The practice of English teaching of microbiology course using the original edition of Microbiology (Prescott LM et al., 5e, 2002) as textbook have been carried out for two years for undergraduate students majoring in Biology. The strengths of this book are comprehensive coverage, flexibility of organizing, and emphasis on the enhancing the overall ability of students. Its content is excellent with fundamental knowledge, systematic arrangement and up-to-date currency, which helps instructor to construct a suitable system in the course structure and curriculum, as well as to enrich the teaching content and to increase teaching effectiveness. The selection of original edition of English textbook in microbiology course is useful to train high-quality biological talents possessing international view and the adaptive ability of globalization process.

OBJECTIVETo observe the variation and significance of natural killer T (NKT) cells in patients with severe multiple injuries.

METHODSPeripheral blood was drawn from 30 patients with severe multiple injuries and 20 healthy individuals. NKT cells and the subsets of NKT cells were stained and analyzed on fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) using Cellquest software. The level of IL-4 and IFN-gamma in blood serum was detected by ELISA.

RESULTSThe proportion of NKT cells was significantly increased. CD4+ NKT cells was increased (t equal to -3.11, P less than 0.01) and CD4+CD8+NKT (double negative NKT, DN NKT) cells decreased in patients with severe multiple injuries compared with healthy controls (t equal to 2.99, P less than 0.01). There was a positive correlation between the proportion of NKT cells and injury severity score (ISS) by Spearman correlation analysis (r equal to 0.70, P less than 0. 01). The level of IFN-gamma was significantly decreased and the level of IL-4 significantly increased in patients with severe multiple injuries.

CONCLUSIONSWe demonstrate that human NKT cells are increased in trauma patients. Most significantly, there is an association between ISS and NKT cells. The increased CD4+NKT cells may contribute to the reduction of Th1 cytokine production and the growth of Th2 cytokine production, leading to the suppression of immunity after injury.

Cytokines ; blood ; Humans ; Multiple Trauma ; immunology ; Natural Killer T-Cells ; immunology ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology ; Trauma Severity Indices

AIMTo investigate antimalarial mechanism of Qinghaosu ( QHS) and its derivatives.

METHODSThe electronic structure of QHS and its derivatives were completely optimized and calculated at B3LYP/6-31G * level, while the route was at HF/STO-3G level.

RESULTSThe peroxide bridge is the active center of QHS and induced by ferrous iron to produce cyclic product.

CONCLUSIONHeme can link with QHS derivatives.

Antimalarials ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Artemisia ; chemistry ; Artemisinins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Electron Transport ; Free Radicals ; chemistry ; Heme ; chemistry ; Models, Chemical ; Peroxides ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quantum Theory

Objective To evaluate the association between total fluid intake and the time of urination per day and the risk of bladder cancer. Methods A population-based case-control study was conducted in urban Shanghai, China, during January 1996 to December 1998. The study included 608 incident cases of bladder cancer and 607 age- and sex-matched controls. Unconditional logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratios(ORs)and their corresponding 95%confidence intervals(95%CIs)for bladder cancer associated with frequency of urination, after adjusted for age, gender, smoking status, history of occupation with high risk, history of bladder infections, body mass index and other confounding factors. The level of statistical significance was set at 0.05(two-sided). Results No significant trend was observed for the association between total fluid intake, time of nighttime urination and the risk of bladder cancer. Increasing time of urination during daytime was associated with decreased risk of bladder cancer(P for trend=0.014). ORs(95%CIs)for subjects who voided 4 times, 5 times and 6 or more times per day[0.72(0.49-1.05),0.60(0.41-0.87)and 0.62(0.43-0.90), respectively], when compared with those with less than 4times per day after adjustment of confounding factors. Data showed that smokers and nonsmokers who voided at least 6 times per day had the ORs of 0.72(95%CI: 0.45-1.15)and 0.46(95%CI:0.25-0.87)when compared to their counterparts who voided 3 times or less per day during the daytime. Subjects who urinated at least 6 times per day and consumed more than 1500 ml of total fluid per day experienced a significant 57% reduction in risk compared to subjects who urinated 3 times or less and consumed less than 750 ml of total daily fluid intake. Conclusion Increased urination frequency and total fluid intake, especially among those who never smoked might be associated with a reduced risk of bladder cancer.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of hair dermal papilla and its regulatory role in the growth cycle of the hair follicles.

METHODSSingle hair follicles were isolated from surgical specimens of human scalp and cultured in Williams E medium. The growth of the hair follicle was measured and the morphology and structure of the dermal papilla in the different growth cycles were observed continuously.

RESULTSThe hair follicle could grow in the medium for 12 days at the average growth rate of 0.2-0.3 mm/day. The flat and round dermal papilla lay at the bottom of the hair bulb in the telogen and anagen stages. In the hair follicle with accelerated growth, the dermal papilla became elongated, loosened, and closely adhered to the hair matrix. In the catagen stage the dermal papilla shrunk, and became separated from the hair matrix. A new hair bulb was regenerated when the hair follicle was transected at a low level. The hair follicle stopped growing after transection at a higher position.

CONCLUSIONThe hair dermal papilla is the essential for hair follicle growth, and plays an important role in regulating the hair growth cycle.

Dermis ; cytology ; growth & development ; Hair ; growth & development ; Hair Follicle ; cytology ; growth & development ; Humans ; Tissue Culture Techniques

OBJECTIVETo study the sedative, hypnotic and antiseizure effects of the compound preparation of gardenia oil and jujube seed oil in mice and investigate the interaction of the two drugs in this preparation.

METHODSThe compound preparation was administered intragastrically in mice, whose spontaneous activity was observed along with their tolerance of the preparation after long-term administration. The hypnotic effect of the compound was assessed by investigating the changes in the pentobarbital sodium-induced sleeping. The compound was tested for its antiseizure effect in mice with pentetrazole-induced clonic and tonic convulsion. Diazepam was used as the standard control in all experiments.

RESULTSThe jujube seed oil, the gardenia oil and their compound all inhibited spontaneous activities of the mice. Compared with diazepam, the compound showed slow action in producing the sedative effect, which increased gradually with prolonged drug administration without obvious drug tolerance responses. The compound and the two oils all showed synergistic action with pentobarbital sodium in inducing sleeping of the mice. Prescription study showed that the compound produced stronger sedative and hypnotic effects than either of the oils. The two oils and the compound did not show significant antiseizure effects in mice.

CONCLUSIONThe compound of jujube seed oil and gardenia oil has sedative and hypnotic effects in mice, and the two oils in the compound show obvious synergistic effect.

Animals ; Anticonvulsants ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gardenia ; chemistry ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Plant Oils ; pharmacology ; Seeds ; chemistry ; Ziziphus ; chemistry

The rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) is a prominent component of the descending modulatory system involved in the control of spinal nociceptive transmission. In the current study, we investigated melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) expression in the RVM, where the neurons involved in modulation of nociception reside. Using a line of mice expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the control of the MC4R promoter, we found a large number of GFP-positive neurons in the RVM [nucleus raphe magnus (NRM) and nucleus gigantocellularis pars α (NGCα)]. Fluorescence immunohistochemistry revealed that approximately 10% of MC4R-GFP-positive neurons coexpressed tyrosine hydroxylase, indicating that they were catecholaminergic, whereas 50%-75% of those coexpressed tryptophan hydroxylase, indicating that they were serotonergic. Our findings support the hypothesis that MC4R signaling in RVM may modulate the activity of serotonergic sympathetic outflow sensitive to nociceptive signals, and that MC4R signaling in RVM may contribute to the descending modulation of nociceptive transmission.
Animals ; Female ; Male ; Medulla Oblongata ; cytology ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Neural Pathways ; cytology ; metabolism ; Neurons, Afferent ; cytology ; metabolism ; Nociception ; physiology ; Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Serotonergic Neurons ; metabolism ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the time trends of colorectal cancer incidence rates in urban Shanghai from 1973 to 2005.

METHODSData on the incidence rates of colorectal cancer were obtained from a population-based cancer registry in Shanghai. A total of 32 962 colon cancer patients and 24 662 rectal cancer patients were registered. Population estimation were based on periodic censuses, with age- and sex-specific annual estimates derived for the remaining years. The rates were adjusted to the world standard population by using the direct method. Annul percent changes (APCs) in rates were estimated by means of a linear regression of the logarithm of the respective rates on calendar, weighted by the number of incidence cases.

RESULTSThe incidence rates of colorectal cancer increased steadily during 1973 to 2005, the age-adjusted incidence rates of colon cancer increased from 6.09 and 5.70 to 14.70 and 14.35 per 100 000 in male and female respectively. The APCs were 3.03% (t = 14.77, P < 0.01) and 3.21% (t = 22.15, P < 0.01). The rates of rectal cancer increased from 7.68 and 6.51 to 11.45 and 8.28 per 100 000 in male and female respectively. The APCs were 1.34% (t = 7.28, P < 0.01) and 0.93% (t = 7.34, P < 0.01). The top APCs for colon and rectal cancer in female were 5.86% and 2.79% at age above 85 and in male those were 4.64% and 2.38% at age of 80-. The APCs of colon cancer were greater than those of rectal cancer at the groups above 45 years old. The average ages when diagnosed were delayed from 57 - 60 to 66 - 70 during these 33 years. The average diagnosed ages of colon cancer were later than those of rectal cancer slightly (from 2003 to 2005, the onset age of male colon cancer: 68.61 +/- 12.17, male rectal cancer: 66.81 +/- 12.62, t = 4.90, P < 0.01; female colon cancer: 69.20 +/- 12.13, female rectal cancer: 67.75 +/- 12.54, t = 3.81, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe incidence rates of colorectal cancer increased steadily during 1973 to 2005, especially for colon cancer. Further research is needed to identify the causes resulting in these changes.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sex Distribution ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVESTo transfer 1.3-fold-overlength genome of HBV expression plasmid into HepG2 cells, and observe the dynamic changes of viral replication as well as expression in the transfected cells.

METHODS4.1 kb fragment of HBV genome, derived from pGEM-HBV, was cloned into Hind III site of the eukaryotic expression vector pCDNA3.1 to construct the recombinant plasmid pHBV. Then HepG2 hepatoma, cells were transfected with pHBV, using Lipofectamine2000 transfection reagent. After 24, 48, 72 hours, the levels of HBsAg and HBeAg in the supernatant of HepG2 cells were determined with Abbott MEIA Kit. Intracellular viral DNA and RNA were analyzed by Southern and northern blot hybridization. In addition, viral-specific proteins (HBsAg and HBcAg) were assayed by immunofluorescence staining.

RESULTSThe expression vector pCDNA3.1 was constructed successfully. The levels of HBsAg were 5.36+-0.25, 13.42+-1.24, 7.52+-0.43, and the values of HBeAg were 9.16+-0.32, 22.75+-1.49, 15.96+-1.03 after 24, 48, 72 hours, respectively. All expected HBV replicative intermediates and specific transcripts were verified by Southern and northern blot analysis. The HBsAg-positive cells peaked after 24 hours, and then dropped slowly. HBsAg positive staining scattered in the cytoplasm, whereas HBcAg lied maily in the cytoplasm apart from nuclears.

CONCLUSIONSThis recombinant plasmid, which initiates viral replication efficiently in infected cells, is expected as a novel tool for investigating HBV replication in vitro.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; virology ; DNA, Viral ; genetics ; Eukaryotic Cells ; virology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral ; Genome, Viral ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; virology ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Transfection ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Virus Replication