Microbial selective side-chain degradation of phytosterol,which can obtain the steroid medicine intermediate compounds-androst-4-ene-3,17-dione (4-AD) and androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione (ADD),has an important meaning to pharmacy. There is no systematic literature concerned in existence. Its mechnism,approaches,influencing factors and so on over these years were fully reviewed in the paper. The trend of development in the area is expanded.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound?guided transversus abdominis plane ( TAP) block with different concentrations of ropivacaine for analgesia after cesarean section. Methods A total of 120 parturients, aged 24-31 yr, of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical statusⅠ or Ⅱ, weighing 64-73 kg, at 35 to 41 week gestation, scheduled for elective cesarean section, were randomly di?vided into 3 groups ( n= 40 each) using a random number table: 0?25% ropivacaine group ( group Ⅰ) , 0?20% ropivacaine group ( groupⅡ) , and 0?15% ropivacaine group ( groupⅢ) . A patient?controlled an?algesia pump was connected at the end of surgery, and the corresponding concentration of ropivacaine 1?5 mg∕kg was injected into the bilateral TAP under the guidance of ultrasound in each group. Visual analogue scale score was maintained ≤3. The number of attempt and the number of patients requiring rescue analge?sic were recorded at 48 h after surgery. The occurrence of TAP block?related complications was observed and recorded. Results Compared with groupⅢ, the number of attempt and the number of patients requi?ring rescue analgesic were significantly decreased in Ⅰ and Ⅱ groups ( P<0?05 ) . Compared with groupⅡ, the number of attempt and the number of patients requiring rescue analgesic were significantly de?creased in group Ⅰ (P<0?05). No TAP block?related complications were detected in the three groups. Conclusion Ultrasound?guided TAP block with 0?25% ropivacaine is helpful in improving the analgesic efficacy after cesarean section without serious complications.

Objective To observe the effect of Yiqi Huoxue decoction combined with chemical arterial perfusion in treating advanced pancreatic cancer. Methods Review the clinical effect and benefit response of Yiqi Huoxue decoction combined with chemicals (Gemcitabine+PDD) arterial perfusion in treating 43 cases of advanced pancreatic cancer. Results The objective response rate (CR+PR) in treated group was 25.6%. The clinical benefit response rate (CR+PR+NC) in treated group was 67.4%,and the clinical benefits were mainly in the aspects of pain extent and quality of life. The rate of relief from pain was 74.3%. Conclusion The effect of Yiqi Huoxue decoction combined with chemicals (Gemcitabine+PDD) arterial perfusion in treating advanced pancreatic cancer was reliable,and the clinical benefit response was good.

OBJECTIVETo construct and identify a lentiviral vector of RNA interference targeting human Notch-1 gene.

METHODSTo determine the Notch-1 gene sequences, three RNAi target sequences (shRNA1-3) were designed in accordance with the RNAi sequence design principles and cloned into the lentiviral vector pLenOR-THM by endonuclease BamH I restriction, EcoR I double digestion, and T4 DNA-ligase ligation. After the transformation into competent DH5alpha bacteria, the candidate clones were identified by Kpn I and EcoR I double digestion and DNA sequencing. The recombinant and three packaging plasmids were co-transfected into human embryonic kidney cell line 293T cells by lipofectamine to produce the lentiviral particles. The viral titer was determined. The 293T cells were infected by the lentiviral particles obtained, and transfection efficiency was assessed using a fluorescent microscope. The lentiviral vector particles were also transfected into ACC-M cells. The Notch-1 expression in the transfected cells was assayed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR) and Western blot analysis.

RESULTSThe lentiviral RNAi vector pLenOR-THM-Notchl for Notch-1 gene was constructed successfully. Strong green fluorescence was observed in the 293T cells under fluorescent microscope after co-transfection of the cells with the four plasmids of lentiviral vector. The virus in the supernatant reached a titer of 5.8 x 10(8) TU x mL(-1). The transfection efficiency of the collected virus exceeded 90% in 293T cells with 1 as a multiplicity of infection. The third lentiviral vector was found to significantly inhibit the Notch-1 expression at the mRNA and protein levels.

CONCLUSIONThe lentiviral RNAi vector of Notch-1 has been successfully constructed and identified.

Cell Line ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; Plasmids ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Receptor, Notch1 ; Transfection

A thiosulfate-oxidizing bacterium TX was isolated from polysulfide wastewater treatment system.It was preliminarily identified as Halothiobacillus sp.according to its morphological,physiological proper-ties and similarity analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence(GenBank accession No.EU871645).This bacte-rium was an obligate chemolithoautotrophic sulfur-oxidizing bacterium since it could utilize thiosulfate,elemental sulfur,tetrathionate,sulfide or sulfite as sole energy source but did not show growth on the me-dium with glucose,sucrose,fructose,lactose,mannose or yeast extract as sole carbon source.The optimal growth condition for thiosulfate oxidation was 30?C~35?C and pH 3.0~5.0 respectively.Significant reduc-tion in medium pH from 4.0 to 1.2 was observed due to oxidation of thiosulfate to sulfate during the batch culture incubation period.During the course of thiosulfate oxidation accumulation of tetrathionate was ob-served either in synthetic medium or in the mixed liquor from aeration tank of the polysulfide wastewater treatment system.This indicates that the "S4 intermediate(S4I)" pathway was responsible for thiosulfate oxidation in this bacterium.

BACKGROUND:Many foreign studies confirm that recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) is a safe and effective agent for treatment of idiopathic short stature (iSS), but there are no long-period and systematical researches reported in China.OBJECTIVE: To observe the promoting effect of rhGH on the growth of children with ISS.DESIGN: Case-control observation.SETTING: Department of Pediatrics, the Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Qingdao University.PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-eight children with ISS who were treated in the Department of Pediatrics, the Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Qingdao University during December 2004 to March 2006 were involved in this study.Informed consents were obtained from the guardians of these children with ISS. According to the etiological factors, the children were assigned into 2 groups: ISS group (n =30) and growth hormone deficiency (GHD) group (n =68).METHODS : The children in ISS group and GHD group received subcutaneous administration of home-made rhGH (Jinsai Pharmaceutical Co.,Ltd., Changchun at 0.15 IU/(kg ·d) and 0.1 IU/(kg ·d) respectively before sleeping within 6 months.The body height, body mass and bone age were measured before, 3 and 6 months after treatment. The local region of injection was observed and the growth rate was calculated. Bone age was calculated by graphic atlas method and body height was predicated by BP method.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Body height, body mass, bone age and growth rate of children in two groups before, 3 and 6 months after treatment.RESULTS: All the 98 children wereinvolved in the result analysis, without deletion. ①Intragroup comparison: The body height, growth rate of children in two groups 3 and 6 months after treatment were significantly superior to those before treatment [ISS group: body height:(126.5±9.4), (129.1±8.6), (121.1 ±11.0) cm (P ＜ 0.01), growth rate: (7.3±2.9), (7.5±2.7),(3.5±2.1) cm/year (P＜ 0.01); GHD group: body height: (111.0±13.0),(114.0±13.0),(108.0±12.0) cm(P＜ 0.01),growth rate: (13.2±3.5), (13.5±3.6), (4.0±2.9) cm/year(P ＜ 0.01)]. Six months after treatment, body height was increased in 27 of 30 children in ISS groups, and in all the 68 children in GHD group. ② Intergroup comparison: The growth rate of children in GHD group was concurrently higher than that in ISS group 3 and 6 months after treatment. ③Adverse reaction and side effect: During the treatment, hypothyroidism was observed in 2 children within 1 to 3 months of treatment,but there was no influence on growth rate after oral administration of thyroxin tablets. Local red swelling of skin was observed in another patient, which stopped automatically after one week duration, but the injection continued.CONCLUSION: Home-made rhGH is a safe and effective reagent for treatment of ISS. It can obviously enhance the body height and growth rate of children. Whereas the inhomogeneity of treatment effect does exist, what's more, therapeutic effect in ISS children is inferior to that in GHD children.

ObjectiveTo investigate the influence of fast track surgery (FTS) on insulin resistance indexes in esophageal cancer patients.MethodsA total of 68 esophageal cancer patients receiving radical operation in our hospital from November 2009 to March 2011 were randomly divided into 2 groups by envelope method:FTS group ( n =34) and control group ( n =34 ).The postoperative first passage of gas by annus and defecation,postoperative hospital stay,hospitalization expenditure,and postoperative complications were recorded.Insulin resistance indexes were measured before operation as well as on the 1st,3rd,and 7th postoperative days,including fasting blood-glucose (FBG),fasting insulin (FINS),serum level of interleukin-6 (IL-6),and C-reactive protein (CRP).The insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) was calculated at the same time points.ResultsThe postoperative time of first passage of gas [ ( 1.91 ± 1.13 ) d vs.(2.95 ± 1.25 ) d,P =0.000 ] and defecation [ ( 3.75 ± 1.54 ) d vs.(4.84 ± 1.76) d,P =0.007] in FTS group were significantly shorter compared with control group,and the total hospitalization expenditure was significantly lower in FTS group [ (3.19±0.42) ten-thousand yuan vs.(3.98 ±0.36) ten-thousand yuan,P =0.000 ].The preoperative insulin resistance indexes showed no signifcant differences between the two groups ( all P ＞ 0.05 ).One day after operation,the levels of log-HOMA-IR (0.97 ± 0.52vs.1.54±0.57,P=0.000),FINS [ (11.87±4.55) μU/ml vs.(17.16±6.90) μU/ml,P=0.000],IL-6[ (124.15±21.39) ng/Lvs.(138.78±23.60) ng/L,P.=0.009],and CRP [ (62.92±14.78) mg/L vs.(71.07 ± 14.51 ) mg/L,P =0.025 ] in FTS group were significantly lower than those in control group.Three days after operation,the levels of log-HOMA-IR (0.86 ± 0.47 vs.1.27 ± 0.58,P =0.002),FINS [ ( 9.56 ± 4.37 )μU/mlvs.(14.91±6.54) μU/ml,P=0.000],IL-6 [ (140.94±25.12) ng/Lvs.(153.89±24.06) ng/L,P=0.035],and CRP [ (138.59 ±21.61) mg/L vs.(153.17 ±25.20) mg/L,P=0.019] in FTS group were significantly lower than those in control group.Seven days after operation,the level of CRP in FTS group was significantly lower than that in control group [ (53.07 ± 15.84 ) mg/L vs.( 61.59 ± 16.28 ) mg/L,P =0.032 ].ConclusionFTS may promote the early recovery of gastrointestinal function,reduce stress reaction and postoperative insulin,thus being conducive to fast rehabilitation of esophageal cancer patients.

Objective To observe the efficacy and toxicity of low dose thalidomide combined with VAD regimen contained one-week dexamethasone in treatment on patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Methods 42 patients with MM were diagnosed in our hospital.The VAD regimen contained one-week dexamethasone was vincristine 0.4 mg/d, adramycin 10 mg/d and dexamethasone 40 mg/d for 4 days. At the same time, thalidomide is given 150-200 mg/d. Results The overall response rate (ORR) is 80.95%. Before and after treatment, all the detection indicators in MM patients were statistically different (P＜0.001). There is small adverse reactions. Conclusion Low dose thalidomide combined with VAD regimen contained one-week dexamethasone in treatment of MM has more merits such as less side effects, good tolerance, convenient administration and significant curative effects, so it should be recommended in clinical works.

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of CHO-hTSHR cells in detecting thyroid stimulating antibody (TSAb). Methods The cAMP production and TSAb activity were measured and cal-culated by stimulating CHO-hTSHR cell line with IgGs of normal control group and Graves" disease ( GD )group. TSAb positive standard was set to more than the mean + 2SD of TSAb activities in control subjects.The positive percentage of TSAb activity in GD group was calculated. Results The cAMP production and TSAb activities of GD group were higher than those of normal group[( 353. 65±126. 34 ) pmol/L vs (237.21±77. 15)pmol/L, ( 149. 08±53. 26)% vs ( 100±32. 52)%, P <0. 05] . The value that higher than 165% was set to be positive for TSAb. The positive percentage of TSAb in GD group was 50% ( 14/28). Conclusion CHO-hTSHR cell line constructed by our group is suitable for detecting TSAb activity in the sera of patients with GD.

Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Systems Biology