Animals ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane ; immunology ; metabolism ; virology ; Viruses ; immunology

Objective To evaluate the effect of TGF-β1 and IL-1β expression in serum on acute radiation-induced heart disease (RIHD) in patients with thoracic tumors.Methods Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) or intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) was delivered at 1.8-2.0 Gy,5 times per week to a total dose of 50-66 Gy to 44 patients with lung cancer and 10 patients with esophagus cancer.The target and organs at risk dose distribution were analyzed by 3-dimensiond treatment planning system.The expressions of TGF-β1 and IL-1β in serum were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay before and at the end of the irradiation.The cardiac injury was evaluated by detecting the cmyocardium creatase,cardiac troponin I (cTnI),electrocardiogram and cardiac function before and at the end of the irradiation within 90 d.The acute RIHD was evaluated by the Common Terminology Criteria V 3.0 (NCI-CTCAE 3.0).The expressions of TGF-β1 and IL-1β in the serum of RIHD patients with thoracic tumors were analyzed.Results The expression of TGF-β1 in serum was (888.4 ± 41.1) μg/L before the irradiation and approached to (926.1 ± 23.1) μg/L at the end of the radiotherapy.The expression level of TGF-β1 in the serum of acute RIDH group was (900.6 ± 34.5) μg/L,higher than that of normal group [(865.7 ±47.0) μg/L,t =-2.646,P ＜0.05)].The acute RIDH was correlated with the expression level of TGF-β1 before irradiation and the difference before and at the end of irradiation (r =0.378,0.311,P ＜0.05).The IL-1β expression had no significant difference before and after irradiation.The expression of TGF-β1 in serum before and at the end of irradiation had positive correlation with the expression of IL-1β at the end of the irradiation (r =0.416,0.389,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The expression of TGF-β1 in the serum of patients with thoracic tumor increases after irradiation and correlated with the acute RIHD,but the expression of IL-1β in serum has no relationship with RIHD.TGF-β1 could induce the expression of IL-1β at the end of the irradiation.

Objective To test the scientificity, practicability, feasibility, intelligibility, and acceptability of the Primary-Level Personnel Guiding Handbook for Schistosomiasis Control(probationary edition). Methods Twenty-seven county and village doctors were selected randomly from two schistosomiasis transmission uncontrolled counties in Jiangxi Province as pretest objects. The pretest was carried out with the focus group discussion. Results The proportions of pretest objects who considered handbook had scientificity, practicability, feasibility, intelligibility and acceptability were 59.26%, 85.19%,55.56%,51.85% and 92.59%, respectively, and the pretest objects had proposals and suggestions for modification. Conclusion According to the suggestion and proposal from the pretest objects, the handbook can be modified and published.

The practice and exploration of bilingual teaching for the course of microbiology has been made in order to improve the students foreign lingual level and to meet the higher requirement on tip-top person with the social development. As a result,bilingual teaching is welcome,and the teaching effect is so distinct that the aim was reached to either study the fundamental knowledge or enhance the English level.

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect and mechanism of Allii macrostemonis bulbus on blood lipid levels in hyperlipidemia model rats,and to provide reference for clinical use of Allii macrostemonis bulbus to reduce blood lipid. METHODS:A total of 10 normal rats were included in normal control group and given common diet. Other 50 rats were given hyperlipid diet to induce hyperlipidemia rat model. 40 model rats were randomly divided into model group(hyperlipid diet),Allii macrostemonis bulbus low-dose,medium-dose and high-dose groups(0.83,1.67,2.50 g/kg,fed by hyperlipid diet which containing 10%Allii macrostemonis bulbus 8.3,16.7,25.0 g/kg,fill with hyperlipid feed in patients with insufficient food intake). After fed for 45 d,the contents of TC,TG,LDL-C and HDL-C in serum of rats were detected. Liver,spleen,renal and cardiac indexes of rats were calculated. mRNA expression of low density lipoprotein receptor(LDLR)and liver X-receptor α(LXRα)were detected in liver tissue of rats. RESULTS:Compared with normal control group,the contents of TC and LDL-C in serum and liver index of rats were increased significantly in model group,while the content of HDL-C in serum and mRNA expressions of LDLR and LXR α in liver tissue were decreased significantly,with statistical significance(P<0.01). Compared with model group,the contents of TC and LDL-C in serum were decreased significantly in Allii macrostemonis bulbus groups,while the content of HDL-C was increased significantly. mRNA expressions of LDLR and LXR α in liver tissue were increased significantly in Allii macrostemonis bulbus medium-dose and high-dose groups,while liver and spleen indexes were decreased significantly,with statistical significance(P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS:Allii macrostemonis bulbus shows good blood-lipid lowering effect,the mechanism of which may be associated with up-regulating mRNA expressions of LDLR and LXRα in liver tissue.

Early stage diabetic nephropathy is characterized by elevated glomerular filtration. Recent studies have identified high-glucose induced p38 MAPK (p38) over-activation in mesangial cells. Mesangial hypocontractility is the major underlying mechanism, however, no ameliorating agents are currently available. We investigated the protective effects of emodin on high-glucose induced mesangial cell hypocontractility. Mesangial cells were cultured under normal (5.6 mM) and high glucose (30 mM) conditions. Emodin was administrated at doses of 50 mg/l and 100 mg/l. Angiotension II stimulated cell surface reductions were measured to evaluate cell contractility. p38 activity was detected using Western blotting. To further explore the possible mechanism of emodin, expression of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) was measured and its specific inhibitor, gw9662, was administrated. Our results showed: (1) high-glucose resulted in a 280% increase in p38 activity associated with significant impairment of mesangial contractility; (2) emodin treatment dose-dependently inhibited high-glucose induced p38 over-activation (a 40% decrease for 50 mg/l emodin and a 73% decrease for 100 mg/l emodin), and mesangial hypocontractility was ameriolated by emodin; (3) both the PPARgamma mRNA and protein levels were elevated after emodin treatment; (4) inhibition of PPARgamma using gw9662 effectively blocked the ameliorating effects of emodin on high-glucose induced p38 over-activation and mesangial hypocontractility. Emodin effectively ameliorated p38 over-activation and hypocontractility in high-glucose induced mesangial cells, possibly via activation of PPARgamma.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Cell Physiological Phenomena/drug effects ; Emodin/*pharmacology ; Gene Expression/drug effects ; Glucose/*metabolism ; Mesangial Cells/cytology/*drug effects ; PPAR gamma/genetics/*metabolism ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors/*pharmacology ; Rats ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/*metabolism

OBJECTIVETo find sensitive and specific micro-metastic markers for prostate cancer.

METHODSUsing nested reverse transcription-PCR, we examined the expression of PSA, hK2 and PSMA mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 51 patients with prostate cancer, 33 patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and 32 normal young people.

RESULTSThe expression rates of PSA, hK2 and PSMA mRNA were 52.9%, 43.1% and 64.7%, respectively in prostate cancer group, and 6.2%, 7.7% and 4.6%, respectively in control group (BPH patients and normal young people) with statistical significance (P < 0.01). Although the expression rate of PSA and hK2 mRNA increased with cancer progression, there was no statistical significance among patients in different stages. The expression rate of PSMA mRNA was higher than that of PSA and hK2 mRNA in each clinical stage.

CONCLUSIONPSMA mRNA expression detected by nested RT-PCR is of greater value for the diagnosis, therapy choice and prognostic evaluation of prostate cancer patients.

Aged ; Antigens, Surface ; blood ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Glutamate Carboxypeptidase II ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; blood ; pathology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; Tissue Kallikreins ; blood

OBJECTIVETo study the genome sequence of hepatitis A virus L-A-1 strain which has been applied for live attenuated vaccine production in China, to compare with other HAV strains, to understand some characteristics of L-A-1 strain, and to find the mechanism of attenuation and cell adaptation.

METHODSGenome fragments were prepared by antigen-capture PCR from infected cell (2BS), PCR products were cloned into T vector, sequenced and analyzed by using bioinformatics program.

RESULTSAnalysis of the genomic sequences(nt 25-7,418) showed that the open reading frame contains 6,675 nucleotides in length encoding 2,225 amino acids. Sequence homology comparison showed 98.00% and 94.00% homology at nucleotide level, and 98.51% and 98.65% homology at amino acid level with international strains MBB and HM 175, respectively. Through comparison with other attenuated, cell adapted and cytopathic effect (CPE) strains, L-A-1 strain had mutation at nt 152, 591, 646, 687 and insertion at nt 180-181 in 5?NTR and had mutation at nt 3,889 (aa 1 052-Val) in 2B region, these mutations and insertion are molecular basis for cell adaptation; mutation at nt 4,185 (aa 1 152-Lys) in 2C region should be attenuated marker; deletion in 3A region (nt 5,020-5,025) that caused two amino acids deletion is virus fast growth basis.

CONCLUSIONThrough analyzing L-A-1 strain genomic sequence, certain sites related to cell adaptation and attenuation were found.

Adaptation, Biological ; genetics ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Gene Deletion ; Genome, Viral ; Hepatitis A Vaccines ; genetics ; Hepatitis A virus ; genetics ; growth & development ; Mutation ; Open Reading Frames ; genetics ; Sequence Homology ; Vaccines, Attenuated ; genetics

Objective To evaluate the effect of early mechanical ventilation on the clinical outcome of the patients with severe brain injury. Methods In 251 patients sustaining severe brain injuries with Glasgow Coma Scores(GCS)of 5 to 8,early mechanical ventilation was administered in 128 patients,with the other 123 patients serving as the control group.The oxygen saturation(SaO2),oxygen pressure(PaO2),carbon dioxide pressure(PaCO2),GCS score,heart rate(HR),andblood pressure (BP)were measured before and after the ventilation in the two groups,and the prognosis of the patients were evaluated.Results Before the treatment,the two groups showed comparable SaO2,PaO2,PaCO2,BP,HR and GCS scores(P>0.05).Compared with the control group,early mechanical ventilation significantly improved the blood gas parameters 24 h and 7 and 14 days after the treatment. SaO2 and PaO2 showed significant increases(P<0.05)and PaCO2 decreased significantly(P<0.05)after early ventilation,which resulted in no significant changes in the HR and BP(P>0.05). Conclusion Early mechanical ventilation can significantly improve the blood gas parameters and the clinical outcome of the patients with severe brain injury.

Background: Lateral compartmental osteoarthritis (LCOA), a major complication after medial mobile?bearing unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA), is highly associated with the increased stress of the lateral compartment. This study aimed to analyze the effects on the stress and load distribution of the lateral compartment induced by lower limb alignment and coronal inclination of the tibial component in UKA through a finite element analysis. Methods: Eight three?dimensional models were constructed based on a validated model for analyzing the biomechanical effects of implantation parameters on the lateral compartment after medial Oxford UKA: postoperative lower limb alignment of 3° valgus, neutral and 3° varus, and the inclination of tibial components placed in 4°, 2° valgus, square, and 2° and 4° varus. The contact stress of femoral and tibial cartilage and load distribution were calculated for all models. Results: In the 3° valgus lower limb alignment model, the contact stress of femoral (3.38 MPa) and tibial (3.50 MPa) cartilage as well as load percentage (45.78%) was highest compared to any other model, and was increased by 36.75%, 47.70%, and 27.63%, respectively when compared to 3° varus. In the condition of a neutral position, the outcome was comparable for the different tibial tray inclination models. The inclination did not greatly affect the lateral compartmental stress and load distribution. Conclusions: This study suggested that slightly varus (undercorrection) lower limb alignment might be a way to prevent LCOAin medial mobile?bearing UKA. However, the inclination (4° varus to 4° valgus) of the tibial component in the coronal plane would not be a risk factor for LCOA in neutral position.