Redox signal transduction, especially the oxidative modification of proein thiols, correlates with many diseases and becomes an expanding research area. However, there was rare method for quick and specific detection of protein thiols and their oxidative modification in living cells. In this article, we review the current chemical strategies for the detection and quantification of protein thiols and related cysteine oxidation. We also look into the future of the development of fluorescent probes for protein thiols and their potential application in the research of reactive cysteine proteomes and early detection of redox-related diseases.

Objective To analyse the differential expression of miRNAs in the brain of offsprings of hypothyroid and normal rats,and to explore the molecular mechanism underlying the effect of hypothyroidism on brain development in the offspring.Methods Forty-eight female Wistar rats were assigned to (1) control group (n =24),and (2) hypothyroid group after complete thyroidectomy (n =24).Serum TSH and Total thyroxine (T4) were measured one month after the surgery.Brain samples of fetal or postnatal rats were obtained during four different developmental stages:embryonic days (E) 13,E17,postnatal days (P) 0 and P7.The hippocampus and cortex were separated on P7.MiRNAs were isolated from tissues and two samples were used at each time point studied to reduce the influence of individual differences.The brain samples were detected by Gene Chip miRNA arrays (Affymetrix).Results In the brain tissues of fetal or neonatal rats of maternal hypothyroid rats,two miRNAs (mir-206,-324-5p) on E13,three miRNAs (mir-34c,-204,-194) in cortex on P7,and five miRNAs (mir-146b,-532-5p,-384-5p,-215,-212) in hippocampus on P7 were up-regulated by over 2 folds.Five miRNAs (mir-200b,-200c,-217,-672,-139-5p) on E17,one miRNA (mir-376-3p) on P0,and four miRNA (mir-672,-204,-335,-376-3p) in hippocampus on P7 were decreased by 50％ or more.Conclusion The miRNA expression profiles in the rat brain of offspring with maternal hypothyroidism are characterized by miRNA arrays.The identification of a subset of brain expressed miRNAs in the brain may explain the brain development abnormalities resulting from maternal hypothyroidism.

AIM: To observe the effect of crocetin on the apoptosis and the changes of its related regulating proteins caspase-3 and Bcl-2 expression induced by hydrogen peroxide (H_2O_2) in cultured cardiomyocytes. METHODS: Changes of cellular morphology were detected under microscope. Apoptosis rates of the cells were analyzed by PI staining with flow cytometry. Expressions of caspase-3 and Bcl-2 proteins in the cells were determined by immunofluorescence with flow cytometry. RESULTS: In the concentrations used, more severe morphological changes with higher apoptosis rate of the cultured myocardial cells were seen in each H_2O_2 group than that in control group. When treated with 1?10 -4 mol?L -1 H_2O_2, the caspase-3 was increased and Bcl-2 protein decreased remarkably in the cells. But each dosage of crocetin, especially the highest one (5?10 -5 mol?L -1, P

Objective To investigate the expression of DNM T1 and PDCD4 in Tongue Squamous cell carcinoma and their signif‐icance to Clinical .Methods The protein expression of DNM T1 and PDCD4 in 40 cases of TSCC tissues and The adjacent no tumor tissues were measured by Elivision Two Step immunohistochemical method(IHC) ,the relationship between DNM T1 ,PDCD4 and clinicopathological parameters were analyzed .Results There was positively over expression of DNM T1 while the expression of PD‐CD4 was at a low lever or lost in TSCC tissues ,the expression of two genes DNM T1 and PDCD4 in the adjacent no tumor tissues were in contrast ;there was a significant negative correlation between DNM T1 and PDCD4 expression in TSCC(r = - 0 .452 ,P<0 .05) .The expression of DNM T1 protein were associated with histopathological differentiation types ,regional lymph node metasta‐sis and TNM staging(P< 0 .05) ,it had nothing to do with age and gender ;the expression of PDCD4 protein were associated with regional lymph node metastasis and TNM staging(P< 0 .05) ,and it had nothing to do with age ,gender ,histopathological differenti‐ation types .Conclusion Implying the abnormal expression of DNM T1 and PDCD4 protein might be closely related to the develop‐ment and progression of TSCC .DNM T1 may be participates in the inactivation of PDCD4 expression ,and led to the development of the cancer at last .

Objective To study the different expression of microRNA(miRNA) including mir-29c,mir-200a,mir-145 in the mid-secretary endometrium and its relationship with infertility of endometriosis.Methods From August 2011 to February 2013,36 infertile cases with endometriosis confirmed by laparoscopy and pathology and excluded the other infertile factors in Department of Reproductive Medicine in Peking University Shenzhen Hospital were enrolled in this study,which were divided into 17 cases with stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ,19 cases with stage Ⅲ]-Ⅳ according to the revised classification American Fertility Society.Forty-four healthy women with male factor infertility were chosen as control group.The relative expression levels of mir-29c,mir-200a,mir-145 in the endometrium of women in two groups were detected by using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.Those women were followed up for pregnancy outcome of endometriosis group after assisted reproductive techniques (pregnancy and nonpregnancy group respectively).Results (1) The expression of miRNA between endometriosis and control groups:the average expression level of mir-29c,mir-200a,mir-145 in the endometrium of endometriosis group was 2.46 ± 1.98,3.20 ± 2.45,6.378 ± 3.275,which were significantly higher than 1.36 ± 1.05,2.04 ±1.16,4.548 ± 1.885 in control group (P =0.026,0.027,0.041,respectively).(2) The expression of miRNA between Ⅰ-Ⅱ stage and Ⅲ-Ⅳ:the average expression level of mir-29c,mir-200a,mir-145 in the endometrium was 0.53 ± 0.51,0.33 ± 0.26,0.048 ± 0.021 in patients with of stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ,while 0.26 ±0.18,0.28 ±0.12,0.045 ±0.016 in stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ respectively,there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups(P =0.191,0.661,0.753,respectively).(3) The expression of miRNA between pregnancy and non-pregnancy groups:the average expression level of mir-29c,mir-200a,mir-145 in the endometrium were 0.60 ± 0.30,1.23 ± 0.48,0.886 ± 0.238 in pregnancy group,while 2.64 ± 1.73,4.39 ± 2.58,7.199 ± 3.945 in non pregnancy group,there were statistically significant differences between the two groups(P =0.030,0.039,0.028,respectively).Conclusion Up-regulation of mir-29c,mir-200a,mir-145 in the endometrial tissue might play a role in endometriosis associated infertility.

Objective To investigate relationship between obstructive sleep apnea hypoventilation syndrome(OSAHS) and hypertension.Methods Questionnaire survey was conducted among 1573 local permanent residents in Guangzhou during March and June 2006 to understand prevalence of hypertension and snoring,and polysomnography monitoring was performed for 347 of them with moderate and severe snoring to estimate prevalence of OSAHS.Risk factors for hypertension was screened with multivariate logistic regression analysis.Results In total,1547 copies of valid questionnaires were collected,and 184 cases (11.9%) of hypertension were found with a prevalence of 10Department of Endocrinology,Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital,Taiyuan 030012,China 0%,49 of diabetes with a prevalence of 2.7%,and 212 of dyslipidemia with a prevalence of 10.4%.Prevalence of OSAHS was found in 34 of them (2.2% ) with Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) score equal to or greater than nine.Prevalence of hypertension in OSAHS group was 32.5%,much higher than that in non-snoring group (8.3% ) and snoring group ( 17.1% ).Results of logistic regression analysis showed that age,gender,OSAHS,diabetes and dyslipidemia all were high-risk factors for hypertension,with OSAHS ranking the third.Conclusion OSAHS is one of high-risk factors for hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of MTHFR C677T and MS A2756G polymorphism with semen quality in China. METHODS: The experimental group included 75 males with oligospermia, asthenospermia or teratospermia. The control group included 72 fertile males with normal fertility and sperm quality. The differences in the frequency of genetic polymorphism of MTHFR C677T and MS A2756G in the 2 groups were analyzed, and the plasma homocysteine (Hcy) level in both groups was detected. RESULTS: The frequency of MTHFR C677T genotypes (CT, TT and CT+TT) in the abnormal sperm group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05), and it was the same case for T allele between the 2 groups (P<0.05). There was no difference in the frequency of MS A2756G genotypes between the two groups (P>0.05). The Hcy level in abnormal sperm group was higher than that in the control group. In all subjects, the Hcy level of the MTHFR genotypes (CT, TT and CT+TT) was higher than that of the CC genotype, with no difference among the three MS A2756G genotypes. CONCLUSION CT and TT genotypes of MTHFR C677T are associated with abnormal sperm, which might be part of the pathogenesis of abnormal sperms. T allele may be the risk factor in China. The one mechanism of the association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and semen quality could be higher Hcy level. MS A2756G polymorphism may not associate with semen quality in China.
Alleles ; China ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Risk Factors ; Semen Analysis

