Pullulan is a linear glucosic polysaccharide produced by the polymorphic fungus Aureobasidium Pullulans, which has long been applied for various applications in medical and food industry due to its security, stability and low adhesive ability.At present, the two problems in restricting pullulan industrial production are the low polysaccharide production and melanin secreted which is hard to erase completely, giving the following process some problem.As a starting point, this review article collects and analyzes the progress on the breeding of pullulan high-yield strain without melanin in recent years, in order to find more efficient strains breeding methods, laying a foundation for further breeding of pullulan high-yield strain without melanin.

OBJECTIVEThis study is to establish the fingerprint and find out the common chromatographic peaks of Inula cappa by HPLC.

METHODThe HPLC analysis was performed on an Agilent Eclipse Plus C18 column (2.1 mm x 150 mm, 1.8 μm) with 0.1% fomic acid aqueous solution-0.1% fomic acid acetonitrile solution as mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.3 · mL(-1) · min(-1); The detective wavelength is 325 nm; The column temperature is 45 °C.

RESULTThe results indicated that 5 of 17 common peaks were identified . The similarity about 10 groups of Inulacappais is over 0.95.

CONCLUSIONThis method is able to be a scientific basis of quality assessment according to its convenient and reliable.

Objective To investigate the expression and significance of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) gene in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMMSC) derived from patients with multiple myeloma (MM).Methods BMMSC of 7 MM patients and 10 patients with iron deficiency anemia were cultured in vitro.The morphology of BMMSC was observed and the growth curve was portrayed according to the daily results of BMMSC proliferation.Total RNA was extracted from BMMSCs and transcription of TGF-β1 gene in BMMSC was measured by reverse transcription-PCR.Results The proliferative activity of BMMSC was not significantly different between the two groups,but expression of TGF-β1 gene of BMMSC was higher in MM patients (0.01241±0.00419) than the control group (0.00122±0.00030) (t =3.218,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The abnormally high expression of TGF-β31 gene in BMMSCs could contribute to the pathogenesis of MM.

Objective:To observe influence of alprostadil injection on contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in high risk patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Methods: A total of 263 CIN high risk (CIN risk score ≥16 scores) patients were selected.According to random number table, patients were randomly divided into routine treatment group (n=121, received routine hydration therapy) and alprostadil group (n=142, received additional alprostadil injection based on routine treatment group).Serum creatinine (SCr), glomerular filtration rate(GFR), cystatin C (CysC) and β trace protein (β-TP) level before, 48h and 72h after PCI were measured and compared, and incidence rate of CIN, percentage of blood purification therapy and mortality were compared between two groups.Results: Compared with before PCI, there was significant rise in SCr level and significant reduction in GFR in both groups on 48h and 72h after PCI (P<0.01 all);Compared with routine treatment group, there were significant reductions in levels of SCr [72h: (190.04±28.92) μmol/L vs.(141.10±21.18) μmol/L], and significant rise in GFR [72h: (26.0±4.4) ml/min vs.(36.4±4.9) ml/min], and levels of CysC[72h: (1.75±0.74) mg/L vs.(1.47±0.55) mg/L] and β-TP [72h: (1.53±0.50) mg/L vs.(1.22±0.38) mg/L] significantly decreased in alprostadil group on 48h and 72h after PCI, P<0.05 or <0.01;there were significant reductions in incidence rate of CIN (30.6% vs.18.3%) and percentage of blood purification therapy (10.7% vs.3.5%) in alprostadil group, P=0.001, 0.045 respectively.There was no significant difference in mortality between two groups, P=0.728.Conclusion: Alprostadil injection can significantly improve kidney function, reduce incidence rate of CIN and percentage of blood purification therapy in CIN high risk patients after PCI, which is worth extending.

Objective To profile the omp1 genotypes of Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) in patients with nongonococcal urethritis (cervicitis) in Guangzhou region. Methods Swab samples were obtained from the urethra of males and cervix of females in clinical settings of venereology and gynecology as well as at outreach sites for the prevention and control of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). DNA was extracted from the swabs and nested PCR was performed to amplify the variable domain (VD) 1 - 3 of omp1 gene of Ct followed by gene sequencing. The genotypes of Ct were determined based on the amino acid mutation in VD 1 - 2 of omp1 gene. Results Totally, 1208 swabs were collected. Of them, 132 were Ct positive, and 130 positive samples underwent genotyping. Ten ompl genotypes were determined in total, including serotype E (38, 29.23%), D (25, 19.23%), J(24, 18.46%), F(21, 16.15%), G(7, 5.38%), H(5, 3.85%), K(5, 3.85%), B(2, 1.54%), Ja (2, 1.54%), I (1, 0.77%). E, D, J and F were the dominant type of Ct in this region, and amounted to 83% of all the Ct isolates. Mutations were observed within VD 1 and 2 of omp1 gene in serotype D, B and K.Serotypes were undetermined for Ct in 2 patients with mixed infection. Conclusions In Guangzhou region, E,D, F and J are the predominant genotypes of Ct, and amount to 83% of all the Ct isolates. Ct serotype B is also observed in the urethra of males and cervix of females in this region.

Imaging examination was already used for an overall assessment of disease sites in patient with malignant lymphoma, it is very important for the disease staging and evaluation of therapeutic effect. Staging is necessary to prevent hyper-or hypo-therapy as well as to minimize morbidity related to the radio-chemotherapy regimens given. (18)F-FDG-PET/CT, a functional imaging modality used for staging and monitoring response to treatment of a variety of human neoplasias, has higher sensitivity and specificity than conventional anatomical imaging. Baseline (18)F-FDG-PET/CT is used for the accurate staging, and helps to interpret the results of the middle therapy and post-therapy; middle therapy (18)F-FDG-PET/CT will be usually performed after 2-3 cycles of treatment, which can be used for risk assessment and judgement of therapeutic effect after treatment; posttherapy (18)F-FDG-PET/CT is used to evaluate the efficacy and monitoring of residual tumor, and to provide the basis for selecting treatment with or without high-intensity chemotherapy and transplantation. In this review, the significance of baseline, middle-therapy and post-therapy (18)F-FDG-PET/CT scanning for the diagnostic staging and evaluating therapeutic effect of malignant lymphoma as well as the characteristics of (18)F-FDG-PET/CT scanning for different pathologic types of lymphoma are summarized.
Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Neoplasm Staging ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; methods ; Prognosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To investigate the coverage of a recombinant protein vaccine based on pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) from both family 1 and family 2.Methods One hundred and fifty-nine Streptococcus pneumoniae strains, including 47 invasive strains, were isolated from children in Nanjing Children′s Hospital.Cell lysates were prepared and reacted with three antibodies recognizing PspA -RX1, PspA-3296 and PspA-5668 for PspA typing by ELISA .Results Among 47 invasive isolates of 9 different serotypes, 10.7%were PspA family 1 and 89.3%were PspA family 2.Among all of 159 clinical isolates, 10.1% were identified as PspA family 1, 88.0%were family 2, while 1.9%of strains could not be typed by ELISA and PCR assays .None of strains belonged to PspA family 3.Conclusion The recombinant pro-tein vaccine based on PspA from both family 1 and family 2 has a broad coverage among clinical isolates and is potentially protective against both invasive and non-invasive pneumococcal diseases .

Objective To investigate the phenotype and genetic characteristics of a Chinese family with an autosomal-dominant inherited sensorineural hearing loss.Methods A Chinese pedigree associated with an autosomal-dominant inherited low-frequency sensorineural hearing loss (LFSNHL) was investigated.After obtaining informed consent from all study participants medical and audiological examination were used to rule out any syndromic hearing impairment.Five patients were tested with DPOAE and ABR,while two patients were tested with vestibular function and computed tomography scan of the temporal bone to exclude auditory neuropathy and other possible aural disorders.Twenty-one loci and twenty-three genes of DFNA screening had been done by using microsatellite markers and linkage analysis.Results Proband of the family had been diagnosed with low-frequency sensorineural hearing loss.A Chinese family BJ-L046 with non-syndromic autosomal dominant hearing loss was ascertained.Hearing impairment in the affected members in family BJ-L046 occured from 10 to 20 years of age and mainly affected the low frequencies,causing an upsloping audiogram.Higher frequencies were getting involved with increasing age,thus causing a flat-type audiogram.No positive result was found in twenty-one loci and twenty-three genes of DFNA screening.Conclusion A Chinese family with late-onset low-frequency sensorineural hearing loss was clinically studied.No positive result was found by linkage analysis,and twenty-one loci and twenty-three genes of DFNA were preliminary excluded.

Objective To propose a practical method for moderate-to-server cup-ear correction.Methods Auricular reconstruction was performed in a manner of two-stage approach with mastoid flap and costal cartilage support.In the first stage,the autogenous costal cartilage framework was inserted under the retroauricular mastoid skin flap.The corrected ear was raised in the second operation and wound was closed with grafting skin.Results Satisfaction of appearance was achieved for totally 18 cases except one case of partly necrosis of cartilage.They were followed-up for 3-26 months.Conclusions This integrative two-stage approach of mastoid flap combining three dimensional costal cartilage is safe and effctive for moderate to severe cup-ear correction,which brings about good appearances and symmetry.The complications are in control.

Objective To investigate the association between peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count and the carotid intimal-medial thickness (cIMT) in middle-aged and elderly Chinese of suburban area of Shanghai.Methods A total of 2 519 subjects aged 40 years or older from Jiading District,Shanghai were recruited to undergo questionnaire interview,anthropometric measurements,fasting blood sampling,and carotid B-mode ultrasonography.After excluding subjects with biochemical index missing,WBC count ＞ 10× 109/L as well as those with known myocardial infarction,cerebral infarction,coronary heart disease,and those taking lipid-lowing agents,2 239subjects were included in this analysis.Results Increased WBC count was associated with more unfavorable metabolic risk profiles.With the increasing quartiles of WBC count,cIMT were 0.558,0.570,0.573,and 0.587mm respectively(P for trend ＜ 0.01).As compared with participants in the first WBC quartile,the risks of cIMT thickening were increased by 79％,109％ in males and 29％ in females (P＞ 0.05 in females).Multiple linear regression model showed that peripheral WBC count was an independent risk marker for cIMT thickening,especially for neutrophil and monocyte count.Conclusion A high-normal WBC count was significantly associated with cIMT thickening in middle-aged and elderly Chinese of suburban area of Shanghai,especially in males.