OBJECTIVETo study the effect of DPC4 gene expression on the growth of colon cancer cells and its mechanism.

METHODSExpression plasmid pcDNA3.1-DPC4 was constructed and transfected into the colon cancer cell line SW620 by use of lipofectamine gene transfer technique. DPC4 protein expression was detected by Western blot and immunocytochemistry. The effect of DPC4 gene on the growth of SW620 cells was monitored by population doubling time (PDT) and cloning efficiency. The influence of DPC4 expression on p21WAF1 transcription was investigated by RT-PCR to detect p21WAF1 mRNA.

RESULTSSuccessful expression of DPC4 protein was detected in the transfected SW620 cells. Compared with the control cells, PDT (74 h) of the DPC4 expressing cells was prolonged and the cloning efficiency (21%) decreased. In addition, the mRNA level of p21(WAF1) in DPC4 transfected cells was increased.

CONCLUSIONSOverexpression of DPC4 gene inhibits the growth of colon cancer in vitro, and induction of p21(WAF1) expression may be an important functional aspect of DPC4.

Carcinoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cell Division ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Humans ; Smad4 Protein ; Trans-Activators ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transfection ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Objective: : To study the physiochemical characteristics of podophyllotoxin (PPT) conjugated stearic acid grafted chitosan oligosaccharide micelle (PPT-CSO-SA), and evaluate the ability of the potential antineoplastic effects against glioma cells. Methods: : PPT-CSO-SA was prepared by a dialysis method. The quality of PPT-CSO-SA including micellar size, zeta potential, drug encapsulation efficiency and drug release profiles was evaluated. Glioma cells were cultured and treated with PPT and PPT-CSO-SA. The ability of glioma cells to uptake PPT-CSO-SA was observed. The proliferation of glioma cells was determined by 3-[4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl]-2, 5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The apoptosis and morphology of U251 cells were observed by 4’,6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride (DAPI) dye staining. Cell cycle analysis was performed by flow cytometry. The migration ability of U251 cells was determined by wound healing test. Results: : PPT-CSO-SA had nano-level particle size and sustained release property. The encapsulation efficiency of drug reached a high level. The cellular uptake percentage of PPT in glioma cells was lower than that of PPT-CSO-SA (p<0.05). The inhibitory effect of PPT-CSO-SA on glioma cells proliferation was significantly stronger than that of PPT (p<0.05). The morphologic change of apoptosis cell such as shrinkage, karyorrhexis and karyopyknosis were observed. The percentage of U251 cells in G2/M phase increased significantly in the PPT-CSO-SA group compared with PPT group (p<0.05). Compared with the PPT group, the cell migration ability of the PPT-CSO-SA group was significantly inhibited after 12 and 24 hours (p<0.05). Conclusion : PPT-CSO-SA can effectively enhance the glioma cellular uptake of drugs, inhibit glioma cells proliferation and migration, induce G2/M phase arrest of them, and promote their apoptosis. It may be a promising anti-glioma nano-drug.

Objective To understand the present situation of school aged children's snack-eating behaviors after school , and to provide a basis for guiding children's reasonable snacks consumption .income exceeding 15 000 yuan was higher than that from the families monthly income falling in 8 001-15 000 yuan (χ2 =74.703, P =0.000 ) .The favorite snacks include potato and puffed food (83.3%), beans and its products (83.0%), vegetables and fruits (78.4%), meat, seafood and eggs (76.2%).The reasons for choosing snacks mainly include taste (38.2%), external packaging (29.7%), food safety(28.1%), and nutrition (23.6%).The snack-eating time were different between different genders and among different aged children .The source of snacks were mainly from family prepared(81.4%) and bought by themselves (16.1%). Conclus ion Some problems were still existed in snack-eating behaviors after school among school aged children , which needs to be guided and improved .

OBJECTIVETo analyze the distribution of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) in healthy adults with different risk factors and explore its association with gut microbiota.

METHODSWe collected fasting blood samples and fresh fecal samples from 181 subjects without atherogenesis in the carotid arteries. Plasma TMAO levels of the subjects were determined using stable isotope dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The fecal DNA was extracted, and the 16S rRNA V4 tags were amplified and sequenced by Illumina HiSeq 2000. The association between TMAO and classical cardiovascular risk factors were analyzed. Gut microbial community structure was analyzed with QIIME, and LEfSe was used to identify the biomarkers.

RESULTSThe median (IQR) TMAO level was 2.66 (1.96-4.91) µmol/L in the subjects. TMAO level was significantly correlated with body mass index and operational taxonomic units (OTU). Individuals with high TMAO levels were found to have abundant Clostridiales, Phascolarctobacterium, Oscillibacter, and Alistipes but less abundant Anaerosprobacter.

CONCLUSIONChinese subjects have in general low levels of TMAO. TMAO levels are not significantly correlated with the classical cardiovascular risk factors or the gut microbial structures.

Adult ; Atherosclerosis ; Bacteria ; isolation & purification ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; blood ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Methylamines ; blood ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; isolation & purification ; Risk Factors ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

OBJECTIVETo provide scientific basis data for revising the national hygiene criteria of "Classification of hazard conditions of productive dust" (GB5817-86).

METHODSThe data of the retrospective study and the field survey data were analyzed with correlation and regression analysis. The product of total dust concentration of respiratory exposure (mg/m(3)), total ventilation during exposure (m(3)/d per psrson), and level of free SiO(2) in dust (%) was the respiratory exposure dose of free SiO(2) (mg per day per person) which was used as dose criteria value of classification of hazard degree of dust.

RESULTSUsing free SiO(2) exposure dose and the dose-effect relationship, the hazard degrees of the dust were divided into 5 grades: 0, I, II, III, IV (0 - 8.0, 8.1 - 12.0, 12.1 - 16.0, > 24.1 mg per day per person).

CONCLUSIONThe exposure dose of free SiO(2) is closely related to the pathogenesis of silicosis. Using the exposure dose of free SiO(2) as the classification indicator of hazard degree of dust is reliable, simple and easy to execute.

China ; Dust ; analysis ; Hazardous Substances ; analysis ; Humans ; Lung ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Occupational Exposure ; standards ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Safety Management ; standards

Mosquito is a vector of many infectious diseases,and it is recognized a leading killer of human in the world.After the Belt and Road Initiative launches,more are countries involved and the international communication and cooperation are sig-nificantly growing in China.Therefore,the risk of imported infectious diseases is increasing as well,some mosquito-borne dis-eases which have been well controlled or seldom seen in China,will be more risky to cause locally transmission from imported cases and become the threat to people's health in China.This paper reviews the risk of major imported mosquito borne-diseases to China,and discusses the control strategy as well,so as to provide the suggestion for entry-exit inspection and control of im-ported mosquito-borne diseases in China.

OBJECTIVETo assess the efficacy and safety of three different Chinese medical principles in treating patients with male infertility (oligospermia/asthenozoospermia).

METHODSTotally 128 patients with male infertility were classified into 3 groups, i.e., Shen-essence deficiency syndrome, Pi-Shen deficiency syndrome, Shen-deficiency blood-stasis syndrome. They were assigned to the Chinese medical treatment group (96 cases) and the Western medical treatment group (32 cases) by stratified randomization in the ratio of 3: 1. Those in the Chinese medical treatment group were treated with Chinese drugs for Shen invigorating and blood activating, Shen invigorating and Pi supplementing, Shen-qi benefiting. Those in the Western medical treatment group were treated with Clomifene (at the daily dose of 25 mg per day, once daily). Three months consisted of one therapeutic course. The parameters of semen, the pregnancy rate, and adverse reactions were observed.

RESULTSTotally 24 patients dropped out in the two group, 17 in the Chinese medical treatment group (9 patients of Shen deficiency blood stasis syndrome, 5 of Shen-Pi deficiency syndrome, and 3 of Shen-essence deficiency syndrome) and 7 in the Western medical treatment group. Compared with before treatment, there was no statistical difference in the improvement of semen amount at 3 months after treatment between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was statistical difference in the improvement of semen density, class A semen, class A +B semen, and 1-h activity ratio (P < 0.05). The improvement was most obvious in Shen deficiency blood stasis syndrome, followed by Shen-Pi deficiency syndrome and Shen-essence deficiency syndrome. The improvement was the weakest in the Western medical treatment group. There was no statistical difference in the improvement of semen amount, semen density, class A semen, or 1-h activity ratio at 3 months after treatment between the two groups (P > 0.05). Best effect was obtained in improving class A + B semen quality in patients of Shen deficiency blood stasis syndrome, showing statistical difference when compared with the other two syndrome types and the Western medical treatment group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). No obvious adverse reaction occurred in the two groups during the treatment course.

CONCLUSIONShen invigorating and blood activating method could improve the semen density and semen activities, and it was superior to other therapeutic methods.

Adult ; Asthenozoospermia ; classification ; therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Oligospermia ; classification ; therapy ; Phytotherapy ; methods ; Semen Analysis ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVESTo explore the feasibility of DC being in vitro induced from AML cells with cytokine cocktails and their biological properties.

METHODSAML cells were cultured in either presence or absence of cytokine cocktails. DC were studied for morphology, and cytochemical and immunofluorescent staining. Functions of DC were examined by MLC, FITC-conjugated dextran uptake test, and LDH release assay. RT-PCR and FISH were used to analyze the specific fusion genes of culture-derived DC.

RESULTSClassical DC morphological changes occurred in all 15 cultured AML cells. DC-associated surface molecules such as CD(1a), CD(80), CD(86), CD(106), CD(83) and HLA-DR were upregulated (P < 0.05). The allostimulatory abilities of culture-derived DC were significantly higher than those of AML cells uncultured or cultured in the absence of cytokines (P < 0.05). Culture-derived DC only in the presence of GM-CSF + IL-4 have phagocytotic activities. CTL assay was performed in 5 of the 15 samples. At effector/target ratio of 20:1, auto-T lymphocytes primed with the culture-derived DC exhibited no more killing activity to auto-AML cells than those stimulated by IL-2 or uncultured AML cells. Culture-derived DC presenced the native AML-specific aberrant karyotype and related fusion gene.

CONCLUSIONSCytokine cocktails could in vitro induce AML cells into DC with classical morphology, immunophenotype and function. DC maturity induced by different cytokine cocktails could be variable. Culture-derived DC were originated from the native AML cells. AML cells could make the auto-T lymphocyte anergy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cytokines ; pharmacology ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; Drug Synergism ; Female ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; pharmacology ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Interleukin-4 ; pharmacology ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; immunology ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology

Background: Thymoma is an uncommon tumor without a widely accepted standard care to date. We aimed to investigate the clinicopathologic variables of patients with thymoma and identify possible predictors of survival and recurrence after initial resection. Methods: We retrospectively selected 307 patients with thymoma who underwent complete resection at the Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (Beijing, China) between January 2003 and December 2014. The associations of patients' clinical characteristics with prognosis were estimated using Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier survival analyses. Results: During follow-up (median, 86 months; range, 24–160 months), the 5- and 10-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 84.0% and 73.0%, respectively, and the 5- and 10-year overall survival (OS) rates were 91.0% and 74.0%, respectively. Masaoka stage (P < 0.001), World Health Organization (WHO) histological classification (P < 0.001), and postoperative radiotherapy after initial resection (P = 0.006) were associated with recurrence (52/307, 16.9%). Multivariate analysis revealed that, after initial resection, WHO histological classification and Masaoka stage were independent predictors of DFS and OS. The pleura (25/52, 48.0%) were the most common site of recurrence, and locoregional recurrence (41/52, 79.0%) was the most common recurrence pattern. The recurrence pattern was an independent predictor of post-recurrence survival. Patients with recurrent thymoma who underwent repeated resec-tion had increased post-recurrence survival rates compared with those who underwent therapies other than surgery (P = 0.017). Conclusions: Masaoka stage and WHO histological classification were independent prognostic factors of thymoma after initial complete resection. The recurrence pattern was an independent predictor of post-recurrence survival. Locoregional recurrence and repeated resection of the recurrent tumor were associated with favorable prognosis.

Objective:To explore the expressions of zinc homeostasis-related proteins,G protein-coupled receptor 39(GPR39)and ANO1 mRNA in the sperm of patients with asthenozoospermia(AS),and analyze their correlation with sperm motility.Methods:We collected semen samples from 82 male subjects with PR+NP＜40％,PR＜32％and sperm concentration＞15 × 106/ml(the AS group,n=40)or PR+NP≥40％,PR≥32％and sperm concentration＞15 × 106/ml(the normal control group,n=42).We analyzed the routine semen parameters and measured the zinc content in the seminal plasma using the computer-assisted sperm analysis system,detected the expressions of zinc transporters(ZIP13,ZIP8 and ZNT10),metallothioneins(MT1G,MT1 and MTF),GPR39,and calcium-dependent chloride channel protein(ANO1)in the sperm by real-time quantitative PCR(RT qPCR),examined free zinc distribution in the sperm by laser confocal microscopy,and determined the expressions of GPR39 and MT1 proteins in the sperm by immunofluorescence staining,followed by Spearman rank correlation analysis of their correlation with semen parameters.Results:There was no statistically significant difference in the zinc concentration in the seminal plasma between the AS and normal control groups(P＞0.05).Compared with the controls,the AS patients showed a significantly reduced free zinc level(P＜0.05),relative expressions of MT1G,MTF,ZIP13,GPR39 and ANO1 mRNA(P＜0.05),and that of the GPR39 protein in the AS group(P＜0.05).No statistically significant differences were observed in the relative expression levels of ZIP8,ZNT10 and MT1 mRNA between the two groups(P＞0.05).The relative expression levels of GPR39,ANO1,MT1G and MTF mRNA were positively correlated with sperm motility and the percentage of progressively motile sperm(P＜0.05).Conclusion:The expressions of zinc homeostasis proteins(MT1G,MTF and ZIP13),GPR39 and ANO1 mRNA are downregulated in the sperm of asthenozoospermia pa-tients,and positively correlated with sperm motility.