Objective Isolating and purifying the major allergens from Metapenaeus ensis and identifying its immunoreactivity for diagnostic application. Methods The proteins extracted from Metapenaeus ensis were purified by DEAE-52 ion-exchange chromatography and Sephadex G-100 gel filtration. The eluted peaks were detected by dot-ELISA,and the immunoreactivity of the purified allergens was detected by ELISA with the sera from patients allergic to shrimp. The molecular weights of the purified allergic proteins were detected by SDS-PAGE. Results Two major allergic proteins which have highly immunoreactivity in ELISA detection were purified from Metapenaeus ensis. The molecular weights of which were 36 and 68kDa,respectively. Conclusion The major allergens of Metapenaeus ensis purified by ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration have effective immunoreactivity and can be used as specific antigen in ELISA reagent.

A RP-HPLC method was developed to evaluate the quality of Picrasmae Ramulus et Folium by simultaneous determination of five constituents including 1-hydroxymethyl-beta-carboline (1), 1-methoxicabony-beta-carboline (2), 4-methoxy-5-hydroxy-canthin-6-one (3), 4, 5-dimethoxy-canthin-6-one (4) and maackiain (5) in Picrasmae Ramulus et Folium. The samples were separated on a Kromasil RP-C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) column eluted with acetonitrile and 0.1% phosphoric acid as mobile phases in gradient mode. The detection wavelength was set at 254 nm. The calibration curves and linearity of the above five standards were determined as (1) Y = 6 525.6X + 37.25 (0.009-1.780 microg, r = 0.996 8), (2) Y = 3 662.3X + 41.55 (0.005-0.920 microg, r = 0.999 5), (3) Y = 3763.1X + 146.87 (0.015-3.060 microg, r = 0.999 0), (4) Y = 2 174.1X + 21.52 (0.003-0.620 microg, r = 0.999 5), and (5) Y = 276.25X + 7.65 (0.010-1.960 microg, r = 0.998 9), respectively. The method is simple and repeatable, and can be used for the quality assessment of Picrasmae Ramulus et Folium.
Alkaloids ; analysis ; Calibration ; Carbolines ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Chromatography, Reverse-Phase ; methods ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; Indole Alkaloids ; analysis ; Picrasma ; chemistry ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Pterocarpans ; analysis ; Reproducibility of Results

Objective To observe the effects of comprehensive measures of changing grain,selenium supplementation,off-site education and resettlement on prevention of children's Kashin-Beck disease in Aba state.Methods Fifty eight villages in Aba Kashin-Beck disease areas were chosen as intervention points in Aba state Sichuan province from 2007 to 2011.Based on the implementation of prevention and control measures,the villages were divided into off-site education + changing grain + selenium supplementation group and resettlement + off-site education + changing grain + selenium supplementation group,Geletuo town of Seda county,Ganzi state was selected as a control point,and right-hand anteroposterior X-ray examination(including the wrist) was carried out on children aged 6-13 from 2007 to 2011 annually.Clinical and X-ray diagnosis of Kashin-Beck disease was made in accordance with the Diagnostic Criteria of Kaschin-Beck Disease(GB 16003-1995).The effects of prevention and control measures were evaluated by comparing the child X-ray detection rate before and after the implementation of the measures.Results The average X-ray positive detectable rate of children in the intervention points was 2.07％(66/3181),2.72％ (69/2540),1.16％ (35/3017),0.56％ (19/3397) and 0.56％ (24/4273),respectively from 2007 to 2011,with a downward trend (x2trend =66.74,P ＜ 0.01).There was a downward trend in the average X-ray positive detectable rate of children in off-site education + changing grain + selenium supplementation group [1.60％(29/1809),2.63％ (39/1484),1.29％ (25/1941),0.64％ (15/2332),0.42％ (10/2379)] and resettlement + off-site education + changing grain + selenium supplementation group [2.70％ (37/1372),2.84％ (30/1056),0.93％(10/1076),0.38％ (4/1065),0.74％(14/1894)] (x2trend=30.97,35.19,all P ＜ 0.01).The average X-ray positive detectable rate of children in the intervention group was 0 from 2007 to 2010,and was 1.61％ (1/62) in 2011.The difference of X-ray positive detectable rate was not statistically significant in the control group in the 5 years from 2007 to 2011.The difference of children's X-ray positive detectable rate was not statistically significant between control group and intervention group.Conclusions The effect of taking changing grain,selenium supplementation,off-site education and resettlement comprehensive measures to prevent children's Kashin-Beck disease is not significant in those places where the state of Kaschin-Beck disease is not active.

OBJECTIVETo review the central role of leukemia stem cells (LSCs) in drug resistance and metastasis, aiming to provide key insights into leukemogenic pathology and developing novel therapeutic strategies against the relapse of leukemia.

DATA SOURCESThe data used in this review were obtained mainly from the studies reported in PubMed using the key terms "tumor-initiating cells", "leukemia stem cells", "drug resistance" and "metastasis".

STUDY SELECTIONRelevant articles on studies of leukemia stem cells were selected.

RESULTSIncreasing numbers of studies have suggested the importance of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in the initiation and maintenance of cancer, especially in leukemia. This review has summarized the origin, characteristics, isolation and identification of LSCs. It highlights the crucial role of LSCs in drug resistance and metastasis of leukemia by illustrating possible mechanisms and aims to provide novel therapeutic strategies for LSCs-targeted treatment.

CONCLUSIONLSCs play a crucial role in drug resistance and metastasis of leukemia and new promising LSCs-targeted therapies warrant investigation in both experimental models and clinical practice.

Animals ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; physiology ; Humans ; Leukemia ; pathology ; Models, Biological ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo explore the method of rapid detection of skin fungi and the significance of conventional diagnosis liquor worker tinea corporis and tinea cruris using arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction AP-PCR.

METHODSAmong liquor workers who were 50 tinea corporis patients, 58 tinea cruris patients and 50 health persons, we amplified the DNAs of the dermatophytes were amplified using AP-PCR and random primers OPD18 5'-GAGAGCCAAC-3' and OPAA11 5'-ACCCGACCTG-3', at the same time, the dermatophytes with microscope were detected and cultured.

RESULTSAP-PCR analysis detected fungal DNA in 45 patients(90.00%) among 50 liquor worker patients with tinea corporis, 31 patients(62.00%) had the positive results of microscope detection, and 41 patients(82.00%) had the positive results of standard culture. Among these workers who suffered from tinea corporis, T.rubrum, T.mentagrophyte, M. canis and E.floccosum were detected by AP-PCR. T.rubrum, T.mentagrophyte and M.canis were detected by standard culture. AP-PCR analysis detected fungal DNA in 53 patients(91.38%) among 58 liquor worker patients with tinea cruris, 37 patients(63.79%) had the positive results of microscope detection, and 48(82.76%) had the positive results of standard culture. Among the 58 workers who had tinea cruris, T.rubrum, E.floccosum and T.mentagrophyte were detected by AP-PCR and standard culture. Among 50 health persons, AP-PCR analysis detected fungal DNA in 3 persons(6.00%). The detection result with AP-PCR indicated that the kinds of fungi were T.rubrum and T.mentagrophyte. No one health person had the positive result in detection of fungi using microscope detection. Only one(2.00%) health person was detected to be infected by fungus with cultural way. The kind of fungus was T.rubrum.

CONCLUSIONAP-PCR is a rapid, sensitive and specific detection method for occupational dermatophyte patients. It can be used to detect and diagnose professional dermatophytosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; DNA Primers ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tinea ; diagnosis ; etiology ; microbiology ; Young Adult

Objective To observe the circadian rhythm of blood pressure and investigate the impact of Norvasc and Tanatril administrated at different time points based on the theory of time therapeutics in hypertensive patients. Methods The 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure was monitored in 130 inpatients and outpatients with grade 3 or 2 hypertension from May 2008 to November 2009. A total of 34 dipper hypertensive patients were grouped into dipper blood pressure group and 5 mg/d of Norvasc and Tanatril were taken by them at 6:00 AM. A total of 96 nondipper hypertensive patients were further divided into three subgroups after adjustment for age and gender: 5 mg/d of Norvasc and Tanatril were taken by group I (n = 30) at 6:00 AM; 5 mg/d of Tanatril at 6:00 AM and 5 mg/d of Norvasc at 18:00 PM by group Ⅱ (n = 32); 5 mg/d of Norvasc at 6:00 AM and 5 mg/d of Tanatrilat 18:00 PM by group Ⅲ(n=34).The 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed again after four weeks treatment and 24-hour mean systolic blood pressure(24 hSBP),24-hour mean diastolic blood pressure(24 hDBP),daytime and nighttime mean systolic blood pressure(dSBP,nSBP)and daytime and nighttime mean diastolic blood pressure(dDBP,nDBP),were analyzed.Results The 24 hSBP,24 hDBP and dSBP,and dDBP were reduced from(154.3±5.6),(95.4±3.1),(158.7±6.5),(99.6±3.7)mmHg to(137.2±3.9),(82.5±2.7),(139.7±3.8),(85.2±3.5)mmHg,respectively,in dipper blood pressure group(t=2.124,2.356,2.278,2.449,all P<0.05).The 24 hSBP and 24 hDBP of the three groups in nondipper blood pressure were decreased from(154.4±6.1),(156.7±6.7),(156.6±5.2),(95.8±2.8),(94.9±3.8),(95.7±3.2)mmHg to (139.6±4.1),(134.5±4.6),(133.4±3.5),(83.5±4.2),(80.8±5.6),(81.6±4.7)mmHg,respectively(t=2.038,2.040,2.135,2.142,2.213,2.216,all P<0.05).dSBP and dDBP were decreased from(158.6±3.50),(158.4±5.6),(159.5±4.),(98.4±3.7),(99.6±3.7),(83.9±5.2)mmHg to(138.9±5.4),(136.7±4.1),(137.4±6.4),(85.8±5.3),(83.6±5.1),(83.9±5.2)mmHg,respectively(t=2.021,2.252,2.261,2.217,2.167,2.076,all P<0.05).nSBP and nDBP were decreased from(146.7±6.9),(149.8±3.9),(150.2±4.1),(93.7±4.2),(95.7±4.3),(93.4±3.3)mmHg to(133.7±4.6),(129.8±5.7),(127.6±2.8),(87.8±2.9),(78.5±6.4),(77.8±4.8)mmHg,respectively(t=1.798,2.032,2.014,1.864,2.157,2.166,all P<0.05).There were significant differences in nSBP and nDBP among all groups after treatment(F=2.32,2.17,all P<0.05),and the effect of the drugs was better in groug Ⅱ and Ⅲ than in group Ⅰ(q=3.17,4.03,3.32,4.19,all P<0.05),but there were no significant differences between group Ⅱ and Ⅲ(P>0.05).Conclusions Blood pressure can be controlled effectively by taking two antihypertensive medictions in the morning in hypertensive dipper patient but the blood pressure of nondipper hypertensive patients were able to be controlled more efficiently by taking the two antihypertensive medictions separately in the morning and at the evening compared with that taking the two drugs together in the morning.

To study and analyze prevalence condition of hypertension and complicated cardiovascular risk factors in north Fujian rural area .Methods : By cluster sampling , an epidemiological questionnaire and physical ex‐amination were performed among 1784 residents using standardized survey method , who were ≥35 years from six towns and eight villages in north Fujian rural area from Jun 2013 to Mar 2014. Hypertension was diagnosed accord‐ing to The 2010 Chinese Guideline for the Prevention and Treatment of Hypertension , multivariate Logistic regres‐sion was used to analyze independent risk factors for hypertension in these subjects .Results : Prevalence rate of hy‐ pertension was 17.43% (31／1784 ) in north Fujian rural area .After population standardization , it＇s 23. 21%(18.66% in men and 16. 13% in women) , there was no significant difference in prevalence rate of hypertension be‐tween men and women in any age layer , P＞0. 05 all.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis indicated that age , overweight (BMI≥24 kg／m2 ) , high triglyceride and fasting blood glucose were independent risk factors for hyper‐tension in north Fujian rural area (OR＝1.107－2.096 , P＜0. 05 or ＜0. 01).Conclusion : Prevalence rate of hyper‐tension is high in north Fujian rural area , age , overweight , smoking , high triglyceride and fasting blood glucose are the main risk factors .

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect and related mechanisms of aldosterone (ALD) on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity and nitric oxide (NO) production in aortic adventitia.

METHODSAortic adventitias from SD rats were incubated for 6 hours with various protocols: buffer alone (control), ALD (10(-8) mol/L - 10(-6) mol/L), ALD + spironolactone (10(-5) mol/L, ALD + SP), ALD + RU486 (10(-5) mol/L), LPS 10 ng/ml (LPS), ALD + LPS (10 ng/ml), ALD + LPS + SP (10(-5) mol/L), and ALD + LPS + RU486. Nitrate/nitrite (NOx), an index of NO production, was measured by Greiss Reaction. iNOS activity was determined by isotope-labeled L-arginine convertion rate.

RESULTS(1) NOx production and iNOS activity were similar between ALD and control groups (P > 0.05). NOx production was significantly reduced while iNOS activity remained unchanged in the ALD (10(-6) mol/L) + SP group compared to ALD (10(-6) mol/L) group. NOx production by 10(-7) mol/L and 10(-6) mol/L ALD increased by 50.0% and 58.7% respectively (P < 0.01) and iNOS activity was also significantly increased (P < 0.01) in ALD + RU486 group than that in ALD group. (2) LPS significantly increased the NOx production and iNOS activity (P < 0.01) and these effects were not augmented by adding ALD to LPS (P > 0.05) and SP significantly blocked and RU486 significantly enhanced the effects by LSP and ALD on NOx production and iNOS activity (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAldosterone has a dual effect on iNOS/NO through mineralocorticoid receptor and glucocorticoid receptor pathway.

Aldosterone ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Connective Tissue ; metabolism ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study the impact of neonatal bacillus Calmette-Guerin(BCG) vaccination on lung Th17 cells and IL-17 in murine asthma model.

METHODSNeonatal BALB/c mice were divided into three groups: control, OVA and BCG/OVA groups. BCG was administerd in the BCG/OVA group on postnatal day 2 or 3. Except the control group, the mice in the other two groups were sensitized and undergone OVA challenge. Inflammatory cell numbers and morphological identification of leucocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured by light microscopy. Cytokine IFN-gamma and IL-17 levels in BALF were measured using ELISA. The percentage of lung Th17 cells were assayed by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThere was significantly larger number of total cells, lymphocytes, eosinophils and neutrophils in BALF in the OVA and BCG/OVA groups compared with the control group. The number or percentage of those cells in the BCG/OVA group was lower than that in the OVA group. The level of IL-17 in BALF was significantly higher in the OVA and the BCG/OVA groups compared with the control group, while the level of IFN-gamma was lower. The OVA group had higher level of IL-17 than the BCG/OVA group. The mice in the OVA and the BCG/OVA groups had a higher percentage of Th17 cells in lungs compared with the control group, but there were no significant differences in the percentage of Th17 cells between the OVA and the BCG/OVA groups.

CONCLUSIONSTh17 cells and IL-17 play roles in the pathogenesis of asthma. BCG vaccination can reduce the level of IL-17 in BALF and the reduced IL-17 may be mainly from other IL-17-producing cells in the lungs, not Th17 cells.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Asthma ; immunology ; BCG Vaccine ; immunology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Interferon-gamma ; analysis ; Interleukin-17 ; analysis ; Lung ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Ovalbumin ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer ; immunology ; Vaccination

Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma, T-Cell ; diagnosis ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; diagnosis