Evaluation of the Microbact-24E bacterial identification system.

The Microbact 24E (MB24E) system is a commercial microsystem for the identification of common clinical isolates of Enterobacteriaceae and non-fermenting Gram negative bacilli, and consists of dehydrated substrates distributed in the wells of microtitre trays. This system was compared with the API20E for the identification of 386 bacterial isolates, which included 284 clinical and 102 environmental organisms. There was 97% and 91% agreement for the identification of clinical isolates of Enterobacteriaceae and other Gram negative bacilli, respectively. The identification of environmental isolates by both systems was less satisfactory. The API20E has a more extensive database than the MB24E and is thus more reliable for the identification of rare or unusual organisms, but the MB24E is cheaper, is easy and convenient to use, and is suitable for a routine microbiology laboratory.     

Application of Serum-Free Culture Medium for Preparation of A-NK Cells

To compare the differences between proliferation and cytotoxicity of adherent natural killer （A-NK） cells cultured with serum-free medium AIMV and standard serum-containing medium in vitro, and also observe the assisting effect of IL-12 on the activation and the morphology character of IL-2-treated A-NK cells, cellular proliferation was evaluated by MTT method in vitro. The morphology of the target cells killed by A-NK cells was observed through electroscope. All of the A-NK cells cultured in serum-free medium AIMV could rapidly proliferate and keep high cytotoxicity compared with that in standard serum-containing medium. A-NK cells activated by both moderate-dose IL-2 and IL-12 were superior to the high-dose IL-2-treated A-NK cells. These data indicated that serum-free medium AIMV could replace standard serum-containing medium for culturing A-NK cells, and moderate-dose IL-2 and IL-12 could reduce side effects caused by high-dose IL-2. The study provided a new experimental basis for experimental and clinical preparation of A-NK cells. Cellular ＆ Molecular Immunology.     

海藻酸钙/聚组氨酸微胶囊的毒性试验研究

为了考察海藻酸钙/聚组氨酸微胶囊的毒性特征,我们利用MTT比色法和小鼠尾静脉注射法,分别考察了该微胶囊的细胞毒性和急性全身毒性。结果表明：微胶囊浓度≤1.0mg/mL时,材料对L929细胞生长无明显抑制作用;微胶囊浸提液即使在高浸提比（10.0mg/mL）下,浸提产物也无细胞毒性作用。急性全身毒性试验结果显示：微胶囊浸提液不引起急性全身毒性反应,表明微胶囊浸提液无有毒的沥滤物和降解产物产生。说明海藻酸钙/聚组氨酸微胶囊无明显毒性。     

Preparation of Aminated Macroporous Polyvinyl Alcohol Resins and Evaluation for Bilirubin Adsorption

In the present study we prepared macroporous polyvinyl alcohol beads. A series of bilirubin adsorbents were generated by immobilization of eight amine agents to the beads as ligands. The adsorption of bilirubin was evaluated by in vitro static and dynamic adsorption tests. The results show that these adsorbents have excellent adsorption efficiency and capacity. Among the eight ligands, trimethylamine (TMA), triethylamine (TEA) and 1,6- hexanediamine(HDA) showed the highest adsorption capacity. The adsorption equilibrium can be achieved in half an hour, and the adsorption percentage of bilirubin was up to 80%. Static electricity and hydrophobic interaction played the main role in bilirubin adsorption, and the adsorption was found to match the monolayer model. The excellent adsorption of these adsorbents indicates their potential in clinical treatment.     

Pulmonary pathological features in coronavirus associated severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) became a worldwide outbreak with a mortality of 9.2%. This new human emergent infectious disease is dominated by severe lower respiratory illness and is aetiologically linked to a new coronavirus (SARS-CoV). METHODS: Pulmonary pathology and clinical correlates were investigated in seven patients who died of SARS in whom there was a strong epidemiological link. Investigations include a review of clinical features, morphological assessment, histochemical and immunohistochemical stainings, ultrastructural study, and virological investigations in postmortem tissue. RESULTS: Positive viral culture for coronavirus was detected in most premortem nasopharyngeal aspirate specimens (five of six) and postmortem lung tissues (two of seven). Viral particles, consistent with coronavirus, could be detected in lung pneumocytes in most of the patients. These features suggested that pneumocytes are probably the primary target of infection. The pathological features were dominated by diffuse alveolar damage, with the presence of multinucleated pneumocytes. Fibrogranulation tissue proliferation in small airways and airspaces (bronchiolitis obliterans organising pneumonia-like lesions) in subpleural locations was also seen in some patients. CONCLUSIONS: Viable SARS-CoV could be isolated from postmortem tissues. Postmortem examination allows tissue to be sampled for virological investigations and ultrastructural examination, and when coupled with the appropriate lung morphological changes, is valuable to confirm the diagnosis of SARS-CoV, particularly in clinically unapparent or suspicious but unconfirmed cases.     

