Phospholipid fatty acids are the major constituents of the membranes of all living cells, and different groups of microorganism synthesize a variety of PLFA through various biochemical pathways. Several PLFAs can be used as "signatures" to analyze changes in microbial biomass and microbial communities structure. More and more PLFA method was used in soil microbial analysis. This article briefly reviewed the applications of PLFA methods in soil microbial analysis.

Cornea is the major refractive components of the eye. As a viscoelastic tissue, cornea exhibits complicated biomechanical properties: non - linear elasticity, anisotropy and viscoelasticity. The biomechanical properties play an important role in keeping the normal structureand function. Changes in biomechanical properties are always earlier than the clinical symptoms. So quantitative measurement of the biomechanical properties benefits the early diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Different methods to measure the biomechanical properties of cornea were reviewed in detail, including classic ex vivo destructive tests, commercially available in vivo measuring methods and other emerging methods with the potential for clinical application but not validated for in vivo measurement. The operating principles, advantages as well as limitations of these methods were also described.

To investigate the effects of electro-acupuncture at Shuigou (DU26) on latency and amplitude of motor evoked potential (MEP) in rats after cerebral infarction.

Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; complications ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; complications

Objective: To investigate the effect of combining acupuncture and auricular point sticking on heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with post-stroke depression (PSD). Methods: A total of 80 cases with PSD were randomized into a treatment group and a control group. The control group was intervened by oral administration of paroxetine hydrochloride, whereas the treatment group received acupuncture plus auricular point sticking base on the same oral administration. The Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD) and HRV were measured before and after treatment in both groups. Results: The individual and global scores of HAMD significantly dropped after 8 weeks of treatment in both groups (all P<0.05). In the treatment group, anxiety/somatization factor, sleep disturbance, hopelessness factor, cognition factor and global score were significantly different from those in the control group (all P<0.05). The 24 h standard deviation of all normal-to-normal R-R interval (SDNN), standard deviation of 5-minute average of normal R-R intervals (SDANN), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), percent of differences between adjacent normal R-R intervals >50 ms (PNN50) and high frequency (HF) were increased while low frequency (LF) and LF/HF decreased significantly after 8 weeks of treatment in both groups (P<0.05). All items in the treatment group were significantly different from those in the control group (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Combining acupuncture and auricular point sticking can enhance the conventional medical treatment for HRV in patients with PSD.

Objective To screen differentially expressed genes in placentas with hepatitis B virus (HBV)infection and to discuss the molecular mechanism of HBV intrauterine infection.Methods Thirty placenta tissue specimens from HBsAg and HBV DNA positive pregnant women were used as the study group and 30 placenta tissue specimens from normal pregnant women with HBsAg and HBV DNA negativity were served as the control group.The suppression subtractive hybridization(SSH)technique was used.Total RNAs of placenta tissue of the study group were mixed as the tester,and total RNAs of placenta tissue of the control group were mixed as the driver.A subtractive cDNA library was constructed by PCR-selective cDNA subtraction systems.Amplifications of the library were carried out with E.coil strain DH5? by reverse spot hybridization.RT-PCR confirmed that phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)was up-regulated in placenta tissue with HBV infection.Results Colony PCR showed that the clones contained 200-1000 bp inserts. Thirty five clones were confirmed by reverse spot hybridization and analyzed by sequencing and bioinformatics.Thirty three known genes and 2 genes with unknown function were obtained.RT-PCR preliminarily confirmed that PI3K gene was up-regulated in HBV infected placenta.Conclusions The differentially expressed genes in placentas with hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection using SSH technique has been screened out successfully.These differentially expressed genes encoding proteins participating in cell vital metabolism and malformation,and signal conduction-antiapoptosis pathway.This finding brings some new clues for studying the mechanisms of HBV intrauterine infection.

Adult ; Behcet Syndrome ; complications ; Female ; Heart Atria ; pathology ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; complications ; Pericardial Effusion ; complications

OBJECTIVETo study the association of FCGR2A gene single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1801274 with Kawasaki disease (KD) susceptibility and the efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy in Han Chinese children.

METHODSThirty-five KD children and 25 age-and gender-matched healthy children (control group) were enrolled in the study. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and gene sequence analysis were applied to detect SNP of FCGR2A gene rs1801274. These KD patients were classified into two subgroups based on the presence of coronary artery lesion (CAL) following IVIG therapy: CAL (n=13) and non-CAL (n=22).

RESULTSFCGR2A gene SNP rs1801274 was detected in all subjects, including three genotypes (AA, AG and GG). For FCGR2A gene SNP rs1801274, there were significant differences in the genotype and allele frequencies between the KD and control groups (P<0.05), and significant differences in the genotype and allele frequencies were also found between the CAL and non-CAL subgroups (P<0.05). A allele and AA genotype were linked to an increased risk of KD susceptibility (A allele: OR=3.39, 95%CI:1.53-7.50; AA genotype: (OR=4.93, 95%CI:1.61-15.1). Both AG (OR=5.43, 95%CI:1.06-27.8) and G allele (OR=4.88, 95%CI:1.44-16.5) were linked to an increased risk of CAL in KD children.

CONCLUSIONSPolymorphism of the FCGR2A gene SNP rs1801274 is one of the important factors probably influencing susceptibility to KD and efficacy of IVIG therapy on KD in Han Chinese children.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Receptors, IgG ; genetics

Objective To investigate the effects and mechanisms of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2 D3] on hyperoxia-induced lung injury of neonatal rats.Methods Neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into air group,hyperoxia group and 1,25(OH)2D3 group within 12 hours after birth,eight in each group.Rats in air group were exposed to air,while those in hyperoxia and 1,25 (OH) 2 D3 group were exposed to hyperoxia (≥85 ％ oxygen concentration).Rats in 1,25(OH)2D3 group were injected with 1,25(OH)2D3 0.5 μg/(kg · d) intraperitoneally once a dayfor seven days,meanwhile the rats in the other two groups received 0.9 ％ saline in the same way.All rats were sacrificed on day 7.Lung tissue sections were HE stained in order to assess lung histological changes and lung radical alveolar count (RAC).The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin(IL)-1β and IL-6 mRNA were measured by real time-polymerase chain reaction.Analysis of variance and LSD test were applied for statistics.Results Compared with the air group,the weight of rats in the hyperoxia group was significantly lower on day 7 [(8.48±1.34) g vs (12.51±0.47) g,t=8.05,P＜0.05],while the weight of rats in 1,25(OH)2D3 group [(10.29±1.00) g] was higher than that in the hyperoxia group (t=3.61,P＜0.05).Lung tissue structure was normal in the air group.In the hyperoxia group,inflammatory exudation was observed in pulmonary interstitial,the alveolar size was uneven,and the RAC was lower than that in the air group (5.6±0.1 vs 6.8±0.2,t=21.45,P＜0.05).The RAC in 1,25(OH)2D3 group (6.2±0.1) was significantly increased compared with that in the hyperoxia group (t=11.76,P＜0.05),but still lower than that in the air group (t=9.69,P＜0.05).The expressions of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 mRNA in hyperoxia group (0.0348±0.0006,0.0269±0.0003 and 0.0368 ± 0.0006) were higher than those in the air group (0.0111±0.0007,0.0040±0.0003 and 0.0162 ±0.0007,t=56.54,111.12 and 49.26,P＜0.05,respectively).The expressions of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 mRNA in the 1,25 (OH)2D3 group (0.0203±0.0009,0.0141±0.0004 and 0.0251±0.0009) were lower than those in the hyperoxia group (t=34.44,61.93 and 27.99,P＜0.05,respectively),but higher than those in the air group (t=22.10,49.19 and 21.27,P＜0.05,respectively).Conclusions 1,25(OH)2D3 could attenuate hyperoxia-induced lung injury by inhibiting the expression of inflammatory cytokines.

To investigate the effects of Caulis Sargentodoxae Granule (CSG), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine for treating endometriosis, on expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor-2 fetal liver kinase-1 (Flk-1) in rats with endometriosis.