In this paper, three spoilage organisms were separated from five transmutative soy milks, and all the three spoilage bacteria could survive condition of both 1?105Pa,30min and 300mg/kg Nisin. Morpha character, physiological and biochemical characteristics, and a phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rDNA gene sequences reveal that these three strains are Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus pumilus and Brevibacillus borstelensis respectively. GenBank accessions for these three strains are EF439666-EF439668。

Animals ; Aorta ; pathology ; Apolipoproteins E ; deficiency ; Atherosclerosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Glycosides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Mice ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polygonum ; chemistry ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism

In order to investigate the prevalence and track genetic and antigenic evolutions of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and their prevalence in Guangxi, China since 1985, gene amplification and sequencing and virus neutralization (VN) test on chicken embryo tracheal organ cultures were used in genotyping and serotyping of 28 IBV isolates during 2009-2011 in Guangxi. The results of N gene sequencing and comparison showed that the 28 isolates and reference strains were classified into three groups, and most isolates belonged to group Ill, while the isolates in 1985-2008 belonged to groups IV and II. The data of VN test indicated that the 28 isolates belonged to 6 serotypes; among them, 71. 4% belonged to serotypes 1, 2, and 3, and 11 (39.3%) shared the same serotype with the current vaccine strains. Given the data of our previous study, it is found that prevalent serotypes and their proportions varied in different areas of Guangxi and during different periods. These data lay a good foundation for developing an oil-emulsified inactivated polyvalent vaccine containing local dominant serotypes for the effective prevention and control of infectious bronchitis.
Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; immunology ; Chick Embryo ; Chickens ; China ; epidemiology ; Coronavirus Infections ; epidemiology ; immunology ; veterinary ; virology ; Infectious bronchitis virus ; classification ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Poultry Diseases ; epidemiology ; immunology ; virology

Background Studies showed plasma fibrinogen (FIB) is not only the independent risk factor of cardiovascular disease,but also associated with the prevalence and incidenc of hypertension.A gender difference was shown in the association of FIB with hypertension,while no epidemiological study has been reported in Chinese population.Objective To explore the association between plasma FIB concentration and ten-year accumulative risk of hypertension.Methods A prospective study of relationship between blood pressure and other traditional risk factors were carried out in a cohort of Chinese population of 2115 people aged 35-64 years old in 1992 and 2002. The association of plasma FIB concentration with ten-year accumulative risk of hypertension was analyzed.Results The ten-year accumulative incidence rate of hypertension was 34.8%,and incidence in males (39.3%) was signifi- cantly higher than that in females (31.5%) (P

OBJECTIVETo assess the value of fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) for detecting common chromosome aneuploidies in interphase nuclei of amniotic fluid cells.

METHODSEighty two uncultured amniotic fluid samples and supernatants from 2 successfully and 5 unsuccessfully cultured amniotic fluid samples were analyzed with FISH. Results from standard cytogenetic analysis of 79 uncultured amniotic fluid samples and 2 successfully cultured amniotic fluid samples were compared with FISH results.

RESULTSAll of the 89 samples were succeeded analyzed with FISH. Positive findings included 3 cases with trisomy 21, 1 case with 47, XYY and 1 case with 69, XXX, which were consistent with results of karyotype analysis.

CONCLUSIONFISH is a rapid and accurate method for prenatal diagnosis, and can also provide a remedy to failed amniotic fluid cells culture.

Adult ; Amniotic Fluid ; cytology ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Karyotyping ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the safety and efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy with 'Dermatophagoides Farinae Drops' in D. farinae allergic asthma and/or rhinitis patients.

METHODSA 25-week double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-centered trail was conducted in 278 children (aged 4 - 18 yr) with mite-induced asthma and/or rhinitis. Patients were randomly assigned to receive sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) with 'Dermatophagoides Farinae Drops' (n = 139) or placebo (n = 139) for 25 weeks and the dosage and administration strictly followed the manufacturer's instructions. At the beginning of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 10th, 14th, 18th, 22nd week of the treatment, the patients were asked to accept follow-up visit, during the clinical trial all patients and parents were asked to keep a daily record of their asthma symptom scores, rescue medicine use, rhinitis symptom scores, morning and evening peak expiratory flow. Asthma symptom scores, reduction in use of rescue medicine, rhinitis symptom scores, lung function tests, skin sensitivity to mite, mite-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E and IgG4, and quality of life and adverse effect were assessed during the study.

RESULT(1) Of the 278 children, 27 dropped out before the study completion. (2) After 25 weeks of treatment, the median variability of PEFR was -1.38 for SLIT group and -0.90 for the placebo (P < 0.05). (3) Besides, the mean variability of medicine score of asthma was -0.08 for SLIT group and 0.52 for the plcebo (P < 0.05). (4) The median variability of rhinitis symptom score was -1.96 for SLIT group and -1.03 for the placebo (P < 0.01). (5) The rescue medicine usage of SLIT reduced but did not show significant differences between SLIT and placebo. (6) After 25 weeks treatment, the increase of D. farinae specific IgE antibody of two groups were similar, while specific IgG4 increased significantly in SLIT compared to the patients in control one (P < 0.01); (7) No severe adverse events happened in the trial and the most-likely adverse events were mild asthma and local rash.

CONCLUSIONDermatophagoides Farinae Drops is safe and effective in treating allergic asthma and atopic rhinitis.

Adolescent ; Animals ; Asthma ; therapy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Mites ; chemistry ; Rhinitis ; therapy

BACKGROUNDLipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is mainly secreted by macrophages, serving as a specific marker of atherosclerotic plaque and exerting pro-atherogenic effects. It is known that high-density lipoprotein (HDL) plays an important role against atherosclerosis by inhibiting pro-inflammatory factors, however, the relationship between HDL and Lp-PLA2 remains elusive.

METHODSIn this study, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blotting, and a platelet-activating factor (PAF) acetylhydrolase assay were performed to determine the Lp-PLA2 mRNA level, protein expression and activity in human monocyte-derived macrophages upon HDL treatment of different concentrations and durations. To investigate the underlying mechanism of HDL-induced Lp-PLA2 action, pioglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) ligand, was introduced to human monocyte-derived macrophages and mRNA and protein levels of Lp-PLA2, as well as its activity, were determined.

RESULTSLp-PLA2 mRNA levels, protein expression and activity were significantly inhibited in response to HDL treatment in a dose and time dependent manner in human monocyte-derived macrophages. Pioglitazone treatment (1 - 10 ng/ml) upregulated the Lp-PLA2 mRNA level, protein expression and activity in human monocyte-derived macrophages, while the effects were markedly reversed by HDL. In addition, pioglitazone resulted in a significant increase in PPARγ phosphorylation in human monocyte-derived macrophages, which could be inhibited by HDL.

CONCLUSIONThese findings indicate that HDL suppresses the expression and activity of Lp-PLA2 in human monocyte-derived macrophages, and the underlying mechanisms may be mediated through the PPARγ pathway.

1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Lipoproteins, HDL ; pharmacology ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; enzymology ; metabolism ; PPAR gamma ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate molecular mechanism of tanshinone II A inducing differentiation and apoptosis in acute promyelocytic leukemia NB4 cells.

METHODNB4 cells were cultured in vitro and treated with tanshinone II A and observed cellular morphology, cell category and the cellular proliferation. DNA microarray technique was used to analyze the gene expression profiles of NB4 cells induced by tanshinone II A.

RESULT92.8% of NB4 cells treated with 0.5 mg x L(-1) tanshinone II A were induced into mature neutrophils, in which myetocytes and melamyetocytes were 27.0%, banded and segmented neutrophits 68.2%. Cell growth were inhibited. cDNA microarray showed the enormously expressed 183 genes including 23 differentiation associated genes, and other interrelated genes.

CONCLUSIONTanshinone II A inducing differentiation in NB4 cells may be via regulation of many kinds of genes, especially differentiation associated genes expression. This partially explained the molecular mechanism of tanshinone II A inducing differentiation.

Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic ; drug effects ; Humans ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Phenanthrenes ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of 18F-FDG PET-CT in detecting metastatic lymph node and radiation planning for patient with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSThe data of 58 NSCLC patients were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperatively, Both 18F-FDG PET-CT and CT scan were performed for all patients. Blinded interpretation of these images was then carried out. The gross tumor volume defined by radiation oncologist based on imaging results of either PET-CT or CT alone was compared with pathological results eventually.

RESULTSThe sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of detecting metastatic lymph node in the mediastinum was 56.0%, 54.2%, 54.8%, 38.9%, 70.3% by CT alone, and 88.0%, 85.4%, 86.3%, 75.9%, 93.2% by PET-CT, respectively. There was a statisticalty significant difference between two methods(P < 0.05). However, statisticalty no significant difference in detecting hilar lymph nodes was observed. The radiation target volume defined by CT was identical to that by PET-CT in 31(53.5%) cases, but changed in the other 27 (46.5%) cases when 18F-FDG PET data was added. The accuracy was 75.9% in detecting metastatic lymph nodes in the radiation target volume defined by PET-CT, while it was much lower by CT alone (48.3%) with a statistically significant difference between two methods (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION18F-FDG PET-CT is more accurate than CT alone in assessment of mediastinal lymph nodes for NSCLC patients. It may be recommended as a method in defining the radiation target volume.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Female ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Lymph Nodes ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; radiation effects ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Mediastinum ; diagnostic imaging ; radiation effects ; Middle Aged ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; methods ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo study the distribution of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP)-TaqIB polymorphism and plasma concentration in general population and the association between the two.

METHODSA cross-sectional study was carried out in a general population of Beijing in 1999, using stratified-random sampling method. CETP-TaqIB polymorphism and plasma CETP concentration were determined in 719 individual aged 45 - 64 years.

RESULTS(1) Frequencies of B1B1, B1B2 and B2B2 genotypes were 0.356, 0.478 and 0.166, respectively. The frequency of allele B2 was 0.405. Distributions of genotypes and alleles were homogeneous in both sexes. (2) Plasma CETP concentration manifested as a normal distribution, with the mean of 2.03 micro g/ml. The value of female was 20.3%, higher than that of male (P < 0.001). There were no differences among age groups. (3) Plasma CETP concentrations of B1B1 and B1B2 were 19.6% and 13.4% higher than that of B2B2 homozygotes. (4) Stratified by lipid levels, smoking and alcohol consumption, only when tryglyceride exceeded 150 mg/dl, with no significant difference among three genotypes. The effect of lipids, smoking and alcohol consumption status was more significant in B1B2 heterozygotes.

CONCLUSIONCETP-TaqIB polymorphism was a determinant of plasma CETP concentration. However, the effect could be modified by other factors, such as lipids, smoking and alcohol consumption.

Carrier Proteins ; blood ; genetics ; Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Genotype ; Glycoproteins ; blood ; genetics ; Humans ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Sampling Studies