Arsenic is known as a toxic metalloid, which mainly exists in inorganic forms such as arsenite and arsenate in the natural environment. A number of microorganisms have evolved different resistant mechanisms for arsenic detoxification to cope with the widespread distribution of the poisonous arsenic. Four distinct microbial arsenic-resistant mechanisms have been described including As(III) oxidation, cytoplasmic As(V) reduction, respiratory As(V) reduction, and As(III) methylation. These mechanisms confer arsenic resistance in microorganisms that play important roles in the transformation and geological cycle of arsenic. This review mainly focuses on the researches on these molecular mechanisms and potential application for environmental arsenic bioremediation using microorganisms.

Background Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) has been shown to be associated with the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD),therefore VEGF is a target for the treatment of wet AMD.However,the mechanism of VEGF in the pathogenesis of AMD is not clearly understood.Studying the correlation between VEGF gene polymorphism and AMD is becoming a new research hotspot,but relevant studies on Han Chinese have not been performed.Objective This study was to investigate the association between the VEGF +936C/T gene polymorphism and AMD in the Chinese population.Methods A pilot prospective and nonrandomized controlled trial was designed.This protocol complied with Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Ethic Committee of Chinese PLA Second Artillery General Hospital.Written informed consent was obtained from each subject prior to entering the study.Two hundred AMD patients and 200 age-and gender-matched normal controls were enrolled in this study.The genomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood samples of the subjects,and analysis of the VEGF polymorphisms at the +936 position in the promoter and 3＇-untranslated regions was performed by the restriction fragment length polymorphism method.Frequencies of the VEGF+936C/T genotype were compared between the two groups,and the risk of the VEGF+936C/T gene polymorphism in pre-disposing AMD was evaluated.Results No significant differences were seen in the incidence rates of smoking(P ＝ 0.76),hypertension(P ＝ 0.84),hyperlipidemia (P=0.71),diabetes mellitus (P=0.86) and cardiovascular disease(P=0.89) between the AMD group and the normal control group,and BMI was matched between the two groups (P =0.18).The prevalence of the TT genotype was 9.0％ (18/200)in the AMD group,but that in the normal control was 3.5％ (7/200),showing a significant difference between the two groups (P =0.03).The odds ratio (OR) was 2.73 with a 95％ confidence interval(CI) of 1.11 to 6.68 for AMD in this genotype.The CC and CT genotypes were not significantly different between the two groups (P =0.52,P =0.57).The genotype frequency and allele frequency conformed to HardyWeinberg equilibrium law.There were no significant differences found in the CC,CT,TT genotype frequencies among the early AMD,geographic atrophy AMD and choroidal neovascular AMD (all at P＞0.05).Conclusions The VEGF+936TT genotype is associated with AMD in Han Chinese population.

Background Various studies demonstrated that the apoptosis of lens epithelial cells(LECs) is associated with the overexpression of the c-myc gene in LECs induced by galactose.Inhibiting the abnormal expression of the c-myc gene in LECs is an effective approach to mitigate the pathogenesis and development of cataract.Objective The goal of this study is to investigate the inhibitory effects of c-myc antisense oligodeoxynucleotide(c-myc ASODN) on the apoptosis of LECs in the eye with galactose-induced cataract.Methods Galactose-induced cataract models were established by the retrobulbar injection of 0.2 mL of 20% galactose once per day.Lipo-antisense oligodeoxynucleotide(Lipo-ASODN,0.2 mL) was retrobulbarly injected 4 hours after the injection of galactose at one-day intervals.The animals were sacrificed and lenses were obtained to evaluate the apoptosis of LECs and the effect of c-myc ASODN on LECs apoptosis induced by galactose was examined by TUNEL assay after 7,14 and 24 days.The ultrastructural changes of LECs were examined under the transmission electron microscopy(TEM).Results A significant difference in the apoptotic rate of LECs was found among the 7 day,14 day and 24 day groups(F_(7 days)=3 418.495,P＜0.01;F_(14 days)=1137.555,P＜0.01;F_(24 days)=2198.871,P＜0.01).The apoptotic rate of LECs in the galactose group was markedly higher than that in the normal saline solution group 7 days,14 days and 24 days after the experiment(P＜0.01).The apoptotic rate of LECs in the galactose+lipo+ ASODN group significantly declined in comparison to the galactose group after 7 days,14 days and 24 days(P＜0.05).TUNEL assay showed the condensation,breakage and irregularity of the nuclei of apoptotic cells in the galactose group.The destruction of the ultrastructure of the cells and organelles were observed under the transmission electron microscope.Conclusion Galactose induces apoptosis of LECs in cataractogenesis.C-myc ASODN inhibits apoptosis of LECs induced by galactose.

Halophilic microorganisms play important rules in salt field ecosystem and salt production. In this study, halophilic bacteria and haloarchaea from soils of Lianyungang Taibei and Yancheng Sanwei salt fields were analyzed. The halophilic bacterial and haloarchaeal types from both the soils were similar, but each soil had its distinctive species. A total of 17 halophilic bacteria were identified, among them, Halomonas was found from both the soils, while Pontibacillus and Halobacillus were isolated from Sanwei salt field only. Using uncultured 16S rRNA gene library technology, 13 haloarchaeal soil 16S rRNA genes were identified from both the saline soils. Halobacterium and Haloplanus were found from Taibei salt field, while Halobac- terium, Natronobacterium, Halogeometricum and Haloarcula were identified from Sanwei salt field. Ten haloarchaeal 16S rRNA gene sequences showed 92%~97% identities with the GenBank sequences that ap- pear to represent novel soil haloarchaeal species. This study provides important information that is useful for further investigation and application of halophiles of saline soil fields.

Objective To evaluate the efficiency of second trimester screenings for Down syndrome using alpha-fetoprotein and β-human chorionic gonadotropin duplex.MethodsPregnant women of south Zhejiang were screened for Down syndrome fetuses by maternal alpha-fetoprotein and β-human chorionic gonadotropin duplex during second trimester.The high-risk women underwent prenatal diagnosis by amniocentesis,cell culture and chromosome analysis.The newborns followed up by the maternal and child tertiary health care network and suspected to have Down syndrome were diagnosed by peripheral blood chromosome analysis.Statistical analysis was performed using two-sample t test and x2 test.Risk probability of Down Syndrome was calculated by random screening software. Results From Oct.2007 to May 2009,1130 of 32 188 singleton pregnant women in second trimester received prenatal screening were discovered with high risk(≥1 ∶ 270).Prenatal diagnosis was performed in 90.79％ cases (1026/1130) of high risk women and seven fetuses were diagnosed as Down syndrome by amniotic fluid chromosome analysis,and the pregnancies were terminated.Among the other 104 cases without prenatal diagnosis one Down syndrome baby was delivered.Six of 31 058 pregnancy women with low risk delivered Down syndrome babies with the incidence of Down syndrome of 0.19‰ (6/31 058).Detection rate of second trimester screenings for Down syndrome using alpha-fetoprotein and β-human chorionic gonadotropin duplex was 57.14％(8/14).False positive rate was 3.48％ (1122/32 188).Positive predictive value was 7.08‰(8/1130).During the same period,there were 23 813 pregnant women who didn't receive screening and 15 fetuses with Down syndrome were diagnosed after birth.There was no statistical difference in the prevalence rate of Down syndrome between those pregnant women who received prenatal screening or not [0.43‰ (14/32 188) vs 0.63‰ (15/23 813),x2 =1.004,P＞0.05].The prevalence of Down syndrome was 0.52‰ (29/56 001) in this area. ConclusionsThe prenatal screening and diagnosis could reduce the birth rate of Down syndrome patients.However,detection rate,false positive rate and positive predictive value of which were lower than reports in other studies.It's possible that the reference data might be not suitable for Chinese.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the complications of percutaneous kyphoplasty except bone leakge for the treatment of osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral compression fractures.

METHODSFrom October 2008 to October 2012,178 patients with 224 osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures were treated with percutaneous kyphoplasty under local anethsia. There were 72 males and 106 females,ranging in age from 58 to 92 years old,with an average of 75.3 years,including 93 thoracic vertebrae and 131 lumbar vertebrae. The complications except bone cement leakage were analyzed during operation and after operation.

RESULTSAll operations were successful and all patients were followed up from 12 to 60 months with an average of 26.2 months. No death was found. Bone cement leakage occurred in 27 cases, about 15.1% in 178 cases; and complications except bone cement leakage occurred in 15 cases. There was 1 case with cardiac arrest,was completely recovery by cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) immediately; and 1 case with temporary absence of breathing,was recovery after treatment. There were 3 cases with fall of blood pressure and slower of heart rate; 1 case with intestinal obstruction; 2 cases with local hematoma and 1 case with intercostal neuralgia. Vertebral body fractures of 2 cases were split by bone cement and the fractures of adjacent body occurred in 4 cases.

CONCLUSIONIt's uncommon complication except bone cement leakge in treatment of osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral compression fractures with percutaneous kyphoplasty. The complication of cardiopulmonary system is a high risk in surgery; and cytotoxicity of bone cement,nervous reflex,fat embolism and alteration of intravertebral pressure may be main reasons.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Fractures, Compression ; surgery ; Humans ; Kyphoplasty ; adverse effects ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Kangxin Capsule (KXC) on the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) as well as the morphology and amount of nerve synapse in the cortical parietal lobe and hippocampus CA, area of vascular dementia ( VD) model rats.

METHODSThe model rats of VD made by photochemical reaction technique were randomly divided into five groups: the model group (MG), the high-dose, middle-dose and low-dose KXC groups (HDG, MDG and LDG), and the Western medicine hydergin control group (WMG). They were treated respectively with distilled water, high, middle and low dosage of KXC suspended liquid, and hydergin for a month. Besides, a blank group consisting of normal (non-model) rats was set up for control (CG). The ultrastructure of nerve synapse in the cortical parietal lobe and hippocampus CA1 area of the rats were observed and its density estimated. The condition of NGF positive neurons in the above-mentioned two regions were also observed by immunohistochemical stain.

RESULTSAll the KXC or hydergin treated groups demonstrated a normal amount of nerve synapse with integral structure in the cortical parietal lobe and hippocampus CA, area, which approached that in the CG and was superior to that in the MG. Also, the NGF positive neuron in all the treated groups was much more than that in MG with significant difference ( P<0.01), approaching to that in the CG.

CONCLUSIONKXC could elevate the expression of NGF in the cortical parietal lobe and hippocampus CA, area, preserve the number and morphology of synapse, thus to protect the function of nerve system from ischemic injury.

Animals ; Capsules ; Dementia, Vascular ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Hippocampus ; chemistry ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Microscopy, Electron ; Nerve Growth Factors ; analysis ; Neurons ; ultrastructure ; Parietal Lobe ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Synapses ; ultrastructure

OBJECTIVETo explore the central mechanism of moxibustion on analgesic effect.

METHODSMale Wistar rats were screened by pain threshold value before making model, and 48 rats whose pain threshold was (250 +/- 25) g were selected. Twelve male Wistar rats were randomly selected as a normal group. For the rest rats the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) model was duplicated by raising in a windy, cold and wet environment combined with injection of Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA), and then they were randomly divided into a model group, a moxibustion group and a moxa volatile oil group, 12 rats in each group. The moxibustion and the moxa volatile oil igroup were treated with moxibustion and moxa volatile oil at "Shenshu"(BL 23) and "Zusanli"(ST 36), respectively, for 15 days. No interventions were added on the model group and the normal group. The pain threshold in Iinjured foot and the expression of hypothalamic POMC mRNA and PDYN mRNA in rats were observed.

RESULTSCompared with the normal group, the pain threshold and the expression of hypothalamic POMC mRNA and PDYN mRNA in the model group were increased (all P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the pain threshold and the expression of hypothalamic POMC mRNA and PDYN mRNA in the moxibustion group were increased significantly (all P < 0.01), but no statistically significance in the moxa volatile oil group (P > 0.05). Compared with the moxa volatile oil group, the above-mentioned observative indices in moxibustion group were all increased significantly (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONMoxibustion has obvious analgesic effect and its mechanism may be related to the increasing expression of hypothalamic POMC and PDYN mRNA through the warming effect of moxibustion.

Animals ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; genetics ; metabolism ; therapy ; Enkephalins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypothalamus ; metabolism ; Male ; Moxibustion ; Pro-Opiomelanocortin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Protein Precursors ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective To analyze the effect of quality of life (QOL) on the prognosis of long-term survivors with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods A total of 192 NPC patients treated between 1999 and 2000 and with tumor-free survival before July 2003 were enrolled in this study. All patients received QOL measurement between July and August in 2003. Measurement scales included Chinese SF-36 questionnaire and a checklist consisting of fourteen items about self-rating symptoms. The median follow-up time was 7.9S years (range 2.67-9.55 years). The effects of QOL, social demographic and clinical factors on prognosis were analyzed. Results Univariate analysis showed that QOL affected the tumor-free survival and overall survival. Multivariate analysis showed that hypomnesia was an independent prognostic factor of tumor-free survival, while trismus, headache and age were independent prognostic factors of overall survival. The younger and the better QOL had better prognosis. The other sociodemographic and clinical factors had no prognostic value. Conclusion QOL is an important factor affecting the prognosis of long-term survivors with NPC, and it should be routinely evaluated during the follow-up.

Background Since the measurement method establishment of serum ferritin abroad in early period of theseventies, the iron deficiency had been divided into two types: the non-anemia and anemia types. In orderto go step further studies, we must ertablish the bemoglobin targets of the two types. Methods One hurdred and fifty-two children in experimontal group, from 6 to 7 years old, and allcome from Qinghai province. There are 29 children in Xining city, 24 in Guide, 26 in Gongbe, 40 in Gui-nan and 33 in Maduo countics. There are 36 health children aged from 6 to 7 years old in the controlgroup, and all comes from Beijing. The Hb, RBC, HCT, HCTW and FEP wcre determined. Results The three targets correlating with Hb (Hb, MCH and MCHC); correlating with RBC (RBC,HCT and MCV); the two targets correlating with RBC_weight (HCTW and CMCW) and correlating withFEP of RBC(FEP and MCEP) have very significant difference between experimental group and control group. Conclusion The determination values of the 10 targets are not same in children in different districts,and the values of all the target: are increased on different degree along with the increase in altitude of ele-vation. There is very important significance on the studies of iron deficiency and altitude hypoxia to establish the normal values of the 10 targets.