A bacterium which can effectively degrade LAS (Linear Sodium Alkylbenzenesulfonate) was isolated from washing powder manufacturing effluent and was preliminarily identified as Corynebacterium jeikeium GZ6. The bacterium can degrade LAS up to till 700 mg/L, and the optimum pH, temperature and concentration of LAS are 7.0, 30℃ and 400 mg/L, respectively. The biodegradation rate can reach 98.7% after 24 hours'cultivation in the suitable conditions. Experiments also showed that some heavy metal ions such as Hg2+ , Co2+ , Cd2+ can differently inhibit the degradation of LAS.

Adult ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumoconiosis ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

ABSTRACT The taboos of man-spirit (RenShen) and bottom-spirit (KaoShen) are two kinds of time-related contraindications that are more commonly seen in the literature of acupuncture and moxibustion. The meaning of man-spirit is often extended to qi-blood or mind, or else directly equals to heaven-spirit (TianShen). It is highly possible that the bottom-spirit is subordinate to man-spirit, and both Taoist philosophy and the SanCai theory declare the importance of bottom in human body. The violation of contraindications could lead to diseases in the neighborhood where man-spirit travels. However, the results are generally recorded as ulcer, lingering disease and death in most medical texts. From Ming dynasty, more and more doctors have expressed disapproval of man-spirit and bottom-spirit.
Acupuncture Therapy ; psychology ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; psychology

With more and more attention and investment on acupuncture scientific researches, considerable outcomes and achievements has been acquired, but the shortcoming of low transformation rate of acupuncture research achievements is gradually exposed. Nowadays there is no related report on this problem, so based on achievement translational research in other areas and practical situation of acupuncture, the existing problems and solutions are analyzed. As a result, the existing problems include (1) the research content is mainly basic research and clinical research but less acupuncture device research, leading to limited transformation efficiency; (2) the evaluation system and transformation pattern are still needed to be perfect. The solutions are (1) to properly evaluate the research achievements of acupuncture, (2) to advocate the concept and method of translational medicine, (3) to reform the policy and system, and (4) to establish valid platforms covering research, outcomes and transformation.
Acupuncture ; economics ; legislation & jurisprudence ; manpower ; Biomedical Research ; Biotechnology ; economics ; legislation & jurisprudence ; manpower ; China ; Humans ; Technology Transfer

BACKGROUND:Atorvastatin has been shown to reduce bone loss and fracture, but its effects on implant osseointegration remain unknown.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of atorvastatin on implant osseointegration in osteoporotic rats and the underlying mechanisms.
METHODS:Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into sham-surgery, ovariectomy, and atorvastatin (10 and 20 mg/kg per day) treatment groups, respectively. Al rats received ovariectomy and implant surgery except those in the sham-surgery group. Bone mineral density of the lumbar vertebra, osseointegration ratio and pul-out strength of implants were measured after 12-week treatment.Levels of bone formation and resorption markers in osteoblasts treated with atorvastatin were determined by ELISA. Wnt pathway-relatedgene expression was detected by RT-PCR.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Bone mineral density, osseointegration ratio and pul-out strength of implants were significantly increased in 20 mg/kg per day of atorvastatin treatment group compared with ovariectomy group (P< 0.05). Levels of alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcinand osteoprotegerinwere significantly increased in osteoblasts treated with atorvastatinin vitro(P<0 .05), and the level of osteoclast differentiation factor RANKL was significantly inhibited (P< 0.05). Meanwhile, atorvastatin significantly promoted the mRNA expression of low-density lipoprotein associated protein 5and β-catenin, and inhibited the mRNA expression of dickkopfWnt signal pathway inhibitor 1and sclerostin. Our results suggest that atorvastatin promotes implant osseointegration in osteoporotic rats by activating Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) at points along Foot Yangming Channel on metabolite of ulcerative colitis (UC) rats' cerebral cortex and to identify key metabolites by referring to Pi/Wei-brain related theory in Chinese medicine (CM).

METHODSThe UC rat model was set up by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) method. Male SD rats were randomly divided into the model group and the EA group, 13 in each group. Another 13 rats were recruited as the blank control group. Rats in the blank control group and the model group received no EA. EA was performed at Zusanli (ST36), Shangjuxu (ST37), and Tianshu (ST25) for 5 days by using disperse-dense wave. Then all rats were sacrificed. Their recto-colon and the ileocecal junction were pathomorphologically observed by light microscope and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Cerebral cortexes were extracted. Water-soluble and lipid-soluble brain tissue metabolites were respectively extracted for metabolic research using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR).

RESULTSEA could obviously improve the general condition of UC model rats, decrease the value of DAI, reduce the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the intestinal tract, stabilize structures such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and so on (P <0.05). 1HNMR analysis showed that in the model group, contents of glutamic acid, cholesterol, very low density lipoproein (VLDL) in the pallium obviously decreased, while alanine and low density lipoprotein (LDL) significantly increased. After EA, levels of lactic acid, glutamic acid, total cholesterol (TC), and VLDL all increased, and levels of alanine and LDL decreased. All indices were approximate to those of the blank control group.

CONCLUSIONEA at Foot Yangming channel was found to have some effect on metabolites in the brain tissue of UC model rats, which had specific metabonomic material basis and mechanism based on the Pi/Wei-brain related theory.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Cerebral Cortex ; metabolism ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; Electroacupuncture ; Lipids ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

In order to evaluate the effect and mechanism of the mulberry leaf alkaloid, flavones, and polysaccharide intervention on diabetes, the overall metabolite profiling characteristics for the plasma of diabetic mouse was performed by using an ultra-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS). The 8 potential biomarkers were found in diabetic mice plasma based on the data of MS/MS characteristics obtained from the UPLC-OrbitrapMS analysis, which mainly involved in sphingolipids, amino acid metabolic pathway. The principal component analysis showed that the normal group and model group were obviously distinguished and implied that metabolic disturbance was happened in diabetic mice plasma. The extracts of mulberry leaf flavonoids, polysaccharide, alkaloid had exhibited the effects of callback function for diabetic mice through regulating the amino acid metabolism and sphingolipid metabolism.
Alkaloids ; chemistry ; Amino Acids ; metabolism ; Animals ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Flavones ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Metabolomics ; Mice ; Morus ; chemistry ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Sphingolipids ; metabolism ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

AIMTo study the effects of ginkgolides (Gin) on the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (H1F-1alpha) in primary cultured cortical neurons treated with CoCl2 and the relationship with ERK signal pathway.

METHODSWe observed the effects of Gin (37.5 mg/L) on morphology and viability on primary cultured cortical neurons with treatment of CoCl2 (125 micromol/L). The expression of HIF-1alpha and p-ERK of neurons induced by CoCl2 pretreated with Gin were assessed by Western-blot. We analyzed the relationship between HIF-1alpha expression activated by Gin and ERK signal pathway with treatment of PD98059 (100 micromol/L), a selective inhibitor of ERK.

RESULTSIt was shown that Gin had protective effects on CoCl2 damaged neurons by raising the neuronal viability. Some basic expression of HIF-1alpha and p-ERK were observed in normal cultured cortical neurons. The expression of HIF-1alpha and p-ERK increased strikingly when treated with CoCl2 for 4 h. The levels of HIF-1alpha and p-ERK increased even more in the neurons pretreated with Gin for 24 h before CoCl2. The levels of HIF-1alpha and p-ERK were notably inhibited with pretreatment of PD98059, while Gin could prevent this inhibition.

CONCLUSIONGin has protective effects on neurons damaged by CoCl2 which might be related to the increase of the level of HIF-1alpha and the activation of ERK signal pathway.

Animals ; Cell Hypoxia ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Ginkgolides ; pharmacology ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDThe optimal ventilated status under total intravenous or inhalation anesthesia in neurosurgical patients with a supratentorial tumor has not been ascertained. The purpose of this study was to intraoperatively compare the effects of moderate hyperventilation on the jugular bulb oxygen saturation (SjO 2 ), cerebral oxygen extraction ratio (O 2 ER), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), and heart rate (HR) in patients with a supratentorial tumor under different anesthetic regimens.

METHODSTwenty adult patients suffered from supratentorial tumors were randomly assigned to receive a propofol infusion followed by isoflurane anesthesia after a 30-min stabilization period or isoflurane followed by propofol. The patients were randomized to one of the following two treatment sequences: hyperventilation followed by normoventilation or normoventilation followed by hyperventilation during isoflurane or propofol anesthesia, respectively. The ventilation and end-tidal CO 2 tension were maintained at a constant level for 20 min. Radial arterial and jugular bulb catheters were inserted for the blood gas sampling. At the end of each study period, we measured the change in the arterial and jugular bulb blood gases.

RESULTSThe mean value of the jugular bulb oxygen saturation (SjO 2 ) significantly decreased, and the oxygen extraction ratio (O 2 ER) significantly increased under isoflurane or propofol anesthesia during hyperventilation compared with those during normoventilation (SjO 2 : t = -2.728, P = 0.011 or t = -3.504, P = 0.001; O 2 ER: t = 2.484, P = 0.020 or t = 2.892, P = 0.009). The SjO 2 significantly decreased, and the O 2 ER significantly increased under propofol anesthesia compared with those values under isoflurane anesthesia during moderate hyperventilation (SjO 2 : t = -2.769, P = 0.012; O 2 ER: t = 2.719, P = 0.013). In the study, no significant changes in the SjO 2 and the O 2 ER were observed under propofol compared with those values under isoflurane during normoventilation.

CONCLUSIONSOur results suggest that the optimal ventilated status under propofol or isoflurane anesthesia in neurosurgical patients varies. Hyperventilation under propofol anesthesia should be cautiously performed in neurosurgery to maintain an improved balance between the cerebral oxygen supply and demand.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anesthetics, Inhalation ; Anesthetics, Intravenous ; Arterial Pressure ; physiology ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Craniotomy ; methods ; Female ; Heart Rate ; physiology ; Humans ; Hyperventilation ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; Isoflurane ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Propofol ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo assess the in-stent lumen visibility and image quality of coronary stents by dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) coronary angiography, and the diagnostic accuracy of DSCT in the detection of coronary in-stent restenosis.

METHODSDSCT was performed at 147 stents in 78 patients at an interval of (21.8?22.2) months after coronary stent implantation. Axial multi-planar reconstruction of the stents and curved-planar reconstruction through the median of the stents were evaluated for stent image quality on a 5-point scale, and the stent lumen diameters were detected. Thirty out of these 78 patients underwent conventional coronary angiography within one month after CT angiography. The patency of 60 stents were independently evaluated by two blinded readers.

RESULTSImage quality was good to excellent on average score (1.6?0.6) . Stent image quality score was correlated with stent diameter, stent location, and heart rate. All stents were assessable in lumen visibility with an average visible lumen diameter percentage of (72.2?12.2) %. Visible lumen diameter percentage was correlated with stent diameter and stent location. For the stents with calcified plaques, the visible lumen diameter percentage at the calcified site was significantly lower than that at the non-calcified site (P<0.001) . Compared with the conventional coronary angiography, 12 out of 14 in-stent stenoses were correctly detected. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for the detection of in-stent stenosis was 85.7%, 95.7%, 85.7%, and 95.7%, respectively. For stents whose diameter >0.275cm, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were all 100%. The agreement between CT findings and coronary angiography results was 93.3%, and it was correlated with stent diameter and heart rate.

CONCLUSIONSUsing a DSCT, coronary stent lumen is partially visible and the image quality is high. Stent diameter and location can influence the stent lumen visibility and image quality. DSCT has a high diagnostic accuracy for the detection of in-stent restenosis and may be a valuable modality for the follow-up of coronary artery stent patency."

Aged ; Coronary Angiography ; methods ; Coronary Restenosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stents ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; Vascular Patency