Total 149 strains of endophytic bacteria were isolated from different healthy organisms of Glycyrrhiza inflata Bat. from Xinjiang. The fermented liquids of these strains were screened by TLC and analysed by HPLC, and the glycyrrhizinic acid monoammonium salt was taken as standard control at the same time. Only one endophtytic bacterial stain of Bacillus subtilis could produce Glycyrrhizinic acid monoammonium salt analogue.

Objective To compare the efficacy and cost of surgical clipping and endovascular embolization in the treatment of anterior and posterior communicating artery aneurysm and to conduct cost-effectiveness analysis. Methods The data of treatment outcomes and costs in patients with anterior or posterior communicating artery aneurysms admitted to Huashan hospital from 2002 to 2006 were analyzed using a retrospective cohort study. Results A total of 302 patients were included in the study. They were divided into surgical clipping group (n = 150; 65 males, age [48. 11 ±9. 94] years), interventional treatment group (n = 152;75 males, age [52. 56 ± 11. 09] year). The age of the former was lower than that of the latter (t = -3. 670, P =0. 000). There was no significant difference in preoperative clinical conditions (such as location of aneurysms and Hunt-Hess grade) between the two groups. The good outcome rate in the interventional treatment group was significantly higher than that in the surgical clipping group (84. 87% vs. 74. 67%, χ2 = 4. 875, P = 0. 027). There was no significant difference in hospital mortality (5. 33% vs. 3. 94%,χ2 =0. 328, P =0. 567) and complication rate (26.67% vs. 19. 74% , χ2 =2.036, P =0.154) between the surgical clipping group and the interventional treatment group, but the intraoperative aneurysm rupture (10. 67% vs. 3. 95%, χ2 =5.047, P =0.028) and the incidence of postoperative intracranial infection (6/144 vs. 0/152, χ2 = 6.203, P =0.014) in the surgical clipping group were higher than those in the interventional treatment group. The length of hospital stay in the interventional treatment group was significantly shorter than that in the surgical clipping group ([10. 0 ± 7. 0] dvs. [23.0 ± 11. 0] d, Z = -10. 35, P ＜0.001). The median cost of treatment was 95 327.63 %,yuan in the interventional treatment group, and the interquartile range (IQR) was 26 312. 98 yuan; it was significantly higher than the surgical clipping group (median 30 072. 01 yuan, IQR 11 178. 54 yuan) (Z = -14.449, P＜0.001). Compared with the surgical clipping group, while the mRS score improved in the interventional treatment group 0. 10, the cost was about 66 438 yuan, so that the surgical clipping was more cost-effective. Conclusions The efficacy of the intervention treatment of anterior and posterior communicating artery aneurysms is better than that of the surgical clipping The mortality and total complication rate are almost the same with the surgical clipping Thehospital stay is shorter, but the cost of treatment is higher. From an economic point of view, the surgical clipping is more cost-effective.

Objective To compare the diagnostic value of renal ultrasound scan (RUS) and 99Tcmdimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) renal scintigraphy in children with acute pyelonephritis (APN). Methods In all, 165 children with initial clinical diagnosis of APN, aged from 1.5 months to 11 yrs ( median 20 months), were included in the study, all of which were examined with RUS and DMSA renal scientigraphy. The diagnosis with DMSA renal scientigraphy results was taken as the standard reference to evaluate the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of RUS. Results Of 99 out of all 330 kidneys that were found abnormal on DMSA renal scientigraphy, 31 were abnormal on RUS. Of the rest normal kidneys on DMSA scans renal scientigraphy, 4 were abnormal on RUS. Thus diagnostic sensitivity of RUS for APN was 31.3%(31/99) and specificity was 98.3% (227/231). Conclusions Although RUS provides with high diagnostic specificity for children with APN, its low sensitivity may underestimate the clinical evaluation of APN.More often than not, 99Tcm-DMSA renal scientigraphy is a clinical necesscity for the definite RUS diagnosis.

OBJECTIVETo preliminarily investigate the influence of hypoxia on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and the effect of Ginkgo biloba extract 50 (GBE50) on it.

METHODSFlow cytometry, TUNEL, RT-PCR, Western blot, etc. were applied, to study the effect of hypoxia and GBE50 on endothelial cells.

RESULTSAfter being interfered by hypoxia for 24 h, the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in HUVECs and the apoptotic rate either in the early or in the late stage significantly increased, and accompanied with the increased levels of endothelin-1 mRNA (ET-1) and endothelial oxide synthase (eNOS) protein. However, when HUVECs were pretreated with GBE50 (25 [microg/ml) 4 h before hypoxia, the apoptotic rate in the early or late stage and expression of ET-1 mRNA significantly decreased (P < 0.05), and the heightened ROS level and eNOS expression partially decreased (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONHypoxia can induce endothelial dysfunction, which could be partially or significantly reversed by GBE50, it shows a certain protective effect on hypoxia induced endothelial dysfunction.

Blotting, Western ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Endothelin-1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Humans ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Psychrotrophs were isolated by using four media from low-temperature sewage of sewage treatment plant in Urumqi, Xinjiang. Totally, 154 strains were obtained including 12 filamentous fungi, 46 yeasts, 6 actinomycetes and 90 bacteria. The results of tolerance tests of the isolates to salt, phenol and SDS, and enzyme producing characters of amylase, proteinase and esterase were shown. Then 60 bacterial strains were chosen for 16S rRNA gene sequencing and analysis. The blasting results showed that the strains were assigned to 13 recognized genera , and the Strain 39 exhibited 96.6% similarity to Acinetobacter lwoffii(DSM2403), indicating that it might be a novel species. These results suggested that there were a lot of psychrotrophs and rich bacterial diversity in low-temperature sewage. In addition, which maybe an important and potential library of microbial resources.

Objective To explore the distribution of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T gene and MTHFR A1298C gene polymorphism among 1644 physical examinees in Taizhou region. Methods Fluorescence quantitative PCR method was used to detect MTHFR C677T and MTHFR A1298C genotype in 1644 physical examinees from Taizhou Central Hospital from September 2016 to September 2017. According to the characteristics of gender, the distribution features of MTHFR C677T and MTHFR A1298C genotype were described, and then were compared with data about the physical examinees in other cities in China. Results Among the 1644 physical examinees, MTHFR 677CC, 677CT and 677TT genotype frequency were 40.09％, 44.53％and 15.39％ respectively and MTHFR 677 allele frequency was 37.65％. MTHFR 1298AA, 1298AC and 1298CC genotype frequency were 65.69％, 30.47％ and 3.83％ respectively and MTHFR 1298 allele frequency was 19.07％. Statistical significance was found in genotype distribution of MTHFR C677T between males and females (P=0.036), and no statistical significance was found in genotype distribution of MTHFR A1298C between males and females (P=0.278) . As compared with the physical examinees in Henan, Wulumuqi and Beijing regions, there were statistically significance differences in the distribution of MTHFR C677T genotype and allele frequencies in Taizhou region (P <0.05) . Conclusion The distribution of MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism among physical examinees in Taizhou region is affected by gender, and the results shows certain regional specificity.

OBJECTIVETo study on clinical role of acupuncture at Tanzhong (CV 17) for treatment of postpartum hypolactation and to provide clinical basis for indications of acupoints.

METHODSThis was a single blind randomized controlled multi-center study by Beijing obstetrical and gynecological hospital, Beijing Mother and Child health institute and Haidian Mother and Child health institute, 276 cases of postpartum hypolactation were randomly divided into an acupuncture group and a Chinese drug group. The acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture at Tanzhong (CV 17) and the Chinese drug group with traditional drug Tongre Decoction. Degree of breast engorge, lactating volume, prolactin, neonate body weight, artificial feeding frequency and volume, urination frequency and crying time of neonate were recorded for comparison of therapeutic effects.

RESULTSAfter treatment, degree of breast engorge, lactating volume, neonate body weight, artificial feeding frequency and volume, urination frequency and crying time of neonate were significantly improved in the two groups, with no significant difference between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at Tanzhong (CV 17) can effectively promote lactation with a same therapeutic effect as the traditional Chinese drug Tongru Decocnon.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Lactation Disorders ; therapy ; Puerperal Disorders ; therapy ; Single-Blind Method

OBJECTIVETo observe the dynamic change in expression of protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) during onset and progression of liver fibrosis by using a rat model.

METHODSA cholestatic liver fibrosis model was established in Sprague-Dawley rats (aged 8-9 weeks, body weight 350 - 400 g) by bile duct ligation surgery. Rats receiving a sham operation and unoperated rats served as the negative and normal control groups, respectively. At baseline (pre-surgery) and post-surgery weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8, five rats from each group were sacrificed for whole liver resection. The protein and mRNA expressions of PAR2 and collagen I/III were detected by western blotting and RT-PCR, respectively. Between-group differences were assessed by analysis of variance testing.

RESULTSAt post-surgery week 2, the liver fibrosis group showed higher expression of PAR2 mRNA and protein than either control group. The expression levels of PAR2 continued to rise over time in the liver fibrosis group (peaking at week 8), and were significantly higher than those detected in the control groups (weeks 4-6: P less than 0.05; week 8, P less than 0.05). A similar trend was observed for the expression of collagen I/III.

CONCLUSIONDynamic expression of PAR2 observed in a cholestatic liver fibrosis rat model may indicate a role for this factor in the formation of liver fibrosis.

Animals ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Collagen Type III ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor, PAR-2 ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDTo investigate whether Borna disease virus (BDV) infection is related to the schizophrenic patients from China.

METHODSA reliable Western-blot method for detection of BDV-p24 antibody was established by adjusting the reaction conditions of BDV-p24 recombinant protein and specific antibodies. The sera of schizophrenic patients and normal controls from Heilongjiang Province were screened for specific BDV-p24 antibody by this method, and the BDV-p24 antibody positive sera were confirmed by the Western-blot method with sera-GST protein absorption.

RESULTSTen of 116 (8.6%) schizophrenic patients were found to be positive for BDV-p24 specific antibody, while no BDV-p24 specific antibody was found in sera of normal controls.

CONCLUSIONSThe results demonstrate that the Borna disease virus infection also exists in China, and the infection is possibly associated with schizophrenia in some way.

Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Blotting, Western ; Borna disease virus ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Schizophrenia ; virology ; Viral Proteins ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the high-risk factors for parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis (PNAC), which is the most common complication of parenteral nutrition for infants, in very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs).

METHODSRetrospective analysis was performed on the clinical and laboratory data of 204 VLBWIs who received parenteral nutrition for over 2 weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit from August 2006 to December 2011. The infants'liver function was evaluated periodically before and after Parenteral nutrition. Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis were performed in the observation (PNAC) and control (without PNAC) groups.

RESULTSPNAC occurred in 46 (22.5%) of the 204 VLBWIs. Univariate analysis showed that continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) ventilation, respiration failure, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) were significantly increased in the observation group compared with the control group. The observation group had lower birth weights, longer duration of ventilation, later breast feeding beginning, longer duration of fasting, longer duration of parenteral nutrition, and higher cumulated amino acid and lipid emulsion intake. Logistic regression analysis revealed that duration of fasting was a high-risk factor for PNAC (OR=1.115, 95%CI: 1.031-1.207).

CONCLUSIONSMany risk factors are associated with PNAC. Early enteral nutrition and short duration of parenteral nutrition are helpful in preventing the incidence of PNAC in VLBWIs.

Cholestasis ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Logistic Models ; Parenteral Nutrition ; adverse effects ; Risk Factors