Characterization of erythromycin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in Korea, and In Vitro activity of telithromycin against erythromycin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae

To characterize the phenotypes and genotypes of erythromycin-resistant clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae in Korea and to evaluate the in vitro activity of telithromycin against these erythromycin-resistant isolates, we tested a total of 676 isolates of S. pneumoniae collected from 1997 to 2002 in a tertiary hospital in Seoul, Republic of Korea. MICs for erythromycin and telithromycin were determined by the agar dilution method. The macrolide resistance phenotypes of erythromycin-resistant isolates were determined by the erythromycin- clindamycin-rokitamycin triple disk (ECRTD) and MIC induction tests, whereas their macrolide resistance genotypes were determined by PCR for the erm(B), erm(A), subclass erm(TR), and mef genes. To discriminate between mef(A) and mef(E), PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses were performed. Of the 676 S. pneumoniae isolates, 459 (67.9%) were resistant to erythromycin. Of the 459 erythromycin-resistant isolates, 343 (74.7%) were assigned to the cMLS phenotype, 48 (10.4%) to the iMcLS phenotype, 4 (0.9%) to the iMLS phenotype, and 64 (14.0%) to the M phenotype. The erm(B) gene was detected in 251 (54.6%) isolates, the mef gene was detected in 64 (14.0%), and both the erm(B) and mef genes were detected in 144 (31.4%) isolates. All of the mef genes detected were identified as mef(E). Of the 459 erythromycin- resistant isolates, all but one were susceptible to telithromycin. The MIC(50)/MIC(90) to telithromycin of isolates carrying erm(B), mef(E), and both genes was 0.06/0.5 microg/ml, 0.03/0.125 microg/ml, and 0.5/1.0 microg/ml, respectively. Although the MICs of telithromycin for the erythromycin-resistant isolates varied according to genotype, telithromycin was very active against these erythromycin-resistant S. pneumoniae.     

Why is the diverse U letter relationship between embarrassment and psychological distance observed? In view of Schlenker and Leary (1982)'s self-presentation model of social anxiety

The aim of the present study is to explain why there is "the diverse U letter relationship" between embarrassment and psychological distance empirically, in view of Schlenker and Leary (1982)'s self-presentation model of social anxiety. In Study 1, those relationships were observed in three different situations. In Study 2, the main effect of motivation for avoiding rejection and the damage of self-image, and their interaction with embarrassment was examined by hierarchical regression analysis. In the first step, the psychological distance, in the second step, the main effect of both, and in the third step, the interaction was entered. As a result, in the second step, both main effects were significant, but in the third step, only interaction was significant, and both main effects were not significant. This showed that the interaction could predict embarrassment, although the psychological distance was controlled. Finally, this result was discussed in view of social norm.     

应用四环素调控系统建立可调控抗恶性疟原虫DNA疫苗的初步研究

目的 :应用四环素 (tetracycline,Tet)可调控系统建立可调控的抗恶性疟原虫的DNA疫苗。方法 :首先构建恶性疟原虫顶端膜抗原 1(AMA 1)基因和转录激活因子 (tTA或rtTA)基因的真核表达质粒pTL 8/AMA 1和pTL 8/AMA 1(rtTA) ,并大量制备这两种质粒及表达转录抑制子 (tTS)的质粒pUHS6 1。以pTL 8/AMA 1、pTL 8/AMA 1(rtTA)和pTL 8/AMA 1(rtTA)加pUHS6 1/tTS免疫小鼠后 ,用四环素类似物强力霉素 (doxcycline ,dox)诱导或抑制上述DNA载体内AMA 1的表达 ,并分离小鼠血清检测针对AMA 1抗体的表达情况。结果 :①构建了真核表达质粒pTL 8/AMA 1和pTL 8/AMA 1(rtTA) ;②pTL 8/AMA 1和pTL 8/AMA 1(rtTA)在没有被诱导表达时 (仅基础表达 ) ,可诱导明显的免疫应答。在以pTL 8/AMA 1(rtTA)与含tTS的pUHS6 1共同免疫后 ,可极大地降低其免疫应答。应用dox诱导pTL 8/AMA 1(rtTA)中的AMA 1基因表达后 ,可明显引起免疫应答。结论 :pTL 8/AMA 1(rtTA)附加pUHS6 1构成了可调节的DNA免疫系统。该系统的建立将对进一步深入研究DNA疫苗的免疫机制和调控基因表达 ,减少不良免疫反应以及进行可精确调控的基因治疗打下一定的基础     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">GPC5</Emphasis> is a possible target for the 13q31-q32 amplification detected in lymphoma cell lines

Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) analyses have detected gains of copy number on 13q, especially at 13q31-q32, in cell lines and primary cases of various types of lymphoma. Since amplification of chromosomal DNA is one of the mechanisms that can activate tumor-associated genes, and because 13q amplification had been reported in various other types of tumors as well, we attempted to define by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) a common region at 13q31-q32 in which to explore genes that might be targets for the amplification events. Although the commonly amplified region we defined was relatively large (approximately 4 Mb), only one true gene, GPC5, was found there. GPC5 was over-expressed in lymphoma cell lines that had shown amplification, in comparison with those that had not. Our findings suggest that GPC5 is a likely target for amplification, and that over-expression of this gene may contribute to development and/or progression of lymphomas and other tumors.     

Adenoviral transfer of the murine oncostatin M gene suppresses dextran-sodium sulfate-induced colitis.

The use of biologics has promising potential in the treatment of inflammation. Studies with cultured cells and mouse models of disease have ascribed proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory functions to oncostatin M (OSM) and the related cytokine, interleukin-6 (IL-6). Here, we examined the effect of systemic administration of adenoviral (Ad) vectors encoding either murine OSM (AdMuOSM) or murine IL-6 (AdMuIL-6) in a mouse model of colitis. BALB/c mice were treated with a 5-day course of 4% dextran-sodium sulfate (DSS) water with or without administration of adenoviral vectors (i.p. or i.m. at 10(7) plaque-forming units [pfu]) given as a cotreatment or therapy. The deletion variant of the adenovirus served as a control for adenoviral infection. Colitis was assessed by (1) morphology (damage score, macrophage infiltration, apoptosis) and (2) function (myeloperoxidase activity and Ussing chamber analysis of epithelial ion transport). Infection with adenovirus alone did not affect colonic form or function. AdMuOSM (either i.p. or i.m.) significantly reduced the severity of the DSS-induced colitis. There was less damage, reduced macrophage infiltration, fewer apoptotic bodies, and a significant improvement in stimulated ion transport in colonic tissues from the treated mice. No benefit of AdMuIL-6 treatment was observed in this model system. Thus, systemic administration of AdMuOSM given as a cotreatment and to a lesser extent as a therapy was found to be of benefit in DSS-induced colitis, a murine model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).     

海洛因成瘾复吸大鼠脑组织超微结构和部分神经递质的变化

目的：建立海洛因成瘾、脱毒，复成瘾、脱毒，再成瘾、脱毒3个阶段大白鼠模型，了解海洛因致各阶段大白鼠脑损害的动态趋势。方法：电镜下观察脑超微结构变化，荧光分光度法测定脑NA、DA、5-HT等神经递质的含量。结果：3个阶段大鼠脑内多部位神经元胞体、轴突、树突都出现变性、凋亡、胀亡等超微病理结构改变，神经胶质细胞、神经毯也出现相应的超微病理结构改变，而且随复吸次数增多而病变加重。脑NA、DA、5-HT、含量升高，而且随复吸次数增多而升高。结论：大白鼠脑组织出现广泛性超微病理结构改变，随复吸次数增多而病变加重，脑神经递质含量也随复吸次数增多而升高。     

膜型/分泌型MICA对NK细胞受体NKG2D的相反调节效应及其对NK细胞受体谱的影响

目的　观察膜型和分泌型MICA对NK细胞受体表达的影响 ,以探讨NK细胞抗肿瘤活化机制及肿瘤细胞表达MICA分子的意义。方法　用MTT法测定人NK细胞系 (NK92 )的细胞毒活性 ;用RT PCR或FACS检测NK细胞受体 (NKG2D ,NKG2A B ,KIR2DL1,KIR2DS1)及NKG2D的识别配体MICA的表达。结果　肿瘤细胞表面的MICA分子可上调NKG2D的表达 ,下调抑制性受体NKG2A B和KIR2DL1的表达 ;而分泌型MICA (sMICA)分子对NKG2D及抑制性受体的表达均有抑制作用。结论　膜型MICA分子可上调NKG2D的表达 ,激发NK细胞对肿瘤细胞的细胞毒效应 ;分泌型MICA分子则通过降低NKG2D的表达下调机体的抗肿瘤免疫效应 ,肿瘤细胞分泌sMICA分子为肿瘤发生免疫逃逸的机制之一。     

Melanocytes and melanosis of the oesophagus in Japanese subjects — analysis of factors effecting their increase

Summary Normal oesophagus specimens taken from 65 autopsy cases and surgical specimens from 127 oesophageal carcinoma cases were examined histopathologically to determine melanocyte incidence and distribution. Melanocytes were found in the epithelio-stromal junction in 7.7% of normal oesophagus specimens examined at autopsy, and in 29.9% of surgical cases with oesophageal carcinoma. Positive specimens in the latter groups, especially from pre-operatively irradiated individuals, showed a more remarkable increase of melanocytes than was evident in any of the normal oesophageal samples. There were no significant differences in incidence between males and females, or between age groups. In cases where the cancer invaded into deeper stroma, the melanocytes were mainly observed in the normal epithelium around the carcinomas. Epithelial and stromal elements of the melanotic mucosa commonly showed hyperplastic changes such as acanthosis or basal cell hyperplasia, and chronic oesophagitis. Melanocytes were observed most commonly in the lower part of the oesophagus, the site where malignant melanoma of the oesophagus, most often originates. These results strongly suggest that the melanocyte increase observed in areas of hyperplastic epithelium and chronic oesophagitis may play an important role as a precursor lesion for malignant melanoma in the oesophagus.