A model for screening the yeast which can ferment xylose to produce the ethanol was constructed.An ethanol yeast was obtained using the lignocellulose as substrate production the ethanol.By malt extract medium pre-culturing,soil samples use the plate with xylose as sole carbon source as the primary screening,then finally screen by the potassium dichromate color-displaying method.A strain named Y2-3 was screened from the soil.Phenotypic analysis including morphology and physiology and biochemical characteristics and 26D1/D2 sequence analysis were carried out.Based on taxonomy results,the Y2-3 was identified as Pichia caribbica.The strain Y2-3 ferments using xylose as sole carbon source: biomass 23.5 g/L,xylose utilization rate 94.7 %,ethanol final yield 4.57 g/L;using mixture sugar:biomass 28.6 g/L,xylose utilization rate 94.2 %,glucose utilization rate 95.6%,ethanol final yield 20.6 g/L.Pichia caribbica is a yeast which can utilize xylose and mixture sugar as substrate.It established the foundation for further research fermentation of ethanol by yeast using lignocellulose.

OBJECTIVETo detect possible relationship between genetic defect within the gene encoding member A3 of the ATP Binding Cassette family (ABCA3) and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS), thus to understand the genetic mechanisms of NRDS in Han ethnic group.

METHODThe clinical data of 11 cases with NRDS hospitalized in neonatal intensive care unit was investigated. Blood samples were collected from 11 cases with NRDS and 97 unassociated normal individuals. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA direct sequencing were performed to screen all exons and their flanking introns of ABCA3 gene for mutation analysis in 11 cases with NRDS. If a new missense variation was identified, single strand conformation polymorphism analysis was performed in 97 healthy controls. Lung tissue sample from a case who died 12 hours after birth was examined with light microscopy and electron microscopy.

RESULTThree missense genetic variants in exons, which include c. 2169 G > A (p.M723I), c. 1010 T > G (p.V337G), c. 4972 A > G (p.S1658G), one splice junction site variation (Exon 30 + 2 T/G), several unreported polymorphism sites [213 C > T(p.F71F), exon 21 + 34C/T] and reported polymorphism site (p.F353F) were identified on ABCA3 gene coding region in 11 case. The homozygous variation (c.2169G > A), which was in exon 17 and causes an M723I amino acid change, was found in the case who died 13 hours after birth, but not detected in 97 controls, indicating that this variation is indeed a mutation and not a polymorphism. In the case carrying c.2169G > A, ultrastructural examination of the alveolar type II cells with electron microscopy demonstrated abnormally small and dense lamellar body with eccentrically distributed electron dense substance.

CONCLUSIONGenetic variants within ABCA3 may be the genetic cause of or a contributor to some unexplained refractory NRDS. Identification of ABCA3 genetic variant in NRDS infants is important to establish appropriate management and evaluation of treatment options, as well as to offer genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn ; etiology ; genetics

To construct eukaryotic expression vector containing murine bcl-XL and stably express it in H18 hybridoma cells in order to enhance hybridoma cells antiapoptotic ability. PCR was used to obtain 710bp murine bcl-XL cDNA from pGEM-T-bcl-XL. Then the recombinant expression vector pEF-bcl-XL was constructed by cloning bcl-XL cDNA into eukaryotic expression vector pEF by Pst I and Xho I double digestion. After transfection into H18 hybridoma cells through lipofectamine 2000, the stable expression cell line was screened by 800mg/L G418. The expression of bcl-XL gene was detected by Western blotting. Flow cytometer was used to test the modified hybridoma cells ability to resist apoptosis induced by 0.4mmol/L Sodium Butyrate. The eukaryotic expression vector pEF-bcl-XL was successfully constructed and stably expressed in H18 hybridoma cells. Our data showed that stably transfected H18 cells expressed high levels of Bcl-XL. Under the condition of 0.4mmol/L NaBu, the production of antibody was to be significantly increased by more than 3-fold in stably transfected H18, which resulted from suppressing the NaBu-induced apoptosis and allowing stably transfected H18 cells to grow at higher viability and extend culture longevity by > 3 days. The increased culture longevity by inhibition of NaBu-induced apoptosis by inducible expression of Bcl-XL combined with the enhanced secretion of antibody by NaBu contributed to the enhancement of final antibody concentration in the stably transfected H18 cells culture. The final antibody concentration of stably transfected H18 cells in the presence of NaBu was three-fold higher than that of H18 cells culture in the absence of NaBu. Together, our results showed that butyrate is of practical interest for production of antibody. NaBu-induced apoptosis of hybridoma cells could be inhibited by inducible expression of Bcl-XL. The expression of murine bcl-XL gene in hyridoma cells and the increasing antiapoptosis ability of hybridoma cells are of significance in further use of hybridoma cells in high density large scale cell culture.
Animals ; Antibodies ; immunology ; metabolism ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; genetics ; Blotting, Western ; Butyrates ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Hybridomas ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mice ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism

On-line analysis and control are critical for the optimization of product yields in animal cell culture. The close monitor of viable cell number helps to gain a better insight into the metabolism and to refine culture strategy. In this study, we use the oxygen uptake rate (OUR) to estimate the number of viable cell and the OUR-based feed-back control strategy for nutrients feeding to improve the efficiency of cell culture. A hybridoma cell line (HAb18) was cultured in fed-batch and perfusion model using serum free medium in 5L CelliGen Plus bioreactor (NBS Co., American) and 5L Biostat B bioreactor (Braun Co., Germany). The system and the method for online monitoring OUR in bioreactors, based on the dynamic measurement of dissolved oxygen (DO), were developed. The method of on-line cell concentration estimation was established based on the relationship between the growth of the hybridoma and the uptake rate of oxygen. This method was then used to determine OUR and the concentrations of cell, antibody, glucose, lactate, glutamine and ammonia in the bioreactors at given times. The relationship between OUR and nutrients metabolism was studied and OUR-based feed-back control strategy, which used the state deltaOUR = 0 as the regulation point, was established and used to control the rates of nutrients or medium feeding rate in the perfusion culture. The results showed that there was close relationship between OUR, concentration of live cells, productivity of antibody and consumption of glutamine. The sudden decrease in OUR may be caused by glutamine depletion, and with different delay times, the viable cell concentration and antibody productivity also decreased. The further analysis revealed the linear relationship between OUR and the density of live cells in the exponential growth phase as qOUR = (0.103 +/- 0.028) x 10(-12) mol/cell/h. These findings can be applied to the on-line detection of live cell density. Our study also indicated that by adjusting the perfusion rate with OUR-based feed-back control strategy, it is feasible to continuously increase in viable cell density and antibody concentration in the perfusion culture.
Bioreactors ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Hybridomas ; metabolism ; Oxygen ; metabolism

Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 ; genetics ; Exons ; genetics ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mutation ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Pulmonary Artery ; metabolism ; pathology ; Sarcoma ; genetics

Objective To investigate the presence and genetic background of 16S rRNA methylase gene and Aminoglycoside modifying enzymes(AMEs) genes in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from the People's Liberation Army 98th HospitaI,Huzhou district,Zhejiang province,China.Methods 25 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae were isolated from the inpatienta between September,2005 and April,2006.6 kinds of 16S rRNA methylase gene (including armA,rmtA,rmtB,rmtC,rmtD and npmA ),6 kinds of AMEs genes [ including aac (3)-Ⅰ,sac (3)-Ⅱ,sac (6')-Ⅰ,aac (6')-Ⅱ,ant (3")-Ⅰand ant(2")-Ⅰ],intI1,intI2,intI3,mercuric reductase gene merA (merA gene were the collective genetic markers of transposona of Tn21 and Tn501 ) and tnpA ( tnpA gene were the collective genetic markers of transposons of Tn1,Tn2,Tn3 and Tn1000) were analyzed by PCR and verificated by DNA sequencing.Results In 25 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae,the positive rate of genes of rmtB,sac (3)-Ⅱ,sac (6')-Ⅰ,ant(3")-Ⅰ and intI1 were 60.0%(15/25),4.0%(1/25),48.0%(12/25),60.0%(15/25) and 96.0%(24/25),respectively.The rest 12 kinds of genes were all tested negative.The total positive rate of 6 kinds of AMEs gene was 84.0%(21/25).Conclusion There were very high positive rate on both genes of rmtB and AMEs genotypes in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from inpatients,and this was the first report of the emergence of 16S rRNA methylase gene rmtB in Klebsiella pneumoniae identified in Zhejiang province,China.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the urinary nuclear matrix protein (NMP22) as an adjuvant diagnostic index for transitional cell carcinoma of urinary tract and monitoring the state of disease.

METHODSUrinary samples were collected from 262 patients with transitional cell carcinoma, 198 non-transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary tract and 65 patients with benign diseases. Urinary NMP22 concentration was determined through enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSThe urinary NMP22 concentration had significant difference among the three groups (Kruskal Wallis, chi(2) = 197.17 P < 0.001). The detection sensitivity and specificity of urinary NMP22 to transitional cell carcinoma were 71.37% and 87.69% respectively. The NMP22 concentration showed significant difference among three groups divided according to the pathological grade (Kruskal-Wallis test, chi(2) = 34.06 P < 0.01). The NMP22 concentration was significant lower in the recovery patients after the operation than the peoples of pre-operation and recurrence (Kruskal-Wallis test, chi(2) = 37.53, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONMP22 is a helpful tumor marker for the diagnosis of transitional cell carcinoma and monitoring the state of illness with increased efficacy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; urine ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; diagnosis ; urine ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nuclear Proteins ; urine ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; urine

OBJECTIVETo address the features of the fungal infection after burn injury in clinic.

METHODSThree thousand nine hundred and nine burn patients admitted to our institute from Jan. 2003 to Dec. 2006 were involved in this study. Two thousand two hundred and seventy-one samples were harvested for fungal detection by culture from 467 patients suspected to be infected by fungi based on their clinic manifestations. The collected samples included wound tissue, blood, urine, stool, sputum, catheters and others. The antibiotic sensitivity of the identified fungi were determined by routine method. When same kind of fungus was found from different samples taken from one patient, it was recorded as one positive sample. The samples were ranked in an ascending order as wound secretion, stool, urine, sputum and bronchial alveolar lavage fluid, arteriovenous catheter or urinary catheter, blood. Only the positive sample of the highest rank source was recorded as the positive strain of fungus from this particular patient.

RESULTSIt was found 61 fungal positive samples from the 2271 samples collected. Out of 467 patients, 38 strains of fungi were detected from 36 burn patients during the investigated period, the incidence was 0.92% (36/3909). The most three commonest types among the identified 38 strains of fungi were Candida tropicalis (42.1%), Candida albicans (31.6%) and Candida famata (T. Famata, 10.5%). The drug sensitivity tests demonstrated that most of the strains detected in this investigation, with the exception of candida glabrata, were sensitive to most of the routine antimycotics agents such as Amphotericin B, Fluconazole, and Itraconazole etc. Among the 36 fungus positive patients, in 18 patients the burn area exceeded 80% TBSA, 12 patients with 50%-79% TBSA, 4 patients with 30%-49% TBSA, and in 2 patients the burn area was smaller than 30% TBSA. It was found most of the fungal infections (77.78%) occurred 2 weeks after burn injury, and 8 of the 36 fungus-infected patients died (the mortality was 22.22%). Conclusions Further examinations are necessary to confirm the diagnosis in burn patients suspected to have fungal infection. Once fungal infections are confirmed, antimycotic therapy must be started immediately.

Burns ; microbiology ; Candida ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Incidence ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Mycoses ; drug therapy ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the changes in cardiopulmonary function induced by mid/long-term simulated microgravity with 6° head down bed rest (HDBR), and the effects of Taikong Yangxin Prescription (, TYP) as a countermeasure.

METHODSFourteen healthy male volunteers were randomly divided into a control group and a Chinese medicine (CM) group (7 in each group) by a random digital table based on their body weight. Both groups underwent 6° HDBR for 60 days. Subjects in the CM group received daily TYP pills and subjects in the control group received daily placebo pills. Cardiac systolic and pumping functions were measured by echocardiography before HDBR; on days 20, 42, and 57 of HDBR; and on day 3 of recovery after HDBR (R+3). Cardiopulmonary functional reserve and exercise capacity were evaluated before HDBR, on day 29, and on day R+3 by exercise testing.

RESULTSThe heart rate (HR) increased gradually during HDBR. The HR was significantly higher on day 57 than before HDBR in the control group (P<0.05), but did not increase significantly in the CM group. The stroke volume/stroke volume index, ejection fraction, and left ventricular fractional shortening tended to decrease over time in the control group, but not in the CM group. These parameters were significantly higher in the CM group than in the control group on day 42 (P<0.05 or <0.01). Exercise testing showed that maximum O2 consumption (VO2max), metabolic equivalents, relative O2 consumption (VO2), O2 pulse, and exercise duration were significantly lower on day 29 than before HDBR in the control group, but not in the CM group.

CONCLUSIONSSixty days of 6° HDBR induced a reduction in cardiac systolic and pumping functions, and reduced cardiopulmonary functional reserve and exercise capacity. Administration of TYP significantly improved cardiac systolic and pumping functions, and maintained cardiopulmonary functional reserve and exercise capacity.

Adult ; Bed Rest ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Exercise Test ; Heart ; physiology ; Humans ; Lung ; physiology ; Male

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the application of the Third Military Medical University (TMMU) formula for fluid resuscitation on the major burn patients during shock stage.

METHODSSeventy-one thermal injury patients (burn area more than 30% TBSA, without especial illness, hospitalization within 8 hour after burn) admitted from 2005 to 2007 were divided into adult group (n = 46), child group (n = 25). Fluid resuscitation was initiated as per the TMMU formula.

RESULTSAll patients survived the first 48 hours post burn injury and none developed recognized complications associated with fluid resuscitation. The average infused fluid was 16% approximately 38% more than the calculated in both adult and child groups. The average urine output during the first 24 hours post burn injury was 1.1 approximately 1.2 mL x kg(-1) x h(-1) in the two groups, but reached 1.2 mL and 1.7 mL x kg(-1) x h(-1) during the second 24 hours in adult and child groups respectively.

CONCLUSIONTMMU formula for fluid resuscitation is a feasible option for major burn patients. Individual fluid resuscitation, guided by the physiological response, is also important and necessary.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Burns ; therapy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Fluid Therapy ; methods ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Shock ; therapy ; Young Adult