OBJECTIVE:To observe the efficacy and safety of Guizhi fuling capsule combined with mifepristone in treatment of uterine fibroids. METHODS:116 patients with uterine fibroids were randomly divided into control group and observation group. Control group was orally given Mifepristone tablet 25 mg,2 h before meal in the first day of menstrual period,once a day,for con-tinuous 10 d;observation group was additionally given Guizhi fuling capsule 3 pills in non-menstrual period,3 times a day. 3 months was regarded as a treatment course,it lasted 2 courses. Clinical efficacy,and E2,FSH,SHBG,uterine volume,menstrual blood volume,uterine fibroid volume and incidence of adverse reactions in 2 groups before and after treatment were observed. RE-SULTS:Total effective rate in observation group was significantly higher than control group,the difference was statistically signifi-cant(P<0.05). After treatment,the FSH,E2,uterine volume,menstrual blood volume and uterine fibroid volume in 2 groups were significantly lower than before,and observation group was lower than control group,the differences were statistically signifi-cant(P<0.05);but there were no significant difference in the SHBG and adverse reactions between 2 groups(P>0.05). CONCLU-SIONS:The clinical efficacy of Guizhi fuling capsule combined with mifepristone in treatment of uterine fibroids is more signifi-cant than mifepristone alone,with good safety.

OBJECTIVETo study the apoptotic effects of influenza A virus on the Raji cell line.

METHODSCultured Raji cells were infected with influenza A virus at a multiplicity of infection (m.o.i) of 20 and the effects of apoptosis were detected at different time points post infection using the following methods: electron microscope, DNA agarose gel electrophoresis, PI stained flow cytometry (FCM) and Annexin-V FITC/PI stained FCM.

RESULTSRaji cells infected with influenza A virus showed changes of morphology apoptosis, DNA agarose electrophoresis also demonstrated a ladder-like pattern of DNA fragments in a time-dependent manner. PI stained FCM showed "apoptosis peak" and FITC/PI stained FCM showed apoptotic cells. Quantitative analysis indicated that the percentage of apoptotic Raji cells increased after infection, and cycloheximide (CHX), an eukaryotic transcription inhibitor, could effectively inhibit the apoptotic effects of influenza A virus in vitro.

CONCLUSIONSInfluenza A virus can induce apoptosis in Raji cell line suggesting that it may lead to a potential method for tumor therapy.

Apoptosis ; physiology ; Humans ; Influenza A virus ; physiology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

This study was aimed to construct a prokaryotic expressing vector of Hap gene from Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae, and express and identify the fusion proteins of Hap-His in E. coli. The gene encoding protein Hap was amplified from Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae ATCC49247 chromosomal DNA by PCR, then it was cloned into prokaryotic expression plasmid pET-32a (+). The recombinant plasmid pET-32a(+)-Hap was transformed into E. coli BL21 and expression was induced by Isopropy-beta-D-thiogalatoside(IPTG). The Hap-His fusion protein expressed so was analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western-blot. The results showed that the recombinant expressive plasmid pET-32a (+)-Hap was constructed successfully, and the recombinant plasmid expressed Hap-His fusion protein with relative molecule mass 176 000 and mainly existed in inclusion body. This fusion protein could combine with anti-His monoclonal antibody specifically through Western blot analysis. Successful expression of Hap-His fusion protein in prokaryotic cell could lay a basis for further study of immunocompetence of Hap protein and development of NTHi vaccine.
Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Haemophilus influenzae ; genetics ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Serine Endopeptidases ; biosynthesis ; genetics

This study was aimed to construct a plasmid expressing siRNA specific for the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene and to evaluate the ability of small interference RNA(siRNA) for inhibiting telomerase activity in HeLa cells. 64 nucleotides, in which 19 nt were homologous with hTERT gene, were chemically synthesized, annealed and linked into pSUPER to get pSUP-hTE. Then pSUP-hTE was digested with enzyme. We obtained its fragmant concluding promoter and 64nt. So we cloned it into pEGFP-C1 for constructing pEGFP-hTE which contains neo gene and the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). Recombinant pEGFP-hTE was transfected to HeLa cells. These cells were screened with medium containing G418. When stable colonies appeared, G418-resistant cells were harvested and propagated. At the different cell generations, hTERT mRNA and protein expression, telomerase activity and cell growth activity were analyzed. Compared with control cells, HeLa cells transfected with pEGFP-hTE showed that hTERT mRNA level and hTERT protein expression decreased and telomerase activity reduced by 38%, but the cells growth activity displayed no changes. So pEGFP-hTE could specifically inhibit expression of hTERT and telomerase activity. These results suggested that siRNA targeting hTERT gene might provide a new strategy for cancer biotherapy.
Base Sequence ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plasmids ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Telomerase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVEA novel bHLH-like gene, designated SmbHLH1, was isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza, in order to identify a bHLH gene in related to danshinone biosysnthesis.

METHODSmbHLH1 was isolated by RT-PCR,and Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to detect the gene expression level.

RESULTThe full length of SmbHLH1 cDNA has an open reading frame of 999 bp. The deduced amino acid sequence of SmbHLH1 has 332 amino acid residues which forms a 36 kDa polypeptide with a calculated pI of 5.4. SmbHLH1 gene was expressed at high level in root, but low level in stem, leaf and flower of S. miltiorrhiza. The transcripts of SmbHLH1 was suppressed when the plants were treated with exogenous MeJA, Yeast + Ag+. The transcripts of SmbHLH1 constitutively accumulated in response to exogenous ABA and low concentration of salicylic acid.

CONCLUSIONSmbHLH is a new member of the S. miltiorrhiza bHLH family, and its possible roles in brassinosteriods signaling responses.

Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors ; genetics ; physiology ; Cloning, Molecular ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; physiology ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; genetics

Objective:To compare the differences in lung function between sanitation workers and the general population undergoing routine physical examinations, and to analyze the risk factors for restricted airflow and severity of the condition in sanitation workers.Methods:This study is a large cross-sectional study called "Shanxin Respiratory Health Screening for Ten Thousand People". A total of 1 036 sanitation workers (sanitation group) and 6 701 individuals from the general population undergoing routine physical examinations (control group) were selected as the original study subjects from June 2021 to April 2022 (before matching). Both groups underwent pre-bronchodilator lung function tests, and the differences in lung function characteristics between the two groups were compared. The sanitation group also completed a questionnaire survey. Multivariate and ordinal multinomial logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the risk factors for airflow limitation and its severity.Results:A total of 1 027 individuals from the sanitation group and 999 individuals from the control group were included in the study. There were no significant differences in age, gender, height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) between the two groups (all P>0.05). The rate of airflow restriction was significantly higher in the sanitation group compared to the control group (22.88% vs 8.81%, P<0.001). In the sanitation group, there was no statistically significant difference in a self-assessment test for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (CAT) scores between individuals with airflow restriction (235 cases) and those without airflow restriction (792 cases) [(1.50±2.50) vs (1.15±2.03) points, P=0.084]. There were no statistically significant differences in forced vital capacity (FVC) as a percentage of predicted value (FVC%pred) between the two groups. However, the sanitation group had significantly lower %pred for forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1%pred), FVC/FEV 1 ratio (FEV 1/FVC%pred), forced expiratory flow at 50% of FVC (FEF 50%%pred), forced expiratory flow at 75% of FVC (FEF 75%%pred), and maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMEF%pred) compared to the control group (all P<0.05). The rates of abnormal FEF 50%%pred, FEF 75%%pred, and MMEF%pred were significantly higher in the sanitation group compared to the control group (17.62% vs 10.31%, 17.04% vs 10.01%, 27.26% vs 18.41%, all P<0.001). Small airway parameters and the rate of airflow restriction were significantly higher in past and current smokers of the sanitation group compared to never smokers (all P<0.05). Multifactorial analysis showed that high BMI ( OR=0.929, 95% CI: 0.885-0.974) was a protective factor for airflow restriction, while high smoking index was a risk factor ( OR=1.020, 95% CI: 1.011-1.030). Ordered multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that high BMI ( OR=0.925, 95% CI: 0.882-0.971) was a protective factor for the severity of airflow restriction, while high smoking index ( OR=1.020, 95% CI: 1.011-1.029) was a risk factor for the severity of airflow restriction. Conclusions:The incidences of airflow limitation and small airway abnormalities in sanitation workers are higher than that in general physical examination population. High smoking index and low BMI are independent risk factors for airflow limitation and its severity.