Zymonomas mobilis was transformed with a polyhydroxybutyrate synthesis operon phbCAB equipped with a pdc promoter from Z. mobilis. For the first time,PHB was produced in recombinant Z.mobilis. Shake flask studies indicated that accumulation of PHB in Zymomonas mobilis increased approximately 10% ethanol productivity for the first 48h of anaerobic fermentation. After that,the PHB effect was observed as insignificant probably due to the exhaustion of the sugar.

Objective To study on the efficacy and safety of treating achalasia by gastroscopic balloon dilation under anesthesia. Methods Fifteen patients with achalasia were given intravenous propofol and midazolam before dilation. Patient's feeling or distress and operative duration were recorded. The changes of blood pressure (BP) , heart rate ( HR) and blood oxygen saturation ( SpO2 ) were also recorded and analyzed. Results Patients did not complain of any discomfort or pain during gastroscopy. The time of recovery from anesthesia was 17 -27(23. 2) minutes. There were significant changes in clinical scores before and after dilation ( P

Objective To explore the definition,classification and imaging characteristics of abdominal enterogenous cysts in in-fant.Methods 18 patients with abdominal enterogenous cyst in infant,confirmed by surgical pathology,with complete imaging data (including ultrasonography,CT and enhanced CT),have been enrolled in the study.The imaging findings and pathological character-istics have been analyzed,and the classification of diagnosis has been conducted.Results According to the positions and imaging fea-tures of the pathological changes,abdominal enterogenous cysts could be further classified as:gastrointestinal wall type,mesenteric type and retroperitoneal type.In this study,gastrointestinal wall type in 1 1 patients (outside intestinal wall in 2,inside intestinal wall in 8,and outside gastric wall in 1);mesenteric type in 4 and retroperitoneal type in 3 were identified.Conclusion Classification of diagnosis can be conducted according to the enterogenous cyst’s special imaging findings,which provides a reference for the surgical operation.

BACKGROUND:Our previous studies have shown that adipose-derived stem cels under vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) can be induced to differentiate into lymphatic endothelial cels that are confirmed by lymphatic vascular endothelial hyaluronan receptor-1 staining. However, its optimal induction program is not clear.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the best condition for the differentiation of adipose-derived stem cels into lymphatic endothelial cels under induction of VEGF-C156s.
METHODS: Adipose tissues from healthy adults were colected to isolate adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cels using trypsin digestion method. Flow cytometry was employed to detect cel surface markers, andin vitro differentiation capacity was identified by adipogenic and osteogenic induction. Passage 3 cels at good growth state were selected and divided into six groups: cels in control group were cultured in low-glucose DMEM, and those in the rest five groups were treated with 25, 50, 100, 200, 300 μg/L VEGF-C156s, respectively.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Adipose-derived stem cels were successfuly obtained by trypsin digestion and purification, and then differentiated into lymphatic endothelial cels under the induction of VEGF-C156s, basic fibroblast growth factor and other growth factors. No cels were positive for lymphatic vascular endothelial hyaluronan receptor-1 in the control group. After 8 days of induction, few cels were positive in the 25 μg/L VEGF-C156s group; a great amount of positive cels were visible in the 50 and 100 μg/L VEGF-C156s groups; 200 and 300 μg/L VEGF-C156s resulted in a large number of deaths in the cels. These findings indicate that it is optimal for adipose-derived stem cels to differentiate into lymphatic endothelial cels under 8-day induction of 50 μg/L VEGF-C156s.

The hemolysin production of 19 strains of Streptococcus spp. isolated from pigs in the Jiangsu and Shanghai regions in recent years were examined. Eight isolates of Streptococcus suis type 2 from Jiangsu showed weak hemolysis on blood agar, but a stronger reaction in Todd-Hewitt broth(THB). The hemolysin belonged to the group of thiol-activated hemolysins. Nine strains of Streptoccus equi subsp. zooepidemicus showed strong hemolysis on blood agar and in THB containing 5% new-born calf serum, but no hemolysis in THB alone. This hemolysin was similar to streptolysin S(SLS). Another two isolates were atypical members of Lancefield group C Streptococcus and showed strong hemolysis on blood agar and in THB with 5% new-born calf serum, but the hemolysin was unlike either streptolysin O or SLS.

Now symptomatic extracranial and intracranial stenting usually uses bare metal stents, but the incidence of restenosis is higher.The studies of drug-eluting stems for the treatment of coronary atherosclerosis have suggested that the incidence of restenosis decreases significantly. Although extracranial and intracranial drug-eluting stem placement appears to be safe,further large,prospective,randomized,controlled trials are needed to demonstrate its safety and effectiveness.

Objective To investigate the effects of different magnitudes of mechanical stress on human interverte-bral disc degeneration. Methods The human intervertebral disc cells were subjected to different magnitudes of mechanical stress (0, 6%, 12%, or 18%elongation) for 24 h using a Flexercell Strain Unit. The mRNA expressions of anabolic genes (col-lagen-1A1, collagen-2A1, aggrecan and versican) and catabolic genes (MMP-3, MMP-13, ADAMTS-4 and ADAMTS-5) were examined by real-time PCR and Western blot methods. Results The expression levels of collagen-1A1 and collagen-2A1 were increased at 12%of mechanical stress, and collagen-2A1 was decreased at 18%of mechanical stress compared with those of control. The mRNA expressions of catabolic genes, MMP-13 and ADAMTS-5, were increased at 12%and 18%of mechanical stress than those of control. The mechanical stretch induced a magnitude-dependent increase in ADAMTS-4 synthesis, which was finely tuned by stretching-triggered activation of distinct mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades. Specifically, an ERK1/2 specific inhibitor, U0126, significantly inhibited the stretching-induced ADAMTS-4 expression, whereas the inhibitors of p38 and JNK, SP6000125 and SB203580, showed only slightly effect on the stretching-induced ADAMTS-4 expression. Conclusion The different magnitudes of mechanical stretch exhibited different effects on the bio-logical behavior of intervertebral disc cells, which profoundly affects the intervertebral disc degeneration.

Objective To explore the effect of diphosphonate on expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9) and cathepsin K(CK) in subchondral bone of unstable rabbit knee joints.Methods Fifty male New Zealand white rabbits were divided randomly into three groups according to random digits table:the control group (n=10),the model group (n=20).the diphosphonate group (n=20).Hulth model of unstable rabbit knee joint was achieved in the right knee joint.Ten rabbits from the diphosphonate group and 5 rabbits from the control group were sacrificed by aeroembolism at the second and tenth week postoperatively,respectively.Then the medial femoral condyles of the right knee were harvested.Specimens were processed for immunohistochemical analysis of MMP-9 and CK.Results Cells with expression of MMP-9 and CK could be found in the three groups at the second and tenth week after operation.Compared with the control group,there was a significant increase in the number of cells with expression of MMP-9 and CK in model group at the second and tenth week after operation.Diphosphonate could inhibit expression of MMP-9 and CK in cells.Compared with the model group,the number of cells with expression of MMP-9 and CK in diphosphonate group was fewer; there was a statistical significance between them.Conclusion Diphosphonate can inhibit the expression of MMP-9 and CK in subchondral bone of unstable rabbit knee joints,which can resist the bone resorption and protect articular cartilage.

Objective To study the molecular pathway of osteoblastic differentiation induced by substance P (SP), a neurotransmitter. Methods Mesenchymal stem cells were isolated and cultured, and treated with SP or its receptor (NK1) antagonist to induce osteoblastic cell differentiation, respectively. Alkaline phosphatase activity was determined; Osterix gene expression was detected by RT-PCR after 1-2 weeks for three times. The data of each culture condition were analyzed using SPSS12.0 statistical software to determine whether the differences between conditions were significant. Results After 4-5 days' culture, bone marrow stromal cells became spindle-shaped, triangular or polygonic. They covered the plate surface, formed extensive cell sheets in each group after 11-12 days of culture, and then induced differentiation to osteoblast. SP up-regulated the important transcription factor Osterix gene expression significantly (P<0.05). Conclusion The up-regulation of Osterix gene expression by SP may stimulate osteoblastic cell differentiation. SP's regulation depends on its receptor NK1.

Objective To investigate the effect of partial sleep deprivation (PSD) on cardiac electric activity and function of vascular endothelium. Methods Eighteen Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups (9 each):PSD group and control group. PSD lasted 10 days,20 hours each day. Body weight and surface electrocardiogram (S-ECG) were examined and recorded 1d before PSD,and 1d,4d,7d and 10d after PSD. Serum concentrations of glucose,total cholesterol (TC),triglyceride (TG),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C),creatin kinase (CK),creatin kinase-MB (CK-MB),high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP),nitric oxide (NO),von Willebrand factor (vWf),endothelin-1 (ET-1) and E-selectin were determined the next day after 10d of PSD. Results Compared to that 1d before PSD,body weight in PSD groups decreased significantly,while increased obviously in control group. Compared to that in control group,the body weight of rats decreased significantly (P