Stain identification has long been a task in forensic biology. The identification of semen stain, one of the most common human stains, can provide crucial information for crime scene reconstruction and forensic investigation. Traditional detection of semen stain depends largely on the microscopic identification of spermatozoa, enzyme activity-based methods or antigen-antibody reactions. These morphological, proteinological and zymological approaches, however, are apparently inadequate in identifying tiny, admixed, degraded or contaminated samples. With the development of transcriptomics and epigenetics, many semen-specific mRNA markers, such as protamine-1 (PRM1) and -2 (PRM2), have been applied to semen and semen stain identification. Messenger RNA profiling shows great promise in identifying tissues as demonstrated by the recognition of specific markers. Further more, studies on tis-sue-specific differential DNA methylation will provide a scrumptious way of identifying difficult samples.
DNA Methylation ; Forensic Medicine ; methods ; Genetic Markers ; Humans ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Semen

Objective　To explore the risk factors and causes affecting the operative mortality in esophagectomy patients with esophageal can cer. Methods　1400 cases with a curative esophagectomy for neopl asm of esophagus hospitalized from Mar,1973 to June, 2000 were reviewed. There w ere 31 died within 30 d or during hospitalization after esophagectomy as a group , and 1 369 survival cases, after operation, as another group. Sixteen factors t hat may influence the operational mortality were selected. A multi-variate anal ysis of these individual variables was performed by the computer′s logistic reg ression model. Results　The operative mortality was 2.2%(31/1400 ). The causes of death included respiratory complication 17 cases (including res piratory failure caused by pneumonia or atelectasis), 15 cases, and adult respir atory distress syndrome (ARDS) 2 cases, the mortality was 54.8% in the death gro up), anastomotic leak 11 cases (34.5%), Chylothorax 2 cases (6.5%) and postopera tive digestive tract hemorrhage 1 case (3.2%). The results showed that the major risk factors that affected operative mortality in cases with esophageal cancer were history of long-herm heavy smoking, duration of operation and the year of operational (P<0.05). Conclusion　To minimize operative mort ality of esophagectomy, some means must be noticed, including the reinforcemen t of the perioperative care, the improvement of anastomotic methods and surgical skill, reduing operative time as p ossible, disposing pulmonary complications in time and using respirator if neces sary.

Objective　To study the expression of p73 in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the relationship between p73 expression and clinico-pathological parameters. Methods　Expression of p7 3 gene was detected by RT-PCR in 32 human NSCLC tissues, tissues adjacent to ca ncer and non-cancer lung tissues. Results　p73 gene expression up-regulated substantially and detected in 87.5%(28/32) of human NSCLC tissues while expressed at low level in tissues adjacent to cancer and non-cancer lung tissues. Conclusion　Marked up-regulation of p73 gene expres sion is found in human NSCLC.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of tanshinone microemulsion (Tan-M) on the cytotoxicity to human leukemia-cell-line (K562/ADM) and the reversion of MDR in vitro.

METHODMicroemulsion being supposed as the control group, MT method is adopted to test cytotoxicity and the reverse of MDR.

RESULTObvious cytotoxicity to K562/ADM was observed for tan-M. Cell non-toxic dosage (growth quotiety > 95%) of Tan-M is 0.2 microg x mL(-1). Low toxic dosage (growth quotiety 85-90%) was 0.7 microg x mL(-1). Cell non-toxic dosage of was 0.7 microg x mL(-1) and low toxic dosage was 1.2 microg x mL(-1). Cell non-toxic dosage of Tan-M (0.2 microg x mL(-1)) significantly lowered the IC50 of K562/ADM by ADM (P < 0.01), and reversed MDR was 3.88 times. Low toxic dosage of Tan-M reversed MDR was 3.97 times. E-M (0.2 microg x mL(-1)) reversed MDR was 2.62 times.

CONCLUSIONThe result indicates that tanshinone microemulsion possesses cell-toxic effects on human leukemia cell-line and may reverse MDR of tumor cells.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Emulsions ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; drug effects ; Phenanthrenes ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo summarize the therapeutic experience and analyse the clinical effects of anatomical plate and combined external fixator for the treatment of elderly intertrochanteric hip fractures.

METHODSFrom Oct.2006 to Jun.2009, 42 patients with intertrochanteric hip fractures were treated. Among them, 19 patients were treated with combined external fixator, included 7 males and 12 females, aged from 71 to 103 years old; according to Evans classification there were 3 of type 1, 5 of type II, 6 of type III, 5 of type IV. The other 23 patients were treated with anatomical plate, included 9 males and 14 females, aged from 73 to 97 years old; there were 5 of type I , 4 of type II, 10 of type II, 2 of type IV, 2 of type V. Comparisons and statistical analysis were made on operation time, blood loss during operation, hospitalization time, the time of loaded walking, fracture healing time and therapeutic effect.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up for 6 to 15 months with an average of 8.6 months. In combined external fixator group, the average operation time was (29.368 +/- 3.253) min, the average blood loss during operation was (30.526 +/- 5.242) ml, the average hospitalization time was (4.368 +/- 1.165) d, the average time of loaded walking was (14.526 +/- 1.867) weeks, the fracture healing time was (14.632 +/- 2.798) weeks; in the anatomical plate group above-mentioned indexes were (58.987 +/- 8.600) min, (256.090 +/- 30.112) ml, (13.783 +/- 1.976) d, (11.391+/- 1.644) weeks, (11.391 +/- 2.327) weeks,respectively; and there were significant differences between two groups (P<0.05). According to Harris score criterion, the scores of combined external fixator group was (86.368 0 +/- 3.640) scores,and the scores of anatomical plate group was (86.435 +/- 4.198) scores; there were no significant differences between two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe effect of combined external fixator and anatomical plate for the elderly intertrochanteric hip fractures are both satisfactory and each has its own merits. Combined external fixator has advantages such as fewer complications and operative injuries than that of anatomical plate and is more suitable for the weaker with elderly intertrochanteric hip fractures.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Plates ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation ; adverse effects ; instrumentation ; methods ; Hip Fractures ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Weight-Bearing

In this paper, the fluorogenic property of vindoline was exploited and, as a probe, used to analyze the interaction of vindoline with HSA by fluorescence and absorption spectra in combination with molecular modeling under a simulated physiological conditions. The evidences from synchronous fluorescence and absorption spectroscopes showed the effect of vindoline on the microenvironment around HSA in aqueous solution. Data obtained by the fluorescence spectroscopy indicated that binding of vindoline with HSA leads to dramatic enhancement of the fluorescence emission intensity. The binding constants and the number of binding sites between vindoline and HSA at different temperatures (303, 310 and 317 K) were calculated according to the data obtained from fluorescence titration. Molecular docking was performed to reveal the possible binding mode or mechanism and suggested that vindoline can bind strongly to HSA. It is considered that vindoline binds to HSA mainly by a hydrophobic interaction and there are four hydrogen bonds interactions between the drug and the residues Ala291, Arg222, Arg218 and Lys195, separately. Fluorescent displacement measurements confirmed that vindoline bind HSA on site II. The thermodynamic parameters obtained (the enthalpy change deltaH0 and the entropy change deltaS0 were calculated to be -10.30 kJ x mol(-1) and 79.98 J x mol(-1) x K(-1), respectively, according to the Van't Hoff equation) suggested that hydrophobic and electrostatic interaction is the predominant intermolecular forces stabilizing the complex.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; metabolism ; Binding Sites ; Computer Simulation ; Humans ; Protein Binding ; Serum Albumin ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Spectrometry, Fluorescence ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet ; Thermodynamics ; Vinblastine ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo demonstrate the vasodilatation activity of the coumarin-containing Angelica dahurica var. formosana and to further analyze active components in the herb extracts.

METHODS(1) The vasodilatation effects induced by different extracts (cyclohexane, ethyl acetate, acetone, methanol, 95 % ethanol and water) of Angelica dahurica var. formosana on mouse thoracic aorta pre-contracted with phenylephrine were investigated. (2) The amount of imperatorin and isoimperatorin in each extract was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. (3) The vasodilatation effects of imperatorin and isoimperatorin on mouse thoracic aorta were compared using the same in vitro method. (4) The vasodilatation mechanism of imperatorin in the mouse thoracic aorta pre-contracted with phenylephrine was studied using the methods of denuded endothelium, NG-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor), and propranolol.

RESULTS(1) The cyclohexane and ethyl acetate extracts of Angelica dahurica var. formosana decreased the maximal response of phenylephrine-induced mouse thoracic aorta contraction dose-dependently, with 50% inhibiting concentration (IC(50)) values of 35.3+/-12.4 mg/L and 40.5+/-12.0 mg/L, respectively. The vasodilatation effect of imperatorin and isoimperatorin was dose-dependent. (2) The cyclohexane extract, showing the strongest vasodilatation effect, possessed the highest contents of imperatorin (4.09%) and isoimperatorin (0.27%, w/w). There was a correlation between the vasodilatation activity and the contents of imperatorin and isoimperatorin in the extracts. (3) The vasodilatation effect of imperatorin was about 4-fold stronger than that of isoimperatorin. (4) The vasodilatation effect of imperatorin was signifificantly attenuated to 24.88%+/-4.06% in the denuded endothelium group compared with the intact endothelium group. And 1 mmol/L L-NAME reduced the imperatorin-induced vasorelaxation by 32.18 %+/-11.29 %.

CONCLUSIONSThe principal effective component of Angelica dahurica var. Formosana was found to be imperatorin. Imperatorin-induced vasodilatation is at least partially regulated by nitric oxide, and has no correlation to beta-receptor.

Angelica ; chemistry ; Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Endothelium, Vascular ; physiology ; Furocoumarins ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide ; physiology ; Phenylephrine ; pharmacology ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Propranolol ; pharmacology ; Vasodilation ; drug effects

BACKGROUNDRetinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells play an important role in the occurrence of choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as a positive regulatory growth factor is produced by the RPE in an autocrine or paracrine manner, promoting CNV development. Duplexes of 21 nt RNAs, known as short interfering RNAs (siRNAs), efficiently inhibit gene expression by RNA interference when introduced into mammalian cells. We searched for an efficient siRNA to interfere with VEGF expression in RPE cells and shed light on the treatment of CNV.

METHODSHuman primary RPE (hRPE) cells were cultured and identified. Three pairs of siRNAs were designed according to the sequence of VEGF 1-5 extrons and synthesized by T7 RNA polymerase transcription in vitro. To evaluate the inhibitory activity of T7-siRNAs, hRPE cells were transfected via siPORT Amine. The interfering effect of T7-siRNAs in hRPE cells was examined by semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence.

RESULTSThree pairs of T7-siRNAs synthesized by in vitro transcription with T7 RNA polymerase suppressed VEGF gene expression with efficiency from 65% to 90%. T7-siRNA (B), targeted region at 207 nt to 228 nt and double stranded for 21 nt with 2 nt UU 3' overhangs, was the most effective sequence tested for inhibition of VEGF expression in hRPE cells. Compared with nontransfected cells, the mean fluorescence in hRPE cells transfected with T7-sRNAs was significantly less (P < 0.01). siRNA with a single-base mismatch and ssRNA(+) did not show suppressing effect. Furthermore, it was found that siRNAs had a dose dependent inhibitory effect (5 to 10 pmol).

CONCLUSIONT7-siRNA can effectively and specifically suppress VEGF expression in hRPE cells and may be a new way to treat CNV.

Base Sequence ; Cells, Cultured ; Choroidal Neovascularization ; therapy ; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases ; metabolism ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Pigment Epithelium of Eye ; cytology ; metabolism ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; biosynthesis ; pharmacology ; Transcription, Genetic ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; Viral Proteins ; metabolism

This study was purposed to investigate the serum levels of soluble intracellular adhesion molecule (sVCAM-1), interleukin 18 (IL-18) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients with aplastic anemia (AA) and their clinical significance. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect sVCAM-1, IL-18 and VEGF in serums of 30 patients with AA and 25 normal controls. The results showed that the serum levels of sVCAM-1 and IL-18 in patients with AA [(839.08 +/- 173.97) ng/ml, (380.35 +/- 47.76) pg/ml] were significantly higher than those in normal controls [(538.16 +/- 91.21) ng/ml, (256.39 +/- 59.52) pg/ml] (p < 0.01; p < 0.01). The levels of sVCAM-1 and IL-18 in severe AA patients [(969.94 +/- 182.54) ng/ml, (388.96 +/- 46.06) pg/ml] were higher than those in chronic AA patients [(709.26 +/- 165.32) ng/ml, IL-18 (352.21 +/- 47.08) pg/ml] (p < 0.01; p < 0.05), but the level of VEGF in AA patients [(69.63 +/- 27.42) pg/ml] was lower than that in the normal controls [(125.62 +/- 32.15) pg/ml] (p < 0.01)]. The level of VEGF in severe AA patients [(51.30 +/- 29.86) pg/ml] was significantly lower than that in chronic AA patients [(80.02 +/- 25.14) pg/ml] (p < 0.01). The levels of sVCAM-1 and IL-18 in AA patients after treatment were lower than those before treatment (p < 0.01; p < 0.05), but the level of VEGF after treatment was significantly higher than that before treatment (p < 0.05). It is concluded that the high levels of sVCAM-1, IL-18 and low level of VEGF in serum may be involved in the pathogenesis and progress of AA.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anemia, Aplastic ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-18 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the supply of iodized salt in non-excessive iodine counties and iodine-free salt in excessive iodine counties at household level in Hebei province so as to provide a basis for the prevention and control of iodine deficiency disorders(IDD). Methods According to the national project of IDD surveillance,the county was taken as the elementary sampling unit. The towns and villages were selected by systematic and random sampling in every county and households were chosen by random sampling to collect their edible salt in Hebei province in 2008. The salt iodine content in non-and excessive iodine regions was detected by direct titrition method and semiquantitative method respectively. Results all 48 448 salt samples were collected from 167 non-excessive iodine counties. Weighed by the population of counties,the rate of non-iodized salt was 4.73%. Iodized salt accounted for 95.27%,out of which,96.13% were qualified and the consuming rate of qualified iodized salt was 91.96%. Eighty point eighty three percent(135/167) of the counties covered by iodized salt above 95%,92.81% (155/167) passing rate of iodized salt above 90% and 82.04 (137/167) consuming rate of qualified iodized salt. All 1466 salt samples were collected in 5 counties with excessive water iodine content and the coverage rate of iodine-free salt was 93.25%(1367/1466). Conclusions In a nutshell,the national targets for preliminary elimination of IDD have been achieved in regions of non-excessive iodine of Hebei province. Nevertheless,the coverage rate of iodized salt and qualified iodize salt rate in some counties are still below the national standard. Therefore the prevention and control of IDD need to be strengthened. The supply of iodized salt in excessive iodine regions should be timely stopped.