In October 2003, a new bacterial disease with symptoms similar to those caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. poinsettiicola was observed on poinsettia leaves at a flower nursery in Zhejiang Province of China. Three Xanthomonas strains were isolated from infected plants and classified as X. axonopodis. They were differentiated from the pathotype strain LMG849 of X. axonopodis pv. poinsettiicola causing bacterial leaf spot of poinsettia by comparison of pathogenicity, substrate utilization and BOX-PCR genomic fingerprints.
Cell Differentiation ; China ; Euphorbia ; microbiology ; Plant Diseases ; microbiology ; Plant Leaves ; microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Xanthomonas ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; pathogenicity

Environmental Microbiology is an important basic course of Environmental Engineering.Its characteristic is content broad,quick development and strong practicality,thus this curriculum's teaching has certain degree of difficulty.Some suggestions and concrete measures about teaching reform,which included curriculum's course content,teaching method,experiment teaching and assessment methods were proposed in this paper.

ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of stem cell marker adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette transporter 2 (ABCG2) in the tissue and side population (SP) of a cell line A431 of human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma(SCC).MethodsSP cells were separated by flow cytometry from cultured A431 cells.Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) assay was used to evaluate the proliferative ability of,reverse transcription-PCR to determine the expression of ABCG2 in,SP and non-SP cells.Immunohistochemistry (MaxVision method) was carried out to detect the expression of ABCG2 protein in tissue specimens from 10 patients with SCC.ResultsSP cells existed in cultured A431 cells,and accounted for about 1.1％ of A431 cells.The SP cells had a stronger growth and colony-forming ability than non-SP cells did.The number of cell clones formed by SP cells and non-SP cells was 114.8 ± 4.95 and 44.5 ± 3.67,respectively,per well in a 24-well plate( t =27.92,P ＜ 0.01 ).The expression level of ABCG2 mRNA was significantly higher in SP cells than in non-SP cells(t =5.22,P＜ 0.01).There existed a small number of ABCG2 positive cells in SCC tissue,and ABCG2 was mainly expressed in the cytoplasm and membrane of tumor cells.ConclusionsSP cells exist in A431 cells,which have characteristics of stem cells and highly express ABCG2.ABCG2 may be a potential stem cell surface marker of SCC.

Objective To evaluate the application effects of mind map in community health education of rheumatoid arthritis patients. Methods 65 rheumatoid arthritis patients from Shunqing district of Nanchong City, Sichuan Province were randomly divided into an observation group (n=33) and a control group(n=32). Both groups received six-month health education. Health educators utilized mind map for the observation group and traditional health education for the control group. Before and after implementation, the two groups' mastery of disease knowledge was compared. During the period of 1, 3, 6 months, two groups received compliance evaluation respectively. During the study period, a questionnaire was given to the observation group to collect their attitude towards the mind map health education and their evaluation about it. Measurement data was represented by x ± s, using group t-test design information and single-sample t-test. χ2test was used in the count data for compar-ison between groups with test levelα=0.05. Results The scores of disease knowledge were as follows. Before implementation there was no statistically significant difference between two groups (P=0.921);After implementation, the score of observation group was(19.97±3.03), while the score of control group was(17.59±3.11), the difference was statistically significant(t=3.122,P=0.003). The difference of 1,3,6-month compliance scores was statistically significant(t=2.173,P=0.034;t=2.371,P=0.021;t=2.615,P=0.011) with the observation group's scores(18.24±3.44),(18.94±3.25),(19.64±3.06) respectively,and the control group's scores(16.47±3.13),(16.97±3.45),(17.44±3.70). Observation group's attitude questionnaire scores of each project are > 3, and there was significant difference be-tween two groups (P=0.000). Conclusion Mind mapping method can be used in community health education for rheumatoid arthritis patients to help patients master the knowledge of the disease and improve the compliance. Its effect is better than traditional methods.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of heart-regulating and mind-calming acupuncture on the expression of gap junction protein connexin43 (Cx43) in myocardial cells in a rabbit model of ventricular arrhythmia.MethodA rabbit model of ventricular arrhythmia was made by injecting barium chloride into the marginal ear vein. Forty New Zealand rabbits were randomized into control, model, acupuncture and medication groups. The acupuncture group received heart-regulating and mind-calming acupuncture[at Lingtai(GV10), Shendao(GV11), bilateral Neiguan(PC6)and Baihui(GV20)]and the medication group, oral gavage of propafenone. Rabbit left ventricle was taken after the completion of the experiment. Cx43 expressions were compared and analyzed usingan immunohistochemical staining technique and a computer image processing system.ResultCx43 expression decreased significantly in the model group compared with the control group (P<0.01) and increased in the acupuncture and medication groups compared with the model group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in Cx43 expression between the acupuncture and medication groups (P>0.05).Conclusion Adjusting Cx43 expression in myocardial cells may be one of the target points for this acupuncture treatment of arrhythmia.

Animals ; Bone and Bones ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; drug effects ; physiology ; Neurons ; physiology ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

Objective To observe the effect of different ways of balloon catheter dilation techniques on cricopharyngeal achalasia and its mechanisms.Methods Thirty patients with deglutition disorder after brain stem infarction,whose cricopharyngeal achalasias were proven by videofluoroscopic swallowing study(VFSS),were randomly divided into three groups: No.14 conventional catheter group A,No.14 modified bicavitary silica-gel catheter group B and No.22 conventional catheter group C with 10 cases in each group,respectively.All the patients of 3 groups received multiple times corresponding balloon catheter dilatation per nasal or per os(No.22 conventional catheter group C only per os).Results After an average of 30 d of balloon catheter dilatation,the level of dysphagia and VFSS evaluation of all patients improved significantly(P ＜ 0.05).However,the No.14 conventional catheter group A and No.22 conventional catheter group C improved to a greater extent than No.14 modified bicavitary silica-gel catheter group B(P ＜ 0.05).The saccule perimeter,saccule diameter and saccule intracapsular pressure of No.14 conventional catheter group A and No.22 conventional catheter group C increased significantly(P ＜ 0.05)when compared to those of No.14 modified bicavitary silica-gel catheter group B,but there was no significant diffference beween No.14 conventional catheter group A and No.22 conventional catheter group C(P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions The balloon catheter dilation technique can significantly improve swallowing function of deglutition disorders patients with cricopharyngeal achalasia after brain stem infarction,which is related positively to saccule diameter and saccule intracapsular pressure.

In order to obtain liposomes with properties of heptocyte-specificity and pH-sensitivity,four galactosylated derivatives were synthesized. A series of liposomes were prepared by mixing the galactosylated derivatives with DC-chol/DOPE respectively. The liposome 18-gal was proven to have favorable gene transfer efficiency to human hepatoma HepG2 cells, which was significantly inhibited in the presence of galactose solution, indicating that the liposomal transfection activity was mediated by asialoglycoprotein receptors. The liposome showed prominent pH-sensitivity and low cytotoxicity. Its optimum gene transfer conditions were also determined. The results showed that the liposome may be developed as a potential hepatocyte targeting pH sensitive delivery system for nucleic acid drugs.

Objective To explore the change of the pre-swallow peak pressure of upper esophageal sphincter (UES) in patients with post-stroke cricopharyngeal achalasia,and investigate the effect of pre-swallowing peak UES pressure on swallowing function by quantitative analysis.Methods Fifty-seven stroke patients with cricopharyngeal achalasia were recruited and divided into balloon dilation group,combined training group and routine swallowing training group with 19 patients in eachp.All the three groups accepted routine swallowing training.In addtion,the routine swallowing training group and balloon dilation group accepted larynx elevation training and balloon dilation training,respectively,while the combined training group accepted larynx elevation training and balloon dilation training simultaneously.The pre-swallow peak UES pressure was measured by using PC polygraph high rate gastrointestinal dynamical detection system (PC Polygraf HR,CTD-synectics,Sweden) before and after 8 weeks of treatment.The swallowing function was assessed using swallowing function classification and water swallowing test.Results Before treatment,there was no significant difference among the 3 groups in terms of the pre-swallow peak UES pressure,swallowing function classification,water swallowing test and VFSS (P ＞ 0.05).After treatment,pre-swallow peak UES pressure,swallowing function classification,water swallowing test and VFSS of the balloon dilation group and combined training group improved significantly compared with those before treatment (P ＜ 0.05),and the improvement in the combined training group was to a significantly better extent than in the balloon dilation group(P ＜O.05).Conclusion Balloon dilation and larynx elevation training plus routine swallowing training can increase pre-swallow peak UES pressure,decrease the UES resting pressure of stroke patients with cricopharyngeal achalasia,which is of great importance for their recovery.

Objective To observe the influence of transplanting neural stem cells (NSCs) on angiogenesis in rats with spinal cord injury (SCI).Methods The Allen's method was used to create SCI models in sixty adult Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats.They were then randomly classified into a control group which received injections of phosphate buffered solution (PBS) and an NSC group which received injections of NSCs via the tail vein,with 30 rats in each group.Another group of 30 similar rats without SCI received injections of NSCs via the tail vein as the normal group.Each rat was evaluated before transplantation and at days 7 and 14 post-transplantation using the Basso,Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) scale for testing hindlimb function.After sacrifice,the distribution of yon Willebrand factor (vWF) in both groups was determined by immunofluorescence,and Western blotting was used to detect vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein.Results The average BBB score of the normal group was 21 at every time point.Before transplantation,the BBB scoresof the control and NSC groups were both 0,however they increased over time.At day 7 post-transplantation,the BBB scores showed no significant difference between the control group and the NSC group.At day 14 post-transplantation,the average BBB score of the NSC group was significantly higher than that in the control group.At days 7 and 14,the counts of vWF-positive cells in the normal group were significantly higher than in the control and NSC groups.VEGF protein expression in the normal group was significantly lower than in the NSC and control groups.Conclusions NSC transplantation may promote angiogenesis after spinal cord injury and improve motor function by inducing the expression of VEGF.