Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bloodletting ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Facial Paralysis ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Mucosa ; blood supply ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics,diagnosis,treatment and prognosis of human swine streptococcosis occurred in some areas of Jiangsu Province from late summer to autumn since 1998.Methods The epidemiologic and clinical features of 42 cases were collected and analyzed.The bio- chemical features of strains isolated from patient's blood or cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) were tested,and the homogeneity were compared among 15 Streptococcus suisⅡ.Results All patients had acute infection toxe- mic symptoms such as chill,fever,headache and malaise etc.Toxic shock syndrome or meningitis syndrome were the major clinical manifestations.Forty two cases of human swine streptococosis were classified into 3 types:the rates of general,shock and meningitis type were 7.1% (3/42),38.1% (16/42) and 54.7%(23/42),respectively.Ten patients were died of shock type,32 were cured.Strain isolated from patients was identified as Streptococcus suisⅡby API-Strep,the biochemical reactional code was 0641473,and appraised result was 99.9%.There was highly homogeneity in the strains of Streptococcus suisⅡisolated from patients and sick pigs identified by genomic fingerprinting.Com- bined therapy of large doses of penicillin G and ceftriaxone was effective in these patients.Conclusions Human swine streptococosis is zoonosis caused by Streptococcus suisⅡand the clinical manifesta- tions are variable.In the cases of shock type,the onset of disease is stormy and the fatality rate is very high.While the prognosis of general and meningitis type is good and the majority of the cases are cured by effective antibiotic therapy.

BACKGROUNDRemnant-like lipoproteins (RLPs) have been demonstrated to accelerate the onset of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) senescence. Recent study has determined that microRNAs (miRNAs) were closely associated with cellular proliferation and senescence. This study aimed to examine whether RLPs lead to an alteration of miRNAs in senescent EPCs.

METHODSRLPs were prepared from plasma samples with immunoaffinity method. After 8 days of culture, EPCs were identified by flow cytometry analysis. Cells were incubated with RLPs for 72 hours. The senescent markers p16INK4a and senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) were detected by Western blotting analysis and β-gal staining assay, respectively. A human miRNA microarray containing 723 miRNAs was used to detect the expression profile of miRNAs in control and senescent EPCs. The result from the above microarray was qualified by RT-PCR assay.

RESULTSRLPs dose-dependently up-regulated the protein level of p16(INK4a) in EPCs, and RLPs at a concentration of 100 µg/ml induced a significant increase in the percentage of SA-β-gal-positive EPCs. Of 723 miRNAs, four miRNAs expressed differentially and significantly in RLPs-treated EPCs (P < 0.05), then their changes in expression were validated by real-time RT-PCR. Among them miR-148b and miR-155 were upregulated while miR-574-3p was down-regulated significantly when compared with control (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSRLPs result in the onset of EPCs senescence. Senescent EPCs induced by RLPs exhibit a different profile of miRNAs. These three miR-148b and miR-155 and miR-574-3p reach a significant difference when compared with control, indicating that microRNA might take part in RLPs-induced EPCs senescence.

Blotting, Western ; Cells, Cultured ; Cellular Senescence ; drug effects ; genetics ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; metabolism ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; pharmacology ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects

Currently there is considerable interest among oncologists to find anticancer drugs in Chinese herbal medicine (CHM). In the past, clinical data showed that some herbs possessed anticancer properties, but western scientists have doubted the scientific validity of CHM due to the lack of scientific evidence from their perspective. Recently there have been encouraging results, from a western perspective, in the cancer research field regarding the anticancer effects of CHM. Experiments showed that CHM played its anticancer role by inducing apoptosis and differentiation, enhancing the immune system, inhibiting angiogenesis, reversing multidrug resistance (MDR), etc. Clinical trials demonstrated that CHM could improve survival, increase tumor response, improve quality of life, or reduce chemotherapy toxicity, although much remained to be determined regarding the objective effects of CHM in human in the context of clinical trials. Interestingly, both laboratory experiments and clinical trials have demonstrated that when combined with chemotherapy, CHM could raise the efficacy level and lower toxic reactions. These facts raised the feasibility of the combination of herbal medicines and chemotherapy, although much remained to be investigated in this area.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans

12 strains of H2-producing bacteria were isolated and purified from anaerobic sludge, aerobic sludge and river bottom sludge by Hungate method. A new species of high efficient hydrogen production bacterium Enterococcus sp. LG1 (registration number: EU258743 ) was studied deeply. It was showed that the Enterococcus sp. LG1 was an anaerobic and Gram-negative bacterium. Sequence analysis of this type of clones showed that it was affiliated with the genus Enterococcus and it was not reported yet in other paper at present. Meanwhile, batch tests of anaerobic fermentative hydrogen production by Enterococcus sp. LG1 were investigated by using sterilization pretreated sludge as substrate. The changes of soluble COD, protein, carbohydrate and pH value during hydrogen fermentation were monitored. It was found that only hydrogen and carbon dioxide were produced by this strain and no methane was detected during fermentation. The maximal hydrogen yield was 36.48 mL/g TCOD and the hydrogen concentration in the gas phase was 73.5%. The Enterococcus sp. LG1 was a butyrate fermentation bacteria analyzed by metabolites.

Objective To survey and analyze characteristics of brucellosis epidemic in Weinan city of Shaanxi province for the purpose of setting up prevention and control measures for the disease. Methods According to "The Executing Plan for the Work of Surveying Brucellosis Disease in Shaanxi Province", 35 villages(towns) of designated monitoring locations and 24 villages (towns) of randomized monitoring locations in five countries of Weinan were chosen to survey brucellosis disease. The five countries were Chengcheng, Dali, Heyang, Tongguan and Hancheng. High risk populations with a history of contacting livestock and livestock products aged between 7 and 60 underwent clinical and serology examination[rose bengal plate agglutination test(RBPT) and standard tube agglutination test(SAT)]. All manipulation methods and judging standards were in accord with the "Diagnostic Standard for Brucellosis" (WS 269-2007). Results In the designated monitoring location, a total of 8664 people at high risk were investigated, among whom 1407 people were tested by RBPT test and 27 people were positive,the positive rate was 1.92%(27/1407); 27 people were tested by SAT test and 27 people were positive, the positive rate was 100% (27/27); 25 people were diagnosed and the diagnosis rate was 92.59%(25/27). In the randomized monitoring location, a total of 3464 people at high risk were investigated, among whom 411 people were tested by RBPT test and 3 people were positive, the positive rate was 0.73%(3/411 ), 3 people were tested by SAT test which were all positive and made a definite diagnosis. Twenty-eight new cases were made a definite diagnosis and its incidence was 2.06 in a hundred thousand(28/1 361 618). Conclusions The infection of human brucellosis in Weinan city stays at higher level. The governments should increase input for the monitoring,investigating and disinfecting to prevent the disease from increasing and outspreading.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnostic value of acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging technology for the assessment of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients.

METHODSOne-hundred-and-eight CHC patients were examined by real-time ultrasound elastography using the Acuson S2000 ARFI instrument (Siemens Healthcare) and underwent liver biopsy for pathohistological analysis. The correlation between liver fibrosis grades determined by the two approaches was analyzed. The cut-off values for diagnosis by ARFI (S more than 2, S more than 3 and S = 4) were determined by generating a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

RESULTSThe spectrum of liver stiffness detected by ARFI sonoelastography included S1 at (1.26+/-0.27) m/s (n = 36), S2 at (1.45+/-0.51) m/s (n = 31), S3 at (2.01+/-0.54) m/s (n = 27), and S4 at (2.28+/-0.82) m/s (n = 14). The ARFI values were significantly different among the four different stages of liver fibrosis (P less than 0.001). The liver stiffness detected by ARFI sonoelastography was significantly correlated with the liver fibrosis stage determined by the gold standard pathohistological analysis (Spearman's rank coefficient: 0.61, P less than 0.001). Using the ARFI technology for assessment of liver fibrosis gave areas under the ROC curve of 0.779 for S more than 2 patients, of 0.863 for S more than 3 patients, and of 0.0880 for S = 4 patients.

CONCLUSIONThe real-time ultrasound elastography ARFI technology can show the elasticity modulus of liver, and its data values positively correlate with the patho-histology grade of liver fibrosis in CHC patients. ARFI technology is easy to operate, non-invasive, and quantitative, and has potential clinical value for assessing liver fibrosis in CHC.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques ; Female ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

AIMTo explore the influence of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) preconditioning on anoxic resistance and anti-weariness at high altitude.

METHODS(1) SOD, MDA, NO, NOS, BLA and BUN of 20 youths living at 3 700 m altitude for half year were tested, then they were divided into group A (n=10, received HBO pretreatment twice) and group B (n=10, received HBO pretreatment 5 times) randomly. They were asked to pedal the EMG-bicycle-ergometer at the second and eighth day, and then the same items were tested. (2) 29 youth who would go to Astronomical Spot (5200 m) were randomly divided into group HBO (n=11, received HBO pretreatment once per day for 2 days at Yecheng (1400 m)) and comparison group (n=10). When they reached I Astronomical Spot, thematic biochemical index were investigated. (3) When 20 youth reached Thirty Milepost Barracks (3700 m) at the second day in their way to Immortal Gulf (5380 m) from Yecheng were randomly divided into group HBO (n=10, received HBO pretreatment once per day for 3 days) and comparison group (n=10). When they reached Immortal Gulf, the thematic biochemical index were investigated.

RESULTS(1) SOD, NO, NOS were increased and BLA, BUN, MDA were decrease in group A compared with that in group B until the eighth day, there was significant difference (P < 0.01). (2) SOD, NO, NOS were increased and BLA, BUN, MDA were decrease in group HBO compared with that in comparison that in group, there was significant difference between groups (P < 0.01, or P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONHBO could enhance the activity of anti-oxidase and the cleared ability of lactic acid, and the effect of anti-weariness could last for 8 days.

Altitude ; Altitude Sickness ; prevention & control ; Fatigue ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Hyperbaric Oxygenation ; methods ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; methods ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; physiology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Young Adult

Adult ; Ascites ; etiology ; Ascitic Fluid ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Tpo and/or IL-11 gene modified stromal cells on the expansion of CD(34)(+) hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells in cord blood.

METHODSRetroviral vectors containing Tpo or IL-11 gene were constructed and used to transfect the stromal cell line HFCL. Tpo and/or IL-11 mRNA was assayed by Northern blot. Non-modified stromal cells were used, CD(34)(+) hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells from cord blood were expanded on gene-modified stromal cells for 7 days. The phenotype of CD(34)(+)CD(38)(-) primitive progenitors was detected by flow cytometry.

RESULTSHFCL expressed Tpo and/or IL-11 mRNA after transfected by the retroviral vectors. The percentages of CD(34)(+)CD(38)(-) primitive progenitors in the cultures of Tpo, IL-11 and Tpo + IL-11 modified HFCL were (1.8 +/- 0.24)%, (1.62 +/- 0.23)%, and (2.45 +/- 0.28)%, respectively, which were higher than that in the control [(0.8 +/- 0.23)%].

CONCLUSIONThe stromal cells modified by Tpo and/or IL-11 gene were able to enhance ex vivo expansion of CD(34)(+) and CD(34)(+)CD(38)(-) hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells from cord blood.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase ; analysis ; ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 ; Antigens, CD ; analysis ; Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; physiology ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Interleukin-11 ; genetics ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; Stromal Cells ; physiology ; Thrombopoietin ; genetics