ObjectiveTo study the effects of group BStreptococcus (GBS) colonization in late pregnancies on neonatal GBS infection.MethodsA total of 17 019 pregnant women who received antenatal care and delivered in Xiamen Maternal and Child Care Hospital from June 1, 2014 to May 31, 2015 were enrolled in this study. Secretions from the lower third of the vagina in the pregnant women at 35-37 weeks of gestation or having premature baby(regardless of gestational age) were obtained to test GBS by standard bacterial culture, and 1 472 cases underwent GBS DNA test by real-time fluorescent quantitative-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) meanwhile. The pregnant women colonized with GBS (GBS culture and/or PCR DNA test positive) were given intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) during parturition or rupture of fetal membranes. Detection rate of the two methods was compared, and the effects of GBS colonization and IAP on neonatal GBS infection were analyzed to identify the risk factors of neonatal early-onset GBS disease (GBS-EOD). Two independent samplest-test,Chi-square test and Logistic regression analysis were used for statistical analysis. ResultsThe detection rate of GBS culture and PCR DNA test was 14.43% (2 456/17 019) and 14.13%(288/1 472), respectively. The total colonization rate was 14.52%(2 472/17 019). Based on the culture results as golden criteria, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of PCR assay were 95.05%, 98.74%, 92.31% and 99.21%, respectively. There were 17 332 deliveries from the 17 019 pregnant women, of which 31 cases had GBS-EOD. The incidence of neonatal GBS-EOD in maternal GBS colonization [1.05%(26/2 472)] was 31 times higher than in pregnant women without GBS colonization [0.34‰(5/14 547)]. Among the 31 infants with GBS-EOD, 24 had pneumonia, five had sepsis, and two had meningitis. The case fatality rate was 6.45%(2/31). Logistic regression analysis found that chorioamnionitis was an independent risk factor of neonatal GBS-EOD (OR=40.425, 95%CI: 7.514-379.782,P=0.000). Compared with the non-IAP group,IAP group had a lower incidence of GBS-EOD among the pregnant women colonized with GBS [0.94%(23/2 443) vs 10.34%(3/29),χ2=24.350,P<0.01].ConclusionsGBS colonization in late pregnant women has adverse effects. Therefore, routine maternal rectovaginal culture of GBS may be necessary and IAP should be applied in those with GBS colonization.

OBJECTIVETo develop an objective bioassay for quantitative detection of HIV-induced cell-cell fusion for screening HIV entry inhibitors.

METHODSHL2/3 cells expressing HIV envelope proteins gp120/gp41, Tat, and other HIV proteins were co-cultured with HeLa-CD4-LTR-beta-gal cells expressing CD4 receptor and HIV LTR triggered reporter gene beta-galactosidase. The enzyme activities of beta-galactosidase were detected by a chromogenic substrate, chlorophenol red-beta-galactopyranoside (CPRG). Specific HIV entry inhibitors were used to validate the established detecting method.

RESULTSNo syncytium was formed by mixing HL2/3 and HeLa-CD4-LTR-beta-gal cells. However, the membrane could be fused and the Tat expressed by HL2/3 cells could bind to HIV LTR on HeLa-CD4-LTR-beta-gal cells and trigger the expression of beta-galactosidase. CPRG allowed quantitative and sensitive detection of the activity of beta-galactosidase. Further studies showed that HIV entry inhibitors could inhibit the activity of beta-galactosidase in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONWe have developed a simple, cheap, objective and quantitative non-infectious cell-cell fusion bioassay that can be used to screen for anti-HIV agents targeting the virus entry from natural and synthetic compound libraries.

Biological Assay ; Cell Fusion ; Cell Line ; Coculture Techniques ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; methods ; HIV Envelope Protein gp120 ; metabolism ; HIV Envelope Protein gp41 ; metabolism ; HIV Fusion Inhibitors ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; beta-Galactosidase ; metabolism

Objective To evaluate the effect of antiplatelet drugs and ischemic-events-free duration by thromboelastography (TEG) in patients undergoing peripheral endovascular treatment.Methods From Mar 2015 to Oct 2016,38 patients undergoing initial successful peripheral stenting and then coming back for recurrent ischemic events.TEG was used to evaluate the platelet inhibition rate induced by arachidonic acid (AA％) approach,the platelet inhibition rate induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP％) approach,and the ADP-induced platelet-fibrin clot strength (MAADP).Clinical feature differences between patients with MAADP ＞ 47 mm and MAADP ≤ 47 mm were compared.Results AA％ less than 50％ was found in 9 patients(23.9％),and ADP％ less than 30％ in 14 patients(36.8％).5 patients met the two conditions.Patients with MAADp ＞ 47 mm had a significantly lower ADP％ (x2 =10.755,P ＜ 0.001),compared to patients with MAADP ≤47 mm.Univariate survival analysis showed ADP％ ＜ 30％ and MAADP ＞47 mm were risk factors for getting shorter ischemic-events-free duration,compared to patients with ADP％ ≥ 30 (P ＜ 0.001),with MAADP ≤47 mm (x2 =4.408,P =0.036).Conclusions TEG may detect those patients who has a low response to antiplatelet drugs,and some TEG parameters may have a ischemic predictive value.

OBJECTIVESTo determine the possible relationship between plasma potassium concentration and severity of acute trimethyltin chloride (TMT) poisoning and to assess the mechanism of TMT induced hypokalemia.

METHODSSD rats were treated with various dosages of TMT (i.p.). All the indices were measured and analysed for determining their possible relations with plasma K+.

RESULTSWith increase of dosage, the plasma K+ level dropped rapidly, and deaths appeared more quickly. The LD50 of TMT (i.p.) was 14.7 mg/kgbw. In the low dosage group (10 mg/kgbw), the plasma K+ level dropped slowly with the lowest dosage on day 6 (4.85 mmol/L). It rose again on day 11 (5.06 mmol/L), and recovered on day 28. The poisoning signs corresponded with decline of the span of K+ level. The plasma Na+ level dropped half an hour after TMT treatment, but recovered 24 h later. In the high dosage group (46.4 mg/kgbw), the levels of plasma K+ and Na+ fell rapidly within half an hour (P < 0.05), the intracellular potassium concentration of RBC did not decrease obviously (P > 0.05), the activities of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and Mg(2+)-ATPase in RBC membrane were depressed remarkably (P < 0.01, P < 0.05, respectively), the plasma aldosterone concentrations rose as high as tenfold (P < 0.01), the arterial blood pH fell from 7.434 to 7.258 (P < 0.01), pCO2 was raised from 29.62 to 45.33 mmHg (P < 0.01). In the 24 h urine test, when rats were treated with TMT (21.5 mg/kgbw, i.p.), urine volume, urinary potassium, sodium and chloride increased significantly in comparison with those in the controls (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONTMT could induce hypokalemia in SD rats. The available evidence suggests that TMT can induce acute renal leakage of potassium. At the same time, a significant rise of plasma aldosterone may play an important role in promoting potassium leakage from kidney to result in severe hypokalemia with inhaling acid-base abnormalities produced, which aggravate the poisoning symptoms. In the end the rats would die of respiratory failure.

Animals ; Female ; Hypokalemia ; chemically induced ; veterinary ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Kidney Diseases ; chemically induced ; veterinary ; Lethal Dose 50 ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Severity of Illness Index ; Trimethyltin Compounds ; pharmacology ; poisoning

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibitory activities of caffeoyl glucopyranoses purified from Balanophora japonica Makino on HIV entry and their mechanism.

METHODSHIV-1 Env pseudovirus was used to evaluate the anti-HIV-1 activity of those compounds. ELISA and molecular docking were used to study the mechanism of the actions of the active compounds.

RESULTSWe used the HIV-1 Env pseudovirus to test the anti-HIV-1 activity of the six phenolic compounds (final concentration 25 microg/ml), and found that only 1,2,6-Tri-O-caffeoyl-beta-D-glucopyranose (TCGP) and 1,3-Di-O-caffeoyl-4-O-galloyl-beta-D- glucopyranose (DCGGP) could effectively inhibit the entry of HIV-1 Env pseudovirus into the target cells in a dose-dependent manner, with IC(50) values of 5.5-/+0.2 and 5.3-/+0.1 microg/ml, respectively. These two compounds could also blocked the gp41 six-helix bundle formation. Molecular docking analysis suggested that they might bind to the hydrophobic cavity of the gp41 N-trimeric coiled-coil.

CONCLUSIONTCGP and DCGGP are potent HIV-1 entry inhibitors targeting gp41 and can serve as lead compounds for developing novel anti-HIV-1 microbicides for prevention of sexual HIV-1 transmission.

Anti-HIV Agents ; pharmacology ; Balanophoraceae ; chemistry ; Cell Line ; Gallic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Glucose ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; HIV-1 ; drug effects ; Humans ; Hydrolyzable Tannins ; pharmacology ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate polymorphisms and forensic efficiency of 22 non-binary single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci.

METHODSOne hundred ethnic Han Chinese individuals were recruited from Dongguan, Guangdong. The 22 loci were genotyped with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS).

RESULTSNine loci were found with a single allele, 4 loci were found to be biallelic, whilst 9 loci were found to have 3 alleles. For 13 polymorphic loci, the combined discrimination power and power of exclusion were 0.999 98 and 0.9330, respectively. For the 9 non-biallelic loci, the combined discrimination power and power of exclusion were 0.9998 and 0.8956, respectively. For motherless cases, the combined power of exclusion was 0.6405 for 13 polymorphic SNPs and 0.6405 for 9 non-binary SNPs.

CONCLUSIONNon-binary loci have a greater discrimination power and exclusion power per SNP.

Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Load ; Genetics, Population ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Cedemex on cAMP and cGMP contents in different brain regions in morphine withdrawal rats precipitated by naloxone.

METHODA physical morphine dependent model of rats was established by subcutaneous injection of morphine in gradually increasing dosage within 7 days. cAMP and cGMP contents of VTA, cortex and hippocampus of the rat brains were determined by radioimmunoassay.

RESULTThe morphine withdrawal symptoms of rats were relieved significantly by ig Cedemex. Compared with the controls, cAMP content in the region of VTA, cortex and hippocampus of the morphine dependent rats were significantly higher (P < 0.05), while cGMP contents in those regions were significantly lower (P < 0.05). cAMP contents in the area of VTA, cortex and hippocampus of the morphine dependent rats were significantly reduced, while cGMP contents were significantly increased by ig Cedemex.

CONCLUSIONCedemex may significantly attenuate the morphine withdrawal symptoms in rats. The mechanism of this effect may be related to adjusting the contents of cAMP and cGMP in some brain regions.

Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cerebral Cortex ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Cyclic AMP ; metabolism ; Cyclic GMP ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Morphine ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the activity, protein and gene expression of renal HK-ATPase (HKA) in rats subchronic exposed to trimethyltin chloride (TMT).

METHODSIn subchronic toxic test (14-week), 55 female SD rats (age, 6 weeks) were divided randomly into 5 groups: control, low, medium, high and super high dosage, respectively, which drank water with TMT of 0, 8.20, 32.81, 131.25 and 262.50 microg x kg(-1) x d(-1) for 14 weeks. Then serum K+ levels were measured; the activities of HK-ATPase (HKA) in kidneys were detected by the method of determinated phosphorus content; Western Blot assay and real-time PCR were used to exam the protein and mRNA expression levels of HKA in kidneys, respectively.

RESULTSThe serum K+ level in super-high dosage group was (5.6 +/- 0.4) mmol/L, which was significantly lower than that [(6.9 +/- 0.3) mmol/L] in control group (P < 0.01). The HKA enzymatic activity of kidneys in low and super high dosage groups was 4.50 +/- 1.45 and 4.55 +/- 0.72 micromolPi x mg prot(-1)h(-1), respectively, which were significantly lower than that (6.55 +/- 0.77 micromol Pi x mg prot(-1) h(-1)) in control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONWhen rats were exposed subchronic to TMT, the renal HKA activity could reduce, but the expression levels of HKA protein and mRNA did not decrease.

Animals ; Female ; Gene Expression ; H(+)-K(+)-Exchanging ATPase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Toxicity Tests, Subchronic ; Trimethyltin Compounds ; toxicity

OBJECTIVETo discuss the operation skills and evaluate the effects of open total extraperitoneal herniorrhaphy for inguinal hernia via a ventral midline incision.

METHODSFrom June 2008 to December 2009, 106 patients with inguinal hernia received open total extraperitoneal herniorrhaphy via a ventral midline incision, the clinical data were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSOf the patients, 86 cases were male, 20 were female, the mean age was 60.2 years (range, 21 - 86 years). The mean operation time was (32.6 ± 10.5) minutes. The postoperative hospital stay was (2.3 ± 0.7) days. Intra-operative peritoneal perforation occurred in 2 cases. Four cases experienced urine retention and seroma happened in 2 cases, 6 cases suffered early surgical-site pain, and all of the complications were cured with conservative treatment. Three cases developed scrotal hydrocele. No neuralgia or incisional infection occurred in this group. During a 3- to 22-months follow-up period (mean, 10.2 months), no patient complained of discomfort or foreign body sensation in the inguinal area. Two cases recurred 2 and 11 months after the surgery, respectively; the recurrence rate was 1.9%, the two patients healed after reoperation.

CONCLUSIONSOpen total extraperitoneal herniorrhaphy operation via a ventral midline incision is a safe, effective and convenient technique for inguinal hernia with few postoperative complications. This method is worth popularizing.

Abdomen ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hernia, Inguinal ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the normal range of (CAG)n in spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) gene and spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3/MJD) gene in 110 normal subjects of Han population in Northeastern China, to assess the genotypes for clinically diagnosed spinocerebellar ataxia(SCA) individuals including 25 patients from 8 families and 6 sporadic patients, and to make presymptomatic and prenatal diagnosis.

METHODSDNA fragments from the normal subjects and the patients were detected by fluorescence-PCR. Homozygosities were selected for DNA sequencing.

RESULTSThe normal ranges of (CAG)n of SCA1 and SCA3/MJD were 20-39 and 14-38 repeats respectively, SCA1 was found mostly to be 26 and 27 repeats, allele frequency 34.09% and 20.91%; heterozygosity was 84.55%, SCA3/MJD was found mostly to be 14 repeats, allele frequency 39.55%, heterozygosity was 78.18%.(CAG)(68) of SCA3/MJD gene of one affected individual had been found in a family but no CAG mutative expansion in related members was observed.

CONCLUSIONThe normal ranges of CAG repeats vary with areas and races. SCAs genotyping is the first choice in presymptomatic and prenatal diagnosis.

Ataxin-1 ; Ataxin-3 ; Ataxins ; China ; DNA ; chemistry ; genetics ; Family Health ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Machado-Joseph Disease ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Male ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; genetics ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; Pedigree ; Repressor Proteins ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spinocerebellar Ataxias ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion ; genetics ; Trinucleotide Repeats ; genetics