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Objective To investigate the populations of freshwater crabs, the intermediate host of Paragonimus and Paragonimus infections in freshwater crabs in the Minjiang River basin along the middle section of Wuyi Mountain, so as to provide baseline data for parasitic disease control and research and expansion of the parasite resource bank. Methods From November 2020 to April 2021, freshwater crabs were sampled from streams and ditches neighboring residential areas in Jianning County and its neighboring Ninghua, Shaowu, Jiangle and Shunchang counties. The crab species was identified based on the morphological features of the terminal segment of the first abdominal appendage of male crabs, and Paragonimus infections were detected in freshwater crabs. The Paragonimus metacercariae were isolated, and the types of metacercariae were identified based on the metacercaria size, cystic wall thickness, and the excretory bladder and intestinal tract morphology. In addition, the prevalence, intensity and index of metacercaria infections were calculated in freshwater crabs. Results There were seven crab species found in Jianning County and six neighboring water systems along the Minjiang River basin, including Sinopotamon jianglense, S. fukinense, Huananpotamon lichuanense, H. lini, H. shenni, H. planopodum, Bottapotamon engelhardti, and there were metacercariae of three Paragonimus species detected in these crabs, including P. westermani, P. skrjabini and P. sanpingensis, with a prevalence rate of 43.6% (125/287). The infection rates of P. westermani, P. sanpingensis and P. skrjabini were 57.1% (48/84), 26.2% (22/84) and 61.8% (21/34) in S. jianglense, and the infection rates of P. westermani and P. sanpingensis were 52.6% (51/97) and 30.9% (30/97) in S. fukinense, while the rate of P. westermani infection was 6.9% (5/72) in H. lichuanense, which is the first record of P. westermani infections in H. lichuanense. Mixed P. westermani and P. sanpingensis infections were predominantly found in freshwater crabs sampled from Jianning County, where the rate of Paragonimus infections was 70.4% (76/108), with 15.3 metacercariae identified in each crab with Paragonimus infections and 1.9 metacercariae found in each gram of crabs with Paragonimus infections, and the index of metacercariae infections was 20.5. In addition, P. westermani, P. skrjabini and P. sanpingensi metacercariae were found in freshwater crabs sampled from Jianning-neighboring counties, where the rate of Paragonimus infections was 52.3% (56/107), with 9.8 metacercariae identified in each crab with Paragonimus infections and 0.9 metacercariae found in each gram of crabs with Paragonimus infections, and the index of metacercariae infections was 4.6. Conclusion There are multiple freshwater crab species and Paragonimus infection is high in freshwater crabs in Jianning County and its neighboring Minjiang River basin, which is a high-risk natural focus for Paragonimus infections.
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@#[Abstract] Objective: Elevated levels of soluble PD-L1 (sPD-L1) are associated with worse prognosis of renal cell carcinoma and multiple myeloma. However, the regulatory roles and functions of sPD-L1 in advanced melanoma are not fully understood. This study was designed to evaluate the association between circulating sPD-L1 concentrations and prognosis of patients with advanced acral or mucosal melanoma. Methods: A total of 102 untreated patients with advanced acral and mucosal melanoma admitted to Peking University Cancer Hospital between January 2012 and December 2015 were enrolled in this study. In the meanwhile, peripheral blood samples were obtained from 40 healthy donors. Circulating sPD-L1 concentrations were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The advanced melanoma cohort included 58 acral melanoma patients and 44 mucosal melanoma patients. The pre-treatment concentration of sPD-L1 (2.91±2.23 ng/ml) in plasma of patients group was elevated as compared with that in healthy donors (0.59 ng/ml). The concentration of sPD-L1 in serum was significantly upregulated in 39/102 (38.2%) patients and significantly associated with increased LDH level (P=0.021) and number of Tregs (P=0.017). The overall survival rates of patients with high or low concentrations of sPD-L1 were statistically different (8.5 months [high level] vs 11.6 months [low level], P=0.022). Conclusion: sPD-L1 concentration is elevated in patients with advanced acral or mucosal melanoma, which may play an important role in predicting prognosis.
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Aim To investigate the effect of fibrinogenlike protein 1 (FGL1)) silencing on docetaxel sensitivity in human lung adenocarcinoma PC-9 cells. Methods Western blot was used to detect the expression of FGL1 protein in human normal bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B and human lung adenocarcinoma cell line PC-9. The FGL1 gene in PC-9 cell line was silenced by siRNA. CCK-8 assay was used to detect the inhibitory effect of silencing FGL1 on PC-9 cell proliferation and its effect on docetaxel sensitivity. Results Compared with BEAS-2B cell line, FGL1 was highly expressed in PC-9 cell line, and the relative expression of FGL1 protein was 6. 5 times that of BEAS-2B cell line with statistically significant difference (P <0. 01). Silencing FGL1 by transfection with FGLlsiRNA could enhance the inhibitory effect of docetaxel on PC-9 cells. Compared with FGLlsiNC group, the IC50value of PC-9 cells in FGL1siRNA group was significantly reduced with statistically significant difference (P < 0. 01). Conclusions Specific silencing of FGL1 gene could inhibit the expression of FGL1 in human lung adenocarcinoma cell PC-9, inhibit the proliferation of PC-9 cells and increase the sensitivity to docetaxel.
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Appropriate producing areas can guarantee the quality of Tibetan medicine, but research on the suitable ecological factors and suitable producing areas of Tibetan medicinal plants is scarce. This paper used the Geographic Information System for Global Medicinal Plants(GMPGIS) to analyze the ecological suitability of Tibetan medicinal plants nationwide. For the first time, the range of ecological factors and main soil types of Tibetan medicinal plants were extracted, such as the average annual temperature-19.4-24.2 ℃, annual average precipitation 17-4 088 mm, annual average sunshine 124.2-171.6 W·m~(-2). The main soil types were black calcareous soil, thin layer soil, chestnut soil and so on. Based on 337 sampling points, the largest ecological similarity area of Tibetan medicine across the country was obtained through ecological similarity analysis. In addition to Tibet and Qinghai provinces and Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures in Sichuan, Gansu, and Yunnan provinces, Jiuquan city and Linxia county in Gansu province, Panzhihua and Ya'an in Sichuan province, and Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, and Shanxi provinces also had larger suitable cultivation areas. In addition, by analyzing the current situation of Tibetan medicine industry, the research pointed out that there were some problems such as unreasonable development and utilization of resources, lack of standards and norms, weak basic research and imperfect industrial system, and made corresponding countermeasures for sustainable development of resources, formulation of standards and specifications, promotion of medicine through science and technology, expansion of domestic and foreign markets, etc. This study provided the basis for guiding the rational layout of production bases, introduction and breeding of plant Tibetan medicine nationwide, laying the foundation for the scientific and standardized production of high-quality Tibetan medicine, clarifying the development direction of Tibetan medicine industry, and providing ideas for the development strategy of Tibetan medicine and other national medicine industry.
Subject(s)
China , Industrial Development , Medicine, Tibetan Traditional , Soil , TibetABSTRACT
BACKGROUND@#Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), such as erlotinib and gefitinib, are widely used to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, acquired resistance is unavoidable, impairing the anti-tumor effects of EGFR-TKIs. It is reported that histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors could enhance the anti-tumor effects of other antineoplastic agents and radiotherapy. However, whether the HDAC inhibitor suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) can overcome erlotinib-acquired resistance is not fully clear.@*METHODS@#An erlotinib-resistant PC-9/ER cell line was established through cell maintenance in a series of erlotinib-containing cultures. NSCLC cells were co-cultured with SAHA, erlotinib, or their combination, and then the viability of cells was measured by the 3-(4,5-Dimethyl thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay and apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry and western blotting. Finally, the expression of phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) was assessed by western blotting.@*RESULTS@#The half-maximal inhibitory concentration of parental PC-9 cells was significantly lower than the established erlotinib-acquired resistant PC-9/ER cell line. PC-9/ER cells demonstrated reduced expression of PTEN compared with PC-9 and H1975 cells, and the combination of SAHA and erlotinib significantly inhibited cell growth and increased apoptosis in both PC-9/ER and H1975 cells. Furthermore, treating PC-9/ER cells with SAHA or SAHA combined with erlotinib significantly upregulated the expression of PTEN mRNA and protein compared with erlotinib treatment alone.@*CONCLUSIONS@#PTEN deletion is closely related to acquired resistance to EGFR-TKIs, and treatment with the combination of SAHA and erlotinib showed a greater inhibitory effect on NSCLC cells than single-drug therapy. SAHA enhances the suppressive effects of erlotinib in lung cancer cells, increasing cellular apoptosis and PTEN expression. SAHA can be a potential adjuvant to erlotinib treatment, and thus, can improve the efficacy of NSCLC therapy.
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OBJECTIVE@#To compare the outcomes of endoscopic combined ultrasound-guided access (EUGA) with the conventional ultrasound-guided access (UGA) to achieve percutaneous renal access in endoscopic combined intrarenal surgery (ECIRS).@*METHODS@#A retrospective review of 53 patients undergoing ECIRS to treat upper urinary tract calculi between January 2017 and October 2019 was con-ducted. All of the cases were of complex upper urinary tract stones larger than 2 cm in diameter. The com-plex stone situations, such as multiple renal calyces calculi or staghorn calculi necessitated ECIRS. Under general anesthesia, the patients were placed in the galdakao-modified supine valdivia (GMSV) position, thus allowing both antegrade and retrograde accesss. The patients were divided to UGA and EUGA groups according to the protocol of achieving percutaneous renal access. In 28 cases, endoscopic combined ultrasound-guided accesss were obtained. Puncture and dilation were performed under direct flexible ureteroscopic visualization, while percutaneous renal access of 25 cases were performed with the conventional technique employing ultrasound guidance. Demographic and perioperative information, such as stone burden, presence of hydronephrosis and number of calyces involved was compared. Primary outcomes included total operative time, renal access time, repeat puncture, hemoglobin level, perioperative complications, and stone-free rate.@*RESULTS@#No major intra-operative complication was recorded in all the 53 ECRIS. No significant difference was observed between the groups in age and gender. There was no significant difference in body mass index[BMI (29.21±3.14) kg/m2 vs.(28.53±2.56) kg/m2], stone burden (37.68±6.89) mm vs. (35.53±6.52) mm, number of calyces involved 2.72±0.68 vs. 2.86±0.71, presence of hydronephrosis (56.0% vs. 46.4%), total operative time (93.0±12.2) min vs. (96.8±14.2) min, hemoglobin level reduction (6.56±2.16) g/L vs. 97.54±2.64) g/L, stone-free rate (92.0% vs. 92.8%), hospital stay (5.52±0.59) d vs. (5.64±0.62) d, perioperative complication rate (8.0% vs. 7.2%). Two patients in EUGA group experienced perioperative complications (one urinary tract infection and one hematuria) while two patients in UGA group experienced perioperative urinary tract infection. None in both groups received blood transfusion. The patients undergoing EUGA had shorter renal access time [(4.0±0.7) min vs. (6.8±2.6) min, P < 0.01] and less repeat puncture (0 vs. 4 cases, P < 0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#EUGA is an optimal technique to establish percutaneous renal access in ECIRS, which minimizes access time and repeated procedures.
Subject(s)
Humans , Kidney Calculi , Nephrostomy, Percutaneous , Retrospective Studies , Treatment Outcome , Ultrasonography, Interventional , UreteroscopyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To discuss the efficacy and safety of simultaneous bilateral endoscopic surgery (SBES) for bilateral upper urinary tract calculi, and to summarize the initial experience.@*METHODS@#Patients diagnosed with bilateral upper urinary tract calculi who underwent SBES in the Department of Urology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital from January 2019 to January 2020 were enrolled retrospectively. The demographic and clinical data of the patients were recorded, and the operation status, stone free rate (SFR) and peri-operative complications were analyzed. The primary end point was SFR, and second end point was peri-operative complications.@*RESULTS@#A total of 23 patients underwent SBES, of which SBES was completed in 19 patients (12 males, and 7 females). The mean age was (41.3±12.0) years. Fourteen patients underwent modified supine position surgery and 4 patients in prone split-leg position. There was no statistical difference in the demographic and baseline clinical data of the patients in different positions. One patient underwent right percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and left endoscopic combined intra-renal surgery (ECIRS) in the prone split-leg position, while 18 patients received simul-taneous surgery with PCNL and contralateral retrograde intra-renal surgery (RIRS). The mean anesthesia and operation time was (128.7±26.5) min and (70.7±20.3) min, respectively, which was significantly longer in the patients with prone split-leg position than in the patients with modified supine position, anesthesia time in the patients with prone split-leg position and modified supine position: (148.4±20.4) min vs. (121.6±25.3) min, respectively, t=－2.121, P=0.049, while the operation time in the patients with prone split-leg position and modified supine position: (86.4±21.1) min vs. (65.1±17.4) min, respectively, t=－2.222, P=0.040. There was no significant difference between the two groups in indwelling of nephrostomy [prone split-leg position and modified supine position: (2.6±0.9) d vs. (2.1±1.0) d, respectively; t=－0.880, P=0.391] and the length of hospital stay [prone split-leg position and modified supine position: (6.0±2.7) d vs. (5.2±1.8) d, respectively; t=－0.731, P=0.475]. One month after the operation, the SFR was 78.9%, and 3 patients had minor peri-operative complications (Clavien-Dindo grades Ⅰ/Ⅱ) without any serious complications (Clavien-Dindo grades Ⅲ/Ⅳ/Ⅴ).@*CONCLUSION@#The simultaneous bilateral endoscopic surgery would decrease the operation time and anesthesia exposure under the premise of ensuring the SFR, which is helpful to reduce the risk of peri-operative complications, especially to the patients who can not tolerate the second-stage or long-time operation.
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Calcinosis/surgery , Endoscopy , Kidney Calculi , Nephrolithotomy, Percutaneous , Nephrostomy, Percutaneous , Retrospective Studies , Treatment Outcome , Urologic Diseases/surgeryABSTRACT
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the leading causes of mortality in diabetic patients. Long non-coding RNA zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 antisense 1 (ZEB1-AS1) plays a crucial role in the development of various diseases, including DN. However, the molecular mechanism of ZEB1-AS1 in DN pathogenesis remains elusive. An in vitro DN model was established by treating HK-2 cells with high glucose (HG). Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was utilized to detect the expression levels of ZEB1-AS1, microRNA-216a-5p (miR-216a-5p), and bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7). Western blot assay was used to evaluate the protein levels of BMP7, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins, and fibrosis markers. Additionally, the interaction among ZEB1-AS1, miR-216a-5p, and BMP7 was predicted by MiRcode (http://www.mircode.org) and starBase 2.0 (omics_06102, omicX), and confirmed by luciferase reporter assay. ZEB1-AS1 and BMP7 were down-regulated, while miR-216a-5p was highly expressed in kidney tissues of DN patients. Consistently, HG treatment decreased the levels of ZEB1-AS1 and BMP7, whereas HG increased miR-216a-5p expression in HK-2 cells in a time-dependent manner. ZEB1-AS1 upregulation inhibited HG-induced EMT and fibrogenesis. Furthermore, ZEB1-AS1 directly targeted miR-216a-5p, and overexpression of miR-216a-5p restored the inhibitory effects of ZEB1-AS1 overexpression on EMT and fibrogenesis. BMP7 was negatively targeted by miR-216a-5p. In addition, ZEB1-AS1 suppressed HG-induced EMT and fibrogenesis by regulating miR-216a-5p and BMP-7. lncRNA ZEB1-AS1 inhibited high glucose-induced EMT and fibrogenesis via regulating miR-216a-5p/BMP7 axis in diabetic nephropathy, providing a potential target for DN therapy.
Subject(s)
Humans , Diabetic Nephropathies/metabolism , Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7/metabolism , Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/physiology , RNA, Long Noncoding/physiology , Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1/metabolism , Down-Regulation , Up-Regulation , Cells, Cultured , MicroRNAs/metabolism , Diabetic Nephropathies/genetics , Real-Time Polymerase Chain ReactionABSTRACT
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the leading causes of mortality in diabetic patients. Long non-coding RNA zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 antisense 1 (ZEB1-AS1) plays a crucial role in the development of various diseases, including DN. However, the molecular mechanism of ZEB1-AS1 in DN pathogenesis remains elusive. An in vitro DN model was established by treating HK-2 cells with high glucose (HG). Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was utilized to detect the expression levels of ZEB1-AS1, microRNA-216a-5p (miR-216a-5p), and bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7). Western blot assay was used to evaluate the protein levels of BMP7, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins, and fibrosis markers. Additionally, the interaction among ZEB1-AS1, miR-216a-5p, and BMP7 was predicted by MiRcode (http://www.mircode.org) and starBase 2.0 (omics_06102, omicX), and confirmed by luciferase reporter assay. ZEB1-AS1 and BMP7 were down-regulated, while miR-216a-5p was highly expressed in kidney tissues of DN patients. Consistently, HG treatment decreased the levels of ZEB1-AS1 and BMP7, whereas HG increased miR-216a-5p expression in HK-2 cells in a time-dependent manner. ZEB1-AS1 upregulation inhibited HG-induced EMT and fibrogenesis. Furthermore, ZEB1-AS1 directly targeted miR-216a-5p, and overexpression of miR-216a-5p restored the inhibitory effects of ZEB1-AS1 overexpression on EMT and fibrogenesis. BMP7 was negatively targeted by miR-216a-5p. In addition, ZEB1-AS1 suppressed HG-induced EMT and fibrogenesis by regulating miR-216a-5p and BMP-7. lncRNA ZEB1-AS1 inhibited high glucose-induced EMT and fibrogenesis via regulating miR-216a-5p/BMP7 axis in diabetic nephropathy, providing a potential target for DN therapy.
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The suitable production area can guarantee the quality of Dai medicine， but the research on the suitable ecological factors and suitable production area of plant Dai medicine is relatively scarce at present. In this study， gmpgis was used to analyze the ecological suitability of Dai medicine in China. For the first time， the range of ecological factors and main soil types in the main distribution areas of Dai medicine were extracted， such as annual average temperature of 8.6-23.7 ℃， annual average precipitation of 1212-1881 mm， annual average sunshine of 149.7-157.4 W·m-2， the main soil types are strong eluvial soil， alluvial soil， high activity strong acid soil， etc. Based on 179 sampling points， through the analysis of ecological similarity， the largest ecological similarity area of plant Dai medicine in the world was obtained， mainly including China， Brazil， the United States， Myanmar， Laos and other countries. In China， it is mainly concentrated in the West and south of Yunnan， including Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture， Dehong Dai Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture， Pu'er City， Baoshan City and Lincang City， which are suitable for cultivation. In addition， by analyzing the current situation of Dai medicine industry， this paper summarizes the problems such as the lack of talents， the decreasing of Dai medicine resources， the limitation of cultural heritage， and the weakness of scientific research， and puts forward strategies such as training high-quality talents of Dai medicine， the investigation and protection of Dai medicine resources， promoting the collection and arrangement of Dai medicine data and ancient books， and strengthening the basic and applied research of Dai medicine Enter the development of Dai medicine. This study provides a basis for guiding the rational layout， introduction and breeding of plant Dai medicine production base， and lays a foundation for the scientific and standardized production of high-quality Dai medicine.
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OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the role of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) in the prognosis of patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL).@*METHODS@#The peripheral blood of 52 DLBCL patients and 30 healthy volunteers was collected. The CD14HLA-DR was used as the immune marker for MDSC. The role of MDSC in the prognosis of DLBCL patients was analyzed by combination with the related clinicopathological data.@*RESULTS@#The proportion of MDSC in peripheral blood of newly diagnosed DLBCL patients increased significantly (P＜0.01). The expression of MDSC in DLBCL patients was related with clinical staging, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level and IPI score (P＜0.01). There was no significant correlation with sex, age, and B symptoms. Univariate analysis showed that the clinical stage, serum LDH level, IPI score and MDSC level were the adverse factors affecting the overall survival (OS). Multivariate analysis showed that IPI score and MDSC level were independent risk factors for OS in DLBCL patients.@*CONCLUSION@#MDSC can be used as an important index to evaluate the prognosis of DLBCL patients, contributing to evaluate the immune and tumor microenvironment of DLBCL patients.
Subject(s)
Humans , Biomarkers , HLA-DR Antigens , Lipopolysaccharide Receptors , Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse , Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells , Prognosis , Tumor MicroenvironmentABSTRACT
Objective:To study therapeutic effect of pioglitazone hydrochloride combined different drugs on diabetic cardiopathy (DC) and its influence on cardiac function.Methods:A total of 118 DC patients were selected from our hospital.They were randomly and equally divided into group A (received pioglitazone hydrochloride + nifedipine sustained release tablet ) and group B (received pioglitazone hydrochloride + α-lipoic acid + mecobalamin ),both groups were treated for two months.Related indexes of blood glucose,vascular endothelial function,islet β cell function,heart ejection function before and after treatment,and incidence of adverse reactions were observed and compared between two groups.Results:Compared with before treatment,there were significant reductions in levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG),2h postprandial blood glucose (2hPG),glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c),ho-meostasis model-insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR),high sensitive C reactive protein (hsCRP),vascular endothe-lial cell protein C receptor (EPCR),plamsa thrombin regulation protein (TM) and von Willebrand factor (vWF),and significant rise in insulin sensitivity index (ISI),left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF),left ventricular frac-tional shortening (LVFS) and left ventricular early diastolic peak flow velocity/late diastolic peak flow velocity (E/A) in two groups after treatment,P＝0.001 all.There were no significant difference in above indexes after treat-ment between two groups,P＞0.05 all.No obvious adverse reactions were found in two groups during treatment.Conclusion:Both pioglitazone hydrochloride + nifedipine sustained release tablet and pioglitazone hydrochloride +α-lipoic acid + mecobalamin can significantly reduce blood glucose level,improve insulin resistance,vascular endo-thelial function and cardiac function with low incidence rate of adverse reactions in DC patients,which is worth clin-ical application.
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@#Metastatic brain lymphomas, which belong to secondary central nervous system lymphomas, usually originate from primary tumors of the bone marrow, testis, or orbit. Gastrointestinal lymphomas commonly metastasize to the lung or heart. We report here a case of brain hemorrhage due to metastasis from primary gastrointestinal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). A 30-year-old male presented with headache. He was diagnosed to have gastrointestinal lymphoma 6 months earlier, and treated with gastrointestinal surgery. Pathological diagnosis was DLBCL. A PET-CT scan immediately after gastrointestinal surgery demonstrated no brain metastasis. On admission to the ward, imaging of the brain showed right temporoparietal hematoma. In the ward, the patient deteriorated with impaired consciousness. Repeat brain imaging showed enlargement of the hematoma. He underwent right temporoparietal craniotomy for the removal of a hematoma, and tumor nodules adherent to the cortex was found. Pathology confirmed a metastatic DLBCL in the brain. Literature review showed that this was the first reported case of brain hemorrhage from metastatic lymphoma. Metastatic central nervous system lymphoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients with a history of gastrointestinal lymphoma presenting with neurological symptoms.
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Piloerection is an involuntary erection of body hairs that usually has physiological correlates such as cold or a strong emotional experience. Piloerection may also be a rare manifestation of seizure.Here, we report a case of 54-year-old man who experienced pilomotor seizures from temporal lobe epilepsy. The patient presented with sudden piloerection and no loss of consciousness many times a day. Magnetic resonance imagingof the brain showed threelesions in the right hemisphere, with the largest lesion in the right temporal lobe. A video-EEG showed an ictal discharge in the delta range with right temporal onset. Digital subtraction angiography excluded arteriovenous malformation. The lesion in the right temporal lobe was resected. Immunohistochemistry confirmed a cerebral cavernous malformation. There was no further seizure. A review of the published literature revealed that ictal piloerection as a lone manifestation is rare. Most cases of pilomotor seizure originate in the temporal lobe. Close to four fifth of the cases has a structural lesion. EEG was able to confirm the diagnosis of ictal piloerection in the majority of cases.
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Microvascular decompression is an effective treatment for hemifacial spasm. Hemorrhage is oneof the complications of microvascular decompression. However, delayed hemorrhage is very rare.Here, we report a case of ipsilateral cerebellar hemorrhage at day seven following microvasculardecompression. A 45-year-old woman presented with left HFS for the previous two years. Diagnostictesting demonstrated the presence of neurosyphilis. Brain magnetic resonance image was unremarkableon presentation. She received microvascular decompression and her hemifacial spasm completelyresolved after surgery. At day seven post-operatively, the patient presented with a sudden onsetheadache. Emergency computed tomography scan showed a cerebellar hemorrhage. A suboccipitalcraniotomy was performed and a cerebellar hematoma was evacuated. The delayed hemorrhage wasattributed to possible microaneurysm from syphilis.
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<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is the most widely recommended treatment for calyceal diverticular calculi, providing excellent stone-free results. However, its invasiveness is not negligible considering its major complication rates. Flexible ureteroscopy (FURS) is currently used to treat calyceal diverticula. However, the greatest drawback of FURS is locating the diverticulum since its neck is narrow and concealed. In such a case, the FURS procedure must be converted to PCNL. The aim of this study was to evaluate ultrasound-guided flexible ureteroscopy (UFURS) identifying diverticulum and the management of calyceal diverticular calculi.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective analysis was conducted on 24 patients who had calyceal diverticular calculi. In all 12 patients in the UFURS group, direct FURS failed to find evidence of calyceal diverticula but were confirmed with imaging. The other 12 patients in the PCNL group received PCNL plus fulguration of the diverticular walls.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Puncture of calyceal diverticulum was successful in all 12 UFURS patients. Two patients in this group had postoperative residual calculi and two patients developed fever. In the PCNL group, percutaneous renal access and lithotomy were successful in all 12 patients. One patient in this group had residual calculi, one had perirenal hematoma, and two patients developed fever. No significant difference was found in the operating time (UFURS vs. PCNL, 91.8 ± 24.2 vs. 86.3 ± 18.7 min), stone-free rate (UFURS vs. PCNL, 9/12 vs. 10/12), and rate of successful lithotripsy (UFURS vs. PCNL, 10/12 vs. 11/12) between the two groups (all P> 0.05). Postoperative pain scores in the FURS group were significantly lower than that in the PCNL group (2.7 ± 1.2 vs. 6.2 ± 1.5, P< 0.05). Hospital stay in the UFURS group was significantly shorter than that in the PCNL group (3.4 ± 0.8 vs. 5.4 ± 1.0 days, P< 0.05). All patients were symptom-free following surgery (UFURS vs. PCNL, 10/10 vs. 12/12).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ultrasound-guided puncture facilitates identification of calyceal diverticula during FURS and improves the success rate of FURS surgery.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Diverticulum , Diagnosis , General Surgery , Kidney Calculi , Diagnosis , General Surgery , Retrospective Studies , Ultrasonography , Methods , Ureteroscopes , Ureteroscopy , MethodsABSTRACT
The nitric oxide (NO) formation and intrinsic nitrosation may be involved in the possible mechanisms of liver fluke-associated carcinogenesis. We still do not know much about the responses of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) induced by Clonorchis sinensis infection. This study was conducted to explore the pathological lesions and iNOS expressions in the liver of mice with different infection intensity levels of C. sinensis. Extensive periductal inflammatory cell infiltration, bile duct hyperplasia, and fibrosis were commonly observed during the infection. The different pathological responses in liver tissues strongly correlated with the infection intensity of C. sinensis. Massive acute spotty necrosis occurred in the liver parenchyma after a severe infection. The iNOS activity in liver tissues increased, and iNOS-expressing cells with morphological differences were observed after a moderate or severe infection. The iNOS-expressing cells in liver tissues had multiple origins.
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Humans , Mice , Clonorchiasis/enzymology , Clonorchis sinensis/physiology , Liver/enzymology , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/geneticsABSTRACT
Eight phenolic compounds were isolated from Rhododendron phaeochrysum var. agglutinatum and their sructures were identified as phaeochrysin (1), (2R)-4-(3',4'-dihydroxyphenyl) -2-butanol (2), (-) -rhododendrol (3), rhododendrin (4), (+) -isolariciresinol (5), (-) -lyoniresinol (6), lyoniresinol-9'-O-β-D-xylopyranoside (7), and dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl-3a-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (8). Compound 1 is new, and compounds 2, 5-8 were isolated from this plant for the first time.
Subject(s)
Drugs, Chinese Herbal , Chemistry , Mass Spectrometry , Molecular Structure , Phenols , Chemistry , Rhododendron , ChemistryABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the clinical effects of intramedullary fixation of Kirschner pin for the treatment of distal fibula fractures.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From April 2007 to June 2010, thirty patients with the distal fibula fractures were treated with intramedullary fixation of Kirschner pin. There were 22 males and 8 females with an average age of 35.6 years old (22 to 60 years), length of hospital stay was 10 to 30 days (means 15.8 days). There were 20 cases of Transverse fracture and 10 cases of oblique fracture. Evaluation of the function of the ankle joint is based on the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) standard evaluation systems.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the cases were followed up. The mean followed-up time was 15.5 months (3 to 30 months). All fractures were bone healed, no case suffered infection and nonunion, no case suffered nervus fibularis superficialis injury. According to the AOFAS (American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society) evaluation systems, the total scores after operation was 96.1 +/- 4.3 (the pain was 39.0 +/- 4.0, the fracture force line was 10, the function was 47.1 +/- 2.1. Twenty-eight patients obtained excellent results, 2 good.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This method can be easily operated with the advantages of less pain and safety. It can effectively attenuate the financial burden of the patients. Thus worth being popularized in clinicic and basic level hospital.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Fibula , Wounds and Injuries , Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary , MethodsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of Jinshuibao Capsule (JC) combined losartan potassium on some indices of early renal damage of hypertension patients of yin and yang deficiency syndrome (YYDS), such as levels of serum cystatin C (Cys C), beta2-microglobulin (beta2-MG), hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), uric acid (UA), blood pressure, blood lipids, and fasting blood glucose (FBG), and to explore their protective effects on early renal damage of hypertension patients and on the metabolisms of blood lipids and blood glucose.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 106 hypertension patients of YYDS were randomly assigned to two groups, 53 patients in the control group (treated by losartan potassium) and 53 patients in the treatment group (treated by JC + losartan potassium). The treatment lasted for 16 weeks. The serum changes of UA, Cys C, beta2-MG, hs-CRP, blood lipids [including total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)], and FBG levels were measured to evaluate the renal protective effects and to assess their effect on the metabolisms of blood lipids and blood glucose.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with before treatment in the same group, the systolic blood pressure (SBP) decreased in the two groups after treatment, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), but there was no statistical difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). The diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was not obviously declined in the two groups after treatment, showing no statistical difference. Compared with before treatment in the same group, the LDL-C level decreased obviously after treatment in the control group. But there was no obvious change in FBG, TC, HDL-C, and TG in the control group, showing no statistical difference when compared with before treatment (P < 0.05). The FBG, TC, and LDL-C obviously decreased in the treatment group more obviously after treatment than before treatment, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference when compared with the control group after treatment (P > 0.05). Compared with before treatment in the same group, the levels of UA, Cys C, beta2-MG, and hs-CRP all decreased in the two groups, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The SCr level decreased in the treatment group more obviously after treatment than before treatment, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group after treatment, the levels of Cys C, beta2-MG, and hs-CRP decreased more obviously after treatment in the treatment group, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>JC combined losartan potassium showed better effects in treating early renal damage of hypertension patients of YYDS. They could protect and stabilize the renal functions more effectively. JC could regulate blood lipids and blood glucose.</p>