The epidemiology of nosocomial Pseudomonas cepacia infections: Endemic infections

Pseudomonas cepacia has recently emerged as an important nosocomial pathogen. We analyzed a national nosocomial infections database, the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) system, to describe the epidemiology of endemic nosocomial P. cepacia infections. Between 1980 and 1985, the P. cepacia nosocomial infection rate was 2.4 per 100,000 patient discharges. During this period, there was a significant increase in the P. cepacia infection rate. The highest infection rate was reported from large medical school-affiliated hospitals. Over 90% of the infections were reported from medicine and surgery services. The most frequently reported site of infection was the lower respiratory tract (31%), followed by blood (20%) and the urinary tract (20%). Nosocomial P. cepacia infections are often associated with mortality, particularly when they involve the lung. These data confirm the hypothesis that P. cepacia is an emerging nosocomial pathogen and suggest that the epidemiology of endemic infections differs from that reported for epidemic inflections.     

Expression of p27 and p53: comparative analysis of uterine carcinosarcoma and endometrial carcinoma

The aim of the study was to assess both p27 and p53 expression in the stromal and epithelial component of carcinosarcoma and to assess if their expression in the latter is different than in endometrial carcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining for p27 and p53 was performed on paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of 18 uterine specimens with carcinosarcoma and their expression assessed. Their expression in the epithelial element was also compared to that in 35 paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of endometrial endometrioid carcinoma. Reduced p27 expression was observed in a similarly high proportion of the stromal (77.8%) as well as of the epithelial component (66.7%) of carcinosarcoma. Although statistically not significant, the proportion of reduced p27 expression in endometrial carcinoma (85.7%) was higher than in the epithelial element of carcinosarcoma. The percentage of p53 overexpression in both elements of carcinosarcomas and in endometrial carcinomas was low and also similar (27.8 and 20.0%, respectively). Our results indicate that reduced p27 expression is common and p53 overexpression is infrequent in carcinosarcoma. Their similar rates of expression in the stromal and epithelial elements of the tumor support the contention of a monoclonal origin of carcinosarcoma. Unexpectedly, reduced p27 expression is more common in endometrial carcinoma than in the epithelial element of carcinosarcoma, in spite of the less favorable prognosticators and outcome in the latter. Further studies of p27 expression in carcinosarcoma are indicated to establish its clinical value in this aggressive malignancy.     

精神分裂症患者事件相关电位P300改变对语词记忆能力的影响

目的探讨精神分裂症患者的语词记忆能力与认知电位之间的相互关系。方法对102例精神分裂症患者首先进行了听觉诱发电位P300测定，然后按有无P300潜伏期延长或/和波幅降低分为P300正常与异常组，再采用选择性提醒测验方法对其进行语词记忆测验。结果P300正常组30例在10次语词记忆测验中通过总例数28例，占93.3%，前6次通过的比例为56.7%；而P300异常组72例在10次语词记忆测验中通过的总例数只有43例，占59.7%，前6次通过的比例只有25%；两组之间的差异非常显著（P〈0.001）。P300异常组回忆总数、保持数、长时再现数及恒定长时再现数减少，而不恒定长时再现数、提醒总数及插入数显著增多，两组比较有显著性差异（P〈0.01）。结论P300异常的精神分裂症患者较P300正常的精神分裂症患者存在更严重的语词记忆障碍。     

CD44v6、P27蛋白在乳腺癌组织中的表达及意义

目的 探讨乳腺癌中CD44v6、p27蛋白表达的意义。方法 应用免疫组化S-P法检测65例乳腺癌中CD44v6、p27蛋白表达。结果 65例乳腺癌中CD44v6、p27蛋白表达总阳性率分别为58.4％、38.4％。CD44v6蛋白阳性表达率与乳腺癌组织学类型、腋淋巴结转移呈正相关(P<0.05,P<0.01),与预后呈负相关(P<0.01),与组织学分级无明显相关性(P>0.05);p27蛋白阳性表达与乳腺癌组织学类型、组织学分级及腋淋巴结转移呈负相关(P<0.05),与预后呈正相关(P<0.05)。结论 CD44v6、p27蛋白表达与乳腺癌浸润、转移及预后显著相关,检测乳腺癌中CD44v6、p27蛋白表达水平,对判断乳腺癌恶性程度、复发转移潜能,评估患者预后及术后选择合理治疗方案有一定参考价值。     

转移相关基因nm23和P53及S100A4在晚期胃癌中的表达及与侵袭转移的相关性研究

目的探讨转移相关蛋白（nm23和P53及S100A4）在晚期胃癌转移发展过程中的意义。方法应用组织芯片和免疫组织化学方法研究nm23、P53和S100A4在74例胃癌患者的癌、癌旁、淋巴结转移、远处转移（肝脏、胰腺、卵巢等）组织中的表达。结果同癌旁组织相比，癌组织中P53和S100A4表达明显升高（P〈0．01），而nm23的表达明显降低（P〈0．05）；同癌组织相比，淋巴结中nm23的表达明显降低（P〈0．05）。远处转移组织S100A4表达明显升高（P〈0．01）。3者的阳性表达与胃癌的部分恶性生物学行为有关。癌组织中nm23^＋／P53^＋、P53^＋／S100A4^＋和nm23^＋／S100A4^＋的基因表型比例分别为48例（64．9％）、50例（67．6％）和39例（52．7％），其中P53^＋／S100A4^＋、nm23^＋／S100A4^＋和nm23^＋／P53^＋／S100A4^＋均与胃癌的高转移潜能相关。结论nm23和S100A4在肿瘤转移中发挥了重要作用；联合检测nm23、P53和S100A4的表达可用于评定胃癌的转移潜能。     

胶质细胞瘤复发前后Cyclin D1和P16的表达

目的　探讨CyclinD1,P16在胶质瘤复发前后表达改变及其意义。方法　采用免疫组织化学LsABC法对 4 5例复发胶质瘤瘤组织、瘤旁脑组织和 10例正常脑组织CyclinD1,P16蛋白表达进行检测 ,统计分析CyclinD1,P16表达水平与胶质瘤分级、肿瘤复发的关系。结果　正常脑组织 ,瘤旁脑组织和胶质瘤组织CyclinD1表达依次升高 ,而P16的表达依次下降 ;肿瘤复发CyclinD1表达增强 ,P16的表达减弱。结论　CyclinD1与P16的表达与胶质瘤恶性进程和复发密切相关。     

生物活性陶瓷与细胞外基质骨形成对Ca、P、ALP影响

目的：通过钙(Ca)、磷(P)及碱性磷酸酶(ALP)评价，探讨生物活性陶瓷及细胞外基质与骨细胞相互作用机理，为骨替代材料成骨效应提供依据。方法：选用多种材料进行蒸馏水及血浆接触，体外成骨细胞培养及体内骨诱导试验。采用原子吸收，钼蓝比色及速率法分析化学性能，血浆、细胞冻溶液及组织匀浆中Ca、P、ALP的变化规律。结果：材料组体内、外接触Ca、P、ALP值高于对照组。细胞外基质复合材料组高于相应的非复合材料组。TGF-β1加材料高于BMP复合材料组，而不同材料有所不同，TCP材料高于其它材料。结论：生物活性陶瓷材料均有不同程度的Ca、P离子释放，细胞外基质及Ca、P离子可提高成骨细胞活性，异位骨形成及ALP活性。     

Absence of a differential induction of cytochrome P450 2E1 by different alcoholic beverages in rats: implications for the aetiology of human oesophageal cancer

Alcohol is an important risk factor for human oesophageal cancer. There is evidence from epidemiological studies that some specific alcoholic drinks, e.g. Calvados apple brandy, are associated with a greater risk than others. Alcohol induces cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) and the hypothesis was tested that different alcoholic beverages, containing a variety of alcoholic compounds, could differentially induce expression of cytochrome P450 enzymes. Twelve groups of five rats each were treated for 3 days with different alcoholic beverages (ethanol alone, whisky, farm-produced or commercial Calvados brandy, beer, cider, wine) adjusted to 4, 10 or 20% of ethanol in drinking water. Immunoblotting using a monoclonal antibody specific for rat CYP2E1 revealed a single protein band in liver microsomes. Densitometric quantitation of microsomal proteins demonstrated a significant two-, three- and sixfold increase in band intensity after treatment with ethanol concentrations of 4, 10 and 20% respectively, compared to control rats drinking water alone. There was a dose-dependent increase in liver microsomal metabolism of CYP2E1 substrates (para-nitrophenol and dimethylnitrosamine) in ethanol-treated rats. However, there were no significant differences in the level of CYP2E1 protein or enzymatic activity between the different alcoholic beverages at the same ethanol concentration. There was a slight increase in hepatic CYP1A-related enzymatic activities in the alcohol-treated rats compared to the controls, but no difference between the treated groups either with dose of ethanol or type of beverage. These data show that induction of CYP2E1 with acute alcohol treatment is predominantly determined by the ethanol content of the beverage. Received: 10 February 1997 / Accepted: 26 May 1997     

Chronic parasite infection in mice induces brain granulomas and differentially alters brain nerve growth factor levels and thermal responses in paws

Schistosoma mansoni infection, both in humans and in animal models, is known to induce granulomas in the liver and intestine. It has also been reported that in humans the eggs of this parasite can reach the brain, causing psychiatric and neuropathological disorders. Whether this also occurs in rodents is unknown. To answer this question, mice were infected with this parasite and the central nervous system (CNS) examined at various time intervals. The results show that schistosomiasis induced granulomas in several regions of the CNS and increased nerve growth factor (NGF) levels in the cortex, hypothalamus and brain stem, but not in the hippocampus. The infection also caused paw hyperalgesia, as determined by the hot-plate test, and a local increase in NGF, but not in substance P. These findings indicate that the murine model of infection can be used for studying mechanisms leading to human neuroschistosomiasis and suggest that the neuropathological disorders and the sensory deficits observed in human schistosomiasis are associated with impaired levels of NGF in the peripheral and central nervous system. Received: 18 January 1996 / Revised, accepted: 16 April 1996     

神经肽P物质对肉芽组织成纤维细胞增殖及表皮生长因子基因表达的作用

目的：探讨感觉神经肽P物质（SP）对离体培养的肉芽组织成纤维细胞的促增殖作用及其对表皮生长因子（EGF）基因表达的调控作用。方法：采用MTT法测定SP对肉芽组织成纤维细胞的促增殖作用；采用逆转录－聚合酶链反应（RT－PCR）方法检测SP对成纤维细胞EGF基因表达的调控作用，观察时间及剂量－效应关系。结果：10^-9～10^-5mol/L的SP在体外对肉芽组织成纤维细胞均具有明显的促增殖作用（P＜0．01），且具有明显的剂量依赖性（γ=0.594,P＜0．01），EGF抗体只能部分抑制这一作用（与对照组比较，P＜0．01；与10^-7mol/L SP组比较，P＜0．05）。10^-7mol/L SP可诱导成纤维细胞EGF mRNA的表达，在作用后6h与对照组比较，差异有非常显著性意义（P＜0．01）；SP在10^-8～10^-6mol/L范围内可以显著促进成纤维细胞EGF mRNA表达，在10^-7mol/L达到峰值，当浓度＞10^-7mol/L时，其促EGF mRNA表达的效应强度随浓度升高而有所降低，至10^-5mol/L时与对照组比较，差异无显著性意义。结论：SP对肉芽组织成纤维细胞具有明显的促增殖作用，这种作用与其诱导成纤维细胞EGF表达有关。