1.0?108 co-pies/L)and the lower viral load group(HBV DNA

HK-2 cells were cultured with various concentrations of glucose and insulin for 12,24,48,72 h.Transforming growth factor-?_1(TGF-?_1) protein in supematant was measured by ELISA,while TGF-?_1 mRNA expression was assessed by RT-PCR.Data showed that high concentration of glucose and insulin up-regulated the expression of TGF-?_1 in HK-2 cells through different pathways.

ObjectiveTo investigate the long term effect of different antihypertensive agents on renal hemodynamics with ultrasound Doppler.Methods52 essential hypertensive patients were divided into three groups according to the antihypertensive agent they took: angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor (ACEI), calcium channel blocker (CCB) and β-adrenoceptor blocker (βB). The blood pressures of right upper arms were measured with mercury column blood pressure gauge using Korotkoff method. Renal hemodynamics were examined with ultrasound Doppler before and after treatment with agents. ResultsSystolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of all patients were decreased significantly. An significant correlation was found between the deceases of blood pressure and the betterment of renal homodynamic parameters in ACEI and CCB groups, but not in βB group. ConclusionTo a degree, the betterment of renal hemodynamics is correlation with the reduction of systemic blood pressure and mechanism of action of antihypertensive agents.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the mutation of the KAL1 gene in male patients with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH).

METHODSWe analyzed the exon mutation of the KAL1 gene in 30 IHH patients using polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) combined with the PCR product direct sequencing technique.

RESULTSThree cases of the KAL1 gene mutation were found among the total number of patients, including 1 case of nonsense mutation (c. 1270C > T,p. R424X), and 2 cases of frameshift mutation, (c. 279_280delAG,p. G94fs) and (c. 1886_1887delTT,p. L629fs).

CONCLUSIONOf the 3 cases of the KAL1 gene mutation we detected, 2 are new and 1 already reported in the literature. The results of our study have provided valuable information on the molecular genetics of the IHH syndrome.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Base Sequence ; Child ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; genetics ; Kallmann Syndrome ; genetics ; Male ; Mutation ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; Young Adult

The effects of different physical and chemical factors on hairy root growth and flavonoids production were studied in suspension culture of Saussurea medusa hairy root in 1/2 MS medium. The results showed that the following culture conditions, nitrogen concentratiaon (involved NH4+ and NO3-), 30 mmol/L; the ratio of ammonium to nitrate, 5:25; the combination of 2% sucrose and 3% glucose; 0.5 mg/L GA3; 0.5 mg/L IBA; initial pH 5.8; light cycle, 18 h/d (3500lx); temperature, 24 degrees C; shaker revolutions per minute, 100 r/min, were favourable to hairy root growth and flavonoids production. Under the above culture conditions, up to 12.8 g/L (DW) of hairy root and 1922 mg/L of flavonoids were obtained after 21 days of culture. The content of total flavonoids in hairy root was 15%, which was about 25 times as that in the wild plantlet.
Culture Media ; Flavonoids ; biosynthesis ; Plant Roots ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Saussurea ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Temperature ; Tissue Culture Techniques

OBJECTIVE Oxidative sress is one of the key factor responsible for occurrence and development of hepatic fibrosis, a common consequence of chronic liver injury of multiple etiology. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) serves as a major regulator of a celular defense system against oxidative stress. Xiaochaihutang (XCHT), a compound of seven botanical extracts used for liver diseases traditionally in East Asia. However, few studies have investigated its anti-hepatic fibrosis effects and pathophysiological mechanism of action. The present study was designed to confirm the anti-hepatic fibrosis effects and explore its potential mechanism of action by investigating the intervention of Nrf2 pathway. METHODS Liver fibrosis was induced by repeated injection of Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) over a period of 9 weeks. Starting from the 6th week, the animals in treatment groups were given the appropriate dose of XCHT granules and silybin. Biochemical parameters, histological changes of the liver and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were determined. The expressions of Nrf2, Keap1, Nqo1, HO-1, Gclc and Gclm were assessed by RT-PCR and Western blot. RESULTS CCl4 caused a significant fibrosis damage in the rat liver and the liver functions and fibrosis degree were significantly improved by XCHT (5 g·kg- 1 and 10 g·kg- 1). XCHT (5 g·kg- 1 and 10 g·kg- 1) treatment significantly decreased the number of cells labeled with α-SMA antibodies. Moreover, XCHT (5 g·kg-1 and 10 g·kg-1) significantly increase Nqo1, HO-1, Gclc and Gclm expressions in the liver. CONCLUSION These studies establish XCHT is a potentially useful therapeutic agent for treatment of hepatic fibrosis and it might be via regulation of Nrf2 pathway in rats against oxidative stress, making further efforts to inhibiting the activated HSCs. Activation or up-regulation of Nrf2 pathway may be an alternative treatment strategy for liver fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the mRNA and protein expressions of RCAS1 in human astrocytic tumors, and to explore the relation between their expression and the genesis and development of tumor. METHODS: The RCAS1 mRNA expression in human astrocytic tumors was evaluated by RT-PCR, and the RCAS1 protein expression was studied by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: The quantities of RCAS1 mRNA expression between diffusive astrocytoma(Grade II) and anaplastic astrocytoma(Grade III), anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma(Grade IV) were significantly different(P<0.05), while the expression scores of RCAS1 protein were different only between the anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma(P<0.01). RCAS1 protein expression was positively correlated with the tumor grade (r=0.573,P<0.001). The RCAS1 protein was not detected in normal brain tissues by immunohistochemical staining. CONCLUSION The RCAS1 expression is related to the histological grade of astrocytic tumor. In astrocytic tumors, the RCAS1 expression is regulated transcriptionally and posttranscriptionally.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; genetics ; metabolism ; Astrocytoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Brain Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND:The intestine is not only the main target attacked by sepsis but also the vital organ which mediated sepsis. The recovery of the damaged intestinal barrier structure and function is related to the occurrence and outcome of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). How to protect and reduce the damage of the intestinal mucosa and how to promote the reconstruction of the intestinal mucosa have been the important topics in sepsis for many years. This study aimed to investigate the influential factors of intestinal mucosal reconstruction after intestinal epithelial injuryin vivo in a mouse model of sepsis.METHODS:Mice were subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) for induction of sepsis to assess intestinal mucosal damage, epithelial cell apoptosis, and transformed number of goblet cells, and to detect the concentration of TNF-α, IL-1 and TGF-β1 and TFF3 (trefoil factor 3) expression in the small intestinal mucosa. All above were performed by HE staining, western blot, ELISA and immunohistochemistry respectively. The experimental animals were divided into a sepsis group and a sham-operation group. The animals with sepsis were separately killed at 6 (7 animals), 24 (7 animals) and 48 hours (7 animals) after CLP.RESULTS:Injured intestinal mucosa was observed in the 3 groups under a light microscope, in which damage scores in the 24-hour and 48-hour groups were higher than in the 6-hour group and no difference was found between the two groups. Moreover, less of goblet cells or other epithelial cells adjacent to the injured surface migrated into the wound to cover the denuded area. The number of goblet cells was substantially decreased in the three CLP groups compared with the sham-operation group. Protein levels of IL-1 and TNF-α were significantly increased by 3-4 fold at all time points when compared with the sham-operation group, and cleaved caspase-3 by 4 fold. Although TFF3 expression was modestly increased for 6 hours after the onset of CLP, it appeared to decline at 24 hours and 48 hours as shown by Western blot. A similar tendency was observed upon TGF-β1, i.e. the protein level was not elevated at 24 hours and 48 hours, but increased modestly at 6 hours.CONCLUSIONS:Sepsis from CLP shows less restitution on the surface of injured intestinal mucosa. There is evidence that both constant inflammatory reaction and epithelial cell apoptosis may affect mucosal reestablishment of the intestine at the onset of sepsis. Mucosa after severe sepsis showed the state of high inflammation, and declined goblet cell function and mucosal reconstruction, which affected the repair of damaged intestinal barrier. Constant inflammatory reaction, and declined goblet cell function and mucosal reconstruction ability may affect the reestablishment of intestinal mucosa at the onset of sepsis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression and gene mutation of cluster of differentiation 9 (CD9) in the pathway of the mineral powder induced malignant transformation in immortalized human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) in Gejiu.

METHODSBEAS-2B cells served as the control group and its malignant transformation cells induced by mineral powder in Gejiu were considered as experiment group. The expression of CD9 protein in 20 bottles of BEAS-2B cells and 20 bottles of malignant transformation cells was evaluated by immunocytochemistry. The mRNA expression of CD9 in 10 bottles of BEAS-2B cells and 10 bottles of malignant transformation cells was examined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Gene mutation was detected in the products of RT-PCR by DNA sequencing.

RESULTSThere was significant difference between the expression of CD9 protein in BEAS-2B cells (100%, 20/20) and that in its malignant transformation cells (35%, 7/20 P < 0.01). The expression of CD9 mRNA in BEAS-2B cells 0.91 +/- 0.09 was significantly higher than that in its malignant transformation cells (0.34 +/- 0.14) (P < 0.01). Two point mutation of CD9 gene was detected in the malignant transformation cells of BEAS-2B by DNA sequencing. The change of G-->T in the base of 231 led to the change of Gln-->His in the amino acids of 40. The change of T-->A in the base of 119 led to the change of Val-->Asp in the amino acids of 3.

CONCLUSIONThe absence or down-regulation of CD9 expression and point mutation in the malignant transformation cells of BEAS-2B may play a considerable role in the pathway of the malignant transformation in the BEAS-2B cells induced by mineral powder in Gejiu.

Bronchi ; pathology ; Cell Line ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; genetics ; Dust ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; chemically induced ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mining ; Mutation ; drug effects ; Tetraspanin-29 ; genetics ; metabolism

The atom absorption spectrometer is introduced to determine the cation concentrations such as potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium in the dialysis fluid. They are accurately determined by proper preparation and correct dilution ratio under the optimized measuring conditions. Compared with the current arbitrate methods (EDTA titration determination of calcium and magnesium), it supplements the methods of international and industrial standards for determination of cations.
Calcium ; analysis ; Cations ; analysis ; Dialysis Solutions ; analysis ; chemistry ; Magnesium ; analysis ; Potassium ; analysis ; Sodium ; analysis ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic ; methods