Dust ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Pneumoconiosis ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Poaceae ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Silicates ; adverse effects

Adult ; Aged ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Female ; Hemangioma ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography, Interventional ; methods ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

Objective To explore the vascular endothelial function in individuals with normal glucose tolerance (NGT),impaired glucose tolerance (IGT),and type 2 diabetes mellitus,and to study the role played by PPARγcoactivator 1 α (PGC-1 α) in diabetic macrovascular function.Methods A total of 94 subjects with NGT,87with IGT,and 306 with type 2 diabetes mellitus were recruited in the study.Carotid flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD),glyceryl trinitrate dilatation (GTN),and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) were assessed by highresolution B-mode color vascular Doppler instrument.Finally,correlation analysis was conducted.NO,Akt-Ser473phosphorylation levels,IL-β,and PGC-1 α mRNA expression levels were measured by means of nitrate reductase,western blot,and reverse transcriptase real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR assay methods in peripheral blood mononuclear cells respectively.Results FMD in newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetic group was significantly lower than that in NGT and IGT groups(P＜0.01).GTN and CIMT showed no difference.PGC-1 α mRNA transcription level in diabetic group was significantly lower than that in non-diabetic groups (P＜0.01).Correlation analysis showed that PGC-1 α was positively correlated with FMD and GTN (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Logistic regression analysis revealed that PGC-1 α was independently associated with FMD (P ＜ 0.01) after adjusting other influencing factors.Conclusion FMD is a more sensitive early warning indicator of endothelial function than CIMT and GTN.As indices of atherosclerosis,CIMT and GTN are more or less focused on the progression of macrovascular complications.PGC-1 α is a protective factor of macro-vasculature in diabetes mellitus,and its effect may be achieved through the protection of the vascular endothelium.

Objective To explore the predictive value of microvessel density(MVD)and blood vessel invasion(BVI)in hepatic metastasis from early-stage rectal cancer.Methods MVD and BVI in the tumor tissue from 380 patients with stage I and II rectal cancer was determined by immunohistochemical S-P method with anti-CDIOS antibody and anti-CD34 antibody,respectively.Multinomial logistic regression was performed to analyze the predictive value of MVD and BVI in hepatic metastasis from early-stage rectal cancer.Results CD105 was expressed in newborn blood vessels,not in normal blood veseels.in the rectal cancer tissue.MVD was correlated with histological type and infiltration depth(P＜0.05).Besides histological type and infiltration depth,BVI was also correlated with histological grade.Multivariate analysis revealed that histological type,tumor infiltration depth,BVI,adjuvant therapy,and MDV were independent predictors of hepatic metastasis from rectal cancer.The risk of hepatic metastasis in patients with postive expression of either MVD or BVI or both were significant higher than that in patients with low expression of MVD and those without BVI expression[hazard ratio(95%CI),4.210(2.182-11.214)].Conclusion BVI and MVD are independent predictors of hepatic metastasis from stage I and II rectal cancer.Combined detection of MVD and BVI may help to predict the clinical outcome of patients with early-stage rectal cancer.

In this study, we evaluated the difference ot biological characteristics in the MERS-CoV infected mice model in prior to transduction with different dosage of human DPP4. Firstly, we transduced different dosage of DPP4 (high or low) into mice, and then challenged them with MERS-CoV in order to establish the model. After establishment of mice model, we observed the clinical signs of disease, virus replication, immunopathogenesis and antibody response. The results indicated that the infected mice showed typical pneumonia, virus replication, histological lesions, and neutralizing antibody production. Moreover, the high dosage group was superior to the low dosage group. Fourteen days after infection, the specific antibody to virus structural protein and neutralizing antibody were analyzed, the high dosage group induced higher level antibody. In summary, the MERS-CoV infected mice model were established prior transduction with DPP4, and the level of DPP4 influenced the clinical signs of disease, virus replication and antibody response in this model.
Animals ; Coronavirus Infections ; enzymology ; genetics ; pathology ; virology ; Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus ; genetics ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the expression of microRNA (miR)-let-7b in peripheral blood cells of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and investigate its relationship to clinical disease parameters.

METHODSPeripheral blood and serum samples were obtained for study from 60 PBC patients and 60 healthy controls. Peripheral blood cells were extracted and subjected to real-time PCR to measure miR-let-7b expression. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-18, total bilirubin (TBIL), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) were measured by standard biochemical assays. The relationship between miR-let-7b expression and disease parameters was assessed by Spearman's rank correlation test.

RESULTSPBC patients showed significantly lower expression of miR-let-7b in peripheral blood cells than healthy controls (P less than 0.001); moreover, the miR-let-7b expression level decreased in parallel to increases in disease severity (stage I > II / III > IV). In PBC patients, the miR-let-7b expression was significantly correlated with Mayo risk scores (r = -0.4930, P less than 0.001), IL-18 (r = -0.4643, P less than 0.001) and ALP (r = -4119, P less than 0.001), but not with TBIL or GGT.

CONCLUSIONDecreased expression of miR-let-7b may be associated with development and progression of PBC, and this miRNA may represent a novel target of improved diagnostic and preventive strategies for PBC.

Adult ; Aged ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; blood ; Bilirubin ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-18 ; blood ; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary ; blood ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; blood

OBJECTIVETo elucidate the roles of JAK/STATs signal pathway on anti-proliferative effects induced by IFN-alpha in MHCC97.

METHODSAn IRF9 expression vector was transfected into MHCC97 with Dosper. The expression of IRF9, cycle regulating proteins and the forming of ISGF3 complex were detected using Western blot and EMSA, respectively. Cell proliferation and distribution were monitored using MTT and flow cytometry.

RESULTSHigh expression of IRF9 restored the anti-proliferative response of MHCC97 on IFN-alpha treatment and delayed the cell transition from S phase to G2 phase induced by IFN-alpha.

CONCLUSIONThe integrity and functions of JAK/STATs signal pathway played an important role in mediating the anti-proliferative effects of IFN-alpha in MHCC97.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Interferon-Stimulated Gene Factor 3, gamma Subunit ; genetics ; Interferon-alpha ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Janus Kinases ; genetics ; physiology ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; STAT Transcription Factors ; genetics ; physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Transfection

To search for potential antitumor drugs with potent efficiency and low toxicity, a novel 1,4,7-triazacyclodecane and its platinum (II) complex were synthesized. These compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, MS spectra, thermoanalysis and conductivity measurement. Antitumor activity study indicated these compounds had strong antitumor activity in vitro to some extent. Inhibition of human liver tumor of CA was examined by antitumor rate and growth rate, complex C showed inhibition activity on transplanting-tumor growth of CA, 12 mg x kg(-1) was as potent as cisplatin, its ID50 was 853.6 mg x kg(-1).
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; Female ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Organoplatinum Compounds ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation

BACKGROUNDSuicide gene therapy is a widely used molecular treatment for head and neck cancer. In this study, we try to use the method of homogenous recombination in bacteria to clone thymidine kinase gene (tk)-a kind of suicide gene to adenovirus backbone vectors for the construction of replication-defective adenoviruses.

METHODSpAdTrack-CMV/tk was constructed through subclone of a restriction endonuclease fragment including thymidine kinase gene from plasmid pCMV-tk to another plasmid pAdTrack-CMV, and then co-transfected with supercoiled pAdEasy-1, which was an adenoviral backbone vector except for deletions of E1 and E3, to competent E. coli BJ5183 for homogenous recombination using electroporation procedure. With the same method, pAdTrack-CMV was also co-transformed with pAdEasy-1 for homogenous recombination in BJ5183. Identified with restriction endonuclease PacI and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), plasmids pAd-GFP/tk and pAd-GFP were successfully constructed. Each of them was digested with PacI and sequently transfected into human embryo kidney 293 cells (HEK293) using Lipofectamine 2000.

RESULTSComet-like adenovirus-producing foci of Ad-GFP/tk and Ad-GFP were observed after 5 to 7 days of cell culture. After twelve days of packaging, the replication-defective adenoviruses were collected. Identified with PCR, thymidine kinase gene was successfully constructed into Ad-GFP/tk.

CONCLUSIONThe replication-defective adenoviruses containing thymidine kinase can be constructed more easily by homogenous recombination in bacteria than conventional techniques.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Bacteria ; genetics ; Defective Viruses ; genetics ; Genetic Therapy ; methods ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; Recombination, Genetic ; Thymidine Kinase ; genetics ; Virus Replication

OBJECTIVETo develop a mouse model of acute lung injury induced by cigarette smoke (CS) and to investigate inflammatory changes with the model.

METHODSICR mice exposed to CS for 20-min, 3/d. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue were harvested at d 0, d 1, d 3 and d 7 after CS exposure. Neutrophil count in BAFL, TNF-alpha and MMP-12 levels, the activity of MPO in lung tissue were determined.

RESULTNeutrophil count in BALF, MMP-12 and MPO levels in lung tissue were increased after CS exposure in a time-dependent manner with a peak at d3. TNF-alpha level sharply increased at d1, and remained high level until d7.

CONCLUSIONICR mice are tolerant and sensitive to CS exposure, which may be used as an appropriate animal model for acute lung injury induced by cigarette smoke.

Acute Lung Injury ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; cytology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 12 ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Smoke ; adverse effects ; Tobacco ; adverse effects ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism