Objective To investigate the expression of homeobox gene MSX-2 during cranial suture fusion of SD rats and discuss its significance. Methods SD rats aged 1, 2, 5, 8, 12, 15, 18, 22, 30 and 45 days were selected, and immunohistochemistry and Real-time PCR were employed to localize and quantify the expression of MSX-2 in different regions of cranial sutures. Results MSX-2 expressed in calvarial suture tissues including the extreme ends of the osteogenic fronts and the underlying dura mater. The expression of MSX-2 was low in posterior frontal suture (PF) and sagittal suture (SAG) from postnatal day 1 to day 8 before the initiation of suture fusion, while it was higher in PF than in SAG from postnatal day 12 to day 22 after the initiation of PF suture fusion. The expression of MSX-2 significantly declined in PF and was moderately higher than that in SAG from postnatal day 30 to day 45 after the initiation of suture fusion. Conclusion There is different expression of MSX-2 in PF and SAG during different suture fusion periods, which suggests the expression of MSX-2 may participate in the regulation of cranial bone development and the fusion of cranial sutures.

Objective To study the biological exposure limit in bone metabolism damage caused by coexposure to fluorine and arsenic from coal burning in exposed population.Methods One hundred and ninety-eight cases of fluoride and arsenic co-exposed people from Liuchang village,Qinzhen city,Guizhou province were enrolled in the study.Urinary fluorine (UF),urinary arsenic (UAs),urinary hydroxyproline (UHYP),ross-linked Ntelopeptides of type Ⅰ collagen(UNTX) and bone strength index(STI) were detected.BMDS Version 2.1 software was used to calculate UF,UAs benchmark dose (BMD) and its lower confidence limit (BMDL) on the damage of bone metabolism caused by co-exposure to fluorine and arsenic from coal burning.Results The BMD and BMDL range of UF caused by co-exposure to fluorine and arsenic from coal burning were 0.68-1.35 mg/g Cr,0.57-1.11 mg/g Cr.The BMD and BMDL range of UAs caused by co-exposure to fluorine and arsenic from coal burning were 8.36-18.77 μg/g Cr,7.12-15.40 μg/g Cr.Conclusion The biological exposure limits of UF and UAs for bone metabolism toxicity are proposed as 0.57 mg/g Cr and 7.12 μg/g Cr in co-exposure to fluoride and arsenic from coal burning,respectively.

Adolescent ; Anal Canal ; physiopathology ; Child ; Constipation ; physiopathology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Rectum ; physiopathology

To identify the genotype and analyze the molecular characteristics of dengue virus strain SZ0524 isolated from serum samples of patients with early stage of dengue fever in Shenzhen in 2005 so as to explore its possible origin. The C6/36 cell line was cultivated with virus strain SZ0524 and its suspension was harvested. The type of isolated virus strain was determined by RT-semi-nested PCR and fluorescent PCR. E gene of isolated virus strain was amplified by RT-PCR and sequenced. Homology and phylogenetic tree of E gene of this dengue virus with the strains isolated from other areas were constructed. This SZ0524 strain was further identified by fluorescent PCR, and confirmed to be the type 4 virus after obtaining the 392bp band with type 4 specific primers. The homology of nucleotide sequence of E gene of SZ0524 strain with the standard type 4 dengue virus H241 strain were 99.7%, but the homology with the standard dengue virus 1,2,3 in the same fragment were 57.0%, 59.2% and 56.2% respectively. Analysis of the phylogenetic tree indicated that SZ0524 was more close to D4-73NIID and D4-61NIID strain, next to H241 strain, and they lied in the same branch of phylogenetic tree. The isolated dengue virus type 4 belonged to genotype Ⅰand the SZ0524 strain was proved to be dengue virus type 4 in the molecular level. Combined with epidemiology information, it is suggested that this case can be classified as an imported case and the SZ0524 strain may be transferred from the southeast asian region.

Objective To isolate Hantaviruses from reservoir animals captured in natural epidemic areas of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome(HFRS)and genotype isolated strains of Hantavirus in Shenzhen.Methods Infant Meriones unguiculatus and Vero-E6 cells were used in virus isolation and direct immunofluorescence assay was used for identifying viruses.The G1,G2 fragments of M segment and S segment were amplified with reverse transcription-nested-polymerase chain reaction(RT-nested-PCR)by using the Hantavirus genotype specific primers.The amplified genes were then sequenced,and subjected to homology and cladogram analysis.Results Two virus strains were isolated successfully and designated as SZ2082 and SZ2083 from Rattus norvegicus captured in Shenzhen and were identified as SEOV type by RT-nested-PCR.The nucleotide sequences of partial M and S segmentS of SZ2082 were consistent with SZ2083 completely.Compared with the G1 and G2 fragments of M gene of SEOV80-39 virus strain,the homologies of nucleotide among them were 96.7% and 95.0%,but the homology were 75.9% and 70.3% of the Hantaviruses strain with HTNV76-118 virus strain,respectively.The homology of S gene with SEOV80-39 and HTNV76-118 showed 95.7% and 69.7% at nucleotide level.The results were similar to that of M genome segment.SZ2082 and BjFT01,Beijing Rn,Guangl99,HN71-L were on the same branch and their homology reached up to 99.0%-99.7%.Conclusions Hantaviruses are isolated from Shenzhen for the first time and are classified as S2 subtype of Seoul virus.

Objective To evaluate the sensitive indicator of left ventricular rotation/torsion assessed by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (STI) and Logistic regression analysis,and to investigate the clinical value of the sensitive indicator for assessment of left ventricular dysfunction in patients with chronic cor pulmonale (CCP).Methods 36 patients with CCP (CCP group) and 38 healthy controls (control group) were included in this study.Imaging in parasternal short-axis view (in basal and apical level) were selected.Parasternal short-axis views at mitral valve and apical levels were collected.Basal peak rotation,apical peak rotation,peak torsion,basal end-systolic rotation,apical end-systolic rotation and end systolic torsion were measured with Echo PAC software.Relevant indicators of left ventricular rotation/torsion were selected by using logistic regression analysis and the regression equation was established.Optimal values of specific parameters (Peak torsion and end-systolic torsion) were calculated with receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve.Results Specific parameters of rotation/torsion were significantly reduced in patients with CCP as compared with controls (all P＜0.01).Logistic regression analysis showed that end-systolic torsion and peak torsion were correlated with CCP (OR=0.473 and 0.706,P=0.007 and 0.011).Cut-off value of peak torsion for predicting left ventricular dysfunction was 12.070°,the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.819 (95％ CI:0.683-0.956),the sensitivity was 84.6％,and the specificity was 73.9 ％.Cut-off value of end-systolic torsion for predicting left ventricular dysfunction was 10.680°,AUC was 0.875(95％CI:0.744 1.000),the sensitivity was 84.6％,and the specificity was 91.3％.Conclusions Two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging can sensitively assess left ventricular torsion and evaluate the left ventricular dysfunction in patients with CCP.

In this study, OVA-induced asthma mice was taken as the model, and orally administered with different concentration of ethanol extracts of crude and processed Stemona tuberosa, in order to determine the cytokine level released from Th1 and Th2 in splenocytes. RT-PCR was carried out to determine the genetic expression of T-bet/GATA-3 in lung, and compare the differentiation between ethanol extracts of crude and processed S. tuberosa in therapeutic effect on asthma in mice. According to the results, compared with the crude samples, processed samples significantly increased the levels of inflammatory factor INF-gamma (P < 0.05) and decreased IL-5 (P < 0.05) in splenocytes. According to the RT-PCR results, the administration of processed samples could increase the ratio of T-bet/GATA-3 (P < 0.05). The experiment showed that ethanol extracts of both crude and processed S. tuberosa could treat asthma by regulating Th1/Th2 ratio, but processed samples showed more notable effect. This indicated that crude and processed S. tuberosa had significant pharmacological difference. Therefore, it was more rational to apply processed S. tuberosa in clinical treatment of asthma and chronic cough, which layed a foundation for further revealing the processing mechanism of S. tuberosa.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; immunology ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; GATA3 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Stemonaceae ; chemistry ; T-Box Domain Proteins ; metabolism ; Th1 Cells ; drug effects ; secretion ; Th2 Cells ; drug effects ; secretion

Aged ; Female ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Spleen ; chemistry ; pathology ; surgery ; Splenectomy ; Splenic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Plant samples were collected and investigated periodically. According to the growth of different parts and the characteristics of dry substance accumulation of Scrophularia ningpoensis, the development of S. ningpoensis could be divided into four stages: seeding stage, stem and leaf growth stage, expanding period of root tubers, and dry substance accumulation stage of root tuber. Leaf numbers of S. ningpoensis grew gradually from one at first to 370 at the final stage, main stem leaf were 50 pieces. Leaf size increasesed with the fastest growth at the stem and leaf growth stage, average daily increase amount was 225 cm2. By the middle of August, leaf size reached to 16,270 cm2. Leaf area indexrose sharply in the seeding stage, and remained above 8 among stem and leaf growth stage and expanding period of root tubers, and rapidly reduced to zero in the stage of dry substance accumulation of root tuber. Leaf area ratio has a tendency of obvious dropping. The net assimilation rate had a small change ranges, two small peak were seeding stage and dry substance accumulation of root tuber. The value of specific leaf area was higher in seeding stage, and in the earlier stage of dry substance accumulation of root tuber. Relative growth rate changed with large ranges, higher in seeding stage, rapid decrease in stem and leaf growth stage, rose in expanding period of root tubers, and declined again in the stage of dry substance accumulation of root tuber. Crop growth rate was higher in the first and last stages, and smaller in interim stage. The growth parameters of S. ningpoensis such as relative growth rate, net assimilation rate, leaf area index, leaf area ratio, specific leaf area, crop growth rate changed along with the growth. The rule of dry matter accumulation was as follows: the dry matter increased slowly during the seeding stage and speeded up in the middle and late stages, and in dry substance accumulation of root tuber increased slower, the growth of dry matter all appeared an "S" curve, and accorded with logistic equation. Cultivation technologies of S. ningpoensis and the relevant management methods could be established according to the growth of different parts of S. ningpoensis and the characteristics of dry substance accumulation in different stage.
China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Plant Leaves ; growth & development ; Plant Roots ; growth & development ; Plant Stems ; growth & development ; Plant Tubers ; growth & development ; Scrophularia ; growth & development

Objective To investigate the effect of exogenous hydrogen sulfide on myocardial NF-κB signaling pathway in rats with hemorrhagic shock (HS).Methods Forty adult male rats,weighing 250-300 g,were randomly divided into 4 groups (n =10 each):sham operation group (Sham group),sham operation + NaHS group (Sham + NaHS group),HS group and HS + NaHS group.HS was induced by withdrawing blood from the femoral artery.After HS,NaHS 28 μmol/kg was injected intraperitoneally at 10 min before resuscitation in groups HS + NaHS and Sham + NaHS.MAP was monitored and recorded at 0,1.5,2,3,4 and 6 h after blood-letting.The rats were then sacrificed and hearts were removed for determination of phosphorylated IKKβ (pIKKβ),IκBα (pIκBα),NF-κB p65 (pNF-κB p65) and high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and for examination of myocardial ultrastructure with light and electron microscope.Results Compared with Sham and Sham + NaSH groups,MAP was significantly decreased and the expression of pIKKβ,pIκBα,pNF-κB p65 and HMGB1 was up-regulated in HS and HS + NaHS groups (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with HS group,MAP was significantly increased and the expression of pIKKβ,pIκBα,pNF-κB p65 and HMGB1 was down-regulated in HS + NaHS group (P ＜ 0.05).The pathologic changes were attenuated in HS + NaHS group compared with group HS.Conclusion Exogenous hydrogen sulfide can attenuate myocardial injury induced by HS through inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway and reduction of inflammatory response.