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Perfluorinated acids (PFAs) are the subject of increasingly intense environmental research. In this study, sewage sludge samples were collected from 25 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Shanghai, China to evaluate the levels and profile of C3-C14 PFAs. The results showed a ubiquitous PFAs contamination of sewage sludge in Shanghai with the total PFAs (∑PFAs) range of 126-809 ng g(-1)dw. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was found to be the dominant PFA pollutant and its concentration ranged from 23.2 to 298 ng g(-1)dw, much higher than the levels in other countries. Moreover, concentrations of short-chain PFAs (

Levels of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) were determined in 12 consumer fish species from South China. The concentrations of the sum of HBCD diastereoisomers (ΣHBCD) ranged from nondetectable to 194 pg/g wet weight, with a detectable frequency of 70%. This was at the low end of the concentration range globally observed. Carnivorous fish species contained higher HBCD concentrations than herbivorous and detritivorous ones, suggesting the potential for biomagnification of HBCDs via the trophic chain. Moreover, ΣHBCD concentrations were higher in both freshwater and seawater farmed fish than in wild marine fish, indicating that human activities were probably an important input source of HBCD in aquaculture. Among the three diastereoisomers, α-HBCD dominated in most samples, with a mean relative abundance of 70%. In agreement with previous studies, a difference in the diastereomer patterns was observed from commercial products and several environmental media to biota samples. For farm-raised snubnose pompano, the concentrations of ΣHBCD were moderately linearly correlated with lipid contents but were not significantly correlated with fish body lengths and weights. In the worst-case exposure, the mean estimated daily intake of ΣHBCD via fish consumption for residents of South China ranged from 13 to 16 pg/kg body weight/d for various age groups, much lower than its lowest observed adverse effect level derived from a two-generation reproductive toxicity study on rats., (Copyright © 2012 SETAC.)

Introduction. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is accompanied by poor general psychological status (GPS). In the present study, we investigated the effects of a Chinese herbal formula on GPS in earthquake survivors with PTSD. Methods. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial compared a Chinese herbal formula, Xiao-Tan-Jie-Yu-Fang (XTJYF), to placebo in 2008 Sichuan earthquake survivors with PTSD. Patients were randomized into XTJYF (n = 123) and placebo (n = 122) groups. Baseline-to-end-point score changes in the three global indices of the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) and rates of response in the SCL global severity index (GSI) were the primary endpoints. A subanalysis of the nine SCL factors and the sleep quality score were secondary endpoints. Results and Discussion. Compared to placebo, the XTJYF group was significantly improved in all three SCL global indices (P = 0.001~0.028). More patients in the XTJYF group reported "much improved" than the placebo group (P = 0.001). The XTJYF group performed significantly better than control in five out of nine SCL factors (somatization, obsessive-compulsive behavior, depression, anxiety, and hostility (P = 0.001~0.036)), and in sleep quality score (P < 0.001). XTJYF produced no serious adverse events. These findings suggest that XTJYF may be an effective and safe treatment option for improving GPS in patients with PTSD.

Introduction: Patients with os odontoideum always present instability in atlantoaxial joint and need atlantoaxial fixation. C2 pedicle or laminar screws fixation has proven to be efficient and reliable for atlantoaxial instability. However, os odontoideum is a congenital or developmental disease, featured with anomalous bony anatomies. The anatomic measurements and guidelines for C2 pedicle screw placement in general population tends to differ with those of os odontoideum patients, for whom C2 pedicle screws are often needed. The option and techniques of C2 fixation are still challenging and yet to be fully explored., Material and Methods: We recruited 29 adult patients with os odontoideum and measured the dimension of C2 pedicle and lamina for each patient to examine how well do they match with the screws anatomically. In order to access the intra-observer reliability and inter-observer repeatability of the measurements, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was also calculated., Results: The results for reliability of the CT measurements showed excellent intraobserver (ICC = 0.95 and 0.96) and interobserver correlation coefficient (ICC = 0.93). The diameter and length of C2 pedicle were found to be 6.06 ± 1.37 and 24.05 ± 2.54 mm, while the corresponding figures of C2 laminar were 6.95 ± 0.82 and 25.60 ± 2.18 mm, respectively. In the measurements, all 29 cases had suitable diameter (larger than 5.5 mm) for C2 laminar screw (the laminar diameters ranged from 5.52 to 8.82 mm). In C2 pedicle measurements, the diameters of the 29 cases were from 3.50 to 9.86 mm, while 20 pedicles (34.5%) in 14 cases were less than 5.5 mm in diameter. Six had bilateral small pedicles where the diameter was less than 5.5 mm., Conclusion: Anatomically, we found laminar screw is a better match in comparison with pedicle screw for C2 fixation in os odontoideum. The options for C2 fixation should be made based on careful preoperative imaging and thorough consideration. Preoperative reconstructive CT scan can offer great assistance for the choice of fixation in os odontoideum by revealing the anatomy of the C2 pedicles in detail.

Ideally, agricultural use is a treatment for the sewage sludge generated from municipal wastewater. However, this treatment probably causes ecological risks due to the occurrence of organic contaminants in sludge, which has attracted rising concerns recently. To assess the possible ecological risk, in this study, sewage sludge samples were collected from 28 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Shanghai, China for exploring the level and profile of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). The mean concentration of Σ18PBDE (sum of all target analytes except for BDE-209) was at the low end of global range. However, we found the highest reported BDE-209 levels (34,900 ng g(-1) dw) in sewage sludge/biosoilds to date. The annual mass loadings of penta-BDE, octa-BDE, and deca-BDE were 3.6, 0.6, and 763 kg through sludge, respectively. Following sludge application in agricultural land, the concentrations of penta-BDE, octa-BDE, and deca-BDE in soil were 0.19, 0.03, and 39.5 ng g(-1), respectively. Preliminary results indicate that the ecological risk of soil in organisms exposed to PBDEs was relatively low. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to explore the fate of PBDEs in sewage sludge due to no restriction on the usage and production of PBDEs products in China currently., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Very few studies were conducted in highland and depositional areas in studying the transport and behavior of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). In this study, surface soils were collected from Huan County to investigate the level, profile, and potential influence of PBDEs via regional range atmospheric transport in the central part of the Loess Plateau (CLP) of China, one of the most extensive areas of loess deposition in the world. PBDEs were ubiquitous and log-normally distributed in soils from the CLP with mean concentrations of 0.91 and 0.54 ng g(-1) for ΣPBDEs (sum of PBDE congeners except for BDE-209) and BDE-209, respectively. BDE-209 was predominated congener (43.5%), followed by BDE-47 (15.7%), 99 (10.7%), and 153 (7.5%). Further principal component analysis on congener profiles showed that PBDEs in the CLP originated from similar source(s). Additionally, significant differences in the ratios of BDE-47 to 99 and BDE-153 to 154 were found between soil samples and commercial products, indicating that they have undergone fractionation during the process of regional range atmospheric transport. The deposition of PBDEs in the CLP could be influenced by the sources from surrounding regions. For example, Xi'an may have potential influence to the CLP based on geographical analysis and concentrations comparison of PBDEs in gaseous. Therefore, more studies are needed to clarify the atmospheric transport and fate of PBDEs in this region., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Numerous studies have demonstrated the important role played by indoor dust in human exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), particularly in children, who spend most of their time indoors. Few data have been available for PBDEs in house dust in China. In this study, dust samples were collected randomly from 46 houses in Guangzhou, South China, for the first time to investigate levels and pattern profiles of PBDEs and to estimate human exposure to PBDEs for adults and toddlers (6 months to 2 years old). Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in selected ion monitoring mode, congeners--including BDE28, 47, 66, 85, 99, 100, 153, 154, 183, and 209--were determined. The results show that BDE209 is the predominant congener in house dust, comprising 90.7% to 99.8% (mean 97.4%) of the total concentration. Of ∑tri-hepta BDEs, BDE47, 99, and 183 were the most abundant congeners, with mean contributions of 23.3%, 25.2%, and 21.9%, respectively. The intake of ∑tri-hepta BDEs via dust ingestion was 0.16-3.82 ng/d for adults and 2.1-7.64 ng/d for toddlers, accounting for 0.65% to 13.6% and 18.6% to 45.5%, respectively, of the total (based on data in our previous work) (Chen et al. 2008). With respect to intake of BDE209, the values increased to 11 to 264 ng/d for adults and to 145 to 527 ng/d for toddlers. Risk assessment indicated that PBDEs may possibly affect the health of toddlers in Guangzhou, South China. Further studies are needed to investigate the bioavailability and metabolism of PBDEs in humans to improve risk evaluation., (© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010)

Background and Aim: More and more microRNA (miRNA) are found to be involved in tumor genesis and progress. Arsenic trioxide has been an effective chemotherapeutic drug in cancer therapy for many years. In this study, we aimed to find the miRNA involved in the mechanisms of arsenic trioxide treatment in cancer therapy., Methods: We detected the expression profile of miRNA by miRNA microarray and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Cell viability assay, flow cytometry analysis, prediction of miRNA targets, Western blot analysis and luciferase reporter assay were carried out to determine the role of one selected miRNA, namely mir-29a, in affecting the biological behaviors of HepG-2 cells., Results: Among the 677 human miRNA in the microarray, five miRNA were upregulated and four were downregulated in HepG-2 cells treated with arsenic trioxide compared to their controls. If only changes above two folds were considered, four miRNA were identified, namely miR-24, miR-29a, miR-30a and miR-210, which were all upregulated. Among them, miR-29a showed a positive therapeutic effect in liver cancer cells by inhibiting cell growth and inducing cell apoptosis, and PPM1D was confirmed to be the target gene of miR-29a. Furthermore, a synergy effect was detected between miR-29a and arsenic trioxide., Conclusions: Arsenic trioxide altered miRNA expression profile in HepG-2 cells. Among the altered miRNA, miR-29a seemed to take a role in the mechanism of arsenic trioxide in liver cancer therapy. The synergy effect between miR-29a and arsenic trioxide may offer this drug a new chance in cancer therapy by decreasing its dose and toxic side-effects., (© 2010 Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Foundation and Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.)

Hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) is a concern due to their large usage combining with physico-chemical properties and toxicity to wildlife and human. However, very limited data were reported on HBCDs in soils, especially from rural area. In this study, 22 soil samples were collected from Chongming Island at estuary of the Yangtze River Delta, to investigate the level, diasteroisomer profile, potential sources, and mass inventory of HBCDs. The total concentrations ranged from not detected to 93.8pgg(-1) dry weight (dw) with a mean of 23.3pgg(-1)dw, which was at the low end of the global levels. The wide distribution of HBCDs in soils suggested that the local emissions of HBCD-containing materials and/or the inputs via atmospheric transport from other regions were two possible sources. Variation of HBCDs levels was observed in different types of soils. Woodland, tideland and road soils contained slightly higher HBCDs than those of farmland and grassland. Overall, γ-HBCD was the dominant diasteroisomer in soils, followed by α-HBCD and β-HBCD. Significant but weak correlations were only found between α-HBCD and β-HBCD versus TOC content in soils. Currently, the mass inventory of HBCDs in soils of Chongming Island was 5.3kg. Based on these data, we gave perspective on human intake of HBCDs via soil ingestion by age. Local resident's intakes ranged from 15.5 to 97.8fgkg body weight(-1)d(-1), in which children are exposed more than adults., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To investigate the effect of Jinleng undershorts on the elevated scrotal temperature induced by varicocele as well as on other clinical symptoms of the disease., Methods: Fifty-one varicocele patients received the treatment of wearing Jinleng undershorts for 30 min twice a day for a course of 90 days. Comparisons were made between the scrotal temperatures and other clinical symptoms of varicocele before and after the treatment., Results: After 90 days of treatment with Jinleng undershorts, the left scrotal temperature of the varicocele patients was significantly reduced from (32.16 +/- 0.79) degrees C to (31.53 +/- 0.77) degrees C (P < 0.01), and the right scrotal temperature decreased from (31.91 +/- 0.73) degrees C to (31.81 +/- 0.63) degrees C (P > 0.05). Compared with pretreatment, significant improvement was found in such symptoms as wetness, fever and swelling of the scrotum, backache, headache, dizziness, fatigue and anxiety (P < 0.05), as well as in testicular pain (P < 0.01) and IIEF-5 score, which was increased from 15.89 +/- 6.13 to 20.04 +/- 3.87 (P < 0.01)., Conclusion: Jinleng undershorts can be used for the treatment of mild and moderate varicocele.

Purposes: Very few data for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were available in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD), one of the most developed and urbanized region in China. In this study, Chongming Island, located at the estuary of the Yangtze River, was selected as background area to investigate the occurrence, sources, and inventory of PBDEs., Methods: Forty-two PBDE congeners were determined in surface soils from farmland, woodland, grassland, tideland, and road collected in Chongming Island., Results: The mean concentrations of Sigma26PBDE (not including BDE-209) and BDE-209 in soils were 0.76 and 12 ng/g dry weight, respectively. BDE-209 contributed more than 90% of the total of 27 frequently detected BDE congeners, followed by BDE-99 and BDE-47. Weak correlations were found between total organic carbon content and PBDE congeners concentrations in surface soils. PBDE levels varied with land use. Farmland and woodland soils contained higher Sigma26PBDE concentrations. BDE-209 levels were the highest in road soils. The mass inventories of PBDEs in soils of Chongming Island were estimated at 3.1 and 310 kg for Sigma26PBDEs and BDE-209, respectively., Conclusions: The PBDE levels in Chongming Island were similar to those in European background soils, suggesting minimum influence of pollutants from the YRD via air, and wastewater inputs or few PBDE products were used herein. From the standpoint of eco-inland, more studies are needed to explore the reasons of PBDE difference by land use and to assess people intake PBDEs via agriculture products consumption in this region.

Little to no information exists for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in marine mammals frequenting the highly urbanized southern California (USA) coast. Fourteen PBDE congeners were determined by GC-ECNI-MS in blubber of pinnipeds stranded locally between 1994 and 2006. Total PBDE concentrations (SigmaPBDE) in California sea lion (n = 63) ranged from 0.04 to 33.7 microg/g wet weight (mean: 5.24 microg/g). To our knowledge, these are the highest reported PBDE levels in marine mammals to date. By comparison, mean SigmaPBDE in Pacific harbor seals (n = 9) and northern elephant seals (n = 16) were 0.96 and 0.09 microg/g, respectively. PBDEs in adult males were higher than for adult females, however, no age class differences or temporal trends were observed. As the first PBDE data reported for marine mammals in this region, the elevated levels underscore the need for additional studies on the sources, temporal trends, and potential effects of PBDEs in highly urbanized coastal zones.

The start-up of CANON process was studied to reveal adaptability and how to condense time of start-up with a lab-scale experiment. During start-up stage, temperature was controlled at 35 degrees C +/- 1 degrees C, pH was 7.39-8.01 and free ammonium was 2.89-12.37 mg x L(-1). Partial nitritation was first built up in 60th day and kept steady, nitrite accumulation rate (NO2(-) -N/NO(x) (-) -N) was up to 98%. In the 160th day, the reactor started to show effects of anaerobic ammonium oxidation, and in the 210th day, CANON process was started-up under aerobic conditions successfully, and total nitrogen removal load was 1.22 kg/(m3 x d) and 70% removal rate on average was attained. When using ammonium wastewater without organic carbon sources as influent, there are two signs to indicate the CANON start-up: first, nitrogen gas was produced in carriers; the other one was the ratio of total nitrogen loss and increased nitrate keep steady, and in this study average ratio was 8.61 compared to theoretical value 8.

The experimental system consisted of anoxic filter and aerobic suspended carrier biofilm reactor. The partial nitrification was achieved and maintained stably in the aerobic reactor under normal temperature (15-29 degrees C) and high DO (6-9 mg/L). The nitritation with 70%-80% nitrite accumulation efficiency was obtained when FA concentration was in the range of 1.0-10.3 mg/L by controlling influent ammonia loading rate (ALR), ratio of alkalinity and ammonia and HRT in the aerobic reactor. The effluent nitrite/ammonia ratio was about 1.25 when the average influent ammonia, influent ALR and influent ratio of alkalinity and ammonia were 315.80 mg/L, 0.43 kg/(m3 x d) and 5.25, respectively. So the effluent of partial nitrification process provided the influent substrate demand for the following ANAMMOX process. The integrative analysis indicated that the proper FA concentration was the main factor achieving the partial nitrification. The study developed a novel partial nitrification technology adapt to water characteristics of digested sludge liquor.

Despite the importance of chiral organochlorine pesticide enantiomers in terms of environmental effects, no relevant data have been acquired in consumer fish. The present study determined the residual levels and enantiomer fractions (EFs) of α-HCH, o,p'-DDT, and o,p'-DDD in 11 consumer fish species from South China, including 6 freshwater farmed fish, 3 seawater farmed fish, and 2 wild marine fish. The mean concentrations of α-HCH, o,p'-DDT, and o,p'-DDD were 0.27, 4.4, and 3.5 ng/g wet, respectively, in all fish samples measured (n = 125). The EFs of α-HCH varied widely, from below the racemic EF of 0.5 to above it. For o,p'-DDT, the (+)-enantiomer dominated in all fish species. On the other hand, all EFs of o,p'-DDD, a metabolite of o,p'-DDT, were below 0.5, suggesting the (-)-enantiomer was preferentially enriched in fish. In addition, all three target analytes showed species dependence of EFs, consistent with results from other previous studies. Moreover, no significant correlations were found between the EFs and concentrations of α-HCH, o,p'-DDT, and o,p'-DDD in red drum, snubnose pompano, and crimson snapper, with the exception of o,p'-DDD in snubnose pompano, in which weak correlations were detected. Nevertheless, more studies are needed to explore the residual levels and toxicity of chiral contaminants in consumer fish or other foodstuff to further develop the human risk assessment framework based on chiral signatures.

1-Chloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethene (p,p'-DDMU), a metabolite of either 1,1-dichloro-22-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane (p,p'-DDD) or 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethene (p,p'-DDE), which is degraded from 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane (p,p'-DDT), was detected in a variety of environmental matrices of the Pearl River Delta (PRD), South China, including fish, fish feeds, semidigested fish stomach contents, marine surface sediment, surface soil, atmospheric gaseous phase, and particulates, rainwater, and coastal rainwater. Forfish species,the concentrations of p,p'-DDMU were significantly higher in farmed fish than in marine wild fish, with the highest value obtained in seawater farmed fish species (mear/median values of 262/173 ng/g lipid). The relative abundance of p,p'-DDMU to total DDTs (sum of o,p'- and p,p'-DDT, DDD, and DDE) was higher in samples of marine origin (approximately 5%) than in those of terrestrial origin (approximately 2%). Because p,p'-DDD was considerably abundant in all samples and a negative linear correlation was found between p,p'-DDD/(p,p'-DDD + p,p'-DDE) and p,p'-DDMU/DDTs in the marine sediments (r2 = 0.73) and seawater farmed fish (r2 = 0.29) under investigation, it is possible that DDMU was partially dehydrochlorinated from DDD in the environment of the PRD. A fugacity-based assessment suggested that p,p'-DDMU is likely to transport from sediment to seawater and then to air and from soilto air. The ubiquity of p,p'-DDMU in the PRD indicates that it may also be widespread worldwide particularly in countries with large amounts of DDT used currently and/or historically. Given the potential risk of p,p'-DDMU to human health, more efforts should be directed toward to this previously overlooked contaminant

Aim: To find a quick and reliable diagnostic technique for penicillin nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae (PNSSP) from Nanjing, China., Methods and Results: A total of 130 S. pneumoniae clinical isolates and 50 healthy carriers' isolates were collected from seven teaching hospitals in Nanjing between March 2005 and June 2007. Three different methods, PCR, seminested-PCR, and PCR-RFLP, were applied in detecting PNSSP. The prevalence of PNSSP was 73.9%, the penicillin-resistance rate of children's group and adults' group were 87.8% and 31.2%, respectively. The PCR method had difficulty in identifying intermediate-resistant and resistant isolates, the PCR-RFLP method could only be used for susceptible isolates and had poor sensitivity. Seminested-PCR was fast, sensitive for detection, and successfully differentiated between moderately and highly resistant S. pneumoniae; 96.1% of the PCR results were in agreement with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) data., Conclusions: The penicillin resistance rate in isolates from children was much higher than of isolates from adults in China. Seminested-PCR for pbp1A was the best diagnostic method., Significance and Impact of the Study: We compared three different strategies for the first time in identification of PNSSP in China. In conclusion, seminested-PCR can be applied in clinical microbiology laboratories for detection of serious infections caused by S. pneumoniae.

Fish tissues from different fishery types (freshwater farmed, seawater farmed and seawater wild) were analyzed for organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), with the aim to further our understanding of bioaccumulation, and reflect the state of different fishery environments. Significantly higher SigmaOCP levels were found in seawater farmed fish than others, and among three freshwater farmed species, the lowest levels occurred in filter-feeding fish (bighead carp). Liver contained the highest SigmaOCP levels, while no significant differences were found among other tissues. Among DDT components, p,p'-DDT was abundant in seawater fish, while for freshwater fish, p,p'-DDE was the predominant congeners, except for northern snakehead (34% for p,p'-DDE and 30% for p,p'-DDT). The new source of DDTs to freshwater fish ponds was partly attributed to dicofol, whereas sewage discharged from the Pearl River Delta and anti-fouling paint were likely the DDTs sources to seawater farmed fish.

Fish tissues from three different farming types (freshwater farmed, seawater farmed, and seawater wild fish collected from the Pearl River Delta of South China), including skin, gills, gastrointestinal tract (GIT), liver, and muscle, were analyzed for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). In general, the dry weight based concentrations of Sigma10PBDE (sum of BDE-28, -47, -66, -85, -99, -100, -138, -153, -154, and -183) in fish tissues followed the sequence of liver > gill > skin > GIT and muscle. The BDE congener profiles varied with fish species. Decabrominated diphenyl ether was detected in 37.4% of the total 187 samples, and this ratio may actually have been underestimated because the reporting limit for BDE-209 was considerably higher than those for other congeners. Decabrominated diphenyl ether was the dominant BDE congener in skin and GIT, and less abundant in gills, muscle, and liver. Except for skin, no significant difference in BDE-209 lipid-normalized concentrations was observed among fish tissues. These results suggest that BDE-209 can occur abundantly in the fish species under investigation, somewhat inconsistent with the results from most previous studies that reported low bioaccumulative potential of BDE-209. Combined with the likelihood that BDE-209 can be debrominated into lower brominated congeners that tend to be more toxic than BDE-209, the abundant occurrence of BDE-209 could continue to pose prolonged health risk to the ecological environment.

A total of 390 individual fish, including seven species of freshwater-farmed fish, three species of seawater-farmed fish, and three species of wild marine fish, from China were analyzed to determine the concentrations and congener distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). The levels of Sigma(10)PBDEs (sum of BDEs 28, 47, 66, 100, 99, 85, 154, 153, 138, and 183) in seawater-farmed fish (median, 13.6 ng/g) were significantly higher than those in freshwater-farmed fish (median, 10.1 ng/g) and in wild marine fish (median, 4.5 ng/g) on a lipid-weight basis. Lipid contents positively correlated with Sigma(10)PBDEs concentration (wet wt) in all fish species except for tilapia, bighead carp, bluntsnout bream, and common mullet; however, no significant relationship was found between fish length or weight and Sigma(10)PBDEs concentration except for one fish species. In general, BDE 47 was the dominant congener, with a mean contribution of 53.2%. Brominated diphenyl ether 209 was only detected in 14 samples, reflecting its low bioavailability or high degree of debromination. In addition, the ratios of BDE 47 to BDE 99 and of BDE 100 to BDE 99 in freshwater-farmed fish were significantly higher than those in seawater-farmed and wild marine fish. Freshwater-farmed fish had a relatively higher proportion of BDE 28, whereas seawater-farmed and wild marine fish contained more abundant BDE 66, BDE 100, and BDE 99. The difference in congener distribution might be indicative of different exposure pathways for PBDEs in three types of fish.

Objective: To analyze and compare the clinical characteristics of mannitol-induced acute renal function impairment in treatment of patients of different ages suffering from subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) for the first time., Methods: This study was a review of 1 361 patients with available hospital records admitted to the division of neurology due to SAH from February 1989 to December 2005. Among them, 94 patients had acute renal function impairment as a result of mannitol administration. Of these patients, 35 patients were middle-aged (<60 years old) and 59 patients of old age (>60 years old). The study included the time of appearance of renal function impairment after mannitol medication, its prognosis, the administration of nephrotoxic drugs, and the dose and duration of mannitol therapy., Results: In old age group, abnormal renal function and urine routine appeared in 5 days (median), and 4 days (median) respectively, and acute renal failure (ARF) was diagnosed in 5 days, and the incidence rate of ARF was 20.3% after treatment with mannitol. The respective event appeared 7 days, 11 days, 9 days and 2.8% (P<0.05 or P<0.01) respectively, in middle-aged group. The data indicated the elderly patients had poorer tolerance to mannitol, with earlier occurrence of mannitol nephrosis, poorer outcome of kidney impairment and worse prognosis. Forty-three patients (72.9%) were treated with katlex (with a median of total dosage of 400 mg) in old-aged group, 35 patients (100.0%) were treated with katlex (with a median of total dosage of 800 mg) in middle-aged group, and there was a significant difference between two groups (P<0.01). The data indicated the incidence of mannitol nephrosis was lower in patients treated with large dosage of mannitol and katlex. The mortality was 3.4% (2/59 cases) and 0% (0/35 cases) in old-aged and middle-aged groups respectively (P=0.528)., Conclusion: The elderly patients have higher rate of mannitol-induced impairment of renal function after SAH than middle-aged patients. The data emphasize that proper combination therapy of mannitol with katlex is an effective measure in preventing renal failure.

Levels and distribution of polyborminated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners, including BDE28, 47, 66, 85, 99, 100, 138, 153, 154, 183,and 209 (sum of which except for BDE 209 is designated as sigma10 PBDEs), in Mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi) tissues were determined using the method of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry operating in the negative chemical ionization mode. The highest and lowest mean concentrations of sigma10 PBDEs were 5.71 ng x g(-1) and 0.95 ng x g(-1) (dry weight), found in kidney and muscle tissue, respectively. The concentration ranges of sigma10 PBDEs in kidney, swimming bladder, liver, gills, gonad, gastrointestinal tract, skin, and muscle were 3.04 -12.8, 0.81-6.90, 1.28-8.87, 0.09-6.36, 1.05-5.73, 0.022-5.06, 0.69-5.98, and 0.14-2.61 ng x g(-1) (dry weight), respectively. The tissue concentrations of sigma10 PBDEs followed the sequence of kidney, swimming bladder, liver > gills, gonad > stomach, skin, muscle. BDE47 was the predominant component among the low brominated PBDEs, accounting for 35.7% to 65.6% of sigma10 PBDEs. BDE209 was detected in 45.2% of the samples, and its levels were higher in kidney and gonad than in other organs. These results indicated that PDBEs were bioaccumulated in Mandarin fish from both feeding and gill inhalation, and they particularly preferred to concentrate in tissues with high lipid contents, such as liver, swimming bladder, and gills.

This study examined human exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) associated with fish consumption and inhalation in China. The median intake of sigma7 PBDEs via human milk was 48.2 ng/day for nursing infants (0-1 years old) (a range of 23.4-99.1 ng/day). For all other age groups, the median intake of sigma11 PBDEs via fish consumption was 1.7-12.9 ng/day with a range of 0.59-56.3 ng/g. Additionally, human exposure to PBDEs via inhalation was 2.7-9.2 ng/day (a range of 0.72-108 ng/day). The median total sigma11 PBDEs intakes for nursing infants (6874 and 7372 pg/ kg b.w./day for males and females, respectively) were much higher than other age groups (215-608 pg/kg b.w./ day). No significant difference in the total PBDEs intakes was found between males and females. Of the 11 PBDEs congeners, BDE-47 was predominant in the total intake for nursing infants with a mean contribution of 38%, whereas BDE-209 was the dominant congener of total intake for other age groups, varying from 44 to 61%. Currently, the PBDEs levels in Chinese consumer fish and the total intakes of PBDEs via fish consumption were at the lower end of the global range. Compared with similar studies in other countries, however, human exposure to PBDEs via inhalation in China was relatively high. Overall, estimated daily intake of total PBDEs in the Chinese population was far below the LOAEL. However, studies are needed to further understand the fate and impact of PBDEs as PBDE-containing products are still used widely in large quantities in China.

Seafood consumption is an important route of human exposure to organic contaminants. Residual levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), including DDTs, hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), heptachlor, aldrin, alpha-endosulfan, beta-endosulfan, dieldrin, endrin, endrin aldehyde, endrin ketone, methoxychlor, endosulfan sulfate, and heptachlor epoxide, were determined in a wide variety of seafood products collected from 11 coastal cities in southern China in June and October 2005. The results indicated that OCPs were predominated by DDTs and HCHs. The concentrations of other OCP components generally were low and were detectable in a small number of seafood samples only, probably reflective of the generally low levels of these OCPs in the study region and low bioaccumulation potentials in the species under investigation. Risk assessment against various standards clearly showed that seafood products were highly contaminated by DDTs and may pose health threat to local residents and the consumers all over the world. Furthermore, other OCP components, such as dieldrin and heptachlor, also impose lifetime cancer risk, especially to residents of coastal regions who often consume more seafood than those living inland. Therefore, continual monitoring of OCPs in various environment compartments, including biota and abiota, urgently is needed to mitigate effectively the impact of OCPs, particularly DDTs, on human health and the ecological environment.

Concentrations of persistent halogenated hydrocarbons (PHHs) were determined in 13 consumer fish species (a total of 390 individuals) collected from a major fish-farming region of China. The potential health risks of PHHs associated with consumption of fish from China was also systematically assessed regionally and globally. In all fish samples, DDTs, HCHs, PCBs, and PBDEs were the predominant PHH residues, with the median levels (ranges) being 6.0 (0.14-698.9), 0.50 (0.13-24.06), 0.10 (< 0.02-7.65), and 0.15 (< 0.0012-3.85) ng/g wet weight, respectively. The upper-bound (90th percentile) values of estimated daily intakes of DDT, HCHs, PCBs, and PBDEs via fish consumption were 45.5, 1.35, 0.46, and 0.30 ng/kg bw/d (urban), and 15.9, 0.47, 0.16, and 0.10 ng/kg bw/d (rural). Globally, the upper-bound outflows via fishery exportation of DDT, HCHs, PCBs, and PBDEs were 185, 5.51, 1.86, and 1.22 kg, respectively, in 2005. Japan was the largest recipient of PHHs, followed by Korea and the United States. Fish consumption assessments indicated that consumption of freshwater farmed and wild marine fish generally does not subject consumers to significant health risk as far as PHHs are concerned, while limited consumption of seawater farmed fish is advised.

Aim: To investigate the effect of troglitazone on pe-roxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) expression and cellular growth in human colon cancer HCT-116 and HCT-15 cells and to explore the related molecular mechanism., Methods: Human colon cancer HCT-116 and HCT-15 cells cultured in vitro were treated with troglitazone. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot were employed to detect the effect of troglitazone on PPARgamma expression. The proliferative activity was determined by MTT assay, cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry. Apoptosis-related genes, cell cycle regulatory genes and p53 were examined by RT-PCR and Western blot respectively., Results: The expression of PPARgamma in colon cancer HCT-116 and HCT-15 cells was up-regulated by troglitazone. Troglitazone inhibited proliferation, induced apoptosis and cell cycle G1 arrest in colon cancer cells. Troglitazone induced p53 expression in HCT-116 cells, but not in HCT-15 cells. The down-regulation of survivin and bcl-2 was found in both cell lines and up-regulation of bax was found only in HCT-116 cells, being consistent with growth inhibition in HCT-116 cells but not in HCT-15 cells. Troglitazone increased expression of p21(WAF1/CIP1) (p21), p27(KIP1) (p27) and reduced cyclin D1 in HCT-116 cells while only a minor decrease of cyclin D1 was found in HCT-15 cells., Conclusion: Troglitazone is an inductor of PPARgamma in colon cancer cells and inhibits PPARgamma-dependently proliferation, which may attribute to cell cycle G1 arrest and apoptosis in colon cancer cells. Troglitazone may induce p53-independent apoptosis and p53-dependent expression of p21 and p27. Depending on cell background, different activation pathways may exist in colon cancer cells.

Dunaliella is a genus of wall-less unicellular eukaryotic green alga. Its exceptional resistances to salt and various other stresses have made it an ideal model for stress tolerance study. However, very little is known about its genome and genomic sequences. In this study, we sequenced and analyzed a 29,268 bp genomic fragment from Dunaliella viridis. The fragment showed low sequence homology to the GenBank database. At the nucleotide level, only a segment with significant sequence homology to 18S rRNA was found. The fragment contained six putative genes, but only one gene showed significant homology at the protein level to GenBank database. The average GC content of this sequence was 51.1%, which was much lower than that of close related green algae Chlamydomonas (65.7%). Significant segmental duplications were found within this fragment. The duplicated sequences accounted for about 35.7% of the entire region. Large amounts of simple sequence repeats (microsatellites) were found, with strong bias towards (AC)(n) type (76%). Analysis of other Dunaliella genomic sequences in the GenBank database (total 25,749 bp) was in agreement with these findings. These sequence features made it difficult to sequence Dunaliella genomic sequences. Further investigation should be made to reveal the biological significance of these unique sequence features.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were detected in biota samples collected from the Pearl River Estuary. The concentrations of sigma10 PBDEs (BDE28, 47, 66, 100, 99, 85, 154, 153, 138, 183) in fish species (including Platycephalus indicus, Pseudosiaena crocea , Pampus argenteus, Cynoglossus robustus, and Harpodon nehereus), shrimps (including Metapenaeus ensis and Metapenaeus affinis) and Squilla oratoria were from 37.8 ng x g(-1) to 407.1 ng x g(-1) (normalized to lipid), from 49.0 ng x g(-1) to 239.1 ng x g(-1) and from 142 ng x g(-1) to 444.5 ng x g(-1), respectively. BDE47 was the dominant congener in all biota samples, with a contribution to sigma10 PBDEs ranging from 53.7% to 66.9%. Differences in concentrations of PBDEs and PBDE patterns in different species may be related to the different feeding habit, living environment and uptaking or elimination rate. High ratios of concentrations of PBDEs in liver /muscle in fish species indicated that PBDEs tended to accumulate more in liver than in muscle.

Objective: To investigate the anatomic variation of nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve (NRLN) and its surgical identification and prevention during thyroidectomy., Methods: The database of 5 NRLN cases was analyzed to investigate the difference of operative maneuvers and procedures., Results: All 5 NRLN were located in the right side. Two cases were found have vocal cord paralysis and 1 case recovered in 3 cases who have NRLN injures., Conclusions: Any transverse bond should not be cut between vascular and laryngeal except middle thyroid vein. Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) should be dissected during thyroid excision. Cervical pneumogastric nerve should be systematic dissected to detect whether RNLN is exist, if RLN is not exist in the same side.

By specific oxygen uptake rate, (SOUR) measurements of activated sludge with different metal ion concentration, the optimal stimulation concentrations of Mn2+, Mo6+ and Zn2+ were determined. Then within each metal ion stimulation concentration range, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) were extracted from activated sludge and its components (protein, polysaccharide and nucleic acid) contents changes were investigated. The results showed that the optimal stimulation concentration of each metal ion is 1mg x L(-1). EPS components of activated sludge vary obviously with Mn2+ and Zn2+ concentration change but not with Mo6+. After storage at low temperature, EPS quantities in activated sludge are reduced with polysaccharide reduction is the most.

Objective: The sensitivity of heart-type fatty acid binding-protein (H-FABP) in the postmortem diagnosis of myocardial ischemia was explored., Methods: The changes of H-FABP staining in normal, infarcted and suspected ischemia of myocardial cells were studied by immunohistochemistry., Results: There was no depletion in normal control group, and obvious depletion was observed in myocardial infarcted group. Among 9 suspected myocardial ischemia group, 3 cases showed obvious depletion and 3 cases showed vague depletion for H-FABP, there were obvious depletion of Mb in 4 suspected myocardial ischemia cases and vague depletion in 2 cases for Mb. It is indicated that H-FABP can be used to diagnose early myocardial ischemia., Conclusion: H-FABP is quite sensitive and useful for the diagnosis of early myocardial ischemia.

Aim: Heme oxygenase (HO)-1 catalyzes the conversion of heme to biliverdin, iron and carbon monoxide. HO-1 is induced by many stimuli including heme, Hb, heat stress,lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and cytokines. Previous studies demonstrated that LPS induced HO-1 gene activation and HO-1 expression in liver. However, the mechanisms of LPS-induced HO-1 expression in liver remain unknown. The effect of toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) on LPS-induced liver HO-1 expression and the role of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in this condition were determined., Methods: HO-1 expression was determined by immunofluorescent staining and immunoblotting. Double immunofluorescent staining was performed to determine the cell type of HO-1 expression in liver., Results: A low dose of LPS significantly increased HO-1 expression in the liver which was localized in Kupffer cells only. Furthermore, HO-1 expression was enhanced by three doses of LPS. HO-1 expression was significantly inhibited in the liver of TLR4 mutant mice. While the liver HO-1 expression in TNF KO mice was much lower than that in C57 mice following the same LPS treatment, IL-1beta KO had a slight influence on liver HO-1 expression following LPS treatment., Conclusion: The present results confirm that macrophages are the major source of HO-1 in the liver induced by LPS. This study demonstrates that TLR4 plays a dominant role in mediating HO-1 expression following LPS. LPS-induced HO-1 expression is mainly mediated by endogenous TNF-alpha, but only partially by endogenous IL-1beta.

Objective: To understand the molecular epidemiologic characteristics of hantavirus Shandong isolate JNL virus strain., Methods: The complete M and S gene of the JNL virus isolated from Shandong Province was amplified by RT- PCR, and the purified PCR product was cloned into T vector for sequencing., Results: The results revealed that the JNL M segment was 3615 bp in length, encoding 1135 amino acids, and the S segment was 1698 bp encoding 429 amino acids, JNL belongs to HTN virus. The comparison of homology with HTN and SEO types showed that the difference of M and S complete sequences between JNL and all other HTN virus strains reached 20.0%-20.6%, and 15.5%-16.0%, respectively. Phylogenetic tree also showed that the position of JNL is located at a different clade., Conclusions: HTN virus Shandong local isolate JNL strain is a new specific HTN subtype virus.

The interactions between daunorubicin and human serum albumin (HSA) were studied using the spectrofluorimetric method. The binding constants of daunorubicin with HSA were obtained at different temperatures. The effects of various metal ions on the binding constants of daunorubicin with HSA were also studied. The optimum conditions of fluorometric determination of daunorubicin were studied and the developed method was successfully applied to the determination of daunorubicin in serum samples.

The goal of this study was to clarify the relationship between blood pressure and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity. Different levels of blood pressure were obtained by long-term (six days) intravenous infusion of different concentrations (0.3%-8%) of NaCl solution to normal SD rats. iNOS activity assay and measurement of urinary nitrate/nitrite (UNOx), an index of NO production of the whole body, were carried out by isotope-labeled L-arginine conversion rate measurement and Greiss Reaction respectively. Groups of normotensive and hypertensive rats including normal Wistar rats, normal Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, high NaCl-induced hypertensive rats (NaHR) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were used to detect the changes in iNOS protein under normotension and hypertension by Western blotting. iNOS activity of aorta and kidney tissues and UNOx increased more significantly in hypertensive animals than in the normotensive control ones. Accordingly, iNOS protein in the aortas of NaHR and SHR increased by 149% and 261% respectively. It is suggested that in addition to cytokine and bacterial products etc, blood pressure is also an effective regulatory factor involved in iNOS activation and expression.

Extracellular agents, including growth factors, cytokines and hormones, transmit their information into cells utilizing a balanced mosaic of intracellular phosphatases and kinases. How do these agonists select the correct substrates and modify them in order to produce defined physiological responses? Our studies have centered on the mechanisms of stress-induced cardioprotection (preconditioning) against postischemic dysfunction. In several species, the ischemia-reperfusion resistant phenotype appears to be induced by metabotropic-receptor pathways linked to PKC. Our results on the isolated rat heart show that each protective stimulus involves a characteristic mosaic of PKC isoforms, translocating into distinct cellular compartments. The distinct receptor-stimulated PKC isoform profile engaged by each extracellular metabotropic agent could allow the heart several overlapping modes of phenotypic adaptation to ischemia.

4 children with intractable seizures, repeated infections, and intolerance to anticonvulsants had evidence of glutathione peroxidase deficiency. 2 had low intracellular enzyme activity but normal blood selenium and high plasma glutathione peroxidase concentrations. The other 2 had low intracellular glutathione peroxidase activity with low circulating glutathione peroxidase and selenium concentrations. The clinical state of the children improved after discontinuation of anticonvulsant medication and selenium substitution.

Angiographic findings in seventy cases of maxillofacial hemangioma are reported. The tumors have been divided into four types: (1) plexiform hemangioma, (2) cavernous hemangioma with venous drainage, (3) cavernous hemangioma without venous drainage, and (4) the so-called "diffuse type" of cavernous hemangioma. The angiographic features of the four types are described, and clinical application is evaluated. The angiograms demonstrate the location, extent, blood supply, and drainage of the tumors and show whether they communicate intracranially, thus providing valuable criteria for planning and determining the mode of treatment.