Objective To identify two suspected Legionella pneumophila (L.pneumophila) strains isolated from environmental water and air conditioning cooling water systems in Guangzhou city.Methods The two strains were identified by their cultural characteristics,biochemical test,Legionella-specific primer PCR identification,PCR-enzymatic digestion analysis,16S rRNA,mip and rpoB gene sequencing analysis.Results The two suspected L.pneumophila isolates were identified as gram-negative bacillus appeared as white colonies on BCYEα-agar after incubation for 48 hours at 36℃.Both isolates were positive for oxidase,gelatinase and hydrolysis of hippurate,and negative for urease activity and nitrate reduction.Their phenotypic characteristics were similar to those of L.pneumophila strains.Results of PCR identification by using Legionella-specific primer were positive.Enzymatic digestion analysis showed that the 226 bp PCR products of two isolates were not digested by Taa Ⅰ.The two strains were classified as Legionella busanensis as indicated by gene sequencing analysis of 16S rRNA,mip and rpoB gene.Conclusion Two L.busanensis strains were first isolated from environmental and air conditioning cooling water systems in China.Due to their biochemical characteristics,L.busanensis strains were commonly misidentified as L.pneumophila,but could be effectively identified by PCR-enzymatic digestion analysis and multiple genes identification.

A total of 33 non-neurological symptoms patients with thoracolumbar fractures underwent unilateral pedicle screw fixation plus short segment pedicle screw through para-vertebral muscles. Preoperative computed tomography ( CT) scan showed one side pedicle was complete.The average follow-up period was 22 (12-40) months.There was no internal fixation failure.The posterior paraspinal approach for unstable thoracolumbar fractures , retaining posterior ligament complex and fixation by unilateral pedicle screw fixation through the pedicle of fractured vertebra , is both safe and effective for thoracolumbar fractures.

Objective To isolate and identify the adult neural stem cells from the parenchyma of spinal cord in adult mouse.Methods The parenchymal spinal cord from adult mouse was dissected and dissociated by mechanical trituration.The tissue suspension was cultured in serum-free DMEM/F12 medium supplemented with EGF and B27.The cell colonies generated from a single cell were screened by limited dilution and incubated with BrdU.The cell colonies were transferred into medium with serum to induce differentiation.The cells were identified with antibodies to Nestin,BrdU,MAP2 and GFAP by immunofluorescence staining.Results The cells were cultured for seven days to generate proliferative neurospheres.The majority of cells in these neurospheres expressed Nestin and were differentiated into MAP2-positive cells and GFAP-positive cells in medium containing with fetal bovine serum.Conclusion A significant number of neural stem cells are present in the parenchymal adult mouse spinal cord and can proliferate and also give rise to neurons and glia in vitro.

AIMTo study the effects of hydrocortisone sodium succinate on sodium current in human atrial myocytes and in guinea pig ventricular myocytes.

METHODSSingle cardiac myocytes were isolated by enzyme. The effects of hydrocortisone sodium succinate on sodium current (INa) were assessed by applying whole-cell patch clamp techniques.

RESULTSHydrocortisone sodium succinate (1, 3, 10 micromol x L(-1)) was shown to inhibit INa of both human atrial myocytes and guinea pig ventricular myocytes in concentration dependent manner and the IC50 were 6.97 and 8.74 micromol x L(-1), respectively. The inhibition effects acted quickly (1-3 min) and the maximal activating voltage of INa was not changed in both human and guinea pig cardiac myocytes.

CONCLUSIONHydrocortisone sodium succinate can exhibit inhibitory effects on INa in both human and guinea pig cardiac myocytes, and its inhibitory effects act rapidly, which are not consistent with genomic effects, so there may be nongenomic effects.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Animals ; Cell Separation ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Guinea Pigs ; Heart Atria ; pathology ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; pathology ; Heart Ventricles ; cytology ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; physiology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Sodium Channels ; drug effects

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of CT fluoroscopic guidance percutaneous acetic acid injection(PAI)tumor ablation and TACE for the malignant liver tumor.Methods PAI had been performed after TACE on 78 patients with malignant tumor(hepatocellular carcinoma 70,metastatic adenocarcinoma 8)since May 2005 to June 2007 in Southwest Hospital.All procedures were performed under CT fluoroscopic guidance.According to the different size of lesions,50%-60% acetic acid 2-10ml was injected into the lesions.PAI was repeated once or twice in some lesions based on the imaging.Results The needle could reach targets under CT real time fluoroscopy in all patients.No complication occurred,but with only moderate pain in 42 cases.The size of tumors shrank in 32 cases,remained unchanged 38 cases,and increased in 8 cases.The efficiency was 90%.All 78 patients were followed up for 3 months with all survival and 48 patients for 1 year with 40 survival.Conclusions CT fluoroscopic guidance PAI tumor ablation combined with TACE in the treatment of malignant liver tumor is safe and effective.(J Intervent Radiol,2007, 16:831-833)

AIMStudies on synthesis and antibacterial activity of new heterocycles.

METHODSThe cyclocondensation of [(3-pyridyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl] thio acetic acid with various aroyl hydrazines in the presence of POCl3 and xylene gave the corresponding titled compounds, and the in vitro antibacterial activity was primarily evaluated by the method of cupplate diffusion solution.

RESULTSSixteen novel titled compounds were synthesized, their structures were confirmed by IR, 1HNMR, MS and elemental analysis. Biological screening results demonstrated that most of the compounds prepared displayed potential antibacterial activity.

CONCLUSIONOxadiazoles incorporting pyridyl oxadiazole ring may be usefully antibacterial candidate drugs.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Escherichia coli ; drug effects ; Oxadiazoles ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Proteus vulgaris ; drug effects ; Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects

To explore the new method of discriminating Astragali Radix and Hedysari Radix by using PCR amplification of specific alleles, 30 samples of the different Astragali Radix materials and 28 samples of Hedysari Radix were collected. The total DNA of all samples were extracted, trnL-trnF sequence from Astragali Radix and Hedysari Radix was amplified by PCR and sequenced unidirectionally. These sequences were aligned by using Clustul W. Primer was designed and the PCR reaction systems including annealing temperature, dNTP, etc were optimized. All samples were amplified by PCR with specific primer, DNA from Astragali Radix would be amplified 136 bp, whereas PCR products from all of Hedysari Radix were 323 bp. This method can detect 10% of intentional Hedysari Radix DNA into Astragali Radix. PCR amplification of alleles can be used to identify Astragali Radix and Hedysari Radix successfully and is an efficient molecular marker for authentication of Astragali Radix and Hedysari Radix.
Alleles ; Astragalus Plant ; classification ; genetics ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

Activation of N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor plays an important role in neuronal apoptosis induced by cerebral ischemia but the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. The present study examined the neuroprotection of three chloride blockers in an in vitro cell model of cerebral ischemia established by treatment of cultured rat hippocampal neurons with NMDA. Hoechst 33258 staining and MTT assay were used to detect neuronal apoptosis and cell viability, respectively. The neuroprotective effects of chloride channel blockers on the cell viability and neuronal apoptosis were only observed when the blockers were applied before NMDA exposure. In comparison with DIDS, SITS showed more potent protective effect in a dose-dependent manner, whereas NPPB showed no significant neuroprotective effect. The results demonstrate that pretreatment with both SITS and DIDS have protective effect against neuronal apoptosis, which is achieved by blocking both NMDA receptor and chloride channel.
4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid ; pharmacology ; 4-Acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic Acid ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Bisbenzimidazole ; chemistry ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chloride Channels ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; N-Methylaspartate ; pharmacology ; Neurons ; chemistry ; cytology ; drug effects ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Acclimatization ; Altitude ; Electroencephalography ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype in Guizhou and to study the relationship between the genotype and the progression of liver disease.

METHODS786 patients with chronic HBV infection, from 4 cities of Guizhou, including 346 asymptomatic carriers (ASC), 313 chronic hepatitis (CH), 77 liver cirrhosis (LC), 50 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were examined. HBV genotype was determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and the subtypes were determined by direct sequencing of PCR product in 94 patients with HBV B genotype, the relationship between HBV genotype and the progression of liver disease was studied by multifactor analysis such as HBeAg positivity, HBV DNA load and ALT level.

RESULTSOf the 786 patients, 7 (0.89%), 497 (63.23%), 275 (34.99%), and 7 (0.89%) belonged to genotype A, B, C, D, respectively. There was statistically significant difference in the distribution of genotype B among Kaili (96.04%), Zunyi (78.79%), Duyun (64.52%) and Guiyang (53.14%) (P< 0.01). Genotype C was more prevalent in Guiyang than in other three cities (P < 0.01, or P < 0.05). Out of 94 genotypes B, 93 (98.94%) belonged to subtype Ba, only one was subtype Bj. There were statistically significant difference in the distribution of genotype B and C among various stage of liver disease (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Genotype B showed a gradual decrease from ASC, CH, LC to the HCC group while in contrast, genotype C showed a gradual increase in the same order. The ALT levels and the mean age were significantly higher and older in patients with genotype C than those in genotype B (P < 0.01 or 0.05). The HBeAg positivity was significantly lower in genotype C than that in genotype B (P < 0.025).

CONCLUSIONData showed that there were genotype A, B, C and D existing in Guizhou. Genotype B was the major one but genotype C was more commonly seen. In genotype B, subtype Ba appeared to be predominant. The geographic distribution of genotype B and C were different in some cities of Guizhou. Compared to genotype B, genotype C was associated with the development of more severe liver damage.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; virology ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; Disease Progression ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B virus ; classification ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; genetics ; pathology ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; pathology ; virology ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; virology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length