Objective:To detect periodontopathic bacterial DNA in atherosclerotic vascular lesions in a group of Chinese patients by using polymerase chain reaction(PCR) techniques.Methods: Ten human specimens of atherosclerotic plaque were obtained sterilely.The sclerotic lesions were blade into fine pieces and DNA was isolated from the samples.To detect Porphyromonas gingivalis(Pg),Tannerella forsythia(Tf),Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans(Aa),Prevotella intermedia(Pi),Prevotella nigre-scens(Pn),Treponema denticola(Td),Campylobacter rectus(Cr),PCR amplification of bacterial 16S ribosomal DNA(rDNA) was carried out.Results: PCR assays for bacterial 16S rDNA indicated the presence of periodontal pathogens in 3 out of 10 surgical specimens.DNA of Pg were found in 3 samples,Tf was found only in one among the 3 samples and Pn was found in another sample among the 3 samples.Conclusion: The data confirm that DNA of periodontal pathogens present in atherosclerotic plaques.Pg,Tf,Pn may play a role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis in these Chinese patients.Further studies with large size samples are needed.

Objective To discuss the application value of the treatment protocol of combining warm needling and atorvastatin in treating female cardiac syndrome X (CSX). Method Eighty female CSX patients were randomized into a control group and an observation group by the random number table, 40 cases in each group. The control group was intervened by atorvastatin in addition to the conventional treatment protocol, while the observation group was by warm needling plus atorvastatin in addition to the conventional treatment. The treatment efficacies and adverse events rates were compared between the two groups. Result There were no significant between-group differences in comparing the component and total scores of the Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire (CAQ), NO, plasma endothelin (ET-1) and hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels before the intervention (P>0.05);after 8-week treatment, the component and total scores of CAQ, ET-1, and hs-CRP levels were significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group, and NO level was significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group (P<0.05). Meanwhile, at the end of the 8-week treatment, the total effective rate of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). Besides, there was no significant difference in comparing the adverse events rate between the two groups during the 8-week treatment (P>0.05). Conclusion In the treatment of female CSX, warm needling plus atorvastatin can enhance the treatment efficacy.

Objective To explore the causes of pulmonary infection of stroke patient during recovery period. Methods 122 stroke patients combined with pulmonary infection in neural rehabilitation department from January 2008 to July 2011 were analyzed for the relative causes according to clinical nursing. Results Repeated pulmonary infection was correlated with dysphagia and tracheotomy of acute stage (P<0.05); Bilateral pulmonary infection was correlated with dysphagia, tracheotomy of acute stage and age (P<0.05). Conclusion Pulmonary infection is correlated with dysphagia, tracheotomy of acute stage and age in sequence.

It is well established that different sites within a protein evolve at different rates according to their role within the protein; identification of these correlated mutations can aid in tasks such as ab initio protein structure,structure function analysis or sequence alignment.Mutual Information is a standard measure for coevolution between two sites but its application is limited by signal to noise ratio.In this work we report a preliminary study to investigate whether larger sequence sets could circumvent this problem by calculating mutual information arrays for two sets of drug naive sequences from the HIV gp120 protein for the B and C subtypes.Our results suggest that while the larger sequences sets can improve the signal to noise ratio,the gain is offset by the high mutation rate of the HIV virus which makes it more difficult to achieve consistent alignments.Nevertheless,we were able to predict a number of coevolving sites that were supported by previous experimental studies as well as a region close to the C terminal of the protein that was highly variable in the C subtype but highly conserved in the B subtype.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of midazolam on human ether-a-go-go (hERG) K+ channels exogenously expressed in human embryonic kidney cells (HEK-293) and the underlying molecular mechanisms.

METHODSWhole-cell patch clamp technique was used to record WT, Y652A and F656C hERG K+ current expressed in HEK-293 cells.

RESULTSMidazolam inhibited hERG K+ current in a concentration-dependent manner, the half-maximum block concentrations (IC50) values were (1.31 ± 0.32) µmol/L. The half-activation voltage (V1/2) were (2.32 ± 0.38) mV for the control and (-1.96 ± 0.83) mV for 1.0 µmol/L midazolam. The half-inactivation voltage (V1/2) was slightly shifted towards negative voltages from (-49.25 ± 0.69) mV in control to (-57.53 ± 0.53) mV after 1.0 µmol/L midazolam (P < 0.05). Mutations in drug-binding sites (Y652A or F656C) of the hERG channel significantly attenuated the hERG current blockade by midazolam.

CONCLUSIONMidazolam can block hERG K+ channel and cause the speed of inactivation faster. Mutations in the drug-binding sites (Y652 or F656) of the hERG channel were found to attenuate hERG current blockage by midazolam.

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels ; drug effects ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Midazolam ; pharmacology ; Mutation ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Potassium Channel Blockers ; pharmacology

Objective To evaluate the accuracy and feasibility of 64-slice spiral CT (64SCT) in assessing coronary artery disease.Methods A total of 30 suspected patients (male 21 cases, female 9 cases, and mean age of 54.6 years) were undergone both 64SCT and selective coronary angiography (SCA). Volume redering (VR) ,multiplanar reconstruction (MPR), maximum intensity projection (MIP) and transverse section were reconstructed. The results of coronary reconstructions were compared with SCA to analyze the accuracy of the 64SCT in detecting coronary artery stenoses.Results In the 396 segments of coronary artery(diameter≥2 mm)of 30 patients, 385 were judged to be evaluable by 64SCT. The evaluable rate was 97.2%. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the 64SCT in detecting coronary artery stenoses(≥50% of stenosis) were 96.22%, 94.56%, 89.44% and 96.88%. The accuracy rate of 64SCT in detecting ≥50% stenosis of coronary artery was 95.90%.Conclusion 64SCT has high accuracy in detecting coronary artery stenoses, as a noninvasive method,it can be used for screening patients with known or coronary artery diseases.

Objective To investigate the effect of luxS inactivation on the oxidative stress of Streptococcus mutans and perform preliminary analysis of potential mechanism.Methods Strains were grown to mid-logarithmic phase and divided into three groups,one was used as control and inoculated into normal TPY medium,and the other two groups were experimental groups,and there were separately inoculated into TPY containing 58.8 mmol/L hydrogen peroxideor TPY containing 58.8 mmol/L hydrogen peroxide and 0.1 mmol/L 2,2'-dipyridyl.The survival rate of strain was calculated at 0.5,1,and 2 h.All the data were statistically analyzed.Results Compared with the control group,the survival rate of luxS mutation was always higher than standard strain at all pre-determined time inexperimental groups (P＜0.05),and compared with experimental group without iron chelator,the survival rate of strains was not raised with the added of iron chelator (P＞0.05).Conclusion luxS gene is involved in oxidative stress tolerance of Streptococcus mutans,and the oxidative stress tolerance is not achieved by avoiding the toxic effects of the Fenton reaction

Objective To evaluate the reliability and validity of Diabetes Diet-Related Quality-of-Life Scale (DDR-QOL) in Chinese version,in order to provide an efficient instrument for assessing the quality of life of diabetes in diet therapy.Methods Translating and edit the DDR-QOL scale initially,275 eligible subjects were invited to the study.DDR-QOL scale and 36 item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) were used to collect data which were conducted for evaluating the internal consistency,reproducibility,construct validity,convergent and discriminant validity of DDR-QOL.Results The total Cronbach's α was 0.86.The factor analysis suggested good construct validity of DDR-QOL.Significant correlations were found between DDR-QOL and SF-36.The quality of life of diabetes who is on the job or not can be identified by DDR-QOL.Conclusions The Chinese version of DDR-QOL is a valid and reliable tool to assess the quality of life of diabetes who are in diet therapy.

Objective To investigate influence of mirtazapine on polysomnograpy (PSG) of depression dysphylaxia patient and treatment effect.Methods 22 dysphylaxia patients and 22 healthy contrast persons were detected by PSG.The group of dysphylaxia patients were re-detected PSG 6 weeks later after treatment by Mirtazapine.In order to evaluate the patient' symptoms of depression and early awakening,the scale of HAMD was utilized at the time before and after 2 weeks,6 weeks treatment by mirtazapine.To compare changes of PSG index,HAMD scores and dysphylaxia scores before and after treatment.Results Compared with healthy controls,there existed much deviation with dysphylaxia patients on PSG index.6 weeks after mirtazapine treatment,the PSG showed the sleeping latency had shortened to ( 16.9 ± 6.6) min,sleep efficiency had improved ( 85.4 ± 6.7 ) ％,awake time had shortened (27.7 ± 10.4)min,sleep maintenance rate had risen (87.9 ±5.3)％,decrease (9.7±4.1 )％ of the S1 sleeping stage percentage,S2 had increased ( 148.0 ±30.7)％,REM density had decreased (56.1 ±3.8)％.the difference was significant (P＜0.05).The scores of HAMD and early awakening after treatment were significantly lower than before treatment,the difference was significant (P＜0.01 ).Correlation analysis showed there was no significant correlation between the HAMD,dysphylaxia reduced rate and changes of PSG all indicators(P ＞ 0.05 ).Conclusion It may be one of the biological markers for dysphylaxi in shortened of REM sleep latency,prolonged of REM sleep time and increased of REM activity and density.There is no correlation between post-treatment changes of PSG.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effect of IL-6 mAb on experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) in rats, and search the mechanism of the role of IL-6, helper T cells 17 (Th17) and regulative T cells (Treg) in EAM pathogenesis.

METHODSThirty-four Lewis rats were divided into three groups randomly, i.e. control group (n = 6), EAM group (n = 12), and IL-6 mAb intervention group (n = 16). Rats in EAM group and IL-6 mAb intervention group were injected intracutaneously with myosin to establish EAM model. Rats in IL-6 mAb intervention group were injected intraperitoneally with 1 mg IL-6 mAb on 1st, 7th to 20th day after cardiac myosin immune injection. Myocardial inflammation was examined by HE stain, Masson stain, and TdT assay (TUNEL reaction) on 21st and 84th day after IL-6 mAb therapy in order to assess the therapeutic role. Spleen cells were analyzed by flow cytometry to illustrate Th17 and Treg cells? number and function. The serum concentration of IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, and TGF-beta in each group was measured by ELISA, concentration of STAT3, RORgammat, and Foxp3 mRNA in each group was determined with RT-PCR. Spleen cells derived from EAM were stimulated by IL-6 mAb in vitro, and the concentration of IL-10, IL-17 and TGF-beta was measured by ELISA.

RESULTSInflammation score, fibrosis score, and apoptosis index in IL-6 mAb intervention group were significantly decreased as compared with those in EAM group (P < 0.01). The number of Th17 and Treg cells in EAM group on the 21st day (experimental acute peak stage) were increased, and those in intervention group on the 21st day were significantly inhibited (P < 0.01). The concentration of serum IL-6, IL-10, IL-17 and TGF-beta in intervention group on the 21st day was decreased dramatically in comparison with that in EAM group on the same day (P < 0.01). The levels of peripheral blood STAT3, RORgammat, Foxp3 mRNA in intervention group on the 21st day was decreased significantly as compared with that in EAM group (P < 0.01). The expression of IL-10, IL-17 and TGF-beta was increased significantly (P < 0.01) by stimulation of IL-6 mAb on spleen cells derived from EAM in vitro.

CONCLUSIONSIL-6 mAb could neutralize IL-6, and ameliorate myocarditis and reduce heart autoimmune responses. IL-6 mAb has significantly protective effects on EAM by suppressing Th17 and Treg cells.

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; therapeutic use ; Autoimmune Diseases ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-17 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; immunology ; Male ; Myocarditis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred Lew ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Th17 Cells ; immunology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism