Bacterial biofilm is responsible for a wide variety of nosocomial infections.Many chronic infectious diseases are closely correlated with biofilm formation in the clinic.As the biofilm growth,bacterial clusters detachment and dispersal from mature mixed-species biofilms will result in repeated acute infections.Here reviews three distinct biofilm dispersal strategies: swarming dispersal,clumping dispersal and surface dispersal.Many factors,such as heredity and increased fluid shear in the environment,contribute to this complex and dynamic process.Fundamental investigation upon biofilm will benefit clinical therapy of biofilm-associated infections.

Cardiac Catheterization ; methods ; Female ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; etiology ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Wounds and Injuries ; complications

OBJECTIVETo improve the method for monitoring sleep state and respiratory rhythm of SD rats, providing a solution for rats' chewing on the wires, signal loss and instability problems in the animal model of sleep apnea syndrome (SAS).

METHODSWe improved monitoring electrodes of both electrocorticogram (ECoG) and electromyogram (EMG), signal circuit and animal operation.

RESULTSOperation time was shortened and wound exposure time was reduced, which made it easier for postoperative recovery. The ECoG and EMG signals were more stable with sharp image, and signal circuit lines had better conductivity and material durability, achieving continuous monitoring for a long time and high success rate. We could precisely distinguish the sleep wake state and the sleep apnea events in rats according to these signals.

CONCLUSIONThe improved method is more reliable and practical to test the small animal model of SAS, and is more easily to operate and the signals are more stable.

Animals ; Electroencephalography ; methods ; Electromyography ; methods ; Models, Animal ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; methods ; Rats ; Respiration ; Sleep ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; diagnosis

To investigate the metabolic rate and metabolites of 9-dehydro-17-dehydro-andrographolide, which is the main active ingredient in Xiyanping injection, by using the in vitro rat liver microsome incubation system. 9-dehydro-17-dehydro-andrographolide was incubated together with liver microsome mixed with NADPH. Its metabolic rate was studied by determining its residual concentrations with the UHPLC-MS/MS method; Its metabolites were identified by the UPLC-TOF-MS(E) method. The results showed that 9-dehydro-17-dehydro-andrographolide was metabolized faster than rat liver microsomes mixed with coenzymes, with t½ and CL of (19.7 ± 0.5) min and (35.1 ± 0.8) mL x min(-1) x g(-1) (protein), respectively. Based on the high resolution mass spectrum data and information from literatures, altogether nine metabolites of 9-dehydro-17-dehydro-andrographolide were identified in the incubation system, particularly hydroxylated and dehydrogenized products. The results of identification would provide a basis for screening out more active andrographolide derivatives.
Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Diterpenes ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Microsomes, Liver ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Molecular Structure ; Rats ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Objective To detect the expression level of aquaporin 8 (AQP8) in patients with functional constipation(FC) or constipated irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C),and the correlation between the expression of AQP8 and clinical features.Methods From March to December 2014,a total of 16 patients with IBS-C and 19 patients with FC met Rome Ⅲ criteria were collected,and nine healthy individuals were assigned to control group at the same period.The ascending and decending colonic tissues mucosa of FC,IBS-C and control group were taken under endoscope.The expression of AQP8 at mRNA and protein level was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC).The differences in AQP8 mRNA expression and AQP8 relative area were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis test among groups,and Pearson correlation coefficient was performed for correlation analysis between the expression and clinical features.Results The relative expressions of AQP8 mRNA of ascending colon and descending colon of FC patients (1.38,0.61 to 4.09;2.65,0.82 to 7.52) and IBS-C patients (2.23,0.82 to 4.67;1.35,0.51 to 2.03) were higher than those of control group (0.56,0.19 to 0.97;0.38,0.21 to 1.19),and the differences were statistically significant (ZFc =-2.435,-3.149,ZIBS-C =-2.690,-2.152;all P＜0.05).AQP8 mRNA expression of descending colon in patients with FC was higher than that of patients with IBS-C,and the difference was statistically significant (Z =-2.003,P =0.045).The expression of AQP8 in patients with FC and IBS-C was positively correlated with disease course (ascending colon r=0.57 and 0.53;descending colon r=0.49 and 0.54,all P＜0.05),and was negatively correlated with frequency of defecation (ascending colon r=-0.82 and-0.61;descending colon r=-0.49 and-0.53,all P＜0.05).There was no correlation between the expression of AQP8 and age,gender,onset age,presence of abdominal symptoms of the patients (all P＞ 0.05).Most of AQP8 of FC group was expressed in cytoplasm of colonic mucosa epithelial cells,while that of IBS-C group and control group was mostly expressed at apical membrane and basal membrane of epithelial cells.The results of semi-quantification demonstrated that AQP8 relative area of descending colon of FC and IBS-C group increased compared with that of control group (3.42％ (1.24％ to 5.61％),2.45％(1.72％ to 4.27％) vs 1.18％ (0.35％ to 2.81％);Z=-2.534,-2.151,both P＜0.05).Meanwhile,AQP8 relative area of ascending colon of FC group increased compared with that of control group (2.46％(1.48％ to 4.18％) vs 1.14％(1.29％ to 2.15％) Z=-2.041,P＜0.05).Conclusion There are differences in AQP8 expression quantity and location in cells of descending colon between patients with FC and patients with IBS-C,which is a way for differentiation these two diseases.

Objective To explore the effects of ethyl pyruvate (EP) on high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) expression in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) rats.Methods Ninety male wistar rats were divided randomly into three groups: Group A (SAP group); group B (SAP rats received ethyl pyruvate therapy); group C (control group). Specimens from rats in the three groups were taken at 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after operation respectively. The concentration of plasma amylase and D-lactate the activity of malonyl dialdehyde (MAD) in the intestinal tissue were determined. The changes of morphological damage of intestinal tissue was observed by microscopy. The expression of HMGB1 in intestinal mucosa was observed by SP immunohistochemistry and the activity of HMGB1 was determined by western blot.Results Compared with group A, Ievels of plasma amylase, and D-lactate in group B decreased markedly (P

Objective To evaluate the clinical application of automated urine formed elements analyzer and/or urine dipstick analyzer for examination of urinary formed elements in screening urinary tract infection (UTI). Methods 148 fresh midstream clear-catch urine samples from the UTI patients and 284 fresh midstream clear-catch urine samples from non-UTI subjects were selected. Bacteria culture was performed for bacterial colony counting and identification. Bacteria counts ( BACT), yeast-like fungus and WBC were performed by UF-looOi automated urine formed elements analyzer. Leukocyte esterase test (LEU) and nitrite test (NIT) were performed by URISYS 2400 urine dipstick analyzer. We evaluated data obtained from urine dipstick analyzer, UF-1000i and combination of UF-1000i with urine dipstick analyzer and the results was compared with those obtained from quantitative bacterial culture. Then we evaluated the sensibility, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and accuracy. Results Among the 148 patients with UTI, the positive rate of the quantitative bacterial culture was 73.6% (109/148), the positive rate of LEU and NIT detected by dipstick test 26. 4% (39/148).There was significantly statistical difference between bacterial culture and strip test(χ2 = 55.68 ,P < 0. 05 ). The positive rate of urine flow cytometry by UF-1000i with either positive of BACT and WBC was 91.2%(135/148), which was higher than the positive rate of the quantitative bacterial culture. There was significant difference between two methods (χ2 = 14. 70, P < 0. 05 ). The positive rate of anyone positive among BACT, WBC, LEU and NIT was 94. 6% (140/148) when detected with combination of dipstick test and UF-1000i, which was higher than the positive rate of the quantitative bacterial culture. And there was significant difference between two methods (χ2 = 20. 45, P < 0. 05 ). The sensitivity of dipstick test was low (26. 4% ,39/148 ), and specificity was high ( 99. 3%, 282/284 ) . The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value of BACT detected by UF-1000i in diagnosing urinary tract infection were 92. 6% ( 137/148 ), 39. 8% ( 113/284 ). 44. 5% ( 137/308 ) and 91.1% ( 113/124 ), respectively. If the dipstick test was combined with UF-1000i, the sensitivity, negative predictive value, specificity, positive predictive value and accuracy were 98.0% ( 145/148 ), 97.1% ( 100/103 ). 35.2% (100/284) ,44. 1% (145/329) and 56. 7% (245/432), respectively. Conclusions The combination of urine dipstick test and automated urine formed elements analyzer UF-1000i plays an important role in early diagnosis of UTI. And it has significant value in diagnosis of UTI, especially for the patients with negative bacterial cultures of urine sample.

Objective To discuss the clinical outcome of the modified super large dorsal metacarpal artery flap in reconstruction of circumferential fingertip avulsion. Methods Twenty-four patients with circumferential fingertip avulsion were treated by the modified super large dorsal metacarpal artery flap from January 2004 to August 2008. There were six index fingers, 11 middle fingers, five ring fingers and two little fingers with surface defects beyond the distal interphalangeal joint and the distal degloving length ranged from 0.8 cm to 3.1 cm. Emergency operation was performed on 22 fingers and stage Ⅱ surgery was done for distal skin necrosis of two fingers. Results Twenty-one patients with 21 fingers were followed up for 6-28 months, which showed that all flaps survived, with satisfactory appearance and function, and that the point discrimination of flap was for 6-9 mm ( average 7.6 mm). Conclusion Modified super large dorsal metacarpal artery flap is an ideal method for reconstruction of the circumferential fingertip avulsion with advantages of easiness, convenience and short treatment period.

Objective To analyze the manifestation,reason,the processing method of the steel wire implantation with the sereotactic mammography to improve the accuracy of the preoperative positioning.Methods Seventy-nine cases which got the stereotactic steel wire implantation.In 96 lesions, 13 had steel wire displacement.Among them,5 cases got steel wire displacement during the sereotactic process,5 cases got steel wire displacement after the stereotactic process,2 cases got steel wire displacement during the operation,one case did not show the calcification on the postoperative radiography.Results The steel wire displacement occurred in 5 cases during the stereotactic process came from the patients and doctors respectively and the repositioning was needed.The steel wire displacement after the stereoscopic positioning was attributed to the overdose injection of local anesthesia,which led to the mismatch between the depth of Z axis of the mammary gland and the actual depth the computer given,the incorrect method for needle placement,and,neglecting whether the steel wire have got the lesion anchored when pulling out the needle set of steel wire hood,besides,these three kinds of instances above were all exaggerated by the accordion effect.For the displacement within 2 cm,the lesion can be excised toward the pathological change direction according to the position that steel wire prompted and re-place the second steel wire,putting the J-shaped steel wire into the needle hood and taking it out of the body.After repositioning,2 cases had the steel wire prolapse during operation,which resulted from the over-lifting of the steel wire.After placing the steel wire, the radiologist should give an accurate description on the depth and direction to the surgeon and the notch should be taken for incision from the steel wire head end which is proximate to skin.The postoperative specimen from one case had no calcification,which might be related to the condition that the calcification was located in the gland body,which got destruction from the surgical electrical electrotome.The excisionscope should be extended and the short term reexamination is recommended to make sure the complete excision of the calcification.Conclusion It is the gold standard method that implanting the steel wire with the stereotactic mammography to guide the surgical dissecting technique to diagnose non-palpable breast lesion(NPBL).Thorough understanding of the displacement manifestation of implanting steel wire with stereotactic technique and the treatment methods will be helpful in the surgical dissecting guidance.

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effects of needle-pricking therapy, a newly medical and minimally invasive technique, for functional retrograde ejaculation and to explore its mechanism. Methods Thirty-six patients with functional retrograde ejaculation were randomly divided into an observation group(19 cases) and a control group(17 cases) In the observation group,needle-pricking therapy was used at Guanyuan(CV 4) and bilateral sacral plexus nerve,lumbar 1 nerve and greater occipital nerve stimulating points,once a week. In the control group, midodrine tablets were prescribed orally,three times a day. All the treatment was given for 9 weeks. The clinical effects of the two groups were observed, and the levels of luteinizing hormone(LH), testosterone(Tes) and estra4 diol(E2) were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate of the observation group was, 89. 47%(17/19), which was better than 47.06% (8/17) of the control group(P<0. 05). The LH and Tes were obviously increased and E2 was decreased compared with those before treatment in the observation group(all P< 0. 01). Tes was raised(P<0. 05) and E2 was apparently declined in the control group(P<0. 01). After treatment, the differences of serum LH and Tes were statistically significant between the two groups(both P<0. 01).

CONCLUSIONNeedle-pricking therapy has advantages for functional retrograde ejaculation probably in that stimulating lumbosacral nerves can strengthen the function of pelvic floor muscles and urethral expansion muscle and regulate sexual gland axis.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Ejaculation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Needles ; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome