Abstract: Schistosomiasis, an important zoonotic parasitic disease, is one of the six major tropical diseases identified by WHO, and also one of the most important parasitic diseases for prevention and control in China. After more than 70 years of efforts, the prevention and control of schistosomiasis in China has made great achievements, and the current epidemic of schistosomiasis in China has entered an extremely low epidemic state, but the distribution base of the only intermediate host of schistosomiasis, Oncomelania hupensis, is still large. For now, the techniques used to monitor schistosomiasis have shortcomings such as time-consuming, laborious and low sensitivity, which cannot meet the current needs of China. Environmental DNA (eDNA) refers to DNA that can be extracted from environmental samples (such as soil, water or air) without isolating any target organisms, which is a complex mixture of genomic DNA and its degradation products from different organisms in the same environment. eDNA technology can reflect the community or species composition information in the ecosystem through DNA extraction and detection of environmental samples. Compared with traditional biological monitoring methods, eDNA technology has the advantages of high efficiency, high sensitivity and environmental friendliness. eDNA has been successfully used for the specific detection of Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma japonicum. This paper reviews the current detection methods of eDNA, the application and technical limitations of eDNA technology in schistosomiasis monitoring, aiming to provide scientific reference for research in the field of schistosomiasis surveillance.

Animals ; Cochlea ; pathology ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; Hyperlipidemias ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous

Adult ; Epilepsy ; chemically induced ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Nitrobenzenes ; poisoning ; Occupational Exposure ; Poisoning ; complications ; therapy

Objective To investigate the expression of hypoxia-inducible 1 alpha(HIF-lα)and glucose transporter 1(Glut1)in human breast cancer and its relationship to proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)protein and clinical pathologic factors.Methods Immunohistochemical staining was used to measure the expression of HIF-lα.Glut1 and PCNA in human breast fibroadenoma,usual hyperplasia and breast carcinoma.Results HIF-1α expression was not found in breast fibroadenoma and hyperplastic Iesions.In contrast.the positive rate of HIF-1α was found in the ductal carcinoma in situ 55%(DCIS,11/20)and the invasive breast carcinoma 85%(51/60).Glut1 positivity in breast carcinoma was 58.8%(47/80).The totsl positive rate of PCNA in breast carcinoma was 75%(60/80),that in DCIS was 65%(13/20)and that in invasive carcinoma was 78.3%(47/60).There was a positive correlation between HIF-lα and Glut 1 level (r=0.653,P＜0.01),a positive correlation between HIF-1α and PCNA level(r=0.693,P＜0.01);and also a positive correlation between Glutl and PCNA level(t=0.742.P＜0.01).conclusion The overexpression of HIF-lα and its target gene Glut1 played important roles in carcinogenesis and progression of breast carcinoma and closely correlated with cell proliferation of breast carcinoma and may become a new target for treatment of breast carcinoma.

Arginine Deiminase(ADI) was purified to homogeneity using ammonium sulfate precipitation,Q-Sepharose Fast Flow anion exchange chromatography and SephadexG-75 gel filtration chromatography. This purification protocol resulted in a 34.5-fold purification of ADI with 31.4% final yield. A molecular weight of about 190 kD determined by native gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme has only one kind of 46 kD subunit determined by SDS-PAGE. Combining the results from the two kinds of electrophoresis,the authors deduce that the enzyme may be a tetramer. The optimum pH and temperature for lipolytic activity of ADI was pH 6.5 and 50℃,respectively. It was extremely stable at 45℃ and retained 97.9% of its original activity for 30 min. The stability declined rapidly as soon as the temperature rose over 50℃. ADI was highly stable in the pH range from pH 5-8. ADI acted on L-arginine but not on D-arginine. ADI catabolism was dependent on metal ions. At their adequate concentration,Mn2+,Mg2+ and Co2+ were the effective promoter,while superfluous Zn2+and Co2+ inhibited ADI activity. L-citrulline did not act on ADI,but L-ornithine inhibited ADI activity. The degradation of L-arginine with ADI catalysis was according to simple Michaelis-Menten equation. The Michaelis constant was 3.2686 mmol/L and the maxi-mum velocity was 2.44 ?mol/min.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of port catheter system(PCS)placement in pulmonary artery via percutaneous subclavicle vein treatment for multiple metastatic tumor in the two lungs and discuss the PCS technique.Methods Fifteen multiple metastatic tumor patients(13 hepatocellular carcinomas,one mandible grand adenocarcinoma,one oral bottom squamous carcinoma)were carried out with pulmonary artery PCS placement by way of percutaneous subclavicle vein.FPA/FPM/GP chemotherapy scheme were introduced every 4～6 weeks.Results The success rate of PCS placement technique was 93.3%(14/15).One case failed.Percutaneous subclavicle veins were performed 14 cases in right side and 1 in left one.Following up 2～43 months,2～7 chemotherapy cycles(mean 5 cycles)were accomplished,and the clinical CR and PR were achieved in 1 and 3 cases respectively with clinical efficacy rate 28.6%(4/14).Major side reaction was late wound healing in 1 case.Conclusion PCS placement in pulmonary artery treatment for multiple metastatic tumor in the two lungs is effective,and mastering operation technique is the key for increasing operation suc- cess rate.

In this study, researchers adopted the network analysis method to study Buyang Huanwu decoction at three levels, namely chemical ingredients, targets and diseases, and discovered the potential effect of Buyang Huanwu decoction in cancer treatment. Besides, they analyzed the "target-target" network of Buyang Huanwu decoction based on diseases, calculated four network indexes, namely node centrality, closeness centrality, betweenness centrality and eigenvector centrality for a comprehensive evaluation on the importance and significance of each target in the network. Afterwards, key targets of Buyang Huanwu decoction were excavated to obtain two important targets--COX-2 and PPAR-gamma, which may be important targets involved in the qi deficiency and blood stasis diseases. Meanwhile, the two targets were the basis to build the core network of "chemical component-target-disease" of Buyang Huanwu decoction, which provided reference for further studies on the effect of Buyang Huanwu decoction in treating qi deficiency and blood stasis diseases. According to the study, the network analysis method was helpful to excavate potential targets Buyang Huanwu decoction in treating qi deficiency and blood stasis diseases, and could provide methodological reference for revealing the mechanism of Buyang Huanwu decoction at multiple levels, with a guiding significance for interpreting mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicinal formulae and developing new drugs.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Hematologic Diseases ; drug therapy ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Qi ; Yang Deficiency ; drug therapy ; Yin Deficiency ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of total flavonoids of epimedium (TFE) on the streptozocin (STZ)-induced kidney injury in diabetic rats and discuss the possible mechanism.

METHODSDiabetes was produced by a single injection of streptozocin (40 mg/kg, iv) in male SD rats. The rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 10): control group, model group and TFE group (100 mg/kg, ig). Animals were sacrificed 12 weeks later. The level of blood glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) as well as the renal index were determined. Detect the specific biochemical of renal tissue: superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA). Use masson staining to observe the morphology of the renal tissue. Immunohistochemistry was employed to determine the protein levels of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1).

RESULTSCompared to control group, the enhancement of blood glucose, renal index, BUN and Cr was found in model group, which was significantly attenuated by treatment with TFE. Meanwhile, elevated MDA level in renal tissue as well as decreased SOD activities in renal tissue were significantly remitted by TFE. Furthermore, TFE decreased the expression of TGF-beta1.

CONCLUSIONTFE can evidently relieve renal damage in rats with diabetic nephropathy induced by STZ, which might be related to antioxidation and modulating the expression of TGF-beta1 protein.

Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Liuweidihuang (LWDH) pills on plasma adiponectin level in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats.

METHODSForty male OLETF rats were randomized into LWDH and control OLETF groups (n=20), and 10 male Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats served as the normal control group (LETO group). The rats in LWDH group were given LWDH pills (daily dose of 2.4 mg/kg) intragastrically since the age of 8 weeks, and the two control groups received water only. Regular blood glucose test was performed using oral glucose tolerance test, and the body weight and food intake of the rats were recorded on a weekly basis. At 8, 32 and 40 weeks of age, respectively, the rats were sacrificed for measurement of plasma adiponectin and plasma insulin.

RESULTSThe food intake of the OLETF rats in both groups were significantly greater than the LETO rats (P<0.01). The rats in LWDH group developed diabetes since 30 weeks of age with an incidence of 28.6% at 40 weeks, which was significantly lower than that in the control OLETF rats (P< 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPlasma adiponectin level is positively correlated to insulin sensitivity in OLETF rats, in which LWDH pills can increase the plasma level of adiponectin and improve the status of insulin resistance.

Adiponectin ; blood ; Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Eating ; drug effects ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Insulin ; blood ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred OLETF ; Rats, Long-Evans

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of crypotanshinone (CPT) on the proliferation and apoptosis of DU145 prostate cancer cells as well as on the metadherin expression and the downstream PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in the DU145 cells.

METHODSWe treated DU145 prostate cancer cells with different concentrations of CPT for 24, 48, and 72 hours followed by evaluation of the proliferation and apoptosis of the cells by MTT assay and TUNEL, respectively. We determined the expressions of metadherin protein and mRNA in the DU145 cells by Western blot and RT-PCR respectively at different time points after CPT treatment. We also detected the expressions of the proteins metadherin, AKT, p-AKT, and Bcl-2 in the CPT-treated DU145 cells at 48 hours.

RESULTSCPT significantly inhibited the proliferation of the DU145 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner (P < 0.05). After treatment with 10 µmol/L CPT for 24, 48, and 72 hours, the apoptosis rates of the DU145 cells were (29.42 ± 4.51), (55.07 ± 5.67) and (70.84 ± 4.66)%, respectively, significantly higher than (3.1 ± 2.48)% in the control group (P < 0.05). The expression of metadherin was remarkably downregulated at the transcription and translation levels (P < 0.05) and the expressions of the AKT signaling pathway and the Bcl-2 protein were markedly inhibited in the DU145 cells after treated with 10 µmol/L CPT for 48 hours (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCPT can inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of DU145 prostate cancer cells, which may be associated with its suppression of the downstream PI3K/AKT signaling pathway by reducing the expression of metadherin in the DU145 cells.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; pharmacology ; Down-Regulation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Male ; Neoplasm Proteins ; metabolism ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Time Factors