Complement Factor H ; genetics ; Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome ; genetics ; Humans

Objective To estimate the application for the rapid identification of common clinical bacteria by MALDI-TOF MS. MethodsFour hundred and twenty-six bacteria, including Salmonella spp strains collected from Zhejiang center for disease control and prevention were collected from blood, sputum,secretion and urine in 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University during December 2008 to August 2009. The isolates included 76 gram positive coccus and 350 gram negative bacilli. Species identification was performed with the Vitek system, and serotypes of Salmonella and Shigella were determined by serum agglutination test. 16s rDNA gene of 91 bacteria were amplified by PCR. The RCP products were sequenced. Then the results were compared with the reported sequences from GenBank. All strains were identified by MALDI-TOF MS. Results of three identification methods were compared with each other. Results Among 426 tested isolates, identification results from Vitek system and MALDI-TOF MS for gram positive coccus and 323 out of 350 gram negative bacilli (exception for Salmonella and Shigella spp.),were identical. For 23 Salmonella and Shigella spp. , only 2 Salmonella enterica subsp, enterica serovar Typhimurium were identified the same results by the three methods. Besides, results from Vitek system and serum agglutination test for 1 Salmonella enterica subsp, enterica serovar Typhi, 3 Salmonella enterica subsp.enterica serovar Paratyphi A, 1 Salmonella enterica subsp, enterica serovar Paratyphi B, 1 Salmonella enterica subsp, enterica serovar Enteritidis, and 1 Salmonella enterica subsp, enterica serovar Bovis-morbificans were consistent with that from 16S rDNA gene sequence. Four isolates which were confirmed as S. flexneri by Vitek system and serum agglutination test were identified as Escherichia coli by both 16S rDNA gene sequence and MALDI-TOF MS. ConclusionMALDI-TOF MS could be used for rapid and accurate identification of common clinical bacteria with good repeatabihty, excepting for the Salmonella and Shigella spp.

Objective To evaluate the capability of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry ( MALDI-TOF MS) for rapid identification of methicillin-resistant Staphylo-coccus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) strains.Methods Twenty-five MRSA and thirty MSSA isolates were collected from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine as the experiment group .Twelve MRSA and twenty-two MSSA clinical strains were isola-ted as the control .All strains were identified by MALDI-TOF MS and the results were further analyzed by ClinProTools 3.0 software.Results Four algorithms including support vector machine (SVM), genetic al-gorithm ( GA) , supervised neural network ( SNN) and quick classifier ( QC) showed similar results in dis-tinguishing MRSA from MSSA isolates .The sensitivity of GA was 100 .0%and the sensitivities of other algo-rithms were all greater than 95.0%.The specificities of GA, SVM and QC were all greater than 90.0%. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic ( ROC) curves of four characteristic peaks at mass-to-charge ratios (m/z) of 3279, 6485, 6555 and 3299 m/z were all greater than 0.9.The virtual gel view showed that the bands generated by MSSA isolates at 3279 , 6485 and 6555 m/z were obviously deeper in color than those generated by MRSA isolates .However , the bands of MSSA isolates at 3299 m/z were appar-ently lighter in color than those of MRSA isolates .83.3%of MRSA and 90.0%of MSSA isolates from the control group were correctly identified by the GA model .Conclusion MALDI-TOF MS could rapidly and accurately identify MRSA from MSSA isolates under the strictly controlled experimental conditions with the advantages of less time-consuming, high sensitivity and high specificity .The accurate identification of MRSA from MSSA isolates could be applied for the prevention and treatment of MRSA infection .

Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is a common clinical disease that seriously threatens human health and life. Accurate location of the upper airway obstruction is the key to the diagnosis and treatment of OSAHS. Acoustic pharyngometry uses sound reflection to quickly assess the cross-sectional area and volume of the upper airway. Acoustic pharyngometry represents a simple, quick, non-invasive method for measuring upper airway dimensions which could predict sleep apnea risk. In this article we sought to introduce the application of acoustic pharyngometry in the diagnosis and treatment of OSAHS.
Acoustics ; Humans ; Larynx ; Pharynx ; diagnostic imaging ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Syndrome

Objective To study the auditory perception and speech ability outcomes after cochlear implantation in prelingually deaf children with extremely severe neurosensory hearing loss and comorbid leukoencephalopathy.Methods Our study included 14 prelingually deaf children with leukoencephalopathy (confirmed by preoperative MRI scanning) who were treated with cochlear implantation in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery of Hainan Provincial People''s Hospital, including 8 males and 6 females of 1~6 yr with a mean age of 3.8 yr.Sixteen synchronous prelingually deaf children without central nervous system (CNS) diseases were also included as the control group, including 11 males and 5 females of 1~6 yr with a mean age of 4.4 yr.All the patients underwent pre-surgical assessments of audiology, radiology, speech ability and intelligence before cochlear implantation via transmastoid facial nerve recess approach was done, after which rehabilitation was provided at the Hainan Rehabilitation Center for Deaf Children.Categories of auditory performance (CAP) and speech intelligibility rate (SIR) were employed as the assessment criteria for the outcome of surgery, the scores of which at different timepoints after surgery were statistically compared through paired t-test between the two groups.Results All the patients gained post-surgical hearing and speech abilities to different degrees, whereas CAP and SIR scores both chronologically improved in the both groups.No statistical difference was revealed either in CAP or in SIR scores between the two groups at 6, 12 and 24 months after surgery (P>0.05).Conclusion Children with extremely severe neurosensory hearing loss can be reated with cochlear implantation even if they have comorbid leukoencephalopathy.The effects of auditory and speech rehabilitation for the same age patients with leukoencephalopathy are similar to those without leukoencephalopathy in 2 years after surgery.

OBJECTIVETo explore and analyze the cognitive quality of professional divers.

METHODS165 professional divers were tested with Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices (SPM), 80.8 Neural Type Measuring Form, etc. with 230 common people, 49 sailors and 66 trainee divers as control.

RESULTSThere were significant difference among professional divers of different ages in the type of nerve activity, cognitive style, action stability, memory span, time reaction, the perception of space, act of attention and dark adaptation (P < 0.05); Over all, the cognitive quality of professional divers did not differ significantly in education level or working years (P < 0.05); Professional divers were superior to the common people in depth perception, cognitive style, act of attention, action stability, the perception of space and dark adaptation, but inferior to them in intelligence, memory span and time reaction (P < 0.05); There were significant difference in such cognitive indicators as the type of nerve activity, depth perception, kinesthetic memory, cognitive style, the perception of space and dark adaptation (P < 0.05); Compared with the trainee divers, professional divers were significantly better in the type of nerve activity, cognitive style, act of attention, action stability and the perception of space (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAs a specified profession, diving needs some particular cognitive quality, while the profession itself would affect professional divers' cognitive ability to a certain extent.

Adult ; Cognition ; Diving ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Military Personnel ; psychology ; Occupations ; Perception ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum phosphorus variability and mortality in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Methods A total of 502 MHD cases from Renji hospital hemodialysis center were registered in Shanghai Registry Network from January 2007 to April 2015. They were recruited with general information, laboratory results and outcomes. According to their median of coefficient of variation (CV) of blood phosphorus, the patients were divided into high variation group (CV≥0.226 mmol/L) and low variation group (CV<0.226 mmol/L). The relationship of serum phosphorus CV with all?cause mortality and cardiovascular disease mortality was assessed respectively. Results The average age was (63.9±14.6) years, the median dialysis age was 82.0 (43.0, 139.0) months, 118 patients (23.5%) died for all cause and 64 patients (12.7%) died for cardiovascular disease. Compared with patients in low phosphorus variation group, patients had a higher all?cause mortality in high phosphorus variation group (27.7% vs 19.3%, P=0.028). Higher cardiovascular disease mortality was observed in high variation group as well, but this difference was no statistical significant (15.4% vs 10.0%, P=0.082). COX regression analysis showed that >60 years of age (HR=2.762, 95%CI 1.707?4.468, P<0.001), low hemoglobin (HR=0.466, 95%CI 0.317?0.686, P<0.001), low albumin (HR=0.555, 95%CI 0.366?0.840, P=0.005), high CV of phosphorus (HR=1.479, 95%CI 1.023 ? 2.139, P=0.037) were independent risk factors for all ? cause mortality. Moreover, >60 years of age (HR=2.666, 95%CI 1.469?4.837, P=0.001), low hemoglobin (HR=0.480, 95%CI 0.238?0.801, P=0.005), and high CV of phosphorus (HR=1.655, 95%CI 1.003?2.729, P=0.049) were independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease mortality. There was no significant statistical difference between patients phosphorus on target and patients phosphorus below target in all?cause disease mortality (P=0.065) and cardiovascular disease mortality (P=0.425). High variation group whose phosphorus on target had higher all?cause mortality and cardiovascular disease mortality than those in low variation group (29.2% vs 16.9%, P=0.047; 15.0% vs 6.0%, P=0.033). Kaplan?Meier method showed that patients with high phosphorus variation had higher all?cause (P=0.023) and cardiovascular disease mortality (P=0.047) than patients with low phosphorus variation. Conclusions The high CV of phosphorus is independently correlated with all?cause and cardiovascular disease mortality. Patients with standard ? reaching phosphorus in the low variation group have a lower mortality. A serum phosphorus level sustainably reaching the standard may improve the survival in MHD patients.

Objective To investigate the protective effects of FUZHENGJIEDU,a kind of Chinese herb on rats exposed to radon and it's daughter.Methods Twelve male SD rats were exposed with concentration of 40 000 Bq/m3 radon and the exposed dose was 120 work level month (120 WLM),and then all the rats were randomly divided into 2 groups.One group was 120 WLM group (positive control,n=6 ),the other group was FUZHENGJIEDU treatment group (120 WLM exposed rats were given FUZHENGJIEDU 5.0 g every day,n =6),meanwhile 6 rats which lived in the normal environment ( the concentration of radon and it's daughter was lower than 50 Bq/m3 ) as control group.The levels of tumor markers induding carcinoembryonic antigen ( CEA),neuron-specific enolase (NSE),CYFRA21-1 and p53 antibody were tested by ELISA.The rate of p16 gene methylation was measured by methylation-specific PCR (MSP).Results The levels of CEA and NSE in 120 WLM group were (396.62 ± 148.74) and (9.09 ±0.90) μg/L,respectively,significantly higher than those of control group (t =2.583,2.463,P ＜ 0.05).The levels of CEA and NSE in treatment group were (70.89 ±44.71) and (4.31 ±1.37) μg/L,respectively,remarkably lower than those of 120 WLM group (t =2.921,2.526,P ＜0.05 ).The concentrations of CYFRA21-1 and p53 antibody were not significantly different among the three groups (t =1.713,1.963,P ＞ 0.05 ).The rate of p16 gene methylation in BALF cells in 120 WLM group was 16.67％,but in control group and treatment group did not arise p16 gene methylation in BALF cells.Conclusions FUZHENGJIDU would decrease the levels of CEA and NSE and the rate of p16 gene methylation,and could exert it's protective effect on rats exposed to high concentration of radon.

Objective:To observe the effect of acupuncture in regulating ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP),and discuss the action of acupuncture in intervening heroin-induced brain damage.Methods:Thirty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into a control group,a model group and an acupuncture group by using the random number table.Rats in the model and acupuncture groups received intramuscular heroin injection for successive 8 d at a progressively increased dose.Afterwards,the injection was suspended for 5 d for withdrawal.The heroin relapse rat model was established by repeating the drug addiction and withdrawal process for 3 times.The control group followed the step of the model establishment,but was given intramuscular injection of normal saline at the stage of addiction and no intervention at the stage of withdrawal;the model group was given intramuscular heroin injection at a progressively increased dose at the addiction stage and no intervention at the withdrawal stage;the acupuncture group was dealt in the same way as the model group at the addiction stage,but received acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20) and Dazhui (GV 14) at the withdrawal stage,with the needles retained for 30 min each time,1 session a day,for successive 5 d.On the 39th day,brain tissues were extracted from the hippocampus and ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the three groups of rats.The apoptosis of brain nerve cells was detected by using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick and labeling (TUNEL).The mRNA and protein expressions of ubiquitin (Ub),ubiquitin protein ligase (E3) and 26S were examined by immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).Results:Compared with the model group,rat's hippocampus and VTA in the acupuncture group showed significantly fewer cells positively stained by TUNEL staining (P＜0.01),and its mRNA and protein expressions of Ub,E3,26S were significantly lower (P＜0.01).Conclusion:Reducing nerve cell apoptosis and regulating the mRNA and protein expressions of Ub,E3 and 26S in rat's hippocampus and VTA are possibly one of the action mechanisms of acupuncture in intervening heroin-induced brain damage.

OBJECTIVETo detect the expression of recombinant plasmid PcDNA3.1-sTNFRI in vitro and evaluate the bioactivity of expressed sTNFRI.

METHODSCHO cells were transfected with recombinant plasmid PcDNA3.1-sTNFRI by liposome. sTNFRI in cell culture supernatant was detected by ELISA and sTNFRI blockage of TNF-alpha cytotoxicity in L929 cells evaluated by MTT assay.

RESULTSThe expression of sTNFRI in transfected cell culture supernatant was higher than control groups (P < 0.001). The expressed sTNFRI could significantly neutralize TNF-alpha cytotoxicity in L929 cells.

CONCLUSIONSThese results showed that the recombinant plasmid PcDNA3.1-sTNFRI can be expressed in mammalian cells and the recombinant sTNFRI has biological function.

Animals ; Antigens, Surface ; biosynthesis ; CHO Cells ; Cloning, Molecular ; Cricetinae ; DNA, Complementary ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Eukaryotic Cells ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; drug effects ; Humans ; Plasmids ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Transfection