Simultaneous aerobic nitrogen and phosphate removal capability of novel salt-tolerant strain, Pseudomonas mendocina A4: Characterization, mechanism and application potential.

A salt-tolerant strain, Pseudomonas mendocina A4, was isolated from brackish-water ponds showing simultaneous heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification and phosphorus removal capability. The optimal conditions for nitrogen and phosphate removal of strain A4 were pH 7-8, carbon/nitrogen ratio 10, phosphorus/nitrogen ratio 0.2, temperature 30 °C, and salinity range of 0-5 % using sodium succinate as the carbon source. The nitrogen and phosphate removal efficiencies were 96-100 % and 88-96 % within 24 h, respectively. The nitrogen and phosphate removal processes were matched with the modified Gompertz model, and the underlying mechanisms were confirmed by the activities of key metabolic enzymes. Under 10 % salinity, the immobilization technology was employed to enhance the nitrogen and phosphate removal efficiencies of strain A4, achieving 87 % and 76 %, respectively. These findings highlight the potential application of strain A4 in both freshwater and marine culture wastewater treatment.

Delayed progression of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events in asymptomatic patients with atherosclerotic plaques: 3-year prevention with the supplementation with Pycnogenol®+Centellicum®.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was the evaluation of the progression of atherosclerosis and the occurrence of cardiovascular events in asymptomatic patients with atherosclerotic plaques (Class IV and V) and arterial wall atherosclerotic lesions and intima-media thickening (IMT). METHODS: Progression of atherosclerotic lesions, oxidative stress and IMT were measured in a 3-year concept, pilot registry study. All subjects were followed with standard management (SM) - including diet and exercise - to control cardiovascular risk factors.The target measurements were: the rate of progression of the atherosclerotic lesions (the passage of subjects from one atherosclerotic class to the next class); the occurrence of "hard" cardiovascular events (i.e. myocardial infarction or strokes; angina was not considered a "hard" event). The study included 3 groups: 1) SM): 2) subjects using cardioaspirin (100 mg/day) and SM; 3) subjects following SM, taking cardioaspirin and supplemented with Pycnogenol® (150 mg/day)+Centellicum® (450 mg/day). RESULTS: The groups were comparable for age and baseline evaluations. 54 subjects completed the 3 year study with standard management only, 74 with aspirin and 56 with aspirin and Pycnogenol®+Centellicum®. The BMI of all subjects was <26. No side effects and no tolerability problems were observed with the supplements. Progression was defined by the passage of the atherosclerotic lesions from one class to the next more advanced class. Progression in the supplement group was observed in 5.3% of the subjects in comparison with a progression >20% in the other groups (P<0.05). In comparison with the SM group and the cardioaspirin group the rate of 'hard' cardiovascular events, requiring hospital admissions were <4% with the combined supplement in comparison with a value >12% in the other two groups (22.22% event rate in the SM group). The reduction produced by the aspirin only was significantly lower (P<0.05) in comparison with supplemented patients. Antiplatelet management appears to reduce a significant number of events (P<0.05) without a real effect on progression of atherosclerotic lesions. The additional parameters of carotid IMT and oxidative stress were also lower (P<0.05) with the supplements. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, this study indicates that the combined supplementation with Pycnogenol®+Centelicum® appears to control both the progression of atherosclerosis and the occurrence of cardiovascular events in this 3 year study. Larger studies, in a wider population with more complex and less standardized conditions may be needed.

Molecular cloning, characterization and functional analysis of QRFP in orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides).

The peptide QRFP plays an important role in the regulation of vertebrate feeding behavior. In this study, we cloned the full length cDNA of a QRFP precursor in a teleost fish, the orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides). Sequence analysis has shown that the functional regions of QRFP in other vertebrates (QRFP-25 and QRFP-7) are conserved in orange-spotted grouper. RT-PCR demonstrated that the pre-processed mRNA of QRFP is widely expressed in orange-spotted grouper. Three days of food deprivation did not change the hypothalamic pre-processed QRFP expression. However, QRFP expression significantly increased when the fish were reefed after three days of fasting. Intraperitoneal injection of QRFP-25 peptide to orange-spotted grouper suppressed expression of orexin, but elevated expression of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) in the hypothalamus. We also investigated the effects of QRFP-25 on the expression of reproductive genes. The peptide suppressed the expression of seabream-type gonadotropin-releasing hormones (sbGnRH), luteinizing hormone beta subunit (LHß) and follicle-stimulating hormone beta subunit (FSHß) in vivo, as well as inhibited the expression of LHß and FSHß in pituitary cells in primary culture. Our results indicate that QRFP may play an inhibitory role in the regulation of feeding behavior and reproduction in orange-spotted grouper.

Evaluating the effectiveness of electro-acupuncture as a treatment for childhood autism using single photon emission computed tomography / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effectiveness of electro-acupuncture (EA) in the treatment of childhood autism (CA) and evaluate its effectiveness using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 55 CA patients (4.52±2.73 years) were enrolled in this study. All patients received EA treatments and were examined by SPECT before and after treatments.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Following treatment, the intracerebral multiple focal radioactivity distribution defect areas of CA patients were observed to be partially filled. Specifically, significant differences in the ratios of regional cerebral blood flow and global cerebral blood flow before (Fb) and after (Fe) EA treatment in different lesions were observed (in the left prefrontal cortex, t=5.01, P<0.01; in the right prefrontal cortex, t=2.32, P<0.05; in the left temporal lobe, t=4.54, P<0.01; in the right temporal lobe, t=2.90, P<0.05; in the left Broca's area, t=5.82, P<0.01). After EA treatment, the patients exhibited symptomatic relief.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EA is useful to treat CA and SPECT can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of this treatment.</p>

Treating coronary heart disease by acupuncture at neiguan (PC6) and xinahu (BL15): an efficacy assessment by SPECT / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture combined single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in treating coronary heart disease (CHD) and its effect on the myocardial ischemia/perfusion and the recovery of heart functions.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally fifty-nine patients with confirmed CHD were randomly assigned to two groups, the acupuncture group (32 cases) and the nitroglycerine group (27 cases). Patients in the acupuncture group were electro-acupunctured at bilateral Neiguan (PC6) and Xinshu (BL15) for 30 min with the frequency of 2/15 Hz and the current strength 9 - 18 mA after myocardial imaging induced by routine exercises or drug load. 99mTc-MIBI 370 MBq was injected 15 min after needling. The myocardial perfusion imaging was performed immediately after needling. 99mTc-MIBI740 MBq was injected to those in the nitroglycerine group during routine exercises or drug load. The myocardial perfusion imaging was performed 5 min after injection. Patients were asked to sublingual administration of nitroglycerine 1 mg after the myocardial perfusion imaging was completed. 99mTc-MIBI 370 MBq was intravenously injected 5 min later, and myocardial perfusion imaging was performed 5 min after injection.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was statistical difference in changes of radioactive uptake between before and after treatment in the two groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Both acupuncture and buccal administration of nitroglycerine could increase the blood perfusion of ischemic myocardium. But there was no statistical difference in the improvement of ischemic myocardial cells (t = 1.57, P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Using SPECT could clearly display therapeutic effects of acupuncture on CHD, thus providing a new visible research method for CHD studies.</p>

[Optimization of water extraction condition of LiYan granule by Doehlert design].

OBJECTIVE: To study optimal water extraction condition of LiYan granule. METHODS: HPLC methods were developed for the determination of irisfloremin in LiYan granule. The contents of irisfloremin and extraction rate were selected as assessment indices. Three factors were studied by Doehlert design, including water-adding amount, decoction time and times of decoction. RESULTS: The optimal extracting condition was water consumed as 8 times of curd herb, and 3 times for 2 hours each time. CONCLUSION: The water extraction process is feasible, and the experiment result can provide basic and instruction data for the ascertainment of water extraction process of LiYan granule.

The method and influencing factors of alkalescency protein purification from bitter melon (Momordica charantia) seeds by polyacrylicacid precipitation / 生物工程学报

In this study, polyacrylicacid precipitation alkalescence protein from Momordica charantia L. seeds was studied, and the effect of conditions on experiment was also evaluated. Isoelectric precipitation is achieved by adjusting the pH of a protein solution and is based on that a protein's solubility is at minimum at its pI. The sample was titrated to pH 6.0 with citric acid, and 14.62% proteins were precipitated. With hydrochloric acid to pH 4.0, 32.49% proteins were precipitated. With the acetic acid to pH 6.0 and pH 4.0, 26.17% and 38.72% proteins were precipitated, respectively. In the 1 mL Bitter melon seeds extraction(pH 4.0) adjusted by acetic acid, hydrochloric acid and citric acid, the optimum dosage of PAA (1%) precipiting alkalescency protein (pl 8.65-9.30) was 100 microL, 120 microL and 100 microL, respectively. The respective extraction (1mL) was titrated to pH 5.0, pH 4.0, and pH 3.0 by acetic acid. After isoelectric precipitation, the PAA precipitation protein was performed. When concentration of PAA (1%) was 160 microL/mL, the protein decreased in the supernatant was 33.77% at pH 5.0, and 43.56% at pH 3.0. When concentration of PAA (1%) was 120 microL/mL, the protein decreased in the supernatant was 30.83% at pH 4.0. PAA-Protein complex could redissolve in alkaline conditions (pH > 9.0) and the protein most easilly redissolved when the NaCL was 3.0%. The bitter melon seeds extraction after PAA purification flowed through the Sephadex G-75 columns. The peaks I and II were obtained after 175 min and 300 min, respectively. SDS-PAGE and IEF analysis showed that the molecule weight from peaks I was 30 kD with pI 9.5, peaks II 10 kD with pI 9.3.

[Isolation and identification of steroidal saponins in total saponin from Dioscorea nipponica Makino].

AIM: To investigate the water-soluble steroidal saponins in total saponin from Dioscorea nipponica Makino and look for new active compounds. METHODS: The compounds were isolated with silica gel, PTLC and HPLC, and their structures were elucidated by acid hydrolysis, physical and chemical data and spectral analysis (IR, NMR, MS, HMQC, HMBC) as well as chemical correlations. RESULTS: The two steroidal saponins (water-insoluble saponin and water-soluble saponin) were isolated from the total saponin of Dioscorea nipponica Makino. The structures were elucidated as diosgenin 3-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopy ranosyl (1-->2)-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->3)]]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (I), diosgenin 3-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-->3)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-->4)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-->4)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (II). CONCLUSION: Compound II is a new steroidal saponin and firstly isolated from Dioscorea nipponica Makino. It was named as dioscin Dc.

Isolation and identification of steroidal saponins in total saponin from Dioscorea nipponica Makino / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the water-soluble steroidal saponins in total saponin from Dioscorea nipponica Makino and look for new active compounds.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The compounds were isolated with silica gel, PTLC and HPLC, and their structures were elucidated by acid hydrolysis, physical and chemical data and spectral analysis (IR, NMR, MS, HMQC, HMBC) as well as chemical correlations.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The two steroidal saponins (water-insoluble saponin and water-soluble saponin) were isolated from the total saponin of Dioscorea nipponica Makino. The structures were elucidated as diosgenin 3-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopy ranosyl (1-->2)-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->3)]]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (I), diosgenin 3-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-->3)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-->4)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-->4)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (II).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compound II is a new steroidal saponin and firstly isolated from Dioscorea nipponica Makino. It was named as dioscin Dc.</p>