Evaluation for sustainable land use in mountain areas of Northwestern Yunnan Province, China.

As an important component of sustainable development in mountain areas, evaluation for sustainable land use is always one of the hotpots of researches on sustainable development. Traditional evaluation for sustainable land use mainly focuses on the sustainability of land use model and biological production on temporal scale, and overlooks the effects of land use patterns on the sustainability, while landscape ecology can be a good help to realize the spatial analysis of sustainable land use. In this study, a synthetic evaluation indexes system for sustainable land use was constructed through the application of landscape metrics.

[Decrease of FOXP3 mRNA in CD4+ T cells in latent autoimmune diabetes in adult].

Objective: To study the percentage of peripheral blood CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells and the expression of FOXP3 mRNA in the patients with latent autoimmune diabetes in adult (LADA).

Methods: Fresh peripheral blood samples were obtained from 60 patients with LADA, 30 patients with type 2 diabetes and 30 age- and sex-matched matched healthy nondiabetic control subjects without diabetic family history. Two-color staining (anti-CD4, anti-CD25, anti-CD3, and anti-CD8) flow cytometric analysis was employed to measure the CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells.

catena-Poly[[[triaqua-copper(II)]-μ(2)-pyrazine-2,3-dicarboxyl-ato] monohydrate].

The Cu atom in the title complex, {[Cu(C(6)H(2)N(2)O(4))(H(2)O)(3)]·H(2)O}(n) or {[Cu(L)(H(2)O)(3)]·H(2)O}(n) (L is pyrazine-2,3-dicarbox-yl-ate), displays octa-hedral coordination formed by the ligand L and three coordinated water mol-ecules. The ligand L is tridentate, with one N atom of the pyrazine ring and one O atom of one carboxyl-ate group forming a chelate ring, whereas one O atom from the second carboxyl-ate group is coordinated to another Cu atom. The ligand L links mol-ecules to form an infinite chain parallel to the [101] direction.

Craniofacial, skeletal, and cardiac defects associated with altered embryonic murine Zic3 expression following targeted insertion of a PGK-NEO cassette.

Mutation in ZIC3 (OMIM #306955), a zinc finger transcription factor, causes heterotaxy (situs ambiguus) or isolated congenital heart defects in humans. Mice bearing a null mutation in Zic3 have left-right patterning defects with associated cardiovascular, vertebra/rib, and central nervous system malformations. Although XZic3 is thought to play a critical role in Xenopus neural crest development, no defects in tissues derived from neural crest are apparent in adult Zic3(null) mice.

The CD4(+) regulatory T-cells is decreased in adults with latent autoimmune diabetes.

The latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) is a subgroup of type 1 diabetes, which procession of autoimmune destruction of beta-cells was slower than classic type 1 diabetes. To investigate the pathogenesis of LADA, we examined the lymphocyte subsets including the CD4(+)CD25(+) T-cells in 60 LADA patients and 30 patients of type 2 diabetes and 30 healthy individuals by FACS. And we compared the expression of FOXP3 mRNA in CD4(+) T-cell between 10 patients of LADA and 10 matched healthy individuals by real time PCR.

[Clinical features of idiopathic ventricular tachycardia of various types and their radiofrequency ablation therapy].

Objective: To analyze the clinical features idiopathic ventricular tachycardia (IVT) and evaluate the effect of radiofrequency ablation therapy for their management.

Methods: An retrospective analysis was conducted in 165 IVT patients who received radiofrequency ablation therapy. IVT was classified into 3 types according to the site of origin, namely the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT-IVT, 86 cases), left ventricular septum (LV-IVT, 75 cases), and left Valsalva sinus (4 cases).

Expression, purification and bioactivity of human augmenter of liver regeneration.

Aim: To construct the expression vectors for prokaryotic and eukaryotic human augmenter of liver regeneration (hALR) and to study their biological activity.

Methods: hALRcDNA clone was obtained from plasmid pGEM-T-hALR, and cDNA was subcloned into the prokatyotic expression vector pGEX-4T-2. The recombinant vector and pGEX-4T-2hALR were identified by enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing and transformed into E coli JM109.

TGF-beta signaling is required for the function of insulin-reactive T regulatory cells.

We have previously isolated insulin-reactive Tregs from diabetic NOD mice designated 2H6, from which TCR transgenic mice were generated. The T cells from these 2H6 transgenic mice recognize insulin but have suppressive properties in vitro. They protect NOD mice in vivo from spontaneous development of diabetes and adoptive transfer of disease caused by polyclonal diabetogenic spleen cells as well as the highly diabetogenic monoclonal BDC2.

[Study on the postive frequency and distribution of glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody in phenotypic type 2 diabetec patients].

Objective: To investigate the positive frequency and distribution of glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody(GAD-Ab) in phenotypic type 2 diabetic(T2DM) patients.

Methods: Sera of 2035 phenotypic T2DM patients were screened for GAD-Ab with radioligand assay. The positive frequency of GAD-Ab and its relation with clinical features were analyzed.

[Effect of intravenous patient-controlled intravenous analgesia with small dose of ketamine during shock stage on cytokine balance in patients with severe burn].

Objective: To investigate the influences of patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) with small dose of ketamine solely or combined with fentanyl during shock stage on cytokine balance in patients with severe burn.

Methods: Forty-five patients with severe burn and hospitalized within 24 hours after injury were randomly divided into three groups (n=15 in each group): conventional analgesia therapy group (group CAT), patient controlled intravenous ketamine analgesia group (group PCIKA, intravenous small dose ketamine), and patient controlled intravenous ketamine and fentanyl analgesia group (group PCIKFA, intravenous small dose ketamine combined with fentanyl). In group CAT, patients received intramuscular injection of pethidine 50 mg and phenergan 25 mg when patients complained of pain.

[Experimental study of colorectal cancerous autofluorescent spectra induced by laser].

The researches reported in this article are focused on the autofluorescent signal collection of colorectal tissues by laser induced autofluorescent diagnostic system, and on the signal processing by power spectra and networks methods, Pretty good clinical diagnostic sensitivity and specificity are acquired. These may serve as a foundation on which to develop a system for diagnosis of colorecal cancer.

Distribution and mass inventory of total dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene in the water column of the southern California bight.

A large-scale survey on the area and depth stratified distribution of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT; mainly p,p'- and o,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE)) contamination in the water column of the Southern California Bight (SCB) was conducted in 2003-2004 using a solid-phase microextraction-based sampling technique. Dissolved-phase DDEs were clearly widespread, with the central SCB containing the highest levels, and the Palos Verdes Shelf sediments have remained the dominant source of DDT compounds to the SCB. The p,p'- and o,p'-DDE concentrations ranged from < 0.

[Short-term effect of paclitaxel-eluting stent in the treatment of coronary heart disease due to coronary arteriosclerosis].

Objective: To evaluate the short-term safety and efficacy of paclitaxel-eluting stent (TAXUS stent, Boston Scientific) in the treatment of coronary heart disease (CHD) due to coronary arteriosclerosis.

Methods: From July 2003 to November 2004, 300 consecutive patients with CHD due to coronary arteriosclerosis were admitted for selective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and paclitaxel-eluting stent implantation in the coronary arteries. The immediate effects after PCI and follow-up results were investigated.

[Effects of parathyroid hormone on osteoprotegerin expression and osteoprotegerin ligand and their related cytokines in human osteoblasts].

Objective: To investigate the pathway and mechanism of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in regulating bone resorption.

Methods: We observed the regulative effects of PTH on the expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and osteoprotegerin ligand (OPGL) and their related cytokines (M-CSF and TRAIL) in human osteoblasts (HOBs). The expressions of OPG, OPGL, M-CSF, and TRAIL mRNA were determined by RT-PCR.

[Improved radioligand assay of insulin autoantibody].

Objective: To establish an improved radioligand assay of insulin autoantibody (IAA) and to investigate the diagnostic role of IAA in type 1 diabetes (T1DM).

Methods: 125I-insulin antigens were mixed with sera samples in the Eppendorf tubes. The immunocomplexes were precipitated with protein A-agarose, then washed with TBST buffer and counted the cpm value using liquid scintillation counter.

[Melanocortin receptor involvement in the regulation of food intake and energy homeostasis].

The melanocortin receptors are members of the super-family of G-protein coupled receptors. To date, five melanocortin receptor genes (MC1R-MC5R) have been cloned and characterized. These receptors differ in their tissue distributions and physiological roles.

[Protective effects of losartan against myocardial ischemic reperfusion in intact canine].

Objective: To evaluate the protective effect of losartan, an angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonist, against myocardial ischemic reperfusion in intact canine.

Methods: Sixteen dogs were divided into model group(n=8) with left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion for 30 min followed by reperfusion for 30 min and losartan group (n=8) with 5 mg/(kg x d) intragastric losartan administration for 2 weeks before the ischemic-reperfusion model establishment. Monophasic action potential recording technique was employed to observe the incidence of early after depolarization (EAD) and reperfusion arrhythmias.

[Fever and Brugada syndrome: report of 21 cases].

A retrospective analysis of 21 cases of Brugada syndrome treated between 1997 and 2004 was conducted to examine the clinical characteristics of these patients and the relations between fever and Brugada syndrome. Of the 21 patients including one female patient, 4 male patents with Brugada syndrome were confirmed to develop ventricular arrhythmias due to febrile disease, suggesting that fever, one of the common causes for triggering cardiac events in Brugada syndrome, should receive due attention in clinical practice.

[Quality control of radioligand assay for glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody].

Objective: To supply the quality control for glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody (GAD-Ab) measurement using radioligand assay.

Methods: The quality control of GAD-Ab determined with radioligand assay in 83 batches was analyzed.

Results: The intra-assay coefficient of variation (CV) was 4.

Determination of polydimethylsiloxane-seawater distribution coefficients for polychlorinated biphenyls and chlorinated pesticides by solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Applications of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) in the measurement of very hydrophobic organic compounds (VHOCs) are limited, partly due to the difficulty of calibrating SPME fibers for VHOCs. This study used a static SPME strategy with a large sample volume (1.6 L) and a five-point calibration procedure to determine the distribution coefficients for a large suite of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and chlorinated pesticides between a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) phase (100 microm thickness) coated on a glass fiber and seawater.

Interleukin-1beta enhanced action of kinins on extracellular matrix of spontaneous hypertensive rat cardiac fibroblasts.

Interaction between an enhanced action of kinins and cytokines is accepted as important to the cardioprotective effect of angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors. Kinins mediate their effects through B1 and B2 subtype receptors that may be modulated by cytokines including interleukin (IL)-1beta. We examined expression of kinin receptors and the effects of bradykinin (B2 agonist) and des-Arg10-kallidin (B1 agonist) on extracellular matrix components of adult rat cardiac fibroblasts with or without prior exposure to IL-1beta.

[Correlative study between angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism and hepatorenal syndrome].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene and uncompensated cirrhosis of liver with hepatorenal syndrome (HRS).

Methods: ACE I/D polymorphism was detected by polymerase chain reaction amplification of DNA fragment in 56 patients of uncompensated liver cirrhosis with HRS, and 60 healthy individuals served as the controls. At the same time, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate transaminase, serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) etc.

Experimental study on induction of renal cell carcinoma apoptosis by antisense oligonucleotide targeting survivin.

The effect of antisense oligonucleotide (ASODN) targeting survivin on renal cell carcinoma (RCC) apoptosis, proliferation and sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs was investigated. Antisense oligonucleotide targeting survivin was designed and composed. The cDNA of survivin was transfected into RCC cell lines ACHN and 769-P, respectively.

[Advance on insulin-like growth factor 2].

Insulin-like growth factors play an important role in fetal growth and development, tumour cell proliferation and muscle growth. This review is focused on the insulin-like growth factor 2 gene structures, and their imprintings in mammalian genomes. In addition, we also discussed that IGF2 is the major paternally expressed candidate gene affecting muscle mass.

[Landscape spatial changes in Shenzhen and their driving factors].

Based on GIS technology, the MSS image in 1978 and the TM images in 1986, 1990, 1995 and 1999 were used to study the landscape spatial changes in Shenzhen during the past two decades. The results showed that the regional landscape in Shenzhen changed dramatically, from a typical agricultural landscape to a rapidly urbanizing landscape. The percentage of cultivated land decreased from 31.