Heavy metal pollution has become one of the most serious environmental problems today. Biosorption, regarded as a cost-effective biotechnology for treating heavy metal of low concentration in wastewater, has not been utilized at large scale successfully. It’s helpful to increase the knowledge of biosorption mechanism and decreasing the costs of biosorbents for the biosorption application. The yeast of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an ideal biomaterial to be used for exploring the mechanism and for actual utilization because of its unique characteristics in spite of its relatively mediocre capacity of metal uptake to other fungi. The yeast can grow easily in cheap media, and is widely used in food and beverage manufacture. It’s also a safe by-product in large quantity as a waste of the fermentation industry, and easily manipulated at molecular level. The metal uptake specifically by S. cerevisiae was addressed. Firstly, it was discussed to use dead or live cells in biosorption . The yeast can absorb toxic heavy metals (Pb, Hg, Cd, etc), precious metals (Au, Ag, Pd, etc) and radionuclides (U, Am, etc). Secondry, metal-binding capacity of various heavy metals by S. cerevisiae in different conditions were compared. Lead and uranium, for instances, can be effectively removed from dilute solutions, while copper is not easily removed. Thirdly, various mechanism of metal uptake by S. cerevisiae were summarized in details according to the position in which metals are located. Metal uptake process is influenced by the ratio of the initial concentration of metal ions and the concentration of biomass. Cellular wall and its components are important for metal uptake. Functional groups for metallic ion fixation have been identified. Uptake is typically accompanied by ion exchange and complexation, sometimes with precipitation (for Pb) and redox (for Au or Ag). Intracellularly accumulated metal is associated with the cell membrane, vacuole and GSH, but may also be bound to other cellular organelles and biomolecules. The equilibrium and kinetic models used in the metal-yeast biosorption systems were also introduced. In most cases, classic Langmiur model and Freundlich model, widely used to describe single metal biosorption system of equilibrium, fit the experimental data very well. Pseudo-second order equation is often employed to describe biosorption process by S. cerevisiae. Finally, futher researches in metal biosorpiton by S. cerevisiae were proposed.

AIM: To investigate the regulation of ‘Tiao Gan Fang Yao’(TGFY) on neuroendocrine-immuno-function of bandage-stressed rat . METHODS:The stressed rat model was made by bandage. RIA was adopted to measure the function of hypothalamus-pitutary-adrenal gland axis (HPAA) of stressed rat. Meanwhile, the immunity of stressed rat and the regulation of TGFY were observed.RESULTS:Bandage stress increased the contents of serum corticosterone(CORT), and ACTH, and hypothalamus corticotropin releasing hormone ( P

Objective To evaluate imaging features and clinical significance of anatomical variations of the dorsal pancreas.Methods CT and MR imaging data of 47 cases with variations of the dorsal pancreas were collected.Imaging characteristics of the dorsal pancreas were analysed.Results (1) Narrow dorsal pancreas:the agenesis of dorsal pancreas (7 cases) appeared as short pancreas,their length was (91.59 ± 22.39) mm.4 cases of pancreatic head volume increased,with tadpole-like retention of the pancreas,including 3 cases of annular pancreas.2 cases with polysplenia syndrome and congenital abscence of the hepatic segment of inferior vena cava.(2) Abnormaly enlarged dorsal pancreas:①the broadening of the pancreatic tail (n =18):the maximum diameter of pancreatic tail was (36.12 ± 6.59) mm,the pancreas was similar to the dumbbell-shaped.②Processes locally of pancreatic contour (n =13),which were local process at the ventral aspect of pancreas,the height was (15.72 ±2.65) mm,the width was (18.59 ± 3.64) mm,most often seen on the neck of the pancreas.(3) Dorsal pancreas related divisium:①Pancreas separated by fat spatium (n =7),the width was (3.51 ± 2.42),the deepness was (19.45 ± 5.84),it showed the crack-like fat density (signal) shadow,5 cases (5/7) located in the pancreatic body and tail,2 cases (2/7) located at the junction of ventral pancreas and dorsal pancreas.②The bifurcation of the pancereatic tail (n =3),limitations forked tail of the pancreas was dovetail-like performance.The maximum width diameter was (26.63 ± 1.75) mm,the bifurcation angle was (99.27 ± 30.73) degrees.Conclusions The developmental anomalies of dorsal pancreas can lead to a number of variations of pancreas,some of which can induce corresponding disease and be mistaken for neoplasm.

Objective Insulin autoantibody (IAA) is known to exist in sera of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients and pre-T1DM individuals. The aim of this study was to establish a novel microtiter plate radioimmunoassay (RIA) for IAA and evaluate its clinical value. Methods Diluted 125Ⅰ-insulin was mixed with 5 ul serum samples in a 96-well microtiter plate and then incubated for 72 h on an orbital plate shaker (4℃). The immunocomplexes were transferred to another protein a coated Millipore plate, and then the plate was washed with Tri-Buffered Saline Tween-20 (TBT) buffer. Counts per minute (CPM) was measured with liquid scintillation and luminescence counter. The positive cut-off point of IAA index was defined as ≥0.06 based on the 99-percentile of the distribution in 317 healthy individuals. The specificity and sensitivity of the assay were calculated from the samples provided by the fourth Diabetes Autoantibodies Standardization Program (DASP 2005). The IAA levels were determined in 71 T1 DM and 551 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients, and 317 healthy controls. The t test, non-parametric test, x2 test and linear correlation analysis were performed on the data using SPSS 11.5 software. The concordance rate was estimated with Kappa value. Results (1) The optimized testing condition was described as 2×104 CPM of 125Ⅰ-insulin, 5 ul serum sample and slowly horizontal shaking for 72 h. (2) The intra-assay CV was 4.8%-8.9% and inter-assay CV was 6.4%-10.5%. Based on DASP 2005 samples, the specificity and sensitivity of the assay were 97% (97/100) and 50% (25/50), respectively. Ninety-six serum samples with different IAA levels were selected and tested to compare between our new method and a domestic IAA RIA kit. The results showed that the IAA indices from the two methods were positively correlated (r= 0.678, P<0.001). The concordance rate was 72.9 %(Kappa value=0.402). There were 25 samples with discordant results, which were positive for IAA titer using the corresponding microtiter plate RIA but negative using the novel RIA kit. (3) In TIDM group the positive rate of IAA was 19.7% (16/71), higher than the healthy controls (0.9%, x2=54.36, P<0.001). The subgroup of T1DM children (with 0-9 years) showed the highest IAA positive rate (55.6% ,x2=4.85, P<0.05). In T2DM group the frequency of IAA was 1.5% (8/551), which had no significant difference comparing with that of healthy controls (x2= 0.95, P >0.05). Conclusions Our proposed microtiter plate RIA method for IAA is highly sensitive and specific, likely to be feasible for clinical application. The frequency of IAA is high in children with T1DM.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of dopamine D2 receptor imaging agent (s)-(-)-N-(1-allylpyrrolidine-2-N-methyl)-5-(3-18F)-2,3-dimethoxy Benzamide (18F-Fallypride) for targeting islet cell imaging.Methods (1) Cytology experiment:Islet cells of 15×103 cells/well were incubated with 3.70 kBq/well 18F-Fallypride for 1 h and the uptake rate of cells was calculated (cell counts/(supernatant counts + cell counts)× 100％).Under the same experiment conditions,6 inhibiting groups were administrated with different concentration of dopamine inhibitors droperidol (1.0× 10-6,4.0× 10-6,2.0× 10-5,1.0× 10-4,5.0× 10-4 and 1.0× 10-3 mol/L,respectively).After 30 min,3.70 kBq of 18F-Fallypride was added to each inhibiting group,and the inhibiting rate was calculated.(2) Autoradiography:18 normal ICR mice were divided into 6 groups.For group A,ICR mice were injected with 18F-Fallypride (55 ± 5) MBq/mice through tail vein.For the other 5 inhibiting groups (group B-F),ICR mice were injected with different doses of droperidol (0.2,0.4,0.6,0.8 and 1.0 mg/kg,respectively),and after 30 min 18F-Fallypride were injected through tail vein.Ten minutes later,pancreas of ICR mice was taken for preparation of tissue section autoradiography.The data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance and the least significant difference t test.Results (1) The 18F-Fallypride uptake rate of control group was (18.40± 1.21) ％.The uptake rates of inhibiting groups were (16.11±1.37)％,(15.76±0.99)％,(13.90±1.02)％,(8.86±0.73)％,(7.26±0.62)％ and (6.92±0.58)％,respectively,which decreased with the decreasing concentration of droperidol (F=50.01,P＜0.01).When the concentration of droperidol was 1.0× 10-4 mol/L,the uptake rate reached the lowest with inhibiting rate of 51.85％.(2) The autoradiography showed that the pancreas gray scale value of group A was 1.21×106 digital light units (DLU)/mm2.The pancreas gray scale value of groups B to F decreased with increasing concentration of inhibitor:0.93× 106,0.77× 106,0.59× 106,0.32× 106 and 0.25×106 DLU/mm2,respectively.Conclusions 18F-Fallypride may specifically and efficiently bind to dopamine receptors of islet cells.It may be a potential tracer for islet cells imaging.

BACKGROUND: When one is in a stress state, some amino acids as neurotransmitter in his brain are of important regulating action to his cerebral functions and his psychic behaviors,and some traditional Chinese drugs can regulate the stress state of the body.OBJECTIVE:To observe the content changes of glutamic acid,aspartic acid, γ-aminobutyric acid and taurine in the hypothalamus and hippocampus of rats under repeatedly psychic stress so as to investigate the effects of tiaogan recipe, jianpi recipe, bushen recipe and ginsenoside on them.DESIGN: A randomized grouping and controlled observation trial.SETTING:Department of Basic Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) of Basic Medical Science College, Guangzhou University of TCM.MATERIALS:The experiment was completed from March 2002 to January 2003 at the Animal Center of Guangzhou University of TCM.Totally60 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: normal, model, tiaogan, bushen, jianpi and ginsenoside groups, with 10 in each group. Compositions and doses of tiaogan recipe: radix bupleuri 5 g, fruetus gardeniae 5 g,radix paeoniae alba 15 g,fructus lycii 15 g,fructus aurantii 6 g,radix rehmanniae 18 g, concha haliotidis 30 g. Compositions and doses of shenqi pill: radix rehmanniae 30 g, rhizoma dioscoreae 15 g, fructus corni 15 g,rhizoma alismatis 10 g,poria 10 g,cortex moutan radicis 10 g,ramulus cinnamomi 4 g, radix aconiti praeparata 4 g. Compositions and doses of sijunzi decoction:radix codonopsis pilosulae 20 g,rhizoma atractylodis macrocephalae 15 g, poria 15 g, radix glycyrrhizae preparata 6 g.METHODS:① The traditional Chinese medicines were conventionally decocted; and the tiaogan recipe condensed to the liquid containing1.69 g/mL crude drug, shenqi pill containing 1.76 g/mL crude drug,sijunzi decoction containing 1.01 g/mL crude drug.Ginsenoside was prepared as 7 g/L water solution.The rats in the normal and model groups were by gavage given 2 mL of 9.0 g/L sodium chloride injection.The rats in the tiaogan, bushen, jianpi and ginsenoside groups were respectively by gavage given 2 mL of tiaogan recipe, shenqi pill, sijunzi decoction and ginsenoside solution 1 hour before immobilization stress. ② Except for rats in the normal group, those in the rest groups were all conducted for establishment of psychic stress reaction model.The rats were put into an immobilization tube,their action space was gradually reduced by using a mobile insertion piece,they were regulated to a nervous state without prpduction of intense revolting, which was done once a day, starting with 4 hours immobilization on the first day, and later on increased by 30-60 minutes per day, for consecutive 14 days. ③ The whole brain of the rats in each group was collected by decapitation,OPA high-performance liquid chromatography was used for assays of the contents of glutamic acid, aspartic acid, γaminobutyric acid and taurine in hypothalamus and hippocampus of the rats.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The content changes of glutamic acid,aspartic acid,γ-aminobutyric acid and tanrine in the hypothalamus and hippocampus of rats in each group.RESULTS: Totally 60 rats involved all entered into the result analysis. ①The content changes of glutamic acid in the hypothalamus and hippocampus of rats in each group:Compared with normal group,the contents of glutamic acid in hypothalamus of rats in the tiaogan, jianpi,bushen and ginsenoside groups were markedly decreased [(21.85±8.19), (15.76±1.80),(14.68±7.91), (21.46±5.45), (13.43±7.68) μmoL/g]; compared with model group,the contents in the tiaogan, bushen, jianpi and ginsenoside groups were obviously raised [(11.04±3.65), (11.78±2.17), (18.67±2.98), (20.91 ±3.96),(17.71±1.83) μ moL/g, P ＜ 0.05, P ＜ 0.01, P ＜ 0.01, P ＜ 0.05]. ② The content changes of aspartic acid in the hypothalamus and hippocampus of rats in each group:Compared with model group,the contents of aspartic acid in the hypothalamus in the jianpi and ginsenoside groups were obviously decreased [(8.65±1.18), (5.72±1.32), (4.67±1.88) μmoL/g, P ＜ 0.01,P ＜ 0.01], while the contents in the hippocampus of rats in the jianpi,bushen and ginsenoside groups were markedly raised[(2.58 ±0.87),(3.93±0.49), (4.52±0.98), (3.83±0.41) μmoL/g, P ＜ 0.01, P ＜ 0.01, P ＜ 0.05].③ The content changes of γ-aminobutyric acid in the hypothalamus and hippocampus of rats in each group:Compared with model group,the contents of γ-aminobutyric acid in the hypothalamus of rats in the tiaogan,jianpi,bushen and ginsenoside groups were markedly decreased[(20.92±4.96), (15.87±2.90), (13.84±2.63), (14.94±3.98), (10.94±3.68) μ moL/g,P ＜ 0.05, P ＜ 0.05, P ＜ 0.01, P ＜ 0.01], while the contents in the hypothalamus were obviously raised [(4.12±1.66), (4.18±1.04), (6.67±1.29),(6.11±0.99), (6.37±0.78) μmoL/g, P＜ 0.05, P＜ 0.01, P＜ 0.01, P＜ 0.01].④ The content changes of taurine in the hypothalamus and hippocampus of rats in each group: Compared with model group, the contents of taurine in the hypothalamus of rats in the tiaogan, jianpi, bushen and ginsenoside groups were markedly decreased [(10.24±1.72), (7.82±1.14), (8.00±2.05),(6.42±3.17) μmoL/g, P ＜ 0.05, P ＜ 0.05, P ＜ 0.01], while the contents in the hippocampus in the jianpi and ginsenoside groups were obviously raised [(12.61±3.51), (17.03±2.74), (18.04±2.14) μnoL/g, P＜ 0.01, P＜ 0.01].CONCLUSION:The central acting site of tiaogan recipe may mainly be in the hypothalamus,possibly being related with down-regulating amino acids.While the central acting sites ofjianpi recipe,bushen recipe and ginsenoside may include the hippocampus and hypothalamus, being mainly related with up-regulating amino acids,through enhancing the integration of the hippocampus on stress so as to gain the effect of anti-injury of stress.

D (A:the amount of water added. B: the alcohol concentration in the fluidextract of herbs. C: decoction time, D: decoction times). The optimum decoction condition obtained was: adding water (12 times as much as medicine), decocting twice 1.5 hours each time, merging the filtrate, concentrating the merged filtrate into extract with a relative density of 1.20 (measured at 85℃), then adding alcohol slowly, and making the concentration of alcohol in the fluidextract come to 80%. Conclusion: The optimized process is stable and feasible.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the characteristics of Zn2+ biosorption and the release of cations during the process of Zn2+ biosorption by intact cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

METHODSThe batch adsorption test was used to study the biosorption equilibrium and isotherm. Zn2+ concentration was measured with atomic adsorption spectrophotometer (AAS) AAS 6 Vario.

RESULTSWhen the initial concentration of Zn2+ ranged between 0.08 and 0.8 mmol/L, the initial pH was natural (about 5.65), the sorbent concentration was about 1 g/L and the capacity of Zn2+ biosorption was from 74.8 to 654.8 micromol/g. The pH value increased by 0.55-1.28 and the intracellular cations (K+, Mg2+, Na+, Ca2+) of the cells were released during the process of Zn2+ biosorption.

CONCLUSIONIon exchange was one of the mechanisms for Zn2+ biosorption. The biomass of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a potential biosorbent for the removal of Zn2+ from aqueous solution. More work needs to be done before putting it into practical application.

Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; metabolism ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic ; Zinc ; metabolism

Objective To evaluate the association of islet autoantibodies [ glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody(GADA),protein tyrosine phosphatase antibody(IA-2A)and insulin autoantibodies(IAA)1 with HLA- DQ genotypes in the first-degree relatives of autoimmune type 1 diabetes mellitus.Methods This was a cross- sectional and case-control study.Three hundred and fifty-one first-degree relatives with normal glucose tolerance of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and 376 healthy controls were recruited and measured for GADA,IA-2A and IAA by radioligand assay,and 156 first-degree relatives of patients with autoimmune type 1 diabetes mellitus and 278 controls were typed for genetic polymorphisms of HLA-DQ with PCR sequencing-based typing method.Results (1)DQA1*03,DQBI*0303,*0401 alleles and DQA1 * 03-DQBI * 0303,DQA1 * 05-DQBI * 0201,DQA1 * 03-DQBI * 0401 haplotypes were significantly increased in the first-degree relatives of autoimmune type 1 diabetes mellitus(P

OBJECTIVETo explore CT and MRI manifestations of the axial area peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumors (pPNETs) in order to improve the knowledge of this disease.

METHODSThe clinical data of 10 patients with pPNETs underwent pathologically confirmed were retrospectively analyzed from October 2008 to May 2014. There were 7 males and 3 females, aged from 8 to 49 years old with median of 23.6 years. The preoperative multi-slice spiral CT scan was completed in 3 cases, plain CT scan and enhancement in 4 cases; MRI and enhancement scanning in 5 cases; and among them, 2 cases underwent both MRI and CT scan.

RESULTSIn-bone type was found 6 cases and out-bone type was found 4 cases. Three cases occurred in sacral vertebrae, 2 cases in lumbar vertebrae, 1 case in cervical vertebrae, 1 case in cervical spinal canal, 1 case in coccyx, 1 case in the right iliac bone, 1 case in presacral space. Cross sectional the smallest tumor maximum level was 1.1 cmx 1.2 cm in size, the biggest tumor was 8.0 cm x 9.2 cm, the median size was 4.4 cm x 5.7 cm, of them, the tumor of maximal diameter larger than 5 cm had 6 cases. Except 2 cases-without destruction of bone, the other 5 cases with osteolytic destruction, 2 cases with calcification, 1 case with mixed. Equidensite was main in CT scan, 1 case with uniform density, other 6 cases with uneven density,in which 3 cases with "floating ice" change; 1 case with moderate strengthening, other 3 cases with obviously strengthening, 2 cases with multiple small blood vessels in enhancement scanning. MRI of 5 cases showed the signal of isointensity on T1WI, the slightly high signal on T2WI and the signal was not uniform; after enhancement scan, the signal of 5 cases obviously enhanced. Two patients complicated with vertebral compression fractures, no periosteal reaction was found in all patients, and no the destruction of intervertebral disk was found in 5 patients of MRI scan.

CONCLUSIONThe axial area pPNETs is common among children and the youth, and the mass often is huge. The mass of in-bone type often envelopes the vertebral body, and main located on prevertebral space, all associated with bone destruction, osteolytic destruction is common, and primary vertebral bodies also is common, attachment primary or involvement is few found, it can involve the spinal canal and anterior wall of spinal canal is common, some cases complicate with multiple newly born small vessels. The mass of out-hone type in deep soft tissue is common, minority primary spinal canal, many complicated with vertebral bone destruction, osteolytic destruction was main. The intervertebral disk was not invaded and intervertebral space has not stenosis. CT scan offer complicate with "floating ice" sign, and in-bone type is common. Isointensity is main on MRI TlWI and slightly longer signal is main on MRI T2WI, strengthening signal is obvious.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive, Peripheral ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult