Humans ; Estazolam ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid

Codon usage bias is an important characteristic of genetic information transfer in organisms. Analysis of codon usage bias of different species is important for understanding the rules on genetic information transfer. The previous method for analysis of codon usage bias is mainly based on genomic data. However, this method is greatly limited, because the genome sequences of higher organisms are still not available up to now. In this study, we found that we could obtain the same optimal codons of Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis: Fr.) P. Karst based on its whole genomic data or large-scale transcriptomic data from its liquid-cultured hyphae, primordium and fruiting body, separately. This result indicated the feasibility to understand the codon usage bias based on the large-scale transcriptomic data. By calculating the proportion of rare codons of Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae in 26 terpene synthases (TS) of G. lucidum, we found that the rare codons of S. cerevisiae have a higher proportion in TS genes, while the rare codons of E. coli have relatively lower, suggesting that the TS genes of G. lucidum are possibly more difficult to be expressed in S. cerevisiae than in E. coli. Chemical synthesis of TS genes according to the yeast optimal codons will be an effective way to solve the problem on the mismatch of gene codon bias between the foreign genes and the host strain.
Codon ; Escherichia coli ; Genome, Fungal ; Reishi ; genetics ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; Transcriptome

Objective To compared the reliability and validity of the application of two consciousness assessment scales in neurosurgical patients by Full Outline of Unresponsiveness Score Coma Scale (FOUR) and the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), and provide the effective evaluation for the consciousness of the nerve severe patients. Methods A total of 100 neurological intensive patients from Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University were enrolled and the consciousness was evaluated by FOUR and GCS. The reliability and validity of these scales were evaluated and compared by the following method such as Cronbach αcoefficient, the inter-rater agreement,content validity index (CVI) and the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) which used to predict the discrimination of prognosis.The important experimental indexes of blood of the degree of brain injury were collected in the same period:S-100 B protein and neuron specific enolization enzymes (NSE). Results The Cronbach α coefficient was 0.811 (FOUR) and 0.923(GCS). The overall rater agreement was excellent with an intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.972 (FOUR) and 0.979(GCS). CVI was 0.965 (FOUR) and 0.973 (GCS). Both scales had better distinguish and predictive abilities for the poor prognosis.The area under the curve for mortality was 0.938 for the FOUR and 0.932 for the GCS. The best cut-off values for predicting poor prognosis were FOUR of 12 and GCS of 11. For the FOUR, the correlation coefficient was-0.324(P<0.05) with the level of NSE,-0.427(P<0.01) with the level of S-100B protein. For the GCS,the correlation coefficient was-0.316 (P<0.05) with the level of NSE,-0.395 (P<0.01) with the level of S-100B protein. Conclusions Both FOUR and GCS are a reliable scale for evaluating the level of consciousness in neurosurgical patients. The GCS is familiar with the medical staff while the FOUR is more adapted to assess the patients with tracheotomy or intubated and which more easy to remember and learn by medical staff of neurosurgery department.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between Helicobacter species and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).

METHODSLiver samples resected during operation from 34 patients with HCC diagnosed by histopathology and 20 without primary liver carcinoma as controls were studied. The two groups of sample were cranked out pathologic slice for in situ hybridization of Helicobacter, Helicobacter pylori and Helicobacter hepaticus. Qualitative and quantitative studies were used to assess the correlation of liver tissue Helicobacter infection with HCC.

RESULTS64.71% (22/34). of the samples of HCC showed positive for Helicobacter specific 16S rRNA-mRNA gene by in situ hybridization, while none was positive in controls (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONHelicobacter pylori were found in the liver of patients with HCC.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; microbiology ; Case-Control Studies ; Helicobacter Infections ; complications ; Helicobacter hepaticus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Liver ; microbiology ; Liver Neoplasms ; microbiology

INTRODUCTIONMinimally invasive surgical ablation is an emerging alternative method to catheter ablation and the full surgical maze procedure for nonpharmacologic treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). We present a totally thoracoscopic "box lesion" radiofrequency ablation procedure in patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF.

MATERIALS AND METHODSFrom June 2011 to October 2012, 14 patients with lone paroxysmal (n = 7) or persistent AF (n = 7) were enrolled in this study. Procedures were performed through 3 5-12 mm holes on each side of the chest wall. A bipolar ablation device was used to create a box lesion in the posterior wall of the left atrium that encircled the 4 pulmonary veins (achieving bilateral pulmonary vein/posterior left atrial wall isolation). Perioperative complications were recorded for all patients. Freedom from AF was assessed by 24-hour Holter monitoring every 3 months or during symptoms of arrhythmia.

RESULTSThe ablation was successfully performed in all patients, with median operation time of 128 minutes (range, 45 to 180 minutes). No operative mortality or morbidity were noted during the study period. Freedom from AF was achieved in 12 patients (85.7%) during follow-up (median follow-up 9 months). One patient with persistent AF was shifted to paroxysmal AF. No atrial flutter or atrial tachycardia was noted during the follow-up.

CONCLUSIONThese early results show that totally thoracoscopic surgical ablation using a unique "box lesion" procedure for persistent or paroxysmal AF is a feasible and effective method with good short-term results. Further study is necessary to validate this result.

Adult ; Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Thoracoscopy

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation between hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) expression as well as fibrosis staging in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and pericarcinomatous tissues.

METHODSThe patterns of HBsAg and HCV in 100 cases of HCC and their surrounding liver tissues were studied on paraffin-embeded sections with immunohistochemistry technique, and liver tissues were also staged.

RESULTSHBV, HCV virus infection were positively correlated with the fibrotic staging (r(s) = 0.32, P = 0.001). HBsAg and HCV were detected both in HCC and pericarcinomatous tissues. The positive rate of HBsAg in Pericarcinomatous Tissues (79%) was higher than that of in HCC tissues (23%). HCV expressions in HCC (15%) and pericarcinomatous tissues (23%) showed no significant differences.

CONCLUSIONThe fibrotic degree in the tissues of liver cancer with previous virus infection was obviously higher than that without virus infection. Viral infection seemed to be one of the reasons causing liver cancer while perennial virusemia would aggravate pathological changes of the liver tissue.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; virology ; Hepacivirus ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis B ; complications ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis B virus ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis C ; complications ; Hepatitis C Antigens ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; virology ; Precancerous Conditions ; pathology ; virology ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation between HBsAg and HCV in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) pericarcinomatous tissues and serum liver fibrosis markers.

METHODSThe patterns of HBsAg and HCV in 100 cases of HCC and their surrounding liver tissues were studied with paraffin sections using immunohistochemistry techniques. Hyaluronic acid (HA), procollagen III peptide (PIIIP), collagen IV (CIV), and laminin (LN) were detected by radioimmunoassay.

RESULTSThe levels of HA, PIIIP, CIV and LN in the HBV and HCV coinfection group were the highest among the four groups. The levels of HA, PIIIP, CIV and LN in the groups not infected by HBV and HCV were the lowest among the four groups. HBV and HCV expressions were positively correlated with HA, LN and CIV and their Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were 0.60, 0.45, 0.46, respectively (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONLiver cancer development follows a sequential trend of chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and liver cancer. In the tissues of liver cancer with virus infection background, the serum marker level of hepatic fibrosis is obviously higher than those without virus infection background. On the one hand, virus infection is one of the reasons causing liver cancer; and on the other hand, longstanding viremia will aggravate pathological changes of liver tissues. Therefore antivirus treatment of hepatitis is of significance for the prognosis of liver cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; complications ; virology ; Collagen Type IV ; metabolism ; Female ; Hepacivirus ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; metabolism ; Hepatitis B virus ; immunology ; Hepatitis C Antigens ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid ; metabolism ; Laminin ; metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; virology ; Liver Neoplasms ; complications ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Procollagen ; metabolism

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Fluorescence ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; isolation & purification ; Paraffin Embedding ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND:Bisphosphonates-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) is thought to be caused by trauma to dentoalveolar structures after dental extraction and implantation that have a limited capacity for bone healing followed by infection,suppuration and pain,further inducing equestration,but the pathogenesis is poorly understood.OBJECTIVE:To establish a stable animal model of BRONJ,and to observe its clinical manifestations,radiological changes and pathological characters,thereby paving ways for further understanding the pathogenesis of BRONJ.METHODS:Twenty-four female Sprague-Dawely rats were randomly allocated into experimental and control groups (n=12 per group).The rats in the experimental group were given the intraperitoneal injection of 0.2 mg/kg zoledronic acid,and the controls received the intraperitoneal injection of same volume of normal saline,three times weekly for consecutive 12 weeks.Subsequently,left first mandibular molars were extracted under general anesthesia,and the bone healing was observed.At 8 weeks after tooth extraction,all the rats were euthanized.The rat left jaws were examined by X-ray and micro-CT to explore the imaging changes.The histopathological characteristics of the mandibular soft and hard tissues were investigated by hematoxylin-eosin staining and Masson staining,to further testify the BRONJ model.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:At 8 weeks after tooth extraction,the wound was unable to heal,and nonvital bone tissues were visible in the experimental group.The findings revealed on radiographies and pathological sections were in accordance with the characteristics of BRONJ.Masson staining results showed slender collagen fibrils around the dental extraction wound were slender in the experimental group.These results indicate that the intraperitoneal injection of zoledronate combined with tooth extraction can induce BRONJ in rats.The soft tissue toxicity and anti-angiogenesis of zoledronic acid can promote the occurrence of BRONJ,and the local acidic microenvironment caused by trauma probably is involved in the occurrence of BRONJ.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retinoblastoma Protein ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics