The effect of initial substrate concentration on the growth,metabolic activities of Photosynthetic bacteria (PSB) in the process of hydrogen production is studied.The empirical relation of the initial substrate concentration to the specific growth rate,specific substrate consumption rate and specific hydrogen production rate of PSB are developed based on the modified Monod model.It is found that the results given by the model are well agreed with the experimental data in growth phase and stationary phase of PSB.Meanwhile,the optimal substrate concentration in the process of growth,metabolism and hydrogen production is 50 mmol/L.Furthermore,when the initial substrate concentration deviates 50 mmol/L,the activation of PSB is limited or inhibited,and the inhibiting effect is more prominent than the limiting effect.In addition,it is demonstrated that initial substrate concentration has little effect on the specific substrate consumption rate.

Objective To undemtand the rhythm of urinary iodine level of children aged 8-10 in Chongqing city.Methods In April 2008,using the stratified random sampling method,we sampled 60 children aged 8-10 in a lodging primary school in Chongqing(20 per age group,half male and half female),the urine samples were collected in the morning and at 10:00,12:30,16:00,iodine in urine was detected by method of Ce and arsenic catalytic speetrophotometry(WS/T 107-2006).The difference of the urinary iodine level was compared by age,sex and time of day.Results The median urinary iodine of 60 children was 265.07μg/L on the overall.Irrespective of the stratification factors,excluding morning urinary iodine(366.75μg/L)and urinary iodine at 10:00(338.30 μg/L),the urinary iodine between 12:30(235.15μg/L)and 16:00(251.50μg/L)was not significant(all P>0.05),statistically significant differences(all P<0.05)were found between any two.The urinary iodine of 8-year-old group at different times of the day was significantly different(all P<0.05),except between morning urinary iodine (298.90 μg/L)and at 10:00,16:00(279.00,286.59 μg/L),between urinary iodine at 10:00 and 16:00(all P>0.05).The 9-year-old group's urinary iodine were not significantly different between morning urine(366.15μg/L)and 10:00(368.10 μg/L),and between 12:30(244.00 μg/L)and 16:00(186.30 μg/L,all P>0.05),significant differences were faund at other times of the day(all P<0.05).The 10-year-old group of urinary iodine changed very little before 12:30 (382.85,449.60,337.00 μg/L, all P > 0.05 ), followed by rapid decline to 16: 00 (269.35 μg/L), and compared with the morning urine and 10:00, there was significant difference(all P < 0.05).Regardless boys or girls, the urinary iodine at different times qf the day was significantly different (all P < 0.05),except between morning urinary iodine(337.32,309.28 μg/L) and at 10:00(316.15,288.27 μg/L), between urinary iodine at 12:30(251.18,211.45 μg/L) and 16:00(235.02,211.45 μg/L, all P > 0.05). Conclusions The change of urinary iodine level in children aged 8 - 10 was not obvious before noon, changes can be seen in the afternoon.Urinary iodine level before 10:00 is indicative.

Objective To improve the recognition of nervous system symptoms of inborn errors.Methods Five patients with organic acidemias were screened by urine organic acid analysis(gas chromotography-mass spectrometry,GC/MS),3 cases of methylmalolic acidemias(MMA) and 2 cases of propionic acidemias(PA) were confirmed.They were treated with special diet and medicine after diagnosis.Result The improvement of mental development was observed after treatment.Conclusions Most of organic acidemias involve nervous systems,causing non-specific symptoms of nervous system as lethergy,seizures,mental retardation.Inborn errors of metabolism shall be kept in mind when causes of the symtoms of acidosis,seisures,mental retardation and lethergy are investigated.GC/MS is a very important method in diagnosis of organic acidemias.Early diagnosis and early treatment can improve the mental prognosis.

Objective To investigate the iodine nutritional status of targeted population in the high-risk areas of iodine deficiency disorders in Chongqing, so as to provide scientific evidence for establishing prevention and remedial measures. Methods Six towns were selected in Chengkou and Wuxi Counties to found suspected dementia patients born after first Jan, 1997. Two hundred children aged 8-10 years were investigated in every town. The thyroid volume, intelligence quotient(IQ) and urinary iodine of the children were examined. Forty women (pregnant and nursing women) were investigated in every town. The iodine content of salt from their home was measured. The thyroid volume was examined by palpation and B-uhrasound. IQ was measured by combined Raven Test in China(CRT-RC2). Urinary iodine was determined using the acid digest arsenic-cerium contacting method, and iodined salt was detected using direct titration method. Results Six suspected dementia patients were found in the local town hospital. Five eases were excluded. There was 1 case born in other place. The rates of goiter by palpation and B-ultrasound were 9.58%(92/960) and 8.89%(65/731), respectively. The median of urinary iodine of children and women was 319.15 μg/L and 248.42 μg/L, respectively. The mean of IQ of the children was 103.32. The coverage rate of iodine salt from residents was 98.82%(336/340). Conclusions The iodine nutrition of children was good and there is no newly occurred cretinism in Chengkou and Wuxi Counties. Goiter rate and median of urinary iodine aged 8-10 years and of women, coverage rate of iodine salt from resident has meet the standard set for basical elimination iodine deficiency disorders.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the impact of nicotine- and tar-free cigarette smoke extract (fCSE) on the serum testosterone (T) level and erectile function of male rats.

METHODSWe randomized 30 male SD rats to three groups of equal number to receive subcutaneous injection of PBS (1.0 ml / 300 g body weight per day), fCSE (1.0 ml/300 g body weight per day), and reduced glutathione hormone (GSH, 200 mg per kg body weight per day) in addition to fCSE (fCSE + GSH), respectively, all for 8 weeks. Then we evaluated the erectile function of the rats by measuring the maximal intracavernous pressure (MICP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), ICP/MAP ratio, time of stimulation to MICP (Tmax), and cavernosal filling fate (CFR). We determined the serum T level, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) , malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the cavernosal tissue, and also observed the morphological changes of the corpus cavernosum.

RESULTSCompared with the controls, the rats of the fCSE group showed obvious decreases in the levels of serum T ([5.37 ± 1.43] vs [3.22 ± 1.11] μg/L), NOS ([2.90 ± 0.27] vs [1.67 ± 0.18] U/mg) , and SOD ([18.41 ± 1.09] vs [13.36 ± 1.18] U/mg prot) and erectile function-related indexes MICP ([85.92 ± 6.36] vs [58.99 ± 10.76] mmHg), MICP/MAP (0.86 ± 0.09 vs [0.56 ± 0.08]), and CFR (2.14 ± 0.44 vs 0.89 ± 0.44), but markedly increased Tmax ([29.90 ± 5.78] vs [42.90 ± 8.56]s), with a positive correlation between the serum T level and CFR (r = 0. 364, P < 0.05). Masson staining revealed a lower ratio of the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle tissue to collagen fiber in the fCSE group (0.27 ± 0.04) than in the control (0.98 ± 0.12). Compared with the fCSE group, the fCSE + GSH group exhibited significantly improved MICP ([58.99 ± 10.76 ] vs [77.95 ± 7.71] mmHg), MICP/MAP (0.56 ± 0.08 vs 0.77 ± 0.09), and CFR (0.89 ± 0.44] vs 1.76 ± 0.42) and shortened Tmax ([42.90 ± 8.56 ] vs [32.10 ± 5.84 ] s). The ratio of the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle tissue to collagen fiber was higher in the fCSE + GSH than in the fCSE group (0.77 ± 0.09 vs 0.27 ± 0.04) but still lower than in the control (0.98 ± 0.12).

CONCLUSIONNicotine- and tar-free cigarette smoke extract reduces the serum T level and erectile function of rats, which is related to oxidative stress. Antioxidant therapy can improve erectile function but has a limited value for morphological protection of the penile tissue.

Animals ; Erectile Dysfunction ; chemically induced ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Muscle, Smooth ; pathology ; Nicotine ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Penile Erection ; drug effects ; Penis ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Smoke ; adverse effects ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Tars ; Tobacco ; adverse effects

A in vitro platelet aggregation bioassay was developed for the quality control of XST capsules. The in vitro anti-platelet aggregation effect in rats was observed to detect the bioactivity of XST capsules. Panax notoginseng saponins and Xuesaitong lyophilizedpowder for injection were taken as standard control substances to determine the potency. According to the results, XST capsules showeda significant inhibitory effect on thrombin-induced platelet aggregation in a dose-dependent manner. The in vitro anti-platelet activity oflyophilized powder for injection was stabler than that of Panax notoginseng saponins, and so suitable to serve as a standard control substance. The biological potency of XST capsules compared with standard control substance was detected by using parallel line assay. According to the results, the established bioassay method had a good repeatability (RSD 2.92%). The sample test results could pass thereliability test(linear deviation P > 0.05, parallel deviation P > 0.05). This bioassay method could be used as one of the complementary quality control methods for XST capsules.
Animals ; Capsules ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Male ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Platelet Aggregation ; drug effects ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Saponins ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic efficacy of interferon (IFN) therapy and risk of long-term administration for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients who cannot tolerate the standard treatment.

METHODSForty-six CHC patients who had proven intolerant to standard treatments were treated with low-dose IFN (non-pegylated IFN: 60 to 300MIU QOD, or pegylated IFN: 50 to 90 mug/w) plus ribavirin (RBV; 0.6g to 0.9 g/d) for 72 weeks.

RESULTSForty-three (93.5%) of the patients were able to tolerate the long-term treatment with low-dose IFN plus RBV. Only three patients experienced severe side effects (low white blood cell and platelet counts) that required treatment withdrawal. The virology response rates over treatment time were: rapid virologic response (RVR): 10.9%; early virus response (EVR): 30.4%; 24 week virologic response: 45.7%; and, 48 week virologic response: 47.8%. B-sonographic imaging revealed that three patients experienced improved liver morphology through the treatment course. The patients who achieved RVR, EVR, or 24 weeks virologic response also attained higher 48 week virologic response. The 24 week virologic response had the strongest predictive value of good prognosis.

CONCLUSIONSOur study demonstrated that long-term treatment with low-dose interferon plus ribavirin is effective for patients who are otherwise intolerant to standard treatment. In these patients, low-dose IFN plus RBV can obtain a high virologic response rate at 48 week. Furthermore, the 24 week virologic response is sufficiently predictive of treatment success. As with any treatment regimen, it is important for healthcare workers to monitor the disease status and potential side effects throughout the course of therapy.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Interferons ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

AIMTo investigate the chemical constituents from the whole plant of the endemic plant Notoseris rhombiformis Shih.

METHODSColumn chromatography was used for separation and purification, while spectral analysis was used for structure elucidation.

RESULTSEight compounds were isolated from the whole plant of this Chinese endemic plant and their structures were elucidated as notoserolide A (1), notoserolide D (2), austricin (3), jacquilenin (4), 3 beta, 14-dihydroxy-11 beta, 13-dihydrocostunolide (5), p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (6), luteolin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (7) and daucosterol (8), respectively.

CONCLUSIONAll compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time. Among them, 2 is a new compound.

Asteraceae ; chemistry ; Lactones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Sesquiterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Sitosterols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Child, Preschool ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Rickets ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; complications

Brain Neoplasms ; Germinoma ; Humans ; Pineal Gland