OBJECTIVESTo study the relationship between the mutation of Leu60Val in HBV core region and the cellular immunity in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

METHODSHBV DNA C gene mutation was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing the products directly. The cytokines (IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and IL-2) levels in serum were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The distribution of T-lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood was detected by flow cytometry (FCM).

RESULTSThe mutation of Leu60Val was found in 19 out of the 91 CHB patients. With the CHB severity, the mutation rate was getting higher, especially in the severe hepatitis group. The IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha levels were much higher in mutant strain group than those in wild strain group (t=2.584, 4.766, P<0.01), so was the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ (t=2.275, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe mutant strain of 60Val may increase affinity to HLA-I molecule, or up-regulate the expression of HLA-I molecule, resulting in the activation of CTL to release the cytokines and cause immune response in liver.

Adult ; Aged ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Flow Cytometry ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; immunology ; virology ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I ; metabolism ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; biosynthesis ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; biosynthesis

According to the patient examination criterion and the demands of all related departments, the DSA digital subtraction workstation has been successfully designed and is introduced in this paper by analyzing the characteristic of video source of DSA which was manufactured by GE Company and has no DICOM standard interface. The workstation includes images-capturing gateway and post-processing software. With the developed workstation, all images from this early DSA equipment are transformed into DICOM format and then are shared in different machines.
Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; instrumentation ; methods ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Software Design ; User-Computer Interface

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between HBeAg expression and HBV-DNA in serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

METHODS208 patients with chronic hepatitis B were included in this present study. HBV-DNA in the PBMCs were performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), with the serum HBV-DNA level being determined by the way of fluoresces quantities PCR (FQ-PCR). Meanwhile, HBV-GM was also detected via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSThere were 106 patients for positivity in the HBV-DNA level of PBMCs with 102 for negativity, in which the HBV-DNA high levels (HBV DNA load > or = 1.0E5) in serum were 91.5%, 45.1% (chi2=52.12, P>0.01) respectively, with 76.4% and 50.9% (chi2=21.55, P>0.01) for the positive percentage of HBeAg expression.

CONCLUSIONA significantly positive correlation was found between HBV-DNA in PBMCs and serum HBV-DNA along with the positive percentage of HBeAg, indicating that obvious PBMCs' increase infected by HBV in patients with positivity of HBeAg and high level of serum HBV-DNA.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; genetics ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; immunology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; virology ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression and clinical significance of mismatch repair genes hMLH1 and hMSH2 in sporadic colorectal carcinoma tissues.

METHODSThe expression of hMLH1 and hMSH2 proteins was detected in the 63 sporadic colorectal carcinoma samples by immunohistochemical staining, including tumor tissue, adjacent tissue at 3 cm from the carcinoma, and normal tissue at 10 cm away from the tumor.

RESULTSThe positive rate of hMLH1 protein expression in the 63 normal colorectal tissues, adjacent tissues and sporadic colorectal carcinoma tissues was 95.2%, 85.7% and 81.0%, respectively. The positive rate of hMLH1 protein expression was significantly lower in the tumor than in normal colorectal tissues (P < 0.05). The positive rate of hMSH2 protein in the 63 normal colorectal tissues, adjacent tissues and sporadic colorectal carcinoma tissues were 76.2%, 66.7% and 52.4%, respectively. The positive rate of hMSH2 protein expression was significantly lower in the tumor than in normal colorectal tissues (P < 0.01). The positive rate of hMLH1 protein expression was significantly higher in the tumor tissue of patients aged younger than 60 years (100%) than that in patients ≥ 60 years (75.0%, P < 0.05). The positive rate of hMLH1 protein expression in the tumor tissue accompanied by lymphatic metastasis was 50.0%, significantly lower than that (93.3%) in tumors without lymphatic metastasis (P < 0.05). The positive rate of hMSH2 protein expression in the tumor tissue of patients aged younger than 60 years was 80.0%, significantly higher than that (43.8%) in the cases ≥ 60 years (P < 0.05). The positive rate of hMSH2 protein expression in the tumor tissues with invasion reaching to the intestinal serosa (61.5%) was significantly higher than that (37.5%) in the tumors invading to submucosa or muscular layer (P < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between the expressions of hMLH1 and hMSH2 proteins in the sporadic colorectal carcinomas.

CONCLUSIONThere is a certain loss of expression of hMLH1 and hMSH2 proteins in sporadic colorectal carcinoma, and is correlated with the age of patients, lymphatic metastasis and different depth of cancer invasion. HMLH1 and hMSH2 may be used as a useful laboratory marker in clinical judgement of occurrence and development of sporadic colorectal carcinoma.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; metabolism ; Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Colonic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; MutL Protein Homolog 1 ; MutS Homolog 2 Protein ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Nuclear Proteins ; metabolism ; Rectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo determine the expression of S100-beta protein and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in hippocampal astrocytes of rats with Alzheimer disease (AD) model rats, and observe the effect of butylphthalide on their expression.

METHODSSixty male adult rats were randomized equally into model group, butylphthalide group, and control group, and in the former two groups, AD models were established by injecting beta-amyloid protein 1-40 into the hippocampus. Sixty days later, the rats were sacrificed and the bilateral hippocampuses were taken for immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe number of cells positive for S100 and GFAP in the hippocampus in butylphthalide group were significantly higher than that in the control group (P/0.01), but lower than that in the model group (P/0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of S100 protein and glial fibrillary acidic protein increased significantly in the hippocampal astrocytes of rats with AD, and butylphthalide can inhibit the increase of their expression.

Alzheimer Disease ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; Animals ; Benzofurans ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Male ; Nerve Growth Factors ; metabolism ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Peptide Fragments ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo determine the effect of butylphthalide on the expressions of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and extra-cellular signal regulated kinases (ERKs) in the brain tissue of rats with Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODSSixty male adult rats were randomly divided to AD model group, butylphthalide group, and control group (n=20). AD models were established by injecting beta-amyloid protein 1-42 into the hippocampus of rats. Sixty days later, the learning and memory abilities of the rats were evaluated using Y-maze test, and the expressions of p38 and ERKs in the brain tissue of the rats were measured by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Compared with the control group, the rats in AD model group exhibited significantly reduced learning and memory abilities, increased expressions of P38 in the hippocampus and lowered expression of ERK in the cortex (P<0.01). In comparison with the model group, the rats in the butylphthalide group showed significantly decreased P38-positive cells in the hippocampus and increased expression of ERK in the cortex (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSButylphthalide improves the learning and memory abilities of rats with experimental AD, the mechanism of which may involve inhibition of P38 expression and enhancement of ERK expression in the brain tissues.

Alzheimer Disease ; enzymology ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Animals ; Benzofurans ; pharmacology ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; drug effects ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Memory ; drug effects ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors

Objective To investigate the dynamics and development trends of drinking water type of endemic fluorosis after water improvement in Xinbaerhuyouqi of Hulunbeir city, Inner Mongolia and to provide a scientific evidence for the development of countermeasures. Methods We mainly selected Adunchulusumu and Kerlunsumu in Xinbaerhuyouqi of Hulunbeir city as the two monitoring points after water improvement in 2000 -2009. Of these, 1 sample of centralized water supply source water and 3 samples of tap water and 5 samples of noncentralized water supply source water according to water well locations of east, west, south, north and center were collected and the levels of water fluoride were tested; the prevalence of dental fluorosis of school children aged 8 to 12 were examined; from 2002 onwards, the urine samples of 30 children aged 8 to 12(five age groups, six urine samples for each age group) were collected, and all urine samples were collected in the case of less than 30, and urine fluoride was tested. Dental fluorosis was diagnosed using Dean method; water fluoride was tested using fluoride ion selective electrode(WS/T 106-1999); urinary fluoride was tested by determination of fluoride in urine using ion-selective electrode(WS/T 89-1996). Results In 2000 - 2009, the mean levels of fluorine in drinking water in Adunchulusumu and Kerlunsumu were 1.79 - 4.35 mg/L and 1.38 - 3.18 mg/L, respectively; the detection rate of dental fluorosis of children aged 8 to 12 were 45.24％(19/42) - 89.78％(123/137) and 40.00％ (28/70) - 74.47％ (70/94), respectively; the median urinary fluoride of them were 2.30 - 4.15 mg/L and 2.73 - 4.55 mg/L, respectively. ConclusionsThe detection rate of children's dental fluorosis remains high in Xinbaerhuyouqi during the past 10 years after changing water. The endemic fluorosis remains a serious disease. Effective prevention and control measures must be taken to control the occurrence of fluorosis in the future.

BACKGROUNDOverexpression of G-protein coupled receptor 34 (GPR34) affects the progression and prognosis of human gastric adenocarcinoma, however, the role of GPR34 in gastric cancer development and progression has not been well-determined. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of GPR34 knockdown on the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of HGC-27 gastric cancer cells and the underlying mechanisms.

METHODSThe expression of GPR34 in gastric cancer cell line HGC-27 was detected by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting. HGC-27 cells were employed to construct the stable GPR34 knockdown cell model in this study. Real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting were applied to validate the effect of short hairpin RNA (ShRNA) on the expression of GPR34 in HGC-27 gastric cells. The proliferation, migration of these cells were examined by Cell Counting Kit-8 and transwell. We also measured expression profile of PI3K/PDK1/AKT and ERK using Western blotting.

RESULTSThe ShRNA directed against GPR34 effectively inhibited both endogenous mRNA and protein expression levels of GPR34, and significantly down-regulated the expression of PIK3CB (P < 0.01), PIK3CD (P < 0.01), PDK1 (P < 0.01), phosphorylation of PDK1 (P < 0.01), Akt (P < 0.01), and ERK (P < 0.01). Furthermore, GPR34 knockdown resulted in an obvious reduction in HGC-27 cancer cell proliferation and migration activity (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSGPR34 knockdown impairs the proliferation and migration of HGC-27 gastric cancer cells in vitro and provides a potential implication for therapy of gastric cancer.

Apoptosis ; genetics ; physiology ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, Lysophospholipid ; genetics ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Bushen Huoxue Fang (BSHX) on the apoptosis of epithelial cells in the prostatic ductal system of rats with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and its possible action mechanism.

METHODSOne hundred 3- month-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups of equal number (control, castrated, BPH model, and BSHX). BPH models were made by subcutaneous injection of testosterone following castration; the rats in the BSHX group were treated intragastrically with BSHX at 2.34 g/ml after modeling, while those in the other two groups with equal volume of saline, all for 37 days. On the 38th day, all the rats were sacrificed and their prostates harvested for detection of the distribution of TGF-beta1 and alpha-actin and the count of positive cells in the prostatic ductal system by immunohistochemical staining. The apoptosis rate of epithelial cells in the prostatic ductal system was determined by TUNEL assay.

RESULTSThe expression of TGF-beta1 was significantly increased in the rats of the BSHX group as compared with the BPH models in both the proximal prostatic duct ([15.28 +/- 4.30]% vs [36.42 +/- 8.10]%, P < 0.01) and the distal prostatic duct ([4.42 +/- 2.07]% vs [8.71 +/- 2.28 ]%, P < 0.05), while the expression of alpha-actin in the proximal duct was remarkably higher in the BSHX-treated rats than in the models ([28.14 +/- 7.43]% vs [18.28 +/- 4.07]%, P < 0.01), but lower than in the control animals ([33.57 +/- 6.85]%, P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the BPH models and BSHX-treated rats both exhibited markedly decreased apoptosis of epithelial cells in the proximal prostatic duct ([39.42 +/- 9.20]% vs [3.86 +/- 1.34]%, P < 0.01, and [31.14 +/- 5.64]%, P < 0.01) and distal prostatic duct ([17.60 +/- 4.86]% vs [3.07 +/- 1.14]%, P < 0.01, and [12.37 +/- 2.25]%, P < 0.05). The apoptosis rate of epithelial cells in the prostatic ductal system was significantly higher in the BSHX-treated rats than in the BPH models (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBy upregulating the expression of TGF-beta, BSHX can suppress the reduction of smooth muscle cells in the proximal prostatic duct, promote the apoptosis of prostatic epithelial cells, and thus effectively inhibit benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Actins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; epidemiology ; Diabetes Mellitus ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Female ; Glucose Intolerance ; epidemiology ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; complications ; Prevalence ; Rural Health ; Sampling Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urban Health