Purpose To explore the role of histone H2B monoubiquitination in primary colonic carcinoma and clinicopathological pa-rameters of colonic carcinoma. Methods To detecte the expression of histone H2B monoubiquitination in 116 cases of primary colonic carcinoma and 15 cases of normal colonic mucosal tissue by avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex ( ABC)-immunohistochemistry. Results The level of histone H2B monoubiquitination was significantly reduced in poorly differentiated colonic carcinoma 19. 4% (6/31) compared with that of well-differentiated colonic carcinoma 49. 4%(42/85), moderately differentiated colonic carcinoma 49. 4% (42/85) and normal colonic mucosal tissue 86. 7% (13/15) (P<0. 05). The expression of histone H2B monoubiquitination was closely correlated with tumor differentiation, Dukes stage, TNM stage and lymph node metastasis (P<0. 05), but not depended on sex or age (P>0. 05). Conclusion Histone H2B monoubiquitination is obviously associated with the progression of primary colonic carcinoma. Although its specific mechanism still remains unclear, histone H2B monoubiquitination could be a novel potential molecular marker for early diagnosis, clinic treatment and prognosis evaluation.

Clinically nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas are the most common types among pituitary adenomas. These tumors are usually diagnosed in their later stages due to the absence of clinical symptoms and detectable hormonal hypersecretion. Although these tumors are benign, they are hard to be completely removed during neurosurgery due to the massive invasion into the surrounding tissues at diagnosis. Furthermore, relapse is common. In recent years, medical treatment of pituitary adenomas has witnessed a rapid development. New medications have shown certain effectiveness in reducing the tumor size and improving the clinical symptoms.
Adenoma ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVET To explore the relationship between the expression of SOX4 gene and early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative resection.

METHODSSOX4 expression was detected immunohistochemically in 60 HCC patients including 30 with and 30 without early recurrence after curative resection, with 30 normal liver specimens as the control.

RESULTSThe expression of SOX4 was significantly higher in HCC than in normal liver (41.7% vs 16.7%, P<0.05), and in HCC tissues, the expression was significantly higher in early recurrent HCC after curative resection than in HCC without early recurrence (56.7% vs 26.7%, P<0.05). SOX4 expression was inversely correlated to the patients' gender, age, tumor size, HBsAg, and Edmonson grade (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSOX4 is closely associated with early recurrence of HCC after curative resection, and its overexpression may contribute to early recurrence of HCC. SOX4 may serve as a new molecular indicator for evaluating the prognosis of HCC.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; metabolism ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; genetics ; Prognosis ; SOXC Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo express the L1 protein of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) in insect cell suspension culture system.

METHODSOptimized the conditions of suspension culture, recombinant virus amplification and protein expression. Determined the virus tilter by plague analysis and detected the target protein by SDS-PAGE and Western blot; The formation of VLPs by HPV16 L1 protein was observed with TEM.

RESULTSThe Sf9 cells could grow better in suspension culture with seeding density of 5 x 10-5 cell/mL and the maximum expression quantity was obtained by infection of cells with rBacV/HPV16L1 (MOI =10) and harvesting after 72-84 h. HPV16L1 protein could assemble into VLPs in Sf9 cells observed with TEM.

CONCLUSIONThe conditions of cell culture, virus amplification and protein expression were optimized. HPV16 L1 protein could assemble into VLPs in Sf9 cells, which would provide a foundation for further study of the vaccine and diagnosis kits.

Animals ; Capsid Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Cell Proliferation ; Oncogene Proteins, Viral ; biosynthesis ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Spodoptera ; Suspensions ; Virion ; ultrastructure

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of total body irradiation of the donor in a spontaneous tolerance rat liver transplantation model and the role of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells on induction of immunotolerance in the recipient.

METHODSLiver transplantation was performed using male Lewis rats as donors and male DA rats as recipients. These rats were randomly allocated into the following groups:Control group, Homogeneity Liver Transplantation group, Idio-immunotolerance group and Acute Rejection group. After transplantation, survival time rate of each group were observed. Serum ALT, TB level, Foxp3(+)CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells, expression of GITR on T cell subgroup, histopathology of the hepatic graft on day 14, spleen CTL lytic activity on day 14 were measured.

RESULTSIn the Idio-immunotolerance group, the recipients suffered from transient rejection after surgery but acquired immunotolerance and survived long. In the Acute Rejection group, the donors were preconditioned with total body irradiation before liver transplantation. All recipients died between day 17 to 21. Serum ALT and TB increased significantly and the ratio of Foxp3(+)CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells decreased significantly compared with the Idio-immunotolerance group, the Homogeneity Liver Transplantation group and the Control group. The expression of GITR on CD3(+)CD4(+)T cells in the peripheral blood decreased, the expression of GITR on CD3(+)CD8(+) T cells and CTL lytic activity of the recipients increased by preconditioning of the donors with total body irradiation.

CONCLUSIONSPreconditioning of the donors with total body irradiation eliminated the passenger lymphocytes of the liver graft, decreased the expression of Foxp3(+)CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells in peripheral blood, and increased the expression of GITR on CD3(+)CD8(+) T cells, thus affected the course of tolerance and induced acute rejection after liver transplantation.

Animals ; Liver Transplantation ; immunology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred Lew ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology ; Tissue Donors ; Transplantation Conditioning ; Transplantation, Homologous ; immunology ; Whole-Body Irradiation

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on the gene expression of decorin by periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PLFs) in culture, and discuss the effect of bFGF in periodontal regeneration.

METHODSHuman PLFs were cultured and stimulated by exogenous bFGF. Gene expression of decorin was assessed by semi-quantitive RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe mRNA expression of decorin was suppressed by bFGF and the effect was dose-dependent. When the dose of bFGF increased, the inhibitive effect decreased.

CONCLUSIONDecorin has many biological effects. The inhibitive effect may be one of important factors which participate in the healing process of periodontitis, and provide partly theoretical basis of bFGF in periodontal regeneration.

Decorin ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Periodontal Ligament ; RNA, Messenger ; Regeneration

The chitosan/PHEA-blended hydrogels were prepared from PHEA and chitosan in various blend ratios. The water contents of the hydrogels were in the range of 50%-80% (wt). The attachment and growth of fibroblast cells(L929) on the hydrogels were studied. The results indicated the PHEA content in hydrogels has great effect on cell attachment but has little effect on the growth of L929 cells.
Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Cell Adhesion ; physiology ; Cell Division ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Chitin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Chitosan ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; physiology ; Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate ; chemistry ; Mice ; Peptides ; chemistry ; Water ; chemistry

Objective To explore the distribution of water with high level arsenic and prevalence of arsenism along Huai'he River and the surrounding area of Hong'ze lake in Huai'an of Jiangsu. Methods Wate rsamples were collected and tested in 2008 from 18 villages of 6 towns according to history data in 3 counties like Xuyi,Jinhu and Hongze. Samples having arsenic level higher than 0.05 mg/L were investigated by epidemiological method and the patients were diagnosed by Standard of Diagnosis for Endemic Arsenism. Results All 5199 water samples were determined,and 260 water samples were exceeding the national drinking water quality level (0.05 mg/L) in 3 counties,the rates of exceeding diagnosis were 5.6%(247/4454),0.7%(4/597),6.0%(9/148) respectively. Total detected rate of endemic arsenic disease was 5.94%(128/2155). The detected rates of age group of 0 ～ ,20 ～,30 ～ ,40 ～ ,50 ～ ,60 ～ ,70 ～ ,80 ～ were 2.86%(1/35),2.11%(2/95),1.26%(3/239),3.10%(16/516),5.53% (32/579),10.07%(41/407),11.84%(27/228),10.71%(6/56) respectively. The detected rate of male (9.10%,78/857) was higher than that of female(3.85%,50/1298,χ~2 = 25.46,P < 0.01). Conclusions Huai'he River and the surrounding areas of Hong'ze lake like Xuyi,Jinhu and Hongze are identified existing endemic arsenic disease area. The prevention of arsenism should be strengthened in these areas.

The purposes of this study were to investigate the effect of emodin on expression of BKCa channel β1 subunit in basilar artery smooth muscle cells (BASMCs) and electrophysiological characteristics of vascular smooth muscle cells in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Tail artery pressure measurement instrument was used to measure the change of SHR systolic blood pressure before and after emodin intervention. Single vascular smooth muscle cell was electrically recorded by whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were used to study the distribution and expression of the BKCa channel β1 subunit. The results showed that emodin decreased blood pressure of SHR from (223 ± 16) mmHg to (127 ± 12) mmHg (P < 0.01). There was no difference of blood pressure between emodin-treated SHR and Wistar rats. Emodin significantly increased outward currents of smooth muscle cells in SHR (P < 0.05), and this effect could be reversed by specific inhibitor of BKCa channel, IbTX. Emodin also up-regulated BKCa channel β1 subunit expression in BASMCs. These results suggest that emodin relaxes cerebral basilar artery by enhancing BKCa current via increasing β1 subunit expression in BASMCs.
Animals ; Basilar Artery ; cytology ; Blood Pressure ; Emodin ; pharmacology ; Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel alpha Subunits ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; metabolism ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Wistar ; Vasodilation ; Vasodilator Agents ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo observe the changes of sex hormones and sexual function in male patients with Graves' disease (GD) after Radioiodine-131 (I-131) therapy.

METHODSThirty-four male GD patients, aged 21 -40 (32.3 +/- 6.7) years, were treated with I-131 at the dose of 111 - 407 (237.8 +/- 51.8) MBq. The levels of serum sex hormones were measured, and the patients'scores on erectile function (IIEF-5) were obtained before and 3 and 6 months after the treatment. Another 20 healthy men aged 25 - 37 (31 +/- 3.1) years were enlisted as controls.

RESULTSThe baseline levels of estrogen (E2), testosterone (T) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were (132.5 +/- 40.4) pmol/L, (21.6 +/- 4.6) nmol/L and (10.1 +/- 4.4) IU/L in the GD patients, significantly higher than (80.4 +/- 31.2) pmol/L, (14.5 +/- 4.2) nmol/L and (6.2 +/- 1.9) IU/L in the healthy controls (P < 0.05). The E2, T and LH levels showed a significant decrease in the GD patients after 3 months of treatment ([110.2 +/- 20.6] pmol/L, [17.7 +/- 5.5] nmol/L and (9.4 +/- 3.9) IU/L, P < 0.05), but exhibited no statistically significant differences from the healthy controls at 6 months ([82.6 +/- 30.1] pmol/L, [13.8 +/- 3.4 ] nmol/L and [6.6 +/- 1.5] IU/L, P > 0.05). The IIEF-5 score of the GD patients was 5 - 25 (15.5 +/- 3.5) before I-131 treatment, significantly lower than that of the controls (19 - 25, 24 +/- 0.5) (P < 0.05), and it was 8 - 25 (19.5 +/- 1.0) at 3 months and 10 - 25 (23.5 +/- 1.5) at 6 months, significantly higher in the latter than in the former (P < 0.05), and with no significant difference between the 6-month treated patients and the healthy controls (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe E2, T and LH levels are increased while the IIEF-5 score decreased markedly in male GD patients. Six-month treatment with I-131 can not only restore the E2, T and LH levels to normal but also significantly improve the patient's sexual function.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Estrogens ; blood ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Graves Disease ; blood ; therapy ; Humans ; Iodine Radioisotopes ; therapeutic use ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Testosterone ; blood ; Young Adult