A promoter fragment (7S?P ) of ? subunit gene was isolated by PCR from genomic DNA in various soybean accessions, including cultivars Nannong99-10,N2899,Nannong 88-1, and wild soybeans Jiangpu -1 and ZYD4174.The sequences of 7S?P fragment from these five soybean accessions shared 99% homology, this indicated that the promoter regions of ? subunit gene were conserved. Meanwhile , sequencing analysis showed that the 7S?P fragment contained several seed-specific motifs, such as RY motif, AGCCCA motif, ACGT motif and A/ T rich motif. The expression vector pBI121-7S?P was constructed with the 7S?P fragment (from Nannong99-10) and the GFP reporter gene for functional analysis. Arabidopsis plants were transformed by Agrobacterium mediated method. Southern blot results showed that the 7S?P had been integrated into the genome of Arabidopsis. Assay of GFP expression in the seeds of transgenic Arabidopsis was determined to identify the function of 7S?P promoter. The results showed that 7S?P was a seed-specific promoter.

OBJECTIVETo explore the theory of "Fei and Dachang being interior-exteriorly related" and the pathogenesis of lung injury by observing changes of inflammatory cytokines and oxygen free radicals in ulcerative colitis (UC) rats.

METHODSTotally 50 healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups, the normal control group and the model group, 25 rats in each group. The UC model was established by allergizing colon mucosa combined with TNBS-alcohol (50%) enema. Another 25 rats were recruited as the normal control group. At week 2 and 4 after modeling, the pathomorphological changes of the lung were observed. Furthermore, the contents of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and IL-1beta were determined by ELISA. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were evaluated with colorimetry.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the pathomorphology of the lung tissue in the model group appeared abnormal at week 2 and 4. Compared with the normal control group, levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and MDA in the lung tissue significantly increased in the model group (P < 0. 01) and the activities of SOD significantly decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONTNF-alpha, IL-1beta, SOD, and MDA might be common material bases for the large intestine involved in lung disease of UC patients, thus providing a modern scientific basis for the theory of Fei and Dachang being interior-exteriorly related.

Animals ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Lung ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe effects of treatment from the lung and treatment from the intestine on the level of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in the lung and intestine of ulcerative colitis (UC) rats.

METHODSThe UC rat model was established in 52 rats by using rabbit intestine mucosa tissue allergen combined TNBS-ethanol model (with the model successful rate of 78.0%). Eight rats randomly selected from 40 successfully modeled rats and 8 of 16 rats from the normal group were recruited as the model group and the normal control group before intervention (at week 0). The rest 32 successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into the model group, the Western medicine treatment group (salazosulfapyridine), the treatment from lung group (Huangqi Jiegeng Decoction), and the treatment from intestine group (Huangqi Huanglian Decoction), 8 in each group. Rats in each treatment group were administered with corresponding medication 8 times the dose of a 60 kg adult human. Another 8 normal rats were recruited as the normal group. Equal volume of pure water was given to rats in the model group and the normal group by gastrog avage, once per day. Contents of VIP in the lung tissue and the intestinal tissue were detected at week 0 and 4 after 4-week consecutive intervention. Pathomorphological changes of the lung tissue and the colon tissue were observed under light microscope.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group at week 0, evenly distributed diffuse inflammation could be seen in the pulmonary interstitial tissue; the bronchial wall was thickened; a huge amount of infiltration surrounded bronchi and blood vessels; a large area of necrosis of intestinal mucosa and inflammatory cell infiltration could also be seen in the model group. Pathological injuries of the lung and the colon were more alleviated in each treatment group than in the model group at the same time point. Compared with the normal control group at the same time point, VIP contents in the lung tissue significantly decreased in the model group at the end of week 4 (P<0.05); VIP contents in the colon tissue significantly increased in the model group at the end of week 0 and 4 (P <0.05). Compared with the model group, VIP contents in the lung tissue significantly increased in the Western medicine treatment group and the treatment from lung group at the end of week 4 (P<0.01); VIP contents in the colon tissue significantly decreased in the treatment from lung group and the treatment from intestine group (P<0.05, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONTreatment from the lung and treatment from the intestine showed predominant advantage in improving local inflammation of the lung and the intestinal tract, alleviating pathological injuries, promoting repair of injuries through regulating VIP contents in the lung tissue and the colon tissue.

Animals ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Intestinal Mucosa ; metabolism ; Intestines ; Lung ; Male ; Rabbits ; Rats ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

AIDS caused by HIV-1, is a major threat to human being. An anti-HIV formulation from Chinese herbs, so called "Qu Du Zeng Ning", have been recently developed. In this work, the pharmacodynamics of the formulation in vitro was studied. The results showed that Qu Du Zeng Ning inhibit the replication of HIV-1 efficiently in all cell-based assay, with IC50 at 105.2, 70.7, 77.4 microg mL(-1), separately. A significant synergy between the formulation and zidovudine (AZT) was observed, and it also showed a potent activity against HIV-1 drug-resistant mutant.

Objective To explore whether dynamic contrast-enhanced MRA (DCE MRA) can provide an effective assessment of renal vascular in living donors before transplantation.Methods Thirty five healthy living renal donor candidates were scanned on MR system before transplantation.After injection of Gd-DTPA 1 ml in vein, a test-bolus scan was used to get the time delay of Gd-DTPA reaching renal artery.Then, a 3D T1-weighted fast low-angle shot sequence (3D FLASH) was performed in the coronal plane.The 3D FLASH scan would repeat four times with an inter-phase of 10 seconds.Thus, the imaging of the renal arterial, venous and collecting systems were got.Two radiologists observed renal arteries and veins on original imaging and MIP reconstructed imaging.The quality of MR angiography was evaluated on a fivepoint scale and the vascular anatomy or variations of the arterial and venous systems were recorded, using intraoperative findings as a standard of reference.Results The quality for all MRA was good or very good for the most of living renal donors.Among 70 renals, several variations of vascular were found, including 5 left accessory artery, 9 right accessory artery, 3 left proximal arterial branch and 6 right proximal arterial branch.Among 70 renal veins, 1 right accessory veins and 2 left varieocele were observed.One small accessory artery of right kidney was missed with DCE MRA, but identified by operation.Conclusion DCE MRA was noninvasive tool for evaluation of the renal vasculature and variations with high accuracy.It would be a good modality in preoperative evaluation of living renal donors.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; genetics ; metabolism ; Adenosine Triphosphatases ; genetics ; metabolism ; DNA Mismatch Repair ; DNA Repair Enzymes ; genetics ; metabolism ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; etiology ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Lynch Syndrome II ; complications ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mismatch Repair Endonuclease PMS2 ; MutL Protein Homolog 1 ; MutS Homolog 2 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mutation ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

Adult ; Antineoplastic Agents ; toxicity ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; Female ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; drug effects ; Middle Aged ; Nurses ; statistics & numerical data ; Occupational Exposure ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; drug effects

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is synthesized and secreted by the anterior pituitary, which binds to its receptors expressed on the membrane of Sertoli cells in the testis to bring about spermatogenesis. With the development of DNA sequencing technology, FSH SNPs rs10835638 and FSHR SNPs rs6165, rs6166, and rs1394205 were detected, which might directly affect the expression of FSH and activity of FSHR, resulting in male spermatogenic dysfunction. This review focuses on the relationship of FSH and FSHR gene polymorphisms with male infertility.
Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; genetics ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; genetics ; Male ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Receptors, FSH ; genetics ; Sertoli Cells ; Spermatogenesis ; Testis

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of telbivudine for pregnant women with hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg)negative chronic hepatitis B(CHB). Methods Sixty-two cases of HBeAg negative CHB pregnant women were collected from May 2007 to May 2012,and they were divided into telbivudine group (n=31 ,600 mg per day by oral administration)and compound glycyrrhizin group (n=31 ,120 mg per day by intravenous administration).All neonates were given intramuscular injection of 200 IU hepatitis Bimmune globalin at birth immediately and 15 days after birth,and 20 μg genetically engineered hepatitis B vaccine at 0,1 and 6 months after birth.The serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT)level and hepatitis B virus (HBV)DNA titer were monitored.The HBV DNA negative conversion rate,the rate of intrauterine infection,duration of pregnancy,delivery mode,neonate weight and disability rate were compared between groups.All categorical data were analyzed using the chi-square test and comparison between groups was analyzed by t test.Results In telbivudine group,the HBV DNA level before delivery ([0.20±0.11]lg copy/mL)and 6 weeks after delivery ([0.22±0.13]lg copy/mL) were lower than that before treatment [(6.24±0.75 )lg copy/mL]and the differences were statistically significant (t=303.128 and 301 .321 ,respectively;both P <0.01).The negative conversion rate of HBV DNA in telbivudine group was 28 cases before delivery,while in compound glycyrrhizin group,no one had HBV DNA negative conversion.And statistical significant differences were achieved between these two groups before delivery and 6 weeks after delivery (t = -20.285 and -8.721 ,respectively;both P <0.01).In telbivudine group,the ALT levels before delivery and 6 weeks after delivery were (13.08±5.87) U/L and (25.97 ± 17.48)U/L,respectively,which were significantly decreased compared with that before treatment (205.95± 95.69 )U/L.The differences were statistically significant (t = 93.128 and 81.321, respectively;both P <0.01).In compound glycyrrhizin group,the ALT level before delivery ([104.15 ± 69.15]U/L)was lower than that before treatment ([209.60 ± 102.24]U/L)and the difference was statistically significant (t = 9.281 ,P =0.032).However,the ALT level was fluctuant 6 weeks after delivery (150.26± 86.43)U/L,which was not significantly different from that before treatment (t =2.821 ,P =0.122).The ALT levels before delivery and 6 month after delivery were significantly different in both two groups (t=-2.559 and -3.158,respectively;both P <0.05 ).There were no statistically significant differences between these two groups in the rate of intrauterine infection, duration of pregnancy,delivery mode,neonate weight and disability rate.Conclusion The using of telbivudine for pregnant women with HBeAg negative CHB can effectively control the hepatitis activation and reduce the virus titer.

Objective To determine the genes in which exist overlapping ORF in Merlin strains of human cytomegalovirus, and to reveal their structure and functional characteristics. Methods We search for overlapping genes of ORF in HCMV Merlin strains' whole genome by Bioinformatics methods, analyzing coding sequence CDS and starting and ending sites of ORF, calculating the length of CDS and ORF, analyzing the molecular weight of encoding protein, overlapping length and coding direction of protein, identifying overlapping sequences and overlapping types, analyzing the expression phase of overlapping genes and the function of proteins. Results There were 39 overlapping ORF genes in HCMV Merlin strains, accounting for 23% of total genes. Among these 39 genes, there are 13 IE genes, 9 E genes and 17 L genes, which can be divided into 16 contigs. There are 11 contigs when two genes overlap, with 3 contigs in three genes overlapping, and 2 contigs in four genes overlapping. The functions of overlapping genes are widely. Conclusion We found that there are a lot of complex overlapping genes in HCMV Merlin strains, which are basis for further study of the transcription and translation mechanism of overlapping genes.