Objective To investigate the mechanism of an inhibitor of NADPH oxidases,diphenylene iodonium (DPI),in preventing radiation-induced lung injury.Methods Totally 48 adult SD male rats were randomly classified into 4 groups:control group (C),radiation group (R),radiation plus DPI group (R + D) and DPI group (D).The radiation induced pulmonary injury model was preformed by using 6 MV X-rays to deliver 8 Gy per day for 5 consecutive days with 40 Gy in total to the thorax of each animal.Rats in R + D group were subcutaneously administered with 0.02％ DPI (1 mg/kg) at 1 h prior to radiation while rats in D group received the same dose of DPI without radiation.DPI was given from 3 d before radiation to 30 d after the first radiation.Rats in C and D groups received the same dose of saline.Animals were sacrificed at 1 month and 6 months after radiation,respectively.The lungs were removed and processed for HE and Masson staining,hydroxyproline content measurement,and TGF-β1 immunohistochemical detection.Results At 1 month post-radiation,rats in R group showed typical alveolitis,the level of hydroxyproline was (0.69 ± 0.05) μg/mg,and the positive area of TGF-β1 expression was (39.97 ± 0.90) ％,while the level of hydroxyproline in R + D group was (0.55 ± 0.03) μg/mg and the positive area of TGF-β1 expression was(33.83 ± 1.55) ％,rats in R + D group showed less severe alveolitis compared with R group(t =5.32,5.93,P ＜0.05).At 6 months post-radiation,rats in R group showed typical lung fibrosis with hydroxyproline level of (1.04 ±-0.02) μg/mg and TGF-β1 expression of (37.80 ± 0.85) ％,whereas the hydroxyproline level in R + D group was (0.85 ± 0.02) μg/ mg,the TGF-β1 expression was(23.93 ± 1.16)％,rats in R + D group showed moderate lung fibrosis(t =15.77,16.68,P ＜ 0.05),rats in C and D group had no noticeable changes.Conclusions Diphenylene iodonium could prevent radiation-induced lung injury by reducing the level of hydroxyproline and the expression of TGF-β1.

BACKGROUNDObstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) is considered to be one of the most important causes of cardiovascular diseases in OSA patients. This repeated hypoxia and reoxygenation cycle is similar to hypoxia-reperfusion injury, which initiates oxidative stress. In this study, we observed cardiocytes injury induced by CIH and the effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC).

METHODSThirty ICR mice were randomly assigned to 3 groups: control, CIH and NAC (CIH + NAC) groups. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) of cardiocyte homogenates were measured. Serum lipids were measured by an instrument method. Serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Myocardium pathological sections were observed.

RESULTS(1) The SOD activity and MDA concentration of cardiocyte homogenates in the CIH group were significantly higher than in other groups (P < 0.005). The MDA concentration of the NAC group was lower than that of the control group (P < 0.01). (2) The serum cTnI concentration of the CIH and NAC groups was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.01). (3) Serum triglyceride levels in the NAC group were lower than in the other groups (P < 0.01), while there were no significant differences in low density lipoprotein and high density lipoprotein among the three groups. (4) The degeneration of myocardium, transverse striation blurred, and fabric effusion were observed in tissue sections in the CIH and NAC groups. However, normal tissue was found in the control group.

CONCLUSIONThe oxidative stress induced by CIH can injure cardiocytes and the injury effect can be partially inhibited by NAC.

Acetylcysteine ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Heart ; drug effects ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Oxidative Stress ; physiology ; Random Allocation ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo identify factors associated with YMDD mutation in patients with chronic hepatitis B before and after lamivudine treatment in Zunyi region.

METHODS53 patients with chronic hepatitis B were enrolled in this study, HBV DNA,HBV markers, ALT, AST, TBil, albumin in the serum were examined at 0, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after lamivudine treatment. HBV genotype and YMDD mutation were determined by sequencing before lamivudine treatment. YMDD mutation was checked again if serum HBV DNA rebound to more than 1 x 10(4) copies/ml after the initial decrease.

RESULTSHBV genotype in Zunyi region is constitute of B, C and B+C genotype. YMDD mutation occurred in 18 cases after lamivudine treatment, the rate of YMDD mutation was 15.1%, and 34.0% after 1 year and 2 years treatment. There are four types of mutation: rtL180M/M204V, rtL180M/M204I, rtM204I, rtL180M. rtM204V mutation in C gene was always accompanied by rtL180M mutation (100%). The rate of rtL180M/M204V mutation in genotype C group was significantly higher than that in genotype B group (77.8% to 25.0%), the same was true for the rtL180M/ M204I mutation (22.2% to 12.5%). There was no point mutation in genotype C group. The point mutation of rtM204I and rtL180M appeared only in genotype B group. Gender, nation, family history of hepatitis B and HBeAg were not associated with YMDD mutation (P more than 0.05), while the mutation rate was associated with the disease course and severity of disease. YMDD mutation did not occur in patients with low HBV DNA level (less than 10(5) copies/ml).

CONCLUSIONYMDD mutation after lamivudine therapy is associated with HBV genotype and P gene mutation type, and prolonged treatment increases the the mutation rate. In order to reduce the incidence of YMDD mutation, patients with shorter disease course, lower HBV DNA level, more serious liver damage should be treated with lamivudine.

Adult ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; China ; epidemiology ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; DNA Primers ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; genetics ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Lamivudine ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

BACKGROUNDTo study the relationship between human heparanase expression and biological factors regarding invasion, metastasis and prognosis of human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSThe expression of heparanase was assessed in 122 paraffin-embedded specimens and 38 freshly-taken tissues by immunohistochemical staining and Western blot. The relationship between heparanase expression and the clinicopathological factors was analyzed by Chi square test, multivariate analysis and Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTSIn the immunoreactive cells, staining was mainly located in cytoplasma and membrane. Human heparanase was highly expressed in lung cancer tissues (78.7%, 96/122) while negative in epithelia of normal lung tissues. The level of heparanase was remarkably higher in NSCLC than that in normal tissues ( P = 0.043 ). Expression of heparanase significantly correlated with TNM stage ( P =0.025), lymphatic metastasis ( P =0.002) and vascular invasion ( P =0.000 3). The patients with positive heparanase expression had a significantly shorter survival than those with negative heparanase expression ( P =0.000 6). In multivariate analysis, only p-TNM stage, lymphatic metastasis and vascular invasion could be considered as prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONSHeparanase might play an important role in the development, invasion and metastasis of NSCLC. It is indicated that patients with positive heparanase expression would have a greater chance of metastasis and a poorer prognosis. However, heparanase expression is not an independent prognostic factor.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the genetic diversity of main germplasm of Atractylodes macrocephala in China and the genetic differentiation of the germplasm of A. macrocephala.

METHODA molecular marker ISSR was used to analyze the genetic diversity of 7 populations of A. macrocephala and a population of A. lancea.

RESULTTwelve primers were used in the PCR amplification of 86 samples of A. macrocephala and 5 samples of A. lancea. Sixty-three bands with sizes ranged from 100 to 2500 bp were generated from 12 primers. Of all the 63 bands, 55 bands were polymorphic among 86 individuals of A. macrocephala, the percentage of polymorphic bands were 87.30% at the species level. The percentage of polymorphic bands (PPL) for a single population ranged from 58.73% to 71.43% (mean, 64.85%). Among the 7 populations, a population from Panan, GM exhibited highest variability (PPL =71.43%; HE = 0.2835; I = 0.4267). A dendrogram constructed by an unweighted pair group method of cluster analysis showed that populations from Panan constructed one branch and separated from other populations. In the AMOVA analysis, low level of genetic differentiation among populations was detected, 90.52% of the variability existed in population.

CONCLUSIONThe genetic diversity of cultivated A. macrocephala in China is high, which is good for the production of high quality herb medicine.

Atractylodes ; classification ; genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Phylogeny ; Plants, Medicinal ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms on susceptibility to type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in the Chinese Han population.

METHODOne hundred and thirty-six Chinese Han people, including 54 T1DM patients and 82 unrelated healthy subjects as control were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism for three restriction sites in the VDR gene, which were ApaI, TaqI, and BamI.

RESULTSThe frequency of B allele of BsmI site in VDR gene was significantly higher in T1DM patients than in healthy subjects (P = 0.033) while no difference was found between the two groups in the distribution of ApaI and TaqI polymorphisms.

CONCLUSIONThe BsmI polymorphism of VDR gene may be associated with the susceptibility to T1DM in the Chinese Han population of Beijing.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; China ; DNA Primers ; genetics ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Humans ; Male ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Receptors, Calcitriol ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo identify the effect of postoperative adjuvant transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) on late recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after radical resection.

METHODSFrom year 2001 to 2007, 2436 HCC patients underwent radical resection were retrospectively selected. Patients underwent resection only were classified into control group, while those received adjuvant TACE within 2 months after operation were classified into intervention group. Patients were further stratified into those with tumor5 cm and presenting low or high risk factors for recurrence. Patients with single tumor and without microscopic tumor thrombus were defined as low risk for recurrence; otherwise they were defined as high risk. The effect of adjuvant TACE on late (>2 years) recurrence was evaluated.

RESULTSRecurrence rates of tumor5 cm and presenting low, high risk factors for recurrence at 2-year after resection were 20.38%, 33.06%, 30.54% and 50.82%, respectively in the control group, compared with 25.41%, 39.61%, 40.55% and 51.57%, respectively in the intervention group; there were no significant differences between intervention group and control group in each stratum. For patients recurred or died within the first 2 years after resection, the median survival of tumor>5 cm and presenting high risk factors for recurrence was 24 months in the intervention group and 12 months in the Control group. Only in this subgroup, the survival curve of the intervention group was significantly higher than that compared to the control group. For patients who remained recurrence free and survived within the first 2 years after resection, there were no significant differences in the recurrence curves between the intervention group and control group in each stratum; while cumulative survival rates in the subgroup of patients with tumor size is less than or equal to 5 cm and presenting low risk factors for recurrence were 93.95%, 91.50% and 88.42% respectively in the control group, compared with 91.70%, 81.32% and 78.19% respectively in the intervention group at 3-, 4- and 5-year after resection (P=0.0062); for other subgroups, there were no significant differences in the survival curves between the intervention group and the control group in each stratum. Cox regression model suggested adjuvant TACE was not an independent risk factor for late recurrence; however, it might have negative effect on survival [hazard ratio (HR)=1.50, P=0.062] for those patients (especially patients with tumor is less than or equal to 5 cm and presenting low risk factors for recurrence).

CONCLUSIONSThe value of adjuvant TACE was mainly due to its therapeutic actions on residual tumor or early recurrence. It had no effect on postponing or eliminating late recurrence; moreover, it could be a risk rather than a benefit in patients at low risk for recurrence (especially those with tumor is less than or equal to 5 cm and presenting low risk factors for recurrence).

Adult ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; therapy ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Female ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; therapy ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo analyze related factors which affect GPA mutation frequency of workers exposed to benzene, with the Glycophorin A (GPA) mutation assay and explore the possibility of GPA mutation frequency as an index of predicting the risk of benzene poisoning.

METHODSThe erythrocytes were bound with fluorescent-labeled monoclonal antibody after isolated and fixed from the peripheral blood, and then the GPA mutation assay was performed using the flow cytometry (FCM). The related factors of GPA mutation frequency were analyzed by statistical methods.

RESULTSThe GPA mutation frequency of chronic benzene poisonings was significantly higher than that of their controls (P < 0.05). Significant direct correlation was found between age, length of service, accumulative exposure score and the GPA mutation frequency of workers exposed to benzene (P < 0.01). However, there was significantly inverse correlation between the 3AB index and the GPA mutation frequency (GPAN0: r(s) = -0.589, P < 0.01, GPANN: r(s) = -0.615, P < 0.01). In the multiple factor regression analysis on GPA mutation frequency, benzene exposure and individual susceptibility both entered model of multiple factors analysis, the coefficient of determination of benzene-exposed workers was 0.819.

CONCLUSIONExposure to benzene and individual susceptibility are the most important factors that affect GPA mutation frequency. GPA mutation frequency increases with the benzene exposure and individual susceptibility.

Benzene ; poisoning ; Glycophorin ; genetics ; Humans ; Mutation ; Mutation Rate ; Occupational Exposure

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical features of catch-up growth of body height after kidney transplantation in children and related influencing factors. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed from the chart review data of 15 children who underwent kidney transplantation in Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center from July 2017 to November 2019. According to whether the increase in height standard deviation score (ΔHtSDS) in the first year after kidney transplantation reached ≥0.5, the children were divided into a catch-up group with 8 children and a non-catch-up group with 7 children. According to whether final HtSDS was ≥-2, the children were divided into a standard group with 6 children and a non-standard group with 9 children. The features of catch-up growth of body height and related influencing factors were compared between groups. RESULTS: The data showed that median ΔHtSDS was 0.8 in the first year after transplantation, which suggested catch-up growth of body height. There was a significant difference in HtSDS between the non-catch-up and catch-up groups (P<0.05). Baseline HtSDS before transplantation was positively correlated with HtSDS at the end of follow-up (r=0.622, P<0.05) and was negatively correlated with ∆HtSDS in the first year after transplantation (r=-0.705, P<0.05). Age of transplantation and mean dose of glucocorticoid (GC) per kg body weight were risk factors for catch-up growth after kidney transplantation (OR=1.23 and 1.74 respectively; P<0.05), while baseline HtSDS and use of antihypertensive drugs were independent protective factors for catch-up growth (OR=0.08 and 0.18 respectively; P<0.05); baseline HtSDS and ΔHtSDS in the first year after kidney transplantation were influencing factors for final HtSDS (β=0.984 and 1.271 respectively; P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Kidney transplantation should be performed for children as early as possible, growth retardation before transplantation should be improved as far as possible, and multiple treatment methods (including the use of GC and antihypertensive drugs) should be optimized after surgery, in order to help these children achieve an ideal body height.
Body Height ; Body Weight ; Child ; Glucocorticoids ; Growth Disorders ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To observe the effects of Jieduan Niwan Prescription on IL-6 and TNF-α in serum and hepatic tissue in acute-on-chronic liver failure rats (ACLF); To study the partial mechanism of the treatment for ACLF. Methods The ACLF rat model was established by using human serum albumin immuno-induced hepatic fibrosis followed with D-galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide joint acute attack. The SPF Wistar male rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group and Jieduan Niwan Prescription group, respectively. The Jieduan Niwan Prescription group was treated by Jieduan Niwan Prescription after the acute attack for 24 h, and the rats were sacrificed respectively at 5, 10 and 15 days after gavage administration. Transmission electron microscope was employed to observe the ultrastructural changes in liver cells and ELISA was used to detect the contents of IL-6 and TNF-α in serum and liver tissue, respectively. Results Compared with the normal group, the contents of serum and liver tissue IL-6 and TNF-α in model group increased at each time point. Compared with the model group, the contents of serum and liver tissue IL-6 and TNF-α decreased in Jieduan Niwan Prescription group, especially in 15 days. Under the transmission electron microscope, the changes of ultrastructure of liver tissue were observed. With the passage of time, the degree of hepatocyte injury in model group gradually increased, but decreased significantly in Jieduan Niwan Prescription group at each time point. Conclusion Jieduan Niwan Prescription can effectively reduce the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in serum and liver tissue, reduce the degree of liver damage, and has a certain protective effect on the liver.