The β-Glucuronidase gene (sbGUS) cDNA firstly from Scutellari abaicalensis leaf was cloned by RT-PCR, with GenBank accession number KR364726. The full length cDNA of sbGUS was 1 584 bp with an open reading frame (ORF), encoding an unstable protein with 527 amino acids. The bioinformatic analysis showed that the sbGUS encoding protein had isoelectric point (pI) of 5.55 and a calculated molecular weight about 58.724 8 kDa, with a transmembrane regions and signal peptide, had conserved domains of glycoside hydrolase super family and unintegrated trans-glycosidase catalytic structure. In the secondary structure, the percentage of alpha helix, extended strand, β-extended and random coil were 25.62%, 28.84%, 13.28% and 32.26%, respectively. The homologous analysis indicated the nucleotide sequence 98.93% similarity and the amino acid sequence 98.29% similarity with S. baicalensis (BAA97804.1), in the nine positions were different. The expression level of sGUS was the highest in root based on a real-time PCR analysis, followed by flower and stem, and the lowest was in stem. The results provide a foundation for exploring the molecular function of sbGUS involved in baicalcin biosynthesis based on synthetic biology approach in S. baicalensis plants.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Computational Biology ; Glucuronidase ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Open Reading Frames ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry ; enzymology ; genetics ; Sequence Alignment

We reported a case of cryptogenic organizing pneumonia ( COP) who was admitted to the hospital in July 2008 and reviewed the Chinese literature of COP from 2003 to 2008. The most common symptoms of COP are fever, cough and exertional dyspnea. The imaging characteristics of COP are similar to those of pneumonia, therefore is often misdiagnosed as pneumonia with a high misdiagnosis rate. Lung biopsy is the main method for pathological diagnosis; polypoid growth of granulation tissue was noted within respiratory bronchioles, small airways and alveolar spaces.

AIMIn order to study the effects of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide(PACAP) on brain edema induced by ischemia in rats and its underlying receptor mechanism.

METHODSBrain ischemia model in rats was established by ligaturing four--vessels. The percentage ratio of wet over dry tissue weight, sodium and potassium contents of dry brain tissue were measured by weighing and enzymatic analysis methods.

RESULTSThe brain water contents significantly increased after rats exposed to 1 h of reperfusion following 30 - minute ischemia. Furthermore, sodium contents in brain tissue increased and potassium contents decreased following perfusion. Changes of brain water contents, sodium and potassium contents were relieved by lateral ventricular injection of PACAP in the concentration of 1 x 10(-9), 1 x 10(-10) or 1 x 10(-11) mol respectively before ischemia. The effect of PACAP could be blocked by MCAP6 - 38 (specific type I PACAP receptor antagonist) lateral ventricular injection prior to PACAP administration.

CONCLUSIONExogenous PACAP may act as a protective effect in brain edema induced by ischemia in rats, which is mediated by type I receptor.

Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Brain Edema ; etiology ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Brain Ischemia ; complications ; metabolism ; Male ; Neuropeptides ; metabolism ; Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide ; pharmacology ; Potassium ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sodium ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the electrocardiographic (ECG) characteristics and results of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of idiopathic ventricular tachycardia or premature ventricular contractions (VT/PVCs) originating in the vicinity of atrioventricular annulus.

METHODSNineteen patients with idiopathic VT/PVCs underwent conventional electrophysiological study and RFCA were included in this analysis. The 12 leads (ECG) characteristics were also analyzed.

RESULTSThe VT/PVCs were originated in the vicinity of mitral annulus in 10 cases, including anterolateral (n = 5), posterolateral (n = 3) and posteroseptal (n = 2). The VT/PVCs were originated in the vicinity of tricuspid annulus in the rest 9 cases, including the free wall (n = 5) and the septal portion (n = 4). The 12-lead ECG patterns of VT/PVCs originating in the vicinity of atrioventricular annulus were helpful for determine the site of RFCA. The VT/PVCs were successfully eliminated by RFCA in all cases.

CONCLUSIONThe exact origin of VT/PVCs originating in the vicinity of atrioventricular annulus could be determined by 12-leads ECG analysis and can be successfully and safely cured by RFCA.

Adult ; Aged ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; etiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Tricuspid Valve ; physiopathology ; Ventricular Premature Complexes ; etiology ; physiopathology ; therapy

PURPOSE: Few cells with stem cell characteristics possess capabilities of self-renewal and differentiation, which leads to high tumorigenesis and resistance to standard chemotherapeutic agents. These cells are mostly quiescent, and arrest occurs at the mitotic G0/G1 phase in mitosis. We explored the effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on the MCF-7 cell cycle with CD44+/CD24-. METHODS: Cancer-initiating cells were propagated as mammospheres. The CD44+/CD24- subpopulation was sorted by a fluorescence activating cell sorter-Vantage flow cytometer. A cell cycle analysis was performed with different bFGF concentrations. RESULTS: Differences in the CD44+/CD24- cell proliferation under different bFGF concentrations were observed (p=0.001). When the bFGF concentration was increased, the proportion of CD44+/CD24- at G0/G1 decreased (p=0.023). CONCLUSION: We conclude that bFGF may sustain CD44+/CD24- cell proliferation and could promote cell progression through the G0/G1-->G2/S phase transition.
Breast Neoplasms ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; Fibroblast Growth Factors ; Fluorescence ; MCF-7 Cells ; Mitosis ; Phase Transition ; Stem Cells

OBJECTIVETo analyze the trend of prevalence and major risk factors for diabetes between 1997 and 2009 in Shenzhen.

METHODSA total sample of 7956 and 8487 residents aged from 20 to 69 years were selected using multi-stage cluster sampling from two cross-sectional chronic diseases survey in Shenzhen in 1997 and 2009 respectively. The variation of prevalence between different age groups (divided into a 5-year age group) were compared. The effect of risk factors was evaluated by population attributable risk percentage (PARP), and time trend of PARP for risk factors were analyzed.

RESULTSCompared with that in 1997, the aged-adjusted prevalence of diabetes has increased from 3.85% (306/7956) to 5.21% (441/8487) in 2009 (χ(2) = 17.54, P < 0.001). The prevalence in age group 50 - 54, 60 - 64, and 65 - 69 years increased significantly from 7.88% (35/444), 8.55% (36/421) and 11.34 (33/291) to 12.09% (59/488), 14.63% (55/376) and 20.71% (70/338) respectively (χ(2) = 4.54, 7.25 and 10.01, P < 0.05). After controlling for age, the rates of abdominal obesity, family history of diabetes, dyslipidemia and hypertension increased from 21.56% (1715/7956), 4.39% (349/7956), 26.34% (2096/7956) and 11.53% (917/7956) to 31.88% (2706/8487), 12.84% (1090/8487), 41.38%(3512/8487) and 14.61% (1240/8487) respectively (χ(2) = 5.52, 14.83, 18.38 and 20.22, P < 0.01). For diabetes, the PARP of aging, dyslipidemia and abdominal obesity were 41.55%, 29.25% and 25.10% respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of diabetes in Shenzhen increases rapidly and more patients are found in younger age. The rise of diabetes was mainly attributed to aging and increasing exposures to risk factors.

Adult ; Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Diabetes Mellitus ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore a better operative approach to resect complicated pelvic retroperitoneal tumors.

METHODSA total of 28 patients with complicated pelvic retroperitoneal tumors who received surgical resection in our hospital from 2006 to 2010 were included in this study. The surgical operation was assisted with an arc-shaped transperineal incision in front of the apex of coccyx. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, death toll and length of hospital stay of the patients were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSThe median operation time was 122.5 minutes. The median blood loss was 420 ml, and the median length of hospital stay of the patients was 17.5 days. There was no postoperative death in this group of patients.

CONCLUSIONWith the assistance of this arc-shaped transperineal incision in front of the apex of coccyx, the resection of pelvic retroperitoneal tumors can be effectively improved and the surgery risk is reduced.

Adult ; Aged ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; Coccyx ; surgery ; Epidermal Cyst ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neurilemmoma ; pathology ; surgery ; Pelvic Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Retroperitoneal Space ; Retrospective Studies ; Teratoma ; pathology ; surgery

Objective To investigate the accuracy of low-dose dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) coronary angiography in the step-and-shoot (SAS) mode for the diagnosis of coronary artery stenosis in comparison with conventional coronary angingraphy (CCA).Methods Prospective multiple-center study, 46 patients[mean age(58±9) years;bedy mass index(BMI) (25±3) kg/m2]underwent both DSCT in the SAS mode and CCA within 14 days.The inclusion criteria for contrast-enhanced CT: (1) heart rate less than 65 times/rain (bpm).(2) regular sinus rhythm, heart rate fluctuations within the range of 6 bpm. (3) holding breath well, breath-hold time is about 12-15 s.The exclusion criteria:(1) allergy to iodinecontaining contrast medium, nephropathy (serum creatinine level 120 μmol/L), heart failure and serious arrhythmias.(2) patients with coronary stents or bypass grafts.(3) heart rate can not be controlled very well (4)the patient could not take nitroglycerin.(5)BMI 30 kg/m2.(6) other heart disease: carcliomyopathy, valvular disease etc.Sensitivity, specificity, negative (NPV) and positive predictive value (PPV) were determined with CCA as standard of reference.The Kappa value between the two modalities and the two observers was calculated.Radiation dose values were measured.Results Mean heart rate during scanning was (61±6)bpm.99.19% (614/619) coronary segments were depicted with a diagnostic image quality. The vessel-based sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV for the diagnosis of coronary artery stenosis were 96.2% (75/78), 88.2% (60/68), 90.4% (75/83), and 95.2% (60/63), respectively.The Kappa value between the two modalities was 0.848 (P=0.000).The mean effective dose of the SAS-CTCA was (2.95± 0.96) rosy(1.26-4.32 mSy).Conclusion In selected patients, DSCT coronary angiography in the SAS mode have good image quality, which allows for the accurate diagnosis of coronary stenosis at a low radiation dose.

OBJECTIVETo detect the expression and distribution of metallothionein 2 (MT-2) in middle ear cholesteatoma, and to explore the relationship of MT-2 with interleukin 1α (IL-1α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), and well as to explore the role of MT-2 in the pathogenetic mechanism of middle ear cholesteatoma.

METHODSUsing the immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction to examine the expressions of MT-2, IL-1α and IL-6 protein and MT-2 mRNA in twenty-five middle ears' cholesteatoma and seven normal external ears' canal skin. The influence of cholesteatoma debris on the MT-2 mRNA and protein of HaCaT cell were further analyzed.

RESULTSAccording to immunohistochemistry research, the expressions of MT-2, IL-1α and IL-6 were extremely higher in middle ear cholesteatoma than those in normal external ears' canal skin (P < 0.05). The result of RT-PCR showed that there was significant difference between the expression of MT-2 mRNA of and middle ear cholesteatoma than those in normal external ear canal skin (t = 15.38, P < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between the expression of MT-2 and that of IL-1α (r = 0.856, P < 0.05). There was also positive correlation between the expression of MT-2 and that of IL-6 (r = 0.714, P < 0.05). MT-2 mRNA and protein of HaCaT cell significantly increased when exposed to cholesteatoma debris in a dose dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONSMT-2, IL-1α and IL-6 may play an important role in the pathogenetic process of middle ear cholesteatoma. Cholesteatoma debris may involve in the proliferation of middle ear cholesteatoma by activation of MT-2.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-1 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Male ; Metallothionein ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of tinnitus frequency on medication and prognosis in patients with chronic subjective tinnitus.

METHODSSeventy-two patients (Ninety-three ears) diagnosed as chronic subjective tinnitus were studied from October 2010 to March 2011. All cases were divided into low frequency(twenty-three ears), medium frequency(fourteen ears) and high frequency (fifty-six ears) according to tinnitus matching test. All cases were treated with microcirculation promotion and steroid therapy (5% glucose 250 ml + ginkgo biloba extract 87.5 mg + dexamethasone 10 mg intravenous drip). Curative effect was evaluated and the factors of prognosis were analyzed after three weeks.

RESULTSAfter medication, results were acquired as follows: recovery in 0 ear (0%), excellent in 0 ear (0%), effective in 18 ears (19.4%), invalid in 75 ear (80.6%). The effective percentage was 39.1%, 35.7% and 7.1%, respectively. There was significant difference between these groups, but no significant difference between low frequency and medium frequency. Logistic regression analysis showed that the difference of frequency was significant prognostic factors for medication.

CONCLUSIONSMicrocirculation promotion and steroid therapy had a poor treatment effect in patients with chronic subjective tinnitus. The prognosis of chronic low-medium frequency tinnitus was better than chronic high frequency tinnitus. The difference of frequency retained significant influence on effects and prognosis of medication.

Adult ; Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Tinnitus ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome