Objective To explore the molecular types of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains present in major hospitals in Qingdao area, using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) methods, trying to find out the epidemiological characteristics of these MRSA isolates. Correlation of the PFGE types with microbiological phenotypes and clinical data was also studied. Methods 360 isolates of MRSA were procured during 2003 to 2007 from major hospitals in Qingdao. PFGE technology was applied to comparatively analyze the chromosomal DNA digested with endonuclease Sma Ⅰ . Comparison of DNA fragments patterns from each MRSA strain and cluster analysis were performed with the Bionumericus version ' 2.0' software. A dendogram was generated using PFGE macrorestriction fragments on gel images. Data was used to predict the possibility of each PFGE type via SPSS software version 11.0, using the variables as predictors including groups on patient's age, gender, source and the site where MRSA was isolated. Antibiotic sensitivity patterns of these MRSA isolates were determined by K-B tests, and a correlation between these patterns and PFGE types was investigated. Housekeeping genes were amplified with PCR and sequenced in representative strains of variant PFGE types to identify their allelic profile. Results 5 types of PFGE patterns (M0-M4) were identified with MI being the predominant and M2 next to it which was significantly correlated to the isolates from wounds. M3 type strains were mainly isolated from ICU wards and there were a few cases complied with M4 type with no correlated variant factors found in this study. A unique pattern of MRSA isolates with its M0 distinct from other types had not been reported. No significant association was found between PFGE individual types,gender or age groups. M1 and M2 types were the major proportional PFGE patterns among different hospitals. No vancomycin-resistant isolates were detected among 360 MRSA strains. No significant association was found between individual antibiotic resistance and specific PFGE types. Data from MLST analysis showed that the aUelic profiles of M1 and M3 type strain had the same ST239 linage which was commonly present in China. For M2 and M4 representative strains, the allelic profiles were ST5 and ST240, respectively. ST45 and ST398 were corresponding to two PFGE patterns clustered as M0 type. Conclusion Nosocomial infection due to MRSA was evenly distributed among different age groups and no gender bias was observed. The PFGE types of MRSA strains isolated in major hospitals in Qingdao were highly correlated with the sources of isolates and ST239 isolate seemed the prevalent and widespread one. Strategies should be designed to further monitor and prevent or minimize the spread of ST5 MRSA isolates and the like, in Qingdao area.

Objective To investigate the nerve recanalization and the motor function of hind legs after transplantation of peripheral nerve grafts treated with microsurgical technique at chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats.Methods The SD rats were established into SCI model with improved Allen method.The rats were divided into two parts 12 weeks after the injury.In experimental group:by microsurgieal technique. the sural nerves were removed epineufium and transplanted into SCI lesion,control group rats were treated without any operation.Retrograde HRP tracing through sciatic nerve were practiced at 1 month,2 month,3 month after transplantation of peripheral nerve grafts.The morphological changes were observed at section of spinal cord and the motor functions of both hind legs of rat were detected.Results The morphology of the injured spinal cord sections turned better.Retrograde HRP tracing through sciatic nerve showed some HRP positive markers at the site of near rostral end of the nearly injured part at one month after transplantation and increased with the time going by.Motor function of hind legs of rats recovered significantly in transplantation groups.Conclusion Peripheral nerve grafts treated with mierosurgical technique have repairing effect on chronic spinal cord injury in rats.

OBJECTIVETo establish a new method of multiplex semi-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect pathogens in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

METHODSAccording to the analysis of the conservative and variable regions in bacterial 16S rRNA genes, we designed universal primers for all bacteria and specific primers for most gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. All primers were added into the same reaction systems successively of a two-step PCR assay to amplify the different bacterial DNA in CSF, and the results were compared with common culture method with sensitivity and the specificity both detected at the same time.

RESULTSBoth gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria amplified DNA fragment about 1,032 bp after first-step amplification with universal primers. In the second step, specific fragments of 336 bp and 127 bp were amplified in gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria respectively besides fragments of 1,032 bp; The detection limit for E. coli was 8 cfu/ml. The comparison of 62 CSF samples detected by both multiplex semi-PCR and conventional culture method revealed sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative values of 93.8%, 95.7%, 88.2%, and 97.8% respectively for PCR.

CONCLUSIONThe result suggested that the multiplex semi-nested PCR we established was sensitive, specific and rapid method for clinical laboratory to detect pathogens in CSF.

Cerebrospinal Fluid ; microbiology ; DNA Primers ; genetics ; DNA Probes ; genetics ; DNA, Bacterial ; cerebrospinal fluid ; isolation & purification ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Gram-Positive Bacteria ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; RNA, Bacterial ; genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; genetics ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Staphylococcus aureus ; genetics ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo reveal the association of 4G/5G polymorphism in the promoter region of the plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 gene (PAI1) with plasma PAI1 level in deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in Chinese Han ethnic group.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty Chinese DVT patients and 120 healthy controls were recruited. The PAI1 promoter 4G/5G polymorphism was detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The antigen of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) or PAI1 was quantified by a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in DVT cases and health controlsì respectively.

RESULTSNeither in the distribution of PAI1 promoter 4G/5G polymorphism nor in the frequencies of 4G and 5G allele was there a difference between two groups. The levels of PAI1 antigen in the carriers of the 4G/4G genotype were significantly higher than those either in the 4G/5G genotype or in the 5G/5G genotype; In the 4G/5G genotype or in the 5G/5G genotype the TG levels are an independently determinant factor of PAI1 antigen levels.

CONCLUSIONThere is a close relationship of the PAI1 4G/5G polymorphism to its plasma level in deep vein thrombosis in Chinese Han ethnic group, although lack of association between this genetic variation and risk of DVT suggest no major cause-effect pathogenic role of this polymorphism by itself.

Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Electrophoresis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; blood ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Venous Thrombosis ; blood ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of NFkappaB p65 and its target genes in intestinal metaplasia (IM), dysplasia (Dys), gastric cancer (GC) infected with Helicobacter pylori (Hp) and explore the mechanism of infection by cytotoxin-associated antigen A expressing Hp (CagA(+)Hp) in the development of gastric cancer.

METHODSCagA antibody in blood sample of 289 patients was determined by ELISA. Hp was detected by rapid urease test and Warthin starry staining. Expression of NFkappaB p65 and its target genes in IM, Dys and GC was examined by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSIn IMI approximately II, IMIII, DysI, DysII approximately III and GC, the expression of NFkappaB p65 was significantly higher in patients with CagA(+)Hp infection than those without CagA Hp infection. In IMIII and DysII approximately III, the expression of NFkappaB p65, c-myc, CyclinD(1) and bcl-xl was significantly higher in patients with CagA Hp infection than those without CagA Hp infection. In gastric cancer infected with CagA(+)Hp, the expression of NFkappaB p65, c-myc, CyclinD(1) and bcl-xl was significantly higher in intestinal type than in diffuse type.

CONCLUSIONThere are different mechanisms in intestinal type and diffuse type in the development of gastric cancer. The occurrence of intestinal type gastric cancer is associated with CagA(+)Hp infection which by NFkappaB p65 upregulating the expression of c-myc, CyclinD(1),bcl-xl in patients with IMIII, DysII approximately III. It may be an effective method to prevent gastric cancer by inhibiting NFkappaB p65.

Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, Bacterial ; analysis ; Bacterial Proteins ; analysis ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Female ; Helicobacter Infections ; complications ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Precancerous Conditions ; metabolism ; microbiology ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; microbiology ; pathology ; Transcription Factor RelA ; genetics ; metabolism ; bcl-X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo assess the efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for alleviating the clinical symptoms and suicidal ideation in elderly patients with depression.

METHODSA total of 178 elderly depressive patients with suicidal ideation were randomized into rTMS treatment group (n=80) and control group (n=98) and treated with rTMS or sham rTMS treatment for 4 weeks in addition to conventional therapy with medications. The 24-item Hamilton Depression Scales (HAMD) and Self-rating Idea of Suicide Scale (SIOSS) were used to assess the severity of depression and the risk of suicide at the baseline and after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment. The treatment response was defined as a 25% reduction in HAMD scores from baseline, and an early improvement as 20% reduction in HAMD scores after 2 weeks of treatment.

RESULTSThe two groups of patients were comparable for baseline socio-demographic characteristics and baseline SIOSS and HAMD scores (P>0.05). After 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, both SIOSS and HAMD scores were improved in the two groups, but the patients in rTMS group showed a significantly faster score reduction. A significantly higher rate of early improvement at 2 weeks (52.5% vs 28.6%; χ=10.569, P<0.01) and a higher response rate at 4 weeks (77.5% vs 53.1%; χ=15.470, P<0.05) were observed in rTMS group.

CONCLUSIONSrTMS combined with medications can effectively improve sleep quality, cognitive impairment and somatization symptom and reduce suicidal ideation in elderly patients with depression.

OBJECTIVETo determine the main genotype of hepatitis B virus (HBV) detected from Tibetans in China and provide basic data for hepatitis control and prevention.

METHODSThe S gene and C gene were amplified by PCR from the sera of HBsAg positive Tibetans. After sequencing, the gene sequences were analyzed and the phylogenetic trees were drawn by the software MEGA3.

RESULTSIn trees based on S gene, the sequences of most samples clustered at genotype D, while in trees based on C gene, the sequences of all samples clustered at genotype C.

CONCLUSIONThe dominant genotype of HBV detected from Tibetans in China is a C/D hybrid.

Genotype ; Hepatitis B ; blood ; epidemiology ; virology ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; genetics ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; genetics ; Hepatitis B virus ; classification ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; Tibet ; epidemiology

Objective:To explore the effectiveness of an 8-week hope group counseling on the level of hope in offenders.Methods:The experiment used quasi-experiment design and 24 offenders whose scores of Adult Dispositional Hope Scale (ADHS) were one standard deviation lower than the overall average were assigned to the intervention group (n =12) and the control group (n =12).The subjects in the intervention group received group counseling for improving the level of hope (90 min per week for 8 times),and the control group kept normal.The ADHS (including agency thoughts and pathway thoughts),Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) were used to evaluate the effectiveness before and after intervention.Besides,the study involved the follow-up test in the forth-week after the intervention.Differences within groups were compared by using t-test of paired samples.Differences between groups were compared by using analysis of covariance and JohnsonNeyman method.Result:The results of differences within groups showed that,in the follow-up test,the scores of ADHS,agency thought and pathway thought were higher than that of before the intervention,and the scores of SAS were lower than that of before the intervention(Ps ＜0.01).The results of differences between groups showed that,=in the follow-up test,the scores of ADHS,agency thought and pathway thought were higher in the intervention group than in the control group,and the scores of SAS were lower in the intervention group than in the control group [(48.0 ±5.7)vs.(39.2 ±5.6),(23.1 ±3.4)vs.(19.0 ±3.2),(24.9 ±3.0)vs.(20.2 ± 3.4),(36.4 ± 7.6)vs.(41.2 ±6.5);Ps ＜0.01].The results of Johnson-Neyman method showed that when the scores of ADHS in the intervention group were between 8 and 37 points on the pre-test,the scores of hope on the post-test were higher in the intervention group than in the control group[(48.8 ± 4.9) vs.(35.7 ± 4.9),P ＜ 0.05].Conclusion:These findings suggest that the group counseling could improve the level of hope in offenders.

The biomass multi-elements self-doped TiO2was synthesized simultaneously by ultrasonic irradiation assisted sol-gel method, and characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction(XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis-DRS), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and photoluminescence (PL). The characterization results showed that,multiple elements, C, N, P, Cl and K, were doped in the composite TiO2. Compared with pure TiO2,the band gap of the composite catalyst was narrowed by 0.21 eV, and possessed more surface hydroxyl radical and active sites, lower recombination rate of photo-generated carriers, higher crystallinity and higher specific surface area. The photocatalytic ability of the composite catalyst was studied,using methylene blue (MB) as target pollutant. The experimental results showed that, under visible light irradiation,the degradation efficiency of methylene blue was up to 98% after photocatalytic reaction for two hours by the composite catalyst.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prepation of the liposome carried with vincristine sulfate (VCR) and mitoxantrone chlorhydric acid (MTO) and to evaluate the quality of the liposome.

METHODThe liposome carried with VCR and MIT was prepared by pH-gradients method and reverse evaporation technique. HPLC was employed to determine VCR and MIT entrapping efficiency of liposomal. Laser particle analyzer was applied to determine the size and zeta potential of the liposomes carried with VCR and MTO.

RESULTThe mean diameter of the liposome carried with MIT and VCR was 72.22 nm, with the entrapping rate of 95.77% for VCR and 99.53% for MTO. The liposome had perfect shape.

CONCLUSIONThe liposomes with high entrapping rate and small particle size had been prepared by pH-gradient method and reverse evaporation technique.

Delayed-Action Preparations ; chemistry ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Liposomes ; chemistry ; Mitoxantrone ; chemistry ; Particle Size ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Vincristine ; chemistry