Objective To study the mutation of DNA fragment of rpoB gene in different degrees of rifampin-resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.Methods DNA fragment of rpoB gene in Mycobacterium tuberculosis was sequenced,including 32 low-level (R50) rifampin-resistant strains (50?g/mL rifampin-resistant),22 high-level (R250) rifampin-resistant strains (250?g/mL rifampin-resistant),10 (R0)rifampin-sensative strains and 1 H 37 Rv strain.Results No mutation was detected in 10 rifampin-sensative strains and 1 H 37 Rv strain;25(78.1%)rifampin-resistant strains had mutations in R50 and 21(95.5%)rifampin-resistant strains had mutations in R250(P=0.170).The mutatione points were distributed disorderly in R50.The 531-Ser mutation(57.1%)and joint mutation(23.8%)were more in R250 than those in R50.Conclusion The frequency of mutation in the rpoB gene of rifampin-resistant strain is higher.The mutation points are distributed disorderly in R50.The 531-Ser mutation(57.1%)and joint mutation(23.8%)are major mutative characteristics in R250.

Objective To explore the epidemic situation of nontuberculous Mycobacteria in both Yuexiu and Zhuhai districts. Methods Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture and strain identification were conducted in suspected smear-positive tuberculosis patients who had visited our clinics at Yuexiu and Haizhu districts in Guangzhou during the period of 2010 to 2012. Results 2 014 sputum samples were identified as NTM and MTC, 1 630 samples were MTC (80.9%), and 384 samples were NTM (19.1%). The isolated rate for NTM from 2010 to 2012 was 17.6%, 17.1% and 21.2%, respectively. 79 strains of 384 NTM were identified; the rapid-growing mycobacterium was 50.6%, and the slow-growing mycobacterium was 49.4%. Conclusions The sputum-isolated rate of NTM for the suspected tuberculosis patients was 19.1% in Yuexiu and Haizhu districts in Guangzhou. For the smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients who respond to treatment poorly , we should pay attention to NTM lung disease.

Objective To study the feasibility of in vitro release of γ-interferon tests (IGRA) in screening of tuberculosis for children with close TB contacts. Methods 185 children with close TB contacts were detected by IGRA at the pediatric clinic in our hospital. Results In IGRA-positive group, the rate of strong positive PPD (PDD≥15 mm) was 50.9%, which was higher than 9.1% in IGRA-negative group (X2 =37.263, P < 0.00). The morbidity rate for children with close TB contacts was 30.2% in IGRA-positive group, and it was significantly higher than 3.0% in IGRA-negative group (X2 = 28.928, P < 0.00). The sensitivity was 80% and the specificity was 77.6% for IGRA screening in children who had close contacts with TB patients. The sensitivity would be 95.0%, as the test was combined with PPD test. Conclusions IGRA screening in children with close TB contacts can increase the detection rate of tuberculosis and reduce imaging screening.

BACKGROUND: Thermotherapy has achieved remarkable therapeutic effect on patients with esophageal cancer. However, there are still some problems which cannot be answered today, such as the damage of esophageal mucosa during deep thermotherapy when metal stent is placed in esophagus. OBJECTIVE: To study the metal stent-caused damages to esophageal mucosa of pigs in radiofrequency hyperthermia. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: Observational study which was performed in the Department of Tumor, Affiliated Hospital of Luzhou Medical College from October 2004 to January 2005. MATERIALS: 13 pigs weighing 35-40 kg were used in this study. Esophagus stent of memory alloy with membrane was provided by Zhiye Medical Apparatus Institute of Changzhou, China METHODS: Five points were located for measurement, i.e. the middle of the stent, the exit of the stent, 2 cm and 4 cm a distance from the exit and 4 cm from the entrance. Esophagus of 13 pigs was heated for 30 minutes by SR-1000 radiofrequency hyperthermia machine in frequency of 40.82 MHz, pole plate of 25 cm Ⅱ 25 cm and power of 500-700 W. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The esophageal mucosa was observed with naked eyes. And optical microscopy was used to observe the changes of the esophageal mucosa. RESULTS: Because one pig died of anesthesia and there were troubles of thermal detector lines in 4 pigs, only 8 pigs were included in the final analysis. Level of damage of esophageal mucosa on five temperature checkpoints was observed from grade 0 to 1 in naked eyes, and the difference of damaged level between five checkpoints was not obvious in statistics (H=2.0, P=0.157). Level of the damage was observed from grade 0 to 2 in microscope, and the difference was not obvious in statistics too (H=2.734, P=0.255). CONCLUSION: Influence of the metal stent on esophageal mucosa can be neglected in radiofrequency hyperthermia, and metal stent does not cause obvious mechanical damage or thermal damage to esophageal mucosa of pigs. It is safe and feasible to carry out radiofrequency hyperthermia on placed metal stent esophagus.

