Dibenzothiophene (DBT) was used as a model compound. A bacteria strain, which can degrade dibenzo-thiophene efficiently, was obtained. This strain was identified as Pseudomonas stutzeris UP-1 according to its morphological, physiological and biochemical characters, and 16S rDNA sequence. The strain exhibits strong degradation capacity of DBT, and the end product of degradation is a kind of soluble compound. After the analysis of product of DBT degradation, it was deduced that the degradation of DBT by Pseudomonas stutzeri UP-1 is in accordance with the Kodama mechanism.

Immobilization of the bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens UP-3 was studied in this paper. The results showed that the immobilized cells with the mixture of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and sodium alginate (SA) as the immobilizing carrier had good biodesulfurization characteristics; The optimum operation immobilization conditions were 4℃, the total concentration of PVA and SA being 7%(wt), and the concentration of cells being 0.05 g/mL. When DBT addition was 2.7 mmol/L, the DBT degradation of immobilized cells was above 60% while that of resting cells is 13%. The optimum degradation time and temperature of immobilized cells were 5d and 28℃～32℃, respectively.

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

Fluorescence ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Luminescent Measurements ; methods ; Luminescent Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plant Diseases ; virology ; Plant Viruses ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plants ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; virology

OBJECTIVETo carry out expert survey for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome characteristics of different clinical types of coronary artery disease (CAD).

METHODSBy using Delphi method, we carried out two rounds of nationwide expert surveys for modern TCM characteristics of syndrome elements and syndrome types of CAD.

RESULTSBased on expert consensus, qi deficiency, blood stasis, phlegm turbidity, qi deficiency blood stasis, and intermingled phlegm and blood stasis are common TCM syndromes for different clinical types of CAD. Of them, qi stagnation, blood stasis, phlegm turbidity, heat accumulation, cold coagulation, yang deficiency, deficiency of both qi and yang were more often seen in patients with unstable angina than in those with stable angina. Qi deficiency, yin deficiency, and deficiency of both qi and yin were less seen. We could see more excess syndrome and less deficiency syndrome (such as qi deficiency, yin deficiency, etc.) in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) than acute non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Qi deficiency, blood stasis, water retention, yang deficiency, phlegm turbidity, yin deficiency, Xin-qi deficiency, and qi deficiency blood stasis induced water retention are the most common TCM syndrome types of CAD heart failure (HF). Blood deficiency, yin deficiency, heat accumulation, deficiency of both Xin and Pi, deficiency of both qi and blood, deficiency of both qi and yin, yin deficiency and fire hyperactivity were more often seen in CAD arrhythmias.

CONCLUSIONSTCM syndrome distributions of different clinical types of CAD have common laws and individual characteristics. Results based on the expert consensus supplied evidence and support for clinical diagnosis and treatment of CAD.

Angina Pectoris ; Angina, Unstable ; China ; Coronary Artery Disease ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Coronary Disease ; diagnosis ; Data Collection ; Heart Failure ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Qi ; Syndrome ; Yang Deficiency ; diagnosis ; Yin Deficiency ; diagnosis

An 11-month-old male infant was admitted to our hospital with fever, fussiness, poor feeding, vomiting, and tachypnea for two days prior. Physical examination revealed sporadic papules and vesicles occurring on his hands, feet, face, and perianal mucosa. Enterovirus 71 was identified from both throat swab and vesicle fluid using virus isolation techniques. The patient's heart rate fluctuated in a very narrow range from 180~210/beats/min regardless of his physiologic state. An electrocardiogram showed P-waves buried within or occurring just after regular, narrow, QRS complexes. The patient was diagnosed as having hand, foot, and mouth disease in combination with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT). The child recovered well with symptomatic treatment, including intravenous administration of acyclovir, glucocorticoids, immunoglobulin, adenosine, and sotalol. PSVT was terminated within 36 hours of hospitalization. The skin lesions became crusted on the third day, and then proceeded to heal spontaneously. Here we report on this unusual case and review the associated literature.
Acyclovir ; Adenosine ; Administration, Intravenous ; Animals ; Child ; Electrocardiography ; Enterovirus ; Fever ; Foot ; Foot-and-Mouth Disease ; Glucocorticoids ; Hand ; Heart Rate ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Infant ; Male ; Mouth ; Mouth Diseases ; Mucous Membrane ; Pharynx ; Physical Examination ; Skin ; Sotalol ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular ; Tachypnea ; Viruses ; Vomiting

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical characteristics, surgical procedures and prognosis of duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs).

METHODSThe clinical data of 18 GIST patients, collected from 1995 to 2004, were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSThe lesions of duodenal GISTs mainly located in the descending duodenum (13/18), unusually in the horizontal part (2/18), ascending part (1/18), and the bulb (2/18). Pathological examination revealed 1 case of benign tumor, 2 cases of borderline tumors and 15 cases of malignant tumors, Microscopically, the tumors were composed of spindle cells (14 cases), epithelial cell (1 case), and mixed cell types (3 cases). The clinical manifestations were non-specific, mostly was melena (7/18), as well as abdominal pain (6/18), fullness (5/18), and anemia (3/18). The diagnoses were performed by upper gastrointestinal radiography, gastroscopy, endoscopic ultrasonography and CT scan. All of the 18 patients received surgical treatment, including 9 pancreaticoduodenectomies, 5 local resections, 3 segmental resections of duodenum, and 1 distal subtotal gastrectomy. 1 and 3 year survival rates were 100% and 86.7% respectively.

CONCLUSIONMost duodenal GISTs are malignant, and the choices of surgical procedures are mainly determined by the location and size of the tumors.

Adult ; Aged ; Duodenal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

AIM:To investigate the expression and localization of autophagy related protein microtublule associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) at various stages of follicular development and atresia in the mice.METHODS:On 0,1,2,3,4 and 5 day after intraperitoneal injection of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG),expression and positioning situation of autophagy related protein LC3 and apoptosis related protein cleaved caspase-3 were examined by the method of immunohistochemical staining.The protein levels of cleaved caspase-3 and LC3 were determined by Western blot in cultured mouse granulosa cells after incubation under serum-free conditions in the absence or presence of FSH.LC3 subcellular localization in granulosa cells were studied by the method of immunofluorescence.RESULTS:The LC3 protein expressed in granulosa cells during all developmental stages mainly.Granulosa cells of atretic follicles that showed intense staining of cleaved caspase-3 and LC3.The protein levels of cleaved caspase-3 and LC3-Ⅱ in the granulosa cells significantly decreased at 1 d and 2 d after intraperitoneal injection of PMSG (P ＜ 0.05).The protein levels of cleaved caspase3 and LC3-Ⅱ in the granulosa cells increased in turn on 3,4 and 5 day after intraperitoneal injection of PMSG.The positive correlation between LC3-Ⅱ and cleaved caspase-3 protein levels was observed (r2 =0.8299,P ＜ 0.05).The LC3-Ⅱ protein expressed with punctuate structures in granulosa cell cytoplasm cultured under serum-free conditions in the presence of FSH.CONCLUSION:LC3 is expressed in the follicular granulosa cells with cell specificity and regional specificity.Autophagy is induced mainly in granulosa cells during folliculogenesis and shows positive correlation with apoptosis.Ovarian granulosa cell autophagy and apoptosis are gonadotropic hormone dependent.

Danshen,an efficacious agent for cardiovascular diseases,has been found to play an essential role in kidney injury.In the present study,the effect of Danshen on cisplatin-induced renal dysfunction was investigated in a mouse model.Danshen was administered to mice at a dose of 3 g/kg 4 days before and 3 days after cisplatin treatment.A single intraperitoneal injection of 20 mg/kg cisplatin was used to induce nephrotoxicity.The mice were sacrificed 72 h after cisplatin intoxication.Biochemical parameters including serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were analyzed.Histopathological changes of kidney tissues were detected using HE staining.Antioxidant enzymes (GSH-Px and SOD) and peroxidative product (MDA) were detected.Protein expressions of Nrf2 and its target genes including HO-1 and NQO1 were measured by Western blotting.The results showed that pretreatment with Danshen significantly reduced serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen in the cisplatin-treated mice.Histopathological examination showed that Danshen mitigated the renal damage induced by cisplatin.Moreover,Danshen restored the activities of antioxidant enzymes (GSH-Px and SOD) and normalized the MDA contents in renal tissues.Western blotting revealed that Danshen enhanced the expressions of Nrf2 and its target genes in cisplatin-exposed mice.It was suggested that Danshen protects against the cisplatin-induced renal impairment in the mice,which is potentially associated with the upregulation of Nrf2-mediated signaling pathway.

Objective To observe the effects of dredging collaterals and activating blood worm Chinese materia medica on angiogenesis related factors of lung cancer in hypoxic environment. Methods The lung cancer A549 cells were cultured in vitro to simulate tumor hypoxia microenvironment by the hypoxia workstation, and different concentrations of Scorpio, Scolopendra and Gecko medicated serum were added. MTT method was used to detect cell proliferation and screen the best medicine concentration and duration of action. Lung cancer A549 cells were administrated by the three kinds of medicated serum, and cells were collected and supernatant was cultured. Contents of VEGF, TGF-β1, and bFGF were detected by ELISA. Results Three kinds of medicated serum had the inhibitory effect on both added normoxia and hypoxia in cultured A549 lung cancer cells. 7.5% concentration of medicated serum was selected, and 24 h later were used in later experiments. Scorpio, Scolopendra and Gecko medicated serum can more reduce the contents of VEGF, TGF-β1 and bFGF in the supernatant of A549 cell compared with the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion Dredging collaterals and activating blood worm Chinese materia medica had inhibitory effect on cancer cells and the regulation of angiogenesis related cytokines in the condition of normoxia and hypoxia.