Adult ; Computers, Handheld ; Data Collection ; Humans ; Male ; Otolaryngology ; User-Computer Interface

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.

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference in the efficacy on low back pain of cold-damp pattern between electric-thermal Bian-stone therapy and moxibustion box therapy.

METHODSForty-one cases of low back pain of cold-damp pattern were randomized into an electric-thermal Bian-stone therapy group (group A, 26 cases) and a box moxibustion therapy group (group B, 15 cases). In the group A, the electric-thermal Bian-stone was placed over Shenshu (BL 23) and Weizhong (BL 40). The temperature of stone was adjusted in accordance with patient's comfort. In the group B, moxibustion box was used over Shenshu (BL 23) and Weizhong (BL 40). The treatment was given once every day or every two days. Ten treatments made one session. The symptom and physical signs score of low back pain and the score of cold-damp syndrome were observed before and after treatment in the patients.

RESULTSThe symptom and physical signs score of low back pain and the score of cold-damp syndrome were all improved in the two groups (all P < 0.01). The changing rate of symptom and physical signs and syndrome were (37.04 +/- 32.68)% and (22.85 +/- 29.95)% in the group A, and were (47.29 +/- 22.08)% and (23.89 +/- 22.53)% in the group B, respectively, without significant difference in comparison between the two groups (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe efficacy on low back pain of cold-damp pattern treated with the electric-thermal Bian-stone therapy is similar to that of moxibustion box therapy. This therapy is characterized as more convenient, safer operation and less pollution.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; therapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion

OBJECTIVETo study the inhibition of berberine (BBR) against ECV-304 apoptosis induced by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus).

METHODSECV-304 cells were pre-treated with 128 microg/mL BBR for 2 h and then S. aureus was added (1:100). The viability of cells was detected by MTT (3-4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. The morphological changes were observed by Hoechst 33258 staining. The protection of BBR for infected cells was detected by DNA Ladder.

RESULTSECV-304 cells' viability were not obviously affected by berberine. But S. aureus induced ECV-304 cells' viability could be significantly inhibited by pre-treatment of BBR (P < 0.05). Besides S. aureus-induced ECV-304 apoptosis could be reduced, with significantly lessened apoptotic body and unobvious DNA degradation.

CONCLUSIONBBR could significantly inhibit S. aureus induced ECV-304 apoptosis.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Berberine ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; microbiology ; pathology ; Humans ; Staphylococcus aureus

Between August 1994 and June 1995, seventeen patients diagnosed as having partial or complete ruptures of the anterior cruciate ligament on MRI were managed by non-operative methods. Among them four patients were excluded due to operation during follow-up and the results were evaluated at a one year follow-up. We selected the patients prospectively for non-operative care using the selection criteria of age, degree of instability, activity level and patient compliance. The average age of them was 37.7 years. Initially knee stress test and MRI were checked, and Cybex study and Lysholm knee scoring were done at post-trauma one year follow-up. They were managed conservatively by ROM and muscle strengthening exercises and a brace fitting schedule for three months. Among them, six cases had partial tears and seven had a complete tear initially. At the one year follow-up, five of six cases who had shown partial ruptures, and two of seven cases with complete tears, recovered continuity of the ruptured ACL on MRI. Their Lysholm knee score was 84.4, and the Cybex test showed no difference in muscle power between the injured and uninjuried side. Those patients who had loss of continuity on follow-up MRI showed Lysholm score of 57.4 and decreased muscle power on Cybex study. Although there are still controversies about the adequate management of ACL injuries, our study suggests that conservative management is a viable alternative to surgery as long as the patients are selected prudently. For more concrete results, however, careful analysis based on a longer follow up period is necessary.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Appointments and Schedules ; Braces ; Exercise ; Exercise Test ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Patient Compliance ; Patient Selection ; Prospective Studies ; Rupture*

No abstract available.
Eustachian Tube*

Contrast induced nephropathy (CIN)is one of the main complications caused by intravenous iodinated contrast media injection,which can increase hospitalization rate and mortality of patients,and it has become the third main cause of acquired acute renal failure in hospital currently, but its fundamental pathogenesis is still not clear,which is considered to be related to inflammation and oxidative stress response etc.The present article made a review on pathogenesis of CIN and preventive effects of statins on CIN.

One of the strain of bivalent HFRS vaccine, Z37 strain was isolated from Rattus norvegicus and identified as SEO virus by serological test. The M segment cDNA of Hantavirus Z37 strain was obtained by reverse transcripti on and polymerase chain reaction, subsequently cloned into pGEM-T vector. The s equence of positive recombinants was determined by the method of dideoxy chain t ermination, which revealed that the M genomic segment is 3651 nucleotide in len gth with a predicated long open reading frame encoding a protein of 1133 amino acids. Comparison with HNT type (76-118, A9, HV-114 strains) indicated that th ere were 71.8%～72.1% homology at the nucleotide level, 76.2～76.7% homology at the amino acid level. Comparison with SEO type (R22,L99,80-39 strains) showed 95.3～96.1 homology at the nucleotide level, 95.3～99.2% homology at the amino acid level. The results of nucleotide and amino acid comparison indicated that Z 37 strain is SEO viruses in molecular level.

By using enrichment media NPC and CVP, 792 strains of Pseudomonas and 515 strains of Erwinia were isolated from the rhizosphere of Digitaria adscendens (H. B. K.) Hem and Setaria vindis (L.) Beanv. Following which, experiments of antimetabolic test with E. coli, seed emergence controlling of S. viridis, herbicidal activity and security with green grass were carried out to select the desired bacteria. As the result, the selected strain, S7, could wholly control the seed emergence of S. viridis without any harm to the two tested green grass. And more, S7 promoted the seed emergence of Festuca arundinacea slightly. In spite of the comparatively low corrected mortality (56. 7%) of S7 after emergence of S. viridis, Selecting of microbial herbicides from weed DRB is thought to be more prospective.

The microbial transglutamunase (MTG) gene was amplified from the genomic DNA of Streptoverticillium mobaraensea by using PCR and inserted into pET vector to construct the expression plasmid called pET-MTG. The pET-MTG was transfected into E. coli (Rosetta DE3) and the MTG protein was found to be highly expressed as inclusion bodies. The inclusion bodies were isolated and subjected to denaturation and re-naturation, followed by strong cation ion-exchange chromatography to purify the expressed MTG. The specific activity of purified MTG was close to that of native MTG. Taken together, this study might provide a base for the industrial production of microbial transglutaminase.
Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genes, Bacterial ; Inclusion Bodies ; enzymology ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Streptomycetaceae ; enzymology ; genetics ; Transglutaminases ; genetics ; metabolism