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical characteristics of rifampin-dependent (R-dependent Mycobacterium tuberculosis) and rifampin-resistant (R-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis) patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

METHODSThe clinical data including the demographic data, age groups, course of disease, history of chemotherapy with anti-TB drugs, and results of drug susceptibility test were collected from 61 cases of R-dependent pulmonary tuberculosis and 148 cases of R-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis treated between October, 2008 and January, 2012.

RESULTSMost of the R-dependent and R-resistant patients were between 30 and 44 years of age. The R-dependent patients included 12 receiving the first treatment patients and 49 with previous treatments, and the R-resistant patients included 11 without and 137 with previous treatments. The multi-drug resistant rate was 80.3% in R-dependent group, as compared to 92.6% in R-resistant group.

CONCLUSIONMost of the patients infected with R-dependent Mycobacterium tuberculosis are young or middle-aged, often having serious disease conditions. Detecting rifampin dependence is important for patients with initial treatment failure. Multi-drug resistance therapy guideline should be applied to patients infected with R-dependent Mycobacterium tuberculosis to improve the cure rate.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antitubercular Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; drug effects ; Rifampin ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Young Adult

Objective To establish the HPLC fingerprints of petroleum ether parts from five traditional medicine (Alpinia officinarum Hance, Alpinia galangal ( L.) Wild, Alpinia galanga Will., Alpinia katsumadai Hayata, and Alpinia oxyphylla Miq), and to explore the similarities and differences of chemical composition,as well as the correlation between the genetic relationship and the chemical composition. Methods HPLC method was used to analysis the five traditional medicines. The data were evaluated by using the"similarity evaluation system for chromatographic fingerprint of TCM" software. Results The similarity chemical composition from Alpinia officinarum Hance,Alpinia galangal(L.) Wild,Alpinia galanga Will.,Alpinia katsumadai Hayata,and Alpinia oxyphylla Miq in ethyl acetate were 0.741,0.855,0.610,0.510, 0.680,respectively. Conclusion Though there were differences of fingerprint peak of petroleum ether parts between five the traditional Chinese medicines, similarities were also observed among them.

Objective:To explore the effect of taxifolin on H2O2-induced pyroptosis in H9C2 cells and the possible mechanisms.Methods:The H9C2 cells was divided into 3 groups:a control group,a hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) group and a taxifolin group.The morphology of H9C2 cells was observed by inverted phase contrast microscope.The mitochondrial membrane potential was measured by JC-1 staining and flow cytometry.The alteration of the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected by specific mitochondrial probe.The protein levels of cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1 (caspase-1) was determined by Western blot.The mRNA levels of interleukin-18 (IL-18),interleukin-1a (IL-1a),interleukin-1b (IL-1b),absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2),apoptosis-associated apeck-like protein (ASC),nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3)and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family caspase recruitment domaincontaining protein 4 (NLRC4) were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Results:Compared with the control group,the morphology of H9C2 cells obviously changed in the H2O2-treated group,which was guadually improved in the presence of taxifolin.Compared with the control group,the mitochondrial membrane potential was markedly decreased in the H2O2-treated cells,accompanied by the increase of ROS (both P＜0.05).Compared with the H2O2 group,the mitochondrial membrane potential changes in the taxifolin group was increased while the ROS was decreased,with significant difference (both P＜0.05).Compared with the control group,the protein level of caspase-1 and the mRNA levels of IL-18,IL-1a,IL-1b,AIM2,ASC,NLRP3 and NLRC4 in the H2O2-treated group were significantly increased (all P＜0.05),which were attenuated in the presence of taxifolin (all P＜0.05).Conclusion:Taxifolin can protect H9C2 cells from oxidative injury,and it is able to suppress the H2O2-induced H9C2 cell pyroptosis through inhibition of AIM2,NLRP3 and NLRC4 in flammasome.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship of cathepsin L (CatL) with coronary heart disease (CHD), severity of coronary stenosis and risk factors of CHD. METHODS: A total of 137 CHD patients and 48 controls were included in the study, to determined the serum levels of CatL, high sensitive C reactive protein (hs-CRP), fasting glucose (FBS), total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), apolipoprotein A1(Apo-A1) and apolipoprotein B. All the subjects were invited for a coronary angiography, using the sum of the Gensini scores to assess the severity of coronary artery stenosis. RESULTS: Serum CatL levels were significantly higher in CHD patients (5.63 +/= 0.12 microg/L) than non-CHD subjects (3.93 +/= 0.22 microg/L, P<0.01). CatL was an independent risk factor of CHD in Logistic regression analysis [Exp(B)=2.341, 95%CI 1.567 approximately 3.496, P<0.01]. Serum CatL levels were associated positively with the Gensini scores(r=0.228, P<0.01); In fact, CatL was an independent correlator of Gensini scores (P<0.05). CatL inversely associated with HDL-C (r=-0.228, P<0.01) and ApoA1(r=-0.187, P<0.05), and positively with FBS(r=0.161, P<0.05). CONCLUSION CatL is involved in the pathogenesis of CHD. Serum CatL levels could reflect the severity of coronary luminal narrowings. CatL might participate in glucose and lipid metabolic disorders.
Case-Control Studies ; Cathepsin L ; blood ; Coronary Disease ; blood ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors

BackgroundMental illness during pregnancy has become a major public health problem in China over the recent years， and depression is the most common psychological symptom during pregnancy. Current research efforts are directed towards the therapy on prenatal depression， whereas the construction of prediction model for prenatal depression risk has been little studied. ObjectiveTo construct a simple model for predicting the risk of prenatal depression， thus providing a valuable reference for the prevention of maternal depression during pregnancy. MethodsA total of 803 pregnant women attending three hospitals in Nanchong city were consecutively recruited from May 2021 to February 2022. A self-administered questionnaire was developed for the assessment of social demographic variables， obstetrical and general medical indexes and psychological status of all participants， and Self-rating Depression Scale （SDS） was utilized to screen for the presence of maternal depression. Subjects were randomly assigned into modelling group （n=635） and validation group （n=168） at the ratio of 8∶2 under simple random sampling with replacement. The candidate risk factors of maternal depression during pregnancy were screened using binary Logistic regression analysis， and the predictive model was constructed. Then the performance of the predictive model was validated using receiver operating characteristics （ROC） curve. Results① Lack of companionship （β=-0.692， OR=0.501， 95% CI： 0.289~0.868）， low mood during the last menstrual period （β=-1.510， OR=0.221， 95% CI： 0.074~0.656）， emotional stress during the last menstrual period （β=-1.082， OR=0.339， 95% CI： 0.135~0.853）， unsatisfactory relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law （β=-1.228， OR=0.293， 95% CI： 0.141~0.609）， and indifferent generally relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law （β=-0.831， OR=0.436， 95% CI： 0.260~0.730） were risk factors for prenatal depression in pregnant women （P<0.05 or 0.01）. ② Model for predicting the prenatal depression risk yielded an area under curve （AUC） of 0.698 （95% CI： 0.646~0.749）， the maximum Youden index was 0.357 in modelling group with the sensitivity and specificity was 0.606 and 0.751， and an AUC of 0.672 （95% CI： 0.576~0.767） and maximum Youden index of 0.263 in validation group with the sensitivity and specificity of 0.556 and 0.707. ConclusionThe simple model constructed in this study has good discriminant validity in predicting of the risk of prenatal depression. ［Funded by Nanchong Social Science Research Project of the 14th Five-Year Plan （number， NC21B165）］