OBJECTIVE To investigate the disinfectant and antibiotic resistance genotypes in 60 strains of Escherichia coli isolated from urine.METHODS Sixty strains of E.coli isolated from inpatients′ urine were collected from Jan 2006 to Oct 2008.Antibiotic susceptibility tests for fifteen antibiotics were performed by Kirby-Bauer method.And three kinds of disinfectant and antibiotic resistance genes(qacE△1,tehA,merA)were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction(PCR) and DNA sequencing.RESULTS More than 70.0% of the sixty strains of E.coli were susceptible to imipenem,piperacillin/tazobactam,cefoxitin,amikacin and gentamicin,and less than 50.0% were susceptible to the other ten antibiotics.There were 42 strains with qacE△1 gene(70.0%),10 strains with merA gene(16.7%) and all strains with tehA gene.The sequence of the first strain was different from those reported in GenBank,so it was a new subtype.CONCLUSIONS There are 70% of E.coli strains isolated from urine samples with qacE△1 gene.And disinfectant resistance may be one of the main factors for hospital infection in the future.

Polysaccharide sulfate (PSS) is a new type of antiatherosclerotic medicine for its effects of anticoagulation, anti-thrombosis and modulation of dyslipidemia. However, it is still uncertain whether PSS could modulate the diabetic dyslipidemia or not. Here, the rat model of diabetic dyslipidemia was developed and the effects of PSS on glucose and lipid levels were investigated in this animal model. Wistar rats were iv injected with streptozotocin 20 mg x kg(-1) after feeding with high fat diet for one and a half month. Then, rats received orally PSS (30, 90, and 180 mg x kg(-1)) for 1 month. After oral treatment with PSS (90 and 180 mg x kg(-1)) for 1 month, the levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) were significantly reduced and the level of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) increased, compared with diabetic control rats. Moreover, PSS (30, 90, and 180 mg x kg(-1)) had a tendency to reduce glucose and insulin levels, and significantly increased insulin sensitivity index. Our results suggest that PSS could improve insulin sensitivity and relieve dyslipidemia in diabetic dyslipidemic rats.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; blood ; chemically induced ; complications ; Dyslipidemias ; blood ; etiology ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Insulin ; blood ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Polysaccharides ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Streptozocin ; Sulfates ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Triglycerides ; blood

Objective To examine the interrelations among vascular calcification, bone denaity,osteoprotegerin (OPG) and soluble receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (sRANKL) in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Methods The levels of serum OPG and sRANKL from 39 MHD patients were measured by ELISA. The vascular calcification was detected by plain radiographs. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptionmeter.Interrelations among above parameters were examined statistically. Results (1) Among 39 MHD patients, 25 cases were identified as vascular calcification by radiographic film. The proportion of patients with mild vascular calcification was 41.0% (16 cases), moderate and severe vascular calcification was 23.1% (9 cases). Compared to patients with mild vascular calcification,serum OPG level [(342.50±171.53) ng/L vs (206.21±137.88) ng/L,t=-2.253, P=0.0251 and OPG/sRANKL ratio (454.65±455.63 vs 135.31±136.81, t=59, P=0.035)were significantly higher in patients with moderate and severe vascular calcification,while serum sRANKL level [(0.10±0.08) pmol/L vs (0.12±0.08) pmol/L, t=0.534, P>0.05] was not significantly different. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that OPG/sRANKL ratio was independent factor of vascular calcification score. (2)Compared to patients with normal bone volume, the patients with abnormal bone volume had higher serum OPG level [(249.05±137.66) ng/L vs (226.67±170.12) ng/L], lowerserum sRANKL level [(0.11±0.08) pmol/L vs (0.12±0.02) pmol/L], and higher OPG/sRANKL ratio(202.31±219.24 vs 148.08±210.10), but these parameters were not significantly different betweenthese two groups. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that OPG/sRANKL ratio was anindependent factor of T score of lumbar vertebra. (3)Muhiple linear regression analysis revealed that vascular calcification score was an independent factor of T score of lumbar vertebra and hip.Conclusions Vascular calcification score is an independent factor of BMD of lumbar vertebra and hip in MHD patients. Serum OPG/sRANKL ratio may play an important role in the association between vascular calcification and BMD in MHD patients.

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum adiponectin and metabolic syndrome(MS) in children and adolescents with obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).Methods Four elementary schools and 4 middle schools were selected from Haidian district in Beijing with representative cluster sampling.Two hundred and eighty obese children(obese group),65 obese children with NAFLD(NAFLD group) and 264 normal weight children(healthy control group) aged 7 to 18 years were recruited from the 8 schools with uncompletely randomized sampling.Data including questionnaire,anthropometric measurements,B type ultrasonographic examination for liver were collected and fasting blood laboratory assay were determined.Variables including triglyceride(TG),adiponectin,alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase(AST) were skewed distribution and natural logarithmical transformations were performed.Chi-square test for category and multiple binary Logistic regression analysis were used to statistical analysis.Results Body mass index(BMI) and waist circumference(WC) in obese group and NAFLD group were higher than those in healthy control group.All the chi-square tests for trend among the 3 groups were statistically significant(P

Objective To explore the relationship between obesity phenotypes and adipocytokines in children.Methods Based on the Beijing child and adolescent metabolic syndrome (BCAMS) study,3 508 children (1 788 boys and 1 720 girls) aged 6-18 were recruited.In this study,participants were categorized into four groups:226 cases in general obese group,192 cases in abdominal obese group,1 004 cases in combined obese group and 2 086 cases in non-obese group,according to the sex,age,specific body mass index(BMI),and waist circumference (WC) equal to or greater than the 90th percentile for age and gender of school children in Beijing in 2004.The levels of plasma insulin,serum leptin,resistin and adiponectin were measured by sensitive,specific double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).Analysis of covariance,multivariate linear regression and binary logistic regression analysis were performed.Results There were highest plasma insulin and serum leptin,and lowest adiponectin levels in combined obese group than those in other obese groups and non-obese group and resistin level in abdominal obese group was highest than those in other obese groups or non-obese group.Among subjects with general obesity and conbined obesity,WC was more important factor than BMI for plasma insulin[?(WC)=0.158 P0.05].With covariates adjusted,the odds ratios(OR)and 95% confidence intervals of general obesity,abdominal obesity and combined obesity were 3.46(2.44-4.91),5.41(3.87-7.57) and 10.10(8.26-12.35) for predicting hyperinsulinemia,respectively,5.83(4.02-8.45),7.07(4.97-10.05)and 20.82(16.49-26.28) for hyperleptinaemia,respectively,1.47(1.05-2.07),2.0(1.42-2.80) and 2.66(2.23-3.18) for hypoadiponectinaemia,respectively.Serum resistin was highest in abdominal obesity.Conclusion The levels of adipocytokines in children were correlated with the phenotypes of obesity,especially for abdominal obesity.

Total RNA was isolated from Siraitia grosvenorii fruit by the method of modified Trizol, according to S. grosvenorii fruit characteristics of rich phenols, polysaccharide, oil and proteins. The OD260/280, OD260/230, RNA integrity (RIN) and yield of the total RNA with this method were 2.01, 2.02, 9.50 and 260 mirog.g-1, respectively. The open reading frame (ORF) of dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), named as SgDHAR, was cloned by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) and RT-PCR method from S. grosvenorii. The GenBank accession number for this gene is KC907731. The SgDHAR gene contains a full-length cDNA of 1,252 bp including ORF of 819 bp and encodes a predicted protein of 272 amino acids. The molecular mass is 30.217 7 kD and the isoelectric point is 8.76. Homology comparison showed that it shared 87% nucleotide sequence homology with Cucumis sativus. Expression patterns using qRT-PCR analysis showed that SgDHAR was mainly expressed in fruit and stem, followed by flower, and was lowest in root, while the expression level was 6.83 times in triploid. T than that in diploid. Therefore, SgDHAR gene may be involved in abortion of triploid seedless S. grosvenorii.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Cucurbitaceae ; chemistry ; genetics ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Flowers ; chemistry ; genetics ; Fruit ; chemistry ; genetics ; Molecular Conformation ; Open Reading Frames ; Oxidoreductases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; genetics ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; genetics ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; genetics ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; RNA, Plant

Objective To investigate how the interactions between fat mass- and obesityassociated (FTO) gene rs9939609 variants and daily-life related behavioral factors would influence the risk of obesity among the Chinese school-aged children. Methods 3503 school-aged children were selected from the Beijing Child and Adolescent Metabolic Syndrome (BCAMS) Study, and divided into obese children (n=1229) and non-obese children (n=2274). Venipuncture blood test,genotyping and questionnaire were performed. Results Five common factors including protein foods, tobacco & alcohol, vegetables & fruits, sedentary behavior and physical exercise in spare time were extracted with factor analysis methodology. Data from logistic regression analysis showed that taking the interaction of rs9939609 variant with protein foods as an example, the risk of interaction accounted for 19.16% when both factors existing simultaneously. Similarly, the interactions of this SNP with vegetables & fruits, sedentary behavior and physical exercise in spare time appeared to be 5.97%, 19.62% and 12.43% respectively; however there might not be interaction between tobacco,alcohol and the SNP in the Chinese children. Conclusion Protein foods, vegetables & fruits,sedentary behavior and physical exercise might modify the effects of FTO rs9939609 variant on the risk of obesity in Chinese school-aged children. However, large-scale, prospective studies with detailed information on related behavioral factors would be ideal models for identifying the interactions between genes and environment.

Objective To explore the surgical skills, therapeutic effects and complications of selective amygdalohippocampectomy via the inferior temporal gyrus approach for treatment of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). Methods Sixty-two patients with medically intractable MTLE underwent selective amygdalohippocampectomy. Temporal keyhole craniotomy was performed, and the mid-anterior segment of the inferior temporal gyrus was resected to access the anterolateral floor of the temporal horn. The mesial temporal structures such as the amygdale and the parahippocampal gyrus were selectively resected. Results All the patients were followed up for at least 2 years (range 24-80 months) after the surgery. Obvious improvement of the neuropsychological function was achieved in these patients after the operation, without serious surgical complications. Forty-five patients (72.6%) had Engel's Class Ⅰ, 12 (19.4%) had class Ⅱ, and 5 (8.0%) had class Ⅲ outcomes after the operation. Conclusion The inferior temporal gyms approach allows minimally invasive amygdalohippocampectomy that preserves both the optic radiation and the language area, and can be especially effective in patients with epileptic lesions limited to the mid-anterior temporal lobe.

This study is aimed to investigate the effects of high intracellular Mg²⁺ on L-type calcium channel in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes. The cardiomyocytes were acutely isolated with enzyme digestion method. By adopting inside-out configuration of patch clamp technique, single channel currents of the L-type calcium channel were recorded under different intracellular Mg²⁺ concentrations ([Mg²⁺]i). In control group, which was treated with 0.9 mmol/L Mg²⁺, the relative activity of calcium channel was (176.5 ± 34.1)% (n = 7). When [Mg²⁺]i was increased from 0.9 to 8.1 mmol/L (high Mg²⁺ group), the relative activities of calcium channel decreased to (64.8 ± 18.1)% (n = 6, P < 0.05). Moreover, under 8.1 mmol/L Mg²⁺, the mean open time of calcium channel was shortened to about 25% of that under control condition (P < 0.05), but the mean close time of calcium channel was not altered. These results suggest that high intracellular Mg²⁺ may inhibit the activities of L-type calcium channel, which is mainly due to the shortening of the mean open time of single L-type calcium channel.
Animals ; Calcium Channels, L-Type ; physiology ; Guinea Pigs ; Magnesium ; physiology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; physiology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques

OBJECTIVETo create a convenient method to establish an alcoholic liver fibrosis model in mice and use it to explore the putative pathogenic mechanisms involving the immunomodulatory proteins osteopontin (OPN) and transforming growth factor-betal (TGF-beta1).

METHODSForty C57BLI6J mice were fed the Lieber-DeCarli 4% ethanol-containing liquid diet for four weeks, followed by an additional four weeks of the 4% ethanol diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride (CC14 5% solution in olive oil; 2ml/ kg body weight, 2 times/week) to induce alcoholic liver fibrosis. Control groups (n = 6 each) included: normal diet; normal diet plus CCl4 injections; ethanol diet alone; ethanol diet plus solvent (olive oil) injections. Model establishment was monitored by sacrificing six mice at model inception (week 0), and weeks 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 of modeling to collect liver tissues and blood for histological and biochemical analyses. Extent of hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis was assessed by hematoxylin-eosin and Masson staining. Liver function markers, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, were tested by automated enzymatic assays. Alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) expression was detected by immunohistochemistry. The mRNA and protein expression of OPN and TGF-beta1 was detected by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR and western blotting, respectively. Significance of differences between multiple groups was assessed by one-way ANOVA analysis followed by least significant difference t-test or Kruskal-Wallis H test followed by the Mann-Whitney U test.

RESULTSCompared to the control groups, the group of mice administrated ethanol and CCl4 developed mild to moderate hepatic steatosis at week 4 of modeling, progressive necroinflammation and perisinusoidal and portal fibrosis from weeks 5-8, and irregular necrosis and bridging fibrosis at week 8. In addition, the model group showed progressive up-regulation of a-SMA expression in the activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and fibrotic areas from weeks 5-8. Both hepatic OPN and TGF-beta1 showed significantly increasing trends in mRNA and protein expressions from weeks 5-8 (OPN mRNA: 1.83 +/- 0.25, 2.94 +/- 0.19, 3.45 +/- 0.31, and 5.99 +/- 0.17 (F= 476.27, P < 0.001); OPN protein: 0.52 +/- 0.06, 1.02 +/- 0.10, 1.52 +/- 0.11 and 1.50 +/- 0.08 (F= 298.03, P< 0.001); TGF-beta1 mRNA: 13.19 +/- 0.40, 3.31 +/- 0.28, 1.58 +/- 0.18 and 2.08 +/- 0.26 (F= 85.55, P < 0.001); TGF-P31 protein: 1.26 +/- 0.16, 0.96 +/- 0.12, 1.09 +/- 0.25 and 1.10 +/- 0.20 (F = 43.64, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONFeeding C57BL/6J mice the Lieber-DeCarli ethanol-containing liquid diet combined with CCl4 intraperitoneal injection is a convenient method to establish a model of alcoholic liver fibrosis within a relatively short amount of time (eight weeks). Progression of alcoholic liver fibrosis is accompanied by increased hepatic expression of OPN and TGF-beta1, which may contribute to the pathogenic mechanism of this disease and may be targets of future molecular therapies.

Actins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Liver ; metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Osteopontin ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism