Objective To explore the characteristics viral pathogens in hospitalized children with lower respiratory infection,and to provide reference data for diagnosis and treatment.Methods Nasopharyngeal secretion(NPS) samples were collected from hospitalized patients with lower respiratory infection(LRI) from Dec.2005 to Apr.2006.The NPS samples were detected for 7 respiratory virus antigens including respiratory syncytial virus(RSV),influenza virus A and B(IVA and IVB),parainfluenza virus 1,2,3(PIV 1,2,3) and adenovirus(ADV) by indirect immunofluorescent assay.Results Nine hundred and thirty-five NPS samples were collected from children(597 boys,338 girls) with LRI.The mean age was 7.5 months(range from 1 day to 6 years).Viral pathogens were identified in 516(55.2%) samples.The positive rate of RSV decreased with increasing of age,whereas the positive rate of IV and PIV increased.ADV was only detected in children less than 3 years of age,accounting for 0.6%-6.2%.Conclusions Viral pathogens are the main etiology of LRI in young children in Beijing area from Dec.2005 to Apr.2006.RSV is the most frequent viral pathogens,followed by IV and PIV.

The optimal plane for measurement of the right ventricular (RV) volumes by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) was determined and the feasibility and accuracy of RT3DE in studying RV systolic function was assessed. RV "Full volume" images were acquired by RT3DE in 22 healthy subjects. RV end-diastolic volumes (RVEDV) and end-systolic volumes (RVESV) were outlined using apical biplane, 4-plane, 8-plane, 16-plane offline separately. RVSV and RVEF were calculated. Meanwhile tricuspid annual systolic excursion (TASE) was measured by M-mode echo. LVSV was outlined by 2-D echo according to the biplane Simpson's rule. The results showed: (1) There was a good correlation between RVSV measured from series planes and LVSV from 2-D echo (r = 0.73; r = 0.69; r = 0.63; r = 0.66, P < O. 25-0. 0025); (2) There were significant differences between RVEDV in biplane and those in 4-, 8-, 16-plane (P < 0.001). There was also difference between RV volume in 4-plane and that in 8-plane (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between RV volume in 8-plane and that in 16-plane (P > 0.05); (3) Inter-observers and intro-observers variability analysis showed that there were close agreements and relations for RV volumes (r = 0.986, P < 0.001; r = 0.93, P < 0.001); (4) There was a significantly positive correlation of TASE to RVSV and RVEF from RT3DE (r = 0.83; r = 0.90). So RV volume measures with RT3DE are rapid, accurate and reproducible. In view of RV's complex shape, apical 8-plane method is better in clinical use. It may allow early detection of RV systolic function.
Cardiac Volume ; Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional ; Electrocardiography ; Systole ; Ventricular Function, Right/*physiology

Technological improvement for microorgnism isolation is important since isolation provides substantial materials for the exploitation of new microbial resources. In this study, a new approach, dispersion and differential cetrifugation (DDC), was applied in the isolation of acidophilic and acidoduric streptomycetes from 12 acid soil samples. Contrast with traditional method, the new approach yielded satisfying results with 2 - 20 times isolation efficiency and good selectivity. 45 representatives out of 249 streptomycetes isolates, which belonged to 12 color groups, showed morphology and cell wall type consistent with streptomycetes. The optimum pH range for their growth were between pH 4.5 - 5.5. It is proved that we succeeded in the rare-streptomycetes isolation using DDC approach.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of total flavonoids of astragalus on the expression of endoplasmic reticulum chaperone, calumenin and connecxin 43 (CX43) in suckling mouse myocardium with myocarditis caused by coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3).

METHODSThe primary culture of suckling mouse myocardium cells were randomly divided into control group, CVB3 infected group and total flavonoids of astragalus group. Firstly, to confirm the identity of the suckling mouse myocardium, α-SMA was monitored by immunohistochemistry method. Then the protein expression changes of endoplasmic reticulum chaperone-glucose regulatory protein 78 ( GRP78), calumenin and CX43 were detected by Western blot.

RESULTS(1) Compared with that of the control group, the GRP78 expression level in CVB3 infected group was improved, the expression levels of calumenin and CX43 were all reduced. (2) Compared with that of CVB3 infected group, GRP78 expression level was decreased, and the expression levels of calumenin and CX43 were increased in total flavonoids of astragalus group.

CONCLUSIONCVB3 infection may cause endoplasmic reticulum stress of rat myocardium cells by increasing the expression of GRP78 and decreasing the expression of calumenin and CX43. On the other hand, total flavonoids of astragalus can reduce the expression of GRP78 and increase the expression of calumenin and CX43.The results of this experiment may be closely related to the effects of anti-arrhythmia with viral myocarditis caused by CVB3.

Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Blotting, Western ; Calcium-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Coxsackievirus Infections ; drug therapy ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; metabolism ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; drug effects ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Mice ; Myocarditis ; drug therapy ; virology ; Myocardium ; cytology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; virology ; Rats

The aim of this study was to examine the priming effect of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) on fMLP-activated neutrophils, mainly to detect the neutrophil respiratory burst products, and to investigate the signaling pathway involved in S1P activity. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the new isolated neutrophil; the superoxide anion output was detected indirectly by cytochrome C reduction in respiratory burst; the dihydro-rhodamine 123 was used to detect the intensity of respiratory burst; the signal transduction pathways of neutrophil respiratory burst were explored by Western blot. The results showed that after pretreated with S1P, the level of superoxide anion released by fMLP-activated neutrophils significantly increased; the Rhodamine 123 mean fluorescence intensity in S1P primed fMLP-activated neutrophils group was significantly higher than that in fMLP treatment group; PI3K and Akt proteins involved in the signal pathway of neutrophil respiratory burst. It is concluded that S1P is a new priming reagent, which primes respiratory burst of fMLP-activated neutrophils; this signal pathway may be that S1P interacts with its receptor, activates PI3K, then activates Akt-transmitting signals through NADPH oxidase, finally results in the respiratory burst.
Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Lysophospholipids ; metabolism ; NADPH Oxidases ; metabolism ; Neutrophils ; metabolism ; physiology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Receptors, Lysosphingolipid ; metabolism ; Respiratory Burst ; Signal Transduction ; Sphingosine ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Superoxides ; metabolism

To explore the possible linkage between telomerase and acute leukemia, we detected telomerase activity expressed in 3 leukemia cell lines, 22 acute leukemia bone marrow and 6 normal bone marrow with PCR ELISA assay. Results showed that telomerase activities of three leukemia cell lines were positive with the average (1.57 +/- 0.056) U, normal bone marrow samples average was (0.085 +/- 0.081) U, telomerase value from 22 acute leukemia patients was (0.512 +/- 0.294) U. Telomerase activity is higher expressed in acute leukemia than normal samples and decreased significantly after chemotherapy (P < 0.01). The results suggested that telomerase activity was related to some malignant diseases and might be used as a marker for tumor diagnosis and therapy.

OBJECTIVETo observe the influence of either alone or combined mixed-tocopherols combined with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and α-Tocopherol use on oxidized LDL (oxLDL) induced 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHDG) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) secretion by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and to explore the potential mechanism.

METHODCultured HUVECs in vitro were incubated with oxLDL, oxLDL + α-tocopherol, oxLDL + mixed-tocopherols, oxLDL + EPA, oxLDL + α-tocopherol + EPA, oxLDL + mixed-tocopherols + EPA for 24 hours, respectively. Secretion of 8-OHDG and IL-6 were detected by cell enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expressions of superoxide dismutase (SOD), protein kinase C-δ (PKC-δ), phosphorylated PKC-δ (p-PKC-δ) were analyzed by Western blot.

RESULTS8-OHDG and IL-6 secretion of HUVECs was significantly increased significantly after incubated with oxLDL for 24 hours which could be significantly attenuated in the presence of tocopherols and EPA (alone or in combination, all P < 0.05) while the strongest inhibition effects were seen with combined use of mixed-tocopherols and EPA. Moreover, combination of mixed-tocopherols and EPA could also significantly increase SOD activity and decrease PKC activity (all P < 0.05). However, the protein expression of SOD and PKC-was similar among groups.

CONCLUSIONCombined mixed-tocopherols + EPA use enhanced the inhibiting effects on the secretion of 8-OHDG and IL-6 in oxLDL stimulated HUVECs which might be linked with increased SOD activity and reduced p-PKC activity.

Antioxidants ; Cells, Cultured ; Deoxyguanosine ; analogs & derivatives ; secretion ; Eicosapentaenoic Acid ; pharmacology ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; secretion ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; adverse effects ; Protein Kinase C ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; alpha-Tocopherol ; pharmacology

Adult ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; CD2 Antigens ; metabolism ; CD3 Complex ; metabolism ; CD4 Antigens ; metabolism ; Cyclophosphamide ; therapeutic use ; Doxorubicin ; therapeutic use ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Neoplasms, Second Primary ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Poly(A)-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Skin Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; T-Cell Intracellular Antigen-1 ; Vincristine ; therapeutic use

Parathyroid adenoma is a major cause of primary hyperparathyroidism. Treatment usually involves the surgical removal of one or more parathyroid glands. However, specific localising techniques have boosted the development of nonsurgical, minimally invasive procedures, such as percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) under ultrasonographic guidance, which are gaining popularity as a method of treatment. This paper reports two male patients who presented with hypercalcaemia (highest serum calcium level 4.56 mmol/L and 4.57 mmol/L, respectively) and hyperparathyroidism (highest serum parathyroid hormone [PTH] level 772 ng/L and > 1,900 ng/L, respectively) due to solitary parathyroid adenoma. Four days after percutaneous RFA, the serum calcium levels in both patients decreased and PTH levels showed a significant decreasing trend. Both patients recovered well with normal levels of calcium and improvement of symptoms. Thus, we conclude that RFA may be a safe and effective therapeutic option in the treatment of parathyroid adenoma.
Adenoma ; complications ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism ; etiology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parathyroid Neoplasms ; complications ; surgery ; Parathyroidectomy ; methods ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

Objective To compare real-time PCR and gomori-methenamine silver stain in the diagnosis of pneumocystis peumonia (PCP).Methods 2 525 unrepeated specimens from suspected PCP patient admitted in Peaking Union Medical College Hospital were collected in 2014.2 492 samples were detected by gomori-methenamine silver stain,33 samples were detected by real-time PCR,and 429 samples were detected by both methods at the meanwhile.With clinical diagnosis as reference standard,the sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the two methods were analysised.Results Positive rate of gomori-methenamine silver stain was 1.2 ％ (30/2 492).The first three specimen types were sputum,tracheal intubation suction and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid,the positive rate was 0.70 ％ (13/1 845),4.00％ (10/250) and 2.72％ (7/257) respectively.Positive rate of realtime PCR was 34.20％ (158/462),and the positive rate of sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was 30.61％ (105/343) and 44.54％ (53/119) respectively.The sensitivity were 13.97％ vs 72.07％,specificity were 100％ vs 94.24％,positive predictive value were 100％ vs 92.14％ and negative predictive value were 55.36％ vs 78.26％ for gomori-methenamine silver stain and real-time PCR respectively.All of which were statistically significant analysed by x2 test for paired data.The x2 value and P alue were x2 =68.625,P＜0.01;x2 =4.296,P＜0.05;x2 =6.380,P＜0.01 and x2 =11.873,P＜0.01.Conclusion The real-time PCR had higher sensitivity,fewer interference factors and more clinical diagnostic value,so clinicians should make more use of real-time PCR to diagnose PCP earlier.