Objective: To investigate the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of ErbB4 gene in mirco-RNA binding site and the susceptibility of breast cancer. Methods: Genotypes of ErbB4 gene in mirco-RNA binding site at rs1595066 and rs16845990 were measured using the TaqMan SNP method in 1 509 patients with breast cancer and 1 517 healthy controls. Results: Three kinds of genotype of ErbB4 gene in mirco-RNA binding site at rs1595066 were significantly different between breast cancer patients and the healthy controls (P=0.045), while there was no difference at rs16845990 site (P=0.302). The carriers of AG and AA genotypes at rs1595065 site had lower risk of breast cancer than GG genotype [(odds ratio, OR ) = 0.81, 95% (confidence interval, CI ) = 0.69-0.95; OR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.58-0.96]. Stratified analysis showed that this protective effect was significant in the subjects aged over 55 years, without a history of benign breast disease and without a family history of cancer. Conclusion: The polymorphism of rs1595066 G>A in micro-RNA binding site of ErbB4 gene may be associated with the reduction risk of breast cancer. Copyright© 2011 by the Editorial Board of Tumor.

OBJECTIVETo discuss the effect of taurine (Tau) on the proliferation of hypoxia-induced pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs), and study whether the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) signal pathway participated in the Tau-inhibited PASMC proliferation process and the possible molecular mechanism.

METHODThe primary culture was performed for PASMCs in rats. The second to fifth generations were adopted for the experiment. The Tau concentration was 80 mmol x L(-1). The concentration of ERK1/2 blocker (PD98059) was 50 micromol x L(-1). The drug administration time was 24 h. The effect of Tau on the PASMC proliferation was detected by MTT assay, immunofluorescence staining method and western blot under different conditions. The PASMCs were growing were divided into four groups: the normoxia group, the normoxia + Tau group, the hypoxia group and the hypoxia + Tau group. The Western blot was adopted to detect whether the ERK1/2 signal pathway participated in the Tau-inhibited PASMC proliferation process. Subsequently, the PASMCs were divided into five groups: the normoxia group, the hypoxia group, the hypoxia + Tau group, the hypoxia + Tau + PD98059 group and the hypoxia + PD98059 group.

RESULTHypoxia could induce the PASMC proliferation. Under the conditions of normoxia, Tau had no effect on the PASMC proliferation. Under the conditions of normoxia and hypoxia, Tau had no effect on the expression of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) among PASMCs. Tau could reverse the expression up-regulation of hypoxia-induced proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) (P < 0.01) and Cyclin A (Cyclin A) (P < 0. 05). Under the conditions of normoxia, Tau had no effect on the expression of phosphoryl extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (p-ERK1/2). Hypoxia could up-regulate the p-ERK1/2 expression (P < 0.01). Tau could reverse the up-regulation of the hypoxia-induced p-ERK1/2 expression(P < 0.01). Both PD98059 and Tau could inhibit the up-regulated expressions of PCNA, Cyclin A and p-ERK1/2. According to the comparison between the single addition of Tau and PD98059 under conditions of hypoxia, the hypoxia + Tau + PD98059 group showed more significant down-regulation in the expressions of PCNA, Cyclin A and p-ERK1/2.

CONCLUSIONTau could inhibit the hypoxia-induced PASMC proliferation, and may regulate it through ERK1/2 pathway.

Animals ; Cell Hypoxia ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; drug effects ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Artery ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Taurine ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To explore the factor structure of the anxiety imagery characteristics questionnaire.Methods Through the literature review and expert group discussion,the initial anxiety imagery features questionnaire was created.The first questionnaire contained 49 items of anxiety imagery,which was answered by 106 imagery dialogue psychotherapists.After analysis of the items and exploratory factors,the formal questionnaire that contained 20 items of anxiety imagery characteristics was formed.The formal questionnaire was measured by 115 imagery dialogue psychotherapists,then,exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were made.Results The exploratory factor analysis showed that four factors whose Eigen value were more than 1 were extracted from l0 items,including emotional panic,uneasy,tense muscles,and motor restlessness.Those four factors explained 54.39％ of the total variance.Confirmatory analysis showed that x2/df was 2.142 ; root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) was 0.059 ; and comparative fit index (CFI),goodness-of-fit index (GFI),non-normed fit index (NNFI) and RSMEA was 0.912,0.935,0.896,and 0.057,respectively.Conclusions The four-factor structure was constructed by 10 items of anxiety imagery characteristics questionnaire.

Objectives To investigate the prevalance of quinolone resistance in Laribacter hongkongensis and to evaluate the influence of agar dilution and disc diffusion methods on susceptibility testing for the bacterium. Methods Susceptibility to quinolones of L.hongkongensis was tested by agar dilution and disc diffusion methods. The results for both methods were compared. Results L.hongkongensis isolates exhibited different susceptibility rate for quinolones (levofloxacin>ciprofloxacin>norfloxacin>nalidixic acid). All of the fish isolates were susceptible to levofloxacin and more than 90%were susceptible to ciprofloxacin and Norfloxacin. However,by agar dilution, only 62.50%, 37.50%,48.21%, 19.64%of the frogs isolates were susceptible to levofloxacin, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid, respectively. For fish isolates, comparision of susceptibilities between agar dilution and disc diffusion showed a high (> 95%) percentage agreement for levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin and the highest crepancies were observed with norfloxacin (100%) .But it showed a high discrepancy when comparing the two methods for frogs isolates. Conclusions The resistance rate of L. hongkongens to quinolones was high , especially for frog isolates. The results suggested the use of agar dilution on susceptibility testing for quinolones in L. hongkongensis.

ObjectiveTo investigate the application of rapid immunohistochemical staining technique in intraoperative frozen section diagnosis of thyroid neoplasm.Methods MaxVision one-step rapid immunohistochemical staining technique was used to detect the expression of CK19,HBME-1,and Gal-3 in frozen section of papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC)andthyroid benign lesions.MaxVision conventional immunohistochemistry of frozen remaining tissue was served as control.ResultsMaxVision one-step rapid immunohistochemical staining technique could be completed in 20 minutes.The positive localizations of three markers detected by rapid immunohistochemistry were similar to conventional immunohistochemistry, in general.The expression of CK19 was located in cytoplasm and cellular membrane.Gal-3 and HBME-1 were mainly detected in follicular luminal border and/or surface of papilla. The staining intensity in rapid immunohistochemistry was stronger than that in conventional immunohistochemistry. The positive rates of CK19,HBME-1,and Gal-3 by rapid immunohistochemistry in frozen sections were: 0 (0/28),10.7 ％ (3/28),0 (0/28),respectively,for benign lesions (nodular goiter,Hashimoto thyroiditis,thyroid adenoma); and 94.9 ％(37/39),92.3 ％ (36/39),92.3 ％ (36/39),respectively,for PTC.The expression of three markers between thyroid benign lesions and PTC had a significant difference (x2 =59.326,55.861,44.605,all P ＜ 0.001).In benign lesions,the rate of same case with two and more positive markers was 0,while in PTC it was 100 ％ and significantly different (x2 =67.000,P ＜ 0.05).ConclusionMaxVision one-step rapid immunohistochemical staining technique could be applied in intraoperative frozen section diagnosis.Detecting CK19,HBME-1,and Gal-3 expression in intraoperative frozen section has an auxiliary value for diagnosis of PTC.

Objective To study the changes of serum endotheline(ET),D-dimer and fibrinogen(Fbg) in infants with pneumonia complicated with heart failure(HF) and explore the changes of blood coagulation,fibrinolysis,and endothelial cell function.Methods Eighty patients with infant pneumonia complicated with HF and 20 controls were studied.Serum ET,D-dimer,Fbg,activated partial thromboplastin time(APTT),prothrombin time(PT) and thrombin time(TT) were measured.Results ET,D-dimer,Fbg,APTT in every group had differences.With the disease deteriorating,the values of ET,D-dimer,Fbg increased,but the values of APTT decresed gradually.There were positive relations between ET and D-dimer(r=0.42 P

ObjectiveTo investigate the intensity of degrading plasma fibrinogen(FIB) and the therapeutic effectiveness of defibrase on treating cerebral ischemia by different administrated ways. MethodsIntraluminal suture method was used to develop reversible middle cerebral artery occlusion (MACO). 154 healthy male Wistar rats were randomized into 2 groups. The rats in intravenous treatment group were injected defibrase intravenously at 0.5,3,6,9,12hours after MACO,while the rats in coeliac treatment group were injected defibrase by abdominocentesis. Meanwhile the control group received normal saline. All rats were killed at 24 hours after MCAO. The thrombus in middle cerebral artery (MCA) and cerebral infarction were examined microscopically in HE stained sections. Infarction volume was measured by using 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. 24 rats were selected randomly and injected defibrase by intravenous injection and abdominocentesis. Plasma FIB was measured before and after injection 1,3,6,12,24h by intravenous haemospasia. ResultsPlasma FIB was significantly reduced in intravenous treatment group, and it was lowerest in 3h after intravenous treatment.Clinical Neurological Deficits Scale and infarction volume was significantly reduced in intravenous treatment group than saline control group and coeliac treatment group.There was improvement in Clinical Neurological Deficits Scale in coeliac treatment group compared with that of saline control group, but there was no statistically significant differences at infarction volume.Clinical Neurological Deficits Scale and infarction volume was statistically significant differences in intravenous treatment group at 0.5,3 hours after MCAO. There were no statistically significant differences in intravenous treatment group at 6, 9,12 hours after MCAO.Conclusions Defibrase can reduce the infarction volume in cerebral ischemia early stage.

