Objective To observe the expression of STEAP4 gene(a novel obesity-related gene) during the period of human preadipocyte differentiation and to explore the relationship between the STEAP4 gene expression and adipocytes differentiation,adipogenesis.Methods Human preadipocytes were cultured and differentiated into the matured adipocytes in vitro.Adipocytes morphology and lipid accumulation were observed during this process.Total RNA was extracted from adipocytes at various time points (preadipocyte,Day 0,Day 4,Day 6,Day 8,Day 11,Day 14,and Day 17) and the level of STEAP4 mRNA expression was measured by fluorescent real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polyme-rase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results The level of STEAP4 mRNA expression remained high in preadipocytes.In the presence of differentiation medium (Day 4),there was a transient upregulation in the expression of STEAP4 gene.After that,with the human preadipocytes being differentiated into matured adipocytes,the expression of STEAP4 mRNA was downregulated and reached the lowest level in fully differentiated adipocytes.There was a significant difference between any 2 detected phases in the level of STEAP4 mRNA expression (Pa

AIM: To screen TIGR/myocilin gene (MYOC) mutation in high myopic Chinese children with family history.METHODS: Gene sequencing was performed in exon 3 of the TIGR gene in high myopic Chinese Children. The coding sequence of TIGR exon 3 was screened by capillary electrophoresis sequencing. The sequence alterations were analyzed by bioinformatics.RESULTS: TIGR gene mutation was not found in high myopic patients and normal controls group.CONCLUSION: No identified gene mutation is found in TIGR gene in high myopic Chinese children.

So far there exists no corresponding quality test procedures and grading standards for the seed of Prunus humilis, which is one of the important source of base of semen pruni. Therefor we set up test procedures that are adapt to characteristics of the P. humilis seed through the study of the test of sampling, seed purity, thousand-grain weight, seed moisture, seed viability and germination percentage. 50 cases of seed specimens of P. humilis tested. The related data were analyzed by cluster analysis. Through this research, the seed quality test procedure was developed, and the seed quality grading standard was formulated. The seed quality of each grade should meet the following requirements: for first grade seeds, germination percentage ≥ 68%, thousand-grain weight 383 g, purity ≥ 93%, seed moisture ≤ 5%; for second grade seeds, germination percentage ≥ 26%, thousand-grain weight ≥ 266 g, purity ≥ 73%, seed moisture ≤9%; for third grade seeds, germination percentage ≥ 10%, purity ≥ 50%, thousand-grain weight ≥ 08 g, seed moisture ≤ 13%.
Cluster Analysis ; Germination ; Prunus ; growth & development ; Seeds ; physiology

Objective To explore the role of serum S-100B concentration of umbilical cord blood and blood on the 24 h after admission in the early diagnosis and development of newborn hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy(HIE).Methods Forty-six HIE newborns(31 cases with mild HIE and 15 cases with moderate and severe HIE)were selected as HIE group,and 43 normal full-term newborns were selected as control group.The umbilical cord blood sample and blood sample were aquired on the 24 h after admission.The serum S-100B concentration was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)analysis.Results 1.There was no significant difference of serum S-100B concentration between the male sub-group and female sub-group of normal group and their birth weight had no significant relative to the serum S-100B concentration.2.The serum S-100B concentration of umbilical cord blood of control group and HIE group were(1.03?0.32)and(2.53?1.1)?g/L,respectively,there was significant difference between two groups(t'=8.848 P

Background Statistic data revealed that different retinopathy of pre-term infants have different susceptibility to retinopathy of prematurity (ROP),which may be associated with polymorphism of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) gene.Objective This study was to determine the association of polymorphisms of VEGF gene with the risk for ROP.Methods This research was approved by Ethics Committee of Hunan Children's Hospital,and written informed consent was obtained from the parents of patients.A prospective case-controlled study was designed.Ninety-nine ROP patients in Hunan Children' s Hospital and 88 pre-termed children without ROP were included from January,2006 to December,2009.Thirty-nine patients who received retinal photocoagulation or cryotherapy were included as the treatment group,and 60 untreated but spontaneously regressed ROP patients as the non-treatment group.No significant differences were seen in demography between with the ROP group and the without ROP group,or between the treatment group and the non-treatment group (all P＞0.05).2 mL of peripheral blood was collected for the extraction of DNA.Gene polymorphisms of VEGF-A+405 and VEGF-A936 were detected using the pyrosequencing method.Results No significant difference was found in the frequencies of the VEGF-A+405 gene polymorphisms between the ROP group and without ROP group (P =0.071,OR =0.675,95 ％ CI =0.444-1.026).Also no significant difference was found in the frequencies of the VEGF-A936 gene polymorphisms between with the ROP group and without the ROP group (P =0.118,OR =0.768,95 ％ CI=2.823-4.614).However,the frequencies of the VEGF-A+405 gene polymorphisms were significantly higher in the ROP treatment group than the non-treatment group (P＜0.01,OR--0.857,95 ％ CI =5.239-14.024),and VEGF-A936 gene polymorphisms was also significantly higher in the ROP treatment group than the non-treatment group (P =0.000,OR =3.609,95 ％ CI =0.711-0.829).Conclusions There is no association between the VEGF-A+405/VEGF-A936 single nucleotide polymorphism with the risk of ROP,but polymorphisms of VEGF gene may be correlated with the prognosis of ROP.The carrier of VEGF-A +405 /VEGF-A936 allele is more susceptible to ROP progression.

Objective To explore the feasibility of exogenous NGF and/or Noggin gene transfecting into the bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and observe the differentiation of BMSCs modified by NGF and/or Noggin.Methods BMSCs were isolated from SD rat and purified by adherent method and these cells were identified by their phenotypical properties and their abilities of differentiating into adipocytes.Ad-GFP-NGF and/or Ad-GFP-Noggin were transfected into BMSCs.The protein expressions of NGF and/or Noggin were detected using immunocytochemistry and Western blotting.The differentiations of gene modified BMSCs were observed by immunohistochemistry.Result The cells selected by adherent method had basic phenotypical properties of BMSCs and could differentiate into adipocytes.BMSCs without transfection and those transfected with Ad-GFP expressed low level of NGF without Noggin expression.All gene modified BMSCs could express NGF and/or Noggin.After transfection, BMSCs could differentiate into cells having neuronal morphology and expressing NF (H).The combined transfection group had the highest ratio of NF(H)+ cells among all the groups.Conclusion BMSCs can be isolated and purified from rat bone marrow by adherent method.Ad-GFP-NGF and/or Ad-GFP-Noggin can transfect BMSCs safely and the transfected cells can express those proteins persistently and efficiently.NGF and Noggin can induce BMSCs into neuron-like cells in vitro and when they exist simultaneously,the differentiation is further enhanced.

OBJECTIVETo observe the growth and osteogenic property of cultured dog bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) by investigating the effects of astragalus polysaccharides (APS) on the proliferation and ultrastructure of BMSCs into osteoblasts in vitro.

METHODSBMSCs osteogenic property was detected by improved Wright-Giemsa, Gomori and alizarin dyeing method. The proliferation and differentiation of the induced BMSCs with APS in different concentration and time were detected by MTT assay and the morphologic change of the induced BMSCs was observed by transmission electron microscope (TEM).

RESULTSBMSCs osteogenic property was detected with Wright-Giemsa deep-bluing, Gomori method blacking and with more mineral nodules alizarin dyeing method carmining. APS with concentration of 0.005 mg/mL can promote the proliferation of the induced BMSCs in short-term culture (1th, 3th day) and 50 mg/mL can decrease the effect through long-term culture (5th day). Observed by TEM (5th day), the number of mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum increased and the extracellular matrix was excreted more in the induced BMSCs by APS with concentration of 0.005 mg/mL. However, not only the number of mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum reduced but also the structure was swollen, degenerative, membrance damaged in the induced BMSCs by APS with concentration of 50 mg/mL.

CONCLUSIONAPS with lower concentration in short-term culture may promote BMSCs proliferation and differentiation.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Cell Differentiation ; Dogs ; In Vitro Techniques ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Osteoblasts ; Polysaccharides

OBJECTIVEHuman STEAP4, a novel obesity-related gene, is associated with insulin sensitivity regulation in human adipocytes. This study aimed to explore the regulative role of TNFalpha on STEAP4 gene in matured human adipocytes.

METHODSHuman preadipocytes were cultured and differentiated into matured adipocytes in vitro. Fully differentiated adipocytes (Day 17) were treated with different concentrations of TNFalpha (0, 5, 10, 25 and 50 ng/mL) for 24 hrs. Total RNA and protein were extracted from the adipocytes. Levels of STEAP4 mRNA and protein expression were determined by real-time quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot respectively.

RESULTSDifferent concentrations (5, 10, 25 and 50 ng/mL) of TNFalpha treatment for 24 hrs resulted in a significant increase in the STEAP4 mRNA expression of human matured adipocytes.The maximal effect was seen in the 50 ng/mL of TNFalpha treatment group. In parallel, STEAP4 protein synthesis in matured adipocytes increased in response to TNFalpha treatment of different concentrations (5, 10, 25 and 50 ng/mL) for 24 hrs. The maximal up-regulated effect was seen in the 25 ng/mL of TNFalpha treatment group.

CONCLUSIONSTNFalpha can up-regulate STEAP4 mRNA expression in human matured adipocytes.

Adipocytes ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Oxidoreductases ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore the difference in tumor biological behaviors and prognosis between recurrent colon cancer and recurrent rectal cancer after radical operation.

METHODSComplete clinical and follow-up data of 132 patients with colorectal cancer developed recurrence,including 36 colon cancers and 96 rectal cancers, after curative resection were retrospectively analyzed and compared with respect of clinical pathological features and prognosis between colon and rectal cancer.

RESULTSSignificant differences were found in primary tumor gross type, histological type, tumor differentiation and lymph node metastasis between colon and rectal cancer(P<0.05). Colon cancer recurred earlier than rectal cancer after radical surgery with the median time to recurrence being 14.0 months and 21.5 months, respectively(P=0.028). The difference in multiple sites recurrence was also found between colon(n=16, 44.4%) and rectal cancer(n=65, 67.7%)(P=0.014). The 3-year survival rate of recurrent rectal cancer was better than that of colon cancer (24.8% vs 15.6%, P=0.026).

CONCLUSIONThere are some differences in tumor biological behaviors between colon and rectal cancer, and the prognosis of rectal cancer with recurrence is better than that of colon cancer.

Adult ; Colonic Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; pathology ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Rectal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Blood Donors ; China ; HIV Infections ; Humans ; Prejudice ; Rural Population