AlM:To investigate the expression transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and heat shock protein 47 (HSP-47), in pterygium and normal conjunctiva tissues, in order to study the roles of these cytokines played in the pathogenesis in human pterygium.
METHODS:The expression difference of TGF-β1, HSP-47 between human pterygium and normal conjunctive tissues were compared by immuno - histochemistry technique.
RESULTS:The positive expression of TGF-β1, HSP-47 was stronger than in normal conjunctive tissues ( P <0. 05), the TGF-β1 expressed in all layers of pterygium, especially in the squamous epithelium, in the inflammation cells and vascular endothelial cells also expressed. The HSP-47 showed higher expressed in the lamina propria layer of pterygium, and weakly expressed in epithelial layer, no obvious expression in normal conjunctive tissues.
CONCLUSlON:Over-expression of TGF-β1 and HSP-47 in pterygium compared to the normal conjunctiva tissues may play a critical role during the occurrence, development and invasion of the pterygium.

Glomerular hypertrophy is the main pathological characteristic in the early stage of diabetic nephropathy (DN), and its regulatory mechanism is closely related to mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway activity. mTOR includes mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2(mTORC2), in which, the upstream pathway of mTORC1 is phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/serine-threonine kinase(Akt)/adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase(AMPK), and the representative signaling molecules in the downstream pathway of mTORC1 are 4E-binding proteins(4EBP) and phosphoprotein 70 S6Kinase(p70S6K). Some Chinese herbal extracts could improve cell proliferation via intervening the expressions of the key molecules in the upstream or downstream of PIK/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in vivo. As for glomerular mesangial cells(MC) and podocyte, mTOR plays an important role in regulating glomerular inherent cells, including adjusting cell cycle, energy metabolism and matrix protein synthesis. Rapamycin, the inhibitor of mTOR, could suppress glomerular inherent cell hypertrophy, cell proliferation, glomerular basement membrane (GBM) thickening and mesangial matrix deposition in model rats with DN. Some Chinese herbal extracts could alleviate glomerular lesions by intervening mTOR signaling pathway activity in renal tissue of DN animal models or in renal inherent cells in vivo and in vitro.
Animals ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; pathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; pathology ; Kidney Glomerulus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective The purpose of this study was to approach the relation of SNP43,SNP44 locus, main haplotypes and haplotype combinations with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Methods According to the theory and principles of systematic review,data from case-control studies regarding the association between calpain-10(CAPN10) gene and T2DM were derived through electronic search of PubMed and Chinese journals databases.To gain a more precise estimation of the relationship,a stratified Meta-analysis with four subgroups was pertbrmed according to the races.Publication bias Was also assessed.Results The association with T2DM in different races was evaluated.In Mongoloid race,SNP43-G allele,G/G genotype and 111/221 haplotype combination showed notable association with T2DM with Ors (95%CI) as 1.368(1.155-1.620),1.437(1.186-1.741) and 2.762 (1.287-5.927) respectively.In Caucasoid race,SNP44-C allele,111/111 hapotype combination showed strong relationship with T2DM with Ors(95%CI) as 1.144(1.023-1.278),1.291(1.050-1.586) respectively.In Hybrid race,only one positive finding Was obtained which Was SNP44-C allele with OR(95%CI)as 1.653(1.025-2.665).Conclusion SNP43-G allele,G/G genotype,111/221 were risk factors to Mongoloid race.And SNP-C allele,111/111 haplotype combination were risk factors to Caucasoid race,and SNP44-C allele to Hybrid race.

To explore the gene-based principal component logistic regression model and its application in genome-wide association study.Using the simulated genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) genotypes data,we proposed a practical statistical analysis strategy-'the principal component logistic regression model',based on the gene levels to assess the association between genetic variations and complex diseases.The simulation results showed that the P value of genes in related diseases was the smallest among the results from all the genes.The results of simulation indicated that not only it could reduce the degree of freedom through hypothesis testing but could also better understand the correlations between SNPs.The gene-based principal component logistic regression model seemed to have certain statistical power for testing the association between genetic genes and diseases in the genome-wide association studies.

Objective To observe the association between adiponectin and small dense low-density lipoprotein (sLDL-c) in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients.Furthermore,we sought to determine the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) rs1501299 ( + 276G/T ), rs266729 (-11365C/G) and the incidence of CAD.Methods Consecutive subjects with chest discomfort were examined by coronary angiography and divided into non-CAD [ n =250,147 male,mean age (60.26 ±7.52) years] and CAD [n =267,153 male,mean age (60.79 ±9.63) years] groups.Blood samples were collected from all participants following an overnight fasting for at least 12 hours.Plasma adiponectin levels were measured by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The serum levels of sLDL-C and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) were determined by ELISA.Genotypes in rs1501299 and rs266729 of the adiponeetin were determined by polymerase chain reaetion ( PCR ).Results 1.The adiponectin levels were significantly lower [ ( 306.17 ± 74.52 ) mg/L vs.( 321.78 ± 86.28 ) mg/L ],whereas sLDL-C and ox-LDL levels were significantly higher [ ( 276.30 ± 45.55 ) ng/L vs.( 249.00 ±32.02) ng/L and (545.06 ± 115.46 ) μg/L vs.(497.74 ± 106.09 ) μg/L,P ＜ 0.05 ] in CAD group than non-CAD group.2.Adiponectin level was negatively associated with sLDL-C,whereas sLDL-C positively correlated with ox-LDL in all subjects.3.Genotype distribution and allele frequencies of rs1501299 and rs266729 were similar between CAD and non-CAD subjects and not related to the serum levels of adiponectin, sLDL-C and ox-LDL.Conclusions Reduced adiponectin and increased sLDL-C were independent risk factors for coronary artery disease.Genetic polymorphisms in rs1501299 and rs266729 were not linked with coronary artery disease.

Antigens, Viral ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Cell Phone ; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral ; radiation effects ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; physiology ; radiation effects ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Viral Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the anti-tumor effect of combination TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) with aspirin on liver cancer cell line, SMMC-7721.

METHODSThe survival fraction of SMMC-7721 cells was measured by MTT assay, apoptosis rate and cell cycle was determined by flow cytometry, and the expression of apoptosis-related gene was identified by western blot.

RESULTSThe survival fraction of SMMC-7721 cells treated with 300 ng/ml TRAIL, 3 mmol/L or 10 mmol/L aspirin alone was 82.76%, 81.34% and 71.29% respectively, and the survival fractions of SMMC-7721 cells treated with TRAIL and 3 mmol/L or 10 mmol/L aspirin were 43.54% and 37.8% respectively. The apoptosis rates of SMMC-7721 cells induced by TRAIL and 3 mmol/L or 10 mmol/L aspirin were higher than that induced by TRAIL or aspirin alone (34.76% and 38.56% vs 21.25%, 1.89% and 6.08%), and G0/G1 arrest was observed under TRAIL and aspirin. The expression of Bcl-2 in SMMC-7721 cells treated by 3 mmol/L or 10 mmol/L aspirin decreased markedly, but no effect on Bax.

CONCLUSIONThe cooperative anti-tumor effect of aspirin and TRAIL may be related to the inhibition of the expression of Bcl-2 by aspirin

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; Aspirin ; pharmacology ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Humans ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between the expression of protamine-2 (P-2) mRNA and the results of sperm extraction in the corresponding testis tissues of patients with nonobstructive azoospermia.

METHODSBased on pathological diagnosis, 38 cases of azoospermia at the mean age of 32.4 (ranging 24 - 42) years were divided into a nonobstructive (NOA) group and an obstructive (OA) group. Two specimens were taken from different positions of one testis, each divided into three portions for general pathological test, sperm separation and mRNA extraction, respectively. The expression of P-2 mRNA was determined by RT-PCR and image analysis assay.

RESULTSAmong the 38 cases, 27 were diagnosed as nonobstructive and 11 as obstructive azoospermia. No regularity was found as to the positions where sperm could or could not be successfully isolated. The expression of P-2 mRNA was 1.40 +/- 0.21 in the tissues where sperm was isolated and 0.51 +/- 0.23 (P < 0.05) in those where no sperm was isolated.

CONCLUSIONThe expression of P-2 mRNA in the testicular tissues from the patient with nonobstructive azoospermia could reveal the results of sperm extraction in the corresponding tissues.

Adult ; Azoospermia ; metabolism ; Cell Separation ; Humans ; Male ; Protamines ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Spermatozoa ; cytology ; Testis ; metabolism

Adult ; Cause of Death ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Maternal Mortality ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; mortality

Objective To investigate the effect of different pre-enrichment methods on flow cytometry cell sorting of monocyte.Methods Peripheral blood of 15 volunteers were pre-enriched by three methods:erythrocyte lysis,hydroxyethyl starch sedimentation,density gradient centrifugation using Ficoll.Cell viability was detected by Trypan blue staining.The amount and the proportion of monocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry.Results The cell viability of the samples prepared by the 3 methods was above 95 ％.There was no significant difference between the absolute count and grouping of monocytes in erythrocytes lysis and without pre-enrichment samples.The cell subgroup was not obvious by hydroxyethyl starch sedimentation.The number of monocytes obtained by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation was significantly lower than that without pre-enrichment samples.Conclusion Erythrocyte lysis was a high efficient method for monocytes flow cytometry cell sor ting.