OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) exposure on the behaviors and hippocampal oxidative stress and ATPase in rats and the molecular mechanism of neurobehavioral toxicity of B[a]P.

METHODSA total of 120 male SD rats (21 days old) were randomly and equally assigned to five groups: blank control group, vegetable oil (solvent control) group, and 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg B[a]P exposure groups. The rats in B[a]P exposure groups were injected intraperitoneally with B[a]P once a day for 4 consecutive weeks. Then, Morris water maze and shuttle box were used to evaluate the learning and memory abilities of rats; colorimetric assay was used to measure the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase, and Ca(2+)/Mg(2+)-ATPase and the content of malonaldehyde (MDA) in the hippocampus; the concentration of Ca(2+) in the hippocampus was measured by fluorescent labeling.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group and solvent control group, the B[a]P exposure groups exhibited significant increases in escape latency, active avoidance response latency, and passive avoidance response latency and significant decreases in number of platform crossings and active avoidance response frequency in the last test (P < 0.05 for all comparisons), with a dose-effect relationship. In addition, the B[a]P exposure groups had significantly lower activities of SOD, Na(+)/K(+)-AT-Pase, and Ca(2+)/Mg(2+)-ATPase and significantly higher MDA level and Ca(2+) concentration than the blank control group and solvent control group (P < 0.05 for all comparisons), with a dose-effect relationship.

CONCLUSIONThe neurobehavioral toxicity of B[a]P may be related to increased oxidative stress and decreased activities of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)/Mg(2+)-ATPase in the hippocampus of rats.

Animals ; Benzo(a)pyrene ; toxicity ; Ca(2+) Mg(2+)-ATPase ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; cytology ; enzymology ; Isoenzymes ; analysis ; Mice ; Neurons ; enzymology ; Protein Kinase C ; analysis ; Tretinoin ; pharmacology

Objective To investigate the relationship between interleukin 10 (IL-10) -592 (rs1800872) and -819 (rs1800871) promoter genetic polymorphisms and the susceptibility of antituberculosis drug-induced liver injury (ADLI). Methods A case-control study was conducted. Epidemiology survey data and peripheral blood samples were obtained from the patients. Two IL-10 gene polymorphisms (-592 A/C and 819 C/T) were genotyped with PCR-RFLP (polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism) in Chinese Han ADLI subjects (n=180) and sex matched by frequency matching in control subjects (n=180). Results No significant differences in genotypes of IL-10 -592 site and IL-10 -819 site between ADLI group and that of the control group were noticed (all P>0.05). The mutant alleles -592 C of IL-10 gene polymorphism was significantly higher in ADLI subjects compared to controls, and in dominant model, the frequency of CC+AC genotype was 1.62 higher among the cases than controls (all P<0.05). Significant difference in allele -819 C/T between the ADLI group and the control group were not found (P=0.190). The polymorphisms at -819 C/T and -592 A/C variants of IL-10 gene were found to be good linkage disequilibrium. The CC haplotype represent genetic risk factor (OR=1.37, 95% CI: 1.02-1.85) and CA haplotype represent genetic protect factor (OR=0.49, 95% CI: 0.34-0.70) for ADLI in the subjects. Conclusions The polymorphisms in IL-10 gene -592 A/C and -819 C/T are associated with ADLI.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spastic Paraplegia, Hereditary ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect and mechanism of BSDW on the model of allergic rhinitis and the model of guinea pigs by histamine shocking in guinea pigs.

METHODUsing the model of allergic rhinitis in guinea pigs caused by 10% TDI, we observed the effect of BSDW on physiological and pathological symptoms of allergic rhinitis in guinea pigs, the effect of the levels of serum IgE and serum and nasal histamine. Using the model of guinea pigs by histamine shocking, we observed the effect of BSDW on physiological symptoms in guinea pigs.

RESULTBSDW significantly relieved the pathological symptoms of allergic rhinitis in guinea pigs, alleviated the hyperplasia of columnar epithelium, decreased the number of monocyte and eosinocyte compared with the model group. It also reduced the levels of serum IgE, and decreased the release of serum and nasal histamine. BSDW significantly prolonged the occurent time of gasping, eclampsia and death caused by shock, reduced the times of gasping in the model of guinea pigs by histamine shocking.

CONCLUSIONBSDW has significant effect against allergy. The mechanism relates to its effects of decreasing the levels of serum IgE and inhibiting the release of serum and nasal histamine.

Administration, Intranasal ; Animals ; Anti-Allergic Agents ; pharmacology ; Asarum ; chemistry ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; Histamine ; blood ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Lamiaceae ; chemistry ; Male ; Nasal Mucosa ; immunology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; immunology ; Scutellaria ; chemistry ; Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate

Adult ; Event-Related Potentials, P300 ; physiology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Schizophrenia ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo describe the status of nutrition and health related indices in the Chinese population.

METHODSA stratified multi-stage cluster sampling was used from 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities. The survey was done in 2002, including data gathered from questionnaires, interviews, physical examinations, measurement of biochemical indices, and dietary investigation.

RESULTSCereals accounted for 48.5% of all the sources of energy in urban and 61.4% in rural populations. Daily mean percentages of calories for total fat were 35.0% in urban and 27.5% in rural areas. The prevalence rates of stunting and underweight were 14.3% and 7.8% respectively in young children under 5-year-old. The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency was 9.3% in Chinese children aged 3-12 years old. The total prevalence of anemia was 15.2% in general population of all ages. The prevalence of anemia in young adults was significantly higher in women than in men. The total prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were 17.6% and 5.6%, respectively. The prevalence rates of hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesteremia, hypertriglyceridemia, or low serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol were 18.8%, 2.6%, 2.9%, 11.9%, 7.4% respectively in Chinese adults aged 18 and over. The rates of awareness, treatment, and under control among hypertensives were 30.2%, 24.7%, and 25.0%, respectively. Significant regional and age differences were revealed in the dietary habit and the prevalence of various diseases. The prevalence of diseases associated with malnutrition were higher in rural than in urban areas. In contrast, the prevalence of conditions associated with overconsumption and inappropriate dietary patterns were higher in urban than in rural populations.

CONCLUSIONChinese people were currently suffering from both problems on nutrition related issues and burdens of diseases which were characterized in nutrient deficiencies and overconsumption, malnutrition and noncommunicable conditions associated with overconsumption and inappropriate diet. The difference of nutrition and health status between rural and urban people was also seen.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anemia ; epidemiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Chronic Disease ; epidemiology ; Diabetes Mellitus ; epidemiology ; Diet ; statistics & numerical data ; Eating ; Energy Intake ; Female ; Growth and Development ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; Infant ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nutrition Surveys ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; Pregnancy ; Vitamin A Deficiency ; epidemiology ; Young Adult

Throat swabs collected from patients whose serum was measles IgM negative and rubella IgM positive during 2001-2011 were used to conduct cell culture for rubella virus. After identification of cell culture with RT-PCR, nucleotide of gene E1 of rubella virus was amplified and sequenced, followed by molecular epidemiological analysis. A total of 31 rubella viruses were isolated from 60 throat swabs. Compared 27 isolates with the WHO reference strains of all genotypes, phylogenetic tree was constructed based on the amplified 739 nucleotide fragment. These isolates belonged to two different genotypes respectively. Isolates 11009, 11052 and 11106 in 2011 belonged to genotype 2B, and others belonged to genotype 1E. Most of mutations were nonsense mutation, and sequence of amino acid was highly conserved. Amino acid sequence of most isolates of genotype 1E was identical, which suggested rubella viruses from same transmission chain might be transmitted continually since 2001. Rubella virus genotype 2B was found to be popular for the first time in Shanghai in 2011. The nucleotide sequences of these genotype 2B isolates showed 99% identity compared with that of isolates recently from Vietnam, Japan and Argentina. The resources of these strains were not confirmed due to the absence of rubella virus surveillance before.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Rubella ; epidemiology ; virology ; Rubella virus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Sequence Alignment ; Viral Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility, toxicity and tumor control of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

METHODSFourty-nine patients (Karnofsky performance status (KPS) >or= 80) with local-regional recurrence in the nasopharynx were treated with full course IMRT. Three patients with cervical lymph node metastasis (N1 2 and N3 1) were further supplemented with 5 to 6 courses of chemotherapy (Cisplatin + 5-Fu) after IMRT.

RESULTSThe results of treatment plan showed that the mean dose of covering gross tumor volume (GTV) (D(95)) in the nasopharynx was 68.09 Gy and the mean volume of GTV (V(95)) receiving the 95% dose was 98.46%. The mean dose of GTV, clinical target volume CTV1 and CTV2 in the targets were 71.40 Gy, 63.63 Gy and 59.81 Gy. The median follow-up time was 9 months (range 3 to 16 months). The local-regional progression-free survival was 100% with local-regional residual disease in 3 (6.1%) cases but was complicated with nasopharyngeal mucosa necrosis in 14 (28.6%) cases after IMRT.

CONCLUSIONIntensity modulated radiation therapy, as a re-treatment option for recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma, is able to improve the tumor target coverage and spare the adjacent critical structures. As high dose IMRT can result in radio-necrosis of nasopharyngeal mucosa, the prescription dose of GTV should be suitably decreased to 60 - 65 Gy.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; radiotherapy ; Neoplasm Staging ; Radiation Injuries ; pathology ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the proliferation of mouse splenic lymphocytes after shRNA mediated BTLA gene silence.

METHODSThree specific shRNAs and one nonspecific shRNA (scrambled) were ligated to pSilencer3.1-H1-neo plasmid and then subcloned into lentiviral vector pLB. Recombinant viral particles were harvested post-transduction to 293T cells. Mouse lymphocytes were infected with viral supernatant after 24 h incubation and continuously cultured till 4 days. Expression of eGFP was detected by fluorescence microscopy, efficiency of infection and expression of BTLA on lymphocyte cell by FCM. CCK-8 assay was used to detect the proliferation of lymphocytes.

RESULTSLentiviral expression vectors pLB-shRNA/BTLA were successfully generated. The lentiviral particles were correctly packaged. Expression of BTLA protein in specific shRNA group was significantly decreased comparing to those in control group. O.D. value at A(450) of lymphocytes stimulated by anti-CD3 antibody showed significant difference compared with normal BTLA group (P < 0.05), while there was no difference between ConA stimulated group and control (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONGene-specific shRNA can knockdown the expression of BTLA. The proliferation of lymphocytes stimulated by anti-CD3 antibody after RNAi demonstrates significant enhancement as compared to the unstimulated lymphocytes, while stimulated by ConA showed no difference compared to normal lymphocytes.

Animals ; Genetic Vectors ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; Mice ; Plasmids ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transfection