16S rDNA sequences of 30 Bacillus strains originally identified as Bacillus licheniformis from China Center of Industrial Culture Collection (CICC) were determined and analyzed. The results indicated that 24 strains are affiliated to Bacillus licheniformis;3 strains are affiliated to Bacillus cereus and 1 strain is affiliated to Bacillus subitilis;the similarity levels of 16S rDNA among the rest of 2 strains and other strains of Bacillus licheniformis,range from 96.4% to 97.4%,further tests are needed to clarify their position. Also we testified that 5' terminal 500bp of 16S rDNA is available to differentiate the strains of Bacillus licheniformis、Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus.

Adolescent ; Child, Preschool ; Coronary Aneurysm ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Coronary Angiography ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; complications

Objective To investigate the effect of rosiglitazone on renal interstitial fibrosis in chronic cyclosporine nephropathy (CCN) rats.Methods Twenty-eight rats were randomly assigned to control group,rosiglitazone (RGZ,5 mg·kg-1·d-1) group,cyclosporine A(CsA,15 mg·kg-1·d-1) group,rosiglitazone (5 mg·kg-1·d-1) +CsA group.Real-time PCR and RT-PCR methods were used to investigate the expressions of OPN,RANTES on the 14th day and MMP-9,TIMP-1 on the 35th day in kidney of CCN respectively.Results In comparison with control group,the expressions of OPN,RANTES,MMP-9,TIMP-1 in CsA and RGZ+CsA groups were increased (P＜0.05).In comparison with the CsA group,the expressions of OPN,RANTES,MMP-9,TIMP-1 in CsA+RGZ group significantly decreased (P＜0.05).Conclusion Rosiglitazone may protect renal tissue after CCN by decreasing expressions of OPN,RANTES,MMP-9,TIPM-1.

OBJECTIVETo summary the characteristics of cervicothoracic junction (C7T1) fracture-dislocation,and explore the surgical treatment of combined anterior-posterior procedure.

METHODSFrom January 2005 to March 2010,8 cases of cervicothoracic junction (C7T1) fracture-dislocation were treated by stage I operation through anterior and posterior approacheg, supplemented by non-structural bone graft. All patients were male with a mean age of 45.0 years old ranging from 32 to 68 years. Six cases were diagnosed clearly by CT scan but with normal cervical spine X-ray film at admission. According to AO classification, 4 cases were of type B, 4 cases of type C, with unilateral locked articular process in 2 cases, bilateral in 2 cases. Preoperative MRI showed intervertebral disc injury in 6 cases.

RESULTSThe average operation time was 246.3 min ranging from 150 to 320 min. The blood loss was with an average of 307.5 ml (150 to 600 ml). One patient got hoarseness but recovered without special treatment 6 months later; No other complications happened. One patient of preoperative Frankel grade A died, the remaining patients were followed up from 12 to 63 months (38.6 months in average). These fracture-dislocations were completely reduction after operation, healed with bony union 12 months later, and no pseudoarthrosis. The function of the spinal cord improved obviously at the final follow-up, 1 patient of preoperative grade A had died,and the spinal cord function of the other one had no significant changes,the 2 cases of grade B recovered to C and D respectively, 1case recovered from grade C to D, and 3 case recovered from D to E.

CONCLUSIONCervicothoracic junction (C7T1) fracture-dislocation is a rare clinical spine trauma, and missed easily. The CT is a necessary complement to these patients highly suspected C7T1 fracture-dislocation but with negative cervical spine X-ray film. The patients diagnosed clearly could receive stage I operation of anterior and posterior approaches, supplemented with non-structural bone graft.

Adult ; Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Fractures ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To explore the feasibility of artificial silastic framework(SF)in repair of large area of tracheal wall defects.Methods Twenty healthy adult dogs with tracheal defects for 2.5 cm?6.0 cm-3.0 cm?6.0cm were randomly and equally divided into experimental group(repaired with SF combined with sternohyoid fasciae)and control group(repaired with T-silastie tubule combined with sternohyoid fascial flap).After the operation,the animals were sacrificed at the 4th,8th,16th,24th, and 48th weeks respectively for harvesting the tracheae that were used for tracbeoscopically observing in- flammatory reaction of the repaired defect area and light microscopically observing epithelium healing on the repaired defect area.Results In the experiment group,the repaired trachea was smooth,without proliferation of granulation;and at the 8th week,the repaired defect area was covered with epithelial cells,with good functional recovery of respiration,phonation and deglutition.In the control group,there was obvious proliferation of granulation on the tracheal surface near anterior and posterior ends of T-silas tic tubule.The animals were under asphyxia to die with extraction of T-silastic tubule.Conclusions SF has excellent tracheal skeletal function.In the meantime,SF combined with sternohyoid fasciae is a simple but effective method for repair of large area of tracheal wall defects.

In this study, efforts were made to collect 88 traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescriptions for treating ADHD from public literatures, establish a medication database and conduct data mining on the efficacy, properties, tastes, meridian entries and compatibility regularity of TCMs by using frequency analysis, association rules analysis and cluster analysis. The results showed 33 herbs with a high frequency (≥ 10%). The top 12 frequently applied ADHD herbs were respectively Acori Tatarinowii Rhizome, Polygalae Radix, Prepared Rehmanniae Radix, Os Draconis, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizome, Poria, Concha Ostreae, Testudinis Carapacis et Plastri, Paeoniae Alba Radix, Schisandrae Fructus Chinensis, Fructus Corni, Dioscoreae Rhizoma. The top seven types of frequently applied ADHD herbs by effect were respectively tonic herb, sedative herbs, livei-wind calming herbs, heat clearing herbs, astringent herbs, awaking herbs and damp clearing and diuresis promoting herbs. The top three properties were warm, cold and neutral, with warm as the dominance. The top three tastes were sweetness, bitterness and acridity, with sweetness as the dominance. The top three meridian entries were liver meridian, heart meridian and kidney meridian. The association rules analysis showed commonly used herbal pairs. Polygalae Radix-Acori Tatarinowii Rhizome, Concha Ostreae-Os Draconis, Prepared Rehmanniae Radix-Fructus Corni-Os Draconis. Eight highly frequent cluster prescriptions were summarized based on the cluster analysis. This study indicates that basic TCM prescriptions for treating ADHD were principally composed of tonics (nourishing liver and kidney, invigorating heart and spleen) and tranquilization, which were supplemented with herbs for calming liver, clearing heat, promoting qi-circulation, promoting blood-circulation, reducing phlegm and calming endogenous wind. The combination of multiple data mining techniques can reflect the clinical medication regularity of herbs for treating ADHD in an overall and objective manner.
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity ; drug therapy ; Data Mining ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Meridians

Objective To evaluate the clinical application of automated urine formed elements analyzer and/or urine dipstick analyzer for examination of urinary formed elements in screening urinary tract infection (UTI). Methods 148 fresh midstream clear-catch urine samples from the UTI patients and 284 fresh midstream clear-catch urine samples from non-UTI subjects were selected. Bacteria culture was performed for bacterial colony counting and identification. Bacteria counts ( BACT), yeast-like fungus and WBC were performed by UF-looOi automated urine formed elements analyzer. Leukocyte esterase test (LEU) and nitrite test (NIT) were performed by URISYS 2400 urine dipstick analyzer. We evaluated data obtained from urine dipstick analyzer, UF-1000i and combination of UF-1000i with urine dipstick analyzer and the results was compared with those obtained from quantitative bacterial culture. Then we evaluated the sensibility, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and accuracy. Results Among the 148 patients with UTI, the positive rate of the quantitative bacterial culture was 73.6% (109/148), the positive rate of LEU and NIT detected by dipstick test 26. 4% (39/148).There was significantly statistical difference between bacterial culture and strip test(χ2 = 55.68 ,P < 0. 05 ). The positive rate of urine flow cytometry by UF-1000i with either positive of BACT and WBC was 91.2%(135/148), which was higher than the positive rate of the quantitative bacterial culture. There was significant difference between two methods (χ2 = 14. 70, P < 0. 05 ). The positive rate of anyone positive among BACT, WBC, LEU and NIT was 94. 6% (140/148) when detected with combination of dipstick test and UF-1000i, which was higher than the positive rate of the quantitative bacterial culture. And there was significant difference between two methods (χ2 = 20. 45, P < 0. 05 ). The sensitivity of dipstick test was low (26. 4% ,39/148 ), and specificity was high ( 99. 3%, 282/284 ) . The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value of BACT detected by UF-1000i in diagnosing urinary tract infection were 92. 6% ( 137/148 ), 39. 8% ( 113/284 ). 44. 5% ( 137/308 ) and 91.1% ( 113/124 ), respectively. If the dipstick test was combined with UF-1000i, the sensitivity, negative predictive value, specificity, positive predictive value and accuracy were 98.0% ( 145/148 ), 97.1% ( 100/103 ). 35.2% (100/284) ,44. 1% (145/329) and 56. 7% (245/432), respectively. Conclusions The combination of urine dipstick test and automated urine formed elements analyzer UF-1000i plays an important role in early diagnosis of UTI. And it has significant value in diagnosis of UTI, especially for the patients with negative bacterial cultures of urine sample.

OBJECTIVE: To make an animal model of cervical spondylosis (arthralgia syndrome type) with stimulation of wind, cold, and dampness. METHODS: Twenty-four 8 months old male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly allocated into four groups: normal control group, light stimulation group, moderate stimulation group and severe stimulation group. The wind speed was 10.8-13.8 m/s, the temperature was (5+/-0.5)degrees centigrade, and the humidity was 100%. The rabbits of light, moderate, and severe stimulation groups were kept in the above-mentioned environments for 4 hours everyday, and for a total of 32, 64, and 128 hours, respectively. The intervertebral discs were stained with HE method, and observed with a light microscope. Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), 6-ketone-prostaglandin F1alpha (6-K-PGF(1alpha)) and thromboxane B(2) (TXB(2)) contents were measured by ELISA. Fas and Bcl-2 expressions were examined by immunohistochemical avidin-biotin peroxidose complex technique. Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) mRNA expressions were examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The nucleus pulposus of rabbits in the light and moderate stimulation groups shrunken, and in the severe stimulation group, the anulus fibrosus loosed or ruptured, and the cartilage end-plate became proliferated. Compared with rabbits in the normal control group, the PGE(2) content rose in the light stimulation group, the contents of PGE(2), 6-K-PGF(1alpha), and TXB(2) increased, the expressions of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha mRNAs and Fas were up-regulated, and the expressions of TGF-beta mRNA and Bcl-2 were down-regulated in the moderate and severe stimulation groups. The expression of Fas was up-regulated mostly and Bcl-2 was down-regulated mostly in the severe group. CONCLUSION: Moderate and severe stimulations of wind, cold and dampness can lead to degeneration of cervical intervertebral discs of rabbits. The model corresponds to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine about arthralgia syndrome caused by wind, cold and dampness.

Objective Biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL)/poly D,L-lactic/glycolic acid (PLGA) scaffold is a promising modality for diffuse coronary atherosclerosis diseases unavailable to bypass graft.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term performance of PCL/PLGA scaffold in vivo following polymer degradation.Methods Two scaffolds with and without heparin modification [Heparinized Scaffold (HS) and Blank Scaffold (BS)] were implanted.Except for control group,bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were also transplanted around the scaffold.Animals were grouped into control BS group,BS-MSCs group and HS-MSCs group (each n =6) and survived 6 months.Patency and integrity of scaffold were evaluated by echocardiography and 3D-DOCTOR software.Endothelium coverage of the lumen was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy.Neovessles and collagen fiber within the scaffold were identified by histological staining.Prostacyclin (PGI2) and thromboxane (TXA2) production in the plasma were measured by ELISA.The expression of cyclooxygenase (COX-1,COX-2) and prostacyclin synthase PGIS was detected by Western blot.Results The heparinized scaffold kept patent up to 6 months and the lumen was covered by confluent endothelial cells.Histological staining revealed remodeling of collagen fiber and reconstruction of neovascular network immediately around the lumen.PGI2 production and PGIS expression in BSMSCs group and HS-MSCs group significantly increased compared with BS group (P ＜ 0.05 and P ＜ 0.01,respectively).Nonetheless,TXA2 production and COX-1 expression in BS-MSCs group was more pronounced than HS-MSCs group (P ＜ 0.01),showing no difference between BS-MSCs and BS group (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Despite polymer degradation and entire heparin release,the scaffold could continuously keep the structual integrity and lumen patency until 6 months by reinforcement of host collagen fiber and PGI2 expression.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Choristoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Encephalocele ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; metabolism ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Meningocele ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Neuroglia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Nose Diseases ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Vimentin ; metabolism ; Young Adult