Mutagenesis and screening of hydrogen-producing photosynthetic bacteria,Rhodobacter sp.R7 strain,was investigated by using the combination mutation of ultraviolet ray and LiCl and layer plating methods.A carotenoid mutant named R726 strain was obtained.The plate phenotype properties in carotenoid mutant were different from that of parent strains.Living cells spectra showed that absorption peak of 550 nm was appeared in carotenoid mutant,but not in parent strain.The absorption spectra of extraction of pigment further confirmed the difference of carotenoid composition between the mutant and parent strains.The result of TLC on silica gel plate showed that mutant has a lack of yellow carotenoid composition which occurs in parent strain.H_2 productivity and biomass in carotenoid mutant was higher than that of parent strain.These results revealed that mutant has a modified carotenoid biosynthesis pathway.

Objective To investigate the relationship between insulin resistance and erythrocyte in- sulin receptors in patients with gout associated with macroalbruminuria(MAU).Methods FBG,PBG,FINS, P2hINS,CH,TG,HDL,LDL-c,UA and erythrocyte insulin receptors were determined in 44 patients with MAU,62 patients with normal MAU(NMAU).Results In MAU,the levels of FINS,TG,LDL-c and HOMA-IR were(16?4)mU/L,(2.5?0.6)retool/L,(3.2?0.5)mmol/L and 3.6~1.2 respectively.While they were(13?3) mU/L,(2.3?0.8)mmol/L,(3.0?0.5)mmol/L and 3.0~0.4 in NMAU group.The levels of FINS,TG,LDL-c and HOMA-IR were significantly higher in the MAU patients than those in NMAU patients(P

Objectives To investigate changes in serum levels of adiponectin,leptin and erythrocyte membrane insulin receptor among patients with gestational diabetes (GDM),and to study their relation to insulin resistance.Methods Fasting plasma glucose (FPG),fasting serum insulin (FINS), serum levels of adiponeetin and leptin,indices of lipid metabolism,2 h plasma glucose during oral glucose tolerance test (2 h PG),2 h serum insulin during oral glucose tolerance test (2 h INS),as well as number of erythrocyte membrane insulin receptors with high and low appetency and its constants,were determined in 40 patients with GDM and 34 controls with normal glucose tolerance.Insulin resistance index (IRI) was calculated.Results ① Serum levels of leptin and adiponectin were (11.7?2.8) ?g/L and (7.8?1.6) ?g/L,respectively,and number of high appeteney erythrocyte membrane insulin receptor (R_1) and low appetency erythrocytemembrane insulin receptor (R_2) was (43?9) / red cell and (2297?525) / red cell,respectively.Serum level of leptin was significantly higher in those with GDM than those of normal controls (P

Aim To observe the analgesic effect of doxorubicin ( DOX) on chronic sciatic nerve constric-tion injury (CCI) rat model, and analyze the underly-ing mechanism from the ultrastructure of sciatic nerve ganglion and the expressions of some apoptotic pro-teins.Methods A total of 60 SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham operation group ( Sham ) , CCI model group ( Model ) , sham operation+DOX 5 mg· kg -1 group ( Sham+DOX) , CCI mod-el +DOX 5 mg· kg -1 group (Model+DOX).DOX was given by caudal vein injection after model estab-lishment .Sham group and model group were given the same amount of saline . The mechanical withdrawal threshold and thermal withdrawal latency were deter-mined by behavioral test .The ultrastructural changes of L4-5 DRG were examined by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy , respectively .The pro-tein expression levels of Bax , Bcl-2 , PKCɑ, PKCδand PKCε in DRG tissues were determined by Western blot.Results The fluorescence of DOX was found in DRG after DOX was given intravenously .In compari-son with sham group , the thermal and mechanical pain thresholds had no obvious changes in sham +DOX group, while the thresholds were decreased obviously seven days after surgery in model group .In comparison with model group , the pain thresholds in model +DOX group increased significantly , which lasted for the en-tire observation time of six days .The ultra-structure of tissues was damaged obviously in both sham +DOX group and model+DOX group.The protein expression of Bax/Bcl-2 increased, while the expressions of PKCδand PKCεdecreased with DOX injection .Conclusions DOX can retrograde and reach the DRG tissues after intravenous administration . The attenuation effect of DOX on neuropathic pain is related to the apoptosis in-duced by the down-regulation of PKCδ and PKCε in DRG cells.

Biomarkers ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Ki-67 Antigen ; analysis ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Neoplasm Proteins ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; analysis ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVESTo explore the relation of ultrasonic findings to pathological features in cases of chronic viral hepatitis B and C.

METHODSThe ultrasonic and pathological findings were analyzed in 130 patients with chronic viral hepatitis B and 106 with chronic viral hepatitis C.

RESULTSIn patients with hepatitis B, the ultrasonic echo was thicker and more intensive and uneven cords were found. These findings were closely related to the pathological findings (P less than 0.001). In those with hepatitis C, the ultrasonic echo was slight and dense, which was also closely related to the pathological findings (P less than 0.001). In the patients complicated with fatty liver, the ultrasonic findings were also different (P less than 0.001).

CONCLUSIONUltrasonography is helpful for differential diagnosis of hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Humans ; Liver ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Male ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUNDPeutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is an autosomal dominantly inherited disease. STK11/LKB1 gene germline mutations have been identified as responsible for PJS. In our study, we investigated the molecular basis of PJS and evaluated correlation between the STK11 mutations and the Chinese population.

METHODSWe collected three pedigrees of PJS and screened the 9 exons and their flanking intronic sequences of STK11/LKB1 gene in the probands and normal individuals in the families using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing.

RESULTSSequencing of the STK11 gene in the probands of 3 families revealed two novel mutations (c180C-->G and c998-1002delGCAGC) in exon 1 and exon 8, respectively. The mutation of c180C-->G resulted in a premature termination codon. The other mutation, a deletion of five nucleotides (998-1002delGCAGC) in exon 8, predicted to generate a translational frameshift and a termination at codon 1070.

CONCLUSIONSThe growing number of mutations in PJS pedigrees suggests the molecular basis of PJS. STK11 gene mutation can be detected in most patients with PJS.

Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome ; genetics ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics

Aflatoxin B1 ; toxicity ; Animals ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Liver ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; beta Catenin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To study the disability identification for cases with clinical diagnosis of diffuse axonal injury (DAI) due to traffic accidents, and to explore the possible effects of DAI on identification results. METHODS: Five hundred and fifty-six cases of cerebral injury due to traffic accidents were collected, including 467 cases diagnosed with cerebral contusion or laceration and 89 cases diagnosed with DAI. The identification results of different groups with diagnosis of DAI diagnosis, diagnosis of DAI with cerebral contusion (laceration), and diagnosis of cerebral contusion or laceration without DAI were compared and statistically analyzed, based on the results of CT and MRI re-review. RESULTS: The disability identification levels in DAI group (20 cases), DAI group (69 cases) with cerebral contusion (laceration) and DAI group (467 cases) not complicated by cerebral contusion (laceration) were 7.72 +/- 1.09, 7.78 +/- 1.11, and 8.86 +/- 0.66, respectively. The disability levels of the two groups diagnosed with DAI were higher than those of the group without DAI diagnosis (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Patients with DAI diagnosis might have more severe cerebral injury. In the identification process, one should pay attention to the possible missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis, and meanwhile avoid relying on those evidences provided only by CT and MRI.
Accidents, Traffic ; Brain Injuries/diagnosis* ; Diagnostic Errors ; Diffuse Axonal Injury/etiology* ; Disability Evaluation ; Forensic Pathology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Resin Cements ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective： The current study was designed to search into the detection of micrometastasis in peripheral blood in the patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)and its significance.Method： Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 65 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, 21 non-HCC malignant tumors, 22 chronic hepatitis B or cirrhosis, and 21 cases of normal healthy volunteers. For identifying hepatocellular carcinoma cells in peripheral blood, the authors detected liver-specific alpha-fetoprotein(AFP) mRNA from total RNA extracted from whole blood by nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(Nested-RT-PCR). Results： AFP-mRNA was not detected in the normal healthy volunteers and the patient with non-HCC malignant tumors. The presence of AFP-mRNA in the patients with HCC (67.7％ ,44/65) was higher than those with chronic hepatitis B or cirrhosis ( 9.1％ ,2/22,P< 0.01). The detective rate of AFP-mRNA in the blood seemed to be correlated with the clinical stages of HCC, the presence of extrahepatic metastasis, and portal vein thrombosis. The positive AFP-mRNA in peripheral blood after treatment was correlated with the prognosis of the patients with HCC. AFP-mRNA was detected in 7 of 12 (58.3％) HCC patients with low level of serum AFP (< 25 μg/L). Conclusions： The presence of AFP-mRNA in peripheral blood may be an indicator of malignant or benign hepatocytes, which might predicate hematogenous spreading metastasis of tumor cells in the patients with HCC, it might be a valuable marker for predicting metastasis and recurrence of HCC, and it might play a supplementary role in the diagnosis of HCC with negative or low level of serum AFP.