Objective The three-dimensional reconstructed images of maximum intensity projection (MIP) for membranous labyrinth and internal auditory meatus in Chinese adults were observed and measured in order to provide anatomic basis for otolosurgery and nerosurgery. Methods Thirty inner ears of 15 volunteers were scanned by using a circular temporal coil and three-dimension fast spin echo sequence with a 1^5T GE-signal MRI scanner. All original images were transferred to MRI workstation and all the structures of inner ear were reconstructed, rotated from various angles and measured by using maximum intensity projection. All the data were analyzed using SPSS 10.0 software. Results Anatomic structures of membranous labyrinth and internal auditory meatus were well demonstrated in three-dimensional reconstructed images of MIP in all volunteers. All three semicircular ducts, utricle, saccule, cochlear duct and internal auditory meatus produced high intensity signal. The results of measurement were statistically in significant.Conclusion Three-dimensional reconstruction of MlP might document, lively, stereoscopically and directly, the minute structures of membranous labyrinth and internal auditory meatus. We provide the basic data for the establishment of the MRI measurement criterion of inner ear.

Background Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications.Peroxiredoxin 6(Prx6) is a doubly-functional protein.and its ability to eliminate phospholipid hydroperoxides is essential. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the dynamic expression of Prx6 in the retina of streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetes and explore its correlation with the progression of diabetic retinopathy. Methods Diabetes was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin(STZ)in 48 clean Wistar rats.The rats were sacrificed at 1,2,and 4 months after the injection of STZ,and expressions of Prx6 protein and Prx6 mRNA in the retina was determined by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.Another 12 matched normal Wistar rats were used as the control group. Results The resuh of immunohistochemistry showed that Prx6 protein was expressed in the cytoplasm of the outer nuclear layer(ONL)and inner nuclear layer(INL)in normal rats,and low expression of Prx6 protein was observed in the ganglion cell layer (GCL).In the first month,Prx6 protein was strongly expressed in the INL and the ONL of diabetic rats.However.two and three months after STZ administration,the expression of Prx6 protein was absent in the retina,showing a considerable difference among different course groups(F=22 967.63,P＜0.05).Furthermore,the expression trend of Prx6 mRNA in the retina was similar to that of the Prx6 protein with a significant difference among different course groups(F=942.84,P＜0.05). Conclusion It is conceivable that normal maintenance of Prx6 expression may be important to the prevention of diabetic retinopathy.We hypothesize that oxidative impairments in the retina that develop over time may partly contribute towards the development of retinal dysfunction,which eventually leads to retinal degeneration during the progressive phase of STZ-induced diabetes in adult rats.

Bone Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Langerhans Cell Sarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Talus ; Vimentin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo analyze the physical growth changes in Chinese children aged from 0 to 7 years old during the past 30 years.

METHODSFour national physical growth surveys of the children under 7 years old were undertaken in the same urban and suburban areas of nine main cities in China from 1975 to 2005. The nine cities were Beijing, Harbin and Xi'an in the northern part; Shanghai, Nanjing and Wuhan in the central part; Guangzhou, Fuzhou and Kunming in the southern part of China. Random cluster sampling method was used. The children aged from 0 to 7 years old were classified into 22 groups by age. The sample size was ranged from 150 to 200 persons for each sex-age group in each area (urban/rural) of each city. Totally, 158 400, 152 874, 157 362 and 138 775 healthy children were examined in 1975, 1985, 1995 and 2005 respectively. The data of weight, height, chest and head circumference obtained from these surveys were analyzed.

RESULTSAverage weight and height in most of the age groups for both boys and girls from urban and suburban rural areas has been significantly improved during the past 30 years, the average increments of weight were 0.76 kg to 1.14 kg in 12 - 15 months group and 2.58 kg to 3.26 kg in 6 - 7 years group; and the average increments of height were 2.7 cm to 3.8 cm in 12 - 15 months group and 5.0 cm to 7.6 cm in 6 - 7 years group. Chest circumference did not show an increase in infants younger than 4 months and increased slightly after 4 months. The average increments of head circumference were 0.1 cm to 1.0 cm. From 1975 to 2005, the increments of weight and height per 10 years was in an increasing trend, e.g. weight increments of 5 - 6 years old were 0.58 kg, 1.02 kg and 1.67 kg and the height increments were 1.5 cm, 2.0 cm and 2.6 cm for every 10 years. The urban-rural difference in height has become smaller, the height difference in 6 - 7 years group for boys was decreased from 4.9 cm in 1975 to 2.6 cm in 2005. The weight has become smaller in children under 3 years old but becoming greater after 3 years, such as the difference increased from 1.14 kg in 1975 to 1.72 kg in 2005 for boys aged 6 - 7 years old. The regional difference also showed a decreasing trend.

CONCLUSIONThe physical growth of Chinese children had been much improved during the past 30 years and the secular trend should be still continuing at an accelerated growth stage. The urban-rural difference and regional difference in weight and height had become smaller.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Body Height ; Body Weight ; Child ; Child Development ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Rural Population ; Sampling Studies ; Urban Population

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between T lymphoma invasion and metastasis 1 (Tiam1) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in human colorectal carcinomas.

METHODSTiam1, E-cadherin, CK, and vimentin expressions in normal colorectal epithelium, colorectal carcinomas (CRC) and CRC with lymphatic metastasis were determined by immunohistochemistry using a two-step method.

RESULTSTiam1 expression was significantly higher in CRC than in normal colorectal epithelium (P<0.01) in close correlation to the degree of tumor differentiation (P<0.05). Higher Tiam1 expression was detected in CRC with lymphatic metastasis than in primary CRC (P<0.05). The expressions of E-cadherin and CK in CRC tissues were significantly lowered in comparison with those in normal colorectal epithelium (P<0.01), showing a correlation to tumor differentiation (P<0.01) but not to lymphatic metastasis. Vimentin was significantly overexpressed in CRC (P<0.01) and correlated to tumor differentiation (P<0.01) but not to lymphatic metastasis. Tiam1 expression was inversely correlated to E-cadherin and CK, but positively to vimentin.

CONCLUSIONTiam1 is related to the metastasis of colorectal carcinoma, and may induce EMT to promote CRC metastasis.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cadherins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Movement ; physiology ; Cell Transdifferentiation ; genetics ; physiology ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Epithelial Cells ; pathology ; Female ; Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Keratins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; T-Lymphoma Invasion and Metastasis-inducing Protein 1 ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the special staining of cells cultured on nitrocellulose (NC) membrane and evaluate the application of the novel method for cell culture and pathological staining.

METHODSHuman colorectal carcinoma SW1116 cell line and SW480 cell line were cultured using nitrocellulose membrane as the culture matrix, with the same cells cultured on slides serving as the control.

RESULTSThe cells cultured on NC membrane appeared transparent with sharp edge and purple background by macroscopic observation, showing on obvious difference in terms of cell morphology and number from the cells cultured on glass slides. Irregular polygonal SW1116 cells and SW480 cells were found on the NC membrane, on which the cells grew in colony and showed blue nucleus and red cytoplasm.

CONCLUSIONSNC membrane produces no cytotoxicity and can be used for cell culture without affecting the normal cell morphology and number during cell culture, thus providing a new means for cell culture and pathological staining.

Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Collodion ; Humans ; Staining and Labeling

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 1 gene -519A/G polymorphism and the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in Northern Chinese Han population.

METHODSA total of 517 patients with CHD and 380 healthy adults diagnosed by coronary angiography were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism and DNA sequence technology for the -519A/G polymorphism in MMP1 gene.

RESULTS(1) The frequency of AA genotype was significantly higher in patients with CHD than that in controls [67.70% (350/517) vs. 40.26% (153/380), OR = 1.64, P < 0.001, 95%CI: 1.44 - 1.86]. People carrying A allele had increased risk for CHD (OR = 1.49, P < 0.001, 95%CI: 1.33 - 1.69). (2) The frequency of AA genotype was higher in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) than patients with stable angina pectoris [68.81% (278/404) vs. 51.76% (44/85), P < 0.01, 95%CI: 1.04 - 1.27]. The A allele carriers were more likely to develop ACS (OR = 1.11, 95%CI: 1.01 - 1.21, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOur data shows MMP1 gene -519A/G polymorphism is associated with the risk of CHD, and A allele carriers are more susceptible for CHD in Northern Chinese Han population.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Coronary Disease ; ethnology ; etiology ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

Both phytase and endoglucanase are additives in feed for mono-gastric animal known for their effects. Recombinant vector pPICZalpha-EG was constructed and transformed to GS115-phyA, a Pichia pastoris strain that had integrated with phytase gene, generating GS115-phyA-EG. Both phytase and endoglucanase activities in the supernatant were determined after methanol induction of GS115-phyA-EG. Phytase and endoglucanase activity reached 39.4% and 56.2% activity compared to GS115-phyA and GS115-EG, respectively. Properties of the mixed enzyme suggest that the optimal temperature and pH value be 55 degrees C and 5.5 respectively. Both phytase and endoglucanase showed greater than 80% activity across temperature ranges 45 degrees C to 55 degrees C and pH ranges 4.5 to 5.5. Expressing more than one enzyme in one system could save time and money during induced expression, and the mixed enzyme might apply for treating forge before feeding with poultry.
6-Phytase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cellulase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; Pichia ; enzymology ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Nutritional Status ; Rural Population

OBJECTIVETo purify the recombinant human cellular repressor of EIA stimulated gene (hCREG)/myc-His glycoprotein and confirm the biological function of hCREG/myc-His which could inhibit the proliferation of human internal thoracic artery smooth muscle cells (HITASY) cultured in vitro.

METHODSThe recombinant hCREG/myc-His protein was purified with Ni-NTA column according to 6 x His affinity chromatographic theory. The recombinant hCREG/myc-His protein was desalted by HiTrap Desalting Column. The effect of recombinant hCREG/myc-His glycoprotein of different concentration (0.5 microg/ml, 1 microg/ml and 2 microg/ml) on proliferation of HITASY cells was studied by flow cytometric analysis and the effect of recombinant protein on proliferation of HITASY cells was confirmed by BrdU incorporation method.

RESULTSThe recombinant hCREG protein was purified with Ni-NTA column according to 6 x His affinity chromatographic theory. The concentration of recombinant hCREG protein which has been concentrated and desalted was determined to be 1.6 mg/ml and the purity of recombinant protein reached 92%. The protein was identified to be glycosylated. The recombinant hCREG protein was identified to inhibit the proliferation of HITASY cells cultured in vitro and the inhibition effect was stronger in low-dosage group than that in high-dosage group by flow cytometric analysis. The proliferation of HITASY cells cultured in vitro with 2 microg/ml recombinant hCREG protein was inhibited significantly compared with that in control group according to the BrdU incorporation result. There was statistical difference among the groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe purification of recombinant hCREG/myc-His glycoprotein with biological activity provides an experiment platform for function study and engineering production of hCREG protein.

Adenoviridae ; Cell Division ; Cells, Cultured ; Glycoproteins ; isolation & purification ; Glycosylation ; Humans ; Recombinant Proteins ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Repressor Proteins ; isolation & purification ; metabolism