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e20074 Background: Carboxypepidase A4 (CPA4) is a member of the metallocarboxypeptidase family. Previous study discovered that CPA4 may participate in cell growth and differentiation of prostate epithelial cells. Meanwhile, CPA4 is a printed gene and thought to be involved in prostate cancer aggressiveness. As is reported, CPA4 was increased in NSCLC tissues compared to normal lung tissues and high expression of CPA4 was correlated with poor prognosis of NSCLC patients. However, the role of CPA4 play in lung tumorigenesis is still unclear. Methods: We examined the mRNA and protein expression level of CPA4 via real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry in NSCLC tissues and adjacent tissues. Growth assays both in vitro and in vivo were performed to elucidate the role of CPA4 may play in lung cancer and Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorter was conducted to uncover the putative mechanism. Results: CPA4 expression was increased both in mRNA and protein levels in NSCLC tissues compared to adjacent tissues. MTT and colony formation assays showed that downregulation of CPA4 in H1299 and A549 cells inhibited lung cancer cells proliferation. We further confirmed this result by using cellomics and celligo. Depleting CPA4 also suppressed tumor growth in mice. Mechanically, we found that suppressing CPA4 expression in lung cancer cells could induce apoptosis and G1 arrest. We supposed that CPA4 expression may be associated with caspase family and it needs further studies. Conclusions: Collectively, we demonstrate that decreased CPA4 inhibits NSCLC proliferation via inducing apoptosis and G1 arrest.

Background Flap viability after transfer depends on blood flow from the arterial blood supply below the fascia. This study evaluated survival of a pedicle flap with a perforator lateral branch and flow-through blood supply, compared with that of a flap with a flow-end blood supply and perforator terminal branch. Methods Forty Sprague–Dawley rats, 20 in each group, were assigned to transfer of a superficial epigastric artery pedicle island flap with a flow-through or flow-end configuration of blood supply. Laser Doppler imaging was used to evaluate flap perfusion 2 h, 3 days and 5 days after surgery. The rats were killed on day 5, and lead oxide–gelatine-enhanced flap angiography and histology with haematoxylin and eosin staining was performed. Dorsal midline tissue was excised for quantification of vascular endothelial growth factor by western blot assay. Results On day 5 after surgery, the flow-through group exhibited a significantly greater mean(s.d.) flap survival area (97·8(3·5) versus 80·8(10·2) per cent; P = 0·003), microvascular density (303(19) versus 207(41) per mm2; P < 0·001) and perfusion (8·64(0·14) versus 5·95(0·14) perfusion units; P < 0·001) than the flow-end group. The flow-through group exhibited more angiosomes connected by dilated vascular anastomoses between the skin and subcutaneous fasciae. Conclusion The flow-through blood supply improved pedicle perforator flap survival. Surgical relevancePerforator flap failure is mainly the result of impaired blood supply, as a flow-end blood configuration is nourished only by the perforator terminal branch of the artery.This work showed that the flow-through blood supply nourished by the perforator lateral branch improved flap survival, with dilatation of collateral vascular anastomoses and increased neoangiogenesis.The use of a flow-through configuration improves perforator flap survival and could therefore minimize morbidity resulting from flap necrosis.

Quinupristin/dalfopristin (Q/D) is a valuable alternative to vancomycin for the treatment of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. However, not long after Q/D was approved, bacteria with resistance to this newer antimicrobial agent were reported. To investigate the prevalence of Q/D resistance, a total of 1476 non-duplicate S. aureus isolates, including 775 MRSA, from a Chinese tertiary hospital were selected randomly from 2003 to 2013. Of the 775 MRSA, 3 (0.4%) were resistant to Q/D. All meticillin-susceptible S. aureus were susceptible to Q/D. The prevalence of Q/D resistance among S. aureus was 0.2% (3/1476). The three isolates with Q/D resistance had the same antimicrobial resistance profile, except for cefaclor and chloramphenicol. All three Q/D-resistant MRSA were positive for five streptogramin B resistance genes (ermA, ermB, ermC, msrA and msrB) and two streptogramin A resistance genes (vatC and vgaA) as determined by PCR and DNA sequencing. MRSA WZ1031 belonged to ST9-MRSA-SCCmecV-t899, whilst MRSA WZ414 and WZ480 belonged to ST9-MRSA-SCCmecNT(non-typeable)-t899. ST9 has been reported predominantly in livestock-associated (LA) MRSA in some Asian countries. The three patients with these MRSA isolates were not livestock handlers and did not keep close contact with livestock. The origin of these important LA-MRSA isolates causing human infections is not known. Taken together, Q/D resistance, which was caused by a combination of ermA-ermB-ermC-msrA-msrB-vatC-vgaA, was first found among S. aureus clinical isolates in China. The present study is the first report of the emergence of human infections caused by ST9 LA-MRSA isolates with Q/D resistance.

SUMMARYWe investigated the virulence gene carriage and molecular type characteristics ofStaphylococcus aureusisolates from bloodstream infections (BSIs) and skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) in children. A total of 71 isolates, 16 of which were methicillin-resistantS. aureus(MRSA), were investigated by PCR for virulence-associated gene profiles, sequence type andspatype. This revealed that 76·7% and 53·7% of the SSTI and BSI isolates, respectively, exhibited simultaneous carriage of ⩾10 virulence genes. Compared to BSI isolates, carriage rates forhla,hlb,cna,clfA,seb,secandpvlgenes were significantly higher in SSTI isolates. By contrast, carriage ofeta,etbandseawas significantly higher for BSI isolates. Thirty-four sequence types (STs) and 36spatypes were identified in the 71 isolates and included 14 novel STs and four novelspatypes. ST59-MRSA-IV/V-t437 was the most common clone in the MRSA isolates. We concluded that virulence determinants are widely distributed in isolates ofS. aureusstrains from children with BSIs and SSTIs, with an unexpectedly high rate in SSTI isolates. Future profiling ofS. aureusvirulence determinants may allow the prediction of severity and outcome for children with these infections.

Familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome (FCAS) is an extremely rare autosomal dominant inherited disease. Although there are four genes that have been linked with FCAS, its molecular diagnosis has been challenging in a relatively large proportion of cases. In this study, we aimed to investigate the genetic defect of a recruited FCAS family using exome sequencing followed by in-depth bioinformatics analysis. As a result, a novel heterozygous stop-gain mutation (Trp408X) in NLRP12 was identified in autosomal dominant inherited FCAS with clinical features of recurrent fever and skin urticaria due to cold conditions. When combined with previous studies, all of the reported mutations were found to have occurred in a highly conserved region in the NACHT domain coding sequence in NLRP12 exon 3, suggesting that a screening strategy for FCAS should focus on this area of the gene. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the importance of exome sequencing for clinical diagnosis of genetic disorders and provides molecular insight into FCAS treatment and diagnosis.

The interaction of ceftriaxone sodium (CS), a cephalosporin antibiotic, with the major transport protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA), was investigated using different spectroscopic techniques such as fluorescence, circular dichroism (CD), and UV-vis spectroscopy. Values of binding parameters for BSA-CS interaction in terms of binding constant and number of binding sides were found to be 9.00 × 10(3), 3.24 × 10(3), and 2.30 × 10(3) M(-1) at 281, 301, and 321 K, respectively. Thermodynamic analysis of the binding data obtained at different temperatures showed that the binding process was spontaneous and was primarily mediated by van der Waals force or hydrogen bonding. CS binding to BSA caused secondary structural alterations in the protein as revealed by CD results. The distance between CS and Trp of BSA was determined as 3.23 nm according to the Förster resonance energy transfer theory.

