BACKGROUND: Human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (hGM-CSF) is a kind of cytokine which can stimulate the differentiation and proliferation of haematopoictic precursor cells and plays an important role in the process of immunoloregulation. Escherichia coli (E.coli) expression system has advantages,such as low cost and high output, over other systems.Therefore, E.coli is still the most commonly used exogenous gene expression system.OBJECTIVE: To observe the expression of hGM-CSF in the E.coli swain DH5α.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The present observational experiment was performed at the Central Laboratory of Biotechnology Research,China Three Gorges University between February and June 2007. MATERIALS: Plasmid pBR322hGM-CSF was purchased from American Type Culture Collection, USA.hGM-CSF antibody was sourced from Sigma Company, USA.IPTG, X-gal,and vector pMGT-18 were purchased from Shanghai Bioengineering Technology Company, China. METHODS: Primer was designed according to hGM-CSF gene. Taking cloning vector plasmid pBR322-hGM-CSF as template, hGM-CSF gene was acquired and recombined into prokaryotic expression vector pGEX-4T-1. Recombinant plasmid confirmed by enzyme digestion and sequencing was transformed into E.coli strain DH5α and induced by isopropy-β-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG). Expression product was identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electropheresis (SDS-PAGE) and detected by Western blotting assay. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: hGM-CSF expression in the E.coli strain DH5α. RESULTS: SDS-PAGE results revealed that the recombinant hGM-CSF protein with relative molecular weight of 40 500 was produced up to approximately 17.9% of total protein. Western blotting detection results indicated that there was a 40 500 bp brand. CONCLUSION: The present study reconstructed prokaryotic expression vector pGEX-hGM-CSF, induced its expression in the E.coli strain DH5α, and obtained hGM-CSF fusion protein.

Objective To track the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy on neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischernic brain damage (HIBD).MethodsA total of 126 healthy,seven-day-old SD rats were used to model the HIBD and then randomly divided into seven groups of 18:a sham group,a hypoxic-ischemic (HI) group,a 6 h HBO group,a 24 h HBO group,a 48 h HBO group,a 72 h HBO group and a 1 week HBO group.One hour of HBO treatment at 2 atmospheres absolute pressure was administered once daily for a week to the rats in the latter 5groups,starting at 6,24,48,72 hours and 1 week post the HIBD modeling,while no HBO was administered to the sham and HI groups.The effects were assessed in terms of histological changes ( the neuron density and the percentage of neuron apoptosis in the CA1 region of the hippocampus) and nitric oxide (NO),malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxygen dismustase (SOD) concentrations after 15 days.ResultsIn the 6 h HBO,24 h HBO,48 h HBO and 72 h HBO groups,average neuron density in the CA1 region was significantly higher than in the HI group.But in the 1 week HBO group the average density was not significantly different than in the HI group.In the 6 h HBO,24 h HBO,48 h HBO and 72 h HBO groups the average percentage of neuron cell apoptosis in the CA1 area of the hippocampus was significantly lower than in the HI group,but the 1 week HBO group again showed no significant difference.There were significant differences in average NO,MDA or SOD levels among the 6 h HBO,24 h HBO,48 h HBO,72 h HBO and HI groups,but the 1 week HBO group showed no significantly higher average levels than the HI group.ConclusionsThe optimal therapeutic window for using HBO to protect against HIBD is within the first week.The best effect can be obtained in the first 6 hours,but after 1 week HBO no longer has a significant effect.The earlier the HBO is administered,the better the effect obtained.

To explore the correlation between the ecological factors and the contents of podophyllotoxin and total lignans in root and rhizome of Sinopodophyllum hexandrum, podophyllotoxin in 87 samples (from 5 provinces) was determined by HPLC and total lignans by UV. A correlation and regression analysis was made by software SPSS 16.0 in combination with ecological factors (terrain, soil and climate). The content determination results showed a great difference between podophyllotoxin and total lignans, attaining 1.001%-6.230% and 5.350%-16.34%, respective. The correlation and regression analysis by SPSS showed a positive linear correlation between their contents, strong positive correlation between their contents, latitude and annual average rainfall within the sampling area, weak negative correlation with pH value and organic material in soil, weaker and stronger positive correlations with soil potassium, weak negative correlation with slope and annual average temperature and weaker positive correlation between the podophyllotoxin content and soil potassium.
Berberidaceae ; chemistry ; China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Climate ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Ecosystem ; Lignans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Podophyllotoxin ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Soil ; chemistry ; Temperature

Objective To explore the clinical features and the gene mutations in MECP 2 duplication syndrome. Methods The clinical data of a child with developmental retardation and hypophrenia accompanied with respiratory tract infection was analyzed retrospectively. Microarray analysis technique was used to detect the genes in the patient and his family. The pertinent literature was reviewed. Results A 1-year and 7-month old boy was found to have hypotonia, developmental delay, and recurrent respiratory tract infections after birth. Microarray analysis showed a duplication of 441.88kb in Xq28 area and diagnosis of MECP2 duplication syndrome was confirmed. His grandmother, mother, and two aunts were found duplication of 441.73-441.88kb in Xq28 area, all of whom were MECP2’s female carrier. Conclusions The improvement of chromosome chip technology inspection is helpful to the early diagnosis of MECP2 duplication syndrome.

Objective To investigate the pregnancy outcomes of couples with either maternal or paternal balanced translocations.Methods One hundred and ninety-four couples were divided into three groups based on the kind of translocations:135 with reciprocal translocation,52 with nonhomologous Robertsonian translocations,and 7 with homologous Robertsonian translocations.Past reproductive histories were surveyed.For those who wanted to have their own babies by natural conceptions after knowing their karyotypes as well as the risks of abnormal offsprings,subsequent pregnancy outcomes were recorded.Total pregnancy outcomes were compared between three groups.Results(1)503 previous and subsequent pregnancies were recorded in detail.The pregnancy outcomes are as follows:spontaneous abortions 81.7% (411/503);induced terminations because of fetal abnormalities 3.2%(16/503);birth defects 7.2% (36/503);normal/balanced offsprings 8.0%(40/503).In reciprocal translocations,nonhomologous Robertsonian translocations and homologous Robertsonian translocations,the birth defects rates were 5.7% (20/350),10.9%(14/128)and 8.0%(2/25),respectively(P

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of formula of removing both phlegm and blood stasis (TYTZ) in inhibiting the inflammatory reaction in Chinese mini-swine with coronary atherosclerosis.

METHODTotally 36 Chinese mini-swine were randomly divided to six groups: the normal control group, the model group, the Shujiangzhi group and TYTZ groups with does of 2.0, 1.0 and 0.5 g x kg(-1), and six each in every group. Except for the normal control group, all of other groups were fed with high-fat diet for 2 weeks. Interventional balloons are adopted to injure their left anterior descending artery endothelium. After the operation, they were fed with high-fat diet for 8 weeks to prepare the coronary atherosclerosis model. In the 8th week after the operation and administration, the intravascular ultrasound was adopted to observe the coronary artery plaque burden of each group and the pathological morphology of coronary artery. Such inflammatory factors as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-6 were detected by ELISA. The expression of NF-kappaB p65 nuclear translocation was observed by the immunohistochemical method.

RESULTCompared with the normal control group, the model group showed significant increase in the coronary artery plaque burden at the end of the experiment (P < 0.01), notably abnormal structural changes in atherosclerotic vascular tissues, luminal stenosis, a large number of foam cells and inflammatory cell infiltration, remarkable growth of hs-CRP, TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels (P < 0.01). The immunohistochemical staining also showed the significant increase in the NF-kappaB p65 nuclear translocation of coronary artery of Chinese mini-swine in the model group. Compared with the model group, TYTZ could significantly attenuate atherosclerotic plaque burden (P < 0.01), inhibit the coronary luminal stenosis, reduce inflammatory cell infiltration, decrease such inflammatory cell factors as hs-CRP, TNF-alpha and IL-6 in serum, and inhibit the NF-kappaB p65 nuclear translocation of coronary artery (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONTYTZ can reduce the downstream inflammatory reaction by controlling NF-kappaB p65 nuclear translocation, so as to inhibit the occurrence and development of coronary atherosclerotic plaque in Chinese mini-swine.

Animals ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Coronary Artery Disease ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Female ; Inflammation ; complications ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Mucous Membrane ; drug effects ; secretion ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the gene mutation in the areas of pre core/core (Pre C/C) and basic core promotor (BCP) of HBV DNA and its clinical significance.

METHODSThe nt 1 735-1 965 segment of HBV DNA was amplified with PCR in 54 cases with chronic hepatitis B and 10 cases with post-hepatitis cirrhosis. Then the PCR product was sequenced.

RESULTSThere were 168 site mutations in 48.5% (33/68) cases with hepatitis B. The first ten mutation sites were nt 1 764 (58.8%), 1 762 (48.5%), 1 799 (21.0%), 1 766 (14.7%), 1 896 (13.2%), 1 754 (8.8%), 1 899 (8.8%), 1 768 (7.4%), 1 814 (7.4%) and 1 913 (7.4%). Three rare mutations of nt 1907, 1 922 and 1 923 were also detected. The mutations of nt 1 896, 1 764 and 1 762 were found in 16.7%, 35.2% and 35.2% of chronic hepatitis, and in 30.0%, 60.0% and 60.0% respectively of post-hepatitis cirrhosis cases. There was statistical significance between the two groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe mutations in the areas of Pre C/C and BCP of HBV DNA might possibly be associated with liver fibrosis. There are many mutation sites in HBV DNA and mutation occurs frequently, therefore gene sequencing is helpful to the design of gene chip and to clinical application.

DNA, Viral ; blood ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; pathology ; virology ; Humans ; Mutation ; Point Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

The aim of this study was to investigate the apoptosis-inducing effect of gambogic acid (GA) on Jurkat cells and its underlying signaling pathway. Apoptosis induced by GA and some inhibitors was assayed by Annexin V/PI doubling staining. The levels of caspase 3, caspase 8 and caspase 9 activated in living Jurkat cells were measured by flow cytometry. The expressions of caspase 3, caspase 9, p-JNK and P38 were detected by Western blot. The results showed that GA induced apoptosis of Jurkat cells in a dose-dependent manner. The positive cell number of activated caspase 3, caspase 8, caspase 9 and the levels of activated caspase 3, caspase 9, p-JNK, P38 increased after Jurkat cells were treated with GA. ROS, CaMKII, caspase 3, caspase 9, MAPKK, JNK1/2 and P38 inhibitors had some significant effect on GA-induced apoptosis. ROS, CaMKII, MAPKK, JNK1/2 and P38 inhibitors decreased the levels of activated caspase 3, caspase 9 by GA.ROS, CaMKII, MAPKK, JNK1/2 inhibitors decreased the levels of p-JNK by GA. ROS, CaMKII, MAPKK, P38 inhibitors decreased the levels of P38 by GA. It is concluded that GA induced apoptosis of Jurkat cells by activated caspases through activating of ROS-CaMKII-MAPKK-JNK/P38 pathway.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Caspase 9 ; metabolism ; Humans ; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Jurkat Cells ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; drug effects ; Xanthones ; pharmacology ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

Despite a few genes that do not encode ion channels have been identified as implicating some kinds of human idiopathic epilepsies(IE) in recent years, but genetic discoveries have shown the ion channels to play a central role in genetic pathomechanism of IE. The gene mutations of ion channels are a common cause of some rare monogenic IE which could be so-called as channelopathies, and able to be applied to account for the questioned epileptic syndrome to minority of families and sporadic cases. However, more frustrating has been from the genetic research on more common IE with complex inheritance due to the unknown mode of inheritance, the phenotypic heterogeneity and the uncertainty of genetic overlap among syndrome subtypes, which have limited gene mapping. Absence epilepsy is a kind of common IE subtype and shows a complex way to inherit. Evidences from heredity investigation indicate that eleven genes are correlated with absence epilepsy, of which four encode the neuronal calcium channel subunits. Therefore, calcium channel genes may be considered as important candidates for involving in absence epilepsy. To focus the genetics research on calcium channel genes of absence epilepsy may be opening an optimal gate to the pathogenetic study of more common IE with complex inheritance, and benefit to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of absence epilepsy finally, one of the more common IE subtypes with complex inheritance.
Calcium ; metabolism ; Calcium Channels ; genetics ; physiology ; Epilepsy, Absence ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Humans ; Models, Biological

Objective To investigate the prevalence rates of the different subtypes of hypertension and related risk factors in adults from Tianjin.Methods With multi-stage randomized cluster sampling method,20 346 people aged 18 years and over were selected from both urban and rural areas of six geographical regions in Tianjin in 2006.A cross-sectional study was conducted.The prevalence rate of isolated systolic hypertension (ISH),isolated diastolic hypertension (IDH),systolic and diastolic hypertension (SDH) and associated risk factors were analyzed with SPSS 17.0 software.Results The prevalence rates of hypertension in adults of Tianjin were 7.16% for ISH (standardized rate was 5.33%),7.09% for IDH (standardized rate was 6.50%),and 13.61% for SDH (standardized rate was 9.94%) respectively.The ISH prevalence rate was lower than that of national rate of 7.6%,but the prevalence rates of IDH and SDH were higher than that of national rates of 4.4% and 7.4% respectively.The results from logistic regression model analyses indicated that the odds ratio (ORs) for combined risk factors of ISH,IDH and SDH in Tianjin that associated with factors as:lower level of education,living in rural areas were 1.291 (95%CI:1.114-1.497),1.790 (95%CI:1.533-2.091) and 2.117(95%CI:1.879-2.386) respectively;ageing were 1.080(95%CI:1.073-1.086),1.015(95%CI:1.010-1.020) and 1.055(95%CI:1.050-1.060) respectively;alcohol assumption were 1.244(95%CI:1.036-1.492),1.199(95%CI:1.024-1.404) and 1.532(95%CI:1.345-1.744) respectively;overweight were 1.560 (95% CI:1.358-1.792),1.634 (95% CI:1.429-1.869) and 2.104 (95% CI:1.890-2.342) respectively;obesity were 2.216 (95%CI:1.861-2.640),3.125 (95%CI:2.658-3.674) and 3.852 (95% CI:3.383-4.385) respectively;impaired fasting glucose were 1.666 (95% CI:1.327-2.092),1.440 (95% CI:1.126-1.841) and 1.872 (95% CI:1.572-2.230) respectively.Conclusion The prevalence rate of the different subtypes of hypertension was quite high in the population of Tianjin city and different measurements on prevention and treatment should be taken according to different subtypes of hypertension.