A novel Aspergillus terreus strain M11 was isolated from the compost containing cellulose and identified. The isolate grow best at 45℃ and pH2.0. It was found that the activity of the CMCase was up to 3.680IU/mL with high heat stability and the optimal reaction conditions of the CMCase were at 60℃ and pH2.0.

Dietary restriction (DR) can delay senescence,prolong lifespan of mammals and improve their learning-memory activity.The purpose of the study was to explore the effects of DR on hypolipidemic action and liver function of mice with hyperlipidemia.To investigate these effects,hyperlipidemia mouse models were established with high-fat diet (HFD) (34％ of energy),then randomly divided into HFD group,DR30％ group and DR50％ group.Mice in DR30％ and DR50％ group were respectively supplied with HFD as much as about 70％ and 50％ of the consumption of HFD in the mice of HFD group.Rats in control group were fed routinely.After DR for 5 weeks,the average body weight,liver weight,liver index,serum lipids and glucose levels in both DR groups decreased significantly as compared with the HFD group (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01),so did alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase (AST),lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels and the ratio of LDL-C/HDL-C in the DR50％ group (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Histopathology examination of liver tissues further proved ameliorative effect of DR on liver function.Western blotting showed that DR significantly increased the expression of silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1) in liver and adipose,while notably decreased the expression of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors-gamma (PPARγ) in adipose (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).The increase of SIRT1 and decrease of PPARγ may be a mechanism by which DR reduces blood lipids and ameliorates liver function.

BACKGROUND: Expansive pedicle screws have been found to have strong resistance to rotation, prevent screw loosening and pulling out, and maintain the stability and physiological curvature of lumbar vertebrae, so it provides a secure and stable environment for long-tem intervertebral fusion.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical efficacy of the expandable versus conventional pedicle screws in the treatment of osteoporotic lumbar spondylolisthesis.METHODS: A total of 67 cases of osteoporotic lumbar spondylolisthesis were randomized into three groups, and then treated with conservative treatment (n=12), expansive pedicle screws (n=20), and common pedicle screws (n=35),respectively. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association and Visual Analogue Scale scores as well as radiological data were obtained immediately and 1 week after admission, 6 and 12 months after discharge. The stability of the screw and spinal fusion were evaluated, and the spondylolisthesis was assessed according to Meyerding system.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The improvement rate of Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores at the last follow-up showed no significant difference between expansive and common groups (P=1.00), and the improvement rate in the expansive and common groups was significantly higher than that in the conservative group (P < 0.05). (2) The Visual Analogue Scale scores in the expansive and common groups were significantly decreased, and the scores did not differ significantly between two groups (P > 0.05); the scores in the conservative group changed irregularly. (3) The reduction rate of spondylolisthesis in the expansive group was significantly higher than that in the common group (P < 0.01). (4) The spinal fusion score at 24 months postoperatively in the expansive group was significantly higher than that in the common group (P=0.035). (5) For osteoporotic patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis, the expansive pedicle screws are much better than the common pedicle screws in the spondylolisthesis reduction, fusion rate of bone graft,screw stability; therefore, it is a safer and more effective method.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of vitamin D3 upregulated protein-1 (VDUP1) in peripheral eosinophils at different stages of asthma and its correlation with clinical manifestations of asthma.

METHODSFourteen normal volunteers and 51 mild to moderate asthma patients, including 16 untreated patients with asthma attack and 35 with asthma remission by continuously corticosterone inhalation. The symptom severity and pulmonary function indices were evaluated and induced sputum eosinophil counts and blood eosinophil count measured. VDUP1 and beta-actin gene fragments were amplified simultaneously by RT-PCR from the total RNA of peripheral eosinophils, and 10 microl of the RT-PCR product underwent agarose gel electrophoresis and the VDUP1/beta-actin ratio was obtained by Gel-Pro software.

RESULTSVDUP1/beta-actin ratio significantly decreased in untreated patients with asthma attacks in comparison with normal volunteers (0.314+/-0.242 vs 0.532 +/-0.279) but not in patients with asthma remission (0.612+/-0.381). In the former patients, a positive correlation of VDUP1/beta-actin ratio was found with FEV1.0% (r=0.587, P=0.046) and %PEF (r=0.563, P=0.033), whereas an inverse one observed with sputum eosinophil count (r=-0.436, P=0.049).

CONCLUSIONVDUP1 expression in the eosinophils correlates to eosinophil activation and may influence the disease severity of asthma patients.

Actins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Asthma ; blood ; metabolism ; Carrier Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Eosinophils ; metabolism ; Humans ; Maximal Expiratory Flow-Volume Curves ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Thioredoxins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous laser and O2-O3 mixture in treating chronic discogenic low back pain.

METHODSThere were 48 patients included 32 male and 16 female with the mean age of 43.5 years (range, from 21 to 66 years). The duration of symptoms was more than 6 months, all patients were treated with percutaneous laser and O2-O3 mixture under TV monitoring.

RESULTSForty-eight patients followed-up showed no severe complications. At 1 week follow up, 8 cases were evaluated as excellent, 28 as good, 8 as fair and 4 as poor by Macnab standard. The excellent and good rate reached 75%. At 3 months follow up, 17 cases were evaluated as excellent, 23 as good, 6 as fair and 2 as poor with the excellent and good rate of 83.3%. At 6 months follow up, 20 cases were evaluated as excellent, 22 as good, 4 as fair and 2 as poor with a total effective rate of 87.5%. At 12 months follow up, 21 cases were evaluated as excellent, 22 as good, 4 as fair and 1 as poor with a total effective rate of 89.6%.

CONCLUSIONCombined percutaneous laser and O3-O3 mixture is an effective and safe method in treating discogenic low back pain.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; Low Back Pain ; radiotherapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ozone ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

Metabolomics is an emerging discipline subsequent to genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics, aiming for systematically studying the regularity of changes in metabolite to revealing organism's nature of movement and metabolism. It is especially important in modern pharmacological studies. Metabolic fingerprinting analysis is a method for metabolic analysis on high throughput of all metabolites, studying changes in drugs, organisms and endogenic metabolites caused by drugs and finding out related biomarkers to reflect dynamic changes inside organisms more directly and explain the mechanism of drugs and their effects on diseases. This essay summarizes some new metabolic fingerprint analytical methods and data processing methods used for metabolic fingerprint, elaborates their advantages and disadvantages and looks ahead to their combination with studies on traditional Chinese medicines, providing room for the development of new methods and new approaches for studies on complexity theory system of traditional Chinese medicines.
Data Mining ; methods ; trends ; Metabolomics ; methods ; trends ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to explore suppositional sutural construction and protraction in the three-dimensional finite element model of craniofacial complex.

METHODSCombining spiral CT scanning technology with the three-dimensional finite element method, three-dimensional FEM model of craniofacial complex was developed for analysis. In the model, craniofacial sutures were constructed through the MSC. Patran program and different mechanical properties of sutures were applied. Under the same loading condition, bone displacements of the maxilla were calculated.

RESULTSA three-dimensional FE model of craniofacial complex, comprising teeth and craniofacial sutures, was developed. The displacement of the skeletal structures with sutures was significantly larger than that without sutures.

CONCLUSIONSThe construction of craniofacial sutures in the three-dimensional finite element model of craniofacial complex could improve the accuracy of finite element model, which set up good foundation for biomechanical studies of craniofacial complex.

Cephalometry ; methods ; Child ; Cranial Sutures ; anatomy & histology ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Materials Testing ; Radiography

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; complications ; pathology ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Gastrectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sarcoma, Kaposi ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; virology ; Stomach ; pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; virology ; Vimentin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Gansui Banxia Tang plus-minus Gansui and Gancao anti-drug combination on hepatic and renal functions in malignant ascites rats to explore whether the efficacy or toxicity associated with the anti-drug combination.

METHODThe male wistar rats were randomly divided into a blank group, model group, furosemide group, Gansui Banxia Tang group, Gansui Banxia Tang removed Zhigancao group, Gansui Banxia Tang removed Cugansui group, Gansui Banxia Tang removed Zhigancao and Cugansui group. In addition to normal feeding, every morning except for the blank group and model group, the rest of the group was given drugs, the control group and the model group was given distilled water, the volume is 10 mL x kg(-1). Administered five days, all rats were fasted but except water for 24 hours to collect urine. Administered nine days all rats were fasted but except water for 12 hours, we need to weigh weight of rats. When we remove the ascites, we also need to weigh weight of rats. We use the weight before removing ascites minus weight after removing ascites to indirectly measure the amount of ascites. When we remove the ascites, we need to abdominal aortic blood, centrifuge testing renin, angiotensin II, aldosterone, antidiuretic hormone and other indicators.

RESULTThe effect of Gansui Banixa Tang on increasing the net weight, lowering abdominal circumference and body weight ratio, lowering renin, angiotensin, aldosterone, antidiuretic hormone is better than the other treatment group.

CONCLUSIONIn diuresis party, the group of Gansui Banxia Tang is better than the group of Gansui Banxia Tang remove Zhigancao or Cugansui or Zhigancao and Cugansui, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system may play a diuretic effect of its one way.

Aldosterone ; metabolism ; Angiotensin II ; metabolism ; Animals ; Ascites ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Diuretics ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Interactions ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo reconstruct 3D shape of edentulous jaw by using improved measurement system and to analyze the precision of this method.

METHODSStandard edentulous jaw models were measured with a improved measurement system by cutting and scanning layer-by-layer, and the 3D shape of the models was reconstructed by image processing with specialty software. Ten cubic plaster modes were reconstructed by the same way, data of every border before and after reconstruction were measured and analyzed.

RESULTSData of edentulous jaw models were obtained. The errors in ten cubic before and after reconstruction were not significantly different (P > 0.05), data measured in horizontal plane were not significantly different (P > 0.05), and data measured in altitude direction were significantly different (P < 0.01), data measured after reconstruction were less than before, the error was (0.09 +/- 0.08) mm.

CONCLUSIONThe improved cutting and scanning measurement system can be fit for the 3D reconstruction of stomatognathic system with high precision.

Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Jaw, Edentulous ; Reproducibility of Results ; Software ; Stomatognathic System ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed