Respiration of Escherichia coli in the mouse intestine

Mammals are aerobes that harbor an intestinal ecosystem dominated by large numbers of anaerobic microorganisms. However, the role of oxygen in the intestinal ecosystem is largely unexplored. We used systematic mutational analysis to determine the role of respiratory metabolism in the streptomycin-treated mouse model of intestinal colonization. Here we provide evidence that aerobic respiration is required for commensal and pathogenic Escherichia coli to colonize mice. Our results showed that mutants lacking ATP synthase, which is required for all respiratory energy-conserving metabolism, were eliminated by competition with respiratory-competent wild-type strains. Mutants lacking the high-affinity cytochrome bd oxidase, which is used when oxygen tensions are low, also failed to colonize. However, the low-affinity cytochrome bo(3) oxidase, which is used when oxygen tension is high, was found not to be necessary for colonization. Mutants lacking either nitrate reductase or fumarate reductase also had major colonization defects. The results showed that the entire E. coli population was dependent on both microaerobic and anaerobic respiration, consistent with the hypothesis that the E. coli niche is alternately microaerobic and anaerobic, rather than static. The results indicate that success of the facultative anaerobes in the intestine depends on their respiratory flexibility. Despite competition for relatively scarce carbon sources, the energy efficiency provided by respiration may contribute to the widespread distribution (i.e., success) of E. coli strains as commensal inhabitants of the mammalian intestine.     

骨形态发生蛋白和血管内皮生长因子在骨组织工程中的协同作用

目的:总结近年来国内外关于骨形态发生蛋白和血管内皮细胞生长因子在骨组织工程中的协同作用研究进展,为研究骨缺损的联合基因治疗提供启示。资料来源:应用计算机检索PubMed数据库1995-01/2006-12关于骨形态发生蛋白和血管内皮细胞生长因子在骨组织工程中协同作用的文章,检索词为"Bone Morphogenetic Protein,Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor",限定文章语言种类为"English"。同时检索中国期刊全文数据库、万方数据库1998-01/2006-12相关文章,检索词为"骨形态发生蛋白,血管内皮生长因子",并限定文章语言种类为中文。资料选择:对资料进行初审,并查看每篇文献后的引文。纳入标准:文章所述内容应与骨形态发生蛋白和血管内皮细胞生长因子在骨组织工程中协同作用的研究相关,选取近年发表的针对性强的文献,同一领域的文献则选择近期发表或权威杂志的文章。排除标准:重复研究的、较陈旧的或非骨组织工程的研究文章。资料提炼:共收集到163篇相关文献,排除125篇内容较陈旧、重复研究的或非骨组织工程的研究文献,对符合纳入标准的38篇文献进行分类整理用于综述。资料综合:①骨形态发生蛋白和血管内皮细胞生长因子在骨组织工程中都有着重要作用。②两者在骨组织工程中的联合应用优势明显,骨形态发生蛋白促进了血管内皮细胞生长因子的表达,血管内皮细胞生长因子有助于骨形态发生蛋白作用的发挥。③关于两者在骨组织工程中协同作用的研究国内外学者已取得了令人鼓舞的成就,构建一种新型的共表达载体是许多研究者热衷的方向。结论:在骨组织工程中,骨形态发生蛋白和血管内皮细胞生长因子联合治疗骨缺损具有广阔前景,但仍有很多方面尚待深入研究。     

Complex endovascular repair of postdissection arch and thoracoabdominal aneurysms

Objective

We report our experience of the treatment of postdissection arch aneurysms and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs) by endovascular repair using fenestrated and branched endografts.

