Objective To investigate the protective effects of rhein lysinate (RHL)on the blood vessel damage induced by oxidative stress in the mice,and to explore its mechanism.Methods The mouse models of oxidative damage were established by intraperitoneal injection of paraquat.30 C57 mice were randomly divided into control, paraquat model,and RHL prevention groups.The mice in RHL prevention group were given RHL by gavage for one week before performing model.The mice in other two groups were given equal volume of distilled water.For making model,paraquat was intraperitoneally injected in the mice in paraquat model and RHL prevention groups once a week for two weeks.The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD)and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and the content of serum malonaldehyde (MDA) of the mice were detected 2 weeks after modeling. The pathological profile of blood vessel was observed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE)staining and the level of reactive oxygen species was observed by DCFH-DA staining.The expressions of genes related to blood vessel damage were detected by Western blotting method.Results Compared with control group,the activities of SOD and GSH-Px were decreased and the content of MDA was increased in paraquat model group (P < 0.05 ). Compared with paraquat model group,the activities of SOD and GSH-Px were increased and the content of MDA was decreased in RHL prevention group (P <0.05).The pathological examination indicated the structure of blood vessel of the mice was damaged and the level of reactive oxygen species of blood vessel was increased (P <0.05)in paraquat model group.The pathological changes were significantly improved and the level of reactive oxygen species of blood vessel of the mice was decreased (P < 0.05 )in RHL prevention group. The Western blotting analysis showed that compared with control group,the expression levels of nitric oxide endothelial synthase (eNOS)and caspase-3 of the mice in paraquat model group were decreased (P < 0.05),however the expression level of cleaved fragment of caspase-3 was increased (P < 0.05).Compared with paraquat model group,the expression levels of eNOS and caspase-3 of the mice in RHL prevention group were increased (P < 0.05 )and the expression level of cleaved fragment of caspase-3 was decreased (P <0.05).Conclusion Paraquat could induce vascular cell damage in vivo through increasing the levels of reactive oxygen species, and RHL could antagonize the effects of paraquat by scavenging reactive oxygen species, and up-regulating the eNOS expression and reducing the expression of the cleaved fragment of caspase-3.

Objective To find out the potential risk factor of plague in Wanzhou section of the Three Gorges Reservoir area, and to provide scientific basis for prevention and control of plague. Methods Rodents were captured by rat traps/cages at night and identified into species in Wanzhou section of the Three Gorges Reservoir area from 2001 to 2009. Flea was counted and serum antibodies against plague F1 of rats, cats and dogs were detected by indirect hemagglutination (IHA). Plague surveillances were performed in human beings and rats. Results The rodents captured belonged to 9 species, 2 families, 2 orders and 1 classes. The average indoor rodent density was 1.16% (961/82 558), and was 1.12% (1345/119 671) outdoors. Rattus norvegicus was the dominant species,accounting for 50.37%. The proportion of R. Flavipectus was 3.80% in 2004, 4.50% in 2008 and 10.12% in 2009,showing an increasing trend year by year. There were three kinds of mice infected fleas in Wanzhou, which including Xenopsylla cheopis, Leptopsylla segnis and Ctenocephalides felis. The average rate of flea infected mice was 1.18%(82/6959) and the total flea index was 0.036. No F1 antibody against plague was detected in 6959 dogs and 160 cats serum samples. Conclusions No plague is found in Wanzhou section of the Three Gorges Reservoir area. But R.Flavipectus, Xenopsylla cheopis and Leptopsylla segnis are dominant species in Wanzhou section, and the proportion of which shows an increasing trends year by year. There is a potential risk of plague outbreaks in Wanzhou section of the Three Gorges Reservoir area.

