Outbreak of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa producing VIM-8, a novel metallo-beta-lactamase, in a tertiary care center in Cali, Colombia

The prevalence of imipenem resistance among Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates at a 195-bed tertiary care medical center in Cali, Colombia, rose from 2% in 1996 to 28% in 1997 and to over 40% in 2003. Many isolates showed high-level multiresistance, and phenotypic characterization suggested the spread of a predominant strain with minor variants. Sixty-six resistant isolates collected between February 1999 and July 2003 from hospitalized patients (n = 54) and environmental samples (n = 12) were subjected to a fuller analysis. Genetic fingerprints were compared by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of SpeI-digested genomic DNA, and bla(IMP) and bla(VIM) genes were sought by PCR. PFGE and serotyping indicated that 52 of the 66 isolates belonged to a single strain, with 82% similarity; the PFGE pattern for this organism was designated pattern A. Two further pairs of isolates represented single strains; the remaining nine isolates were unique, and in the case of one isolate, no satisfactory PFGE profile could be obtained. The pattern A isolates were mostly of serotype O12 and were highly resistant to imipenem (MICs, 32 to >256 microg/ml), with this resistance decreased eightfold or more in the presence of EDTA. They yielded amplicons with bla(VIM)-specific primers, and sequencing of DNA from a representative isolate revealed bla(VIM-8), a novel allele with three polymorphisms compared with the sequence of bla(VIM-2). Two of these nucleotide changes were silent, but the third determined a Thr139Ala substitution. Only 4 of 13 resistant isolates (2 clinical isolates and 2 environmental isolates) assigned to other PFGE types carried bla(VIM) alleles, whereas the others were less multiresistant and mostly had lower levels of imipenem resistance (MICs, < or =32 microg/ml) which was not significantly reduced by EDTA. No bla(IMP) alleles were detected. During 2003, when the environmental study was undertaken, serotype O12 isolates with bla(VIM) were recovered from sinks and stethoscopes in the most-affected units, although not from the hands of staff; the problem declined once these reservoirs were disinfected and hygienic precautions were reinforced.     

体外分化胚胎干细胞为造血干细胞重建造血功能的研究

目的：探讨体外定向分化胚胎干细胞（ESCs）为造血干细胞（HSCs）对体内造血功能的重建作用。方法：将小鼠E14.1胚胎干细胞采用“三步诱导法”在体外分化发育为HSCs，造血克隆形成(CFU)实验观察其体外造血集落形成情况，免疫磁珠分选纯化HSCs移植给经亚致死剂量γ射线照射的雌性SCID小鼠，观察其植入及小鼠造血功能恢复情况。结果: 经过分阶段诱导，多种造血刺激因子联合应用能有效促进ESCs定向分化发育为HSCs,流式细胞仪检测HSCs特异性表面标志物CD34+/Sca-1+表达最高为（58.64±4.20）%，CFU培养能形成较多的红系、粒系/巨噬细胞系及混合细胞集落, Wright-Giemsa 染色显示为原始的造血细胞。此阶段的HSCs经分选纯化后移植给经γ射线照射后的小鼠，移植组小鼠+10 d造血功能开始恢复，观察40 d后除血小板恢复较慢外，白细胞、红细胞、血红蛋白等指标已接近正常，植入率为71.4%，存活率为43.0%，染色体检测证实已由受体鼠的XX转为供体鼠的XY。结论: 采用分阶段诱导的方法，可在体外定向诱导小鼠ESCs分化发育为HSCs，此来源的HSCs可以有效重建体内造血功能。     

自然流产模型小鼠蜕膜细胞凋亡及Bcl-2、Bax表达的研究

目的：通过比较正常妊娠模型小鼠及自然流产模型小鼠蜕膜细胞凋亡及Bcl-2、Bax蛋白的表达，从细胞及分子水平探讨自然流产的发病机制。方法：建立正常妊娠模型CBAXBALB／c和自然流产模型CBAXDBA／2。用免疫组化SABC法测定两组模型孕13天蜕膜细胞Bcl-2和Bax蛋白的表达，并通过MIAS-2000医用彩色病理图像免疫组化测量系统对其表达进行半定量分析，其结果用平均灰度值表示；同时应用DNA缺口原位末端标记技术（TUNEL）测定两组模型孕13天蜕膜细胞凋亡情况。结果：与正常妊娠模型相比，自然流产模型蜕膜细胞Bcl-2蛋白的表达降低（P〈0．01）；Bax蛋白的表达明显升高（P〈0．01）。蜕膜细胞凋亡指数，自然流产模型明显高于正常妊娠模型（P〈0．01）。结论：早孕期蜕膜组织细胞凋亡异常是自然流产的机制之一，Bcl-2／Bax途径可能是诱导早孕期蜕膜细胞凋亡的重要因素。     

Detection of N-myc gene amplification by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Diagnostic utility for neuroblastoma.

We assessed fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) as an alternative to Southern blot analysis for determination of N-myc gene amplification in neuroblastoma. In the 44 pediatric solid tumor cell lines examined (20 neuroblastomas), the mean number of N-myc copies determined by FISH correlated closely with Southern blot results. There was wide intercellular variability in gene copy number in tumors that had evidence of amplification; however, tumors judged to be non-amplified completely lacked any cells with high N-myc copy number. FISH provided reliable estimates of N-myc amplification in 12 clinical samples even when the percentage of tumor was low. The other advantages of FISH over Southern blot analysis were speed and technical simplicity, ability to discern heterogeneous gene amplification among tumor cells in the same specimen, and capacity to determine the source of the amplified N-myc signal, whether extrachromosomal double-minute chromosomes, expanded intrachromosomal regions, or chromosome 2 aneuploidy. We conclude that FISH would refine the analysis of N-myc amplification in neuroblastoma and thus improve the assignment of patients to prognostic groups based on this unfavorable risk factor.     

Flt-4在不同级别脑星形细胞瘤中的表达意义

目的：探讨不同组织病理分级的脑星形细胞瘤中血管内皮生长因子受体3（Flt-4又称VEGFR-3）的表达意义。 方法： 采用免疫组织化学方法，检测50例不同级别脑星形细胞瘤患者手术切除标本中Flt-4、血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）的表达，并用抗FⅧ因子抗体标记瘤组织血管内皮细胞，计算肿瘤内微血管密度（IMVD）。 结果： Flt-4、VEGF总阳性表达率分别为52%（26/50）、60%（30/50）。Flt-4、VEGF均与脑星形细胞瘤病理分级呈显著正相关（等级相关系数分别为0.359、0.360,P＜0.05）。 结论： 脑星形细胞瘤中有Flt-4表达，主要表达于血管内皮细胞和部分肿瘤细胞，Flt-4既可是内皮细胞自分泌产生，部分还可来自瘤细胞的旁分泌；脑星形细胞瘤中Flt-4阳性表达的脉管是血管；Flt-4的表达与星形细胞瘤的病理分级相关     

Effects of omalizumab, a humanized monoclonal anti-IgE antibody, on nasal reactivity to allergen and local IgE synthesis.

BACKGROUND: Treatment with omalizumab has been shown to reduce serum free IgE concentrations and to have beneficial effects on allergic airway disease. However, its effect on IgE synthesis is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether omalizumab therapy affects nasal reactivity to allergen and local IgE production. METHODS: Nineteen patients with perennial allergic rhinitis were treated with intravenous omalizumab every 2 weeks for 26 weeks in an open-label study. Serum free and total IgE concentrations were measured at baseline and every 2 weeks throughout the study. Nasal challenge to dust mite allergen was performed at baseline and after 12 and 24 weeks of treatment. Nasal lavage fluid obtained before and after each nasal challenge was evaluated for mite-specific antibodies, plaque-forming cells, and productive epsilon messenger RNA (mRNA). RESULTS: During treatment, serum free IgE concentrations were decreased by 97% to 99%, and the nasal response to allergen challenge was significantly reduced on days 80 and 164. The postchallenge increase in nasal lavage mite specific IgE was significantly reduced by treatment with omalizumab on day 168. IgE plaque-forming cells and productive epsilon mRNA were not significantly affected by omalizumab treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Omalizumab treatment markedly reduced serum free IgE and the clinical response to nasal allergen challenge. However, the absence of an effect on IgE-secreting B cells and epsilon mRNA in nasal lavage fluid suggests that omalizumab treatment for 6 months does not significantly modulate synthesis of nasal IgE.     

20株阴沟肠杆菌耐药性及氨基糖苷类修饰酶基因分析

目的明确临床分离的20株阴沟肠杆菌耐药性及氨基糖苷类修饰酶基因存在状况。方法采用ATB药敏试验板微量肉汤法测定临床分离的20株阴沟肠杆菌对20种抗菌药物的敏感性，采用聚合酶链反应及序列分析的方法分析氨基糖苷类修饰酶基因型。结果该20株菌呈现多重耐药，对亚胺培南和美罗培南均敏感，对阿莫西林、阿莫西林／克拉维酸、头孢噻吩和头孢西丁完全耐药，对头孢吡肟及4种氨基糖苷类抗生素阿米卡星、庆大霉素、妥布霉素和奈替米星的耐药率分别为25．0％、60．0％、85．0％、90．0％和90．0％，其余9种的耐药率在80．0％～95．0％之间。19株(95．0％)检出氨基糖苷类修饰酶基因；aac(6′)-Ⅰ、aac(3)-Ⅱ、ant(3″)-Ⅰ、ant(2″)-Ⅰ和aph(3′)-Ⅵ基因的阳性率分别为80．0％、50．0％、40．0％、5．0％和5．0％；而aog2(3)-Ⅰ、aac(3)-Ⅲ、aac(3)-Ⅳ和aac(6′)-Ⅱ基因均阴性。结论临床分离的阴沟肠杆菌多重耐药严重，氨基糖苷类修饰酶基因携带率很高。     

CD3+木瓜提取物对ApoE基因缺陷小鼠血脂及炎性相关因素的影响

目的观察木瓜提取物对ApoE基因缺陷小鼠血脂水平、主动脉窦斑块中巨噬细胞活化及肿瘤坏死因子(TNF-α)水平的影响。方法30只雄性ApoE基因缺陷小鼠随机分为3组:对照组、低剂量组和高剂量组,低剂量组和高剂量组分别在基础饲料上添加5%和10%的木瓜提取物喷雾干燥颗粒,饲养16周后经小鼠眼眶静脉取血后处死动物,酶法测定血脂水平、采用免疫组化分析主动脉窦斑块中TNF-α的表达水平和采用免疫荧光反映斑块CD68阳性表达水平与巨噬细胞阳性表达率。结果低剂量组和高剂量组的血清TC和LDL-C显著低于对照组(P<0.05),木瓜提取物能显著下调斑块中TNF-α的表达水平以及减少巨噬细胞的阳性率。结论木瓜提取物降低了血清脂蛋白胆固醇水平(TC和LDL-C),减少了炎性因子TNF-α表达以及减弱巨噬细胞参与程度,预示其可能具有减缓动脉斑块发生发展的抗动脉粥样硬化作用。     

含氮二膦酸盐/IL-2诱导肿瘤患者外周血γδT细胞增殖的作用

目的探讨药物（含氮二膦酸盐联合IL-2，N-BP／IL-2）诱导实体肿瘤患者外周血γδT细胞增殖作用。方法采用流式细胞仪测定103例肿瘤患者和43例健康人外周血总T细胞绝对值、御细胞绝对值和相对值，测定患者外周血经药物体外刺激后御细胞增殖指数和用药前后患者外周血总T细胞、γδT细胞绝对值和相对值。结果肿瘤患者和健康人外周血总T细胞绝对值、御细胞绝对值和御细胞相对值的中位数，分别为1306细胞/μl和1522细胞/μlP=0．003），64细胞/μl和162细胞/μl（P〈0．001），5％和11％（P〈0．001）。24例经药物体外扩增试验阳性的肿瘤患者治疗前后体内外周血总T细胞绝对值、γδT细胞绝对值和御细胞相对值的中位数，分别为1283细胞/μl和1552细胞/μl（P=0．001），54细胞/μl和107细胞/μl（P〈0．001），6％和8％（P=0．008）。全部肿瘤患者中外周血γδT细胞对药物体外诱导增殖反应阳性患者的百分率为68．9％。结论肿瘤患者外周血γδT细胞计数显著低于健康人。不同肿瘤患者外周血γδT细胞对药物刺激增殖的反应性不同。N-PB／IL-2在体内有显著增加御细胞数量的药理作用。体外增殖试验可作为N-PB／IL-2治疗患者的参考。