ObjectiveTo investigate the inhibitory effect of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-?(PPAR?) agonist on mesangial cell(MC) proliferation and extracellular matrix expression induced by angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ).MethodsThe incorporation of 3H-thymidine(3H-TdR) and cell count were used as the measurement of MC proliferation.MC cell-cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry.Mouse primary MC was treated with various concentration of Ang Ⅱ(1,10,100 nmol/L) in the presence or Absence of N-acytosistin(NAC) or rosiglitazone.Transforming growth factor-?1(TGF-?1),plasminogen activator inhibitor-1(PAI-1),and fibronectin(FN) mRNA expression were determined by real time-PCR.Reactive oxygen species(ROS) production was measured by 2,7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate(DCFDA) fluorescence.Results1.One hundred nmol/L Ang Ⅱ increased 3H-TdR incorporation and cell number by 2.14 and 2.32 fold,respectively.Ang Ⅱ-induced MC proliferation was inhibited by PPAR? agonist rosiglitazone with dose-dependent manner in mouse MC.2.One hundred nmol/L Ang Ⅱ stimulation for 24 h induced 48% MC processed to S and G2/M phase.Rosiglitazone significantly blocked Ang Ⅱ increased cell number in S and G2/M phase.3.Rosiglitazone reduced Ang Ⅱ-induced TGF-?1,PAI-1,and FN mRNA expression with dose-dependent manner.4.One hundred nmol/L Ang Ⅱ stimulation for 60 min increased ROS production by 3.85 folds.Rosiglitazone significantly inhibited Ang Ⅱ-induced ROS production.Ten ?mol/L rosiglitazone almost completely blocked Ang Ⅱ-induced ROS production.ConclusionPPAR? agonist rosiglitazone could block Ang Ⅱ-induced MC proliferation and extracellular matrix expression via inhibition of ROS production.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Hemorrhage ; etiology ; Tracheotomy ; adverse effects ; Young Adult

Cyclohexanones ; poisoning ; Ethylene Dichlorides ; poisoning ; Humans ; Infant ; Male

Objective: To chine and express the recombinant human endothelial monocyte-activating polypeptide-Ⅱ(EMAP-Ⅱ)and identify its anti-tumor biological activities.Methods: EMAP-Ⅱ_(147-312)was expressed by the expression vector pMAL-p2x and E.coli BL-21 and the product was purified.The production of tissue factor(TF)in human umbili- cal vein endothelial cell ECV-304 mediated by the recombinant EMAP-Ⅱwas determined by chemiluminescence sub- strate.The promoting effect of recombinant EMAP-Ⅱon TNF?-induced ECV-304 cell.Apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry.Its inhibitory effect on human pancreaic cancer cell SW1990 proliferation was determined by MTT method. Results:DNA sequencing verified that EMAP-Ⅱwas correctly cloned.The molecular mass of the protein identified by SDS-PAGE was consistent with the theoretic value.The productivity of recombinant EMAP-Ⅱwas 500?g per 1 g bacteria (wet mass).The purified product induced expression of tissue factor(TF)in ECV-304 cells;it also enhanced the sensi- tivity of ECV-304 cells to the apoptotic effect of TNF?([16.6?2.5]% vs[25.6?2.3]%,P

OBJECTIVETo construct the prokaryotic expression systems of tpnl7 and tpn47 genes and tpn17-tpn47 fusion of Treponema pallidum, and to establish ELISAs based on rTpN17, rTpN47 and rTpN17-TpN47 as antigens to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the ELISAs for detection of serological diagnosed syphilis.

METHODStpn17 and tpn47 genes were amplified and cloned by routine molecular biological methods. PCR with linking primers was used to construct artificial fusion gene tpn17-tpn47. The prokaryotic expression systems of the genes were then constructed. SDS-PAGE was used to measure the expression of the target recombinant proteins rTpN17, rTpN47 and rTpN17-TpN47. Ni-NTA affinity chromatography was applied to extract the three recombinant proteins, while Western blot was performed to determine their immunity. Using rTpN17, rTpN47 and rTpN17-TpN47 as the coated antigens, ELISAs (rTpN17-ELISA, rTpN47-ELISA and rTpN17-TpN47- ELISA) were established to detect serum samples from 200 healthy individuals, 25 RA patients, 17 SLE patients and 419 syphilis patients. Results of the ELISAs were compared to those with TRUST and TPHA.

RESULTSThe sequence similarities of the cloned tpnl7 and tpn47 genes and the constructed tpn17-tpn47 fusion gene were 100%, compared with the corresponding sequences in GenBank. The expression outputs of rTpN17, rTpN47 and rTpN17-TpN47 were 37.2%, 23.3% and 29.8% of the total bacterial proteins, respectively. Each of the three purified recombinant proteins showed a single fragment in gel after electrophoresis, and could take place remarkable conjugation reactions to the positive sera from syphilis patients. The detection results of rTpN17-ELISA, rTpN47-ELISA and rTpN17-TpN47-ELISA were negative for the serum samples from healthy individuals, RA and SLE patients, while presented 84.4%, 82.3% and 98.1% positive detection rates for the serum samples from syphilis patients. The positive detection rates of rTpN17-ELISA and rTpN47-ELISA were lower than that of TPHA (P<0.01), while the positive detection rate of rTpN17-TpN47-ELISA was similar to that of TPHA (P>0.05). All the positive detection rates from ELISA tests were higher than that of TRUST (71.4%).

CONCLUSIONrTpN17-ELISA, rTpN47-ELISA and especially rTpN17-TpN47-ELISA established in this study were of great hope as it was rapid, simple, convenient, safe, with high sensitivity and specificity for serological screening and detection of syphilis.

Bacterial Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; methods ; Genes, Bacterial ; Humans ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Syphilis ; diagnosis ; Syphilis Serodiagnosis ; methods ; Treponema pallidum ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo construct a prokaryotic expression system to serially express Alloferon-1 and to determine the anti-tumor activity of its products in vitro.

METHODSAn artificial fusion gene containing 6 x His-EK-8 x Alloferon-1-EK-6 x His sequences was constructed by linking primer PCR. By using routine molecular biological methods, the artificial fusion gene was cloned and its prokaryotic expression system was then constructed. SDS-PAGE and BioRad Agarose Image Analysor was applied to measure the expression and output of the target recombinant products 8 x rAlloferon-1-EK. Ni-NTA affinity chromatography and EK digestion and Sephadex G-50 chromatography were performed to extract 8 x rAlloferon-1-EK and rAlloferon-1-EK, respectively. The proliferation of KB, SGC and HL-60 tumor cells was tested by using MTT method after treatment with directly synthesized Alloferon-1 (sAlloferon-1), Aloferon-1-EK (sAlloferon-1-EK) and rAlloferon-1-EK.

RESULTThe target artificial fusion gene and its prokaryotic expression system pET42a-8 x rAlloferon-1-EK-E. coliBLDE3 with the expected sequences were obtained. Under inducement of IPTG, the prokaryotic expression system expressed the target serial recombinant protein 8 x rAlloferon-1-EK and its output was approximate 30 % of the total bacterial proteins. 8 x rAlloferon-1-EK and rAlloferon-1-EK were obtained through Ni-NTA and Sephadex G-50 columns. sAlloferon-1, sAlloferon-1-EK and rAlloferon-1ìrAlloferon-EK showed similar remarkable effects of inhibiting the growth and proliferation of KB, SGC and HL-60 cells in vitro within 25 approximately 100 microg/ml concentration range (P<0.01), and there were no significant differences in the inhibiting effects among the three agents (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONA prokaryotic expression system to serially express rAlloferon-1 has been successfully constructed. The product rAlloferon-1-EK has a similar anti-tumor activity compared to both the synthesized Alloferon-1 and Alloferon-1-EK in vitro.

Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Bacterial Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Growth Inhibitors ; genetics ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; HL-60 Cells ; Helicobacter pylori ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; KB Cells ; Peptides ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo determine the different rates of human papillomavirus types 6 (HPV-6) and 11 (HPV-11) infection in biopsy samples from pointed condyloma patients, and to construct prokaryotic expression system of the major capsid protein L1 of the virus so as to establish an ELISA for detecting the expression of L1 gene in the biopsy samples.

METHODSUsing a double PCR based on the L1 gene of HPV-6 and HPV-11, the infection rates of HPV-6 and HPV-11 in the biopsy samples were determined. The whole length of HPV-6 L1 gene was amplified using PCR and the target amplification fragment was sequenced after T-A cloning. The prokaryotic expression system pET32a-L1-E. coli BL21 (DE3) was constructed and SDS-PAGE was used to measure the expression of the target recombinant protein rL1. Rabbit anti-rL1 serum was prepared and immuno-diffusion assay was applied to examine the antiserum titer. ELISA was established to detect the expression of L1 gene in the biopsy samples.

RESULTSIn the biopsy samples from 116 pointed condyloma patients, 92.2% (107/116) were detectable for HPV-6 and/or HPV-11. Of the 107 positive samples, 70.1% (75/107) and 23.4% (25/107) were positive for HPV-6 or HPV-11 alone and 6.5% (7/107) were coinfected with both HPV-6 and HPV-11 respectively. When compared with the reported corresponding sequences, the homology of nucleotide and sequence of the cloned HPV-6 L1 gene was from 99.20% - 99.93% while its putative amino acid sequence homology was from 99.80% - 100%, suggesting IPTG could induce the expression of rL1. The immuno-diffusion titer of the rabbit anti-rL1 serum was 1:4. 88.8% (103/116) of the biopsy samples were the major capsid protein L1 detectable.

CONCLUSIONA prokaryotic expression system of HPV-6 L1 gene, a double PCR assay for HPV-6 and HPV-11 genotyping, and an ELISA assay for detecting the major capsid protein L1 were successfully established in this study. The pointed condyloma patients in Zhejiang area mainly infected with HPV-6. The HPV in the focus frequently expressed major capsid protein L1.

Animals ; Biopsy ; Capsid Proteins ; genetics ; Condylomata Acuminata ; pathology ; virology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gene Expression ; Human papillomavirus 11 ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Human papillomavirus 6 ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Papillomavirus Infections ; virology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rabbits ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid

OBJECTIVETo clone pIA and pIB genes of Neisseria gonorrhoeae,and to construct pIA-pIB fusion gene and its prokaryotic expression system, and to establish enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on rPIA-PIB for detecting serum and pus samples from gonorrhea patients and to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA.

METHODSpIA-pIB fusion gene was constructed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using linking primers and a prokaryotic expression system of the fusion gene was constructed by using routine molecular biological methods. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) plus BioRad Gel Image Analyzer was used to measure the expression of the target recombinant protein rPIA-PIB. Ni-NTA affinity chromatography was performed to extract and purify rPIA-PIB. An ELISA by using rPIA-PIB as the coated antigen for detecting the specific IgG against rPIA and/or rPIB in gonorrhea patients' sera as well as another ELISA by using rPIA-PIB antiserum as the first antibody for detecting the rPIA and/or rPIB in gonorrhea patients' pus samples were established. In these experiments, ELISAs associated with rPIA, rPIB and their antisera were applied as the controls.

RESULTS100% similarities of the nucleotide and putative amino acid sequences of the pIA-pIB fusion gene were confirmed when compared with the original sequences. The output of rPIA-PIB was 29.8% of the total bacterial proteins. The purified rPIA-PIB only showed a single target protein segment in gel after SDS-PAGE. Using a positive rate (98.3%) of rPIA-PIB-IgG-ELISA to detect 119 cases of gonorrhea patients' serum samples was remarkably higher than that of rPIA-IgG-ELISA (30.3%) or rPIB-IgG-ELISA (66.4%) (P<0.01). The positive rate (91.6%) of rPIA-PIB-ELISA to detect 119 cases of gonorrhea patients' pus samples was also significantly higher than that of rPIA-IgG-ELISA (27.7%) or rPIB-IgG- ELISA (62.2%) (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONIn this study we successfully constructed pIA-pIB fusion gene of N. gonorrhoeae and its prokaryotic expression system while rPIA-PIB showed obvious superiority used as the antigen in gonorrhea associated detection kits compared to both the rPIA and rPIB.

Antigens, Bacterial ; immunology ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Base Sequence ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; methods ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Humans ; Neisseria gonorrhoeae ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism

Syndrome and formulae (or prescription) are two key issues in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and the premise research for material basis of TCM. However, vagueness of syndromes and complexity of formulae greatly limited the evaluation to syndromes and effective substance basis of prescription. Therefore, how to solve the evaluation of syndromes, confirming the efficacy material basis in prescription are the current hot issues of international concern. To solve these problems, establishing chinmedomics by integrated serum pharmacochemistry of TCM with metabolomics technology, that is a unique method of TCM research, made outstanding contributions in solving international concerns such as the effectiveness and security aspects of TCM. On the basis of the biological characterization of syndrome, the metabolic profiling of animal models of TCM syndrome, and related metabolic fingerprints as well as metabolic biomarkers were established to evaluate the overall effects of TCM formulae and corresponding relationship of syndrome-formulae. The active constituents were screened using the plotting of correlation between (endogenous) marker metabolites and (exogenous) serum constituents (PCMS), and is ongoing verification by further biological experiments. Correlation analysis between the ingredients in the body after oral formulae and endogenous markers in vivo can be used to clarify the active ingredients and synergistic properties. This method was successfully applied for rapid discovery of potentially bioactive components and metabolites from TCM, and through a series of studies on the chinmedomics, it proved that the established method could help to explore the effective substance for further research of TCM. As a new research approach, Chinmedomics is the best method to fit the holistic concept of TCM, and it can not only interpret the essence of syndrome but also elucidate the scientific connotation of Chinese medical formulae.
Animals ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drug Prescriptions ; Drug Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; pharmacokinetics ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to examine the level of social support, health promoting behaviors and depression among unmarried pregnant women and to identify the relationship between social support, health promoting behaviors and depression. METHOD: A descriptive correlational study was conducted. The participants were 102 unmarried pregnant women receiving shelter services from four facilities in two metropolitan cities. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA and Pearson correlation were used for data analysis. RESULTS: The level of social support and health promoting behaviors were relatively lower and the level of depression was relatively higher than those of married pregnant women. The participants received especially low social support from their unmarried partner. There was a positive relationship between social support and health promoting behaviors. Moreover, there were negative relationships between social support and depression and between health promoting behaviors and depression. CONCLUSIONS: To promote physical and emotional health of unmarried pregnant women, more attention is necessary to increase their social support. A nursing intervention program to increase social support among unmarried pregnant women in needed.
Depression* ; Female ; Humans ; Nursing ; Pregnant Women* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Single Person* ; Statistics as Topic