Objective To analyze the biological characteristics of a mutant strain of Salmonella ty-phimurium SL1344 with sseK2-deletion (SL1344△sseK2) in order to provide reference for further study of safe and effective live vaccines. Methods The mutant strain SL1344△sseK2 with a deletion of 1047 bp in sseK2 gene was constructed through a two-step allelic exchange using recombinant suicide plasmid. Its com-plemented strain, SL1344C△sseK2, was also constructed. Biological and immunological characteristics of the mutant strain were detected. Results PCR, double-enzyme digestion and sequencing analysis showed that the mutant strain SL1344△sseK2 and the complemented strain SL1344C△sseK2 were successfully con-structed. The serotype of the mutant strain was 1,4,[5],12:i:1,2, identical to the parent strain SL1344. In addition, the mutant strain showed no significant change in biochemical characteristics or growth rate and was genetically stable in vitro. Compared with the parent strain SL1344, the virulence of SL1344△sseK2 was attenuated in BALB/ c mice. The median lethal dose of SL1344△sseK2 for 6-week-old BALB/ c mice was 3. 44×108 colony-forming units (CFU), which was 1620 times lower than that of SL1344. Oral immuniza-tion with SL1344△sseK2 protected 62. 5％ of the mice against challenge with wild Salmonella typhimurium strains on 17 d after vaccination. The levels of serum IgG antibody peaked on 14 d after immunization. No significant difference in biological characteristics was observed between the complemented and the parent strains, indicating that the mutant strain was basically complemented to the wild-type strain.Conclusions The mutant strain SL1344△sseK2 was constructed successfully and genetically stable with sig-nificantly attenuated virulence and good immunogenicity. This study suggested that sseK2 gene played an im-portant role in regulating the virulence of SL1344, which might provide reference for further study of its func-tion and for assessing its potential as a candidate live attenuated vaccine.

Objective:To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the expressions of acetylcholine (ACh) and mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) in the lungs of rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),and explore the mechanism of EA in treating COPD.Methods:Thirty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a control group,a COPD group,and an EA group,with 10 rats in each group.The control group was a group of normal rats.The COPD rat model was induced by cigarette smoke combined with lipopolysaccharide (LPS).The COPD rats were treated with EA at bilateral Feishu (BL 13) and Zusanli (ST 36) in the EA group,30 min each time,once a day,successively for 14 d.The lung function was tested.The contents of ACh and MUC5AC in lungs and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Pearson method was used to analyze the correlation between pulmonary function and the content of MUC5AC in lungs.The mRNA and protein expressions of MUC5AC in lung tissues were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot (WB),respectively.The immune response of MUC5AC was observed by immunohistochemistry.Results:Eight rats were left in each group,and the other two died.Compared with the control group,the total airway resistance (Raw) increased significantly and dynamic compliance (Cdyn) decreased significantly in the COPD group (P＜0.01);compared with the COPD group,the Raw level declined significantly and Cdyn increased significantly in the EA group (P＜0.01).The contents of ACh and MUC5AC in the lungs and BALF were remarkably higher in the COPD group compared with those in the control group (P＜0.01,P＜0.001);compared with the COPD group,the contents of ACh and MUC5AC were significantly lower in the EA group (P＜0.05,P＜0.001).There was a negative correlation between MUC5AC content and lung function (P＜0.001).The mRNA and protein expressions of MUC5AC in the lungs were significantly higher in the COPD group than in the control group (P＜0.001);compared with the COPD group,the expressions were significantly lower in the EA group (P＜0.01).Compared with the control group,the immune response of MUC5AC in the airway epithelium significantly increased in the COPD group (P＜0.001);the immune response of MUC5AC was significantly lower in the EA group compared with that in the COPD group (P＜0.001).Conclusion:EA treatment can improve the lung function of COPD rats,which may be related to its effect in the down-regulation of ACh and MUC5AC contents in the lungs as well as the inhibition of mucus hypersecretion.

Objective To observe the influence of Qileng Decoction on the level of serum visfatin and the degree of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with acute atherosclerotic cerebral infarction(AACI). Methods One hundred and eighty AACI patients were classified into non-AACI control group (group A;N = 30), stable carotid atherosclerotic plaques group(group B;N = 75)and unstable carotid atherosclerotic plaques group(group C;N= 75)according to the results of carotid color ultrasonography. The serum visfatin level of the three groups was detected at the time of AACI attack. Group B and group C were separately randomized into conventional treatment subgroup (N = 37)and Qileng Decoction subgroup (N = 38). The conventional treatment subgroup was given basic therapy for AACI including nutrition support and symptomatic treatment , and Qileng Decoction subgroup was treated with Qileng Decoction (mainly composed of Radix Astragali,Rhizoma Sparganii, Fructus Mori,Radix Trichosanthis, Rhizoma Curcumae,Hirudo,and Fructus Aurantii)orally on the basis of treatment for the conventional treatment group. Before treatment and 15,90 and 180 days after treatment,we detected the level of serum visfatin,and measured the carotid intima-media thickness(IMT)and plaque scores(PS). Results (1)At the time of AACI attack,serum visfatin level of group B and group C was significantly higher than that of group A,and the level of serum visfatin of group C was significantly higher than that of group B,the difference being significant (P < 0.05). After treatment,serum visfatin over-expression was improved in both conventional treatment subgroup and Qileng Decoction subgroup of groups B and C at various time points (P< 0.05 compared with that before treatment), and the improvement in Qileng Decoction subgroup was superior to that in conventional treatment subgroup (P < 0.05). (2)At the end of treatment, IMT was improved in conventional treatment subgroup and Qileng Decoction subgroup of groups B and C (P < 0.05 compared with that before treatment), and the improvement in Qileng Decoction subgroup was superior to that in conventional treatment subgroup (P < 0.05). (3) The total effective rate for PS improvement of conventional treatment subgroup in groups B and C was 74.3％,68.6％ respectively,and that of Qileng Decoction subgroup in groups B and C was 94.4％, 91.7％ respectively, indicating that Qileng Decoction subgroup had better effect on improving PS than conventional treatment subgroup(P < 0.05). Conclusion Qileng Decoction exerts certain effect on regulating the over-expression of serum visfatin and improving the degree of carotid atherosclerosis in AACI patients.

Objective To investigate and control the outbreak of infection caused by carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) in a gastroenterology intensive care unit (ICU), so as to provide reference for the prevention and control of clinical multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs).Methods Epidemiological investigation was conducted on 3 patients with CRKP infection in a gastroenterology ICU on January 21-31, 2018, specimens were collected with environmental biology monitoring method, CRKP in environment was searched, homology between patients and environmental isolates were analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).Results Three patients were all isolated CRKP from sputum and blood specimens, all were male, with adjacent beds in the same ward, and treated by the same doctor.The number of isolated CRKP and infection rate in January 2018 were higher than those in other months, infection rate was significantly different (χ2=13.67, P＜0.01).A total of 102 environmental specimens were collected, including air and surface of objects, only 1 of which (nurse's uniform) was isolated 1 strain of KP.PFGE typing of KP isolated from patients and environment showed that there were two genotypes A and B, KP isolated from uniform of a nurse, hydrops abdominis and blood specimen of patient at bed 07, blood specimen of patient at bed 08, as well as sputum and blood specimen of patient at bed 09 were all type A, KP isolated from sputum specimen of patient at bed 07 was type B, KP isolated from hydrops abdominis in patient at bed 09 was not be typed.After comprehensive intervention, CRKP was not no longer isolated from 3 patients, and there was no new case in the ward.Conclusion Imperfect implementation of prevention and control measures for MDROs by health care workers may be an important cause for the spread of CRKP.

OBJECTIVESTo evaluate the efficacy of intrameatal application of low dosage alprostadil (PGE1) cream (300 mcg) for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED).

METHODSA total of 43 ED patients were selected in the study based on the inclusion criteria. All of the patients signed informed consent forms and entered a 4-week open-label clinical study. A dosage of 300 mg PGE1 in 75 mg cream was applied intrameatally.

RESULTSThe results showed that the primary efficacy (IIEF Q3 + Q4) reached 70.73% after application of the cream. The successful intercourse rate was 86.41%. Based on the GAQ (global assessment Question); 73.17% of the patients were satisfied with their sexual life. At the same time, all of the secondary criteria supported the primary efficacy results. Two patients withdrew during the study period. Six patients (14.63%) had urethral pain or penile redness, which were mostly mild and transient.

CONCLUSIONSWith intrameatal low dosage (300 mcg PGE1) of the PGE1 cream can achieve an equivalent efficacy as that with the full dosage.

Adult ; Aged ; Alprostadil ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Penile Erection ; drug effects ; Treatment Outcome ; Vasodilator Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and Salmonella Pullorum have significant damaging effects on the poultry industry, but no previous vaccine can protect poultry effectively. In this study, a recombinant-attenuated S. Pullorum strain secreting the NDV hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein, C79-13ΔcrpΔasd (pYA-HN), was constructed by using the suicide plasmid pREasd-mediated bacteria homologous recombination method to form a new bivalent vaccine candidate against Newcastle disease (ND) and S. Pullorum disease (PD). The effect of this vaccine candidate was compared with those of the NDV LaSota and C79-13ΔcrpΔasd (pYA) strains. The serum hemagglutination inhibition antibody titers, serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies, secretory IgA, and stimulation index in lymphocyte proliferation were increased significantly more (p < 0.01) in chickens inoculated with C79-13ΔcrpΔasd (pYA-HN) than with C79-13ΔcrpΔasd (pYA) but were not significantly increased compared with the chickens immunized with the LaSota live vaccine (p > 0.05). Moreover, the novel strain provides 60% and 80% protective efficacy against the NDV virulent strain F48E9 and the S. Pullorum virulent strain C79-13. In summary, in this study, a recombinant-attenuated S. Pullorum strain secreting NDV HN protein was constructed. The generation of the S. Pullorum C79-13ΔcrpΔasd (pYA-HN) strain provides a foundation for the development of an effective living-vector double vaccine against ND and PD.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Bacteria ; Chickens ; Hemagglutination ; HN Protein ; Homologous Recombination ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory ; Immunoglobulin G ; Lymphocytes ; Methods ; Newcastle disease virus ; Newcastle Disease ; Plasmids ; Poultry ; Salmonella ; Suicide ; Vaccines

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of different routes in placental mesenchymal stem cells (PMSC) on serum expression levels of IL-4, IL-17, TNF-α and IFN-γ in aplastic anemia (AA) rats. METHODS: The rat model of aplastic anemia (AA rats) was established by 5-fluorouracil combined with busulfan. The rats was divided into four groups: control, experimental, PMSC-injected into the tail vein, and PMSC-injected into the medullary cavity. The general state of rats in each group was observed in detail before and after treatment. The serum levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4) , interleukin-17 (IL-17), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at week 1, 3 and 5 after treatment. RESULTS: The serum levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-17 in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group, while the level of IL-4 was significantly decreased (P＜0.05). The levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-17 gradually decreased after treatment while the level of IL-4 increased. By the fifth week, the above indexes were closed to the control group (P＞0.05), and the levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-17 in the group with PMSCs injected via the medullary cavity decrease more significantly than those group with PMSC injected via the tail vein, but level of IL-4 was not significantly different between two groups. CONCLUSION The level of serum hematopoietic negative regulators increase significantly, and the level of hematopoietic promoting factors decreases significantly in aplastic anemia rats. PMSC can down-regulate the level of hematopoietic negative regulators and up-regulate the level of hematopoietic promoting factors in the rats with aplastic anemia, and the inhibition of hematopoietic negative regulators by intramedullary injection is more significant than that by caudal vein injection.
Anemia, Aplastic ; Animals ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Interferon-gamma ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells ; Placenta ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

OBJECTIVETo investigate the hematopoietic reconstitution in immunodeficiency NPG(TM) mice after transplantation of G-CSF-mobilized peripheral blood CD34(+) hemopoietic stem cells.

METHODSCD34(+) cells were isolated from peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) by magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS), and then were transplanted into NPG(TM) mice irradiated with sublethal dose of X ray by marrow cavity transplantation. The hemogram of mice after transplantation for 2, 4 weeks was observed; human cell populations (CD45(+), CD19(+)) in the peripheral blood of mice were dynamically analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM) at 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks after transplantation. Until the planned harvest at the 12 week after transplantation, the CD45(+), CD19(+) level in bone marrow, liver, spleen from each mouse were detected by flow cytometry; the expression of human Alu gene in the bone marrow cell of mouse was detected by PCR.

RESULTSThe purity of CD34(+) cells accounted for 96.3%; after irradiation, the nucleated cells and megalokaryocytes in the marrow cavity of NPG mice were reduced significantly or were lost, and reached the myeloablative effect. At week 4 after transplantation, components of blood cells in peripheral blood of transplanted mice were recovered to the level before irradiation; all the mice survived, human CD45(+), CD19(+) cells were found by FCM in the peripheral blood of all the surviving mice in transplantation group at week 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 after the transplantation; at the 12th week, the human Alu gene could be detected in the bone marrow of all the mice in transplantation group.

CONCLUSIONThe human-mouse chimeric model is successfully established in irradiation-induced NPG mouse by transplantation of CD34(+) HSC from G-CSF-mobilized peripheral blood via marrow cavity.

Animals ; Bone Marrow ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Disease Models, Animal ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; Humans ; Mice ; Spleen