Objective To predict the binding sites of transforming growth factor-βreceptor Ⅱ (TβRⅡ ) ectodomain and the aptamer S58 specifically targeted TβRⅡ ,and to confirm the structure stability of the aptamer S 58 in vitro .Methods We created three-dimensional structure by utilizing ssDNA aptamer sequences ,the crystal structure of the TβRⅡ was searched by protein data bank database .According to the results of the molecular docking experiments on aptamer S 58 and TβRⅡ ectodomain ,we sheared the aptamer sequences ,then verified its affinity respectively by biosensor technology and Western blot .Results Binding sites of aptamers S58 and TRβⅡ ectodomain included site Ⅰ(T4 ,T5 ,G6 ,C7) ,site Ⅱ(G13 ,A14 ,T15 ,C16 ,G17 ,C18 ) ,site Ⅲ (T31 ,G32 , T33 ,C34) and site Ⅳ(G40 ,A41 ,T42 ,T43 ,T44 ,G45 ,G46) .We validated the high affinity between aptamer S58 and TRβⅡ ectodo-main .The expression of α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA) protein in the human tenon′s capsule fibroblasts was descended obviously after the experiment of the aptamer S58 in comparing with the control of DMEM (P< 0 .05) .But the new ssDNA by shear the aptamer ssDNA S58 according to the results were poor than aptamers S58 .Conclusion The aptamer S58 targeted TβRⅡ was high-ly specific with a certain stability ,any changing of structure will reduce the affinity of TβRⅡ .Computer-aided molecular docking technology has become an important means of an exploratory intermolecular interaction ,and can provides a good theoretical basis on medical research .

0.05). After dividing the patients into early-onset and late-onset subgroups, there were significant differences of DRD4 genotype and allele frequency between early-onset patients and controls (P0.05). Conclusion The results suggested that the polymorphism of DRD4 receptor gene may be associated with early-onset OCD. The 3/4 genetype may be the risk factor of early-onset OCD. Early-onset and late-onset OCD may have different etiology.

OBJECTIVETo observe the impact of tonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines contained in Yiqi Qingwen Jiedu mixture on mRNA expression of lung inflammatory cytokines and pulmonary pathological injury of mice infected by influenza virus, in order to discuss the mechanism of tonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines against pulmonary immune inflammatory injury of infected mice.

METHODIn different time phases after mice were infected with influenza virus FM1, the RT-PCR method was adopted to observe the impact of tonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines contained in Yiqi Qingwen Jiedu mixture on five inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-γ, and the changes in pulmonary pathological injury of mice with viral pneumonia after intervention with tonifying qi traditional Chinese medicines.

RESULT(1) Tonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines significantly reduced the mRNA expression of TNF-α at 1-5 d and IL-1 mRNA expression at 7 d, may increase IL-1 mRNA expression in mouse lung at 3 d, significantly reduced IL-6 mRNA expression in mouse lung and increased IL-10 mRNA expression at 3-7 d, and significantly increased IFN-γ mRNA expression at 1 d. (2) Tonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines could significantly inhibited and repaired pulmonary immune inflammatory injury of mice infected by FM1, which was most remarkable at 3-7 d after the infection with influenza virus FM1.

CONCLUSIONTonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines contained in Yiqi Qingwen Jiedu mixture could resist pulmonary immune inflammatory injury and repair inflammatory injury by regulating the mRNA expression of imbalance inflammatory cytokines of organisms infected with influenza virus.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Influenza A virus ; drug effects ; immunology ; Influenza, Human ; drug therapy ; genetics ; immunology ; Interferon-gamma ; genetics ; immunology ; Interleukin-1 ; genetics ; immunology ; Interleukin-10 ; genetics ; immunology ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; immunology ; Lung ; immunology ; virology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of HLA class I and II alleles with generalized vitiligo in ethnic Han Chinese in north China.

METHODSBy employing polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific primer (PCR-SSP) procedure 34 generalized vitiligo patients in north China were studied for HLA I and II alleles and were compared with 102 healthy controls.

RESULTSThe allelic frequencies of HLA-A*30, Cw*06, DRB1*07, and DQB1*0201 were increased significantly in generalized vitiligo and especially in the patients without family history compared with the controls.

CONCLUSIONThese alleles positively associated with generalized vitiligo in Chinese Han patients in north China, might provide clues to reveal the susceptibility gene(s) of vitiligo in Chinese and as well as the immunnogenetic mechanisms of disease.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genes, MHC Class I ; genetics ; Genes, MHC Class II ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Vitiligo ; ethnology ; genetics

Background: Preterm birth is a common cause of death in newborns and may result from many determinants, but evidence for the socioeconomic and environmental determinants of preterm birth in Tibetan women of childbearing age is limited. The aim of this study was to understand the current status of preterm birth in native Tibetan women and investigate the socioeconomic and environmental determinants. Methods: Data were drawn from a cohort study which was conducted from August 2006 to August 2012 in rural Lhasa, Tibet, China. A total of 1419 Tibetan pregnant women were followed from 20 weeks' gestation until delivery; the loss to follow?up rate was 4.69%. The incidence of preterm birth was estimated to show the status of preterm births in Tibet. Logistic regression models for longitudinal data were established, and odds ratios (ORs) together with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to evaluate the association between the occurrence of preterm birth and 16 selected potential determinants based on the hierarchical conceptual frame. Results: The incidence of preterm birth was 4.58% (95% CI = 3.55–5.80%). After adjusting for health?related variables of the mothers and newborns, socioeconomic and environmental determinants associated with preterm birth included season (spring: OR = 0.28, 95%CI = 0.09–0.84; autumn: OR = 0.21, 95% CI = 0.06–0.69; and winter: OR = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.12–0.82) and calendar year of delivery (2010: OR = 5.03, 95% CI = 1.24–20.35; 2009: OR = 6.62, 95% CI = 1.75–25.10; and 2007–2008: OR = 5.93, 95% CI = 1.47–23.90). Conclusions: The incidence of preterm birth among native Tibetan women was low and there was a decreasing trend in recent years;however, it is still essential to strengthen seasonal maternal care, extend the spacing between pregnancies, and reinforce adequate maternal nutrition.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; physiology ; Bacteriophages ; chemistry ; Humans ; Receptors, Virus ; chemistry ; Vibrio cholerae ; virology

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of cervical settling method on marginal accuracy of wax patters.

METHODS24 wax patterns were made on the standard cast specimens and round capsules of which twelve patters were made with the method of cervical settling (experiment group), twelve patters were made with the method of wax dripping (control group). Marginal accuracy of patterns were measured before sublation, sublation half an hour and twenty-four hours.

RESULTSThe results revealed that marginal accuracy had significant difference between the cervical settling methods and wax dripping methods (P < 0.05). There was significant difference between the cervical settling methods measured after half an hour and twenty-four hours (P < 0.01). There was also significant difference between the wax dripping methods measured after half an hour and twenty-four hours (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONWax patterns with the method of cervical settling can improve marginal accuracy of patterns. The marginal accuracy of wax patters are influenced by the existing time.

Dental Casting Technique ; Dental Marginal Adaptation

OBJECTIVETo determine the relation between the apolipoprotein E(apoE) promoter -427C/T polymorphism and Alzheimer's disease (AD) in a Chinese Han population in Shanghai.

METHODSThe apoE promoter -427C/T polymorphism in 104 AD cases and 110 healthy subjects was detected using polymerase chain reaction method and restriction fragment length polymorphism genotyping technique. The differences in polymorphic distribution between the two groups were tested, and odds ratio was computed.

RESULTSNo differences in apoE -427C/T genotypic distribution were observed between AD cases and controls (P>0.05). Even after stratification according to apoE epsilon 4 stratum, there was not any polymorphic distribution difference when epsilon 4 carriers or non epsilon 4 carriers were compared with controls (P>0.05). The association between AD and apoE epsilon 4 appeared in the TT group(OR=3.94,95%, CI:22067038, chi-square=21.48, P<0.05), but not in CT or CC group.

CONCLUSIONApoE -427C/T polymorphism was not a susceptibility factor for AD in this Han population in Shanghai.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alzheimer Disease ; genetics ; Apolipoproteins E ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; ethnology ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics

Acetic Acid ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Aged ; Cysts ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVE: To obtain scores in a community-dwelling population over 60 using the SF-36, to assess the reliability and validity of this general health questionnaire, and to analyze the difference in dimension scores among the elderly Chinese in Changsha. METHODS: We randomly selected 602 elders, aged 60 to 91 years, in multi-phases. All the subjects had resided in Changsha for at least one year. The reliability of the SF-36 was assessed by split-half reliability and Cronbach's alpha coefficient and the validity through factor analysis and correlation analysis, etc. The dimension scores of different people were obtained by analysis of variance and independent-samples t-test. RESULTS: The split-half reliability was 0.72 and the Cronbach's alpha coefficients of all the 8 dimensions were more than 0.8; the Pearson correlate coefficients of all the items to their dimensions were more than 0. 59. SF-36 contained 8 domains and 2 summary scales in the factor analysis. Health-related quality was different in different elders. CONCLUSION The SF-36 is practical in studying the quality of life among community-dwelling elders.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Community Health Services ; Female ; Geriatric Assessment ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sampling Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; standards