Effect of Group A Streptococcal Cysteine Protease on Invasion of Epithelial Cells

Cysteine protease of group A streptococci (GAS) is considered an important virulence factor. However, its role in invasiveness of GAS has not been investigated. We demonstrated in this study that two strains of protease-producing GAS had the ability to invade A-549 human respiratory epithelial cells. Isogenic protease mutants were constructed by using integrational plasmids to disrupt the speB gene and confirmed by Southern hybridization and Western immunoblot analyses. No extracellular protease activity was produced by the mutants. The mutants had growth rates similar to those of the wild-type strains and produced normal levels of other extracellular proteins. When invading A-549 cells, the mutants had a two- to threefold decrease in activity compared to that of the wild-type strains. The invasion activity increased when the A-549 cells were incubated with purified cysteine protease and the mutant. However, blockage of the cysteine protease with a specific cysteine protease inhibitor, E-64, decreased the invasion activity of GAS. Intracellular growth of GAS was not found in A-549 cells. The presence or absence of protease activity did not affect the adhesive ability of GAS. These results suggested that streptococcal cysteine protease can enhance the invasion ability of GAS in human respiratory epithelial cells.     

Pulmonary artery angiosarcoma: a clinicopathologic and radiological correlation

A 69-year-old man presented with cough, shortness of breath, and fatigue. He was initially treated for allergies and then for pulmonary embolism. Radiologically, a tumor mass was found to occlude the right pulmonary artery and involve the pulmonary trunk. A right pneumonectomy was performed. Histologically, a cellular malignant spindle and epithelioid tumor with areas of necrosis and brisk mitotic activity was seen. In some areas, the tumor appeared to form vascular channels. Focal osteosarcomatous differentiation was present. Immunohistochemical studies were performed including vimentin, smooth muscle actin, desmin, CD31, CD34, S100, and pan-cytokeratin. The tumor cells were positive for CD31 and vimentin and negative for pan-cytokeratin, CD34, and S100. Two months after surgery, the patient was alive and well.     

Aperture modulated arc therapy

We show that it is possible to translate an intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) treatment plan and deliver it as a single arc. This technique is referred to in this paper as aperture modulation arc therapy (AMAT). During this arc, the MLC leaves do not conform to the projection of the target PTV and the machine output of the accelerator has a constant value. Dose was calculated using the CORVUS 4.0 IMRT system, which uses a pencil beam dose algorithm, and treatments were delivered using a Varian 2100C/D Clinac. Results are presented for a head and neck and a prostate case, showing the equivalence of the IMRT and the translated AMAT delivery. For a prostate AMAT delivery, coronal plane film dose for the IMRT and AMAT deliveries agreed within 7.19 +/- 6.62%. For a meningioma the coronal plane dose distributions were similar to a value of 4.6 +/- 6.62%. Dose to the isocentre was measured as being within 2% of the planned value in both cases.     

模拟股骨置入人工关节扭转与应力松弛蠕变的实验研究

研究了在相同扭矩作用下,正常组股骨和以生物学和骨水泥固定置入人工关节组股骨标本扭转角度,还对正常股骨、生物学固定股骨和骨水泥固定股骨进行应力松弛、蠕变实验,为临床提供生物力学参数。以电子万能试验机对正常对照组、股骨置入人工关节骨水泥固定组、股骨置入人工关节生物学固定组标本进行扭转和粘弹性实验研究。得出了各组标本在相同扭矩下的扭转角度及悬臂弯曲状态下,正常组和置入人工关节组标本应力松弛、蠕变数据和曲线。对实验数据进行归一化处理,得出了正常组和置入人工关节组标本的归一化应力松弛函数,归一化蠕变函数及曲线。表明:骨水泥固定组扭转角比生物学固定组小,说明骨水泥固定有较好的稳定性,其应力松弛、蠕变量丢失小。骨水泥固定组较生物学固定组3600s应力松弛、蠕变量大。     

Carrier Frequency of the Bloom SyndromeblmMutation in the Ashkenazi Jewish Population

Bloom syndrome is more common in individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish descent than in any other population, and one particular mutation in the Bloom syndrome gene,blm^Ash,is homozygous in nearly all Ashkenazi Jewish persons with Bloom syndrome. We have determined the frequency ofblm^Ashin 1491 Ashkenazi Jewish persons with no known history of Bloom syndrome and found that 1 in 107 persons was heterozygous. Although not common, genetic screening for Bloom syndrome is feasible in this population.     

Longitudinal Examination of Prenatal Tobacco Switching Behaviors and Birth Outcomes,Including Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) and Dual Use

Maternal and Child Health Journal - In the US, approximately 8% of pregnant women smoke, and 5–11.9% currently use ENDS products. The health effects of ENDS use are debated; however, most...     

微乳液反应法制备磺胺嘧啶银均匀微晶及其最佳处方评价

目的：应用微乳液反应法制备磺胺嘧啶银均匀微晶,均匀制得的微晶的粒径大小约为2～4um,均匀微晶的结晶性好,纯度高。用均匀设计方法优化条件,制备的均匀的微晶平均粒径大小为2.09um,实验结果达到预测结果要求。结论：用微乳液反应法能获得磺胺嘧啶银均匀微晶。     

滕州市致病性弧菌检测报告

报道了1995年以来,滕州市致病性弧菌种类、分,布等病原学检测情况。共检疑似霍乱病人粪便1562人份,检出致病性弧菌127株,检出率为8．13％,其中非01群霍乱弧菌居首位83株占65．35％,其次为麦氏弧菌13株占10．4％,溶藻弧菌11株,河弧菌9株,副溶血弧菌6株,弗尼期弧菌5株。83株非01群霍乱弧菌可分型占61株,分布8个血清型,定型率为73．49％,127株致病性弧菌产类霍乱肠毒素（G）47株占37．00％,以非01群霍乱弧菌产生类CT所占比例为最高,从而说明它在毒力和致病性方面占有重要地位。     

心肌梗塞大鼠心室胶原生化改建与心脏肾素—血管紧张素系统的关系

目的 研究心肌梗塞（MI）后心室胶原生化改建与心脏肾素-血管紧张素系统（RAS）的关系。方法 采用放射免疫等方法动态观测了大鼠MI后3、15及42天左、右心室胶原含量、总量和血管紧张素Ⅱ(AngⅡ）含量以及血浆AngⅡ含量的变化,结果 血浆AngⅡ含量仅在MI后3天有一过性升高;MI鼠左、右心室AngⅡ含量以及血浆AngⅡ含量的变化。结果 血浆AngⅡ含量仅在MI后3天有一过性升高;MI鼠左、右心室AngⅡ含量于3天时就明显升高,此后一直保持在3天时水平,MI后左、右心室胶原基质均发生了生化改建,除右心室胶原生化建建稍滞后于其AngⅡ的变化外,左、右心室的胶原生化改建与其心肌AngⅡ的变化形式基本一致。结论 MI后心脏RAS被明显激活;心肌AngⅡ在心肌胶原生化改建的过程中可能起着重要的作用。而且其作用不依赖于循环RAS。