BACKGROUNDExcessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) may lead to a number of reproductive diseases such as polycystic ovary syndrome. This study aimed to establish an animal model of ovarian oxidative stress and to assess the protective effect of curcumin against oxidative injury.

METHODSOvarian oxidative stress was induced in female Kunming mice (n = 40) with intraperitoneal injection of 8 mg/kg sodium arsenite (As) once every other day for 16 days; meanwhile, they were, respectively, treated by intragastric administration of 0, 100, 150, or 200 mg/kg (n = 10/group) curcumin once per day for 21 days. Ten normal mice were used as control. Then, the mice were injected intraperitoneally with BrdU and sacrificed; the right ovaries were collected for hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and BrdU immunohistochemistry, and the left ovaries for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blotting analyses.

RESULTSThe ELISA results showed that ROS (11.74 ± 0.65 IU/mg in 8 mg/kg AS + 0 mg/kg curcumin group vs. 10.71 ± 0.91 IU/mg in control group, P= 0.021) and malondialdehyde (MDA) (0.32 ± 0.02 nmol/g in 8 mg/kg AS + 0 mg/kg curcumin group vs. 0.27 ± 0.02 nmol/g in control group, P= 0.048) increased while superoxide dismutase (SOD) (3.96 ± 0.36 U/mg in 8 mg/kg AS + 0 mg/kg curcumin group vs. 4.51 ± 0.70 U/mg in control group, P= 0.012) and glutathione peroxidase (17.36 ± 1.63 U/g in 8 mg/kg AS + 0 mg/kg curcumin group vs. 18.92 ± 1.80 U/g in control group, P= 0.045) decreased in the ovary after injection of As, indicating successful modeling of oxidative stress. Curcumin treatment could considerably increase SOD (4.57 ± 0.68, 4.49 ± 0.27, and 4.56 ± 0.25 U/mg in 100 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg, and 200 mg/kg curcumin group, respectively, allP < 0.05) while significantly reduce ROS (10.64 ± 1.38, 10.73 ± 0.71, and 10.67 ± 1.38 IU/mg in 100 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg, and 200 mg/kg curcumin group, respectively, allP < 0.05) and MDA (0.28 ± 0.02, 0.25 ± 0.03, and 0.27 ± 0.04 nmol/g in 100 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg, and 200 mg/kg curcumin group, respectively; bothP < 0.05) in the ovary. HE staining and BrdU immunohistochemistry of the ovarian tissues indicated the increased amount of atretic follicles (5.67 ± 0.81, 5.84 ± 0.98, and 5.72 ± 0.84 in 100 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg, and 200 mg/kg curcumin group, respectively, all P < 0.05), and the inhibited proliferation of granular cells under oxidative stress would be reversed by curcumin. Furthermore, the Western blotting of ovarian tissues showed that the p66Shc expression upregulated under oxidative stress would be lowered by curcumin.

CONCLUSIONCurcumin could alleviate arsenic-induced ovarian oxidative injury to a certain extent.

Animals ; Arsenites ; toxicity ; Curcumin ; therapeutic use ; Disease Models, Animal ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Ovary ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Sodium Compounds ; toxicity ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Model-based system analysis is an important tool for evaluating the potential and impacts of biofuels, and for drafting biofuels technology roadmaps and targets. The broad reach of the biofuels supply chain requires that biofuels system analyses span a range of disciplines, including agriculture/forestry, energy, economics, and the environment. Here we reviewed various models developed for or applied to modeling biofuels, and presented a critical analysis of Agriculture/Forestry System Models, Energy System Models, Integrated Assessment Models, Micro-level Cost, Energy and Emission Calculation Models, and Specific Macro-level Biofuel Models. We focused on the models' strengths, weaknesses, and applicability, facilitating the selection of a suitable type of model for specific issues. Such an analysis was a prerequisite for future biofuels system modeling, and represented a valuable resource for researchers and policy makers.
Biofuels ; Conservation of Energy Resources ; statistics & numerical data ; trends ; Models, Theoretical

This study was conducted to observe the effects of intravenously administered 6% hydroxyethylstarch 130/ 0.4 solution and furosemide on the outcome of acute pancreatitis patients. Patients admitted to our center from October 16, 2007 through August 31, 2009 were given intravenous infusions of 6% hydroxyethylstarch 130/0. 4 solution (1 000-2 000 ml administered for an adult) soon after admission. At the same time, furosemide was administered as intravenous bolus, trying to maintain a fluid balance. The dose level of hydroxyethylstarch was gradually lowered from the second day after admission. A total of 135 patients (54% of patients with a Ranson's score > or = 3 and 61% with a Balthazar CT score > or = D) were treated with our protocol. Only 4% and 7% patients developed pancreatic and systemic complications respectively; only 1 patient underwent necrosectomy. The in-hospital mortality rate was 4%. It was estimated that, on the average, 18. 3% of blood volume was lost on admission. Our study suggest that intravenously administered 6% hydroxyethylstarch 130/0. 4 solution and furosemide might be beneficial for patients with acute pancreatitis. Plasma extravasation is a central event of acute pancreatitis. The reversal of hypovolemia is crucial for the success in treatment of acute pancreatitis.
Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Furosemide ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives ; administration & dosage ; Hypovolemia ; prevention & control ; Infant ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Injections, Intravenous ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatitis ; drug therapy ; Young Adult

The development of human endometrial carcinoma (HEC) is a complex pathologic process involves several oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. The full-length paired-box gene 2 (pax2), a recently discovered oncogene, promotes cell proliferation and growth and inhibits apoptosis of HEC cells. Here, we examined the effect of pax2 small interfering RNA (siRNA) on the growth of transplanted HEC cells in nude mice. The expression of Pax2 in 21 cases of normal endometrium and 38 cases of HEC was examined by immohistochemistry (IHC). HEC models were developed by subcutaneously transferring HEC cells into nude mice, followed by treatment with empty lentivirus vector, lentivirus vector-based pax2 siRNA, and phosphate buffered saline, respectively. Four weeks later, tumor size was measured, tumor inhibition rate was calculated, and histological analyses were conducted after staining with hematoxylin and eosin. The expression of Pax2 and Bcl-2 was detected by Western blot; proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was detected by IHC. Significant differences were observed in the positive rate of Pax2 between normal endometrium and HEC (14.2% vs. 60.5%, P < 0.01). The expression index of Pax2 in well differentiated tumors was 1.88 ± 1.68, much lower than that in tumors of moderate (3.07 ± 1.96, P < 0.05) or poor differentiation (5.45 ± 2.76, P <0.01). Tumor necrosis increased, nuclear basophilia stain decreased, tumor growth was inhibited, and PCNA, Pax2, and Bcl-2 expression was reduced in HEC models treated with pax2 siRNA. These results indicate that Pax2 expression is related to HEC tumor biology with the increased expression of Pax2 correlated to malignancy. pax2 siRNA down-regulates Pax2 expression and inhibits tumorigenesis of HEC in nude mice, possibly due to cell apoptosis and the inhibition of tumor proliferation induced by down-regulation of Bcl-2.
Adult ; Aged ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Down-Regulation ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; PAX2 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transfection ; Tumor Burden

Objective: To explore the applicability of three different kinds of noise occupational health risk assessment methods to the occupational health risk assessment of noise exposed positions in an automobile foundry enterprise. Methods: In July 2020, the occupational-health risk assessment of noise-exposed positions was conducted by using the Guidelines for risk management of occupational noise hazard (guideline method) , the International Commission on Mining and Metals Guidelines for Occupational Health Risk Assessment (ICMM) method and the Occupational-health risk index method (index method) respectively, and the results were analyzed and compared. Results: Through the occupational health field investigation, the noise exposure level of the enterprise's main workstations was between 80.3 and 94.8 dB (A) , among which the noise of the posts of shaking-sand, cleaning and modeling was greater than 85 dB (A) ; The noise risk of each position was evaluated by the three methods, and the adjustment risk level was between 2 and 5 assessed using the guideline method, between 2 and 3 assessed using the index method, and 5 evaluated using the ICMM model. Conclusion: Each of the three risk assessment methods has its own advantages and disadvantages. The ICMM model has a large difference in value assignment, and values in the results are larger than expected. The evaluation results of the guideline method and the index method are consistent in some positions, there is certain subjectivity in the evaluation using the index method, and the guideline method is more objective.
Automobiles ; Noise, Occupational/adverse effects* ; Occupational Exposure ; Occupational Health ; Risk Assessment/methods*

OBJECTIVETo detect the expression of FABP7 in the placenta of pregnant mice and in HTR-8/Svneo cells.

METHODSReal-time PCR and immunofluorescence were used to detect FABP7 mRNA and protein expressions in the uterine and placental tissue of pregnant mice at different days of gestation. FABP7 expression was also detected in cultured HTR-8/Svneo cells using immunofluorescence assay. The mice were treated with E, Por their combination for 6 and 24 h and Fabp7 mRNA level in the uterus was detected with real-time PCR.

RESULTSAt 7.5-10.5 days of gestation, the pregnant mice showed positive expressions of Fabp7 mRNA in the uterus and placenta, and FABP7 protein was detected in the decidualized cells and trophoblast giant cells. The expressions of FABP7 were detected at both the mRNA and protein levels in cultured HTR-8/Svneo cells. In mice treated with P4 alone or with E+Pfor 6 and 24 h, the expression level of Fabp7 mRNA was upregulated in the uterus. Fabp7 upregulation was observed in mice at 24 h following Etreatment but not at 6 h.

CONCLUSIONFABP7 is expressed in trophoblast giant cells and decidual cells in the placental tissue of mice and in cultured HTR-8/Svneo cells, suggesting the involvement of FABP7 in placental development and in maintenance of pregnancy. Eand Pcan regulate the expression of FABP7 in mouse uterus.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of BIX01294 (BIX), a methyltransferase inhibitor, on the migration and decidualization of the stromal cells in mouse uterus.

METHODSMouse endometrial stromal cells were isolated and cultured from the uterus of pregnant mice on day 3.5 of gestation. The migration and decidualization of mouse endometrial stromal cells treated with BIX at different concentrations were observed with wound healing assay and real-time PCR.

RESULTSThe migration distance of mouse endometrial stromal cells increased as the BIX concentration increased within the range below 15 µmol/L. Compared with the control cells, the cells treated with BIX (15 µmol/L) showed significantly increased migration distances, but increasing BIX concentration to 20 µmol/L did not further increase the cell migration distance and began to cause cell death. Compared with the control cells, the BIX-treated stromal cells exhibited significantly down-regulated expression of Ehmt2 mRNA, and 15 µmol/L BIX caused inhibition of decidualization in the stromal cells.

CONCLUSIONWithin a defined concentration range, BIX promotes the migration and inhibits decidualization of mouse uterine stromal cells by inhibiting the expression of Ehmt2 mRNA.

This study was purposed to detect the alloantibodies against Factor VIII (FVIII) by ELISA for estimating the incidence of the alloantibodies against Factor VIII (FVIII) in patients with hemophilia A, and to investigate the relationship between factor VIIIC domain and alloantibodies. Total of 140 patients with hemophilia A and 80 normal controls were enrolled in this study, among them plasma FVIII level of 84 patients was less than 1%, plasma FVIII level of 34 patients was between 1% and 5%, and plasma FVIII level of 22 patients was more than 5%. All patients were treated with plasma-derived FVIII concentrate or plasma before. The ELISA plate was coated with McAb (SZ-132) against FVIII prepared in our laboratory, then human recombinant FVIII concentrates were applied. After incubation in room temperature for 2 hours, diluted plasma samples and HRP-conjugated goat anti-human IgG were added successively, finally A490 was recorded. The threshold of alloantibody of patient plasma was set as mean value>3 SD more than control. The plate was coated with antibody against His, then human recombinant FVIII-C1C2 prepared in our laboratory was added. After incubation in room temperature for 2 hours, diluted plasma samples and HRP-conjugated goat anti-human IgG were added successively, finally A490 were recorded. The threshold was set as the mean value>3 SD more than control. The results showed that the alloantibodies against FVIII were found in 56 patients (40%) by ELISA, and 82.1% (46/56) of this kind of alloantibody could interact with the C domain of FVIII. It is concluded that C domain of FVIII is one of the primary binding sites for the alloantibodies against FVIII in Chinese patients with hemophilia A.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Binding Sites, Antibody ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Factor VIII ; immunology ; Hemophilia A ; blood ; immunology ; Humans ; Infant ; Isoantibodies ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs ; Young Adult