PcoI-PcoR is a quorum-sensing (QS) system influencing the biofilm formation and rhizosphere colonization in Pseudomonas fluorescens 2P24. The expression of the pcoI, a N-acyl-homoserne lactone (AHL) biosynthase gene, is under the regulation of a number of chromosomal factors, such as the GacS-GacA two-component system. In this paper, we investigated the upstream regulators that influence the transcription of pcoI gene using a chromosomal pcoI-lacZ fusion reporter strain PM203. Cosmids containing genomic DNA of the wild-type strain 2P24 were introduced into the reporter strain PM203 (gacA—, pcoI-lacZ) to screen positive transcriptional regulators of pcoI gene. One of them named pP32-24, which contained a 5-kb Pst I functional fragment was selected. Further analysis identified that the pcoI was the gene responsible for the increase of the pcoI-lacZ expression. The expression of pcoI-lacZ reporter was alsoimproved in both PM101 (pcoI-lacZ) and its gacAmutant PM203 after addition of exogenous AHL, indicating that the expression of pcoI is positively regulated by AHL (autoinduction) in strain 2P24. In addition, deletion mutagenesis and complementation experiments demonstrated that the transcriptional regulator PcoR positively controlled the expression of pcoI and the formation of biofilm. These results suggest that, in strain 2P24, the expression of PcoI-PcoR QS system is auto-inducted, and the transcriptional factor PcoR is involved in the regulation of pcoI transcription and the biofilm formation.

Objective To investigate drug resistance genes and epidemic characteristics of β-lactamase carried by carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) in the respiratory intensive care unit(RICU) in a hospital.Methods Clinically isolated CRAB from RICU patients in October-December 2015 were collected.Five drug resistance genes (KPC-2,IMP,VIM,NDM-1,OXA-23) were specifically amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR),amplified products were performed agarose gel electrophoresis and sequencing analysis,the homology was analyzed with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).Results A total of 22 CRAB strains were isolated in October-December 2015,19 (86.36％) of which were isolated from sputum.The resistance rate of 22 CRAB strains to compound sulfamethoxazole was 59.09 ％,resistance rate to minocycline was 9.09 ％,all were sensitive to polymyxin B,resistance rates to other antimicrobial agents were more than 80％.Three kinds of resistance genes KPC-2,IMP and NDM-1 were not found by PCR amplification,positive rates of VIM and OXA-23 were both 100％.PFGE homology analysis revealed that 22 strains were divided into 13 different types,each type contained 1-5 strains,9 types(69.23％) contained only 1 strain respectively,the other 4 types (30.77％) contained 2-5 strains.A5,A7,and A8;A9,A11,A14,A19 and A22;A4,A10 and A12;A16 and A18 were of the same type respectively.Conclusion The main types of β-lactamase-resistant genes of CRAB in RICU are VIM and OXA-23.Homology analysis shows a small parts are of the same clone strains,which reveals epidemic of a small scale.

Objective To compare the therapeutic efficacy between emergency and non-emergency operation for ruptured intracranial aneurysms. Method A retrospective analysis of 184 patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms the Second Affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University College of Medicine, admitted from Dec 2008 to Sep 2009, was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of operation to be done earlier. The patients were divided into 2groups according to the time of surgery. In the early operation group ( n = 102), the patients were operated on within 3 days of rupture of aneurysms, and in the delayed operation group ( n = 82), the patients were operated on after 3 days. The comparison in the rate of rebleeding before surgery, rate of complete occlusion of the ruptured aneurysm and rate of major complications such as cerebral infarction and hydrocephalus between two groups was made. The Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) scores of these patients were also evaluated by 6- 12 months follow-up after operation. Results Preoperative re-bleeding happened in 2 patients of the early operation group and in 7 patients of the delayed operation group. The rates were significantly different ( P ＜ 0.05). The complete occlusion rate in the early operation group was 91.2 % ( 93/102 ), while was 80.5 % ( 66/82 ) in the delayed operation group (P＜0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in post-operative cerebral infarction rate, post-operative hydrocephalus rate or GOS scores on follow-up between two groups. Conchusions Early operation can significantly reduce the re-bleeding before surgery, reducing the risk of death and disability. In early operation, the continuous lumbar drainage by cannulation and other methods can be used to reduce intracranial pressure, significantly increasing the rate of complete occlusion, and promoting rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism of clinical haemorrhage in an inherited coagulation factor VII (FVII) deficiency and tissue factor abnormality pedigree.

METHODSAll exons, exon-intron boundaries and the 3', 5' untranslated sequences of FVII and tissue factor (TF) genes were amplified by PCR and sequenced directly. Any mutation identified by direct sequencing was confirmed by reverse sequencing. FVII cDNA of the proband was synthesized with random primers and amplified by nest PCR.

RESULTS55C-->T heterozygous mutation located in promoter of FVII gene was identified in the proband. The heterozygous mutation was derived from his mother. Tracing the other pedigree members found that his sister had the same heterozygous mutation and the others had wild-type FVII genes. A 9363 C-->T (Arg131Trp) heterozygous polymorphism in TF gene, which was 2.63% frequency of T allele polymorphism, was found in all of the pedigree members.

CONCLUSIONIt was the first report that the -55C-->T heterozygous mutation in FVII gene and the Arg131Trp heterozygous polymorphism in TF gene explained the clinical symptom of the proband.

Adult ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Factor VII ; genetics ; Factor VII Deficiency ; genetics ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Pedigree ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Thromboplastin ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the regulatory effect of clearing-Heat secreting-bile regulating-Qi flow and activating blood circulation (CSRA) principle on cholecystokinin receptor (CCK-R) and its mechanism.

METHODSCholecystokinin (CCK) in serum of portal venous blood, maximum binding capacity (Bmax) and affinity (Kd) of CCK-R levels in gallbladder of guinea pigs allocated in four groups (control, high cholesterol, natural recovery and treated groups) were determined using radioimmunoassay and radioligand receptor assay (RRA). At the same time, changes of fasting volume (FV) and postprandial volume (PV) of gallbladder, fasting and postprandial bile (FB and PB) in gallbladder, gallbladder contraction rate (GCR) and cholesterol concentration (CC) in bile were observed.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, after two weeks of high cholesterol feeding, increase of FV, FB, PV, PB and CC (P < 0.05), and decrease of GCR (P < 0.01) and Bmax were found in cholesterol group, but with no significant change in Kd and CCK level. The above-mentioned criteria were restored to normal range in the treated group.

CONCLUSIONCSRA principle could promote the recovery of gallbladder contraction by regulating CCK-R expression in it, its mechanism is possibly correlated with reduction of cholesterol concentration in bile.

Animals ; Bile ; metabolism ; Cholecystokinin ; metabolism ; Cholesterol ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gallbladder ; physiopathology ; Guinea Pigs ; Hypercholesterolemia ; metabolism ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Random Allocation ; Receptors, Cholecystokinin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the expression of recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1/GBD of glucan binding protein of Streptococcus mutans in mammalian cells COS-7.

METHODSEukaryotic plasmid carrying encoding gene of GBD of Streptococcus mutans gbpA was constructed and the plasmid was introduced into COS-7 cells by Lipofectamine reagent. The transient expressed protein in COS-7 cells was detected by immunochemistry technique.

RESULTSThe positive expression was detected in plasma of the cells which were transfected with recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1/GBD. The cells which were transfected with pcDNA3.1 were negative.

CONCLUSIONGBD can translate and express in COS-7 cells after transfected with recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1/GBD. The expressed protein locates in the plasma and the protein is able to combine with anti-GbpA antibody. The expressed protein has the antigenicity and is a candidate gene vaccine.

Animals ; Antigens, Surface ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Bacterial Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; COS Cells ; Carrier Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Dental Caries ; prevention & control ; Eukaryotic Cells ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Lectins ; Mammals ; Plasmids ; genetics ; immunology ; Recombinant Proteins ; Streptococcus mutans ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Vaccines, DNA

Objective To investigate the frequency of CD4~+CD25~+FoxP3~+regulatory T cells (Treg)and the expression of the functional protein,FoxP3,in patients with active tuberculosis and the relationship between Treg and the pathogenesis of tuberculosis.Methods Forty-five patients with active tuberculosis(including 25 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis and 20 tuberculous lymphadenitis), 20 healthy controls,20 recovered tuberculosis patients and 6 patients with reactive hyperplasia in cer- vical lymph node were enrolled.The frequency of CD4~+ CD25~+ FoxP3~+ Treg in the peripheral blood was measured by flow cytometry.FoxP3 mRNA expression was determined by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and the expression of FoxP3 protein in lymphoid tissues was measured by immunohistochemistry.Results The frequency of natural Treg in the peripheral blood from the patients with active tuberculosis was 2.91%?0.23%,which was signifi- cantly higher than that of healthy control group(1.22%?0.18%)and recovered tuberculosis patients(1.50%?0.17%,P

Objective To evaluate the clinical outcome of autologous hemopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) for hematological malignancies. Methods Data of 61 patients with hematological malignancies who underwent AHSCT in Xiangya Hospital from April 1994 to August 2008 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 30 acute non-lymphoblastic leukemias (ANLL), 25 non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), 3 Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), and 3 plasmacytoma. Mel 160 mg/m2 + Ara-C 2.0/2.5 g × 2 +Cy 1.8 g/m2 × 2, or TBI 8-10 Gy + Cy 1.8 g/m2 × 2 were mainly included in pretreatment regimens. Results All patients had rapid hemopoietic reconstitution. There was one patient who died of heart failure during the transplantation process. The rate of AHSCT related death was 1.6 %. The median follow up duration was 52(2-211) months. Forty-seven of 61 patients were still alive during the analysis. The probabilities of disease free survival (DFS) at 5 years were significantly different between these two groups: (77.5±5.5) % for AHSCT groups and (31.6±7.3) % for synchronous intensive chemotherapy groups(P ＜0.01). Conclusion AHSCT can be safely performed as an important treatment constituent for hematological malignancies.

Objective To investigate the effects of Nod-like receptor protein 3 inhibitor MCC950 on cognitive function in a mouse model of sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE).Methods Ninety adult male C57BL/6 mice were randomly (random number) divided into three groups:the sham + saline group (n=20,sham group),CLP + saline group (n=35,CLP group),and CLP + MCC950 group (n=35,MCC950 group).SAE mouse model was established by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) surgery.Saline (10 mL/kg) or MCC950 (10 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected 30 min before surgery and on day 1,2,4 and 6 after surgery according the grouping.Seven days after surgery,six mice were taken from each group.Western blot was used to detect the hippocampal content of NLRP3,apoptosis-associated specklike protein (ASC),interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18.The number of NLRP3-positive cells in CA 1 region were detected by immunohistochemical analysis.The remaining mice in each group were used for open field and fear conditioning tests 14 days after surgery.One-way analysis of variance was used for inter-group comparison,and SNK-q test was used for pairwise comparison.A P value ＜0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results Compared the MCC950 group with the CLP group,the freezing time of context test was significantly increased [(137±21) s vs (84±15) s,P=0.013],the hippocampal content of NLRP3,IL-1β and IL-18 were significantly reduced (P＜0.01),and the number of NLRP3-immunoreactive cells per mm2 in CA region were significantly decreased (23±5 vs 74±13,P＜0.01).There was no significant changes in protein level of ASC and results of open field tests (P＞0.05).Conclusions MCC950 administration can improve cognitive function in a mouse model of SAE,which is probably due to the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome and downstream inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18.