Bias ; Confounding Factors (Epidemiology) ; Epidemiologic Methods ; Humans

To investigate the relationship and significance of Wnt/b-catenin signaling pathway with caspase-3, XIAP, HSP27and Grp-78. The HCC cell line HepG2 was transfected with small interfering RNA (siRNA) directed against b-catenin. After 72 and 96 h, protein was extracted and the protein expressions of b-catenin, caspase-3, XIAP, Grp-78 and HSP27 were detected by Western blot. b-catenin protein expression was inhibited at both time points and the expression at 96 h was higher than that at 72 h (F = 160.72, P is less than to 0.01). Interestingly, Caspase-3 protein expression was decreased at 72 h and increased to normal at 96 h (F = 136.10, P is less than to 0.01), while p-caspase-3 protein expression increased at 72 h and decreased to normal at 96 h (F = 98.65, P is less than to 0.01). XIAP protein expression decreased at 72 h (F = 37.29, P is less than to 0.01) and increased at 96 h. Grp-78 protein expression increased at 72 h and decreased to normal at 96 h ( F = 58.72, P is less than to 0.01). HSP27 protein expression showed no change following transfection ( F = 1.91, P is more than to 0.05). Wnt/b-catenin signaling pathway is related to the protein expressions of caspase-3, XIAP and Grp-78, but not related to HSP27 protein expression in HCC. Wnt/b-catenin signaling pathway may participate in the regulation of HCC apoptosis, proliferation and differentiation through affecting these factors.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Caspase 3 ; Catenins ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; beta Catenin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo analyze the genetic polymorphism, distribution of haplotypes, common and well-documented (CWD) and rare alleles of high-resolution HLA-A, B and DRB1 alleles by analysis from hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) donors in Jiangsu Han Chinese.

METHODSPCR-sequence-based typing and PCR-sequence specific oligonucleotide probes methods were applied for HLA-A, B and DRB1 high-resolution genotyping of 3238 unrelated healthy donors of hematopoietic stem cells in Jiangsu branch of Chinese National Marrow Donor Program registry.

RESULTS46 alleles of HLA-A,85 HLA-B and 51 HLA-DRB1 locus were found. The frequencies of the most common alleles were A * 11:01 (16.52%), B * 13:02 (11.60%) and DRB1 *07:01 (15.78%). That of the most common haplotype was A * 30: 01-B * 13: 02-DRB1 * 07: 01 (8.87%). 40 alleles of HLA-A,77 alleles of HLA-B, and 47 HLA-DRB1 alleles of HLA-DRB1 were CWD, which account for 99. 8% of total number of samples, and a few rare alleles not reported in Chinese population were found.

CONCLUSIONThe results of high-resolution, CWD and rare alleles showed the characteristics of HLA distribution in Jiangsu Han population, which may be useful for finding HLA matched unrelated donors, as well as for HLA correlation with population genetics and disease association studies.

Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Genotype ; HLA-A Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-B Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DRB1 Chains ; genetics ; Haplotypes ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; Humans ; Tissue Donors

As an important link during the whole operation process of acupuncture, it is very necessary to launch quantity study closely related to acupuncture finger force in the acupuncture quantity study. After retrieval of related literatures on finger force during acupuncture in recent 20 years, it was found out that although some exploration on acupuncture finger force had been made, it was scattered and had no deep research, which pointed out it was a weak link in the acupuncture quantity study. So study of finger force should be paid attention to in acupuncture-moxibustion field, the level of theoretical and experimental research and development of measuring instrument on acupuncture finger force should be strengthened, the application of instrument should be expanded in teaching and scientific research areas, which could promote the modernization and internationalization of acupuncture and moxibustion better and faster.
Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Humans

To explore the protective effect of Angelica sinensis polysaccharides(ASP) on subacute renal damages induced by D-galactose in mice and its mechanism. Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 3 groups, with 10 mice in each group. The D-galactose model group was subcutaneously injected with D-galactose (120 mg x kg(-1)), qd x 42; the ASP + D-galactose model group was intraperitoneally injected with ASP since the 8th day of the replication of the D-galactose model, qd x 35; and the normal control group was subcutaneously injected with saline at the same dose and time. On the 2nd day of after the injection, the peripheral blood was collected to measure the content of BUN, Crea, UA, Cys-C; paraffin sections were made to observe the renal histomorphology by HE staining; senescence-associated β-g-alactosidase (SA-β-Gal) stain was used to observe the relative optical density (ROD) in renal tissues; transmission electron microscopy was assayed to observe the renal ultrastructure; the renal tissue homogenate was prepared to measure the content of SOD, GSH-PX, MDA; the content of AGEs and 8-OH-dG were measured by ELISA. According to the result, compared with the D-galactose model group, the ASP + D-galactose model group showed obviously decreases in the content of BUN, Crea, UA, Cysc, AGES, 8-OH-dG, the number of hardening renal corpuscle, renal capsular space and renal tubular lumen, ROD of SA-β-Gal staining positive kidney cells, mesangial cells, basement membrane thickness, podocyte secondary processes fusion and MDA and increases in the number of normal renal corpuscle, ribosome and rough endoplasmic reticulum in podocytes, the activity of SOD and GSH-PX. In Conclusion, A. sinensis polysaccharides can antagonize kidney subacute damages induced by D-galactose in mice. Its protective mechanism may be correlated with the inhibition of the oxidative stress injury.
Angelica sinensis ; chemistry ; Animals ; Deoxyguanosine ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Galactose ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Kidney ; anatomy & histology ; drug effects ; injuries ; Kidney Diseases ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Polysaccharides ; administration & dosage ; Protective Agents ; administration & dosage

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of lower-reinforcing and upper-reducing acupuncture method for hyperplasia of mammary gland (HMG) and its influence on estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P).Methods:A randomized,single-blinded and controlled trial was conducted.A total of 124 cases conforming to the inclusion criteria were randomized by random number table into a treatment group and a control group,with 62 cases in each group.Patients in both groups received acupuncture therapy at the same acupoints,while patients in the treatment group received lower-reinforcing and upper-reducing method,and patients in the control group received even reinforcing-reducing manipulation.The treatment started around 10 d before menstruation and was conducted every other day.Patients received 5 treatments in each menstruation cycle for consecutive 3 cycles.The levels of E2,P and E2/P and clinical efficacy were measured before and after treatment.Results:After treatment,the breast lump size,pain intensity and concomitant symptoms score in both groups were substantially lower than those before treatment,showing statistical significances (all P＜0.01),and the improvement in the treatment group was higher than that in the control group,and the between-group comparisons showed statistical significances (all P＜0.01).After treatment,the overall effective rate was 91.9％ in the treatment group,higher than 72.6％ in the control group,and the between-group comparison showed a statistical significance (P＜0.01).After treatment,levels of E2,P and E2/P value showed no statistical significance when compared with those before treatment in the two groups (all P＞0.05).Conclusion:Lower-reinforcing and upper-reducing acupuncture method can effectively alleviate clinical symptoms and signs in HMG patients,and produce a better effect than even reinforcing-reducing manipulation.The majority of HMG patients' E2,P level and E2/P value were not beyond the normal ranges;therefore,acupuncture showed no substantial influence on E2 and P levels and E2/P value.

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation between high-resolution HLA-A * 1101, HLA-A * 0201, HLA-A * 2402, HLA-B * 4001, HLA-DRB1 * 0901 with HCMV pp65 antigenemia after bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in China.

METHODS48 recipients doing BMT during 2009. 2-2010. 10 were selected in my hospital; HCMV pp65 was detected by ELISA or immunohistochemical methods. The frequency of HLA-A * 1101, HLA-A * 0201, HLA-A * 2402, HLA-B * 4001, HLA-DRB1 * 0901 alleles were determined by Polymerase chain reaction-sequence based typing (PCR - SBT).

RESULTS(1) The BMT recipients were HCMV pp65 antigenic positive(100%); (2) The positive rate of HLA-A * 1101, HLA-A * 0201, HLA-A * 2402, HLA-B * 4001 showed no obvious difference between 12 lower antigenemia group and 36 higher antigenemia group, the positive rate: HLA-A * 1101 were 33.3% (8/24) and 20.8% (15/72), HLA-A * 0201 were 4.2% (1/24) and 13.9% (10/72), HLA-A * 2402 were 12.5% (3/24) and 19.4% (14/72), HLA-B* 4001 were 16.7% (4/24) and 12.5% (9/72); (3) HLA-DRB1 * 0901 positive rate in higher antigenemia group was higher than the lower (P = 0.048), the positive rate were 4.2% (1/24) and 19.4% (14/72); (4) HLA-DRB1 * 0901 recipients were higher pp65 antigenemia than HLA-A * 2402 recipients (P = 0.007) and HLA-A * 1101 recipients (P = 0.028), HLA-A * 0201 recipients were higher pp65 antigenemia than HLA-A * 2402 (P = 0.02), the pp65 antigenemia showed no obvious difference among the rest of high-resolution HLA groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONHLA-DRB1 * 0901 alleles might be correlated with BMT recipients happened higher pp65 antigenemia, HLA-A * 2402 alleles might be correlated with BMT recipients happened lower pp65 antigenemia.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; immunology ; Female ; HLA Antigens ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphoproteins ; blood ; Viral Matrix Proteins ; blood ; Viremia ; immunology

The hybrid xylanase TB was constructed by the substitution of the N-terminus segment of the Streptomyces olivaceoviridis xylanase XYNB with corresponding region of Thermomonosporafusca xylanase TfxA. The hybrid gene tb, encoding the TB, was correctly expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 and Pichia pastoris GS115. TB was purified and its enzymatic properties were determined. The results revealed that the optimal temperature and optimal pH of TB were at 70 degrees C and 6.0, which have been obviously improved compared with those of XYNB. The thermostability of TB were all about six-fold of XYNB's after incubating the properly diluted enzyme solutions at 80 degrees C and 90 degrees C for 3min, respectively. The pH stability of TB was 5 to approximately 9, which was narrower than that of XYNB. Still, TB remains a high specific activity as XYNB does. Analysis of a homology modeling and sequence similarity were used to reveal the factors influencing the enzymatic properties of TB and the discussion for the relationship between structure and function of xylanase was given.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Desulfurococcaceae ; enzymology ; genetics ; Endo-1,4-beta Xylanases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Enzyme Stability ; Escherichia coli ; enzymology ; genetics ; Hot Temperature ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Pichia ; enzymology ; genetics ; Protein Engineering ; methods ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Streptomyces ; enzymology ; genetics ; Structure-Activity Relationship

Purpose To investigate the expression of lipocalin-2 (LCN2) and plateled derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) in serum,carcinoma and bone metastases of lung cancer patients. Methods Protein chip were used to screen the differential expression of cytokines in serum of 19 lung cancer patients (9 patients with bone metastasis and 10 patients freedistant metastasis) . Immunohistochemistry was performed to assess the differential expression of LCN2 and PDGF-BB cytokines in 12 cases of primary lung cancer without distant metastasis and 12 cases of primary lung cancer with only bone metastasis. Results Serum level of lipid transport factor (LCN2) and PDGFBB in non-small cell lung cancer patients with bone metastasis were significantly higher than that without distant metastasis(P< 0. 05) . There was no difference cytokines between small cell lung cancer patients with bone metastasis and without metastasis group (P > 0. 05) . The results of immunohistochemistry showed that high expression of LCN2 and PDGF-BB in bone metastasis tissues was significantly higher than that in primary lung cancer tissues. Conclusions High expression of LCN2 and PDGF-BB in serum and bone metastasis tissue of patients with non-small cell lung cancer might be involved in the occurrence,development of bone metastasis of lung cancer in the bone marrow,may be an important biomarker and potential therapeutic target for bone metastasis of lung cancer.

Aspergillus fumigatus wild-type phytase has many favorable properties, such as a good thermorstability and a broad pH optimum. However, the specific activity of the enzyme is relative low. A. fumigatus Q23L phytase resulted in a remarkable increase in specific activity around pH4.5 - 7.0, but the pH stability of Q23L was lower than A. fumigatus wild-type phytase. To increase the pH stability of Q23L, the mutant Q23LG272E was constructed by site-directed mutagenesis with PCR. The gene of A. fumigatus wild-type phytase and the mutant genes encoding the Q23LG272E and the Q23L were correctly expressed in Pichia pastoris GS115. Enzymes were purified and their enzymatic properties were determined. The results revealed that the specific activity of the Q23L improved remarkably, which increased from 51 u/mg of the wild type to 109 u/mg at pH5.5. Meanwhile, the pH stability of Q23L, decreased evidently, especially from pH3.0 to pH4.0.The pH stability of Q23LG272E in pH3.0 - 4.5 and pH6.5 - 7.0 has been improved compared with Q23L. The specific activity of Q23LG272E basically maintained at the level of Q23L. Analysis of 3-D structure and sequence similarity were used to reveal the presumable factors influencing the enzymatic properties of Q23LG272E, and discussion for the relationship between structure and function of phytase was given.
6-Phytase ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Amino Acid Substitution ; Aspergillus fumigatus ; enzymology ; genetics ; Biocatalysis ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Fungal Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Models, Molecular ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Mutant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mutation ; Pichia ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Protein Conformation ; Protein Engineering ; methods ; Recombinant Proteins ; metabolism ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Substrate Specificity