Objective To investigate the association between aortic calcification and risk of vertebral fracture in Chinese postmenopausal women.Methods This study recruited 561 postmenopausal women aged 60 or older who were prospectively followed for 3 years.Based on the ACS,the patients were divided into aortic calcification group (n =236) and non-aortic calcification group (n =325).Extent of aortic calcification and incidence of vertebral fracture were quantified on the baseline lateral radiographs of lumbar spine.Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry was utilized to evaluate the bone mineral density (BMD).Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the associations between aortic calcification and risk of vertebral fracture.Results In aortic calcification group incidence of vertebral fracture was significantly higher than that in non-aortic calcification group (P ＜ 0.01).Moreover vertebral fracture presented an increased incidence while the ACS was higher.After the adjustment of age,body mass index,BMD,current smoking,current drinking,hypertension,diabetes,total cholesterol,myocardial infarction,stroke and 25-hydroxy vitamin D,aortic calcification with ACS ＞ 6(HR =3.03,95％CI 1.42-6.24),BMD (HR =2.82,95％ CI 1.75-5.68),age (HR =1.96,95％ CI 1.38-4.52),history of two or more falls (HR =1.45,95％ CI 1.24-2.79) and adiponectin (HR =1.07,95％ CI 1.22-2.31) were associated with increased risk of vertebral fracture.Conclusion Severe aortic calcification is closely associated with vertebral fracture for postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVETo study the potential aging effect on workers exposed to acrylonitrile (ACN).

METHODSThe deletion rates of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in peripheral blood nucleate cells of 47 exposed workers and 47 non-exposed workers (as control), as well as 12 old people and 12 young people were measured with polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

RESULTSThe positive rates of mtDNA deletion in peripheral blood nucleate cells were 17.02% in the workers exposed to ACN and 25.00% in group of old people. However, the mtDNA deletion was not detected in the control group and young people.

CONCLUSIONSACN could induce mtDNA deletion in peripheral blood nucleate cells of the exposed workers. There may be a potential molecular effect of occupational ACN exposure on workers' aging.

Acrylonitrile ; toxicity ; Adolescent ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aging ; drug effects ; Blood Cells ; drug effects ; ultrastructure ; DNA Damage ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure

Apx IV, a forth RTX toxin indentified in Actionbacillus pleuropneumoniae recently, is expressed by all A. pleuropneumoniae regardless the serotypes and inducible only in vivo toxin, so it is the optimal to develop species-specific and differentiated diagnostic assay. Here the 2445bp DNA fragment of apxIVA gene of A. pleuroneumoniae was amplified and fused in-frame to the downstream of the T7 promoter and 6 His Tag of the prokaryotic expression vector pET-28b. The construct was transformed into E. coli BL21(DE3). After induction by 1.0 mol/L IPTG, a recombinant protein about 90 kD in size, designed as ApxIVAN, was detected, which was present as inclusion bodies and reacted specifically with swine antisera to the APP-serotype-1 by dot-blot. An indirect ELISA (ApxIVA-ELISA) was developed using purified recombinant ApxIVAN from the inclusion bodies as described previously, which had excellent specificity to A. pleuroneunoniae. Using the ApxIVA-ELISA, the ApxIV antibodies were not detected in the inactivated APP bacterins vaccinated pigs, but were detected in A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 1, 2 and 7 infected pigs and mice. These results suggested that ApxIVA-ELISA can be used not only to detect all serotypes of APP, but also to differentiate the naturally infected and inactivated vaccine immunized pigs.
Actinobacillus Infections ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; veterinary ; Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; methods ; veterinary ; Gene Expression ; Genes, Bacterial ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the anti-leukemia effect of oridonin on Ph(+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cell line SUP-B15.

METHODSHuman Ph(+) ALL cell line was cultured in vitro. The 50% inhibition concentration (IC(50)) of oridonin against SUP-B15 cell line was examined using modified MTT assay. The cellular morphologic changes were observed using a light microscope. The percent of apoptosis of SUP-B15 cell line after drug treatment was evaluated by flow cytometric analysis. The active levels of ABL kinase and its downstream Akt/mTOR, Raf/MEK/ERK, STAT5 signaling pathways and the expression levels of Bcl-2 and BAX were examined by Western blot.

RESULTSOridonin inhibited the growth of SUP-B15 cell line in both time- and dose-dependent manner with the IC(50) of oridonin as (7.08 ± 1.21) µmol/L after 72 h treatment. The cellular membrane of SUP-B15 cell line treated with oridonin became unsharp, some of them disintegrated. Oridonin induced apoptosis in SUP-B15 cell line with the apoptosis rates following 0, 5, 10 µmol/L oridonin treatment for 24 h were (6.67 ± 0.83)%, (18.30 ± 1.79)% and (37.63 ± 7.12)%, respectively. Oridonin inhibited activation of ABL kinase and its downstream Akt/mTOR, Raf/MEK/ERK and STAT5 signaling pathways, which were constitutively activated in SUP-B15 cell line, down-regulated the level of anti- apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and up-regulated the expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bax.

CONCLUSIONOridonin exerted anti-leukemia effect in Ph(+)ALL cell line SUP-B15 by inhibiting the activation of ABL kinase and its downstream Akt/mTOR, Raf/MEK/ERK and STAT5 signaling pathways, down-regulating the expression of Bcl-2 and up-regulating the expression of BAX.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Diterpenes, Kaurane ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of antisense KLF4 (Krüppel-like factor 4) gene on the expression of vWF and PAI-1 in endothelial cells.

METHODSHuman umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were isolated from umbilical vein and cultured in endothelial cell medium. The recombinant adenoviral plasmid carrying the antisense KLF4 gene was constructed by homologous recombination. KLF4, PAI-1 and vWF mRNAs and proteins expression were detected by real time-PCR, Western blot, and confocal laser microscopy.

RESULTSRecombinant adenoviral plasmid carrying the antisense KLF4 gene (Ad-KLF4AS) was constructed successfully. Compared with the control Ad-GFP infection group, Ad-KLF4AS at a 200 MOI can down-regulate the expression of KLF4 gene in HUVEC (from 0.59 ± 0.01 to 0.44 ± 0.06) (P < 0.05), and increase vWF mRNA (from 1.04 ± 0.03 to 1.17 ± 0.05) and protein expression (P < 0.05). PAI-1 mRNA and protein of Ad-KLF4AS infection group was higher than that of Ad-GFP infection group. PAI-1 mRNA between the two groups had no significant difference (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSDown-regulation of KLF4 leads to increase in expression of vWF and PAI-1 in endothelial cells. KLF4 might play an important role in regulation of endothelial coagulant function.

Cells, Cultured ; Down-Regulation ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Endothelium ; Endothelium, Vascular ; metabolism ; Humans ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo observe the expression of receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) and its decoy receptor osteoprotegerin (OPG) during unloading period of dental implants.

METHODSAn animal model of dental implants was established in Beagle dogs. Bone remodeling was tested at 3, 7, 15, 30, 60 and 90 days after the placement of implants. RANKL and OPG mRNA expression were quantified by real-time PCR. Then mandibular bones were resected and some sections were observed.

RESULTSThe most prominent period of bone remodeling occurred at 7 day after the placement of implants (OPG/RANKL mRNA, 2.15 ± 0.1). The expression of RANKL and OPG increased in a time-dependent manner in both soft and hard tissue. After 7 days they gradually decreased.

CONCLUSIONSBoth OPG and RANKL were expressed in peri-implant tissues, and the changing tendency of RANKL and OPGmRNA was consistent with the change of bone remodeling. The active stage for bone remodelling in peri-implant tissues during unloading period is about 7 days after implantation.

Animals ; Bone Remodeling ; genetics ; Dental Implantation ; Dogs ; Male ; Osteoprotegerin ; genetics ; metabolism ; RANK Ligand ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study relationship between acute dipterex poisoning and oxidative stress and free radical damage.

METHODSEighty-two patients with acute dipterex poisoning (ADPP) and ninety-two healthy adult volunteers (HAV) were enrolled in the study with randomized controlled trial design. Plasma levels of vitamin C (VC) and vitamin E (VE), as well as level of lipoperoxide (LPO) and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the red blood cells (RBC), were determined by spectrophotometry.

RESULTSLevels of VC and VE, and activities of SOD and AChE were (37.35 +/- 9.98) micromol/L, (16.57 +/- 4.54) micromol/L, (1 785 +/- 154) U/g Hb and (213.1 +/- 57.6) U/g Hb, respectively, in the ADPP group, significantly lower than those in the HAV group, (55.34 +/- 15.98) micromol/L, (25.66 +/- 7.24) micromol/L, (2 124 +/- 185) U/g Hb and (305.3 +/- 83.6) U/g Hb, respectively. Plasma level of LPO was (35.20 +/- 5.29) nmol/g Hb in the ADPP group, significantly higher than that in the HAV group, (27.87 +/- 4.66) nmol/g Hb. Partial correlation analysis suggested that there existed negative correlation between activity of AChE in the RBC and plasma level of LPO (r = -0.274, P = 0.013) and positive correlation between activity of AChE in the RBC and plasma levels of VC and VE, and activity of SOD in the RBC (r = 0.333, P = 0.002, r = 0.269, P = 0.015 and r = 0.248, P = 0.026, respectively) in the ADPP, adjusted for age. Coefficient of reliability alpha was 0.682 (P < 0.001), with a standardized alpha of 0.868 (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONThere exist severe oxidative stress and free radical damage in patients with acute dipterex poisoning.

Acetylcholinesterase ; blood ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Ascorbic Acid ; blood ; Erythrocytes ; metabolism ; Female ; Free Radicals ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; Poisoning ; blood ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; Trichlorfon ; poisoning ; Vitamin E ; blood

This study was purposed to explore the expression of p57kip2 in the bone marrow of patients with de novo myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and its role in MDS pathogenesis, as well as the relationship between the expression of p57kip2 and SDF-1/CXCR4 signal. The expression of p57kip2 and CXCR4 in 67 de novo MDS patients was measured by real-time quantitative PCR. The percentage of CD34(+) cells in the bone marrow from MDS patients was measured by flow cytometry. 18 healthy volunteers were recruited for control. The effect of SDF-1 on p57kip2 expression in bone marrow mononuclear cell (BMMNC) from MDS or normal controls was investigated in vitro, and difference between them was compared. The results showed that low-risk MDS and high-risk MDS displayed a significant reduction of p57kip2 mRNA expression in BMMNC compared with that in control group (P < 0.001) and there was a negative correlation between p57kip2 expression and percentage of CD34(+) (r = -0.458, P < 0.001); the patients with abnormal karyotype showed lower expression of p57kip2 gene, compared to patients with normal karyotype (P = 0.045). Although the expression of CXCR4 had no difference between MDS patients and normal controls, a positive correlation between p57kip2 and CXCR4 in MDS patients was still found (r = 0.609, P < 0.001). Moreover, SDF-1 increased p57kip2 expression in normal BMMNC in dose-dependent manner, but BMMNC from MDS patients showed no response to SDF-1. SDF-1-induced p57 expression was blocked by AMD3100. It is concluded that the low expression of p57 gene in MDS may play a role in the pathogenesis of MDS. Furthermore, SDF-1-induced p57kip2 expression in BMMNC, and the decreasing response of BMMNC to SDF-1 may contribute to the low expression of p57kip2 in MDS patients.
Case-Control Studies ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p57 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptors, CXCR4 ; metabolism

the severity of cytological and histological grade. The evidence of hTERC, with or without amplification, might serve as a prognostic indicator to measure the grade of lesion.

OBJECTIVETo detect the disparity of three cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6), interferon-inducible protein 10 (IP-10) and interleukin-17 (IL-17) in peripheral blood (PB) and synovial fluid (SF) of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

METHODSerum concentrations of the three cytokines were measured in 27 patients with 13 systemic-onset JIA (sJIA), 14 polyarticular JIA (pJIA) and 28 healthy controls using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Nineteen patients with no marked arthritis symptom or only temporary arthralgia were enrolled in probable sJIA group. SF from 18 patients with 7 sJIA, 11 pJIA were examined for cytokine levels.

RESULT(1) The statistically significant difference in serum IL-6 was detected between sJIA and healthy control group [28.0(4.2-59.2) ng/L vs. 12.3 (2.1-13.8) ng/L, P < 0.05], but no significant difference between probable sJIA and healthy control group [11.8(7.7-39.2) ng/L vs. 12.3 (2.1-13.8) ng/L, P > 0.05] was found. There were statistically significant differences between sJIA group and healthy control group in serum concentrations of IL-17 [14.0(9.8-34.3) ng/L vs. 9.8 (7.9-16.2) ng/L, P < 0.05], yet compared to healthy control group, no significant difference in concentration level of IL-17 was found in pJIA Group [14.2(9.9-16.9) ng/L vs. 9.8(7.9-16.2) ng/L, P > 0.05].(2) In sJIA and pJIA SF, the median IP-10 level was significantly higher compared to respective PB levels [619.7 (160.9, 873.1) ng/L vs. 64.8 (27.4-111.9) ng/L;660.9 (401.9, 1349.8) ng/L vs. 97.4 (41.9-222.1) ng/L, P < 0.01, respectively], but there was only significant difference in IL-17 between pJIA SF and PB [22.9 (17.1, 45.8) ng/L vs. 14.2 (9.9-16.9) ng/L, P < 0.01].

CONCLUSIONIL-6 may play more important role in the pathogenesis of sJIA. Moreover, IL-6 may be the biomarker associated with arthritis in early JIA stage. Both autoinflammation and autoimmune response may be involved in the pathogenesis of sJIA. IL-17 enrichment may only occur in local joint, the levels of IL-17 in PB may not be significantly increased. The prominent expression gradient between SF and PB of IP-10 maybe the basis of performing chemotaxis and further causing joint damage.

Adolescent ; Arthritis, Juvenile ; blood ; immunology ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Chemokine CXCL10 ; blood ; metabolism ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-17 ; blood ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; metabolism ; Knee Joint ; metabolism ; Male ; Synovial Fluid ; immunology ; metabolism