Molecular technologies are sensitive, fast, and cheap in the study on microbial ecology. However, these methods do not provide information about morphology, number, and spatial distribution of the microorganisms. In contrast, Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) combines the precision of molecular biology with the visual information from microscope, and permits visualization and identification of individual miciobial cells within their natural habitat. FISH not only allows the detection of slow growing microorganisms, but also of yet-to-be cultured. It is useful for many applications in diagnosis and assessment of the population structure of complex microbial communities, and is a powerful tool for molecular ecology studies in microbiology, In this paper, major techniques and progresses of FTSH were described. Its application in microbial ecology, as well as problems , pitfalls, and perspectives of FISH are discussed.

Objective To explore the changes of weight,body mass index(MBI),serum glucose,serum insulin in sodium valproate(VPA)-treated children with epilepsy.Methods The study was carried out in 30 epileptic children treated with VPA for 3 months.Weight,height,serum glucose and insulin levels were conducted before and after VPA treatment.Serum insulin levels were detected by radioimmunoassay.Results After 3 months' treatment,body weight [(15.68?3.82)kg vs(19.64?4.75)kg,t=3.56 P0.05].Conclusions VPA therapy can make insuline weight,BMI,serum insulin increased and may lead to insulin resistance.Insulin resistance may be one of the reasons for weight gain in VPA-treated patients.

Objective To investigate esophageal motility characteristics in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients with or without dysphagia by high-resolution manometry and 24 h esophageal pH monitoring.Methods From August 2012 to November 2015,GERD patients with symptoms of acid reflux and heart burn who received 24 h esophageal pH monitoring were collected.The differences in esophageal motility were further analyzed between the GERD patients with dysphagia and without dysphagia.Student's t test,x2 test and Fisher's exact test were performed for comparison analysis.Results A total of 194 patients received 24 h esophageal pH monitoring and diagnosed as GERD,and at the same period completed esophageal high-resolution manometry.Among them,there were 17 GERD patients (8.8％) with dysphagia and 177 patients (91.2％) without dysphagia.The main classification of esophageal motility disorder of GERD patients with dysphagia was severe esophageal motility disorders (5/ 17),but the motility type of GERD patients without dysphagia patients mainly was mild esophageal motility disorders (10.2％,18/177).The integrated relaxation pressure,residual pressure of lower esophageal sphincter (LES),and contraction range at 3 cm and 11 cm above LES of GERD patients with dysphagia were all higher than those of patients without dysphagia ((9.70±0.98) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) vs (7.02±0.30) mmHg,(12.75±1.35) mmHg vs (9.18±0.42) mmHg,(106.80± 11.97) mmHg vs (70.82±3.48) mmHg,(82.66±10.70) mmHg vs (56.93±3.11) mmHg),and the differences were statistically significant (t=2.601,2.488,2.887,2.308,all P＜0.05).Distal esophageal contraction integral score of GERD patients with dysphagia was significantly higher than that of GERD patients without dysphagia ((2 128.94±310.47) mmHg · cm · s vs (1 029.88±90.16) mmHg · cm · s),and the difference was statistically significant (t =3.400,P =0.001).However,residual pressure of upper esophageal sphincter was significantly lower than that of patients without dysphagia ((2.84±1.21) mmHg vs (6.18±0.38) mmHg,t=-2.650,P=0.009).Conclusions Esophageal motility disorder of GERD patients with dysphagia is severer than that of patients without dysphagia.High resolution esophageal manometry can provide objective evidence of esophageal dynamics of GERD patients,which can guide the diagnosis and treatment of GERD.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of morroniside on super oxide dismutase (SOD) and neurons in rats cortex with focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. MethodsThe animal model was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion with suture embolus, cerebral ischemia 30 min and reperfusion 3 d or 7 d. Vitamin E for the positive control. The content of SOD was detected with spectrophotometry and the nerve cells was observed with immunohistochemistry. ResultsCompared with model group, morroniside （270 mg/kg）increased the activity of SOD and the number of neurons （30 mg/kg, 90 mg/kg, 270 mg/kg） significantly. ConclusionMorroniside may have neuroprotective effect and increasing the activity of SOD in rats cortex.

Objective To investigate the effects of morroniside on glutathione (GSH) and Caspase-3 in rats with focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. Methods The animal model was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion with suture embolus with 30 min for cerebral ischemia and 7 d for reperfusion. The content of GSH was detected with spectrophotometry and Caspase-3 expression was observed by Western blot.Results Compared with model group, the GSH increased and Caspase-3 expression reduced significantly at 270 mg/kg of morroniside.Conclusion Morroniside may have neuroprotective effect by increasing GSH in rats cortex and reduce the apoptosis in focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Maple Syrup Urine Disease ; diagnosis ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo study the main mechanisms of Aitongxiao Recipe (ATXR) for anti-tumor at the molecular level, and to clarify different efficient drugs' roles in anti-tumor, thus in-depth explaining the objectivity and substance of "cancer toxic" theory.

METHODSWalker-256 tumor strain was used for Wistar rat transplanted liver cancer modeling. After successful modeling rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, i. e., the ATXP group, the qi regulating and blood circulating group (as the assembled I group), the heat clearing and detoxification group (as the assembled II group), the body resistance strengthening and cultivating group (as the assembled III group), and the model group, 10 in each group. Corresponding medication was given to rats in each group for 14 successive days. Finally rats were sacrificed and the tumor mass was taken out. The apoptosis rate and the cell cycle of tumor cells were detected by flow cytometry Annexin V/PI. The protein and mRNA expressions of Bcl-2 and survivin were detected using immunohistochemistry and real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR.

RESULTS(1) The apoptosis of hepatoma carcinoma cells could be obviously promoted in the ATXP group. The cell cycle could also be affected, making major cells arrest at G0/G1 phase. The proliferation of hepatoma carcinoma cells was effectively prevented. The efficacy in the assembled II group was in line with that in the ATXP group with no statistical difference (P>0.05). It was also effective in the assembled III group, but its efficacy was not as good as that in the former two groups, showing statistical difference (P<0.01). (2) ATXP could obviously down-regulate the protein and mRNA expressions of Bcl-2 and survivin in hepatoma carcinoma cells. Drugs for heat clearing and detoxification showed significant effects on down-regulating the protein and mRNA expressions of Bcl-2 and survivin in hepatoma carcinoma cells. Their effects were similar to that of ATXP (P>0.05). The effects of drugs for body resistance strengthening and cultivating were not as good as the former two, showing statistical difference (P<0.01). Drugs for blood circulating and stasis removing could up-regulate the protein and mRNA expressions of Bcl-2 and survivin to some extent.

CONCLUSIONS(1) ATXP could increase the apoptosis ratio of hepatoma carcinoma cells obviously through down-regulating the protein and mRNA expressions of Bcl-2 and survivin, thus inhibiting their proliferation. (2) Drugs for heat clearing and detoxification played the most important roles in ATXP. The evil heat and dampness (damp-heat insidious pathogen) is the most fundamental carcinogenic factors. The insufficiency of vital qi is also one of the pathogenic factors. The mechanisms of phlegm, stasis, and other pathological products are not clear and await further studies.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Carcinoma 256, Walker ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective To investigate the effect of pretreatment with electroacupuncture at point Neiguan(PC6) on CK and myocardial cell activity in rabbit myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury and provide an experimental basis for a relatively specific relationship between pericardium meridian points and the heart. Methods Forty New Zealand big ear rabbits were randomly allocated to groups A, B, C, D and E, eight rabbits each. Group A was a sham operation group. Group B was an ischemia-reperfusion model group, in which the left anterior descending coronary artery was occlude for 30 min and reperfused for 60 min. In groups C, D and E, points Neiguan(PC6), Lieque(LU7) and Hegu(LI4) were separately given electroacupuncture stimulation, 20 min every day, at seven days before model making. Creatine kinase (CK) and myocardial formazan contents were compared between the groups. Results There were statistically significant differences in serum CK and myocardial formazan contents between group B, C, D or E and group A (P＜0.01, P＜0.05). There was a statistically significant differences in serum CK content between group C, D or E and group B (P＜0.01). There was a statistically significant differences in myocardial formazan content between groups C and B (P＜0.05). There were statistically significant differences in serum CK and myocardial formazan contents between group D or E and group C (P＜0.01, P＜0.05). Conclusion Electroacupuncture at point Neiguan(PC6) can reduce myocardial ischemia-reperfusion induced injury to myocardial cells to produce a protective effect on the heart.

This study was aimed to distinguish Leonurus japonicus samples produced from different regions and growth environments in Sichuan by electronic nose. The sensor response value of odors of Leonurus japonicus sam-ples were obtained through electronic nose. Principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminant factor analysis (DFA) were used to combine the optimum feature parameters. The results showed that the PCA distinguish index was 82, and the DFA comprehensive classification rate was 97.96% among samples from different regions. The PCA distin-guish index was 84, and the DFA comprehensive classification rate was 100% among samples from different growth environments. The distinguishment and differentiation were effective. It was concluded that electronic nose can be ap-plied to identify the origin and growth environment of Leonurus japonicus from Sichuan to provided reference for odor differentiation.

Objective To investigate the distribution of water-borne fluoride and the current status of water defluoridation project by improving drinking water quality in endemic fluorosis areas in Shandong province,and to provide scientific basis for making strategies in prevention and control of the disease. Methods According to "the National Technical Scheme for Endemic Disease Control in 2004, 2005 and 2006", 113 endemic fluorosis diseased counties(cities, and districts) of the province's 17 cities were screened in order to investigate the fluoride level in drinking water in fluorosis villages, recheck the fluoride level after implementing the water defluoridation project, and investigate the current status of the water defluoridation project. The fluoride level in drinking water was determined by F-ion selective electrode. Results There were a total of 5816 water defluoridation projects in the province. Most of them were carried out by drilling a deep well to get under-ground water. The wells still in good condition were accounted for 72.80% (4234/5816). Intermittent operated wells were accounted for 3.11% (181/5816). Abandoned wells were accounted for 24.09%(1401/5816). Level of water fluoride was determined in 6940samples from fluorosis villages(villages that not carry out the water defluoridation project as well as villages carried out the water defluoridation project with abandoned wells were included) and the value that lower or equal to 1.00mg/L was determined in 2987 villages which accounted for 43.04% (2987/6940). Level of water fluoride that over 1.00 mg/L was found in 3953 villages which accounted for 56.96% (3593/6940), and the highest level of water fluoride was 11.33 mg/L. Level of water fluoride were determined in 4415 samples from water defluoridation project and the value lower or equal to 1.00 mg/L was in 2983 wells which accounted for 65.53%(2983/4415). The value over 1.00 mg/L was in 1522 wells which accounted for 34.47%(1522/4415), the highest value of water fluoride was 9.71 mg/L. Conclusions Level of water fluoride in up to 1/2 of the villages and 1/3 of the projects, is still higher than the standard in Shandong province. Nearly 1/4 of the project has been abandoned. The current situation for endemic fluorosis control is still not good in the province, countermeasures for endemic fluorosis must be carried out as soon as possible and surveillance of water defluoridation project must be strengthened.