Seventy-two strains of endophytic fungi were isolated from the healthy bark, branches and leaves of Cephalotaxus hainanensis L.. Sixty-eight of them were morphologically classified into Fungi Imperfecti, thirty-three sporulated were identified to five genera. For those did not sporulate, one was identified to Rhizoctonia sp., the rest were tentatively classified into Mycelia Sterilia. Four were identified to Basidiomycetes. The result indicated the endophytic fungi of C. hainanensis show a degree of tissue specificity. There were significant differences about the quantity, genera and composition between the fungi isolated from bark and those from branches and leaves.

· AlM: To investigate the correlation of retinal vein occlusion ( RVO ) with blood lipids and carotid artery changes.
· METHODS: Forty cases ( 40 eyes ) with RVO who presented to Eye Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University between May 2013 and April 2014 were selected as the research objects. Proceeded blood lipids and color doppler ultrasonography examination, including total cholesterol ( TC ) , triglycerides ( TG ) , high -density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C ) , common carotid artery intima-media thickness, carotid plaques, internal carotid artery blood flow mechanics parameters were detected.Thirty eyes ( 30 cases ) were enrolled as control underwent above examinations.
·RESULTS:TC, TG, LDL-C of RVO group was obviously higher than those of the control group ( P<0.05), while HDL-C level was obviously lower than that of the control group ( P<0.05 ). lncidence of carotid artery plaque formation in RVO group was obviously higher than that in the control group. lntima-media thickness ( lMT ) of common carotid artery was obviously increased in RVO group (P<0.05).Both peak systolic velocity ( PSV) and end diastolic velocity ( EDV ) of internal carotid artery reduced (P<0.05), and Resistance index (Rl) increased (P<0.05).The eyes of the sick side and the contralateral carotid artery measured value had no statistical difference ( P >0.05 ) . There were also no statistical difference between ipsilateral and contralateral carotid artery measured value of control group (P>0.05).There were no differences in age, sex between RVO group and control group (P>0.05).
· CONCLUSlON: Lipid metabolism disorder, carotid artery changes is closely related to the pathogenesis of RVO.

The hexane extract from marine actinomycetes 124092 showed potent inhibition on B16 cell line by MTT assay. The hexane extract was fractionationed on silica gel column by vacuum liquid chromatography to afford 6 fractions(Fr1~Fr6), and Fr6 showed cytotoxic activity. To determine the bioacitve components of hexane extract, Fr6 was analyzed by GC/MS. The main components were identified as palmitic acid (11.76%), oleic acid (12.16%), linoleic acid (14.77%), and lactobacillic acid (61.31%). It have been reported that palmitic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid possess cytotoxic activity on rat ascites tumor cells and linoleic acid have suppressive effect on human lung adenocarcinoma cells.

Objective To explore the relationship between clinical outcomes and embryo transfer number, and to provide some proposals for transfer selection of elderly patients. Methods Data from 80 fresh transfer cycles with cleavage-stage embryos were analyzed. Cycles were divided into several groups according to transfer number. Clinical pregnancy rate, implantation rate, multiple pregnancy rate and live birth rate were compared. Results To women no younger than 38 years old, when available embryo number was larger than two, similar clinical outcomes could be achieved by transferring two and three embryos. This trend was independent of the number of transferred 8-cell embryos. Conclusion The number of fresh cleavage-stage embryos transfer should not exceed two in elderly women.

To investigate the potential ability of the nitrite to induce neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells, cultured PC12 cells planted on matrigel in the presence or absence of sodium nitrite were employed as model, nerve growth factor (NGF) served as a positive control. After 48 h, sodium nitrite enhanced cell viability and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion. Same as the effect of NGF, sodium nitrite (1.4 mmol x L(-1)) treated cultures contained a greater proportion of cells bearing neurites and neurites were much longer than those found in negative control cultures (P < 0.05). Compared with the negative control, sodium nitrite (1.4 mmol x L(-1)) also upregulated the expression of VEGF mRNA (P < 0.05) and hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha) or VEGF protein expression (P < 0.05) in cultures of PC12 cells. On the other hand, these effects of the sodium nitrite were likely mediated by HIF-1alpha, since their effects were antagonized by addition of HIF-1alpha inhibitor YC-1. Taken together, these results suggest that low doses of sodium nitrite could induce neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells by activating the HIF-1alpha-VEGF pathway.
Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Food Preservatives ; pharmacology ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; genetics ; metabolism ; Neurites ; drug effects ; PC12 Cells ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Sodium Nitrite ; pharmacology ; Up-Regulation ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; secretion

The solubility parameter determination of astrageloside from Buyang Huanwu decoction with inverse gas chromatography (IGC) method evaluation was investigated in this paper. Di-n-octyl phthalate Kwai alternative sample was used to carry out methodological study. The accuracy of the measured correlation coefficient was 0.992 1. Experimental precision measured by IGC experiments showed that the results were accurate and reliable. The sample was uniformly coated on the surface of an inert carrier and N2 gas was carrier gas, a variety of polar solvents such as isopropanol, toluene, acetone, chloroform, cyclohexane as probes. TCD detector temperature was 150 degrees C, gas room temperature was 120 degrees C. Similar headspace method was used whichever over 1 μL gas into the GC measurement, Retention time t(R), t(0) and all the parameters of air and probes molecules within the column were tested. Astragaloside solubility parameter was (21.02 ± 2.4) [J x cm(-3)] ½, literature value was 19.24 [J x cm(-3)] ½, and relevant coefficient was 0.984 5. IGC method is effective and accurate to measure ingredients solubility parameter.
Chromatography, Gas ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Saponins ; chemistry ; Solubility

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of down-regulated miR-9 expression on ultraviolet rays (UV)-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) damage in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells.

METHODSThe NPC cells were transfected with inhibitors of miR-9 by lipofectamine to decrease the expression of miR-9, and the cells transfected with inhibitor control as the control. ROS levels following UV exposure were examined with DCF-DA method and the concentration of glutathione was analyzed via the benzoic acid method; DNA damage and apoptosis also were evaluated.

RESULTSThere was significant difference in ROS levels between miR-9 expression-inhibited cells and control cells (26 895 ± 218 vs 15 765 ± 927, t = 39.754, P < 0.001), and also there were significant differences in DNA damage rates (28.0% ± 10.0% vs 23.6% ± 9.2%) and in apoptosis rates (8.0% ± 0.9% vs 4.5% ± 0.8%) following UV exposure between two groups of cells. The miR-9 expression-inhibited cells showed lower level (1.87 ± 0.15) µmol/L of glutathione compared with the control cells (9.85 ± 0.15) µmol/L (t = -48.832, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONInhibition of miR-9 expression promoted UV-induced ROS damage in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.

Apoptosis ; Carcinoma ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA Damage ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; metabolism ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo develop directly molecular evolution of nitrite oxido-reductase using DNA-shuffling technique because nitrobacteria grow extremely slow and are unable to nitrify effectively inorganic nitrogen in wastewater treatment.

METHODSThe norB gene coding the ndtrite oxido-reductase in nitrobacteria was cloned and sequenced. Then, directed molecular evolution of nitrite oxido-reductase was developed by DNA-shuffling of 15 norB genes from different nitrobacteria.

RESULTSAfter DNA-shuffling with sexual PCR and staggered extension process PCR, the sequence was different from its parental DNA fragments and the homology ranged from 98% to 99%. The maximum nitrification rate of the modified bacterium of X16 by DNA-shuffling was up to 42.9 mg/L x d, which was almost 10 times higher than that of its parental bacteria. Furthermore, the modified bacterium had the same characteristics of its parental bacteria of E. coli and could grow rapidly in normal cultures.

CONCLUSIONDNA-shuffling was successfully used to engineer E. coli, which had norB gene and could degrade inorganic nitrogen effectively.

Cloning, Molecular ; DNA Shuffling ; Deltaproteobacteria ; enzymology ; genetics ; Directed Molecular Evolution ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Gammaproteobacteria ; enzymology ; genetics ; Nitrite Reductases ; chemistry ; genetics ; Nitrogen ; metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effectiveness of treatment with maxillary protraction with or without rapid palatal expansion (RPE) for skeletal Class III malocclusion in mixed dentition.

METHODSA total of 31 children with Class III malocclusion in mixed dentition were selected, and 15 (group A) received maxillary protraction treatment with RPE, the other 16 (group B) received maxillary protraction without RPE. Cephalometric films were taken before and after treatment, and traditional and Pancherz analysis were used.

RESULTSThe average duration of treatment was 10.14 months in group A and 9.77 months in group B respectively (P>0.05). According to Pancherz analysis, maxillary basal bone moved forwards by 2.99 mm in group A and 3.33 mm in group B respectively (P>0.05), mandibular basal bone moved backwards by 0.07 mm in group A, while forwards by 0.80 mm in group B (P>0.05), the overjet increased by 4.51 mm in group A and 6.37 mm in group B respectively (P<0.05), and the molar relationship improved by 4.97 mm in group A and 4.73 mm in group B respectively (P>0.05). The effects were clinically satisfactory in the both groups. Lower molar moved forwards by 1.18 mm in basal bone in group A, while backwards by 1.20 mm in group B (P<0.05). Traditional cephalometric analysis showed no statistic differences between the two groups except that upper incisior showed greater procline in group B than in group A (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe study shows that maxillary protraction treatment, with or without RPE, is clinically satisfactory to correct early skeletal Class III malocclusion.

Cephalometry ; Child ; Extraoral Traction Appliances ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Malocclusion, Angle Class III ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Molar ; Palatal Expansion Technique

Objective To develop a method of quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker (QAMS) for simultaneously determining four compounds in Calonyction muricatum.Method An HPLC method was developed as QAMS to determine ipalbidine,ipalbidinium,and ipalbinium in C.muricatum,using ipalbine as the intermal reference substance,the relative correction factor (RCF) of the three components was determined by HPLC with good reproducibility.Their contents in six batches of samples were determined by both extemal standard method and QAMS.Result No significant differences were found in the quantitative results of three alkaloid compounds in six batches of C.muricatum determined by external standard method and QAMS.Conclusion It is feasible and suitable to evaluate the quality ofcurcuma aromatic by QAMS.