At the time of phage’s discovery, phage therapy was regarded as a possible treatment method against bacterial infection. Although phage therapy was used to treat and prevent bacterial infection in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, it was abandoned by the West in the 1940s with the arrival of the antibiotic era. However, the ongoing evolution of bacterial multidrug-resistance has recently motivated the Western scientific community to reevaluate phage therapy for bacterial infections that are incurable by conventional chemotherapy. With the indepth study of phages, it’s increasingly acknowledged that phages, as the medicine to cure bacterial infection, are convenient, safe and efficient therapeutics. This paper summarizes the recent years’ advanced researches in this area.

Objectives To investigate the distribution of Schistosoma japonicum infected Oncomelania snails in the marshland of Dangting Lake region,and explore the effects of gradient and vegetation on the distribution of the infected snails.Methods Three marshland areas in upstream and downstream of Dongting Lake were selected.The snail distribution was investigated and the ground elevation was assessed (Wusong's elevation of zero)and the vegetation types were also recorded from 1987-1989 and 2009.Results In the 3 types of snail habitats of the marshland,the average rate of areas with infected snails was 35.5%,and the snails mainly distributed beside the embankment and slope zone.More infected snails were found in the high altitude and steep slope zone,while no infected snails were found in the low altitude and flat slope zone,and reed areas as well.Conclusion The Schistosoma japonicum infected snails in the marshland of Dongting Lake mainly distribute beside the embankment and slope zoon,and are correlated with the water level in flood seasons and the activities of definitive hosts.

Cells, Cultured ; Hepacivirus ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis C ; virology ; Humans

Atrial Fibrillation ; Brain Ischemia ; China/epidemiology* ; Embolism ; Humans ; Ischemic Stroke ; Stroke

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the relationship between epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) and lung metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODSThere were 100 patients who underwent surgical resection of hepatocellular carcinoma between January 2000 and March 2004. They were classified with non-distance metastasis and lung metastasis depend on the close following up till March 2007. Their hepatocellular carcinoma specimens were retrospectively examined for EMT markers (E-cadherin, Vimentin, Fibronectin) with immunochemistry staining in tissue microarray. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used for study the relationship between EMT and lung metastasis.

RESULTSUnivariate analysis showed that down regulation of E-cadherin, overexpression of fibronectin, cytosolic expression of vimentin, AFP >or= 400 ng/ml, tumor size more than 10 cm, portal vein involvement, poorly differentiated of tumor had close correlation with lung metastasis. Multivariate analysis indicated that overexpression of fibronectin was independent factor for lung metastasis apart from tumor size more than 10 cm, portal vein involvement and poorly differentiated of tumor.

CONCLUSIONThe results proposed that EMT has close relation with lung metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Adult ; Aged ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Differentiation ; Epithelial Cells ; pathology ; Female ; Fibronectins ; metabolism ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lung Neoplasms ; secondary ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Stromal Cells ; pathology ; Vimentin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism of new bone formation in the distraction osteogenesis (DO) for correction of cleft palate (CP) in rhesus.

METHODSCP was created by operation in 23 rhesus. The CP was corrected with DO in 21 animals as experimental group. The distraction rate was 0.8 mm per day, two times a day. The bone fragments were fixed after cleft closure, every 3 animals were sacrificed to get specimen after 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24 weeks of fixation. 6 days before sacrifice, tetracycline was administrated for labeling (30 mg/kg).

RESULTSThe hard and soft tissue def of fixation. At the same time, the bone volume and calcification between the distraction gap increased. The cleft in the control group could not b ect was successfully closed with DO by intramembrane osteogenesis. The new formed bone was remodeling and became maturation during the period e corrected spontaneously.

CONCLUSIONSThe DO can successfully correct both the soft and hard tissue defect in CP by intramembrane osteogenesis. The fixation is important for remodeling and maturation of the new formed bone.

Animals ; Biomarkers ; Cleft Palate ; pathology ; surgery ; Macaca ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Palate, Hard ; pathology ; Palate, Soft ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo detect hot point mutations of ATP7B gene in Hunan Han patients with Wilson' disease (WD).

METHODSThe genomic DNA of 22 WD patients was extracted and exons 5, 8, 12, 13 were amplified by PCR. Screening for the mutations was done by direct sequencing and analysed by BLAST.

RESULTSFifteen of the 22 patients were found with mutations. Ten heterozygous Arg778Leu (2273G --> T) mutations were found in exon 8, all of them were accompanied with 2250C --> G polymorphism (Leu770Leu). Seven patients were found with 2855G --> A (Arg952Lys) polymorphism (4 heterozygous and 3 homozygous), 3 of them had Arg778Leu mutation in exon 8 and one with heterozygous mutation Gly943Asp (2828G --> A) in exon 12 simultaneously. Only one patient was found with heterozygous Pro992Leu (2975C --> T) mutation in exon 13. No mutations were found in exon 5.

CONCLUSIONArg778Leu is the hot point mutation of ATP7B gene in Hunan Han patients with Wilson' disease while exon 5 is not.

Adenosine Triphosphatases ; genetics ; Adolescent ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Cation Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Child ; Copper-transporting ATPases ; DNA ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; Hepatolenticular Degeneration ; ethnology ; genetics ; Humans ; Mutation

Catheterization ; adverse effects ; methods ; Catheterization, Central Venous ; adverse effects ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Subclavian Artery ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the pathological expression and significance of VEGF in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis.

METHODSThe expression of VEGF in the synovial tissues of cacroiliac joint of patients with active AS was detected by using in situ hybridization and the results were compared with those in the patients with pelvic fracture using image analysis system.

RESULTSThe positive expressions of VEGF in the synovial tissues of cacroiliac joint of patients with active AS were stronger than those in the control group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONVEGF are important factors in patients with active AS. They are tightly correlated with the process of osteoclasia and pathological new bone formation in the cacroiliac joint of patients with active AS. If we can reduce the expressions of VEGF in the patients with active AS, the process of osteoclasia and pathological new bone formation will be interrupted and this provides a new strategy for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; genetics ; Synovial Fluid ; cytology ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics

OBJECTIVESTo construct an eucaryotic expression plasmid carrying the BMP7 gene and express in MSCs.

METHODSThe BMP7 gene was cloned into the eucaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1. At the same time, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were isolated and cultured in vitro. The plasmid carrying the BMP7 gene was transfected into MSCs.

RESULTSPCR and digesting demonstrated that the eucaryotic expression plasmid -pcDNA-BMP7 was obtained. RT-PCR and immunohistochemical methods showed that the BMP7 gene was expressed in MSCs.

CONCLUSIONConstruction of an eucaryotic expression plasmid carrying BMP7 gene and expression in MSCs provide a sound basis for gene therapy using the BMP7 gene and the ideal seeds for tissue engineering.

Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 ; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins ; genetics ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tissue Engineering ; Transforming Growth Factor beta