T cells recognize antigens through TCRs (T cell receptor). T cell clones can be sorted into 24 gene subfamilies based on the usage of the segments of TCR BV in gene rearrangement. Application of the various segments of TCR BV may establish TCR BV spectrotyping that can be used to analyze and recognize the different functional T cell clones, and understand the function and proliferation of various T cell clones in malignancy and autoimmune disease. In vitro expansion of a great deal of the specific antitumor T cells and transfusing them to patients will be able to develop a new method for tumor immunotherapy. Through analyze the character of the TCR BV gene, McAb against TCR or DNA vaccine to inhibit the growth of T cell clones associated-autoimmune disease and tumors might be developed. The McAb and vaccine may be used to cure these diseases. The commo T cells can also be modifed to specific antitumor T cells by method of TCR gene transfer. In this review, the characteristics of TCR, analysis method for gene spectrotyping of TCR BV, segments of TCR BV and autoimmue distase, T cell clones in hematologic maligrancies, recognition of T cell oligoclone expansion of T cells, and application of TCR BV gene spectrotyping in bone marrow transplantation were discussed and summarised.
Autoimmune Diseases ; genetics ; immunology ; Clone Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Gene Rearrangement, beta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor ; genetics ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell ; classification ; genetics ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; cytology ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the expression of Ginkgo biloba Tablet (GbT) on scavenger receptor A (SRA) of the aortic wall and changes of serum inflammatory factors in atherosclerotic rats, and to explore its new mechanism for fighting against atherosclerosis (AS).

METHODSTotally 45 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the control group, the model group, the GbT group, 15 rats in each group. Levels of blood glucose, blood lipids, blood calcium, serum C-reactive protein (CRP), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (slCAM-1), and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) were measured in all rats. The expression of SRA in the aortic wall of atherosclerotic rats was observed by immunohistochemical assay. The correlation between the expression of SRA and levels of in-flammatory factors was also observed.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, blood glucose and blood calcium obviously increased (P < 0.05); levels of TG, TC, and LDL-C were significantly elevated (P < 0.01); neointimal areas were significantly thickened, increased intima percentage was significantly enlarged, narrowed lumen index was significantly reduced; levels of CRP, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1 were significantly elevated in the model group (all P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, blood glucose and blood calcium obviously decreased (P < 0.05); levels of TG, TC, and LDL-C significantly decreased (P < 0.01) in the GbT group. Aortic lumens were obviously narrower in the model group than in the GbT group (P < 0.05). SRA expressed at the aortic wall. The aforesaid 3 indices were significantly improved in the GbT group than in the model group (P < 0.01). Serum levels of CRP, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1 were significantly decreased in the GbT group than in the model group (P < 0.01). Serum levels of CRP, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1 were positively correlated with the percentage of SRA positive expression area (r = 0.701, 0.604, 0.581, all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSSerum levels of inflammatory factors in atherosclerotic rats were elevated, and the expression of SRA in the aortic wall was enhanced. The expression of SRA was closely correlated with serum levels of inflammatory factors. GbT could decrease serum levels of inflammatory factors and inhibit the expression of SRA.

Animals ; Aorta ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Atherosclerosis ; drug therapy ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Calcium ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Scavenger Receptors, Class A ; metabolism ; Tablets ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood

Objective To study the effect on the environmental radioactivity level and the health of the residents in Shanghai when Qinshan Nuclear Power Station(QNPS) has been in normal operational condition for 17 years. Methods The field monitoring and the sampling analytical method were used for monitoring the radioactivity level in outdoor environment, drinking water, food and soil. Results The outdoor natural radiation level and the radioactivity level in the sample of the environmental media were on the normal background level. There was no distinct change in the environmental radiation level of Jinshan Area when QNPS was in normal operational condition. The radioactivity level in the environmental media was far lower than the limit values specified by the national standard GB. The effective dose of the outdoor natural external exposure for the residents is about 0.102 mSv/a and the effective dose of the internal exposure from the artificial radionuclides 90Sr and 137Cs in food for the residents is about 0.488 μSv/a. Conclusions There is no effect of the radioactive contamination on the environmental radioactivity level and the health of the residents in Shanghai when QNPS has been in normal operational condition for 17 years.