Objective To study the regulation role on molecular level of hCG on P450scc,P450c17 and 3?HSD in adult mouse Leydig cells. Methods Leydig cells of adult mice were cultured in vitro for 1 and 8 hours with or without hCG,then P450scc,P450c17 and I,VI total 3?HSD mRNA levels were measured respectively by the semi quantitative RT PCR as well as Scal restriction endonuclease incised methods.Meanwhile,the testosterone contents were measured in two groups. Results 1.In stimulated group Leydig cells cultured for 1 and 8 hours with hCG,the testosterone contents were higher significantly than those in control groups(1 hour P 0.05),but the ratio of type VI/I 3?HSD mRNA gradually increased. Conclusion hCG can stimulate the transcription of P450scc,P450c17 and type VI 3?HSD in adult mouse Leydig cells.

Vehicle emissions are a major source of air pollution in urban areas. The impact on urban air quality could be reduced if the trends of vehicle emissions are well understood. In the present study, the real-world emissions of vehicles were measured using a remote sensing system at five sites in Hangzhou, China from February 2004 to August 2005. More than 48000 valid gasoline powered vehicle emissions of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC) and nitrogen oxide (NO) were measured. The results show that petrol vehicle fleet in Hangzhou has considerably high CO emissions, with the average emission concentration of 2.71%+/-0.02%, while HC and NO emissions are relatively lower, with the average emission concentration of (153.72+/-1.16)x10(-6) and (233.53+/-1.80)x10(-6), respectively. Quintile analysis of both average emission concentration and total amount emissions by model year suggests that in-use emission differences between well maintained and badly maintained vehicles are larger than the age-dependent deterioration of emissions. In addition, relatively new high polluting vehicles are the greatest contributors to fleet emissions with, for example, 46.55% of carbon monoxide fleet emissions being produced by the top quintile high emitting vehicles from model years 2000-2004. Therefore, fleet emissions could be significantly reduced if new highly polluting vehicles were subject to effective emissions testing followed by appropriate remedial action.
Automobiles ; statistics & numerical data ; Carbon Monoxide ; analysis ; China ; Cities ; statistics & numerical data ; Environmental Monitoring ; methods ; Hydrocarbons ; analysis ; Nitric Oxide ; analysis ; Vehicle Emissions ; analysis

In this study, ITS2 barcode was used to identify Bupleurum chinense and B. longiradiatum. The ITS2 regions of 48 samples were amplified and sequenced. The sequences obtained above were aligned and the K2P distances were calculated. We used three methods, BLAST1, nearest distance and phylogenetic tree (NJ-tree), to test the identification ability. The results showed that the maximum intraspecific genetic distance of B. chinense was 0.013, and the minimum interspecific genetic distance between B. chinense and B. longiradiatum was 0.049. The NJ-tree can easily identify B. chinense and B. longiradiatum. Therefore, the ITS2 barcode is suitable to identify B. chinense and B. longiradiatum.
Bupleurum ; classification ; genetics ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; classification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Quality Control

Objective: To summarize the influence patterns of related time factors on acupuncture effectiveness in different disease model rats/mice, and to provide reference for acupuncture clinical practice. Methods: Retrieved the relevant literatures on time-effect experimental studies of acupuncture in rats/mice in the recent 10 years. The correlations between the key time factors (such as different intervention timings of acupuncture, acupuncture moments, operation durations, needle-retaining times, intervals and treatment courses) and the acupuncture effect were analyzed and summarized. Results: From the mainstream perspective of quantification, the earlier the acupuncture intervention, the better. The proper time to implement acupuncture varied depending on disease models and points. The best operation time varied widely between different diseases. The most frequently needle-retaining time was 20-30 min. The frequency of acupuncture was usually 1 time/day; the length of the treatment course was determined according to practitioners' experience. Conclusion: Throughout the time-effect studies of acupuncture intervention in experimental rats/mice, conclusions are inconsistent, especially the lack of quantitative research on acupuncture operation time, acupuncture frequency, acupuncture treatment duration, and optimal stimulation amount. Future research should explore and determine the best time-quantity parameters that affect the effectiveness of acupuncture intervention, which is the key and goal of the acupuncture time-effect research. Independent intervention-time experiments throughout the entire course of a single disease (dominant disease) need to be done to guide clinical and disciplinary development.

