OBJECTIVETo study the differential gene expression profiles related to toxic effects in rats exposed to silica.

METHODSWistar rats exposed to SiO2 (50 mg/ml) and 1 ml normal saline by intratracheal injection served as the exposure and control groups, on the 14th day after exposure all rats were executed and the rat lung tissues were obtained. The differential gene expression profiles in the lung tissues of rats exposed to silica were detected using confocal fiber beads gene chip technique, and the differential expression profiling data were analyzed using the database for annotation, visualization and integrated discovery (DAVID) bioinformation analysis tool.

RESULTSThe results of present study indicated that 1567 genes with differential expression were identified in 22107 genes of rat lung tissues in exposure group, including 765 up-regulated genes and 802 down-regulated genes as compared to control group. In the 461 genes related to toxic effects, 285 genes were up-regulated and 176 genes were down-regulated in exposure group. The trends of up-regulation of HMOX1 and SOD2 genes in RT-PCR assay were similar to those in gene chip technique.

CONCLUSIONA large number of genes related to toxic effects in the rats with silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis appeared up-regulation or down-regulation. There may be a complex gene regulation network in the pulmonary fibrosis induced by SiO2, and the toxicological mechanism is an important part in the development of pulmonary fibrosis.

Animals ; Lung ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; chemically induced ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Silicon Dioxide ; toxicity ; Transcriptome

Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Silencing ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; RNA, Small Interfering ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo establish 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) images and seek differentially expressed serum proteins for understanding the pathogenesis of silicosis.

METHODS2-DE and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight tandem mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS/MS) were used to screen differentially expressed serum proteins among silica-exposed population, suspect of silicosis (0+), phase one (I) group with silicosis and control group(non silica exposure).

RESULTSComplement C4, leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein and alpha-1-antitrypsin were significantly highly expressed in suspect of silicosis (0+) group(P < 0.01), but lowly in other groups. Inversely, serotransferrin was significantly down-regulated only in suspect of silicosis (0+) group(P < 0.01). Plasma glutathione peroxidase, tetranectin, apolipoprotein A-I and transthyretin were equally expressed in the serum of control group and silica-exposed population group, but decreased in the suspect of silicosis (0+) and phase (I) group.

CONCLUSIONComplement C4, leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein, alpha-1-antitrypsin, serotransferrin, plasma glutathione peroxidase, tetranectin, apolipoprotein A-I and transthyretin are differentially expressed in the silica-exposed group and phase (I) group with silicosis, and the result should be validated by other biochemical technologies.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Proteins ; analysis ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Proteomics ; methods ; Silicosis ; blood ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

OBJECTIVETo explore changes of Clara cell protein (CC16) and surfactant protein-D (SP-D) in the serum of patients with silicosis.

METHODThe concentrations of CC16 and SP-D were measured in the serum by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The subjects consisted of 30 healthy volunteers and 90 silica-exposed workers including silica-exposed group, the silicosis of suspects group (0(+)) and the silicosis phase I group, 30 subjects each groups.

RESULTSThe concentrations of CC16 in the serum was significantly decreased in silica-exposed workers compared to controls (P < 0.01); The concentrations of CC16 in the serum were higher in lifelong nonsmokers than the current smokers in control subjects (P < 0.05), but they were no differences between lifelong nonsmokers and current smokers of 90 silica-exposed workers. Compared with control subjects, the levels of SP-D in the serum of silicosis suspects (0(+)) and silicosis phase I groups were significantly elevated (P < 0.01, respectively), which were also higher than silica-exposed group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively), Discriminant equations set by CC16 and SP-D were used in diagnosis of silicosis, and the rate of accuracy in healthy volunteers, the silica-exposed group and the silicosis phase I group were 86.7%, 86.7% and 76.7%, respectively, The total rate of correct classification hit 84.2%.

CONCLUSIONThe serum CC16 of long-term silica-exposed workers is decreased, and SP-D is increased gradually.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D ; blood ; Silicosis ; blood ; Uteroglobin ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the biological effect of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on HGF gene-transfected Raji cells.

