Background The development of retinopathy of prematurity(ROP) is associated with many regulatory cytokines related to neovascularization;however,the retinal expression and regulated mechanism of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) in mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) remain uncertain.Objective This study was to investigate the expression of SDF-1 in retina of mouse model of OIR.Methods Forty 7-day-old C57BL/6J mice were divided into OIR group and control group.In OIR group,20 mice were exposed to 75% oxygen for 5 days and then to room air for 5 days.In control group,20 mice were raised in room air.The expression of SDF-1 in retina of mice was studied by immunochemistry and quantified by real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Results The positive immunohistochemical staining for SDF-1 was found mainly locating at the ganglion cell layer in 12-day-old mice of OIR group;the stronger positive immunohistochemical staining for SDF-1 was noted mainly locating at the ganglion cell layer,vascular endothelial cells of inner retina,neovascular endothelial cells in 17-day-old mice of OIR group;the delicate positive immunohistochemical staining for SDF-1 was both found mainly locating at the inner retina and being around the retinal vascular in 12-day-old mice of control group and 17-day-old mice of control group.The expression of SDF-1 mRNA in 17-day-old mice of OIR group was higher than that of 12-day-old mice of OIR group (t=8.072,P＜0.05)and 17-day-old mice of control group(t=10.026,P＜0.05),respectively.The expression of SDF-1 mRNA in 12-day-old mice of OIR group was lower than that of 12-day-old mice of control group (t=4.336,P＜0.05).Conclusion SDF-1 might improve the onset of retinal neovascularization of OIR.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the characteristics of microbial degradation of aniline by a stable bacterial consortium.

METHODSThe bacterial consortium was isolated from activated sludge treating chemical wastewater using aniline as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen by enrichment and isolation technique. The biomass was measured as optical density (OD) at 510 nm using a spectrophotometer. Aniline concentrations were determined by spectrophotometer. The intermediates of aniline degradation were identified by GC/MS method.

RESULTSThe bacterial consortium could grow at a range of aniline concentrations between 50 and 500 mg/L. The optimal pH and temperature for aniline degradation were determined to be 7.0 and 30, respectively. The presence of NH4NO3 as an additional nitrogen source (100-500 mg/L) had no adverse effect on bacterial growth and aniline degradation. The presence of heavy metal ions, such as Co2+, Zn2+, Ni2+, Mn2+ and Cu2+ had an inhibitory effect on aniline degradation.

CONCLUSIONSThe isolated bacterial consortium can degrade aniline up to 500 mg/L effectively and tolerate some heavy metal ions that commonly exist in chemical wastewater. It has a potential to be applied in the practical treatment of aniline-containing wastewater.

Aniline Compounds ; metabolism ; Bacteria ; Biomass ; Bioreactors ; Carcinogens ; metabolism ; Chemical Industry ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Metals, Heavy ; analysis ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; methods ; Water Pollutants ; metabolism

AIM: To explore the changes of morphological parameters of corneal endothelial cell in patients with choroidal detachment following rhegmatogenous retinal detachment(RDD-CHD).

METHODS: Seventy patients(70 eyes)with RDD-CHD were collected consecutively. In patients with RDD-CHD, thirty-eight cases(38 eyes)not with high myopia were enrolled in group A; 32 cases(32 eyes)associated with high myopia were enrolled in group B. Thirty-six normal controls(36 eyes)were enrolled in group C. We measured the related morphological parameters of corneal endothelial cells in all subjects using corneal specular microscope. The parameters of corneal endothelial cells included minimum size of cell area(S_min), maximum size of cell area(S_max), average size of cell area, standard deviation of cell area(SD), coefficient of variability cell area(CV), cell density of corneal endothelial cells(CD)and hexagonality(HG).

RESULTS: There were statistically differences in the CD(P<0.001)and hexagonality(P<0.001)between the patients with RDD-CHD and normal subjects. There were statistically differences in the CD between groups A and B(P<0.05), between groups A and C(P<0.05), between groups B and C(P<0.001). SD correlated with axis length(r_s=-0.426, P<0.01); CV correlated with axis length(r_s=0.494, P<0.01), CD correlated with intraocular pressure(r_s=-0.025, P<0.05), CD correlated with axis length(r_s=0.368, P<0.05), HG correlated with course(r_s=0.552, P<0.05). In patients with RDD-CHD, SD correlated with axis length(r_s=0.236, P<0.05); CV correlated with axis length(r_s=0.159, P<0.05), HG correlated with course(r_s=0.142, P<0.05), S_max correlated with intraocular pressure(r_s=-0.314, P<0.01).

CONCLUSION: The valus of HG and CD of corneal endothelial cells in patients with RDD-CHD were both lower than that of the normal subjects. Axis length, course and intraocular pressure might influence the morphological parameters of corneal endothelium in RDD-CHD patients.

Based on the deletion information of high virulent PRRSV genome, 3 oligonucleotide primer were designed and synthesized. Specific and sensitive reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) assays were de-veloped for the detection of high virulent PRRSV. The sensitivity and specificity of RT-PCR assays were evaluated, the results showing that the detection limit of the assay was found to be 0.265 pg of tissue total RNA, and the protocol have no cross-reaction with classical swine fever virus, porcine circovirus type 2,pseudorabies virus, streptococcus, haemophilus parasuis and Escherichia coli. Then 36 cell cultures, two PRRSV live vaccine strains and 184 clinical specimens from 52 farms were tested. Five PRRSV field iso-lates were the high virulent PRRSV; two PRRSV live vaccine strains from normal PRRSV, and 123 speci-mens from 42 farmer were positive (only 1 specimen was normal PRRSV). This RT-PCR method proved to be accurate differential diagnosis of the high virulent PRRSV and normal PRRSV with the characteristics of rapidity, sensitivity and specificity, and has a strong clinical relevance.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the promoter methylation levels of p15, CDH1, DAPK and HICI genes of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and explore the relationship between the level of methylation and clinical features.

METHODSDNA methylation levels of p15, CDH1, DAPK and HICI in peripheral blood (PB) or bone marrow (BM) samples from 52 MDS patients were detected by real-time quantitative PCR. The correlation of the methylation level with clinical features and hematological findings was analyzed. 38 de novo AML patients and 46 normal individuals served as controls.

RESULTSThe methylation levels of p15, CDH1, DAPK and HICI were 16.23 ± 21.69, 6.59 ± 9.39, 0.14 ± 0.11 and 7.81 ± 9.70 in BM, and 14.96 ± 20.16, 6.00 ± 9.26, 0.12 ± 0.14 and 6.74 ± 9.72 in PB, respectively from 18 MDS patients, and the difference between BM and PB was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The methylation levels of p15 (14.70 ± 18.17) and CDH1 (6.61 ± 8.79) genes in high risk (RAEBI/II) MDS were significantly higher than in low risk (RCMD/RARS/5q-, p15: 1.99 ± 1.59, CDH1: 1.23 ± 1.14 and RCMD, p15: 3.02 ± 3.42, CDH1:1.53 ± 2.06) MDS or control (p15: 1.69 ± 1.82, CDH1: 1.01 ± 1.12) (P < 0.05). The methylation levels of DAPK gene had no difference among subtypes of MDS, and that of HIC1 gene only differed between RAEB I/II (9.16 ± 11.95) and control (2.49 ± 2.26) (P = 0.042). The difference of methylation levels of p15, CDH1, DAPK and HICI in BM was statistically significant among subtypes of MDS (P = 0.001, 0.003, 0.039, 0.023, respectively). And so did of p15 and DAPK in PB (P = 0.013, 0.006, respectively). The methylation level of p15 and CDH1 was significantly correlated with IPSS classification and blasts percentage in BM.

CONCLUSIONSp15 and CDH1 genes are special hypermethylation genes in MDS. Methylation level of HIC1 gene showed an upward tendency from low risk to high risk MDS.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cadherins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p15 ; genetics ; metabolism ; DNA Methylation ; Death-Associated Protein Kinases ; Female ; Humans ; Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; genetics ; metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of high-pressure carbon monoxide for preservation of ex vivo rabbit heart graft in comparison with the conventional HTK cardioplegic solution preservation.

METHODSHeart grafts isolated from 85 New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into Naive group (n=5), HTK group (n=40) and CO group (n=40). The grafts underwent no preservation procedures in Naive group, preserved at 4 degrees celsius; in HTK cardioplegic solution in HTK group, and preserved at 4 degrees celsius; in a high-pressure tank (PO2: PCO=3200 hPa: 800 hPa) in CO group with Krebs-Henseleit solution perfusion but without cardioplegic solution. After preservation for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 14, 18, and 24 h, 5 grafts from the two preservation groups were perfused for 30 min with a modified Langendorff apparatus and examined for left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), left ventricular diastolic pressure (LVDP), arrhythmia score (AS), myocardial ultrestructure, and cardiac enzyme profiles.

RESULTSAfter preservation for 6 to 24 h, the cardiac enzyme profiles and systolic and diastolic functions were significantly better in CO group than in HTK group, but these differences were not obvious between the two groups after graft preservation for 2 to 4 h. Significant changes in the myocardial ultrastructures occurred in the isolated hearts after a 24-h preservation in both CO and HTK groups, but the myocardial damages were milder in CO group.

CONCLUSIONPreservation using high-pressure carbon monoxide can better protect isolated rabbit heart graft than the conventional HTK preservation approach especially for prolonged graft preservation.

Animals ; Carbon Monoxide ; Cardioplegic Solutions ; Glucose ; Heart ; physiology ; Heart Transplantation ; Myocardium ; ultrastructure ; Rabbits ; Tissue Preservation ; methods ; Tromethamine

A terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase ( TdT ) amplification based DNA-copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) sensor was developed for detection of L-histidine ( L-His). Single strand DNA containing poly-thymine ( T) sequences were synthesized by TdT in the presence of dTTP. In blank control, poly-T sequences worked as templates of CuNCs due to the affinity between thymine and copper ions( II) . Fluorescence intensity was enhanced when CuNCs formed with reducing agents. In the presence of L-His, the imidazolyl group of L-His worked as a chelating agent that formed L-His-Cu2+ chelated complex. Thus less copper ions were induced in poly-T sequences, and less CuNCs were obtained to produce week fluorescence signals. A good linear correlation was obtained between fluorescence change and the logarithm of the L-His concentration over the range of 5. 0 ×10-9-5. 0 ×10-4 mol/L. The detection limit was estimated as 3. 4 ×10-9 mol/L. And the recoveries were 97. 4%-104. 6% for the actual urine samples. Compared with other methods of synthetic CuNCs, this method allowed to specifically determining L-histidine without template or labeling, which showed good potential in biomedical and clinical analysis.

Objective:To established an approach of chemical fingerprinting and study the differences of the polysaccharides from three species of Polygonati Rhizoma in Chinese Pharmacopoeia,so as to provide reference for quality evaluation and clinical application of Polygonati Rhizoma. Method:The polysaccharides were extracted by water extraction and alcohol precipitation from Polygonati Rhizoma. After hydrolysis by trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and pre-column derivation by PMP,the chromatographic fingerprints of three kinds of Polygonati Rhizoma were established by high performance liquid chromatography. The fingerprinting model and chemometrics method,include similarity analysis (SA),cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were used for compare the differences among three species. Result:There were some differences in the PMP-HPLC fingerprints and monosaccharide composition from the three species. The D-mannose,L-rhamnose and L-fucose were not detected,but they all contained D-galacturonic acid,D-glucosamine hydrochloride,D-galactose,D-glucose and D-xylose among three species. The PCA and HCA analysis showed that chromatographic fingerprints of P. cyrtonema and P. sibiricum were similar,while P. kingianum and other two species were significantly different. Conclusion:There are differences in fingerprints of polysaccharides among three species of Polygonati Rhizoma. The possible effects of species should be considered in clinical application. The established PMP-HPLC is a simple,accurate and reproducible method,which can be used for the quality evaluation of Polygonati Rhizoma.

OBJECTIVEIn mid-July 2005, five patients presented with septic shock to a hospital in Ziyang city in Sichuan, China, to identify the etiology of the unknown reason disease, an epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory study were conducted.

METHODSAn enhanced surveillance program were established in Sichuan, the following activities were introduced: active case finding in Sichuan of (a) laboratory diagnosed Streptococcus suis infection and (b) clinically diagnosed probable cases with exposure history; supplemented by (c) monitoring reports on meningococcal meningitis. Streptococcus suis serotype 2 infection was confirmed by culture and biochemical reactions, followed by sequencing for specific genes for serotype and virulence factors.

RESULTSFrom June 10 to August 21, 2005, 68 laboratory confirmed cases of human Streptococcus suis infections were reported. All were villagers who gave a history of direct exposure to deceased or sick pigs in their backyards where slaughtering was performed. Twenty six (38%) presented with toxic shock syndrome of which 15 (58%) died. Other presentations were septicaemia or meningitis. All isolates were tested positive for genes for tuf, species-specific 16S rRNA, cps2J, mrp, ef and sly. There were 136 clinically diagnosed probable cases with similar exposure history but incomplete laboratory investigations.

CONCLUSIONAn outbreak of human Streptococcus suis serotype 2 infections occurred in villagers after direct exposure to deceased or sick pigs in Sichuan. Prohibition of slaughtering in backyards brought the outbreak to a halt. A virulent strain of the bacteria is speculated to be in circulation, and is responsible for the unusual presentation of toxic shock syndrome with high case fatality.

Animals ; Bacteremia ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Humans ; Meningitis, Bacterial ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Shock, Septic ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Streptococcal Infections ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; veterinary ; Streptococcus suis ; isolation & purification ; Swine ; Swine Diseases ; microbiology

To investigate the effects of ginkgolide A (GA), ginkgolide B (GB) and ginkgolide K (GK) on platelet aggregation in rabbits, and compare the similarities and differences among these three components. The effects of different doses of ginkgolide A, B and K on platelet aggregation induced by platelet activating factor (PAF) were observed by using in vitro experiment. The results showed that three compounds could inhibit platelet aggregation induced by PAF in vitro, and the intensity was GK> GB> GA. It was further found that all of them can mobilize [Ca2+]i and enhance intracellular c-AMP level in a dose-dependent manner, which was consistent to the ability to antagonize PAF receptor. These findings indicated that GK was highly selective for PAF receptor, and may inhibit platelet aggregation by activating cAMP signaling pathway and inhibiting intracellular [Ca2+]i mobilization; GB and GA also had strong antagonism to PAF receptor, but the effect was weaker than that of GK.