OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of nerve growth factor (NGF) expression with perineural invasion and pain in pancreatic cancer.

METHODSNGF expression was detected by Northern blotting and immunohistochemistry in 28 pancreatic cancer and 20 normal pancreatic tissue samples. Correlation analysis of the results with the extent of perineural invasion, pain and histopathologic characteristics of the tumor was performed.

RESULTSNorthern blot analysis revealed that NGF levels in pancreatic cancer tissues increased by 3.1 folds in comparison with normal pancreas tissue (P<0.05), and immunohistochemistry detected the presence of obvious NGF expression in the cytoplasm of pancreatic cancer cells. Tumors with high NGF expression were associated with more frequent perineural invasion (P<0.01), and increased NGF expression was related to more intense pain (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONIncreased NGF expression may contribute to perineural invasion and pain in pancreatic cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Blotting, Northern ; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Nerve Growth Factor ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Neuralgia ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Peripheral Nerves ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Derris eriocarpa, a traditional Chinese medicine belonging to the family of Leguminosae, is widely distributed mainly over Yunnan, Guangxi and Guizhou of China. Modern pharmacological researches on this herb showed that it had extensive bioactivities, such as promoting urination, removing dampness and cough and reducing inspissated mucus and other biological activities. The extensive studies on the chemical constituents of this plant have resulted in the isolation of triterpenoids, steroids, fatty acid and others, but the flavone compounds haven't reported before. In our further research on the ethyl acetate of this plant, nine flavone compounds were obtained by column chromatography on silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, semi-prep HPLC, polyamide column chromatography and recrystallization for separation and purification. The structures were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis, including MS, NMR experiments and comparison with spectroscopic data in the literature, respectively, as diosmetin (1), 3, 3'-di-O-methylquercetin (2), afromosin (3), 6, 3'-dihydroxy-7, 4'-dimethoxyisoflavone (4), odoratin (5), 7, 3'-dihydroxy-8, 4'-dimethoxyisoflavone (6), 6, 4'-dihydroxy-7, 3'-dimethoxyisoflavone (7), 5, 7, 4'-trihydroxy-3, 3', 5'-trimethoxyflavone (8), and alpinumisoflavone (9). All these compounds were isolated from Derris eriocarpa How for the first time. And the in vitro assays showed that compound 2 possessed moderate inhibitory activity against human cancer cells K562 and HEL.
Derris ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; K562 Cells

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

OBJECTIVETo introduce the design and statistical methods of case-sibling control design and to analyze the published data.

METHODSData from an association study between the coronary heart disease and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene C677T polymorphism was analyzed by the sib transmission/disequibrium test (s-TDT) and the sibship disequilibrium (SDT) methods.

RESULTSUsing s-TDT method, Z value was 0.27 with P > 0.05. The result of SDT method showed that chi-square was 0.31 with 1 df, P > 0.05. All results suggested that neither s-TDT nor SDT showed significant difference between the transmitted and untransmitted methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene C677T allele distributions.

CONCLUSIONCase-sibling control design might avoid population stratification by using siblings as controls thus might be used to test association and linkage between genes and disease.

Case-Control Studies ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Coronary Disease ; genetics ; Epidemiologic Methods ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Association Studies ; Genetic Linkage ; Humans ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Research Design ; Siblings

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

AIMTo study the anti-inflammatory activity of N-(4-arylamidophenyl) methanesulfonamide derivatives.

METHODSThe target compounds were synthesized from p-nitroaniline via three steps and were evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity with the model of xylene-induced ear edema in mice.

RESULTSEleven compounds were obtained and confirmed by IR, 1HNMR and MS. Some compounds were shown to have significant anti-inflammatory activity.

CONCLUSIONN-(4-arylamidophenyl) methanesulfonamide showed appreciable anti-inflammatory activity.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Ear ; pathology ; Ear Diseases ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Edema ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Molecular Structure ; Sulfonamides ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Xylenes

Objective To understand the status of health literacy of residents in Qiandao Lake town in order to complete the surveillance system.Methods A total of 484 residents aged 15 to 69 years old from 9 communities were selected using cluster random sampling method.Then the household interview was conducted.Results The overall level of health literacy of residents was 26.03%.As for the 4 health literacy related aspects including basic health knowledge,health lifestyle and behaviors,health related skill and health beliefs,the rates were 32.54% ,4.77% ,60.30% and 92.62%,respectively. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the level of health literacy of residents was related to age and education.Conclusion The health education in Qiandao Lake town has got some achievements.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the molecular mechanisms of the expression regulation of retinoic acidinduced gene G (RIG-G) by interferon alpha (IFNalpha).

METHODSRIG-G promoter region was analyzed by bioinformatics. The functional activities of RIG-G promoter with or without IFNalpha were detected by luciferase reporter assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA).

RESULTSRIG-G promoter region contained two well-conserved IFN-stimulated response elements (ISREs). Both ISRE I and ISRE II showed their effective binding abilities with signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1). In HT1080 cells, in contrast with the empty plasmid pXP2, pXP2-A reporter construct containing intact ISRE I and ISRE II showed a significant higher baseline expression (1741.2 +/- 517.5) which could be further enhanced up to three-four folds by IFNalpha (5338.7 +/- 1226.9, P < 0.05). However, the luciferase activity of pXP2-A as well as its IFNalpha inducibility could be abrogated in STAT1-deficient U3A cells (from 1741.2 +/- 517.5 to 406.1 +/- 103.2, P < 0.05), indicating that the STAT1 protein was a prerequisite for the activities of ISRE I and ISRE II.

CONCLUSIONISREs present in RIG-G promoter region are molecular basis of IFNalpha induced RIG-G expression. RIG-G is a target gene directly regulated by STAT1 protein and should play a key role in IFNalpha signaling pathways.

Base Sequence ; Cells, Cultured ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; physiology ; Humans ; Interferon Regulatory Factor-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Interferon Regulatory Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Interferon-alpha ; pharmacology ; physiology ; Interferons ; physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; drug effects ; genetics ; physiology ; STAT1 Transcription Factor ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the molecular mechanisms by which IFN-alpha regulated retinoic acid-induced gene G (RIG-G) expression.

METHODSThe expression of STAT1, p-STAT1 and RIG-G in IFN-alpha-treated NB4 cells was detected by Western blot. The roles of STAT1, STAT2 and IRF-9 in IFN-alpha-induced RIG-G expression were analyzed in STAT1-null U3A cells by cell transfection, reporter gene assay, co-immunoprecipitation and chromatin immunoprecipitaion.

RESULTSIn U3A cells, only when STAT2 and IRF-9 were co-transfected, the luciferase activities of RIG-G promoter-containing reporter gene could be highly increased about 8-fold compared with that in the control group. Moreover, in the absence of IFN-alpha, similar effects were observed in either IRF-9 co-transfected with wild type or mutant form of STAT2, whereas IFN-alpha could increase the transactivation activity of wild type STAT2 and IRF-9 by 6-fold compared with that without IFN-alpha, but had no effect on mutant STAT2. In addition, STAT2 could interact with IRF-9 and bind to the RIG-G promoter.

CONCLUSIONSTAT2 may interact with IRF-9 in a STAT1-independent manner. The complex STAT2/IRF-9 is the key factor mediating the expression of RIG-G gene regulated by IFN-alpha. This is a novel signal transduction cascade for IFN which is different from the classical JAK-STAT pathway.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Fibrosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Immunoprecipitation ; Interferon-Stimulated Gene Factor 3, gamma Subunit ; genetics ; metabolism ; Interferon-alpha ; pharmacology ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phosphorylation ; Plasmids ; STAT1 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; STAT2 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo understand the epidemiologic characters of influenza in China from 2001 to 2003.

METHODSData of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) each week and outbreaks of influenza were collected through National Influenza Surveillance Network, which includes 11 northern and 12 southern provinces of China. Samples were collected in the outpatients of ILI from 2001 to 2003 and influenza viruses were isolated and identified.

RESULTSEpidemiological and laboratory surveillance data showed that the annual seasonality of influenza epidemic was clear. The peak of epidemic of influenza in northern areas was in winter season, during December to January. However, there were three peaks distributed to Spring (Apr.-May.), Summer (Jun.-Aug.) and Winter (Dec.-Jan.) seasons in the southern areas. In the peak months, the number of ILI visits per day and per surveillance hospital had increased two-fold in northern and by 37% in southern China. The baseline of percentages for ILI visits, which calculated with 75th percentiles (P75), was 13.68% in the north and 13.08% in southern China. The age distribution of ILI was related to seasonal types of influenza. When the predominated strain of the season was influenza B virus, the ratio of the ILI visits younger than 15 year-old, increased obviously. When the predominated stains became influenza A virus, the ratio of patient visits for ILI aged over 25 year-old increased. Of 63 outbreaks of influenza, 92% of them occurred at primary and middle schools and usually occurred in May (32%). The type of strains usually changed around June.

CONCLUSIONThe quality of national influenza surveillance system is reliable since it was matched between percentages of ILI visits and rates of influenza virus isolation. The different epidemiologic characteristics in north and south of China was noticed. Peak in spring was shown in southern area and which called for more analysis. The change of the types of strains in the outbreaks during April to June in the southern China could provide data for better understanding on the trend of epidemics in the next season.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Influenza A virus ; Influenza B virus ; Influenza Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Population Surveillance ; Seasons ; Vaccination