Objective To investigate the relationship between serum levels of plasminogen activator inhibi-tor-1(PAI-1)and annexin A2(ANXA2)and the carotid atherosclerosis stability(CAS)plaque in patients with transient ischemic attack(TIA).Methods A total of 131 patients with TIA admitted to the hospital from January 2021 to January 2023 were selected as the TIA group,and 46 healthy people in the same period were selected as the control group.According to the CAS plaque stability of TIA patients,they were divided into unstable plaque group(64 cases)and stable plaque/no plaque group(67 cases).The serum levels of PAI-1 and ANXA2 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and chemiluminescence immunoassay,respectively.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the factors of CAS plaque stability in TIA patients.Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to analyze the predictive value of serum PAI-1 and ANXA2 levels for CAS instability in TIA patients.Results Compared with the control group,the levels of PAI-1 and ANXA2 in TIA group were significantly increased(P<0.05).Compared with the stable plaque/no plaque group,the unstable plaque group was significant increaseed in the serum levels of PAI-1 and ANXA2(P<0.05).Smoking,high risk of TIA,elevated PAI-1 and ANXA2 were independent risk factors for CAS plaque stability in patients with TIA(P<0.05).The area under the curve predicted by serum PAI-1 and ANXA2 levels combined was 0.879,which was larger than 0.788 and 0.783 predicted by serum PAI-1 and ANXA2 levels alone(P<0.05).Conclusion The increased levels of serum PAI-1 and ANXA2 are closely re-lated to CAS plaque instability in patients with TIA.The combination of serum PAI-1 and ANXA2 levels has a higher value in predicting CAS plaque instability in patients with TIA.

Background: Emerging evidences have indicated that the composition of gut microbiota was significantly influenced by central nervous system diseases. The digestion and metabolism disturbances of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) might be strongly associated with ALS; however, this has rarely been evaluated in these populations. This study was to evaluate bacterial and archaeal composition of gut flora and the corresponding metabolism performance of these micro-organisms in fecal samples of patients with ALS. Methods: A comparative study was performed on the intestinal microbiota from eight patients with ALS and eight healthy individuals at Huadong Hospital during November 2017 to April 2018; meanwhile, the metabolite concentrations of human endotoxin, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), NO₂-N/NO₃-N, and γ-aminobutyric acid were also evaluated by spectrophotometry methods. The correlations between intestinal microbiota and metabolite concentration were compared between the two groups using one-way analysis of variance; the relative abundance of beneficial and harmful micro-organisms in fecal samples was also analyzed. Results: In general, the richness and evenness of bacterial and archaeal communities of healthy individuals were healthier than that of patients with ALS. The phylum Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, genus Methanobrevibacter showed an enhancive tendency in patients with ALS, whereas the relative abundance of beneficial micro-organisms (genera Faecalibacterium and Bacteroides) presented a significant decrease tendency in patients with ALS. In addition, the average concentrations of human endotoxin, SCFA, NO₂-N/NO₃-N, and γ-aminobutyric acid in patients with ALS and healthy individuals were 64.2 vs. 65.3 EU/mL, 57.5 vs. 55.3 μg/mL, 5.7 vs. 5.3 ng/mL, and 6.1 vs. 5.4 μmol/L, respectively, indicating that the digestion and metabolism functions of gastrointestinal tract of patients might decline with this disease. Conclusions The relative abundance of beneficial and harmful micro-organisms respectively showed decrease and increase tendency in patients with ALS.

Neurogenesis is a process in which the neuronal stem cells differentiate into functional neurons including the cell proliferation,differentiation and migration.Previously,it was believed that neurogenesis is a prenatal process and the adult ependymal cells are incapable of regeneration.Now it is clear that mammalian brain retains the ability to generate new ceils in specific regions.One of the regions is subventricular zone of the lateral ventricles,new generated neurons and glial cells later migrate to olfactory and repair dysosmia through the RMS road.Here we will review the advances in adult neurogenesis in mammal subventficular zone.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of depression and anxiety assessment performed in gastrointestinal cancer patients on postoperative depression and anxiety symptom and mental health service visit.

METHODSA total of 254 gastrointestinal cancer patients who underwent surgical procedure were assigned into assessment group (n=121) and control group (n=133). Depression and anxiety assessment were performed with PHQ-9 and GAD-7 in assessment group on admission, discharge and at 3-month follow-up while in control group only at 3-month follow-up. The point prevalence of depression and anxiety were evaluated in assessment group with established cut-off reported by ASCO defining depression as a PHQ-9 score no less than 8 and anxiety as a GAD-7 score no less than 5. PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores at 3-month follow-up were compared using Mann-Whitney U test.

RESULTSAccording to the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 score, the prevalence of depression was 28.9%(35/121) and anxiety was 37.2%(45/121) in assessment group, and depression was found in 9.9%(12/121) with comorbid anxiety. During the 3-month follow-up, the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 score in assessment group (6.02±4.67 and 4.19±3.95) were both lower than those in control group (8.83±6.63 and 6.41±5.80) with statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). Patients in assessment group were more likely to seek for help in mental health service than those in control group [10.7%(13/121) vs. 3.0%(4/133), χ(2)=9.726, P=0.014] in 3-month follow-up after surgery.

CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence of depression and anxiety is high in gastrointestinal cancer patients. Depression and anxiety assessment routinely performed for gastrointestinal cancer patients can enhance utilization of mental health service and reduce postoperative depression and anxiety symptom thus potentially improve quality of life.

Anxiety ; diagnosis ; Depression ; diagnosis ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; psychology ; surgery ; Humans ; Mental Health Services ; Postoperative Period ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective To characterize the resistance mechanisms of a clinical Shigella sonnei strain harboring blaCTX-M-55 .Methods A double-disk synergy test was conducted to detect ESBL.Antibiotic resistance genes were determined by PCR followed by amplicon sequencing.Conjugation experiments were performed to verify the transferability of the plasmids carrying ESBL genes.The minimum inhibitory concentration values were tested using VITEK 2.The transposition unit was confirmed by DNA sequencer,and the transcriptional start site was identified using primer extension assay.Results Strain #1083 produced CTX-M-55,which was encoded by plasmid p1083-CTXM that could be transferred into E.coli through conjugation experiments to confer corresponding antibiotic resistance to the transconjugant #1083-EC600.The transposition unit mediating the transfer of blaCTX-M-55 was ISEcp1-blaCTX-M-55 -Δorf477.ISEcp1 offered strong promoter regions for the resistance genes,facilitating their expressions.Besides,the expressions were constant,not induced by antibiotics.Conclusion BlaCTX-M-55 on plasmids is the major resistance genes for strain #1083.Their expressions and spread are mediated by the insertion sequence ISEcp1.

Objective To characterize the whole-sequence of plasmid pB557-NDM isolate from Enterbacter cloacae and elaborate its antibiotic-resistant mechanisms .Methods Antibiotic resistance genes were determined by PCR , followed by amplicon sequencing .The activity of class A/B/D carbapenemases was determined by modified Carba NP test .Conjugation experiments were performed to verify the transferability of plasmid pB 557-NDM.The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of bacterial strains were tested using VITEK 2.The genetic structure, mobile elements and antibiotic-resistant mechanisms of transferable plasmid pB 557-NDM were determined by a whole genome sequencing method .Results The modified CarbaNP test showed that B557 and B557-EC600 had class B carbapenemase activity , and that the blaNDM was carried by plasmid pB557-NDM.This plasmid could be transferred into E.coli through conjugation experiments and therefore could confer corresponding antibiotic resistances to the transconjugant B 557-EC600.Plasmid pB557-NDM was an IncA/C2 plasmid, whose total length was 141.65 kb, and the GenBank accession number was KX786648.It had two inserted regions.One was the blaCMY-6 region where the blaCMY gene was carried by a transposition unit IS Ecp1-blaCMY , the other was the blaNDM-1 region which consisted of a ΔTn1696-In46-rmtC-ISKpn14-ΔTn125 complex structure.Conclusion The production of plasmid pB557-NDM in strain B557 contributes most to its high resistance to many antibiotics .The blaNDM-1 gene is carried in a trancated transposition ΔTn125.

OBJECTIVETo establish a method for gene complementation in Vibrio parahaemolyticus using the plasmid pBAD33.

METHODSThe entire coding region of opaR or aphA was amplified by PCR and cloned into pBAD33. The recombinant plasmid was transformed into δopaR and δaphA (the opaR or aphA null mutant strain, respectively) separately to construct the complemented mutant strain C-δaphA and C-δopaR, respectively. RT-PCR was used to verify the transcription of opaR and aphA in the corresponding complemented mutant strains. Primer extension experiments were performed to determine the relative mRNA levels of mfpA (a gene previously characterized to be negatively regulated by AphA and positively by OpaR) in the wild-type strain, δopaR, δaphA, C-δaphA, and C-δopaR.

RESULTSopaR and aphA were transcribed in the corresponding complemented mutant strains, and their mRNA levels were comparable to those detected in the wild-type strains.

CONCLUSIONA method has been established for gene complementation in Vibrio parahaemolyticus using the plasmid pBAD33.

Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Complementation Test ; methods ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Vibrio parahaemolyticus ; genetics

The aim of this study was to establish a fast and accurate method for developing specific DNA sequences and PCR primers for the detection of Staphylococcus aureus. An automatic C++ program for genomic comparison was used to identify specific DNA sequences from the genome of S. aureus MRSA 252. Four primer pairs were obtained from 9 specific target sequences by comparison of 2656 coding sequences with our local genome database, and 2 pairs of primers were confirmed to be specific to S. aureus by PCR evaluation against 137 bacterial strains, including 11 species of Staphylococcus. Furthermore, the DNA detection sensitivity of primer SA3 was 13.7 fg/microL and the cell sensitivity for this primer was 9.25 x 10(2) CFU/mL. This method has overcome the limitations of specific target mining in conventional assays, and it could be easily and widely used for other foodborne pathogens.
DNA Primers ; DNA, Bacterial ; analysis ; genetics ; Genome, Bacterial ; genetics ; Genomics ; methods ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; methods ; Software ; Staphylococcus aureus ; genetics ; isolation & purification

This study examined the adipocytokine-vascular interactions and link between epicardial adipose tissue and coronary artery atherosclerosis. Thirty-four patients undergoing open heart surgery were chosen randomly, and divided into group I (non-coronary artery disease group) and group II (coronary artery disease group). Blood samples were taken through peripheral vein prior to surgery. Plasma levels of a panel of proteins (adiponectin, IL-10, TNF-α) were detected by using ELISA. Epicardial adipose tissue was taken near the proximal tract of the right coronary artery and subcutaneous adipose was taken from the leg before cardiopulmonary bypassing, adiponectin and CD68 + were detected by using RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Our results showed that plasma adiponectin level was significantly lower in the group II as compared with group I (P<0.05). There were no differences in plasma concentration (IL-10, TNF-α, tatal-chol, HDL-chol, LDL-chol) between group I and group II. The number of CD68+ cells in epicardial adipose tissue of group II was significantly higher than that in subcutaneous adipose tissue. Adiponectin mRNA expression was 6 fold higher in subcutaneous adipose tissue than in epicardial adipose tissue of group II (P<0.01). Furthermore, the level of adiponectin mRNA in the epicardial adipose tissue in group II was also significantly lower than in group I (P<0.05). We are led to conclude that inflammation that occurs locally in epicardial adipose tissue of CAD contributes to the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease.

This study examined the adipocytokine-vascular interactions and link between epicardial adipose tissue and coronary artery atherosclerosis. Thirty-four patients undergoing open heart surgery were chosen randomly, and divided into group Ⅰ (non-coronary artery disease group) and group Ⅱ (coronary artery disease group). Blood samples were taken through peripheral vein prior to surgery.Plasma levels of a panel of proteins (adiponectin, 1L-10, TNF-α) were detected by using ELISA.Epicardial adipose tissue was taken near the proximal tract of the right coronary artery and subcutaneous adipose was taken from the leg before cardiopulmonary bypassing, adiponectin and CD68 + were detected by using RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Our results showed that plasma adiponectin level was significantly lower in the group Ⅱ as compared with group Ⅰ (P＜0.05). There were no differences in plasma concentration (IL-10, TNF-a, tatal-chol, HDL-chol, LDL-chol) between group Ⅰ and group Ⅱ. The number of CD68 + cells in epicardial adipose tissue of group Ⅱ was significantly higher than that in subcutaneous adipose tissue. Adiponectin mRNA expression was 6 fold higher in subcutaneous adipose tissue than in epicardial adipose tissue of group Ⅱ (P＜0.01). Furthermore, the level of adiponectin mRNA in the epicardial adipose tissue in group Ⅱ was also significantly lower than in group Ⅰ (P＜0.05). We are led to conclude that inflammation that occurs locally in epicardial adipose tissue of CAD contributes to the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease.