Objective To evaluate the feasibility of an intelligent three-dimensional ultrasound technique (Smart mid-sagittal planes,Smart MSP) in automatically detecting the fetal cranial mid-sagittal view.Methods Two hundred and forty pregnant women with singleton pregnancies were imaged to display the mid-sagittal view of fetal head using the Smart MSP by six doctors divided into three groups according the different experiences.Another two doctors were then invited to score the images acquired and to compare the successful rates of 6 doctors for acquiring fetal cranial mild-sagittal view according to the doctors' experience.Results The overall successful rate of acquiring the mid-sagittal view was 97.08％ (233/240) with the bipartial diameter plane (BPD plane) as the starting plane and 98.33(237/240) with the trans-cerebellum plane as the starting plane by using Smart MSP program.The successful rates in three groups were similar but the consumed times were different(P ＜0.05).The experienced doctors consumed less time than non-experienced doctors.The scores were also different in three groups.The scores of experienced doctors (group B and C) were significantly higher than that of non-experienced doctors (Group A) (P ＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the scores between experienced doctors (group B and C) (P＞0.05).Conclusions Smart MSP is a novel and feasible method for the automatic visualization of fetal cranial mid-sagittal plane,which may become an effective tool to screen the fetal midline anomalies in future.

OBJECTIVETo develvp a RP-HPLC method for the determination of flavonoids in fifteen kinds of flowers such as Iris lacteal pall, prunus persica and rosa chinensis.

METHODThe contents of quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamntin in fifteen kinds of flowers were extracted with methanol. The analysis was performed on a Kromasil C18 column (4.6 mm x250 mm, 5 microm) with methanol-0.1% phosphoric acid (50:50) as mobile phase.

RESULTThe quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamntin were separated well, and the result shows that the content of quercetin in the Iris lactea Pall was the highest (1.536%), the contene of kaempferol in Persica persice was the highest (0.572%), and the content of isorhamntin in chrysamthemum morifolium was up to 0.290%.

CONCLUSIONThe contents of flavonoids in these flowers were by determined RP-HPLC for the first time and the method can be used for quantitative determination of flavonoids in the flowers.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Iris Plant ; chemistry ; Kaempferols ; chemistry ; Prunus ; chemistry ; Quercetin ; chemistry ; Rosa ; chemistry

Objective To study the damage propagation and evolution mechanism of cartilage under compressive loads.Methods The fiber-reinforced porous elastic model of cartilage with micro-defect was established by using finite element method,and the process of damage evolution under compressive loads was simulated and analyzed with parameters.The patterns of stress and strain distributions on cartilage matrix and collagen fiber at different damage extension stages were obtained.Results The strain in the surface and forefront of cartilage damage increased significantly with the increase of compression displacement,and they were obviously in positive correlation;in the process of damage evolution,there was a trend that cartilage extended to the deep and both sides simultaneously;cracks and damage in cartilage extended preferentially along the fiber tangent direction.With the aggravation of cartilage damage,the lateral extension speed was significantly faster than the longitudinal extension speed.Conclusions The process of cartilage damage extension has a close relationship with the distribution of fibers.The damages in matrix and fiber promote each other.The evolution speed and degree of cartilage vary constantly in different layers and at different stages.These results can provide the qualitative reference for prediction and repair of cartilage damage,as well as the theoretical basis for explaining pathological phenomena of damage degeneration and its clinic treatment.

AIM To optimize the aqueous extraction for polysaccharides from Astragali Radix and to evaluate the in vitro antitumor activity.METHODS With extraction temperature,extraction time and solid-liquid ratio as influencing factors,extraction rate of polysaccharides as an evaluation index,the extraction was optimized by uniform design.The effect of polysaccharides on the proliferation of non-small cell lung cancer NCI-H460 cells,the apoptosis rate and cell cycle of NCI-H460 cells,and the expressions of Caspase-3,Bax and Bcl-2 were detected by MTT assay,flow cytometry and Western blot,respectively.RESULTS The optimal conditions were determined to be 100 ℃ for extraction temperature,1 h for extraction time,and 1 ∶ 35 for solid-liquid ratio,the extraction rate of polysaccharides was 3.62％.Compared with the control group,the proliferation of NCI-H460 cells was significandy inhibited in a dose-dependent manner (P ＜ 0.01),the S phase ratio,early apoptosis rate,late apoptosis rate and total apoptosis rate were markedly increased (P ＜ 0.01),and the Caspase-3 expression and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio were also obviously increased (P ＜ 0.01) in the polysaccharides group.CONCLUSION This fast,stable and reliable method can be used for the aqueous extraction for polysaccharides from Astragali Radix,which can significantly inhibit the proliferation of NCI-H460 cells and induce apoptosis of NCI-H460 cells.

Objective To identify the isolates of Shewanella spp.from specimens of food poisoning based on biological and biochemical analysis.Methods Strains were obtained from the investigation on two food poisoning episodes in September and October,2007 in Ma'anshan city,Anhui province.In accordance with the national standard protocol(GB/T 4789),all specimens were enriched and isolated on selective medium,and the suspected strains were ldentified by the VITEK-32 and API20E systems.For Shewanella spp.identified by the biochemical system,more characteristics were analyzed using auxiliary biochemical,growth,hemolytic and drug-resistance tests.DNAs of Shewanella spp.were extracted,16S rDNA was PCR amplified and sequenced with universal 16S rDNA primers.Phylogenetic tree was constructed with MEGA 4.0.Results After enrichment, all specimens were inoculated to selective medium and Shewanella spp.strains were isolated from 8 samples with single colony on both TCBS and BP media.The characteristics of growth in the Triple Sugar Iron (TSI) agar appeared to have had hydrogen sulfide production but no gas production or positive oxidase.No Shewanella spp.strain was detected in WS,SS and EMB media.The 8 strains were identified as Shewanella algae(S.algae) or Shewanella putrefaciens(S.putrefaciens) by VITEK-32,as S.putrefaciens by API20E system.No other enteropathogenic bacteria,including Vibrio cholerae,Salmonella,Vibrio parahaemolyticus,Proteus vulgaris or Staphylococcus aureua,were detected from those 8 samples.From 16S rDNA phylogenetic trees,7 out of 8 ShewaneUa spp.were identified as S.algae.1 as S.putrefaeiens.Conclusion Strains of Shewanella spp.were lsolated from samples of the food poisoning episodes,providing a possible clue to investigate the role of Shewanella spp.on food poisoning

OBJECTIVETo explore the inhibitory effect of 2- (4-morpholine) -8- phenyl -4 hydrogen -1- benzo -4 ketone (LY294002) on proliferation of multiple myeloma cell U266 and its mechanism.

METHODSU266 cells were cultured with 0, 5, 10, 20 µmol/L LY294002 for 24, 48 and 72 h, the cell viability was measured by MTT method, cell morphology was observed by acridine orange staining, cell cycle was measured by flow cytometry. The expressions of B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2), BCL-2-associated X protein (BAX), Cyclin D1, Cyclin E and activation of phosphatidyl inositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signal pathway were measured by Western blot.

RESULTSU266 cell viability was reduced in time- and dose-dependent manner after treatment with 5, 10, 20 µmol/L of LY294002 for 24, 48, 72 h. The 5, 10, 20 µmol/L LY294002 leaded to cell nucleus dense and thick, and the cell cycle arrested in the Gphase (P<0.01). The expressions of BCL-2, Cyclin D1, Cyclin E, PI3K and p-AKT were down-regulated (P<0.01), and the expression of BAX up-regulated (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONLY294002 can inhibit U266 cell proliferation via suppresion of activation of PI3K/AKT signal pathway.

Objective To compare the plasma proteome among male normotensive, prehypertensive, and hypertensive subjects. Methods Plasma proteome was analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis combined with MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry in this case-control study among well matched male normotensive, prehypertensive and hypertensive subjects (n = 26 each). Results The results showed that there were 22 differentially expressed protein spots among the protein samples derived from the 3 groups which corresponded to 18 proteins associated with inflammation and immunity, lipid metabolism, transport, coagulation and fibrinolysis, cell proliferation and apoptosis, and antioxidation. Conclusion Proteins were differentially expressed in male subjects with various blood pressure levels.

Objective:To analyze the amino acid polymorphism of truncated Staphylococcal enterotoxin-like toxin X (tSElX), and to evaluate its related emetic activities.Methods:Sequence of tselx was compared with both the genome sequence of 145 CC398 strains completed in our research group and the NCBI database. Primers were designed to amplify the target gene of tselx, and the fragment was recombined into pMD18-T vector and sequenced. PCR product was digested with BamHⅠ and EcoRⅠ, and constructed into plasmid pGEX-6P-1 and pET-28a (+). After recombinant plasmid was identified, the protein expression was induced by IPTG. Proteins expressed in the form of inclusion bodies were denatured and renatured, then purified by affinity chromatography and ultrafiltration. Purified tSElX protein was then fed to common marmosets with the dose of 250 μg/kg to observe the vomiting reaction. Results:tselx gene was present in 145 strains of CC398 strains from the different origins (patients, healthy people and animals) in China. Homology of the amino acid sequence of the protein from the Chinese strains appeared 100.0 %, while the homology with the four American strains were 97.8 %(1) and 98.9 %(3), respectively. Through two sets of expression systems and different induction conditions, tSElX was expressed in the form of inclusion bodies. The high purity soluble recombinant tSElX was thus obtained by denaturated and renaturated processes. At the dose of 250 μg/kg, tSElX protein did not cause vomiting in common marmosets. Conclusions:Results of this study showed that the amino acid sequence of tSElX was highly conserved and was universally present in a particular clone group. We obtained soluble recombinant tSElX protein with high purity. We also noticed that tSElX did not have the animal emetic activity at a dose of 250 μg/kg.

Objective To study the damage propagation and evolution mechanism of cartilage under compressive load. Methods The fiber-reinforced porous elastic model of cartilage with micro-defect was established by using finite element method, and the process of damage evolution under compressive load was simulated and analyzed with parameters. The patterns of stress and strain distributions on cartilage matrix and collagen fiber at different damage extension stage were obtained. Results The strain in surface and the forefront of cartilage damage increased significantly with the increase of compression displacement, and they were obviously in positive correlation; in the process of damage evolution, there was a trend that cartilage extended to the deep and both sides simultaneously; cracks and damage in cartilage extended preferentially along the fiber tangent direction. With the aggravation of cartilage damage, the lateral extension speed was significantly faster than the longitudinal extension speed. Conclusions The process of cartilage damage extension has a close relationship with the distribution of fibers. And the damage in matrix and fiber promote each other. The evolution speed and degree of cartilage vary constantly in different layers and at different stages. These results can provide the qualitative reference for prediction and repair of cartilage damage, as well as the theoretical basis for explaining clinical pathological phenomena of damage degeneration and treatment.