红豆杉愈伤组织中紫杉烷类成分sinenxan A的微生物转化研究

目的研究紫杉烷类化合物sinenxan A的微生物转化情况。方法分别利用两株真菌（刺囊毛霉AS 3.345 0、刺孢小克银汉霉AS 3.340 0）和一株细菌（普通变形菌AS 1.120 8）对sinenxan A进行生物转化。结果得到3个转化产物，分别为10-去乙酰-sinenxan A1, 6α-羟基-10-去乙酰sinenxan A2, 9α-羟基-10-去乙酰sinenxan A3。结论Sinenxan A易被微生物转化，10位乙酰基化学性质比较活泼。     

肝硬化患者变形杆菌感染与血氨浓度的关系

目的　探讨变形杆菌感染对肝硬化患者血氨的影响。方法　对 16 0例肝硬化患者用细菌培养和快速尿素酶试验检测变形杆菌 ,15例变形杆菌阳性和 14 5例变形杆菌阴性者检测它们的血氨浓度。结果　变形杆菌阳性组血氨浓度明显高于变形杆菌阴性组 (P<0 .0 5 ) ;而不同肝功能分级之间差异无统计学意义 (P>0 .0 5 ) ;变形杆菌阳性治疗组 ,变形杆菌根治前后血氨浓度明显下降 (P>0 .0 1)。结论　变形杆菌感染是肝硬化患者高氨血症发生的影响因素之一。     

Antibacterial and antipeptide antibodies in Japanese and Finnish patients with rheumatoid arthritis

It has been suggested that Proteus infection may be involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Bacterial and peptide immune responses in patients with RA and other control subjects were investigated in two geographically different populations. Serum samples from Finnish patients with early (n=72) and advanced (n=27) RA and 30 Finnish healthy controls, as well as from Japanese RA patients from two different locations: Tokyo (n=30) and Otsu (n=30), 18 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 23 Japanese healthy controls were all screened for the total, and class-specific (IgG, IgA and IgM) antibodies against Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli and Serratia marcescens by indirect immunofluorescence assay. These samples were also tested for the determination of levels of isotypic antibodies against the shared epitope involving 16-mer synthetic peptides containing the EQRRAA or ESSRAL sequences and compared to scrambled control peptide by using an enzyme-labeled immunosorbent assay method. Significantly elevated levels of IgG and IgM antibodies to P. mirabilis and antibodies against both EQRRAA and ESSRAL peptides were detected in sera of Finnish patients with early and advanced RA, and in Japanese patients from Otsu or Tokyo compared to their corresponding control groups. In contrast, no difference either in the total or in any of the isotypic antibodies were observed between these groups when serum samples were screened against each of E. coli and S. marcescens or against the control peptide. Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between the antibody levels against Proteus bacteria only and both EQRRAA and ESRRAL peptides. Our findings support the possibility for specific involvement of P. mirabilis in the etiopathogenesis of RA even in early cases.Abbreviations ELISA Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay - IIF Immunofluorescence - RA Rheumatoid arthritis - SLE Systemic lupus erythematosus     

The effect of urease inhibitors on the encrustation of urethral catheters

Encrustation and blockage of indwelling urethral catheters is primarily brought about by infection of the urinary tract by Proteus mirabilis or other urease-producing species. The bacteria colonise the catheter forming a biofilm community within a polysaccharide matrix. The activity of the urease drives up the urinary pH and causes the crystallisation of calcium and magnesium phosphates in the biofilm. We have used a simple physical model of the catheterised bladder to investigate the ability of urease inhibitors to control encrustation. It was observed that acetohydroxamic acid (1.0 mg/ml) and fluorofamide (1.0 μg/ml) restricted the increase in pH of P. mirabilis-infected urine from 9.1 to 7.6. Significant reductions in the deposition of calcium and magnesium salts were also recorded on the silicone catheters. Electron microscopy confirmed that encrustation and occlusion of the catheter lumen was minimal in the presence of the urease inhibitors. The data from this in vitro study suggests that urease inhibitors, particularly fluorofamide, could have clinical applications in the prevention of catheter encrustation and blockage. Received: 22 September 1997 / Accepted: 2 January 1998     

The agglutination of Proteus vulgaris by cystic fibrosis serum: a re-examination

The agglutination of the bacterium Proteus vulgaris by serum from cystic fibrosis patients and obligate heterozygotes was shown to be insufficiently specific or reproducible to be of diagnostic value by itself. Approximately 20% of healthy controls gave a substantial agglutination reaction, whereas the carrier frequency for cystic fibrosis is around 5%. The agglutination did not predominantly involve the bacterial flagella, but appeared to depend on components of the cell surface. The main serum proteins that bind to P. vulgaris cells were shown to be albumin, immunoglobulin G, and complement component C3. In addition, an unidentified protein(s) of low molecular weight was found to bind to the cells. However, no systematic differences were found in the proteins that bind to P. vulgaris cells between cystic fibrosis and normal sera.     

A clinical assessment of the performance of a sensor to detect crystalline biofilm formation on indwelling bladder catheters

OBJECTIVES: To test the ability of a sensor developed to signal infection by the organisms that generate the crystalline biofilms that encrust catheters, to give an early warning that encrustation was occurring on patients' catheters, as the care of many patients undergoing long-term bladder catheterization is complicated by the encrustation and blockage of their catheters. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty patients were followed prospectively for the lifetime of one of their catheters. Sensors based on cellulose acetate/bromothymol blue were placed in the urine-collection bags, which were changed as usual at weekly intervals. The bacteriology was assessed and pH determined weekly on urine samples. Photographic records were made of the sensors twice weekly. On removal, each catheter was examined for encrustation and blockage. RESULTS: Proteus mirabilis was not isolated from five patients and in these cases the sensor colour remained golden-yellow to brown. The catheters drained for the scheduled period and showed no signs of encrustation. By contrast, the sensors turned dark blue/black in the urine of all 15 patients infected with P. mirabilis. All these patients' catheters were encrusted and in 12 the catheters blocked. The mean interval between the sensor signalling and the catheter blocking was 12 days. CONCLUSION: The cellulose acetate/bromothymol blue sensors placed in the urine collection bags are capable of signalling infection by P. mirabilis. They also signal the early stages of catheter encrustation and allow catheter replacement in ample time to avoid the clinical crises and emergency referrals caused by catheter blockage.     

Prospective study of individuals with long-term urinary catheters colonized with Proteus species

OBJECTIVES: To characterize the variability in the times catheters take to block with encrustation in patients who have Proteus in their urinary flora, and to identify factors responsible for modulating the rate of catheter encrustation and blockage. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty patients were followed prospectively for > or = 12 weeks, with a bacteriological analysis on weekly urine samples. The pH of the voided urine samples and the pH at which crystals formed in them (the nucleation pH) were determined. Catheters were collected and examined for bacterial biofilm and crystal deposition. RESULTS: The time that catheters took to block was 2-98 days. The mean pH of the urine voided by patients designated as slow encrusters (6.9) was not significantly different (P = 0.237) from that of rapid encrusters (7.2). However, patients whose catheters took longer to block had a significantly higher mean nucleation pH (8.1 vs 7.3, P = 0.002) and significantly higher mean safety margin between their nucleation pH and voided pH (1.17 pH units vs 0.13, P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: The variation in the rate of catheter encrustation between individuals infected with Proteus is a function of the difference between the voided pH and the nucleation pH of their urine. The value of nucleation pH of an individual's urine varies widely, suggesting it should be possible to devise strategies to increase this value and thus reduce the rate of encrustation in those with urinary tract colonization by urease-positive bacteria.     

Vaccines for Proteus mirabilis in urinary tract infection

Proteus mirabilis is a documented cause of urinary tract infection (UTI) in the complicated urinary tract. Urease-mediated urea hydrolysis is responsible for both virulence of the organism and the ability to cause urolithiasis. A urease-negative mutant of P. mirabilis is unable to initiate stone formation and colonizes the kidney at a significantly lower rate. The considerable pathology caused by P. mirabilis warrants the development of a vaccine. We have initiated the advancement of vaccine studies and have determined that the MR/P fimbria, a surface adhesin of P. mirabilis, is a promising vaccine candidate. Successful vaccination would be expected both to prevent colonization by P. mirabilis and urolithiasis.     

奇异变形杆菌、洛菲氏不动杆菌16s rRNA 3'-23s rRNA 5'间序列的克隆及测序

目的：对奇异变形杆菌、洛菲氏不动杆菌16s rRNA3’～23s rRNA 5’间序列（16S～23S rRNA intergenic spacer region，ISR）进行克隆测序，为分子探针技术鉴定两菌奠定基础。方法：针对临床常见致病菌16s rRNA3’～23s rRNA5’间序列两端的16S及23SrRNA保守序列设计PCR扩增的通用引物，对两菌进行扩增，利用PMD-18 T Vector质粒对两菌的PCR产物进行T载体克隆构建，测序后申报Genbank。结果：两菌的通用引物扩增产物构建的T载体克隆，测序结果经Blast分析，确定为两菌的ISR序列，申报Genbank获得接收。结论：成功的对奇异变形杆菌、洛菲氏不动杆菌ISR序列进行了克隆测序，该序列可以用于两种菌的通用引物PCR扩增技术鉴定。     

Bone malformations in Proteus syndrome: an analysis of bone structural changes and their evolution during growth

The radiographic follow-up of a patient with Proteus syndrome is presented. Review of radiographs obtained at 3 years 10 months, 10 years, and 17 years 8 months indicated that the rate of growth in length of the oversized tubular bones of the hands was similar to that of the normal bones of the same hand. This observation supports the view that the primary lesion occurs in the early embryonic period, when the limb bud mesenchyme cells condense and cartilage differentiates producing oversized cartilage anlages, rather than being a defect of bone cell-mediated apposition and modelling processes of bone. Additional radiographs of the pelvis and spine were obtained at age 4 years 10 months and head CT at 8 years 10 months. This pathogenetic mechanism fits well with the hypothesis of somatic mosaicism, which is at present the most credible explanation for the aetiology of Proteus syndrome. Other skeletal malformations recognized as typical of the syndrome can be interpreted as secondary adaptations to the altered mechanical conditions induced by overgrowth of bones.