Clinical characteristics and dynamic evaluation of hematoma morphology in patients with aspirin-related intracerebral hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE: With the increasing awareness of thrombotic disease prevention and treatment, as well as advancements in cardiac valve replacement and cardiovascular disease resection surgeries, patients undergoing these procedures require antithrombotic medications. This work aimed to explore the dynamic changes in hematoma morphology and volume in aspirin-related intracerebral hemorrhage (ARICH). PATIENTS AND METHODS: 43 cases with ARICH were selected as the experimental group and 40 cases of non-antithrombotic drug-related cerebral hemorrhage (non-ATT-ICH) were enrolled in the control group. General information about the two study groups was collected, and the initial laboratory test indices upon admission for each patient were recorded. Hematoma volumes were recorded within 6 hours, 24±3 hours, 72 hours, and 7 days after the onset of the disease. Volume changes were observed, and the absorption rates of the hematoma at 1 day, 3 days, and 7 days after onset were calculated. RESULTS: In the baseline data, the baseline hematoma volume of the experimental group (19.37±3.21) was slightly higher than that of the control group (15.73±2.78), showing a statistically significant difference (p<0.05). In terms of hematoma morphology and location, the hematoma morphology irregularity of the experimental group compared with the control group was 67% vs. 40%. In terms of hematoma growth and expansion, patients with ARICH had a larger volume of hematoma growth within 1 to 3 days of onset. At 3 d and 7 d, the experimental group's absorption rate was higher than the control group, and the experimental group's hematoma absorption rate was faster than the control group. The experimental group's hematoma morphology was mostly irregular, as can be seen (67%). If the hematoma volume increased from 1 d to 3 d after the onset of the disease, the hematoma volume of the patients in the experimental group was larger. The hematoma absorption rate of the experimental group was faster than that of the control group from 72 h to 7 d. CONCLUSIONS: The morphology of ARICH hematoma was mainly irregular (67%). In ARICH patients, if the hematoma volume rose within 1-3 days of initiation, the hematoma volume increased even more. Compared with non-ATT-ICH, ARICH had a faster rate of hematoma absorption at 3-7 d.

[A case of lymphatic vessel abnormality with chylous pneumonia].

Chylous pneumonia is a rare respiratory disease. The main clinical manifestation is coughing up chylous sputum with a variety of causes which can be clarified by lymphangiography. The lack of understanding of the disease, and infrequent lymphangiography have led to a high rate of misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis. Here, we reported a case of bronchial lymphatic fistula caused by lymphatic abnormality that led to the diagnosis and treatment of chylous pneumonia, with the aim of improving clinicians' understanding of this disease.

The phytotoxin COR induces transcriptional reprogramming of photosynthetic, hormonal and defence networks in tomato.

Coronatine (COR) is a non-host specific phytotoxin secreted by Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato that can induce leaf chlorosis and increase the virulence of pathogens during plant-pathogen interactions. Studies have shown that COR can regulate multiple physiological processes in plants, but its involvement in bacterial pathogenesis and plant growth regulation is not well understood. In this study, transcriptome sequencing was carried out on 4-week-old tomato leaves that were either mock-treated or treated with COR. Transcriptome sequencing led to the identification of 6144 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 4361 genes were downregulated and 1783 genes were upregulated upon COR treatment. To obtain functional information on the DEGs, we annotated these genes using GO and KEGG databases. Functional classification analysis showed that the DEGs were primarily involved in photosynthesis, chlorophyll and carotenoid biosynthesis, jasmonic acid (JA) synthesis and phenylpropane metabolism. A total of 23 genes related to chlorophyll biosynthesis had significant changes, of which 22 genes were downregulated and one gene was upregulated, indicating that chlorophyll biosynthesis was inhibited upon COR treatment. A total of 17 photosystem I related genes and 22 photosystem II related genes involving 20 protein subunits were also downregulated. In the JA synthesis pathway, 25 genes were up regulated, and six genes were downregulated in COR treated samples. COR was also involved in the regulation of multiple secondary metabolites. The identified DEGs will help us better understand the virulence effects and physiological functions of COR and provide a theoretical basis for breeding resistance into economically important crops.

[Effect of fluorochloridone on oxidative stress in primary co-cultured sertoli-germ cell of rat].

