Metal sulfides are chemically attacked by Fe~ 3+ and H~+, resulting in the formation of elemental sulfur via polysulfides or thiosulfate pathway. Elemental sulfur may aggregate and even form a layer on the metal sulfide surface, which will inhibit leaching metals from the sulfides minerals. Elimination of inert elemental sulfur in a typical acidic environment can exclusively be by way of oxidation of acidophilic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, such a way includes the attachment, transport and oxidation process of elemental sulfur by acidophilic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. On the basis of analysis on the pertinent researches, the molecular mechanism of sulfur elimination by the acidophilic bacteria is far away from elucidated, and to attain that target, there are still much work to be done for elucidating the molecular mechanism on the attachment, transport and oxidation process of elemental sulfur by the acidophilic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria.

Reverse transcriptase-PCR experiments suggest that the two clusters of genes potentially involved in the oxidation of reduced sulfur compounds are organized as operons in strain of the acidophilic, chemolithoautotrophic bacterium Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans ATCC 23270, the two clusters of genes including such the ORF of putative sulfate-thiosulfate-molybdate binding proteins, the ORF of putative thiosulfate: quinone oxidoreductase and the ORF of the rhodanese-like protein (P21). Bioinformatic analyses have predicted the possible promoters sequences and the possible +1 start site of transcription for the doxDA operons.

Objective To explore the immunophenotype of children with acute myeloid leukemia(AML) and its clinical significance.Methods Statistics was used to analyze the relationship between the immunophenotype of AML and their French-American-Britain(FAB) classification,complete remission (CR) in one month and 3-years event-free survival(EFS).Results CR rate was 71.6% and 3-years EFS rate was 50.8%. HLA-DR and CD34 absent mainly in M3, associated with higher CR and EFS rate. So did CD33 negative cases, especially in M2. CD13 positive was significantly predictive factor for achieving CR.Co-expression of lymphoid antigens and NK cell antigens(CD56) with M2 which correlated with lower CR and EFS rate.Conclusions The negative of HLA-DR, CD34, CD33,as well as CD13 positive, have relationship with good prognosis. Lymphoid antigens and CD56 are poor prognostic factors.

Objective To investigate the stability of immunophenotyping in the course of relapse or at treatment failure of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL) and that of immunophenotyping of positive minimal residual disease(MRD).Methods From Aug.2000 to Dec.2007,33 children with ALL who relapsed or treated failure were enrolled. These children were detected MRD by flow cytometry. The immunophenotyping of children who relapsed or treated failure were compared with that of initial therapy;the immunophenotyping of MRD relapsed was compared with that of initial therapy.Results 1.In 23 out of 27 cases (85.18%) with B-ALL,changed at least 1 antigen between diagnosis and relapse.Six children with CD45 down-modulation and 2 children with CD45 up-modulation.Two children with CD19 down-modulation and 1 child with CD19 up-modulation.Six children with CD34 down-modulation and 4 children with CD34 up-modulation. Five children with CD10 down-modulation and 7 children with CD10 up-modulation.2.Six children with T-ALL had the same expression in CD45 between relapse and treatment failure. 3.These were 15 children had the least 1 case MRD,25 cases MRD were detected,these was 1 case up-modulation in CD45,1 case down-modulation in CD19,2 cases up-modulation and 8 cases down-modulation in CD34,3 cases up-modulation and 6 cases down-modulation in CD10.Conclusions Immunophenotyping of children with ALL may change at relapse and treatment failure. The frequency of change in B-ALL is higher than that of in T-ALL,but the change can not impact the detection of MRD.

Forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii), a rare wild medicinal animal, is listed under the category of the state key protected wildlife list of China. Musk, secreted by the musk glands, is with high economic and medicinal value and used as precious traditional medicine in China. In order to meet the needs of musk in Chinese traditional medicine, forest musk deer farming was conducted in 1950s, but the research progress on musk secretion mechanism was slow. Therefore, by reviewing the histological and anatomical structure of forest musk deer musk gland, the relationship between sex hormones and the musk secretion process, and the molecular mechanism of the musk secretion, the existing problems in investigating the musk secretion mechanism were analyzed and the development trends in this field were also discussed, in order to provide a reference for further studies on the musk secretion mechanism and improve musk production of forest musk deer.
Animals ; Deer ; metabolism ; Exocrine Glands ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; secretion ; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Male

Forest musk deer is one of the large-scale farming musk deer animals with the largest population at the same time. The male musk deer can secrete valuable medicines, which has high medicinal and economic value. Due to the loss of habitat and indiscriminate hunting, the numbers of wild population specie and the distribution have been drastically reduced. Therefore, in-depth understanding of the molecular genetics progress of forest musk deer will pave a way for musk deer protection and breeding. In this review, the progress associated with the molecular marker, genetic classification, artificial breeding, musk secretion and disease in past decades were reviewed, in order to provide a theoretical basis for subsequent molecular genetic researches in forest musk deer.
Animals ; Breeding ; Deer ; classification ; genetics ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Ecosystem ; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Female ; Male

Objective To explore the efficacy of HAART for AIDS combined of oral fungal infection. Methods 60 AIDS patients combined with fungal infection were selected and divided into therapy group (n =30) and control group (n = 30) by HAART criteria. Individuals in control group were treated with routine care, including washing mouth by 2％ sodium bicarbonate, Smearing glycerol reducing mold on local skin, and taking fluconazole or itraconazole capsules 100 mg orally, and all above were taken twice a day, meanwhile nutrition therapy and oral nursing were strengthened. Therapy group were treated with HAART on the base of routine care. Results Effect rate between the two groups was significantly different (X2 = 6. 667, P ＜ 0. 05). Cure rate and recurrence rate were also different (X2 = 4. 286,4. 356; P ＜ 0. 05). Conclusions Application of HAART on the basis of routine care for AIDS combined of oral fungal infections has better efficacy and lower recurrence rate and improve the clinical symptom and raise the life quality of the patients.

OBJECTIVETo retrospectively analyze the treatment outcomes and side effects of childhood acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) treated with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) or ATRA + arsenic trioxide (As2O3).

METHODSFrom 1992 to 2006, 45 patients with newly diagnosed APL were enrolled. All of them were PML-RAR alpha positive. 24 patients were induced with ATRA (group A) and 21 with ATRA + As2O3 (group B). The remission rate and side effects were observed.

RESULTS1) 19 (79.2%) patients in group A achieved CR, while 21(100%) patients in group B achieved CR. The CR rate in group A was lower than that in group B (P=0.027). 2) The recovery time of coagulation parameters and PLT count in group B was shorter than that in group A. 3) The overall survival (OS) and event-free survival(EFS) in group A were 77.8% and 66.9% at 41 months of follow-up, and in group B were 100% and 100% respectively at 34 months of followup. Group A had a significant lower EFS (P=0.0357)than group B. 4) The time of PML-RAR alpha fusion gene converting to negative in group A was longer (P=0.026) than that in group B.

CONCLUSIONSATRA + As2O3 for patients with newly diagnosed childhood APL is a feasible treatment with higher CR rate, less side effects and longer long-term survival.

Adolescent ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Arsenicals ; administration & dosage ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Male ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; genetics ; Oxides ; administration & dosage ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Tretinoin ; administration & dosage

OBJECTIVETo explore biological exposure markers, we investigated the chromium content in peripheral erythrocytes from occupational population with broad ranges of soluble chromate exposure, as the candidate biomarker may provide the scientific evidence for health risk assessment in occupational chromate-exposed population.

METHODSA cross-sectional study was conducted in chromate exposed workers employed at a chromate factory in a district of Jinan city, Shandong Province. The studied population contained 114 workers from different processes of the chromate plants, which included 74 males and 40 females, with an age range from 25 to 52 years old, averaging at (35.83 +/- 6.14) years old; the length of service was ranging from 1 year to 37 years, an average of (14.20 +/- 6.77) years. In addition, 30 farmers in the countryside one hundred kilometers away from the factory, without exposure to chromate matched with exposed subjects by age, gender and smoking status were identified as a control group, which included 22 men and 8 women, with age ranging from 25 years old to 47 years old, having an average age of (36.13 +/- 6.17) years old. Personal information on age, chromate exposure, medical history, smoking habit and alcohol consumption was obtained at an interview. The air concentration of personal exposure was determined by individual sampling for 8 hours per day as shift work, and chromium was assayed by atomic absorption spectrometry. The chromium content in the erythrocytes from peripheral blood was determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The potential plasma reduction capacity was determined by dibenzene anthracoamid dihydrazide spectrophotometry. The content of total vitamin C and reductive ascorbic acid were determined by 2, 4-dinitrobenzene hydrazine. The data were analyzed by SPSS10.0 software for statistical significance.

RESULTS(1) The results showed that the chromium levels in erythrocytes in the exposed group [(15.79 +/- 31.01) microg/L] were significantly higher than those in the control group [(3.21 +/- 2.20) microg/L] (P < 0.01). (2) There existed a dose-response relationship between the personal airborne chromate concentration and the chromium content in erythrocytes. As airborne chromate concentration lowered to 106.00 microg/m(3), the chromium content in erythrocytes increased, depending on the air concentration of chromate. (3) Correlation analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between airborne chromate concentration and the chromium content in erythrocytes (P < 0.01). (4) In multiple regression analysis, it was found that the potential plasma reduction capacity and reductive ascorbic acid may be a good indicator for oxidative stress produced by chromate exposure and be used to evaluate the effects on intracellular uptake of chromium (VI).

CONCLUSIONOur findings suggested that the chromium content in erythrocytes should be used as an effective exposed biomarker in the risk assessment for occupational chromate-exposure.

Adult ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Chromates ; analysis ; Chromium ; blood ; Erythrocytes ; chemistry ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis

UNLABELLEDOBJECTIVE To study the clinical and biological characteristics and prognosis of t(8;21)/AML1-ETO-positive childhood acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

METHODSThe clinical data of 55 children who were diagnosed as t (8; 21)/AML1-ETO-positive AML were retrospectively studied. Event-free survival (EFS), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) rates were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Prognostic factors were evaluated by COX regression analysis software.

RESULTSOf the 55 patients, 4 patients gave up treatment after the diagnosis was confirmed and 4 patients were lost to follow-up after the first chemotherapy course. The remaining 47 patients received a double-induction therapy. The total complete remission (CR) rate was 71% and 94% after the first and second chemotherapy course, respectively. The disease was relapsed in 10 patients (21%). The 5-year EFS, DFS and OS rates were (56.1 ± 7.9)%, (59.8 ± 8.1)%, and (72.0 ± 8.1)%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that age was an independent risk factor for the long-term prognosis. The older children had a greater risk of experiencing an accident or death (P<0.05). The 5-year OS rate in 27 patients with regular consolidation chemotherapy was significantly higher than 13 patients with irregular chemotherapy after CRz [(47.5 ± 17.1)% vs (38.9 ± 17.3)%; P<0.01].

CONCLUSIONSChildhood t(8;21)/AML1-ETO-positive AML is a highly heterogeneous disease, with a high CR rate and a good long-term prognosis. Age is one of the important factors affecting the long-term therapeutic effect. Regular consolidation chemotherapy applied after CR usually is helpful.

Adolescent ; Bone Marrow Examination ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; genetics ; mortality ; Male ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; analysis ; Prognosis ; RUNX1 Translocation Partner 1 Protein ; Translocation, Genetic