Many psychrophilic bacteria were isolated from east-pacific sediment which is 5,300m in depth. The genera of 13 isolations were identified and classified based on the comparison and phylogenetic study of 16S rRNA gene sequences. The results indicated that they belong to four genera including Parococcus, Pseudomonas, Halomonas and Pseudoalteromonas.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic efficacies of BRAF^V600E testing and Bethesda system for reporting thyroid cytopathology (BSRTC) in thyroid nodules with thyroid imaging reporting and data system (TIRADS) category 4 and 5. Methods: A total of 187 thyroid nodules in 187 patients underwent the examinations of ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and BRAF^V600E mutation were analyzed retrospectively. Receive operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to investigate the diagnostic values of both methods and the clinical application of BRAF^V600E combined with BSRTC was evaluated. SPSS17.0 software was used to analyze the data. Results: Among 187 thyroid nodules, 123 were malignant nodules confirmed with histopathological examination and 64 benign nodules determined by FNAC, histopathological examination, or long-term follow-up. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of BRAF^V600E test were better than those of BSRTC [69.1%, 98.4%, 98.8%, 62.4%(χ²=77.3, P=0.000) vs 62.6%, 93.8%, 95.1%, 56.6%(χ²=54.4, P=0.000)]. While the sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of the combined test of BRAF^V600E and BSRTC for diagnosis of malignant thyroid nodules were 87.8%, 92.2%, 95.6%, 79.7%(χ²=112.6, P=0.000), respectively. The area under the ROC curve for the combined test was higher than that for each of tests (0.900 vs 0.858 or 0.838). Conclusions The combined test of BRAF^V600E mutation and BSRTC has a higher diagnostic efficacy for malignant thyroid nodules compared with BRAF^V600E mutation or BSRTC alone.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of adefovir dipivoxil in treatment of decompensated liver cirrhosis patients with YMDD motif mutation during lamivudine therapy.

METHODSThe disease relapsed in 14 hepatitis B patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis during lamivudine treatment due to the YMDD motif mutation. All 14 patients had positive HVBDNA and active hepatitis, and were evaluated as Child-Pugh Score C (CPS-C). The patients were treated with lamivudine 50 mg/d and adefovir dipivoxil 10 mg/d for 6 months.

RESULTSOne patient signed off due to non-hypoxemic hyperlactacidemia; other 13 patients showed decreased serum HBVDNA. All patients had serum HBVDNA < or =10(5) copies/ml and 7 patients had HBVDNA < or =10(4) copies/ml. Six patients regained normal serum ALT level and Child-Pugh scores decreased in all patients.

CONCLUSIONAdefovir dipivoxil has satisfied efficacy and safety in treatment of decompensated liver cirrhosis patients with YMDD motif mutation during lamivudine treatment.

Adenine ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Aged ; Amino Acid Motifs ; genetics ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase ; genetics ; Female ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; drug therapy ; genetics ; virology ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; complications ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Lamivudine ; therapeutic use ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; genetics ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Organophosphonates ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; genetics ; Recurrence ; Reverse Transcription ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the protective effect of Ginkgo biloba extract(EGb) on the kidney in the case of ischemia-reperfusion injury.

METHODThe model of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury in male rats was made by ligation of left renal artery for 45 min and 4 h of reperfusion. The rats with pretreament were fed with EGb prior to operation. The change of MDA, SOD, Na+-K+-ATPase, Ca2+-ATPase in kidney and BUN, Cr in plasma were determined. The renal pathologic changes were observed.

RESULTAfter ischemia-reperfusion, the content of MDA in renal cortex and the levels of BUN, Cr in plasma were increased,the activity of SOD,Na+-K+-ATPase, Ca2+-ATPase in renal cortex were decreased, and the phathological changes induced by ischemia-reperfusion in renal tissues were observed clearly. The pretreatment of rats with EGb coued significantly prevente the reduction of SOD, Na+-K+-ATPase, Ca2+-ATPase activity in renal cortex and the increase of MDA content in renal cortex, decrease the concenration of BUN, Cr in plasma. The pathological changes of proximal tubular cells in rats kidneys induced by ischemia-reperfusion were also prevented by the pretreatment with EGb.

CONCLUSIONEGb can protect rats from renal injuries caused by ischemia-reperfusion.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Calcium-Transporting ATPases ; metabolism ; Creatinine ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Kidney ; pathology ; Kidney Cortex ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Protective Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; pathology ; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effect of Bailian Caogen granule.

METHODThe antipyretic effects of Bailian Caogen granule was evaluated in rabbit fever model induced by peptone. The analgesic effect of the drug was studied with pain model of mice induced by acetic acid and hot plate, The severity of oedema in inflamed animal was observed to study the anti-inflammatory effects of Bailian Caogen granule.

RESULTBailian Caogen granule could obviously inhibit the fever of rabbits. The number of writhing induced by acetic acid was reduced and the pain threshold of mice was increased by Bailian Caogen granule. Bailian Caogen granule also had anti-inflammatory activity against xylene-induced mouse ear swelling and carrageenin-induced rat paw edema.

CONCLUSIONBailian Caogen granule has significant analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory activities.

