OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between lamivudine-resistant mutants of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and serum HBV DNA loading before antiviral therapy.

METHODSThis study involved 106 patients with hepatitis B receiving lamivudine treatment for an average of 32 months (rang 12-48 months). Serum HBV DNA loadings were measured with PCR before and every 4 to 6 months during lamivudine therapy. HBV YMDD mutants were detected using mismatched PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) during lamivudine treatment.

RESULTSHBV DNA loading was significantly higher in patients infected with HBV YMDD mutants during lamivudine therapy than those infected with HBV without YMDD mutation.

CONCLUSIONHigh viral loading in hepatitis B patients before treatment is associated with high likeliness of HBV YMDD mutation during lamivudine treatment. HBV DNA loading may be indicative for the occurrence of YMDD mutation during lamivudine therapy.

Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; genetics ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; Lamivudine ; pharmacology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Viral Load ; genetics

Diacylglycerol, DAG, because of its multifunctional and nutritional properties, attracted considerable attention recently. Enzymatic synthesis of diacylglycerols from linoleic acid was investigated in a solvent-free reaction in a continuously operated fixed bed reactors containing Lipozyme RM IM. By appropriate manipulation of the fluid-residence time, the relative proportions of the various acylglycerols in the effluent stream can be controlled. In addition, the presence of excess glycerol is effective for the removal of water produced during the esterification reactions. Under the conditions of molar ratio of linoleic acid to glycerol of 0.5, the immoblized enzyme maintained high stability and allowed the reaction to continue for 10 days without significant deterioration in enzyme activity. It was determined that the conversion of fatty acid, content of 1,3-DAG and volume efficiency of reactor reached optima under the conditions: a packaged-bed reactor(with a ratio of packed length to inner diameter of 7.8), reacting temperature at 65 degrees C, molar ratio of linoleic acid to glycerol of 0.5, and feeding flow rate of 1.2 mL/min.
Catalysis ; Diglycerides ; chemical synthesis ; Enzyme Stability ; Enzymes, Immobilized ; chemistry ; Lipase ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo retrospectively study medium-term follow-up outcomes of total hip arthroplasty (THA) for patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

METHODSFrom January 2000 to December 2008, 67 patients (88 hip joints) with AS were treated with all ceramic interface THA. And 55 patients (74 hips) were finally followed up. Among them, there were 30 males and 25 females, with an average age of 32.6 (ranged 19 to 58) years old. Sixty-one hips were treated with biological prosthesis and 13 hips were treated with hybrid prosthesis. Fifty-five patients were followed up at least 5 years, with an average of (75.2 +/- 8.6) months. Clinical symptoms and radiography information were evaluated after follow-up.

RESULTSHarris hip score were significantly improved from 30.8 +/- 7.0 preoperatively to 85.2 +/- 5.5 at the last follow-up (P<0.01). The hip movement range increased from (21.2 +/- 8.5) degrees preoperatively to (142.0 +/- 10.2) degrees postoperatively (P<0.01). The 5-year survival of prosthesis was 95.9%. One patient were renovated because of internal wall broken caused by injury, 1 was renovated for infection, 1 was renovated for fracture arround femoral stem prostheses, and 1 was treated with conservative treatment by dislocation. Three cases with abnormal sound were cured with non-operation. 7 cases with heterotopic ossification were not treated, 2 cases with thigh pain received conservative treatment. Bone dissolve around prosthesis, loose and sink of femur and acetabulum prosthesis were occurred in other cases.

CONCLUSIONTHA for the treatment of AS is a reliable method, which has a satisfied medium-term follow-up outcomes.

Adult ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene transfected bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) on cochlear spiral ganglion cells (SGC) impaired by aminoglycoside antibiotics (AmAn).

