This study established superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-labeled nerve growth factor-beta (NGF-beta) gene-modified spinal cord-derived neural stem cells (NSCs). The E14 rat embryonic spinal cord-derived NSCs were isolated and cultured. The cells of the third passage were transfected with plasmid pcDNA3-hNGFbeta by using FuGENE HD transfection reagent. The expression of NGF-beta was measured by immunocytochemistry and Western blotting. The positive clones were selected, allowed to proliferate and then labeled with SPIO, which was mediated by FuGENE HD transfection reagent. Prussian blue staining and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to identify the SPIO particles in the cells. The distinctive markers for stem cells (nestin), neuron (beta-III-tubulin), oligodendrocyte (CNPase) and astrocyte (GFAP) were employed to evaluate the differentiation ability of the labeled cells. The immunocytochemistry and western blotting showed that NGF-beta was expressed in spinal cord-derived NSCs. Prussian blue staining indicated that numerous blue-stained particles appeared in the cytoplasma of the labeled cells. TEM showed that SPIO particles were found in vacuolar structures of different sizes and the cytoplasma. The immunocytochemistry demonstrated that the labeled cells were nestin-positive. After differentiation, the cells expressed beta-III-tubulin, CNPase and GFAP. It was concluded that the SPIO-labeled NGF-beta gene-modified spinal cord-derived NSC were successfully established, which are multipotent and capable of self-renewal.
Cells, Cultured ; Dextrans/*diagnostic use ; Embryo, Mammalian ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetics ; Magnetite Nanoparticles/*diagnostic use ; Nerve Growth Factor/*genetics ; Nerve Growth Factor/pharmacology ; Neural Stem Cells/*cytology ; Spinal Cord/*cytology ; Transfection

This paper summarizes Professor ZHOU Mingxin's clinical experience in treating allergic rhinitis in northwest China from the perspective of dryness syndrome. Considering the regional characteristics of disease occurrence， he proposed the theory of "northwest dryness syndrome"， which identifies dryness pathogen damaging the lungs， and lungs fail to disperse and descend as the core pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis， and the treatment principle emphasizes dispersing and descending the lung qi while nourishing yin and moistening dryness. Several empirical formulas have been developed to treat allergic rhinitis and its complications， including Qiangzhi Xinyi Decoction （羌芷辛夷汤） for relieving stuffy orifices， promoting fluid production， and moistening dryness； self-prescribed Bawei Qingyan Decoction （八味清咽饮） for clearing the lungs， nourishing yin， and moistening dryness； self-prescribed Paida Zongyang Decoction （排闼宗阳汤） for dispersing and purifying， moistening the dryness， and relieving asthma； self-prescribed Sangma Zhike Decoction （桑麻止咳汤） for dispersing the lungs， moistening dryness， and stopping cough； self-prescribed Sizi Dingchuan Decoction （四子定喘汤） for moistening the lungs， resolving phlegm， and calming asthma； self-prescribed Jiawei Yupingfeng Decoction （加味玉屏风汤） for dispersing the lungs， dispelling wind， and moistening dryness； and Xiangsu Chengqi Decoction （香苏承气汤） for purifying the lungs， unblocking the bowels， and moistening the intestines.

This study established superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-labeled nerve growth factor-β (NGF-β) gene-modified spinal cord-derived neural stem cells (NSCs).The E14 rat embryonic spinal cord-derived NSCs were isolated and cultured.The cells of the third passage were transfected with plasmid pcDNA3-hNGFβ by using FuGENE HD transfection reagent.The expression of NGF-β was measured by immunocytochemistry and Western blotting.The positive clones were selected,allowed to proliferate and then labeled with SPIO,which was mediated by FuGENE HD transfection reagent.Prussian blue staining and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to identify the SPIO particles in the cells.The distinctive markers for stem cells (nestin),neuron (β-Ⅲ-tubulin),oligodendrocyte (CNPase) and astrocyte (GFAP) were employed to evaluate the differentiation ability of the labeled cells.The immunocytochemistry and western blotting showed that NGF-β was expressed in spinal cord-derived NSCs.Prussian blue staining indicated that numerous blue-stained particles appeared in the cytoplasma of the labeled cells.TEM showed that SPIO particles were found in vacuolar structures of different sizes and the cytoplasma.The immunocytochemistry demonstrated that the labeled cells were nestin-positive.After differentiation,the cells expressed β-Ⅲ-tubulin,CNPase and GFAE It was concluded that the SPIO-labeled NGF-β gene-modified spinal cord-derived NSC were successfully established,which are multipotent and capable of self-renewal.

The massive water and steam are consumed in the production of cellulose ethanol, which correspondingly results in the significant increase of energy cost, waster water discharge and production cost as well. In this study, the process strategy under extremely low water usage and high solids loading of corn stover was investigated experimentally and computationally. The novel pretreatment technology with zero waste water discharge was developed; in which a unique biodetoxification method using a kerosene fungus strain Amorphotheca resinae ZN1 to degrade the lignocellulose derived inhibitors was applied. With high solids loading of pretreated corn stover, high ethanol titer was achieved in the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process, and the scale-up principles were studied. Furthermore, the flowsheet simulation of the whole process was carried out with the Aspen plus based physical database, and the integrated process developed was tested in the biorefinery mini-plant. Finally, the core technologies were applied in the cellulose ethanol demonstration plant, which paved a way for the establishment of an energy saving and environment friendly technology of lignocellulose biotransformation with industry application potential.
Bioelectric Energy Sources ; economics ; Biofuels ; analysis ; Biotransformation ; Ethanol ; analysis ; metabolism ; Fungi ; metabolism ; Industrial Microbiology ; methods ; Lignin ; metabolism ; Steam ; Water ; analysis

OBJECTIVE To optimize the extraction process of Xuelian yishen formula. METHODS The contents of total flavone， echinacoside and acteoside， and extraction yield in Xuelian yishen formula were chosen as indexes， entropy weight method-analytic hierarchy process was adopted to determine the weight coefficient. Box-Behnken response surface methodology was used to optimize the extraction process of Xuelian yishen formula with extraction time， solid-liquid ratio and extraction times as factors， using comprehensive score of above indexes as index. RESULTS The optimal extraction process of Xuelian yishen formula was extraction time of 2 h， solid-liquid ratio of 1∶12， extracting for 3 times. Average comprehensive score of 3 validation tests was 96.40 points （RSD＝0.28%）， the deviation of which with predictive value was 0.98%. CONCLUSIONS The optimized extraction process is stable， feasible and reproducible， which can provide reference for the extraction process of Xuelian yishen formula.

BACKGROUND: China has the largest elderly population in the world; little attention has been paid to the mental health of elderly in areas of extreme poverty. This is the first study to investigate the mental health of the rural elderly in poverty state counties in Chongqing and was part of the Chongqing 2018 health literacy promotion project. METHODS: In 2019, a cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the mental health status of the rural elderly in fourteen poverty state counties of Chongqing, in which a total of 1400 elderly aged ≥ 65 years were interviewed, where mental health status was measured by the ten-item Kessler10 (K10) scale. Ordered multivariate logistic regression was performed to evaluate the influencing factors related to mental health of the elderly in these areas. RESULTS: The average score of K10 in 14 poverty state counties was 17.40 ± 6.31, 47.6% was labeled as good, 30.2% was moderate, 17.0% was poor, and lastly 5.1% was bad, and the mental health status of the elderly in the northeastern wing of Chongqing was better than the one in the southeastern wing of Chongqing. A worse self-rated health was the risk factor for mental health both in the northeastern and southeastern wings of Chongqing (all P < 0.001). Lower education level (OR (95% CI) = 1.45 (1.12-1.87), P = 0.004) was a risk factor in the northeastern wing, whereas older age (OR (95% CI) = 1.33 (1.13-1.56), P = 0.001) was a risk factors in the southeastern wing. CONCLUSIONS The results showed that mental health of the elderly in poverty state counties was poor, especially in the southeastern wing of Chongqing. Particular attention needs to be paid to the males who were less educated, older, and single; female with lower annual per capital income; and especially the elderly with poor self-rated health.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Health Policy ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Mental Health ; statistics & numerical data ; Multivariate Analysis ; Rural Population ; statistics & numerical data ; Socioeconomic Factors