Acetic Acid ; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Body Temperature ; drug effects ; Coptis ; chemistry ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Edema ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Female ; Fever ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; chemistry ; Hot Temperature ; Hyperalgesia ; etiology ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Mice ; Pain ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Pain Threshold ; drug effects ; Phellodendron ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Pueraria ; chemistry ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

AIMTo clarify the ultrastructural changes of penile tunica albuginea (TA) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.

METHODSIntraperitoneal injection of STZ was used to induce diabetes mellitus (DM) in 12 Sprague Dawley rats. Ten rats (age and weight-matched) were used as control. Blood samples from the tail snips of the rats were used for the determination of serum glucose levels with SureStep Plus Blood Meter. At week 4 and 10 after the injection, half of the rats in each group were sacrificed and penile samples were obtained from the middle third of the penile shaft for the examination of TA under scanning electron microscopy.

RESULTSIn the diabetic group, the serum glucose levels were higher (P<0.01 at both time points) and the TA were thinner (P<0.05) than those of the controls. In the control group, the fibers of TA were rich and arranged regularly and undulated, while in the diabetic group, the fibers were diminished, lost the undulations and were arranged irregularly.

CONCLUSIONIn rats, DM appeared to impair the penile TA ultrastructures and this impairment could contribute to diabetic erectile dysfunction in part by impairing the veno-occlusive function.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; pathology ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Penis ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between microsatellite alterations of RASSF1A gene and the development of cervical carcinoma, and HPV16 infection.

METHODSTwo sites of microsatellite polymorphism of RASSF1A gene were selected, we used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique to detect the LOH and MSI of cervical tissues, and to detect the infection state of HPV16.

RESULTSThere were significant differences of LOH rates at the two sites between clinical stage and pathological grade (P < 0.05). Significant differences were noted between the cervical carcinomas with lymph node metastasis and those without lymph node metastasis in regard to their LOH and MSI at the two sites ( P < 0.05). The incidence of LOH of RASSF1A gene was higher in HPV16(+) than that in HPV16(-) ( P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe change of RASSF1A gene is a relatively late event in cervical carcinomas. The detection of the LOH and MSI of RASSF1A gene might be helpful to the early diagnosis and the screening of cervical carcinoma. It might also be useful for predicting the prognosis of cervical carcinoma. Infection of HPV16 and LOH of RASSF1A gene had reacted together in the development of cervical carcinoma.

Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; genetics ; Microsatellite Repeats ; genetics ; NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; genetics

BACKGROUNDChronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection (CAEBV) has been previously reported to be sometimes associated with an aggressive clinical course. The characteristics of CAEBV in Mainland Chinese pediatric patients are largely unreported. The main aims of this survey were to recognize the clinical features of CAEBV in children and to explore its diagnostic criteria and risk factors.

METHODSA retrospective study was performed on 53 pediatric patients (36 boys and 17 girls) with CAEBV who were admitted to Beijing Children's Hospital between 2003 and 2007. All their medical records were reviewed and analyzed. For each patient, demographic, clinical, laboratory data and outcome were collected. Independent-samples t test was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTSThe age at onset of CAEBV was from 2 months to 14.6 years (mean (5.3+/-3.3) years). At the time of onset, 43.4% patients had an infectious mononucleosis-like symptom. Most patients exhibited intermittent fever (92.5%, 49/53), hepatomegaly (81.1%, 43/53) and splenomegaly (77.4%, 41/53). Life-threatening complications including hemophagocytic syndrome (24.5%, 13/53), interstitial pneumonia (24.5%, 13/53), hepatic failure (15.1%, 8/53) and malignant lymphoma (11.3%, 6/53) were also observed. The serum EBV DNA level in 23 patients with CAEBV was in the range of 5.05 x 10(2)-4.60 x 10(6) copies/ml with a mean value of 10(3.7) copies/ml. Many patients with CAEBV generally had continuous symptoms during the observational period. Eleven out of 42 patients (26.2%) died 7 months to 3 years after onset. Deceased patients were more likely to have had lower platelet counts and albumin levels than the living patients (P<0.05 for all comparisons).

CONCLUSIONSThe study reveals that CAEBV in Chinese pediatric patients has a severe clinical course and prognosis is poor. Thrombocytopenia and decreases in albumin might potentially be risk factors for a poor prognosis. EBV loads should be measured and tissue should be stained on hybridization probes for EBV-encoded small RNA (EBER) if a patient presents with the known symptoms of CAEBV.

Adolescent ; Age Distribution ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Chronic Disease ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; etiology ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Serum Albumin ; analysis ; Thrombocytopenia ; complications

Sustainable utilization and bio-diversity protection of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) have been a hotspot of the TCM study at present, in which the choice of appropriate method is one of the primary problems confronted. This paper described the technical system, equipment and image processing of low altitude remote sensing, and analyzed its future application in Chinese herb medicinal sustainable utilization.
Altitude ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Robotics ; instrumentation ; methods

Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; diagnostic imaging ; Bradycardia ; diagnostic imaging ; Echocardiography, Doppler, Color ; Female ; Fetal Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; diagnostic imaging ; embryology ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies