Objective To study 8 isolates of multiple antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella oxytoca in 8 different patients from one surgical ward. Methods Susceptibility test, extended-spectrum ?-lactamases (ESBLs) screening methods and some molecular biological methods were performed. Results 8 isolates of Klebsiella oxytoca were verified as closely related homologous CTX-M-3-producing strains. Conclusions The little outbreak was caused by 8 closely related homologous strains in one ward.

Bacillus subtilis is a generally recognized as safe (GRAS) strain that has been widely used in industries including fodder, food, and biological control. In addition, B. subtilis expression system also plays a significant role in the production of industrial enzymes. However, its application is limited by its low sporulation frequency and transformation efficiency. Immense studies have been done on interpreting the molecular mechanisms of sporulation and competence development, whereas only few of them were focused on improving sporulation frequency and transformation efficiency of B. subtilis by genetic modification. The main challenge is that sporulation and competence development, as the two major developmental events in the stationary phase of B. subtilis, are regulated by the complicated intracellular genetic regulatory systems. In addition, mutual regulatory mechanisms also exist in these two developmental events. With the development of genetic and metabolic engineering, constructing genetic regulatory networks is currently one of the most attractive research fields, together with the genetic information of cell growth, metabolism, and development, to guide the industrial application. In this review, the mechanisms of sporulation and competence development of B. subtilis, their interactions, and the genetic regulation of cell growth were interpreted. In addition, the roles of these regulatory networks in guiding basic and applied research of B. subtilis and its related species were discussed.
Bacillus subtilis ; genetics ; physiology ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Metabolic Engineering ; Spores, Bacterial ; physiology

Objective To investigate the isokinetic strength of knee extensors and flexors in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), and to establish the correlation between the isokinetic strength and function in patients with KOA. Methods 23 patients with bilateral KOA and 14 matched normal controls finished the isokinetic test of knee extensors and flexors, the Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test (FTSST), Gait analysis, and Balance test. The KOA patients were evaluated with Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain and Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Results It was less of the peak torque, average peak torque, average power, max rep total work, total work of knee extensors and flexors in the mainly involved limbs than the contralateral limbs (P<0.05), and more of the hamstring/quadriceps peak torque (H/Q) percentage (P<0.05) in the patients. It was less of all the observed indicators of knee extensors and average power of knee flexors in the patients than in the normal controls (P<0.05), and was more of the H/Q percentage (P<0.05). The peak torque of knee extensors correlated with the results of FTSST, walking speed, walking distance, falling index, VAS, and WOMAC-pain (P<0.05), but the peak torque of knee flexors did not (P>0.05). Conclusion It is weak of the isokinetic strength of knee extensors and flexors in patients with KOA in the mainly involved limb, as well as the isokinetic strength of knee extensors compared with the normal controls. The changes in the extensors and flexors are not equivalent. The peak torque of knee extensors significantly correlated with the pain and functions of the knee.

China ; Congresses as Topic ; Humans ; Otolaryngology

OBJECTIVETo study the prevalence of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T genotype and its association with deep vei n thrombophilia in Chinese.

METHODSPolymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis was conducted to examine mutation with 63 deep vein thrombophilic patients and 80 health controls in Shandong Hans. The genotype frequencies were calculated by gene counting in patients and controls, and an analysis was made on the association of MTHFR C677T mutation with deep venous thrombosis in Shandong Hans.

RESULTSIn case- controls, the frequencies of C/T heterozygote were 41.27% and 43.75%; whereas those of T/T homozygote were 52.38% and 36.25%. Significantly elevated mutation was observed in patients(Chi-square=6.372, P 0.01 OR(T/T)=4.552 95% confidence interval:1.440-14.390, Chi-square =6.742 P=0.009).

CONCLUSIONThe C677T mutation of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene is a risk factor associated with deep vein thrombophilia in Shandong Hans.

China ; DNA ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) ; Odds Ratio ; Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group Donors ; genetics ; Point Mutation ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Thrombophilia ; enzymology ; genetics ; Venous Thrombosis ; enzymology ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo map the gene responsible for nonsyndromic hearing impairment in a consanguineous family.

METHODSFirstly, X chromosome scanning was used to exclude X chromosome. Secondly, candidate gene analyzing and genome scanning were performed by homozygosity mapping. Then, additional markers flanking the tightly linked marker were tested to confirm linkage and decide the candidate region.

RESULTSThe nonsyndromic hearing impairment of this family was autosomal recessive. Twenty-five known genes were excluded. Autosomal genome scanning indicated that D17S1293 was tightly linked with disease gene. And further study mapped the disease gene to a 5.07 cM interval bounded by D17S1850 and D17S1818.

CONCLUSIONThe disease gene of the family is mapped to a 5.07 cM interval between D17S1850 and D17S1818, which is a new locus of autosomal recessive nonsyndromic hearing impairment.

Chromosome Mapping ; methods ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18 ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, X ; genetics ; Consanguinity ; Family Health ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Pedigree

Acute Stanford type A aortic dissection with important branches involved is more complex, could lead to organ malperfusion syndrome even organ failure. The understanding of pathological anatomy, classification, staging, and the pathophysiological change has increasingly mature, but not complete. In addition, the treatment strategy for complex lesions is diversified, some questions may not reach consensus. Fully understanding of the anatomical and pathophysiology is very important for surgeons to choose reasonable treatment strategy. As the rapid development of the basic research, imaging techniques and the concept of surgery procedures, the manage technique of Stanfrod type A dissection and branch vessels at the same time is getting seriously, the related issues also need further discussions.

The incidence of papillary thyroid cancer after liver transplantation is relatively low. This article introduces the treatment and prognosis of a case of papillary thyroid cancer after liver transplantation, and discusses the occurrence and development of thyroid cancer after liver transplantation and perioperative management and the prognosis, in order to further enhance the comprehensive management of such patients, extend the survival period and improve the quality of life.

Different polymorphs of drugs have different molecular arrangements or molecular forces. Raman spectroscopy can reflect the change of molecular polarizability and can be used for the detection of drug polymorphs. The technology has been recorded for the analysis of polymorphism in European Pharmacacopoeia, British Pharamacopoeia and Chinese pharmacopoeia. This review focuses on the application of Raman spectroscopy in the study of pharmaceutical polymorphism. The advances in Raman spectroscopy in the qualitative, quantitative and dynamic processes of drug polymorphism are summarized and analyzed systematically, aiming to provide reference for researchers in related fields.

Bacillus subtilis is Gram-positive aerobic bacterium and widely used as a heterologous protein expression host because of its safety and high protein secretion property. However, comparing to Escherichia coli, the low transformation efficiency limits the application of B. subtilis as a host cell for directed evolution of heterologous enzymes. Therefore, we optimized the competent cell preparation conditions for conventional plasmid, including the alteration of the medium, the concentration of inducer, the plasmid type, and other parameters. Compared with the original LB medium, YN medium improved the transformation efficiency by about 4 folds. The transformation efficiency enhanced by about 2 folds under induction with 1.5% xylose for 2 h. In addition, with plasmids prepared from E. coli GM272 strain the transformation efficiency increased by about 3 folds. Combining all these findings, the transformation efficiency of pDG1730 plasmid under the optimized conditions could reach 10⁶ CFU/μg, which was 2 orders of magnitude higher than that the original. Our findings provide references for directed evolution of enzymes and metabolic engineering in Bacillus subtilis.