Recurrent and novel mutations of GCDH gene in Chinese glutaric acidemia type I families

Glutaric acidemia type I is caused by mutations of the glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase (GCDH) gene resulting in loss of GCDH enzyme activity. Patients present with progressive dystonia and lesions in basal ganglia. Dietary treatment, when instituted from the early neonatal period, markedly reduces dystonia and morbidity. Early diagnosis and prenatal diagnosis will be facilitated by knowledge of locally prevalent GCDH mutations. Several common GCDH mutations have been found in different ethnic groups. GCDH mutations were studied in 5 Chinese glutaric acidemia type I families. We detected two novel recurrent mutations (A219T and IVS10-2A>C) which were found in two unrelated families. An asymptomatic carrier of IVS10-2A>C was also found on screening of 120 individuals. Other mutations were identified, including two other novel (R386G & IVS3+1G>A) and two known mutations (G178R & R355H). Fibroblasts from patients carrying the novel mutations were confirmed to be deficient for GCDH activity. This is the first report of GCDH mutations describing recurrent mutations in Chinese patients. The carrier rate of IVS10-2A>C may be particularly high in Chinese.     

增殖性瘢痕色度测量方法的研究

目的:临床评价增殖性瘢痕的颜色需要定量测量.本实验主要研究增殖性瘢痕色度的测量方法,实现瘢痕颜色的定量测量,为临床诊治提供量化依据.材料与方法:采用以光电积分式测量原理设计的色彩分析仪对增殖性瘢痕患者19人,共65个测试点按不同部位分为四组进行色度测量,并与正常组对照.用CIE-XYZ色度标准表达测量值,配合色度图直接观察瘢痕的疗效.结果:增殖性瘢痕各部位组的色度坐标值与相应的对照组比较均有显著性差异(P＜0.05).结论:本实验的测量方法是有效的,能准确、定量反映增殖性瘢痕颜色的变化.可用量化指标总结、分析、报告治疗结果.     

重复电刺激前肢神经引起成年大鼠运动皮层的可塑性改变

为了了解成年大鼠运动皮层的功能可塑性，利用皮层内微刺激方法测定ＭＩ代表区并观察重复电刺激前肢神经对ＭＩ代表区的影响。实验组大鼠（９例）持续１．２－２小时的前肢神经电刺激导致前肢运动区与面部触须运动区边界向ＶＩ方向，移动２６３．３±９０．９μｍ并同时伴有运动阈值的改变；ＦＬ内ＭＴ降低５．０±１３．３μＡ，而在ＶＩ内ＭＴ升高９．６±１１．６μＡ对照组大鼠间隔１．５－２小时的两次测定结果，ＦＬ－ＶＩ边界     

HLA-DR、DQ等位基因与精神分裂症相关性的研究

目的 证明HLA-DR、DQ等位基因与精神分裂症的发病密切相关。方法 HLA-DR、DQ等位基因检测：PCR-SSP分型。结果 发现在大连地区随机选择的精神分裂症患者的HLA-DQ8基因的频率(9．0％)明显高于正常对照(2．5％)。精神分裂症患者的HLA-DR、DQ等位基因的某些位点与免疫指标的改变有相关性。结论 ①HLA-DQ8基因与精神分裂症有关联，可以认为HLA-DQ8基因可能是精神分裂症的易感基因。②HLA-DR、DQ等位基因的某些组合可能是精神分裂症发病的危险组合模式，对预测精神分裂症的基因易感性具有潜在的应用价值。③精神分裂症的免疫指标的改变与HLA-DR、DQ等位基因的某些位点有相关性，说明精神分裂症与它的免疫指标的变化可能有内在的联系。