Objective To study the influence of nitric oxide (NO) in rats with anemia in chronic disease (ACD) and the effect of NO on the expression of transferrin receptor (TfR) in bone marrows and to provide experimental evidence for the prevention and treatment of ACD. Methods The conventional animal model of rheumatoid arthritic (RA) was established by injection of Freund's complete adjuvant. On the basis of this model, we injected Freund's complete adjuvant repeatedly to establish the ACD model. The rats were randomly assigned into three groups (Group A: control group; Group B: inflammatory group; Group C: inflammatory+NO inhibitory agent group). The histopathological changes of the toe joints of the rats were observed and the contents of NO, Hb and nitric oxide synthetase (NOS), and the expression of TfR were measured in the three groups. Results In Group B, the contents of NO and NOS in the serum were higher than those in Group A; TfR expression in bone marrow cells was lower than that in Group A, and anemia was more severe than that in Group A. After administrating NOS inhibitory agent (L-NAME), anemia was improved; the contents of NO and NOS remarkably decreased compared with those in Group B, but were still higher than those in Group A; TfR in bone marrow cells obviously increased compared with that in Group B, but was still lower than that in Group A. Conclusions NO may play an important role in the pathogenesis of ACD and regulation of TfR on ACD, thereby providing experimental evidence for further study of the pathogenesis of ACD. It is helpful in hindering the development of anemia by reducing the NO level as early as possible, and is a new way of treating ACD.

Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Trichothiodystrophy Syndromes ; etiology

To investigate the effects of sorafenib and octreotide combination treatment on cellular proliferation and explore the underlying molecular mechanisms by using an in vitro cell culture system with the human hepatoma cell line, HepG2. HepG2 cells were treated with different concentrations of sorafenib and octreotide alone or in combination. Untreated HepG2 cells were used as controls. Treatment-induced cytotoxicity was determined with the cell counting kit-8 by Sigma-Aldrich, and rate of apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. Fluorescent microscopy was used to observe rates of cell growth under the various treatments. Treatment-induced changes in protein expressions were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)) and Western blotting (for the Mcl-1 apoptosis mediator and the ERK1/2 and PERK1/2 kinases). Sorafenib and octreotide, used alone or in combination, inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells. Combination treatment was more effective than either mono-treatment (F = 200.398, P less than 0.05). Fluorescent microscopy showed that combination treatment stimulated phosphatidylserine, the marker of early apoptosis, better than either mono-treatment. VEGF expression in cultures exposed to combination treatment was also significantly lower than in mono-treatment or untreated control cultures (F = 1019.725, P less than 0.05). Western blotting showed that octreotide mono-treatment had no effect on Mcl-1 expression (vs. control group; P more than 0.05) and that combination treatment significantly lowered Mcl-1 expression (vs. mono-treatment and control groups; P less than 0.05). None of the treatments affected ERK1/2 expression (all, P more than 0.05), while all treatments significantly lowered PERK1/2 expression (vs. control group; F = 2.401, P less than 0.05) and the combination treatment lowered PERK1/2 significantly more than either mono-treatment (P less than 0.05). Sorafenib and octreotide can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in the human hepatoma cell line, HepG2. Combination treatment is significantly more efficacious (P less than 0.05) and produced synergistic effects. The mechanism underlying this phenomenon may depend on synergistic inhibition of VEGF, the anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1, and the proliferation-inducing PERK1/2.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Benzenesulfonates ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Hep G2 Cells ; drug effects ; Humans ; Niacinamide ; analogs & derivatives ; Octreotide ; pharmacology ; Phenylurea Compounds ; Pyridines ; pharmacology

To study whether there was an anti-cardiac myosin antibody (AMA) in serum of patients with myocardial infarction (AMI), relationship between AMA and the prognosis in patients with AMI was investigated. In 67 patients with acute AMI, AMA was assayed by ELISA and left ventricular structure and cardiac function were examined by echocardiography at the end of the first week after infarction and during a 6-month follow-up. The patients with AMI were divided into AMA-positive group and AMA- negative group. The parameters of left ventricular end-diastolic function and prognosis were compared between the two groups. Results showed that the AMA was positive in 18 patients with AMI, with a positive rate of 26.87%, while it was negative in 20 health donors. The locations of myocardial infarction in the two groups were similar. There were significant differences in Killip class I (22.22 % vs 55.10%, P＜0.05), decreasing of wall motion and ventricular aneurysm (92.85% vs 37.5%, P＜0.01) between the positive group and the negative group. During a 6-month follow-up, the mortality was higher in AMA positive group than in AMA negative group (38.89% vs 10.20%, P＜0.05). It is concluded that AMA can be detected in serum of patients with AMI and can serve as an important autoimmune marker. The autoimmune response might take place in AMI. AMA was associated with the left ventricular remodeling and the prognosis of AMI.

To study whether there was an anti-cardiac myosin antibody (AMA) in serum of patients with myocardial infarction (AMI), relationship between AMA and the prognosis in patients with AMI was investigated. In 67 patients with acute AMI, AMA was assayed by ELISA and left ventricular structure and cardiac function were examined by echocardiography at the end of the first week after infarction and during a 6-month follow-up. The patients with AMI were divided into AMA-positive group and AMA- negative group. The parameters of left ventricular end-diastolic function and prognosis were compared between the two groups. Results showed that the AMA was positive in 18 patients with AMI, with a positive rate of 26.87%, while it was negative in 20 health donors. The locations of myocardial infarction in the two groups were similar. There were significant differences in Killip class I (22.22 % vs 55.10%, P＜0.05), decreasing of wall motion and ventricular aneurysm (92.85% vs 37.5%, P＜0.01) between the positive group and the negative group. During a 6-month follow-up, the mortality was higher in AMA positive group than in AMA negative group (38.89% vs 10.20%, P＜0.05). It is concluded that AMA can be detected in serum of patients with AMI and can serve as an important autoimmune marker. The autoimmune response might take place in AMI. AMA was associated with the left ventricular remodeling and the prognosis of AMI.

Objective To investigate the effects of smad7 on transdifferentiation and collagenⅠsynthesis in advanced glyeosylation end-products(AGE)-stimulated NRK52E cells.Methods NRK52E cells were transferred by pTet-on plasmid system and the cell lines of doxycycline(Dox)-regulated Smad7 expression were selected for the study.Transnuclear location of p-Smad2/3 was examined with immunocytochemistry.The mRNA and protein expressions of Smad7,?-SMA,E-cadherin,collagenⅠwere detected with RT-PCR and Western blot. Results AGE-induced expressions of Smad7 mRNA and protein were further increased in NRK52E cells by the addition of Dox in a dose-dependent manner.Overexpression of Smad7 caused a marked inhibition of p-Smad2/3 transnuclear location at 30 min(68.3% vs 31.2%,P

OBJECTIVETo define the profile and risk factors of sexual attitude and behavior of rural women.

METHODSUsing stratified cluster sampling, tape-recorded interviews and face to face interviews were carried out among 606 rural women.

RESULTS24.6% of the women being studied accepted the idea of "premarital sexual intercourse" and thought "premarital sexual intercourse between a couple" acceptable accounted for 34.2%, 14.7% and 4% of the women reported having had premarital sexual intercourse and premarital induced abortion respectively. 5.0% of the women admitted having had sexual intercourse during menstruation. 4% and 3% of the women under study accepted "extramarital sexual intercourse" and "paid sexual intercourse" if they were in need of money. None of the women reported ever having had extramarital sex or paid sex. The results derived from two different methods did not differ significantly. Logistic rgression suggested that age, education and ethnicity were associated with attitude towards premarital sex, and age was associated with premarital sexual behavior.

CONCLUSIONSex education need to be promoted and targeted among rural population at early age. "Tape-recorded interview" method did not show a better validity in this study.

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Contraception Behavior ; statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Middle Aged ; Risk-Taking ; Rural Population ; statistics & numerical data ; Sampling Studies ; Sex Education ; Sexual Behavior ; statistics & numerical data ; Sexual Partners ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases ; prevention & control ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo isolate and identify Streptococcus mutans (Sm) and Streptococcus sobrinus (Ss) in dental plaque of children with high dmft and no caries by selective medium, biochemical methods and arbitrarily primed-polymerase chain reaction (AP-PCR).

METHODSA total of 401 3-4-year-old children from seven kindergartens were recruited using cluster sampling and their dental caries status were examined. From 30% of children with the highest dmft score (dmft >/= 5), 20 children were chosen randomly as test group and 20 age and gender-matched caries-free children were selected as control. Plaque samples were collected from buccal surfaces of the molars and plated onto TYCSB plate. Sm and Ss were primarily identified by colony morphology and biochemical characteristics. Then chromosomal DNA of the strains was isolated and Sm or Ss were confirmed by AP-PCR.

RESULTSThe proportion positive for Sm and Ss in children with high dmft was 100% and 40% respectively while that in caries-free children was 75% and 5% by AP-PCR analysis. The differences were statistically significant between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSThe proportions positive for Sm and Ss detected by AP-PCR method were significantly higher in children with high dmft than in caries-free children and it is a risk factor for high dmft in deciduous teeth harboring Sm and Ss.

Child, Preschool ; Dental Caries ; microbiology ; Dental Plaque ; microbiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Streptococcus mutans ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Streptococcus sobrinus ; genetics ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo screen the tumor specific antigens of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in the serum of the patients.

METHODSTwo-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) was employed to screen the specific biomarkers of NPC in the sera from 42 healthy volunteers, 37 NPC patients with lymph node metastasis and 27 NPC patients without lymphatic metastasis.

RESULTSAfter pretreatment including albumin and immunoglobulin (IgG) depletion and desalting, the sera were subjected to 2-DE and image analysis. The differentially expressed protein spots were identified by MALDI-TOF-MS. Sera pretreatment resulted in better repeatability and resolution on the reference gel because of albumin and IgG depletion. From optimized 2-DE gel images, 29 spots indicating differential protein expression were identified by MALDI-TOF-MS to represent 23 proteins. Transferrin, ZNF544 protein, transthyretin, FAD-synthetase and NM23-H1 proteins were down-regulated and 12-lipoxygenase, serum amyloid A1 protein precursor, cytochrome P450, sICAM-1, cathepsin G and lysine-specific histone demethylase 1 were upregulated in the two groups of NPC patients as compared with the healthy group. Increased expressions of 12-lipoxygenase, sICAM-1, cathepsin G and lysine-specific histone demethylase 1 were detected in NPC patients with lymph node metastasis as compared with the patients without lymph node metastasis, but heat shock protein 70 was expressed only in NPC patients with lymph node metastasis.

CONCLUSIONThe 2-DE-based serum proteome analysis can be useful in detecting the protein expression alterations due to carcinogenesis and development of NPC, and the newly discovered biomarkers might help in the diagnosis of NPC.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Proteome ; metabolism ; Proteomics ; methods ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) in the early phase on the atherosclerosis and the level of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1(PAI-1). METHODS: Twenty-eight rabbits were randomly assigned to 4 groups: Group A, sham operation (n=7); Group B, ovariectomized without estradiol (n=7); Group C, ovariectomized with low-dose estradiol (n=7); and Group D, ovariectomized with high-dose estradiol (n=7). All rabbits were given 1% cholesterol diet for 12 weeks. Levels of blood lipid, estradiol, and PAI-1 were measured before the operation and at the end of the 4th and 12th weeks. Twelve weeks later, we took the aortas for pathological analysis and calculated the areas of atherosclerotic plaque. RESULTS: After 12 weeks, the estradiol level of Group B was significantly lower than that of Group A, and that of Group D was obviously higher than Group A. There was no significant difference between Group C and A. The concentrations of total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in Group B significantly increased compared with Group A (P<0.01). The levels of TC and LDL-C of Group C and D were significantly lower than those of Group A. Whereas the concentrations of triglyceride (TG) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in Group B were lower than those of Groups A, C and D (P<0.01). In contrast to Groups A, C and D, the level of PAI-1 was significantly higher in the Group B (P<0.01), without significant differences among Groups A, C and D. The area of atherosclerotic lesion of aorta in Group B was significantly bigger than that of Group A, C and D. The areas of aortic atherosclerotic plaque in Group C and D were obviously smaller than those of Group A (P<0.01). CONCLUSION Transdermal estrogen replacement therapy in the early phase can improve the metabolism of the serum lipids, reduce the level of PAI-1, and probably provide the protective effect on the atheroma formation.
Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Estradiol ; administration & dosage ; Estrogen Replacement Therapy ; Female ; Ovariectomy ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; blood ; Rabbits ; Triglycerides ; blood