METHODSThe differentiation of BMSC transfected by BDNF gene (BDNF-BMSC) were detected with immunohistochemical examination of Nestin, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) antibody in vitro. BDNF gene transfected BMSC were transplanted into the cochleae of guinea pigs deafened by amikacin, while the control groups were designed in which artificial perilymphatic fluid (APF), BMSC or BDNF gene was injected into cochleae alone. The cochleae were obtained on the week 1, 2 and 4 after injection, respectively, paraffin-embedded, and cut in a paramodiolar plane subsequently. The histopathological changes of cochleae were observed, the density of SGC was calculated by staining with HE, and the corresponding optical density (COD) was calculated with immunohistochemical staining using NSE antibody. And the protective role of various groups on the cochlear SGC were compared.

RESULTSThe positive staining rate of BDNF gene transfected BMSC with Nestin, NSE and GFAP antibody were all higher than that of BMSC in vitro (P < 0.01). After transplantation into cochleae, the differences of SGC density and COD among various groups were all significant on the same time points (P < 0.05). The SGC density and COD of the BDNF gene transfected BMSC group were the highest. The SGC density and COD of various groups on week 4 were all obviously decreased than those on week 1 and 2 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAmAn-induced SGC damage could be depressed by BMSC, BDNF gene or BDNF gene transfected BMSC transplantation into cochleae, while BDNF gene transfected BMSC showed the best protective role.

Animals ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; genetics ; Cells, Cultured ; Cochlea ; cytology ; Guinea Pigs ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Spiral Ganglion ; cytology ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo explore the pathoclinical features of adult primary mediastinal liposarcoma and their correlation with the prognosis.

METHODSThe clinical data of 19 patients with adult primary mediastinal liposarcoma who were treated in our hospital between 1970 and 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. Eighteen patients underwent open thoracic tumor excisions for at least one time, and the remaining one patient only received biopsy surgery. Histopathological results after surgery revealed that 6 well-differentiated type tumors, 6 myxoid type tumors, 3 pleomorphic type tumors, 2 mixed type tumors, and 2 un-classified tumors.

RESULTSAmong 6 patients with well-differentiated type tumors, 1 died after having been survived for 10 years; 5 were still alive, with a mean duration of 126.2 months,the 5-year survival rate was 100%. Among 6 patients with myxoid type tumors, 5 patients had follow-up data, with a mean survival of 26.2 months. Among 3 patients with pleomorphic type tumors, only one patient had follow-up data: the patient finally died, with a survival of 34 months. Of 2 patients with mixed type tumors, only one patient had follow-up data: the patient survived 8 months and died. Of 2 patients with un-classified type tumors, one had follow-up data: the patient lived for 24 months and died.

CONCLUSIONSMediastinal liposarcoma is a rare disease. Surgery is the primary therapeutic modality. Different pathological subtypes have different epidemiological features, biological behaviors, and malignant potentials. Pathological subtype is an important prognosis factor. Patients with well-differentiated tumors have much better prognosis than those with other subtypes.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Liposarcoma ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the therapeutic effects of azithromycin in treatment of congenital toxoplasmosis in children.

METHODSDefinite diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis was made on the basis of clinical manifestation combined with one or more positive results of the following laboratory tests and excluded other congenital infectious diseases: toxoplasma DNA (TOX-DNA), circulating toxoplasma antigen (TOX-CAG), and toxoplasma IgM antibody (TOX-IgM). All the patients were given oral azithromycin 10 mg/(kg.d) for 6 days followed by 8 days without medication (one course of treatment), and the regimen was persisted for 2 months and then another 2-month treatment was given at a 1-month interval. The authors continued to provide further treatment according to the state of the illness at one month interval. The patients received 2 to 8 (average 5) courses of treatment. The patients were followed-up for 2.5 to 5 (average 4) years.

RESULTSThe treatment was effective in all the patients and the patient's condition was improved. The authors repeated in 12 cases the four tests for toxoplasma (TOX-DNA, TOX-CAG, TOX-IgM, and TOX-IgG) 9 months to one and a half years after treatment. In 10 cases all these tests showed negative results, in 2 cases TOX-IgG was positive and in the other 4 cases symptoms disappeared.

CONCLUSIONThe results of the study showed that oral azithromycin had significant therapeutic effects with little side effect and was well tolerated. Azithromycin may become an alternative therapy in treatment of congenital Toxoplasma gondii infection in children.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Azithromycin ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Prognosis ; Toxoplasmosis, Congenital ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome

AIMA series of new 1,4-pentadien-3-one derivatives were synthesized to search for new Eight novel hydroxylated non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with potent activity.

METHODSE,E-1-(3'-indolyl)-5-( substituted phenyl)-1,4-pentadien-3-one derivatives were synthesized by means of aldol condensation and characterized by 1H NMR, ESI-MS and element analysis. Their anti-inflammatory activity in vitro were evaluated.

RESULTSPreliminary in vitro pharmacological tests showed that all compounds exhibited anti-inflammatory activity.

CONCLUSIONCompounds 4d and 4e exhibited potent anti-inflammatory activity and their anti-inflammatory activity was comparable to resveratrol, and were worthy of further study.

Alkadienes ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Indoles ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Macrophages, Peritoneal ; cytology ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; secretion

BACKGROUNDPyogenic hip arthritis occurs most often in young patients. Delayed treatment causes significant anatomical deformation of bony and soft tissue structures leading to premature onset of secondary osteoarthritis. Total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients who had osteoarthritis secondary to hip pyogenic infection has been associated with high complication rates.

METHODSWe analyzed 19 THAs performed from April 2003 to July 2008 in adults with osteoarthritis secondary to hip pyogenic infection (average age 40.7 years; range 34-52 years). There were 7 males and 12 females, the average age of infection was 10.6 years (range 7-13 years) and the average quiescent period of infection was 29.5 years (range 22-41 years). The count of white blood cell (WBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were examined routinely before surgery. The duration of followup was 34 months (range 6-52 months).

RESULTSThere was no evidence of infection according to laboratory values, intraoperative exploration and bacterial culture of joint fluids and synovial tissues. Split fracture above the lesser trochanter occurred in two hips and healed without adverse sequelae after fixation with wires. One patient with sciatic nerve palsy was successfully treated by positioning the hip in extension and the knee in flexion with complete resolution of motor symptoms one month later. There were no cases of dislocation, deep vein thrombosis, or postoperative reinfection. The symptoms and hip joint activities were significantly improved. The median Harris hip score improved from 47.3 preoperatively to 89.7 and the median range of motion from 53 degrees to 125 degrees.

CONCLUSIONSIt is safe and efficient to perform THA in patients who had osteoarthritis secondary to pyogenic hip arthritis when the infection is quiescent. The key points of successful surgery are exclusion of active infection preoperatively, quiescent period of infection more than ten years and adequate intraoperative soft tissue releases.

Adult ; Arthritis, Infectious ; complications ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; adverse effects ; methods ; Female ; Hip Joint ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis ; etiology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

AIMTo explore the molecular biological mechanism of hemoglobin with high oxygen affinity in Tibetans by determining the sequence of globin cDNA in Tibetans living at high altitude.

METHODSTotal RNA was isolated from human bone marrow samples of three Tibetans who live in Qinghai-Tibet plateau. cDNA fragments coding for alpha and beta genes of human hemoglobin were obtained through RT-PCR and were ligated to plasmid pGEM-T easy vectors, and then the ligation liquid were transformed to Escherichia coli and cloned and sequenced. Nucleotide sequences were compared with GenBank data by BLAST method.

RESULTSsequence of a globin cDNA in Tibetans were the same with the registering globin genes in the GenBank, and Hb Abruzzo (beta143 (H21), His- > Arg) gene mutation, a high oxygen affinity beta globin mutation, was found in one Tibetan' beta goblin coding gene (CAC- > CGC).

CONCLUSIONThis hemoglobin gene mutation may be associated with high altitude adaptation of Tibetans living at high altitude.

Adult ; Altitude ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Hemoglobins, Abnormal ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; RNA ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Tibet ; alpha-Globins ; genetics ; beta-Globins ; genetics

Agenesis of Corpus Callosum ; Brain Neoplasms ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Lipoma ; etiology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed