Objective To explore the effect of long-term depleted uranium (DU)ingestion on testosterone production in rats, and its involvement mechanism. Methods Male and female rats (F0 and F1 respectively) for 160 days, respectively. The contents of testosterone (T), luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in serum were detected in 20 months of F0 generations, and 15 months of F1 generations. RT-PCR was used to analyze the levels of StAR mRNA and P450scc mRNA. Results Compared with the normal control group, the testosterone contents in exposed F0 and F1 generations increased, the lowest was 51.73 U/L, but those of LH and FSH decreased. The expression of StAR mRNA in the low-doze group of F1 generation (StAR/β-actin = 1.35) was up-regulated, down-regulated for other groups.compared with the normal control group (P450scc/β-actin = 0. 313), the expression of P450scc mRNA in the low- and high-dose groups of F0 generation were decreased (P450scc/β-actin = 0.21), and those in the low- and high-dose groups of F1generation were increased (P450scc/β-actin = 0.623) (P ≤ 0.01). Conclusion Long-term DU exposure inhibit the male reproduction by intervening the sexual hormone production through down-regulated the expression of StAR mRNA and P450scc roRNA.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Shuangling Fuzheng anti-tumor preparation (SLAP) five groups on proliferation and c-myc gene expression of SGC-7901 cells in vitro.

METHODThe inhibitory effect of single SLAP (40 -640 microg x mL(-1)) and combined therapy with adriamycin (0.4, 4.0 microg x mL(-1) or cisplatin (0.1,1.0 microg x mL(-1) on human gastric carcinoma SGC-7901 cells proliferation were observed by MTT colorimetric analysis method. Technique of flow cytometry in vitro was used to measure the rate of positive sign of SLAP (80 - 320 microg x mL(-1)) on c-myc gene protein of SGC-7901 cells.

RESULTSGC-7901 cells proliferation were inhibited by single SLAP in dose of 40 - 640 microg x mL(-1) 24 h. Its inhibitory rate was increased with increase of dose. The inhibitory rate on SGC-7901 cells could be increased by SLAP in dose of 40 - 640 microg x mL(-1) plus adriamycin in dose of 0.4 and 4.0 microg x mL(-1) or plus cisplatin in dose of 0.1 and 1.0 microg x mL(-1). At the same time, SLAP (80 - 320 microg x mL(-1)) also could inhibite the expression of c-myc gene of SGC -7901 cells.

CONCLUSIONSingle SLAP had inhibiting effect on human gastric carcinoma cells proliferation with a dose-effect relationship and synergic effect while combined with adriamycin or cisplatin. To inhibit the expression of c-myc gene of human gastric carcinoma cells might be one of action mechanisms of SLAP, which inhibited tumor cells proliferation.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Synergism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Genes, myc ; Humans ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo determine the molecular weight and content of Ginkgo biloba exocarp polysaccharides.

METHODThe analysis was carried on a PL aquagel-OH MIXED (7.5 mm x 300 mm, 8 microm) chromatography column eluted with water as mobile phase at 1.0 mL x min(-1) of flow rate, the column temperature was 25 degrees C and the eluate was detected by RID.

RESULTThe average molecular weight of Ginkgo bilobaexocarp polysaccharides was 11 062.5 with RSD = 0.78% (n = 6); the content was 81.9% with RSD = 2.5% (n = 6), the standard curves of dextran (MW 12 000) were linear in the range of 1-20 microg, r = 0.999 9. The average recovery is 97.9%, RSD was 2.5%.

CONCLUSIONThis method was found to be sensitive and accurate for the measurement of Ginkgo biloba exocarp polysaccharides.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Molecular Weight ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; analysis ; chemistry ; Reproducibility of Results

BACKGROUND: Upper eyelid flap grafting-related vessels such as superficial temporal artery, supratrochlear artery, supraorbital artery trunk are reported. Upper eyelid artery dissection is becoming more and more important for the surgery on the eyelid, but there is a lack of anatomical analysis of upper eyelid artery. OBJECTIVE: To measure the anatomical position of the upper eyelid artery in the eyelid region, and to provide anatomical basis for adjacent flap grafting. METHODS: Twenty adult skull specimens were dissected, and a reference coordinate system was made based on the inner canthus connection for the X axis, and the center line for the Y axis. The red lactoprene was injected into the skull model via common carotid artery.The locations A-E of the upper eyelid artery in the eyelid area were measured. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The upper eyelid artery in the eyelid area was mainly from the supratrochlear artery and the supraorbital artery, generally paralleling to the X axis. The upper eyelid branch originated from the supratrochlear artery was located at the projection of the inner canthus, with a total length of 24.50 mm, and a diameter of 0.51 mm, extended to the outer canthus and the diameter of the vessel gradually reduced. The upper eyelid branch originated from the supraorbital artery was located at pupil and inner canthus junction 1/2 projection. The total length of the blood vessels was about 23-24.6 mm, and the diameter of the blood vessels was (0.55±0.05) mm. In the current study, we obtained the surface projecting of upper eyelid artery in the eyelid area by establishing the skull model of blood perfusion, which provides an anatomic basis for upper eyelid flap grafting.

Objective To find out the best method for elimination of uranium contamination in rat tissues as low as possible by removal of shrapnel fragments. Methods Experimental rats were divided into six groups: route group, decontamination before surgery group, decontamination in incision group, changing surgical appliances group, removing tissues around group, and comprehensive method group. Uranium concentrations in tissues and fluids in all groups were measured at 7, 14, and 21 d after operation. The efficiency of decontamination by different methods was compared. Results The highest uranium concentration in tissues was found in the route group, but the lowest in the comprehensive method group, and the second lowest in removing tissues around group. Conclusion The comprehensive method is the best one in all of the surgical removal methods. The soft tissues around DU shrapnels should be removed if they are not critical organs.

OBJECTIVETo screen the potential protein biomarkers in minimal residual disease (MRD) of the acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) by comparison of differentially expressed serum protein between APL patients at diagnosis and after complete remission (CR) and healthy controls, and to establish and verify a diagnostic model.

METHODSSerum proteins from 36 cases of primary APL, 29 cases of APL during complete remission and 32 healthy controls were purified by magnetic beads and then analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The spectra were analyzed statistically using FlexAnalysis(TM) and ClinProt(TM) software.

RESULTSTwo prediction model of primary APL/healthy control, primary APL/APL CR were developed. Thirty four statistically significant peptide peaks were obtained with the m/z value ranging from 1000 to 10 000 (P < 0.001) in primary APL/healthy control model. Seven statistically significant peptide peaks were obtained in primary APL/APL CR model (P < 0.001). Comparison of the protein profiles between the two models, three peptides with m/z 4642, 7764 and 9289 were considered as the protein biomarker of APL MRD. A diagnostic pattern for APL CR using m/z 4642 and 9289 was established. Blind validation yielded correct classification of 6 out of 8 cases.

CONCLUSIONSThe MALDI-TOF MS analysis of APL patients serum protein can be used as a promising dynamic method for MRD detection and the two peptides with m/z 4642 and 9289 may be better biomarkers.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Humans ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; classification ; diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm, Residual ; classification ; diagnosis ; Prognosis ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; methods ; Young Adult

Objective To study the effects of ribosomal protein L41 (RPL41) on the proliferation and apoptosis of human retinoblastoma Y79 cells and its underlying mechanisms.Methods Y79 cells were seeded in RPMI 1640 medium containing 10％ fetal bovine serum for passage culture.Then the cells were divided into control group,with cells left untreatment,(40 μmol · L-1,80 μmol · L 1 and 120 μmol · L-1) RPL41 treatment group according to the concentration.Next CellTiter-Glo fluorescence cell viability testing system was used to observe the viability of Y79 cells in all groups,and flow cytometry was applied to measure the cell apoptotic rate in 100 μmol · L 1 RPL41 treatment group,with Hoechst staining for the observation of nuclear morphometry of apoptotic cells,and finally,Western blot was used to determine the expression of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) of each group.Results Compared with the control group,the viability of Y79 cells in the 40 μmol · L-1 RPL41 treatment group was (97.9 ± 1.5) ％,with no significant difference (P =0.055);and the viability in the 80 μmol · L-1 and 120 μmol · L-1 RPL41 treatment group was (87.6 ± 1.8)％ and (63.9 ± 2.0) ％,respectively,both of which were significantly different from the control group (both P ＜ 0.05),so RPL41 inhibited the viability of Y79 cells,and 100 μmol · L-1 RPL41 promoted the apoptosis of Y79 cells,with the apoptotic rate of (17.33 ± 2.47)％.Compared with normal cells,the apoptotic cells in the 100 μmol · L 1 RPL41 treatment group showed bright color and smaller cell volume by Hoechst staining.Western blot showed that PRL41 significantly decreased the expression of ATF4 protein and the expression of ATF4 protein in the 40 μmol · L 1,80 μmol · L-1 and 120 μmol · L 1 treatment group were 0.76 ± 0.04,0.29 ± 0.04,0.29 ± 0.05,respectively,all of which were significantly different from the control group (all P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion RPL41 can inhibit the proliferation and promote the apoptosis of human retinoblastoma Y79 cell,and its mechanism may be related to the expression of ATF4.

OBJECTIVETo examine the effect of estrogen on the expressions of phosphorylated Tau (P-Tau), ChAT and nerve growth factor (NGF) protein in the brain tissue of rat models of Alzheimer disease (AD).

METHODSRat models of AD were established by injecting Aβ1-42 protein fragments in the right lateral ventricle. Two weeks later, 17β-estradiol tablets were implanted subcutaneously at the neck of the rats and maintained for 30 days. The pathological changes in the rats' brain neurons and alterations in the expressions of P-Tau, ChAT and NGF proteins were observed using HE staining and immunohistochemistry, respectively.

RESULTSIn the AD rats, neurofibrillary tangles occurred in the brain tissue, and estrogen treatment significantly reduced the formation of neurofibrillary tangles. Estrogen treatment also resulted in lowered P-Tau expression and increased ChAT and NGF protein expressions in comparison with those in the AD model rats.

CONCLUSIONEstrogen can up-regulate ChAT and NGF and down-regulate tau protein expression, thus producing obvious therapeutic effect on AD in rats.

Alzheimer Disease ; metabolism ; pathology ; Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Estradiol ; pharmacology ; Male ; Nerve Growth Factors ; metabolism ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; tau Proteins ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDMultiple epiphysis dysplasia (MED) is a common skeletal dysplasia with a significant locus heterogeneity. In the majority of clinically defined cases, mutations have been identified in the gene encoding cartilage algometric matrix protein (COMP).

METHODSFive patients were included in the study. Linkage analysis and mutation analysis of the COMP gene were conducted in the patients and their family members.

RESULTSWe have identified a novel mutation in axon 14 of COMP gene in the family.

CONCLUSIONSThis mutation produced a severe MED phenotype with marked short stature, early onset osteoarthritis, and remarkable radiographic changes. Our results extended the range of disease-causing mutations in COMP gene and contributed more information about relationship between mutations and phenotype.

Adolescent ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Osteochondrodysplasias ; genetics ; Pedigree ; Point Mutation ; genetics

Objective To explore the relationship between immune and pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in the investigation of neurofilaments phosphorylation and ultrastructure features in spinal cord ventral horn motor neuron injury mediated by immune.Methods Using transmission electron microscope,we studied the uhrastructure features of abnormal accumulations of neurofilaments (NF) in motoneuron of the spinal cord ventral horn,and immunohistochemically investigated neurofilaments phosphorylation.Results Electron microscope found that there was abnormal accumulation of interwoven NFs in motor neuronal perikarya and proximal axons.Immunohistochemical study revealed that the SMI-32 immunoreactive positive neurons (12.00?1.05),compared with control (18.00?1.83),were reduced (P