Humans ; Tuberculosis, Extrapulmonary ; Retrospective Studies ; Paraffin Embedding ; Tuberculosis/diagnosis* ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/genetics* ; Formaldehyde ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sputum

Using split plot design, a pot experiment with sand culture was conducted to investigate the effects ofnitrogen and sulfur combined application on nutritional components and active component of Isatis indigotica at seedling stage under different N (5，15，25 mmol·L⁻¹)and S(0.00，1.25，2.50，5.00，7.50 mmol·L⁻¹) levels. The results showed thatthe two elements had obvious effects and the leaf and root dry weights of I. indigotica seedlings increased greatly at N₂ level. Under the same nitrogen concentration, the leaf and root dry weights increased firstly and decreased with the rising of sulfur concentrations in which S₂ was conducive to the growth and biomass accumulation. Soluble sugar, soluble protein, soluble amino acids contents were the highest in N₁, N₂ and N₃ treatments, respectively. The influence of sulfur concentrations on nutritional components was same as biomass, but the peak of different nutritional components was diversity in different nitrogen levels. The effects on secondary metabolites (total flavones, indigo, indriubin, epigotrin contents) were not obvious significantly, in which these indexes by N₁S₃，N₁S₂，N₃S₀，N₃S₁were the highest, respectively. In conclusion, the combination of nitrogen and sulfur of N₂S₂(N 15 mmol·L⁻¹ and S 2.5 mmol·L⁻¹) was beneficial to the growth and secondary metabolites accumulation of I. indigotica. These results could provide a theoretical basis for rational fertilization and cultivation of I. indigotica seedling.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common type of dementia, is becoming a major challenge for global health and social care. However, the current understanding of AD pathogenesis is limited, and no early diagnosis and disease-modifying therapy are currently available. During the past year, significant progress has been made in clinical research on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of AD. In this review, we summarize the latest achievements, including diagnostic biomarkers, polygenic hazard score, amyloid and tau PET imaging, clinical trials targeting amyloid-beta (Aβ), tau, and neurotransmitters, early intervention, and primary prevention and systemic intervention approaches, and provide novel perspectives for further efforts to understand and cure the disease.
Alzheimer Disease ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Animals ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Biomedical Research ; methods ; Disease Progression ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG conditioned medium(LGG-CM)has preventive effect against E. coli K1-induced neuropathogenicity in vitro by inhibiting nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway.

METHODSAn in vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) model was constructed using human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs). The effect of LGG-CM on E. coli-actived NF-κB signaling pathway was assayed using Western blotting. Invasion assay and polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) transmigration assay were performed to explore whether LGG-CM could inhibit E. coli invasion and PMN transmigration across the BBB in vitro. The expressions of ZO-1 and CD44 were detected using Western blotting and immunofluorescence. The changes of trans-epithelial electric resistance (TEER) and bacterial translocation were determined to evaluate the BBB permeability.

RESULTSPre-treament with LGG-CM inhibited E. coli-activated NF-κB signaling pathway in HBMECs and decreased the invasion of E. coli K1 and transmigration of PMN. Western blotting showed that LGG-CM could alleviate E. coli-induced up-regulation of CD44 and down-regulation of ZO-1 expressions in HBMECs. In addition, pre-treatment with LGG-CM alleviated E. coli K1-induced reduction of TEER and suppressed bacterial translocation across the BBB in vitro.

CONCLUSIONLGG-CM can block E. coli-induced activation of NF-κB signaling pathway and thereby prevents E. coli K1-induced neuropathogenicity by decreasing E. coli K1 invasion rates and PMN transmigration.

Objective:To study the value of micro-CT in monitoring the dynamic evolution of acute pulmonary tuberculosis in mice.Methods:Establish the murine tuberculosis model of C57BL/6J in intranasal as the experiment group.The control group was set at the SPF level.Micro-CT scans were undertaken 1,4,8,12 weeks later,respectively.And then the mice were sacrificed and the lung tissue was taken for pathological analysis.Objective:In the experiment group,nine mice died and three were negative.So,totally 28 mice were enrolled.There were 7,6,8,7 mice in each subgroup,respectively.One week after infection,ground glass opacity(GGO)was 71.4％and consolidation was 57.1％in the experiment group.Corresponding pathology showed alveolar exudate and alveolar septum widened.Four weeks after infection,the imaging findings included GGO and patchy opacities(in 66.7％)in the experiment group.Microscopically,alveolar effusion and consolidation,with epithelioid cells,multinucleated giant cells and foam cells were found.Eight weeks after infection,nodules,air bronchogram and consolidation had equal proportion in the experiment group.Microscopically,it showed consolidation and tuberculosis nodules.12 weeks after infection,nodules had the highest proportion,about 57.1％in the experiment group.Microscopically,the nodules showed granulomas.Conclusions:The images of acute pulmonary tuberculosis murine model can reflect the pathological changes,which can be used to simulate the course of human pulmonary tuberculosis and evaluate the disease process.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of the length of covered stents in the portal and hepatic veins on long-term clinical efficacy of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS).

METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed 53 cases receiving TIPSs between January, 2008 and December, 2011. All the shunts were created with Fluency stents (8 mm in diameter). Bare metal grafts of the same diameter were implanted to extend the length in the portal and hepatic veins as deemed necessary according to angiographic images. The primary patency, hepatic encephalopathy and patient survival were evaluated during the follow up. The length of the covered stents within the hepatic vein (X1) and in the portal vein (X2), and the total length of stents placed in the hepatic vein (X3) and the portal vein (X4) were measured and their effects on primary patency and the patients'outcomes were evaluated.

RESULTSThe procedures were completed successfully in all the patients and the mean portosystemic pressure decreased from 29.80∓4.83 mmHg to 19.00∓3.92 mmHg (t=13.44, P<0.01) after the procedure. The patients were followed up for a median of 64 months (3 to 89 months, 39 months on average). Hepatic encephalopathy occurred in 23% (12/53) of the patients after TIPS. Shunt dysfunction occurred in 16 cases, and the cumulative primary patency rates at 1 to 5 years were 83%, 75%, 63%, 62%, and 54%, respectively. The cumulative survival rates of the patients at 1 to 5 years were 79%, 72%, 72%, 69%, and 69%, respectively. Cox proportional regression analysis showed a significant association between the length of covered-stent in the hepatic vein and the primary patency (OR=0.42, P<0.01), and there was a significant association between the length of stent in the portal vein and the patient survival. No significant correlation was found between these parameters and hepatic encephalopathy.

CONCLUSIONIncreasing the length of the covered stent in the hepatic vein and decreasing the stent length in the portal vein can improve the primary patency and the patient survival receiving TIPS.

Angiography ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; Hepatic Veins ; surgery ; Humans ; Portal Vein ; surgery ; Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

We here report 3 cases successfully treated with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt using Viatorr stent. The 3 patients were had a diagnosis of liver cirrhosis with portal vein hypertension, and presented with black stool and hematemesis. After the treatment, the patients' portal vein pressures were decreased without black stool or hematemesis. Our success demonstrate the feasibility of using Viatorr stent in transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt.
Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; surgery ; Liver Cirrhosis ; surgery ; Portal Vein ; Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic ; Stents

OBJECTIVETo explore the correlation between MBL ExonI 54 and NFκB1-94ins/del ATTG polymorphism and fever during neutropenia in patients with acute leukaemia (AL) (except M3) after first chemotherapy in Chinese Han population.

METHODSBlood samples obtained from 76 fever patients with AL during neutropenia episodes were detected to analyse single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the MBL ExonI 54 and NFκB1-94ins/del ATTG gene, and analyse the correlation between above-mentioned 2 polymorphisms and fever during neutropenia of AL patients after chemotherapy.

RESULTSIn 76 patients, no correlation were found between MBL ExonI 54 and NFκB1-94ins/del ATTG polymorphism and fever during neutropenia in patients with acute leukaemia after chemotherapy (P > 0.05). No significant relation were found in sex, age, underlying disease, disease status or degrees of neutropenia in febrile neutropenia between MBL ExonI 54 and NFκB1-94ins/del ATTG polymorphism (P > 0.05). However, patients with MBL ExonI 54 mutation presented longer febrile duration with a median of 5 days compared to 3 days of patients with wildtype MBL ExonI 54 genotype (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThere is no clear correlation between MBL ExonI 54 and NFκB1-94ins/del ATTG polymorphism and fever during neutropenia in patients with acute leukaemia after chemotherapy. However, the patients with MBL ExonI 54 mutation have been observed to present a longer febrile duration.

Acute Disease ; Exons ; Fever ; Genotype ; Humans ; INDEL Mutation ; Leukemia ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Mannose-Binding Lectin ; genetics ; NF-kappa B p50 Subunit ; genetics ; Neutropenia ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of the HoxA13 gene from the HOX family in the development of hypospadias by detecting the transcription and expression of HoxA13 in the prepuce and urethral plate of hypospadias patients.

METHODSWe collected the tissues from the prepuce and urethral plate of 30 hypospadias patients aged 3.3 - 11.6 years, the prepuce of 10 phimosis children aged 3.1 - 10.4 years and the urethra of 10 penile carcinoma patients aged 48.1 - 75.6 years with no urethral involvement, the latter 20 taken as controls. We divided the tissue samples into a distal, an intermedial, a proximal and a control group, and detected the expressions of HoxA13 mRNA and protein in different groups by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSRT-PCR showed that the HoxA13 mRNA expressions in the prepuce and urethral plate were significantly higher in the control group (1.409 +/- 0.441 and 1.270 +/- 0.209) than in the intermedial (0.848 +/- 0.338 and 0.684 +/- 0.228) and proximal group (0.497 +/- 0.218 and 0.464 +/- 0.164) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and so were they in the distal (1.071 +/- 0.342 and 1.054 +/- 0.189) than in the proximal group (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemistry revealed that the HoxA13 protein expressions in the prepuce and urethral plate were remarkably higher in the control group (12 050 +/- 4 112 and 13 420 +/- 2 636) than in the intermedial (5 217 +/- 1 993 and 5 238 +/- 3 065) and proximal group (2 095 +/- 1 591 and 2 238 +/- 2 217) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and so were they in the distal (8 223 +/- 3 212 and 10 450 +/- 2 123) than in the proximal group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe transcription and expression of HoxA13 in the prepuce and urethral plate of hypospadias patients are closely related with the abnormal position of the urethral meatus, and their abnormal expressions may affect the development and formation of the urethra.

Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Foreskin ; metabolism ; Homeodomain Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypospadias ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Urethra ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the results of the surgical treatment of patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS).

METHODSThe clinic data of 120 BCS patients who underwent various consecutive surgical treatments from July 2001 to October 2010 was analyzed. There were 82 male and 38 female patients, aging from 11 to 72 years with a mean age of (41 ± 13) years. All patients experienced various examinations to identify the pathological type of BCS. There were 5 cases of small hepatic veins type, 28 cases of large hepatic veins (LHV) type, 31 cases of inferior vena cava (IVC) type and 56 cases of combined obstruction of LHV and IVC. Totally, 25 patients experienced interventional treatment, include percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and/or stenting for stenosis of hepatic vein and/or IVC, 77 patients experienced open-thorax operation for BCS radical resection under protection of right atrium by-pass with extracorporeal circulation.

RESULTSTotally 97 cases were followed up from 1 to 120 months after various surgical treatment methods. Perioperative mortality was 6.2% (6/97). Follow-up period mortality was 8.2% (8/97). The restenosis of IVC and/or hepatic vein happened in 3 cases out of 25 cases in intervention treatment group in contrast with 15 cases out of 77 cases in radical resection group. The 5-year patency and survival rate of IVC/hepatic vein were 64.5% and 83.3%.

CONCLUSIONSThe surgical treatment of BCS need to get accurate diagnosis and pathological classification firstly, then, to choose appropriate therapeutic strategies based on individual pathological classification. The BCS radical resection can be an alternative method in some particular pathological classifications and the cases who failed in interventional treatment.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Budd-Chiari Syndrome ; surgery ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult