Objective To understand the genetic polymorphism of Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus in Guangdong province, as well as to explore methods for identifying and tracing the source of these two foodbome pathogens. Methods Using the automated ribotyping system, two foodbome pathogens were tested with either EcoR Ⅰ or Pvu Ⅱ restriction enzymes. BioNumerics software was then applied for image analysis, database establishment and other corresponding analysis. Results Digestion of 32 Salmonella isolates with Pvu Ⅱ yielded 19 different ribotypes,and digestion of 14 Salmonella isolates with EcoR Ⅰ yielded 2 different ribotypes. Staphyloccus aureus isolates showed greater genetic diversity, whereas EcoR Ⅰ digestion of 49 different isolates yielded 31 different ribotypes. Conclusion Unique Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus isolates could be identified through ribotyping. Although Salmonella serotyping and ribotyping were not strongly correlated, the combination of both restriction enzymes could be used to more effectively identify the genetic relationship among different strains as well as the source of food poisoning. Thus, not only could the genetic relationships amongst the different strains be inferred through ribotyping skills, the source of food poisoning and mode of transmission could also be determined under the use of this method.

INTRODUCTIONThe treatment and outcome of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has evolved greatly over the past few decades. We compared the mortality and complication rates of patients with AMI admitted to the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) in 2002 to previously reported data.

MATERIALS AND METHODSAll data for AMI patients admitted to National Heart Centre CCU in 2002 were collected through the Singapore Cardiac Data Bank, including demographics, in hospital complications and mortality. These were compared to previous reports from the same institution in 1988, 1975 and 1967.

RESULTSA total of 516 cases with AMI were identified. A higher proportion of patients were aged >or=70 years in 2002 (31.8%) compared to 1988 (25%), 1975 (11%) and 1967 (5.6%). Acute percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was performed in 250 of 516 (48%) patients in 2002. The overall in-patient and age-standardised mortality was 14.7% and 10% respectively, compared to 20.6% and 17% respectively in 1988 (P = 0.06). For the 250 patients who underwent acute PTCA, overall mortality was 5.2% compared to 24% in those who did not (P <0.001). Common in-hospital complications included heart failure (38%), non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (8%), atrial fibrillation (8%) and complete heart block (6%). Age, heart failure, bundle branch block and sustained ventricular tachycardia were associated with higher mortality by univariate analysis. On multivariate analysis, older age, heart failure and the absence of percutaneous intervention were independently associated with higher mortality.

CONCLUSIONIn-hospital mortality for AMI patients admitted to the CCU declined from 1988 to 2002 despite a higher proportion of elderly patients. The introduction of new therapies including drugs and percutaneous intervention may have contributed to this decline.

Acute Disease ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Coronary Care Units ; Critical Illness ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intensive Care Units ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mortality ; trends ; Myocardial Infarction ; complications ; mortality ; therapy ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To understand non-typhoid Salmonella in diarrhea patients from Guangdong province in order to timely discover the outbreaks caused by them as well as to grasp the serotypes, antibiotic resistance and pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) types of those strains isolated from this surveillance program. Methods Salmonella strains from diarrhea patients were detected and all the positive strains were tested by serum agglutination, antibiotic susceptibility and PFGE. Results 71 nontyphoid Salmonella strains were isolated from 1128 stoop samples, with a positive rate of 6.29 %. All the strains were divided into 29 serotypes, with Salmonella serotype enteritidis and typhimurium showing the most common serotypes. Most of the strains were sensitive to cephalosporins and quinolones. The antibiotic resistance rates of S. typhimurium were higher than S. enteritidis and S. stanley. Other than S. enteritidis, all the serotype strains did not have the same type of PFGE. 17 S. enteritidis strains digested by Xba Ⅰ were divided to 8 PFGE types while the PFGE 4 type appeared the most common one. 12 S. enteritidis strains were typed again by Sfi Ⅰ and Not Ⅰ , and there were still 3 groups of strains showing the same PFGE pattern. Conclusion Most of the infection caused by non-typhoidal Salmonella was sporadic in Guangdong province in 2007. Cephalosporins and quinolones seemed the best in curing the infection of non-typhoidal Salmonella at the clinics.

Objective To understand the phenotypic characteristics of foodbome Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Guangdong province through carrying out a comprehensive comparison including pulse field gel electrophoresis,ribotyping and serotyping.Methods 74 different Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains isolated from seafood and cases due to food poisoning in Guangdong province were under serotyping and susceptibility testing,in addition to the testing of direct heat hemolysin(tdh)and the heat hemolysin-related hemolysin hormone(trh)via PCR.Ribosomal genotyping(ribotyping)with EcoR Ⅰ restriction enzyme was utilized on 74 different Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates,whereas pulsed-field gel electrophoresis(PFGE)with the Not Ⅰ restriction enzyme was used on 74 different Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates.BioNumerics software was used to compare the isolates from different sources,times and places in order to elicit the correlation between different strains.Results Although Vibrio parahaemolyticus was 100.00％ sensitive to chloramphenicol,it still presented different levels of resistance against 13 other antibiotics.Among the 74 different strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus under testing,24.32％ showed positive for the tdh virulence gene,whereas 4.05％ positive for trh.74 different Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains were found to belong to 26 serotypes,where the O5:K17 and O2:K28 serotypes were dominant in those isolates that causing seafood-poisoning.The O3:K6 serotype was found to be the dominant of those isolates that causing food-poisoning.Based on ribosomal genotyping,the 74 Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates were divided into 62 different ribotypes,whereas the 74 strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus were divided into 67 different PFGE types,thus exhibiting considerable genetic diversities of the strains.Conclusion Majority of the isolates causing food-poisoning carried tdh virulence gene.PFGE was shown to have the highest resolution,followed by ribotyping with serotyping being the lowest,where the combination of the three could improve the resolution.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) Msp I gene polymorphism and childhood acute leukemia (AL).

METHODSRelevant literature was extensively searched and screened by Pubmed and Wanfang Database, Chinese Science Journal Database and Chinese Journal Net. Various data consolidation, combined OR values and their 95% CI were tested by RevMan 4.2; Funnel plots were used for the bias analysis.

RESULTSSix related literatures were found to meet the requirements. According to heterogeneity results, there was no significant difference in homozygous types(P>0.05), while there was significant difference in two others types (P all<0.05). For wild CYP1A1MspI homozygous for the reference group, Combined OR of heterozygous mutation, homozygous, heterozygous + homozygous mutation in AL and control groups were 1.18, 0.96, and 1.10 respectively. Subgroup analysis: Z values of CYP1A1MspI homozygous, heterozygous + homozygous in the acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and the control group were 0.10 and 0.76 respectively, Z values in non-acute lymphoblastic leukemia and control group were 0.74 and 0.75.

CONCLUSIONThere is no correlation between CYP1A1MspI gene polymorphism and the susceptibility of childhood AL.

Acute Disease ; Child ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Leukemia ; enzymology ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the expression of FBXW7 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and to explore the correlation of FBXW7 expression with clinicopathologic features and prognosis of ESCC.

METHODSNinety cases of ESCC and twenty cases of tumor-adjacent normal tissues and forty intraepithelial neoplasia tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry methods. The expression of FBXW7 in 40 surgical ESCC tissues and tumor-adjacent normal tissues was detected by Western blotting and RT-PCR. The relationship between the expression of FBXW7, clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis was analyzed.

RESULTSThe positive rate of FBXW7 protein was significantly lower in the ESCC and high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia tissues than in the tumor-adjacent normal tissues and low grade intraepithelial neoplasia tissues (40.0% and 33.3% vs. 85.0% and 77.3%, χ² = 21.923, P < 0.001). The FBXW7 protein was down-regulated in ESCC tissues (P < 0.05), whereas the FBXW7 mRNA was down-regulated in ESCC tissues compared with that in the paracancerous tissues. The expression of FBXW7 was significantly correlated with TNM stage, degree of differentiation, invasion depth and lymph node metastasis (χ² =9.643, 14.908, 16.294, 10.222, respectively, P = 0.002, 0.001, 0.000, 0.001). In the ninety patients, the 5-year survival rates of cases with positive and negative expression of FBXW7 protein was 67.6% and 39.3%, respectively (χ² =6.699, P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe results of this study demonstrate that FBXW7 expression is significantly declined in ESCC and high grade intraepithelial neoplasia tissues, and is closely correlated with poor prognosis of this disease. FBXW7 as a tumor suppressor gene may play an important role in the carcinogenesis, development and metastasis of ESCC. These results suggest that FBXW7 may become a valuable marker for the severity and prognosis in ESCC.

Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; genetics ; Down-Regulation ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; F-Box Proteins ; genetics ; F-Box-WD Repeat-Containing Protein 7 ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; RNA, Messenger ; Survival Rate ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the immunophenotype and its relationship with clinical characteristics in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

METHODSBone marrow or blood samples (2-3 mL) with heparin anticoagulation from 139 children with ALL were obtained, and immunophenotypes were identified by flow cytometry.

RESULTSIn 139 ALL children, there were 103 cases (74.1%) of B-ALL, 24 cases (17.3%) of T-ALL, 12 cases of T/B biphenotypic (8.6% of T/BALL). In the 103 children with B-ALL, CD19 (90.3%), CD10 (83.5%) and CD20 (27.2%) were expressed as major antigens. In the 24 children with T-ALL, the major antigens were CD3 (79.2%), CD7 (66.7%) and CD5 (33.3%). In the 12 children with B/T-ALL, T-lymphoid antigens included CD7 (50.0%) and CD5 (41.7%), while the B-lymphoid antigens included CD19 (50.0%) and CD10 (33.3%). Of the 139 children with ALL, 32 cases (23.0%) showed myeloid antigen expression (My+ ALL) and the main expression antigens were CD13, CD33, CD14 and MPO. CD34 was expressed in 31 cases. CD34-positive expression (15.6%) in My+ ALL children was significantly lower than in My-ALL children (24.3%). HLA-DR was expressed in 82 of the 139 ALL children. The expression of CD10, CD34 and HLA-DR in the standard-risk, medium risk, high-risk ALL children was significantly different. There were significant differences in gender and incidence of bleeding between the My+ ALL and My-ALL groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSImmunetyping can differentiate the sources of leukemic cells. The expression of CD10, CD34 and HLA-DR antigen is related to the clinical classification of ALL.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; HLA-DR Antigens ; analysis ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Infant ; Male ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of internal matrix on sealing ability and furcal appearance of perforations repair with amalgam and resin.

METHODSPerforations created in the pulpal floor of human extracted molars were repaired as follows: Amalgam, amalgam plus calcium sulfate, light-cured resin, and resin plus calcium sulfate (15 teeth/group). The furcal appearance of samples was evaluated under an operating microscope after repair. With the leakage test device, coronal 1 mol/L glucose solution was forced toward the pulpal floor. Leakage was measured by the concentration of leaked glucose in bottom reservoir at 1, 2, 4, 7, 10, 15 and 20 days with enzymatic glucose oxidase method.

RESULTSNo significant difference was found between group 1 and group 2 (P > 0.05). Leakage in group 4 was obviously lower than group 3 (P < 0.05) after the 7th day.

CONCLUSIONCalcium sulfate significantly improved the sealing effect of resin and provided successful barriers against its overextension.

Calcium Sulfate ; Dental Leakage ; Dental Pulp ; Humans ; Molar ; Root Canal Filling Materials ; Tooth Root

It has been demonstrated that neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) is critical for the induction and maintenance of long term potentiation (LTP) in the CA1 region of rat hippocampus. In the present study, we investigated the changes in NCAM mRNA expression and NCAM protein level after the induction of LTP in vitro using the techniques of in situ hybridization and Western blot. The results showed that the number of NCAM mRNA positive labelled neurons significantly increased (76.6+/-11.5 neurons) 10 min after tetanus when the slope of fEPSP markedly increased. The level of NCAM protein also increased significantly (7.190+/-0.64 arbitrary unit/50 microg protein) 10 min after tetanus. The number of NCAM mRNA positive labelled neurons no longer changed (73.3+/-14.0) 1 h after tetanus, however, the NCAM protein level (9.031+/-0.71) at 1 h after tetanus was higher than that at 10 min after tetanus. Moreover, the NMDA receptor inhibitor AP-5, which blocked LTP, prevented the increase in NCAM mRNA expression and NCAM protein level. The results demonstrate that NCAM mRNA expression maintains a high level, whereas NCAM protein changes from a low level to a high level during induction and maintenance of LTP.
Animals ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; physiology ; Long-Term Potentiation ; physiology ; Male ; Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

The present study examined the changes in 26S proteasome activity and the signal molecule mechanism regulating 26S proteasome activity in long term potentiation (LTP) in rat hippocampal slices. The results are as follows: 26S proteasome activity was 190+/-14.3 cpm/(100 microg.2 h) before tetanus, a significant increase in 26S proteasome activity (273+/-18.3 cpm/(100 microg.2 h) was found 10 min after tetanus, when the slope of fEPSP was markedly increased. Interestingly, 26S proteasome activity returned to baseline level (210+/-12.8 cpm/(100 microg.2 h) 60 min after tetanus. Moreover, the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor inhibitor AP-5, which blocked LTP, prevented the increase in the 26S proteasome activity. The results suggest that NMDA receptors contribute to the transient increase in 26S proteasome activity during induction of LTP in the hippocampal CA1 region.
Animals ; Hippocampus ; enzymology ; physiology ; Long-Term Potentiation ; physiology ; Male ; Peptide Hydrolases ; metabolism ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex ; Rabbits ; Rats ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; metabolism