Microbial genome reduction and modification are important strategies for constructing cellular chassis used for synthetic biology. This article summarized the essential genes and the methods to identify them in microorganisms, compared various strategies for microbial genome reduction, and analyzed the characteristics of some microorganisms with the minimized genome. This review shows the important role of genome reduction in constructing cellular chassis.
Genes, Essential ; genetics ; Genetic Engineering ; Genome, Microbial ; genetics ; Synthetic Biology ; methods

The quality of sleep has a great relationship with health and working efficiency. The result of sleep stage classification is an important indicator to measure the quality of sleep, and it is also an important way to diagnose and treat sleep disorders. In this paper, the method of detrended cross-correlation analysis (DCCA) was used to analyze sleep stage classification, sleep electroencephalograph signals, which were extracted from the MIT-BIH Polysomno graphic Database randomly. The results showed that the average DCCA exponent of the awake period is smaller than that of the first stage of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleeps. It is well concluded that the method of studying the sleep electroencephalograph with this method is of great significance to improve the quality of sleep, to diagnose and to treat sleep disorders.
Electroencephalography ; Humans ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Sleep Stages

OBJECTVEThis study evaluates the expression of interleukin-18 (IL-18) and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-lα in rat periodontitis model exposed to normoxia and chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) environments. The possible correlation between periodontitis and obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) was also investigated. Methods: Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned into four groups: normoxia control, normoxia periodontitis, hypoxia control, and hypoxia periodontitis groups. The periodontitis models were established by ligating the bilateral maxillary second molars and employing high-carbohydrate diets. Rats in hypoxia control and hypoxia periodontitis groups were exposed to CIH treatment mimicking a moderately severe OSAHS condition. All animals were sacrificed after eight weeks, and the clinical periodontal indexes were detected. The levels of IL-18 and HIF-1α in serum and gingival tissues were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The correlation between attachment loss (AL) and the levels of IL-18 and HIF-lα in hypoxia periodontitis group was evaluated.

RESULTSThe levels of IL-18 and HIF-lα in hypoxia periodontitis group were significantly higher than that in normoxia periodontitis and hypoxia control groups (P<0.05). Furthermore, the levels of IL-18 and HIF-lα in serum (r-0.792, r=0.753, P<0.05) and gingival tissues (r-0.817, r=0.779, P<0.05) were positively correlated with AL.

CONCLUSIONCIH could aggravate the destruction of periodontal tissues, which is correlated with IL-18 and HIF-lα levels.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gingiva ; Hypoxia ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; Interleukin-18 ; Periodontal Index ; Periodontitis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serum ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive

Objective To study the distribution of purinergic P2X_3 receptor immunoreactive afferent fibers in the rat pharyngeal mucosa and provide morphological evidence for exploring the role of ATP in the signal transduction of sensory stimuli. Methods Twelve adult Wistar rats were used and immunofluorescenthistochemical double-labeling technique combined laser confocal scanning microscope was applied in the present study. Results 1.P2X_3 immunoreactive fibers were observed on sections from all parts of pharyngeal mucosa. Two types of positive fibers were found. One was free nerve fibers covered with many varicosities. Another one ramified in mucosa and showed complex arborization endings. Nerve plexus in mucosa were formed by P2X_3 immunoreactive fiber ramifications. 2.Most calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) positive fibers intermingled with P2X_3 immunoreactive fiber arborizations. A few P2X_3 immunoreactive fibers were covered with many varicosities co-localized with CGRP. 3.In petrosal ganglion, most neurons were stained with P2X_3 or CGRP immunoreactivity and small number of P2X_3 immunoreactive neurons co-stained with CGRP. Conclusion These results indicated that the different types of afferent fibers in rat pharyngeal mucosa expressed purinergic P2X_3 receptor immunoreactivity and ATP might be related to nociceptive or physiological signals transduction in rat pharyngeal mucosa.

Objective To investigate the effects and prognosis of aspirin combined with atorvastatin calcium for the treatment of acute cerebral infarction.Methods According to the digital table,80 patients with acute cerebral infarction were selected and randomly divided into the control group and observation group,each group 40 cases.The patients in control group were given aspirin enteric-coated metformin hydrochloride 100mg/d treatment,while the ob-servation group was treated in the control group taking on the basis of atorvastatin calcium 20mg/d.After the continu-ous treatment of 4 weeks,the curative effects were compared between the two groups,and the different hs-CRP levels in the body of the prognosis of patients were analyzed.Results The total effective rate of the observation group was 95%,which was higher than 75%of the control group(χ2 =3.98,P<0.05);The total curative effect of patients with abnormal hs-CRP levels in the control group was 65%,while that in the observation group was 92%,there was statis-tically significant diference between the two groups(χ2 =4.21,P<0.05);The total curative effect of patients with normal hs-CRP levels in the control group was 94%,while that in the observation group was 100%,there was no sta-tistically significant difference between the two groups(χ2 =1.32,P>0.05).Conclusion Aspirin combination with atorvastatin calcium for the treatment of acute cerebral infarction exactly can well improve the prognosis,which is wor-thy of clinical popularization and application.

Objective: To study the effect of esomeprazole in treating elderly patients with NSAIDs correlated peptic ulcer bleeding. Methods: Patients with NSAIDs correlated peptic ulcer bleeding in our hospital from January, 2010-December, 2012 were enrolled and randomly divided into observation group given esomeprazole and control group given omeprazole. Then the baseline data were surveyed and effect of ulcer bleeding, condition of abdominal pain alleviation and ulcer ulcer, adverse reaction cases were observed. Results: (1)there were no significant difference between the baseline data of two group;(P>0.05);(2)in observation group, excellence rate was 42/70(60%), effective rate was 24/70(34.3%), the overall treatment effect was better than that of control group, the difference had statistical significant(P<0.05);(3)there were no significant difference between two group of abdominal pain and ulcer healing;(4) during treatment, there were no serious adverse reactions in the two groups. Conclusion:Compared with omeprazole, esomeprazole has equal effect on abdominal pain relief and ulcer healing, and it is much more effective in treating elderly patients with NSAIDs correlated peptic ulcer bleeding.

BACKGROUND:Because of the deficiency of researches on connective tissue growth factor associated with orthopedic diseases, very little attention has been paid to the studies on connective tissue growth factor in the intervertebral disc.
OBJECTIVE:Through exploring the role and mechanism of connective tissue growth factor in disc degeneration, to provide new evidence for biotherapy of disc degeneration.
METHODS: A computer-based search of PubMed and CNKI was performed by the first author to retrieve articles relevant to the effect and mechanism of connective tissue growth factor on degenerative disc and its related tissues published from January 1997 to October 2014. The keywords were “intervertebral disc; CTGF; TGF-β;hypoxia; disc degeneration” in Chinese and English, respectively, which appeared in the title, abstract or keywords. Articles published recently or in authoritative journals were preferred, and finaly 34 articles were included in result analysis.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Recentlyin vivo and in vitro studies on the intervertebral disc have clearly demonstrated the anabolic role of connective tissue growth factor in stimulating matrix production from nucleus pulposus cels and revealed that the transforming growth factorβ-connective tissue growth factor axis was of great importance to celular matrix productionviaregulations and stimulations to transforming growth factor β and hypoxia, while the regulation of hypoxia for connective tissue growth factor was another in a specific cel and tissue manner.

Objective To study the effect of posterior unilateral open-door laminoplasty which anchor the different segments of patients on neurological function improvement rate,cervical range of motion,axial symptoms and complications.Methods From June 2009 to April 2013,86 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy received posterior unilateral open-door laminoplasty by anchoring were selected.The open segments were C3-7.They were divided into two groups according to the anchor segments.Group A of 48 patients,anchor segments was C3-7,using 5 anchoring nails.Group B of 38 patients,anchor segments was C3,5,7,using 3 anchoring nails.The improvement rate of nerve function,ranges of neck motion,incidence of axial symptoms and postoperative complications were compared between two groups.Results The improvement rate of nerve function,loss of ranges of neck motion and incidence of axial symptoms between group A and group B had no significant difference[(56.4 ± 18.3)％ vs.(56.8 ± 19.6)％,(9.27 ± 5.42)° vs.(9.06 ± 4.89)°,22.9％ (11/48) vs.23.7％ (9/38)] (P ＞ 0.05).Two groups of patients with postoperativefollow-up were not found door re-clousure phenomenon.Conclusions In the anchor posterior unilateral open-door laminoplasty,they have same improvement rate of neural function on anchoring 3 segments and anchoring 5 segments.The postoperative complications are not increased,but the cost of internal fixation is decreased,operation become more economical.

Objective To investigate the effects of psychological stress on small intestinal bacteria and mucosa in mice, and to explore the relationship between small intestinal disfunction and small intestinal bacteria and mucosa under psychological stress. Methods 48 mice were randomly divided into psychological stress group and control group. An animal model with psychological stress was established lodging the mice and a hungry cat in separate layers of a two-layer cage. D-xylose levels in plasma were measured for estimating the damage degree of small intestinal mucosa. A section of the proximal small intestine was harvested under sterile condition and processed for quantitation for aerobes (Escherichia coli) and anaerobes (Lactobacilli). The quantitation of bacteria was expressed as log10[colony forming units/g]. Results D-xylose concentrations in plasma in psychological stress mice were significantly higher than those in the control group (3.02±0.85 mmol/L vs 0.94±0.33 mmol/L,P＜0.01).Psychological stress resulted in quantitative alterations in the aerobes (E. coli). There was an increase in the number of E. coli in the proximal small intestinal flora (1.79±0.27 log10(CFU/g) vs 1.32±0.22 log10(CFU/g),P＜0.01), and there was decrease in relative proportion of Lactobacilli and E. coli of stressed mice (0.52±0.56 vs 1.14±1.07,P＜0.05), while there was no significant difference in the anaerobes(Lactobacilli) between the two groups (2.31±0.63 log10(CFU/g) vs 2.41±0.34 log10(CFU/g) P＞0.05). D-xylose concentrations in plasma was significantly and positively correlated with the number of E. coli in the proximal small intestinal flora (r=0.6713,P＜0.05). Conclusion Small intestinal disfunction under psychological stress may be related to dysbacteriosis and the damage of mucosa.

Objective　To study the clinical features and operative methods for patients with hepatic tuberculosis.Methods　The clinical features、diagnosis、operative methods and the location of tuberculosis focus in the liver were analysed in 8 patients.Results　Difinite preoperative diagnosis could be reached in none of the 8 patients.Surgical procedure included focus remove (5 cases) and deroof plus drainage (3 cases).The diagnosis of hepatic tuberculosis was proved by pathological examination.Conclusions　Surgical resection plus anti-tuberculosis drugs are the mainstay for the treatment of patients with hepatic tuberculosis.