24 strains obtained from root nodules of Psoralea corylifolia, Pueraria lobata, and Campylotropis macrocarpa of Yunnan province were studied with numerical taxonomy and 16S rDNA PCR-RFLP. Results of numerical taxonomy indicated that all strains included 10 reference strains were divided into 3 groups at 84% similarity. Group III is an unknown group with no reference strains. Group I is slow-growing kind, and group II fast and middle-slow-grower. The dendrogram derived from 16S rDNA PCR-RFLP showed that all strains divided into five phylogenetic branches at the similarity of 70%. They are branches I and V with no reference strains, Agrobacterium-Sinorhizobium-Rhizobium, Mesorhizobium and Bradyrhizobium. Not all results of numerical taxonomy are accord with 16S rDNA PCR-RFLP, and 2 strains at the same group with A. tumefaciens IAM13129T.

To observe the effects of early intervention with effective components from a Chinese herbal formula (Huannao Yicong formula, HNYCF) on behavior and related indicators of cholinergic system in β-amyloid precursor protein (APP) transgenic mice.

Background:Epilepsy is a chronic disorder characterized by recurrent seizures and has significant psychological and social consequence for everyday living.Epilepsy affects various aspects of ones' social life.The present study aimed to investigate the influence of marital status on the quality of life of adult Chinese patients with epilepsy.Methods:This study surveyed 805 Chinese adults who have been clinically diagnosed with epilepsy for longer than 1 year in 11 hospitals in Beijing.In this survey,532 (66.1％) participants were married.All of them completed the case report form with enquiries on demographic data,social factors,and illness.The marriage status of adult epileptic quality of life was the dependent variable,and demographic data and clinical data were independent variables,analyzed through the multiple linear regression analysis methods.The patients' quality of life was assessed using the Quality of Life in patients with Epilepsy-31 items (QOLIE-31) questionnaire,the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 items (PHQ-9),and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 items (GAD-7).Results:The PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores in the unmarried group (PHQ-9 =6.0 and GAD-7 =5.0) were significantly higher than that of the married group (PHQ-9 =4.0 and GAD-7 =3.0).The scores of married adult patients with epilepsy on QOLIE (61.8 ± 15.3) and social function (70.9 ± 22.7) were higher than the scores of the unmarried patients aged between 20 and 44 years.The scores of married adult epileptics on the QOLIE (58.4 ± 14.6) and the energy/fatigue (62.1 ± 20.4) were higher than the scores of the unmarried patients (QOLIE =58.4 ± 14.6 and the energy/fatigue =62.1 ± 20.4) aged between 45 and 59 years.For the adult epilepsy patients,depression,anxiety,seizures within the last year,disease course,medical expense category,and marriage* age are negatively correlated with the quality of life.Occupation,educational level,and average monthly income are closely related to the quality of life.Conclusions:Married adult epileptic patients have better quality of life than that of unmarried adult patients in young and middle-aged age groups.Unmarried adult patients with epilepsy are more anxious and depressed than married adult patients.

ObjectiveTo investigate the current status of Kaschin-Beck disease in Shandong province, and to provide a scientific basis for decision-making in controlling the disease. Methods According to the National Monitoring Program of Kaschin-Beck disease requirements, historical serious villages of Kaschin-Beck disease in Qingzhou of Shandong province were selected annually; children aged 7 to 16 were chosen to receive clinical examination and children aged 7 to 12 were taken X-ray examination. Clinical and X-ray diagnosis was carried out according to the Diagnostic Criteria of Kashin Beck Disease(GB 16003-1995). Results From 1996 to 2010, in 53 diseased villages, three thousand three hundred and eighteen school children aged 7 to 16 were clinically diagnosed, and child Kaschin-Beck disease of degree Ⅰ and above were not detected; three thousand and ninety-one school children aged 7 to 12 were examined by X-ray, forty cases were found positive, and the total positive rate was 1.29％(40/3091 ). The year with the highest positive rate was 2002, and the rate was 3.49％(13/372) ; the positive rate was 0 in 1996 and 2008. The difference of the X-ray positive rate between each year was statistically significant(x2 =31.54, P ＜ 0.01 ). ConclusionsChild Kashin-Beck disease in Qingzhou is basically under control.Since etiology of Kashin-Beck disease is still unclear, surveillance of the disease still needs to be strengthened.

Objective To study the level of serum lipids and body-fat content of high-fat diet induced pbesity rats(DIO).explore the relationship between intracellular caleium and ventrieufar arrhythmia.Methods Sixty male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were divided into control group(15)and experiment group(45),high-fat diet was administrated for 12 weeks to established obesity model,15 rats were selected into obesity group according to their body weight gain.The standard 2-lead electrocardiograph was used to detect the incidence and scores of arrhythmia induced by barium chloride(BaCl2,0.1 mg/kg)for 1 hour on every 8 rats from different groups respectively.Body-fat content.the level of serum total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),low density lipopmtein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipopmtein cholesterol (HDL-C)were measured.The epididymal(EP),retroperitoneal (RE) and mesenteric(ME)white adipose pads was measured to obtain the body fat content.Single ventricular myrocytes of rats were isolated by enzymatic dissociation.The confocal laser scanning microscope was used to record basic intraceUular calcium level([Ca2+]i).Results The body-fat content in obesity group[(7.71±0.74)%] was significantly higher than control group[(4.69±0.37)%](t＝3.650,P＜0.05).The level of serum TC,TGand LDL-C were significantly higher(t＝3.801,2.778,3.536.P＜0.05) in obesity group[(1.26±0.04),(0.58±0.10),(0.51±0.04)mmol/L]than those in control group[(0.92±0.08),(0.29+0.03),(0.31±0.04) mmol/L].The level of serum HDL-C wa8 decreased gradually from control group[(0.53±0.05)mmol/L] toobesity group[(0.52±0.02)mmol/L],but there waft no significant difference between them(t＝0.186,P＞0.05).The incidence of arrhythmia induced by BaCl2(0.1 mg/kg)in obesity group was significantly higher than controlgroup(X2＝5.333,P＜0.05),and the scores of arrhythmla was increased in obesity group(2.5±0.6)too.The fluorescence intensity standing for[Ca2+]i was increased significantly(t＝2.409,P＜0.05)from obesity group(247.96±20.03)to control group (174.25±23.13).Conclusion As the free cytosolic calcium begin to accumulate,the arrhythmia morbidity is increased in obesity rats.

This study was aimed to explore the killing effect of PBMNC induced by IL-23 alone or combined with IL-2 on K562 cells and its mechanism. The PBMNC were induced in vitro by IL-23 (50 ng/ml) alone or IL-23 combined with IL-2 (100 U/ml) for 72 h, and then were co-cultured with leukemia cell line K562. The CCK-8 method was used to detect the effect of PBMNC induced at different times on K562 cells, the ELISA was performed for detecting IFN-γ level in culture supernatant, and the perforin and granzymes B were detected by RQ-PCR. The results showed that the killing effect of PBMNC induced by IL-23 alone or IL-23 combined with IL-2 on K562 cells was observed, and obviously enhanced with prolonging of time, moreover, there was statistical difference among different time points (P < 0.05). The IFN-γ level in supernatant of PBMNC cultured with cytokines significantly increased, and the IFN-γ levels in group of IL-23 combined with IL-2 were higher than that in other groups (P < 0.05). The mRNA expressions level of perforin and granzymes B of the expanded PBMNC in groups cultured with cytokines were higher than that in control group (P < 0.05), and the mRNA expressions of perforin and granzymes B in group of IL-23 combined with IL-2 were significantly higher than that in others (P < 0.05). It is concluded that IL-23 can promote the killing effect of PBMNC on K562 cells. The combination of IL-2 with IL-23 displays synergic effect and a time-dependent manner. IL-23 also enhances the expression of IFN-γ, perforin and granzyme B in PBMNC. Its combination with IL-2 displays synergistic effect, suggesting that the anti-leukemic activity of IL-23 may be realized through inducing PBMNC to express IFN-γ, perforin and granzyme B.
Granzymes ; metabolism ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-2 ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-23 ; pharmacology ; K562 Cells ; Monocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Perforin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of exenatide on chemotactic migration of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and confirm that Rho GTPase is the downstream effector protein of SDF-1/CXCR-4 migration pathway.

METHODSADSCs were isolated, cultured, identified by flow cytometry, and induced to differentiate in vitro. RTCA xCELLigence system was used to analyze the effect of exenatide on ADSC proliferation. The effects of exenatide at different concentrations, AMD3100 (CXCR-4 antagonist), and CCG-1423 (Rho GTPase antagonist) on chemotactic migration of ADSCs were tested using Transwell assay. The expression of CXCR-4 in exenatide-treated ADSCs was measured by flow cytometry and Western blotting. Active Rho pull-down detection kit was used to detect the expression of Rho GTPase. Laser confocal microscopy was used to observe the formation of stress fibers in ADSCs with different treatments.

RESULTSExenatide treatment for 24 h had no significant effect on ADSC proliferation. Exenatide obviously promoted chemotactic migration of ADSCs in a concentration-dependent manner, and this effect was blocked by either AMD3100 or CCG-1423. Both flow cytometry and Western blotting showed that exenatide dose-dependently up-regulated CXCR-4 expression in ADSCs. Western blotting showed that the expression of Rho GTPase was related to SDF-1/CXCR-4 pathway, and laser confocal microscopy revealed that the formation of stress fibers in ADSCs was related to SDF-1/CXCR-4/ Rho GTPase pathway.

CONCLUSIONExenatide promotes chemotactic migration of ADSCs, and Rho GTPase is the downstream effector protein of SDF-1/CXCR-4 pathway.

Adipose Tissue ; cytology ; Anilides ; pharmacology ; Benzamides ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; metabolism ; Chemotaxis ; Heterocyclic Compounds ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; Receptors, CXCR4 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Venoms ; pharmacology ; rho GTP-Binding Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the anti hepatitis E virus (HEV) and HEV RNA in acute and convalescent sera of patients with NonA-E acute hepatitis.

METHODSThe serum samples were taken from 95 patients who were diagnosed as acute NonA-E hepatitis. Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was used for detecting anti-HEV Immunoglobulin G (IgG, Genolable and Wantai EIA anti-HEV kits). RT-PCR amplification of HEV RNA was based on the open reading frame 2 region of HEV and the PCR products were sequenced.

RESULTSSera from 95 patients who were negative for anti-HEV in acute phase were followed up for 11-35 days to detect the anti-HEV antibody in recovery phase, 16/95 (16.84%) were positive for anti-HEV (wantai EIA anti-HEV kits). Ten (62.50%) were positive for HEV RNA in acute phase. Sequence analysis showed that 4 were HEV genotype. 6 were HEV genotype; 12/95 (12.50%) were positive for anti-HEV (Genolable EIA anti-HEV kits). Seven were positive for HEV RNA; 4 belonged to HEV genotype, 3 were HEV genotype.

CONCLUSIONIt is significant and necessary to detect anti HEV antibody and HEV RNA in patients with HEV infection during acute phase and convalesent phase.

Acute Disease ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Convalescence ; Genotype ; Hepatitis Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis E ; genetics ; immunology ; virology ; Hepatitis E virus ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; RNA, Viral ; blood ; genetics ; Sequence Homology ; Viral Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical results of metal on metal hip resurfacing arthroplasty for developmental dysplasia patients.

METHODSFrom March 2005 to December 2006, 34 cases of developmental dysplasia patients (Crowe I, Crowe II) were attempted to have metal on metal hip resurfacing arthroplasty. There were 29 females (32 hips), 5 males (5 hips). The average age was 45 (26 - 57) years old. Radiographic and clinical evaluations were taken at 6 weeks, 3 months, 1 year and then once a year postoperatively. The average Harris score was 35 (25 - 44). Hip flexion was 101 degrees , abduction 24 degrees , adduction 15 degrees .

RESULTSThree patients were turned to total hip arthroplasty during operations. Thirty-one patients (34 hips) received hip resurfacing surgery. These 31 patients were followed for average 21.4 months (12 - 33 months). The average Harris score was 94 (82 - 100) at the latest follow-up, and there was statistical difference compared with the preoperative score (P < 0.01). Hip flexion increased to 133 degrees , abduction to 48 degrees , adduction to 26 degrees . No radiolucency line was found at both acetabular and femoral sides in all the patients. The average abduction angle of acetabular cup was 43 degrees (40 degrees - 53 degrees ), and the average stem shaft angle was 139 degrees (130 degrees - 145 degrees ).

CONCLUSIONSThe short term result is excellent. While the mid to long term results for hip resurfacing arthroplasty in developmental dysplasia patients are still looking forward, and the meticulous surgical technique and strict patient selection are the key of the good results.

Adult ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip Dislocation, Congenital ; surgery ; Hip Prosthesis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Huannao Yicong formula (HNYCF) extract on behavior and ultrastructure of mitochondria in hippocampus CA1 area of APP transgenic mice of different months, and explore its partial mechanism in treating Alzheimer's disease (AD) through the perspective of energy metabolism.

METHODOne hundred and twenty APP695V717I transgenic mice of 3-month old were divided randomly into model group, Donepezil group (0.65 x 10(-3) g x kg(-1) x d(-1)), HNYCF extract large dose group (2.8 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) and HNYCF extract small dose group (1.4 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)), and 30 mice in each group. Another 30 C57BL/6J mice with the same age and background were used as normal control group. All animals were administered once daily by gavage with the corresponding drug or distilled water. The course of intervention was 4 and 6 months. Behavioral changes were observed by Morris water maze test and step down test. Ultrastructure of mitochondria in hippocampus CA1 area was observed by transmission electron microscope.

RESULTAt the age of 7 and 9 month, the number of times of passing through platform, swimming time and path length of model group increased significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) in Morris water maze test, and the latent period decreased (P < 0.01) in step down test compared with normal group, and it would get worse with the development of disease course. HNYCF extract could increase the number of times of passing through platform, swimming time and path length (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) in Morris water maze test, prolong latent period in step down test of different age. At the age of 7 and 9 month, mitochondrial of hippocampus CA1 area was disrupted and dissolved. Most ridge structure arranged in a mess, and some ridge showed expanding, matrix loosing and swollen appearance, and it would get worse with the development of disease course. HNYCF extract could improve ultrastructure of mitochondria in hippocampus CA1 area, and increase its quality.

CONCLUSIONLearning and memory ability decreased in APP transgenic mice model, and the quantity of neural mitochondria in hippocampus CA1 area with structure disrupting, and it would get worse with the development of disease course. HNYCF extract could improve the learning and memory ability of APP transgenic mice model, its mechanism might relate with improving ultrastructure of mitochondria in hippocampus, and increasing its quantity.

Age Factors ; Alzheimer Disease ; drug therapy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; ultrastructure ; Male ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Memory ; drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Transgenic ; Mitochondria ; drug effects ; ultrastructure ; Random Allocation ; Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms