The nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a key protein of endogenous antioxidant defense systems in the body. In response to oxidative stress, Nrf2 translocates to nucleus and binds to antioxidant response elements (ARE), regulating the expression of a large amounts of antioxidant genes and maintaining a proper redox balance. The pathological processes of neurodegenerative diseases are associated with generation of reactive oxygen species, which cause oxidative stress. Oxidative stress plays a cardinal role in the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Nrf2-inducer compounds can reduce oxidant stress and have shown therapeutic efficacy in many neurodegenerative disease models. How to activate the Nrf2 signaling pathway effectively has been received much attention. Here we provided an overview of specific mechanism of Nrf2-ARE pathway and the protective effects of Nrf2 in different neurodegenerative diseases, and summarized the Nrf2 activators recently in preclinical study.
Antioxidants ; physiology ; Humans ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 ; physiology ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction

Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; Adult ; Aged ; Arthralgia ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Needles

AIM:To observe the situation of rat retinal tissue DNA damage at early diabetic period, discuss the role of the blood glucose fluctuations, and provide a new method for studying the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy ( DR) .
METHODS: SD rats were randomly divided into four groups:normal control group (NC), normal fluctuation group ( NF ) , diabetes group ( DM ) and diabetes fluctuation group ( DF ) . Diabetic models were established through intraperitoneal injection of STZ. A certain amount of glucose was injected in the rats of group NF and DF in an intraperitoneal mode three times a day after the model was established, thereby causing blood glucose fluctuations. Rats were killed and the retinal tissues were taken in the 8th week. Single cell gel electrophoresis ( SCGE ) technique was adopted for detecting DNA injury extent in the retina tissue.
RESULTS:Groups NF and DF showed significant and regular fluctuations. The curve of blood glucose fluctuations was relatively stable. All values of MBG, SDBG, LAGE and M were significantly increased compared with group NC. Group DF was increased more significantly. It was statistically significant (P<0. 01). SCGE showed that there were DNA damages in different levels in the cells of group NF, DM and DF. Indicators of cells such as TL, TDNA %, TM, OTM were higher than that in group NC. It was statistically significant ( P<0-01). The comparison difference between two groups was also significant (P<0. 01).
CONCLUSION: Rat retinal tissues have DNA injury during early diabetic period. DNA injury is gradually aggravated with blood glucose fluctuation. It indicates that high blood glucose and blood glucose fluctuation are involved in the mechanism of cell DNA injury, and they may be one of DR early event, have played a certain role in the incidence of DR.

Objective To investigate the prevalence and spectrum of β-thalassemia mutations in C, uangdong province, and provide a reference for prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling in this population. Methods Three thousand two hundred and forty-seven blood samples were randomly selected from Guangzhou and 2984 blood samples from Shenzhen from January in 2005 to January in 2009. PCR and reverse dot blot hybridization (RDB) were adopted for detection of β-thalassemia mutations in Guangzhou and Shenzhen city. Results Seven hundred and fifty-one individuals in Guangzhou were found to have β-hemoglobin gene mutations, the detection rate was 23.13%(751/3247); 10 different mutations were identified, namely CD41-42(-TCTT), IVS-Ⅱ-654(C→T), -28(A→G), CDI7(A→T), CD71-72(+A), 13E, IVS-I-1(G→T), CD43(G→T), -29(A→G), CDI4-15(+G), which accounted for 42.53% (336/790) ,25.19% (199/790), 12.66% (100/790), 10.89% (86/790) ,3.29% (26/790), 2.15%(17/790), 1.27%( 10/790), 1.14%(9/790) ,0.51%(4/790) ,0.38%(3/790), respectively; the most common mutation was CD41-42(-TCTT), which accounted for 42.53%(336/790). In Shenzhen, 179 individuals were found to have β-thalassemia mutations, the detection rate was 6.00% (179/2984); 8 different mutations were identified excluding CD43 (G→T) and CD14-15 (+G); the most common mutation, however, was IVS-lI--654(C→T), which accounted for 40.44% (74/183). Conclusions The β-thalassemia mutations in Guangdong province are not only frequent, but also obviously heterogeneous, and the mutations differ from region to region. CD41-42 (-TCTT),ⅣS-Ⅱ-654(C→T), -28(A→G), CD17(A→T) were the 4 predominant mutations.

Carotenoids play an important role in regulating the hydrogen production of hydrogen-producing Rhodobacter sp. The carotenoids of hydrogen-producing Rhodobacter sp. grown in acetate medium were extracted by using acetone-methanol (7∶2,V/V) solvent and were separated by using thin-layer chromatography on silica-gel plate. The qualitative and quantitative of the carotenoids were analyzed by spectrometry. The results showed that the carotenoids were completely extracted three times with acetone-methanol (7∶2,V/V) in two hours. The ultrasonication had little effect on yield of carotenoids. The yield of carotenoids was 2.81mg/g wet cell. There were 4 spots on the silica-gel plate in the order of yellow, red, light red and light yellow. Yellow spot and red spot were the dominant composition of carotenoid in Rhodobacter sp. The spectrometry data showed that the yellow and red component might be the spheroidene and spirilloanthin respectively.

To unveil genetic variations between the predominant soybean mosaic virus (SMV) strains in China and in the USA, as well as to reveal the potential relevance between the similarity of gene sequences and the virulence of the viruses, we isolated and sequenced the coat protein (CP) gene of Chinese SMV strain SC7 by RT-PCR and compared the SC7 sequence with those of SMV strains from the USA. Analysis is showed that the CP gene of SC7 was 795 nucleotides in length and encoded 265 in amino acids'. The CP gene of SC7 and those of the strains from the USA exhibited 4%-5% nucleotide diversity and 1%-2% diversity amino acids. The conserved amino-acid sequence associated with aphid spread in the USA strains was DAG, and corresponded to DAD in SC7. The virulence of SC7 was greater than that of the SMV strains from the USA. Nevertheless, no clear relationships between sequence similarity of the CP genes from different strains and their virulence on differential hosts were found.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Capsid Proteins ; genetics ; China ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mosaic Viruses ; Soybeans ; virology ; United States

Adolescent ; Adult ; Dermatitis, Occupational ; etiology ; therapy ; Drug Eruptions ; etiology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Methylprednisolone ; therapeutic use ; Trichloroethylene ; adverse effects

Objective To observe the expression of STEAP4 gene(a novel obesity-related gene) during the period of human preadipocyte differentiation and to explore the relationship between the STEAP4 gene expression and adipocytes differentiation,adipogenesis.Methods Human preadipocytes were cultured and differentiated into the matured adipocytes in vitro.Adipocytes morphology and lipid accumulation were observed during this process.Total RNA was extracted from adipocytes at various time points (preadipocyte,Day 0,Day 4,Day 6,Day 8,Day 11,Day 14,and Day 17) and the level of STEAP4 mRNA expression was measured by fluorescent real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polyme-rase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results The level of STEAP4 mRNA expression remained high in preadipocytes.In the presence of differentiation medium (Day 4),there was a transient upregulation in the expression of STEAP4 gene.After that,with the human preadipocytes being differentiated into matured adipocytes,the expression of STEAP4 mRNA was downregulated and reached the lowest level in fully differentiated adipocytes.There was a significant difference between any 2 detected phases in the level of STEAP4 mRNA expression (Pa

OBJECTIVETo observe clinical efficacy in treating cutaneous deficiency of traumatic shank amputation stump with full-thickness skin graft combined with vacuum sealing drainage.

METHODSFrom September 2009 to December 2012, 15 patients with cutaneous deficiency of traumatic shank amputation stump were treated with full-thickness skin graft combined with vacuum sealing drainage. Among patients, there were 11 males and 4 females with an average age of 41.5 (ranged from 25 to 62) years old. Ten cases were caused by traffic accident and 5 cases were caused by heavy object, 9 cases on left and 6 cases on right. Six patients with smashed wound were treated with debridement and amputation, combined with vacuum aspiration in-emergency; 9 patients caused by infection and necrosis were treated with debridement and amputation, combined with vacuum aspiration, and full-thickness skin graft were performed at stage II. The skin defect area of residual limbs ranged from 40 cm x 20 cm to 25 cm x 15 cm.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 3 months to 1 year. Full-thickness skin graft of residual limbs were survived,and obtained satisfactory walking function with prosthetic. Residual skin increased thicken, wearproof without rupture and pain.

CONCLUSIONFull-thickness skin graft combined with vacuum sealing drainage in treating cutaneous deficiency of traumatic shank amputation stump could reserve the length of residual limbs, increase survival rate of skin graft with less scar of survival skin, get good wearability and it is conducive to prosthetic wear. It is a simple and easy treatment method.

Adult ; Amputation Stumps ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Leg Injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy ; methods ; Skin ; injuries ; Skin Transplantation

Objective To study the effect of antiapoptosis factors PED/PEA-15 and XIAP on prostate cancer cells(PC-3)apoptosis.Methods The expressions of XIAP and PED/PEA-15 in prostate cancer cells(PC-3)were respectively assayed using the RT-PCR technique.XIAP and PED/ PEA-15 specific siRNA vectors were designed and constructed and then were transiently cotransfected into PC-3 cells under induction of liposome.The effects of siRNA vectors on PED/PEA-15 and XIAP transcription were assayed by RT-PCR technique,and the effect of XIAP and PED/PEA-15 on cancer cell apoptosis were determined by flow cytometry and microscope observation.Results PED/PEA- 15 and XIAP were both highly expressed in PC-3 cells.Enzyme digestion analysis and DNA sequencing confirmed that the PED/PEA-15 and XIAP-specific siRNA expression vectors were constructed successfully.The designed siRNA sequences of PED/PEA-15 and XIAP could specifically inhibit their transcription.The PC-3 cells which were cotransfected with PED/PEA-15 and XIAP- specific siRNA vectors were more sensitive to doxorubicin.The apoptosis rate of cotransfected cells was significantly increased.Conclusions PED/PEA-15 and XIAP might be involved in the development of prostate cancer.