Objective To investigate the relationship of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway with the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and its role in radiation-induced hepatic fibrosis.Methods HSC was treated with 6 MV X-ray irradiation (IR) together with the inhibitor of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.The cells were divided into inhibitor group,10 Gy IR group,10 Gy + inhibitor group,20 Gy IR group,an 20 Gy + inhibitor group and blank control group.Then cell apoptosis rate was detected,the expression of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) in cell supernatant and the mRNA expressions of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and phosphorylation protein kinase B (p-Akt) were measured.Results Compared with the control group,the apoptosis rate of 10 and 20 Gy IR group increased with irradiation dose (t =8.43,11.63,P ＜0.05) but they were reduced by the inhibitor of PI3K/Akt (t =8.09,4.88,P ＜0.05).The expressions of TGF-β1,α-SMA,and p-Akt also increased with irradiation dose (t =6.91,7.80,9.28,P＜0.05) but they were declined by this inhibitor for both 10 Gy IR (t =6.17,15.11,10.34,P＜0.05) and 20 Gy IR (t =10.04,6.85,23.84,P＜0.05).Conclusions X-ray irradiation could activate HSC through PI3K/Akt signaling pathway,which may further result in hepatic fibrosis.

Objective To study the recombination type of B/C genotype in hepatitis B virus.Methods The PCR was applied to amplifed the whole genes of HBV through the serums of four chronic HBV carriers who come from Jinghong distict,Yunnan province.The whole HBV genomes were ligated with pMD18-T vector and trasformed to E.coli JM109.After the positive colones were picked up,the HBV genotypes and recombinated sites were discoved through sequenced the acquired positive colones.Results All the acquired sixteen HBV sequences from the four HBV carriers were genotype B which were combinated with genotype C in some region.There are two ways of the combinations.For the first one,a 496 bp fragment from genotype C taked place the genotype B at the place of nt1825 to nt2320 of precore C/C region.For the second way,a 695 bp fragment of genotype B taked place at the both sites of nt822 to nt1020 of P gene region and nt1825 to nt2320 of precore C/C region.Conclusion A new recombination type of B/C genotype in hepatitis B virus was reported for the first time.The new Bj subgenotype was combinated with genotype C not only at the region of precore C/C but also at the place of P gene region.

Objective To evaluate the effects of urotensin Ⅱ on cell proliferation of and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression in normal human dermal fibroblasts (NFs),and to explore their regulatory mechanisms.Methods NFs were isolated from foreskin tissues and subjected to primary culture in vitro.Reverse transcription PCR and Western blot analysis were performed to measure the mRNA and protein expression of urotensin Ⅱ and its receptor,respectively.Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was conducted to estimate the proliferation of NFs,which were treated with urotensin Ⅱ at different concentrations of 0,10-10,10-9,10-8,10-7 and 10-6 mol/L for 0,6,12,24 and 48 hours separately,and then the optimal concentration and duration of urotensin Ⅱ exposure were selected to be 10-8 mol/L and 24 hours respectively.Some cultured NFs were divided into 5 groups:control group receiving no treatment,U Ⅱ group treated with 10-8 mol/L urotensin Ⅱ,U Ⅱ + nicardipine group treated with 10-8 mol/L urotensin Ⅱ and the calcium channel blocker nicardipine at the concentration of 10-5 mol/L,U Ⅱ + PD98059 group treated with 10-8 mol/L urotensin Ⅱ and the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK)inhibitor PD98059 at the concen-tration of 10-5 mol/L,and U Ⅱ + cyclosporine group treated with 10-8 mol/L urotensin Ⅱ and the calcium-dependent protein kinase (CaM PK) inhibitor cyclosporine at the concentration of 10-5 mol/L.After 24-hour treatment,CCK-8 assay was conducted to evaluate the proliferation of NFs in the above groups,real-time fluorescence-based quantitative PCR and Western blot analysis were performed to determine the mRNA and protein expression of α-SMA respectively.Results Urotensin Ⅱ receptor was expressed in NFs,but urotensin Ⅱ was not.The proliferative activity of NFs significantly differed among the control group,U Ⅱ group,U Ⅱ + nicardipine group,U Ⅱ + PD98059 group and U Ⅱ + cyclosporine group (the mean absorbance value at 405 nm:1.036 ± 0.046,1.405 ± 0.158,1.121 ± 0.109,1.192 ± 0.089 and 1.141 ± 0.056,respectively;F =9.587,P ＜ 0.01),and the U Ⅱ group showed significantly higher proliferative activity of NFs compared with the control group,U Ⅱ + nicardipine group,U Ⅱ + PD98059 group and U Ⅱ + cyclosporine group (q =8.263,6.355,4.774 and 5.912,respectively,all P ＜ 0.05).There were significant differences in the mRNA and protein expression of α-SMA among the 5 groups (F =6.351,7.045,both P ＜ 0.01),and the mRNA and protein expression of α-SMA was significantly higher in the U Ⅱ group than in the other 4 groups (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Urotensin Ⅱ may induce the proliferation of and α-SMA expression in NFs through calcium channels,MAPK and CaM PK pathways.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the norms of Sub-Health Measurement Scale (SHMS V1.0) for Chinese urban residents. METHODS: Using a multistage stratified sampling method, we conducted a large-scale epidemiological investigation among 15 066 urban residents sampled from 6 regions in China, including Tianjin City (north China), Guangdong Province (south China), Anhui Province (central south China), Sichuan Province (southwest China), Lanzhou City (northwest China) and Harbin City (northeast China). The mean, percentile and threshold norms were established based on the characteristics of SHMS V1.0 scores for Chinese urban residents. RESULTS: The mean and percentile norms of total, physical, mental and social sub-health of Chinese urban residents were established according to gender and different age groups (14-19, 20-29, 30-49, 50-64 and ≥65 years). The threshold norms of SHMS V1.0 divided 5 health states, namely disease, severe sub-health, moderate subhealth, mild sub-health and healthy states according to the ± and ±0.5 of the converted scores. CONCLUSIONS The norms of Sub-Health Measurement Scale (SHMS V1.0) for Chinese urban residents were established, which provides a reference for rapid screening and diagnosis of sub-health status in Chinese urban residents and facilitates further study of the prevalence and contributing factors of sub-health.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; China ; Health Status ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urban Health ; Urban Population