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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of low-dose recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) (20 μg/kg) in reversing coagulopathy in patients with isolated traumatic brain injury (TBI)., Materials and Methods: Patients with isolated TBI and coagulopathy at admission were enrolled prospectively from January 2010 to December 2011. The patients were divided into 2 groups: the rFVIIa and the no-rFVIIa groups. In the rFVIIa group, patients received a single dose of 20 μg/kg rFVIIa intravenously to reverse their coagulopathy in addition to blood products. Patients in the no-rFVIIa group received only blood products to correct the coagulopathy. The clinical outcome variables evaluated included changes in coagulation parameters after administration for reversing coagulopathy, the occurrence of progressive hemorrhagic injury (PHI), intensive care unit length of stay, the incidence of thromboembolic complications, inhospital mortality, and 90-day Glasgow Outcome Scale., Results: Eighty-seven patients were ultimately included in this study. Of them, 49 patients were treated with blood products alone, whereas 38 patients also received rFVIIa to reverse their coagulopathy. The improvement in international normalized ratio was greater in the rFVIIa group (0.26 [0.18-0.39]) than in the no-rFVIIa group (0.06 [-0.11 to 0.30]) (P = .001). In addition, the improvement in lactate was also greater in the rFVIIa group (0.33 [-0.18 to 0.54]) than in the no-rFVIIa group (0.04 [-0.25 to 0.20]) (P = .029). During the period after we began to correct the coagulopathy, PHI occurred in 19 patients (38.8%) in the no-rFVIIa group, which was significantly higher than that in the rFVIIa group (7, 18.4%; P = .040). The rate of cerebral infarction was similar in both groups (10.2% vs 5.3%). There was a trend indicating that low-dose rFVIIa therapy was associated with a lower mortality, but the association was not statistically significant (P = .266)., Conclusions: The use of low-dose rFVIIa (20 μg/kg) is effective for correcting coagulopathy in patients with TBI without an increase in thromboembolic events. Moreover, it is more effective for preventing the occurrence of PHI., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A cavity ring-down spectrometer is built for trace gas detection using telecom distributed feedback (DFB) diode lasers. The longitudinal modes of the ring-down cavity are used as frequency markers without active-locking either the laser or the high-finesse cavity. A control scheme is applied to scan the DFB laser frequency, matching the cavity modes one by one in sequence and resulting in a correct index at each recorded spectral data point, which allows us to calibrate the spectrum with a relative frequency precision of 0.06 MHz. Besides the frequency precision of the spectrometer, a sensitivity (noise-equivalent absorption) of 4×10 -11   cm -1   Hz -1/2 has also been demonstrated. A minimum detectable absorption coefficient of 5×10 -12   cm -1 has been obtained by averaging about 100 spectra recorded in 2  h. The quantitative accuracy is tested by measuring the CO 2 concentrations in N 2 samples prepared by the gravimetric method, and the relative deviation is less than 0.3%. The trace detection capability is demonstrated by detecting CO 2 of ppbv-level concentrations in a high-purity nitrogen gas sample. Simple structure, high sensitivity, and good accuracy make the instrument very suitable for quantitative trace gas analysis.

(222)Rn concentrations in drinking water samples from Beijing City, China, were determined based on a simple method for the continuous monitoring of radon using a radon-in-air monitor coupled to an air-water exchanger. A total of 89 water samples were sampled and analyzed for their (222)Rn content. The observed radon levels ranged from detection limit up to 49 Bq/L. The calculated arithmetic and geometric means of radon concentrations in all measured samples were equal to 5.87 and 4.63 Bq/L, respectively. The average annual effective dose from ingestion of radon in drinking water was 2.78 μSv, and that of inhalation of water-borne radon was 28.5 μSv. It is concluded that it is not the ingestion of waterborne radon, but inhalation of the radon escaping from water that is a substantial part of the radiological hazard. Radon in water is a big concern for public health, especially for consumers who directly use well water with very high radon concentration.

Background: Currently, no documentation is available regarding Chinese children with acute liver failure (ALF). This study was undertaken to investigate etiologies and outcomes of Chinese children with ALF., Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 32 pediatric patients with ALF admitted in five hospitals in different areas of China from January 2007 to December 2012. The coagulation indices, serum creatinine, serum lactate dehydrogenase, blood ammonia and prothrombin activity were analyzed; the relationship between these indices and mortality was evaluated by multivariate analysis., Results: The most common causes of Chinese children with ALF were indeterminate etiology (15/32), drug toxicity (8/32), and acute cytomegalovirus hepatitis (6/32). Only 1 patient (3.13%) received liver transplantation and the spontaneous mortality of Chinese children with ALF was 58.06% (18/31). Patients who eventually died had higher baseline levels of international normalized ratio (P=0.01), serum creatinine (P=0.04), serum lactate dehydrogenase (P=0.01), blood ammonia (P<0.01) and lower prothrombin activity (P=0.01) than those who survived. Multivariate analysis showed that the entry blood ammonia was the only independent factor significantly associated with mortality (odds ratio=1.069, 95% confidence interval 1.023-1.117, P<0.01) and it had a sensitivity of 94.74%, a specificity of 84.62% and an accuracy of 90.63% for predicting the death. Based on the established model, with an increase of blood ammonia level, the risk of mortality would increase by 6.9%., Conclusions: The indeterminate causes predominated in the etiologies of ALF in Chinese children. The spontaneous mortality of pediatric patients with ALF was high, whereas the proportion of patients undergoing liver transplantation was significantly low. Entry blood ammonia was a reliable predictor for the death of pediatric patients with ALF.

This study aimed to investigate the synergistic effect of lidamycin (LDM) and rituximab on human B cell lymphoma Ramos cells. Cell proliferation was measured using MTS assay, cell apoptosis was analyzed by Annexin V-FITC/PI assay, the expression of apoptosis related proteins was analyzed by Western blotting, and the in vivo lymphoma inhibition was verified using BALB/c mice inoculated via tail vein using Ramos cells which stably expressed pEGFP-N1 plasmid. The results showed that, after the pretreatment with rituximab for 48 h, rituximab and LDM showed significantly synergistic effects on cell proliferation. Cells in combined treatment group had a higher apoptosis rate than that in LDM treatment group. Compared with the LDM treatment group, the expression of apoptosis-related proteins such as Cleaved caspase-3, Cleaved caspase-7, Cleaved caspase-9 and Cleaved PARP in combined treatment groups increased, and expression of cIAP-2 and Bcl-2 decreased. The result of in vivo experiment showed that, in the combined treatment group, the survival time of BALB/c mice was significantly longer than the mice in control group and LDM treatment group, and the degree of tumor accumulation and metastasis to lymph nodes and spleen was lower.

Background/aims: Aggregation of insoluble α-synuclein to form Lewy bodies (LBs) may contribute to the selective loss of midbrain dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson disease (PD). Lack of robust animal models has impeded elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of LB formation and other critical aspects of PD pathogenesis., Methods: We established a mouse model with targeted deletion of the plasminogen-binding protein tetranectin (TN) gene (TN(-/-)) and measured the behavioral and histopathological features of PD., Results: Aged (15-to 20-month-old) TN(-/-) mice displayed motor deficits resembling PD symptoms, including limb rigidity and both slower ambulation (bradykinesia) and reduced rearing activity in the open field. In addition, these mice exhibited more numerous α-synuclein-positive LB-like inclusions within the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and reduced numbers of SNc dopaminergic neurons than age-matched wild type (WT) mice. These pathological changes were also accompanied by loss of dopamine terminals in the dorsal striatum., Conclusion: The TN(-/-) mouse exhibits several key features of PD and so may be a valuable model for studying LB formation and testing candidate neuroprotective therapies for PD and other synucleinopathies., (© 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Objective: To explore the role of small-dose recombinant human coagulation factor VIIa (rFVIIa) for coagulopathy in patients with isolated traumatic brain injury., Methods: A total of 86 isolated traumatic brain patients with coagulopathy were treated at our neurosurgery intensive care unit (NICU) from January 2010 to December 2012. Their trauma registry data included mortality, pre-and post-rFVIIa coagulation parameters. Two-tailed paired t-test was used to determine significant changes in coagulation parameters and other major clinical parameters., Results: Twenty-seven patients made up the low-dose rFVIIa (20 µg/kg) group. And the control group had 59 well-matched subjects. At admission, age, blood pressure, Glasgow coma scale score, hemoglobin, platelets and international normalize ratio were similar in both groups. After treatment, the INR of patients on rFVIIa was lower than that of the conventional treatment group (1.1 ± 0.2 vs 1.2 ± 0.2, P < 0.01) and it declined more in the rFVIIa group (0.3 ± 0.2 vs 0.1 ± 0.4, P = 0.05). No significant difference existed in mortality or length of stay between two groups.There was no occurrence of subsequent thromboembolic events., Conclusion: The application of small-dose rFVIIa can effectively reduce the value of INR and improve the coagulation status of patients. During the course of treatment, no major adverse events occur.

The third CH stretching vibration overtone (4ν(CH)) of the acetylene molecule has been a prototype for intra-molecular dynamics studies. Using a sensitive cavity ring-down spectrometer calibrated with precise atomic transitions, the absolute line frequencies of 50 lines of this band have been determined with sub-MHz accuracy, or relatively 2 × 10(-9). The accuracy is also confirmed by the combination differences between the transitions sharing the same upper level. The improved accuracy, two orders of magnitude better than previous studies, allows us to reveal finer ro-vibrational couplings. Fitting of the rotational energies indicates that the J-dependent interactions take place after J > 7. The precise line positions present useful confinements to the models of the intra-molecular interactions of the acetylene molecule.

The single atom counting rate of a rare isotope and the loading rate of another stable isotope with an abundance over 10 orders of magnitude larger are measured in one atom trap. The linear correlation between the measured counting/loading rates is examined to determine the (84)Kr/(82)Kr and (85)Kr/(83)Kr ratios of a Kr gas sample. Experiments show that the relative uncertainty is reduced to 1.3% when the single atom counting rate of (85)Kr is normalized by the measured (83)Kr loading rate. The measurement of the normalized single atom counting rate can be used to determine extremely low (10(-16)-10(-11)) isotope abundance. This normalization method is robust and can also be applied in other atomic systems.

The isotopic abundance of (85)Kr in the atmosphere, currently at the level of 10(-11), has increased by orders of magnitude since the dawn of nuclear age. With a half-life of 10.76 years, (85)Kr is of great interest as tracers for environmental samples such as air, groundwater and ice. Atom Trap Trace Analysis (ATTA) is an emerging method for the analysis of rare krypton isotopes at isotopic abundance levels as low as 10(-14) using krypton gas samples of a few micro-liters. Both the reliability and reproducibility of the method are examined in the present study by an inter-comparison among different instruments. The (85)Kr/Kr ratios of 12 samples, in the range of 10(-13) to 10(-10), are measured independently in three laboratories: a low-level counting laboratory in Bern, Switzerland, and two ATTA laboratories, one in Hefei, China, and another in Argonne, USA. The results are in agreement at the precision level of 5%.

Aims: To investigate alterations in protein expression associated with deep brain stimulation (DBS) in an attempt to elucidate possible mechanisms of action ., Methods: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), obtained from six Parkinson's disease (PD) patients (pre- and post-DBS) and from six normal healthy controls, was studied for differentially expressed proteins. 2-D DIGE, in combination with MALDI-TOF and TOF-TOF Mass Spectrometry (MS) or ESI-MS, was used to identify the changed proteins (3 PD patients and 3 controls). Selected proteins were further studied using western blotting (6 PD patients and 6 controls)., Results: Twenty-one proteins were identified after MS and protein database interrogation. Apart from apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), the expression levels of complement C4 (C4), IgA, tetranectin, and extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD), detected by western blotting, correlated well with the 2-D DIGE results. In the follow-up period, the expression levels of C4, apoA-I and IgA were stable whereas EC-SOD and tetranectin were significantly elevated. In addition, when DBS was ceased in one patient due to a suicide attempt, the levels of EC-SOD and tetranectin significantly decreased., Conclusion: Our preliminary results suggest that variations in the expression levels of EC-SOD and tetranectin in CSF is related to DBS., (Copyright © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Defensins are small cationic peptides that could be used as the potential substitute for antibiotics. However, there is no efficient method for producing defensins. In this study, we developed a new strategy to produce defensin in nitrate reductase (NR)-deficient C. ellipsoidea (nrm-4). We constructed a plant expression vector carrying mutated NP-1 gene (mNP-1), a mature α-defensin NP-1 gene from rabbit with an additional initiator codon in the 5'-terminus, in which the selection markers were NptII and NR genes. We transferred mNP-1 into nrm-4 using electroporation and obtained many transgenic lines with high efficiency under selection chemicals G418 and NaNO(3). The mNP-1 was characterized using N-terminal sequencing after being isolated from transgenic lines. Excitingly, mNP-1 was produced at high levels (approximately 11.42 mg/l) even after 15 generations of continuous fermentation. In addition, mNP-1 had strong activity against Escherichia coli at 5 µg/ml. This research developed a new method for producing defensins using genetic engineering.

During the preparation of amino phosphoric chelating fiber, polypropylene grafted styrene, acetyl, amine series and amino phosphonic acid chelating fibers were certified by infrared spectrum, and the functionalization degree of raw fibers was studied. By the semi-qualitative method of infrared spectrum, the adsorption performance of indium and copper on amino phosphonic chelating fiber was also discussed. The results showed that (1) The peak at 1 116 cm(-1) was assigned to--P(ONa)2 in amino phosphonic acid chelating fiber. So the success of phosphorylation was verified. (2) During preparation, the phosphorylation effect of amino phosphonic acid chelating fiber could be reflected by the change of the peaks at 1 056 and 1 110 cm(-)1. (3) After adsorption of In3+ on amino phosphonic acid chelating fiber, the new forming N-In coordination key was absorbed strongly at the bands of 1 000-1 200 cm(-1) and at 1 107, 699 and 617 cm(-1). After adsorption Cu2+ on amino phosphonic acid chelating fiber two new strong and wide peaks were found at 1 110 and 618 cm(-1), respectively. (4) Through the area change of the bands at 1 200-900 and 600 cm(-1), the adsorption performance of indium and copper on amino phosphonic acid chelating fiber was compared.

The low-lying electronic states of Yb isolated in a solid Ne matrix are characterized through absorption and emission spectroscopy. The absorption spectra of matrix isolated Yb while pumped into its triplet states have been recorded for the first time and the 6s6p (3)P(J) → 5d6s (3)D(1, 2) transition frequencies obtained. Under matrix conditions, the structure of these states is found to be qualitatively the same as in the free atom, but the intersystem crossing rate is observed to be several orders of magnitude greater. A proposed explanation for this is curve crossings between the bound potential energy surface correlated to the 6s6p (1)P(1) state and the potential energy surfaces correlated to the 5d6s (3)D(1, 2) states in isolation. The potentials of the Yb·Ne dimer in its lowest electronic states are computed ab initio and used in a pairwise cluster model to explicitly demonstrate these curve crossings.

A continuous-wave cavity ring-down spectrometer has been built for precise determination of absolute frequencies of Doppler-broadened absorption lines. Using a thermo-stabilized Fabry-Pérot interferometer and Rb frequency references at the 780 nm and 795 nm, 0.1 - 0.6 MHz absolute frequency accuracy has been achieved in the 775-800 nm region. A water absorption line at 12579 cm(-1) is studied to test the performance of the spectrometer. The line position at zero-pressure limit is determined with an uncertainty of 0.3 MHz (relative accuracy of 0.8 × 10(-9))., (© 2012 Optical Society of America)

The Boltzmann constant can be optically determined by measuring the Doppler width of an absorption line of molecules at gas phase. We propose to apply a near infrared cavity ring-down (CRD) spectrometer for this purpose. The superior sensitivity of CRD spectroscopy and the good performance of the near-ir lasers can provide ppm (part-per-million) accuracy which will be competitive to present most accurate result obtained from the speed of sound in argon measurement. The possible influence to the uncertainty of the determined Doppler width from different causes are investigated, which includes the signal-to-noise level, laser frequency stability, detecting nonlinearity, and pressure broadening effect. The analysis shows that the CRD spectroscopy has some remarkable advantages over the direct absorption method proposed before. The design of the experimental setup is presented and the measurement of C2H2 line near 0.8 μm at room temperature has been carried out as a test of the instrument.

A continuous-wave cavity ring-down spectrometer with sub-MHz precision has been built using the sideband of a frequency stabilized laser as the tunable light source. The sideband is produced by passing the carrier laser beam through an electro-optic modulator (EOM) and then selected by a short etalon on resonance. The carrier laser frequency is locked to a longitude mode of a thermo-stabilized Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) with a long-term absolute frequency stability of 0.2 MHz (5 × 10(-10)). Broad and precise spectral scanning is accomplished, respectively, by selecting a different longitudinal mode of the FPI and by tuning the radio-frequency driving the EOM. The air broadened water absorption line at 12,321 cm(-1) was studied to test the performance of the spectrometer.

Atom trap trace analysis, a laser-based atom counting method, has been applied to analyze atmospheric 39Ar (half-life=269  yr), a cosmogenic isotope with an isotopic abundance of 8×10(-16). In addition to the superior selectivity demonstrated in this work, the counting rate and efficiency of atom trap trace analysis have been improved by 2 orders of magnitude over prior results. The significant applications of this new analytical capability lie in radioisotope dating of ice and water samples and in the development of dark matter detectors.

We report a magneto-optical trap of metastable krypton atoms with a trap loading rate of 3×10(11) atoms/s and a trap capture efficiency of 3×10(-5). The system starts with an atomic beam of metastable krypton produced in a liquid-nitrogen cooled, radio-frequency driven discharge. The metastable beam flux emerging from the discharge is 1.5×10(14) atoms/s/sr. The flux in the forward direction is enhanced by a factor of 156 with transverse laser cooling. The atoms are then slowed inside a Zeeman slower before captured by a magneto-optic trap. The trap efficiency can be further improved, possibly to the 10(-2) level, by gas recirculation. Such an atom trap is useful in trace analysis applications where available sample size is limited.

Using 25 soil samples with known textural compositions, 2 types of NIR instruments, 3 spectral methods associated with 3 spectrum ranges and 3 sampling intervals, the approach to soil textural classification was investigated. From the results obtained, the following conclusions can be drawn: (1) The chemical information could be identified from the peak of the spectral curves, whereas the slope and intercept of spectral curves concerning soil texture resulted from the physical properties of soil samples. Moreover, the intensity of chemical and physical properties varied in different spectra; (2) The distinguishing ability of NIR was limited, depending on the classification criterion proposed; (3) Being tested with four classifaction criterions, the maximal predicting probability was 72%. In the case of sand < 70% and clay < 40%, the maximum was up to 85%; (4) Either acquiring scatter information from the surface of soil samples or extending spectral bands could improve the predicting probability.

Objective: To provide theoretical basis for the production of ginsenosides by using modern biotechnologies, the comparative studies of the amount of ginsenosides between the crown galls and Chinese medicinal materials of Panax quinquefolium were carried out., Methods: Total ginsenosides were determined by spectrophotometry, and the contents of ginsenoside Rb1, Rb3, Rc, Re were determined by HPLC., Results: (1) The total ginsenosides in the crown galls of Panax quinquefolium (aftert 27 days' cultivation) was almost as much as that of Chinese medicinal material of Panax quinquefolium. (2) The contents of ginsenoside Rb1, Re in the crown galls were about half of that in Chinese medicinal materials of Panax quinquefolium, and ginsenoside Rc was about 80%. But the amount of ginsenoside Rb3 in the crown galls of Panax quinquefolium was much more than that in Chinese medicinal materials of Panax quinquefolium as almost 15 times higher., Conclusion: The crown galls of Panax quinquefolium may be a new potential resource for large-scale production of ginsenosides.

Objective: To investigate the anti-HIV effects of Eucommia ulmoides Oliver, so as to provide experimental basis for searching a new efficacious drug for treatment of AIDS., Methods: Using phytochemistry to isolate compounds from Eucommia ulmoides Oliver, the inhibitory activity of Samples on the HIV gp41 six-helix bundle formation was determined by a modified sandwich ELISA and PAGE., Results: The Samples from Eucommia ulmoides Oliver had potent inhibitory activity on the HIV gp41 six-helix bundle formation., Conclusion: Eucommia uloides Oliver can inhibit HIV by targeting HIV gp41.

In the crystal structure of the title compound, C(23)H(22)N(6)O(2)S(2), there are two intra-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The propyl chain is disordered over two sites, with occupancy factors of 0.639 (5) and 0.361 (5).

Background & Objective: Mucin (MUC), a glycoprotein with high molecular weight, can lubricate and protect the epithelium. E-cadherin (E-cad) is helpful in keeping the polarity and integrity of the epithelium. The abnormal expression of Mucin and E-cad is involved in the genesis of many tumors. This study was to investigate the expression of MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC and E-cad in different colorectal tumor tissues, and explore their correlations to clinicopathologic features of colorectal cancer and the correlations of MUC1, MUC2, and MUC5AC expression to E-cad expression., Methods: The expression of MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC and E-cad in 150 specimens of normal colorectal mucosa, 150 specimens of colorectal adenoma and 150 specimens of colorectal adenocarcinoma was detected by immunohistochemistry. Patients' survival was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method. The correlations of MUC1, MUC2, and MUC5AC expression to E-cad expression were analyzed by spearman's rank correlation., Results: The positive rates of MUC1 were 0.07% in normal colorectal mucosa, 12.7% in colorectal adenoma, and 45.3% in colorectal adenocarcinoma. Those of MUC2 were 100%, 90.0% and 52.6%, respectively. Those of MUC5AC were 8.7%, 30.7% and 44.0%, respectively. Those of E-cad were 98.7%, 82.0% and 54.0%, respectively. In colorectal adenocarcinoma, the expression of MUC1 and MUC2 was correlated to tumor differentiation, invasion, lymph node metastasis and Dukes' stage (P<0.05); the expression of MUC5AC was correlated to tumor differentiation and invasion (P<0.01); the expression of E-cad was correlated to tumor differentiation (P<0.01). The 5-year survival rate was significantly higher in MUC1-negative group, MUC2-positive group and E-cadherin-positive group than in their counterparts (P<0.05). In colorectal adenocarcinoma, MUC1 expression was negatively correlated to E-cad expression (r=-0.234, P=0.004), MUC2 and MUC5AC expression were positively correlated to E-cad expression (r=0.170, P=0.038; r=0.198, P=0.015)., Conclusions: In colorectal adenocarcinoma, MUC expression is obviously correlated to E-cad expression. The up-regulation of MUC1 and MUC5AC expression and the down-regulation of MUC2 and E-cad expression may be involved in the genesis of colorectal tumors and reflect the prognosis to a certain extent.

Yeast complementation experiments were carried out to define the possible function of PeNhaD1, a Na(+)/H(+) antiporter gene from Populus euphratica Oliv., a salt resistant tree. PeNhaD1 was introduced to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant strain ANT3 (Deltaena1-4::HIS3 Deltanha1::LEU2), which lacks the plasma membrane Na(+)/H(+) antiporter gene ScNHA1 or GX1 (Deltanhx1::TRP1), which lacks tonoplast Na(+)/H(+) antiporter gene ScNHX1. Our results showed that PeNhaD1 rescued the normal growth of ANT3 in the presence of high salt (80 mmol/L NaCl on solid medium or 400 mmol/L in liquid medium, pH 6.0), but not that of GX1, suggesting that PeNhaD1 may play a role in salt tolerance of Populus euphratica by maintaining the capacity for salt exclusion under saline condition.

Application of transgenic Cholrella as bioreactor to express rabbit neutrophile pepetide-1 (NP-1) shows great practical value. In this paper, an NP-1 expression vector containing two selective marker genes NPTII and nitrate reductase gene was constructed. The NP-1 gene was transformed into the nitrate reductase-deficient mutant nrm-4 of Chlorella ellipsoidea via electroporation, and the transgenic alga expressed the active NP-1 were obtained.

Objective: To develop the identification and assay methods for betulonic acid in fruits of Liquidambar formosana., Method: TLC method was used for identification with silica gel G plate and petroleum ether(60-90 degrees C)-acetone (17:3) as a developing solvent. Betulonic acid in ethanol extract was separated on the ODS column with methanol-water-glacial acetic acid (87:13:0.1) as mobile phase. Flow-rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1), and column temperature 35 degrees C. ELSD drift-tube temperature was 82 degrees C, and gas flow 1.25 L x min(-1)., Result: The qualitative method is repeatable. Betulonic acid in ethanol extracts is well separated, relationship of logarithms of injection amount and peak area is linear (r = 0.9997) within the range of 0.65-3.25 microg. The average recovery is 98.0% and RSD of repeatability is 2.5%. 11 crude drugs purchased from different areas in the country were identified and quantified with the methods., Conclusion: The methods and data could be used for quality control of fruits of L. formosana.

Unicellular green alga Chlorella is a kind of important eukaryotic microalga. A lot of work about Chlorella was reported in recent years with the rapid development of algal biotechnique. In the area of molecular biology, studies of Chlorella focus on the nuclear and chloroplast genome, cloning and analysis of important genes and genetic engineering using Chlorella as vector. This review reports the research progress in these aspects.

Genetic diversity analysis of brown cotton Xincai 1 and Xincai 2 and green cotton Xincai 3 and Xincai 4 and other 47 color cottons was conducted by the random amplified polymorphism DNA (RAPD) techniques, using 6 random primers. Cluster and similarity analysis of these cottons showed that the differences in genetic relationship and similarity among the brown cottons, green cottons and brown-green cottons are not remarkable. The results also reflect that the genetic bases of the brown and green cottons are narrow, and they are at the same genetic diversity level. These results are probably due to the same basic germplasms, the same breeding aims and the similar breeding approaches.

Peroxisome proliferator-actived receptor gamma2(PPARgamma2) is a translation factor that belongs to the superfamily of nuclear receptors. It expresses predominantely in adipose tissue and has a key role in adipocyte differentiation. The common Pro12Ala polymorphism is associated closely with obesity and type 2 diabetes. It is the target molecular of thiazolidinediones which is a novel class of insulin sensitizer. The study of PPARgamma2 molecular mechanism of metabolism control may accelerate the finding of new drug targets in prevention and therapeution of type 2 diabetes.

Aim: To study the chemical composition in the fruits of Liquidambar formana Hance., Methods: Various column chromatographic techniques were used to separate and purify the constituents. Their physical and chemical properties and spectral data were measured for structural elucidation., Results: Eleven compounds were isolated and identified as beta-sitosterol (1), 3-oxo-11 alpha, 12 alpha-epoxyleanan-28, 13 beta-olide (2), 3-oxo-12 alpha-hydroxy-oleanan-28, 13 beta-olide (3), 3 alpha-acetyloxy-25-hydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (4), oleanolic acid (5), ursolic acid (6), daucosterol (7), betulonic acid (8), gallic acid (9), nonacosane (10) and n-triacontanoic acid (11)., Conclusion: Among the isolated constituents, compound 4 is new compound, compound 3 is firstly isolated from the natural product and compound 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 and 11 are isolated from LuLuTong for the first time.

Objective: To develop a method for the determination of nodakenin in N. incisum., Method: A HPLC method was used., Result: Y = -9509.1 + 1912709.8X, r = 0.9998. The calibration was linear in range of 0.16-0.64 microgram. The average recovery was 99.7%, RSD 1.1%., Conclusion: The method is appropriate for the determination of nodakenin.

Objective: To investigate the effect of active fraction A in Guizhi Decoction (Fr.A) on dual-directional thermoregulation and its mechanism of influencing heat shock protein (HSP) in hypothalamus., Method: Using Western blot method to measure HSP of hypothalamus in febrile and hypothermal rats., Results: Regulating the body temperature in dual-direction, Fr.A could antagonize the decrease of HSP contents of hypothalamus in hypothermal rats induced by aminopyrine, and abate the HSP content in febrile rats induced by yeast., Conclusion: Fr.A adjusts the body temperature through regulating the contents of HSP of hypothalamus in febrile and hypothermal rats.

Rabbit defensin NP-1 is one kind of alpha-defensins. It is composed of 33 amino acids. It was firstly extracted from polymorphonnuclear neutrophile of rabbits. It displayed resistance to bacteria, fungi and virus, especially high resistance to bacteria. In our experiments NP-1 gene was constructed into a plant expression vector. Eight transgenic plants containing the rabbit defensin gene (NP-1) were obtained through agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The transgenic plants were analysized by PCR, Southern hybridization, Northern dot blot hybridization and in vitro microbicidical activity against E. coli and Fusarium oxysporum. The results showed that NP-1 gene was transformed into the tomato, and the transgene displayed physiological-level expression. The transgenic tomato also showed resistance to pathogen Fusarium oxysporum in vivo. Our experiments paved a way for pathogen resistance breeding of tomato.

Rabbit defensin NP-1 possesses a broad resistant spectrum to pathogens. In this work, we have transferred the NP-1 gene into poplar plants by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. PCR amplification and Southern analysis showed that rabbit defensin NP-1 gene was integrated into the poplar genome. The transformation efficiency is about 15.6%. Antimicrobial activity test showed that the extract of transgenic plants inhibited the growth of the tested microbes.

Calcium distribution and mobilization during mechanical stimulation in outer hair cells of the guinea pig were monitored using laser scanning confocal microscopy and co-loaded fluo-3 and fura-red fluorescent probes. Spatial calcium gradients were revealed among various subcellular areas. The ratios of the fluorescence intensity of fluo-3 and fura-red were 1.71 +/- 0.85, 1.61 +/- 0.75, 1.47 +/- 0.65 and 1.39 +/- 0.66 for the cytoplasm, the cytoplasmic membrane, the cuticular plate and the nucleus respectively, indicating that free calcium ion concentrations are the highest in the cytoplasm and the lowest in the nucleus. While the calcium concentration remained relatively constant under resting conditions, it increased during mechanical stimulation. The results show that confocal ratio imaging of fluo-3 and fura-red enables us to determine more accurately the subcellular calcium distribution and that the calcium ions make a contribution to the mechanic-electrical transduction in hair cells.

Simon poplar (Populus simonii) protoplasts were isolated from suspension cells, with protoplast yield of 3.8×10(7) g(-1) F. W. They were cultured in a K8P liquid medium containing 13.57μM 2,4-D, 1.07μM NAA and 0.93 μM KT. Protoplast culture was influenced by the plating density, osmotic pressure, and the sources and amounts of nitrogen and carbon in the culture medium. Multiple shoots were produced from protoplast-derived callus after culture on MS medium containing 4.44 μM BA, 2.32μM KT, 2.28 μM ZT, and 0.54μM NAA. Shoots 2-3 cm in height were isolated from the calli and rooted on 1/2 MS medium. After transplantation into pots, the regenerated plants grew vigorously in greenhouse.