120 strains of endophytic bacteria identified by ERIC-PCR were isolated from wild and cultivated Glycyrrhiza uralensis plants which collected from Erdos Innermongolia province.The identified results indicated that Glycyrrhiza uralensis plants has plenty of endophytic bacterium in density and population,and the density is higher in root and leave than in stem.Partial sequence analysis of 16S rDNA gene of 82 strains indicated that these strains were in a high similarity with 19 known genus which belong to?、?、 ?-Proteobacteria、Firmicutes and Actinobacteria.The dominant genus were Bacillus sp.,Pseudomonas sp., Pantoea sp.and Serratia sp..

98 endophytic bacteria strains were isolated from different internal tissues of Glycyrrhiza uralensis plants collected from Innermongolia region. Results indicated that the population densities of endophytic bacteria ranged from 5.0?104cfu/g～2.9?107cfu/g fresh weight although it varied depending on tissue of the plant. Among these strains, Bacillus sp. was the most prevalent endophytic bacterium, which was amount to 30%.Of the 98 isolates, 6 strains exhibited extensive antagonistic activities against pathogenic bacteria. Characterization showed that these bacteria were Bacillus atrophaeus、Paenibacillus polymyxa、Bacillus subtilis、Paenibacillus ehimensis. This study indicated that selected 6 endophytic bacteria strains have potential for biological control of plant disease.

To investigate the difference between the functions of oxygen uptake in skeletal muscle and living habits of plateau zokor (Myospalax rufescens baileyi) and plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniac), the microvessel densities (MVD) of skeletal muscle of plateau zokor, plateau pika and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat were measured by immunohistochemical staining; the numerical density on area (N(A)) of mitochondria, and surface density (S(V), external surface area density of mitochondria per unit volume of skeletal muscle fiber) were obtained by stereo microscope technique; mRNA levels of myoglobin (Mb) in skeletal muscle were determined by real-time PCR, and the contents of Mb protein in skeletal muscle were determined by spectro-photometer. The results showed that MVD, N(A) and S(V) of mitochondria in skeletal muscle of plateau pika were significantly lower than those of plateau zokor and SD rat (P<0.05). The mRNA levels of Mb gene in skeletal muscle of plateau zokor and plateau pika were notably higher than that of SD rat (P<0.05). There were significant differences in the contents of Mb among these three species, and plateau zokor and SD rat presented the highest and the lowest value, respectively (P<0.05). The results suggest that even though plateau zokor inhabits in the hypoxia environment, most of its skeletal muscle fiber are red muscle fiber. While most of skeletal muscle fibers of plateau pika are white muscle fibers. This kind of white muscle has low MVD, N(A) and S(V) of mitochondria and less content of Mb compared with the red one, suggesting it obtains most energy from aerobic oxidation. The above-mentioned differences in skeletal muscles may be related to not only the different species, but also the different living habits of these two high altitude species.
Animals ; Hypoxia ; Lagomorpha ; physiology ; Microvessels ; physiology ; Mitochondria, Muscle ; physiology ; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal ; physiology ; Muscle, Skeletal ; blood supply ; physiology ; Myoglobin ; metabolism ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rodentia ; physiology

Plateau zokor (Myospalax baileyi) and plateau pika (Ochotona curzniae) are native to the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. To study their adaptive mechanisms, the ratios of heart weight to body weight (HW/BW) and right to left ventricular plus septum weights [RV/(LV+S)] were determined; the microvessel density (MVD) of cardiac muscle were measured by immunohistochemical staining; the numerical density on area (N(A)), volume density (V(V)), specific surface (δ), and surface density (S(V)) of mitochondria were obtained by microscopy and stereology; the contents of myoglobin (Mb) and lactic acid (LD), and the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in cardiac muscle were analyzed by spectrophotometer. The results showed that the HW/BW of plateau zokor [(4.55±0.26)%] and plateau pika [(4.41±0.38)%] was significantly greater than that of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat [(3.44±0.41)%] (P<0.05), but the RV/(LV+S) [(22.04±1.98)%, (25.53±3.41)%] was smaller than that of SD rats [(44.23±3.87)%] (P<0.05). The MVD and N(A) of cardiac muscle were 1688.631±250.253 and 0.768±0.123 in SD rat, 2002.888±367.466 and 0.868±0.159 in plateau pika and 2 990.643±389.888 and 1.012±0.133 in plateau zokor. The V(V) of mitochondria in plateau zokor (0.272±0.045) was significantly lower than that in plateau pika (0.343±0.039) and SD rat (0.321±0.048) (P<0.05), while the δ of mitochondria in plateau zokor (9.409±1.238) was higher than that in plateau pika (6.772±0.892) and SD rat (7.287±1.373) (P<0.05). The S(V) of mitochondria in plateau pika (2.322±0.347) was not obviously different from that in plateau zokor (2.468±0.380) and SD rat (2.227±0.377), but that in plateau zokor was significantly higher than that in SD rat (P<0.05). The contents of Mb in cardiac muscle of plateau zokor [(763.33±88.73) nmol/g] and plateau pika [(765.96±28.47) nmol/g] were significantly higher than that of SD rat [(492.38±72.14) nmol/g] (P<0.05), the content of LD in plateau zokor [(0.57±0.06) mmol/L] was obviously higher than that in plateau pika [(0.45±0.06) mmol/L] and SD rat [(0.48±0.02) mmol/L] (P<0.05), and the activity of LDH in plateau zokor [(16.90±2.00) U/mL] and plateau pika [(20.55±2.46) U/mL] were significantly lower than that in SD rat [(38.26±6.78) U/mL] (P<0.05). The percentage of LDH-H in cardiac muscle decreased in order in plateau zokor, plateau pika and SD rat. In conclusion, plateau zokor and plateau pika adapt better to hypoxia than SD rat by increasing the SV of mitochondria, MVD and content of Mb in the cardiac muscle. However, the parameters of mitochondria in the two high-altitude animals are different possibly because of the differences of habitats and habits.
Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Heart ; physiology ; Hypoxia ; metabolism ; Isoenzymes ; metabolism ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Lagomorpha ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tibet

Objective To compare diagnostic value of ~(18)F-fluoredeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT with contrast-enhanced CT in detecting primary hepatic carcinoma and postoperative recurrence.Methods Twenty-five cases of primary hepatic carcinoma or postoperative recurrent tumor underwent whole-body ~(18)F-FDG PET/CT and contrast-enhanced CT within one week's interval.They were retrospectively reviewed and the difierences between these two modalities were investigated.Results Of these 25 cases,there were 13 cases with primary hepatocellular carcinoma.1 case with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and 11 cases with postoperative recurrence.The sensitivity of 18 F-FDG PET/CT and contrast-enhanced CT in diagnosing primary hepatic carcinoma was 78.6%(11/14) and 92.9%(13/14),and sensitivity in diagnosing postoperative recurrent was 100.0%(11/11) and 63.6%(7/11) respectively.Conclusion Contrast-enhanced CT may have a slight advantage over PET/CT in detecting primary hepatic carcinoma,but ~(18)F-FDG PET/CT combined with contrast-enhanced CT has even greater accuracy.Meanwhile,~(18)F-FDG PET/CT has better diagnostic accuracy in detection of postoperative recurrent tumor.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of interleukin 6 gene (IL-6) promoter region 634C/G (rs1800796) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) with the genetic susceptibility to endometriosis (Ems) in south Han Chinese women.

METHODSA case-control study was performed in 432 Ems patients and 499 control women to evaluate the SNP of IL-6 634C/G by using a fluorescent quantitative PCR-based high resolution melting (HRM) method.

RESULTSThere were statistical significances in the IL-6 634C/G alleles, whether or not to carry allele G and genotype distributions between Ems patients and control women (P=0.032, 0.014 and 0.045, respectively). Allele C enhanced the risk of Ems 1.057 times while allele G reduced the risk of Ems 0.835 time. Carrying allele G reduced the risk of Ems 0.822 time, whereas not carrying allele G enhanced the risk of Ems 1.143 times. Compared with genotype CC, the risk of Ems with genotype CG reduced 0.704 time (95% CI: 0.533-0.931). There was no significant difference in whether or not carrying allele G distribution between Ems patients and control women (P=0.729).

CONCLUSIONThe present study demonstrated significant association between the SNP of IL-6 634C/G and genetic susceptibility to Ems in south Han Chinese women.

Alleles ; Case-Control Studies ; Endometriosis ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo compare the diagnostic value of (18)F-FDG PET-CT with abdomen contrast CT in the diagnosis of peritoneal metastases.

METHODSBetween January 2008 and May 2011, imaging results of 97 patients with suspicious peritoneal metastases were retrospectively reviewed, and all the patients underwent both abdomen contrast CT and (18)F-FDG PET-CT imaging. Final diagnosis was made by histopathology or follow up.

RESULTSSeventy-seven patients were verified as peritoneal metastases after pathological examination(n=88) or follow up(n=9), while the other 20 patients were absent. The sensitivity of (18)F-FDG PET-CT was 90.9%(70/77), the specificity 85.0%(17/20), and the accuracy 89.7%(87/97). There were 3 false positive and 7 false negative. The sensitivity of contrast CT was 66.2%(51/77), the specificity 80.0%(16/20), and the accuracy 69.1%(67/97). There were 4 false positive and 26 false negative. The difference in diagnostic accuracy was statistically significantly between these two methods(P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe diagnostic value of (18)F-FDG PET-CT is significantly higher than that of abdominal enhanced CT for peritoneal metastases.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peritoneal Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; secondary ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

To explore the adaptive mechanisms of plateau zokor (Myospalax baileyi) to the enduring digging activity in the hypoxic environment and of plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) to the sprint running activity, the functional differences of malate-aspartate shuttle system (MA) in liver of plateau zokor and plateau pika were studied. The ratio of liver weight to body weight, the parameters of mitochondria in hepatocyte and the contents of lactic acid in serum were measured; the open reading frame of cytoplasmic malate dehydrogenase (MDH1), mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase (MDH2), and the partial sequence of aspartate glutamate carrier (AGC) and oxoglutarate malate carrier (OMC) genes were cloned and sequenced; MDH1, MDH2, AGC and OMC mRNA levels were determined by real-time PCR; the specific activities of MDH1 and MDH2 in liver of plateau zokor and plateau pika were measured using enzymatic methods. The results showed that, (1) the ratio of liver weight to body weight, the number and the specific surface of mitochondria in hepatocyte of plateau zokor were markedly higher than those of plateau pika (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), but the content of lactic acid in serum of plateau pika was significantly higher than that of plateau zokor (P < 0.01); (2) MDH1 and MDH2 mRNA levels as well as their enzymatic activities in liver of plateau zokor were significantly higher than those of plateau pika (P < 0.01 or 0.05), AGC mRNA level of the zokor was significantly higher than that of the pika (P < 0.01), while no difference was found at OMC mRNA level between them (P > 0.05); (3) mRNA level and enzymatic activity of MDH1 was significantly lower than those of MDH2 in the pika liver (P < 0.01), MDH1 mRNA level of plateau zokor was markedly higher than that of MDH2 (P < 0.01), but the activities had no difference between MDH1 and MDH2 in liver of the zokor (P > 0.05). These results indicate that the plateau zokor obtains ATP in the enduring digging activity by enhancing the function of MA, while plateau pika gets glycogen for their sprint running activity by increasing the process of gluconeogenesis. As a result, plateau pika converts the lactic acid quickly produced in their skeletal muscle by anaerobic glycolysis and reduces dependence on the oxygen.
Adaptation, Physiological ; physiology ; Adenosine Triphosphate ; metabolism ; Altitude ; Animals ; Aspartic Acid ; metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; analysis ; metabolism ; Lactic Acid ; blood ; Lagomorpha ; classification ; physiology ; Liver ; anatomy & histology ; physiology ; Malate Dehydrogenase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Malates ; metabolism ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEThe traditional decoction method of Dachengqi Tang is that "First boiling Magnolia officinalis and Citrus aurantium with a pipeful of water, taking out five litres from the decoction, removing residues, adding rheum officinale, boiling again, taking out two litres from it, removing residues, adding mirabilite, boiling it with low fire". According to it, residues of M. officinalis and C. aurantium should be removed after decocting. This essay aims to study the content of anthraquinones, in order to proof whether the removal of residues of M. officinalis and C. aurantium is scientific.

METHODThe traditional method was adopted to prepare Dachengqi Tang. Decoction A (original method) was obtained by removing residues of M. officinalis and C. aurantium, whereas decoction B was obtained without removing residues of M. officinalis and C. aurantium. The content of anthraquinones of both methods was determined with HPLC.

RESULTThe content of both combined and free anthraquinones in decoction A was higher than that of decoction B. The content of total anthraquinones in residues of decoction A was lower than that of residue B.

CONCLUSIONThe traditional decoction method of removing residues of M. officinalis and C. aurantium from Dachengqi Tang is scientific, because it improves the dissolution rate of effective ingredients, which provides a theoretical basis for effective substances of the drug.

Anthraquinones ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Citrus ; chemistry ; Drug Compounding ; Magnolia ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; Reproducibility of Results

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in cytochrome P450 17 (CYP17) and estrogen receptor alpha (ERα ) genes with the risk of endometriosis among southern Chinese women.

METHODSTwo SNPs rs743572 (CYP17 gene 34T/C) and rs9322331 (ERα gene -397T/C) were genotyped by high resolution melting curve in 432 endometriosis patients and 499 matched controls.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference in the genotype frequencies of the two loci between endometriosis patients and the control subjects (P> 0.05). And there was no significant interaction effect of these two genes on the disease either.

CONCLUSIONCYP17 gene and ERα gene may not be genetic risk factors for endometriosis among southern women in China.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Endometriosis ; genetics ; Estrogen Receptor alpha ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Risk Factors ; Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase ; genetics