转化生长因子β1受体在肌腱愈合过程中的表达变化

目的:了解兔屈趾肌腱Ⅱ区伤口愈合过程中转化生长因子β1受体在不同时间和部位的表达情况。方法:实验于2004-09/2005-07在青岛大学医学院附属医院动物实验中心完成。①实验材料:清洁级成年新西兰大白兔42只,体质量4.0～4.5kg,雌雄不拘。②实验干预及分组:36只成年新西兰大白兔左前中趾Ⅱ区屈趾深肌腱被完全切断并修复为实验组,分别于1,7,14,21,28,56d获取肌腱,每个时间点6只;另取6只兔,不损伤和修复屈趾肌腱做对照组。③实验评估:用Western blot和免疫组织化学技术分析两组转化生长因子β1受体的表达差异。结果:①Western blot发现实验组切断修复后的肌腱转化生长因子β1受体蛋白的上调,主要集中在腱鞘、腱外膜和沿肌腱切口处,在14d达到高峰至56d才明显降低;对照组只见极少的受体表达。②免疫组织化学染色结果与Western blot是一致的。结论:肌腱损伤修复后,肌腱和腱鞘转化生长因子β1受体的表达明显增加,在术后14d达到高峰,56d开始降低,这种受体上调可能为屈指肌腱术后瘢痕形成的生物学调节提供新的途径。     

Models of family-centered care in one acute care institution

Focus on the emotional responses and needs of critically ill patients has grown to encompass a focus on their families as well. Moos notes that the family as well as the patient faces a number of adaptive tasks in the crisis of serious illness. These include managing the hospital environment, keeping reasonable emotional balance, negotiating relationships with the treatment staff, preserving self-image, preserving a relationship with the patient, and preparing for an uncertain future. The complexity of these tasks and the coping skills needed to master them speaks to the role of the psychiatric clinical nurse specialist in the acute care setting. This article has highlighted some activities of psychiatric clinical nurse specialists working with families in the acute care setting. Included have been support groups, indirect models, contracting, professional families, VIP/VRP families, families in the intensive care setting, and families in transition from intensive care to floor care. All emphasize the importance and needs of the family as well as the patient during hospitalization in an acute care setting.     

Post stroke shoulder pain: more common than previously realized.

Stroke is a common disease often requiring rehabilitation, which may be prolonged by shoulder pain. The true incidence of post stroke shoulder pain has not been fully evaluated. In order to establish this, we undertook a prospective study of 123 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of acute stroke during a 6-month period. Patients were assessed by interview, full rheumatological and neurological examination, 14 days post stroke, for a history of shoulder pain according to predetermined criteria. In addition, Barthel Index, HAD score and pain scores were also recorded. Twenty-five percent of patients developed shoulder pain within 2 weeks of their stroke. There was a statistically significant association with ipsilateral sensory impairment (p < 0.005), abnormal rheumatological examination (p < 0.001) and depression score (p < 0.005).We conclude that post stroke shoulder pain is more common than previously realized and in addition to abnormal shoulder joint examination may also be associated with upper limb sensory impairment. Thorough neurological examination is required to detect sensory loss and hence establish patients at risk. This is probably best done by a structured proforma.     

In vitro activities of a new des-fluoroquinolone, BMS 284756, and seven other antimicrobial agents against 151 isolates of Eikenella corrodens

The des-fluoroquinolone BMS 284756 was active in vitro against all 151 clinical strains of Eikenella corrodens at a MIC of < or = 0.25 microg/ml and was comparable in activity to moxifloxacin and levofloxacin. The MIC at which 90% of the isolates were inhibited by penicillin G was 2 microg/ml; MICs for 8.6% of the strains (13 of 151) were > or = 4 microg/ml, including for two beta-lactamase-producing isolates. Amoxicillin-clavulanate and ampicillin-sulbactam inhibited all strains at a MIC of < or = 1 microg/ml.     

Performance of three generations of anti-hepatitis C virus enzyme- linked immunosorbent assays in donors and patients

BACKGROUND: Prevention of posttransfusion non-A,non-B hepatitis in recipients of blood components improved considerably with the introduction of the second-generation of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody tests. In 1993, third-generation HCV antibody assays were introduced in Europe. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The performance of three generations of anti-HCV enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (ELISA-1, -2, -3) was compared in routine blood donor screening (99,394 donations were tested with ELISA-1, 167,999 donations with ELISA-2, and 262,090 donations with ELISA-3) and in serial samples from nine patients with documented acute posttransfusion HCV infection. RESULTS: Eight (0.01%) repeat donors, previously negative in ELISA-1, were found positive in ELISA-2 and were confirmed as positive in second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay and/or cDNA polymerase chain reaction. In the donor population, no difference in the sensitivity of ELISA-2 and - 3 was observed. The specificity of the three generations of ELISAs was comparable (99.8, 99.7, and 99.7%). In seroconversion samples, ELISA-2 and -3 detected HCV antibodies at the same time in seven patients, but in two patients, ELISA-3 found HCV antibodies, respectively, 63 and 77 days earlier than ELISA-2 did. In the seroconversion samples, ELISA-2 and -3 were significantly more sensitive than second- and third- generation recombinant immunoblot assays. CONCLUSION: ELISA-3 did not detect more HCV-infected individuals in a donor population that previously tested negative in ELISA-2, but it did detect HCV antibodies earlier in some patients with acute HCV infection. ELISA-2 and -3 were significantly more sensitive than second- and third-generation recombinant immunoblot assays.     

重点中学中学生6307人的抑郁障碍现况调查

目的:了解中学生抑郁障碍的患病情况。方法:在北京、辽宁、安徽3省市各随机取1所重点中学,在同1个月内分别对该校全体非毕业班的在校中学生6307人采用抑郁自评量表进行抑郁障碍的筛查。对筛查结果异常及由班主任提供的筛查结果虽正常但怀疑有情绪问题的学生进行精神科检查,根据ICD-10中F32抑郁发作、抑郁复发和F34.1恶劣心境的诊断标准筛选出抑郁障碍的学生。其中北京市某校参加学生(北京组)3727人;辽宁省某校学生(辽宁组)1637人;安徽省某校高一年级学生943人(安徽组)。结果:发放问卷6307份,收回合格问卷6307份,有效率100%。①在6307人,抑郁自评量表筛查的阳性率为23.50%;诊断为抑郁障碍的学生184例,患病率2.92%(184/6307)。其中北京组89例,辽宁组45例,安徽组50例。男女学生抑郁障碍的发病情况接近,差异无显著性意义(85/3016,99/3291,χ2=0.392,P=0.531)。三所中学高一学生的总检出率以安徽最高(50/943),辽宁次之(32/870),北京最低(25/668),差异无显著性意义(χ2=5.423,P=0.066)。北京组高中学生抑郁障碍患病率与辽宁组接近,差异无显著性意义[3.11%(42/1349),2.75%(45/1647),χ2=0.344,P=0.558]。②北京组中学学生抑郁障碍的总患病率为2.39%。初一学生的总患病率明显低于初二、高一、高二学生,且差异有显著性意义(P=0.001,0.011,0.037)。但各年级中学生抑郁障碍男女性别之间差异均无显著性。③辽宁组中学学生抑郁障碍总检出率为2.75%。高一学生抑郁障碍患病率明显高于高二学生(3.68%,1.84%,χ2=6.016,P=0.0146);各年级男女学生抑郁障碍患病率差异无显著性。④安徽组高一学生抑郁障碍总患病率为5.31%(50/943),男女学生差异无显著性意义(5.20%,5.44%,χ2=0.027,P=0.870)。结论:所调查的重点中学学生中抑郁障碍比较常见,从初二年级开始出现有较明显的增加趋势,男女学生抑郁障碍的患病情况无明显差别。     

Comparative in vitro activities of XRP 2868, pristinamycin, quinupristin-dalfopristin, vancomycin, daptomycin, linezolid, clarithromycin, telithromycin, clindamycin, and ampicillin against anaerobic gram-positive species, actinomycetes, and lactobacilli

A comparative study of the in vitro activities of XRP 2868, a new oral streptogramin, against 266 anaerobic gram-positive clinical isolates using the agar dilution method showed that the XRP 2868 MICs for 95% (254 of 266) of isolates were < or =0.5 microg/ml. XRP 2868 MICs for only two strains, one being Clostridium clostridioforme (MIC, 16 microg/ml) and the other being Clostridium difficile (MIC, 32 microg/ml), were >2 microg/ml. Depending on its pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, XRP 2868 has potential for use against infections with gram-positive anaerobes and deserves further clinical evaluation.