Objective: To screen the changes of immune-associate genes expression which is related with the ageing using cDNA microar-ray.Methods:The mRNA from the spleens of young and aged rats were extracted respectively and reversely transcribed to cDNAs with the incorporation of different fluorescent-labeled dUTP as the hybridization probes. The mixed probes were hybridized to the cDNA microarray that contains the cDNA products of 416 immune-associated genes. After high-stringent washing, the cDNA microarray was scanned for the fluorescent signals and showed the gene expression differences between the young and the aged. Some biochemical assays were used to confirm the physiological differences between the young rats and the aged rats. Results: Among the examined genes, 13 down-regulated genes were identified. These genes correlated with immuned response, cell proliferation, cell differentiation and DNA/RNA repair. Only one gene which encoded ?-amylase was much higher in the aged than that in the young. Conclusion: Further analysis of the differenially expressed immune-associated genes based on cDNA microarray will be helpful for understanding the molecular mechanism of the ageing.

AIM: To study the effect of Liuwei Dihuang Wan (LWDHW) on the expression of immune-associated genes in the aged rats using cDNA microarray. METHODS: Forty 20-months-old rats were divided into two groups equally. One group was treated with LWDHW for 5 weeks,another was untreated as control. Some biochemical assays were used to confirm the physiological differences between two groups. The mRNA from the spleens of twenty 4-months-old young rats were extracted and divided equally into two parts. Each part was conjoined with mRNA from drug treated aged rats and that from untreated control aged rats,respectively,and two experimental combinations for reverse transcription and cDNA microarray were formed. By comparing two groups of data from two combinations,the effects of LWDHW on the expression of the associated genes were evaluated. RESULTS: 13 down-regulated genes and one up-regulated gene were identified in the untreated control old rats,whose expression did not change obviously in treated old rats compared with young rats. The expressions of another two sequence were up-regulated distinctly in treated old rats compared with young rats. CONCLUSIONS: 16 immune-associated genes expressions were affected markedly by LWDHW. It will be helpful for understanding the molecular mechanism of LWDHW in ageing.

Objective To treat femur fracture in neonates using a new homemade harness designed and observe the effec of this harness. Methods Designed a new harness used in femur fracture in neonates,and used this harness in 7(8 femur fracture)csses,including 6 boys(7 femur fracture)and 1 girl,the age from 1 day to 12 days(average 4.7 days).Those cases included proximal thirds(2 cases)and middle thirds(6 cases)of femur fracture.The angle of fracture was from 44°to 83°(average 62.4°)before treatment. Results The angle of fracture was from 0°to 22°(average 14.0°)after treatment using the harness.Hespitalization was from 2 to 3 days.There were no skin sloughing or harness breaking off.All cases were followed up 6 to 36 months(average 21.3 months).All femur fracture healed in good alignment with leg-length discrepancy＜1 cm.Movement of hip and knee was normal. Conclusions The harness is a better method to treat femur fracture of the proximal and middle thirds in neonates.Advantages of it include simply operation,minimal hospitalization,minimal cost,and easy nursing.

AIM: To construct a recombinant hEGF-hbFGF(78-154aa)fusion protein, which not only has the heparin-binding ability, but also promotes the growth of the cells, and to express the fusion protein in E. coli expression system with high expression level.METHODS: hEGF gene was joined with 231 bp fragment coding hbFGF(78-154aa) and expressed in E. coli. The fusion protein was purified using affinity chromatography of heparin-Hyper D and analyzed with western blot. The pI value and the biological activity were both assayed.RESULTS: The fusion protein was expressed in a high expression level of about 30% of the total cell protein, as estimated by SDS-PAGE. Western analysis results showed that the antigenicity of fusion protein was similar to hEGF. Fusion protein could not only bind heparin but also promote the growth of 3T3 cell. The pI value of fusion protein was 5.2.CONCLUSION: The recombinant hEGF-hbFGF(78-154aa) fusion protein possessed the characteristics of both hEGF and hbFGF. This new-designed protein would become a good object for the research on the relationship between the structure and the function of the growth factor.

Objective:To translate and revise the Workplace Breastfeeding Support Scale (WBSS) , and test its reliability and validity.Methods:Brislin translation mode was used to translate and back translate WBSS. The scale items were revised and improved through cultural debugging and pre-tests. From June to September 2020, convenience sampling was used to select 320 mothers of children from the Department of Children Health of Tongren Maternal and Child Health Hospital as the research object. The Chinese version of WBSS was used to investigate the breastfeeding support of the mothers of the children in the workplace. The critical ratio method and the correlation coefficient method were used to analyze the items of the scale, and the content validity index ( CVI) and exploratory factor analysis were used to evaluate the validity of the scale. The Cronbach's α coefficient, split-half reliability coefficient and test-retest reliability coefficient were used to evaluate the reliability of the scale. Results:The item-level CVI of the Chinese version of WBSS was from 0.833 to 1.000, and the average scale-level CVI of the scale was 0.958. The exploratory factor analysis extracted three common factors, and the cumulative variance contribution rate was 57.973%. The Cronbach's α coefficient of the Chinese version of WBSS was 0.805, and the split-half reliability coefficient was 0.800, and the test-retest reliability coefficient was 0.948. The final Chinese version of WBSS included 12 items in three dimensions (colleague support, environmental support, facility support) . Conclusions:The Chinese version of WBSS has good reliability and validity, and can be used to assess the status of breastfeeding support in the workplace.

To investigate the mechanism of lectin from Pinellia pedatisecta(PPL) on macrophage-induced inflammation and its association with inflammatory corpuscles NLRP3. Lectin from P. pedatisecta was isolated and purified by gel chromatography, and its purity was analyzed by using SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis. ELISA was used to investigate the effect of PPL on inflammatory cytokines released by macrophages, with IL-1β as indicators;and fluorescence probe DCFH-DA fluorometer was used to determine changes in active oxygen ROS of macrophages after application of lectin from P. pedatisecta.RAW264.7 cells were pre-treated with ROS inhibitor N-acetylcysteine (NAC) to investigate the effect on ROS and the release of inflammatory factor IL-1β from macrophages to research the relationship between them. The protein levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1 p20, ASC and TXNIP were determined by Western blot.The results showed that isolated and purified PPL could reach electrophoretic purity; PPL stimulated macrophages and induced the excessive release of ROS, leading to strong oxidative stress reaction, and the levels of intracellular inflammatory factorsIL-1β were significantly increased. NAC could inhibit PPL-induced ROS excessive production and significantly reduce the release of IL-1β. In addition, PPL could induce the increase in protein expression levels of Caspase-1 p20, NLRP3 and ASC, and significantly reduce TXNIP expression. The results showed that PPL could cause a strong oxidative stress response by stimulating macrophages, activate inflammatory corpuscles NLRP3, and result in large amount of IL-1β release. That is, PPL could lead to inflammatory cascade reaction by promoting the maturation and secretion of IL-1β through ROS-TXNIP-NLRP3-IL-1β signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVETo evaluated the manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co) and molybdenum (Mo) levels in blood and urine among general population in China, and thereby to analyze their prevalent features.

METHODSFrom 2009 to 2010, a total of 18 120 subjects of general population aged 6-60 years were recruited from 24 districts in 8 provinces in eastern, central and western China mainland, by cluster random sampling method. The information about their living environment and health status were collected by questionnaire, and their blood and urine samples were also collected.Inductive coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was applied to test the Mn, Co and Mo levels of blood and urine samples, and the Mn, Co, Mo distribution in blood and urine among groups of population in different ages and genders were then analyzed.

RESULTSAmong general population in China, the geometric mean (GM) of Mn concentration in blood was 8.98 µg/L. The Mn concentration in blood among males and females were separately 8.14 µg/L and 9.88 µg/L (Z = -18.84, P < 0.01). The GM of Mn concentration in urine was 0.63 µg/L. The Mn concentration in urine among males and females were separately 0.62 µg/L and 0.63 µg/L (Z = -0.67, P > 0.05). The geometric mean (GM) of Co concentration in blood was 0.194 µg/L. The Co concentration in blood among males and females were separately 0.166 µg/L and 0.225 µg/L (Z = -23.04, P < 0.01). The GM of Co concentration in urine was 0.282 µg/L. The Co concentration in urine among males and females were separately 0.260 µg/L and 0.307 µg/L (Z = -7.35, P < 0.01). The GM of Mo concentration in blood was 0.25 µg/L. The Mo concentration in blood among male and female group were separately 0.27 µg/L and 0.23 µg/L (Z = -5.03, P < 0.01). The GM of Mo concentration in urine was 27.7 µg/L. The Mo concentration in urine among males and females were 29.8 µg/L and 25.6 µg/L (Z = -6.31, P < 0.01), respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe Mn, Co and Mo levels in blood and urine varied by gender and area among general population in China, the study provided basic data evidence for the following Mn, Co and Mo biological monitoring studies in near future.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Cobalt ; Environmental Exposure ; Environmental Monitoring ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Manganese ; Middle Aged ; Molybdenum

OBJECTIVETo investigate the level of zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) in whole blood among general population from 8 provinces in China, and to analyze the characteristics of distribution among different regions.

METHODSThis cross-sectional study was performed in 8 provinces from eastern, middle and western China between 2009 and 2010, including 13 110 subjects from 24 regions, and the blood and urine samples were collected. The ICP-MS was applied to test the content of ICP-MS in blood samples, and the results were used to analyze the characteristics of contents and distributions of Zn and Cu among population from different ages, genders and regions groups.

RESULTSTotally, the mean (95%CI) contents of Cu and Zn in blood were 795 (791-799)µg/L and 3 996(3 976-4 015) µg/L, respectively. The characteristics of distribution of Cu content were as followed, the content of males were lower than it of females (male:767 µg/L; female: 822 µg/L, t = -13.302, P < 0.01). The contents of blood Cu in groups of people aging 6-12, 13-16, 17-20, 21-30, 31-45 and 46-60 years old were separately 860(853-868), 758(748-769), 734(728-734), 782(774-790), 811(795-827) and 820(815-826) µg/L. The differences showed statistical significance (F = 78.77, P < 0.01). The blood Cu content of people in eastern China (800µg/L) were also significantly higher than it in middle (774 µg/L)and western China (782 µg/L) (F = 10.94, P < 0.01). Distribution of blood Zn content showed characteristics as follows: the Zn content was higher in males than in females (male 4 085 µg/L and female 3 908 µg/L, t = 8.78, P < 0.01). The contents of blood Zn in groups of people aging 6-12, 13-16, 17-20, 21-30, 31-45 and 46-60 years old were separately 3 306 (3 261-3 350), 3 888 (3 839-3 937), 3 948 (3 902-3 994), 4 272(4 228-4 315), 4 231(4 180-4 281) and 4 250 (4 205-4 294)µg/L, which showed significant statistical differences (F = 233.68, P < 0.01). The blood Zn content of people in eastern China (3 938 µg/L) were significantly lower than it in middle (4 237 µg/L)and western China (4 105 µg/L) (F = 53.16, P < 0.01). In addition, the study also compared the relation between content of Cu and Zn and the frequency of eating seafood. The results found that the frequency of eating seafood could influence the content of Cu and Zn (Cu: F = 13.54, P < 0.01; Zn: F = 200.20, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe contents and distributions of Cu and Zn in blood differs among people from different groups in ages, genders and regions. The baseline data of this study provided reliable scientific evidence for further research.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Copper ; blood ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult ; Zinc ; blood

OBJECTIVETo assess the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons monohydroxy metabolites in urine of general population in China among 8 provinces, provide the baseline of the metabolites in the general population.

METHODSFrom 2009 to 2010, 18 120 subjects of general population aged 6-60 years old were recruited from 24 areas among 8 provinces in east, west and central areas of China mainland by cluster random sampling. The information of the living environment and health condition were collected by questionnaire and spot urine samples were collected, 4 680 urine samples were analysed by high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry, and monohydroxy metabolites distribution in urine among groups of gender and ages were analysed.

RESULTSGeometric means (GM) of 2-naphthol, 1-naphthol, 3-phenanthrol and 1-hydroxypyrene concentration in urine (95%CI) were 1.85 (1.75-1.95), 1.55 (1.50-1.61), 0.57 (0.54-0.59) and 0.82 (0.78-0.85) µg/L, respectively;and median are 2.44, <0.50, 0.72 and 0.90 µg/L, respectively. The concentration between male and female were significantly different (P < 0.01), and the concentration among the groups of population were significantly different (P < 0.01), the GM of 2-naphthol among the groups of population aged 6-12, 13-16, 17-20, 21-30, 31-45 and 46-60 years old were 1.60, 1.56, 1.69, 2.23, 1.91 and 1.86 µg/L (χ(2) = 17.90, P < 0.01), the GM of 1-naphthol in the groups were 1.30, 1.16, 1.53, 1.68, 1.80 and 1.52 µg/L (χ(2) = 76.22, P < 0.01), the GM of 3-phenanthrol in the groups were 0.78, 0.76, 0.55, 0.42, 0.50 and 0.99 µg/L (χ(2) = 66.48, P < 0.01), the GM of 1-hydroxypyrene in the groups were 0.77,0.64, 1.00, 0.84, 0.84 and 0.57 µg/L (χ(2) = 51.48, P < 0.01), respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe distribution of monohydroxy metabolites levels in urine of general population were different, it provided a basic data for the further study of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons biomonitoring in the population.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Environmental Exposure ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Naphthols ; urine ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ; urine ; Pyrenes ; urine ; Sentinel Surveillance ; Young Adult