The thermostability of the inulinase was studied in this resea rc h. Some alcoholic materials and thickening agent could enhance the thermostabli lity of the inulinase. Using glycerol、xanthic pastern and though orthogonal ex periments of three elements and three levels, a satisfying protective agent, whi ch included glycerin(6%), xanthan gum(0.6%) and CaCl_2 (100mmol/mL) and ha d a significant effect on the enhancement of the inulinase thermostability, was acquired.

In order to explore the diagnosis and therapy of Diamond Blackfan anemia (DBA), the clinical data of 45 cases of DBA admitted in our hospital from February 1994 to July 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. The clinical characteristics, results of laboratory examination, treatment reaction and outcome of disease were investigated. The results indicated that out of 45 children diagnosed as DBA, 14 cases (31.1%) had short stature and physical malformation. All patients had anemia with reticulocytopenia. Thirty-four patients (75.6%) had mean corpuscular volume. Eleven patients (24.4%) had macrocytic anemia. Bone marrow examination showed a marked erythroid hypoplasia in all patients. Out of 29 cases tested for fetal hemoglobin (HbF), 13 cases (44.8%) had high level of HbF. Erythroid colony-forming unit of bone marrow was tested in 25 patients, among them 12 patients (48%) showed normal plasia, 13 (52%) showed hypoplasia. The erythropoietin (EPO) levels of 17 patients were elevated. Karyotypes were examined in 28 patients, and showed all normal. The treatment was based on corticosteroids and Cyclosporine A. Thirty patients had good response to corticosteroid therapy, and 10 of them obtained a sustained corticosteroid-induced remission. Twenty cases discontinued corticosteroid therapy after remission, as a result, 15 cases (75%) relapsed, moreover all the relapsed cases still had good response to corticosteroid. Two relapsed patients suffered from aplastic anemia, one of them died of therapy failure. Six patients were unresponsive to corticosteroid, 1 of which achieved remission with cyclosporine A and the others continued to receive regular transfusions. 3 patients received iron chelation therapy. It is concluded that the clinical characteristics, complete blood count, bone marrow smear, HbF level and EPO level are useful to make a diagnosis of DBA. Most patients have a good response to corticosteroid therapy, but relapse rate is high when drug was discontinued. Patients unresponsive to corticosteroid should receive regular transfusions and chelation therapy.
Anemia, Diamond-Blackfan ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Bone Marrow Examination ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Erythroid Precursor Cells ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Retrospective Studies

This study is to investigate the effect of low doses of insulin (1 u x kg(-1)) and selenium (180 microg x kg(-1)) in combination on general physiological parameters and insulin signal molecules in cardiac muscle of STZ-induced diabetic rats. The levels of blood glucose were estimated using One Touch SureStep Blood Glucose meter. HbA1c levels were estimated using microcolumn assay. TG and TC were estimated using enzymatic assay. The levels of PI3K and GLUT4 in cardiac muscle were examined by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. The result showed that insulin in combination with selenium could significantly lower blood glucose and blood lipid levels and markedly restored the PI3K and GLUT4 levels in cardiac muscle. It could be concluded that there was cooperation between insulin and selenium, and that treatment of diabetic rats with combined doses of insulin and selenium increased cardiac glucose uptake by upregulating the level of PI3K-mediated GLUT4 in cardiac muscle, eventually ameliorating myocardial dysfunction.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; blood ; metabolism ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Glucose Transporter Type 4 ; metabolism ; Glycated Hemoglobin A ; metabolism ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Insulin ; pharmacology ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Selenium ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Triglycerides ; blood

Histaminergic neurons solely originate from the tuberomammillary nucleus (TMN) in the posterior hypothalamus and send widespread projections to the whole brain. Experiments in rats show that histamine release in the central nervous system is positively correlated with wakefulness and the histamine released is 4 times higher during wake episodes than during sleep episodes. Endogeneous prostaglandin E2 and orexin activate histaminergic neurons in the TMN to release histamine and promote wakefulness. Conversely, prostaglandin D2 and adenosine inhibit histamine release by increasing GABA release in the TMN to induce sleep. This paper reviews the effects and mechanisms of action of the histaminergic system on sleep-wake regulation, and briefly discusses the possibility of developing novel sedative-hypnotics and wakefulness-promoting drugs related to the histaminergic system.
Adenosine ; physiology ; Animals ; Dinoprostone ; physiology ; Histamine ; metabolism ; physiology ; Hypothalamic Area, Lateral ; physiology ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; physiology ; Neurons ; physiology ; Neuropeptides ; physiology ; Orexins ; Prostaglandin D2 ; physiology ; Sleep ; physiology ; Wakefulness ; physiology ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo summarize the clinical characteristic and radiotherapeutic effect of germinomas arising in basal ganglia and thalamus.

METHODSThe clinical data of 13 cases were reviewed retrospectively. All cases were pathologic diagnosis through stereotactic biopsy. Gamma-knife or ordinary irradiation were 2 cases respectively and the combined therapy with interstitial brachytherapy as foundation were 9 cases.

RESULTAll cases were male, median age of 16.1 years. Hemiparesis and ataxia were major symptoms, some cases were accompanied with precocious puberty. Imaging manifested intratumoral cystic components represented 76.9% of all lesions, calcification represented 30.8%, ipsilateral cerebral and brain stem hemiatrophy represented 46.2%, cerebral white matter invasion through internal capsule or corpus callosum represented 30.8%. One case died because of late complication and 12 cases had achieved satisfied therapeutic effect (the mean followed-up period was 40.6 months). Tumor-control were effective.

CONCLUSIONSThe clinical manifestation and imaging characteristics are helpful to diagnosis. Stereotactic biopsy make the affirmatory diagnosis. Operative total-removal is impossible because of deep location, neighbour of vital structure and invasion. The combined therapy with interstitial brachytherapy was effective.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Basal Ganglia ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Child ; Follow-Up Studies ; Germinoma ; diagnosis ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Thalamus ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between plasma levels of fibrinogen, the-beta455 G/A fibrinogen gene polymorphism and the severity of periodontal inflammation and to explore the possible role of fibrinogen in the association of periodontitis with coronary heart disease (CHD).

METHODSA total of 121 patients with moderate to severe periodontitis and periodontally healthy and gingivitis controls were enrolled in the study. Peripheral blood samples were collected and the plasma fibrinogen levels were determined by the clotting method of Clauss. Polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis with Hae III were used to examine the -beta455 G/A fibrinogen gene polymorphism.

RESULTSFibrinogen levels were significantly higher in moderately or severely chronic periodontitis patients [(3.45 +/- 0.68) g/L] than periodontally healthy and gingivitis controls [(2.47 +/- 0.42) g/L, P < 0.001]. The carrier status of the A allele at position -455 in the beta fibrinogen gene was associated with elevated fibrinogen levels and the frequency of the-A455 allele in the beta fibrinogen gene in the patient group was significantly higher than in the control group (P = 0.032). Carriers of the -A455 allele were about 3-fold more likely to have moderate or severe periodontitis as compare to individuals without the -A455 allele( OR = 3. =135, P= 0.008).

CONCLUSIONSFg-beta455 G/A polymorphism may contribute to the elevated plasma fibrinogen levels and put individuals at higher risk of having severe periodontitis. As the independent risk factor of CHD, fibrinogen levels and Fg-beta455 G/A polymorphism may play a role in the pathogenesis of periodontitis.

Adult ; Alleles ; Case-Control Studies ; Chronic Periodontitis ; genetics ; Coronary Disease ; genetics ; Female ; Fibrinogen ; analysis ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

Objective To study the changing trend of prevalence rates of healthcare-associated infection (HAI) and antimicrobial use in hospitalized patients in medical institutions of Hubei Province,and provide a scientific basis for improving HAI management.Methods The cross-sectional survey results of HAI in Hubei Province in 2010, 2012,and 2014 were analyzed.Results The prevalence rates of HAI in 2010,2012,and 2014 were 3.48%(1526/43909),3.03%(1919/63320),and 2.86%(2174/76145)respectively,which showed a downward trend,differ-ence was statistically significant(χ2 =36.44,P <0.01).Antimicrobial usage rate decreased from 54.29% (23838/43909)in 2010 to 41.02% (31238/76145)in 2014,difference was statistically significant(χ2 =2194.09,P <0.01).Among patients receiving therapeutic use of antimicrobial agents,the specimen detection rate increased from 30.49% (4297/14091)in 2010 to 52.13% (10556/20248)in 2014 (χ2 =1593.98,P <0.01).Conclusion The prevalence rate of HAI showed a downward trend in Hubei Province,cross-sectional survey on antimicrobial use showed a gradual decrease.

Objective To investigate the effect of compound polyethylene glycol electrolyte powder (SF-PEG) and Magnesium Sulfate (MgSO4) on intestinal tract preparation in patients with constipation. Methods 135 cases of constipation patients who underwent colonoscopy were selected. They were divided into A, B and C groups, each with 45 cases.Group A and group B received oral SF-PEG and 219.2 g (2 000 ml) at 5:00 to 7:00. Group A take 50% MgSO450 ml at 9:00, and then took 250 ml warm water.Group B received the same dose of MgSO4 at 7:00. The two groups were examined by colonoscopy at 11:00. Group C received oral compound SF-PEG 219.2 g (2 000 ml) at 10:00 to 12:00, and then took 50% MgSO450 ml at 14:00, received colonoscopy at 16:00. According to the Boston bowel preparation scale (BBPS) score and parallel intraluminal bubble score. Determine the duration of bowel preparation process,and tolerance and adverse effects were recorded during bowel preparation. Results All patients completed bowel preparation and underwent a colonoscopy successfully. The scores of group A in BBPS were significantly higher than those in group B and group C (P < 0.05). In group A and group B, the score of parallel intraluminal bubble was lower than C, which was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The intestinal preparation time of A and B was less than that of group C, which was statistically significant (P < 0.05), and the tolerance of patients was higher in group A and group B than that in group C (P < 0.05). In adverse reactions, group A and group B were lower than those in group C (P < 0.05). Conclusions When taking the time (5:00 to 7:00), intermittent polyethylene glycol electrolyte powder and Magnesium Sulfate can shorten the bowel preparation time and improve the quality of bowel preparation in patients with constipation.

Objective To assess the iodine nutritional status of special target population in coastal saltproducing areas and coastal non-salt-producing areas in Xiamen city,and to provide a basis for take appropriate measures for prevention of iodine deficiency disorders.Methods The Xiang-An salt-producing areas and the JiMei non-salt-producing areas were chosen as research spots in 2009.One sample of produced water and 2 samples of tap water were collected to test iodine level; 600 children aged 8 to 10 were selected and thyroid palpation was performed,besides,the urine sample and household salt sample were also collected for iodine determination.Sixty pregnant women,breasffeeding women,and 0 - 2 year old infants were recruited,respectively,and urine samples and household salt samples were collected to perform the determination of iodine level.Results The iodine levels in drinking water of Xiang-An district and Ji-Mei district were 3.23 and 6.05 mg/L,respectively.The consumption rates of edible qualified iodinated salt were 84.4％ (438/519) and 98.3％ (392/399),respectively.The goiter rates of children aged 8 - 10 were 3.03％(19/628) and 0.67％(4/600),respectively.The medians of urinary iodine were 202.80 and 238.40 μg/L,respectively.The proportions of urinary iodine level ＜ 50 μg/L were 3.5％ (14/405) and 1.0％(2/202),respectively.The medians of urinary iodine of the pregnant women were 120.55 and 153.35 μg/L,respectively,and the proportions of urinary iodine level ＜ 150 μg/L were 62.1％ (46/74) and 46.8％ (29/62),respectively.The medians of urinary iodine in three trimester were 173.10,144.75 and 101.90 μg/L,respectively,early trimester of pregnancy ＞ second trimester and third trimester (Z =6.151,3.052,all P ＜ 0.05),second trimester ＞ third trimester (Z =2.016,P ＜ 0.05 ).The medians of urinary iodine of the breastfeeding women were 131.20 and 104.35 μg/L,respectively.The proportions of urinary iodine level ＜ 100 μg/L were 35.3％ (24/68) and 46.7％(28/60),respectively.The medians of urinary iodine of the infants were 81.95 and 80.20 μg/L,respectively,the proportions of urinary iodine level ＜ 100 μg/L were 59.7％(37/62) and 61.6％(40/65),respectively,＜ 50 μg/L were 32.3％ (20/62) and 30.8％ (20/65),respectively.Conclusions The levels of iodine nutrition in pregnant women,breastfeeding women,and 0 - 2 year old infants from Xiang-An district and Ji-Mei district in Xiamen city are still below the desired level of iodine nutrition,and the infants and pregnant women in coastal salt-producing areas are poor in iodine nutrition,we should pay close attention.We should strengthen market supervision on iodized salt,carried out iodine nutrition monitoring on pregnant women,breasffeeding women,and infants,and disseminate knowledge of iodine nutrition among high-risk population should be carried out immediately.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of liver transplantation (LT) and liver resection (LR) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) and to investigate risk factors affecting prognosis. Materials and Methods: A total of 94 HCC patients with PVTT type I (segmental PVTT) and PVTT type II (lobar PVTT) were involved and divided into LR (n=47) and LT groups (n=47). Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared before and after inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). Prognostic factors for RFS and OS were explored. Results: Two treatment groups were well-balanced using IPTW. In the entire cohort, LT provided a better prognosis than LR. Among patients with PVTT type I, RFS was better with LT (p=0.039); OS was not different significantly between LT and LR (p=0.093). In subgroup analysis of PVTT type I patients with α-fetoprotein (AFP) levels >200 ng/mL, LT elicited significantly longer median RFS (18.0 months vs. 2.1 months, p=0.022) and relatively longer median OS time (23.6 months vs. 9.8 months, p=0.065). Among patients with PVTT type II, no significant differences in RFS and OS were found between LT and LR (p=0.115 and 0.335, respectively). Multivariate analyses showed treatment allocation (LR), tumor size (>5 cm), AFP and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels to be risk factors of RFS and treatment allocation (LR), AFP and AST as risk factors for OS. Conclusion LT appeared to afford a better prognosis for HCC with PVTT type I than LR, especially in patients with AFP levels >200 ng/mL.