To have a better understanding on the evolution of Metallosphaera sedula-mediated precipitation and the properties of the precipitate synthesized by this species，a newly identified extremely thermophilic strain (YN23) of Metallosphaera sedula was cultured in the medium containing Fe2+ as energy resouTce under optimal condidons (pH1.5，65℃,0.2g·1-1 yeast extract,30g·1-1 Fe2SO4·7H2O and 170rpm)．XRD，EDS，ETIR and SEM reveal the precipitate obtained from YN23-inoculated flasks to be a mixture of potassium jarosite and ammoniojarosite，with morphological features similar to the latter．Precipitation Was first detected once over 90％ of Fe2+ was oxidized at hour 25 with a peak pH value of 1.92，and was ended when precipitate reached the highest point of 7.9g·1-1 at hour 95 with the lowest pH value of 1.32 in solution．Microbial density underwent a rapid increase along with Fe2+ oxidation and a gradual decrease with precipitate piling up.

Objective To compare the normal anatomy of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of fresh frozen cadaveric knee specimen in oblique coronal thin-slice section with oblique coronal magnetic resonance imaging. Methods One fresh cadaveric knee specimen was scanned with MR T1-weighted spinecho sequence.then the specimen was frozen and sliced with a band saw along the oblique coronal plane into 1.0-mm-thick sections that corresponded to the MR images,MR images including oblique coronal T1-weighted and T2-weighted images of 50 normal the knee joints were retrospectively reviewed to observe the MR imaging features of the cruciate ligament. Results Anteromedial and posterolateral bundles of ACL were clearly depicted on both anatomic slices and MR images.The anteromedial bundles originated from the posteromedial aspect of the lateral femoral condyle,coursing through the lateral intercondylar notch in an anterior,inferior,and medial direction,and inserted on the anteromedial aspect of the intercondylar eminence. The posterolateral bundles originated from the anteromedial aspect of the lateral femoral condyle,passing laterally and inferiorly through the lateral intercondylar notch,and inserted on the posterolateral side of the intercondylar eminence.The full length of ACL of all 50 individuals was showed on MR images.MRI clearly differenitated the anteromedial and posterolateral bundles of ACL and depicted the full length of the bundles.similar to the findings on sectional anatomy.Conclusion Oblique coronal MR imaging is the best way to demonstrate ACL and should be used for clinically suspected injury of ACL.

Objective The study aimed to explore the relationship between AIF related pathway and the inju-ring of cultured SGNs (spiral ganglion neurons)by glutamate toxicity,and to find AIF expression and distribution changes in SGNs.Methods SGNs of 40 newborn rats within 3 day were obtained and cultured in vitro.Cultured cells were divided into four groups:the normal control group,10 mM,20 mM and 40 mM glutamate injured group, separately.After 48 h hours culturing,optical microscopy,immune fluorescence staining and real-time fluores-cence quantitative PCR were used to observe the morphology,AIF distribution,and AIF,calpain,Caspase3 expres-sion changes in SGNs in vitro.TUNEL was used to verify the cell apoptosis.ResuIts Noticeable morphological chan-ges and cell apoptosis were occurred in 20 mM glutamate group,with AIF nuclear translocation.AIF gene expression was significantly higher than normal after glutamate administration (P<0.05);moreover,calpain gene expression increased(P<0.05);but caspase3 expression was not statistically significantly increased in all glutamate treated groups (P>0.05). ConcIusion In the process of cultured SGNs injured by glutamate,AIF participated in the cell apoptosis.Noticeable cell apoptosis were occurred in 20 mM glutamate group with AIF nuclear translocation.Calpain up-expression also contributed to excitatory neurotransmitter injury on SGNs,but Caspase 3 had no obvious effects.

A label-free method for sensitive and selective detection of thrombin ( Tb) was constructed based on rare earth ion mediated fluorescence switch of graphene quantum dots ( GQDs) . Rare earth ion ( Er3+) can assemble onto the surface of GQDs through the coordination interaction between Er3+ ions and the carboxylate groups located on the surface or edge of the GQDs, resulting in the aggregation of the GQDs and thereby decrease of the fluorescence of the GQDs. In the presence of Tb, the oxygen and nitrogen-donor atoms in Tb can coordinate with Er3+ ions and compete with the carboxylate groups on GQDs to coordinate Er3+ ions, thus the interaction between GQDs and Er3+ ions is reduced, which lead to the restoration of the GQDs fluorescence. In this study, the sensing mechanism was demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV-Vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The limit of detection for Tb assay was as low as 0. 049 nmol/L. Moreover, this assay was successfully applied to the selective determination of Tb in real samples.

Low frequency sensorineural deafness is a common subtype of idiopathic sudden deafness. Certain patients suffered recurrent attacks without vertigo, much alike Meniere's disease. Few of them developed into definite Meniere's disease during long-term follow-up in many clinical studies. Although the pathophysiology of recurrent low frequency deafness is yet unknown, the desease is considered associated with early state of endolymphatic hydrops or migraine. Otologists shall be aware of its clinical course and careful explanation is necessary at time of initial informed consent.
Endolymphatic Hydrops ; complications ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; complications ; diagnosis ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; Humans ; Meniere Disease ; complications ; Vertigo

OBJECTIVETo observe effect of porcine relaxin(pRLX) on NO production of human microvascular endothelial cells(HMVECs) and discuss its possible mechanism.

METHODSiNOS and cNOS expression of HMVECs with or without pRLX were detected using western blotting. NO production of HMVECs with pRLX at different concentration or different time were determined by method of Griess. NO production of pRLX of HMVECs plus Non-selective NOS inhibitor NG-monomethyl-L-arginine(L-NMMA), selective iNOS inhibitor aminoguanidine(AG) or nuclear factors-kappaB (NF-kappaB) inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate(PDTC) were also analysed.

RESULTSpRLX promoted iNOS protein expression of HMVECs, but not cNOS protein expression. NO production of HMVECs was promoted by pRLX on concentration-dependent pattern instead of time-dependent one. AG, L-NMMA and PDTC were showed to block the effect of pRLX on NO production of HMVECs.

CONCLUSIONpRLX promote iNOS expression and NO production of HMVECs.

Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lung ; blood supply ; Nitric Oxide ; biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; biosynthesis ; Relaxin ; pharmacology ; Swine ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) levels and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis.

METHODSFasting plasma ox-LDL was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and plasma LDL was measured by biochemical autoanalyser in 31 patients with coronary artery spasm (CAS group, chest pain with positive acetylcholine provocation test but without significant coronary artery stenosis), 35 patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP group) and 24 healthy persons (control group).

RESULTSPlasma LDL levels were similar between CAS and SAP groups but significantly higher than that in control group. Plasma ox-LDL levels significantly increased in proportion to coronary lesion severities [SAP (575 +/- 219 microg/L) > CAS (299 +/- 117 microg/L) > control (218 +/- 35 microg/L)]. In SAP group, plasma ox-LDL level was also significantly higher in multi-vessel disease group than that in single-vessel disease group (672 +/- 92 vs. 462 +/- 72 microg/L, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPlasma ox-LDL but not LDL level is significantly correlated to the severity of coronary atherosclerosis and should therefore be the focused therapy target in patients with coronary artery disease.

Adult ; Aged ; Angina Pectoris ; blood ; classification ; Coronary Vasospasm ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo measurement the vertebra morphology using multi-planar reformations method of multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT) in AIS girls, and To compare with age and gender-matched controls in order to affirm the morphology results of abnormal development of the anterior and posterior elements in AIS.

METHODSThoracic and lumbar spine multi-slice spiral CT was undertaken on 52 girls with AIS between the age of 10 and 18 years from June 2004 to May 2008 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital and Beijing Shijitan Hospital, and 54 age and gender-matched non-IS controls. Multiple measurements (including the anterior column and posterior column) of each thoracic and lumbar vertebra were obtained using the 3D-MPR technique. The patients and control were divided into 10-14 years old group and 15-18 years old group. The corresponding vertebral anterior height, vertebral posterior height, transverse distance, vertebra central width, vertebra anterior-posterior distance, area of pedicle, pedicle height, pedicle width, and upper-lower facet distance were compared.

RESULTSCompared with the controls, the 10-14 years old group girls' spine had longer anterior column height, relative shorter posterior column (there are difference from thoracic 2-11 and lumbar 1-3, P < 0.05), relative longer anterior-posterior vertebral distance, vertebral wedging changes in vertebral, distinct vertebral and pedicle asymmetry on the concave and convex side, and upper-lower facet distance asymmetry on the concave and convex side. The difference between the anterior and the posterior column ratio was significantly different from that in the controls (P < 0.01). But there hadn't the same difference in 15 - 18 years old group.

CONCLUSIONSThere are differences in coronal plane vertebra wedging changes in AIS patient. There are high vertebra height, relative shorter posterior column, relative longer anterior-posterior vertebral distance, and relative slender vertebra in 10 - 14 years old AIS patients. This may lead to the initial and progression of scoliosis.

Adolescent ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; Scoliosis ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Acetylcholine ; Adult ; Aged ; Coronary Vasospasm ; diagnosis ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of applying (1)H-NMR-based pattern recognition in the studies of serum metabonomics in chronic heart failure (HF).

METHODS(1)H-NMR technique was applied for examination of the serum samples from 9 patients with chronic heart failure and 6 healthy individuals. The data were analyzed for pattern recognition through principal component analysis (PCA) and Orthogonal Partial Least Square (OPLS) to determine the differences in serum metabolites between the two groups. The recognition ability of the two analysis methods were compared.

RESULTSThe serum (1)H-NMR spectra of heart failure patients and healthy individuals were significantly different. The PCA method failed to distinguish the patterns between the two groups, but OPLS clearly differentiated the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS(1)H-NMR technique is effective in the study of serum metabolomics in chronic heart failure. The serum metabonomics of patients with chronic heart failure and the healthy individuals are significantly different. OPLS pattern recognition method is superior to PCA method in that the former can remove the influence of non-experimental factors and provide an improved characterization.

Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Heart Failure ; blood ; metabolism ; Humans ; Least-Squares Analysis ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; methods ; Male ; Metabolome ; Metabolomics ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Pattern Recognition, Automated ; Principal Component Analysis ; Uric Acid ; blood