[A study on viral gastroenteritis attributed to noroviruses in hospitals].

OBJECTIVE: To better understand the clinical feature of viral gastroenteritis attributed to noroviruses and to summarize the experience on an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis through rapidly colleting and confirmation of related information regarding to noroviruses in hospitals. METHODS: Information on an outbreaks involving 18 patients with acute gastroenteritis in one hospital regarding its epidemiological and clinical features and to perform bacteria culture for stool specimens on every patient. On 7 patients, rotavirus antigen were RNA tested together with norovirus nucleic acid were examined by ELISA and PAGE and RT-PCR. RESULTS: (1) Most of the patients were elderly with several chronic diseases. (2) Watery diarrhea (12/18, 66.67%) and few with mucous (3/18, 16.67%) were seen. Most stool examination was normal (10/18, 55.56%) but few stool specimen could be found with some leucocytes (3/18, 16.67%) and little occult blood (4/18, 22.22%). (3) All bacteria culture in stools showed negative. There was no rotavirus RNA identified but 3 specimen showed norovirus nucleic acid positive as 42.86% (3/7). CONCLUSION: Norovirus was one of the important pathogens causing acute gastroenteritis outbreaks in hospitals attacking elderly with several chronic diseases in particular. Surveillance program targeting elderly inpatient with diarrhea should be enhanced, especially in autumn and winter.

[Tyrosine kinase dependent lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 upregulation by thrombin and factor Xa in vascular smooth muscle cells].

OBJECTIVE: Thrombin and factor Xa are key players in the process of arterial thrombi formation and lectin-like oxidized low density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) is a cell surface endocytosis receptor for atherogenic oxidized LDL (ox-LDL). Here we investigate whether thrombin and factor Xa can induce LOX-1 protein expressions in cell-associated forms and soluble forms in cultured bovine aortic smooth muscle cells (BSMCs). METHODS: BSMCs were treated with thrombin or factor Xa in the presence or absence of AG1478, an epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor-associated tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Total cell lysates and concentrated culture medium were then analyzed by Western blot using a mouse anti-LOX-1 monoclonal antibody. RESULTS: LOX-1 protein levels in cell lysates and culture medium were significantly increased by thrombin and factor Xa in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Upregulation of LOX-1 protein expressions in cell lysates and concentrated culture medium was observed at concentrations above 2.0 and 3.0 U/ml of thrombin and 50 and 100 nmol/L of factor Xa, respectively. Increased LOX-1 protein expressions in cell lysates and cell culture medium were detectable as early as 4 h and peaked at 12 h after treatment with thrombin or factor Xa. LOX-1 expression induced by thrombin and factor Xa could be blocked by pretreatment with AG1478. CONCLUSIONS: Thrombin and factor Xa can act as LOX-1 inducers via tyrosine kinase activation.

[The relationship between polymorphism of angiotensin converting enzyme gene and cough caused by angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the polymorphism of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene and ACE inhibitor (ACEI)-induced cough in Chinese elderly with essential hypertension. METHODS: ACE I/D polymorphism was performed on DNA samples from patients using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Serum ACE levels were measured using a colorimetric assay. RESULTS: The frequencies of ACE II genotype were 40% in patients with cough and 20% in those without cough, respectively (P < 0.05). The frequencies of I allele were 60% in patients with cough and 41% in those without cough (P < 0.01); The serum ACE level was highest in the DD genotype, followed by the ID genotype and the II genotype. The ACE level in patients with cough was significantly lower than that in patients without cough (P < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity were 81% and 78% respectively when the serum ACE levels were used to predict ACEI-induced cough. CONCLUSION: ACEI-induced cough was related to the serum ACE level and ACE gene polymorphism in Chinese elderly with essential hypertension.