Objective To further explore the genetic characteristics of oidiomycetes mutant strains like bacterial morphology on the basis of the study on morphology and structure of mutated candida.Methods The standard strains of candida albicans were induced by low temperature and under the condition of low temperature and nutrient deficiency.Variation of standard strains of Candida albicans were induced by clinical antifungal drugs such as fluconazole with different concentration gradient.Fungal gene template was prepared by boiling method,sequences of 16SRNA and 18SRNA were amplified using bacteria conservative gene sequence of 16SRNA and fungal conserved gene sequence of 18SRNA,and observed and recorded the results agarose gel electrophoresis.At the same time,the amplified fragment of bacterial conservative gene 16SRNA was sequenced,and the sequence was analyzed by BLAST comparison.Results the 16SRNA sequences of candida variant were amplified positive,while the standard strain of candida albicans did not show the corresponding amplification band.Except 2 strains which showed a faint band,the other variants of the 18SRNA sequences did not amplified the target band,while the standard strains of candida albicans showed a corresponding amplification bands.Suggested that proportion of 18SRNA sequences in the genome of oidiomycetes mutant strains like bacterial morphology was not much even lack.The 16SRNA fragments amplified of oidiomycetes mutant strains like bacterial morphology did determination of DNA sequence after purification.BLAST comparison analysis,it was found that sequence of oidiomycetes mutant strains like bacterial morphology had higher similarity with bacterial sequences in the database.Conclusion Oidiomycetes mutant strains like bacterial morphology contained bacterial and a small amount of fungus conservative gene.Oidiomycetes mutant strains like bacterial morphology with original nuclear biological character are ones from eukaryotes.This study is great significance in biological evolution,especially in the evolution of prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells.

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics of pituitary stalk interruption syndrome(PSIS). Methods The clinical data including clinical manifestations,laboratory tests,and imaging findings of 114 PSIS patients in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Results Of these 114 PSIS patients,102 cases (89.4%) were male. The average age was 21.1?6.1 years. A history of breech delivery was documented in 91 cases (91.9%). Short stature was found in 89 cases (71.8%) and bone age delayed (6.1?5.1) years. Secondary sex characteristics were poor or undeveloped in most patients. The prevalence of deficiencies in growth hormone,gonadotropins,corticotropin,and thyrotropin were 100.0%,94.0%,84.2%,and 74.6%,respectively. Hyperprolactinemia was found in 28.1% of patients. Three or more pituitary hormone abnormalities were found in 105 cases(92.1%). Compared with the 5 cases with history of cephalic delivery,no difference were found in the aspects of height(t=0.297,P=0.634),penile length(t=1.205,P=0.882),testicular volume (U=99.000,P=0.348),growth hormone peak (U=89.000,P=0.186),adrenocorticotropic hormone peak(U=131.000,P=0.967),luteinizing hormone peak(U=98.500,P=0.582),thyroid-stimulating hormone (U=82.000,P=0.162),and the height of anterior pituitary (t=1.676,P=0.107) in the 53 cases with history of breech delivery. Conclusions The clinical manifestations,symptoms,hormone deficiencies were severe in our series. The condition severities were not remarkably different in patients with different delivery ways.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Dwarfism ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Pituitary Diseases ; complications ; physiopathology ; Pituitary Gland ; pathology ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

This study was designed to investigate the effect of Xiao-Ai-Ping injection on cancer angiogenesis. CCK8 assay and BrdU incorporation immunofluorescence assay were used to detect the effect of Xiao-Ai-Ping injection on HUVECs proliferation; wound healing assay and transwell assay were employed to test the effect of Xiao-Ai-Ping injection on HUVECs migration. The anti-angiogenic effect of Xiao-Ai-Ping injection was examined by tube formation assay, rat aortic ring assay and chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. ELISA assay was used to measure the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF); and the activation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) protein and its downstream signaling pathways were examined by Western blot. Our data demonstrated that Xiao-Ai-Ping injection inhibited HU-VECs proliferation in a time-and dose-dependent manner, and the IC₅₀ (mg·mL^-1) values for 24, 48 and 72 h were 48.7±7.14, 29.1±2.25 and 22.0±4.53, individually. Xiao-Ai-Ping injection inhibited HUVECs DNA synthesis and migration. Xiao-Ai-Ping injection suppressed HUVECs tube formation, and reduced microvessel sprouting from rat aortic rings and vessel growth in CAMs. Furthermore, Xiao-Ai-Ping injection attenuated the secretion of VEGF, and inhibited the expression of p-VEGFR2 and phosphorylation of protein kinase B (p-AKT). We conclude that Xiao-Ai-Ping injection inhibits angiogenesis by down-regulation of VEGF signaling and AKT pathway.

OBJECTIVETo develop a quantitative PCR method for detecting hookworm infection and quantification.

METHODSA real-time PCR method was designed based on the intergenic region II of ribosomal DNA of the hookworm Necator americanus. The detection limit of this method was compared with the microscopy-based Kato-Katz method. The real-time PCR method was used to conduct an epidemiological survey of hookworm infection in southern Fujian Province of China.

RESULTSThe real-time PCR method was specific for detecting Necator americanus infection, and was more sensitive than conventional PCR or microscopy-based method. A preliminary survey for hookworm infection in villages of Fujian Province confirmed the high prevalence of hookworm infections in the resident populations. In addition, the infection rate in women was significantly higher than that of in men.

CONCLUSIONSA real-time PCR method is designed, which has increased detection sensitivity for more accurate epidemiological studies of hookworm infections, especially when intensity of the infection needs to be considered.

Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; DNA, Helminth ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microscopy ; Necator americanus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Necatoriasis ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sentinel Surveillance ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sex Distribution

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the safety and efficacy of robotic mitral valve surgery using da Vinci S system.

METHODSWe conducted a retrospective review of 60 robotic mitral surgeries from March 2007 to December 2010. Of the 60 patients, 44 underwent mitral valve repair and 16 received mitral valve replacement. The surgical approach was through 4 right chest ports with femoral and internal jugular vein cannulations. Transesophageal echocardiography was used intraoperatively to estimate the surgical results.

RESULTSNone of the cases required a conversion to a median sternotomy. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass and cardiac arrest time was 132.2∓29.6 min and 88.1∓22.3 min for robotic mitral valve repair, and was 137.1∓21.9 min and 99.3∓17.4 min for robotic mitral valve replacement. Echocardiographic follow-up of all the patients revealed 3 cases of slight regurgitation in mitral valve repair group.

CONCLUSIONIn selected patients with mitral valve disease, robotic mitral surgery can be performed safely.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Mitral Valve ; surgery ; Mitral Valve Annuloplasty ; methods ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Robotics ; methods ; Surgery, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo determine the safety and efficacy of robotic mitral valve repair using da Vinci S Surgical system. Method From January 2007 to April 2011, over 400 cases of robotic cardiac surgery have been performed, in which 60 patients with isolated mitral valve insufficiency underwent robotic mitral valve repair, including 42 male and 18 female patients with a mean age of (44 ± 13) years (ranging from 14 to 70 years). Forty-eight patients were in NYHA class I-II and 12 patients in class III. Fourteen patients were concomitant with atrial fibrillation. Surgery approach was achieved through 4 right chest ports with femoral perfusion and Chitwood aortic occlusion. Antegrade cold blood cardioplegia was administered directly via chest for myocardial protection. The transesophageal echocardiography was used intraoperatively to estimate the surgical results.

RESULTSAll patients had successful valve repair including quadrangular resections, sliding plasties and chordal replacement. There was no conversion to median sternotomy. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass and arrested heart time were (132 ± 30) min and (88 ± 22) min. One patient had hemolysis after operation, and required mitral valve replacement. Echocardiographic follow-up revealed trace to mild regurgitation in 2 patients with a mean of (16 ± 9) months.

CONCLUSIONRobotic mitral valve repair is safe and efficacious in the patients with isolated mitral valve insufficiency.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve ; surgery ; Robotics ; methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression and its clinical significance of estrogen receptor (ERα) and phosphorylated estrogen receptor (p-ERα) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The associations between ERα, p-ERα and IL-6 were also analyzed.

METHODSImmunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of ERα, p-ERα and IL-6 in tumor tissues from 77 cases with hepatocellular carcinoma. The relations between ERα and the clinical pathological parameters and prognosis were also analyzed.

RESULTSThe positive rates of ERα, p-ERα and IL-6 in hepatocellular carcinoma were 39.0% (30/77), 45.4% (35/77) and 72.7% (56/77), respectively. The expression of ERα and p-ERα were negatively correlated with the expression of IL-6 (r=-0.468, P<0.01; r=-0.370, P<0.01, respectively). The positive rate of ERα in patients with tumor size≤5 cm, serum level of alpha-fetoprotein<400 µg/L, with complete encapsulation and non-microvascular invasion was significantly higher than those with tumor size>5 cm, serum level of alpha-fetoprotein≥400 µg/L, non-complete encapsulation and with microvascular invasion (all P<0.05). The overall survival rates of ERα-positive and ERα-negative patients were 66.7% and 23.4% (P<0.05). And the disease-free survival rates of ERα-positive and ERα-negative patients were 83.3% and 57.4% (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe tumor biological features of ERα-positive patients are better than that of ERα-negative patients. The role of ERα in hepatocellular carcinoma may be related to IL-6 level.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Estrogen Receptor alpha ; metabolism ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphorylation ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Young Adult

Objective To establish an SD rats animal model for preventive nursing of pressure ulcer.Methods 30 healthy male SD rats were randomly and averagely divided into 6 groups, which were put in simple compression devices supinely after anesthesia, with their hind limb joints regarded as oppressed points.The pressure of each group was: 70, 64, 58, 53, 48 and 44mmHg, respectively. By observing skin color change after two hours of compression and then calculating LD50, the pressure that made half animals' compression skin red was obtained. Results No group had visible skin damages and other serious changes, but compression local skin redness was found. Under the experimental conditions, the pressure of the skin redness among half of the animals was 55.08 mmHg. Conclusions In this model, the most appropriate pressure was 55.08 mmHg. The SD rats pressure ulcer animal model is feasible and could be applied to animal studies on preventive nursing of pressure ulcer.

OBJECTIVETo summarize the experience of minimally invasive robotic coronary bypass on beating heart using da Vinci S in China.

METHODSFifty-six patients underwent selected robotic coronary bypass on beating heart from April 2007 to December 2008. All the patients had history of angina and the coronary arteriography showed severe stenosis in the left anterior descending artery (LAD), of which 10 cases had right coronary artery or left circumflex coronary (LCX) stenosis. The age was 33 to 74 years old, with a mean of (55.8 +/- 9.4) years old. The weight was (71.4 +/- 13.2) kg. All the patients had good lung function and had no medical history of pleurisy and thoracic surgery. CT scan of double internal thoracic artery (ITA) was routinely checked preoperatively. The procedures included: (1) The robotically assisted endoscopic atraumatic coronary artery bypass surgery. The approach was via a small left anterior thoracotomy (6 to 8 cm) after robotic ITA was taken down. The ITA was manually anastomosed to the LAD or LCX on beating heart. (2) Totally endoscopic coronary bypass graft on beating heart. After ITA harvesting, the endo stabilizer was inserted via the fourth port in the xiphoid area under endoscopic vision. The left ITA to the LAD grafting was done using U-clips on beating heart in a totally endoscopic manner using da Vinci S system through 4 ports. For all patients the ITA flow was checked by the Doppler flowmeter after anastomosis was completed. After the surgery was completed, the thoracic port was checked carefully to avoid bleeding. The operating procedures and a variety of clinical parameters were recorded and analyzed. (3) Stent placement after robotic surgery in a hybrid manner. The graft patency rate was evaluated by CT or arteriography.

RESULTSAll patients successfully accepted robotic minimally invasive coronary bypass on the beating heart using da Vinci S surgical system without complications. The mean graft flow was (23.2 +/- 16.7) ml/min. And there was no surgical conversion and surgical death. Fifty-three patients received ITA to LAD grafts and 3 patients received double coronary artery bypass grafts as well. Ten cases received stent placement in separate session. The CT scan and angiography revealed patent grafts in all patients. There were no post-operative complications. All patients were discharged from hospital.

CONCLUSIONSAs a new advanced approach of revascularization, robotic ITA harvesting and coronary anastomoses can be safely performed with the da Vinci S system. The procedure is minimally invasive and can offer enhanced ability to control precise and stable operative manipulations.

Adult ; Aged ; Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump ; instrumentation ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Robotics

OBJECTIVETo summary the first 14 cases undergoing internal mammary artery (IMA) harvest using da Vinci S system and minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting (MIDCAB) on beating heart.

METHODSThe average age of patients was (60.4 +/- 10.1) years old. One case was female and 13 male. All the patients had a history of angina. The coronary angiography showed severe stenosis of anterior descending branch in all patients, of which 2 cases had diagonal and circumflex branch stenosis. Four case had myocardial infraction history. All the patients had good lung function and had no medical history of pleurisy. Without sternotomy, the camera cannula was placed in the left, 3 cm lateral to nipple in the 4th intercostal space (ICS). Da Vinci instrument arms were inserted through two 1 cm trocar incisions. The right instrument generally was positioned 4 to 6 cm cephalad to camera cannula in the 2nd or 3rd ICS. The left instrument arm was positioned 4 to 6 cm caudal to the camera cannula in the 5th or 6th ICS. Arm trocar sites were maintained 6 cm apart at chest entry. The internal mammary artery was harvested in routine methods. Thirteen cases underwent left internal mammary artery harvest, one case underwent right internal mammary artery harvest, one case underwent double internal mammary harvest. MIDCAB was performed on beating heart in 14 cases and 1 case accepted the totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass (TECAB).

RESULTSAll cases were accomplished successfully without complications. The average time of ICU was 20 hours. Robotic surgery had less draining than the conventional coronary bypass.

CONCLUSIONSTotally robotic internal mammary artery harvest and beating heart coronary artery bypass is less invasive, more precise, safe and efficient.

Adult ; Aged ; Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mammary Arteries ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Retrospective Studies ; Robotics ; Treatment Outcome