Objective To assess the clinical application value of magnetic susceptibility-weighted imaging in cerebral vascular malformations. Methods Thirty-six patients with cerebral vascular malformations were enrolled in the study. All the patients received examination of T1WI, T2WI and SWI. SWI sequence was compared with T1WI, T2WI sequence in detecting and diagnosing cerebral vascular malformations. Results Cerebral vascular malformations were low signal in SWI sequence. Cavernous angioma, developmental venous anomalies and AVM had been found in 73,8,10 cases, respectively. The bounder of lesions was clearer, more multiple small lesions, more hair-thin pulp veins and draining veins were detected in SWI sequence. Conclusion SWI sequence has more sensitivity than T1WI and T2WI sequence in detecting the cerebral-vascular malformations. SWI sequence may become routine examination se- quence in diagnosis cerebral-vascular malformations.

Objective To explore the effect of cutaneous never anastomosis on sensory recovery in repairing wide spreadly soft tissue defects in dorsal hand with free anterolateral femoral flap. Methods The cases with wide spreadly soft tissue defects in dorsal hand repaired with free anterolateral femoral flap from January 2006 to December 2012 were divided into 2 groups. The control group including 15 consecutive patients from January 2006 to January 2009, whose sensation was reconstructed in routine way. Other 15 consecutive patients from Febnary 2009 to December 2012 were as research group, whose sensation was reconstructed with the suture of cutaneous nevers of anterolateral femoral flaps and forearm. All the patients were followed up for 12~24 months. Results All the free flaps survived in both groups. There were 4 cases good of sensory recovery in the control group, and it was 11 in the research group. No ulceration happened. Conclusion Cutaneous never anastomosis may result in satisfactory sensory function in the patients with wide spreadly soft tissue descts in dorsal hand repaired with free anterolateral femoral flap.

In order to decrease the potential side-effects of human basic fibroblast growth factor (hbFGF) caused by its broadspectrum mitogenic activity, a single residue of hbFGF, the residue serine 108, was replaced with neutral alanine residue to construct a mutant of hbFGF (mhbFGF) with reduced mitogenic activity. The mutant was overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) by IPTG induction. The expression level of mhbFGF was about 30% of the total cellular protein. The expressed mhbFGF was purified by ionic exchange and heparin affinity chromatography from the supernatant of bacteria lysate. Measured by MTT method, the effect of mhbFGF on Balb/c 3T3 cell proliferation was much lower than that of wild-type hbFGF. The purified recombinant mhbFGF was prepared and sufficient for the following pharmacological and safety studies.

The present study was aimed to analyze the immunogenicity of recombinant human zona pellucida-3 peptides (r-huZP3a(22 approximately 176) and r-huZP3b(177 approximately 348)) expressed in E. coli through immunizing rabbits, and to evaluate the efficacy of their polyclonal antisera against r-huZP3a(22 approximately 176) and r-huZP3b(177 approximately 348) to inhibit in vitro human sperm-egg binding respectively. Male New Zealand rabbits were immunized using r-huZP3a(22 approximately 176) or r-huZP3b(177 approximately 348) as antigen respectively, which was purified through an improved method of preparative gel polyacryulamide gel electrophoresis. The antibody response level of r-huZP3a(22 approximately 176) or r-huZP3b(177 approximately 348) immunogen in rabbits was determined by ELISA using mouse ZP3-5 (amino acid sequence(137 approximately 150) being completely conserved with huZP3(138 approximately 151) sequence) and specific huZP3-14 (amino acid sequence(327 approximately 340)) synthetic peptides as coating antigens respectively. The immunoreactivity and specificity of the anti-r-huZP3a(22 approximately 176) and anti-r-huZP3b(177 approximately 348) antisera with each r-huZP3 peptides, were tested by immunoblot and immunohistochemistry (using native huZP and human ovary section) respectively. A competitive hemizona assay (HZA) was used to evaluate the efficacy of the antisera against r-huZP3a(22 approximately 176) and r-huZP3b(177 approximately 348) to inhibit in vitro human sperm-egg binding. Both r-huZP3 peptides were able to induce higher antibody titers in rabbits. Each antiserum could specifically recognize or bind to each target r-huZP3 peptide expressed in E. coli and native human ZP in vitro. The antisera also inhibited sperm-egg binding in the HZA. These results show that r-huZP3a(22 approximately 176) and r-huZP3b(177 approximately 348) are of strong immunogenicity. They can be used to develop a kit for detecting whether there are autoantibodies to zona pellucida in unexplained infertile women, and their antisera might be useful tools for determining minimal B-cell epitope sequences of several known huZP3 epitope peptides.
Animals ; Egg Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Immune Sera ; immunology ; Immunization ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Rabbits ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Sperm-Ovum Interactions ; immunology ; Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins

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.

Objective To analyze the genetic phenotypes of Nantong Han population and evaluate the application value of 17 Y-STR loci in Nantong population.Methods The peripheral blood samples were collected from 343 unrelated Nantong Han males and the genomic DNA were extracted by Chelex-100 method.Genotyping was performed using the AmpF(l)STR YfilerTM Kit.The results were compared with other 12 Han populations,including Anhui,Jiangsu,Jiangxi,Shandong,Shanghai,Zhejiang (1),Lanzhou,Nanyang,Luzhou,Mudanjiang,Shanxi and Zhejiang (2),and 9 minority populations (Mongol,Xibe,Tibetan in Lhasa,Tibetan in Qinghai,Kazak,Uighur,Manchu,Paiwan in Taiwan and Tujia).Results A total of 327 different haplotypes were found in 17 Y-STR loci in Nantong Han population.The haplotype diversity (HD) was 0.999 7.The R,value between Nantong Han and other Chinese populations ranged from-0.000 6 to 0.263 5.The multidimensional scaling results showed that Nantong Han population had no significant differences between most of the Han populations,but had significant differences between most of Chinese minority populations.Conclusion Seventeen Y-STR loci can be a powerful tool for forensic application because of its high polymorphism in Nantong Han population.

Objective To investigate the occurrence and risk factors of vascular access infection(VAI) in hemodialysis outpatients.Methods Prospective surveillance method,monitoring methods was formulated and adopted by referring to the relevant guidelines and regulations at home and abroad,targeted surveillance was performed among all outpatients receiving hemodialysis in a hospital from June 1,2014 to May 31,2016.Results A total of 584 outpatients received hemodialysis from June 1,2014 to May 31,2016,with 64 203 times of vascular access,79 patients developed 85 cases of infection,case incidence of VAI was 1.32％.36 cases(42.35％) were infection at vascular puncture sites,49 (57.65％) were vascular access-related bloodstream infection.Among patients with different types of vascular access,incidence of VAI was the highest among patients with artificial vascular graft(19.67％),followed by those with non tunneled central venous catheter(4.91％),with tunneled central venous catheter (0.73％),and with arteriovenous fistula(0.09％).Age＞ 60 years,hemodialysis time＞ 1 year,diabetes,and hypertension were risk factors for VAI in outpatients with hemodialysis(all P＜0.05).39 strains of pathogens were isolated from 49 patients with vascular access-related bloodstream infection,including 36 (92.31％) gram positive bacteria,mainly Staphylococcus aureus (n =30,6 of which were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus);3 (7.69 ％) gram-negative bacteria.Conclusion Strengthening prospective targeted surveillance can better understand the status,characteristics,and risk factors of VAI in hemodialysis outpatients,it is conducive to taking targeted prevention and control measures,thus reduce the incidence of VAI in hemodialysis outpatients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Dan-gua Fang on adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP) activated protein kinase (AMPK) α expression in liver and subsequent improvement of glucose and lipid metabolism.

METHODSForty 13-week-old diabetic Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats were randomly divided into model, Dan-gua Fang, metformin and simvastatin groups (n=10 for each), and fed high-fat diet ad libitum. Ten Wistar rats were used as normal group and fed normal diet. After 24 weeks, liver expression of AMPKα mRNA was assessed by real-time PCR. AMPKα and phospho-AMPKα protein expression in liver was evaluated by Western blot. Liver histomorphology was carried out after hematoxylin-eosin staining, and blood glucose (BG), glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), food intake and body weight recorded.

RESULTSSimilar AMPKα mRNA levels were found in the Dan-gua Fang group and normal group, slightly higher than the values obtained for the remaining groups (P<0.05). AMPKα protein expression in the Dan-gua Fang group animals was similar to other diabetic rats, whereas phospho-AMPKα (Thr-172) protein levels were markedly higher than in the metformin group and simvastatin group (P<0.05), respectively. However, phosphor-AMPKα/AMPKα ratios were similar in all groups. Dan-gua Fang reduced fasting blood glucose with similar strength to metformin, and was superior in reducing cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol as well as improving low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in comparison with simvastatin and metformin. Dan-gua Fang decreases plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) significantly.

CONCLUSIONDan-gua Fang, while treating phlegm-stasis, could decrease BG and lipid in type 2 diabetic GK rats fed with high-fat diet, and effectively protect liver histomorphology and function. This may be partly explained by increased AMPK expression in liver. Therefore, Dan-gua Fang might be an ideal drug for comprehensive intervention for glucose and lipid metabolism disorders in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

AMP-Activated Protein Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Body Weight ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; blood ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Feeding Behavior ; Glycolipids ; metabolism ; Liver ; enzymology ; pathology ; Male ; Phosphorylation ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats, Wistar ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Time Factors

4-(Cytidine 5′-diphospho)-2-C-methyl-D-erythritol kinase (CMK) was one of the key enzymes in the methylerythritol-4-phosphate (MEP) pathway to generate terpenoids. In this study, based on the transcriptome data of Atractylodes lancea, the sequence of the CMK gene was cloned, named AlCMK (GenBank accession number OM283293). The results showed that AlCMK contains a 1 230 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding 409 amino acids. The deduced protein had a theoretical molecular weight of 44 752.53 and an isoelectric point of 6.67. Transmembrane structure analysis showed that there was no transmembrane structure, and the secondary structure of AlCMK was predicted to be mainly composed of random coil. Homologous alignment revealed that AlCMK shared high sequence identity with the CMK proteins of Tanacetum cinerariifolium, Osmanthus fragrans, Eucommia ulmoides, Lonicera japonica and Salvia miltiorrhiza. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that AlCMK protein had the higher homology with CMK protein of Compositae. The pET-32a-AlCMK prokaryotic expression vector was constructed and a fusion protein with molecular mass of about 65 kDa was expressed in the E. coli BL21 (DE3). The qRT-PCR was used to analyze the expression pattern of AlCMK gene in different tissues and after MeJA treatment. Meanwhile, the enzyme activity was determined by ELISA kit. The results showed that AlCMK gene was tissue-expressed in different origins and its expression was induced by MeJA, and the results of the enzyme activity assay showed that the AlCMK enzyme activity in different regions was higher in the leaves. The subcellular localization showed that AlCMK was located in the chloroplast. This study provides a reference for further elucidating the biological function of AlCMK gene in terpenoid synthesis pathway in Atractylodes lancea.