HIV/HCV共感染者抗逆转录病毒治疗后免疫恢复情况

由于具有相同的传播途径,人类免疫缺陷病毒(Human immunodeficiency virus,HIV)和丙型肝炎病毒(Hepatitis C virus,HCV)共感染非常普遍,但是关于合并感染的程度,两种病毒之间的相互关系,在艾滋病抗逆转录病毒治疗(Antiretroviral therapy,ART)前后,HCV合并感染对HIV患者免疫细胞恢复的影响仍不明确。为了通过分析CD4⁺和CD8⁺T淋巴细胞数的变化,以了解辽宁省HIV/HCV共感染者ART后免疫恢复的情况,本研究从辽宁省艾滋病抗病毒治疗数据库中筛选符合要求的HIV感染者和HIV/HCV共感染者,收集感染者基本人口学资料及HCV抗体检测结果、HIV/HCV共感染途径等资料。采用t检验或卡方检验进行组间比较,采用Kaplan-Meier乘积极限法绘制生存分析函数图。结果显示,本研究共纳入HIV感染者12742人,HIV/HCV共感染者340人。HIV感染者和HIV/HCV共感染者的不同人口学特征均差异显著(P<0.001)。HIV感染和HIV/HCV共感染者ART治疗后CD4⁺细胞数和CD4⁺/CD8⁺比值显著升高(P<0.05),CD8⁺细胞数比ART前显著下降(P<0.05)。HIV/HCV共感染者随着ART时长,CD4⁺T淋巴细胞数恢复情况始终显著低于HIV感染者(P<0.05)。生存分析曲线表明,HCV/HIV共感染者从艾滋病诊断开始随着ART的治疗CD4⁺细胞恢复情况显著低于HIV感染者,Log-Rank检验统计量为4.483(P=0.034)。本研究揭示,HCV感染对ART患者CD4⁺和CD8⁺T淋巴细胞的恢复有影响。ART后HIV/HCV共感染者中CD4⁺T淋巴细胞计数的改善低于HIV单一感染者,并且单一感染患者对ART的反应比合并感染患者更好。因此,建议在启动ART之前,对每个感染HIV的患者进行HCV抗体筛查。     

成人血液病合并肺孢子菌肺炎9例临床分析

目的研究成人血液病患者发生肺孢子菌肺炎(PCP)的临床特点、高危因素、治疗方式、预后及预防措施。方法对2014年1月～2019年7月我院血液科收治的成人血液病患者中确诊为PCP者的临床表现、实验室检查、影像学特点、治疗及转归进行总结及讨论。结果 9例发生PCP患者中8例为血液系统恶性肿瘤,7例为接受异基因造血干细胞移植术后患者,移植术后合并PCP的中位时间为8个月;9例患者中8例均合并巨细胞病毒血症,其中4例为多重感染;所有病例发病期间均有发热,7例伴有咳嗽咳痰;9例患者血清1-3-β-D葡聚糖(104.3～1377.1)pg/mL,中位数为293.3 pg/mL,较参考值偏高;影像学表现以弥漫性斑片影和磨玻璃影为主,严重时可出现结节及胸腔积液;给予TMP/SMZ联合伏立康唑或卡泊芬净或单用卡泊芬净治疗后8例好转,1例死亡。结论成人血液病并发PCP进展较快,常合并多重感染;发热、咳嗽是成人血液病合并PCP主要的临床表现;影像学双侧斑片样肺炎改变,血清1-3-β-D葡聚糖浓度升高对PCP诊断具有指导意义,肺泡灌洗液中查见肺孢子菌是诊断的金标准;对于高危患者应予以抗PCP预防用药,合并PCP的血液病患者早期抗PCP治疗是降低死亡率和改善预后的关键。     

非HIV马尔尼菲篮状菌病免疫相关易感因素分析

目的 对HIV阴性的马尔尼菲篮状菌病(TSM)患者的免疫相关易感因素进行分析,以提高临床医师对这一疾病的认识和管理。方法 前瞻性研究本课题组收集的来自广西及国内其他省市2012年至2021年确诊为HIV阴性的TSM患者临床特点,分析其免疫相关易感因素。结果 纳入患者154例,132例检出免疫缺陷。儿童患者以原发性免疫缺陷病为主;成人患者以抗伽马干扰素自身抗体相关的免疫缺陷综合征为主,其余包括合并恶性肿瘤及结缔组织病等基础病。结论TSM可发生于存在不同形式免疫缺陷的非HIV患者,应基于易感因素建立完整的免疫状态评估策略,以改善患者预后。     

43 例HIV/AIDS 患者抗病毒治疗情况分析

目的:研究来第四军医大学唐都医院传染科就诊的人类免疫缺陷病毒/艾滋病(Human immunodeficiency virus/Acquired immuno deficiency syndrome,HIV/AIDS)患者感染状况及抗病毒治疗效果。方法:采用前瞻性随访研究的方法,收集来我院就诊的HIV/AIDS患者的基本信息,并对其实验室检查结果、治疗方案及后续随访结果进行分析。结果:随访观察的43例HIV/AIDS患者治疗前平均基线CD4+T淋巴细胞计数为(330.74±176.35)cells/μL,CD8+T淋巴细胞计数为(1177.80±321.49)cells/μL,CD4+,CD8+T淋巴细胞比值为0.30±0.19;治疗一年后平均CD4+T淋巴细胞计数为(482.74±217.77)cells/μL,CD8+T淋巴细胞计数为(861.53±282.85)cells/μL,CD4+,CD8+T淋巴细胞比值为0.59±0.28。所有患者治疗一年后血浆HIV-RNA载量均达到检测限以下(500copies/m L)。结论:规范的抗病毒治疗对于改善HIV/AIDS患者预后至关重要;基线CD4+T淋巴细胞计数越低,抗病毒治疗效果越差。     

人类免疫缺陷病毒/丙型肝炎病毒混合感染者免疫细胞和肝生化指标的分析

目的 探讨人类免疫缺陷病毒/丙型肝炎病毒(HIV/HCV)混合感染者的免疫淋巴细胞亚群和肝脏生化指标的特征。方法 检测并分析研究组(40例混合感染HIV/HCV的血友病患者)和对照组(12例单独感染HIV的血友病患者)若干相关实验室指标。结果两组(研究与对照)结果 差异显著的指标分别为:自然杀伤(NK)细胞9.26%±5.98%对12.19%±5.80%,P<0.05;CD4/CD8细胞比值0.39±0.21对0.53±0.24,P<0.05;CD3细胞74.99%±10.33%对68.42%±8.82%,P<0.05;CD8细胞52.28%±12.59%对43.58%±10.99%,P<0.05;丙氨酸氨酶(ALT)(48.59±40.21)U/L对(26.87±27.23)U/L,P<0.01;天冬氨酸转氨酶(AST)(61.66±51.02)U/L对(34.17±30.24)U/L,P<0.001;谷氨酰转肽酶(GGT)(136.50±111.50)U/L对(43.88±36.17)U/L,P<0.001;甘胆酸(CG)(683.41±962.22)μg/L对(250.96±290.81)μg/L,P<0.001;透明质酸(HA)(180.94±196.69)ng/ml对(64.68±32.74)ng/ml,P<0.001;白/球蛋白(A/G)比值1.35±0.24对1.50±0.34,P<0.05。与单独HIV感染者比较,HIV/HCV混合感染者的NK细胞、CD4/CD8细胞比值和A/G比值显著降低,而ALT、AST、GGT、CG和HA的水平显著增加。结论 HIV/HCV混合感染可能加剧患者淋巴细胞亚群的不平衡,加重肝脏损伤和出现肝硬化趋势。     

HIV/AIDS患者机会性感染与 CD4+ T淋巴细胞间的关联性

目的研究人免疫缺陷病毒(HIV)感染者及艾滋病(AIDS)患者发生机会性感染的概率与自身CD_4~+T淋巴细胞之间的关系,为HIV患者机会性感染的防治提供参考。方法以2016年6月至2017年6月我院400例HIV患者为研究对象,回顾性分析不同CD_4~+T淋巴细胞计数HIV患者发生机会性感染的情况。结果 400例HIV患者发生机会性感染178例,总感染率为44.5%。CD_4~+T淋巴细胞计数≤50个/μL的患者机会性感染发生率(86.67%)最高,与其他各组比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。随着CD_4~+T淋巴细胞计数的减少,HIV患者机会性感染率升高。178例机会性感染者中,单一感染82例,2部位感染52例,3部位感染28例,4部位以上感染16例。感染病原体检测显示,细菌感染84例(47.19%),结核杆菌感染36例(20.22%),病毒感染30例(16.85%,包括巨细胞病毒感染18例、单纯疱疹病毒感染12例),真菌感染77例(43.25%,包括假丝酵母感染35例,肺孢子菌感染20例,马尔尼菲青霉菌感染12例,新型隐球菌感染10例),未明确病原体性质34例(19.10%),复合感染多见。结论 CD_4~+T淋巴细胞水平与HIV患者继发机会性感染的概率关系密切。HIV患者CD_4~+T淋巴细胞水平的监测对其继发机会性感染的防控具有重要临床意义。     

35例艾滋病患者高效联合抗反转录病毒治疗后血脂代谢及颈动脉中层厚度的研究

目的 研究获得性免疫缺陷综合征[艾滋病(AIDS)]患者经高效联合抗反转录病毒治疗(Highly active antiretroviral therapy,HAART)后所导致的血脂及心血管方面的副作用.方法 回顾性调查在我院治疗并门诊随访的35例男性人类免疫缺陷病毒1型(HIV-1)感染者,均接受相同HAART方案(d4T+3TC+EFV),平均年龄为38.5±15.3岁,平均抗病毒时间为24.6±17.5月,抗病毒治疗前平均CD4计数为69.5±34.6个/μl,比较抗病毒治疗前、后患者空腹血脂变化(包括三酰甘油、总胆固醇、高密度脂蛋白、低密度脂蛋白)并进行统计学分析.其中22例在本系列研究最后1次血脂测定时接受高分辨B超测定颈动脉内膜中层厚度(IMT)测定.结果 35例AIDS患者HAART前、后血三酰甘油分别为1.44±0.35mmol/L和2.07±0.54mmol/L(P ＜0.001);总胆固醇分别为4.96±0.46mmol/L和6.15±0.83mmol/L(P＜0.001);血高密度脂蛋白分别为1.06±0.01mmol/L和 1.04±0.01mmol/L(P＞0.05);血低密度脂蛋白分别为2.29±0.33 mmol/L和3.11±0.29mmol/L(P＜0.001).22例患者经Philips5000彩色B超仪测定IMT平均为0.86±0.14 mm,明显高于文献报道的正常值0.7±0.2mm.结论 HAART治疗艾滋病患者与血脂代谢异常及部分心血管并发症相关.     

艾滋病合并肺孢子菌肺炎1例

本文报道1例通过肺组织活检明确诊断的艾滋病合并肺孢子菌肺炎(Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia,PCP)病例,结合文献复习,分析艾滋病合并PCP的病理学特点及临床诊治措施。本例患者经实验室检查确诊为艾滋病,通过气管镜肺活检取得肺组织标本,组织病理学诊断为PCP,给予复方磺胺甲唑治疗后病情好转。PCP多见于艾滋病等免疫缺陷患者,临床上表现为间质性肺炎,提高对该病的认识并尽早进行病原学检测是确诊的关键。尽早使用复方磺胺甲唑等有效药物是改善预后的主要措施。     

降低我国艾滋病患者病死率的几个关键措施

随着人类免疫缺陷病毒(HIV)感染者逐渐进入获得性免疫缺陷综合征(AIDS)期,我国HIV感染者病死人数逐渐增加,已超过结核病与狂犬病的病死人数,位居第1.如何降低HIV/AIDS患者的病死率是我国目前亟待解决的重要课题.针对我国HIV/AIDS患者的特点,应采用多种措施.其中关键为:落实患者对药物的依从性,优化抗病毒治疗方案;扩大抗病毒治疗覆盖面,以增加接受抗病毒治疗的患者;加大检测力度,早诊断和早治疗以延长患者寿命,改善预后;注意对患者并发症的治疗,并科学分析病死原因.这些措施的实施需要社会各界共同参与和努力.     

1225例HIV/AIDS患者流行病学特征分析

目的:了解来陕西地区就诊的人类免疫缺陷病毒/艾滋病(Human immunodeficiency virus/Acquired immuno deficiency syndrome,HIV/AIDS)患者感染状况、流行特征。方法:收集来我院就诊的HIV/AIDS患者的基本信息,对其流行病学资料统计分析。结果:在调查的1225例HIV/AIDS患者中,男性占83.51%,平均年龄为(35.55±11.61)岁,50.98%为农民,小学及以下学历占33.55%,经血液途径感染250例,经性传播途径感染916例,其中同性性传播337例,经母婴垂直传播16例,就诊时CD4+T淋巴细胞计数平均值为(222.82±190.49)个/μL,56%的HIV/AIDS患者采用的抗病毒方案为齐多夫定(Zidovudine,AZT)/替诺福韦(Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate,TDF)+拉米夫定(Lamivudine,3TC)+依非韦伦(Efavirenz,EFV)方案。结论:陕西地区HIV/AIDS感染人数呈上升趋势,且年轻化加剧,同性性传播比例大幅增加。虽然治疗较为及时,应进一步在高危人群中积极宣传防艾知识与措施。     

Tuning of electronic properties of one-dimensional cyano-bridged Cu-Ni, Cu-Pd, and Cu-Pt bimetallic assemblies by stereochemistry of ligands

Preparations, XPS and electronic spectroscopy, and magnetism of seven new one-dimensional cyano-bridged coordination polymers, chiral [Cu(RR-chxn)₂][Pd(CN)₄] · 2H₂O (1), [Cu(trans-chxn)₂][M(CN)₄] · 2H₂O (2, 4, and 6 for M = Pd, Ni, and Pt), and [Cu(cis-chxn)₂][M(CN)₄] · 2H₂O (3, 5, and 7 for M = Pd, Ni, and Pt) (RR-chxn = cyclohexane-(1R,2R)-diamine, trans-chxn = racemic trans-cyclohexane-(1,2)-diamine, and cis-chxn = racemic cis-cyclohexane-(1,2)-diamine) have been reported in view of tuning of their electronic properties by stereochemistry of chxn ligands and metal-substitution. Comparison of Cu 2p_1/2 and 2p_3/2 peaks of XPS and broad d-d bands around 18 000 cm⁻¹ of electronic spectra are described systematically for 1-7. Variable-temperature magnetic measurement shows that complexes 1-7 indicate weak antiferromagnetic interactions via cyano-bridges. Because of semi-coordination coupled with pseudo Jahn-Teller elongation and electrostatic interaction for 1, the axial Cu-N coordination bond distances of 2.330(7) and 3.092(8) Å are considerably longer than those of equatorial ones in the range from 2.016(6) to 2.030(6) Å. The former bond distances of 1 are intermediate values among the related Ni (2.324(6) and 3.120(8) Å) and Pt (2.34(1) and 3.09(1) Å) complexes.     

Land,livestock, and livelihoods: Changing dynamics of gender,caste, and ethnicity in a Nepalese Village

Over the past 10 years, Ghusel VDC, Lalitpur District has moved from primarily subsistence agriculture into the wider cash economy aided by the Small Farmers' Development Program (SFDP), which provides credit to farmers mainly for the purchase of buffalo for milk production, and by the National Dairy Corporation, which supports local dairy cooperatives. Analysis reveals that buffalo-keeping and milk sales are increasing the well-being of many households, while at the same time creating new inequalities in gender roles and responsibilities, greater inequities between Brahmin and Tamang residents in Ghusel, and placing pressures on the ecosystem for increased supplies of fodder and fuelwood. Evidence suggests that there is critical, need for attention to the social, and particularly gender-based, implications of maintaining livestock for milk sales and to the ecological underpinnings of this livelihood system.     

Structure and function of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase

In mammals, S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (AdoHcyase) is the only known enzyme to catalyze the breakdown of S-adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHcy) to homocysteine and adenosine. AdoHcy is the product of all adenosylmethionine (AdoMet)-dependent biological transmethylations. These reactions have a wide range of products, and are common in all facets of biometabolism. As a product inhibitor, elevated levels of AdoHcy suppress AdoMet-dependent transmethylations. Thus, AdoHcyase is a regulator of biological transmethylation in general. The three-dimensional structure of AdoHcyase complexed with reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADH) and the inhibitor (1′R, 2′S, 3′R)-9-(2′,3′-dihyroxycyclopenten-1-yl)adenine (DHCeA) was solved by a combination of the crystallographic direct methods program, SnB, to determine the selenium atom substructure and by treating the multiwavelength anomalous diffraction data as a special case of multiple isomorphous replacement. The enzyme architecture resembles that observed for NAD-dependent dehydrogenases, with the catalytic domain and the cofactor binding domain each containing a modified Rossmann fold. The two domains form a deep active site cleft containing the cofactor and bound inhibitor molecule. A comparison of the inhibitor complex of the human enzyme and the structure of the rat enzyme, solved without inhibitor, suggests that a 17° rigid body movement of the catalytic domain occurs upon inhibitor/substrate binding.     

Chiral Separation of G‐type Chemical Warfare Nerve Agents via Analytical Supercritical Fluid Chromatography

Chemical warfare nerve agents (CWNAs) are extremely toxic organophosphorus compounds that contain a chiral phosphorus center. Undirected synthesis of G‐type CWNAs produces stereoisomers of tabun, sarin, soman, and cyclosarin (GA, GB, GD, and GF, respectively). Analytical‐scale methods were developed using a supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) system in tandem with a mass spectrometer for the separation, quantitation, and isolation of individual stereoisomers of GA, GB, GD, and GF. Screening various chiral stationary phases (CSPs) for the capacity to provide full baseline separation of the CWNAs revealed that a Regis WhelkO1 (SS) column was capable of separating the enantiomers of GA, GB, and GF, with elution of the P(+) enantiomer preceding elution of the corresponding P(–) enantiomer; two WhelkO1 (SS) columns had to be connected in series to achieve complete baseline resolution. The four diastereomers of GD were also resolved using two tandem WhelkO1 (SS) columns, with complete baseline separation of the two P(+) epimers. A single WhelkO1 (RR) column with inverse stereochemistry resulted in baseline separation of the GD P(–) epimers. The analytical methods described can be scaled to allow isolation of individual stereoisomers to assist in screening and development of countermeasures to organophosphorus nerve agents. Chirality 26:817–824, 2014. © 2014 The Authors. Chirality published by John Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Influence of Fluoride on Rat Kidney Antioxidant System: Effects of Methionine and Vitamin E

The aim of the study has been to determine and compare the influence upon the kidney antioxidative system, exercised by administration of vitamin E, and vitamin E in combination with methionine, under conditions of oxidative stress induced by sodium fluoride. The experiment was carried out on Wistar FL rats (adult males) that, for 35 days, were administered water, NaF, NaF with vitamin E, or vitamin E with methionine (doses: 10 mg NaF/kg of body mass/24 h, 3 mg vitamin E per 10 μl per rat for 24 h, 2 mg methionine per rat for 24 h). The influence of administered sodium fluoride and antioxidants upon the antioxidative system in kidney was examined by analyzing the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activity of the most important antioxidative enzymes (SOD, total and both its isoenzymes, GPX, GST, GR, and CAT). The studies carried out confirmed the disadvantageous effect of the administered dose of NaF upon the antixodiative system in rats (increase in the concentration MDA, decrease activity of all antioxidative enzymes). The administration of vitamin E increased the activity of studied enzymes with the exception of glutathione reductase GR; it also reduced the procesess of lipid peroxidation. It has been found that combined doses of vitamin E and methionine were most effective in inhibiting lipid peroxidation processes. The results confirmed the antioxidative properties of methionine.     

Reorientation of Microfibrils and Microtubules at the Outer Epidermal Wall of Maize Coleoptiles During Auxin-Mediated Growth

Auxin-mediated elongation growth of isolated subapical coleoptile segments of maize (Zea mays L.) is controlled by the extensibility of the outer cell wall of the outer epidermis (Kutschera et al., 1987). Here we investigate the hypothesis that auxin controls the extensibility of this wall by changing the orientation of newly deposited microfibrils through a corresponding change in the orientation of cortical microtubules. On the basis of electron micrographs it is shown that cessation of growth after removal of the endogenous source of auxin is correlated with a relative increase of longitudinally orientated microfibrils and microtubules at the inner wall surface. Conversely, reinduction of growth by exogenous auxin is correlated with a relative increase of transversely orientated microfibrils and microtubules at the inner wall surface. These changes can be detected 30–60 min after the removal and addition of auxin, respectively. The functional significance of directional changes of newly desposited wall microfibrils for the control of elongation growth is discussed.     

In vitro studies of the rabbit immune system. IV. Differential mitogen responses of isolated T and B cells.

The mitogenic responses of separated rabbit lymphocyte populations functionally analogous to mouse T and B cells have been tested in vitro. Purified T cells were prepared by passage over nylon wool (NW) and purified B cells prepared by treatment with antithymocyte serum and complement (ATS + C). ATS + C kills 70% of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL's) and 50% of the spleen cells while passage over NW yields 40% of the applied PBL's and 5–23% of the applied spleen cells. NW-purified T cells from the spleen or PBL's respond fully to concanavalin A (Con A) but have a reduced response to phytohemaglutinin (PHA) and little or no response to goat anti-rabbit immunoglobulin (anti-Ig). PBL's that survive ATS + C (B cells) are stimulated by anti-Ig but not by Con A or PHA. B cells purified from spleen do not respond to Con A or PHA but will respond to anti-Ig under appropriate conditions. A full spleen B-cell response to anti-Ig required removal of Ig produced by the cultures that blocked anti-Ig stimulation. It is concluded that, for rabbit lymphocytes, Con A and PHA are primarily T-cell mitogens and that anti-Ig is primarily a B-cell mitogen. However, the mitogen response of unfractionated PBL or spleen cell populations indicates an overlap in reactivity. This could be due to cells sharing T and B properties, alteration of cell populations by the fractionation procedures used, or recruitment of one population in the presence of a mitogenic response of the other population.     

八种脑-肠肽侧脑室内注射对大鼠基础胃酸分泌的影响

用乌拉坦麻醉大鼠作急性实验,采用连续灌流胃并收集流出液的方法,观察向侧脑室内注射微量脑-肠肽对大鼠基础胃酸分泌的影响。实验结果如下:(1)雨蛙肽、八肽胆囊收缩素、促甲状腺素释放激素及四肽胃泌素均使总酸排出量增加;(2)生长抑素、胰多肽、P 物质、胰高血糖素则使总酸排出量减少;(3)上述肽类用侧脑室注射的剂量作肌肉注射,除四肽胃泌素也产生明显的刺激胃酸分泌作用外,对胃酸分泌均无明显影响。以上结果提示,脑内的一些肽类可能以神经递质或调制物的方式,参与中枢对胃酸分泌的调节。     

Gamma-glutamylcysteine protects ergothioneine-deficient Mycobacterium tuberculosis mutants against oxidative and nitrosative stress

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb.), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), cannot synthesize GSH, but synthesizes two major low molecular weight thiols namely mycothiol (MSH) and ergothioneine (ERG). Gamma-glutamylcysteine (GGC), an intermediate in GSH synthesis, has been implicated in the protection of lactic acid bacteria from oxidative stress in the absence of GSH. In mycobacteria, GGC is an intermediate in ERG biosynthesis, and its formation is catalysed by EgtA (GshA). GGC is subsequently used by EgtB in the formation of hercynine-sulphoxide-GGC. In this study, M.tb. mutants harbouring unmarked, in-frame deletions in each of the fives genes involved in ERG biosynthesis (egtA, egtB, egtC, egtD and egtE) or a marked deletion of the mshA gene (required for MSH biosynthesis) were generated. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analyses (LC-MS) revealed that the production of GGC was elevated in the MSH-deficient and the ERG-deficient mutants. The ERG-deficient ΔegtB mutant which accumulated GGC was more resistant to oxidative and nitrosative stress than the ERG-deficient, GGC-deficient ΔegtA mutant. This implicates GGC in the detoxification of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in M.tb.     

A chromium-tolerant plant growing in Cr-contaminated land

In this paper, a kind of Typhaceae plant species, Typha angustifolia L, with a high tolerance to Cr is described. Experiments were carried out to examine its ability to tolerant Cr and its physiological response. The results showed that there was no difference in growth, plant height, and biomass response to external Cr (VI) between the plants exposed to 100 microM Cr (VI) and control (0 microM), while increasing Cr levels to 200-800 microM induced a significant decrease in plant height and biomass, but no significant injury was detected, even for the plants exposed to 800 microM Cr. Chromium induced significant increases in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities. Meanwhile, a significantly positive correlation was found between Cr and Mn or Cu in leaves and roots, respectively. The Cr tolerance of the plant appeared to be associated with the enhancement of SOD and POD activities and the improvement in uptake and translocation of the essential microelements.