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To establish a method for the simultaneous determination of 15 pesticides residues in Radix Paeoniae Alba by large volume injection-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(LVI-GC-MS).The pesticides, including organochlorine pesticides, organophosphorus pesticides and pyrethroid insecticides, were analyzed by LVI-GC-MS using DB-5MS capillary column (30 m X 250 μm, 0.25 μm). The column temperature programming: initial temperature 40 degree for 1 min, with the increasing rate of 20 degree/min to 210 degree for 2 min, then with the increasing rate of 5 degree/min to 280 degree for 22 min. The flow of carrier gas was 1.0 ml/min with the injection volume of 15 μl.The calibration curves of the pesticides were linear in the specified concentration ranges with correlation coefficients of 0.9937-0.9995. The average recoveries of the pesticides in Radix Paeoniae Alba spiked at two spiked levels ranged from 60.4 % to 106.8 % (for pendimethalin and 4, 4'-DDE those were 53.1 % and 45.2 %) with relative standard deviation(RSD) of 3.6 % to 18.6 % and the detection limits (S/N=3) were in the range of 0.16 μg/kg to 3.59 μg/kg.The established method for determination of multi-pesticide residue in Radix Paeoniae Alba is rapid, convenient and accurate with high sensitivity and low-cost.

To establish a capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry(CE-MS) method for the analysis of nineteen organonitrogen pesticides in Paeoniae Radix Alba.CE-MS analysis was performed on a 70 cm X 50 μm fused-silica capillary. The optimal buffer was composed of 1 % formic acid and 15 % methanol(V/V, pH 2.2). The temperature of capillary was controlled at 25 degree. The separation voltage was +20 kV. The optimal MS parameters were as follows: ESI-MS analysis was performed in the positive mode; 90 % methanol containing 0.2 % formic acid with a flow rate of 8 μl·min(-1) was selected as the sheath liquid; the flow rate and temperature of drying gas were 6 L·min(-1) and 250 degree, respectively; The nebulizing gas pressure was set at 5 psig; The optimal values of fragmentor and ESI voltage were 100 V and 5 000 V, respectively.The nineteen pesticides had good linearity over the testing ranges. The average recoveries were in the range of 80.1 %-108.4 % with RSDs less than 20 % (except ethoxyquin and spiroxamine, those of which were 29.2 % and 22.3 % at 0.01 mg.kg(-1) concentration level). The LODs of nineteen pesticides were 0.503 ≊10.1 μg.kg(-1).The method can be used effectively to analyze the nineteen organonitrogen pesticides residue in Paeoniae Radix Alba.

To explore the clinical characteristics and possible pathological mechanisms of vertigo due to enlarged vestibule with lateral semicircular canal dysplasia.A retrospective review was conducted for 5 cases of peripheral vertigo due to enlarged vestibule with lateral semicircular canal dysplasia. Their characteristics of medical history, precipitating factors, course of vertigo, auditory tests, vestibular tests and imaging examine results were analyzed.The clinical characteristics were as follows. (1) Specifics of medical history: 4 cases suffered delays in gross motor development and potential equilibrium dysfunctions. One case failed to recount an earlier medical history, but could maintain normal hearing and vestibular functions for a long time in adulthood. (2) Most cases could identify the precipitating factors of initial attacks, such as head-bumping, nose-blowing and constipation, etc. resulting in sudden rises of intracranial or abdominal pressures. (3) Paroxysmal vertigo and progressive hearing loss were mimicking Meniere disease or large vestibular aqueduct syndrome. But its course of vertigo was different from those of Meniere disease and large vestibular aqueduct syndrome with regards to hearing levels and audiograms. (4) Some cases had positional vertigo. But the results of Dix-Hallpike and Roll tests were different from benign paroxysmal positioning vertigo (BPPV). (5) The inner ear imaging showed enlarged vestibule with lateral semicircular canal dysplasia.The enlarged vestibule with lateral semicircular canal dysplasia is a rare etiology of peripheral vertigo. The history of delays in gross motor development and potential equilibrium dysfunctions in childhood may offer important diagnostic clues. And audiological and vestibular tests, high-resolution computed tomography and magnetic resonance may help to ascertain the diagnosis.

