Objective To observe the protective effects of a mixture for protecting liver and supplementing stomach (保肝益胃合剂) on rat acute liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl_4). Methods The model of rat acute liver damage was established by injection of CCl_4 2 ml/kg into the abdominal cavity.The rat models were treated respectively by the mixture for protecting liver and supplementing stomach 30 g?kg~(-1)?d~(-1),the polyene phosphatide acid radical choline capsule [Yi Shanfu (易善复), 180 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1)],the glycyrrhizic acid diaminogen capsule [Gan Lixin (甘利欣),30 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1)] infused into the stomach.The activities of serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) were detected.In the mean time,the liver pathological changes were observed,the degree of liver cell necrosis was evaluated,and the rat mortality was noted in various groups of treatment.Results The values of ALT,AST and the score of liver cell necrosis in the group treated with the mixture for protecting liver and supplementing stomach [(1.168?1.066) kU/L,(1.845?2.212) kU/L,(0.56?0.53) score] were significantly lower than those in the model group [(4.982?3.502) kU/L,(7.030?3.616) kU/L, (1.38?0.92) scores],and all the differences being statistically significant (all P

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important opportunistic human pathogen. It encodes many virulence factors and one of them is type III secretion system (TTSS). Effectors proteins can be delivered into host cells directly by this system, causing necrosis or apoptosis. popN gene is the first gene in the popN operon of TTSS gene cluster. To investigate its function, popN gene deletion mutant was generated in this study, and we found this mutant can secrete effectors proteins constitutively under non-inducting condition in DMEM medium containing serum. The results indicated that PopN is a negative regulator of the TTSS expression. However, no secreted effector proteins were detectable when the popN- mutant was grown in LB medium under non-inducting condition. To investigate the possible reasons, effects of growth status and protease (s) inhibitors on the TTSS were investigated. We present evidences that indicate protease mediated degradation of secreted effector proteins played a key role in the phenotypic inconsistency of popN- mutant.
ADP Ribose Transferases ; metabolism ; secretion ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; secretion ; Bacterial Toxins ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Mutation ; Peptide Hydrolases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins ; genetics ; secretion ; Protease Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathogenicity

OBJECTIVETo study the genome sequence of hepatitis A virus L-A-1 strain which has been applied for live attenuated vaccine production in China, to compare with other HAV strains, to understand some characteristics of L-A-1 strain, and to find the mechanism of attenuation and cell adaptation.

METHODSGenome fragments were prepared by antigen-capture PCR from infected cell (2BS), PCR products were cloned into T vector, sequenced and analyzed by using bioinformatics program.

RESULTSAnalysis of the genomic sequences(nt 25-7,418) showed that the open reading frame contains 6,675 nucleotides in length encoding 2,225 amino acids. Sequence homology comparison showed 98.00% and 94.00% homology at nucleotide level, and 98.51% and 98.65% homology at amino acid level with international strains MBB and HM 175, respectively. Through comparison with other attenuated, cell adapted and cytopathic effect (CPE) strains, L-A-1 strain had mutation at nt 152, 591, 646, 687 and insertion at nt 180-181 in 5?NTR and had mutation at nt 3,889 (aa 1 052-Val) in 2B region, these mutations and insertion are molecular basis for cell adaptation; mutation at nt 4,185 (aa 1 152-Lys) in 2C region should be attenuated marker; deletion in 3A region (nt 5,020-5,025) that caused two amino acids deletion is virus fast growth basis.

CONCLUSIONThrough analyzing L-A-1 strain genomic sequence, certain sites related to cell adaptation and attenuation were found.

Adaptation, Biological ; genetics ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Gene Deletion ; Genome, Viral ; Hepatitis A Vaccines ; genetics ; Hepatitis A virus ; genetics ; growth & development ; Mutation ; Open Reading Frames ; genetics ; Sequence Homology ; Vaccines, Attenuated ; genetics

BACKGROUNDLaparoscopic liver resection (LLR) has been considered to be safe and feasible. However, few studies focused on the comparison between the anatomic and nonanatomic LLR. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the perioperative factors and outcomes of the anatomic and nonanatomic LLR, especially the area of liver parenchymal transection and blood loss per unit area.

METHODSIn this study, surgical and oncological data of patients underwent pure LLR procedures for malignant liver tumor were prospectively collected. Blood loss per unit area of liver parenchymal transection was measured and considered as an important parameter. All procedures were conducted by a single surgeon.

RESULTSDuring nearly 5 years, 84 patients with malignant liver tumor received a pure LLR procedure were included. Among them, 34 patients received anatomic LLR and 50 received nonanatomic LLR, respectively. Patients of the two groups were similar in terms of demographic features and tumor characteristics, despite the tumor size was significantly larger in the anatomic LLR group than that in the nonanatomic LLR group (4.77 ± 2.57 vs. 2.87 ± 2.10 cm, P = 0.001). Patients who underwent anatomic resection had longer operation time (364.09 ± 131.22 vs. 252.00 ± 135.21 min, P < 0.001) but less blood loss per unit area (7.85 ± 7.17 vs. 14.17 ± 10.43 ml/cm 2 , P = 0.018). Nonanatomic LLR was associated with more blood loss when the area of parenchymal transection was equal to the anatomic LLR. No mortality occurred during the hospital stay and 30 days after the operation. Moreover, there was no difference in the incidence of postoperative complications. The disease-free and overall survival rates showed no significant differences between the anatomic LLR and nonanatomic LLR groups.

CONCLUSIONSBoth anatomic and nonanatomic pure LLR are safe and feasible. Measuring the area of parenchymal transection is a simple and effective method to estimate the outcomes of the liver resection surgery. Blood loss per unit area is an important parameter which is comparable between the anatomic LLR and nonanatomic LLR groups.

Aged ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Length of Stay ; Liver ; pathology ; surgery ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Complications ; Prospective Studies

Objective To analyze the effects of health risk factors on presenteeism in enterprise employees.Methods A hospital in Jinan of Shandong province and a publishing enterprise in Beijing were selected as target settings of this cross-sectional study. Questionnaire survey was carried out to collect information on demographic data,health condition and presenteeism,and multiple logistic regression was used to analyze the influence of health risk factors on labor-related presenteeism.Results Insufficient physical activity was found in 42％ percent of the participants,and those with heavy-loaded pressure,overweight or obesity,high blood pressure and unhealthy diet habit accounted for 46％,41％,40％ and 34％,respectively. Proportions of employees with presenteeism varied with age ( x2 =10.1665,P =0.0377),occupation ( x2 =35.3579,P ＜ 0.05 ) and education level ( x2 =50.5377,P ＜ 0.05 ).Female employees ( P =0.0323,OR =1.728,95％ CI 1.047 to 2.850),graduates ( P ＜ 0.05,OR =6.159,95％ CI 2.510 to 15.109),overweight or obesity individuals ( P =0.0076,OR =1.673,95％ CI 1.147 to 2.44) and adults with poor self-perception of health ( P =0.0049,OR =2.284,95％ CI 1.285 to 4.060)seemed to be more likely to be presenteeism.Conclusions Overweight or obesity and poor self-perception of health may be associated with labor-related presenteeism.

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

Based on the computer simulation, we analyzed hydrophobicity, potential epitope of recombined subtypes HIV-1 Env protein (851 amino acids) from Guangxi in China. Compared with conservative peptides of other subtypes in env protein, three sequences (469-511aa, 538-674aa, 700-734aa) were selected to recombine into a chimeric gene that codes three conservative epitope peptides with stronger antigencity, and was constructed in the yeast expression plasmid pPICZB. Chimeric proteins were expressed in Pichia pastoris under the induction of methanol, and were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Westernblot. The results showed that fusion proteins of three-segment antigen were expressed in Pichia pastoris and that specific protein band at the site of 40kD was target protein, which is interacted with HIV-1 serum. The target proteins were purified by metal Ni-sepharose 4B, and were demonstrated to possess good antigenic specificity from the data of ELISA. This chimeric antigen may be used as research and developed into HIV diagnostic reagents.
Blotting, Western ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral ; HIV Seronegativity ; immunology ; HIV Seropositivity ; immunology ; HIV-1 ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Pichia ; genetics ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of 585 nm flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye lasers (PDL) in the treatment of port-wine stains (PWS).

METHODSA retrospective review was performed in 2 317 patients with PWS who visited the Dermatology Laser Centre of PUMC Hospital and accepted treatment with 585 nm PDL. The correlation between the treatment efficacy and the treatment sessions, lesion types, and usage of other therapies were analyzed. The adverse effects were also observed.

RESULTSAll the 2 317 patients with PWS received 1-13 consecutive treatments with PDL at 2-3-month intervals. The median number of treatment was 4.93 and the median energy density was 8.29 J/cm2. The response rate after 8 treatments sessions were 84%. The response rate in patients whose lesions are characterized as purple plaques with proliferation and treated with isotope, CO2, cryotherapy, and other treatments was significantly lower than the total response rate (P < 0.05). Superficial scar, hyperpigmentation, and hypopigmentation were found in 5.2%, 2.5%, and 4.0% of these patients, respectively.

CONCLUSION585 nm PDL is effective and safe in treating PWS.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Low-Level Light Therapy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Port-Wine Stain ; radiotherapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Q-switched Alexandrite laser in the treatment of pigmentary skin, diseases ( PSDs).

METHODSTotally 4 656 patients with PSDs were treated with Q-switched Alexandrite laser. These PDSs included nevus of Ota, seborrheic keratosis, tattoo, naevus fusco-caeruleus zygomaticus, cafe-au-lait-spots, lentigo, naevus of Ito, and spilus naevus. The outcomes and adverse events after treatment were oberserved.

RESULTSThe response rate was 92.31% and the cure rate was 55.39% for nevus of Ota after six times of treatment, and the cure rate was 100% after nine times of treatment. The response rate was 100% for freckles, seborrheic keratosis, and naevus fuscocaeruleus zygomaticus after four times of treatment. The response rate was more than 77.18% and the cure rate was more than 50% for tattoos after three times of treatment, including amateur tattoo, artificial eyebrow, eyelid lines, and traumatic tattoo. However, after four times of treatment, the response rate and the cure rate were only 50. 00% and 21.43% for cafe-au-lait spots, and 50.00% and 25.00% for spilus naevus, respectively. The response rate was 35.29% for lentigo and 25.00% for naevus of Ito/ spilus naevus after four times of treatment.

CONCLUSIONQ-switched Alexandrite laser is effective in the treatment of nevus of Ota, seborrheic keratosis, tattoo, and naevus fusco-caeruleus zygomaticus, but has limited efficacy for cafe-au-lait-spots, lentigo, naevus of Ito, and spilus naevus.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Low-Level Light Therapy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pigmentation Disorders ; radiotherapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo understand HBV serotypes and genotypes epidemiology in a northern city and a southern city in China.

METHODSUsing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing of HBV DNA PCR products, the serotypes and genotypes of HBV in 530 from HBsAg positive samples. The enrolled patients were from Harbin, a northern city and Lianjiang, a southern city in China.

RESULTSComparison of the serotypes and genotypes of HBV between Harbin and Lianjiang showed that adrq+ was the most predominant hepatitis B virus serotype in both Harbin and Lianjiang (87.2% and 73.5%,respectively), adw2 was the next (12.0% and 25.7%, respectively); genotype C was the most frequent in Harbin and Lianjiang (87.8% and 73.2%, respectively), and genotype B was the next (12.2% and 26.1%, respectively) only 1 patient was infected by genotype D, and 1 patient was found to be co-infected by genotype B and C in Lianjiang.

CONCLUSIONThe results suggest that the percentage of HBV serotypes and genotypes between Harbin and Lianjiang was significantly different (P less than 0.001), but the main HBV serotype and genotype of the two cities were similar.

China ; DNA, Viral ; genetics ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; classification ; genetics ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Serotyping