Appropriate selection and measurement of lead biomarkers of exposure are critically important for health care management purposes, public health decision making, and primary prevention synthesis. Lead is one of the neurotoxicants that seems to be involved in the etiology of psychologies. Biomarkers are generally classified into three groups: biomarkers of exposure, effect, and susceptibility.The main body compartments that store lead are the blood, soft tissues, and bone; the half-life of lead in these tissues is measured in weeks for blood, months for soft tissues, and years for bone. Within the brain, lead-induced damage in the prefrontal cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum can lead to a variety of neurological disorders, such as brain damage, mental retardation, behavioral problems, nerve damage, and possibly Alzheimer's disease, Parkinsons disease, and schizophrenia. This paper presents an overview of biomarkers of lead exposure and discusses the neurotoxic effects of lead with regard to children and adults.
Alzheimer Disease ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; psychology ; Animals ; Behavior ; drug effects ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Brain ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Brain Diseases ; chemically induced ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Environmental Exposure ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Lead ; pharmacokinetics ; toxicity ; Lead Poisoning ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; psychology ; Neurotoxicity Syndromes ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; psychology ; Parkinson Disease, Secondary ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; psychology ; Schizophrenia ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology

The study aims to develop a unified method to determine seven phenolic acids (neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, 4-caffeoylquinic acid, caffeic acid, isochlorogenic acid B, isochlorogenic acid A and isochlorogenic acid C) contained in honeysuckle flower that is the monarch drug of all the eight Yinqiao Jiedu serial preparations using quantitative analysis of multi-components by single-marker (QAMS). Firstly, chlorogenic acid was used as a reference to get the average relative correction factors (RCFs) of the other phenolic acids in ratios to the reference; columns and instruments from different companies were used to validate the durability of the achieved RCFs in different levels of standard solutions; and honeysuckle flower extract was used as the reference substance to fix the positions of chromatographic peaks. Secondly, the contents of seven phenolic acids in eight different Yinqiao Jiedu serial preparations samples were calculated based on the RCFs durability. Finally, the quantitative results were compared between QAMS and the external standard (ES) method. The results have showed that the durability of the achieved RCFs is good (RSD during 0.80% - 2.56%), and there are no differences between the quantitative results of QAMS and ES (the relative average deviation < 0.93%). So it can be successfully used to the quantitative control of honeysuckle flower principally prescribed in Yinqiao Jiedu serial preparations.
Caffeic Acids ; analysis ; Chlorogenic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Hydroxybenzoates ; analysis ; Lonicera ; chemistry ; Quinic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis

Objective To explore clinical value of intraoperative extra strong electrical stimulation in the treatment of birth brachial plexus palsy. MethodsFrom July 2008 to September 2011,intraoperative extra strong electrical stimulation was applied in 9 cases of incomplete birth brachial plexus palsy after neurolysis.The latency and amplitude of compound muscle action potentials before and after electrical stimulation were recorded and the extent of improvement was compare.ResultsThe latency was improved in 7 cases with 8.02％ in average,amplitude in 8 cases with 185.97％ in average.The related nerve recover partial motor function in 8 cases in 2 weeks after operation.ConclusionIntraoperative extra strong electrical stimulation is a effective assistant technique to promote motor functional recovery of birth brachial plexus palsy.

Inoculant the examine-needed germ on a flat panel of synthetic medium, and placed paper slices, which had being saturated by different kinds of sugar, on the medium to carry out the experiment of microorganic auxanography. Its result was compared with that of the traditional method, the sugar-grain method. The comparison showed that the former was better than the latter for its more definite result and more convenient operation.

OBJECTIVETo construct a novel gene delivery vector using polyethylenimine (PEI) as backbone modified with the peptide CP9 containing Arginine-Glycine-Aspartic acid (RGD) sequence and to verify its physicochemical characters and the gene delivery function.

METHODSThe chemical linker [N-Succinimidyl-3- (2-pyridyldithio) ] propionate (SPDP) was employed to bind CP9 onto PEI to form a novel gene delivery vector CP9-PEI. The (1)H-NMR and FT-IR were used to verify the linkage of CP9. The plasmid DNA condensing ability of CP9-PEI,the shape and the particle size of the polyplexes formed with CP9-PEI-plasmid DNA were demonstrated by gel retardation assay, electron microscope observation and particle size assay,respectively. The enhanced transfection efficiency and the integrin targeting capacity were detected by the transfection experiments in HepG2 cells and free RGD peptide inhibition test.

RESULTCP9 was linked onto PEI successfully. The new synthesized vector CP9-PEI could efficiently condense plasmid DNA at N/P ratio of 4 and when N/P ratio was equal to 10, the shape of polyplexes formed with CP9-PEI-plasmid DNA was round or round-alike with particle size of about 200 nm. The transfection efficiency of CP9-PEI was nearly 2 times of PEI in HepG2 cells and the free RGD peptide had the inhibition effect on the efficiency of CP9-PEI.

CONCLUSIONThe modification of CP9 on PEI can improve the transfection efficiency of PEI and has the integrin targeting ability.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Oligopeptides ; genetics ; Particle Size ; Plasmids ; chemistry ; genetics ; ultrastructure ; Polyethyleneimine ; chemistry ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; Succinimides ; chemistry ; Transfection ; methods

OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of detecting of Y-STR of fetal DNA in maternal plasma using Ion Torrent PGM™ System. METHODS: A total of 16 fetal DNA samples from maternal plasmas (8 cases from 38 weeks gestational age and 8 ones from 12 weeks) were prepared and a multiplex assay with 7 STR loci (DYS390, DYS391, DYS393, DYS438, DYS437, DYS456, DYS635) was designed for multiplex-PCR amplification. Using Ion Torrent PGM™ System, the results of Y-STR sequences and capillary electrophoresis were obtained and compared. RESULTS: Y-STR specific alleles were detected in the maternal plasma of all the pregnant women having male babies of second and third trimester, which were higher than that detected by capillary electrophoresis. Consistent Y-STR genotypes were observed between fetal DNA from maternal plasma and genomic DNA from the newborn babies. CONCLUSION Based on Ion Torrent PGM™ System, the prenatal Y-STR detection method may provide a high-sensitive and high-throughput choice for prenatal STR detection in forensic testing.
Alleles ; Chromosomes, Human, Y/genetics* ; DNA/blood* ; Family ; Female ; Fetal Blood/chemistry* ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Pregnancy ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sex Determination Analysis ; Tandem Repeat Sequences/genetics*

OBJECTIVETo construct a novel kind of nonviral gene delivery vector based on polyethylenimine (PEI) conjugated with polypeptides derived from ligand FGF with high transfection efficiency and according to tumor targeting ability.

METHODSThe synthetic polypeptides CR16 for binding FGF receptors was conjugated to PEI and the characters of the polypeptides including DNA condensing and particle size were determined. Enhanced efficiency and the targeting specificity of the synthesized vector were investigated in vitro and in vivo.

RESULTSThe polypeptides were successfully coupled to PEI. The new vectors PEI-CR16 could efficiently condense pDNA into particles with around 200 nm diameter. The PEI-CR16/pDNA polyplexes showed significantly greater transgene activity than PEI/pDNA in FGF receptors positive tumor cells in vitro and in vivo gene transfer, while no difference was observed in FGF receptors negative tumor cells. The enhanced transfection efficiency of PEI-CR16 could be blocked by excess free polypeptides.

CONCLUSIONThe synthesized vector could improve the efficiency of gene transfer and targeting specificity in FGF receptors positive cells. The vector had good prospect for use in cancer gene therapy.

Animals ; Binding Sites ; Carcinoma ; therapy ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factors ; metabolism ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Genetic Vectors ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Ligands ; Liver Neoplasms ; therapy ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Particle Size ; Peptides ; chemistry ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Polyethyleneimine ; chemistry ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; therapy ; Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor ; drug effects ; genetics ; metabolism ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Surface Properties ; Transfection ; Transplantation, Heterologous ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

OBJECTIVETo develop a novel gene delivery vector TAT-PEI-beta-CyD.

METHODSbeta-cyclodextrin (beta-CyD) was linked by low molecular weight (PEI 600) via 1, 1-carbonyldiimidazole (CDI), and TAT peptide (RRRQRRKKRC) was coupled to PEI 600 by [N-succinimidy-3-(2-pyridyldithio) propionate, SPDP]. The copolymer was characterized by (1)H-NMR and FT-IR. Physiochemical characteristics of TAT-PEI-beta-CyD/DNA complexes were tested by agarose gel electrophoresis and particle size measurements. Cell viability and transfection efficiency were evaluated in A293 and B16 cells using PEI 25 kDa as a control.

RESULTTAT peptide was successfully coupled to PEI-beta-CyD. The result of gel electrophoresis showed that the TAT-PEI-beta-CyD was able to condense DNA efficiently at N/P ratio of 4. The particle size of TAT-PEI-beta-CyD/DNA complexes was around 100 nm. The cytotoxicity of TAT-PEI-beta-CyD was lower than that of PEI 25 kDa. The transfection efficiency of TAT-PEI-beta-CyD was higher than that of PEI 25 kDa in A293 and B16 cells at N/P ratio of 30.

CONCLUSIONThe novel vector TAT-PEI-beta-CyD has been developed successfully with low cytotoxicity and high transfection efficiency.

Cell Line ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Genetic Therapy ; methods ; Humans ; Peptide Fragments ; chemistry ; Polyethyleneimine ; chemistry ; beta-Cyclodextrins ; chemistry ; tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo develop a novel non-viral gene delivery vector based on polyethylenimine and beta-cyclodextrin targeting to Her-2 receptor (MC10-PEI-beta-CyD).

METHODSThe PEI-beta-CyD was synthesized by low molecular weight polyethylenimine (PEI, Mw 600) cross-linked beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CyD) via N, N-carbonyldiimidazole (CDI). The chemical linker[N-succinimidy-3-(2-pyridyldithio) propionate, SPDP] was used to bind peptide MC10 (MARAKEGGGC) to PEI-beta-CyD to form the vector MC10-PEI-beta-CyD. The (1)H-NMR was used to confirm the structure of vector. The DNA condensing ability,and the particle size of MC10-PEI-beta-CyD/DNA complexes were demonstrated by gel retardation assay and electron microscope observation (TEM). Cell viability was tested by MTT assay. The transfection efficiency was determined on cultured SKOV-3, A549 and MCF-7 cells.

RESULTMC10 was linked onto PEI-beta-CyD successfully. The vector was able to condense DNA at N/P ratio of 5 and particle size was about (170 +/-35)nm. The vector showed low cytotoxicity and high transfection efficiency in cultured SKOV-3, A549 and MCF-7 cells.

CONCLUSIONA novel non-viral vector MC10-PEI-beta-CyD with low cytotoxicity and high transfection efficiency has been successfully synthesized.

Cell Line ; Gene Targeting ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Peptides ; chemistry ; Polyethyleneimine ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; genetics ; beta-Cyclodextrins ; chemistry

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of different PCR amplification volume on the accuracy of human identification test. METHODS: Human genome DNA samples were amplified using ABI PRISM Profiler Plus kits in 50 microliters, 25 microliters, 12.5 microliters, and 6.25 microliters reaction volume, respectively. The thermocycle parameters were the same. All PCR products were then electrophoresized on ABI PRISM 310 Genetic Analyzer, 377 DNA Sequencer, and 3100 Genetic Analyzer. Data were processed by ABI PRISM GeneScan and Genotyper software. RESULTS: The less reaction volume, the more alleles losing or alleles adding observed. CONCLUSION Non-standard volume of PCR amplification reaction should be used carefully in human identification test, especially when the sample DNA quality is not so satisfied.
Alleles ; Blood Stains ; DNA/isolation & purification* ; Electrophoresis ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet