Disinfection ; Escherichia coli ; isolation & purification ; Hospitals ; Medical Waste ; Sewage ; Waste Products ; Water Microbiology

While the field of ATP synthase research has a long history filled with landmark discoveries, recent structural works provide us with important insights into the mechanisms that links the proton movement with the rotation of the Fo motor. Here, we propose a mechanism of unidirectional rotation of the Fo complex, which is in agreement with these new structural insights as well as our more general ΔΨ-driving hypothesis of membrane proteins: A proton path in the rotor-stator interface is formed dynamically in concert with the rotation of the Fo rotor. The trajectory of the proton viewed in the reference system of the rotor (R-path) must lag behind that of the stator (S-path). The proton moves from a higher energy site to a lower site following both trajectories simultaneously. The two trajectories meet each other at the transient proton-binding site, resulting in a relative rotation between the rotor and stator. The kinetic energy of protons gained from ΔΨ is transferred to the c-ring as the protons are captured sequentially by the binding sites along the proton path, thus driving the unidirectional rotation of the c-ring. Our ΔΨ-driving hypothesis on Fo motor is an attempt to unveil the robust mechanism of energy conversion in the highly conserved, ubiquitously expressed rotary ATP synthases.
Membrane Potentials ; physiology ; Membrane Proteins ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Protein Conformation

Background Recent studies indicated that rat and mouse Müller cells can be induced and differentiated into photoreceptor-like cells in vitro, but it is not known whether this also happens to adult pig Müller cells nowadays.Objective This study was to test whether adult pig Müller cells can be differentiated to the retinal photoreceptors (the primary transmission neurons of the retina) in vitro.Methods Müller cells were isolated from the neural retina of adult pig eyes and cultured and passaged.The 3rd and 4th generation of cells were themonolayerly cultured,and the cells forced to form spheres in suspension in altra-low adherent dishes for 2-3 days first and then reseeded in normal adherent plates,and both of them were cultured in a specifically formulated medium to induce the differentiation of retinal photoreceptor.The cells was verified by immunocytochemistry.Cell morphology and immunofluorescence staining were utilized to measure the efficacy of the differentiation.Results The 2nd,3rd and 4th generation of Müller cells expressed glutamate synthetase (GS) , a specific maker of Müller cells.Inaddition, the 3rd generation of cells also expressed glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and another specific maker of Müller cells.Three visual fields under fluorescence-microscope were randomly chosen to calculate the average positive ratio of rhodopsin,a specific marker of mature photoreceptors.The photoreceptor differentiation ratios of the 2nd generation of cells for monolayer culture only and with additional sphere suspension culture were (27.99±6.53 (％ and (16.54±3.40) ％ , respectively.With passages, the number of rhodopsin positive cells gradually decreased, and the intensity of rhodopsin expression gradually weakened.The directed rhodopsin positive ratios of the 2nd,3rd and 4th generation of cells from sphere formation were (56.23±7.32)％ , (36.26 ±8.55)％ and (12.68 ±3.18)％ , respectively.Although the rhodopsin expression was weakened over passages,the differentiated cells were more slender and elongated.There was no statistic ally significant difference between different groups (F =2.618, P =0.099).Conclusions Adult pig Müller cells can be differentiated into retinal photoreceptors in vitro.The morphology of the differentiated cells appears moreslender and elongates if the sphere-induced differentiation method is used and/or the directed differentiation time is further extended.

In order to examine whether repeated sciatic nerve blocks showed tachyphylaxis and continuity of sciatic nerve with spinal cord affected development of tachyphylaxis when assayed in vivo by duration of depression compound action potentials (CAP), rats were anesthetized with halothane, ventilated, monitored and supported with stable hemodynamics and temperature. Posterior tibial nerve distally and sciatic nerve in thigh were exposed, placed on bipolar silver electrodes for stimulation and recording respectively. Three sequential sciatic nerve blocks were performed between these electrodes using 0.15 ml of 3% chloroprocaine. Nine rats were chosen to observe the effects of repeated sciatic nerve blocks on CAP. In another 18 rats, a second investigator exposed the sciatic nerve near its origin at spinal cord and randomly performed nerve cut and sham (n=9), and closed the incision blinding the electrophysiologic investigator. The results showed that electrical stimulated tibial nerve induced sciatic nerve Aalpha/beta, Adelta, C fiber mediated CAP waves. CAP amplitudes were remained stable during whole experimental procedure. CAP amplitudes were decreased completely with 3% chloroprocaine blocked sciatic nerve and recovered fully. The duration of CAP depression were reduced with repeated blocks. There were no selective blocked effects on Aalpha/beta, Adelta, C fiber mediated CAP. With sciatic nerve cut proximally, there was no statistical significant tachyphylaxis with 3% chloroprocaine repeated blocked sciatic nerve, and the duration of first and third blocked Adelta fiber mediated CAP was 108+/-20 and 92+/-14 min respectively (P>0.05). In normal rats the duration of first and third blocked Adelta fiber mediated CAP was 110+/-20 and 75+/-16 min respectively (P<0.05). It was suggested that tachyphylaxis to local anesthetics can occur in rats repeated blocked sciatic nerve when assayed in vivo by duration of depression CAP. The continuity of sciatic nerve with spinal cord is one of the important factors affecting the development of tachyphylaxis.
Anesthetics, Local/*administration & dosage ; Nerve Block ; Procaine/administration & dosage ; Procaine/analogs & derivatives ; Sciatic Nerve ; *Tachyphylaxis/physiology

Glycine/analogs & derivatives* ; Humans ; Vasculitis, Leukocytoclastic, Cutaneous

OBJECTIVETo compare the preemptive analgesia efficacy between two cycloxygenase-2 inhibitors, rofecoxib and etoricoxib in the ambulatory uterine evacuation patients.

METHODSIn this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial 60 patients were randomly divided into three groups and received a single dose of placebo, rofecoxib 50 mg, or etoricoxib 120 mg, respectively, before operation. Patient's visual analogue score (VAS) was rated postoperatively at 15 min, 30 min, 60 min, time-to-discharge, 6 h and 24 h. Fentanyl (in post-anesthesia care unit) and paracetamol (at home) were supplementary analgesics and the dosage was also recorded. Patient's satisfaction score was rated at 24 h postoperatively.

RESULTSEtoricoxib 120 mg and rofecoxib 50 mg were significantly superior to placebo at 6 h postoperatively (P < 0.05) while there was no significant differences of VAS at other time points. The amounts of Fentanyl used in post-anesthesia care unit were similar in three groups, but paracetamol taken at home was much less in rofecoxib group and etoricoxib group than in placebo group (P < 0.01). Compared to rofecoxib, etoricoxib provided better pain relief after discharge (P < 0.05). The overall pain management satisfaction score was significantly higher in etoricoxib group (96 +/- 7) than in other groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPreemptive rofecoxib 50 mg and etoricoxib 120 mg may significantly decrease VAS at 6 h postoperatively, and reduce the usage of analgesics in ambulatory uterine evacuation patients. Etoricoxib 120 mg offeres better pain relief at home compared with rofecoxib 50 mg.

Abortion, Induced ; adverse effects ; Acetaminophen ; therapeutic use ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Ambulatory Surgical Procedures ; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic ; therapeutic use ; Analgesics, Opioid ; therapeutic use ; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Fentanyl ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lactones ; therapeutic use ; Pain Measurement ; Pain, Postoperative ; prevention & control ; Preoperative Care ; Pyridines ; therapeutic use ; Sulfones ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study is to investigate the release of TNF-alpha mRNA in two lung cancer cell lines in vitro and the regulation of TNF-alpha mRNA expression by ionizing radiation.

METHODSTwo lung cancer cell lines (A549 and NCI-H596) were investigated for their TNF-alpha mRNA expression before and after exposure to different irradiation doses (2, 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40 Gy) and at different time intervals (1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours after irradiation). The TNF-alpha mRNA expression was quantified by fluorescence-based real-time quantitative RT-PCR. Colony formation assays were performed after irradiation with a dose of 2, 4, 6, and 8 Gy to determine the clonogenic survival.

RESULTSDependent on the dose given, irradiation was found to cause increasing induction of TNF-alpha mRNA expression of NCI-H596 cells, reaching maximal level after 40 Gy irradiation, which was 83 times higher than that of normal controls. On the other hand, dependent on the time after irradiation, TNF-alpha mRNA expression of NCI-H596 and A549 cells was increased, reaching maximal level at 6h for NCI-H596 cells, which was 568 times higher than that of normal control cells. TNF-alpha mRNA expression of A549 cells was increased to maximum at 1 h after irradiation and was 136 times higher than that of control cells. Colony formation efficiency (number of colonies divided by the number of inoculated cells) of unirradiated control A549 and NCI-H596 cells was 0.37-0.45 and 0.12-0.24, respectively. The survival fraction (SF) of A549 cells was 47.3% +/- 9.0% at 2 Gy, 18.0% +/- 3.0% at 4 Gy, 6.0% +/- 2.0% at 6 Gy, 1.4% +/- 0.3% at 8 Gy. The SF of NCI-H596 cells was 55.2% +/- 51.0% at 2 Gy, 15.9% +/- 9.2% at 4 Gy, 3.5% +/- 1.7% at 6 Gy; 0.9% +/- 0.6% at 8 Gy. The curves of TNF-alpha expression of the two tumor cell lines were nearly identical, therefore the radiosensitivity of these cell lines was similar. Statistically there was no significant difference for D(0) and D(q) (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe two lung cancer cell lines studied express TNF-alpha following irradiation in a time- and irradiation dose-dependent manner. Radiation-induced TNF-alpha production of tumor cells may be of paramount importance not only for tumor behaviour, but also in respect to potential damage to normal tissues and the clinical status of the host.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Radiation Dosage ; Radiography ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Objective: To understand the survival of HIV/AIDS patients after receiving antiretroviral therapy for 10 year in Henan province and related factors. Methods: The database of national integrated management system of HIV/AIDS was used to collect the basic information and follow-up information of HIV/AIDS patients who received antiretroviral therapy between 2003 and 2005 in Henan province. Software SPSS 23.0 was used to analyze the patients' survival and related factors based on the life-table method and Cox proportional hazards model. Results: Among the 2 448 HIV/AIDS patients who started antiretroviral therapy during 2003-2005, the men accounted for 53.5%, and women accounted for 46.5%. Up to 70.1% of the patients were aged 40-59 years and 95.5% of the patients had blood borne infections. The patients were observed for 10 years after antiviral treatment, and 719 cases died from AIDS related diseases, with a mortality rate of 3.78/100 per year (719/19 010 per year). The cumulative survival rates of patients within 1-year, 3 years, 5 years and 10 years were 0.94, 0.86, 0.78, 0.69 respectively. Compared with the patients aged <40 years, the HRs of the patients aged 40-, 50-, 60- and ≥70 years were 1.417 (95%CI: 0.903-2.222), 1.834 (95%CI: 1.174-2.866), 2.422 (95%CI: 1.539-3.810) and 3.424 (95%CI: 2.053-5.709) respectively. Compared with patients with baseline CD(4+)T lymphocyte >350 unit/ul, the HRs of the patients with CD(4+)T lymphocyte <50 unit/μl, 50-199 unit/ul and 200-350 unit/ul were 7.105 (95%CI: 5.449-9.264), 4.175 (95%CI: 3.249-5.366) and 2.214 (95%CI: 1.691-2.900) respectively. Compared with the women, the HR of the men was 1.480 (95%CI: 1.273-1.172). Compared with the patients who received second line ART therapy, the HR of patients receiving no second line therapy was 11.923 (95%CI: 9.410-15.104). Conclusions: The cumulative survival rate the HIV/AIDS patients after 10 years of antiretroviral therapy reached 0.69 in Henan. Male, old age, low basic CD(4+)T lymphocyte count and receiving no second line therapy were the risk factors for long-term survival of AIDS patients.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Adult ; Aged ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; China/epidemiology* ; Female ; HIV/drug effects* ; HIV Infections/mortality* ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Risk Factors ; Survival Analysis ; Survival Rate

There has been a conscious effort to address osteoporosis in the aging population. As bisphosphonate and intermittent parathyroid hormone (PTH) therapy become more widely prescribed to treat osteoporosis, it is important to understand their effects on other physiologic processes, particularly the impact on spinal fusion. Despite early animal model studies and more recent clinical studies, the impact of these medications on spinal fusion is not fully understood. Previous animal studies suggest that bisphosphonate therapy resulted in inhibition of fusion mass with impeded maturity and an unknown effect on biomechanical strength. Prior animal studies demonstrate an improved fusion rate and fusion mass microstructure with the use of intermittent PTH. The purpose of this study was to determine if bisphosphonates and intermittent PTH treatment have impact on human spinal fusion. A systematic review of the literature published between 1980 and 2015 was conducted using major electronic databases. Studies reporting outcomes of human subjects undergoing 1, 2, or 3-level spinal fusion while receiving bisphosphonates and/or intermittent PTH treatment were included. The results of relevant human studies were analyzed for consensus on the effects of these medications in regards to spinal fusion. There were nine human studies evaluating the impact of these medications on spinal fusion. Improved fusion rates were noted in patients receiving bisphosphonates compared to control groups, and greater fusion rates in patients receiving PTH compared to control groups. Prior studies involving animal models found an improved fusion rate and fusion mass microstructure with the use of intermittent PTH. No significant complications were demonstrated in any study included in the analysis. Bisphosphonate use in humans may not be a deterrent to spinal fusion. Intermittent parathyroid use has shown early promise to increase fusion mass in both animal and human studies but further studies are needed to support routine use.
Aging ; Animals ; Consensus ; Diphosphonates ; Humans* ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Models, Animal ; Osteoporosis ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Spinal Fusion*

Objective: To investigate the rates on prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in population older than 15 years of age in Beijing, 2013-2014. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Beijing between 2013-2014. Stratified multistage random sampling method was used to select representative sample of 13 057 Chinese individuals aged over 15 years, from the general population. Blood pressure was measured for three readings at sitting position after resting for at least five minutes with an average reading recorded. A standardized structured questionnaire was developed to collect history of hypertension and antihypertensive treatment. Results: A total of 4 663 community residents aged over 15 years were hypertensive among the 13 057 individuals, with the standardized prevalence rate as 32.7%, in Beijing area. The age-standardized prevalence rates of hypertension appeared 34.6% in men and 30.8% in women. The age-and sexstandardized prevalence of hypertension rates were 33.3% in urban and 24.6% in rural areas. The prevalence of hypertension increased with age and appeared higher in men than in women, in urban than in rural residents. Among the hypertensive patients, rates of awareness, treatment and control were 66.8%, 64.6% and 31.6%, respectively. Conclusion: High prevalence of hypertension with low rates on awareness and treatment and control, appeared in the general population of Beijing. Related strategies should be developed regarding prevention, control and management of hypertension, to reduce the burden of this disease.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Antihypertensive Agents/therapeutic use* ; Asian People/statistics & numerical data* ; Awareness ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Pressure Determination ; China/epidemiology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Hypertension/epidemiology* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Rural Population ; Sex Distribution ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urban Population ; Young Adult