Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Pneumoconiosis ; complications ; genetics ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; etiology ; genetics

Streptomyces sp. A048 was cultured in a complete medium to the last stage of log phase,the hyphae were washed and collected by centrifugation. Then the hyphae were inoculated in liquid medium for chitinase production using two-step fermentation. Activity of chitinase produced by two-step fermentation was 1.1 times higher than that from one-step fermentation,and ferment cycle was for 54 hours,which was 66 hours shorter than that of one-step fermentation. The hyphae and the powder of chitin were co-immobilizated and cultured in liquid medium for 36 hours,activity of chitinase was 1.8 times higher than that from one-step fermentation,and ferment cycle was 54h shorter than that of one-step fermentation. By adding 0.4% cellulose to two-step fermentation,activity of chitinase was 18.52 U/mL that was 4 times higher than that from the control and 10 times higher than that from one-step fermentation. Two step fermentation with chitin and cellulose may be the optimal fermentation process to produce Chitinase from Streptomyces sp. A048.

OBJECTIVETo compare the image quality of T grain green sensitive film (TML-1) and Lanex Gd(2)O(2)S rare earth intensifying screen with that of XK-1 blue sensitive film and calcium tungstate (CaWO(4)) intensifying screen, and to study the application of T grain technic to the diagnosis of lung diseases.

METHODS160 coal miners were randomly selected to take both TML-1 and XK-1 chest film of high kV radiographs at the same time. Silver halide granule, fluorescence of intensifying screen, radiographic parameters, the density at different points in the lung and chest radiographs were observed.

RESULTSSilver grains in TML-1 film were more homogeneous in distribution than in XK-1 film. Luminous intensity of Lanex Gd(2)O(2)S rare earth intensifying screen was brighter than CaWO(4) intensifying screen in the same exposure. The exposure doses of TML-1 film was reduced to one third of XK-1 film. The density of chest radiographs was 0.24 to 2.74 in TML-1 film, and 0.30 to 2.60 in XK-1 film. There were greater exposure latitude and more informations in TML-1 film. By apertured-disc observation, the fine structure of lung in TML-1 film was clearer than in XK-1 film, the shape was more concrete and reliable, visualizability was stronger.

CONCLUSIONT grain technique may obviously improve the clearness and resolution of image, and enhance the transmission of information, as well as increase the diagnostic informations.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Diagnostic Imaging ; methods ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Radiography ; Sensitivity and Specificity

To introduce the application of Family-Based Association Test (FBAT) in detecting the association or linkage between marker alleles and phenotype or traits in genetic epidemiology. A brief overview on basic steps involved in design, implementation, principles of application, available software as well as the use and feature of FBAT method, were explained based on data from nuclear family. Advantages of FBAT were compared to conventional genetic statistics approaches. Data showed that this approach might make the most use of parental genotype,genotype of affected offspring and their phenotype to test the association between biallelic or multi-allelic markers, phenotype or traits to their conditional distributions given the minimal sufficient statistics under the null hypothesis for the genetic model. Covariates, such as traits or environmental exposures, might be included into this proudure so as to effectively control the bias of population admixture through adjustment of variables. FBAT could be used for genetic analysis with data from nuclear family since it is more advantageous than the conventional statistical methods.

Objective:To investigate the single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNP), haplotypes and genotypes of mannan-binding lectin(MBL) gene in the Bai(Pai) nationality from YunNan province, China.Methods:The three SNP sites CGT52TGT, GGC54GAC and GGA57GAA(named alleles D, B and C respectively, wildtype named A) in exon1 of MBL gene of 70 DNA samples of Bai nationality whose three SNP sites, -550G/C, -221C/G and +4C/T(named alleles H/L, X/Y and P/Q respectively), in promoter region of MBL gene had been clear, haplotypes and genotypes of MBL genes were detected and analyzed by sequence specific primer-polymerase chain reaction.Results:It was found that in Bais population, the frequency of alleles B was 0.100, there only were five haplotypes, HYPA, LXPA, LYQA, LYPA and LYPB, whose frequencies were 0.250, 0.107, 0.407, 0.135 and 0.100 respectively, the frequencies of several genotypes were LYPA/LYPA 0.043, LXPA/LYQA 0.143, LYPA/LYPB 0.014, HYPA/LYQA 0.086, LYPA/ LYQA 0.157, HYPA/LYPA 0.014, LYPB/LYQA 0.143, HYPA/LYPB 0.043, LXPA/LXPA 0.014, HYPA/LXPA 0.043, LYQA/LYQA 0.143 and HYPA/HYPA 0.157.Conclusion:In the MBL genes in Bais population, there is the allele B, the polymorphism haplotypes are mostly LYQA and HYPA, and the genotypes, LYPA/LYQA, HYPA/HYPA, LXPA/LYQA, LYPB/LYQA and LYQA/LYQA.

Adult ; Bartter Syndrome ; complications ; diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; etiology ; Spinal Fractures ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the histopathological features, complications, diagnosis, and differential diagnosis of coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP).

METHODSThe lung tissue sections from 14 autopsy cases of CWP were subjected to HE staining and observed under a light microscope, and a retrospective analysis was performed considering the occupational history and clinical features.

RESULTSThe 14 cases were 46-71 years of age (mean, 57.7 years). Two cases were diagnosed as dust reaction, 1 case as simple CWP (stage I anthracosilicosis), and 11 cases as complicated CWP (9 cases of stage II anthracosilicosis, 1 case of stage III anthracosilicosis, and 1 case of stage III silicosis). Twelve cases were complicated by chronic bronchitis and emphysema, 8 cases by pulmonary heart disease, 4 cases by pulmonary tuberculosis, 3 cases by liver cirrhosis and liver cancer with pulmonary metastases, and 2 cases by cerebral hemorrhage.

CONCLUSIONAmong patients with CWP, the pathological changes of lung tissue become more complex with increasing years of dust exposure. Coal macule is the common pathological feature of CWP, and dust nodules and massive fibrosis are the necessary indices of pathological diagnosis.

Aged ; Anthracosis ; complications ; pathology ; Coal Mining ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Lung ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To probe into the characteristics of traumatic effect of blast underpressure (BUP) on tympanic membrane and ossicular chain of guinea pigs exposed to blast underpressure. Methods The guinea pigs were exposed to experimental BUP generated by the underpressure generator and their tympanic membranes and auditory ossicules were observed with stereo-microscope.Results Most of the tympanic membranes in 72 guinea pigs (141 ears) presented with traumatic changes,such as engorgement,haemorrhage,epidermic desquamation and perforation,combined with fracture of ossicles in some guinea pigs.The traumatic severity of the tympanic membranes and auditory ossicules was related to the peak and the declinating duration of BUP.The minimum peak of the underpressure inducing perfo- ration was between-22.4kPa and-23.9kPa and the minimum peak inducing perforation of all the tym- panic membranes was between-83.1kPa and-87.2kPa.Conclusion The tympanic membrane in guinea pigs exposed to BUP changed traumatically,such as engorgement,haemorrhage,epidermic des- quamation,perforation and fracture of ossicles.The traumatic severity of the tympanic membranes and au- ditory ossicules is related to the peak and declinating duration of BUP.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the frequencies of three point mutations, CGT52TGT, GGC54GAC and GGA57GAA, in exon 1 of mannan-binding lectin (MBL) structural gene in Chinese Uyghur population.

METHODSBlood samples were collected from a Uyghur population in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and the genomic DNA was extracted from the leucocytes and the target gene fragment amplified by PCR. The three point mutations in exon 1 of MBL gene were detected by fluorogenic probe hybridization technique with visual monitoring.

RESULTSIn 95 Uyghur individuals, 2 were identified as homozygous for codon 54 mutations, 28 were heterozygous for codon 54 mutation, and no CGT52TGT and GGA57GAA point mutations were found.

CONCLUSIONThe frequencies of CGT52TGT, GGC54GAC and GGA57GAA mutant alleles in exon 1 of MBL structural gene are 0, 0.168 and 0 respectively in the Chinese Uyghur population.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Base Sequence ; China ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Mannose-Binding Lectin ; blood ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Point Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVEThis paper was to analyze the difference of exposure levels of the environmental risk factors on birth defects during peri-conceptional period between intended and unintended pregnancies, and to estimate the role of intended pregnancies in reducing exposure of environmental risk factors.

METHODSData used in this paper were from a retrospective survey of maternal women from 2002 through 2004 conducted in Wuxi city. The total number of women under study was 1628. Logistic regression model was employed to control women's childbearing age and education level for analysis of the role of intended pregnancies in reducing risk of unsafe use of medicine during pregnancy, exposure to toxic substance in working or living environments and unhealthy lifestyles.

RESULTSThe proportion of intended pregnancies was 73.2%. The proportion of intended pregnancies in urban women was slightly lower than that in rural women,and the proportion of intended pregnant women whose childbearing age was over 30 years old,was significantly higher than that whose childbearing age was under 30 years old. There were significant differences in exposure risks of unsafe use of medicine and some unhealthy lifestyles between the intended and the unintended. In the intended group, the proportions of taking the suspicious teratogenic drugs and staying up were 2.5% and 2.9% respectively, significantly lower than those in unintended group whose proportion were 6.0% and 5.5%. When compared with the unintended pregnant women, the exposure risk of taking the suspicious teratogenic drugs and staying up in intended pregnant women decreased by 60% and 50% respectively.

CONCLUSIONIntended pregnancies could significantly reduce the risk of taking the suspicious teratogenic drugs and unhealthy lifestyles. Reducing the incidence of unwanted pregnancy and increasing the proportion of intended pregnancies were both cost-effective methods for preventing birth defects.

Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Family Planning Services ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Maternal Exposure ; statistics & numerical data ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Unplanned ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors