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 investigate the effect of estrogen on gliosis, synaptic proliferation and reorganization in hippocampus of rats with chronic epilepsy induced by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ). Methods Thirty-two Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group, PTZ kindling epilepsy group, estrogen+PTZ group and estrogen +Tamoxifen (mixed estrogen antagonist)+PTZ group. The PTZ kindling epilepsy group was intraperitoneally injected with 35 mg/kg PTZ once a day, then the behavior of the rats in one hour was observed. The estrogen interfered group was intramuscluarly injected of 0.6 ?g/kg ?-estradiol 6 h before PTZ injection, 1/3 d. The estrogen+Tamoxifen interfered group was injected of Tamoxifen into lateral cerebral ventricle 1 h before estrogen injection. If the severe epileptic seizures occurred three times, the rats were ready for detecting the expression of filial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and synaptophysin (P38) by immunohistochemical technique. Results Epileptic seizure occoured earlier and more severely in most rats of estrogen interfered group than no estrogen interfered group. Rats in all model groups were found more astrocyte proliferation and positive synaptophysin staining, especially in the CA2, CA3 and hilar areas of dentate gyrus (DG) of hippocampus than control group. Estrogen+Tamoxifen interfered group showed significant difference as compared with other groups (P

The pathogen of Kawasaki disease(KD) is still unknown although infection is considered as the most possibility factor.However epidemiologic studies showed that genetic background might be a main factor in the onset of KD.The recent papers on gene polymorphism including angiotensin-convertion enzyme,nitric oxide synthase and cytokine related with KD were searched and analyzed in this review.

Alveolar Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Lung ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tyrosine ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To determine the protective effects of nourishing spleen yin recipe (Zibu Piyin Recipe, ZBPYR), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in neuronal cells responding to the stress by using sero-pharmacological method. METHODS: The mouse neuroblastoma cell line Neuro2a cells were treated with tunicamycin (Tm, an inhibitor of N-glycosylation). The ZBPYR-treated cell group was established by incubating cells with ZBPYR serum for one hour and treated with Tm. Reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) was utilized to detect the mRNA expressions from two genes after treatments, ER molecular chaperone glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and transcriptional factor CCAAT/ enhancer-binding protein-homologous protein (CHOP). Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay was also carried out to determine the LDH leakage from Neuro2a cells after treated with Tm and staurosporine (STS). RESULTS: The ZBPYR-treated cell group at all tested ZBPYR dosages showed significantly reduced expressions of both genes compared with Tm (5 microg/ml) treated control group (P<0.05). Therefore, ZBPYR serum inhibited the expressions of GRP78 and CHOP in mRNA level under ER stress induced by Tm. Different concentrations of ZBPYR serum pretreatment reduced the LDH leakage compared with the Tm and STS groups (P<0.05). Therefore, ZBPYR serum may inhibit the LDH leakage induced by Tm and STS. CONCLUSION: ZBPYR has neuroprotective effects. The mechanisms may be associated with inhibition of ER stress and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Objective To investigate the induced-factors levels of venous thrombosis associated with the placement of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) in patients with malignant tumor,and establish intervention model accordingly. Methods 40 patients complicated with venous thrombosis after PICC were set as the thrombosis group, 40 patients without venous thrombosis were selected as the no-thrombosis group, 30 healthy cases were selected as the control group. All cases' serum samples were ob-tained to measure the levels of molecular biomarkers of the coagulation system, platelet parameters and molecular biomarkers of the fibrinolysis system. The results of the three groups were assessed. Results Patients in the thrombosis group were reported significantly higher levels of vWF, GMP140,TAT than those in both two other groups, but lower levels of ATⅢ. Higher levels of MPV and PCT were found in the throm-bosis group than those in both two other groups.Tthe data also showed higher PLG and PAI levels and lower levels of PLM in the thrombosis group. Conclusions From this study it shows that patients with malig-nant tumors during the placement of PICC have evident hypercoagnlahility, high- activated platelet and se-vere pre- thrombosis state caused by PICC. In treatment of malignant tumor patients with PICC, the level of coag-ulation system molecular markers, platelet parameters,fibrinolysis molecular markers shoud be used as a clinical routine and as the index of early intervention and evaluation of the PICC.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Kartagener Syndrome

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Batroxobin ; therapeutic use ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Young Adult

Objective To study the effect of astrocyte on synapse formation and the molecular mechanism. Methods Cortical astrocytes were isolated and purified from neonatal rats.On the 2h,7th day,14th day and 21th day after passage,we counted the number of astrocytes and the culture medium(astrocyte-conditioned medium,ACM)was harvested to measure the concentration of estrogen(E 2)by using ELISA techniques.Based on the model of pure culures of neonatal cortical neurons,the experimental groups were designed as follows:1.pure neuron cultures(group N);2.ACM cultures(group A);3.mixed cultures(group M);4.E 2 cultures(group E 2);5.ACM+Tamoxifen(estrogen receptor antagonist)cultures(group A+T);6.Tamoxifen cultures(group T).Then synaptic puncta in every group was stained and counted through immunofluorescence,and we also compared the differences in puncta number among those six groups(at 9th day in culture,number/per neuron). Results The numbers of astrocytes were:1?10 4/ml, 1.1?10 6/ml, 1.4?10 6/ml, 1.5?10 6/ml; The concentrations of E 2 were:(ng/L):0, 117?22, 266?22,252?27 respectively.No estrogen was detected in the primary culture medium.The concenteration of estrogen increased in correspondence with the culturing days and reached the peak around at the 14th day, then decreased gradually but kept at a certain high level,and the numbers of synaptic puncta of per neuron in group N,A,M,E 2,A+T,T were:14?3;79?5;83?8;80?6;32?3;29?3 respectively.The treatment of pure neuron culture with ACM increased the number of synapses on per neuron by up to 6 fold by comparison with pure neuronal culture.Exogenic estradiol added into pure neurons can mimick the effect of the ACM.Tamoxifen which is antagonist of estrogen receptor could decrease the effect of ACM by 75%.Conclusion The astrocytes of neonatal rat cortex do secrete E 2.Astrocyte-derived estrogen may be the molecule regulating the synaptic formation through estrogen receptors.