Epilepsy ; diet therapy ; metabolism ; Food-Drug Interactions ; Humans ; Ketone Bodies ; biosynthesis

12 strains of H2-producing bacteria were isolated and purified from anaerobic sludge, aerobic sludge and river bottom sludge by Hungate method. A new species of high efficient hydrogen production bacterium Enterococcus sp. LG1 (registration number: EU258743 ) was studied deeply. It was showed that the Enterococcus sp. LG1 was an anaerobic and Gram-negative bacterium. Sequence analysis of this type of clones showed that it was affiliated with the genus Enterococcus and it was not reported yet in other paper at present. Meanwhile, batch tests of anaerobic fermentative hydrogen production by Enterococcus sp. LG1 were investigated by using sterilization pretreated sludge as substrate. The changes of soluble COD, protein, carbohydrate and pH value during hydrogen fermentation were monitored. It was found that only hydrogen and carbon dioxide were produced by this strain and no methane was detected during fermentation. The maximal hydrogen yield was 36.48 mL/g TCOD and the hydrogen concentration in the gas phase was 73.5%. The Enterococcus sp. LG1 was a butyrate fermentation bacteria analyzed by metabolites.

Brain ; abnormalities ; pathology ; surgery ; Child, Preschool ; Epilepsy ; etiology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male

Objective To observe apelin and its receptor (APJ) expressions in human osteoblasts and evaluate the effect of apelin on osteoblasts.Methods The expressions of apelin and APJ in human osteoblasts were tested by RT-PCR and Western blot.After human osteoblasts were treated with apelin,cell proliferation was measured by [~3H] thymidine incorporation and cell counting.Cell function was measured by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity,the secreted osteocalcin level and typeⅠcollagen production .The activation of signaling cascades was tested by Western blot.Small-interfering RNA (siRNA) to blockade APJ was applied to observe effects of apelin on cell proliferation and the activation of signaling cascades.Results Both apelin and APJ were expressed in human osteoblasts.Apelin increased the proliferation and did not show the influences on ALP activity, osteocalcin secretion and type I collagen production in human osteoblasts.Apelin induced activation of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) downstream effector (Akt),but not mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) such as c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK),p38 and ERK1/2 in human osteoblasts.Suppression of APJ with siRNA or LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor) abolished the apelin-induced cell proliferation and the activation of Akt.Conclusion Human osteoblasts express apelin and APJ.Apelin stimulates the proliferation of human osteoblast via APJ/PI3K/Akt pathway,but has no effect on osteoblast differentiation.

OBJECTIVETo isolate the bioflocculant-producing bacteria from activated sludge and investigate the flocculating characteristics of the newly isolated bioflocculant.

METHODSBacteria were screened from activated sludge samples to isolate bioflocculant-producing bacteria. Flocculating activity was used as a measure of the flocculating capability of the bioflocculant.

RESULTSA novel bioflocculant-producing bacterium was isolated, which was identified to belong to genus Aeromonas and named as Aeromonas sp. N11. Flocculating activity increased in the presence of K+, Na+, or Ca2+. The highest flocculating activities for kaolin suspension were obtained in acidic pH ranges, and optimum pHs for it were 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0 with 1 mmol/L K+, Ca+, and Na+ present, respectively. The highest flocculating activities for soil suspension were observed at pH 8.0. The bioflocculant had a good flocculating activity and could achieve a flocculating activity of 92.4% for kaolin suspension at a dosage of only 1 mgxL(-1), and its activity in kaolin suspension was decreased by only 9.2% after heating at 100 degrees C for 60 min.

CONCLUSIONThe bioflocculant produced by Aeromonas sp. N11 has strong flocculating activity and high stability, which affords high possibility of its practical use.

Aeromonas ; metabolism ; Culture Media ; Flocculation ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Kaolin

OBJECTIVETo detect the trans-factors specifically binding to the strong enhancer element (GPEI) in the upstream of rat glutathione S-transferase P (GST-P) gene.

METHODSYeast one-hybrid system was used to screen rat lung MATCHMAKER cDNA library to identify potential trans-factors that can interact with core sequence of GPEI(cGPEI). Electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA) was used to analyze the binding of transfactors to cGPEI.

RESULTScDNA fragments coding for the C-terminal part of the transcription factor c-Jun and rat adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT) were isolated. The binding of c-Jun and ANT to GPEI core sequence were confirmed.

CONCLUSIONSRat c-jun transcriptional factor and ANT may interact with cGPEI. They could play an important role in the induced expression of GST-P gene.

Animals ; Biological Assay ; methods ; Carrier Proteins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; DNA Primers ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Enhancer Elements, Genetic ; genetics ; Enzyme Induction ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Gene Library ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Lung ; Rats ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Yeasts

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of protein kinase B (PKB) in human-squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma of lung (ADC) and in benign lung tissues (BD, lung tissues adjacent to cancer or from patients with benign lung diseases), and its association to clinicopathological characteristics.

METHODSThe PKB expression in 41 specimens from patients with SCC (26 cases) and ADC (15 cases) and in 12 specimens from patients with benign lung diseases (BD) were investigated by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis.

RESULTSPKB in benign lung tissues was usually weakly stained and scattered in distribution. It was remarkably increased in lung cancer compared to benign lung tissue. The positive rates of PKB in SCC and ADC were 50% (13/26), 60% (9/15), respectively, and there was no significant difference between them. PKB expression was significantly stronger in lung cancer patients in advanced stages (stage III or IV) or with poor differentiation, than those in early stages (stage I or II) or with moderate or well differentiation. The expression was stronger in patients with local lymph node metastasis than those without (P = 0.0391).

CONCLUSIONPKB protein is over-expressed in human squamous-cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of lung.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; metabolism ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Plasma Cell Granuloma, Pulmonary ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is a mitogenic and anti-apoptotic factor. Serum IGF-I concentration is related to some cancer risk and tumor progression. The aim of this research was to study the association of preoperative serum IGF-I concentration with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Preoperative serum IGF-I concentration was measured in 80 consecutive patients with NSCLC who underwent radical lung cancer resection, and 45 patients with benign pulmonary lesion (BPL) by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that the serum IGF-I concentration was elevated and correlated with clinicopathological parameters and overall survival (OS) in NSCLC patients. Serum IGF-I concentration was significantly higher in patients with NSCLC than in those with BPL. The IGF-I concentrations were significantly higher in NSCLC patients with ≥T2, N1-3, and in IIIA-IV but not in those with Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; blood ; diagnosis ; surgery ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; analysis ; Lung Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Preoperative Period ; Prognosis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Risk Assessment ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Survival Rate

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of ketogenic diet therapy for children with intractable epilepsy and its safety.Methods Fifteen patients with intractable epilepsy were treated with ketogenic diet that was modified specifically for Chinese people.The compliance,seizure frequency and side effects were followed up.Results Twelve patients maintained on the treatment for 1 month.Among them,the reduction of seizure frequency in 10 patients exceed 50%.Ten patients maintained on the treatment for 3 months.Among them,the reduction of seizure frequency in 8 patients exceed 50%.Five patients maintained on the treatment for more than 6 months.The reduction of seizure frequency all exceed 50%.The reduction of seizure frequency in 4 patients exceed 90%.The seizures of 3 patients were controlled completely.Ten patients among all cases had various adverse effect,such as nausea,vomiting,diarrhea,constipation,hypoglycemia(nonsymptomatic),hyperlipemia and damage of liver function and so on,which could eliminate by anti-symptomatic treatment.Conclusions Ketogenic diet is effective and safe in Chinese children with intractable epilepsy with modified methods specifically for Chinese.The effect is unrelated with seizure types obviously.

OBJECTIVETo observe the influence on prognosis and possible side-effects of arginine in

METHODSMulti-center clinical trial, randomized double blinded patients with severe trauma and burns. and placebo control methods were employed in the study. Eighty-six patients with severe trauma and burns were randomly divided into control (C, n = 45) and arginine treatment (Arg, n = 41) groups. The patients in Arg group received arginine in dose of 0. 4 g x kg(-1) x d(-1) orally, while those in C group received same dose of placebo (tyrosine) for 7 days. All the patients in both groups were given diet with equal calories and equal nitrogen content. The changes in the wound healing time, hospital stay, and the incidence of side-effects of the medication in both groups of patients were observed and compared before and after the supplementation of arginine.

RESULTSThe wound healing time and hospital stay days of severe trauma patient in Arg group (n = 29) were 11. 1+/-2. 8 d and 19+/-6 d, which were all obviously shorter than those in C group (13. 2+/-5. 5 d, 22 +/-6 d, n =33, P <0.05). On the other hand, in severe burn patients there were no significant difference of the wound healing time (20+/-5 d vs 22+/-8 d, n = 12, P > 0. 05) and hospital stay days (28+/-6 d vs 29+/-8 d, n = 12, P >0. 05) between the Arg and C groups. In addition, in C and Arg groups, the occurrence of the side-effects were seldom (2. 44% vs 2. 22% , P = 1. 000) and it disappeared when the supplementation of drugs was stopped.

CONCLUSIONOral feeding of arginine is beneficial in enhancing wound healing, reduction of hospital stay days in severe trauma patients and with little side-effects, but it is not beneficial to improve the prognosis of severe burn patients. Maybe this is due to inadequate number of case involved in the study.

Administration, Oral ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Arginine ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Burns ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Wound Healing