In this study,nearly 200 endophytic bacteria were isolated from different part of Huperzia serrata, over 60 bacterium with clear antifungal activity were selected from those cultures.Among them,strain H-6 exhibited the highest antifungal activity which was strongly inhibits the growth of many plant pathogenic fungi such as Sclerotinia scleroliorum,Fusarium graminearumt,Sclerotinia libertiana,Phytophthora capsici Leonia and Sesame fusarium wilt.According to the characteristics of morphology,physiology and biochem- istry tests and the comparison of 16S rDNA sequence,the strain H-6 was similar to the Burkholderia.So strain H-6 was identified as Burkholderia sp.H-6.The results also showed that Burkholderia sp.H-6 was markedly different from Burkholderia cepacia that was applied widely in agriculture as antagonistic bacteria. The medium and culture conditions of the strain all were optimized by single factor and orthogonal experiments.In the investigation of the culture condition,growth was carried out in a basal medium(potato juice)and gradually supplemented with the various ingredients to be investigated.The major ingredients be- ing investigated included carbon sources and nitrogen sources.The optimal antifungal activity production condition is growth in a medium(potato juice with 2.5%mannitol and 0.1%NaNO3),initial pH 4.0 at 28℃.

Objective To learn the plague's host animals and parasitic flea composition, and to investigate the natural foci of plague in Xiji county in order to provide basic information for plague prevention and control. Methods The Citellus alaschanicus density, nocturnal rodents, the body flea, the burrow track flea, the nest flea were investigated in 8 townships (town) of Xiji county from June 11 2007 to July 25 2007. Specimens of small mammalian, fleas were collected for bacteriological and serological testing. Results The average density of the main host Citellus alaschanicus was 0.85 per hectare. The nocturnal mouse capture rate was 0.80%(24/2987).The survey found 16 species of small mammals that belonging to 3 orders, 9 families and 16 species with Citellus alaschanicus the dominant species. The Citellus alaschanicus had 2.84 fleas per body. Four families and 16 species of fleas were identified in the areas. The Citellus alaschanicus and Citellophilus Tesquorum Mongolicus were the dominant species. Plague bacteriology and serology tests were negative. Conclusions The study shows that the area is suitable for the formation of natural foci of Citellus alaschanicus plague. Surveillance is an important measure for prevention and control of the plague.

ObjectiveTo study the protective effects of tert-butylhydroquinone(tBHQ) on sodium arsenite (NaAsO2)-induced cytotoxicity and oxidative injuries. Methods Chang liver cells were pretreated with tBHQ[0(control), 5, 25 μmol/L]for 24 h, and then co-treated with tBHQ(5 μmol/L) together with NaAsO2[0(control),30, 40, 50, 60 μmol/L] for another 24 h, and Alamar blue reduction rates were used to evaluate cell viability,the results were expressed as the relative ratio of Alamar blue reduction rates between the experimental group and the control group. On the other hand, Chang liver cells were pretreated with tBHQ[0(control), 5, 25 μmol/L] for24 h,and then co-treated with tBHQ(5 μmol/L) together with NaAsO2[0(control), 40, 50 μmol/L] for another 24 h,and the levels of cellular reactive oxygen species(ROS) were detected by staining cells with 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate(DCFH-DA), the results were expressed as the relative ratio of mean fluorescence intensity between the experimental group and the control group. ResultsCell viability decreased dramatically by treatment with NaAsO2(30, 40, 50, 60 μmol/L), while relieved to some extent by pretreatment with 5, 25 μmol/L tBHQ, the main effects of NaAsO2 and tBHQ, as well as their interaction were all statistically significant(F =566.57, 55.09, 14.50,all P ＜ 0.05) ; the cell viability of NaAsO2(30, 40, 50, 60 μmol/L) pretreated with tBHQ(5, 25 mol/L) were 0.75 ±0.02, 0.70 ± 0.04, 0.59 ± 0.03, 0.43 ± 0.03 and 0.75 ± 0.02, 0.73 ± 0.03, 0.65 ± 0.02, 0.50 ± 0.02, respectively,all significantly higher than corresponding NaAsO2 alone groups(0.70 ± 0.03, 0.64 ± 0.03, 0.43 ± 0.03, 0.33 ±0.01, all P ＜ 0.05), the cell viability of NaAsO2(50, 60 μmol/L) pretreated with 25 μmol/L tBHQ was higher than corresponding 5 μmol/L tBHQ pretreatment groups(all P ＜ 0.05). On the other hand, 40, 50 μmol/L of NaAsO2 significantly induced hepatocellular ROS generation, while tBHQ(5, 25 μ mol/L) pretreatment significantly decreased NaAsO2-induced intracellular ROS levels, the main effects of NaAsO2 and tBHQ, as well as their interaction were all statistically significant (F =181.78, 60.55, 4.93, all P ＜ 0.05) ; the ROS levels of NaAsO2(40, 50 μ mol/L) pretreated with tBHQ(5, 25 μmol/L) were 1.87 ± 0.09, 1.80 ± 0.07 and 1.36 ± 0.11, 1.44 ± 0.12,all significantly decreased than corresponding NaAsO2 alone groups(2.30 ± 0.18, 2.18 ± 0.17, all P ＜ 0.05),the ROS levels of NaAsO2(40, 50 μmol/L) pretreated with 25 μmol/L tBHQ decreased than corresponding 5 μmol/L tBHQ pretreatment groups (all P ＜ 0.05). ConclusiontBHQ has a certain antagonism on arsenic induced cytotoxicity and oxidative injuries.

OBJECTIVETo observe the activity of peripheral blood monocytes (PBMs) derived macrophage scavenger receptors (MSR) and changes of serum inflammatory factor in peripheral blood in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), and to evaluate the effect of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) on the MSR activity, to explore the relationship between inflammatory factor and scavenger receptors activity as well as the possible mechanism of GBE in stabilizing the atheromatous plaque.

METHODSNinety-seven CHD patients with normal blood lipids were classified into the stable angina group, the unstable angina group and the acute myocardial infarction group, and 29 healthy persons were taken as control. Levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) in all subjects were determined. And their PBMs were isolated, cultured in vitro, and transferred into macrophage to observe the effect of GBE on the expression of scavenger receptors.

RESULTSThe levels of MSR activity, CRP, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in patients with acute myocardial infarction > unstable angina > stable angina > control.

CONCLUSIONGBE could down-regulate the MSR activity in CHD patients, which was positively correlated with levels of CRP, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1. MSR activity could be taken as a monitoring criteria for active degree of vulnerable atherosclerosis plaque. GBE has the effect of suppressing MSR activity.

Adult ; Aged ; Angina Pectoris ; blood ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monocytes ; metabolism ; Myocardial Infarction ; blood ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy ; Receptors, Immunologic ; blood ; Receptors, Scavenger ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been broadly investigated and shown to exert many preventive and therapeutic actions besides their important role in maintenances human health and normal development. In mammals, the level of omega-3 PUFAs is relatively too low compared with omega-6 PUFAs, which metabolically and functionally distinct from omega-3 PUFAs and often have important opposing physiological functions. Either the inefficiency of omega-3 PUFAs or the excess of omega-6 PUFAs will cause many healthy problems. So methods have been sought to increase the amount of omega-3 PUFAs and to improve the omega-6/omega-3 ratio in body. In this study, the sFat-1 gene, which putatively encodes a omega-3 fatty acid desaturase, was chemically synthesized according to the sequence from Caenorhabditis briggssae (with codon usage modified), and constructed into a mammal expression vector pcDNA3. 1-sFat1-EGFP. This vector was introduced into CHO cells by lipid-mediated transfection, and it's expression quickly and effectively elevated the cellular omega-3 PUFAs (from 18-carbon to 22-carbon) contents and dramatically improved the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 PUFAs. Cellular lipids extracts from stably selected cells were analyzed with GC-MS and the results showed that amount of total omega-6 PUFAs dropped from 48.97% (in GFP cells)to 35.29% (in sFat-1 cells), whereas the amount of total omega-3 PUFAs increased from 7.86% to 24.02%, respectively. The omega-6/omega-3 ratio also dropped from 6.23 to 1.47. These data demonstrates the Caenorhabditis briggssae omega-3 Fatty Acid Desaturase gene, sFat-1, was synthesized successfully and can produce omega-3 PUFAs by using the corresponding omega-6 PUFAs as substrates, which shows its potential for use in the production of omega-3 PUFAs in transgenic animals.
Animals ; CHO Cells ; Caenorhabditis ; enzymology ; genetics ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Fatty Acid Desaturases ; genetics ; physiology ; Fatty Acids ; analysis ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Orthopedics ; Research

OBJECTIVETo provide reliable evidence of "J in three-needle therapy" for treatment of stroke.

METHODSMulti-central randomized controlled trials were adopted, 180 hemiplegia patients of ischemic stroke were randomly divided into a fin three-needle group (90 cases) and a routine acupuncture group (90 cases). Two groups were both treated with basic neurology therapies, and J in three-needle group was treated with J in three-needle therapy, three acupoints of tempora, hand and foot etc. were selected; the routine acupuncture group was treated with traditional acupuncture, Quchi (LI 11), Huantiao (GB 30), Futu (ST 32) etc. were selected. Both groups were treated with acupuncture for 5 weeks. The cognitive function score of functional comprehensive assessment scale (FCA), the scores of mini-mental state examination scale (MMSE) and modified Barthel index (BI) were compared before and after treatment between two groups. Results After treatment, the scores of FCA, MMSE and BI in both groups were significantly improved compared to those before treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); the improvement of FCA score, MMSE score and BI score in the J in three-needle group were superior to those of the routine acupuncture group after treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The total effective rate of 85.4% in the J in three-needle group was superior to tohat of 70.0% in the routine acupuncture group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONJ in three-needle acupuncture treatment can obviously improve the cognitive function and activity ability of daily life of hemiplegia patients after stroke, and the therapeutic effect of J in three-needle therapy is superior to that of traditional acupuncture treatment.

Activities of Daily Living ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Cognition ; Female ; Hemiplegia ; etiology ; psychology ; rehabilitation ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stroke ; complications

AIMTo study the microbial transformation of sinenxan A.

METHODSChoose two strains of Fungi (Mucor spinosus AS 3.3450 and Cunninghamella echinulata AS 3.3400) and a strain of bacterium (Proteus vulgaris AS 1.1208) to transform the substrate.

RESULTSThree products were obtained and identified as 10-deacetylsinenxan A1, 6 alpha-hydroxy-10-deacetylsinenxan A2 and 9 alpha-hydroxy-10-deacetylsinenxan A3 respectively.

CONCLUSIONSinenxan A is facile to be transformed by microorganisms, the 10-acetyl group of which is an active group.

Acetates ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Biotransformation ; Culture Techniques ; Cunninghamella ; metabolism ; Diterpenes ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Mucor ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Proteus vulgaris ; metabolism ; Taxus ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of atorvastatin on expressions of scavenger receptor A and secretion of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in foam cells.

METHODSTHP-1 cells were induced to differentiate into macrophages by PMA and treated with 0.1% BSA (control), ox-LDL (100 mg/L) or ox-LDL plus atorvastatin (5, 10, 20 micromol/L) for 24 hours. MCP-1 concentration in cell substratum was measured by ELISA. Scavenger receptor A expression was observed under fluorescent microscope after incubated with DiI-Ac-LDL. The relationship between concentration of MCP-1 and the activity of scavenger receptor A was also analyzed.

RESULTSCompared to the control cells, MCP-1 concentration in ox-LDL treated cells was significantly increased after 6 hours, peaked at 12 hours and was still significantly increased after 24 hours (all P < 0.05 vs. baseline). The activity of scavenger receptor A was also significantly increased in ox-LDL treated cells (P < 0.01 vs. control). The activity of scavenger receptor A proteins correlated positively to the concentration of MCP-1 in ox-LDL treated cells (r = 0.683, P < 0.01). Atorvastatin significantly attenuated these changes in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONSScavenger receptor A and MCP-1 expressions were significantly increased in the course of monocyte lines THP-1 differentiating into macrophages and foam cells. The anti-atherosclerosis effect of atorvastatin might be partly achieved by inhibiting the secretion of MCP-1 and expression of scavenger receptor A in foam cells.

Atorvastatin Calcium ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Line ; Chemokine CCL2 ; metabolism ; Foam Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Heptanoic Acids ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Monocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Pyrroles ; pharmacology ; Scavenger Receptors, Class A ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of preoperative radiochemotherapy and investigate the influencing factors in rectal cancer.

METHODSFifty-three patients with locally advanced rectal cancer were treated with radiochemotherapy before surgery. Three-field technique of radiation therapy was administered with 46 Gy, 2 Gy per fraction, five times a week. Two cycles of chemotherapy were carried out at day 1, 2 and day 21, 22 during the radiation course. Surgery was performed 4-6 weeks after the radiochemotherapy. Response of preoperative radiochemotherapy was evaluated in all the patients by endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), spiral computed tomography (SCT) and pathology. Influencing factors of the efficacy of radiochemotherapy were evaluated by univariate and Logistic analysis.

RESULTSUnivariate analysis revealed that tumor size and histological grading were associated with the efficacy of preoperative radiochemotherapy. Logistic regression analysis showed that only tumor size was the significant predictive factor for response to preoperative radiochemotherapy. All patients underwent surgical resection after preoperative radiochemotherapy. The tumor was reduced by an average of 32.1%. T-level down-staging was 64.2%. Nodal negativity was 58.1%. Complete pathologic remission occurred in 11 patients.

CONCLUSIONSPreoperative radiochemotherapy can shrink the primary tumor and decrease lymph node metastasis rate. Patient with small tumor may have better response to preoperative radiochemotherapy.

Adult ; Aged ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Rectal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult