Brucella ; isolation & purification ; Brucellosis ; epidemiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans

Humans ; Accidents, Traffic ; Cause of Death ; Technology

A bacteria strain DY3 with high endoglucanse activity was isolated from deep sea sediment sample ES0109. The 16S rDNA sequence of DY3 exhibits identity of 99% with those of the same genus bacteria Pseudoalteromonas citrea and Pseudoalteromonas elyakovii . The celX gene of DY3 obtained by PCR method is 1479bp in length and encodes a protein of 492 amino acids. The protein encoded by celX gene exhibits 95% sequence identity with endoglucanase CelG from Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis. There are two modules in the deduced amino acids sequence, a catalytic domain of glycosyl hydrolases family 5 at the N terminal and a carbohydrate binding domain at the C terminal which was linked to catalytic domain by a short linker. The optimal temperature of CelX is 40 degrees C and the optimal pH was between 6 and 7.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; Cellulase ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Pseudoalteromonas ; enzymology ; genetics ; Sequence Alignment

Thermophilic bacteria strain YBJ-1 was isolated from hot spring samples collected from Yangbajing, Tibet. The 16sr DNA sequence of YBJ-1 (1511bp in length) shares 98% identity with that of Thermus scotoductus strain ITI-252T. The full-length ORF of amylase gene of YBJ-1 (amyT) was amplified by PCR technique and cloned into T-vector. The complete sequence of amyT is 1767bp in length, coding for 588 amino acids. The deduced amino acids share 99% similarity with alpha-cyclodextrinse of Bacillus sterothermophilus, 96% with maltogenic amylse of Thermus. sp IM6501, and 81% with neopullulanase of Bacillus sterothermophlus.
Amylases ; genetics ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Culture Media ; Open Reading Frames ; genetics ; Thermus ; enzymology ; genetics ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the surgical results of selective thoracic fusion (STF) for scoliosis associated with syringomyelia.

METHODSFrom January 2001 to January 2009, 93 cases of scoliosis associated with syringomyelia were retrospectively reviewed. There were 11 cases who underwent STF and were followed up more than 2 years, which included 8 female and 3 male, the mean age was 14.9 years (9 - 21 years). Curve type, coronal and sagittal Cobb angle, apical vertebral rotation apical vertebral translation, flexibility, trunk shift were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTSThere were 9 double curves and 2 triple curves, the Lenke type of thoracolumbar/lumbar curve included Lenke A in 2 cases, Lenke B in 7 cases and Lenke C in 2 cases. The average coronal Cobb angle of thoracic curve before and after surgery were 62.6° and 19.0° respectively, and the average correction rate was 69.6%. The average coronal Cobb angle of thoracolumbar/lumbar curve before and after surgery were 36.1° and 11.6° respectively, and the average spontaneous correction rate was 67.9%. The followed up time ranged from 24 to 48 months (mean 29.5 months), the average loss of correction rate was 6.8%. Only one trunk decompensation was noted at final follow-up. Pedicle screw nut loosening occurred in one patient and this patient underwent revision surgery, no neurological complication was noted at final follow-up.

CONCLUSIONSSTF could be safely performed in scoliosis associated with syringomyelia. Thoracolumbar/lumbar curve in these patients has similar spontaneous correction ability compared with idiopathic scoliosis patients. The satisfactory result could be achieved according to the STF criteria for IS.

Adolescent ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Scoliosis ; complications ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Syringomyelia ; complications ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the genetic feature of weak D type 15 allele (RHD845A) in a Chinese family.

METHODSRh D, C, c, E and e phenotypes of 4 members in a weak D type 15 family were tested by serological and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), D antigen was proven by indirect antiglobulin test. A pair of primers specific for RHD845A were designed, and a sequence specific primer-PCR (PCR-SSP) method was established to detect RHD845A allele in all family members. Subsequently the dual-tube PCR method was used to determine the RHD zygosity of 4 members.

RESULTSThe RHD845A allele existed in all 4 family members and the RHD zygosity test showed that all members were RHD +/RHD + homozygous. The parents and nephew possessed one normal RHD gene as RHD845A allele carriers, which caused RhD positive. The proband and his old-sister took two RHD845A alleles, which caused weak D phenotype.

CONCLUSIONThe proband is the weak D type 15 allele homozygous. The weak D type 15 gene is an ancestral allele, but not a mutation.

