A total of 152 strains of endophytic fungi were isolated from the barks of Eucommia ulmoides in three regions (Lueyang country, Zunyi country, Cili country). Based on morphological characteristics and analysis of ITS sequences, these strains were identified into 8 genera. Thereinto Phomopsis, Diaporthe and Alternaria were common genera to Eucommia barks from different sites. But the dominant genus was different: Alternaria was the dominant genus in the barks from Cili country, and Phomopsis was the dominant genus from Zunyi country, then Diaporthe was the one from Lueyang country. According to the similarity coefficient, the composition of the endophytic fungi was distinctly different between the barks from three sites. The diversity and species richness in Lueyang country and Cili country were found higher than those in Zunyi country. The evenness of endophytic fungi was 0.936 5 in Lueyang county, which was higher than 0.737 1 or 0.641 0 in Cili county or Zunyi county, respectively. After phylogenic analysis and calculating the genetic distances of typical strains belong to Phomopsis and its perfect stage--Diaporthe, there was very high genetic diversity in the two genera from our study. In conclusion, the community structure and diversity of endophytic fungi were significant different in Eucommia barks from the three habitats.
DNA, Fungal ; genetics ; DNA, Intergenic ; genetics ; Ecosystem ; Endophytes ; classification ; physiology ; Eucommiaceae ; microbiology ; Fungi ; classification ; genetics ; physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Bark ; microbiology

Ac-Phe-Lys-PABC-DOX (PDOX) is a smart doxorubicin (DOX) prodrug designed to decrease toxicities while maintaining the potent anticancer effects of DOX. This study was aimed at elucidating the effectiveness and toxicities of DOX and PDOX in patient-derived MCF-7 breast cancer cells in vitro. The MCF-7 cells were exposed to both PDOX and DOX, and cytotoxicities, cell cycle and P53/P21 signaling alterations were studied. Abundant cathepsin B was found in the MCF-7 cells, and treatment with PDOX and DOX triggered dose- and time-dependent cytotoxicity and resulted in a significant reduction in cell viability. The IC50 of PDOX and DOX was 3.91 and 0.94 μmol/L, respectively. Both PDOX and DOX caused an up-regulation of the P53/P21-related signal pathway, and PDOX significantly increased expression of P53 and caspase 3, and arrested the cell cycle at the G1/G2 phase. As compared with DOX, PDOX reduced toxicities, and it may have different action mechanisms on breast cancer cells.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinical outcomes rating scale for heart failure (HF) based on patients' report.

METHODSTCM clinical outcomes rating scale for HF (TCM-HF-PRO) were evaluated based on 340 HF patients' report from multiple centers. The completion of the investigation was recorded. Cronbach's α coefficient and split-half reliability were used for reliability analysis, and factor analysis was used to assess the construct validity of the rating scale. Pearson correlation analysis was then used for criterion validity analysis. Discriminant analysis was used to assess the responsiveness of the scale. All 340 HF patients having complete TCM-HF-PRO data were assigned to the treatment group and the control group by central randomization. The total TCM-HF-PRO scores of the two groups were compared using paired t-test to reflect the longitude responsiveness of the scale before treatment and at week 2 after treatment.

RESULTS(1) The recycling rate of the scale was 100.0%. One of them was not filled completely, which was rejected thereby. So the completion rate was 99.7%. The completion time for TCM-HF-PRO scale ranged 15 to 25 min. (2) The Cronbach's α coefficient of rating scale was 0.903, split-half reliability was 0.844 and 0.849. (3) Confirmatory factor analysis showed that 7 factors and items formed according to maximum load factor basically coincided with the construct of the rating scale, 7 factors accumulated contribution rate was 43.8%. TCM clinical outcomes rating scale for HF based on patients' report was relatively better correlated with the Minnesota living with HF questionnaire (r = 0.726, P < 0.01). (4) Discriminant analysis showed that the rating scale correctly classified more than 78.8% of case studies having confirmed initial differential diagnosis by experts. The total scale of the rating scale decreased more in the two group after treatment, with significant difference as compared with before treatment (P < 0.01.

CONCLUSIONTCM clinical outcomes rating scale for HF based on patients' report had good reliability, validity and responsiveness, hence it could be used to assess clinical efficacy for HF patients.

Diagnosis, Differential ; Discriminant Analysis ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Heart Failure ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; standards ; Reproducibility of Results ; Surveys and Questionnaires

DNA with different length was solved into ultra-pure water, the conducing behavior of the suspension was investigated at varied temperature and DNA concentration. The electrical conductivity of the samples increased with the increment of temperature and concentration of the solution. In terms of the length, the short-strand DNA (less than 50bp) showed a better conducting capability than the long-strand DNA(more than 1000bp). The electrical conductivity of short-strand DNA arrives at 1.08 x 10(-3) S/cm at room temperature. The conductance of the two DNA samples became similar at high temperature as well as their uptrend when DNA samples were heated.
DNA ; chemistry ; Electric Conductivity ; Solutions ; Temperature

China ; Humans ; Life Expectancy ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; mortality

OBJECTIVETo clone Helicobacter pylori flagellin B gene (flaB) to construct prokaryotic expression system of the gene and to identify immunity of the fusion protein.

METHODSThe flaB gene from a clinical isolate Y06 of H.pylori was amplified by high fidelity PCR. The nucleotide sequence of the target DNA amplification fragment was sequenced after T-A cloning. The expression vector pET32a with inserted flaB gene was constructed. FlaB fusion protein was expressed in E.coli strain BL21DE3 inducted by IPTG at different dosages. Western blot was applied to determine immunoreactivity and immunogenicity of the fusion protein and antibody against whole cell of H.pylori and rabbit antiserum immunized with the fusion protein, respectively.

RESULTSIn comparison with the reported corresponding sequences, the homology of nucleotide sequence of the cloned flaB gene was from 96.31% approximate, equals 97.73%, while the homology of its putative amino acid sequence was as high as 99.41% approximate, equals 100%. The expression output of FlaB fusion protein in pET32a-flaB-BL21DE3 system was approximately 40% of the total bacterial proteins. FlaB fusion protein was able to combine with antibody against whole cell of H.pylori and induce rabbit to produce specific antibody with high titer after the animal was immunized with the protein.

CONCLUSIONA prokaryotic expression system of H. pylori flaB gene with high efficiency has been established successfully. The expressed FlaB fusion protein with satisfactory immunogenicity and immunoreactivity can be used as antigen in H.pylori vaccine and detect kit.

Antibodies, Bacterial ; blood ; Bacterial Vaccines ; immunology ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flagellin ; genetics ; immunology ; Helicobacter pylori ; immunology ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; immunology ; Vaccines, Synthetic ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo compare the results of observed individual means (OIM) model with beta binomial-normal (BBN) model and to apply the two models to assessment of long-term dietary lead exposure.

METHODSFood consumption data were obtained from the National Nutrition and Health Survey conducted in 2002 by 24-hour recall method. Contamination data were derived from the national food contamination monitoring program from 2000 to 2006 and from monitoring data of Customs exports for agricultural products between 2005 and 2006. By multiplying the average consumption of food with the average concentration of contaminant, the OIM model calculated dietary intake per day. By correcting the within-person variation and keeping the between-person variation, the BBN model built dietary intake in the long-term.Using the example of food lead data, the results of two models were compared.

RESULTSThe high-end percentile of OIM model was higher than the BBN model in various age groups.In the general population, the dietary intake of OIM model from 25th percentile to 99.9th percentile was between 1.167 and 7.313 µg×kg(-1)×d(-1), and the dietary intake of BBN model with the same percentile range was between 1.193 and 5.729 µg×kg(-1)×d(-1). The median of various groups was similar between the two models. The dietary intakes in the general population of two models were 1.543 and 1.579 µg×kg(-1)×d(-1).

CONCLUSIONThe high-end percentile of OIM model is more conservative than BBN model in the long-term dietary exposure assessment.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Food Contamination ; Humans ; Lead ; Lead Poisoning ; epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Models, Statistical ; Risk Assessment ; methods ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDMyocyte apoptosis is considered to be the major causative factor of left ventricular (LV) remodeling following myocardial infarction (MI). We previously reported that 3', 4'-dihydroxyflavonol (DiOHF), was able to suppress oxidative stress and preserve the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase during myocardial reperfusion injury, which may benefit the reduction of myocyte apoptosis. We therefore aimed to evaluate the potential actions of DiOHF against myocyte apoptosis and post-infarction LV remodeling in this study.

METHODSFollowing experimental MI, surgical instrumented goats were randomly assigned into vehicle and DiOHF (2 mg/kg; i.v., daily) groups to receive 4 weeks of reperfusion with corresponding treatments. LV pressure recordings and echocardiogram were performed at baseline, 2 and 4 weeks of reperfusion. Myocardial tissues were collected in the end to determine infarct size and apoptosis related assays.

RESULTSLV end-diastolic volume and diameter were significantly increased 4 weeks after MI in the vehicle group, accompanied by reduced posterior wall thickness, septal thickness and LV mass, whereas those changes were markedly prevented by DiOHF treatment. Similarly, significantly reduced infarct size was found in DiOHF group as compared to vehicle group, and DiOHF dramatically inhibited the increase in LV end-diastolic pressure and the reductions in ejection fraction, fraction shortening and dP/dt(max). Moreover, DiOHF treatment significantly reduced the extent of myocyte apoptosis detected by TUNEL assay, enhanced the protein expression of caspase-3, Fas, Bax and cytochrome c in the non-infarcted myocardium in comparison to vehicle.

CONCLUSIONSDaily DiOHF treatment during the reperfusion period after MI in the ovine hearts markedly reduced the magnitude of post-infarction LV remodeling through the inhibition of myocyte apoptosis in the remote non-infarcted myocardium.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cytochromes c ; metabolism ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Flavonols ; pharmacology ; Goats ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; drug effects ; Random Allocation ; Ventricular Remodeling ; drug effects ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism ; fas Receptor ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDSimultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPKT) frees the diabetic patient with end-stage nephropathy from dialysis and daily insulin injections. Herein, we review consecutive cases of SPKT with bladder drainage performed at our institution over an 8-year period.

METHODSThe study population included 21 patients (16 males and 5 females) who underwent SPKT between September 2001 and September 2009. Seven patients had type-1 diabetes and 14 had type-2 diabetes. Nineteen patients were on dialysis at the time of transplantation. Donation after cardiac death donors were selected for SPKT. The mean human leukocyte antigen match was 2 (range 0 - 4). SPKT was always performed using bladder drainage and vascular anastomoses to the systemic circulation. Immunosuppressive treatment consisted of anti-lymphocyte globulin induction followed by tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and prednisone.

RESULTSThe mean hospital stay was 45.43 days. After a mean follow-up of 39.4 months, survival rates for patient, kidney, and pancreas were 76.2%, 76.2%, and 66.7% at 1 year; 76.2%, 59.3%, and 55.6% at 5 years; and 57.1%, 39.5%, and 41.7% at 8 years, respectively. Major complications included anastomotic leaks, reflux pancreatitis, and rejection. Six patients died from septic shock (n = 3), duodenal stump leak (1), cardiac arrest (1), or renal failure (1). Eight kidney grafts were lost due to acute rejection (n = 2), chronic rejection (3), and death with a functioning graft (3). Pancreatic graft failure (9) was caused by thrombosis (n = 1), rejection (2), duodenal stump leak (1), and death with a functioning graft (5).

CONCLUSIONSSPKT is a valid therapeutic option for uremic diabetics although few hospitals in China can undertake SPKT.

Adult ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; surgery ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; surgery ; Female ; Graft Rejection ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Kidney Transplantation ; adverse effects ; mortality ; statistics & numerical data ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreas Transplantation ; adverse effects ; mortality ; statistics & numerical data ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Urinary Catheterization

OBJECTIVETo study the current situation of depression and anxiety from patients with hypertension as well as to provide reference for the development of control and prevention program.

METHODSParticipants older than 35-year including both hypertensive patients and healthy controls were randomly selected in 2 communities of Pukou district in Nanjing through Health Behavior Survey. All the subjects were assessed by the Zung's self-rating depression scale (SDS) and the Zung's self-rating anxiety scale (SAS).

RESULTSRaw score and index score of SDS and SAS were both significantly (P < 0.01) greater in hypertensive patients than in healthy control group. The prevalence of depression of 17.9% and anxiety of 9.5% in patient group were found significantly higher than that in healthy control group as 11.5% and 4.3%. Data from logistic regression model analysis showed that depression and anxiety were possible risk factors of hypertension (OR = 1.677, 95% CI: 1.013-2.776; OR = 2.451, 95% CI: 1.228-4.894). There was a combined effect seen between depression and anxiety (OR = 5.238, 95% CI: 2.356-11.664) but interaction did not appear.

CONCLUSIONDepression and anxiety were possibly associated with hypertension and more attention needs to be paid to the mental health situation of hypertensive patients in order to improve their quality of life.

Aged ; Anxiety ; epidemiology ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Depression ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors