Analysis of 112 cases of infectious endocarditis / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the clinical manifestations, epidemiological features, pathogens, treatment and outcomes of 112 patients with infectious endocarditis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data were reviewed for all the patients with the diagnosis of infectious endocarditis in Nanfang Hospital over the period from 2002 to 2012.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average age of disease onset was 46∓17.1 years among these cases. Seventy patients (62.5%) had underlying cardiac conditions, including, in the order of frequency, rheumatic heart disease, congenital cardiovascular anomalies, and senile valve degeneration. Clinically the patients presented with fever, anemia, congestive heart failure, and embolism events, etc. Echocardiography found endocardial neoplasms in 105 cases, and the mitral valve was often involved. Blood culture yielded positive results in 61 cases, and the most common causative bacteria were Streptococcus (20.5%), Staphylococcus (19.6%) and Enterococcus (5.4%). Surgical intervention was performed in 78 cases. Ninety-one patients were cured or improved after comprehensive treatment, and 10 discontinued treatment for financial reasons; 11 died of cardiac failure (8 cases), pulmonary embolism (2 cases) and central nervous system events (1 case).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Infectious endocarditis shows a significant change in the clinical profiles and its mortality remains high despite improved diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.</p>

Preparation and identification of polyclonal antibody against methyl-accepting chemotaxis signal transduction protein of Helicobacter hepaticus / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To prepare the polyclonal antibody against methyl-accepting chemotaxis signal transduction protein (MCP) of Helicobacter hepaticus (H.hepaticus).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The recombinant plasmid pET22b+/MCP was transformed into E.coli BL2l(DE3) to express the fusion protein His-rhMCP under the induction of IPTG. The fusion protein was purified and the antibody was obtained by immunizing rabbits. The titer of the polyclonal antibody was tested by indirect ELISA, and the specificity of the antibody was identified based on Western blotting using the prepared cell surface proteins (CSPs) of the bacteria.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The fusion protein was successfully expressed, and the titer of the antibody reached 1:32 000. Western blotting indicated that the antibody could specifically bind to CSPs and His-rhMCP.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The antibody with a high titer and specificity was prepared to facilitate further study of the pathogenicity and epidemiology of H.hepaticus in human.</p>