Meta-analysis comparing different ultrasound detection methods to accurately assess wound healing and scar formation after caesarean section.

The accurate assessment of wound healing post-caesarean section, especially in twin pregnancies, remains a pivotal concern in obstetrics, given its implications for maternal health and recovery. Traditional methods, including conventional abdominal ultrasonography (CU), have been challenged by the advent of transvaginal ultrasonography (TU), offering potentially enhanced sensitivity and specificity. This meta-analysis directly compares the efficacy of TU and CU in evaluating wound healing and scar formation, crucial for optimizing postoperative care. Results indicate that TU is associated with significantly better outcomes in wound healing, demonstrated by lower REEDA scores (SMD = -20.56, 95% CI: [-27.34.20, -13.77], p < 0.01), and in scar formation reduction, evidenced by lower Manchester Scar Scale scores (SMD = -25.18, 95% CI: [-29.98, -20.39], p < 0.01). These findings underscore the potential of integrating TU into routine post-caesarean evaluation protocols to enhance care quality and patient recovery.

The inhibitory effect of rBCG on EB virus-positive tumours using an EB virus fusion gene.

At present, studies have found that latent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is associated with a variety of human tumours, and a vaccine is not available in this field. In this research, RT-PCR was used to obtain BZLF1 (immediately expressed early antigen Z) and LMP2 (latent membrane protein 2) cDNA from EBV. A ZLP2 fusion gene containing a linker sequence that encoded the polypeptide (Gly4Ser)3 was obtained using the sequence splicing overlap extension method. Then, ZLP2 was inserted into pMV261 cells, and the recombinant plasmid pMV-ZLP2 was transformed into BCG competent cells. After EB virus-positive tumour cell (NPRC18) cancer models were established with C57BL/6 J mice, tumour weight, tumour formation time and mouse survival conditions were analyzed, and flow cytometry was used to analyze the quantities of CD8 + and CD4 + T cells. HE staining was used to detect and analyze lymphocyte infiltration, and statistical analysis was used to analyze the immunological effect of recombinant BCG (rBCG). Compared with the control group, rBCG could significantly prolong the survival time of mice, slow tumour growth and delay tumour formation time. Recombinant BCG exhibits an obvious immune effect in mice and an inhibitory effect on EBV-positive cancer.Key points• AZLP2 fusion gene with BZLF1 and LMP2 of EB virus was constructed.• ZLP2 fusion gene was expressed with rBCG.• rBCG with ZLP2 has an obvious effect on EBV-positive cancer.

Palmatine attenuates hepatocyte injury by promoting autophagy via the AMPK/mTOR pathway after alcoholic liver disease.

Alcoholic liver disease is one of the diseases with the highest fatality rate worldwide. The cellular process of autophagy which recycles damaged organelles to maintain protein and organelle homeostasis is found to positively influence survival during hepatic insufficiency, although the mechanism is poorly understood. Palmatine (PLT) has a variety of biological functions, such as broad-spectrum antibacterial action, neuroprotective, antioxidant stress, and antiviral and anti-inflammatory activities. However, it is not known whether PLT has a protective effect against alcoholic liver injury. Here, we investigated the protective effect of PLT in a cellular model of alcohol-induced acute liver injury and further explored its mechanism of action. In this study, we show for the first time that PLT attenuates alcohol-induced hepatocyte injury by promoting autophagy to play an essential protective role. As PLT treatment induced a brief increase in LC3-II conversion and p62 degradation, it also upregulated the expression of ATG5 and ATG7. The expression levels of the proapoptotic proteins Bax, Caspase 3, and Caspase 9 significantly decreased, while the antiapoptotic protein levels of Bcl-2 upregulated after treatment with PLT. However, in presence of the autophagy inhibitor, 3-methyladenine, the effect of PLT in inhibiting ethanol-induced hepatocyte injury reversed significantly. Mechanistically, the protective effects of PLT may be mediated by promoting the activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway. Therefore, we believe that the development of alcoholic liver injuries may be controlled by PLT by inhibiting hepatocyte apoptosis through the autophagy pathway. The study lays a solid theoretical and practical basis for future animal models and clinical studies of PLT.

Capsaicin enhances the antitumor activity of sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma cells and mouse xenograft tumors through increased ERK signaling.

Sorafenib, a small inhibitor of tyrosine protein kinases, is currently the standard chemotherapy drug for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although sorafenib improves the survival of HCC patients, its efficacy is not optimal and requires further improvement. Capsaicin, the major active component of chili peppers from the genus Capsicum, is not only the agonist of TRPV1 channel, but also displays antitumor activity and enhances the sensitivity of cancer cells to cytotoxic drugs. In this study, we investigated the antitumor effects of combined sorafenib and capsaicin on HCC cells in vitro and xenograft tumors. Treatment with capsaicin alone dose-dependently inhibited the proliferation of the HCC cell lines PLC/PRF/7, HuH7 and HepG2 with IC50 values of 137, 108 and 140.7 µmol/L, respectively. No obvious expression of TRPV1 channel was detected in the 3 HCC cell lines and TRPV1 channel blockers did not alleviate the cytotoxicity of capsaicin. By contrast, combining capsaicin and sorafenib significantly enhanced the suppression on cell proliferation, achieving a high-level synergistic effect (inhibition rates over 50%) and promoting HCC cell apoptosis. In nude mice with PLC/PRF/5 xenografts, combined administration of capsaicin and sorafenib significantly enhanced the suppression on tumor growth without apparent gross toxicity compared to either agent alone. Mechanistically, capsaicin (10-200 µmol/L) dose-dependently increased the levels of phosphorylated ERK (p-ERK) in PLC/PRF/5 cells, thus leading to enhanced sorafenib sensitivity and a synergistic suppression on the tumor cells. Taken together, our results suggest that capsaicin-increased phosphorylation of ERK contributes to the enhanced antitumor activity of sorafenib, and capsaicin may be useful in improving the efficacy of sorafenib for the treatment of HCC.

Fungal and bacterial communities in the rhizosphere of Pinus tabulaeformis related to the restoration of plantations and natural secondary forests in the Loess Plateau, northwest China.

Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis Carr.) is widely planted for restoration in destroyed ecosystems of the Loess Plateau in China. Although soil microbial communities are important subsurface components of the terrestrial ecosystems, little is known about fungal and bacterial communities in the rhizosphere of planted and natural P. tabulaeformis forests in the region. In this study, fungal and bacterial communities in the rhizosphere of P. tabulaeformis were analyzed by nested PCR-DGGE (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis). Diversity analysis revealed that the values of the Shannon-Wiener index (H) and the Simpson index (D) of fungal communities were higher in natural secondary forests than in plantations except for the 3-year-old site. Moreover, the values of species richness, H, and D of the bacterial communities were also higher in the former. Totally, 18 fungal and 19 bacterial DGGE band types were successfully retrieved and sequenced. The dominant fungi in the rhizosphere of P. tabulaeformis belonged to the phylum of Basidiomycota, while the dominant bacteria belonged to the phylum of Proteobacteria. Principal component analysis indicated that fungal and bacterial species were more unitary in plantations than in natural secondary forests, and the majority of them were more likely to appear in the latter. Correlation analysis showed no significant correlation between the fungal and bacterial community diversities.

Value of clinical applications of differential pressure and relative pressure imaging in the left ventricle.

Regional pressure differences between sites within the left ventricular cavity have long been identified, and the potential clinical value of diastolic and systolic intraventricular pressure differences (IVPDs) is of increasing interest. This study concluded that the IVPD plays an important role in ventricular filling and emptying and is a reliable indicator of ventricular relaxation, elastic recoil, diastolic pumping, and effective left ventricular filling. Relative pressure imaging, as a novel and potentially clinically applicable measure of left IVPDs, enables early and more comprehensive identification of the temporal and spatial characteristics of IVPD. In the future, as research related to relative pressure imaging continues, this measurement method has the possibility to become more refined and serve as an additional clinical aid that can replace the gold standard cardiac catheterization technique for the diagnosis of diastolic dysfunction.

A Case Report of Infective Endocarditis with Failure of the Empirical Treatment-Q Fever Endocarditis Diagnosed by Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing.

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) can be caused by a variety of pathogens. Endocarditis due to the Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii) infection is common in patients with negative blood culture results and usually occurs in patients with previous valvular heart disease, impaired immune function, and during pregnancy. The diagnosis is difficult based on the conventional diagnostic method, and serious adverse outcomes may occur in the case of delayed diagnosis. Case Report: In the present study, a case of a 43-year-old male patient with previous valvular heart disease was reported. The patient was admitted with a diagnosis of IE, but the etiology was unclear. Accurate diagnosis and treatment were achieved by combining metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) with Q fever serological antibody assay. Conclusion: Metagenomic next-generation sequencing has been increasingly applied in clinical practice in recent years to detect the DNA or RNA in samples, and this could play a decisive role in the etiological diagnosis of some infectious diseases.

Clinical Characteristics of 606 Patients with Community-Acquired Pyogenic Liver Abscess: A Six-Year Research in Yantai.

Objective: This study was designed to analyze the clinical characteristics, etiological characteristics, drug resistance, and empirical use of antibiotics for community-acquired pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) to provide a basis for rational and effective empirical treatment of PLA in the local area. Methods: The clinical data, etiological characteristics, drug resistance, and empirical anti-infective therapy schemes of 606 patients with PLA were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Results: The included patients were mainly males, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.3:1. The average age of the patients was 60.3 ± 14.1 years. The underlying diseases were diabetes and biliary tract disease, accounting for 38.7% and 22.3%, respectively. The main clinical manifestations were fever (92.9%), abdominal pain (44.7%), and nausea (33.3%). Imaging findings: the proportion of patients with a single lesion was 74.7%, and 67% of the patients had involvement in the right lobe of the liver. The main pathogen was Klebsiella pneumoniae accounted for 74.9% in blood culture and 84.1% in pus culture, mainly extended-spectrum ß-lactamase. In 272 strains negative for extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBLs), 100% were resistant to ampicillin and less than 50% were sensitive to nitrofurantoin. Only 36 ESBL-positive strains had higher than 80% sensitivity to carbapenems, ß-lactamase inhibitor compound, and amikacin. Patients treated with different treatment methods showed significantly different average length of hospital stay (14 [9-21] vs 13 [8-18]). Empirical anti-infective therapy: Beta-lactamase complex, carbapenems, cephalosporins, and quinolones were used in 280 (37.6%), 180 (29.7%), 180 (29.7%), and 147 (24.3%) patients, respectively. Conclusion: Patients with community-acquired PLA in this area are mainly males, and the underlying diseases are mainly diabetes and hepatobiliary system disease. The main clinical manifestation is fever, so patients with fever of unknown cause should pay attention to possible liver abscesses. Based on drug sensitivity tests, the empirical use of antibiotics is somewhat unreasonable.

[Values of fractional exhaled nitric oxide in the diagnosis of chronic cough].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic value of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in the diagnosis of chronic cough. METHODS: A total of 106 subjects with chronic cough and normal chest radiographs were recruited from October 2009 to September 2010. Based on the management guidelines of the Chinese Respiratory Society for cough, the golden standard methods were used to make the definite diagnosis of chronic cough, including sputum cell counts, pulmonary function tests, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, 24-h esophageal pH monitoring, skin pricking test and serum immunoglobulin E. All subjects received a FeNO test by a NIOXMINO analyzer. The values of FeNO to diagnose cough variant asthma (CVA) from chronic cough and EB from non-asthma cough were respectively assessed by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: Among them, the definite diagnoses were cough variant asthma (CVA, n = 39), eosinophilic bronchitis (EB, n = 30) and other causes (n = 37). The FeNO levels in CVA [(54 ± 21) ppb)] (1 ppb = 1 × 10(9) mol/L) were significantly higher than those in EB [(34 ± 17) ppb, P < 0.01] and other causes [(21 ± 10) ppb, P < 0.01]. And the FeNO levels in EB were higher than those in other causes (P < 0.01). To diagnose CVA from chronic cough, the optimal FeNO cutoff value was 40 ppb with a sensitivity of 75%, a specificity of 86%, a positive predictive value of 77%, a negative predictive value of 86% and an accuracy of 81%. To diagnose EB from non-asthma chronic cough, the optimal FeNO cutoff value was 31 ppb with a sensitivity of 63%, a specificity of 92%, a positive predictive value of 88%, a negative predictive value of 92% and an accuracy of 72% respectively. CONCLUSION: There are significant differences between the FeNO levels of different causes of chronic cough. A marked elevation of FeNO level helps to make a final diagnosis of CVA or EB. FeNO test is useful for making the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of chronic cough in clinic practices.

[Development of pulsed field gel electrophoresis and application for characterization and identification of Lactobacillus and Streptococcus thermophilus].

OBJECTIVE: To develop a pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) method for molecular typing of Lactobacillus and Streptococcus thermophilus (S. thermophilus) and to apply it in identification and characterization of both bacteria isolated from yoghurt collected from Beijing supermarket. METHODS: The five most useful restriction enzymes including Apa I, Not I, Sfi I, Xba I and Sma I were chosen to cut DNA of 52 strains of Lactobacillus, S. thermophilus as well as associated standard bacteria strains. The endonucleases and electrophoresis conditions for PFGE analysis were optimized and applied in molecular typing of Lactobacillus and S.thermophilus isolates. Cluster analysis based on the PFGE data was conducted. The identification results of PFGE were compared with those obtained in biochemical and 16s ribosomal RNA PCR identification tests. RESULTS: Not I was suitable for L. bulgaricus, L. fermentum and L. delbrueckii digestion. While Apa I was an appropriate endonuclease for S. thermophilus, L. acidophilus and L. casei digestion. The results of molecular typing indicated that 24 strains of L.bulgaricus and 15 strains of S. thermophilus were grouped into 8 types by PFGE method, respectively. While 7 strains of L.acidophilus were grouped into 3 types and 2 strains of L. delbrueckii were grouped into 2 different PFGE types. CONCLUSION: The results of PFGE analysis are in compliance with those of 16s rRNA PCR and biochemical identification. The PFGE method developed in this study is suitable for molecular characterization of both Lactobacillus and S. thermophilus.

[Natural occurrence of masked deoxynivalenol and multi-mycotoxins in cereals from China harvested in 2007 and 2008].

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the natural occurrence of masked deoxynivalenol (DON-3-G) and other multi-mycotoxins in cereals from parts of China. METHODS: A total of 446 corn and wheat samples harvested in 2007 and 2008 collected from Henan, Hebei, Guangxi, Anhui, Sichuan, Chongqing and Jiangsu provinces were analyzed for DON-3-G and other multi-mycotoxins (including deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN), nivalenol (NIV), et al) by UPLC-MS/MS. RESULTS: Corn and wheat samples were mainly contaminated by DON and its derivatives as well as ZEN.88% (169/192) of wheat samples were positive for DON (range: 1.5 - 590.7 µg/kg; median: 30.8 µg/kg); 22.9% (44/192) of wheat samples were contaminated with ZEN (range: 1.7 - 3425.0 µg/kg; median: 8.0 µg/kg) and six samples contained ZEN concentration higher than the ZEN tolerance limit of 60 µg/kg. DON was detected in 50.5% (103/204) corn samples (range: 1.6 - 4374.4 µg/kg; median: 94.9 µg/kg); Seven samples contained DON exceeding the tolerance limit of 1000 µg/kg for DON. Additionally, ZEN was found in 41.7% (85/204) corn samples with the concentration between 1.6 µg/kg and 4808.7 µg/kg (median: 48.5 µg/kg) and there were 37 corn samples with ZEN level in the excess of tolerance limit for ZEN (60 µg/kg). DON-3-G was detected in corn and wheat samples for the first time in China with the median level of 21.4 µg/kg and 34.6 µg/kg for wheat and corn, respectively. Wheat was more heavily contaminated with DON-3-G than both 3-acetyl-DON (3-A-DON, median: 4.1 µg/kg) and 15-acetyl-DON (15-A-DON, median: 3.1 µg/kg) (t values were 5.111 and 5.966, respectively, both P values < 0.01). While, the level of 15-A-DON (median: 48.6 µg/kg) in corn was higher than 3-A-DON (median: 6.8 µg/kg) (t = -3.579, P < 0.01). The concentration of DON, DON-3-G, 3-A-DON, 15-A-DON and ZEN in corn were higher than that in wheat (Z values were -3.492, -1.960, -2.467, -8.711 and -6.272, respectively, all P values < 0.05). Wheat (median: 29.0 µg/kg) contained higher NIV in comparison with corn (median: 18.2 µg/kg, Z = -2.086, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Wheat and corn samples from parts of China were contaminated with multi-mycotoxins and DON was the predominant;in comparison of wheat, corn was more heavily contaminated with DON, DON-3-G, 3-A-DON, 15-A-DON and ZEN.

Diagnostic value of endometrial volume and flow parameters under 3D ultrasound acquisition in combination with serum CA125 in endometrial lesions.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to discuss the differential diagnosis value of endometrial volume and flow parameters in combination with serum carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) in endometrial benign and malignant lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data of 250 patients with endometrial lesions were retrospectively analyzed. Carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) was determined before the operation. The morphology, hemodynamics, volume and flow parameters of the endometrium were measured by transvaginal three-dimensional-power Doppler angiography (3D-PDA). The endometrial volume (EV), 3D-PDA vascular index (VI), flow index (FI) and vascularization flow index (VFI) were calculated using the virtual organ computer-aided analysis software (VOCAL). RESULTS: According to the pathological results, 202 patients (80.8%) had benign endometrial lesions and 48 patients (19.2%) had endometrial cancer (EC). The endometrium of EC patients was thicker (15.64 ± 7.26 mm vs. 9.24 ± 5.06 mm, P < 0.001), the endometrial volume was larger (9.23 ± 4.08 ml vs. 2.26 ± 3.42 ml, P < 0.001), and the flow parameters VI, FI and VFI were higher, when compared to those of benign lesions (P < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROCC) of VI receptors was 0.86, while the AUC of endometrial thickness (ET) was only 0.66. Therefore, the best variable for distinguishing benign and malignant endometrial lesions was VI. The level of CA125 in the EC group significantly increased (40.57 ± 17.45 vs. 17.87 ± 7.64, P < 0.001), and the level of CA125 increased (P < 0.05) with the increase in clinical grade, degree of tumor differentiation, and pelvic lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). However, the difference in myometrial invasion was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Transvaginal 3D-PDA can clearly show the morphological and hemodynamic characteristics of endometrial lesions, and assist in the detection of EC in combination with serum CA125. This may have important clinical application value.

[Driving Factors of the Significant Increase in Surface Ozone in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region, China, During 2013-2018].

Photochemical pollution, which is believed to be influenced by emission changes and meteorological factors, is presently quite serious in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region, China. There is a need to ascertain the effectiveness of air quality management in the region based on long-term air quality trends independent from meteorological influences. We apply Kolmogorov-Zurbenko (KZ) filtering, a technique used to separate different scales of motion in a time series, to analyze the time series of the maximum daily 8-hour running average for ozone (O3-8h) from 13 cities in the BTH region during 2013-2018, and also discuss trends and driving factors. Results of the KZ filtering revealed that the short-term, seasonal, and long-term components of the O3-8h accounted for 32.7%, 63.9%, and 3.4% of the total variance, respectively. The long-term component of the BTH region was much higher than of those reported by others for Berlin, Paris, and London, and was comparable to that of Los Angeles in the early 1990s and in the 4 years previous to our study. Although we found a lower long-term component than of those reported for Shanghai and Nanjing in the Yangtze River Delta, China, the BTH region had higher rates of increase that ranged from 2.31 to 7.12 µg·(m3·a)-1[mean 4.97 µg·(m3·a)-1]. Based on the linear fitting results-that had not been verified by experiments or model simulations-the average increase rates could be mainly attributed to emission changes (90.4%), which may be distinguished into two parts, the decrease of particulate matter (PM) (27.3%) and the emission of O3 precursors (63.1%). Decreases of PM2.5in Beijing, Langfang, Tianjin, and Hengshui were considered to be responsible for the increase at the levels of 50.8%, 32.5%, 36.7%, and 48.6%, respectively. This suggests that the rapid decrease in PM2.5 could be the most important factor in the increasing trend of O3 in some cities. We conclude that further decreases in the emission of O3 precursors are required to overcome the effect of decreasing PM2.5 causing an increase in O3.

Solubility and stability of lead arsenates at 25 degrees C.

Lead arsenates were the most extensively used arsenical insecticides in the past. Their residues, especially the water-soluble fractions in environment may pose a potential human health risk. The solubility products (K(sp)) and free energies of formation (Delta G(f) degrees) of PbHAsO(4).2H(2)O(c), Pb(5)(AsO(4))(3)OH.H(2)O(c), Pb(3)(AsO(4))(2)(c) and Pb(8)As(2)O(13)(8PbO.As(2)O(5))(c) at 25 degrees C were determined by precipitation and dissolution experiments. The composition of precipitates depended on the Pb/As molar ratios and pH values. The solid precipitates were lamellar PbHAsO(4).2H(2)O(c) at pH = 3-5 and Pb/As = 1.0, columnar Pb(5)(AsO(4))(3)OH.H(2)O(c) at pH = 12-13 and Pb/As = 1.5, Pb(5)(AsO(4))(3)OH.H(2)O(c) with little amounts of Pb(8)As(2)O(13)(c) at pH = 12-13, Pb/As = 1.67 and 2.0. The mixture of PbHAsO(4).2H(2)O(c) and Pb(3)(AsO(4))(2)(c) formed at pH = 6.51 and Pb/As = 1.5. Based on the analytical results, the solubility products (K(sp)) of PbHAsO(4).2H(2)O(c), Pb(5)(AsO(4))(3)OH.H(2)O(c), Pb(3)(AsO(4))(2)(c) and Pb(8)As(2)O(13)(c) were calculated by the computer program PHREEQC as 10(-10.70)(10(-7.81)-10(-14.32)), 10(-81.75)(10(-74.37)-10(-84.83)), 10(-33.83)(10(-32.05)-10(-34.49)) and 10(-174.24)(10(-156.64)-10(-178.35)), respectively. Correspondingly, the free energies of formation (Delta G(f) degrees) of these lead arsenates were calculated to be -1274.36 kJ/mol, -2928.33 kJ/mol, -1563.12 kJ/mol and -3909.69 kJ/mol.

[Survey of asthma control and perception in asthmatic outpatients of Beijing urban district].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the status of asthma control and asthma perception in asthmatic outpatients of Beijing urban district. METHODS: A questionnaire survey in a face-to-face setting was conducted among 360 asthmatic out-patients, 144 males and 316 females, aged (48 +/- 15), from June 2007 to December 2007 in 3 class 3 first level general hospitals in 3 Beijing urban districts. RESULTS: Among 360 asthmatic patients, 325 (90.3%) enjoyed various kinds of social insurance. During the past year, 12.2% (44/360) of them were in hospital because of asthma exacerbation, 25.6% (92/360) of them had visited emergency department because of asthma exacerbation; the percentage of adults with lost workdays caused by asthma was 29.6% (65/220), and the percentage of children with lost school days was 26.9% (7/26); 87.8% (316/360) of the respondents had undergone a lung-function test, 29.2% (105/360) had ever used peak flow meter; 68.6% (247/360) of these patients had been used inhaled corticosteroids regularly for a long time, and 30.6% (110/360) of them achieved asthma control. CONCLUSIONS: The levels of asthma control and asthma perception among the asthma patients in Beijing have been improved a lot. The asthma perception of the patients influences the control level greatly.

Volatile compounds released by microalgae-water phase from Taihu Lake in China.

The spectrum of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) released by the microalgae-water phase of Taihu Lake in China was examined, then release behaviors were studied using non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC, including a few polar organics) to describe the total amount of the released VOCs. Coupled dynamic headspace sampling with on-line monitoring of methane and NMHC was used to reflect the quasi-realtime release behavior of methane and NMHC by the microalgae-water phase. Alkanes, alkenes, oxygenated VOCs (OVOCs) and volatile sulfide chemicals (VOSCs) were detected. Their relative contents over time varied markedly from the stationary to the apoptosis phase, with their release rates as described by NMHC estimated from 0.02 to 0.59 µgC/(h g). Methane was investigated simultaneously, and its release rate was found to be 0.05-3.96 µgC/(h g). The release rates of both NMHC and methane were found to relate to the culture phase of the microalgae.

Oxidative stress, defense response, and early biomarkers for lead-contaminated soil in Vicia faba seedlings.

Chemical analyses and biological measurements were investigated in leaves of Vicia faba seedlings exposed to extraneous lead (Pb) at 0 to 2,000 mg/kg of soil for a month. The results showed that superoxide radical (O*(2)(-)) production, increased along with total Pb in leaves and available Pb in soil, resulted in enhancement of malondialdehyde and carbonyl groups. Antioxidant enzymes, including corresponding isoenzymes and heat shock protein 70 (hsp 70), were also enhanced to some extent. Significant changes were detected in the patterns and intensities of guaiacol peroxidase isoenzymes, while superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase isoenzymes only changed intensities. Superoxide dismutase activities increased with the increase of extraneous Pb at 0 to 500 mg/kg of soil and tended to decline thereafter, which might be responsible for the decrease of hydrogen peroxide and accumulation of O*(2)(-). Guaiacol peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase enzymes were upregulated to become major scavengers of excess hydrogen peroxide on the condition of decreased catalase activities. Levels of hsp 70 were well correlated with Pb contents in leaves (r=0.777), O*(2)(-) accumulation (r = 0.985, p<0.01), and carbonyl groups (r=0.920, p<0.01) under extraneous Pb at 0 to 250 mg/kg of soil, suggesting that hsp 70 induced by O*(2)(-) was possibly involved in disposal of denatured proteins. The results showed that O*(2)(-), hsp 70, and guaiacol peroxidase isoenzymes had the most sensitive responses in the seedlings and these parameters could be potential early biomarkers of soil Pb contamination.

Microbiological and clinical data analysis of 32 patients with Nocardia infections in Yantai

Background/aim: Nocardia is an opportunistic pathogen that mostly affects hosts with immune deficiencies. Recently, the widespread use of immunosuppressive agents and antitumor drugs has led to an increasing number of Nocardia infections being reported. However, it is difficult to confirm this diagnosis owing to the slow growth of the bacterium and its complex resultant clinical manifestations, potentially delaying treatment and increasing mortality. Thus, further knowledge on the clinical characteristics of Nocardia infection is required. Hence, this study aimed to review the demographics, comorbidities, clinical presentation, microbiology, treatment, and outcomes of Nocardia infections in Yantai. Materials and methods: This is a retrospective study including 32 patients identified to have Nocardia infection from the Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital. The relevant patient samples were collected by two researchers, while the other researchers analyzed the relevant data. Results: The male to female ratio among the 32 patients was 3:5, and 23 patients (71.9%) were immunocompromised. Pulmonary sites of infection were the most common (65.6% of patients). N. brasiliensis infections were present in 25.0% and N. asteroides infections were present in 21.9% of patients. Because of limited biotechnological resources, Nocardia spp. in 50.0% of cases were not classified. The TMP-SMX resistance rate among isolates was 9.4%. All isolates were susceptible to amikacin, ceftriaxone, and imipenem. Conclusion: In Yantai, immunocompromised patients predominate among cases of Nocardia infection. The rate of occurrence was higher in females than in males. Because of potential TMP-SMX resistance, treatment for Nocardia infection should be based on drug susceptibility or should include combination therapy.

A study of community-acquired Mycoplasma pneumoniae in Yantai, China.

INTRODUCTION: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a global disease responsible for a large number of deaths, with significant economic impact. As diagnostic tools have increased in sensitivity, understanding of the etiology of CAP has begun to change. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is one of the major pathogens causing CAP. Macrolides and related antibiotics are first-line treatments for M. pneumoniae. Macrolide resistance has been spreading for 15 years and now occurs in worldwide. We undertook the first study on macrolide resistance of M. pneumoniae in Yantai. This may be helpful to determine the appropriate therapy for CAP in this population. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the rate and mechanism of macrolide resistance in Yantai. METHODS: Pharyngeal swab samples were collected from adult CAP patients. Samples were assayed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cultivated to test for M. pneumoniae. Nested PCR was used to specifically amplify M. pneumoniae 23S rRNA gene fragments containing mutations, and amplicons were analyzed by CE-SSCP for macrolide resistance mutations. Results were confirmed by sequencing. Twenty-seven strains of M. pneumoniae were isolated and the activities of nine antibiotics against M. pneumoniae were tested in vitro. RESULTS: Out of 128 samples tested, 27 were positive for M. pneumoniae. Mycoplasma 100% macrolides resistance to Mycoplasma pneumoniae. The mechanism of macrolides resistance was A2063G point mutation in the sequence directly binding to macrolides in the 23S rRNA V domain in vitro. The mean pyretolytic time for the fluoroquinolone group was 4.7 ±2.9 d, which was significantly shorter than 8.2 ±4.1 d for the azithromycin group. CONCLUSIONS: Macrolides are not the first-line treatment for M. pneumoniae respiratory tract infections in Yantai.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Neumonía adquirida por en la comunidad (NAC) es una enfermedad responsable por un gran número de muertes y un impacto económico importante. Debido a que el diagnostico incrementó la sensibilidad, se cambió la etiología de la NAC. Adicionalmente, Mycoplasma pneumoniae es uno de los patógenos que causan la NAC. Los macrólidos y antibióticos relacionados son la primera línea de tratamiento para M. pneumoniae. La resistencia a macrólidos se aumentó en los últimos 15 años y ahora se encuentra distribuido en todo el mundo. Nosotros realizamos el primer estudio de resitencia a M. pneumoniae a los macrólidos en Yantai. Esto podría ser útil para determinar una terapia apropiada para NAC en esta población. OBJETIVO: Investigar la tasa y el mecanismo para la resitencia a los macrólidos en Yantai. MÉTODOS: Se colectaron muestras faringeas usando un hisopo. Las muestras se analizaron mediante la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR) y por cultivo para M. pneumoniae. Se uso una PCR anidad para amplificar fragmentos del gen 23S rRNA especifico con las mutaciones para M. pneumoniae. Se analizaron amplicomes por CE-SSCP para determinar la resitencia a los macrólidos. Estos resultados se confirmaron por secuenciación. Se aislaron 27 cepas de M. pneumoniae y se probaron nueve antibióticos in vitro. RESULTADOS: De 128 muestras, 27 fueron positivas para M. pneumoniae. Se determinó una resistencia a macrólidos por Mycoplasma del 100%. Los mecanismos de esta resitencia fue una mutacion punctual A2063G en la secuencia que se une directamente a los macrólidos en el dominio 23S rRNA V in vitro. El tiempo piotolítico medio para el grupo de fluoroquinolonas fue 4.7 ±2.9 d, que fue significativamente más corto que para el grupo de azitromicina: 8.2 ±4.1 d. CONCLUSIONES: Los macrólidos no son la primera linea de tratamiento para las infecciones del tracto respiratorio contra M. pneumoniae respiratory tract infections en Yantai.

PTA wastewater molecular toxicity detected with gene chip.

The purified terephthalic acid (PTA) petrochemical wastewater molecular toxicity detected by use of Mouse Genome 430A 2.0 GeneChip was conducted in this research. The toxic dose to male mice was 0.03 g/(kg x d) of PTA in the wastewater. The mice liver total RNA was isolated as the temple for synthesis of cDNA and then the cDNA as the temple for synthesis of cRNA. Hybridizing the cRNA with the target genes on the gene chip, there were 232 genes expression levels up-regulated and 74 genes down-regulated discovered obviously. The foremost 40 genes for both the highest and the lowest expression levels involved endogenetic steroid and hormone metabolism, immune system, the leukocyte activity and inflammation, detoxification in liver, reproduction and growth hormone, regulation immune factors of anti-tumor and anti-infection and cancer to the mice sampled. The data suggest the PTA wastewater contained over 5 aromatics and their toxicities integrated were much higher than the pure chemical PTA. And the pure chemical PTA toxicities data cannot be used to evaluate the toxicity of the PTA wastewater instead.