Search

A pyridine-transforming strain P2 was isolated from sewage collected from Guangzhou oil stain field(China).According to the system analysis, it was identified as a member of the genus Paenochrobactrum. Comparative phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA and recA gene sequence showed that the isolate displayed the highest gene sequence similarity with members of the genus Paenochrobactrum, with Paenochrobactrum glaciei pi26T as the most closely related phylogenetic species (The similarity of gene sequence of gene sequence was 100 and 96.1% for 16S rRNA and recA, respectively).The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain P2 was 57.2 ± 9.7%. The morphological and biochemical properties and DNA-DNA hybridization experiments revealed that strain P2 shows only 32.7 ± 2.6 to 42.7 ± 1.9% reassociation with the other Paenochrobactrum species. This strain could completely degrade 500 mg/L pyridine within 8 h at 30°C. The laboratory scale experiments of pyridine bioremediation of artificial mixed wastewater revealed that the removal of pyridine significantly increased after inoculation of bacteria. The strain P2 is a promising strain for the remediation of pyridine-contaminated wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Little is known about time trend of prevalence of asthma and the association between the changing prevalence and allergen sensitization in Chinese children. Objective To determine the changes in prevalence of asthma and allergen sensitization in schoolchildren over a period of 15 years. Methods A total of 6928 schoolchildren aged 13-14 years in 2009 were recruited for the study using the Phase III Protocol of the International Study of Asthma and Allergic disease in Childhood ( ISAAC) and 2531 of them underwent skin prick test for seven common aeroallergens. The results were compared with those obtained in the Phase I (1994/95) and III (2001/02) ISAAC studies. Results The prevalence of asthma ever and current wheeze increased from 3.9% and 3.4% in 1994, to 4.6% and 4.8% in 2001 ( P<0.001), and to 6.9% and 6.1% in 2009 ( P ≤ 0.008). The prevalence of higher degree of skin response to house dust mites ( HDMs) and cat, and atopic index increased significantly in all children in 2010 when compared with those in 2002 ( P<0.001). Prevalence of wheeze remained unchanged in subjects without sensitization to any tested allergen including HDMs ( P > 0.05). Sensitization to HDMs, especially Dermatophagoides Pteronyssinus was associated with increase in prevalence of wheeze. Conclusion The prevalence of wheeze and sensitization to common aeroallergens in secondary schoolchildren in Guangzhou China has increased significantly since 1994. Sensitization to HDMs is an important risk factor associated with the increase in prevalence of wheeze in this group of population in Guangzhou city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Platelet transfusion refractoriness (PTR) is the major complication of long-term platelet supportive care. To improve the effectiveness of platelet transfusion therapy in PTR patients, we aimed to establish a platelet donor registry in our region (Guangzhou, China) by typing the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and human platelet antigen (HPA). Blood donors ( n = 864) from our population were genotyped for HLA-A, HLA-B and HPA systems by polymerase chain reaction amplification with sequence-specific primer(PCR-SSP) techniques. Using this cohort, we compared the results of platelet transfusions (matched vs. random) in 23 patients with PTR. Matched platelets were selected either by HLA antigen matching or by HLA antibody matching, as predicted by antibody specificity prediction (ASP) analysis. Significantly higher platelet recovery (PPR) values were obtained with HLA-matched platelets in comparison with random platelets. No significant difference in PPR was observed between HLA matching and ASP methods. In two patients, platelet-specific alloantibodies (alloabs) (anti-HPA-3b and anti-HPA-5b) were detected besides HLA class I alloabs. Transfusion with HLA- and HPA-compatible platelets in both the patients resulted in significantly higher PPR when compared with HLA-compatible platelet transfusion alone. In this study, we demonstrated that the establishment of an HLA- and HPA-typed platelet aphaeresis donor registry is useful to improve the treatment outcome of PTR patients and to maintain a long-term platelet transfusion strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Diabetes & Metabolism is the property of Masson Editeur and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)