Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Needles ; Urticaria ; therapy ; Young Adult

Cooperation hydrogen production was carried out using Rhodopseudomonas sp. DT and Enterobacter aerogenes. The effects of the initial ratio of Rhodopseudomonas sp. DT and E. aerogenes, culture temperature, and carbon source on the cooperation hydrogen production were investigated. The results suggested that cooperation hydrogen production rate was highly affected by the initial ratio of Rhodopseudomonas sp. DT and E. aerogenes. The mixed bacteria of Rhodopseudomonas sp. DT and E. aerogenes with 1:1 initial ratio benefited to the cooperation hydrogen production, which led the hydrogen production rate and duration of gas production to 3.1 mol H2/mol glucose and 81 h, respectively. The pH dynamics analysis of culture medium further discovered that the pH of the mixed bacteria with 1:1 initial ratio changed from 6 to 7 smaller than other conditions, which was probably fitted to produce hydrogen. Furthermore, the mixed bacteria with 1:1 initial ratio had the higher hydrogen production efficiency at temperatures of 28?C and 37?C than at 20?C, and without any hydrogen production at temperature of 50?C. The carbon sources of glucose, succinate acid, malic acid could be used to produce hydrogen by the mixed bacteria. Even the soluble starch, unused by Rhodopseudomonas sp. DT, was also decomposed by the mixed bacteria to produce hydrogen with the conversion efficiency of 8.22%. The glucose was the optimal carbon resource, and the conversion efficiency could reach to 36.11%. The results, further, implied that the cooperation hydrogen production could enlarge the use of the carbon sources.

Objective To discuss the technique and value of preoperative reformatting with three-dimensional computed tomography technique for C_2 pedicle screw track.Methods GE Light Speed 16 Pro spinal CT scans of 15 adult dry vertebrae were loaded into an imaging station (software ADW4.2).Two methods of C_2 pedicle screw techniques were analyzed through virtual screw trajectory by VR (volume rendering) and MPR (multiple planar reformatting) techniques,in method A,screw entry point was the intersection between the media-vertical and the cranial line of C_2 inferior facet joint,in method B,the screw track was from the cranial and medial quadrant of the dorsal part of C_2 inferior facet joint.Results The screw track could be observed dynamically from any plane.Two vertebrae were ob- served with smaller height in isthmus and the medial edge of the transverse foramen since no space was a- vailable for the screw.The screw trajectories data were compared between method A and method B,which showed that the angles towards the cephalad (in sagittal plane) and midline (in transverse plane) were bigger in method A than in method B (P＜0.05,0.01),but the safe screw diameter was smaller in method A than in method B (P＜0.05),and there was no difference of the screw length between the two methods(P＜0.05 ).Conclusion In this research,the individual C_2 pedicle screw entry points, screw diameter and security screw angle can be simulated,and the screw track can be observed dynami- cally to make sure if it transits the bone structure completely.Preoperative three-dimensional computed tomography reformatting for pedicle screw track is of great value in clinical and basic researches.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of the ATP-binding cassette sub-family G member 1 (ABCG1) gene polymorphisms with coronary atherosclerotic disease (CAD) in Chinese Han population.

METHODSA population based case-control association study was carried out in 541 patients with CAD and 649 healthy controls from Chinese Han population. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the ABCG1 gene were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Logistic regression was used to compare the genotypic and allelic frequency difference.

RESULTSThe frequency of allele C of rs225374 was significantly higher in the CAD patients than that in the healthy controls (OR=1.186, 95%CI: 1.009-1.394, P=0.039), while the difference was also significant in the male subgroup (OR=1.236, 95%CI: 1.014-1.506, P=0.036). A statistically higher frequency of rs1044317 allele A was found in the CAD patients in comparison to the healthy controls (OR=1.187, 95%CI: 1.009-1.397, P=0.039). In case-only association study, rs225374 showed significant association in the high Gensini score group compared with the low Gensini score group (OR=1.303, 95%CI: 1.024-1.657, P=0.031).

CONCLUSIONThe two SNPs of the ABCG1 gene might be associated with the susceptibility and severity of CAD in Chinese Han population.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family G, Member 1 ; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters ; genetics ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; ethnology ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Coronary Artery Disease ; ethnology ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution characters and linkage disequilibrium of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) -148C/T, -455G/A and -854G/A in the promoter region of fibrinogen B(FGB) beta gene.

METHODSGenotype and allele frequencies of FGB beta gene were examined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism and nucleotide sequencing methods in 377 Chinese southern Han individuals. Three FGB beta SNPs Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and linkage disequilibrium were analyzed with population genetics methods.

RESULTSThe allele frequencies of 3 SNPs are in good agreement with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. A total of 9 genotypes among the 377 individuals were identified in 3 SNPs. The genotype frequencies of -148CC, CT and TT were 0.597, 0.358 and 0.045, respectively; the -455G/A genotype frequencies were the same as that of -148C/T SNP; the genotype frequencies of -854GG,GA, AA were 0.820,0.178,0.002, respectively. The frequencies of rare allele -148T, -455A and -854A were 0.224,0.224 and 0.092, respectively, while the common allele frequencies were 0.776 for -148C, 0.776 for -455G, and 0.908 for -854G. There were no statistically significant differences in genotype and allele frequencies between the male and female groups (P>0.05). The relationship between -455G and -148C was completely concordant, but there was a random distribution between -854 and -148 (-445) SNPs.

CONCLUSIONThe results show there is a complete linkage disequilibrium between -148C/T and -455G/A and a negative linkage disequilibrium between -854G/A and -148C/T, as well as between -854G/A and -455G/A. This study has provided population genetics data on FGB beta gene promoter in Chinese southern Han population.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; ethnology ; Female ; Fibrinogen ; genetics ; Humans ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Promoter Regions, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of porous polyethylene channel implants in reconstruction of orbital blowout fractures.

METHODSTwenty-three patients with orbital blowout fractures were admitted in our eye center from June 2003 to January 2006. Porous polyethylene channel implants were used to repair the defects of orbital wall and to correct the enophthalmos. The visual acuity, the degree of enophthalmos, diplopia and position were recorded preoperatively and postoperatively.

RESULTNo patients presented loss or apparent descent of visual acuity after surgery. Postoperative mean enophthalmos (1.7+/-0.5)mm was smaller significantly than that of preoperation [(3.9 +/-1.2)mm (P<0.05)]. Diplopia disappeared in 10 patients 1 month after surgery. Diplopia disappeared in 11 patients in primary position, but it remained in other positions. Diplopia remained in primary position in 2 patients. Ocular movement in 22 patients was normal postoperatively. While primary position upward occurred in 1 patient postoperatively and 2 weeks later it became normal.

CONCLUSIONPorous polyethylene channel implants are effective in reconstruction of orbital blowout fractures.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orbital Fractures ; surgery ; Polyethylene ; Porosity ; Prostheses and Implants ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEIn the candidate region 12q13 of simple congenital heart disease(CHD), four single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) in HOXC4 gene were chosen in order to investigate the distribution of SNP and haplotypes in simple CHD patients and normal people.

METHODSThe genotype of 4 SNPs in 108 simple CHD patients and 200 normal people were analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism(RFLP) and denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography(DHPLC). The statistical contingency table method was used to analyze SNP genotype frequency and gene frequency in patients and control group; then, the haplotypes were established and their frequencies in the two groups were assessed by PHASE software.

RESULTSC16476T polymorphism was not detected; A17860G located in 3' flanking sequence of HOXC5 gene displayed significant difference between the two groups. The G allele frequency in simple CHD patients was higher than that in healthy controls(P < 0.05); the distribution of frequencies of 4 haplotypes showed significant difference(P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe A17860G located in 3'flanking sequence of HOXC5 gene is associated with simple CHD; the risk of CHD in the persons with G17860 is higher than that in those with A17860. the haplotype of 3 SNPs may be linked with the susceptible gene of simple CHD.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Alleles ; Base Sequence ; Child ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 12 ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; genetics ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; genetics ; Homeodomain Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Young Adult

Objective To evaluate the safety of mefformin in the treatment of elderly type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM). Methods Two hundred and forty-three cases of elderly T2DM hospitalized from Jan.1996 to Dec. 2006 were reviewed; the changes of fasting blood glucose(FBG), postprandial blood glucose (PBG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), liver and renal function and blood lactic acid were evaluate before and after treatment. Results The mean time of treatment with mefformin was (6.6±3.9) years (3 months-21 years)in these 243 cases. The levels of FBG, PBG and HbAlc significantly reduced after treatment with mefformin only in 43 cases (17.7%), mefformin combined with other oral hypoglycemic drugs in 124 cases (51.0%) and mefformin combined with insulin in 76 cases (31.3%). There was only 18.1% of the cases with normal range ( > 80 ml/min) of creatinine clearance rate (Ccr), and 25.8% of the cases with Ccr≤50 ml/min. The liver and renal function as well as the blood lactic acid had no significant change after treatment no matter in total cases or in different groups separated by Ccr.Conclusions Mefformin is safety in the treatment of elderly T2DM patients. Ageing is not the contraindication of mefformin. To the patients with high risk, we should monitoring the level of blood lactic acid.

Objective To prepare T-helper cell(Th)epitnpe-modified human soluble B cell activating factor belonging to the tumor necrosis factor family(BAFF)mutants and evaluate their immune response in vaccinated mice.Methods Recombinant cDNAs were cloned and ligated into the prokaryotie expression vec- tor pQE-80L respectively.The recombinant proteins were induced to express by IPTG in E.coli DH5?and purified with Ni-NTA chromatography.BALB/c mice were immunized with recombinant proteins respectively and the titres of the antibodies that were cross-reactive with BAFF in sera were analyzed by ELISA.Inhibiting ability of the antibodies in sera was analyzed by MTT assay.Results The recombinant proteins were highly expressed in E.coli DH5?.After purification,the purity of recombinant proteins was more than 90%.BALB/c mice immunized with recombinant proteins produced high levels of BAFF-specific antibodies.Cell proliferation assay showed that the sera of immunized mice could inhibit the proliferation-inducing activity of recombinant sBAFF and natural sBAFF.Conclusion The immune inhibitors of human BAFF which can induce polyclonal antibodies that are cross-reactive with BAFF are successfully prepared.These results may provide the basis for further study of their therapeutic effects.

ObjectiveTo find out the quality of life of inhabitants living in endemic arsenism areas after drinking-water improvement and related influencing factors.MethodsCase group ( 118 people) of arsenicosis,and control group (237 people ) of nearby residents without arsenicosis in endemic arsenic areas after drinking-water improvement in Shanxi and Inner Mongolia and outside control group(116 people) not exposed to arsenic in nearby non-arsenic areas were selected to be interviewed using homogeneous validity and reliability of the World Health Organization quality of life(WHOQOL-BREF,Chinese Version) in 2010,and physical health,psychological,social relationships,environment scores and total score were calculated,respectively.Covariance analysis was used to find out the real difference in the three groups and multiple linear regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors on quality of life.Results The scores of physical health,psychological,social relationships,environment and total score of case group were ( 12.14 ± 2.68),( 12.18 ± 2.22),( 14.81 ± 2.24),(11.33 ± 1.92),(69.27 ± 16.23) points,respectively,and those of internal control group were ( 13.39 ± 2.67),( 12.80 ± 1.88 ),( 15.16 ± 1.80),( 11.72 ± 1.62),(75.49 ± 14.50) points,respectively,those of control group were (13.91 ± 254),(13.67 ± 2.14),(15.07 ± 1.36),(12.64 ± 1.68),(78.41 ± 12.03) points,respectively.Them was significant difference in physical health,psychological,environment scores and total score among the three groups(F =7.57,10.74,13.44,10.77,all P ＜ 0.05),of which case group was significantly lower than those of the inside and outside control group(all P ＜0.01 ),while in the control group the psychological and environment scores were lower than those of the external control group(all P ＜ 0.01 ).Health,whether-or-not arsenicosis patient,annual per capita income,age and sex were influential factors of quality of life among inhabitants living in endemic arsenism areas after drinking-water improvement (all P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusions Quality of life among inhabitants living in endemic arsenism areas after drinking-water improvement is lower than residents of non-arsenic areas.