Appropriate selection and measurement of lead biomarkers of exposure are critically important for health care management purposes, public health decision making, and primary prevention synthesis. Lead is one of the neurotoxicants that seems to be involved in the etiology of psychologies. Biomarkers are generally classified into three groups: biomarkers of exposure, effect, and susceptibility.The main body compartments that store lead are the blood, soft tissues, and bone; the half-life of lead in these tissues is measured in weeks for blood, months for soft tissues, and years for bone. Within the brain, lead-induced damage in the prefrontal cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum can lead to a variety of neurological disorders, such as brain damage, mental retardation, behavioral problems, nerve damage, and possibly Alzheimer's disease, Parkinsons disease, and schizophrenia. This paper presents an overview of biomarkers of lead exposure and discusses the neurotoxic effects of lead with regard to children and adults.
Alzheimer Disease ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; psychology ; Animals ; Behavior ; drug effects ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Brain ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Brain Diseases ; chemically induced ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Environmental Exposure ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Lead ; pharmacokinetics ; toxicity ; Lead Poisoning ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; psychology ; Neurotoxicity Syndromes ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; psychology ; Parkinson Disease, Secondary ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; psychology ; Schizophrenia ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology

Objective To investigate the mRNA and protein expression levels of interferon(IFN)-?in the peripheral blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE),to analyze the relationship between IFN-?and disease activity,and to evaluate the role of IFN-?in the pathogenesis of lupus.Methods SYBR green dyeⅠbased real-time quantatives PCR method was used to compare the mRNA expression levels of IFN-?in the peripheral blood leucocyte of SLE patients and healthy controls.Surum levels of IFN-?were measured with ELISA method.Results IFNA1 mRNA expression level in SLE patients(2.8?3.5)was signifi- cantly lower than that of normal controls(12.7?10.7,P=0.000).There was no significant difference between patients treated with glucocorticoid and those without in the expression level of IFNA1(P=0.549).Serum levels of IFN-?in SLE patients was significantly higher than that of normal controls(P=0.003).The SLEDAI score and anti-dsDNA antibody correlated positively,and complement components C3,C4 and leukocytes correlated negatively with serum concentration of IFN-?.IFN-?level correlated with the presence of fever and rash. Conclusion The close relationship between IFN-?serum level and disease activity in SLE patients suggests that IFN-?might be of importance in the disease process.

The purpose of this study was to determine the changes of pathogens in hematological ward and susceptibility of patients received chemotherapy to antibiotics. The pathogens were taken from blood, urine and sputum of patients who accepted chemotherapy from years 2001 to 2005, then were isolated and identified. The susceptibility test was performed by disk diffusion method. The results showed that the total of 418 strains were detected. Gram-negative bacteria were the most common of nosocomial infection. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter cloacae, E. coli account for the most of Gram negative- bacteria infection and most resistant to broad-spectrum penicillin, Acinetobacter baumannii showed a trend of increase. The ratios of gram positive bacteria and fungi were increased slowly, mainly as Enterococcus and Candida. Enterococcus is the most common cause of Gram-positive bacterial infection. Vancomycin resistance did not occur. It is concluded that Gram-negative bacteria are main cause of nosocomial infection in patients with hematological malignancies. Gram positive bacteria and fungi had been more frequent. Strains resistant to antimicrobial agents increase.
Cross Infection ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Hematologic Diseases ; microbiology ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; microbiology ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests

OBJECTIVETo construct adeno-associated virus (AAV) expression system for transforming growth factor beta3 (TGFbeta3 ) and detect its biological effect on proteoglycan synthesis of the earlier and later dedifferentiated rabbit lumbar disc nucleus pulpous (NP) cells, which was compared with that of adenovirus (AV) expression system for TGFbeta1.

METHODSTGFbeta3 gene was obtained using PCR. Its upstream contained restriction enzyme site Kpn I, and its downstream contained restriction enzyme site Sal I. Using the restriction enzyme sites of PCR product of TGFbeta3 and the corresponding multiple cloning site (MCS) in plasmid AAV, TGFbeta3 was subcloned into AAV. The recombinant plasmid AAV-TGFbeta3 was transfected into H293 cells with Lipofectamine 2000, and the expression of TGFbeta3 gene was detected using immunofluorescent analysis. After AAV-TGFbeta3 virus particle with infectious activity was packaged, TGFbeta3 expression in NP cells was detected by immunoblotting, and its biological effect on proteoglycan synthesis was detected by antonopulos method and compared with that of AV-TGFbeta1 in the earlier and later dedifferentiated NP cells.

RESULTSFor the earlier dedifferentiated NP cells, AAV-TGFbeta3 slowly and stably enhanced proteoglycan synthesis, but AV-TGFbeta1 rapidly and transiently enhanced its synthesis. For the later dedifferentiated NP cells, AAV-TGFbeta3 stably enhanced proteoglycan synthesis, but AV-TGFbeta1 inhibited its synthesis.

CONCLUSIONAAV expression system can mediate TGFbeta3 gene to be expressed stably, and AAV-TGFbeta3 can enhance proteoglycan synthesis of the earlier and later dedifferentiated NP cells.

Animals ; Cell Line ; DNA, Recombinant ; genetics ; Dependovirus ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; cytology ; Placenta ; cytology ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnancy ; Proteoglycans ; biosynthesis ; Rabbits ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics ; Transforming Growth Factor beta3 ; genetics ; Viral Proteins ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETO establish a RP-HPLC method for the determination of calycosin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside in Radix Astragali, and to analyse the calycosin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside content of ten samples of Radix Astragali, collected from different regions.

METHODA Polaris C18(250 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 microns) column was used and a mixture of methanol-water (30:70) was used as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL.min-1. The column temperature was 25 degrees C and the UV detection wavelength was 254 nm.

RESULTThe calibration curve was in good linearity over the range of 0.0106-2.12 micrograms with the regression equation Y = 3035. 97 X - 14.85(r = 0.9999). The average recovery was 95.8% (n = 5, RSD = 1.3%).

CONCLUSIONThe method is simple, quick, sensitive and reproducible. In all of the samples, the calycosin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside contents differ markedly.

Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; classification ; China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Ecosystem ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Isoflavones ; analysis ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Species Specificity

The metalloproteinases/disintegrins in the snake venom act as platelet aggregation inhibitor by an antagonism against integrin on platelet through its RGD sequence and may play other important role in cell-cell fusion, cell matrix interaction and other cellular function. Ussurin is a new metalloproteinase/disintegrin that was cloned from Gloydius ussuriensis. Poly (A+) RNA was purified from the total RNA preparation from venom gland of a single G. ussuriensis using the poly (A+) tract-mRNA isolation system. A cDNA library was constructed with the SMART PCR cDNA library construction kit. The cDNA library was screened and the positive clones were selected. The full-length cDNA of Ussurin was obtained. The cDNA encoding the Ussurin precursor has a 51bp 5'-UTR, the open reading frame of Ussurin and a 490 bp 3'-UTR, the open reading frame of Ussurin cDNA nucleotide sequence is 1434 bp and codes for 478 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 53.2 kD and an isoelectric point of 5.37. There is no potential N-glycosylation site in the deduced sequence region. Its deduced amino acid sequence consists of four region, a signal sequence of 18 amino acid residues, a zymogen pro-peptide of 171 amino acid residues with a cysteine switch motif (PK-MCGVT) in it, a central metalloproteinase domain of 201 amino acid residues containing a conserved zinc-chelating sequence (HEXXHXXGXXH) and a methionine-turn CIM involving zinc banding also, a space sequence between metalloproteinase domain and disintegrin domain of 15 amino acid residues with a conserved T392, T397, S400, which is specific residues of the P-II snake venom metalloproteinases, a disintegrin domain of 73 amino acid residues with a characteristic RGD region and six-disulfide bonds. Ussurin belongs to P-II class. The cDNA sequence and deduced amino acid sequence of Ussurin precursor were compared with homologous sequence in the GenBank database, the result reveals high degree of homology in sequence and organization pattern of domain with metalloproteinase/disintegrin gene family of other snake species. Compared with the alignment of amino acid sequence of metalloproteinase/disintegrin member, hypervariable regions of this member were revealed, besides they share higher homologous in the zymogen domain. It suggests that the hypervariable regions are the counterparts directly suitable for interacting with different domain of receptors, different receptors or substrates.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Disintegrins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Metalloproteases ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Alignment ; Viper Venoms ; enzymology ; genetics ; Viperidae ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo establish a novel and useful rabbit model of lumbar disc degeneration using microinjection of fibronectin fragment (Fn-f).

METHODSThirty-two New Zealand white rabbits underwent injection of N-terminal 30 kDa Fn-f (experimental group) or phosphate buffered saline (PBS) (control group) into the central region of L1-2, L2-3, L3-4, L4-5 discs using a 32-gauge microsyringe. Two rabbits (blank group) with no treatments were sacrificed to examine the proteoglycan synthesis of neucleus pulposus (NP) using (35)S-sulfate incorporation assay. At the 4-, 8-, 12-, and 16-week time points, the discs were examined histologically, radiographically, and with proteoglycan synthesis.

RESULTSHistology demonstrated a progressive loss of the cell numbers in NP and architecture destruction in NP and anulus fibrosus (AF) in Fn-f-injected discs over the 16-week study period. The NP regions in Fn-f-injected discs shrinked distinctly after the 4-week time point, and were not discernible with the inner AF by the 16-week time point. Protoglycan synthesis in Fn-f-injected discs decreased progressively (F = 263.241, P = 0.000). At each time point, the Fn-f-injected discs showed significantly decreased proteoglycan synthesis compared with controls (t = -27.010 - -2.833, P < 0.05). The DHI% of the Fn-f-injected discs at the 4-, 8-, 12-, and 16-week time points were 96.5% ± 1.7%, 85.6% ± 3.8%, 77.2% ± 3.5% and 65.5% ± 5.6%, respectively. Comparing with the DHI% of PBS-injected discs (97.4% ± 1.2%), the Fn-f-injected discs exihibited no significant differences in disc heights at the 4-week time point (P > 0.05), but significant decreases in disc heights at the 8-, 12-, and 16-week time points (t = -21.225 - -10.795, P < 0.01). Apparent anterior osteophytes formed at the 12-week time point and enlarged remarkablely by the 16-week time point in the experimental spines.

CONCLUSIONSFn-f can induce a progressively degenerative process in rabbit discs which is ethical, cost-effective, reproducible, and consistent with the spontaneous degeneration in human. And it seem to be a novel and useful model for the study of disc degeneration at the molecular level.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fibronectins ; pharmacology ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; chemically induced ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation

OBJECTIVETo observe and analyse the dissection of the tunnels in traditional blind operation of augmentation rhinoplasty.

METHODS11 Cases of augmentation rhinoplasty were collected and be observed by an endoscope as soon as the tunnels were formed during the operations.

RESULTS(1) Some of the tunnels did not go through one layer. (2) The bilateral cartilage separated in the mid-line. (3) There were two blood vessels in the surface of alar cartilage. There were perforating blood vessels in the edge of pyriform aperture. (4) In some cases whose incision were in unilateral alar margin, the tunnel were asymmetric.

CONCLUSIONIn some cases of traditional blind operation of augmentation rhinoplasty, tunnels were not suitable, they were asymmetric; and there were desmo and septa in the tunnels. Those might be the causes of complications post-op of augmentation rhinoplasty.

Endoscopes ; Humans ; Nose ; anatomy & histology ; Rhinoplasty ; methods

OBJECTIVETo explore an experimental method for construction of tissue-engineered heart valve (TEHV) in canine abdominal aorta.

METHODSThe decellular porcine aortic valve (PAV) leaflets seeded with canine vessel interstitial cells and endothelial cells (ECs) were implanted into 6 canine abdominal aortas. Valve specimens were obtained respectively at the end of 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks after implantation were studied for morphology, histology and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS(1) After 4 weeks implantation, multiple layers of cells grew into peripheral portion of valve scaffold, while new extracellular matrix appeared, and original scaffold tissue was partially absorbed. (2) At the end of 10th week after implantation, the decellular PAV scaffold disappeared completely and was substituted by recipient cells and new extracellular matrix. The interstitial cells in matrix was mainly consisted of fibroblasts and myofibroblast. The matrix was mainly composed by type I, III collagen, some elastic fibers with neutral and acid mucopolysaccharide. (3) Surface of valve leaflets were covered with endothelial cells.

CONCLUSIONS(1) TEHV is primarily constructed with recellularized PAV after implantation into canine abdominal aorta for 10 weeks. (2) Heterotopic implantation into the abdominal aorta is an alternative experimental procedure to study the TEHV.

Animals ; Aorta, Abdominal ; surgery ; Aortic Valve ; cytology ; transplantation ; Bioprosthesis ; Dogs ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Male ; Prosthesis Design ; Swine ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Transplantation, Heterologous

OBJECTIVETo establish a novel model of lumbar disc degeneration on the early stage in the rhesus monkey using percutaneous needle puncture guided by CT.

METHODS(1) Thirteen rhesus monkeys aged from 4 to 7 years, female 7 and male 6 were selected for establishing a model of the early stage of lumbar disc degeneration. (2)13 monkeys, 91 discs were divided into 3 groups: 64 discs from L1/2 to L5/6 were percutaneous punctured with a needle 20G as experimental group and 1 disc with a needle 15G as puncture control group and 26 discs were not be punctured from L6,7 to L7-S1 as control group. (3) Lumbar disc localization for needle puncture was guided by CT. All discs were examined by MRI, the HE, Masson's trichrome, Safranine-O and immunohistochemical staining of type II collagen before disc puncture and after puncture at 4, 8 and 12 weeks.

RESULTSMRI: (1) Experimental group: Pfirmann's Grade I was shown at postoperation 4, 8 and 12 weeks; (2) Puncture control group: Grade III was shown at postoperation 4 weeks and Grade IV at 8 weeks; (3) CONTROL GROUP: Grade I was shown at postoperation 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Histological examination: (1) In experimental group, there was no any change at postoperation 4 weeks, and the cell population of the nucleus was decreased at 8 weeks and more decreased at 12 weeks in HE. (2) There was no any change at postoperation 4 weeks, the clefts among the lamellae of the annulus fibrosus (AF) were shown at 8 weeks and more wider of the clefts of AF at 12 weeks in Masson's trichrome. (3) No any change was shown at postoperation 4 weeks, proteoglycan were progressively decreased at 8 and 12 weeks in Safranine-O. (4) No statistically significant difference in positive rate was observed at 4 and 8 weeks compared with control group in immunohistochemical staining of type II collagen. There was statistical difference at 12 weeks compared with control group (P<0.05). In puncture control group postoperation 8 weeks, the morphology of cell of nucleus pulposus was not clear in HE. The wider clefts of lamellae of the AF were shown in Masson's trichrome. The proteoglycan was obviously decreased in Safranine-O. Immunohistochemical staining collagen II synthesized was decreased. In normal control group, no any change was shown at 4, 8 and 12 weeks.

CONCLUSIONSThe degeneration of lumbar intervertebral disc on the early stage could be induced by the percutaneous needle puncture (20G) to the annulus fibrosus. The assessment of disc degeneration on early stage is not shown on MRI and only confirmed by histological examination.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Intervertebral Disc ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Macaca mulatta ; Male ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Random Allocation