Objective To investigate the protective effects of elctroacupuncture(EA)at Zusanli(ST36) points on intestinal villas damage and mucosal permeability induced by small intestine pro-inflammatory factors in rats with intestinal ischemia/reperfusion(I/R). Methods 30 Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into three groups(each,n=10):intestinal I/R group(model group),intestinal I/R+EA ST36 group(EA group)and intestinal I/R+sham EA group(SEA group). Rats were subjected to superior mesenteric artery(SMA)clamping at its root part to occlude the vessel for 30 minutes,followed by reperfusion for 60 minutes to form intestinal I/R models. Rats in EA group received EA at the bilateral ST36 points(2-3 mA,2-100 Hz)for 30 minutes immediately after ischemia,those in SEA group received EA at bilateral sham points(the point was located at 0.5 cm away from ST36 point in its lateral side)with the same frequency and intensity of stimulation as EA group for 30 minutes,and those in model group received no treatment. Animals were sacrificed 60 minutes after reperfusion and segments of distal part of ileum were harvested,then the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin-6(IL-6)in intestinal tissue were measured. Histopathologic changes were viewed and graded via light microscopy. A solution of fluorescein isothiocyanate(FITC)-dextran was injected into the lumen of the segment of intestine 30 minutes after reperfusion,systemic blood was drawn via abdominal aorta puncture at 60 minutes after reperfusion,and then the level of FITC-dextran in blood was measured to determine the changes in intestinal permeability. Results Compared to the model group and SEA group,EA ST36 significantly attenuated intestine TNF-α(pg/mg:3.01±0.50 vs. 8.65±1.02,8.42±1.41,both P<0.05)and IL-6 levels(pg/mg:2.51±0.15 vs. 6.34±0.86,6.13±1.12,both P<0.05),successfully maintained low gut injury scores(1.50±0.33 vs. 3.18±0.39,3.04±0.37,both P<0.05), and significantly reduced permeability of the distal ileum and the content of FITC-dextran(μg/L:282.42±73.92 vs. 856.22±229.47,844.22±239.47,both P<0.05). However,there were no significant differences in all above variables between SEA and model group(all P>0.05). Sections of distal ileum from animals in the model group and SEA group showed no obvious difference histologically,and the pathological manifestations were villous tip necrosis, blunt-shaped and collapse. Compared to the model group and SEA group,the intestinal villous injury in animals of EA group was much milder. Conclusion In rats with intestinal I/R injury,EA ST36 points has protective effect on the gut that is possibly due to the fact it may obviously lower the levels of the pro-inflammatory factors of small intestinal tissue,alleviate mucosal insult of gut and reduce the mucosal permeability.

Objective To measure the level of androgen receptor (AR) mRNA in peripheral blood monocytes (PBMCs) and serum testosterone level of patients with gouty arthritis (GA) and healthy controls (HC),and to explore the role of testosterone and AR in the pathogenesis of GA.Methods Chemilluminescence was used to detect the level of serum testosterone in GA [including 119 acute GA (AGA) and 60 nonacute GA (NAGA) patients] and 47 HC group.Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR)was used to measure AR mRNA in PBMCs from 41 GA and 35 HC.Western blotting was used to measure PBMCs AR in GA and HC for each 6 cases.One-way ANOVA,t test and Spearman's correlation were adopted for statistical analysis.Results Serum testosterone was significantly reduced in AGA and NAGA group compared to that in HC group [(6.1±1.5) ng/ml,P＜0.01,respectively],and the expression was lower in the AGA [(3.7±1.4) ng/ml] group [(4.9±2.0) ng/ml] than that in the NAGA group (P＜0.01).The level of AR mRNA and protein was much lower in the GA group than that in the HC group (P＜0.01,respectively).Negative correlations was detected between AR mRNA and uric acid in GA patients.There was negative correlation between serum testosterone and VLDL,GLU; meanwhile,positive correlation was found between serum testosterone and HDL (P＜0.05,respectively) in NAGA patients.There were no correlations between testosterone and other laboratory data.There was no correlation between AR and other laboratory data in GA patients and healthy controls (P＞0.05,respectively).Conclusion Altered expression of testosterone and its receptor may be involved in the pathogenesis of gouty inflammation.Further study will be needed to shed light on the exact role of androgen and AR in gout.

OBJECTIVETo identify genes regulated by HBV preS1-transactivated protein 2 binding protein 1 (PS1TP2BP1).

METHODSPS1TP2BP1 gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique and cloned into the eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA 3.1/my-c-His A. The mRNAs isolated from HepG2 cells transfected recombinant eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA 3.1/myc-HisA-PS1TP2BP1 and pcDNA 3.1/myc-HisA empty vector were used to construct subtractive library. The differentially expressed genes were identified and analyzed.

RESULTS35 differentially expressed clones were obtained. Colony PCR identified 15 clones with 200-1000 bp inserts. Sequence analysis identified 15 differentially expressed genes.

CONCLUSIONThis study provides data for further characterize the function of PS1TP2BP1.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Carrier Proteins ; Cloning, Molecular ; Gene Library ; Genetic Vectors ; Hep G2 Cells ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; genetics ; Hepatitis B virus ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Protein Precursors ; genetics ; Trans-Activators ; genetics

Based on the electric field shielding and insulation technology, the single electrode dielectric barrier discharge ion source ( DBDI ) has the characteristics of uniform discharging, stability, and high ionization energy, and thus can be used to detect various samples with a large range of polarity. However, the ionization energy is too high to reduce the background signal noise, and thus affects the detection effectiveness to low polarity and low boiling point samples. To enhance the detection effectiveness to these samples, a method of eliminating electrons of single electrode DBDI by using external metal electrodes was developed in this study. Then, the single electrode DBDI was improved by an external needle electrode and an external metal net, respectively. The mechanism of those external metal electrodes was discussed, and the experimental studies were carried out. The results showed that the external metal net technology had an advantage in improving signal to noise ratio ( SNR ) , and the enhancement of SNR for the detection of isoprocarb, perfluorooctanoic acid and SudanⅢwas about 5-6 times. Based on the technology, a method for determination of Sudan Ⅲ in chili powder was developed. The recoveries, RSD and LOD were 83. 7%-94. 6% , 5. 6%-9. 0% and 23 mg/kg, respectively. The external metal electrode technique has broadened the detection range of single electrode DBDI to the field of low polarity, low boiling point and complex samples.

The CBD gene from Trichoderma reesei was cloned into the Corynebacterium glutamicum secretion expression vector pXMJ19-sp, in which green fluorescent protein was inserted to obtain pXMJ19-sp-GFP-CBD. After induced by 0.5 mmol/L IPTG, GFP-CBD was expressed in Corynebacterium glutamicum at high level of 200 mg/L. The GFP-CBD could be purified to high purity with cellulose column. The results indicated CBD can be successfully used in Corynebacterium glutamicum expression system and thus offer an extremely simple, effective and scalable way for production of recombinant proteins.
Base Sequence ; Cellulases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cellulose ; chemistry ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Corynebacterium glutamicum ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Protein Engineering ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Trichoderma ; genetics

BACKGROUNDIntensive treatment such as autologous peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation is an important therapeutic strategy in many hematologic malignancies. A number of factors have been reported to impact PBSC mobilization, but the predictive factors varied from one study to another. This retrospective study assessed our current mobilization and collection protocols, and explored the factors predictive of PBSC mobilization in patients with hematologic malignancies.

METHODSData of 64 consecutive patients with hematologic malignancies (multiple myeloma, n = 22; acute leukemia, n = 27; lymphoma, n = 15) who underwent PBSC mobilization for over 1 year were analyzed. Four patients with response to treatment of near complete remission or better were administered granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) to mobilize PBSCs. Sixty patients received G-CSF followed by chemotherapy mobilizing regimens. Poor mobilization (PM) was defined as when ≤ 2.0'10(6) CD34(+) cells/kg body weight were collected within three leukapheresis procedures.

RESULTSThe incidence of PM at the first mobilization attempt was 19% (12/64). The PM group was older than the non-PM group (median age, 51 vs. 40 years; P = 0.013). In univariate analysis, there were no significant differences in gender, diagnosis, and body weight between the PM and non-PM groups. A combination of chemotherapy and G-CSF was more effective than G-CSF alone as a mobilizing regimen (P = 0.019). Grade III or IV hematopoietic toxicity of chemotherapy had no significant effect on the mobilization efficacy. Supportive care and the incidence of febrile neutropenia were not significantly different between the two groups. In multivariate analysis, age (odds ratio (OR), 9.536; P = 0.002) and number of previous chemotherapy courses (OR 3.132; P = 0.024) were two independent negative predictive factors for CD34(+) cell yield. PM patients could be managed well by remobilization.

CONCLUSIONOlder age and a heavy load of previous chemotherapy are the negative risk factors for PBSC mobilization.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; metabolism ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence and drug resistant patterns of community-acquired Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in children.

METHODSSamples of sputum, blood, liquor puris/secretion of skin or stool in Beijing Children's Hospital between January, 2002 and March, 2005 were cultured. The characteristics of community-acquired MRSA infection were analyzed and compared with hospital-acquired MRSA infection.

RESULTSA total of 25 strains of MRSA were found during the study period and they accounted for 4.7% in 512 strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Of the 25 strains of MRSA, 20 strains were community-acquired but only 5 were hospital-acquired. The prevalence of MRSA infection in Staphyloccus aureus has kept rising over last two years, 3.1% in 2003, 5.4% in 2004 and 7.2% in the first season of 2005. There were no statistical differences in the results of antimicrobial susceptibility testing and multi-resistance testing between the groups of community-acquired and hospital-acquired MRSA. In both groups, all isolates were susceptible to vancomycin. The percentage of the patients with underlying disease in the hospital-acquired infection group was significantly higher than in community-acquired infection group (P < 0.05), but the onset age was not different.

CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence of community-acquired MRSA infection tends to increase in children. The drug resistant patterns of community-acquired MRSA were not significantly different from the hospital-acquired MRSA in children.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Community-Acquired Infections ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Methicillin Resistance ; Staphylococcal Infections ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism underlying the inhibitory effect of STOML-2 overexpression on apoptosis of human cervical squamous carcinoma Siha cells.

METHODSSiha cells were transfected with an adenoviral vector carrying STOML-2, and 72 h later STOML-2 expression and the proliferation of the cells were detected by Western blotting and MTT assay. The transfected cells were treated with IC50 Cisplatin for 24 h, and the morphological changes of cells were observed using fluorescence, and the cell apoptosis was analyzed using flow cytomerty; the expression levels of proteins related with mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, including caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3, Bcl-2, Bax and cytochrome C (Cyt C), were detected by Western blotting.

RESULTSWestern blotting showed a significantly increased STOML-2 expression in the transfected cells. Overexpression of STOML-2 obviously promoted the proliferation of Siha cells. The STOML-2-overexpressing cells exhibited an obvious resistance to IC50 Cisplatin-induced apoptosis as shown by both fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry and presented with decreased expressions of cleaved caspase-3, Bax, and cytosol Cyt C and increased expressions of caspase-3, Bcl-2, and mitochondrial Cyt C.

CONCLUSIONSOverexpression of STOML-2 can enhance the proliferation of Siha cells by inhibiting cell apoptosis possibly through the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway.

Apoptosis ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; Blood Proteins ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; Cytochromes c ; metabolism ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Mitochondria ; metabolism ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

Objective To assess the diet quality of pregnant women during the second trimester using the dietary inflammatory index ( DII) and to explore the correlation between the DII in second trimester of preg-nancy and preterm delivery.Methods A total of 253 women with singleton pregnancy in 16-20 gestational weeks who had received routine prenatal care between August 2014 and April 2015 at the First Affiliated Hospi-tal of Anhui Medical University were enrolled with cluster random sampling.The included women were asked to recall daily dietary intake in the 3 days prior to the survey.All dietary data were analyzed for energy and nutri-ents intake with a nutritional analysis software, followed by calculation of DII according to previous reports. Based on quartiles of the DII scores, the participants were divided into three groups, namely the anti-inflam-matory group (DII<-5.10), intermediate group (DII -5.10--2.55), and the pro-inflammatory group (DII>-2.55).The participants were followed up until delivery and the pregnancy outcomes were recorded. The relationship between the DII in second trimester of pregnancy and preterm delivery were analyzed. Results DII scores of the 253 pregnant women during the second trimester of pregnancy ranged from -7.913 to 3.872.The risks of preterm birth in the anti-inflammatory diet group, the intermediate group, and the pro-inflammatory diet group were 0, 1.6%, and 6.3%, respectively, with statistically significant differences among the groups (P=0.034).The higher DII scores (pro-inflammatory) were associated with higher inci-dence of preterm birth ( P<0.05 ) .Conclusion DII may be used to assess diet quality of pregnant women during the second trimester and to predict the risk of preterm birth.

Objective To investigate the effect of microRNA-1183 on proliferation and metastasis on gastric cancer cells and to explore the role of microRNA-1183 and CBL-B signaling pathways in this process. Methods MGC803 cells were transfected with a microRNA-1183 mimic. Real-time PCR detected the expression of microRNA-1183 in gastric cancer cell line MGC803. MTT detected the proliferative effect of microRNA-1183 on MGC803 gastric cancer cells. A Transwell assay detected the effect of microRNA-1183 on the metastasis of MGC803 gastric cancer cells. A dual luciferase reporter assay detected the binding ability between microRNA-1183 and CBL-B. The expression of the protein was tested by Western blotting. Results MTT assay results showed that microRNA-1183 promoted the proliferation of MGC803 cells. Transwell assay results revealed that microRNA-1183 promoted the metastasis of MGC803 cells. The results of BLAST contrast analysis show that CBL-B is one of the target genes of microRNA-1183. Western blotting analysis showed that the mimic microRNA-1183 inhibited the expression of CBL-B. A dual luciferase reporter assay showed that CBL-B was the target gene of microRNA-1183. A CBL-B knockdown promoted the proliferation and metastasis of MGC803 cells. microRNA-1183 promoted the proliferation and metastasis of MGC803 cells by inhibiting the expression of CBL-B. Conclusion microRNA-1183 can inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of gastric cancer cell lines by inhibiting the expression of CBL-B.