Objective To observe the apeptosis in liver injury following limbs ischemia-reperfusion(IR) in rats and the protective effects of taurine.Methods The model of limbs ischemia-reperfusion injury was established.30 Wistar rats were randomized into 3 groups: control group,IR group and tanrine + reperfusion group (TR group) (n = 10 for each group).The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and xanthineoxidas (XOD), calcium and myeloper-oxidase (MPO) in the liver tissue were measured.DNA fragmentation was observed and analyzed by agarose gel e-lectrophoresis.Apoptosis was detected by TUNEL methods.The morphologic changes were observed with HE stai-ning.Results Compared with control group,the values of MDA, XOD, MPO, calcium in liver tissue were increased significantly in IR group (P<0.01), but the values of those in TR group were lower than in IR group (P<0.01).The percentage of apeptosis cell was higher in IR group than in control group(P<0.01).Compared with IR group, the percentage of apoptosis cell was lower in TR group (P<0.01).IR group presented DNA ladder pattern, while TR group showed no specific DNA ladder pattern in agarose gel electrophoresis.Conclusion Apoptosis participates in the liver injury after limb ischemia-reperfusion.Taurine can mitigate the liver injury and apoptosis after limb is-chemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

Ac-Phe-Lys-PABC-DOX (PDOX) is a smart doxorubicin (DOX) prodrug designed to decrease toxicities while maintaining the potent anticancer effects of DOX. This study was aimed at elucidating the effectiveness and toxicities of DOX and PDOX in patient-derived MCF-7 breast cancer cells in vitro. The MCF-7 cells were exposed to both PDOX and DOX, and cytotoxicities, cell cycle and P53/P21 signaling alterations were studied. Abundant cathepsin B was found in the MCF-7 cells, and treatment with PDOX and DOX triggered dose- and time-dependent cytotoxicity and resulted in a significant reduction in cell viability. The IC50 of PDOX and DOX was 3.91 and 0.94 μmol/L, respectively. Both PDOX and DOX caused an up-regulation of the P53/P21-related signal pathway, and PDOX significantly increased expression of P53 and caspase 3, and arrested the cell cycle at the G1/G2 phase. As compared with DOX, PDOX reduced toxicities, and it may have different action mechanisms on breast cancer cells.

To study the anticancer effects of tea polyphenols on colorectal cancer with microsatellite instability (MSI) in nude mice and to explore its mechanism.

12E7 Antigen ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Bone Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; metabolism ; Chondrosarcoma, Mesenchymal ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hemangiopericytoma ; pathology ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonectomy ; methods

OBJECTIVETo understand the current status and trends of tuberculosis mortality rates in China.

METHODSIn 2010, 161 National Disease Surveillance Points representing all 31 mainland provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions of China collected tuberculosis mortality surveillance data, including age, sex, region, and type of tuberculosis (all, pulmonary, and extra-pulmonary). The mortality rates of the three types of tuberculosis were compared between 2004 and 2010.

RESULTSIn 2010, the mortality rates due to all tuberculosis, pulmonary tuberculosis, and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis were 4.69 (95% CI 4.54-4.84), 4.38 (4.23-4.52), and 0.31 (0.27-0.35) per 100 000 population, respectively. Mortality rates due to all tuberculosis and pulmonary tuberculosis were higher in males, the elderly, and those living in western and rural areas. From 2004 to 2010, the mortality rates due to all tuberculosis and pulmonary tuberculosis decreased by 36.02% and 37.70%, respectively, with an average annual rate of decline of 7.20% and 7.61%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONMortality rates due to tuberculosis have declined rapidly in China. The target of reducing the 1990 mortality rate by 50% by 2015 has already been achieved. However, the tuberculosis control program should pay more attention to high-risk groups, including the elderly and those living in underdeveloped areas.

China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Tuberculosis ; epidemiology ; mortality

The von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease (vWF-cp) is a newly identified plasma metalloproteinase and plays an important role in the pathogenesis of thrombotic microangiopathy. In the present study, the metalloproteinase domain of vWF-cp was expressed by IPTG-induced the recombinant engineered E.coli strain harbouring pET28a (+)-vWF-cp/MD and purified using chromatography on Ni-NTA column. Then the BALB/c mice were immunized with the recombinant protein to prepare the monoclonal antibodies (McAb) against vWF-cp and the obtained McAbs were characterized. Furthermore, the expression panels of vWF-cp in human normal tissues were investigated using immunohistochemistry. The results showed that high-level expression of the recombinant protein was achieved, which existed as inclusion body and amounted to 28% of total bacteria protein. Three monoclonal antibodies against the metalloproteinase domain of vWF-cp were obtained and two of them, SZ-112 and SZ-113, were further evaluated. Both of them belong to IgG(1). The concentration of them in ascites was 4 mg/ml, and their titers were as high as 1 x 10(-5). The data of ELISA showed that SZ-112 and SZ-113 recognized different epitopes of recombinant protein. The Western blot and immunoprecipitation data showed that the two monoclonal antibodies reacted not only with the recombinant protein, but also with a 200 kD protein in platelet lysate. Moreover, the vWF-cp was found to be present in the cytoplasm of many human tissues such as liver, prostate, ovary, etc. However, the protease could not be detected in brain tissue. In conclusion, the above-mentioned research work contributed not only to the further study of the structure and function of this protease, but also to the establishment of the method for quantifying the vWF-cp antigen in plasma.
ADAM Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; ADAMTS13 Protein ; Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; biosynthesis ; immunology ; Binding Sites ; genetics ; Blotting, Western ; Epitopes ; immunology ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Immunoprecipitation ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; immunology ; von Willebrand Factor ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of environmental oxygen on the inhibition between Streptococcus oligofermentans (So) and Streptococcus mutans (Sm) and the producibilities of hydrogen peroxide by So.

METHODSThe aerobic and anaerobic environment was established by the carbon dioxide cultivation. The inhibition between So and Sm was observed by plating method. The production and synthesis rates of hydrogen peroxide by So were determined in both aerobic and anaerobic environment by 4-ATTP-horseradish peroxidase method at A(510).

RESULTSWhen both Sm and So were inoculated at the same time, Sm was not inhibited under the anaerobic environment, vice versa. Sm was slightly inhibited by So under the aerobic environment, the inhibition area was 1/5 of all bacterial membrane. When So was cultivated first and then Sm applied, So could inhibite Sm growth under both anaerobic and aerobic conditions. The inhibition area was 1/5 of bacterial membrane under the anaerobic environment, and 4/5 under the aerobic environment. When Sm was cultivated first and then So applied, So was unable to proliferate under both conditions. During the logarithmic phase, the production of H2O2 by So under the aerobic environment was higher than under the anaerobic environment (P < 0.05). The initial synthesis rate of H2O2 by So during growth cycle under the anaerobic condition was (11.84 ± 3.97) µmol/L per minute, which was only 49% of that under the aerobic environment [(24.13 ± 4.46) µmol/L per minute].

CONCLUSIONSThe oxygen has the effect on the inhibition between So and Sm, and the inhibition in the aerobic environment is much stronger than in the anaerobic environment. The synthesis ability of hydrogen peroxide by So under the aerobic environment is higher than under the anaerobic environment.

Aerobiosis ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; metabolism ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; Streptococcus ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Streptococcus mutans ; growth & development ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo look for the active fraction of ethanol extract of Genkwa Flos (EGF) induced hepatotoxicity and develop an UPLC fingerprint of the active fraction.

METHODTarget fraction of EGF induced hepatotoxicity was guided by the serum biochemical and histopathology methods. The UPLC method was applied to establish the chromatographic fingerprint. The separation was achieved on a BEH C18 column (2.1 mm x 50 mm, 1.7 microm) with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and water containing 0.05% phosphate acid running gradient elution. The detection was carried out at 210 nm and the analysis was finished within 10 min.

RESULTThe chloroform phase of EGF could be responsible for the hepatotoxicity of this herb. The common mode of the UPLC fingerprint was set up under the established condition. There were 17 common peaks in fourteen batches of herbs, eight of which were identified, and the similar degrees of the fourteen batches to the common mode were between 0.890-0.999.

CONCLUSIONIt is easy to locate the chloroform extraction of EGF with hepatotoxicity. And the UPLC fingerprint was developed for the above fraction, which could provide valuable references for safe and effective clinical use of EGF.

Animals ; Asteraceae ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; toxicity ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Humans ; Liver ; drug effects ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Ac-Phe-Lys-PABC-DOX (PDOX) is a smart doxorubicin (DOX) prodrug designed to decrease toxicities while maintaining the potent anticancer effects of DOX. This study was aimed at elucidating the effectiveness and toxicities of DOX and PDOX in patient-derived MCF-7 breast cancer cells in vitro. The MCF-7 cells were exposed to both PDOX and DOX, and cytotoxicities, cell cycle and P53/P21 signaling alterations were studied. Abundant cathepsin B was found in the MCF-7 cells, and treatment with PDOX and DOX triggered dose- and time-dependent cytotoxicity and resulted in a significant reduction in cell viability. The IC50 of PDOX and DOX was 3.91 and 0.94 μmol/L, respectively. Both PDOX and DOX caused an up-regulation of the P53/P21-related signal pathway, and PDOX significantly increased expression of P53 and caspase 3, and arrested the cell cycle at the G1/G2 phase. As compared with DOX, PDOX reduced toxicities, and it may have different action mechanisms on breast cancer cells.
Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; pharmacology ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; biosynthesis ; Doxorubicin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; methods ; Female ; G1 Phase ; drug effects ; G2 Phase ; drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Humans ; Oligopeptides ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibition of Streptococcus oligofermentans (So) on Streptococcus mutans (Sm) and the producibility of hydrogen peroxide by So under the influence of glucose concentration environment.

METHODSThe inhibition between So and Sm was observed by plating method under the different glucose concentration environment. The initial synthesis rates and production of hydrogen peroxide by So were determined under the different glucose concentration environment by 4-aminoantipyine-horseradish peroxidase method at A(510).

RESULTSUnder 0, 10 and 50 mmol/L glucose environment, the inhibition of So on Sm was evident. When both Sm and So were inoculated at the same time, the ratio of inhibition area by bacterial membrane area was 0.202 ± 0.005, 0.467 ± 0.025, 0.468 ± 0.028 under 0, 10, 50 mmol/L glucose environment. When So was cultivated first and then Sm applied, the ratio was 0.394 ± 0.004, 0.811 ± 0.075 and 0.816 ± 0.007 under 0, 10 and 50 mmol/L glucose environment respectively. The inhibition under 10 and 50 mmol/L glucose environment were more significant than that under non-glucose environment. There was no significant difference between these two glucose concentrations (P > 0.05). The initial synthesis rates of H2O2 by So under the 10 mmol/L [(23.573 ± 0.263) µmo×L(-1)×min(-1)] and 50 mmol/L [(23.337 ± 0.473) µmol×L(-1)×min(-1)] glucose were higher than without glucose[(10.513 ± 0.516) µmol×L(-1)×min(-1)], P < 0.05. H2O2 was not detected in 1000 mmol/L glucose. However, the production of H2O2 by So under 0 mmol/L glucose was higher than other glucose concentrations (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe capability of the inhibition of So on Sm was affected by glucose environment and was much stronger under certain glucose concentrations (10, 50 mmol/L).

Antibiosis ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; metabolism ; Streptococcus ; growth & development ; metabolism ; physiology ; Streptococcus mutans ; growth & development ; metabolism