Bc58 is a UV resistant wild type strain that has an ability to produce a sorrel pigment induced by L-tyrosine.The FT-IR spectra and chemical tests of its pigment are similar to that of the standard melanin(Sigma).By bioassay shows that the LC_(50) of a Bt formulation added with the melanin of Bc58 and exposed to UV for 5 h is 16.1?g/mL,which is similar to that of Bt formulation without treated with UV,however,it is almost double higher than that of Bt formulation exposed to UV without the melanin of Bc58.The result of SDS-PAGE indicates that the melanin of Bc58 can protect the insecticidal crystal proteins from degradation.It suggests that an excellent UV protective agent to the insecticidal crystal proteins of Bt formulation.

Objective To evaluate the mechanical homogeneity pattern of isolated carotid atherosclerotic plaque intima on longitudinal axis view using ultrasonic velocity vector imaging.Methods Fourty six patients with 48 isolated plaques were undergone the high frequency ultrasound scanning,the real-time two-dimensional longitudinal-axis gray scale view at the maximal thickness of the plaque was obtained in three complete cardiac cycles.A dedicated velocity vector imaging(ⅤⅤⅠ)workstation was used for the off-line dynamic two-dimensional gray-scale image analysis and mechanics parameter(i.e.,the peak strain and the absolute difference of the peak strain)assessment at the sites of the upper,middle and down stream separately.The length and direction distribution of the velocity vectors at the carotid atherosclerotic plaque intima were observed.Wilcoxon test was utilized for the comparison of the peak strain and the absolute difference of the peak strain between two sites.Results The chaos phenomenon of velocity vector distribution at the sites of plaque intima occurred significantly differed from those uniform velocity vectors at the reference sites.According to the two groups of the higher strain value side and the lower strain value side on the upper stream and the down stream of the plaque intima,the peak strain at the higher strain value side was significantly higher than the lower strain value side(P=0.000).There was a significantly difference between the absolute difference of peak strain from the higher strain value side to the middle stream point of the plaque intima and the absolute difference of peak strain from the lower strain value side to the higher strain value side of the plaque intima(P＜0.017).Conclusions The length and direction distribution of velocity vectors of the isolated carotid atherosclerotic plaque intima on longitudinal axis view are uneven,the mechanical heterogeneity pattern exists at the plaque intima and could be visualized and quantitatively evaluated using ultrasonic velocity vector imaging.

Objective To discuss the therapeutic effect of transcatheter arterial embolization using hardening agent combined with oral propranolol in treating giant hemangioma at maxillofacial region in infants. Methods During the period from October 2013 to December 2014 at Imaging Center of Anhui Provincial Children's Hospital, transcatheter arterial embolization using hardening agent combined with oral propranolol was employed in a total of 27 infants with giant hemangioma at maxillofacial region. The age of the infants ranged from 2 months to 22 months (mean 5.9 months) and the body weight was 4.5-10 kg with a mean of 6.32 kg. Angiography via femoral artery was performed, which was followed by super-selective catheterization of hemangioma-feeding artery, and then pingyangmycin lipiodol emulsion was injected into the hemangiomas with subsequent injection of PVA particles to obstruct the hemangioma-feeding artery. After the embolization treatment, the patient received oral propranolol for 3-6 months. Results All the infant patients were followed up for 3-6 months. Clinical examination and ultrasonography indicated that the hemangioma was cured in 20 infants (75%) and the therapeutic result was effective in 7 infants (25%). Skin necrosis at hemangiomas site was observed in 2 infants (7.5%), which was cured after symptomatic treatment. No serious complications such as pulmonary embolism, cerebral embolism occurred, and no recurrence was observed. Conclusion For the treatment of giant hemangioma at maxillofacial region in infants, transcatheter arterial embolization using hardening agent combined with oral propranolol is minimally invasive, quickly effective and highly safe;and this treatment leaves no scar formation in most cases. Therefore, this technique is worthy of clinical application.

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanisms of myocardial hypertrophy induced by Levothyroxine (L-Thy).

METHODSA rabbit model of hyperthyroidism was established by daily intraperitoneal injections of L-Thy (45 microg/kg per day) for 28 days. New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10 each): control group, L-Thy group (L-Thy alone), imidapril group (L-Thy + 0.5 mg/kg imidapril), and valsartan group (L-Thy + 8 mg/kg valsartan). All rabbits were treated for 4 weeks. At the end of the treatments, all rabbits underwent echocardiography and IVS, LV and LVPW thickness were measured. Ventricular tissues were then collected.Cardiac hypertrophy index, cardiomyocyte diameter, structural and ultrastructural changes were obtained. Ventricular myocytes were isolated by enzymatic digestion method and intracellular Ca2+ concentration was determined with the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator Fluo3/AM and laser scanning confocal microscopy. Activity of Sarco/Endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA) was evaluated with P-NPP method.mRNA expression of L-type Ca2+ channel (LCC), ryanodine receptor (RyR), and SERCA was semi-quantified with RT-PCR. Protein of IP3R was localized by immunostaining and semi-quantified with pathological image analytic system.

RESULTSCompared with control group, rabbits treated with L-Thy displayed remarkable myocardial hypertrophy and morphological changes in both structure and ultrastructure levels. Increased intracellular Ca2+ concentration [(576.2 +/- 41.7) nmol/L vs. (314.6 +/- 35.6) nmol/L, P < 0.01] and decreased SERCA activity [(0.062 +/- 0.013) micromol x min(-1)xg(-1) vs. (0.133 +/- 0.022) micromol x min(-1)xg(-1), P < 0.01] were detected in L-Thy treated rabbits. RT-PCR analysis and (or) immunohistochemistry revealed decreased mRNA expression of LCC mRNA (0.48 +/- 0.11 vs. 0.75 +/- 0.16, P < 0.01) and increased RyR mRNA (1.19 +/- 0.21 vs. 0.73 +/- 0.15, P < 0.01), SERCA mRNA (1.01 +/- 0.08 vs. 0.76 +/- 0.09, P < 0.01) and IP3R protein (65.3 +/- 13.7 vs. 47.9 +/- 10.2, P < 0.01) expression in L-Thy treated rabbits. Both imidapril and valsartan could significantly attenuate cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and structural remodeling induced by L-Thy. Compared with L-Thy group, decreased intracellular Ca(2+) concentration [(376.4 +/- 32.5) nmol/L vs. (576.2 +/- 41.7) nmol/L, P < 0.01 and (392.6 +/- 41.2) nmol/L vs. (576.2 +/- 41.7) nmol/L, P < 0.01, respectively], and increased LCC mRNA (0.68 +/- 0.14 vs. 0.48 +/- 0.11, P < 0.01; 0.64 +/- 0.13 vs. 0.48 +/- 0.11, P < 0.01, respectively) and SERCA activity [(0.115 +/- 0.019) micromol x min(-1)xg(-1) vs. (0.062 +/- 0.013) micromol x min(-1)xg(-1), P < 0.01; (0.109 +/- 0.015) micromol x min(-1)xg(-1) vs. (0.062 +/- 0.013) micromol x min(-1)xg(-1), P < 0.01, respectively] were found in both imidapril and valsartan treated rabbits, but expression of RyR, SERCA and IP3R remained unchanged.

CONCLUSIONIntracellular Ca(2+) overload may play important roles in myocardial hypertrophy induced by L-Thy. Imidapril and valsartan may exert beneficial effects on hyperthyroid myocardial hypertrophy via altering intracellular calcium handling.

Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Calcium Channels ; drug effects ; Cardiomyopathies ; metabolism ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hyperthyroidism ; metabolism ; pathology ; Imidazolidines ; pharmacology ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; drug effects ; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium-Transporting ATPases ; metabolism ; Tetrazoles ; pharmacology ; Thyroxine ; Valine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Valsartan

OBJECTIVE: To constitute school sanitation standard using modified Delphi method, and to explore the feasibility and the predominance of Delphi method in the constitution of school sanitation standard. METHODS: Two rounds of expert consultations were adopted in this study. The data were analyzed with SPSS15.0 to screen indices of school sanitation standard. RESULTS: Thirty-two experts accomplished the 2 rounds of consultations. The average length of expert service was (24.69 ±8.53) years. The authority coefficient was 0.729 ±0.172. The expert positive coefficient was 94.12% (32/34) in the first round and 100% (32/32) in the second round. The harmonious coefficients of importance, feasibility and rationality in the second round were 0.493 (P<0.05), 0.527 (P<0.01), and 0.535 (P<0.01), respectively, suggesting unanimous expert opinions. According to the second round of consultation, 38 indices were included in the framework. CONCLUSION Theoretical analysis, literature review, investigation and so on are generally used in health standard constitution currently. Delphi method is a rapid, effective and feasible method in this field.
China ; Delphi Technique ; Feasibility Studies ; Hygiene ; standards ; Public Health Administration ; methods ; Schools ; standards

Objective To assess the effects of the risk factors of grafts from donors after cardiac death (DCD) on the prognosis of liver transplantation (LT).Methods In this retrospectively study,215 cases of LT using DCD donor grafts were performed at our institution from September 2013 to January 2017.Due to the loss to follow-up in 4 cases,211 cases were enrolled in the study.The following DCD donor data were collected:gender,age,primary disease,ABO blood type,body mass index (BMI),medical history (fatty liver,hypertension),ICU hospitalization time,mechanical ventilation time,warm ischemia time,cold ischemia time,and indexes of routine laboratory test before donation.Statistical analyses using the Kaplan-Meier method,log-rank test,multivariate step-wise Cox regression were performed.Results Of the 211 donors,univariate analysis showed that the overall 6-month,1-,and 3-year survival rate after DCD LT was 88％,84％,and 82％,respectively.Univariate analysis showed that donor serum sodium level ＜136 mmol/L (P =0.018) and cold ischemia time ＞9 h (P =0.013) were all significant risk factors affecting overall survival after DCD LT.Additionally,donor BMI ＞30 kg/m2 (P =0.011) and donor age ＞60 years (P =0.025) were significantly associated with postoperative complications.Multivariate analysis showed that donor serum sodium level (P=0.025) was an independent risk factor of survival after DCD LT.Conclusion To select suitable DCD liver allografts and control risk factors of donor can help to improve outcomes of recipients.

This study aims to develop inexpensive and effective experimental vaccines against highly pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus and to optimize their immunization programs. To this end, we first synthesized the codon-optimized hemagglutinin gene (HAop) and neuraminidase gene (NAop), both of which were derived from a H5N1 virus (Anhui strain), and constructed successfully the DNA vaccines containing a single cistronic construct (HAwt, HAop, or NAop) or a bicistronic construct (HAop/M2 or NAop/M1) of H5N1 influenza virus origin. Their expression was confirmed by indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA) and Western blotting. Then twice vaccination of mice with the DNA vaccines by injection intramuscularly or in vivo electroporation (EP) via two different routes was evaluated and analyzed by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay, NA-specific antibody detection, micro-neutralizing antibody test and IFN-gamma ELISpot assay. Our results showed that the DNA vaccines with coden-optimized HAop and NAop constructs could quickly elicit a strong immune response by in vivo EP, especially the cellular immune response against HA and NA; the in vivo EP via intradermal route induced stronger humoral immune responses than those via intramuscular route. Our findings will pave a way for further development of novel DNA-based H5N1 vaccine and for the optimization of the immunization programs of DNA vaccine.
Animals ; Antigens, Viral ; immunology ; Codon ; genetics ; Electroporation ; Female ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Vaccination ; methods ; Vaccines, DNA ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Viral Structural Proteins ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo demonstrate the abnormal intima rotation pattern of the carotid atherosclerosis plaque using velocity vector imaging, and to develop a new method for the clinical mechanical state assessment of the plaque intima.

METHODSThe rotation movement and rotation angle on the serial dynamic ultrasonic short-axis gray scale views of 48 isolated atherosclerosis plaques (i. e., upstream, midstream, and downstream) and nearby reference segments of carotid artery in 46 patients were derived and analyzed using a dedicated velocity vector imaging workstation. The incidence of intima rotation movement and the rotation angle at different sections of the plaque and nearby reference segments before and after the standard grip stress test during systole and diastole respectively were counted and measured.

RESULTSBefore and after the stress test, the intima rotation movement occurred at the majority of the short-axis sections of the plaque and the nearby reference segments during cardiac cycle. Before the stress test, the incidence of intima rotation movement at the upstream section of the plaque during systole was significantly higher than that of reference segment (P = 0.036) The reversal direction of the intima rotation at those sections and reference segment during systole and diastole was demonstrated. After the stress test, the incidence of intima rotation movement at the midstream section of the plaque during diastole was significantly lower than that of reference segment (P = 0.031). The incidence of the intima rotation movement changed at the sections of upstream, midstream, and downstream of the plaque before and after the stress test also were explored (i. e., increased in systole and decreased in diastole) except the reference segment intima.

CONCLUSIONSThe intima rotation movement occurs at the majority of the isolated plaque and nearby reference segment, and the incidences of the intima rotation movement at the plaque is different from that of the reference segment during systole and diastole respectively. The abnormal pattern of intima rotation movement may be used to indicate the unstable mechanical state of the isolated plaque intima.

Carotid Arteries ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Carotid Stenosis ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Echocardiography, Stress ; Exercise Test ; Humans ; Rotation ; Tunica Intima ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology

Adult ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Bilirubin ; blood ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Female ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; blood ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; blood ; physiopathology ; Prognosis ; Prothrombin Time ; Serum Albumin ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility of HLA haploidentical peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) for patients with β thalassemia major.

METHODSSixteen patients with β thalassemia major received HLA haploidentical PBSCT from parents. Two conditioning regimens were used. Regimen A was adopted before December 2007, which consisted of fludarabine (total 150 mg/m²), busulfex (total 520 mg/m²), cyclophosphamide (CTX, total 100 mg/kg), antithymocyte globulin (ATG, total 10 mg/kg) and total body irradiation of 3 Gy. Regimen B was adopted after December 2007, which consisted of fludarabine (total 240 mg/m²), busulfex (total 520 mg/m²), CTX (total 100 mg/kg), and ATG (total 10 mg/kg). Combination of cyclosporin (CsA), methotrexate (MTX) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) were used for prophylaxis of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).

RESULTSOf 16 patients, 14 (87.5%) had sustained engraftment. The median days of neutrophil exceeding 0.5 × 10⁹/L and platelet exceeding 20 × 10⁹/L were 13 days (range 10 - 17 days) and 15 days (range 14 - 20 days) after PBSCT, respectively. Complete chimerism was achieved in all the 14 patients at one month after PBSCT. One patient lost his graft with autologous reconstitution 52 days after transplantation. Four patients had grade II-IV acute GVHD and one patient had chronic extensive GVHD. In the 49-month median follow-up duration, 13 of 16 patients were alive in disease-free situation.

CONCLUSIONHLA haploidentical PBSCT, which could provide stable and sustained engraftment for thalassemia major patients with no HLA identical donor, is a promising treatment strategy.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; HLA Antigens ; genetics ; Haploidy ; Humans ; Male ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Tissue Donors ; beta-Thalassemia ; therapy