Acute Disease ; Humans ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; diagnosis ; etiology ; microbiology ; virology

Animals ; Arteritis ; complications ; immunology ; Coronary Artery Disease ; etiology ; pathology ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; Models, Animal ; Rabbits

This review largely deals with the peptide toxins elaborated by marine cone snails of the genus Conus . Each species of Conus contains in its venom 50 to 200 different peptides directed at different macromolecular targts. These include competitive antagonists of postsynaptic nicotinic receptors (a-conotoxins), blockers selective for Na+ channels in skeletal muscle (u- conotoxins), blockers of presynaptic of antagonists of postsynaptic Ca2+ channels (w-conotoxins), activators of Na+ channels (s-conotoxins), blockers of K+ channels (k-conotoxins), blockers of nicotinic receptor channels (u-conotoxins) and antagonists of NMDA receptors (cono-sleeper).The small size of the peptides (13 to 30 residues is typical) has facilitated synthesis of many of them. A very attractive feature is the highly cross-linked conserved 2 to 3 disulfide bonds which make conotoxins conformationally rigid, some of conotoxins, however, are stabilized by r-carboxyglutamates. The Structure-Activity Relationships of conotoxins and a brief perspective have been reviewed in the paper.

OBJECTIVE:To observe clinical efficacy and safety of linezolid,teicoplanin and vancomycin in the treatment of hospital-acquired pneumonia caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). METHODS:120 patients diagnosed as hospital-acquired MRSA pneumonia were divided into linezolid group,teicoplanin group and vancomycin group according to therapeutic regimen,with 40 cases in each group. Linezolid group received Linezolid injection 600 mg,ivgtt,bid;teicoplanin group received Teicoplanin injection 0.4 g,ivgtt,bid;vancomycin group received Vancomycin injection 1 000 mg,bid,ivgtt. 3 groups received 2 weeks of treatment. Clinical efficacy and bacterial clearance effective rate of 3 groups were observed as well as serum levels of inflammatory factors before and after treatment. ADR of 3 groups were compared. RESULTS:The clinical effective rates of linezolid group,teicoplanin group and vancomycin group were 90.0%,72.5% and 67.5%;the effective bacterial clearance rates were 85.0%,60.0% and 57.5%,respectively. The clinical effective rate and the effective bacterial clearance rate in linezolid group were significantly higher than those in teicoplanin group and vancomycin group,with statistical significance (P<0.05). There was no statistical significance in above indexes between teicoplanin group and vancomycin group (P>0.05). There was no statistical significance serum inflammatory factors among 3 groups before treatment (P>0.05). CRP and PCT of 3 groups de-creased significantly after treatment,and those of linezolid group were lower than teicoplanin group and vancomycin group,with statistical significance(P<0.05). There was no statistical significance in serum inflammatory factors between teicoplanin group and vancomycin group before and after treatment (P>0.05). There was no statistical significance in the incidence of ADR among 3 groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS:For hospital-acquired MRSA pneumonia,linezolid is better than teicoplanin and vancomycin in pneumonia control with good safety.

Objective To discuss the utilization of signs of a proper depth of ablation during transurethral electrovaporization of the prostate (TUVP). Methods A retrospective analysis was made on clinical records of 616 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Preoperative color ultrasonography revealed a co-morbidity of prostatic calcification in 310 cases. A total of 156 cases also had vesical calculi and 23 cases complicated tumors of the bladder. On the performance of TUVP, once a co-morbidity of prostatic calculus or a “slipping phenomenon” during mechanical operation was observed, the ablation was stopped. Results The operative time was 30~120 min (mean, 75 min). During the surgery, preoperatively diagnosed prostatic calcification in the 310 cases was confirmed as prostatic calculus, and in the remaining 306 cases prostatic calculus was also found. Vesical perforation occurred during the surgery in 1 case. No urethrorectal fistula or transurethral resection of the prostate syndrome happened. Follow-up observations were conducted for 3~6 months (mean, 4.5 months) in 325 cases. The maximal flow rate (Qmax) was elevated from 6.5~8.5 ml/s to 8~22 ml/s. The residual urine volume (RU) decreased from 70~150 ml to 0~10 ml, and the International Prostate Symptom Scores (I-PSS), from 19~24.5 to 0~7. Of 138 cases of vesical calculus and 23 cases of bladder tumor, no recurrence was noted. Conclusions Prostatic calculus and the “slipping phenomenon” indicate a proper depth of ablation during transurethral electrovaporization of the prostate.

Objective To study the molecular biology of rifampin-depending M. Tuberculosis. Methods The seguence (a 319-bp DNA fragment) of rpoB gene were analyzed by automated DNA sequencing machine. (2) The fingerprints of genomic DNA were obtained by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprinting. (3)The protein electrophoresis of bacterium by SDS-polyacrylamide gel (SDS-PAG).(4) The cases of pulmonary tuberculosis by rifampin-depending strains were retrospectively analyzed. Results (1) rpoB gene sequenced: The point mutationrate of rifampin-depending strainswas 96.7%(29/30) and that of rifampin-residtant strains 81.1%(30/37), P

Objective To analyze the ischemia degree of initial electrocardiogram in the patients of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and investigate its value in the predicting cardiogenic shock (CS) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Methods Three hundred and ninety patients with STEMI from the onset of symptoms to admission within 12 h were divided into two groups based on grade Ⅱ ischemia (group A,248 cases) or grade Ⅲ ischemia (group B,142 cases) in the initial electrocardiogram.Clinical data,TIMI risk score,ST-segment resolution (STR),CS and cardiovascular events (hospital mortality,ventricular arrhythmias,reinfarction) were recorded in all patients.Results The gender,time from onset to balloon opening,smoking,hypertension,type 2 diabetes,hyperlipidemia,stroke,postoperative TIMI flow 3 grade,coronary artery lesions and lesions in the left main stem between two groups was not statistically significant (P ＞0.05).In group B,the rate of ST segment resolution ＞ 50％ was significantly lower than that in group A [53.2％ (132/248) vs.29.6％ (42/142)] (P ＜ 0.01).The incidence of CS,in-hospital death,malignant ventricular arrhythmias in group B was higher than that in group A,and the difference was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).The age,left ventricular ejection fraction,TIMI risk score ＞ 3 points,Killip grade ＞ 1 grade,anterior myocardial infarction between two groups was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05 or ＜ 0.01).The indicators that were statistically significant in the univariate analysis were included into Logistic regression model and analyzed,with CS-related factors as independent variables and CS as the dependent variable and found that age (P =0.008),Killip class ＞ 1 grade (P =0.049),ST segment resolution rate (P =0.008) and grade Ⅲ ischemia (P =0.001) as independent predictors of CS after PCI.Conclusions Grade Ⅲ ischemia is an independent predictor of CS after PCI in STEMI patients.And it has predictive value for hospital mortality and ventricular arrhythmias.

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether pre-administration of Ganoderma lucidum spore (GASP) can reduce incidence of neural tube defects (NTDs) induced by all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in pregnant mice. METHODS: Twenty pregnant mice were randomly divided into four groups: normal control group, solvent-treated group, ATRA-induced group, and GASP-treated plus ATRA-induced group. GASP solution, which was prepared with solvent (sodium carboxymethyl cellulose), was fed to the pregnant mice in the GASP-treated plus ATRA-induced group twice a day from embryo (E) 0 d to E10.5 d. The same dose of solvent was given to the pregnant mice in the solvent-treated group. At E7.75 d, ATRA (50 mg/kg) was given to the pregnant mice in both ATRA-induced group and GASP-treated plus ATRA-induced group for single time. Embryos were sampled from pregnant mice at E10.5 d. Then the incidence rate of NTDs in mouse embryo was calculated and the crown-rump length of mouse embryo was measured. The positive rate of nestin expression and the distribution of cell cycle of embryonic neural tube neuroepithelial cells were detected by histochemical staining technique and flow cytometry respectively. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method was used to detect the gene expressions of cyclin-dependent protein kinase 2 (Cdk2) and Cdk4 mRNAs. RESULTS: The incidence rates of NTDs in mouse embryos in the ATRA-induced group and the GASP-treated plus ATRA-induced group were 79.41% and 21.67% respectively, while the crown-rump length of mouse embryos in these two groups were (3.62+/-1.27) mm and (5.84+/-0.92) mm respectively. The positive rate of nestin expression in embryonic neural tube neuroepithelial cells of mouse embryo at E10.5 d in the ATRA-induced group was 32.44%, while that in the GASP-treated plus ATRA-induced group was 77.65%. The cell cycle of embryonic neural tube neuroepithelial cells was obviously arrested at G(0)/G(1) phase in the ATRA-induced group as compared with that in the GASP-treated plus ATRA-induced group. The Cdk4 mRNA was transcripted at a high level in embryonic neural tube in the GASP-treated plus ATRA-induced group, but the Cdk2 mRNA was not detected in this group. CONCLUSION: Pre-administration of GASP can reduce the incidence of NTDs induced by ATRA in pregnant mice.

Objective To study clinical application value of sacral and epidural block in treating lumbar intervertehral disc protrusion (LIDP), and explore technical operation methods, indications and con-traindications of sacral block. Methods Sacral block was adopted in 120 patients with LIDP(sacral group), they were injected triamcinolone acetonide 40 mg, vitamin B1 100 mg, vitamin B12 1 mg, 2% lidocaine 100 mg, added physiological saline 20-30 ml, twice a week, three times as a period. Compared therapy effect with epidural block (120 cases, epidural group). Results The achievement ratio of once puncture was 93.3% (112/120) in sacral group and 82.5% (99/120) in epidural group, P < 0.05. After treatment, the excellent and good rate of sacral group and epidural group were 85.0%(102/120) and 93.3%(112/120), there was not obvious difference, P>0.05, but the fair and bad rate were 15.0%(18/120) and 6.7%(8/120), there was ob-vious difference, P<0.05. Conclusions Sacral block and epidural block are effective methods to treat LIDP. They can relieve the stress at nerve root, especially sacral block, which has the advantages of easily operation, less pain, less side effect and safety.

Objective To investigate the severity of cough in patients with different etiology of chronic cough and its related factors. Methods One hundred and fifty patients with chronic cough were recruited. The diagnosis of the patients was as follows: 24 cases with post nasal drip syndrome (PNDs), 26 cough variant asthma (CVA), 20 gastroesophageal reflux-induced cough (GERC), 31 eosinophilic bronchitis (EB), 30 atopic cough (AC) and 19 cough post infection (CPI). The severity of cough at daytime and night-time were scored by the doctor and the patient at the first visit. The correlation between cough score and age, gender and course duration of patients was analyzed. Results There was no significantly difference of cough score at daytime among different groups. Cough score at night in CVA group was significantly higher than that of other five groups (all P <0.01). Regression analysis showed that cough score at daytime was significantly correlated with age of patients (P < 0.05), while cough score at night was correlated significantly with gender (P < 0.01). Conclusion Cough severity at daytime in different etiology of chronic cough is similar, while that at night in patient with CVA is higher than that with other etiology.