Objective:To investigate the potential pro-apoptotic activity of arsenic trioxide (ATO) in human leukemia HL-60 cells,as well as the potential mechanism with focus on mitochondrial pathway.Methods:After treatment with different concentrations of ATO (1 μg/mL,5 μg/mL or 10 μg/mL) for 24 h,apoptotic cell death was detected by flow cytometry,oxidative stress was determined by measuring MDA and GSH levels,the expression of apoptotic factors was detected by western blot,and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was determined by immunofluorescence staining.Results:ATO at the concentrations of 5 μg/mL or 10 μg/mL induces apoptotic cell death and increases oxidative stress in human leukemia HL-60 cells.ATO significantly increases the expression of pro-apoptotic factors (Bax and Caspase-3),whereas decreases the expression of anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2.Compared with the control group,ATO treatment significantly decreases the MMP level in HL-60 ceils.Conclusions:Arsenic trioxide induces apoptotic cell death through mitochondrial pathway in human leukemia HL-60 cells.

Objective: To study the antitumor effects of transmembrane TNF-? and secretory TNF-? in vivo. Methods: Three types of TNF-? cDNA plasmids (wild type TNF-?; transmembrane TNF-? mutant; secretory TNF-? mutant) were directly injected into tumor-tearing mice. Results: The three types of TNF-? could be expressed by tumor cells and all of them could inhibit evidently the rate of tumor growth. The tumor regression after treatment with transmembrane TNF-? mutant at the early stage was more significant than that with the other two types of TNF-?( P

Endodermal Sinus Tumor ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Vaginal Neoplasms ; pathology

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics of macrophage activation syndrome (MAS). Methods Clinical data was analyzed in 9 children who had been diagnosed as MAS in our hospital from Jan, 2003 to Aug, 2006. Results Seven children were boys, 2 children were girls, aged 5 months to 12 years. Clinical manifestations included long-term fever, hemophagocytic cell in bone marrow, anemia, arthritis, enlargement of lymph nodes, enlargement of liver and spleen, liver dysfunction, abnormal fat metabolism. Two cases had acute respiratory, distress syndrome(ARDS), 2 cases were complicated with multi- pie organ failure(MOF), two patients died. Glucocorticoid combined with immunosuppressive therapy were effective, HP(Plasma Exchange)was applied in one severe case and was shown to he effective. Conclusion MAS is a serious complication of JIA, especially in systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis. It is very im- portant to recognize and treat MAS earlier.

In order to ascertain prevalence rate of premarital sexual intercourse, unintended pregnancy and abortion, and evaluate associated factors of unintended pregnancy among undergraduates from all over China, the representative sample of unmarried undergraduates was obtained by using a multi-stage, stratified, probability cluster design, and data were collected by using a survey questionnaire. 62 326 available responders were gained. 11.6% of them acknowledged having experiences of premarital sexual intercourse (standardized prevalence rate of sexual intercourse was 13.8%). 31.5% of students active in premarital sex acknowledged undergoing unintended pregnancy. 76.2% of pregnant students selected abortion to end it. Of students active in premarital sex, 46.2% used contraception at the first sexual intercourse, 28.2% replied "always" using contraception in sexual intercourse. The rate of using condoms, oral contraceptives (OCs), and withdrawal among students who had used contraception was 52.0%, 31.0%, and 27.2% respectively. "No preparation for sex" (40.3%), "pleasure decrement" (32.1%), "won't-be-pregnancy in occasional sexual intercourse" (30.2%) were their common excuses for using no contraception. The identified risk factors for unintended pregnancy among students active in premarital sex by multivariate analysis were as follows: having no steady lover [having no steady lover vs having a steady lover: odds ratio (OR), 1.875; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.629-2.158], unaware of the course of conception (unaware vs aware: OR, 2.023; 95% CI, 1.811-2.260), considering abortion not endanger women's physical and mental health (no endangerment vs endangerment: OR, 2.659; 95% CI, 2.265-3.121), nonuse of contraception (never use vs always use: OR, 1.682; 95% CI, 1.295-2.185). Medical students were not less likely to experience an unintended pregnancy than nonmedical students (OR, 1.111; 95% CI, 0.906-1.287). The substantial proportion of unintended pregnancy among undergraduates indicates a need for convenient and targeted contraceptive education and services.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of therapeutic method of expelling wind, eliminating phlegm and promoting blood circulation (EWEPPB) in treating acute cerebral infarction (ACI) depending on the clinical and data platform of stroke clinical unit.

METHODSACI patients were randomly assigned to the control group (36 cases) treated by routine Western therapy alone and the treatment group (32 cases) with routine therapy plus Chinese medicinal compound for EWEPPB. The treatment course was 14 days. The scores of TCM symptom, the NIH stroke scale (NIHSS), and Barthel index (BI) were used for evaluating the effect of treatment.

RESULTSThe scores of TCM symptom and NIHSS decreased, and that of BI increased after treatment in both groups, and the treatment in the treatment group showed a effect significantly better than that in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEWEPPB is effective method in treating ACI, traditional Chinese compounds for EWEPPB could play a positive role in the stroke unit.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cerebral Infarction ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the replication and encapsidation of HBV mutants with the truncated C gene.

METHODSThe HBV mutants with the truncated C gene were constructed by molecular cloning and PCR-based deletion in vitro. The replication and encapsidation of HBV mutants were investigated by Southern blotting, PCR and real-time fluorescence PCR respectively after transfecting the HBV mutants plasmid into HepG2 cells by using liposome.

RESULTSThe C-truncated HBV mutant vectors were constructed successfully and confirmed exactly by clone sequencing and enzymes digestion. The C-truncated HBV mutants were replication defective, however, all types of HBV DNA could be detected positive in the cytoplasm and supernatant after co-transfecting the C-truncated HBV mutants plasmid and the helper constructs into HepG2 cells. The C-truncated HBV mutants were proved to produce 3-40 folds more progeny DNA than that of the wild-type HBV by DNA quantitative assay.

CONCLUSIONThe C-truncated HBV mutants are replication-deficient and could not replicate and encapsulate in the hepatocytes when transfected solely, however, the progeny HBV-variant viruses are encapsidated more effectively to secrete into supernatant when co-transfected with the helper construct which lacks part of 5 prime-proximal HBV RNA packaging signal Epsilon.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; genetics ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; Mutation ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Transfection ; Virus Replication

Objective To determine the bowel habits and its perceptions in the general population of Guangdong province. Methods Random clustered sampling involving permanent inhabitants aged 18-80 year was carried out under stratification of urban and suburban areas in Guangdong province. Questionnaire included the items on the characteristics of people being selected and their bowel habits. Results A total of 4103 residents (male 1878, female 2225) were investigated. Mean age among the responders was 42.81 ± 14.13 year. Among 4056 subjects (missing =47 ), 2972 subjects (73.3%) reported daily defecation, and 3951 subjects (97.4%) reported stool frequency between 3 times per week and three times per day. Two hundred and seventy subjects (6.6%) reported abnormal bowel habits by themselves. The stool frequency (OR=2.03, 95% CI:1.54-2.67) , forms of stool (OR=2.75, 95% CI: 2.35-3.22) and straining (OR=3.56, 95% CI:2.49-5.11) were significantly associated with self-reported abnormal bowel habits. Among 3949 subjects (missing= 154), 644 (16.3%) were defined as having abnormal bowel habits according to Rome Ⅱ criteria. There was poor agreement between self-reported abnormal bowel habits and that defined by Rome Ⅱ criteria (Kappa=0.312). Conclusion It seemed to be appropriate that the normal stool frequency was defined as bowel movements between 3 times per week and three times per day in the general population. The prevalence of self-reported abnormal bowel habits was lower than that defined by Rome Ⅱ criteria and the agreement between these two definitions was poor.

OBJECTIVEFragile X syndrome (FXS) may be identified by many methods, such as PCR assay and Southern blot. However, each method has its limits or shortcomings. This study explored the reliability of the rapid, convenient and inexpensive hair root fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP ) assay in the identification of FXS.

METHODSFMRP in hair roots was determined by immunohistochemistry assay in 80 healthy children, in 40 children with mental retardation of unknown etiology and in 12 family members in one pedigree of FXS. FXS was confirmed by 7-deza-dGTP PCR.

RESULTSThere was a high expression of FMRP in hair roots (> or =80%) in healthy children. Two children were confirmed with FXS by 7-deza-dGTP PCR in 40 children with mental retardation of unknown etiology. FMRP expression was 10% and zero respectively in the two children. The other 38 children had FMRP expression of more than 80%. FMRP was not expressed in the two cases of FXS from the pedigree of FXS.

CONCLUSIONSInexpensive, rapid and convenient hair root FMRP assay is reliable for the diagnosis of FXS and may be widely applied for screening and diagnosing FXS in children with mental retardation.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein ; analysis ; Fragile X Syndrome ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Hair ; chemistry ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

This study was purposed to evaluate a method to discriminate the action loci of anticancer agents in G(2) and M phases of cell cycle. The meta-amsacrine (m-AMSA) and vinblastine (VBL), already known as G(2) and M phase arrest agent respectively, were used to induce the arrest of MOLT-4 cells at G(2) and M phases, the change of DNA content was detected by flow cytometry, the morphology of arrested cells was observed by confocal microscopy so as to find the arrest efficacy difference of 2 anticancer agents. As a result, the flow cytometric detection showed that the arrested MOLT-4 cells displayed the raise of peaks in G(2) and M phases, but flow cytometric detection alone can not discriminate the difference between them. The observation with confocal microscopy showed that the MOLT-4 cells arrested by m-AMSA displayed the morphologic features in G(2) phase, while the MOLT-4 cells arrested by VBL displayed the morphologic features in M phase. This observation with confocal microscopy is helpful to discriminate the difference between them. In conclusion, the combination of flow cytometry with confocal microscopy is one of the effective methods to discriminate the kind of G(2) or M phase arresting agent of anticancer drugs.
Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Flow Cytometry ; G2 Phase ; drug effects ; Humans ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Tumor Cells, Cultured