OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium on removal of gaseous chlorobenzene.

METHODSFungal mycelium mixed with a liquid medium was placed into airtight bottles. A certain amount of chlorobenzene was injected into the headspace of the bottles under different conditions. At a certain interval, the concentrations in the headspace were analyzed to evaluate the degradation of chlorobenzene by P. chrysosporium.

RESULTSThe degradation effects of P. chrysosporium on chlorobenzene under different conditions were investigated. The difference in the optimum temperature for the growth of the fungi and chlorobenzene degradation was observed. The data indicated that a lower temperature (28 degrees C) would promote the degradation of chlorobenzene than the optimum temperature for the growth of the fungi (37 degrees C). A low nitrogen source concentration (30 mg N/L) had a better effect on degrading chlorobenzene than a high nitrogen source concentration (higher than 100 mg N/L). A high initial concentration (over 1100 mg/m3) of chlorobenzene showed an inhibiting effect on degradation by P. chrysosporium. A maximum removal efficiency of 95% was achieved at the initial concentration of 550 mg/m3.

CONCLUSIONP. chrysosporium has a rather good ability to remove gaseous chlorobenzene. A low nitrogen source concentration and a low temperature promote the removal of chlorobenzene by P. chrysosporium. However, a high initial chlorobenzene concentration can inhibit chlorobenzene degradation.

Air Pollutants ; metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Chlorobenzenes ; metabolism ; Culture Media ; chemistry ; Microbiological Techniques ; Nitrogen ; pharmacology ; Phanerochaete ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Temperature ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of compound Rhizoma Smilacinus granules (CRSG) on the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax gene in A549 cell lines, and to explore the mechanism of CRSG on non-small cell lung cancers. METHODS: The SD rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: one was administrated with CRSG (n=15), and the other with the same dose of distilled water (n=15). The herbage-containing serum was obtained 2 hours after the 6th treatment. non-small lung cancer A549 cell lines were randomly divided into CRSG group, diamminedichloroplatinum (DDP) group and normal control group, which were cultivated with 10% herbage-containing serum, DDP (3g/mL), and 10% SD rats serum respectively. The cultivated cells were collected after 48 hours, and then RT-PCR technique was used to determine the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA. RESULTS: Compared with the normal control group after 48 h, the level of Bcl-2 mRNA and the rate of Bc-2/Bax decreased in the CRSG group and the DDP group, and the level of Bax mRNA increased with significant difference (P<0.01). CONCLUSION non-small cell lung cancer A549 cell lines have a high level of Bcl-2 mRNA and a low level of Bax mRNA. CRSG can significantly down-regulate the expression of Bcl-2 mRNA and the rate of Bc-2/Bax, and obviously up-regulate the expression of Bax mRNA, which probably is one of the molecular mechanisms of CRSG in inhibiting the growth of non-small cell lung cancers.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; genetics ; pathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Serum ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; genetics

BACKGROUNDAngiogenesis is an essential step for tumor development and metastasis. The cell adhesion molecule avβ3 integrin plays an important role in angiogenesis and is a specific marker of tumor angiogenesis. A novel avβ3 integrin- targeted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging contrast agent utilizing Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) and ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide particles (USPIO) (referred to as RGD-USPIO) was designed and its uptake by endothelial cells was assessed both in vitro and in vivo to evaluate the angiogenic profile of lung cancer.

METHODSUSPIO were coated with -NH3+ and conjugated with RGD peptides. Prussian blue staining was performed to evaluate the specific uptake of RGD-USPIO by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Targeted uptake and subcellular localization of RGD-USPIO in HUVECs were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The ability of RGD-USPIO to noninvasively assess avβ3 integrin positive vessels in lung adenocarcinoma A549 tumor xenografts was evaluated with a 4.7T MR scanner. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect avβ3 integrin expression and vessel distribution in A549 tumor xenografts.

RESULTSHUVECs internalized RGD-USPIO significantly more than plain USPIO. The uptake of RGD-USPIO by HUVECs could be competitively inhibited by addition of free RGD. A significant decrease in T2 signal intensity (SI) was observed at the periphery of A549 tumor xenografts at 30 minutes (P < 0.05) and 2 hours (P < 0.01) after RGD-USPIO was injected via the tail vein. Angiogenic blood vessels were mainly distributed in the periphery of tumor xenografts with positive avβ3 integrin expression.

CONCLUSIONSRGD-USPIO could specifically label avβ3 integrin and be taken up by HUVECs. This molecular MR imaging contrast agent can specifically evaluate the angiogenic profile of lung cancer using a 4.7T MR scanner.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Dextrans ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Integrin alphaVbeta3 ; analysis ; Lung Neoplasms ; blood supply ; drug therapy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetite Nanoparticles ; therapeutic use ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; prevention & control ; Oligopeptides ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo verify houseflies Musca spp. as the intermediate host of Thelazia callipaeda and reveal epidemiological situation of thelaziasis in Hubei province.

METHODSDogs eyes infected with T. callipaeda, 400 houseflies Musca and 259 fruitflies Amiota okadai in the city of Laohekou city (previously named as Guanghua county) of Hubei province had been investigated since September 2000. The newborn larvae of T. callipaeda from Laohekou suburbs were fed to houseflies Musca and A. okadai. Larvae used for the study were isolated from female T. callipaeda in laboratory and the susceptibility to houseflies Musca and A. okadai was observed.

RESULTSTwenty-one dogs from Laohekou, the original epidemic areas of thelaziasis were examined and 7 positive dogs in 21 (33.3%) and 11 T. callipaeda (9 females and 2 males) were identified. From 1975 to 2000, no thelaziasis cases were found through retrospective surveys. These 200 houseflies Musca and 135 A. okadai were dissected for examination but showed all negative with the infection. However, newborn larvae of T. callipaeda were used to experimentally infect 112 houseflies Musca and 84 A. okadai and all infected flies were examined on the 20th day after inoculation. As a consequence, houseflies Musca failed to be infected but 9 in 84 (10.7%) A. okadai were positive. 26 infective larvae of T. callipaeda were obtained and 21 of them were inoculated into right eye of one rabbit. The female worm began to produce newborn larvae in 37 days after infection and 3 adult T. callipaeda (two females and one male) were obtained.

CONCLUSIONSFruitflies A. okadai from Hubei province were susceptible to T. callipaeda, which was similar to the result of experimental studies in Anhui province. This survey further confirmed that A. okadai was the intermediate host of T. callipaeda but not houseflies Musca. Infective resources (adult dogs, for instance) had been under controlled thus human thelaziasis had been eradicated in this rural area.

Animals ; Conjunctivitis ; parasitology ; Disease Reservoirs ; Dog Diseases ; parasitology ; Dogs ; Drosophila ; parasitology ; Eye Infections, Parasitic ; epidemiology ; transmission ; veterinary ; Female ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Houseflies ; parasitology ; Humans ; Insect Vectors ; parasitology ; Longitudinal Studies ; Male ; Spirurida Infections ; epidemiology ; transmission ; veterinary ; Thelazioidea ; isolation & purification ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate three biopsy methods which are currently used in stereotactic breast biopsy.

METHODSA total of 361 cases of stereotactic breast biopsies were carried out since 2000, including 73 cases of true cut core needle biopsies (ST-CNB), 74 cases of vacuum assisted biopsies (ST-VAB) and 214 cases of excisional biopsies. After medium follow-up time of 18 months (6 to 66 months), the accuracy as well as the clinical benefits of the three stereotactic biopsy procedures were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSThe cancer miss rate of stereotactic wire localized excisional biopsy, ST-CNB and ST-VAB is 0, 2.7% and 0 respectively. Under-estimate rate of minimal invasive biopsy was 33% in atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) and 53% in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). The minimal invasive procedure is superior to surgical procedure in terms of operation time, breast cosmetic outcome and complications, etc. Furthermore, 69% of the surgeries for suspicious lesion were waived.

CONCLUSIONSStereotactic minimal invasive breast biopsy, especially ST-VAB, is an accurate, safty and convenient diagnosis technique and could be considered as the first line choice for mammographic moderate suspicious breast lesions (BIRADS-4). However, further excisional biopsy is recommended for atypical hyperplasia. Stereotactic excisional biopsy could be directly used for diagnosis of mammographic highly suspicious breast lesions (BIRADS-5).

Biopsy ; methods ; Biopsy, Needle ; instrumentation ; Breast ; pathology ; Breast Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mammography ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUNDAsthma is a complex disease involving genetic and environment interactions. Atopy is a strong risk factor for asthma. The airway epithelium not only forms a physical barrier but also provides immune defense against harmful materials. To explore the effects of airway epithelium on asthma, we hypothesized that environmental injuries could act on bronchial epithelial cells and damage the physical barrier, which might facilitate allergens to stimulate immunoreactions and play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma.

METHODSThirty eight-week-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups with six rats in each group: control group, asthma group, ovalbumin (OVA) + OVA group, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group and LPS + OVA group. In the control group, 0.9% saline was injected intraperitoneally on day 1. Fourteen days later, the rats were exposed to aerosolized 0.9% saline. In the asthma group, the rats were sensitized with an injection of 10 mg of OVA, followed by an aerosolized 2% OVA challenge 14 days later. The OVA + OVA group was sensitized by an inhalation 2% OVA, 20 minutes a day, from day 1 to day 7, and then OVA challenged in the same way as the asthma group. In the LPS group, LPS (200 µl, 1 µg/µl) was given by airway on day 1 and day 3, with a simultaneous aerosol inhalation of 2% OVA for 20 minutes a day from day 1 to day 7. Fourteen days later, the rats were challenged with saline as in the control group. While in the LPS + OVA group, LPS (200 µl, 1 µg/µl) was given by airway on day 1 and day 3, with a simultaneous aerosol inhalation of 2% OVA for 20 minutes a day from day 1 to day 7. Fourteen days later, the rats were challenged with OVA as in the asthma group. The expression of interleukin (IL)-4, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) in the lungs was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and the pulmonary pathological changes were also observed. The level of IL-4, IFN-γ and IgE in plasma was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected to conduct differential cell counts. Flow cytometry analysis was also used to count Th1 and Th2 cells.

RESULTSThe pathological changes in the LPS + OVA group were similar to the asthma group, while in other groups, the pathological changes were not obvious. The ratio of lymphocytes in BALF, IL-4/IFN-γ in plasma and the expression of the TSLP and IL-4 in the asthma and LPS + OVA groups were higher than in the control group and the OVA + OVA group (P < 0.05). The level of IgE was higher in the asthma, LPS and LPS + OVA groups than in the control group and the OVA + OVA group (P < 0.05). By flow cytometry analysis, the Th1/Th2 ratio was lower in the LPS + OVA and asthma groups than in other groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe experiment results show that the injury to the bronchial epithelial layer may be the initial event of allergic responses. This finding implies that a rational approach to therapeutics would be to increase the resistance of the airways to environmental injuries rather than concentrating on suppressing inflammation.

Animals ; Bronchi ; pathology ; Cell Count ; Cytokines ; physiology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Epithelial Cells ; pathology ; Hypersensitivity ; etiology ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Lipopolysaccharides ; toxicity ; Male ; Ovalbumin ; immunology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo observe the spermicidal effect of alcohol extracts from different ratios of Sophora flavescens Ait/Chinese Bulbul in vitro.

METHODSSemen samples aseptically obtained by masturbation and prepared by density gradient centrifugation from 15 healthy men were incubated in the alcohol extracts from 9 different ratios of Sophora flavescens Ait/Chinese Bulbul for 20 seconds, 2 minutes and 4 minutes. Then the motility and movement parameters of the sperm were detected by computer-assisted semen analysis, and the minimal effective concentrations of the instant spermicidal effect of the extracts were determined.

