Objective To construct the serine protease gene(sprE)mutant and to study the pathogenicity of sprE gene of Enterococcus faecalis.Methods Recombinant suicide vector pCQ001 of Enterococcus faecalis with pTX4577,was constructed.Then,created isogenic sprE-deficient mu- tant(*sprE)by allelic replacement was constructed.Moreover,the growth ability and the virulence of the mutant were compared with those of the wide type in vitro and in vivo respectively.A mouse peritonitis model and a rabbit endocarditis model were utilized in the study.Results The *sprE was selected by kanamycin and identified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR),pulsed field gel electropho- resis(PFGE)and Southern blot.The evidences showed that the sprE gene had a major role in helping bacteria to resist the elevated temperature and oxidative stress.The virulence of mutant decreased af- ter sprE gene was knocked out.Conclusions The *sprE of Enterococcus faecalis is constructed suc- cessfully,sprE gene is important in the pathogenesis of Enterococcus faecalis,which probably is a major virulence factor of Enterococcus faecali.

Objective To investigate the effects of heart displacement on hemodynamics during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OP-CABG) while the sites for anastomosis were being exposed. Methods Forty-seven patients of both sexes (36 male, 11 female) aged 50-82 years undergoing OP-CABG were enrolled in the study. Preoperative cardiac function was assessed : class Ⅱ in 22 patients; Ⅲ in 23 and Ⅳ in 2 according to NYHA classification.The mean ejection fraction was 0.55?0.14 before surgery.They received on average 3.2 grafts. Premedication consisted of intramuscular morphine 10 mg, midazolam 3-5 mg and scopolamine 0.3 mg.Before induction of anesthesia ECG and SpO2 were monitored and radial artery was cannulated for continuous direct BP monitoring. Anesthesia was induced with midazolam 0.1 nig?kg-1 , fentanyl 4?g?kg-1 and pancuronium 0.1 mg?g-1 iv.The patients were mechanically ventilated after tracheal intubation and PETCO2 was maintained at about 40 mm Hg. Anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane and 50%-60% N2O in O2 and intermittent intravenous boluses of fentanyl and pancuronium. Swan-Ganz catheter which can continuously monitor mixed venous blood O2 saturation (SvO2) was placed in pulmonary artery via right internal jugular vein. SvO2, cardiac output (CO), BP, pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) and HR were continuously monitored. Right atrial pressure (RAP) and PAWP were measured intermittently. Cardiac index (CI),stroke index (SI),systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI),PVRI, left and right ventricular work index (LVWI,RVWI) and left and right ventricular stroke work index (LVSWI,RVSWI) were calculated. The hemodynamic parameters were recorded after induction of anesthesia before surgery (T1,baseline),before heart displacement (T2), while anastomosis to anterior descending branch was being made (T3), while anastonosis to right coronary artery or posterior descending branch (T4) and to left circumflex artery or diagonal branch (T5) was being made, after normal heart position was resumed (T6) and at the end of operation (T7). Results While anastomosis to the anterior descending branch was being made (T3) SI and LVSWI significantly decreased as compared with the baseline (P

Adult ; Angiomyolipoma ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; metabolism ; Epithelioid Cells ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Melanoma-Specific Antigens ; Neoplasm Proteins ; metabolism ; Nephrectomy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between TMPRSS2: ERG gene fusion and the pathological grade of prostate cancer (PCa).

METHODSWe collected fresh prostatic tissue samples from 62 patients with PCa and another 10 with benign prostatic hyperplasia ( BPH) and included 9 cancer cell strains as the control. We examined the TMPRSS2:ERG fusion gene in the PCa samples by nest RT-PCR, compared the Gleason scores between the TMPRSS2:ERG-positive and -negative cases, and analyzed the association of TMPRSS2: ERG fusion with the pathological features of PCa.

RESULTSThe TMPRSS2: ERG fusion gene was detected in 28 (45.16%) of the PCa cases, but in none of the 10 BPH cases or the 9 cancer cell strains. No statistically significant differences were found in the Gleason scores between the TMPRSS2:ERG-positive and -negative cases (Z = -0.609, P = 0.542), but the primary Gleason score was markedly higher in the former than in the latter (Z = -2.600, P = 0.009). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that TMPRSS2:ERG was associated with the cribriform growth pattern (OR = 6.250, P = 0.002), foamy gland morphology (OR = 6.666, P = 0.023), and signet-ring cells (OR = 3.240, P = 0.035), but multivariate logistic regression analysis manifested that it was associated with the cribriform growth pattern only (OR = 3.750, P = 0.033).

CONCLUSIONTMPRSS2:ERG gene fusion was associated with higher pathological grades of prostate cancer.

Gene Fusion ; Humans ; Male ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; genetics ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; genetics ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) play a crucial role in T cell dysfunction, which is related to poor outcome in patients with severe trauma. Cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) contributes to immune disorder in trauma and infection via production of prostaglandin E2. However, the role of Cox-2 in the accumulation and function of MDSCs after traumatic stress has not been fully elucidated. In the present study, we treated murine trauma model with NS398, a selective Cox-2 inhibitor. Then the percentages of CD11b+/Gr-1+ cells, proliferation and apoptosis of CD4+ T cells were determined. Arginase activity and arginase-1 (Arg-1) protein expression of splenic CD11b+/Gr-1+ cells, and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response were analyzed. The results showed that Cox-2 blockade significantly decreased the percentages of CD11b+/Gr-1+ cells in the spleen and bone marrow 48 and 72 h after traumatic stress. NS398 inhibited arginase activity and down-regulated the Arg-1 expression of splenic CD11b+/Gr-1+ cells. Moreover, NS398 could promote proliferation and inhibit apoptosis of CD4+ T cells. It also restored DTH response of traumatic mice. Taken together, our data revealed that Cox-2 might play a pivotal role in the accumulation and function of MDSC after traumatic stress.

Purpose:Taking tuberculosis as an example, this paper aims at to analyzing the level of reimburse-ment for infectious diseases care, and clarifying the government responsibility. Methods:In order to achieve the ob-jective of this research, UHC framework was used to analyze the security level. Result:The findings of this research reveal that TB in-patients' Compensation Ratio of the New Cooperative Medical Scheme ( NCMS) was lower than aver-age level of all the NCMS patients, the out-patients' was even lower. The categories of anti-tuberculotic for free was limited, the utilization was not as expected. Medical assistance covered few people in spite of its high level of reim-bursement. Conclusion:Based on the findings of this review, it has been revealed that the medical insurance didn't make a big difference in financial protection for patients with infectious diseases. As the treatment for of infectious diseases is a quasi-public good, the government has to shoulder the responsibility of improving the compensation ratio of the patients.

Objective To compare the postoperative complications rate of total mesorectal excision(TME) performed by laparoscopic and conventional laparotomy method in treatment of rectal cancer.Methods The clinical data of patients with rectal cancer treated by laparoscopic surgery(n=42) or traditional laparotomy(n=50) were retrospectively analysed to analysis of the cause and occurrence rate of complications.(Results) The laparoscopic group had an advantage over the conventional laparotomy group in bowel movement recovery,earlier mobility and short hospital stay time.There was no difference in intraoperative injury,(anastomotic) leakage,sexual function preservation,long-term urinary dysfunction,and local recurrence or(incision) metastasis rates.Conclusions Laparoscopic TME treatment of rectal cancer had the same therapeutic effect as the conventional laparotomy procedure did,and has a better subjective outcome.

BACKGROUND:Macrophage migration inhibitory factor is involved in the process of a variety of diseases, and plays a very important role in the tumor, autoimmune diseases, inflammation, angiogenesis, fibrotic diseases and so on. These biological characteristics are similar to keloids. OBJECTIVE: To compare the distribution and number of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in normal skin, hypertrophic scar and keloid. METHODS: We colected 40 clinical pathological scar specimens after surgery, including 20 hypertrophic scars and 20 keloids. Another 10 samples of the normal skin were used as control group. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemistry staining were performed to test the expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in pathological scars and normal skin. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Macrophage migration inhibitory factor was positively expressed in the normal skin, hypertrophic scar and keloid, and the expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in keloid was significantly higher than that in hypertrophic scar and normal skin (P < 0.01). It means that the abnormal infiltration of macrophage migration inhibitory factor may be associated with the formation of keloid.

Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) offer a non-selective and receptor-independent mode to promote cellular uptake. Although the non-specificity of CPP-mediated internalization allows this approach applicable to a wide range of tumor types potentially, their universality is a significant obstacle to their clinical utility for targeted delivery of cancer therapeutics and imaging agents. Accordingly, many reports have focused on selective switching of systemically delivered inert CPPs into their active form in lesions (tumor). In this review, our attention is mainly confined to such an enzyme-sensitive domain incorporated delivery system with activatable CPPs (ACPPs), which have displayed the exciting strength in balancing the CPPs' pros and cons, and potential in the treatment and diagnosis of some diseases.
Cell-Penetrating Peptides ; chemistry ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Enzymes ; chemistry ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo compare the effect of reinforcing Shen method (RSM) and activating blood method (ABM) in treating osteoarthritis (OA) at the molecular level.

METHODSThe physical and chemical characteristics of components from respective recipes of RSM and ABM, and network features of component-target interaction network were analyzed by computer simulation methods including chemical space, molecular docking, and biological network, etc.

RESULTSThe chemical components of RSM and ABM were scarcely scattered with larger overlapping. Among established networks, the distribution of network features was partially similar in RSM and ABM. The average target number correlated with each component was 1.86 in RSM and 2.11 in ABM respectively. Each average target number was respectively correlated with 4.46 compounds and 3.93 compounds, reflecting multi-component and multi-target actions.

CONCLUSIONComputer simulation could intuitively trace out similarities and differences of two different methods and their interaction with targets, which revealed that the compatibility of RSM and ABM could have broader protein targets and potential synergism at the molecular level.

Computer Simulation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Osteoarthritis ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy ; methods