Biosorption of Methylene Blue onto spent corncob substrate: kinetics, equilibrium and thermodynamic studies

This study focuses on the possible use of the spent corncob substrate (SCS), an agricultural waste used after the cultivation of white rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus, to adsorb Methylene Blue (MB) from aqueous solutions. A batch adsorption study was carried out with variable solution pH, adsorption time, temperature and initial MB concentration. It was found that MB uptake was favorable at pH ranging from 4.0 to 12.0 and the equilibrium adsorption capacity can be reached promptly within about 180 min. The biosorption data were also calculated by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model. Thermodynamic parameters show that the adsorption is a spontaneous and endothermic process. The study highlighted a new pathway to develop potential low-cost biosorbent for the removal of dye pollutants from wastewater.

Detection and fine mapping of quantitative trait loci for bone traits on chicken chromosome one

In broiler chickens, bone problems are an important welfare issue that has been linked to genetic selection for rapid growth. The objectives of this study were to identify and fine map quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with bone traits. The Northeast Agricultural University resource population (NEAURP) being an F(2) population was used in this study, and a total of 17 bone traits were measured. In primary genome scan, the linkage map was constructed with 23 microsatellite markers across the entire chicken chromosome 1. Seventeen QTLs for bone traits were identified and 12 of these were found between LEI0079 and ROS0025 (50.8 cM apart). To fine map the QTLs located between LEI0079 and ROS0025, more markers and more individuals were used and a new partial linkage map was constructed. The confidence intervals for QTLs were sharply narrowed down from 24.5∼52.6 to 2.7∼17.0 Mb. This study identified chromosome regions harbouring significant QTLs affecting bone traits and showed that the use of more markers and individuals could decrease the confidence interval of QTL effectively. The results provide a useful reference for further candidate gene research and MAS for bone traits.

Unfavorable prognosis of elderly patients with early-stage extranodal nasal-type NK/T-cell lymphoma

BACKGROUND

Extranodal nasal-type NK (natural killer)/T-cell lymphoma in elderly patients is rare, and its prognosis is unclear. This study aims to investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of this lymphoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We analyzed 24 patients (age, >60 years old) with early-stage extranodal nasal-type NK/T-cell lymphoma. Among these patients, 23 received radiotherapy alone (n = 15) or radiotherapy and chemotherapy (n = 8) and 1 received chemotherapy alone.

RESULTS

Elderly patients with early-stage extranodal nasal-type NK/T-cell lymphoma were characterized by male predominance, good performance, large proportion of localized disease, more comorbidities, low-risk international prognostic index, and unfavorable prognosis. The 5-year cancer-specific survival (CSS), overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS) rates for all patients were 54.3%, 42.0%, and 40.2%, respectively. The 5-year CSS, OS, and PFS rates were 43.5%, 36.6%, and 34.1% in patients who received radiotherapy alone, and 50%, 50%, and 50% in patients who received radiotherapy and chemotherapy, respectively (P = 0.852 for CSS, P = 0.801 for OS, and P = 0.694 for PFS). Four patients died of treatment-related mortality.

CONCLUSION

Elderly patients with early-stage extranodal nasal-type NK/T-cell lymphoma exhibit poor prognosis and need special attention because of high treatment-related mortality.

Genetic Polymorphisms of MTHFR and Aberrant Promoter Hypermethylation of the RASSF1A Gene in Bladder Cancer Risk in a Chinese Population

Epidemiological studies have shown that folate deficiency increases the risk of cancer by affecting DNA repair and methylation. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is a key enzyme in folate metabolism. In this study, it was hypothesized that MTHFR (C677T and A1298C) polymorphisms would be associated with bladder cancer and also with hypermethylation of the promoter of the Ras association domain family 1A (RASSF1A) gene. This hospital-based, case-control study of 312 bladder cancer patients and 325 cancer-free controls found that individuals carrying the MTHFR 677TT genotype had a 2.00-fold increased risk of bladder cancer compared with those carrying the 677CC genotype. None of the MTHFR A1298C polymorphisms alone were associated with bladder cancer, but the combined haplotype 677TT/1298AA was associated with a 2.27-fold increased risk compared with haplotype 677CC/1298AA. There was no association between MTHFR gene variants and methylation status of the RASSF1A gene in the 45 bladder cancer patients in whom this was studied. It is concluded that the MTHFR 677TT genotype and the TTAA haplotype may increase the risk of bladder cancer.

Treatment results and late complications of 556 patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with radiotherapy alone

The aim of this study was to investigate the outcome in 556 patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinomas treated by radiation therapy alone. We observed 556 patients with stage T3-4 and N0-3 carcinoma who were treated by conventional radiotherapy alone between January and December 1999. The total dose delivered to the nasopharynx was 66-80 Gy over 6.5-8 weeks and to the neck lymph nodes 60-70 Gy over 6-7 weeks. The 5-year actuarial overall survival rate (OS) reached 66.41%. The OS was higher among stage T3 patients than among stage T4 patients (69.12% vs 58.96%, p = 0.0359). Among patients with stage N0, N1, N2 and N3 disease, the OS was 73.98%, 65.96%, 57.58% and 29.39%, respectively (p = 0.0009). Differences in disease-free survival, locoregional control rate and metastasis-free survival rate among each N stage were statistically significant, although this was not true of differences between stage T3 and T4 disease. Multivariate analysis showed that gender, age, T stage and N stage were significant prognostic factors for 5-year overall survival, disease-free survival, locoregional control and metastasis-free survival. We found that N stage is the dominant prognostic indicator for patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma receiving conventional radiation therapy alone, and that T stage was only a secondary correlative factor.

Core genome haplotype diversity and vacA allelic heterogeneity of Chinese Helicobacter pylori strains

The human gastric pathogen, Helicobacter pylori, has co-evolved with its host and established itself in the human stomach possibly millions of years ago. Therefore, the diversity of this bacterium is important in its clinical manifestations. Our aim has been to evaluate the genetic diversity of 40 H. pylori clinical isolates from four different parts of China. The methods of multi-locus sequence typing and vacA allele genotyping were used to assess their genetic diversity. To discriminate MLST, the vacA genotype method was used to identify strains. Patients from the northern, eastern, southern, and southwestern parts of China were recruited randomly from the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chongqing, respectively. Most of the sequence types are new and have never been reported in the database of the H. pylori multi-locus sequence typing system. The most prevalent vacA genotype in patients was s1a/m2 (80.0%), followed by s1b/m2 (17.5%). In contrast, the s1a/m1 genotype was scarcely represented (2.5%). The vacA genotype varied for each ST. These results showed that the MLST method offers high resolution of the H. pylori isolates in China when compared to vacA genotyping. The vacA allelic s1a has been correlated with the peptic ulcer. Because of the paucity of data on human isolates due to the absence of systematic investigations of H. pylori in China, the data provide useful information for understanding the epidemiology of H. pylori in China from the viewpoint of nucleotide sequence databases.

Generation of a velogenic Newcastle disease virus from cDNA and expression of the green fluorescent protein

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is a pathogen that is important in the poultry industry worldwide. Specifically, the virulent (velogenic) NDV is a particular threat because it has now occurred frequently worldwide. The outbreaks caused by highly virulent NDV in waterfowl and especially in goose flocks, have led to greater concern in recent years as aquatic birds were previously resistant to most virulent NDV strains from chickens. The molecular determinants of host tropism, virulence and emergence of NDV isolated from diseased goose flocks are poorly understood. In the present study, we rescued a highly virulent NDV isolated from a goose using the reverse genetics approach. Infectious virus was successfully generated by cotransfection of a full-length cDNA clone of the NDV strain ZJ1 with helper plasmids. The recombinant NDV was indistinguishable from the parental wild-type virus with respect to its growth kinetics in cell culture as well as its biological properties. A recombinant NDV expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) was generated, and GFP was subsequently detected in cells and various organs from the infected chickens.

Thermal nociception in adult Drosophila: behavioral characterization and the role of the painless gene

Nociception, warning of injury that should be avoided, serves an important protective function in animals. In this study, we show that adult Drosophila avoids noxious heat by a jump response. To quantitatively analyze this nociceptive behavior, we developed two assays. In the CO2 laser beam assay, flies exhibit this behavior when a laser beam heats their abdomens. The consistency of the jump latency in this assay meets an important criterion for a good nociceptive assay. In the hot plate assay, flies jump quickly to escape from a hot copper plate (>45 degrees C). Our results demonstrate that, as in mammals, the latency of the jump response is inversely related to stimulus intensity, and innoxious thermosensation does not elicit this nociceptive behavior. To explore the genetic mechanisms of nociception, we examined several mutants in both assays. Abnormal nociceptive behavior of a mutant, painless, indicates that painless, a gene essential for nociception in Drosophila larvae, is also required for thermal nociception in adult flies. painless is expressed in certain neurons of the peripheral nervous system and thoracic ganglia, as well as in the definite brain structures, the mushroom bodies. However, chemical or genetic insults to the mushroom bodies do not influence the nociceptive behavior, suggesting that different painless-expressing neurons play diverse roles in thermal nociception. Additionally, no-bridge(KS49), a mutant that has a structural defect in the protocerebral bridge, shows defective response to noxious heat. Thus, our results validate adult Drosophila as a useful model to study the genetic mechanisms of thermal nociception.

Decay of Loschmidt echo enhanced by quantum criticality

We study the transition of a quantum system from a pure state to a mixed one, which is induced by the quantum criticality of the surrounding system E coupled to it. To characterize this transition quantitatively, we carefully examine the behavior of the Loschmidt echo (LE) of E modeled as an Ising model in a transverse field, which behaves as a measuring apparatus in quantum measurement. It is found that the quantum critical behavior of E strongly affects its capability of enhancing the decay of LE: near the critical value of the transverse field entailing the happening of quantum phase transition, the off-diagonal elements of the reduced density matrix describing S vanish sharply.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the surface soils from outskirts of Beijing, China

Surface soils from the outskirts of Beijing were analyzed for 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The distribution map of total PAHs content was obtained as a contour plot. The concentration range of 16 PAHs varied by over two orders of magnitude from 0.016 microg g-1 in rural to 3.884 microg g-1 in suburban soils with the relatively standard deviation of 70.5%, showing large differences in the extent of PAHs pollution at the various sampling sites. It was notable that the concentration of BaP was 0.005-0.270 microg g-1 with a mean of 0.055 microg g-1. In general, the distribution of PAHs centered on the high molecular weight PAHs known to be carcinogenic. The 4-6 ring PAHs represented about 66% in rural samples and 70% in suburban soils of the total PAHs found. There was relatively good relationship among most of the individual PAHs and the compounds of Pyr, BaA, Flu, BbF, BaP, Chr and Ph gave strong correlation (r>0.8) with the sum of PAHs. The selected marked compounds, a principal component analysis (PCA) and special PAHs compound ratios (Ph/An vs Flu/Pyr; summation operator COMB/ summation operator EPA-PAHs) suggest the pyrogenic origins, especially traffic exhausts, are the dominant sources of PAHs in Beijing outskirts soils.

Genomic sequence of an isolate of Newcastle disease virus isolated from an outbreak in geese: a novel six nucleotide insertion in the non-coding region of the nucleoprotein gene. Brief Report

We have completely sequenced the genome of an isolate of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) obtained following an outbreak in geese. The genomic sequence consists of 15192 nt, which is six nt longer than the published full length genome of the NDV strains La Sota, B1, Clone-30, Beaudette C and HB V4. The six nt insertion was located in the non-coding region of the nucleoprotein (NP) gene between nt 1646 and nt 1647 of the NDV genome (numbered according to the genomic sequence of the La Sota strain). An additional 22 NDV strains were searched for the existence of this six nt insertion. NDVs in genotypes VI, VII, VIII and IX had this insertion while NDV's in genotypes I, II, III, IV, and V did not. The significance of this insertion in NDV evolution is discussed.

Quasi-spin-wave quantum memories with a dynamical symmetry

For the two-mode exciton system formed by the quasi-spin-wave collective excitation of many Lambda atoms fixed at the lattice sites of a crystal, we discover a dynamical symmetry depicted by the semidirect product algebra SU2( multiply sign in circle) h(2) in the large N limit with low excitations. With the help of the spectral generating algebra method, we obtain a larger class of exact zero-eigenvalue states adiabatically interpolating between the initial state of photon-type and the final state of quasi-spin-wave exciton-type. The conditions for the adiabatic passage of dark states are shown to be valid, even with the presence of the level degeneracy. These theoretical results can lead to the proposal of a new protocol for implementing quantum memory robust against quantum decoherence.

Pathotypical and genotypical characterization of strains of Newcastle disease virus isolated from outbreaks in chicken and goose flocks in some regions of China during 1985-2001

Twenty-nine strains of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolated from outbreaks in chicken and goose flocks in several regions of China during 1985-2001 were characterized pathotypically and genotypically. All except one of these strains were velogenic. For genotyping, phylogenetic tree analysis (nt 47-420), restriction site mapping (nt 334-1682) and residue substitution analysis (residues 4-124) of the F gene were performed using sequences of our isolates and sequences of selected NDV strains from GenBank. The results revealed that most of these newly characterized strains belonged to six novel genetic groups that were designated as VIf, VIg, VIIc, VIId, VIIe and IX. The genotype IX viruses, to which the China challenge strain F48E8 used for vaccine evaluation belonged, were found only in China and still induced sporadic infections in certain areas. Isolates belonging to group VIf and VIg were distinct from previously reported members of genotype VI, with genetic distance from 2.5 to 12.1%. Subgenotype VIIc, VIId and VIIe viruses, which were distributed in clusters in the phylogenetic tree distinct from members of subgenotypes VIIa and VIIb, were responsible for disease outbreaks in chicken and goose flocks and circulated predominantly in southern China in recent years. Finally, cross-protective testing showed that specific-pathogen free (SPF) chickens vaccinated with La Sota vaccines can be fully protected against challenge by strains from genetic groups VIb, VIg, VIId and IX, indicating that the antigenic differences between strains of various genotypes are insufficient to change the cross-protection conferred by the commonly used vaccine.

[Surface characteristic of domestic poly-DL-lactic acid membrane for periodontal guided tissue regeneration]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the surface characteristic of domestic poly-DL-lactic acid membrane for periodontal guided tissue regeneration.

METHODS

Three guided tissue regeneration membranes (PDLLA, ePTFE, COL)were implanted in rats subcutaneously, then they were removed 2,4,8 weeks after surgery for examination under scanning electron microscope. The membranes in vitro served as control.

RESULTS

The surface of PDLLA membrane was characterized by unorganized smooth film structure. After 2 weeks implanted subcutaneously, its surface became rough with numerous oval micropores in it. These oval micropores were 5 microm in size.The micropores increased gradually in size and number 4, 8 weeks after implantation,there were many shindle shaped cells inlayed.

CONCLUSION

Domestic Poly-DL-lactic acid membrane exhibits excellent biocompatibility,which meets the criterion for GTR.

Non-invasive intranasal insulin-like growth factor-I reduces infarct volume and improves neurologic function in rats following middle cerebral artery occlusion

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) has been proposed as a treatment for stroke. However, it does not efficiently cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Intracerebroventricular injection of IGF-I has been shown to offer protection against cerebral ischemic damage in rats although this invasive method of administration may not be practical in humans. Non-invasive intranasal (IN) delivery of IGF-I to the brain is a promising alternative. We have assessed the therapeutic effect of IN IGF-I in rats following middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Treatment was initiated 10 min after the onset of MCAO and then again 24 and 48 h later. Intranasal dosing of 75 microg IGF-1 (225 microg total IGF-I over 48 h) significantly reduced corrected infarct volumes by 60% vs. control (P<0.01) and hemispheric swelling by 45.6% vs. control (P<0.05). Neurologic function, assessed by the postural reflex, flexor response and adhesive tape tests, was also improved by IN IGF-I as compared to control. Our study indicates IN delivery of IGF-1 holds significant promise as a non-invasive and efficacious method of bypassing the BBB for the treatment of stroke.

Transmural differences in rat ventricular protein kinase C epsilon correlate with its functional regulation of a transient cardiac K+ current

The effects of PKC activation on a transient (It) and a sustained (Iss) cardiac K+ current and the subcellular distribution of the epsilon isoform of PKC (PKC(epsilon)) were compared in epicardial and endocardial regions of the rat ventricle. Activation of PKC(epsilon) with a diacylglycerol analogue (di-octanoyl-glycerol (DiC8), 20 (mu)M) leads to differential effects in epicardial and endocardial cells. In epicardial cells (n = 20) It and Iss are attenuated by 17.7 +/- 2.1 % and 11.9 +/- 3.1 %, respectively (means +/- S.E.M.). In endocardial cells It attenuation was significantly smaller (4.6 +/- 1.6 %, n = 14, P < 0.0005). Iss attenuation was similar to that in epicardial cells (10.5 +/- 3.8 %). PKC[epsilon] expression was measured by Western blotting. Calculated endocardial/epicardial ratios showed no regional differences in total protein extracts (1.04 +/- 0.11, mean +/- S.E.M, n = 4), but PKC[epsilon] distribution in the cytosolic fraction showed a marked difference, with significantly (P < 0.05) higher levels in endocardial extracts. The cytosolic endocardial/epicardial PKC[epsilon] ratio was 2.64 +/- 0.24 (n = 4), indicating a reduced amount of PKC[epsilon] in the membrane fraction of the endocardium. This could account for the reduced effect of DiC8 on It in endocardial myocytes. Under both hypothyroid and streptozotocin-induced diabetic conditions the difference in endocardial and epicardial cytosolic PKC[epsilon] levels was absent (ratios of 0.86 +/- 0.21 (n = 4) and 1.09 +/- 0.16 (n = 3), respectively; means +/- S.E.M.). Ratios in the total protein extracts were not significantly different from those in control conditions. The results show transmural differences in the functional effects of PKC(epsilon) activation on a cardiac K+ current, and in the subcellular distribution of PKC(epsilon). These differences are absent in diabetic and hypothyroid conditions.

Intranasal administration of insulin-like growth factor-I bypasses the blood-brain barrier and protects against focal cerebral ischemic damage

BACKGROUND

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) has been shown to protect against stroke in rats when administered intracerebroventricularly. However, this invasive method of administration is not practical for the large number of individuals who require treatment for stroke. Intranasal (IN) delivery offers a noninvasive method of bypassing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to deliver IGF-I and other neurotrophic factors to the brain. Here, we demonstrate for the first time the therapeutic benefit of IN IGF-1 in rats following middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).

METHODS

A blinded, vehicle-controlled study of IN IGF-I was performed using the intraluminal suture occlusion model. Rats were randomly divided into vehicle-control, 37.5 and 150 microg IGF-I-treated groups. Treatments occurred at 10 min after onset of 2 h of MCAO, and then 24 and 48 h later. Four neurologic behavioral tests were performed 4, 24, 48 and 72 h after the onset of MCAO. Corrected infarct volumes were evaluated 72 h after the onset of MCAO.

RESULTS

Treatment with the 150 microg IGF-I significantly reduced the infarct volume by 63% vs. control (p=0.004), and improved all the neurologic deficit tests of motor, sensory, reflex and vestibulomotor functions (p<0.01). However, the 37.5 microg dose of IGF-I was ineffective.

CONCLUSION

While IGF-I does not cross the BBB efficiently, it can be delivered to the brain directly from the nasal cavity following IN administration, bypassing the BBB. IN IGF-I markedly reduced infarct volume and improved neurologic function following focal cerebral ischemia. This noninvasive, simple and cost-effective method is a potential treatment for stroke.

[Histological evaluation of the biocompatibility of PDLLA membranes]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the histological response and biocompatibility of implanted domestic bio-degradable PDLLA membranes in vivo.

METHODS

The domestic biodegradable PDLLA membranes and non-degradable ePTFE membranes were in pairs placed subcutaneously in surgical incision made in the dorsum of rats. The tissue responses to these materials were observed histologically at 1, 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after placement.

RESULTS

The tissue responses of the two kinds of materials were similar to the non-specific reaction mainly infiltrated with lymphocytes, plasmocytes, macrophages, and foreign body giant cells. The polymorphonuclears and foreign body giant cells infiltrated round the ePTFE membranes existed for a relatively long period, in contrast to that of PDLLA membranes.

CONCLUSION

Domestic PDLLA membranes with good biocompatibility will be adapted to making GTR into a single step procedure.

PRAC: A novel small nuclear protein that is specifically expressed in human prostate and colon

BACKGROUND

The database of human Expressed Sequence Tags (dbEST) provides a potential source for identification of tissue-specific genes. This database contains sequences that originate from cDNA libraries from particular tumors, organs or cell types. In this report, we have used the EST database to identify PRAC, a novel gene specifically expressed in human Prostate, prostate cancer, Rectum And distal Colon.

METHODS

Using a computer based analysis, a cluster of sequence homologous ESTs was identified which contained ESTs derived only from human prostate cDNA libraries. The tissue specificity was examined by multiple tissue RNA dot blots and RT-PCR. The PRAC transcript and protein was identified using Northern blot analysis, RACE-PCR, primer extension, and western blot.

RESULTS

PRAC encode a 382 nucleotide RNA found in prostate, rectum, distal colon, and in three prostate cancer cell lines; LNCaP, PC-3 and DU145. This transcript encodes a 6 kDa nuclear protein. The PRAC gene is located on chromosome 17 at position 17q21, about 4 kbp downstream from the homeodomain Hoxb-13 gene.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data proves that the EST database can be a useful tool for discovery of prostate-specific genes. The nuclear localization, identification of potential phosphorylation sites, and possible cotranscription with the Hoxb-13 gene suggest that PRAC may have a regulatory role in the nucleus.

[Protective mechanism of tianmacuzhi granules in brain]

OBJECTIVE

To provide pharmacological evidence for the protective effects of Tianmacuzhi Granules (TMC) in mouse brain in a ischemia--reperfusion model.

METHOD

Receptor binding test of NMDA receptor and M receptor in brain, GPx activity determination in brain and liver effected by different dose of TMC were performed.

RESULT

TMC could reduce the NMDA receptor activity, increase the M receptor activity and GPx activity of cerebral cortex and hippocampus tissues significantly.

CONCLUSION

TMC might antagonize ischemia-reperfusion injury of brain by reducing the glutamate neurotoxicity and increasing the function of cholinergic nerve and effects of anti-peroxidization in brain.

[Construction, expression and activity test of a reshaping single-chain antibody against human CD3]

Monoclonal antibody (McAb) against human CD3 can adjust human body's immune statement in various ways, so that its clinical potential is highly regarded. In order to overcome the immunogenecity related to the murine McAb, this research effort was focused on constructing a reshaping single-chain antibody(scFv) against human CD3 employing antibody engineering. First, the CDRs of the murine McAb against human CD3 OKT3 was transplanted into the light-chain framework regions (FRs) of human McAb LS1 and the heavy-chain FRs of human McAb Nd respectively, spatial conformation was predicted by computer analysis. Then some particular residues were replaced in FRs basing on the result of conformational prediction to draw out the amino acid sequences of the reshaped VL and VH. The genes were chemically synthesize and inserted into an expression vector pROH80 to construct the reshaping scFv. Inducing the expression of reshaping scFv, the products are mainly as inclusion bodies. The reshaping scFv was expressed in another vector pALM. The inclusion bodies were denatured and then renatured by gel filtration. The renatured products were purified by immobilized metal affinity chromatograph (IMAC). Finally, the antigen-binding activily of the reshaping scFv against human CD3 was testified by the Compelitire in hibilory fluorescenceactivated cell sorting (FACS). The competitive inhibition rate is 18%.

ERGL, a novel gene related to ERGIC-53 that is highly expressed in normal and neoplastic prostate and several other tissues

We have identified a new gene, that is highly expressed in normal and neoplastic prostate, and is also expressed in cardiac atrium, salivary gland, spleen and selective cells in the CNS. Database analyses of ESTs indicated prostate specificity but experimental results showed the expression in other tissues. The full length transcript is 1800 bp with an open reading frame of 526 aa. The amino-terminal 230 residues of the expressed protein has high homology to a family of lectins, especially to the sugar binding domain of ERGIC-53. We therefore designate the new gene ERGL (ERGIC-53-like). There is a transmembrane domain at amino acid positions 468-482 suggesting that the product of ERGL is a type-I membrane protein. In prostate there are two fully processed transcripts one of which is a splice variant with a deletion in the region of the transmembrane domain of the protein.

[The development and application of HP-I closed thoracic cavity drainer]

The closed thoracic cavity drainer is equipped with a general standard infusion bottle as the drainage bottle, which can be easily supplied by all hospitals. Therefore, the new drainer is a very practical, cheap medical device of easy operation.