To understand Lophatherum gracile plant community's structural characteristics, a survey of community structure and species diversity was conducted through quadrat sampling in Yongchuan district of Chongqing. The results showed that there were 386 species vascular plants, belonging to 117 families and 229 genera. Based on habitat, community structure and species composition, L. gracile were found in three community types: Pinus massoniana community, banboo community, shurb community. Vertical structure was composed of three layers, including tree layer, shrub layer and herb layer. Species in shrub layer was the richness. P. massoniana is the only dominant species of the community, it can not regenerate naturally, the shrub layer has a greater effect on the community of L. gracile in the future. In addition, the banboo community and shurb community is not stable because of human's activity. Therefore, the community characters of L. gracile should be taken care of conservation when the resources are utilized.
China ; Ecosystem ; Pinus ; physiology ; Plants ; Poaceae ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between gene expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and its clinical characteristics in leukemia.

METHODSThe protocol of RT-PCR was used to detect the hTERTmRNA expressing levels in peripheral blood samples from leukemic patients under primary treatment(n=42), in complete remission(n=21), with recurrent leukemia (n=4); and from normal subjects (n=5), respectively.

RESULTSThe positive percentage of hTERTmRNA expression was 73.81% for the primary treatment cases, and 19.05% for the complete remission cases. All of the recurrent cases gave positive results. One of the normal controls presented low level of hTERTmRNA expression. The expressing level of hTERTmRNA in primary treatment cases was 0.64+/-0.21, in complete remission leukemia 0.31+/-0.16, in recurrent cases 0.84+/-0.09, and in normal controls 0.10.

CONCLUSIONThe activation of telomerase may be an essential factor in the development of leukemia and usually be the late event in its progression. As an indicator of leukemia cell, the detection of hTERT mRNA may be used in clinical analysis, disease monitoring and prognosis judgement.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Infant ; Leukemia ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Remission Induction ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Telomerase ; genetics

Androgens ; metabolism ; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the genetic stability during the serial passages of non-replicating recombinant adenoviruses based on the novel AdEasy system.

METHODSFour non-replicating adenoviruses expressing rotavirus antigens, which were generated by the AdEasy system, were used as models and continuously propagated on 293 cells for 20 passages. Samples of the infected cells were collected at every 5 passages for the PCR analysis of the inserted rotavirus genes, replication-competent adenoviruses (RCAs) as well as the Western blot examination of the expression of the certain rotavirus genes.

RESULTSThe adenoviruses can be stably propagated on 293 cells. The existence and the stable expression of inserted rotavirus genes were able to be detected during the serial passage. The RCAs were not found within the first 10 passages, but the rvAdG2VP7(o) at passage 15 and the rvAdG2VP7(o) and rvAdG1VP7(o) at passage 20.

CONCLUSIONThe non-replicating adenoviruses showed promising genetic stability during the continuous passage on 293 cells. The RCAs normally will not be detectable within 10 continuous passages. The results indicated the potential of such recombinant adenoviruses in the research and development of the gene therapies and adenoviral-vectored vaccines.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Cell Line ; DNA, Recombinant ; genetics ; Humans ; Serial Passage ; Transgenes ; Virus Replication

OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution of pathogens of children with community acquired pneumonia (CAP) from the Chongqing area.

METHODSNasopharyngeal specimens and blood specimens of 1 613 children with CAP were collected between January 2014 and December 2014 for bacterial culture and detection of 7 respiratory viruses and antibodies against Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP).

RESULTSThe overall positive rate of bacteria was 50.22% (810 cases). Hemophilus parainfluenzae (40.8%), Streptococcus pneumonia (29.7%) and Moraxelle catarrhalis (7.3%) were the predominant ones. Among the viruses, the top detected virus was respiratory syncytial virus (RSV, 58.3%), followed by parainfluenza virus type3 (17.4%) and adenovirus (14.3%). A total of 481 cases (29.82%) were MP-positive. The co-infection rate was 32.18% (519 cases), and the mixed infections of bacteria and viruses were common (47.4%).

CONCLUSIONSRSV and Hemophilus parainfluenzae are the major pathogens of CAP in children from the Chongqing area. MP is also an important pathogen. The co-infection of bacteria and viruses is prevalent.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Community-Acquired Infections ; etiology ; Female ; Haemophilus parainfluenzae ; isolation & purification ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae ; isolation & purification ; Pneumonia ; etiology ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses ; isolation & purification

Objective To determine factors affecting postoperative survival of elderly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods A retrospective analysis of consecutive 54 elderly patients undergoing hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma from Jan 1995 to Dec 2002 was performed. The data were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression. Results Univariate analysis and Cox regression showed Child Pugh grading, vessel invasion, satellite nodule formation, Edmondson Steiner grading, intrahepatic recurrence and distant metastasis all related to postoperative overall survival or disease-free survival of the elderly with hepatocellular carcinoma (all P

OBJECTIVETo increase the recombinant adenovirus vector mediated human rotavirus G1VP7 and G3VP7 gene expression through coden optimization.

METHODSWe have artificially synthesized two genes of group A human rotavirus that encode G1VP7 and G3VP7 according to the human biased codon. The modified genes were transfected into 293 cells using adenovirus vectors and the gene products, the respective proteins were produced. The expression level of optimized genes and wild type genes was detected by Western Blot.

RESULTSA remarkable increase of the expression level of optimized G1VP7 and G3VP7 genes in comparison with the wild type control.

CONCLUSIONThe coden optimization indeed help increasing the recombinant adenovirus mediated human rotavirus gene expression, which indicated the potential applicationof such recombinant adenoviruses in the development of adenoviral-vectored rotavirus vaccines.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Antigens, Viral ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; methods ; Codon ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; Rotavirus ; genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo explore the preventive and treatment effects of smectite powder on enteral bacterial translocation in scalded rats.

METHODSFifty-four Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three groups, i.e. normal control (A, n = 6), burn control (B, n = 24), and burn treatment (T, n = 24) groups. The rats in B and T groups were fed with tracing bacteria JM109, which was transfected with PUC19 plasmid in advance. The rats were subjected to 30% TBSA scald injury after the plasmid was shown to have colonized in the intestine. Smectite powder (0.6 g/day/kg) was fed to rats of T group immediately after the scalding, while those in B group received no smectite powder. Bacterial translocation in blood and mesenteric lymph nodes in all groups was observed and identified by enzyme digestion at 12 post scald hour (PSH) and on 1, 3 and 5 post-scald days (PSD). The contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined in rat intestinal tissue. And the degree of injury to the entire small intestine was observed pathologically. The villus height of intestinal mucosa was measured, and the rate of epithelial nuclear splitting of mucosal crypts was calculated.

RESULTSThe number of rats with positive blood bacterial culture in B group was obviously higher than that in A and T groups (P < 0.05) on 1 and 5 PSD. The bacterial quantity in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) in T group on 1 PSD (38 +/- 16 CFU/g) and 5 PSD (68 +/- 20 CFU/g) were obviously lower than those in B group (228 +/- 67 vs 183 +/- 29 CFU/g, P < 0.05). There was significant difference in the intestinal contents of MDA and SOD between B and T groups at each time point (P < 0.05). The rat jejunum villus height and the epithelial nuclear splitting in the small intestine mucosa in T group were evidently higher than those in B group (P < 0.05 or 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSmectite powder is beneficial to the protection of the intestinal mucosa in scalded rats, and can effectively prevent postburn intestinal bacterial translocation in rats.

Animals ; Bacterial Translocation ; Burns ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Intestinal Mucosa ; microbiology ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Silicates ; therapeutic use

BACKGROUNDIt was reported that telomerase expression is closely associated with cellular immortality and cancer. This study was designed to investigate the relationship between telomerase expression and the carcinogenesis of cervical cancer, the possible use of telomerase as a marker of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) progression or regression, and the natural history of CIN.

METHODSTelomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay was used to measure telomerase activity in cervical scrapings and biopsy samples obtained from 105 cases affected with various cervical conditions, including chronic cervicitis (n = 20), CIN (n = 64, 16 cases of CIN I, 20 cases of CIN II, and 28 cases of CIN III), and invasive squamous cell carcinoma (n = 21).

RESULTSIn exfoliated cell samples, telomerase activity was detected in 5 of 20 (25.0%) cases of cervicitis, 10 of 16 (62.5%) cases of CIN I, 11 of 20 (55.0%) cases of CIN II, 23 of 28 (82.1%) cases of CIN III, and 13 of 21 (61.9%) cases of carcinoma. In cervical biopsy samples, telomerase activity was detected in 6 of 20 (30.0%) cases of cervicitis, 8 of 16 (50.0%) cases of CIN I, 9 of 20 (45.0%) cases of CIN II, 27 of 28 (96.4%) cases of CIN III, and 20 of 21 (95.2%) cases of carcinoma. Telomerase activation was significantly higher in CIN samples than in cervicitis samples. Telomerase activity was detected at similar frequency in samples from cervical scrapings and cervical biopsies.

CONCLUSIONThese results seem to suggest that telomerase expression may be associated with carcinogenesis of the cervix. TRAP assay of cervical scraping samples could be used to monitor and predict the development of CIN in clinical practice.

Adult ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; analysis ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; enzymology ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Telomerase ; metabolism ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; enzymology ; Uterine Cervicitis ; enzymology

OBJECTIVETo express, purify and refold recombinant luteinizing hormone releasing hormone-angiogenin (LHRH-Ang) toxin using E. coli. expression system.

METHODSRecombinant LHRH-Ang expression vector was constructed by replacing of EGF fragment in plasmid pET28a/EGF-Ang with LHRH-PII fragment amplified from plasmid pET28/MSH-PE40. DNA sequencing would be used to verify the correction of fused LHRH-PII-Ang gene. Then, E. coli strain BL21 (DE3) was transformed by pET28a/LHRH-Ang vector. Expression of recombinant LHRH-Ang toxin was induced by Isopropyl-β-D-Thiogalactoside (IPTG). Refolding effects of gradient dialysis was evaluated by SDS-PAGE.

RESULTSProkaryotic expression vector pET28a/LHRH-Ang, containing LHRH-PII-Ang fusion gene, was constructed by PCR amplification, restriction enzyme digestion and ligation method. Sequence correction of fusion gene was confirmed by DNA sequencing. After IPGT induction, recombinant LHRH-Ang protein was expressed in BL21 (DE3) as inclusion body, it took 18.43% of total protein. Inclusion body was resolved in 8 mol/L urea and purified by DEAE-Sepharose FF column, the purity was 85%. Recombinant LHRH-Ang toxin was refolded and concentrated by gradient dialysis and PEG 20000, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSRecombinant LHRH-Ang protein was expressed in E. coli and refolded successfully.

Escherichia coli ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Plasmids ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Ribonuclease, Pancreatic ; biosynthesis ; genetics