Chitin is one of the most important component in fungal cell wall.Biosynthesis of chitin is a complex processes and needs several chitin synthase isoenzymes.The knowledge of structure,function and regulation of chitin synthases is mainly derived from the study of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.In contrast with the 3 chitin synthases in S.cerevisiae,7 were found in most filamentous fungi.In this review the classification and function of chitin synthases are summerized,and progress in the studies on chitin synthases of filamentous fungi which are of theoretical or medical or agricultural importance,including Aspergillus nidulans,Aspergillus fumigatus and Ustilago maydis are emphasized.Recent ad-vance of research on chitin synthase as antifungal target is also discussed.

Sophoramine ( Sa ) is an alkaloid from sophora alopecuroides. Linn., in anesthetize animals ( cat, rat and rabbit), intravenous adminstra-tion of Sa reduced rapidly and markly the arterial blood pressure. The mechanism of hypotension effect of Sa is mainly attributable to its sympathetic ganglionic blocking and direct vasodilatation. Experiment on the isolated hearts of guinea pig revealed that Sa produced negative chronotropic and positive inotropic action, and increased coronary flow simultaneously.In a study of experimental arrhythmia in animals,we observed that Sa could reduce the arrhythmia induced by aconitine in rats and decreased the incidence of ventricular fibrillation induced by chloroform in mice.

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting both lower and upper motor neurons,including the pyramidal tract.There have been no objective and effective method to evaluate the lesions of upper motor neurons.With non-invasive,sensitive and macroscopic advantages,the application of Regular MR,MRS,DWI,function MR and VBM on ALS will undoubtedly have great potentials in the diagnosis,disease monitor and therapy of ALS.

Objective To evaluate the effect of endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS)in diagnosing e- sophageal and gastric varices in portal hypertension(PHT)patients.Methods Fifty-three patients with e- sophageal and gastric varices(EV、GV)of decompensation PHT and 20 patients without PHT as control were undergone EUS and esophagogastroduodenoscopy(EGD)simultaneously.EUS detected mainly the EGV,e- sophagus and stomach collateral veins.Results EUS identified EV endoscopically in 29(54.7%)patients. EUS detected GV in 24(45.3%)patients,compared with detection in 18(34.0%)patients by esopha- gogastroduodenoscopy(EGD)(P＜0.001).EUS detected PEV in 27(51%)patients.Distribution rates of PEV in F1,F2 and F3 are 0%,28.6% and 75% respectively.The comparison between groups shows sig- nificant difference(P＜0.001).Splenic vein can be seen in both control and experimental groups with di- ameter 7.5?1.35mm VS 11.5?3.5mm respectively,the difference between two groups is significant(P＜0.001).Proximal diameters of Azygos vein in two groups is 7.36?1.29mm VS 8.77?2.94mm respective- ly.Significant difference can be found(P＜0.05).Conclusion EUS had significant value in the diagnosis of PHT with EV and GV,and especially in detecting abnormalities of extra-luminal veins.

Induced pluripotent stem cell is a landmark in the stem cell study field, which has rapidly developed in the past 10 years.By obtaining induced pluripotent stem cells from somatic cell, and then differentiating into cardiomyocyte, various cardiomyocyte disease models could be established,which can be used for research of disease mechanisms, drug screening and gene therapy.This review introduces the successfully established cardiomyocyte disease models from human induced pluripotent stem cells, and points out the problems and prospects.

Adult ; Aspergillosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Laryngeal Diseases ; microbiology ; pathology ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Vocal Cords ; pathology

Adult ; Chondrosarcoma ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms ; Skull Base Neoplasms ; Sphenoid Sinus

China ; Metals, Heavy ; Research Support as Topic ; statistics & numerical data

Adenoma, Pleomorphic ; surgery ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; surgery

Objective To explore protective effect of heparin on renal of children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura(HSP).Methods Two hundred and fifteen cases with HSP were divided into heparin-treated group(110 cases,male 64,female 46) and control group (105 cases,male 61,female 44).Serum IL-6 and IL-8 levels were examined by using radioimmunoassay respectively.These patients were followed up for more than 6 months.Results 1.The level of IL-6,IL-8 did not show significant difference between heparin-treated group and control group before treatment.The serum concentrations of IL-6,IL-8 in heparin-treated group were obviously lower than those in control group,after treatment,there was significantly different[IL-6(116.50?19.45)vs(123.88?22.55)ng /L,t=2.573 P=0.011;IL-8(0.161?0.043)vs(0.173?0.048)?g/L,t=2.024 P=0.044].2.During more than 6 months follow-up there were 26 cases suffering from purpura nephritis in heparin-treated group, the morbidity was 25%; the morbidity in control group was 39.8%,the morbidity in treatment group was significant lower than that in control group(?2=5.061 P=0.024).The time of renal injury was significantly delay in treatment group(35.0?13.2)d compared with that of control group (26.0?12.1)d(t=2.659 P=0.010).Conclusions The serum IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations in HSP obviously decrease after heparin treatment.Heparin therapy can decrease the morbidity of renal injury in children with HSP and delay the time of renal injury effectively.