Characters of one Candida intermedia yeast strain which isolated from nature can produce ethanol from xylose-fermenting been systemic studied. In conditions 28?C, 120 r/min, 72 h, it can produce 6.480 g/L ethanol from 7% xylose and 43.70% theoretical production of ethanol from 3% xylose. It can produce up to 21.225 g/L ethanol when incubation time prolong to 156 h from 8% xylose. It also can ferment 13% glucose produce 47.647 g/L ethanol and reach 76.90% of theoretical ethanol production, respectively. Compared to CK, ethanol productivity can be improved 9.91% when add 8% xylose in three times as 3%, 2% and 3%, respectively. Glucose can be first utilized in the mixture sugar medium. When the ratio of xylose vs. glucose is 3:1in mixture sugar, the productivity of ethanol can be improving 25%.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; physiology ; Dehydroepiandrosterone ; physiology ; Lipid Metabolism ; physiology ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the roles of theaflavins(TFs) in airway mucus hypersecretion induced by human neutrophil elastase(HNE). Methods Human lung adenocarcinoma cell A549 was stimulated by HNE for mucus hypersecretion,and TF monomers(TF1,TF2 and TF3) were used for intervention.The effects of TF monomers on viability of A549 cells were examined by MTT method.After the effective doses of TFs were determined,A549 cells were divided into 4 groups for experiment.In control group,A549 cells were cultured with serum-free medium.In HNE treatment group,A549 cells were treated with HNE(50 nmol/L) for 24 h.In TF monomer intervention groups,A549 cells were pre-treated with TF1,TF2 or TF3(50,100 or 200 ?g/mL) for 24 h,and were then treated with HNE for another 24 h.In AG1478 intervention group,A549 cells were pre-treated with AG1478(5 ?mol/L),an epidermal growth factor receptor blocker for 30 min,and were then treated with HNE for another 24 h.The changes in mucin(MUC) after treatment by different doses of TF1,TF2 and TF3,and by TF3(200 ?g/mL) for different time(12 h,24 h and 36 h) were detected.The changes in MUC5AC mRNA expression and MUC5AC protein expression were detected by RT-PCR and ELISA,respectively. Results The MUC5AC mRNA expression and protein expression in HNE treatment group were significantly higher than those in control group(P

Objective To evaluate the effect of operation on aged women with breast cancer. Methods The clinical data of the 166 patients recruited from 1989 to 2004 were retrospectively analyzed. Results One hundred and sixty six patients were all treated by operation. The modified radical mastectomy was performed in 98 cases(59.0%), radical masteetomy in 21 cases(12.7%), mastectomy in 29 cases (17.5%), palliative operation in 18 cases (10.8%). After operation, one hundred and twenty six patients received chemotherapy, twelve radiotherapy and 73 endocrine therapy. The rates of postoperative complications were 10.8%, no patients died during operation. The overall postoperative 3-and 5-year survival rates were 82.2% and 65.2% respectively. Conclusions The effect of surgical treatment and its combination with other adjunct therapies is satisfactory for aged women with breast cancer. Different types of operations should be performed for different patients. Ageing is not a contraindication of the operation. Surgery should be combined with medical therapy to reduce the concomitant diseases and postoperative complications.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of β₃adrenoceptors (β₃-AR) activation on rat thoracic aorta smooth muscle contractility and the possible related mechanism.

METHODSThe endothelium removed thoracic aorta was pre-contracted with 30 mmol/L KCl physiological saline solution (PSS). Then the tension of the thoracic aorta was recorded in presence of BRL37344 (BRL) to determine the action of β₃-AR. The tension of the thoracic aorta was also recorded in the presence of Propranolol (PRA), SR59230A (SR), L-NNA, H-89 and Iberiotoxin (IBTX) respectively to reveal the underling mechanism of β₃-AR activation on rat vascular smooth muscle. Immunohistochemistry was adopted to confirm the existence and the distribution of β₃-AR in rat thoracic aorta.

RESULTSThe results showed that: (1) The thoracic aorta was relaxed by β₃-AR activation, with a relaxation percentage of (10.59 ± 0.79). (2) β₃-AR was expressed in both endothelial and smooth muscle layer in thoracic aorta sections of rats. (3) PRA did not block the effect of BRL on the thoracic aorta. The relaxation actions of BRL could be antagonized by pre-incubating the thoracic aorta with SR. (4) L-NNA (a NOS inhibitor) and H-89 (a PKA inhibitor) reversed the relaxation effect of BRL on vascular smooth muscle. (5) The effect of BRL was decreased after application of Ibriotoxin (IBTX), a large conductance calcium dependent potassium channel blocker.

CONCLUSIONThe results confirmed that activation of β₃-AR led to relaxation of thoracic aorta smooth muscle. The relaxation action of β₃-AR on smooth muscle of rat thoracic aorta was related to activation of NOS and PKA signaling pathway. Large conductance Ca²⁺-K⁺ channels were involved in the relaxation action of β₃-AR activation on rat thoracic aorta smooth muscle.

Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; physiology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Isoquinolines ; Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels ; physiology ; Muscle Contraction ; Muscle Relaxation ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; physiology ; Nitroarginine ; Peptides ; Propanolamines ; Propranolol ; Rats ; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-3 ; physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Sulfonamides

We developed an R function named "microarray outlier filter" (MOF) to assist in the identification of failed arrays. In sorting a group of similar arrays by the likelihood of failure, two statistical indices were employed: the correlation coefficient and the percentage of outlier spots. MOF can be used to monitor the quality of microarray data for both trouble shooting, and to eliminate bad datasets from downstream analysis. The function is freely avaliable at http://www.wriwindber.org/applications/mof/.
Algorithms ; Computational Biology ; methods ; Internet ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Reproducibility of Results

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza Injection (SMI) and Shengmai Injection (SI) on liver function and fibrosis related indexes in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

METHODSSeventy-nine chronic hepatitis B patients were randomly divided into the SMI group (n=47) and the SI group (n=32), they were treated with SMI and SI respectively on the basis of conventional treatment. The therapeutic course was 35 days for both groups. The changes of main symptoms and physical signs were observed, and indexes of liver function and fibrosis including serum hyaluronidase, laminin, III type precollagen (PC-III) and IV type collagen (IV-C) were investigated before and after treatment.

RESULTSSymptoms, physical signs and liver functions were improved obviously in both SMI and SI groups, SI showed better effect than SMI (P < 0.05). The four liver fibrosis indexes declined significantly in the SMI group after treatment (P < 0.05), but no obvious change of those was found in the SI group (P > 0.05), showing significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion SMI is effective in improving liver function and inhibiting liver fibrosis, and SI has even better effect in improving liver function than SMI, though it shows no anti-liver fibrosis effect.

Adult ; Collagen Type IV ; blood ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Hyaluronoglucosaminidase ; blood ; Injections, Intravenous ; Laminin ; blood ; Liver Cirrhosis ; prevention & control ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To explore the change of plasma orexin A concentration and the correlation between plasma orexin A concentration and energy intake in obese children.Methods Fasting plasma orexin A concentrations,boaly mass index(BMI) and energy intake were measured in 48 obese children(obese group) and 48 healthy children(healthy control group),and these indexes were compared,the correlation between plasma orexin A concentration and BMI,energy intake were analyzed.Results 1.The plasma orexin A concentration in obese group was significantly lower than that in healthy control group(F=5.632 P=0.008).2.In obsess group,there were negative correlation between plasma orexin A concentration and BMI(r=-0.478 P=0.012),positive correlation between plasma orexin A concentration and total energy intake(r=0.503 P=0.007),fat intake(r=0.659 P=0.006) and protein intake(r=0.381 P=0.026),and there was negative correlation between plasma orexin A concentration and carbohydrate(r=-0.316 P=0.022).3.In healthy control group,there were negative correlation between plasma orexin A concentration and BMI(r=-0.491 P=0.018),positive correlation between plasma orexin A concentration and total energy intake(r=0.512 P=0.009),fat intake(r=0.406 P=0.005),protein intake(r=0.313 P=0.020),and carbohydrate(r=0.432 P=0.025).Conclusions Orexin A may be involved in regulation of energy metabolism in obese children,and the interaction between plasma orexin A and energy intake might be different in different nutritional status in children.

In this study we present our experiences with the reverse sural fasciocutaneous flap to reconstruct the distal lower limb soft tissue defects caused by traumatic injuries. These flap graftings were carried out from Oct. 2010 to Dec. 2012 in our department. The series consisted of 36 patients, including 21 men and 15 women with an average age of 46.2 years (14-83 years) and with a medium follow-up period of 18 months (12-24 months). Of all the cases of acute trauma, there were 10 cases of trauma of distal tibia, 9 cases of trauma of perimalleolus, and 17 cases of trauma of midfoot and forefoot. Related risk factors in the patients were diabetes (2 cases), advanced age (>65 years, 3 cases) and cigarette smoking (6 cases). The reverse flow sural island flap irrigation depended on lower perforators of the peroneal artery. The fasciocutaneous pedicle was 3-4 cm in width and the anatomical structures consisted of the superficial and deep fascia, the sural nerve, short saphenous vein, superficial sural artery together with an islet of subcutaneous cellular tissue and skin. The most proximal border of the flap was only 1.5 cm away from the popliteal skin crease and the pivot point was 5-7 cm above the tip of the lateral malleolus. All the flaps survived. No arterial crisis occurred in any case. The venous congestion occurred in 2 cases and got better after raising the limbs and bloodletting. Only in an old man, 1.5 cm necrosis of distal margin of his flap occurred and finally healed after continuous dressing change. One-stage skin grafting was performed, and all the donor sites were sutured and successfully healed. It was concluded that the reverse sural fasciocutaneous flap is safe and reliable to extend to the proximal third even near the popliteal skin crease. We also concluded this flap can be safely and efficiently used to treat patients with large and far soft-tissue defects from the distal leg to the forefoot with more versatility and it is easier to reach the recipient sites.

Four screening methods, colorimetric assay, blood-plate hemolysis method, surface tension activ- ity and oil spreading technique were introduced to isolate strains producing bio-demulsifiers from 6 different bacteria source samples. The results of various screening methods were evaluated in this paper. Seventeen demulsifying strains were obtained, which are qualified in demulsification test of kerosene model emulsions. Among them, 5 strains showed high demulsifying ability, achieving 70% plus demulsifying ratio within 24 hours. Petroleum-contaminated soil, excess sludge from biological process treating oilfield produced water and sludge from municipal wastewater treatment plant were the best among all tested sources. Due to the determination limit, the colorimetric assay and blood-plate hemolysis method are not competent to screen bio-demulsifiers strains. The measurement of surface tension and oil spreading method were easy but accu- rate methods to isolate bio-demulsifiers strains. Although demulsification test of model emulsion is an effec- tive technique to target strains with the capability of breaking emulsions, it is sophisticated and time-con- suming. Thus it is recommended to use surface tension and oil spreading methods in pre-screening and vali- date the results in demulsification test with kerosene model emulsions.