OBJECTIVE To analyze the major reasons of wound infection after external fixator application and then introduce management measures to prevent following wound infections. METHODS Totally 542 patients adopting external fixators between May 2005 and May 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. All the external fixator-related infections were inspected and the excretions from these infected wounds were collected to perform bacterial culturing. RESULTS The total infection rate of these 542 patients after external fixator application was 2.77%. Among them, six were infected with the bacteria in distraction osteogenesis group and the infection rate was 8.82%; three were infected in bone un-union and bone defect group and the infection rate was 5.36%; whilest the common fracture-fixing group got the lowest infection rate of 0.39%. CONCLUSIONS Wire-crossing positions are the most frequently infected sites after external fixation and the drug-resisted bacteria are the most commonly detected pathogens. Thus, increasing the stability of fixators, enhancing the infection supervision of operation environment, draining the wound thoroughly and using antibiotics rationally are the most effective managing measures to prevent external fixator-related infections in orthopedics.

AIM:To study alterations of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) function in vitamin D 3-induced calcium overload rats. METHODS: The Ca-overload rat models were prepared by vitamin D 3 plus nicotine. Cardiac SR was seperated by centrifuging. The measurement of SR Ca 2+ uptake and Ca 2+ release activities were preformed by the Millimore filtration technique. Specific SR [ 3H]-ryanodine binding capacity was measured by radioligand method. RESULTS: Compared with control,myocardial calcium content in calcium overload rats increased by 78%( P

Objective To explore an algorithm to define the threshold value for tumor contouring on 18F-fluorodexyglucose (FDG) PET imaging. Methods A National Electrical Manufacturing Association (NEMA)NU 2 1994 PET phantom with 5 spheres of different diameters were filled with 18F-FDG. Seven different sphere-to-background ratios were obtained and the phantom was scanned by Discovery LS 4. For each sphere-to-background ratio, the maximum standardized uptake value ( SUVmax ) of each sphere, the SUV of the border of each sphere ( SUVborder ), the mean SUV of a 1 cm region of background (SUVbg) and the diameter (D) of each sphere were measured. SPSS 13.0 software was used for curve fitting and regression analysis to obtain the threshold algorithm. The calculated thresholds were applied to delineate 29 pathologically confirmed lung cancer lesions on PET images and the obtained volumes were compared with the volumes contoured on CT images in lung window. Results The algorithm for defining contour threshold is TH% = 33.1% + 46.8% SUVbg/SUVmax + 13.9%/D ( r = 0.994) by phantom studies. For 29 lung cancer lesions, the average gross tumor volumes ( GTV ) delineated on PET and CT are ( 7.36 ± 1.62 ) ml and (8.31 ±2.05) ml, respectively (t = -1.26, P＞0.05). Conclusion The proposed threshold algorithm for tumor contouring on PET image could provide comparable GTV with CT.

Objective To analyze radiation induced alterations of vitronectin and collagen expressions in fibroblasts at different times post-irradiation,so as to evaluate the potential to apply vitronectin as a biomarker of radiation-induced lung fibrosis.Methods The human fibroblast cells WI-38 and IMR-90 were irradiated with 137Cs γ-rays at doses of 0 (control),4,6,8,10 and 12 Gy,respectively.The cells and its supernatant were collected at 6,12,24,36,48 and 60 h post-irradiation.The expressions of vitronectin and collagen Ⅰ and Ⅲ were analyzed by Western blot,PCR and ELISA.Results After irradiation,the expressions of vitronectin and collagen Ⅰ and Ⅲ were positively correlated (r=0.40-0.79,P＜0.05) and were all significantly higher than that in control group (t =3.04-25.45,P ＜0.05) and reached the highest expression levels at 48 h after 8-10 Gy of irradiation (t =2.92-18.86,P ＜ 0.05).Analyses of Real-time PCR and ELISA assay showed that expressions of vitronectin mRNA and its protein level in the cell lysis were significantly increased by radiation (F =27.09-42.62,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The expressions of vitronectin in cellular supernatant and its mRNA may be a potential biomarker of radiation-induced fibrosis,and 48 h after 8 Gy irradiation may be an optimum condition of measurement.

OBJECTIVETo establish and optimize the two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) of uterine leiomyoma for the proteome analysis.

METHODSRun immobilized pH gradient (IPG)-isoelectric focusing electrophoresis as the first dimension, then vertical SDS-PAGE electrophoresis as the second dimension. A series of important steps,such as sample solubility, volume of loading, electrophoresis parameters and protocol for staining were optimized.

RESULTSThe 2-DE patterns of uterine leiomyoma and myometrium with good quality were obtained.

CONCLUSIONWith optimal condition the two-dimensional electrophoresis of uterine leiomyoma can be obtained.

Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Female ; Humans ; Leiomyoma ; chemistry ; Myometrium ; chemistry ; Neoplasm Proteins ; analysis ; Proteome ; analysis ; Uterine Neoplasms ; chemistry

AIM: To study the expression of glycine receptor (GlyR) in adult rat cardiac tissue and cultured cardiomyocytes from neonatal rat hearts. METHODS: Total RNA and membrane protein were extracted from cardiac tissue of adult rats and primary cultured cardiomyocytes from neonatal rat hearts, ?1 and ? subunits mRNA and protein of GlyR were detected with the method of reverse transcription nest DNA polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting. RESULTS: The mRNA and protein expression of ? subunit were identified in the adult rat heart tissue and cultured cardiomyocytes, similar to the sequence and immunogenicity generated from GlyR ? subunit of the rat spinal cord; for ?1 subunit, mRNA was found in only cultured cardiomyocytes. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate that adult rat cardiac tissue and cultured cardiomyocytes from neonatal rat hearts express mRNA and protein of GlyR subunits similar to the GlyR that expresses in the spinal cord, suggesting that GlyR exists in the membrane of the rat cardiomyocytes.

AIM: To investigate whether glycine receptor is involved in the protection of glycine against(anoxia/reoxygenation) injury in cardiomyocytes by detecting oxygen free radical metabolism,apoptosis and intracellular calcium overload.METHODS: The neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were cultured and exposed to anoxia and reoxygenation((A/R)) in the presence of glycine receptor antagonist,glycine or in free chloride buffer.The superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity,the contents of malondialdehyde(MDA) and nitric oxide(NO),the intracellular free calcium concentration and the apoptotic rate in the cardiomyocytes were determined.RESULTS: SOD activity and NO content in cardiomyocytes were lower,but MDA content,intracellular free calcium concentration and apoptotic rate in cardiomyocytes were higher in A/R group than those in control.Pretreatment with glycine inhibited the above changes caused by A/R,which was reversed by strychnine treatment and in the free chloride medium.CONCLUSIONS: Glycine inhibits free radical production,attenuates calcium overload,decreases apoptotic rate and increases SOD activity and NO release in cardiomyocytes exposed to(A/R).These findings suggest that glycine exerts a protective effect against A/R injury via glycine receptor and glycine protects the neonatal rat cardiomycytes from A/R-induced injury in a chloride-dependent manner.

Objective To evaluate effects of chronic arsenic exposure and arsenic exposure time on oxidative DNA lesions in humans. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 108 subjects exposed to high concentrations of arsenic in drinking water and 75 control subjects. A cohort study was conducted in 64 subjects exposed to high levels of arsenic in drinking water for 7 or 9 years. Urinary 8-oxo-7,8-dihydredeoxygnanine(8-OHdG) levels were analyzed by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit(ELISA). Urinary arsenic concentration was detected with hydride generation atomic absorption spectroscopy. Results In the cross-sectional study, the median of urinary arsenic concentration was 484.17 mg/kg Cr for the arsenic-exposed group, and 13.80 mg/kg Cr for the control group, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (t=32.57, P<0.01). The median of urinary 8-OHdG levels was 16.60 and 21.88 mg/kg Cr for arsenic-exposed children and adults respectively, much higher than control children(10.50 mg/kg Cr) and adults (9.11 mg/kg Cr), and the difference was statistically significant (t=5.049, 6913, all P<0.01). Urinary 8-OHdG levels were signifieandy lower for children than adults in the exposed group(t=-1.997, P<0.05). In the cohort study, the median of urinary arsenic concentration was 461.3 mg/kg Cr for the 7-year-exposed subjects and 422.90 mg/kg Cr for the 9-year-expesed subjects, and no significant difference was observed(t=-0.250, P 0.05). The median of urinary 8- OHdG levels for 9-year-exposed children and adults were 23.46 and 24.30 mg/kg Cr respectively, significantly increased compared with those of 7-year-exposed(14.29 and 18.38 mg/kg Cr), and the difference had statical signhqcanees (t= -2.949,-3.055, all P<0.01). Conclusions Chronic arsenic exposure can lead to oxidative DNA lesions in humans. The arsenic-induced DNA lesions may aggravate with the exposure time in a certain period.

For microbial production of lycopene, the lycopene synthetic genes from Pantoea agglomerans were integrated into Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain BY4742, to obtain strain ZD-L-000 for production of 0.17 mg · L(-1) lycopene. Improving supplies of isoprenoid precursors was then investigated for increasing lycopene production. Four key genes were chosen to be overexpressed, inclu- ding truncated 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase gene (tHMG1), which is the major rate-limiting enzyme in the mevalonate (MVA) pathway, a mutated global regulatory factor gene (upc2.1), a fusion gene of FPP synthase (ERG20) and endogenous GGPP synthase (BTS1), which is a key enzyme in the diterpenoid synthetic pathway, and GGPP synthase gene (SaGGPS) from Sulfolobus acidocaldarius. Over-expression of upc2.1 could not improve lycopene production, while over-expression of tHMGI , BTS1-ERG20 and SaGGPS genes led to 2-, 16. 9- and20. 5-fold increase of lycopene production, respectively. In addition, three effective genes, tHMG1, BTS1-ERG20 and SaGGPS, were integrated into rDNA sites of ZD-L-000, resulting in strain ZD-L-201 for production of 13.23 mg · L(-1) lycopene, which was 77-fold higher than that of the parent strain. Finally, two-phase extractive fermentation was performed. The titer of lycopene increased 10-fold to 135.21 mg · L(-1). The engineered yeast strains obtained in this work provided the basis for fermentative production of lycopene.
Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; Carotenoids ; biosynthesis ; Genes, Synthetic ; Genetic Engineering ; Pantoea ; enzymology ; genetics ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; genetics ; metabolism

ObjectiveTo investigate the risk factors of patients with acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) complicated with Yangming Fushi syndrome.Methods A prospective study was conducted. From August 2009 to July 2013, 206 patients with Yangming Fushi syndrome combined with ALI/ARDS were enrolled in the intensive care units ( ICUs ) of the following five hospitals: Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Dongzhimen Hospital Affiliated to Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine University, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, and Wuxi Third People's Hospital in Jiangsu Province. According to the mortality occurring in ICU, the patients were divided into death group and survival group. The gender, age, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ ( APACHE Ⅱ ) score within the first 24 hours after admission, the length of invasive mechanical ventilation, usage of vasoactive agents, ratio of operative intervention, the length of stay in ICU, application of continuous renal replacement therapy ( CRRT ), amount of blood transfusion, the level of C-reactive protein ( CRP ), lactulose/mannitol ( L/M ) ratio, the number of organs with dysfunction, oxygenation index ( PaO2/FiO2 ), levels of lactate and serum creatinine ( SCr ) of both groups were recorded. Logistic regression analysis was used to look for the independent risk factors of death of patients. Results There were 124 cases with severe acute pancreatitis ( SAP ), which was the most common disease with manifestation of Yangming Fushi syndrome combined with ALI/ARDS, accounting for 60.19% of all the patients. During the period of hospitalization in ICU, 171 patients survived and 35 died, and the mortality rate was 16.99%. The risk factors of the two groups were analyzed by variable analysis, and it was shown that compared with those in survival group, the age ( years: 57.26±16.23 vs. 48.07±13.48, t = 3.544, P = 0.000 ), APACHE Ⅱ score ( 20.83±9.73 vs. 12.61±6.63, t = 4.777, P = 0.000 ), the length of invasive mechanical ventilation ( days: 10.97±7.71 vs. 6.91±2.48, t = 2.555, P = 0.015 ) and the number of dysfunction organs ( 3.11±1.21 vs. 1.60±1.34, t = 6.222, P = 0.000 ) in death group were significantly higher. The level of PaO2/FiO2 [ mmHg ( 1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa ): 218.56±64.90 vs. 244.58±85.10, t = -2.024, P = 0.044 ] in the death group was significantly lower than that of the survival group, while the length of ICU stay ( days: 14.33±10.81 vs. 9.11±7.37, t = 2.600, P = 0.010 ), the usage rates of CRRT [ 28.57% ( 10/35 ) vs. 15.20% ( 26/171 ), χ2 = 3.968, P = 0.046 ], vasoactive agents [ 28.57% ( 10/35 ) vs. 12.28% ( 21/171 ), χ2 = 6.511, P = 0.011 ], and blood transfusion ratio [ 42.86% ( 15/35 ) vs. 23.39% ( 40/171 ), χ2 = 7.042, P = 0.008 ] were all obviously higher in the death group than those in the survival group. There were no statistically significant differences in gender, number of operation, the levels of CRP, L/M ratio, lactate and SCr between the two groups ( all P > 0.05 ). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age [ odds ratio ( OR ) = 0.938, 95% confidence interval ( 95%CI ) = 0.898-0.980, P = 0.004 ], APACHE Ⅱ score ( OR = 0.914, 95%CI = 0.839-0.996, P = 0.041 ), the number of dysfunction organs ≥ 3 ( OR = 0.223, 95%CI = 0.066-0.754, P = 0.016 ), and the level of PaO2/FiO2 ( OR = 0.990, 95%CI = 0.982-0.998, P = 0.015 ) were independent risk factors for mortality. Conclusions The age, APACHE Ⅱ score, number of dysfunction organs ≥ 3 and the level of PaO2/FiO2 are of significance in predicting the prognosis of patients with Yangming Fushi syndrome combined with ALI/ARDS. Patients with risk factors of high mortality should be more carefully monitored and treated aggressively.