Atomic force microscopy is a powerful new tool to investigate the structure and measure the relationship between structure of surfaces and functions in microorganisms. Comparing with conventional electron microscope, atomic force microscope has higher resolution and can image real-time structures from atomic to molecular scale in three-dimensional mode under physiological condition. Therefore, atomic force microscope is being used in almost every aspect of microbiology and has gotten many exciting findings.

Objective To observe the expression of various antibodies on resection specimens with Hirschsprung's disease(HD), and to find out a special antibody to help the diagnosis of HD. Methods Neuron specific enolase(NSE),S100, Cathepsin D (CAD), Peripherin, protein gene prosuct 9. 5(PGP9. 5) were used as the first antibody to do the EnVision immunohistochemical staining on each end of the resection specimens with HD. Results PGP9.5, NSE, Peripherin were positive both in neuroganglion cells and neuro-plexus in the submucosa and intermuscule; S100 was positive in neutoplexus but negative in neuroganglion cells in the submucosa and intermuscule; CAD was positive in neuroganglion but negative in neuroplexus cells in the submucosa and intermuscule. Conclusion Compared with the other antibodies,CAD is a special antibody which may help the diagnosis of HD; CAD staining results is easy to judge, and it is more faster and economic.

CAS (Chrome azurol S) assay was a universal method for detecting the bacterial siderophores, and Sugar-Asn liquid medium has been applied to the studies on siderophores from Pieudomonas. In this paper, Asp has been substituted for Asn, and MSA-CAS agar plate was developed by integrating the MSA (sugar-Asp) medium and CAS bright blue dye, which has been used in the universal CAS assay. On the aspect of siderophores detection , 8 strains of 7 species from Pseudomonas had been screened on MSA-CAS agar plates and universal CAS assay respectively. The results showed that MSA-CAS agar was higher-sensitive and lower basic fluorescent than universal CAS assay.

A novel stable blue agar plate which is convenient to preparing and more effective than the universal chrome azurol sulfonate (CAS) assay established by Schwyn and Neilands was designed by replacing MM9 growth medium and pipes with certain concentrate of phosphorus buffer solution which pH could be stabled at 6.8. It is more suitable for screening over- siderophores production bacteria. Since OD_ 630 of the sample is usually out of the range of spectrophotometer with CAS assay solution when quantifying the siderophores and the outcome is not steady,the measuring wavelength had been changed to 680 nm corresponding to the middle of max absorbance and the correlation between siderophores concentrations and OD was unchanged. But the detecting sensitivity is elevated by enlarged the absorbance differences among samples with different productivity of siderophores at 680 nm .

Objective To investigate the correlation between the plasma unconjugated bilirubin(UCB)and electrical activity of brain in term neonates with hyperbilirubinemia,and explore the parameters that possess the prognostic value and deduce a series of discriminant for prognostic judgment.Methods Thirty-two neonates with hyperbilirubinemia and 31 neonates without hyperbilirubinema(control group)were studied with standard EEG,and they were assessed for their neurological development in 3 and 6 months.A statistical method of Bayes Discriminant analysis was adopted to set up an equation with values of parameters of EEG,clinic datum and consequence.Stepdic and Dis-grim processes were used to pick out the parameters which had great significance for predicting the outcome of nervous system development.A series of discriminant was deduced for prognostic judgment and then cross validation was performed to assess the accuracy of the discriminant.Results 1.The standard EEG and brain electrical activity map records indicated that the hyperbilirubinemia group had longer maximum duration of interburst interval(IBI),longer mean duration of IBI,lower amplitude under all conditions,more anterior dysrhythmia(AD)in wake,and higher incidence of sleep-wake cycle disturbance.2.The plasma concentration of UCB was linear correlated with AD in wake.3.Gestational age,birth weight,plasma concentration of UCB,burst duration of IBI in trace alternate,amplitude in all sleep state,AD in wake,brief burst not in quiet sleep and sleep-wake cycle disturbance might play important roles in predicting the outcome of neonates with hyperbilirubinemia.Conclusions Cerebral electrical activity is an effective tool for predicting neurologic outcome of neonates with hyperbi-lirubinemia.Cerebral electrical activity and clinic data will provide a new method for accurately predicting neurological development and prognosis.

OBJECTIVETo screen the optimized methods for detection seed viability and germination rate determination of Atractylodes macrocephala, and determine the relationship between seed viability and germination rate.

METHODThere were four methods, which including 2,3,5-triphynel tetrazolilum chloride (TTC) staining, red ink staining, BTB staining and Nongjia method, to evaluate the 12 A. macrocephala local varieties'seed viability and measure their germination rate.

RESULTSeed viability of A. macrocephala using TTC staining ranked the first compared to that of other three methods. Seed viability was significantly related with germination rate using TTC method. Their correlation coefficient reached 0.915 and regression equation was also found out between seed viability (X) and germination rate (Y), which was Y = -0.083 4 + 0.995 4X.

CONCLUSIONTTC staining was the optimal method to determine A. macrocephala seed vitality. Furthermore, seed viability was significant related with germination rate of A. macrocephala.

Atractylodes ; physiology ; Germination ; physiology ; Plants, Medicinal ; physiology ; Seeds ; physiology

To against the emergence of drug-resistent candidiasis, the studys of synergism of natural compounds combine with antifungal agents in vitro showed a continuous growth in recent years. The paper reviewed recent progresses to compare the synergetic effect by FICI method, and to conclude the synergetic mechanisms which have been confirmed as a reference for futher study.
Antifungal Agents ; therapeutic use ; Candida albicans ; drug effects ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods

Objective To investigate the relationship between parvovirus B19 infection and systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE).Methods Sera from 51 patients with SLE and 20 normal controls were exam- ined for IgG and IgM antibodies against parvovirus BI9 by ELISA(produced by IBL Hamburg Company, Germany).Results Anti-Bl9 antibodies were found more frequently in sera from SLE patients than in normal controls,IgM and [gG antibodies were detected in 11(17.65%)and 9(21.57%)of 51 SLE pa- tients respectively.It was observed that the SLEDAI scores were higher in patients with B19 IgM positive group than those of the negative group(P＜0.05).The sera levels of ALT/AST were elevated more frequently in patients with BI9 IgM positive group than in negative group(P＜0.05).However,there was no association between the presence of anti-IgM and clinical manifestations in patients with SLE(P＞0.05).Five SLE pa- tients with positive B19 IgM were followed up for 2 years.SLEDA1 scores of these patients were markedly decreased(P＜0.05),but the levels of auto-antibodis(ANA,dsDNA)didn't change(P＞0.05).And the levels of ALT/AST decreased as usual.Conclusions It is suggested that parvovirus B19 infection may ex- acerbate the onset of SLE,but we eould not find a correlation between parvovirus B19 infection and prog- nosis of the disease.

A bacterium strain BFHM2002 is isolated from Lake Donghu, Wuhan. BFHM2002 has advantages that it can produce melanin with a high rate and high yield in the absence of tyrosine. Induced by tyrosine, melanin yield can be dramatically increased. BFHM2002 may be identified as a new strain in Bacillus firmus, for melanin-production.

OBJECTIVETo observe clinical effect of integrated Chinese medical (CM) treatment (as maintenance therapy) on the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after first-line chemotherapy.

METHODSThe study was a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial. Totally 69 non-progressive advanced NSCLC patients treated with first-line chemotherapy were randomly assigned to the test group (34 cases) and the control group (35 cases). Patients in the control group were treated with one Western drug chemotherapy (Gemcitabine or Alimta or docetaxel). Those in the test group were treated with integrated CM treatment (CM decoction, CM Intravenous preparation, and point application). Each cycle consisted of 21 days. Treatment lasted till the disease progressed, or intolerable toxic/adverse reactions occurred, or patients refused to continue the treatment. Patients' life spans were regularly followed-up.

RESULTS(1) The median cycle of maintenance therapy was 2 cycles for two groups with no statistical difference (P =0.274). The median PFS was 12.43 weeks in the test group and 10.00 weeks in the control group, showing statistical difference (P =0.025). The middle survival time (MST) was 18.8 months in the test group and 16.73 months in the control group, showing no statistical difference (P =0.437).

CONCLUSIONCM treatment (as maintenance therapy) showed quail effect to one Western drug chemotherapy in prolonging patients' life span.

Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; Deoxycytidine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Pemetrexed ; therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies ; Taxoids ; therapeutic use