Objective To analyze clinical diagnosis and management of 5 patients with actinomycete keratitis.Design Retro- spective case series.Participants 5 patients (5 eyes) with actinomycete keratitis.Methods The clinical features and microbiologic da- ta of 5 culture-proven cases of actinomycete keratitis recorded between October 2004 to March 2006 were analyzed.Main Outcome Measures clinical characteristics,isolations identification,drug susceptibility test and treatments.Results All patients were males and farmers.Of the 5 cases presented in this study,4 cases were followed by minor trauma as a predominant risk factor,and were pre- sented by a chronic progressive corneal ulcer with a wreath pattern of infiltrate.The diagnosis of all cases was based on laboratory in- vestigations,by which 4 cases of nocardia and one case of streptomyce were identified.A variable drug sensitivities were presented in nocardia isolates,which including TMP-SMZ,amicasin,gentamicin and fluorine-quinolones.Conclusions Nocardia keratitis is mainly followed by a minor trauma.It is identified predominantly by laboratory investigations.Tropical and systemically sensitive biotic are the initial choice,while debridement and amnionic transplantation could be an effective alternative.

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that is initiated by bacteria. Pathogens and their virulence factors alter normal cellular metabolic activity and deteriorate periodontal microconditions. Owing to the complexity of tooth structure and the limitation of conventional treatment, we may not live up to all patients’ expectations, especially those with grade C and stage Ⅲ or Ⅳ periodontitis. With the advantages of bactericidal effects, high safety, inhibition of bacterial drug resistance and promotion of tissue healing, photodynamic therapy （PDT） seems to be an ideal technology in periodontal treatment. However, it cannot remove subgingival stones and still cannot replace mechanical treatment to preliminarily control periodontal inflammation. Therefore, near-infrared low-energy light combined with traditional photosensitizers is mostly used in clinical periodontal adjuvant treatment. In periodontal maintenance treatment on a regular basis, a single application can also reduce the sensitivity of patients and effectively control plaque, but its effect will be affected by the degree of periodontal inflammation, the concentration and type of photosensitizer, the energy of the light source, etc. With the further development of material science, the performance of photosensitizers to accelerate oxides and target bacteria will be optimized. In the future, parameters of PDT need to be designed in large-scale studies in accord with different stages and grades of periodontitis.

Squalene synthase (SQS) is a key enzyme in plant terpenoid biosynthetic pathway. This study focused on cloning and analysis of Huperzia serrata SQS (HsSQS1) gene. After searching the transcriptome dataset of H serrata, one unique sequence encoding SQS was discovered. The primers were designed according to the transcript sequence of HsSQS1 from the H. serrata transcriptome dataset. The open reading frame of HsSQS1 was cloned using RT-PCR strategy. The bioinformatic analysis of this gene and its corresponding protein were performed. The cDNA (named as HsSQS1) contains a 1263 bp open reading frame and encodes a predicted protein of 420 amino acids. The GenBank accession number for this gene is JQ004938. HsSQS1 contains two transmembrane regions, without signal peptide. The conserved domain of squalene synthase was presented in HsSQS1. HsSQS1 was more abundant in H. serrata root than in leaf and stem. This study cloned and analyzed squalene synthase gene from H. serrata for the first time. The result will provide a foundation for exploring the mechanism ofterpenoid biosynthesis in H. serrata plants.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Expressed Sequence Tags ; Farnesyl-Diphosphate Farnesyltransferase ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Genes, Plant ; genetics ; Huperzia ; enzymology ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Open Reading Frames ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves ; enzymology ; Plant Roots ; enzymology ; Plant Stems ; enzymology ; Plants, Medicinal ; enzymology ; genetics ; Triterpenes ; chemistry

OBJECTIVESTo establish a primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) model by AMAM2 autoantigen injection into C57BL/6 mice.

METHODSMice of the model group were immunized intraperitonealy with 200 microl of purified recombinant AMAM2 autoantigen in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). Mice immunized with bovine serum albumin and CFA in the same way were used as negative controls. Sixty-six weeks later, mice were sacrificed and their sera were collected. Sera samples were assayed for AMAM2 autoantibody, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), ALT and total bilirubin (TBil). Their liver, stomach, muscle and kidney tissues were sectioned and stained using HE to observe the pathological changes.

RESULTSAntibodies to AMAM2 autoantigen were readily induced in the model group. The mice in the model group had no significant changes in the level of serum ALT and TBil but had an obvious increase of ALP (P<0.05). The stomach, muscle and kidney tissues showed no evident damage while the livers had obvious pathological changes, including bile duct degeneration or proliferation, and mononuclear cell infiltration.

CONCLUSIONThe AMAM2 autoantigen-induced PBC animal model was successfully established in C57BL/6 mice in our experiment and its characteristic biochemical and pathology are quite similar to that in the early stage of human PBC. This model may provide a useful experimental approach for further study of the pathogenesis and clinical treatment of human PBC.

Animals ; Autoantigens ; immunology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary ; etiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mitochondria ; immunology

Animals ; Extremities ; blood supply ; Heparin ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mesentery ; blood supply ; Microcirculation ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury ; Splanchnic Circulation ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the reliability of the birth defects surveillance system in four counties with high prevalence of birth defects (Pingding, Xiyang, Taigu and Zezhou counties) in Shanxi province, China.

METHODSOne township was selected from each county as study site. The health workers chosen from township or village level were trained to visit families on the outcomes of each pregnancy who gave birth during year 2003 in the study site. The number of births and cases collected in the study were compared with that from the surveillance system. The number of births reported by surveillance system in four counties was also compared with the data from the local government. The criteria of evaluation were: 1) number of the missing report of births should < or = 5%, 2) the number of missing report on major external birth defects cases should < or = 10%. Researchers from the Peking University were responsible for examining the quality of surveillance in some terminal units of surveillance system.

RESULTSThe numbers of births reported in the study and from the surveillance system for four-township were 1043 and 997, respectively. 46 births were missing and the rate of misreporting for births was 4.4%. The numbers of birth defects cases reported in the study and from the surveillance system were 30 and 29, respectively. 1 case of birth defect as missed, and rate of misreporting for birth defects cases was 3.3%. The total number of births reported from surveillance was similar to that in the study in four counties, with a difference of 1.2%. Birth registry data was rather readable and special health workers responsible for surveillance work were present in all the terminal units of the surveillance system.

CONCLUSIONThe misreporting of births and cases existed in the birth defects surveillance system of the four counties in Shanxi province, but were lower than the allowable criteria. The surveillance units had better registration, reporting and administration of births and birth defect cases. Hence, the quality of the data from the surveillance system in these four counties was reliable.

Birth Certificates ; China ; epidemiology ; Congenital Abnormalities ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Population Surveillance ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Registries ; Reproducibility of Results

AIMTo probe into the affection and significance of NO on the expression of P-selectin in renal injury following hind limb ischemia/reperfusion in rats.

METHODSIn accordance with the conventional approaches of our department, the model rats were prepared after they were made to undergo 4 hours or ischemia followed by 4 hours of reperfusion of hind limbs. The Wistar rats were divided into four groups randomly: Control group, LI/R group, L-Arg group and L-NAME group. And then in those four groups of Wistar rats, a series of values of measurement were determined such as: Plasma concentrations of nitric oxide (NO), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr). Furthermore, biochemically there came to the assessment of the values including myeloperoxidase (MPO), NO, total nitric oxide synthase (tNOS), inducible NOS (iNOS) and constitutive NOS (cNOS) of renal tissue in different groups. By the methods of electrophoresis and biochemistry, the urine protein was mensurated. The immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of P-selectin protein. The morphologic changes were observed with a microscope.

RESULTSAfter hind limbs had suffered from ischemia/reperfusion for 4 hours, there was the occurrence of a series of results such as in the following which were based on the comparison between plasm of LI/R group and control group. The values of NO, BUN and Cr increased significantly, and the trend of indexes such as NO in renal tissue was similar to that in plasma. The values of MPO, tNOS and iNOS in renal tissue all increased significantly after reperfusion, while cNOS decreased distinctly. The urine protein appeared, especially large molecular weight protein. Renal pathology revealed that after LI/R there were edema and infiltration of polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN). Immunohistochemically, the expression of P-selectin was upregulated significantly. Compared with LI/R rats, all injury changes were alleviated in L-Arg group. Morphologic changes were mild. Both the content of urine protein and the percentage of apoptosis cell decreased. The expression of P-selectin was downregulated. In L-NAME group, all injury changes got worse. Immunohistochemical results showed strong positive staining of P-selectin.

CONCLUSIONThe renal injury after LI/R may relate to the strong expression of P-selectin. NO may have protective affection by decreasing the expression of P-selectin and alleviating the adhesion, aggregation and infiltration of neutrophils.

Animals ; Kidney ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; adverse effects ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; P-Selectin ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the specific antitumor immune response induced by idiotype protein (Id)-pulsed dendritic cells (DC) in vitro.

METHODSDC was generated from peripheral blood monocytes of the multiple myeloma (MM) patients using GM-CSF, IL-4, and TNF-alpha. The DCs were pulsed with idiotypic fragment, the F(ab')2 fragment of M protein from MM patient at the immature stage. The morphologic characteristics of the cells were observed with light and electron microscopes. The phenotypic features were analyzed with FACS, MTT assay was employed to evaluate the proliferation of autologous T cells and the inhibition rate of MM cells.

RESULTSDC precursors in peripheral blood could be induced to typical mature DC in medium containing GM-CSF, IL-4 and TNF-alpha. Mature DC with Id could increase the proliferation of the autologous T cells and activate naive T cells to become tumor specialized cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). The CTL at different doses showed significant inhibition on or killing ability to autologous MM cells in vitro.

CONCLUSIONSIn a suitable cytokine environment, the DC precursors from peripheral blood of MM patients could be induced to functional DC, and vaccination of Id-pulsed DC could induce active antitumor immune response.

Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic ; immunology ; Cancer Vaccines ; immunology ; Cells, Cultured ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunotherapy, Active ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; immunology ; therapy ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo study the effects and mechanism of Yishenjiangyafang, a prescription of Chinese traditional herbs used for renal hypertension, on blood pressure and protecting renal function of RPH rats.

METHODThe 5/6 kidney of rat was resected to set up the RPH rat model. Blood pressure, Cr(creatinine), Ccr(creatinine clearance) and BUN(urea nitrogen) were measured dynamically. After eight weeks treatment, plasma content of PAR A II TXB2, 6-keto-PGF1 were measured. At same time, The change of renal pathology was observed.

RESULTYishenjiangyafang could reduce blood pressure Cr, but had no effect on BUN of RPH rat. The indexes of PAR, A II of each different dosage group of Yishenjiangyafang were decreased. At the same time, it reduced plasma content of TXB2, and increased 6-keto-PGF1 alpha. Glomerulosclerosis and atrophy of renal tubule in Yishenjiangyafang group RPH rats were better than those of the contrast group and the Capten group.

CONCLUSIONYishenjiangyafang can reduce blood pressure of RPH rats and has protective effects on its kidney. Yishenjiangyafang can perform its effects of reducing blood pressure and protecting kidney by influencing the RAS of RPH rats.

Angelica sinensis ; chemistry ; Animals ; Antihypertensive Agents ; pharmacology ; Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Hypertension, Renal ; blood ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Kidney ; pathology ; Male ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Aged ; Animals ; Asphyxia ; etiology ; Asthma ; physiopathology ; Catheter Ablation ; Female ; Fundoplication ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; complications ; surgery ; Humans ; Laryngismus ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Respiration Disorders ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Treatment Outcome