Objective: To explore effect of fluorochloridone on primary co-cultured sertoli-germ cell of rat and its possible mechanism. Methods: primary co-cultured sertoli-germ cell was made by two steps of en-zyme digestion with SD rat testes, after 24h of Sertoli-germ cell isolation, A 0.1% DMSO solvent control group and three FLC exposure groups (10-6、10-7、10-8 mol/L) were selected, cultured cell for 24h, then MTT assay and index detection of oxidative stress were performed. Results: The mortality of primary co-cultured sertoli-germ cell exposed to 10-6 mol/L FLC was significantly higher than control group and FLC exposure groups (10-7、10-8 mol/L) (P<0.05) . 10-6 mol/L FLC reduced enzyme activity of CAT, SOD and GSH. Px, depressed GSH level, el-evated MDA level, and had significant difference than control group and FLC exposure groups(10-7、10-8 mol/L) (P<0.05) . 10-7 mol/L FLC decreased enzyme activity of CAT than control group, depressed enzyme activity of SOD than 10-8 mol/L FLC, lowered GSH level than control group and FLC exposure groups (10-8 mol/L) , and had statistical difference (P<0.05) . Conclusion: FLC can damage primary co-cultured sertoli-germ cell of rat, its possible mechanism is relevant to oxidative stress.

A novel mutation of keratin 9 in a large Chinese family with epidermolytic palmoplantar keratoderma.

BACKGROUND: Epidermolytic palmoplantar keratoderma (EPPK) is an autosomal dominant inherited skin disorder characterized by diffuse yellow thickening of the skin of the palms and soles, sharply bordered with erythematous margins. Histologically and ultrastructurally, EPPK presents cytolysis of keratinocytes and abnormal aggregation of tonofilaments in the suprabasal layers of the epidermis. To date, 15 different mutations of the keratin 9 gene (KRT9) have been demonstrated to cause most cases of EPPK. OBJECTIVES: To identify the KRT9 mutation in a large Chinese family with EPPK. METHODS: Denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC), DNA sequencing and allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (AS-PCR) were used to screen exon 1 of the KRT9 gene for sequence variations. RESULTS: The DHPLC elution profiles of the DNA fragments amplified from the affected samples differed from those obtained from unaffected individuals, indicating that a sequence variation existed within the analysed fragment of KRT9. DNA sequencing revealed a novel insertion-deletion mutation in the exon 1 of KRT9, 497delAinsGGCT, resulting in the change of tyrosine(166) to tryptophan and leucine (Y166delinsWL). AS-PCR confirmed the mutation was not a common polymorphism. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest the molecular basis of EPPK in this Chinese family and provide further evidence that mutations in the helix initiation motif of keratin 9 underlie Chinese EPPK.

Epidemiological studies on hearing impairment with reference to genetic factors in Sichuan, China.

Hearing impairment is the most common disorder of sensorineural function and is an economically and socially important cause of human morbidity. A large-scale epidemiological survey of hearing loss was conducted with 126,876 unselected subjects (63,741 male and 63,135 female) from Sichuan, China. The overall prevalence of hearing loss was 3.28% (4,164 of 126,876), and the prevalence increased with age, reaching 12.8% (1,465 of 11,421) at 60 years of age. In 73.03% of all cases (3,041 of 4,164), the hearing loss was sensorineural, and in 20.39% (849 of 4,164), it was conductive; the remaining cases (6%) were mixed hearing loss. Bilateral loss was found in 74.5% of cases (3,103 of 4,164). In 63.79% of cases (2,656 of 4,164), the degree of hearing loss was less than 55 dB hearing level (HL), and in 5.67% of cases (236 of 4,164), it was greater than 90 dB HL. The prevalence of hearing loss in childhood (<15 years of age) was 0.67% (227 of 34,157), of which 57.7% of cases were conductive and 38.8% were sensorineural. The prevalence of genetic hearing loss was 0.28% (349 of 126,876). Persons who lived in the flatlands appeared to have a higher prevalence than those who lived in the hills. Several ethnic groups, including Tibetans, the Yi, and the Lisu, had a higher prevalence of hearing loss. Presbycusis, otitis media, and genetic factors were the most commonly recognized causes of hearing impairment overall, but otitis media and genetic factors were the main causes of hearing loss in children. Causes for the observed differences in prevalence and etiologic factors between China and industrialized countries will be discussed. In China, infections and genetic factors appear to be of major importance as causes of hearing loss.

Mutations in connexin31 underlie recessive as well as dominant non-syndromic hearing loss.

Mutations in the GJB3 gene encoding connexin31 (Cx31) can cause a dominant non-syndromic form of hearing loss (DFNA2). To determine whether mutations at this locus can also cause recessive non-syndromic deafness, we screened 25 Chinese families with recessive deafness and identified in two families affected individuals who were compound heterozygotes for Cx31 mutations. The three affected individuals in the two families were born to non-consanguineous parents and had an early onset bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. In both families, differing SSCP patterns were observed in affected and unaffected individuals. Sequence analysis in both families demonstrated an in-frame 3 bp deletion (423-425delATT) in one allele, which leads to the loss of an isoleucine residue at codon 141, and a 423A-->G transversion in the other allele, which creates an Ile-->Val substitution at codon 141 (I141V). Neither of these two mutations was detected in DNA from 100 unrelated control subjects. The altered isoleucine residue lies within the third conserved alpha-helical transmembrane domain (M3), which is critical for the formation of the wall of the gap junction pore. Both the deletion of the isoleucine residue 141 and its substitution to valine in the two families could alter the structure of M3, and impair the function of the gap junction. The present data demonstrate that, like mutations in connexin26, mutations in Cx31 can lead to both recessive and dominant forms of non-syndromic deafness.

Histochemistry and morphology of porcine mast cells.

Mast cells have been described extensively in rodents and humans but not in pigs, and the objective of this study was to characterize porcine mast cells by histochemistry and electron microscopy. Carnoy's fluid proved to be a good fixative but fixation with neutral buffered formalin blocked staining of most mast cells. Alcian Blue stained more mast cells than did Toluidine Blue (pH 0.5), although Alcian Blue also stained goblet cells. In pigs, unlike rodents, the Alcian Blue method did not distinguish between mast cells in the intestinal mucosa and those in the connective tissue of the intestinal submucosa, tongue and skin. Mast cells were significantly larger in adult pigs than in piglets; in adult pigs and piglets, mast cells in the intestinal mucosa were significantly larger than those in submucosal connective tissue, and they were more varied in shape in piglets and adults. Granules in mast cells in the intestinal mucosa stained less intensely than those in mast cells in connective tissue of tongue, skin and intestinal submucosa. Mast cells in the connective tissue of the tongue, skin and intestinal submucosa fluoresced strongly when stained with berberine sulphate or with a mixture of berberine sulphate and Acridine Orange, but mast cells in the intestinal mucosa did not. All mast cells reacted positively in an enzyme-histochemical method previously used to detect human tryptase but not in a method previously used to detect human chymase. Mast cells in the medulla of thymus stained similarly to mast cells in the intestinal mucosa. Ultrastructural differences between mast cells were not detected.

Bracken poisoning and enzootic haematuria in cattle in China.

Acute bracken poisoning and enzootic haematuria are believed to have occurred in cattle in China for a long time. It is only in the past 10 years, however, that these diseases associated with the consumption of bracken ferns have been studied in detail and this paper reviews these recent studies. Based on a large scale survey, both conditions were found to be serious problems with a wide geographical distribution, especially in the mountainous regions of southwest China. Epidemiological and experimental work revealed that two species of bracken ferns, Pteridium aquilinum and Pteridium revolutum, were associated with these diseases, but the latter seems more important in China.

Recovery of the basilar papilla following intense sound exposure in the chick.

Newly hatched chicks were exposed to a 900-Hz tone at 120 dB SPL for 48 hours, then sacrificed, along with unexposed controls, at intervals of 0-15 days following exposure. Examination of the basilar papilla by scanning electron microscopy demonstrated a 32% loss of hair cells within the lesion area with substantial shrinkage of the apical surfaces of the survivors. Within days, the papilla returned to a nearly normal appearance, and new hair cells were seen, but the number of new cells was only a fraction--approximately 22%--of the number lost. Expansion of the apical surfaces of the surviving cells to larger than normal size was a major factor in the recovery of the papilla.