Spontaneously ruptured multilocular cystic nephroma in an infant

We present the case of a 10-month-old girl with spontaneously ruptured cystic nephroma with a 1-week-old abdominal mass and a 1-day history of marked abdominal distension. The tumor presented as gourd-shaped, cystic solid mass in the right kidney with fluid collection. The tumor was successfully removed by urgent surgery. The girl remained in good condition throughout six-month follow-up after.

Prenatal sonographic diagnosis of partial left pulmonary artery sling: A rare case report

Pulmonary artery sling is a rare congenital vascular anomaly. Partial anomalous left pulmonary artery is even rarer and no in utero observation has yet been reported. Here, we present the ultrasonographic findings of a 38-year-old woman at 32 weeks of gestation whose fetus showed a normal bifurcation of the pulmonary trunk into the right and left pulmonary arteries, but an anomalous origin of the left lower lobe pulmonary artery from the right pulmonary artery. These findings were confirmed by postnatal echocardiography and thoracic computed tomography.

miR-122-5p inhibits tumor cell proliferation and induces apoptosis by targeting MYC in gastric cancer cells

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in the development and progression of human cancers, including Gastric cancer (GC). In this study, we investigated the correlation of miR-122-5p expression with cell proliferation, and apoptosis in a GC cell line. GC cells SCG 7901 were transfected with control, miR-122-5p or miR-122-5p inhibitor and MTT assay, western blot, and BrdU staining were respectively used to investigate the effect of miR-122-5p on GC cell cycle. The overexpression of miR-122-5p could reduce cell proliferation in SCG7901 cells, and BrdU staining finally verified miR-122-5p induced cell growth arrest by upregulation p27 expression in SCG7901cells. On the other hand, cells apoptosis research showed that miR-122-5p induced apoptosis by targeting MYC in SCG7901 cells. Finally, in this study, miR-122-5p was confirmed inhibiting tumor GC cells proliferation and inducing cells apoptosis by targeting MYC. All these findings suggest that miR-122-5p may be involved in progression of GC and could be a new therapeutic target for this disease.

Identification of the CAD gene from Eucalyptus urophylla GLU4 and its functional analysis in transgenic tobacco

Cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) catalyzes the final step in lignin biosynthesis. The genus Eucalyptus belongs to the family Myrtaceae, which is the main cultivated species in China. Eucalyptus urophylla GLU4 (GLU4) is widely grown in Guangxi. It is preferred for pulping because of its excellent cellulose content and fiber length. Based on GLU4 and CAD gene expression, a Eucalyptus variety low in lignin content should be obtained using transgenic technology, which could reduce the cost of pulp and improve the pulping rate, and have favorable prospects for application. However, the role and function of CAD in GLU4 is still unclear. In the present study, EuCAD was cloned from GLU4 and identified using bioinformatic tools. Subsequently, in order to evaluate its impact on lignin synthesis, a full-length EuCAD RNAi vector was constructed, and transgenic tobacco was obtained via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. A significant decrease in CAD expression and lignin content in transgenic tobacco demonstrated a key role for EuCAD in lignin biosynthesis and established a regulatory role for RNAi. In our study, the direct molecular basis of EuCAD expression was determined, and the potential regulatory effects of this RNAi vector on lignin biosynthesis in E. urophylla GLU4 were demonstrated. Our results provide a theoretical basis for the study of lignin biosynthesis in Eucalyptus.

First Report of Cylindrocladium Black Rot of Peanut Caused by Cylindrocladium parasiticum (Teleomorph Calonectria ilicicola) in Jiangxi Province, China

In July 2010, a serious disease of peanut (Arachis hypogaea) resembling Cylindrocladium black rot (CBR) was found in Longnan County, Jiangxi Province, China. Symptoms included chlorotic, yellowish and blighted leaves, and wilting of the plants. Taproots and hypocotyls were blackened and rotted. Clusters of reddish orange spherical fruiting bodies appeared in the lesions present on basal stems, pegs, pods, and roots of peanut. Disease incidence reached as much as 50% in some patches of the field. Plants with symptoms were sampled from fields. Microscopic examination revealed that the reddish orange, spherical fruiting bodies were the perithecia and measured 461.6 (337.5 to 609.4) × 395.5 (309.4 to 496.9) μm. With gentle pressure, asci and ascospores were exuded from perithecia. The asci were hyaline, thin walled, and long stalked. Ascospores were hyaline, falcate with one septum, and measured 43.5 (27.3 to 54.5) × 5.6 (4.1 to 6.8) μm with a length/width (L/W) ratio of 7.8 ± 1.3. A fungus with white-to-pale buff border mycelia and yellowish brown pigment was consistently isolated from the edge of basal stem lesions on potato dextrose agar at 25°C. Mycelia grew at temperatures ranging from 8 to 32°C and the optimum was 25 to 26°C. To determine the species, single-conidial isolates of the fungus were cultured on carnation leaf agar for 7 days at 25°C and 12 h of light/dark conditions. Conidia were hyaline, cylindrical with one to three septa (mostly three septa), and measured 49.3 (27.3 to 70.9) × 5.9 (4.1 to 6.8) μm with L/W ratio of 8.4 ± 1.6. Vesicles were globose and measured 5.5 to 10.9 μm in diameter. The fungus was identified as Cylindrocladium parasiticum (teleomorph Calonectria ilicicola) (1,2). A PCR assay was conducted on one representative isolate (JXLN32) by analyzing multilocus sequences of the TUB2 (coding β-tubulin protein), ACT (coding actin), and CaM gene (coding calmodulin protein) and were amplified and sequenced using the primers reported by Crous et al. (3). Sequences of the studied DNA regions were submitted to GenBank (Accession Nos. TUB2: JF429649; ACT: JQ070809; and CaM: JQ070808). BLAST searches with the existing sequences in GenBank showed that there was 99 to 100% identity with the existing sequences of C. ilicicola (GenBank Accession Nos. TUB2: AY725643; ACT: GQ280446; and CaM: GQ267402). To complete Koch's postulates, inoculum was prepared by mixing the microsclerotia (MS) suspension of the isolate (JXLN32) with soil at a proportion of 10 MS per g of soil. Ten replicate plastic pots containing five peanut seeds (cv. Yueyou 7) each were planted and placed in a glasshouse at 25 ± 2°C. The same number of peanut seeds was used as an uninoculated control. Typical basal stem and roots rot symptoms of CBR were observed in 2 months and C. parasiticum was reisolated from these inoculated diseased plants. No symptoms were detected on the control plants. To our knowledge, this is the first finding of Cylindrocladium black rot in Jiangxi Province, which is the main peanut-producing area in China. The disease has been previously reported in Guangdong Province in southern China but is not known elsewhere (4). Because of its ability to spread through seed and soil and its destructive potential, this pathogen may pose a serious threat to peanut production in China. References: (1) D. K. Bell and E. K. Sobers. Phytopathology 56:1361, 1966. (2) P. W. Crous et al. Mycol. Res. 97:889, 1993. (3) P. W. Crous et al. Stud. Mycol. 50:415, 2004. (4) R. Pan et al. Plant Pathol. 58:1176, 2009.

First Report of Nectria haematococca Causing Stem Rot of Soybean in China

In October 2010, soybean (Glycine max) plants growing in commercial soybean fields in Zengcheng City, Guangdong Province developed symptoms consisting of stem and root rot, yellowing, and defoliation of leaves. Reddish, spherical fruiting bodies appeared in lesions that developed on stems. Plants with symptoms were sampled from fields. Fruiting bodies were excised from diseased tissues. Microscopic examination revealed that they were perithecia, globose to pyriform, and measured 197 to 260 μm in diameter and 226 to 358 μm long. When squeezed gently, cylindrical to clavate asci, 7.2 to 9.6 μm in diameter and 75.4 to 92.0 μm long, containing eight ascospores were exuded from the perithecia. Ascospores were ellipsoid to obovate, two celled, slightly constricted at the septum, had longitudinal striations, and measured 4.9 to 6.0 μm in diameter and 10.6 to 15.0 μm long. The fungus was isolated from the basal stem tissues of diseased soybean plants and cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium amended with streptomycin sulfate. On PDA, the culture developed into blue-pigmented colonies with whitish mycelium that produced oval to cylindrical microconidia. Microconidia had 0 to 1 septum, ranged from 2.5 to 5.2 × 7.6 to 29.4 μm, and were produced on monophialides. Macroconidia were cylindrical to falcate, thick walled, 2 to 5 septa, and 3.5 to 6.0 × 25.4 to 66.8 μm. Chlamydospores were present and ranged from 6.8 to 13.6 × 5.5 to 9.5 μm. Orange-to-reddish perithecia were readily formed in old culture. These morphological characteristics were consistent with descriptions of Nectria haematococca (anamorph Fusarium solani) (1). The rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the fragment of translation elongation factor 1-alpha (EF1-α) genes of the fungus were amplified, respectively, with universal primers ITS1/ITS4 and ef1/ef2 primers and sequenced. BLAST searches showed that the ITS sequences of three isolates (GenBank Accession Nos. JN015069, JN190942, and JN190943) had 99% similarity with those of N. haematococca(GenBank Accession Nos. DQ535186, DQ535185, and DQ535183) and the EF1-α sequences of three isolates (GenBank Accession Nos. JN874641, JN874642, and JN874643) had 100% similarity with those of F. solani (GenBank Accession Nos. DQ247265 and DQ247327). Completion of Koch's postulates confirmed the pathogenicity of the isolates in a replicated experiment. Thirty-day-old soybean seedlings of cultivar Huaxia No. 3 were inoculated by soaking their root systems in a conidial suspension (10⁶ conidia per ml) for 30 min and then transplanted in plastic pots (20 cm in diameter) and incubated at 25 ± 2°C in a greenhouse. Control plants were treated with sterile water in the same way. There were four plants per pot and there were six replicates for each treatment. Within 3 weeks, more than 70% of the inoculated plants exhibited symptoms of leaf yellowing, stem rot, and root rots while control plants were symptomless. N. haematococca was reisolated from the diseased plants. To our knowledge, this is the first report of N. haematococca causing stem rot of soybean in China and the first description of sexual reproduction of F. solani causing soybean stem rot in nature. This pathogen may pose a serious threat to soybean production in China where soybean is a main crop. Reference: (1) C. Booth. The Genus Fusarium. CAB International, Wallingford, UK, 1971.

First Report of Peanut Foot Rot Caused by Neocosmospora vasinfecta var. africana in Jiangxi Province, China

From June 2009 to November 2010, a disease was observed on peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province, China. Infected plants initially exhibited yellow leaves, then defoliated, and finally wilted and died. Basal stems, pegs, pods, and roots became black and rotted, with many orange-brown spherical fruiting bodies emerging on the lesions. Disease incidence reached as high as 30% in some plots, especially in those covered with plastic sheets after planting to control weeds. Isolations from 68 diseased plants were conducted on potato dextrose agar (PDA) amended with streptomycin sulfate and incubated at 25°C. A fungus was consistently isolated from the edge of the lesions. Mycelia grew at a linear rate of 3.9 mm per day on PDA at 25°C forming a pale buff, floccose colony with abundant orange-red perithecia. Perithecia were globose to pyriform, ostiolate and with a short neck, and measured 151 to 353 × 141 to 313 μm. Asci were narrowly cylindrical to clavate, thin walled with a short stalk, measured 100 to 160 μm high and 9 to 15 μm in diameter, and were eight spored. Ascospores were uniseriately arranged, globose to ellipsoid, nonseptate, thick walled, hyaline to pale yellow, and measured 7 to 16 × 7 to 12 μm. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the wall of the ascospores had cerebriform ornamentation. Conidia were cylindrical to oblong-ellipsoidal, hyaline, most one celled, and measured 3 to 15 × 1 to 5 μm, aggregating in a gelatinous mass on the tip of the conidiogenous cell, which usually arose directly from the vegetative mycelium. The fungus was identified as Neocosmospora vasinfecta var. africana (anamorph Acremonium sp.) (1). The rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the fungus was amplified with universal primers ITS1/ITS4 and sequenced. The sequences of a representative isolate (No. N-JXLN02) were submitted to GenBank (Accession No. JF708085) and BLAST searches showed 99 to 100% similarity with sequences of N. vasinfecta deposited in GenBank (Accession Nos. HM461900, HM461901, and AY381142 ). Pathogenicity tests were conducted on 36 2-week-old peanut seedlings, cv. Yueyou No. 13, in plastic pots. Plants were inoculated by drenching the soil near the shoot with a mixed suspension of conidia and ascospores (10⁵ spores per ml). Control plants were treated with sterile water. All plants were then incubated in a moist chamber at 25 ± 2°C. Fifteen days after inoculation, all inoculated plants showed lesions on basal stems and black root rot similar to that observed on naturally infected plants. No disease was observed on control plants. The pathogen was reisolated from infected tissues. To our knowledge, this is the first finding of Neocosmospora foot rot of peanut in Jiangxi Province, where outbreaks of this disease have been observed in several counties. The pathogen will pose a threat to peanut, which is a major oil crop in China. It has been previously reported in Taiwan (2) and recently in Guangdong Province, though the subspecies of the pathogen was not identified in the latter case (3). References: (1) P. F. Cannon and D. L. Hawksworth. Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc. 82:673, 1984. (2) J. W. Huang et al. Plant Pathol. Bull. 1:203, 1992. (3) R. Pan et al. Plant Pathol. 59:1172, 2010.

Preclinical pharmacology of TP1, a novel potent triple reuptake inhibitor with antidepressant properties

Triple reuptake inhibitors (TRIs) that block the dopamine transporter (DAT), norepinephrine transporter (NET), and serotonin transporter (SERT) are being developed as a new class of antidepressant that may have better efficacy and fewer side effects compared with traditional antidepressants. The purpose of this study was to characterize a new chemical entity, 4-[2-(dimethylamino)-1-(1-hydroxycyclohexyl)ethyl] phenyl 4-methoxybenzoate hydrochloride (TP1). TP1 was designed as a prodrug of desvenlafaxine. Competitive radioligand binding assays were performed using cells expressing the human dopamine (DA) transporter (hDAT), the human serotonin (5-HT) transporter (hSERT), and the human norepinephrine (NE) transporter (hNET) with K(i) values for TP1 of 190 nM, 2076 nM, and 1023 nM, respectively. Uptake assays were performed with IC(50) values for TP1 of 712 nM, 521 nM, and 628 nM, respectively. TP1 (0.06 mmol/kg, orally) rapidly penetrated rat brain and hypothalamus, translated into desvenlafaxine within 1 h, and demonstrated higher bioavailability and better pharmacokinetic properties than desvenlafaxine succinate (DVS). TP1 (0.06 mmol/kg, orally) significantly increased extracellular levels of DA, NE, and 5-HT compared with baseline in the rat hypothalamus by microdialysis assay. In dose-response assays, oral administration of TP1 reduced the time of immobility in a dose-dependent manner during tail suspension test and forced swimming test (FST). This antidepressant-like effect manifests in the absence of significant increases in motor activity even at doses of up to 32 mg/kg. The ability of TP1 to inhibit the reuptake of three biogenic amines closely linked to the etiology of depression may result in a therapeutic profile different from antidepressants that inhibit the reuptake of serotonin and/or NE.

First Report of Soybean Neocosmospora Stem Rot Caused by Neocosmospora vasinfecta var. vasinfecta in China

During October 2009, the occurrence of a disease on soybean (Glycine max) was observed in several fields in Boluo County and Zengcheng City, Guangdong Province. Top leaves of infected plants initially turned yellow and plants eventually were defoliated, while stems and roots became black and rotted. The stem lesions sometimes extended 10 to 15 cm upward from the soil surface. Orange-to-brown spherical fruiting bodies, which were very similar with those of the soybean red crown rot pathogen, scattered or congregated on the stem lesions. Plants with symptoms were sampled from fields. Fruiting bodies were excised from diseased tissues. Microscopic examination revealed that they were perithecia, globose to pyriform, ostiolate with a short neck, and measured 160 to 298 × 151 to 235 μm. Under gentle pressure, asci and ascospores were exuded from these perithecia. Asci were eight spored, narrowly cylindrical to clavate, thin walled, with a short stalk, and measured 58 to 124 μm long and 8 to 15 μm in diameter. Ascospores were uniseriately arranged, globose to ellipsoid, thick walled, one celled, hyaline to pale, and measured 14 to 17 × 8 to 12 μm. Isolation was made from stem tissues at the edge of disease lesions on potato dextrose agar (PDA) amended with streptomycin sulfate and incubated at 25°C. Mycelia were white and floccose. Conidia were cylindrical to oblong-ellipsoidal, hyaline, one celled, and measured 6 to 22 × 2 to 5 μm, aggregating in a slimy mass on the apex of the conidiogenous cell. Abundant orange-to-brown spherical perithecia were produced on the colony. Ascospores had walls with a rugose ornamentation that could be clearly seen under a scanning electron microscope. The fungus was identified as Neocosmospora vasinfecta var. vasinfecta (anamorph Acremonium sp.) (1). The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA of two isolates were amplified with universal primers ITS1/ITS4 and sequenced (GenBank Accession No. JF705861 and JF705862), and comparisons with GenBank accessions showed 99% similarity with N. vasinfecta strain Pec070 (Accession No. FJ940902) and strain NRRL22497 (Accession No. AY381142). Pathogenicity tests were conducted. Five, 3-week-old seedlings of soybean cv. Huaxia No. 3 planted in plastic pots (20 cm in diameter) were wounded with a needle at the base of the stem below the soil line and near the root system, and then inoculated by drenching the soil with a conidial suspension (10⁵ per ml). Control plants were inoculated with sterile water. There were six replicates for each treatment. The treated plants were incubated at 25 ± 2°C in a greenhouse. All inoculated plants exhibited symptoms of leaf yellowing and black rot of stems and roots 3 weeks after inoculation. N. vasinfecta var. vasinfecta was reisolated from the diseased plants. All control plants remained healthy. To our knowledge, this is the first observation of Neocosmospora stem rot of soybean in China. The pathogen could pose a threat to soybean, which is a major crop in China. This disease has been previously reported in the United States though the anamorph of the pathogen has either not been identified or has been identified as a Cylindrocarpon sp. (2,4). This fungus is also associated with human infections (3). References: (1) P. F. Cannon and D. L. Hawksworth. Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc. 82:673, 1984. (2) F. A. Gray et al. Plant Dis. 64:321, 1980. (3) P. Manikandan et al. Med. Mycol. 46:279, 2008. (4) D. V. Phillips. Phytopathology 62:612, 1972.

Transformation of the host-selective toxin destruxin B by wild crucifers: probing a detoxification pathway

The destruxin B detoxification pathway present in Sinapis alba is also present in three unrelated species, Camelina sativa, Capsella bursa-pastoris, and Eruca sativa, suggesting a conservation of this pathway across crucifers. The chemical structure of a destruxin B metabolite, (6'-O-malonyl)hydroxydestruxin B beta-D-glucopyranoside, was also establised. Considering that Camelina sativa and Capsella bursa-pastoris detoxify destruxin B and produce the phytoalexins camalexins, these wild crucifers appear to represent unique and perhaps useful sources of blackleg resistance in strategic plant breeding.

Diversity of chloroplast DNA SSRs in wild and cultivated soybeans: evidence for multiple origins of cultivated soybean

Soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is one of the major crops in the world and was domesticated from a wild progenitor, Glycine soja Sieb. & Zucc., in East Asia. In order to address the questions concerning the evolution and maternal lineage of soybean, we surveyed the variation in chloroplast DNA simple sequence repeats (cpSSR) of 326 wild and cultivated soybean accessions that were collected from various Asian countries. Twenty-three variants were detected at six cpSSRs in the accessions tested. All of the variants were found in wild soybean, whereas only 14 variants existed in the cultigen. Combining the variants at the six cpSSRs gave 52 haplotypes in the former and eight haplotypes in the latter. Both analyses indicated a considerably higher genetic diversity in the wild soybean. Around 75% of the cultivated accessions tested possessed a common haplotype (no. 49), which was detected in only seven wild accessions, six from southern Japan and one from southern China. The predominant haplotype in the cultigen may therefore have originated from a rare haplotype of the wild soybean that is presently distributed in the southern areas of Japan and China. The remaining seven haplotypes in the cultigen were distributed regionally, and except for three rare haplotypes, largely overlapped with the distributions of wild accessions with the same respective haplotypes. Our results strongly suggest that the cultivated soybeans with different cpDNA haplotypes originated independently in different regions from different wild gene pools and/or hybrid swarms between cultivated and wild forms.

Probing host-selective phytotoxicity: synthesis of destruxin B and several natural analogues

The syntheses of the host-selective phytotoxin destruxin B [cyclo(betaAla-Hmp-Pro-Ile-MeVal-MeAla), Hmp = (2R)-2-hydroxy-4-methylpentanoic acid], and the closely related natural analogues homodestruxin B (MeVal-->MeIle), desmethyldestruxin B (MeVal-->Val), hydroxydestruxin B (Hmp-->Dhmp, Dhmp = (2R)-2,4-dihydroxy-4-methylpentanoic acid), and hydroxyhomodestruxin B (MeVal-->MeIle, Hmp-->Dhmp) are described. In each case, the MeAla-betaAla linkage was formed by cyclization and the precursor linear hexadepsipeptides were formed by condensing two three-residue fragments. Radiolabeled samples of destruxin B, homodestruxin B, and hydroxydestruxin B were prepared by coupling [3-(14)C]-beta-alanine to the appropriate pentadepsipeptide followed by cyclization. A noteworthy feature of the synthesis involves the novel use of a Boc-hydrazide protecting group on dipeptides with a C-terminal N-methylalanine residue to inhibit the otherwise facile dioxopiperazine formation during peptide coupling.

Total synthesis of bafilomycin A(1) relying on iterative 1,2-induction in acyclic precursors

The macrolide bafilomycin A(1) was synthesized starting from D-valine and D-mannitol as chiral progenitors of propionate units. Acyclic subunits corresponding to different parts of the molecule were constructed based on an iterative 1,2-asymmetric induction protocol as a distinctive feature of the synthesis. The assembly of two segments encompassing the entire carbon framework of the macrolide was achieved by using a Stille coupling. The resulting seco-ester was further manipulated to provide crystalline bafilomycin A(1) via a conventional carbodiimide-mediated Keck-type macrolactonization.

In planta sequential hydroxylation and glycosylation of a fungal phytotoxin: Avoiding cell death and overcoming the fungal invader

To facilitate plant colonization, some pathogenic fungi produce phytotoxic metabolites that damage tissues; plants may be resistant to a particular pathogen if they produce an enzyme(s) that catalyzes detoxification of this metabolite(s). Alternaria blackspot is one of the most damaging and significant fungal diseases of brassica crops, with no source of resistance known within the Brassica species. Destruxin B is the major phytotoxin produced by the blackspot-causing fungus, Alternaria brassicae (Berkley) Saccardo. We have established that a blackspot-resistant species (Sinapis alba) metabolized (14)C-labeled destruxin B to a less toxic product substantially faster than any of the susceptible species. The first metabolite, hydroxydestruxin B ((14)C-labeled), was further biotransformed to the beta-d-glucosyl derivative at a slower rate. The structures of hydroxydestruxin B and beta-d-glucosyl hydroxydestruxin B were deduced from their spectroscopic data [NMR, high resolution (HR)-MS, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR)] and confirmed by total chemical synthesis. Although these hydroxylation and glucosylation reactions occurred in both resistant (S. alba) and susceptible (Brassica napus, Brassica juncea, and Brassica rapa) species, hydroxylation was the rate limiting step in the susceptible species, whereas glucosylation was the rate limiting step in the resistant species. Remarkably, it was observed that the hydroxydestruxin B induced the biosynthesis of phytoalexins in blackspot-resistant species but not in susceptible species. This appears to be a unique example of phytotoxin detoxification and simultaneous phytoalexin elicitation by the detoxification product. Our studies suggest that S. alba can overcome the fungal invader through detoxification of destruxin B coupled with production of phytoalexins.

A general approach to cyathin diterpenes. Total synthesis of allocyathin B(3)

[reaction: see text] The synthesis of allocyathin B(3) from an advanced intermediate possessing the ring system and relative stereochemistry but lacking the isopropyl and hydroxymethyl groups is reported. The isopropyl group was introduced by radical cyclization of a methyl propargyl acetal of an alpha-bromo ketone, and the hydroxymethyl group was generated by Pd-catalyzed carbonylation of a vinyl triflate. The route provides functionalized intermediates that could allow access to more complex members of the cyathin family of diterpenes.

[Comparison of susceptibility testing results of M. tuberculosis by different methods]

OBJECTIVE

To compare the susceptibility testing results of M. tuberculosis detected with different standards and methods.

METHOD

158 strains of M. tuberculosis isolated from clinical patients were detected for the drug sensitivity by Chinese standard and method (absolute concentration method), 1% resistance ratio and absolute concentration method of WHO/IUATLD standard.

RESULTS

The drug-resistant rate detected by the standard of WHO/IUATLD was 53.8%(85/158), while by the Chinese standard 50.0%(79/158). The drug-resistant rates to INH, SM, EMB and RFP by WHO/IUATLD standard were 41.8%(66/158), 34.2%(54/158), 22.1%(35/158) and 27.8%(44/158) respectively, whereas by the Chinese standard 34.2%(54/158), 30.4% (48/158), 18.4%(29/158) and 27.2%(43/158) respectively. There was no significant difference between the results detected with WHO/IUATLD and Chinese standard, except for the results of INH. There was no significant difference between the results detected with WHO/IUATLD standard by 1% resistant ratio and absolute concentration methods.

CONCLUSION

The results of drug-sensitivity were interfered by the detected standards but not by the tested methods.

[Effects of vestibular stimulus on heart rate variability]

Possible effects of vestibular stimulation autonomic nerve function in pilots were studied by observing changes of Heart Rate Variability (HRV). Time domain and frequency domain analyses demonstrated that the primarily averages, standard deviation of the HRV averages(SD), least or greatest value, deviation of greatest minus least value, interrelated averages, square root of the mean of the sum of squares of differences between adjacent R-R intervals (RMSSD), total power(TP), low frequency(LF), high frequency(HF), LF/TP, HF/TP, and LF/HF all had significant increase or decrease (P <0.05 - <0.01) and the degrees of changes were related to the intensity of the stimulations.

[Application of the sphygmogram in evaluation of pilots' cardiovascular function in resting condition]

With the purpose of exploring a new method for aerospace medical monitoring, a newly developed method--sphygmogram was used in 169 pilots. The results showed that these pilots could be divided into three types by the features of their resting sphygmogram. Among them, with respect to their cardiovascular function, 71 (about 42%) were "completely normal", 79 were "essentially normal", and 19 had some changes in cardiovascular function. It is considered that the status of cardiovascular function of the pilots can be distinguished with the newly developed method of sphygmogram. It suggests that it is important to make dynamic observations of pilots' cardiovascular function and strengthen the medical care for those who show certain changes in their cardiovascular function as revealed by the sphygmogram.

[Observation of electronystagmogram in pilots under vestibular stimulation]

The relationship between electronystagmogram(ENG) and intensity of vestibular stimulation was observed in 62 pilots. 31 pilots received low intensity vestibular stimulation and the other 31 pilots received higher intensity vestibular stimulation. Electronystagmogram were recorded and analysed. The results showed that there was no relationship between the ENG parameters and stimulation intensity, but both slow phase and fast phase velocities and amplitudes were lower under Coriolis acceleration stimulus, while all of them were higher under angular acceleration and angular stimulations. It was also found that the fast phase amplitude of ENG was related to motion sickness symptoms of the subjects.

[Sphygmographic parameters in fighter and transport pilots]

To evaluate and discover hidden cardiovascular trouble in pilots, the cardiovascular function of 129 active male pilots was examined with a new sphygmographic method. 13 pilots (10.3%) were found to have abnormal cardiovascular function. The average arterial blood pressure and medium artery modulus of the fighter pilots aged from 30 to 34 years are inferior to those aged from 25 to 29 obviously, however, that is not the case in transport pilots. This indicates that frequent examination of cardiovascular function with convenient special method is necessary for the improvement of the quality of medical monitor on pilots.

[Dynamic analysis of 24 h blood pressure in pilots and hypertensive patients]

Blood pressure of 63 healthy male pilots and 20 primary hypertensive patients was measured with the "Smart LINK Ambulatory Monitoring System". The BP readings were taken every 30 min in daytime and 60 min at night for 24 h. The results showed that two peaks appeared at 7:00-9:00 A.M. and 16:00-19:00 P.M. and two valleys at 12:00-14:00 P.M. and 24:00-5:00 A.M. in healthy pilots, but the hypertensive subjects showed higher systolic or/and diastolic blood pressure continuously.

[Analysis of frequency domain correlative cardiogram (FCG) in 151 healthy pilots]

Frequency domain correlative cardiogram (FCG) is a relatively new noninvasive method for diagnosis of coronary heart disease. However there has been little information about the application of FCG in pilots. To explore whether the FCG diagostic standards of normal people, can be applied to healthy pilots, 151 male pilots aged 22-47 (mean = 30 +/- 6 years) were examined with the HBD-II A instrument manufactured by Hong Kong WEX company. The results showed that the characteristics of FCG graph of the pilots were similar to that of the common healthy men. It indicates that the diagnostic standard of FCG for normal people can be used to pilots, so it might be useful in selection and real-time medical monitoring during ground training.

[Observation on acupoint electric potential in pilots under vestibular stimulation]

To study the possibility of using acupoint electric potential as an index for evaluation of pilot's reaction to vestibular stimulation, electric potential was measured on both sides of left and right Neiguan points and Zusanli points in 80 pilots. Rotation chair was used as the method of stimulation. The results showed that changes of acupoint electric potentials were not significant (P >0.05) during 5 min uniform rotation. While the changes under head motion stimulation were significant (P<0.05 or 0.01) as compared with the pretest values. Relationship between symptoms and the corresponding acupoint potential changes remain to be studied further.