Objective: To intensively investigate sporadic CMT patients, we have analyzed the LMNA gene in this study in a series of 32 unrelated CMT patients. Methods: Twelve exons of the LMNA gene were amplified from genetomic DNA. PCR products of each exon were analyzed by single strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP). Results: No abnormal SSCP pattern, suggesting no mutation in our CMT patients, was detected. Conclusion: The CMT diseases resulted from the mutations of LMNA gene were rare.

Objective To observe the effect of bilateral movement training on upper extremities dysfunction in stroke patients in convalescent phase. Methods 52 patients with hemiplegia were randomly divided into treatment group (n=26) and control group (n=26). The treatment group accepted bilateral upper extremities movement training, and the control group accepted routine neurodevelopment training mainly with affected upper extremities, for 6 weeks. They were assessed with Fugl-Meyer Assessment upper-extremity section (FMA-UE) and modified Barthel Index (MBI) before and after treatment. Results The FMA-UE and MBI scores improved in both groups after treatment (P<0.01), and improved more in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.001). Conclusion Bilateral movement training may improve upper extremity function and activities of daily living more effectively for stroke patients in convalescent phase.

Objective To observe the effects of culture medium of a mn iotic cells on NO and NOS in retinal tissues of rabbits in vitro in order to pro vide a protective method for antioxidation in retina transplantation. M ethods Thirty adult healthy rabbits (30 right eyes) were divided into 3 groups. Group Ⅰ: fresh retinal tissue; group Ⅱ: routine culture medium; group Ⅲ: culture medium of amniotic cells. The retinal tissues in group Ⅱ and Ⅲ we re cultured in the corresponding culture medium for 1 week. The content of NO an d NOS in retinal tissues in the 3 groups were determined. Results Compared with group I, the content of NO and NOS of group Ⅱ increased obvio usly (t=3.821, 3.854; P0.05) . Conclusion Culture medium of amniotic cells may remove free r adicals and enhance the ability of antioxidation.

PURPOSE: Because previous studies have reported depleted antioxidant capacity in patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP), prevention of free radical production has gained importance in antifibrotic treatment strategies for CP. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ascorbic acid on oxidative capacity and pancreatic damage in experimental CP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CP was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by infusion of dibutyltin dichloride (DBTC) into the tail vein. Ascorbic acid was given intraperitoneally at a daily dose of 10mg/kg body weight. The treatment groups were as follows: group 1, DBTC plus intraperitoneal physiologic saline; group 2, DBTC plus intraperitoneal ascorbic acid; group 3, solvent plus intraperitoneal physiologic saline; group 4, no operation plus intraperitoneal physiologic saline. Each group contained 15 animals. Treatment was started after CP was established. After 4 weeks of treatment, serum hyaluronic acid and laminin levels were determined by radioimmunoassay, pancreatic tissue oxidative stress was analyzed, and the degree of pancreatic damage was determined. RESULTS: Ascorbic acid treatment markedly increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in pancreatic tissue (p < 0.01 for both). Significant serum hyaluronic acid and laminin reductions were observed in group 2 as compared with group 1 (p < 0.05). However, the serum hyaluronic acid and laminin levels remained elevated when compared with those of groups 3 and 4 (p < 0.05). Histopathologic scores were also lower in animals with CP that underwent ascorbic acid-treatment (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Ascorbic acid treatment alleviated the degree of oxidative stress and pancreatic damage in rat CP. Antioxidant treatment might be considered a potential option to improve the pathologic process in CP.
Animals ; Antioxidants/pharmacology ; Ascorbic Acid/*pharmacology ; Hyaluronic Acid/blood ; Laminin/blood ; Male ; Organotin Compounds ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Pancreas/*drug effects/pathology ; Pancreatic Diseases/blood/chemically induced/*prevention & control ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVEThe 85th percentile of waist circumference (WC) is considered an appropriate cutoff for Chinese children in the prediction of cardiovascular risks in previous researches, but the risk for hypertension of moderate WC maybe underestimated. The purpose of this study was to understand the characteristics of the WC curve trajectory of children with hypertension and to determine the appropriate cutoffs for waist circumference for Chinese school-age children and adolescents for predicting hypertension risk factors.

METHODSA total of 8194 Han children aged 7 - 17 years were selected from schools in Suzhou, Hefei, and Chizhou cities in Anhui province by stratified cluster sampling. WC and blood pressure were accurately measured in all subjects. LMS (lambda-mu-sigma) method was used to construct WC centile curves. Optimal WC cutoffs were determined by comparing the performance of different percentile sets of WC cutoffs in predicting hypertension risk factors.

RESULTSThe fitted LMS curves of WC for the group of boys with hypertension deviate in parallel from that for the corresponding curve in the entire boy study population with higher WC. The WC curves for the group of girls with hypertension gradually upward deviated from the corresponding curve before 12 years of age and then gradually returned to the corresponding curve. WC of boys at the percentiles of 60 was already associated with an increased risk of hypertension and hazard ratio of WC at percentiles of 60, 70, 80, and 90 increased from 1.88(95%CI: 1.18 - 2.99) to 4.87 (95%CI: 3.31 - 7.16). WC of girls at the percentiles of 70 was already associated with an increased risk of hypertension and hazard ratio of WC at percentiles of 70, 80, and 90 increased from 1.71 (95%CI: 1.07 - 2.73) to 3.32 (95%CI: 2.16 - 5.09).

CONCLUSIONSThe WC growth trajectory of children with hypertension varies with gender. WC is an independent predictor of childhood hypertension, even when it is well within what is now defined as the normal range of WC. Thus, it is helpful to prevent the risk of cardiovascular disease of children using the parameter that WC cut-off level lower than 85th percentile.

Adolescent ; Age Distribution ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Reference Values ; Risk Factors ; Waist Circumference

Objective To study the prevalence and trend of tuberculosis for related policy development in Shandong.Methods The population under the current study was randomly sampled,using both stratified clustering sampling and proportional population sampling methods,following the national survey protocol.A total of 35 clusters including about 1500 subjects per cluster were established,representing a population of 9.31 million.Questionnaire interview and chest X-ray exam were applied to all inhabitants above 15 years of age.Sputum microscopy and culture were given to all suspected cases with cough longer than 2 weeks or having abnormal X-ray results.Results In total,54 279 subjects were interviewed and examined,accounting for 95.78％ of eligible population.Of them,183 active pulmonary tuberculosis cases were identified,with 60.11％ asymptomatic.Two of the 35 (5.71％) clusters had no active tuberculosis cases found,and 24(68.57％) did not show smear positive results.The standardized prevalence rates of active,smear positive and bacteriologic positive pulmonary tuberculosis cases were 270.87/105,17.45/105 and 29.57/105,with the estimated case numbers as 211 900 (170 100-253 600),13 600 (5800-21 500) and 23 100 (13 200-33 000)respectively.Compared to the survey in 2000,the rates on smear positive and bacteriologic positive tuberculosis had decreased significantly,at a rate of 81.63％,and 75.56％ respectively.The rates in urban areas and in women decreased quickly than those in rural areas and in men.People living in the rural areas,being elderly or males,had significantly higher prevalence rates of tuberculosis.Conclusion Remarkable reduction of tuberculosis prevalence had been achieved despite the fact that tuberculosis remained a major public health problem in Shandong province.Symptomatic patients should be under more serious concern in order to improve the detection of early cases.More efforts should be given to rural population,especially elderly,male population.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the prognostic significance of a new grading and scoring system (based on the new IASLC/ATS/ERS classification) in stage I pulmonary adenocarcinoma, as compared with the WHO grading system.

METHODSThe clinicopathologic characteristics of 125 patients with stage I pulmonary adenocarcinoma primarily treated by surgical resection were reviewed retrospectively. All cases were classified according to the new IASLC/ATS/ERS classification and graded into three prognostic groups based on the new classification, the Sica scoring system and the WHO grading system, respectively. The differences in prognosis of the three groups were analyzed.

RESULTSThere was a statistically significant correlation between the new grading system and the WHO grading system (P = 0.000). Both of them showed negative correlation with overall survival. The new scoring system however better correlated with disease recurrence and/or metastasis (P = 0.855, P = 0.073 versus P = 0.011). According to univariate Log-rank test, the prognosis correlated with tumor size (P = 0.004), clinical stage (P = 0.000), the WHO grading (P = 0.020), the new grading system (P = 0.000), the new scoring system (P = 0.000), vascular invasion (P = 0.021), and recurrence and/or metastasis (P = 0.000). The Cox regression analysis demonstrated that clinical stage (P = 0.014), the new grading system (P = 0.047), the new scoring system (P = 0.043), and recurrence and/or metastasis (P = 0.018) were significantly independent poor prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONSThe new grading and scoring system shows good correlation with the WHO grading system. Compared with the WHO grading system, the new scoring system based on the new IASLC/ATS/ERS classification provides valuable information in categorizing stage I pulmonary adenocarcinoma cases with different risks of disease recurrence, tumor metastasis and prognosis.

Adenocarcinoma ; classification ; pathology ; surgery ; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; pathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma in Situ ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; classification ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Grading ; methods ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Research Design ; Retrospective Studies ; Societies, Medical ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo establish a duplex nested PCR assay system which is capable for detecting O1 and O139 groups of Vibrio cholerae simultaneously, and is applicable to environmental specimens from routine cholera surveillance.

METHODSBased on nucleic acid sequences available in GenBank, six sets of primers were designed by PrimerSelect program of DNAStar, targeting the rfb gene that encodes the O antigens of O1 and O139 V. cholerae, respectively. The specificity of several primer combinations was tested. A duplex nested PCR assay system for simultaneously detecting O1 and O139 V. cholerae was established, subsequently, its sensitivity, specificity, reproducibility and field evaluation were tested. The sensitivity of this assay was evaluated by comparing detection limits of nested PCR and conventional PCR. Its reproducibility was tested by 32 positive samples (11 samples positive for O1, 21 samples positive for O139) from environmental surveillance. In addition, the selected amplicons from positive samples were sequenced and analyzed with relevant sequences.

RESULTSThis newly-established duplex nested PCR assay might distinguish O1 V. cholerae from O139 V. cholerae, based on fragment lengths of amplicons, with reliable reproducibility, and no specific amplification was observed as compared with other vibrio species. The sensitivity of this nested PCR was (15 000) higher than conventional PCR, and there was no interference observed with multiple primers and complicated templates in the same vial. In its field evaluation, 32 positive DNA samples were detected and be further confirmed with double or triple tests, implying reliable reproducibility and consistency of this system. These results indicated that this assay had reliable reproducibility. No amplification was observed in all negative specimens and also suggested the acceptable specificity of this assay. Sequence analysis of the selected amplification products revealed 100% homogeneous with relevant genes from V.cholerae, indicating that these amplicons were originated from V. cholerae.

CONCLUSIONThis duplex nested PCR assay system should be rapid, sensitive and especially applicable to small laboratories, and be suitable for dynamic environmental surveillance.

DNA, Bacterial ; Environmental Monitoring ; methods ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Vibrio cholerae O1 ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Vibrio cholerae O139 ; genetics ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo investigate enhancement of the bystander effect by tanshinone IIA (Tan) in HSV-tK/GCV system and the correlation with expression of connexin 43 mRNA.

METHODSThe cytotoxic effect in HSV-tK/GCV in cervical carcinoma cell line ME180 (ME) and ME/TK was examined by MTT assays. Cx43 mRNA expression was detected by fluor-quantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTSTan markedly increased sensitivity of ME/TK cells for GCV in HSV-tK/GCV system. In the presence of 2 micro g/ml GCV, compared with the absence of Tan (0 mol/L), an obvious decrease in survival rate was seen at any given mixture of ME and ME/TK cells exposed to 1.3 x 10(-9) mol/L Tan. Statistics showed significant difference (P < 0.05). However, enhancement of bystander mediated cell killing occurred only in the range of Tan concentrations used (1.3 x 10(-8), 1.3 x 10(-9) mol/L). RT-PCR showed that the ratio of relative copy number of Cx43 mRNA increased by 8.83 and 8.47-fold in ME cells exposed to 1.3 x 10(-8) and 1.3 x 10(-9) mol/L Tan, respectively.

CONCLUSIONFor the first time we report that in cervical carcinoma ME180 cell line, Tan possesses a remarkable enhancing role on the bystander effect in the HSV-tK/GCV system. It is associated with up-regulation of Cx43 mRNA expression.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Bystander Effect ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Connexin 43 ; genetics ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; Female ; Ganciclovir ; pharmacology ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Phenanthrenes ; pharmacology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Simplexvirus ; enzymology ; Thymidine Kinase ; genetics ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; therapy

A series of novel N-(2-arylethyl) isoquinoline derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their anti-cancer activities. Among these analogs, compound 9a exhibited the potential anti-cancer activities on HepG2 and HCT116 cells with IC50 values of 2.52 and 1.99 microg x mL(-1), respectively. Cell cycle was blocked at S phase of HepG2 cells treated with 9a by flow cytometry detection. Our results provided a basis for the development of a new series of anti-cancer candidates.
Antineoplastic Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; HCT116 Cells ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Isoquinolines ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Molecular Structure ; Structure-Activity Relationship