OBJECTIVETo establish a method for determination of N-isopropylaniline in the workplace atmosphere by gas chromatography.

METHODSAir samples were collected by silica gel tube and desorbed by acetone. Then they were separated through DB-WAX columns and N-isopropylaniline was determined by flame ionization detector.

RESULTSThe concentration of N-isopropylaniline showed a good linear relationship within the range of 1.40∼665.0 µg/ml. The sampling efficiency was 100%. The accuracy was 96%∼ 99% and the precision was 2.1%∼7.0%. The minimum detectable concentration was 0.056 mg/m(3) (with sampled air volume of 7.5 L).

CONCLUSIONThe method meets the requirements of analysis and applies to the determination of N-isopropylaniline in the workplace atmosphere.

Air ; analysis ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Aniline Compounds ; analysis ; Chromatography, Gas ; methods ; Workplace

Objective:To evaluate the value of CT angiography (CTA) in the assessment of risk factors for rupture of intracranial aneurysm (IA).Methods:The clinical and CT imaging data of 46 patients with IA in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College from January 2018 to June 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The morphological parameters of aneurysm were analyzed by CTA post-processing images: aneurysm number, site, morphology, maximum diameter, height/neck width, maximum diameter/parent artery proximal diameter, aneurysm incidence angle. The morphological risk factors of aneurysm rupture were evaluated by univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis. We used receiver operating characteristics curve (ROC) to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy in predicting aneurysm rupture.Results:A total of 58 aneurysms were detected by CTA, 30 ruptured aneurysms and 28 unruptured aneurysms. There was no statistically significant difference in gender and age between patients with ruptured and unruptured aneurysms ( P>0.05). In the morphological parameters of ruptured and unruptured aneurysms, there were no statistically significant differences in the number, site and height/neck width of aneurysms ( P>0.05), while there were statistically significant differences in aneurysm morphology, maximum diameter, maximum diameter/parent artery proximal diameter and aneurysm incidence angle ( P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that maximum diameter/parent artery proximal diameter and aneurysm incidence angle were independent risk factors for aneurysm rupture ( P<0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that when the maximum diameter of the tumor / the diameter of the proximal carrying artery >1.985, the area under the curve was 0.748, and the sensitivity and specificity were 76.7% and 64.3%, respectively; When the incidence angle of blood flow was >117.5°, the area under the curve was 0.673, and the sensitivity and specificity were 53.3% and 75.0% respectively. Conclusions:The maximum diameter/parent artery proximal diameter >1.985 and the aneurysm incidence angle >117.5° are independent risk factors for aneurysm rupture.

OBJECTIVETo develop a novel colorimetric method for detecting the tumor biomarker vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) based on aptamer and magnetic beads.

METHODSThe capture aptamer was hybridized to urease functionalized single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and immobilize on the surface of magnetic beads by specific biotin-avidin binding. In the presence of VEGF, aptamers bound to VEGF to form a specific stem-loop structure to release the urease functionalized ssDNA. After separation, the supernatant was transferred to a tube and urea and phenol red were added. Urease hydrolyzed urea to produce ammonia to cause an increase of the pH value and a color change of phenol red. The results were inspected with either the naked eyes or by a UV spectrophotometer.

RESULTSUnder optimized conditions, the detection system showed a good linear relationship for VEGF detection in the range of 0.1 to 10 pmol/L with a detection limit as low as 0.06 pmol/L. The results of VEGF detection in the serum of patients with lung cancer were consistent with those using an ELISA Kit. The results of examination of 10 serum samples with this aptamer-based method and ELISA kit showed that the accuracy of this method was 90%.

CONCLUSIONThis aptamer-based system provides an simple and convenient method for VEGF detection with a high sensitivity and selectivity.

Aptamers, Nucleotide ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Colorimetry ; DNA, Single-Stranded ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; analysis

Objective To study the relationship between the initial expression level of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and the treatment outcome in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). And to evaluate if the initial expression level of GR could be the prognostic factor for children with ALL.Methods Anti-GR-antibody was used to measure the GR expression level in the bone marrow samples from 48 newly diagnosed children with ALL with flow cytometry. Also the GR expression levels in the patients at complete remission were mea-sured. Fifteen randonmized samples from ALL patients in continuous complete remission (CCR) were measured in this study. The GR expre-ssion levels of 30 blood samples from children in control group were monitored. Results The initial GR expression level had no association with the results after therapy. The GR expression level in CR and CCR had no statistic difference compared with that in control group.Conclusions It is not clear yet if the initial GR expression level could be the prognostic factor in children with ALL. Monitoring dynamic changes of the GR expression level in children with ALL seems to be of no remarkable significance.

OBJECTIVETo perform a genome-wide alternative polyadenylation (APA) profiling in both mouse female germline stem cells (FGSCs) and embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and explore the role of germline-specific APA in the biological behaviors of FGSCs.

METHODSWe used a high-throughput sequencing-based method 3T-Seq to profile the genome-wide 3' termini of the transcripts and delineate all the APA sites in mouse FGSCs and ESCs. The genes with altered APA sites in FGSCs compared with ESCs were analyzed with DAVID Gene Ontology tool for their biological roles.

RESULTSWe identified a total of 50243 APA sites in 16973 genes. In FGSCs, 1148 genes were shown to have alterations in 3'UTR length, among which 795 ( 66%) genes had shortened and 353 (34%) had lengthened 3'UTR. Some of the genes with shortened 3'UTR were involved in germ cell development.

CONCLUSIONSOur genome-wide APA profiling analysis reveals a cell type-specific APA alternation in FGSCs, and APA-mediated 3'UTR alteration contributes to germline-related biological process. This study provides a framework for understanding the post-transcriptional regulation mechanisms in FGSCs.

3' Untranslated Regions ; Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Embryonic Germ Cells ; metabolism ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genome ; Mice ; Polyadenylation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibitory effect of high concentration insulin on K562 cell proliferation and its underlying mechanism.

METHODSK562 cells were treated by different concentration of insulin and/or anti-IGF-1R antibody (IGF-1R-Ab), MTT assay and flow cytometry were used to detect the K562 cells proliferation and apoptosis, respectivety; Western blot was used to measure the expression and phosphorylation level of IGE-IR, Akt, Erk1/2 in K562 cells under the different concentration of insulin.

RESULTSMTT assay showed that less than 40 mU/ml insulin could promote K562 cell proliferation, while high concentration (> 40 mU/ml) insulin has been shown to inhibit K562 cell proliferation; Flow cytometry showed that 40 mU/ml insulin suppressed K562 cell apoptosis (P < 0.05), while 200 mU/ml insulin could significantly induce K562 cell apoptosis (P < 0.01); 0.01 to 1.0 µg/ml IGF-1R-Ab has significantly enhanced the inhibitory and inducing effects of high concentration (> 40 mU/ml) of insulin on K562 cell proliferation and apoptosis respectively (r = 0.962, P < 0.001); Western blot showed that after K562 cells were treated with different concentrations of insulin ERK, and the p-ERK expression did not change significantly, after K562 cells were treated with 200 mU/ml insulin, the expression of IGF-1R and AKT also not were changed obviously, while the phosphorylation level of IGF-1R and AKT increased.

CONCLUSIONHigh concentration (>40 mU/ml) of insulin inhibits K562 cell proliferation and induces its apoptosis, and its mechanism may be related with the binding IGF-1R by insulin, competitively inhibiting the binding of IGF-1 and IGF-1R, the blocking the transduction of PI3K/AKT signal pathway.

Antibodies ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Culture Media ; chemistry ; Humans ; Insulin ; pharmacology ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; K562 Cells ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; metabolism ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Receptors, Somatomedin ; immunology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical characteristics and regular patterns of subacute 1, 2-dichloroethane poisoning patients for providing evidences to it's diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.

METHODS51 cases of subacute 1, 2-dichloroethane poisoning analyzed. They were divided into 3 groups according to their main clinical manifestation: group A mainly with intracranial hypertension (n = 25), group B with limbs tremor (n = 18), group C with mental and behavior disorder (n = 8). All cases' clinical symptoms, cranial computer tomography, cerebrospinal pressure (Group A) were observed, the durations of the onset, deterioration, improvement, recovery and whole course of the disease were compared between groups and in each group.

RESULTSIn all of 51 cases, only the differences between the deterioration duration of cranial CT and symptom was significantly (t = 2.555, P<0.05), which indicate the deterioration of symptom was earlier than radiological change. The symptom deterioration of group C was the fastest than group A and group B (P<0.00). As to the change of symptom duration, group B's improvement, recovery and whole course was the longest comparing with group A and group C (P<0.05). As to the change of cranial CT duration, group B's recovery duration was the shortest and group A's recovery duration was the longest (P<0.01); group B's whole course was also the shortest and group A's whole course was the longest (P<0.05). The clinical course of symptoms, cranial computer tomography, cerebrospinal pressure (Group A) was compared in each group, in group A, the duration of improvement and whole course of the cranial CT and cerebrospinal pressure change was longer than that of the symptom change (P<0.01), this indicated that group A has longer asymptomatic intracranial hypertension and their cranial radiography recover slowly. In group B, their symptoms (3.94 ± 4.31 days) deteriorated is earlier than cranial CT changes (P<0.05), the recovery (92.39 ± 55.04 days) and whole course of symptom was longer than cranial CT change (all P<0.01). In group C, symptom deterioration was earlier than CT deterioration (P< 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe clinical characteristic of subacute 1, 2- dichloroethane poisoning is central nervous system damage, it differs according to the different stage of course, the regions and severity of pathology lesions.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure ; Disease Progression ; Ethylene Dichlorides ; poisoning ; Humans ; Intracranial Hypertension ; Mental Disorders ; Poisoning ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Prognosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tremor

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of 2-methoxyestradiol (2-ME2) on apoptosis of human acute T lymphoblastic leukemia cells, and its underlying mechanism.

METHODSThe growth inhibition of CEM cells was detected by MTT assay; apoptotic cells were detected by DNA laddering analysis; the expressions of P53 mRNA and protein were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot respectively.

RESULTS2-ME2 remarkably inhibited the CEM cell growth and the 50% growth inhibitory concentration (IC50) at 48 h was 2 µmol/L. The DNA ladder could be detected in CEM cells after treating with 2 µmol/L 2-ME2 for 24, 48 and 72 hours; after treating with 2 µmol/L 2-ME2 for 24, 48 and 72 hours, a time-dependent reduction of P53 mRNA and protein expressions was found in CEM cells.

CONCLUSIONThe anti-leukemia effect of 2-ME2 is completed through the induction of cell apoptosis. Down-regulation of P53 gene expression may be an underlying mechanism.

Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Down-Regulation ; Estradiol ; analogs & derivatives ; Genes, p53 ; Humans ; Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma

OBJECTIVETo investigate the curative effect and safety of decitabine combined with IAG regimen for treating senile MDS-transformed AML patients.

METHODSTwo cases of senile MDS-transformed AML were treated with decitabine combined with IAG regimen (decitabine 25 mg/d,qd,ivgtt,d1-5,Idarubicin 10 mg/d,qd,ivgtt,d6,Ara-C 10 mg/m,q12h, sc,d 6-19,G-CSF 300 µg,qd,ih,d6-19). The efficacy and adverse reactions were observed in these cases.

RESULTS1 case for 2 courses and 1 case for 1 course obtained complete remission(CR). The myelosuppression and infections due to neutropenia were the most frequent adverse effects, the severe nonhematologic toxicity, such as liver and kidney and gastrointestinal reactions, were not observed in these patients.

CONCLUSIONDecitabine combined with IAG regimen is an effective for treating senile MDS-transformed AML patients.

OBJECTIVETo explore the expression and promoter CpG island methylation status of miR-34b in leukemia cell lines and their clinical significance.

METHODSA total of 10 cases of non-hematologic diseases were selected as control group, and the bone marrow cells of control group and HL-60, K562 cells were selected; the relative expression of miR-34b was detected in bone marrow cells, HL-60 and K562 cell lines by fluorescence quantitative PCR, and the MiR-34b methylation status was detected by methylation-specific PCR, the HL-60 and K562 cell lines were treated with decitabine, and the expression levels and methylation status of miR-34b in the 2 cell lines were detected by the same method. Has-miR-34b was transfected into K562 cells, which were divided into non-transfection group, negative control group and Has-miR-34b transfection group; if the transfection was successful, the cell proliferation should be recorded at different time points of culture, and the proliferation inhibition rate should be calculated.

RESULTSThe relative expression level of miR-34b in the control group was (5.23 ± 0.75), in HL-60 was (0.05 ± 0.01) and in K562 was (0.04 ± 0.01). The difference between 3 groups was statistically significant (F = 44.812, P < 0.01). The promoter regions of CpG island in HL-60 and K562 cell lines were methylated, while the bone marrow cells were not methylated in 10 cases of non hematologic diseases children.Through miR-34b expression levels of HL-60 and K562 cell lines significantly increased by decitabine treatment (P < 0.05), and the methylation of leukemia cell line promoter region CpG island was found before and after decitabine treatment, but after administration of decitabine the methylation significantly decreased, suggesting that decitabine has an inhibitory effect on methylation of promoter region CpG island. After being cultured for 48, 72, 96 and 120 hrs, the cell proliferation in Has-miR-34b transfection group reached to 24.8%, 46.7%, 33.6% and 4.7%, repectively, and significantly lower than that in non transfection group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCpG island methylation of miR-34b promoter region in leukemia cell lines can decrease the expression levels of miR-34b, which is also the reason why miR-34b can reduce the inhibition of cell proliferation, thus miR-34b might be a tumor suppressor gene involved in the regulation of leukemia.

Azacitidine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; Child ; CpG Islands ; DNA Methylation ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Leukemia ; genetics ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transfection