Objective To evaluate the clinical diagnostic value of nucleic acid amplification (TB- RNA),bacteriophage-based assay,3D culture and smear on the detection of Mycobacteria tuberculosis.Methods 291 clinical sample including 110 sputum,54 thoracic fluid,37 throat swab,31 bronchial fluid,13 cerebrospinal fluid,12 urine,8 lymph fluid and 20 others (pericardial effusion,feces, blood and abdominal fluid) and gynecological specimen (including 6 leucorrhoea and menstrual blood) were analyzed by these four methods.Results Among the 291 clinical samples,the positive rate of mycobacteria tuberculosis for TB-RNA,bacteriophage-based assay,3D culture and smear were 37.1%,28.9%,27.5% and 10.3%.The sensitivity and specificity of the TB-RNA,bacteriophage-based assay,3D culture and smear were 54.3% & 100%,41.7% & 88.9%,31.7% & 93.5% and 14.6% & 98.9%,respectively.Conclusions TB-RNA is an effective clinical diagnostic method for Mycobacteria tuberculosis.Although the sensitivity of smear is poorer than others,it is a universal testing method in clinical laboratory due to low cost.The positive rate of mycobacteria tuberculosis for 3D culture is lower than that of bacteriophage-based assay and TB-RNA.Although the time to result for 3D culture might last for few weeks,the isolates can be used for drug resistance screening and bacterial identification.

Simvastatin is a hypolipidemic drug that inhibits hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMGCoA) reductase to control elevated cholesterol,or hypercholesterolemia.Previous studies have shown that simvastatin may attenuate inflammation in ischemia-reperfusion injury and sepsis.Herein,we hypothesized that simvastatin may prevent rats from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced septic shock.In our study,rats were divided into a saline group,an LPS group and an LPS plus simvastatin group.Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were pretreated with simvastatin (1 mg/kg) for 30 min before the addition of LPS (8 mg/kg),with variations in left ventricular pressure recorded throughout.Ninety min after LPS injection,whole blood was collected from the inferior vena cava,and neutrophils were separated from the whole blood using separating medium.The neutrophils were then lysed for Western blotting to detect the levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1).In addition,mesentery microcirculations of inlet diameter,outlet diameter and blood flow rate were measured in all three groups.The results indicated that simvastatin significantly promoted heart systolic function and increased the level ofuPA while simultaneously inhibited the expression of PAI-1 as compared with LPS group.Moreover,simvastatin reversed the LPS-induced inhibition of mesentery microcirculation.Taken together,it was suggested that simvastatin can effectively protect the rats from LPS-induced septic shock.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Baculoviral IAP Repeat-Containing 3 Protein ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Chromones ; pharmacology ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Morpholines ; pharmacology ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases ; X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein ; genetics ; metabolism

BACKGROUND:Our previous work has demonstrated that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels (BMSCs) transplantation can improve the heart function of rats with myocardial infarction. However, the overal efficacy is not satisfactory. OBJECTIVE: To adopt pioglitazone as a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) agonist combined with BMSCs transplantation therapy, thereby further improving cardiac function of rats with myocardial infarction as wel as investigating the relevant mechanisms. METHODS:Twenty Sprague-Dawley rats with myocardial infarction were induced by the left anterior descending coronary artery ligation. The animals were randomized into two groups: BMSCs and BMSCs+pioglitazone. Two weeks later, al the animals received the injection of BMSCs labeled with PKH26 in PBS into the local infarct zone, and then pioglitazone (3 mg/kg/d) was given by the oral gavage for 2 weeks in the BMSCs+pioglitazone group after the cel transplantation. After 2 weeks of cel transplantation, cardiac functions were evaluated by echocardiography. The expressions of PPAR-γ, Connexin 43 and molecules in TGF-β1/SMAD signaling pathway were examined in different areas of the left ventricle from each harvested heart using immunofluorescent staining, western blot assay and qRT-PCR. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:There were no differences in the baseline parameters of cardiac function between the two groups. At 2 weeks after cel transplantation, the left ventricular internal diameter at end-diastole, left ventricular internal diameter at end-systole and left ventricular ejection fraction were significantly improved in the BMSCs+ pioglitazone group; the expressions of PPAR-γ and Connexin 43 were distinctly increased in different zones of the left ventricle; the levels of TGF-β1, SMAD2 and SMAD3 were obviously attenuated in the infarct zone and border zone. The above-mentioned findings suggest that pioglitazone, a PPAR-γ agonist, can enhance BMSCs potential in improvingthe heart function after myocardial infarction, and PPAR-γ may elevate the expression of Connexin 43via the blockade of the TGF-β1/SMAD signaling pathway in the procedure.

OBJECTIVE To study the toxicity of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) on murine macrophage Ana-1 cells and the mechanism.METHODS Ana-1 cells were incubated with ZnO-NP (2.5-160 mg· L-1).Cell viability was investigated by MTT assay.The integrity of cell membrane was investigated by acridine orange-ethidium bromide (AO-EB) staining.The intracellular uptake of ZnO-NP and the percentage of sub-G1 of Ana-1 cells were detected by flow cytometry.Zinc ions were determined by fluorescent probe.The change of cell viability was studied after chelating zinc ions with ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA).RESULTS ZnO-NP 2.5,5,10 and 20 mg· L-1 decreased cell viability of Ana-1 cells (r=0.905,P＜0.05) in a concentration-dependent manner.The cell viability was decreased to 27.9％ after exposure to ZnO-NP 20 mg· L-1.Intracellular uptake of ZnO-NP was increased after Ana-1 cell incubated with ZnO-NP at concentrations ranging from 40 to 160 mg· L-1 (P＜0.05).There were obvious free zinc ions in the cells.EDTA 2.5 mmol· L-1 significantly increased the cell viability decreased by ZnO-NP 20 mg· L-1 (P＜0.05).Chelating free zinc ions significantly mitigated ZnO-NP induced cell toxicity (P＜0.05).CONCLUSION Cytotoxicity and apoptosis of Ana-1 cells induced by ZnO-NP might be related to intracellular uptake of ZnO-NP and release of zinc ions.

BACKGROUNDThe aim of this research was to evaluate long-term pulmonary sequelae on paired inspiration-expiration thin-section computed tomography (CT) scans 3 years after influenza A (H1N1) virus-associated pneumonia, and to analyze the affecting factors on pulmonary fibrosis.

METHODSTwenty-four patients hospitalized with H1N1 virus-associated pneumonia at our hospital between September 2009 and January 2010 were included. The patients underwent thin-section CT 3 years after recovery. Abnormal pulmonary lesion patterns (ground-glass opacity, consolidation, parenchymal bands, air trapping, and reticulation) and evidence of fibrosis (architectural distortion, traction bronchiectasis, or honeycombing) were evaluated on follow-up thin-section CT. Patients were assigned to Group 1 (with CT evidence of fibrosis) and Group 2 (without CT evidence of fibrosis). Demographics, rate of mechanical ventilation therapy, rate of intensive care unit admission, cumulative prednisolone-equivalent dose, laboratory tests results (maximum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate transaminase [AST], lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], and creatine kinase [CK]), and peak radiographic opacification of 24 patients during the course of their illness in the hospital were compared between two groups.

RESULTSParenchymal abnormality was present in 17 of 24 (70.8%) patients and fibrosis occurred in 10 of 24 (41.7%) patients. Patients in Group 1 (10/24; 41.7%) had a higher rate of mechanical ventilation therapy (Z = -2.340, P = 0.019), higher number of doses of cumulative prednisolone-equivalent (Z = -2.579, P = 0.010), higher maximum level of laboratory tests results (AST [Z = -2.140, P = 0.032], LDH [Z = -3.227, P = 0.001], and CK [Z = -3.345, P = 0.019]), and higher peak opacification on chest radiographs (Z = -2.743, P = 0.006) than patients in group 2 (14/24; 58.3%).

CONCLUSIONSH1N1 virus-associated pneumonia frequently is followed by long-term pulmonary sequelae, including fibrotic changes, in lung parenchyma. Patients who need more steroid therapy, need more mechanical ventilation therapy, had higher laboratory tests results (maximum levels of AST, LDH, and CK), and had higher peak opacification on chest radiographs during treatment are more likely to develop lung fibrosis.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; pathogenicity ; Influenza, Human ; complications ; virology ; Lung ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; microbiology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

Australia ; Environmental Monitoring ; Humans ; Occupational Health ; Safety Management ; methods ; organization & administration

OBJECTIVETo access the efficacy of posterior short-segment fixation for single level thoracolumbar burst fractures without spinal injury using CYL-pedicle screw.

METHODSFrom September 2007 to December 2009, 74 cases who underwent posterior short-segment fixation for single level thoracolumbar burst fractures (Denis burst fracture type A, B, C) without spinal injury were analyzed retrospectively. There were 53 male and 21 female, mean age was (39 ± 15) years. Neither of them treated with direct decompression, grafting or fusion. Changes in the anterior vertebral height ratio, vertebral wedge angle, Cobb angle, regional angle were measured preoperatively, postoperatively, before implant removal, and at final follow-up to find the statistic difference. Pain status and work status were evaluated using Denis criterion. The incidence of incision infection, screw breakage, iatrogenic spinal injury were recorded as well.

RESULTSThe time of follow-up was (20 ± 11) months, no significant change was noted in anterior vertebral height ratio and vertebral wedge angle (P > 0.05). A significant loss was noted in Cobb angle and regional angle, which were 9.8° ± 5.1° and 9.1° ± 4.8° respectively (t = 2.48 and 3.41, P < 0.05). Comparing with the patients with Cobb angle > 20°, the patients with Cobb angle ≤ 20° had better pain scale rate (χ(2) = 4.16, P = 0.04) and work scale rate (χ(2) = 24.34, P < 0.01). There were incision infection in 1 case, screw breakage in 1, screw loose in 1, and no iatrogenic spinal injury.

CONCLUSIONSCYL-pedicle screw could be successfully used in posterior short-segment fixation for single level thoracolumbar burst fractures without spinal injury based on radiographic and clinic outcomes.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; instrumentation ; methods ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the thermal treatment schedule of leucite microcrystallization to reinforce dental glass ceramics.

METHODSAfter component analysis and selection, the raw material were treated by different temperature schedules. The products were analyzed by polaring microscope and X-ray diffractometer to determine the appropriate thermal treatment schedule.

RESULTSThe temperature of melting, nuclearing and crystalizing was 1,600 degrees C, 1,200 degrees C and 1,500 degrees C. Leucite microcrystals dispersed in the glass matrix evenly and the size of leucite particle was about 0.8 micro m.

CONCLUSIONLeucite can be microcrystalized according to an appropriate thermal treatment schedule.

Aluminum Silicates ; chemistry ; Crystallization ; Dental Porcelain ; chemistry ; Glass ; chemistry ; Hot Temperature

In order to make clear the packing mechanism of the BmNPV polyhedra, a polyhedrin gene negative recombinant baculovirus, vBmBac(polh-)-5B-EGFP, expressing EGFP was constructed, and used to infect BmN cells jointly with wild-type BmNPV. Fluorescent microscopic observation demonstrated that EGFP and polyhedrin were expressed simultaneously, and the EGFP expression and polyhedra formation occurred in most of the jointly infected cells. Analysis of the purified polyhedra from jointly infected BmN cells showed that the foreign proteins were present in the polyhedra. The results indicated that BmNPV polyhedrin could incorporate proteins other than viral proteins into the polyhedra. It implies that a nonspecific recognition mechanism exists in the embedment of BmNPV polyhedra.
Animals ; Bombyx ; Gene Expression ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Nucleopolyhedrovirus ; genetics ; physiology ; Viral Structural Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Virus Assembly