Objective To evaluate the effect of heparin binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF)on liver regeneration after partial orthotopic liver transplantation.Methods Fourty SD rats were used to establish the model of partial orthotopic liver transplantation with ameliorated two-cuff technique.Then all the rats were divided into 2 groups:experiment group and control group.Twenty rats of experiment group were adminis- tered 500?g/kg HB-EGF via vena caudalis immediately after operation twice a day,while the same volume of saline was administered to the rats in control group.Five rats in each group were selected randomly and killed at the 6th hour,day 2,4 and 7 after operation,respectively.The serum levels of albumin(Alb)and alanine aminotransferase (ALT)in the blood sample were detected.Every liver was removed and weighed.The expression of Ki-67 was de- tected by using immunohistochemistry assay.The regeneration activity of hepatocytes was evaluated by flow cytom- etry.Results The wet weights of liver in experiment group were all significantly higher than that in control group at the 6th hour,day 2 and 4 after transplantation(P

OBJECTIVETo establish a set of suitable and reliable methods for HBV genotyping and to study the distribution of HBV genotypes.

METHODSType-specific nucleotides were searched through alignment of S genes (more than 1000 sequences) listed in GenBank. Then, type-specific primers were designed and type-specific primer PCR was used to genotype the 238 HBV strains. S genes of the untyped strains were further amplified and sequenced to find out their genotypes with type-specific nucleotide analysis.

RESULTSAll the 238 HBV strains were genotyped. 159 (66.8%) cases were genotype B, 69 (28.9%) were genotype C, 6 (2.5%) were mixtures of genotypes B and C and 4 (1.6%) were mixtures of genotypes B and D. No genotypes of A, E, F, G, and H were found.

CONCLUSIONGenotypes B and C are the most common types for HBV strains. Mixtures of genotypes B and C or genotypes B and D coinfection rarely existed. There is no relationship between the gender of the patients and HBV genotypes (X2 = 0.794, P more than 0.05).

DNA Primers ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Nucleotides ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

Objective To investigate the influence of high intensity interval exercise (HIIT) on peroxidation and vascular endothelial function for experimental hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) rats. Methods Thirty five male rats were randomly divided into 4 groups. Control group (n=8) was given ordinary feed. High methionine group (n=27) was given 3% methionine on this basis, and divided into model group, folic acid group and HIIT+ folic acid group, with 9 rats per group for 16 weeks. Serum homocysteine (Hcy) , content of plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) , hydroxyl radical (OH-), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured, as well as the level of Nitric Oxide (NO), Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS) and Endothelin 1 (ET-1) . The pathology of abdominal aortas was analyzed.Results Sixteen weeks after intervention, there was no significant difference between HIIT + folic acid group and the control group (P>0.05) . The levels of serum Hcy in the model group, folic acid group and the HIIT+folic acid group were (23.95±3.35) μmol/L,(8.73±0.60) μmol/L, and (6.19±0.34) μmol/L respectively (P<0.05) . Sixteen weeks after intervention, the content of MDA in HIIT+ folic acid group reduced, and there was no significant difference compared with the control group (P>0.05). The level of SOD and GSH-PX increased in HIIT+ folic acid group and folic acid group, and there was a significant difference compared with the model group. There were significant differences in activities of SOD and GSH-PX in HIIT+ folic acid group when compared with folic acid group (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, there were significant differences in levels of ET-1, NOS and NO in folic acid group (P<0.05), while there was no significant difference in the level of ET-1 and NOS between HIIT+folic acid group and control group (P>0.05) . Mild atherosclerotic lesions were observed in the HIIT+folic group. Conclusion High methionine diet can reduce the level of serum Hcy in HHcy rats, and high intensity interval exercise combined with folic acid intervention could reduce the level of serum Hcy, improve oxidative stress state, reduce the injury of endothelial function, and thus to alleviate atherosclerotic lesion.

Objective: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on the protein and gene expressions of Bax, Caspase-3 and Bcl-2 in cerebral cortex of type 2 diabetic rats with cognitive impairment (CI), and to explore the mechanism of EA in improving the learning and memory abilities. Methods: A total of 100 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into a normal group (n=10) and a model group (n=90) by random number table method. Rats in the model group were intraperitoneally injected with a small dose of streptozotocin (STZ) to establish the type 2 diabetic models, after being fed with high-fat and high-sugar diet for 1 month. Twenty CI rats were selected from the 50 successful model rats by the Morris water maze (MWM) test and randomly divided into a model group and an EA group according to the blood glucose level and MWM data (n=10). Rats in the EA group received acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36), Neiting (ST 44) and Yishu (Extra), of which Zusanli (ST 36) and Neiting (ST 44) were stimulated by EA apparatus, 20 min/time, once a day for 6 d a week and 4 consecutive weeks. The rats in the model and the normal groups were fixed without treatment. After 4-week treatment, the random blood glucose level of the rats was measured; the learning and memory abilities of rats were measured by MWM; terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay was used to detect apoptotic cells; Western blot (WB) and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were used to detect the protein and gene expressions of Bax, Caspase-3 and Bcl-2 in cerebral cortex. Results: After modeling, the random blood glucose level and the escape latency tested by MWM were significantly increased, and the number of crossing the platform tested by the MWM was decreased in the EA and model groups, and were significantly different from those in the normal group (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while the differences between the model group and the EA group were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). After 4-week treatment, the random glucose level and the escape latency tested by MWM were significantly increased (both P<0.05), and the number of crossing the original platform tested by the MWM was significantly reduced (P<0.01), the protein and gene expressions of Bax and Caspase-3 were significantly increased (all P<0.001), the protein and gene expressions of Bcl-2 were significantly reduced (both P<0.001), and the number of neuron apoptosis was significantly increased (P<0.001) in the model group than in the normal group; the random blood glucose level was significantly reduced (P<0.05), the escape latency tested by MWM was significantly shortened (P<0.05), and the number of crossing the original platform tested by MWM was significantly increased (P<0.05), the protein and gene expressions of Bax and Caspase-3 were significantly reduced (all P<0.001), the protein and gene expressions of Bcl-2 were significantly increased (both P<0.001), and the number of neuron apoptosis was significantly reduced (P<0.001) in the EA group than in the model group. Conclusion: EA can improve the learning and memory damages induced by type 2 diabetic model rats with CI; the action mechanism may be achieved via anti-apoptosis.

Background and Objective: Elevated expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) has been found in multiple carcinoma tissues.MMP-26 is highly expressed in prostate and breast cancer tissues,and promotes the invasion of human prostate cancer cells not only through the cleavage of fibronectin and type Ⅳ collagen but also by the activation of pro-MMP-9,a powerful gelatinase. This study was to present a comprehensive protein expression profile of MMP-26 in multiple human cancer tissues. Methods: The protein expression pattern of MMP-26 was examined using immunohistochemistry and multiple-tissue microarray. MMP-26 mRNA expression in coronary artery smooth muscle cells was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). Results: The expression of MMP-26 in breast,colon,lung, brain, head and neck, prostate cancer, and melanoma tissues was significantly elevated when compared with parallel normal tissues (P＜0.05), while not significantly elevated in kidney cancer,ovarian cancer,and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (P＞0.05).MMP-26 was also detected to express in gastric,rectal,thyroid, esophageal,and pancreatic cancers.MMP-26 protein was expressed in smooth muscle cells of the prostate and associated blood vessels. MMP-26 mRNA was also detected to express in human coronary artery smooth muscle cells. Conclusions: MMP-26 expression may be associated with multiple human carcinomas,and it may serve as a molecular marker for the early diagnosis of these carcinomas.MMP-26 may also contribute to smooth muscle function in the human prostate and cardiovascular system.

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether there is an association between DRD2/ANKK1 Taq IA polymorphism and early infant temperament.

METHODSDRD2/ANKK1 Taq IA polymorphism (rs1800497) was determined using polymerase chain reaction-ligase detection reaction (PCR-LDR) techniques in 149 Chinese Han infants from Changsha City. Their mothers were asked to complete the Early Infant Temperament Questionnaires (EITQ) when the infants were 1 to 4 months old (mean: 2.75 months). There were three genotypes found in these infants: C/C, T/T and C/T. The subjects were subdivided into T-carrier (CT, TT) and non-T-carrier (CC) groups for statistical analysis.

RESULTSThere were no differences in the temperament style distribution between the T-carrier and non-T carrier groups. There were also no statistically significant differences between the two groups in the score of the nine temperament dimensions.

CONCLUSIONSDRD2/ANKK1 Taq IA polymorphism is not associated with early infant temperament.

Genotype ; Humans ; Infant ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics ; Receptors, Dopamine D2 ; genetics ; Temperament

Abstract: Objective To analyze and compare the effects of different clinical characteristics on the negative conversion time of nucleic acid detection after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant infection, and to provide a scientific basis for the isolation and treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods　The epidemiological and clinical data of 228 mild SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant infected patients diagnosed in Shanghai were retrospectively collected from April 27, 2022 to June 8, 2022 in Wujiaochang designated Hospital, Yangpu District, Shanghai. The negative conversion time of nucleic acid detection was used as the outcome variable, and the patients were divided into A (≤18 days) and B (>18 days). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the influencing factors of the negative conversion time of nucleic acid detection. Results　The mean nucleic acid conversion time of 228 patients was (18.7±12.1) d, with the median time of 18 (2-46) d. Among them, 120 patients in group A had an average nucleic acid conversion time of (13.2±2.0) d, and 108 cases in group B had an average nucleic acid conversion time of (20.8±1.3) d. Univariate analysis showed that there were no statistically significant differences in the effects of hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes, hypokalemia, malignant tumors, neuropsychiatric diseases, chronic digestive diseases on the negative nucleic acid conversion time (P>0.05); however, there were significant differences in the effects of combined cerebrovascular disease, leukopenia, chronic respiratory system diseases and vaccination on the negative nucleic acid conversion time (P<0.05). Further multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the combination of chronic respiratory diseases and non-vaccination were significant risk factors for prolongation of negative nucleic acid conversion time (P<0.05). Conclusions The results of this study show that gender, age and whether hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, hypokalemia, malignant tumor, neuropsychiatric disease and chronic digestive disease have no significant effect on the nucleic acid conversion time, whereas chronic respiratory disease and no vaccination are significantly correlated with the prolongation of nucleic acid conversion time in SARS-CoV-2 Omicron-infected patients.

Background: Despite substantial progress toward measles control are making in China, measles outbreaks in immunocompromised population still pose a challenge to interrupt endemic transmission. This study aimed to investigate the features of measles in pediatric hematology and oncology patients and explore the reasons behind the outbreak. Methods: We collected demographic, epidemiological, and clinical data of immunocompromised measles children.All suspected measles cases were laboratory?confirmed based on the presence of measles IgM and/or identification of measles RNA. The clinical data were statistically analyzed by t?test for continuous variables and Fisher''s exact test for categorical variables. Results: From March 9 to July 25 in 2015, a total of 23 children with malignancies and post hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (post?HSCT) were notified to develop measles in Shanghai. Of these 23 patients with the median age of 5.5 years (range: 11 months–14 years), 20 (87.0%) had received 1–3 doses of measles vaccine previously; all patients had fever with the median fever duration of 8 days;21 (91.3%) had cough; 18 (78.3%) had rash; 13 (56.5%) had Koplik''s spot; 13 (56.5%) had complications including pneumonia and acute liver failure; and five (21.7%) vaccinated patients died from severe pneumonia or acute liver failure. Except the first patient, all patients had hospital visits within 7–21 days before measles onset and 20 patients were likely to be exposed to each other. Conclusions: The outcome of measles outbreak in previously vaccinated oncology and post?HSCT pediatric patients during chemotherapy and immunosuppressant medication was severe. Complete loss of protective immunity induced by measles vaccine during chemotherapy was the potential reason. Improved infection control practice was critical for the prevention of measles in malignancy patients and transplant recipients.

OBJECTIVETo construct prokaryotic expression systems of Streptococcus pneumoniae ciaH and ciaR genes,and to determine their correlation with drug resistance.

METHODSThe total length of ciaH and ciaR genes was amplified by PCR and their prokaryotic expression systems were established by using routine genetic engineering technique. SDS-PAGE was applied to measure the outputs of target recombinant proteins rCiaH and rCiaR. Rabbits antisera and IgGs against rCiaH and rCiaR were prepared. The resistance to penicillin and cefotaxime of S.pneumoniae strains was examined after CiaH and CiaR were extracellularly and intracellularly blocked by the IgGs.

RESULTThe homogeneity of nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the cloned ciaH and ciaR genes with the reported sequences was 99.9-100% and 100%, respectively. The recombinant bacteria E.coli BL21DE3pET42a-ciaH and E.coli BL21DE3pET42a-ciaR were able to express the target recombinant proteins rCiaH and rCiaR with efficiency. The outputs of rCiaH and rCiaR were 33% and 45% of the total bacterial proteins, respectively. The double immunodiffusion titers of rCiaH antiserum,rCiaR antiserum,rCiaH-IgG and rCiaR-IgG were 1:4,1:4,1:1 and 1:1, respectively. After CiaH was extracellularly or intracellularly blocked by CiaH-IgG, and CiaR was intracellularly blocked by CiaR-IgG, the penicillin-sensitive or cefotaxime-sensitive strains developed resistance to the two antibiotics; but the blocks did not change that of penicillin-resisting or cefotaxime-resisting strains.

CONCLUSIONThe prokaryotic expression systems of S. pneumoniae ciaH/ciaR genes have been successfully constructed in this study. Both the CiaH and CiaR may be involved in penicillin and cefotaxime resistance of the bacterium.

Animals ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cefotaxime ; pharmacology ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genetic Vectors ; Penicillin Resistance ; genetics ; Protein Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; drug effects ; enzymology ; genetics ; beta-Lactam Resistance ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of partial deletions in the AZFc region of the Y chromosome on spermatogenesis.

METHODSWe selected 9 sequence tagged sites (sY1258, sY1291, sY254, sY255, sY1201, sY1206, sY1161, sY1197 and sY1191) in the AZFc region of the Y chromosome, with ZFX/ZFY and SRY (sY14) as the interior control. We amplified by multiplex PCR the DNA of 160 patients with azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia that showed no microdeletion of the Y chromosome (the case group) and another 76 males with normal fertility (the control group). For the individuals suspected of DAZ gene deletion, we detected the single nucleotide polymorphism sites (SNPs) in the four copies of the DAZ gene by single nucleotide variation (SNV) analysis to determine the types of DAZ copy deletion.

RESULTSIn the case group, there were 10 cases of gr/gr (sY1291) deletion (6.3%), 14 b2/b3 (sY1191) deletion (8.8%), 1 sY1291,sY1197 deletion (0.6%), 1 b1/b2 deletion (0.6%) and 1 b1/b3 deletion (0.6%), while in the control group, there were 4 cases of gr/gr deletion (5.3%) and 4 b2/b3 deletion (5.3%). SNV analysis showed DAZ1/DAZ2 deletion in all those with gr/gr and those with b1/b3 deletion, DAZ3/DAZ4 deletion in those with b2/b3 deletion, and DAZ-SNV sY587 deletion in 1 case of sY1291, sY1197 deletion, but no DAZ deletion was found in 1 case of b1/b2 deletion.

CONCLUSIONB2/b3 (sY1191) and gr/gr (sY1291) deletions are genomic polymorphisms and quite common in the normal Chinese population; while b1/b2, b1/b3, and sY1291, sY1197 deletions may be high risk factors of dyszoospermia.

Case-Control Studies ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; Humans ; Male ; Oligospermia ; genetics ; Sequence Deletion ; Spermatogenesis