Angiopoietins ; metabolism ; physiology ; Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; physiology ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; blood supply ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; physiopathology ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; physiology ; Pericytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; physiology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis ; metabolism ; physiology ; Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta ; metabolism ; physiology ; Receptor, TIE-2 ; metabolism ; physiology ; Signal Transduction

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Emodin ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; pathology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Objective To study the influence of low-iodine diet on the expression of homeobox gene nkx2.1 in rat cerebral tissue. Methods Forty female Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups according to body. quality: low-iodine group and control group,both fed with low-iodine feed at an iodine content of 13.66 μg/kg,respectively given the deionized water and 200 μg/L KIO3 solution. The hormone levels of two group rats were determined with chemiluminescence immunoassay after three months, and then mated with healthy male rats. Cerebral tissues were taken from the fetus of 16-day pregnancy,newborn and 20 days old offspring in low-iodine and control group to detect the content of nkx2.1 mRNA using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (FQ-PCR) techniques. Results Serum TT3, TT4, FT3, FT4 level of rats in low-iodine group(0.89±0.20, 0.32±0.16, 3.33± 0.61, 3.28±0.80) was respectively lower than that in the control group(1.04±0.06, 39.42±14.68,4.83±0.33, 26.99±4.48;t = 2.71,6.52,5.70, 12.89, P < 0.05 or < 0.01). The relative nkx2.1 mRNA expression was(5.60± 0.30)×10-3, (1.20 ± 0.29)×10-3, (0.18± 0.06)×10-3 respectively in the fetus of 16-day pregnancy, newborn and 20 days old offspring of control group, while it was (3.00 ± 0.55)×10-3, (1.90 ± 0.21)×10-3,(0.69 ± 0.15)×10-3 in the low-iodine group. The difference of nkx2.1 mRNA expression was significant among fetal and neonatal rats in the control group and low-iodine group(F = 210.07,162.40, both P < 0.01). The nkx2.1 mRNA expression of newborn rats was lower than that of 16-day pregnancy in both groups(P < 0.01), and that of 20 days old rats was lower than that of 16-day pregnant and neonatal rats(P < 0.01). The 16-day pregnant rats of control group had obviously higher level of nkx2.1 expression than those in the low-iodine group(t = 16.073, P< 0.01), while the nkx2.1 of newborn and 20 days old low-iodine rats expressed much higher than healthy rats(t = 7.573,12.221, P < 0.01). Conclusions Brain development retardation caused by low-iodine is closely related to nkx2.1 differential expression in the brain tissue.

Objective To study the influence of low-iodine diet on the expression of homeobox gene Nkx-6.1 and Nkx-6.2 in rat cerebrum tissue, and to explore the possible molecular mechanism of cerebrum development retardation caused by low-iodine. Methods Twenty female Wistar rats were randomly equally divided into two groups: low-iodine group and control group, both fed with low-iodine diet as low as 13.66 μg/kg determinated by spectrophotometry in Tianjin Institute of Endocrinology and the former with deionized water, the later 200 μg/L potassium iodate. Thyroid hormone level was detected using chemiluminescence immunoassay 3 months later and they were mated with male rats normally fed. Rats of 16-day pregnancy, new-born and 20th days old were detected the content of Nkx-6.1 and Nkx-6.2 mRNA in the cerebrum tissue by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR 0.61), (3.28±0.80)pmol/L] were lower than the control group[(1.04±0.06), (39.42±14.68)nmol/L, (4.83±0.33), day pregnancy, new-born and 20th days old of control group was (1.90±0.23)×10-3,(1.86±0.40)×10-4, (1.11± 0.27)×10-4(F=827.58, P<0.01), Nkx-6.1 mRNA expression level gradually decreased along with aging(all P<0.05). The intra-group difference was significant (F=297.25, P<0.01) and the Nkxr.1 mRNA expression level during 16 days of pregnancy was the highest(P<0.01). It was higher in the control group than in the low-iodine group during 16 days of pregnancy (t=10.14, P<0.01) as well as in the low-iodine group than in the in 16-day pregnancy, new-born and 20th days old of control group was respectively(1.03±0.19)×10-2, (1.33± 0.10)×10-3, (8.79±0,87)×10-3, and that of low-iodine group was (0.31±0.03)×10-2, (1.53±0.13)×10-3, (7.51±0.86)×10-2. The intra-group difference was significant(F=1293.02,1065.83, all P<0.01). Nkx-6.2 expression level during 20th days old was the highest(P<0.01) and that of newborn was the lowest(P<0.01). The Nkx6.2 mRNA expression level in control group were higher than the low-iodine group during 16-day pregnancy and 20th days old(t=14.35, 4.05, all P<0.01). It was higher in the low-iodine group than in the control group during newboru(t=4.78, P<0.01). Conclusions The difference in the expression of Nkx-6.1 and Nkx-62 is highly related to the brain development retardation caused by low-iodine.

Objective To detect the levels of five trace elements in whole blood of patients with Keshan disease(KSD) and dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM) and explore their role in the pathogenesis of KSD.Methods One hundred and four patients with chronic KSD were selected from Keshan diseased areas in Shandong,Sichuan and Inner Mongolia.Thirty patients with DCM were selected from Qilu Hospital of Shandong University,Jinan Central Hospital,The First People's Hospital.Ninety-one healthy people from KSD endemic areas and 39 healthy people from Jinan were selected as endemic healthy controls and non-endemic healthy controls,respectively.Blood samples were collected to determinate the level of selenium (Se),copper (Cu),zinc (Zn),chromium (Cr) and manganese (Mn) with fluorescence method and atomic absorption spectrometry,according to the principle of informed consent.Results The level of Se,Zn and Cr of KSD group[(36.0 + 4.9)μg/L,(22.73 + 4.62)mg/L,(0.56 + 0.17)mg/L] was significantly lower than that of non-endemic healthy controls [(56.4 ± 6.8)lμg/L,(25.35 ± 4.44)mg/L,(0.71 ± 0.17)mg/L,all P ＜ 0.05],but the level of Cu of KSD group[(0.95 ± 0.24)mg/L] was significantly higher than that of non-endemic healthy controls[(0.73 ± 0.13) mg/L,all P ＜ 0.05].The level of Se and Cr of KSD was significantly lower than that of endemic healthy controls[(54.5 ± 5.4)μg/L,(0.87 ± 0.02)mg/L,P ＜ 0.05],and Cu was significantly higher than that of endemic healthy controls[(0.66 ± 0.02)mg/L,P ＜ 0.05].The level of Cu and Zn of KSD was significantly lower than that of DCM [(1.21 ± 0.23)mg/L,(27.09 ± 7.10)mg/L,all P ＜ 0.01].The level of Se and Cr of DCM group[(39.6 ± 3.5)μg/L,(0.58 ± 0.14)mg/L] was significantly lower than that of non-endemic healthy controls(all P ＜ 0.01),but Cu[(1.21 + 0.23)mg/L] was significantly increased (P ＜ 0.01).Compared with non-endemic healthy controls,the level of Se of endemic healthy control group was significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.01),while Cu was significantly increased (P ＜ 0.01).Se,Zn and Cr level of KSD decreased gradually following elevated heart function level,but the level of Cu gradually increased.Conclusions The metabolism of Se,Cr,Cu and Zn is unbalanced in KSD patients,whose Se level is still lower than that of people in non-endemic areas.The change of Se,Cr,Cu and Mn level between KSD and DCM is consistent.

The aim of this study was to detect the rate of T-helper (Th)17 cells and interleukin (IL)-17 level in peripheral blood of patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and to explore their clinical significance. The proportion of Th17 cells from 48 patients with ITP and 28 healthy controls was detected by flow cytometry, and the IL-17 level was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that the percentage of Th17 cells in ITP group was (1.40 ± 1.35)%, which was significantly higher than that in healthy control group (P < 0.05), but in the glucocorticoid hormone-treated group it was significantly lower than that in treated group without glucocorticoid hormone(P < 0.05). The level of IL-17 expressed by Th17 cells in ITP patients was (19.624 ± 5.187) pg/ml, which was higher than that in the healthy control group (P < 0.05), it was lower in the glucocorticoid hormone treated group than that in treated group without glucocorticoid hormone, but there was no statistically significant difference between the glucocorticoid treated and treated group without glucocorticoid hormone (P > 0.05). It is concluded that the Th17 cells may involve in the pathogenesis of ITP, and the glucocorticoid hormone probably plays a therapeutic role through inhibiting Th17 cells.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Glucocorticoids ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Interleukin-17 ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Th17 Cells ; metabolism ; Thrombocytopenia ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Young Adult

This study was aimed to investigate the distribution of 1059 G/C gene polymorphism of C-reactive protein(CRP) in deep vein thrombus (DVT) and its clinical significance. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to screen 1059 G/C polymorphism in exon 2 of C-reactive protein gene in 61 cases of DVT and 60 healthy controls. The frequency of mutation was calculated. The results showed that there was no statistical difference of 1059 G/C genotype and mutation frequency of allele between deep vein thrombosis group and control group (p > 0.05). It is concluded that the 1059 G/C gene polymorphism of CRP displays certain difference in races and areas, and whether 1059 G/C gene polymorphism of CRP is a dangerous factor for deep vein thrombosis, which needs to be deeply explored.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; C-Reactive Protein ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Exons ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Venous Thrombosis ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo describe the prevalence of anemia and yearly trends (1993-2003) among women who came to the hospitals or maternal and child health units for premarital examinations in 6 counties of Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces.

METHODSData were obtained from the records of the premarital examinations in perinatal health care surveillance system that had been established since 1992 in these areas. We reviewed hemoglobin levels of those women who were enrolled in the perinatal health care surveillance system from 1993 to 2003. Anemia was defined according to the WHO (2001) criterion. We calculated the prevalence of anemia and analyzed the yearly trends based on the data of hemoglobin concentration.

RESULTSIn the period of 1993-2003, there were 82 995 anemia cases identified among 193,434 women with an overall anemia rate as 42.9%. The rates of anemia were high (65.5%) in 1993 but low (25.8%) in 2003. 99.7% of the anemic women whose hemoglobin concentration were between 80-119.9 g/L. Time trend analysis indicated a significant decline on anemia rate while monthly analysis showed that the prevalence rates were high (48.2%) in September and low in March (39.5%). The results also showed that the prevalence rates of anemia were relatively higher in farmers and workers in rural enterprises, and lower in Han ethnicity than minorities. The higher prevalence rates of anemia were presented among the women with less education, lower body mass index, or at older age.

CONCLUSIONFor those premarital women in 6 counties of Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, the overall anemic rate presented a significant downward trend between 1993 and 2003 while the prevalence of anemia remained high, especially for the women with less education, lower body mass index or older ages.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anemia ; epidemiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Premarital Examinations ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide(W7) on the differentiation from human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADSCs) to endothelial cells.

METHODShADSCs were cultured with serum-free differential medium containing 40 ng/ml vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and 10ng/ml basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Cells were divided into control group (differential medium without W7), high-dose group (containing 30 μmol/L W7), medium-dose group (containing 20 μmol/L W7), and low-dose group ( containing 10 μmol/L W7). The hADSCs were cultured for 8 days, and then the changes in the phenotypes of von Willebrand factor (vWF) and vessel-selective cadherin (VE-Cadherin) were detected by flow cytometry (FCM). The intracellular Ca(2+) labeled with Fluo-3 was detected by laser confocal microscopy. After hADSCs planting on Matrigel, their angiogenic potentials were observed under the inverted phase contrast microscope, and the expression of extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) and phosphorylated extracellular regulated kinase (p-ERK) were evaluated by Western blot.

RESULTSAfter the hADSCs were cultured for 8 days, compared with the control group, the expressions of vWF and VE-Cadherin significantly increased along with the decrease of W7 level and the intracellular Ca(2+) also significantly increased (Pü0.01). Lumina-like vascular structure was formed in W7 treatment groups, but not in the blank control group. Compared with the blank control group, the expression of ERK showed no significant in W7 treatment groups (high-, medium-, and low-dose groups)(P>0.05); however, along with the decrease of W7 levels, the expression of p-ERK significantly increased(P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONW7 in proper levels can effectively induce the differentiation from hADSCs to endothelium by increasing the intracellular Ca(2+) level and thus activating the ERK/MAPK pathway.

Adipose Tissue ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Sulfonamides ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the differentially expressed genes in rat in the process of regression of vascular calcification by using the suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH).

METHODS24 SD male rats which aged 6 weeks and specific pathogen free grade were selected and randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 8): control group, calcification group and regression group respectively. Vascular calcification model (vitamin D3 plus nicotine, VDN) were made from rats in calcification group and regression group, and rats in control group were intragastric administered with normal saline and lavaged with peanut oil. Rats were bred for 8 weeks in calcification group and control group, while rats in regression group were fed for 16 weeks. All rats were killed to measure concentration of calcium in the arterial tissue and examine the pathological lesion changes. Subtractive hybridization among vascular cDNA sequences from calcification group and regression group were established. The cDNA fragments which expressed higher or lower in regression group than those in calcification group were isolated. Differentially expressed genes with cDNA fragment were inserted into PMD18-T plasmid vector and transformed competent DH-5alpha, cDNA libraries of differentially expressed gene between calcification group and regression group were then constructed. Recombinant vectors were analyzed by colony PCR, positive genes were randomly selected for sequencing and analyzed by BLAST. 4 genes were randomly selected for RT-PCR certification combined with semi-quantitative analysis of DNA bands.

RESULTSVDN model of rats were successfully constructed. Concentration of tissue calcium in calcification group (15.34 mg/g +/- 2.51 mg/g) was significantly increased compared to that in control group (5.20 mg/g +/- 0.75 mg/g, P < 0.001), while in comparison with calcification group (15.34 mg/g +/- 2.51 mg/g), calcium in regression group was relatively lower (12.73 mg/g +/- 1.89 mg/g, P < 0.05). 28 up-regulated genes and 22 down-regulated genes were gained through sequencing and BLAST analysis among positive clones. RT-PCR validation indicated that 4 genes such as prdx3 and Ank2 had increasedly expressed in regression group than those in calcification group, the average fold change was 1.7.

CONCLUSIONRat vascular calcification tissue had characteristic of active regression. Genes in relation to pyrophosphoric acid synthesis, glutamate signal peptides, anti-oxidant and ant-apoptosis were up-regulated, at the same time many genes related to ossification and oxidation activity were down-regulated in the process of calcification regression. Increased expression of calcification suppressor genes accompanying decreased expression of calcification promoting genes might be the intrinsic mechanisms which initiated the active regression of calcified tissues.

Animals ; Aorta ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vascular Calcification ; genetics ; physiopathology