The Telomeric Repeat Amplification Protocol(TRAP)and its modified versions change the size and/or the ratio of the telomerase products in the amplification stage of the assay.Based on TRAP,a useful method was developed for detecting telomerase activity in rice.A special precursor primer and a special reverse primer and conducted two steps of PCR cycles were designed.GENE Genius? Bio-imaging System was applied for this quantitative analysis for exploring telomerase activity and its optimal reaction conditions.The method ensured that the optimal reaction conditions for the telomerase was 19℃,13minutes,at a concentration of 0.28 u g/? l.A quantitative analysis method was established for detecting telomerase activity in rice.With this method,we detected telomerase activity in roots,young leaves and young panicles of six parental lines of hybrid rice.The results show that young panicles have the highest telomerase activity,demonstrating that telomerase activity is closely related to the cell vitality in plants.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Chronic Disease ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Population Surveillance ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult

Objective To explore the mechanism of skeletal fluorosis via observation on the expression of bone γ-carboxyglutamic acid-containing protein (BGP) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in the residents of coal-burning fluorosis regions, and to provide a basical data for further monitoring and evaluating the effects of fluoride-reducing projects. Methods Stratified sampling was applied, the 6 villages of fluorosis were chosen as focusing areas for investigation. The residents of villages underwent clinical examination of the skeletal fluorosis. And according to the degree of skeletal fluorosis, villages were divided into three groups, namely light, moderate and severe villages. Radio-Immunoassay and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to check the expression of BGP and OPG in the serum. Results The levels of serum BGP in the severe skeletal fluorosis cases[(6.78±4.43)μg/L] were significantly higher(P<0.05) than those in the normal, moderate and the severe groups [ (3.58±1.53), (3.44±2.66), (3.41±2.20)μg/L], respectively. The expression of OPG in the light, moderate and the severe groups [(1251.55±998.31), (1265.94±931.77), (1560.55±858.07)ng/L] were significantly higher (P<0.05) than those in the normal[(520.81±385.05)ng/L], respectively. The levels of BGP in mixed type[(6.09±2.62)μg/L] were much higher(P<0.05) than no mixed type[(3.97±1.53), (3.20±2.12)μg/L]. The levels of OPG in the osteosclerosis, osteoporesis and mixed type[(1321.63±1017.00), (1205.42±852.22), (1529.01±402.83)ng/L] were significantly higher(P<0.05) than those of the normal, respectively. The levels of OPG in the light villages [(452.06±338.10)ng/L] were significantly lower(P<0.05) than moderate and severe villages[(1266.30±899.14), (1851.80±956.08 )ng/L], respectively. The levels of OPG in the severe villages were significantly higher(P<0.05) than moderate villages. Conclusions It indicates that OPG can be used as an early indicator in coal-burning pollution endemic fluorosis results in biochemical changes in the composition of bone.

OBJECTIVETo study the practical survey method on estimating the size of male homosexual population.

METHODSNine male homosexual gathering spots were selected and three methods as division method, capture-mark-recapture method and multiplier method were applied in counting the numbers of homosexual men in one city in Sichuan province.

RESULTSNumber of counting through division method was 877 and the three numbers through capture-mark-recapture method were 1408, 1207 and 949 respectively. However, appropriate data was not obtained by multiplier method.

CONCLUSIONSDivision method was easy to operate with its high credibility, but costly. Capture-mark-recapture method was less costly less both in capital and time, and the results could be testified to each other. Multiplier method should be modified before applied to obtain reliable information.

China ; Homosexuality, Male ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Male ; Statistics as Topic ; methods

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the characteristics of MR imaging of hepatic lesions using measurement of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value of hepatic lesions on diffusion weighted imaging.

METHODSMR diffusion weighted images were obtained in patients with 97 hepatic lesions (22 hepatocellular carcinomas, 21 metastatic tumors, 28 hemangiomas, 26 cysts). ADC values were evaluated with different sequences. The ADC ratio of lesion/liver was estimated.

RESULTSAverage ADC values of hepatic lesions were as follows: carcinomas (0.91 +/- 0.07) x 10(-3) mm(2)/s, metastatic tumors (1.13 +/- 0.27) x 10(-3) mm(2)/s, cavernous hemangiomas (1.94 +/- 0.37) x 10(-3) mm(2)/s, cysts (3.26 +/- 0.30) x 10(-3) mm(2)/s. The ADC ratio of lesion/liver was significantly different between primary carcinomas and metastatic tumors (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONQuantitative study in hepatic lesions using ADC values and the ADC ratio of lesion/liver, would improve the accuracy in diagnosing hepatic lesions.

Cysts ; diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diffusion ; Hemangioma, Cavernous ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; secondary ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP) is one of the ways utilized for selective degradation of many proteins in cells, and the 20S proteasome takes the functional machinery where hydrolysis of targeted proteins takes place. Based on existing peptide inhibitors, a series of novel tripeptidic tetrazoles have been designed, synthesized, and the structures have been confirmed with 1H NMR, MS and elemental analysis. Among them, three compounds (6b, 6d and 6h) showed inhibitory activities of ChT-L of 20S proteasome.
Biological Assay ; Drug Design ; Molecular Structure ; Oligopeptides ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex ; chemistry ; Proteasome Inhibitors ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Tetrazoles ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo describe and compare the hepatitis virus infection in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients receiving surgical operation in China and Japan.

METHODSInformation of surgical HCC patients was retrieved from the medical records. The concerned characteristics of the HCC cases from two countries were described and compared.

RESULTSA total of 425 diagnosed cases that underwent surgical resection for HCC in China were investigated, and the corresponding cases in Japan were 247. The proportion of the hepatitis virus infection was 75.53% in patients with HCC from China. Within the infection cases, 91.28% were positive for HBsAg but negative for anti-HCV. The proportion was 82.59% in patients with HCC from Japan. Within the infection cases, 77.94% were positive for anti-HCV but negative for HBsAg. The proportion of hepatocirrhosis in the hepatitis virus infection patients with HCC were 89.10% and 68.14% in China and Japan, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe hepatitis B virus infection showed be a main cause of HCC in China, however, the HCC in Japan be mostly related to hepatitis C virus infection.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; epidemiology ; surgery ; virology ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Hepacivirus ; immunology ; Hepatitis B ; epidemiology ; virology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; immunology ; Hepatitis C ; epidemiology ; virology ; Hepatitis C Antigens ; blood ; Humans ; Japan ; epidemiology ; Liver Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; surgery ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sex Distribution ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo set up a new process to access the preparation of decellularized artery grafts. And to evaluate the feasibility of decellularized artery allografts was evaluated.

METHODSThis study compared the effects of four extraction chemicals [1% t-octyl-phenoxypolyethoxyethanol (Triton X-100), 1% tri (n-butyl) phosphate (TnBP), and 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and trypsin (0.125, 0.25%) on thoracic artery vascular for 24 h (except trypsin for 2 h). At the base of it, a four-step process, including hypotonic, hypertonic solutions and combining with 1% Triton X-100 and 1% SDS detergents, were performed in rabbit thoracic artery vascular. Histological examination, tensile tests and expanding-burst tests were done on the samples. The decellularized carotid artery allografts were transplanted in other rabbits.

RESULTSTreatment with 1% SDS or 1% Triton X-100 for 24 h could remove most cells with retention of near normal structure. A four-step process could remove all cells with the extracellular matrix well conserved. The pulling mechanical properties and burst pressure of decellularized carotid artery were similar to the control. The decellularized carotid artery allografts (diameter of 2 mm) were patent at explanting up to 2 months.

CONCLUSIONSThe acellular artery vascular graft matrix is well prepared with four-step process including detergents, such as TritonX-100, SDS without compromising the graft structure or mechanical properties significantly. The carotid artery allografts (diameter of 2 mm) decellularized by the process are patent at explanting up to 2 months.

Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; cytology ; Bioprosthesis ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation ; Carotid Arteries ; cytology ; transplantation ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Male ; Protease Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate ; pharmacology ; Tissue Engineering ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation between DNA fingerprinting of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) stains isolated from the Chinese army in the south and from local residents, and to investigate the molecular epidemiological characteristics of tuberculosis (TB) in the army, for the sake of TB prevention in the army.

METHODSMTB DNA was digested with restriction endonuclease PvuII and electrophoresed in agarose gel, after Southern Blotting, the membrane was hybridized with a 245 bp fragment of IS6110 which labeled [alpha(32)P]-dCTP as probe. Finally, a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns was shown, and analyzed logestic with epidemiological data from the patients.

RESULTSA total number of 185 TB strains were detected and the IS6110 copy numbers ranged from 1 - 22. No significant difference was found in the IS6110 copy numbers between patients from army and local patients. IS6110 copy numbers of TB strains in army patients were centered in 6 - 20, however, with 7 - 20 copies in local TB patients. The TB strains were dispersed into 8 groups and the majority of TB strains in both army and local patients was centered in groups I, II, III. The distribution of DNA fingerprint for drug resistance TB strains was significantly different from those for sensitive strains. No different distribution of among groups was found regarding BCG history.

CONCLUSIONSThe genetics of TB stains were roughly the same between the army patients and local ones, but there was a strong correlation in the gene levels. Data suggested that a close connection should be considered on TB prevention and treatment for TB patients in the army and local residents.

China ; epidemiology ; DNA Fingerprinting ; DNA, Bacterial ; analysis ; genetics ; Humans ; Military Personnel ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Tuberculosis ; epidemiology ; genetics ; microbiology

OBJECTIVETyping of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains and epidemiological studies in the army of southern China to provide scientific basis for prevention of pulmonary tuberculosis.

METHODSA rapid fingerprinting of M. tuberculosis strains method by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with outward-directed primers that designed to the ends of the insertion sequence IS6110 was developed, and to analyze the relationship between the polymorphism of DNA fingerprinting and epidemiology of M. tuberculosis.

RESULTSOne hundred and fifty-four M. tuberculosis detected were classified into eight types according to their characters of PCR amplified fingerprints. The main types were type I (36.4%), type II (31.8%), and type III (21.4%), while other types were less than 4 percentage. In those main type groups, patients aged 20 to 29 and 30 to 39 took up 31.8% and 27.9% respectively. For those main types, the distribution of those types in the first treated patients showed significant difference compared with that in the retreated patients, and the rate of drug-resistance was also statistically different. However, the distribution was not statistically significant to history of BCG vaccination and patients living in urban or rural area. The main drug-resistant strains were only Isoniazid-resistant or Rifampin-resistant strains, while the drug-resistant strains were 44.4%, 29.6% and 14.8% respectively in type I, type II and type III.

CONCLUSIONPCR fingerprinting was a rapid, precise, sensitive, specific method to type M. tuberculosis, and could be used to study the epidemiology of tuberculosis; The prevalence of tuberculosis was primarily due to the transmission of type I, type II and type III in the army being studied from Southern China, to suggest that surveillance needs to be strengthened.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; DNA Fingerprinting ; methods ; DNA, Bacterial ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Military Personnel ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tuberculosis ; epidemiology ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant ; epidemiology ; microbiology