Bronchopulmonary Infection of Lophomonas blattarum: A Case and Literature Review

Human infections with Lophomonas blattarum are rare. However, the majority of the infections occurred in China, 94.4% (136 cases) of all cases in the world. This infection is difficult to differentiate from other pulmonary infections with similar symptoms. Here we reported a case of L. blattarum infection confirmed by bronchoalveolar lavage fluid smear on the microscopic observations. The patient was a 21-year-old female college student. The previous case which occurred in Chongqing was 20 years ago. We briefly reviewed on this infection reported in the world during the recent 20 years. The epidemiological characteristics, possible diagnostic basis, and treatment of this disease is discussed in order to provide a better understanding of recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of L. blattarum infection.

Distribution of the of nosocomial infection pathogens among general hospital in China: a Meta analysis / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To provide basic and direction for nosocomial infection prevention and control through evaluation the distribution of nosocomial infection pathogens and understand current situation of pathogens among general hospital in China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Articles were searched and collected from CBM, CNKI,VIP database and Wanfang database published between creating database to March. 2013 about investigation of nosocomial infection. Those literatures were screened and extracted according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria by two reviewers independently. The analysis of pathogens distribution was performed by using comprehensive Meta analysis software and stratified by factor as year, hospital level and region of the study. The distribution rate of different pathogens were merged according to statistical tests for the heterogeneity test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The 345 trials were included. The results show 1)the pooled distribution rates of common pathogens in 1987-2000 were as follows:18.6% (95% CI:13.7%-24.9%), 18.1% (95% CI:15.4%-21.0%), 14.8% (95% CI: 12.2%-17.9%), 5.2% (95%CI:4.1%-6.6%) for Fungus, Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas, and Klebsiella respectively;the pooled rates of common pathogens in 2001-2012 were as follows:17.6% (95% CI: 16.4%-18.8%), 15.0% (95% CI:14.2%-15.8%), 13.9% (95% CI:13.1%-14.7%), 10.4% (95% CI: 9.9%-11.0%)for Fungus, Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas, and Klebsiella respectively. 2)The pooled distribution rates of pathogens in second and below grade hospital were 3.2% (95%CI:0.3%-29.9%), 4.7% (95% CI:3.4%-6.3%), 7.2% (95% CI:1.7%-26.1%)for Mycoplasma, Shigella and Alkaligenes respectively;the pooled distribution rates of pathogens in third grade hospital were 1.1% (95% CI: 0.1%-15.4%), 1.8% (95%CI:0.6%-5.1%), 4.3% (95%CI:2.3%-8.0%)for Mycoplasma, Shigella and Alkaligenes respectively. 3)The pooled rate of Mycoplasma for Yangtze River Economic Area was 14.3% (95%CI:2.0%-58.1%)and for Southwest Economic Area was 0.3% (95%CI:0.1%-1.1%). The pooled rate of Corynebacterium for Yangtze River Economic Area was 0.4% (95%CI:0.1%-1.4%)and for Southeast Economic Area was 9.5% (95% CI:2.4%-31.1%). The pooled rate of Haemophilus for Northern Economic Area was 0.5% (95%CI:0.2%-0.9%)and for Southeast Economic Area was 9.2% (95% CI:7.3%-11.6%). The pooled rate of Salmonella for Yangtze River Economic Area was 6.3% (95% CI:4.6%-8.6% ) and for Southeast Economic Area was 0.4% (95% CI:0.1%-3.0% ).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The common nosocomial infection pathogens were Fungus, Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas and Escherichia among general hospitals in China. A remarkable note is that Klebsiella was increased significantly in recent years and becomes one of the most common pathogens. There were differences in the distribution rate of nosocomial infection pathogens among general hospitals between levels and regions in China.</p>

Construction of biofilm formation related mutants in Vibrio parahaemolyticus / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To construct the mutants of biofilm related genes in Vibrio parahaemolyticus and confirm the mutants.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The homologous upstream and downstream flanking fragments of target gene were amplified by using PCR, and the fusion homologous fragment was amplified by using the two flanking fragments as template. Then the fusion homologous fragment was digested by restriction enzyme and cloned into suicide plasmid pDS132. The recombinant plasmid was transferred into Vibrio parahaemolyticus RIMD 2210633 through conjugation. The mutants were screened and identified by PCR and the phenotype of one mutant was analyzed in order to verify that the mutants were constructed successfully.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Six recombinant plasmids carrying the fusion homologous fragments of genes vbfR, crp, hns, swrZ, swrT and cpsR respectively were constructed and identified by PCR. The amplification products of 1190, 1128, 1136, 953, 1242 and 1112 bp were obtained respectively. The six mutants (ΔvbfR, Δcrp, Δhns, ΔswrZ, ΔswrT and ΔcpsR) were constructed using recombinant plasmids. Verified by PCR, the size of amplification products of mutants (1190, 1128, 1136, 953, 1242 and 1112 bp respectively) was less (610, 739, 421, 542, 427 and 1367 bp respectively) than the corresponding positive control. Meanwhile, none of the products was amplified using the primers locating on the target gene. One mutant Δhns was selected to test the ability of biofilm formation. The result showed that the ability of biofilm formation of mutant Δhns was increased compared with the wild type.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Six mutants of biofilm related genes in Vibrio parahaemolyticus were constructed and tested by molecular and phenotype experiment to confirm that the mutants were constructed successfully.</p>

