@@

Objective: To develop a reporter gene system based on transient transfections with a NF-?B responsive reporter gene to detect the bioactivity of IL-1? and IL-1 receptor antagonist.Methods: NF-?B reporter and Dual-Luciferase assays were applied to measure the bioactivity of IL-1? and IL-1 receptor antagonist in mouse EL4 cells(some subclones of EL4 cells expressed high level of IL-1 receptor on cell surface).pNF-?B-luc and pRL-TK, used as an internal control,were co-transfected into EL4 cells and then the IL-1? was added.Results: The results indicated that IL-1? was able to induce the expression of this luciferase,which could be blocked by IL-1 receptor antagonist. The optimal dose of IL-1? was 5(?g/L) in Dual-Luciferase assay,whose bioactivity can be effectively inhibited by IL-1ra at 50 ?g/L.Conclusion: We have established a new method to detect the bioactivity of IL-1? and IL-1 receptor antagonist,which can give repeatable results.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the application value of combined detection of HbA2 and HbF for the screening of thalassemia among a population of childbearing age in Quanzhou, Fujian, and determine the optimal cut-off values for the region. METHODS: Capillary hemoglobin electrophoresis and genetic testing for α and β globin gene mutations were simultaneously carried out on 11 428 patients with suspected thalassemia. Statistical methods were used to analyze the distribution of various types of thalassemia and compare the performance of HbA2 and HbF measurement for the screening of various types of thalassemia. The optimal cut-off values for HbA2 and HbF were determined with the ROC curves. RESULTS: 4591 patients with α, β, and αβ compound thalassemia were identified by genetic testing. The most common genotypes for α and β thalassemia included --SEA/αα and β654/βN, β41-42/βN, and β17/βN. The ROC curves were drawn to compare the performance of HbA2 screening for α-, β-, αβ-compound, static α-, mild α-, and intermediate α-thalassemia, and the maximum area under the curves was 0.674, 0.984, 0.936, 0.499, 0.731, 0.956, and the optimal cut-off values for HbA2 were 2.45%, 3.25%, 3.65%, 2.95%, 2.55%, 1.75%, respectively. CONCLUSION HbA2 is an efficient indicator for identifying intermediate types of α-, β-, and αβ compound thalassemia. The combination of HbA2 and HbF measurement can effectively detect carriers for β-thalassemia mutations.
Genotype ; Hemoglobin A2/genetics* ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Mutation ; alpha-Thalassemia ; beta-Thalassemia/genetics*

Objective To investigate the effect of U50488H on the ultrastructure and organ function in septic shock rats. Methods Forty SD male rats were randomly(random number) divided into 5 groups: sham group, septic shock group, U50488H+septic shock group, nor-BNI+U50488H+septic shock group, and nor-BNI+septic shock group, with 8 rats in each group. Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) was performed to induce septic shock in the septic shock group. Rats in the U50488H+septic shock group were treated with U50488H injection by intravenous at the shock point, and other procedures were the same as the septic shock group. Rats in the nor-BNI+U50488H+septic shock group were treated with nor-BNI injection by intravenous 3.5 h after abdomen closed, and other procedures were the same as the U50488H+septic shock group. Except for U50488H injection, rats in the nor-BNI+septic shock group received procedures the same as the nor-BNI+U50488H+septic shock group. Albumin, cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and N terminal pro B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in serum were measured at abdomen-closed, 3, 6, and 12 h after CLP. The changes of histology and ultramicro structure under electron microscope of lung, heart, liver and kidney of rats were observed at 12 h after CLP. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 19.0. Comparison among groups was carried out using ANOVA, and Student's t-test was used for multiple comparisons as post-hoc. Results At 6 and 12 h of CLP, serum albumin of the septic shock group were significantly lower than those of the sham group (P<0.01), while those in the cTnI and NT-pro BNP groups were higher at 3, 6, and 12 h of CLP (P<0.01). Compared with the septic shock group, serum albumin of the U50488H+septic shock group increased significantly (P<0.01), whereas the serum levels of cTnI and NT-pro BNP decreased remarkably at 3, 6 and 12 h of CLP (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively). Compared with the sham group, the alveolar wall was severely damaged, the alveolar septum and blood vessel wall were thickened obviously; the myocardial fiber was swollen, necrotic, and the infiltration of central granulocyte was increased significantly; hepatocyte showed edema, vacuolar-like steatosis, fatty degeneration, spotty and focal necrosis; and slight edema and vacuolar degeneration were found in the glomerulus endothelial in the septic shock group. Compared with the septic shock group, the ultrastructural damage of the lung, heart, liver and kidney of the U50488H+ septic shock group was significantly improved. All the above effects of U50488H could be blocked by nor-BNI (a selective κ-opioid receptor antagonist) (P<0.01). Conclusions U50488H can promote the recovery of serum albumin, and protect organ function in septic shock rats.