Brain ; pathology ; Caudate Nucleus ; pathology ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Huntingtin Protein ; Huntington Disease ; diagnosis ; genetics ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; genetics ; Pedigree ; Trinucleotide Repeats ; genetics

Objective To determine the estrogenic activity of dibutyl phthalate DBP. Methods The tested compound was dibutyl phthalate. Human estrogen-dependent MCF-7 breast cancer cells were cultured in RPMI 1640 medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum FBS. Five days before the addition of the tested compounds the cells were rinsed by phosphate balanced solution PBS and the medium was substituted with a phenol red-free RPMI 1640 medium containing 5% dextral charcoal-stripped FBS. The respective tested compound was added in fresh medium and the control cells received only the vehicle ethanol. The proliferation of MCF-7 cells was analyzed by the MTT assay growth curves mitotic index and coloning efficiency. Results Compared with the control the proliferation of tested cells treated with DBP like estradiol was markedly enhanced and the activity of the cell proliferation reached the maximum at 10-5 mol/L DBP. During log phase the mitotic index of the test cells treated with DBP and estradiol was significantly increased. The cell coloning efficiency was enhanced which was treated by 10-5 mol/L DBP only for 48 hours. The results showed the time-dependent and dose-dependent model. Conclusion Dibutyl phthalate may enhance the proliferation of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells in vitro that demonstrates an estrogenic activity of dibutyl phthalate.

Objective To study the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), CDK4 and P16 on rat hepatocellular carcinoma by millimeter wave radiation. Methods Fourty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups. Group one to three were feeded by diethylnitrosamine (DEN). Group one was a tumor control group. In group two and three the liver was directly radiated by 35.8 GHz, 100 mW/cm 2 millimeter wave for 20 min, twice a week for 10 or 5 weeks. Group four was a normal control radiated group. Fourteen weeks later all rats were sacrificed to undergo serological test and immunohistochemical stain of liver. Results The serum levels of ? glutamyltransferase in group two and three were lower than that in group one. Adenocarcinoma was only existed in group one by histological examination of liver tissue. Other groups of DEN exposure only had basophilic and eosinophilic nodules. Liver tissue expression of PCNA and CDK4 in group two and three were significantly lower than in group one, but the expression of P16 in group two and three was higher than that in group one. Conclusions Radiation with millimeter wave can partially inhibit cell proliferation and suppress the DEN induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rats.

Objective To investigate the relationship between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) susceptibility single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and metabolic phenotypes in glucose and lipid metabolism and explore the pathophysiological mechanism of the susceptibility genes.Methods Three of PCOS susceptibility locus 2p16.3 (rs13405728 of LHCGR gene),2p21 (rs13429458,rs12478601 of THADA gene) and 9q33.3 (rs2479106,rs10818854 of DENNDIA gene) were selected and the metabolic phenotypes were compared between different genotypes of SNP in PCOS patients (using dominant model).Results Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly increased in CC genotype group than in TC + TT groups at rs12478601 of THADA gene [(2.5 ± 0.8),(2.4 ± 0.8) mmol/L; P =0.01].Serum insulin level of 2 hours after 75 g glucose intake was significantly higher in GG + AG groups than that of AA group at rs2479106 of DENND1A gene[(71 ±65),(64 ±50) mU/L;P =0.05],and the prevalence of type Ⅱ diabetes in first-degree relatives of patients were also increased [9.9％ (66/666),6.9％ (52/751) ; P ＜ 0.05].No association was found between metabolic phenotypes and genotypes of rs13429458,rs10818854,and rs13405728.Conclusions Genetic factors probably have effect on the metabolic characteristics of PCOS.THADA gene is related to lipid metabolism,while DENND1A gene may be involved in insulin metabolism in patients with PCOS.

DNA ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Neonatology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; methods ; alpha-Thalassemia ; diagnosis ; genetics

Objective To study the status of professional abilities of ICU specialist nurses and its influencing factors.Methods The questionnaire of professional abilities of ICU specialist nurses and general self-efficacy scale (GSES) were used to investigate 202 ICU specialist nurses in 8 Grade A hospitals in Beijing.Results ICU specialist nurses had a good level of professional abilities and the average score was ( 3.79 ±0.44) with the highest score in the critical patients' emergence treatment and care ability (4.18 ±0.35) and the lowest score of the professional development ability( 3.40 ± 0.62 ).General self-efficacy,professional title and working tenure were the influencing factors for their professional abilities.Conclusions The level of professional abilities of ICU specialist nurses is good,and it is necessary to manage and cultivate ICU specialist nurses according to their different character and to improve their professional abilities.

Objective To investigate the effects of adiponectin on the development of atherosclerosis.Methods The in vivo role of adiponectin on the development of atherosclerosis in rabbits was investigated mainly using adiponectin-producing adenovirus(Ad-APN)and intravascular ultrasound(IVUS).On day 14 after Ad-APN local transfer to the intima of abdominal aortas,abdominal IVUS images were recorded and then rabbits were sacrificed.Abdominal aortas were collected and performed histochemical analysis.Results Ultrasonography revealed a significantly reduced atherosclerotic area,in abdominal aortas of rabbits infected through intima with Ad-APN,by 36.39% compared with the area in adenovirus expressing β galactosidase gene(Ad-βgal)treated rabbits(P＜0.01),and by 37.50% compared with that before treatment(P＜0.01).The lumen area stenosis was also reduced by 23.37%(P＜0.05)and 33.15%(P＜0.01),respectively.In rabbits with Ad-APN infection,the atherosclerotic plaque area as seen on Oil Red O staining was reduced significantly,by 30.70%(P＜0.05)and the greatest thickness of plaque was reduced,by 20.83%(P＜0.05)as compared with those in Ad-βgal-treated rabbits,respectively.Conclusions Intravascular ultrasound analysis is a valuable method in the in vivo study about the effects of adiponectin on the development of atherosclerosis.

Objective To explore the expression of HCK gene during the cardiomyocyte differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells and analyze the role of HCK gene in maintenance of pluripotency of embryonic stem cells.Methods Mouse embryonic stem cells were cultured,then induced to differentiate into cardiomyocytes.Total RNAs were isolated from mouse embryonic stem cells in the differentiation days:0 day(D0),the second day(D2),the fourth day(D4),the sixth day(D6),the eighth day(D8),respectively.The levels of HCK mRNAs were assessed by the method of semi-quantitive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).In the meanwhile,Total proteins were also isolated from mouse embryonic stem cells in the differentiation D0,D2,D4,D6,D8,and the levels of HCK proteins were evaluated by Western-blot.Results HCK mRNAs could be detected in the mouse embryonic stem cells in D0 and D2,however,they were undetectable from D4 to D8.The expression of HCK mRNAs was rapidly down-regulated during cardiomyocyte differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells.Expression of HCK proteins,which coincided with HCK mRNAs,down-regulated during differentiation and couldn't be detected in D4.Conclusions With the cardiomyocyte differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells,the expression of HCK in the levels of mRNA and proteins are sharply down-regulated;HCK may play an important role in maintaining the pluripotency of embryonic stem cell.

Inosine 5′-monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) is a key enzyme catalyzing the rate-limiting step of de novo nucleotide synthesis in vivo. In recent years, it has become a therapeutic target for anti-virus, anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, anti-parasitic and other diseases. IMPDH inhibitors have been shown to inhibit viral prolife-ration in host cells by depleting guanosine 5′-monophosphate (GMP), the raw material required for viral replication in host cells, with broad-spectrum antiviral properties. In order to find novel anti-coronavirus drugs, this study screened 22 potential IMPDH inhibitors from 70 000 natural small molecule libraries based on IMPDH protein structure using molecular docking and ROC calculation for virtual screening. With ribavirin as the positive control drug, Huh7 cell and H460 cell models were used to verify the anti-coronavirus HCoV-229E and HCoV-OC43 activities of 22 selected target compounds. Among them, compounds 11, 12, 15 and 16 showed inhibitory activity against coronavirus HCoV-229E. The compounds 4, 12, 13 and 15 showed inhibitory activities against coronavirus HCoV-OC43. 12 and 15 showed significant inhibitory activity against both two coronaviruses, and their efficacy was similar to ribavirin at the same dose, which can be further studied as a lead compound for IMPDH inhibitors.

In order to improve the dissolution in vitro of components by processing tanshinone with the pray drying method, the physical properties of tanshinone power was analyzed by BET, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction, and its dissolution in vitro was also investigated. The results of characterization showed decreased power size and increased specific surface area of tanshinone powder, and its existence in an amorphous state. Within 4 h, the accumulated dissolutions of tanshinone I and tanshinone II(A) in components of tanshinone reached 78.3%, 81.9%, respectively. Therefore, the spray-drying method was conducive to enhance the dissolution of components of tanshinone.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Particle Size ; Solubility