Objective To investigate the epidemiology of bacterial infections after liver transplantation and anaIyze the antimi- crobial susceptibility of major pathogens to provide reference for clinical therapy.Methods A retrospective survey was conduc ted in 174 patients who underwent liver transplantation during 2001 and 2004.Identification and susceptibility of pathogens were assayed by Microscan Walkaway 40 Automatic System.Results Infection was identified in 59.8% of the 174 patients after liver transplantation.A total of 218 non-duplicate strains were isolated.Most infections were caused by single pathogen.The infection was frequently identified in respiratory tract,biliary tract,blood stream or intra-abdominal cavity.The top 5 patho- gens were Acinetobacter baumannii,Staphylococcus aureus,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Escherichia coli.Gram-negative bacilli were usually resistant to multiple antimicrobial agents,but less resistant to piperacillin- tazobactam or imipenem.Most of S.aureus isolates were methicillin-resistant,which were susceptible to vancomyein.Conclu- sions Pathogens of postoperative infections in liver transplantation recipients are mostly multi-drug resistant.The microbiologi- cal surveillance is important for guiding clinical therapy.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced digital subtraction MRI in vertebra]metastatic tumors.Methods Forty-four vertebral metastatic tumors in thirty patients were scanned by routine MRI including SE T_1WI,SE T_2WI,STIR and enhanced T_1WI with an injection of Gd-DTPA(0.1 mmol/kg).Digital subtraction was performed between pre-contrast and enhanced T_1 weighted images.All the images of vertebral malignant tumors were evaluated by means of signal intensity ratio(SIR) and nose ratio(NR).The quality of images was also evaluated by comparing subtraction MRI with routine MRI.Results SIR and NR of subtraction MRI was 2.93,0.98 respectively.SIR of routine MRI (enhanced T_1WI,SE T_1 WI,SE T_2WI,STIR)was as follows:1.15,1.16,1.26,1.69.While NR of those was 5.25,3.44,4.56,23.32 respectively.SIR and NR of subtraction MRI images had significant statistical differences from those of routine MRI images(P

Objective: To assess fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) vascular hyper-intensity (FVH) and explore its relationship with CT perfusion (CTP) penumbral/infarct core mismatch ratio and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) final infarct volume in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Methods: The CTP and MRI images of 38 AIS patients with MCAO were reviewed. The FVH score (longitudinal direction) [FVH score (L)] and FVH score (transverse direction) [FVH score (T)] were quantified on the FLAIR images. The FVH score (L) (range, 0-16) was based on a rostrocaudal extension of FVH and the FVH score (T) (range, 0-3) was based on FVH supply of the occluded MCA territory. The mismatch ratio was calculated from the ratio of the [mean transit time - cerebral blood volume (CBV)] lesion/CBV lesion on the CTP images. The DWI infarct volume was measured on the DWI images. Results: The mismatch ratio was larger for the group of FVH score (L)=7~8 than those of FVH score (L)=5~6 and FVH score (L)=3~4 (p=0.03), whereas the DWI infarct volume was smaller (p=0.04). Similarly, the mismatch ratio of FVH score (T)=2~3 group was larger than FVH score (T)=1 group (p=0.01), whereas the DWI infarct volume was smaller (p=0.02). Both FVH score (L) and FVH score (T) correlated positively with mismatch ratio (P=0.02, P=0.001, respectively), but negatively with DWI infarct volume (P=0.03, P=0.004, respectively). Conclusions: Higher FVH score is associated with larger mismatch ratio and smaller DWI infarct volume in AIS patients with MCAO. FLAIR vascular hyperintensity may represent collateral arterial circulation, and may play a role in protecting the ischemic penumbra.
Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery

BACKGROUNDTo evaluate the influence ultrasonic processing on the aggregation of PrP(Sc) in the brain extracts prepared from the scrapie-infected hamsters, and to seek for the way to prepare lower molecular PrP(Sc) polymer.

METHODSThe extracts of infected brains were prepared with a lysis solution, and treated with ultrasonics at various conditions during the different phases. The distribution and aggregation state of PrP(Sc) were analyzed by proteinase K treated. Western blot, and afterwards, quantitatively calculated with a commercially supplied software Image Totaltech.

RESULTSThe amount of PrP(Sc) in the supernatant of brain homogenates was 1.29-to 1.58-fold increased with appropriate sonication (15 s for 30 times). At the same conditions of ultrasound, the PrP amount in the supernatant prepared from the scrapie-infected hamster brain was significantly increased, whereas that prepared from healthy animal used as normal control showed little change. Comparative analyses of PrP(Sc) pellets prepared by high-speed centrifugation revealed that about 90% PrP(Sc) released into supernatant after ultrasound processing.

CONCLUSIONAppropriate sonication of homogenate of scrapie-infected brain increases the extracted amount of PrP(Sc), being favorable to laboratory diagnosis. Larger molecular PrP(Sc) aggregates can be crashed by ultrasonic processing, engendering lower molecular PrP(Sc) polymers.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Brain Chemistry ; Cricetinae ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; PrPSc Proteins ; analysis ; Scrapie ; metabolism ; Sonication

OBJECTIVETo analyze the superiorities of acupoint catgut-embedding therapy, discuss its law of clinical application and provide scientific decision-making for clinical treatment.

METHODSLiteratures on acupoint catgut-embedding therapy in the recent 40 years were selected, input, examined and verified, picked up and analyzed by establishing database with the modern computer technology.

RESULTS(1) One thousand and seventy-five literatures were input. It shows that the acupoint catgut-embedding therapy has an extensive application in all departments, especially in the internal department, accounting for 48.54% (50/103) of the total disease category. It has the most extensive application on treatment of epigastric pain, with the frequency of 102 times, and obesity of 74 times. The next is surgery, accounting for 14.56% (15/103). The major application is on low back pain and leg pain with the frequency of 79 times. Psoriasis, with the frequency of 30 times, holds the major application in dermatological department. And blepharoplasty, with the frequency of 30 times, gains the most application in department of ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology. (2) In the included literatures, selection of adjacent acupoints and distal acupoints are held as the major method of acupoint selection. The adjusted lumbar puncture needle is taken as the major tool for the acupoint catgut-embedding therapy. And catguts of different sizes are adopted for the operation. (3) Analysis of the therapeutic effect shows that acupoint catgut-embedding therapy has obvious effect in all departments, especially in surgery and dermatology, with the total effective rate over 90%.

CONCLUSIONEpigastric pain, obesity, epilepsy, asthma, abdominal pain, facial paralysis and constipation of the internal medicine, low back pain and leg pain of the surgical department, psoriasis of the dermatological department and blepharoplasty of the department of ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology are considered as the dominant diseases for acupoint catgut-embedding therapy.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Catgut ; utilization ; Facial Paralysis ; therapy ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; therapy ; Obesity ; therapy

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) on heat stress-induced apoptosis in Raw264.7 macrophages. METHODS: Raw264.7 cells transfected with pcDNA3.1 and pcDNA3.1-HSF1 were exposed to heat stress (42.5 degrees C +/- 0.5 degrees C) for 1 h and recovered at 37 degrees C for 6, 9, 12, and 24 h respectively. Flow cytometry (FCM), Hoechst 33258 staining and DNA ladder assays were performed to assess the apoptosis. RESULTS: After heat stress, FCM showed that apoptotic cells were increased significantly and reached the peak at 9 h in Raw 264.7 cells transfected with pcDNA3.1, and were characterized with classical morphologic changes including apoptotic body and nuclear condensation. Agarose gel electrophoresis showed that "DNA ladder" could be observed clearly at 6, 9, and 12 h after the heat stress. But the overexpression of HSF1 could reduce the number of apoptotic cells and inhibit DNA fragmentation. CONCLUSION HSF1 can inhibit heat stress-induced apoptosis in Raw264.7 macrophages.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; pharmacology ; Heat Shock Transcription Factors ; Heat-Shock Response ; Macrophages ; cytology ; Mice ; Rats ; Transcription Factors ; pharmacology ; Transfection

AIMTo observe expression regularity of SMalpha-actin, SM22alpha, myocardin and SMMHC during early embryonic vascular development, and to initially investigate the differentiation effect of platelet derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) during that period.

METHODSMurine embryonic stem cell line expressing the enhanced green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the transcriptional control of the smooth-muscle-specific SM22alpha promoter was used to make embryoid bodies,and to analyze the expression regularity of SMalpha-actin, SM22alpha, myocardin and SMMHC by immunofluorescence stainings, RT-PCR and Western blot. Then AG1296 (PDGF receptor inhibitor) 0 micro-mol/L(control group), 10 micromol/L and 50 micromol/L were used to treat EBs respectively in order to analyze the differences of SMa-actin, SM22alpha, myocardin and SMMHC at gene and protein levels among the three groups.

RESULTSSMalpha-actin, myocardin, SM22alpha and SMMHC expression in EBs were found to begin at day 0 (ESCs), 8, 11, 13 respectively during early embryonic vascular development. There were no clear differences in SMa-actin, SM22alpha, myocardin and SMMHC protein expression and SM22alpha, myocardin and SMMHC mRNA level among the three groups of different concentrations of AG1296.

CONCLUSIONA spontaneous VSMCs differentiation occurs during EBs development, SMalpha-actin is the first to be detected,the following are myocardin, SM22a and SMMHC. PDGF-BB may not be indispensable for the regulation of expression of VSMCs markers during early EBs differentiation.

Actins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Mice ; Microfilament Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Muscle Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Trans-Activators ; genetics ; metabolism

To investigate the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on autophagy in rat hepatic stellate cells (HSC-T6) and involvement of NF-κB pathway in it.Methods 1)HSC-T6 cells were treated with LPS at the concentraction of 0, 0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10 mg/L for 0, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 h respectively, Microtubule-associated protein light chain Ⅱ (LC3Ⅱ) and Beclin1 levels were detected by Western blot; 2)HSC-T6 cells were randomized into groups of control group, LPS group, PDTC group, LPS+PDTC group, PMA group and LPS+PMA group, Western blot assay was used to measure the levels of LC 3Ⅱand Beclin1, immunofluoresence was used to measure NF-κB P65 intracellular distribution.The levels of hydroxyproline (Hyp) were determined by the method of colorimetry and the levels of laminin (LN) and hyaluronic acid (HA) were determined by ELISA in the culture supernatants after corresponding processing .Results The levels of LC3Ⅱand Beclin1 were significantly increased after HSC-T6 cells were treated with LPS at the concentraction of 0.1 mg/L for 6 h and the levels of Hyp, LN, and HA in the culture supernatants increased remarkably as well (P<0.05).PDTC pretreatment increased the levels of LC3Ⅱand Beclin1 in the LPS-treated HSC-T6 cells while decreased the levels of Hyp , LN, and HA significantly (P<0.05).PMA pretreatmen decreased the levels of LC 3Ⅱand Beclin1 in the LPS-treated HSC-T6 cells while increased the levels of Hyp, LN, and HA (P<0.05).Conclusions LPS can promote autophagy and activation of NF -κB pathway in HSC-T6 cells.Activation of NF-κB pathway may inhibit the LPS-induced autophagy of HSC-T6 cells.

OBJECTIVETo develop an early and accurate detection method for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on detection of tumor-associated serum markers using a multiplex quantitative antibody array.

METHODSThe double-antibody sandwich principle was used to establish an antibody array composed of eight cancer-related serum markers, including alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-10 (IL-10), transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-b1), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Serum samples from 160 cases of clinically diagnosed HCC and from 58 cases of liver cirrhosis (LC; controls) were obtained to test the array. Sixty percent of the samples were randomly selected for use as the training set (HCC, n = 96; LC, n = 36), and the remaining 40% was used as the test set (HCC, n = 64; LC, n = 22). The SPSS statistical software was used to perform logistic regression analysis and to create a diagnostic model.

RESULTSWhen used with the training set, the model had sensitivity of 93.3%, specificity of 83.3%, and accuracy of 90.9%. When used with the test set, the model had sensitivity of 89.0%, specificity of 77.3%, and accuracy of 86.0%. The traditional serum AFP value (cut-off value of 20 ng/mL) showed 70.0% diagnostic sensitivity, 59.0% specificity, and 64.0% accuracy.

CONCLUSIONThe newly developed multiplex quantitative antibody detection system has high sensitivity and specificity. The diagnostic model with AFP and seven other cancer-related factors was superior to the traditional AFP only approach for early diagnosis of liver cancer, indicating its potential clinical value.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Male ; Microchip Analytical Procedures ; Middle Aged ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Young Adult ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; immunology

Objective:To investigate the effect of Astragalus polysaccharides on apoptosis,transdifferentiation and ROS content in renal tubular epithelial cells of diabetic nephropathy.Methods:HK-2 cells were divided into low glucose group,high glucose group and astragalus polysaccharide+high glucose group,cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 assay after 48 h;cell apoptosis and ROS content was detected by flow cytometry;the expression of E-cadherin,α-SMA,STAT1,STAT3,p-STAT1,p-STAT3 protein were detected by Western blot.Results:The survival rate of cells in high glucose group was significantly lower than low sugar group (P<0.01),cell apoptosis rate,ROS content and E-cadherin,α-SMA,p-STAT1 and p-STAT3 protein expression was significantly higher than low sugar group (P<0.01),the cell survival rate in high glucose+astragalus polysaccharide group was significantly higher than high glucose group,cell apoptosis rate,ROS content and E-cadherin,α-SMA,p-STAT1 and p-STAT3 protein expression was significantly lower than high glucose group (P<0.01).Conclusion:Astragalus polysaccharides can promote the proliferation of renal tubular epithelial cells induced by high glucose,inhibit apoptosis and transdifferentiation,and the mechanism is related to down regulation of JAK/STAT signaling pathway.