[Clinical characteristics of 84 children with invasive Haemophilus influenzae infection from 2014 to 2018].

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics of invasive Haemophilus influenzae (HI) infection in children. Methods: The clinical manifestations, laboratory examinations and treatment outcomes of 84 children with HI infection confirmed by bacterial culture in 7 tertiary children's hospitals from 2014 to 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Among the 84 cases, 50 were males. The age was 1.54 years (ranged from 5 days to 13 years).Twenty cases (24%) had underlying diseases and 48 cases (57%) had not received antibiotics before collecting specimens. Eighty-two cases (98%) had fever and 75 cases (89%) had clear infection foci, among which 31 cases (37%) had meningitis and 27 cases (32%) had pneumonia. Blood culture was positive in 62 cases (74%), cerebrospinal fluid culture was positive in 10 cases (12%), blood culture and cerebrospinal fluid culture were both positive in 11 cases (13%). Antibiotics susceptibility test showed that 27% (22/82) of all HI strains produced ß-lactamases and 48% (37/77) strains were resistant to ampicillin. The drug resistance rates to cefuroxime, ampicillin-sulbactam, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and azithromycin were 25% (20/80) , 20% (9/45) , 71% (44/62) and 19%(11/58), respectively. All strains were sensitive to meropenem, levofloxacin and ceftriaxone. After sensitive antibiotic therapy, 83% (70/84) of all patients were cured and improved, the mortality rate and loss of follow-up rate were 13% (11/84) and 4% (3/84) respectively. Conclusions: Meningitis and pneumonia are common presentation of invasive HI infections in children. Mortality in HI meningitis children is high and the third generation of cephalosporins, such as ceftriaxone can be used as the first choice for the treatment of invasive HI infection.

Effects of vitamin D or its analogues on the mortality of patients with chronic kidney disease: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

The objective of this study was to assess whether vitamin D (VD) treatment alters the overall all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities in a chronic kidney disease (CKD) population. We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials without language restriction, until the publication date of 22 February 2016. All related literatures that compared VD treatment with non-VD treatment and reported the mortality of patients with CKD (including those undergoing dialysis) were identified. Pooled risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated by using the random- and fixed-effects models. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that used the intention-to-treat principle and observational studies (OSs) were analysed separately. For this study, 38 studies involving 223 429 patients (17 RCTs, n=1819 and 21 OSs, n=221610) were included. In the OSs, VD treatment was significantly associated with reductions in both all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities; however, such significant association was not found in the RCTs. The existing RCTs do not provide sufficient or precise evidence that VD supplementation affects the mortality of patients with CKD, although subsets of patients that could potentially benefit from VD treatment can be identified by using the existing data from the RCTs. Nevertheless, large-size RCTs are needed in the future to assess any potential differences in survival prospectively.

Effect of alpha-lipoic acid on relieving ammonia stress and hepatic proteomic analyses of broilers.

Ammonia in poultry houses not only affects worker health but also induces a variety of poultry diseases. Alpha-lipoic acid (LA) is an effective antioxidant that protects cells against oxidative injury during various toxic and pathological processes. This study was designed to evaluate the mitigating effects of LA supplementation on ammonia stress and hepatic proteome changes in broilers. Male broilers (22 d old) were allocated to 3 groups: (1) a control group without ammonia stress (CTRL); (2) exposure to 70 ppm ammonia (AM); and (3) exposure to 70 ppm ammonia and dietary administration of 300 mg/kg LA (AM+LA). Ammonia exposure significantly decreased broiler growth performance and plasma glutathione peroxidase activity (P < 0.05), and increased plasma malondialdehyde content and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase activity (P < 0.05). These negative effects were eliminated by LA supplementation. Comparative proteomic analyses revealed 291 differentially expressed proteins in the AM group compared to the CTRL and AM+LA groups. A total of 30 proteins were differentially expressed between the AM/CTRL and (AM+LA)/AM groups. The addition of LA restored 24 of these proteins to control levels; these proteins were mainly related to transcription regulation, detoxification, protein translation and degradation, and immune and stress responses. The differentially expressed proteins included the high mobility group box (HMGB) and glutathione S-transferase (GST), which is closely related to immune response and oxidative stress, and collagens, which are implicated in liver injury. The addition of LA to broiler diet may reduce ammonia toxicity by maintaining the antioxidant system, xenobiotic metabolism, and metabolic pathways.

Expression profile analysis of ascorbic acid-related genes in response to temperature stress in the tea plant, Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze.

Ascorbic acid (AsA), also known as ascorbate or vitamin C, is a natural organic compound in green plants that has antioxidant properties, and is an essential nutrient for humans. The tea plant, Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze, is an important global economic crop. Here, the expression profiles of genes related to AsA biosynthesis and recycling were analyzed in tea plants in response to temperature stress. Eighteen genes involved in AsA biosynthesis and recycling pathways were identified based on the transcriptome database. The expression levels of CsPGI1 in two varieties of tea plants ('Yingshuang' and 'Huangjinya') increased, peaked at 4 h, and then decreased in response to cold stress. In 'Yingshuang', the genes involved in AsA biosynthesis pathway rapidly responded to heat stress and substantially increased their expression levels at 1 h. The expression levels of CsMDHAR, CsDHAR1, and CsDHAR2 increased sharply at 1 h in response to heat stress in 'Yingshuang'. In contrast, the expression levels of CsMDHAR, CsDHAR1, and CsDHAR2 in 'Huangjinya' gradually increased during heat treatment from 1 to 24 h. The expression trends of two DHAR isoforms differed in 'Huangjinya' during cold stress. The expression patterns of AsA-related genes differed in the different tea plant varieties and depended on temperature. The genes involved in AsA biosynthesis and recycling pathways were induced by heat and cold stress. Our study provides useful data with which to improve the resistance of tea plants to cold and heat stress.

Identification and expression analysis of the MSP130-related-2 gene from Hyriopsis cumingii.

MSP130-related-2 is thought to play a role in bio-mineralization as revealed in Crassostrea gigas and sea urchins. In this study, an MSP130-related-2 gene was isolated from Hyriopsis cumingii (HcMSP130-related-2) and characterized for the first time. The HcMSP130-related-2 cDNA was 2307 bp in length and consisted of a 572-bp 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR), a 1239-bp open reading frame encoding 430-amino acid residues, and a 439-bp 3'-UTR. The molecular weight of the peptide was predicted to be 48551.3 Da, with a theoretical isoelectric point of 4.78 and instability index of 32.74, indicating that the protein is stable. The HcMSP130-related-2 amino acid residues included a signal peptide and several potential N-glycosylation sites. NCBI BLAST analysis indicated that this full-length amino acid sequence showed the highest similarity with HcMSP130-related-2 from C. gigas (45%) and about 38% identity with that from SpMSP130-rel-2 and Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. A phylogenetic tree showed that HcMSP130-rel-2 clustered with MSP130 from C. gigas. HcMSP130-related-2 was expressed in various tissues, including the mantle, blood, gill, foot, liver, kidney, intestine, and muscle, with the highest transcripts found in the mantle. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze the expression of the HcMSP130- related-2 gene in grass carp after inducing shell damage. HcMSP130- related-2 expression was upregulated significantly in the mantle within 7 days (P < 0.05) after damage; however, the expression remained unchanged in the adductor muscle tissues (P > 0.05). These data suggest that HcMSP130-related-2 might be involved in shell formation in H. cumingii.

Significant association between SNPs in the superoxide dismutase 3, extracellular (SOD3) gene and resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila in the freshwater mussel Hyriopsis cumingii.

Extracellular superoxide dismutase (SOD3) is a major antioxidant enzyme that protects organs from damage by reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, the SOD3 gene was identified and characterized from the freshwater mussel Hyriopsis cumingii (Hc-SOD3). The cDNA sequence consists of 763 bp, encoding a protein of 208 amino acids. The amino acid sequence possesses two CuZnSOD signature sequences, and amino acids required for binding of Cu (His-93, -95, -110 and -169) and Zn (His-110, -118, -129 and Asp-132) were conserved in Hc-SOD3. The Hc-SOD3 genomic sequence was 9165 bp in length, containing four exons and three introns. Eighteen single nucleotide polymorphisms were detected in the Hc-SOD3 gene from resistant stock (RS) and susceptible stock (SS) of H. cumingii to Aeromonas hydrophila. The genotype and allele distribution were examined in resistant and susceptible stocks. Among them, a C/G substitution at the g.7994C>G locus and G/C substitution at the g.8087G>C locus were significantly associated with resistance/susceptibility of H. cumingii to A. hydrophila, both in genotype (P = 0.017, P = 0.004 respectively) and allele frequency (P = 0.021, P = 0.006 respectively). Linkage disequilibrium analysis revealed that g.7994C>G, g.8001A>G, g.8035G>A, g.8087G>C and g.8191T>A were in linkage disequilibrium. The results suggest that the two polymorphic loci, g.7994C>G and g.8087G>C, could be potential genetic markers for future molecular selection of strains that are resistant to diseases.

Vitreous surgery with direct central retinal artery massage for central retinal artery occlusion.

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of vitreous surgery with direct central retinal artery massage for the treatment of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO). METHODS: Vitreous surgery with direct central retinal artery massage was performed on 10 consecutive patients with acute CRAO. After standard 3 port pars plana vitrectomy, a specially designed probe was used to massage the central retinal artery on the optic nerve head or within the optic nerve or both. The best-corrected visual acuity was measured and fundus photograph was taken before operation, at 24, 48 h and weekly intervals for at least 1 month postoperatively. RESULTS: Circulation was restored immediately during the operation in four cases, gradually since the first day after operation in four cases. There was no change in the remaining two cases, among which, central retinal vein occlusion occurred in one case 5 days later. No other complications occurred. At 2 months postoperatively, visual acuity had improved for three or more lines in six cases (60%), and remained the same in the rest of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: Vitreous surgery with direct central retinal artery massage seems to be an effective and relatively safe treatment for CRAO

GATA-4 and serum response factor regulate transcription of the muscle-specific carnitine palmitoyltransferase I beta in rat heart.

Transcriptional regulation of nuclear encoded mitochondrial proteins is dependent on nuclear transcription factors that act on genes encoding key components of mitochondrial transcription, replication, and heme biosynthetic machinery. Cellular factors that target expression of proteins to the heart have been well characterized with respect to excitation-contraction coupling. No information currently exists that examines whether parallel transcriptional mechanisms regulate nuclear encoded expression of heart-specific mitochondrial isoforms. The muscle CPT-Ibeta isoform in heart is a TATA-less gene that uses Sp-1 proteins to support basal expression. The rat cardiac fatty acid response element (-301/-289), previously characterized in the human gene, is responsive to oleic acid following serum deprivation. Deletion and mutational analysis of the 5'-flanking sequence of the carnitine palmitoyltransferase Ibeta (CPT-Ibeta) gene defines regulatory regions in the -391/+80 promoter luciferase construct. When deleted or mutated constructs were individually transfected into cardiac myocytes, CPT-I/luciferase reporter gene expression was significantly depressed at sites involving a putative MEF2 sequence downstream from the fatty acid response element and a cluster of heart-specific regulatory regions flanked by two Sp1 elements. Each site demonstrated binding to cardiac nuclear proteins and competition specificity (or supershifts) with oligonucleotides and antibodies. Individual expression vectors for Nkx2.5, serum response factor (SRF), and GATA4 enhanced CPT-I reporter gene expression 4-36-fold in CV-1 cells. Although cotransfection of Nkx and SRF produced additive luciferase expression, the combination of SRF and GATA-4 cotransfection resulted in synergistic activation of CPT-Ibeta. The results demonstrate that SRF and the tissue-restricted isoform, GATA-4, drive robust gene transcription of a mitochondrial protein highly expressed in heart.

[Studies on X-ray diffraction pattern of traditional Chinese medicinal materials].

Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) as prescribed by Chinese traditional physicians is usually available as "decoction slices" which calls for a ready method for assessment of quantity or even genuineness. Three groups of TCM drugs (radix Rubiae, bulbus Fritillariae and rhizoma Dioscoreae) were selected by using powder X-ray diffraction analysis with complete absorption profile. Topological regularity and characteristic peaks of the absorption profile were obtained as fingerprint in X-ray diffraction diagrams of the pertinent medicinal materials. We have discovered the similarities of 3 radix Rubiae samples gathered from different localities and their differences with Rubia tinctorum, the similarities and differences between 7 species belonging to Fritillaria Genus, the similarities of 2 rhizoma Dioscoreae samples from different localities and their differences with 2 counterfeits. The result points to a promising prospect in achieving an objective assessment of genuineness at TCM drugs.

[Preliminary report of the treatment of luteal phase defect by replenishing kidney. An analysis of 53 cases].

53 patients with Luteal phase defect (LPD) were treated with different Chinese medicinal herbs at different phases of menstrual cycle. On the 5th day of the menstrual cycle, the treatment was implemented with the rationale of "nourishing the Kidney Yin, invigorating the Spleen and replenishing the Qi, promoting the blood circulation and enriching the Blood" which might promote follicular development. The principle for the postovulatory treatment was that "invigorating the Kidney and strengthening the Yang" might enhance the development of corpus luteum and maintain its function. The patients were treated for three menstrual cycles. There were significant improvement in the luteal phase of endometrium, and prolonged basal body temperature elevation in progestational stage with a tendency for normalization of the wave forms and its amplitude after the treatment. In the mid-progestational stage, the level of serum LH and PRL were reduced (P < 0.05) and that of serum progestin (P) rose significantly (P < 0.01), as compared with those before the treatment. The findings suggested that Chinese herbal medicines capable of replenishing the Kidney could regulate the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis and thus improve the luteal function. Among the 53 cases, 22 (41.5%) conceived but 68.18% of them required other measures to preserve the pregnancy.