Simultaneous Detection of 13 Key Bacterial Respiratory Pathogens by Combination of Multiplex PCR and Capillary Electrophoresis / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Lower respiratory tract infections continue to pose a significant threat to human health. It is important to accurately and rapidly detect respiratory bacteria. To compensate for the limits of current respiratory bacteria detection methods, we developed a combination of multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and capillary electrophoresis (MPCE) assay to detect thirteen bacterial pathogens responsible for lower respiratory tract infections, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Legionella spp., Bordetella pertussis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, and Streptococcus pyogenes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three multiplex PCR reactions were built, and the products were analyzed by capillary electrophoresis using the high-throughput DNA analyzer. The specificity of the MPCE assay was examined and the detection limit was evaluated using DNA samples from each bacterial strain and the simulative samples of each strain. This assay was further evaluated using 152 clinical specimens and compared with real-time PCR reactions. For this assay, three nested-multiplex-PCRs were used to detect these clinical specimens.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The detection limits of the MPCE assay for the 13 pathogens were very low and ranged from 10-7 to 10-2 ng/μL. Furthermore, analysis of the 152 clinical specimens yielded a specificity ranging from 96.5%-100.0%, and a sensitivity of 100.0% for the 13 pathogens.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This study revealed that the MPCE assay is a rapid, reliable, and high-throughput method with high specificity and sensitivity. This assay has great potential in the molecular epidemiological survey of respiratory pathogens.</p>

Improvement of Quality of Nonanesthetic Colonoscopy by Preoperative Administration of Pinaverium Bromide / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Nonanesthetic colonoscopy is popular in clinical practice in China. However, intestinal spasms often result in a prolonged examination time, increased operating difficulties, decreased polyp detection rate, and failure to complete the procedure clinically. Therefore, exploring alternative approaches that can reduce the pain in patients during colonoscopy is of utmost importance, and finding the optimal preoperative administration to improve the quality of nonanesthetic colonoscopy is also necessary. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the prophylactic administration of pinaverium bromide before colonoscopy and the effects of pinaverium bromide alone at different time points or combined with scopolamine butylbromide.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A randomized controlled trial was performed on a cohort of 1000 patients who underwent colonoscopy in outpatient clinic of Wuhan Union Hospital. The patients were randomly assigned to the following groups: Group A, given oral pinaverium bromide (100 mg, three times a day) one day before examination combined with intramuscular injection of scopolamine butylbromide (20 mg) 10 min before colonoscopy; Group B0, given pinaverium bromide alone on the day of colonoscopy (100 mg, three times a day); Group B1, given pinaverium bromide alone (100 mg, three times a day) one day before colonoscopy; Group B2, given pinaverium bromide alone (100 mg, three times a day) two days before colonoscopy; and Group C, given scopolamine butylbromide alone (20 mg) before colonoscopy. The successful rate of colonoscopy, procedure time, degree of abdominal pain, and polyp detection rate were recorded and compared among all groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The successful rate of colonoscopy in Group B1(82.0%) and Group B2(83.0%) was significantly higher than that in Group B0(62.0%, all P < 0.01). The time to reach the ileocecal region in Group B1and Group B2were lower than those in Group B0(all P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in polyp detection rate between Group B1(24.0%) or Group B2(26.0%), and Group B0(22.4%, all P > 0.05). Furthermore, there were no significant differences in the various parameters examined between Group B1and Group B2(P > 0.05). The successful rate of colonoscopy in Group A (92.0%) was significantly higher than that in Group B1(82.0%) and Group C (80.0%; both P < 0.05). Moreover, the time for the colonoscope to reach the ileocecal region in Group A were markedly shorter as compared to those in Group B1 and Group C (P < 0.05). The polyp detection rate in Group A was 32.0%, significantly higher than that in Group B1(24.0%, P < 0.05) and Group C (24.2%, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Administration of pinaverium bromide alone one day before examination was beneficial to relieve symptoms of abdominal pain during nonanesthetic colonoscopy. In addition, therapeutic effects were improved when pinaverium bromide administration was combined with intramuscular injection of scopolamine butylbromide. Therefore, the combined use of pinaverium bromide with scopolamine butylbromide might have great application value to improve the quality of nonanesthetic colonoscopy in the preoperative preparation.</p>

Legionella dumoffii Tex-KL Mutated in an Operon Homologous to traC-traD is Defective in Epithelial Cell Invasion / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To understand the mechanism of invasion by Legionella dumoffii.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The L. dumoffii strain Tex-KL was mutated using the Tn903 derivative, Tn903dIIlacZ. After screening 799 transposon insertion mutants, we isolated one defective mutant. We then constructed the gene-disrupted mutant, KL16, and studied its invasion of and intracellular growth in HeLa and A549 cells, and in A/J mice survival experiments. The structure of traC-traD operon was analyzed by RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The transposon insertion was in a gene homologous to Salmonella typhi traC, which is required for the assembly of F pilin into the mature F pilus structure and for conjugal DNA transmission. Results from RT-PCR suggested that the traC-traD region formed an operon. We found that when the traC gene was disrupted, invasion and intracellular growth of L. dumoffii Tex-KL were impaired in human epithelial cells. When mice were infected by intranasal inoculation with a traC deficient mutant, their survival significantly increased when compared to mice infected with the wild-type strain..</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our results indicated that the traC-traD operon is required for the invasion and intracellular growth abilities of L. dumoffii Tex-KL in epithelial cells.</p>

Finite element method analysis of anteflexion traction on various angles for the treatment of cervical spine / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the data of angle variation on traction based on a finite element model of complete cervical spine with straight physiological curvature, and try to give experimental reference and suggestion in treating cervical spondylosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A 43-year-old female patient with straight cervical spine was chosen and the CT scan data were collected. By using specially designed modeling system, a high quality finite element model of complete cervical spine with straight physiological curvature is generated,which included ligament and muscle according to anatomy. After the model was confirmed, traction was loaded with angle 0 degree, anterior 5 degrees, 10 degrees, 15 degrees, 20 degrees, 25 degrees, to observe the data of distance change on between adjacent intervertebral foramen, processus articularis, uncovertedral joint, intervertebral discs, and stress of anulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>When the angle was 0 degrees-15 degrees, the distance between intervertebral foramen, Luschka joint and processus articularis posterioris was enlarged, the tensile stress was adequate and compressive stress was small. It met the clinical requests.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>0 degree-15 degrees anterior position is suggested for the treatment of cervical spondylosis.</p>

Three quantitative methods to continuously monitor Legionella in spring water / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the detection effect of Legionella pollution in spring water by three methods, namely traditional plating method, fluorescent quantitation PCR method and ethidium monoazide (EMA) fluorescent quantitation PCR method.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Every month (except May), we collected 11 water samples from the 5 selected hot spring pools in one hot spring resort in Beijing in 2011. A total of 121 water samples were collected, and then were detected by the above three methods qualitatively and quantitatively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In our study, the Legionella pollution rate was separately 74.4% (90/121), 100.0% (121/121) and 100.0% (121/121) by the above three methods. The quantitative value of Legionella in the 121 water samples detected by the three methods were around 0.10-216.00 colony-forming units (CFU)/ml, 1.47-1557.75 gene units (GU)/ml and 0.20-301.69 GU/ml, respectively. The median (25th and 75th percentiles) was 75.30 (32.51-192.10) GU/ml, 36.46 (16.08-91.21) GU/ml and 5.30 (0.00-33.70) CFU/ml, respectively. The difference in the quantitative value of Legionella detected by the three methods showed statistical significance (χ(2) = 187.900, P < 0.01). The quantitative value of Legionella detected by fluorescent quantitation PCR method was the highest, followed by the value Legionella detected by EMA-fluorescent quantitation PCR method and traditional plating method.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The sensitivity of the PCR methods was higher than traditional plating method, in detecting Legionella pollution in spring water, especially the EMA- fluorescent quantitation PCR method, which was more suitable for detecting Legionella in water.</p>

Impact of probiotics on toll-like receptor 4 expression in an experimental model of ulcerative colitis / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are key components of the innate immune system which trigger antimicrobial host defense responses. This study aimed to investigate the impact of probiotics (Lactobacillus, Bifiidobacterium) on the expression of TLR4 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the colon mucosa of rat experimental ulcerative colitis model induced by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)/ethanol and immune complexes. The gross and histological changes of the colonic mucosa were observed and assessed by the means-standard deviation and independent samples t-test. The protein expression levels of TLR4 and TNF-α were detected by using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting, respectively. It was revealed that there was visible infiltration of inflammatory cells, formation of crypt abscess, and the reduction of goblet cells in the colon tissue of experimental models. As compared with the control group, the levels of TLR4 and TNF-α protein were significantly increased in the model group (P0.05), whereas significant reductions were shown in rats which were treated with probiotics for four weeks as compared with the model group (P<0.01). There was no significant difference between two probiotics-treated groups. Our results implied that probiotics were likely to play a key role in protecting ulcerative colitis by reducing the inflammatory factor TNF-α expression through inhibiting the TLR4 expression in the colon tissue of experimental models.

Impact of probiotics on toll-like receptor 4 expression in an experimental model of ulcerative colitis / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are key components of the innate immune system which trigger antimicrobial host defense responses. This study aimed to investigate the impact of probiotics (Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium) on the expression of TLR4 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the colon mucosa of rat experimental ulcerative colitis model induced by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)/ethanol and immune complexes. The gross and histological changes of the colonic mucosa were observed and assessed by the means-standard deviation and independent samples t-test. The protein expression levels of TLR4 and TNF-α were detected by using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting, respectively. It was revealed that there was visible infiltration of inflammatory cells, formation of crypt abscess, and the reduction of goblet cells in the colon tissue of experimental models. As compared with the control group, the levels of TLR4 and TNF-α protein were significantly increased in the model group (P<0.01 for both). No significant difference was found in the expression of TLR4 and TNF-α between the two-week probiotics treatment group and the model group (P>0.05), whereas significant reductions were shown in rats which were treated with probiotics for four weeks as compared with the model group (P<0.01). There was no significant difference between two probiotics-treated groups. Our results implied that probiotics were likely to play a key role in protecting ulcerative colitis by reducing the inflammatory factor TNF-α expression through inhibiting the TLR4 expression in the colon tissue of experimental models.

Sequence-based typing of 82 strains of serotype I Legionella pneumophila isolated from 9 provinces in China / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the characteristics of Sequence-based Typing (SBT) of the Serotype 1 Legionella pneumophila (Lp1) isolated from environmental water in China, and then create a preliminary database.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 82 strains of Lp1 isolated from environmental water in 9 provinces of China between 2005 and 2008 were genotyped by SBT method and Pulsed-field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) method. The results of the two different typing methods were then compared by cluster analysis, adopting BioNumerics version 5.1 software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>By SBT method, the 82 strains of Lp1 were divided into 22 ST types, of which 17 new types and one new allele was discovered. The dominant type was ST-1 type, found in 8 provinces, accounting for 46.3% (38/82). ST-1, ST-150, ST-154, ST-159, ST-160 and ST-630 types were found in more than 2 isolated-sites; while more than 2 different ST types were found in 5 isolated-sites, as site B4, B5, B6, S3 and S8. In cluster analysis, 15 ST types were grouped into three complexes (ST-1 complex, ST-154 complex and ST-149 complex); and the other 7 ST types were not assigned complex. By PFGE method, 46 banding patterns were observed. As a result of the combination of the two methods, the 82 isolates strains could be divided into 54 molecular types, which showed a reliable accordance in the cluster analysis between the two methods.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The SBT of the Lp1 in environmental water in China was unique. From the study, a preliminary SBT database was set up.</p>

Molecular typing of Legionella pneumophila isolates from China with pulsed field gel electrophoresis / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To analyze the molecular types of Legionella (L.) pneumophila strains isolated in China,and to develop the PulseNet-China Database of L.pneumophila.Methods Pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to analyze 262 L.pneumophila strains collected from 11 provinces between 2004 and 2009 in China.Different kinds of genomic DNA in different L.pneumophila strains were isolated and separated after digesting with Asc Ⅰ.BioNumerics software was used to analysis the PFGE fingerprints.Results L.pneumophila strains isolated in China were quite different regarding their PFGE patterns.There were 108 PFGE types among the 262 strains tested in this study.The similarity value of these strains was in the range of 16%-100% and the same types were discovered in different provinces and years.Conclusion L.pneumophila strains isolated in China were with high genetic variations.There might be different clones existed in China.The development of PulseNet China Database was thus of great significance in monitoring the L.pneumophila strains in the future.

Proteome analysis of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup strains C associated with outbreaks in China / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>During 2003-2005, an outbreak of meningitis due to Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C occurred in China. With the aim to find strain clues result in the final epidemics, the ancestral strain 053442, a clinical isolate, and a carrier strain 053426 with different gene type were analyzed.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical strain 053442 and carrier strain 053426 were cultured on GC agar plates under the same condition. Two-dimensional electrophoresis was performed using the pH 3-10 nonlinear IPG strips of 24 cm length, and all the protein spots were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight spectrometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>502 and 380 protein spots were identified in 053426 and 053442 respectively, relating to 266 and 202 different genes covering a wide range of cellular functions. The express volume and number of proteins involved in energy metabolism, protein synthesis and amino acid biosynthesis in 053426 were higher than in 053442. Virulence factor Opa, Opc and a series of proteins involved in pilus assembly and retraction were identified in 053442, which appear to be of primary importance in colonization and invasion of human cells. Compared to 053442, virulence protein species were less in 053426, with lower express volumes too. No Opa and Opc were detected in 053426.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The different protein expression profiles of the clinical strain 053442 and carrier strain 053426 in the present study provide some clues of the different pathogenicity of the two strains, which may account for result in the final epidemics.</p>

Establishment and application of PCR method in serotyping of Streptococcus pneumonia / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To establish a method based on PCR for serotyping of Streptococcus pneumonia isolates. PCR serotyping method was applied for investigating the serotypes of S. pneumonia strains. Methods 12 pairs of primers targeting different serotypes or S. pneumonia were designed and synthesized. After optimizing the PCR amplification reaction,sensitivity and specificity of each pair was performed. We applied the PCR methods for testing the serotypes of the isolated S. pneumonia strains. Results Each pair of primers showed satisfied PCR sensitivity and specificity. Of all 119 S. pneumonia strains tested by PCR serotyping method,113 isolates were identified (3,5,6A/B,9A/V,14,18,19A,19F,23F) with 6 isolates were unable to be serotyped. Conclusion We deveioped a simple,reliabie and economic method for S. pneumonia serotyping which could be used for testing the serotypes of S. pneumonia that had been prevailed among general population.

Molecular typing of Klebsiella pneumonia by pulse-field gel electrophoresis in combination with multilocus sequence typing / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To type Klebsiella pneumonia through methods including pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) in combination with multilocus sequence typing. Methods Four selected different Eps, referring to the Standard Operating Procedure of PulseNet China, were used. The single colony of Klebsiella pneumonia was quantified after enriched culture. Embedding organisms in agarose and genome DNA were lysed with Proteinase K and then digested by restriction endonuclease Xba Ⅰ , to produce agarose gel. Fingerprint was obtained through PFGE and bands were marked with their molecular weights and then analyzed by BioNumerics software. Using MLST to analyze the strains that were highly similar, by PFGE typing Results By comparing the four results from each Eps, fk3 (switch time from 6s to 36s,total run time is 18.5 hours) seemed to be better than the others.59 strains of Klebsiella pneumonia were divided into 47 PFGE types and 19 PFGE clusters. The highly similar strains could be typed into ST-340、ST-342、ST-343、ST-344、ST-345 by MLST. Among them, ST-342、 ST-343、 ST-344、 ST-345 types were all new MLST types that were reported in China.Conclusion Highly similar Klebsiella pneumonias typed by PFGE could also be typed by MLST.

Distribution and molecular epidemiologic characterics of insertion sequence IS1301 in Neisseria meningitidis isolated from China / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To research the distribution and molecular epidemiology of insertion sequence IS1301 in Neisseria (N.) meningitidis strains in China, so as to provide scientific and available evidence for a new method of genotyping in N.meningitidis strains with IS1301. Methods Examined the IS1301 by PCR in 219 N.meningitidis strains from 16 provinces and 3 cities during 2007 and 2008 in China, productions of amplification were sent for sequencing. The positive N.meningitidis strains were analyzed by pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and nucleic acid blotting hybridization(Southern blot) by electrophoresis. Results The positive rates with IS1301 were 15.53%, 11.11%, 20.75%, 6.17% and 28.57% for four serotypes (A, B, C, N) respectively. The sequence comparability between the amplification productions and No.Z49092.1 N.meningitidis which registered in GenBank was 94%-100%. There were two types of clusters devided by cladogram analysis. There appeared large IS1301 sequence difference between the serotype C and others. The number of IS1301 replica ranged from 6-17 per strain at least. The number of IS1301 replica changed in the same type of PFGE N.meningitidis respectively. Conclusion Typing by IS1301 combined with PFGE could comprehend the homology and genetic polymorphism of N.meningitidis epidemic strains at the molecular level.

Establishment and application of TaqMan Real-Time PCR in detection and serogrouping of Neisseria meningitidis / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To establish TaqMan Real-Time PcR method for detection and identification of Neisseria meningitidis.Methods Seven sets of primers and FAM-labeled probes targeting different genes of Neisseria meningitidis were designed and synthesized.ctrA gene was used for identification of N.meningitidis species.Six serogruops(A,B,C,X,Y,W135)of N.meningitidis were detected with following genes:sacB(A),siaD(B),siaD(C),xcbB(X),synF(Y)and synG(W135)respectively.Sensitivity and specificity of Real-Time PCR were assessed for different primers and probes.121cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)specimens from suspected N.meningitidis invasive meningitis cases were detected by latex agglutination test and Real-Time PCR assay simultaneously.Resuits 79 N.meningitidis isolates of different serogroups could be detected and identified by seven sets of primers and probes in this study.Real-Time PCR seemed more sensitive than standard PCR bv 101-103 times.The respective sensitivities for ctrA,sacB,siaD(B),siaD(C),xcbB,synF and synG were 8,8,80,8,8,80,8 genomeDNA copies in each reaction.Of the 121 CSF specimens,11 were positive for Real-Time PCR and 6 for latex agglutination test.Conclusion Real-Time PCR could rapidly detect and identify N.meningitidis of different serogroups and seemed more sensitive.It could be widely used for diagnose of invasive meningitis caused bv N.meningitidis.

Molecular typing of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C strains with pulsed field gel electrophoresis in China / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the characteristics of epidemiology and molecular typing on Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C strains associated with outbreaks of Anhui province and sporadic cases in China, using pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>212 Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C strains were isolated from invasive meningococcal cases, close contacts and healthy carriers, including 48 strains from Anhui province with 38 strains associated with serogroup C outbreaks. PFGE were performed by genomic DNA digestion with Nhe I restriction enzyme. The results of PFGE were analyzed by BioNumerics software (Version 4.0, Applied Maths BVBA, Belgium).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total number of 212 Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C isolates were typed by 43 patterns, named AH1 to AH43. In China, AH1 pattern was the major PFGE pattern with 69.3% (n = 147) of all strains, distributed in 11 provinces. Three types of PFGE patterns (AH1 to AH3) were found in 48 strains from Anhui province, in which, 93.8% (n = 45) belonged to AH1. 97.4% (n = 37) of 38 strains associated with serogroup C outbreaks in Anhui province showed AH1 pattern. A total of 53 serogroup C strains were isolated from invasive meningococcal cases with 67.9% (36/53) of AH pattern. 71.9% (87/121) of serogroup C strains isolated from contacts of invasive meningococcal cases was AH1 pattern and 63.2% (24/38) of the strains from healthy carriers showed AH1 pattern.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>By PFGE typing and analysis, AH1 pattern of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C strains was proved to be the main clone which causing the outbreaks in Anhui province and might be responsible for the sporadic serogroup C meningococcal disease epidemics else where in the country.</p>

Construction of fast propagation system of Houttuynia cordata new line / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To construct the fast propagation system of Houttuynia cordata Thunb. new line by selecting the proper type and concentration of plant growth regulators and proper explants.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The different explants of Houttuynia cordata new line were cultured on MS media with different concentration of different plant grow regulators.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Stem node over-ground and shoot tip were optimum explants for fast propagation. The stem which node grew on MS medium with KT at 0.5 mg x L(-1) could induce more leaves and grow higher. The shoot tip cultured on MS medium with 1.0 mg x L(-1) 6-BA could induce better callus. Adventitious shoots were better achieved from over-ground nodal explants cultured on MS medium supplemented with 6-BA at 1.0 mg x L(-1) and NAA at 0.2 mg x L(-1), or 6-BA at 0.5 mg x L(-1) and NAA at 0.2 mg x L(-1). MS medium with IAA at 0.2 mg x L(-1) was the best one on inducing roots.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The propagat coefficient can be highly improved by inducing adventitious shoots through stem node over-ground, and thus plentiful seeds for production can be provided.</p>