Immobilization of the bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens UP-3 was studied in this paper. The results showed that the immobilized cells with the mixture of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and sodium alginate (SA) as the immobilizing carrier had good biodesulfurization characteristics; The optimum operation immobilization conditions were 4℃, the total concentration of PVA and SA being 7%(wt), and the concentration of cells being 0.05 g/mL. When DBT addition was 2.7 mmol/L, the DBT degradation of immobilized cells was above 60% while that of resting cells is 13%. The optimum degradation time and temperature of immobilized cells were 5d and 28℃～32℃, respectively.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Lianggesan on the expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) in rats with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury and explore the possible mechanisms of the therapeutic effects.

METHODSEndotoxemia was induced in Wistar rats by intravenous injection of LPS (5 mg/kg). The rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, namely the control group, acute lung injury group (LPS group), 3 Lianggesan groups treated at different doses, and LPS+DEX treatment group. Each group, except for the control group, was further divided into 5 subgroups and examined at 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 h after LPS injection. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression of STAT1 and p-STAT1 in the lung tissue.

RESULTSIn LPS group, the expression of STAT1 began to increase at 1 h following LPS injection, reaching the peak level at 4 h; the peak expression of p-STAT1 occurred at 2 h after LPS administration (P<0.01). Compared with LPS group, the 3 Lianggesan groups and DEX group showed significantly decreased expressions of STAT1 and p-STAT1 at 2, 4 and 8 h after LPS injection (P<0.05 or 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAbnormal expression of STAT1 occurs in the lung tissue in the event of ALI. Lianggesan can relieve LPS-induced acute lung injury in rats by decreasing the expression of STAT1 and p-STAT1.

Acute Lung Injury ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Lung ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; STAT1 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the effect of 4-hydroxytamoxifen on the expression of pituitary tumor transforming gene (PTTG) in GH3 prolactinoma cells. Methods RT-PCR and Western blotting were employed to detect the expressions of PTTG mRNA and protein in human GH3 prolaetinoma cells. Different concentrations of estradiol (E2) or 4-hydroxytamoxifen (OHTam) were addedl into the hormone-depleted medium, and the viable cell number and expression levels of PTTG mRNA and protein were measured. Results The growth of OH3 prolaetinoma cells was significantly inhibited in hormone-depleted medium. E2 at a concentration of 1×10<'-8> mol/L obviously promoted the cell growth, the effect of which was inhibited by the application of OHTam (1×10<'-6> mol/L) to cause slowed cell growth. The expressions of PTTG at both the mRNA and protein levels were detected in detected in untreated GH3 prolactinoma cells, and OHTam at the concentration of 1×10<'-6> mol/L significantly inhibited their expressions. Conclusion The growth of GH3 cells is estrogen-dependant and can be inhibited by estrogen antagonist OHTam, which also results in reduced expression of PTTG gene in the cells.

Objective To evaluate the clinical effects of CT guided percutaneous aspiration and sclerotherapy in treatment of hepatic cysts.Methods Sixty three patients with single(n=41)and muttiple(n= 22)hepatic cysts were undertaken CT guided pereutaneous aspiration and sclerotherapy with injection of absolute alcohol.Results Sixty three patients underwent follow-up for 3-15 months after the operation showing effective indexes as grade 0 for 4(6.39%),gradeⅠfor 8(12.69%),gradeⅡfor 23(36.51%)and gradeⅢfor 28(44.44%)cases.The total effective rate reached 93.61%.No serious complications occurred. Conclusion Sclerosing therapy with absolute alcohol is safe,economic,simple and effective for treating hepatic cysts.(J Intervent Radiol,2007,16:850-852)

OBJECTIVETo clarify the clinicopathologic significance of the expression of the Bcl-2 protein (pBcl-2) and the Bax protein (pBax), and their clinical implications in Chinese and Japanese patients with human invasive ductal carcinomas (IDCs) of the pancreas.

METHODSThe study included 59 Chinese and 65 Japanese patients with IDCs of the pancreas. pBcl-2 and pBax expression were immuno-stained with streptavidin-biotin (SAB) method.

RESULTSpBcl-2 (+) was seen in 35.6% of Chinese and in 23.1% of Japanese patients. pBax (+) was seen in 49.2% of Chinese and 64.7% of Japanese patients. A comparison between them showed that there were significant differences in the male patients, in the patients with the moderately differentiated cancer, and in the elderly patients (chi squared = 4.447, P = 0.035; chi squared = 4.114, P = 0.043; chi squared = 6.657, P = 0.010 respective). In both Chinese and Japanese patients, those with pBcl-2 positive expression had a significantly higher survival rate than those with negative one (chi squared = 9.99, P = 0.0016; chi squared = 7.63, P = 0.0058). The group with pBax positive expression had a significantly higher survival rate in Japanese patients (chi squared = 9.37, P = 0.0022). Japanese patients whose tumors exhibited pBcl-2 and pBax positive immunostaining survived significantly longer than Chinese patients did (chi squared = 4.48, P = 0.0342; chi squared = 5.23, P = 0.023).

CONCLUSIONSThe expressions of both pBcl-2 and pBax are high found in Chinese and Japanese patients. The pBcl-2 positive expression implies a better prognosis in both Chinese and Japanese patients with IDCs of the pancreas. The effect of pBax expression on prognosis is different between Chinese and Japanese patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal ; metabolism ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Japan ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; ethnology ; metabolism ; Prognosis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; biosynthesis ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficiency of a peptide nucleic acid (PNA) delivery system by using liposome via PNA-DNA hybrids and to test the inhibitive action of antisense PNA on expression of multidrug resistance (MDR) related P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-SH.

METHODSTwo antisense PNAs were designed targeting at MDR-1 mRNA and then combined with partially complement DNAs respectively. The hybrids were delivered into cells using cationic liposome. The transfection efficiency, expression of P-gp and MDR-1 mRNA, intracellular adarimycin (ADM) were measured by flow cytometry, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

RESULTSTransfection of PNA increased the cell average fluorescence intensity significantly and the extent of increase was dependent on the concentration of PNA. After being transfected by both PNAs, P-gp expression of SK-N-SH cells decreased significantly and the intracellular ADM level was increased by about 3 times. The level of MDR-1 mRNA expression slightly decreased after transfection, but no statistical significance was observed.

CONCLUSIONSPNA can be delivered into tumor cells in form of PNA-DNA hybrids by cationic liposome. Properly designed antisense PNA can inhibit MDR related P-gp expression of SK-N-SH cells efficiently and specifically.

ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Animals ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; genetics ; Humans ; Nervous System Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Neuroblastoma ; metabolism ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; pharmacology ; Peptide Nucleic Acids ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transfection ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVEErectile dysfunction-no sexual life (ED-NS) is defined as the inability to have enough penile erection hardness and duration so as to have enough confidence in attempting sexual intercourse for more than six months. This study was to investigate the effect of daily low-dose tadalafil on ED-NS.

METHODSWe treated 35 ED-NS patients aged 17-35 (25.9 +/- 3.9) years with oral tadalafil at 5 mg qd for 3 months and followed them up for another 3 months after drug withdrawal. We obtained the scores of the patients on Self-estimation Index of Erectile Function-No Sexual Life (SIEF-NS) and compared them before and after medication and at 3 months after drug withdrawal.

RESULTSThe patients' SIEF-NS scores were 43.2 +/- 7.1 after medication and 42.1 +/- 7.4 at 3 months after drug withdrawal, both significantly higher than 21.2 +/- 5.9 before treatment (P < 0.05), though there was no significant difference between the former two scores (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDaily medication of low-dose tadalafil can significantly improve the erectile function of the patients with ED-NS.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Carbolines ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Humans ; Male ; Sexual Behavior ; Tadalafil ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effectiveness of phosphorothioate multidrug resistance gene 1 (MDR1) antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (MDR1-AS) suppressing MDR1 expression in multidrug-resistant glioma cell line C6/adr.

METHODSThe glioma cell line C6/adr served as the tested model in vitro, MDR1-AS (5'-CTCCATCACCACCTC-3'), complementary to the -9- +6 sequence of first exon, was synthesized and phosphorothioate-modified. As control of sequence specificity, MDR1-S (5'-GAGGTGGTGA TGGAG-3') was used. Both antisense and sense oligodeoxynucleotides were transduced to C6/adr cells by lipofectin. The cytotoxity of MDR1-AS was tested using morphological observation and 3- (4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) -2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. Semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to monitor the expression levels of the MDR1 mRNA in the different groups. The positive rate of the MDR1 gene product P glycoprotein (P-gp) was determined by flow cytometry assessment.

RESULTSNo cytotoxicity of MDR1-AS was observed. The MDR1 mRNA expression level was decreased from 106% to about 30.44% 48 h after MDR1-AS treatment. The P-gp positive rate of MDR1-AS treated C6/adr cells decreased from 100% to 32.77%, with that of C6/adr cells considered as 100%.

CONCLUSIONSMDR1-AS can effectively inhibit MDR1 expression in the C6/adr cell line at both the mRNA and protein level, and may be an alternative treatment of drug-resistant gliomas.

ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Glioma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics

BACKGROUNDIt is still a challenge for the cardiac surgeons to achieve adequate revascularization for diffused coronary artery disease (CAD). Coronary endarterectomy (CE) offers an alternative choice of coronary artery reconstruction and revascularization. In this study, short-term result of CE combined with coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) was discussed in the treatment for the diffused CAD.

METHODSFrom January 2012 to April 2014, 221 cases of CABG were performed by the same surgeon in our unit. Among these cases, 38 cases of CE + CABG were performed, which was about 17.2% (38/221) of the cohort. All these patients were divided into two groups: CE + CABG group (Group A) and CABG alone group (Group B). All clinical data were compared between the two groups, and postoperative complications and in-hospital mortality were analyzed. The categorical and continuous variables were analyzed by Chi-square test and Student's t-test respectively.

RESULTSDiabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and peripheral vascular disease were more common in group A. In this cohort, a total of 50 vessels were endarterectomized. Among them, CE was performed on left anterior descending artery in 11 cases, on right coronary artery in 29 cases, on diagonal artery in 3 cases, on intermediate artery in 2 cases, on obtuse marginal artery in 5 cases. There was no hospital mortality in both groups. The intro-aortic balloon pump was required in 3 cases in Group A (3/38), which was more often than that in Group B (3/183). At the time of follow-up, coronary computed tomography angiogram showed all the grafts with CE were patent (50/50). There is no cardio-related mortality in both groups. All these patients were free from coronary re-intervention.

CONCLUSIONSCoronary endarterectomy + CABG can offer satisfactory result for patients with diffused CAD in a short-term after the operation.

Aged ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; adverse effects ; methods ; Coronary Artery Disease ; surgery ; Endarterectomy ; methods ; Female ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peripheral Vascular Diseases ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the association of Parkinson's disease (PD) with cigarette smoking.

METHODSOne hundred of fourteen PD patients were compared with 205 control subjects who were matched by gender, race and residency. A previously validated questionnaire including smoking, alcohol/tea consumption as well as some other environmental exposure data was administered.

RESULTSWith never-smokers as the reference category, we observed reduced risk for PD among ever smokers (OR=0.49, 95% CI: 0.30 to 0.79) current smokers (OR=0.44, 95% CI: 0.23 to 0.86) and ex-smokers (OR=0.54, 95% CI: 0.30 to 0.96). When ever smokers were stratified by years of smoking, there was an inverse correlation between those whose smoking history was longer than 20 years (OR=0.40 95% CI: 0.21 to 0.81) and an even mild protective correlation between those who smoked less than 20 years (OR=0.57, 95% CI: 0.33 to 0.99). Those who had quitted smoking for more than 20 years were less likely to have the disease than never smokers, and those who had quitted for less than 20 years were least likely to have PD, while those who were current smokers were still least likely to have the disease. We found significant inverse gradient with pack-day smoking (trend P<0.05), and the inverse correlation between cigarette smoking and PD was not confounded by alcohol/tea consumption and other confounding bias.

CONCLUSIONSThe inverse correlation between Parkinson's disease risk and smoking as well as the trend of gradient dose response is again observed in our study. More future researches are needed to confirm these correlations and to explore further biochemical evidence.

Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Parkinson Disease ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; adverse effects