New triterpenes from down-regulating the mRNA expression of CD147, MMP-2, and MMP-9.

Eleven new 9,19-cycloartane triterpenes (1-9, 11-12) and one undescribed lanostane-type aglycone (10) were identified from the aerial parts of . The new structures were elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data. Compounds 3-5, 7-9, and 11, without obvious cytotoxicity at 50 μM, were evaluated for inhibiting the mRNA expressions of atherosclerosis-related factors of CD147 (extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer, EMMPRIN), matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 in phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) induced Human monocytic THP-1 cells by using a quantitative real-time PCR method (q-PCR).

[Molecular characterization of Vibrio cholerae phage-type 6b epidemic isolates from 1998 to 2001 in Sichuan province].

Objective: To investigate the molecular characteristics of phage-type 6b isolates emerging in 1998-2001 cholera epidemics in Sichuan province.

Methods: Isolates were analyzed by phage-typing, pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and ompW gene sequencing.

Results: All phage-type 1b and 6b isolates in Sichuan province from 1998 to 2001 were toxigenic.

[Comparative study on accumulation of Ah-receptor agonists in contaminated soil based on EROD bioassay and chemical analysis].

The potential ecological risk by wastewater or reclaimed water for irrigation is of great concerns in recent years, but little work was done on the chronic toxicities through long term accumulation of persistent organic chemicals in soil. In present work, concentration of Ah-receptor agonists in soil organic extract was measured by an ethoxyresorfin O-deethylase (EROD) bioassay, which was calibrated and expressed by the 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p-dioxin (2, 3, 7, 8-TCDD) toxic equivalent (TEQbio). Simultaneously, 16 PAHs in soil were analyzed and their TEQs (total as TEQ(PAHs)) were calculated according to their toxic equivalent factors (TEFs) cited from literature.

[An outbreak of human Streptococcus suis serotype 2 infections presenting with toxic shock syndrome in Sichuan, China].

Objective: In mid-July 2005, five patients presented with septic shock to a hospital in Ziyang city in Sichuan, China, to identify the etiology of the unknown reason disease, an epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory study were conducted.

Methods: An enhanced surveillance program were established in Sichuan, the following activities were introduced: active case finding in Sichuan of (a) laboratory diagnosed Streptococcus suis infection and (b) clinically diagnosed probable cases with exposure history; supplemented by (c) monitoring reports on meningococcal meningitis. Streptococcus suis serotype 2 infection was confirmed by culture and biochemical reactions, followed by sequencing for specific genes for serotype and virulence factors.

[Application of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis typing in tracing and carrying out surveillance programs on O139 cholera outbreaks].

Objective: To study the characteristics of molecular typing and phylogenic relationship among the Vibrio cholerae serogroup O139 strains isolated from environment and sea food samples during cholera outbreaks, in Sichuan province in 2004 and to trace the source of infections so as to support the ascertainment of epidemic control strategy.

Methods: Cholera toxin gene was detected by polymerase chain reaction amplification. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used for subtyping of isolates and clustering of patterns was analysed with the software BioNumerics.