Objective To develop a whole-genome DNA microarray based on the genomic sequences of Y. pestis CO92 and 91001 and its use in comparative genomic analysis. Methods A total number of 4 005 genes of Y. pestis were amplified by PCR and printed onto glass slides in duplicate. Fluorescently labeled probes were prepared by marking genomic DNAs with random hexamers and Klenow. Labeled DNAs were hybridized with the microarrays by the method of two-fluorescence comparative hybridization. Three sets of two-fluorescence hybridizations were performed to examine the absence/presence of each gene. Results The results agreed with those derived from the in silico genomic comparison. Conclusion The results demonstrate that the microarry can be a useful tool for comparative genomic analysis of Y. pestis.

Objective To identify and compare the genome differences among live plague vaccines prepared with different strains of the bacillus. Methods The whole-genome DNA microarray of Yersinia pestis was used as a tool to perform genomic comparison among live plague vaccines prepared with 19 different strains. Results Dozens of deletions and/or increased copies of the genomic fragments were identified in the studied vaccines of different strains. Conclusion The revealed genomic differences among the vaccines from different origins account for the variability of the immunogenic and protective potency of live plague vaccines. The whole-genome DNA microarray was also provesd to be an ideal tool for the pre-evaluation of a vaccine strain.

Objective To determine the dose-response relationship of 0.2％ ropivacaine for ultrasoundguided stellate ganglion block (SGB).Methods Seventy-five ASA physical status [or Ⅱ patients with migraine,aged 23-55 yr,with body mass index of 22-28 kg/m2,scheduled for elective ultrasound-guided SGB,were randomly divided into R1-5 groups (n =15 each) using a random number table.In R1,R2,R3,R4 and R5 groups,the patients underwent ultrasound-guided SGB with 0.2％ ropivacaine 1,2,3,4 and 5 ml,respectively.A successful SGB block was confirmed by the onset of ptosis (Horner syndrome) on the injected side.Probit analysis was used to calculate the effective dose of 0.2 ％ ropivacaine in 50 ％ and 95 ％ of the patients (ED50 and ED95) and 95％ confidence interval (95％ CI).Results The ED50 of 0.2％ ropivacaine for ultrasound-guided SGB was 2.2 ml (95％CI 1.9-2.5 ml) and ED95 was 3.2 ml (95％CI 2.8-4.1 ml).Conclusion The ED50 and ED95 of 0.2％ ropivacaine for ultrasound-guided SGB are 2.2 and 3.2 ml,respectively.

Aim To amplify P30 gene and express P30 fusion with GST Methods P30 gene was smplified from T. gondii chromosomal DNA and ligated to pGEM-T and pGEX-4T-1. Screening-positive recombinants were induced for expression, which was subsequently detected by WB Results P30 gene was amplified and GST-fusion was confirmed by rabbit antiT. gondii serum. Conclusions The construction of pGEM-T-P30 and pGEX-4T-1-P30, together with the recombinant protein would lay a base for further investigation of P30 at a molecule-level and application to diagnosis and vaccination

Objective To compare dexmedetomidine versus lidocaine for suppression of fentanyl-induced coughing during induction of general anesthesia in patients.Methods Two hundred ASA physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients,aged 36-50 yr,undergoing elective gynecological operations under total intravenous anesthesia,were randomized into 2 groups (n =100 each):dexmedetomidine group (group D) and lidocaine group (group L).Dexmedetomidine 0.5 μg/kg was intravenously infused over 10 min at a rate of 0.05 μg· kg-1· min-1 starting from 20 min before induction of anesthesia in group D.Lidocaine 0.5 mg/kg was injected intravenously at 1 min before induction of anesthesia in group L.For induction of anesthesia,fentanyl was given first,and 2 min later the other drugs were given.The development and degree of coughing were recorded within 1 min after fentanyl injection.The occurrence of adverse events was recorded.Results The incidence of coughing was significantly higher and the degree of coughing was severer in group L than in group D (P ＜ 0.05).There was no signihicant difference in the incidences of hypotension and severe sinus bradycardia between groups D and L (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Dexmedetomidine 0.5 μg/kg injected before induction of anesthesia has better suppressive effect on fentanyl-induced coughing during induction of general anesthesia than lidocaine 0.5 mg/kg in patients.

Objective To observe the effect of conventional therapy plus trimetazidine on alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM) and plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP).Methods Eighty-six cases of ACM patients were divided into control group and observation group by random digits table method with 43 cases each.Control group was treated with conventional therapy,while observation group was added trimetazidine.Course of treatment was 3 months.The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF),left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD),6 min walk distance,plasma BNP before and after treatment and the efficiency in two groups was observed and compared.Results LVEF,LVEDD,6 min walk distance,BNP before treatment in control group were respectively (37.2 ±7.4)％,(57.6 ±7.4) mm,(312.8 ±21.6) m,(846.2 ±63.7)μg/L,and the indicators in observation group were respectively (38.5 ±8.1)％,(57.1 ±6.8) mm,(316.5 ± 23.9) m,(857.6 ± 61.4) μ g/L.All indicators between two groups was no statistically different (P＞0.05).LVEF,LVEDD,6 min walk distance,BNP after treatment in control group were respectively (43.5 ±8.6)％,(54.3 ± 6.4) mm,(511.6 ± 26.7) m,(679.4 ± 51.3) μg/L,and there were significant difference compared with those before treatment (P ＜ 0.05).LVEF,LVEDD,6 min walk distance,BNP after treatment in observation group were respectively (51.6 ± 9.2)％,(51.2 ± 6.3) mm,(579.3 ± 25.1) m,(536.5 ± 50.6)μ g/L,and there were significant difference compared with those before treatment (P ＜ 0.05).There were significant difference in LVEF,LVEDD,6 min walk distance and BNP after treatment between two groups (P ＜ 0.05).The total effective rate in observation group was 90.7％ (39/43),which was significantly higher than that in control group [72.1％ (31/43)] (x2 =4.914,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Adding trimetazidine on the basis of conventional therapy can improve the cardiac function and myocardial remodeling of ACM patients and improve clinical efficacy.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of Changqin No. 1 combined with Western therapy for severe traumatic brain injury and its effects on prognosis. Methods Totally 65 cases of severe traumatic brain injury were randomly divided into the treatment group (n=32) and the control group (n=33). The control group was treated with basic Western therapy (dehydration reduction of intracranial pressure, nutrition nerve, scavenging oxygen free radicals, improve cerebral circulation, nutritional support and maintain the internal environment stability, anti-infection, prevention and treatment of complications, hyperbaric oxygen). The treatment group was treated with Changqin No. 1 plus the basis of routine treatment, 1 dosage per day, 2 times stomach tube nasal feeding or blunt, for 14 d. One month after treatment, awake rate, awake time, the incidence of complications and MMSE in both groups were compared. Three months after treatment, the prognosis of two groups were compared by GOS. Results One month after treatment, the awake rate in treatment group was 77.4% (24/31) and 53.1% (17/32) in the control group, with statistical significance (χ2=4.089, P=0.043), and the death rate was 0. The awake time in the treatment group was significantly shorter than that of the control group (t=2.458, P=0.017). The incidence of pulmonary infection in the treatment group was lower than the control group (P=0.001). There was no statistical significance in urinary tract infection, epilepsy, liver and kidney dysfunction rate of the two groups (P>0.05). The number of awake case was 24 in the treatment group and 17 in the control group. The number of normal MMSE cognitive function was 3 in the treatment group and 2 in the control group, and the treatment group was better than the control group (Z=-2.205, P=0.027). Three months after treatment, the good prognosis was 58.08% (18/31) in the treatment group and 28.12%(9/32) in the control group, with statistical significance (χ2=5.763, P=0.016). Conclusion Changqin No. 1 combined with Western basic treatment can help patients with severe traumatic head injury awake early, reduce pulmonary infection complications, and improve the cognitive function of sober patients and improve the prognosis.

Objective To compare the baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) when controlled hypotension was performed with sevoflurane versus isoflurane in the pediatric patients.Methods Sixty male American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients,aged 3-16 yr,with body mass index of 20-28 kg/m2,scheduled for elective scoliosis surgery under general anesthesia,were randomly divided into 2 groups (n=30 each) using a random number table:sevoflurane-induced hypotension group (group Sev) and isoflurane-induced hypotension group (group Iso).Anesthesia was induced with midazolam,sufentanil and propofol.Endotracheal intubation was facilitated with rocuronium.Anesthesia was maintained with closed-circuit low flow anesthesia with either sevoflurane or isoflurane,maintaining mean arterial pressure at 55-65 mmHg and bispectral index values at 40-60 during surgery.Cardiovascular BRS was measured before induction of anesthesia (T0),immediately after intubation (T1),immediately after the end-tidal inhalational anesthetic concentration reached 1 minimal alveolar concentration (T2),and at 10,20 and 30 min after target hypotension (mean arterial pressure 55-65 mmHg) was achieved (T3-5).Results There was no significant difference in BRS at T0-2 between the two groups (P＞0.05).Compared with the value at To,the BRS was significantly decreased at the other time points in the two groups (P＜0.05).Compared with the value at T1,the BRS was significantly increased at T2,and decreased at T3-5 in the two groups (P＜0.05).The BRS was significantly lower at T3-5 than at T2 in the two groups (P＜0.05).The BRS was significantly lower at T3-5 in group Sev than in group Iso in the two groups (P＜0.05).Conclusion Sevoflurane produces better efficacy than isoflurane when used for controlled hypotension in the pediatric patients.

Objectives To investigate the expression of B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) and its receptor BAFF-R(a receptor of B-cell activator factor, belonging to the TNF family) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and to explore their clinical significance. Methods The patients were separated into active group (n = 28) and inactive group (n = 24) according to the SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI). The mRNA and protein expression of BLyS and its receptor BAFF-R were measured by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western-blot in PBMCs from the patients and 21 healthy volunteers. The relationship between the expression of BLyS and BAFF-R and SLEDAI was analyzed. Results In the case of the expression of mRNA and protein of BLyS and BAFF-R, the patients had a higher level than the healthy controls (P 0.05). Conclusions These findings indicate that BLyS and its receptor BAFF-R might be involved in the pathogenesis of SLE. Also, BLyS expression level might be a new parameter for the evaluation of SLE disease activity and therapeutic effect.