BACKGROUND: Pathogenesy of immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is not clear up to now. Present research has verified that the key pathogenetic pathway is abnormalities of IgA1 molecular O-glycosylation induced by decrease of ?1,3-galactosyltranferase activity in IgA1 hinge region of IgAN patients. Prophase study by the authors supposed that the key of IgAN O-glycosylation abnormality might be due to the decrease of ?1,3-galactosyltranferase specific molecular protein chaperone Cosmc in B lymphocyte of peripheral blood in IgAN patients. OBJECTIVE: To measure DNA sequence of ?1,3-galactosyltranferase specific molecular chaperone in coding region of Cosmc gene in IgAN patients,and compared with the sequence of Gene Bank. DESIGN: Case-controlled observation. SETTING: Department of Nephrology,West China Hospital,Sichuan University. PARTICIPANTS: Totally 27 IgAN patients and 10 non-IgAN patients were recruited in Department of Nephrology of West China Hospital of Sichuan University from November 2005 to August 2006,and five normal controls were included in this study. All the subjects knew the fact and agreed to participate in the experiment. METHODS: The experiment was performed at the State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy of Sichuan University. 2 mL peripheral venous blood of all the samples were taken into heparin sodium anticoagulated tubes,from which total genomic DNA were extracted by phenol/chloroform precipitation method. Concentration of DNA was determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometer. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify the coding region of ?1,3-galactosyltranferase specific molecular chaperone Cosmc gene in all the subjects and direct sequencing was done in PCR products of each subjects. The results of all the sequencing were compared with Gene Bank one by one. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Amplification findings and sequencing of coding region of ?1,3-galactosyltranferase specific molecular chaperone Cosmc gene by PCR. RESULTS: ①Coding region of Cosmc gene located at 257-1 213,and amplified Cosmc gene was 1 247 bp. ②The sequence of Cosmc gene coding region was similar in IgAN patients,non-IgAN patients and normal controls,and no difference of gene sequence was noticed in all the result sequences as compared with the Gene Bank registered sequence. CONCLUSION: No abnormal sequence is found in coding region of Cosmc gene in IgAN patients,suggesting that this coding region probably is not associated with the abnormalities of IgA1 O-glycosylation in IgAN.

BACKGROUND: Pathogenesy of immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is not clear up to now. Present research has verified that the key pathogenetic pathway is abnormalities of IgA1 molecular O-glycosylation induced by decrease of β1, 3-galactosyltranferase activity in IgA1 hinge region of IgAN patients. Prophase study by the authors supposed that the key of IgAN O-glycosylation abnormality might be due to the decrease of β1, 3-galactosyltranferase specific molecular protein chaperone Cosmc in B lymphocyte of peripheral blood in IgAN patients.OBJECTIVE: To measure DNA sequence of β1, 3-galactosyltranferase specific molecular chaperone in coding region of Cosmc gene in IgAN patients, and compared with the sequence of Gene Bank.DESIGN: Case-controlled observation.SETTING: Department of Nephrology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University.PARTICIPANTS: Totally 27 IgAN patients and 10 non-IgAN patients were recruited in Department of Nephrology of West China Hospital of Sichuan University from November 2005 to August 2006, and five normal controls were included in this study. All the subjects knew the fact and agreed to participate in the experiment.METHODS: The experiment was performed at the State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy of Sichuan University. 2 mL peripheral venous blood of all the samples were taken into heparin sodium anticoagulated tubes, from which total genomic DNA were extracted by phenol/chloroform precipitation method. Concentration of DNA was determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometer. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify the coding region of β1, 3-galactosyltranferase specific molecular chaperone Cosmc gene in all the subjects and direct sequencing was done in PCR products of each subjects. The results of all the sequencing were compared with Gene Bank one by one.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Amplification findings and sequencing of coding region of β1, 3-galactosyltranferase specific molecular chaperone Cosmc gene by PCR.RESULTS: ①Coding region of Cosmc gene located at 257-1 213, and amplified Cosmc gene was 1 247 bp. ②The sequence of Cosmc gene coding region was similar in IgAN patients, non-IgAN patients and normal controls, and no difference of gene sequence was noticed in all the result sequences as compared with the Gene Bank registered sequence.CONCLUSION: No abnormal sequence is found in coding region of Cosmc gene in IgAN patients, suggesting that this coding region probably is not associated with the abnormalities of IgA1 O-glycosylation in IgAN.

Some important network addresses of microbiology teaching reso ur ces and two effective searching engines in Internet were provided. How to searc h, download and apply these resources to the teaching practice were discussed in this paper.

The resource of rare and endangered medicinal plant Swertia mussotii Franch. in Tibet, Qinghai and Sichuan province were surveyed by ways of documents, interview, quadrat and market investigation. The results indi-cated that Swertia mussotii Franch. mainly distributed in Zuogong and Mangkang of Tibet, Yushu of Qinghai province, Shiqu, Daofu, Kangding, Maerkang, Jinchuan and Xiaojin of Sichuan province. According to the height above sea level, the distribution altitude was from 2 300 m (Kangding of Sichuan province) to 3 900 m (Mangkang of Tibet). There are distributions of Swertia mussotii Franch. within the scope of 2 600 m. The illumination, water, soil, temperature and altitude had significant influence on the distribution, growth and reserve of Swertia mussotii Franch. from different angles. In recent years, there was huge increase of market requirement in Swertia mussotii Franch. which were used in Tibetan medicine Zangyinc he n. Excess collection was the primary cause of rapid decreasing in resource of Swertia mussotii Franch.. It was suggested to strengthen the management of rational collection, as well as to accelerate the development of cultivation and production.

Objective To clarify whether the Cosmc gene down-regnhtion in lgA nephropathy (IgAN) patients is resulted from genetic disorders or external suppressions. Methods Forty IgAN patients, 16 non-IgAN glomerulonephritis patients and 21 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Genomie DNA was extracted and then Cosmc gene was amplified and sequenced. Peripheral B lymphoeytes were isolated and cultured with RPMI-1640 alone or plus lipopolysaecharide (LPS). The Cosmc mRNA expression levels at baseline, after RPMI-1640 culture or RPMI-1640+LPS treatment were measured respectively by real-time RT-PCR. Results (1) Only 2 missense mutations and 2 silent mutations were detected in coding frame region of Cosine gene in 2 IgAN patients. (2) The baseline Cosmc gene expression level was significantly lower in IgAN patients (31% of that in healthy controls) than that in healthy controls. (3) Relative quantification PCR indicated that Cosmc mRNA expression level was significantly increased (219% of baseline) after RPMI-1640 culture, and treatment of LPS could strongly inhibit this effect. (4) The Cosmc gene expression of healthy control was not affected by RPMI-1640 or LPS. Conclusion It is not genetic disorders but external suppression to cause the down-regulation of Cosmc gene mRNA expression in IgAN.

Objective　To investigate the mechanism affecting on permeability of vascular endothelial cell by nitric oxide (NO). Methods　Series concentration of sin-1（a donor of NO） were added to ECV 304, a cell line of human umbilical vein endothelium. Cell growth and expression of f-actin, a cytoskeleton protein were observed. Results　Cell growth was inhibited with a dose from 6.25 to 100 μmol/L and was caused to death at the concentration of 50 to 100 μmol/L by sin-1. The expression of f-actin was suppressed obviously after cultured with 100 μmol/L sin-1 for 4 hours. Conclusion　It suggests that anomaly increased NO can increase permeability of blood vessels by suppressing the expression of f-actin, inhibiting cell growth or even resulting in cell death.

Based on the 2 x 2 contingency table, by using multi-species relevance (variance ratio, VR), chi2-test, Ochiai index, Dice index, Jaccard index, t-test of v/x and F-test of Morisita, s index, the interspecific relationships and the spatial distribution pattern between 20 dominants in Kangding Zheduo Mountain of Sichuan province were studied. The results indicated that the interspecific association between dominants of Sinopodophyllum hexandrum community in this area did not show significant association, which suggested that the S. hexandrum community was in mature stage, and showed stronger independency, among total 190 pairs in 20 dominant species, 2 species pairs exhibited extremely significantly positive association, 12 species pairs showed significantly positive association, 6 species pairs exhibited significantly negative association and there were no pairs showed extremely significantly negative association. S. hexandrum in community did not show significant association, which indicates they are independent in community, the spatial distribution pattern of S. hexandrum is characterized by random distribution.
Berberidaceae ; classification ; growth & development ; Biodiversity ; China ; Ecosystem ; Endangered Species ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; growth & development

The real sanghuang is a new species belonging to the Inonotus, which is commonly used for cancer treatment and human immune system improvement. This review summarized the progress on the studies of Phellinus Quel in recent years, including its taxonomy status, bioactive components, pharmacodynamics, separation and purification technologies. In addition, some related problems and perspectives were also discussed.
Animals ; Basidiomycota ; chemistry ; classification ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods

OBJECTIVE To study the isolation and resistance tendency of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii to antimicrobial agents from 1998 to 2004 to provide valuable data for infection prevention and therapy. METHODS We reviewed the isolation rates,distribution in clinical specimens and wards,and the resistance rates of(A.calcoaceticus-baumannii)to 14 kinds of antimicrobial agents from 1998 to 2004. RESULTS There was an increasing tendency of isolation rates of A.calcoaceticus-baumannii every year,which was 0.18% in 1998 but 1.48% in 2004.In the seven years,there was the highest isolation rate of 70.58% in specimens from respiratory tract,the next was from the urine(9.42%),and blood(4.63%).Concerning the wards distribution,ICU had the highest rate of 47.28%.In 1998,A.calcoaceticus-baumannii had resistance rates more than 50% only to one kind of antimicrobial agents(aztreonam),but in 2004,it had increased to thirteen kinds(except cefoperazone/sulbactam).About the fourteen kinds of antimicrobial agents we inspected,that were increased in their resistance rate.The highest increasing of resistance rate was ceftazidime from 11.1% in 1998 to 88.9% in 2004,the imipenem was second for 0.0% to 64.8%,and the third was sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim form 0.0% to 64.0%,while there still was an increasing resistance tendency to them. CONCLUSIONS The clinical isolation rate of A.calcoaceticus-baumannii is increasing,and it has higher resistance rates to many antimicrobial agents as well as an increasing resistance tendency to relatively susceptive antimicrobial agents every year.So physicians should prescribe on the basis of antimicrobial agents susceptibility tests in vitro.

Objective:To investigate the risk factors for overall survival in operable hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT-HCC) patients and establish a scoring system.Methods:Survival data in 253 PVTT-HCC patients were retrospectively analyzed in Guangxi Medical University Affiliated Tumor Hospital. Survival curves were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Cox stepwise regression analysis was used to identify independent preoperative risk factors affecting overall survival. A prognostic scoring system based on independent risk factors and their relative coefficients was established to screen patients with greater hepatic resection benefits, and the identification ability of the model was based on ROC.Results:A total of 253 patients with PVTT-HCC were enrolled in this study, there were 222 males and 31 females, with a median age 44 years. The median survival time in all patients was (13.00±2.15) months. Rate of overall survival was 51.8% at 1 year, 25.0% at 3 years and 17.7% at 5 years. Multivariable Cox regression analyses showed four risk factors including: AST≥40 U/L, ALP (≥80 U/L), tumor number (>1), and incomplete tumor capsule. A prognostic scoring system was established based on these variables. The area under curve of the scoring system was 0.780 (95% CI: 0.715-0.845). Patients were classified as low- or high-risk group for hepatic resection depending on whether their score was <3 ( n=77) or ≥3 ( n=176), respectively. High-risk patients had a median survival of 10 months, compared to 29 months in low-risk patients. Low-risk patients also had better survival rates at 1 year (75.3% vs 41.5%), 3 years (47.6% vs 15.2%), and 5 years (34.7% vs 10.5%), P<0.05. Conclusion:A prognostic scoring system for hepatic resection in PVTT-HCC patients has been developed based entirely on preoperative variables. Using this system, patients belong to the low risk group have better prognosis after surgery, which can provide a basis for surgical treatment of PVTT-HCC patients.