OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein(BPI) on the outcome of sepsis in mice and its possible mechanism. METHODS: Sepsis was induced by injection of 2x10(6) colony-formed unit E. coli J5 via the tail vein. BPI of 5 mg/kg or equal volume of normal saline(NS) were injected intravenously at the same time. Endotoxin and TNFalpha levels in serum were assayed using a chromogenic limulus amebocyte lysate test and ELISA respectively. RESULTS: Seventy-two hour survival rate of septic mice was significantly higher in the BPI group (15/18) than in the NS group(8/18, P<0.01). Serum endotoxin levels in the BPI group (1.3+/-0.3 and 0.7+/-0.4 &mgr;g/L) were significantly lower than those in the NS group (3.9+/-0.8 and 2.5+/-0.9 &mgr; g/L, P<0.01) 0.5 and 1 hour following injection of bacteria respectively. The peak levels of serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNFalpha)in the BPI group (1.9+/-0.6 &mgr;g/L) were also markedly lower than those in the NS group (3.8+/-0.8 &mgr;g/L, P<0.01) 1.5 hours following bacterial injection. But there was no significant difference in blood bacterial count between the BPI and NS groups 0.5, 1.5 and 3.0 hours after injection of bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: BPI has a marked protective effect on E. coli sepsis, which might be related to its action against bacterial endotoxin and its inhibition of TNFalpha production in sepsis.

Objective To understand the relationship between MTHFR 677C/T polymorphism and general status of pregnant women and offspring congenital heart disease (CHD).Methods A case-control study was conducted among the biological mothers of 100 infants with CHD and 100 healthy controls to collect the information about their demographic characteristics,general status during pregnancy and awareness of eugenics.Their MTHFR 677C/T polymorphism and serum homocysteine (HCY),folic acid,vitamin B12 levels were detected.Results The differences in MTHFR genotype and allele frequency between the two groups were not statistical significant (x2=1.08,P=0.582;x2=0.53,P=0.468),but the difference in serum HCY between two groups were statistical significant (t=-8.14,P=0.000).Univariate analysis showed that 14 factors had statistical significances (P＜0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that mother's educational level(OR=3.386,95％ CI:1.279-8.961),annual household income (OR =8.699,95％ CI:2.177-34.765),chronic disease prevalence (OR=0.343,95％ CI:0.134-0.881),awareness of eugenics (OR=0.906,95％ CI:0.836-0.981),serum HCY level(OR=1.734,95％CI:1.458-1.986) and abnormal reproductive history(OR=3.710,95％ CI:1.217-11.308) were correlated with offspring CHD.Conclusion There was no correlation between MTHFR 677C/T polymorphism of pregnant women and offspring CHD,but low educational level,low annual household income,abnormal reproductive history,low awareness of eugenics and high serum HCY levels of pregnant women might increase the risk of offspring CHD.

OBJECTIVETo discuss the diagnosis of and conservative management for lower uterine segment pregnancy with placenta increta complicating first trimester abortion.

METHODSFour patients with previous caesarean section and severe hemorrhage in induced abortion in the first trimester were studied. Uterine artery embolization (UAE) was used to control bleeding and preserve the uterus.

RESULTSUAE controlled heavy uterine bleeding satisfactorily. One of the four patients asked for a hysterectomy after UAE, and her pathology report confirmed "lower uterine segment pregnancy with placenta increta".

CONCLUSIONPrevious caesarean section is a risk factor for lower uterine segment pregnancy with placenta increta. UAE is one of the best conservative management methods for heavy hemorrhage, especially for women who desire future fertility.

Abortion, Induced ; adverse effects ; Adult ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Female ; Humans ; Placenta Accreta ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Uterine Hemorrhage ; etiology ; therapy ; Uterus ; pathology