METHODSTotal RNA was extracted from human hepatic tissue, HGF gene cDNA was amplified by RT-PCR, and then cloned into vector pVITRO2-mcs to construct recombinant eukaryotic expression vector pVITRO2-mcs-HGF. The recombinant vector was transfected to Raji cells, and the stably transfected cells were selected by homomycin B in serial passages, and confirmed by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR, ELISA, immunocytohistochemistry. The biological features of transfected Raji cells were evaluated by semisolid culture.

RESULTSRT-PCR results showed that Raji cells were transfected successfully with recombinant eukaryotic expression vector pVITRO2-mcs-HGF. HGF mRNA and protein were expressed successfully in Raji cells. Expression of HGF gene enhanced proliferation, metastasis and invasion of Raji cells.

CONCLUSIONHGF gene has been cloned and recombined to construct recombinant eukaryotic expression vector pVITRO2-mcs-HGF successfully. Transfected HGF may change the biological features of Raji cells.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Cloning, Molecular ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Humans ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; genetics ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effects of closed reduction and external fixation (plaster or splint) for the treatment of displaced humeral supracondylar fractures in children.

METHODSFrom March 2007 to September 2009,33 children (15 female and 18 male) with humeral supracondylar fractures treated in our hospital, ranging from 3 to 12 years old with an average of 6.4 years old. All the fractures were extension-type injuries, the flexion injures were excluded in our study. The humeral supracondylar fractures were classified according to Gartland classification. There were 21 Type H and 12 type III. In the initial treatment, all the patients were treated with closed reduction and external immobilization. The blood supply of the damaged upper extremity was evaluated before and after treatment. Clinical assessment was obtained at final follow-up using Flynn criteria, and radiologic assessment was obtained using Baumann and lateral humerocapitellar angles.

RESULTSAll the children were treated successfully with closed reduction in the initial time; 24 children maintained limb alignment by external immobilization. Nine patients lost position due to the swelling around the elbow which affected unstable external fixation during the follow-up, 5 of which were treated with a repeated closed reduction and internal fixation with Kirschner wires, 4 of which were treated with traction. Thirty-one patients had a satisfactory outcome and 2 patients had an unsatisfactory outcome according to the Flynn criteria at the latest follows-up.

CONCLUSIONClosed reduction and external stabilization is an important method for the treatment of displaced humeral supracondylar fractures in children. Making regular follow-up visits after closed reduction and casting is important for patients to maintain acceptable alignment, avoid complications and diagnose any loss of reduction.

Casts, Surgical ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; External Fixators ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; Humeral Fractures ; surgery ; Male ; Splints

OBJECTIVETo develop a rapid and reliable technique for the detection of Down's syndrome.

METHODSThe peripheral blood samples were collected from twenty-five Down's syndrome patients and fifty normal individuals. Four polymorphic loci on chromosomes 21, 1, 19 were amplified by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, and then four pairs of deltaCt values were analytically compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe deltaCt values of Down's syndrome patients were significantly lower than those of normal individuals, and the reference ranges for clinical application were primarily established. The difference between the two groups was highly significant (P < 0.001), and the reference ranges between the two groups were not overlapped. Real-time quantitative PCR technique can effectively differentiates Down's syndrome samples from the normal fetuses; furthermore, the results were consistent with those of the karyotype analysis.

CONCLUSIONReal-time quantitative PCR is a fast and reliable method that may provide a new approach for rapid detection of Down's syndrome.

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1 ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 19 ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21 ; genetics ; Down Syndrome ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Reproducibility of Results

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of joint mobilization on postoperative wrist joint function, pain and grip strength for elderly patients with distal radius fracture.

METHODSFrom January 2015 to June 2016, a total of 67 elderly patients with distal radius fracture were randomly divided into routine exercise group and joint mobilization group. Among them, 37 patients in the routine exercise group underwent conventional distal radius fracture postoperative joint function exercise regimen, including 16 males and 21 females with a mean age of (67.8±3.2) years old ranging from 60 to 72 years old;the injured side was dominant in 23 cases and non-dominant in 14 cases;injury mechanism was fall in 26 cases, traffic accident in 11 cases; for AO type, 6 cases were type B3, 18 cases were type C1, 7 cases were type C2, 6 cases was type C3. Other 30 patients in the joint mobilization group underwent joint mobilization on the basis of the routine exercise group including 14 males and 16 females with a mean age of (67.1±4.0) years old ranging from 61 to 74 years old; the injured side was dominant in 21 cases and non-dominant in 9 cases;injury mechanism was fall in 25 cases, traffic accident in 5 cases;for AO type, 8 cases were type B3, 13 cases were type C1, 6 cases were type C2, 9 cases were type C3. The wrist joint activity, Gartland-Werley wrist joint function score, VAS pain score and grip strength were observed at 3 months afrer treatment.

RESULTSAfter 3 months' treatment, the VAS in the routine exercise group was higher than that of the joint mobilization group (<0.05). The grip strength of affected side in both groups were lower than that of contralateral side, but the average grip strength of affected side in joint mobilization group was higher than that in routine exercise group(<0.05). In routine exercise group, the average angle of flexion, extension, radial deviation were significantly higher than those of joint mobilization group(<0.05). But ulnar deviation angle in routine exercise group compared with joint mobilization group had no significant difference (>0.05). In the comparison of each item of Gartland-Werley, there was no significant difference between two groups in residual deformity and complication(>0.05); the average score of subjective score, objective score and total score in routine exercise group were significantly higher than those of the joint mobilization group (<0.05). The wrist function Gartland-Werley score in routine exercise group after treatment was excellent in 21 cases, good in 10, 6 in fair, while in joint mobilization group, excellent in 23, good in 6, fair in 1(<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe application of joint mobilization in the treatment of elderly patients with distal radius fracture can improve the joint activity and obtain better wrist function after surgery.

OBJECTIVETo study the differential gene expression profiling of rats exposed to silica using the normal rats as control.

METHODSAnimal models were established using intratracheal injection of the lung and 22 107 genes were screened in the differential expression profiling of silicosis by using oligonucleotide bead array. Differential expression profiling data were analyzed by using DAVID bioinformation software.

RESULTSTotally 1567 differentially expressed genes were identified in lungs of silica exposed rats including 765 up-regulated genes and 802 down-regulated genes as compared to the normal controls. Among 406 annotated genes in KEGG pathways, 204 genes and 11 pathways were up-regulated as well as 202 genes and 3 pathways were down-regulated in silica exposed rats.

CONCLUSIONAll 1567 genes are involved in the formation of silicosis. The differential gene expression profile of silicosis describes the general changes in the gene expressions in silicosis at transcriptional level. Further analysis of the identified genes might help reveal the molecular mechanism of pulmonary fibrosis induced by silica.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Silicosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the association between two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), rs2295080 and rs2536, in mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) gene and the susceptibility to pediatric epilepsy.

METHODSA case- control study was performed on 480 children with epilepsy (116 cases of refractory epilepsy) and 503 healthy children. SNP rs2295080 and rs2536 in the mTOR gene were detected by polymerase chain reaction restriction and fragment length polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP). Genotype and allele frequencies of SNP rs2295080 and rs2536 were compared between the children with epilepsy and healthy controls.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in the genotype and allele frequencies of SNP rs2295080 between the children with epilepsy and healthy controls. There were no significant differences in the genotype frequencies of SNP rs2536 between the two groups either, but the frequency of G allele of SNP rs2536 was higher in children with epilepsy than that in healthy controls (P=0.042, OR=1.344, 95%CI: 1.010-1.789).

CONCLUSIONSSNP rs2536 of mTOR gene may be associated with the risk of pediatric epilepsy.

Epilepsy ; etiology ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Risk ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics