Biomass is a renewable resource, which can be transformed into useful chemical products. The effects of dilute hydrochloric acid on the hydrolysis of steam explosion pretreatment of corn straw were studied. This article developed the application research of ergosterol using corn straw hydrolysates as fer- mentation substrates. The results showed that when corn straw was hydrolyzed with 1.5% hydrochloric acid, temperature at 90?C, hydrolysis for 3 h and the corresponding solid to liquid ratio at 10%, the reducing sugar content can reached up to 53.3% and cellulose conversion efficiency was 79%. The optimal fermental pa- rameters were as follows: 6.0 oBx of corn straw hydrolysates, corn concentration steep water at 4%, pH 7.5, 10% of inoculation, 28?C cultivated for 32 h. Under these conditions, the yeast biomass up to 8.5 g/L and the ergosterol content up to 2.35%. The infrared spectrometer and the X-ray diffract meter used to characterize of crystallite structure.

Objective: To observe the immunohistochemical expression of interferon-? (IFN-?), matrix metalloproteinase -9(MMP-9) in brain and spinal cord tissue, and explore the action mechanism of Zuogui Pills and Yougui Pills on rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis(EAE). Methods: Lewis rats were immunized with the myelin basic protein (MBP).120 Rats were grouped randomly into nomal group, EAE group, prednisone group, Zuogui Pills group and Yougui Pills group after post immunization (PI). Rats in normal group and EAE group were administered sodium, each 3ml/d, rats in prednisone-group were administered suspension of prednisone after developed clinical signs, each 5mg/kg, rats in Zuogui Pills group were administered suspension of Zuogui Pills, each 2g/kg, and rats in Yougui Pills group were administered suspension of Yougui Pills each 3g/kg. On days 15 and 27 PI, rats were killed and the immunohistochemical staining was performed on the sections of brain and spinal cord. Results: On days 15 and 27 PI, the expression of IFN-? and MMP-9 in central nervous system of EAE group were higher than those in nomal group (P

Objective To explore the prevalence rates of disabilities among the ethnic minority people in China. Methods Utilizing stratified, multiphase, and cluster probability sampling design, 2 526 145 persons were investigated and screened by trained interviewers,including 297 761 persons with ethnic minority backgrounds. Respondents scoring positive for potential problems were referred to physician for further diagnosis on disability and on scale measurement.Results The overall prevalence rate of disability for both ethnic minority and Han population were 6.24% (95%CI:6.16%-6.51% ) and 6.41% (95% CI: 6.38%-6.51% ) respectively. The total aggregate age-adjusted prevalence rate of disability was 7.31% for persons with ethnic minority. The prevalence rate of disabilities in male was significantly higher than that in females (7.31% vs. 6.75% ). The ranking of prevalence rates on different type of disabilities were: physical disability 1.90% (95%CI:1.89%-1.91%), hearing disability 1.34%(95%CI: 1.33%-1.35%), multiple disability 1.14%(95%CI:1.13%-1.15% ), vision disability 0.99% (95%CI: 0.97%-1.01% ), psychiatric disability 0.38%(95%CI:0.37%-0.40% ), intellectual disability 0.38% (0.37%-0.39%) and speech disability 0.12% (0.11%-0.13% ). Cerebral Palsy, genetic diseases, tympanitis, cerebral disease and mental retardation (not including unknown items) were the major causes for disabled children with ethnicity background.Degenerated diseases, including osteoarthropathy, cerebrovascular disease, elderly-related deafness or cataract were most important causes for ethnic minority persons aged 60 or over. Injury, including traffic accident was important disabled-related factor for persons with minority ethnicity aged 15-59.The main causes and ranking of causes for ethnical minority were similar with that for Han population.Conclusion The prevalence rate of disability for ethnic minority persons was significantly higher than that for Han population in China. Prevention for different types of disability should be provided accordingly to persons with ethnic minority, in different age groups.

The ergosterols were produced from corn straw hydrolysates fermented by ergosterol yeast,which was obtained from protoplast electrofusion.The effects on the yield of ergosterol were studied in the condition of shaker,such as initial sugar concentration,nitrogen source,pH value and fermentation time.The technical conditions were optimized according to the DPS center-united experimental design principles and the method of response surface analysis with four factors and three levels.The results indicated that the four factors had significant correlation to ergosterol accumulation.The biomass and the ergosterol content could be up to 8.67g/L and 2.37% respectively after cultivated for 32h under optimal technical condition.The structure of ergosterol crystal was characterized by UV,IR and SEM.A new approach of biomass source application was presented.

Aggression ; Humans ; Schizophrenia ; Schizotypal Personality Disorder ; Violence

Activities of Daily Living ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Social Class ; Socioeconomic Factors

Objective To explore the prevalence of visual,hearing,speech,physical,intellectual and mental disabilities in China,2006.Methods The reference time of the Second National Sample Survey on Disability was zero hour,April 1,2006,and 2 526 145 individuals were investigated from 31 provinces autonomous regions or municipalities under the"Disability Classification and Standards for the Second National Sampling Survey on Disability".The classified prevalence rates of 6 types of disability was analyzed.Results (1)The overall prevalence of disabilities was 6.39%,which was 1.49 percent higher than the prevalence rate in 1987.The prevalence of physical disability was the highest(2.34%),while the speech disability was the lowest(0.53%).(2)29.49% of all the disabled persons were classified as severe who suffered grade-1 and grade-2 while 70.51% of them were moderately and mildly disabled suffering from grade-3 and grade-4.Over 65% of the speech disability and over 45% of the mental disability were identified.which were much higher than the other 4 types of disability.(3)The correlation between age,gender.residential place and each of 6 types of disability were statistically significant(P＜0.001).(4)Among all the disabling factors of speech disability and mental retardation disability,congenital factors made great contribution(22.67% and 22.41% respectively).Conclusion According to the analysis results,the characteristics of disabled persons in China were as follows:ageing population had high prevalence rate of disability;all the population mainly suffered moderate and mild disability,but the proportion of severe disability was not low;the prevalence rate was higher and the main reasons caused disability were diversification in rural area.

Kidney injury and decreased chemosensitivity of tumor cells are obstacles with cisplatin (CDDP) chemotherapy. Down-regulation of the organic cation transporter 2 (OCT2) and multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2) is a key means to alleviate CDDP-induced kidney injury and increase chemosensitivity. Astragaloside IV (AS IV) is obtained from the well-known traditional Chinese herb Astragalus membranaceus. This study explored the role of AS IV in preventing kidney injury and enhancing the antitumor effect of CDDP by suppressing OCT2 expression in kidney and MRP2 in tumors. This project was reviewed and approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of the First Hospital of Jilin University. The effects of AS IV on CDDP inhibition of tumor growth and promotion of apoptosis were assessed in Lewis lung tumor (LLC)-bearing mice by H&E and TUNEL staining. Kidney injury was assessed by serum biochemical parameters and H&E staining. We used Western blotting and immunohistochemistry assays to detect OCT2 and MRP2 expression in kidney and tumor. The concentration of CDDP in kidney and tumor was measured by HPLC-MS/MS. AS IV enhanced CDDP chemosensitivity by increasing tumor cell apoptosis and slowing tumor growth, and decreased kidney injury as evidenced by lower blood creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Co-administration of AS IV suppressed MRP2 overexpression induced by CDDP in tumor tissues and may be an important mechanism for enhancing CDDP chemosensitivity. Moreover, AS IV reduced CDDP-induced kidney injury in mice along with suppression of OCT2 expression in kidney. The concentration of CDDP was increased in tumor but decreased in kidney. In total, AS IV not only enhanced the antitumor effect of CDDP by suppressing MRP2 expression in tumor cells, but also decreased kidney injury induced by CDDP. The results provide new insight into the combined use of a chemotherapy drug and natural ingredients to treat cancer.

OBJECTIVEThis research was to compare the occurrence levels of birth defect, to describe the distribution of primary birth defects in different range of monitored ages and to provide data to China birth-defect monitoring system.

METHODSA retrospective study on birth defect was conducted in two counties, Shanxi province, China, which covered birth defects among fetuses after 20 weeks' gestational age from 2002 through 2004. Data collected on birth defect cases mainly included extrinsic and visceral anomaly.

RESULTSThe occurrence rates of the monitored structural birth defects significantly increased with the increase of age. The occurrence rates were 17.6, 34.0, 43.6, and 53.7 per 1000 births, for different statistical range, from 20-week to 27-week gestational age, 7 days, 1 year and 3 years after birth, respectively. The range from 28-week gestational age to 7 days after birth was usually regarded as the routinely monitored range. If the occurrence rate was calculated from the 20-week gestational age, it appeared a 2.1-time increase. However, if the range was changed to 1 or 3 years after birth, the occurrence rate increased to 2.7 or 3.3 times high, respectively. The distribution of time when birth-defect was identified was significantly different by categories with majority of neural tube defect cases diagnosed at antepartum or 7 days after birth. Visceral defects were mainly found at 7 days after birth but increased with age, even some were diagnosed at 1 year after birth.

CONCLUSIONThe routine Chinese monitoring program might detect approximately 1/3 of those structural birth defects with the base of current technique and monitoring range from 28-week gestational age to 7 days after birth. The result of our findings should be of help to other related studies.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Congenital Abnormalities ; epidemiology ; Female ; Fetal Death ; epidemiology ; Fetal Mortality ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo understand the status and capacity of monitoring system on birth defects in China.

METHODSData regarding 27 groups of birth defects from 57 monitoring programs in World Atlas of Birth Defects (2nd Edition) published by WHO/ICBDMS/EUROCAT/HGP and descriptive analysis by their ranking and contribution were carried out.

RESULTSBoth hospital-based (Chinese Birth Defects Monitoring Network, CBDMN) and population-based (Birth Defect Surveillance System in Thirty Counties of Four Provinces, Beijing) monitoring systems showed the same characteristics as below: (1) Not enough groups were monitored, with trisomy 13/18 and congenital heart disease not reported. (2) Prevalence on those 'easily observed' group was high and cleft lip with or without cleft palate in CBDMN ranked 5 among 57 programs, with similar situation in polydactyly. (3) While prevalence rates of internal system and choromosal anomaly were low, CBDMN ranked 56 with Beijing the only non-reported city among all the 57 programs. (4) Unreasonable relationship was seen with prevalence of cleft lip was 5.76,4.02 times higher than that of cleft palate in CBDMN and in Beijing program. Which was 1.58 times of the world's means. Prevalence rates of anencephaly and total anotia/microtia rose 10.39% while spina bifida, hydrocephaly, and gastroschisis had a 4%-5% increase. The prevalence of hypospadias decreased by 4.13% and Down syndrome by 3.02%.

CONCLUSIONThe capacity of birth defects monitoring, both hospital-based and population-based, was poor in the 1990s, in China.

Capacity Building ; China ; epidemiology ; Congenital Abnormalities ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Data Collection ; statistics & numerical data ; Hospitals ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Prevalence