Accidents, Occupational ; Construction Industry ; Humans ; Occupational Health

Environmental Pollutants ; Humans ; Polychlorinated Biphenyls ; Population Surveillance

Different human thyroid carcinoma cell lines were treated with all-trans retinoic acid(RA). RA could inhibit cell growth,improve iodide uptake and increase some thyroid specific genes and retinoid acid receptor(RAR)mRNA expressions in FTC-133 cells.However,RA had no effect in C643,HTH74 and XTC. UC1 cells.These findings indicate that different thyroid carcinoma cells display diverse responses to RA.

Objective To explore the infection situation of fungi and trichomonas and the changes of pus cell and epithelial cell counts in patients with non-bacterial vaginosis in Lanzhou .Methods The pus and epithelial cell counts of vaginal secretion samples from patients with vaginitis were detected .Fungi and trichomoniasis were checked under high power microscope ,and the samples were defined positive if fungal spores or pseudohyphae were found .Results In the 4 404 cases of patients with vaginitis ,the total rate of fungi and trichomoniasis infection was 28 .63% (1 261/4 404) .The infection rate for fungi was 25 .39% ,and for trichomonad was 3 .25% ,respectively .The dual infection rate of fungi and trichomonad was 0 .54% .Compared with ≤20 age group ,the counts of pus cells and epithelial cells in other age groups were significantly different(P<0 .05) .Conclusion Fungi were the primary in-fection etiology of non-bacterial vaginosis in Lanzhou .

In order to identify Cimicifugae Rhizoma from its adulterants and to ensure its safe use, the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequence of Cimicifugae Rhizoma and its adulterants were amplified and bidirectionally sequenced by DNA barcoding technology. Sequence assembly and consensus sequence generation were performed by the CodonCode Aligner V3.7.1. The genetic distances were computed by MEGA 5.0. Identification analyses were performed using neighbor-joining (NJ) methods. The length of ITS2 sequence of the three origin plants of Cimicifugae Rhizoma include Cimicifuga heracleifolia, C. foetida, C. dahurica was 217, 219 and 219 bp, respectively. Their intraspecific genetic distance was much lower than the interspecific genetic distance with their closely related species. The NJ tree of ITS2 indicated that the three origin plants of Cimicifugae Rhizoma formed a monophyletic clade, Cimicifugae Rhizoma and its adulterants could be distinguished clearly. The authors proposed that ITS2 sequence was suitable for the authentication of Cimicifugae Rhizoma and its adulterants.
Base Sequence ; China ; Cimicifuga ; classification ; genetics ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; classification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Quality Control ; Rhizome ; classification ; genetics

A total of 160 type 2 diabetic patients were divided into microalbuminuria(42 cases)and normoalbuminuria(118 cases)groups.Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the presence of microalbuminuria was independently associated with brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity(baPWV)and intima-media thickness(both P

Objective To explore the role of white matter injuries in the schizophrenia induced by the NMDA re-ceptor antagonist. Methods Adult male C57BL/6J mice (8 week old) were equally divided into four groups. One group was sub-chronically treated with saline solution, and the other three groups were intraperitoneally treated with MK-801 at dose of 0.025 mg/mL (M1), 0.050 mg/mL (M2) and 0.100 mg/mL (M3) in a volume 10 ml per kilogram body weight. All ani-mals were tested using Morris water maze at the 9th-15th day and using the Hole Board exploration as well as Rota Rod performance tests on the 16th day. The myelin basic protein (MBP) and the ultrastructure of the myelin sheaths in the cor-pus callosum were then examined using immunohistochemical methods, transmission electron microscope technique and stereological methods. Results The repeated sub-chronic MK-801 treatment did not induce impairment of spatial learning and memory in Morris water maze. The MK-801 treatment at 0.25 mg/kg and 1.00 mg/kg but not at 0.50 mg/kg resulted in less exploration to a new environment. The myelin staining with anti-MBP antibody was less intense in all three schizo-phrenic groups when compared to saline control group (P<0.01). Furthermore, MK-801 treatment caused pathological al-terations of the myelin sheaths including segmental demyelination of myelinated fibers and splitting of myelin sheath lamel- lae in schizophrenic groups. The ratio of the injured myelinated nerve fibers in the corpus callosum of MK-801 treated mice [M3 group, (22.42 ± 4.24)%] was significantly higher when compared to the control mice [(3.84 ± 1.35)%,P<0.01)]. Conclusions The present study demonstrated the white matter damages, mainly low MBP expression and segmental demye-lization in the corpus callosum in the mice sub-chronic treated with MK-801, indicating that the white matter changes might be involved in the schizophrenia induced by NMDA antagonist.

To explore a new method to identify Moutan Cortex to guarantee its safe use, internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequence was used to identify Moutan Cortex and its adulterants. DNA was extracted and target fragments were amplified. Sequences were analyzed and assembled by CodonCode Aligner V3.7.1. Genetic distances were computed and phylogenetic tree was constructed based on kimura 2-parameter (K2P) model by MEGA 5.0. The length of the 20 ITS2 sequences of Moutan Cortex from nine different places is 227 bp, and no variation site was detected. The maximum inter-specificK2P distance of Moutan Cortex is 0, the minimum intra-specific K2P distance is 0.041, the average intra-specific K2P distance is 0.222. According to NJ analysis, Moutan Cortex from different places can get together as one branch with bootstrap support values 99%, which indicates Moutan Cortex can be easily distinguished from its adulterants. Using ITS2 sequence can accurately identify Moutan Cortex and its adulterants, it is an effective supplementary to traditional identification methods.
Base Sequence ; China ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; classification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Paeonia ; classification ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Quality Control

BACKGROUND: Animal experimental studies have confirmed that cell transplantation, neurotrophic factor infusion or transplantation as well as other methods can alter the local environment of injured spinal cord and promote its partial function recovery.OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the clinical efficacy of olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation for the treatment of the sequel of myelitis, and to explore whether it would promote the recovery of the spinal cord function.DESIGN: A non-randomized self-control study.SETTING: Ward of Second Department of Surgery of Taian Disabled Soldiers Hospital of Shandong Province.PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-two patients with obsolete myelitis, who come from all over China and suffered from disease for 0.5 to 7 years, admitted to our hospital between June 2004 and July 2007 were recruited in this study. The involved patients, including 21 males and 11 females, were aged 5-48 years. Their neurological functions were not obviously improved after various conventional treatments and limb function exercise. Meanwhile, various sensorimotors and autonomic nerve functional impairments were left. Among the patients, 18 suffered from acute viral myelitis, 8 from acute purulent myelitis and 6 from tuberculous myelitis. After onset, they were all given large doses of radiosonde,dexamethasone, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory drugs and various neurotrophic drugs. Twenty-six patients presented complete injury and six patients incomplete injury. Informed consent of treatment was obtained from each patient. The therapeutic protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the hospital. Embryonic olfactory bulbs were harvested from aborted embryo, which was donated voluntarily by the patients or their relatives.METHODS: Cells were isolated from embryonic olfactory bulbs, cultured and purified for 7 to 14 days, and finally they were digested into single-cell suspension. Under the surgical miscroscope, the cells were transplanted onto the regions which were above or below the spinal cord injury site. Two weeks to 2 months postoperatively, neurological function of spinal cord was assessed by using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Scoring Standard formulated in 2000, and was compared to pre-operation function.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ①Sensory function change. ②Motor function change.RESULTS: Half a year to 2 years after olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation, the sensory and motor functions of 32 patients were all obviously improved (motor function: 55.72±10.50 vs. 51.53±13.41; light touch:69.53±11.68 vs.63.06±15.98; pain sense: 69.50±12.20 vs. 64.03±15.0, all P ＜ 0.01 ).CONCLUSION: Olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation can help to promote the neurological function recovery of patients with the sequel of myelitis. However, its long-term curative effect needs to be further investigated.

Triterpenes, which have large application potential in the treatment of cancer, are the main active components of genuine medicinal material Alisma orientale (Sam.) Juzep. Farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (FPPS) is one of the important rate-limiting enzymes in the synthetic pathway of triterpenes. In this study the FPPS full length cDNA of the A. orientale, was cloned via homology-based cloning approach and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The full length of the FPPS cDNA was 1 531 bp (accession no. HQ724508), which contained a full 1 032 bp ORF that encoded 343 amino acids. The deduced protein sequence exhibited five conserved motifs, two of which is riched of Asp (DDXXD). The result of real-time quantitative PCR (QRT-PCR) showed that FPPS gene was expressed in different organs of A. orientale. The expression increased from October to the first ten-day period of December, and then decreased. The FPPS gene expression was higher in leaves but lower in leafstalk, tuber and root. HPLC analysis of active components 23-acetyl-alismol B of A. orientale. during different periods indicated that its change trend should be consistent with FPPS gene expression. It can be primarily deduced that FPPS gene should be an important control point in the synthetic pathway of Alisma terpenes. This study may facilitate the quality of medicinal plants through gene engineering in the future.