Curcumin can induce cell apoptosis in human chondrosarcoma cells through extrinsic death receptor pathway,inhibit proliferation of lung cancer cells by inducing cell cycle arrest,and can suppress proliferation and induce apoptosis in cholangiocarcinoma cells through blocking multiple signaling pathways,suppress the formation of tumor blood vessels by reducing the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in Ehrlich ascites cancer cells,inhibit breast cancer cell motility and invasiveness by regulating the expression of adhesion molecules and increase the sensitivity of chemotherapy drugs to cancer cells by regulating the expression of multidrug resistance related genes.Curcumin has explored new approaches for the treatment of tumor.

AIM: To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and tumor necrsis factor-alpha (TNF-?) in synovium of rats with adjuvant arthritis (AA) and the relationship between the pathological score and the expression of VEGF and TNF-? protein. METHODS: AA was produced in Wistar rats by inoculating complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). The arthral pathological score was calculated, production of VEGF and TNF-? protein were assayed by histoimmunochemical staining at different stage after CFA inoculation. RESULTS: In AA group, the pathological score and expression of VEGF protein in synovium increased significantly (P

To clone overexpressed gene from human gastric carcinoma cell SGC-7901, DDRT-PCR technique is used with human gastric epithelial cell GES-1 as control. After cloned into pGEM -T vector, YA61, one of the overexpressed genes, was analyzed by dot blot and was sequenced then. The sequence gotten was then compared to GenBank data and analyzed by NCBI ORF Finder. Dot blot results showed that the gene YA61 was overexpressed in human gastric carcinoma cell SGC-7901. NCBI's sequence similarity search indicated that the gene YA61 was a new gene sequence. Open reading frame analysis demonstrated that the gene YA61 had one complete open reading frame. In conclusion, the gene YA61 was a new gene sequence that was overexpressed in human gastric carcinoma cell SGC-7901.

Objective:To investigate the levels of periphreal blood free carnitine and amino acids in healthy pregnant women in the third trimester and their association with maternal, fetal, and neonatal cardiac function and structure.Methods:This prospective descriptive study included healthy singleton pregnancies who underwent routine obstetric examination and delivered in two district maternal and child health hospitals (one in the urban and one in the suburb an area) in Beijing from June 2017 to February 2018. All recruiters had serology Down's syndrome screening test at (18±1) gestational weeks. Besides measurement of amino acids and free carnitine levels in whole blood and urine samples by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, all cases underwent maternal and fetal echocardiography at (35±1) weeks of gestation. And neonatal echocardiography was performed after delivery to assess the heart function and structure. Antenatal factors were also collected, including maternal education background, age at first marriage and conception, gravidity, and folic acid supplement in early pregnancy. Statistical analysis was performed using t-test, ANOVA, Chi-square test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and Kappa test. Results:A total of 493 mother-neonate dyads were enrolled in this study. Blood free carnitine levels in the healthy pregnant women in the third trimester ranged from 5.09 to 59.17 μmol/L (reference value: 10.00-50.00 μmol/L) with an average value of (13.03±3.87) μmol/L. None was found with structural abnormalities by cardiac ultrasound, showing an average left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD) and end systolic diameter (LVESD) of (45.70±3.08) mm and (29.17±3.12) mm, respectively, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of all cases were over 55%. No cardiac malformation was detected by the third-trimester fetal echocardiography. The average birth weight of the 493 newborns was (3 340±313) g. Those whose birth weight <2 500 g and >4 000 g were accounted for 1.0% (5 cases) and 3.0% (15 cases) with the average maternal blood free carnitine level of (13.25±2.17) μmol/L (10.46-19.21 μmol/L) and (12.64±2.50) μmol/L (8.78-17.73 μmol/L) ( t=0.42, P>0.05). The average LVEDD and LVESD of the 493 newborns were (17.21±1.27) mm and (11.03±1.30) mm, respectively. For the 64 newborns (13.0%) whose LVEF<60%, the maternal blood free carnitine level was (12.93±2.78) μmol/L (7.34-22.13 μmol/L), showing no statistical difference ( t=-0.29, P>0.05) with those 59 neonates (12.0%) whose LVEF over 75% and maternal carnitine level of (13.09±3.24) μmol/L (8.66-27.49 μmol/L). All cases were divided into four groups based on the quartiles of maternal blood free carnitine level and no significant difference in maternal or neonatal LVEDD or LVEF was observed among these groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions:Blood free carnitine concentration in healthy pregnant women in the third trimester is at the lower limit of normal range, and no significant effect on maternal cardiac function and fetal cardiac structure is seen. However, the effect of low maternal carnitine level in the third trimester on children's myocardial function and whether carnitine should be supplemented in the third trimester are worthy of further investigation with larger sample size.

Aim To investigate the effects and mechanisms of CCK-8 on IL-1? induced proliferation of RSC-364, a rat fibroblast-like synovial cell line. Methods MTT colorimetric assay and Western blot were used to measure cell proliferation and p38MAPK phosphorylation level to elucidate the mechanism of CCK-8 in IL-1? induced RSC-364 proliferation. Results CCK-8 significantly inhibited IL-1?-induced RSC-364 proliferation at 10 -12 , 10 -10 , 10 -8 , 10 -6 mol ? L -1 , and IL-1?-activated p38MAPK activity at 10 -10 , 10 -8 , 10 -6 mol?L -1 in a dose-dependent manner. The effect of CCK-8 was blocked by CR1409 (a CCKA-receptor antagonist) and CR2945 (a CCKB-receptor antagonist). Conclusion CCK-8 inhibits IL-1?-induced RSC-364 proliferation, probably by reducing p38MAPK activity through CCKA and CCKB receptors.

Objective To evaluate the quality of Radix et Caulis Ilicis Asprellae from Pingyuan planting base and Chinese herbal medicine market. Methods The water- and alcohol-soluble extracts from 19 batches of Radix et Caulis Ilicis Asprellae medicinal materials were detected according to Appendix ⅨH, ⅩA of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia ( 2010 edition). And the quality of the medicinal materials was evaluated by microscopic identification technology according to the method for Radix et Caulis Ilicis Asprellae recorded in Guangdong Provincial Chinese Medicine Standard, and then thin layer chromatography ( TLC) was optimized to establish the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprint. The HPLC was performed on Waters XBridgeTM C18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5μm) with acetonitrile(A)-0.2% (v/v) phosphorus acid (B) as the mobile phase by gradient elution, flow rate was 1.0 mL/min, and detection wavelength was 220 nm. Results The results of sample characters, TLC and microscopic identification showed that the samples of Radix et Caulis Ilicis Asprellae in Chinese herbal medicine markets were certified products, but stems and roots were blended. Seven common peaks were showed by HPLC and confirmed by similarity analytical software. The similarity of 15 batches of planting base samples was all above 0.9. Of 19 batches of the commercial samples, the similarity of 11 batches was above 0.9. The alcohol-soluble extract contents were in the range of 64.55 mg/g to 186.18 mg/g. Conclusion The medicinal materials of Radix et Caulis Ilicis Asprellae from Chinese herbal medicine market are certified products, but the qualities vary greatly for the blending of stems and roots and inadequate growth years. The quality of materials from planting base is better. The established method is helpful for the quality evaluation and control of Radix et Caulis Ilicis Asprellae.

For optimal adaptive cultivation region selection, we used ecology factors characterized Duolun region as model area to carry out the adaptive habitat division of Paeonia lactiflora. Similar priority comparison of ecology factors.in 91 cities were calculated by Fuzzy methods, then, distance of the ecology factors were transferred to spacial model by geography information system (,GIS) and modified by soil utilization map of China. The results showed that P. lactiflora were mainly distributed in the Daxing'an Mountain, Changbaishan and qinling range which were divided into six grades of suitable regions belonging to three geographical distributed units. The most similar areas to Duolun were Huade, Xilinhaote, Suolun and Zhangbei. P. lactiflora's distribution and quality are relevant with longitude and latitude, and temperature and rainfall.
China ; Environment ; Fuzzy Logic ; Paeonia ; classification ; growth & development ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo screen out serum differential proteins between vinyl chloride monomer (VCM)-exposed workers and healthy controls by proteomics and analyze the functions of differential proteins, and to provide a basis for elucidating the pathogenesis of diseases caused by VCM exposure and searching for the protein biomarkers.

METHODSFasting venous blood was collected from 125 VCM-exposed workers and 40 healthy controls according to accumulated exposure doses. Proteins were precipitated by acetone precipitation. These proteins were identified by 2D-nano LC-ESI-TOF/MS and quantified by isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation. The functions of differential proteins were analyzed by gene ontology.

RESULTSA total of 596 proteins were identified, including 194 quantified proteins. There were 21 differential proteins according to the screening criteria (19 upregulated proteins and 2 downregulated proteins), including complement, apolipoprotein, and glycoprotein. The functions of these differential proteins were binding, enzyme regulator activity, catalytic activity, and transporter activity, and they were involved in the biological processes including immune system process and response to stimulus.

CONCLUSIONThe complement, apolipoprotein, and glycoprotein identified in the proteomics may be related to liver injury caused by VCM exposure, and they could be used as candidate protein biomarkers of diseases caused by VCM exposure.

