The processes of fermentation of corn powder by lactic acid bacteria was studied. The results indicated that, after 39 hours fermentation, the lactic acid content reached 2. 1g/100mL, and some nutrients as oligosc-chrides and amino acids were also produced. The result is of significance to the technological design of producing lactic acid beverage of corn.

To observe the effects of total flavones of Metasequoia glyptostroboides Hu et Cheng (TFM) on volume-overload cardiac hypertrophy and the expression of c-Fos protein in rat. Methods　Volume-overload cardiac hypertrophy of rat was induced by aortocaval shunts. The rats were given ig TFM (400, 40 and 4 mg/kg/d). c-Fos protein in the ventricles were measured by immunocytochemical study. Results　TFM at the above dosage decreased heart weight and contents of RNA and protein in the myocardium, inhibited the expression of c-Fos protein in the ventricles. Conclusion　TFM can prevent volume-overload cardiac hypertrophy in rats. The inhibitory effects on the expression of c-Fos protein may be its mechanism in the molecular level.

OBJECTIVETo explore safe, effective, simple and easy non-drug treatments for grade 1 essential hypertension.

METHODSAccording to TCM syndrome differentiation, 126 cases of grade 1 essential hypertension were classified into 4 types: liver-fire hyperactivity syndrome, yin-deficiency and yang-hyperactivity syndrome, excessive phlegm-dampness syndrome, yin-yang deficiency syndrome, and then the patients were randomly divided into a photoelectric combined with musical treatment group (group A), an acupuncture group(group B) and a placebo group (group C). The acupoints were selected according to TCM syndrome differentiation in group A and group B, and multi-mode audio frequency pulse photoelectric therapeutic apparatus and acupuncture were used in the two groups respectively, once daily. Taichong (LR 3) and Quchi (LI 11) were selected in liver-fire hyperactivity syndrome, Taixi (KI 3) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) were selected yi yin-deficiency and yang-hyperactivity syndrome, Zusanli (ST 36) and Fenglong (ST 40) were selected in excessive phlegm-dampness syndrome, while Taixi (KI 3) and Guanyuan (CV 4) were selected yi yirryang deficiency syndrome. The group C was treated with oral administration of starch tablet (25 mg), one tablet each time,three times everyday. Ten days were considered as one course, totally three courses were required in the three groups. The blood pressure and scores of TCM syndromes before and after treatment were compared among the three groups.

RESULTSThe blood pressure decreased significantly after treatment in group A and group B (all P<0.01), and the decrease in systolic blood pressure was more significant in group A (P < 0.05). The total effective rate was 90.5 / (38/42) in group A, which was superior to 71. 4 (30/42, P < 0.05) in group B and 19.1% (18/34, P<0. 01) in group C. The scores of TCM syndromes were both improved in group A and group B, but without significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe clinical effect of multi-mode audio frequency pulse photoelectric therapeutic apparatus for treatment of grade 1 essential hypertension is reliable. Meanwhile, it has the advantages of a non-invasive and simple operation.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood Pressure ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Electric Stimulation Therapy ; Essential Hypertension ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Laser Therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Music Therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of antisense Bmi-1 (B cell-specific moloney murine leukemia virus insertion site 1) RNA on the growth, cell cycle and apoptosis of lung cancer cell line A549.

METHODSRecombinant plasmids carrying antisense Bmi-1 RNA were transfected into A549 cells, which expressed a high level of endogenous Bmi-1. The mRNA level of A549 cell was analyzed by real time quantitative RT-PCR and the protein level was determined using Western blot. MTT growth curve and plate colony forming assay were used to measure the effect of antisense Bmi-1 RNA expression on the growth of A549. Flow cytometry was used to analyze cell cycle and apoptosis.

RESULTSAntisense Bmi-1 RNA reduced the Bmi-1 expression at the protein level, but did not alter the mRNA level in A549 cells. Compared with the control cells, A549 cells transfected with antisense Bmi-1 RNA showed a strong inhibition of the cell growth. The number of plate colony formation of the antisense Bmi-1 transfected cells (0.67 +/- 0.50) was less than those of the control (73.0 +/- 4.1) and cells transfected with empty vector (67.0 +/- 4.0, P < 0.01). Transfection of antisense Bmi-1 RNA arrested the A549 cells at G₀/G₁ phase of the cell cycle and did not increase the apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONAntisense Bmi-1 RNA expression inhibits A549 cells proliferation, likely through the interference of Bmi-1 leading to an arrest of the proliferating cells at the G₀/G₁ phase.

Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Nuclear Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Antisense ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Repressor Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transfection

ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling by the mating type switching/sucrose non-fermenting (SWI/SNF) complex is a basic biological event in the body, which is required for all the key processes involved in DNA metabolism such as gene expression, DNA replication, repair, chromosomal recombination and mitosis. In the past few years, increasing evidence supports a crucial role of this complex in prostate cancer development and progression via multiple ways, such as cell cycle regulation, androgen receptor pathway and DNA methylation. The present paper briefly reviews the recent studies on the association between the SWI/SNF complex and prostate cancer.
Animals ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; DNA Methylation ; Genes, Switch ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptors, Androgen ; Sucrose

OBJECTIVETo construct a single plasmid vector mediating doxycycline-inducible recombined human insulin gene expression in myotube cell line.

METHODSAn expression cassette of rtTAnls driven by promoter of human cytomegalovirus and a furin-cuttable recombined human insulin expression cassette driven by a reverse poly-tetO DNA motif were cloned into a single plasmid vector (prTR-tetO-mINS). The prTR-tetO-mINS and pLNCX were co-transfected into a myotube cell line (C2C12) and pLNCX vector were used as a control. After selection with G418, the transfected cells were induced with doxycycline at concentrations of 0, 2, and 10 microg/mL. RT-PCR was used to determine expression levels of recombinant insulin mRNA at the 5th day. Insulin production in cell cultures medium (at different incubation time) and cell extracts (at the 7th day) were analyzed with human pro/insulin RIA kits.

RESULTSImmune reactive insulin (IRI) level in cell medium was found increased at 24 hours of doxycycline incubation, and still increased at the 5th day. After withdrawn of doxycycline, IRI decreased sharply and was at baseline three days later. IRI and human insulin mRNA levels were positively related to different levels of doxycycline. A 25-fold increase in IRI was found against background expression at the 7th day.

CONCLUSIONHuman insulin expression can be successfully regulated by doxycycline and the background was very low. This single tet-on insulin expression system may provide a new approach to a controlled insulin gene therapy in skeletal muscle.

Animals ; Cell Line ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Doxycycline ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Insulin ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Mice ; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal ; cytology ; metabolism ; Proinsulin ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transfection

Aim To investigate the effects of dihydromyricetin on the apoptosis in AGZY-83-a tumor cells and its relevant mechanisms.Methods The survival rate of AGZY-83-a cells was assayed by MTT dye reduction.The cellular apoptosis was analyzed by TUNEL method and caspase-3 activity.The intracellular free calcium i was detected to explore the apoptotic mechanism of dihydromyricetin.Results In the MTT assay,dihydromyricetin 50?mol?L-1 significantly inhibited survival ratios of AGZY-83-a cells at dose-and time-dependent manner.It was demonstrated in TUNEL assay that dihydromyricetin could induce the apoptosis of AGZY-83-a cells in a concentration-dependent manner.The examination of Caspase-3 activity indicated that the dihydromyricetin could induce the apoptosis of AGZY-83-a cells,which was dose-dependent activation of Caspase-3 in AGZY-83-a cells.The detection of the intracellular i showed that the average FI of the i could be markedly increased to 20-fold as the basic condition.Conclusions Dihydromyricetin can induce the apoptosis in AGZY-83-a cells,which is associated with the overload of the intracellular i.

OBJECTIVETo find out the perceived stress in general public during prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and its impact on health behavior.

METHODSA retrospective survey was conducted in Guangzhou, Hangzhou, and Taiyuan according to the epidemic situations of SARS, and 2532 subjects were randomly selected from constructive industry, school, and commercial business and residents in urban and rural areas. The perceive stress was measured by Chinese perceived stress scale (CPSS), and health related behavior during SARS was tested by uniform and self-made questionnaire. EpiData 2.0 was used for data management and CPSS value was calculated according to answer to 14 questions contained in the scale. Health risk stress among different population group and health related behavior among low, medium and high stress state were analyzed by SPSS 11.5.

RESULTS2424 subjects were involved in the survey. The CPSS value was measured from 0 - 49 (22.7 +/- 6.8), M = 24.0. 39.3% (953/2379) subjects were under the health risk stress. The health related behaviors such as washing hands, opening the window for air, keeping away from others when cough and sneeze, doing exercises etc were reduced with the stress increased. Logistic regression indicated that compared with the persons with the thoughts of nothing serious of SARS, without any dread of SARS, and knowing nothing about prevention of SARS, the perceived stress was significantly related with perceiving of the thread to certain extent (beta = 0.41, Wald chi(2) = 4.84, P = 0.03), worrying little about the epidemic (beta = 0.50, Wald chi(2) = 6.69, P = 0.01), worrying about it to certain extent (beta = 1.39, Wald chi(2) = 48.59, P = 0.00) and scared so much (beta = 1.77, Wald chi(2) = 53.59, P = 0.00), and knowing little about the prevention (beta = 0.74, Wald chi(2) = 4.48, P = 0.03), knowing something about prevention (beta = -0.98, Wald chi(2) = 8.29, P = 0.00) and knowing the prevention very well (beta = -1.18, Wald chi(2) = 10.66, P = 0.00).

CONCLUSIONThe adoption of health related behaviors declined with increase of perceived stress. Opening connection to authority and government, enhancing the awareness of outburst affairs among general public and providing positive social support may be effective ways to reduce the population perceived stress.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Culture ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Occupations ; Retrospective Studies ; Rural Population ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; psychology ; Social Perception ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urban Population ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo describe the changes of health related behavior and influencing factor during and after the prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), as to providing evidence for inducing public health related behavior to cope with the emergent infectious public health hazards.

METHODSAccording to the epidemic strength of SARS, Guangzhou, Taiyuan, Hangzhou were selected to be the research areas, and convenience sampling was used to identify 200 city residents, 200 country residents and 400 occupational populations from each area. The uniform and self-made questionnaire was carried out by about 2400 residents.

RESULTSAll 2424 subjects completed the questionnaire. The correlation coefficient of scores of health related behavior during and after SARS was 0.782 (P < 0.01). And 39.3% subjects were considered as under the health risked stress by CPSS. Multiple linear regression indicated that the scores of health related behavior were significantly related to the perceived stress, demographic characteristics and recognition of SARS.

CONCLUSIONSThe public health related behavior should be developing in the SARS, and part of health related behavior had been kept after SARS and part been decreased. Behavior change should depends on the prevalence of the disease, cultural heritage and behavior variability. More attention should be paid to induce the public psychology and behavior and enhance the degree of recognition on related knowledge through health education as to relieving the stress in populations when we conduct to cope with the emergent public health hazards.

Adult ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Health Education ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk ; Rural Population ; Sampling Studies ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; epidemiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urban Population

Objective To investigate the status of Cryptosporidium infection in the population in Nanjing City so as to pro-vide the evidence for the prevention and control of cryptosporidiosis. Methods A total of 100 fecal samples were collected from each of three districts(Liuhe,Qixia and Gaochun)and one hospital(Nanjing Zhongda Hospital)in 2015 and 2016 respective-ly. The fecal samples were detected for Cryptosporidium with microscopy(by using the gold amine phenol-modified acid-fast staining)and the positive samples were detected again for the molecular biology confirming by using the fluorescence quantita-tive PCR. Results During the two years,581 cases of normal population who lived in the city were surveyed and no Cryptospo-ridium infection was found. Among 202 cases of outpatients with chronic diarrhea,there were 9 Cryptosporidium positive cases with the microscope scanning method (4.46％),and among the 9 cases,7 cases showed obvious logarithmic amplification curves showing positive Cryptosporidium nucleic acid,but 2 cases without the obvious logarithmic amplification curves,and the Cryptosporidium nucleic acid positive rate was 3.47％. Conclusions Cryptosporidium infection is not found in the normal popu-lation of Nanjing City,but the Cryptosporidium infection is found in the chronic diarrhea patients. The results imply that we should strengthen the detection of Cryptosporidium in the chronic diarrhea patients,so as to provide the evidence for improving the diagnosis and treatment of cryptosporidiosis.