200 citrinin mutants were screened with the inhibition zone method from the transformants library of Monascus ruber M-7 by Agrobacterium-mediate DNA transfer, which contains more than 5,000 transformants.Then 53 mutants, whose citrinin contents ranged from 0.04?g/g to 154.57?g/g in the red fermented rice (RFR), were achieved by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).Color values of RFR prepared by these mutants were also detected.The results showed that there was a positive correlation between the citrinin content and the color value among the mutants.These results provide materials and research bases for ferrther studying the relationship between the production of citrinin and pigment of Monascus ruber at molecular level.

Adult ; Aged ; Coal Mining ; Health Promotion ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Health ; statistics & numerical data ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the factors relating to root resorption after orthodontic treatment.

METHODS96 cases treated with fixed appliances were selected. The panoramic radiographs before and after treatment were examined. The relationship between root resorption after treatment (RRAT) and the variables including sex, age, extraction or nonextraction approach, tooth location, treatment duration and the root resorption before treatment (RRBT) were analyzed by multiple variance analysis and stepwise multivariate linear regression analyses.

RESULTS(1) There were statistically significant differences in root resorption in relation to gender (estimate of RRAT for female: 0.41, that for male: 0.34), extraction (estimate of RRAT for the extraction group: 0.43, that for non-extraction: 0.31), anterior or posterior teeth (estimate of RRAT for the anterior teeth: 0.59, that for the posterior teeth: 0.12). (2) The estimate of RRAT for the upper teeth was 0.40, and that for the lower teeth was 0.37. There were no statistically significant differences. (3) Using multiple regression analysis, age, duration and RRBT were associated with RRAT (R = 0.59, R(2) = 0.35).

CONCLUSIONS(1) Factors including gender, extraction or not and anterior or posterior teeth have influences on the RRAT. More root resorption was found in female or extraction cases. Anterior teeth were more susceptible to root resorption relative to posterior teeth. (2) Age, treatment duration and RRBT can explain approximately 35% of the RRAT. Root resorption aggregated when it was present before treatment. The age and treatment duration were lightly related to the root resorption.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Orthodontics, Corrective ; adverse effects ; Regression Analysis ; Root Resorption ; etiology ; Sex Factors ; Time Factors

The quality markers (Q-markers) of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) have become a topic of interest in TCM research in recent years. Nonetheless, there is still no consensus on how to scientifically characterize TCM Q-markers. Our study establishes an identification method for TCM Q-markers based on the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and the entropy weight comprehensive method. By constructing an evaluation system encompassing the target layer, the factor layer and the control layer, AHP can be used to analyze the weight of three core TCM quality attributes, including effectiveness, testability and specificity. Following that, the entropy weight method is employed to analyze the specific indicators for each attribute based on the literature and experimental data. Finally, the comprehensive weight of each index is obtained by combining the two weights, and the comprehensive weight and the specific value of each component is multiplied and summed to obtain the integrated score ranking, and thereby identify the TCM Q-markers. Taking Shaoyao Gancao decoction as an example, the analysis revealed that the top 8 components are as follows: paeoniflorin > quercetin > albiflorin > glycyrrhizic acid > naringenin > liquiritin > oxypaeoniflorin > benzoylpaeoniflorin, and can be identified as Q-markers of Shaoyao Gancao decoction. This study not only provides support for the establishment of quality standards and process quality control of TCM formulae, but also provides innovative ideas and methods for quantitative evaluation and accurate identification of TCM Q-markers.

Objective To investigate the fulfillment of improved water measures for endemic fluomsis and to find out the trend of prevalence in Qinghai Province in order to provide scientific basis and technical support for the government to formulate control strategies for endemic fluorosis.Methods Usage and management of reforming water facilities in Huzhu County were generally surveyed.Yanya Village,Caijiabu Town,Huzhu County was chosen as the surveillance spot.The household drinking water was surveyed.The dental fluorosis and urine fluoride content of children aged 8-12 years and adult above 16 years were examined.Skeletal fluorosis of adult was checked.The fluomsis content in drinking water and urine was determined with F-ion selective electrode method.The dental fluowsis was examined with Dean index.Skeletal fluorosis was diagnosed according to eountry standard(GB 16396-1996.WS 192-1999).Results The rate of water-improving was 60%(36/60)in Huzhu County.The mean of fluoride content in drinking water Was 1.25 mg/L The prevalence rate of dental fluorosis of children aged 8-12 years was 90.20%(46/51);that of adult was 88.89%(48/54).The dental fluorosis index of children was 1.77,that of adult was 2.95.The prevalence rate of skeletal fluorosis was 98.15% indicated by clinical data,18.87% by X-ray.The ufine fluorosis content of children was 2.27 mg/L,that of adult was 2.00 mg/L.Conclusion The disease condition of endemic fluorosis in Qinshai is serious,defluofidation is slow in effect.

OBJECTIVETo assess the association between glutathione-S-transferase gene polymorphisms GSTT1, GSTM1 and GSTP1 and onset of azoospermia.

METHODSMulti-PCR was used to detect GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene deletions. Polymorphisms of GSTP1 were determined with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method in 236 azoospermia patients and 142 healthy fertile male controls.

RESULTSThe frequency of M1 (-/-) and P1 (Ile/Val or Val/Val) genotype was 24.65% in the control group, which was significantly higher than that of the patient group (15.68%, P=0.031). Frequency of M1 (-/-), T1 (+/+) and P1 (Ile/Val or Val/Val) genotype was 12.68% in the control group, which was significantly higher than that of the patient group (5.51%, P=0.014).

CONCLUSIONThe M1(-/-) and P1(Ile/Val or Val/Val) genotype and the M1(-/-), T1(+/+) and P1 (Ile/Val or Val/Val) genotype are associated with reduced risk of azoospermia in ethnic Chinese Han population.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Azoospermia ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Genotype ; Glutathione S-Transferase pi ; genetics ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Genetic

In order to investigate the effects of Na(2)SeO(3) on expression of VEGF in K562/ADR cells, K562 and K562/ADR cells were treated with Na(2)SeO(3) at dose of 5 and 10 micromol/L. The expressions of VEGF in K562 and K562/ADR cells were detected by ELISA before and at the different time point after treatment. The mutiplie of reversion of resistance was detected by MTT method. The results showed that Na(2)SeO(3) at dose of 10 micromol/L could increase the sensitivity of K562/ADR cell to adriamycin, the multiple of reversion was 3.48. The expression levels of VEGF in K562 and K562/ADR cells increased with prolongation of time cultured, and the VEGF expression levels in K562/ADR cells at the different time points were higher than that in K562 cells (P < 0.05); 5 and 10 micromol/L Na(2)SeO(3) did not suppress expression of VEGF in K562 cells at 72 hours (P > 0.05), and the VEGF level in K562 cells at 96 hours decreased without statistical significance; 5 and 10 micromol/L Na(2)SeO(3) acting for 48 hours did not show suppressive effect on expression of VEGF in K562/ADR cells (P > 0.05), 5 micromol/L Na(2)SeO(3) could decrease the expression of VEGF in K562/ADR cell after treatment for 96 hours, while 10 micromol/L Na(2)SeO(3) could significantly decrease the expression of VEGF in K562/ADR cells treated for 72 hours and 96 hours (P < 0.01). It is concluded that VEGF would be involved in the multidrug resistance of leukemia. Na(2)SeO(3) decreasing expression of VEGF in leukemic cells may be one of the mechanisms reversing multidrug resistance.
Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Sodium Selenite ; pharmacology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence and subtypes of microdeletions in azoospermia factor (AZF) region in infertile men from Sichuan in order to correlate genotypes with phenotypes.

METHODSMultiplex-PCR was used to detect sequence tagged sites (STS) of AZF microdeletions in 1011 infertile men including 713 cases of non-obstructive azoospermia and 298 cases of severe oligospermia.

RESULTSThe overall prevalence of microdeletions was 10.48% (106/1011), and the deletion rates were 11.08% (79/713) in non-obstructive azoospermia and 9.06% (27/298) in severe oligospermia. Complete AZFa or AZFb deletions were associated with azoospermia, whereas AZFc deletion (60.38%) was the most frequent deletion. The deletions were associated with variable spermatogenic phenotypes, and 37.50% of the patients with a deletion had sperms in the ejaculate. A mild decline in sperm concentration was found in two cases with partial AZFb deletion and one case with partial AZFb-c deletion.

CONCLUSIONDeletions of the AZFc region were most commonly found in our patients. All cases with complete AZFa or AZFb deletions and a proportion of cases with AZFc deletion were associated with azoospermia. Our study has provided more insight into the genotype-phenotype correlation, and confirmed that Yq microdeletion screening has a significant value for the diagnosis for male infertility.

Adult ; Azoospermia ; genetics ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; Genetic Association Studies ; methods ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; genetics ; Male ; Phenotype ; Young Adult

This study was purposed to investigate the reversal effect of sodium selenite on multidrug resistance in adriamycin-resistant leukemic cell line K562/ADR and its mechanisms. The cytotoxicity and the reversal effect of sodium selenite on K562/ADR cells were assayed by MTT method; the apoptosis rate of K562 and K562/ADR cells were detected by flow cytometery, the mRNA expressions of mdr1 and bcl-2 were measured by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The results showed that 10 micromol/L sodium selenite significantly increased the cytotoxicity of adriamycin to K562/ADR cell and the reverse index (RI) was 2.31; the early apoptosis rate of K562 cells was elevated after treatment with 5 micromol/L Na(2)SeO(3) for 48 hours; and the medium-term and late apoptosis rate was elevated after treatment with both 5 and 10 micromol/L Na(2)SeO(3) for 48 and 72 hours. Both doses of 5 and 10 micromol/L Na(2)SeO(3) increased the early apoptosis rate of K562/ADR at 48 hours, and also increased the medium-term and late apoptosis rate after treating for 48 and 72 hours. The apoptosis rate was higher at dose of 10 micromol/L than that at 5 micromol/L, the apoptosis rate at 72 hours also was higher than that at 48 hours. The expressions of mdr1 mRNA and bcl-2 mRNA were decreased significantly by 10 micromol/L sodium selenite. It is concluded that sodium selenite can reverse the multidrug resistance in K562/ADR partially by down-regulating the expressions of mdr1 mRNA and bcl-2 mRNA, and increasing apoptosis rate of K562/ADR cells.
ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family B ; ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; metabolism ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Sodium Selenite ; pharmacology

This study was purposed to investigate the intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) gene K469E (A/G) (rs5498) and K56M (A/T) (rs5491) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and soluble ICAM-1 (sICAM-1) levels in plasma in three Chinese populations of Yugur, Tibetan and Han nationalities, to analyze comparatively the genotypes and allele frequencies distribution in different ethnic groups, and to explore the effects of ICAM-1 K469E and K56M polymorphism and sICAM-1 levels in plasma. EDTA-anticoagulant venous blood from Yugur(327 cases), Tibetan (400 cases) and Han (126 cases) people was collected, the DNA was extracted by using whole blood genomic DNA extraction kit, DNA SNP were analyzed by PCR-RFLP, genotype was judged by gel scan imaging system after agarose gel electrophoresis, the gene sequence was determined and the distribution of ICAM-1 genotypes and allele frequencies were compared among different ethnic groups, besides, the group representativeness was tested via the Hardy-Weinberg genetic equilibrium. Finally, the human sICAM-1 plasma levels were detected by using human ICAM-1 ELISA kit. The results showed that DNA sequencing result was consistent with PCR-RFLP analysis. In Yugur, Tibetan and Han nationalities, the KK, KE and EE three genotypes at ICAM-1 K469E gene locus were detected, the genotype distribution was not statistically significantly different, while the K, E allele frequency distribution was statistically significantly different (P < 0.05). Both of genotype and allele frequency distribution between Yugur, Tibetan and Han nationalities were statistically significantly different (P < 0.05). In K56M site only KK, KM two genotypes were detected, but the MM genotype was not detected in the three ethnic groups; the difference of two genotypes and K, M allele frequencies between Yugur and Han population was statistically significantly different (P < 0.05). Among three ethnic groups, the sex ratio and age distribution of K469E, K56M genotypes and allele frequencies of ICAM-1 gene were not significantly different, and distribution was in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg genetic equilibrium (P > 0.05). The plasma sICAM-1 level at ICAM-1 K469E allele locus in K individuals [(253 ± 122), (185 ± 97) µg/L] was higher than that at non-K allele [(145 ± 110) µg/L, P < 0.01]; the plasma sICAM-1 level of ICAM-1 K56M sites with KK genotype [(253 ± 122) µg/L] was higher than that of the KM genotypes [(168 ± 103) µg/L, P < 0.01]. In Yugur and Tibetan groups, the plasma sICAM-1 levels [(224 ± 80), (214 ± 111) µg/L] were higher than that in the Han group [(175 ± 125)µg/L, P < 0.05]. Pairwise comparison indicated that the plasma sICAM-1 levels between Yugur and Han group were statistically significantly different (P < 0.01), that was significantly different between Tibetan and Han group (P < 0.05). It is concluded that in Yugur, Tibetan and Han population, the genotypes and gene frequencies of two amino acid sites K469E and K56M in ICAM-1 were KK/KE-type, KK-type and K allele, moreover, the ratio of them in Yugur and Tibetan group was higher than that in Han, while there is not significant difference in sex ratio and age distribution, therefore, ICAM-1 genotype and allele frequency distribution in this study had ethnic representativeness. ICAM-1 gene K469E and K56M polymorphisms were likely to affect the plasma sICAM-1 expression level. K469E gene K allele may be a genetic risk factor, while K56M gene M allele a may be genetic protective factor for some diseases.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Ethnic Groups ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plasma ; metabolism ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Young Adult