Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a biological factor associated with gastric carcinoma. The prognosis of EBV-associated gastric car-cinoma (EBVaGC) is good because of its distinct clinicopathological features. The pathogenesis mechanism of EBVaGC is extensively in-vestigated at present. The development of molecular techniques has stimulated the research on the expression of EBV genes in EB-VaGC, thereby providing a theoretical foundation on the diagnosis, therapy, and prevention of EBVaGC. This article reviewed present research advances in EBV genes in EBVaGC.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is prevalent in Southeast Asia, especially in the area of southern China. It is acknowl-edged that NPC is absolutely related to EBV infection. Nevertheless, there are just a few researches about the relationship between the level of EBV antibodies and the tumor stages and it hasn't come to conclusion. This review makes a summary on present research progress and would be valuable for the better understanding of the contribution of EBV antibodies to the tumor stages in NPC.

OBJECTIVETo observe the characteristics of sperm single-stranded DNA breaks (SSB) and double-stranded DNA breaks (DSB) in infertile men, explore the association of DSB with male infertility, and provide a new observation index and idea for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

METHODSThis study involved 60 infertile men (infertility group) and 30 normal healthy males with infertile wives (control group). We comparatively analyzed the seminal parameters of the two groups, determined sperm concentration and viability using the computer aided sperm analysis system, measured the sperm survival rate by hypoosmotic swelling (HOS) test, examined sperm morphology by Diff-Quick staining, and detected sperm DNA damage by two-tail comet assay.

RESULTSNine two-tail comet models were established for detecting sperm DNA integrity. Comparisons between the fertility and control groups showed that the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) was (33.8 ± 13.1) vs (16.3 ± 7.9)% (P < 0.01), the SSB-DFI was (19.2 ± 11.4) vs (14.9 ± 7.6)% (P > 0.05), the SSB-DFI/DFI was (56.8 ± 32.4) vs (91.4 ± 27.8)% (P < 0.01), the DSB-DFI was (23.9 +13.4) vs (6.1 ± 2.7)% (P < 0.01), and the DSB-DFI/DFI was (70.8 ± 19.5) vs (37.4 ± 11.3)% (P < 0.01). The optimal cut-off value of DSB-DFI/DFI in the diagnosis of male infertility was 39.5%, with the AUG, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.969, 98.3%, and 90%; that of DSB-DFI was 15.85%, with the AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.912, 86.7%, and 80%; and that of DFI was 18.65%; with the AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.861, 90%, 70%, respectively. In the infertile men, neither SSB-DFI nor SSB-DFI/DFI exhibited any correlation with semen parameters (P > 0.05); DFI was correlated negatively with the percentage of progressively motile sperm, sperm survival rate, and the percentage of morphologically normal sperm (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), but not correlated with sperm concentration (P > 0.05); both DSB-DFI and DSB-DFI/DFI showed a negative correlation with sperm concentration, sperm survival rate, and the percentages of progressively motile sperm and morphologically normal sperm (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONDouble-stranded, rather than single-stranded DNA breaks, may be a factor inducing male infertility. The type of sperm DNA strand damage is of much reference value for the assessment of male fertility.

Case-Control Studies ; Comet Assay ; DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded ; DNA Breaks, Single-Stranded ; DNA Fragmentation ; Fertility ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Male ; Semen Analysis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sperm Count ; Spermatozoa ; Staining and Labeling

Objective　To investigate what effects BmKAS-1 (a polypeptide purified from the Chinese scorpion Buthus martensi Karsch ［BmK］ and named as BmK activator of skeletal-muscle ryanodine receptor) and its upstream mixture BmK1-3-2 have on Na+ channels in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) small diameter neurons. Methods　The whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used to investigate the effects of BmKAS-1 and BmK1-3-2 on Na+ current in rat small diameter DRG neurons. Results　About 50% peak Na+ current was suppressed by 10*!μg/ml of BmK1-3-2. 1.62*!μg/ml of BmKAS-1 also blocked 50% peak Na+ current, and there was an obvious dose-dependent relationship. Conclusion　Both BmK1-3-2 and BmKAS-1 have a blocking effect on Na+ channels, and this may one of the mechanisms for the analgetic effect of BmK1-3-2 and BmKAS-1.

Aim at the two problems in the field of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) mechanism elucidation, one is the lack of detailed biological processes information, next is the low efficient in constructing network models, we constructed an auxiliary elucidation system for the TCM mechanism and realize the automatic establishment of biological network model. This study used the Entity Grammar Systems (EGS) as the theoretical framework, integrated the data of formulae, herbs, chemical components, targets of component, biological reactions, signaling pathways and disease related proteins, established the formal models, wrote the reasoning engine, constructed the auxiliary elucidation system for the TCM mechanism elucidation. The platform provides an automatic modeling method for biological network model of TCM mechanism. It would be benefit to perform the in-depth research on TCM theory of natures and combination and provides the scientific references for R&D of TCM.
Animals ; Automation ; instrumentation ; methods ; Databases, Factual ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

Objective To investigate clinical nurses' cognitive and behavioral status on nursing humanistic care,so as to provide basis for the implementation of humanistic care and further improvement of nursing quality.Methods Modified version of Caring Behaviors Inventory (CBI) designed by the U.S.scholar Wolf was used to investigate 300 nurses chosen by convenience sampling.The results were statistically analyzed and improvements for key links were suggested.Results The average score of nurses' cognition and behavior on humanistic care was respectively (107.77 ± 9.99) and (88.24 ± 6.8).Nurses of different titles had significantly different cognition scores (F =2.843,P ＜ 0.05).Nurses of different titles,working types and educational trainings also had significantly different behavior scores (t/F =2.609,.4.983,24.186,respectively; P ＜ 0.05).Cognition and behavior score in CBI was positively related to nurses' age and working years (r =0.072,0.117,respectively; P ＜ 0.05).Pearson analysis showed that whether taking educational training on humanistic care was the main influencing factor of nurses' behaviors.Conclusions The cognition and clinical implementation on humanistic care of clinical nurses are not the same.Nursing managers should strengthen nurses' educational training on related knowledge and skills,so as to improve the level of humanistic care and the quality of nursing.

OBJECTIVEHepatic stellate cells (HSC) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) transdifferentiate into extracellular matrix-producing myofibroblasts. Activated HSC can promote invasion and metastasis of HCC. To understand the differences of HSC in normal liver and HCC, we compared the gene expression patterns in HCC cell induction-activated and culture-activated rat HSC.

METHODSHSC were isolated by density centrifugation and exposed to conditioned medium from rat HCC cell line C5F. Expression of 22 012 genes in quiescent HSC, culture-activated HSC and HCC induction-activated HSC was analyzed by cDNA microarray and confirmed by real-time RT-PCR and Western blot.

RESULTS1672 genes were differentially expressed in culture-activated HSC, including proinflammatory factors, cell adhesion molecules, cell surface receptors, signaling transduction molecules and immune factors. 711 genes were differentially expressed in HCC induction-activated HSC. Some of them were identical to those in culture-activated HSC. HCC Induction-activated HSC showed specific gene expression patterns, including Raf1, Rac2, Adam17, Wnt6, MMP-9 and TNF, suggesting that HCC cells can specifically induce HSC activation.

CONCLUSIONThe gene expression patterns in HCC induction-activated HSC are different from those in culture-activated HSC. HCC induction-activated HSC may play a major role in the invasion and metastasis of HCC. In vivo activation should be considered as the standard for the study of HSC biology. HCC induction-activated HSC should be considered as the standard for HSC biology studies.

Animals ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cells, Cultured ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred F344

This study is to explore the possible mechanisms of the antidepressant-like effect of agmatine. By using two traditional "behavior despair" model, tail suspension test and forced swimming test, we examined the effects of some monoamine receptor antagonists (including beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist propranolol, beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist/5-HT1A/1B receptor antagonist pindolol, alpha2-adrenergic receptor antagonists yohimbine and idazoxan and 5-HT3 receptor antagonist tropisetron) on the antidepressant-like action of agmatine in mice. Activity of adenylate cyclase (AC) in the synapse membrane from rat frontal cortex was determined by radioimmunoassay. Single dose of agmatine (5-40 mg x kg(-1), ig) dose-dependently decrease the immobility time in tail suspension test in mice, indicating an antidepressant-like effect. The effect of agmatine (40 mg x kg(-1), ig) was antagonized by co-administration of beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist/5-HT1A/1B receptor antagonist pindolol (20 mg x kg(-1), ip), alpha2-adrenergic receptor antagonists yohimbine (5-10 mg x kg(-1), ip) or idazoxan (4 mg x kg(-1), ip), but not beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist propranolol (5-20 mg x kg(-1), ip) and 5-HT3 receptor antagonist tropisetron (5-40 mg x kg(-1), ip). Agmatine (5-40 mg x kg(-1), ig) also dose-dependently decrease the immobility time in forced swimming test in mice. The effect of agmatine (40 mg x kg(-1), ig) was also antagonized by pindolol (20 mg x kg(-1), ip), yohimbine (5-10 mg x kg(-1), ip), or idazoxan (4 mg x kg(-1), ip). Incubation of agmatine (0.1-6.4 micromol x L(-1)) with the synaptic membrane extracted from rat frontal cortex activated the AC in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. While the effect of agmatine (6.4 micromol x L(-1)) was dose-dependently antagonized by pindolol (1 micromol x L(-1)) or yohimbine (0.25-1 micromol x L(-1)). Chronic treatment with agmatine (10 mg x kg(-1), ig, bid, 2 w) or fluoxetine (10 mg x kg(-1), ig, bid, 2 w) increased the basic activity, as well as the Gpp (NH)p (1-100 micromol x L(-1)) stimulated AC activity in rat prefrontal cortex. These results indicate that regulation on 5-HT1A/1B and alpha2 receptors, and activation AC in the frontal cortex is one of the important mechanisms involving in agmatine's antidepressant-like action.
Adenylyl Cyclases ; metabolism ; Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Agmatine ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Antidepressive Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Depression ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Fenclonine ; pharmacology ; Idazoxan ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Pindolol ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Biogenic Amine ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Antagonists ; Swimming ; Synapses ; enzymology ; Yohimbine ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the correlation between clinico-pathological features and outcome of children with primary focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS).

METHODA total of 212 pediatric patients with D'Agati (2004) primary FSGS were included in this study between 1997 and 2008. According to FSGS histologic classification criteria, 5 pathologic variants were recognized: collapsing (COLL), cellular (CELL), glomerular tip lesion (GTL), perihilar, and not otherwise specified (NOS). Retrospective analysis of the therapeutic response, the relationship between the clinical efficacy and pathology and the outcome of the patients was made.

RESULTSOf the 212 patients, 178 (83.9%) had nephritic syndrome (NS), 97 (45.8%) had simple NS, 81 (38.2%) had nephritis-type NS, GTL variants were mostly appeared to be nephritic syndrome (n = 28) and COLL variants were the fewest (n = 11). The difference between the two variants had statistical significance (P < 0.05). Fourteen cases (6.6%) had nephrotic proteinuria, 20 cases (9.4%) had proteinuria with micro-hematuria. According to histologic classification, NOS (n = 86, 40.6%) was the most common type; perihilar type was seen in 25 cases (11.8%); CELL was seen in 58 cases (27.4%), COLL in 12 cases (5.6%), GTL in 31 cases (14.6%). Chronic tubular injury was present in most cases. CEL variants were mostly found in the early infancy. GTL and NOS variants initially appeared to be responsive to steroids, but subsequently became resistant or frequently recurrent; CELL and COLL appeared to be primarily steroid resistant, GTL and COLL variants had statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). The patients were followed-up for 5 months to 10 years. A response to therapy was observed in 50%, COLL FSGS had the highest rate of ESRD; 2 years renal survival rates were 67%, 3 years were 41%.

CONCLUSIONSFSGS is defined as a clinicopathologic syndrome manifesting proteinuria and focal and segmental glomerular sclerosis with foot process effacement. The location of the sclerosis within the glomeruli proved to have prognostic significance. Collapsing glomerulopathy is the most aggressive variant of FSGS. Compared with other variants, GTL variant may be the best type. Different histologic variants of FSGS have substantial differences in clinical features at the time of biopsy diagnosis and substantial differences in renal outcomes. Prolonged treatment of FSGS-NS with corticosteroids and immune suppressive agents may have some effects in achieving sustained remission and improve prognosis in children.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental ; pathology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Proteinuria ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies

This study was aimed to establish the cell lines of human T-cell leukemia virus type-1 (HTLV-1) tax gene expression and their biological activity. The eukaryotic vector pCMV-tax and pCMV-neo-Bam were transfected into Jurkat E6-1 by using liposome, following screening with G418, the tax gene expression cell line-TaxP and the negative cell lines-TaxN were selected and enriched. Then, the mRNA expressions of LAT, SLP70, ZAP70 and NF-kappaB (p65) were measured by using RT-PCR; the NF-kappaB bioactivity was tested after transfecting the pNF-kappaB-Luc plasmids into TaxP and TaxN cells; meanwhile CD25, CD69 expressions on surface of the two cell lines were tested by flow cytometry. The results showed that TaxP and TaxN cell lines were established and the tax gene expression was detected; as compared with TaxN, the mRNA expressions of LAT, SLP70 and ZAP70 in TaxP were enhanced (p<0.05), while the NF-kappaB bioactivity in TaxP cells was stronger than that in TaxN cells (p<0.01). The CD25, CD69 on TaxP cells surface was highly expressed. It is concluded that TaxP and TaxN cell lines are established, TAX protein could promote the activation of T cells and activate the NF-kappaB pathway.
Cell Line ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral ; Genes, pX ; Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 ; genetics ; Humans ; Jurkat Cells ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Transfection