The contamination of groundwater by methyl tert-butyl ether(MTBE) has become widespread.As a result,the bioremediation of MTBE is becoming an active area of research.In this paper,the progress of the studies on the degradation of MTBE by microbes was reviewed,focusing on the aerobic strains that could degrade MTBE.The possible metabolic pathways of MTBE were discussed as two main pathways separated by tert-butyl alcohol(TBA).The effect of environment factors,coexisting pollutants,and inter metabolite on the MTBE degradation were also discussed.

Objective To explore effects and mechanism of inactivation of vitamin D receptor (VDR) in intestinal tumor growth of APCmin/+ mice. Methods To generate APCmin/+VDR -/- mice through breeding, the number and size of small intestinal and colonic tumors were assessed and compared between APCmin/+ and APCmin/+ VDR -/- mice. The intestinal tumors were diagnosed with HE stain. The expressions of BCL-2,vimentin-1,Stat-1 and MSH-2 proteins of tumors were determined by immanohistocbemistry and compared be-tween APCmin/+ and APCmin/+VDR -/- mice. Results A comparison between APCmin/+ and APCmin/+ VDR -/- mice revealed that the number of the tumors, which were larger than 3mm, was significantly increased in APCmin/+ VDR -/- mice at 4 months of age (P< 0.01). HE staining indicated fistulous adenomas from small intestine and colon of two groups, Immunostaining showed Stat - 1 level in APC-min/+ tumors were increased and MSH-2 and vimentin-1 levels in APCmin/+ VDR-/- mice were increased, compared to APCmin/+tumors. Conclusion These observations suggested that inactivation of VDR promoted the intestinal tumor growth of APCmin/+ mice.

Antineoplastic Agents ; adverse effects ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; therapy ; Humans ; Neurotoxicity Syndromes ; therapy

Objective To study the active secondary metabolites from marine microorganism FIM02-635. Methods The producing strain was identified by taxonomical and phylogenetic studies. Two compounds FW635I1 and FW635I2 with immunosuppressive activities were extracted by organic solvents from the culture broth and purified by silica gel column chromatography and high speed counter current chromatography. The structures of the two compounds were determined by physico-chemical properties and spectral analyses,the biological activities were assayed in vitro. Results and Conclusion The producing strain was named as Micromonospora carbonacea FIM 02-635. Two compounds FW635I1 and FW635I2 were determined to be isoflavone Daidzein and Genistein, respectively, showed immunosuppressive and antitumor activities, but not antimicrobial activities.

Objective To study the change of mucins of expression in lithic cholecystitis and cholecystic adenomatiod polyps. Methods MUC1 and MUC3 were detected in the mucosa of human normal gallbladders (20 cases, control group), of calcareous cholecystitis (38 cases, calcareous group) and of adenomatoid polyps (18 cases, polyp group) with immunohistochemical stains and Western blotting methods. Results The positive rate and optical density values of MUC1 were increased significantly in calcareous and polyp group vs control group ( P

Objective To investigate the effects of bilateral sternocleidomastoideus contraction on neck flexion and extension. Methods The electromyograms (EMG) signals of left sternocleidomastoideus of 24 healthy persons were recorded respectively when neck relaxation and flexion in the supine position, and neck relaxation and extension in the prone position. The biomechanical measurement and analysis were done using anatomical specimens and models. Results The sternocleidomastoideus registered electrical resting potential when neck relaxation in the supine position, and when neck relaxation and extension in the prone position; the motor unit action potential of sternocleidomastoideus raised the type of mixed phase when neck flexion in the supine position. Conclusion The contractions of bilateral sternocleidomastoideus can lead to the head and neck flexion while neck joints are not fixed, and the contractions of bilateral sternocleidomastoideus can lead to the head extension under the state of fixing neck joints below atlanto-occipital.

Objective To report filaminopathy with novel insertion mutation in a Chinese family.Methods Total 19 patients from successive 5 generations involved in an autosomal dominant family. The detailed clinical manifestations had been described (Chinese Journal of Neurology, 2008, 41:751-755).The filamin C gene sequencing was performed in 3 patients, 5 family members without symptoms and 50 normal persons. The amplified fragments of the exon 18 in filamin C gene were cloned into pBluesripts vectors, then sequenced and identified with capillary electrophoresis. Results 18-nucleotide deletion and 6-nucleotide insertion were identified in the exon 18 of filamin C gene. The mutation caused the disturbance of the seventh immunoglobulin-like domain in filamin C, leading to the instability of dimmers of filamin C.Another 2 patients in the family had same mutation while 5 family members without symptoms and 50 normal controls were normal. Conclusion The novel nucleotide deletion-insertion in exon 18 of filamin C gene causes filaminopathy. This disease can appear in non-Nordic race.

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Dust ; analysis ; Environmental Monitoring ; methods ; Workplace

ObjectiveTo explore the early diagnostic value of pro-adrenomedullin (pro-ADM) in sepsis. Methods A prospective study was conducted. Eighty-two patients with acute infection admitted to Department of Emergency of Shanxi Medical University Second Hospital from April 2013 to March 2014 were enrolled. According to the diagnostic criteria of sepsis, the patients with acute infection were divided into ordinary infection group [infection without systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS),n = 25] and sepsis group (infection combined with SIRS, n = 57). According to degree of severity of sepsis, the latter group was subdivided into three subgroups: sepsis group (n = 22), severe sepsis group (n = 27) and septic shock group (n = 8). Twenty-four healthy persons were included to serve as healthy control group. The venous blood from all the research objects in hospital was collected within 24 hours. The levels of pro-ADM and procalcitonin ( PCT ) were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ (APACHEⅡ) score was recorded. The relationship between pro-ADM and PCT and also APACHEⅡ score was analyzed with Pearson correlation analysis. The receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC) of pro-ADM and PCT were used to evaluate the diagnostic acuity of sepsis.Results The plasma levels of pro-ADM, PCT and APACHEⅡ score in sepsis group were significantly higher than those in ordinary infection group and healthy control group [pro-ADM (ng/L): 66.69±1.73 vs. 53.43±2.70, 45.87±1.43; PCT (ng/L):1 336.49±40.26 vs. 1 083.09±47.99, 959.04±37.53; APACHEⅡ score: 14.60±0.81 vs. 8.10±1.14, 3.00±1.15,allP< 0.01]. With the aggravation of sepsis, the levels of pro-ADM, PCT and APACHEⅡ score were gradually increased, and there were significant differences among sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock groups [pro-ADM (ng/L): 64.91±2.50, 73.56±2.80, 84.67±4.52; PCT (ng/L): 1 152.65±48.62, 1 233.93±63.06, 1 475.71±109.93;APACHEⅡ score: 12.91±1.15, 14.55±1.14, 19.37±2.40,P< 0.05 orP< 0.01]. Pearson correlation analysis results showed that the level of pro-ADM was positively related with PCT (r = 0.473,P = 0.006), and it was also positively correlated with APACHEⅡ score (r = 0.707,P = 0.008). ROC curve analysis showed that area under the ROC curve (AUC) of pro-ADM for diagnosis of sepsis was 0.823 (P = 0.003). When the cutoff value was 59.40 ng/L, the sensitivity was 80.7%, the specificity was 68.0%, the positive predictive value was 85.2%, and the negative predictive value was 60.7%. AUC of the PCT for diagnosis of sepsis was 0.653 (P = 0.043). When the cutoff value was 1 194.67 ng/L, the sensitivity was 68.4%, the specificity was 64.0%, the positive predictive value was 81.8%, and the negative predictive value was 44.7%. It was proved that the pro-ADM had a higher diagnostic value for sepsis than PCT.Conclusion The plasma levels of pro-ADM can be used as an early indicator in diagnosis and severity evaluation and prognosis in patients with sepsis .

Objective To investigate the role of Catbindin-D28k in the kidney on calcium metabolism.Methods VDR/CaBP-D28k double knockout(KO)mice was made.Body weight,diet intake and serum,urinary parameters and length,density of the long bones,histological staining of the tibia of WT,CaBP-D28(-/-),VDR(-/-)and VDR(-/-)/CaBP-D28k(-/-)mice were determined on regular and high Ca-Lac diet.Results On a regular diet,the double KO mice were growth-retarded more and smaller than VDR KO mice.Compared with VDR KO mice,the double KO mice had higher urinary calcium excretion and rachitic skeletal phenotype,which were manifested with higher serum parathyroid hormone levels,lower bone mineral density,and more distorted growth plate with mole osteoid formation in the trabecular region.On high calcium and high lactose diet,blood-ionized calcium levels were normal in both VDR KO and the double KO mice.However,in contrast to VDR KO mice,the skeletal abnormalities were not completely corrected in the double KO mice.Conclusion These results directly demonstrate that CaBP-D28k plays a critical role in maintaining calcium homeostasis and skeletal mineralization and suggest that its caleemic role can be mostly compensated by CaBP-D9k.