[Organic Distribution Characteristics and Influence on Drinking Water Quality in the Typical Water Sources for Towns in the Southwest Hilly Area of China].

This study analyzed the organic distribution characteristics of original and treated water and their impacts on drinking water quality using a conventional water treatment process in the typical water supply sources for towns in the southwest hilly area of China. The results showed that the water supply source in this area is micro-polluted water. Dissolved organics of low molecular weight accounted for the great majority of the organics, with the proportion ranging from 50% to 80%. There were 53 kinds and 14 classes of organics, including alkanes, esters, phenolic compounds, and benzenes, with the proportion from 80% to 90%. The amounts of organic acid, alkene, alcohols, and aldehyde were small, while the amounts of dichloromethane, phenol, and dibutyl-phthalate were relatively high. Herbicides, food additives, and antibiotics were detected, such as terbuthylazine, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-p-cresol, and nalidixic acid. The conventional water treatment process could efficiently remove the compounds with molecular weights higher than 10×103 and organic acid; however, it was limited greatly in its removal of alkanes, esters, phenolic compounds, and benzenes.

Nerve Growth Factor Promotes Angiogenesis and Skeletal Muscle Fiber Remodeling in a Murine Model of Hindlimb Ischemia / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Therapeutic angiogenesis has been shown to promote blood vessel growth and improve tissue perfusion. Nerve growth factor (NGF) has been reported to play an important role in both physiological and pathological angiogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the effects of NGF on angiogenesis and skeletal muscle fiber remodeling in a murine model of hindlimb ischemia and study the relationship between NGF and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in angiogenesis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-four mice were randomly allocated to normal control group (n = 6), blank control group (n = 6), VEGF gene transfection group (n = 6), and NGF gene transfection group (n = 6). The model of left hindlimb ischemia model was established by ligating the femoral artery. VEGF165plasmid (125 μg) and NGF plasmid (125 μg) was injected into the ischemic gastrocnemius of mice from VEGF group and NGF group, respectively. Left hindlimb function and ischemic damage were assessed with terminal points at 21th day postischemia induction. The gastrocnemius of four groups was tested by hematoxylin-eosin staining, proliferating cell nuclear antigen and CD34 immunohistochemistry staining, and myosin ATPase staining. NGF and VEGF protein expression was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>On the 21th day after surgery, the functional assessment score and skeletal muscle atrophy degree of VEGF group and NGF group were significantly lower than those of normal control group and blank control group. The endothelial cell proliferation index and the capillary density of VEGF group and NGF group were significantly increased compared with normal control group and blank control group (P < 0.05). The NGF and VEGF protein expression of NGF group showed a significant rise when compared with blank control group (P < 0.05). Similarly, the VEGF protein expression of VEGF group was significantly higher than that of blank control group (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference of the NGF protein expression between VEGF group and blank control group (P > 0.05). The type I skeletal muscle fiber proportion in gastrocnemius of NGF group and VEGF group was significantly higher than that of blank control group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>NGF transfection can promote NGF and VEGF protein expression which not only can induce angiogenesis but also induce type I muscle fiber expression in ischemic limbs.</p>

Clinical analysis of two carotid endarterectomy procedures in treating carotid artery stenosis / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the effectiveness and costs of the eversion carotid endarterectomy (eCEA) and the carotid endarterectomy with patch angioplasty (pCEA) in treating carotid artery stenosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Patients with carotid artery stenosis who underwent the carotid endarterectomy in the vascular surgery department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital from October 2009 to October 2012 were enrolled in this study. According to the two different surgical procedures, the patients were divided into eCEA group and pCEA group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The two groups were not significantly different in terms of gender ,age ,risk factors, stenosis degree of carotid artery, and the ratio of bilateral lesions (all P>0.05).The ratio of shunt and antibiotics application, operative time, hospitalization cost, and length of hospital stay in the eCEA group were significantly lower than those in pCEA group (P<0.05).The therapeutic effectiveness, complications, surgery-related death, restenosis, and ipsilateral stroke were not significantly different between these two groups (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Both surgical procedures are safe and effective in treating the carotid artery stenosis;however, eCEA has lower cost when compared with pCEA and therefore can be used as the first choice.</p>

Zinc finger protein-activating transcription factor up-regulates vascular endothelial growth factor-a expression in vitro.

OBJECTIVE: To construct the zinc finger protein-activating transcription factor (ZFP-ATF) plasmid and evaluate its efficacy in inducing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in EY.HY926 endothelial cells. METHODS: Firstly, we constructed the ZFP-ATF plasmid, then testified the quantity of VEGF protein in EY.HY926 endothelial cells after transfected with ZFP-ATP plasmid by Western blot, finally, we used the RT-PCR to testify whether the ZFP-ATF can stimulate expression of VEGF splice variants. RESULTS: The ZFP-ATF DNA sequences were located the multiclone sites of PVAX1 vector between the site of BamH1and Xhol.Western blot result showed VEGF expression in EY.HY926 endothelial cells transfected with ZFP-ATF plasmid was significantly higher than that in cells transfected with VEGF165 (19.95±3.95 vs.12.15±1.55 µg÷µL, P<0.01).RT-PCR result showed VEGF-A mRNA expression level induced by ZFP-ATF was high than that induced by VEGF165. CONCLUSION: ZFP-ATF can up-regulate the VEGF-A expression in comparison with VEGF165, which might have beneficial effects in angiogenesis process.