The medium of photo-synthetic bacteria synthesizing carotenoid was optimized with response surface methodology. The regression equation expressing the relationship between carotenoid yield and main components of culture medium was established by stepwise analysis. The R-squared in the model of regression equation was 0. 958, which meant the established equation could predict the carotenoid yield well at the range of factors in this design. It was indicated that the optimum medium components were: 0. 81% citric acid, 0. 35% NH4Cl and 0. 18% corn syrup. On those conditions, it was predicted that the highest production of carotenoid was 13. 34 mg/L, which was 2. 04 times higher than initial carotenoid yield before optimization.

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the approach of the Nuss procedure for the correction of pectus excavatum in children without thoracoscopy.Methods From Oct 2007 and May 2009,48 patients with pectus excavatum underwent Nuss procedure.Among them 22 were done under the thoracoscopic guidance,and the other 26 in a non-thoracoscopic way,in which,a bilateral extrapleural tunnel to the edge of sternum was created using a blunt dissection via a bilateral thoracic skin incision.Without introducing the thoracoscopy into the thoracic cavity,a steel bar was inserted in the entirely extrapleural tunnel and turned as the standard Nuss procedure.Results All 48 patients recovered uneventfully.There were no postoperative deaths and serious complications.A single alloy steel bar(23-40 cm)was used in all patients.In the non-video-assisted extrapleural group(n=26),no pneumothorax occurred,the operating time(after anesthesia)ranged from 24～38 minutes[mean(25.4±2.6)mins],blood loss was minimal(range,5-10 ml),and the hospital stay was ranged from 3-6 days[mean(4.5±1.1)days].In the thoracoscopic group(n=22),the corresponding figures were 40 to 60 minutes[mean(53.5±3.4)mins)],10 to 15ml,5-8days[mean(7.0±2.2)days],respectively.No recurrent of the funnel chest occurred during the 3-18 months(median 10.4 monthes)of follow-up.The bar displacement occurred in 1 case 2 months after operation,which was replaced with satisfied result.Conclusion The non-thoracoscopic approach of the Nuss procedure is a safe and less traumatic procedure for the correction of pectus excavatum.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a task-oriented upper arm exercise performed in a sitting position on either an unstable support surface or a stable support surface for children with cerebral palsy. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated 18 children with cerebral palsy. Eight subjects were randomly assigned to each of the stable and unstable support surface groups. We performed the upper arm exercise three times a week for 6 weeks. To confirm the effects of the intervention, the berg balance scale test, modified functional reaching test (MFRT), timed up and go test (TUG), and Jebsen-Taylor hand function test were conducted before and after the study. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed in MFRT and TUG between the experimental and control groups (p<0.05). In the Jebsen-Taylor hand function test, there were significant differences between the groups for the items picking up small objects, stacking checkers, lifting large light objects, and lifting large heavy objects (p<0.05), but not for writing and stimulation of feeding. Significant differences were observed between the groups in items of card turning, lifting large light objects, and lifting heavy objects. CONCLUSION: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a task-oriented upper extremity exercise program for dynamic balance and hand function performed in a sitting position with either stable or unstable support by cerebral palsy patients. There were improvements in the two groups, but performing the exercise while sitting on an unstable support surface had a greater effect on dynamic balance and hand function than exercise while sitting on a stable supporting surface. The results of this study can be used to improve the daily lives of cerebral palsy patients.
Arm* ; Cerebral Palsy* ; Child ; Hand* ; Humans ; Lifting ; Prospective Studies ; Upper Extremity ; Writing

Objective To investigate the effect of cocaine-amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide (CART) on the content of 4-hydroxy-2-noneral (HNE) and infarct volume after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in mice.Methods A total of 96 healthy male mice were randomly divided into four groups:ischemia/reperfusion (n =27),CART (n =27),normal saline control (n =27) and sham operation (n =15) groups.A middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was induced.Two hours after MCAO,CART 55-102 and equivalent normal saline were injected respectively via the tail veins of mice in the CART group and the normal saline control group,and then they were injected every other 24 hour.The neurological scores,infarct volume and the HNE content of lipid metabolism of oxidative stress were performed and detected respectively at 12,24,48 and 72hours after reperfusion.Results CART could significantly improve the neurological deficit scores (all P ＜0.05) and reduce infarct volume (all P＜0.05) at different time points after ischemia/reperfusion.The content of HNE was upregulated (all P＜0.05) at different points after referfusion.CART could significantly down-regulate the increased HNE levd in brain after ischemia (all P＜0.05).Conclusions CART may protect ischemic brain injury in mice by inhibiting lipid peroxidation.

Objective To investigate the changes and correlation of mitral valve coaptation length index CLI and coaptation area index CAI after mitral valvuloplasty MVP Methods A total of 30 subjects undergoing MVP for mitral regurgitation MR were studied Coaptation length CL CLI coaptation area CA and CAI were determined before and after surgery by 2-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography 2D-TEE and 3-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography 3D-TEE Results Compared with preoperative measurements CL CLI CA and CAI were significantly increased in postoperative studies CL 4 7±0 7 mm vs 9 4± 1 1 mm CLI 9 1 ±3 3 vs 38 5 ±4 1 CA 148 9 ± 65 3 mm 2 vs 371 9 ± 144 3 mm 2 CAI 9 3 ±3 1 vs 35 9 ± 7 5 all P < 0 05 CLI was significantly correlated with CAI both preoperatively r = 0 770 P < 0 01 and postoperatively r = 0 771 P <0 01 Furthermore CLI and CAI were significantly negative correlated with the degree of MR r =-0 897 P <0 01 r =-0 886 P <0 01 Conclusions Coaptation variables increased significantly in subjects after MVP CLI by 2D-TEE was related to CAI by 3D-TEE and both were useful for the assessment of mitral valve coaptation But CLI by 2D-TEE was more simple and feasible in clinic.

Fenbendazole (FBZ) is a benzimidazole anthelmintic that has been widely used in treatments for gastrointestinal parasites including pinworms and roundworms in animals. Recently, some studies demonstrated that FBZ has anti-cancer effects related to disruption of microtubule polymerization. In this study, we investigated whether FBZ has anti-cancer activity in HL-60 cells, a human leukemia cell line, and assessed its relationship with the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). FBZ treatment at 0.25–1 μM significantly decreased the metabolic activity of HL-60 cells. The mitochondrial membrane potential of FBZ-treated HL-60 cells decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. Apoptosis analysis using annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide staining demonstrated that 1 μM FBZ increased the percentages of cells in apoptosis and necrosis. In addition, Hoechst 33342 staining showed the presence of broken nuclei in HL-60 cells treated with 0.5 and 1 μM FBZ. To investigate the anti-cancer mechanism of FBZ, HL-60 cells were treated with FBZ in the absence or presence of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), an inhibitor of ROS production. NAC significantly recovered the decreased metabolic activity of HL-60 induced by 0.5 and 1 μM FBZ treatments. This study provides evidence that FBZ has anti-cancer activity in HL-60 cells provided, in part, via ROS production.

Thirty-two cases of surgically removed astrocytoma were evaluated for the expression of androgen receptors(ARs) immunohistochemically and the relationships between androgen receptors, DNA ploidy pattern, and survival of patients were studied. The cases included 18 grade I/II astrocytomas, 4 anaplastic astrocytomas, and 10 glioblastoma multiforme(GBM). Positive AR was present in 12 out of 32 cases(38%), which consisted of 5 cases in grade I/II(28%), 3 cases in anaplastic astrocytoma(75%), and 4 cases in GBM(40%). For both low and high grade astrocytomas, sex and ploidy pattern were not correlated with expression of the androgen receptors. Androgen receptor expression did not significantly affect the survival time. This study confirms previous reports of a low incidence of androgen receptors in astrocytomas. In addition, it shows that expression of androgen receptors is not correlated with DNA ploidy pattern and survival of patients in astrocytoma.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Astrocytoma/*metabolism/pathology ; Brain Neoplasms/*metabolism/pathology ; Child ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Glioma/metabolism/pathology ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; Ploidies ; Receptors, Androgen/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Survival Analysis

Thirty-two cases of surgically removed astrocytoma were evaluated for the expression of androgen receptors(ARs) immunohistochemically and the relationships between androgen receptors, DNA ploidy pattern, and survival of patients were studied. The cases included 18 grade I/II astrocytomas, 4 anaplastic astrocytomas, and 10 glioblastoma multiforme(GBM). Positive AR was present in 12 out of 32 cases(38%), which consisted of 5 cases in grade I/II(28%), 3 cases in anaplastic astrocytoma(75%), and 4 cases in GBM(40%). For both low and high grade astrocytomas, sex and ploidy pattern were not correlated with expression of the androgen receptors. Androgen receptor expression did not significantly affect the survival time. This study confirms previous reports of a low incidence of androgen receptors in astrocytomas. In addition, it shows that expression of androgen receptors is not correlated with DNA ploidy pattern and survival of patients in astrocytoma.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Astrocytoma/*metabolism/pathology ; Brain Neoplasms/*metabolism/pathology ; Child ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Glioma/metabolism/pathology ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; Ploidies ; Receptors, Androgen/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Survival Analysis

No abstract available.
Incontinentia Pigmenti*

An asymptomatic 26-year-old man was initially admitted with a suspicious mediastinal mass. On the basis of the contrast-enhanced chest CT findings, aneurysm formation involving the left cervical aortic arch associated with subaortic left innominate vein was diagnosed. The aneurysm was confirmed by MR angiography and DSA. The arch aneurysm was surgically removed. We describe this case, and review the literature.
Adult ; Aneurysm* ; Angiography ; Aorta, Thoracic* ; Brachiocephalic Veins* ; Humans ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed