Objective To validate feasibility of comet assay as a tool for detecting DNA damage induced by various types of chemical mutagens.Study of DNA damage induced by4chemicals on human lymphocytes was carried out in vitro.Methods Human lymphocytes were exposed to4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide(4NQO,a UV-mimetic agent ),methyl methanesulfonate(MMS,an alkylating agent ),Bleomycin(BLM,a radiamimetic agent )and Mitomycin(MMC,a DNA crosslink agent )for3h,the DNA single strand breaks(SSB)induced by4chemicals were measured immediately(0h-incubation)and21h-incubation after3h-exposure to the chemicals with comet assay.Results It was found that the SSB induced by4NQO,MMS and BLM,which revealed a dose-response relationship(P

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the effect of nafate (compound fetal cow liver extract tablets) in hepatic fibrosis patients with chronic liver diseases.

METHODSOne hundred fifteen hepatic fibrosis patients with chronic liver diseases from 3 medical centers were included in this study. All patients were given nafate orally for twenty-four weeks. Before treatment and 12, 24 and 36 weeks after the treatment, serum levels of hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN) and type IV collagen (IV-C) of the patients were measured by radioimmunoassay and their liver biopsy specimens were also assessed.

RESULTSBefore treatment and 24 and 36 weeks after the nafate treatment, serum levels of HA were (279.2+/-81.4) ng/ml, (136.8+/-56.7) ng/ml and (86.9+/-40.7) ng/ml respectively, serum levels of LN were (170.8+/-73.0) ng/ml, (112.5+/-39.5) ng/ml, and (60.8+/-31.8) ng/ml respectively, and IV-C levels were (153.7+/-60.1) ng/ml, (112.4+/-43.1) ng/ml, and (96.3+/-44.1) ng/ml respectively. There was a significant reduction in these serum values after the treatments. Histopathological examinations of the liver biopsies showed that the degree of hepatic fibrosis obviously declined by one or two degrees after the treatments.

CONCLUSIONSnafate has positive effects in treating hepatic fibrosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Animals ; Cattle ; Drug Combinations ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; therapy ; Liver Extracts ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Objective: To investigate the regulation of JAK2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor ruxolitinib on extracellular matrix metalloproteinase (MMP in JAK2V617F positive myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) cells. Methods: ①Forty cases of newly diagnosed JAK2V617F positive MPN patients and 15 healthy volunteers as control in Baoding No.1 Hospital between January 2012 and December 2015 were enrolled in this study. JAK2V617F/JAK2 ratio was detected by real-time-PCR; the expression levels of phosphorylation protein tyrosine kinase 2 (p-JAK2) , MMP-2 and MMP-9 in pathological tissues of bone marrow were detected by immunohistochemistry. The bone marrow cells of JAK2V617F positive MPN patients were treated with ruxolitinib, then the migration ability and MMP-2, MMP-9 gene and protein expression levels were detected. ②The human erythroleukemia cell line HEL cells were treated with different concentrations of ruxolitinib (0, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1 000 nmol/L) . The cell viability was detected by CCK-8 test; cell migration ability was tested by transwell chambers. The mRNA expression levels of JAK2, MMP-2 and MMP-9 were detected by real-time-PCR. The protein expression levels of p-JAK2, MMP-2 and MMP-9 were detected by Western blot. Results: ①The expression levels of p-JAK2, MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the newly diagnosed group were significantly higher than control group respectively [ (78.56±24.55) % vs (41.59±17.29) %, P<0.05; (48.25±18.74) % vs (22.79±13.89) %, P<0.05; (53.29±19.28) % vs (15.56±14.96) %, P<0.05]. Spearman correlation analysis showed the positive correlation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 protein expression levels with JAK2V617F mutation (r=0.526, P=0.001; r=0.543, P=0.001) . ②The proliferation of HEL cells was inhibited by different concentrations of ruxolitinib in time and dose dependent manner. ③Cell migration test showed the number of cells leaked to the low chamber in MPN patients bone marrow cells and HEL cells treated with 5 nmol/L of ruxolitinib group were significantly lower than that without ruxolitinib treatment after 24 h [ (154.7±27.5) vs (320.3±67.3) , t=13.47, P<0.05; (70.7±10.5) vs (135.3±16.7) , t=13.89, P<0.05]. The mRNA and protein expression levels of JAK2, MMP-2 and MMP-9 decreased with the increased concentration of ruxolitinib. Conclusion Ruxolitinib inhibits MPN cell migration and expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 via JAK2 signal pathway.

Objective To learn the iodine nutritional status of the vulnerable population with different iodine level under the current level of iodized salt in Shandong province and to offer prevention and cure measures.Methods Five groups of vulnerable population including school children aged 8 - 10, pregnant, lactation women, infants and women of childbearing age from mountain areas ( Daiyue, Mengyin counties ) , plain ( Luxian,Gaomi counties ) and coastal (Zhaoyuan county ) of five different iodine deficient areas were investigated in 2007.The thyroids of children aged 8 - 10 were checked by palpation and B ultrasound, their edible salt iodine level was detected by direct titration. The lever of urinary iodine of vulnerable population was examined by arsenic and cerium speetrophotometry. Results The goiter rates of 8 - 10 year-old were 1.8%(9/514) and 1.2%(6/514), respectively by palpation and B-ultrasonic. The mean iodine of 501 edible salt samples was 30.95 mg/kg. The coverage rate of iodized salt was 94.6% (474/501). The rate of qualified iodized salt was 90.4% (453/501). The median of urinary iodine was 216.7 μg,/L. The urinary iodine of school children aged 8 - 10, pregnant, lactation women, infants and women of childbearing age were 234.0, 165.5, 162.4, 257.5, 233.0 μg/L, respectively. Conclusions Current iodine nutritional level is basically appropriate in all groups of vulnerable people. The current iodine content of iodized salt could meet the needs of population from different iodine deficient areas of Shandong province.

Objective To explore the correlation between environmental selenium(Se) levels and cognitive ability among rural elderly population, and the effect of Se on cognitive skill of the elderly. Methods Two study sites(Zichuan district and Gaomi city of Shandong) with different environmental Se levels were selected according to rural elderly people ≥ 65 years were extracted by stratified random sampling method in each site. A retrospective survey was carried out using dietary intake questionnaire for the elderly for the past 1 year, and their daily total Se intake was calculated. Questionnaire was also used to obtain cognitive skill information in the elderly people. The Community Screening Instrument for Dementia, the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD) Word List Learning Test, the Indiana University (IU) Story Recall Test, the Animal Fluency Test, and the IU Token Test were applied to assess the cognitive ability. Se level in these samples was analyzed. Correlation between the Se levels of environment and those of human body were analyzed statistically. Results There were 0.163), (0.405 ± 0.086)]mg/kg and nail Se[(147.44 ± 17.42), (117.38 ± 22.48)μg/L]between the two groups (U = 31.59, 25.00, 23.67, all P ＜ 0.01 ). There were positive correlation among the nail Se, environmental Se and Se in all subjects(r = 0.51,0.46, 0.60, all P ＜ 0.01 ). The differences of the CSID total score, the CERAD Word List Learning Test, the CERAD Word List Recall Test and the IU Story Recall Test between the two sites were statistically significant(F = 2.56, 9.18, 7.48, 4.42, all P ＜ 0.05), excluding the Indiana University Story Recall Test.After eliminating possible confounding factors, the Se levels and the CSID total score, the IU Story Recall Test, the Animal Fluency Test and the IU Story Token Test had a significantly positive correlation (r = 0.076, 0.138, 0.042,0.107, P ＜ 0.05 or ＜ 0.01 ), excluding the CERAD Word List Learning Test. Conclusions This study supports the hypothesis that a life long low Se level is associated with lower cognitive ability. The cognitive abilities in the elderly population lived in areas with high environmental selenium levels are significantly higher than that of the elderly lived in areas with low environmental selenium levels.

OBJECTIVETo explore the pathological basis of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) findings in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE).

METHODSDWI was performed in 15 patients with HCC treated by TACE within 24 - 48 hours before II-phase operation. The DWI findings of the liver lesions were analyzed and correlated with pathological findings including macroscopic observation, HE staining and immunohistochemical staining for bFGF.

RESULTS(1) The viable tumor area showed mostly hypersignal intensity (12/15), whereas coagulative necrotic lesions showed hyposignal (8/15) or isosignal intensity (6/15). The ADC values of zones of viable tumor and necrosis in tumor were (1.42 +/- 0.16) x 10(-3) mm(2)/s and (1.58 +/- 0.18) x 10(-3) mm(2)/s, respectively. There was a significant difference of ADC values between the two zones (t = 2.618, P < 0.05). (2) There was a significant difference in ADC values of viable tumor between well and poorly differentiated tumors (t = -2.646, P < 0.05). The distinction of ADC values of the whole tumor was significant among tumors with different degree of necrosis (chi(2) = 7.236, P < 0.05). (3) A negative correlation was observed between bFGF protein expression index and ADC values of viable parts of the tumors in the study group (r = -0.552, P = 0.033).

CONCLUSIONDWI shows certain characteristic features of the HCC after TACE, and can be used to distinguish viable and necrotic tumor tissues in HCC after TACE.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Iodized Oil ; therapeutic use ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitomycin ; administration & dosage ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo isolate, culture and identify glioma stem cells from human malignant glioma cell line U87, and investigate the changes of pro-angiogenic factors production by glioma stem cells followed by activation of CXCR4 and observe their tumorigenesis as well as the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor when implanted into nude mice.

METHODSThe ratio of CD133 positive cells was detected by flow cytometry. Magnetic separation of CD133 positive cells was carried out on the magnetic cell sorting system (MACS). Expression of nestin, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and CXCR4 on tumorspheres was detected by indirect immunofluorescence under confocal laser scanning microscopy. The functional activation of CXCR4 was assessed by calcium mobilization experiments. ELISA was used to detect the production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in conditioned medium. Glioma stem cells were implanted into nude mice to assess their tumorigenesis ability and the expression of VEGF.

RESULTSThe ratio of CD133 positive cells with stem cell property was 0.5% in U87 cells. Activation of CXCR4 on glioma stem cells induced calcium mobilization and increased VEGF and IL-8 protein secretion. CD133 positive cells secreted more VEGF and IL-8 than their negative counterparts in vitro. Tumors derived from CD133 positive cells grew more rapidly and expressed elevated level of VEGF than their negative counterparts.

CONCLUSIONSThere are a small fraction of glioma stem cells in human glioblastoma cell line U87. Expressing functional CXCR4 and secreting more pro-angiogenic factors may be involved in tumor angiogenesis mediated by glioma stem cells.

AC133 Antigen ; Animals ; Antigens, CD ; analysis ; Brain Neoplasms ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; metabolism ; Glioblastoma ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Glycoproteins ; analysis ; Humans ; Interleukin-8 ; metabolism ; Intermediate Filament Proteins ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; metabolism ; transplantation ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; Nestin ; Peptides ; analysis ; Receptors, CXCR4 ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo analyze the incidence and time trends of esophageal and gastric cancers in Linzhou city bassed on the data of Linxian Tumor Registry, and to provide valid reference data for research and effective estimation of cancer control in this area.

METHODSAll incidence records for the both cancers during 1988-2003 were drawn from Linzhou Tumor Registry and grouped by sex, age, year and then linked to corresponding population data. The incidence rates of those two topographic site cancers were calculated and the age-adjusted rates were calculated by direct standardization to the world population. A joinpoint model was used to get the annual percentage change (APC) of the age-adjusted rates, and to estimate the epidemiological trends of both cancers in population of Linzhou city.

RESULTSIn the year 2003 the age-adjusted incidence rates of esophageal and gastric cancers were 81.78 per 100 000 and 77.08 per 100 000, respectively, in the population of Linzhou city. The incidence rate of both cancers showed a decreasing trend from 1988 to 2003. The APC of the incidence rates of esophageal cancer was - 2.6% and that of gastric cancer was - 1.8%, and both indexes were statistically significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe incidence rates of esophageal and gastric cancers have presented a decreasing trends in the population of Linzhou city. This trend will continue along with the development of social economy, elevation of living standard and improvement in living habit and environment.

Cardia ; China ; epidemiology ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Sex Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo study genetic damage of workers alone occupationally exposed to methotrexate (MTX) with three end-points.

METHODSThe blood samples from 21 workers exposed to MTX and 21 controls were detected with micronucleus test, comet assay, hprt gene mutation test and TCR gene mutation test.

RESULTSThe mean micronuclei rate (MNR) and mean micronucleated cells rate (MCR) in 21 workers were 10.10 per thousand +/- 0.95 per thousand and 8.05 per thousand +/- 0.75 per thousand, respectively, which were significantly higher than those (5.48 per thousand +/- 0.82 per thousand and 4.38 per thousand +/- 0.58 per thousand) in control (P < 0.01). The mean tail length (MTL) of 21 workers and 21 controls were (1.30 +/- 0.06) microm and (0.07 +/- 0.01) microm, respectively, there was significant difference between workers and controls (P < 0.01). But the difference between workers and controls for mean tail moment (MTM) was not significant (P > 0.05). The average mutation frequency (Mf-hprt) of hprt and (Mf-TCR) of TCR in workers were 1.00 per thousand +/- 0.02 per thousand and (6.87 +/- 0.52) x 10(-4), respectively, which were significantly higher than those [0.86 per thousand +/- 0.01 per thousand and (1.67 +/- 0.14) x 10(-4)] in control (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe genetic damage to some extent appeared in workers occupationally exposed to methotrexate.

Adult ; Comet Assay ; DNA Damage ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase ; genetics ; Male ; Methotrexate ; toxicity ; Micronucleus Tests ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Occupational Exposure

OBJECTIVETo analyze the survival level and variation of esophageal cancer in Linzhou city of Henan province from 1988 to 2004, and evaluate the effects of diagnosis and treatments on esophageal cancer in this area.

METHODSAll incidence and death records for esophageal cancer during 1988 to 2004 were collected from Linzhou Tumor Registry. Cases with duplicate information or death certificate only were excluded. A total of 12,160 cases of esophageal cancer were collected, of which, 6914 cases were male, and 5246 cases were female. The sex-specific and age-specific probabilities of survival in 1992, 1997 and 2002 were calculated and linked to the data of incidence and death on esophageal cancer in this area. Five-year observed survival rate and five-year relative survival rate during 1990 to 1994, 1995 to 1999, 2000 to 2004 were calculated respectively using period survival analysis and cohort survival analysis and Z test.

RESULTSThe 5-year relative survival rates among the three-episode were 28.24%, 35.24% and 40.76% respectively during 1988 to 2004. This showed an increasing trend by periods (Z values were 3.94 and 3.07, P < 0.05). The 5-year observed survival rates in men among the three-episode were 13.67%, 18.08% and 22.46% respectively, the 5-year relative survival rates were 29.94%, 36.96% and 38.40%. The 5-year observed survival rates in women among the three-episode were 15.56%, 19.29% and 28.01% respectively, the 5-year relative survival rates were 26.78%, 33.12% and 43.70%. During the two former periods, there was no significant difference in the 5-year observed survival rate and relative survival rate between men and women (Z values of observed survival rate were 1.48 and 0.88, P > 0.05. Z values of relative survival rate were 1.27 and 1.50, P > 0.05). In the third period, the 5-year observed survival rate and relative survival rate in women was higher than that in men (observed survival rate Z = 3.56, P < 0.05; relative survival rate Z = 2.09, P < 0.05). The relative survival rate that calculated using period method (respectively 35.24% and 40.76%) was higher than that using cohort method (respectively 28.77% and 33.35%) from 1995 to 1999, and from 2000 to 2004.

CONCLUSIONThe survival rate on esophageal cancer in Linzhou city was increasing in the three different periods. This indicated a rising status in the secondary prevention and clinical diagnosis and treatments on esophageal cancer.

China ; epidemiology ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; mortality ; Female ; Humans ; Life Tables ; Male ; Survival Analysis