Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Carcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; secondary ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Keratins ; metabolism ; Male ; Nasal Cavity ; Nose Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism

Objective To explore the role of serum S-100B concentration of umbilical cord blood and blood on the 24 h after admission in the early diagnosis and development of newborn hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy(HIE).Methods Forty-six HIE newborns(31 cases with mild HIE and 15 cases with moderate and severe HIE)were selected as HIE group,and 43 normal full-term newborns were selected as control group.The umbilical cord blood sample and blood sample were aquired on the 24 h after admission.The serum S-100B concentration was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)analysis.Results 1.There was no significant difference of serum S-100B concentration between the male sub-group and female sub-group of normal group and their birth weight had no significant relative to the serum S-100B concentration.2.The serum S-100B concentration of umbilical cord blood of control group and HIE group were(1.03?0.32)and(2.53?1.1)?g/L,respectively,there was significant difference between two groups(t'=8.848 P

Herpes simplex virus (HSV), a member of the Herpesviridae family, is a significant human pathogen that results in mucocutaneous lesions in the oral cavity or genital infections. Acyclovir (ACV) and related nucleoside analogues can successfully treat HSV infections, but the emergence of drug resistance to ACV has created a barrier for the treatment of HSV infections, especially in immunocompromised patients. There is an urgent need to explore new and effective tactics to circumvent drug resistance to HSV. This review summarises the current strategies in the development of new targets (the DNA helicase/primase (H/P) complex), new types of molecules (nature products) and new antiviral mechanisms (lethal mutagenesis of Janus-type nucleosides) to fight the drug resistance of HSV.

AIMTo study the chemical constituents in the mycelia of Hypomyces sp..

METHODSSilica gel column chromatography was employed for the isolation and purification. Chemical and spectral methods were used to determine the structures of the isolated compounds.

RESULTSTwo compounds were isolated and identified as: hypomycin C (I) and hypomycin D (II).

CONCLUSIONCompounds I and II are new compounds.

Chromatography, Gel ; methods ; Fermentation ; Hypocreales ; chemistry ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Mycelium ; chemistry ; Perylene ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Quinones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo determine the serum level and mRNA expression of type-1/type-2 cytokines of T lymphocytes in spleens of rats after thermal injury and to investigate the effects of escharectomy during burn shock stage on IFN-gamma and IL-4.

METHODSOne hundred and sixty male Wistar rats were randomized into four groups. In group A, animals were not subjected to escharectomy. In groups B, C and D, escharectomy and skin allograft were performed at 8, 24, 96 hours postburn (PB) respectively. At 4, 12, 24, 48, 96, 120 and 168 hours PB, animals were killed and blood and spleens samples were harvested. ELISA was applied to determine the concentration of IFN-gamma and IL-4 in serum. The expression pattern of IFN-gamma and IL-4 were observed at mRNA level in T lymphocytes isolated from spleen by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe serum level of IFN-gamma and IL-4 rose rapidly and significantly after scald injury, expression of IFN-gamma and IL-4 mRNA in rats' T lymphocyte were also up-regulated spontaneously. The serum level of IFN-gamma and its mRNA expression began to rise within 4 hours PB, peaking at 24 hours PB. Whereas IL-4 and its mRNA expression showed a persistent elevation. Thereby leading to a dominant tendency of Th2 cytokine response on 7 d PB. In group A all above parameters revealed most obvious changes compared with controls, then ranked in group D, B and C.

CONCLUSIONEscharectomy during burn shock stage is helpful to decrease the harmful over expression of Th2-type lymphocyte after severe thermal injury.

Animals ; Burns ; metabolism ; surgery ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Interferon-gamma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Shock, Traumatic ; metabolism ; surgery ; Spleen ; cytology ; T-Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; Time Factors

Objective To establish and optimize a sensitive and specific quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction(PCR)method for detection of hepatitis B virus covalently closed circular DNA(HBV cccDNA)in liver tissue. Methods Specific primers and probes were designed to detect HBV DNA(tDNA)and cccDNA. A series of plasmids(3.44 × 100-3.44 × 109 copies/μl)containing a full double-stranded copies of HBV genome(genotype C)were used to establish the standard curve of real-time PCR. Liver samples of 33 patients with HBV related hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC), 13 Chronic hepatitis B patients(CHB)and 10 non-HBV patients were collected to verify the sensitivity and specificity of the assay. A fraction of extracted DNA was digested with a Plasmid-Safe ATP-dependent Dnase(PSAD)for HBV cccDNA detection and the remaining was used for tDNA and β-globin detection. The amount(copies/cell)of HBV cccDNA and tDNA were measured by a real-time PCR, using β-globin housekeeping gene as a quantitation standard. Results The standard curves of real-time PCR with a linear range of 3.44 × 100 to 3.44 × 109 copies/μl were established for detecting HBV cccDNA and tDNA, and both of the lowest detection limits of HBV cccDNA and tDNA were 3.44 × 100 copies/μl. The lowest quantitation levels of HBV cccDNA in liver tissues tested in 33 HBV related HCC patients and 13 CHB patients were 0.003 copies/cell and 0.031copies/cell, respectively. HBV cccDNA and tDNA in liver tissue of 10 non-HBV patient appeared to be negative. The true positive rate was increasing through the digestion of HBV DNA by PSAD, and the analytic specificity of cccDNA detection improved by 7.24 × 102 times. Liver tissues of 2 patients were retested 5 times in the PCR for detecting cccDNA and the coefficience of variations on cycle threshold (Ct)were between 0.224%-0.609%. Conclusion A highly sensitive and specific quantitative real time PCR method for the detection of HBV cccDNA in liver tissue was established and could be used for clinical and epidemiological studies.

BACKGROUNDCarbon disulfide (CS(2)) is a commonly used organic solvent. Many epidemiological investigations and animal experiments have indicated that learning and memory ability can be affected to different degrees after long-term exposure to CS(2), but the mechanisms are still unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the possible mechanisms of CS(2)-related impairment of the learning and memory ability of rats, by investigating the effects of CS(2) on nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity and NOS mRNA expression in rat hippocampus.

METHODSRat models of toxicity were generated by inhalation of various doses of CS(2). After two months of inhaling intoxication, the activities of constitutive NOS (cNOS) and induced NOS (iNOS) in the hippocampus were measured. The levels of neuronal NOS (nNOS) mRNA and iNOS mRNA were measured by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTScNOS activity was significantly decreased compared with controls, while iNOS activity was changed only slightly. CS(2) treatment significantly decreased nNOS mRNA levels. iNOS mRNA levels were significantly increased only at higher doses of CS(2).

CONCLUSIONThe effect of CS2 on learning and memory ability in rats is related to the activity of NOS and the expression of nNOS in the hippocampus.

Animals ; Carbon Disulfide ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; drug effects ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Spectrophotometry

OBJECTIVETo develop a new drug of treating the hepatitis C virus by studing the mechanisms of songzhi pills.

METHODThe four-wee old mice and two-month old rats were chosen to induce interferon.

RESULTThe contents of interferon among the groups treated with songzhi pills were significantly higher than those of the normal group and the model group (P < 0.01),

CONCLUSIONSSongzhi pills may have the function of inducing interferon.

Animals ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Female ; Gardenia ; chemistry ; Interferon-gamma ; biosynthesis ; Male ; Mice ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polyporales ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of Shiraia bambusicola.

METHODColumn chromatography with silica gel was employed for the isolation and purification of constituents. The structures were elucidated by means of chemical and spectroscopic data.

RESULTSeven compounds were obtained and identified as hypocrellin A (I), hypocrellin B (II), hypocrellin C (III), hypomycin A (IV), ergosterol (V), ergosterol peroxide (VI) and 1,8-dihydroxy anthraquinone (VII).

CONCLUSIONCompounds (IV) (VII) were separated from Shiraia bambusicola for the first time.

Anthraquinones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Ergosterol ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Hypocreales ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 mRNA on cultured rat mesangial cells (MsC) and in human diseased glomeruli, and to explore their significance in the development of glomerulosclerosis.

METHODSThe expressions of MMP-2, TIMP-2, and Col IV mRNA on cultured rat MsC stimulated by IL-1 or/and TGF-beta1 were investigated through Northern blot analysis. The levels of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 mRNA expressions and immunoreactivity of PCNA and Col IV in human diseased glomeruli from renal biopsies of lupus nephritis (LN) patients were examined by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, respectively.

RESULTSThe levels of MMP-2, TIMP-2, and Col IV mRNA expressions were markedly increased on cultured rat MsC stimulated by IL-1 or/and TGF-beta1. Meanwhile, upregulation of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 mRNA expressions was confirmed in diseased glomeruli from patients with various subtypes of LN, and was closely related to the positive cell number of PCNA presentation and deposition of Col IV in glomeruli.

CONCLUSIONThe results suggest that the over-expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 mRNA on glomerular cells might play a critical role in the development of glomerulosclerosis.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type IV ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Glomerular Mesangium ; metabolism ; Humans ; Kidney Glomerulus ; metabolism ; Lupus Nephritis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Up-Regulation