Selection of Streptococcus pneumoniae Mutants Having Reduced Susceptibility to Moxifloxacin and Levofloxacin

With Streptococcus pneumoniae, moxifloxacin was 4- and 10-fold more effective than levofloxacin at restricting selection of resistant mutants and at killing resistant mutants, respectively. The selection frequency for first-step topoisomerase mutants was 1,000 times lower for moxifloxacin than for levofloxacin; this difference was lost when second-step mutants were selected.     

Pharmacological action of Adenophora polysaccharides

Adenophora polysaccharides (AP), is an active principle extracted from the root of Adenophorae Potaninii Korsh originated in Gansu Province and isolated with boiling water(1). AP is isolated and purified from the crude drug by DEAE-cellulose and Sephadex G-200 column, with a white powder and mean molecular weight of 8.3 × 104 , and [α]D20of AP is 68(1). AP is only composed of glucose judging from the analysis of it with patina chromatography (PC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) methods.The methylation analysis showed that AP is composed of (1→6) linked glucose residues. The measure of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMR) 1H NMR and 14C NMR techniques further proved that AP is α(l→6) linked by Dglucose. The structure of AP is as follows: -[→6]α-D-Glu(1-)n→ (2).     

Validation of the Taiwan Birth Registry using obstetric records.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Birth certificates are a major source of population-based data often used in maternal and child health research, but their value depends upon the level of accuracy of the data. The purpose of this study was to assess the validity of the birth registry data in Taiwan. METHODS: Obstetric records of a total of 2779 infants born at a municipal hospital in Taipei between 1995 and 1997 were abstracted and linked to the Taiwan Birth Registry (TBR). Concordance was presented by agreement percentages for various birth characteristics including gender, birth order, birth weight, and gestational age. Concordance was further assessed using Cohen's k and sensitivity/specificity for both birth weight and gestational age, with both variables categorized according to their customary definitions. RESULTS: Missing data for specific items in the TBR ranged from 0% (gender) to 1.6% (birth order). The birth registry accurately reported all 4 selected items, with the highest and lowest concordance percentage noted for gender (99.0%) and gestational age (88.3%), respectively. The level of agreement indicated by the Cohen's k statistic ranged from 0.92 to 0.96 for birth weight and gestational age when both variables were treated as categorical variables. CONCLUSIONS: The TBR showed a low rate of missing information and high levels of validity for the elements frequently used in maternal and child health research in Taiwan.     

Combined application of three evoked potentials to improve the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis

INTRODUCTION Multiple sclerosis is a kind of demyelinating disease of central ner- vous system, the application of evoked potentials in multiple sclerosis has been confirmed by many scholars, the most frequently investigat- ed in previous studies are audi…     

Correction of keratoconus with rigid gas-permeable contact lenses

This study analyzed the feasibility of fitting keratoconus-affected corneas with nonkeratoconus rigid gas-permeable (RGP) contact lenses. We retrospectively studied patients with a diagnosis of keratoconus in the past 10 years who were fitted successfully with nonkeratoconus RGP lenses by the same physician. Results confirmed nonkeratoconus RGP lenses as the first-line correction tool. Additionally, we found a simple equation to speed the choice of the base curves of the lenses. The authors have stated that they do not have a significant financial interest or other relationship with any product manufacturer or provider of services discussed in this article.     

大豆蛋白影响肾损害模型钙摄入和钙排出的实验研究

[目的]研究大豆蛋白对肾损害大鼠钙平衡的影响。[方法]选择3月龄断乳雄性SD大鼠40只．按体质量从小到大排序，采用完全随机化原则分为4组。每组10只。标准饲料对照组：喂食含有14％酪蛋白饲料；大豆蛋白饲料组：喂食含有14％大豆分离蛋白饲料；混合饲料1组：喂食含有7％酪蛋白加7％大豆分离蛋白饲料；混合饲料2组：喂食含有7％酪蛋白加14％大豆分离蛋白饲料。实验期用腺嘌呤灌胃共21d，建立肾损害大鼠模型，各组大鼠喂养相应饲料6周，测饲料消耗量、24h尿蛋白、尿钙、钙表观吸收率、储留钙量。[结果]4组实验大鼠饲料摄入量1d～30d无统计学差异，大豆蛋白饲料组和混合饲料1组实验结束时与另外两组相比，尿钙排泄量低，钙表观吸收率和储留钙量高，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。[结论]蛋白质含量水平在14％条件下，含大豆蛋白的两种饲料对肾损害大鼠钙吸收、钙排泄的影响无统计学差异，有利于促进钙吸收，减少钙排泄。     

Genome-wide scan identified QTLs underlying femoral neck cross-sectional geometry that are novel studied risk factors of osteoporosis.

A genome-wide screen was conducted using a large white sample to identify QTLs for FNCS geometry. We found significant linkage of FNCS parameters to 20q12 and Xq25, plus significant epistatic interactions and sex-specific QTLs influencing FNCS geometry variation. INTRODUCTION: Bone geometry, a highly heritable trait, is a critical component of bone strength that significantly determines osteoporotic fracture risk. Specifically, femoral neck cross-sectional (FNCS) geometry is significantly associated with hip fracture risk as well as genetic factors. However, genetic research in this respect is still in its infancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To identify the underlying genomic regions influencing FNCS variables, we performed a remarkably large-scale whole genome linkage scan involving 3998 individuals from 434 pedigrees for four FNCS geometry parameters, namely buckling ratio (BR), cross-sectional area (CSA), cortical thickness (CT), and section modulus (Z). The major statistical approach adopted is the variance component method implemented in SOLAR. RESULTS: Significant linkage evidence (threshold LOD = 3.72 after correction for tests of multiple phenotypes) was found in the regions of 20q12 and Xq25 for CT (LOD = 4.28 and 3.90, respectively). We also identified eight suggestive linkage signals (threshold LOD = 2.31 after correction for multiple tests) for the respective geometry traits. The above findings were supported by principal component linkage analysis. Of them, 20q12 was of particular interest because it was linked to multiple FNCS geometry traits and significantly interacted with five other genomic loci to influence CSA variation. The effects of 20q12 on FNCS geometry were present in both male and female subgroups. Subgroup analysis also revealed the presence of sex-specific quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for FNCS traits in the regions such as 2p14, 3q26, 7q21 and 15q21. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings laid a foundation for further replication and fine-mapping studies as well as for positional and functional candidate gene studies, aiming at eventually finding the causal genetic variants and hidden mechanisms concerning FNCS geometry variation and the associated hip fractures.     

Opioid peptides and receptors in joint tissues: study in the rat.

Using immunohistochemical and biochemical techniques, the occurrence of endogenous opioid peptides and their receptors in normal rat bone and joint tissues was investigated. Opioid receptors were detected, quantified, and characterized in homogenates from capsule/synovium and periosteum using radioligand binding assays. Receptor binding of the nonselective opioid [3H]naloxone to tissue homogenates was stereospecific and saturable, showing similar characteristics to that of brain tissue, although with lower binding capacities. By immunohistochemistry, the neuronal occurrence of four different enkephalins was demonstrated in synovium, bone marrow, periosteum, and juxta-articular bone, whereas no neuronal dynorphin immunoreactivity was detected. Double-staining studies disclosed that enkephalins coexisted with substance P in primary afferent fibers. The applied techniques can be used to assess changes in the distribution of endogenous opioids and their receptors in joint tissues in conditions associated with pain and inflammation. The endogenous opioid system now demonstrated might be targeted and exploited therapeutically to obtain peripheral control of symptoms in joint disorders.     

益气活血汤对老年肺心病心衰患者血液流变学的影响

目的探讨益气活血汤对老年肺心病心衰患者血液流变性的影响。方法将48例肺心病心衰患者随机分为两组,均采用常规西医治疗,治疗组加用益气活血汤;观察两组治疗前后血液流变学指标变化情况。结果治疗组治疗前后比较,各项血液流变学指标改变差异有显著性,对照组治疗前后比较无统计学意义;治疗组各项指标与对照组比较差异有显著性。结论益气活血汤对肺心病心衰有改善血液流变性的作用。