Flocculation of fermented broth with 1,3 -propanediol using component B of natural clarifier-Ⅱ was studied. Firstly, single factor tests and orthogonal tests were carried out. The results showed the main factors which influenced the flocculation and the optimal conditions were: pH6.0, flocculant B 0.01g/L , NaCl 0g/L, and the FR was 95.97% . The following results by filtration experiments, compared with the sample without pretreatment, indicated that the filtration speed of the flocculated sample was improved dramatically, and the weights of net and dry filter cakes were increased by 41.13% and 51.88% , respectively. Electrodialysis experiments showed that flocculation could accelerate desalting process, and could take the place of centrifugal pretreatment when it combined with the filtration.

ObjectiveTo explore the factors that delayed the diagnostic process and resulted in misdiagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS),in order to look for solution. MethodsThe records of 99 cases with ALS from 1999 to 2003 in our hospital were reviewed retrospectively. Clinical characteristics and diagnostic process on the patients were statistically analyzed.ResultsThe time needed to confirm diagnosis was (13.1±7.5) months. There was a positive correlation between the time when EMG was performed and the time the diagnosis was made. 58.6% of patients were initially misdiagnosed in other hospitals. The most common misdiagnosis was cervical spondylosis. The misdiagnosis more likely occured in the patients of 40-59 years old. The misdiagnosis rate in the patients with initial lower extremities symptoms was higher than that with initial bulbar and upper extremities symptoms. The misdiagnosis more likely occured in patients with early cervical MRI.ConclusionThe major causes of misdiagnosis are unfamiliarity of the physician with the disease,misleading findings or misinterpretation of neuro-radiological or neuro-physiological findings.

OBJECTIVETo observe the incidence of ventricular desynchronization in patients with or without pacemaker syndrome (PMS).

METHODSThe systolic peak velocity, the acceleration and the time to peak velocity of the interventricular septum (IVS), left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) lateral wall were detected by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in 14 atrial fibrillation patients without pacemaker implantation (control), 18 atrial fibrillation patients without PMS and 16 atrial fibrillation patients with PMS. All patients were free of valve disease, myocardial infarction, severe pulmonary hypertension, low left ventricular eject fraction (< or = 50%), significant segmental hypokinesis of ventricular wall or complete bundle branch block.

RESULTSCompared to the control patients, the systolic peak velocity and the accelerations on lateral walls of the LV and RV reduced significantly in patients with implanted pacemakers (P < 0.05). The intervals to peak velocity of the IVS and LV lateral walls were significantly prolonged [PMS group (80.13 +/- 26.92) ms vs. (25.60 +/- 4.30) ms, P < 0.01; without PMS group (76.22 +/- 23.32) ms vs. (25.60 +/- 4.30) ms, P < 0.01] and the intervals to peak velocity of the IVS and RV lateral walls significantly shortened [PMS group (16.33 +/- 6.85) ms vs. (40.70 +/- 7.60) ms, P < 0.01; without PMS group (21.20 +/- 7.34) ms vs. (40.70 +/- 7.60) ms, P < 0.01]. The systolic peak velocities, the accelerations of the IVS and bilateral walls and the intervals to peak velocity of the IVS and LV lateral wall were similar in patients with and without PMS (P > 0.05), however, the intervals to peak velocity of the IVS and RV lateral wall was significant shorter in patients with PMS compared to that of patients without PMS [(16.33 +/- 6.85) ms vs. (21.20 +/- 7.34) ms, P < 0.01].

CONCLUSIONRV desynchronization but not LV desynchronization might play an important role in patients with PMS.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Atrial Fibrillation ; therapy ; Cardiac Pacing, Artificial ; adverse effects ; Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed ; Female ; Heart Ventricles ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ventricular Septum

OBJECTIVETo evaluate a retro-grade auricular flap for repairing large alar defects.

METHODSTwenty-nine adult cadavers were anatomically used for vascular investigation of the frontal, nasal and temporal regions by injecting a dye into the main vessels. Based on the anatomical study in these regions, a retro-grade auricular flap was designed for repairing alar defects in 16 patients.

RESULTSThe blood supply of the auricle could be nourished by the inner carotid artery system from the supratrachlear artery and supraorbital artery through the frontal arterial anastomotical network into the frontal branch of the superficial temporal artery. It is then passing the main trunk of the superficial temporal artery into the ear area through the auricular branches of the superficial temporal artery. The retro-grade auricular island flap could be formed by basing the supratrachlear artery and the supraorbital artery through the vascular network between the superficial temporal artery and the supratrachlear artery or the supraorbital artery. Sixteen patients with large alar defects and half-sized nasal defects were successfully repaired by this technique.

CONCLUSIONSThe retro-grade auricular island flap, based on the inner carotid artery system, could be a good and safe flap for repairing a large alar defect or half-sized nasal reconstruction.

Adult ; Arteries ; Cadaver ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Ear Auricle ; blood supply ; Humans ; Nose Deformities, Acquired ; surgery ; Ophthalmic Artery ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; transplantation ; Temporal Arteries

AIMTo evaluate the effect of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) on bone mineral density (BMD) in prostate cancer patients.

METHODSForty-nine prostate cancer patients with their BMD determined were divided into two groups: the non-treated group included 21 patients before the commencement of ADT and the treated group, 28 patients, who had received ADT for more than 1 year. BMD was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in the lumbar spine (L2-4) and femoral neck.

RESULTSThirteen (62 %) non-treated and 23 (82 %) treated patients fulfilled the BMD criteria for osteopenia or osteoporosis. Z scores for age-matched control in lumbar spine and femoral neck were -0.9 +/- 0.7 and -0.6 +/- 0.5, respectively, in the treated group, and -1.8 +/- 1.1 and -1.6 +/- 1.0, respectively, in the non-treated group, the differences between the two groups were highly significant (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONProstate cancer patients who received ADT for more than 1 year had a significantly lower BMD in the lumbar spine and femoral neck than those before the beginning of ADT.

Absorptiometry, Photon ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Androgens ; deficiency ; Bone Density ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Orchiectomy ; adverse effects ; Osteoporosis ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; therapy

Objective To investigate the present prevalence state of children's Kaschin-Beck disease (KBD) in Xinghai county of Qinghai province,a relative active KBD area in 2009,and to investigate their nutritional selenium level of local children and the T-2 toxin contamination level in their staple food.Methods Right hand X-ray photographs of children aged 7 - 12 in Shang,Zhong and Xia villages of Tangnaihai countryside in Xinghai county were taken.X-ray diagnosis was carried out according to the Diagnostic Criteria of Kashin Beck Disease (GB 16003-1995 ).Selected samples (children's hair,drinking water and their staple food) were collected according to X-ray film taken.Selenium contents in hair,drinking water and staple food samples were measured by 2,3-diaminonaphthalene fluorescence,and T-2 toxin in staple food sample was detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) kits.ResultsTotal X-ray detection rate of children KBD was 12.20％(31/254) and KBD positive rate of children in Xia village was up to 14.97％(22/147),Shang village was up to 9.52％(6/63),and Zhong village was up to 6.82％ (3/44).The selenium level in children's body and outer environment was very low,namely,the selenium content in hair,drinking water,wheat and flour was (0.250 ± 0.136)mg/kg,(0.156 ± 0.046)μg/L,(0.0045 ± 0.0030)mg/kg,and (0.0067 ± 0.0116)mg/kg,respectively.The T-2 toxin level was relatively high in children's staple food,which was (78.91 ± 46.17)μg/kg in wheat and (47.47 ± 46.47)μg/kg in flour.Conclusions In relative active KBD areas of Xinghai county of Qinghai province,the children's selenium nutritional level is low,and the T-2 toxin contamination level in their staple food is relatively high,which is consistent with the distribution of local children's KBD.

BACKGROUNDCurrently anti-inflammatory therapy with steroids for allergic rhinitis need long-term repeated administration, although it is effective. Gene therapy is being suggested to substitute it. The aim of this study was to investigate nonviral vector mediated exogenous gene expression in COS-7 cells in vitro and the effect of intranasal mouse interleukin (mIL)-12 transgene expression on allergen induced eosinophil infiltration of nasal mucosa in a murine model of allergic rhinitis.

METHODSIn vitro COS-7 cells were infected with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)/lipoplex. The expression of IL-12 p70 in cell culture supernatant was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In mice with ovalbumin (OVA) induced allergic rhinitis, EBV/lipoplex was administered by nasal drops before OVA challenge once a day from day 1 to day 10. The expression of IL-12 mRNA and protein, the change of eosinophil count in nasal mucosa and serum total IgE were measured 24 hours after the last challenge.

RESULTSEBV/lipoplex could effectively transfect COS-7 cells. The expression of IL-12 p70 in cell culture supernatant was significantly more than in blank control. IL-12 via EBV plasmid vector transduction could be overexpressed in vivo. In pGEG.mIL-12 treated models, the nasal mucosa revealed a high level of widespread mIL-12 transduction by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Histological evaluation revealed marked suppression of eosinophil infiltration in nasal mucosa. The eosinophil count in allergic rhinitis group [(26.5 +/- 9.8)/high-power field (HPF)] was significantly increased over control group [(0.40 +/- 0.52)/HPF] (F = 56.94, P < 0.01), while the count in IL-12 gene therapy group [(4.60 +/- 2.63)/HPF] was significantly less than that of allergic group (F = 56.9, P < 0.01). Serum total IgE between in gene therapy mice [(88.83 +/- 6.71) ng/ml] and allergic rhinitis mice [(103.1 +/- 5.7) ng/ml] showed a significant difference (F = 1216, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSNonviral EBV plasmid vector, pGEG.mIL-12 was able to overexpress exogenous gene both in vitro and in murine nasal mucosa in vivo. IL-12 overexpression via EBV/lipoplex could stem allergen induced eosinophil infiltration in nasal mucosa in murine models of allergic rhinitis, which may suggest a new cytokine immunogenetic therapy for allergic rhinitis.

Administration, Intranasal ; Animals ; COS Cells ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Eosinophilia ; therapy ; Genetic Therapy ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; genetics ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Interleukin-12 ; genetics ; Lipids ; administration & dosage ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Nasal Mucosa ; metabolism ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; therapy ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo preliminarily investigate the relationship between the Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) and dental caries initiation.

METHODS100 S. mutans strains derived from caries-active and caries-free individuals were cultured in BHI medium supplemented with glucose. Cells were extracted and ruptured, and the extracted liquid protein was quantified with Coomassie brilliant blue G250 staining methods. LDH activity was assayed using the pyruvate-dependent oxidation of NADH-with and without FDP.

RESULTSLDH activity of the two groups strains had no difference (P > 0.05), but the distribution of differ class enzyme activity strains in the two groups was different (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLDH activity of S. mutans is correlated to the initiation of dental caries to some extent. The measurement methods in this study can be applied in preliminary quantitation of LDH activity and the screening of S. mutans strains.

Case-Control Studies ; Dental Caries ; microbiology ; Humans ; Lactate Dehydrogenases ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Streptococcus mutans ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the change of the basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF) leve in human detrusor muscle(DM)in bladder outlet obstruction(BOO)due to benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH)and its implication.Methods Fifty-four patients with BPH were divided into two groups:the obstructive DM stability and instability groups;and 15 men with bladder tumor who underwent operation in the same period were enrolled in the control group.The bFGF mRNA level in DM was measured by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and the bFGF protein level was measured by immunohistochemical staining method.Results The bFGF-mRNA expression level of bladder smooth muscle cells was significantly lower in the control group than that in the obstructive DM stability and instability groups(all P＜0.05),but there was no significant difference between the obstructive DM stability and instability groups(P＞0.05). Conclusions The expression level of bFGF mRNA in bladder DM is elevated in BOO due to BPH,but there is little or no correlation between the increased expression of bFGF mRNA and detrusor muscle instability.

OBJECTIVETo observe serum uric acid (UA) level distribution and explore risk factors of hyperuricemia (HUA) in a large cohort of active and retired employees underwent physical examination.

METHODSPhysical examination was arranged for 21 700 active and retired employees from May 2010 to September 2011, 16 416 employees were examined and complete examination data were obtained in 14 044 subjects. The distribution characteristics of UA level and correlations of UA level and HUA prevalence rate with gender, age, body mass index (BMI), systolic pressure (SBP), diastolic pressure (DBP), fasting blood-glucose (FPG), serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were analyzed.

RESULTSHUA prevalence rate was 11.2% in this cohort, which was significantly higher in males (15.8%) than in females (4.1%, P < 0.05). The UA level and the HUA prevalence rate presented a "J" curve relationship with aging and positively correlated with BMI, SBP, DBP, TG, LDL-C, TC and FPG while negatively correlated with HDL-C. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that SBP, BMI, FPG, TG, and LDL-C were independent risk factors while HDL-C and female gender were the protective factors of HUA(all P < 0.01). Aging and high DBP were independent risk factors of HUA for females (all P < 0.05) and LDL-C was risk factor of HUA for males (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSerum UA level presents a "J" wave relationship with aging. The risk factors of HUA are increased SBP, BMI, FPG, TG, LDL-C while the protective factors of HUA are female gender and high HDL-C.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperuricemia ; epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Physical Examination ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Uric Acid ; blood