Objective　To explore the relationship between hemolymph phenol oxidase and the melanization of Plasmodium yoelii oocysts in Anopheles dirus. Methods　An Anopheles dirus-Plasmodium yoelii system was used Anopheles dirus were divided into 3 groups, that is, non-blood-fedding (N), normal-blood-fedding (B) and infected-blood-fedding (I). The activities of MPO and o-DPO in hemolymph from 3 groups were determined with native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and density scanning at 5, 7, 11 and 15 d after blood feeding. Results　Both MPO and o-DPO activity were significantly higher in group I than group N and B (P<0.05). But with the melanization of Plasmodium yoelii oocysts, both MPO and o-DPO activity in group I were decreased in comparison with group N, especially on the 15 th day after infected-blood feeding. MPO and o-DPO activity in group B were significantly stronger than those of group N. Conclusion　Blood feeding and infection of Plasmodium yoelii both can activate the cascade. The heamolymph phenol oxidase may play an important role in the melanization of Plasmodium yoelii oocysts in Anopheles dirus.

OBJECTIVETo emphasize early differential diagnosis from patients with hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA) and to evaluate the treatment and long-term outcome of patients with tetrahydrobiopterin synthase (BH4) deficiency in Northern Chinese population.

METHODSFrom 1992 to 2005, a total of 618 patients with HPA were diagnosed and/or cared for in our outpatient clinic. Urinary pterin analysis, detection of dihydropteridine reductase (DHPR) activity in blood, and then BH4 loading tests were carried out to differentiate BH4 deficiency in these patients from classical phenylketonuria. BH4 deficient patients were treated with BH4, levodopa and 5-hydroxytryptophane (5-HTP) immediately while the diagnosis was done to disease. Patientso blood phenylalanine levels, psychomotor and intelligence development were followed up.

RESULTSA total of 38 cases were diagnosed as BH4 deficiency, all of them were revealed as 6-pyruvoyl-tetrahydropterin synthase (PTPS) deficiency from the extremely decreased urine biopterin, normal DHPR activities and drop down of blood phenylalanine level to normal range within 4 to 8 hours after BH4 loading. The most common manifestations were progressively psychomotor and mental retardation to patients even after taking early dietary treatment. The patients were diagnosed and treated with drugs at the ages of 2.1 months to 13 years. With 4 patients died of pneumonia, 7 patients refused to treatment, only 27 patients were under treatment and followed up. The average full scale development or intelligence quotient (DQ/IQ) of patients who were treated within and after 6 months were 86+/- 10 or 66+/- 7 respectively. Development was not even in different aspects. A significant negative correlation was observed between the level of the DQ and the age of treatment commenced (r was -0.714, P< 0.01). Eleven patients experienced the extrapyramidal movement disorders, 3 of them combined with epilepsy. The extrapyramidal disorders were controlled by administration of levodopa.

CONCLUSIONThe differential diagnosis for BH4 deficiency should be carried out in all patients with HPA. PTPS deficiency is the most common form of BH4 deficiency in Northern Chinese population. The long-term outcome of these patients benefits from diagnosis and treatment with BH4, levodopa and 5-HTP as early as possible.

5-Hydroxytryptophan ; therapeutic use ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Biopterin ; analogs & derivatives ; deficiency ; therapeutic use ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Dihydropteridine Reductase ; blood ; Humans ; Infant ; Levodopa ; therapeutic use ; Phenylalanine ; blood ; Phenylketonurias ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Phosphorus-Oxygen Lyases ; deficiency ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the association between SLC22A1 expression and the outcomes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.

METHODSA tissue microarray of 303 HCC and matched adjacent noncancerous liver tissues (ANLTs) were constructed. The expression of SLC22A1 was tested by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and scored by two pathologists according to a 12-score scale (a score>6 was defined as high expression, and a score≤6 as low expression). The correlation of SLC22A1 expression with the clinicopathological features and the patients' outcome was analyzed.

RESULTSAll the ANLTs had a IHC score of 12, as compared to only 29 (9.6%) of the HCC tissues. The patients were divided into 2 groups based on the IHC scores: 59% (180/303) in low expression group and 41% (123/303) in high expression group. The disease-free survival (DFS) rates and overall survival (OS) rates were significantly lower in low SLC22A1 expression group than in the high expression group. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year DFS rates were 43%, 31% and 27% in the low expression group, and were 58%, 47% and 43% in the high expression group, respectively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 66%, 38% and 32% in low expression group, and were 80%, 57% and 50% in the high expression group, respectively. A low expression of SLC22A1 was positively correlated with the tumor diameter, BCLC stage, tumor differentiation, and AFP levels (P<0.05), and was an independent predictor of poor overall survival (HR=1.454; 95% CI, 1.050-2.013).

CONCLUSIONSDown-regulation of SLC22A1 is a malignant feature and a potential prognostic marker of HCC.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Disease-Free Survival ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Organic Cation Transporter 1 ; metabolism ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate ; Tissue Array Analysis

OBJECTIVETo study the oxidative damage and apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells (NRK-52e cell line) induced by ethylbenzene.

METHODSNRK-52e cells were exposed to 30, 60, 90, 120 μmol/L ethylbenzene for 24 hours. Cell viability were measured using MTT, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT), the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) were detected respectively. PI fluorescent staining assay was applied to detect percentage of apoptosis in ethylbenzene-treated groups.

RESULTSCompared with control group, cell outline became clear, cell diopter increased, cell became smaller and shrinkage, some cells broke in 60 μmol/L ethylbenzene-treated group. Plenty of cells died, suspension cells increased significantly in 90 μmol/L ethylbenzene-treated group. Compared with control group, cell viability the activities of SOD and CAT and the content of GSH were significantly decreased in 60 and 90 μmol/L ethylbenzene-treated groups (P<0.05). The MDA content were remarkably elevated in 90 μmol/L ethylbenzene-treated groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONEthylbenzene can induce oxidative stress and apoptosis in NRK-52e cells (P<0.05).

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Benzene Derivatives ; toxicity ; Cell Line ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Kidney Tubules ; cytology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo isolate the wild-type virulent phage of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) and simulate the treatments in vitro to investigate the methods for oral Hp-assisted penetration of the phage through the gastric barrier and offspring phage release for infection and treatment of gastrointestinal Hp.

METHODSThe Hp strain was cultured with the candle cylinder method and the virulent phage was isolated by single plate or double plate experiment. A simulated gastric juice was applied and the bactericidal effect of the phage was tested with double flats experiment.

RESULTSAfter a 1.5-h treatment in simulated gastric juice, the orally derived Hp-borne phage was still capable of forming plaques while the control phage was not.

CONCLUSIONThe oral Hp can help the phage resist the gastric juice and then infect the gastrointestinal Hp.

Bacteriophages ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; microbiology ; Helicobacter Infections ; therapy ; Helicobacter pylori ; virology ; Humans ; Virulence

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) are widely applied in disease diagnoses. Herein, we report a MAb, WF-4, against Influenza A virus nucleoprotein (NP), its broad response with Influenza A virus, and its application in an immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay. WF-4 was screened by immunofluorescence assay (IFA). The results showed that its reactivity with baculovirus-expressed full-length recombinant NP (rNP) in Western blot (WB), indicating its IHC applicability. Fifteen Influenza A virus (reference subtypes H1 to H15) infected chicken embryonated chorioallantoic membranes (CAM), fixed by formalin, were all detectable in the WF-4-based IHC assay. Also, the reactivity of the IHC test with NP from experimentally inoculated H6N1 and from all recent outbreaks of H5 subtype avian Influenza A virus (AIV) field cases in Taiwan showed positive results. Our data indicate that CAM, a by-product of Influenza A virus preparation, is helpful for Influenza A virus-specific MAb characterization, and that the WF-4 MAb recognizes conserved and linear epitopes of Influenza A virus NP. Therefore, WF-4 is capable of detecting NP antigens via IHC and may be suitable for developing various tests for diagnosis of Influenza A virus and, especially, AIV infection.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Blotting, Western ; Chickens ; Chorioallantoic Membrane ; Diagnosis ; Disease Outbreaks ; Epitopes ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Formaldehyde ; Immunohistochemistry ; Influenza A virus ; Influenza in Birds ; Influenza, Human ; Nucleoproteins ; Taiwan

Purpose: Reports showed that some of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) patients with lymph node metastasis (LNM) may also gain survival benefit undergone resection. However, the effect of the extent of LNM on prognosis and surgical indication is barely discussed. Methods: From September 1994 to November 2018, primary ICC patients undergone initial curable surgery were enrolled. Based on the extent of LNM, we divided these patients into 4 groups, including patients with no LNM (group N0), LNM to hepatoduodenal ligament or common hepatic artery (region A, group A), LNM to gastrohepatic lymph nodes for left liver ICC and periduodenal and peripancreatic lymph node for right liver ICC (region B, group B), or LNM beyond these regions (region C, group C). Multivariable Cox regression analysis was performed to identify the prognostic factors for recurrencefree survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in all groups. Results: A total of 133 patients were enrolled. There were 56, 21, 17, and 39 patients in groups N0, A, B, and C, respectively. There was significant difference between groups N0 and C in RFS (P < 0.001) and OS (P = 0.002). When we compared group N0 + A + B with group C, we also found that RFS (P < 0.001) and OS (P = 0.007) were significantly different. In multivariable analysis, the extent of LNM was an independent risk factor for RFS (P < 0.050). Conclusion ICC patients with the LNM to regions A and B could still achieve good prognosis with resection. Surgery should be carefully considered when LNM to region C.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the gene mutations types and the clinical characteristics in 3 patients with hereditary coagulation factor Ⅶ deficiency. METHODS: The phenotype diagnosis was validated by detecting the coagulation parameters including prothrombin time (PT)，activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen (FIB), FⅦ activity (FⅦ: C) and specific antigens (FⅦ: Ag) of proband and its family members. All exons, exon-intron boundaries, 5＇ untranslated regions and 3＇ untranslated regions of F7 gene were amplified with PCR. Potential mutations were detected by direct sequencing of purified PCR products. Suspected mutations were confirmed by sequencing of the opposite strand. RESULTS: A total of 5 different mutations were identified in 3 patients with hereditary coagulation factor Ⅶ deficiency and family members, including 4 misssense mutations and 1 splice site mutation. Out of 3 cases of hereditary coagulation factor Ⅶ deficiency 2 had double heterozygous mutation, I had homozygous mutations. Patient 1 had p.His408Gln with p.Arg413Gln double heterozygous mutations, her sister had p.His408Gln with p.Arg413Gln double heterozygous mutations, another one had p.His408Gln mono-heterozygous mutation, their correspo FⅦ: C were 5%, 3%, 75%. Patient 2 had p.Arg364Gln with p.His408Gln double heterozygous mutations, her brother had p.Arg364Gln with IVS6-1G＞A double heterozygous mutations, their corresponding FⅦ: C were 2.0%, 2.0%. Patient 3 had p.Arg337Cys homozygous mutation, FⅦ: C was 3.0%. CONCLUSION A total of 5 different mutations were identified in 3 patients with hereditary coagulation factor Ⅶ deficiency, the p.His408Gln is a common mutation, the FⅦ: C and FⅦ: Ag have no correlation with clinical phenotypes.
Factor VII ; Factor VII Deficiency ; Female ; Heterozygote ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Phenotype

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of lenvatinib on regorafenib-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Methods: CCK-8 and clone formation assay were used to observe the inhibitory effect of lenvatinib on the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis of regorafenib-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma cells treated with lenvatinib. The expression levels of related proteins were detected by western blot and immunohistochemical staining. The inhibitory effect of lenvatinib on the tumor formation ability of regorafenib-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vivo was observed by subcutaneous tumor formation experiment in mice. Results: CCK-8 and clone formation assay showed that lenvatinib could inhibit the proliferation of regorafenib-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma cells. The number of clones of HepG2, SMMC7721 and regorafenib-resistant HepG2, SMMC7721 cells in lenvatinib group (120.67±11.06, 53.00±11.14, 55.00±9.54, 78.67±14.64) were all lower than those in control group (478.00±24.52, 566.00±27.87, 333.67±7.02, 210.00±12.77, all P<0.05). Flow cytometry showed that lenvatinib could promote apoptosis of regorafenib-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma cells, the apoptosis rates of HepG2, SMMC7721 and regorafenib-resistant HepG2, SMMC7721 cells in lenvatinib group [(12.30±0.70)%, (9.83±0.38)%, (15.90±1.32)%, (10.60±0.00)%] were all higher than those in control group [(7.50±0.87)%, (5.00±1.21)%, (8.10±1.61)%, (7.05±0.78)%, all P<0.05]. The apoptosis-related protein levels suggested that apoptosis was increased in the treatment of lenvatinib. The animal study showed that lenvatinib can inhibit the growth of regorafenib-resistant cells in vivo. Immunohistochemistry and western blot results showed that lenvatinib could down-regulate the abnormally activated IGF1R/Mek/Erk signaling pathway in regorafenib-resistant cells. Conclusion: Lenvatinib can reverse regorafenib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma, possibly by down-regulating IGF1R/Mek/Erk signaling pathway.
Animals ; Mice ; Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Liver Neoplasms/pathology* ; Signal Transduction ; Humans