Nitrite oxidoreductase(NXR) is the key enzyme responsible for the oxidation of NO2-to NO3-in nitrite-oxidizing bacteria.Since NXR is a dissoluble enzyme,located at the inner side of the membranes of cells,its function is dependent on the electron transfer chain related to membranes.This paper reviews the advances in study on NXR,including the structure,catalysis mechanism and the impact of different factors.New techniques applied in recent studies and research prospects are also presented.

Objective To assess the feasibility and clinical results of video-assisted high anterior transcervical approach (Smith-Robinson) in treatment of spinal lesions of the craniovertebral junction. Methods Between April 2007 to October 2009, nineteen consecutive patients with spinal lesions of the craniovertebral junction were included in the study. There were 9 males and 10 females aged from 16 to 62 years old with a mean of 32 years. The primary pathologies included 4 cases with chronic odontiod fracture, 2 cases with purely irreducible atlantoaxial dislocation, 6 cases with os odonteideum, 1 case with Marfan synd rome, 1 case with primary basilar invagination from Kippel-Feil syndrome, 3 case with axis tumor and 1 case with irreducible rheumatoid atlantoaxial dislocation. All of the patients underwent combined video-assisted high anterior transcervical procedure and posterior fixation at one-stage. The anterior procedure included atlantoaxil release and reduction (8 cases), odontoidectomy (8 cases), and intralesional extracapsular excision and reconstruction (3 tumor cases). The posterior technique were C1-C2 pedicle screw fixation (13 cases), C1-C3 pedicle screw fixation (2 cases), and occipitalcervical fusion (4 cases). Results Anatomical reduction was achieved in eight cases with anterior release and reduction. Tumors were completely removed in three cases with axial tumor. The mean follow-up was 14 months (6-36 months). All of them achieved solid bone fusion. In the 14 patients with symptoms of spinal cord dysfunction, the average Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA)score had improved from 9.1±3.3 preoperatively to 14.1±2.9 postperatively. The improvement rate was excellent for 7 cases, good for 5 cases, fair for lcase and poor for 1 case. One patient experienced leakage of cerebrospinal fluid which was resolved by bioprotein gelatin blocking and lumbar subarachnoid continuous drainage within 1 week. Dysphagia which occurred in 3 cases responded well to dexamethason and mannitol.No infection and hardware failure were observed. Conclusion Video-assisted high anterior transcervical procedure is a safe and effective alternative for treating spinal lesions in the craniovertebral junction.

One factor at a time design and first order exponential model were applied to investigate the effects of the four major factors(temperature,ionic strength,pH and osmo-regulator) in the preservation process of nitrite oxidization bacteria(NOB),and a first order decay kinetics was introduced.The result showed that the anoxic decay rate of nitrifying bacteria reduced from 0.25 to 0.015,the half life was extend to 53d at 4℃,pH7.60,ionic strength 0.035mol/kg.The protecting effect of glycerin showed obviously better than that of other cryoprotectants at 4℃.

Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T_RFLP) analysis is a culture- independent approach for analyzing microbial community in environment. It bases on PCR technology, and its process includes DNA extraction of environmental samples, amplification of genes encoding the 16S rRNA, 18S rRNA or enzymes with fluorescently labeled primers, the restriction enzyme digestion of PCR products, cap- illary electrophoresis and the analysis of T_RFLP profile. It has been proved to be powerful applied on mi- crobial community in environment since developed in 1997. Currently, T_RFLP rarely applied in China, and it has no applications on microbial community analysis of nitrifying bacteria. In this article, the fundamental principle of this technique and the recent applications of T_RFLP on microbial community are summarized; in addition, it illustrates the confinements of conventional culture-dependent of nitrifying bacteria and the foreground of T_RFLP applying on microbial community structure analysis of nitrifying bacteria.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of Xuebijing injection(XBJI, traditional Chinese medicine), in inhibiting TLR4--NF-kappaB--IL-1beta pathway of myocardial hypoxia/reoxygenation in rats.

METHODSThirty six male SD rats (280 +/- 30) g were randomly divided into six groups (n = 6): normal group (N group), balanced perfusion group (BP group), model group (M group), low dose XBJI group (XBJI(L) group), middle dose XBJI group (XBJI(M) group), high dose XBJI group (XBJI(H) group). By Langendorff isolated heart perfusion device to establish the model of myocardial hypoxia/reoxygenation in rats. ELISA was used to detect the concentration of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta); Western blot was used to detect the expression of nuclear factor kappa B p65 (NF-kappaB p65) protein and toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) protein; and RT-PCR to determine the expression of NF-kappaB p65 mRNA and TLR4 mRNA;To observe microstructure changes of hypoxia/reoxygenation myocardial by light microscopy.

RESULTSCompared with M group, the IL-1beta concentration, NF-kappaB p65 and TLR4 protein,NF-kappaB p65 and TLR4 mRNA of XBJIL group, XBJI(M) group, XBJI(H) group expression decreased in varying degrees,and decreased most obviously all in XBJI(M) group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); Myocardical structural damage was serious in M group, and improved after treatment XBJI, the most obvious was the XBJI(M).

CONCLUSIONDifferent dose of XBJI can inhibit TLR4--NF-kappaB--IL-1beta signal transduction pathway and reduce several inflammatory reaction after myocardial hypoxia/reoxygenation injury, the 4 ml/100 ml of XBJI is the best.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Heart ; drug effects ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocardium ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; Signal Transduction ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; metabolism ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism

AIMTo investigate the role of oxygen free radicals (OFR) in hepatic ischemia and reperfusion injury (HI/RI) and effect of propofol on them.

METHODSThe rabbits were randomly divided into three groups (n=10), sham operated group (Control), HIR group(I/R) and HIR + propofol group (PRO). Changes of several parameters which included malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), xanthine oxidase (XO) and alanine aminotransferase(ALT) were measured before ischemia, 45 minutes after ischemia and 45 minutes after reperfusion in plasma. Meanwhile MDA concentration, SOD, XO activities and ALT value in liver tissue were measured, and the ultrastructure changes in liver tissue were observed under electron microscope at 45 minutes after reperfusion.

RESULTSAs compared with group control, XO, MDA and ALT increased and SOD decreased during HI/RI (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01) in plasma, and XO, MDA increased as well as SOD decreased at 45 minutes after reperfusion (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01) in liver tissue and there were abnormal changes of the hepatic ultrastructure at 45 minutes after reperfusion. Propofol reversed the results of mentioned indices as above markedly (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONOFR is an important factor during HI/RI, propofol may attenuate hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury by dropping OFR level (raising SOD activity and dropping XO activity) and antagonizing lipid pe-reoxidation (reducing MDA content).

Alanine Transaminase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Free Radical Scavengers ; metabolism ; Liver ; blood supply ; ultrastructure ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; drug effects ; Propofol ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Rabbits ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Xanthine Oxidase ; metabolism

Objective:To investigate the associations between the hormone receptors,Ki67 expression and response to neoadjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.Methods:One hundred sixty-eight primary breast cancer patients received anthracycline-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy.The expression of estrogen receptor(ER),progesterone receptor(PR),and Ki67 were determined by immunohistochemistry assay in core-needle biopsy specimens prior to the chemotherapy,and pathologic response was assessed by Miller & Payne grade(G1 to G5).Results:40%(67/168)of the patients had a good pathologic response,defined as complete pathologic response(pCR or G5)and minimal residual disease(G4).Among the patients,20%(33/168)had a complete pathologic response(G5).ER or PR status was significantly associated with pathological response.Patients with PR-negative tumors had a higher pathological response rate or pCR than those with PR-positive tumors(17/67 vs 45/90,P=0.002;6/67 vs 25/90,P=0.003,respectively),whereas patients with ER-negative tumors had a higher pathological response rate than those with ER-positive tumors.Moreover,Patients with both ER-and PR-negative tumors exhibited a remarkable pathological response as compared with those with any single factor(36/17 vs 26/86,P=0.009).No association between Ki67 expression and pathological was found in this cohort of patients.There was a linear correlation between the expression of Ki-67,ER or PR status and pathologic response.Conclusion:There is a significant association between the hormone receptors and pathological response to neoadjvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy in breast cancer patients,and patients with PR-negative tumors are more likely to respond to chemotherapy.

Objective To evaluated the clinical results of treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head(ONFH)by using bone flap pedicled with gluteal muscle branch of ascending branch of the lateral femo- ral circumflex artery and transversal branch of the lateral femoral cireumflex artery.Methods Bone flap pedicled with double blood vessels was applied in 32 hips with stageⅡandⅢONFH according to the Fieat staging system.Fifteen hips were in stageⅡand 17 were in stageⅢ.All patients were followed up for a mean of 25 months(range,15-38 months)and were assessed clinically and radiologically according to Harris sco- ring.Selective digital subtraction angiography was performed in 9 cases to confirm the blood reconstruction of femoral head.Results Two cases underwent total hip replacement postoperatively.Preoperative and postop- erative Harris score were 55 and 88.6.Clinical success rate was 90.6% and radiological success rate was 87.5%.DSA demonstrated blood supply was found reconstruction in the necrotic femoral head.Conclusion Transplantation of bone flap pedicled with gluteal muscle branch of ascending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery and transversal branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery appears to be a effective treat- ment for osteonecrosis of the femoral head,blood supply of bone flap and blood reconstruction of femoral head was confirmed.Early clinical results were satisfied.

BACKGROUNDRenal transplantation in sensitized candidates remains a highly significant challenge worldwide. The production of panel reactive antibody (PRA) against human leukocyte antigen (HLA) is a major risk factor in presensitized recipients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of HLA matching and recipients' PRA on two-year outcome in presensitized renal allograft recipients.

METHODSWe determined the percentage of panel reactivity and specificity of anti-HLA immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibodies in 73 presensitized renal allograft recipients compared with 81 unsensitized recipients (control group). HLA genotyping of both recipients and corresponding donors was performed by PCR with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP). We analyzed the factors influencing the early graft outcome (two-year rejection rates and survival rates of the grafts), including HLA mismatching, class and degree of panel reactivity, and target antigen of donors.

RESULTSPresensitized recipients had a worse two-year outcome than unsensitized recipients (P = 0.019 for rejection rate, P = 0.01 for survival rate). The difference in number of HLA-mismatched alleles with either 6-antigen matching (Ag M) standard or amino acid residue matching (Res M) standard was not significant between the rejection and non-rejection groups of presensitized recipients or between the graft survival group and graft loss group. Compared with the control group, recipients with both PRA-I and PRA-II antibodies had a significantly worse two-year outcome (P = 0.001 for rejection rate, P = 0.002 for survival rate). The two-year outcomes of the peak PRA >/= 50% group and its subgroup, at-transplant PRA > or = 50% group, were significantly worse compared with the control group (P = 0.025 and P = 0.001 for rejection rate, P = 0.043 and P = 0.024 for survival rate). The rejection rates of the at-transplant target antigen positive group and its subgroup, HLA-I target antigen positive group, were significantly higher than the control group (P = 0.001 and P = 0.001), target antigen negative group (P = 0.003 and P = 0.001), and peak target antigen positive with negative at-transplant target antigen group (P = 0.024 and P = 0.002). Two-year graft survival rates of the target antigen positive group and HLA-I target antigen positive group were significantly lower than the control group (P = 0.012 and P = 0.001). The two-year outcome of target antigen unknown group was similar to that of the target antigen positive group. Presensitized recipients with pre-transplant plasmapheresis or immunoadsorption (PRA prepared group) had a better but non-significant two-year outcome than the control group. However, the PRA unprepared presensitized recipients were different to the control group (P = 0.004 for rejection rate and P = 0.005 for survival rate). Hyperacute rejection (HR) occurred in three recipients with positive HLA-I target antigen and without mismatch according to Res M and in one case with positive PRA-II (for an unknown target antigen). No HR occurred in eight cases with positive HLA-II target antigens.

CONCLUSIONSPre-transplant PRA preparations might improve the access of presensitized patients to renal donors. Avoiding antigen-positive donors remains a fundamental measure in preventing HR and early rejections.

Adult ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Graft Rejection ; immunology ; Graft Survival ; immunology ; HLA Antigens ; immunology ; Histocompatibility Testing ; Humans ; Isoantibodies ; blood ; Kidney Transplantation ; adverse effects ; immunology ; mortality ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Transplantation, Homologous ; immunology ; Treatment Outcome

The fusion protein of Humanized mouse anti-human fibrin ScFv and the low molecular weight urokinase (IIn-UK) contained seven disulfide bonds and formed inclusion body while expressing in normal E. coli strain. By coexpressing DsbC and using the special E. coli strain Origami(DE3) which was trxB/gor double mutant, the fusion protein IIn-UK was functionally expressed in the cytoplasm of E. coli. The expressed fusion protein in the soluble fraction was purified by using affinity chromatography specific against urokinase. The purified fusion protein could combine the thrombus in vitro, and the specific activity of urokinase reached 80,000 IU/mg fusion protein. The result showed that the fusion protein retained the activity of two moieties, and this study laid a foundation for further research of targeting thrombolytic agent.
Animals ; Chromatography, Affinity ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Fragments ; genetics ; Mice ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; genetics