Domain insertions and deletions lead to variations in the domain architectures of the proteins from their common ancestor. In this work, we investigated four groups of the RhoGEF-containing proteins from different organisms with domain architectures RhoGEF-PH-SH3, SH3-RhoGEF-PH, RhoGEF-PH, and SH3-RhoGEF defined in the Pfam database. The phylogenetic trees were constructed using each individual domain and/or the combinations of all the domains. The phylogenetic analysis suggests that RhoGEF-PH-SH3 and SH3-RhoGEF-PH might have evolved from RhoGEF-PH through the insertion of SH3 independently, while SH3-RhoGEF of proteins in fruit fly might have evolved from SH3-RhoGEF-PH by the degeneration of PH domain.

Objective To investigate the ways of recovery guidance for aged patients with vertigo. Methods 450 aged patients with vertigo were divided into two groups. Patients in the experimental group were those coming to our ENT outpatient department in the odd months and patients in the control group were those coming to our ENT outpatient department in the even months. The 234 patients in the experimental group were treated with recovery training of standing balance training, head-moving, visual balance training and psychological counseling. The 216 patients in the control group weren't given any guidanco of balance training but medical treatment and psychological counseling. Evaluations were conducted after the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd months of treatment respectively. Results The relieving rate was 17.09%, 82.05% and 88.03% respectively in the experimental group and 2.78%, 26. 85% and 41.67% respectively in the control group after the 1st, 2rd, and 3th months of treatment(P < 0. 001 ). Condusions Standing balance training, head-moving, visual balance training and psychological counseling are effective in the treatment for aged patients with vertigo.

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether S. aureus could activate NF-κB signaling pathway in human osteoblasts.

METHODSImmunoblot and electrophoretic mobility shift assay were used to detect the degradation of I-κBα and activation of NF-κB in human osteoblasts following infection with S.aureus, respectively, and there were investigated the activated state of NF-κB signaling pathway in human osteoblasts. In addition, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the secretion of IL-6 in culture supernatants, which was represented as one of important cytokines in osteomyelitis, and an inhibitor of NF-κB, SN50, which was added to human osteoblasts culture prior to 1 hour at 50 µmol/L before the infection of S.aureus, was used to determine whether S.aureus-activated NF-κB signaling pathway regulates IL-6 secretion of human osteoblasts.

RESULTSS.aureus could induce the degradation of I-κBα (I-κBα(15 min)/I-κBα(0 min) = 0.409 ± 0.245 and I-κBα(30 min)/I-κBα(0 min) = 0.061 ± 0.010) and activation of NF-κB in human osteoblasts in a time and dose-dependent manner following infection. In addition, the secretion of IL-6 in the supernatants of human osteoblasts ((2.17 ± 0.11) µg/L) was suppressed by 50 µmol/L SN50 compared to without the addition of SN50 ((3.58 ± 0.31) µg/L) (F = 174.25, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSS.aureus could activate NF-κB signaling pathway in human osteoblasts, which could regulate cytokines secretions of human osteoblasts.

Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; secretion ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Osteoblasts ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Staphylococcal Infections ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effect of one stage anterior and posterior fusion and posterior fixation for the treatment of thoracic and lumbar spinal tuberculosis.

METHODSFrom March 2003 to December 2006, one stage anterior and posterior fusion and posterior fixation were performed to treat 23 patients who suffered thoracic and lumbar spinal tuberculosis. There were 15 males and 8 females with an average of 37.6 years (17-61 years). 4 cases' tuberculose focus were in thoracic vertebra, 8 cases in thoracolumbar, 11 cases in lumbar.

RESULTSThe average follow up period was 28.7 months (9-40 months). The symptoms of all patients had primarily relieved and the patients can ambulate at 2-3 weeks after treatment. At the 6th after operation, the X-ray showed interbody fusion. Frankel grading of 16 patients with incomplete paraplegia were improved averagely 1.62 grades. The major complications including 2 cases of temporary sinus formation, 1 case of fixtor breaking and 1 case of recurring (owing to an inadequate postoperative chemotherapy).

