Objective To investigate the fuction of tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-?),interleukin-1 beta(IL-1?) and interleukin-6(IL-6) in children with intracranial infection.Methods TNF-?,IL-1? and IL-6 levels of serum and cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) were determined in the purulent meningitis group(25 cases),tuberculous meningitis group(17 cases),viral meningitis group(30 cases)and control group(20 cases)by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results The levels of TNF-?,IL-1? and IL-6 obviously increased in CSF compared with that in the serum (Pa

Objective The aim of this study is to investigate the role of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)gene susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)by familial studies.Methods PCR-based re- striction fragment length polymorphism(RFLP)was applied to genotype single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP) G261T of the ACE gene.A total of 119 patients with SLE from 119 families were recruited.In addition,316 family members of these patients were also genotyped.A family-based association study was carried out to ex- plore the association between gene polymorphism and SLE.We studied the SNP encoding non-synonymous substitution in the ACE gene with respect to genetic susceptibility to SLE.Results Among 119 SLE patients. the frequency of ACEG261TG,T alleles was 44.8%.55.2% respectively,the frequency of ACEG261T GG,GT and TT genotypes was 13.9%,62.0%,24.1% respectively,Univariate(single-marker)family-based association test(FBAT)demonstrated that variant alleles at the SNP,rs4303,exon 5 of ACE gene were significantly asso- ciated with genetic susceptibility to SLE in Additive Model(Z=2.877,P=0.004),Dominant Model(Z=2.557, P=0.011).Recessive Model(Z=2.202,P=0.028).Transmission-disequilibrium test(TDT)and sib transmission -disequilibrium test(STDT)showed an excess of the allele of T from heterozygous parents to affected offspring or higher frequency of the allele of T in the patients than their normal siblings(X~2=11.66,P=0.001).Conclu- sion Our findings suggest that the ACE gene may he the susceptible gene to SLE in Chinese population,and the individuals carrying ACE-261T allele is significantly associated with susceptibility to SLE.

Long-term excessive iodine intake resulted in an increased TT_4 level and a decreased TT_3 level in maternal serum,meanwhile,hepatic and renal type 1 deiodinase activity decreased dose-dependently.A significant reduction in type 2 deiodinase ( D2 ) activity of 12.5 d placenta was found in 3.0 mg/L or above groups.For 19.5 d uterus,D2 activity decreased and type 3 deiodinase activity increased.The results suggest that excessive iodine has an effect on the embryonic development by regulating maternal-fetal thyroid hormone metabolism.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Ankle Injuries ; surgery ; Female ; Foot Injuries ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; surgery ; Surgical Flaps

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of metoprolol on electrophysiology of ischemic and anoxic myocardium in diabetic rats.

METHODSForty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into 4 groups: diabetes group; diabetes and ablation of left sympathetic nerve group; diabetes and metoprolol group and sham group. The diabetes model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 60 mg/kg). The ventricular diastolic effective threshold (DET), effective refractive period (ERP), and Ventricular fibrillation threshold (VFT) were measured. The serum concentration of nerve growth factor (NGF) was measured.

RESULTSMetoprolol increased DET of ischemic and anoxic myocardium in diabetic rats. The ablation of the left sympathetic nerve increased VFT of diabetic rats. VFT in metoprolo group was significantly increased compared to diabetes group after ischemia. The concentrations of NGF in diabetic group and metoprolol group were higher than those in sham group. There were no difference in NGF levels between ablation of left sympathetic nerve group and sham group.

CONCLUSIONThe remodeling of sympathetic nerve affects the electrophysiology of ischemic myocardium of diabetic rats. Metoprolol can increase the VFT and decrease the excitation threshold of the ischemic myocardium in diabetic rats.

Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; physiopathology ; Heart ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Male ; Metoprolol ; pharmacology ; Myocardial Ischemia ; physiopathology ; Nerve Growth Factor ; blood ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sympathectomy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the apoptosis-inducing effect of Ent-11α-hydroxy-15-oxo-kaur-16-en-19-oic-acid (5F), a compound isolated from Pteris semipinnata L (PsL), on human gastric cancer SGC7901 cells and explore its mechanism.

METHODSThe inhibitory effect of 5F on SGC7901 cells was observed by MTT assay and flow cytometry, and the changes of the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in SGC7901 cells following 5F exposure were evaluated by Western blot analysis.

RESULTS5F inhibited the proliferation of SGC7901 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, and the cell apoptosis induced by 5F was confirmed by Annexin V-EGFP staining and caspase-3 activation assay. The cell apoptosis induced by 5F was associated with decreased Bcl-2 and increased Bax expressions.

CONCLUSION5F exposure induces apoptosis in SGC7901 cells by activating mitochondrial apoptotic pathways.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Diterpenes ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Pteris ; chemistry ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting Apollon in enhancing the chemosensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells in vitro.

METHODSHCC cells transfected with the siRNA targeting Apollon were tested for Apollon protein expression using Western blotting. MTT assay and ELISA were used to evaluate the proliferation and apoptosis of HCC cells transfected with siRNA after exposure to 5-FU or adriamycin.

RESULTSApollon siRNA obviously down-regulated Apollon protein expression in HCC cells. The siRNA-mediated suppression of Apollon expression resulted in a marked inhibition of cell growth and increased apoptotic rate of HCC cells, and enhanced both the growth-inhibiting and apoptosis-inducing effects of the chemotherapeutic drugs.

CONCLUSIONApollon siRNA can enhance the chemosensitivity of HCC cells to the chemotherapeutic drugs. Apollon can be a potentially important and feasible therapeutic target for HCC.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Apoptosis ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo observe the urinary S-phenylmercapturic acid (S-PMA) variation in the benzene dynamic exposed rat models and benzene exposed workers, and study the feasibility of use of urinary S-PMA as the biomarker in benzene exposed.

METHODSIn an animal model study, forty-eight adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: the control group, low-dose group, middle-dose group and high-dose group. The exposed groups were dynamically exposed for 28 days (4 periods) by benzene and the concentration was monitored. The urine was immediately collected after every exposure period and detected by the liquid chromatographic/mass spectrometry methods. In a cohort study, eighty benzene exposed workers in a ship-yard in Guangzhou were selected as the exposed subjects while forty healthy officers in the same shipyard who were not occupationally exposed to benzene were treated as the control. The urine was collected after work shift. The urinary S-PMA and the benzene in the workplace was treated as the rat model.

RESULTSIn the animal model study, the urinary S-PMA increased along with the environment benzene in every period and had significantly difference in the different exposed groups (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), but did not change along with the exposed time course (P > 0.05). In the cohort study, the urinary S-PMA in the high-dose group [(27.2 +/- 7.9)microg/L] was significantly higher than the low-dose group [(13.6 +/- 3.4)microg/L] (P < 0.01). Otherwise, the background of urinary S-PMA was lower than 5microg/L in both workers and rat models.

CONCLUSIONThe urinary S-PMA can be proposed as a sensitive biomarker of occupational benzene exposure.

Acetylcysteine ; analogs & derivatives ; urine ; Adult ; Animals ; Benzene ; administration & dosage ; toxicity ; Environmental Exposure ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the association of blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) IgG contents and the severity of craniocerebral injury.

METHODSTotalling 143 patients with craniocerebral injury were divided into 3 groups according Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores, namely the mild injury group with GCS score of 12-15 (n=41), moderate injury group with GCS score of 9-11 (n=71) and severe injury group (GCS score 3-8, n=32). Another 9 patients with congenital hydrocephalus were also recruited as the control group. The CSF and blood samples were collected from these patients to measure the IgG contents 4 and 14 days and 1, 2, and 6 months after the injury, respectively. Physical disabilities of the patients were estimated with Rappaport's disability rating scale (DRS), whose correlations with CSF and blood IgG contents were analyzed.

RESULTSIn the early stage of moderate to severe brain injury, the IgG content was lowered significantly in the blood but increased in CSF as compared with the control patients (P<0.05), and the changes in CSF and blood IgG displayed a significant correlation with the severity of the injury (r=0.950, P<0.01). During the recovery of severe brain injury, DRS score was in inverse correlation with blood IgG content but in positive correlation with CSF IgG content (Spearman's correlation coefficient of 0.800, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONIn the early stage of brain injury, detection of blood IgG content may help with the assessment of the injury severity. During the recovery of the injury, dynamic monitoring of blood and CSF IgG contents provides clues of the outcome of the patients and benefit the modification of the treatment plan.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Brain Injuries ; immunology ; pathology ; Female ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis

Adolescent ; Adult ; Athletic Performance ; psychology ; Back ; physiology ; Electromyography ; Exercise ; physiology ; Humans ; Imagery (Psychotherapy) ; Male ; Young Adult