Dictamnine Inhibits the Adhesion to and Invasion of Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli (UPEC) to Urothelial Cells

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the most common pathogenic bacteria associated with urinary tract infection (UTI). UPEC can cause UTI by adhering to and invading uroepithelial cells. Fimbriae is the most important virulence factor of UPEC, and a potentially promising target in developing novel antibacterial treatments. In this study, the antibacterial properties and effects of the compound dictamnine, extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine Cortex Dictamni, on the bacterial morphology, cell adhesion, and invasion of UPEC were studied. Dictamnine exhibited no obvious antibacterial activity against UPEC, but significantly impeded the ability of UPEC to adhere to and invade uroepithelial cells. RT-qPCR analysis showed that treatment downregulated the expression of type 1 fimbriae, P fimbriae, and curli fimbriae adhesion genes, and also downregulated adhesion-related receptor genes of uroepithelial cells. Transmission electron microscopy showed that dictamnine destroyed the structure of the fimbriae and the surface of the bacteria became smooth. These results suggest that dictamnine may help to prevent UTI by simultaneously targeting UPEC fimbriae and urothelial adhesin receptors, and may have a potential use as a new anti-UPEC drug.     

老年人上消化道出血176例临床分析

对１７６例老年人上消化道出血病因进行了分析，提出了临床治疗和预后措施。     

儿童呼吸道感染与发锌含量观察

采用原子吸收分光光度法对８６例呼吸道感染患儿发中锌含量进行测定，结果表明：呼吸道感染患儿发锌含量均低于对照组，经统计学处理有显著性差异，Ｐ〈０．０１，提示微量元素锌的缺乏可能是造成小儿机体免疫功能低下，易感染性疾病的病因之一。     

A theoretical study of f0-f1 interaction with application to resonant speaking and singing voice

An interactive source-filter system, consisting of a three-mass body-cover model of the vocal folds and a wave reflection model of the vocal tract, was used to test the dependence of vocal fold vibration on the vocal tract. The degree of interaction is governed by the epilarynx tube, which raises the vocal tract impedance to match the impedance of the glottis. The key component of the impedance is inertive reactance. Whenever there is inertive reactance, the vocal tract assists the vocal folds in vibration. The amplitude of vibration and the glottal flow can more than double, and the oral radiated power can increase up to 10 dB. As F0 approaches F1, the first formant frequency, the interactive source-filter system loses its advantage (because inertive reactance changes to compliant reactance) and the noninteractive system produces greater vocal output. Thus, from a voice training and control standpoint, there may be reasons to operate the system in either interactive and noninteractive modes. The harmonics 2F0 and 3F0 can also benefit from being positioned slightly below F1.     

Reduced MTR in the corticospinal tract and normal T2 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that magnetization transfer ratios (MTR) are decreased in the corticospinal tract of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); to determine if T2 is increased in corticospinal tract or reduced in motor cortex in ALS; to determine if corticospinal tract MTR correlates with a clinical measure of motor neuron function in ALS. Ten ALS patients and 17 age-matched controls were studied. Double spin echo MRI and 3D gradient echo MRI with and without off-resonance saturation were acquired on each subject. 3D data sets were coregistered and resliced to match the spin echo data set. MTR was calculated for corticospinal and non-corticospinal tract white matter. T2 was calculated for corticospinal and non-corticospinal tract white matter, motor cortex and non-motor cortex. MTR was reduced by 2.6% (p < .02) in corticospinal, but not in non-corticospinal, tract white matter in ALS. There was no difference in T2 in any brain region. The correlation between a clinical measure of motor neuron function and corticospinal tract MTR was statistically significant. These findings are consistent with the known pathology in ALS and suggest that MTR is more sensitive than T2 for detecting involvement of the corticospinal tract. Quantitative MTR of the corticospinal tract may be a useful, objective marker of upper motor neuron pathology in ALS.     

Microcalorimetry for assessment of energy turnover of human gastrointestinal mucosa in vivo

The objective of the present microcalorimetric investigation on mucosal biopsies from human gastric body (B) and descending duodenum (D) was to test whether a steady state of metabolism does persist and, if not, to find out how to assess the preexisting in vivo conditions. The measurements were performed at various incubation temperatures and partial pressures of oxygen. The measured curves fell exponentially after reaching an initial maximum without an initial steady state. Back-extrapolations to the time of taking the biopsies on the basis of a two-phase exponential decay curve gave baseline thermal power values at 37°C of 41 (D) and 15 (B) μW/mg_dw, respectively, which roughly correspond to known values of basal oxygen consumption of heart and kidney. The higher values of the duodenum may be founded on a higher transport activity in vivo. Altogether, microcalorimetry seems to be a method for comparative evaluation of metabolic activity of human mucosa samples.     

莫西沙星与左氧氟沙星治疗下呼吸道感染的疗效比较

目的比较莫西沙星与左氧氟沙星治疗下呼吸道感染的临床效果。方法选取94例下呼吸道感染患者,随机分为对照组(47例)与观察组(47例),分别采取左氧氟沙星和莫西沙星治疗。统计两组患者喘息、发热、咳嗽等症状消失时间及住院天数,观察治疗效果。结果对照组与观察组治疗总有效率分别为91.5%和95.7%,比较无统计学意义(P0.05)。较对照组,观察组喘息消失时间、发热消失时间、咳嗽消失时间及住院天数[(3.6±1.8)、(4.2±1.6)、(2.6±2.2)、(7.5±1.8)]d明显更优(P0.05)。结论莫西沙星与左氧氟沙星治疗下呼吸道感染疗效相当,莫西沙星在迅速改善临床症状、促进患者康复方面更具优势。     

In Vitro Proof of Concept of a First-Generation Growth-Accommodating Heart Valved Conduit for Pediatric Use

Currently available heart valve prostheses have no growth potential, requiring children with heart valve diseases to endure multiple valve replacement surgeries with compounding risks. This study demonstrates the in vitro proof of concept of a biostable polymeric trileaflet valved conduit designed for surgical implantation and subsequent expansion via transcatheter balloon dilation to accommodate the growth of pediatric patients and delay or avoid repeated open-heart surgeries. The valved conduit is formed via dip molding using a polydimethylsiloxane-based polyurethane, a biocompatible material shown here to be capable of permanent stretching under mechanical loading. The valve leaflets are designed with an increased coaptation area to preserve valve competence at expanded diameters. Four 22 mm diameter valved conduits are tested in vitro for hydrodynamics, balloon dilated to new permanent diameters of 23.26 ± 0.38 mm, and then tested again. Upon further dilation, two valved conduits sustain leaflet tears, while the two surviving devices reach final diameters of 24.38 ± 0.19 mm. After each successful dilation, the valved conduits show increased effective orifice areas and decreased transvalvular pressure differentials while maintaining low regurgitation. These results demonstrate concept feasibility and motivate further development of a polymeric balloon-expandable device to replace valves in children and avoid reoperations.     

Influenza and the Vocal Performer: Update on Prevention and Treatment

SUMMARY: Upper respiratory tract infections (URIs) are a major cause of morbidity among vocal arts professionals, both from their acute impairment of the vocal mechanism and their predisposing influence for the development of serious vocal sequelae. In this review, we present some of the salient features of currently available treatments effective against influenza, the virus family responsible for the most serious form of URI. At present, these include an inactivated vaccine and four antiviral drugs, each approved in the United States and many other countries for the prevention and treatment of influenza. A live attenuated vaccine is also available, and other vaccines and antiviral drugs are under development. This review details the current options available for treating both influenza and noninfluenza related URIs in the professional voice user.