Adult ; Alleles ; Family Health ; Female ; Genotype ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Pedigree ; Point Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rh-Hr Blood-Group System ; genetics

The rhizome of Panax japonicus var. major have been used as the natural medicinal agent by Chinese traditional doctors for more than thousand years. Most of the therapeutic effects of P. japonicus var. major had been reported due to the presence of tetracyclic or pentacyclic triterpene saponins. In this study, Illumina pair-end RNA-sequencing and de novo splicing were done in order to understand the pathway of triterpenoid saponins in this species. The valid reads data of 15. 6 Gb were obtained. The 62 240 unigenes were finally obtained by de novo splicing. After annotation, we discovered 19 unigenes involved in ginsenoside backbone biosynthesis. Additionally, 69 unigenes and 18 unigenes were predicted to have potential function of cytochrome P450 and UDP-glycosyltransferase based on the annotation results, which may encode enzymes responsible for ginsenoside backbone modification. This study provides global expressed datas for P. japonicus var. major, which will contribute significantly to further genome-wide research and analysis for this species.
Gene Expression Profiling ; Panax ; genetics ; Saponins ; biosynthesis ; Sequence Analysis, RNA

Objective To investigate the etiology of acute recurrent pancreatitis (ACP) and de-termine how to further enhance its level of treatment.Methods The clinical data of 33 patients with ACP treated in Ruijin Hospital from 2003 to 2007 were retrospectively analyzed.Results Of the 33 patients with an average age of 55 (22-86), 18 (55%) were male and 15 (45%) female.ACP occurred once in 26 patients, twice in 4 and 3 times in 3.The disease appeared whithin 1 year in 29 patients, 1-2 years in 2, 2-3 years in 1 and 3 years in 1 after being dischared from hospital.For its etiology, it was of biliary origin in 29 patients, hyperlipidemia in 1, pancreatic tumor in 1 and unknow reasons in 2.Twenty-four patients were treated with operation or endoscopy.Two patients died and the mortali-ty was 9.1%.Conclusion ACP is mainly due to biliary origin in China.Operative intervention at an appropriate opportunity can effectively reduce the recurrence of biliary-origin pancreatitis.

Amine-terminated poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) was prepared by two steps. Firstly, potassium naphthalene was added to a solution of methoxypolyethylene glycol 5,000 in benzene until the solution maintains green in half of an hour, then excess tosylchloride was introduced; secondly, the conversion of the tosylate into an amine was carried out by Gabriel synthesis. The block copolymer poly (ethylene glycol)-co-poly (gamma-benzyl L-glutamate ) could be obtained by ring-opening polymerization of gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate N-carboxy anhydride with amine-terminated PEG as macroinitiator. And the benzyl group could be removed by sodium hydroxide. The product structure was characterized by IR, 1HNMR, GPC. The cisplatin-loaded micelle was observed by transmission electron microscope (TEM). And the block copolymer is expected to be useful as functional materials including carrier systems in drug controlled delivery applications.
Drug Carriers ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemical synthesis ; Polyglutamic Acid ; Polymers ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Surface Properties

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effectiveness of unilateral versus bilateral pedicle screw fixation in lumbar spinal fusion.

METHODSStudies on comparison between unilateral and bilateral pedicle screw fixation in lumbar spinal fusion were identified from Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL (Third Quarter 2011), ScienceDirect, OVID, SpringerLink and The China Biological Medicine Database, and searched several related journals by hand. The included trials were screened out according to the criterion of inclusion and exclusion. The quality of included trials was evaluated. Data were extracted by two reviewers independently. RevMan 5.1.1 was used for data analysis.

RESULTSSeven studies involving 480 patients were included, 246 in unilateral group, and 234 in bilateral group. The results of meta-analysis indicated that statistically significant difference were observed between the two fixation procedures in mean operation time (MD = -24.39, 95%CI: -33.16 to 15.61, P < 0.01), the amount of bleeding (MD = -118.73, 95%CI: -143.43 to -94.03, P < 0.01). There were no difference in inpatient stay, fusion rate, complication rate and excellent and good rate.

CONCLUSIONSBoth unilateral and bilateral pedicle screw fixation are effective in lumbar spinal fusion. To compare with bilateral fixation, unilateral fixation can shorten operation time, reduce amount of bleeding and medical expenses. And there is a similar effect of inpatient stay, fusion rate, complication rate and excellent and good rate.

Bone Screws ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Treatment Outcome