Calcium, as a crucial signal molecule, plays an important role in the development process of immune cells and their functions. After T cell receptors or B cell receptors are stimulated or co-stimulated, the signaling pathways lead to Ca2+ influx and induce the increase of Ca2+ level in cells. Ca2+ signals have different short-time and long- term functions on T and B lymphocytes. Many immune deficiency disorders are resulted from the decrease of Ca2+ influx. This article reviewed the effects of calcium on the functions of T and B lymphocytes and its relationship with some immune deficiency disorders.

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the progression of diabetes mellitus. As a potent antioxidant, alpha-lipoic acid is able to clear free radicals and alleviate oxidative damages and therefore has been widely applied in the clinical management of diabetes mellitus. This article summarizes the clinical application of alpha-lipoic acid in alleviating diabetes mellitus-related oxidative damages, protecting vascular lesions, treating diabetic polyneuropathies, and modulating insulin sensitivity.

Objective To evaluate the role of lutein in preventing and slowing down age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods Literatures concerning lutein and AMD were collected by computerized search, manual search, expert consultations. The quality of included studies was evaluated. RevMan software 4.2was used for meta-analysis. Results Totally 9 studies were included, with a total OR of 0. 81 (range: 0. 71-0.92). Conclusion Lutein can, to some extent, prevent or slow down AMD.

Objective To analysis the β-globin gene mutation in β-thalassemia in the population of Wenzhou natives,and identify the major mutation in Wenzhou and further provide valuable information for genetic counseling,prenatal diagnosis and prevention programs in this region.Methods Patients with β-thalassemia were diagnosed and the genomics DNA were extracted from whole blood cells and amplified with PCR,sequenced and compared to the standard sequence.Some mutations were further identified by subcloned.Results 44 of 66 patients were diagnosed β-Thalassemia,9 mutations were found in the 44 sporadic patients with the sequence analysis,2 of which were known polymorphisms(exonl 59,IVS-2-665),3 belonged to the common mutations in Chinese(IVS-2-654,CD_(41/42)-TTCT and TATA box nt-28),2 were scarce abnormalities(CD_(47),CD_(66))and 2 novel variants(-24T→C,CD_(26A)→G,same sense mutation,unreported).Conclusion The mutations of β-globin gene in Han Chinese in Wenzhou are complex (9 mutations found in all),the rare and novel mutations are identified,which provide the valuable information for genetic counseling in Wenzhou.

Objective To establish a RP-HPLC method for the determination of psoralen and isopsoralen in Qianggu Capsules.Methods An Agilent C18(4.6 mm?250 mm,5 ?m)column was used.The methyl-water(45:55) was used as the mobile phase.The flow rate was 1.0 mL?min-1.The determination wavelength was at 246 nm.Results The linear range was 0.08～0.80 ?g,for psoralen,r=0.999 8,the average recovery rate was 99.3 %,RSD=1.4 %(n=5),and for isopsoralen,r=0.999 9,the average recovery rate was 98.5 %,RSD=0.8 %(n=5).The linear equation was Y=7 365.9X-102.7 for psoralen and Y=7 556.0X-65.3 for isopsoralen.Conclusion The method is simple,reliable,accurate,and can be applied to control the quality of Qianggu Capsules.

Objective To investigate the relationship on the excision repair cross complementing gene 1(ERCC1)‐4533/8092 site single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) and the susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) in Guangxi Zhuang population . Methods Polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) method was used to detect the ER‐CC1‐4533/8092 gene polymorphism in 88 cases with primary liver cancer and 82 cases of normal controls .Results There was no difference in the frequency distribution of ERCC1‐4533 in the case group and the control group ,the frequency distribution of the ERCC1‐8092 in the case group and the control group was different(P< 0 .05) .Compared with ERCC1‐8092 CC ,ERCC1‐C8092 CA/AA had higher risk of primary hepatocellular carcinoma(CA :OR=2 .556 ,95% CI:1 .345 -4 .855;AA :OR= 8 .667 ,95% CI:1 .000-75 .092) .ERCC1‐8092 C allele as a reference ,ERCC1‐8092 A allele can increase the risk of primary liver cancer (OR=2 .387 ,95% CI:1 .428-3 .992) .Conclusion The genetic polymorphisms of ERCC1‐8092 sites are associated with susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma in Guangxi Zhuang population .

Objective To study the effects of compound preparations which contain docosahexenoic acid (DHA),soybean lecithin,and vitamin A on memory ability of children and to compare the difference between two compound preparations that contain DHA from marine algae and from fish oil.Methods Totally 160 11-12-year-old healthy children who were studying in a primary school in Baoshan District of Shanghai were enrolled in this study.All the subjects signed the informed consent form.Subjects were randomly divided into three groups with random numbers:marine algae DHA group(n=53),fish oil DHA group(n=53),and control group(n=54).Subjects in the marine algae DHA group were given compound preparation which contained DHA form marine algae,soybean lecithin,and vitamin A;subjects in fish oil DHA group were given compound preparation which contained DHA form fish oil,soybean lecithin,and vitamin A.The dose of DHA(200 mg DHA per capsule)and other components in the two groups was equal.Subjects in the control group were given a placebo with same appearance.The trial lasted 30 days.Each subject took a capsule per day.Immediately before and after the trial,subjects were tested by using the clinical memory scale compiled by the Institute of Clinical Psychology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.Results Before the trial.there was no difference amongthree groups in terms of all items of clinical memory scale or memory quotient(all P>0.05).After the trial,except for associative learning(both P>0.05),the other items of the clinical memory scale and memory quotient in both marine algae DHA group and fish oil DHA group were significantly higher than those of control group(all P<0.05).No significant difference was noted between the marine algae DHA group and fish oil DHA group for all items of the clinical memory scale or memory quotient(all P>0.05).Conclusions DHA compounds can impreve the memory ability of children.DHAs with different sources have similar effect on memory ability.

We analyzed the best light intensity for callus induction and maintenance in Vitis vinifera and explored the mechanism of grape callus browning. Tender stem segments of grape cultivar "gold finger" were used to study the effects of different light intensities (0, 500, 1 000, 1 500, 2 000, 2 500, 3 000 and 4 000 Lx) on the induction rate, browning rate and associated enzyme activity and gene expression during Vitis vinifera callus formation. The callus induction rate under 0, 500, 1 000 and 1 500 Lx was more than 92%, significantly higher than in other treatments (P < 0.05). A lower browning rate and better callus growth were also observed during subculture under 1 000 and 1 500 Lx treatments. We found that chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid and coumaric acid contents were correlated with the browning rate of callus, among which chlorogenic acid content was positively correlated with the browning rate (P < 0.05). Peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activities were negatively correlated with the browning rate of callus (P < 0.01). The POD, PPO and phenylalanine ammonialyase (PAL) expression levels were positively correlated with the browning rate at P < 0.05 or P < 0.01. An appropriate light intensity for the tissue culture of Vitis vinifera was 1 000-1 500 Lx, higher or lower light intensities significantly impaired normal callus growth.
Caffeic Acids ; chemistry ; Catechol Oxidase ; chemistry ; Culture Media ; chemistry ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Light ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase ; metabolism ; Plant Stems ; enzymology ; radiation effects ; Tissue Culture Techniques ; Vitis ; enzymology ; radiation effects

Objective To assess the prevalence of urogenital infection with and genotype distribution of C.trachomatis among female sex workers (FSWs) from different entertainment venues in Wuzhou and Hezhou cities of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.Methods A total of 810 FSWs were recruited to this study by convenience sampling from entertainment venues in Wuzhou and Hezhou cities of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from July 2009 to September 2010.Based on the venues where they solicited clients,the FSWs were classified into three tiers,i.e.,high-tier,middle-tier and low-tier.Cervical swabs were collected from all of these subjects followed by detection of C.trachomatis with the Amplicor PCR test kit.Then,DNA was extracted from C.trachomatis-positive specimens and subjected to nested PCR assay targeting the ompA gene followed by bidirectional sequencing.The genotype of C.trachomatis was determined according to the sequence of ompA gene.Chi-square test was conducted to compare the urogenital infection rate and genotype distribution of C.trachomatis between different tiers of FSWs.Results Among the 805 FSWs,the prevalence rate of urogenital C.trachomatis infection was 20.0％ (161/805).Chi-square test showed that the prevalence rate of urogenital C.trachomatis infection was significantly lower in high-and middle-tier FSWs than in low-tier FSWs (x2 =3.97,5.95,respectively,both P ＜ 0.05).Nine genotypes of C.trachomatis were identified in these FSWs,with serotype F as the most prevalent genotype (39/154,25.3％).Low-tier FSWs showed a higher frequency of genotype E (x2 =5.02,P ＜ 0.05) but a lower frequency of genotype K (Fisher's Exact test,P =0.048) compared with middle-tier FSWs.Conclusions Low-tier FSWs show a high rate of urogenital infection with C.trachomatis,with serotype E as the prevalent type.Since C.trachomatis serovar E-infected patients are likely to be missed by symptom-based screening and preventive strategies,standardized screening for and efficient treatment of urogenital C.trachomatis infection should be enhanced among low-tier FSWs for the prevention of C.trachomatis transmission.

Aim To investigate the direct effects and mechanism of carvedilol on HERG channel stably expressing in human embryonic kidney-293(HEK293) cells.Methods Whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used to record HERG current and kinetic curves in single cells.Western blot methods were used to investigate the expression of HERG channel in different concentration of carvedilol.Result Carvedilol decreased HERG current in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC50 539.6 nmol?L-1,Hillslope-0.64.The time constants of onset of inactivation and deactivation were accelerated.Other kinetcs(activation,inactivation,recovery from inactivation)had no significant changes.Based on western result,carvedilol had no effect on the generation and trafficking of HERG protein.Conclusion Carvedilol inhibits the transfected HERG channels by influencing the open state which is the probable anti-arrhythmic mechanism.There is no relationship between carvedilol and HERG channel expression.