Humans ; Mercury ; urine ; Microwaves ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic ; methods

Method of isolation and purification of recombinant hepcidin was described, and the bioactivity of the protein was assayed in this paper.The oxidation of his-hepcidin was carried out in the cysteine-cystine system, and the multimers were removed through gel filtration under denaturation condition.Then the protein was refolded by continuous dilution and digested by enterokinase.The total yield of his-hepcidin before enterokinase cleavage is 50%, and the purity is above 95%.Through agar diffusion assay, the recombinant hepcidin displayed obvious antibacterial activity against B.subtilis.The LC-ESI-MS analysis of recombinant hepcidin showed that the measured molecular weight accorded with the calculated molecular weight, and the CD spectrum indicated that the secondary structure of recombinant hepcidin is similar with native hepcidin.

Objective To analyze imaging of gastrointestinal stromal tumors(GIST),and to compare their imaging features with operational and pathological findings.Methods Clinical,imaging,and pathological data of 20 patients with GIST were collected.Results Imaging findings were endophytic or exophytic tumors with heterogeneous density or signal intensity,corresponding to hemorrhage,necrosis,and cystic changes.Imaging was correct for the location of the lesion in 11 of 16 primary GIST and 4 cases of relapsed tumors.Preoperational CT did not detect mesenteric,peritoneal,and omental metastasis in 5 cases. Hepatic metastases detected at CT (3 cases )were identified by operational findings.Conclusions GIST has some imaging features.CT is a useful tool in detecting and characterizating of lesions rather than detecting mesenteric,peritoneal,and omental metastasis.

Biphasic dissolution test, consisting of immiscible aqueous and organic phase, is an in vitro dissolution method that simultaneously measures the dissolution and partition of drugs. Due to the advantages of simulating in vivo absorption and overcoming the influence of surfactants on dissolution, it has been widely used to evaluate the poorly soluble drugs in vitro dissolution. Based on the relevant research in this field in recent years, this review summarizes the history, dissolution device, theoretical model and application of the biphasic dissolution test. Finally, the prospects in the development of biphasic dissolution test are also outlined.

Objective To investigate the impact of cyclosporine A (CsA) on atrial expression change of L-type calcium channel αlc subunit in a canine model of atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods AF was induced by rapid atrial pacing (400 baets/min) for 8 weeks in adult male dogs and placebo (n=6) or CsA (5 mg·kg-1·d-1, n=6) were orally administered to these animals. Sham operated animals served as normal controls (n=6). The atrial electrophysiological parameters including P wave duration, atrial effective refractory period (AERP) were recorded and analyzed at baseline and 8 weeks later. Animals were scarified at 8 weeks post final electrophysiological examinations and atrial expressions of L-type calcium channel αlc subunit were determined by Western blot. Results Compared to sham group, the P wave duration was significantly prolonged while AERP was significantly decreased in AF and CsA groups (all P <0. 05). AERP was significantly longer in CsA group than that in AF group (P < 0. 05 ). L-type calcium channel αlc subunit expression was significantly downregulated in AF group compared to sham group (P <0. 05) and CsA significantly attenuated this downregulation (P < 0. 01 vs. AF group). Conclusion CsA could attenuate the downreguahion of the L-type calcium channel αlc subunit expression and improve the atrial electrophysiological remodeling in this canine model of AF.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of ultrafiltration-membrane extracts of Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata (UMERRP) on theproliferation and genetic stability of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) induced by cadmium chloride (CdCl2).

METHODSProtective effects on the proliferation, micronuclear rates, chromosome aberration rates, and apoptosis rates were observed by micronuclei test, karyotype analysis, and flow cytometry.

RESULTSCompared with the CdCl2 group, UMERRP with different molecular weights at 0. 8 g/L could obviously promote the proliferation (P <0. 05). Compared with the control group, micronuclear rates, chromosome aberration rates, and apoptosis rates were obviously enhanced in the CdCl2 group (P <0. 05). Compared with the CdCl2 group, UMERRP with different molecular weights could obviously decreased CdCl2 induced micronuclear rates, chromosome aberration rates, and apoptosis rates (P <0. 05). Of them, BMSC micronuclear rates and chromosome aberration rates decreased most obvious in UMERRP groups with molecular weight below 10 000 (P <0. 05). The apoptosis rate decreased most obviously in UMERRP groups with molecular weight ranging 100 000 and 200 000 (P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONUMERRP could reduce CdCl2 induced micronuclear rates, chromosome aberration rates, and apoptosis rates.

Apoptosis ; Bone Marrow ; Cadmium Chloride ; toxicity ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Flow Cytometry ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Ultrafiltration

Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; etiology ; therapy ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; complications ; therapy ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; therapy ; Portal Vein ; physiopathology

Acclimatization ; physiology ; Adult ; Altitude ; Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelin Basic Protein ; metabolism ; Nervous System Diseases ; metabolism ; Occupational Exposure ; Succinate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism

Objective To assess the prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis in adult patients with KaschinBeck disease(KBD) in endemic area, and to investigate the association between KBD and atherosclerosis. Methods B-mode ultrasound was used to investigate carotid atherosclerosis in patients with KBD over 40 years old in Shanhe farm and Shangzhi city and residents in Shuangcheng county in 2009. Ultrasonography images were saved and graded according to intima media morphology. Results The prevalence rates of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with KBD from the 5 villages affiliated to Shanhe farm were 50.0%(26/52),37.3%( 19/51 ),42.5%(30/71 ),58.2% (39/67) and 44.0% (22/50) , respectively. The prevalence rates of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with KBD from the 5 villages affiliated to Shangzhi city were 63.0% (34/54), 45.3% (24/53), 47.2% (25/53), 60.0% (30/50)and 51.9% (28/54), respectively. The prevalence rates of carotid atherosclerosis in people without KBD in the 5 control villages affiliated to Shuangcheng county were 63.9% (46/72),43.1% (31/72),57.1% (40/70),46.9% (30/64) and 53.0%(35/66), respectively. Ten villages in KBD endemic area and 5 villages in control area were investigated. The prevalence rates of carotid atherosclerosis in the 15 villages were standardized and compared by Wilcoxon test. The differences were not significant between two KBD endemic areas and one control( T = 25.0,24.5,all P ＞ 0.05). There was no significant difference in prevalence of atherosclerosis in the 3 areas(x2 = 0.36, P＞0.05). Comparing the severity of carotid atherosclerosis in 3 locations, the difference was statistically significant (x2 = 15.28, P ＜ 0.05) and there was significant difference statistically between the subjects in Shangzhi city and that in the control group(x2 = 8.92, P ＜ 0.05). There was no significant difference between the detection rate of atherosclerosis and the severity of KBD, and similar results in the grade of atherosclerosis and the severity of KBD were found (x2 = 1.88,5.07, all P ＞ 0.05). Conclusions The prevalence rate of carotid atherosclerosis in historical endemic area in Heilongjiang province is not higher than that in the control area.

Objective To investigate the dynamics of the level of S100 in cerebrum, brainstem, and serum following the diffuse brain injury in rats and provide the experimental evidences for estimating injury time. Methods ELISA was used to determine whether S100 protein is changed after diffuse brain injury in rats. Forty rats were sacrificed at 0.5 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, 3 d and 7 d after diffuse brain injury and normal rats as control. Results The level of S100 in cerebrum, brainstem, and serum increased, followed by a decrease, and then further increased. The level of S100 could be detected to increase at 30 minutes and reached the peak at 4 hours after DBI. The level decreased gradually to the normal at 1d and till 3 d formed the second peak. The level returned to the normal at 7d following injury again. In the postmortem injury groups, there were no significant changes compared to the control group. Conclusion The present study showed that the time-dependent expression of S100 is obvious following diffuse brain injury in rats and suggested that S100 will be a suitable marker for diffuse brain injury age determination.