CONCLUSIONOne stage anterior and posterior fusion and posterior fixation can effectually resect focus, rebuild stability of spine, promote interbody fusion and recovery of incomplete paraplegia in treating thoracic and lumbar spinal tuberculosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; Spinal Fusion ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Tuberculosis, Spinal ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the association of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha gene polymorphism and environment factors with nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCLP) in Han nationality.

METHODSData related to infection, drug intake and folic acid supplement during pregnancy were gained through investigation of mothers. Polymerase chain reaction combined with restrict enzyme digestion was used to detect the target gene variation in 199 patients with NSCL/P and 203 healthy controls. Analysis was carried on the genotype and infection,drug intake and folic acid supplement.

RESULTSThe C2 allele frequency in patients with NSCL/P was significantly higher than that in healthy controls. There was a significant increase of patients with NSCL/P in pregnant women exposed to infection, drug intake and folic acid deficiency. There was an interaction between C1C2 genetype and infection, drug intake and folic acid supplement.

CONCLUSIONTGF-alpha gene polymorphism is associated with NSCL/P. Infection, drug intake and folic acid supplement during pregnancy were associated with the occurrence of NSCL/P. Individuals containing C2 allele were more sensitive to infection, drug intake and folic acid deficiency.

Alleles ; Cleft Lip ; Cleft Palate ; Ethnic Groups ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Pregnancy ; Transforming Growth Factors

OBJECTIVETo study the association of TGF-alpha gene polymorphism and non-syndromic cleft lip with cleft palate in Shandong province.

METHODSPolymerase chain reaction combined with restrict enzyme digestion was used to detect the target gene variation in 98 patients with non-syndromic cleft lip with cleft palate and 101 healthy controls.

RESULTSThe C2 allele frequency in patients with non-syndromic cleft lip with cleft palate was significantly higher than that in healthy controls. The genotype frequency in patients with positive family history was significantly higher than that without positive family history.

CONCLUSIONTGF-alpha gene polymorphism is closely associated with non-syndromic cleft lip with cleft palate in Shandong, especially in patients with positive family history.

Cleft Lip ; Cleft Palate ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Transforming Growth Factor alpha

OBJECTIVETo investigate the regulatory effect of potassium channel blocker (tetraethylammonium [TEA], aminopyridine [4-AP], glibenclamide [Glib]) on the proliferation of SD rat prostatic epithelial cells in vitro.

METHODSThe primary culture was prepared by collagenase dissociation of minced prostatic tissues. Cells were cultured in serum-free prostate epithelial cell growth media and identified by immunocytochemical studies. TEA and 4-AP at the concentration of 1, 5 and 10 mmol/L and Glib at the concentration of 10, 50 and 100 mol/L were added, and after 24, 48 and 72 hours of culturing, a cell column diagram was drawn and the cell number counted. The post-passage cell growth was observed by MTT assay and Hoechst33258 nucleus staining.

RESULTSThe cultured cells showed the typical morphological features of epithelia, with positive stain. MTT assay and Hoechst33258 staining showed that TEA, 4-AP and Glib at the increasing concentration effected different degrees of proliferation of prostatic epithelial cells after 24, 48 and 72 h (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe potassium channel blocker is a direct physiological regulator of the proliferation of SD rat prostatic epithelial cells.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; Male ; Potassium Channel Blockers ; pharmacology ; Prostate ; cytology ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective ATRA can restrain proliferation and promote differentiation in various tumor cells. The aim of the study is to investigate the differentiation characteristics of K562 induced by ATRA. Methods Morphology (Benzidine staining, Wright's staining, NSE staining and NBT recovery test) and flow cytometry were used to observe the differentiation characteristics of K562 after co-incubation with 1 μmol/L and 2.5 μmol/L ATRA for 1 d, 4 ds, and 5 ds. Results Co-incubated for 4 ds, 61.5% K562 cells in the 1 μmol/L ATRA group and 39% K562 cells in the 2.5 μmol/L ATRA group showed some evidence of myeloid maturation, but no evidence of erythroid or monocytoid maturation. Co-incubated for 5 ds, the percentage of differentiated K562 cells was much higher than that in the control group. One day after induction by 1 μmol/L ATRA or 2.5 μmol/L ATRA, the expression of CD13 was 8.0% and 6.7%, respectively, which was higher than that in the control group (2.1%). Five days after induction by 1 μmol/L ATRA or 2.5 μmol/L ATRA, the expression of CD13 increased to 28.1% and 37.8%, respectively, while the expression of CD71 decreased to 1.2% and 0.9% respectively. The differences between the ATRA groups and the control group were significant (P<0.05). CD71 decreased from 9.7% and 10.8% in the 1 μmol/L and 2.5 μmol/L ATRA groups on day 1 to 1.2% and 0.9% on day 5, while the CD13 expression level increased from 8.0% and 6.7% to 28.1% and 37.8%, respectively. Conclusions ATRA can induce K562 to differentiate into myeloid linage.

OBJECTIVERecently, a new traditional Chinese medicine differentiation theory "Syndrome Element (SE)" has been raised. In this study, the main syndrome element types and their correlations with the results of coronary angiography (CAG) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) were investigated.

METHODSEpidemiology cross-sectional study method was employed and 324 patients with CHD were enrolled, and their syndrome element types as well as the CAG results were analyzed. The correlations among syndrome element types, Gensini score, and the number of abnormal branches were also analyzed based on the distribution characteristics of syndrome element and coronary angiography results in the 324 cases.

RESULTSAccording to their occurrence frequency in 324 CHD patients, the top eight major heart syndrome elements were Xin () blood stasis (85.8%), Xin qi deficiency (79.6%), Xin heat blockage (41.1%), Xin phlegm with turbid fluid (38.0%), Xin qi stagnation (24.7%), Xin yang deficiency (18.9%), Xin yin deficiency (17.5%) and Xin cold coagulation (4.4%), respectively, which suggested that Xin blood stasis and Xin qi deficiency were the two most common syndrome elements. Also, as coronary artery Gensini score increased, the changing trend of the syndrome element was "Xin yang deficiency with blood stasis" to "Xin phlegm obstruction with heat blockage" to "Xin yin deficiency with blood stasis" to "Xin qi deficiency with blood stasis" to "Xin cold coagulation with phlegm and turbid fluid, "Xin cold coagulation with blood stasis" to "Xin deficiency of qi, yin and yang". As the number of abnormal branches increased, the syndrome element changing trend was "simultaneous occurrence of cold and heat syndrome" to "Xin qi and yang deficiency with blood stasis" to "Xin retention of phlegm with turbid fluid" to "Xin cold coagulation in the heart meridian", "Xin deficiency of both qi and yin". The result of this study shows that Xin qi deficiency and Xin blood stasis were the major syndrome elements in patients with CHD.

CONCLUSIONAs the severity and extent of coronary artery lesion increased, there were some apparent correlations among syndrome elements, Gensini score and number of abnormal coronary artery branches.

Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Qi ; Yin-Yang

OBJECTIVETo study skin sensitization as well as liver and kidney impairment in guinea pigs treated with trichloroethylene (TCE).

METHODSGuinea pig maximization test (GPMT) was applied in this study, guinea pigs were divided into 3 groups, namely negative control, positive control and TCE treatment. Animals of 3 groups were administrated with olive oil, 2, 4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB), and TCE, respectively, by intradermal injection. The animal skin was observed and blood was collected after various treatment, the liver function tests were conducted, including detection of activities of ALT, AST, LDH and levels of creatinine, uric acid, and urea with automatic biochemical analyzer.

RESULTSObvious skin impairment was observed in the groups of positive control and TCE treatment, the skin impairment included erythema and edema, the sensitization rate was 100% in positive control and 83.3% in TCE treatment group. Additionally, the activities of ALT, AST and LDH increased significantly in the groups of positive control and TCE treatment when compared with the negative control.

CONCLUSIONSTrichloroethylene is one of the strong hypersensitizing substances, it could induce skin allergic reaction and liver impairment in guinea pigs.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; Kidney ; drug effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; Skin ; drug effects ; Trichloroethylene ; toxicity