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The growth of three plague phages from Qinghai Plateau in two Yersinia pestis strains(plague vaccine strains EV76 and 614F)and four non-Yersinia pestis strains(Yersinia pseudotuberculosis PTB3,PTB5,Escherichia coli V517,and Yersinia enterocolitica 52302-2)were detected through a micromethod based on the OmniLogTM microbial identification system and by the drop method,to provide a scientific basis for future ecological studies and classification based on the host range.For plague vaccine strains EV76 and 614F,successful phage infection and subsequent phage growth were observed in the host bacte-rium.Diminished bacterial growth and respiration and a concomitant decrease in color were observed with the OmniLogTM mi-crobial identification system at 33 ℃ for 48 h.Yersinia pseudotuberculosis PTB5 was sensitive to Yersinia pestis phage 476,but Yersinia pseudotuberculosis PST5 was insensitive to phage 087 and 072204.Three strains of non-Yersinia pestis(Yersinia pseudotuberculosis PTB3,Escherichia coli V517,and Yersinia enterocolitica 52302-2)were insensitive to Yersinia pestis pha-ges 087,072204,and 476 showed similar growth curves.The growth of phages 476 and 087,as determined with the drop method,in two Yersinia pestis strains(plague vaccine strains EV76 and 614F)and four non-Yersinia pestis strains(Yersinia pseudotuberculosis PTB3,Escherichia coli V517,and Yersin-ia enterocolitica 52302-2)showed the same results at 37 ℃,on the basis of comparisons with the OmniLogTM microbial i-dentification system;in contrast,phages 072204 did not show plaques on solid medium at 37 ℃ with plague vaccine strains EV76 and 614F.Determination based on the OmniLogTM detection system can be used as an alternative to the traditional determination of the host range,thus providing favorable application val-ue for determining the interaction between the phage and host bacteria.
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PURPOSE@#Auditory nerve injury is one of the most common nerve injury complications of skull base fractures. However, there is currently a lack of auxiliary examination methods for its direct diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to find a more efficient and accurate means of diagnosis for auditory nerve injury.@*METHODS@#Through retrospectively analyzing the results of brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) and high-resolution CT (HRCT) in 37 patients with hearing impairment following trauma from January 1, 2018 to July 31, 2020, the role of the two inspection methods in the diagnosis of auditory nerve injury was studied. Inclusion criteria were patient had a clear history of trauma and unilateral hearing impairment after trauma; while exclusion criteria were: (1) severe patient with a Glasgow coma scale score ≤5 because these patients were classified as severe head injury and admitted to the intensive care unit, (2) patient in the subacute stage admitted 72 h after trauma, and (3) patient with prior hearing impairment before trauma. According to Goodman's classification of hearing impairment, the patients were divided into low/medium/severe injury groups. In addition, patients were divided into HRCT-positive and negative groups for further investigation with their BAEP results. The positive rates of BEAP for each group were observed, and the results were analyzed by Chi-square test (p < 0.05, regarded as statistical difference).@*RESULTS@#A total of 37 patients were included, including 21 males and 16 females. All of them were hospitalized patients with GCS score of 6-15 at the time of admission. The BAEP positive rate in the medium and severe injury group was 100%, which was significantly higher than that in the low injury group (27.27%) (p < 0.01). The rate of BEAP positivity was significantly higher in the HRCT-positive group (20/30, 66.7%) than in the HRCT-negative group (1/7, 14.3%) (p < 0.05). Twenty patients (54.05%) were both positive for BEAP and HRCT test, and considered to have auditory nerve damage. Six patients (16.22%) were both negative for BEAP and HRCT test, and 10 patients (27.03%) were BAEP-negative but HRCT-positive: all the 16 patients were considered as non-neurological injury. The rest 1 case (2.70%) was BAEP-positive but HRCT-negative, which we speculate may have auditory nerve concussion.@*CONCLUSION@#By way of BAEP combining with skull base HRCT, we may improve the accuracy of the diagnosis of auditory nerve injury. Such a diagnostic strategy may be beneficial to guiding treatment plans and evaluating prognosis.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Cochlear Nerve , Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem/physiology , Hearing Loss , Retrospective Studies , Skull Base/diagnostic imaging , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
@#Abstract: Objective To analyze the pathogenic characteristics and epidemiological significance of human plague related strains in Qinghai Province in recent 30 years, so as to provide scientific basis for on-the-spot disposal and prevention and control measures of plague outbreak in Qinghai Province. Methods A total of 35 strains of Yersinia pestis isolated from 29 typical human plague outbreaks in Qinghai Province from 1980 to 2011 were selected and studied by biochemical fermentation experiments. Virulence factors detection of Fraction 1 antigen (Fra1), virulence antigen (VW), pigmentation (Pgm) and Yersinia pestis Ⅰ (PstⅠ), determinants and genotyping of differential regions (DFRs) were used to study the pathogenic characteristics. At the same time, according to the epidemic situation of human and animal plague in Qinghai Province in recent years, the current situation of plague prevention and control and epidemic characteristics were analyzed. Results The biotypes of 35 strains of Yersinia pestis were classical, and the biotypes of 29 strains (82.86%) were of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau type, mainly distributed in southern Qinghai and around lake areas, 2 strains (5.71%) belonged to Qilian Mountains type, mainly distributed in Qilian mountains, and 6 genotypes were identified by DFR. Among them, 16 were type 5, 12 were type 8, 2 were type 10, 1 was type 36, 3 were type 30 and 1 was type 1b, the strains of type 5 and 1b were mainly distributed around the lake and the southern foot of Qilian Mountains, while the strains of type 8, 10, 36 and 30 were mainly distributed in the southern part of Qinghai. Conclusions The pathogen of Yersinia pestis in Qinghai Plateau has complex biochemical types, the epidemic situation among animals is continuous year after year, the situation of prevention and control is serious, the occurrence and prevalence of plague seriously endanger people's health and social development, so it is necessary to do a solid job in the prevention and control of plague to ensure the safety of people's lives.
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PURPOSE: Microvascular endothelial integrity is important for maintaining the blood-brain barrier (BBB). However, subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) disrupts this integrity, making the BBB dysfunctional—an important pathophysiological change after SAH. Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) regulate microvascular permeability by balancing each other’s expression. METHODS: This study investigated the dynamics of Ang-1 and Ang-2 expression after SAH and the protective effect of Ang-1 on BBB functioning using an endovascular puncture model of rat SAH. The Ang-1 and Ang-2 expression in brain tissue was determined by immunohistochemistry. In addition, Western blotting was used to estimate Ang-1 and Ang-2 concentration and to compare them at 6–72 hours post-SAH cortex and hippocampus. Evans blue viability assay was used to evaluate BBB permeability, and neurological testing was implemented to evaluate neurological impairment during SAH. RESULTS: It was found that following SAH, Ang-1 expression decreases and Ang-2 expression increases in the cortex, hippocampus, and microvessels. The Ang-1/Ang-2 ratio decreased as quickly as 6 hours after SAH and reached its lowest 1 day after SAH. Finally, it was found that exogenous Ang-1 reduces SAH-associated BBB leakage and improves neurological function in post-SAH rats. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the equilibrium between Ang-1 and Ang-2 is broken in a period shortly after SAH, and the treatment of exogenous Ang-1 injection alleviates neurological dysfunctions through decreasing BBB destruction.
Subject(s)
Animals , Rats , Angiopoietin-1 , Angiopoietin-2 , Blood-Brain Barrier , Blotting, Western , Brain , Brain Injuries , Capillary Permeability , Evans Blue , Hippocampus , Immunohistochemistry , Microvessels , Permeability , Punctures , Subarachnoid HemorrhageABSTRACT
From July 2003 to July 2009, 15 cases of subdural hematoma with swirl signs were treated in our hospital and their clinical data were retrospectively analysed. The mortality was compared between these patients and those with typical acute subdural hematoma who were treated at the same time in our hospital. Among the 15 cases, full recovery was achieved in 4 cases, slight disability in 2, grave disability in 2 and death in 7 (46.7%). The mortality of these patients was conspicuously higher than that of typical subdural hematoma (14/83, 16.9%, P < 0.01). Subdural hematoma with swirl signs is often suggestive of hazardous pathogenetic condition and early diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention is essential to reduce mortality.
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Hematoma, Subdural, Acute , Diagnostic Imaging , Mortality , General Surgery , Prognosis , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
Objective To understand the epidemicological condition of human brucellosis in Zhengzhou city to provide scientific evidence for future preventive and control measures. Methods Surveillance on high risk populations were done in the designated monitoring Gongyi City and other randomized monitoring cities or counties (4 or 5 towns or farms were selected in each city or county) during the year from 2002 to 2007. The intradermic allergy test with brucellin were carried out among high risk populations who had been in close touch of domestic animals or their products in those cities, and standard tube agglutination test(SAT) were used for those who had suspected clinic symptom or positive result of intradermie allergy test during 2002 to 2005. The SAT investigations for enterprises of livestock breeding were performed in non-designated monitoring cities. All manipulation methods and judging standards were according to the manual of prevention and treatment for human brucellosis. Results In the designated monitoring city Gongyi from 2002 to 2007, a total of 13 831 people were investigated, among whom 3744 peoples were tested by intradermic allergy test and the positive rate was 1.01%(38/3744). Fifty-four cases were positive in SAT among 2693, and the positive rate of SAT was 2.01%(54/2693). Forty-four new cases were diagnosed. In the 11 non-designated monitoring city from 2002 to 2005, 13 136 persons were treated by intradermic allergy test, the positive rate was 0.62% (82/13 136), among these 1316 persons were treated by SAT and 66 patients were positive. The positive rate was 5.02% (66/1316) from 2002 to 2007. Fifty one new cases were diagnosed. In the enterprises of domestic animals breeding, among 242 and 688 employees were treated by SAT, 17 and 16 patients were positive, the positive rate were 7.02%(17/242) and 5.02%(16/688) in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Conclusions The infection of human brucellosis in Zhengzhou is rising up. The governments at all levels must put large amounts of funds for the monitoring, investigating and disinfecting to prevent the disease from increasing and outspreading.
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This study was aimed to investigate whether hydroquinone (HQ) can inhibit NF-kappaB expression activated by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), and to explore the relationship between the mechanism and the hematology toxicity of benzene tentatively. The human bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) were harvested by in vitro culture and their change of morphology were observed. The activity and protein expression of NF-kappaB p65 extracted from those BMSC were measured with immunohistochemistry and TransAM P65 kit. The results showed that in cells exposed to HQ, P65 transferred from cell nucleus to cytoplasma around cell nucleus and its concentration lowered by immunohistochemistry. And TransAM P65 kit assay revealed that HQ effects at different concentrations were distinctive at respective time. The detected parameters in 100 micromol/L HQ group were significantly different from control group after exposure for 72 hours. But the parameters at different time in micromol/L HQ group were not obviously different. It is concluded that hydroquinone can inhibit NF-kappaB activated by PMA in BMSCs culture. This kind of inhibitory action correlated with the concentration of HQ and exposure time.
Subject(s)
Adult , Humans , Middle Aged , Bone Marrow Cells , Cell Biology , Metabolism , Cells, Cultured , Hydroquinones , Toxicity , NF-kappa B , Genetics , Metabolism , Stromal Cells , Cell Biology , Metabolism , Transcription Factor RelA , Genetics , MetabolismABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Human selenoprotein P (HSelP) is unique protein that contains 10 selenocysteines encoded by 10 inframe UGA, which typically function as stop codon. The function of HSelP remains unclear, in part due to the inability to express it by gene recombinant technique. This study is to investigate expression and purification of recombinant HSelP in prokaryotic expression system, and its activity to induce apoptosis in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The shorter HSelP isoform was cloned. After the selenocysteine (SeCys) at 40th position from N terminus of the HSelP shorter isoform was mutated into cysteine by PCR, it was expressed in E. coli. The expressed product was purified with DEAE column and identified by Western blot. Subsequently, its function on induction of mitochondrial apoptotic activity was studied.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mutant HSelP shorter isoform expressed in prokaryotic system was purified by DEAE column to 90% homogeneity. The purified product, HSelP280m, induced the opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP) and decreased the transmembrane potential in a dose-dependent manner. These events could be abolished by PTP specific inhibitors.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HSelP280m can induce the opening of mitochondrial PTP, which provides a basis for investigating the structure and function of recombinant HSelP.</p>
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Animals , Humans , Male , Mice , Apoptosis , Cloning, Molecular , Cysteine , Genetics , Escherichia coli , Metabolism , Ion Channels , Membrane Potentials , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Mitochondria, Liver , Physiology , Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins , Mutation , Protein Isoforms , Proteins , Genetics , Metabolism , Pharmacology , Selenium , Selenocysteine , Genetics , Selenoprotein P , SelenoproteinsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relationship of occupational injuries with social and economic factors in chemical industry during 2000.01 - 2001.12.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>1:2 paired case-control study, univariable logistic regression analysis, principal component analysis, and multiple logistic regression analysis were used in this study.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Univariable analysis showed that occupational injuries had significant relationship with age, sex, education, employment pattern, technology, workplace, work changing, wage, family income, enterprise scale, enterprise proprietorship, projective device, operation rules, and training rules of work safety. The extracted four principal components (PC(1), PC(2), PC(3) and PC(4), ranked by contribution) gave good expressions to the initial 11 variables. The cumulative proportion of the four principal components reached 77.36%. PC(1) was the indicative factor of occupational injuries, which represented 46.69% information of initial variables. PC(2) was the kinetic factor of occupational injuries. PC(3) was the stable factor of occupational injuries. PC(4) was the sex factor of occupational injuries. The results of multiple conditional logistic regression analysis showed that occupational injuries had statistically significant relationship with PC(1) and PC(2). Among the initial variables, sex, employment pattern, income, scale of enterprise, and property of enterprise were more prominent.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Occupational injuries are related with multiple social and economic factors, which often interact on each other. The prevention and control of occupational injuries should require a comprehensive approach, including training and education of work safety, improving workers' consciousness of self-protection, and enhancing proprietors' consciousness of work safety.</p>
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Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Accidents, Occupational , Case-Control Studies , China , Logistic Models , Occupational Health , Socioeconomic Factors , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Objective Expression of recombinant human matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) protein in E coli,To establish a sandwich ELISA method for detecting MMP9 in sera and analyses of the difference of serum MMP9 in health population and the patient with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods A fragment MMP9 sequence from nt 721-1 156 was amplified with PCR from the synthesized cDNAs of human liver tissues and inserted into the prokaryotic-expression plasmid pQE30.HIS-MMP9 fusion protein was expressed and purified from E coli MIS cells.The specific antibodies were elicited in rabbits and guinea pigs by immunization of the purified HIS-MMP9.After purifing antibodies with CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B,a sandwich ELISA technique was established.The serum MMP9 proteins were evaluated in 227 health adults and 193 HCC patients.Results SDS-PAGE displayed that the molecular-weight of the expressed fusion protein was about 17 000.The prepared antisera were able to recognize both recombinant and endogenously expressed MMP9 from human neutrophil and HepG2 cells.It was found that the average level of MMP9 proteins in HCC patients was higher than that in health control,showing significantly statistic difference.Conclusions The established method could reflect the level of serum MMPg.The data in this study supply scientific basis of generating methodology for screening metastasis and reoccurrence of HCC, using serum MMP9 as index.