Objective To determine the characterization of mucA gene mutation in clinically isolated Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P.aeruginosa), and the relation between mucA mutation and the mucoid phenotype.Methods A total of 58 strains of P.aeruginosa were collected. Of them,8 were nonmucoid phenotype and 50 were mucoid phenotype.We detected mucA mutations with PCR-SSCP and sequencing analysis. Alginate was examined by colorimetry. Results All strrains had mucA mutations (100%), 16 of the 50 (32%) isolates contained mucA mutations that could alter the encoding sequence of amino acids, and the rate in nonmucoid isolates was 0. Fourteen mutation sites were found, 5 of which could alter the encoding sequence of amino acids, and the others were silent mutations. The alginate concentration of mucoid P.aeruginosa was higher than the nonmucoid P.aeruginos(P＜0.01). The alginate concentration of the isolates which contained mucA mutations that could alter the encoding sequence of amino acid was higher than the strains only with silent mutations (P＜0.01).Conclusion mucA mutation correlates with the alginate production and phenotype of bacterial colonies.

Objective To investigate the clinical manifestations, imaging features, diagnosis and management of pulmonary mycosis.Methods Fifty-four patients were identified with pulmonary mycosis by pathological examination in our hospital from January 2002 to June 2008. Data of clinical manifestations, imaging features, diagnosis and management were retrospectively reviewed.Results Of the 54 cases, 30 (55.6%) were pulmonary aspergillosis, 15 (27.8%) were pulmonary cryptococcosis. Underlying disease was reported in 42 of 54 (77.8%) cases. The diagnosis of all the patients was confirmed by pathological exami-nation. Lung or bronchi tissue was obtained by operation in 30 (55.6%) cases, by bronchofibroscope in 12 (22.2%) cases, by CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy in 9 (16.7%) cases, and by lymphoid node biopsy in 4 cases. Main symptoms included cough (41, 75.9%), expectoration (30, 55.6%), hemoptysis (20, 37.0%), fever (16, 29.6%), and asymptomatic (6, 11.1%). The X-ray and chest CT showed masses or nodule lesions (41, 75.9%), patchy lesions (8, 14.8%), cavity (12, 22.2%), diffuse milliary nodules (1 case). Bilateral lungs were involved in 7 cases (13.0%);right lung alone in 26 cases (48.1%);left lung alone in 21 cases (38.9%). Among the 54 cases, 41 (75.9%) were misdiagnosed before pathological examination. Thirty (55.6%) cases underwent surgical resection of pulmonary lesions. One patient suffered from cryptococcal meningitis after operation. Twenty (37.0%) patients received systemic anti-fugal therapy. Cure or significant improvement was found in 16 cases. Conclusions The most frequently isolated fungi were Aspergillus, followed by Cryptococcus. Final diagnosis is mainly dependent on pathological examination. Clinical manifestations, imaging features, diagnostic procedures and management are different due to the difference of pathogenic fungi. Satisfactory Results can be obtained by anti-fungal therapy combined with surgical management.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the pathogenic bacteria distribution and susceptibility of lower respiratory tract infection in patients in our respiratory ward.METHODS All the clinical isolates from sputum or secretion of lower respiratory tract from 2003 to 2007 were analyzed retrospectively.RESULTS A total of 1529 clinical isolates were collected,including 1326 strains of Gram-negative bacilli(86.7%) and 203 strains of Gram-positive cocci(13.3%).The proportion of Gram-negative bacilli was higher in lung underlying diseases group when compared with non-lung underlying diseases.Haemophilus parainfluenzae and H.influenzae were susceptible to spectinonycin,doxycycline and third-generation cephalosporins.Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumanni were susceptible to meropenem,cefoperazone/sulbactam and cefepime.Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli were susceptible to meropenem,cefoperazone/sulbactam and amikacin.The major Gram-positive isolates were highly resistant to azithromycin,erythromycin,penicillin.All Staphylococcus aureus isolates were susceptible to vancomycin.Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates were highly susceptible to meropenem,levofloxacin,cefazolin and vancomycin.CONCLUSIONS Infection caused by Gram-negative bacilli are predominant in lower respiratory tract infection patients,especially in the patients with lung underlying diseases.Antibiotics resistance of some pathogens become increasingly severe.Therefore,the rational use of antibiotics is important for the containment of bacterial resistance.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and to explore the effects of FMT on the gut microbiota of IBS patients.Methods:From September 2016 to August 2017, at Guangzhou First People′s Hospital, 28 hospitalized IBS patients who underwent FMT treatment were enrolled. Before FMT, four and 12 weeks after FMT, all the IBS patients completed the irritable bowel syndrome quality of life scale (IBS-QOL), irritable bowel syndrome severity scoring system (IBS-SSS) and gastrointestinal symptom rating scale (GSRS). 16S rDNA sequencing was performed before FMT and four weeks after FMT. The effects of FMT on gut microbiota diversity and microbiota structure of IBS patients were analyzed respectively from the level of phylum, family and genus, and linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) was further used to screen the different bacteria. Paired t test and paired rank sum test were used for statistical analysis. Results:Twelve weeks after FMT, the scores of the six dimensions of IBS-QOL including dysthymia, behavioral disorder, auto imagery, health concerns, eating avoidance, and relationship expansion were all lower than those before FMT (43.750, 22.656 to 56.250 vs. 48.438, 32.031 to 60.938; 37.500, 18.750 to 56.250 vs. 46.429, 21.429 to 62.500; 31.250, 14.063 to 42.188 vs. 31.250, 18.750 to 50.000; 41.667, 27.083 to 56.250 vs. 50.000, 41.667 to 66.667; 54.167, 43.750 to 72.917 vs. 66.667, 58.333 to 83.333; 8.333, 0.000 to 33.333 vs. 16.667, 8.333 to 33.333, respectively), and the differences were statistically significant ( Z=-2.157, -3.429, -2.274, -3.197, -3.042 and -2.329, all P<0.05). Twelve weeks after FMT, the scores of the two dimensions of IBS-QOL including behavioral disorder and relationship expansion were both lower than those of four weeks after FMT (37.500, 18.750 to 56.250 vs. 39.286, 19.643 to 62.500 and 8.333, 0.000 to 33.333 vs. 16.670, 2.083 to 41.667, respectively), and the differences were statistically significant ( Z=-1.998 and -2.110, both P<0.05). Four and 12 weeks after FMT, the scores of IBS-SSS and GSRS were both lower than those before FMT ((190.32±106.51), (201.43±102.48) vs. (245.93±86.10) and 5.50, 4.00 to 9.00 and 5.50, 4.00 to 8.75 vs. 7.00, 6.00 to 9.75), and the differences were statistically significant ( t=4.402 and 3.848, Z=-3.081 and -3.609; all P<0.01). No serious adverse reactions occurred in the patients after FMT. At the phylum level, after FMT the abundance of Verrucomicrobia in the feces of IBS patients was richer than that before FMT (6.74% vs. 0.37%); at the family level, after FMT the abundance of Verrucomicrobiaceae in the feces of IBS patients was richer than that before FMT (6.74% vs. 0.37%); at the genus level, after FMT the abundance of Akkermansia was richer than that before FMT (6.74% vs. 0.37%); and the differences were statistically significant (all Z=-2.589, all P=0.010). The results of LEfSe method indicated that four weeks after FMT the abundance of Akkermansia in the gut microbiota of IBS patients was richer than that before FMT (6.74% vs. 0.37%), and the difference was statistically significant (linear discriminant analysis value=4.5, P=0.049). Conclusions:FMT is safe and effective in the treatment of IBS. The mechanism may be through upregulating the diversity of gut microbiota and changing the structure of gut microbiota of IBS patients.

OBJECTIVETo screen for carriers of SMN1 gene mutation, which underlies spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), in 4931 pregnant women from Liuzhou region of Guangxi, and to determine the carrier rate.

METHODSCombined denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) and multiple PCR techniques were used to detect the copy number of SMN1 gene. The carrier frequency was calculated. The spouse of the carrier was also screened, and prenatal diagnosis was provided to the couples who were both positive.

RESULTSAmong the 4931 pregnant women, 61 were found to harbor only one copy of the SMN1 gene, which yielded a carrier rate of 1.2%. Subsequent testing has identified 1 fetus carrying homozygous deletions of the SMN1 gene.

CONCLUSIONThe carrier rate of SMA mutation in Liuzhou region is slightly lower than that of other regions of southern China. DHPLC can effectively screen the carriers of SMA mutation and provide a basis for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center phase Ⅱ clinical trial design was used in this study to recruit subjects who were in line with the syndrome of excess heat and fire toxin, and were diagnosed as recurrent oral ulcers, gingivitis, and acute pharyngitis. A total of 240 cases were included and randomly divided into a placebo group and a Huanglian Jiedu Pills group. The clinical efficacy of Huanglian Jiedu Pills in treating the syndrome of excess heat and fire toxin was evaluated by using the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) syndrome scale. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to determine and evaluate the levels of adenosine triphosphate(ATP), 4-hydroxynonenal(4-HNE), and adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH) in plasma of the two groups before and after administration and to predict their application value as clinical biomarkers. The results showed that the disappearance rate of main symptoms in the Huanglian Jiedu Pills group was 69.17%, and that in the placebo group was 50.83%. The comparison between the Huanglian Jiedu Pills group and the placebo group showed that 4-HNE before and after administration was statistically significant(P<0.05). The content of 4-HNE in the Huanglian Jiedu Pills group decreased significantly after administration(P<0.05), but that in the placebo group had no statistical significance and showed an upward trend. After administration, the content of ATP in both Huanglian Jiedu Pills group and placebo group decreased significantly(P<0.05), indicating that the energy metabolism disorder was significantly improved after administration of Huanglian Jiedu Pills and the body's self-healing ability also alleviated the increase in ATP level caused by the syndrome of excess heat and fire toxin to a certain extent. ACTH in both Huanglian Jiedu Pills group and placebo group decreased significantly after administration(P<0.05). It is concluded that Huanglian Jiedu Pills has a significant clinical effect, and can significantly improve the abnormal levels of ATP and 4-HNE in plasma caused by the syndrome of excess heat and fire toxin, which are speculated to be the effective clinical biomarkers for Huanglian Jiedu Pills to treat the syndrome of excess heat and fire toxin.
Humans ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Hot Temperature ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Adenosine Triphosphate

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Tangning Tongluo tablets in the treatment of nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy （DR）. MethodsFourteen research centers participated in this study， which spanned a time interval from September 2021 to May 2023. A total of 240 patients with nonproliferative DR were included and randomly assigned into an observation group （120 cases） and a control group （120 cases）. The observation group was treated with Tangning Tongluo tablets， and the control group with calcium dobesilate capsules. Both groups were treated for 24 consecutive weeks. The vision， DR progression rate， retinal microhemangioma， hemorrhage area， exudation area， glycosylated hemoglobin （HbA1c） level， and TCM syndrome score were assessed before and after treatment， and the safety was observed. ResultsThe vision changed in both groups after treatment （P<0.05）， and the observation group showed higher best corrected visual acuity （BCVA） than the control group （P<0.05）. The DR progression was slow with similar rates in the two groups. The fundus hemorrhage area and exudation area did not change significantly after treatment in both groups， while the observation group outperformed the control group in reducing the fundus hemorrhage area and exudation area. There was no significant difference in the number of microhemangiomas between the two groups before treatment. After treatment， the number of microhemangiomas decreased in both the observation group （Z=-1.437， P<0.05） and the control group （Z=-2.238， P<0.05）， and it showed no significant difference between the two groups. As the treatment time prolonged， the number of microhemangiomas gradually decreased in both groups. There was no significant difference in the HbA1c level between the two groups before treatment. After treatment， the decline in the HbA1c level showed no significant difference between the two groups. The TCM syndrome score did not have a statistically significant difference between the two groups before treatment. After treatment， neither the TCM syndrome score nor the response rate had significant difference between the two groups. With the extension of the treatment time， both groups showed amelioration of TCM syndrome compared with the baseline. ConclusionTangning Tongluo tablets are safe and effective in the treatment of nonproliferative DR， being capable of improving vision and reducing hemorrhage and exudation in the fundus.