Objective To screen and identify specific antigens of Taenia solium cysticercus, and predict the function of target proteins using bioinformatics method. Methods Patients infected with Taenia solium were dewormed by decoction arecae and pumpkin seeds to collect worms, and eggs were then prepared. Six three-way crossed hybrid pigs were randomly divided into experimental group and control group, and each experimental pig was infected with 80 000 T. solium eggs. Serum samples were collected at 40 days after infection. The total protein of T. solium cysticercus was separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis, and Western blotting was performed to find out distinct antigens. Proteins from the two groups were identified by ESI-Trap MS. Query in NCBI database was made to confirm function of the proteins. Results 207?9 spots were detected through Coomassie brilliant blue-stained gels with Mr 14 400-94 000 and pI 3.0-10.0. Western blotting showed 7 specific antigen spots with pool sera of infected pigs. Four of the 7 antigens with known functions were respectively ascribed to cytoskeletal actin-2(adult-specific), tropomyosin(cysticercus-specific), AF239799-1 annexin (cysticercus-specific) and actin-1(cysticercus-specific). Conclutions Three specific antigens of Taenia solium cysticercus have been identified.

China ; epidemiology ; Chronic Disease ; Humans ; Respiratory Tract Diseases ; epidemiology ; Rural Population ; Urban Population

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of 17-β estradiol (E(2)) and Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) W83 on the expression of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 in human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLC).

METHODSPrimary cultures of hPDLC were established and the cells of passage four were treated with 10(-10) mol/L E(2), 10(-7) mol/L E(2) or PgW83 individually or E(2) combined with PgW83. The expression levels of IL-6 and IL-8 protein at 12 h and 24 h were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the levels of mRNA at 24 h were detected with real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSThe expression level of IL-6 reached (2482.88 ± 26.53) ng/L in hPDLC treated with Pg at multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 100 for 24 h, which was significantly higher than that in hPDLC treated with Pg at MOI of 10:1 [(734.09 ± 87.90) ng/L, P = 0.000], the controls [(425.8 ± 77.25) ng/L, P = 0.000] and that in hPDLC treated with Pg at MOI of 100 for 12 h [(1157.50 ± 234.65) ng/L, P = 0.000]. The expression level of IL-8 reached (4965.81 ± 1072.55) ng/L in hPDLC treated with Pg at MOI of 100 for 24 h, which was significantly higher than that in hPDLC treated with Pg at MOI of 10 [(803.51 ± 162.08) ng/L, P = 0.007], the controls [(400.75 ± 2.27) ng/L, P = 0.005] and that in hPDLC treated with Pg at MOI of 100 for 12 h [(1431.12 ± 82.78) ng/L, P = 0.001]. E(2) did not show remarkable effect on the expressions of IL-6 and IL-8. E(2) combined with Pg (MOI = 100:1) significantly promoted the expression levels of IL-6 at 24 h while did not influence those of IL-8. The relative mRNA level of IL-6 in hPDLC treated with 10(-10) mol/L E(2) or 10(-7) mol/L E(2) combined with Pg were 0.49 ± 0.15 (P = 0.021)and 0.53 ± 0.16 (P = 0.036) individually, which were significantly higher than that treated with Pg alone, 0.19 ± 0.06. The protein level of IL-6 in hPDLC treated with 10(-10) mol/L E(2) or 10(-7) mol/L E(2) combined with Pg were (5512.66 ± 1022.07) ng/L (P = 0.012) and (6988.78 ± 2279.13) ng/L (P = 0.000) individually, which were significantly higher than that treated with Pg alone, (3138.46 ± 183.72) ng/L.

CONCLUSIONSPgW83 significantly increased the expression levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in hPDLC in a dose-and time-dependent manner. Without the infection of periodontal pathogens, estrogen may exert no effect on the expression of IL-6 and IL-8 while it may promote the expression of IL-6 in hPDLC when combined with Pg, which may in turn promote the process of periodontal inflammation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cells, Cultured ; Estradiol ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Interleukin-8 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Periodontal Ligament ; cytology ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between methyl-tetra-hydrofolic acid (MTHFR) 677 gene polymorphism and the risk of stomach cancer.

METHODSA population based case-control study was conducted and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method was used to detect its genotypes.

RESULTSAmong cases with stomach cancer, the frequency of C/C, C/T, T/T genotype were 25.8%, 54.6%, 19.6%, compared with controls as 34.5%, 50.9%, 14.6% respectively. Using C/C genotype as reference, the OR of C/T or T/T genotype was 1.52 (95% CI: 1.04 - 2.23). 53.3% C and 46.7% T allele were distributed in stomach cancer cases, while 60.0% C and 40.0% T in controls. The OR for T allele in relation to C allele was 1.31 (1.02 - 1.69) when C allele was used as reference. In addition, the present study showed that MTHFR677 AnyT genotype might interact with smoking, moldy food intake, wheat porridge intake, eating salty food and Hp CagA infection to increase the risk of stomach cancer. No interaction was observed between MTHFR677 AnyT genotype and alcohol drinking or green tea intake.

CONCLUSIONMTHFR677 AnyT genotype, might increase the risk of stomach cancer development and the genotype might also interact with other environmental risk factors to increase the risk of stomach cancer.

Adult ; Alleles ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Life Style ; Male ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) ; genetics ; Point Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Stomach Neoplasms ; enzymology ; etiology ; genetics

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the effects of astilbin on the expressions of TNF alpha and IL-10 during liver warm ischemia-reperfusion injury.

METHODSC57BL/ 6 mice were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 8): sham-operated group (Sham), model control group(I/R), low dosage of astilbin treatment group (10 mg/kg) and high dosage of astilbin (40 mg/kg) treatment group. The treatment group mice were intraperitoneally injected with 10 or 40 mg/kg astilbin 24 hours and one hour before Ischemia, the hepatic ischemia-reperfusion model were thus established. After jn90 of min ischemia and 6 h reperfusion of the partial hepatic lobe, the expressions of TNF alpha and IL-10 in liver tissues collected from the experimental groups were detected by Western blot and semiquantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe expression of TNF alpha protein in liver tissues gradually decreased in treatment groups (low and high dosages of astilbin treatment groups) as compared to the I/R model control group. Similar results were observed in the mRNA expressions of these genes as determined by semiquantitative RT-PCR (P less than 0.05 for low dosage group; P less than 0.01 for high dosage group). Compared with the I/R model control group, the expression of IL-10 was increased in both treatment groups (low dosage group P less than 0.05; large dosage group P less than 0.01).

CONCLUSIONTreatment with astilbin decreases TNF alpha expression but induces IL-10 expression in liver during warm ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Animals ; Flavonols ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Reperfusion Injury ; etiology ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; Warm Ischemia

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of green tea in decreasing the risks of gastric cancer, liver cancer, esophageal cancer among alcohol drinkers or cigarette smokers.

METHODSA population based case-control study was conducted in Taixing, Jiangsu province.

RESULTSIn Taixing city, identified cases of stomach, liver and esophageal cancers were chosen with informed consent. The numbers were 206, 204, 218 respectively. Controls were chosen from normal population having lived in the area for longer than 10 years, also with informed consent. Green tea drinking seemed to have decreased 81%, 78%, 39% risk for the development of gastric cancer, liver cancer and esophageal cancer among alcohol drinkers. It might also have decreased 16%, 43%, 31% on the risks of developing the three kinds of cancers among cigarette smokers. Interaction assessment showed that drinking green tea could significantly decrease the risk of gastric cancer and liver cancer among alcohol drinkers, with ORs of interaction item 0.23 (95% CI: 0.10 - 0.55) and 0.25 (95% CI: 0.11 - 0.57) respectively.

CONCLUSIONHabit of drinking green tea seemed to have significant protective effects on the development of both gastric and liver cancer among alcohol drinkers while, green tea also having some protective effect on esophageal cancer among alcohol drinkers and on three kinds of cancers among cigarette smokers.

Adult ; Aged ; Alcohol Drinking ; adverse effects ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Digestive System Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; etiology ; Female ; Flavonoids ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phenols ; administration & dosage ; Polyphenols ; Risk ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Stomach Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Tea ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the current status of the application of H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-MRS) in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), and to describe the trend of research in the field.

METHODSPubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science were searched for English articles published up to January 10, 2018, with the combination of key words and MeSH terms. The articles were screened according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Excel 2016, Bicomb 2.0, and VOSviewer1.6.6 were used to analyze the key words, to perform a cluster analysis of hot words, and to plot the knowledge map.

RESULTSA total of 66 articles were included, and 27 high-frequency key words were extracted. The results showed that H-MRS was mainly used in four directions of the clinical practice and scientific research on HIE. In clinical practice, H-MRS attracted wide attention as a clinical examination for HIE and a tool for prognostic evaluation; in scientific research, H-MRS was used in animal experiments and studies associated with mild hypothermia therapy.

CONCLUSIONSAs an auxiliary means of magnetic resonance imaging, H-MRS plays an important role in investigating the pathogenesis of neonatal HIE, improving existing therapies, and evaluating the prognosis of neonates with HIE.

Female ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Newborn, Diseases ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male

BACKGROUNDAngiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels to supply nutrients to tumors. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cluster of differentiation 34 (CD34) are important signaling proteins involved in angiogenesis. Many studies have demonstrated that VEGF and CD34 are related to tumor progression. This study focused on the relationship between VEGF, CD34, and perioperative hemorrhage in patients with gastric cancer.

METHODSTo observe the relationship between VEGF and CD34, we tracked 112 patients with advanced gastric cancer for 5 years to assess factors related to hemorrhage, using immunohistochemistry. The results were subjected to statistical analysis using a 2 × 2 contingency table, logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) test.

RESULTSThe concentrations of VEGF and CD34 were critically correlated with perioperative hemorrhage and neural invasion in patients with gastric cancer (P < 0.05). Expression of VEGF and CD34 was related (P < 0.05, χ2 = 6.834). VEGF and CD34 co-expression strongly increased the risk of preoperative bleeding (area under the ROC curve >0.7, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSExpression of VEGF and CD34 was critically correlated with perioperative hemorrhage in gastric cancer patients. Co-expression of VEGF and CD34 could be an effective indicator for evaluating the risk of perioperative bleeding in gastric cancer patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; etiology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; complications ; metabolism ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Young Adult