The epiphytic orchid, Dendrobium aphyllum and D. devonianum are used as traditional Chinese medicine, and became locally endangered in recent years because of over-collection. We test the effect of inoculations of endophytic fungi FDaI7 (Tulasnella sp.), FDd1 (Epulorhiza sp. ) and FCb4 (Epulorhiza sp.), which isolated from D. aphyllum, D. denonianum and Cymbidium mannii, respectively, on artificial substrate in these two Dendrobium species. In the symbiotic germination experiment, FDaI7 and FDd1 were effective for protocorm formation and seedling development of D. aphyllum and D. denonianum separately. After 60 days, 14.46% of the D. aphyllum seeds grown to protocorms and 12.07% developed to seedlings inoculated only with FDaI7, while contrasted with 0 when inoculated the other two isolates and non-inoculation treatment. However, in D. denonianum, seeds only grown to protocorms and developed to seedlings when inoculated with FDd1, the percentages were 44.36% and 42.91% distinguishingly. High specificity was shown in symbiotic germination on artificial substrate of Dendrobium. Protocorms could further develop to seedlings within or without light when inoculated the compatible fungi. However, light condition (12/12 h Light/Dark) produced the normal seedlings, while dark condition (0/24 h L/D) produced the abnormal seedlings. These may suggest that the development of young seedlings require light based on the effective symbiotic fungi. These findings will aid in seedling production of simulation-forestry ecology cultivation, conservation and reintroduction of Dendrobium.
Basidiomycota ; classification ; physiology ; Darkness ; Dendrobium ; classification ; growth & development ; microbiology ; Germination ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Light ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; growth & development ; microbiology ; Seedlings ; growth & development ; microbiology ; radiation effects ; Seeds ; growth & development ; microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis

This paper discusses the relationship between stimulating pulse width and the threshold of electrically evoked compound action potential (ECAP). Firstly, the rheobase and chronaxy from strength-duration curve of nerve fiber was computed using the shepherd's experiment results. Secondly, based on the relationship between ECAP and the action potential of nerve fiber, a mathematical expression to describe the relationship between stimulating pulse width and ECAP threshold was proposed. Thirdly, the parameters were obtained and the feasibility was proved to the expression with the results of experiment using guinea pigs. Research result showed that with ECAP compared to the action potential of nerve fiber, their threshold function relationship with stimulating pulse width was similar, and rheobase from the former was an order smaller in the magnitude than the latter, but the chronaxy was close to each other. These findings may provide meaningful guidance to clinical ECAP measurement and studying speech processing strategies of cochlear implant.
Action Potentials ; Animals ; Auditory Threshold ; Cochlear Implantation ; Cochlear Implants ; Electricity ; Evoked Potentials ; Guinea Pigs ; Neural Conduction

Objective To determine the incidence, clinical manifestation and part of lymphokines which represent the balance of Th1 and Th2 in the role of the immunologic mechanisms for IRIS(immune restoration inflammatory syndromes)in patients initiating HAART(Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy).Methods A prospective study of all patients initiating HAART was performed. A period of six months tracking initiating HAART was performed. The incidence of IRIS, time of occurrence and clinical disease spectrum were recorded. The main T lymphokines including IL-2, INF-γ, IL-4, IL-10 which on behalf of the balance of Th1 and Th2 were detected. To explore the immunopathologic mechanisms for IRIS, the levels of T lymphokines at pre-HAART, initiating HAART for 1 month, 3months and 6 months were compared in IRIS group and non-IRIS group, healthy group. Results A total of 212 patients were enrolled in this study. 59 patients were diagnosed as IRIS at a median of 21 days after HAART initiation (QR 19 days).The main disease spectrum included tuberculosis, herpes virus infections, pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia. No matter in the IRIS group or non-IRIS group, the main lymphokines baseline of IL-2, INF-γ reduced and IL-4, IL-10 increased before HAART compared to healthy group (P ＜ 0. 05), which had the tendency to restore balance relations initiating HAART. The lymphokines levels had significant difference between baseline and 6 months initiating HAART (P ＜ 0. 05). The changed levels of lymphokines between IRIS group and non-IRIS group before HAART had significant difference compared to healthy group. IL-2, INF-γ increased level[(11.68 ± 2. 89) pg/ml vs (8.52 ±2.26) pg/ml; (22. 19 ± 6. 22) pg/ml vs (18.34 ±5. 35) pg/ml] and IL-10 decreased level [(19. 21 ± 4. 03) pg/ml vs (23. 19 ± 5.92) pg/ml] had significant difference between IRIS group and non-IRIS group initiating HAART I month(P ＜0. 05). Conclusions The incidence of IRIS during 6 months initiating HAART in HIV/AIDS was 27. 8%, IRIS usually occurred in 1 month initiating HAART. The most common disease spectrum was infectious disease, including tuberculosis and herpes virus infection. Lymphokine of Th1 and Th2 existed unbalance in IRIS group and non-IRIS group before HAART. The unbalance tendency in IRIS group was more obvious. All lymphokines had the trend to recover balance. IL-2, INF-γ significantly increased and IL-10 significantly decreased, which might involve the occurrence of the IRIS.

Objective To study the effect of 17β-estrogen(17β-E2)on injured dopaminergic (DA) neurons induced by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA),and explore whether 17β-E2 has neuroprotective effect.Methods The male SD rats aged 2-3 d were decapitated under sterile conditions; the brain slices were induced injury by 6-OHDA(200 μmol/L); cells in the slices were divided into control group and 17β-E2 treatment groups(intervention with 1.0xl0-8 mol/L,1.0xl0-9 mol/L and 1.0×10-10 mol/L of 17β-E2,respectively).The tyrosine hydroxylase(TH)expression in DA neurons was observed by Western blotting at 15,30 and 60 min after the intervention.Results The expression of TH in the 1.0×10-9 mol/L 17β-E2 treatment group was the highest,which was significantly different as compared with that in the control group(P＜0.05); increasing or decreasing the concentration of 17β-E2 could not regulate the expression of TH; in the 1.0×10-9 mol/L 17β-E2 treatment group,TH expression at 15 min after intervention enjoyed the highest level; the TH expression could not increase by extending the time.Conclusion The 17β-E2 treatment at certain concentration(1.0×10-9 mol/L)for certain time(15 min)has a protective effect on injuried DA neurons

OBJECTIVETo study the expression ratio of AML1-ETO9a (AE9a) isoform in t(8;21) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and its clinical significance.

METHODSBone marrow samples from 44 newly diagnosed t(8;21) AML patients co-expressed AE9a and AE were screened by RT-PCR. The alteration of the AE9a expression ratio was monitored during follow-up by using quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qPCR).

RESULTSThe expression level of AE9a was markedly lower than that of AE in these patients. There was a positive correlation between the expression level of AE9a and AE in most of bone marrow samples. The transcript level of both AE9a and AE was decreased in the 44 patients after one course of standard chemotherapy, but the percentage of AE9a expression level was increased in comparison with that before treatment (P < 0.05). After one course of standard chemotherapy treatment, the percentage of AE9a in incomplete remission (ICR) patients was significantly higher than that in CR patients (P < 0.05). Relapsed patients had a higher AE9a ratio than the unrelapsed patients (P < 0.05). During the remission, the percentage of AE9a in 11/17 relapsed patients obviously elevated even while the expression of AE fusion gene at low level.

CONCLUSIONSAE9a and AE co-expressed in most of AML patients with t(8;21) translocation. The expression level of AE9a was lower than that of AE, and there is a positive correlation between the expression level of these two isoforms. The sensitivity of AE9a gene to the standard chemotherapy is less than that of the AE fusion gene. Monitoring the AE9a to AE ratio during the CR can predict the early relapse of the disease compared to monitoring the AE alone.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; genetics ; Protein Isoforms ; genetics ; RUNX1 Translocation Partner 1 Protein ; Translocation, Genetic ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDDiabetes has become one of the most common chronic diseases and the third leading cause of death in China. Many programs have been initiated at national and local levels to address the illness. However, the effect of these programs in daily outpatient clinics is still unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the management status of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and factors associated with it in diabetes clinics of tertiary hospitals in Beijing.

METHODSA cross-sectional survey was conducted in six tertiary hospitals in Beijing. Control criteria were defined based on 2007 China guideline for type 2 diabetes (CGT2D).

RESULTSA sample of 1151 patients, age (60.8 ± 9.2) years, and with a median disease duration of 7.3 years was included. The hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) mean level was (7.15 ± 1.50)%, the percentage of patients achieving the targets for HbA1c was 37.8%, blood pressure 65.6%, triglyceride (TG) 48.8%, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) 59.2%, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) 34.0%, and total cholesterol (TC) 42.0%. The factors independently associated with glycemic control were diabetes duration (odds ratio (OR) = 0.95; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.919 - 0.982, P < 0.01), body mass index (BMI) (OR = 0.914, 95%CI: 0.854 - 0.979, P = 0.01) and smoking (OR = 0.391, 95%CI: 0.197 - 0.778, P < 0.01). The factors independently associated with blood pressure control were BMI (OR = 0.915, 95%CI: 0.872 - 0.960, P < 0.01) and male gender (OR = 0.624, 95%CI: 0.457 - 0.852, P < 0.01). The factor independently associated with LDL control was education level (OR = 1.429, 95%CI: 1.078 - 1.896, P = 0.013).

CONCLUSIONSThe management status of T2DM patients in tertiary hospitals in Beijing has improved remarkably. However, there is still room for further improvement to reach the guideline target. Long diabetes duration, high BMI, smoking, male gender and low education level were independently associated with poor metabolic control.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Blood Pressure ; China ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; metabolism ; Female ; Glycated Hemoglobin A ; metabolism ; Hospitals ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Lipoproteins, HDL ; blood ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Triglycerides ; blood ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDDrug susceptibility assay is very important in tuberculosis therapy. Pyrazinamide is a first line antituberculosis drug and diagnosis of its resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) is difficult and time consuming by conventional methods. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the performance of the microscopic observation drug susceptibility (MODS) assay in the detection of pyrazinamide resistance in M. tuberculosis relative to the conventional Wayne assay and Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ) proportion method.

METHODSM. tuberculosis clinical isolates (n = 132) were tested by the MODS and the Wayne assay: the results were compared with those obtained by the LJ proportion method. Mutations in the gene were identified by direct sequencing of the pncA genes of all isolates in which pyrazinamide resistance was detected by any of the three methods.

RESULTSCompared to the LJ results, the sensitivity and specificity of the MODS assay were 97.8% and 96.5% respectively; the sensitivity and specificity of the Wayne assay were 87.0% and 97.7% respectively. Mutations in the pncA gene were found in 41 of 46 strains that were pyrazinamide resistant (3 tests), in 1 of the 4 strains (LJ only), in 42 of 48 strains (at least 1 test), but no mutations in 1 strain sensitive according to the MODS assay only. The MODS assay, Wayne assay and LJ proportion method provided results in a median time of 6, 7 and 26 days respectively.

CONCLUSIONSMODS assay offers a rapid, simple and reliable method for the detection of pyrazinamide resistance in M. tuberculosis and is an optimal alternative method in resource limited countries.

Antitubercular Agents ; pharmacology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Microscopy ; methods ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; drug effects ; Pyrazinamide ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinicopathological features of non-familial colorectal cancer with high-frequency microsatellite instability (MSI-H).

METHODSOne hundred and fifty patients with colorectal cancer who had no family history were enrolled in this study from June 2006 to June 2008. Five standard microsatellite loci including BAT25, BAT26, D2S123, D5S346, and D17S250 were amplified with immunofluorescent polymerase chain reaction. The patient information including age, sex, and tumor location was recorded. Pathological features including differentiation, mucinous differentiation, histological heterogeneity, and Crohn's-like reaction were observed under light microscope. The presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TLs, CD4+ and CD8+) was detected by means of immunohistochemistry. A regression equation was obtained by stepwise logistic regression analysis to evaluate the relationship between MSI-H phenotype in colorectal cancer and pathological features.

RESULTSMSI-H phenotype occurred in 13.33% of the 150 patients with non-familial colorectal cancer. Poor differentiation, histological heterogeneity, Crohn's-like reaction, and presence of TLs were found to be independent factors to identify MSI-H non-familial colorectal cancer. Logistic regression equation showed an overall sensitivity of 70.0%, specificity of 99.2%, and accuracy of 95.3% in identifying MSI-H non-familial colorectal cancer.

CONCLUSIONMSI-H non-familial colorectal cancer manifests specific pathological features, which may be relied upon for effective identification of that disease.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Base Sequence ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; DNA Primers ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical application value of middle segment pancreatectomy in the treatment of benign tumors of the amphi-neck of the pancreas.

METHODSFifteen cases were retrospectively analyzed treated from November 2005 to June 2009. There were 3 male and 12 female aging from 30 to 50 years. They all received middle segment pancreatectomy for benign tumors of the amphi-neck of the pancreas.

RESULTSThere was no death during perioperative period. All the 15 patients received middle segment pancreatectomy. Fourteen of them received the closure of broken ends of pancreatic head, pancreaticojejunostomy (mono-anastomosis) and the rest one received dipl-anastomosis. Postoperative pathology showed that in the 15 patients, 1 got solid-pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas, 3 got non-functional islet cell tumor, 11 got cystadenoma of pancreas. Three of them got pancreatic fistula and were self cured in 3 months. Follow-up visits to all the patients kept in the following 2 to 45 months. There was no death. No patients got new-onset diabetes and pancreatic pseudocyst. And their tumors were not relapsed.

CONCLUSIONSThere is an exact therapeutic effect of middle segment pancreatectomy for benign tumors of the amphi-neck of the pancreas. The treatment has little function damage to patients' endocrine and external secretion. The incidence rate of pancreatic fistula in middle segment pancreatectomy is higher than that in pancreaticoduodenectomy. As long as the drainage is kept unobstructed, most of the pancreatic fistula can be self cured.

Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatectomy ; methods ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of murine bone marrow endothelial cell conditioned medium (mBMEC-CM) on the growth of yolk sac hematopoietic progenitors.

METHODSThe serum-free mBMEC-CM was obtained from subcultures of murine endothelial cell line derived from bone marrow which was established in our laboratory. The murine yolk sacs were harvested on day 8.5 postcoitus (pc) and incubated with 0.1% collagenase in 10% fetal calf serum at 37 degrees C for 40 minutes. Yolk sac cells were incubated in tissue culture dishes at 37 degrees C for 1 hour. Nonadherent cells were collected for semisolid culture assay of granulocyte-macrophage colony forming unit (CFU-GM) and high proliferative potential-colony forming cell (HPP-CFC) after being cultured in DMEM with 10% mBMEC-CM and 10% FBS for 24 hours. The number of CFU-GM and HPP-CFC was counted at day 7 and day 14 respectively.

RESULTSThe growth of CFU-GM and HPP-CFC was supported by mBMEC-CM with GM-CSF. mBMEC-CM could induce the proliferation and differentiation of yolk sac hematopoietic stem cells and progenitors in liquid culture system. The percentages of CFU-GM and HPP-CFC compared with the 0 hour control were (119.5 +/- 5.7)% and (130.8 +/- 9.8)% respectively after 24 hours liquid culture (P < 0.05). The expansion effects of mBMEC-CM on CFU-GM and HPP-CFC were enhanced by compounded with flt3 ligand (FL) and thrombopoietin (TPO). The percentages of CFU-GM and HPP-CFC compared with the 0 hour control were (132.0 +/- 6.2)% and (176.9 +/- 12.8)% respectively after 24 hours liquid culture (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONMurine bone marrow endothelial cell conditioned medium could support the growth and proliferation of yolk sac hematopoitic stem cells and progenitors, and this promoting effect was further enhanced by addition of FL and TPO.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Division ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media, Serum-Free ; Endothelium ; cytology ; Female ; Hematopoiesis ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Male ; Mice ; Yolk Sac ; cytology