Environmental Exposure ; analysis ; Environmental Monitoring ; instrumentation ; Environmental Pollutants ; analysis ; metabolism ; Humans ; Risk Assessment

Overexpression of human ether-脿-go-go (eag) related gene (hERG) has been found in a broad range of human leukemia cell lines and primary human leukemia. The block of hERG protein might be a potential therapeutic strategy for leukemia. Gambogic acid (GA) has recently exhibited marked anti-tumor potency on solid tumors of various derivations. Here, we investigated the anti-leukemia effects of GA and its relation to the regulation of hERG in K562 leukemia cells in vitro. K562 cells were treated with various concentrations of GA (0.125-8.0 micromol/L) for 0-72 h. MTT assay was used to evaluate the inhibition effect of GA on the growth of K562 cells. Cell apoptosis was measured through both Annexin-V FITC/PI double-labeled cytometry and transmission electron microscopy. Cell cycle regulation was studied by a propidium iodide method. RT-PCR and Western blot were applied to detect the expression level of hERG in K562 cells. GA presented striking growth inhibition and apoptosis induction potency on K562 cells in vitro in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The IC(50) value of GA for 24 h was 2.637+/-0.208 micromol/L. Moreover, GA induced K562 cells arrested in G(0)/G(1) phase, accordingly, cells in S phase decreased gradually, and no obvious changes were found in G(2)/M phase cells. Under the transmission electron microscopy, apoptotic bodies containing nuclear fragments were found in GA-treated K562 cells. After treatment with GA of 2.0 micromol/L for 24 h, the percentage of apoptotic cells was increased from 4.09% to 18.47% (P<0.01). Overexpression of hERG channel was found in K562 cells, while GA could down-regulate it at both protein and mRNA levels (P<0.01). It was concluded that GA exhibited its anti-leukemia effects partially through down-regulating the expression level of hERG channel in K562 cells, suggesting that GA may be a potential agent against leukemia with a mechanism of blocking hERG channel.

Objective To determine the prevalence and characteristics of the del(GJB6-D13S1830) in Connexin30(Cx30) gene in children with prelingual deafness.Methods Forty-six prelingual deaf children and 30 children with normal comprehension were obtained,and the del(GJB6-D13S1830)in the Cx30 gene were screened by polymerase chain reaction(PCR) in 2 groups.Results Three cases of 46 deaf children were found to have heterozygous del(GJB6-D13S1830) in Cx30 gene.The rest deaf children and the normal controls did not harbor this deletion.Conclusion The heterozygous del(GJB6-D13S1830) in Cx30 gene is one of causes of prelingual deafness.

Objective To evaluate retrospectively the role of 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT associated with MRI in the localization of epileptogenic foci. Methods Sixty-seven patients with medically resistant epilepsy were included from 2003 to 2008. All underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT and MRI for presurgical evaluation as well as post-surgical evaluation 12 to 65 months after operation. Based on postoperative seizure occurrence, patients were divided into two groups. One group was free of seizures ( Engel classification Ⅰ, Group 1) and the other was with postoperative seizure occurrence of any type ( Engel classification Ⅱ-Ⅳ, Group 2). X2-test or Fisher's exact test was used for the statistical analysis. Results About 71.6% (48/67) patients were defined as group 1, and 19 patients were group 2 ( 11 were Engel Ⅱ , 5 were Engel Ⅲ, and 3 were Engel Ⅳ ). In Group 1, no statistically significant difference was found between concordant (45/63) and discordant findings (3/4) with regard to 18F-FDG PET/CT and MRI images (Fisher's exact test, P ＞0.05). For 41 patients that showed focal abnormality both on MRI and 18F-FDG PET/CT, 80.5% (33/41) were found in group 1. For 20 patients that showed focal lesions on MRI while with multi-focal or generalized abnormal metabolism on 18F-FDG PET/CT, 11 (55.0%) were in group 1 and9 (45.0%) were group 2. There was no significant difference (33/41 vs 11/20, X2 =4.34, P ＜0.05 ). Conclusion 18F-FDG PET/CT associated with MRI may offer more helpful information for pre-surgical evaluation and prediction of prognosis of epileptic patients.

Homocysteine ; pharmacology ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Metallothionein ; pharmacology

Adult ; Foot Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Male ; Melorheostosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Radiography ; X-Rays

Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9 ; Female ; Genome, Human ; Humans ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; methods ; Phyllodes Tumor ; genetics ; pathology

Backgroud and Objective Proline-rich tyrosine kinase2(Pyk2) is a Ca~(2+) sensitive,non-receptor tyrosine protein kinase.Previous reports showed Pyk2 involved in development of left ventrieular hypertrophy. The present paper aimed to study the effects of valsartan on ventricular hypertrophy and its effect on the expression of Pyk2 in myocardium in renovascular hypertensive rats(RHR).Methods Two-kidney and one-clip(2K1C) renal hypertensive model was established in Sprague-Dawley rats by chronic partial occlusion of left renal artery,and ran- domized to receive valsartan (30 mg/kg?d) or without treatment for 4 or 8 weeks.Left ventricular mass to body mass ratio was measured.Pyk2 protein expression and phosphorylation was detected by Western blotting.Results Blood pressure,left ventricular mass to body mass ratio,Pyk2 activity in myocardium of RHR were increased gradu- ally.Valsartan reduced BP and prevent myocardial hypertrophy(P

A high productive poly ?-glutamic acid(?-PGA) strain PGA-N in a culture medium containing no L-glutamine was isolated from fermentation products.With the following identifications of colony mor-phology,physiological and biochemistry experiments,and genetics,the strain PGA-N was classified as a Bacillus licheniformis.According to the product environment,the base culture medium having no L-glutamine was simulated.In order to enhance the production of the strain PGA-N,the fermentation condi-tions,such as carbon source,nitrogen source,were optimized and the ?-glutamic acid production reached 5.16 g/L after getting the optimum formulation of this culture medium.PGA-N was mutagenized with com-bination of NTG and UV.A mutant PGA-N-C10 was screened which PGA production was increased from 5.16 g/L to 8.82 g/L.The study also investigated the effects of agitation speed on the cell biomass,?-PGA production and the ?-PGA molecular weight.The ?-PGA yield of PGA-N-C10 was as high as 11.00 g/L when the agitation speed was 400 r/min.

Objective To investigate the imaging features of sarcomatoid carcinoma(SC)of lung on chest radiography and CT and to improve knowledge of SC.Methods The chest plain films,CT images and clinical data of all 7 cases of pathologically proved lung SC were retrospectively analyzed.Results All cases presented with a spheroid solid lung mass ranged from 3 to 11 cm in diameter(average 7 cm).All the lesions were located in middle and lower fields of the lung:3 lesions in right lower lobe,2 in right middle lobe,and the other 2 in left lower lobe.Among the 7 cases:6 cases were of peripheral type and 1 case was of central type.The peripheral-typed lesions of 5 cases had clear margin and 3 of them were lobulated.Three massess were homogenous in density,and the other 4 were inhomogeneous in density with formation of central cavity or calcification.After intravenous contrast administration.Three lesions showed homogeneous enhancement,and the other 4 lesions had inhomogeneous enhancement.The lesions with diameter larger than 6 cm showed marginal or patch-like enhancement.Five cases had pleural or chest walls invasion.Two cases had mediastinal lymph nodes metastases.One case had multiple remote metastasis.Conclusion There are some relatively specific features of lung SC on chest radiography and CT,which may be helpful for diagnosis.