Respiratory diseases are common in the elderly and often the main causes of death among this population. In addition, it is expected that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lower respiratory tract infections, lung cancer, and pulmonary tuberculosis will be listed in the top ten diseases in 2020. Therefore, screening, diagnosis and management of respiratory diseases should be strengthened among the elderly; meanwhile, studies on geriatric respiratory medicine should be further enhanced.
Aged ; Geriatrics ; Humans ; Pulmonary Medicine ; Respiratory Tract Diseases

OBJECTIVETo analyze the change in drug resistance of Staphylococcus aureus (SAU) in the PLA general hospital from January 2008 to December 2012, and to provide solid evidence to support the rational use of antibiotics for clinical applications.

METHODSThe SAU strains isolated from clinical samples in the hospital were collected and subjected to the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion test. The results were assessed based on the 2002 American National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) guidelines.

RESULTSSAU strains were mainly isolated from sputum, urine, blood and wound excreta and distributed in penology, neurology wards, orthopedics and surgery ICU wards. Except for glycopeptide drugs, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) had a higher drug resistance rate than those of the other drugs and had significantly more resistance than methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) (P < 0.05). In the dynamic observation of drug resistance, we discovered a gradual increase in drug resistance to fourteen test drugs during the last five years.

CONCLUSIONDrug resistance rate of SAU stayed at a higher level over the last five years; moreover, the detection ratio of MRSA keeps rising year by year. It is crucial for physicians to use antibiotics rationally and monitor the change in drug resistance in a dynamic way.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial ; Humans ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects ; Staphylococcal Infections ; drug therapy ; Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects

italic>Alangium chinense is a commonly used medicinal plant of Alangiaceae Alangium, one of the characteristic Miao medicines in Guizhou. The genus is strongly differentiated and has complex morphological variation, with significant differences in active ingredients and potency among herbs. In this paper, we sequenced the chloroplast genomes of Alangium chinense subsp. Pauciflorum, Alangium chinense subsp. Strigosum and Alangium kurzii Craib using Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology. The genomes of Alangium chinense subsp. Pauciflorum, Alangium chinense subsp. Strigosum and Alangium kurzii Craib chloroplasts were sequenced, their assembly annotation and structural characterization were completed, and the genomes of the congeners Alangium chinense and Alangium alpinum were downloaded from NCBI for comparative analysis. Finally, the phylogenetic tree was constructed by selecting published species with close affinity to Alangium chinense family from NCBI. The results were as follows: Alangium chinense subsp. Pauciflorum, Alangium chinense subsp. Strigosum and Alangium kurzii Craib chloroplast genomes were 156 670, 156 672 and 156 871 bp in length, with a typical four-segment structure, all containing one long single copy region (LSC), one short single copy region (SSC) and two inverted repeat regions (IRa and IRb). All of them were annotated to 133 genes, including 88 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes and 8 rRNA genes. Three types of long repeat sequences and SSR loci, forward repeats, palindrome repeats and reverse repeats, were found in all chloroplast genomes. Comparative genomic analysis showed that there was diversity in the boundary transition regions of the five species, no rearrangements or inversions were found in the chloroplast genome, and there were significant differences in the coding regions of ndhA, ycf1, rpl16, ycf2, and petD genes, which provided new loci for molecular identification of Patagonia. In the phylogenetic analysis, Alangium kurzii var. kurzii clustered as a single species, and Alangium chinense subsp. Pauciflorum and Alangium chinense subsp. Strigosum clustered as a single species, with a support rate of 93 and close affinity, indicating that the phylogenetic tree can be used for the species identification. This paper can provide a basis for the taxonomic identification of Alangium, ensure the safety of clinical use of anise herbs and regulate the market of Alangium chinense herbs.

In the previous study, a high-throughput screening method was established to find the antagonists of CD36. In the present study, a new compound named IMB-1680 was found using this method. The anti-atherosclerotic activities of IMB-1680 were then evaluated. Dose-dependent activities of IMB-1680 were detected by using Sf9 [hCD36] and CHO [hCD36] models. Fluorescence microscopic photography and flow cytometry were used to analyze uptake of mLDL. Foam cell test with RAW264.7 macrophages was used to examine lipid accumulation. The results showed that IMB-1680 inhibited CD36 activity with IC50 of 2.80 and 8.79 micromol x L(-1) in Sf9[hCD36] and CHO [hCD36] cells, respectively. Fluorescence microscopic photography and flow cytometry revealed that IMB-1680 could significantly reduce DiI-AcLDL uptake. Meanwhile, IMB-1680 also could reduce lipids accumulation in RAW264.7 macrophages. In all, the data indicated that IMB-1680 might be a potent effective anti-atherosclerotic leading compound.
Animals ; CD36 Antigens ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; metabolism ; CHO Cells ; Cells, Cultured ; Cricetulus ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Foam Cells ; cytology ; High-Throughput Screening Assays ; Humans ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; metabolism ; Macrophages ; cytology ; metabolism ; Mice ; Molecular Structure ; Plasmids ; Receptors, Scavenger ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Sf9 Cells ; Spodoptera ; Transfection

Background and Objective:Histone deacetylase(HDAC) inhibitors can inhibit cell signal network function through decreasing expression of multiple genes and proteins,thus affect cell proliferation,survival and chemosensitivity.HDAC inhibitors combined with paclitaxel may enhance the inhibitory effect of drugs on lung cancer cells.This study was to observe the synergistic anti-proliferative effect of HDAC inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA)combined with paclitaxel on lung cancer cell lines H322 and H1299.and to investigate its mechanism. Methods:H322 and H1299 cells were divided into control group,paclitaxel(TAX) group,TSA group, and combination group(TF group,TSA followed by paclitaxel).Cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay.Cell cycle and apoptosis were determined by flow cytometry.The protein expression levels of survivin, ERK,and PARP were determined by Western blot analysis. Results: When combined with TSA,the 50%inhibition concentration(IC_(50))of paclitaxel decreased from (48.07 4±26.12) nmol/L to (6.34±5.72) nmol/L in H322 cells and from (110.64±38.7)nmol/L to(63.7±11.8)nmol/L in H1299 cells.with significant differences(P<0.05).Apoptosis rate of H322 cells was higher in the the TF group than in the TAX group(P<0.05).There were more necrosis cells in the TF group of H1299 cell line than in the other groups.pERK was up-regulated in the TAX group of H322 cell line.Expression of Survivin was up-regulated In the TAX group of two cells.Expressions of Survivin and pERK were downregulated in the TSA and TF groups of two cell lines. Cleaved PARP was detected in the TAX and the TF groups of H322 cells. and its expression was significantly higher in the the TF group than in the TAX group.Cleaved PARP was not detected in each group of H1299 cells.Conclusions:TSA combined with paclitaxel has a synergistic cytotoxicity effect on lung cancer cell lines H322 and H1299 when the cells were treated with TSA foIlowed by paclitaxel.The mechanism may be that TSA down-regulates the survivin highexpression induced by paclitaxel,and blocks pERK protein expression.

Objective To analyze the CT imaging features of Castleman disease and enhance our knowledge of Castleman disease.Methods Twenty two patients with lymph node biopsy-proved or surgeryproved Castleman disease were retrospectively reviewed in this study.Of the 22 patients,18 had localized lesion and 4 patients had multicentric lesions.Correlation was made between CT and pathologic findings.Results Eighteen patients with localized Castleman disease had the hyaline-vascular type and showed well-circumscribed masses with soft-tissue density [mean CT value,(45 ± 16) HU],punctate or bifurcate calcification and linear low-density areas on non-enhanced CT images.All localized masses showed significant enhancementwith an increase of(56 ± 22)HU on arterial phase and showed residual enhancement and some low-density areas on delayed phase.Enhancing patterns were variable,including homogeneous enhancement,gradual enhancement from the edge to the center of mass and heterogeneous enhancement.Four patients with localized lesion demonstrated enhancing vessels around masses.Four patients with muhicentric CD belonged to the plasma cell type and had multiple enlarged lymph nodes.Plasma cell type masses with homogeneous density also showed enhancement after injection of contrast media but appeared to reveal a less increase of (32 ± 10) HU than the hyaline vascular type.Conclusions The localized Castleman disease showed certain characteristics on CT imaging includingcalcification and contrast enhancing patterns,which could help in the differential diagnosis of this disease.The muhicentric Castleman disease did not reveal any useful imaging features.

Aged ; Coal Mining ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumoconiosis ; complications ; physiopathology ; Tachycardia ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo observe the anti-inflammatory effect of total saponins of Panax japonicus on LPS-induced RAW264. 7 macrophages.

METHODThe effect of total saponins of P. japonicus of different concentrations on RAW264. 7 cell viability was determined with the MTT method. The NO kit assay was adopted to detect the NO release of total saponins of P. japonicus to LPS-induced RAW264. 7 cells. The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 1-beta (IL-1beta). The reverse transeriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to determine the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) ,TNF-alpha,IL-1beta. The protein expression of nuclear transcription factor-kappaB p65 (NF-kappaB p65) was tested by Western blot.

RESULTThe safe medication range of total saponins of P. japonicus was less than 80 mg x L(-1). Compared with the LPS model group, total saponins of P. japonicus high, middle and low dose groups (0.1, 1, 10, 40 mg x L(-1)) could significantly reduce the secretion of NO, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta of LPS-induced RAW264. 7 cells, and inhibit the expressions of iNOS, TNF-alpha and IL-1beta mRNA and the protein expression of NF-kappaB p65.

CONCLUSIONThis study preliminarily proves the protective effect of total saponins of P. japonicus on LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages. Its action mechanism may be related to NF-kappaB signal pathway.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; genetics ; immunology ; Interleukin-1beta ; genetics ; immunology ; Lipopolysaccharides ; adverse effects ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; immunology ; Mice ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; immunology ; Nitric Oxide ; immunology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; genetics ; immunology ; Panax ; chemistry ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Saponins ; pharmacology

Objective: To construct the lentiviral plenti6/V5-D-TOPO vector containing TβR Ⅱ Dnglytk and control vector by developing a lentivirus mediated gene transfer program incorporating a herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase(HSVtk) in the dominant negative TGF-β type Ⅱ receptor (TβR Ⅱ Dnglytk) expression vector. Methods: The PCR methods were used to amplify the genes TβR Ⅱ DN and HSV-tk from the respective plasmids. Then the genes were Linked by recombinant PCR technology to construct the fusion gene TβR Ⅱ Dnglytk and control vector TRANSglytk. According to the operation manual (from the Invitrogen company), ToPe cloning technology were used to construct the plasmids of plenti6/VS-D-TOPO(R)-TβRⅡ Dnglytk and plenti6/VS-D-TOPO -TRANSglytk. Both of the constructed plasmids were verified by sequencing.Results: The constructions of the plasmids of plenti6/V5-D-TOPO(R)-TβR Ⅱ Dnglytk and plenti6/V5-D-TOPO(R)-TRANSglytk were completed smoothly. The DNA sequencing results showed that both the plasmids were constructed correcdy and can be used in the production of infectious lentivirus vectors. Conclusion: Using TOPO cloning technology in the construction of the plasmids of plenti6/VS-D-TOPO -TβR Ⅱ Dnglytk and plenti6/VS-D-TOPO(R)-TRANSglytk and recombinant PCR in the fusion genes are feasible. The recombinant PCR combined with ToPe cloning technology can be the simple, highly efficient and rapid way to construct lentiviral vector and construction of plenti6/V5-D-TOPO(R)-TβR Ⅱ Dnglytk, which will lay a foundation for tumor immunotherapy.

AIM:To investigate the gene expression profile of human lung squamous cell carcinoma in early stage.METHODS:The mRNA was extracted from cancer tissue and normal lung tissue.The mixed probes were labeled and hybridized with chip containing 480 carcinoma related genes,then analyzed by SuperArray Image software to study the gene expression patterns in lung squamous cell carcinoma.RESULTS:192 genes associated with lung squamous cell carcinogenesis were found,which were grouped into transporter,adhesion molecules,cytoskeleton proteins,transcription regulator,genes associated with metabolism and immune response according to functions.127 gens were positive to lung squamous cell carcinogenesis and 65 genes were negative to lung squamous cell carcinogenesis.CONCLUSION:The screen of gene expression profile of human lung squamous cell carcinoma provides valuable information for the research of molecular mechanism of the lung squamous cell carcinogenesis.