Congresses as Topic ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine

This study was designed to analyze the effect of the mitochondrial respiratory pathways of Candida albicans (C.albicans) on the biofilm formation.The 2,3-bis (2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) reduction assay was used to measure the metabolic activities of biofilms formed by the C.albicans which were cultured in the presence of respiratory pathways inhibitors.The biofilms formed by the wide type (WT),GOA1-deleted (GOA31),GOA1-reconstituted (GOA32),AOX1a-deleted (AOX1) and AOX1b-deleted (AOX2) C.albicans strains were examined by the XTT reduction assay and fluorescence microscopy.The expression of adhesion-related genes BCR1,ALS1,ALS3,ECE1 and HWP1 in the biofilms formed by the above five C.albicans strains was detected by real time polymerase chain reaction.It was found that the metabolic activity of biofilms formed by C.albicans was decreased in the presence of alternative oxidase inhibitor whereas it was increased in the presence of classical mitochondrial respiratory pathway complex Ⅲ or complex Ⅳ inhibitor.AOX1 strain produced scarce biofilms interspersed with few hyphal filaments.Moreover,no significant changes in the expression of BCR1 and ALS3 were observed in the AOX1 strain,but the expression of ALS1 and ECE1 was down-regulated,and that of HWP1 was up-regulated.These results indicate that both AOX1 and AOX2 can promote the biofilm formation.However,AOX1a primarily plays a regulatory role in biofilm formation in the absence of inducers where the promoting effect is mainly achieved by promoting mycelial formation.

Objective To explore the effect of different proportions of mixed blood exchange transfusion on blood circulation in neonates with hemolytic disease.Methods Thirty-one newborn infants with hemolytic disease were treated by peripheral arteriovenous synchronization of exchange transfusion with different proportions mixed blood.AB type plasma was mixed with O type red blood cell(RBC) washing.The proportion for the treatment group was 1:1(the O type RBCs 2 U:the AB type plasma 200 mL),by exchange transfusion of haplotypes,in accordance with 80?mL/kg;the proportion for control group was 2:1(the O type RBC 4 U:the AB type plasma 200 mL),by exchange transfusion of double in accordance with 150-180 mL/kg.The indicators were detected,such as the exchange rate of neonatal serum bilirubin,RBC,hemoglobin(Hb),hematocrit(HCT),and the exchange transfusion quantity and days of hospitalization before and after the exchange transfusion were analyzed.Results The exchange rate of serum bilirubin of treatment group and control group was (44.92?3.99)% and (45.69?5.06)%,respectively,there was no significant difference between 2 groups(P=0.639),there was no significant difference of hospitalization days[(8.13?1.13) d vs(8.19?0.91) d]between 2 groups(P=0.884).After exchange transfusion in treatment group,the average level of the RBC,Hb and HCT were increased(P

Objective To analyze the endemic features of plague in Qinghai province between 2000 and 2009, discover the law of occurrence and progression, in order to provide a scientific basis for further prevention and treatment of the disease. Methods Descriptive epidemiology was employed to analyze the data from on the spot investigation, monitoring reports and papers published between 2000 and 2009. The indicators included the area, host and media distribution of animal plague and area, time, and population distribution of human plague.Results In Qinghai province between 2000 and 2009, 189 strains of Yersinia pestis were isolated from a variety of animals and insect vectors, including 77 from the marmot, accounting for 40.74%, 40 from Callopaylla dolabris,accounting for 21.16%. Positive serum antibodies against F1 plague were detected in 238 samples, including 90 samples from husbandry dogs, 63 from woodchucks. The areas with Yersinia pestis were consistent with the areas with positive serum antibodies against F1 plague, which distributed mainly along the Qinghai-Tibet railway Wulan county, Delhi and Golmud Multi-county;confirmed that there was natural foci of plague in Qinghai vole. Between 2000 and 2009, 13 events of human plague occurred, with 37 cases and 16 patients died, mortality was 43.24%.Cases were distributed in 11 townships of Tongde, Xinghai, Qilian, Wulan, Tianjun, Nangqian, Qumalai,Chengduo and Zhiduo counties. May to October was the disease season, with September the peak. Pneumonic plague disease type was the main mode of transmission of the plague and patients often contacted with airborne droplets through the air and peeling fresh Marmota. Conclusions Plague in Qinghai province is still grim,strengthening animal plague surveillance, and timely disposal of animal plague, improving the province's agricultural and pastoral areas, especially increase the disease prevention consciousness of the masses are future tasks. Work should be focused on strengthening the prevention and control of plague along Qinghai-Tibet railway,and prevent the occurrence and long-distance transmission of human plague.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF EMFs) on male reproduction in mice.

METHODS94 adult male mice were exposed to 50 Hz sinusoidal electromagnetic fields of 0.2, 3.2 or 6.4 mT for 2 weeks or 4 weeks. Testicular histology and weight, sperm amount, sperm motility and morphology were measured. The percentages of different ploidy cells and cell phases, and DNA content of testis cells were estimated by flow cytometry. The micronucleus rate of bone-marrow cell was also observed.

RESULTSThe testicular weight of the mice exposed to 6.4 mT for 4 weeks [(76.06 +/- 32.25) mg] was significantly lower than that of the control [(111.44 +/- 19.99) mg, P < 0.05]; no significant histopathological changes were observed on the testis in EMFs exposed mice;the sperm amount was decreased after EMFs exposure for 4 weeks, and those of the mice exposed to 0.2 mT and 6.4 mT for 4 weeks [(4.87 +/- 0.94) x 10(6)/ml and (4.30 +/- 1.89) x 10(6)/ml respectively] were significantly lower than that of the control [(6.67 +/- 0.70) x 10(6)/ml, P < 0.05]; the rates of sperm motility also showed a decline. After 0.2, 3.2 or 6.4 mT EMFs exposure for 2 weeks, the deformity rates of sperm [(7.416 +/- 3.352)%, (6.862 +/- 2.947)% and (8.112 +/- 4.615)% respectively] were significantly higher than that of the control [(4.098 +/- 2.028)%, P < 0.01]. Similarly, those of the mice exposed for 4 weeks [(10.267 +/- 3.836)%, (11.027 +/- 7.059)%, (8.814 +/- 3.678)% respectively] were higher than that of the control [(3.714 +/- 1.830)%]. After 6.4 mT exposure for 2 weeks, the percentages of 1C testis cells [(69.56 +/- 4.07)%] was significantly lower than that of the control [(73.45 +/- 3.10)%, P < 0.05]. There were not any remarkable changes in those of 2C, 4C cells. DNA content in different ploidy cells of the mice exposed to 6.4 mT was decreased. Moreover, the cell percentage in S phase was increased significantly (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONELF EMFs exposure may have some adverse effects on reproduction in mice.

Animals ; DNA ; metabolism ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Male ; Mice ; Random Allocation ; Reproduction ; radiation effects ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; radiation effects ; Spermatozoa ; cytology ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Testis ; cytology ; radiation effects

OBJECTIVETo explore the association between parental genetic polymorphism of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677C/T and occurrence of nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) in offspring in Shandong Province.

METHODSMTHFR genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Parents of 89 NSCL/P patients treated at Qilu Hospital from August, 2006 to August, 2008 and those of 64 healthy children were recruited in this case-control study.

RESULTSFrequencies of T and C alleles in mothers of patients and healthy children were 65.73% and 46.09%, and 34.27% and 53.91%, respectively (Chi-square=13.663, P<0.01). Offspring whose mothers had T alleles were 2.243 times more likely to develop NSCL/P (95%CI: 1.408-3.572). Frequencies of T and C alleles in fathers of patients and healthy children were 62.92% and 55.47%, and 37.08% and 44.53%, respectively (Chi-square=2.222, P>0.05). The chance for parents of the patient and control groups to bear an affected fetus carrying homozygous mutations were 43% and 29%, respectively (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONIn Shandong Province, maternal genotype for the MTHFR 677C/T polymorphism has a significant impact on the occurrence of NSCL/P in their offspring, whilst paternal genotype for this polymorphism may not be a risk factor for NSCL/P in their offspring.

Alleles ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Cleft Lip ; genetics ; Cleft Palate ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of standard meal and fat meal distending the fundus on transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation (TLESR) and esophageal motility and to explore the mechanism of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

METHODSEight patients with GERD (3 male, 5 female; median age: 43.5 ys) were enrolled in the study. All received 2 times of esophageal manometry and pH monitoring simultaneously for 30 min during fasting and 2 h after two different test-meals, including standard meal (SM) and fat meal (FM) on separate day at least 1 week apart.

RESULTSThe frequency of TLESR significantly increased after 2 test-meals (P < 0.05). There were no significant difference in the frequency and duration of TLESR between SM group and FM group 1 h after meal (P > 0.05). However, the frequency of TLESR in FM group 2 h after meal was more than that in SM group and during fasting (P < 0.05). Lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP) significantly decreased in FM group than in SM group (P < 0.05). The contractive amplitude of post lower esophageal sphincter relaxation and the contractive amplitude of the distal esophagus had no difference after FM and SM. Acid reflux episodes and duration of pH < 4 were larger after FM than after SM (P < 0.05). A total of 50.2% of GER occurred during decreased LESP and 37.8% during TLESR after FM, while 61.7% of GER occurred during TLESR after SM.

CONCLUSIONSBoth the SM and FM can increase the frequency of TLESR in patients with GERD. Decreased LESP and increased frequency of TLESR after FM are the major mechanism of GER, while reflux after SM may attribute to the increased frequency of TLESR.

Adult ; Dietary Fats ; administration & dosage ; Energy Intake ; Esophageal Sphincter, Lower ; physiopathology ; Esophagus ; physiopathology ; Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Male ; Manometry ; Middle Aged ; Muscle Relaxation ; Pressure

Objective: To evaluate the impact of rehabilitation on exercise capacity, cardiopulmonary function and quality of life (QoL) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods: A total of 96 CHF patients with NYHA Ⅱ-Ⅲ and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)<40% were enrolled. Based on routine drug therapy, the patients were randomly assigned into 2 groups: Control group, n=50 and Rehabilitation group, n=46, the patients performed treadmill exercise, the training intensity was tailored by (50-80) % of peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2) of baseline cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) at (25-40) min/session, 3 sessions/week for 12 weeks. The peak VO2, VE/VCO2 slop, anaerobic threshold (VO2 AT), maximum workload and maximum exercise time were measured by CPET; left atrial diameter (LAD), left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD), cardiac index (CI) and LVEF were examined by echocardiography; 6 min walking distance (6MWD) and plasma NT-proBNP level were recorded; QoL was assessed by Minnesota living with heart failure questionnaire (MLWHFQ). The above indexes were compared within Rehabilitation group and between 2 groups. Results: In Rehabilitation group, compared to baseline condition, the following indexes were increased by 12 weeks training: peak VO2 (19.8±2.7) ml/min?kg vs (17.4±2.1) ml/min?kg, VO2 AT (11.6±2.5) ml/min?kg vs (9.5±1.8) ml/min?kg, maximum workload (120±20) w vs (102±21) w, maximum exercise time (8.2±1.7) min vs (6.4±1.5) min, CI (2.2±0.5) L/(min?m2) vs (1.9±0.4) L/(min?m2), LVEF (42±5) % vs (35±4) % and 6MWD (406±58) m vs (345±79) m, all P<0.05; while the following parameters were decreased: VE/VCO2 slop (31.7±4.6) vs (34.2±5.8), LAD (38.6±5.5) mm vs (41.5±3.6) mm, LVEDD (58.4±6.3) mm vs (62.9±5.4) mm, NT-proBNP (235±69) ng/ml vs (387±57) ng/ml and MLWHFQ (30.8±12.0) vs (42.3±8.5), all P<0.05. The above indexes were different between Control group and Rehabilitation group, all P<0.05. Conclusion: Rehabilitation may safely and effectively improve cardiopulmonary function and quality of life in CHF patients.

Enzymatic synthesis of monoglycerides by glycerolysis of oil and fats in microaqueous solvent-free media was investigated by using lipase from pseudomonus fluorescens (PFL). Initial eutectic point(IEP) was substituted for melt point of oil and fats in Critical Temperature Theory. By investigating the glycerolysis under different IEP, it is showed that there is a relationship between composition of the oils and the yield of monoglycerides: Y = -0.0006 X3 + 0.0592 X2 - 0.8909 X + 26.753(13% < X < 76.5%), here X is the contents(W/W) of saturated fatty acid residue (C16 + C18) in the oils, Y is the yield of monoglycerides at 40 degrees C. The optimum isothermal reaction conditions for a system which IEP is 40 degrees C are: 40 degrees C, 3%-4.5% (W/W) water in glycerol, dosage of lipase is 500 u/g oil when the mole ratio of glycerol to oil is 2.5:1. The highest yield of monoglycerides is 81.4% in 48 h by means of programming temperature reaction.
Glycerides ; metabolism ; Glycerol ; metabolism ; Kinetics ; Lipase ; metabolism ; Palm Oil ; Plant Oils ; metabolism ; Pseudomonas fluorescens ; enzymology ; Substrate Specificity ; Temperature

This study is to investigate the antitumor activity of CIP-36 on multidrug resistant human oral squamous carcinoma cell line (KBV200 cells) in vitro and the possible anticancer mechanisms. MTT assay, Hoechst fluorescein stain, RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were carried out on KBV200 and KB cells. The growth of many tumor cells was obviously inhibited by CIP-36, especially the multidrug resistant cells KBV200. Obvious apoptosis could be observed in the Hoechst 33342 staining experiments. The results of RT-PCR showed that the levels of p53, p21, caspase-3 and bax mRNA increased, and meanwhile the expression of mdr-1 and bcl-2 mRNA decreased in a dose-dependent manner. The data were significantly different from that of vehicle. The expression of P-gp significantly decreased with the increasing dosage of CIP-36 examined by immunohistochemistry. It can be concluded that CIP-36 could change resistance-related genes and proteins to overcome multidrug resistance in the KBV200 cell line.
ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family B ; ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Caspase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Humans ; KB Cells ; Mouth Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Podophyllotoxin ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; genetics ; metabolism