Objective To establish the quantitative detection of capsule associated protein 10 (CAP10)and virulence-associated DEAD-box RNA helicase 1(VAD1)genes in Cryptococcus neoformans (CN) and compare the diagnostic values of single gene test and combined gene test in CN meningitis.MethodsTwenty-three CN meningitis patients with fungal culture or ink staining or CN antigen detection positive in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were recruited and patients with craniocerebral trauma were recruited as controls.Standard plasmids were constructed using standard CN strain.Real time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-FQ-PCR) was established to detect the mRNA expressions of CAP10 and VAD1 genes in the CSF of patients with CN meningitis,which were compared with the results of CSF ink staining,fungal culture and antigen detection.The diagnostic values of single gene test and combined gene test were compared by chi square test.Results Among 23 CN meningitis patients,22 (95.6％) were CAP10 mRNA positive detected by RT-FQ-PCR,which was significantly higher than both ink staining (16/23,69.6％,x2 =4.167,P＜0.05) and fungal culture (15/23,65.2％,x2=5.143,P＜0.05),respectively; but not significant different from antigen detection (21/23,91.3％,x2=0.500,P＞0.05).There were also no statistical significant differences between combined detection of CAP 10 + VAD1 and CAP 10 or VAD1 single gene test (P＞0.05).ConclusionRT-FQ-PCR detection is successfully established using virulence genes as target,which is superior to the conventional methods.

Disaster Planning ; Humans ; Rescue Work

Asthma ; diagnosis ; Child ; Humans ; Perception

Objective Establish an overall performance evaluation index system for innovative medical devices transforming project,a major science and technology project in Zhejiang province.Methods The weight of indexes was calculated using Delphi method,analytic hierarchy process and weight of percentile method.Results A three-level performance evaluation index system was established.First level included 3 indexes,as condition index,process index and result index,with weight of 0.3401、0.4042 and 0.2557 respectively.Meanwhile,second level and third level included 13 and 38 indexes.Conclusions The index system provide a performance evaluation tool for the innovative medical devices transforming project.

The aerolysin genes (aerA) of BZ and NK isolates were cloned and sequenced. The sequence analysis showed that the partial aerA of BZ and NK isolates consisted of 1393 bp, encoding a protein of 464 amino acids. The similarity of nucleotide and amino acid sequences of aerA between BZ and NK isolates was 97.6% and 98.3% respectively. The nucleotide sequence of aerA of BZ strain exhibited 71.6% to 97.5% homology with other Aeromonas isolates, and the amino acid sequence exhibited 68.0% to 98.9% homology. The phylogenetic tree based on aerA nucleotide sequences from Aeromonas isolates was constructed with neighbor-joining method. It showed that there were three branches of aerolysin genes, and a close relation- ship among Aeromonas hydrophila isolates which were clustered into the same branch.

Objective: To observe the role of rmh-TNF in enhancing the anti-angiogenesis effect of cisplatin on Lewis lung carcinoma in the mice.Methods: Lewis lung carcinoma model was established in C57BL/6 mice.Sixty model mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group,rmh-TNF group(1500000 U/kg),cisplatin group(6.15 mg/kg), and rmh-TNF plus cisplatin group.Twelve days after implantation of cancer cells,different drugs were injected intra- tumorallv for 3d.The expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1?(HIF-1?)gene in the tumor was identified by RT-PCR. Immunohistochemistry(IHC)image analysis was performed to determine the vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and kinase domain region receptor(KDR)expression and the microvessel density(MVD).Expression of matrix metallo- proteinase-2(MMP-2)was detected by flow cytometry.Results: The MVD values in the control group,the rmh-TNF group,the DDP group and the combination group were(24.76?1.28),(18.95?1.22),(19.53?1.15),(10.43?1.05),respectively,with those of the rmh-TNF and DDP groups significantly lower than that of the control group and higher than that of the combination group(all P

The culture of Magnetospirillum magneticum WM-1 depends on several control factors that have great effect on the magnetic cells concentration. Investigation into the optimal culture conditions needs a large number of experiments. So it is desirable to minimize the number of experiments and maximize the information gained from them. The orthogonal design of experiments and mathematical statistical method are considered as effective methods to optimize the culture condition of magnetotactic bacteria WM-1 for high magnetic cells concentration. The effects of the four factors, such as pH value of medium, oxygen concentration of gas phase in the serum bottle, C:C (mtartaric acid: msuccinic acid) ratio and NaNO3 concentration, are simultaneously investigated by only sixteen experiments through the orthogonal design L16(44) method. The optimal culture condition is obtained. At the optimal culture condition (pH 7.0, a oxygen concentration 4.0%, C: C (mtartaric acid: msuccinic acid) ratio 1:2 and NaNO3 100 mg l-1), the magnetic cells concentration is promoted to 6.5×107 cells ml-1, approximately 8.3% higher than that under the initial conditions. The pH value of medium is very important factor for magnetic cells concentration. It can be proved that the orthogonal design of experiment is of 90% confidence. The results from the hysteresis of WM-1 shows that Hc = 230 Oe, Ms = 0.9 emu/g dry wt. Cells,and Mr / Ms = 0.50.

Anal Canal/surgery* ; Anorectal Malformations ; Constriction ; Fecal Incontinence ; Humans ; Rectal Prolapse

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the diagnostic specificity of dynamic assessment and monitoring using a portable spirometer in diagnosis and differential diagnosis of asthma.

METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed the results of dynamic monitoring of spirometry in 145 symptomatic patients with physician-diagnosed asthma. Flow-volume curve and simultaneous symptoms and mood were measured in a fixed-time thrice-daily assessment schedule for 2 weeks. Patients were allowed to make additional measurements in case of symptom exacerbations.

RESULTSThe clinical data of 51 males and 94 females with a mean age of (39.1 +/- 13.0) years (ranged from 10 to 65 years) were analyzed. Duration of asthma before study was (6.7 +/- 9.9) years. Of 145 patients with physician-diagnosed asthma, 126 (87%) could be conclusively confirmed for a diagnosis of asthma. Asthma was misdiagnosed in 14 patients (9.7%). Overdiagnosis of asthma was observed in 5 patients (3.4%).

CONCLUSIONDynamic assessment and monitoring using a portable spirometer by revealing variability and reversibility of airway obstruction may provide an additional tool for diagnosis and differential diagnosis of asthma.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Airway Obstruction ; Asthma ; diagnosis ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diagnostic Errors ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Spirometry ; methods ; Young Adult

To investigate and compare the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in different organs of the mice with endotoxic shock induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), protein and mRNA of ICAM-1 were measured by Western blotting and RT-PCR respectively in different organs of BALB/c mice administered intraperitoneally with 5 mg/kg LPS. The results showed that the constitutive expression of ICAM-1 protein and mRNA was the greatest in the lungs, followed by the spleen, kidney and intestine. After LPS stimulation, the upregulation of ICAM-1 was still greatest in the lungs, followed by the liver, spleen, heart, kidney and intestine. Compared with the normal mice, the expression of ICAM-1 protein in endotoxic shocked mice increased by 4.5-fold in the lungs, 3.0-fold in the kidney, 1.5-fold in the spleen; the expression in the liver and heart was negative under normal condition and changed into positive during endotoxic shock; but ICAM-1 expression in the intestine did not change significantly. The expression of ICAM-1 mRNA also increased consistently. These data highlight that LPS can up-regulate ICAM-1 protein and mRNA expression in different tissues of the mice with endotoxic shock. The difference in ICAM-1 expression among the organs may lead to different sensitivity of organ damage in endotoxic shock. This suggests that inhibition of ICAM-1 expression may be a useful principle for prevention and treatment of endotoxic shock.
Animals ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; biosynthesis ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Lung ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; Shock, Septic ; chemically induced ; metabolism