The deubiquitinating enzyme ubiquitin specific peptidase 15 (USP15) is regarded as a regulator of TGFβ signaling pathway. This process depends on Smad7, the inhibitory factor of the TGFβ signal, and type I TGFβ receptor (TβR-I), one of the receptors of TGFβ. The expression level of USP15 seems to play vital roles in the pathogenesis of many neoplasms, but so far there has been no report about USP15 in psoriasis. In this study, immunohistochemical staining of USP15, TβR-I and Smad7 was performed in 30 paraffin-embedded psoriasis specimens and 10 normal specimens to investigate the expression of USP15, TβR-I and Smad7 in psoriasis and to explore the relevance among them. And USP15 small interfering RNA (USP15 siRNA) was used to transfect Hacat cells to detect the mRNA expression of TβR-I and Smad7. Of 30 cases of psoriasis in active stage, 28, 24 and 26 cases were positive for USP15, TβR-I and Smad7 staining, respectively. The positive rates of USP15 and Smad7 were significantly higher in psoriasis specimens than in normal skin specimens (44.1%±26.0% vs. 6.1%±6.6%, 47.2%±27.1% vs. 6.6%±7.1%), and positive rate of TβR-I (20.3%±22.2%) in psoriasis was lower than that in normal skin specimens (46.7%±18.2%). There was a significant positive correlation between USP15 and Smad7 expression, and significant negative correlations between USP15 and TβR-expression, an I d between TβR- and Smad7 expression I in psoriasis. After transfection of USP15 siRNA in Hacat cells, the expression of TβR-mRNA was up I -regulated and that of Smad7 was down-regulated. It is concluded that USP15 may play a role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis through regulating the TβR-I/Smad7 pathway and there may be other cell signaling pathways interacting with USP15 to take part in the development of psoriasis.

A rapid and sensitive analytical method was developed for the simultaneous determination of fumonisins B1 and B2 in traditional Chinese medicines by HPLC-MS/MS. The detection limits for fumonisins B1 and B2 were 0.25 ng x mL(-1) corresponding to 2 microg x kg(-1) in samples. Recoveries from different samples spiked with fumonisins B1 and B2 at levels ranging from 0.2 to 3 mg x kg(-1) were 84.0%-96.1% and 86.3%-99.3%, respectively. Among the total of 34 samples purchased from local markets, ten samples of which were visibly moldy samples due to inappropriate storage, and 24 were normal samples. The results showed that 6 of the visibly moldy samples and 5 of the normal samples were contaminated with total fumonisins at levels ranging 82.4-2349 microg x kg(-1) and 102-729 microg x kg(-1), respectively.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drug Contamination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Fumonisins ; analysis ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

OBJECTIVETo explore a treatment program for increasing therapeutic effect on rheumatoid arthritis at active stage.

METHODSOne hundred and forty-six cases were randomly divided into treatment group (n = 74) and medicine control group (n = 72). The treatment group were treated by electroacupuncture at Quchi (LI 11), Hegu (LI 4), Yanglingquan (GB 34), etc. , combined with meloxicam, sulfasalazine and MTX. The control group treated by simple the Western medicines. Their therapeutic effects were compared.

RESULTSThe effective rate was 79.73% in the treatment group and 51.39% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P< 0. 05).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture combined with medicine has a better therapeutic effect than the simple medicine on rheumatoid arthritis at active stage.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Humans ; Medicine

To analyze the genetic characteristics of echovirus 6 (E6) isolated from meningitis and encephalitis cases in Shandong Province, China, we collected cerebrospinal fluid samples from meningitis and encephalitis cases in Shandong Province from 2007 to 2012 for virus isolation. Viral RNAs were extracted from positive isolates, and complete VP1 coding regions were amplified by RT-PCR and sequenced. Homology comparison and phylogenetic analysis were performed. Six isolates were identified as E6 by microneutralization assay and molecular typing. The homology analysis showed that the six isolates had 78. 6%-99. 8% nucleotide and 95. 5%-100. 0% amino acid identities with each other, as well as 76. 9%-78. 4% nucleotide and 92. 3%-95. 1% amino acid identities with the prototype strain (D' Amori). The phylogenetic analysis based on the integrated VP1 sequences indicated that all Shandong E6 isolates could be separated into four clusters, designated as A, B, C, and D. The six E6 isolates belonged to clusters A, B, and D. Our study reveals high genetic differences between Shandong E6 isolates and suggests different transmission lineages of E6 co-circulated in Shandong Province.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Echovirus 6, Human ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Encephalitis ; epidemiology ; virology ; Female ; Genetic Variation ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Meningitis ; epidemiology ; virology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Alignment ; Viral Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics

Objective To comparatively analyze the changes of environmental risk factors in 9 years in an area polluted by arsenic coal-burning in Xingren County of Guizhou Province,in order to provide evidence for reasoning the occurrence and development as well as its effective prevention and control.Methods Epidemiological sampling methods was used to conduct follow-up investigation on 181 arsenism patients who were diagnosed in 1998 in arsenic polluted area.Control group included 65 residents who lived far from polluted area of 12 km.The follow up investigation included age,sexuality,family economic situation,time of use or stop use of arsenic coal, ventilation of the room,desiccation of food etc.Diethyl dithiocarbamate silver(Ag-DDC)method was used to detect arsenic content of coal,soil,air,water and rice,corn,chili;Single factor and multivariate factors non-conditional Logistic regression models were used to analyze exposure factors of patients and related environmental risk factom, and the differences of those in 1998 and 2006 were compared. Results The arsenic content in indoor and outdoor air,coal,chili and corn went down from 0.0880 and 0.0220 mg/m3,397.20,45.07 and 2.64 mg/kg in 1998 to 0.0790 and 0.0070 mg/m3,93.01,3.46 and 1.50 mg/kg in 2006. Arsenic contents of other samples were less than national standard. The analysis of single factor and multivariate factors non-conditional Logistic regression showed that time of using high arsenic coal,age,fluorosis and smoking(x2 = 50.159,12.195,37.69,6.358,P ＜ 0.05 or ＜ 0.01 ) were still the main risk factors for arsenism,while family economic situation was still influential factors (X2 = 4.614,P ＜ 0.05);Ventilation of the room changed from a risk factors at 1998 to an influencing factors at 2006(X2 = 38.093,P ＜ 0.01 ). Single factor non-conditional Logistic regression model analysis showed that food desiccation by arsenic coal-burning and educational level were no longer risk and influencing factors,while food preservation and gender had become influencing factors(x2 = 17.463,11.004,all P ＜ 0.01 ) nine years after. Conclusions Environmental arsenic pollution in arsenism area in Guizhou Province has been obviously improved after nine years. However,the continued existence of low doses of arsenic pollution is still a major cause of failure of controlling arsenism. Time of using high arsenic coal,age,smoking,fluorosis,family economic situation and ventilating room are closely related to the occurrence and the development of arsenism. Prohibition of use of high arsenic coal,furnace improvement,health education and economic development are effective measures

We wished to analyze the genetic characterization of echovirus 11 (Echo11) from samples of environmental sewage in Shandong Province (China). The VP1 coding region was typed as the strains were amplified. Phylogenetic analyses on the VP1 sequences from these isolates, strains isolated from AFP cases in the period 1994-2010 and others published in GenBank were conducted. From 2011 to 2012, 94 Echo11 strains were isolated from samples of environmental sewage in Jinan and Linyi City in Shandong Province. Numbers of Echo11 were seasonal and reached peaks in the summer and autumn in both cities; A- mong these isolates, nucleotide (nt) identities were 89.5%-100.0% whereas amino acid (aa) identities were 95.4%-100.0%. The nt and aa identities were 76.6%-79.7% and 90.4%-92.5% between those strains and the prototype (Gregory) strain of Echo11, respectively. All isolates from Shandong Province were the A genotype and the strains evolved very rapidly, which suggested that several transmission chains was co-circulating. We described the temporal fluctuation and genetic characterization of Echo11 isolates from surveillance of environmental sewage in Shandong Province, thereby providing important information for exploring the dynamic change and genetic variation of circulating human enteroviruses in this Province in China.
China ; Enterovirus B, Human ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; Sewage ; virology

The deubiquitinating enzyme ubiquitin specific peptidase 15 (USP15) is regarded as a regulator of TGFβ signaling pathway. This process depends on Smad7, the inhibitory factor of the TGFβ signal, and type I TGFβ receptor (TβR-I), one of the receptors of TGFβ. The expression level of USP15 seems to play vital roles in the pathogenesis of many neoplasms, but so far there has been no report about USP15 in psoriasis. In this study, immunohistochemical staining of USP15, TβR-I and Smad7 was performed in 30 paraffin-embedded psoriasis specimens and 10 normal specimens to investigate the expression of USP15, TβR-I and Smad7 in psoriasis and to explore the relevance among them. And USP15 small interfering RNA (USP15 siRNA) was used to transfect Hacat cells to detect the mRNA expression of TβR-I and Smad7. Of 30 cases of psoriasis in active stage, 28, 24 and 26 cases were positive for USP15, TβR-I and Smad7 staining, respectively. The positive rates of USP15 and Smad7 were significantly higher in psoriasis specimens than in normal skin specimens (44.1%±26.0% vs. 6.1%±6.6%, 47.2%±27.1% vs. 6.6%±7.1%), and positive rate of TβR-I (20.3%±22.2%) in psoriasis was lower than that in normal skin specimens (46.7%±18.2%). There was a significant positive correlation between USP15 and Smad7 expression, and significant negative correlations between USP15 and TβR-expression, an I d between TβR- and Smad7 expression I in psoriasis. After transfection of USP15 siRNA in Hacat cells, the expression of TβR-mRNA was up I -regulated and that of Smad7 was down-regulated. It is concluded that USP15 may play a role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis through regulating the TβR-I/Smad7 pathway and there may be other cell signaling pathways interacting with USP15 to take part in the development of psoriasis.
Adult ; Cell Line ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratinocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Psoriasis ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA Interference ; Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Signal Transduction ; genetics ; Skin ; metabolism ; Smad7 Protein ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Ubiquitin-Specific Proteases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo determine the self-compatibility of Platycodon grandiflorum and the location of microspore germination on stigma.

METHODThe microspore germination of self-pollination, self-plant-pollination and cross-pollination and the pollination microspore germination in and outside of stigma were observed with fluorescence microscopy.

RESULTMost pollens of self-pollination, self-plant-pollination and cross-pollination can germinate on the stigma, and after 24 hours, pollen tube entered into the ovary successfully. Pollinated on the outer-surface of stigma, microspores could not germinate, but on the inner-surface of the stigma when it dehisced most microspores can germinate.

CONCLUSIONThe compatibility of self-plant-pollination of Platycodon grandiflorum is high. The microspore germination loci is on the inner-surface of the dehisced stigma.

Flowers ; growth & development ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; methods ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; Platycodon ; growth & development ; Pollen Tube ; growth & development ; Pollination ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between photosynthetic characteristics and environmental factors in leaves of P. lobata.

METHODPhotosynthetic characteristics and environmental factors were measured by using CIRAS-2 portable photosynthesis system.

RESULTThe apparent quantum yield in leaves was 0.0173 micromol CO2 x micromol(-1) photon. The dark respiration rate was 2.9333 micromol x m(-2) x s(-1). The light compensation point of photosynthesis was 180 micromol x m(-2) x s(-1). The light saturation point was 1600 micromol x m(-2) x s(-1). The carboxylation efficiency was 0.0338 micromol x m(-2) x s(-1). The light respiration rate was 2.5 micromol x m(-2) x s(-1). The CO2 compensation point was 100 micromol x mol(-1), The CO2 saturation point was 1 600 micromol x mol(-1).

CONCLUSIONPhoto flux density and air temperature are major environmental factors influencing diumal changes of net photosynthetic rate.

Photosynthesis ; physiology ; Plant Leaves ; metabolism ; Pueraria ; metabolism

Pseudoallergic reactions occured after the first administration of patients, and the pathogenic mechanisms of them were different from the allergic reactions which needed excitation after antigen sensitization. To provide a basis for evaluation, clinical use and drug development of pseudoallergic reactions, the models were established by two kinds of Chinese herbal injections (CHI) both on different strain or gender mice. With the use of ICR, Kunming, BALB/C, C57 mice, pseudoallergic tests of two CHI were conducted to compare the sensitivity of four strains mice, and compared the differences in male and female animals. Test substances contain 0.8% Evans blue (EB) were intravenously injected into different strain and gender mice. Scores of ear blue staining and quantitation of ear EB exudation were the parameters for pseudoallergic reaction. Results of strain difference indicated that both CHI A and B could cause severe pseudoallergic reactions indicated by obvious vascular hyperpermeability on ICR mice. The pseudoallergic reactions in ICR mice are more obvious under the the same dose of injection, which stated the sensibility of ICR mice. And the reactions of KM mice and BALB/C mice were slightly reduced which compared to ICR mice, even alomost nothing on C57 mice. Comparison results of gender difference showed that one CHI was not have significant difference in male and female animals, but male animals were more susceptible than females on another CHI. Therefore, ICR mice were preferable experimental strain on the model of pseudoallergic reactions induced by CHI A and B. Because of female animals were easily influenced by estrous cycle, the pseudoallergic reactions induced by CHI A and B select and use male mice befittingly.
Animals ; Drug Hypersensitivity ; etiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; Female ; Injections ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Sex Characteristics ; Species Specificity