In this research, the zuelacmycin-producing strain Streptomyces venezuelaevar. qinlingensis RL-2 was used as original strain, the spore suspension of which was induced by UV, LiCl and the compound treatmeat (UV+LiCl) respectively. The zuelacmycin-high-yield strain UVL-108 was obtained by the treatment that the exposure time under UV irradition was 45 s and the concentration of LiCl was 0.4%. The heredity characters of mutant UVL-108 were stable in succesive six generations. The antibacterial activity and the fermentation titer of mutant UVL-108 were determinded by bidirectioned culture and mycelial linear growth respectively. The results demonstrated the antibaterial activity of mutant UVL-108 was improved by 77%, and the relative toxicity of fermentation to Phyricularia grisea was improved by two times compared with the original strain.

The study provide a theoretical basis for the industrial production of a elastase-high-yield strain which was isolated from the straw,and the selected strain was identified. The screening strategy included casein(skim milk) plate selecting and elastin(beef tendon) re-screening. And then,the morphological,physiological and biochemical characteristics as well as 16S rRNA sequence homology of the selected strain were studied. Finally,the strain LSF-97 which had a excellent decomposing ability to beef tendon was obtained. The results showed that the strain LSF-97 is relative to the Bacillus pumilus with 100 % similar in sequence under the phylogenetic tree,the morphological and physiological and biochemical characteristics are also consistent with pattern of bacteria. So it was identified as Bacillus pumilus.

Background The effect of chronic stress on cognitive functions has been one of the hot topic in neuroscience. But there has been much controversy over its mechanism. Such single stressor applied in the past could not simulate complicated living circumstances that people confronted with. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic multiple-stress on learning and memory as well as on the levels of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), calmodulin (CaM) mRNA, and cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) mRNA in the hippocampus of rats. Methods The rats were divided randomly into stressed and control groups. The stressed group was given chronic multiple-stress for 6 weeks to set up a chronic multiple-stressed model. The rats' performance of spatial learning and memory was tested using Morris Water Maze (MWM) and Y-maze. Meanwhile, the expressions of CaMKII, CaM mRNA and CREB mRNA of rats' hippocampus were detected by immunohistochemistry, Western blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively. In addition, the width of synaptic cleft and the thickness of post-synaptic densities (PSD) were observed in the hippocampal CA3 region of rats by electron microscopy. Results After exposure to chronic multiple-stress for 6 weeks, the ability of learning and memory of the stressed group was higher than that of the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The width of synaptic cleft was smaller and the thickness of PSD was larger in the hippocampal CA3 region of the stressed group than in that of the control group (P<0.01). The CaMKII immunostaining of the stressed group was stronger than that of the control group in the stratum radiatum and oriens of the hippocampal CA1 and CA3, especially in the stratum oriens. Quantitative analysis indicated that the expression of CaMKII, CaM mRNA, and CREB mRNA in the hippocampus of the stressed group was higher than that of the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusions The capacity of learning and memory can be enhanced after chronic multiple-stress. The increased levels of CaMKII, CaM mRNA, and CREB mRNA may contribute to the enhancing effect of chronic multiple-stress on learning and memory.

BACKGROUNDExposure of adult mice to more than 95% O(2) produces a lethal injury by 72 hours. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is thought to contribute to the pathophysiology of murine hyperoxia-induced acute lung injury (ALI). Osteopontin (OPN) is a phosphorylated glycoprotein produced principally by macrophages. OPN inhibits inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), which generates large amounts of nitric oxide production. However, the relationship between nitric oxide and endogenous OPN in lung tissue during hyperoxia-induced ALI has not yet been elucidated, thus we examined the role that OPN plays in the hyperoxia-induced lung injury and its relationships with NOS.

METHODSOne hundred and forty-four osteopontin knock-out (KO) mice and their matched wild type background control (WT) were exposed in sealed cages > 95% oxygen or room air for 24- 72 hours, and the severity of lung injury was assessed; expression of OPN, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and iNOS mRNA in lung tissues at 24, 48 and 72 hours of hyperoxia were studied by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed for the detection of iNOS, eNOS, and OPN protein in lung tissues.

RESULTSOPN KO mice developed more severe acute lung injury at 72 hours of hyperoxia. The wet/dry weight ratio increased to 6.85 +/- 0.66 in the KO mice at 72 hours of hyperoxia as compared to 5.31 +/- 0.92 in the WT group (P < 0.05). iNOS mRNA (48 hours: 1.04 +/- 0.08 vs. 0.63 +/- 0.09, P < 0.01; 72 hours: 0.89 +/- 0.08 vs. 0.72 +/- 0.09, P < 0.05) and eNOS mRNA (48 hours: 0.62 +/- 0.08 vs. 0.43 +/- 0.09, P < 0.05; 72 hours: 0.67 +/- 0.08 vs. 0.45 +/- 0.09, P < 0.05) expression was more significantly increased in OPN KO mice than their matched WT mice when exposed to hyperoxia. IHC study showed higher expression of iNOS (20.54 +/- 3.18 vs. 12.52 +/- 2.46, P < 0.05) and eNOS (19.83 +/- 5.64 vs. 9.45 +/- 3.82, P < 0.05) in lung tissues of OPN KO mice at 72 hours of hyperoxia.

CONCLUSIONOPN can protect against hyperoxia-induced lung injury by inhibiting NOS.

Animals ; Hyperoxia ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung ; metabolism ; Lung Injury ; etiology ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; genetics ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; genetics ; Osteopontin ; genetics ; physiology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

BACKGROUNDThe effect of chronic stress on cognitive functions has been one of the hot topic in neuroscience. But there has been much controversy over its mechanism. Such single stressor applied in the past could not simulate complicated living circumstances that people confronted with. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic multiple-stress on learning and memory as well as on the levels of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), calmodulin (CaM) mRNA, and cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) mRNA in the hippocampus of rats.

METHODSThe rats were divided randomly into stressed and control groups. The stressed group was given chronic multiple-stress for 6 weeks to set up a chronic multiple-stressed model. The rats' performance of spatial learning and memory was tested using Morris Water Maze (MWM) and Y-maze. Meanwhile, the expressions of CaMKII, CaM mRNA and CREB mRNA of rats' hippocampus were detected by immunohistochemistry, Western blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively. In addition, the width of synaptic cleft and the thickness of post-synaptic densities (PSD) were observed in the hippocampal CA3 region of rats by electron microscopy.

RESULTSAfter exposure to chronic multiple-stress for 6 weeks, the ability of learning and memory of the stressed group was higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The width of synaptic cleft was smaller and the thickness of PSD was larger in the hippocampal CA3 region of the stressed group than in that of the control group (P < 0.01). The CaMK II immunostaining of the stressed group was stronger than that of the control group in the stratum radiatum and oriens of the hippocampal CA1 and CA3, especially in the stratum oriens. Quantitative analysis indicated that the expression of CaMK II, CaM mRNA, and CREB mRNA in the hippocampus of the stressed group was higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe capacity of learning and memory can be enhanced after chronic multiple-stress. The increased levels of CaMK II, CaM mRNA, and CREB mRNA may contribute to the enhancing effect of chronic multiple-stress on learning and memory.

Animals ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases ; genetics ; Calmodulin ; genetics ; Chronic Disease ; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein ; genetics ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Learning ; Male ; Memory ; Microscopy, Electron ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Stress, Physiological ; metabolism ; psychology ; Synapses ; ultrastructure

Objective A cross-sectional study was carried out to observe the prevalence.Incidence and risk factors of deep venous thrombosis(DVT)in patients from intensive care unit(ICU).Methods Patients who were admitted to respiratory intensive care unit(RICU)and emergency intensive care unit (EICU)of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital and Bering Anzhen Hospital were screened in our studv.All patients enrolled underwent compression ultrasonography(CUS)witlain 48 h upon their admission to the ICUs.CUS Was re-performed at 10-14 day,or when 1eaving ICU or at the time patients developed signs and symptoms(pain,heat,redmess,edema)of DVT.Risk factors which were presumed assiated with DVT were recorded.The main identified outcome Was the presence of DVT.The secondary outcome Was pulmonary thromboembolism(FrrE).Results DVT was found in 30 patients of 252 patients within 48h (11.90％).One hundred seventy-two patients were perforrned CUS two times or more.26 patients(15.12％)had DVT.D-dimer,history of operation,kidney failure appeared to be independent risk factors for DVT in ICU patients.13 patients were suspected PTE and 3 patients diagnosed as PTE.Conclusion ICU doctors should pay more attention to DVT,which is relatively common in ICU patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether heart tissue-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) promotes the differentiation of cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs) implanted in rat infracted myocardium to improve the cardiac structure and function.

METHODSRat CDCs were cultured by cardiac explant methods, and ECM was prepared by decelluariztion method. In a Wistar rat model of acute myocardial infarction established by ligating the left anterior descending branch, IMDM solution, ECM suspension, 10CDCs in IMDM solution, or 10CDCs in ECM suspension were injected into the infracted rat myocardium (6 rats in each group). The cardiac function of the rats was evaluated by cardiac ultrasonography, and the percentage of positive heart fibrosis area after infarction was determined with Masson staining. The differentiation of implanted CDCs in the infarcted myocardium was detected using immunofluorescence assay for the markers of cardiac muscle cells (α-SA), vascular endothelial cells (vWF) and smooth muscle cells (α-SMA).

RESULTSThree weeks after acute myocardial infarction, the rats with injection of CDCs in ECM showed the highest left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and percentage of fraction shortening with the lowest percentage of positive heart fibrosis area; implantation of CDCs with ECM resulted in significantly higher rates of CDC differentiation into cardiac muscle cells, vascular endothelial cells and smooth muscle cell (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONHeart-tissue derived ECM significantly promotes the differentiation of CDCs implanted in the infracted myocardium into cardiac muscle cells, vascular endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells to improve the cardiac structure and cardiac functions in rats.

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Disease Models, Animal ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Extracellular Matrix ; transplantation ; Myocardial Infarction ; therapy ; Myocardium ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; transplantation ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

BACKGROUNDAlthough noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) has been successfully used for various kinds of acute respiratory failure, the data are limited regarding its application in postoperative respiratory failure after cardiac surgery. Therefore, we conducted a prospective randomized control study in a university surgical intensive care unit to evaluate the efficacy and safety of NPPV in the treatment of acute respiratory failure after cardiac surgery, and explore the predicting factors of NPPV failure.

METHODSFrom September 2011 to November 2012 patients with acute respiratory failure after cardiac surgery who had indication for the use of NPPV were randomly divided into a NPPV treatment group (NPPV group) and the conventional treatment group (control group). The between-group differences in the patients' baseline characteristics, re-intubation rate, tracheotomy rate, ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) incidence, in-hospital mortality, mechanical ventilation time after enrollment (MV time), intensive care unit (ICU) and postoperative hospital stays were compared. The factors that predict NPPV failure were analyzed.

RESULTSDuring the study period, a total of 139 patients who had acute respiratory failure after cardiac surgery were recorded, and 95 of them met the inclusion criteria, which included 59 males and 36 females with a mean age of (61.5 ± 11.2) years. Forty-three patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), 23 underwent valve surgery, 13 underwent CABG+valve surgery, 13 underwent major vascular surgery, and three underwent other surgeries. The NPPV group had 48 patients and the control group had 47 patients. In the NPPV group, the re-intubation rate was 18.8%, tracheotomy rate was 12.5%, VAP incidence was 0, and the in-hospital mortality was 18.8%, significantly lower than in the control group 80.9%, 29.8%, 17.0% and 38.3% respectively, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01. The MV time and ICU stay (expressed as the median (P25, P75)) were 18.0 (9.2, 35.0) hours and 4.0 (2.0, 5.0) days, which were significantly shorter than in the control group, 96.0 (26.0, 240.0) hours and 6.0 (4.0, 9.0) days respectively, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01. The postoperative hospital stays of the two groups were similar. The univariate analysis showed that the NPPV success subgroup had more patients with acute lung injury (ALI) (17 vs. 0, P = 0.038), fewer patients with pneumonia (2 vs. 7, P < 0.001) and lower acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) scores (16.1 ± 2.8 vs. 21.8 ± 3.2, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that pneumonia (P = 0.027) and a high APACHE II score >20 (P = 0.002) were the independent risk factors of NPPV failure.

CONCLUSIONSWe conclude that NPPV can be applied in selected patients with acute respiratory failure after cardiac surgery to reduce the need of re-intubation and improve clinical outcome as compared with conventional treatment. Pneumonia and a high APACHE II score >20 might be the independent risk factors of NPPV failure in this group of patients.

Aged ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; therapy ; Prospective Studies ; Respiration, Artificial ; adverse effects ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; etiology ; therapy ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of dimemorfan phosphate in the treatment of dry cough.Methods Three hundred seventy -eight patients with dry cough were randomly divided into experimental group ( n=216 ) , positive control ( n=108 ) and place-bo group ( n=54 ).Experimental group was taken dimemorfan phosphate 20 mg, orally, tid, 5 -7 d.Positive control group was taken dextro-methorphan 30 mg, orally, tid, 5 -7 d.Placebo group was taken dimemorfan phosphate simulation tablets 20 mg or dextromethorphan simulation tablets 30 mg, tid, 5-7 d.Comparison of the clinical effica-cy, change of the total cough score after 5-7 d treatment, and the inci-dence of adverse drug reactions between the three groups.Results The clinical effectiveness of cough symptom after treatment , experimental group and positive control group and placebo group were 81.02%, 84.26%and 38.89%, respectively.The difference between experimen-tal group with placebo group was statistically significant ( P <0.01 ) , there was no statistically significant difference between experimental group with positive control group ( P>0.05 ).The average decrease of total cough score after treatment in the experimental group , the positive control group and the placebo group were (2.34 ±1.42), (2.43 ±1.55) and (1.39 ±1.20), respectively.The decrease in the total cough score of experimen-tal group was superior to that of placebo group ( P<0.01 ) , the decrease in the total cough score of experimental group was not inferior to positive control group ( P>0.05 ).The incidence of adverse events were 4.21% in experimental group , 12.04%in positive control group and 5.66%in placebo group , respectively.Among these , the incidence of adverse events associated with drug were 1.87%, 10.19%, 5.66%, respectively.Conclusion Dimemorfan phos-phate has exact antitussive efficacy in the treatment of dry cough , has the same antitussive efficacy and similar side effect in the treatment of dry cough compared with the dextromethorphan.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of combined occupational exposure of chromium and iron on erythrocyte metabolism, and the possible mechanism.

METHODSA total of 115 chromate production workers were selected in a chemical factory of Jinan as exposure group, Dec, 2008, and 60 healthy residents from a community which was far away from the factory were enrolled as control group. Environmental concentrations of chromium and iron were collected by filter membrane sampling and determined. The peripheral blood of subjects were collected for determination of chromium, iron, copper in whole blood and folate, vitamin B₁₂ in serum, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and correlation analysis was conducted.

RESULTSThe median (quartile interval) concentration of air-chromium and air-iron in workplace were 9.0 (10.5) and 11.2 (10.1) µg/m³, respectively, which were significantly higher than that of the control (0.1 (0.1) and 7.2 (2.5) µg/m³) (all P values < 0.01). Blood-chromium and blood-iron of the exposed group were 15.5 (14.1) µg/L and (895.1 ± 90.2) mg/L, which were significantly higher than the counterpart of the control (3.6(2.0) µg/L, (563.7 ± 49.3) mg/L) (all P values < 0.01). Serum folate ((6.9 ± 2.5) µg/L), serum vitamin B₁₂ ((396.4 ± 177.0) µg/L) and blood copper ((777.6 ± 103.5) µg/L) of the exposed group were all significantly lower comparing to the control group ((558.0 ± 330.8), (8.1 ± 3.8), (812.1 ± 94.6) µg/L) (all P values < 0.05). The relationships between blood chromium and serum folate, serum vitamin B₁₂ were statistical significant (r = -0.319 and -0.293, P < 0.01). Both serum vitamin B₁₂ and blood copper correlated with mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) (r = -0.223, -0.242, -0.261, -0.292, all P values < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCombined chromium and iron exposure existed in the workplace. Adverse effect of Chromium on human erythrocyte may via folate and vitamin B₁₂ metabolism, while iron may via copper metabolism.

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; Chromates ; adverse effects ; Chromium ; adverse effects ; Copper ; blood ; Erythrocytes ; metabolism ; Folic Acid ; blood ; Humans ; Iron ; adverse effects ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; Vitamin B 12 ; blood