Prevalence of tetracycline resistance genes and identification of tet(M) in clinical isolates of Escherichia coli from sick ducks in China.

Tetracycline resistance is one of the most frequently encountered resistance properties in bacteria of animal origin. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and diversity of tetracycline resistance (tet) genes among Escherichia coli clinical isolates from diseased ducks in China and to report the identification and sequencing of the tet(M) gene. The susceptibility of 85 Escherichia coli strains to tetracyclines was determined by broth microdilution, and the presence of tet genes was investigated by multiplex PCR.

Platelet-rich plasma enhances autograft revascularization and reinnervation in a dog model of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Background: Autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been investigated as a potential promoter of tendon healing that affects the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) graft maturation process. However, the influence of PRP on revascularization and reinnervation during the ACL graft remodeling has never been investigated.

Materials And Methods: We randomly assigned healthy and mature beagles to one of four groups.

Novel arrangement of the blaCTX-M-55 gene in an Escherichia coli isolate coproducing 16S rRNA methylase.

A multi-drug resistant Escherichia coli C21 was isolated from a chicken in China. It was shown to be positive for the presence of the blaTEM-1, blaCTX-M-55 and rmtB genes by PCR. This strain was examined by phylogenetic grouping, conjugation experiments, plasmid analysis, PCR-based replicon typing and multi-locus sequence typed (MLST).

Imaging integrin α(v)β(3) positive glioma with a novel RGD dimer probe and the impact of antiangiogenic agent (Endostar) on its tumor uptake.

Integrin αvβ3 has been recognized to play an important role in angiogenesis, tumor growth and metastasis. It will be of interest to apply this promising target for tumor imaging and visualization of tumor angiogenesis in vivo. In this study, a novel integrin αvβ3 targetting imaging probe, (99m)Tc-HYNIC-E[c(RGDfK)]2, was used to investigate the glioma uptake in vitro and in vivo before and after treatment with an antiangiogenic agent, endostar.

Image-guided resection of malignant gliomas using fluorescent nanoparticles.

Intraoperative fluorescence imaging especially near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging has the potential to revolutionize neurosurgery by providing high sensitivity and real-time image guidance to surgeons for defining gliomas margins. Fluorescence probes including targeted nanoprobes are expected to improve the specificity and selectivity for intraoperative fluorescence or NIRF tumor imaging. The main focus of this article is to provide a brief overview of intraoperative fluorescence imaging systems and probes including fluorescein sodium, 5-aminolevulinic acid, dye-containing nanoparticles, and targeted NIRF nanoprobes for their applications in image-guided resection of malignant gliomas.

An unprecedented octahedral {Cd30} nanocage supported by twelve pendant-armed tetraacetate macrocyclic ligands.

An unprecedented octahedral {Cd(30)} nanocage supported by twelve pendant-armed tetraacetate macrocyclic ligands was synthesized through the reaction of macrocyclic tetraethyl ester and Cd(OAc)(2)·2H(2)O in a 1 : 2 stoichiometry, where the surface photovoltage and photoluminescent properties have been studied for the nanocage.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase could be a promising target in lung cancer therapy.

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PIK3CA) gene amplification in lung cancer, and to explore its prognostic value.

Methods: A total of 647 lung tumor samples from 290 patients were included in the study. The ratio of PIK3CA signals/centromere 3 signals in cancer cells was estimated by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH7rpar; analysis.

Association between family members of dialysis patients and chronic kidney disease: a multicenter study in China.

Background: Family members of patients with end stage renal disease were reported to have an increased prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, studies differentiated genetic and non-genetic family members are limited. We sought to investigate the prevalence of CKD among fist-degree relatives and spouses of dialysis patients in China.

Direct access to enantioenriched spiroacetals through asymmetric relay catalytic three-component reaction.

The gold(I)/chiral Brønsted acid relay catalysis enabled a highly stereoselective three-component reaction of salicylaldehydes, anilines, and alkynols to give aromatic spiroacetals in high yields and stereoselectivities.

Ultrastructural studies on the natural leaf senescence of Cinnamomum camphora.

The process of natural leaf senescence of Cinnamomum camphora (C. camphora)-a commercial tree in Asia, was investigated, focusing on changes in cellular ultrastructure, epicuticular wax, and stoma. The changes to mesophyll cells in a senescing leaf predominantly include degradation of the following cellular components: cytoplasm, the central vacuole, small vacuoles, and vesicles with a diameter smaller than 400 nm, which are involved in the degradation of chloroplasts.

[Effects of rehabilitation robot for lower-limb on motor function in hemiplegic patients after stroke].

Objective: To explore the effects of rehabilitation robot for lower-limb on motor function in hemiplegic patients after stroke.

Methods: Forty-eight hemiplegic patients were divided randomly into treatment (n = 24) and control (n = 24) group. The neuro-facilitation technique was applied for both groups.

The multidimensional perturbation value: a single metric to measure similarity and activity of treatments in high-throughput multidimensional screens.

Screens using high-throughput, information-rich technologies such as microarrays, high-content screening (HCS), and next-generation sequencing (NGS) have become increasingly widespread. Compared with single-readout assays, these methods produce a more comprehensive picture of the effects of screened treatments. However, interpreting such multidimensional readouts is challenging.

Practical retrieval of land surface emissivity spectra in 8-14 μm from hyperspectral thermal infrared data.

A practical physics-based regression method was developed and evaluated for nearly real time estimate of land surface emissivity spectra in 8-14 μm from hyperspectral thermal infrared data. Two spectral emissivity libraries and one atmospheric profile database fully covering all the possible situations for clear sky conditions were elaborately selected to simulate the radiances at the top of the atmosphere (TOA). The regression coefficients were determined by the main principal components of emissivity spectra and those of simulated brightness temperature at TOA using a ridge regression method.

Detection of mink enteritis virus by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP).

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method was discovered in the last decade but only used for the first time in the diagnosis of mink enteritis virus (MEV) infection in this study. The amplification could be completed within 60 min, under isothermal condition at 65°C, by employing a set of four primers targeting the VP2 gene of MEV. The LAMP was more sensitive than the conventional PCR, with a detection limit of 10(-1) median tissue culture infective doses (TCID(50))/ml per reaction, compared with 10 TCID(50)/ml for PCR analysis.

The effect of platelet-rich plasma on patterns of gene expression in a dog model of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Background: Autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been investigated as a potential promoter of tendon healing and has an enhancing effect on the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) graft maturation process. However, the influence of PRP on the synthesis and degradation of the extracellular matrix during the ACL graft remodeling process has never been investigated.

Materials And Methods: Healthy and mature beagle dogs were randomly assigned to one of four groups: in group I (PRP group), ACL grafts were treated with PRP; in group II (control group), ACL grafts were treated with saline; in group III (sham group), only the knee joints were exposed; in group IV (normal control group), no surgery was performed to the knees.

Complete genome sequence of a highly pathogenic porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus NM1 strain from northern China.

NM1 is a highly pathogenic North American-type porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). The complete genome sequence shows that NM1 shares high sequence identity (99.2 to 99.

Complete genome sequence of a mink calicivirus in China.

We report the complete genome sequence of a novel calicivirus isolated from a diseased mink in China. The complete viral genome is approximately 8.4 kb in length and consists of three open reading frames.

Integrated compound profiling screens identify the mitochondrial electron transport chain as the molecular target of the natural products manassantin, sesquicillin, and arctigenin.

Phenotypic compound screens can be used to identify novel targets in signaling pathways and disease processes, but the usefulness of these screens depends on the ability to quickly determine the target and mechanism of action of the molecules identified as hits. One fast route to discovering the mechanism of action of a compound is to profile its properties and to match this profile with those of compounds of known mechanism of action. In this work, the Novartis collection of over 12,000 pure natural products was screened for effects on early zebrafish development.

Evidence for natural recombination between mink enteritis virus and canine parvovirus.

A virus was isolated from mink showing clinical and pathological signs of enteritis in China. This virus, designated MEV/LN-10, was identified as mink enteritis virus (MEV) based on its cytopathic effect in the feline F81 cell line, the hemagglutination (HA) and hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay, electron microscopy (EM) and animal infection experiments. The complete viral genome was cloned and sequenced.

Association of growth/differentiation factor 1 gene polymorphisms with the risk of congenital heart disease in the Chinese Han population.

There is evidence suggesting that genetic variants of Nodal signaling may be associated with risk of congenital heart diseases (CHDs), in which several polymorphisms, such as Nodal rs1904589, have been considered to be implicated in the accumulation of the genetic burden of CHD risk with interacting genes. We hypothesized that genetic variants of GDF1, a protein that heterodimerizes with Nodal, may be related to increased CHD susceptibility. In this study, four tagSNPs of GDF1 were genotyped in 310 non-syndromic CHD patients and 320 healthy controls by using PCR-based DHPLC and RFLP.

Synthesis and herbicidal activity of substituted pyrazole isothiocyanates.

Isothiocyanates and substituted pyrazoles were combined to form a series of novel isothiocyanates with highly effective herbicidal activity. The target compounds were analyzed by elemental analysis, 1H-NMR, EI-MS and IR spectroscopy. The synthesized compounds, particularly compounds 3-1 and 3-7, exhibited good herbicidal activities against four weeds.

Validation of MODIS-derived bidirectional reflectivity retrieval algorithm in mid-infrared channel with field measurements.

This work addressed the validation of the MODIS-derived bidirectional reflectivity retrieval algorithm in mid-infrared (MIR) channel, proposed by Tang and Li [Int. J. Remote Sens.

[Effectiveness of arthroscopic treatment for synovial chondromatosis].

Objective: To explore the technique of arthroscopic treatment of synovial chondromatosis of the hip and to evaluate its effectiveness.

Methods: Between July 2009 and June 2011, 15 patients with synovial chondromatosis of the hip underwent arthroscopic synovectomy and removal of loose bodier. Of 15 patients, 11 were male and 4 were female, aged from 21 to 45 years with an average of 33.

Shear-induced gelation of soft strawberry-like particles in the presence of polymeric P(BA-b-AA) surfactants.

The effect of polymeric surfactants, copolymers of n-butyl acrylate (BA) and acrylic acid (AA), on shear-induced gelation of a colloidal system in the absence of additional electrolytes is studied. One random (PBA-co-PAA) and two block copolymer (PBA-b-PAA, with different PAA lengths) surfactants have been synthesized by ATRP and used in this work. The colloidal system is composed of strawberry-like particles with a rubbery core, partially covered by a few grafted plastic patches.