Objective: To study the influence of different ages on expression of Bcl-2 and Bax protein in the contusive brain tissues after traumatic brain injury (TBI), so as to probe into the molecular mechanism of the age influence on the prognosis of TBI patients. Methods: The expression of Bcl-2 and Bax protein in contusive and lacerated brain tissue (within 3 h to 9 h after trauma) in aged group (≥ 60 years), adult group (19-59 years) and non-adult group (≤18 years) was analyzed and compared by immunohistochemistry method and computer micrograph analysis. The temporal lobe samples of 15 patients with temporal epilepsy or vascular deformity were taken as control. Results: The expression of NGF, Bcl-2 and Bax protein in the contusive and lacerated brain tissue was higher in the 3 TBI groups than that in the control group. The ratio of Bcl-2/Bax expression in aged group was significantly lower than those in the adult and non-adult groups (P <0.05); and the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax expression in the adult group was significantly lower than that in the non-adult group (P<0.05). Conclusion: The expression of Bcl-2 and Bax protein after TBI is influenced by the age of sufferers; the decrease of Bcl-2/Bax ratio might be associated with the neurological deficits after TBI in aged patients and the higher ratio of Bcl-2/Bax might be associated with the better prognosis of TBI in non-adult patients.

Acute Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Male ; Organophosphate Poisoning ; Pesticides ; poisoning ; Respiration, Artificial ; Tracheotomy ; methods

Banana streak virus (BSV),a member of genus Badnavirus,is a causal agent of banana streak disease throughout the world.The genetic diversity of BSVs from different regions of banana plantations has previously been investigated,but there are relatively few reports of the genetic characteristic of episomal (non-integrated)BSV genomes isolated from China.Here,the complete genome,a total of 7722bp (GenBank accession number DQ092436),of an isolate of Banana streak virus (BSV) on cultivar Cavendish (BSAcYNV) in Yunnan,China was determined.The genome organises in the typical manner of badnaviruses.The intergenic region of genomic DNA contains a large stem-loop,which may contribute to the ribosome shift into the following open reading frames (ORFs).The coding region of BSAcYNV consists of three overlapping ORFs,ORF 1 with a non-AUG start eodon and ORF2 encoding two small proteins are individually involved in viral movement and ORF3 encodes a polyprotein.Besides the complete genome,a defective genome lacking the whole RNA leader region and a majority of ORF1 and which encompasses 6525bp was also isolated and sequenced from this BSV DNA reservoir in infected banana plants.Sequence analyses showed that BSAcYNV has closest similarity in terms of genome organization and the coding assignments with an BSV isolate from Vientam (BSAcVNV).The corresponding coding regions shared identities of 88％ and ～95％ at nucleotide and amino acid levels,respectively.Phylogenetic analysis also indicated BSAcYNV shared the closest geographical evolutionary relationship to BSAcVNV among sequenced banana streak badnaviruses.

Objective To explore the relation of the polymorphism of GSTT & GSTM1 genes with the susceptibility of breast cancer.Methods A hospital-based case-control study was conducted,and 105 normal women as a control group and 100 women cases with breast cancer were recruited.The polymorphism of GSTT1 and GSTM1 were assessed by polymerase chain reaction(PCR).Logistic regression was conducted to evaluate the odds ratio of breast cancer in relation to single,multiple gene and estrogen exposure factors.Results The results showed that significant difference was found in the distribution of GSTT1,GSTM1 between controls and cases.There was a negative correlation between CSTT1 & GSTM1 and the risk of breast cancer with OR of 2.133 and 2.458,respectively.Polygenic model analysis indicated that there was a statistically significant correlation of the vacancy of GSTT1 & GSTM1 with breast cancer.Furthermore,it was also revealed that individual in simultaneous lack of GSTT1 and GSTM1 would run 12 times as high risk as normal controls did(OR=12.338).Results from unconditional logistic regression analysis showed that GSTT1 and GSTM1 were significantly associated with the occurrence of breast cancer.Conclusion The study indicated that the polymorphisms of estrogen-metabolizing genes were related to the risk of breast cancer.

Objective To investigate the effects of midazolam on the delayed rectifier outward potassium channel current (Ik) using the whole-cell patch clamp technique. Methods Pyramidal neurons were isolated acutely from 5-15 d SD rat hippocampus. We measured amplitudes of the delayed outward rectifier potassium currents by activating depolarizing pulse from - 50mV to 30mV. Different concentrations of midazolam were added and potassium channel currents were measured. Results Delayed outward rectifier potassium channel currents were inhibited by midazolam in a dose-dependent manner. EC50 was (8.31 ?2.78) ? 10-8 mol/L and Hill constant was 0.90? 0.16.Conclusions Our results suggest that block of the outward rectifier potassium channel current by midazolam may contribute to the mechanism of midazolam anesthesia action.

Ecotoxicology ; Humans ; Proteomics ; Risk Assessment

Objective To explore the value of pneumatic lithotripsy under ureteroscope in the management of ureteral calculus . Methods The clinical data of 360 cases of ureteral stones treated ureteroscopically by pneumatic lithotripsy were retrospectively analyzed. Results Stones were successfully fragmented on one session in 85% of the cases (306/360). Complications were observed in 2 5% of the cases (9/360), including 6 cases of ureteral perforation and 3 cases of urinary infection. Conclusions Pneumatic lithotripsy under ureteroscope is safe, effective and minimally invasive.

Objective:To investigate if injury-related myofibroblast induction could occur in bronchial epithelial cells and the role of TGF-?_1(rhTGF-?_1) in epithelial-myofibroblast transdifferentiation. Methods:Cultured bronchial epithelial cells, 16HBE-14o, were exposed to poly-L-arginine(PLA). Using a immunohistochemical method, ?-smooth muscle actin (?-SMA) expression was detected in those cells after being treated with PLA . Relative activity of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase(CAT) was assessed in 16HBE-14o cells, which were transiently transfected with VSMP8 plasmid containing ?-SMA promoter linked to CAT gene, at different time points after rhTGF-?_1(10 ?g/L) treatment. Results:①?-SMA positive, spindle-shaped cells emerged among the regenerated 16HBE-14o epithelial cells following damage. The number of ?-SMA positive 16HBE-14o cells increased and cell repair was delayed under rhTGF-?_1 stimulation.② CAT activity increased significantly in VSMP8 plasmid transfected 16HBE-14o cells 24 h after TGF-?_1 stimulation. (P

Objective To express TmpA recombinant antigen of Treponema pallidum in E.coli and to develop an Enzyme linked Immunoassay (EIA) based on the recombinant antigen for diagnosing syphilis. Methods The target TmpA gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR products of the gene were inserted into pBluescript T vector, and then expressed in E.coli, using pQE 30 system. Then the recombinant antigen was purified by an affinity chromatography and used for the development of EIA. Results The antigenicity of the recombinant antigen was identified by western blotting (WB) and EIA. The sensitivity and specificity of EIA were 100%(10/10) and 100% (20/20), respectively. The positive rates of anti TmpA antibodies were 91.67% (11/12) for the patients with Ⅰ phase of syphilis and 100% for the patients of Ⅱ and late stage of the disease. Conclusions The TmpA recombinant protein can be used to diagnose syphilis since 97.2% (35/36) of patients with syphilis were positive for the anti TmpA antibody by EIA.

Objective To invstigate the diagnostic value of the detection of telomerase activity in the specimen obtained from CT guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy of lung nodules.Methods The techniques of TRAP silver staining were performed to detect telomerase activity in 43 cases. Results 43 mass cases were studied includirg 32 proved to be primary lung cancer, and 11 benign lesions cytologically and clinically. Telomerase activity was detected as 28(87.5%) of 32 lung carcinomas, whereas in benign lung lesions was 1(9.1%) in 11 cases.Conclusions Detection of telomerase activity in the specimen of lung nodules by CT guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy may be an effective method in the diagnosis of lung cancer and also as tumor marker.