Adult ; Aged ; Angiopoietin-2 ; physiology ; Female ; Glioma ; blood ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; blood ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVEITS2 of DNA barcoding was used to study genetic polymorphism of Platycodon grandiflorum.

METHODTotal genomic DNA was isolated from P. grandiflorum. PCR was used to amplified the region of internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2), and PCR products were sequenced. The sequences of ITS2 were analyzed and compared by Clustal. The intraspecies genetic distance was calculated based on Kimura 2-parameter model by using MEGA 5.05. The ITS2 sequence of Codonopsis pilosula was used as the outreach value for plants of the genus, and the phylogenic tree used constructed by Neighbor-Joining (NJ) method.

RESULTThe K2-P's genetic distance of all samples were ranged from 0 to 0.930. The K2-P's genetic distance of samples at the same area were ranged from 0 to 0.178. The K2-P's genetic distance of samples at different areas were ranged from 0.735 to 0.930. The analytical result showed that the degree of genetic variation were heavy in intraspecies of P. grandiflorum and significantly correlated with geographical location.

CONCLUSIONThe DNA barcoding of ITS2 can applied to study the intraspecific genetic diversity, it provides a reference for further development of DNA barcoding technology applications.

China ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Platycodon ; classification ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on circadian rhythm of temperature and melatonin (MT) in depression rats model induced by chronic stress, so as to explore the biological mechanism of EA for depression.

METHODSTwenty-four SD rats were randomly divided into a control group, a model group and an EA group, 8 cases in each one. Rats in the control group were treated with normal diet for 21 days without any treatment. In the model and EA group, rat model was established by chronic unpredictable stress combined with solitarily feeding method, and rats in the EA group was treated with EA at "Baihui" (GV 20), "Yintang" (GV 29) 1 h before stress stimulation everyday, 2 Hz in frequency and intensity was favorable with the head of rat slightly shivering. The needles were retained for 20 min, once a day for totally 21 days. After EA treatment, open-field experiment was adopted to observe the behavioral improvement; the rats temperatures were monitored at six time points (2:00, 6:00, 10:00, 14:00, 18:00, 22:00) and orbital blood sampling was collected. The level of serum MT was tested by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The circadian rhythm changes of temperature and serum MT in each group were compared.

RESULTSThe numbers of horizontal movement and vertical movement in the model group were obviously lower than those in the control group (both P < 0.05), while those in the EA group were significantly improved compared with those in the model group (both P < 0.01). The circadian rhythm of temperature and MT disappeared in the model group, which was improved into normal level after EA treatment.

CONCLUSIONThe electroacupuncture has regulation effects on circadian rhythm of temperature and melatonin in depression rat model induced by chronic stress.

Animals ; Circadian Rhythm ; Depression ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Humans ; Male ; Melatonin ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Background Femtosecond laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) inevitably injury keratocytes and corneal nerve fibers.The research report about postoperative morphological changes of corneal nerve regeneration and keratocytes in femtosecond LASIK is still rare.Objective The aim of this study was to observe the kinetic changes of keratocytes and corneal nerve in corneal flap after femtosecond LASIK.Method Femtosecond laser manufacture corneal flap of LASIK surgery was performed on 60 eyes of 30 patients with refractive error using both femtosecond laser system and excimer laser treatment system.The repair of corneal wound was examined by slit lamp microscope,and the morphology of keratocytes and corneal nerve were observed with confocal microscope 1 week,1month,3 months after surgery,respectively.Results No haze or flap folds were found under the slit lamp microscope from 1 week through 3 months after operation.One week after surgery,the corneal stromal cells at the interface of the corneal flap appeared to be a mild activation status in 42 eyes (70％),but the activated cells gradually reduced with lapse of time.Three months after surgery,mild activation state still was found in 7 eyes (12％).One week after surgery,independent,short (＜50 μm),curved subbasal nerve fibers were exhibited in 7 eyes (12％),and curved filamentous nerve fibers were discovered in 48 eyes (80％) one month after surgery.The nerve fiber length of subbasal nerve was ＞200 μm in 27 eyes (45％) and classes beaded structure appeared 3 months after operation but were still different with preoperative subbasal nerve fibers.One week after the operation,filaments or discontinuous nerve fibers could been seen in 46 eyes (77％) at theinterface,and long nerve fibers or filamentous nerves were visible around the terminal or periphery of nerve fibers in 49 eyes (82％) one month after surgery,and long nerve fibers or filaments of nerve fibers were visible in 57 eyes (95％) 3 months after the surgery.Conclusions Femtosecond LASIK cause wound reaction at cellular level.Corneal nerve fibers recover with the extension of time,but there are still some morphological differences 3 months after surgery from preoperation.

HIV-1 gp41 has been successfully anchored on the cell surface of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae by yeast cell-surface display systems using His-tag for the detection of protein expression. Gp41 activity has been detected by gp41 monoclonal antibody. The vector for gp41 yeast display has been constructed as follows: the gene-encoding gp41 was amplified by PCR using pMD18T-gp41 as a template, and then inserted into shuttle vector pICAS-His by restriction enzyme digestion. Next, the vectors were introduced into Saccharomyces cerevisiae MT8-1. After cultivation, recombinant cells were immunofluorescence labelled. The bright green cells were observed by the microscopy indicating the proteins have been displayed on the cell surface successfully, flow cytometry convinced that gp41 has been folded correctly on the cell surface. Then different concentrations of initial glucose were used to enhance the expression of protein. gp41 has been expressed by 82.46% yeast cells as the concentration of glucose was 1%. Protein expression was depressed when the concentration was increased.
Genetic Engineering ; methods ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; metabolism ; HIV Envelope Protein gp41 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Humans ; Protein Folding ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; cytology ; genetics ; metabolism ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Surface Properties

OBJECTIVETo investigate a possible mechanism responsible for anti-apoptotic effects of melatonin and provide theoretical evidences for clinical therapy.

METHODSIschemia-reperfusion mediated neuronal cell injury model was constructed in cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) by deprivation of glucose, serum and oxygen in media. After ischemia, melatonin was added to the test groups to reach differential concentration during reperfusion. DNA fragmentation, mitochondrial transmembrane potential, mitochondrial cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activity were observed after subjecting cerebellar granule neurons to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD).

RESULTSThe results showed that OGD induced typical cell apoptosis change, DNA ladder and apoptosis-related alterations in mitochondrial functions including depression of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (its maximal protection ratio was 73.26%) and release of cytochrome c (its maximal inhibition ratio was 42.52%) and the subsequent activation of caspase-3 (its maximal protection ratio was 59.32%) in cytoplasm. Melatonin reduced DNA damage and inhibited release of mitochondrial cytochrome c and activation of caspase-3. Melatonin can strongly prevent the OGD-induced loss of the mitochondria membrane potential.

CONCLUSIONOur findings suggested that the direct inhibition of mitochondrial pathway might essentially contribute to its anti-apoptotic effects in neuronal ischemia-reperfusion.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 3 ; Caspases ; metabolism ; Cerebellum ; pathology ; Cytochromes c ; metabolism ; Cytoplasm ; metabolism ; DNA Fragmentation ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Immunoblotting ; Melatonin ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Membrane Potentials ; Mitochondria ; metabolism ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; metabolism ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion ; Reperfusion Injury ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo explore the medical cost and its related factors of clinically confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) cases in Beijing.

METHODSThe average medical cost per person/day was calculated on 1272 SARS cases with complete hospitalization data from the Beijing SARS clinical database. Factors associated with medical expenditure were explored by both single factor and multi-factor analyses.

RESULTSThe medical costs of SARS patients in Beijing were 18 767.50 RMB/case and 632.02 RMB/day/case. Expenses on medication accounted for the highest proportion (0.66%). The increase in expenses on medication was significantly associated to the increase in total expenditure. Analyses by single factor, factor stratification as well as multi-factor analyses showed that: the expenditure increased significantly with the following factors of the patients: prolonged days of hospitalization, severe symptoms and signs, hospitalization at the early stage of disease onset, being medical staff themselves, with baseline diseases, being applied mechanical ventilation, and with medical insurance.

CONCLUSIONSThe medical expenditure on SARS patients at the hospital was higher than that on patients with common diseases which was associated to the following factors as: days of hospitalization, severity of disease, stage of the disease break-out, patient's occupation, baseline disease status, medical insurance status etc.

Age Factors ; China ; Cost of Illness ; Female ; Hospitalization ; economics ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; economics ; Linear Models ; Male ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; economics ; therapy ; Sex Factors

OBJECTIVETo know the genotype and subtype of hantavirus (HV) which infected persons in Hebei province.

METHODSAccording to G2 coding region of 76-118 and R22 strains, specific type primers were designed to detect and identity the types of HV in HFRS patients' sera with RT-nested PCR. Nucleotides were assayed from partial products after purification and reclaim. Then, gene analysis was done with DNAStar package.

RESULTS17 out of 69 positive serum specimens were successfully detected by RT-PCR and the detection rate was 24.64%, among which, or= 14 days were 0. 17 positive specimens were all belonged to SEO. The nucleotide homology of 9 typical specimens was 92.0%-100%. Between HeB7 and other 8 specimens was 92%-95%, and they belonged to different subtypes. When HeB7 compared with R22 strain, it was 97.7%. HeB7 and R22 belonged to S1 subtype. The 8 specimens except HeB7 was 95.7%-100% and they all belonged to S3 subtype. When compared with 76-118 strain, 9 specimens' nucleotide homology was only 70.3%-72.7%, belonged to different type.

CONCLUSIONSEO was the major type of HV from HFRS patients in Hebei province, S3 was the major subtype and S1 was also existed. In a certain area, the HV which belonged to the same type was correspondingly conservative, and had the characteristic of regional stability.

China ; Genotype ; Hantavirus ; classification ; genetics ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome ; diagnosis ; prevention & control ; therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; genetics

E2 gene of classical swine fever virus (CSFV) was cloned into secretory pPIC9K Pichia pastoris expression vector. After being linearized by digestion, the vector was transformed into Pichia pastoris by electroporation to integrate with the genome, the transformants with high copies were screened by G418 and were induced to express with methonal. The results of SDS-PAGE and Western blot demonstrated that the supernatant of the induced P. pastoris culture contained protein E2. The results of the study on the immunological activity indicated that the protein E2 expressed in P. pastoris can elicit animal bodies to produce antibodies against protein E2.
Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; immunology ; Antigens, Viral ; genetics ; immunology ; Classical swine fever virus ; genetics ; immunology ; Cloning, Molecular ; Gene Expression ; Pichia ; Rabbits ; Swine ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; genetics ; immunology

BACKGROUNDIn the past 5 years, new treatment materials and techniques offering a different concept in endovascular treatment have been described for cerebral arteriovenous malformations (CAVMs). The aim of this study was to assess the endovascular treatment of CAVMs by using a liquid embolic material, Onyx (Micro Therapeutics. Inc., Irvine, CA, USA).

METHODSFrom September 2003 to September 2004, Onyx was used to treat 22 patients with CAVMs. Ten AVMS were located in functional areas, 8 in deep cerebral areas, and 4 in the cerebellar hemisphere. The size of CAVMs was about 3 cm in diameter in 5 patients, 3-6 cm in 11, and more than 6 cm in 6.

RESULTSIn the 22 patients, Onyx embolization was successful. Nidus occlusion was complete in 3 patients, > 90% in 8, > 80% and < 90% in 6, and > 50% and < 80% in 5. Complications included transient neurological deficits in 2 patients, and adherence of microcatheter to the site of injection in 2.

CONCLUSIONSBeing non-adhesiveness, Onyx is a safe and satisfactory embolic material in the treatment of CAVMs. But its long-term efficacy awaits further follow-up.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; administration & dosage ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; adverse effects ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged