Objective To analyze nucleic acid sequence homology of the 6 kb(pYC) plasmid of Yersina. pestis (Y. pestis) isolated from Yurman by searching GenBank. Method The search of sequence similarity was accomplished with BLAST. Results The pYC plasmid sequence had high homology with some genes in nueleotide sequence, such as: 97.1% homology with Shigella sonnei pKYM, 92.1% homology with Haemophilus influenzae(H. influenzae) gene, Salmonella typhi (S. typhi) gene LT2 and plMVSI with 88.2% and 87.2% of homology respectively, Escherichia coli(E, coli) O157:H7 and K-12, ECOR31 with 81.4%, 81.4% and 84.7% of homology respectively. This plasmid ORFs could code for some proteins which were similar with others in GenBank, such as: ORFi and H. paragallinarum replication protein B(47.2%), ORF4 and E. coli hypothetical protein(52.7%), ORF5 and Y. pseudotuberculosis Tile (48.3%), ORF6 and E. coil Pilx5/VirB5-1ike protein (42.3%), Y. enterocolitica TriD protein(38.5%), ORFIO and S. typhimurium LT2, E. coli O157:H7 hypothetical protein(83.1% and 81.9%, respectively), ORF11 and E. coli, damage-inducible protein J(81.4%). Conclusions The pYC plasmid sequence has high homology with a few bacterial genes of Enterobacteriaceac. This plasmid may code for some proteins that are similar with hypothetical protein, damnge-indncible protein, TriD and TilE protein, Pilx5/VirB5-hke protein of Escherichia or Yersinia.

This paper reports the surface morphology and I-V curves of porous silicon (PS) samples and related devices. The observed fabrics on the PS surface were found to affect the electrical property of PS devices. When the devices were operated under different external bias (10 V or 3 V) for 10 min, their observed obvious differences in electrical properties may be due to the different control mechanisms in the Al/PS interface and PS matrix morphology.
Electrochemistry ; instrumentation ; methods ; Electrodes ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Gold ; chemistry ; Materials Testing ; Molecular Conformation ; Porosity ; Silicon ; chemistry ; Surface Properties

Nanocavity biomaterials with recognition specificity imprinted by using proteins as templates may successful serve as substitutes for antibodies, enzymes, and other native biological structures as well as cell bracket materials. It has numerous applications in biotechnology, medicine and so on. In this paper, the principle of template imprinting is introduced briefly, the specialty of template imprinting of proteins is analyzed, and the methods of template imprinting of proteins including protein entrapment, microbead surface imprinting, flat surface imprinting as well as the epitope are reviewed in details.
Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; chemical synthesis ; Biotechnology ; Genomic Imprinting ; Humans ; Macromolecular Substances ; Nanotechnology ; Peptides ; chemical synthesis ; Polymers ; Proteins ; chemical synthesis ; Templates, Genetic

Objective To explore the relation between homocysteinemia (HCY) and carotid artery plaque.Methods Subjects were derived from a cohort of Kailuan study,which was a community-based and cross-sectional.From June 2010 to June 2011,a total of 5852 subjects were selected from 101 510 working or retired employees at the Tangshan Kailuan Company in 2006-2007.Data was extracted from the results of health examination on the employees.Selecting process was carried out by those staff working on the clinical trials on stroke and from the research center of Tiantan Hospital,Capital Medical University.Subjects who were beyond 40 years of age but without histories as previous stroke,transient ischemic attack (TIA) or myocardial infarction were included and identified,to take part in the study through stratified random sampling.Finally,5440 eligible subjects were enrolled and data from 5377 subjects were analyzed.All the information was obtained through unified questionnaire,blood tests and carotid artery ultrasonography.Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the factors related to carotid artery plagues.Results ( 1 )The baseline results showed that the average age of the subjects (n=5377) was 55.18± 11.78 years old with 3215 as males.All the subjects were divided into three groups by tertbiles of HCY,with 1771 subjects in the first quantile group ( HCY ＜ 1 1.00 μmol/L ),1814 in the second quantile group ( 11.00-16.98 μmol/L)and 1792 in the third quantile group( ≥ 16.98 μmol/L).2300 subjects were identified as having carotid artery plaques.(2)The prevalence rates of carotid artery plaques in the three groups were 29.9％,43.3％ and 55.0％ respectively.(3) Afar multivariable adjustment,the third quantile HCY was still serving as a risk factor,affecting the formation of carotid artery plaques,with the OR values as 1.344 (95％CI:1.134-1.594).Conclusion High HCY was related to the increased prevalence of carotid artery plaque and thus served as a risk factor for carotid artery plaque.

To determine cancer pathway activities in nine types of primary tumors and NCI60 cell lines, we applied an in silico approach by examining gene signatures reflective of consequent pathway activation using gene expression data. Supervised learning approaches predicted that the Ras pathway is active in ～70% of lung adenocarcinomas but inactive in most squamous cell carcinomas, pulmonary carcinoids, and small cell lung carcinomas. In contrast, the TGF-β, TNF-α, Src, Myc, E2F3, and β-catenin pathways are inactive in lung adenocarcinomas. We predicted an active Ras, Myc, Src, and/or E2F3 pathway in significant percentages of breast cancer, colorectal carcinoma, and gliomas. Our results also suggest that Ras may be the most prevailing oncogenic pathway. Additionally, many NCI60 cell lines exhibited a gene signature indicative of an active Ras, Myc, and/or Src, but not E2F3, β-catenin, TNF-α, or TGF-β pathway. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive survey of cancer pathway activities in nine major tumor types and the most widely used NCI60 cell lines. The "gene expression pathway signatures" we have defined could facilitate the understanding of molecular mechanisms in cancer development and provide guidance to the selection of appropriate cell lines for cancer research and pharmaceutical compound screening.

Through collecting the relevant moxibustion records of Han medical bamboo slips unearthed in Wuwei and Juyan regions of Gansu province, the situation and characteristics of clinical practice of moxibustion were summarized. In Wuwei Han medical bamboo slips, the contraindications of moxibustion were recorded, with age and time involved. Juyan Han medical bamboo slips mainly recorded the methods of moxibustion at the acupoints located on the back of the body, with clear emphasis and requirement of acupoint selection, single acupoint moxibustion and moxibustion quantity (the numbers of moxa cone) included. These records on bamboo slips initially display the practice and development of moxibustion in Gansu and other northwestern regions of China in the Han Dynasty, providing a certain instruction for the literature research of moxibustion of the excavated Han medical bamboo slips.
Acupuncture Points ; China ; Contraindications ; Moxibustion ; Plant Cone

Objeetive To evaluate the impact of viable myocardium assessed by 99Tcm-MIBI SPECT and 18F-flourodeoxyglucose(FDG) PET imaging in patients with left ventricular aneurysm(LNA) underwent revascularization (RVS).Methods Forty-six consecutive patients with LVA (mean LVEF 36%±7%),underwent 99Tcm-sestamibi SPECT and 18F-FDG PET examinations and received RVS therap,were followed-up for a mean period of 80±27 months.Viable myocardium in anenrysm was defined as perfusionmetabolism mismatch score (MMS) ≥2.0.Patients were divided into four groups by aneurysm viability and aneurysmectomy.Group A1 (n=8):viability-;Group A2 (n=15):viability-,aneurysmectomy;Group B1 (n=10):viability+;and Group B2 (n=13):viability+,aneurysmectomy.Results The cardiac event rates during follow up were similar among groups [A1(25%,2/8),B1(40%,6/15),A2(20%,2/10) and B2(31%,4/13:P＞0.05].After revascularization,LVEF was impmved (＞10%) in groups A2,B1 and B2(P＜0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that LV-MMS(OR=2.34,95% CI 1.08-5.06,P＜0.05).distal vessel disease(OR=0.008,95% CI 0.001-0.560,P＜0.05) and nonaneurysm perfusion score (OR=0.24.95% CI 0.07-0.85.P＜0.05) were significantly associated with the improvement of LVEF after revascularization.Conclusions Long term cardiac events rate post revascularization was not affected by viable myocardium or aneurysmectomy in LVA patients.Viable myocardium in LVA patients was associated with better LVEF improvement after revascularization.

Objective To investigate the effect of cysteine protease inhibitor derived from S chistosoma japonicum(SjCys-tatin)on dextran sodium sulfate(DSS)-induced acute ulcerative colitis in mice.Methods Eighteen C57BL/6 mice were ran-domly divided into three groups:a control group treated with PBS(Group A),a DSS-induced-colitis group treated with PBS(Group B),and a DSS-induced-colitis group treated with SjCystatin(Group C).Colitis was induced in mice by giving 3％DSS orally for 7 days.During this period,the mice were daily injected with 10μg of SjCystatin or PBS only as a control intraperitone-ally.The mice were monitored daily for their clinical manifestations and given scores based on disease activity index(DAI).The severity of colonic inflammation was monitored by the macroscopic score and pathological change.The cytokine profile including TNF-α,IL-4,IL-6 and IL-10 in the supernatants of colon homogenate was detected by ELISA.Results Compared with Group A(0.50 ± 0.28),the DAI score increased significantly in Group B(9.30 ± 1.30)(F=86.86,P<0.01),with remarkable path-ological damages seen in colon tissues.and the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were(321.33±67.01)and(403.58 ±180.51)pg/mL.The DAI score significantly reduced in Group C(6.67±1.57)as compared to Group B(F=86.86,P<0.01),with improve-ments in the macroscopic and microscopic pathology in mouse colon specimens.As compared to Group B,the levels of TNF-α [(188.14 ± 40.14)pg/mL] and IL-6 [(209.71 ± 48.47)pg/mL] significantly decreased(F=17.46 and 9.89,both P<0.01).Con-clusion SjCystatin has a significantly inhibitory effect for alleviating DSS-induced acute ulcerative colitis in C57BL/6 mice.

Objective Throush identify biochemical characteristics and virulence factors of 2 strains suspected Yersinia pestis(Y.pestis)isolated from the dead Marmota himalayana(M.himalayana)to confirm the nature epidemic focus in Dege County,Sichuan Province.Methods Y.pestis was analyzed by specific staining and shape,culturing characteristics,splitting-test by bacteriophage,test of biochemical characteristics and glycolysis ability,virulence factors,virulence,nutritional requirement,plasmid,genetic test and genetic type. Results The tested strains were Gram staining bacilus.The main biochemical characteristics were Arabinose(+)、 Rhamnose(-),Maltose(+),Melibiose(-),Glycerol(+),Denitrification(+).The virulence factors with FI+.VW+, Pgm+,Pst I+;and with the common 6.0×106,45.0×106,65.0×106 plasmids,also with the virulence-relative plasmid gene.Both their absolutely lethal dose(LD100)in mice were 50 bacteria.The nutritional requirement appeared which were depended on Phenylalanine and Methionine.With the Genomovar 5 genotype characteristics of M.himalayana plague foci of Qinghai-Tibet plateau.The difference between tested strains and Yersinia pseudotubercuosis on the 3 different culture medium was obvious.The tested strains had a Y.pestis' specific 3a fragment,Pst I and FI-Ag,at 22 ℃,the strains could be split by bacteriophage completely.Conclusions According to the diagnostic criteria of plague in China,the 2 suspected strains isolated from Dege County,Sichuan Province ale confirmed as Y.pestis.both with powerful virulenceand with the characteristics of the Y.pestis of M.himahtyana in Qinghai-Tibet plateau plague natural focus.

Background: Esophageal cancer is associated with substantial disease burden in China, and data on the economic burden are fundamental for setting priorities in cancer interventions. The medical expenditure for the diagnosis and treatment of esophageal cancer in China has not been fully quantified. This study aimed to examine the medical expenditure of Chinese patients with esophageal cancer and the associated trends. Methods: From 2012 to 2014, a hospital-based multicenter retrospective survey was conducted in 37 hospitals in 13 provinces/municipalities across China as a part of the Cancer Screening Program of Urban China. For each esophageal cancer patient diagnosed between 2002 and 2011, clinical information and expense data were extracted by using structured questionnaires. All expense data were reported in Chinese Yuan (CNY; 1 CNY= 0.155 USD) based on the 2011 value and inflated using the year-specific health care consumer price index for China. Results: A total of 14,967 esophageal cancer patients were included in the analysis. It was estimated that the overall average expenditure per patient was 38,666 CNY, and an average annual increase of 6.27％ was observed from 2002 (25,111 CNY) to 2011 (46,124 CNY). The average expenditures were 34,460 CNY for stage Ⅰ, 39,302 CNY for stage Ⅱ, 40,353 CNY for stage Ⅲ, and 37,432 CNY for stage IV diseases (P < 0.01). The expenditure also differed by the therapy type, which was 38,492 CNY for surgery, 27,933 CNY for radiotherapy, and 27,805 CNY for chemotherapy (P < 0.05). Drugs contributed to 45.02％ of the overall expenditure. Conclusions: These conservative estimates suggested that medical expenditures for esophageal cancer in China substantially increased in the last 10 years, treatment for early-stage esophageal cancer costs less than that for advanced cases, and spending on drugs continued to account for a considerable proportion of the overall expenditure.