Since 2000,most of H5N1 subtype influenza A virus had a unique mutation of NS gene with 15base pair deletion from 263 to 277. In order to investigate the bio-characteristics of this mutation,two different NS recombinants,RWSN-248 and RWSN-m248,were generated via plasmid rescue from A/WSN/33(H1N1) and A/SD/04(H5N1). RWSN-248 had a higher viral titer than RWSN-m248 in MDCK and COS-1 cells that have an IFN response,but they had the similar growth ability in Vero cells that lack an IFN response. Both of two recombinants grew well in embryonated chicken eggs and had the similar viral titer and MDT. The results above revealed that the deletion from 263 to 277 sites of NS gene did not influence viral virulence to but decreased viral anti-IFN ability of H5N1.

Objective To explore the impacts of Danhong injection on physiological and biochemical indicators in malnourished mice at physiological low doses, evaluate its safety, and test the practical value of safety re-evaluation of Traditional Chinese Medicinal ( TCM) injections. Methods A total of 32 ICR mice during growth period were selected to set up corn deficient nutrition mice model. Mice were assigned into the normal control group (given 0. 9% saline), Danhong injection at low, medium and high dosages (0. 2, 0. 4 and 0. 6 mL) groups (n=8 in each group);Mice were administered with respective medications intraperitoneally for 7 consecutive days. Blood samples were taken and mice were executed on the 8th day. All 9 kinds of organ or tissue were obtained completely, to measure related physiological and serum biochemical parameters. The safety of Danhong injection was evaluated by using Benefit and Damage Index - General Score ( BDI-GS ) system. Results The Danhong injection showed only slight damages on major organs or tissues, the BDI values were all above 0. 85, and the GS values were all above 9. 0;BDI values for Danhong injection at different dosages were all above 1. 0 for spleen and pancreas, showing better replenishing and healthy effects, and the differences were of statistical significance compared with the normal control group (P<0. 05 or P<0. 01). Meanwhile, it exerted obviously hypoglycemic effect. Conclusion Danhong injection is of rather low risk under physiological dosages, and therefore is safe to use. The mal-nutrition model combined with the BDI-GS system may be developed as a novel approach for safety re-evaluation of TCM injection in clinic.

OBJECTIVETo study the molecular mechanism of curcumin in human esophageal carcinoma cell line (EC109).

METHODSEC109 cells were cultivated in vitro. When 80%-90% confluence was reached, they were treated with curcumin in different concentrations (15-120 µmol/L). The effects on cell proliferation were examined by CCK-8 colorimetry. The ultrastructure of EC109 cells were detected with transmission electron microscope(TEM). The cells apoptosis was observed with laser confocal microscope(LCM) by AnnexinV-FITC/PI double staining. The proteins level of PTEN, AKT, GSK3β and Caspase 3 were tested by flow cytometry(FCM) .

RESULTSCCK-8 test showed that curcumin could inhibit the proliferation of EC109 cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. TEM and LCM examinations indicated that curcumin could make EC109 cells apoptosis. The data of FCM showed that curcumin could increase the expression of PTEN, GSK3β and Caspase 3, decreased the expression of AKT.

CONCLUSIONThe effects of curcumin on inhibiting proliferation and promoting apoptosis of EC109 cells were related with increased expression of PTEN and inhibition of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Apoptosis ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; metabolism ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Humans ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase ; metabolism ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction

The high-copy-number plasmid pcDNA3.1+ is unstable within S almonella typhimurium. A novel plasmid pmcDNA3.1+ was constructed by removin g the promoter sequence of ampicillin resistance gene (bla gene) in plasmid pcDNA3.1+. In contrast to pcDNA3.1+, pmcDNA3.1+ was stable within Salmonel la typhimurium SL7207 in LB medium with or without ampicillin. Further experi ments showed the ?-lactamase activity of Salmonella typhimurium SL7207(pmc DNA3.1+) was apparently lowered than that of Salmonella typhimurium SL7207( pcDNA3.1+) and the high ampicillin concentration was maintained longer in LB me dium culturing Salmonella typhimurium SL7207(pmcDNA3.1+). When mice were a dministered with Salmonella typhimurium SL7207(pmcDNA3.1+) intraperitoneall y, more than 95% of Salmonella cells separated from the spleen still harbore d the plasmid pmcDNA3.1+ 7 days later; but 99% of Salmonella cells lost the plasmid pcDNA3.1+ at day 3 in mice innoculated with Salmonella typhimurium SL7207(pcDNA3.1+). By lowering the expression of bla gene, the rapid deco mposition of ampicillin in LB medium was avoided and the metabolic pressure was relieved for the host cells. This method offers a solution for the problem of t he instability of high-copy-number plasmid within Salmonella typhimurium.

Objective To explore the effects of stimulating vagus nerve with pulse current on peripheral blood CD4+T lymphocyte of rats with collagen induced arthritis and its mechanism.Methods To duplicate model rats of experimental arthritis(EA)by intradermal injection of Ⅱtype collagen,divide the rats into 2 groups:vagus nerve stimulation(VNS)group and sham operated group.Rats in VNS group were stimulated at the left cervical vagus nerves for 30 minutes a day with constant square wave,pulse current with intra train of 16 Hz,pulse duration of 1.0 ms,train duration of 10 s,interstimulus interval of 1.5 min and intensities of 3.0 mA.Then flow cytometry and immunofluorescence methods were used to detect the activation of CD4+T lymphocytes(expressing CD71)and the expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors alpha 7(nAChR?7)and choline acetyltransferase(ChAT)in peripheral blood CD4+T lymphocytes.Results In VNS group,the expression of nAChR?7 and ChAT were significantly raised in CD4+ T cells at 1st weekend(Pa

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibition effect of curcumin on the proliferation of the human esophageal carcinoma cell line Ec109 and its impact on PEN/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

METHODSEsophageal carcinoma Ec109 cells were cultured in vitro conventionally and were treated with curcumin at different concentrations. The cell proliferation level was examined by MIT colorimetry, the ultrastructure of curcumin-treated Ec109 cells were detected with transmission electron microscope (TEM) and cell apoptosis was observed by FCM with AnnexinV-FITC/PI double staining. The protein levels of PTEN, Akt, GSK3P and Caspase 3 of curcumin-treated Ec109 cells were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSMTT test showed that curcumin could inhibit the proliferation of Ec109 cells in a time and concentration-dependent manner. TEM examination indicated that curcumin could induce Ec109 cell apoptosis. FCM detection showed that Ec109 cell apoptotic rate increased significantly with the increase of drug concentration. On the other hand, curcumin could promote the expression of PTEN, GSK3beta and Caspase 3 yet reduce the expression of Akt.

CONCLUSIONCurcumin could obviously up-regulate the expression of PTEN, GSK3beta and Caspase 3, surpress PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and hence inhibit the proliferation of Ec109 cells.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; metabolism ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Humans ; Oncogene Protein v-akt ; metabolism ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase ; metabolism ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

Objective To determine the expression of membrane-bound B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) protein and its mRNA in vitro of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE),and to investigate the role of interferon-?(IFN-?) on the expression of BLyS.Methods PBMCs were obtained from 25 SLE patients (mean age of 31+14) and 20 healthy volunteers (mean age of 28?10).They were randomized into IFN-?(5 ng/ml) group and control group.PBMCs were col- lected at 0,6,12 and 24 h for BLyS mRNA assessment using semi-quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR).PBMCs were also collected at 72 h for membrane-bound BLyS protein detection using flow cy- tometry (FACS) and direct immunofluorescence.Results①The expression of BLyS mRNA and membrane- bound protein in PBMCs was significantly higher in individuals with SLE compared with healthy controls (P＜0.05);②IFN-?enhanced BLyS mRNA expression in PBMCs in both healthy controls and SLE patients,with the greatest effect at 6 h (stimulated vs unstimulated,0.42?0.19 vs 0.25?0.14,P＜0.01;0.59?0.28 vs 0.44?0.21,P＜0.01 );③IFN-?also increased the expression of membrane-bound BLyS protein in both healthy con- trols and individuals with SLE (FACs,mean fluorescence intensity,4.5+3.0 vs 3.7~2.6,P

OBJECTIVETo investigate hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection among pigs in Henan province.

METHODSA total of 623 swine sera, collected from 5 districts, were divided into two groups, under 3-month of age and over 3-month of age. They were tested for HEV antigen and antibody by using ELISAs, respectively. The sera positive for HEV antigen were tested for HEV RNA with RT-PCR. The positive products of RT-PCR were cloned and sequenced.

RESULTSThe positive rates of anti-HEV antibody of the groups under 3-month and over 3-month of age were 90.27% and 92.55%, respectively, without statistical difference, while those of HEV antigen were 15.93% and 5.69%, respectively, with significant difference. The positive rates of anti-HEV antibody and HEV antigen were significantly different among different districts. HEV RNA was detectable in 5 of 47 HEV antigen positive samples. The sequence analysis showed that in 4 of 5 specimens the sequence belonged to genotype 4 while in the remaining one the sequence was genotype 1.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence rate of HEV infection in pigs was high in Henan province and the rate differed in different districts.

Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; analysis ; immunology ; Antigens, Viral ; analysis ; immunology ; China ; Genotype ; Hepatitis E ; epidemiology ; immunology ; veterinary ; virology ; Hepatitis E virus ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Viral ; analysis ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Swine ; virology ; Swine Diseases ; epidemiology ; immunology ; virology

OBJECTIVETo determine there was excessive risk of malignant tumors or not among workers exposure to chrysotile fiber alone by applying a meta-analysis technique.

METHODSAll data meeting the criteria of cohort studies on cancer mortality among workers exposed only to chrysotile would incorporate into the meta-analysis. The pooled standardized mortality ratios (SMR) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for main cancer sites were calculated using two approaches of unweighted ratio and random effects model. The heterogeneity and its sources of the results were examined with a Q-statistic and Z-score test.

RESULTS26 chrysotile-exposed alone cohorts were summarized. The significantly elevated meta-SMRs for all deaths (1.28), all cancers (1.26), cancers of respiratory organs (2.24), cancer of lung (2.29) and cancer of stomach (1.27) were observed. The significantly elevated meta-SMRs for lung cancer within occupational strata were observed among textile workers (3.64), asbestos products manufacturers (3.07), miners and millers (2.24), cement products workers (1.22), and for stomach cancer among asbestos products manufacturers (1.48). Meta-SMRs for cancers at other sites were not significant.

CONCLUSIONThere were excessive risks of lung cancer and mesothelioma among workers exposure to chrysotile fiber alone, and likely no convincing indication of an etiological association between chrysotile exposure and cancers at other sites.

Asbestos ; poisoning ; Asbestos, Serpentine ; poisoning ; Cohort Studies ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; etiology ; mortality ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Respiratory Tract Neoplasms ; etiology ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo analyze the tendency in the incidence of malignant tumors in nutrition-intervened population of Lin County.

METHODSSubjects who had been enrolled in the General Population Trial, Lin County Nutrition Intervention Trial were followed up and the data of malignant tumors were collected with collaboration of National Cancer Institute/National Institute of Health. Incidences of malignant tumors during and after nutrition intervention were calculated and compared.

RESULTSEsophageal cancer, cardiac cancer, and stomach cancer were constantly the three leading cancers, accounting for 84.06% and 83.74% of the malignant tumors in men and women, respectively. The incidences of lung cancer and liver cancer in men showed increasing tendencies, while similar tendencies were found in those of stomach cancer, colorectal cancer, and liver cancer in women. With the prolonging of the follow-up, the incidences of upper digestive tract cancers declined (except stomach cancer in women).

CONCLUSIONSThe upper digestive tract cancers remain the leading malignant tumors, although their incidences may decline with longer-term follow-up. Prevention and control of tumors in Lin County should still be focused on the esophageal cancer, cardiac cancer, and stomach cancer, as well as lung cancer and liver cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Diet ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors