Objective To evaluate the effect of azithromycin on class Ⅰ integron-integrase gene (intI 1 )mRNA expression in biofilm-forming (BF)Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA).Methods intI 1 of 10 PA strains isolated from a hospital were detected,1 strain with positive BF+intI 1 was selected for culture,blank control group and three az-ithromycin trial groups (divided according to 3 concentrations:16 mg/L,32 mg/L,and 64 mg/L)were set,experi-ments were repeated 5 times,expression of intI 1 mRNA were detected by RT-PCR.Results Relative expression of intI 1 mRNA in azithromycin groups of 16 mg/L,32 mg/L,64 mg/L,and control group were (1 .15 ±0.04), (12.47±3.10),(19.71 ±0.78 ),and (1 .00 ±0.00),respectively,there were significant difference among four groups(F =163.82,P <0.001 );intI 1 mRNA expression between 16mg/L azithromycin group and control group was not significantly different (P >0.05),but among other groups were significantly different (P <0.05 ),intI 1 mRNA expression in azithromycin groups increased with the enhancing concentration of azithromycin in culture so-lution .Conclusion Expression of intI 1 gene mRNA in BF PA can be up-regulated by the present of azithromycin, which may improve the probability of drug-resistant genes,and promote drug-resistant gene recombination.

BACKGROUND:Aging, lack of estrogen and few activities may lead to the decrease of resting energy expenditure in menopause women so as to induce the body composition changes, which can result in disease, such as obesity and fracture. OBJECTIVE:To explore the change of body composition and resting metabolic rate among premenopausal, perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. METHODS:2 312 women who came to outpatient clinic were recruited, including 1 310 premenopausal women, 790 perimenopausal women and 212 postmenopausal women. Body composition and resting energy expenditure were measured in each woman. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Body fat percentage of perimenopausal and postmenopausal women was significantly higher than that of pre-menopausal women. (2) There was no significant difference in resting metabolic rate among the three groups. When adjusted body weight, the resting energy expenditure per kilogram was significantly lower in perimenopausal women than in premenopausal women. (3) Bone mineral density, femoral neck strength, lower limb maximal strength, and leg muscle distribution coefficient were significantly lower in postmenopausal women than in perimenopausal and premenopausal women (P < 0.05). (4) Weight and leg muscle distribution coefficient were positively correlated with the resting energy expenditure per kilogram, and height, body mass index, body fat percentage were negatively correlated with the resting energy expenditure per kilogram. These findings indicate that the body composition can change in women after menopause, such as body fat increasing, muscle content decreasing, and bone mass loss. There is a certain relationship between the change in body composition and resting energy expenditure.

Objective To observe the changes in concentrations of pulmonary surfactant SP-A/B in lung tissue during acute lung injury (ALI) /acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) induced by acute paraquat poisoning (PQP) after the treatment with metabolic antioxidant,lipoic acid,and to explore the potential involvement of TNF-α in ALI/ARDS as well as to discuss the assumed protective mechanisms of lipoic acid against acute lung injury.Methods Sixty-six male Sprage-Dawley rats were randomly (random number) divided into 3 groups,namely control group (NS,n =6),paraquat poisoning group (PQ,n =30),paraquat + lipoic acid treatment group (LA,n =30).Then both group PQ and group LA were further divided separately into five subgroups,namely 3,6,12,24 and 48 h subgroups (n =6 in each subgroup).After rats sacrificed,the lung tissues were selected,and after HE staining,histological changes were observed under light microscope.Histopathological changes were inflammation and fibrosis in models successfully established.The lung tissues were also taken for tests of SOD and MDA levels.Specimens of whole blood 0.8 mL without anticoagulant were taken from tail vein of rats for determining the TNF-α level.The expressions of SP-A mRNA and SP-B mRNA were measured with RT-PCR from total RNA of the lung tissue.Results ① HE staining showed that the histopathological changes were milder in LA group than that in PQ group.② There were significant differences in MDA and SOD levels between different intervals both in intergroups and intragroup except the groups of 3 hours (P ＜ 0.01).③ Likewise,the significant differences in the levels of TNF-α were also present between three groups and between different intervals (P＜0.01).④ The significant differences in SP-A mRNA and SP-B mRNA amplification ratio existed between three groups at the same interval (P ＜ 0.01),but those differences between different intervals in group PQ were of statistical significance (P ＜ 0.05).And those differences between diffirent intervals in group LA were statistically significant (P ＜0.01).Conclusions Lipoic acid in acute paraquat poisoning could lessen lung tissue damage,which might be directly dominated by the levels of tumor necrosis factor,and in turn indirectly affect the content of pulmonary surfactant,thereby reducing pulmonary edema and improving lung compliance,then protecting the lung tissues.

Objective To investigate the nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf-2),and heme oxidase 1 (HO-1) expression in acute lung injury induced by paraquat poisoning in rats and explore the mechanism of lipoic acid acting on protection of lung from paraquat poisoning.Methods Seventy-two adult healthy male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three groups with different treatments designated as:control group (control group,n =12),paraquat group (PQ group,n =30) and paraquat + lipoic acid group (LA group,n =30).PQ group and LA group were randomly divided into five subgroups (n =6 in each) according to 6 h,12 h,24 h,48 h and 72 h after modeling and treatment.The rats in PQ group and PQ + LA group were treated with intra-peritoneal injection (ip) of PQ (25 mg/kg),while the rats in control group were treated with the equal volume of saline instead.Half an hours after intra-peritoneal injection of PQ,lipoic acid (100 mg/kg) was injected into caudal vein of rats once a day until they were sacrificed.The body weight was measured everyday.The rats of each group were sacrificed at the given intervals,and lung tissues were harvested to measure lung coefficient of rats.The same part of left lung of rats in each group was taken for HE staining and immunohistochemistry in order to detect the expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1.The right lung of rats in each group was taken for the detection of GSH-Px and SOD activity.All data were analyzed by using the One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and SNK-q test.Results The body weight reduction in LA group (191.02 ± 0.82) g,(183.37 ± 7.74) g was significantly less than that in PQ group (183.85 ± 2.07) g,(173.13 ± 4.34) g at 48 h and 72 h after PQ poisoning,respectively (P ＜ 0.01,P ＜ 0.05).The lung coefficient in LA group (6.83 ± 0.48) mg/g,(7.61 ±0.28) mg/g,(8.29 ±0.36) mg/g was less compared with PQ group (7.39 ±0.53) mg/g,(8.48±0.23) mg/g,(9.06±0.10) mg/g at 24 h,48 h,and 72 h,respectively (P＜0.01,P＜ 0.05).The immunohistochemical expressions of Nrf-2 in LA group (3.99 ±0.50),(3.51 ±0.12) were higher than those in PQ group (1.33 ±0.22),(1.62 ±0.41) at 48 h and 72 h.The immunohistochemical expression of HO-1 in LA group (1.76 ±0.17) was higher than that in PQ group (1.31 ±0.15) at 72 h.The levels of GSH-Px activity in LA group were significantly higher in comparison with PQ group at 24h,48h,and 72h (P ＜0.01,P ＜0.05).The levels of SOD activity in the LA group were significantly higher in comparison with PQ group at 6 h,12 h,24 h,48 h,and 72 h after PQ administration (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions Nrf2-ARE (antioxidant response element) signaling pathway is involved in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury induced by paraquat poisoning,and lipoic acid may protect acute lung injury in rats induced by paraquat poisoning through Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway.

ObjectiveTo evaluate setup errors of image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) for body tumors immbilized with vacuum cushions and localized with final isocenter marked method using kilovoltage cone beam CT (KVCBCT).MethodsA retrospective study has been carried out for 223 patients from March 2009 to April 2011.All patients were immobilized with vacuum cushions and localized with final isocenter marked method in Philips PQS CT or Philips Brilliance CT Big Bore scanner,which were equipped with LAP movable laser systems. The CT images were transferred to a Varian Eclipse workstation for contouring and treatment planning.Before irradiation,a KVCBCT scan was performed and image registration was done on a Varian iX linear accelerator via OBI system.Each set of setup errors in right-left ( RL),superior-inferior (SI),and anterior-posterior (AP) directions were gathered.An independent-samples t-test statistical analysis was conducted with the 758 sets of data using SPSS 16.0.Results The statistical analysis showed that setup errors from the 758 datasets were depicted a Gaussian distribution.The system errors ± random errors in RL,SI and AP were ( -0.5 ±2.8) mm,(0.0±3.0) mm and (0.4±3.4)mm,respectively.Referring to the formula for planning target volume margin calculation,M =2.5Σ + 0.7δ,the margins were calculated as 3.2,2.1 and 3.4 mm,respectively.ConclusionsThe margins derived from this retrospective study have confirmed the premise that the treatment plans were executed in patients with high reliability,thereby created a high sense of confidence for the clinicians.

Objective To examine the effects of Shenqi Bufei Tang decoction on the expression of histone deacetylase-2 ( HDAC2) and nuclear factor-κB p65 ( NF-κB p65) in the airway smooth muscle tissues of COPD rats with lung-qi deficiency syndrome. Methods A total of 40 male rats were randomly divided into normal control group,model control group,Shenqi Bufei Tang decoction group,and aminophylline group.The COPD rat model with lung-qi deficiency syndrome was established by intra-tracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and passive smoking for 28 days.Pathological changes of lung tissues were ob-served under the light microscope and the thickness of the small airway wall and airway smooth muscle ( ASM) layer analyzed by the image analysis.Immunohistochemistry,real-time PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the expressions of NF-κB p65 and HDAC2 in ASM. Results The thickness of the airway wall and ASM,and the expression levels of NF-κB p65 mRNA and protein were significantly increased in the model control group when compared with those in the normal control group ( P<0.05) . They were significantly reduced and the expression levels of HDAC2 mRNA and protein were markedly increased in Shenqi Bufei Tang decoction group and aminophylline group,which were compared with those in the model group (P<0.05).There were no sig-nificant differences in these indices between Shenqi Bufei Tang decoction group and aminophylline group (P>0.05). Conclu-sion Shenqi Bufei Tang decoction can inhibit the proliferation of ASM in COPD rats with lung-qi deficiency syndrome,which may be associated with the increased expression of HDAC2 and decreased expression of NF-κB p65.

OBJECTIVE: To delineate the serological and molecular profiles of a patient with A(w)37B subtype. METHODS: The ABO bloodtypes of the proband, his wife and daughter were determined with a standard serological method. Their ABO genotypes were determined by sequence-specific primer polymerase chain reaction (PCR-SSP). All exons of the ABO gene were directly sequenced. Exons 6 and 7 of the ABO gene were further analyzed by cloning and sequencing. RESULTS: The red blood cells of the proband showed a weak B phenotype. His serum sample contained weak reactive anti-A antibody, which was defined as A(w)B blood group based on the serological characteristics. The A and B alleles were detected by blood group genotyping. Gene cloning and sequencing have identified a characteristic c.940A>G variant (ABO*AW.37) in exon 7 of the ABO gene, which resulted in substitution of Lysine by Glutamate at position 314. The proband's daughter has inherited the ABO*AW.37 allele. CONCLUSION The c.940A>G variant in exon 7 of the ABO gene probably underlay the decreased activity of GTA transferase and resulted in the Aw37 phenotype.
ABO Blood-Group System/genetics* ; Alleles ; Genotype ; Humans ; Pedigree ; Phenotype

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of theanine on sedative effects induced by pentobarbital sodium.

METHODThe locomotor activities of ICR mice induced by theanine (0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 g x kg(-1)), pentobarbital sodium (5, 10 mg x kg(-1)) or the combination of both were determined with video-tracking system, and a novel index: Peripheral active time Peripheral time (PATP) was established. Hypnosis effect of combination of both was tested with right-reflex disappearance.

RESULTCompared with normal saline (74.52 +/- 20.4)%, theanine alone decreased this PATP in dose-dependent manner from (62.03 +/- 21.11)%, (56.44 +/- 21.69)%, (31.13 +/- 17.2)%, (25.06 +/- 10.03)% to (17.21 +/- 7.43)% (P>0.05, P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.01 and P<0.01, respectively). Compared with pentobarbital sodium (5 mg x kg(-1)), between 0.25 g x kg(-1) and 1.0 g x kg(-1) theanine combined with that decreased peripheral PATP from (28.30 +/- 17.57)%, (30.64 +/- 17.21)% to (24.28 +/- 9.59)% (all P<0.01), and increased by 2.0 g x kg(-1) reversely (61.95 +/- 19.39)%. Compared with normal saline, pentobarbital sodium (10 mg x kg(-1)) and the combination with theanine decreased significantly PATP (all P<0.01). Compared with pentobarbital sodium (10 mg x kg(-1)), 0.25 g x kg(-1) theanine combined with that increased PATP [(25.37 +/- 13.68)% vs (10.08 +/- 7.98)%, P<0.01)] and 0.5 g x kg(-1), 1.0 g x kg(-1) theanine could depresse that increase [(14.56 +/-10.10)%, (8.24 +/- 4.08)% vs (10.08 +/- 7.98)%]. Total distance and peripheral active time showed the same or similar tendency in theanine alone or combination with pentobarbital sodium . Theanine enchanced hypnosis effect of pentobarbital sodium in dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONTheanine can affect the sedative effect of low dose pentobarbital sodium in bidirectional action style but not change the hypnosis effect.

Animals ; Drug Interactions ; Female ; Glutamates ; pharmacology ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Motor Activity ; drug effects ; Pentobarbital ; pharmacology