OBJECTIVE To define the regularity of survival ability of HIV in natural environment,and prevent(infection) through contacting with positive body fluids during daily life or medical work.METHODS Having been diluted by sterile water or 10% serum RPMI 1640 medium,HIV was exposed to 4℃,room temperature(20-26℃) or 37℃ for different period of time.TCID_(50) of these samples was detected.Non-pathological samples were blind passaged for three generations.RESULTS HIV infective ability persisted more than 35 days both in(water) and medium at 4℃;whereas it persisted 7-14 days in water,14-21 days in medium at room temperature and 37℃.CONCLUSIONS HIV has higher resistance in natural environment.To prevent accidental spreading of HIV,HIV positive liquids and contaminants staffs should be treated carefully.

BACKGROUNDTelbivudine, one of the five nucleos(t)ide antiviral drugs, was reported to be superior to lamivudine in a better biochemical, virological, and histological response for treatment-naive patients in the GLOBE trial. The aim of this study was to determine the antiviral potency, viral resistance, and the signifcance of early response for long-term telbivudine treatment.

METHODSWe recruited 161 patients of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) on telbivudine between January 2009 and September 2011 in Macau, China. The serum hepatitis B virus DNA levels, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization, and viral resistance were analyzed.

RESULTSThe median age and follow-up duration were 48 years and 16.9 months. All patients were followed up for at least 6 months, while data were collected for 132, 120, 95, and 53 patients at 12, 24, 48, and 96 weeks respectively. The cumulative HBeAg seroconversion rate was 20.8% and only three patients (1.9%) presented with telbivudine low level resistance. The ALT normalization rates were 76.9% at 48 weeks and 77.6% at 96 weeks. Undetectable HBV DNA was achieved by 1.8%, 31.6%, 60%, and 74.1% in HBeAg positive patients and 29.3%, 60.3%, 84%, and 84.6% in HBeAg negative patients at each time point. Week 12 HBV DNA level < 1000 copies/ml (< 200 IU/ml) was a better predictor of viral suppression at 2-year follow-up (P = 0.001, OR = 27.00) than undetectable HBV DNA level at week 24 (P = 0.120, OR = 4.81).

CONCLUSIONSTwo-year telbivudine treatment yielded high rates of viral suppression and ALT normalization. Serum HBV DNA level at week 12 is a superior predictor for long-term viral suppression.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Thymidine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo explore the effectiveness of a combined therapy using two types of peginterferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin in treating chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes 1b/6a infections.

METHODSThe clinical data of 171 patients with chronic HCV genotypes 1b/6a infection in Common Hospital Centre S. Januario, Macau SAR, China, were retrospectively analyzed. Of these patients, 145 (84.8%) were infected with HCV genotype 1b and 26 (15.2%) with HCV genotype 6a. Patients were divided into two groups based on drug therapies: PEG-IFN-2b group (n=140), in which patients were treated with PEG-IFN-2b 1.5 g/kg QW plus ribavirin 800-1 200 mg/d and PEG-IFN-2a group (n=31), in which patients were treated with PEG-IFN-2a 180g QW plus ribavirin 800-1 200 mg/d. Patients was treated for 48 weeks and then followed up for 24 weeks.

RESULTSAll patients completed their therapies. The rates of early viral response (EVR) and sustained virologic response (SVR) were 78.95% and 69.59%, respectively . The two groups were not significantly different in terms of EVR P=0.091 end of treatment virological response (ETVR) (P=0.542), SVR P=0.079, relapse (P=0.497). And the two HCV genotypes patients were not significantly different in terms of EVR (P=0.268), ETVR (P=0.276), SVR (P=0.479), and relapse (P=1.000).

CONCLUSIONSPEG-IFN combined with ribavirin can achieve high viral response in treating chronic hepatitis C. PEG-IFN-2a and PEG-IFN-2b basically are similarly effective in treating HCV genotype 1b or 6a infections.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyethylene Glycols ; therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Ribavirin ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo optimize the molding formula of refined Xiong-gui sustained release pills, types and assorted dosages of water-soluble and non water-soluble drug carrier were studied.

METHODAn orthogonal design was performed to sift the pill formulation. The processing conditions were determining in terms of roundness, hardness, viscosity, fluidity, easily drop.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONAccording to the final optimal formula, the amount of drug release can be detected instantly, while remaining over 80% at 10 h.

4-Butyrolactone ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Angelica sinensis ; chemistry ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Ligusticum ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

OBJECTIVETo determine the clinical evaluation role of laryngeal electromyography (LEMG) and laryngeal somatosensory evoked potential (LSEP) in the recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis by anterior elective cervical surgery.

METHODSLEMG and LSEP were determined in 18 patients with recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis by anterior elective cervical surgery at the 1st, 2nd and 4th week after operation. The comparison between the normal control (18 health adults) and the results of LEMG and LSEP were analyzed.

RESULTSThe latency prolonged and the amplitude decreased of LSEP in all patients as compared with the control group. Furthermore, reinneration potential increased gradually in all patients at the 1st, 2nd and 4th week after operation (P<0.05). The results of LEMG showed increase of denervation potential. The higher the amplitude of LSEP and LEMG, the better the prognosis of the recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis.

CONCLUSIONLEMG and LSEP might evaluate regenerate the degree of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury caused by anterior elective cervical surgery and predict the prognosis of the recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis.

Adult ; Aged ; Elective Surgical Procedures ; Electromyography ; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve ; surgery ; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injuries ; Vocal Cord Paralysis ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDThe first case of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China was documented on June 18, 2009. Subsequently, persons with suspected infection or of contact with suspected cases received screening. All the confirmed cases were hospitalized and treated with oseltamivir. Their clinical features were observed. This may help for better management for later patients and be of benefit to the government of Macau SAR to adjust its strategy to combat the pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus infection more efficiently.

METHODSFrom June to July 2009, the initial 72 cases of influenza A (H1N1) in Macau were hospitalized in Common Hospital Centre S. Januario (CHCSJ). The infection was confirmed by real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The clinical features of the disease were closely observed and documented. Oseltamivir was given to all patients within 48 hours after the onset of disease and maintained for 5 days.

RESULTSThe mean age of the 72 patients was 21 years old. Forty of them were men and 32 were women. The median incubation of the virus was 2 days (1 to 7 days). The most common symptoms were fever (97.2%) and cough (77.8%). The rate of gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea was 2.8%. Fever typically lasted for 3 days (1 to 9 days). The median time from the onset to positive results of real-time RT-PCR was 6 days (3 to 13 days). After treatment with oseltamivir, most patients became afebrile within 48 hours. Only one aged patient with a history of glaucoma and hypothyroidism was found to have lung infiltration on chest X-ray.

CONCLUSIONSThe initial cases of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in Macau SAR showed that most of the infected persons had a mild course. The virus could be detected by real-time RT-PCR within a median of 6 days from the onset. Oseltamivir was effective.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; drug effects ; genetics ; pathogenicity ; Influenza, Human ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Macau ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oseltamivir ; therapeutic use ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo culture dendritic cells (DC) from peripheral blood of patients with laryngeal carcinoma for therapeutic aid.

METHODSAdherent peripheral blood mononuclear cells from peripheral blood were cultured with 15 ng/ml rhGM-CSF and 7 ng/ml rhIL-4 for one or two weeks. The purity of DC was detected by immunocytochemistry method. The mixed leukocyte reactions stimulated by DC loaded with laryngeal carcinoma antigen were tested by measuring 3H-TdR uptake.

RESULTSA considerable number of suspended cells with spicular or dendritic appearance were observed after 1 week of culture, and their mitochondria were rich in cytoplasm. The positivity of DC was about 30%-60%. DC loaded with laryngeal antigen could induce proliferation of syngeneic T lymphocytes.

CONCLUSIONA large number of DC with high purity can be cultured from peripheral blood of patients with laryngeal carcinoma in vitro. It may be used in further experimental studies for clinical applications.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; blood ; Cell Separation ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media ; Dendritic Cells ; pathology ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; pharmacology ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; blood ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of a short-term (3-day) simulated microgravity with and without daily dorsoventral gravitation (-G(x)) for 1 h on myogenic tone and vasoconstrictor responsiveness of the middle cerebral artery and mesenteric third-order small artery in rats. The tail-suspension (SUS) model was used to simulate cardiovascular deconditioning due to microgravity. Daily restoring to normal standing (STD) posture for 1 h was adopted to provide -G(x) as the countermeasure. Segments of middle cerebral artery and mesenteric third-order small artery were isolated and cannulated. Vascular diameters in response to increased intraluminal pressure (from 20 mmHg to 120 mmHg, by 20 mmHg steps) of isolated arteries under no-flow conditions were recorded by a Pressure Myograph System in both physiologic salt solution (PSS) (active diameter, Da) and calcium-free PSS (passive diameter, Dp). The myogenic tone was calculated by (Dp-Da)/Dpx100%. Vasoconstrictor responsiveness of the isolated middle cerebral artery to serotonin and that of small mesenteric artery to phenylephrine were assessed in the PSS under an intraluminal pressure of 40 mmHg. The results showed that SUS induced an enhancement of the myogenic tone and vasoconstrictor responsiveness in the isolated middle cerebral artery but a depression of those in the small mesenteric artery. Daily STD for 1 h prevented the depression of myogenic tone and vasoconstrictor responsiveness in the small mesenteric artery, but did not prevent the functional enhancement in the middle cerebral artery. These data suggest that a short-term simulated microgravity may result in different alterations in the function of the cerebral artery and the resistance vessel in the hind-body. Moreover, only the decrease of function in these resistance vessels, not in the cerebral arteries, can be prevented by such a countermeasure of daily STD for 1 h.
Animals ; Cerebral Arteries ; pathology ; Hindlimb Suspension ; Mesenteric Arteries ; pathology ; Pressure ; Rats ; Serotonin ; pharmacology ; Vascular Resistance ; Vasoconstriction ; Weightlessness Simulation

Objective To investigate the difference of late-phase of limb ischemia preconditioning (L-LIP) verse early-phase (E-LIP) on patients with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Methods A total of 160 patients with unstable angina pectoris who were planned to undergo PCI were divided equally into two groups at random.The late-phase of limb ischemia preconditioning group (80 patients) were provided with L-LIP (three 5-minute inflations up to 200mmHg by applying the sphygmomanometer cuff around the right upper arm,followed by 5-min intervals of reperfusion,twice a day) 3 days before PCI.The Earlyphase of limb ischemia preconditioning group (80 patients) were provided with E-LIP (method as above)2 hours before PCI.Comparison of procedural parameters during PCI and the levels of cTnT,CK-MB,hs-CRP were made 24 hours after PCI.Estimation of the rate of adverse events at 1 year between the two groups was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analysis.Results Compared to the E-LIP group,the rates of angina,arrhythmia and TIMI flow ≤ 2 during PCI were significantly lower in the L-LIP group (all P ＜ 0.05).At 24 hours after PCI,the levels of cTnT and CK-MB were declined more significantly in the L-LIP group[(11.52±2.41) pg/ml vs.(27.53±4.78)pg/ml,P =0.021;(14.11±2.87)Iu/L vs.(30.23±5.17)Iu/L,P =0.032].There was no difference in the level of hs-CRP between the 2 groups [(128±0.71)mg/dl vs.(1.33±0.69)mg/dl,P =0.742].The Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that the incidence rate of adverse events in the L-LIP group at l year was lower than the E-LIP group (3.75％ vs.13.75％,P =0.024).Conclusions L-LIP is more effective to in protecting myocardial cell in patients with unstable angina pectoris undergoing elective PCI and may reduce the rate of future adverse event.

OBJECTIVETo report a protocol using biotin-labelled PrP protein in cell free conversion assay instead of isotope.

METHODSA hamster PrP protein (HaPrP) was expressed in E. coli and purified with HIS-tag affinity chromatograph. After being labelled with biotin, HaPrP was mixed with PrPSc preparation from scrapie strain 263K.

RESULTSProtease-resistant bands were detected after four-day incubation.

CONCLUSIONThe new conversion model provides a reliable, easily handling, and environment-friendly method for studies of prion and transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.

Animals ; Biotin ; Blotting, Western ; Cell-Free System ; Chromatography, Affinity ; methods ; Cricetinae ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Molecular Weight ; Peptide Hydrolases ; analysis ; metabolism ; PrPSc Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Prion Diseases ; genetics ; pathology ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Staining and Labeling