Animals ; Birds ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; physiology ; Influenza A Virus, H7N7 Subtype ; physiology ; Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype ; physiology ; Influenza A virus ; physiology ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; prevention & control

BACKGROUND: Numerous experiments and clinical practice show that human hair keratin artificial tendon induces the organism to form autogenous tendon. The process of autogenous tendon formation mainly involves the synthesis, secretion and package of collagen subtype I.OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of collagen subtype I mRNA expression in autologous tendon formation after human hair keratin artificial tendon implantation.DESIGN: A completely randomized controlled experiment based on the experimental animals.SETTING: Department of Histology and Embryology and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Southern Medical University.MATERIALS: The experiment was conducted in the Experimental Animal Center of the First Military Medical University of Chinese PLA from May 2003 to September 2004. Totally 33 New Zealand rabbits of either gender,weighing 2.0 to 2. 5 kg, were provided by the center. The animals were randomly divided into experiment 3, 6, 9, 12, 16 and 20 weeks groups, negative control 9 and 20 weeks groups and normal control group. Among them,experiment 3 and 6 weeks group and normal control group had 3 rabbits in each and the other groups had 4 rabbits. Human hair keratin artificial tendons were normal human hair treated by a series of biochemical methods and were supplied by the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology of the university. The human hair keratin artificial tendons were divided into three groups with different degradation rates, namely, fast(F), medium(B) and slow(Z). The tendons were made up of the fast, medium and slow degradation groups mixed at the ratio of 4: 3: 3.off by 1.0- 2.0 cm, human hair keratin artificial tendon was grafted by end-to-end anastomosis with both ends of the broken tendon before sewing control group, no artificial tendon was implanted although the animals ungroup was normal rabbits' tendon. Sampling was carried out at 3, 6, 9, 12, 16and 20 weeks after human hair keratin artificial tendon implantation in experiment groups, and at 9 and 20 weeks after operation in negative control group, respectively. The expression of collagen subtype I mRNA was detected at weeks 3, 6, 9, 12, 16 and 20 after grafting using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction technique.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The ratio of collagen subtype I mRNA to Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase(GADPH) mRNA in normal tendon and autogenous tendon induced by human hair keratin artificial tendon at all time points was calculated, and significance test between all these paired groups were performed.collagen subtype I mRNA/GADPH mRNA expression was 0.96 ±0.02 in expression of collagen subtype I mRNA/GADPH mRNA in autogenous tendon induced by human hair keratin artificial tendon in experiment group appeared at week 3, increased rapidly at week 3 to 6, peaked at week 6, and remained stable at week 9 to 20. The expression at week 6 was significantly higher in experiment group than in normal control group( F = 6. 254, P ＜ 0.05); the expression at other weeks was also significantly higher in experiment group than in normal control group( F= 1. 258 - 1. 987, P ＞ 0.05).CONCLUSION: The activation, proliferation and secretion of collagen protein as well as the synthesis of collagen subtype I by tenocytes may be responsible for autologous tendon formation after human hair keratin artificial tendon implantation.

Objective To explore the influence of montelukast on plasma nitric oxide in preschool children with asthma.Methods Forty-four preschool children with asthma aged 2-5 years who firstly met a criterion of asthma and treated 4 weeks with montelukast were investigated;and nitric oxide levels of plasma were inspected respectively before treatment and after treatment 1 week,4 weeks.Results The level of nitric oxide in the plasma of asthmatic children was obviously higher than that in normal control group(P

In this study, deep eutectic solvents (DESs) were used as excipients to prepare solid dispersion (SD) of scutellarin. The SD of scutellarin were prepared by melting method with cumulative dissolution rate as the index of investigation. The preparation conditions of SD of scutellarin were optimized by single factor experiment, which investigated the type of the carrier material, the type of DESs, and the ratio of the drug to the carrier. The optimum preparation conditions of DESs-SD were as follows: using Poloxamer 407 as the carrier material, PEG 200/urea (2∶1) as the DESs system, and the ratio of carrier, DESs, and drug was 6∶1∶1. The drug loading capacity of scutellarin in SD was 12.53% under the optimum preparation conditions. Differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscope exhibited that scutellarin was amorphous form in the SD system. Furthermore, the stability of the DESs-based SD of scutellarin was evaluated by high temperature, high humidity, and strong light tests, which showed that the cumulative dissolution rate and scutellarin content of SD decreased with time under these conditions. Finally, the result of pharmacokinetic studies indicated that the oral absorption of the scutellarin could be increased using DESs as an excipient in the preparation of SD. The animal experiment was approved by the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (approval number: FJTCMIACUC 2023048). Consequently, this research offers a novel and effective approach for using DESs to enhance the oral bioavailability of active substances with low water solubility.

