Characteristics of two terbutylazine-degrading bacteria and the construction of a live bacterial agent for effective degradation of terbutylazine in soil.

Two kinds of bacteria, named TDJ-7 and TDJ-9, were isolated from the soil, which could degrade terbutylazine effectively. TDJ-7 and TDJ-9 were identified as Bacillus pumilus and Bacillus subtilis. The degradation efficiency of 10mg/L of terbutylazine by TDJ-7 could reach 95% within 6 days, and the strain TDJ-9 could reach 98% under the same conditions. Both strain TDJ-7 and strain TDJ-7 could also effectively degrade simazine, metribuzin, atrazine and ametryn. In addition, strain TDJ-7 and TDJ-9 had been successfully developed into a live bacterial agent that could be used to degrade terbutylazine residue. These results suggest that strain TDJ-7 and TDJ-9 can be used for the bioremediation of terbutylazine or other s-triazine herbicides contamination.

Isolation of 2 simazine-degrading bacteria and development of a microbial agent for bioremediation of simazine pollution.

Simazine was one of the most commonly used herbicides and was widely used to control broadleaf weeds in agriculture and forestry. Its widespread use had caused wide public concern for its high ecological toxicity. In order to remove simazine residues, 2 strains capable of effectively degrading simazine were isolated from the soil and named SIMA-N5 and SIMA-N9. SIMA-N5 was identified as Bacillus licheniformis by 16SrRNA sequence analysis, and SIMA-N9 was Bacillus altitudinis. According to the degradation ratio of simazine in a certain period of time, the degradation ability of different strains was evaluated. The degradation efficiency of simazine (5 mg/L) by SIMA-N9 could reach about 98% in 5d, and the strain SIMA-N5 could reach 94% under the same conditions. In addition, the addition of Pennisetum rhizosphere soil during the process of degrading simazine by strain SIMA-N9 could effectively improve the degradation efficiency. The strain SIMA-N9 has been developed as a microbial agent for the bioremediation of simazine contamination in soil. The new microbial agent developed by using SIMA-N9 has achieved satisfactory application effects. Based on the research results already obtained in this study, it was considered that strain SIMA-N9 and its live bacterial agent could play an important role in bioremediation of simazine pollution. This study could not only provide a set of solutions to the simazine pollution, but also provide a reference for the treatment of other pesticide pollution.

[Application of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) traceability system based on TCM quality characteristics and HACCP system].

It is crucial to establish a complete set of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) quality traceability management process system, in order to stabilize the pricing order of TCM market and reconstruct the transmission path of TCM quality signals. In this study, we reviewed the mature experience of food and drug supervision at home and abroad, analyzed the quality characteristics of TCM, and put forward that the quality control of TCM products can learn from the hazard analysis and critical control point(HACCP) system in food safety quality control. This study points out that the HACCP system provides not only technical guidance for the traceability management of TCM, but also ideas for improving the quality of TCM products and the safety risk control of TCM. The application of the HACCP system in TCM quality control can help establish an international dialogue platform for TCM and help realize the modernization and internationalization of TCM industry.

Two new species of Sphaeronemoura (Plecoptera: Nemouridae) from Yunnan Province of China.

Two new species of the nemourid genus Sphaeronemoura are described based on males and females collected from Yunnan Province of southwestern China. The new taxa include S. kunmingensis Qian Du sp. nov. and S. campylura Qian Du sp. nov.. The new species are compared to related taxa.

Enhanced antitumor effect of combining chemotherapy with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in mice with EBV-related non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-related non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) represents a major problem in hematological clinical studies due to its drug tolerance and refractoriness. EBV infection is a key factor driving the process of tumor growth. Immune therapy is an important biotherapeutic method of treating cancer, which is attracting increasing attention. We hypothesized that combining conventional chemotherapy with immune therapy in the treatment of EBV-related NHL may achieve better outcomes. First, we successfully cloned large numbers of EBV-specific T cells by immune stimulation ex vivo. Subsequently, the combined therapy was applied in a murine model of human EBV-related NHL. As expected, combined therapy inhibited tumor growth more effectively compared with monotherapy. In addition, we continuously tested the tumor-associated immune microenvironment and observed that the numbers of tumor-infiltrating cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and macrophages were elevated following combined therapy. These effects suggest that EBV-specific CTLs may indirectly promote an innate immune reaction in lymphoma by activating tumor-infiltrating macrophage proliferation. Our findings may provide a guide for the prospective treatment of EBV-related NHL.

Motor activity and depression severity in adolescent outpatients.

OBJECTIVES: The present study investigated the association between motor activity and severity of depression in 6 depressed adolescent outpatients. METHOD: Motor activity was assessed by actigraphy and the severity of depression was assessed weekly using the CDRS-R. The levels of motor activity were analyzed by considering activity parameters. RESULTS: Among the parameters of motor activity studied, the mean total activity, the mean 24-hour activity levels, the mean waking activity, and the mean activity level between 12:00 and 18:00 h were inversely correlated with severity of depression. The means of the 10 most active hours tended toward a negative correlation with the depressive severity score. CONCLUSION: The results seem to suggest an association between motor activity level and severity of depression in adolescents. Nevertheless, in order to reach a more conclusive understanding, it would be necessary to replicate this study using a larger number of individuals as well as a longer observation period.