Due to the large population and relatively closed space environment , the subway system is vulnerable to bioterrorist attacks.This paper analyzes the technological response measures against subway bioterrorism in the United States, including Detect to Protect program of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and PROTECTS program of Depart-ment of Energy ( DOE) .We also put forward some proposals on how to improve China′s capability of prevention of and response to subway bioterrorism .

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of siege scheme of TCM for acute cerebral infarction bowel and visceral strike (block pattern). Methods Totally 110 patients were randomly divided into TCM siege scheme group (55 cases) and control group (55 cases) by randomized parallel controlled study with foresight and multicenter. The control group was treated with the standardized treatment, and TCM siege scheme group was treated with TCM siege scheme, including mild hypothermia TCM pillow therapy, TCM rectal enema, and other multiple treatments based on the standardized treatment. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), the time of pulling out urine tube and nasal feeding tube, and the number of tracheotomy caused by illness changes of the two groups were compared. Results The baseline data of two groups have good comparability (P>0.05). On 10, 15 d of treatment, the number of lucid people in the TCM siege scheme group was significantly more than that in the control group (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, treatment group had less number of tracheotomy, and shorter time of success pulling out urine tube and nasogastric feeding tube (P<0.05). Conclusion TCM siege scheme can improve the consciousness of ischemic stroke in patients with acute cerebral infarction bowel and visceral strike, reduce complications, shows shorter successful pull urine tube and nasogastric feeding, and provides guarantee conditions for further rehabilitation treatment.

OBJECTIVETo study DNA damages of liver cells in rats exposed to vinyl chloride monomer (VCM), and the expressions of DNA damage repair enzymes including O(6)-methyl guanine-DNA methyl transferase (MGMT), X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1 (XRCC1) and X-ray repair cross-complementing group 3 (XRCC3); and to explore the repair mechanism of DNA damage induced by VCM.

METHODSRats were exposed to VCM by intraperitoneal injection. DNA damages were detected by single cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay). The expressions of DNA damage repair enzymes were measured by immunohistochemical methods.

RESULTSThe percentages of comet cells in low, moderate, and high dose groups (11.75%, 12.38%, and 17.63%, respectively) were greater than that of control (5.67%). The latter two groups were significantly different from that of control (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The expressions of MGMT and XRCC1 decreased, and XRCC3 increased with the dose of VCM increased. DNA damage was correlated with the expression of XRCC3 (r = 0.438, P = 0.067).

CONCLUSIONVCM can cause DNA damage of liver cells with dose-response relationship. DNA damage repair enzymes take part in the repairing of DNA damage induced by VCM.

Animals ; Carcinogens ; toxicity ; DNA Damage ; drug effects ; DNA Repair ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Liver ; cytology ; metabolism ; Male ; O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vinyl Chloride ; toxicity ; X-ray Repair Cross Complementing Protein 1

OBJECTIVETo study the phenotypic and genotypic resistance to Fluoroquinolones in Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) isolated in Jiangsu province of China.

METHODSIn-vitro, susceptibility testing of ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin against ninety-five clinical isolates were determined by agar dilution method. Detection of mutation in the gyrA and parC genes was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay and sequence analysis.

RESULTSThe clinical isolates demonstrated 100% resistance to ciprofloxacin. Based on gyrA and parC mutations, 18 types could be categorized among the 54 isolates. Based on the same gyrA mutations,isolates with high MIC appeared to have had more mutations in parC gene.

CONCLUSIONThe status of resistance to ciprofloxacin in NG was quite serious, and ciprofloxacin treatment for the treatment of NG infections in Jiangsu province should not be recommended. The results from this study suggested that mutations in the parC gene had contributed to the development of high Fluoroquinolone resistance in NG.

China ; DNA Gyrase ; genetics ; DNA Topoisomerase IV ; genetics ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Fluoroquinolones ; pharmacology ; Genotype ; Gonorrhea ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Neisseria gonorrhoeae ; drug effects ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Phenotype

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Yanggan Yishui Granule (YGYSG) on collagen protein I, III, and IV, as well as fibronection (EN) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), and to explore its possible renal protective mechanisms.

METHODSFourty SHR were randomly divided into four groups, i.e., the model group, the Benazepril group, the low dose YGYSG group, and the high dose YGYSG group, 10 in each group. A normal control group was set up with recruited Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. After 6 weeks of treatment, the expression of collagen protein I, III, and IV, as well as FN in the 5.1 image analysis system.

RESULTSIn the WKY-control group, there was only a small amount of brown particles in the mesenchymal region, the glomerular basement membrane, or the mesangial region. The expression of collagen I, Ill, and IV, as well as EN significantly increased more in the model group than in the normal control group (P < 0.01). After treatment, the expression of collagen I, III, and IV, as well as FN significantly decreased in each treated group, showing statistical difference when compared with the model group (P < 0.01). Besides, decresed expression of collagen I, III, and IV was shown in the low dose YGYSG group and the Benazepril group (P > 0.05). The expression of collagen I, III, and IV could be further reduced in the high dose YGYSG group, showing statistical difference when compared with the Benazepril group and the low dose YGYSG group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONYGYSG might play an important role in the renal protective effect through reducing the synthesis of renal collagen I, III, and IV, as well as FN, increasing the degradation of renal collagen I, III, and IV, as well as FN, thereby reducing excessive deposition of renal extracellular matrix (ECM).

Animals ; Collagen ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fibronectins ; metabolism ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Inbred WKY

BACKGROUNDNon-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Platelet activation may play an important role in pathologic progress in lung cancer. In this study, we aimed to clarify the influence of activated platelets on lung cancer generation and growth, and the relationship among these functional and ultrastructural changes of platelets and the severity of pathogenetic condition in these patients with NSCLC.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty-six cases of patients with pathologically confirmed NSCLC were included in this study. Fifty-four healthy people were enrolled as controls. The change of ultra microstructure and activity of blood platelets were observed under the transmission and scanning electron microscope. Simultaneous determination of plasma granule membrane protein 140 (GMP-140) was made.

RESULTSTransmission electron microscopy showed remarkable changes of ultra microstructure of platelets in patients with NSCLC, including swelling, increase of a-granules, vesicles, and glycogenosome. Scanning electron microscopy showed many more surface processes and wrinkles on platelets in patients with NSCLC. The reference plasma levels of GMP-140 of healthy controls were (18.2 +/- 2.7) microg/L. The plasma levels of GMP-140 in patients with NSCLC were (47.8 +/- 12.3) microg/L, which were much higher than those of the controls. There was a medium positive correlation between plasma levels of GMP-140 and amount of a-granules (r = 0.514, P < 0.01) and a high positive correlation between plasma levels of GMP-140 and area of platelet (r = 0.84, P < 0.01) in patients with NSCLC. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed significant shift to the left in patients with NSCLC whose a-granules per platelet were 19 or more compared to those 18 or less (Log rank statistic, chi(2) = 17.38, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThere are significant activated changes of ultra microstructure and increased activity of blood platelets in patients with NSCLC. These activated platelets may play an important role in the generation and growth of lung cancer. These changes can be used as a diagnostic index of severity, progression, and prognosis of NSCLC.

Adult ; Aged ; Blood Platelets ; ultrastructure ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; blood ; drug therapy ; mortality ; ultrastructure ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Middle Aged ; P-Selectin ; blood ; Survival Analysis

OBJECTIVEIn order to study the pathogenesis of latex allergy and the significance in the prevention and cure of occupational diseases.

METHODS651 cases in the out-patient department were tested with skin prick test (SPT), and the specific IgE (sIgE) to latex were detected by means of disk ELISA and Western-blot.

RESULTSIt was found that the positive rate of latex SPT (37.5%) and sIgE (31.25%) were rather higher in patients in comparison with those of the normal. The positive rate of latex sIgE was much higher in the high-risk group than that of the low-risk group and the normal. The serum of the patients can react with multi-bands in the latex glove extracts.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of latex allergy is rather high, this disease is mediated by IgE. The people in high-risk should be tested by latex allergy in order to take proper occupational and daily protection.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Infant ; Latex Hypersensitivity ; diagnosis ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; diagnosis ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Outpatients ; Skin Tests ; Young Adult

Objective To analyze the characteristics and differences of gut flora in patients with osteoporosis of different traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome types,thus to find out new therapeutic targets for the treatment of osteoporosis.Methods The clinical data and fecal samples of 57 patients with osteoporosis recruited in the Department of Osteoporosis,the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine from February 2023 to November 2023 were collected.The patients were differentiated as the TCM syndrome types of spleen and kidney yang deficiency group(22 cases),liver and kidney yin deficiency group(18 cases)and kidney deficiency and blood stasis group(7 cases).The differences in the structure and abundance of gut flora in patients with the above three TCM syndrome types were analyzed by16S rDNA sequencing technique.Results The results of Alpha(α)diversity showed that there were no significant differences in species richness,evenness and diversity of gut flora among the three groups(P＞0.05).Beta(β)diversity analysis showed that there were significant differences in gut flora among the three groups(P=0.011).At the phylum level,Bacteroidota,Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were the top three kinds of gut flora with the highest proportion in the three groups.At the genus level,the relative abundance of Bacteroides,Escherichia-Shigella,and Faecalibacterium was higher in the group of liver and kidney yin deficiency and in the group of kidney deficiency and blood stasis,while the group of spleen and kidney yang deficiency has a large proportion of other bacteria.Conclusion There exist differences in the composition of gut flora among patients with different TCM syndrome types,and the differences are shown at the level of phylum and genus.The results indicate that gut flora may be the targets in the TCM prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plasma Exchange ; methods ; Severity of Illness Index ; Sorption Detoxification ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

This study explored the relationship between the fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) level and the efficacy of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) in asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap syndrome (ACOS) patients with different disease severity. A total of 127 ACOS patients with ACOS (case group) and 131 healthy people (control group) were enrolled in this study. Based on the severity of COPD, the ACOS patients were divided into: mild ACOS; moderate ACOS; severe ACOS; and extremely severe ACOS groups. We compared FeNO levels, pulmonary function parameters including percentage of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) to predicted value (FEV1%pred), ratio of FEV1 to forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC), inspiratory capacity to total lung capacity (IC/TLC) and residual volume to total lung capacity (RV/TLC), arterial blood gas parameters, including PH, arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO₂) and arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO₂), total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE), induced sputum eosinophil (EOS), plasma surfactant protein A (SP-A), plasma soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE), sputum myeloperoxidase (MPO), sputum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and Asthma Control Test (ACT) scores, and COPD Assessment Test (CAT) scores. Compared with pre-treatment parameters, the FeNO levels, RV/TLC, PaCO₂, total serum IgE, induced sputum EOS, plasma SP-A, sputum MPO, sputum NGAL, and CAT scores were significantly decreased after 6 months of ICS treatment, while FEV1%pred, FEV1/FVC, IC/TLC, PH, PaO₂, plasma sRAGE, and ACT scores were significantly increased in ACOS patients with different disease severity after 6 months of ICS treatment. This finding suggests that the FeNO level may accurately predict the efficacy of ICS in the treatment of ACOS patients.
Animals ; Asthma ; Carbon Dioxide ; Cats ; Eosinophils ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Glycosylation End Products, Advanced ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins ; Inspiratory Capacity ; Lipocalins ; Lung Diseases, Obstructive ; Neutrophils ; Nitric Oxide* ; Oxygen ; Partial Pressure ; Peroxidase ; Plasma ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A ; Residual Volume ; Sputum ; Total Lung Capacity ; Vital Capacity