A strain no.H5 isolated from Rhizophora stylosa Griff in Zhanjiang had a good antagonistic activity against Aspergillus niger,pathogen of Dracaena Sanderiana black-rot disease.It was identified as Bacillus licheniformis.Dual culture,mycelium growth rate and inhibitory zones were used to test the effect. Strong inhibition was shown against A.niger.Inhibitory ratios of H5 germ-free fermented filtrate on mycelium growth and conidial germination were 91.9%and 100%respectively.In addition,mycelia on the edge of antagonistic band became abnormal and over-branching.Meanwhile,a lot of vesicles appeared on the surface.When treated with heat,acid and alkali,the filtration of H5 was always with stable activity.Precipitate in 55%saturated ammonium sulfate dissolved in phosphate buffer solution maintained most of the activity after high pressure steam sterilization for 25 minutes.It was preliminarily considered as a kind of heat resistant protein.

Objective To explore a space craft precooling temperature at which excessive thermal stress on the crew member could be prevented or reduced in an overheated launch or reentry module. Method Five young male volunteers wearing a space suit participated in 25 tests at sea level.The space suit was either ventilated in a volume air flow rate of 100 L/min (STPD) with ambient air at temperatures (Ta) of 15℃,10℃,and 5℃,respectively,or not ventilated. Rectal (Tr),mean skin (Tsk) and mean body (Tb) temperatures were measured. Result At Ta 15℃,Tr decreased without significance (from 37.0±0.2℃to 36.7±0.3℃) in 120-min tests,whereas Tsk and Tb decreased significantly,and subjects had local cold strain whether the space suit was ventilated or not; while at Ta 10℃,Tr decreased from 37.0±0.3℃ to 36.3±0.3℃(P<0.05),subjects had a whole body cold strain,and both Tsk and Tb dropped continuously and significantly. Conclusion Ambient temperature 15℃,at which the thermal comfort states of crew was not significantly degraded,was acceptable after precooling in a space craft.

Adult ; Aged ; External Fixators ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Fractures, Comminuted ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radius Fractures ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the antiviral activity of 3-hydroxyphthalic anhydride-modified ovalbumin (HP-OVA) against herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) in vitro.

METHODSBy chemical modification, ovalbumin (OVA) was treated with 3-hydroxyphthalic anhydride (HP) to prepare HP-OVA. The anti-HSV-2 activity against HSV-2 333 virus in vitro and the cytotoxicity of HP-OVA in African green monkey kidney cells (Vero cells) were detected by MTT colorimetric assay. The inhibitory effects of HP-OVA on 17 strains of vaginal lactobacilli were observed by microscopy.

RESULTSAnhydride-modified ovalbumin significantly inhibited the infection by HSV-2 with an IC(50) of 23.56±8.33 µg/ml. HP-OVA showed only low cytotoxicity to the host cells with a CC(50) over 1 mg/ml. HP-OVA did not produce significant inhibitory effect on the 17 strains of vaginal lactobacilli (MIC>1 mg/ml).

CONCLUSIONAnhydride-modified protein HP-OVA exhibits potent anti-HSV-2 activity in vitro and can be a good microbicide candidate for prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.

Animals ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Herpesvirus 2, Human ; drug effects ; Ovalbumin ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Phthalic Anhydrides ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Vero Cells

AIMTo investigate the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) on pulmonary vascular structural remodeling in rats and pika.

METHODSThe Wistar rats which reside at 2 260 m were carried to 3 417 m. After they were fed 24 hours,2 weeks and 3 weeks respectively, the level of VEGF and ET-1 were measured using a kit by ELISA method. Pulmonary tissue was taken out to stain with elastica-Van Gieson. The amount of pulmonary arteries (< 100 microm) and the component ratio of MA, PMA,and NMA were calculated by using a light microscope. The ratio of right ventricle weight to left ventricle plus septum weight (RV/LV + S) were measured.

RESULTSThe ET-1 was significantly different in pika as compared with 24 h, 2 weeks, 3 weeks hypoxic rats (P < 0.01) respectively. The levels of VEGF in 2 weeks, 3 weeks rats were much higher than that of pika but no difference was found between pika and 24 h hypoxic rats. The ratio of MA, PMA obviously increased, and NMA decreased significantly, right ventricular hypertrophy was developed in differ groups of hypoxic rats.

CONCLUSIONThe VEGF and ET-1 participate the muscularization of pulmonary vessels during hypoxia and play an important role in the process of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in rats, however the VEGF and ET-1 may be maintainable only normal organic function in pika.

Animals ; Endothelin-1 ; metabolism ; Female ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; metabolism ; Hypoxia ; metabolism ; Lagomorpha ; Lung ; blood supply ; Male ; Pulmonary Artery ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

Betulinic acid is a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoid, which has antiretroviral, antimalarial, and anti-inflammatory properties. The purpose of this study is to investigate the HBV DNA replication inhibition in the mouse model with betulinic acid. Hydrodynamic injection method via the tail vein with the Paywl. 3 plasmid was used to establish the animal mode (n = 15), and the mice were randomly divided into the PBS control group (n = 5), Betulinic acid treatment group (n = 5) and lamivudine control group (n = 5). The day after successful modeling , the mice would have taken Betulinic acid (100 mg x kg(-1)), lamivudine (50 mg x kg(-1)), PBS drugs orally, once daily for 7 days, blood samples were acquired from the orbital venous blood at 3, 5, 7 days after the administering, HBsAg and HBeAg in serum concentration were measured by ELISA and the mice were sacrificed after 7 days, HBV DNA southern detections were used with part of mice livers. The results showed that betulinic acid significantly inhibited the expression of HbsAg in the mice model at the fifth day compared with the control group, and there was no significant differences between the effects of lamivudine and the PBS control group; both the betulinic acid and lamivudine groups had no significant inhibition for the HBeAg expression; the HBV DNA expressions of the liver tissue from the betulinic acid and lamivudine groups were inhibited compared with the control group. Taken together, these results reveal betulinic acid can inhibit the HBsAg expression and replication of the liver HBV DNA in the mouse model.
Acute Disease ; Animals ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; DNA Replication ; drug effects ; DNA, Viral ; biosynthesis ; Hepatitis B ; blood ; virology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; genetics ; immunology ; physiology ; Male ; Mice ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Triterpenes ; pharmacology ; Virus Replication ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether the polymorphism of DNA repair genes XPC (Ala499Val and Lys939Gln) and XPG (His1104Asp) is associated with the susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSA hospital-based case-control study was conducted in 500 cases with HCC and 507 controls. Genotypes of XPC and XPG were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction with the TaqMan MGB probe.

RESULTSCompared to the CC genotype, the CT genotype and the TT genotype of XPC Ala499Val were not associated with the susceptibility to HCC (adjusted OR = 1.34, 95% CI: 0.85-2.12; adjusted OR = 1.30, 95% CI: 0.68-2.51, respectively). Compared to the AA genotype, the AC genotype and the CC genotype of Lys939Gln were not associated with the susceptibility to HCC (adjusted OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 0.78-1.85; adjusted OR = 1.81, 95% CI: 0.88-3.73, respectively). Compared to the CC genotype, the CG genotype and the GG genotype of XPG His1104Asp were not associated with the susceptibility to HCC (adjusted OR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.56-1.27; adjusted OR = 1.12, 95% CI: 0.67-1.87, respectively) However, the stratified analysis revealed that the females with the AC+CC genotype of XPC Lys939Gln had increased risk of HCC compared to those with AA genotype (OR = 2.17, 95% CI: 1.01-4.64).

CONCLUSIONOur results suggest that XPC and XPG polymorphisms do not independently affect on the susceptibility to HCC, but the joint effect of C allele of XPC Lys939Gln and female may modify the risk of HCC.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; DNA Repair ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Endonucleases ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Transcription Factors ; genetics

Objective To establish a subjective indicator system for the evaluation of sub-health status and study on its reliability and validity. Methods Based on the basic features of general malice and losing ability of workforce, the indicator system for sub-health status evaluation was developed according to the chronic stress on human body' s main systems. The items were adjusted according to the experience from experts and the results of the pilot study. Indices as Chronbach' s a, IIC and ICC were used to evaluate the reliability of the questionnaire. Factor analysis and ANOVA were used to evaluate the construct validity and discriminative ability of the questionnaire. Results The formal sub-health survey questionnaire would include five domains and 25 questions in total. The whole questionnaire' s Chronbach's α coefficient was 0.92. Cronbach's α of the four domains, including cardiovascular, digestive tract, immunity and mental health were no less than 0.7 while IIC ranging from 0.51 to 0.72 and ICC ranging from 0.89 to 0.98. The five extracted common factors which contributed 62.35% to the total variation were basically consistent with the five dimensions. ANOVA showed significant differences among different groups (P<0.05). Conclusion The questionnaire appeared reliable and valid for measurement of sub-health status.

Objective To explore the effects of estradiol on the telomerase activity and apoptosis of lens epithelial cells and its mechanisms.Methods Fifty adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups (n =10):ovariectomized group,estradiol group 1,estradiol group 2,estradiol group 3 and sham group.All rats were prepared for ovariectomized models except that of the sham group.After 2 weeks of the operation,rats in the 5 groups were given naphthalene solution through a stomach tube,and meanwhile,estradiol group 1,estradiol group 2,estradiol group 3 received estradiol valerate with the dose of 0.21 mg · kg-1 · d-1,0.42 mg · kg-1 · d-1 and 0.84 mg · kg-1 · d-1,accordingly,while rats in the ovariectomized group and sham group were given 9 g · L-1 Nacl by stomach perfusion with a dose of 0.42 mg · kg-1 ·d-1.Then,the opacity of the lens in each group was examined by a slit lamp microscope every week.After 12 weeks of naphthalene solution administration,all rats were sacririced and the serum estradiol concentration was determined by radioimmunoassay.Next,the lenses were taken out,and TERT mRNA expression of lens epithelial cells (LEC) was measured by RT-qPCR,and finally,the apoptotic rate was detected by TUNEL method.Results The opacity of lens in the ovariectomized group was different from that in the estradiol group 1,estradiol group 2,estradiol group 3 and sham group,with statistical significances (all P ＜ 0.05),and the opacity of lens in the estradiol group 1,2,3 and sham group were mild and occurred later.The serum estradiol concentration in the ovariectomized group (8.19 ± 1.45)ng · L-1 was significantly lower than that of estradiol groupl,2,3 and sham group,and there were significant differences (all P ＜ 0.05).Thc relative expression of TERT mRNA in LEC in the ovariectomized group (0.371 2-±0.056 4) was significantly lower than that in estradiol group 1,2,3,but the apoptotic rate of LEC (0.602 1 ±0.010 8) was obviously higher than that of estradiol group 1,2,3 in a dose-dependent manner,and there were significant differences (all P ＜ 0.05).Pearson correlation analysis showed the relative expression of LEC TERT mRNA in rats was negatively correlated with the apoptosis rate(r =-0.859,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Estradiol can up-regulate TERT mRNA expression and enhance telomerase activity of LEC in naphthalene-induced ovariectomized female rats in a dose-dependent manner.Estradiol can inhibit the LEC apoptosis in naphthalene-induced ovariectomized female rats,and the mechanism may be related to the increase of telomerase activity in the LEC.

Artemisiae Annuae Herba is a traditional Chinese medicine for clearing deficiency and heat. It is the only natural source of artemisinin, which is a specific antimalarial drug, and has been widely concerned all over the world. In addition to artemisinin, Artemisiae Annuae Herba also contains many sesquiterpenes, coumarins, flavonoids, volatile oils, polysaccharides and other chemical components, which show antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antiviral microorganisms, anti-asthma, anti-oxidation, anti-tumor and other pharmacological activities. In addition to their own pharmacological activities, some components could enhance the antimalarial activity of artemisinin through different mechanisms at absorption and metabolism in vivo. In order to understand the pharmacokinetic characte-ristics of the chemical constituents contained in Artemisiae Annuae Herba and provide reference for the full development and clinical utilization of Artemisiae Annuae Herba resources in China, this present paper systematically collated the modern research literatures, and summarized the biosynthesis, in vivo analysis and pharmacokinetics of the chemical constituents in Artemisiae Annuae Herba.
Antimalarials ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Oils, Volatile