A new feather-degrading bacterium was isolated from a local feather waste site and identified as Bacillus subtilis based on morphological, physiochemical, and phylogenetic characteristics. Screening for mutants with elevated keratinolytic activity using N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis resulted in a mutant strain KD-N2 producing keratinolytic activity about 2.5 times that of the wild-type strain. The mutant strain produced inducible keratinase in different substrates of feathers, hair, wool and silk under submerged cultivation. Scanning electron microscopy studies showed the degradation of feathers, hair and silk by the keratinase. The optimal conditions for keratinase production include initial pH of 7.5, inoculum size of 2% (v/v), age of inoculum of 16 h, and cultivation at 23 degrees C. The maximum keratinolytic activity of KD-N2 was achieved after 30 h. Essential amino acids like threonine, valine, methionine as well as ammonia were produced when feathers were used as substrates. Strain KD-N2, therefore, shows great promise of finding potential applications in keratin hydrolysis and keratinase production.
Amino Acids ; biosynthesis ; Bacillus subtilis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Culture Media ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Keratins ; metabolism ; Mutation ; Peptide Hydrolases ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo summarize and analyze the epidemic situation of human rabies from 1984 to 2002 in China, and to explore the possible factors causing the increase of cases so as to provide evidence for preventive and control measures.

METHODNational and some provincial data on the prevalence of rabies during 1984 to 2002 were collected and analyzed.

RESULTSFrom 1984 to 1989, the annual reported cases were between 4 000 and 6 000 but decreased after 1990. In 1996, the reported cases decreased to the lowest level from 3 520 in 1990 to 159. However, number of reported cases has been continuously increasing since 1998 which reached 1 122 in 2002, a 7.06 times increase as compared to the number in 1996. The epidemic areas were mainly located in the southeast and southwest parts of the country, such as Sichuan, Hunan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Anhui, Fujian, etc. Furthermore, there was no significant seasonal distribution as it showed before.

CONCLUSIONSuch facts as the increasing numbers of dogs, low inoculation rate to dogs, poor control on the quality of rabies vaccine, mistreatment to the wounds, and lacking good cooperation between different official departments regarding rabies control might serve as important factors responsible for the recurrence of rabies. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on the above mentioned points and to take comprehensive preventive measures to bring down the prevalence of rabies in China.

Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; Dogs ; Humans ; Rabies ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Rabies Vaccines ; standards ; Seasons ; Time Factors

This study was purposed to investigate lrp16 gene expression in leukemia cell lines and bone marrow cells of leukemia patients and explore the relationship between lrp16 gene expression and development of leukemia. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was employed to test the lrp16 mRNA expression in 4 leukemia cell lines, including K562 (CML), HL-60 (APL), MOLT4 (ALL) and U937 cell lines, as well as in bone marrow-derived cells from 115 patients with leukemia. The effect of lrp16 gene expression on genesis and progression of leukemia was analyzed according to clinicopathological features. The results indicated that positive expression of lrp16 mRNA was found in all 4 leukemia cell lines. For leukemia patients, the positive expression rate of lrp16 mRNA in all AML patients was 38% (16/42), in which the positive rates in AML patients with complete remission (CR) and AML patients without remission were 13% (4/30) and 100% (12/12) respectively. The positive expression rate of lrp16 mRNA in ALL patients was 38% (10/26), in which the positive rate in ALL patients with CR and ALL patients without remission were 16% (3/18) and 87% (7/8) respectively. The positive expression rate of lrp16 mRNA in CML patients was 36% (9/25), in which the positive rates in CML patients with CR and CML patients without remission were 20% (4/20) and 100% (5/5) respectively. The positive rate of lrp16 mRNA in CLL patients was 31% (7/22), in which the positive rate in CLL patients with CR and CLL patients without remission were 11% (2/17) and 100% (5/5) respectively. There was no difference of lrp16 gene expression between leukemia subtypes, but there was statistical significant difference in lrp16 gene expression between CR patients and non CR patients (p < 0.001). It is concluded that the lrp16 gene is a leukemic oncogene and closely relates to genesis and progression of leukemia, which may be an indicator for evaluating clinical efficacy of leukemia therapy.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Marrow ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Leukemia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Young Adult

The study was aimed to explore clinical result of cyclosporin A (CsA) and androgens for treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with refractory anemia. Four cases of MDS-RA were treated with CsA and androgens, while the changes of blood counts, bone marrow and chromosome were observed. The results showed that substantial hematological response was observed in all four patients, that their anemia improved and all transfusion-dependent patients achieved transfusion independence. In conclusion, CsA and Adr therapy was well tolerated. CsA and Adr therapy offer an alternative treatment of MDS with RA. The mechanisms of the benifical effect from this therapy remain the subject of an ongoing study.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Androgens ; therapeutic use ; Blood Cell Count ; Cyclosporine ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; blood ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome

The study was aimed to investigate the promotive effect of LRP16 gene on K562 cell proliferation. Open reading frame of LRP16 gene was amplified using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and ligated to pGEM-T plasmid to construct LRP16 ORF-pGEM-T recombinant vector. Then, LRP16 ORF identified by sequencing was inserted into pcDNA3.1+ plasmid to construct LRP16 ORF-pcDNA3.1+ recombinant expression plasmid which was transfected into K562 cell lines to make overexpression of LRP16 gene in K562 cells. Survival of cells was determined by MTT assay and growth curve of cells was drawn, the cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry. The results showed that LRP16 ORF was successfully amplified, then the LRP16 ORF-pcDNA3.1+ recombinant plasmid was constructed. The K562 cell line with overexpression of LRP16 gene was established. The promotive effect of LRP16 gene overexpression on proliferation of K562 cells was observed and the effect partially related to the enhancement of cells from G0 to S phase induced by LRP16 gene. It is concluded that LRP16 gene overexpression shows a promotive effect on proliferation of K562 cells.
Cell Proliferation ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; Open Reading Frames ; Plasmids

Background and Objective:LRP16 is a human novel gene linked to leukemia identified recently.However. its biological function is not fully clarified so far.This study was to investigate the biological function of human LRP16 gene by database-aided bioinformatics analysis. Methods:The structures and functions of LRP16 gene promoter and its coding protein were analyzed using bioinformatics prediction,and further experimental testing was performed.The recombinants of pGL3-basic and LRP16 promoter subclones were constructed for luciferase activity analysis.The recombinant of LRP16 open reading frame coding sequence and pcDNA3.1 eukaryotic expression vector was established and transfected into HL-60 and K562 cell lines.DNA damage of HL-60 cells after ultraviolet irradiation was evaluated using single cell gel electrophoresis. Cell cycle of K562 cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. Results:LRP16 promoter was a typical class Ⅱ eukaryotic promoter and its core regulation sequence was located within upstream -600 bp of transcriptional start site.In addition,seven cis-acting elements,which may be implicated in cell cycle,hematopoiesis regulation, cell proliferation and repair of DNA damage,were identified.Long type LRP16 coding protein contained homologous sequences of hismacro, COG2110,and A1PP with human histone H2A1C between 148 and 315 amino acid residue.The number of comet cells and the length of comet tail in HL-60 cells irradiated were significantly decreased and the number of living cell was significantly increased in LRP16-overexpression group compared with empty plasmid control group.The proliferation rate and ratio or quantity of G_2/M and S phases were significantly increased in LRP16-overexpression K562 group compared with empty plasmid control group.LRP16-overexpression in K562 cells promoted the transition of G_1 to S phase and plateau phase of cell proliferation was advanced.Conclusions:Promoter regulation prediction and protein domain analysis based on bioinformatics contribute to the study of gene function.LRP16 may play an important role in leukemia progression by promoting cell proliferation,regulating cell cycle,and antagonizing radiationinduced DNA damage.