OBJECTIVETo study the differences in a special region (SR) corresponding to five internal organs between the young and the elderly and to verify the effectiveness of a developed system for objectifying research in colour inspections of Chinese medicine (CICM).

METHODSAn image acquisition device imitating daylight to meet the requirement of CICM was designed. Image processing software based on CICM theory was developed. A total of 83 normal people were sampled and assigned to two groups. The first group (Group I) included 30 people with an average age of 24±2, and the second group (Group II) included 53 people with an average age of 74±4. After image processing, the chromaticity of 10 SRs corresponding to five internal organs was calculated. R, G, and B represent the chromaticity of color red, green, and blue, L indicates color brightness, whereas a and b denote red and yellow respectively. The difference between the young and the elderly was analyzed.

RESULTS(1) The chromaticity of each SR corresponding to five organs was obtained. The average R, G, B, L, a, and b of the sample were 194.4, 147.6, 119.3, 65.2, 15.5, and 22.3, respectively. (2) The R, G, B, and L of the young were greater than those of the elderly, but the a and b of the young were less than those of the elderly. (3) A statistically significant difference in each SR was found between the young and the elderly (P <0.05). The total differences for the Lung (Fei), Heart (Xin), Liver (Gan), Spleen (Pi), and Kidney (Shen) were 50% (3/6), 66.7% (4/6), 66.7% (4/6), 83.3% (5/6), and 91.7% (33/36), respectively. However, the Kidney SR had the greatest statistical discrepancy.

CONCLUSIONThe old Chinese saying that human Kidney deficiency worsens with age was verified by the results. The objectifying system used to examine CICM was effective. Thus, this system may be used as a basis for further research.

Aged ; Color ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Organ Specificity ; Probability ; Young Adult

Adolescent ; Anti-Glomerular Basement Membrane Disease ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis ; pathology ; Humans ; Kidney ; pathology ; Lung ; pathology ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; pathology ; Male

OBJECTIVETo assess the value of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) combined with chromosomal analysis for the detection of Robertsonian translocation type trisomy 21 in amniotic fluid cells.

METHODSAmniotic fluid samples from pregnant women requesting prenatal diagnosis were cultivated. Metaphase cells were prepared for G-banding karyotype analysis. For the 5 Robertsonian translocation type trisomy 21, interphase nuclei from amniotic fluid and parental peripheral blood cells were prepared for FISH analysis.

RESULTSIn 2 cases, analysis of parental peripheral blood cells showed normal karyotypes. FISH analysis of amniotic fluid cells indicated that one sample had two copies of chromosome 21, which has a 46, XY, rob(21;21)(q10;q10) karyotype, whilst another had trisomy 21 by FISH, which has a 46, XY, rob(14;21)(q10;q10) karyotype. For the remaining three samples, analysis of parental peripheral blood cells indicated that their karyotypes were 45, XX, rob(14;21)(q10;q10), 45, XX, rob(15;21)(q10;q10) and 45, XX, rob(21;22)(q10;q10), whilst the karyotypes of amniotic fluid cells were 46, XX, rob(14;21)(q10;q10), 46, XY, rob(15;21)(q10;q10) and 46, XX, rob(21;22)(q10;q10), respectively.

CONCLUSIONCombined FISH and chromosomal analysis is an efficient method for detecting non-homologous Robertsonian translocation type trisomy 21. However, FISH has limited ability to detect homologous Robertsonian translocation type trisomy 21.

Adult ; Down Syndrome ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Karyotyping ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Translocation, Genetic

OBJECTIVEWe aimed to examine the current developments and challenges confronted by old age security in rural China.

DATA SOURCESThis study is based on the data from PubMed, Elsevier, Wiley, EBSCO, EMBASE, SCI Expanded, ProQuest, Google, and CNKI which is the most informative database in Chinese.

STUDY SELECTIONArticles were selected with the search terms "rural", "China", "old", "older", or "elder", "elderly", or "aged", "aging", "security", "culture", "value", "medical insurance" or "community based medical insurance" or "cooperative medical scheme". Related websites and yearbooks were searched as well.

RESULTSThe socio-economic development has made the burden of traditional care for the rural elderly heavier than ever, and new challenges are emerging in rural communities, such as poor economic, deteriorating natural environment and health crisis.

CONCLUSIONSThe governments should improve the scale and caliber of rural old age security and strengthen regulations with great efforts in developing the rural economy and protecting the natural environment of rural communities.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Old Age Assistance ; legislation & jurisprudence ; statistics & numerical data ; trends ; Rural Population ; statistics & numerical data

Adult ; Aged ; Bacterial Infections ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; diagnosis ; immunology ; microbiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to explore the possibility of creating a toxin, C-CPE-ETA', by fusing C-terminal high affinity binding domain of CPE (C-CPE) with a truncated form of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A (ETA') and to examine whether C-CPE-ETA' could specifically target CLDN-3, 4 molecule and the targeted toxin was cytotoxic against CLDN-3,4-overexpressing ovarian cancer.

METHODSCLDN-3 and CLDN-4 expressions were analyzed at the mRNA level in three ovarian cancer cell lines and epithelial ovarian cancer tissues from 20 patients. After transforming an expression plasmid of C-CPE-ETA' into E. coli BL21 (DE3) plysS strain, the recombinant protein was purified using His-Bind resin chromatography column and analyzed by Western blot and Coomassie blue staining. The specific binding, proapoptotic and cytolytic activities were evaluated by flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy with the JC-1 probe and MTT assay in CLDN-3,4-overexpressing ovarian cancer cells.

RESULTSQuantitive RT-PCR results showed there existed high levels of CLDN-3 and CLDN-4 in ovarian cancer cells, CAOV3, OVCAR3 and SKOV3. Moreover, high expressions of CLDN-3 and CLDN-4 were observed in 90.0% (18/20) and 60.0% (12/20) of ovarian cancer tissues, with an expression level 10-fold higher than that in the normal ovarian tissue. A 58 000 recombinant protein C-CPE-ETA' was demonstrated by Western blot and Coomassie blue staining. Purified and recombinant C-CPE-ETA' was bound with high affinity to CLDN-3,4-overexpressing ovarian cancer cells, CAOV3, OVCAR3 and SKOV3 cells. C-CPE-ETA' was strongly proapoptotic and cytotoxic towards the CLDN-3,4-overexpressing ovarian cancer cells. The concentration of IC(50) was 7.364 ng/ml for CAOV3 cells, 8.110 ng/ml for OVCAR3 cells and 22.340 ng/ml for SKOV3 cells, respectively. However, control CLDN-3,4-deficient cell line HUVEC was not susceptible to the recombinant C-CPE-ETA' at a concentration up to 10 µg/ml.

CONCLUSIONSThe C-CPE-ETA' protein exhibits remarkably specific cytotoxicity for CLDN-3,4-overexpressing ovarian cancer cells. Its therapeutic potential warrants further development for ovarian cancer molecular targeted therapy.

ADP Ribose Transferases ; metabolism ; physiology ; Apoptosis ; Bacterial Toxins ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Claudin-3 ; Claudin-4 ; Claudins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Enterotoxins ; metabolism ; physiology ; Exotoxins ; metabolism ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunotoxins ; metabolism ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; metabolism ; physiology ; Virulence Factors ; metabolism ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo determine the circular DNA level of patients with hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD) and evaluate its potential clinical value.

METHODSVenous blood in 30 healthy children and 78 patients with HFMD within 3 days of onset of illness and convalescent period was collected. The level of plasma circular DNA was detected by duplex real-time polymerase chain reaction assay. Blood sugar, high-sensitive CRP(hs-CRP) and leucocyte were also detected.

RESULTSThe level of circular DNA in control group was (6.57 +/- 4.67) ng/ml. The level of circular DNA in ordinary and severe HFMD patients was (11.51 +/- 7.75) ng/ml and (20.59 +/- 10.67) ng/ml before treatment, respectively. The levels of circular DNA in ordinary and severe HFMD patients were significantly higher than that in control group (P = 0.021; 0.000); the level of circular DNA in severe HFMD patients was significantly higher than that in ordinary HFMD patients (P = 0.011). The level of circular DNA in severe HFMD patients after treatment were significantly lower than that before treatment (P = 0.033). The level of circular DNA before treatment and after treatment in ordinary HFMD patients had no significant difference. The levels of blood sugar and hs-CRP in severe HFMD patients were higher than those in ordinary before treatment (P = 0.045; 0.011). The levels of blood sugar and hs-CRP before treatment and after treatment in ordinary HFMD patients had no significant change. There was significantly positive correlation between the level of circular DNA and that of hs-CRP in HFMD patient (P = 0.021), but there was no correlation between the level of circular DNA and that of blood sugar and leucocyte.

CONCLUSIONSThe level of circular DNA not only become an early identification marker of severe HFMD patients, but also become monitoring marker of effect of treatment.

Biomarkers ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Child, Preschool ; DNA, Circular ; blood ; Female ; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease ; blood ; genetics ; Humans ; Infant ; Male

OBJECTIVETo provide more information for rational evaluation of potential risks of terephthalic acid (TPA), we studied the effects of TPA on rats' bladders in 90 days after TPA exposure.

METHODSSprague Dawley rats were subdivided into five groups, ingesting 0%, 0.04%, 0.2%, 1%, and 5% TPA respectively for a sub-chronic feeding study lasting for 90 days. Urine, serum and samples of brain, liver, lung, kidney, bladder, etc. were collected and analyzed.

RESULTSTPA ingesting decreased the value of urinary pH, and increased the contents of Ca2+, Zn2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+ in urine. The volume of 24 h urine was significantly increased in male rats in the 1% and 5% TPA groups. Urinary white sediment was found in both sexes, and its formation in male rats seemed more susceptible than that in female rats. Alpha 2u-globulin (AUG) in serum and urine of male rats was markedly increased in a dose-dependent manner. Fifteen cases of hyperplasia (simple or atypical) were determined in the 5% TPA ingesting group, 14/52 in male rats and 1/23 in female rats. Among them 3 male rats had no stone or calculus. Those with either bladder stones or hyperplasia were accompanied with urinary white sediments.

CONCLUSIONWhite sediment accompanied with elevated urine AUG is the basis of TPA induced urolith formation, and is also associated with TPA induced bladder epithelial cell proliferation. It can act as an early biomarker for the potential toxic effect of TPA.

Alpha-Globulins ; urine ; Animals ; Biomarkers ; urine ; Female ; Hyperplasia ; chemically induced ; Male ; Phthalic Acids ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Urinary Bladder ; drug effects ; pathology ; Urinary Bladder Calculi ; chemically induced

In order to study the influence of trichosanthin (TCS) on apoptosis and growth inhibition of human NB4 cells in vitro, the expression of annexin V and the change of DeltaPsim of NB4 cells induced by TCS was analyzed by FACS, and MTT assay was adopted to measure the growth inhibition ratio of NB4 cells treated with TCS. Apoptosis was assayed by agarose gel electrophoresis. The results showed the higher concentration of TCS and the longer the acting time, the stronger growth inhibition of NB4 cells. The expression of annexin V was positive, and the positive ratio was greatly enhanced with prolongation of acting time. DeltaPsim reduced gradually while the apoptosis cells increasing. DNA agarose gel electrophoresis showed a gradient, which confirmed that TCS could induce NB4 cells apoptosis. In conclusion, taken together, data show that TCS can inhibit NB4 growth in vitro, and induce apoptosis. Experiment provides an important evidence for application of TCS in clinical treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; DNA Fragmentation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Trichosanthin ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the morphologic and immunohistochemical features of gastrointestinal B-cell lymphomas.

METHODSOne hundred and ninety-four cases of gastrointestinal B-cell lymphoma were retrieved from the archival file. The clinical features and pathologic findings were reviewed. Immunohistochemical study for B-cell markers, T-cell markers, bcl-6, CD10, bcl-10, cyclin D1, TdT, MUM1 and Ki-67 was carried out.

RESULTSThe male-to-female ratio was 1.4:1. The age of patients ranged from 8 to 85 years. Amongst the 194 cases studied, 128 (66.0%) were diagnosed as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, including 16 cases of large cell lymphoma associated with mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma component. There were also 40 cases (20.6%) of MALT lymphoma, 8 cases (4.1%) of follicular lymphoma, 5 cases of (2.6%) of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, 3 cases (1.6%) of mantle cell lymphoma, 1 case of (0.5%) of B-lymphoblastic lymphoma and 9 cases (4.6%) of indefinite type (including 5 biopsy cases). The site of involvement included stomach (100 cases, 51.5%), small intestine (43 cases, 22.2%), ileocecal junction (26 cases, 13.4%), appendix (1 case, 0.5%), colon (21 cases, 10.8%) and rectum (3 cases, 1.6%). Amongst the 163 cases which had undergone surgical resection, 20 cases (12.3%) cases had invasion down to the mucosa, 20 cases (12.3%) down to the superficial muscular layer, 19 cases (11.6%) down to the deep muscular layer and 104 cases (63.8%) with full-thickness involvement. Histologic examination showed lymphoepithelial lesions in 52 cases, residual lymphoid follicles in 29 cases, coagulative necrosis in 66 cases and nodular growth pattern in 30 cases. The lymphoma cells in all cases were immunoreactive for B-cell marker CD20. There was also various degrees of positivity for bcl-6, CD10, bcl-10, cyclin D1, TdT, MUM1 and Ki-67.

CONCLUSIONSGastrointestinal B-cell lymphomas can be subdivided into two main groups: large B-cell lymphomas and small B-cell lymphomas. The latter group often poses diagnostic pitfalls. Accurate pathologic typing requires correlation with histologic and immunohistochemical findings.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antigens, CD20 ; metabolism ; Child ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymphoma, Follicular ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neprilysin ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6 ; Young Adult