Orange peel was used as lowcost adsorbent in binding of Methylene Blue.The effects of equilibrium time,pH,dye concentration have been studied.Carboxyl,amine and phosphonate functional groups were present in the orange peel.The equilibrium time was 1 hour,the maximum adsorption capacities of the orange peel was 370.3?31.0 mg/g at pH 10.The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were well fitted in this biosorption system.Results showed relatively higher rate constant and biosorption capacities.These adsorption performance indicate the orange peel as a potentially economical adsorbent for dye removal.

Objective To investigate the role of AcrAB-TolC efflux pump in fluoroquinolones resistance by Shigella. spp and to explore the significance of AcrAB-TolC efflux pump on mutation of acrR, soxS and marOR as well as on drug re?sistence. Methods Drug resistant bacteria were selected by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion test. After addition of efflux pump inhibitor carbonylcyanide-m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), change of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC)s of nilidixic acid, Levofloxacin, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin and Norfloxacin were examined. The DNA binding region of acrA, acrB, soxS, acrR and marOR gene in these mutants were amplified by PCR and sequenced. Results Among the 159 clinical isolates of Shigella,11 strains are resistant to fluoroquinolone. After the addition of CCCP, MICs of 2 fluoroquinolone resistant strains decreased; the MICs of 7 fluoroquinolone resistant strains did not change; MICs of 2 fluoroquinolone resistant strains in?creased. The corresponding nucleotides C, A, T, T on the 36th to 39th of marOR gene were missing, showing by sequencing, in fluoroquinolone resistent strains which might be regulated by the efflux pump gene AcrAB-TolC. Conclusion Efflux pump inhibitor could restrain the activity of efflux partially. The mutations of marOR might play an important role in fluoroquino?lone resistent by shigella.

Objective To explore carrying rates of class 1, class 2 integrons as well as ISCR1 in Shigella isolates and their connection with drug resistance. Methods Antibiotic sensitivities were detected by K-B disk diffusion in 159 clinical isolates. Total bacteria DNA was prepared through boiling the isolates and the DNA was then used as template for PCR am?plification. PCR, ZSCR1 and sequencing analyse of integrons were applied to all of them. Results were compared by Blast and GenBank. Results Antibiotic sensitivity results showed that in the S. flexneri strains the incidence of resistance to tet?racycline and streptomycin were 88.68%and 81.13%in the S. flexneri strains while the incidence of resistant to chloram?phenicol and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazol were both 56.60%, and the incidence of multidrug drug resistance was 77.36%. In the sonnei strains, the incidence of resistance to ampicillin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazo were 97.17% and 95.28%, 83.96%and 76.42%respectively, and the incidence of multidrug resistance was 98.11%. Among all isolates, 118 were class 1 integron positive , 70 were class 2 integron positive and 89 were double positives. For those 118 isolates that are positive of class 1 integron, 23 were typical while 95 weres atypical. The gene cassettes of typical class 1 integrons contains aadA2, aa?dA1, dfrⅠ, blaoxa-10 and blaoxa-1. IntI1, aadA, blaoxa-1 and IS1 were included in the gene cassetes of the atypical class 1 integrons. Class 2 integrons positive isolates carried gene cassttes which include dfrA1, satl and aadA1. No ISCR1 was found in any isolate. Integron carriage strains were closely associated with higher rate of multiple antibiobic resistance com?pared with the organisms without integrons (90.65%,50%, P<0.05). Conlusion Class 1 and class 2 integrons were widely existence in Shigella isolates and were related to the multidrug resistance.

Transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels are widely distributed in different kinds of cells. TRP expresses highly in the prostatic cancer epithelia at different levels, but whether it expresses in chronic prostatitis epithelia or not remains poorly understood. Investigating the roles of TRP ion channels in the pathogenesis of prostatic diseases could afford us a new approach to their diagnosis and therapy.
Calcium Channels ; Calcium Signaling ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Diseases ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transient Receptor Potential Channels

OBJECTIVEBy means of the detection of the numbers of CD34(+) cells and eosinophils (EOS), and the level of IL-5 in peripheral blood from normal controls and patients with allergic rhinitis pre- or post-treatment, the role of EOS-stem cells paths for treatment effect in allergic rhinitis (AR) was studied so as to find the convenient and quick indicators which could be used to evaluate the clinical therapeutic effect and adjust the methods of the hormone therapy.

METHODSThere were 2 groups. (1) experimental group: 44 patients, including 24 males and 20 females with a age range of 7 to 68 years old. The patients received the treatment of fluticasone spurt for four weeks. (2) CONTROL GROUP: 30 cases, from normal health examination. The EOS numbers, CD4(+) cell numbers and the IL-5 level were examined in control group as well as before and after therapy in experimental group.

RESULTSThe IL-5 level and CD numbers before therapy in experimental group were (88.25 +/- 33.47) ng/L, (9.24 +/- 2.15)/10(5), significantly higher than that after therapy and experimental group which were (44.34 +/- 16.32) ng/L, (6.31 +/- 1.83)/10(5) and (31.24 +/- 8.43) ng/L, (3.47 +/- 1.32)/10(5) respectively. The IL-5 level was positively correlated with the CD34(+) number pre-and post treatment in experimental group (r = 0.64, P <0.01; (r = 0.61, P <0.01). The EOS number was positively correlated with the level of IL-5 (r = 0.64, P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIL-5 and CD34(+) cells can be regarded as indicators to evaluate the therapeutic effect. The EOS, CD34(+) cells and the level of IL-5 in the peripheral blood are correlated with the pathogenesis of AR, suggesting that there is a related path between the local nasal tissue of AR patients and the marrow.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Androstadienes ; therapeutic use ; Anti-Allergic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Eosinophils ; immunology ; Female ; Fluticasone ; Humans ; Interleukin-5 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; blood ; drug therapy ; Stem Cells ; Young Adult

This study was purposed to investigate the serum levels of soluble intracellular adhesion molecule (sVCAM-1), interleukin 18 (IL-18) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients with aplastic anemia (AA) and their clinical significance. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect sVCAM-1, IL-18 and VEGF in serums of 30 patients with AA and 25 normal controls. The results showed that the serum levels of sVCAM-1 and IL-18 in patients with AA [(839.08 +/- 173.97) ng/ml, (380.35 +/- 47.76) pg/ml] were significantly higher than those in normal controls [(538.16 +/- 91.21) ng/ml, (256.39 +/- 59.52) pg/ml] (p < 0.01; p < 0.01). The levels of sVCAM-1 and IL-18 in severe AA patients [(969.94 +/- 182.54) ng/ml, (388.96 +/- 46.06) pg/ml] were higher than those in chronic AA patients [(709.26 +/- 165.32) ng/ml, IL-18 (352.21 +/- 47.08) pg/ml] (p < 0.01; p < 0.05), but the level of VEGF in AA patients [(69.63 +/- 27.42) pg/ml] was lower than that in the normal controls [(125.62 +/- 32.15) pg/ml] (p < 0.01)]. The level of VEGF in severe AA patients [(51.30 +/- 29.86) pg/ml] was significantly lower than that in chronic AA patients [(80.02 +/- 25.14) pg/ml] (p < 0.01). The levels of sVCAM-1 and IL-18 in AA patients after treatment were lower than those before treatment (p < 0.01; p < 0.05), but the level of VEGF after treatment was significantly higher than that before treatment (p < 0.05). It is concluded that the high levels of sVCAM-1, IL-18 and low level of VEGF in serum may be involved in the pathogenesis and progress of AA.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anemia, Aplastic ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-18 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood ; Young Adult

AIMTo study the effect of chronic hypoxic hypercapnia on expression of COX-2 mRNA in pulmonary arterioles.

METHODSSD rats were randomly divided into two groups: control group and hypoxic hypercapnic group. COX-2 mRNA was observed in pulmonary arterioles by the technique of in situ hybridization.

RESULTSmPAP, weight ratio of right ventricle (RV) to left ventricle plus septum (LV + S) and COX-2 mRNA in pulmonary arterioles were much higher in rats of hypoxic hypercapnic group than those of control group. Light microscopy showed that vessel smooth muscle cell hypertrophy and vessel cavity straightness were found in hypoxic hypercapnic group.

CONCLUSIONChanges of expressions of COX-2 mRNA may regulate hypoxic hypercapnic pulmonary hypertension.

Animals ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hypercapnia ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Hypoxia ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Pulmonary Artery ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

AIMTo establish reference range of blood theology for different gender by sitting and lying in healthy populations.

METHODSIn 31 volunteers blood were drawed in the postures of sitting and lying to measure blood rheology. Data (between July 2002 and July 2006) of 32854 samples (23436 check-up, 6553 out-patient,2865 in-patient) were collected. Differences between different postures and different gender were compared by Independ-Sample t-test with SPSS 13.0 software and each reference range of blood rheology was established.

RESULTSIn sitting and lying postures 12 parameters of blood rheology showed great significance (P < 0.01). 8 parameters such as whole blood viscosity, blood reduce viscosity, plasma viscosity, hematocrit, were decreased by 9.33% on average while posture was changed from sitting to lying. But index of erythrocyte deformability, erythrocyte electrophoresis presented inverse correlation and were increased by 6.49% on average with the same posture change.Various parameters of blood theology in different gender showed great significance (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThere is significant difference in various parameters of blood rheology in the posture change from sitting to lying. Reference ranges of blood theology of different postures are established which may be used to decrease the rate of misdiagnosis by 8-10 percent.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Viscosity ; Child ; China ; Erythrocyte Aggregation ; Erythrocyte Deformability ; Female ; Hemorheology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Posture ; physiology ; Reference Values ; Young Adult

AIMTo study the effect of curcumin on pulmonary arterial pressure and type I collagen of pulmonary arterioles in pulmonary hypertensive rats induced by chronic hypoxia and hypercapnia.

METHODSThirty six rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal control group (NC), hypoxic hypercapnic group (HH) and hypoxic hypercapnia + curcumin group (HC). Collagen I in pulmonary arterioles was observed by the technique of immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS(1) The findings from hemodynamics showed that the mPAP in group HH was significantly higher than that in group NC and HC. Differences of mCAP among groups were not significant (P > 0.05). (2) Light microscopy showed the value of WA/TA (vessel wall area/total area), SMC (the density of medial smooth muscle cells) and thickness of pulmonary arterial media smooth cell layer(PAMT) were significantly higher in group HH than group NC (P < 0.01) and group HC (P < 0.01). (3) Electron microscopy showed that structure of the endothelial cells in pulmonary arterioles in group HC was near to normal, and the proliferation of medial smooth muscle cells and collagen fibers in adventitia was much lighter than those of group HH. (4) Expression of collagen I in pulmonary arterioles was significantly higher in group HH than group NC (P < 0.01) and group HC (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCurcumin can decrease pulmonary arterial pressure, improve pulmonary vessel remodeling and inhibit the deposition of collagen I in pulmonary arterioles.

Animals ; Arterioles ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Extracellular Matrix ; metabolism ; Hypercapnia ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Hypoxia ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Pulmonary Artery ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Human tumstatin(hTumstatin)cDNA was amplified from recombinant plasmid pET-3c-tum, cloned in frame with the signal sequence in yeast vector pPICZalphaA and transformed into Pichia pastoris GS115 by electroporation. The expression of hTumstatin in GS115(pPICZalpha-tum)was then induced by methanol and secreted into the culture medium, with a yield of 25mg/L as shown by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. The expressed hTumstatin was purified to more than 85% purity using a simple one-step SP-Sepharose cation exchange chromatography. The MTT and chick chorioallantoic membrane assay showed that the yeast produced hTumstatin could inhibit the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and the neovascularization induced by bFGF. Hoechst 33258 fluorescent staining also demonstrated the apoptotic change in endothelial cellular nuclear morphology.
Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; metabolism ; Autoantigens ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type IV ; genetics ; metabolism ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Electroporation ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Pichia ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Umbilical Cord ; cytology