Fungal elicitors are a group of chemicals that can stimulate the secondary metabolite production in plants and microbial cells. After being recognized, it could enhance the expression of related genes through the signal-transduction pathway; regulate the activity of the enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. In recent years, the inducible mechanism of fungal elicitors has been studied deeply worldwide. Meanwhile, it has acquired wide concern in the area of biological industry, especially in the fermentation industry. This paper addresses the application and prospect of fungal elicitors in the secondary metabolites of plant and microbial cells.
Alkaloids ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Camptothecin ; biosynthesis ; Fermentation ; Fungi ; genetics ; metabolism ; Industrial Microbiology ; methods ; Paclitaxel ; biosynthesis ; Plants, Medicinal ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Secondary Metabolism

Objective To investigate the relationship of 24 h urinary potassium (K) measurement and the symptoms change in ketamine-associated cystitis.Methods Forty-three ketamine-associated cystitis patients (29 male cases,14 female cases) were analyzed.The average age was 22 (17-29) years.Thirty-two patients without indwelling urinary catheter were categorized as group A,while the other 11 patients with indwelling urinary catheter were in group B.The therapy regimes consisted of anti-inflammatory,antioxidant,relieving spasm and pain,improving the microcirculation and repairing the bladder epithelium barrier.Thirty healthy adults were selected as the controls.Urinary K,sodium (Na) and creatinine (Cr)were determined in 24 h urine samples from all patients and controls before and after treatments.24 h urinary Cr was used as the internal standard.24 h urinary K and Na concentrations of the patients were calculated as relative to the Cr concentrations.The pelvic pain and urgency/frequency symptom (PUF) was used for evaluation before and after the treatments.The differences of urinary K were compared within each group and between groups before and after treatments.In addition,relationship of urinary K and PUF were assessed.Results Urinary Cr concentrations in all groups were not significantly different (P ＞ 0.05).Patients in group A had lower average K-to-Cr ratios than those patients in group B and controls (A 1.80 ± 0.67 vs.B 6.22±0.92 mmolK/mmol Cr,P=0.0001; A 1.80±0.67 vs.controls 6.47 ±0.97 mmol K/mmol Cr,P =0.0001) before treatments.But the ratios of K-to-Cr in group A were not significantly different with group B and controls after treatments (A 6.23 ± 1.42 vs.B 6.02 ± 0.98 mmol K/mmol Cr,A 6.23 ± 1.42vs.controls 6.47 ±0.97 mmol K/mmol Cr,F =0.698,P =0.472).PUF in both groups was not significantly different before treatments.For group A,PUF was negatively correlated with urinary K before and after treatments (before: r=-0.637,P=0.0001; after: r=-0.427,P=0.015).For group B,PUF had no correlation with urinary K before treatment (r=0.581,P =0.188),while there was a negative correlation between them after treatments (r =-0.779,P =0.005).PUF scores in all patients (group A + B)were significantly decreased after treatments when compared to those before treatments (18.12 ± 2.83 vs.22.77 ± 3.63,P =0.0001).Conclusion Urinary potassium measurement may have a role in evaluating the disease status and efficacy of treatments of patients suffered from ketamine-associated cystitis.

OBJECTIVETo summarize the imaging features of urinary dysfunction associated with ketamine abuse (KAUD) for imaging diagnosis of KAUD.

METHODSWe analyzed the imaging findings in 45 patients with KAUD, all having a history of ketamine abuse and presenting with severe lower urinary tract symptoms. The patients underwent imaging examinations with ultrasonography (n=45), X-ray (n=38), computed tomography (n=28), magnetic resonance imaging (n=10) or single photon emission computed tomography (n=25), and the results were classified and evaluated to identify the common imaging findings.

RESULTSThe imaging changes of KAUD were found primarily in the urinary and biliary system. The most common imaging characteristics included thickening of the bladder wall, contracture and decreased functional volume of the bladder, dilation of the ureter and hydronephrosis, stricture of the upper ureter, renal impairment, dilation of the biliary system, and inflammation or swelling of the adjacent organs and lymph nodes

CONCLUSIONKAUD presents with typical imaging changes. Radiologists should be aware of KAUD if the typical imaging features are detected, especially in cases with a history of ketamine abuse.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Ketamine ; adverse effects ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Substance-Related Disorders ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of single nucleotide polymorphism array (SNP array) for the identification of de novo mutations in the DMD gene among fetuses.

