More and more attention has been drawn on nano-materials in the application of molecular imaging and targeted cancer therapy. Quantum dots, due to their rich surface chemical properties and bright stable fluorescence, have been used as a new type of nano-probes and widely used in molecular, cellular and vivo biological imaging. In recent years, many inspiring achievements have been obtained in the study on quantum dots surface modification and biological imaging in cell and animals. In this article, current status and the latest developments of the study and the application are reviewed.

Female ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; therapy

Objective To investigate the expression of CXCR4 in cultured human dental pulp cells (HDPC) in vitro and the corresponding ligand SDF-1α level of HDPC supernatants stimulated by lipopolysaccharide(LPS)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),and to explore the role of SDF-1αon the proliferation and the migration of HDPC.Methods The expression of CXCR4 in HDPC was detected by immunocytochemistry technique and indirect immunofluorescence technique.The culture supernatants of HDPC were collected after HDPC had been simulated by LPS and TNF-α of difierent concentrations for 48h and then the SDF-1α level was assayed by quantitative sandwich ELISA.Meanwhile,the effects of recombinant human SDF-1α(rhSDF-1α)on the proliferation and the migration of HDPC at different concentrations were observed by MTT and Boyden Chamber Assay.Results CXCR4 was expressed in cytomembrane of HDPC and SDF-1α was secreted into their normal cell supematants with a concentration of(4513.55±962.92)ng/L. The secretion of SDF-1α was both significantly decreased by stimulation with LPS and TNF-α(P＜0.05).In addition,rhSDF-1α stimulated the HDPC proliferation at the concentrations of 50,100,200μg/L(P＜0.01)and increased the chemotactic migration of HDPC significantly after 9h's incubation with the concentrations of 50,100μg/L(P＜0.05).Conclusions SDF-1α accelerated the proliferation and the migration of HDPC which expressed CXCR4.SDF-1-CXCR4 axis may play a role in repair of pulp injury.

Psychrotrophs were isolated by using four media from low-temperature sewage of sewage treatment plant in Urumqi, Xinjiang. Totally, 154 strains were obtained including 12 filamentous fungi, 46 yeasts, 6 actinomycetes and 90 bacteria. The results of tolerance tests of the isolates to salt, phenol and SDS, and enzyme producing characters of amylase, proteinase and esterase were shown. Then 60 bacterial strains were chosen for 16S rRNA gene sequencing and analysis. The blasting results showed that the strains were assigned to 13 recognized genera , and the Strain 39 exhibited 96.6% similarity to Acinetobacter lwoffii(DSM2403), indicating that it might be a novel species. These results suggested that there were a lot of psychrotrophs and rich bacterial diversity in low-temperature sewage. In addition, which maybe an important and potential library of microbial resources.

Adult ; Chondrosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Collagen Type II ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Femoral Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Giant Cells ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Osteoclasts ; pathology ; Osteosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Coal Mining ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; complications ; microbiology ; Male ; Methicillin Resistance ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Middle Aged ; Pneumoconiosis ; complications ; microbiology ; Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects ; isolation & purification

Objective To investigate Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) expression in tumor associated inflammation in patients with adamantinomatous craniopharyngima..Methods Fifty-four patients (31 male and 23 female) with craniopharyngioma from 3 to 66 years of age were recruited from May 2004 to March 2006.NF-κB and Osteopontin (OPN) expression in human craniopharyngiomas were detected using immunohistochemical staining.High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), a systemic marker of inflammation, was examined in patients' tumor hydatid fluid, cerebrospinal fluid and serum.Results NF-κB expression was significantly increased in the adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma.Spearman;s correlation analysis demonstrated that NF-κB expression was associated with OPN expression.The hs-CRP level was also increased in the tumor hydatid fluid (4.28±0.90 mg/mL), cerebrospinal fluid (0.035±0.006 mg/mL) and serum (1.72±0.54 mg/mL) in patients with adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma.Conclusions NF-kappa B is closely associated with tumor associated inflammation which further mediates adhesion of tumor to surrounding important structures in patients with adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma.

Objective To study the ultrastructure of the renal papillary Randall's plaque in calclum oxalate stone formers. Methods The 14 biopsy samples of the Randall's plaque in 12 patients with calcium oxalate stone undergoing PCNL for stone removal were obtained using endoscopic biopsy technique,followed by staining with hematoxylin-eosin or fixing with osmium tetroxide,and then the ultrastructure of the Randall's plaque was observed under light microscope and transmission electron microscope. Results In all 12 patients,72 renal papillae were examined.All kidReys were found to have papillary plaque and 7 of the patients had attached stones.Sixty-three papillae(87.5%)contained plaque.Calcium deposition was seen in the 12 renal papilla tissue by light microscopy.Transmission electron microscopy images of the 2 Randall's plaque samples showed several cluster of sharp and large crystals lied closer to the surface of Randall's plaque.The typical crystals were acicular with light profile. Conclusions Randall's plaque is an interstitial medullary and papillary deposit of calcium oxalate.The appearance of the deposition of calcium oxalate crystals lies upon Randall's plaque,which might be an explanation for the mechanism of calcium oxalate stone formation.

Single clones of Leptospirillum ferrooxidans were obtained on bilayer solid medium plate by incorporating Het-erotroph Acidiphilium SJH into the underlayer broth medium. The morphologies of the bacteria were investigated using electronic microscope.

Objective To provide scientific evidence for the effectiveness of upper limb training after stroke.Methods Surface electromyograms (sEMGs) of the triceps braehii and biceps brachii were recorded in stroke patients during maximum isometric voluntary contraction (MIVC).A total of 18 patients with hemiparesis were studied.During the elbow's MIVC,flexor and extensor peak torque were measured,and sEMGs of the biceps and tri- ceps brachii were recorded.Results During MIVC,the biceps braehius of the intact side registered a stronger EMG than that of the affected side when the elbow flexed,but the differenees in the triceps braehii readings were not significant.The triceps bracbius of the intact side gave a stronger iEMG than the affected side when the elbow extend- ed,but the iEMG form the biceps brachius of the affeeted side was higher than that of the intact side.The co-contrac- tion ratio (CCR) of the triceps brachius on the affected side was higher than that of the intact side.Though there was a tendency for the CCR of the biceps brachius on the affected side to be higher than the intact side,any difference was not statistically significant.For both flexor and extensor MIVC,the peak torque on the affected side was lower than that of the intact side.Conclusions Elbow spastieity in hemiplegic patients is mainly attributable to the flexor muscles.In the rehabilitation of the upper limb after stroke,it is important when training extensor strength to inhibit co-contraction of the antagonistic muscle.