Objective To observe the antibacterial effects of amikacin sulfate combined with the ingredient of coptis chinensis:the extract of coptis chinensis, berberine hydrochloride and palmatine hydrochloride on multiple drug resistance (MDR) of Escherichia coli (E.coli) in vitro. Methods One hundred strains of E.coli checked out from 2013 to 2014 that showed resistence to cefotaxime were selected, and in which MDR to bacteria were determined. The extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs)-producing by Kirby-Bauer test. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the extract of coptis chinensis, berberine hydrochloride, palmatine hydrochloride and amikacin sulfate on ESBLs-producing E.coli were determined firstly, and then the sterilization effects of amikacin sulfate combined with the other three medicines were observed by broth microdilution checkerboard method together with their fractional inhibitory concentrations (FIC), with ATCC 25922 for quality control strains. Results Ten MDR E.coli were screened and proved to be ESBLs-producing. The inhibitory effects were enhanced in a synergistic or additive pattern when amikacin sulfate combined with the extract of coptis chinensis, berberine hydrochloride on nine of the ten MDR E.coli in vitro, where the inhibitory effects were a synergistic or additive pattern when amikacin sulfate combined with palmatine hydrochloride on all of the MDR E.coli in vitro. Conclusion Palmatine hydrochloride or berberine hydrochloride or the extract of coptis chinensis combined with the amikacin sulfate has significant value in treatment of MDR E.coli, which is worthy of further study.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a multiplex allele-specific PCR (AS-PCR) assay with three-color fluorescence labeling for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) SNP typing. METHODS: Based on the principle of AS-PCR, the primer sets were designed for 20 SNP located on the coding region of mtDNA and divided into 2 groups labeled with FAM and HEX fluorescence, respectively. A primer set included two forward (reverse) allelic specific primers with different sizes and a generic reverse (forward) primer. Blood samples from 200 unrelated individuals were analyzed by AS-PCR and capillary electrophoresis. Three random samples at least for each SNP site were examined and verified by direct sequencing. The haplotype frequency was investigated. RESULTS: Distinct electropherograms of 200 blood samples were obtained successfully. The typing results of direct sequencing were identical to those obtained from AS-PCR. The minimum detectable DNA concentration was 0.2 pg under the system of 10 microL. The sensitivity of the DNA concentrations ranged from 0.5 to 5 pg. The 200 individuals were assigned into 15 haplotype, and the haplotype diversity was 0.906 0. CONCLUSION AS-PCR is a simple, rapid and efficient method for mtDNA SNP typing, and can be applied to forensic practice.
Alleles ; DNA ; DNA Primers ; DNA, Mitochondrial/analysis* ; Electrophoresis, Capillary ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Mitochondria ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods* ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of detecting of Y-STR of fetal DNA in maternal plasma using Ion Torrent PGM™ System. METHODS: A total of 16 fetal DNA samples from maternal plasmas (8 cases from 38 weeks gestational age and 8 ones from 12 weeks) were prepared and a multiplex assay with 7 STR loci (DYS390, DYS391, DYS393, DYS438, DYS437, DYS456, DYS635) was designed for multiplex-PCR amplification. Using Ion Torrent PGM™ System, the results of Y-STR sequences and capillary electrophoresis were obtained and compared. RESULTS: Y-STR specific alleles were detected in the maternal plasma of all the pregnant women having male babies of second and third trimester, which were higher than that detected by capillary electrophoresis. Consistent Y-STR genotypes were observed between fetal DNA from maternal plasma and genomic DNA from the newborn babies. CONCLUSION Based on Ion Torrent PGM™ System, the prenatal Y-STR detection method may provide a high-sensitive and high-throughput choice for prenatal STR detection in forensic testing.
Alleles ; Chromosomes, Human, Y/genetics* ; DNA/blood* ; Family ; Female ; Fetal Blood/chemistry* ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Pregnancy ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sex Determination Analysis ; Tandem Repeat Sequences/genetics*

Y chromosome is a male-specific paternal inherited chromosome. The STR markers on Y chromosome have been widely used in forensic practices. This article summarizes the characteristics of Y-STR and some factors are considered of selecting appropriate Y-STR markers for Chinese population. The prospects of existing and potential forensic applications of Y-STR profiles are discussed including familial excluding, familial searching, crowd source deducing, mixture sample testing, and kinship identifying. The research, development, verification of Y-STR kit, Y-STR mutation rate, and search software are explored and some suggestions are given.
Asian People/genetics* ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; DNA/genetics* ; DNA Fingerprinting ; Databases, Nucleic Acid ; Female ; Forensic Medicine/methods* ; Genetics, Population ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; Software

Objective To study on the application value of flipped classroom and PBL in the teaching process of sanitary chemistry experiment. Methods 112 students studied in School of Public Health in Nanchang University were considered as research subjects, including Preventive Medicine grade 2014 class 1 (observation group, n=57) and class 2 (control group, n=55). The students were taught with flipped classroom model in the control group , while flipped classroom combined with PBL was applied in the observation group. The learning effect of the two groups was evaluated by using the form of "Richter score scale"in the self-made form. The data was input using Epidata 3.0 and processed by SPSS 18.0, and it was analyzed by t test and 2 test. Results The evaluation index scores (learning attitude, ability improvement, learning cooperation, professional quality improvement) in the observation group were significantly higher than that of thecontrol group (P<0.05). Besides, the final test scores were also significantly higher in the observation group than those in control group [(83.56 ±10.81) vs. (69.37 ±10.45), t=7.059, P=0.000]. Conclusion Combining flipped classroom with PBL in the teaching process of sanitary chemistry experiment for the students majored in Preventive Medicine not only improves students' exam results, but also helps students improve their learning attitude, learning ability, professional quality and so on. Therefore, the teaching method is worthy of wider application.

OBJECTIVETo study the pattern extrahepatic arteriy supply to hepatocellular carcinoma and catheterization technique for interventional therapy.

METHODSRoutine celiac and superior mesenteric artery angiography was done before transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for 78 collateral arterial pathways of 62 hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Super selective catheterization and transcatheter dual arterial chemoembolization (TDACE) to extrahepatic arterial and hepatic arteries were performed.

RESULTSExtrahepatic blood supply was found in 43.1% of hepatocellular carcinoma patients. There was close correlation between extrahepatic arterial blood supply and location of tumor. Success rate of super selective extrahepatic artery catheterization was 71.8% by the combined use of RH, Cobra and SP catheters. Follow-up studies revealed reduction of tumor and complete dense deposition of lipiodol.

CONCLUSIONAmple extrahepatic arterial blood supply is found in hepatocellular carcinoma. Transcatherdual arterial chemoembolization is effective, necessary and feasible for hepatocellular carcinoma with extrahepatic arterial blood supply.

Adult ; Aged ; Angiography ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood supply ; therapy ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Collateral Circulation ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatic Artery ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood supply ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To observe the effects of Gandouling on reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) mRNA and protein of neural stem cells of the mice cultured in high concentration copper. Methods The model of neural stem cells of the mice was cultured in vitro with high concentration copper. The experimental rats were randomly divided into blank control group, model group, and Gandouling low-, medium-, and high-dose groups. Each medication group was given relevant concentration of Gandouling serum for gavage. The MTT was adopted to test proliferation level on neural stem cells; flow cytometer was used to examine the change of ROS level in cells; qPCR was used to measure the expression of Nrf2 mRNA;Western blot was used to measure the change of the level of protein Nrf2 in cells. Results Compared with the blank control group, the proliferation rate of neural stem cells was significantly decreased, ROS levels were significantly increased, and Nrf2 gene and protein expression was significantly decreased (P＜0.01). Compared with the model group, neural stem cells proliferation rate was significantly increased, ROS levels were significantly reduced, and Nrf2 gene and protein expression was significantly increased (P＜0.05, P＜0.01). Conclusion Gandouling can promote the proliferation of neural stem cells in mice by reducing ROS content in high copper-loaded mice and up-regulating Nrf2 expression.

Objective To explore the predictive value of CT radiomics and morphological features for the prognosis and survival in non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)patients.Methods The clinic data of 300 NSCLC patients(300 lesions)were downloaded from the Cancer Imaging Archive,with 210 randomly selected as the training set and 90 as the test set.According to the prognosis and survival,the patients were divided into two groups with survival period≤3 and＞3 years.3D Slicer software was used to delineate the regions of interest layer by layer in CT images,and the radiomics features were extracted from each region of interest.Both t-test and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator were utilized for radiomics feature screening.Three types of prediction models,namely radiomics model,morphological model and combined model,were constructed with Logistic regression,whose performances were evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results The differences in radiomics labels and mediastinal lymph node metastasis between the training set and the test set were statistically significant.For radiomics model,morphological model and combined model,the area under the ROC curve was 0.784(95%CI:0.722-0.847),0.734(95%CI:0.664-0.804)and 0.748(95%CI:0.680-0.815)in the training set,and 0.737(95%CI:0.630-0.844),0.665(95%CI:0.554-0.777)and 0.687(95%CI:0.578-0.797)in the test set,which demonstrated that radiomics model had the best diagnostic performance.Conclusion The CT radiomics model can effectively predict the prognosis and survival in NSCLC patients.

BACKGROUNDProneurotrophins such as the precursor of nerve growth factor (proNGF) and the precursor of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (proBDNF) interacted with sortilin and p75(NTR) to form a complex capable of activating an apoptotic signaling. We found that the expression of p75(NTR) and sortilin was increased in ischemic retina induced by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), but the protein expression changes of proNGF and proBDNF in the same situation were not clear. This study aimed to ascertain the protein expression changes of proNGF and proBDNF in ischemic retina induced by elevated IOP.

METHODSExpression of proBDNF and proNGF was examined by double-labeling immunochemistry in normal rat retina, examined using Western blotting and analyzed using statistical methods in ischemic retina induced by elevated IOP.

RESULTSImmunocytochemistry showed that the proBDNF expressed in the ganglion cell layer (GCL) while the proNGF primarily existed in both the nerve fiber layers (NFL) and large ganglion cell bodies of normal rat retina. Western blotting analysis demonstrated that the molecule weights of 28 kD (proBDNF)/25 kD (proNGF) band were increased significantly (P < 0.05) at days 3, 5 and 7 after retinal elevated-IOP-induced ischemia.

CONCLUSIONProBDNF expressed in the GCL and proNGF primarily presented in NFL and large ganglion cell bodies of normal rat retina, the protein expression forms of 28 kD proBDNF and 25 kD proNGF increased in ischemic retina induced by elevated IOP.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; analysis ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intraocular Pressure ; physiology ; Ischemia ; metabolism ; Male ; Nerve Growth Factor ; analysis ; Protein Precursors ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Retinal Diseases ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDHypophosphatemic rickets/osteomalacia is a group of diseases characterised by defective mineralization of bone due to hypophosphatemia and low 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D. To explore the role of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) in the regulation of phosphate homeostasis, we measured the circulating concentrations of this growth factor in healthy individuals and in patients with hypophosphatemic rickets/osteomalacia.

METHODSNineteen patients with hypophosphatemic rickets/osteomalacia were included in hypophosphatemic group (HP, 12 female and 7 male, mean age was 30 years), and 19 healthy age-matched individuals served as the control group. Full length FGF-23 fragments were measured by two-site enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTSMean FGF-23 concentrations were significantly higher in the HP group ((87.4 +/- 43.6) pg/ml) compared with the control group ((19.2 +/- 6.16) pg/ml; P < 0.001). In 1 patient with tumour-induced osteomalacia, serum FGF-23 concentrations were 84.1 pg/ml; these concentrations were normalized 2 hours after a hemangiopericytoma resection (7.8 pg/ml). Subsequently, serum 1,25(OH)(2) vitamin D3 concentrations significantly increased from 21.3 pg/ml to 89.3 pg/ml, and serum phosphorus levels were normalized.

CONCLUSIONSSerum FGF-23 concentrations were markedly elevated in patients with hypophosphatemic rickets. FGF-23 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of hypophosphatemic rickets/osteomalacia.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Calcitriol ; blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Familial Hypophosphatemic Rickets ; blood ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factors ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteomalacia ; blood ; Phosphates ; blood ; Young Adult