An actinomycete strain P-13, with antimicrobial activity against muskmelon bacterial spot pathogens, was isolated from the muskmelon rhizosphere soil samples in Xinjiang. The strain P-13 was identified as Streptomyces rochei based on morphological, physiological characteristics and 16S rRNA sequence analysis. The agar diffusion bioassay showed that the diameter of inhibition zone against Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrull BFB and Pseudomonas syringae pv. Lachrymans P4 was above 19 mm and 17 mm, respectively. The antimicrobial substances obtained from strain P-13 were demonstrated to be alkaline and water-soluble compounds according to paper chromatogram analysis and exocellular metabolites. Furthermore, it was stable to be treated by 100?C for 10 min, pH 6 for 6 h, or ultraviolet treatment for 7 h. Moreover, it was insoluble in organic solvents, such as petroleum benzine, diethyl ether, and acetic ether.

Objective: To explore the effects of various concentrations IFN-? on human oral epidermic cancer cell line KB and its multidrug resistant counterpart KBv200.Methods: The toxicity of IFN-? and/or VCR was assayed by MTT method; intracellular rhodamin123 concentration and p-glycoprotein expression were measured by flow cytometry; mdr-1 mRNA was assayed by RT-PCR. Results: High-dose IFN-?(10 000 IU/ml) had significant antiproliferative effects on KB/KBv200 cell lines. Low-dose IFN-? did not have any significant effect on growth of KB/KBv200 cells, but did increase the cytotoxic effect of VCR and the accumulation of Rhodamine123 in KBv200 cell line and had no effect on parent VCR-sensitive KB cell line. IFN-? down-regulated expression of P-gp and mdr-1mRNA . Conclusions: IFN-? has significant effect on the reversal of multidrug resistance of KBv200 cell line via a mechanism of P-gp and mdr1 mRNA down-regulation.

Objective To investigate the expression and significance of heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) in gastric adenocarcinoma and its peritoneal metastatic tissues, as well as drug-resistant cell strains. Methods The expression of HO-1 in patients with (n=68) or without (n=46) peritoneal metastasis of gastric adenocarinoma was examined. The expression of HO-1 in cancerous tissue, peritoneal metastatic foci, and normal peritoneum was detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression of HO-1 protein in metastatic foci and drug-resistant cell strains was measured by Western blotting. Results The positive expression of HO-1 was 39.7% (27/68) in gastric adenocarcinoma tissues with metastasis and 41.2% (28/68) in peritoneal metastatic tissues, which was significantly higher than that in normal peritoneum (0%,0/68,P<0.01) and gastric adenocarcinoma tissues without metastasis (21.7%, 10/46, P<0.05). The Western blot study showed that the HO-1 expression in metastatic tissues was higher than that in normal peritoneum (P<0.05). The expression of HO-1 protein was markedly increased in GC9811-P drug-resistant cell strains compared with its parental cell strains (P<0.05). Conclusions The increased expression of HO-1 may be involved in the peritoneal metastasis of gastric adenocarcinoma, and related to the malignant potential. The underlying signal pathways in neopastic epithelium may also be related to the multi-drug resistance.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the functional outcomes of modified limited "L" incision beside the Achilles tendon with distraction bone block arthrodesis in treatment of subtalar osteoarthritis.

METHODSFrom March 2009 to September 2012, a total of 22 cases of old calcaneus fractures with subtalar osteoarthritis were treated with modified limited "L" incision and distraction bone block arthrodesis including 13 males and 9 females with a mean age of 35.3 years old (ranged 22 to 49). The mean time from calcaneal fracture was 21 months (ranged 11 to 32). According to the Stephens-Sanders classification, 16 cases were type II and 6 were type III. The modified-AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score was used for functional outcomes evaluation.

RESULTSThere was one incision necrosis and no infection, implant failure, bone-graft absorbed or talus necrosis was note at the follow-up time. A total of 21 cases were followed up for a mean time of 29 months (ranged from 18 to 46 months). All of the cases reached a bony union within 4 months postoperation. The mean modified-AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score was 82.6 points (ranged from 66 to 92 points),reached a significantly improvement in comparing with the mean preoperative score (50.8 points,ranged from 32 to 65 points, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe modified limited"L" incision beside the Achilles tendon with distraction bone block arthrodesis is an acceptable and alternative treatment method for subtalar osteoarthritis. This method is easy to use and with less complication. It can correct the main pathological changes and reach good functional outcomes.

Adult ; Arthrodesis ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis ; surgery ; Subtalar Joint ; surgery

With the advance of drug development and research techniques, the drug metabolic processes and mechanism can be more deeply achieved. As the drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics process are mediated by drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters, study of drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters has become an important part for drug development. The traditional immunoassays with low sensitivity and poor specificity can not reflect the accurate expression level of drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters. We now give a brief review on the quantitative study of drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters by mass spectrometry-based proteomic approach.
Enzymes ; chemistry ; Humans ; Inactivation, Metabolic ; Mass Spectrometry ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; chemistry ; Pharmacokinetics ; Proteomics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of zinc finger E-box binding homebox 1 (ZEB1) in the prepuce of hypospadias children and its relationship to the incidence of hypospadias.

METHODSPrepuce tissues were collected from 37 children aged 6-15 months undergoing hypospadias repair and 11 age-matched controls receiving circumcision. Based on the position of the urethral meatus, the hypospadias cases were classified as severe (n = 13) and mild-moderate (n = 24). The mRNA and protein expressions of ZEB1 were determined by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe expression of the ZEB1 protein was remarkably higher in the severe (100% [13/13]) and mild-moderate hypospadias patients (75.0% [18/24]) than in the controls (9.1% [1/11]), with statistically significant differences between any two groups (P < 0.05). RT-PCR showed the integrated density value (IDV) of the ZEB1 mRNA expression to be (0.67 ± 0.21), (0.81 ± 0.24), and (1.55 ± 0.29) in the control, mild-moderate, and severe hypospadias patients, respectively, significantly higher in the severe hypospadias than in the control and mild-moderate hypospadias groups (P < 0.05), but with no significant difference between the latter two (P = 0.64).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of ZEB1 is significantly increased in hypospadias patients, and its upregulation is positively correlated with the severity of hypospadias, which suggests that the overexpression of ZEB1 may contribute to the development of hypospadias.

Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Circumcision, Male ; Foreskin ; metabolism ; Homeodomain Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypospadias ; classification ; etiology ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Infant ; Male ; Penis ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation ; Urethra ; Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1

BACKGROUND:Oligodendrocytes are mostly differentiated from oligodendrocyte precursor cel s. A suitable medium and cel seeding density have a significant impact on the process of the isolation of oligodendrocyte precursor cel s to obtain oligodendrocytes. OBJECTIVE:To explore the optimization of oligodendrocyte culture conditions. METHODS:Oligodendrocyte precursor cel s isolated from the newborn rats 48 hours after birth were cultured in DMEM/high glucose medium or DMEM/F12 medium using seeding densities of 2×104 cel s/cm2, 4×104 cel s/cm2, 8×104 cel s/cm2, 16×104 cel s/cm2, 32×104 cel s/cm2, and 64×104 cel s/cm2, respectively. Oligodendrocyte precursor cel s were induced to differentiate into oligodendrocytes at 72 hours after cel adhesion. Morphology of differentiated oligodendrocyte precursor cel s were observed under a light microscope, and the differentiation results were identified by immunofluorescence staining after 7-day induced differentiation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Morphology of oligodendrocyte precursor cel s were recognized when cultured in DMEM/high glucose medium or DMEM/F12 medium using seeding densities of 2×104 cel s/cm2, 4×104 cel s/cm2, and 8×104 cel s/cm2, respectively. Immunofluorescence staining showed that myelin basic protein-positive cel s were found after 7-day induced differentiation, and the positive cel number were 16.40±3.30, 49.95±2.33, and 76.95±4.86 in DMEM/F12 medium, and 12.65±2.53, 32.10±1.17, and 54.05±1.56 in DMEM/high glucose medium (P<0.05). These findings indicate that DMEM/F12 medium is more suitable for culturing oligodendrocyte precursor cel s compared with DMEM/high glucose medium to some extent. The number of differentiated oligodendrocytes was gradual y increased with the enhanced seeding density of oligodendrocyte precursor cel s, and the seeding densities from 4×104 to 8×104 cel s/cm2 were appropriate for the observation of cel morphology.

Objective To investigate the value of integrin αvβ3 targeted microSPECT/CT imaging with 99 Tcm-3P4-RGD2 as a radiotracer in tumor anti-angiogenesis therapy .Methods Animal models bearing glioma and prostate cancer xenografts were established by subcutaneously injecting tumor cells U87MG and PC-3 in nude mice.Anti-angiogensis therapy with Avastin was administered via intraperitoneal injection when the tumor diameter reached 6 to 7 mm while saline was served as control group . MicroSPECT/CT imaging was performed with 99 Tcm-3P4-RGD2 as radiotracer one day before and 3, 5, 10, 15 days after Avastin administration .Tumor volume and tumor uptake of 99 Tcm-3P4-RGD2 , expressed as percentage of injected dose (%ID) or %ID per gram (%ID/g) were measured and calculated based on microSPECT/CT.Mice basic condition was monitored and tumor xenograft was harvested in one tumor bearing nude mouse after its sacrifice at each imaging time point .Results Tumor volume of U87MG glioma in the administration group was significantly smaller than that of non-administration control group at 10 d after Avastin adminstration ( t=5.81, P<0.05), while no significance was observed between the administration group and its control group of PC-3 tumor (P >0.05).The uptake of 99Tcm-3P4-RGD2 (%ID/g) in U87MG group was higher than that in PC-3 group before Avastin administration ( t=10.48, P<0.05), and it decreased to a value less than control ( t =3.26, P <0.05) at 3 d after Avastin administration and continually reduced at longer time after administration .PC-3 tumor had less uptake of 99 Tcm-3P4-RGD2 in both Avastin administration group and its control group .The pathologic results revealed on that the decrease of tumor integrin β3 expression in U87MG treatment group was mainly on the endothelial cells of the neovessel .Linear relationship was verified between tumor uptake (%ID/g ) and integrin β3 expression (y=0.499 1x-0.243 8, R2 =0.811 7).Conclusions Complete inhibition of integrin is demonstrated early after Avastin administration .99 Tcm-3P4-RGD2 microSPECT/CT imaging, assessing the expression level of integrin αvβ3 level by quantification of tumor uptake of 99 Tcm-3P4-RGD2 , is probably an important method to reflect the early therapeutic effect of tumor anti -angiogensis .

Objective To review the experience with mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy (MPC NL) in early children and discuss its safety and indications. Methods Between Dec 2005 and Apr 2009, 34 boys and 22 girls aged 7 months to 36 months underwent MPCNL for upper urinary tract calculi. Clinical data were analyzed retrospectively. Results The mini-percutaneous renal access of 12 - 16 F was successfully established in 56 patients under realtime colour ultrasound guidance and immediate lithotripsy was performed. Average accessing time was 2. 9±0. 6 min, and stone management time was 13. 9±3. 2 min. No severe complication occurred. Stone free rate was 92. 5%. Conclusions MPCNL was highly effective to treat stone disease in this population. The indications for MPCNL in early children include large upper tract stone burden ( greater than 1. 5 cm ) , multiple renal calculi, staghorn calculi, stones with high-grade obstruction, and those could not be cleared by EWSL or other treatment conservatively.

To investigate the pathogenic characteristic of ToxoDB # 17 Toxoplasma gondii in Kunming mice,the mice were fed with ＜1,1,101,102,103,104,105,106 oocysts,and the clinical symptoms of mice were observed.MAT,HE and IHC were used to research the infection rate of T.gondii,survival rate of mice and the number of cysts in brain.The results showed that the mice fed with ≥104 oocysts appeared transient depression,mice were arched,messy hair after infection.The mice fed with ≥102 oocysts were all infected,T.gondii cysts formation rate was 2.38％ (1/42),the survival rate of infected mice was 85.71％ (36/42),the survival time was greater than 360 days.In conclusion,the pathogenicity of ToxoDB# 17 T.gondii is weak,and cysts formation rate is also low.