Analysis of HLA alleles polymorphism in Chinese patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: A familial clustering of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and the presence of immunological abnormalities in family members suggest a genetic component involved in the pathogenesis of PBC. The aims of this study are to investigate the frequencies of human leukocyte antigen HLA-A, -B, and -DRB1 alleles in Chinese patients with PBC by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based techniques, and to assess the correlation of the above-mentioned HLA with some clinical and laboratory features. METHODS: Genotyping of HLA alleles were performed in 65 well-characterized PBC patients and 431 healthy controls with sequence-specific primers PCR amplification. RESULTS: HLA-DRB1*07 allele detected in 19 of the 65 (29.2%) PBC patients was subtyped as DRB1*0701, as well as in 13.9% of controls (PC<0.05, OR=2.55, 95%CI: 1.4-4.6). An increased frequency of DRB1*03 (18.4% vs. 7.2% in healthy controls) and a decreased frequency of DRB1*12 (16.9% vs. 28.8%) in PBC patients were statistically significant. There was no association with HLA-DRB1*08 reported. The frequencies for HLA-A, B and the other DRB1 alleles were similar between patients and healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: The susceptibility to PBC in Chinese individuals is associated with DRB1*0701 allele. This association differs from that in North Americans, South Americans, North Europeans and even Japanese, but it is not restricted to any particular subgroup of patients.

[Effect of silicon and latex urinary catheters: a comparative study].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of silicon and latex urinary catheters on urinary mucosa. METHODS: A randomized, controlled prospective clinical trial was carried out in 60 patients admitted in the Department of Neurosurgery, who required long-term use of an indwelling urinary catheter. The patients were divided into 2 equal groups with placement of silicon or latex urinary catheter, and routine laboratory urine test was performed on a regular basis and the patients feelings during catheter retention were recorded. RESULTS: Patients with placement of indwelling silicone catheters reported no obvious discomfort in relation to the catheter placement and had significantly lower incidence of hematuria identified microscopically than those with common latex catheters. CONCLUSION: Compared with latex catheters, silicone catheters cause less injuries and reduce substantially irritation of the urinary mucosa, and we suggest the use of silicone catheter in patients requiring long-term indwelling urinary catheters.

[Assay of Acinetobacter SPP drug-resistance by Kirby-Bauer and Etest method].

OBJECTIVE: To study the drug-resistance of Acinetobacter spp and observe whether antibiotic-beta- lactamase inhibitor complexing agent enhances the sensitivity of the drug-resistant bacteria to the antibiotics. METHODS: Susceptibility tests to the antibiotics were performed for 60 isolated strains of Acinetobacter spp with Kirby-Bauer (K-B) and Etest methods. RESULTS: The drug-resistance rate of the strains to cefoperazone, ampicillin, ticarcillin and piperacillin exceeded 55.0%, and antibiotic-beta-lactamase inhibitor complexing agents evinced better antibacterial activity than antibiotics used alone (P < 0.001). The 2 antibiotic complexes incorporating sulbacta had more potent antibacterial activity than the complexes incorporating clavulanate (2 agents) and tazobactam (1 agent), with the mean ranks of 7.38, 6.43, 5.57, 5.47 and 5.50 respectively. Cefoperazone combined with sulbacta produced a reduction in MIC(90) and MIC(50) that were only 4.69% and 0.59% of the MIC(50) of cefoperazone, and in addition, sulbacta caused cefoperazone- and ampicillin-resistant rates to reduce from both 75.0% to 5.0% and 24.0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Acinetobacter spp is resistant to a wide spectrum of commonly-used antibiotics, but cefoperazone in combination with sulbacta can obviously enhance antibacterial potency, suggesting the primary role of this regimen in fighting Acinetobacter spp infections in hospital.

[Analysis of anti-microbial resistance of Escherichia coli that caused infection in urogenital system].

OBJECTIVE: To study the anti-microbial resistance of Escherichia coli (E.coli) that caused infection in urogenital system. METHOD: Anti-microbial susceptibility tests for 148 strains of E.coli were conducted by disc diffusion technique. RESULTS: In 28 commonly used antibiotics, the resistance rates of E. coli to beta-lactam and quinolones were high (73.6%-86.4%). High resistance rates to the first- and the second-generation cephalosporin (cefradime, cephazolin and cefaclor) were also observed (44%). Resistance rate to ceftazidime is the lowest (10.1%) in the third-generation cephalosporin. The resistance rates of E. coli to piperacillin, pefoperazone and ampicillin were 84.5%, 44.6% and 83.0% respectively. Combined antibiotic and beta-lactam inhibitor gave lower resistance rates than antibiotic alone (piperacillin/tazobactam, cefoporazone/sulbactam and ampicillin/sulbactam were 4.1%, 10.8% and 52.0% respectively, P<0.01). Of 148 E. coli isolates, 38 strains were capable of yielding extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) (25.7%), 110 strains were not able to produce ESBLs (74.3%) and the resistance rates of isolates with ESBLs to 28 antibiotics were significantly lower than those of isolates without ESBLs. CONCLUSION: Antibiotic/beta-lactam inhibitor and nitrofurantoin are effective for urogenital infections caused by E. coli.

[Detection and analysis of SARS coronavirus-specific antibodies in sera from non-SARS children].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus-specific antibodies in the sera from non-SARS children. METHODS: Indirect immunofluorescent assay and double-antigen sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to detect the virus-specific antibodies in sera of 1,060 non-SARS children in Guangzhou. RESULTS: All the serum samples from the 1,060 non-SARS children were negative for both IgG and IgM antibodies against SARS coronavirus as determined by indirect immunofluorescent assay, with only two serum samples showing weak positivity for SARS coronavirus-specific antibodies identified by double-antigen sandwich ELISA. CONCLUSION: No SARS coronavirus-specific antibody are present in the sera of non-SARS children.

[Nitrogen forms and its distribution character in immerged and water-level-fluctuating zone soils of the backwater reach from input river of Three Gorges Reservoir].

This study measures the contents of different nitrogen forms in the immerged soils and the soils of water-level-fluctuating zone of the backwater area from input river of Three Gorges Reservoir, and analyzes the relationship between nitrogen forms and environmental parameters. The results indicates that: (1) Content of TN in the surface immerged soils ranged from 436.0 to 921.6 mg/kg, and that in the soils of water-level-fluctuating zone ranged from 1253.5 to 2439.8 mg/kg. Compared with the TN content in surface immerged soils from the shallow lakes in the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River, content of TN in the surface immerged soils is in the mid-lower level and the TN content in the soils of water-level-fluctuating zone is higher than that in the surface immerged soils. (2) Content of transferable nitrogen in the surface immerged soils ranged from 289.7 to 511.3 mg/kg, and that in the soils of water-level-fluctuating zone ranged from 271.6 to 595.1 mg/kg. Organic matter-sulfide form nitrogen (OSF-N) is the predominant form of the transferable nitrogen, whereas ion-exchangeable form nitrogen (IEF-N) is predominant in the transferable inorganic nitrogen. (3) Correlation coefficients between nitrogen forms and environmental parameters show that OSF-N is the main impact factor to increase the concentrations of total nitrogen and transferable nitrogen in the surface immerged soils and the soils of water-level-fluctuating zone. The increasing of the concentration of the transferable nitrogen is mainly from OSF-N.

[Phosphorus forms and its distribution characteristics in sediments and soils of water-level-fluctuating zone of the backwater reach from input river of Three Gorges Reservoir].

The contents of different phosphorus forms in surface sediments and the soils of water-level-fluctuating zone of the backwater reach from input river of Three Gorges Reservoirwere measured, using thestandard measurement and test (SMT) procedure of phosphorus forms in freshwater sediments. Correlation coefficients between phosphorus forms and sample geochemical characteristics, such as organic matter and major components were analyzed. The results indicated that the TP content in surface sediments varied from 483.4-848.4 mg/kg, and the average content was 569.0 mg/kg. The TP content in surface sediments placed in the mid-lower level, comparing with the TP content in surface sediment from the shallow lakes in the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River. The TP content in soils of water-level-fluctuating zone varied from 488.9-1487.7 mg/kg, and the average content was 813.3 mg/kg. The average content of TP in soils of water-level-fluctuating zone whole exceeded the surface sediment, indicating of the influence of human's activity on phosphorus contents in soils of water-level-fluctuating zone. Distribution characteristics of phosphorus forms were different between the sediment and soils of water-level-fluctuating zone: (1) The ratio of IP/TP in the surface sediments (average value 55.7%) was higher than that in soils of water-level-fluctuating zone (average value 49.4%); (2) The domination phosphorus forms of IP in surface sediments was Ca-P (average ratio 83.5%), and the ratio of (Fe/Al-P)/IP was only 15%. The average ratio of Ca-P/IP in the soils of water-level-fluctuating zone was 73.9%, whereas the ratio of Fe/Al-P in IP raised to 22%; (3) The average content of active phosphorus (OP + Fe/Al-P) in surface sediment was 261.8 mg/kg, the average ratio of active phosphorus in TP was 49%, whereas the average content of active phosphorus (OP + Fe/Al-P) in soils of water-level-fluctuating zone was 405.7 mg/kg, the average ratio was 54%. The active phosphorus in soils of water-level-fluctuating zone would become potential pollution sources of water under correct environmental conditions,therefore, the potential impact of phosphorus on water eutrophication in soils of water-level-fluctuating zone couldn't be neglected.

[Quantitation of antigen specific T lymphocytes in peripheral blood of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis using tetramer technology].

AIM: To quantitate antigen specific T lymphocytes in peripheral blood from patients with primary biliary cirrhosis(PBC) and study the role of antigen specific T lymphocytes in the development of PBC. METHODS: Using tetramers and CD8 monoclonal antibody staining, PDC-E2 159-167aa and PDC-E2 165-174aa specific CD8(+) T lymphocytes were determined respectively in the peptide-induced cytotoxic T cell lines prepared from peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC) of 15 PBC patients. The frequencies of these two kinds of antigen specific T lymphocytes in HLA-A*0201 positive (A2(+)) PBC were compared with those in A2(-) PBC patients, patients with other A2(+) chronic liver diseases and healthy controls. RESULTS: PDC-E2 159-167aa/HLA-A*0201 and PDC-E2 165-174aa/HLA-A*0201 tetramer positive CD8(+) T lymphocytes were detected in all of A2(+) PBC patients with average percentages of 0.42%+/-0.24% (0.17%-1.08%) and 0.27%+/-0.17% (0.05%-0.56%), respectively. The frequencies of the two kinds of antigen specific CD8(+) T lymphocytes from peripheral blood were significantly higher in earlier stages I and II of PBC as compared with stage III (P<0.001), while no difference was found between PDC-E2 159-167aa and PDC-E2 165-174aa specific CD8(+) T lymphocytes at the same stages. In addition, there existed no statistical difference between frequencies of antigen specific T lymphocytes in AMA or anti-PDC positive and negative PBC patients (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that HLA-A*0201 restricted PDC-E2 165-174aa and PDC-E2 159-167aa specific CTL play important roles in the development of PBC, and there might be a similar mechanism of T cell-mediated damage between AMA or anti-PDC positive and negative PBC patients.