Objective To study the structure of class 1 integrons in 90 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated during two periods of 1992-1996 and 2003-2005,and to get information about the structure changing of class 1 integrons by comparing their structures in two different periods.Methods Routine PCR and long PCR were performed to amplify the class 1 integrons and the gene cassettes they carried, followed with sequencing and blast via GenBank.Results Thirteen out of 41 strians ioslated during the period of 1992-1996 were positive on class 1 intergrons.Long PCR showed that the class 1 integron was 1868 bp in length and contained 2 resistance genes averagely.Six types of resistance genes of qacEA1 (n=6), sull (n=14),aadA1 (n=2),aadB (n=1),PSE-1 (n=2) and tetA (n=1) were found in these integrons, which consisted of 5 patterns of resistance cassette arrangements.Nineteen strains were proved to carry class 1 integrons in 49 isolates from 2003-2005.The mean DNA sequence length of them was 3383 bp with 3.6 resistant genes in averagely,10 types of resistance genes,qacEA1 (n=18),sull (n=25),aadA1 (n=6), aadB (n=7),aacA4 (n=2),PSE-1 (n=3),VEB-1 (n=4),OXA10 (n=1),cm1 A (n=1) and tetA (n =2),were identified in these integrons,which were composed of 9 patterns of resistance cassette arrangements.Conclusion In terms of produce length and resistance cassettes carried in the integrons, greater complexity is found in the structure of class 1 integrons in strains isolated during 2003-2005 than those during 1992-1996.

OBJECTIVETo study the dynamic changes in plasma D-dimer and its prognostic value in children with severe hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD).

METHODSA total of 95 children who suffered from HFMD between May 2010 and September 2012, including 65 cases of severe HFMD (observation group) and 30 cases of non-severe HFMD (control group), were enrolled in the study. Plasma D-dimer levels of the observation group on days 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 were compared with plasma D-dimer levels of the control group on day 1 after admission. In the observation group, plasma D-dimer levels on days 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 were compared. The prognostic value of plasma D-dimer was analyzed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

RESULTSOf the 65 cases in the observation group, 15 died, and 50 survived. All the 30 cases in the control group survived. Plasma D-dimer levels in the observation group on days 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 were significantly higher than in the control group on day 1 after admission (P<0.05). In the observation group, there were significant differences between plasma D-dimer levels on days 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 (P<0.01), and plasma D-dimer level was the highest on day 1 after admission and second highest on the next day. Of the patients in the observation group, those who died had significantly higher plasma D-dimer levels on day 1 after admission than those who survived (P<0.05). In the observation group, plasma D-dimer levels on day 1 after onset had an area under the ROC curve of 0.877 (95% confidence interval: 0.785-0.969) and an optimal cut-off value of 582.10 μg/L (80% sensitivity and 78% specificity) for predicting mortality.

CONCLUSIONSChildren with severe HFMD have significantly increased plasma D-dimer levels, and the severer the condition, the higher the value. Plasma D-dimer levels can be used as one of the important indices for assessing the severity and prognosis of severe HFMD.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products ; analysis ; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease ; blood ; mortality ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effects of the natural medicinal monomer isopsoralen (ISR) with estrogenic activity against oxidative damage in human lens epithelial cells B3 (HLE-B3) caused by hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and to pursue the possible mitochondrial proteomic regularity of the protective effects.

METHODSHLE-B3 cells were treated with H(2)O(2) (300 μ mol/L), β-estradiol (E(2): 10(-8) mol/L) and H(2)O(2), ISR (10(-5) mol/L) and H(2)O(2), or left untreated. Altered expressions of all mitochondrial proteins were analyzed by protein array and surfaceenhanced laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS). The mass/charge (m/z) ratios of each peak were tested by the Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test, and the protein peak value of the m/z ratio for each treatment by pair comparison was analyzed with the Nemenyi test.

RESULTSH(2)O(2) up-regulated the expressions of two protein spots (with m/z of 6532 and 6809). E(2) mitigated the oxidative damage, and the expression of one protein spot (m/z 6532) was down-regulated. In contrast, ISR down-regulated both of protein spots (m/z 6532 and 6809).

CONCLUSIONSISR could effectively inhibit H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative damage in HLE-B3 cells. The protein spot at m/z of 6532 might be the target spot of ISR against oxidative damage induced by H(2)O(2).

Cell Line ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Estradiol ; pharmacology ; Furocoumarins ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; toxicity ; Lens, Crystalline ; pathology ; Mitochondria ; metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; drug effects ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Proteome ; metabolism ; Proteomics ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the resistance genes and antibiotic resistance patterns against beta-lactams in Pseudomonas aeruginosa prevalent in burn ward.

METHODSK-B method was performed to test bacterial resistance patterns against 9 species of beta-lactams in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from wounds and dressings of the patient in burn wards. Seven species of resistance genes against beta-lactams were detected with PCR. Tazobactam-inhibited piperacillin resistance test was performed to study whether the above strains produce extended spectrum beta-lactams.

RESULTSAll 12 strains of bacteria with resistance genes detected were resistant to penicillin and cephalosporins (100%), among them 11 were resistant to all antibiotics. Tazobactam-inhibited piperacillin resistance test demonstrated that all strains with resistance genes were ESBLs.

CONCLUSIONHigh incidence of beta-lactams resistance genes is found in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from burn ward, and they have close relationship with the occurrence of multiple drug-resistance.

Burn Units ; Burns ; microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; Humans ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; drug effects ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; beta-Lactam Resistance ; genetics

Experiments were done on urethane anesthetized adult rabbits. Long-train electrical stimulation was delivered to the Bötzinger complex (Böt.C) to observe the changes in the peak amplitude of integrated phrenic nerve activity. Then, a long-train electrical stimulation was delivered to the locus coeruleus (LC) or monosodium glutamate was microinjected into the LC . Within a certain period of time, another long-train electrical stimulation was delivered to the Böt.C to observe the responses of phrenic nerve activity. We investigated whether the LC could modulate the inspiratory inhibition induced by electrical stimulation of the Böt.C. The results are as follows: (1) Within a certain period of time after a long-train electrical stimulation applied at the LC, the inspiratory inhibition produced by electrical stimulation at the Böt.C was significantly attenuated. Comparing with the control stimulation that was only delivered at Böt.C without pre-stimulation of the LC, the inspiratory inhibition was decreased by (28.78+/-19.49)%. (2) Similarly, after chemical stimulation of the LC with microinjection of monosodium glutamate, the inspiratory inhibition produced by electrical stimulation of Böt.C was also significantly attenuated [decreased by (19.18+/-8.06)%]. The results obtained suggest that the LC plays a role in the modulation of the inspiratory inhibition of Böt.C stimulation.
Animals ; Electric Stimulation ; Electrophysiology ; Female ; Locus Coeruleus ; physiology ; Male ; Medulla Oblongata ; physiology ; Microelectrodes ; Microinjections ; Neurons ; physiology ; Phrenic Nerve ; physiology ; Rabbits ; Respiration ; Sodium Glutamate ; pharmacology ; Urethane ; pharmacology

Objective To evaluate the biomechanical effects of using a new injectable calcium phosphate cement to consolidate the fixation of osteoporotic intertrochanteric fracture.Method Five matchod pairs of human cadaver femora were used to produce the model of intertrochanteric fracture.All fractures were fixed with dynamic hip screws(DHS),and divided into two groups.In the CPC consolidation group of each pair,CPC was used to grout the hip screw and to fill the posteromedial defect.All femora were subjected to biomechanical test.Results Under the loading of 500 N,in the CPC consolidation group,the mean axial stiffness is(691.93±18.90)N/mm and the horizontal shear stiffness is(5553.84±27.47)N/mm.The mean lateral and medial strength is(5.15±0.35)MPa and(4.13±0.24)MPa.The torsion stiffness was 0.41 and the ultimate loading is(3580±286)N.In the control group,the mean axiak stiffness is(453.45±19.75)N/mm,the horizontal shear stiffness is(3848.87±22.63)N/mm,the mean lateral and medial strength is(3.12±0.37)MPa and(1.80±0.21)MPa,and,the torsion stiffness is 0.35 and the ultimate loading is(2512±189)N.Consolidation fixation with CPC increased each of the biomechanical efficiency(P＜0.05).Conclusions CPC consolidation of osteoprotic femoral head and the medial defect of intertrochanteric fracture can significantly improve the overall stability and decrease the rate of postoperative complication.

Objective To evaluate the biomechanical effects of using a new injectable calcium phosphate cement to consolidate the fixation of osteoporotic intertrochanteric fracture.Method Five matchod pairs of human cadaver femora were used to produce the model of intertrochanteric fracture.All fractures were fixed with dynamic hip screws(DHS),and divided into two groups.In the CPC consolidation group of each pair,CPC was used to grout the hip screw and to fill the posteromedial defect.All femora were subjected to biomechanical test.Results Under the loading of 500 N,in the CPC consolidation group,the mean axial stiffness is(691.93±18.90)N/mm and the horizontal shear stiffness is(5553.84±27.47)N/mm.The mean lateral and medial strength is(5.15±0.35)MPa and(4.13±0.24)MPa.The torsion stiffness was 0.41 and the ultimate loading is(3580±286)N.In the control group,the mean axiak stiffness is(453.45±19.75)N/mm,the horizontal shear stiffness is(3848.87±22.63)N/mm,the mean lateral and medial strength is(3.12±0.37)MPa and(1.80±0.21)MPa,and,the torsion stiffness is 0.35 and the ultimate loading is(2512±189)N.Consolidation fixation with CPC increased each of the biomechanical efficiency(P＜0.05).Conclusions CPC consolidation of osteoprotic femoral head and the medial defect of intertrochanteric fracture can significantly improve the overall stability and decrease the rate of postoperative complication.

Adolescent ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Female ; Humans ; Influenza A virus ; isolation & purification ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; Male ; Prevalence

OBJECTIVETo investigate the distributions of six short-tandem repeat (STR) loci, namely D7S820, D13S317, D16S539, HUMCSF1PO, HUMTPOX and HUMTH01, in Miao minority group at Rongshui county in Guangxi province and construct the relevant genetic database.

METHODSSodium-citrated blood specimens were collected from 208 healthy unrelated Miao individuals in Rongshui county. The DNAs from the specimens were extracted with phenol-chloroform method; AmplFSTR Identifier PCR Amplification Kit was used to amplify the extracted DNAs, and 3100 Genetic Analyzer was used to analyze and screen the amplified products.

RESULTSIn this study, 7, 8, 6, 7, 5, 7 alleles were observed at the 6 STR loci respectively. The expected distribution of genotype accorded with Hardy-Weinbery equilibrium. The total discrimination power, cumulative paternity exclusion power and total polymorphism information were 0.999995, 0.9959 and 0.9987 respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe results demonstrate that these 6 STR loci are of high polymorphism and hereditary stability and are in accord with Mendel's law. The data obtained are valuable in population genetics research, forensic application, and individual identifications.

Adolescent ; Child ; China ; Ethnic Groups ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Humans ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Microsatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic

Blotting, Western ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Pigment Epithelium of Eye ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; pharmacology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics