Objective To determine whether hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) could be detected in serum of patients with hepatitis B and evaluate the related factors and clinical significances. Methods Fifty-seven patients, including 26 with mild chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and 31 with severe hepatitis B (SHB) were enrolled. Prothrombin time (PT), hepatic biochemical indexes, serum markers of hepatitis virus, serum total HBV DNA and HBV cccDNA of every patient were detected after hospitalization. Factors associated with the detection rate of serum HBV cccDNA were analyzed using Logistic stepwise regression. Results Serum HBV cccDNA was detected in 13 patients with SHB and 1 with mild CHB, and serum levels of HBV cccDNA were varying from 1.25 × 103 to 4. 88 × 104 copy/mL. The detection rates were significantly different between the two groups (P=0. 0014). The sensitivity and specificity of SHB diagnose by serum HBV cccDNA detection were 41.94% and 96.15 %, respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed that the detection rate of serum HBV cccDNA was associated with PT (X2 = 7. 2192, P= 0. 0072), while not associated with age, sex, total serum HBV DNA, total bilirubin or alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Conclusion Serum HBV cccDNA could be detected in some of the patients with SHB, whic hmay be considered as one of the diagnostic indexes for SHB,

Objective To analyze the effect and mechanism of trichostatin A（TSA）on cell cycle in human ovarian cancer cells.Methods Human ovarian cancer cell line A2780 cells were cultured in RPMI 1640 supplement.Flow cytometry analysis and RT-PCR were used to examine the distribution of cell cycles and the level of p21WAF/CIPI mRNA.Results TSA induced increase of G2/M cells increased after the treatment of TSA for 36 hours（P 0.05）;the level of p21WAF/CIPI mRNA expression was upregulated after TSA treatment for 12 hours,the highest leve of its expression occurred at 24 hours,the expression level begun to decrease at 48 hours（P 0.05）.TSA simultaneously induced the decrease of S phase cells in a concentration-dependent manne（rP 0.05）.TSA upregulated the expression of p21WAF/CIPI mRNA in a concentration-dependent manner（P 0.05）.Conclusion TSA could block the G2/M phase and inhibits cell proliferation of A2780 cells through upregulating the expression of p21WAF/CIPI mRNA and the activate cyclin-dependent kinase.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the apoptosis,expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax protein in perihematomal brain regions of rats and neurologic dysfunctions after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Methods Seventy Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into two groups:an experimental group and a control group.A model of ICH was established by injection of 0.5 U bacterial collagenaseⅦinto the caudate nucleus in the rats.Neurological impairment was evaluated at 6 h,12 h,24 h,48 h,72 h,7 d and 14 d after 1CH,respectively, before the rats were sacrificed.TUNEL method was used to detect apoptosis,and SP method to detect expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax protein in the perihematomal brain tissues.Results Neurological impairment occurred in all the rats after ICH,and peaked at 48 h after ICH.The apoptosis and expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax protein were peaked at 48 h,6 h and 48 h after ICH,respectively.Conclusion The degree of the neurological impairment after ICH is parallel to that of the apoptosis.Apoptosis may play an important role in neurological impairment after ICH.

As the human population ages and the life expectancy increases,tendon injuries will become more prevalent,especially among young individuals.Though the traditional operative therapy for tendon lesion can relieve the suffering of patients,the functional reconstruction is usually not optimistic.Tissue engineering is an advancing field,as the technology of construction in vitro and application in vivo matures,that can provide a more promising approach for tendon repair without tendon autograft.Challenges and future directions in the field of tendon tissue engineering focusing on four key parameters:seed cells,novel scaffolds,and mechanical stimulation.Recently,the discovery of TDSCs (tendon-derived stem cells) provides new ideas for the selection of seed cells and effect of mechanical stimulation on the tendon tissue engineering has become a hot spot.This article provides a review of recent progress in research about seed cells,scaffolds and mechanical stimulation for tendon engineering,and also speculates on the development in the future.

Objective To determine the effect of oxymatrine on the activity of HBV DNA polymerase in vitro. Methods Hepatitis B virus particles were purified from supernatant of cultured HepG2.2.15 cells by uhracentrifugation, and then were mixed with reaction buffer containing NP-40, β-mercaptoethanol, 32P-labelled nucleoside triphosphate (dCTP), MgCl2, and different concentrations of oxymatrine ( 1000 μg/ml, 800 μg/ml, 600 μg/ml, 400 μg/ml and 200 μg/ml) or adefovir dipivoxil ( 100 μg/ml, 80 μg/ml and 60 μg/ml, 40 μg/ml and 20 μg/ml). After incubation at 37 ℃ overnight, proteinase K was added to the reaction system for digestion and 35 μl of samples were spotted onto DE81 paper. Activities of endogenous polymerase in HBV particles were assessed by determining the radioactivity of 32P-labelled dCTP incorporated in the plus-strain of viral DNA. Results Compared with the blank control, the activity of endogenous polymerase in HBV particles treated with different doses of oxymatrine varied from 103% to 107%, and it varied from 91% to 101% when treated with different doses of adefovir dipivoxil. No significant difference was observed among treated groups and the control (P > 0. 05 ). Conclusion No direct inhibitory effect of oxymatrine on the activity of HBV polymerase was observed in vitro.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the environmental and psychological risk factors for female infertility and to provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of female infertility.

METHODSIn a hospital-based case-control study, a self-designed questionnaire was used to survey the cases and controls (1:1) with nation and age (± 2 years) as matching variables. Univariate and multivariate conditional logistic regression models were employed to analyze the datasets.

RESULTSThe univariate analysis showed that female infertility was related to the following factors: eating fried foods, alcohol consumption, smoking, staying up late, perm, housing decoration, contact with heavy metals, exposure to radiation, contact with pesticides, working in hot environment, mental stress, uneasiness, helplessness, and despair. The multivariate analysis showed that staying up late (OR = 2.937), housing decoration (OR = 2.963), exposure to radiation (OR = 2.506), contact with pesticides (OR = 2.908), and mental stress (OR = 4.101) were the main risk factors for female infertility. Furthermore, there was an interaction between staying up late and mental stress.

CONCLUSIONFemale infertility is caused by multiple factors including staying up late, housing decoration, exposure to radiation, contact with pesticides, and mental stress, and there is an interaction between staying up late and mental stress.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Environmental Exposure ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; chemically induced ; etiology ; psychology ; Logistic Models ; Multivariate Analysis ; Risk Factors ; Stress, Psychological ; Surveys and Questionnaires

14 strains were isolated from pits sludge by anaerobic cultivation,two Clostridium butyricum strains were identified by physiological and biochemical experiments and the sequence analysis of 16S rDNA.The physiological characteristics and security of Clostridium butyricum B1 were studied,in vitro research indicated it was tolerant against low pH,bile concentration and antibiotics and has antagonism effects against pathogens.

Objective To investigate the computed tomography (CT) features of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP).Methods The CT imaging data of 33 patients with AIP confirmed by pathology and/or steroid therapy were retrospectively analyzed.Image analysis including the shape of pancreas, density of lesion, contrast enhancement, the changes of pancreatic duct and biliary duct, peripancreatic appearances and adjacent organ involvement.T test was performed for statistical analysis.Results Among 33 patients with AIP, 23 cases (70%) with pancreatic parenchyma diffuse enlargement, eight cases (24%) with partial enlargement and two cases (6%) with normal pancreas.The lesions appeared hypoattenuating or isoattenuating on plain CT scan.After contrast-enhanced scan, the average CT values of lesions were (75.7±17.0) Hu at arterial phase, which was lower than that of venous phase (90.7±12.0) Hu, and the difference was statistically significant (t=3.378,P=0.002).The lesions demonstrated as progressive enhancement at venous phase.Among 33 patients, the main pancreatic duct was visible in six patients (18%).Sixteen patients (48%) presented with intrahepatic and extrahepatic biliary tract dilatation caused by intrapancreatic common bile duct stenosis.Thickened envelope-like structure around the lesions, presenting as capsule sign was seen in 14 patients (42%).Extra-pancreatic organ involvement was found in seven patients including three cases of kidney involvement.After treated with steroid, seven patients repeated CT which showed different degrees of improvement.Conclusion The main CT findings of AIP are diffuse and partial enlargement of pancreas with progressive enhancement at venous phase, envelope-like structure around pancreas, and stenosis of intrapancreatic common bile duct, which are important in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of AIP.

To figure out the stability and intestinal bacteria metabolites of rats in vitro of astragaloside IV ( AST), this research was done to explore the stability of AST in the artificial gastric juice. artificial intestinal juice and rat liver homogenate and the metabolism in rat intestinal in vitro. HPLC was used to calculate the remaining rate of AST in biological samples by measuring the content of AST, while metabolites were determined by combining the methods of TLC, HPLC and LC-MS/MS. It turned out that AST was difficult to metabolize in the artificial gastric juice, artificial intestinal juice and rat liver. Also, the metabolic pathway of AST was stepped by deglycosylation. Firstly, AST was converted to its secondary etabolites (6-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl- cycloastragenol, CMG) by removal of xylose moiety at C-3, then transformed into cycloastragenol (CAG) after hydrolytic removal of the glucose moiety at C-6. All the results suggested that the metabolism of AST in vivo occurs mainly in the intestinal by hydrolysis of glycosyl. In conclusion, hydrolysis of intestinal flora is the main reason that AST metabolizes.
Animals ; Bacteria ; metabolism ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drug Stability ; Intestines ; microbiology ; Liver ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Saponins ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects and mechanisms of multi-glycoside of Tripterygium wilfordii (GTW) on improving glomerular inflammatory lesion in rats with diabetic nephropathy (DN).

METHODDN model was induced by unilateral nephrectomy and intraperitoneal injection of STZ (35 mg x kg(-1)) twice. The rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, the sham-operated group (Sham group, n = 5), the vehicle-given group (Vehicle group, n = 5 ) and GTW-treated group (GTW group, n = 5). After the model was successfully established, the rats in GTW group were daily oral administrated with GTW suspension (50 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)), meanwhile, the rats in Vehicle group were daily oral administrated with distilled water (2 mL) for 8 weeks. From the beginning of the administration, all rats were killed 8 weeks later. Blood and renal tissues were collected,and then UAlb, renal function, glomerular morphology characteristics and glomerular macrophages (ED1 + cells) infiltration, as well as the protein expressions of inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α and interleukin(IL)-lβ, and the key molecules in p38MAPK signaling pathway including p38 mitogenactivated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphorylated p38 (p-p38MAPK) and transforming growth factor(TGF)-β1 were investigated respectively.

RESULTGTW not only ameliorated the general state of health and body weight,but also attenuated UAlb, glomerulosclerosis, the infiltration of glomerular ED1 + cells and the protein expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β, p-p38MAPK and TGF-β1 in the kidney in DN model rats.

CONCLUSIONBy means of DN model rats, we demonstrated that GTW has the protective effect on renal inflammatory damage in vivo via inhibiting inflammatory cells infiltration and inflammatory cytokines expression. Furthermore, GTW could improve renal inflammatory lesion through down-regulating the expressions of the key signaling molecules in p38MAPK pathway such as p-p38MAPK and TGF-β1 ,and inhibiting the activation of p38MAPK signaling in the kidney.

Animals ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Glomerulonephritis ; drug therapy ; Glycosides ; pharmacology ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; drug effects ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; analysis ; Tripterygium ; chemistry ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; physiology