Chitin is one of the most important component in fungal cell wall.Biosynthesis of chitin is a complex processes and needs several chitin synthase isoenzymes.The knowledge of structure,function and regulation of chitin synthases is mainly derived from the study of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.In contrast with the 3 chitin synthases in S.cerevisiae,7 were found in most filamentous fungi.In this review the classification and function of chitin synthases are summerized,and progress in the studies on chitin synthases of filamentous fungi which are of theoretical or medical or agricultural importance,including Aspergillus nidulans,Aspergillus fumigatus and Ustilago maydis are emphasized.Recent ad-vance of research on chitin synthase as antifungal target is also discussed.

Objective To study the methods and outcome of 71 patients with Parkinson's disease treated with microelectrode-guided stereotactic pallidotomy and thalamotomy. Method Pallidal and thalamal target sites are chosen by supervision of microelectrode recording technique in 71 patients with Parkinson's disease. The UPDRS motor score was used to evaluate the outcomes 12 weeks before and after operation Result After 12 months follow-up, tremor disappeared completely or nearly completely in 12 patients who underwent unilateral and l bilateral ventrolateral thalamotomy. Dramatic improvement of tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia were observed in 57 patients underwent posteroventral pallidotomy,including 6 underwent bilateral posteroventral pallidotomy. Intracerebral hemorrhage was observed in l patient. Conclusion Microelectrode-guided stereotactic pallidotomy and thalamotomy are effective in treatmenting Parkinson's disease, but with serious complications

Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Maple Syrup Urine Disease ; diagnosis ; genetics ; therapy

Objective To study the effects of matrine on accumulation of ? globin mRNA and induction of erythroid differentiation in K562 cells in vitro.Methods K562 cells were cultured for 6 days with different concentration of matrine,viable cell counts were determined by trypan-blue dye exdusion test. Erythroid differentiation was evaluated by percentage of benzidine-positive cells at different days after culture. Morphological changes were observed under microscope after Wright-Gimesa staining; ? globin mRNA was quantitative by real time quantitative reverse transcript polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results Different concentrations of matrine inhibited proliferation of K562 cells in dose-dependent manner; otherwise, K562 cells were successfully induced by erythroid differentiation with matrine. After treatment with matrine, percentage of benzidine-positive cells significantly increased from 0.7% to 15.7% and characteristic changes of erythroid differentiation in the cell morphology were observed, G? globin mRNA had a preferential increase (2.7 fold)in K562 cells. Conclusions Matrine accumulation G? globin mRNA and induced erythroid differentiation of K562 cells. The results provides an experimental evidence for the pharmacological therapy of hematological diseases associated with a failure in the expression of normal ? globin genes.

Objective To investigate the relationships between the concentration of serum NT-proBNP,New York Heart Association(NYHA) classification,left ventricular ejection fraction((LVEF),)and the value of serum NT-proBNP in the evaluation of cardiac function and the diagnosis of chronic heart failure.Methods One hundred and two subjects were selected,including 30 healthy controls and 72 patients with heart failure.The concentration of serum NT-proBNP was determined by an automated electrochemiluminescence immunoassayan Roche Elecsys 2010.LVEF was measured by the modified Simpson′s equation with echocardiography.The diagnosis of clinical physician was considered to be the golden standard for heart failure.Results The relationships between the concentration of serum NT-proBNP and NYHA,serum NT-proBNP levels(287.7 pg/ml) was significantly higher in heart failure patients(287.7 pg/ml) than that in healthy controls 287.7 pg/ml vs (46.1 pg/ml),P

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combination therapy of Xipayimaizipizi Capsules and Tamsulo- sin in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

METHODSWe randomly assigned 60 BPH patients to a control and a combination group of equal number, the former aged 62.03 ± 10.19 years with a disease course of 3.24 ± 2.18 years and the latter aged 64.77 ± 10.33 years with a disease course of 4.09 ± 2.63 years. We treated the patients in the control group with Tamsulosin at 0.2 mg qd and those in the combination group with Tamsulosin at 0.2 mg qd plus Xipayimaizipizi at 0.5 g tid, respectively, both for 4 weeks. Then, we obtained the mean frequency of nocturnal urination, maximal urinary flow rate (Qmax), residual urine volume, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) , and quality of life scores (QOL) of the patients, and recorded their adverse reactions.

RESULTSBefore treatment, the nocturnal urination frequency, Qmax, IPSS, and QOL were 3.60 ± 1.81, (10.40 ± 3.53) ml/min, 22.47 ± 8.58, and 4.43 ± 1.50 in the control group, as compared with 3.43 ± 1.61, (10.14 ± 3.43) ml/min, 21.93 ± 8.79, and 4.73 ± 1.31 in the combination group. After 4 weeks of medication, the combination group showed more significant improvement than the control in the nocturnal urination frequency (1.30 ± 1.18 vs 2.27 ± 1.60), Qmax ([13.85 ± 3.15] vs [14.36 ± 3.03] ml/min), IPSS (13.00 ± 1.53 vs 17.20 ± 8.43), and QOL (2.57 ± 1.61 vs 2.93 ± 1.68), all significantly better than the baseline (P < 0.05). The combination therapy achieved remarkable improvement as compared with the control in the nocturnal urination frequency (- [2.13 ± 1.11] vs -[1.73 ± 1.07]), IPSS (- [8.93 ?6.01] vs -[4.80 ± 3.87]), and QOL (- [2.17 ± 1.12] vs -[1.50 ± 1.01]) (P < 0.05), but exhibited no significant differences from the latter in Qmax ([3.72 ± 2.281 vs [3.95 ± 2.53] ml/min) and residual urine volume (- [34.30 ± 37.43] vs - [26.43 ± 30.49] ml) (P > 0.05). Adverse reactions were found in 5 cases in the combination group (16.67%) and 3 cases in the control (10%) , with no remarkable differences between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe combination therapy of Xipayimaizipizi Capsules and Tamsulosin can improve the symptoms of BPH and the patients quality of life of.

Aged ; Capsules ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; drug therapy ; Quality of Life ; Sulfonamides ; therapeutic use

Objective To observe the effects of five flavonoids include rutin(RU),dihydromyricetin(DMY),hesperetin(HP),daidzein(DA)and hydroxysaffor yellow A(HYSA)on myocardiocyte apoptosis induced by H2O2 and to explore their relationships with Keshan disease and the possible mechanism.Methods Primary cultured cardiocytes of neonatal rats were randomly divided into control group,model group,and flavonoids preincubation group.The cardiocyte apoptosis was examined by fluorescent staining,the rates of apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry,the expression of Bcl-2 family proteins associated with apoptosis were observed:by Western blot.Results Compared with model group[(24.33±6.51)%],RU[(13.95±3.80)%],DA[(11.82±3.50)%],HYSA[(12.33±3.78)%]could decreased the rate of apoptosis(P＜0.05).The five flavonoids could up-regulate Bcl-2 expression,down-regulate Bax expression,and increase the Bcl-2/Bax ratio[RU(0.989±0.094),DMY(0.931±0.280),HP(0.980±0.095),DA(1.049±0.092),HYSA(1.031±0.039),vs model(0.490±0.046),the difference had statistical significances(P＜0.05)],but the Bcl-xl did not significantly changed(P＞0.05).Conclusions RU,DMY,HP,DA and HYSA have antiapoptotic effects on cardiomyocyte via regulating Bcl-2 and Bax,which gives us a hint in prevention and treatment of Keshan disease.

Objective To explore hemodynamic parameter changes in pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH)treated by transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(MMSCs)in the experimental rats.Methods MMSCs cells were collected from bone marrow of Sprague-Dawleye(SD)rat's femoral and tibial bones,cultured and passaged in vitro,then stained by Hoechst 33342 fluorescence dye stuff.Ninety healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups(n=30):normal control group(group N),MMSCs transplanted group(group M),PAH model group(group H).The rats in the two latter groups were given a single subcutaneous crotaline(50 mg/kg)to establish the model of PAH.The rats of group N were injected respectively a single subcutaneous 9 g/L saline water(6 mL/kg).After 21 days,5?109 L-1 MMSCs cultured in 1 mL phosphate-buffered saline were infused into the rats respectively in group M by sublingual vein and 1 mL L-DMEM was given in group H.The indexalso of right ventricle systolic pressure(RVSP),right ventricle hypertrophy index,arterial blood gas analysis and the changes of small pulmonary blood vessel were observed after 28 days.Results The administration of MMSCs 28 days after PAH nearly completely prevented the increase in RVSP with PAH alone [(32.20?2.32)mmHg vs(48.30?1.56)mmHg P

Child, Preschool ; Fatal Outcome ; Female ; Humans ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; complications ; Shock, Septic ; etiology ; Streptococcal Infections ; complications