Ramie and kenaf were traditional fiber crops in China, but their stalk after decorticating has not been used effectively. The stalk contains a lot of cellulose, and can therefore be used for the production of bioethanol. We studied the effects of different chemical pretreatment on enzymatic digestibility of ramie stalk and kenaf stalk. Ramie and kenaf stalks pretreated with alkali were chosen to produce ethanol using quasi-simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (Q-SSF) process. The results show that for the stalks pretreated with 4% NaOH and 0.02% anthraquinone-2-sulfonic acid sodium salt (AQSS) as catalyzer at 170 degrees C for 1 h, the ethanol concentration could reach 51 g/L after fermentation for 168 h at 18% of solid substrate concentration. By fed-batch to 20% of solid substrate concentration, the ethanol concentration could reach 63 g/L, 77% and 79% of the cellulose conversion could get for ramie stalk and kenaf stalk, respectively. For kenaf stalk pretreated with 5.2% NaHSO3 and 0.2% H2SO4 at 170 degrees C for 1 h, the ethanol concentration and cellulose conversion could reach to 65 g/L and 72%, respectively.
Alkalies ; Biofuels ; Biotransformation ; Boehmeria ; Cellulose ; China ; Ethanol ; chemistry ; Fermentation ; Hibiscus ; Hydrolysis ; Plant Stems ; chemistry

AIM: To observe the effect of Tangmaiantai on the plasma lipid and renal function of rat with diabetic nephropathy. METHODS: The rat model of diabetic nephropathy was established by using STZ. The effect of Tangmaiantai on rat blood glucose before meal, serum TC, TG, Ccr, BUN and urinary protein were observed. RESULTS: Tangmainantai could decrease the level of serum TC, TG, Ccr, BUN and urinary protein, comparing to that of the model group (P

0.05).Tumor volumes was diminished in group B and C as compared with that in group A(P

Objective To analysis the clinical high risk factors for fetal chromosomal abnormalities.Methods Amniocentesis,chromosomal karyotype analysis and other related methods were performed on 4829 pregnant women,who presented sole indication of prenatal diagnosis such as advanced age,high risk factors and fetal ultrasound abnormalities,for analyzing the correlations of those women to the incidence of fetal chromosomal abnormalities.Results The detection rates of abnormal karyotype were 5.0％ (57/1143),1.7％ (40/2367) and 4.3％ (57/1319) in the older women group (age＞35),abnormal maternal serological screening group and abnormal fetal ultrasound finding group,respectively.The detection rats of karyotype abnormality were 6.9％ (23/333) in women with fetal congenital heart diseases,8.5％ (20/234) in those with abnormal amniotic fluid,1.1％ (1/89) in those with fetal ventriculomegaly,1.1％ (10/898) in those with fetal intracardiac hyperechogenicity,5.9％ (2/34) in those with fetal choroid cyst and 5.6％ (1/18) in those with fetal renal pelvis broadening.Conclusion The pregnant women with age＞35,fetal sonographic structural anomalies or two or more soft marker abnormalities should be prenatally diagnosed and doing the genetic counseling combined with the family history.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of gastrin on the expression of 1,25(OH)2D3-membrane associated rapid response steroid (1,25D3-MARRS) binding protein in rat intestinal epithelium.

METHODSSD rats received intraperitoneal injections of gastrin, omeprazole or physiological saline. The protein expression of 1,25D3-MARRS binding protein in SD rat intestinal was determined with Western blotting and immunohistochemistry, and its mRNA levels determined by RT-PCR. The serum calcium and phosphate levels in the rats were also detected.

RESULTSImmunohistochemistry showed that 1,25D3-MARRS binding protein was expressed mainly in the nuclei, cytoplasm and membrane of the intestinal epithelial cells. Both the protein and mRNA expression levels of 1,25D3-MARRS binding protein were up-regulated after treatments with gastrin and omeprazole (P<0.05), but the serum calcium and phosphate concentrations showed no obvious increase.

CONCLUSION1,25D3-MARRS binding protein, which is widely expressed with versatile functionalities, is regulated by gastrin and shows high potentials in the study of gastrointestinal diseases.

Animals ; Calcitriol ; metabolism ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Gastrins ; pharmacology ; Intestines ; cytology ; drug effects ; Male ; Protein Disulfide-Isomerases ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Aim TostudytheeffectsofCuO,ZnOand TiO2 nanoparticles on the viability and metastatic po-tential of EC-9706 and EC-109 esophageal squamous carcinomacelllineinvitro.Methods Characteristics of CuO,ZnO and TiO2 nanoparticles were detected u-sing transmission electron microscope (TEM)and dy-namic light scattering (DLS ).EC-9706 and EC-109 cells were treated with different concentrations of CuO, ZnO and TiO2 (5 ~80 mg · L-1 ).The cell prolifera-tion was analyzed by MTT assay.The cell cycle and apoptotic rates were determined by flow cytometry (FCM).The cell invasion was assayed in Transwell chambers.The expression of Bcl-2 and caspase-3 pro-tein in cells was detected by Western blot method.Re-sults CuO,ZnOandTiO2nanoparticleswerespheri-cal with primary particle size 12,20. 6,12 nm.The particles were agglomerated in water and cell culture medium with negative charge.CuO and ZnO nanoparti-cles induced decreases in EC-9706 and EC-109 cell vi-ability dose-dependently.After exposed to increasing concentrations of CuO and ZnO nanoparticles,the cell cycle analysis revealed a decreasing proportion of cells in G2/Mand S phase,and up-regulation of the cells in G0/G1 phase.Apoptotic cells also increased along with decreased cell invasion upon CuO and ZnO treatment. Nanoparticles treatment after 48 h, the activated caspase-3 expression quantity increased significantly and the Bcl-2 expression quantity decreased obviously (P<0. 05 )compared with control group.TiO2 nanop-articles had no obvious effect on the EC-9706 and EC-109 cell proliferation,cell cycle,apoptosis and inva-sion.Conclusion ComparedwithTiO2,CuOand ZnO nanoparticles can inhibit EC-9706 and EC-109 cell viability and metastatic potential,the mechanism of action involves cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase and apoptosis.These findings can help the development of nanoparticles as anti-cancer therapeutics for esophageal cancer.

OBJECTIVETo optimize the methods for genetic detection and prenatal diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

METHODSDenaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC), multiplex PCR (mPCR), sequencing and other molecular techniques were used in combination for molecular diagnosis of 8 cases diagnosed as DMD.

RESULTSAmong the 8 cases, 4 have carried large deletions, 3 have point mutations, among which 6 were of de novo type. Prenatal diagnosis were offered for 5 families, the results showed that none of the fetuses had carried large deletions or point mutations. The pregnancies had continued and healthy babies were born.

CONCLUSIONCombined use of short tandem repeat, DHPLC, mPCR and sequencing can improve the detection of DMD gene mutations. By establishing and optimizing genetic and prenatal diagnostic methods, accurate genetic counseling can be provided for families affected with DMD.

Adult ; Base Sequence ; Female ; Fetal Diseases ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne ; diagnosis ; embryology ; genetics ; Pedigree ; Point Mutation ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Sequence Deletion ; Young Adult

Objective:To analyze the prenatal clinical phenotypes and pregnancy outcomes of fetuses with 22q11.21 microdeletion and microduplication syndrome to provide a basis for clinical genetic counseling.Methods:This retrospective study involved the cases diagnosed with 22q11.21 microdeletion or microduplication by chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) due to abnormal ultrasound findings, advanced maternal age, or high-risk pregnancies indicated by serum screening in the Prenatal Diagnosis Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University from January 2015 to January 2022. Clinical phenotypes and pregnancy outcomes of the fetuses were analyzed and described.Results:Among 9 141 cases referred for CMA during the study period, 77 cases (0.8%) were diagnosed as 22q11.21 microdeletion or microduplication, including 62 (80.5%) with 22q11.21 microdeletion and 15 (19.5%) with microduplication. In the 22q11.21 microdeletion cases, 58 had typical deletion, and four had atypical deletions, but all fetuses carried TBX1 gene that was clearly associated with congenital heart disease. The 15 fetuses with 22q11.21 microduplication including 14 in the typical region and one in the atypical region. Forty-eight (77.4%) out of the 62 fetuses with 22q11.21 microdeletion were complicated by congenital heart defects, including 28 with conotruncal defects. Five of the 15 fetuses with 22q11.21 microduplication were complicated by congenital heart defects. The cases were followed up on telephone at three to six months after the expected date of delivery. Among the 62 cases with 22q11.21 microdeletion, 52 terminated pregnancies, five were lost to follow-up, and five were delivered (one died after one month of premature delivery, one was born with anal advancement and growth retardation, and three were followed up without obvious abnormality). Among the 15 cases with 22q11.21 microduplication, four terminated pregnancies, two were lost to follow-up, and nine gave birth (eight were followed up without obvious abnormality, one grew slowly). Conclusions:The application of CMA in the prenatal diagnosis of 22q11.21 microdeletion and microduplication fetuses, and the comprehensive analysis of clinical manifestations and pregnancy outcome combined with ultrasonic diagnosis are of great significance in guiding the treatment and rehabilitation after birth of an affected child. Genetic counseling for cases with 22q11.21 microdeletion and microduplication syndrome should be cautious and consider ultrasound findings.

Depressive disorder ranks as a major bur-den of disease worldwide,yet the current antidepressant medications are limited by frequent non-responsiveness and significant side effects.The lateral septum(LS)is thought to control of depression,however,the cellular and circuit substrates are largely unknown.Here,we identified a subpopulation of LS GABAergic adenosine A2A receptors(A2AR)-positive neurons mediating depres-sive symptoms via direct projects to the lateral habenula(LHb)and the dorsomedial hypothalamus(DMH).Activa-tion of A2AR in the LS augmented the spiking frequency of A2AR-positive neurons leading to a decreased activation of surrounding neurons and the bi-directional manipula-tion of LS-A2AR activity demonstrated that LS-A2ARs are necessary and sufficient to trigger depressive pheno-types.Thus,the optogenetic modulation(stimulation or inhibition)of LS-A2AR-positive neuronal activity or LS-A2AR-positive neurons projection terminals to the LHb or DMH,phenocopied depressive behaviors.Moreover,A2AR are upregulated in the LS in two male mouse mod-els of repeated stress-induced depression.This identifica-tion that aberrantly increased A2AR signaling in the LS is a critical upstream regulator of repeated stress-induced depressive-like behaviors provides a neurophysiological and circuit-based justification of the antidepressant poten-tial of A2AR antagonists,prompting their clinical transla-tion.