Background:Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PH) is a progressive disease with limited therapeutic options,ultimately leading to right heart failure and death.Recent findings indicate the role of the Warburg effect (aerobic glycolysis) in the development of PH.However,the effect of the glycolysis inhibitor 3-bromopyruvate (3-BrPA) on the pathogenesis of PH has not been well investigated.This study aimed to determine whether 3-BrPA inhibits PH and its possible mechanism.Methods:PH was induced in adult Sprague-Dawley rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of monocrotaline (MCT).3-BrPA,or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was administered via intraperitoneal injection every other day from the first day of MCT-injection to 4 weeks of follow-up,and indices such as right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP),right ventricular hypertrophy index (RVHI),pulmonary arteriolar remodeling indicated by percent media thickness (％ MT),lactate levels and glucose consumption,were evaluated.Pulmonary arteriolar remodeling and right ventricular hypertrophy were observed in hematoxylin-eosin-stained lung sections.Western blotting,immunohistochemistry,and/or immunofluorescence analyses were used to measure the expression of relevant proteins.A cytochrome C release apoptosis assay and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling staining were used to measure cell apoptosis.Results:MCT-induced PH showed a significant increase in glucose consumption (0 vs.4 weeks:0.87 ± 0.23 vs.2.94 ± 0.47,P =0.0042) and lactate production (0 vs.4 weeks:4.19 ± 0.34 vs.8.06 ± 0.67,P =0.0004).Treatment with 3-BrPA resulted in a concomitant reduction in glucose consumption (1.10 ± 0.35 vs.3.25 ± 0.47,P =0.0063),lactate production (5.09 ± 0.55 vs.8.06 ± 0.67,P =0.0065),MCT-induced increase in RVSP (39.70 ± 2.94 vs.58.85 ± 2.32,P =0.0004),pulmonary vascular remodeling (％ MT,43.45％±1.41％ vs.63.66％±1.78％,P＜0.0001),and right ventricular hypertrophy (RVHI,38.57％ ± 2.69％ vs.62.61％ ± 1.57％,P ＜ 0.0001) when compared with those of the PBS-treated group.3-BrPA,a hexokinase 2 inhibitor,exerted its beneficial effect on PH by decreasing aerobic glycolysis and was also associated with inhibiting the expression of glucose transporter protein-1,inducing apoptosis,and suppressing inflammation.Conclusions:3-BrPA might have a potential beneficial effect on the PH treatment.

Objective To investigate the effect of medical rescue of the Maritime Medical Team (Corps) for mass sick and wounded in maritime disaster so as to improve the medical rescue capacity for maritime disasters.Method The construction of maritime medical teams (corps) constituted with various numbers of 10, 15,50 and 120 team members, and the development of algorithm in practice were reviewed. In 68 maritime disasters from January 2003 to December 2009, 937 wounded were rescued by first-aid at sea. The patients were classified and given cardiopulmonary cerebral resuscitation, emergency operation, complication prevention, comprehensive treatment for seawater immersion wound and rapidly referred to hospitals. Results Of 937 patients, 872 survived (93%) and 65 died (7%). Of the dead, 16 died in one hour (25%), 43 died in 24 hours after injury (66%),andofthem, 61died of trauma (94% ) , 2 died of drowning and 1 died of poisoning. Conclusions Besides a good command of the features of mass sick and wounded, organization and program, treatment strategies and measures, the timely and effective assignment for on-site first aid at sea and safe transfer were very important for medical rescue of mass patients in maritime disaster. After the practice of maritime medical team (corps) in medical rescue during maritime disaster, the rapid response capability, cooperation and the quality of rescue were improved, and the experience of medical service of marine medical team (corps) was enriched.

The paper analyzes the current problems of medical students'humanistic quality and the causes,points out the necessity of strengthening the humanistic quality of medical students,and puts forward the countermeasures to be taken by libraries of medical colleges in the humanistic quality education for college students,including strengthening the construction of medical humanistic resources,doing well of medical humanistic reading guide and entrance education for new students,and strengthening reading promotion activities,etc.

OBJECTIVETo observe the role of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EnMT), and to explore the mechanism of fibrosis disease.

METHODSHuman umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) from umbilical cord of healthy fetus were isolated by enzymatic digestion and identified by immunofluorescence assay. The third to fifth generations of cultured HUVEC in logarithmic phase were harvested and seeded in 12-well plates and 6-well plates, and they were divided into control group (ordinary culture without any stimulation), 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 ng/mL TNF-α groups (5, 10, 25, 50, 100 ng/mL of TNF-α was respectively added into the nutrient solution) according to the random number table, with three samples in each group. After being cultured for 72 hours, the cell morphology was observed under inverted phase-contrast microscope; the expression levels of coagulation factor VIII and α smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were detected by immunofluorescence assay, and the ratios of numbers (absorbance values) of cells with expression of both factors were calculated. The mRNA expression levels of cadherin, α-SMA, and type I collagen were detected by RT-PCR (denoted as gray value ratio). Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance and LSD test.

RESULTS(1) The shape of primary HUVEC was round, short-spindle, or flat, and cells grew vigorously in cobblestone appearance after passages. After being subcultured for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 passage (s), the positive rate of coagulation factor VIII of HUVEC was respectively (85.5 ± 1.8)%, (88.1 ± 5.0)%, (93.6 ± 3.7)%, (92.9 ± 4.8)%, (89.5 ± 1.1)%, and they were significantly higher than that of primary HUVEC [(81.4 ± 3.8)%, with F values all equal to 7.481, P values all below 0.05]. (2) As compared with that in control group, the appearance of cells in 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 ng/mL TNF-α groups was gradually transformed from round, short-spindle, or flat shape to long-spindle shape with reduced intercellular junction and larger intercellular gap along with the increase in the concentration of TNF-α. (3) The ratios of numbers and the absorbance values of coagulation factor VIII and α-SMA double positive cells in control group (0.055 ± 0.015, 0.078 ± 0.017) were significantly lower than those in 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 ng/mL TNF-α groups (0.257 ± 0.106, 0.280 ± 0.129, 0.505 ± 0.059, 0.817 ± 0.035, 0.929 ± 0.101 and 0.437 ± 0.040, 0.456 ± 0.097, 0.496 ± 0.082, 0.787 ± 0.131, 0.885 ± 0.087, with F value respectively 45.009, 50.099, P values all below 0.01). (4) The expression levels of cadherin mRNA in 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 ng/mL TNF-α groups were 0.70 ± 0.05, 0.63 ± 0.06, 0.60 ± 0.10, 0.45 ± 0.16, and 0.26 ± 0.14, and it was significantly lower in the latter four groups than in control group (0.83 ± 0.03, with F values all equal to 11.593, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The mRNA expression levels of α-SMA and collagen I in 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 ng/mL TNF-α groups were 0.45 ± 0.10, 0.51 ± 0.16, 0.49 ± 0.12, 0.60 ± 0.09, 0.76 ± 0.03 and 0.38 ± 0.18, 0.45 ± 0.15, 0.52 ± 0.12, 0.66 ± 0.17, 0.76 ± 0.20, and they were significantly higher in the latter three groups than in control group (0.37 ± 0.14, 0.31 ± 0.12, with F value respectively 7.839, 2.898, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSTNF-α can obviously promote EnMT in a dose-dependent manner. EnMT may be another significant source of myofibroblasts that contributes to fibrotic tissue in scar formation.

Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; drug effects ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate leptin mRNA expressions in subcutaneous (SC) and omental (OM) adipose tissues of patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and their relationships with insulin resistance (IR), blood leptin, blood triglyceride, total blood cholesterol, blood glucose, body weight index and waist-hip ratio.

METHODSSC and OM adipose tissues were obtained from 10 obese and 11 nonobese NAFLD patients and from 11 obese and 13 nonobese patients without NAFLD, who served as controls. Leptin mRNA expression levels in the subcutaneous and omental adipose tissues were measured using SYBR Green I quantitative real-time PCR. IR was estimated using homeostasis assessment (HOMA). The levels of plasma leptin and insulin were measured using ELISA.

RESULTSThe relative mRNA expression of leptin, HOMA-IR and blood leptin levels in NAFLD differed significantly from those of the controls (P < 0.05). The leptin/GAPDH ratio of the obese and nonobese NAFLD and control cases were 1.32 +/- 0.12, 0.99 +/- 0.05, 1.10 +/- 0.09, 0.87 +/- 0.13 respectively. The expression levels of SC and OM adipose leptin mRNA in NAFLD patients were positively correlated with HOMA-IR (r=0.72, P < 0.05), blood leptin (r=0.69, P < 0.05), blood triglyceride (r=0.32, P < 0.05), body weight index (r=0.57, P < 0.05) and waist-hip ratio (r=0.50, P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe primary reason for high levels of blood leptin is high leptin mRNA expression in adipose tissues; in both obese and nonobese patients with NAFLD; high levels of blood leptin and the leptin mRNA expression in adipose tissues and IR exist. These findings suggest that leptin resistance exists in patients with NAFLD and leptin resistance is positively correlated with NAFLD, the same as in insulin resistance.

Adipose Tissue ; metabolism ; Adult ; Aged ; DNA, Complementary ; Fatty Liver ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Leptin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA

OBJECTIVEThe main purpose of this work was to give the evidence of reasonable and feasible dust control measures which will be taken in the future by analyzing the trend of dust concentration from 1991 to 2010 and identifying working faces with the severe dust contamination in one underground iron mine.

METHODSThe data was from routine monitoring between the years 1991 and 2010, which enclosed the total dust concentrations and silica contents. China National Standard of Occupational exposure limits for hazardous agents in the workplace used to judge whether the dust concentration exceeded the National Standard.

RESULTSThe general trend of total dust concentration from 1991 to 2010 was decreased, especially maximum and average levels. The highest exceeding rate was 43.16% in 1993 and the best years were 2009 and 2010, but the exceeding rates were still over 30%. The dust exposure levels varied with different work faces. The mining and supporting were the most severe dust pollution faces which the highest ultra exceeding rates were 51.61% and 51.48% and the maximum exceeding times were 64.6 and 16.4 respectively. The next was constructing face with 40.23% exceeding rate and 24.6 times more than standard.

CONCLUSIONThe trend of total dust concentration from 1991 to 2010 was decreased, but the dust exceeding rate was still high. The strong measures should be taken to control the dust pollution in this iron mine, especially mining and supporting faces.

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Dust ; analysis ; Environmental Monitoring ; Iron ; analysis ; Mining ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis