Objective To evaluate whether changes in neonatal intensive care have improved outcomes for extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods A prospective phase-lag cohort study was performed in a tertiary level NICU. A meticulous nursing strategy based on neonatal individual developmental care assessment program theory and feasible ELBW minimization stimulus was developed. Conventional care was applied in 2013 (period Ⅰ) and gently caring was applied in 2014 (period Ⅱ). The outcomes of ELBW between these 2 periods were compared. Results During these two periods, thirty-seven infants were included in period Ⅰ and 41 infants in period Ⅱ. In periodⅠ46.0%(17/37) of the infants needed oxygen for at least 28 days, but in period Ⅱ it decreased to 24.4%(10/41), there was significant difference (χ2=3.990, P=0.046). The rate of breastfeeding increased from 27.0%(10/37) in periodⅠto 61.0%(25/41) in period Ⅱ, there was significant difference (χ2=9.061, P=0.003). There was no significant difference in the mortality rate and chronic lung disease (P>0.05). The incidence of intracranial hemorrhage decreased from 21.6%(8/37) to 4.9%(2/41), there was significant difference(P=0.041). Conclusions Gently caring may have resulted in less intracranial hemorrhage and improve breastfeeding rate. Parents are satisfied with gentle care and in light of these findings, gentle care deserves further exploration.

A novel amplifier system was proposed for low-noise recording of pico-ampere current in nanopore experiment (<100 pA). As an example, the amplifier system was applied in α-hemolysin based nanopore detection of DNA-PEG-DNA conjugate to record the signals of translocation and bumping events in buffer solution (1 mol/L KCl, 10 mmol/L Tris--HCl, 1 mmol/L EDTA and pH=8. 0). The amplified current signal was filtered by a 3 kHz Bessel filter and sampled by a 100 kHz analog-digital convertor. As a result, the presented amplifier system could lower the noise in recording the current. The current blockages (<10 pA) of single molecules with low amplitude were recovered due to the high signal-to-noise ratio.

Background Qiang minority is minority groups of China with the special habits and customs and living condition. So whether the spectrum of disease and bacteria spectrum in conjunctiva are similar with Han nationality is worth paying attention. Objective Present survey was to obtain the data about bacterial species in conjunctival sac in Qiang minority population with the age 40 years old and more and the compare with matched Han nationality population. Methods This survey study was performed as the standardized training and protocol. A total of 212 eyes of 106 individuals from Qiang minority in Beichuan county and 640 eyes of 320 subjects from Han nationality in Mianyang city received questionnaire survey and ophthalmological examination. The secretion of the inferior palpebral conjunctival sac was embrocated and inoculated on blood plate for 48-72 hours. The bacteria was separated and identified. This study was approved by the Ethic Committee of Sichuan Provicial People' s Hospital. Orally informed consent was obtained before the medical procedure. Results All the examinee finished the survey and examination with a good compliance. No significant difference was found in the demography between these two groups of population. The multiple bacterial positive rate in conjunctival sac was 59. 4% in Qiang minority and that of Han people was 66. 3% with a considerably difference between them (χ2 = 2. 27,P = 0. 13). The multiple bacterial species were simultaneously detected in 26.2% in Qiang minority population and 11.88% Han people, showing evidently difference (χ2 = 106. 40, P = 0. 00 ) . The positive rate of corynbaccterium in conjunctival sac of Qiang minority was statistically lower than that of Han people (20. 7% versus 45. 0% ,χ2 =31. 75 ,P = 0. 00) ,but there was no statistical difference in the positive rate of staphylococcus epidemics between two groups (χ2 = 1. 89 ,P = 0. 17). Conclusion The bacteria positive rate in conjunctiva sac is resemble in the population over 40 years in both the Qiang minority and Han nationality. The simple bacterial species is found in majority people in two groups of subjects. The positive rate of multiple bacterial strains coexistence is more in the Qiang minority. The bacterial strains is different between Qiang minority and Han nationality.

Objective To study the expressions of myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1 ) gene in mouse macrophages Raw264.7 and human macrophages THP-1,to screen out the cell lines with high levels of expression as the experimental cells,and based on the screening results to construct the short hairpin RNA(shRNA)eukaryotic expression plasmid targeting mice Mcl-1 gene for transfection and further screen out the shRNA expression plasmid with the most obvious effect in silencing Mcl-1 gene.Methods Semi-quantitative PCR method was used to detect the expression of Mcl-1 mRNA in the two kinds of macrophages.Western blotting was adopted to detect the expressions of Mcl-1 proteins in the two kinds of macrophages.Three different gene loci for Mcl-1 shRNA fragments were designed with small molecules interfering RNA (siRNA)software.Eukaryotic expression plasmid Mcl-1 shRNA 1-3 carrying the shRNA fragments was constructed by a company.And the eukaryotic expression plasmid vector was transfected into scavenger cells Raw264.7 mice via through the liposome.The transfection results 24 h and 48 h after transfection were observed under the inverted fluorescence microscope;Mcl-1 mRNA and protein expression were detected by real time quantitative PCR and Western blot,respectively.Results The relative expression levels of Mcl-1 mRNA and protein in mouse macrophages Raw264.7 were significantly higher than those of human macrophages (P <0.05).The shRNA expression vector constructed within 24 h and 48 h could decrease Mcl-1 mRNA and protein levels in Raw264.7 cells,especially with the most obvious silencing effect at 48 h.The 48-h transfection group differed significantly from normal group,liposome group and negative control group (P <0.05).Compared with Mcl-1shRNA1and Mcl-1shRNA2,Mcl-1shRNA3 had the strongest effect in silencing Mcl-1mRNA and protein.Conclusion We have successfully screened out experimental Raw264.7 cells and Mcl-1 shRNA eukaryotic expression plasmid which has an obvious silencing effect targeting on Mcl-1 in mice macrophages Raw264.7.

Objective:To transfect Mcl-1shRNA into Raw264.7 cells,and screen out specific shRNA eukaryotic expression plasmids with the most significant effect of silent Mcl-1 gene to figure out the effect of shRNA on Mcl-1 expression in murine macrophage cell line Raw 264.7.Methods: Specific shRNA was transfected into murine macrophage cell line Raw 264.7 via lipofectamine.Semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot were respectively employed to test the changes in Mcl-1 mRNA level and Mcl-1 protein expressions 24 h and 48 h after the transfection ,and the silencing effects of the three pairs of specific shRNA fragments corresponding to different sites were analyzed.Results: Specific shRNA fragments at 24 h and 48 h could effectively reduce Mcl-1 mRNA and protein level ,with higher silencing effects than those of the normal group ,the lipofectamine group and the negative control group.There were statistically significant differences among them ( P<0.05 ).Among the three pairs of specific shRNA fragments corre-sponding to different sites ,Mcl-1 shRNA3 showed the most significant inhibiting effect on Mcl-1 mRNA and proteins.Conclusion:RNA interference can downregulate the level of Mcl-1 mRNA in murine macrophage cell line Raw 264.7 and greatly downregulate the expression of Mcl-1protein.Specific shRNA eukaryotic expression plasmids with the most significant effect of silent Mcl-1 gene have been screened out successfully.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the anti-thrombosis effect and its mechanism of Qingkailing injection (QKL).

METHODSD rats were randomly divided into control group, model group and QKL 2.5, 5.0, 10 groups. QKL were given (i.p.) to rats once a day for successively 4 days. The rats in all groups but control were pretreated with carrageenin (Ca) i.p. at 16 h before the last dose of QKL and followed by intravenous injection of endotoxin ( LPS fom E. coli O111:B4) 50 microg x kg(-1) 30 min after the last dosing of QKL. Thrombosis in rat tails were observed at 24 h after injection of LPS. The number of white blood cells and platelets, serum TNF-alpha, IL-6 level, CD11b/CD18 expression of white blood cells and platelet aggregation were analysed.

RESULTQKL obviously inhibited the LPS/Ca-induced thrombosis as showed a reduced infarction range due to thrombosis in tails. The sera concentration of TNF-alpha and IL-6, expression of CD11b/CD18 in WBC and platelet coagulation rate were reduced after QKL treatment.

CONCLUSIONThe anti-thrombosis action of QKL is associated with inhibition of WBC activation and adherence, reduction of inflammatory factor release and abating of platelet coagulation rate. The anti-thrombosis mechanism of QKL is consistent with its function of clearing away heat-evil and toxic materials.

Animals ; CD11 Antigens ; genetics ; metabolism ; CD18 Antigens ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Humans ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thrombosis ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

A terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase ( TdT ) amplification based DNA-copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) sensor was developed for detection of L-histidine ( L-His). Single strand DNA containing poly-thymine ( T) sequences were synthesized by TdT in the presence of dTTP. In blank control, poly-T sequences worked as templates of CuNCs due to the affinity between thymine and copper ions( II) . Fluorescence intensity was enhanced when CuNCs formed with reducing agents. In the presence of L-His, the imidazolyl group of L-His worked as a chelating agent that formed L-His-Cu2+ chelated complex. Thus less copper ions were induced in poly-T sequences, and less CuNCs were obtained to produce week fluorescence signals. A good linear correlation was obtained between fluorescence change and the logarithm of the L-His concentration over the range of 5. 0 ×10-9-5. 0 ×10-4 mol/L. The detection limit was estimated as 3. 4 ×10-9 mol/L. And the recoveries were 97. 4%-104. 6% for the actual urine samples. Compared with other methods of synthetic CuNCs, this method allowed to specifically determining L-histidine without template or labeling, which showed good potential in biomedical and clinical analysis.

OBJECTIVEFatal familial insomnia (FFI) is an autosomal dominant prion disease characterized clinically by inattention, sleep loss, dysautonomia, and motor signs. This study is aimed to investigate clinical and familial characteristics of ten Chinese Patients with FFI.

METHODSWe identified ten FFI cases from the surveillance network for Creutafeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in China. Final diagnosis of FFI cases was made in accordance with the WHO criteria for CJD. The main clinical features and family histories of these ten FFI cases were analyzed.

RESULTSThe median age of ten cases at onset was 38 years (from 19 to 55). The foremost symptoms seemed to be various, including sleep disturbances, vision disorder, dizziness and anorexia. Sleep disturbances appeared in all cases and lasted in the whole clinical courses. Progressive sympathetic symptoms, memory loss, movement disturbances, myoclonus and hypertension were also frequently observed. The median duration of the disease was 9.5 months. EEG and MRI did not figure out special abnormality. 14-3-3 protein in CSF was positive in five out of eight tested patients. Clear family histories were identified in 8 patients.

CONCLUSIONThe data from our study confirm that the Chinese FFI cases have similar clinical characteristics as that of the Caucasian cases. Compared with other genetic CJD associated mutations, the genetic frequencies of D178N in PRNP are apparently high among the Chinese cases.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Female ; Humans ; Insomnia, Fatal Familial ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate PrP expression characteristic of PRNP nucleic acid vaccine vector with ubiquitin or the lysosome-targeting signal.

METHODSThe gene of ubiquitin and lysosome-targeting signal were ligated to PRNP and pcDNA3.1 vector that is, pcDNA3.1-UPrP and pcDNA3.1-PrPL were constructed. The expression characteristics of PrP with two signals were evaluated by Western Blot and the localization was observed by indirect immune fluorescence.

RESULTSThe protein expressed by pcDNA3.1-UPrP and pcDNA3.1-PrPL with ubiquitin and lysosome-targeting signal can be recognized by prion-specific antibody. The protein has three glycosylation molecules form as native PrP.PrP with ubiquitin was degraded gradually with time extension,whereas quantity of PrP with lysosome signal reduced in 48 h after transfection. The protein with two location signals can direct fusion proteins to cytoplasm.

CONCLUSIONThe PRNP vectors with ubiquitin or the lysosome-targeting signal were constructed and expressed in eukaryocyte successfully. There will be one of good foundation on PRNP nucleic acid vaccine.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; CHO Cells ; COS Cells ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Lysosomes ; chemistry ; Prion Proteins ; Prions ; genetics ; immunology ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Transfection ; Ubiquitin ; genetics ; immunology

This study was aimed to explore prognostic significance of minimal residual disease (MRD) detection in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) by multiparameter flow cytometry (MCF). Leukemia-associated immunophenotype (LAIP) of newly diagnosed AML patients were determined by 4-color 5 antibody panels and patients with sensitive LAIP were chosen for MRD detection. 601 bone marrow samples from 95 patients were acquired after treatment and MRD were considered positive by the critical normal value plus twice standard deviation in normal bone marrow specimen. The patients were divided into three groups and the clinical significance was analyzed every 2 months within initial 6 months after induction treatment. The results showed that the relapse rate and relapse-free survival (RFS) rate were all significantly different between MRD positive and MRD negative patients in the three groups (p < 0.05). Patients with MRD positive had a median relapse-free survival time of 11 months, 11.5 months and 11 months at 1 - 2, 3 - 4 and 5 - 6 months respectively, while all patients with MRD negative were not observed to reach median release-free survival time (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the clinical significance was analyzed after induction and one course of consolidate treatment, the relapse rate of MRD positive and MRD negative patients were 57.14% versus 0% and 91.67% versus 2.27% respectively (p = 0.000 and p = 0.000). It is concluded that MRD detection by multi-parameter flow cytometry can predict outcome of AML patients, which should be continuously monitored after treatment.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; methods ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm, Residual ; diagnosis ; Prognosis ; Young Adult