The fermentative H2-producing strain Clostridium sp. H-61 was isolated from anaerobic sludge,was used as an original strain which was induced by NTG and UV for increasing and the hydrogen production ability. One of the highest efficient H2-producing mutants was named as HCM-23 with its stable hydrogen production ability. which was measured in the batch culture experiments. With the condition of 10 g/L glucose,its cumulative hydrogen yield and hydrogen production rate was 3024 mL/L and 33.19 mmol H2/g DW?h,69.89% and 68.14% higher than that of the original strain,respectively. The terminal liquid product compositions showed that the mutant HCM-23 fermentation was ethanol type,while the original strain H-61 fermentation was butyric acid type. Varieties of parameters of hydrogen production fermentation studied,including time,carbon source,nitrogen source,glucose concentration,glucose utilization,initial pH and incubation temperature had been studied,indicated the optimum condition of hydrogen production for the mutantHCM-23 as initial pH 6.5,temperature 36 ℃,and the favorite substrate was sucrose. The hydrogen production characters of the mutant and the original strain were different,such as,the growth lag phase and the utilization of inorganic nitrogen source,etc. This work shows a good application potential of NTG-UV combined mutation in the biohydrogen production. And the hydrogen production mechanism and metabolic pathway should be explored furthermore.

OBJECTIVETo study the relations between different feeding patterns and the body weight retention of the perinatal women living in rural areas of China.

METHODSA cluster sampling method was used to investigate 409 women, who are currently living in rural areas of Tianjin, at pregnant and perinatal status. While, their body weights and heights before pregnancy, antepartum and postpartum were measured, respectively. Body weight retention was the difference of the measured data after postpartum minus pre-pregnant weight. Variance analysis was used for statistic comparison.

RESULTSThe rate of exclusive breastfeeding was 70.9% (290/409) within four months. The net body weight retention of women (5.8 kg) using the exclusive breastfeeding was lower than that of the women (7.0 kg) using artificial feeding within 4 - 6 months, but there was no significantly statistic difference (F = 1.45, P = 0.236). However, there was the opposite result within 7 - 9 months, the data showed that the body weight retention in the women using the exclusive breastfeeding was 4.9 kg, which was significantly higher than that the women (2.9 kg) with artificial feeding (F = 3.17, P = 0.043). The food consumption of the women (901 g) using exclusive breastfeeding was the highest, followed by those (877 g) using mixed feeding and the women (750 g) using artificial feeding.

CONCLUSIONThe body weight retention after postpartum should be related to infant feeding patterns. After postpartum, the weight loss of women using the exclusive breastfeeding is relatively low. While, for the women using the exclusive breastfeeding, the net weight retention during pregnancy and after postpartum were lower than those with artificial feeding. Therefore, it is necessary to enhance health education and guidance on promoting exclusive breast-feeding as well as increasing awareness on pre-pregnant health.

Body Weight ; Breast Feeding ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Infant ; Rural Population ; Sampling Studies

OBJECTIVETo compare the pregnancy and obstetric outcomes in elective single versus two cleavage-stage embryo transfer.

METHODSFresh cleavage-stage embryo transfer cycles between January, 2014 and October, 2015 were reviewed, including 39 single embryo transfer (eSET) cycles and 200 double embryo transfer (DET) cycles. The clinical pregnancy rates, implantation rates, multiple pregnancy rates, live birth rate, and obstetric outcomes (gestational age, preterm delivery rate and mean birth weight) were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups. The estradiol level on the day of trigger and the oocyte number were significantly higher in eSET group than in DET group (10654.4 pmol/L vs 8284.2 pmol/L and 8.4 vs 7.0, respectively). No significant difference was found in the pregnancy rate (56.4% vs 66.0%) or live birth rate (48.7% vs 51.5%) between the two groups, and their implantation rates differed significantly (56.4% vs 37.8%). No multiple pregnancies occurred in eSET group while the rate of multiple pregnancies was 22.7% in DET group. The gestational age and mean birth weight were significantly higher in eSET group (P<0.05), and the preterm delivery rate after DET was nearly three times of that after eSET, although this difference was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONSElective single embryo transfer can be performed without compromising the live birth rates. Multiple pregnancy rates can be significantly reduced with eSET, which also results in a higher chance of delivering a term singleton live birth compared with DET.

Birth Weight ; Embryo Implantation ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Pregnancy, Multiple ; Single Embryo Transfer

OBJECTIVETo compare the obstetric and perinatal outcomes between fresh embryo transfer (ET) and frozen-thawed ET (the "freeze-all" strategy) and evaluate the benefits of the "freeze-all" embryo strategy for young patients.

METHODSWe reviewed a total of 2091 ET cycles performed between January, 2011 and December, 2015 in women aged 20-35 years, including 1295 fresh ET cycles and 796 frozen-thawed ET cycles. The demographic characteristics, ovarian stimulation syndrome, clinical pregnancy rates, live birth rate and the obstetric outcomes (gestational age, preterm delivery rate and mean birth weight) were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe mean age of the patients receiving frozen-thawed ET cycles had a significantly younger age than those having fresh ET cycles (29.5 vs 30.2 years, P<0.05); the patients undergoing frozen-thawed ET cycles also had significantly higher estradiol level on the day of trigger (12 973 pmol/L vs 8673 pmol/L) and a greater oocyte number retrieved (12.7 vs 8.7). The incidence of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome was significantly lower in patients with frozen ET than those with fresh ET (P<0.05). No significant differences were found in the pregnancy rate (59.5% vs 56.0%; P>0.05), live birth rate (50.3% vs 47.0%; P>0.05), mean birth weight or gestational age between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSThe freeze-all policy produces similar pregnancy and obstetric outcomes with those of fresh ET. Our results support the hypothesis that the freeze-all strategy help to prevent OHSS with a good pregnancy rate.

AIM To study the chemical constituents from Pogonatherum crinitum (Thunb.) Kunthand and their in vitro anti-HBV activities.METHODS The ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions of 70％ ethanol extract from P.crinitum were isolated and purified by AB-8 macroporous resin,silica column and Sephadex LH-20,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.The in vitro anti-HBV activities of the isolated compounds were tested in the model of HepG2.2.15 cells.RESULTS Eight compounds were isolated and identified as 6,8,4'-trihydroxy-7,3'-dimethoxyisoflavone (1),quercetin-7,4'-dimethylester-5-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (2),8-(1-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl) ethyl) quercetin (3),chrysoeiml-7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-D-glucopyranoside (4),kaempferol-3-O-(2",3"-di-O-E-p-cou-maroyl)-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (5),1,3,7-trihydroxyxanthone-2-C-β-D-glucopyra-noside (6),luteolin-6-C-β-D-boivinopyranoside (7),luteolin-6-C-β-D-glucopyranoside (8).Compounds 3,5,7,8 had certain inhibitory effects on HBsAg with the IC50 values of 96.6,127.1,72.4 and 54.5 μg/mL.Compounds 7,8 had certain inhibitory effects on HBeAg with the IC50 values of 81.0,61.3 μg/mL.CONCLUSION Compounds 1-6 are isolated from genus Pogonatherum for the first time,compounds 3、5、7、8 have certain in vitro anti-HBV activities.

OBJECTIVETo identify a novel HLA-DRB1 allele in Chinese.

METHODSA novel HLA-DR allele was detected by PCR-SSP and SBT in a patient with leukemia.

RESULTSThe sequence of the novel allele was different from all other known alleles. The novel allele differed from the closet matching allele HLA-DRB1*1404 by one nucleotide substitution in exon 2, at position 33 T>C, this resulted in an amino acid change from Tyr to His at codon 17.

CONCLUSIONThe novel allele is confirmed as a new HLA allele and it was officially named HLA-DRB1*1461 by WHO Nomenclature Committee in May, 2006.

Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; HLA-DR Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DRB1 Chains ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

Globozoospermia is a severe teratozoospermia, and the cases with 100% round-headed sperm are rare clinically. Globozoospermia is generally characterized by absence or abnormality of acrosome, accompanied by round-headed sperm with deranged midpiece and tails. The acrosome normally contains the enzymes that enable sperm to fertilize oocytes, while defective sperm cannot independently fertilize oocytes either in vivo or in vitro, and therefore globozoospermia makes males infertile clinically. Recent studies show that the deletion of the DPY19L2 (dpy-19-like 2) gene is a major cause of globozoospermia. This paper updates the relationship between DPY19L2 and globozoospermia to provide some evidence for further studies on the gene diagnosis and molecular mechanisms of globozoospermia.
Acrosome ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; genetics ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Sequence Homology ; Sperm Head ; Spermatozoa ; abnormalities

OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution of congenital heart disease (CHD) aged 3 - 18 in several regions of Yunnan province.

METHODSCross-rectional studies were carried out among 48 638 children from Xishuangbanna, Dali, Baoshan Longling, Luxi Mangshi and Gejiu in Yunnan province with stratified, clustered sampling.

RESULTSThe overall morbidity of CHD was 5.08 per thousand with 5.09 per thousand in males and 5.07 per thousand in females. Morbidity rates in different regions were 2.75 per thousand in Xishuangbanna, 7.85 per thousand in Dali, 9.59 per thousand in Baoshan Long ling, 4.80 per thousand in Gejiu, 16.99 per thousand in Luxi Wuchalu. However, in the same area, rates were different among different residents:3.25 per thousand in Gejiu, and was 9.10 per thousand in Laochang stannum mine, 11.20 per thousand in Datunxuanchang; 5.74 per thousand at the city of Baoshan Longling, 11.35 per thousand at countryside; 4.90 per thousand at the city of Dali, 8.71 per thousand at countryside; 1.69 per thousand at the city of Xishuangbanna, 4.40 per thousand at country. Morbidity rates in different ethnic groups were as follows: 5.39 per thousand in Dai, 6.83 per thousand in Jinuo, 0 per thousand in Hani, 8.12 per thousand in Bai, 14.18 per thousand in Jingpo.

CONCLUSIONThere were significant regional and ethnic differences seen in Yunnan on the mobidity of CHD which was different from the domestic literature reported.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Prevalence

OBJECTIVEMedically unexplained dyspnea is common in adult and accounts for 14% patients complaining of dyspnea. Its occurrence in children is seldom recognized. In the present paper, 34 children with medically unexplained dyspnea (age 10 to 18 years) seen in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 1996 to 2002 are reported.

METHODSThe diagnosis of medically unexplained dyspnea was clinical: it was based on the presence of dyspnea and other complaints which cannot be explained by an organic disease. The patients answered Nijmegen questionnaire and state and trait anxiety (STAI), and performed hyperventilation provocation test. Twenty sessions of breathing therapy were applied and 13 out of 34 children were followed up after the therapy.

RESULTSAmong the children, 75% started to have symptoms at the age of 13 to 16 years, though the age of first episode could be as early as 8 years. In most of the cases, the course was chronic clinically. In addition to marked dyspnea, their clinical profile included symptoms of hyperventilation i.e. blurred vision, dizziness, tingling, stiff fingers or arm. The symptoms of anxiety were less frequent in children and accordingly the level of anxiety evaluated by means of STAI was lower in children compared to adult patients. The precipitating psychological factors appeared to be related to middle school competition. Pressure from exams, reprimand from stern and unsympathetic teachers coupled with high parental expectation could be emotionally damaging to psychologically susceptible children. Thirteen patients were followed up after 2-3 months of breathing therapy with emphasis on abdominal breathing and slowing down of expiration. After therapy, the sum score of the Nijmegen Questionnaire was markedly decreased. Dyspnea and symptoms of hyperventilation were improved. The level of anxiety was minimally modified.

CONCLUSIONThe cases illustrated the need for careful diagnostic evaluation and treatment because of the high rate of chronicity of the disorder.

Adolescent ; Child ; Dyspnea ; etiology ; pathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperventilation ; Male ; Prognosis ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical outcomes of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) among patients in different conditions receiving luteinizing hormone supplementation in GnRH-agonist long protocol.

METHODSBetween June, 2010 and December, 2015, 671 IVF-ET cycles with GnRH-agonist long protocol were performed at our center. These cycles were divided into group A with FSH only and group B with FSH and recombinant luteinizing hormone (r-LH) supplementation, and each group was divided into 4 subgroups according to age (<35 or ≥35) and the LH level on the initial day (<1.0 U/L or ≥1.0 U/L). The effects of LH supplementation on the clinical pregnancy rate and implantation rate were compared among different subgroups.

RESULTSNo statistical significances were found between groups A and B in age, body mass index (BMI), basal FSH, basal LH, basal E2, Gn dosage, Gn day, LH on HCG day, E2 on HCG day, P on HCG day, number of oocytes, fertilization rate, available embryo rate or good quality embryo rate per oocyte, but the endometrium thickness on HCG day differed significantly between the two groups. In women below 35 years of age with a LH level on HCG day over 1.0 U/L, r-LH supplementation resulted in a clinical pregnancy rate of 60%, significantly lower than the rate of 79.55% in women without r-LH supplementation (P<0.05). In women over 35 years with a LH level below 1.0 U/L, r-LH supplementation resulted in an implantation rate of 44.74%, as compared with 24.74% in women without r-LH supplementation (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONIn the long protocol, LH supplementation does not improve the oocyte number, fertilization rate, or good quality embryo per oocyte, and does not bring benefits to women below 35 years with a low LH level (<1.0 U/L) or those over 35 years with normal LH level (≥1.0 U/L) after GnRH-agonist administration. But for women over 35 years with low LH levels, r-LH supplementation may improve the clinical pregnancy rate and implantation rate of IVF-ET cycles.