OBJECTIVETo promote development and utilization of Ophiocordyceps gracilis in xinjiang and provide basic data for researching and sustainable developing medicine fungus related to O. gracilis.

METHODA white strain SFYT002 isolated from the sclerotium of O. gracilis in Xinjiang was researched by morphological observation, ITS and 18SrDNA sequencing. The ITS and 18SrDNA sequences of the strain were determined, BLAST was compared with the other sequences of Tolypocladium in GenBank. The phylogenetic trees of ITS and 18SrDNA sequences were analyzed in Tolypocladium. In addition, the filter paper method was used to study the antibacterial effects.

RESULTThe main morphological characters of this strain were white cotton-like colonies, phialide with inflated base, drastically sharping with partially bending tips, small and transparent budding spores with being always assemble to spearhead and globular, subglobular or ellipse conidiospores. The phylogenetic trees of ITS and 18SrDNA sequences were constructed and analyzed in Tolypocladium. It was resulted that Tolypocladium was confirmed to be monophyletic, and the strain SFYT002 was the same as the systematic position of others of T. inflatum. Meanwhile, the antibacterial test was performed against the 4 common pathogenic bacteria. It was showed that both fermentation and its extracts of different polar from this strain possessed good anti-bacteria capacities.

CONCLUSIONThe strain SFYT02 was identified as T. inflatum, and inhibited effectively growth of bacteria.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; China ; DNA, Fungal ; genetics ; DNA, Intergenic ; genetics ; Hypocreales ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Mycelium ; Phylogeny

Objective:To explore the effects of serum cystatin C (Cys C) and uric acid (UA) concentrations before treatment on the prognosis of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients.Methods:A total of 196 patients diagnosed with SCLC in Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from April 2015 to December 2018 were selected, and hematological indicators such as serum Cys C and UA before treatment were collected. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the optimal cut-off values of Cys C and UA. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. Cox proportional hazards model was used for univariate and multivariate analysis.Results:The optimal cut-off values of serum Cys C and UA before treatment were 0.775 mg/L and 296.45 μmol/L, respectively. Survival analysis showed that with the optimal cut-off value, the median progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with high concentrations of serum Cys C and UA (5.49 months vs. 8.57 months, χ2=35.943, P<0.001; 6.67 months vs. 8.20 months, χ2=8.047, P=0.005) and overall survival (OS) (13.37 months vs. 23.95 months, χ2=21.355, P<0.001; 14.13 months vs. 20.97 months, χ2=11.333, P=0.001) were shorter than those of patients with low concentrations. Univariate analysis showed that factors related to PFS were smoking history ( HR=0.707, 95% CI: 0.518-0.965, P=0.029), staging ( HR=1.776, 95% CI: 1.329-2.373, P<0.001), first-line medication ( HR=1.596, 95% CI: 1.072-2.376, P=0.021), chest radiotherapy ( HR=2.407, 95% CI: 1.803-3.214, P<0.001), Cys C ( HR=3.602, 95% CI: 1.716-7.561, P=0.001), UA ( HR=1.002, 95% CI: 1.000-1.003, P=0.036), and alkaline phosphatase ( HR=1.010, 95% CI: 1.004-1.016, P=0.001); factors related to OS included smoking history ( HR=0.577, 95% CI: 0.382-0.870, P=0.009), staging ( HR=1.846, 95% CI: 1.295-2.630, P=0.001), chest radiotherapy ( HR=2.041, 95% CI: 1.426-2.921, P<0.001), Cys C ( HR=9.506, 95% CI: 3.278-27.564, P<0.001) and UA ( HR=1.003, 95% CI: 1.001-1.005, P=0.006). Multivariate analysis showed that chest radiotherapy ( HR=2.553, 95% CI: 1.774-3.672, P<0.001), Cys C ( HR=4.538, 95% CI: 1.875-10.982, P=0.001) and alkaline phosphatase ( HR=1.011, 95% CI: 1.005-1.018, P=0.001) were independent prognostic factors for PFS; Cys C ( HR=9.028, 95% CI: 2.680-30.413, P<0.001) was an independent prognostic factor for OS. Conclusion:Both serum Cys C and UA concentrations before treatment in SCLC patients have a certain relationship with the prognosis of the patients. Those with elevated concentrations have shorter PFS and OS and poor prognosis. The high concentration of serum Cys C before treatment may indicate a rapid progression of the disease and a short survival time. It is necessary to pay attention to disease progression and recurrence.

Objective To identify mutations site and clinical characteristics of a familial hypercholesterolemia(FH) proband diagnosed clinically through DNA sequencing and family analysis in the proband and his family members of 3 generations.Methods Blood samples and clinical data of the kindred of total 29 from 3 generations members were collected.Proband had a physical examination electrocar-diogrom and vascular ultrasound.The proband and his family members took routine clinical exams,and genomic DNA was isolated.The promoter region and the 18 exons of low density liporotein receptor(LDLR) gene were screened by Touch down polymerase chain reaction -single strand conformation polymorphism(PCR-SSCP) and DNA sequencing.The result of sequencing were matched gene sequence published in the BLAST database.Results 1.Increased intima-media thickness and plaque were detected in the common carotid artery,right subclavian artery of the proband.Aortic valve regurgitation was found by echocardiography.2.No mutation R3500Q of ApoB100 was observed.3.Two heterozygous mutations in exon 10 and 13 of LDLR gene (W462X and A606T) were identified.The proband and 5 members of paternal relatives showed W462X heterozygosis mutation in exon 10 of LDLR gene which introduced the change from tryptophone to a new stop codon.The proband's mother and grandmother harboured A606T heterozygous mutation in exon 13 of LDLR gene due to a single base pair substitution of G for A in the codon for residue 1 879.Conclusions Disease causing mutations of proband are W462X and A606T compound heterozygosis mutation in exon 10 and 13 of LDLR gene inherited from mother and father.Proband shows homozyous phenotype though the genotype analysis indicates heterozygous mutations.

'Bronze teeth' reflect the mechanical properties of natural teeth to a certain extent. Their mechanical properties resemble those of a tough metal, and the gradient of these properties lies in the direction from outside to inside. These attributes confer human teeth with effective mastication ability. Understanding the various mechanical properties of human teeth and dental materials is the basis for the development of restorative materials. In this study, the elastic properties, dynamic mechanical properties (visco-elasticity) and fracture mechanical properties of enamel and dentin were reviewed to provide a more thorough understanding of the mechanical properties of human teeth.
Biomechanical Phenomena ; Dental Enamel ; physiopathology ; Dentin ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Mastication ; Tooth ; physiopathology

Actins ; metabolism ; Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adult ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Desmin ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Endometrial Stromal Tumors ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Leiomyoma, Epithelioid ; metabolism ; pathology ; Melanoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Melanoma-Specific Antigens ; metabolism ; Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Receptors, Progesterone ; metabolism ; Uterine Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Atractylodis Rhizoma were widely used in strengthening spleen under different disease conditions, and were easily and often misused each other. Therefore, DNA barcode was used to distinguish Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Atractylodis Rhizoma from their adulterants to ensure the safe use. The sequence lengths of ITS2 of Atractylodes macrocephala, Atractylodis Rhizoma (A. lancea, A. japonica and A. coreana) were both 229 bp. Among the ITS2 sequences of A. macrocephala, only one G/C transversion was detected at site 98, and the average GC content was 69.42%. No variable site was detected in the ITS2 sequences of A. lancea. The maximum K2P intraspecific genetic distances of both A. japonica and A. coreana were 0.013. The maximum K2P intraspecific genetic distances of A. macrocephala, A. lancea, A. japonica and A. coreana were less than the minimum interspecific genetic distance of adulterants. The ITS2 sequences in each of these polytypic species were separated into pairs of divergent clusters in the NJ tree. DNA barcoding could be used as a fast and accurate identification method to distinguish Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, Atractylodis Rhizoma, from their adulterants to ensure its safe use.
Atractylodes ; classification ; genetics ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; classification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Quality Control ; Rhizome ; classification ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the accuracy and safety of pedicle screw insertion with the aid of novel patient-specific drill-guide templates in scoliosis cases.

METHODSTen patients with scoliosis were selected to participate in the research (the observation group) from December 2013 to December 2014. The data was obtained from CT scanning, and put into the computer to perform reconstruction of spine, simulation of pedicle screw insertion, and design of patient-specific drill-guide templates with software. The templates were made with rapid prototyping technique. After sterilization, the templates were used to aid the pedicle screw insertion intraoperatively. The blood loss, operation duration, change of creatinine level pre- and post-operation, and complications related to pedicle screw insertion were recorded. The location of pedicle screws were graded so as to evaluate the accuracy. A comparative study was then performed with the data of ten scoliosis cases operated with free-hand method during the same period (control group). There were 5 cases of idiopathic scoliosis and 5 cases of congenital scoliosis in the observation group, including 3 males and 7 females. Their average age was 11.9 years old (ranged, 4 to 18 years old), and the average Cobb angle of main curve was 54.9° (ranged, 42.1° to 78.4°). There were also 5 cases of idiopathic scoliosis and 5 cases of congenital scoliosis in the control group,including 2 males and 8 females. Their average age was 12.6 years old (ranged, 6 to 17 years old), and the average Cobb angle of main curve was 56.6° (ranged, 38.2° to 93.4°).

RESULTSA total of 167 pedicle screws were inserted intraoperatively, with 138 screws (82.6%) in grade I, 26 screws (15.0%) in grade II, 4 screws in grade III (2.4%), but no screws in grade IV according to the CT image. There were 29 (17.4%) screws perforated, and 163 (97.6%) screws could be accepted. In the control group, a total of 165 pedicle screws were inserted intraoperatively, with 98 screws (59.4%) in grade I, 39 screws (23.6%) in grade II, 21 screws in grade III (12.7%), and 7 screws in grade IV (4.2%). There were 67 (40.6%) screws perforated, and 137 (83.0%) screws could be accepted. The grade distribution of screw position, ratio of perforated and accepted screws were significantly different between the two groups respectively (Z=-5.013, P=0.000; χ2=9.347, P=0.002; χ2=20.242, P=0.000). The correction rate of Cobb angle were (74.1±10.0)% vs (69.7±17.6)%; blood loss were (455±447) ml vs (415±389) ml; operation duration were (163.5±53.7) min vs (164.0±48.7) min; and the changes of creatinine level pre- and post-operatively were (-5.3±3.2) μmol/L vs (-3.4±3.1) μmol/L; all above data had no significant differences respectively (t=0.696, P=0.496; t=0.214, P=0.833; t=0.022, P=0.983; t=1.375, P=0.192). There were no complications related to pedicle screw insertion in each group.

CONCLUSIONThe novel patient-specific drill guide template can be used to assist the insertion of pedicle screws in scoliosis cases with much higher accuracy than that of freehand method and fair safety.

Adolescent ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pedicle Screws ; Scoliosis ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

0.05).Setting the threshold of MOV at 6.4 cm~3 offered the best compromise between sensitivity (84.8%)and specificity(87.5%),and setting the threshold of MaxOV at 8.6 cm~3 offered the best compromise between sensitivity(75.8%)and specificity(95.2%)and setting the threshold of MFN at 8 offered the best compromise between sensitivity(86.7%)and specificity(78.3%).Conclusions Ovarian morphology by ultrasonography yields satisfactory diagnostic accuracy for adolescent PCOS.Taking MOV≥ 6.4 cm~3 or MaxOV≥8.6 cm~3 or MFN≥8 as an ultraphonic criterion for pubertal PCOS offer the best compromise between sensitivity and specificity.

Objective To observe the efficacy of a medical disinfectant ultrasonic coupling agent on the killing of five clinically isolated multidrug-resistant organisms(MDROs).Methods From March 2016 to May 2017,a disin-fection ultrasonic coupling agent containing active ingredient,including triclosan and propylene glycol,was used to conduct carrier quantitative germicidal test on five clinically isolated MDROs,the killing efficacy to MDROs was ob-served.Results After 1.5,3.0,and 4.5 minute disinfection time,the killing logarithms values of disinfection ultra-sonic coupling agent to five MDROs(multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter bau m annii[MDR-AB],methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus[MRSA],multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa[MDR-PA],carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae[CRKP],and extended-spectrum β-lactamase Escherichia coli[ESBLs-EC])were all>3.0. Conclusion Medical disinfection ultrasonic coupling agent can effectively kill five common MDROs,and can take the place of disinfectant during ultrasonic examination.

Objective:To clone and express the Staphylococcus aureus Efb(extracellular fibrinogen-binding protein) protein in Escherichia coli, to purify the expression product and prepare its functional antibody and to detect the functions of Efb protein for further studies on S.aureus infection.Methods: Efb gene was amplified by PCR using S.aureus NCTC-8325 genome DNA as template and cloned into the recombinant expression vectors pET28a. E.coli BL21(DE3) with the plasmid was induced with IPTG for protein production. The protein was purified by Ni~(2+) affinity chromatography. The function of Efb protein was determined by complement activity assay and inhibition ELISA.The polyclonal antibodies were prepared by immunizing the animals. Results: The purified recombinant Efb was obtained, which could inhibit the CH50 and AH50 effectively. The functional poly-antibodies of Efb were prepared.Conclusion:Efb could inhibit the classical pathway and alternative pathway of complement activation, and the antibodies against to Efb could block the inhibition of the classical pathway of complement activation induced by Efb.