Objective: To research effect of different doses of Changle on the structure and function of rat liver.Methods: 180 healthy Wistar rats were divided into 5 experimental groups according following doses: 0.1,0.2,2.0,10.0 and 20.0 mg*kg-1,respectively, and the control group given physiological saline for six months. The changes of liver structure were examined by means of normal histological chemistry and transmission electron microscope(TEM). Results: The body weight of animal was linearly increased with the decrease of administered doses, gradual reduction of glycogen in hepatocytes and infiltration of inflammatory cells in the portal area were found in the group of 20.0 mg*kg-1. Changes of ultrastructure showed there were dense bodies and lysosomes containing dense granules in Kupffer cell and hepatocyte,and they were increased along with doses adding. Nuclei deformed, ALP and GPT in serum were rose in the group of 20.0 mg*kg-1. Different doses of Changle could lead to distinct biological effects. Conclusion: Long-termed administration of 20.0 mg*kg-1 Changle can lead to damage of structure and function of rat liver.

To seek the reason of heterogeneity of recombinant HWTX-I (rHWTX-I) expressed in Pichia pastoris. We expressed HWTX-I gene of interest in Pichia pastoris GS115/HWTX-I. The heterogenous product expressed was separated, purified and identified by using Ion exchange HPLC, reverse HPLC, Tricine SDS-PAGE and MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry and then sequenced in both N-terminus and C-terminus. These results show that the heterogeneity of rHWTX-I results from the incomplete processing of signal peptide of N-terminus and the internal degradation of C-terminus. Biological activity assay shows that the activity of the heterogenous rHWTX-I only showed 30% activity compared with the native HWTX-I. The Solutions to how to avoid the heterogeneity are also discussed.
Animals ; Neurotoxins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Pichia ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Reptilian Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Spider Venoms ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo probe the effects of long-term oral administration of lanthanum nitrate [La(NO(3))(3)] on morphological change in the liver, aftereffect of deposited La in the liver and their mechanism in rats.

METHODSYoung Wistar rats were divided into two groups, one fed with 0.1, 0.2, 2.0, 10.0 and 20.0 mg/kg of La(NO(3))(3) for six months and the other for the control. Changes in ratio of liver to body weight were observed after exposure to La(NO(3))(3) at varied doses for six months and one month after six-month exposure, as well as morphology of the liver in the rats with routine histochemistry and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) technique. Content of La in the liver was measured with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

RESULTSRatio of liver to body weight was significantly higher in the male rats exposed to 20.0 mg/kg of lanthanum for six months than that in the control group. Ratio of liver to body weight restored to normal in the rats exposed to 20.0 mg/kg of La one month after six-month exposure. Infiltration of inflammatory cells in the portal region of the liver, small amount of fat drops in hepatocytic cytoplasm, increased density of mitochondria stroma, lysosome containing highly-electronic-density bodies and dense granules, normal nucleus and slightly deformed nucleus of hepatocytes could be found in the rats exposed to 20.0 mg/kg. Areas of the liver deposited with glycogen after six-month exposure to 20.0 mg/kg of La accounted for (26.1 +/- 1.5)% and (4.1 +/- 1.4)%, respectively for male and female rats, significantly lower than those in the control group [(31.3 +/- 1.4)% and (39.4 +/- 0.9)%, respectively], with a statistical significance and very statistical significance, respectively. There was a little infiltration of inflammatory cells in the portal region of the liver one month after six-month exposure to 20.0 mg/kg of La, and amount of the dense bodies was lower in the rats exposed to La for six months. Liver contents of La in the rats of all experimental groups were lower one month after six-month exposure than those in the rats exposed for six months.

CONCLUSIONSExposure to a dose of 20.0 mg/kg La(NO(3))(3) for a long term could damage the liver structure to certain extent, but lanthanum deposited in the liver could be eliminated from the body gradually.

Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Female ; Lanthanum ; toxicity ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Organ Size ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo explore the epidemiological characteristics of Norwalk-like virus (NLVs) infection in children with diarrhea and to study the genotype and predominant cluster at a hospital in Guangzhou city.

METHODSFecal specimens from 358 children with acute gastroenteritis from October 2003 to January 2004 and information about the cases were collected. NLVs was detected from the specimens by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and the PCR products were purified and sequenced.

RESULTSForty-two positive specimens were detected from the 358 fecal specimen with a positive rate of 11.73% (42/358). Of these, 40 specimens were obtained from infants younger than 3 years of age. The youngest infant infected with NLVs in this study was only 25 days. The positive rate in November (17.27%) was the highest. Eleven positive PCR products were selected and sequenced. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that 11 strains all belong to genogroup II (G II), and of these, 5 strains belonged to G II-3 cluster, with another 5 strains belonged to G II-4 cluster. However, one strain with its cluster could not be determined.

CONCLUSIONNLVs served as one of the important pathogens causing sporadic acute gastroenteritis among children at a hospital in Guangzhou. The predominant strains were identified as G II-3 and G II-4 cluster.

Age Distribution ; Caliciviridae Infections ; complications ; epidemiology ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Diarrhea ; complications ; epidemiology ; Feces ; virology ; Female ; Hospitals ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Norovirus ; classification ; genetics ; physiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; Seasons ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid ; Sex Distribution

BACKGROUNDThe radial artery is currently regarded as a useful vascular access site for coronary procedures. This study was conducted to investigate the feasibility and safety of the percutaneous radial artery approach for angioplasty in the elderly.

METHODSTwo thousand and fifty-eight consecutive patients (762 elderly, age = 65 years; and 1296 non-elderly, age < 65 years, respectively) who underwent transradial coronary angioplasty were recruited in this study. Study endpoints included procedure success rate, procedure time, vascular complications at access site, and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events during hospitalization.

RESULTSElderly patients were more likely to present with unstable angina and renal dysfunction. The incidence of radial and brachiocephalic trunk anatomical tortuosity was higher in elderly patients than that in non-elderly patients (11.5% vs 3.7%; 8.9% vs 2.6%, P < 0.01, respectively). However, procedural success rate (94.7% vs 95.6%) and total mean procedure time ((67.9 +/- 27.3) minutes vs (58.6 +/- 38.5) minutes) for transradial coronary angioplasty were not significantly different between the two groups. Clinical course during the hospitalization was slightly worse in the elderly patients because of more adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events after the procedure. However, the incidence of vascular complications was not significantly different between the elderly and non-elderly patients.

CONCLUSIONAlthough the incidence of radial and brachiocephalic trunk anatomical tortuosity is higher in elderly patients, transradial coronary intervention can be performed with similar safety and procedural success in these patients as compared with non-elderly patients.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; adverse effects ; methods ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; statistics & numerical data ; China ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radial Artery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo prepare the PrP specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that can be used for the detection of mammalian prions and study of pathogenesis of prion diseases.

METHODSSeveral BALB/c mice were immunized with recombinant hamster prion protein (HaPrP). Three hybridoma cell lines designated as B7, B9, and B10, secreting monoclonal antibodies against HaPrP, were established by hybridoma technique. The mAbs reactivities were evaluated with ELISA, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe mAbs produced by these cell lines reacted well with different recombinant hamster PrP proteins. Western blot analyses showed that mAbs B7 and B9 reacted with PrPSc from the scrapie-infected animals after proteinase K digestion with three glycosylated forms. The mAbs exhibited cross-reactivity with various PrPC from several other mammalian species, including humans and cattles. Immunohistochemistry assays confirmed that mAbs B7 and B9 could recognize not only extracellular but also intracellular PrPsSc.

CONCLUSIONThe mAbs of prion protein are successfully generated by hybridoma technique and can be applied for the diagnosis of prion associated diseases.

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; immunology ; Blotting, Western ; Brain ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cricetinae ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Immunization ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; PrPC Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; PrPSc Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Recombinant Proteins ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo establish the median of serum markers for second trimester screening in Qingdao region and to assess the influence of median correction on the performance of screening.

METHODSMaternal serum alpha-fetoproteins (AFP), human chorionic gonadotrophin, free beta subunit (β -HCG) and unconjugated oestriol (uE3) were assayed for prenatal screening of 18 188 singleton pregnancies at 15-20(+ 6) weeks gestation from January 2009 to July 2010. The median of serum markers was calculated based on above results and applied for risk estimation in screening for fetal aneuploidy from August 2010 to March 2011. The screening performance, specified in terms of detection rates (DRs), false positive rates (FPRs) and odds of being affected given a positive result (OAPR) were compared between the two groups. The risks of 45 affected pregnancies detected during the study were estimated with both Caucasian and corrected medians.

RESULTSThe average level of AFP in local pregnancies was similar to that of the Caucasian population, whilst β -HCG and uE3 were respectively 11% and 33% higher than those of Caucasians. The multiple of median (MoM) value was between 0.94 and 1.02 for the dataset based on the corrected median. At a cut-off of l in 270, FPR has decreased from 5.2% to 4.9%, and DR of Down syndrome has increased from 60% to 69.2%, and OAPR has increased from 1:79 to 1:59 when evaluating risk based on the corrected median. For the 45 affected pregnancies, three Down syndrome pregnancies could be missed because their risk estimates were lower than the cut-off level based on Caucasian median.

CONCLUSIONIt is useful to establish and apply population and laboratory-specific medians in order to improve the performance of prenatal screening and diagnosis.

Adult ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Estriol ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Lindane ; blood ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; methods ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of using two- and three-dimensional (2D/3D) image registration for establishing a testing system of 3D kinematics of the spine in vivo.

METHODSCT data of the adult human lumbar spine were collected and the two orthogonal images of the same specimen were captured using an X-ray fluoroscope at two different positions. The 3D computer models of L3 and L4 vertebrae were reconstructed. A virtual fluoroscope was then created with solid modeling software to reproduce the relative positions of the orthogonal images. Two virtual cameras in the software were used to represent the X-ray sources. The 3D computer models of the L3 and L4 vertebrae were then introduced into the virtual fluoroscope respectively and projected onto the orthogonal images by the two virtual cameras. By matching the projections of the 3D model to the orthogonal images of L3 and L4 vertebrae, the 3D positions of L3 and L4 were obtained. After calculation, the relative displacement and angle of L3 were determined.

RESULTSAfter 2D/3D image registration, the relative displacement and angle were calculated. Compared with position I, the positional changes of L3 were represented with an extension of 5.86 degrees, left bending of 1.85 degrees and right rotation of 2.96 degrees.

CONCLUSION2D/3D image registration allows the simulation of 3D kinematics of the spine in vivo, but the efficiency and accuracy of this technique need further evaluation.

Adult ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Feasibility Studies ; Fluoroscopy ; methods ; Humans ; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; physiology ; Range of Motion, Articular ; physiology ; Reproducibility of Results ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical characteristics and risk factors on responses and survival of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) clones.

METHODSThe clinical data of 31 MDS cases with PNH clones from October 2004 to June 2012 were retrospectively analyzed to reveal the influence of PNH clone size on responses and survival.

RESULTS①The chromosome karyotypes were analyzed in all patients, 23 patients with normal karyotype, 7 patients with abnormal karyotype [including 3 patients with +8, 2 -Y, 1 del(7q) and 1 Xp+] and 1 patient with no mitosis. 1 patient belonged to low-risk, 27 intermediate-1 risk, 2 intermediate-2 risk and 1 high-risk groups, respectively, according to IPSS. There were significantly statistical differences between responders and nonresponders in terms of infection, ANC, Reticulocyte count and IPSS (P values were 0.049, 0.006, 0.031 and 0.043, respectively). ②The overall responsive rate was 67.7%, no patients progressed to acute leukemia (AL) during median follow-up of 19 months after immunosuppressive therapy (IST). The 3-year and 5-year overall survival rates were 82.7% and 55.1%,respectively. ③According to univariate analysis,age, infection and ANC had significant influence on survival (P values were 0.050, 0.031 and 0.026, respectively). ④The PNH clone size had no significant influence on survival through univariate and COX analyses (P=0.393).

CONCLUSIONMDS patients with PNH clone had less cytogenetic abnormalities, higher probability of response to IST and lower probability of progression to AL; Furthermore, the PNH clone size had no significant influence on response and survival.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Clone Cells ; Female ; Hemoglobinuria, Paroxysmal ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on survival, migration and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) transplanted into the brain of newborn rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage and the recovery of nervous functions.

METHODSThe NSCs were separated from hippocampus of neonatal Wistar rats within 24 h after birth. Brdu, NSE and GFAP were used as markers of differentiation and proliferation of NSCs. The newborn rats were subjected to hypoxic-ischemic condition to induce brain damage. Seven days later, NSCs transplantation was performed for the animals. The rats were divided into normal control group, HIBD group, PBS group, NSCs transplantation group, BDNF group and BDNF + NSCs transplantation group randomly. At 4 weeks after transplantation the nervous function of rats was observed by Y-maze and nerve behavior test. After they were sacrificed, the rat brains were examined by immunocytochemistry for Brdu and by immunofluorescence for NSE/Brdu.

RESULTSThe hippocampus NSCs of newborn rat could be well cultured and they expressed nestin and they could differentiate into NSE, GFAP. Most of NSCs survived in cerebral ventricle 4 weeks after transplantation in brain through Brdu immunocytochemistry and they migrated into regions of brain extensively, especially to the injured side of cortex and hippocampus. The number of living NSCs in the injured side of cortex and hippocampus of BDNF + NSCs transplantation group increased evidently and the percentage of NSCs differentiated into NSE was higher than that in the NSCs transplantation group (P < 0.05). The nerve function recovery of the rats in BDNF and NSCs treated group was significantly better than that in the other groups (P < 0.05). The NSCs group had no prominent changes as compared with the model groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSNSCs can be isolated from newborn rats hippocampus and cultured in vivo. NSCs can survive, migrate and differentiate into neurons through cerebral ventricle. BDNF could significantly accelerate proliferation and differentiation of NSCs transplanted into the brain of rats with HIBD. The nervous function recovery was improved prominently by transplantation of NSCs with BDNF application, which may become a potentially effective method to treat HIBD.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; therapeutic use ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; therapy ; Lateral Ventricles ; Neural Stem Cells ; transplantation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Stem Cell Transplantation