The contamination of groundwater by methyl tert-butyl ether(MTBE) has become widespread.As a result,the bioremediation of MTBE is becoming an active area of research.In this paper,the progress of the studies on the degradation of MTBE by microbes was reviewed,focusing on the aerobic strains that could degrade MTBE.The possible metabolic pathways of MTBE were discussed as two main pathways separated by tert-butyl alcohol(TBA).The effect of environment factors,coexisting pollutants,and inter metabolite on the MTBE degradation were also discussed.

Objective To explore effects and mechanism of inactivation of vitamin D receptor (VDR) in intestinal tumor growth of APCmin/+ mice. Methods To generate APCmin/+VDR -/- mice through breeding, the number and size of small intestinal and colonic tumors were assessed and compared between APCmin/+ and APCmin/+ VDR -/- mice. The intestinal tumors were diagnosed with HE stain. The expressions of BCL-2,vimentin-1,Stat-1 and MSH-2 proteins of tumors were determined by immanohistocbemistry and compared be-tween APCmin/+ and APCmin/+VDR -/- mice. Results A comparison between APCmin/+ and APCmin/+ VDR -/- mice revealed that the number of the tumors, which were larger than 3mm, was significantly increased in APCmin/+ VDR -/- mice at 4 months of age (P< 0.01). HE staining indicated fistulous adenomas from small intestine and colon of two groups, Immunostaining showed Stat - 1 level in APC-min/+ tumors were increased and MSH-2 and vimentin-1 levels in APCmin/+ VDR-/- mice were increased, compared to APCmin/+tumors. Conclusion These observations suggested that inactivation of VDR promoted the intestinal tumor growth of APCmin/+ mice.

Objective To study the change of mucins of expression in lithic cholecystitis and cholecystic adenomatiod polyps. Methods MUC1 and MUC3 were detected in the mucosa of human normal gallbladders (20 cases, control group), of calcareous cholecystitis (38 cases, calcareous group) and of adenomatoid polyps (18 cases, polyp group) with immunohistochemical stains and Western blotting methods. Results The positive rate and optical density values of MUC1 were increased significantly in calcareous and polyp group vs control group ( P

Objective To study the active secondary metabolites from marine microorganism FIM02-635. Methods The producing strain was identified by taxonomical and phylogenetic studies. Two compounds FW635I1 and FW635I2 with immunosuppressive activities were extracted by organic solvents from the culture broth and purified by silica gel column chromatography and high speed counter current chromatography. The structures of the two compounds were determined by physico-chemical properties and spectral analyses,the biological activities were assayed in vitro. Results and Conclusion The producing strain was named as Micromonospora carbonacea FIM 02-635. Two compounds FW635I1 and FW635I2 were determined to be isoflavone Daidzein and Genistein, respectively, showed immunosuppressive and antitumor activities, but not antimicrobial activities.

Antineoplastic Agents ; adverse effects ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; therapy ; Humans ; Neurotoxicity Syndromes ; therapy

Objective To investigate the effects of bilateral sternocleidomastoideus contraction on neck flexion and extension. Methods The electromyograms (EMG) signals of left sternocleidomastoideus of 24 healthy persons were recorded respectively when neck relaxation and flexion in the supine position, and neck relaxation and extension in the prone position. The biomechanical measurement and analysis were done using anatomical specimens and models. Results The sternocleidomastoideus registered electrical resting potential when neck relaxation in the supine position, and when neck relaxation and extension in the prone position; the motor unit action potential of sternocleidomastoideus raised the type of mixed phase when neck flexion in the supine position. Conclusion The contractions of bilateral sternocleidomastoideus can lead to the head and neck flexion while neck joints are not fixed, and the contractions of bilateral sternocleidomastoideus can lead to the head extension under the state of fixing neck joints below atlanto-occipital.

ObjectiveTo explore the early diagnostic value of pro-adrenomedullin (pro-ADM) in sepsis. Methods A prospective study was conducted. Eighty-two patients with acute infection admitted to Department of Emergency of Shanxi Medical University Second Hospital from April 2013 to March 2014 were enrolled. According to the diagnostic criteria of sepsis, the patients with acute infection were divided into ordinary infection group [infection without systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS),n = 25] and sepsis group (infection combined with SIRS, n = 57). According to degree of severity of sepsis, the latter group was subdivided into three subgroups: sepsis group (n = 22), severe sepsis group (n = 27) and septic shock group (n = 8). Twenty-four healthy persons were included to serve as healthy control group. The venous blood from all the research objects in hospital was collected within 24 hours. The levels of pro-ADM and procalcitonin ( PCT ) were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ (APACHEⅡ) score was recorded. The relationship between pro-ADM and PCT and also APACHEⅡ score was analyzed with Pearson correlation analysis. The receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC) of pro-ADM and PCT were used to evaluate the diagnostic acuity of sepsis.Results The plasma levels of pro-ADM, PCT and APACHEⅡ score in sepsis group were significantly higher than those in ordinary infection group and healthy control group [pro-ADM (ng/L): 66.69±1.73 vs. 53.43±2.70, 45.87±1.43; PCT (ng/L):1 336.49±40.26 vs. 1 083.09±47.99, 959.04±37.53; APACHEⅡ score: 14.60±0.81 vs. 8.10±1.14, 3.00±1.15,allP< 0.01]. With the aggravation of sepsis, the levels of pro-ADM, PCT and APACHEⅡ score were gradually increased, and there were significant differences among sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock groups [pro-ADM (ng/L): 64.91±2.50, 73.56±2.80, 84.67±4.52; PCT (ng/L): 1 152.65±48.62, 1 233.93±63.06, 1 475.71±109.93;APACHEⅡ score: 12.91±1.15, 14.55±1.14, 19.37±2.40,P< 0.05 orP< 0.01]. Pearson correlation analysis results showed that the level of pro-ADM was positively related with PCT (r = 0.473,P = 0.006), and it was also positively correlated with APACHEⅡ score (r = 0.707,P = 0.008). ROC curve analysis showed that area under the ROC curve (AUC) of pro-ADM for diagnosis of sepsis was 0.823 (P = 0.003). When the cutoff value was 59.40 ng/L, the sensitivity was 80.7%, the specificity was 68.0%, the positive predictive value was 85.2%, and the negative predictive value was 60.7%. AUC of the PCT for diagnosis of sepsis was 0.653 (P = 0.043). When the cutoff value was 1 194.67 ng/L, the sensitivity was 68.4%, the specificity was 64.0%, the positive predictive value was 81.8%, and the negative predictive value was 44.7%. It was proved that the pro-ADM had a higher diagnostic value for sepsis than PCT.Conclusion The plasma levels of pro-ADM can be used as an early indicator in diagnosis and severity evaluation and prognosis in patients with sepsis .

[Summary] According to the cutpoint of plasma triglycerides concentration ≥ 1.7 mmol/L,waist circumference ≥85 cm in men or ≥80 cm in women,459 patiens with type 2 diabetes mellitus were divided into four groups:normal waist circumference and triglycerides,normal waist circumference and hypertriglyceridemia,abdominal obesity and normal triglycerides,and hypertriglyceridemic-waist (HTWC) group.The results showed that body mass index,waist circumference,systolic blood pressure,triglycerides,microalbuminuria,and homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) in HTWC group were higher than those in non-HTWC groups (all P＜0.01),as well as higher diabetic nephropathy incidence (P＜0.05).Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that HTWC was an independent risk factor of diabetic nephropathy (OR =2.070,95 ％ CI 1.195-3.586).

Objective To establish the quality standard for Fufang Xiongdan Yinchen Granule. Methods TLC was employed to identify Pulvis ellis urs, Capillary Wormwood Herbin, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Glycyrrhizae Radix, and HPLC was used to determine the content of sodium tauroursodeoxycholic acid in Fufang Xiongdan Yinchen Granule. Kromail 100-5 C18 column (4.6 mm× 250 mm, 5 μm) in an oven at 25 ℃ was need, with a mobile phase consisting of methanol-0.03 mol/L sodium dihydrogen phosphate solution (60∶40, pH=4.4) and UV detector at 210 nm, the flow rate was 1.0 mL/min. Results Pulvis ellis urs, Capillary Wormwood Herbin, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Glycyrrhizae Radix can be detected by TLC. The linearity of sodium tauroursodeoxycholic acid was obtained in the range of 0.182 1-1.821 mg (r=0.999 98). The average recovery was 100.39%, and RSD was 1.70% (n=6). Conclusion The method is simple, accurate, specific, and can control the quality of Fufang Xiongdan Yinchen Granule effectively.

Objective To identify novel mutations in the GATA6 gene associated with congenital atrial septal defects (ASD).Methods This was a case-control study.A cohort of 220 unrelated Han-race patients with congenital ASD and 200 unrelated ethnically matched healthy individuals used as controls,who were admitted to Tongji University Affiliated Tongji Hospital from January,2007 to October,2011,were recruited.The peripheral venous blood samples from the participants were prepared.All the coding exons and their flanking sequences of the GATA6 gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and sequenced using the di-deoxynucleotide chain termination technique.The acquired sequences were aligned with the sequences derived from GenBank by BLAST to identify the sequence variations.The software ClustalW was used to analyze the conservation of the altered amino acids.Results Three novel heterozygous missense GATA6 mutations,c.250G ＞A (p.A84T),c.649G ＞C (p.G217R) and c.1270A ＞C (p.S424R),were identified in 3 of 220 ASD patients,respectively.None of the three mutations was detected in 200 healthy control individuals.A cross-species alignment of GATA6 encoded protein sequences showed that the mutated amino acids were relatively conserved evolutionarily.Conclusion The identification of novel GATA6 mutations associated with ASD contributes to the reveal of the mechanism involved in the pathogenesis of ASD.