Objective To explore the clinical significance of osteopontin (OPN) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its pathogenic role in SLE by studying the correlation between OPN and clinical manifestations,laboratory parameters and disease activity.Methods The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to measure the level of OPN in serum of 68 SLE patients and 20 healthy controls.the clin-ical data and laboratory parameters were recorded.Results The positive rate of OPN was 79.41%in 68 SLEpatients and could not be detected in healthy controls.Compared with healthy controls.the positive rate and level of OPN in SLE patients was significantly higher(P＜0.01).There was no significant difference in age.gender and disease duration between OPN positive and negative lupus patients(P＞0.05).The Drevalence of fever,hair loss,WBC decrease,liver damage,serum C4 decrease,proteinuria and anti-dsDNA antibody in OPN positive SLE were significantly higher than those of OPN negative SLE(P＜0.05).The positive rate of serum OPN in SLE patients was significantly higher than that of anti-dsDNA antibody and anti-Sm antibody (P＜0.01).The level of plasma OPN was associated with systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI)(r=0.292,P＜0.05).The positive rate and level of OPN in active SLE patients was significantly higher than that of inactive SLE patients(P＜O.05).Conclusion The level of plasma OPN has a close rela-tionship with the activity of SLE.It may serve as an active disease marker of SLE.

Humans ; Adolescent ; DNA/genetics* ; Genotype

Cardia ; pathology ; surgery ; China ; epidemiology ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; Esophagoscopy ; Gastroscopy ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Precancerous Conditions ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; surgery

Vitamin C precusor-2-keto-L-gulonic acid can be prepared directly by mixed culture of Ghiconobacter oxy-dans SCB329 and Guconobacter subaxydans SCB110. To obtained its high yield, firstly, the proportion of the two micro- organisms, the ingredients of medium and the initial pH were optimized in shake flaskd, then L9 (34) orthogonal experiment confirmed that urea, C. S. L had high degree statistical meaning. Based on these data, an optimized fermentation media was obta ined: D-Sorbitol 9g, C. S.L1.5g, Urea1.5g, KH2PO40.1g, CaCO30.2g. By-product can be inhabited to the greatest extent and the yield increases by 20%.

Bel1, a transactivator of prototype foamy virus (PFV), plays pivotal roles in the replication of PFV. Previous studies have shown that Bel1 bears a nuclear localization signal (NLS), but its amino acid sequence remains unclear and the corresponding importins have not been identified. In this report, we inserted various fragments of Bel1 into an EGFP-GST fusion protein and investigated their subcellular localization by fluorescence microscopy. We found that the 215PRQKRPR221 fragment could direct nuclear localization, which accords with the consensus sequence K(K/R)X(K/R) of monopartite NLS. Point mutation experiments revealed that K218, R219, and R221 are essential for the nuclear localization of Bel1. The results of the GST-pulldown showed that the Bel1 fragment with residues 215-223, which bears the NLS, interacts with KPNA1, KPNA6, and KPNA7. This result suggests that KPNA1, KPNA6, and KPNA7 maybe involved in Bel1 nuclear translocation.
Cell Line ; Cell Nucleus ; genetics ; metabolism ; virology ; Humans ; Nuclear Localization Signals ; genetics ; metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Protein Transport ; Retroviridae Infections ; genetics ; metabolism ; virology ; Retroviridae Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Spumavirus ; chemistry ; genetics ; physiology ; Trans-Activators ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; alpha Karyopherins ; genetics ; metabolism

The chemical constituents from the n-butanol fraction of ethanol extract of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) were isolated and purified using chromatographic process including MCI Gel CHP-20, ODS, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, and semi-preparative HPLC method, and one alkyne and two phenylpropanoid derivants were obtained. Their structures were identified as (5R,E)-tetradecane-12-ene-8,10-diyne-1,5,14-triol (1), (E)-8-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl n-butyl cinnamate (2), and (7S,8S)-7-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzene)-7-butyl-8,9-diol (3) by modern spectroscopy methods (1D NMR, 2D NMR, UV, IR and MS). 1-3 are all new compounds. Compounds 1-3 were screened for their anti-renal fibrosis activities in vitro, and none of them showed obvious effect.

Objective To construct RNAi combinant adenoviral expressive vectors specific to p65 subunit of NF-?B and to observe their gene silencing effect on p65 subunit.Methods Three pairs of complementary. single-strand DNA oligos targeting three various sites of p65 mRNA were designed and synthesized.Annealling was used to generate double-strand oligos(ds-oligos),and then the ds-oligos were cloned into pENTR~TM/u6 to generate the entry clone named pENTR.Recombination reaction in vitro with the pENTR and pAd/BLOCK-iT~TM- DEST was used to creat the adenovirus plasmid which contains the RNAi cassette.Then,the adenovirus plasmids digested with PacI were transfected into HEK293A cells to product adenovirus,and latter infected the HEK293A cells to amplify the adenoviral stock.Plaque forming assay was used to titer the adenoviral stock.The p65 gene silencing effect induced by the RNAi adenovirus was detected by Western blot and immunocytochemistry assay in ECV304 cells.Results The RNAi adenovirus specific to p65 subunit of NF-?B were produced with titer of 3.0 x 10~9pfu/ml to 2.5?10~10pfu/ml.The expression of p65 protein in ECV304 cells could be down-regulated efficiently by the RNAi adenovirus 48-72 h after infection,which would last for more than 6 days after infection.Conclusion RNAi adenovirus is an important tool inhibiting the expression of target gene efficiently.

OBJECTIVETo identify the risk factors of hepatorenal syndrome in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related acute-on-chronic liver failure(ACLF).

METHODSA total of 726 hospitalized patients with HBV-ACLF were retrospectively analyzed. Data of demographic and clinical parameters (sex, age, family history, and presence of liver cirrhosis and diabetes), common complications (spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, pulmonary infection, hepatic encephalopathy, and upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage), and baseline biochemical parameters (albumin, globulin, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, cholesterol, cholinesterase, K+, Na+, plasma thromboplastin antecedent, alpha-fetoprotein, HBV DNA, white blood cell count, hemoglobin, and platelet count) were collected from the medical records database. Univariate and multiple regression analyses were performed to determine the risk factors of hepatorenal syndrome.

RESULTSMultiple logistic regression analysis indicated that upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage [risk (R) = 1.313, relative hazard (RH) = 3.716, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.156-6.404], hepatic encephalopathy (R = 1.120, RH = 3.065, 95% CI: 1.900-4.945), spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (R = 1.005, RH = 2.733, 95% CI: 1.379-5.417), pulmonary infection (R = 1.051, RH = 2.862, 95% CI: 1.783-4.592), and white blood cell count (R = 0.056, RH = 1.058, 95% CI: 1.010-1.107) were independent risk factors for hepatorenal syndrome development in patients with HBV-ACLF.

CONCLUSIONSeveral risk factors were significantly associated with the development of hepatorenal syndrome in HBV-ACLF, including upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage, hepatic encephalopathy, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, pulmonary infection, and elevated white blood cell count.

Adult ; Causality ; End Stage Liver Disease ; complications ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; complications ; Hepatorenal Syndrome ; etiology ; Humans ; Liver Failure ; complications ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to observe the association between the occurrence of esophageal cancer lesions and esophageal mucosa fold (white ridges), and further identify where is the initial origin of esophageal cancer lesions in the esophagus mucosa.

METHODSThis was a cohort study which recruited 551 subjects underwent endoscopic examination in a high risk area of esophageal cancer in Linxian, Henan Province in 1987. 339 subjects with esophageal white ridges, and with red area or erosion lesion at the surface of the white ridges, was studied as exposure group. Other 212 subjects whose esophagus had no white ridges and pathological diagnosis was negative, was studied as control group. The endpoint was occurrence of pathologically confirmed esophageal cancer. After a 15-year follow-up, the results were compared between two groups.

RESULTSAmong the 551 subjects, there were 339 cases with esophageal mucosal white ridges in the exposure group. During the period of 15 year follow-up, the incidence of esophageal cancer was 11.8% (9/76) in 76 case with simple mucosal white ridges, 33.5% (88/263) in 263 subjects with white ridges and red area, or erosions on the surface of white ridge. While only 8.0% of subjects (17/212) developed esophageal cancer after the 15-year follow up in the control group. There was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONEsophageal mucosal white ridge, especially white ridge with red area or erosions is closely associated with subsequent esophageal cancer occurrence in the esophageal cancer high risk area in China. It is suggested that esophageal mucosa with white ridge may be the initial origin of esophageal cancer. Further investigations focused on this spot are required.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; epidemiology ; pathology ; China ; epidemiology ; Cohort Studies ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; pathology ; Esophagoscopy ; Esophagus ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; pathology ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Mucosa ; pathology ; Precancerous Conditions ; epidemiology ; pathology ; Prospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo analyze the expression and clinical values of HPV L1 capsid protein and p16INK4a protein in uterine cervical lesions.

METHODSFifty-four cervical intraepithelial neoplasias CIN1, 44 CIN2, 78 CIN3, and 48 squamous cell carcinoma were included in this study. All CIN and squamous carcinomas were stained with anti-HPV L1 capsid protein antibodies and anti-p16INK4a antibody. Forty-five CIN1 patients were followed up for 6 years.

RESULTSForty-five CIN1 patients were followed up for 6 years, among them 6 cases showed a progression (One case changed to CIN3, 5 cases to CIN2). L1 positivity was found in 50 cases which decreased with CIN increasing (χ(2) = 259.923, P < 0.001) while p16INK4a positivity was found in 177 cases which co-increased with CIN (χ(2) = 48.842, P < 0.001). L1(-)p16INK4a (-) or L1(+)p16INK4a(-) appeared mainly in CIN1 while L1(-)p16INK4a(+) appeared mainly in CIN2 lesions. No progression was found in the group of L1(-)p16INK4a(-) CIN1 patients. The risk of CIN1 progression in L1(-)p16INK4a(+) group was 66.7% while L1(+)p16INK4a(-) group was 9.5%, and L1(+)p16INK4a(+) group was 33.3%.

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of p16INK4a together with HPV L1 are different in various cervical lesions, and the combined detection of p16INK4a and HPV L1 can be helpful for estimating the biological potentiality of CIN lesions.

Adult ; Aged ; Capsid Proteins ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; virology ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; metabolism ; pathology ; virology ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; metabolism ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Oncogene Proteins, Viral ; metabolism ; Papillomavirus Infections ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; virology ; Young Adult