RESULTSAt the ratio of 3:1, the extract at 0.5 mg/ml significantly inhibited the sperm motility and other sperm movement parameters VCL, VSL, VAP, ALH, WOB and MAD, as compared with the control group. The minimal effective concentration of the instant spermicidal effect of the extracts was 3.5 mg/ml at 3:1.

CONCLUSIONThe alcohol extracts from Sophora flavescens Ait and Chinese Bulbul at the ratio of 3:1 have the best spermicidal effect in vitro.

Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Pulsatilla ; Semen Analysis ; Sophora ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Spermatocidal Agents ; pharmacology ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; Young Adult

Objective To find out about the sanitary conditions of drinking water along the border line of Inner Mongolia via safety evaluation of drinking water along the border line of Inner Mongolia.Methods 108 samples of drinking water along the border line of Inner Mongolia(70 samples of self-supply source water,21 ones of self-supply tap water and 17 ones of municipal tap water)were collected.Hygienic evaluation of sensory indexes, normal chemical indexes, toxicological indexes and microbiology indexes of water quality was performed according to hygienic standards for drinking water(GB 5749—2006).Results 58 samples were qualified with a total qualified rate of 53.7%.The unqualified rate of the total number of coliforms was the highest(20.4%),followed by fluoride(19.4%).As for deep wells, shallow wells and surface water,there was no statistically significant difference.Compared with municipal tap water,the unqualified rate of self-supply water(28.6%)was higher(17.7%).Conclusion The qualified rate along the border line of Inner Mongolia of drinking water is low.Treatment and disinfection facilities for drinking water,detection devices of water quality are needed.The cleaning and disinfection of storage tanks should be performed periodically in oder to prevent waterborne infectious diseases.

Objective To understand the water quality of self-supply wells in four provinces of northern China (Heilongjiang, Beijing, Inner Mongolia and Tibet), so as to provide a reference for supervision and management of self-supply wells. Methods Water were sampled from 233 self-supply wells in four northern provinces of China according to standard examination methods for drinking water (GB/T 5750-2006). In total, The samples were tested for 27 kinds of water quality parameters involving sensory properties, chemistry, bacteriology and toxicology, and then evaluated. Results The total unqualified rate of water quality in self-supply well water in four northern provinces of China was 52.36%. The water quality varied greatly among provinces. As for Heilongjiang, the main unqualified indicators of self-supply wells water involved turbidity, visible to the naked eye, manganese, arsenic and nitrate. In relation to Beijing, these referred to the nitrate and microorganism. In case of Inner Mongolia province, these included sulfate and fluoride. With reference to Tibet, these were zinc and chloride. Conclusions To ensure the safety of drinking water for residents, the management, disinfection and purifying measures of self-supply wells should be strengthened basing on their regional differences and water quality characteristics.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the distribution characteristics of the main semen parameters of healthy semen donors and normal fertile men in Shanghai, compare the semen quality between the two groups, and investigate the normal reference values of the semen parameters of the fertile population in Shanghai.

METHODSWe obtained semen samples from 100 healthy donors and 41 fertile men, performed semen analyses according to the WHO (2010) guidelines, and determined the semen volume, sperm concentration, sperm progressive motility, total sperm count and total progressively motile sperm count. We analyzed the distribution of the semen parameters of the normal fertile men, and obtained the lower limits of their normal reference values.

RESULTSThere were no statistically significant differences in the main semen parameters between the healthy donors and normal fertile men (P < 0.05). The lower reference limits for the semen parameters of normal fertile men in Shanghai (P < 0.05) were as follows: sperm concentration > or = 27.3 x 10(6)/ml, sperm progressive motility > or = 8.1%, semen volume > or = 0.82 ml, total sperm count > or = 44.73 x 10(6) per ejaculate, and total progressively motile sperm count > or = 24.68 x 10(6) per ejaculate.

CONCLUSIONFor the evaluation of male fecundity, total sperm count and total progressively motile sperm count may be two better predictors than others.

Adult ; China ; Fertility ; Humans ; Male ; Reference Values ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; Tissue Donors ; Young Adult