Objective To investigate epidemiological and clinical features of patients with acute brucellosis.Methods The epidemiological,clinical,laboratory and treatment data of patients diagnosed as acute brucellosis during 2002 to 2004 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Results Fifty-one patients had a history of close contact with sheep or cows with brucellsis.Twenty- seven patients had drunk milk or eaten instant boiled mutton.The transmission routes were unknown in 8 patients.All the patients had fever and most had low-grade fever.Fifty-five patients had irregu- lar fever and 20 patients had intermittent fever.The most common manifestations were fever(86/86), fatigue(63/86),sweating(43/86),arthralgia(68/86),orchiditis(7/86),hepatomegaly(8/86),sple- nomegaly(7/86)and headache(18/86).Forty-seven patients had liver dysfunction and 17 patients had thrombocytopenia.Eighty patients recovered and 6 patients relapsed after combination therapy with rifampicin,sulfamethoxazole and quinolone.Conclusion The changes in epidemiological and clinical features of patients with acute brucellosis should be noticed.

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of acupoint sticking of "Hua yutie" in improving ischemic stroke.

METHODSEighty rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, a model group, an acupoint sticking group, an acupuncture group, a Nimodipine group and a normal group. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was used for preparation of focal cerebral ischemic rat model. After modeling, any treatment was not given to the model group; for the acupoint sticking group, "Hua yutie" was applied at "Dazhui" (GV 14) ,"Qihai" (CV 6) and "Mingmen" (GV 4); for the acupuncture group, acupuncture was given at the same acupoints as those in the acupoint sticking group; the Nimodipine group received intragastric administration of Nimodipine. And the normal group did not receive any treatment. Their infarction volume, the cerebral water content, expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the protein level were observed.

RESULTSThe infarction volume coincided with the dominative scope of the middle cerebral artery of the electric coagulation. There were significant differences in the cerebral water content as the various treatment groups compared with that of the model group (all P<0.05). The VEGF positive cell number and the protein level around the infarction area in the acupoint sticking group were increased as compared with those in the model group (P<0.01), with no significant difference as compared with the Nimodipine group and the acupuncture group (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupoint sticking of "Hua yutie" alleviates the cerebral damage after ischemia possibly through enhancing the expression and protein level of VEGF.

Acupuncture Points ; Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cerebral Infarction ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of the host-encoded silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) on hepatocytes' lipid metabolism under conditions of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and assess its potential effects on virus replication in vitro.

METHODSThe Huh-7.5 human hepatocyte cell line was used as the control group and Huh-7.5 cells stably expressing the HCV replicon (Huh7.5-HCV) were used as the experimental group. Effects of interferon (IFN) treatment and activation of SIRT1 by resveratrol were also observed. The mRNA and protein expression levels of SIRT1 were detected by real time (q)PCR and western blotting. Effects on SIRT1 protein activity were tested by measuring the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)/beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, reduced (NADH) by flow cytometry and chromatometry, and the levels of triacylglycerol (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and fatty acid beta oxidation rate by enzymatic analysis and liquid scintillation counting. Effects on mRNA expression of SIRT1 downstream lipid-metabolism genes were measured by qPCR.

RESULTSThe Huh7.5-HCV cells had a significantly higher level of ROS (3.8+/-0.5 vs. Huh-7.5: 1.0+/-0.2; t = 12.736, P less than 0.01) but significantly lower levels of NAD+/NADH (0.03+/-0.01 vs. 0.12+/-0.03; t = 6.971, P less than 0.01), SIRT1 activity (0.3+/-0.1 vs. 1.0+/-0.2, 0.9+/-0.2, F = 6.766, P less than 0.01), SIRT1 mRNA (0.4+/-0.1 vs. 1.0+/-0.3, 0.9+/-0.2, F = 5.864, P less than 0.01), and SIRT1 protein (0.3+/-0.1 vs. 0.8+/-0.2, 0.9+/-0.2, F = 5.419, P less than 0.01). The lower levels of SIRT1 in Huh7.5-HCV cells accompanied decreased phosphorylation of the forkhead box O1 (FoxO1), which not only up-regulated the downstream genes of SREBP-1c, FAS, ACC, SREBP-2, HMGR and HMGS (which increased fatty acid synthesis) but also down-regulated the downstream genes of PPAR and CPT1A genes (which decreased fatty acid beta oxidation). IFN treatment restored all of the aforementioned changes. Resveratrol-induced SIRT activation improved the perturbations in lipid metabolism pathways, as evidenced by an increase in fatty acid beta oxidation and a decrease in TG and TC synthesis, as well as inhibited HCV replication.

CONCLUSIONHCV may decrease the NAD+/NADH ratio in hepatocytes, leading to a down-regulation of SIRT1 activity and expression and perturbing the downstream expression profile of lipid metabolism-related factors, ultimately causing lipid metabolism disorders and establishing a permissive intracellular environment for HCV replication.

Cell Line ; Hepacivirus ; physiology ; Hepatocytes ; metabolism ; virology ; Humans ; Lipid Metabolism Disorders ; etiology ; metabolism ; Sirtuin 1 ; metabolism ; Triglycerides ; metabolism ; Virus Replication

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Splenectomy

Glycoproteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Herpesviridae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Viral Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

AIMTo investigate the chemosensitivity to lidamycin (C-1027) in mdr1 gene overexpressing cancer cell lines established by drug induction and by gene-transfection.

METHODSDNA was cloned by RT-PCR and then eukaryotic expressing recombinant plasmid pcDNA3. 1/mdrl was constructed. Using Lipofectamine 2000, a strain of stably transfected human hepatoma cancer cells, HepG2/mdrl, was obtained. The mdr1 mRNA level, P-glycoprotein (P-gp) level and the activity of P-gp to extrude drugs in cancer cells were determined by RT-PCR, immunofluorescence analysis and rhodamine 123 efflux assay. The chemosensitivity of cancer cells with low or high mdr1 expression to lidamycin and other antitumor drugs was tested by MTT assay.

RESULTSThe mdr1 mRNA and P-gp levels in KBv200, MCF-7/ADR, and stably transfected HepG2/mdr1 cells were much higher than that in respective parent KB, MCF-7 and HepG2 cells. The IC50 values of lidamycin for KBv200, MCF-7/ADR and HepG2/mdrl cells were (0.24 +/- 0.20) nmol x L(-1), (0.028 +/- 0.011) nmol x L(-1), and (0.020 +/- 0.011) nmol x L(-1), respectively. Compared with parental cells, the values of resistant fold for KBv200, MCF-7/ADR and HepG2/mdr1 cells to lidamycin were 6.8, 1.6 and 1.3 fold; to adriamycin were 37.2, 181.3 and 8.8 fold; to taxol were 336.8, 49.2 and 40.3 fold, respectively.

CONCLUSIONLidamycin is highly active to multidrug resistant cancer cells. The chemosensitivity of those resistant cancer cells to lidamycin is approximately at the similar level as that of parent cancer cells.

ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; analysis ; genetics ; Aminoglycosides ; pharmacology ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Enediynes ; pharmacology ; Genes, MDR ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Transfection

BACKGROUNDAssociations between glutamine (Gln) enriched nutrition support and surgical patients with gastrointestinal (GI) tumor remain controversy. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to assess the effect of Gln enriched nutrition support on surgical patients with GI tumor in term of relevant biochemical indices, immune indices, and clinical outcomes.

METHODSSix databases were systematically searched to find eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from 1966 to May 2014. When estimated the analysis indexes, the relative risk (RR) was used as the effect size of the categorical variable, while the weighted mean difference (MD) was used as the effect size of a continuous variable. Meta-analysis was conducted with Rev Man 5.2.

RESULTSThirteen RCTs, involving 1034 patients, were included in the meta-analysis. The analysis showed that Gln enriched nutrition support was more effective in increasing serum albumin (MD: 0.10; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.02-0.18; P < 0.05), serum prealbumin (MD: 1.98; 95% CI: 1.40-2.55; P < 0.05) and serum transferring (MD: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.12-0.57; P < 0.05), concentration of IgG (MD: 1.26; 95% CI: 0.90-1.63; P < 0.05), IgM (MD: 0.18; 95% CI: 0.11-0.25; P < 0.05), IgA (MD: 0.22; 95% CI: 0.10-0.33; P < 0.05), CD3 + (MD: 3.71; 95% CI: 2.57-4.85; P < 0.05) and CD4/CD8 ratio (MD: 0.27; 95% CI: 0.12-0.42; P < 0.05). Meanwhile, it was more significant in decreasing the incidence of infectious complications (RR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.50-0.90; P < 0.05) and shortening the length of hospital stay (MD: -1.72; 95% CI: -3.31--0.13; P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSGlutamine enriched nutrition support was superior in improving immune function, reducing the incidence of infectious complications and shortening the length of hospital stay, playing an important role in the rehabilitation of surgical GI cancer patients.

Enteral Nutrition ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Glutamine ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Parenteral Nutrition ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

OBJECTIVETo systematically assess the effect of early enteral nutrition support after gastrointestinal operation on prognosis.

METHODSThe Cochrane Library, PubMed, CBM, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP databases were retrieved via computer system for randomized controlled trails(RCTs) with early enteral nutrition support to patients undergoing gastrointestinal operation. Quality of studies was evaluated by the Cochrane Jadad rating scale. Nutrition indexes, bowel function indices, postoperative complications, health-economics indices were collected. Meta-analysis was conducted with RevMan 5.2.

RESULTSEleven relevant RCTs studies with 1087 cases were enrolled, including 541 patients in the study group(early enteral nutrition) and 546 in the control group. Meta-analysis showed that patients in the study group had significantly higher levels of plasma albumin and prealbumin than those in the control group(WMD=2.87, 95%CI:1.03-4.71; WMD=0.04, 95%CI:0.02-0.05). The time of postoperative bowel ventilation in the study group was significantly shorter than that in the control group(WMD=4.10, 95%CI:-5.38--2.82). The postoperative complication rate in the study group was significantly lower as compared to the control group(RR=0.64, 95%CI:0.44-0.93).

CONCLUSIONEarly enteral nutrition support after gastrointestinal operation is safe and effective, which can improve the nutritional status, promote bowel function return, and reduce postoperative complication rate.

Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; Enteral Nutrition ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; surgery ; Humans ; Postoperative Complications ; Prognosis ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a non-steroidal estrogenic mycotoxin produced by several species of Fusarium that are found in cereals and agricultural products. ZEN has been implicated in mycotoxicosis in farm animals and in humans. The toxic effects of ZEN are well known, but the ability of an alkaline Comet assay to assess ZEN-induced oxidative DNA damage in Chang liver cells has not been established. The first aim of this study was to evaluate the Comet assay for the determination of cytotoxicity and extent of DNA damage induced by ZEN toxin, and the second aim was to investigate the ability of N-acetylcysteine amide (NACA) to protect cells from ZEN-induced toxicity. In the Comet assay, DNA damage was assessed by quantifying the tail extent moment (TEM; arbitrary unit) and tail length (TL; arbitrary unit), which are used as indicators of DNA strand breaks in SCGE. The cytotoxic effects of ZEN in Chang liver cells were mediated by inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of oxidative DNA damage. Increasing the concentration of ZEN increased the extent of DNA damage. The extent of DNA migration, and percentage of cells with tails were significantly increased in a concentration-dependent manner following treatment with ZEN toxin (p < 0.05). Treatment with a low concentration of ZEN toxin (25 microM) induced a relatively low level of DNA damage, compared to treatment of cells with a high concentration of ZEN toxin (250 microM). Oxidative DNA damage appeared to be a key determinant of ZEN-induced toxicity in Chang liver cells. Significant reductions in cytolethality and oxidative DNA damage were observed when cells were pretreated with NACA prior to exposure to any concentration of ZEN. Our data suggest that ZEN induces DNA damage in Chang liver cells, and that the antioxidant activity of NACA may contribute to the reduction of ZEN-induced DNA damage and cytotoxicity via elimination of oxidative stress.
Acetylcysteine ; Animals, Domestic ; Cell Proliferation ; Edible Grain ; Comet Assay ; DNA ; DNA Damage ; Electrophoresis ; Estrogens ; Fusarium ; Humans ; Liver ; Mycotoxicosis ; Oxidative Stress ; Zearalenone

OBJECTIVETo construct the recombinant baculovirus Ac-cytomegalovirus (CMV)-hSox9 for gene therapy of intervertebral disc degeneration.

METHODSBac-to-Bac system was used for the construction of baculovirus Ac-CMV-hSox9. The cDNA of hSox9 was first cloned into a plasmid vector under the control of CMV promotor to generate the donor plasmid pFastBacDuljgreen fluorescene protein (GFP)-CMV (pFGC)-hSox9. The resultant plasmid was transformed into DH10Bac cells and then the transformation mixture was spread on Luria-Bertani (LB) agarose culture medium containing isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG), X-gal, gentamicin, kanamycin and tetracycline. The white colonies were selected and cultured for amplification, and the hSox9Bacmid DNA was extracted. After verification, recombinant baculovirus Ac-CMV-hSox9 was obtained through transfecting Sf 21 cells. The expression of hSox9 gene in the intervertebral disc cells in rabbits was determined by Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSPolymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmed the presence of hSox9 gene in the recombinant baculovirus and the Sf 21 cells transfected by the baculovirus showed the expression of fluorescence protein. Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining analysis indicated that exogenous hSox9 gene was expressed in the disc cells.

CONCLUSIONSThe successful construction of the recombinant baculovirus Ac-CMV-hSox9 and the confirmation of the target gene expression provides a novel expression vector system for basic research and clinical treatment of intervertebral degenerative disc disease.

Animals ; Baculoviridae ; genetics ; Cytomegalovirus ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; High Mobility Group Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intervertebral Disc ; cytology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Plasmids ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Proteins ; SOX9 Transcription Factor ; Spinal Diseases ; therapy ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection