Chinese Med J Peking
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Chinese Med J Peking · May 2007
Molecular characteristics of rifampin and isoniazid resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains from Beijing, China.
China is one of the high burden countries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) infection globally, with high incidence and mortality. We studied the molecular characteristics of rifampin (RIF) and isoniazid (INH) resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains from Beijing, China, in order to find out the genetic marker for rapid detection of specific drug resistance. ⋯ The hot-spot region of rpoB gene can be used as genetic marker for detection of RIF resistant strains; a combined use of both katG315 and inhA-15 can improve the detection rate of INH resistant strains; the Beijing genotype is prevalent in Beijing, China; the modified RIFO assay can be a practical tool for rapid detection of RIF resistant and MDR isolates in the routine diagnostic work.
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Chinese Med J Peking · May 2007
Differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells from diabetic patients into insulin-producing cells in vitro.
Stem cells, which have the ability to differentiate into insulin-producing cells (IPCs), would provide a potentially unlimited source of islet cells for transplantation and alleviate the major limitations of availability and allogeneic rejection. Therefore, the utilization of stem cells is becoming the most promising therapy for diabetes mellitus (DM). Here, we studied the differentiation capacity of the diabetic patient's bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and tested the feasibility of using MSCs for beta-cell replacement. ⋯ Bone marrow-derived MSCs from DM patients can differentiate into functional IPCs under certain conditions in vitro. Using diabetic patient's own bone marrow-derived MSCs as a source of autologous IPCs for beta-cell replacement would be feasible.
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Chinese Med J Peking · May 2007
Preliminary clinical outcomes of percutaneous kyphoplasty with Sky-bone expander.
Percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) using balloon expander has been proved to be effective in the treatment of painful vertebral compression fractures. Recently, Sky-bone expander, an alternative bone expander for PKP has been developed. The purpose of this study was to show our preliminary clinical outcomes of PKP with Sky-bone expander. ⋯ PKP with Sky-bone expander is an effective and relatively safe alternative to the PKP using balloon expander. It can relieve pain, improve physical function, and restore the height of the collapsed vertebrae, but the cement extravasation is unsolved.
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Chinese Med J Peking · May 2007
Nucleotide sequence characterization and phylogenetic analysis of hantaviruses isolated in Shandong Province, China.
China is the most severe endemic area of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in the world with 30,000-50,000 cases reported annually, which accounts for more than 90% of total number of cases worldwide. The incidence rate of the syndrome in Shandong Province is one of the highest in China, which has ever reached 50 per 100,000 persons per year. However, the molecular characteristics of hantaviruses (HV) epidemic in Shandong Province remain unclear. Therefore it is useful to clarify nucleotide sequence and phylogenetic characteristics of HV isolated in Shandong Province in order to provide better advices to control and prevent HFRS. ⋯ In Shandong Province, the homologies of HTNV were lower and there were no predominant subtypes, while the homologies of SEOV were higher and S3 was the predominant subtype. The homologies of SEOV from rodents were higher than those from patients. The distribution of subtypes in Shandong was similar to that of the adjoining provinces. Phylogenetic analyses of the sequences showed geographic clustering of HV in Shandong.