Animals ; Humans ; Iron ; adverse effects ; metabolism ; Iron Overload

Hemoglobinuria, Paroxysmal ; metabolism ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; biosynthesis

Cervical Vertebrae ; Child ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Male ; Pharynx

The effect of reaction media cosolvent water activity, temperature and pH on Novozym 435-caulyzed enantioselective esterification of ketoprofen was systematically explored. Novozym 435 showed high catalytic activity and enantioselectivity in cyclohexane; E value increases markedly by addition of toluene to cyclohexane; the optimum temperature and the initial water activity were found to be 30℃ and 0.09 respectively; pH shows little effect on enzymatic reaction wilson the scope studied.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases ; etiology ; Kidney Glomerulus ; pathology ; Male

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) on apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) expression and AIF translocation from mitochondria to the nucleus in human hepatocellular cancer cell SMMC-7721 during apoptosis.

METHODSAfter treatment with 80 mg/ml of HCPT, the cancer cells were stained with A0/EB to monitor their apoptosis. Their mitochondria was examined with electronmicroscopy and the AIF expression of the cells was tested by RT-PCR and Western blot. The translocation of AIF from mitochondria to the nucleus during apoptosis was analyzed by confocal microscopy.

RESULTSSMMC-7721 cells treated with HCPT showed chromatin condensation, nuclear fragmentation and mitochondria swelling. The mRNA and protein expression of AIF in treated and untreated SMMC-7721 cells were not significantly different. However, cells treated with 80 mg/ml HCPT for 6 h or 12 h showed massive translocation of AIF into the nuclei.

CONCLUSIONThese results show the important role the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis plays in HCPT-induced tumor cell death, at least in SMMC-7721 cells.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; Apoptosis Inducing Factor ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Camptothecin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Translocation, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo study blood Leptin level of 154 (78 male, 76 female) Chinese obese/non-obese children aged 0 - 14 years during 1999 - 2001.

METHODSThe gender- and age-specific distribution pattern of Leptin and its relationship with anthropometric parameters (waist circumference, waist/hip ratio, lean body mass, fat mass, body fat percentage, BMI/Kaup index etc.) and blood insulin level were recorded.

RESULTS(1) The blood Leptin level in healthy non-obese kids ranged from 1.01 - 29.92 (ng/ml), the mean values and SD were 2.99 +/- 2.13 (ng/ml) [90% confidence interval was 1.36 - 14.21 (ng/ml) in boys and 1.74 - 21.17 (ng/ml) in girls]. There was no significant difference in the blood Leptin level between serum and plasma. (2) The blood Leptin level was higher in overweight/obese kids than that in non-obese kids (P < 0.001). (3) There was significant difference in the blood Leptin levels between boys and girls groups (P = 0.023), especially in non-obese group (P = 0.004). The multiple regression analysis showed that there was no correlation between gender and blood Leptin level when body fat factor was added (P = 0.138, 0.241, 0.990), but there was still a strong correlation between blood leptin level and BMI, FM and BF% (P < 0.001). (4) There was a correlation between blood Leptin level and age (P = 0.005), especially in overweight/obese group and in girls (P = 0.001). The blood Leptin level rose from early puberty, especially in girl group (P = 0.045). There was significant difference in blood Leptin level in different age groups (P < 0.001) (5) There were strong positive correlation between blood Leptin level and BMI, BM and FM%, a weak correlation with LBM, and no correlation with W/H ratio in boys and a positive relationship in girls. The Quatatic equation was better than the linear equation in description of the correlation mentioned above. (6) There was a correlation between blood Leptin from 0 to 7 yr and birth weight (P = 0.001), after 7 yr of age this correlation disappeared (P = 0.456). (7) A positive correlation was seen between blood Leptin level and blood insulin level (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONThe blood Leptin level of 0 - 14 years old children is consistent with the level of growth of adiposity tissue and the degree of adiposity rebound.

Adolescent ; Age Factors ; Birth Weight ; physiology ; Body Constitution ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Insulin ; blood ; Leptin ; blood ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Regression Analysis ; Sex Factors

The aim was to investigate the effect of particle size on transfection efficiency of chitosan (CS)-based nanoparticles. Nanoparticles were synthesized through complex coacervation CS with plasmid DNA (pDNA). Three kinds of pDNA/CS nanoparticles with different sizes (250, 580 and 1300 nm) were prepared by altering the adding rate and the vortexing time. The particle size, zeta potential and the stability in cultural medium were evaluated by zetasizer. The association efficiency was determined by spectrofluorophotometer. The combination of chitosan with pDNA as well as the ability to protect pDNA from nuclease degradation was analyzed by gel electrophoresis. The transfection efficiency of pDNA/CS nanoparticles in HEK293 cells was investigated by flow cytometry. Using CS grafted fluorescein isothiocyanate as a fluorescent marker, the adsorption features of the nanoparticles were visualized by fluorescence microscopy and the cellular uptake percent was quantitated by flow cytometry. The internalization process of the nanoparticles was visualized by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) using nanoparticles of the size of 250 nm. Results showed that the three kinds of pDNA/CS nanoparticles had no differences in zeta potential, association efficiency, protection ability, stability and transfection efficiency in HEK293. The nanoparticles were all adsorbed on cell surface in the form of aggregates, and similar cellular uptake percent as well as quantities were observed 4 h post-incubation with HeLa cells. CLSM images showed that the aggregates below 2 microm could be internalized by endocytosis. These results suggest that the transfection efficiency of pDNA/CS nanoparticles does not depend on particle size in the range from 250 nm to 1300 nm.
Chitosan ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; metabolism ; DNA ; administration & dosage ; Endocytosis ; Genetic Vectors ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Nanoparticles ; Particle Size ; Plasmids ; Transfection

OBJECTIVEThe reproductive goals of married couples living in impoverished areas of China affect survival rates and quality of life of female children in those areas. The goal of this study was to collect information on parents' attitudes toward reproduction, gender preferences/prejudices, and to collect relevant socioeconomic and demographic data.

METHODSRandom sample families were enrolled from 3 poverty counties. Sample size included parents of 1800 children from birth to 6 years old. The children were divided into 6 age groups at one-year interval. Baseline data were collected and a questionnaire (endorsed by UNICEF) was used to evaluate reproductive expectations and gender preferences of parents.

RESULTS(1) The success of the One Child Family program has lead to a decreased overall birthrate. (2) The gender ratio (boys:girls) of the 3 counties studied was 100:87-100:95-100:97. No gender imbalance was found in this study. (3) The "Boy Preference" was still expressed by both fathers (69.0%) and mothers (65.7%). Approximately 40% of fathers and 37% of mothers interviewed expressed that only a male child would be acceptable. (4) Approximately 65% of both fathers and mothers recognize that girls are more likely to care for aging parents.

CONCLUSIONGovernment initiatives have encouraged small families, yet in this region gender ratio of newborns is still normal. More educational and social programs are needed to influence perceptions regarding gender and to eliminate the suboptimal status/poorly perceived value of girls in many societies.

Attitude ; Child ; Child Mortality ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Culture ; Female ; Goals ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Interpersonal Relations ; Male ; Parent-Child Relations ; Parents ; psychology ; Poverty Areas ; Prejudice ; Quality of Life ; Survival Rate ; Women's Rights

The study aims to investigate the embryo-fetus development toxicity of the novel PPAR-δ agonist HS060098 on SD rats. The pregnant rats that were randomly divided into the solvent control group (1% hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose water solution) and HS060098 suspension groups (10, 30 and 100 mg x kg(-1) xd(-1)) were orally administered with HS060098 suspension or vehicle during the gestation of 6 -15 days (GD6-15). At termination (GD20), female rats were sacrificed. The pregnant females were evaluated by corpora lutea count, implantation sites, existence and death of embryos. Fetal sex, weight, externals, variations and malformations of viscus and skeleton were observed. The results show that there were no significant abnormality in maternal general conditions and fetal appearance as well as viscera, but in the 100 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) group, the maternal weight gain decreased greatly (P < 0.01) and the skeletal ossification delayed remarkably (P < 0.01); in the 30 mg x kg(-1) xd(-1) group, the fatal and litter number of incompletely ossified sternebrae II was higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05); the skeletal malformations occurred in all dose groups, which indicate that the novel PPAR-δ agonist HS060098 had maternal toxicity and adversely effected fetal skeletal development under the experimental conditions.
Animals ; Bone and Bones ; drug effects ; Embryonic Development ; drug effects ; Female ; Fetal Weight ; PPAR delta ; agonists ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Toxicity Tests