Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are traditional dairy strains which have a long history of safe use. They are a kind of food-grade microorganisms that can be used in industry to produce lots of food and drink, such as yoghourt. In the last two decades the physiology and genetics of these bacteria have been thoroughly studied. Because of their genetic accessibility and easy to handle, LAB, in addition to their traditional applications, have been extensively developed and used for the expression of heterologous genes. So they have an important foreground in agricultural, medical and many other fields. People have developed a series of food-grade gene expression systems of LAB. LAB, especially their model strain Lactococcus lactis and their most useful food-grade induced expression system--nisin controlled gene expression system NICE and its food-grade inducer nisin, food-grade host, expressing vectors and applications in expressing heterologous proteins of NICE will be introduced.

Epidemiological data,clinical observation and animal experiments have shown that cold wave is closely associated with the onset of stroke.When a population with stroke etiology or risk factors is under pre-stroke state,they will have stroke under the influence of various inducing factors.Cold wave is the external factor that causes the body to enter the pre-stroke state and there are many possible mechanisms.The drug intervention of stroke-prone hypertensive rats at 1 week before the cold wave can reduce the occurrence of stroke during cold wave,suggesting that it is of great significance to conduct preventive intervention to the pre-stroke population before the cold wave coming.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Herpesviridae Infections ; epidemiology ; Herpesvirus 8, Human ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Substance-Related Disorders ; epidemiology ; virology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo research the co-infections of HIV and human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) in Uygur high-risk groups of HIV infection in a city Xinjiang.

METHODSAll 468 Uygurs at high HIV risk registered in the sentinel monitoring system in 2006 were enrolled in this study. The antibodies to HHV8 latency-associated nuclear antigens 1 (LANA1), lytic antigens open reading frame 65 (ORF65) and K8.1 were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Chi-square test and non-condition Logistic regression model were used for data analysis.

RESULTSOf 468 sera samples, 67 (14.3%) were HIV and HHV8 co-infection positive.Male's HIV and HHV8 co-infection rate (22.6%, 54/239) was higher than the female's (5.7%, 13/229) (chi(2) = 27.285, P < 0.001). For those above 24 year old, HIV and HHV8 co-infection rate (15.8%, 65/412) was higher than the < 24 year old group's (3.6%, 2/56) (chi(2) = 5.987, P = 0.014). The group of Elementary school and illiterate people's HIV and HHV8 co-infection rate (20.7%, 40/193) was higher than the junior middle school and the above culture (9.8%, 27/275) (chi(2) = 10.999, P = 0.001). For the unmarried people, the co-infecting rate of HIV and HHV8 for the married, the cohabitants, the divorced or the widowers were 16.9% (14/83), 12.2% (42/345), 27.5% (11/40) respectively. There was significantly statistical difference among three marital status (chi(2) = 7.399, P = 0.025). Injecting drug users' HIV and HHV8 co-infection rate (26.5%, 50/189) was higher than non-injecting drug users' (6.1%, 17/279) (chi(2) = 38.083, P < 0.001), and stratified by gender, OR(M-H) was 4.207 (95%CI: 1.529 - 11.578). Via non-condition logistic stepwise regression analysis, only injecting drug use entered model, compared with non-injecting drug users, injecting drug users were more dangerous for HIV and HHV8 co-infecting (OR = 5.544; 95%CI: 3.081 - 9.975).

CONCLUSIONThe HIV and HHV8 co-infection rate was higher in the Uygurs at high HIV risk in Xinjiang. Injecting drug use is a risk factor of the HIV and HHV8 co-infection, which might be one of routes of HIV and HHV8 co-infection among this group.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; virology ; Herpesviridae Infections ; epidemiology ; Herpesvirus 8, Human ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Population Surveillance ; Young Adult

Objective To find out iodine nutritional status of pregnant women in the third trimester and the relationship between pregnant women and their neonates thyroid function in a high iodine area.Methods From April to June 2010,210 copies of fasting morning urine and venous blood,and their neonatal umbilical cord blood samples were collected in Haixing Hospital,Cangzhou city,Hebei province.Urinary iodine was determined by arsenic-cerium catalytic spectrophotometry.The levels of free triiodothyronine(FT3),free thyroxine (FT4) and sensitive thyroid-stimulating hormone (sTSH) in serum were measured by chemiluminescence.Results Median urinary iodine of 210 pregnant women(average age 27.69 ± 4.73 years) in the third trimester was 1240.70 μg/L,84.3％(177/210) of them was in excessive iodine nutrition,and only 0.5％(1/210) of them was in adequate iodine nutrition.The prevalence rate of thyroid diseases was 19.5％ (41/210),and the spectrum of diseases were subclinical hypothyroidism(16.2％,34/210),subclinical hyperthyroidism(0.9％,2/210),hypothyroidism(2.4％,5/210) and hyperthyroidism (0,0/210).The number of newborns with sTSH 5 - ＞ 10 mU/L were 104 persons (49.5％); 10 - ＞ 20 mU/L were 44 persons(21.0％),and ≥20 mU/L were 16 persons(7.6％).Of pregnant women suffer from thyroid disease,the ratio(50.0％,24/48 ) of sTSH equal to 10.18 mU/L and ＞ 10 mU/L of their neonates was higher than that of their corresponding non-ill pregnant women(6.78 mU/L,Z =- 2.867,P ＜ 0.05; 22.2％,36/162,x2 =14.000,P ＜ 0.05).There was a positive correlation between neonates' and their mothers' sTSH levels (r =0.278,P ＜ 0.05).There was also a positive correlation between neonates' (sTSH ＞ 10 mU/L) and their mothers' abnormal sTSH levels (r =0.240,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Most of the pregnant women in high iodine areas are iodine excess.The level of neonates' sTSH is higher,and it is due to their mothers' abnormal sTSH and suffering from thyroid diseases to some extent.As a result,the monitoring of pregnant women's iodine nutrition and thyroid function and sTSH level of their neonates should be strengthened.

OBJECTIVEThe history of clinical application of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been more than 30 years. But in China, there were only a few ECMO centers with limited successful cases reported by the end of twentieth century. The high morbidities and mortalities in current pediatric ECMO practice are noted in China. Therefore, it is necessary to review the experience on rescue use of ECMO in critically ill pediatric patients.

METHODA retrospective analysis was done for patients who had been receiving ECMO treatment to rescue refractory cardiorespiratory failure from different causes in a hospital between July 2007 and May 2011.

RESULTA total of 12 patients were treated with ECMO; 7 of them were male and 5 female, they aged 6 days to 11 years, weighed 2.8 - 35 (17.21 ± 11.64) kg. The underlying causes of cardiorespiratory failure were as follows: two cases with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) leading to respiratory failure, 4 with failure of weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass, 3 with fulminant myocarditis, 1 with right ventricular cardiomyopathy leading to repeated cardiac arrest, 1 with preoperative severe hypoxemia, and 1 with anaphylactic shock complicated with massive pulmonary hemorrhage and severe hypoxemia. Of the 12 cases, 3 were established ECMO (E-CPR) while underwent chest compression cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The mean ECMO support time was 151.75 (15 - 572) h. Seven patients (58.33%) were weaned from ECMO, 6 patients (50.00%) were successfully discharged. Six cases had bleeding from sutures, 2 cases with severe bleeding underwent thoracotomy hemostasis, 2 presented with acute renal failure. Infection was documented in 3 cases, hyperbilirubinemia in 2 cases, lower limb ischemia in 1 case, hyperglycemia in 3 cases, disseminated intravascular coagulation in 1 case, membrane lung leakage in 2 cases, systemic hemolysis in 3 cases, oxygenator failure in 2 cases and oxygenator thrombosis in one case. During the follow-up between 6 months and 4.5 years, 5 patients survived with good quality of life, without any documented central nervous system disorders. One case survived with the right lower extremity disorder from ischemic damage. His motor function has been improved following orthopedic operation at one year after discharge.

CONCLUSIONECMO is a justifiable alternative treatment for reversible severe cardiopulmonary failure in critically ill children.

Cardiac Output, Low ; etiology ; therapy ; Cause of Death ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Critical Illness ; mortality ; therapy ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; adverse effects ; Female ; Heart Failure ; etiology ; mortality ; therapy ; Hemorrhage ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; mortality ; therapy ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; etiology ; mortality ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Analysis ; Thrombosis ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the risk factors of Parkinson disease (PD), interaction between family history of PD and other risk factors, as well as the relative strength of genetic factors over the vulnerability of PD.

METHODSOne 1:1 matched case-control study including 157 pairs of cases and controls was conducted in Qilu Hospital of Shandong University.

RESULTSConditional logistic regression analysis showed that family history of PD, mental labor, insecticide, alcohol drinking and history of depression all had positive relationship, while smoking had a negative relationship with PD. The AP (AB)s of family history of PD and insecticide, alcohol drinking, history of depression were 55.2%, 34.0%, 41.4% and the RERIs were 8.96, 3.31, 7.85 respectively. The heritability of PD patients' first degree relatives was 36.86% +/- 5.76%, and second degree relatives was 20.66% +/- 6.81%.

CONCLUSIONFamily history of PD had an additive model synergism on PD, coexisting with other risk factors. Genetic factors had a smaller action on PD than environmental factors.

Adult ; Alcohol Drinking ; adverse effects ; Case-Control Studies ; Confidence Intervals ; Family Health ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parkinson Disease ; etiology ; genetics ; Pedigree ; Pesticides ; adverse effects ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Aconiti Radix Cocta and Pinelliae Rhizoma with different matching proportions and doses on their analgic, anti-inflammatory, phlegm eliminating and cough relieving efficacies in mice.

METHODThe two-factor, seven-level uniform design method was adopted to observe the effect of the oral administration with the combined decoction on the analgic, anti-inflammatory, phlegm eliminating and cough relieving efficacies, with frequency of body torsions induced by acetum, ear swelling degree induced by dimethylbenzene, secretion of phenol red in tracheas and frequency of coughs induced by aqueous ammonia as indexes. Significant matching proportions and doses were collected for verification.

RESULT(1) The effect on the frequency of body torsions and ear swelling degree. The combined decoction could effectively reduce the frequency of body torsions and ear swelling degree. According to a regression analysis, Aconiti Radix Cocta and Pinelliae Rhizoma had the antagonism, which was maximized at the ratio of 10: 1, and minimized at the ratio of less than or equal to 1: 1. The frequency of body torsions and ear swelling degree increased first and then decreased along with the rise in the total dose; and a higher proportion of Aconiti Radix Cocta resulted in a faster speed in decrease or increase. (2) The effect on the secretion of phenol red in tracheas and frequency of coughs. The combined decoction could effectively increase the secretion of phenol red in tracheas and decrease the frequency of coughs. According to a regression analysis, Pinelliae Rhizoma and Aconiti Radix Cocta had the synergistic effect in the secretion of phenol red in tracheas, which was maximized with a total dose of more than 5 g x kg(-1) and a ratio of 1: 1.

CONCLUSIONThe compatible application of Pinelliae Rhizoma and Aconiti Radix Cocta can decrease the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of Aconiti Radix Cocta and promote the cough-relieving effect of Pinelliae Rhizoma, which vary according to different matching ratio and dose. This study provides experimental basis for indepth studies on the combined effect of Aconiti Radix Cocta and Pinelliae Rhizoma--two of eighteen incompatible pairs.

Aconitum ; Animals ; Cough ; drug therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Pinellia ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; Research Design

OBJECTIVETo provide the reference for the stentless aortic valve design with the study of the inner configuration of porcine aortic root.

METHODSThe orifice areas of porcine aortic root at 4 levels (OA1 to 4), the average area of leaflets (Sa), the area analogue of leaflets (AA, AA = 1/2PH), the average area analogue of leaflets (AAa), the value PH of the left, right, non coronary leaflets (PHl, PHr, PHn) and the sums of PHs of the left and non-coronary leaflets (PHln) in the fresh and glutaraldehyde and epichlorohydrin-treated porcine aortic valves (20 respectively) were measured and calculated. The linear correlation and regression analysis by SPSS 12.0 was used to analyze the correlation between Sa and AAa, OA and Sa, OA and AAa, PHl, PHr and PHn, PHln and PHr in both groups.

RESULTSThe coefficient correlation between Sa and AAa in fresh and treated groups were 0.886 and 0.872 respectively (P < 0.05). The coefficient correlation between OA1 to 4 and AAa were 0.810, 0.851, 0.900, and 0.815 respectively in fresh group (P < 0.05), and were 0.852, 0.888, 0.836, and 0.817 respectively in treated group (P < 0.05). This showed that the degree of correlation between the average area analogue of leaflets and the average area of leaflets, the orifice areas of aortic root were relatively large. Additionally, the equation of linear regression existed between PHln and PHr in treated group as follows: PHr = -1.665 + 0.688 PHln (r = 0.907, P < 0.05), thereby PHr could be predicted by PHln.

CONCLUSIONThe value of PH of leaflets could represent the spatial configuration of the aortic root, which provided a referred index for the stentless bioprostheses design.

Animals ; Aortic Valve ; Bioprosthesis ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Prosthesis Design ; Stents ; Swine ; Tissue Engineering

OBJECTIVEUsing polymerase chain reaction-reverse blot dot (PCR-RDB) technique to establish a new method for hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotyping and to study the distribution of HCV genotypes in Foshan area.

METHODSHCV primers and probes were designed in 5'-untranslated region (nt-1-nt-299) of HCV. HCV RNA in serum was isolated and purified, and its cDNA was obtained by reversed transcription. Nested PCR using biotin-labelled primers, was done. PCR products were hybridized with immobilized specific probes (genotype 1a to 3b) on Biodyne C membrane to genotype HCV by color development while adding POD and TMB. A certain judgment could be made according to the position of color reaction. The reliability of this new method was verified by sequencing. HCV RNA levels in serum were determined by real time fluorescent quantitative (FQ)-PCR. 60 FQ-PCR-positive HCV sera from Foshan area were genotyped using this assay.

RESULTSAll 60 sera could be successfully genotyped by PCR-RBD. 50 (83.3%) cases were found to be genotype 1b, 2 (3.3%) as genotype 1a and 2 (3.3%) as genotype 2a while 5 (8.0%) to be mixture of genotype 1a and 1b, and 1 (1.7%) to be mixture of genotypes 1b and 2a. No genotypes 2b, 3a and 3b were found. The results of PCR-RDB genotyping methods coincided with sequence analysis.

CONCLUSIONNewly established HCV genotyping system was proved to be sensitive, specific, precise and economic, thus suitable for clinical and epidemiologic studies. The results of HCV genotyping showed that genotype 1b was the predominant genotype in Foshan area.

Genotype ; Hepacivirus ; classification ; genetics ; Hepatitis C ; virology ; Humans ; Immunoblotting ; methods ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity