Molecular technologies are sensitive, fast, and cheap in the study on microbial ecology. However, these methods do not provide information about morphology, number, and spatial distribution of the microorganisms. In contrast, Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) combines the precision of molecular biology with the visual information from microscope, and permits visualization and identification of individual miciobial cells within their natural habitat. FISH not only allows the detection of slow growing microorganisms, but also of yet-to-be cultured. It is useful for many applications in diagnosis and assessment of the population structure of complex microbial communities, and is a powerful tool for molecular ecology studies in microbiology, In this paper, major techniques and progresses of FTSH were described. Its application in microbial ecology, as well as problems , pitfalls, and perspectives of FISH are discussed.

A bacterial strain which could grow well on the substrate of PAEs as the sole source of carbon and energy was isolated from contaminated sludge in the river of WeiFang in ShangDong province and it was designated as JDC-3. Based on the morphology,biophysical and biochemical properties as well as molecular characteristics,this isolate was preliminarily identified as Delftia sp.. A fragment of phthalate dioxygenase gene was successfully amplified from the genus of Delftia for the first time using a set of degenerate primers. Meanwhile,the degradation capability of JDC-3 was determined by HPLC using DMP as test substrate. The results showed that the optimal pH and temperature were at 7.0～8.0 and 30?C～35?C respectively. The degradation kinetics of JDC-3 was studied in different initial DMP concentration under optimal conditions. The results indicated that the degradation dynamic equation was ln C =-0.06837 t + A when DMP concentration was lower than 300 mg/L,with half life of 12.48 h. The degradation rate decreased and half life of JDC-3 prolonged as the initial concentration kept on increasing.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; therapy ; United States

This paper reports the surface morphology and I-V curves of porous silicon (PS) samples and related devices. The observed fabrics on the PS surface were found to affect the electrical property of PS devices. When the devices were operated under different external bias (10 V or 3 V) for 10 min, their observed obvious differences in electrical properties may be due to the different control mechanisms in the Al/PS interface and PS matrix morphology.
Electrochemistry ; instrumentation ; methods ; Electrodes ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Gold ; chemistry ; Materials Testing ; Molecular Conformation ; Porosity ; Silicon ; chemistry ; Surface Properties

Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; methods ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVETo establish rabbit model of scoliosis induced with stable asymmetric lumbar loads.

METHODSScoliosis was induced in 10 two-month-old New Zealand rabbits using 316L stainless steel springs placed between the unilateral transverse processes of L2 and L5. Serial radiographs were documented before and at 1, 4, 8, 9 and 12 weeks after the operation. At weeks, the rabbits were randomly divided into SR group (n=5) with the spring removed and SK group (n=5) without spring removal.

RESULTSAll the rabbits survived the experiment with Cobb angle all greater than 10 degree at the end of the experiment. Significant changes were found in the Cobb angles and kyphotic angles at 1, 4 and 8 weeks after the operation (P<0.05). At 8 weeks, the Cobb angle, the kyphotic angle and the length of the spring were similar between SR and SK groups (P>0.05), and in the 4 weeks following spring removal in SR group, the Cobb angle and the kyphosis decreased significantly compared with those in SK group (P<0.05). Micro-CT showed that the BV/TV of the concave side was greater than that of the convex side. The length of the spring did not show obvious changes during the experiment (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAsymmetric lumbar loading is a convenient, time-saving, and highly reproducible approach for establishing rabbit models of scoliosis.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Rabbits ; Scoliosis ; physiopathology ; Spine ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features of uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC) and the roles of adjuvant therapy.

METHODSSixty-one cases of UPSC with operation done and followed up for a period of 4 to 9 years were enrolled into the study. The histology of slides specimens were reviewed and immunohistochemical study was performed. The follow-up and survival data were analyzed.

RESULTSAll of the 61 patients were post-menopausal, with a median age of 68 years. The clinical presentations included abnormal vaginal bleeding, abdominal symptoms and abnormal Pap smears. The median size of the tumors was 7.5 cm (range=1.2 to 14.8 cm). There were 27.9% cases in FIGO stage I (8.2% in stage IA, 14.8% in stage IB and 4.9% in stage IC), 9.8% in stage II, 32.8% in stage III and 29.5% in FIGO stage IV. The histologic features were similar to those of the ovarian counterpart, with tumor cells containing the high-grade nuclei and arranged in complex papillae. Psammoma bodies were identified in 24.6% of the cases. Immunohistochemical study showed that the tumor cells demonstrated diffuse and strong nuclear staining for p53 and Ki-67. They were negative for estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor. Fifteen of the 61 cases (24.6%) showed no evidence of myometrial invasion. However, ten of the 15 cases had extrauterine disease, with peritoneal (6/15) and nodal (9/15) involvement. Tumors with deep myometrial invasion, lymphovascular permeation and nodal metastasis were associated with worse prognosis by univariate analysis. Fifty-six patients received adjuvant therapy. The number of patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy alone, adjuvant radiotherapy alone and combined adjuvant chemotherapy/radiotherapy were 42, 24 and 10, respectively. The median survivals of the chemotherapy group and non-chemotherapy group (with or without radiotherapy) were 66.4 months and 32.8 months, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSUPSC has distinctive clinical and pathologic features. The tumor stage, lymph node status, lymphovascular permeation and depth of myometrial invasion were important prognostic factors. Adjuvant chemotherapy for stage III/IV tumors or recurrent UPSC may have survival benefit.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Menopause ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Paclitaxel ; administration & dosage ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Survival Rate ; Uterine Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of continuous traction in treating unstable distal radius fracture.

METHODSThirty patients with unstable distal radius fractures were treated by diaplastic external fixator including 4 males and 26 females with an average age of 61 years ranging from 18 to 85 years. According to AO classification, 12 cases were type A3, 3 were type B2, 8 were type C1, 4 were type C2, 3 were type C3. The distance of the processus radial malleolus and ulnar articularis were measured through X-ray examination.

RESULTSThirty patients were followed-up for 6 to 15 months with an average of 11.2 months. The results of distance before treatment measuring in X-ray was (0.55+/-0.22) cm, and the distance after treatment was (1.07+/-0.23) cm. The distance after treatment was higher than the distance before treatment, there were significant difference between them (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONContinuous traction by diaplastic external fixator can explain by the theory of tendon reinforced bone and ligament restoration, or distraction osteogenesis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; External Fixators ; utilization ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Fracture Healing ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Radius Fractures ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Range of Motion, Articular ; physiology ; Recovery of Function ; Traction ; methods ; Treatment Outcome ; X-Rays ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of atorvastatin on expressions of scavenger receptor A and secretion of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in foam cells.

METHODSTHP-1 cells were induced to differentiate into macrophages by PMA and treated with 0.1% BSA (control), ox-LDL (100 mg/L) or ox-LDL plus atorvastatin (5, 10, 20 micromol/L) for 24 hours. MCP-1 concentration in cell substratum was measured by ELISA. Scavenger receptor A expression was observed under fluorescent microscope after incubated with DiI-Ac-LDL. The relationship between concentration of MCP-1 and the activity of scavenger receptor A was also analyzed.

RESULTSCompared to the control cells, MCP-1 concentration in ox-LDL treated cells was significantly increased after 6 hours, peaked at 12 hours and was still significantly increased after 24 hours (all P < 0.05 vs. baseline). The activity of scavenger receptor A was also significantly increased in ox-LDL treated cells (P < 0.01 vs. control). The activity of scavenger receptor A proteins correlated positively to the concentration of MCP-1 in ox-LDL treated cells (r = 0.683, P < 0.01). Atorvastatin significantly attenuated these changes in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONSScavenger receptor A and MCP-1 expressions were significantly increased in the course of monocyte lines THP-1 differentiating into macrophages and foam cells. The anti-atherosclerosis effect of atorvastatin might be partly achieved by inhibiting the secretion of MCP-1 and expression of scavenger receptor A in foam cells.

Atorvastatin Calcium ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Line ; Chemokine CCL2 ; metabolism ; Foam Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Heptanoic Acids ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Monocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Pyrroles ; pharmacology ; Scavenger Receptors, Class A ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEEnriching the hemostatic active part total iridoid glycosides from the aqueous extract of herbal Lamiophlomis rotata.

METHODFirst derivative spectrophotometry was used as the detection method and the content of total iridoid glycosides was used as tracking target. The abilities of absorption and anti-absorption of ten different types of macroreticular resin were compared, after being used to absorb the iridoid glycosides from aqueous extract of herbal L. rotata. The best purification process was optimized.

RESULTWith the optimized purification process, the content of total iridoid glycosides was 67.53%.

CONCLUSIONXDA-1 macroreticular resin has good ability of absorption and anti-absorption for iridoid glycosides and 50% ethanol was the best solvent for anti-absorption. The macroreticular resin could be reused.

Glycosides ; isolation & purification ; Iridoids ; isolation & purification ; Lamiaceae ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Resins, Synthetic ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods