Objective To investigate the expression of DNA methyltransferase 1,3a,3b (DNMT1,DNMT3a,DNMT3b) in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to determine their clinical significance.Methods The expression of DNMT1,3a,3b proteins was detected in 47 HCC tumor specimens and 42 HCC paracarcinoma liver tissues by immunohistochemistry.12 normal liver tissues were used as control.The results and clinicopathological parameters were analyzed.Results The positive expression rates of DNMT1,3a and 3b in HCC tissues were 80.9％,68.1％ and 78.7％ respectively.The positive expression rates of DNMT1,DNMT3a and DNMT3b in paracarcinoma tissues were 50.0％,52.4％ and 57.1％ respectively.The expression rates of DNMT1,3a and 3b in both HCC tissues and paracarcinoma tissues were significantly higher than normal liver tissues.The expression of DNMT1,DNMT3a,DNMT3b was correlated with tumor differentiation (P＜0.05) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity.Conclusions DNMT1,3a and 3b play important roles in carcinog(c)n(c)sis and development of HCC.

Objective To investigate the effects of caveolin-1 overexpressing on the growth of cervical squamous cell cancer Hela cell line. Methods Eukaryotic expression vector of human caveolin-1 gene was introduced into Hela cells by Lipofectamine. The clones stably overexpressed caveolin-1 were identiffed by RT-PCR, immunofluorescence cell staining techniques and Westernblotting. Cells proliferation viabihty was tested by MTT assay, and flow cytometry was used to assay the cell cycle and apoptosis, and the relative phosphorylation level of extracellular regulated protein kinases (Erk1/2) were detected by Westernblotting. Results The clones stably overexpressed caveolin-1 were obtained. Compared with the parental Hela cells, the tranfected cells exhibited a slower rate of growth. FAGS analysis results revealed that overexpression of caveolin-1 resulted in the cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 [ ( 68. 04 ± 2. 57 ) % vs ( 53.41 ±1.01)%] phase and increased the apoptotic cell fraction[ (19. 18 ±2.20)% vs (5.63 ±0.55)%, P <0. 05 ]. Western blotting results showed that overexpression of caveolin-1 reduced the phosphorylation of Erk1/2(0.28 ±0.05 vs 0.81 ±0.07, P <0.05). Conclusions Overexpression of caveolin-1 suppressed the growth of Hela cells and induced apoptosis, down-regulation of Erk1/2 phosphorylation might be involved in its mechanism.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of 0.1% mometasone furoate cream in the topical treatment of eczematous dermatoses including neurodermatitis and eczema. Methods A randomized double-blind parallel controlled clinical trial was conducted. The home made mometasone furoate cream or imported Eloson cream was topically used in patients with such dermatoses once daily for 4 weeks, respectively. Symptom/sign scores were evaluated at the beginning of the treatment and at the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th week after the initiation of the treatment. Results Two hundred and eighty-four patients were enrolled in the trial, including 143 patients with eczema and 141 patients with neurodermatitis. There are 142 patients each in test group and control group separately. All symptom/sign scores and total scores were significantly decreased 1, 2, 3, and 4 week after the treatment. No statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups. The cure rate and improvement rate in eczema patients were 78.87% and 97.18% in the test group; 84.51% and 92.96% in the control group; respectively. While the cure rate and improvement rate in neurodermatitis patients were 75.71% and 100% in the test group; 80.28% and 94.37% in the control group; respectively. The cure rate and improvement rate of total patients were 77.30% and 98.58% in the test group; 82.39% and 93.64% in the control group; respectively. No statistically significant difference in efficacy was observed between the two groups. There was no severe side effect in the two groups. One patient had mild contact dermatitis in the test group. Conclusions These results suggest that 0.1% mometasone furoate cream is an effective and safe drug in the treatment of neurodermatitis and eczema.

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the largest family of cell surface receptors, play an important role in the production of therapeutic drugs. The functions of GPCRs are closely related to their classification and subclassification. It is difficult to obtain the spatial structure of GPCRs sequence by experimental approaches. It is highly desired to develop powerful tools and effective algorithms for classifying the family of GPCRs. In this study, based on the concept of pseudo amino acid composition (PseAA) originally introduced by Chou, approximate entropy (ApEn) of protein sequence as an additional characteristic is used to construct PseAA. A 21-D (dimensional) PseAA is formulated to represent the sample of a protein. Fuzzy K nearest neighbors (FKNN) classifier is adopted as prediction engine. The datasets in low homology are used to validate the performance of the proposed method. Compared with prior works, the successful rates achieved of our research are the highest. The test results indicate that the novel approach can play the role of a compliment to many of the existing methods, which promises to be a useful tool for GPCRs function prediction.
Algorithms ; Amino Acids ; chemistry ; Artificial Intelligence ; Chemical Phenomena ; Entropy ; Fuzzy Logic ; Humans ; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; chemistry ; classification ; Sequence Analysis, Protein ; methods

Biomass carbohydrates assimilation and lipid accumulation by Mortierella isabellina M2 strain were investigated. Corn fiber hydrolysate was specially studied. The results showed M. isabellina M2 strain achieved growth and lipid accumulation while glucose, xylose, mannose and arabinose were introduced as single carbon source, respectively. When M. isabellina M2 strain was cultivated on corn fiber hydrolysate with 6% sugars concentration, the biomass reached 18.2 g/L, the lipid content of dry mycelia was 45.7%, and the lipid yield achieved 8.3 g/L. It provided a promising perspective for microbial oils production with biomass hydrolysates.
Biomass ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Carbon ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; Industrial Microbiology ; methods ; Lipids ; biosynthesis ; Mortierella ; metabolism ; Zea mays ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the CT manifestations and pathology features of solitary fibrous tumors of the pleural (SFTP),to improve diagnostic accuracy of this disease.Methods CT manifestations of 12 cases with SFTP confirmed by surgery were analyzed retrospectively by comparison with the pathological findings.Results The CT images of the 12 cases showed intrathoracic soft-tissue shadow with well-defined margin which was widely connected with pleural.There were 4 cases with mound like and mushroom shape,3 cases with round or oval shape,2 cases with irregular shape growing into the pleural space,3 cases with large mass filling unilateral thoracic cavity,9 cases with pleural tail sign and 1 case with pleural pedicle sign.The plain CT showed homogeneous density in 7 cases,high-low mixed density in 4 cases and with internal calcification in 1 case.After contrast enhancement,5 cases were map like heterogeneous and progressive enhancement,and 4 cases have strip distorted vessel inside or on the edge of the lesion.Conclusion CT manifestations of SFTP have certain characteristics,such as broad base,shaping growth and pleural tail sign,which could be helpful to improve the diagnostic accuracy of SFTP by analyzing carefully.

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of single and local use of a China-made compound betamethasone injection in the treatment of lichen simplex chronicus. Methods A multi-center,randomized, parallel controlled study was conducted. Patients with lichen simplex chronicus were divided into test and control groups to receive a single dose of intralesional compound betamethasone injection made in China or Schering-Plough Labo N.V. Belgium. Patients were visited for the evaluation of efficacy and safety of the China-made injection at the beginning of the treatment (DO), on week 2 (D14) and 4 (D28) after the initiation of treatment. Results A total of 144 patients were enrolled, among which, 68 in the control group and 71 in the test group completed the trial. FAS analysis on week 4 revealed that the response rate and healing rate were 86.11% and 59.72% in the control group, respectively, 86.11% and 54.17% in the test group, respectively (χ2=0.00,0.45,respectively,both P>0.05).There was no severe adverse event in either group after the treatment, and only mild atrophoderma occurred in one patient in the control group, which was improved spontaneously within several weeks of follow-up. There was no statistically significant difference in the occurrence of side reactions between the two groups (P> 0.05). Conclusion The China-made compound betamethasone injection is effective and safe for the treatment of lichen simplex chronicus.

Objective To examine the relationship between alcohol consumption and the incidence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in Chinese adults.Methods A total of 27020 Chinese adults aged 35 to 74years were enrolled in this prospective cohort study.Frequency or type of alcohol consunption was assessed in 1998 and 2000.Follow-up study on MS was conducted during 2007 and 2008.Results Over an average 8years' follow-up,2362 MS patients were identified among 14 572 individuals who did not have MS at baseline.After adjustment for age,location,education level,physical activity,cigarette smoking,body mass index and the number of MS components,compared with non-drinkers,relative risk ( RR ( 95％ confidence interval (CI))) and the Population Attributable Risk Percent (PARP) of MS of male drinkers was 1.24( 1.06 to 1.45 ) and 10.13％,respectively.RR (95 ％ CI) of MS was 1.36 ( 1.02 to 1.82 ),1.34 ( 1.03 to 1.74) and 1.41 (1.13 to 1.77) for male drinkers consuming alcohol 10.1 -20 g/d,20.1 -40 g/d,and ＞40 g/d.RR(95％ CI) of MS was 1.25 ( 1.01 to 1.55) for males drinking 2 -5 times/week and 1.26(1.04 to 1.52) for males drinking ≥6 times/week.RR (95％ CI) of MS was 1.60 ( 1.05 to 2.45),1.30(1.02 to 1.65) and 1.27 (1.06 to 1.52) for beer,liquor and the beer + liquor male consumers.The corresponding RR(95％ CI) was 2.67(1.26 to 5.65) and 3.38 (1.35 to 4.22) for female drinkers consuming alcohol 10.1 -20 g/d and ＞20 g/d.Conclusions Drinking alcohol more than 10 g/d may be associated with an increasing risk of MS,especially for women.Drinking more than twice per week,beer and/or liquor consumption can significantly increase the risk of MS in men.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tazarotene/betamethasone dipropionate cream at different concentration ratios in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris, and to determine the optimal drug concentration ratio for clinical use.Methods:A multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, multi-dose controlled study was conducted. From December 2008 to April 2009, a total of 180 patients with psoriasis vulgaris were enrolled from 7 research centers, such as Hospital for Skin Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College. These patients were randomly and equally divided into 5 groups: treatment groups 1, 2, 3, 4 treated with tazarotene/betamethasone dipropionate cream at concentration ratios of 0.025%/0.025%, 0.05%/0.025%, 0.025%/0.05% and 0.05%/0.05% respectively once a day, and control group treated with the cream vehicle once a day. The treatment lasted 4 weeks. Efficacy and safety were evaluated after 1, 2 and 4 weeks of treatment. One-way analysis of variance and least significant difference (LSD)- t test were used to compare measurement data among several groups, chi-square test and Fisher′s exact test to compare categorical data among groups, and Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel (CMH) test to compare psoriasis area severity index (PASI) response rates between groups. Results:After 4 weeks of treatment, 11 patients (30.56%) , 12 (33.33%) , 12 (33.33%) , 19 (52.78%) and 2 (5.56%) in the treatment groups 1, 2, 3, 4 and control group respectively achieved a 75% reduction in PASI (PASI75) , and the proportions of patients achieving PASI75 were significantly higher in the treatment groups than in the control group (all P < 0.012 7) . Additionally, the proportions of patients achieving PASI90 were also significantly higher in the treatment groups 1, 2 and 4 than in the control group (all P < 0.012 7) . After 4 weeks of treatment, the rates of reduction in PASI scores were 59.52% ± 26.79%, 57.19% ± 31.98%, 56.85% ± 30.46% and 68.21% ± 37.20% in treatment groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively, which were all significantly higher than the rate of reduction in the control group (20.07% ± 28.55%; LSD- t = 5.36, 5.05, 5.00, 6.55, all P < 0.001) . The treatment group 4 showed marked comprehensive efficacy. All the tested drugs were well tolerated in the patients, and adverse reactions occurred in 11 (30.56%) , 8 (22.22%) , 2 (5.56%) , 4 (11.11%) and 2 (5.56%) cases in the treatment groups 1, 2, 3, 4 and control group respectively. The incidence rate of adverse reactions was significantly higher in the treatment group 1 than in the control group ( P = 0.012) , and there was no significant difference among the treatment groups 2, 3, 4 and control group (all P > 0.05) . Conclusion:The tazarotene 0.05%/betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% cream can be recommended for subsequent clinical trials in psoriasis vulgaris.

Objective:To preliminarily evaluate clinical efficacy and safety of tazarotene 0.05%/betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% cream in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris.Methods:A multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, single-dummy, parallel-controlled clinical trial was conducted. Subjects with mild to moderate psoriasis vulgaris were randomized into 4 groups at a ratio of 2∶1∶1∶1, including tazarotene 0.05%/betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% cream (Taz/Bp) group, betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% cream (Bp) group, tazarotene 0.05% gel (Taz) group and cream vehicle control (Plb) group. The treatment lasted 4 weeks. After 1, 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, efficacy and safety of drugs were evaluated in the above groups. Two-way analysis of variance model with main effects was used to compare continuous indices, least significant difference t-test was used for multiple comparisons, and chi-square test or Fisher′s exact test for comparisons of categorical data. Results:A total of 300 subjects were enrolled from 7 research centers, including 120 in the Taz/Bp group, 60 in the Bp group, 60 in the Taz group and 60 in the Plb group. After 4 weeks of treatment, proportions of patients achieving a 75% reduction in PASI (PASI75) were 35.83%, 20.00%, 18.33% and 6.67% in the Taz/Bp, Bp, Taz and Plb groups respectively, and there was a significant difference among the 4 groups ( P < 0.05) ; the proportion of patients achieving PASI75 was significantly higher in the Taz/Bp group than in the Plb group (α = 0.05, P < 0.05) and Taz group (α = 0.025, P < 0.025) , but there was no significant difference between the Taz/Bp group and Bp group (α = 0.016 7, P > 0.016 7) ; the proportions of patients achieving PASI90 were 25.00%, 8.33%, 5.00% and 1.67% in the Taz/Bp, Bp, Taz and Plb groups respectively, which significantly differed among the 4 groups ( P < 0.05) , and the Taz/Bp group showed a significantly increased proportion of patients achieving PASI90 compared with the Plb group ( P < 0.05) , Taz group ( P < 0.025) and Bp group ( P < 0.016 7) . All the tested drugs were well tolerated in the 4 groups. Adverse drug reactions occurred in 15 (12.50%) , 5 (8.33%) , 19 (31.67%) and 9 (15.00%) patients in the Taz/Bp, Bp, Taz and Plb groups respectively. The incidence rate of adverse drug reactions significantly differed among the 4 groups ( P = 0.004) , and was significantly lower in the Taz/Bp group than in the Taz group ( P < 0.05) , but insignificantly different between the Taz/Bp group and Bp or Plb group (both P > 0.05) . Conclusion:Tazarotene 0.05%/betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% cream is effective and safe for the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris.