Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) are widespread in the environment. SRB are obligate anaerobes and capable of dissimilatory reduction of sulfate. SRB have application prospects in the control of environmental pollution due to that many pollutants can be removed by SRB. The biological characteristics and metabolic mechanisms of SRB are introduced, and the application of SRB in the treatment of environmental pollution is described in this paper. The research progress of Cr(Ⅵ ) reduction and Cr(Ⅵ ) removal from wastewater by SRB is reviewed, and future direction of research on the control of Cr(Ⅵ ) pollution by SRB is also analysed.

Objective To investigate the clinical outcome and prenatal diagnosis feasibility of fetal congenital cardiac diventiculum.Methods The data of 12 fetuses with congenital cardiac diventiculum were retrospectively reviewed.The prenatal and postnatal medical records,including the characteristics of diverticulum,presence of abnormalities,karyotype and the outcomes of each pregnancy were collected.Results The overall incidence of cardiac diventiculum was 0.03％ (12/40 564) and the rate of incidence between left and right ventricle was 2 ∶ 1.Mean size of diventiculum was (69.75 ± 28.73)mm2,mean diameter of the diventiculum neck was (3.58 ± 0.80) mm and mean thickness of diventiculum wall was (1.54± 0.29)mm.Seven cases (58.4％) as an isolated malformation,5 cases (41.6％) combined with cardiac defect and extracardiac abnormalities,2 cases (16.7 ％) with chromosomal abnormalities.Five cases underwent termination of pregnancy,1 case died in uterus and 6 cases were born live.The mean follow-up periods was (62.33±-36.52)month.Of the 6 follow-up cases,4 cases (66.7％) remained asymptomatic,one case underwent drug therapy because of arrhythmia and one case combined with VSD underwent operation.Conclusions Echocardiography could be an useful tool to demonstrate and monitor congenital cardiac diventiculum prenatally and postnatally.The outcome of cardiac diventiculum depends on the size,progression,and the combined abnormalities and complications.

Objective To investigate the clinical value of VVI assessment normal fetal segmental myocardial performance and to establish a nomogram of normal fetus.Methods Digital dynamic fourchamber imaging of 151 healthy fetus(divided 5 groups according to gestation)were collected,then the longitudinal velocity,strain and strain rate of interventricular septal and left lateral wall were measured in systolic and diastolic period respectively.Results Normal systolic and diastolic values for tissue velocitv.strain,and strain rate were established.Tissue velocity was age dependent,whereas strain and strain rate were stable throughout gestation(P＞0.05).Tissue velocity was gradually decreased from the base segment to the apical segment(P＜0.01),whereas strain and strain rate were stable among all segments in every group(P＞0.05).Conclusions Fetal myocardial velocity,strain,and strain rate measuraments are easy to obtain and reproducible,VVI is a novel noninvasive tool to assess quantitatively and objectivelv regional systolic and diastolic function in fetal heart,it is providing another useful modality for evaluating cardiac function.

Objective To observe the pathological changes of bone hydatid cyst of meriones meridianus after radiation therapy,and to investigate the clinical effect of radiotherapy on bone hydatid disease.Methods Ascus was dissected sterilely from sheep liver that naturally infected with Echinococcus granulomas,sheared and sac skin removed.Then it was washed and precipitated with 0.9％ sterile saline for 3 times,and scolex was HE stained and counted,from which a 20 ml suspension was made containing 12 × 106/L of scolex.Health meriones meridianus (referred to as gerbil) 140,male and female were in each half,aged 2 to 3 months,body weight(38 ± 6)g,were involved in the study.Gerbil was injected a 0.2 ml suspension containing Echinococcus granulomas scolex into hind tibial periosteum,and X-ray was taken 12 months after the injection.According to the bone destruction in the vaccination site,gerbil hindleg tibia with clear jagged bone destruction was treated as inclusion criteria,and 72 animal were selected as gerbil bone hydatid disease animal models,male and female were in each half.A tatal of 72 gerbils were randomly divided into 4 groups:control group,40 beequerel(Gy) group,50 Gy group and 60 Gy group,18 rats in each group,male and female in each half.The model animals were treated with radiotherapy for 5 times,with 2 d interval,and radiation dose was 300 cGy/min.Each group of gerbils was sacrificed after radiotherapy,bone Echinococcus granulomas cysts was taken out sterilely,and observed by light and electron microscope.Intracapsular cyst fluid was extracted,washed and precipitated with 0.9％ sterile saline repeatedly,and and the pellet was HE stained for observation of scolex morphology and activity by light microscope.Results The morphology and activity ofEchinococcus granulomas in cystic fluid in control group were normal; the morphology and activity of Echinococcus granulomas were still normal in the 40 Gy group,and Echinococcus granulomas was not stained red; but those were abnormal,deformation and atrophy and stained red in the 50 Gy group; and were stained red,deformed,fractured and were wrapped by unknown in the 60 Gy group.By light microscope,the germinal layer,cuticle layer,brood capsule and histological structure of protoscolex were basically normal in irradiated region in the control group.The pathological changes of hydatid cyst in the 40 Gy group were mainly degeneration,structure of hydatid cyst was abnormal,stratum corneum was extensive edema,germinal layer became thinner and the fertile cyst was rare.The main pathological change of hydatid cyst in the 50 Gy group was that corneous layer was widely fractured,and the germinal layer was edema,buckling folds,cells decreased,rare seen brood capsule and scolex; the main pathological changes of hydatid cyst were mainly necrosis in the 60 Gy group,cuticle was extensive fault,stratum corneum and germinal layer was separated,germinal layer was atrophy and disorder,no brood capsule and scolex.By electron microscope,cuticle structure of Echinococcus granulomas cyst was clear,microvillus arranged neatly,morphology and structure of the cell and organelle in cytoplasm were normal in the control group.There were many inflammatory cells infiltrating germinal layer of Echinococcus granulomas cyst,microfilament and contents in microfilament were reduced in the 40 Gy group.Microvillus of Echinococcus granulomas disappeared,nuclear membrane was unclear,endoplasmic and mitochon eclasis,lymphocyte nuclear chromatin was clumping and edge set and in circular permutation in the 50 Gy group.Microvillus disappeared,perinuclear membrane indistinct and ruptured,parts of nucleoli were fragmented and marinated,endoplasmic reticulum was extensive expansion,mitochondria was pyknosis and obvious vacuolization,lymphocyte nuclear chromatin clumping and edge set,lysosomes and macrophage emerge in the 60 Gy group.Conclusions Radiotherapy can destroy the morphology and structure of bone hydatid cyst,radioactivity at 50 Gy has a lethal effect on hydatid cyst.Radiation treatment of bone hydatid disease has a good clinical effect.

Objective To investigate the current status of nurses'' needlestick injuries during venous blood sampling, evaluate effective prevention strategies.Methods A stratified cluster sampling method was used to investigate clinical nurses in China by questionnaire, contents of questionnaire included the general information of nurses, training and management on venous blood sampling among nursing staff, adherence to wearing gloves before blood sampling, the occurrence of needlestick injuries during the process of venous blood sampling in the past year and so on.Results A total of 2 861 questionnaires were distributed, and 2 575 valid questionnaires were recovered.93.17％ of the investigated nurses had participated in the training of venous blood sampling regularly;87.15％ received regular check of venous blood sampling;before venous blood sampling, only 72.74％ knew whether the patient had bloodborne infectious disease;only 61.01％ wore gloves during blood sampling.Incidence of needlestick injuries during venous blood sampling was 20.78％ in the past year.There was no significant differences in the incidence of needlestick injuries when using 3 different types of needles(Pearson x2=1.649, P=0.438).48.21％ of needlestick injuries occurred during disposing medical waste.Conclusion The training and management on nurses'' venous blood sampling is better in China, but incidence of needlestick injuries is still high.It is necessary to formulate safety operation regulations of venous blood sampling, standardize the operation procedures and specify the contents of training, so as to correct nurses'' unsafe behavior during venous blood sampling.

Objective To investigate the clinical features and microsurgical resection techniques of cerebellopontine angle cholesteatoma. Methods Clinical features, surgical approach and techniques, results and complications were analyzed in 30 cases of cerebellopontine angle cholesteatoma. Results Total resection in 26 cases, subtotal resection in 4 cases ,no operative mortality. Post-operative complications was aseptic encephalitis which was most common after treatment, and all recovered. Conclusion Cerebellopontine angle cholesteatoma was a third category of common tumors, CT, MRI examination can provide diagnosis. According to cholesteatoma involving the site ,selecting a good surgical approach and making good use of microsurgical technique could improve surgical total removal rate and reduce postoperative complications.

Objective To comparing the diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH) between doctors in general hospitals and community hospitals,and to provide scientific clues for the standardization in medical practice.Methods General and community hospitals in urban China were selected via the stratified sampling.127,325 outpatients in these hospitals from December 2011 to December 2012 were randomly recruited.Results The average age of patients was(67.82±8.62) years.There were significant differences in I-PSS,prostate volume,urinary flow rate(UFR) and result of digital rectal examination(DRE) between patients in general and community hospitals.The rates of diagnostic applications were different between doctors in the two kinds of hospitals except I-PSS.Compared with community hospitals,DRE was more frequently applied while ultrasonic inspection and UFR test were less used in general hospitals in North China.A totally opposite situation was observed in East China as compared with the north.The application rates of DRE and UFR test were lower and ultrasonic inspection rate was higher in community hospitals than in general hospitals in South China.Pharmacotherapy was the most common treatment for BPH patients in both types of hospitals(97.53 ％).The rates of drug combinations were statistically different but both were close to 75％ in the two types of hospitals.In community hospitals,the percentage of patients receiving watchful waiting with severe symptoms and signs were lower than that of patients receiving watchful waiting with moderate symptoms and signs,but the percentage of patients receiving operation was not significantly increased.On the contrary,the percentage of patients receiving operation with severe symptoms and signs was higher than that of patients receiving operation with moderate symptoms and signs in general hospitals,but the percentage of patients receiving watchful waiting was not decreased.Conclusions Applications of diagnostic methods are significantly different between doctors in general hospitals and community hospitals and vary among regions.Therapeutic strategies are correlated with the severity of obstructive symptoms or signs.The medication strategy is similar between the two types of doctors.

Biodegradable nano/microparticles of poly(D, L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) is a novel non-viral gene vector, which has many advantages, such as safety, non-immunogenicity, easy of large-scale preparation and well load-capability. Therefore, more and more attentions and researches have been paid on its application. Especially, PLGA has shown enormous potential application value and space in the field of plasmid DNA (pDNA) delivery system. On the basis of the current situation of PLGA nano/microparticles for pDNA delivery, this paper focused on summarizing the current preparation approaches and surface modified methods of PLGA particle, furthermore showing its application in gene therapy and genetic vaccine delivery. These showed that PLGA nano/microparticles have extensive prospect in the development of controlled gene delivery system.
Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Emulsions ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Genetic Vectors ; chemistry ; Lactic Acid ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Microspheres ; Nanoparticles ; Particle Size ; Plasmids ; Polyglycolic Acid ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Polymers

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between the serum concentration of IL-6,S100β,NT-3 and the cognitive functions in first-episode schizophrenia characterized by positive or negative symptoms.Methods44 first-episode schizophrenic patients characterized by positive symptoms (positive group),36 first-episode schizophrenic patients characterized by negative symptoms (negative group) and 50 healthy controls (controls) were collected.The serum levels of IL-6,S100β and NT-3 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The systematic evaluation tool-MCCB was applied to assess cognitive function in patients and controls.ResultsNT-3 serum levels in positive or negative groups were lower than those in controls and the differences were significant((118.39±37.50) ng/L,(112.55±32.29) ng/L vs (141.18±29.67) ng/L) (P<0.01).IL-6 and S100β serum levels in positive or negative groups were higher than those in controls and the differences were statistically significant((5.74±1.00)ng/L,(5.07±1.17)ng/L vs (4.23±0.91)ng/L),((132.98±46.71)ng/L,(124.99±43.14)ng/L vs (103.63±31.57)ng/L)(P<0.01).IL-6 serum levels in the positive group ((5.07±1.17)ng/L) were lower than those in the negative group ((5.74±0.99)ng/L) and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).In MCCB test,the TMT scores in patients characterize by positive symptoms or patients characterize by negative symptoms were higher than those in healthy control group (P<0.01).BACS SC,HVLT-R WMS-Ⅲ,SS,NAB,BVMT-R,CF in patients characterize by positive symptoms or by negative symptoms were lower than those in healthy control group(P<0.01).There were no statistical difference in the MCCB scores between the patients with positive symptoms and negative symptoms.In positive group,there was a positive correlation between the IL-6 serum concentration and the general symptom scores in PANSS (P<0.05).In positive group,NT-3 serum concentration was positively correlated with the general symptom scores or total scores of PANSS (P<0.05).BVMT-R scores in MCCB were also positively correlated with IL-6 or NT-3 serum concentration in positive group (P<0.05).ConclusionThe impairment of part of cognitive functions for schizophrenic patients may be related to the serum protein factors.There may be different in pathophysiology between the first-episode schizophrenic patients characterized by positive symptoms and those characterized by negative symptoms.

Laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) and whole-cell perforated patch-clamp techniques were combined to study simultaneously the changes of intracellular signal molecules and membrane currents. Intracellular calcium transients and spontaneous transient outward currents (STOCs) were recorded simultaneously in freshly isolated mouse cerebral artery smooth muscle cells. The cells loaded with fluo-4/AM were scanned with the confocal line-scan mode. Triggering voltage pulses derived from an EPC-10 patch clamp amplifier triggered the confocal line scan. The results showed that STOCs and intracellular calcium transients could be simultaneously recorded in the same cell. This technique will be useful in studies of diseases caused by impairments of intracellular Ca(2+) signaling and related ionic channel activities, or vice versa.
Animals ; Calcium Signaling ; Cerebral Arteries ; cytology ; Mice ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; physiology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques