Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Male ; Phenols ; toxicity ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sertoli Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Steroidogenic Factor 1 ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE To investigate the pathogenic causes of lower respiratory tract infections(LRTIs) in the elderly in Guangzhou area.METHODS Pathogens obtained from 107 patients with LRTIs were performed by multiple diagnostic tools that including bacterial culture,PCR and specific immunological assays.RESULTS A bacterial cause was established in 42(68.5%) and an atypical pathogen cause in 25(31.6%) of the 107 patients.Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae remained the most important pathogens for LRTIs.CONCLUSIONS In the prescription of antibiotics in the elderly with LRTIs,not only bacteria but also atypical pathogens should be taken into account.

PEG-modified magnetic Fe3O4 (Fe3O4-PEG) nanoparticles were sythesized using a solvothermal reaction and characterized with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). The photothermal effect and photothermal destruction of cancer cells were evaluated. Then the doxorubicin loaded Fe3O4-PEG (DOX-Fe3O4-PEG) nanoparticles were prepared. The cytotoxicity and combined chemotherapy/photothermal therapy (PTT) effect were investigated. Uniform PEG coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles with particle size of 155 nm were obtained in the experiment. The loading and release of doxorubicin on Fe3O4-PEG were pH-dependent. The drug loading capacity in water was 21%. The results of MTT indicated a good biocompatiblity of Fe3O4-PEG nanoparticles and high cytotoxicity of DOX-Fe3O4-PEG. In combined therapy experiment, photothermal therapy demonstrated unambiguously enhanced chemotherapy efficacy. In conclusion, the obtained Fe3O4-PEG nanoparticles which exhibit good photothermal effect and drug loading capacity can be used for chemotherapy and photothermal therapy. The synergetic anti-tumor activity indicates the potential for the combined application of chemotherapy and photothermal therapy in cancer treatment.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of acute inflammatory response and tissue repair when rats accepted transplanted bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).Methods A total of 40 rats were randomly divided into 4 groups which included the normal group (n=10),the model severe acute pancreatitis group (n=10),the transplanted bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells group (n =10),and the combination of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) group (n=10).To cure the acute severe pancreatic injury caused by SAP,rats were injected with EDU-labeled MSCs and granulocyte colonystimulating factor (Gr-CSF).The conversion rate of MSCs to pancreatic cells or MSCs to endothelial cells was detected to assess the role of MSCs in tissue regeneration and repair.The expression of amylase,interleukin-6 (IL-6),and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in serum was detected to assess the role of MSCs in an acute inflammatory response.Results The concentrations of amylase and IL-6 were reduced and the concentration of IL-10 was increased in MSC and MSC+G-CSF groups after the onset of SAP.Flow cytometry showed a small amount of MSCs converting to endothelial or pancreatic cells,but the conversion rate was relatively low.Conclusions MSCs can play an important role in the antipre-release of inflammatory mediators,reducing acute immune response to control the acute inflammatory response in SAP.Moreover,MSCs can repair a damaged pancreas by converting into both pancreatic and endothelial cells.

Acinetobacter Infections ; etiology ; Acinetobacter baumannii ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Child, Preschool ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Intensive Care Units, Pediatric ; Male ; Risk Factors

To simply and rapid authenticate Lonicera japanica. Rapid allele-specific PCR primer was designed base on trnL-trnF 625 G/T Single nucleotide polymorphism and the PCR reaction systems including annealing temperature was optimized; optimized results were performed to authenticate L. japanica and its 9 adulterants. When 100 x SYBR Green I was added in the PCR product of 87 degrees C initial denatured 1 min; 87 degrees C denatured 5 s, 68 degrees C annealing 5 s, 30 cycle; L. japanica visualize strong green fluorescence under 365 nm UV lamp whereas adulterants without. The results indicate rapid allele-specific PCR could authenticate L. japanica and its adulterants rapidly and simply.
Alleles ; DNA Primers ; genetics ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Lonicera ; classification ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Quality Control

PEG-modified magnetic Fe3O4 (Fe3O4-PEG) nanoparticles were sythesized using a solvothermal reaction and characterized with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). The photothermal effect and photothermal destruction of cancer cells were evaluated. Then the doxorubicin loaded Fe3O4-PEG (DOX-Fe3O4-PEG) nanoparticles were prepared. The cytotoxicity and combined chemotherapy/photothermal therapy (PTT) effect were investigated. Uniform PEG coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles with particle size of 155 nm were obtained in the experiment. The loading and release of doxorubicin on Fe3O4-PEG were pH-dependent. The drug loading capacity in water was 21%. The results of MTT indicated a good biocompatiblity of Fe3O4-PEG nanoparticles and high cytotoxicity of DOX-Fe3O4-PEG. In combined therapy experiment, photothermal therapy demonstrated unambiguously enhanced chemotherapy efficacy. In conclusion, the obtained Fe3O4-PEG nanoparticles which exhibit good photothermal effect and drug loading capacity can be used for chemotherapy and photothermal therapy. The synergetic anti-tumor activity indicates the potential for the combined application of chemotherapy and photothermal therapy in cancer treatment.
Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Doxorubicin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Drug Carriers ; Ferrosoferric Oxide ; chemistry ; Humans ; Hyperthermia, Induced ; MCF-7 Cells ; Magnetite Nanoparticles ; chemistry ; Particle Size ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry

AIM: To observe the changes in subfoveal choroidal thickness ( SFCT ) after intravitreal injections of ranibizumab ( IVR ) for macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion ( RVO) .
METHODS:Thirty-six eyes of 36 patients with macular edema secondary to RVO) were treated with 0. 5mg IVR monthly for 3mo and received additional IVR as needed over the following 1a period. SFCT of the all eyes ( the affected eyes with RVO and unaffected fellow eyes ) was measured by enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography images before and after the IVR.
RESULTS: The mean SFCT of the affected eyes with RVO decreased from 246. 7±115. 0μm at baseline to 220. 5±102.0μm at 1mo (P<0.05), 198.3± 114.0μm at 6mo (P<0.01), 212. 6± 96. 0μm at 12mo (P<0. 01). Whereas the fellow eyes changed from 229. 4±108. 0μm at baseline to 226. 3±107. 0μm at 1mo (P>0. 05), 228. 6±127. 0μm at 6mo (P>0.05), 223.6±101.0μm at 12mo(P>0.05). There were statistically significant difference between affected eyes with RVO and unaffected fellow eyes.
CONCLUSION: The SFCT is decreased after IVR for macular edema secondary to RVO. IVR seems to affect the hemorheology of the choroid.

Objective To study the effects of iodine deficiency and hypothyroidism on protein expression of extracellular signal-regulate kinase(ERK1/2) in the cerebellum of rots. Methods Twenty-eight healthy Wistar rots, female, 60 days old, were randomly divided according to their body weight into control group, iodine deficient group and hypothyroidism groups. Hypothyroidism groups in accordance with drinking water containing propylthiouracil(PTU) were divided into doses of 5 mg/L and 15 mg/L groups, 7 rats in each group. Rats after pregnancy, iodine deficient rats were administered with iodine-deficient diet and hypothyroid rats were administered with PTU in drinking water. Pup's cerebellum in each group were weighed on day 14,21,28 and 42. Cerebellum tissue was observed for cerebellar morphology using silver staining and detected for ERK1/2 protein using immunohistochemistry on day 7,14,21,28 and 42. Results On day 14,21,28 and 42, cerebellum weight of pups from iodine-deficient[(0.0945±0.0233), (0.1347±0.0046), (0.1542±0.0094), (0.1949±0.0048)g]were significantly lighter than control[(0.1856±0.0123), (0.2049±0.0098), (0.2268±0.0065), (0.2606±0.0086)g, all P < 0.05]and hypothyroidism groups [for 5 mg/L group: (0.1741±0.0172), (0.1927±0.0103), (0.2181±0.0064), (0.2583±0.0054)g, all P<0.05; for 15 mg/L group: (0.1604±0.0083), (0.1682±0.0103), (0.1996±0.0073) and (0.2579±0.0067)g, all P< 0.05]the difference had statistical significance(F=6.325,8.870, 16.191 and 21.574, all P<0.05). Compared to the controls on day 7, iodine-deficient group didn't have clear layers; on day 21, disappearance of external granule cells from iodine-deficient and 15 mg/L groups was delayed, still two or three layer external granule cells remained; on day 28 and 42, molecular layer from 5, 15 mg/L and iodine-deficient groups and became thinner. Immunohistochemistry showed that on day 7, there was no statistical difference of integrated optical density average of ERK1/2, in all the groups(F=1.102, P>0.05); on day 14,21,28 and 42, integrated optical density average of ERK1/2 in iodine-deficient group[(7.3245±0.5070), (8.3606±1.0683), (9.1217±1.0402), (12.1587±0.7581), all P<0.01]and hypothyroidism groups [for 5 mg/L group: (11.4307±1.5200), (14.919±0.8497), (16.0082±1.1130), (15.7721±0.8293), all P< 0.01; for 15 mg/L group: (7.8538±0.9775), (11.2461±0.8138),(12.78±1.3783), (13.0871±1.1450), all P < 0.01]was significantly lower than those of controls [(16.2831±0.5143), (20.2653±0.9551), (22.7485±1.0267), (22.1725±0.9939), all P < 0.01], the difference having a statistical signifieance(F=16.131,13.543,26.953,41.583, all P<0.01). Conclusions Iodine deficiency and hypothyroidism during critical periods of brain development may change eerebellar morphology and down regulate the protein expression of ERK1/2, which may result in damage of cerebellum development.

Abstract: Objective To express and purify MPT83 protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and evaluate its application value in immunological diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) using clinical samples. Methods Using Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) H37Rv genome as the template, Mtb mpt83 gene was amplified by PCR and connected to PET-21a (+) to construct prokaryotic expression vector, and then transferred into E.coli DH5α. The positive colonies were picked out and retained. The recombinant plasmid pET-mpt83 of the strain with positive colony PCR was extracted, identified by double digestion, and the samples of the positive colonies were sent for sequencing. The correctly sequenced plasmids then were transferred into BL21 competent cells for induction, expression and purification with nickel column affinity chromatography. The purified products were identified by 12 alkyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Western blotting. Mouse polyclonal antiserum was prepared by immunizing mice with purified protein. 8 patients clinically diagnosed as tuberculosis pleural effusion (TB group) and 8 adenocarcinomas patients (CA group) were enrolled and their pleural effusion and plasma were collected. 8 healthy people (HC group) were enrolled as the control group and their plasma were collected. An indirect ELISA was used to detect the level of specific antibodies recognizing MPT83 protein in the samples. Results Mtb MPT83 protein was successfully expressed and purified. The serum titer of MPT83 mouse polyclonal antibody was as high as 1∶1 280 000. The plasma levels of MPT83 antigen specific antibodies in TB group were significantly higher than those in HC group (P<0.05), while the plasma levels of MPT83 antigen specific antibodies in CA group were not significantly different from those in HC group (P>0.05). Compared with the HC group, there was no significant difference in pleural fluid in both the TB and CA groups (P>0.05). The ROC curve was used to analyze the OD values of plasma in TB group and HC group, and the area under the curve was greater than 0.7, showing high diagnostic efficacy. Conclusion　MPT83 protein has high antigen specificity and immunogenicity, which has great application value in the immunological diagnosis of tuberculosis.