Animals ; Hypoxia ; classification ; metabolism ; Male ; Oxygen Consumption ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVE To study the cause of bacterial infection of ventilator-associated pneumonia(VAP) in intensive care unit(ICU) and summarize effective methods to prevent and control the infection.METHODS Epidemiologic study on 300 patients with VAP in ICU from Dec 1,2003 to Jul 13,2006.Preventing and controlling strategy was as follows.RESULTS Pathogenic bacteria of VAP in ICU mostly were multidrug-resistant ones,of which the G-were 56.3%,G+ were 23% and fungi were 13.7%.CONCLUSIONS To control VAP in ICU proper technique and method are important.Management of hospital infection and related training of staff in ICU are the basic way.

OBJECTIVETo establish genetic method in detecting Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia lamblia which often coinfected with AIDS patients.

METHODSCryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts were isolated and purified from fecal samples of the individuals infected with C. parvum and G. lamblia, respectively. Genomic DNAs were extracted. Two pairs of specific primers were designed or synthesized according to the 18S rRNA gene from C. parvum or the triose phosphate isomerase (tim ) gene from G. lamblia. Polymerase chain reaction(PCR) technique was used to amplify the DNA samples from the oocysts and the cysts, and those from the 6 control samples, including Schitosoma japonicum, Toxoplasma gondii , Entamoeba histolytica, Trichinella spiralis, Trichomonas vaginalis and human blood cells. DNA samples from 30 fecal samples of AIDS patients were detected with the same method.

RESULTSOne fragment of 500 bp was amplified with the primer of C. parvum, and the other one of 683 bp was amplified with the primer of G. lamblia. Twenty pg and 0.4 pg DNA of C. parvum and G. lamblia could be detected separately. The specificity of these two pairs of PCR primers was confirmed by the failure in the amplification of the control DNA samples. Out of 30 cases of AIDS patients, 7 showed C. parvum positive, while non Giardia was detected.

CONCLUSIONGenetic detection method for C. parvum and G. lamblia detection was established which was more sensitive and specific.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; microbiology ; Cryptosporidiosis ; diagnosis ; Cryptosporidium parvum ; genetics ; DNA, Bacterial ; Giardia lamblia ; genetics ; Giardiasis ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective To observe the effects of a motor relearning programme (MRP) combined with different early acupuncture interventions on muscle tension and motor function recovery after cerebral infarction.MethodsA total of 90 patients with cerebral infarction who met the inclusion criteria were divided into three groups at random:a YANGMING meridian acupuncture and MRP group ( group A),an anti-spasm acupuncture and MRP group ( group B),and an MRP group ( group C ).All of the patients in all three groups were treated with routine medication.The National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS),the composite spasticity scale (CSS),Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA),the Fugl-Meyer balance scale (FM-B) and the modified Barthel index (MBI) were used to measure performance before treatment and after 4 weeks of treatment.Another comparison was intra-group between before and after treatment. ResultsThere were significant differences in the assessment results in all of the groups after treatment compared with those before treatment.After treatment,group B was superior to group C only in terms of NIHSS scores.There was no significant NIHSS score difference between groups A and C.The FMA,CSS and MBI results revealed significant differences among all three groups,with the scores of group A consistently the highest.The average FMA score in group B was significantly higher than in group C but there was no statistically significant difference in FM-B scores among the three groups. ConclusionMRP therapy combined with early acupuncture intervention can improve motor function and muscular tension after cerebral infarction.Anti-spasm acupuncture can improve motor function and control muscular tension effectively at the same time,making it beneficial for MRP training.

Objective To explore the influence to nursing efficiency using exposed wound care ( EWC) at different time point after finger replantation. Methods 60S patients after finger replantation were recruited according to selection criteria and were randomly divided into 4 groups. 136 cases in group A were treated with EWC without gauze dressing cover 1 to 2 hours after operation. 183 cases in group B were treated with EWC 6 to 8 hours after operation. 159 cases group C were treated with EWC 12 to 24 hours after operation. 127 cases in group D were treated with gauze dresssing cover all the time until taking the stiches out ( 14 days). Blood circulation, wound infection, finger survival rate, medical costs were observed and compared among 4 groups. Results Compared with the other 3 groups, group B had better outcomes including blood circulation, wound infection, survival rate and medical costs of replanted finger. The EWC therapy could decrease expenditures of inpatient, length of stay, and incidence of complications. Conclusions The EWC therapy should be used 6 to 8 hours after operation when dressing oozing did not dry completely. That therapy can decrease the incidence of blood vessel crisis of replanted finger, reduce medical expenditures and improve survival rate of replanted finger.

Objective To explore the intervention effect and mechanism of sitagliptin on renal injury in type 1 diabetic (T1DM) mice.Methods The modeling group was intraperitoneally injected with streptozotocin (150 mg· kg-1) once and blood glucose ≥ 16.7 mmol · L-1 was considered as diabetes mellitus (DM).DM mice were randomly divided into two groups:model group and experimental group.Experimental group was treated with sitagliptin (15 mg · kg-1 · d-1) via intragastric administration for 4 weeks while the mice in model group and normal group treated with equal volume of ultrapure water.The 24 h microalbuminuria(ALB) was determined after administration.At the end of the experiment,urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (SCr) in serum was detected.The protein expression levels of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1),Smad2,Smad3 were measured by Western blot.Results After administration sitagliptin for 4 weeks,the contents of ALB in model group and experimental group were (11.96 ± 3.36) (2.46 ±0.97) mg/24 h with significantly(P ＜0.001).The index of kidney weight/body weight(KW/BW) in normal group,model group and experimental group were 15.20 ±2.24,21.43 ±2.16,15.14 ±4.14;compared with normal group,the difference was significantly increased (P ＜ 0.05);compared with model group,the difference was significantly increased (P ＜0.05).The SCr in model group and experimental group were (352.58 ±47.09),(238.51 ± 53.03) μmol · L-1;the BUN in the two groups were(26.08 ±4.65),(10.40 ±2.47)mmol · L-1;compared with model group,the difference was significantly increased (P ＜0.01,P ＜0.001).The expression levels of TGF-β1,Smad2/3 and p-Smad2/3 in normal group,model group and experimental group were 0.19 ±0.02,0.12 ±0.02,0.07 ±0.01;0.23 ±0.02,0.27 ±0.04,0.13 ±0.01;0.18 ±0.01,0.14 ±0.01,0.11 ±0.00,compared with normal group,the difference was significantly increased (P＜0.05,P＜0.01);compared with model group,the difference was significantly increased (P ＜0.05,P ＜0.01).Conclusion Experimental delaying the progression of T1DM nephropathy without not decreasing blood glucose can effect partly through inhibiting TGF-β1/Smad2/3 pathway.

To investigate the effects of wt-p53 gene on proliferation and differentiation of K562 cells and to explore the feasibility of wt-p53 in leukemia gene therapy, pC53-SN(3), containing wt-p53 cDNA, and temperature-sensitive p53 mutant pN53cG(Val135) which behaved like wt-p53 at 32.5 degrees C, were introduced into p53-null K562 cells respectively by lipofectin mediated DNA transfection. In the presence of G418, K-SN(3) and K-pN53cG clones expressing P53 protein were selected. The effects of exogenous wt-p53 gene on the proliferation and differentiation of K562 cells were studied by detection of cell growth curves, leukemic colony formation, cell cycle analysis and DNA fragmentation, TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and benzidine staining. The results showed: (1) The level of p53 mRNA in K-SN(3) cells was lower than that in K-pN53cG cells by RT-PCR. (2) K-SN(3) and K-pN53cG(32.5 degrees C) cells proliferated more slowly than the control K562 cells, and their colony formation was obviously suppressed. The cells in G(0)/G(1) phase increased, and the cells in S phase decreased. These features were more obvious in K-pN53cG(32.5 degrees C). (3) K-pN53cG(32.5 degrees C) showed the feature of apoptosis and K-SN(3) showed the characteristics of erythroid lineage differentiation. It was indicated that exogenous of wt-p53 was capable of inhibiting the proliferation of K562 cells and inducing apoptosis of the cells at higher p53 level and interestingly, inducing the cells differentiation on erythroid lineage at lower p53 level.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVELeukemia is a malignant tumor highly dependent on nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kappaB), which is relevant for the occurrence, metastasis, proliferation, apoptosis, and drug resistance of tumor cells. Research has confirmed that the NF-kappaB family is one of the target genes in the Notch signaling pathway. This study investigated the effects of Celastrol on the apoptosis of U937 cells and the expression levels of Notch1 and NF-kappaB in these cells.

METHODSU937 cells were treated with various concentrations Celastrol (0.5-16.0) micromol/L for 12-60 h. MTT assay was performed to examine the effect of Celastrol on growth inhibition of U937 cells. Cell apoptosis was detected through both Annexin-V FITC/PI double-labeled cytometry and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Cell cycle regulation was studied by propidium iodide. Western blot analysis and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technologies were applied to assess the expression level of Notch1 in U937 cells. Subcellular distributions of NF-kappaB/p65 were detected through confocal microscopy.

RESULTSCelastrol presented striking growth inhibition and apoptosis induction potency on U937 cells in vitro in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The IC50 value of Celastrol for 24 h was (6.21 +/- 0.242) micromol/L. Moreover, Celastrol induced apoptosis in U937 cells in a cell-cycle dependent manner, which means that Celastrol could arrest U937 cells in the G0/G1 phase. Through TEM, apoptotic bodies containing nuclear fragments were found in Celastrol-treated U937 cells. Overexpression of Notch1 was found in U937 cells, while Celastrol could downregulate it at both the protein and mRNA level in a dose-dependent manner, and expression of NF-kappaB decreased in nuclei and increased in the cytoplasm (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCelastrol inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in U937 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The possible mechanism might be involved in the regulation of a survival signaling pathway, such as Notch or NF-kappaB.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Receptor, Notch1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transcription Factor RelA ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tripterygium ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; U937 Cells

BACKGROUNDIt is generally accepted that gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors with poor prognosis. We aimed to explore the relationship of the immunity of the central nervous system and the genesis and development of glioma.

METHODSG422 glioma was implanted in the brain of BALB/c mice (immuno-competent mice), nude mice (T cell related immuno-deficient) and complement C3 knock-out mice (complement C3 related immunodeficient). The survival time of the host, growth and histopathology of the tumor, and concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (INF-γ) in tumor tissues were assessed.

RESULTSTumor spheres were formed in all mice after injection, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) positive staining of the cells declared their glioma origin. The longest median survival time of (44.3 ± 6.0) days was found in BALB/c mice, followed by (24.8 ± 5.2) days in nude mice and the shortest (18.6 ± 5.8) days in complement C3 knock-out mice. Accordingly, the growth of the tumor was fastest in complement C3 knock-out mice, followed by the nude mice and slowest in the BALB/c mice. Although the proportions of infiltrating CD68(+) lymphocytes in tumor tissues showed no significant difference (P > 0.05), TNF-α level in the nude and C3 knock-out mice, (28.11 ± 4.86) µmol/L and (22.87 ± 6.36) µmol/L respectively, were significantly lower (P < 0.01) than that in the BALB/c mice, which was (230.21 ± 39.17) µmol/L. The INF-γ level was highest in the BALB/c mice ((180.76 ± 29.19) µmol/L), followed by the nude mice ((113.46 ± 23.76) µmol/L) and then the C3 knock-out mice ((16.84 ± 4.45) µmol/L).

CONCLUSIONSThe G422 glioma implanted in the brains of mice with different immune ability would be a useful model for studying the relationship of the immune system and tumor in the central nervous system. Furthermore, the T cells and complement C3 compartments of the immune response may affect the growth of implanted tumors and inflammatory factors such as TNF-α and INF-γ.

Animals ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic ; metabolism ; Brain Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Complement C3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Glioma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Knockout ; Mice, Nude ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism