Study of ciprofloxacin biodegradation by a Thermus sp. isolated from pharmaceutical sludge.

Ciprofloxacin (CIP) is an antibiotic drug frequently detected in manure compost and is difficult to decompose at high temperatures, resulting in a potential threat to the environment. Microbial degradation is an effective and environmentally friendly method to degrade CIP. In this study, a thermophilic bacterium that can degrade CIP was isolated from sludge sampled from an antibiotics pharmaceutical factory.

Biodegradation of sulfamethazine by an isolated thermophile-Geobacillus sp. S-07.

Sulfamethazine (SM2) is an antimicrobial drug that is frequently detected in manure compost, is difficult to degrade at high temperatures and is potentially threatening to the environment. In this study, a thermophilic bacterium was isolated from the activated sludge of an antibiotics pharmaceutical factory; this bacterium has the ability to degrade SM2 at 70 °C, which is higher than the traditional manure composting temperature. The strain S-07 is closely related to Geobacillus thermoleovorans based on its 16S rRNA gene sequence.

Tracking intrahepatically transplanted islets labeled with Feridex-polyethyleneimine complex using a clinical 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging scanner.

Objectives: To evaluate the images acquired with a clinical 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging machine as the quantification of transplanted and surviving islets in vivo.

Methods: Polyethyleneimine (PEI) was introduced to increase the labeling efficiency of Feridex, a dextran-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide.

Use of free peritoneal and bladder mucosal grafts as ureteral mucosa substitutes for management of avulsion of the ureteral mucosa in a dog model.

Background And Purpose: Avulsion of the ureteral mucosa is one of the most serious complications of ureteroscopy and considered challenging for urologic surgeons. In this study, we developed two novel methods to reconstruct the impaired ureter.

Materials And Methods: After ureteral mucosal avulsion in a canine model, ureteral reconstruction was performed in one of three ways: free tabularized peritoneal grafts (group A, n = 6); bladder mucosal grafts (group B, n = 6); or simple stenting technique (control group [n = 3]).

Thirty years of kidney transplantation in two Chinese centers.

Since the first kidney transplantation was performed in 1976, 4,306 renal transplantations have been performed at Shanghai No. 1 People's Hospital and Fujian Oriental Hospital. Nearly all (99%) of the grafts were from deceased donors.

[Effects of different reconstruction methods in treatment of avulsion of ureteral mucosa: experiment with dogs].

Objective: To investigate the curative effects of different reconstruction methods in the treatment of avulsion of ureteral mucosa.

Methods: Twenty adult dogs were randomly divided into 4 equal groups: Group III (control group in which the ureter was incised and a ureteral stent was placed therein), Group II (the ureter was incised and a ureteral mucosal avulsion about 5 cm in length was created and the avulsed mucosa was replaced to the original position and a ureteral stent was placed in addition), Group III (a piece of bladder mucosa was incised and grafted to the avulsed ureter mucosa and a ureteral stent was placed in addition), and Group IV (a tubularized peritoneal free graft and a ureteral stent were placed in the avulsed ureter). Ten weeks later intravenous pyelography (IVP) was conducted to observe the images of ureter.

[Combined treatment applied to advanced cancer of abdominal cryptorchidism (report of 12 cases)].

Objective: To discuss the treatment of advanced cancer of abdominal cryptorchidism.

Methods: The combined method, including preoperation chemotherapy + surgery + postoperation radiotherapy and chemotherapy, was used to treat 12 cases of the advanced cancer of abdominal cryptorchidism and the effects were evaluated.

Results: The patients recovered smoothly without complications of operation.

[Expression and implication of cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA in prostate cancer].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA expression and the biological behaviors of prostate carcinoma (PCa).

Methods: The expression of COX-2 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR method in 32 samples of PCa and the COX-2/GAPDH value was determined. Seven normal prostate tissues were served as control.

[Expression of different genes in transitional zone and peripheral zone of human normal prostate].

Objective: To detect the expression of different genes in the transitional zone and peripheral zone of human normal prostate.

Methods: Seventeen specimens of normal prostate gland were obtained from dead kidney donors and patients undergoing total cystectomy. The transitional zone and peripheral zone were isolated.

Association between clinical characteristics and expression abundance of RTKN gene in human bladder carcinoma tissues from Chinese patients.

Purpose: Bladder carcinoma is the most common urological malignancy in China. Gene mutation may be one of causes of carcinogenesis in the cancer. We therefore investigated the mRNA expression of RTKN gene in clinic malignant bladder carcinoma and explored the relationship between the novel gene and the cancer.

Anergic cells induced by the blockade of CD40-CD154 and CD28-B7 costimulatory pathways act as potent immunoregulatory cells in vitro and vivo.

Background: This study was to evaluate whether anergic cells induced by the blockade of CD40-CD154 and CD28-B7 costimulatory pathways can act as potent immunoregulatory cells in vitro and prolong cardiac allograft survival after adoptive transfer.

Methods: Anergic cells were induced in vitro by the addition of anti-CD154 and anti-CD80 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to primary MLR (mixed lymphocyte reaction) consisting of BALB/c as responder and C3H as stimulator. Anergic cells were added to a newly formed MLR in assessing the regulatory capacity and antigen specificity of anergic cells.

Marked prolongation of murine cardiac allograft survival using recipient immature dendritic cells loaded with donor-derived apoptotic cells.

We investigated whether recipient dendritic cells (DCs), pretreated with nuclear factor-kappaB oligodeoxyribonucleotide decoy (NF-kappaB ODN decoy) and loaded with ultraviolet B-irradiated donor apoptotic splenocytes (Apo-SCs), were able to induce murine cardiac allograft tolerance. Heterotopic vascularized heart transplantation was performed from BALB/c to C57BL/6 mice, and recipients (C57BL/6) were given one injection of recipient DCs pretreated with NF-kappaB ODN decoy and loaded with donor (BALB/c) apoptotic SCs (decoy Apo-SCs DCs) through the portal vein at 7 days, before heart transplantation in the absence of immunosuppression. The cardiac allograft survival time and the expressive levels of intragraft cytokine genes [interleukin (IL)-2, IL-10, and interferon-gamma] were evaluated.

[Expression of androgen receptor isoforms in normal human prostate].

Objective: To investigate the expression of androgen receptor (AR) isoforms in normal human prostate.

Methods: Fourteen normal prostatic specimens from donors, aged 25 on average (21-28 yr), were analyzed by high resolution isoelectric focusing (IEF). The expression of AR isoforms was demonstrated in all 14 normal human prostatic tissues.

[Some controversial conditions in the management of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome].

Chronic prostatitis (CP)/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) is a common problem of medically controversial condition that causes considerable morbidity and impact on life. Although there are many competing causes proposed, the etiology and pathogenesis of CP/CPPS remain unclear. The causative factors underlying the CPPS are not fully understood.

[The treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia by means of transurethral holmium laser enucleation].

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical effect of the holmium laser enucleation and morcellation of prostate (HoLEP) in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH).

Methods: In the treatment of 35 BPH patients, 100 watt high-powered holmium laser set was used transurethrally and a reciprocating blade tissue morcellator was introduced via a nephroscope to enucleate and morcellate the prostatic tissue.

Results: Operations in all 35 cases were successful.

[Expression of fractalkine and its receptor in acute cardiac allografts rejection].

Objective: To investigate the expression of fractalkine (FKN) and its receptor CX3CR1 in cardiac allografts and the effect of Cyclosporin A (CsA).

Methods: Three groups of rats underwent heterotopic cardiac transplantation, 45 cases in each group and 5 cases in control group: SD to SD regarded as isograft group (group A), Wistar to SD divided into CsA untreated allograft group (group B) and CsA treated allograft group (group C), normal SD rats as control group. The FKN mRNA expression was detected by one-step RT-PCR method and the expression of FKN and CX3CR1 protein was detected by standard ABC immunohistochemical technique.

[Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in human transitional cell bladder carcinomas].

Background & Objectives: Cyclooxygenase(COX) is a rate-limiting enzyme in prostaglandin synthesis. Recent study suggested that COX-2 was associated with carcinogenesis. This study was designed to investigate the role of COX in the development and progression of bladder cancer through examining the expression of COX-1 and COX-2 in human bladder cancer tissue, normal bladder mucosa, and cystitis tissue.

Characteristic pattern of human prostatic growth with age.

Aim: To study the characteristic pattern of the age-related growth of the human prostate gland.

Methods: The volume (weight) of the prostate in 1,601 males, aged from newborn to 92 years, was determined by B-ultrasonography.

Results: Prostatic volume determination by B-ultrasonography in 1601 males (1301 normal subjects and 300 BPH patients) pointed out that the age-stratified growth of human prostate could be categorized into 4 life stages: (1) the first slow growing phase (from newborn to 9 years): the prostate grows slowly at a rate of 0.

[Androgen receptor isoforms in LNCaP cell and human prostate].

Objectives: To investigate the androgen receptor (AR) isoforms expression in human benign and malignant prostatic tissues and LNCaP cells.

Methods: Using high resolution isoelectric focusing (IEF), the different expression of AR isoforms were demosntrated in human benign and malignant prostatic tissues and LNCaP cells.

Results: Data were obtained from 41 AR-positive BPH, three prostatic cancer specimens, and LNCaP cells.

[Expression of NF-kappa B in human bladder cancer and its clinical significance].

Background & Objective: Studies on solid cancer(such as breast cancer, hepatocellular cancer, pancreatic cancer) indicated that the abnormal expression of nuclear transcription factor Kappa B (NF-kappa B) regulates angiogenesis and cyclin-related genes. This study was designed to investigate the expression differences of NF-kappa B and its regulated genes between human primary transitional cell carcinoma(TCCs) of bladder and non-cancer bladder mucosa and its clinical significance.

Methods: Forty-three frozen sections including 30 bladder cancer and 13 non-cancer bladder mucosa were subjected to immunohistochemistry and nucleus staining for determining levels of NF-kappa B family and I kappa B alpha; Five paired cancer and non-cancer specimens were subjected to Western blot for analysis p65, an important subtype of NF-kappa B; Thirteen paired specimens were subjected to RT-PCR for determination mRNA levels of p50, p52, p65, c-Rel, RelB, I kappa B alpha, CyclinD1, IL-8.