Objective To expand the application of electrochemical immunosensor during deleting aflatoxin B1 in foods and feeds through analyzing impacts of the time of antibody incubation and sample preparation .Methods T he double self-assembly immu-nosensor combined with aflatoxin B1 and carboxylated single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) was characterized by cyclic volta-mmetry and impacts of the time of antibody incubation and sample preparation methods were investigated .Results The signal in-creased gradually following the increasing time of antibody incubation and reached a plateau at 90 min and sample preparation meth-ods showed a comparatively large impact on results .Additionally ,the crude extractions purified through removing interfering com-pounds by immunoaffinity column could effectively eliminate the interference effects of sample matrix .Conclusion Deleting aflatox-in B1 by electrochemical immunosensor is characterized by various features ,such as fast ,simple and low detection limits .The pres-ent study shows that stability of the electrochemical immunosensor is affected by the time of antibody incubation and sample prepa-ration .

In this study, OVA-induced asthma mice was taken as the model, and orally administered with different concentration of ethanol extracts of crude and processed Stemona tuberosa, in order to determine the cytokine level released from Th1 and Th2 in splenocytes. RT-PCR was carried out to determine the genetic expression of T-bet/GATA-3 in lung, and compare the differentiation between ethanol extracts of crude and processed S. tuberosa in therapeutic effect on asthma in mice. According to the results, compared with the crude samples, processed samples significantly increased the levels of inflammatory factor INF-gamma (P < 0.05) and decreased IL-5 (P < 0.05) in splenocytes. According to the RT-PCR results, the administration of processed samples could increase the ratio of T-bet/GATA-3 (P < 0.05). The experiment showed that ethanol extracts of both crude and processed S. tuberosa could treat asthma by regulating Th1/Th2 ratio, but processed samples showed more notable effect. This indicated that crude and processed S. tuberosa had significant pharmacological difference. Therefore, it was more rational to apply processed S. tuberosa in clinical treatment of asthma and chronic cough, which layed a foundation for further revealing the processing mechanism of S. tuberosa.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; immunology ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; GATA3 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Stemonaceae ; chemistry ; T-Box Domain Proteins ; metabolism ; Th1 Cells ; drug effects ; secretion ; Th2 Cells ; drug effects ; secretion

Objective To characterize the regular and the dynamic contrast enhancement MR imaging in choroidal hemangioma.Methods MR imaging findings of 30 cases (31eyes, 32 lesions) with choroidal hemangioma confirmed by follow-up results were retrospectively analyzed.Among them, postcontrasted T1-weighted imaging was performed in 30 patients and dynamic contrast enhancement scanning was performed in 26 cases.MRI findings and the time-intensity curve of dynamic contrast enhancement were analyzed.Results Among the 32 choroidal hemangiomas, 26 of them were at the temporal side of optic disc and 28 lesions were fusiform.Before enhancement, 23 lesions showed isointense T1-weighted signal and 31 lesions were isointense on T2-weighted imaging.All the lesions showed strong enhancement on postcontrast T1-weighted imaging, including 31 homogenously enhanced lesions and one heterogeneously enhanced lesion.Retinal detachments were found in 18 eyes.Fill-in sign were observed in 12 lesions during dynamic contrast enhancement.The time-intensity curve of dynamic contrast enhancement in 28 lesions suggested a pattern with rapid enhancement and slow washout, time to peak (91.00±25.27) s, slope ratio 3.03±1.13, the median of washout ratio 17.06%, enhancement ratio 2.87±0.79.Conclusion MRI showed a few features of the location, shape, signal characteristics, and enhancement pattern in choroidal hemangioma, which may contribut to diagnosis and treatment plan of this disease.

Producing mammary gland bioreactor showed great advantage over many years, but the level of transgenic expression was low in transgenic animals and the diversity was more great because of the position effect of transgene and the artificial recombination of the gene elements. Gene targeting based on the principle of gene homologous recombination had been studied and applied, because the transgene could be integrated precisely in the chromosome. This review summary the current status of producing mammary gland bioreactor by the technology of gene targeting and nuclear transfer using the somatic cell lines. These aspects were discussed, including the characteristic and difficulties of gene targeting, the strategies to improve the efficiency of gene targeting, the different features of between the strategy of promoter-trap and the Cre-LoxP system, etc; for the others, how to select the cell lines with the different strategies of gene targeting, how to raise the times of cell lines that was cultured after the gene targeting. Somatic cell nuclear transfer offers new and exciting opportunities in the areas of the gene targeting. However, the field as a whole is still difficult and complex. In this paper, we described recent advances and novel approaches, which resulted in progress during the last year. Key problems hindering further progress are addressed, for example, how to increase the efficiency of nuclear transfer. With the technology of gene targeting and nuclear transfer, it should provide a general way to produce specific genetic changes in several mammalian species. We are clearly at the dawn of a new era in mammalian genetic technology.
Animals ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; Bioreactors ; Biotechnology ; methods ; Gene Targeting ; methods ; Humans ; Mammary Glands, Human ; cytology ; metabolism ; Nuclear Transfer Techniques

BACKGROUNDThe hemodynamics and oxygenation severely fluctuated during the off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG). This study aimed at investigating whether or not nicardipine combined with esmolol (1:10) can maintain systemic and tissue oxygenation during OPCABG.

METHODSTwenty patients scheduled for OPCABG were divided ramdomly into Group nicardipine (N) and Group nitroglycerine (X) respectively combined with esmolol (E) (Dosage ratio: 1 to 10) (Group N + E and Group X + E) with 10 patients in each group. The mixed solution of N + E or X + E were titrated to maintain mean arterial blood pressure between 70 and 80 mmHg following anesthesia induction. The variables of hemodynamics, arterial blood lactate content (Lac) and gastric intramucosal partial pressure of carbon dioxide were measured at the following time points: after induction of anesthesia (T1), pre-revascularization (T2), grafting of left anterior descending (T3), right coronary descending (T4) and left coronary circumflexus branches (T5), post-revascularization (T6), the end of operation (T7). The delivery of oxygen (DO2), consumption of oxygen (VO2) and gastric intramucosal pH (pHi) were calculated.

RESULTSThe cardiac index (CI) in Group N + E was significantly increased (P < 0.05) as compared with T1 during OPCABG, while it was mildly decreased in Group X + E. The stroke volumes at T4, T5 in Group N + E and at T3-T6 in Group X + E were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). The systemic vascular resistance indices in Group N + E were significantly decreased as compared with T1 (P < 0.05). The heart rates in these two Groups were significantly elevated intraoperatively (P < 0.05). The DO2 after the infusion of N + E was significantly increased (P < 0.05) or leveled to T1, and the Lac were within the normal range. But the DO2 in Group X + E was decreased throughout the procedure, reaching significant level at T5 (P < 0.05), and the Lac was significantly increased beyond normal range (P < 0.05). The pHi in Group N + E was maintained above 7.35 during OPCABG, while it was less than 7.35 from T4 to T7 in Group X + E.

CONCLUSIONNicardipine combined with esmolol (1:10) regimen may maintain systemic and tissue oxygenation during OPCABG.

Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Heart Rate ; drug effects ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Nicardipine ; administration & dosage ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; Propanolamines ; administration & dosage

Objective To investigate the characteristic imaging findings of metastatic neuroblastoma in the craniofacial bone in children. Methods Imaging findings in 12 patients with metastatic neuroblastoma in the craniofacial bone were analyzed retrospectively. Among them, 10 patients underwent plain CT scan, 6 underwent MRI and 7 underwent whole body single-photon emission computed tomography bone scanning.Results In the 10 patients with CT images, lytic bone destruction and soft tissue masses were found in 9 cases, in which periosteal reaction was observed in 8 patients with spiculated periosteal reaction in 3 patients.The remaining 1 patient didn't show any abnormalities on CT images but had abnormal findings in bone scanning.Six patients with MR images showed abnormal signal intensity in the bone marrow of the craniofacial bone and adjacent soft tissue masses. Postcontrast T1-weighted imaging in 5 patients demonstrated remarkable enhancement of the bone marrow and soft tissue masses. Bone scanning of 7 patients showed abnormal foci of increased radionuclide activity of the craniofacial bone in 7 patients and metastasis at other body parts in 6 patients.Conclusion The metastatic neuroblastoma in the craniofacial bone has its characteristic imaging findings which are helpful for correct diagnosis.

Objective To evaluate the use of gated SPECT in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) and the effects of percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation (PTSMA) on myocardial perfusion.Methods 99 Tcm-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) images were performed in 31 HOCM patients before PFSMA and in 15 patients 3-7 d after PTSMA.The images in different left ventricular segments were analysed by using scores.Results In 99Tcm-MIBI images, uptake decreased at the septal regions in 12 HOCM patients (80.0%, 12/15) after PTSMA, 18F-FDG images also showed decreased uptake at the septal regions in 5 HOCM patients (33.3%, 5/15) after PTSMA.Conclusion 99Tcm-MIBI images might be an important method to evaluate PTSMA results, and 18 F-FDG images showed important value as reference.

The study was purposed to explore the changes of CD4(+)CD25(+) T regulatory cells in patients with multiple myeloma before and (MM) after treatment with thalidomide so as to provide evidences for effective immunotherapy. The population of CD3(+) T, CD4(+) T, CD8(+) T, NK and CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg in patients with MM were detected by flow cytometry. Statistical significance of differences in different groups was determined by using the t test. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered to be significant. The results showed that the percentage of CD4(+)CD25(+ high) T in patients with MM was significantly higher than that of the healthy donors (p > 0.01). The population of CD4(+)CD25(+ high) Treg cells in patients with response to thalidomide was significantly decreased (p < 0.01), but the population of these cells in patients without response not changed significantly (p > 0.05), as compared with patients before treatment. In 16 patients who achieved complete remission after chemotherapy, the population of CD4(+)CD25(+ high) T was 6.91 +/- 1.12%, which was slightly higher than that before treatment. The population of CD3(+) T, CD4(+) T, CD8(+) T, NK and CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg significantly increased in patients with positive response to thalidomide, but the population of CD8(+) T remained unchanged. It is concluded that the significant increase of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells in peripheral blood of patients with MM is concerned with the MM pathogenesis; thalidomide may exert its anti-MM effects by down-regulating CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; drug therapy ; immunology ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; drug effects ; immunology ; Thalidomide ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo study the Chinese intelligibility of patients with velopharyngeal incompetence (VPI).

METHODS100 patients with VPI and 32 normal students were selected for this study. Of 10 patients, 15 with cleft palate, 21 with congenital velopharyngeal incompetence, 56 with post-palatoplasty VPI and 8 with post-pharyngoplasty VPI. Chinese intelligibility was measured by three speech pathologists and relation between degree of abnormal articulation and Chinese intelligibility were studied.

RESULTSChinese intelligibility of the controls was 99.0% and the patients with VPI were 35.2%. Of the patients, the cleft palate was 19.9%, the congenital velopharyngeal incompetence was 32.8%, the post-palatoplasty VPI was 40.3% and the post-pharyngoplasty VPI was 35.2%. The data showed obvious difference among the controls and sub-types of VPI (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS(1) Chinese intelligibility of VPI accompanied with hypernasality is worse. (2) Of misarticulation of VPI, the cleft palate is the worst, in turn the others are the congenital velopharyngeal incompetence, the post-pharyngoplasty VPI and the post-palatoplasty VPI.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Articulation Disorders ; etiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cleft Palate ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Speech Articulation Tests ; Velopharyngeal Insufficiency ; complications ; Voice Quality

OBJECTIVETo investigate the difference of liver enzyme levels and its correlation with serum ACE/ACE2 among yak and cattle on Qinghai-Tibetan plateau, and to further explore the biochemical mechanism of their liver of altitude adaptation.

METHODSThe serum samples of yak were collected at 3,000 m, 3,500 m, 4,000 m and 4,300 m respectively, meanwhile the serum samples of migrated cattle on plateau (2,500 m) and lowland cattle (1,300 m) were also collected. The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), cholinesterase (CHE), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serum lipase (LPS), angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE), angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) in serum were measured by using fully automatic blood biochemcal analyzer. We analysed the differences of the above enzymes and its correlation with ACE/ACE2. We used one way analysis of variance (ANOVA).

RESULTSThe levels of ALT in 4,000 m group and 4,300 m group of yak increased significantly compared with other groups, there were no statistically significant differences in AST, CHE, GGT, ACE/ACE2 levels of yaks at different altitudes. As compared to lowland cattle, the serum levels of AST and CHE were increased, the level of LPS and ACE was decreased significantly, respectively, and especially, the ratio of ACE/ACE2 of migranted cattle reduced nearly two times. The levels of LPS were significantly correlated to the ratio of ACE/ACE2 in yak (r = 0.357, P < 0.01), and a high correlation between ALP and ACE/ACE2 in lowland cattle( r = 0.418, P < 0.05), But the biggest contribution rate of the ratio of ACE/ACE2 was only 17.5% for the changes of the levels of liver enzyme.

CONCLUSIONThe results indicated that with the altitude increased did not significantly influence the changes of liver enzymes' activities in mountainous yaks but not in cattle. However, all above these changes weren't actually correlated to the ratio of ACE/ACE2.

Acclimatization ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; blood ; Altitude ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Cattle ; physiology ; Cholinesterases ; blood ; Hypoxia ; blood ; Lipase ; blood ; Liver ; enzymology ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; blood ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; blood