ABSTRACT
@#Abstract: Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and diagnosis key points of brain abscess caused by Nocardia asiatica, and provide a clinical basis for diagnosing and treating intracranial infection caused by Nocardia. Methods A case of pulmonary Nocardia asiatica complicated with brain abscess diagnosed at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University was selected to analyze the clinical manifestations, cerebrospinal fluid characteristics, pulmonary and cranial imaging features, and treatment plan, and to summarize the diagnosis and treatment experience. Results The patient was an elderly woman with a history of diabetes, dry cough was the first symptom without fever or headache. At the beginning of the course, it was diagnosed as pulmonary infection and tuberculosis in the local hospital, and received conventional antimicrobial and anti-tuberculosis therapies, but showed no improvement. The patient developed progressive limb weakness, followed by consciousness disorders, and coma. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) adenosine deaminase and lactate dehydrogenase were not abnormal, CSF pressure, protein and white blood cells were high, mainly with multiple nuclear cells. CSF glucose and chloride were normal in the early stage of the disease, but decreased significantly in the later stage. Metagenomic analysis of cerebrospinal fluid indicated Nocardia asiatica with a specific sequence number of 537. Lung CT showed exudation, abscess, and cavity in the right lung. Skull MRI scan + enhancement suggested multiple scattered abscesses in both cerebral hemispheres. The abscesses were of different sizes and showed ring enhancement, with extensive surrounding edema, and ventricular compression. After treatment with meropenem, linezolid, and compound sulfamethoxazole tablets, the cerebrospinal fluid recovered, and the lesions in the lungs and intracranial structures improved. Conclusions Brain abscess caused by Nocardia asiatica is similar to the tuberculous brain in clinical symptoms, cerebrospinal fluid examination, craniocerebral imaging, so we should be alert to the possibility of Nocardia infection in patients with diabetes. At the same time, metagenomic testing of the cerebrospinal fluid can help confirm the diagnosis. The mortality and disability rates of brain abscess caused by Nocardia are high. Early diagnosis and treatment can improve the prognosis.
ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy and safety of Fuzheng Huayu tablets （FHT） for treating pulmonary inflammation in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 （COVID-19）. MethodA total of 70（4 cases were lost to follow-up, and 66 cases were finally completed） COVID-19 patients were recruited from February 1 to April 15 in 2020. They were assigned to a control group （35 patients） and a FHT group （31 patients）. The patients in the control group received routine treatment alone and those in the FHT group received FHT in addition to routine treatment. The primary outcome was the ratio of patients showing improvement in chest computed tomographic manifestations after 14 days. The secondary outcome measures included remission rate or progression rate of critical illness， clinical remission rate of respiratory symptoms， routine blood examination， C-reactive protein （CPR） level， procalcitonin （PCT） level， and blood oxygen saturation （SPO2）. The safety was assessed based on liver and kidney functions and adverse events. ResultAfter the 14-day treatment， the ratio of patients showing improvement in the FHT group （100%） was higher than that in the control group （77.1%） （χ2=8.063，P<0.01）. The ratio of disease stages after treatment showed no significant difference between two groups. In the FHT group， the symptoms including cough， dyspnea， and fatigue were alleviated after treatment （P<0.01）. In the control group， the symptoms including fever， cough， and dyspnea were alleviated （P<0.01）， while the fatigue was not relieved after treatment. No significant difference was observed in the clinical symptoms between the two groups after treatment. After treatment， the FHT group showed decreased white blood cell （WBC） count and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio （NLR） （P<0.01）， elevated platelet （PLT） level （P<0.05）， lowered CRP level （P<0.05）， and no significant difference in lymphocyte （LYM）， hemoglobin （Hb）， SPO2 or PCT level. The control group showed decreased NLR （P<0.05） and WBC count （P<0.01）， elevated PCT level （P<0.05）， and no significant change in LYM， Hb， PLT， SPO2 or CRP level after treatment. Furthermore， the FHT group had higher PLT level than the control group （P<0.05） after treatment， and other indicators had no significant differences between the two groups. The liver and kidney functions had no significant difference between the two groups after treatment. ConclusionFHT can safely promote the absorption of acute pulmonary inflammation in COVID-19 patients.
ABSTRACT
Background@#and Purpose Various imaging paradigms are used for endovascular treatment (EVT) decision-making and outcome estimation in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We aim to compare how these imaging paradigms perform for EVT patient selection and outcome estimation. @*Methods@#Prospective multi-center cohort study of patients with AIS symptoms with multi-phase computed tomography angiography (mCTA) and computed tomography perfusion (CTP) baseline imaging. mCTA-based EVT-eligibility was defined as presence of large vessel occlusion (LVO) and moderate-to-good collaterals on mCTA. CTP-based eligibility was defined as presence of LVO, ischemic core (defined on relative cerebral blood flow, absolute cerebral blood flow, and cerebral blood volume maps) 1.8, absolute mismatch >15 mL. EVT-eligibility and adjusted rates of good outcome (modified Rankin Scale 0–2) based on these imaging paradigms were compared. @*Results@#Of 289/464 patients with LVO, 263 (91%) were EVT-eligible by mCTA-criteria versus 63 (22%), 19 (7%) and 103 (36%) by rCBF, aCBF, and CBV-CTP-criteria. CTP and mCTA-criteria were discordant in 40% to 53%. Estimated outcomes were best in patients who met both mCTA and CTP eligibility-criteria and were treated with EVT (62% to 87% good outcome). Patients eligible for EVT by mCTA-criteria and not by CTP-criteria receiving EVT achieved good outcome rates of 53% to 57%. Few patients met CTP-criteria and not mCTA-criteria for EVT. @*Conclusions@#Simpler imaging selection criteria that rely on little else than detection of the occluded blood vessel may be more sensitive and less specific, thus resulting in more patients being offered EVT and arguably benefiting from it.
ABSTRACT
Background@#and Purpose Multiphase computed tomographic angiography (mCTA) provides time variant images of pial vasculature supplying brain in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). To develop a machine learning (ML) technique to predict tissue perfusion and infarction from mCTA source images. @*Methods@#284 patients with AIS were included from the Precise and Rapid assessment of collaterals using multi-phase CTA in the triage of patients with acute ischemic stroke for Intra-artery Therapy (Prove-IT) study. All patients had non-contrast computed tomography, mCTA, and computed tomographic perfusion (CTP) at baseline and follow-up magnetic resonance imagingon-contrast-enhanced computed tomography. Of the 284 patient images, 140 patient images were randomly selected to train and validate three ML models to predict a pre-defined Tmax thresholded perfusion abnormality, core and penumbra on CTP. The remaining 144 patient images were used to test the ML models. The predicted perfusion, core and penumbra lesions from ML models were compared to CTP perfusion lesion and to follow-up infarct using Bland-Altman plots, concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), and Dice similarity coefficient. @*Results@#Mean difference between the mCTA predicted perfusion volume and CTP perfusion volume was 4.6 mL (limit of agreement [LoA], –53 to 62.1 mL; P=0.56; CCC 0.63 [95% confidence interval [CI], 0.53 to 0.71; P<0.01], ICC 0.68 [95% CI, 0.58 to 0.78; P<0.001]). Mean difference between the mCTA predicted infarct and follow-up infarct in the 100 patients with acute reperfusion (modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction [mTICI] 2b/2c/3) was 21.7 mL, while it was 3.4 mL in the 44 patients not achieving reperfusion (mTICI 0/1). Amongst reperfused subjects, CCC was 0.4 (95% CI, 0.15 to 0.55; P<0.01) and ICC was 0.42 (95% CI, 0.18 to 0.50; P<0.01); in non-reperfused subjects CCC was 0.52 (95% CI, 0.20 to 0.60; P<0.001) and ICC was 0.60 (95% CI, 0.37 to 0.76; P<0.001). No difference was observed between the mCTA and CTP predicted infarct volume in the test cohort (P=0.67). @*Conclusions@#A ML based mCTA model is able to predict brain tissue perfusion abnormality and follow-up infarction, comparable to CTP.
ABSTRACT
Background@#and Purpose Various imaging paradigms are used for endovascular treatment (EVT) decision-making and outcome estimation in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We aim to compare how these imaging paradigms perform for EVT patient selection and outcome estimation. @*Methods@#Prospective multi-center cohort study of patients with AIS symptoms with multi-phase computed tomography angiography (mCTA) and computed tomography perfusion (CTP) baseline imaging. mCTA-based EVT-eligibility was defined as presence of large vessel occlusion (LVO) and moderate-to-good collaterals on mCTA. CTP-based eligibility was defined as presence of LVO, ischemic core (defined on relative cerebral blood flow, absolute cerebral blood flow, and cerebral blood volume maps) 1.8, absolute mismatch >15 mL. EVT-eligibility and adjusted rates of good outcome (modified Rankin Scale 0–2) based on these imaging paradigms were compared. @*Results@#Of 289/464 patients with LVO, 263 (91%) were EVT-eligible by mCTA-criteria versus 63 (22%), 19 (7%) and 103 (36%) by rCBF, aCBF, and CBV-CTP-criteria. CTP and mCTA-criteria were discordant in 40% to 53%. Estimated outcomes were best in patients who met both mCTA and CTP eligibility-criteria and were treated with EVT (62% to 87% good outcome). Patients eligible for EVT by mCTA-criteria and not by CTP-criteria receiving EVT achieved good outcome rates of 53% to 57%. Few patients met CTP-criteria and not mCTA-criteria for EVT. @*Conclusions@#Simpler imaging selection criteria that rely on little else than detection of the occluded blood vessel may be more sensitive and less specific, thus resulting in more patients being offered EVT and arguably benefiting from it.
ABSTRACT
Background@#and Purpose Multiphase computed tomographic angiography (mCTA) provides time variant images of pial vasculature supplying brain in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). To develop a machine learning (ML) technique to predict tissue perfusion and infarction from mCTA source images. @*Methods@#284 patients with AIS were included from the Precise and Rapid assessment of collaterals using multi-phase CTA in the triage of patients with acute ischemic stroke for Intra-artery Therapy (Prove-IT) study. All patients had non-contrast computed tomography, mCTA, and computed tomographic perfusion (CTP) at baseline and follow-up magnetic resonance imagingon-contrast-enhanced computed tomography. Of the 284 patient images, 140 patient images were randomly selected to train and validate three ML models to predict a pre-defined Tmax thresholded perfusion abnormality, core and penumbra on CTP. The remaining 144 patient images were used to test the ML models. The predicted perfusion, core and penumbra lesions from ML models were compared to CTP perfusion lesion and to follow-up infarct using Bland-Altman plots, concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), and Dice similarity coefficient. @*Results@#Mean difference between the mCTA predicted perfusion volume and CTP perfusion volume was 4.6 mL (limit of agreement [LoA], –53 to 62.1 mL; P=0.56; CCC 0.63 [95% confidence interval [CI], 0.53 to 0.71; P<0.01], ICC 0.68 [95% CI, 0.58 to 0.78; P<0.001]). Mean difference between the mCTA predicted infarct and follow-up infarct in the 100 patients with acute reperfusion (modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction [mTICI] 2b/2c/3) was 21.7 mL, while it was 3.4 mL in the 44 patients not achieving reperfusion (mTICI 0/1). Amongst reperfused subjects, CCC was 0.4 (95% CI, 0.15 to 0.55; P<0.01) and ICC was 0.42 (95% CI, 0.18 to 0.50; P<0.01); in non-reperfused subjects CCC was 0.52 (95% CI, 0.20 to 0.60; P<0.001) and ICC was 0.60 (95% CI, 0.37 to 0.76; P<0.001). No difference was observed between the mCTA and CTP predicted infarct volume in the test cohort (P=0.67). @*Conclusions@#A ML based mCTA model is able to predict brain tissue perfusion abnormality and follow-up infarction, comparable to CTP.
ABSTRACT
Dubin-Johnson syndrome (DJS) is an autosomal recessive disorder resulting from biallelic mutations of ABCC2 gene, with long-term or intermittent conjugated hyperbilirubinemia being the main clinical manifestation. This paper aims to report the clinical features and ABCC2 genotypes of an infant with DJS. A 9.5-month-old male infant was referred to the hospital due to abnormal liver function discovered over 9 months. The major clinical presentation was prolonged jaundice since neonatal period. A series of biochemistry analysis revealed markedly elevated total bilirubin, conjugated bilirubin and total bile acids. The patient had been managed in different hospitals, but the therapeutic effects were unsatisfactory due to undetermined etiology. Physical examination revealed jaundiced skin and sclera, and a palpable liver 3 cm below the right subcostal margin with medium texture. The spleen was not enlarged. Genetic analysis revealed a splice-site variant c.3988-2A>T and a nonsense variant c.3825C>G (p.Y1275X) in the ABCC2 gene of the infant, which were inherited from his mother and father respectively. The former had not been previously reported. Then ursodeoxycholic acid and phenobarbital were given orally. Half a month later, as a result, his jaundice disappeared and the biochemistry indices improved. However, the long-term outcome needs to be observed. Literature review revealed that neonates/infants with DJS presented with cholestatic jaundice soon after birth as the major clinical feature, and the ABCC2 variants exhibited marked heterogeneity.
Subject(s)
Humans , Infant , Male , Bile Acids and Salts , Bilirubin , Jaundice , Jaundice, Chronic Idiopathic , Genetics , Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins , Genetics , Ursodeoxycholic AcidABSTRACT
GM1 gangliosidosis is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by galactosidase beta1 (GLB1) gene variants which affect the activity of β-galactosidase (GLB). GLB dysfunction causes abnormalities in the degradation of GM1 and its accumulation in lysosome. This article reports the clinical and genetic features of a child with GM1 gangliosidosis. The girl, aged 2 years and 5 months, was referred to the hospital due to motor developmental regression for more than one year. Physical examination showed binocular deflection and horizontal nystagmus, but no abnormality was found on fundoscopy. The girl had increased muscular tone of the extremities, limitation of motion of the elbow, knee, and ankle joints, and hyperactive patellar tendon reflex. Blood biochemical examination showed a significant increase in aspartate aminotransferase. The 24-hour electroencephalographic monitoring detected frequent seizure attacks and diffuse θ wave activity, especially in the right hemisphere. Head magnetic resonance imaging showed thinner white matter in the periventricular region and diffuse high T2WI signal with unclear boundary. Three-dimensional reconstruction of white matter fiber tracts by diffusion tensor imaging showed smaller and thinner white matter fiber tracts, especially in the right hemisphere. Genetic analysis showed that the girl had compound heterozygous mutations of c.446C>T (p.Ser149Phe) and c.101T>C (p.Ile34Thr) in the GLB1 gene from her parents, among which c.101T>C (p.Ile34Thr) had not been reported in the literatures. The girl was finally diagnosed with GM1 gangliosidosis. Her conditions were not improved after antiepileptic treatment and rehabilitation training for 2 months.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Infant , Diffusion Tensor Imaging , Gangliosidosis, GM1 , Genetics , Mutation , Virulence , beta-Galactosidase , GeneticsABSTRACT
Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type II (PFIC-2) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by biallelic variants of ABCB11 gene. This paper reports the clinical and laboratory features of a pediatric patient with PFIC-2. The patient was a 2.4-month-old male infant with jaundice and hepatomegaly as the main clinical manifestations. The serum levels of total bilirubin, direct bilirubin and total bile acids were increased, while the serum γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) level was normal. Next generation sequencing revealed two missense variants, c.1493T>C(p.Ile498Thr) and c.1502T>G(p.Val501Gly), in the ABCB11 gene of the patient, which were inherited from his father and mother, respectively. The latter was a novel variant which was predicted to be pathogenic by using a variety of bioinformatic tools, and the affected p.Val501 residue was highly conserved in 112 homologous peptides.
ABSTRACT
Sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) deficiency is an inborn error of bile acid metabolism caused by mutations of SLC10A1 gene. This paper reports the clinical and genetic features of a patient with this disease. A 3.3-month-old male infant was referred to the hospital with the complaint of jaundiced skin and sclera over 3 months. Physical examination revealed moderate jaundice of the skin and sclera. The liver was palpable 3.5 cm below the right subcostal margin with a medium texture. Serum biochemistry analysis revealed markedly elevated bilirubin (predominantly direct bilirubin) and total bile acids (TBA), as well as decreased 25-OH-VitD level. On pathological analysis of the biopsied liver tissue, hepatocyte ballooning and cholestatic multinucleate giant cells were noted. The lobular architecture was distorted. Infiltration of inflammatory cells, predominantly lymphocytes, was seen in the portal tracts. In response to the anti-inflammatory and liver protective drugs as well as fat-soluble vitamins over 2 months, the bilirubin and transaminases levels were improved markedly while the TBA kept elevated. Because of persisting hypercholanemia on the follow-up, SLC10A1 gene analysis was performed at his age of 17.2 months. The child proved to be a homozygote of the reportedly pathogenic variant c.800C>T (p. Ser267Phe), while the parents were both carriers. NTCP deficiency was thus diagnosed. The infant was followed up until 34.3 months old. He developed well in terms of the anthropometric indices and neurobehavioral milestones. The jaundice disappeared completely. The liver size, texture and function indices all recovered. However, the hypercholanemia persisted, and the long-term outcome needs to be observed.
Subject(s)
Humans , Infant , Male , Organic Anion Transporters, Sodium-Dependent , Genetics , Symporters , GeneticsABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Ulcerative colitis (UC) is associated with differential expression of genes involved in inflammation and tissue remodeling. MicroRNA (miRNA) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of UC by regulating the gene expression at the post-transcriptional level and control crucial physiological processes. This study aimed to identify aquaporin 8 (AQP8) expression and its relationship with miRNA in UC patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Human colon samples, in this study, were obtained from 20 patients with UC and 16 healthy subjects undergoing diagnostic colonoscopy at the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital between December 2009 and June 2010. We screened different genes from UC tissues and healthy subjects using genome-wide microarray, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting. Regulation of gene expression by miRNAs was assessed by luciferase reporter construct assays and transfection of specific miRNA mimics and inhibitor.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>We identified that 1596 genes were increased and 1301 genes were decreased in UC patients compared to healthy subjects. Among them, we focused on the analysis of AQP8 which was decreased three folds in UC tissues (P < 0.01). The expression of AQP8 mRNA and protein were decreased in UC tissue and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α treated HT29 cells compared with controls (P < 0.05). We searched candidate target miRNAs of AQP8 through bioformatics and the luciferase report assay analysis indicated that miR-424, miR-195, miR-330, miR-612, and miR-16 which has complementary site in the 3-untranslated region (3'UTR) of AQP8 could decrease the relative luciferase activities by 10% - 45%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>AQP8 and its relationship with miRNAs may be involved in the pathogenesis of UC.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Aquaporins , Genetics , Colitis, Ulcerative , Genetics , Gene Expression Regulation , HT29 Cells , MicroRNAs , Physiology , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha , PharmacologyABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To summarise the clinical features of 18 cases with acute trichloropropane (TCP) poisoning for improving the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Exposure history, clinical manifestations, laboratorial examinations, poisoning causes and treatment were retrospectively reviewed in 18 cases with acute TCP poisoning. The results of peripheral lymphocyte micronucleus tests were compared with the healthy control group (n = 33).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The common clinical symptoms were as following: respiratory symptoms were the earlier one set, such as chest tightness in 13, dry and sore throat in 7, cough and runny nose in 2. Gastrointestinal symptoms were more common, such as abdominal pain in 18, nausea and vomit in 14. Only 1 out of 18 patients was found with liver injury. The major manifestation was the increase in ALT and AST, which was returned to normal after treatment. ALL of the 18 patients were found TCP in their serum which concentration was from 39.0 to 310.0 ng/ml, and the average was (68.9 ± 42.1) ng/ml. The symptoms of toxic peripheral neuropathy were typical in all the patients, such as fatigue and numb limb in 18, burning pain of the distal lower limbs in 14, the symmetrical sock-like sensory dysfunction of pain, touch and vibration of the lower limbs in 13, muscle strength reduced in 7, hyporeflexia knee-jerks in 4, hyporeflexia ankle-jerks in 3. The peripheral nerve conduction velocity (NCV) examinations were as followed: the (sensore-nerve conduction velocity) SCV of peroneus super nerve in 18 and the (motor-nerve conduction velocity) MCV of tibial nerve in 8 was slowed down and the distal latency in 18 was prolonged. Micronucleus were found in all 18 cases. The micronucleus rate was 10.06‰ ± 2.80‰ and 8.24‰ ± 2.67‰ in acute TCP poisoning group and healthy control group, respectively. The difference was significant (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The common clinical manifestations of respiratory exposure of TCP poisoning patients were respiratory symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms and the symptoms of toxic peripheral neuropathy. Liver injury in those 18 cases was not obvious. Lymphocyte micronucleus of peripheral blood were found in all 18 cases.</p>
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Young Adult , Case-Control Studies , Gastrointestinal Diseases , Diagnosis , Therapeutics , Neural Conduction , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases , Diagnosis , Therapeutics , Respiratory Tract Diseases , Diagnosis , Therapeutics , Retrospective Studies , Trichloroepoxypropane , PoisoningABSTRACT
This paper addressed the volume measurement of 3D ultrasound imaging system. Two different phantoms used in the measurement of volume of the 3D ultrasound imaging system were built, i.e., water phantom and agar phantom. The experiments demonstrated that as the increase of scan depth, the volume measurement accuracy is varied from 4% to 7% in water and 6% to 10% in agar. The phantoms and the volume measurement of the 3D ultrasound imaging system provides a basis for the establishment of testing standard and clinical application of 3D ultrasound imaging system.
Subject(s)
Imaging, Three-Dimensional , Phantoms, Imaging , Ultrasonography , MethodsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the roles of p38 MAPK in apoptosis of the normal liver cell, the paratumor cirrhosis hepatocellular cell and the hepatocellular carcinoma cell.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three cell lines were adopted (the normal liver cell line HL-7702, the paratumor cirrhosis hepatocellular cell line QSG-7701 and the hepatocellular carcinoma cell line QGY-7703) and treated with Diamminedichloroplatin (DDP, cisplatin) and p38MAPK inhibitor SB203580. The apoptosis and cell cycles were detected by flow cytometry and electromicroscopy. The expressions of p38MAPK, CDC25B, p34cdc2 and cyclinB1 were detected by immunocytochemical staining , confocal microscopy and western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The apoptotic rates in all three cell lines pretreated with DDP increased obviously and the rates in normal liver cells and HCC cells increased continuously even after SB203580 treatment, whereas in paratumor cirrhosis cells the rate decreased and the cell cycle stopped at S phase.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Cisplatin induces apoptosis in the paratumor cirrhosis hepatocellular cell line QSG-7701 via activation of p38MAPK pathway and it differs in the normal liver cells from the hepatocellular carcinoma cells.</p>
Subject(s)
Humans , Apoptosis , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular , Metabolism , Pathology , Cell Line, Tumor , Cisplatin , Pharmacology , Imidazoles , Pharmacology , Liver Neoplasms , Metabolism , Pathology , Pyridines , Pharmacology , p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases , MetabolismABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To explore the relationship between the pink teeth phenomenon and the cause of death as well as its significance in forensic medicine.@*METHODS@#Inspection method was adopted to observe the pink teeth phenomenon in different causes of death. Ten rats were selected for every experimental groups, which were then divided into two groups: Eight in fresh group with teeth pulled immediately, and two in decayed group with body decayed in water firstly. The teeth pulled from rats were immersed in 75% alcohol and observed at different immersion time.@*RESULTS@#In every fresh groups, pink teeth phenomenon was not observed when they were pulled immediately, whereas it emerged gradually after the teeth immersed in 75% alcohol, and the color showed distinct and constant four hours later. In decayed groups, Pink teeth phenomenon was observed immediately when teeth pulled, it became distinct and constant after one hour's immersion in alcohol. So it was more distinctive in the decayed groups than that in the fresh groups.@*CONCLUSION@#There is no significant connection between the pink teeth phenomenon and the cause of death, thus it may not be subject to forensic identification.
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Male , Rats , Asphyxia/pathology , Cause of Death , Color , Dental Pulp/pathology , Postmortem Changes , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Time Factors , Tooth/pathologyABSTRACT
Objective To explore the possible mechanism and protective effect of Xuebijing injection (血必净注射液)and dexamethasone on rats with paraquat-induced chronic pulmonary injury.Methods Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups:normal group(n=5),model group(n=5), treatment groups(n=20).In the normal group,normal saline was used,while in the other groups,20% paraquat 80 mg/kg was injected peritoneally for poisoning.After 2 hours of intoxication,low dose Xuebijing injection(1.25 g/kg),high dose Xuebijing injection(2.50 g/kg),dexamethasone(25 mg/kg),high dose Xuebijing injection combined with dexamethasone(combined group)respectively were administered into the four different treatment groups,equal amount of normal saline was given to the normal and model groups,and the treatment continued for 4 days.At 28 days after paraquat injection,5 rats in each group were killed respectively,serum transforming growth factor-?1(TGF-?1)and hydroxyproline(HYP)level in the lung homogenate were measured,and pulmonary coefficient and histological changes were observed.Results In the treatment groups,the levels of serum TGF-?1 and lung tissue HYP,pulmonary coefficient were leas than those of model group,and among the treatment groups,combined group had the best results(all P