In order to study the inherent difference among terpenes producing yeasts from the point of metabolomics, we selected taxadiene producing yeasts as the model system. The changes of cellular metabolites during fermentation log phase of artificial functional yeasts were determined using metabolomics methods. The results represented that compared to W303-1A as a blank control, the metabolites in glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) cycle and several amino acids were influenced. And due to the changes of metabolites, the growth of cells was inhibited to a certain extent. Among the metabolites identified, citric acid content in taxadiene producing yeasts changed the most, the decreasing amplitude reached 90% or more. Therefore, citric acid can be a marker metabolite for the future study of artificial functional yeasts. The metabolomics analysis of taxadiene producing yeasts can provide more information in further studies on optimization of terpenes production in heterologous chassis.
Alkenes ; metabolism ; Amino Acids ; metabolism ; Citric Acid ; analysis ; Citric Acid Cycle ; Diterpenes ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; Glycolysis ; Metabolome ; Metabolomics ; Yeasts ; metabolism

ObjectiveTo investigate the value of strain ratio (SR) in the diagnosis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis.Methods 116 patients who had been diagnosed clinically as Hashimoto' s thyroiditis were enrolled in the study.Those patients were classified into four groups:the hyperthyroidism group,the euthyroidism group,the subclinical hypothyroidism group,and the clinical hypothyroidism group.50volunteers with normal thyroid functions were enrolled as a control group.SR of the thyroid and sternocleidomastoid muscle of same side was calculated.The correlation coefficient between the elasiticity SR and the serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) was evaluated and their differences in the diagnosis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis were compared.ResultsThe Spearman's correlation coefficient between the SR and the serum TSH was 0.605,which was significant (P =0.000).The SR increased in an ascending order among the group with hyperthyroidism,the control group,the group with euthyroidism,the group with subclinical hypothyroidism,and the group with clinical hypothyroidism.ConclusionsElastography SR is valuable way for evaluating the progression of Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Gypsum Fibrosum is one of mineral medicines, which is widely used in clinics for a long time. It is mainly used for treating epidemic febrile diseases and excess-heat syndrome. The studies on the heat-clearing effects and mechanisms of Gypsum Fibro-sum in recent years were summarized in the paper,which can provide scientific reference for its further research, application and the heat-clearing mechanism exploration.

In this study, the effect of heparin-derived oligosaccharide (HDO) on platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) induced vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) proliferation and the related signal transduction mechanisms were investigated. MTT assays were used to measure VSMCs proliferation. Cell cycle distribution was analyzed by flow cytometry. The level of key regulatory proteins in PKC, MAPK and Akt/PI3K pathways were determined by RT-PCR, Western blot and immunocytochemical methods. Meanwhile, mRNA expressions of some proto-oncogenes were assayed by RT-PCR method. Our data showed that HDO (0.01, 0.1 and 1 μmol · L(-1)) inhibited 30 ng · mL(-1) PDGF-induced VSMCs proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, blocked the G1/S transition and inhibited the level of key regulatory proteins and some proto-oncogenes (P < 0.05). The results showed that HDO may decrease the key regulatory proteins expression, hence suppress the transcription of proto-oncogene and G1/S transition, finally inhibiting VSMCs proliferation.

Aim To investigate the effect of CD44 anti-body-A3 D8 on the expression of IL-3 Rα and down-stream PI3K/Akt in NB4 cells. Methods The ex-pression of IL-3 Rα mRNA was detected by real-time quantitative RT-PCR, the IL-3Rα protein expression and changes of PI3 K/Akt signal pathway in NB4 cells treated with A3D8 were analyzed by Western blot. An-nexin-V-FITC/PI double staining flow cytometry was u-tilized to detect the apoptotic cells. The inhibitor of PI3 K/Akt signaling LY294002 combined with A3 D8 was used to inhibit the PI3K/Akt in NB4 cells. Re-sults After treated with A3 D8 , both the transcription-al level and translational level of IL-3 Rα were remark-ably reduced, and the PI3K/Akt pathway was inhibi-ted. LY294002 improved the inhibitory and apoptotic effects of A3D8 on NB4 cells. Conclusion CD44 antibody A3 D8 can downregulate the expression of IL-3Rα and inhibit the downstream PI3K/Akt pathway.

The article is to discuss the effect of the trained SPs acted by retired nurses in the test of internal medicine inquiry in OSCE for the graduates. The results were evaluated by those samples drawn from medical students who took part in OSCE and the professors. The evaluation of the SPs was objective and accurate, and they acted well. There are remarkable advantages in retired nurses simulating standardized patients, and it deserves extensive application in clinical medical education in our country.

Objective To observe the ultrasonographic features of primary female genital system lymphoma and its histopathological characteristics.Methods Sonographic appearances and histopathological characteristics of 14 patients who were pathologically comfirmed as primary female genital system lymphoma were reviewed.Results Fourteen patients underwent ultrasonography and 15 lesions were found,6 cases of which were found in the ovary and cervix separately,3 cases in the uterine body.Among the lesions detected,10 of which respectively represents extremely low echo and homogeneous internal echo,all lymphomas had posterior enhancement.The margins were most frequently circumcribed (13/15),5numbers primary lymphomas of the ovary were mostly elliptical in shape,while 5 numbers of cervix tumors showed the shape of lobular,all of the tumors in the uterine body showed diffuse symmetrical enlargement without disruption of the endometria.Color Doppler imaging showed hypervascularity in most tumors(13/15).The pathological examination showed that all tumors were non-Hodgkin lymphoma diffuse B-cell type.Conclusions Primary female genital system lymphoma has some ultrasonic features,including extremely low echo,homogeneous echo and posterior enhancement.Final diagnosis depends on the histopathology.

Adult ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; etiology ; Female ; Fractures, Spontaneous ; etiology ; Humans ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic ; complications

Objective To investigate clinical features of lower motor neuron lesion (LMNL) caused by the single level lower thoracic disc protrusion (LTDP),and to observe clinical outcomes of surgical treatment.Methods Between January 1997 and December 2009,17 patients with LMNL caused by single level LTDP underwent en bloc resection of the superior articular process,Cave-in 360° circumferential decompression and internal fixation in our hospital.MRI and CT scans were taken to confirm lesion levels:T10-11 in 4 patients of whom 3 had patellar clonus and ankle clonus,T11-12 in 5 patients of whom 4 had ankle clonus,and T12L1 in 8 patients who only had positive Babinski sign.The neurologic status was assessed using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scoring system.The muscle strength of the tibialis anterior was assessed using the Manual Muscle Test (MMT).Sagittal Cobb angle and cross-sectional area of the dural sac at the level of maximal compression in MRI were also observed.Results All patients were followed up for 22 to 76 months (average,48.6 months).The mean JOA score increased from preoperative 5.88±1.11 to 9.53±0.94 at final follow-up (t=16.143,P＜0.05).The muscle strength of the tibialis anterior recovered to more than grade 4 in all patients.Postoperative Cobb angle was unchanged compared with that before operation.MRI indicated that the cross-sectional area of the dural sac at the level of maximum compression increased from preoperative 35.8±7.3 mm2 to postoperative 132.9±6.5 mm2 (t=70.78,P＜0.05).Conclusion LMNL can be caused by LTDP.The eu bloc resection of the superior articular process,Cave-in 360° circumferential decompression and internal fixation can provide a satisfactory decompression effect and marked recovery of neurological function.

Objective To compare the estimated CFR (eCFR) values using the new chronic kidney disease epidemiology collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation with those from the abbreviated MDRD equation in a Chinese cohort with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and to analyze the impact of the new CKD-EPI equation on the staging of CKD. Methods A total of 450 Chinese patients (239 female and 211 male) with CKD were enrolled. eCFRs obtained by the CKD-EPI equation and the abbreviated MDRD equation were compared with the Bland and Altaian method. The agreement between two equations in CKD staging was assessed by Kappa test. Results Mean eGFR was 2.4 ml ·(min)-1 ·( 1.73 m2)-1 higher with the CKD-EPI equation as compared to the abbreviated MDRD equation. The percentage of CKD staging concordance between equations for stage 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 4, and 5 was 97.10% (n=67), 80.77% (n=105), 6 0.86% (n= 48), 87.69%(n=57), 90.38% (n=47) and 98.18% (n=54) respectively. Kappa index was 0.913 (95%C/: 0.881-0.945). The CKD-EPI equation reclassified 19.23% (n=25) and 39.24% (n=31) of patients with CKD stage 2 and 3A,upward to a higher eCFR category. Conclusions The new CKD-EPI equation reclassifies a number of patients to higher CKD stages, especially those classified as CKD stage 2 or 3A by the abbreviated MDRD equation.