Objective To investigate antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli (E.coli )isolated from patients with bloodstream infection,and provide evidence for rational use of antimicrobial agents in clinical practice.Methods BacT/A-lert automated blood culture system and VITEK 2 automated identification system were used for bacterial culture and identi-fication.Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and detection of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs)-producing strains were performed by Kirby-Bauer method.Results From 2009 to 2011 ,a total of 235 strains of E.coli were isolated from patients with bloodstream infection,90 (38.30%)of which were ESBLs positive strains.The resistant rates of ESBLs-producing strains to ampicillin,cefotaxime and ceftriaxone were all 100%,but susceptibility rate to imi-penem/cilastatin and meropenem were all 100%,to cefmetazole and amikacin were >90%.The resistant rate of non-ESBLs-producing strains to ampicillin was the highest (70.63%),susceptibility rate to imipenem/cilastatin and meropenem were both 100%,to amikacin,cefotaxime,and cefmetazole were all >95%.The resistant rate of ES-BLs-producing strains was significantly higher than that of the non-ESBLs-producing strains.Ofβ-lactamase inhibi-tor,only susceptibility rate of ESBLs-producing E.coli to cefoperazone/sulbactam was>90%,susceptibility rates to piperacillin/tazobactam and ticarcillin/clavulanate were both<80%.Conclusion Antimicrobial resistant rate of ESBLs-producing strains causing bloodstream infection is high,individualized treatment strategies should be made according to antimicrobial resistance of bacteria causing infection in patients.

Objective To investigate the application of functional assessment to determine the needs of intermediate care services of elderly,and to analyze the needs of intermediate care services of elderly patients in different grades of hospital,different departments and different age.Method 2481 cases of patients aged over 60 years hospitalized due to acute diseases were collected.The ability of activities of daily living (ADL) scale (Barthel index) and limb function were determined in patients aged over 60 years within 1 week after admission as acute diseases.According to the clinical data and scoring scales,the patients were divided into three groups of self-care group without declined independent function of life with Barthel index ＞ 95 points;intermediate care group in whom the ability of daily activities was decreased due to the acute diseases,the function of the body was decreased,and Barthel index was between 45 ～ 95 points;and long-term care group with long term bed rest,severely declined autonomic function or complete dependence and Barthel index less than 45 points,and no opportunity of further recovery.A total of 382 elderly patients (195 male) were in intermediate care group.Analyzed were the intermediate care needs of elderly patients in different levels of hospitals,different departments (including respiratory,cardiovascular,emergency department,geriatrics) and different age.Results The proportion of needs of intermediate care services was 16.1％ (194/1205) in third grade hospitals,24.3％ (33/136) in grade 2 hospitals,38.1 ％ (91/239) in grade 1 hospitals,and 7.1％ (64/901) in community hospital.In general hospital the proportion of needs of intermediate care services were 24.5 ％ (13/53) in emergency department,12.1％ (4/33) in cardiology department,14.6％ (6/41) in respiratory department,and 10.4％ (7/ 67) in geriatric department.The proportion of needs of intermediate care services was 19.0％ (22/ 116) in age group of 60～69,42.2％ (62/147) in age groupof 70～79,and 28.6％ (34/119) in age group of over 80 years.Conclusion The needs of intermediate care services are different in different age groups.Patients aged 70 ～ 79 years have the highest needs of intermediate care services.The needs of intermediate care services are different in different grade levels of hospitals and in different departments.