A study on viral gastroenteritis attributed to noroviruses in hospitals / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>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.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>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.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(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).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>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.</p>

Tyrosine kinase dependent lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 upregulation by thrombin and factor Xa in vascular smooth muscle cells / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>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).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>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.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>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.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Thrombin and factor Xa can act as LOX-1 inducers via tyrosine kinase activation.</p>