Objective To analyze the relationships between the drinking water fluoride and bone mineral density (BMD), and serum osteocalcin (BGP) and to explore the BMD and serum BGP as significant early screening biomarkers for fluorosis especially for early bone damage in endemic fluorosis areas. Methods Wamiao (severe endemic fluorosis area, as fluoride exposed group) and Xinhuai (non endemic fluorosis area, as control group) Village were selected in 2006. One hundred and fouty-six objects were chosen from 2 villages (103 in Wamiao, 43 in Xinhuai). The sex, age, body height, body weight, drinking water fluoride in each object's household well, BMD, and serum BGP were investigated, and the dose-response relationships were analyzed between the drinking water fluoride and BMD, and serum BGP. CurveExpert 1.3 Software was used to fit the dose-response relationships between the rate of abnormal BMD, the rate of abnormal serum BGP, and the drinking water fluoride. Results The levels of drinking water fluoride in males' and females' families in fluoride exposed group were [(2.38±0.68), (2.62±0.91 )mg/L] significant higher than that in control group [(0.35±0.08), (0.36±0.07)mg/L], the difference being statistically significant(t values were 14.27 and 11.08,and P<0.01, respectively). BMD in males in fluoride exposed group [(0.78±0.07)g/cm2] was significant lower than that in control group[(0.83±0.08)g/cm2], the difference being statistically significant (t=2.37,P<0.05). Serum BGP in males and females in fluoride exposed group [(4.17±0.67), (4.11±0.57) μg/L] were significant higher than that in control group [(1.48±0.40), (1.44±0.39)μg/L], the difference being statistically significant (t values were 17.64 and 19.40, and P<0.01, respectively]. BMD in the group with drinking water fluoride≥2.92 mg/L[(0.66±0.15 )g/cm2] was significant lower than that in the group with drinking water fluoride<0.42 mg/L [(0.76±0.12)g/cm2], the difference being statistically significant (P<0.01). The levels of serum BGP in the groups with the drinking water 0.42-,2.05-, ≥.92 mg/L[(3.83±1.07), (4.22±0.72), (3.99±0.63) μg/L] were significant higher than that in the group with the drinking water<0.42 mg/L [(1.44±0.37) μg/L], the difference being statistically significant (P<0.01). The equation for the dose-response relationship between the drinking water fluoride and the rate of abnormal BMD was y=(0.284-0.058x)-1.260, r=0.999 94; and y=100.05/(1+78.62e-4.5x), r=0.999 99 for the drinking water fluoride and the rate of abnormal serum BGP. Conclusions There were significant dose-response relationships between drinking water fluoride and BMD and serum BGP. It indicated that BMD and BGP might be considered as early screening biomarkers for endemic fluorosis, especially for the bone damage.

Objective To investigate effectiveness of meta-cognitive intervention on aged people with middle depression. Methods Geriatrist Depression Scale(GDS) and Hamilton's Depression Scale ( HAMD-17 ) were used to screen out 70 aged people with middle depression from 850 retired soldier cadres dwelling in cpla dalian sanitarium. They were randomly divided into study group( n = 35 ) and control group( n = 35 ). The experimental group received meta-cognitive intervening and general nursing care for 8 weeks, while the control group only received general nursing care for 8 weeks. HAMD-17, GDS, global assessment scale(GAS) and the Metacognitions Questionnaire(MCQ-30) were administered both at the start and the end of the 8th week. Results The total scores in HAMD and GDS were decreased significantly in study group ( HAMD: ( 1 1.54 ± 2.50 ) vs ( 13.06 ±2.82),t= -2.378, P=0. 020;GDS:(12.51 ±2.43) vs (16.06 ±2.48), t= -6. 031, P=0. 000;GAS:(77.71 ±3.03) vs (75.63 ± 3.24), t = 2. 785, P = 0. 007 ). At the end of 8th week, the MCQ total score was significantly decreased in study group (38.69 ± 4. 17,81.37 ± 5.98, t = 34. 652, P ＜ 0. 01 ). Conclusion For aged people with middle depression,good effects are got by the meta-cognitive intervening technique and meta-cognitive intervening technique improve the meta-cognitive level of aged people with middle depressive mood.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays an important role in tissues angiogenesis. The adaptation of animals to hypoxic environment is relative to the microvessel density (MVD) in tissues. To further explore the adaptation mechanisms of plateau zokor (Myospalax baileyi) to the hypoxic-hypercapnic burrows, the VEGF mRNA and the MVD in cerebral tissues of the plateau zokor were studied. Total RNA was isolated from liver, and VEGF cDNA was obtained by RT-PCR, then the VEGF cDNA was cloned and sequenced. The coding sequence of plateau pika (Ochotona curzniae), rat (Rattus norvegicus) and mouse (Mus musculus) VEGF cDNA are obtained from GenBank, and the nucleotide and amino acid sequence homology of plateau zokor VEGF cDNA coding sequence with that of plateau pika, rat and mouse were analyzed and compared by using of bioinformatics software. The VEGF mRNA was detected by real-time PCR, and the MVDs in cerebral tissues of the plateau zokor, plateau pika and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat were measured by immunohistochemical staining. The results showed that the open reading frame of the plateau zokor VEGF was 645 bp, and the coding sequence of the plateau zokor VEGF cDNA shared 92.1%, 93.6% and 93.8% nucleotide sequence homology to that of the plateau pika, rat and mouse, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequence of the plateau zokor VEGF cDNA was composed of 188 amino acids and the amino acids from 1 to 26 were signal peptide sequence. The plateau zokor VEGF188 was 90.2%, 94.9% and 94.4% homologous to that of plateau pika, rat and mouse. The level of VEGF mRNA in brain of the plateau zokor was significantly lower than that of SD rat, but there was no obvious difference in VEGF mRNA level between plateau zokor and plateau pika. The MVD in brain of the plateau zokor was markedly higher than that of plateau pika and SD rat. In conclusion, plateau zokor enhances its adaptation to the hypoxic environment by increasing the MVD. The level of VEGF mRNA in the brain of plateau zokor is lower than that of SD rat, which may be as a result of inhibition by the higher concentration of carbon dioxide in the burrow.
Adaptation, Physiological ; physiology ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Arvicolinae ; physiology ; Base Sequence ; Brain ; blood supply ; metabolism ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; Microvessels ; anatomy & histology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Species Specificity ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism

The alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) from the Gram-positive Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius was one kind of thermoacidophilic enzyme, with optimal temperature and pH of 75 degrees C and 3, respectively. The nucleotide sequence of the gene amy was cloned by PCR. The gene amy was 3901bp long, comprising one open reading frame encoding a polypeptide of 1301 amino acids. The calculated molecular weight of the alpha-amylase AMY was about 140kD. The gene amy was expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) and Pichia pastoris respectively, and both of the cloned proteins had bioactivity. The activity of amylase expressed in P. pastoris was further testified by amylase activity staining. The alpha-amylase expressed in P. pastoris had been purified and characterized. The apparent molecular weight of that was about 160kD according to SDS-PAGE. The optimum of pH for the enzyme was pH 3.2 as the native enzyme was; but the optimum of temperature was 65 degrees C and a little lower than that of the native enzyme. Above 50% of relative activity remained after incubation for 30 minutes in 70 degrees C. So the enzyme expressed by P. pastoris was also thermoacidophilic. Moreover some sequence was cloned by PCR, which ranged from + 1174 bp to + 3288 bp in the gene amy, encoding 705 amino acids with the calculated molecular weight of 79kD. The truncated gene amy' was expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) induced by 1 mmol/L IPTG, and the expressed enzyme also retained alpha-amylase activity.
Bacillus ; enzymology ; genetics ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Pichia ; genetics ; metabolism ; alpha-Amylases ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism

AIMTo establish a simple method for molecular identification of original plants of D. chrysanthum and D. fimbriatum using molecular marker rDNA ITS region.

METHODSRestriction patterns of ITS fragments were obtained using PCR-RFLP method. The PCR products of D. chrysanthum and its morphologically allied species were digested at 37 degrees C by Cla I and Apa LI, those of D. fimbriatum and its morphologically allied species were digested by Sph I.

RESULTSD. chrysanthum, D. fimbriatum and their morphologically allied species could be identified by predicted restriction profiles of PCR-RFLP. The botanical origin of twenty-five fresh samples of "Shihu" collected in markets was identified by this method.

CONCLUSIONThe results showed that PCR-RFLP analysis of the rDNA ITS region is a feasible, simple and inexpensive method for determining the botanical origin of the traditional Chinese medicine "Shihu".

DNA, Plant ; analysis ; DNA, Ribosomal ; analysis ; Dendrobium ; classification ; genetics ; Drug Contamination ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity

Objective To study the pharmacokinetics of omeprazole tablets in Chinese Hui and Han healthy volunteers.Methods Twenty volunteers were involved in the study,including ten Chinese Hui volunteers and ten Han volunteers.Each healthy volunlteers were given asingle oral dose(40 mg)of omeprazole tablet.The concentration of omeprazole in plasma was determined by RP-HPLC and the pharameters were calculated by DAS 2.0 software.Results The main pharmacokinetic parameters of Chinese Hui and Han were as follows:C_(max) were (941.94±446.08) and (760.49±581.23) μg·L~(-1);t_(max) were(2.7±0.68)and(2.70±0.82)h;t_(1/2) were(2.43±2.83)and(1.60±1.28)h;AUC_(0-12) were (2.29±1.12)and(1.44±7.98)mg·h·L~(-1);AUC_(0-∞) were (2.33±1.11)and(1.47±7.69)mg·h·L~(-1),respectively.Conclusion Individual difference is significant in C_(max),AUC_(0-12),AUC_(0-∞) after an oral omeprazole,but the pharmacokinetic parameters obtained from the results of ststistical analysis show no significant difference in the main pharmacokinetic of omeprazole between Chinese Hui and Han.

Objective To evaluate the effect of self -efficacy training on hemiplegic patients after ischemic stroke. Methods Sixty cases were randomly divided into control group (n =30 )and self -efficacy training group (n =30).The self -efficacy group received rehabilitation training according to the self -efficacy theory (5 times /week, 40 min /per time,1 0 weeks of intervention).The movement and balance function were evaluated using Fugl -Meyer score (FMA)and the activities of daily living were evaluated by the task analysis scale and Barthel index.The self -efficacy level and quality of life were evaluated by the general self -efficacy scale (GSES)and medical outcomes study (SF -36).Results The scores of FMA,Barthel,SF -36 and GSES had no significant differences between the two groups before training (P >0.05 )and all indexes improved after training.Six scores of Barthel and all scores of FMA,SF -36 and GSES of self -efficacy group were significantly higher than those of control group after training (all P <0.05 ).Conclusion Self -efficacy application could improve the motor function on the rehabilitation of hemiplegic patients after ischemic stroke.

Objective To clarify the depression status of empty-nest elderly in Shanxi Province, to explore the related influencing factors by structural equation model, and to provide scientific basis for the prevention and intervention of depression for empty nesters. Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted among 4 901 empty-nest elderly in Shanxi Province by self-rating depression scale and general situation questionnaire, and the model was established. Results The prevalence of depressive symptoms among empty nesters in Shanxi Province was 64.21%. The model demonstrated that health status had a direct impact on depressive symptoms (P=0.028), the total effect was -0.978; the effect of economic status on depressive symptoms was 0.086 (P=0.030), and social function had no significant impact on depressive symptoms (P=0.173), which could affect depressive symptoms through affecting health status and economic status. There was a significant correlation between the three latent variables (P<0.05). Health status had the strongest correlation with social function (r=0.942), followed by economic status (r=0.718), and the correlation between social function and economic status was 0.683. Conclusions In this research, most of the empty-nest elderly suffer from depressive symptoms. Health status is the most direct and important influencing factor of depressive symptoms in empty nesters. Social function affects depressive symptoms through influencing health status and economic status.

Substituted phenols as the starting materials were transformed into substituted chromanones by substitution reaction and cyclization reaction, and then 3-(hydroxymethylene)chroman-4-ones were synthesized from substituted chromanones by condensation reaction; at last, the target compounds were synthesized from 3-(hydroxymethylene)chroman-4-ones by chlorination reaction. Their structures were confirmed by 1H NMR and MS. The antifungal activity of the target compounds in vitro was measured by consecutive double dilution, and the result of antifungal experiment indicated that the target compounds had good antifungal action on most fungi tested in vitro. The MIC value of compounds 4c, 4e, 4g and 4h on M. gypseum is 1 microg x mL(-1), better than fluconazole and amphotericin B.
Antifungal Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Fungi ; drug effects ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Molecular Structure ; Structure-Activity Relationship

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.