Animals ; Central Nervous System ; radiation effects ; Humans ; Mice ; Microwaves ; Rats

Ethanol can be produced from lignocellulose by first hydrolysing the material to sugars,including hexose,and pentose,and then fermenting the hydrolysate to ethanol.Hydrolysis using dilute-acid has advantages over other methods.However,compounds which inhibit fermentation are generated during this kind of hydrolysis.Therefore,it is important to focus on microorganisms metabolizing xylose and tolerating/decomposing inhibitors,on detoxification methods of hydroly- sates with low-cost and facilitated to scale-up,and different fermentation modes in ethanol production from hydrolysate.This review summarized the advance in above aspects.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of septoplasty or in combination with out fracture of the inferior turbinate in patients with nasal septum deviation on the airflow field and the nasal airway structure.

METHODSSix patients with nasal septum deviation underwent spiral CT imaging scans before surgery and during the follow-up. The 3D finite element meshes of the nasal airway were developed from the above CT scans. Given three preconditions, the nasal airflow fields were described by the Navier-Stokes and continuity equations at the inspiratory flow rate of 12 L/min. The whole airflow patterns were obtained and then compared with the airflow filed and airway structure changes before and after surgery. SPSS 12.0 software was used to analyze the data.

RESULTSBefore surgery, area of the common airway and the middle and ventral medial regions in the concave side were (1.61 ± 0.18), (0.40 ± 0.10), (0.40 ± 0.14) cm(2) respectively, and those of convex side were (1.30 ± 0.18), (0.33 ± 0.05), (0.36 ± 0.10) cm(2) respectively. The differences between both sides were of no statistical significance (Z value was 1.782, 1.363, 0.526 respectively, all P > 0.05). Airflow of the above airways were (361 ± 68), (131 ± 25), (100 ± 28) ml respectively in concave side and (178 ± 33), (59 ± 26), (59 ± 18) ml respectively in convex side, which differences were significant statistically (Z value were 2.207, 2.201, 2.201 respectively, all P < 0.05). The inferior turbinate in concave side [(0.93 ± 0.10) cm] was statistically (Z = 2.214, P < 0.05) bigger than that in convex side [(0.58 ± 0.12) cm] before surgery. The airflow fields were in disorder in both ill-airways. After surgery, area of the common airway was (2.55 ± 0.44) cm(2) in concave side and (2.20 ± 0.72) cm(2) in convex side respectively, and area of the middle and ventral medial regions in the convex side were (0.58 ± 0.13), (0.81 ± 0.26) cm(2) respectively, which differences were of significance statistically when comparing to areas before surgery (Z value were 2.201, 2.201, 2.201, 2.201, P < 0.05). The airflow passed through nasal airway orderly in both sides. But the thickness of inferior turbinate was (0.73 ± 0.08) cm in concave side after surgery, which difference was significant statistically in comparison to that before surgery (Z = 2.264, P < 0.05). Consequently, nasal resistance decreased from (0.41 ± 0.03) kPa×L(-1)×s(-1) to (0.16 ± 0.01) kPa×L(-1)×s(-1) after surgery, the difference was significantly (Z = -2.207, P = 0.027).

CONCLUSIONSeptoplasty or in combination with out fracture of the inferior turbinate, followed by the self-adaptation consecutively, could improve the airway and breathing capacity of the nose.

Adult ; Air Movements ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Nasal Cavity ; physiology ; Nasal Obstruction ; surgery ; Nasal Septum ; surgery ; Respiration ; Treatment Outcome ; Turbinates ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the airflow in nasal cavity by reconstructing 20 volunteers' nasal cavity models and numerical simulation of the flow field in these nasal cavity models.

METHODSBased on the data from the CT images, 20 volunteers' nasal cavity models were reconstructed by the method of surface rendering. The flow field in these three-dimensional models were simulated with finite element method. Some of these volunteers were tested by means of acoustic rhinometry and the test results recorded. Comparisons were performed for the curves from acoustic rhinometry and the results of numerical simulations. The simulation results were explained with the fluid network theory.

RESULTSThe airflow distribution in the nasal cavity model could be acquired from the simulation results of the velocity plot. Main airflow would pass through the common nasal meatus in which flux accounted for 50% - 77% of overall flux. The pressure value at any point in the nasal cavity model could be obtained from the results of the pressure plot. The nasal airway resistance in the region of limen nasi accounted for 50% - 65% of overall nasal airway resistance. Comparing the test results with the simulation results the relation could be understood between the change of the cross-section area of nasal cavities and the plot of numerical simulation results of velocity and pressure in airflow field in the nasal cavity models.

CONCLUSIONSComparing the simulated results of the 20 volunteers' nasal cavity model it can be concluded that the distribution of airflow in nasal cavities is not stationary. The differences among everybody's nasal cavity structure lead to the different airflow distribution in the nasal cavities.

Adult ; Airway Resistance ; Computer Simulation ; Female ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Male ; Models, Anatomic ; Nasal Cavity ; anatomy & histology ; diagnostic imaging ; Radiography

OBJECTIVETo recognize the clinical features of the bronchiolitis obliterans.

METHODClinical manifestation, chest X-ray, computed tomography (CT) and pulmonary function of 4 cases with bronchiolitis obliterans were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTTwo cases were after Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), the other 2 were after severe pneumonia, including one suffered from adenovirus pneumonia. Cough, tachypnea and wheezing persisted in all the 4 patients. The symptoms lasted for at least 6 weeks, in one case for over one year. Crackles and wheezing were present in all the 4 cases. Hyperinflation was seen in chest radiographs in all cases. On pulmonary CT/high-resolution CT (HRCT), patchy opacity and bronchial wall thickening were seen in each patient. Areas of air trapping were seen in three cases. Bronchiectasis was seen in 2 cases, atelectasis and mosaic perfusion were seen respectively in one case. PO(2) was low in all the four cases. Wheezing was not responsive to beta(2) agonist and other bronchodilating therapy. Prednisone was used at a dose of 1 mg/(kg.d) in 3 cases. Two cases were followed up for 3 months. The clinical condition of one case was improved, whose wheezing and bronchiolar constriction disappeared, cough and dyspnea were also relieved. However, the condition of one patient was not improved, although the wheezing disappeared. The HRCT of these two cases showed no improvement.

CONCLUSIONClinical symptoms of BO were cough, tachypnea, and wheezing after acute lung injury. Crackles and wheezing were the most common signs in the BO. Chest radiographs showed hyperinflation. Pulmonary CT showed bronchial wall thickening, bronchiectasis, atelectasis, and mosaic perfusion. Pulmonary function tests suggested obstruction of small airway.

Bronchiolitis Obliterans ; etiology ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Pneumonia ; complications ; Pneumonia, Viral ; complications ; Prognosis ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome ; complications ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The experience with the umbilical cord blood (UCB) stem cells for unrelated transplantation from our 3 000 UCB storage was described. UCB, collected from closed blood bags, were mixed with hydroxyethyl starch for nucleated cell (NC) enrichment. After finishing CD34 analysis, culture of hematopoietic progenitors (CFU-GM and CFU-GEMM) assays, microbial culture, HLA Class I (A, B) serology and class II (DR) low resolution SSP typing, cord blood units are stored in the liquid nitrogen for clinical applicatoin. Cord blood contained an average of nuclear cell (NC) (1.2 +/- 0.6) x 10(9), CD34(+) cells (3.0 +/- 3.7) x 10(6), CFU-GM (1.1 +/- 0.7) x 10(6) and CFU-GEMM (1.1 +/- 1.2) x 10(6) for storage and the recovery rates were 91%, 88%, 85% and 82%, respectively. The recovery rates for red blood cell and Hb were (39 +/- 9)% and (40 +/- 8)%, respectively. The storage volume was (35.1 +/- 7.1) ml in a 50 ml storage bags. The mean time from collection to processing of 15 hours (range 4 - 24 hours) had no influence on cell viability. The cell viability before processing is more than 95% and 92% after UCB thawing. The recovery rates of NC, CD34(+) cells and CFU-GM post-thawing were 96%, 90% and 91%, respectively. There were no HIV antibody (HIVAb) positive in all of UCB units. For an incidence of processed samples, infection with syphilis, HBsAg, HBcAb, HCVAb, CMV, bacterial contamination and abnormal hemoglobin were 0.1%, 0.8%, 3.2%, 0.2%, 87.1%, 1.2% and 0.1%, respectively. More than 3 HLA loci matched can be found for random patients in our cord blood bank and 6 HLA loci matched have 5%. For transplantation with nucleated cell counts of > 2.7 x 10(7) cells/kg, our cord blood bank will be able to provide all of the umbilical cord blood stem cell samples for children and 50% of units can be used for some of adult recipients transplantation in the country. It is concluded that: (1) The large cord blood banking for 20 000 UCB storage is feasible in China. (2) Our system of whole procedure and methods is functionable for supplying qualified cord blood units in transplantation. (3) The volume for collection is critical to the yield of CD34(+) cells or hematopoietic progenitor cells, however cord blood NC is also important and proportional with CD34(+) cells. Only the units containing more than 8 x 10(8) cells and more than 60 ml of cord blood can be in the procession for storage.

BACKGROUNDTo clarify the features of gene variation among epidemic strains of human rotavirus NSP4 in China.

METHODSSP4 genes from 27 epidemic strains of human rotavirus isolated in different area of China in recent years were amplified with RT-PCR, the resulted cDNAs were cloned and sequenced. The sequences of full length cDNAs were compared with 10 rotavirus NSP4 sequences available in the GenBank using the Clustal x 1.8 TreeView32 and DNA Star softwares. The G serotype of VP7 was analysed by PCR.

RESULTSThe homology of the amino acid among the 27 rotavirus strains isolated in China was 81.7%-99.4%. Based on the variation of amino acid sequence, the virus strains can be divided into two groups, represented by Wa and KUN with the homology of 92.0%-99.4% and 92.0%-98.9% within each group, respectively. The diversity between the two groups were 16.6%-21.0%. The Wa group could further be separated into three subgroups, according to the diversity between those strains and the characterization in the highly variable domain. The association between VP7 serotype and NSP4 genotype was not strong.

CONCLUSIONSThe NSP4 gene of human rotavirus epidemic strains in China can be divided into Wa and KUN two groups, Wa group is the main group and contains three subgroups possessing characteristic amino acid sites. Samples isolated in the same year but not in the same area shared higher homology.

Antigens, Viral ; Capsid Proteins ; genetics ; DNA, Complementary ; analysis ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; Diarrhea ; virology ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Glycoproteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rotavirus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Toxins, Biological ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins ; genetics

To establish a quantitative assay for telomerase activity and analyze the telomerase activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) from patients with acute leukemia, a fluorescent dye, PicoGreen, was added to the products after telomere repeat amplification protocol. The samples were excited at 480 nm and the fluorescence emission intensity was measured at 520 nm using a spectrofluorometer. Telomerase activity was detected in PBMNCs from 20 cases of normal individuals and 25 patients with acute leukemia. The results showed that the fluorescence of PicoGreen binding to double-stranded DNA specifically was enhanced with increase of DNA quantities. In conclusion, the met hod is rapid, simple and quantitative, the telomerase activities of PBMNCs from acute leukemia patients are significantly higher than that of the normal controls.
Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cell Line ; DNA, Neoplasm ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Fluorescent Dyes ; chemistry ; Humans ; Leukemia ; blood ; enzymology ; genetics ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; enzymology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organic Chemicals ; Telomerase ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective:Clonidine,by activating peripheral α-sbrenoceptors, produces transient pressor response after i.v.injection in anesthetized animals.Moxonidine, with at least 40-fold higher affinity to I1-imidazoline receptors than to α2-adrenoceptors,produces also a transient pressor response. This work was designed to investigate whether I1-imidazoline receptors are involved in this pressor effect of moxonidine. Methods:Female spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHRs,aged 14-16 weeks)were anesthetized with urethane.To observe the transient pressor responses,moxonidine 0.1,0.3,1.0mg/kg(intravenous,i.v),2.0μg(intracerebroventricular,i.c.v.)and 1.0,10.0mg/kg(intragastric,i.g.)were administrated in different groups of rats.To evaluate the roles of α1-adrenoceptors,α2-adrenoceptors and I1-imidazoline receptors in the transient pressor responses to moxonidine, prazosin(10.0μg/kg),yohimbine(2.0mg/kg),phentolamine(0.2mg/kg),idazoxan(1.0mg/kg)or yohimbine+idazoxan(2.0mg/kg+1.0mg/kg)were intravenously given to the animals before moxonidine 0.3mg/kg (i.v.).Results:It was found that i.v.moxonidine produced a greater pressor response than clonidine when producing a similar reduction of blood pressure.This effect of moxonidine was not influenced by prazosin, but was partly inhibited by yohimbine, phentolamine or idazoxan,and completely blocked by the combination of yohimbine and idzaxon.Neither i.c.v.injection nor i.g. administration of moxonidine induced transient pressor responses.Conclusion:The transient pressor response of i.v. moxonidine is mediated by both peripheral I1-imidazoline receptors and α2-adrenoceptors.

Objective To study the general mechanical behavior pattern of sensing angular velocity by 3 pairs of human semicircular canals.Methods Sinusoidal head rotation of a healthy subject was simulated by finite element method to analyze the dynamic responses in the above 3 pairs of canals in the left and right inner ear.Results Compared with the complicated node displacement distribution,the volumetric strain distribution of cupula was regular.Specifically,each pair of cupulae expanded or contracted within the same amplitude with the same response frequency to the angular velocity.The ratio of absolute volumetric strain among the horizontal semicircular canal cupula (HC cupula),the anterior semicircular canal cupula (AC cupula),and the posterior semicircular canal cupula (PC cupula),was approximately 1.00∶0.80 ∶ 1.72,which kept constant.In addition,the volumetric strain of HC cupula was in phase with that of AC cupula,but showing 14.4° out of phase with the angular velocity,and 180° out of phase with that of PC cupula.Conclusions The volumetric strain of cupula can preferably characterize the directional coding function of semicircular canal,and the amplitude,frequency and phase of the cupular volumetric strain can encode those of the stimulated angular velocity,respectively.These results will lay the foundation for establishing quantitative relationship of vestibulo-ocular reflex,and provide theoretical references for quantitative assessment for vestibular function by nystagmus examination.