Objective:To investigate the promoting effect of Ginsenoside Ro on the differentiation of THP-1-derived dendritic cells (DCs) induced by GM-CSF and IL-4.Methods: Sensitive leukemia-derived DC cell line was screened first.Then,the selected sensitive cell line THP-1 was stimulated to differentiate into DCs by cytokines (GM-CSF and IL-4) and small(5 μmol/L),middle(10 μmol/L),and large (20 μmol/L) dose of Ginsenoside Ro respectively.The expressions of CD1a,MHCⅡ and CD86 of leukemia-derived DCs were detected by flow cytometry.In addition,the transcription levels of CD1a,CD86 and MHCⅡ of leukemia-derived DCs were detected by RT-PCR.ELISA was used to measure the protein levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in the culture supernatant.Results: THP-1 was the sensitive leukemia cell line which could be induced to differentiate into DCs by cytokines.Compared with cytokine stimulation alone,the expression of CD1a,MHCⅡ and CD86 in leukemia-derived cells was significantly increased after the stimulation of Ginsenoside Ro combined with cytokine(P<0.05).The CD1a,CD86 and MHCⅡ mRNA expression was significantly increased after the treatment of Ginsenoside Ro combined with cytokine(P<0.05).Moreover,the protein levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in culture supernatant were significantly increased (P<0.05) after the stimulation of Ginsenoside Ro in combination with cytokines.Conclusion: Ginsenoside Ro can significantly promote the differentiation of leukemia-derived DCs.

Aged ; Alcoholic Beverages ; Humans ; Hyponatremia ; etiology ; Male ; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome ; complications

OBJECTIVETo explore the influence of smoking on chronic diseases among people with various income levels in China.

METHODSCross-sectional study on smoking behavior, chronic disease and income level was performed using database of the Second National Health Service Study (1998) provided by the Ministry of Health in China.

RESULTSCompared to never-smokers, smokers (including current smokers and former smokers) had a higher rate of having chronic diseases, after adjusted in age, income, educational level, employment status and type of jobs with corresponding countryside (OR = 1.185, 95% CI: 1.121 - 1.253 and town OR = 1.083, 95% CI: 1.010 - 1.161). Smoking had a more serious effect on having chronic illness in males from the countryside (former-smoker OR = 2.764, 95% CI: 2.471 - 3.092) than in town (former-smoker OR = 2.112, 95% CI: 1.844 - 2.419). Smokers at the lowest income level had a higher possibility of having chronic illness (town OR = 2.076, 95% CI: 1.551 - 2.780; countryside OR = 2.903, 95% CI: 2.248 - 3.749) than those at the highest income level (town OR = 1.785, 95% CI: 1.285 - 2.479 in the countryside OR = 2.466, 95% CI: 1.941 - 3.134).

CONCLUSIONSmoking might cause more serious health problems to people at lower income level in China.

China ; epidemiology ; Chronic Disease ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Income ; Male ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Social Class

Objective A SYBR-Green real-time quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR)method was set up to detect the infection and proliferation of measles virus, which could be useful in virus titer determination. Methods In this project, we used a 405 bp fragment of the N gene of measles virus as a target sequence and constructed a plasmid to establish the standard curve in absolute quantitative experiment. We then used this method to obtain the proliferation curve of measles virus and to detect the virus proliferation at different MOI. Results There was a linear relationship between the virus copy number and the titer of the measles virus reference at the range of 6 to 2 lgCCID₅₀/mL, with a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.991(P < 0.01). Based on the analysis of virus proliferation curve, measles virus mainly proliferated intracellularly within 48 h after its entering the cell. There was no detected increase in viral RNA level in the first 24 h, suggesting the virus was in a silent period in the cell. After 24 h, the virus expanded in large numbers and entered the exponential growth phase. The intracellular viral RNA level reached the plateau phase after its peak at 96 h. The virus secreted to the outside of the cell entered the exponential growth phase starting from 48 h, peaked at 144 h, then followed by plateau phase. Conclusion A SYBR-Green RT-qPCR method is established and used to monitor virus proliferation. Our result is helpful in understanding of the proliferation and secretion of measles virus in cells and provides experimental basis for detection of live attenuated virus titers.

Ultramicroelectrode was usually used in scanning electrochemical microscope(SECM) as a probe. The redox reaction on the probe is a diffusion process. But the fast moving of probe in SECM will affect the diffusion process, resulting in unclear obtained images. A new SECM image-processing technique was proposed in this paper involving combination of LoG algorithm and New edge-directed interpolation (NEDI) interpolation algorithm. LoG algorithm is helpful for the clarity of SECM images, but leading to some loss of edge information. Fortunately, NEDI algorithm based on edge directed interpolation can solve this problem well. Two substrates with gold interdigitated electrode and gold electrode array were prepared by ion sputtering method. The SECM images were obtained of the gold interdigitated electrode, gold electrode array and ITO substrate printed with fingerprints. The corresponding images treated by LoG filter and these for NEDI interpolation were compared and analyzed. The image-processing technique combining the LoG algorithm with the NEDI interpolation algorithm can significantly improve the clarity and resolution of SECM image.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of bradykinin (BK) on the proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation of human keratinocyte (HKC) and the underlying mechanisms.

METHODSHKCs were cultured together with 1 x 10(-4) - 1 x 10(-9) mol/L of BK. With methyl thiotetrazole (MTT) and trypan blue staining it was shown that the BK in dose of 1 x 10(-4) mol/L possessed most powerful inhibitory effect, and the survival rate of HKC was 69.3%. Therefore, BK was employed in the dose of 1 x 10(-4) mol/L in the following studies. When the growth of HKCs reached the logarithmic phase, BK in the concentration of 1 x 10(-4) mol/L was added, and it was categorized as the test group (E). HKCs without BK served as the control group (C). The cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry after being cultured for 24 and 48 hours. The change in intracellular calcium [Ca(2+)](i) was determined by means of laser scanning confocal microscopy with calcium fluorescence probe Fluo-3/AM technique. The expression of HKC differentiation labeling protein keratin10 (K10) and involucrin were detected with Strept Avidin-Biotin Complex (SABC) immunocytochemical assay.

RESULTSThe cell ratio in G0/G1 phase in E group increased by 34.57% while in S phase decreased by 58.91% in reference to that in C group. The G1/S phase switching of HKCs was obviously inhibited by BK, and apoptosis was stimulated (apoptotic rate of 15.34% in E group vs 5.60% in C group, P < 0.05). The [Ca(2+)](i) increased transiently in HKCs by 163.0% in E group after 3 minutes of BK activation and decreased thereafter in reference to that in C group. The K10 expression in HKC was down-regulated in E group with positive cell rate of 2.20%, which was lower than that of C group (6.89%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe cell cycle process of HKC could be inhibited by high concentration of BK with increased apoptosis and an increase in [Ca(2+)](i), which might be the mechanism of inhibition of growth of HKC in vitro. Furthermore, the epithelial regeneration and HKC differentiation can also be inhibited by BK.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Bradykinin ; pharmacology ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Keratins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of transabdominal ultrasonography (TAUS) in preoperative assessment of TNM stage and tumor angiogenesis for patients with gastric carcinoma.

METHODSSixty- four patients with gastric carcinoma preoperatively underwent TAUS, in whom transabdominal color Doppler ultrasonography was used for measuring color Doppler vascularity index (CDVI) of each tumor in 37 cases and microvessel density (MVD) was evaluated by using immunohistochemical staining of surgical specimens with anti- CD34 antibody.

RESULTSThe overall accuracy rate was 56.0% for T staging of gastric carcinoma (T (1) 2/3 cases, T (2) 28.6% , T (3) 73.1% , T (4) 50.0% , respectively) by TAUS. The diagnostic accuracy rate was 63.3% for lymph node status of gastric carcinoma. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for lymph node metastasis was 37.9% and 100% respectively. The overall accuracy for N staging of gastric carcinoma was 57.1% (N (0) 100% , N (1) 16.7% , N (2) 35.3% , respectively). The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for determining distant metastases was 58.3% and 100% respectively. The CDVI of gastric carcinoma determined by color Doppler ultrasonography was significantly correlated to vascular invasion (P=0.0418), a linear correlation between CDVI and MVD was determined by logistic regression analysis (r=0.5628, P< 0.01).

CONCLUSIONTAUS can be a routine diagnostic approach for preoperative gastric carcinoma patients.

Abdomen ; diagnostic imaging ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microvessels ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; diagnostic imaging ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color ; methods