Objective The purpose of this study was to analyze the alterations of T_1、T_2 lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood of patients with colorectal cancer. MethodsTwenty patients with primary colorectal cancer were enrolled into this study, T_1 and T_2 in the peripheral blood were evaluated by detecting the intracellular interferon-? and interleukin-4 production with 4-color flow cytometry. ResultsThe percentage of T_1 and T_2 in the peripheral blood of cancer patients was lower significantly than healthy controls [(36?11)% and 3.3(1.9)% vs. (46?12)% and 4.1(3.1)%](P

Objective To approach the effect of fluoride on the expression of thyroid peroxidase(TPO)activity and TPO mRNA in primary porcine thyrocytes.Methods Purified cultured porcine thyrocytes waft made into sodium fluoride model,and were divided according to the final concentration of NaF into 0(control group),40,80,160 mg/L.After exposed to NaF for 48 h,the morphology of the porcine thyrocytes was investigated with acridine orange staining method,TPO activity was measured with upgrade guaiacol method and RT-PCR method was used to detect the ratio of TPO/β-actin.Results The major changes included apoptotic bodies and cell fragments in the 80,160 mg/L groups under phase contrast microscope.With the increasing dose of fluoride.TPO activity,being(3.103±0.090),(1.944±0.025),(1.361±0.008),(0.668±0.026)U/L,respectively,had obviously lowered with a statistical significance compared between the groups(F=1563.864,P＜0.05).The TPO activity had a negative correlation with the dose of fluoride(r=-0.955,P＜0.05).With the dose of fluoride increasing,the expression of TPO mRNA had obviously lowered,being(0.947±0.013),(0.634±0.018),(0.448±0.028)and (0.210±0.009)with a statistical significance in group comparison(F=2713.855,P＜0.05).Conclusion Fluoride affects the thyroid via inhibiting TPO activity and expression of TPO mRNA.

Based on variation of Pinus massoniana families, heritablility and correlation analysis, the contents of shikimic acid and procyanidine (heritability 0.90, 0.70), dry weight of single branch (heritability 0.60) and and leaf length (heritability 0.46) were screened out as quality, yield and harvest cost traits of Folium Pini, respectively. For the different medicinal application of Folium Pini, varied methods were chosen to estimate weight and construct index equation. Weight adjustment based.on equal emphasis were used as economic weight determining method to select the best families, and the index (accuracy 0. 936 4 and heritability 0. 881 6) obtained was a little better than that obtained by equal emphasis, and much better than that by restricted index. The superior families selected with adjustment weight and equal emphasis were No. 46, 43 and 28. Partial regression were used as economic weight determining method to select the best families,and the index obtained had the highest accuracy (0.941 5) , index heritability (0. 889 9) and the genetic gain of shikimic acid content. The superior families selected with this method were No. 46, 27 and 47. No. 46 was the best families with maximal economic benefit. Our study indicated that suitable method for estimate weight and construct index equation can be applied for better accuracy of superior families selection of P. massoniana.
Breeding ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Pinus ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics ; growth & development ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo provide new germplasm materials for breeding new varieties of Pseudostellaria heterophylla.

METHODThe method of single plant selection was adopted, with the comparative experiments being carried out under the same conditions in Shibing county. The 8 plants of Shibing SB-4 were compared respectively with factor analysis for 27 phenotypic traits and 8 yield traits, and single factor variance analysis for the contents of polysaccharides.

RESULTUsing factor analysis, 27 phenotypic traits were classified into 7 principal divisors and 8 yield traits were simplified into 3 principal divisors. The 4 strains of P. heterophylla, ZT-01, ZT-02, ZT-06 and ZT-07, performed better than others in the phenotypic traits, and ZT-01, ZT-02, ZT-03 and ZT-07 in the yield traits. The contents of polysaccharides of ZT-01, ZT-02, ZT-05 and ZT-08 showed significantly higher value.

CONCLUSIONThere is significant difference among the 8 strains of P. heterophylla in phenotypic traits, yield traits and quality traits, making it possible to select certain strains for different purposes. ZT-01 and ZT-02 can be breaded further. ZT-06 and ZT-07 were used as ornamental cultivars for its great phenotypic traits. ZT-03 with good resistance and high yield was taken as resistant variety, and ZT-05 would face next selection on the basis of its high content of polysaccharide.

Breeding ; Caryophyllaceae ; chemistry ; growth & development ; China ; Phenotype ; Polysaccharides ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the incidence of wheezing and chronic cough in children aged 3-14 years in different living areas of Zhongshan, China.

METHODSAccording to the unified program of the 2010 national epidemiological survey of asthmatic children aged 0-14 years, a questionnaire survey of the children aged 3-14 years in rural and urban areas of Zhongshan was conducted.

RESULTSA total of 15 763 children were included in the survey. Among all participants, 8 248 were from the urban area, and 7 515 from the rual area; 8 306 were boys, and 7 457 were girls. The percentage of children with a history of wheezing was significantly higher in the urban group than in the rural group (6.6% vs 3.2%; P<0.05), and it was significantly higher in boys than in girls for each group (P<0.05). The urban group had a significantly higher percentage of individuals who had wheezing in the past one year than the rural group (2.8% vs 1.5%; P<0.05), and this percentage was significantly higher in boys than in girls for each group (P<0.05). Compared with the rural group, the urban group had a significantly higher percentage of individuals who had chronic cough (duration 1 year) (7.9% vs 3.1%; P<0.05). The above indices were relatively high in children under 6 years of age, and all but the percentage of girls who had wheezing in the past one year in both rural and urban areas showed significant differences between all age groups.

CONCLUSIONSThe incidence of wheezing and chronic cough varies with age, sex, and living area for children aged 3-14 years in Zhongshan, and it is relatively high under 6 years of age, in the urban area, and among boys.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Chronic Disease ; Cough ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Respiratory Sounds ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence, current treatment, and clinical characteristics of asthma, as well as the risk factors for this disease, among children aged 0-14 years in 2010 in urban Zhongshan, China.

METHODSA total of 10 336 children aged 0-14 years were selected from urban Zhongshan by cluster random sampling. The Third National Childhood Asthma Epidemiological Questionnaire 2010 was used to analyze the prevalence, current treatment, and clinical characteristics of childhood asthma, as well as the risk factors for this disease.

RESULTSAsthma was diagnosed in 179 cases (1.73%). The prevalence of asthma in male children was significantly higher than that in female children (2.25% vs 1.16%; P<0.01). Of the 179 patients, severe attacks were common in 104 cases (58.1%), 110 cases (61.5%) had slow onset, 102 cases (57.0%) had gradually relieved conditions, 61 cases (34.1%) suffered from asthma during seasonal transition, and 150 cases (83.8%) developed asthma due to respiratory tract infection. Among all asthmatic children, 71.5% had been treated with inhaled corticosteroids, and 71.5% had been treated with bronchodilator. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a history of penicillin allergy, a family history of allergy, food allergy, eczema, allergic rhinitis, cesarean delivery, family mould, and perinatal passive smoking were independent risk factors for childhood asthma.

CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence of childhood asthma in urban Zhongshan is on a high level, and is associated with gender. The treatment of asthma has been standardized, but still needs further improvement. The onset of asthma attack is influenced by various factors.

Adolescent ; Asthma ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Seasons ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo observe voice characteristic of pre-lingual cochlear implant adults for cochlear implantation and phoniatrics.

METHODS3s-sustained voice of vowel [ a: ] of 28 pre-lingual cochlear implant adults, 18 pre-lingual deafness adults and 10 adults with normal hearing were analyzed. Specifically, the Voice analyses include fundamental frequency, first formant, second formant, frequency perturbation quotient (FPQ), amplitude perturbation quotient (APQ) and harmonic noise ratio (HNR). The outcomes of 3 groups were compared.

RESULTSThe fundamental frequency was lower in cochlear implant group [(175.42+/-25. 31) Hz] than that in deafness group [(210.84+/-54.300) Hz] (P = 0.02). The position of formant of cochlear implant group [F2 = (1264. 64 +/- 152.19) Hz] was more access to normal than that of normal hearing group[ F2 = (1422.44 +/- 232. 37) Hz, P = 0. 02]. FPQ of cochlear implant group (2.09 +/- 1.15) was more access to normal than that of deafness group (5.32+/-4.29, P=0.006). The voice of cochlear implanted and deafness adults were much more different individually.

CONCLUSIONSIn the aspect of acoustic characteristic of voice, pre-lingual cochlear implant adults could benefit cochlear implantation finitely. As speech perception of pre-lingual cochlear implant adults was far worse than that of children and post-lingual cochlear implant adults, the general outcome of pre-lingual cochlear implant adults was very limited. Cochlear implant of those candidate should be cautious.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Cochlear Implantation ; Cochlear Implants ; Deafness ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Speech Perception ; Treatment Outcome ; Voice Quality ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the toxicity of anti-CD25 monoclonal antibody (mAb) to rat cornea and its effects on the cytokines in the aqueous humour after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP), thereby evaluating the effect of anti-CD25 mAb in preventing corneal allograft rejection.

METHODSThe corneal toxicity of anti-CD25 mAb at 50, 100 and 200 microg administered via subconjunctival injection was evaluated in 12 SD rats by histological examination and transmission electron microscopy. Another 93 SD rats were randomized into 5 groups, and transplantation of corneal allograft from Wistar rats was performed in 4 groups with the other group as the normal control. The 4 allograft groups were treated with saline, 100 microg anti-CD25 mAb, 100 microg anti-CD25 mAb with 50 microg dexamethasone, and 50 microg dexamethasone, respectively. The graft rejection was observed, the aqueous humour levels of IFN-gamma and IL-4 were measured with ELISA, and IFN-gamma mRNA expressions in the grafts detected with RT-PCR.

RESULTSanti-CD25 mAb at 50 or 100 microg did not show significant toxicity on the cornea, but at 200 microg, the mAb caused swelling of the corneal stromal cells and endothelial cells. After corneal allograft transplantation, a significant delay in allograft rejection was observed in the 3 groups with mAb or dexamethasone treatment as compared with that in saline group (P<0.05). IFN-gamma mRNA expression in the allograft on days 11 after PKP and in the aqueous humour on days 6 and 11 was markedly increased in saline group compared with that in the 3 treatment groups (P<0.05). The mean IL-4 level in the aqueous humour was significantly higher in the mAb group than in saline group (P<0.05), but markedly lower in anti-CD25 mAb+dexamethasone and dexamethasone groups than in anti-CD25 mAb group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAnti-CD25 mAb at 20 and 100 microg does not obviously affect the rat corneas. Anti-CD25 mAb inhibits IFN-gamma expression and promotes IL-4 the expression to reduce corneal allograft rejection, whereas anti-CD25 mAb with low-dose dexamethasone inhibits both IFN-gamma and IL-4 expressions to more effectively promote the graft survival.

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; pharmacology ; Aqueous Humor ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Female ; Graft Rejection ; prevention & control ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit ; immunology ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating ; methods ; Male ; Peptide Fragments ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo identify and type three leptospires isolated from Rattus tanezumi in Guizhou Province by using three molecular techniques (PFGE, MLVA, and MLST), reveal the molecular characteristic of causative agents of local leptospirosis and evaluate these three molecular methods based on their detection resolution and efficiency.

METHODSThree Leptospira strains were isolated from the kidney of Rattus tanezumi and cultured with EMJH medium. PFGE, MLVA, and MLST assays were applied to type the three strains isolated from Rattus tanezumi in Guizhou Province.

RESULTSPFGE, MLVA, and MLST typing showed that the three leptospiral isolates matched with leptospiral serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae serovar Lai. The findings of the genotyping methods were consistent. MLVA and MLST defined genotypes, whereas PFGE allowed the recognition of additional subgroups within the genotypes, and the findings of molecular typing were also consistent with those of traditional techniques.

CONCLUSIONThree leptospiral isolates from Guizhou Province matched with leptospiral serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae serovar Lai, and PFGE, MLVA, and MLST, as reliable molecular techniques for identifying and typing of Leptospira interrogans, would contribute to the active surveillance, outbreak investigation and source tracking for leptospirosis in Guizhou Province.

Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; DNA, Bacterial ; classification ; genetics ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Genotype ; Leptospira interrogans ; classification ; genetics ; Leptospirosis ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; veterinary ; Phylogeny ; Rats

PURPOSE: Although the interferon α (IFNα) signaling and the paired-like homeodomain transcription factor 2 (PITX2) have both been implicated in the progression of breast cancer (BCa), it remains obscure whether these two pathways act in a coordinated manner. We therefore aimed to elucidate the expression and function of PITX2 during the pathogenesis of endocrine resistance in BCa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PITX2 expression was assessed in BCa tissues using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and immunohistochemistry and in experimentally induced letrozole-resistant BCa cells using RT-qPCR and immunoblotting. Effects of PITX2 deregulation on BCa progression was determined by assessing MTT, apoptosis and xenograft model. Finally, using multiple assays, the transcriptional regulation of interferon-inducible transmembrane protein 1 (IFITM1) by PITX2 was studied at both molecular and functional levels. RESULTS: PITX2 expression was induced in letrozole-resistant BCa tissues and cells, and PITX2 induction by IFNα signaling powerfully protected BCa cells against letrozole insult and potentiated letrozole-resistance. Mechanistically, PITX2 enhanced IFNα-induced AKT activation by transactivating the transcription of IFITM1, thus rendering BCa cells unresponsive to letrozoleelicited cell death. Additionally, ablation of IFITM1 expression using siRNA substantially abolished IFNα-elicited AKT phosphorylation, even in the presence of PITX2 overexpression, thus sensitizing BCa cells to letrozole treatment. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that constitutive upregulation of PITX2/IFITM1 cascade is an intrinsic adaptive mechanism during the pathogenesis of letrozole-resistance, and modulation of PITX2/IFITM1 level using different genetic and pharmacological means would thus have a novel therapeutic potential against letrozole resistance in BCa.
Apoptosis ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast ; Cell Death ; Heterografts ; Immunoblotting ; Immunohistochemistry ; Interferons ; Phosphorylation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Transcription Factors ; Transcriptional Activation ; Up-Regulation