Biomarkers ; blood ; Blood Proteins ; analysis ; Humans ; Liver ; injuries ; Occupational Exposure ; Proteins ; metabolism ; Proteomics ; Vinyl Chloride ; toxicity

Objective:To investigate the normal range of exhaled nitric oxide in healthy children aged 6-18 in Jinan.Methods:The healthy school children aged 6-18 in Jinan from October 11 to 26, 2017 were selected for questionnaire survey, physical examination and exhaled nitric oxide test.The levels of mouth exhaled nitric oxide at the flow rate of 50 mL/s (FeNO 50) and mouth exhaled nitric oxide at the flow rate of 200 mL/s(FeNO 200), alveolar nitric oxide (CaNO), and nasal exhaled nitric oxide at the flow rate of 10 mL/s(FnNO 10) were measured by the electroche-mical method.The distributions of FeNO 50, FeNO 200, CaNO and FnNO 10 were analyzed, and their correlations with gender, age, height and body mass index (BMI) were discussed by the multiple linear regression model. Results:A total of 772 healthy children were enrolled in this study, including 364 males and 408 females, with a median age of 12.1(11.8-12.3) years old, a median height of 154.8(153.6-156.0) cm, and a median BMI of 20.3 (20.0-20.6) kg/m 2. The measured values of FeNO 50, FeNO 200, CaNO and FnNO 10 fluctuated in the range of 3.0-168.0 ppb, 2.0-44.0 ppb, 0.5-44.2 ppb and 0-1 253.0 ppb, respectively.FeNO 50, FeNO 200 and CaNO values showed skewed a distribution, and their 95% upper limits were 35.0 ppb, 13.3 ppb and 8.5 ppb, respectively.The geometric mean(95% CI) of FeNO 50 in males (95% CI)[14.6 (13.7-15.5) ppb] was significantly higher than that in females [13.3(12.7-14.0) ppb], and the difference was statistically significant ( Z=1.470, P=0.027). The multiple linear regression results suggested that, FeNO 50 was positively correlated with age and height ( β=0.023, 0.007, respectively, all P<0.05), and negatively correlated with BMI ( β=-0.016, P<0.05). The geometric mean (95% CI) of FeNO 200in males[7.1 (6.8-7.4) ppb] was significantly higher than that in females[6.4 (6.1-6.6) ppb], and the difference was statistically significant( Z=1.747, P=0.004). The multiple linear regression results suggested that, FeNO 200 was positively correlated with height ( β=0.005) and negatively correlated with gender(female β=-1.126) (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference between male and female in CaNO, which had no correlation with gender, age, height and BMI (all P>0.05). FnNO 10 showed a normal distribution, with a mean value of 456.2 ppb, 95% CI of 29.3-863.4 ppb.The geometric mean (95% CI) of FnNO 10 in males [408.7 (377.1-443.0) ppb] was significantly higher than that in females [368.8 (339.0-401.3) ppb], and the difference was statistically significant ( Z=1.722, P=0.005). The multiple linear regression results indicated that FnNO 10 was related to gender ( β=-36.098, P<0.05), and not correlated with age, height and BMI (all P>0.05). Conclusions:The normal ranges of FeNO 50, FeNO 200, CaNO and FnNO 10 in healthy children aged 6-18 in Jinan are 3.0-35.0 ppb, 2.0-13.3 ppb, 0.5~8.5 ppb and 29.3-863.4 ppb, respectively.FeNO 50 is correlated with age, height and BMI.FeNO 200 is correlated with gender and height.CaNO and FnNO 10 are not correlated with age, height or BMI.

Objective To screen a Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell line for H5N1 influ-enza virus isolation and to evaluate its safety in vaccine production. Methods MDCK cells were cloned by the method of limiting dilution. Hemagglutination test was used to screen MDCK cells that were suitable for H5N1 influenza virus production. Tests for analyzing the characteristics, extraneous agents, endogenous agents and tumorigenicity of MDCK cells were performed according to Chinese Pharmacopeia Volume Ⅲ. Results A total of 108 MDCK cell lines were obtained and three of them were selected after hemagglutina-tion test. G1 cells were chosen following further screening with tumorigenicity test and receptor abundance analysis. The average number of chromosomes of the MDCK-G1 cells was 78±4. No bacteria, fungi or myco-plasma contamination was detected. In experimental group, each nude mouse was injected with 1×107/ml viable cells to observe their tumorigenicity. Twelve weeks after cell injection, no node was found at injection sites or in gross anatomy. There was no significant difference between the experimental and negative control groups. The result of the tumorigenicity test was negative. No node formation was found after injecting nude mice with cell lysate or cellular DNA collected from equivalent amount of cells. It was indicated that the MDCK-G1 cells were of low-oncogenic potential. Conclusions The MDCK-G1 cell line could be used as a substrate to produce H5N1 influenza virus vaccine.