Objective To investigate the expression of soluble triggering receptors expressed on myeloid cells-1 ( sTREM-1 ) in intraperitoneal drainage fluid of patients with abdorminal trauma and its predictive value for post-traumatic sepsis. Methods A total of 80 abdominal trauma patients were served as the trauma group and 25 patients treated with subtotal gastrectomy as the control group.Intraperitoneal drainage fluid sTREM-1,serum sTREM-1,procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP)at 0,24,48,72 hours after admission were determined in two groups for assessing their value in early prediction of post-traumatic sepsis. Results The levels of drainage fluid sTREM-1,serum sTREM-1,PCT and CRP in the trauma group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P ＜ 0.05 ).Drainage fluid sTREM-1 showed the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve,sensitivity and specificity for 0.84,77％,and 83％ in the prediction of post-traumatic sepsis,which was superior to the serum sTREM-1,PCT and CRP. Conclusion Intraperitoneal drainage fluid sTREM-1 has high accuracy in predicting the sepsis in abdominal trauma patients.

Objective To investigate the effect of high volume hemofiltration (HVHF) on expression of miRNA-146 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in posttraumatic sepsis patients and its therapeutic mechanism.Methods Twenty-five cases of posttraumatic sepsis were included as HVHF group.Another 25 age-and gender-matched traumatic sepsis patients with similar APACHE-Ⅱ who received no HVHF treatment for some reasons were used as controls.Therapeutic measurements were the same of the two groups except for HVHF.At 0-,6-,12-,24-and 48-hour time points,the peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from patients of both groups to detect level of miRNA-146.Peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated at 24 hours were incubated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vitro.At hours 4,8,12,24 and 48 after incubation,level of miRNA-146 in mononuclear cells was determined and levels of TNF-α,IL-6,and IL-10 in the substrate was detected by ELISA.Results (1) Level of miRNA-146 in HVHF group was decreased significantly over time as compared with that in sepsis group;(2) Before incubation and at 4-and 8-hour after incubation,miRNA-146 level was lowered significantly in HVHF group as compared with that in sepsis group.After LPS stimulation,mononuclear cell also presented a stronger inflammatory response in HVHF group than in sepsis group.Conclusions HVHF provides a definite effect on immune function recovery and a significant improvement in prognosis.Moreover,HVHF may attenuate the impact of miRNA-146 on mononuclear cell inflammatory factor release and enhance the cell ability to respond to external stimuli again via down-regulating miRNA-146,as may be one of the therapeutic mechanisms of HVHF for posttraumatic sepsis.

Objective To evaluate MRSA ID chromogenic agar medium for detecting and identifying methieillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA).Methods 118 Staphylococcus spp. clinical isolates(including 108 Staphylococcus and 10 coagulase-negative Staphylococcus(CNS)were identified by Bacteria Auto-Identification System.MRSA ID Chromogenic Agar,oxacillin screening agar, and cefoxitin disk diffusion method were compared for detecting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).Meanwhile,detection of mecA gene by polymerase chain reaction(PCR)was considered as the gold standard.Escheriehia coli ATCC25922,Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25923,Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC27853,Enterococcus faecalis ATCC29212 were used for interference test.Results meeA gene of 108 Staphylococcus was detected by PCR and 80 strains were positive.Compared with PCR,the agreement of screening MRSA by MRSA ID chromogenic agar,oxacillin screening agar and cefoxitin disk diffusion method were 100%,97.5%,and 100%,respectively.Only one methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus(MSSA)and one CNS were shown in wrong color and became reseda micro-colonies on the MRSA ID chromogenic agar. Standard references strains did not grow on the MRSA ID chromogenie agar.Conclusion MRSA ID chromogenic agar can be used to rapidly and initiatively detect MRSA,which is useful to take quick infection control measures.

Objective To establish a simple and sensitive method for the determination of serum copper by spectrophotometry.Methods Nitro-PAPS was used as a coloring agent for serum copper in the presence of surfactants Tween-80 and Triton X-100 and the formed complex was measured by spectrophotometry.Results The maximum absorption wavelength of the complex was 570 nm and the molar absorption coefficient was 7.95?10~4 L/(mol?cm).The lineafity of the method was up to 63.0 ?mol/L and the recoveries ranged from 98.6% to 103.1%.The within-run and between-run CVs were 2.1%-3.3% and 2.7%-3.8%.The method(Y)was compared with an AAS method(X)and a correlation of Y=1.01X -0.27(r=0.998 2)was obtained.A reference interval(x~-?2s)determined with this method on 68 individuals was 9.7-24.1 ?moL/L.Conclusions A simple and sensitive method for serum copper has been established.It may used for the analysis of serum copper in clinical laboratories.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the flexible ureteroscopy (FURS) with holmium laser lithotripsy in the management of stones in ectopic pelvic kidney (PK).Methods We retrospectively reviewed the records of 11 patients,ranged from 37-52 years old,who were underwent FURS with holmium laser for PK stones from January 2007 to April 2012.Three cases had solitary stones in renal pelvis,3 cases had solitary stones at lower calyx and multiple stones were found in 5 cases.Mean size of stone was 2.3 cm (ranged 1.8-3.7 cm).One case had history of ESWL and PCNL before surgery with unsatisfied result and 7 cases were underwent ESWL with poor outcome.The double J stent was placed into the ureter two weeks before the operation.Under the general anesthesia,the ureteral access sheath was placed firstly during operation.Then,flexible ureteroscopy was inserted into the renal pelvis through ureteral access sheath.Holmium laser was used to perform the procedure with the power less than 20 W (0.6-1.0 J/10-20 Hz).The stone fragments were taken out by stone baskets and double-J stent was set at the end of the procedure for additional two weeks.Results The successive rate of the ureteroscopic insertion was 100％.The average operation time was 62 min (ranged 31-87 min).No severe complications such as heavy bleeding,perforation or ureteral avulsion occurred.Small stone fragments were found in 3 cases.All of them located in the lower calyx.Since no one complained about the upper urinary obstruction or related symptoms,conservative observation was considered.All patients discharged the day after the operation.Within three months follow-up,no sign of urinary obstruction was found.Conclusions FURS with holmium laser is a safe,effective and minimally invasive technique.It could be the best option in the management of renal calculi in ectopic pelvic kidney.

Objective To explore the relationship between X - linked spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda (SEDL) gene escaping X chromosome inactivation( XCI) and SEDL phenotype. Methods RT - PCR was performed on total RNA which was isolated from blood samples of patients, female carriers and controls. Patients and female carriers were selected from the pedigree with SEDL caused by the mutation (IVS2 - 2A→C) of the gene. cDNA was analyzed by polyacrylamide gelelectrophoresis(PAGE). Results PAGE data indicateed that female carriers expressed both normal and mutant SEDL mRNA,meaning the SEDL gene escaping XCI. Family investigation showed carrier females in the SEDL pedigree presented no symptoms. Conclusions The SEDL gene escaping X chromosome in-activation is firstly identified from human body. This may explain that carrier females present no symptoms.

Objective To investigate plasma levels of total carnitine (TC) and free camitine (FC) in patients undergoing hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.Methods 200 cases of normal group came from physical examination in this hospital,all testing cases were the in-hospital patients in the department of nephropathy.TC and FC were determined by use of an enzymatic cycle assay on Hitachi 7170 automatic biochemical analyzer.Results In 200 cases of normal group,TC level was (56.52?9.61) ?mol/L,and FC was (46.60?8.23) ?mol/L.In 37 hemodialysis patients,TC and FC levels were (41.47?13.22) ?mol/L and (24.58?8.91)?mol/L before dialysis,a statistic difference was observed against the control group (P0.05).Conclusions Carnitine deficiency was seen in most patients undergoing hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.Furthermore,the deficiency status got worse along with the dialysis course in hemodialysis patients.Carnitine infusion can effectively improve the status of these patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impacts of Xuezhikang (XZK) or pravastatin combined with antihypertensive drugs on circulating endothelial progenitor cells (CEPCs) in essential hypertensive (EH) patients.

METHODSEighty-eight EH patients were enrolled into the study and randomly assigned to the antihypertensive drug treatment group (ATH group, 29 cases), the pravastatin treatment group (PRA group, 29 cases) and the Xuezhikang treatment group (XZK group, 30 cases). Patients in the 3 groups were treated with routine antihypertensive drugs. In addition, pravastatin and Xuezhikang were given to the patients in the PRA group and XZK group, respectively. After an eight-week treatment, CEPCs were counted using a laser scanning confocal microscope, and their proliferation function was evaluated by the MTT colorimetric assay and the adherent cell number was counted to estimate the adhesion function.

RESULTSAfter the treatment, CEPCs in the PRA group (116.60+/-5.70) and XZK group (114.40+/-6.55) was significantly higher than that in the ATH group (88.00+/-6.32, P<0.01). CEPCs proliferation capability and the adhesion function in the PRA group (0.406+/-0.016, 33.60+/-4.26) and XZK group (0.415+/-0.018, 34.30+/-3.77) were obviously superior to those in the ATH group (0.333+/-0.021, P<0.01; 23.30+/-3.19, P<0.01). No significant difference was found between the pravastatin group and the XZK group.

CONCLUSIONSCombined use of XZK or pravastatin with the anti-hypertensive therapy could increase the CEPCs number and improve their function in EH patients with the blood pressure controlled by antihypertensive drugs, leading to benefits independent of pressure-lowering effects.

Aged ; Anticholesteremic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Antidiuretic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Antihypertensive Agents ; administration & dosage ; Blood Cell Count ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; administration & dosage ; Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; pathology ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Integrative Medicine ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pravastatin ; administration & dosage ; Stem Cells ; drug effects ; pathology ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of Staphylococcus aureus from infertile men on sperm motility and the relationship between virulence genes and the activity of spermatozoal immobilization.

METHODSWe collected 60 strains of non-repeated Staphylococcus aureus from the semen of 589 infertile males and analyzed the influence of Staphylococcus aureus on sperm motility using the computer-aided sperm analysis system. We selected the strains that apparently decreased sperm motility and detected their virulence genes by PCR.

RESULTSSperm motility was significantly decreased in 17 of the 60 strains of Staphylococcus aureus (P < 0.05). The main virulence genes in these strains were hlg (33.3%), scn (23.3%), cna (20%), hlb (20%), and clfA (18.3%), others including icaA, fnbA, tst, seb, hld, eta and sea. The scn gene carriers accounted for 47.1% in the spermatozal immobilization positive group, significantly higher than 14% in the negative group (P < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were found in the percentages of the carriers of the other virulence genes between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONInfections of Staphylococcus aureus in male reproductive system can lead to the decrease of sperm motility, which may be associated with the Staphylococcus complement inhibitor encoding gene scn.

Humans ; Infertility, Male ; microbiology ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Semen ; microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Sperm Motility ; Staphylococcal Infections ; Staphylococcus aureus ; pathogenicity ; Virulence ; genetics

Objective To investigate the infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus carrying Panton-Valentine leukocidin(PVL)genes.Methods 26 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus carrying Panton- Valentine leukocidin(PVL)genes were determined by multiplex PCR.Multilocus sequence typing(MLST) was used to determine the STs of the isolates.The genotypes of SCCmec were also determined by another multiplex PCR in the isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA).Results Among 26 isolates,there were 6 isolates of ST88 MRSA,7 isolates of ST88 methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA),5 isolates of ST239 MRSA,5 isolates of ST398 MRSA,1 isolate of ST25 MRSA,1 isolate of ST30 MRSA and 1 isolate of ST59 MRSA.20 isolates were hospital-acquired(HA)which mainly caused pulmonary infection and post-operative pyogenic infection.6 isolates were community-acquired(CA)which mainly caused soft tissue necrosis.Among 19 isolates of MRSA,ST88-SCCmec Ⅲ A,ST239-SCCmec Ⅲ,ST398- SCCmec Ⅳ and ST398-SCCmec Ⅲ were main types.26 isolates were isolated from 14 wards.ST88-SCCmec Ⅲ A-MRSA caused clone spread in maternity department in our hospital.Conclusion ST88,ST239 and ST 398 are main STs in Staphylococcus aureus carrying PVL in our hospital.The isolates not only cause nosocomial infections but also cause community infection.