Halomonas sp.BYS-1 was a moderately halophilic bacteria strain isolated from activated sludge,It could grow on MM with NaCl concentration from 0.1～2.6 mol/L and phenyl acetic acid as sole carbon souce. When BYS-1 grew in the media with different concentrations of NaCl, there was no obvious change in its intracellular Na+ contents , it accumulated K+, glutamic acid and betaine as osmoprotectants. Its intracellular contents of K+,glutamic acid and betaine increased by 1.9,2.4 and 13.6 times, respectively, when the concentration of NaCl increased from 0.1 mol/L to 2mol/L.

The recombinant adenoviruses containing pGH cDNA and pGH cDNA with the first intron under the control of CMV promoter were constructed respectively by homogenous recombination method. The results showed that the recombinant adenoviruses could mediate pGH cDNA expression in CHO cells infected with the recombinant adenoviruses. The expression level of pGH cDNA with the first intron increased by 117% compared with pGH cDNA without intron. This indicate that the first intron of pGH gene have the function of improving the expression of the pGH gene.
Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; CHO Cells ; Cricetinae ; Cytomegalovirus ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Engineering ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Growth Hormone ; genetics ; Introns ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; Swine

Chinese medicine (CM) is a discipline with its own distinct methodologies and philosophical principles. The main method of treatment in CM is to use herbal prescriptions. Typically, a number of herbs are combined to form a formula and different formulae are prescribed for different patients. Regularities in the mixture of herbs in the prescriptions are important for both clinical treatment and novel patent medicine development. In this study, we analyze CM formula data using latent tree (LT) models. Interesting regularities are discovered. Those regularities are of interest to students of CM as well as pharmaceutical companies that manufacture medicine using Chinese herbs.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; standards ; Drug Compounding ; standards ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Models, Biological ; Prescription Drugs ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo evaluate computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in patients with autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP).

METHODSThe imaging findings of pancreas and extra-pancreas in 24 patients with AIP were retrospectively reviewed. Among them, CT scan was performed in 18 patients, MRI in 11, and bGth CT and MRI in 10.

RESULTSThe pancreas showed diffuse enlargement (25%, 6/24), focal enlargement (37. 5%, 9/24), combined enlargement (25%, 6/24) ,and no enlargement (12. 5%, 9/24). Unenhanced CT showed hypoattenuation in AIP area (n = 2) . After intravenous injection of contrast medium, 17 patients showed abnormal contrast enhancement in the affected pancreatic parenchyma, including hypoattenuation during the arterial phase (50%, 9/18) and hyper attenuation during the delayed phase (94. 4%, 17/18). Precontrast MRI showed abnormal signal intense (n =9), including hypointense on T1-weight images (T1 WI) (n = 7), hyperintense (n = 7) and hypointense (n = 2) on T2-weight images (TIWI). Enhanced MRI demonstrated abnormal contrast enhancement within lesions (n = 11), including hypoattenuation during the arterial phase (81. 8%, 9/11) and good enhancement during the delayed phase (100%, 11111). A capsule-like rim was seen around pancreas (37. 5%, 9/24), among which CT detected in 6 out of 18 patients and MRI found in 7 out of 11 patients.The main pancreatic duct lumen within lesions has no visualization (100%, 24/24) and upstream dilation of the main pancreatic duct (n = 8) , ranging from 2. 2 to 4. 5 mm(mean 3. 1 0. 47 mm) in diameter. Narrowing of the common bile duct was shown in 14 patients. Miscellaneous findings were: infiltration of extrapancreatic vein (n = 9) and artery (n = 1); mild fluid collection around pancreas (n = 2); pseudocysts (n = 3). Fourteen patients also presented one or more of the following extrapancreatic imaging findings: narrowing of the intra-hepatic bile duct or hilar duct (n = 5); thickening of gallbladder wall (n = 5); fibrosis in mesenteric (n = 2), in retroperitoneal (n = 2) and in ligamentum teres hepatis (n = 1); renal involvement (n = 3); peri-pancreatic or para-aortic lymphadenopathy (n = 10); and ulcerative colitis (n = 3).

CONCLUSIONAIP display some characteristic CT and MRI imaging features: sausage-like change of the pancreas; capsule-like rims around lesions; delayed contrast enhancement in the affected pancreatic parenchyma; segment or diffuse pancreatic duct stenosis but mild upstream dilation and extrapancreatic organs involvement. CT and MRI findings combining with serological tests and pancreas biopsy can assist physicians to make accurate and timely diagnosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Autoimmune Diseases ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreas ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Pancreatitis ; diagnosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo observe the histopathological finding of bone remodeling in rabbit sinusitis model at different time and the tendency, and to discuss the effect of bone in the pathogenesis of sinusitis.

METHODSFirst, the rabbit sinusitis model was made, then the experimental animals were divided into 3 groups according to the time of infection. There were 8 rabbits in each experimental group, and 4 rabbits in the control group. The sinus specimen were collected, embedded and stained. The bone in the inoculating side and noninoculating side was scored, and the bone in inoculating side was evaluated quantitatively and semiquantitatively. The parameters included the thickness of mucosa, mucoperiosteum, the density of osteoblast, the amount of osteoclast.

RESULTSThe average bone score in the inoculating side was 2.250, 2.875, 2.875; in the noninoculating side was 1.625, 2.250, 2.500. Between group A and the control group, the difference of all three parameters had statistical significance. Between group B and group A, the difference of the thickness of mucosa and the density of osteoblast had statistical significance. Between group C and group B, none of the three parameters had statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONSBacterial sinusitis can lead to bone remodeling, obvious bone destroy can occur at the early phase, then the bone proliferation follows. These results demonstrate that bone remodeling is one of the basic histopathological characters of CRS and might be the reason to lead CRS to a constant and chronic process of inflammation.

Animals ; Bone Remodeling ; Disease Models, Animal ; Inflammation ; Nasal Bone ; pathology ; Rabbits ; Sinusitis ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo observe therapeutic effect of point-through-point acupuncture on cerebellar ataxia after apoplexy and evaluate the safety.

METHODSRandom, parallel control, single blind and multicentral study method was used and 224 cases from 4 hospitals were divided equally into a treatment group and a control group, 112 cases in each group. The treatment group were treated with point-through-point acupuncture and the control group with general needling method. Their symptoms and signs, and the effect on transcranial Doppler's method (TCD) were investigated.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 93.3% in the treatment group which was better than 77.4% in the control group, with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01), and the point-through-point acupuncture could significantly improve TCD of basilar artery, vertebral artery and posterior inferior cerebellar artery (Vs, Vm, Vd, PI, RI), superior to the control group.

CONCLUSIONThe point-through-point acupuncture has obvious therapeutic effect on cerebellar ataxia after apoplexy and good safety.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Cerebellar Ataxia ; Humans ; Single-Blind Method ; Stroke ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of rat Schwann cell secretion on the proliferation and differentiation of human embryonic neural stem cells (NSCs).

METHODSThe samples were divided into three groups. In Group One, NSCs were cultured in DMED/F12 in which Schwann cells had grown for one day. In Group Two, NSCs and Schwann cells were co-cultured. In Group Three, NSCs were cultured in DMEM/F12. The morphology of NSCs was checked and beta-tubulin, GalC, hoechst 33342 and GFAP labellings were detected.

RESULTSIn Group One, all neural spheres were attached to the bottom and differentiated. The majority of them were beta-tubulin positive while a few of cells were GFAP or GalC positive. In Group Two, neural spheres remained undifferentiated and their proliferation was inhibited in places where Schwann cells were robust. In places where there were few Schwann cells, NSCs performed in a similar manner as in Group One. In Group Three, the cell growth state deteriorated day after day. On the 7th day, most NSCs died.

CONCLUSIONThe secretion of rat Schwann cells has a growth supportive and differentiation-inducing effect on human NSCs.

Animals ; Brain ; cytology ; embryology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Coculture Techniques ; Humans ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Schwann Cells ; secretion ; Sciatic Nerve ; cytology ; Stem Cells ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) pretreatment on beta amyloid protein (Abeta) induced impairment of in vivo hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) in the CA1 region of rats.

METHODSThirty-six adult male SD rats were randomly divided into six groups (n = 6): control, Abeta25-35, BDNF, (0.02 microg, 0.1 microg, 0.5 microg) BDNF + Abeta25-35. A self-made hippocampal local drug delivery catheter and a parallel bound stimulating/recording electrode were used to deliver drugs/stimulation and record field excitatory post-synaptic potentials (fEPSPs) in the hippocampal CA1 region of rats. High-frequency stimulation (HFS) was used to induce in vivo LTP.

RESULTS(1) Abeta25-35 (2 nmol) injection into CA1 region of rats did not affect the baseline fEPSPs, but inhibited the HFS-induced LTP significantly (P < 0.01). (2) Hippocampal CA1 injection of BDNF (0.1 microg) alone did not affect the baseline fEPSPs and HFS-induced LTP. (3) Compared with Abeta25-35 alone group, the averaged amplitude of LTP in BDNF (0.1 microg and 0.5 microg) plus Abeta25-35 groups significantly increased at 0 min, 30 min, and 60 min after HFS (P < 0.01), indicating that pretreatment with BDNF effectively protected against the Abeta,25-35 induced depression of LTP in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONIntrahippocampal injection of BDNF can protect against the Abeta25-35-induced LTP impairment, suggesting that the up-regulation of BDNF in the brain could maintain the normal hippocampal synaptic plasticity and may contribute to the improvement of learning and memory in Alzheimer's (AD) disease patients.

Amyloid beta-Peptides ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Animals ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; pharmacology ; CA1 Region, Hippocampal ; drug effects ; physiology ; Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials ; physiology ; Long-Term Potentiation ; physiology ; Male ; Peptide Fragments ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

A shuttle promoter-probe vector pNW33N-mpd was constructed with the E. coli-B. subtilis shuttle vector pNW33N and the mature mpd gene without it' s signal peptide-encoding sequence. The promoter fragments of B. subtilis ytkA and ywoF gene were cloned from plasmid pMPDP3 and pMPDP29 then generated the shuttle expression vector pNYTM and pNYWM. Expression vectors pNYTM and pNYWM were transformed into B. subtilis 1A751 to construct the expression strain 1A751 (pNYTM) and 1A751 (pNYTM), in these strains, under the control of the promoters and signal peptides of ytkA and ywoF gene, mpd gene was expressed and secreted with its biological activity; the result showed that the promoter of ytkA gene is much stronger than that of ywoF gene. Then a new shuttle expression-secretion vector pYNMK was constructed using the ytkA gene promoter and the signal peptide-encoding sequence of B. subtilis nprB gene, the expression of mpd gene achieved a higher level using the B. subtilis WB800 as the host, the methyl parathion hydrolase activity accumulated to a maximum level of 10.40 u/mL after 84 h of cultivation at the late stationary phase, which was 10.8-fold higher than the expression level of the original Plesiomonas strain M6, about 91.4% of the recombinant expression production was secreted into the culture medium.
Bacillus subtilis ; genetics ; Bacterial Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genetic Vectors ; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Protein Sorting Signals ; genetics ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo screen for the differential protein peaks of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) using magnetic beads-based matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS).

METHODSSerum proteins were profiled by magnetic beads (WCX) from 62 RCC patients and 37 patients with benign renal space-occupying lesions. Protein peaks were identified by MALDI-TOF-MS. Data were analyzed with Biomarker Wizard 3.1 and Biomarker Patterns Software 5.0. Diagnostic model for RCC was constructed based on 47 RCC cases and 26 patients with benign renal space-occupying lesions. The remaining 26 cases were evaluated with blind method.

RESULTSSeven differential protein peaks related to RCC were identified (Pβ0.05). The diagnostic model for RCC constructed by the differential protein peaks (m/z 2945.35, 15340.8, 6984.51, and 5819.23) generated excellent separation between the RCC and control groups, with a sensitivity of 83.0% and the specificity of 84.6%. As validated by blind method, the model had a sensitivity of 80.0% and a specificity of 81.8%.

CONCLUSIONDifferential protein peaks for RCC can be identified in serum by magnetic beads-based MALDI-TOF-MS, which is also valuable for the establishment of a RCC diagnostic model with a high sensitivity and specificity.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Blood Proteins ; analysis ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; blood ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proteomics ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; methods