Neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) is a glycoprotein expressing on the surface of neurons, glial cells, bone cells and natural killer cells. NCAM plays an important role in the process of cell - cell adhesion and cell migration, and is also a model protein to study polysialic acid. In this paper, NCAM gene from mouse mammary gland cells (NMuMG) was cloned into eukaryotic expression vectors pcDNA3.1(+) and transfected into mutant Chinese hamster ovary cells ldlD-14. The stable transfection over-expressing NCAM was obtained through the G418 selection and confirmed by Western blotting. Due to unique characters of ldlD-14 cells, carbohydrate chain of NCAM molecule can be easily manipulated with or without adding galactose in the serum free medium, and this modification can provide the basis for further studies on the effect of glycosylation on NCAM molecular function.
Animals ; CHO Cells ; Cloning, Molecular ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Female ; Galactose ; Glycosylation ; Mammary Glands, Animal ; cytology ; Mice ; Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules ; biosynthesis ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; Sialic Acids ; chemistry ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo improve the method for monitoring sleep state and respiratory rhythm of SD rats, providing a solution for rats' chewing on the wires, signal loss and instability problems in the animal model of sleep apnea syndrome (SAS).

METHODSWe improved monitoring electrodes of both electrocorticogram (ECoG) and electromyogram (EMG), signal circuit and animal operation.

RESULTSOperation time was shortened and wound exposure time was reduced, which made it easier for postoperative recovery. The ECoG and EMG signals were more stable with sharp image, and signal circuit lines had better conductivity and material durability, achieving continuous monitoring for a long time and high success rate. We could precisely distinguish the sleep wake state and the sleep apnea events in rats according to these signals.

CONCLUSIONThe improved method is more reliable and practical to test the small animal model of SAS, and is more easily to operate and the signals are more stable.

Animals ; Electroencephalography ; methods ; Electromyography ; methods ; Models, Animal ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; methods ; Rats ; Respiration ; Sleep ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; diagnosis

X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) is a primary immunodeficiency disorder caused by germline mutations of B-cell tyrosine kinase (BTK) gene. It is characterized by decreased serum immunoglobulins levels and circulating mature B cells. This defect in humoral immunity leads to increased susceptibility to infection. Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is an uncommon, ulcerating, neutrophilic dermatosis. Here we report PG in an 8-year-old patient with XLA. The patient received intravenous immunoglobulin treatment in conjunction with prednisone and topical application of 0.03% tacrolimus ointment and the ulcer was almost completely healed in the 2 weeks of follow-up. The coexistence has been rarely reported. XLA may be a possible cofactor in the pathogenesis of PG.
Agammaglobulinemia* ; B-Lymphocytes ; Child ; Follow-Up Studies ; Germ-Line Mutation ; Humans ; Immunity, Humoral ; Immunoglobulins ; Neutrophils ; Prednisone ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Pyoderma Gangrenosum* ; Pyoderma* ; Skin Diseases ; Tacrolimus ; Ulcer ; X Chromosome

The objectives of the study were to select suitable wavebands for rice leaf area index (LAI) estimation using the data acquired over a whole growing season, and to test the efficiency of the selected wavebands by comparing them with feature positions of rice canopy spectra. In this study, the field experiment in 2002 growing season was conducted at the experimental farm of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. Measurements of hyperspectral reflectance (350 approximately 2500 nm) and corresponding LAI were made for a paddy rice canopy throughout the growing season. And three methods were employed to identify the optimal wavebands for paddy rice LAI estimation: correlation coefficient-based method, vegetation index-based method, and stepwise regression method. This research selected 15 wavebands in the region of 350~2 500 nm, which appeared to be the optimal wavebands for the paddy rice LAI estimation. Of the selected wavebands, the most frequently occurring wavebands were centered around 554, 675, 723, and 1 633 nm. They were followed by 444, 524, 576, 594, 804, 849, 974, 1 074, 1 219, 1 510, and 2 194 nm. Most of them made physical sense and had their counterparts in spectral known feature positions, which indicates the promising potential of the 15 selected wavebands for the retrieval of paddy rice LAI.
Oryza ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Plant Leaves ; anatomy & histology

Objective In this study,we investigated the relationship between oxidative stress,selenoproteins level and onset of Keshan disease (KD) through detecting the expression of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxy guanosine (8-OH-dG),thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1) and glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx1) in myocardial tissue.Methods Myocardium samples of autopsy patients including 8 cases of KD (KD group included 4 acute KD and 4 chronic KD) and 9 cases of non-KD (control group) were immunohistochemically stained for 8-OH-dG,TrxR1 and GPx1.The staining intensities subsequently quantified by using Olympus Image-Pro Plus 6.0 software.Results The positive rate of 8-OH-dG expression in myocardial nuclei was higher in the case group[(68.6 ± 20.4)％] than that of the control group[(2.4 ± 1.5)％,t =8.515,P ＜ 0.05].In addition,the positive rate of 8-OH-dG expression in acute KD[(91.7 ± 3.7)％] was significantly higher than that of chronic KD[(53.2 ± 7.9)％,t =6.409,P＜0.05].The distribution of TrxR1 and GPx1 was not associated with the distribution of myocardial damage.The expression of these two selenoproteins in KD group (401340 ± 59865,497590 ± 197082) were both lower than that of control group(2790300 ± 379298,1348400 ±615840; t =-28.493,-6.016,respectively,all P＜0.01).Conclusions Oxidative damage is detected in myocardium tissue of KD,and 8-OH-dG expression is associated with the degree of myocardial damage in KD.Selenoproteins,TrxR1 and GPx1,may be closely related to the pathogenesis of KD.

Low birth weight (LBW) and preterm birth (PB) are associated with newborn mortality and diseases in adulthood.We explored factors related to LBW and PB by conducting a population-based case-control study from January 2011 to December 2013 in Wuhan,China.A total of 337 LBW newborn babies,472 PB babies,and 708 babies with normal birth weights and born from term pregnancies were included in this study.Information of newborns and their parents was collected by trained investigators using questionnaires and referring to medical records.Univariate and logistic regression analyses with the stepwise selection method were used to determine the associations of related factors with LBW and PB.Results showed that maternal hypertension (OR=6.78,95％ CI:2.27-20.29,P=0.001),maternal high-risk pregnancy (OR=1.53,95％ CI:1.06-2.21,P=0.022),and maternal fruit intake ≥300 g per day during the first trimester (OR=1.70,95％ CI:1.17-2.45,P=0.005) were associated with LBW.BMI ≥24 kg/m2 of mother prior to delivery (OR=0.48,95％ CI:0.32-0.74,P=0.001) and gestation ≥37 weeks (OR=0.01,95％ CI:0.00-0.02,P＜0.034) were protective factors for LBW.Maternal hypertension (OR=3.36,95％ CI:1.26-8.98,P=0.016),maternal high-risk pregnancy (OR=4.38,95％ CI:3.26-5.88,P＜0.001),maternal meal intake of only twice per day (OR=1.88,95％ CI:1.10-3.20,P=0.021),and mother liking food with lots of aginomoto and salt (OR=1.60,95％ CI:1.02-2.51,P=0.040) were risk factors for PB.BMI ≥24 kg/m2 of mother prior to delivery (OR=0.66,95％ CI:0.47-0.93,P=0.018),distance of house from road ≥36 meters (OR=0.72,95％ CI:0.53-0.97,P=0.028),and living in rural area (OR=0.60,95％ CI:0.37-0.99,P=0.047) were protective factors for PB.Our study demonstrated some risk factors and protective factors for LBW and PB,and provided valuable information for the prevention of the conditions among newborns.

Background The effect of chronic stress on cognitive functions has been one of the hot topic in neuroscience. But there has been much controversy over its mechanism. Such single stressor applied in the past could not simulate complicated living circumstances that people confronted with. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic multiple-stress on learning and memory as well as on the levels of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), calmodulin (CaM) mRNA, and cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) mRNA in the hippocampus of rats. Methods The rats were divided randomly into stressed and control groups. The stressed group was given chronic multiple-stress for 6 weeks to set up a chronic multiple-stressed model. The rats' performance of spatial learning and memory was tested using Morris Water Maze (MWM) and Y-maze. Meanwhile, the expressions of CaMKII, CaM mRNA and CREB mRNA of rats' hippocampus were detected by immunohistochemistry, Western blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively. In addition, the width of synaptic cleft and the thickness of post-synaptic densities (PSD) were observed in the hippocampal CA3 region of rats by electron microscopy. Results After exposure to chronic multiple-stress for 6 weeks, the ability of learning and memory of the stressed group was higher than that of the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The width of synaptic cleft was smaller and the thickness of PSD was larger in the hippocampal CA3 region of the stressed group than in that of the control group (P<0.01). The CaMKII immunostaining of the stressed group was stronger than that of the control group in the stratum radiatum and oriens of the hippocampal CA1 and CA3, especially in the stratum oriens. Quantitative analysis indicated that the expression of CaMKII, CaM mRNA, and CREB mRNA in the hippocampus of the stressed group was higher than that of the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusions The capacity of learning and memory can be enhanced after chronic multiple-stress. The increased levels of CaMKII, CaM mRNA, and CREB mRNA may contribute to the enhancing effect of chronic multiple-stress on learning and memory.

China ; Humans ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; isolation & purification ; Quality Control ; Sputum ; microbiology ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; microbiology

Objective To explore the significance of designing with monitoring-flap in massive com- pound bone grafts for repairing massive bone defects in extremities.Methods From January 2001 to De- cember 2004,large bone defects in 19 patients(11 men and 8 women,age:6 to 35 years,mean age:18.6 years)were repaired by vascularized free fibular transplant with a monitoring-flap combining with massive deep frozen bone allografts.Average length of the bone defects was 16.6 cm(range,12 to 25 cm).A 7 days' con- tinuously clinical examination including observing the color,turgor,temperature,capillary refill,and bleeding after a needle sticking of the monitoring-falps were used postoperatively,if any one of these were abnormal,the circulation of the compound bone grafts must be in danger and some measures such as re-operation should be taken immediately.Dynamic image analysis was used for evaluating the bone union.Results One monito- ring-flap was vascular artieulo,and the articulo was relieved after exploration and resection of vein thrombus; another one was marginal part necrosis;the remains were normal.All of monitoring-flaps healed normally after 23.2 months(range,6 to 54 months)follow-up.15 patients had the radiographic evidence of bone unions 3 months after surgery.11 patients had been removed intermal fixation,complete bone unios were found one year postoperatively.Conclusion Designing with monitoring-flap in massive compound bone grafts for repairing massive bone defects,and can clearly understand the circulatory statue of compound bone grafts and early pre- dict the final results of massive bone allografts.

Although guidelines and formulas have been developed through clinical practice to define infusion rate and volume, over- and under-resuscitation are still common, followed by increasing morbidity and mortality. In order to establish an effective management for early fluid resuscitation, the clinical decision support system (CDSS) has been established. The CDSS, by utilizing information systems coupled with decision support technology, could provide recommendations for the amount of fluid to be infused based on measured biological response. The results showed that patients treated with CDSS had a significantly lower mortality, increased ventilator-free days, and ICU-free days as compared with those treated with traditional fluid management. This article reviews the concepts as well as the result of recent clinical studies of CDSS for burn patients.
Burns ; therapy ; Decision Support Systems, Clinical ; Fluid Therapy ; Humans