OBJECTIVE To assess the superiority of new type bi-level positive airway pressure(Bi-PAP) in treating overlap syndrome. METHODS Sixteen cases diagnosed overlap syndrome were quickly given Bi-PAP treatment simultaneously,where their therapeutic efficacy of antibiotic,relieving spasm,diuresis and respiratory stimulant in advance was not fine.All patients were divided into new type Bi-PAP and old Bi-PAP groups based on the type of machines used. RESULTS Seven of 16 patients receiving new type Bi-PAP got remission through non-invasive mechanical ventilation.Among the other 9 patients receiving old type Bi-PAP,6 got remission through non-invasive mechanical ventilation,3 received invasive mechanical ventilation because of poor response to non-invasive mechanical ventilation. CONCLUSIONS More acute overlap syndrome patients can get remission through new type Bi-PAP without invasive mechanical ventilation and have decreased possibility of getting hospital-acquired pneumonia.

Cardiovascular Diseases ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; blood ; genetics

BACKGROUND:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells can survive under the lethal dose of radiation in response to hematopoietic stem cells, and stil maintain the typical characteristics of stem cells to promote hematopoietic recovery after radiation. However, autophagy is an important mechanism for cellular adaptation under stress, which may be involved in radiation tolerance of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the role of autophagy in human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in response to irradiation. METHODS:Passage 3 bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells cultured in vitro at logarithmic phase were col ected and randomized into control, 3-mehyladenine, rapamycin, irradiation, irradiation+3-mehyladenine and irradiation+rapamycin groups. The autophagy reactions of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were regulated by 5 mmol/L 3-mehyladenine and 200 nmol/L rapamycin for 12 hours in the 3-mehyladenine and rapamycin groups, respectively. Two-hour 6 Gy X-ray irradiation was performed in the irradiation group and two complication groups undergoing 12-hour corresponding drug intervention. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The proportions of cells with autophagic vacuoles and apoptotic cells were higher in the irradiation group than the control group, moreover, autophagic+apoptotic cells were increased in the irradiation group. 3-mehyladenine intervention could decrease the proportion of cells with autophagic vacuoles,and increase the number of apoptotic cells. But there was no difference in the proportion of autophagic+apoptotic cells between the 3-mehyladenine and irradiation groups. After rapamycin intervention, the proportion of autophagic cells was higher than that in the irradiation group, but no difference in the proportion of apoptotic cells between the two grups, as wel as there were no autophagic+apoptotic cells. The expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-II was ranked as fol ows:the control and 3-mehyladenine groups

Objective: To investigate the rate of depression among Beijing residents aged 55 or above. Methods: 2660 Beijing residents aged 55 or above in a cohort study of year 2000 were followed and screened with CES-D. Demographic data, information of health status and activity of daily living were also collected. Results: The rate of depression in this cohort was 13.5% (360/2660), the rate of men was 9.6%, that of women was 17.4%, women had significantly higher rate than men. The rate of depression of residents in rural area was much higher than that of urban area (20.9% vs. 7.4%), the illiterate resident had higher rate of depression than those with at least primary education (20% vs. 8.7%). Residents above 75 or below that had no difference in rate of depression. Depression had close relation with poor health status and disability in activity of daily living. Conclusion:The rate of depression is higher in women and in residents of rural area or in those illiterate. Depression is closely related to poor health status and disability in daily living.

Background and Objective To investigate the effects of simvastatin on lipid lowering therapy and platelet activation in elderly patients with hypercholesterolemia. Methods Fasting serum lipids, CD63, CD41a, serum glucose, hepatic and renal function, routine urine analysis (UA) were measured in 50 healthy subjects, and in 50 elderly patients with hypercholesterolemia before and after 4 weeks treatment with simvastatin (20mg daily for 4 weeks). Results 1. After simvastatin treatment for 4 weeks, the fasting serum level of lipids in elderly patients with hypercholesterolemia was significantly lower than before treatment (P＜0.01). 2. CD63 and CD41a were decreased after treatment compared with before, respectively (1.36 0.34) vs (4.26 1.06), (P＜0.01) and (123.54 19.73) vs (253.78 16.75), (P＜0.01).3. Changes in serum lipid level tended to be positively correlated with the declines in CD63 and CD41a, but there was no statistical significance (P＞0.05). Conclusions The results suggested that lipid lowering therapy with simvastatin inhibit platelet activity.

A single factor duplicate test was designed to investigate whether bovine recombinded resistin impacts the expression of pyruvate carboxylase (PC) mRNA and the activity of PC in vitro culture bovine hepatocyte.Bovine recombinded resistin was added to the media with 0,25,50,100,200 and 400 ng/L.Abundance of PC mRNA in bovine hepatocyte,which was cultured with bovine recombinded resistin for 12 hours,was determined by real-time fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR,and activity of PC was determined by colourimetry.The results showed that bovine recombinded resistin could downregulate the expression of PC mRNA and the activity of PC in vitro culture bovine hepatocyte.

Objective By studying the acute brucellosis patients' blood culture and the bacteria strains,we tried to confirm the bacteria strains,and to further explore the symptoms and the results of the treatment.Methods Totally 122 acute brucellosis patients were selected,who were in hospital in Heilongjiang Provincial Nongken General Hospital from 2012 to 2013.The patients aged 6-73 years old,whose average age was 36.5(including 83 males and 39 females).All of the subjects were detected in the aspects of blood culture and brucellosis serology,all of whom were treated with aminoglycoside,4-quinolones and cephalosporins.Results All the subjects were Brucella melitensis biovar,of which 104 were Brucella melitensis biovar 3,18 were Brucella melitensis biovar 1.All of them had positive results in rose bengal plate agglutination test (RBPT).In serum tube agglutination test (SAT),the valence of Brucella melitensis biovar 1 and 3 were uniformly distributed,Brucella melitensis biovar 1 was distributed mainly in 1∶800 valence zone,Brucella melitensis biovar 3 was distributed mainly in 1∶400 valence zone.The distribution trends in Coombs test and complement fixation test (CFT) were similar.In Coombs they were distributed mainly in 1∶800 valence zone,and in CFT were distributed mainly in 1∶40 zone.All of the subjects had typical symptoms of brucellosis,and had various kinds of complications (spondylitis,toxipathic hepatitis,et al).Totally 112 of them were recovered,and 10 were improved.Conclusion The human brucellosis in Heilongjiang Province is caused by Brucella melitensis biovar 1 and 3,with severe symptoms and various kinds of complications,earlier diagnose and treatment will have a better effect.

BACKGROUND:Mitochondrial calcium uptake 1 (MICU1) is one of the important molecules to maintain the mitochondrial calcium homeostasis. The regulation of MICU1 to mitochondrial calcium homeostasis may play an important role in diabetic cardiomyopathy, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear.
OBJECTIVE:To construct a lentiviral vector carrying MICU1 gene to transfect H9C2 cel s, and then to assess MICU1 level in H9C2 cel s thereby establishing a platform for researching the occurrence and development of diabetic cardiomyopathy at a cel ular level.
METHODS:DNA fragments of MICU1 were amplified by PCR, cleaved with Spe I, EcoR I and cloned into the lentiviral vector pRRLsin.CMV.eGFP to construct pRRLsin.CMV.MICU1-eGFP vector. 293T cel s were co-transfected with recombined pCMVDR8.91 and pCMV-VSVG to produce pRRLsin.CMV.MICU1-eGFP lentiviral viruses, and then used to infect H9C2 cel s. mRNA and protein expressions of MICU1 in the transfected H9C2 cel s were evaluated by real-time PCR and western blot assay. Mitochondrial calcium level in Rhod-2-stained H9C2 cel s was tested under confocal microscope.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The recombinant inducible lentiviral vector containing MICU1 gene was successful y constructed. 293T could express green fluorescent protein with increased MICU1 level after pRRLsin.CMV.MICU1-eGFP transfection. The mRNA and protein expressions of MICU1 in the infected H9C2 group were obviously up-regulated compared with the other groups. MICU1 could remarkably improve the mitochondrial calcium level under Rhod-2 staining. These results show that pRRLsin.CMV.MICU1-eGFP lentiviral viruses are efficient to transfect H9C2 cel s, which wil be powered to lay a foundation for the immortalized cel line establishment.

BACKGROUND: Homocysteine(HCY) is emerging as an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis. Its damage to the structure and function of endothelial cell(EC) is seemingly an important mechanism that leads to atherosclerosis.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of HCY on fibrinolysis in elderly patients with coronary heart disease(CHD).DESIGN: A case-controlled study based on CHD patients and normal people as control group.SETTING: Department of general internal medicine and department of cardiology in a university hospital.PARTICIPANTS: The study was completed in the Department of Gerontology Internal Medicine and Department of Cardiology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital University of Medical Science. Altogether 177 inpatients and outpatients from this hospital during December 2001 to August 2003 were selected and divided into three groups according to the results of coronary angiography(CAG): CHD group( n = 91 ) with 50 males and 41 females with the mean age of(66 ± 6) years, negative CAG group( n = 86) with 43 males and 43 females with the mean age of(60 ± 6) years, and normal control group( n = 85) with 43 healthy males and 42 healthy females with the mean age of(55± 5) years.METHODS: Peripheral blood samples were collected. ELISA double antibody method was applied to test tissue-type plasminogen activator(t-PA), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and yon Willebrand factor(vWF). HCY was assayed with EIA method and the ratio of PAI-1 to t-PA was calculated.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: HCY level, t-PA, PAI-1 and vWF activities, and the ratio of PAI-1 to t-PA.RESULTS: The levels of HCY, PAI-1, PAI-1/t-PA and vWF in CHD group were significantly higher than those in negative CAG group and normal control group( P ＜ 0.01 ); however, the level of t-PA was significantly lower than that in control group( P ＜ 0. 01) . HCY was positively correlated with PAI-1,PAI-1 / t-PA and vWF, while it was negatively correlated with t-PA.CONCLUSION: The increase of serum HCY is accompanied with fibrinolytic dysfunction. HCY is positively correlated with PAI-1 and vWF but negatively correlated with t-PA. Therefore, HCY is a predictor for early coronary lesions,and can provide related laboratory data for the primary prevention and early treatment of CHD.

Objective To investigate the molecular mechanisms of cross-resistance to azoles in a clinical isolate of Aspergillus fumigatus. Methods A. fumigatus was isolated from a patient with invasive aspergillosis.Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute M38-A2 broth microdilution method and E-test method were used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) or minimum effective concentration (MEC) of itraconazole, voriconazole, amphotericin B, posaconazole and caspofungin for the A. fumigatus isolate. DNA was extracted from the isolate and subjected to the amplification of cyp51A gene encoding the target enzyme of azole antifungal agents followed by sequence analysis. Results The broth microdilution test showed that the MEC of caspofungin was 0.5 mg/L, and MICs of itraconazole, voriconazole and amphotericin B were ≥ 16 mg/L,8 mg/L and 1 mg/L, respectively, for this isolate; while E-test assay revealed that the MICs of caspofungin,itraconazole, voriconazole, amphotericin B and posaconazole were 0.047 mg/L, ≥32 mg/L,≥32 mg/L, 12 mg/L and ≥32 mg/L, respectively. Sequence analysis showed an insertion of a 34-bp tandem sequence in the promoter region of the cyp51A gene as well as a T364A point mutation causing the substitution of leucine 98 (L98H). In addition, there were some other mutations in the cyp51A gene of this isolate, such as A137T,G585A, C814A, G836C, T991C and A1350G, which could result in corresponding amino acid substitutions.Conclusions An A. fumigatus strain with cross-resistance to azole antifungal agents is isolated. There is an insertion of a 34-bp tandem sequence into the promoter region as well as a T364A point mutation in the cyp51A gene, which contribute to the cross resistance to azole antifungal agents including itraconazole, voriconazole,and posaconazole. In addition, other mutations causing amino acid substitutions have also been detected in the cyp51 A gene of this isolate.