In recent years,more and more researchers have realized the possibility that algicidal bacteria could be a useful tool in reducing the impact of harmful algae blooms. In this review, the ecological roles of algicidal substances was briefly discussed, then special emphasis placed on the categories and extract methods of algicidal substances which have been reported. Some ideas for the further studies on algicidal substances were also proposed.

AIM: The autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) transplantation for treating acute myocardial infarction (AMI) via coronary artery in clinic has made remarkable and encouraging progress. The experiment aimed to study cytokine secretion in autologous BMSC transplantation for myocardial infarction dogs and its influence on angiogenesis and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. METHODS: Experiments were performed at the Animal Laboratory and the Central Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University between December 2005 and May 2007. 10 mL of bone marrow was sterilely aspirated from the posterosuperior iliac spine of 36 healthy mongrel dogs. BMSCs were isolated and purified by Percoll density gradient centrifugation and cultured in vitro by adherence method. After being co-cultured with 5-azacytidine for two passages, these cells were labeled by 5-bromodeoxyuridine (Brdu) for preparation. Dog models of AMI were established in a model control group and a cell transplantation group randomly. 2 mL of cell suspension of autologous BMSCs were implanted into four different regions in the acute myocardial site via topical injection in the cell transplantation group, while the same dose of DMEM was injected into the corresponding regions in the model control group. Myocardial infraction tissues were measured after transplantation. RESULTS: Flow cytometry demonstrated that the positive rate of CD34 and CD11b on third passage of BMSC cell surface was below 5%, while the positive rate of CD44 and CD105 was above 90%. In situ end labeling showed that apoptotic index of cardiomyocytes was lower in the cell transplantation group than in the model control group (P

Metabonomics is a new method for identifing the relationship between organism metabolites and the effect of external stimulates.It provides a new strategy and platform for the TCM study and the modernization of TCM since the main idea of metabonomics is in accordance with that of TCM.

AIM: To activate hepatic stellate cells (HSC) in vitro in precision-cut liver slices (PCLS) stimulated by acetaldehyde for studying and screening anti-fibrotic drugs. METHODS: PCLS were prepared by the vibratome, and incubated with 700 ?m?L~-1 acetaldehyde for 0, 2, 4 and 6 h. The medium and homogenate were retained to determine glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage and hydroxyproline (Hyp) content. PCLS were prepared for paraffin sections. The expression of ?-smooth muscle actin (?-SMA) was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, and the result was analyzed with image analysis software. RESULTS: The leakages of GST and LDH were increased significantly compared with those in 0 h group (P

Background Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is a major blindness-causing disease,characterized by elevated intraocular pressure due to an insufficient outflow of aqueous humor. The trabecular meshwork lining the aqueous outflow pathway modulates the aqueous outflow facility. To study the biological characteristics of the trabecular meshwork cells has important significance. Objective This study was to culture the trabecular cells from primary open-angle glaucomatous eye (POAG) and study the biologic characteristics of passaged cells. Methods The deep scleral tissue with trabecular meshwork was obtained during the trabeculectomy from 8 eyes with POAG. The trabecular cells were primarily cultured and passaged in vitro. The generation 3 cells were identified by immunochemistry with the laminin (LM), fibronectin (FN) and neuron specific endolase (NSE)monoclonal antibodies. The ultrastructure was examined to observe the biological characteristics of the cells under the transmission electronic microscope. The experimental results were compared among POAG group, normal control group and blank control group. Results The primarily cultured POAG trabecular cells migrated from the edge of tissue mass about 10 days. The cells of generation 3 presented the logarithmic phase in the first 4 days and fused in the 7th day. FN,LM and NSE were positively expressed in the generated cells in POAG group and normal control group rather than blank control group. The MOD values of the generation 3 cells for FN in POAG group and normal control group were 0. 35 ± 0.06 and 0. 26 ± 0. 01, and those for LM were 0. 34 ± 0. 03 and 0. 25 ± 0. 02 respectively, showing statistically significant difference between these two groups ( FN: t = 14. 446, P＜0.001; LM: t = 9. 346, P＜0. 001 ). The microvilli, cytolysosome and phagocytic vesicle were obviously decreased in the trabcular cells of POAG group compared with normal control group under the transmission electron microscope. Conclusion The trabecular meshwork cells from POAG can be successfully cultured and passaged in vitro. It provides a cytology basis for further glaucoma research.

Objective To study prognosis of patients with fulminant hepatitis after plasma ex- change treatment using model for end-stage liver disease(MELD)scoring system.Methods 160 pa- tients were randomly divided into plasma exchange group and control group,and MELD score was calculated according to the original formula for each patient.The efficacy of plasma exchange was as- sessed by mortality and improvement in biochemical parameters and MELD score.Results The levels of total bilirubin(TBIL),INR and MELD score of patients whose MELD scores were between 30 and 40[TBIL,(379.4?40.4)?mol/L; INR,2.5?0.2; MELD,30.8?3.8]were lower than before PE treatment[TBIL,(509.7?64.6)?mol/L;INR,3.5?0.3;MELD,37.3?3.5].The levels of TBIL and INR and MELD score of patients whose MELD scores were higher than 40 [TBIL,(595.6?61.5)?mol/L;INR,3.8?0.4;MELD,39.8?3.5]were lower than before PE treatmem [TBIL, (650.4?66.3)?mol/L;INR,4.4?0.6;MELD,45.2?4.2].The mortality of patients in PE group with MELD score from 30 and 40 was 50.0%,while it was 86.7% in control group,showing significant differ- ence between PE group and control group(P＜0.01).The mortality of patients with MELD scores higher than 40 was 91.2% in PE group and 100% in control group,showing no significant difference between these two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusions Plasma exchange treatment can decrease the serum TBIL level, INR and MELD score of patients with fulminant hepatitis and improve liver function.Compared with the control group,plasma exchange can significantly decrease the mortality of patients in PE group with MELD score from 30 to 40,but no effect on patients with MELD score higher than 40.

Objective To study the value of lung window and soft tissue window in measuring colon diseases with experimental CTVC examination.Methods Twenty-four artificial polypoid diseases were placed with glue in a thoroughly cleaned porcine colon(overall length,150 era)that was distented with air and submerged in a water phantom and scanned 10 times on a 64-MSCT(GE Light speed)with identical scanning parameters.The data were reconstructed every 0.625 mm and reviewed using 2D images, navigation,MPR and 3D volume-rendered images on a GE AW 4.2 workstation.The maximum diameters of the artificial polypoids were measured by two radiologists with more than 10 years working experience in lung window(W = 1000,L =-700)and soft tissue window(W =400,L =40),respectively.The average value of maximum diameters of the artificial polypoids were measured for 10 times and were compared with the actual diameter.Results Twenty-four artificial polypoid diseases and their shape,size,loeation and relation of diseases with bowel wall were all showed excellently.The maximum diameter measured was close to the actual diameter.The average value was mostly less than actual diameter and a few of them more than the actual diameter.The maximum diameter measured in lung window was close to the actual diameter,and there was no difference between the two data sets(t =0.431,P =0.669).There was difference between the maximum diameter measured in soft tissue window and the virtual diameter(t = 2.691,P = 0.010). Conclusion In screening the colon diseases,CTVC is a good method of choice with no insult or less insult, and higher repeatability.The lung window should be chosen in measuring colon diseases in CTVC examination.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of lamivudine in preventing liver injury induced by anti-tuberculosis drugs in hepatitis B virus(HBV)carriers.Methods One hundred and ten HBV carriers treated with anti-tuberculosis drugs were randomly divided into lamivudine group and control group.Patients in both groups were treated with conventional anti-tuberculosis drugs (isoniazid,rifampicin,pyrazinamide,streptomycin or ethambutol)for 6-8 months.However, patients in lamivudine group were treated with lamivudine 100 mg orally dairy concomitantly.Before and after treatment,the clinical manifestation,liver function and serum HBV DNA level of patients were evaluated.Statistical analysis was performed using t test and x~2 test.Results During 6-8 months of treatment,the incidence rate of liver injury was 9.1% in lamivudine group,while it was 38.2% in control group(P0.05).Conclusion Lamivudine is effective and safe in reducing liver injury induced by anti-tuberculosis drugs in HBV carriers.

Objective To investigate the serum cystatin C (CysC) level and explore its relationship with cytokines and atherosclerosis (AS) in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients.Methods A total of 110 stable MHD patients undergoing hemodialysis for at least six months and 60 healthy control people were enrolled in the study.Serum levels of CysC and high-sensitivity Creactive protein (hsCRP) were measured by immunoturbidimetry.The serum levels of total homocysteine (tHcy),IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α were determined by ELISA.Prevalence of atherosclerosis was detected by carotid ultrasonography.The relationship of CysC level and cardiac geometry incidence in MHD patients was analyzed by Logistic regression model.Results The serum CysC level was significantly higher in MHD patients as compared with healthy controls [(6.19±0.95) mg/L vs (0.76±0.21) mg/L,P＜0.01],and the serum levels of hsCRP,tHcy,IL-1β,IL-6,TNF-α were significantly higher in MHD patients than those in healthy control group (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).The serum CysC level was higher in MHD patients with carotid artery atherosclerosis compared to patients without carotid artery atherosclerosis (P＜0.05).CysC was positively correlated with hsCRP,tHcy,IL-1β,IL-6,TNF-α respectively (P＜0.05 or P＜O.01),and was positively correlated with carotid intimal medial thickness (IMT) and AS.Besides,a negative correlation was found between the serum CysC level and the serum albumin level (P＜0.05),while CysC was positively correlated with dialysis duration,systolic pressure and iPTH (P ＜0.05).Conclusion Serum CysC level is significantly higher in MHD patients and is correlated with hsCRP,tHcy,IL-1β,IL-6,TNF-α as well as carotid artery atherosclerosis,which indicates that CysC is an independent risk factor of AS in MHD patients.

Fluorescent technology is widely used in many fields due to its high sensitivity. However, the direct quantification of one target analyte in complex system is still difficult to be achieved when using the traditional fluorescent method without any pretreatment separation procedure. This is due to the fact that serious overlapping of fluorescence spectra often occurs, mainly originating from natural interferences in complex sample backgrounds, or the interferents with similar structures to a target analyte, particularly in the simultaneous analysis of multi-components samples. The rapid development of modern analytical instruments and three-way data collection techniques has led to a resurgence of interest in the development of chemomet-rics-based analytical strategies, which might light a new avenue to simple experimentation using“mathematical separation” as a replacement or enhancement of“physical or chemical separation” of uncalibrated background or interferents. These methods can offer a highly attractive property, called“second-order advantage”, which allows for the direct and rapid determination of a single target component or simultaneous determination of multiple target components in complex samples, even in the presence of uncalibrated interferences. The property has been a hotspot in the current chemometric domain, and was successfully employed for many applications, such as pharmaceuticals, biological, food, environmental analysis and so on.