Objective To explore the distribution of arsenic speciafion and to estimate the effect of arsenic on glutathione(GSH)levels in the blood and liver of mice exposed to different concentrations of inorganic AsⅢ through drinking water.Methods Mice drank water containing arsenite at concentrations of iAsⅢ of 0(contr01),25,50,100 ms/L for 6 weeks.Blood and liver were sampled to asses$the levels of inorganic arsenic(iAs),monomethylarsenic acid(MMA),dimethylarsenic acid(DMA)by the method of hydride generation trapping and ultra-hypothermia coupled with atomic absorption spectrometry,and the level of GSH by the method of 5,5'-Dithio-bis (2-Nitrobenzoic acid).Results Leveh of iAs.MMA and DMA in blood and in liver increased along with the increase of iAs concentrations in drinking water.Primary methylated index(PMI)and secondary methylation index (SMI)of liver and blood were significantly higher in exposed groups than those in control group(P＜0.05).SMI of liver in 50 mg/L exposed group[(50.45±2.94)%]was significantly higher than those in 25 mg/L and 100 mg/Lgroups[(41.68±7.09)%and(41.19±8.87)%,respectively],the difference being statistically significant(P＜0.05).The ratio of iAs.MMA and DMA in blood and liver in exposed group were 2:3:5 and 4:3:3,the percentage of level of organic arsenic(MMA+DMA)were 80%and 60%.GSH in blood and liver in exposed group decreased along with iAs concentrations in drinking water and had significant differences compared with those in control group (P＜0.05).However,levels of GSH in liver and blood did not differ significantly between exposed groups and control group(P＞0.05).Conclusions Membolism of iAs in liver is maximized when the iAs concentrations in drinking water increases to a certain level.However,the percentage of arsenic speciation in blood is different from that in liver,suggesting that other organs and tissues may be capable of methylation of inorganic arsenic.The level of GSH in liver and blood in mice is a good mark tO reflect the toxicity of arsenic.

AIMTo investigate the pharmacokinetics of osthole in rabbits and obtain the main pharmacokinetic parameters.

METHODSA simple high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed to study the pharmacokinetics of osthole in rabbits by joining an internal standard (paeonal). Methanol-water (80:20) was used as the mobile phase. According to the 3P87 pharmacokinetic program, the main parameters were calculated.

RESULTSThe osthole pharmacokinetics conforms to a two compartment open model after i.v. administration, T1/2 alpha = 5.81 min, T1/2 beta = 42.2 min, K21 = 0.036 0.min-1, K12 = 0.045 0.min-1, K10 = 0.054 0.min-1, AUC = 235 mg.min.L-1, CLs = 0.043 0 L.min-1.kg-1, Vc = 0.780 L.kg-1.

CONCLUSIONThe pharmacokinetics of osthole after i.v. administration showed a rapid distribution and elimination process in rabbits.

Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; blood ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cnidium ; chemistry ; Coumarins ; blood ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Male ; Metabolic Clearance Rate ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rabbits ; Tissue Distribution

Objective To investigate the effect of green light laser in complex posterior urethral stricture after surgical treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).Methods Green light laser was applied in treating 20 cases of complex iatrogenic posterior urethral stricture.Of these cases,12 had false passages,5 had more than 2 strictures and 5 had concurrently urethratresia.The scar tissues were transure- thrally vaporized and resected.The in-dwelling urethral catheter time was 1-2 months after operation. Results All the patients were initially cured without serious complications.The mean operative time was 39 rain (range,30-65 min).During the follow-up of 2-10 months,1 case had mild incontinence:another case (Q_(max)＜9ml/s 2 weeks after surgery) got satisfactory results(Q_(max)＞15ml/s)after the scheduled urethral dilatation.The other 18 cases were treated successfully and voided fluently with postoperative Q_(max)＞15ml/s in all.Conclusions It is suggested that transurethral green light laser procedure is not only safe and ef- fective,but also simple and minimally iuvasive for complex posterior urethral stricture following surgical treat- ment of BPH.

The Cry1Ab differs most significantly from the other related ICPs by its absence of a carboxyl terminus of 28 amino acids including four cysteines; consequently it is less stable. We report that the helper protein P20 plays a role in the expression and crystallization of Cry1Ab. Three Cry1Ab expression plasmids pT1B, pP1B, and pDP1B, were constructed based on the shuttle vector pHT3101. The vector pT1B does not contain the p20 gene, pP1B carries p20, and pDP1B contains p20 with cry1A(c) promoter. Transformants were obtained by electroporating the plasmids into Bacillus thuringiensis acrystalliferous mutant CryB. Western blot demonstrated that crylAb was expressed as a 130 kD protein in all the transformants, and some of the protein was partially degraded into a 60 kD peptide. Quantitative protein analysis indicated that the amount of the 130 kD protein varied in the transformants and was in the ratio of 1:1.4:1.5 for PT1B, pP1B and pDP1B respectively. For the 60 kD proteins, the ratio was 1:1.1:1.6. Microscopic examination revealed that the size of the typical pyramidal crystals in the three transformants was in the order of T1B < P1B < DP1B. Bioassay showed that T1B, P1B and DP1B were all toxic to the larvae of Helicoverpa armigera with similar LC50. This study suggested that P20 plays a role in the expression and crystallization of Cry1Ab.
Animals ; Bacillus thuringiensis ; genetics ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Biological Assay ; methods ; Blotting, Western ; Electroporation ; Endotoxins ; genetics ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Hemolysin Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Moths ; drug effects ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Pelvis ; surgery ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Robotics ; Ureteral Obstruction ; surgery ; Urologic Surgical Procedures ; methods

BACKGROUNDAutism spectrum disorders (ASD), which include autism, asperger syndrome (AS) and pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), are devastating neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood resulting in deficits in social interaction, repetitive patterns of behaviors, and restricted interests and activities. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is a common technique used to measure regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). Several studies have measured rCBF in children with ASD using SPECT, however, findings are discordant. In addition, the majority of subjects used in these studies were autistic. In this study, we aimed to investigate changes in rCBF in children with ASD using SPECT.

METHODSA Technetium-99m-ethyl cysteinate dimmer (⁹⁹m)Tc-ECD) brain SPECT study was performed on an ASD group consisting of 23 children (3 girls and 20 boys; mean age (7.2 ± 3.0) years) who were diagnosed according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) criteria and an age-matched control group with 8 children (1 girl and 7 boys, mean age (5.5 ± 2.4) years). Image data were evaluated with Statistical Parametric Mapping, 5th version (SPM5). A Student's t test for unpaired data was used to compare rCBF and asymmetry in the autism and corresponding control group. The covariance analysis, taking age as covariance, was performed between the ASD and control group.

RESULTSThere was a significant reduction in rCBF in the bilateral frontal lobe (frontal poles, arcula frontal gyrus) and the bilateral basal ganglia in the autism group, and a reduction in the bilateral frontal, temporal, parietal, legumina nucleus and cerebellum in the AS group compared to the control. In addition, asymmetry of hemispheric hypoperfusion in the ASD group was observed. Inner-group comparison analysis revealed that rCBF decreased significantly in the bilateral frontal lobe (42.7%), basal nucleus (24.9%) and temporal lobe (22.8%) in the autism group, and in the bilateral cerebellum (22.8%), basal nucleus (19.3%) and right thalamencephalon (16.6%) in the AS group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe decrease in rCBF in ASD is a global event, which involves the bilateral frontal, temporal, limbic system and basal ganglias. Asymmetry of hemispheric hypoperfusion was more obvious in the AS group than the autism group, which indicates a different neurobiological mechanism from that of autism.

Cerebrovascular Circulation ; physiology ; Child ; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Child, Preschool ; Cysteine ; analogs & derivatives ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Organotechnetium Compounds ; Regional Blood Flow ; physiology ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon ; methods

OBJECTIVE Programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) and indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) are immune checkpoints which can be induced by interferon-γ(IFN-γ) in the tumor microenvironment, leading to immune escape of tumors. Myricetin (MY) is a flavonoid distributed in many edible and medicinal plants. The aim of this study is to clarify the effect and the mechanism of MY on inhibiting IFN-γ-induced PD-L1 and IDO1 in lung cancer cells. METHODS Expressions of PD-L1 and major histocompatibility complex-I (MHC-I) were evaluated by flow cytometry and Western blotting, and the expression of IDO1 was measured by Western blotting. qRT-PCR was used to detect their mRNA levels. The function of T cells was evaluated using a co-culture system consist of lung cancer cells and the Jurkat-PD-1 T cell line that overexpressing PD-1. Molecular docking analysis, Western blotting and immunofluorescence were used for mechanism study. RESULTS MY potently inhibited IFN-γ-induced PD-L1 and IDO1 expression in human lung cancer cells, while didn't show obvious effect on the expression of MHC-I. In addition, MY restored the survival, proliferation, CD69 expression and interleukin-2 (IL-2) secretion of Jurkat-PD-1 T cells suppressed by IFN-γ-treated lung cancer cells in the co-culture system. Mechanistically, IFN-γ up-regulated PD-L1 and IDO1 at the transcriptional level through the JAK-STAT-IRF1 axis, which was targeted and inhibited by MY. CONCLUSION Our research revealed a new insight into the anti-tumor effects of MY which inhibited IFN-γ-induced PD-L1 and IDO1 expression, supporting the potential of MY in anti-tumor immunotherapy.

BACKGROUNDA monoclonal antibody would be an effective tool for the detection of circulating antigens in the serum of patients with schistosomiasis, but the traditional way of producing monoclonal antibodies is not cost-effective. The objective of this study was to find a new method for the large-scale production of monoclonal antibodies against Schistosoma japonicum (Sj).

METHODSA phage display antibody library for Sj was constructed. To obtain a single-chain variable fragment antibody (scFv) against Sj, the library was screened with metabolic antigens from adult Sj worms (Sj-MAg) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The soluble scFvs selected were used to detect Sj antigens in the serum of acute and chronic schistosomiasis patients.

RESULTSSix positive clones with good reactivity to Sj-MAg were obtained from the phage display antibody library of about 1.07 x 10(6) individual clones. Only two of these six clones bound specifically to Sj-MAg and were chosen for further analysis. Specific soluble anti-Sj-MAg scFvs were produced by inducing the 2 clones with isopropyl-D-thiogalactopyranoside. The characteristics of the scFvs were then determined. The results of Western blot showed that these scFvs could bind to Sj-MAg specifically and had a molecular weight of about 31 kD. When testing serum from schistosomiasis patients with one of the two specific scFvs, its sensitivity was found to be 60% and 37% in acute and chronic patients, respectively, with a specificity of 90%. When the two specific scFvs were combined, their sensitivity was found to be 75% and 57% in acute and chronic patients, respectively, with a specificity of 85%.

CONCLUSIONSThe results indicate that the scFvs are potentially useful for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis. The library construction also provides a useful tool for the further screening of other antibodies for both diagnostic and immunotherapeutic applications and for epitope analysis and vaccine design.

Animals ; Antibodies, Helminth ; immunology ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; immunology ; Antigens, Helminth ; blood ; Base Sequence ; Immunoglobulin Fragments ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Peptide Library ; Rabbits ; Schistosomiasis japonica ; diagnosis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Serologic Tests

BACKGROUNDScreening libraries against a molecular target in vitro are idealized models that cannot reflect the real state in vivo where biomolecules coexist and interact. C-terminal amide tripeptides labelled with Technetium-99m can provide a unique noninvasive approach to trace a large number of compounds in vivo.

METHODSThe C-terminal amide tripeptide libraries were synthesized on Rink Amide-MBHA resin using iterative and pooling protocol. Technetium (V) oxo core [TcO(3+)] was bound to each tripeptide via 4 deprotonated nitrogen atoms to form a library of 8000 (99m)Tc tripeptoid complexes. The radiocombinatorial screening (RCS) in vivo was carried out on SD rats and A549 tumour bearing mice.

RESULTSSignals of tissue distribution and metabolism of libraries were recorded by counting or imaging and tissue targeting leads identified by both random and directed RCS. Among them, (99m)Tc RPA, (99m)Tc VIG and (99m)Tc RES had specific tissue targeting in kidney, liver and tumour respectively. The percent injected dose per gram tissue of (99m)Tc labelled leads in their target tissue was highly structure dependent. Because the nontarget tissue binding and the metabolism of (99m)Tc tripeptoid sublibraries were simultaneously monitored successfully by RCS, the interference of background activity was limited to the lowest level. Optimization of renal function agent from the labelled libraries was carried out by directed screening. (99m)Tc DSG was finally identified the most promising agent for renal function studies.

CONCLUSIONSRCS in vivo is a powerful tool for the discovery of tissue targeting drugs. The potential screening bias is probably the major limitation of labelled libraries.

Animals ; Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques ; Drug Design ; Female ; Isotope Labeling ; Kidney Function Tests ; Liver ; diagnostic imaging ; Mice ; Mice, SCID ; Neoplasms, Experimental ; diagnostic imaging ; Peptide Library ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; chemical synthesis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Technetium ; Tissue Distribution