Antigens, Nuclear ; metabolism ; Cordotomy ; methods ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Ependymoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; Neurocytoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Oligodendroglioma ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Synaptophysin ; metabolism

Xylitol, a five-carbon sugar alcohol, has many interesting applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and odontological industries, owing to its high sweetening power, its anticariogenic properties, and its insulin-independent metabolism. The bioconversion of detoxified hemicellulosic hydrolysate to xylitol by microorganisms could be a cheaper alternative to the current chemical process, since it is a simple process, with great specificity and low energy requirements. However, the success of fermentations for xylitol production depends on the productivity of the strain and its tolerance to different toxic or inhibitory compounds existing in the hydrolysates. In addition, a number of culture process parameters proved to have significant effects on xylitol production in hemicellulosic hydrolysate media. One of the most important control variables in this bioconversion is the aeration level, which affects the biochemical pathways in the xylose metabolism. The production of biomass is favored by aerobic conditions, while under anaerobic conditions xylose cannot be assimilated by yeast, whereas xylitol is formed in oxygen-limited incubation conditions. An adapted Candida sp. with enhanced resistance to the inhibitors in the hydrolysate can directly ferment the simply detoxified corn cob hemicellulosic hydrolysate to xylitol. In the present study, the combined effects of shaking speed, C/ N ratio, initial pH, and inoculum level on the fermentation of corn cob hemicellulosic hydrolysate to xylitol by an adapted Candida sp. were investigated using an orthogonal experimental design in flask. As a result, the optimum fermentation conditions were as follows: 180 r/min, a C/N ratio of 50, initial pH 5.5, and an inoculum level of 5% (volume ratio). Moreover, the optimum concentration factor of hydrolysate varied between 3.0 and 3.72 was obtained. Based on these results, in order to evaluate the effect of aeration rate on the fermentation of corn cob hemicellulosic hydrolysate to xylitol in fermentor, batch fermentations were carried out in a 3.7 L stirred fermentor using four different aeration strategies, including three kind of two-stage aeration strategies, which provided relatively high aeration rate in the early stage but reduced it in the later stage, and including a one-stage aeration strategy provided a constant aeration rate. With respect to xylitol yield, the results indicated that two-stage aeration strategy was significantly superior to one-stage aeration strategy. The highest xylitol yield (0.75 g/g) was obtained with oxygen supply strategy C (3.75 L/min for first 24 h, then lowered it to 1.25 L/min, 2.5 L fermentation medium was employed). In this process, without extensive detoxification of hydrolysate, an adapted Candida sp. can efficiently ferment the simply treated corn cob hemicellulosic hydrolysate to xylitol under the optimized fermentation conditions. This work should help the development of an efficient process for producing xylitol from corn cob hemicellulosic hydrolysate on a larger scale by bioconversion.
Aerobiosis ; Candida tropicalis ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; Hydrolysis ; Polysaccharides ; metabolism ; Xylitol ; biosynthesis ; Zea mays ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical anesthesia value of transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation (TAES) combined with general intravenous anesthesia in endoscopic bilateral thyroidectomy patients.

METHODSTotally 60 patients who underwent endoscopic bilateral thyroidectomy were equally randomly assigned to 2 groups, the treatment group and the control group, 30 in each group. Patients in the treatment group received TAES combined general intravenous anesthesia, while those in the control group received total intravenous anesthesia. Anesthesia was maintained by target controlled infusion of propofolum combined constant speed infusion of remifentanil in the two groups. TAES was maintained from 30 min before anesthesia induction to the end of endoscopic thyroidectomy at bilateral Hegu (L14) and Neiguan (PC6). The mean artery pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded at different time points of anesthesia, i.e., immediately after entry into the operating room (TO), immediately after intubation (T1), 5 min after intubation (T2), 5 min before incision (T3), 5 min after incision (T4), 30 min after inflation (T5), at the end of surgery (T6), 5 min before extubation (T7), immediately after extubation 0 (T8), and 5 min after extubation (T9). The concentration of IL-6 and TNF-alpha were measured at TO, T3, T5, and T6. The target concentration of propofol was also recorded at T3, T4, and T5.

RESULTSThere was no statistical difference in the operation time between the two groups (P >0.05). Compared with TO in the same group, HR at T3-T4 decreased and increased at T8-T9, and MAP increased at T7-T9 in the treatment group; HR decreased at T3 and increased at T7-T9, MAP increased at T1, T5, T7-T9, and MAP decreased at T2-T3 in the control group. IL-6 increased at T5-T6, while TNF-alpha decreased at T6 in the two groups (P <0.01,P <0.05). Compared with the control group at the same time point, HR decreased at T6-T9, MAP decreased at T1, T4, T5, T7-T9, MAP increased at T3, and IL-6 decreased at T5-T6 in the treatment group (P <0. 05). The concentration and the total amount of propofol were significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group (P <0.01,P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTAES could maintain the hemodynamics more stably and inhibit the stress response in endoscopic thyroidectomy. It also reduce the dosage of anesthetics and improve the safety of anesthesia.

Acupuncture Points ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthesia, Intravenous ; Electric Stimulation ; methods ; Endoscopy ; methods ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; Piperidines ; Propofol ; Thyroidectomy ; methods ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Objective To investigate the Huatan Huoxue Jiangqi prescription in treating AECOPD clinical curative effect. Methods 123 patients with AECOPD were randomly divided into the treatment group and the control group. The two groups were treated with western medicine, and the treatment group added with Chinese herbal medicine treatment with Huatan Huoxue Jiangqi prescription. The syndrome effect, clinical symptom score, CAT score, mMRC classification, lung function, the serum FIB and CRP levels were obtained to evaluate the efficacy of the two groups before and after treatment. Results The syndrome effect of the treatment group was significantly better than that of the control group. Compared with the control group, there was significant difference between traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score, CAT score (P < 0.05); Lung function (including FEV1, FEV1%, FEV1/FVC) was significantly improved in the treatment group after treatment (P < 0.05). The serum FIB and CRP levels decreased significantly in the treatment group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Huatan Huoxue Jiangqi prescription has reliable effets on treating AECOPD.

The two verities of Crgptococcus neoforinans were first observed as well growing with brown color changes on Guizotia abyssinica seed agar(GASA)and caffeic acid commeal agar(CACA.Then,C.neoformans var.neoformans was found in 18/26 pigeon droppings by both two media.C.neoformans var.gattii was not isolated by the two media in 76 Eucalyptus camaldulensis samples.However,an,overgrowth of filamentous fungus was more frequently seen on GASA.Our results suggest that CACA be capable of selevtively isolating C.neoformans with the advantages of less interference fron the overgrowth of filamentous fungi.

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of moxibustion on AIDS patients of spleen-kidney yang-deficiency.

METHODSSixty-six cases of AIDS were divided into a treatment group and a control group, 33 cases in each group. All of the patients were treated with HAART, with moxibustion at Tianshu (ST 25), Shenque (CV 8), Zhongwan (CV 12), Guanyuan (CV 4) added in the treatment group for 3 months. Clinical symptoms and cell immunity were recorded before and after treatment.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the effective rate was 90.9% in the treatment group, which was better than 66.7% in the control group (P < 0.05). The improvement of the score for clinical symptoms in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group (P < 0.01). After treatment, the CD4 lymphocyte counts increased in the two groups, with no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). Additionally, increase of total lymphocyte count in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMoxibustion can increase the therapeutic effect of HAART on AIDS patients and increase the total lymphocyte count.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; immunology ; therapy ; Adult ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; physiopathology ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; methods ; Spleen ; physiopathology ; Yang Deficiency ; immunology ; therapy

Objective: To investigate the inhibitory effect of Rh2 on HepG2 cells and explore the underlying mechanism.Methods: We used lentivirus carrying β-catenin to infect HepG2 cell, and detected expression of β-catenin using fluorescence microscopy.The effect of Rh2 on proliferation of HepG2-β-catenin and HepG2 cells was measured by CKK-8 assay,and flow cytometry was used to detect cell cycle and apoptosis.The activity of Gsk-3βwas checked by ELISA kit.The expression of Gsk-3β,β-catenin,Bax,Bcl2,CyclinD1,MMP3 genes were measured by qRT-PCR.In order to checked the relationship between β-catenin and TCF4,CHIP assay kit was used,the expression of Bax,Bcl2,CyclinD1,MMP3 genes were measured by PCR.The expressions of Gsk-3β,β-catenin,Bax,Bcl2,CyclinD1,MMP3 proteins were examined by Western blot.Results:HepG2 cells were successfully infected by pLOV-EF1a-MCS-3FLAG-β-catenin lentivirus,named HepG2-β-catenin.CCK-8 showed that ginsenoside Rh2 could effectively inhibit the proliferation of HepG2 and HepG2-β-catenin cells in vitro,which exhibits a dose-dependent manner at range of 10-160 μmol/L Rh2.The IC50 of Rh2 exposure on HepG2 cell for 48,72 h were 100 μmol/L and 58.12 μmol/L,but the IC50 of Rh2 exposure on HepG2-β-catenin for 48,72 h were 129.2 μmol/L,83.33 μmol/L,respectively.The IC50 of Rh2 exposure on HepG2-β-catenin cell was higher than HepG2 cell, compared with HepG2 group the differences was statistically significant ( P<0.01 ).Flow cytometry indicated that Rh2 could arrest HepG2 and HepG2-β-catenin cells in G0/G1 phase;the cell population in G0/G1 phase of HepG2+Rh2 group was(64.57±0.65)%,HepG2-β-catenin+Rh2 group was(58.61±2.01)%.Flow cytometry indicated that Rh2 could induced early apoptosis in HepG2 and HepG2-β-catenin cells.The apoptosis rate of HepG2 +Rh2 group was (17.27 ±2.77)%,HepG2-β-catenin +Rh2 group(9.02 ±1.76)%.The ELISA results indicated that HepG2 cells was induced by Rh2 for 12,24,48,72 h,the activity of Gsk-3βgradually increased,peak in 48 h,then decreased.Compared with control group,Rh2 induced HepG2 and HepG2-β-catenin cells for 48 hours, Gsk-3βactivity were increased, and their activity reduced after adding Bio, there were no significant differences between HepG2+Rh2 and HepG2-β-catenin+Rh2 groups.The PCR,CHIP and WB results showed that the expression of Gsk-3β,Bax gene and proteins increased,while theβ-catenin,CyclinD1,Bcl2,MMP3 gene and proteins down-regulation in HepG2 and HepG2-β-catenin cell induced by Rh2.Compared with HepG2-β-catenin +Rh2 group, the expression of other gene and proteins changed significantly,however,Gsk-3βwas no significant difference.Conclusion:Over-expression of β-catenin may weaken the phar-macological effects of ginsenoside Rh2 on HepG2 cells.The activity of Gsk-3βwas increased by ginsenoside Rh2 to degradeβ-catenin, affecting the expression of downstream genes,promoting apoptosis of liver cancer cells and inhibiting metastasis.

Objective:To study the mechanism of ginsenoside Rh2 inhibiting HepG2 cells migration.Methods:HepG2 cells in logarithmic growth phase were cultured in 96-well plates,which were induced by different concentration Rh2,respectively for 24,48,72 hours.The cell inhibition was detected by Cell Counting Kit.Transwell chambers was used to checked HepG2 cell migration ability;luciferase was tested by Luciferase Reporter Assay system reagent;The expressions of P-ERK,ERK,P-P38,P-38,P-JUK,JUK,MMP3 proteins were detect by Western blot;the expression of AP1,MMP3 gene were detected by Quantitative PCR;The expression of AP1, MMP3 fluorescence protein were observed by fluorescence microscopy.Results:Administrated with different concentration of Rh2 after 24 ,48 ,72 h,the proliferation of HepG2 cells were inhibited ( P<0.05) ,and in dose-and time-dependent manner.Transwell assay showed Rh2 could significantly inhibited migration of HepG2 cells.The expressions of P-ERK , MMP3 proteins were significantly decreased,the expressions of P-JUK, P-P38 proteins were significantly increased, expression levels of ERK, P-38, JUK were no significant difference.Expression of AP1,MMP3 gene were significantly decreased,the expressions of AP1,MMP3 fluorescence proteins were significantly decreased.Conclusion:Ginsenoside Rh2 can activate MAPK pathway to inhibit the migration of HepG2 cells.

Objective To build a high quality diagnosis system for schistosomiasis surveillance in the situation of low infec-tion in Jianglin County. Methods The network laboratory for schistosomiasis diagnosis was built according to the national crite-ria in Jianglin County in 2012. Results The network laboratory for schistosomiasis diagnosis was established successfully and the operation was quiet well. Conclusion The establishment and operation of the laboratory play an important role in the real-ization of schistosomiasis elimination.