Objective To investigate the present situation of water benzo (a) pyrene contamination in China and to make an ecological risk assessment. Methods B(a)P, one of the 16 prior-controlled polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons pollutants selected by US EPA, is used to reflect the potential risk of PAHs, a strong carcinogen. Since the content of B(a)P in water is rather low, the contamination levels in the sediment of domestic water environment are assessed with two ecological assessment standards: risk assessment guidelines of chemical concentrations in marine and estuary sediments and sediment quality guidelines for the protection of aquatic life and probable effects levels for adverse biological effects. Results The contents of B(a)P were 0.06-707.12 ng/g in sediment of rivers and lakes, 7.1-1 492.12 ng/g in surface sediment of seaports, marines, and tidal flats respectively. Conclusion Domestic water environment is generally suffered from B(a)P contamination, but still under the adverse effect level.

Objective To investigate the expression of adiponectin in placenta and its correlation with preeclampsia.Methods Placental tissues were collected from normal term pregnancies(normal pregnancy group,n=20),mild preeclampsia(mild preeclampsia group,n=12)and severe preeclampsia (severe preeclampsia group,n=22).The expression of adiponectin protein and the intensity of its mRNA in placenta were detected using immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR,respectively.Integral optical density (IOD)which represents the expression level of adiponectin protein,and the ratio of adiponectin cDNA PCR products to β-actin cDNA PCR products which represents the intensity of transcription of adiponectin mRNA in placenta were analyzed.Results (1)The expression of adiponectin protein was observed in cytoplasm of placental cytotrophoblasts and syncytiotrophoblasts among three groups.There was no significant difference in adiponectin protein expression between maternal side and fetal side of placenta in three groups(all P＞0.05);(2)The expression of adiponectin protein in placenta in severe preeclampsia group(30 984 ±14 604)was significantly lower than that of mild preeclampsia group(58 360±8910,P＜0.01)and of normal pregnancy group(53 246±17 554,P＜0.01).There was also no significant difference in the expression of adiponeclln protein in placenta between term delivery and preterm delivery in severe preeclampsia group(38 890±20 386 vs 29 319±8997,P＞0.05),however,the expression of adiponectin protein in placenta in term delivery of severe preeclampsia group was significantly lower than that ofterm delivery of normlal pregnancy group(38 890±20 386 vs 53 246±17 554,P＜0.05);(3)The expression of adiponectin mRNA was detected in placental tissues among three groups also.The intensity of transcription of adiponectin in placenta in severe preeclampsia group(1.0±0.2)was markedly lower than that of mild preeclampsia group(2.9±0.8,P＜0.05)and normal pregnancy group(3.3±1.1,P=0.000).Conclusion The expression of adiponectin decreases in placenta tissues of severe preeclampsia,indicating that the abnormal expression of adiponectin may be involved in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; Male ; Polymorphism, Genetic

AIM To study the effect of bioactive compounds from entomogenous fungi (BCEF0083) on sleep-wakefulness cycle and behaviour in chronic unpredictable stress model of depression in rats. METHODS The effect of BCEF0083 on sleep-wakefulness cycle and behaviour was examined in the chronic unpredictable stress model of depression in rats. Stereotaxic and polysomnography were used to record the sleep-wakefulness cycle. The behaviour of rats was tested in the open field. RESULTS BCEF0083 increased ambulation and rearing score of chronic unpredictable stressed rats in the open field. BCEF0083 attenuated REMS percent and latency in chronic stressed rats obviously. CONCLUSION BCEF0083 can ameliate sleep-wakefulness cycle and behaviour in chronic unpredictable stress model of depression in rats.

AIM:To analyse the risk factors of age, sex, course, best corrected visual acuity(BCVA),diopter and fundus features of high myopes with progressive high myopia. METHODS: A total of 167 patients with high myopes were categorized into four groups: group 1,age of 29 years or younger; group 2,between the age of 30 to 49 years; group 3,between the age of 50 to 69 years and group 4,age of 70 years or older. The refractive errors of all patients were measured without cycloplegia with an autorefractometer. Data of the spherical equivalent(SE) of the refractive errors in diopters (D)and fundus examed by direct ophthalmoscope were used in statistical analyses.RESULTS: The number of female was statistically larger than that of male(P＜0.01),also the disease course was correlated to the age. The visual acuity of high myopes significantly decreased as they grew older including the higher incidence of lacquer cracker, submacular hemorrhage, Fuchs spots, chorioretinal atrophy . CONCLUSION: Female maybe a risk factor of high myopia, advanced age is an important factor of visual acuity decrease. High myopes ought to be treated early to delay the progress of myopia and development of macular degeneration.

Objective To evaluate the diagnosis value of urodynamics in patients with benign prostate hypertrophy(BPH).Method With urodynamic device,the full set of urodynamic exam was administrated in 427 patients with BPH,and the externalsphincter urethral myogram was monitored simultaneously in pressure-flow studies(PFS).The umdynamic finding such as Q_(max),P_(det)-Q_(max),DS(descending slope)and post-voiding residual(PVR)were recorded,as well as the situation of bladder detrusor constraction and bladder compliance and urethral sphincter coodination.The bladder outflow obstruction was diagnosed by A-G nomogram,P-Q plot and DS.The IPSS score and prostate volume were also acquired.Results The diagnostic rate of BOO is 81.5%,among them concomitantly detrusor muscle impair in 117 cases (27.4%),decreased bladder compliance in 162 case(37.9%),urethral sphincter dyssynergia in 148 cases(34.7%),and unstable bladder in 164 cases(38.4%).The increase degree of BOO show an increasing tendency with urodynamic finding such as Q_(max),P_(det)-Q_(max),P_(open),DS,IPSS score and prostatic volume respectively,but a decreasing tendency with Q_(max) and bladder compliance.Conclusions The urodynamic exam plays an important role in diagnosis of BOO.There is a positive relation among degree of BOO with urodynamic findings such as P_(det)-Q_(max),P_(open),DS and IPSS score and prostatic volume,however,a negative relation with Qmax and bladder compliance respectively.

Purpose To investigate the expression of vasculogenic mimicry (VM) and hypoxia inducible factor-1 α (HIF-1α),cathepsin D (CTSD) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and its relationship with clinicopathological parameters.Methods 120 specimens of primary ESCC and their clinical data were collected.Dual staining of CD34 and PAS were performed to validate the existence of VM in ESCC.Immunohistochemical of EnVision two-step method was used to detect the expression of VM-related markers vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) and vascular endothelial grow factor (VEGF),HIF-1α and CTSD in 120 cases of ESCC.The relationship between HIF-1α,CTSD and clinical pathological parameters were analyzed.Results The positive rate of HIF-1α,CTSD was correlated with infilatrating,lymph node metastasis,clinical stage and cancer embolus.VM existed in 25 of 120 cases.The expression of HIF-1α and CTSD in cases with VM was obviously higher than that without VM,the expression of HIF-1 α and CTSD was positively correlated with VM in ESCC.The expression of CTSD in case with HIF-1 α was obviously lower than that without HIF-1α,the expression of CTSD was positively correlated with HIF-1α in ESCC.The expression of VE-cadherin and VEGF in cases with CTSD was obviously higher than that without CTSD,the level of VE-cadherin and VEGF expression was positively correlated with CTSD in ESCC.Conclusion CTSD may promote VM formation in ESCC via HIF-1α.High expression of HIF-1α and CTSD indicate poor prognosis of ESCC patients.

The active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine have been reported to possess significant pharmacological activity and played an important role in clinical treatments. However, lots of the active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine suffer from disadvantages such as low solubility, high melting point and low stability that results in low bioavailability and limit its clinical application. Crystal structure plays an important role in improving physicochemical properties and efficacy of the active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine. This review concludes the research advances of several crystal forms used in the active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine in terms of polymorph, cocrystal, amorphous/coamorphous and nanocrystal. And the effects of crystal forms on the physicochemical properties and efficacy of the active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine were reviewed. This research may be useful for the formulation preparation and development of the active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine.

Abstract: Schistosomiasis is a serious major parasitic disease that threatens human life and health. A better understanding of the mechanism of host-schistosome interactions is the key to designing new prevention and control strategies. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous small non-coding RNA molecules, which lead to the degradation of the target messenger RNA (mRNA) or inhibition of its translation in a sequence-specific manner. Both schistosome and its host produce miRNAs, which can be secreted by extracellular vesicles (EVs). There is accumulating evidence that miRNAs from schistosome can be taken up by host cells, and finely manipulate the phenotype of host cells for their survival or pathogenesis in a cross-species manner, even inhibiting the growth and metastases of hepatoma cells. It is still unknown whether host free miRNAs can be taken up by schistosome, but this phenomenon is highly probable. miRNA-mediated cross-species regulation has emerged as a novel mechanism for host-schistosome interactions, and this review summarizes the advances in this regard.

Objective To investigate the daily total fluoride intake in relating to the prevalence of skeletal fluorosis in two villages in Jiangsu Province,in order to provide the scientific evidences for the control and prevention of endemic fluorosis.Methods Adults sampled from a high-fluoride Village,Wamiao,and a low-fluoride Village,Xinhuai,were surveyed in this study according to the fluoride concentration in their household shallow well.The average daily total fluoride intake from difierent sources and the skeletal fluorosis were investigated in each subject.Then the subjects from two villages were allocated into five subgroups(＜2.00,2.00～,3.00～,4.00～,≥5.00 mg/d),the relation fluoride intake and prevalence of osteofluorosis was analyzed.Results The prevalence of skeletal fluorosis in Wamiao Village was 31.06%(41/132),but no skeletal fluorosis case(0/35)was found in Xinhuai Village.According to the daily total fluoride intake,subjects with higher daily total fluoride intake tended to associated with a higher prevalence of skeletal fluorosis in a significant dose-response relationship(regression equation:y=2.624-6.855x+3.424x2:r=0.997).The benchmark dose lower limitation of daily total fluoride intake with 95% confidencewas 2.50 mg/d calculated according to this dose-response relationship,the reference dose(RfD)was 2.50 mg/d.In Wamiao Village a significant difference was also found between daily total fluoride intake in 41 subjects[(5.09±1.20)mg/d]with X-ray detectable skeletal fluorosis and in 91 subjects[(3.08±1.12)mg/d]without X-ray detectable skeletal fluorosis(t=-9.32,P＜0.01).Conclusions These findings indicate that the daily total fluoride intake has a significant dose-response relationship with the prevalence of skeletal fluorosis in an endemic fluorosis area associated with high-fluoride drinking water;and the RfD in this study was lower than that in the national standard of"Chinese hygienic standard for daily total fluoride intake(WS/T 87-1996)"(3.50 mg/d).