Causal Relations between Exposome and Stroke: A Mendelian Randomization Study / 대한뇌졸중학회지

Background@#and Purpose To explore the causal relationships of elements of the exposome with ischemic stroke and its subtypes at the omics level and to provide evidence for stroke prevention. Methods We conducted a Mendelian randomization study between exposure and any ischemic stroke (AIS) and its subtypes (large-artery atherosclerotic disease [LAD], cardioembolic stroke [CE], and small vessel disease [SVD]). The exposure dataset was the UK Biobank involving 361,194 subjects, and the outcome dataset was the MEGASTROKE consortium including 52,000 participants. @*Results@#We found that higher blood pressure (BP) (systolic BP: odds ratio [OR], 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01 to 1.04; diastolic BP: OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.05; pulse pressure: OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.06), atrial fibrillation (OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.13 to 1.25), and diabetes (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.18) were significantly associated with ischemic stroke. Importantly, higher education (OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.60 to 0.79) decreased the risk of ischemic stroke. Higher systolic BP (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.10), pulse pressure (OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.14), diabetes (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.13 to 1.45), and coronary artery disease (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.25 to 2.00) could cause LAD. Atrial fibrillation could cause CE (OR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.71 to 2.11). For SVD, higher systolic BP (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.07), diastolic BP (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.12), and diabetes (OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.36) were causal factors. @*Conclusions@#The study revealed elements of the exposome causally linked to ischemic stroke and its subtypes, including conventional causal risk factors and novel protective factors such as higher education.

Xylaroisopimaranin A, a New Isopimarane Derivative from an Endophytic Fungus Xylaralyce sp

Five secondary metabolites, including a new isopimarane derivative xylaroisopimaranin A (1), were isolated from the endophytic fungus Xylaralyce sp. (HM-1), and their structures were elucidated by 1D, 2D NMR, MS and CD spectra. Their bioactivities were performed to antibacterial, Hep G2 cells cytotoxicity and brine shrimp inhibition. The biological evaluation results showed that the xylaroisopimaranin A (1), xylabisboein B (2), griseofulvin (3) , 5-methylmellein (4) and mellein-5-carboxlic acid (5) displayed no significant Hep G2 cells cytotoxicity and antibacterial acitivity, but they inhibited the brine shrimp with IC₅₀ from 0.5 to 25 µmol/mL.

Mechanism of Photodynamic Therapy Mediated by Hypericin in Inhibiting the Proliferation of Leukemia Cell Lines / 中国药学杂志

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of hypericin on proliferation, apoptosis of leukemia cells and its possible mechanism. METHODS: Subcellular localization of hypericin in leukemia cells by fluorescence microscopy. MTT(3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide) test was adopted to observe the inhibitory effects of hypericin on the proliferation of leukemia cells and calculated its half maximal inhibitory concentration(IC50). The technology of flow cytometry, Annexin-V-FITC/PI double stained method were employed to measure the cell apoptosis of leukemia cells after hypericin treatment. RESULTS: The optimal time for hypericin to entry into cells was 16 h. Hypericin could inhibit the proliferation of leukemia cells in vitro, and the inhibition presented obvious dose-effect relationship(r=0.990 5, P<0.01). The apoptotic ratio of leukemia cells was gradually increased. The ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 was significantly increased, and the apoptotic protein caspase-3, 8, 9 is cleaved and activated. CONCLUSION: Hypericin could inhibit the growth of leukemia cells, induce the apoptosis through induction of caspase dependent apoptosis pathway.

Soft-tissue pyogenic infection in neonates caused by Staphylococcus aureus carrying Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the pathogen causing soft-tissue pyogenic infection in neonate.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The isolates of Staphylococcus aureus were obtained from liquor puris and blood by routine method. The Automated Microbiology Analyzer was used for identification and antimicrobial susceptibility test of the isolates. Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) genes were determined by multiplex PCR in the isolates of Staphylococcus aureus. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was used to determine the sequence types (STs) of the isolates. The genotypes of SCCmec were also determined by another multiplex PCR in the isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In 3 cases of neonate with soft-tissue pyogenic infection, 2 strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from liquor puris in 2 cases. 2 strains of Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from liquor puris and blood from another case. All 4 isolates were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains carrying PVL genes. Their SCCmec types were SCCmec IIIA. The STs of 4 isolates were ST88. The antimicrobial-resistance profile of the isolates were the same except erythromycin.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Soft-tissue pyogenic infection in the 3 neonates was caused by the same clone of MRSA carrying PVL genes.</p>

Study on the genetic polymorphism of mec Ⅰ in the clinical isolates of methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus / 中华检验医学杂志

Objective To investigate the genetic polymorphism of mec Ⅰ in the clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus anreus(MRSA).Methods 40 isolates(MRSA)carrying mecA gene were selected randomly from the clinical isolates of Staphylococcus anreus from Jan,2005 to Aug,2006 in our hospital.The mec Ⅰ gene was detected by PCR followed with sequencing.Staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec(SCCmec)in MRSA were detected by multiplex-PCR.Agar dilution method was used for determining the MICs of oxacillin against MRSA.Results 35 of 40(87.5%)MRSA carried mec Ⅰ gene.All isolates carrying mec Ⅰ gene have mecI 202C→T substitution,which resulted in Gln at 68 aminophenol position replaced by stop condon.32 isolates carried single point mutation.3 isolates carried double-point mutation,including additonal A at 3 positon,A→C at 41 position and C→T at 142 position beside C→T at 202 position,respectively.Among 35 isolates carrying mec Ⅰ gene,there were 27 isolates of SCCmec Ⅲ, 7 isolates of SCCmec Ⅲ A and 1 isolate of SCCmec Ⅱ.Among 5 isolates with deletion of mec Ⅰ gene,there were 3 isolates of SCCmecⅣ,1 isolate of SCCmec Ⅰ and 1 isolate of non-known SCCmec tpye.The MICs of oxacillin were 256-512 ?g/ml,≥512 ?g/ml and 8-256 ?g/ml in 31 isolates with single point mutation at 202 position in mec Ⅰ gene,3 isolates with double-point mutation in mecI gene and 5 isolates with deletion of mec Ⅰ gene,respectively.1 isolate with single point mutation in mec Ⅰ gene had contrary result(MIC

Study on infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus carrying Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes / 中华检验医学杂志

Objective To investigate the infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus carrying Panton-Valentine leukocidin(PVL)genes.Methods 26 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus carrying Panton- Valentine leukocidin(PVL)genes were determined by multiplex PCR.Multilocus sequence typing(MLST) was used to determine the STs of the isolates.The genotypes of SCCmec were also determined by another multiplex PCR in the isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA).Results Among 26 isolates,there were 6 isolates of ST88 MRSA,7 isolates of ST88 methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA),5 isolates of ST239 MRSA,5 isolates of ST398 MRSA,1 isolate of ST25 MRSA,1 isolate of ST30 MRSA and 1 isolate of ST59 MRSA.20 isolates were hospital-acquired(HA)which mainly caused pulmonary infection and post-operative pyogenic infection.6 isolates were community-acquired(CA)which mainly caused soft tissue necrosis.Among 19 isolates of MRSA,ST88-SCCmec Ⅲ A,ST239-SCCmec Ⅲ,ST398- SCCmec Ⅳ and ST398-SCCmec Ⅲ were main types.26 isolates were isolated from 14 wards.ST88-SCCmec Ⅲ A-MRSA caused clone spread in maternity department in our hospital.Conclusion ST88,ST239 and ST 398 are main STs in Staphylococcus aureus carrying PVL in our hospital.The isolates not only cause nosocomial infections but also cause community infection.