METHODSG-banded karyotyping and SNP array were performed on a fetus with intrauterine growth restriction but without family history of Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD/BMD). Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) was subsequently applied on amniocytes and maternal peripheral blood sample to detect DMD gene deletion/duplication mutations.

RESULTSKaryotyping of amniocytes showed a normal 46, XY karyotype. SNP array on amniocytes detected a 116 kb deletion (chrX: 32 455 741-32 571 504) at Xp21.1 with breakpoints at introns 16 and 30 respectively, encompassing exons 17-29 of the DMD gene. In addition, MLPA analysis of the DMD gene on amniocytes confirmed the deletion of exons 17 to 29 identified by SNP array. However, no deletion/duplication mutation was detected by MLPA in the mother.

CONCLUSIONThe de novo deletion of exons 17 to 29 of the DMD gene detected in the fetus may result in BMD or DMD. SNP array can improve the efficiency for detecting genomic disorders in fetuses with unidentified pathogenic genes, negative family history and nonspecific phenotypes.

Adult ; Dystrophin ; genetics ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Fetus ; abnormalities ; Gene Deletion ; Humans ; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne ; genetics ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; genetics ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVETo delineate the phenotypic characteristics of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and the role of CRKL gene in the pathogenesis of cardiac abnormalities.

METHODSG-banded karyotyping, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were performed on a fetus with tetralogy of Fallot detected by ultrasound. Correlation between the genotype and phenotype was explored after precise mapping of the breakpoints on chromosome 22q11.2. SNP array was also performed on peripheral blood samples from both parents to clarify its origin.

RESULTSThe fetus showed a normal karyotype of 46,XY. SNP array performed on fetal blood sample revealed a 749 kb deletion (chr22: 20 716 876-21 465 659) at 22q11.21, which encompassed the CRKL gene but not TBX1, HIRA, COMT and MAPK1. Precise mapping of the breakpoints suggested that the deleted region has overlapped with that of central 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. SNP array analysis of the parental blood samples suggested that the 22q11.21 deletion has a de novo origin. The presence of 22q11.21 deletion in the fetus was also confirmed by FISH analysis.

CONCLUSIONCentral 22q11.21 deletion probably accounts for the cardiac abnormalities in the fetus, for which the CRKL gene should be considered as an important candidate.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; genetics ; Adult ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22 ; genetics ; DiGeorge Syndrome ; diagnosis ; embryology ; genetics ; Female ; Fetal Diseases ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Male ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; Phenotype ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the factors affecting the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) and establish a model for predicting the success rate of a single ESWL session in the treatment of single renal calculus.

METHODSBetween January 2008 and February 2010, 325 patients underwent ESWL monotherapy and were followed up for at most 3 months. The correlations between the outcome of a single ESWL session and the patients' age, gender, body mass index (BMI), disease duration, pretreatment renal colic, hematuria, urinary irritation symptoms, stone location, stone laterality, stone length and stone width were analyzed. The statistically significant factors identifies were further analyzed by multivariate logistic regression, and the predictive model was established.

RESULTSThe stone-free rate of ESWL was 76.9%. Univariate analysis found that the patients' age, stone laterality, stone location, disease duration, pretreatment hematuria, stone length and width all significantly affected the outcome of the treatment. Logistic regression analysis indicated the factors including disease duration, pretreatment hematuria, stone length and stone width determined the success rate of the treatment. Hosmer and Lemeshow Test showed a good fitting of the predictive model (Χ(2)=18.144, df=8, P=0.168) with an overall accuracy of 87.4%.

CONCLUSIONDisease duration, pretreatment hematuria, stone length and width are independent factors affecting the outcome of a single ESWL session for single renal calculus.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Calculi ; therapy ; Lithotripsy ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome