[Remediation of Petroleum-Contaminated Soil Using a Bioaugmented Compost Technique].

Bioaugmented compost was created by inoculating petroleum-degrading bacteria into mature compost. The petroleum hydrocarbon degradation efficiencies were investigated by applying this enhanced compost to petroleum-contaminated soil under low temperatures. The results showed that the degrading bacteria can be enriched in the mature compost.

Presence of immune memory and immunity to hepatitis B virus in adults after neonatal hepatitis B vaccination.

Neonatal vaccination against hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection was launched in the 1980s in Qidong, China, where HBV and hepatocellular carcinoma were highly prevalent. Presence of immune memory and immunity against HBV in adults needs to be clarified. From a cohort of 806 who received plasma-derived Hep-B-Vax as neonates and were consecutively followed at ages 5, 10, and 20 years, 402 twenty-four-year-old adults were recruited for booster test.

Occult HBV infection in anti-HBs-positive young adults after neonatal HB vaccination.

Previous follow-up on our neonatal HB vaccination cohorts with 80,000 individuals in Qidong, China, showed significant protective efficacy of immunization against HBV infection in childhood. However, some vaccinees were found to be HBsAg negative, but anti-HBs positive and anti-HBc positive at age 10-11 years. To study this phenomenon, 2919 vaccinees at age 19-21 years were sampled from the cohort.

Annexin II, a novel HSP27-interacted protein, is involved in resistance to UVC-induced cell death in human APr-1 cells.

Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) is implicated in diverse biologic functions as a molecular chaperone. We found that HSP27 is involved in the protection of human cells against UVC lethality. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying UVC resistance, we searched for HSP27-interacted proteins related to resistance in UVC-resistant human cells, APr-1.

Localization of ANP-synthesizing cells in rat stomach.

Aim: To study the morphological positive expression of antrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)-synthesizing cells and ultrastructural localization and the relationship between ANP-synthesizing cells and microvessel density in the stomach of rats and to analyze the distribution of the three histologically distinct regions of ANP-synthesizing cells.

Methods: Using immunohistochemical techniques, we studied positive expression of ANP-synthesizing cells in rat stomach. A postembedding immunogold microscopy technique was used for ultrastructural localization of ANP-synthesizing cells.

Molecular cloning of the rat beta-carotene 15,15'-monooxygenase gene and its regulation by retinoic acid.

Background: beta-Carotene exhibits biological activity as provitamin A. Key step in vitamin A formation is the cleavage of beta-carotene to retinal by an enzyme designated as beta-carotene 15,15'-monooxygenase (BCM). Recently, it is reported that expression of BCM gene in the intestine is under feedback regulation by retinoic acid (RA).

Leupeptin-sensitive proteases involved in cell survival after X-ray irradiation in human RSa cells.

Proteases have received attention as important cellular components responsible for stress response in human cells. However, little is known about the role of proteases in the early steps of cell response after X-ray irradiation. In the present study, we first searched for proteases whose activity levels are changed soon after X-ray irradiation in human RSa cells with a high sensitivity to X-ray cell-killing.

[Safety and immunogenicity of split vaccines of influenza viruses].

Objective: To evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of influenza split vaccine.

Methods: According to the criteria of No.2002SL0043, instruction of application for new drug in clinical trial issued by the State Food and Drug Administration, 876 healthy persons were divided at random into vaccine group and control group.