[Serotyping methods of Streptococcus pneumonia]

More than 100 serotypes of Streptococcus pneumonia have been identified, which has been one bottleneck problem for pneumococcal disease diagnosis, surveillance, development of pneumococcal vaccine and effectiveness evaluation of pneumococcal vaccines. Three categories of approaches for pneumococcal serotyping will be discussed including phenotyping based on anti-serum, biochemical typing based on pneumococcal capsular characteristics and genotyping based on pneumococcal capsular locus sequences. We reviewed the development and applications of different serotyping of pneumococcus to provide guidance for pneumococcal disease prevention and control.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Quantification of the Liver Iron Burden and Volume Changes Following Treatment With Thalidomide in Patients With Transfusion-Dependent ß-Thalassemia

Clinical trials have indicated that thalidomide could be used to treat thalassemia, but evidence of changes in liver iron burden and liver volume during thalidomide treatment is lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the liver iron burden and volume changes following thalidomide treatment in patients with transfusion-dependent ß-thalassemia. A total of 66 participants with transfusion-dependent ß-thalassemia were included in this prospective cohort study between January 2017 and December 2020. Patients were treated with thalidomide (150–200 mg/day) plus conventional therapy. Liver volume, liver R2*, and hepatic muscle signal ratio (SIR)_T1 and SIR_T2 were measured with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and serum ferritin, hemoglobin, erythrocyte and platelet counts, and liver function were measured at baseline and at the 3rd and 12th months. Adverse events were also noted. Patients showed progressive increase in hemoglobin, erythrocyte, platelet count, SIR_T1, and SIR_T2 during the 12-months follow up. Serum ferritin, R2*, and liver volume progressively decreased during the follow up. The R2* value had a significantly positive correlation with serum ferritin, and SIR_T1 and SIR_T2 had a significantly negative correlation with serum ferritin. No serious adverse events were observed. This study showed that thalidomide could potentially be used to successfully treat patients with transfusion-dependent ß-thalassemia; the liver iron burden and liver volume could be relieved during treatment, and the MRI-measured R2*, SIR_T1, and SIR_T2 may be used to noninvasively monitor liver iron concentration.

[Exploration on the construction of analysis indicators system for antibiotic resistance monitoring]

Antibiotic resistance (AR) is a severe and fast-growing public health challenge with rapid globalization, especially in China. Although some monitoring systems were established in different fields, fragmentation of information failed to show the overall trend and spread of AR. It is necessary to establish a national monitoring system to reveal the occurrence, development, and spread of AR. The new AR monitoring system needs an updated analysis indicators system. We intend to recommend a new analysis indicators system for AR was constructed and applied to AR data monitoring and analysis for humans, animals, the environment, and foods. After investigating and analyzing the 5 Chinese major AR monitoring systems and literature, we have formulated 15 AR monitoring analysis indicators and initially established an evaluation system for the country's new AR monitoring system.

[Dissemination of insertion sequence common regions 1 and int1 gene and drug resistance of 483 Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia broiler isolates]

Objective: To investigate and analyze distribution characteristics of two multidrug resistance related genes in broiler isolates in Shandong province. Methods: The pre slaughter broilers were chosen from Shandong province in this study in June, 2014. A total of 400 fecal samples from five different zones (east, south, west, north and middle) of the hen house were collected. 373(77.2%) Escherichia coli and 110 (22.8%) Klebsiella pneumonia strains were isolated, and ISCR1 and int1 gene were detected by PCR assay and sequencing. The resistance to 10 drugs belonging to 8 classes antimicrobial drugs were obtained by using minimal broth dilution method and data analysis. The difference between isolates and drug resistance profiles was analyzed. Results: Among 483 isolates, 440 isolates (91.1%), 126 isolates (26.1%) and 126 isolates (26.1%) were detected as int1, ISCR1 and both two gene carriers, respectively. The rate of 37 E. coli isolates not carried ISCR1 or int1 gene resistant to 0 to 2, 3 to 5, 6 to 8 classes antimicrobial agents was 13.5% (n=5), 78.4% (n=29), and 8.1% (n=3), respectively; the rate of 288 only int1 gene E. coli carriers resistant to 0 to 2, 3 to 5, 6 to 8 groups antimicrobial agents was 2.4% (n=7), 74.7% (n=215), and 22.9% (n=6), respectively. The data above showed significant difference (P<0.001). The rate of 26 only int1 gene K. pneumonia carriers resistant to 0 to 2, 3 to 5, 6 to 8 classes antimicrobial agents was 11.5% (n=3), 76.9% (n=20), and 11.5% (n=3), respectively; the rate of 78 both two gene K. pneumonia carriers resistant to0 to 2, 3 to 5, 6 to 8 groups antimicrobial agents was 0, 35.9% (n=28), and 64.1% (n=50), respectively. The data above showed significant difference (P<0.001). Conclusion: Gene int1 and ISCR1 showed high prevalence in E. coli and K. pneumonia isolates. High level multi-drug resistance profile could be mediated by int1 and ISCR1 gene co-existence.

Anti-platelet and anti-thrombosis characteristics of Z4A5, a novel selective platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor, compared with eptifibatide under long-term infusion

Platelet Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors are approved for the treatment of acute coronary syndromes and percutaneous coronary interventions due to their effects on the final common pathway of platelet aggregation. Z4A5 is a new hexapeptide IIb/IIIa inhibitor with antiplatelet and antithrombotic effects. This study was performed to assess the characteristics of Z4A5 compared with another IIb/IIIa inhibitor eptifibatide. Light-transmission aggregometry was used to measure platelet aggregation to assess the antiplatelet efficacy of Z4A5 in vitro and ex vivo in beagles. The time course of platelet inhibition and bleeding time prolongation during i.v. bolus plus infusion and after infusion of the Z4A5 were evaluated in beagles following two 2 x 2 Latin square designs. We also compared the antithrombotic activity of Z4A5 with eptifibatide in arterial thrombosis and arteriovenous shunt thrombosis model in beagles. Our data showed that Z4A5 completely inhibited adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-, thrombin- and arachidonic acid-induced in vitro platelet aggregation with values of IC50 of 260 nM, 128.6 and 56.4 n respectively. Z4A5 also markedly and stably prevented ADP-induced ex vivo platelet aggregation and prolonged the bleeding time throughout the 8-hour infusion. Both platelet function and bleeding time returned to normal sooner after cessation of Z4A5 infusion than after eptifibatide. Z4A5 inhibited thrombosis and had the same potent antithrombotic activity as eptifibatide. In conclusion, Z4A5 has the same potent antiplatelet effect and antithrombotic activity with the advantage of a faster on and off time compared to eptifibatide.

Regulation network analysis in the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The incidence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has high regional selectivity. The molecular mechanisms of ESCC are complex and involve multiple oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, receptor tyrosine kinases, cytoplasmic enzymes, and tumor interstitial elements.

AIM

Here we used bioinformatics to obtain some important genes and pathways involved in ESCC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this article, we did Affymetrix microarray data collection from three big databases, and then selected all the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) according to some principles. On this basis, we carried out regulation network analysis and pathway enrichment analysis, obtaining ESCC related regulation network analysis, after which we selected significant pathways on regulation network and established TF-pathway regulation network.

RESULTS

In the transcription factors (TFs) regulation network we found SP1, E2F1, USF2 and SP3 form a local network which suggested that these TFs might play a more important role in ESCC. Some key pathways were also identified, such as P53 signaling pathway, melanoma and prostate cancer pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

The identification of crucial molecular pathways involved in ESCC would ultimately improve therapeutic effects and facilitate the development of new treatment strategies.

Double-antigen sandwich ELISA for detection of antibodies to SARS-associated coronavirus in human serum

The study presented here was conducted to evaluate the performance of a double-antigen sandwich ELISA to detect antibodies in human serum against the coronavirus associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). A recombinant partial nucleocapsid protein of SARS-associated coronavirus was used as a serodiagnostic antigen in the ELISA. A total of 2892 clinical serum samples were tested with the ELISA kit, which positively identified 25 of 35 (71.4%) samples of patients with confirmed SARS infection, 286 of 407 (70%) samples of patients suspected of having SARS, 229 of 302 (75.8%) samples of convalescent SARS patients, and 0 of 544 samples obtained from healthcare workers; only 1 of 1604 clinical samples obtained from patients with other diseases demonstrated a weakly positive result. These results indicate that the double-antigen sandwich ELISA is an effective screening method for the serodiagnosis of SARS-associated coronavirus.

Characterisation of a potyvirus and a potexvirus from Chinese scallion

Molecular analyses of viruses infecting Chinese scallion (Allium chinense G. Don) showed that the plants did not contain any of the poty-, carla- or allexiviruses that are common in garlic plants in China. The complete sequences of a potyvirus and a potexvirus were determined and these were shown to represent different viruses from any in the databases. They could be transmitted mechanically to scallion but not to other Allium species (including garlic) or to Narcissus. The potyvirus, tentatively named Scallion mosaic virus, has a distant relationship (c. 62% nucleotide identity over the entire genome) to Turnip mosaic virus and Japanese yam mosaic virus, with which it grouped in phylogenetic analyses. Its genome is 9324 nts long, encoding a 341.3 kDa polyprotein of 3001 amino acids. The potexvirus, tentatively named Scallion virus X, has a genome 6987 nts long and its organisation was similar to that of the other potexviruses but with only 46.3-63.2% nucleotides identical to them. It is most closely related to Narcissus mosaic virus but phylogenetic analyses indicate that it should be considered a distinct species. Neither of the viruses have been detected in garlic, although the two host plants are closely related.

Parathyroid hormone receptor internalization is independent of protein kinase A and phospholipase C activation

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and PTH-related peptide (PTHrP) binding to their common receptor stimulates second messenger accumulation, receptor phosphorylation, and internalization. LLC-PK(1) cells expressing a green fluorescent protein-tagged PTH/PTHrP receptor show time- and dose-dependent receptor internalization. The internalized receptors colocalize with clathrin-coated pits. Internalization is stimulated by PTH analogs that bind to and activate the PTH/PTHrP receptor. Cell lines expressing a mutant protein kinase A regulatory subunit that is resistant to cAMP and/or a mutant receptor (DSEL mutant) that does not activate phospholipase C internalize their receptors normally. In addition, internalization of the wild-type receptor and the DSEL mutant is stimulated by the PTH analog [Gly(1),Arg(19)]hPTH-(1-28), which does not stimulate phospholipase C. Forskolin, IBMX, and the active phorbol ester, phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate, did not promote receptor internalization or increase PTH-induced internalization. These data indicate that ligand-induced internalization of the PTH/PTHrP receptor requires both ligand binding and receptor activation but does not involve stimulation of adenylate cyclase/protein kinase A or phospholipase C/protein kinase C.

Food insecurity in Canadian households

OBJECTIVES

This article examines the prevalence of food insecurity in Canada, the characteristics of people most likely to live in households lacking sufficient funds for food, and several related health problems.

DATA SOURCE

The data are from the cross-sectional household component of the 1998/99 National Population Health Survey and the Food Insecurity Supplement to that survey.

ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES

Cross-tabulations were used to estimate the percentage of Canadians experiencing food insecurity and the prevalence of five selected health outcomes among people who were and were not food insecure. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the association of several socio-demographic and economic factors with food insecurity and to determine the association of food insecurity with the selected health outcomes.

MAIN RESULTS

In 1998/99, 10% of Canadians, or about 3 million people, were living in food-insecure households. Low-income households, households depending on social assistance, lone-parent families headed by women, tenants, children, and Aboriginal people had significantly high odds of experiencing food insecurity. Food insecurity was significantly associated with poor/fair health, multiple chronic conditions, obesity, distress and depression.

Heats of adsorption of some organic compounds on beta-cyclodextrin determined by gas-solid chromatography

Isosteric adsorptive enthalpies have been derived from the temperature dependence of retention volumes determined by eluted pulse gas-solid chromatography. The heat data were obtained for systems using more than 20 organic liquids as adsorbates, and beta-cyclodextrin as adsorbent. The experimental results have been discussed in the light of intermolecular force between molecules of adsorbate and adsorbent.

HMG-1 as a late mediator of endotoxin lethality in mice

Endotoxin, a constituent of Gram-negative bacteria, stimulates macrophages to release large quantities of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-1 (IL-1), which can precipitate tissue injury and lethal shock (endotoxemia). Antagonists of TNF and IL-1 have shown limited efficacy in clinical trials, possibly because these cytokines are early mediators in pathogenesis. Here a potential late mediator of lethality is identified and characterized in a mouse model. High mobility group-1 (HMG-1) protein was found to be released by cultured macrophages more than 8 hours after stimulation with endotoxin, TNF, or IL-1. Mice showed increased serum levels of HMG-1 from 8 to 32 hours after endotoxin exposure. Delayed administration of antibodies to HMG-1 attenuated endotoxin lethality in mice, and administration of HMG-1 itself was lethal. Septic patients who succumbed to infection had increased serum HMG-1 levels, suggesting that this protein warrants investigation as a therapeutic target.

Bright Spots, Structure, and Magmatism in Southern Tibet from INDEPTH Seismic Reflection Profiling

INDEPTH seismic reflection profiling shows that the decollement beneath which Indian lithosphere underthrusts the Himalaya extends at least 225 kilometers north of the Himalayan deformation front to a depth of approximately 50 kilometers. Prominent reflections appear at depths of 15 to 18 kilometers near where the decollement reflector apparently terminates. These reflections extend north of the Zangbo suture to the Damxung graben of the Tibet Plateau. Some of these reflections have locally anomalous amplitudes (bright spots) and coincident negative polarities implying that they are produced by fluids in the crust. The presence of geothermal activity and high heat flow in the regions of these reflections and the tectonic setting suggest that the bright spots mark granitic magmas derived by partial melting of the tectonically thickened crust.

Partially Molten Middle Crust Beneath Southern Tibet: Synthesis of Project INDEPTH Results

INDEPTH geophysical and geological observations imply that a partially molten midcrustal layer exists beneath southern Tibet. This partially molten layer has been produced by crustal thickening and behaves as a fluid on the time scale of Himalayan deformation. It is confined on the south by the structurally imbricated Indian crust underlying the Tethyan and High Himalaya and is underlain, apparently, by a stiff Indian mantle lid. The results suggest that during Neogene time the underthrusting Indian crust has acted as a plunger, displacing the molten middle crust to the north while at the same time contributing to this layer by melting and ductile flow. Viewed broadly, the Neogene evolution of the Himalaya is essentially a record of the southward extrusion of the partially molten middle crust underlying southern Tibet.

Effects of daurisoline on cytosolic free calcium in fetal rat cerebral cells

Cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) was measured in dissociated cerebral cells isolated from fetal rats with the fluorescent indicater fura-2. Increase in [Ca2+]i occurred rapidly following exposure of the cells to 50 mmol/L KCl, 10(-7) mol/L Bay K 8644 or 200 mumol/L glutamate (Glu). [Ca2+]i elevated by K(+)-depolarization was attenuated by pretreatment with 10(-7), 10(-6) mol/L daurisoline (Dau). The response of [Ca2+]i to K(+)-depolarization did not change when 10(-8) mol/L Dau was added. When 10(-8)-10(-6) mol/L Dau was added to the cell suspensions prior to exposure to Glu, the Glu-stimulated rises in [Ca2+]i were reduced significantly. However, Dau (10(-6), 10(-7) and 10(-8) mol/L) did not alter the response to Bay K 8644. These results indicate that Dau can inhibit the increase of [Ca2+]i in fetal rat cerebral cells induced by certain Ca2+ agonists, especially Glu, suggesting that this drug may have a protective effect against cerebral cellular injury.

[Effects of nifedipine on hepatic hyaluronic acid, hydroxyproline and glucosaminidase contents in rats with liver fibrosis]

In early stage treatment groups, Nifedipine (Nif) could significantly reduce hepatic hyaluronic acid (HA) and hydroxyproline (Hyp) contents in rats in which liver fibrosis had been induced by CCl4 treatment. N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (beta-NAG) activity showed a similar change in the high dosage group. In late stage treatment groups, HA was reduced markedly, and decreased beta-NAG levels were noted in the high dosage group. These effects on HA, Hyp and beta-NAG were dependent on Nif dosage. The results suggest that Nif could inhibit the development of liver fibrosis in rats, and may even reverse it.

[Effects of kuo-guan granule on plasma zinc, copper and erythrocyte GSH-Px (glutathione peroxidase) in patients with angina pectoris]

The changes of the plasma zinc, copper and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry and DTNB color development, in 31 patients suffering from coronary heart disease with angina Pectoris before and after taking Kuo-Guan granule one month. The results showed the plasma zinc was 16.83 +/- 2.60 mumol/L, copper 14.17 +/- 2.99 mumol/L, and erythrocyte GSH-Px 0.75 +/- 0.12 Eu/Hbmg/min in the normal control group. In patients with angina Pectoris, the plasma zinc was 14.39 +/- 4.44 mumol/L, copper 17.47 +/- 4.42 mumol/L, and erythrocyte GSH-Px 0.49 +/- 0.075 Eu/Hbmg/min before treatment; the plasma zinc was 20.17 +/- 3.97 mumol/L, copper 15.74 +/- 3.15 mumol/L, and erythrocyte GSH-Px 0.72 +/- 0.10 Eu/Hbmg/min after treatment. These results indicate that the plasma zinc and erythrocyte GSH-Px were lower and copper was higher in the patients than the normal control group before treatment (P less than 0.01), the plasma zinc and erythrocyte GSH-Px were increased and copper was decreased after treatment (P less than 0.01). These suggest that therapeutic mechanism of Kuo-Guan granule to coronary heart disease with angina Pectoris may be related to it's regulation on trace elements disturbance in body.