The growth and pigment production of 47 strains on casein medium were studied comparatively.T4 and Neurospora crassa AS 3.1602 were selected for their capacity of producing melanin on five different culture media. Melanin produced by T4 was investigated, and T4 was identified as Proteus mirabilis primarily.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic effects of percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) with degenerative scoliosis.

METHODSFrom March 2009 to March 2014,121 patients undergoing PKP for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) with degenerative scoliosis were retrospective analyzed. There were 41 males and 80 females,ranging in age from 56 to 92 years with an average of 73.2 years. Preoperative and postoperative 3 d respectively pain visual analogue scale (visual analogue score, VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index assessed pain and functional recovery of patients and preoperative and postoperative 3 d lumbar lordosis, scoliosis Cobb angle were analyzed.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 6 to 24 months, with a mean time of 11 months. All the patients achieved success in operation without serious complications. The operation time ranged from 30 to 65 min with an average of 42.2 min. Local leakage of bone cement was not found in canal. The VAS and Oswestry Disability Index at the 3rd day after operation decreased significantly compared with those of the preoperative (P < 0.05), and the lumbar lordosis and scoliosis Cobb angle also improved significantly compared with those of the preoperative (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPercutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) for the treatment of thoracolumbar scoliosis osteoporotic fracture can significantly improve patients spinal deformity, pain relief, which is worth of recommending.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Fractures, Compression ; surgery ; Humans ; Kyphoplasty ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; surgery ; Scoliosis ; surgery ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Visual Analog Scale

Objective To evaluate the influential factors of iron acquisition during Francisella tularensis LVS infection of mouse macrophages.Methods F.tularensis LVS expressing green fluorescent protein was used to infect murine macrophage J774A.1 cells.Transferrin receptor 1(Tfr1)was detected with mono-antibody and visualized with a goat-anti mouse IgG conjugated to Alexa 594.The expression profile of 5 iron metabolism related genes of J774A.1 murine macrophages uninfected or infected with F.tularensis LVS was determined with real-time PCR.Immunoblot analysis was used to compare the Tfr1 expression of live Francisella infected macrophage with dead bacteria.Tfr1 knock-off in J774A.1 cells was performed with siRNA.The transfected cells were infected with Francisella for immunoblotting and microscopy and infection assay.Results It was revealed that the live vaccine strain of F.tularensis induced the expression of Tfr1 in host macrophages.Gene expression analysis indicated that F.tularensis LVS drove an active iron acquisition program with induction of Tfr1 and iron regulatory proteins(Irp1 and Irp2).It was shown by Western-blotting that the siRNA-Tfrc-1 could knock off about 75% of Tfr1 in J774A.1 cells.It was determined by infection assay that,Tfr1 was knocked off,the bacteria number at 1h infection with Francisella was not different from that of control(F=1.06,P=0.326 5),while it was decreased significantly after 24h of infection(F=24.12,P=0.000 6).Conclusions It is demonstrated that upregulation of the Tfr1 may be mediated by post-transcriptional regulation during early infection,but sustained later through increased expression of Irp 1 and Irp 2.Increased expression of Tfr1 expands the intracellular iron pool through transferrin-mediated delivery and may thus be readily available for uptaking by Francisella.Knocking off the expression of Tfr1 does not affect bacterial invasion.Francisella,however,may fail to proliferate in macrophages in which the expression of transferrin receptor has been suppressed.

A white-rot fungi Rigidoporus sp.W-1 which could produce laccase was isolated. The fermentation conditions in shaking flasks were investigated. The optimal carbon source was wheat bran and (NH 4) 2SO 4 was the optimal nitrogen source. The components of the medium were optimized by orthogonal experiment. When W-1 was cultured under the optimum conditions, the activity of laccase could get to 7.1U/mL in 7 days.A great amount of crude laccase could be obtained by adding fresh medium to the 7 days old mycelium.

Fermentation condition optimization of P. decumbens Ju-A10 for production of CMCase using three kinds of plant cellulosic wastes as carbon sources was made using RSA method. The result was that CMCase was the highest when the level of carbon source was 9. 77 % , 8. 69 % and 9. 97% , and liquid volume was 64. 7 mL, 54. 2 mL, 40. 8 mL for carbon sources of millet straw, wheat straw and paper sludge, respectively. The value of CMCase was 29. 26IU/mL, 29. 14 IU/mL, 29. 81 IU/mL, respectively, in the above cases. The value of R2 is 0. 9117 , 0. 9246, 0. 8655 , respectively. It could be concluded that the fermentation models were quite reliable. The method can be applied in optimization of fungi fermentation medium.

Adult ; Decompression, Surgical ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; surgery ; Laser Therapy ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Traction ; methods

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME2) and arsenic trioxide (As2O3) on the apoptosis related gene expression in multiple myeloma cell line CZ-1.

METHODSTotal RNA was isolated from CZ-1 cells which had been treated with 2ME2 and As2O3 at an apoptosis-inducing concentration and reverse-transcribed into a cDNA probe labeled with Bio-16-dUTP, and then hybridized it with a microarray containing up to 96 key genes involved in apoptosis. The gene expression profile of the 2ME2 and As2O3 treated CZ-1 cells were analyzed with GEArray Analyzer software. The microarray results were confirmed by RT-PCR.

RESULTSAs2O3 treatment caused the alteration in the expression of 52 genes (54.2% of total genes on microarray). Among them, 42 (80.8%) were upregulated and 10 (19.2%) were downregulated. The upregulated genes were mainly involved in caspases family, P53 and ATM pathway, death effector domain family, TNF receptor family and CIDE family. 2ME2 treatment resulted in the alteration of 42 genes (43.8% of the total genes on microarray). Of them, 32 (76.2%) were downregulated and 10 (23.8%) were upregulated. The downregulated genes mainly belonged to bcl-2 family, inhibitor of apoptosis protein family (IAP), TRAF family, TNF ligand family, and CARD family.

CONCLUSION2ME2 and As2O3 induce the CZ-1 cells apoptosis by different pathways. As2O3 mainly induces upregulation of proapoptotic genes, and 2ME2 downregulation of anti-apoptotic genes expression.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; genetics ; Arsenicals ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Estradiol ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; genetics ; pathology ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Oxides ; pharmacology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tubulin Modulators ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo assess the efficacy and safety of Saw Palmetto Extract Capsules in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

METHODSWe conducted a multi-centered open clinical study on 165 BPH patients treated with Saw Palmetto Extract Capsules at a dose of 160 mg qd for 12 weeks. At the baseline and after 6 and 12 weeks of medication, we compared the International Prostate Symptom Scores (IPSS), prostate volume, postvoid residual urine volume, urinary flow rate, quality of life scores (QOL), and adverse events between the two groups of patients.

RESULTSCompared with the baseline, both IPSS and QOL were improved after 6 weeks of medication, and at 12 weeks, significant improvement was found in IPSS, QOL, urinary flow rate, and postvoid residual urine. Mild stomachache occurred in 1 case, which necessitated no treatment.

CONCLUSIONSaw Palmetto Extract Capsules were safe and effective for the treatment of BPH.

Capsules ; Humans ; Male ; Plant Extracts ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; drug therapy ; Quality of Life

OBJECTIVETo determine the CT features and anatomic-pathologic basis of the 16-slice Spiral CT (SCT) for aortic dissection (AD).

METHODSForty-two cases with typical aortic dissection (AD) and 12 cases with intramural hematoma (IMH) underwent 16-slice SCT, performed with unenhanced, contrast-enhanced scanning and three-dimensional reconstruction. More attention was put on the true and false lumen, intimal flap, the entry tear and the involvement of branches of AD.

RESULTS(1) True and false lumen and intimal flap of AD could be shown in all of 42 cases (100%), the entry tears were revealed in 41 cases (97.6%), and the true and false lumen and intimal flap extended spirally in 41 cases (97.6%). (2) For intramural hematoma (IMH), unenhanced CT depicted crescent-shaped areas with high attenuation extending along the walls of the aorta in 10 cases (83.3%), and low attenuation in 2 cases (16.7%), while contrast-enhanced CT showed no enhancement of attenuation in the crescent-shaped areas in all 12 cases. Nine cases (75%) of IMH were associated with penetrating aortic ulcer.

CONCLUSIONSThe axial and three-dimensional images of 16-slice SCT can fast and exactly reveal the pathological and anatomical features of AD, and provide detailed imaging information for clinical therapy. It's very important for the selection of treatment methods.

Adult ; Aged ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Aorta ; anatomy & histology ; Aortic Aneurysm ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

OBJECTIVETo explore the operative technique of repair and its curative effect of old rupture of the Achilles tendon with flexor digitorum (hallucis)longus tendon transfer.

METHODSFrom Nov 2001 to May 2005, 13 patients who had old rupture of the Achilles tendon were treated with this operative technique. Five of them were treated with flexor digitorum longus tendon transfer and 8 with flexor hallucis longus tendon. All patients had the history of closed injury of Achilles tendon(9 male and 4 female, 8 left feet and 5 right feet). The age ranged from 32 to 69 years(mean 41 years).

OPERATIVE TECHNIQUEflexor digitorum (hallucis)longus tendon was cut down alternatively. The distal end of flexor digitorum longus tendon should be sutured to flexor hallucis longus tendon if the flexor digitorum longus tendon was cut. The distal end of flexor hallucis longus tendon should be sutured to flexor digitorum longus tendon if the flexor hallucis longus tendon was cut. The proximal end of tendon to be cut down was sew up a suture line and pulled out from the incision to reveal the Achilles tendon. A transverse hole was drilled through the anterior aspect of the insertion of the tendon of the calcareous, and then drilled upward perpendicularly. The two holes were cross-connected by towel clamp. The flexor digitorum (hallucis)longus tendon to be transferred was pulled through the first hole from wall outward and upward, and then pulled through superior extremity of the second hole. The end of tendon was sutured firmly with the Achilles tendon.

RESULTSAll patients have no infection or re-rupture during follow-up (average 24 months;range 11 to 54 months). There was no subsequent hammer-toe deformity. Dorsiflexion at least to neutral and normal plantar flexion were obtained in all patients. According to Arner-Lindholm standard,the final results were excellent in 9 patients(6 cases were used flexor hallucis langus tendon, and 3 cases were used flexor digitorum longus tendon),good in 3 patients(2 cases were used flexor hallucis longus tendon and 1 case was used flexor digitorum longus tendon) and poor in 1 patient used with flexor digitorum longus tendon.

CONCLUSIONThe repair of old rupture of the Achilles tendon with flexor digitorum (hallucis) longus tendon transfer is an ideal and effective method. Furthermore, the use of flexor hallucis longus muscle tendon tends to be more reasonable.

Achilles Tendon ; injuries ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rupture ; Tendon Transfer ; methods