To improve cancer immunotherapy, a better understanding of the weak efficiency of tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes (TIL) is necessary. We have analyzed the functional state of human TIL immediately after resection of three types of tumors (NSCLC, melanoma and RCC). Several signalling pathways (calcium, phosphorylation of ERK and Akt) and cytokine secretion are affected to different extents in TIL, and show a partial spontaneous recovery within a few hours in culture. The global result is an anergy that is quite distinct from clonal anergy induced in vitro, and closer to adaptive tolerance in mice. PD-1 (programmed death -1) is systematically expressed by TIL and may contribute to their anergy by its mere expression, and not only when it interacts with its ligands PD-L1 or PD-L2, which are not expressed by every tumor. Indeed, the TCR-induced calcium and ERK responses were reduced in peripheral blood T cells transfected with PD-1. Inhibition by sodium stibogluconate of the SHP-1 and SHP-2 phosphatases that associate with several inhibitory receptors including PD-1, relieves part of the anergy apparent in TIL or in PD-1-transfected T cells. This work highlights some of the molecular modifications contributing to functional defects of human TIL.

Two new triterpenoids, 2 alpha-hydroxy-3 beta-methoxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid and 3 alpha-hydroxy-2 alpha-methoxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid as well as 25 known compounds were isolated from the whole plant of Salvia roborowskii Maxim. Their structures were elucidated by means of spectral data and chemical transformation. This is the first report on the chemical constituents of this plant. The presence of eugenyl beta-D-glucopyranoside 22 in a plant of the genus Salvia is also reported for the first time.

Background PMS2 expression loss was reported in a variety of human. However, its importance has not been fully understood in cervical carcinoma. The aim of this study was to determine the expression of PMS2 in cervical carcinoma and evaluate the significance of mismatch repair gene PMS2 regulated by glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) in chemosensitivity. Methods We examined PMS2 and phosphorylated GSK-3β(s9) expression in cervical carcinoma tissues using immunohistochemical staining. Furthermore, we detected PMS2 expression in HeLa cells and evaluate the interaction with GSK-3β after transfection with GSK-3β by small interference RNA (siRNA), co-immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting. We also evaluated the effect of PMS2 transfection on HeLa cells' chemosensitivity to cisplatin treatment. Results We found significant downregulation of PMS2 in cervical carcinoma, which was negatively associated with phosphorylated GSK-3β (s9). Furthermore, we demonstrated GSK-3β transfection was able to interact with PMS2 and enhance PMS2 production in HeLa cells, and increased PMS2 production was responsible for enhanced chemosensitivity. Conclusions Our results provide the evidence that stabilization of PMS2 production by GSK-3β was important to improve chemosensitization, indicating the significance of GSK-3β-related PMS2 downregulation in the development of cervical carcinoma and in developing a potential strategy for chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND The Internet is rapidly becoming an accepted standard for disseminating and obtaining health information. However, health information presented on the Web frequently is neither tailored to patients' characteristics nor theoretically driven. This study used Prochaska's transtheoretical model to guide the design and evaluation of a tailored Web-based mammography educational program. PURPOSE This study used a pretest-posttest design to examine the impact of a tailored Web-based educational intervention on women's perceptions of and intentions to obtain a mammography. We hypothesized that a complete tailored intervention (CTI) would result in a significantly higher score than that of tailored message intervention (TMI) in terms of women's perceptions of mammography and intentions to receive a mammography. Both TMI and CTI have been found to have significantly higher scores in terms of women's perceptions of mammography and intentions to receive a mammography than those of the standard intervention (SI). METHODS One hundred eighty-five women were assigned randomly to one of three groups: CTI (n = 61), TMI (n = 63), or SI (n = 61). Online questionnaires were completed by participants at baseline and after completion of intervention. RESULTS Study results supported the hypothesis of perceptions of mammography. The CTI group had significantly higher scores on intention to obtain a mammogram than those of the SI group. However, the differences between CTI and TMI groups and between TMI and SI groups were not significant. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Results of the study validated the importance of utilizing theory for tailored intervention design to enhance individuals' positive perceptions of health behaviors. Additional studies should consider the effect of various processes and activities on women at different stages of acceptance of the need to obtain a mammogram to further determine outcomes and apply such to mammography screening behavior.

In August of 2007 and 2008, a field investigation was made to study the relationships among Cyrtotrachelus buqueti larval density and wormhole number and bamboo shoot damage degree in Sichuan Province. The three pairs of variables, i. e., C. buqueti larval density and wormhole number, C. buqueti larval density and bamboo shoot damage degree, and C. buqueti wormhole number and bamboo shoot damage degree, fitted cubic equations well, with the correlation coefficients at P = 0.001. Based on these mathematical models, the forecast tables for C. buqueti larval density and bamboo shoot damage degree were established, and the thresholds of C. buqueti larval density and wormhole number were 0.13 and 0.40 individual per bamboo, respectively.

To analyze serum metabonome of patients with breast carcinoma by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).Serum samples from 30 patients with breast carcinoma and 25 normal people were collected. Endogenous metabolites amino acids, fatty acids, saccharides and organic acids were analyzed after derivatization.The injection precision and intra-day precision (RSD) were less than 14.4 %. The method displayed good recovery (80.7 %-118.0 % with RSD12.0 %) and linearity (r(2)0.9905). Samples were stable in 24 h at room temperature. The samples were stable through three freeze-thaw cycles (RSD14.6 %). Alaine,oxalate and glutamine were found with frequency of 96.7 %, 100 % and 93.3 %, respectively, which indicated that they may be the potential biomarkers.The method is stable and reliable, which may be helpful for the diagnosis of breast cancer as an auxiliary method.

Objective To investigate the root canal curvature of permanent anterior teeth from Chuang population. Methods 245 anterior teeth from Chuang population were collected and examined by X-ray radiography both from labiolingual and mesiodistal directions. For 218 type I anterior teeth, degree of root canal curvature, radius of curvature and length of the curved part of root canal were measured by a special electronic vernier caliper according to Schneider's and Schafer's method and the data obtained were analyzed. Results Root canals of anterior teeth from Chuang population were mainly of type I. The number of type II, III, IV were about 13 in mandibular central and 12 in mandibular lateral incisors. The incidence of curvature in maxillary central incisors, lateral incisors, canines and mandibular central incisors, lateral incisors, canines were 40%, 80%, 77%, 65%, 66%, 73% in mesiodistal directions, 62%, 69%, 70%, 62%, 41%, 61% in labiolingual directions respectively. The most curvature was moderate and happened in apical third. The heaviest curvature occurred in maxillary canines in mesiodistal direction and mandibular canines in labiolingual direction. The shortest radius and length of curvature occurred in maxillary lateral incisors. Conclusion Root canal curvature of anterior tooth in Guangxi Chuang population is complex. The incidence of type II, III, IV is high in mandibular incisors.

To investigate the hearing change when chronic tinnitus acute aggravated and the affect of prognosis due to hearing change.The pure tone threshold and acoustic immittance were used for every case in the acute aggravation of chronic tinnitus (AACT) group, and for some of AACT group members the auditory brainstem response (ABR), distort-product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE), electrocochleogram (EcochG), glycerin test and MRI were used at the same time for further diagnosis. For the chronic tinnitus, the patients accepted the intervention of tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) both for the AACT group and the control group. As for the recent hearing loss appeared in the AACT group members, the patients were treated the cases as the sudden deafness, and then the hearing characteristic of the AACT group was analyzed and the effect of the chronic tinnitus both for the AACT group and control group after the TRT for 3, 6, 9 and 12 months was evaluated.Three kinds of hearing changes appeared when chronic tinnitus acute aggravated. Based on the dated high frequencies hearing loss ranged 4-8 kHz, recent hearing loss appeared in 1-2 middle frequencies near the impaired high frequencies; Based on the dated single middle frequency hearing loss, another middle frequency hearing impaired near the dated hearing loss frequency, the sawtooth-like audiogram changed to groove-like audiogram; Hearing fluctuation in low frequency area, hearing threshold increased 10-30 dB in 125-1000 Hz but kept unchanged in the high frequency area. The recent local frequency hearing loss healed after the vasodilator and neurotrophic drugs therapy, but the dated hearing loss can't rehabilitate. Along with the rehabilitation of recent local hearing loss, 25 of 32 cases chronic tinnitus victims get to habituation; this finding showed that the experience of tinnitus aggravation and relief accelerated the habituation. Until the 12 months after the TRT, the curative effect difference between AACT group and control group showed statistical significance.When the chronic tinnitus acute aggravated, 3 kinds of local area hearing impaired. Timely diagnosis and effective treatment had brought not only hearing rehabilitation but also promotion to habituation of chronic tinnitus.

We demonstrate that lck promoter-driven conditional expression of transgenic SPA-1, a Rap GTPase-activation protein, causes a profound defect of alphabeta T-cell development at the CD4/CD8 double-negative (DN) stage due to enhanced cell death without affecting gammadelta T-cell development. The effect was specific to the DN stage, because CD4 promoter-driven SPA-1 expression hardly affected T-cell development. Rap1A17, a dominant-negative Rap mutant, interfered with the generation of double-positive (DP) cells from Rag2(-/-) fetal thymocytes in vitro in the presence of anti-CD3epsilon antibody and Notch ligand. Rap GTPases were activated in a DN cell line by the expression of self-oligomerizing CD3 (CD8:CD3epsilon chimera), which substituted autonomous pre-T-cell receptor (TCR) signal, inducing CD69 expression and CD25 down-regulation. Reciprocally, expression of C3G, a Rap guanine nucleotide exchange factor, in both normal and Rag2(-/-) DN cells markedly enhanced Notch-dependent generation and expansion of DP cells without additional anti-CD3epsilon antibody, thus bypassing pre-TCR. Defective alphabeta T-cell development in the conditional SPA-1-transgenic mice was restored completely by introducing a p53(-/-) mutation. These results suggest that endogenous Rap GTPases downstream of pre-TCR play an essential role in rescuing pre-T cells from the p53-mediated checkpoint response, thus allowing Notch-mediated expansion and differentiation.

Phylogenetic relationship between Paecilomyces hepiali and Cordyceps sinensis was studied by analyzing the sequence of rDNA-ITS. The samples of C. sinensis were collected from Hualong County in Qinghai Province and Kangding County in Sichuan Province in May and June, respectively. The rDNA-ITS fragments were obtained by PCR amplification with the template genomic DNA of the fresh stroma or caterpillar body of the collected samples and the cultured mycelium of P. hepiali, with the universal fungal primers ITS1/ITS4. The amplified fragments were cloned into pMD18-T Vector and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis was performed with these sequences and those from GenBank. The result showed that all of the 46 clones randomly chosen from the amplification of C. sinensis shared identical or almost identical rDNA-ITS regions and had over 99% identity with some rDNA-ITS sequences of Hirsutella sinensis and C. sinensis registered in GenBank, but all of them had only about 72% identity with that of P. hepiali. Two pairs of specific primers were designed based on the rDNA-ITS sequence of P. hepiali, then PCR and Nest-PCR were performed with the template genomic DNA of the stroma or caterpillar body of C. sinensis samples mentioned above. The apparent bands amplified by Nest-PCR were obtained from all of the samples, and the sequences showed 100% identity with the rDNA-ITS sequence of P. hepiali. In addition, another pair of specific primers were designed based on the rDNA-ITS sequence registered in GenBank as the marker of C. sinensis (accession no. AB067740) but the latter only shared 87.3% identity with that of H. sinensis (accession no. AJ309353). This pair of primers was used to amplify the C. sinensis samples by PCR, and the amplified sequence showed 100% identity with that of AB067740. The result indicated that H. sinensis is the main body of C. sinensis, while some other endoparasitic fungi such as P. hepiali commonly exist in the natural C. sinensis.

Most of the face recognition algorithms were proposed based on training numerous still examples of face images to accommodate different face variations, such as pose and illumination variations. However, it is not practical to collect lots of face images under different variations for each subject in a real authentication system. In this paper, we propose a novel face recognition system with only one single image for each individual in the training dataset. The proposed face recognition system applies the 3D face model reconstructed from the single face to synthesize different views for effectively training, thus leading to robustness against poses variations. The proposed system integrates the temporal face recognition results from the video in a probabilistic framework to make reliable decision when enough evidence is accumulated. In addition, it rejects imposters with the notion of locally linear embedding. The experiment results on FG-Net video database are shown to validate the effectiveness and reliability of the proposed algorithm.

SPA-1 (signal-induced proliferation associated gene-1) functions as a suppressor of myeloid leukemia by negatively regulating Rap1 signaling in hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs). Herein, we showed that transplantation of HPCs expressing farnesylated C3G (C3G-F), a Rap1 guanine nucleotide exchange factor, resulted in a marked expansion of thymocytes bearing unique phenotypes (CD4/CD8 double positive [DP] CD3(-) TCRbeta(-)) in irradiated recipients. SPA-1(-/-) HPCs expressing C3G-F caused a more extensive expansion of DP thymocytes, resulting in lethal T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) with massive invasion of clonal T-cell blasts into vital organs. The C3G-F(+) blastic thymocytes exhibited constitutive Rap1 activation and markedly enhanced expression of Notch1, 3 as well as the target genes, Hes1, pTalpha, and c-Myc. All the T-ALL cell lines from C3G-F(+) SPA-1(-/-) HPC recipients expressed high levels of Notch1 with characteristic mutations resulting in the C-terminal truncation. This proliferation was inhibited completely in the presence of a gamma-secretase inhibitor. Transplantation of Rag2(-/-) SPA-1(-/-) HPCs expressing C3G-F also resulted in a marked expansion and transformation of DP thymocytes. The results suggested that deregulated constitutive Rap1 activation caused abnormal expansion of DP thymocytes, bypassing the pre-T-cell receptor and eventually leading to Notch1 mutations and Notch-dependent T-ALL.

Uterine leiomyomas were shown to be clonal lesions, but the relationship among different tumor nodules in multiple uterine leiomyomas remains unresolved. In this study, X-chromosomal inactivation patterns of these tumor nodules were shown by allelic polymorphism analysis through polymerase-chain reaction at the phosphoglycerate kinase and androgen receptor loci following pretreatment with the methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme HpaII or HhaI. A total number of 113 cases of uterine leiomyomas were examined. Monoclonality was demonstrated in all of the 315 nodules from 76 informative cases. The inter-nodular relationship was evaluated in 55 multiple cases with 294 tumor nodules. Different inactivation patterns were observed in 20 cases, demonstrating a multicentric origin, while an identical inactivated allele was found in all or most of the nodules in the rest of the cases, indicating a common clonal origin. The occurrence of the unicentric cases appeared to be associated with an elevated mitotic activity. Seven nodules from a multi-nodular case with a morphology indicative of mitotically active leiomyoma were shown to carry the identical inactivated allele, which demonstrates their unicellular origin and malignant nature. In addition, the same androgen receptor gene alteration was identified in two discrete leiomyoma nodules from a uterus. These results approve the monoclonality of uterine leiomyomas and demonstrate the presence of unicentric multiple leiomyomas.

To find a method for isolation and cultivation of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells(ADSCs), and to investigate its chondrogenic ability.Liposuction human adipose tissues were digested with collagenase type II. The obtained cells were primarily cultured in DMEM medium, and then changed into the induced medium. Alcian Blue stain, picrosirius red stain and the specific collagenase type II immunohistochemical staining were used to detect the results.After cultured in chondrogenic medium, the cells differentiated toward cartilage cells and secreted the specific cartilaginous matrices sulfated proteglycan and collagen type II.The human ADSCs have the potential ability to differentiate toward cartilage cells in the appropriated medium. The result provide a new method for the further research in cartilaginous tissue engineering.

As the incidence of chronic disease increases, empowerment of patients with chronic disease to adopt self-care responsibilities becomes paramount. Self-efficacy is a belief in one's ability to perform a task that will lead to the desired outcome. Utilizing self-efficacy counseling skills is an effective way to enhance patients' compliance with self-care activities. The development of such skills can compensate for the lack of traditional health education provided for diabetes patients and plays a significant part in the prevention of acute and chronic complications. Self-efficacy counseling strategies involve: asking questions; focusing on patient's agenda; planning personal treatment schedules; defining problems; setting goals (taking a step-by-step approach); regular follow-up and contact with patients; scaling questions; brainstorming solutions; considering past efforts, successes and failures; reassessing confidence; and finally checking behavior changes. Self-efficacy counseling skills can be learned through structured training courses in counseling skills. The aims of this report were twofold: (1) to undertake a literature review on self-efficacy and counseling skills used as the theoretical framework in a health education training program for diabetes; (2) to analyze cases when a counseling guide based upon a self-efficacy framework was used by health counselors to help patients improve their self-confidence and self-care ability. This report reveals it is important to promote the application of counseling skills in nursing interventions in the clinical practice field.

To select a proper Ganoderma luciderm strain for the fruiting body production.The strains were cultivated on the agar media and in the liquid media, respectively. Then the strains were inoculated onto the solid medium made from agricultural products (such as wheat bran, corn powder, wood meal, etc.) and cultured for a certain period.Strains, which were easier to produce polyporic tissues at the vegetative growth stage, would be more quickly to form fruiting body with high quality and yield of the spores.Appearance of the polyporic tissues at the mycelium vegetative growth stage could be used as a marker for the strain selection for the G. luciderm substituted cultivation.

To construct a prokaryotic expression vector for human CIDE-3 gene, and to express the gene in E.coli BL21(DE3).The total RNA was extracted from human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2. CIDE-3 gene fragment was amplified by RT-PCR and was cloned into the pET28a(+) vector. The recombinant vector was identified by restriction endonuclease digestion analysis and DNA sequencing, and then it was transformed into E.coli BL21(DE3) through IPTG induction to express the target protein bearing His tag.A 516 bp of CIDE-3 gene fragment was obtained. After E.coli BL21(DE3) was transformed with recombinant vector pET28a(+)-CIDE-3 and through IPTG induction, the recombinant protein with relative molecular masse about 23,000 was obtained. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that the expressed product was mainly inclusion bodies, accounting for 32% of the total bacterial proteins.Recombinant expression vector pET28a(+)-CIDE-3 is constructed successfully. The expressed CIDE-3 protein will be helpful to our further research.

Social transition causes shifts and changes in the relationship between health professionals and their patients. In their professional capacity, it is important today for nurses to handle ethical dilemmas properly, in a manner that fosters an ethical environment. This article investigates the ethical concerns and decision processes of nurses from a knowledge construction perspective, and examines such issues as patient needs, staff perceptions, organizational benefits, and professional image. The decision making methods commonly used when facing ethical dilemma explored in this study include the traditional problem solving, nursing process, MORAL model, and Murphy's methods. Although decision making for ethical dilemmas is governed by no universal rule, nurses are responsible to try to foster a trusting relationship between employee and employer, health care providers and patients, and the organization and colleagues. When decision making on ethical dilemmas is properly executed quality care will be delivered and malpractice can be reduced.

We previously reported that the mice deficient for SPA-1, a Rap1 GTPase-activating protein, developed hematopoietic stem cell disorders. Here, we demonstrate that SPA-1(-/-) mice show an age-dependent increase in B220(high) B1a cells producing anti-dsDNA antibody and lupus-like nephritis. SPA-1(-/-) peritoneal B1 cells revealed the altered Vkappa gene repertoire, including skewed Vkappa4 usage and the significant Igkappa/Iglambda isotype inclusion indicative of extensive receptor editing. Rap1GTP induced OcaB gene activation via p38MAPK-dependent Creb phosphorylation, and consistently, SPA-1(-/-) immature BM B cells showing high Rap1GTP exhibited the augmented expression of OcaB and Vkappa4 genes. SPA-1(-/-) BM cells could transfer the autoimmunity in association with the generation of peritoneal B220(high) B1a cells in Rag-2(-/-) recipients. Finally, a portion of SPA-1(-/-) mice developed B1 cell leukemia with hemolytic autoantibody. Present results suggest that the regulated Rap1 signal in the immature B cells plays a role in modifying the B cell receptor repertoire and in maintaining the self-tolerance.

The LE-ACS6 gene encodes ACC synthase, the key enzyme of ethylene biosynthesis pathway. Accumulation of LE-ACS6 transcripts is concomitant with the system 1 ethylene production in the pre-climacteric tomato fruit, and both are down regulated by exogenous ethylene treatment. To elucidate the possible role of system 1 ethylene in plant development and investigate the promoter tissue specificity of LE-ACS6 gene, stable transformation of Arabidopsis with a LE-ACS6 promoter-GUS fusion construct by Agrobacterium method has been done. Histochemical localization of GUS activity and beta-glucuronidase enzyme assay in transgenic LE-ACS6::GUS plants showed strong expression of GUS in cotyledons and hypocotyls of 6 d seedlings, but no GUS activity was detected in roots. The GUS activity of 6 d seedling was increased significantly when treated with NAA 10(-4)mol/L. In 40 d rosette leaf LE-ACS6 promoter driven GUS gene was predominantly expressed in mature leaves. Lower level of GUS expression was detected in younger and older leaves. Wounding was found to increase GUS gene expression in transgenic leaves. Again, exogenous NAA was found to increase the GUS activity in wounded leaf tissue. Strong staining reaction was observed in the top part of rapidly growing stems. In different developmental stages of Arabidopsis seeds, "mature green" pods were strongly stained, but "ripening fruits" were not colored. These observations are concomitant with the system 1 ethylene production, suggesting a popular mechanism in regulating ethylene biosynthesis in different plants, at least in tomato and Arabidopsis.

To investigate the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) in placentas of pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH).Placentas of 49 PIH pregnancies (PIH group 1) and 26 normotensive pregnancies (control group 1) were investigated for HIF-1alpha protein expression using microarray and immunohistochemistry. The expression of HIF-1alpha mRNA in placentas of 12 PIH pregnancies (PIH group 2) and 12 normal pregnancies(control group 2) was respectively detected by RT-PCR.(1) There was significant difference in the positive and slight-moderate-positive spot proportions of HIF-1alpha protein between the PIH group 1 (63.1%, 23.3%) and the control group 1 (20.9%, 7.0%, P0.01). (2) The level of HIF-1alpha mRNA between PIH group 2 and control group 2 (0.96 +/- 0.37 vs 0.95 +/- 0.20, P0.05) was not statistically different.(1) There was no significant difference in HIF-1alpha mRNA level between the PIH and normal placentas, but there was a remarkable difference in protein level between the two groups. (2) HIF-1alpha regulate the pathological and physiological progress of PIH at protein level rather than at transcription level.

To describe the relationship among different tumor nodules in multiple leiomyomas of uterus.Genomic DNA was extracted from fresh tissue samples, digested through incubation with methylation-sensitive Hha I or Hpa II, and amplified via PCR for androgen receptor (AR) and phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) genes. The length polymorphism on AR gene was demonstrated by denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver staining, the PGK gene products were treated with Bst XI and resolved on agarose gels.112 cases of leiomyomas and one case of leiomyosarcoma were examined, 89% showing the length polymorphism for AR gene and 30% carrying the polymorphic Bst XI site at PGK locus. Loss of X-chromosome inactivation mosaicism was observed in all the 321 tumor nodules examined from 77 cases, reflecting their clonal cellular composition. The relationship between different nodules was evaluated by their X-chromosome inactivation patterns in the 295 tumor nodules taken from 57 multiple leiomyomas. Similar inactivated alleles were found in all nodules in 30, in most nodules in 7 cases, similar to a multi-nodular leiomyosarcoma, while 20 cases showed near-random distribution of the inactivated alleles in different nodules, indicating their multicentric origins. No relevance was found between this difference and any histopathological parameters including number of mitotic figures and occurrence of bizarre nuclei and degeneration. In addition, an identical mutation and loss of heterozygosity were found at the AR locus in two apparently discrete tumor nodules in one case, providing further evidence for the unicellular origin of these lesions.The multi-nodular leiomyomas may be classified into multicentric, unicentric types, as well as a mixed type. It remains to be clarified whether different nodules in the unicentric cases originate from a parent tumor by migration or by spreading.

Plasma diagnostics is performed during dc. glow discharge plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) on nitride thin films using optical emission spectra. Several molecular bands such as the second positive series of N2 transitions, the first negative series of N2+ and the CN, NH violet bands are identified. Variations of the emission intensities of N2(337.1 nm), N2+(391.4 nm) and CN(388.3 nm) are investigated as the function of the percentage of H2, discharge current and deposition pressure. The related excitation mechanism of the species emission is discussed. Experimental results show that adding a small amount of H2(about 5%) into the gas source will be beneficial to produce all the active species. Higher discharge current will result in an increase of the active species concentration while there is maximum emission intensity at medium gas pressure at about 4 kPa. The collisions between the species, including metastable nitrogen and hydrogen are related with the concentration variations of the measured species. All the results and discussion provide reference data for optimizing the deposition parameters and controlling the deposition process in the synthesis of carbon nitride thin films.

A micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) method for the determination of xanthyletin and xanthoxyletin in the roots bark of three Citrus plants was developed for the first time. The electrophoresis buffer was 10 mmol/L sodium borate containing 50 mmol/L sodium dodecyl sulfate, 20% (v/v) acetonitrile and 10% (v/v) methanol (pH 9.8). The correlation coefficients of the calibration curves for xanthyletin and xanthoxyletin are 0.9993 and 0.9999, respectively, over the concentration ranges (16.0 - 800.0 mg/L; 8.0 - 400.0 mg/L).

Ga K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurement was employed to investigate the local structure and GaN:Mg films grown my metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE) with various Cp 2 Mg dopant flow rates using both in-plane and out-of-plane polarization modes of X-rayu. The near edge absorption spectra were found to depend on X-ray polarization strongly for undoped GaN sample and weakly to minutely for heavily Mg-doped and amorphous films. The results indicate Mg incorporation modifies the local structure around the absorber Ga atom and, hence, alters the molecular orbital electron transition of GaN sample. EXAFS analysis shows both vacancy an dMg-interstitial defects contribute to the reduction of coordination numbers along the hexagonal c-axis of GaN:Mg film.

Increased risk due to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) therapy has been observed in patients. Although diaphragm-like stricture in the small bowel and colon induced by NSAIDs therapy has been rarely reported, gastric body diaphragm-like stricture has not been reported. We describe the first case of gastric body diaphragm-like stricture due to NSAIDs in a 44-year-old male patient who was successfully treated by an endoscopic approach to avoid complicated surgery. This case highlights new insight into the disadvantages of NSAIDs and provides new data for future clinical studies.

AIM:To establish an assay for detecting serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) transcripts including the full-length (fRNA) and truncated RNA molecules (trRNA) in chronic HBV carriers, and to investigate its clinical significance. METHODS:The serum viral nucleic acids were analyzed using PCR and RT-PCR targeted to the HBV x protein-encoding region. Reaction specificity was confirmed by Southern blotting. Representative amplification products were cloned and sequenced. RESULTS:Different viral transcripts including fRNA and trRNA were identified in sera of HBV carriers. Presence of fRNA was closely correlated with seropositivity of hepatitis B e antigen and viral DNA. However, trRNA did not depend on serum e antigen, its association with circulating viral DNA was weak. Similarly, no remarkable correlation was ob-served between the levels of trRNA and the degrees of liver damage. Different age-dependent representations for fRNA and trRNA were recognized, fRNA was progressively decreased to undetectable levels and trRNA increased to high levels in the second decade of life and then remained in high level in the rest of life.The trRNA and RNA without polyadenylation at either of the two addition sites were detected even in the absence of any other conventional HBV markers such as viral DNA. They were also observed in sera from patients with cryptogenic cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis C. CONCLUSION:The viral transcripts are potential serum markers for identifying replicative and non-replicative infection stages and diagnosis of occult HBV infection.