AIM: To explore the relationship between intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1)expression in endothelial cells(EC) and advanced glycosylation end products(AGEs) stimulation. METHODS: Murine bone marrow derived ECs was stimulated by AGEs after pretreated with anti-AGEs, anti-IL-1? and N-acetylcysteine(NAC),then SOD activity and ICAM-1 concentration and adhesion rate(AR) were evaluated. RESULTS: ECs which expressed ICAM-1[(0.65?0.14) vs (0.11?0.02)] induced by AGEs showed lower SOD activity [(0.69?0.19)?10 3 U/L vs (1.71?0.42)?10 3 U/L]. The ICAM-1 expression as well as the increase of AR caused by AGEs stimulation could be suppressed by anti-AGEs(0.12?0.01) and NAC(0.11?0.05). Anti-IL-1? had no influence on these changes. CONCLUSION: AGEs could induce endothelial cells to express ICAM-1 in vitro, most probably due to the formation of free radicals. Besides, AGEs may stimulate other cells to secrete cytokines resulting in ICAM-1 expression in endothelial cells.

Objective·To investigate the correlation of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of complement factor H (CFH) gene with schizophrenia in Chinese Han population.Methods·The genotype,allele,and haplotype frequencies of 5 SNP loci (rs800292,rs 1061170,rs 10801555,rs 10922096 and rs2019727) in CFH gene were compared between 418 patients with schizophrenia (case group) and 655 normal people (control group) by SNaPshot technique.Results·All SNP loci were well genotyped in the subjects.Correlation analysis showed that rs1061170 locus allele frequency distribution difference between case group and control group was statistically significant (corrected P=0.045),while genotype and allele frequencies of other SNP loci were not significantly different (all corrected P＞0.05).The frequency of haplotype C-A-T-A-A (rs800292-rs1061170-rs10801555-rs10922096-rs2019727) in case group was different from that in control group (corrected P=0.013).Conclusion·The allele polymorphisms of rsl061170 and the haplotype C-A-T-A-A of rs800292-rs 1061170-rs 10801555-rs 10922096-rs2019727 may be associated with schizophrenia in Chinese Han population.

Objective To screen and identify B cell epitopes in SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, GRA1, GRA6 and P35 antigens of Toxoplasma gondii. Methods The indexes such as hydrophilicity, accessibility, flexibility, secondary structure and polarity of the 6 antigen moleculars above mentioned were analyzed by BioSun system. Two B cell epitopes with high antigenicity from each antigen molecular were selected, and the total twelve pairs of oligonucleotide chains were designed according to the 12 B cell epitopes’ sequence and synthesized, then cloned into plasmid pET-32c. The 12 fragment B cell epitopes were expressed and the expressed fusion proteins were identified with Western blot. Results Twelve B cell epitopes from 6 Toxoplasma antigens (two from each antigen) were predicted and selected. The epitope genes were successfully cloned into pET-32c and expressed. Western blot results showed that 3 of 12 expressed fusion proteins could be recognized by the immunized rabbit sera with soluble antigen of Toxoplasma gondii, but not by the unimmunized rabbit sera Conclusion Three B cell epitopes of Toxoplasma[with potential diagnostic value are obtained.

Bacteriophage lysin is characterized by high stability, wide bactericidal activity and efficacy, and safty. It is able to lyse bacteria specifically and is not susceptible to bacterial resistance. In the presence of phage, phage infecting bacteria and coding for endolysin then it lyse the bacteria, In the absence of the phage, holin assists the endolysin lysis the bacteria from external. In addition, the research progress on the treatment of Gram-positive bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Gram-negative bacteria, such as Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, was also discussed in this paper.

The clinical manifestations of five children with paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD) were retrospectively analyzed and their gene mutations were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing and chromosome microarray. The 5 patients consisted of 4 males and 1 female and the age of onset was 6-9 years. Dyskinesia was induced by sudden turn movement, scare, mental stress, or other factors. These patients were conscious and had abnormal posture of unilateral or bilateral extremities, athetosis, facial muscle twitching, and abnormal body posture. The frequency of onset ranged from 3-5 times a month to 2-7 times a day, with a duration of <30 seconds every time. Electroencephalography showed no abnormality in these patients. Three patients had a family history of similar disease. The high-throughput sequencing results showed that a heterozygous mutation in the PRRT2 gene, c.649_650insC (p.R217PfsX8), was found in two patients; the mutation c.436C>T (p.P146S) was found in one patient; a splice site mutation, IVS2-1G>A, was found in one patient. The two mutations c.436C>T and IVS2-1G>A had not been reported previously. The chromosome microarray analysis was performed in one patient with negative results of gene detection, and the chromosome 16p11.2 deletion (0.55 Mb) was observed. Low-dose carbamazepine was effective for treatment of the 5 patients. PKD is a rare neurological disease. The detection of the PRRT2 gene by multiple genetic analysis can help the early diagnosis of PKD.
Carbamazepine ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 16 ; Dystonia ; complications ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Electroencephalography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Mutation ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the safety and efficacy of the transabdominal-hiatal approach of radical gastrectomy for the advanced proximal gastric cancer.

METHODSThe clinical data of 40 advanced proximal gastric cancer patients with involvement of distal esophagus admitted in Tongcheng People's Hospital from June 2003 to September 2006 were analyzed retrospectively. Patients included 27 men and 13 women with a mean age of 56.1 years (range: 37 to 76 years). The data were compared with those of 40 proximal gastric cancer patients undergoing standard thoracoabdominal approach (control group) during the same period.

RESULTSAs compared with the control group, the transabdominal-hiatal approach showed less blood loss [(181.3 ± 63.7) ml vs.(248.8 ± 79.7) ml], shorter operating time [(4.1 ± 0.6) h vs. (5.3 ± 0.7) h], shorter ICU stay [(6.5 ± 5.7) d vs. (19.4 ± 18.0) d] and shorter postoperative hospital stay [(14.0 ± 2.3) d vs.(18.7 ± 3.0) d] (all P<0.05). The complication rates of transabdominal-hiatal approach group and thoracoabdominal approach group were 7.5% (3/40) and 10.0% (4/40), and the 5-year survival rates were 51.3% and 60.0%, respectively (both P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe transabdominal-hiatal approach of radical gastrectomy for proximal gastric cancer is safe and effective, which may substitute the standard thoracoabdominal technique.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

To solve the issues of costly planting of facility cultivation method and inferior efficacy than wild herbs of Dendrobium officinale, the cliff epiphytic cultivation method was studied. To research the growth, agronomic traits, yield, polysaccharide and alcohol-soluble extract contents were measured on the D. officinale from different water regulation and cliff slope gradients treatments. The results showed that D. officinale epiphytic at 85 degrees-90 degrees cliff and sprayed water 1-2 h x d(-1) at the growing season can get better growth and obtain high yield, and the morphology has no different from wild cliff D. officinale, even in the environments without shade. The contents of polysaccharide and alcohol-soluble extract are closely related to the physiological ages, but significantly higher than the facility cultivation. It is possible that environmental stresses benefit the accumulation of polysaccharides, alcohol-soluble extract and other efficient ingredients.
Agriculture ; methods ; Dendrobium ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Polysaccharides ; analysis ; Water ; analysis

Abdomen ; Hernia ; Humans ; Prostheses and Implants ; Prosthesis Implantation ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of aldosterone on cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity and osteogenic gene expression in rat osteoblasts and explore the mechanisms.

METHODSOsteoblasts isolated from the skull of neonatal SD rats by enzyme digestion were cultured and treated with different concentrations of aldosterone. The cell proliferation and AKP activity were evaluated using CCK-8 assay kit and AKP assay kit, respectively. The effects of aldosterone on mRNA and protein expressions of the osteogenic genes and epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) gene were investigated using semi-quantitative PCR and Western blotting.

RESULTSCompared with the control cells, the cells treated with 0.01-1.0 µmol/L aldosterone showed obviously enhanced proliferation while lower (1×10µmol/L) or higher (10 µmol/L) concentrations of aldosterone did not significantly affect the cell proliferation. Aldosterone within the concentration range of 1×10to 10 µmol/L did not cause significant changes in AKP activity in the osteoblasts. Treatment with 0.01 to 1.0 µmol/L aldosterone significantly upregulated the expressions of the osteogenic genes and α-ENaC gene at both the mRNA and protein levels.

CONCLUSIONAldosterone within the concentration range of 0.01-1.0 µmol/L stimulates the proliferation and osteogenic gene expressions and enhances α-ENaC gene expression in rat osteoblasts in vitro, suggesting the possibility that ENaC participates in aldosterone-mediated regulation of osteoblast functions.