Objective To explore the effect of single and multiple course dexamethasone on brain development in preterm infants.Met-hods One hundred and eighteen preterm infants delivered after 28-34 weeks′ gestation from Aug.2005 to Mar.2007 in our NICU were enrolled in this study.These infants were divided into 3 groups by antenatalcourses of dexamethasone: control group,single-course group and multi-course group.Supportive treatments were given to all 3 groups.Neonatal behavioral neurological assessment(NBNA) was conducted on expected date of delivery.Mental and psychomotor developmental index was evaluated at 3,6,12 months by using intellectual development table made at Children′s Development Center of China(CDCC).Results The score of NBNA was much higher in single-course group than that in multi-course group and control group(Pa

The use of optimal regulatory sequences for simultaneous expression of the transgenes might play a significant role in engineering plants with increased disease and insect resistance.The plant expression vector pOMS-GUS,which contained the GUS gene under the control of a chimeric promoter based upon the mannopine synthase(mas)promoter and the octopine synthase(ocs)enhancer,was constructed.Used as control,another vector pMAS-GUS,carried the GUS gene driven by only the mas promoter.The two vectors were introduced into tobacco plants by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation.Fluorometric assays for GUS activity and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)analysis revealed that GUS gene expressed weakly with untreated transgenic tobacco while the level of GUS activity increased steadily after 1 h subjected to wounding.The expression of the mas and ocs/mas promoters was induced a further 1.8-fold and 5.7-fold,respectively.SA(1 mmol/L)or MJ(250 ?mol/L)treatment also caused a large induction of the ocs/mas chimeric promoter;And the application of SA in combination with MJ(1 mmol/LSA & 250 ?mol/L MJ)produced an additive effect that exceeded the wounding response.The results showed that the ocs/mas chimeric promoter is a strong inducible promoter that can be activated by various stresses.The chimeric promoter should have utility in development of disease and insect resistant transgenic crops.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of tegaserod in treating overlapping symptoms of chronic constipation and dyspepsia or reflux.Methods Eighty eight patients with overlapping symptom were enrolled and randomly divided into:tegaserod group(TEG group,received tegaserod 6 mg bid), PPI group(esomeprazole 40 mg qd)and combined group(tegaserod 6 mg bid and esomeprazole 40 mg qd).Esomeprazole was taken 30 min-prior to the meals in the morning.Each group was treated for 4 weeks.Endpoints to evaluate the clinical efficacy including complete relief rates(CRRs)of epigastric symptoms,the total scores of gastrointestinal symptoms,gastric emptying and colonic transit time and gastric sensation.Results The total scores of gastrointestinal symptoms were all significantly decreased in three groups after four-week therapy,which were more decreased markedly in TEG group(7.23?3.13)and the combined group(5.13?2.26)than that in PPI group(13.58?2.02,P

The viable but noncuturable (VBNC) state is a survival strategy when bacteria are exposed to en- vironment stress. The VBNC state is part of the life cycle of non-differentiating bacteria, and it has a far-reaching impact on traditional bacteriology. Cells in the VBNC state fail to grow on the routine bacterio- logical media, here its significance in human health and environment science are detailed. Cells entering the VBNC state exhibit dwarfing and a number of metabolic changes in respiration rates and macromolecular synthesis. This paper summarized the variations in DNA and protein comparing to the culturable cells. We also discussed the ability of cells to resuscitate from the VBNC state and return to an actively metabolizing and culturable form. Some new methods for monitoring the VBNC state were listed. Finally the future was suggested.

Objective To investigate the effects of atorvastatin on the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis(EAE)and the underlying mechanism of immunoregulation.Method The Wistar rats were used to establish EAE model.After oral administration of 2, 8 mg? kg~(1)?d~(1)of atorvastatin, the rats were examined for the development of neurological signs, changes of histopathology and the expression of IL-4 and MMP-9.Result Though high dose treatment with atorvastatin, the frequency of EAE attacks degreased from 76.67% to 33.33%(P=0.008);the extent of inflammation degreased from 3.2?1.1 to 1.3?0.4(P=0.01);and the number of MMP-9 positive cells degreased from 37?7 to 26?5(P= 0.001), the expression of IL-4 could be increased from(0.35?0.12)ng/ml to(0.68?0.23)ng/ml (P=0.05).Conclusion Atorvastatin can reduce the inflammation and produce the recover of the neurological harm because of the changes of MMP-9 and IL-4.

At the beginning of the 1980s, a concept of viable but non-culturable(VBNC) was suggested. VBNC is a survival strategy adopted by microorganisms when they are exposed to environmental stress. This article try to make a summary of research of the conditions of VBNC formation, recovery of culturability and methods of VBNC cells detection. In addition, introduces the first growth factor of microorganisms-Rpf.

Objective To study the clinical application of quantitative ultrasound(QUS) which evaluate skeletal status of children and adolescents.Methods Subjects were children and adolescents aged 0-18 years old.Tibia/radial bone strength was obtained using QUS.Children who were younger than 2 years old only were measured at midpiece of tibia,and children who were older than 2 years old were measu-red at midpiece of tibia and radius.At the same time,calcium in peripheral blood was measured by the method of atomic absorption.Results 1.Radial and tibial bone strength presented nonlinear growth with age in healthy children and adolescents.2.Bone strengths of different anatomic-sites were different and the disparity rate of evaluation at different anatomic sites was 30.1%.3.The bone strength of the children who had some risk factors that could induce decrease of bone strength or had some diseases of bone metabolism was lower than healthy children.Composition of low bone strength children was 71.1% in high risk children,and was 47.9% in those who had some symptom or physical sign of calcium deficiency.4.Composition of low bone strength children was 44.2% in those who had normal peripheral blood calcium,and composition of normal bone strength children in those who had low peripheral blood calcium was 59.7%.The 2 methods had no correlation.Conclusions QUS is a quite useful technique in evaluation skeletal status of children and adolescents,and is sensitive for high risk children.It is necessary to measure radius and tibia,and consider blood calcium and bone strength to evaluate practical level of calcium and nutritional state of children.

This study is to investigate the effect of artesunate on transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and its possible mechanism. After the in vitro cultured RLE-6TN cells were treated with TGF-beta1 then artesunate intervened on it, after 24 h, expression of the markers of mesenchymal cell was assayed using Western blotting and real-time PCR analysis. Western blotting was also used to detect the effect of TGF-beta1 on the Smad3 and Smad7 expressions of RLE-6TN cells. Morphological alterations were examined by phase-contrast microscope, and ultrastructure changes by electron microscope. Incubation of RLE-6TN cells with TGF-beta1 resulted in the up-regulation of the expression of the mesenchymal cell markers, after artesunate intervened on it, resulted in the down-regulation of the expression. Meanwhile, incubation with artesunate intervened on RLE-6TN cells could lead to the apparent down-regulation of the expression of Smad3 and up-regulation of Samd7 and the transition of RLE-6TN cells to mesenchymal-like by TGF-beta1 induction, after artesunate intervened on it, RLE-6TN cells to epithelial-like. TGF-beta1 induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition process; artesunate can inhibit TGF-beta1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition process, the possible mechanism is up-regulation of the expression of Smad7 and down-regulation of the expression of Smad3, meanwhile inhibits phosphorylation of Smad3.
Actins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Artemisia ; chemistry ; Artemisinins ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; drug effects ; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis ; pathology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Pulmonary Alveoli ; cytology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Smad3 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Smad7 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; pharmacology ; Vimentin ; genetics ; metabolism

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

Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Carcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; secondary ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Keratins ; metabolism ; Male ; Nasal Cavity ; Nose Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism