Clinical and Bacteriological Analysis of Bacterial Bloodstream Infections in Patients with Acute Leukemial / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the clinical characteristics, etiology and drug susceptibility of bacterial bloodstream infections in acute leukemia(AL) patients.@*METHODS@#Clinical data, etiology and drug susceptibility of acute leukemia patients with bacterial bloodstream infections from April 2009 to April 2018 were retrospectively analyzed.@*RESULTS@#A total of 376 strains were isolated, 76.9% was Gram-negative bacterial and 23.1% was Gram-positive bacteria. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae were listed as the top three of Gram-negative bacteria. The susceptibility of Escherichia coli to the tigacycline, imipenem and meropenem was 100.0%, 98.2% and 98.1%, respectively. The susceptibility of Klebsiella pneumoniae to the tigacycline, imipenem and meropenem were 100.0%, 98.3% and 94.4%, respectively. The adjustment rate for initial use of carbopenems was 3.8%, while the adjustment rate for initial use of noncarbopenems was 74.3% in patients with main Gram-negative bacterial blood stream infection. The susceptibility of Gram-positive bacteria to glycopeptide antibiotics, linezolid and tigacycline was 100.0%.@*CONCLUSION@#Gram-negative bacteria is the majority type of bacteria in AL patients with bacteria blood stream infections. The susceptibility of Gram-negative bacteria to the carbapenems is high, and the treatment adjustment rate is obviously low. The glycopeptide, linezolid and tigacycline are effective for Gram-positive bacteria infections..

Clinical analysis of autoimmune hemolytic anemia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in thalassemia major / 中华血液学杂志

Objective: To explore the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) after allo-HSCT in patients with thalassemia major (TM). Methods: A retrospective analysis of AIHA status after allo-HSCT in 291 TM patients from July 2007 to December 2017 was conducted. Results: Five of the 291 TM patients (1.72%) were diagnosed with post-transplant AIHA. The median time of AIHA was 7 (5-12) months after HSCT. All post-transplant AIHA patients were positive in direct and indirect Coombs test, the main clinical manifestations were dizziness, fatigue, pale complexion, skin and sclera yellow, and soy sauce urine. The incidence of AIHA was higher after unrelated donor transplantation (6.36%, 4/63) compared with that of sibling donor transplantation (0.43%, 1/228). One patient who received only prednison was dead. Four patients who received rituximab combined with prednisolone were alive, Coombs test in two of them were negative. Conclusions: AIHA after allo-HSCT developed in 1.72% patients with TM. Monitoring of Coombs test was important for diagnosis of post-transplant AIHA. The incidence of post-transplant AIHA was higher in unrelated donors compared with that of sibling donors transplantation. Treatment of rituximab combined glucocorticoid was effective strategy for post-transplant AIHA.

Development of inflatable and multi-function medicine chest / 医疗卫生装备

Objective To develop a new type of muhifunctional inflatable medicine chest to execute medical service at special conditions.Methods The chest was made of Hypalon rubber,and composed of multi facets of air cells.Each air cell was divided into several independent columns to enhance the stability and anti-leakage performance of the chest.Results The chest realized the function of medicine storage,and the air cell could be used for rescue when applied separately and used as floating stretcher when collectively.The problems of the original medicine chest were solved in withdrawal,volume,transportation and etc.Conclusion The chest gains advantages in compactness,closure,moisture resistance,floating,stability,reliability,practicability,safety,anti shock and multi function,and thus is worthy promoting in emergency rescue and field training.

Mobilization of bone marrow-derived Nkx2-5(+) cardiac progenitor cells under condition of acute myocardial ischemia / 生理学报

The present study aimed to observe the morphological distribution of bone marrow (BM)-derived Nkx2-5(+) cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) in bone marrow niche and evaluate the effect of acute myocardial ischemia (AMI) on the mobilizion of BM-derived Nkx2-5(+) CPCs. Animal models of BALB/c mouse AMI, cerebral and hind-limb ischemia were established. Nanogold labeling method, immunofluorescence and Western blot were used to identify the distribution of BM-derived Nkx2-5(+) CPCs and the expressions of Nkx2-5 protein in peripheral blood and BM after AMI. Meanwhile, in different ischemia organ models and after AMD3100 (SDF-1/CXCR4 antagonist) pretreatment in AMI model, Nkx2-5 protein expressions in peripheral blood were also assayed. Nkx2-5(+) CPCs were found to locate in cavitas medullaris. The percentage of Nkx2-5(+) CPCs in blood increased immediately after AMI. Nkx2-5 protein expression in peripheral blood was also upregulated at the timepoint of 24 h post-AMI (P<0.01) and kept stable without further enhancement from day 1 to day 7 post-AMI. In BM, Nkx2-5 protein expression was upregulated immediately after AMI and downregulated afterwards (P<0.01). After AMD3100 pretreatment in AMI group, Nkx2-5 protein expression was significantly inhibited in peripheral blood (P<0.05). In cerebral and hind-limb ischemia models, Nkx2-5 protein expressions were significantly lower than that in AMI group (P<0.01), but with no significant difference to control group. These results suggest that Nkx2-5(+) CPCs are physiologically resident in BM and AMI initiates mobilization of BM-derived Nkx2-5(+) CPCs in a predominant organ-specific manner. In the procedure of mobilization, SDF-1 may play a critical role in a chemoattracted manner.

In vivo transfection of hepatocyte growth factor gene induces pulmonary angiogenesis in rabbits with hyperkinetic pulmonary hypertension / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of adenoviral-mediated exogenous HGF (Ad-HGF) gene transfer on lung angiogenesis in the rabbit lung in rabbits with hyperkinetic pulmonary artery hypertension.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A thoracotomy was performed through a midsternal incision in 1-month-old immature rabbit and an anastomosis between the left innominate artery and the pulmonary trunk was made to establish a chronic patent left to right shunt. Three months later, animals were randomly assigned to receive either Ad-HGF (2 x 10(9) Pfu in 0.2 ml PBS, H1 group), repeated administration of Ad-HGF after one week (H 2 group), Ad-GFP (2 x 10(9) Pfu in 0.2 ml PBS, G group), or PBS (0.2 ml, C group) by the intratracheal method of gene transfection. After two weeks, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical examination was performed to identify HGF mRNA and HGF protein expression. The capillary density and small pulmonary artery density were determined by immunostained with antibodies against factor VIII and alpha-SMA. After 1 month, the collateral vessels were evaluated by angiogram under digital subtraction angiography (DSA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Two weeks after Ad-HGF transfection, 484 bp bands could be found by RT-PCR in H1 and H2 groups, but not in other groups. The expression of HGF protein could be detected on alveolar epithelium and pulmonary vessel endothelium by immunohistochemistry examination. The number of factor VIII-positive pulmonary capillaries was also significantly increased in the H1 and H2 groups compared with the C and G groups (P < 0.05). The capillary density reached (17.0 +/- 3.3) mm(2) and (19.7 +/- 2.8) mm(2) in the H1 and H2 group, respectively, whereas it remained (13.2 +/- 3.2) mm(2) in the C group and (13.5 +/- 2.4) mm(2) in the G group (P < 0.05). One month after Ad-HGF transfection, the number of small pulmonary arteries was significantly increased in H1 and H2 group compared with control groups (P < 0.05). The collateral vessels were more abundant in HGF transfection groups than that in the two control groups reviewed by angiogram under digital subtraction angiography (DSA).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In vivo gene transfection with HGF by means of the intra-tracheal injection could induce pulmonary angiogenesis in the early stage and small pulmonary arterial angiogenesis in later stage.</p>

Delayed disappearance of h-VEGF₁₆₅ mRNA and protein under regulation of hypoxic response element / 生理学报

Transfer of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene to ischemic myocardium may provide a useful approach for angiogenesis and improve cardiac performance. However, uncontrolled expression of VEGF in vivo may result in certain side effects, such as hemangioma formation, retinopathy, and tumor development. We investigated the feasibility of using the nine copies of hypoxic response element (HRE) to control the expression of human VEGF(165) (h-VEGF(165)) under anoxic condition at cell level and also observed the synchron of h-VEGF(165) mRNA and protein expressions. Recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vector was prepared by using the three-plasmid system and cotransfected to human embryo kidney 293T cells by the calcium phosphate precipitates method. The rAAV vector was purified by chloroform-PEG8000/NaCl-chloroform and added to cultured myocardiocytes. Myocardiocytes of Sprague-Dawley rat were cultured in serum-free medium and then randomly divided into eight groups. Group I: cultured under normoxic conditions (21% O2) for 8 h as control; Group II: cultured under anoxic conditions (1% O2) for 8 h; Group III: cultured under normoxic conditions (21% O2) for 8 h with gene transfer; Group IV: cultured under anoxic conditions (1% O2) for 8 h with gene transfer; Group V, VI, VII: cultured under anoxic conditions (1% O2) for 8 h with gene transfer and then tured to normoxic conditions (21% O2) for 4, 8 or 12 h, respectively; Group VIII: cultured under anoxic conditions (1% O2) for 20 h with gene transfer. After completion of cell culture, the amount of h-VEGF(165) protein in culture supernatant was quantified by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Expression of h-VEGF(165) protein in cultured cardiacmyocytes was also evaluated by immunofluorescence. RT-PCR was employed to detect the expression of h-VEGF(165) mRNA. The results revealed that there were no expressions of h-VEGF(165) mRNA and protein in groups I, II, III, VI and VII. After gene transfer, the expressions of h-VEGF(165) protein and mRNA were significantly higher in groups IV and VIII than those in other groups (P<0.01); Immunofluorescence positive cells were observed in groups IV, V and VIII. RT-PCR revealed that a 484-bp strip can be found in groups IV and VIII, but unavailable in other groups. We conclude that HRE is a promising regulator for h-VEGF(165) gene expression following the changes of oxygen environment. HRE can induce the expression of h-VEGF(165) gene after hypoxia, but in normal oxygen condition, the expression of h-VEGF(165) was inhibited. Although expression of h-VEGF(165) mRNA ceased in normal oxygen condition under the control of HRE, expression of h-VEGF(165) protein was hysteretic to h-VEGF(165) mRNA expression.

Effects of endothelin-1 on differentiation of cardiac myocyte induced from rabbit bone marrow stromal cells / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Cardiomyocyte transplantation for the therapy of myocardial ischaemia is being paid close attention. However, how the microenvironment controls the differentiation of transplanted bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) is unknown. Endothelin-1 (ET-1), a cytokine, increases during myocardial infarction, but it is not known whether ET-1 is responsible for the fate of transplanted BMSCs. In the present study, we investigated the effects of ET-1 on differentiation and maturation of induced rabbit BMSCs, in vitro, to elucidate the cellular biological mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The proliferation of BMSCs isolated from femur of rabbits was induced by ET-1 only, by 5-azacytidine (5-aza) or ET-1 combined with 5-aza. After 4 weeks of induced culturing, the differentiation rate and the diameter of induced myocyte like cells were estimated and the expressions of GATA-4 protein and phosphorylation level were assayed by Western-blot, RT-PCR analysis of beta-myosin heavy chain (MHC). mRNA expression, levels of troponin-I by immunohistochemical staining and ultrastructure of induce-cultured BMSCs were also determined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>By induction with ET-1 and 5-aza, mean cell diameter of induced BMSCs was larger than induced with 5-aza [(6.26 +/- 0.22) microm cf (5.29 +/- 0.19) microm] (P < 0.001). There was no difference in rate of differentiation of myocyte like cells between the groups induced with 5-aza and ET-1 combined with 5-aza [(29.82 +/- 0.23)% cf (29.94 +/- 0.18)%] (P > 0.05). The expressions of GATA-4 protein and phosphorylation were enhanced significantly in groups induced with ET-1 combined with 5-aza (P < 0.05). In the group induced with ET-1 combined with 5-aza, expression of beta-MHC mRNA was higher than control [(0.122 +/- 0.008) cf (0.022 +/- 0.003)] (P < 0.01), and more troponin-I positive cells were also detected in this group. Differentiated BMSCs showed formations of myofilaments and primitive sarcomere, i.e., morphological characteristics of myocyte like cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>This study suggests that induced culturing of BMSCs by ET-1 combined with 5-aza can express cardiomyocytic characteristics whereas ET-1 alone could not induce BMSCs to differentiate to myocyte like cells. ET-1 upregulates the expression of GATA-4 protein and phosphorylation level of induced BMSCs, and rapidly promotes the differentiation and maturation of myocyte like cells from BMSCs.</p>

Detection of glutathione S-transferase and lung resistance-related proteins in acute leukemia and its clinical significance / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the relationship among intracellular glutathione S-transferase activity (GST), the expression of lung resistance-related proteins (LRP) in acute leukemia, and its clinical effects.@*METHODS@#The GST activity of bone marrow mononuclear cells and LRP expression in 57 acute leukemia patients were detected by the spectrophotometry assay and immuno-cytochemistry (SABC), respectively.@*RESULTS@#The GST activity of bone marrow mononuclear cells in the acute leukemia group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.01). The GST activity of mononuclear cells in acute leukemia was positively correlated with the percentage of blast in the bone marrow (r = 0.30, P < 0.05). The GST activity of mononuclear cells in the untreated acute leukemia group was obviously higher than that of the complete remission group (P <0.01). The GST activity in the refractory or relapsed acute leukemia group was significantly higher than that of the complete remission group and untreated leukemia group (P <0.05). In post-chemotherapy 13 of 17 the LRP-positive patients were the non-remission, 12 of the 20 LRP-negative patients were the complete remission. The curative rate of the LRP-positive group was the significantly lower than the LRP-negative group (P < 0.05). The GST activities of non-remission patients in the LRP-positive and LRP-negative group obviously increased.@*CONCLUSION@#The increase of GST activity in the bone marrow mononuclear cells is related to the clinical curative effects and the proliferation of blast in acute leukemia. Detection of LRP and GST activities in acute leukemia may have a reference value in judging the leukemia with drug resistance and estimating the prognosis.

Myocardioprotective effects of the combination of ischemic preconditioning with hypothermia and crystalloid cardioplegia in immature rabbits / 生理学报

This study was undertaken to explore the myocardioprotective effects of the combination of ischemic preconditioning (IP) with hypothermia and St.II Thomas crystalloid cardioplegic solution (CCS) on immature hearts in the rabbit. Isolated immature rabbit hearts were perfused with Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer on Langendorff apparatus. In experiment 1, 24 hearts were divided into 4 groups (n=6 in each group): Con, IP1, IP2 and IP3 group. Hearts of the four groups underwent 0, 1, 2 or 3 cycles of IP respectively. Then all the hearts were subjected to a sustained ischemia period of 2 h at 20 degrees C and a postischemic reperfusion period of 30 min at 37 degrees C. In experiment 2, 48 hearts were divided into 6 groups (n=8 in each group): SCon1, SIP1, SCon2, SIP2, SCon3 and SIP3 group, according to hypothermia and the duration of sustained ischemia (30 min at 32 degrees C; 90 min at 25 degrees C, 2 h at 20 degrees C). The SIP1, SIP2 and SIP3 groups were preconditioned twice before the sustained hypothermic ischemia, while the SCon1, SCon2 and SCon3 groups were not preconditioned. CCS was applied during sustained ischemia, all the hearts were reperfused for 30 min at 37 degrees C. Heart rate (HR), left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) and peak rate of increase or decrease of left ventricular pressure (+/-dp/dt(max)) were recorded. Tissue concentration of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured. At the end of reperfusion, values of product of LVDP and HR, +/-dp/dt(max) in IP2 group were 96%+/-21%, 101%+/-19% and 84% +/-15% of the baseline values respectively, which were significantly higher than those of Con group and IP3 group (P<0.01, P<0.05); also, the ATP content of IP2 group was higher than that of the Con group (P<0.01). When CCS was applied during sustained period of hypothermic ischemia at 32 degrees C or 25 degrees C, recovery rates of RPP (rate product, =LVDPxHR) and +dp/dt(max) in SIP1 group were 87% +/-14% or 99% +/-26% of the baseline values respectively (P<0.05, vs SCon1 group), the values in SIP2 group changed to 87% +/-16% or 102% +/-20% respectively (P<0.05, vs SCon2 group). Contents of ATP in SIP1 and SIP2 groups were significantly higher than those of SCon1 or SCon2 groups respectively (P<0.05), but MDA content of the two groups were significantly lower than those of SCon1 or SCon2 groups (P<0.05) respectively. The study indicates that IP attenuates hypothermic ischemia/reperfusion injury to immature rabbit hearts under 20 degrees C ischemia, two cycles of IP showing better myocardioprotective effects than 1 or 3 cycles of IP. When IP was combined with CCS which were applied during hypothermic ischemia period, the beneficial effects of IP were weakened as the temperature during the hypothermic period was elevated.

Effects of ischemic preconditioning on the hypothermic ischemia/reperfusion injury of immature rabbit hearts / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>AIM</b>To study effects of ischemic preconditioning on the hypothermic ischemia/reperfusion injury of immature rabbit hearts.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The isolated immature rabbit (3-4 weeks) hearts were perfused on Langendorff apparatus. After 30 min perfusing with 37 degrees C K-H perfusate, the hearts in part one were yielded 0, 1, 2 or 3 times of IP respectively before 120 min ischemia at 20 degrees C hypothermia, and the hearts in part two were yielded 0 or 2 times of IP before being arrested by infusion of St. Thomas II crystalloid cardioplegic solution, then the arrested hearts were yielded ischemia for 30, 90 or 120 min at 32 degrees C, 25 degrees C and 2 degrees C hypothermia respectively. Then all the hearts were reperfused for 30 min at 37 degrees C normothermia. Heart rate (HR), left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), +/- dp/dt(max) were recorded at baseline, preischemic and 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 30 min after reperfusion. Also contents of ATP and MDA and activity of SOD and Ca(2+) -ATPase of myocardium were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At the end of reperfusion, the recovery rate of left ventricular function in IP2 group were significantly higher than that of control group and IP3 group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), also the IP2 group showed a higher content of ATP and activity of Ca(2+) -ATPase than control group and IP3 group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). When the ischemic hearts were at different hypothermia accompanied with CCS, the recovery rate of left ventricular function and contents of ATP in SIP1 and SIP2 group were significantly higher than that of SCon 1 group and SCon 2 group respectively (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), the contents of MDA in the two IP groups were lower than that of the two control groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>IP can attenuate the hypothermic ischemia/reperfusion injury of immature rabbit hearts, the cardioprotective effects are dependent on the mode of IP and the possible mechanisms may involve the following aspects: decrease the consumption of ATP, inhibit lipid peroxidation and maintain the activity of Ca(2+) -ATPase of cardiac myocyte.</p>