A survey was carried out from August to December 2004 in Pusan, Korea to document the presence of free-living amoeba (FLA), including the genus Acanthamoeba, in both contact lens storage cases and domestic tap water. Acanthamoeba was isolated from 5 (4.2%) in 120 contact lens storage cases. Four house tap water samples from residents, whose contact lens storage cases had been contaminated by Acanthamoeba, were also found to be contaminated with Acanthamoeba. Therefore, the contamination rate of FLA and Acanthamoeba in domestic tap water was investigated in order to examine the role of domestic tap water in Acanthamoeba contamination of contact lens storage cases. FLA and Acanthamoeba were identified in 97 (46.8%) and 16 (7.7%) of the 207 domestic tap water samples, respectively. There were no significant differences between the contamination rates of FLA in tap water according to the filtration plant of origin. No FLA was detected in the tap water directly supplied by the water purification plants. Water storage tanks appear to promote FLA colonization, including Acanthamoeba, in domestic tap water. This increases the risk of Acanthamoeba contamination in contact lens storage cases as well as increasing the risk of Acanthamoeba keratitis.
Acanthamoeba/*isolation & purification ; Amebiasis/epidemiology ; Animals ; Comparative Study ; Contact Lenses/parasitology ; Data Collection ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Risk Factors ; Water/*parasitology ; Water Supply/*standards

Objective To investigate the effects of artervenous fistula on structure and function of heart in patients with hemodialysis in the Second Clinical Hospital of Chinese Medical University from 2004 to 2005.Methods AVF、LAD、RVD、LVD、LVEDV、SV and EF were examined and analysed before and 8 weeks after AVF in 55 patients with hemodialysis.Results LAD、RVD、LVD、LVEDV after AVF increased significantly and EF reduced evidently after AVF.Conclusion AVF can cause extension of LAD、 RVD、 LVD and decrease of EF.

AIM:To investigate the apoptotic pathway of MCF-7 breast cancer induced by the grub extract in vitro.METHODS:MTT assay was used to determine the effect of the grub extract on proliferation of MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line and cell toxicity.Morphological changes of the apoptosis in cancer cells were observed by HE staining through invert microscope,light microscope,AO/EB double fluorescent staining under fluorescent microscope.FCM was used to assay the change of apoptotic rate.The expression of Bcl-2,Fas,caspase-9,caspase-3 in apoptotic pathway was detected with immunocytochemical method before and after exposure to the grub extract,and the effect of that on apoptotic pathway was explored.RESULTS:(1)The MTT test showed that the growth of MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line was significantly inhibited by the grub extract in dose and time dependent manners.The inhibitory rate in exposure group was significantly different from that in control group(P

Objective To investigate the value of the multiple short tandem repeat (STR)amplification by fluorescence labeling polymerase chain reaction (PCR) combined with fusion gene bcr-abl mRNA expression for quantitative determination of chimerism and qualitative detection of bcr-abl transcripts,and to evaluate the status of engraftment and predict the outcome of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Methods 5 relapse patients with CML after alIo-HSCT were dynamically investigated. Quantitative analysis of donor chimerism was performed by multiplex PCR amplification of STR markers and capillary electrophoresis with fluorescence detection, qualitative detection of bcr-abl transcripts was performed by RT-PCR. Results The donors alleles appeared in all of 5 patients on day 28 post transplant, and bcr-abl expression was negative. But 5 patients had unstable mixed ehimerism. (DC: 0～80.4 %) at the different time points after aIIo-HSCT and bcr-abl was positive. One of them kept eontinuely the mixed chimerism in the relapse of disease, and died after one year, and the other changed from MC to CC by intervention of clinical treatment. Reduction of donor chimerism were detected prior to the occurrence of graft rejection and disease relapse, while bcr-abl gene expression was positive. Conclusion The results of STR-PCR in the range of its sensitivity fully correspond with bcr-abl tests in patients with CML. The combination of STR-PCR with RT-PCR provides a highly sensitive and valuable tool for engraftment evaluation, graft rejection, relapse and predicting GVHD. Furthermore it can provide a basis for early intervention of clinical treatment, and can identify these patients at high risk with molecular or cytogenetic relapse after allo-HSCT.

Objectives To study the psychological characteristics of children with attention deifcit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods Human ifgure drawings (HFD) as a projective technique was performed in 107 children with ADHD aged (8.69 ±1.48) years old (6.5~11.5 years), and 107 matched healthy children. Characteristic features of the HFDs in children with ADHD, and correlations between emotional indicators of the HFDs and factors of child behavior checklist (CBCL) were assessed and com-pared with the control group. Results Signiifcant differences in emotional index were found between ADHD and healthy chil-dren, including bad body composition, short arms, long arms, big ifgure, omission of hands and omission of feet (P<0.05). Nega-tive correlation was found between the HFDs emotional index and the factors of activity and social ability in the CBCL (P<0.05), but a positive correlation was found between the HFDs emotional index and behavioral problem (P<0.05). Conclusion Human ifgure drawings can relfect some emotional characteristics of children with ADHD, and when combined with CBCL, it can pro-vide evidence for diagnosis and intervention for ADHD.

Objective To study the coexpression of protein folding modulators,including chaperones(DnaK,DnaJ,and GroEL-GroES) and disulfide isomerase Dsb molecules(DsbA and DsbC) on the bioactivity of eukaryotic expressed urokinase(UK).Methods The gene sequences of DnaK,DnaJ,GroEL-GroES,DsbA and DsbC were isolated from the chromosome of E.coli by PCR.The obtained fragments mentioned above were cloned into the plasmid pBAD-1 under the control of araB promoter and then the plasmids were transformed into E.coli BW25113 and HB101 together with a compatible vector pQE-UK.The amount of expressed UK was measured by Bradford method and its activity was analyzed by fibrin plate method for its fibrinolysis.Results The activity of expressed UK was increased by co-expressing with DnaK,GroEL-GroES,DsbA,and DsbC in BW25113.Among them,the highest activity was achieved by co-expressing with GroEL-GroES.Conclusion Co-expressing of chaperones or disulfide isomerase can improve the bioactivity of UK expressed in E.coli.

Anthracosis ; complications ; microbiology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Humans ; Imipenem ; pharmacology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Pseudomonas Infections ; complications ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; drug effects ; Pulmonary Heart Disease ; complications ; microbiology

Cytokines ; genetics ; Graft vs Host Disease ; genetics ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Genetic

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of endoluminal grafting for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms in high-risk patients with serious co-morbidities.Methods Endoluminal stent grafting was performed in fifty-one patients(45 males and 6 females,with a mean age of 71.6±7.5 years)with abdominal aortic aneurysms.Of all the patients,21(37.7%)were high-risk surgical candidates because of associated co-morbidities.These patients were classified in grade Ⅱ and Ⅲ according to the criteria assigned by the"Society for Vascular Surgery"and"International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery".Based on the preoperative CT and DSA findings,the appropriate stent was selected for every patient.Post-operative clinical observation and CT scan were regularly carried out,the occurrence of complications and the morphological changes of the aneurysms were observed.The results were evaluated and analyzed.Results Primary technical success was achieved in all patients(100%).No death occurred during the procedure or in 30 days after the procedure.An average follow-up period of(29.1±20.5)months was made.Minor endoleak was noted on CT scans in 10 patients,and the endoleak disappeared in 5 patients during the follow-up period.One patient died from unknown cause.The total mortality rate was 2.0%(1/51).The major complications rate was 9.8%(5/51),including stent thrombosis(n=2),thrombosis at femoral artery(n=1),lymphatic fistula at femoral incision(n=1) and stent dislocation(n=1).Conclusion Endoluminal stent grafting is a safe and feasible technique for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms with excellent medium-term results.This technique is especially suitable for the patients with high surgical risk.

The new generation cyclooxygenase (COX-2) inhibitor could reduce the gastrointestinal side effect of NSAID drugs, but eventually increase the cardiovascular risk, because its selective inhibition of COX-2 induces the imbalance between PGI2 and TXA2 and the reduction of vasodilatory NO. Under pathological conditions, active oxygen species (O2-*2, etc) were used to induce endo- thelial dysfunction, activate NF-κB to induce expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α, increase ET-1, TXA2 with vasoconstrictor effect, reduce PGI2 and NO with vasodilatory effect, generate further oxidative damage together with NO, and reduce the bioavailability of NO. NO-NSAIDs and NO-Coxibs drugs raised the level of NO by introducing NO-donor (ONO2). NSAIDs drugs enhanced the anti-inflammatory activity of COX-2 and reduced gastrointestinal side effects by inhibiting selectively COX-2. If antioxidant structures with active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicines were introduced to improve the antioxidant activity of NSAIDs, they could scavenge the active oxygen species to protect the normal function of vascular endothelia and enhance the bioavailability of NO, which is conducive to enhance the cardiovascular safety of cyclooxygenase (COX-2) inhibitor.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; therapeutic use ; Biomarkers, Pharmacological ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; immunology ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; immunology ; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; NF-kappa B ; immunology ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; immunology