A xylanase producing strain was screened with xylan as the only carbon source. The strain was identified as Streptomyces cirratus. The effects of different factore on the enzyme production were studied. Corncobs xylan (water insoluble) and tryptone were the best C and N sources, respectively. The enzyme activity was increased to about 2.5 times by addition of 0.5% Tween 80 in the medium. The highest xylanase activity was up to 623u/mL.

OBJECTIVETo select optimal media and conditions for the tissue culture of Dendrobium lituiforum.

METHODThe basic media, light illumination condition, phytohormone, and natural aqueous extracts. were tested and compared. The chlorophyll contents and soluble protein contents were measured.

RESULTN6 medium was suitable for embryo germination and growth. 1/2 MS + NAA 0.5 mg x L(-1) cordd be used as the optimal protocorm multiplying media. Culture 20 days in darkness in advance, and then in light is useful to embryo germinate. 1/2 MS+ NAA 0-0.5 mg x L(-1) is beneficial to protocorm multiplication largely. N6 + 6-BA 2.0 mg x L(-1) + NAA 0.5 mg x L(-1) + 10% potato juice is useful to protocorm differentiation. Phytohormone and potato juice added to the media promoted chlorophyll content and souble protein content. N6 + NAA 0.5 mg x L(-1) + 10% banana juice is the best medium for plantlet rootage and strengthening.

CONCLUSIONConcentration of inorganic salt, nitrogen source and illumination condition are important to embryo germination and growth. The nitrogen source type has effect on the protocorm multiplication. The chlorophyll contents and souble protein contents may be index to indicate the growth condition of plantlets, which can help to select the optimal media.

Chlorophyll ; analysis ; Culture Media ; Dendrobium ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Light ; Plant Growth Regulators ; pharmacology ; Plant Proteins ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Tissue Culture Techniques

This case report describes a 44-year-old woman with primary spinal cord malignant melanoma localized in the lumbar region. This is a very rare lesion. The patient presented with back pain and slight weakness in her lower extremities. Magnetic resonance imaging showed hyperintense signals on T1-weighted images and hypointense signals on T2-weighted images. The entire tumor was removed surgically. The patient's postoperative clinical examination revealed mild neurological improvements. Histopathological investigations confirmed the tumor was a malignant melanoma. When treating common lesions of the lumbar spinal cord with a benign appearance, surgeons should be aware of the potential for malignant tumors.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Melanoma ; diagnosis ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms ; diagnosis

Objective To evaluate the complications and prognostic factors of lung transplantation performed in a single center.Methods A rettospective analysis of demographic and outcome data of lung transplantation was performed.Survival analyses were performed using Kaplan-Meier estimation.Results Between January 2003 and April 2011,42 lung transplant procedures were performed.Overall survival rate at 1,3,and 5 years were 89％,59％ and 38％,respectively.1,3,and 5 years survival in patients with COPD was 83％,66％ and 45％,respectively,which were better than other primary end stage lung diseases ( 78％,17％ and 17％,respectively,P =0.013).Postoperative complications included pulmonary bacterium infection in 8 patients (20％),fungal infection in 12 (30％),and airway complications in4 (9.5％).35％ of patients had at least 1 episode of acute rejections within the first year,and 22.5％ of patients had BOS.2 patients underwent single lung retransplantation.Conclusion In this single center study,patients with COPD may have a good long-term survival.The most common postoperative complications were pulmonary infection and airway complication.

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) levels and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis.

METHODSFasting plasma ox-LDL was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and plasma LDL was measured by biochemical autoanalyser in 31 patients with coronary artery spasm (CAS group, chest pain with positive acetylcholine provocation test but without significant coronary artery stenosis), 35 patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP group) and 24 healthy persons (control group).

RESULTSPlasma LDL levels were similar between CAS and SAP groups but significantly higher than that in control group. Plasma ox-LDL levels significantly increased in proportion to coronary lesion severities [SAP (575 +/- 219 microg/L) > CAS (299 +/- 117 microg/L) > control (218 +/- 35 microg/L)]. In SAP group, plasma ox-LDL level was also significantly higher in multi-vessel disease group than that in single-vessel disease group (672 +/- 92 vs. 462 +/- 72 microg/L, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPlasma ox-LDL but not LDL level is significantly correlated to the severity of coronary atherosclerosis and should therefore be the focused therapy target in patients with coronary artery disease.

Adult ; Aged ; Angina Pectoris ; blood ; classification ; Coronary Vasospasm ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged

Introduction:The 2010 targets of the China Hepatitis B Prevention Programme were a prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) less than 1.0% for children less than five years old and less than 6.0% for the total population. This survey assessed the prevalence of Hepatitis B infection in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, China in 2009–2010.Methods:Multistage sampling was used with 2372 subjects among 17 selected villages. Blood specimen collection and testing by enzyme-linked immunosorbnet assay (ELISA) were completed using the following markers for hepatitis infection: HBsAg and antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs); hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and antibody to HBeAg (anti-HBe); and hepatitis B core antibody (total anti-HBc). The data were analysed with Epi Info, version 3.3.2.Results:The prevalence of HBsAg was 2.4% (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.8–3.0; Adjusted Prevalence [AP] 2.9%); anti-HBs prevalence was 51.1% (95% CI: 49.1–53.1; AP 49.2%) and total anti-HBc prevalence was 41.7% (95% CI: 39.8–43.7; AP 45.5%). The prevalence of HBsAg and total anti-HBc positivity increased from young to older age groups, yet the prevalence of anti-HBs positivity decreased from young to older age groups (P< 0.001 for all). There was no difference in the prevalences of HBsAg and anti-HBs among females and males (P= 0.108 and 0.089), but females had a higher prevalence than males for total anti-HBc positivity (P< 0.001). Discussion: This survey showed that in 2010 the prevalence of HBsAg among children aged less than five years was lower than the national target of 1.0% and that the prevalence of HBsAg for the total population was lower than the national target of 6.0%.

Acetylcholine ; Adult ; Aged ; Coronary Vasospasm ; diagnosis ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Through researches of channels and collaterals and clinical practice of many years, the authors understand that Chinese medicine, which considers the human body as an interrelated, mutual constraints, whole, dynamic living system, has gradually become an important part of modern medicine. Channels and collaterals are a closed loop system which is communicated and linked by energy and information in the form of electromagnetic oscillation, reflecting many characteristics similar to quantum. Channels and collaterals are not a fixed organizational structure. Studies on channel and collaterals find that the track of the propagated sensation along channels (PSC) have the phenomenon drifting about. This exactly reflects the law of channels dynamically running. By information triggering and living resonance, channels and collaterals bring into play entirely regulative action. The innovative treatment of channels and collaterals followed by characteristics and laws of quantum can get a better curative effect. Theory of channels in the position of quantum information medical science provides an important breach for modernization of Chinese medicine.
Medical Informatics ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; trends ; Meridians

OBJECTIVETo observe effect of porcine relaxin(pRLX) on NO production of human microvascular endothelial cells(HMVECs) and discuss its possible mechanism.

METHODSiNOS and cNOS expression of HMVECs with or without pRLX were detected using western blotting. NO production of HMVECs with pRLX at different concentration or different time were determined by method of Griess. NO production of pRLX of HMVECs plus Non-selective NOS inhibitor NG-monomethyl-L-arginine(L-NMMA), selective iNOS inhibitor aminoguanidine(AG) or nuclear factors-kappaB (NF-kappaB) inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate(PDTC) were also analysed.

RESULTSpRLX promoted iNOS protein expression of HMVECs, but not cNOS protein expression. NO production of HMVECs was promoted by pRLX on concentration-dependent pattern instead of time-dependent one. AG, L-NMMA and PDTC were showed to block the effect of pRLX on NO production of HMVECs.

CONCLUSIONpRLX promote iNOS expression and NO production of HMVECs.

Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lung ; blood supply ; Nitric Oxide ; biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; biosynthesis ; Relaxin ; pharmacology ; Swine ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo explore the optimum extraction and purification condition of the total saponins in the root of Panax japonicus (RPJ), and establish its quality control methods.

METHODDesigned L16 (4(5)) orthogonal test with the extraction rate of total saponins as index, to determine the rational extraction process, and the techniques of water-saturated n-butanol extraction and acetone precipitation were applied to purify the alcohol extract of RPJ. Total saponins were detected by spectrophotometry and its triterpenoidal sapogenin oleanolic acid detected by HPLC.

RESULTThe optimum conditions of total saponins from RPJ was as follows: the material was pulverized, dipped in 60% ethanol aqueous solution as extract solvent at 10 times of volume, and refluxed 3 times for 3 h each time. Extractant of water-saturated n-butanol with extraction times of 3 and precipitant of acetone with precipitation amount of 4-5 times were included in the purification process, which would obtain the quality products. The content of total saponins could reach to 83.48%, and oleanolic acid to 38.30%.

CONCLUSIONThe optimized preparative technology is stable, convenient and practical. The extract rate of RPJ was high and steady with this technology, which provided new evidence for industrializing production of the plant and developing new drug.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Panax ; chemistry ; Reproducibility of Results ; Saponins ; analysis ; chemistry