Distribution and diversity of nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane-oxidising bacteria in the sediments of the Qiantang River.

Nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (n-damo) process was reported to be mediated by "Candidatus Methylomirabilis oxyfera", which belongs to the candidate phylum NC10. M. oxyfera-like bacteria have been detected in lake ecosystems, while their distribution, diversity and abundance in river ecosystems have not been well studied.

Effects of the hippo signaling pathway in human gastric cancer.

Background/aim: The Hippo signaling pathway is a newly discovered and conserved signaling cascade, which regulates organ size control by governing cell proliferation and apoptosis. This study aimed to investigate its effects in human gastric cancer.

Methods: Tumor tissues (n=60), adjacent non-tumor tissues (n=60) and normal tissues (n=60) were obtained from the same patients with primary gastric cancer (GC).

[Relationships between river water quality and land use type at watershed scale].

Based on the remote sensing images of 54 water quality monitoring stations within the Suzi River watershed, the riparian buffer zones at 6 scales were constructed by ArcGIS, and the 8 landscape indices at landscape and class levels were calculated with FRAGSTATS software. A correlation analysis on the landscape indices and river water quality was made from the viewpoints of landscape space pattern and composition. In the watershed, the landscape pattern in different riparian buffer zones had different effects on the river water quality.

Clinical significance of NOB1 expression in breast infiltrating ductal carcinoma.

Background: NIN/RPN Binding protein 1 homologue (NOBp1), encoded by NOB1 gene, was reported to play an essential role in the oncogenesis and prognosis of carcinomas. We conducted a study to reveal its expression and clinical significance in breast infiltrating ductal carcinoma.

Methods: To explore the relationship between NOB1 expression and the clinical TNM (cTNM), 162 patients who undergone surgery were involved in the study.

[Compositions and distribution characteristics of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in serum of women from Sichuan province].

The serum concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in women from Sichuan province were detected via gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry in selected ion monitoring mode (SIM). Based on the experimental data, the compositions and distribution characteristics of PBDEs as well as pollution resource were also explored. Among these 11 congeners of PBDEs detected, BDE-209 was the dominant congener accounting for 63.

Construction and characterization of an infectious cDNA clone of enterovirus type 71 subgenotype C4.

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is the major causative agent of hand, foot, and mouth disease and induces fatal neurological complications. In recent years, this virus has become a major threat to public health in the Asia-Pacific region, while no effective antiviral therapies and vaccines are currently available. In this study, we constructed and characterized for the first time an infectious full-length EV71 cDNA clone derived from the SHZH98 strain, which was the first subgenotype C4 strain isolated in China.

Valproic acid reduces autophagy and promotes functional recovery after spinal cord injury in rats.

Secondary damage is a critical determinant of the functional outcome in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI), and involves multiple mechanisms of which the most important is the loss of nerve cells mediated by multiple factors. Autophagy can result in cell death, and plays a key role in the development of SCI. It has been recognized that valproic acid (VPA) is neuroprotective in certain experimental animal models, however, the levels of autophagic changes in the process of neuroprotection by VPA treatment following SCI are still unknown.

[The up-regulation of hypoxia inducible factor-1α by hypoxic postconditioning reduces hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced injury in heart-derived H9c2 cells].

The aim of the present study was to explore the effects of hypoxic postconditioning (PostC) on heart-derived H9c2 cells injury induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) and the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), and to analyze the relationship between them. Cultured H9c2 cardiac muscle cells were subjected to 3-hour hypoxia and 2-hour reoxygenation to simulate ischemia and reperfusion, or underwent 3 cycles of 5-min reoxygenation and 5-min hypoxia preceding the long reoxygenation to simulate ischemic postconditioning. Cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, and caspase-3 activity were detected respectively to investigate the cell injury induced by H/R.

Rapid increase of serum neuron specific enolase level and tachyphylaxis of EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor indicate small cell lung cancer transformation from EGFR positive lung adenocarcinoma?

We report the case of an 80-year-old male with relapsed EGFR exon 19 deletion lung adenocarcinoma treated with EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), but with poor response and rapid increase of serum neuron specific enolase (NSE). Repeat biopsy identified pathological transformation to small cell lung cancers (SCLC) retaining the same EGFR mutation. This case highlights routine serological testing of NSE may benefit for the lung adenocarcinoma patients resistant to TKIs.

[Determination of alpha-cellulose content of natural cellulose pulp in a new clean pulping process using near infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy].

A new near infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy method is proposed to rapidly detect alpha-cellulose content of natural cellulose (plant fiber: cotton, wood) pulp in a new clean pulping process. One hundred forty two samples were collected and their alpha-cellulose content data were determined by standard method GB/T 9107-1999. The samples were homogenized by grinding pretreatment to improve spectroscopy measurement accuracy.

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 regulates the mechanism of irradiation-induced CNE-2 human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell autophagy and inhibition of autophagy contributes to the radiation sensitization of CNE-2 cells.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of autophagy in response to ionizing radiation (IR) in CNE-2 human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells and to demonstrate the function of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) in the regulation of IR-induced autophagy. Microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) and poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) were assessed using western blotting. Ultrastructural analysis was performed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

[Establishment of drug screening assay and pharmacodynamic evaluation method targeting influenza RNA polymerase].

Influenza virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) is essential for replication and expression of influenza virus genome. Viral genomic sequences encoding RdRP are highly conservative, thus making it a potential anti-influenza drug target. A cell-based influenza RdRP inhibitor screening assay was established by a luciferase reporter system to analyze the activity of RdRP.

Three novel immunosuppressive steroidal glycosides from the stems of Stephanotis mucronata.

Three novel and one known C21 steroidal glycosides were isolated from the stems of Stephanotis mucronata. Their structures were determined on the basis of chemical evidence and extensive spectroscopic methods. The four C21 steroidal glycosides displayed significant immunosuppressive activities in vitro.

[Study on rapid quantitative analysis of the active ingredient in ABC extinguishing agent and type identification of extinguishing agent powders using near infrared spectroscopy].

A new quantitative method to determine the NH4H2PO4 in ABC powder extinguishing agent and to distinguish between ABC and BC powder extinguishing agents using near infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy is proposed. A PLS calibration model for the NH4H2PO4 content in extinguishing agent powder was established, with RMSECV = 2.1, RMSEP = 2.

[Sugar characterization of mini-watermelon and rapid sugar determination by near infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy].

In the present paper, the distribution of sugar level within the mini-watermelon was studied, a new sugar characterization method of mini-watermelon using average sugar level, the highest sugar level and the lowest sugar level index is proposed. Feasibility of nondestructive determination of mini-watermenlon sugar level using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy information was investigated by an experiment. PLS models for measuring the 3 sugar levels were established.

[The attenuation of myocardial susceptibility to ischemia/reperfusion injury by ischemic postconditioning in hypercholesteremia rats and the role of hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha].

Objective: To explore whether ischemic postconditioning can attenuate the myocardial injury induced by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in hypercholesteremic rats and whether hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) play a role in the protection.

Methods: Adult male Wistar rats received a high fat diet for 8 weeks to prepare the hypercholesteremic models. Myocardial damage induced by ischemia/reperfusion was evaluated by infarct size, creatine kinase (CK) activity and myocardial apoptosis.

[Study on three common mitochondrial DNA mutations in Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy].

Objective: To screen for genetic mutations in 35 patients with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON).

Methods: Polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing were used to screen for the presence of mitochondrial DNA mutations.

Results: The total detection rate of top 3 common LHON mutations were 20.

Effects of propofol on ischemia-induced ventricular arrhythmias and mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channels.

Aim: To investigate the potential of propofol in suppressing ventricular arrhythmias and to examine whether mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channels are involved.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were pretreated with intravenous infusion of propofol (Prop), a selective mitochondrial KATP channel inhibitor 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD), propofol plus 5-HD (Prop+5-HD), a potent mitochondrial K(ATP) channel opener diazoxide (DZ) or NS, respectively. The dosage of each drug was 10 mg/kg.

[Detection of the changes of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness by GDx-VCC laser scanning polarimetry in primary open angle glaucoma patients].

Objective: To evaluate the changes of visual field and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness during 24 months follow up in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients.

Methods: In this retrospective case series study, visual field and RNFL were detected by using GDx-VCC system and Octopus perimeter in 60 patients with POAG in early stage (60 eyes), 32 in moderate stage (32 eyes) and 30 in advanced stage (30 eyes). The parameters of the RNFL thickness and mean defect (MD) of the visual fields were recorded and analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance among the same group and by one-factor analysis of variance for different stages of POAG groups at each time of follow-up.

[Application of epiglottis with sternohyoid muscle in the surgery for laryngeal cancer].

Objective: To explore and evaluate the application of epiglottis with sternohyoid muscle in the surgery for laryngeal cancer.

Methods: Two fifty patients with laryngeal cancer were treated by partial laryngectomy and the laryngeal defects were reconstructed by epiglottic flap and sternohyoid muscle fascia flap. The staging of tumors: T2N0M0 23 cases, T3N1M0 14 cases, T3N2M0 13 cases.

The embryonic and postembryonic developmental toxicity of imidazolium-based ionic liquids on Physa acuta.

The embryonic and postembryonic developmental toxicity of imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) to the snail Physa acuta was evaluated in this study. The results of embryonic toxicity tests showed that lower concentrations of 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C8 mim]Br) (1.5 and 2.

Toxic cytological alteration and mitochondrial dysfunction in PC12 cells induced by 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride.

Ionic liquids have recently received considerable attention due to their negligible vapor pressure and substitute for conventional organic solvents. However, their solubility in water and a great deal of literature regarding their toxicity on aquatic organisms have caused much concern in recent years. This study aims to evaluate the cytotoxicity of 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C(8)mim][Cl]) on the rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cell line by cell viability assay and to determine the cytological alterations and damages in PC12 cells after 24h of exposure at the concentrations of 0.

[Risk assessment of fortification level for vitamin A in food in China].

Objective: To study the highest levels for vitamin A voluntary fortification in food by using the principles and methods of risk assessment.

Methods: The dietary nutrient intake data of 68 962 subjects form "Survey on the Status of Nutrition and Health of the Chinese People" in 2002 were analyzed to calculate the highest fortification level of vitamin A in different groups stratified by age, sex and economic development level, using maximum sage fortification level (MSFL) model recommended by European countries. The results were compared with the current national standards of China.

Apoptosis caused by imidazolium-based ionic liquids in PC12 cells.

The cytotoxicity of alkylmethylimidazolium-based ionic liquids on rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, lactate dehydrogenase release (LDH), and acridine orange staining in the present study. Mitochondrial depolarization, DNA fragmentation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and caspase-3 activity were also determined. The results showed dose-dependent cytotoxicity of ionic liquids on PC12 cells, and the ionic liquids with longer lateral chains had stronger cytotoxicity.