Objective To investigate the immunity effects of quorum sensing in the pulmonary infection in rats due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa.Method(1)300 healthy,clean Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups randomly:two different Pseudomonas aeruginosa(the wide-type Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and its double mutant PAO-JP2,in which the quorum sensing systems were defective,embedded in minute seaweed algiante beads which was made by an ejection set with an acuminate hole were inoculated to Sprague-Dawley rats to establish animal model of chronic pulmonary infection.The control group were dealed with the same methods using the sterile brine instead.(2)The levels of antibody IgG,IgM,IgG1,IgG2a to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in sera and cytokines including interferon-?(IFN-?),Interleukin-4(IL-4)in lung homogenate was measured at 3,7,14,28 days after infection.Results(1)The mortality in the PAO1-JP2-infected group(11.0%)was significantly lower than that of the PAO1-infected group(29.7%)and the control group(4.21%).(2) Compared with the PAO-JP2 group,during the early stages of infection(3 days after infection),the IFN-?level in lung homogenates was significantly higher;during the middle stages of infection(7 days after infection),the levels of IFN-?and IL-4 of PAO1-infected rats were significantly higher;In the later stages of infection(14 to 28 days after infection),levles of IFN-?,IgG2a were lower,while levels of IL-4,IgG,IgG1 were higher persistantly in PAO1-infected rats.Conclusions Quorum sensing system play an important role in pathogenesis and immunity effects of pseudomonas aeruginosa infection via modulating the expression of virulence factors and interfering with the immune system of hosts.

This paper introduces a random measurement analysis of, lung function measurement values with two different apparatus. in 41 patients. It shows that the differences are not statistically significant (P>0.05) between two apparatus measurement values except DLCO, FEF25, FEF75 in the group of normal ventilation, FVC in the group of abnormal ventilation. The two groups are both correlated closely (r> 0.9) except MMF(r=0.7725, RV r=0.808) in the normal group of ventilation, and FEF75 (r=0.58) in the abnormal group of ventilation (p<0.001). The two apparatus with different measuring theories have a good correlation.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Respiratory Function Tests ; instrumentation ; methods

BACKGROUNDThymectomy is considered the most effective treatment in patients with myasthenia gravis. This study aimed to explore the predictors of postoperative myasthenic crisis in patients with myasthenia gravis after thymectomy.

METHODSClinical records of 243 patients with myasthenia gravis who underwent thymectomy were reviewed retrospectively. The following factors were analyzed in relation to the occurrence of myasthenic crisis after thymectomy: gender, age, duration of symptoms, Osserman stage, history of myasthenic crisis, concomitant diseases, preoperative pyridostigmine dose, preoperative steroid therapy, operation approach, operation time, presence of thymoma, major postoperative complications.

RESULTSForty-four patients experienced postoperative myasthenic crisis during the first month after thymectomy. Univariate analysis revealed that Osserman stage (RR = 0.0976, P = 0.000), history of myasthenic crisis (RR = 0.2309, P = 0.012), preoperative pyridostigmine dose (RR = 0.4349, P = 0.016), thymoma (RR = 0.0606, P = 0.000), and major postoperative complications (RR = 0.1094, P = 0.000) were significantly related to postoperative myasthenic crisis. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that Osserman stage (IIb + III + IV) (RR = 0.0953, P = 0.000), thymoma (RR = 0.0294, P = 0.000), and major postoperative complications (RR = 0.0424, P = 0.000) independently predict postoperative myasthenic crisis.

CONCLUSIONOsserman stage (IIb + IIIb + IV), thymoma and major postoperative complications are independent predictors of postoperative myasthenic crisis in patients with myasthenia gravis who underwent thymectomy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myasthenia Gravis ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; Thymectomy ; adverse effects ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo carry out the citation analysis of publications in Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine (CJPM) among the preventive medicine authors and analyze the impact of this magazine in preventive medicine domain.

METHODSUsing Chinese scientific periodical literature evaluation and statistical analysis system (V1.0), the citation status of all CJPM publications in 2000-2005 was analyzed, the analysis covered 21 columns, including the review, editorial and original article, the data were collected up to November, 2007.

RESULTSFrom 2000 to 2005, CJPM had more than 30 columns and carried 1196 articles and 92. 89% (1111/1196) articles were from 21 main columns. During 2003 to 2005, the impact factors of CJPM were 0. 897, 1.011 and 0. 891 respectively. Among 21 main columns, the citation frequency of six columns including original article, editorial, review, courses, discussion and case report were higher than 80%. In five columns (original article, editorial, report, review and academic trends), the average citation frequency of individual articles was more than 4 times. The citation frequency of 20 authors was higher than 20 times and these authors were from medical schools, teaching hospitals, centers of diseases control and the research institutes. The individual citation frequency of 17 articles was more than 20 times and the individual citation frequency of three articles was more than 50 times. 34.9% of the citations of the 2000-2005 CJPM articles were from the top 20 journals, and the self-citation rate was 4. 85%.

CONCLUSIONThe publications in Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine are most frequently cited, which indicated that those publications have high quality, this journal has a great effect in preventive medicine field of China.

Bibliometrics ; China ; Periodicals as Topic ; statistics & numerical data ; Preventive Medicine

Objective To investigate the pharmacokinetics and pharmacokinetics of torsemide in children with acute heart failure.Methods Ninety cases of children with acute heart failure patients were randomly divided into three groups which were given different intravenous therapy doses of torsemide. Our goal is to provide the basis for clinical rational therapy by analyzing parameter of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacokinetics of torsemide which is acquired by detecting plasma concentration of torsemide with liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry after a one-time medication. Result Average pharmacokinetic parameters of the three groups in addition to the peak concentration (Cmax) and medication in the area under the curve (AUC0-16) are different (P＜0.01), the rest of the pharmacokinetic parameters had no significant difference (P＞0.05) . The 24 hours urine volume of the experimental groupⅡand the experimental groupⅢwere obviously higher than that of the experimental groupⅠ, so the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.01).The 24 hours urine volumes between the experimental group Ⅱ and the experimental group Ⅲ were no significant difference (P＞ 0.05).There was no significant change in blood pressure, weight, abdominal girth, blood potassium, blood sodium and blood chlorine in the three dose groups compared with those before the treatment. There was no significant difference between the three groups (P＞0.05) . Conclusion The children with acute heart failure were well tolerated with torsemide. The recommended dose of torsemide is 1.0 mg/(kg.d) in the treatment of acute heart failure in children, based on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics.

BACKGROUNDDespite extensive research, the mechanism of immature dendritic cells (DCs) induced immune hyporesponsiveness remains incompletely understood.

METHODSRecipient DCs from C3H mouse bone marrow cells were incubated with donor antigen from splenic lymphocytes of C57BL/6 mouse; these DCs were transfected with CD80/86 specific siRNA using lentiviral vectors. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate expression of CD80/86 on the antigen-pulsed recipient DCs. Immune regulatory activity was examined by mixed lymphocyte reaction, in which irradiated DCs were cultured with C3H spleen T cells. After the reaction, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-10, and interferon (INF)-γ levels of mixed lymphocyte reaction culture supernatant were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The apoptotic T lymphocytes were identified by Annexin V and CD3 staining.

RESULTSThere was a significant inhibition of CD80/86 expression in DCs transfected with CD80/86 lentiviral vectors compared with the control groups (P < 0.05), indicating the specificity of RNA interference. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results showed a significant reduction of INF-γ, IL-2 and IL-10 in the CD80/86 lentivirus transfected group compared to the control groups (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in IL-4 levels between the groups (P > 0.05). We also showed that CD80/86 low DCs loaded with alloantigen (1) stimulated low T cell proliferative responses via the indirect recognition pathway and (2) enhanced apoptotic activity (P < 0.05) in co-cultured T cells.

CONCLUSIONSLentiviral vector transfection can effectively and specifically knock down target genes in DCs. The CD80/86 low DCs may show tolerogenic activity via induction of T-cell apoptosis, thereby modulating the activity of recipient-derived DCs. The use of this approach may potentially be clinically applicable.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; B7-1 Antigen ; genetics ; physiology ; B7-2 Antigen ; genetics ; physiology ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C3H ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; RNA Interference ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology

OBJECTIVEMDM2 is considered a proto-oncogene due to its ability to inhibit P53 tumor-suppressor function. But, evidence showed that MDM2 might have a P53-independent role in tumorigenesis. MDM2 is over-expressed in human sarcoma and carcinoma. Recent studies showed that MDM2 might act as a transcriptional factor to modulate expressions of other genes involved in cell cycle regulation and transformation. In the present study, the investigators hypothesized that MDM2 directly affected NF-kappaB expression and function in a P53-independent manner.

METHODSMDM2 was transfected to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) line EU-4 cells lacking P53 expression and expressing very low levels of MDM2. MDM2 and P65 expression in mRNA level and protein level were detected by Western blot and Northern blot after transfection. Since the expression of E-selectin is P65 dependent, E-selectin promoter-CAT construct and P65 and MDM2 expression plasmids were co-transfected to EU-4 cells. CAT activation was determined with ELISA. The effect of adriamycin (ADM) at the concentrations of 15 micro g/ml, 7.5 micro g/ml, 5 micro g/ml and 1 micro g/ml on MDM2-transfected EU-4 cells and the parent cells was detected by MTT assay.

RESULTSThe results showed that MDM2 up-regulated P65 expression at both mRNA and protein levels, and MDM2 increased P65-mediated transactivation of E-selectin promoter. Without P65, MDM2 had no effect on the transactivation of E-selectin. Moreover, MDM2 antisense could not change the transactivation of E-selectin. MTT results showed that the survival rate of MDM2 transfected EU-4 cells was higher than that of parental cells. The results suggested that MDM2 transfection increase drug resistance of EU-4 cells to ADM compared with parent cells.

CONCLUSION(1) MDM2 up-regulated transcriptionally P65 expression. (2) MDM2 increased drug resistance of leukemia cells to ADM. (3) MDM2 elevated NF-kappaB activity in a P53-independent manner in childhood lymphoblastic leukemia cell line.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; therapeutic use ; Blotting, Northern ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Child ; Doxorubicin ; therapeutic use ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; physiology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; metabolism ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; physiology ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; genetics ; physiology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2 ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transcription Factor RelA ; Transfection ; methods

OBJECTIVETo evaluate reimplantation of devitalized autogenous calvarial bone flaps and the fixation of titanium clamps (CranioFix) for cranioplasty.

METHODSFrom March 2000 to December 2003, 21 patients underwent (1) delayed reimplantation of preserved autogenous bone flaps, which were removed during the initial operations for increased intracranial pressure and stored in a freezer and autoclaved before use, or (2) immediate reimplantation of tumor invaded bone flaps that were devitalized by boiling. All of these flaps were fixed with titanium clamps (CranioFix). Resorption of the bone flaps was monitored by skull roentgenograms and computed tomography (CT). The clinical and aesthetic results were evaluated.

RESULTSDuring the follow-up period of 6 to 30 months, no complications were found. There was slight resorption of the bone flaps in all cases, but the edge of the bone flaps was within the range of the titanium clamps according to skull roentgenograms and CT. Clinical and aesthetic results were highly satisfactory.

CONCLUSIONSIt is simple and practical using devitalized autogenous calvarial bone flaps for cranioplasty. The firmness decreasing of the reimplanted bone flap due to resorption can be prevented greatly by titanium clamps (CranioFix).

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Transplantation ; methods ; Craniotomy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Skull ; surgery ; Surgical Flaps ; Titanium ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the rabies molecular biology features in animals between high incidence area of rabies and no rabies cases area in Hunan.

METHODSdetect saliva of dogs and brains of dogs and cats by direct immunofluorescence assay, review positive samples by RT-PCR, sequencing extract RNA virus for genetic analysis.

RESULTS12 were detected rabies virus antigen and positive nucleoside acid in 82 dogs from Wugang city also 1 in 17 from Dongkou county; the positive rate: Wugang 14.63 percent, Dongkou 5.88 percent. No rabies virus was detected in 67 samples of dog brains from Fenghuang County. Also none in 28 samples of cat brains. Amplificating N gene of rabies virus from positive samples of dog brain's tissue (No Wg13, Dk13) by RT-PCR, it shows that homology of nucleoside acid between two strain of virus is 99.4 percent; also 99.1 percent of amino acid. The homology of nucleoside acid (amonio acid) among Wg13 stain and Chinese strain CTN and aG strain is 89.4 percent (98.2 percent) and 86.1 percent (95.1 percent); The homology of nucleoside acid (amonio acid) among Dk13 stain Chinese strain CTN and aG strain is 89.1 percent (98.0 percent), 86.1 percent (94.9 percent).Compare with isolated rabies virus from abroad, the homology between two strains and Indonesia is 92.8 percent and 93.2 percent, the most similar of them. The strains isolated from other countries including Japan, Sri Lanka and India are relatively lower; The sequence of gene Wg13 and Dk13 were taken replacement of amino acid.

CONCLUSIONTwo strains are belong to type I rabies virus, comparing its N gene with current using vaccine strains, both are in same group, and homology are relatively higher.

Animals ; Cats ; Dogs ; Genes, Viral ; Phylogeny ; Rabies virus ; classification ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) therapy for HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B.

METHODSSixty-five Chinese HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients were treated with 5 MU recombinant rIFN-alpha 1b subcutaneously thrice weekly for 5 to 24 months, followed by 12 months of treatment-free follow-up; one hundred and eighty-eight Chinese HBeAg-positive patients served as controls. For each patient, serum alanine transaminase (ALT) was measured biochemically and serum HBV DNA level was detected with fluorescent-quantitative PCR, HBeAg with enzymoimmunoassay every 1 to 3 months during therapy and during the follow-up period. HBeAg loss (only for HBeAg-positive cases), HBV DNA undetectable, and ALT normalization: the three together were considered a combined response.

RESULTSRates of combined response were similar in HBeAg-negative patients (58.5%, 38/65) or HBeAg-positive ones at the end of treatment (weighted chi square test, chi2 = 1.878, P<0.05), but were higher at the end of the follow-up period in the HBeAg-negative cases (75.4%, 49/65) (weighted chi square test, chi2 = 4.796, P<0.05). Furthermore, relapse rates at the end of the follow-up period, were also similar in HBeAg-negative patients (15.8%, 6/38) or HBeAg positive (chi2 = 0.205, P>0.05). Combined response was achieved at a median of 6.0 months (2-16 months) of treatment course in HBeAg-negative patients while at a median of 6.0 months (1-22 months) in HBeAg-positive cases (Z = -0.186, P>0.05, by the Wilcoxon rank sum test). The only factor predictive of combined response, by binary logistic regression analysis, was inflammatory activity in the liver biopsy. Gender, age, baseline ALT level, baseline HBV DNA level, and anti-HBe were not predictive factors.

CONCLUSIONInterferon-alpha therapy induces a similar primary and sustained response in HBeAg-negative and in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients.

Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; immunology ; therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Treatment Outcome