[Experience of low calcium crisis after the operation in peritonea dialysis secondary].

We report a case of secondary hyperparathyroidism after peritoneal dialysis. After given the total parathyroidectomy and forearm autoplantation (PTX+AT), the patient presented with an acute low calcium crisis (tongue myoparalysis, tetany and ECG abnormalities). As the conventional calcium treatment was invalid, the calcium solution was then changed, and replaced by the standard calcium dialysate with monitoring calcium ions. At the last, the patient was rescued. After a long term followed up, the patient's clinical symptoms were improved, and the parathyroid hormone (iPTH) level basically kept within the scope of the KDIGO guidelines.

[The resection of a giant recurrent parotid gland tumor].

This paper report a case of a giant recurrent tumor arising in the parotid gland. The patient presents as a tumor for 20 years on her left parotid region showing a rapid increase in the dimensions during the latest 3 months. The computed tomography scan and fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) showed it most likely to be a pleomorphic adenoma. The tumor was completely resected with preservation of the facial nerve under general anesthesia. Macroscopically, the excised tumor was measured 21 cm×13 cm×10 cm in scale, and weighed 1.730 kg. Histopathological examination of the excised tumor revealed a recurrent pleomorphic adenoma. Postoperatively, the facial nerve function was normal with an excellent aesthetic outcome.

A salt-responsive receptor-like kinase gene regulated by the ethylene signaling pathway encodes a plasma membrane serine/threonine kinase.

NTHK1 is a salt-inducible ethylene receptor gene in tobacco. Transgenic tobacco plants for this gene show reduced ethylene sensitivity. Using cDNA microarray analysis, we were able to identify those genes that have different expression levels between NTHK1 transgenic plants and wild-type plants under salt stress conditions. One of these, AtLecRK2, which encodes a receptor-like kinase with an extracellular lectin-like domain, was characterized in detail in the present study. AtLecRK2 contains a signal peptide, an extracellular lectin-like domain, a single transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic protein kinase domain. AtLecRK2 is transcribed in the root, flower and leaf but not in the stem. In wild-type Arabidopsis, salt stress induced the transcription level of AtLecRK2, whereas in the transgenic NTHK1 Arabidopsis induction of the AtLecRK2 transcript was inhibited and retarded. AtLecRK2 was constitutively overexpressed in the ethylene-overproducer mutant, eto1-1, and could be induced by ethylene. However, in the ethylene-insensitive mutant, ein2-1, the salt-induced expression pattern of AtLecRK2 was the same as that in wild-type plants. The results demonstrate that the induction of AtLecRK2 in response to salt stress is regulated by the ethylene signaling pathway. The induction was inhibited by the ethylene receptor, NTHK1, while it was independent of EIN2. The kinase activity of AtLecRK2 was also studied. We found that that AtLecRK2 can be autophosphorylated and has serine/threonine kinase activities. The subcellular localization of AtLecRK2-GFP in onion epidermal cells indicates that AtLecRK2 is localized on the plasma membrane.

Miscarriage prevention tea affects plasma beta-endorphin concentrations in women with early threatened abortions.

Twenty threatened abortive patients in the 7-8th week of gestation were treated with a classical miscarriage prevention tea (Shou-Tai-Tang) combined with psychological consultation. All of the patients had a history of unexplained recurrent abortions. This treatment succeeded in sixteen out of 20 patients. The plasma concentrations of beta-endorphin (beta-EP), gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH), human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), and progesterone (P4) were measured by radioimmunoassay before and after treatment. Compared to control subjects, beta-EP levels were significantly higher, while GnRH, hCG, and P4 were lower than before treatment. Concentrations of these peptides/hormones returned to normal ranges after successful treatment.