Impaired prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle in Chinese patients with first-episode, medication-naïve schizophrenia / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Patients with schizophrenia have prominent abnormality in information processing that can be observed by measures of prepulse inhibition (PPI) of acoustic startle reflex and PPI deficits have been considered as a candidate endophenotypic marker of schizophrenia. However, there has been little information on PPI and related measures in Chinese patients with schizophrenia. The research was to explore the deficits of acoustic startle reflex that might exist in Chinese patients with schizophrenia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Startle response to acoustic stimuli, habituation, and PPI were examined in 31 Chinese patients with first-episode, medication-naïve schizophrenia and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy Chinese controls. At the same day of startle testing, psychopathological symptoms of the patients were assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with healthy controls, patients exhibited the significant reduction in startle response and PPI deficits at 60 milliseconds (ms) intervals (PPI60, P < 0.05) but not at 30 or 120 ms intervals. Furthermore, there was a relatively strong correlation between PPI60 (P < 0.05) and scores of positive scale of PANSS in patients with schizophrenia.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our findings confirmed impaired PPI in Chinese patients with schizophrenia and suggested that a relationship between sensorimotor gating deficits and clinical symptoms of patients with schizophrenia might exist.</p>

Association of paraoxonase polymorphisms and serum homocysteine thiolactone complex with coronary heart disease / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between paraoxonase (PON) polymorphisms and serum homocysteine thiolactone (HTL) and coronary heart diseases.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>In this prospective study, serum complex of HTL levels using ELISA, and the lever of serum Hcy using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), determined the PON1/T(-107)C and PON2/C311S genotypes using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphisms 203 were measured in patients with angiographic documented coronary heart disease (CAD) and 117 controls.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Serum levels of Hcy and the complex of HTL in CAD patients were significantly higher than that in controls (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found in frequencies of PON1/T(-107)C genotypes and alleles (P > 0.05) between CAD patient and controls. The PON2/C311S (SS) genotype was lower in CAD patients than that in controls (P < 0.05), while the frequency of allele was similar between the two groups (P > 0.05). The T allele of PON1/T(-107)C and S alleles of PON2/C311S polymorphism were associated with lower plasma Hcy and HTL complex [Hcy (11.83 +/- 4.76) micromol/L vs (15.32 +/- 10.32) micromol/L, P < 0.05; HTL complex (24.36 +/- 9.30) U/ml vs (32.05 +/- 10.44) U/ml, P < 0.05]. The genetype PON2 and allele C were higher in CAD patients with type 2 diabetes than that in CAD patients without type 2 diabetes and controls (P < 0.005).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The elevation of serum Hcy and the complex of HTL were associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease. The allele PON1/(-107)T and PON2/311S might be protective for the development of atherosclerosis.</p>

Association of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and platelet membrane glycoprotein VI polymorphisms with acute coronary syndrome / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate serum level and gene polymorphisms of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), and platelet glycoprotein VI (GPVI) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In a prospective study of 179 patients with documented ACS and 164 controls, we measured baseline serum MMP-9 levels using ELISA and determined the MMP-9/C-1562T and MMP-9/G5564A genotypes using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Fib serum level was measured by Clauss assay. We also analyzed the Fib/Bbeta-148C/T and GPVI/T13254C polymorphisms.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Serum levels of MMP-9 and Fib in ACS patients were significantly higher than in controls (P < 0.001), and serum level of Fib in the acute myocardial infarction group was higher than in patients with unstable angina (P < 0.05). No significant difference between ACS patients and controls was found in frequencies of MMP-9/C-1562T, MMP-9/G5564A, Fib/Bbeta-148C/T, and GPVI/T13254C genotypes and alleles (P > 0.05). The T allele of the Fib/Bbeta-148T polymorphism was associated with increased plasma Fib level (P < 0.05). There was a strong positive correlation between serum level of MMP-9 and Fib (r = 0.289, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Serum levels of MMP-9 and Fib were independent risk factors of ACS. There was an obvious relationship between the Bbeta-148C/T mutation and high Fib level. No significant difference between controls and ACS patients was found in the frequencies of MMP-9 C-1562T and G5564A, Fib Bbeta-148C/T and GPVI T13254C genotypes and alleles (P > 0.05).</p>

Cloning and expression of L-N-carbamoylase gene from Arthrobacter BT801 in Escherichia coli / 生物工程学报

Hydantoin-utility-enzyme is widely used in enzymic production of various amino acids. One of its component, carbamoylase, is responsible for the conversion of N-carbamylamino acids to corresponding amino acids, which is crucial for the stereoselectivity and rate limiting. To improve the production of the enzyme, an L-N-carbamoylase gene from Arthrobacter BT801, a hydantoinase producting strain being able to convert 5-benzylhydantoin to phenylalanine, was cloned into E. coli. The gene was highly expressed in E. coli M15 under control of T5 promoter. A protein band about 44kD was detected by SDS-PAGE in the recombinant cell lysate. The objective product, which is principally in soluble form, represented 40% of total cell protein. The N-carbamoylase specific activity of the recombinant M15/pQE60- hyuC is 53 times higher than that of Arthrobacter BT801. The total biotransformation activity increased 8.1 times when. M15/pQE60-hyuC was added into the Arthrobacter BT801 reaction system. The successful expression of the enzyme is significant for the application of the hydantoinase producing strain or the enzyme thereof.

Activating effect of ATP on NO/cGMP pathway in guinea pig cochlea / 生理学报

The present investigation was to study the relationship between ATP and nitric oxide/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (NO/cGMP) pathway. Forty healthy purebred albino guinea pigs with sensitive pryer's reflex were randomly divided into five groups. Their cochleae were dissected and perfused immediately with different solutions. For the control group, the cochleae (group 1) were perfused with artificial perilymph basal solution (APBS, containing 100 micromol/L dipyridamole, 100 micromol/L L-Arg and 1 mmol/L IBMX). Other groups were respectively perfused group 2 with 330 micromol/L ATP, group 3 with 100 micromol/L L-NNA+330 micromol/L ATP, group 4 with 10 micromol/L ODQ+330 micromol/L ATP and group 5 with 10 micromol/L A-23187. All these reagents were freshly dissolved in artificial perilymph basal solution (APBS). The cochlear tissue specimens were collected and the average cGMP content was measured with (125)I-cGMP RIA kit. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the average cochlear tissue weights among different groups. The concentration of cGMP in the cochlear tissue of the groups perfused with ATP (59.541+/-8.744 fmol/mg) and A-23187 (55.416+/-7.018 fmol/mg) was significantly higher than those of the control group (30.089+/-4.876 fmol/mg), the groups perfused with L-NNA+ATP (28.761+/-5.019 fmol/mg) and ODQ+ATP (34.209+/-13.658 fmol/mg). No significant difference was observed between the group perfused with ATP and the one with A-23187, as well as among the control group and the groups perfused respectively with L-NNA+ATP and ODQ+ATP. These results suggest that ATP elevated the concentration of cGMP in cochlear tissue while administration of nonselective nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NNA and soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor ODQ could prevent the increase of cGMP concentration induced by ATP. It is indicated that ATP is involved in the activation of NO/cGMP pathway by elevating concentration in the cytoplasm of the cochlea. In turn, NO/cGMP pathway may exert a negative action on the effects of ATP. It is suggested that there is an ATP/Ca(2+)-NO/cGMP pathway in the guinea pig cochlea. ATP and NO/cGMP pathway jointly regulate the function of the cochlea.

Interleukin-1beta expression and phospholipase A(2) activation after intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury / 生理学报

The experiments were carried out to explore the interactions between IL-1 beta gene expression, protein level and phospholipase A(2) PLA(2) inhibition after intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury. Using a rat intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury model, after collecting the serum, lung lavage, abdomen cavity lavage and important organ tissue samples from control, injury and PLA(2) inhibitor treated groups, IL-1 beta level was measured by radioimmunoassay, and the mRNA expression of IL-1 beta and type II PLA (2)was determined by RT-PCR. After 6 h of injury, the IL-1 beta level in serum was significantly higher than that in the control group; an increase in IL-1 beta was also observed in abdomen cavity lavage 1 or 3 h after injury. IL-1 beta was significantly increased in liver tissue after injury, but was not changed obviously in the lung, kidney and intestinal tissues. IL-1 beta in the lung lavage was significantly higher than that of control group. The mRNA expression of IL-1 beta in lung tissue was increased after injury, but type II PLA(2) mRNA expression was decreased. There were different changes in IL-1 beta level and gene expression after treatment with PLA(2) inhibitor chloroquine, cyclo-oxidase inhibitor indomethacin, or PAF receptor antagonist SR27417 respectively after injury. All these results indicate that after intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury, the IL-1 beta level and mRNA gene expression are significantly increased, however, the relationship among IL-1 beta, PLA(2) activation and its metabolite release remains to be further elucidated.

EXPRESSION OF L-N-CARBAMOYLASE GENE IN PICHIA PASTORIS / 微生物学通报

N-carbamoylase is a part of hydantoinase operon which can transform N-carbamoylamino acid to corresponding ammo acids. The L-N-carbamoylase of Arthrobacter BT801, codied by the HyuC gene, is the rate-limiting and the only stereoselective enzyme. HyuC DNA fragment was amplified by PCR from the plasmid of pUC18-169. The target fragment was introduced into pPIC3. 5K plasmid to construct the pPIC3. 5K-hyuC expressing vector which was then transduced into Pichia pastoris GS115 cells after being linearized by BglⅡ digestion. Multi-copies insertion transformants were screened on G418 plates. The recombinant protein was proved to have biological activity of hydrolyzing N-carbamoylphenylalanine into phenylalanine through enzyme activity determination.