Two Pseudomonas strains, K80 - B and K80 - A, can use hydrocarbon as carbon source by two different mechanisms. Different effects can be observed when they are applied to 69-8 oil of Dagan Oil Field. The strain K80-B producing both hydrocarbon pseudosolubilizing factor and hydrocarbon emulsifying factor can decrease the viscosity and solidifying point of the 69-8 oil 51.6% and 2℃ respectively. Whereas the other can only decrease 43.5% and 3℃ respectively. When the two strains are mixed, synergistic effect on crude oil is obvious.

Objective To explore the diagnostic significance of differential cell count in induced sputum to chronic cough and assessment of airway inflammation.Methods The sputum of 335 chronic cough patients were induced.Differential cell counts were measured in these samples.The side effects were observed during the induced procedure.The final diagnosis was made based on clinical manifestation and examination findings including pulmonary function tests,provocation test,induced sputum cell differentials, etc.Results The cause of chronic cough was defined in 322 patients.The six most important causes of cough were typical asthma(TA,n=84),eosinophilic bronchitis (EB,n=62),atopic cough (AC,n= 42),cough variant asthma (CVA,n=40),gastroesophageal reflux cough(GERC,n=37),rhinitis and/ or paranasal sinusitis (PNDs,n=32),and others and indefinite cause (n=25,13).Percentage of eosinophils were significantly increased in the induced sputum of AC,EB,CVA,and GERC patients (0.005,0.052,0.059,0.234) compared with those in other causes and the healthy controls (0) (P

Objective To identify the polyreactivity of a monoclonal natural anti-keratin autoantibody 3B4 and to analyze its possible molecular me chanism.Methods enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)and immunohistoche mistry were applied to test the binding reactivity of 3B4 against different anti gens and tissues.The variable region genes and their amino acid composition wer e sequenced.Results 3B4 could reacted with a range of antigens and tissues,i n addition to keratin and skin.The variable region genes of its light chain and heavy chain showed high homology with germline genes VK1 am4 and VH1 J558.42.H CDR3 region,which mainly composed of short side chain amino acids(from 294 to 324 nucleotides around the heavy chain),was the only motif that differs from ot her highly homologous immunoglobulin genes.Conclusions The monoclonal natural anti-keratin autoantibody 3B4,with its variable region genes highly homologo us to germline genes,is highly polyreactive.The flexibility of HCDR3 may contr ibute to the polyreactivity.

Objective To sum up the therapeutic results of 125 cases of tetralogy of Fallot(TOF),and ex- plore the optimal time and risk factors of opration,as well as perioperative management.Methods One hundred and thirth-one consecutive cases of TOF underwent corrective surgery.There were simple stenosis of infundibular portion in right ventricular outflow tract in 37 cases,stenosis of infundibulum and pulmonary valve in 14 cases,main pul- monary trunk and left/right pulmonary arteries stenosis in 74 cases,and pulmonary atresia in 5 cases.Autologousper- icardial conduit,or with waived were used for right ventricular outflow tract and right ventriculo-pulmonary artery connection.Other anomalies were corrected.Results The surgicalmortality was 4.0 %.The cause of death were se- rious low cardiac output syndrome(3 patients),respiratory function failure(1 patient),pericadial infection(1 pa- tient).Conclusion It is necessary to profonn corrective opration on younger TOF patients.Effetive prophylaxis and control of low cardiac output syndrome and pulmonary complication is a useful strategy.

A novel type of carbon nanotube-coated Au nanoparticle and [bmim]BF4 composite modified glassy carbon electrode was fabricated by a layer-by-layer self-assembly technique. The electrochemical performance of acetaminophen (ACOP) on the modified electrode was investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The Nafion/GNPs/RTIL/MWNTs/GC electrode showed an excellent electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of ACOP and accelerated electron transfer between the electrode and ACOP. For ACOP, the reversible electrochemical process was observed on the Nafion/GNPs/RTIL/MWNTs/GC electrode, while irreversible electrochemical process occurred on the GC electrode. For the Nafion/GNPs/RTIL/MWNTs/GC electrode, the anodic peak potential of ACOP was moved from 0.562 V to 0.413 V, with a potential drop of 149 mV. At the same time, the reduction peak potential was 0.384 V, and the potential difference was only 29 mV. It was shown that the modified electrode possessed higher electrocatalytic activity and more sensitive effect for the detection of ACOP than both MWNTs/GC electrode and GC electrode. The effects of the different experimental conditions on the electrochemical behaviors of ACOP were explored. Under the optimum conditions of preparation and experimental, the linear calibration curves of ACOP were obtained in a wide range of 2 x 10(-1) to 4.0 x 10(-4) mol x L(-1) with a correlation coefficient 0.999 2 and a detection limit of 2.6 x 10(-8) mol x L(-1) (the ratio of signal to noise, 3:1). The recovery rate was 97.9%-100.8%. This method can be used to determine ACOP in paracetamol tablets with satisfactory results.
Acetaminophen ; analysis ; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic ; analysis ; Antipyretics ; analysis ; Electrochemical Techniques ; methods ; Electrochemistry ; methods ; Electrodes ; Electron Transport ; Gold ; chemistry ; Nanotubes, Carbon ; chemistry ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Reproducibility of Results

Objective To understand the prevailing status of coal-burning endemic fluorosis in Henan, and to provide scientific grounds for endemic fluorosis prevention. Methods Undertook general surveillance on factors such as coal using, living habit, main foods, the structure of the houses and the fluoride content in drinking-water among 1832 historical coal-burning endemic fluorosis villages within 13 counties in 2006 and 2007, and conducted focal point sampling survey on 216 villages which still using local high-fluoride. For all children aged 8-12 years of each village, conducted dental fluorosis examination and collected 30 immediate urinary samples for fluoride content determination. Results The fluoride content in drinking-water of all historical fluorosis villages was below 1.0 mg/L. Households having individual kitchens accounted for 93.7%(241 281/257 393), those with stoves having smoke evacuation devices accounted for 41.9% (107 917/257 393), those using local high-fluoride coal for cooking accounted for 28.6%(73 686/257 393), those using local high-fluoride coal for heating accounted for 24.1%(61 924/257 393). Villages with serf-supply of main foods accounted for 95.7%(1753/1832) of all fluorosis villages. Solar drying food was used in all households. Villages with dental fluorosis detection rate for children aged 8 to 12 years above 30.0% accounted for 16.2%(35/216), which axe all in Luoyang City. Among 77.8%(168/216) of fluorosis villages, children' s urinary fluoride concentrations were no higher than 1.50 mg/L. Conclusions Coal-burning endemic fluorosis areas in Henan Province were decreased greatly and the extent of the health hazard was becoming slightly. The detection rate of dental fluorosis for children aged 8 to 12 years of 8 counties had reached the standard for fluorosis control, whereas the other 5 counties had not yet, all located in Luoyang City.

Adult ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Male ; Myotonic Dystrophy ; complications ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Syringomyelia ; complications ; pathology ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of chronic lead exposure on mRNA and protein expression of ASIC1a, ASIC2a, ASIC2b in hippocampus of baby-rats.

METHODSThe Wistar pregnant rats were randomly divided into 3 groups fed with distilled water or lead contained water (0.2% and 1.0% lead acetate) respectively, 5 rats in each group. The lead-exposure ranged from the 0 day of pregnancy to the offspring weaned. Then the baby-rats were fed with lead water like their mothers and killed at postnatal day 8 or 50. Atomic absorption spectrometry was used to determine lead content in the brain. RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to observe mRNA and protein expression of ASIC1a, ASIC2a and ASIC2b in their hippocampus respectively.

RESULTSThe brain lead content of test groups was higher than that of the control group (P < 0.01), and the lead content of the postnatal day 50 was higher than that in postnatal day 8 (P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, ASIC1a mRNA expression of 1.0% lead exposure in the hippocampus was uptrend (P < 0.01), ASIC1a protein expression of each test group was downtrend (P < 0.05), while for ASIC2a and ASIC2b mRNA and protein, there was no significant differences observed (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONASIC1a expression in hippocampus can be changed by chronic lead exposure.

Acid Sensing Ion Channels ; Animals ; Female ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Lead ; toxicity ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sodium Channels ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of beta-amyloid peptide (Abeta) on cell membrane lipids and cholinergic receptors of human neuroblastoma cells.

METHODSHuman SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells were treated with different concentrations of Abeta(1-42) with and without pretreatment of vitamin E. MTT [3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] reduction, lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and phospholipids were measured by spectrophotometry. Levels of cholesterol and unbiquinone were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The numbers of cholinergic receptor binding sites were determined by receptor binding assay and the protein levels of nicotinic receptor alpha3 and alpha7 subunits were studied by Western blotting.

RESULTSSH-SY5Y cells showed decreased reduction rates of MMT and phospholipids, and increased lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation after exposure to Abeta (0.1 micromol/L) as compared to the control. The number of cholinergic receptor binding sites, the protein level of nicotinic receptor alpha3 and alpha7 subunits and the content of ubiquinone decreased in cells treated with high dose of Abeta (1 micromol/L). Although the level of cholesterol was not changed in any way, vitamin E partially prevented the neurotoxic effects of Abeta.

CONCLUSIONbeta-amyloid peptide reduces the level of cell membrane lipids and cholinergic receptors in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, likely through the induction of an enhanced oxidative stress.

Amyloid beta-Peptides ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; toxicity ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Membrane ; metabolism ; Cholesterol ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Membrane Lipids ; metabolism ; Neuroblastoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Peptide Fragments ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; toxicity ; Phospholipids ; metabolism ; Receptors, Nicotinic ; metabolism ; Ubiquinone ; metabolism ; Vitamin E ; metabolism ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the phenotypes and genotypes of a protein C (PC) deficiency pedigree.

METHODSImmunoassay (ELISA) was used for PC antigen and activated PC (APC) detection, PCR for amplification of the fragment of protein C gene exon II to exon IX, single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) for difference of denatured cDNA and DNA sequencing for gene mutation.

RESULTSFour members in the pedigree were found to be PC antigen levels between 34.3% - 67.8% and PC activity between 22% - 49% which are lower in comparison with normal references (80% - 120% and 70% - 130%, respectively). A G-to-A mutation in exon VII of the protein C gene at 6 219 position was identified in 9 members. This mutation resulted in the substitution of Arg for Gln at 169 amino acid.

CONCLUSIONThe proband is of heterozygosity. The G6219 A mutation in exon VII of the protein C gene leads to the substitution of Arg 169 Gln. This mutation is reported for the first time in China.

Adult ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pedigree ; Point Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Protein C ; genetics ; metabolism ; Protein C Deficiency ; congenital ; genetics