Objective To investigate the daily intake of dietary Cu and Mn and to study the serum concentration reference values of copper and manganese of healthy adults in Ji'nan urban area.Methods From August 2007 to January 2008,1 005 Ji'nan urban healthy subjects were recruited for filling in seven days dietary intakes questionnaire to investigate the dietary Cu and Mn daily intake.Then atomic absorption spectrometry was applied to determine the concentration of serum Mn and Cu after the samples were digested by microwave.Results The dietary daily intake of Cu and Mn of Ji'nan urban healthy adults were 1.78 mg and 4.21 mg respectively.Cu intake of male was higher than that of female(P

Gastric cancer is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide. In China, approximately 42%of new cancer cas-es are documented. However, the prognosis of advanced gastric cancer remains poor because of high recurrence and metastatic rates. In gastric cancer patients with peritoneal metastasis, malignant bowel obstruction (MBO) is often detected. Many of these patients endure excruciating pain because of ineffective diagnosis and treatment. In recent years, the symptoms of many patients with MBO have been effectively relieved after somatostatin and other drugs have been administered. Other patients with MBO have been provided the chance to undergo chemotherapy, and their survival time has been prolonged. Hence, the diagnosis and treatment of these patients could be im-proved by further advancements in basic and clinical research in cancer therapy.

Th2 cytokines play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis. To investigate the effect of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) on the production of Th2 cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-5 in allergic rhinitis, a model of allergic rhinitis was established in SD rats. The expression level of p38 MAPK mRNA in PBMCs was detected by means of real time quantitative RT-PCR. The p38 MAPK activity in PBMCs was detected by Western blotting. PBMCs were cultured with various concentrations of p38 MAPK inhibitor SB 239063 or without the treatment, and then IL-4, IL-5 levels of the supernatant were determined by using sandwich ELISA. The results showed that mRNA expression and activity of p38 MAPK in PBMCs were significantly higher in allergic rhinitis rats than in control rats (P<0.05). The p38 MAPK inhibitor SB 239063 decreased the production of IL-4 and IL-5 in a dose-dependent manner. It is concluded that p38 MAPK plays an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis which is associated with Th2 cytokines release.

Objective To study the differences of chromosomal structure among Yersinia pestis strains isolated from China,and to investigate the reasons of chromosomal rearrangement events occurred in Yersinia pestis as well as the possibility of strain identification and phylogenetic analysis based on the chromosomal rearrangement features.Methods According to the genome sequence data downloaded from web of National Center for Biotechnology Information (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genome),alignment of all the coding sequences (CDSs) among five strains(American strain CO92 as reference and other four completely sequenced strains from Inner Mongolia,Jianchuan of Yunnan,Yulong of Yunnan,Naqu of Tibet in China named 91001,D182038,D106004 and Z176003 as comparison strains) was performed,and then the chromosome of Yersinia pestis was divided into several large DNA segments (named chromosomal plate in the text) according to the similarity of CDSs.Plate arrangement patterns in each strain' s chromosome and gene content of breakpoint regions were determined.Finally,genetic relationships among Yersinia pestis strains were analyzed on the basis of rearrangement diversity from paired-comparison.Results Yersinia pestis chromosomes of strains CO92,D182038,D106004,91001 were composed of 44 relatively independent plates,except strain Z176003.Gene order was very stable within each plate,while it was movable between the plates.Comparing with the reference strain CO92,13 rearrangement events occurred in the chromosomes of both strain D182038 and strain D106004,and 14 rearrangement events involved in Z176003,while 37 rearrangement events occurred in 91001.Paired-comparison data showed that only 8 plates order differences were existed between D106004 and Z176003.Forty-three breakpoint regions were identified on the chromosome of strain CO92,and 39 of them contained insertion sequences,and 25 of them were IS100.Conclusions Yersinia pestis genome represents a high degree of genetic flux,and chromosomal structures of strains are significantly different from each other.Chromosomal rearrangement events is closely related to the large number of insertion sequences in the Yersinia pestis chromosome.Rearrangement diversity among Yersinia pestis strains could reflect their genetic relationships.

Objective To evaluate the value of neck blood vessel colored doppler ultrasound (NBVCDU) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) to extracranial carotid artery stenosis in patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA).Methods After implementing NBVCDU and MRA examinations at the same time,45 TIA patients with at least one examination showing arteriostenosis in extracranial section were chosen to carry out cerebral digital subtraction angiography( DSA ),then the stenosis rate was calculated by American symptomatic carotid endarterectomy trial (NASCET) method.Results Regarding DSA as the gold standard,for 45 TIA patients that having 180 arteriostenosis in extracranial section, sensitivity,specificity,accuracy of NBVCDU examination was 93.51% ,95.15% ,94.44%, Kappa = 0.735; sensitivity,specificity,accuracy of MRA was 92.21% ,94.17% ,93.33% , Kappa =0.681; sensitivity,specificity,accuracy of NBVCDU combined with MPA was 97.40% ,99.03% ,98.33%, Kappa = 0.872.Conclusions The sensitivity and accuracy of arteriostenosis in extracranial section by NBVCDU examination is higher than that by MRA, and it is suitable in the crowd primary examination.NBVCDU combined with MRA has shown good consistence with DSA for diagnosing arteriostenosis in extracranial section,but can't replace DSA comlpetely.

Objective: To investigate whether plasma microRNAs has-let-7d and has-let-7e can be used as potential molecular markers for workers with occupational exposure to mercury. Methods: October 2013, the workers with occupational exposure to mercury who worked in a mercury thermometer factory and participated in occupational health examination were selected as subjects, and biological samples and basic data were collected. The subjects were divided into chronic mercury poisoning group,mercury absorption group,and control group,with 30 individuals in each group. AmicroRNA microarray combined with RT-qPCR was used to measure the expression of has-let-7d and has-let-7e in the three groups, the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the values of has-let-7d and has-let-7e in the diagnosis of occupational chronic mercury poisoning,a software platform was used to predict target genes. Gene ontology enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway analysis were also performed. Results: Compared with the control group, the chronic mercury poisoning group and the mercury absorption group had significant increases in the expression of has-let-7d and has-let-7e(P<0.05). The areas under the ROC curve for microRNAs has-let-7d and has-let-7e in the diagnosis of occupational chronic mercury poisoning were 0.912(95% confidence interval[CI]0.843-0.981)and 0.908(95%CI0.837-0.979),respectively,and there was a significant difference between them(P<0.001). Conclusion Plasma microRNAs has-let-7d and has-let-7e can be used as potential molecular markers for workers with occupational exposure to mercury.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of surgery added with antifungal agents in treatment of fungal rhinosinusitis. METHOD: One hundred and two consecutive patients with fungal rhinosinusitis were randomly divided into two groups: the control group (n=48) were treated with surgery alone, the treatment group (n=54) were treated with surgery plus antifungal therapy during operation and postoperation. The patients were followed up for 6 months and the relapse rates between two groups were compared. RESULT: No relapse was observed in the treatment group. The relapse rate of the control group was 20.8% (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION Surgery plus antifungal therapy can prevent the relapse of fungal rhinosinusitis significantly.
Adult ; Antifungal Agents ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fluconazole ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Sinusitis ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

Background/Aims: Galectin-3 plays a key pathogenic role in cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of galectin-3 on cardiomyopathy – related factors and cardiac contractility in a rat model of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy. Methods: Rats were divided into two sets, one for a functional study, the other for cardiac contractile-related protein evaluation. There were four groups in each set: sham operated and sham plus N-acetyllactosamine (N-Lac, a galectin-3 inhibitor; 5 mg/kg); bile duct ligated (BDL) and BDL plus N-Lac. Four weeks after surgery, ventricular level of galectin-3, collagen I and III ratio, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were measured either by Western blots or immunohistochemistry or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Blood pressure was measured by polygraph recorder. Cardiomyocyte contractility was measured by inverted microscopy. Results: Galectin-3 and collagen I/III ratio were significantly increased in cirrhotic hearts. TNFα and BNP were significantly increased in BDL serum and heart compared with sham controls. Galectin-3 inhibitor significantly decreased galectin-3, TNFα, and BNP in cirrhotic hearts but not in sham controls. N-Lac also significantly improved the blood pressure, and systolic and diastolic cardiomyocyte contractility in cirrhotic rats but had no effect on sham controls. Conclusion Increased galectin-3 in the cirrhotic heart significantly inhibited contractility via TNFα. Inhibition of galectin-3 decreased the cardiac content of TNFα and BNP and reversed the decreased blood pressure and depressed contractility in the cirrhotic heart. Galectin-3 appears to play a pathogenic role in cirrhotic cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVETo reveal the effects of UV-B radiation on the growth of medical plant Mentha piperita, simulate an enhanced UV-B radiation and evaluate intensity of radiation on the photosynthesis of M. piperita.

METHODThree different levels of UV-B radiation were set in the experiment which included: natural light control (0 W x m(-2)), light UV-B radiation stress (0.15 W x m(-2)) and heavy UV-B radiation stress (0.35 W x m(-2)). The chloroplast ultrastructure, photosynthesis indexes and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of the M. piperita were observed under the three treatments.

RESULTAlthough the chloroplast ultrastructure was destroyed to some degree under the light UV-B radiation stress, F(v)/(F)m, F(v)/F(o), qP, phiPS II and ETR could resume to the comparative level of natural light control. At the same time, qN increased firstly and decreased thereafter. But under the high strength UV-B radiation stress, the photosynthetic structures were badly destroyed, which could not recover through protecting mechanism by itself.

CONCLUSIONIt was showed that M. piperita was able to protect photosynthetic structures by increasing respiration and dissipation when photosynthetic capacity reduced under light UV-B radiation stress. It is demonstrated that M. piperita has high adaptation to light UV-B radiation stress, which is kind of promising medical plant for area with higher UV-B radiation.

Chlorophyll ; metabolism ; Chloroplasts ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; ultrastructure ; Mentha piperita ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; ultrastructure ; Photosynthesis ; radiation effects ; Ultraviolet Rays

Th2 cytokines play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis.To investigate the effect of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)on the production of Th2 cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-5 in allergic rhinitis,a model of allergic rhinitis was established in SD rats.The expression level of p38 MAPK mRNA in PBMCs was detected by means of real time quantitative RT-PCR.The p38 MAPK activity in PBMCs was detected by Western blotting.PBMCs were cultured with various concentrations of p38 MAPK inhibitor SB 239063 or without the treatment,and then IL-4,IL-5 levels of the supernatant were determined by using sandwich ELISA.The results showed that mRNA expression and activity of p38 MAPK in PBMCs were significantly higher in allergic rhinitis rats than in control rats(P<0.05).The p38 MAPK inhibitor SB 239063 decreased the production of IL-4 and IL-5 in a dose-dependent manner.It is concluded that p38 MAPK plays an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis which is associated with Th2 cytokines release.