A better understanding of virulence gene profiling and molecular characterization of Staphylococcus aureus isolates associated with bloodstream infection (BSI) may provide further insights related to clinical outcomes with these infections. We analyzed 89 S. aureus isolates including 37 MRSA isolates (41.6%) recovered from 89 adult patients with BSI from 4 hospitals in Zhejiang province, eastern China. Thirty-five (94.6%) of MRSA isolates and 4 (7.7%) of methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) isolates were resistant to multiple antimicrobials. All isolates harbored at least 2 of 22 possible virulence genes, including sdrC (92.1%), icaA (89.9%), hla (80.9%), clf (69.7%), sea (68.5%), sdrD (67.4%), hlb (67.4%), sdrE (65.2%), sei (51.7%), seg (50.6%), and cna (50.6%). Forty-four (49.4%) of all S. aureus BSI isolates, including 23 (62.2%) of MRSA isolates, harbored ≥10 of the virulence genes evaluated in this study. Sixteen (43.2%) MRSA isolates and 5 (9.6%) MSSA isolates harbored the gene encoding Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL). Collective genes for pvl, sdrE, sed, seg, and sei among MRSA isolates were significantly more frequent relative to MSSA isolates (P < 0.05). A total of 22 sequence types (STs), including novel ST2184, ST2199, and ST2200, and 33 spa types, including novel spa types t9530 and t9532, were identified among S. aureus BSI isolates, among which ST188 (15.7%) and ST7 (15.7%), and t091 (12.4%) and t189 (12.4%), seldom noted for Chinese isolates previously, were major STs and spa types, respectively. In contrast to previous reports, no predominant clones were found in the present study. Among the MRSA isolates, although ST239-MRSA-SCCmecIII, predominant clone in China, still represented the most common clone, it only accounted for 18.9%. However, ST188-MRSA- SCCmecIV seldom reported before accounted for 10.8%. Among the MSSA isolates, ST7-MSSA represented the most common clone (23.1%), followed by ST188-MSSA and ST630-MSSA (9.6% each). In conclusion, simultaneous carriage of multiple virulence genes and genetically considerable diversity were common among S. aureus BSI isolates. Furthermore, MRSA isolates exhibited more frequent carriage of superantigen genes and pvl relative to MSSA isolates. Taken together, there are distinctive virulence gene profiling and molecular characteristic among S. aureus isolates associated with bloodstream infection in China.

We investigated the extended-spectrum beta lactamases among 62 Salmonella enterica Typhimurium isolates recovered from children with diarrhea in a Chinese pediatric hospital. A large proportion of S. enterica Typhimurium isolates were resistant to multiple antimicrobial agents, including ampicillin (90.3%), tetracycline (80.6%), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (74.2%), chloramphenicol (66.1%), cefotaxime (27.4%). Forty-nine (79.0%) of S. enterica Typhimurium isolates were positive for bla(TEM-1b) and resistant to ampicillin. Thirteen S. enterica Typhimurium isolates (21.0%) were positive for bla(CTX-M-1-group) and bla(CTX-M-9-group), and all isolates harboring bla(CTX-M) genes were positive for ISEcp1. Two main clones (PFGE type A and D) accounted for nearly 70% of S. enterica Typhimurium isolates, and 7 CTX-M-producing isolates belonged to PFGE type D. Collectively, our data reveal multi-drug resistance and a high prevalence of extended spectrum beta lactamases among S. enterica Typhimurium isolates from children in China. In addition, we report the first identification of bla(CTX-M-55) within Salmonella spp. Our data also suggest that clonal spread is responsible for the dissemination of S. enterica Typhimurium isolates.

Many patients always late disease when they diagnozed with lung cancer, the therapeutic effect of late lung-cancer was very poor, the aim of this study is to compare therapeutic effect among bronchial arterial infusion (BAI), traditional vein chemotherapy and BAI plus vein chemotherapy sequential therapy, for late NSCLC, and find a better way to treat late lung cancer.One hundred and seven patients with advanced NSCLC were randomly treated by BAI, traditional vein chemotherapy and BAI plus vein chemotherapy sequential therapy.Primary lesion's total response rate(RR) of BAI group, traditional vein chemotherapy group and sequential therapy group were: 59.22%,30.23% and 69.05%, respectively. RR of primary lesion in BAI group was significantly higher than that in traditional vein chemotherapy group(P0.01), sequential therapy group was much higher than that in traditional vein chemotherapy group(P0.01), there was no differences between BAI group and sequential therapy group(P0.05). Metastasis's total response rate(RR) in BAI group, traditional vein chemotherapy group and sequential therapy group were: 18.19%, 53.58%,60.00%, respectively. RR in metastasis BAI group was significantly lower than that in traditional vein chemotherapy group(P0.05), sequential therapy group was much higher than that in BAI group(P0.01), there was no remarkable differences between traditional vein chemotherapy group and sequential therapy group(P0.05).BAI plus vein chemotherapy sequential therapy has good response on both NSCLC primary lesion and metastasis.

Background Recently, production of 16S rRNA methylases by Gram-negative bacilli has emerged as a novel mechanism for high-level resistance to aminoglycosides by these organisms in a variety of geographic locations. Therefore, the spread of high-level aminoglycoside resistance determinants has become a great concern. Methods Between January 2006 and July 2008, 680 distinct Escherichia coli clinical isolates were collected from a teaching hospital in Wenzhou, China. PCR and DNA sequencing were used to identify 16S rRNA methylase and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) genes, including armA and rmtB, and in situ hybridization was performed to determine the location of 16S rRNA methylase genes. Conjugation experiments were subsequently performed to determine whether aminoglycoside resistance was transferable from the E. coli isolates via 16S rRNA methylase-bearing plasmids. Homology of the isolates harboring 16S rRNA methylase genes was determined using pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Results Among the 680 E. coli isolates, 357 (52.5%), 346 (50.9%) and 44 (6.5%) isolates were resistant to gentamicin, tobramycin and amikacin, respectively. Thirty-seven of 44 amikacin-resistant isolates harbored 16S rRNA methylase genes, with 36 of 37 harboring the rmtB gene and only one harboring armA. The positive rates of 16S rRNA methylase genes among all isolates and amikacin-resistant isolates were 5.4% (37/680) and 84.1% (37/44), respectively. Thirty-one isolates harboring 16S rRNA methylase genes also produced ESBLs. In addition, high-level aminoglycoside resistance could be transferred by conjugation from four rmtB-positive donors. The plasmids of incompatibility groups IncF, IncK and IncN were detected in 34, 3 and 3 isolates, respectively. Upstream regions of the armA gene contained ISCR1 and tnpU, the latter a putative transposase gene,. Another putative transposase gene, tnpD, was located within a region downstream of armA. Moreover, a transposon, Tn3, was located upstream of the rmtB. Nineteen clonal patterns were obtained by PFGE, with type H representing the prevailing pattern. Conclusion A high prevalence of plasmid-mediated rmtB gene was found among clinical E. coli isolates from a Chinese teaching hospital. Both horizontal gene transfer and clonal spread were responsible for the dissemination of the rmtB gene.

In this study, the antimicrobial susceptibilities and prevalence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance determinants amongst Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium isolates from hospitalised paediatric patients with diarrhoea in China were investigated. In total, 40 (64.5%) of 62 S. Typhimurium isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin (minimum inhibitory concentration ≥0.5 μg/mL), comprising 28 isolates with low-level resistance and 12 isolates with high-level resistance. All ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates were multiresistant to other antimicrobial agents. Four pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) clusters were found amongst the 40 ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates, amongst which PFGE clusters A, B, E and D accounted for 7, 4, 1 and 28 isolates, respectively. Two isolates with high-level ciprofloxacin resistance had two mutations in the quinolone resistance-determining regions (QRDRs) of gyrA and parC. The remaining ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates had only one mutation in the QRDR of gyrA. All 62 S. Typhimurium isolates were negative for qnr genes and qepA and 23 (37.1%) of the isolates were positive for aac(6')-Ib-cr. Nineteen isolates harbouring aac(6')-Ib-cr belonged to PFGE cluster D. A high prevalence of ciprofloxacin resistance and aac(6')-Ib-cr was found amongst S. Typhimurium isolates in China from hospitalised paediatric patients with diarrhoea not receiving quinolones. A single mutation in the QRDR of gyrA as well as production of AAC(6')-Ib-cr contributed to ciprofloxacin resistance. Clonal spread was responsible for the dissemination of aac(6')-Ib-cr amongst S. Typhimurium isolates.

This paper demonstrates bandwidth requirement for optical DPQSK transmitter using one Dual-drive Mach Zehnder Modulator (DDMZM) for 100Gb/s physical transmission. The result shows that at receiver bandwidth of 40GHz, NRZ-DQPSK signal requires 60GHz modulation bandwidth at least, while RZ-DQPSK scheme demands less bandwidth, about 40GHz for 50 % duty cycle RZ-DQPSK signal. Keywords: differential quadrature phase-shift keying (DQPSK), dual-drive Mach Zehnder modulator (DDMZM), modulation bandwidth 1. INTRODUCTION Recent years 100G Ethernet has attracted much attention both on standardization and technical implementation issues due to the continuous growth of data traffic in provider networks over the decades. Of all the solutions imposed at present, 100Gb/s serial physical transmission using an optical differential quadrature phase-shift keying (DQPSK) modulation format has been proved as a preferable choice for implementation because of its high spectral efficiency as well as halved bandwidth requirement for electrical components. To further improv e the cost effectiveness, a simplified DQPSK transmitter scheme using single dual-drive Mach Zehnder Modulator (DDMZM) and two-level electrical driving signal was raised. However, the generated optical signal exhibits great ripples caused by the rise-fall edge of the drive signals, and an additional pulse carver is suggested by the author to mitigate the impacts [1, 2]. In this paper, the performances of DQPSK transmitter using one DDMZM with and without pulse carver for 100Gb/s back-to-back (B2B) transmission are evaluated, then the bandwidth characteristics of both NRZ-DQPSK and RZ-DQPSK with duty cycles of 33%, 50% and 67%, are examined respectively. First we introduce the principle of DQPSK transmitter using one DDMZM. Then the bandwidth characteristics of different DQPSK signals are analyzed in sequence. The result indicates that NRZ-DQPSK signal generated by one DDMZM demonstrates great demand for modulation bandwidth, which is beyond the symbol rate; while the RZ carved signals are able to reduce the bandwidth requirement effectively and approach to conventional transmitte r. This feature thus offers an alternative DQPSK scheme with simpler configuration and lower co st for 100Gb/s phys ical transmission.

A numerical simulation was carried out to study the effect of sublattice ordering on the AlGaAs/GaInP2 wide band gap tunneling diode. The self-consistent solution of heterojunction Poisson equation and Schrodinger equation was calculated to give the band profile of a GaInP/GaAs tandem solar cell.

To study the stimulation of the genioglossus with percutaneous biphasic current pulses as a new therapeutical method to treat the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), polysomnography (PSG) was used to synchronously monitor the patient. When OSAS was occurring, the stimulation with the optimal parameter was given in time to make the tongue move forward, the glossopharyngeal airway dilated, the resistance of the upper respiratory tract reduced, the hypoxia at night to be improved and the sleeping structure to be ameliorated because of the function of the dilated muscle of the upper airway. The results of the clinical therapeutic effect indicated that 17 of 22 patients with OSAS had cured effects, 2 of whom improved and 3 of whom were without effect. The effective rate was 77.27%. It is preliminarily proved that this is a new method in the treatment of patients suffered from OSAS.

To study the effect of carbon monoxide on pulmonary vessel remodeling of chronic pulmonary heart disease.Thirty-six sprague-dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group, and hypoxic hypercapnic group, and hypoxic hypercapnia + hemin group. Blood CO concentration (COHb%), activity of HO-1 in blood serum and lung homogenate, pulmonary arteriole micromorphometric index, HO-1 and HO-1 mRNA were measured.(1) mPAP and RV/(LV + S) were (20.1 +/- 0.8) mm Hg and (35.5 +/- 1.7)% in hypoxic hypercapnic group, they were significantly higher than those of control group's (15.3 +/- 1.4) mm Hg, (26.7 +/- 1.7)%, and those of hypoxic hypercapnia + hemin (activator of HO-1) group's (16.5 +/- 3.7) mm Hg, (30.2 +/- 1.6)% (P0.01). (2) Pulmonary arteriole micromorphometric index in rats of hypoxic hypercapnic group were significantly higher than those of control group and hypoxic hypercapnia + hemin group (P0.01). (3) Blood CO concentration, activity of HO-1 in blood serum and lung homogenate, content of HO-1 and HO-1 mRNA in pulmonary arterioles in rats of hypoxic hypercapnic group were (2.1 +/- 0.9)%, (73 +/- 18) nmol.L(-1).h(-1), (1 751 +/- 311) pmol.mg(-1).h(-1), 0.191 +/- 0.012 and 0.301 +/- 0.017, were significantly higher than those of control group: (0.5 +/- 0.3)%, (25 +/- 8) nmol.L(-1).h(-1), (385 +/- 46) pmol.mg(-1).h(-1), 0.059 +/- 0.005, 0.131 +/- 0.011, but were significantly lower than those of hypoxic hypercapnia + hemin group: (4.9 +/- 2.1)%, (132 +/- 39) nmol.L(-1).h(-1), (2 849 +/- 426) pmol.mg(-1).h(-1), 0.272 +/- 0.013, 0.339 +/- 0.020 (P0.01). (4) Correlation analysis revealed that the relationship between carbon monoxide system and pulmonary arteriole micromorphometric index was significantly negative (P0.01).Up-regulation of endogenous carbon monoxide system can inhibit pulmonary vessel remodeling in rats with chronic pulmonary heart disease induced by hypoxia and hypercapnia.

To investigate the regulating role of protein kinase C(PKC) and the effects of losartan intervention on the expression of pulmonary arterial collagen in chronic hypoxic rat models.Thirty six rats were randomly divided into three groups: healthy control group(A), hypoxic model group(B),and hypoxic + losartan intervention group (C). MT% (vessel medial thichness/ total thichness) and WA% (vessel wall area/total area) of pulmonary arterioles were measured with light microscopy,the ultrastructures of pulmonary arterioles were observed by electronic microscope, the PKC activities of lung tissues were detected with radioactive method,the protein and(or) mRNA expression of PKC and collagen I, III in arterioles were observed using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. The relative contents [integral light density(LD)] of PKC, collagen I, III and procollagen I, III mRNA in pulmonary arterioles were calculated with image analysor.(1) The mean pulmonary arterial pressure and weight ratio of right ventricle (RV) to left ventricle(LV)+septum( S)(RV/LV+S) in group B were significantly higher than those in group A(P0.01), but in group C they were significantly lower than those in group B (P0.01). (2) MT% and WA% of pulmonary arterioles in group B were significantly increased than those in group A (P0.01) while in group C both the parameters were significantly decreased than those in group B (P0.01). Collagen fiber deposition in pulmonary arteriolar walls were inhibited in group C by electronic microscopy.(3) The total,cytoplasmic and cytomembrane PKC activities, as well as the ratio of cytomembrane PKC activity to total one in group B were significantly increased than those in group A(P0.01),while all these parameters in group C were significantly decreased than those of group B (P0.01). (4)LD of PKC,collagen I and procollagen I m RNA expressions in pulmonary arterioles were significantly increased in group B than those in group A(P0.01), but in group C they were significantly decreased than those in group B(P0.01). There were no significant differences in collagen III and procollagen IIImRNA expressions among the three groups(P0.05).(5)Significant positive correlations were found between the PKC activities and collagen I expressions(P0.05) and between the expressions of PKC and collagen I in pulmonary arterioles(P0.01).The PKC signal pathway participated the regulation of pulmonary arterial collagen expression in chronic hypoxic rat models and may play an important role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension and structural remodeling of pulmonary arterials. Losartan could reduce the hypoxic pulmonary hypertension by interference the role of PKC on pulmonary arterial collagen expression.

To investigate the effects of protein kinase C and breviscapine on the expression of pulmonary arterial collagen in chronic hypoxic rats.Thirty-six rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group (A), hypoxic group(B),hypoxic + breviscapine(bre.)group (C). The ultrastructure of pulmonary arterioles was observed by electron microscope; the PKC activities of lung tissues were measured by radioactivity; the expression of PKC and collagen I and III in arterioles was observed by immunohistochemistry; the expression of procollagen I and III mRNA in arterioles was observed by in situ hybridization. The averages of integral light density( A )of PKC, collagen I and III and procollagen I and III mRNA in pulmonary arterioles were detected by image analysor and their relative contents were calculated.(1) The mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) and the weight ratio of RV to LV + S in group B were higher than those in group A(P0.01); the mPAP and the weight ratio of RV to LV + S in group C were lower than those in group B (P0.01). (2)Electron microscopy showed breviscapine could inhibit the deposition of collagenous fibers in pulmonary arterioles induced by hypoxia.(3) The total,cytosolic and particulate fractions of PKC activity and the ratio of particulate fraction to total PKC activity in group B were higher than those in group A(P0.01); the total,cytosolic and particulate fractions of PKC activity and the ratio of particulate fraction to total PKC activity in group C were lower than those in group B (P0.05). (4) The A values of PKC, collagen I and procollagen I mRNA in pulmonary arterioles were higher in group B than in group A(P0.01),and the A values of PKC, collagen I and procollagen I mRNA in pulmonary arterioles were lower in group C than in group B(P0.01); the differences in the A values of collagen III and procollagen III mRNA in pulmonary arterioles were not significant among the three groups (P0.05).(5)There were good correlations between the PKC activity of the lung tissues and the A values of collagen I and procollagen I mRNA in pulmonary arterioles(P0.05),and between the A values of PKC in pulmonary arterioles and those of collagen I and procollagen I mRNA in pulmonary arterioles(P0.01).The PKC signal pathway regulates the expression of pulmonary arterial collagen in chronic hypoxic rats which may play an important role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension and structural remodeling of pulmonary arterials breviscapine can lower hypoxic pulmonary hypertension by inhibiting the effect of PKC and decreasing the expression of pulmonary arterial collagen.

Paeoniflorin (PF), which is the main active ingredient in the root of Paeonia Radix, has many pharmacological effects. Here, we investigated the effect of PF on rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) under hypoxic conditions and explored the mechanisms of the effects. The anti-proliferative effect of PF increased in a dose dependent manner. At the highest dose (20 μmol/L), the anti-proliferative effect of PF peaked at 24 h after administration. However, the selective A2B adenosine receptor (A2BAR) antagonist MRS1754 abolished it. PF increased A2BAR mRNA levels from 0.0763±0.0067 of β-actin mRNA levels (hypoxia group) to 0.1190±0.0139 (P

Background Staphylococcus aureus, particularly methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), is an important cause of pyogenic skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs). The aim of present study is to investigate the molecular characteristic of Staphylococcus aureus isolates isolated from the pus samples from the patients with purulent skin and soft tissue infections in Wenzhou, China. Methods Between December 2002 and June 2008, a total of 111 nonduplicate S. aureus isolates were collected from the pus samples of the patients with SSTIs in a teaching hospital in Wenzhou, China. All the tested isolates were confirmed as S. aureus using a Staph SPA agglutination kit, Gram's stain and a Vitek-60 microbiology analyzer. The homology among the tested isolates was determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was used to determine the sequence types (STs) of the selected isolates. The genotypes of SCCmec were determined by a multiplex PCR in the MRSA isolates. Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) genes and mecA were also determined by another multiplex PCR. Results Among the 111 S. aureus isolates, 48 and 63 isolates were community-acquired and hospital-acquired respectively. Sixty isolates were confirmed as MRSA harboring mecA detected by PCR. A total of 32 PFGE clonal types were obtained by PFGE, with 10 predominant patterns (types A to J). Twenty-five different STs including ST398 and three novel STs were found among 51 selected isolates. The main STs were ST239, ST1018, ST59, ST7 and ST88. Of 60 MRSA isolates, SCCmec II, III, IV and SCCmec V were found in three, 50, three and two isolates, respectively. The positive rates of PVL genes in overall isolates, HA-isolates, CA-isolates, MRSA isolates and MSSA isolates were 23.4% (26/111), 20.6% (13/63), 27.1% (13/48), 21.7% (13/60) and 25.5% (13/51), respectively. Eight (33.3%, 8/24) of 24 CA-MRSA isolates and 5 (13.9%, 5/36) of 36 HA-MRSA isolates were positive for PVL genes. ST239-MRSA-SCCmecIII and ST1018-MRSA-SCCmecIII clones were found to be main clones and spread between community and hospital. Conclusion S. aureus isolates causing SSTIs showed considerable molecular heterogeneity and harbored high prevalence of PVL genes. Clonal spread was responsible for the dissemination of the isolates of S. aureus associated with SSTIs.

Background Cryptococcus neoformans infection usually presents as chronic meningitis and is increasingly being recognized in immunocompromised patients. Presentation with pleural effusion is rare in cryptococcal disease; in fact, only 4 cases of pleural effusion as the initial clinical presentation in cryptococcosis have been reported in English-language literature to date. We report the first case of pleural effusion as the initial clinical presentation in a renal transplant recipient who was initially misdiagnosed with tuberculous pleuritis but who then developed fungaemia and disseminated cryptococcosis. The examination of this rare manifestation and the accompanying literature review will contribute to increased recognition of the disease and a reduction in misdiagnoses. Case presentation We describe a 63-year-old male renal transplant recipient on an immunosuppressive regimen who was admitted for left pleural effusion and fever. Cytological examinations and pleural fluid culture were nonspecific and negative. Thoracoscopy only found chronic, nonspecific inflammation with fibrosis in the pleura. After empirical anti-tuberculous therapy, the patient developed an elevated temperature, a severe headache and vomiting and fainted in the ward. Cryptococci were specifically found in the cerebrospinal fluid following lumbar puncture. Blood cultures were twice positive for C. neoformans one week later. He was transferred to the respiratory intensive care unit (RICU) immediately and was placed on non-invasive ventilation for respiratory failure for 2 days. He developed meningoencephalitis and fungaemia with C. neoformans during hospitalization. He was given amphotericin B liposome combined with 5-flucytosine and voriconazole for first 11 days, then amphotericin B liposome combined with 5-flucytosine sustained to 8 weeks, after that changed to fluconazole for maintenance. His condition improved after antifungal treatment, non-invasive ventilation and other support. Further pathological consultation and periodic acid-Schiff staining revealed Cryptococcus organisms in pleural sections, providing reliable evidence for cryptococcal pleuritis. Conclusion Pleural effusion is an unusual manifestation of cryptococcosis. Cryptococcal infection must be considered in the case of patients on immunosuppressives, especially solid-organ transplant recipients, who present with pleural effusion, even if pleural fluid culture is negative. Close communication between the pathologist and the clinician, multiple special biopsy section stains and careful review are important and may contribute to decreasing misdiagnosis.

Background Emergence of multidrug resistance in Enterobacteriaceae limits the selection of antimicrobials for treatment of infectious diseases. Identification of NDM-1 makes more difficulty in treating multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae infections. Carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli clinical isolates from a tertiary hospital in Wenzhou, east China, were investigated for NDM-1 production. Results The two tested isolates were negative for modified Hodge test, but positive for a double-disc synergy test used for detecting metallo-β-lactamase production. E. coli WZ33 and WZ51 exhibited discrepant-level resistance to most clinically frequent used antimicrobials, but still susceptible to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, amikacin, fosfomycin, tigecycline and polymyxin B. E. coli WZ33 and WZ51 were positive for blaNDM-1 determined by PCR and DNA sequencing. Other than blaNDM-1, E. coli WZ33 also harbored blaCTX-M-14 and blaCMY-42, while E. coli WZ51 simultaneously harbored blaSHV-12,blaCTX-M-14 and blaCMY-42. Carbapenem resistance for E. coli WZ51 and WZ33 could not be transferred to E. coli recipients through conjugation, but could be transferred to E. coli recipients by chemical transformation. The EcoR1-digested DNA pattern of plasmids from the transformant of E. coli WZ51 was different from that of E. coli WZ51. MLST showed that E. coli WZ33 and WZ51 belonged to an animal-associated clone (ST167). Conclusion The present study is the first report of blaNDM-1 carriage in E. coli ST167 isolates and coexistence of blaNDM-1 and blaCMY-42 in same isolate. Systemic surveillance should focus on the dissemination of blaNDM-1 among Enterobacteriaceae, especially E. coli ST167 clone associated with animal infection.