Molecular epidemiology and control of nosocomial methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in a teaching hospital.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Nosocomial methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is difficult to control. Due to a dramatic increase in the nosocomial MRSA infection rate at our hospital from 2000 to 2001, this study was conducted to identify the source of these infections and the effectiveness of control measures. METHODS: 179 healthcare workers (HCWs) were screened for carriage of MRSA. Starting in April 2001, all patients with MRSA infection or colonization were put in strict contact and cohort isolation. The bacterial isolates of HCW carriers and patients with MRSA infection from April 2001 to September 2001 were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing by disk-diffusion method and molecular typing by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). RESULTS: Fifteen HCWs were found to be carriers of MRSA. They were all given topical mupirocin treatment. After these interventions, the nosocomial MRSA infection rate decreased from 1.23 to 0.53 per 1000 patient-days. All 61 MRSA isolates available for antimicrobial susceptibility testing and molecular typing were multidrug resistant. PFGE study revealed 2 predominant types, type C and type Y, comprising 36 and 12 isolates, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The current study demonstrates the importance of measures to control nosocomial MRSA infections in hospitals that already have a high incidence of endemic MRSA infection. Elimination of carriage by healthcare workers, and strict contact and cohort isolation are the main effective measures.     

术中使用缓释型5-FU对于进展期结肠癌的疗效研究

随着生活水平的提高,恶性肿瘤的发病率也逐年增高,最新资料统计表明,目前全球结肠直肠癌病人每年有100万之多[1]。在我国其发病率近年来也呈明显上升趋势,到目前为止,结肠直肠癌病人的术后5年生存率也一直徘徊在50%左右[2]。因而如何有效地进行结肠肿瘤治疗,无论是在手术还是在其他辅助治疗方面都值得我们深入地探讨和研究。     

Treatment of severe subglottic laryngotracheal stenosis using hyoid graft with sternohyoid muscle flap]

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the possibility and reliability of the hyoid-sternohyoid graft transfer in the correction of server subglottic laryngotracheal stenosis, and delineate the operation skills and clinical results. METHODS: Seven patients with severe subglottic stenosis underwent laryngotracheal reconstruction using the hyoid grafts with sternohyoid muscle flaps (HG-SHMF). Five of these patients had traumatic subglottic stenosis, one with scar tissue of unknown etiology arising in the subglottic region, another with tracheal narrowing caused by inhalation of hydrochloric acid. RESULTS: All seven patients were successfully decannulated with moderate good voice. The average time from reconstruction to decannulation was 15.4 months. The stent was endoscopically removed with a range of 3 to 22 months; the mean time required for stenting was 9.6 months. Two patients who received additional salvage reconstruction procedures because of graft or stent displacement were extubated with improved voices and satisfactory airway. CONCLUSIONS: The HG-SHMF transfer was a single-stage reconstruction, relatively simple procedure that can restore an adequate airway and a good voice. Patients undergoing laryngotracheal reconstruction with HG-SHMF must have regular, long-term follow-up since graft displacement and recurrent granulation tissue or scar reformation can cause restenosis after an initially successful surgery. This procedure should be used in a large number of patients to further test its reliability.     

Genetic changes in JC virus possibly associated with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy]

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a fetal demyelinating disease in the central nervous system. PML was once a rare disease, but it is now relatively common among AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) patients. The immunological state of patients mainly contributes to the pathogenesis of PML. Genetic changes of the etiological agent, however, may also be involved in the development and progression of the disease. The major genetic changes possibly associated with PML include the regulatory region rearrangement and the VP1 loop mutation. Both changes have been identified as genetic changes usually occurring in JCV (JCvirus) DNAs from the brain and cerebrospinal fluid of PML patients. Although it remained to be clarified how these changes are involved in the pathogenesis of PML, accumulating evidence suggests that the VP1 loop mutation is associated with the progression of PML. Here we overview studies (mainly those performed by ourselves) on these genetic changes.     

大鼠胼胝体神经元化学性质研究:Ⅰ.谷氨酸的免疫细胞化学研究

采用辣根过氧化物酶(HRP)逆行示踪与谷氨酸免疫细胞化学结合法对大鼠额叶和枕叶皮质内胼胝体神经元的化学性质进行了研究.结果发现含谷氨酸的胼胝体神经元为大中型锥体细胞,主要分布于皮质Ⅱ/Ⅲ、Ⅴ和Ⅵ层,并有成群分布的倾向.含谷氨酸的胼胝体神经元的数目约占 HRP 标记的胼胝体神经元的17%(额叶)和29%(枕叶).这一结果从形态学上证实,大鼠大脑皮质内相当一部分胼胝体神经元使用谷氨酸作为兴奋性递质。     

Absence of relaxation to lactate in human placental vessels of pregnancies with severe preeclampsia

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine whether the observed relaxation to lactate and other agents in placental vessels of normal pregnancies is altered in severe preeclampsia.STUDY DESIGN: Isolated placental arteries and veins from women with severe preeclampsia and uncomplicated term pregnancies were precontracted with prostaglandin F_2α under 5% oxygen and 5% carbon dioxide with the balance nitrogen (Po₂ 35 to 38 torr) and then exposed to lactate (1 to 10 mmol/L, pH 7.4, n = 8 to 15), arachidonic acid (0.01 to 10 μmol/L, n = 6 to 13), nitroglycerin (1 nmol to 1 μmol/L, n = 4 to 12), or forskolin (0.01 to 10 μmol/L, n = 6 to 9). The response to lactate was also examined in placental vessels from appropriate-for-gestational-age preterm deliveries (n = 8) for comparison with a similar group with severe preeclampsia (n = 8). The t test and analysis of variance statistics were used.RESULTS: Relaxation to lactate was markedly inhibited in both placental arteries and veins of women with severe preeclampsia compared with vessels from uncomplicated term or preterm pregnancies. Responses to the other relaxing agents were not altered in the severely preeclampsia vessels.CONCLUSIONS: In severe preeclampsia absence of lactate-induced dilatation of placental vessels may contribute to the fetal complications associated with impaired blood flow and vasospasm.     

Use of epr oximetry with india ink to measure the po2 in the liver in vivo in mice

The partial pressure of oxygen (pO₂) of the liver in vivo in unanesthetized mice was determined using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) oximetry with India ink. The EPR spectra were obtained using a low-frequency (1.2 GHz) EPR spectrometer with a loop gap cavity resonator. The line width of the India ink used in this experiment was reversibly broadened by oxygen and was particularly sensitive to pO₂ below 30 torr. After the administration of India ink into the tail vein, the India ink particles were taken up mainly by Kupffer cells in the liver and in part by phagocytes in the spleen. The pO₂ measured in the normal liver was about 14 torr and was constant for the 2-week experimental period. The pO₂ decreased when measured at 1, 2, and 6 days after treatment with a hepatotoxin (carbon tetrachloride (CCI₄)); within 2 weeks, it returned almost to the initial level. Measurements by EPR at sacrifice of controls and CCI₄-treated mice indicated that more than 90% of the India ink went to the liver; the spleen contained 4.7% of total amount in control mice and 8.8% in CCI₄-treated mice when measured 2 weeks after the treatment. These data indicate the usefulness of India ink for measuring the pO₂ of the liver in vivo and that the pO₂ in the Kupffer cells is decreased when the liver is damaged by CCI₄.     

微波快速过氧化物酶染色法与灌注法用于微循环形态学研究之比较

以健康Ｗｉｓｔａｒ大白鼠为材料，对微波快速内源性过氧化物酶染色与灌注法显示微血管的方法进行了对比研究。结果，过氧化物酶组织化学法具有不用灌注，操作简单，所用时间短，对血管无扩张、破裂等人为改变的特点，保持了微血管真实的自然形态和管径大小，可以定量或半定量地判定组织器官活体时的血液循环状况。可以用于人及动物的大脑、脊髓、皮肤、耳及食管等组织内微血管形态学研究和定量分析。并对过氧化物酶显示微血管的原理和微波辐射促进染色的原理及特点进行了分析、讨论。