Xanthan gum is a microbial, natural high molecular weight polysaccharide produced by a the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris. Due to its exceptional rheological properties, its numerous areas of application cover a broad range. This review focuses on various aspects of xanthan production, properties, degradation, and application.

Objective To study the relationship between renal morphology and renal function,and to assess the value of CT as a criterion to grade renal function.Methods Enhancement CT were performed in 89 patients with no local renal disease whose split renal glomerular filtration rates(GFR)were measured by renal dynamic imaging with ~(99)Tc~m-DTPA.The 178 kidneys were divided into normal renal function,mild and severe renal impairment groups according to renal function.Differences between three groups respect to the mean thickness of renal cortex and parenchyma were assessed by ANOVA.Using Pearson's correlation test,the correlation between the renal cortex,parenchyma thicknesses and renal GFR were examined.The value of CT in predicting renal function was assessed by using ROC analysis.Results The renal cortex thicknesses of normal renal function,mild and severe renal impairment groups were(5.9?1.1),(4.6? 1.1),and(3.3?1.0)mm respectively,and the renal parenchyma thicknesses were(26.3?4.2), (21.3?4.6),(16.2?4.6)mm.There were significant differences of renal cortex,parenchyma thicknesses between 3 groups(cortex F=54.78,P

Objective To evaluate the effect of point-of-care hemoglobin/hematocrit (POC HGB/HCT) devices and intraoperative blood salvage on the amount of perioperative allogeneic blood transfusion and blood conservation in clinical practice.Methods A total of 46 378 medical records of 22 selected hospitals were reviewed. The volume of allogeneic red blood cell and plasma, number of patients transfused, number of intraoperative autologous blood salvage, total volume of autologous blood transfusion, and amount of surgery in the year of 2011 and 2013 were tracked. Paired t-test was used in intra-group comparison, while t-test of two isolated samples carried out in inter-group comparison. P<0.05 was defined as statistically significant difference.Results In the hospitals where POC HGB/HCT device was used (n=9), the average allogeneic blood transfusion volume per 100 surgical cases in 2013 was significantly lower than that in 2011 (39.86±20.20 vs. 30.49±17.50 Units, t=3.522, P=0.008). In the hospitals without POC HGB/HCT meter, the index was not significantly different between 2013 and 2011. The average allogeneic blood transfusion volume was significantly reduced in 2013 than in 2011 in the hospitals where intraoperative autologous blood salvage ratio [autologous transfusion volume/(autologous transfusion volume+allogeneic transfusion volume)] was increased (n=12, t=2.290, P=0.042). No significant difference of the above index was found in the hospitals whose autologous transfusion ratio did not grow.Conclusion Intraoperative usage of POC HGB/HCT devices and increasing autologous transfusion ratio could reduce perioperative allogeneic blood transfusion.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for postoperative arytenoid dislocation.
Methods From September 2003 to August 2013, the records of 16 patients with a history of postoperative arytenoid dislocation were reviewed. Patients matched in terms of date and type of procedures were chosen as the controls (n=16). Recorded data for all patients were demographics, smoking status, alcoholic status, preoperative physical status, airway evaluation, intubation procedures, preoperative laboratory test results, anesthetic consumption and intensive care unit stay. For arytenoid dislocation cases, we further analyzed the incidences of the left and right arytenoid dislocation, and the outcomes of surgical repair and conservative treatment. Categorical variables were presented as frequencies and percentages, and were compared using the chi-squared test. Continuous variables were expressed as means±SD and compared using the Student’s unpaired t-test. To determine the predictors of arytenoid dislocation, a logistic regression model was used for multivariate analysis.
Results Sixteen patients with postoperative arytenoid dislocation were enrolled, with a median age of 52 years. Most postoperative arytenoid dislocation patients (15/16, 93.75%) received surgical repair, except one patient who recovered after conservative treatment. None of the postoperative arytenoid dislocation patients were smokers. Red blood cell (P=0.044) and hemoglobin (P=0.031) levels were significantly lower among arytenoid dislocation cases compared with the controls.
Conclusions Non-smoking and anemic patients may be susceptible to postoperative arytenoid dislocation. However, neither of them was independent risk factor for postoperative arytenoid dislocation.

