Chitin is one of the most important component in fungal cell wall.Biosynthesis of chitin is a complex processes and needs several chitin synthase isoenzymes.The knowledge of structure,function and regulation of chitin synthases is mainly derived from the study of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.In contrast with the 3 chitin synthases in S.cerevisiae,7 were found in most filamentous fungi.In this review the classification and function of chitin synthases are summerized,and progress in the studies on chitin synthases of filamentous fungi which are of theoretical or medical or agricultural importance,including Aspergillus nidulans,Aspergillus fumigatus and Ustilago maydis are emphasized.Recent ad-vance of research on chitin synthase as antifungal target is also discussed.

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting both lower and upper motor neurons,including the pyramidal tract.There have been no objective and effective method to evaluate the lesions of upper motor neurons.With non-invasive,sensitive and macroscopic advantages,the application of Regular MR,MRS,DWI,function MR and VBM on ALS will undoubtedly have great potentials in the diagnosis,disease monitor and therapy of ALS.

Sophoramine ( Sa ) is an alkaloid from sophora alopecuroides. Linn., in anesthetize animals ( cat, rat and rabbit), intravenous adminstra-tion of Sa reduced rapidly and markly the arterial blood pressure. The mechanism of hypotension effect of Sa is mainly attributable to its sympathetic ganglionic blocking and direct vasodilatation. Experiment on the isolated hearts of guinea pig revealed that Sa produced negative chronotropic and positive inotropic action, and increased coronary flow simultaneously.In a study of experimental arrhythmia in animals,we observed that Sa could reduce the arrhythmia induced by aconitine in rats and decreased the incidence of ventricular fibrillation induced by chloroform in mice.

Objective To evaluate the effect of endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS)in diagnosing e- sophageal and gastric varices in portal hypertension(PHT)patients.Methods Fifty-three patients with e- sophageal and gastric varices(EV、GV)of decompensation PHT and 20 patients without PHT as control were undergone EUS and esophagogastroduodenoscopy(EGD)simultaneously.EUS detected mainly the EGV,e- sophagus and stomach collateral veins.Results EUS identified EV endoscopically in 29(54.7%)patients. EUS detected GV in 24(45.3%)patients,compared with detection in 18(34.0%)patients by esopha- gogastroduodenoscopy(EGD)(P＜0.001).EUS detected PEV in 27(51%)patients.Distribution rates of PEV in F1,F2 and F3 are 0%,28.6% and 75% respectively.The comparison between groups shows sig- nificant difference(P＜0.001).Splenic vein can be seen in both control and experimental groups with di- ameter 7.5?1.35mm VS 11.5?3.5mm respectively,the difference between two groups is significant(P＜0.001).Proximal diameters of Azygos vein in two groups is 7.36?1.29mm VS 8.77?2.94mm respective- ly.Significant difference can be found(P＜0.05).Conclusion EUS had significant value in the diagnosis of PHT with EV and GV,and especially in detecting abnormalities of extra-luminal veins.

Induced pluripotent stem cell is a landmark in the stem cell study field, which has rapidly developed in the past 10 years.By obtaining induced pluripotent stem cells from somatic cell, and then differentiating into cardiomyocyte, various cardiomyocyte disease models could be established,which can be used for research of disease mechanisms, drug screening and gene therapy.This review introduces the successfully established cardiomyocyte disease models from human induced pluripotent stem cells, and points out the problems and prospects.

Adenoma, Pleomorphic ; surgery ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; surgery

Adult ; Aspergillosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Laryngeal Diseases ; microbiology ; pathology ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Vocal Cords ; pathology

Adult ; Chondrosarcoma ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms ; Skull Base Neoplasms ; Sphenoid Sinus

China ; Metals, Heavy ; Research Support as Topic ; statistics & numerical data

Objective To investigate the relationship of PTEN,Ki-67,type of credits of thymoma in WHO organization and Masaoka staging,and the significance of the biology's expression in thymoma.Methods The expression of PTEN and Ki-67 in 52 pieces of thymoma specimens was detected by the method of immunohistochemical SP.Results Positive expression rate of the 52 patients with thymoma was decreased gradually after WHO classification (8/10,10/14,6/12,4/11,0,0 and 10/13,12/20,6/16,0),Masaoka staging and PTEN.The difference were significant in statistics (λ2 =11.751,P =0.038 ; x2 =8.311,P =0.040).Positive expression rate of Ki-67 was gradually increased (1/10,6/14,6/12,8/11,2/3,2/2 and 3/13,9/20,10/16,3/3),the difference was also significant in statistics (x2 =11.231,P =0.047; x2 =7.904,P =0.048).Conclusions The positive expression rate of PTEN,Ki-67 are both related to clinical classification and staging closely.The detection to the positive expression rate of PTEN and Ki-67 can contribute to judging thymoma biological characteristics,thus,it will be helpful in diagnosing the thymoma,analyzing the degree of malignancy,invading and transferring ability.And then provide objective indicators for clinical diagnosis and treatment.