Aged ; Bronchoscopy ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stents ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; complications ; Tracheal Stenosis ; etiology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo study the risk factors of Acinetobacter baummanii in nosocomial infections, and to verify the nature of Acinetobacter baumannii strains isolated from intensive care unit (ICU).

METHODSA hundred and fourty patients associated with nosocomial infection of Acinetobacter baummanii from four teaching hospitals were selected and compared with controls through a case control study to identify risk factors. The strains isolated from the ICU were typed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with the primer M(13) following electrophoresis in agarose gel.

RESULTSThe odds ratios (ORs) were: state of the illness (OR = 8.69), using immunosuppressant (OR = 4.85), mechanical ventilation (OR = 3.68) and treatment with 3 kinds of antibiotics (OR = 3.014). Data from PCR studies indicated that these strains were sharing identical band pattern from the five strains.

CONCLUSIONRisk factors for nosocomial infection with Acinetobacter baummanii included state of an illness, immunosuppressant, mechanical ventilation, and treatment with antibiotics. A multidrug-resistant strains of Acinetobacter baumannii was identified in ICU.

Acinetobacter baumannii ; classification ; genetics ; Cross Infection ; etiology ; microbiology ; Genotype ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo construct an eukaryotic expression vector carrying rat brain-derived neurotrophic factor receptor trkB gene.

METHODSUsing the total RNA isolated from rat brain as template, the trkB gene was amplified by reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with a pair of specific primers which contained the restrictive sites of EcoR I and BamH I. The amplified fragment of trkB gene was digested with EcoR I and BamH I, and then subcloned into cloning vector pMD18-T and expression vector pEGFP-C2 respectively. The recombinant plasmids were identified by restriction endonuclease enzyme analysis and PCR.

RESULTSThe amplified DNA fragment was about 1461 bp in length. Enzyme digestion and PCR analysis showed that the gene of trkB had been successfully cloned into vector pMD18-T and pEGFP-C2.

CONCLUSIONSThe trkB gene of rat has been amplified and cloned into the eukaryotic expression vector pEGFP-C2.

Animals ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Cloning, Molecular ; methods ; Eukaryotic Cells ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genetic Therapy ; methods ; Genetic Vectors ; Male ; Models, Animal ; RNA ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptor, trkB ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Schwann Cells ; cytology ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Templates, Genetic ; Transfection

OBJECTIVESTo analyze the clinical characteristics of the atlantoaxial dislocation (AAD) in craniovertebral junction (CVJ) abnormalities and to study the setup of its surgery strategy.

METHODSFrom April 2009 to November 2011, 56 patients of AAD and CVJ abnormalities including 22 male and 34 female patients who had received surgery were analyzed. There were 2 cases of reducible AAD and 54 cases of irreducible AAD. The age of the patients ranged from 9 to 56 years (mean 34 years). Among them, 14 cases achieved reduction/partial reduction via direct posterior fixation, 41 cases had transoral anterior deconpression and occipito-cervical/C₁-C₂ fusion and 1 case had the posterior odontoidectomy and spinal fusion.

RESULTSFifty-three cases had a follow-up between 6 months and 36 months (mean 20 months) and 3 cases lost follow-up (had improvement at discharge). Seven cases had complications as follows: 1 case had irreversible spinal cord injury and muscle weakness of extremities, 2 cases had cerebrospinal leak, 2 cases had pulmonary infection, 1 case had local granuloma hyperplasia and 1 case had delayed healing of the incision. The later 6 cases all got recovery after reasonable treatments. The grades of Nurick at last follow-up were as follows: 6 cases (11.3%) improved by 3 grades, 30 cases (56.6%) improved by 2 grades, 13 cases (24.5%) improved by 1 grade, 3 cases (5.7%) without change, 1 case (1.9%) get worse.

CONCLUSIONSReducible AAD could achieve direct reduction and fixation via posterior pathways. Irreducible AAD needs individualized treatment. To choose the direct reduction and fixation or transoral odontoidectomy and posterior fixation and fusion should consider the pathogenetic condition, the image data and personal clinical experience.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Atlanto-Axial Joint ; surgery ; Child ; Decompression, Surgical ; Female ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Young Adult

AIMTo determine the effects of azide methyl anthraquinone derivative (AMAD) on growth inhibition and inducing apoptosis of multidrug resistant (MDR) KBv200 cells and parental drug-sensitive KB cells.

METHODSCytotoxicity was determined by tetrazolium (MTF) assay. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and mitochondrial membrane potential (deltapsi(m)) in cells were labeled with DCFH-DA and DiOC6 and tested by flow cytometry. Annexin V stain and DNA ladder were used to examine the apoptosis of KB and KBv200 cells induced by AMAD.

RESULTSAMAD was shown to inhibit the growth of KB and KBv200 cells significantly in a concentration-dependent manner, with mean IC50 of 0.36 and 0.45 micromol x L(-1), respectively. The generation of ROS increased obviously after the cells were treated with AMAD for 12 h, up to the peak in 24 h, meanwhile the levels of deltapsi(m) were time-dependently decreased. DNA fragmentation appeared on the agarose gel. Annexin V stain showed AMAD induced apoptosis of KB and KBv200 cells also in a concentration-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONAMAD showed inhibitory effect on both MDR KBv200 cells and parental drug-sensitive KB cells. The mechanism of action was associated with the increase of the cellular ROS level and the decrease of the mitochondrial membrane potential induced by AMAD, which result in cell apoptosis.

Anthraquinones ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Humans ; KB Cells ; Mitochondria ; physiology ; Molecular Structure ; Mouth Floor ; Mouth Neoplasms ; pathology ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Vincristine ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the regularity of changes in the main active components of Schisandra chinensis preparations before and after being processed with vinegar.

METHODHigh performance liquid chromatography was used to analyze the changes in the content of lignans and organic acids in S. chinensis preparations before and after being processed with vinegar.

RESULTAfter being processed with vinegar, the content of lignans in S. chinensis preparations significantly reduced, while that of organic acids significantly increased. The ratio between them reduced from 1:16 (raw product) to 1:21 (vinegar products).

CONCLUSIONThe changes in the main pharmacological effects of S. chinensis are related to not only the changes in the contents of lignan and organic acids, but also the significant changes in the ratio relations between the two components. This is of great significance to the correlation among the principle of S. chinensis processed with vinegar and material basis and the changes in pharmacological effects.

Acetic Acid ; Acids ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Chemical Fractionation ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Lignans ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Schisandra ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo explore the influence of methylprednisolone (MP) on cellular component in donor graft and on H-2 haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in mice.

METHODSA murine model of H-2 haploidentical HSCT was established by using of c57BL/6J male mouse as donor and (c57BL/6J x LB/C) F1 female mouse as recipient. The donor mouse received peripheral-blood (PB) progenitor cells mobilization regimens consisted of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhGCSF) alone (control group) or combined with MP in dose of 2 mg/kg daily [small-dose (SD) group], 10 mg/kg daily [middle-dose (MD) group], and 50 mg/kg daily [large-dose (LD) group] respectively. Percentage of T cell subsets, DC1 (HLA-DR+CD11c+) and CD34+ cell in the grafts were detected by flow cytometry. Transplant rejection,severity of GVHD and survival time were observed.

RESULTSThe percentages of CD3+ T cell in donor grafts in the three groups were significantly lower than that in control group (P < 0.05). The percentage of CD3+ CD4+ T cells decreased more significantly than that of CD3+ CD8+ T cells, and CD4/CD8 ratios decreased significantly. The percentage of CD4+ CD25+ T cells increased significantly, the percentage of DC1( HLA-DR+CD11c+) decreased and the percentage of CD34+ cells increased in all the three groups than in control group. There were significant differences in the percentage of CD3+ T cells, CD3+ CD4+ T cells and CD34+ cells in donor grafts among SD group, MD group and LD group (P < 0.05). The engraftment rates in control, SD, MD and LD groups were 90%, 100%, 100% and 80% respectively. Severity of aGVHD in each study group decreased significantly compared with that in control group (P < 0.05). There were statistical differences among different dosage groups (P < 0.05). Survival time after transplantation in all study groups were significantly longer than that in control group (P < 0.05), and in MD group was significantly longer than in SD group and LD groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAddition of methylprednisolone to routine donor mice HSC mobilization regimen has a definite effect in alleviating aGVHD and prolonging survival time of mouse after H-2 haploidentical HSCT. With a suitable dosage addition of methylprednisolone to donor mice HSC mobilization regimen could avoid the increasing risk of graft rejection.

Animals ; Antigens, CD34 ; Dendritic Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; Female ; Graft Rejection ; prevention & control ; Graft vs Host Disease ; prevention & control ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Male ; Methylprednisolone ; administration & dosage ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; drug effects ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) on human gastric cancer xenografts in vivo and to explore its potential tumoricidal mechanism.

METHODSCultured MGC-803 human gastric cancer cells were injected below the skins of the nude mice to develop the tumor model. The tumor-bearing nude mice were examined under the Leica LT-9 MACIMSYSPULS to detect the fluorescence. The tumor volume of day 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 after treatment were measured, and its histological changes were also studied. The tissues of the tumors in nude mice of the control group, light group, 5-ALA group and PDT group were examined with the electron microscope and apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assay.

RESULTSThe tumor model was successfully developed. The tumor in the nude mice emitted the red fluorescence under the Leica LT-9 MACIMSYSPULS. The tumor volumes were (0.189+/-0.010) cm(3), (0.183+/-0.011) cm(3), (0.185+/-0.019)cm(3), (0.182+/-0.015)cm(3) for the control group, light group, 5-ALA group, PDT group, respectively at day 1 after treatment, while at day 3, (0.294+/-0.010) cm(3), (0.280+/-0.013) cm(3), (0.278+/-0.016) cm(3), (0.183+/-0.014) cm(3); at day 7, (0.409+/-0.016) cm(3), (0.411+/-0.009) cm(3), (0.407+/-0.015) cm(3), (0.221+/-0.008) cm(3); at day 14, (0.970+/-0.055) cm(3), (0.976+/-0.054) cm(3), (0.981+/-0.032)cm(3), (0.318+/-0.005) cm(3); at day 21, (1.495+/-0.059) cm(3), (1.513+/-0.057) cm(3), (1.524+/-0.063) cm(3), (0.446+/-0.042) cm(3) (F=1003.086, P=0.000). The histology demonstrated that most tumor blood vessels were congested and necrosis developed after PDT while not in the control group, light group and 5-ALA group. Necrosis and apoptosis were observed in the cells of the tumors of the PDT group examined by TUNEL and electron microscope while not in the cells of the tumors of the other groups.

CONCLUSIONS5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) can induce injury to human gastric cancer xenografts and inhibit the tumor growth while light only and 5-ALA only can not. 5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic therapy (ALA- PDT) appears to be a promising therapy for human gastric cancer, whose mechanism involves in the destruction of the tumors partly by apoptosis other than necrosis.

Aminolevulinic Acid ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Neoplasms, Experimental ; Photochemotherapy ; Stomach Neoplasms ; therapy ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between DNA degradation and postmortem interval of corrupt corpse. METHODS: By determining the marrow DNA content with histochemical technique and image analysis. RESULTS: The content of marrow DNA decreased gradually with prolongation of postmortem interval, and it evencould be detected till 14 days after death. CONCLUSION There was a linear relationship between the degradation rate of the nuclear DNA and postmortem interval.
Adult ; Bone Marrow Cells/metabolism* ; Cadaver ; Cell Nucleus/metabolism* ; DNA/metabolism* ; Female ; Forensic Pathology/methods* ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Male ; Postmortem Changes ; Regression Analysis ; Staining and Labeling ; Sternum/cytology* ; Time Factors ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo compare the contents of the main chemical compositions in Gardenia jasminoids before and after being roasted with ginger juice.

METHODFour diterpenoid pigments constituents (C-1, C-2, C-3, crocetin) were determined simultaneously by UPLC on an Agilent Poroshell 120 EC-C18 column at 35 degrees C with the methanol-0.5% formic acid anhydrous in gradient elution as the mobile phrase. The detection wavelength was set at 440 nm and the flow rate was 0.4 mL x min(-1). Two iridoids constituents (G-1, G-2) were determined simultaneously by HPLC on an Agilent TC-C18(2) column at 35 degrees C with acetonitrile-0.5% formic acid anhydrous (18:82) as the mobile phrase. The detection wavelength was set at 238 nm and the flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1).

RESULTAfter being processed with ginger juice, the contents of the diterpenoid pigments constituents decreased slightly and the contents of the iridoids constituents increased slightly.

CONCLUSIONThe contents of the main chemical compositions in G. jasminoids roasted with ginger juice increased slightly with some regularity, but there were no significant differences.

Carotenoids ; analysis ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Gardenia ; chemistry ; Ginger ; chemistry ; Iridoids ; analysis ; Pharmacology