Ischemic tolerance exists in many organs, among which the cerebral ischemic tolerance and its potential clinical applications are most notable. The discovery of new triggers of cerebral ischemic tolerance has brought more interesting insights into the molecular mechanisms. The remote ischemic preconditioning and pharmacological induction of cerebral ischemic tolerance have shown promising clinical safety and feasibility, and therefore may be important breakthroughs in the clinical application of cerebral ischemic tolerance.
Brain Ischemia ; physiopathology ; Erythropoietin ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; methods

To investigate the genetic diversity among wild Dipsacus asperoides in China, 66 germplasmic resources of D. asperoides were analyzed by Start Codon Targeted Polymorphism (SCoT) molecular markers. Genetic distance was calculated by TREECONW software and the systematic diagram of genetic relationship was clustered by UPGMA method. The results showed that the totals of 181 bands were detected using 20 primers , among which 109 were polymorphic bands. The average percentage of polymorphic bands was 60.13%. Genetic distance changed from 0.030 6 to 0.181 4. The clustering results showed that there was no significant correlation between the classification of the wild D. asperoides and their geographical origin. The relatively high genetic diversity of D. asperoides provides the basis for breeding new varieties.
China ; DNA Primers ; genetics ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Dipsacaceae ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo analyze the reliability and validity of the Fatigue Self-assessment Scale (FSAS).

METHODSThe scale was applied among the participants assigned to 4 groups, the differences in types, degrees and characteristics of fatigue of them were compared, and the reliability and constitutional validity of ESAS were assessed by internal consistency analysis, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis using the statistical software of SPSS and LISREL.

RESULTSStatistical differences of types, degrees and characteristics of fatigue presented in the participants of the 4 groups. The Cronbach's alpha of various factors in the scale were 0.772-0.908; the indexes for the section of assessing type, and degree of fatigue were RMSEA=0.065, NNFI=0.95, CFI=0.96; and those for the section of assessing characteristics of fatigue were: RMSEA=0.10, NNFI=0.93, CFI=0.96.

CONCLUSIONThe FSAS has good differentiability, reliability and constitutional validity for assessing the type, degree and characteristics of fatigue in various populations. In order to explore the relationship of TCM syndrome patterns with the type, degree and characteristics of fatigue, its future application for evaluation of fatigue and intervention effect of anti-fatigue should be combined with TCM syndrome differentiation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Fatigue ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Models, Statistical ; Self-Examination ; Software ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

Animals ; Brain Injuries ; blood ; cerebrospinal fluid ; chemically induced ; Endotoxins ; toxicity ; Female ; Male ; Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type ; analysis ; Neurotensin ; analysis ; Rabbits

Objective To explore the apoptosis and proliferation of peripheral blood lymphocytes(PBLs) from primary nephrotic syndrome(PNS) and effects of dexamethasone(Dex) on them.Methods Minimal change NS(MCNS), non-minimal change NS(NMCNS) and healthy children were involved in this study. PBLs were cultured in vitro with Dex or PHA+Dex or without PHA and Dex. Apoptosis of PBLs was measured by propidium iodide(PI) staining; The effects of Dex at different concentrons on PBLs′proliferation were investigated by 3H-TdR incorporation.Results The apoptotic rate of vacuity group in MCNS was lower compared with NMCNS and healthy controls(P

Objective To study the expression of membrane glucocorticoid receptors(mGR), the correlation between mGR and glucocorticoid(GC)'s effects on apoptosis and proliferation of peripheral blood lymphocytes(PBLs) in minimal change nephrotic syn-drome(MCNS)and the influence of GC on mGR. Methods MCNS, nonminimal change NS(NMCNS) and healthy children were involved in this study. Indirect immune fluorescence and flow cytometry were used to examine the percentages of positive mGR lymphocytes; the apoptosis of PBLs was measured by propidium iodide(PI) staining and the proliferation of PBLs was investigated by fa -TdR incorporation. Results 1.mGR expression in MCNS was higher than that in NMCNS and healthy control,but it was reduced after clinical GC therapy(P