Objective To observe the role of vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF) in promoting vascular reconstruction and bone repair in the necrotic region of femoral head in rabbits. Methods The femoral head necrosis model was made by liquid nitrogen frozen. The necrotic femoral head was transfected by adenovirus human VEGF121 (Ad-hVEGF121) to observe the bone formation in subchondral necrotic region by means of histological method, measure BMD value by SPA-2 analyser and measure bone trabecular morphology by image analysis. Results Revascularization level, bone formation rate, bone quality and quantity and mineralization level in subchondral necrotic region of gene transfection group were significantly higher than the control groups that had more subchondral bone resorption compared with gene transfection group. Conclusions VEGF may have effect in promoting bone formation and revascularization in subchondral necrotic region of femoral head, indirectly protecting the necrotic bone trabecula from being absorbed and avoiding descending of subchondral mechanics function.

Objective To observe the effects of inducing ossification in necrotic femoral head by VEGF. Methods Healthy rabbits were lesioned into necrotic femoral head by liquid nitrogen and randomly assigned for AdhuVEGF_(121) gene transfection into the necrotic femoral head and AdTrackCMV transfection. The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity before transfection and day 1, week 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 after transfection and the expression of collagen Ⅰ at week 2, 4, 8, 12 was examined by enzymology and immunohistochemical techniques. Results The ALP activity of the AdhuVEGF_(121) group was significantly higher than AdTrackCMV group (P

Objective To probe into the application of left atrial volume tracking technique(LAVT)on the evaluation of right atrial function in patients with pulmonary hypertension.Methods Forty-one patients with pulmonary hypertension (pulmonary hypertension group) and 37 control subjects (control group) were involved.Right atrial maximal volume (RAVmax),right atrial presystolic volume(RAVpre),right atrial minimal volume (RAVmax),systolic right atrial filling rate (dv/dtS),early diastolic right atrial emptying rate(dv/dtE) and late diastolic right atrial emptying rate(dv/dtA) was derived by LAVT.Right atrial passive emptying volume (RAVp),right atrial passive emptying fraction (RAVpEF),right atrial active emptying volume (RAVa),right atrial active emptying fraction (RAVaEF),right atrial total emptying volume (RAVt)and right atrial total emptying fraction (RAVtEF) was calculated.All the right atrial volume parameter was corrected by body surface area to obtain right atrial volume index (RAVI).Results RAVImax,RAVImin,RAVIpre,RAVIt,RAVIa,dv/dtS and dv/dtA in pulmonary hypertension group was higher than that in control group [(78.39 ± 49.35) ml/m2 vs.(24.80 ± 11.91) ml/m2,(62.59 ± 46.56) ml/m2vs.(17.46 ± 8.40)ml/m2,(70.12 ± 48.03) ml/m2 vs.(20.02 ± 9.46) ml/m2,(18.77 ± 11.47) ml/m2 vs.(9.35 ± 6.74) ml/m2,(8.53 ± 9.81) ml/m2 vs.(3.25 ± 3.00) ml/m2,(145.85 ± 80.56) ml/s vs.(86.44 ± 48.46) ml/s,(155.63 ±126.47) ml/s vs.(67.74 ± 33.27) ml/s],and RAVIp in pulmonary hypertension group was lower than that in control group [(6.09 ± 5.16) ml/m2 vs.(10.23 ± 11.12) ml/m2],and there were significant differences (P ＜0.05).But there were no significant differences in RAVItEF,RAVIpEF,RAVIaEF and dv/dtE between two groups (P＞0.05).Conclusions In patients with pulmonary hypertension,right atrial booster pump function and reservoir function increases,while right atrial conduit function decreases.LAVT has a potential ability to evaluate right atrial function.

Manganese peroxidase (MnP), a crucial enzyme in lignin degradation, has wide potential applications in environmental protection. However, large-scale industrial application of this enzyme is limited due to several factors primarily related to cost and availability. Special attention has been paid to the production of MnP from inexpensive sources, such as lignocellulosic residues, using solid-state fermentation (SSF) systems. In the present study, a suitable SSF medium for the production of MnP by Schizophyllum sp. F17 from agro-industrial residues has been optimized. The mixed solid medium, comprising pine sawdust, rice straw, and soybean powder at a ratio of 0.52:0.15:0.33, conferred a maximum enzyme activity of 11.18 U/g on the sixth day of SSF. The results show that the use of wastes such as pine sawdust and rice straw makes the enzyme production more economical as well as helps solve environmental problems.
Culture Media ; Fermentation ; Industrial Microbiology ; methods ; Oryza ; Peroxidases ; biosynthesis ; Schizophyllum ; enzymology ; Wood

Objective]To evaluate the value of three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography(3D-TEE)in the applica?tion of percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusionin patients with atrial fibrillation.[Methods]7 patients with atrial fibrillation in Da?lian area(female 4,male 3,mean age 71.5 ± 3.3 years)were enrolled in the study.The maximum and minimum diameter and the max?imum depth ofleft atrial appendage were measured by 3D-TEE,and export morphology and leaf number were viewed.WATCHMAN occlude size was selectedby 3D-TEE. The process of operation was monitored by 3D-TEE. 3D-TEE was also performed in 3 months after the transcatheter closure.[Results]7 patients were performed the transcatheter closure therapy successfully. Preoperative 3D-TEE showed left atrial appendage export:5 cases were oval,and 2 cases were nearly circular. The leaf number was 1.6 ± 0.8. The maximum diameter of the left atrial appendage export was(23.1 ± 1.7)mm,(19.2 ± 2.1)mm minimum diameter,maximum depth of(27.6 ± 3.3)mm. The maximum diameter had good correlation with the size of occluder(r=0.944,P=0.001). 3D-TEE was used for guidance in the transcatheter therapy and succeeded. There were 1 case with little shunt after the transcatheter closure. 3 months af?ter the treatment ,position and shape of the occluderswere all in good.[Conclusion]3D-TEE has the great value in the percutaneous closure of left atrial appendage.

Objective To explore a new method for the therapy of vascular necrosis of the femoral head. Methods The recombinant Ad-huVEGF 121 was implanted into the necrotic femoral head. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (huVEGF 121 ) was examined by RT-PCR and immunohistochemical techniques. Angiogenesis was observed by histomorphometric analysis and blood flow of femoral head was observed by SPECT. Results The expression of huVEGF 121 was detected in the femoral head transfected with the huVEGF 121 gene. The femoral head transfected with the huVEGF 121 gene showed a significant increase in angiogenesis and blood flow of femoral head after gene transfection. Conclusion Transfection of the VEGF 121 gene enhances angiogenesis of bone tissue and blood flow of necrotic femoral head.

A pot experiment was conducted to study effect of drought stress on leaf physiological characteristics and growth of one year old Stellaria dichotoma seedlings. The result showed that plant height and shoot dry weight significantly decreased with decrease in soil water content; however, root length and root dry weight increased at light drought stress and decreased at severe drought stress. The result also showed that with the decrease of soil water content, proline content in S. dichotoma leaves decreased then increase, while solube protein content decreased. Activities of SOD and POD in S. dichotoma leaves significantly decreased as soil water content decreased, while activity of CAT significantly decreased at severe drought stress. Membrane permeability in S. dichotoma leaves increased, while MDA content decreased then increased as soil water decreased. These results suggest that S. dichotoma had osmotic stress resistance ability and reactive oxygen scavenging capacity at light drought stress, which caused S. dichotoma growth was no inhibited at a certain extent drought stress.
Droughts ; Plant Leaves ; enzymology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Proteins ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; enzymology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Proline ; metabolism ; Seedlings ; enzymology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Stellaria ; enzymology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Water ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the condition of exercise, medicine compliance and the rehabilitation of patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO) in lower extremity after the surgery, and also to study the influence of self-efficiency and social support to their rehabilitation. Methods The questionnaire survey was performed in 102 patients who had surgical or interventional therapy of arteriosclerosis obliterans in the lower extremity in our hospital, investigated the general information of the patients, their knowledge of postoperative rehabilitation, medicine compliance, exercise condition, general self-efficiency and social support. Results The postoperative time for the patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans was 2 to 22months, the knowledge rate for postoperative rehabilitation was 7.8%-46.1%.The Morisky score for the patients of taking medicine for the treatment of vascular disease was 2.0,and there was only 6 patients(5.9%)with good medicine compliance. There were 22 patients(21.0%) had completed the ambulation training according to the guidelines, and there were 25 patients(24.5%) had completed the Buerger training. The self-efficiency score of the patients was 2.78 ± 0.76, and the gross score of social support was 32.38 ± 7.89. Spearman correlation analysis shows that the Morisky score for the patients of taking medicine for the treatment of vascular disease was in positive correlation with self-efficiency (r=0.289, P=0.003), but in negative correlation with social support (r=–0.286, P=0.006). Conclusions Most of the patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans have poor medicine compliance, and do not do exercise as required by the guidelines. Patients with high self-efficiency demonstrates medicine noncompliance, however the enhancement of social support will help patients improve their medicine compliance.

Objective To study the regulatory effect of interferons(IFNs) on retinoic acid-inducible gene-Ⅰ(RIG-Ⅰ) and the roles of RIG-Ⅰ in IFNs signaling pathway. Methods RIG-Ⅰ expression before and after IFNs treatment in mouse embryonic fibroblasts(MEFs) were analyzed with Northern blotting and semi-quantitative RT-PCR assay.MEFs isolated from wild-type and RIG-Ⅰ-/-mice were used to test growth inhibition and antiviral activity of IFNs with MTT assay and cytopathic effect inhibition assay. Results Both IFN-? and IFN-? could induce RIG-Ⅰ expression in MEFs.Treated with 100 U/mL IFN-?,growth inhibition and antiviral activity of MEFs from wild-type mice were more significant than those from RIG-Ⅰ-/-mice.With the absence of RIG-Ⅰ,the antiviral protective role IFN-? plays was significantly weaker than the wild type. Conclusion RIG-Ⅰ gene is a novel mediator of interferon effects on cells.It may participate in the inflammation responses mediated by IFNs through modulating cytokines production.

Four screening methods, colorimetric assay, blood-plate hemolysis method, surface tension activ- ity and oil spreading technique were introduced to isolate strains producing bio-demulsifiers from 6 different bacteria source samples. The results of various screening methods were evaluated in this paper. Seventeen demulsifying strains were obtained, which are qualified in demulsification test of kerosene model emulsions. Among them, 5 strains showed high demulsifying ability, achieving 70% plus demulsifying ratio within 24 hours. Petroleum-contaminated soil, excess sludge from biological process treating oilfield produced water and sludge from municipal wastewater treatment plant were the best among all tested sources. Due to the determination limit, the colorimetric assay and blood-plate hemolysis method are not competent to screen bio-demulsifiers strains. The measurement of surface tension and oil spreading method were easy but accu- rate methods to isolate bio-demulsifiers strains. Although demulsification test of model emulsion is an effec- tive technique to target strains with the capability of breaking emulsions, it is sophisticated and time-con- suming. Thus it is recommended to use surface tension and oil spreading methods in pre-screening and vali- date the results in demulsification test with kerosene model emulsions.