Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) are widespread in the environment. SRB are obligate anaerobes and capable of dissimilatory reduction of sulfate. SRB have application prospects in the control of environmental pollution due to that many pollutants can be removed by SRB. The biological characteristics and metabolic mechanisms of SRB are introduced, and the application of SRB in the treatment of environmental pollution is described in this paper. The research progress of Cr(Ⅵ ) reduction and Cr(Ⅵ ) removal from wastewater by SRB is reviewed, and future direction of research on the control of Cr(Ⅵ ) pollution by SRB is also analysed.

Objective To investigate the imaging manifestations of lung neoplasms in pre- and post- treatment with CT-guided Argon-Helium cryoablation.Methods All the lung neoplasms in 96 patients have been treated with CT-guided percutaneous Argon-Helium targeted cryoablation.All patients have pre- and post-treatment CT scanning in measurement of lesion size and CT value.The CT scanning has been rerpeated afterl,3,6,12 months of treatment.Results Among total 96 cases,there are 82 cases of lung cancer and 14 cases of metastasis with 110 lesions(89 cases with single lesion,7 cases with multiple lesions).The Ar-He cryoablation has been given 103 times in total.The size of each lesion ranged from 1.2 cm to 15.0 cm in diameter with mean value of(4.0?2.5)cm,including 12 lesions less than 2 cm,51 lesions between 2— 4 cm,24 lesions between 4—6 cm,23 lesions over 6 cm.There are 25 patients whose lesions covered by iceball with 1 cm of overloaping it's margin.There are 63 lesions with diameter less than 4 cm gained 100% ablation rate,24 lesions with 4—6 cm diameter gained 95.8% ablation rate,and 23 lesions with over 6 cm diameter gained 69.6% ablation rate.The post-treatment CT show a progressively enlarged round,low density refrigerant area which clearly demarked with non- refrigerant area.The center of each refrigerant area has negative CT value,the mean decreased CT value of lesion instantly after the treatment are about 30— 50 HU with P

italic>Ardisia crispa (Thunb.) A. DC. is a traditional Miao medicinal herb with significant therapeutic effects in the treatment of sore throat, tonsillitis, edema of nephritis and bruising and rheumatism, etc. Ardisia crispa var. amplifolia and Ardisia crispa var. dielsii are varieties of A. crispa. A. crispa var. amplifolia and A. crispa var. dielsii are controversial in terms of species evolutionary relationships and taxonomic identification. In this study, we sequenced the whole genome sequences of A. crispa var. amplifolia and A. crispa var. dielsii chloroplasts using Illumina platform, assembled, annotated and characterized them, compared the structural features and degree of variation among chloroplast genomes using bioinformatics methods, and also downloaded constructing phylogenetic trees to analyze the phylogenetic relationships of chloroplasts in Primulaceae and Myrsinaceae using whole genome sequence information. The results showed that the complete chloroplast genome sequences of A. crispa var. amplifolia and A. crispa var. dielsii were 156 749 bp and 156 748 bp in length, with 132 genes annotated, including 87 protein-coding genes; the codon preference of A/U was greater than that of G/C; The differences in the coding regions of rps15 and rpoB genes in the comparative genome analysis can be used as loci for molecular identification of the two species; the differences in the coding regions of ycf1, ycf2, rpoC1, ycf3, petD and rpl16 genes in the chloroplast genome compared with those of the same genus can be used as loci for identification of the genus. In the phylogenetic results, A. crispa var. amplifolia and A. crispa var. dielsii were clustered together with 100% support, indicating that they are closely related. In this research, we analyzed the chloroplast genome structure and phylogenetic relationships of A. crispa var. amplifolia and A. crispa var. dielsii, providing an important theoretical basis for their molecular identification, genetic variation, breeding and phylogenetic analysis.

Three tricyclic [6,5,7] and six tetracyclic [6,5,5,5] novel indole alkaloids were synthesized and evaluated on triglyceride inhibitory activities for the first time. Among them, compound 4c showed the most potent activity with IC₅₀ value of 6.35 μmol·L^-1. Meanwhile, compound 4c also exhibited a good safety profile at the cellular level. Preliminary mechanism study indicated that 4c might increase intracellular lipid metabolism by activating AMPK. These results provide a novel family of lead compounds for the discovery of anti-NAFLD candidates.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy,safety and optimal dose of tacrolimus monotherapy in patients with refractory lupus nephritis(LN) who were resistant to cyclophosphamide(CYC).MethodsA total of 14 LN patients (2 men and 12 women) with persistent proteinuria who were resistant to CYC treatment more than 8 g for half a year were enrolled.Tacrolimus was initiated at 2 mg/d (patient weight＜60 kg) or 3 mg/d(patient weight≥60 kg) which was administered in two divided doses.Prospective data on daily proteinuria,serum album level and serologic lupus activity were collected and followed for 6 months.ANOVA and Pearson correlation analysis were used for statistical analysis.Results Mean age at baseline was(30±9) years.Mean urinary protein decreased significantly from(6.2±5.1) g at baseline to (1.1±0.9) g at 6 months (F=16.21,P＜0.01).Mean serum album level increased significantly from (27.9±9.7) g/L at baseline to(37.8±2.2) g/L at 6 months(F=16.71,P＜0.01 ).Complete or partial response was observed in 86％ of patients receiving tacrolimus therapy.The effective dosage in this study was 0.03-0.06mg·kg-1·d-1 of the patients who had complete response or partial response to tacrolimus.The tacrolimus level in partially and completely responding patients was less than 3 ng/ml.There was no significant difference among blood tacrolimus levels of complete,partial,and no response patients [(1.6-±0.4),(2.0±0.6) and (22±1.1) ng/nl],respectively).No definite correlation was found between efficacy and tacrolimus level.Tacrolimus was well tolerated at current dose,besides one with new onset hypertension and one with alopecia.ConclusionOur results suggest that tacrolimus at low dosage and serum level is potentially effective and safe for the treatment　of patients with LN and persistent proteinuria resistant to CYC.The optimal dosage of tacrolimus for LN may　be 0.03-0.06 mg·kg-1·d-1.

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of Bauhinia championii.

METHODCompounds were isolated from the ethanolic extract of B. championii by silica gel column Chromatography, and their structures were elucidated by spectral analyses.

RESULTFive compounds were isolated and elucidated as 2,4,6-trimethoxyphenol 1-O-beta-D-(6'-O-galloyl)-glucopyranoside (1), (+/-)-lyoniresinol (2), daucosterol (3), beta-sitosterol (4) and gallic acid (5).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1-4 were isolated from B. championii for the first time.

Anisoles ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Bauhinia ; chemistry ; Gallic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Naphthalenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Sitosterols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of curcumin on the expressions of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-8 in rats with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis.

METHODSSixty healthy adult male SD rats with the body weight of 200 -220 g were equally and randomly divided into a normal control, a positive control, a model, an oral curcumin and an intraperitoneal curcumin group. The rat models of chronic nonbacterial prostatitis were made by hypodermic injection of estradiol benzoate at the dose of 0.25 mg/(kg x d) for 30 days after castration, and then treated with curcumin at 200 mg/(kg x d) by gavage or intraperitoneal injection. The positive controls received oral celebrex at 250 mg/(kg x d), while the normal control and model groups were given saline by gavage. After a week of treatment, the levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-8 in the serum and prostate tissues of the rats were detected by ELISA assay.

RESULTSThe levels of TNF-alpha and IL-8 in the serum and prostate tissues were significantly lower in the intraperitoneal curcumin than in the positive control group (P < 0.05), but the expression of IL-6 showed no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCurcumin is efficacious for chronic nonbacterial prostatitis in rats, and the action mechanism may be associated with its decreasing effect on the proinflammatory cytokines IL-8 and TNF-alpha in the blood and tissues.

Animals ; Chronic Disease ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-8 ; metabolism ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Prostatitis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the expression and localization of nuclear transcription factor Sp1 in macrophages after stimulated by silicon dioxide in vivo and in vitro.

METHODSForty Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into the control group and the silica exposure group, 20 in each group. The rat silicosis models were established by direct tracheal instillation of silica into rat lung (0.2 g/kg) only once while the control group was instilled with equal amount of saline. Animals were killed at 1st, 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th day after instillation. Dynamic changes of Sp1 protein expression and its cellular localization were detected by immunohistochemistry in pulmonary macrophages. In vitro, Sp1 mRNA and protein expression and their dynamic changes were monitored by RT-PCR and western blotting after stimulated by silicon dioxide in cultured RAW264.7 macrophages respectively. Cellular localization of Sp1 protein was characterized by immunocytochemistry.

RESULTSCompared to the control group, the Sp1 protein expression was increased in pulmonary macrophages and reached the peak at the 14th day in the silica exposure group. In vitro, the Sp1 mRNA level began to rise at 30 minutes after the administration of silicon dioxide and reached the peak at 240 minutes and then decreased to the minimal level at 960 minutes. The Sp1 total protein and nuclear protein also exhibited the similar trend. The former reached the peak at 240 minutes and the latter at 480 minutes. The significant nuclear translocation of Sp1 protein was observed at 120 minutes after the administration of silicon dioxide and became most significant at 480 minutes.

CONCLUSIONSilicon dioxide can activate nuclear transcription factor Sp1 in macrophages in vivo and in vitro. Sp1 might play an important pathogenic role in the development of silicosis.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Immunohistochemistry ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Macrophages, Peritoneal ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Silicon Dioxide ; pharmacology ; Sp1 Transcription Factor ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of AMPK agonist 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside (AICAR) on proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of U937 cells and explore its possible mechanism.

METHODSU937 cells were cultured with different concentrations of AICAR for 24 h and 48 h. Cell proliferation was evaluated. Cell growth curve was analyzed by CCK-8; cell apoptosis was analyzed by cell morphology, Annexin V/7-AAD double labeling. The differentiation of U937 cells was evaluated by expression of CD11b. The Bcl-xL, Bax, Bim, caspase-3 mRNA expressions of U937 cells were determined by real time PCR.

RESULTSAICAR significantly inhibited the growth of U937 cells in a time-and dose-dependent manner, with a 24 h IC50 value of 1.1 mmol/L and 48 h of 0.9 mmol/L. 1.0 mmol/L AICAR didn't induce differentiation of U937 cells with the increase of CD11b expression for 24 h (P > 0.05). The U937 cells apoptosis was confirmed by cell morphology and Annexin V/7-AAD labeling. AICAR induced apoptosis of U937 cells and the apoptosis rate was (6.81 ± 1.16)% at 1 mmol/L AICAR higher than control group (2.74 ± 0.32)% without AICAR for 24 h treatment (P < 0.05). The real time PCR assay revealed that as compared with control group, the expression of Bim and caspase-3 mRNA were increased, while Bcl-xL and Bax were unchanged on the AICAR treatment.

CONCLUSIONAICAR can effectively inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of U937 cells. However, it has no significant effect on differentiation of U937 cells. The mechanism may be related with up-regulating Bim and Caspase-3.

Aminoimidazole Carboxamide ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Ribonucleotides ; pharmacology ; U937 Cells

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of AP-1 in the secretion of Type I collagen in TGF-beta1-stimulated human lung fibroblasts. METHODS: Human lung fibroblasts cell line (HLF-02) was cultured, and then stimulated with 10 microg/L TGF-beta1 at different time points. Curcumin was added into the culture medium to inhibit the AP-1 activity before incubating with TGF-beta1. AP-1 DNA binding activity was assayed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), and the expression of Type I collagen was detected by Western blot and RT-PCR. RESULTS: TGF-beta1 could induce the transcription and secretion of Type I collagen in HLF-02 cells(P<0.05). TGF-beta1 could upregulate the AP-1 DNA binding activity ( P<0.05). Curcumin ( 5, 10, 15, and 20 micromol/L) could inhibit the AP-1 DNA binding activity in TGF-beta1-stimulated cells (the inhibition ratio was 17.1%, 17.6%, 24.2%, and 31.3%; P<0.05). Curcumin (5, 10, 15, and 20 micromol/L) could also inhibit the secretion of Type I collagen significantly (the inhibition ratio was 62.1%, 58.8%, 62.1%, and 59.6%; P<0.05). CONCLUSION AP-1 is responsible for the secretion of TGF-beta1-induced Type I collagen in human lung fibroblasts.
Cell Line ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lung ; cytology ; Signal Transduction ; Transcription Factor AP-1 ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; pharmacology