artery, mice were placed in the closed container containing 0.08 volume fraction of oxygen and 0.92 volume fraction of Nitrogen gas, and taken out 1.5 hours later; 3 μL ESCs were injected into the right cerebral ventricle at about 1 week, and control group (n =8), in which, the same amount of PBS was injected into the right cerebral ventricle. ③ At 12 weeks after transplantation, the survival and migration of induced ESCs labeled by Lac-Z in the spinal cord and brain were observed by zymologic method.MATN OUTCOME MEASURES: Survival and migration of ESCs in the central nervous system.RESULTS: ①After being induced in vitro and transplanted to spinal injured region, ESCs differentiated into neural precursor cells. Neural precursor cells could survive in the injured region and migrate to 5 mm away from injured region.Immunohistochemistry proved that the neural precursor cells of transplanted ESCs could differentiate into neurons.Morphologically, it was proved that neural precursor cells-derived from ESCs could well integrate peripheral tissue. ② The induced ESCs were injected into the lateral cerebral ventricle of mice. Derived ESCs widely distributed in the injured hippocampal region, cerebral cortex ventricle choroid plexus, vascular endothelium and other regions, and integrated peripheral tissue, which were similar to adjacent cells in morphology, suggesting that induced ESCs also could survive for long time and far migrate.CONCLUSION:The induced ESC can survive and migrate in the host injured brain and spinal cord, and the migration of ESCs is more obvious in the brain than in the spinal cord.

Objective To explore the effect of depakine in the treatment of traumatic epilepsy relapse,and compared carbamazepine and lamotrigine combined with depakine in the treatment of traumatic epilepsy.Methods Open trial in 131 patients with traumatic epilepsy relapse treated with depakine,and all patients were aderministered with carbamazepine or lamotrigine combined with depakine.3 months before treatment,the epilepsy seizures frequency was compared,and 6 months after the treatment,the efficacy,adverse reactions and safety was compared between two mothods.Results Application of carbamazepine or lamotrigine combined with depakine treatment for 6 months,the seizure frequency significantly decreased compared with before treatment;The seizure frequency reduction( ≥50％ ) were 72.6％ and 91.3％,the difference was statistically significant between before and after treatment( P ＜ 0.01 ) ;The adverse reactions of carbamazepine combined with depakine was 37.1％,and it of lamotrigine combined with depakine was 8.7％.Conclusion Lamotrigine combined with depakine in the treatment of traumatic epilepsy recurrence was effective,and its side effects was light.

Objective To identify the early warning signs of severe preeclampsia (SPE). Methods A case-control (1: 2) observational study was conducted. Forty-seven pregnant women with SPE, who attended the prenatal clinics of Peking University Third Hospital regularly from Jan. 2002 to Dec. 2007, were selected as the study group, including 12 early onset and 35 late onset ones. The control group consisted of 94 healthy singleton pregnant women at the same period. Clinical data were collected and analyzed. Results (1) The basal body mass index (BMI) showed no difference between the study and control group [(23.27±4.31)kg/m2 vs (21.52±3.09)kg/m2, P>0.05]. (2) The net increase of BMI in the study group before the onset of SPE was higher than that in the control [(5.60±2.17)kg/m2 vs (4.85±1.52)kg/m2, P<0.05] and the increase of BMI per week was also higher [(0.74±0.41)kg/(m2*w)-1 vs (0.23±0.18)kg/(m2*w)-1, P<0.01]. The sensitivity and specificity of BMI increase per week in predicting SPE was 84% and 81% at a cut-off value of 0.39 kg/(m2*w)-1, respectively, and 79% and 91% at 0.41 kg/(m2*w)-1 correspondingly. (3) During the third trimester and before the onset of SPE, the weight gain per week in the study group was higher than that of the control [(0.93±0.70)kg vs (0.63±0.20)kg, P<0.01]. Significant difference was also found in the net weight gain between the two groups (P<0.01), but not in the percentage of women with excessive weight gain (>0.50 kg/w) [60%(25/42) in the study group vs 63%(53/84) in the control group, P>0.05]. (4) Higher percentage of women experienced pre-hypertension in the study group than in the controls [17%(8/47) vs 5%(5/94), P<0.01]. (5) In the study group, 53%(25/47) of the women had edema before SPE onset, but the figure dropped to 18% (17/94) in the controls(P<0.01). (6) Eight women in the study group and one in the control group suffered from hypoproteinemia before SPE onset with the average level of plasma albumin of (32.6±1.6)g/L and(38.4±2.1)g/L(P<0.01), respectively. (7) Proteinuria was reported in 10 cases (21%)in the study group and 4(4%) in the controls (P<0.01). (8) Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk factors for SPE included edema (OR=6.16,95%CI:2.29-16.57),pre-hypertension (OR=6.21,95%CI:1.56-24.77),proteinuria (OR=9.68,95%CI:1.86-50.30), and weight gain >0.85 kg/w during the third trimester (OR=11.60,95%CI:3.54-37.97). Conclusions Edema, excessive weight gain,pre-hypertension and hypoproteinemia are early warning signs of SPE. Pregnant women with the above signs required close monitoring during prenatal care.

Objective To study the effects of Leptin on the expression of CD86 and HLA-DR in human monocytes.Methods The expression of CD86 and HLA-DR in THP-1 Cells and human primary monocytes were detected by flow cytometry.Results Expression of CD86 and HLA-DR in THP-1 cells was significantly increased after treatment with high-dose Leptin ( CD86Untreated group:8.78 ± 1.66,CD86leptin10:50.76 ± 4.29,CD86leptin100:95.20 ± 4.90; HLAUntreated group:20.75 ± 2.12,HLAleptin10:102.14 ± 5.75,HLAleptin100:104.32 ± 4.75;).The similar results were observed in human primary monocytes ( CD86Untreated group:17.91 ± 1.78,CD86leptin100:48.80 ± 3.60; HLAUntreated group:34.10 ± 2.76,HLAleptin100:88.86 ± 3.53).Conclusions By up-regulating CD86 and HLA-DR expression,Leptin might enhance the ability to present antigen in THP - 1 cells and human monocytes.

Objective To introduce the methods and key points for the external fixation combinel with limited percutaneous internal fixation plus colostomy in the treatment of open pelvic fracture concomitant with perineal laceration.Methods Nine patients with open pelvic fractures concomitant with perineallaceration were treated by external fixator combined with limited percutaneous internal fixer plus colostomy. Data including injury details, management and outcomes were collected for comparison.Results All the patients survived and attained bony union except for two patients with local infection that was healed several days after repeated wound debridement and use of wide spectrum antibiotics. All the patients had good extremity function at the latest follow-up. Conclusion External fixation combined with limited percutaneous internal fixation plus colostomy is a reliable, safe and less invasive procedure for the treatment of open pelvic fractures concomitant with perineal open wound.

Objective To investigate the expressions of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and their receptors in keloid. Methods Serum and skin tissue specimens were collected from 20 patients with keloid, 20 patients with hyperplastic scar and 20 normal human controls. Fluorospectrophotometer was used to measure the serum level of AGEs, and immunohistochemistry and Western blotting to detect the expressions of AGEs and AGER in skin tissue specimens. Results The serum level of AGEs was (0.713 ± 0.098) AU/ml and (0.699 ± 0.077) AU/ml respectively in patients with keloid and those with hypertrophic scar, significantly higher than that in normal controls (0.179 ± 0.056 AU/ml, F = 283.82, P < 0.01 ). A positive expression of AGEs and AGER was observed in tissue specimens of keloid and hyperplastic scar, but not in the control specimens. As Western blotting showed, the expressions of AGEs and AGER were higher in tissue specimens of keloid and hyperplastic scar than in the control specimens (F = 18.04, 42.80, both P < 0.05), while no significant difference between keloid and hyperplastic scar tissue specimens was observed (P> 0.05). Conclusion There is a high expression of AGEs and AGER in keloid, which may contribute to the development of keloid.