Bc58 is a UV resistant wild type strain that has an ability to produce a sorrel pigment induced by L-tyrosine.The FT-IR spectra and chemical tests of its pigment are similar to that of the standard melanin(Sigma).By bioassay shows that the LC_(50) of a Bt formulation added with the melanin of Bc58 and exposed to UV for 5 h is 16.1?g/mL,which is similar to that of Bt formulation without treated with UV,however,it is almost double higher than that of Bt formulation exposed to UV without the melanin of Bc58.The result of SDS-PAGE indicates that the melanin of Bc58 can protect the insecticidal crystal proteins from degradation.It suggests that an excellent UV protective agent to the insecticidal crystal proteins of Bt formulation.

Child, Preschool ; Epilepsy, Rolandic ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Prognosis ; Steroids ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study and compare the therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture and probiotics combine Deanxit in treating diarrhea predominant irritable bowel syndrome (D-IBS).

METHODSTotally 64 D-IBS patients accompanied with anxiety and/or depression were randomly assigned to the Western medicine group (Group A) and the electroacupuncture (EA) group (Group B), 30 patients in Group A and 34 patients in Group B. Patients in Group A took Bacillus licheniformis and Deanxit, while those in Group B received EA. Four weeks consisted of one therapeutic course. Three-month follow-up was carried out. The scoring for the digestive tract symptoms, HAMA score, and HAMD score were evaluated before and after treatment. The recurrence in the 3-month follow-up was also observed.

RESULTSThe total effect rate was 86.67% in Group A and 88.24% in Group B with no statistical difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was statistical difference in the scoring for the digestive tract symptoms, HAMA score, and HAMD score (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in the improvement of defecation frequency score, HAMA score, HAMD score between the two groups after treatment (P > 0.05). Better effects on improving abdominal pain score and abdominal distention score was obtained in Group B (P < 0.01), while better effects on improving the stool form score and mucus score were obtained in Group A (P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in the recurrence rate between the two groups within the two-month follow-up (P > 0.05). The recurrence rate within the 3-month follow-up was obviously lower in Group B than in Group A (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEA and Western medicine (probiotics combined Deanxit) could effectively treat D-IBS patients accompanied with anxiety and/or depression. Both of them had different superiorities in improving symptoms. But EA had better long-term therapeutic effects.

Adult ; Anthracenes ; therapeutic use ; Diarrhea ; therapy ; Drug Combinations ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Flupenthixol ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Probiotics ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To explore the reasons why patients with Keshan disesse complicated with hypertension and their interaction in Fuyu County, Heilongjiang Province. Methods Fifty-three patients with Keshan disease were investigated in January, April and July in 2007. Blood pressure was measured and the risk factors of hypertension were investigated. According to the diagnostic criteria of hypertension, patients were divided into hypertension group and non-hypertension group, and then the risk factors of hypertension, as well as the course of Keshan disease, were compared between the two groups. The risk factors include age, gender, family history of hypertension, salt intake in diet, smoking, drinking and obesity. Results The age of hypertension group[(57.83±8.89)years] was significantly higher than that of non-hypertension group [(51.53 ± 9.43)years, t = 2.3630, P < 0.05) ;while the course of Keshan disease in non-hypertension group [(31.63 ± 8.66)years] was notably longer than that in hypertension group [(25.08±11.41)years, t = 2.0224, P < 0.05] ;No statistically significant difference in gender, family history of hypertension, salt intake in diet, smoking, drinking and obesity was observed between the two groups(χ2 = 0.0072,0.1779,0.0029,0.1555,0.119,0.7679, all P > 0.05). Conclusions Age might be an important factor in patients with Keshan disease accompanied by hypertension, and the role of other risk factors of hypertension should not be overlooked;whether Keshan disease and hypertension can affect each other needs further investigation.

OBJECTIVETo explore relationship between HBV DNA level and peripheral blood follicular helper T lymphocyte (Tfh) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and its significance.

METHODSHBV DNA levels of 179 cases of CHB patients with positive HBV DNA, positive HBeAg and positive human leukocyte antigen(HLA)-A2 were tested with real time fluorescent quantitative PCR. Tfh and HBV specific CTL were tested with flow cytometry. IL-21 was also tested. 179 cases of CHB patients were divided into group A and group B based on HBV DNA levels, 86 cases in group A, HBV DNA levels were 10(4)-10(5) copies/ml, 93 cases in group B, HBV DNA levels were 10(6)-10(7) copies/ml. Above testing indexes of the two groups were compared.

RESULTSHBV DNA levels of group A were (4.85 +/- 0.37) log10 copies/ml, HBV DNA levels of group B were (6.83 +/- 0.31 ) log10 copies/ml, t = 27.31, P < 0. 001; Tfh of group A was (5.96 +/- 1.59)%, higher than that of group B (3.71 +/- 2.15)%, t = 4.92, P < 0.01; IL-21 of group A was (42.61 +/- 15.11)ng/L, higher than that of group B (14.91 +/- 3.15) ng/L, t = 8.62, P < 0.01; HBV specific CTL of group A was (0.36 +/- 0.08)%, higher than that of group B (0.18 +/- 0.06)%, t = 19.99, P < 0.001.

CONCLUSIONSerum HBV DNA level of CHB patients is related to the level of peripheral blood Tfh level: patients with low HBV DNA level have high Tfh level, high IL-21 level and high HBV specific CTL level. Patients with high HBV DNA level have low Tfh level, low IL-21 level and low HBV specific CTL level. The mechanism of baseline HBV DNA level affecting anti-viral therapy may be related to Tfh level.

Adult ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; genetics ; Female ; HLA-A2 Antigen ; immunology ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; immunology ; virology ; Humans ; Interleukins ; immunology ; Male ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer ; cytology

· AIM:To evaluate the safety and efficacy at early stage after femtosecond laser-assisted excimer laser in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK) combined with collagen cross-linking.· METHODS:Totally 30 myopia patients (60 eyes) received FS-LASIK combined with collagen cross-linking from July 2016 to August 2017 in our hospital were tested the uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA),Ks,Kf,surface regular index (SRI),surface asymmetry index (SAI) by corneal topography (TMS) preoperatively,1,3mo after operation.The corneal compensated intraocular pressure (IOPcc),Goldmann correlated IOP value (IOPg),corneal resistance factor (CRF),corneal hysteresis (CH) tested by ocular response analyzer (ORA) were also observed.Ziemer Galilei Dual Scheimpflug Analyzer detected the anterior diopter and the corneal thickness.Endothelial cell density were examined.· RESULTS:The postoperative UCVA remained beyond 0.8 including 26 eyes (43％) of 1d,55 eyes (92％) of 1mo,50 eyes (83％) of 3mo.IOPcc,IOPg,CRF,CH at postoperative 1mo significantly decreased comparing with preoperative (P＜0.01).IOPcc,IOPg,CRF,CH at postoperative 3mo did not change significantly comparing with 1mo (P＞0.05).The corneal topographic map parameters of Ks and Kf significantly decreased at postoperative 1mo (P ＜ 0.01),while SRI and SAI increased significantly (P＜0.01) on comparison of 1mo and preoperative.Ks of postoperative 3mo was significantly higher than that of 1 mo (P＜0.05),while Kf did not change significantly (P＞ 0.05).There was a significant decrease in SRI and SAI between 3mo and 1mo after operation (P＜ 0.05).In Galileo analysis on comparison of 3mo and 1mo,Sim Ks,Sim Kf had 0.94D,0.95D growth and the front and back surface value of Kf increased more at 3mo postoperative (P＜0.01),while Ks was no significant difference (P＞ 0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in corneal thickness between the central point and the thinnest point (P＞ 0.05).There was no significant endothelial cell loss throughout follow up (3059.95±247.87/mm2 vs 3052.87± 267.71/mm2;t=0.279,P＞0.05).· CONCLUSION:Refractive corneal surgery combined with collagen cross linking for high degree,thin cornea,uneven thickness of the cornea,topographic anomalies except for the patients with keratoconus,play a role in stabilizing corneal shape and increasing corneal biomechanics early.

OBJECTIVETo establish a real-time quantitative PCR method for detecting the levels of the signal joint T cell receptor excision circles (sjTRECs) in murine thymocytes and spleen lymphocytes for determining the amount of naive T cells and evaluating the thymic function.

METHODSThe genomic DNA was extracted from murine thymocytes and splenocytes for PCR amplification of the target fragments. After purification of the PCR product, the recombination-activating gene 2 (RAG(2)) fragment was cloned into pGEMT-Easy vector to construct the standard plasmid. After PCR optimization, the standard curve was obtained and the samples (thymocytes and splenocytes of BALB/c and C(57)BL/6 mice) were detected for sjTRECs by real-time quantitative PCR.

RESULTSThe standard plasmid was correctly constructed, and the standard curve with high reliability was obtained. No statistical difference was observed in sjTREC contents in the T lymphocytes between the two mouse strains.

CONCLUSIONSReal-time quantitative PCR for sjTREC analysis is established successfully, which offers an important means for thymic function analysis and a reliable model establishment for study the thymus.

Animals ; Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte ; Lymphocyte Count ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; Thymus Gland ; cytology ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo explore the roles of the closure disorder of Eustachian tube in occurrence and development of otitis media with effusion (OME).

METHODSFifty-six adults with OME, 16 children with OME, 66 health adults and 20 health children were selected according to diagnosis criteria. Sniffing test was measured by Tubo-tymanoaerodynamic graphy and the self-designed questionnaires were surveyed in all cases.

RESULTSThe positive levels in sniffing test were regarded as external auditory canal press 10dapa lower than baseline of the pressure. The positive rate was 64.86% in adults with OME, which was higher than health adults (P < 0.01). The positive rate was 70.83% in children with OME which was higher than health children (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe higher positive rate of sniff test in OME patients suggests that closure disorder in Eustachian tube playing an important role in the occurrence and development of OME.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Eustachian Tube ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Otitis Media with Effusion ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE Vascular dementia (VD) refers to a progressive decline in memory and cognitive function caused by chronic cerebral ischemia. 2-Vessels occlusion (2-VO) has been widely used as a model of VD. Xiao-Xu-Ming decoction, a well-known traditional Chinese medicine prescrip-tion,has been widely used to treat stroke and sequelae of stroke.The present study was to investigate the mechanism of Xiao-Xu-Ming decoction(XXM) against chronic cerebral ischemia injury in rats. METHODS After XXM treatment, rats were performed a memory testing with Morris water maze and motor ability testing using prehensile test and inclined screen test.Neuronal plasticity was observed by immunofluorescent staining with MAP2 antibody. Differentially expressed proteins of rat hippocampus were analyzed by Label-free quantitative proteomics. RESULTS XXM significantly alleviated 2-VO-induced learning and memory deficits, motor ability dysfunction, and neuronal plasticity injury in rats. The mechanism might be involved in up-regulation of 39 proteins and down-regulation of 13 proteins in the hippocampus of rats after XXM treatment vs 2-VO group rats.Gene ontology and pathway analysis showed that the regulated proteins are mainly involved in oxidation reduction process, intracellular signaling cascade process, and protein catabolic process, etc. The signal pathways are mainly involved in ubiquitin mediated proteolysis and phosphatidylinositol signaling system. CONCLUSION Current findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of XXM on chronic cerebral ischemia.

This study was to investigate the protective effects of puerarin on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury and the underlying mechanism. The MI/R-model was established by ligating the left anterior descending artery (LAD) for 60 min followed by 24 h reperfusion, puerarin (10, 30, and 100 mg·kg^-1) was orally administered 20 min before reperfusion. Cardiac function, myocardial infarct index, cardiac damage markers, inflammatory cytokines, and apoptosis index were measured to evaluate the protective effects of puerarin on MI/R injury. The activation of Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and Toll like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 88 (Myd88)/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway were determined by Western blot. All animal experimental procedures were approved by the ethics committee of the Institute of Materia Medica, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. The results showed that puerarin could significantly improve cardiac function, reduce myocardial infarct size, decease the levels of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate transaminase (AST), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and suppress cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Meanwhile, puerarin could notably decrease the levels of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Western blot analysis revealed that puerarin could downregulate the expression of TLR4, Myd88, NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), cleaved-caspase 1, cleaved-gasdermin-D (GSDMD), IL-1β, and IL-18, as well as the phosphorylation levels of inhibitor of NF-κB α (IκBα), IκB kinase β (IKKβ), and NF-κB. These findings demonstrated that puerarin could alleviate MI/R injury by suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome activation, possibly via TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB pathway.