Bacteria species belonging to the genus Leptospirillum are of great importance in bioleaching industry. This paper introduces the varieties and characteristics of Leptospirillum, its isolation and cultivation methods, as well as the advance of molecular biology and bioleaching mechanism researchs about Leptospirillum.

AIM: To determine the association between subfoveal choroidal thickness before therapy and therapeutic activity in diabetic macular edema.
METHODS: The current study was a retrospective study, which included 32 patients ( 32 eyes ) diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy and macular edema. All the patients were firstly treated with intravitreal injections of ranibizumab. Main outcome measures were included the subfoveal choroidal thickness, central macular thickness and best-corrected visual acuity ( BCVA) at preoperation and postoperative visit at 3mo.
RESULTS: After 3 monthly intravitreal injections of ranibizumab, the BCVA was significantly higher than that before therapy and accompanied with significantly reduced thickness of subfoveal choroid and central fovea of macula. Spearman analysis was revealed that a greater baseline subfoveal choroidal thickness was associated with a better BCVA (rs=0. 544, P=0. 036).
CONCLUSION:In the therapy of intravitreal injections of ranibizumab on diabetic macular edema, there seems to be a better BCVA in the patients with a greater baseline subfoveal choroidal thickness. Therefore, baseline subfoveal choroidal thickness may be a useful predictor for the therapy of diabetic macular edema.

Objective To understand demonstration methods and ultrasonographic features of left and right atrial appendages in normal fetuses.Methods 200 consecutive normal fetuses during gestation age 19-28 weeks from November 2011 through April 2012 entered the study.Ultrasonographic features and the demonstrated rates of atrial appendages at different incidence angle of ultrasonography and different gestational weeks were recorded and calculated,respectively.Results Atrial appendages of normal fetuses can be demonstrated on atrial appendages plane,which was little lower the view of parasternal great artery short axis.The display rate of left,right and left-right atrial appendages was 92％,68％,65.5％,respectively.When ultrasound beam entranced into chest from the right side,the display rate of left-right atrial appendages was highest(94.3％).The best time to observe atrial appendages was 22 to 24 week of pregnancy.The majority of left atrial appendages were fingerlike hook shapes,with narrower bases and longer bodys,and the endocardial surfaces were relatively smooth.Sometimes with incisures on external edges.Whereas the majority of right atrial appendages were obtuse-angled triangle shapes,with broad bases and shallower bodys.On endocardial surface the pectinate muscles were often seen,which looked like serrated echoes,sometimes prominent taenia sagittalis were noted in right atrial appendages.Conclusions Atrial appendages of normal fetuses can be demonstrated using two-dimensional ultrasonography on atrial appendages plane.The demonstrated rates of atrial appendages were different according to different incidence angle of ultrasonography and gestational weeks.There were some differences in ultrasonographic features between left and right atrial appendages,which is very helpful in determinating atrial situs.

Adult ; Albuminuria ; urine ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organophosphate Poisoning ; Pesticides ; poisoning ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of excessive fluoride on calcium overload and apoptosis in cultured rat ameloblasts in vitro.

METHODSLogarithmic-phase ameloblasts (HAT-7) were treated with 0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6, 3.2, and 6.4 mmol · L(-1) sodium fluoride (NaF) solution. Cell activities were detected by using a Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK-8) assay after 48 h of treatment. The effect of fluoride on cell apoptosis was analyzed by using flow cytometry. Excessive fluoride-induced calcium concentration and calreticulin expression changes in ameloblasts were detected by using laser scanning confocal microscopy, Western blot analysis, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSNaF inhibited ameloblast activity at 1.6, 3.2, and 6.4 mmol · L(-1) (dose-dependent) after 48 h of induction. The Ca2+ fluorescence intensity of HAT-7 cells incubated with 1.6 and 3.2 mmol · L(-1) NaF was higher than that in the control group. The fluoride-induced early-stage apoptosis of ameloblasts after 48 h of induction and the early-stage apoptosis rate was positively correlated with fluoride concentration. Calreticulin mRNA expression in HAT-7 cells was higher than that in the control group after 48 h of incubation with 0.8, 1.2, and 1.6 mmol · L(-1) NaF.

CONCLUSIONExcessive fluoride-induced calcium overload in ameloblasts and further caused endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptosis.

Objective To explore the clinical effect of modified frontalis muscle suspension for severe blepharoptosis correction. Design Retrospective case series. Participants Fifty-six cases (101 eyes) with severe blepharoptosis. Methods Modified frontalis mus- cle suspension was adopted. The technique included single blepharoplasty-type incision, dissecting the posterior gaps of frontalis muscu- lar fasciae ahead,then euthyphoria isolating anterior gaps of rontalis muscular fasciae, using frontalis muscle transfer without vertical incision. Main Outcome Measure The positon chang of the upper eyelid in the primary position gaze. Results The follow-up period ranged from 8 to 20 months (mean, 13.6 months). All the patients were deemed to have a good surgical outcome. Complications such as ectropion and corneal exposure were avoided. But ten eyes required reoperation for undercorrection, six eyes for overcorrection and two eyes for entropion. Conclusion This surgical technique is a useful procedure that results in substantial cosmetic and functional im- provement with few complications.

Objective To explore the relationship of catheter-directed thrombolysis and deep venous thrombosis.Methods We analyzed 2267 consecutive central venous catheter attempts from January to December in2006.Results 18 patients had deep venous thrombosis,and several studies have identified factors associated with mechanical complications of central venous catheter.These factors include illness,the use of drug,mobility.Conclusion It is very important to prevent and cure deep venous thrombosis and decrease incidence of death of knowing many risk factors and clinical symptoms of catheter-directed thrombolysis.

Objective To investigate whether leukotriene D4 (LTD4) regulates eotaxin-3 (Eot-3) expression in bronchial epithelial cells, and study effect of pranlukst on the regulation.Methods BEAS-2B cells and normal human bronchial epithelia cells were pre- treated with LTD4 for 1 hour,stimulated with interleukin-4, the cells were incubated for 24 hours. Eot-3 protein in supernatant were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The cells were pretreated with pranlukast in different concentration, then the above procedure was repeated. Results The untreated bronchial epithelial cell expressed Eot-3 protein on a very low level. After stimulating with IL-4 and incubating for 24 hours, Eot-3 production increased significantly. Pretreating the cells with LTD4 enhanced the inducing effect of IL-4. Pranlukast inverted the upregulation of LTD4. Conclusions Upregulating the expression of Eot-3 induced by IL-4 on bronchial epithelial cells may explain partially the mechanism of leukotrienes involving airway allergic inflammation of asthma. The invertion impact on upregulation of LTD4 by pranlukast may be one of mechanisms that leukotrienes receptor antagonist cure asthma.

Child ; Ectodermal Dysplasia ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Family Health ; Genes, Recessive ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Sex Factors

Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture combined with physical and hyperbaric therapy on activities of daily living (ADL) of cerebral infarction patients. Methods 105 cases were divided into compositive group (n=35), receiving electroacupuncture combined with physical and hyperbaric therapy; ordinary group (n=35), receiving physical and hyperbaric therapy; and control group (n= 35), not treated. They were assessed with Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and Barthel index (BI) before, 24 d and 36 d after treatment. Results The scores of FIM and BI improved the most in the compositive group (P<0.01) among these groups. Conclusion Electroacupuncture can further improve the activities of daily living of cerebral infarction patients