Cancer, an abnormal cell proliferation resulted from multi-factors,has the highest morbidity and mortality among all the serious diseases. Considerable progress has been made in cancer biology in recent years. Tumor immunology, cancer stem cells (CSCs), autophagy, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) have become hot topics of interests in this area. Detailed dissection of these biological processes will provide novel directions, targets, and strategies for the pharmacological evaluation, mechanism elucidation, and new drug development of traditional Chinese medicine.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; administration & dosage ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; immunology ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between the gene polymorphism of metabolizing enzymes and the genetic susceptibility to lung cancer as well as to study the synergistic effects between smoking and the genes.

METHODSA case-control study (case = 217, control = 200) was carried out to compare the frequent distribution of CYP1A1, 2E1, 2D6 and GSTM1 genotypes between the lung cancer group and the control group with a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method and to analyze the relationship between these genes and smoking.

RESULTSGSTM1-null genotype frequency was 58.5% in the lung cancer group and 47.5% in the control group with significant difference (P = 0.02). The frequent distribution of CYP1A1, 2E1, 2D6 genotypes was not significantly different in the two groups (P > 0.05). Synergistic effects were found between smoking and GSTM1 but not between smoking and CYP1A1, 2E1, 2D6.

CONCLUSIONSmoking and GSTM1-null genotype seemed to be the risk factors of lung cancer. Those who carrying GSTM1-null genotype and smoking cigarettes were prone to suffer from lung cancer to become the high-risk population of the disease.

Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; genetics ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Glutathione Transferase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; Male ; Polymorphism, Genetic

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Psychometrics ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate how the oral language development enhances articulators to function well in cleft palate movement and velopharyngeal closure in the young Chinese children with repaired cleft palate.

METHODSThe recordings of 78 cases of Chinese toddlers with repaired cleft palate were reviewed. This group of children aged from 27 months to 33 months (average: 30 months). Transcription using Pinyin system was made. Mean utterance count (MUC) and mean special consonant correct count (MSCC) were calculated. Correlation between MUC and MSCC was statistically analyzed.

RESULTSThe correlation coefficient of MUC and MSCC is 0.360 (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThere is positive correlation between the oral language development and restoration of velopharyngeal closure function. Children with repaired cleft palate should be encouraged to start oral language as early as possible and as much as possible in order to get the restoration of velopharyngeal closure function.

Child, Preschool ; Cleft Palate ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Language Development ; Pharynx ; Velopharyngeal Insufficiency ; physiopathology ; surgery

BACKGROUNDThe number of Clara cells and the Clara cell 16-kDa protein (CC16) levels of the lung decrease in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a powerful antioxidant and can reduce the frequency of acute exacerbations of COPD. But the exact mechanism is unclear. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of NAC on Clara cells in rats with cigarette smoke exposure.

METHODSEighteen adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, 12 exposed to cigarette smoke (CS) thrice a day, 10 cigarettes for 30 minutes each time for 1 week, without (CS group) or with (CS + NAC group) oral intake of NAC 80 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1), and another 6 rats exposed to fresh air (control group). Clara cells were observed by an electron microscope. The mRNA expression of CC16 and CC16 protein in lungs were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry respectively. The glutathion (GSH) level in plasma and lung tissue were tested by fluorimetry assay.

RESULTSCompared with the controls, the pathologic score of small airways significantly increased in the CS exposed rats (20.3 +/- 14.7 vs. 53.7 +/- 11.5, P < 0.05). The Clara cell particles in cytoplasm decreased in the CS group (P < 0.05). The percentage of CC16-positive cells in bronchioles in the CS group (27.8 +/- 4.3 and 29.5 +/- 2.4 in terminal bronchioles and respiratory bronchioles, respectively) significantly decreased as compared with the control group (37.1 +/- 3.8 and 43.8 +/- 5.8 in terminal bronchioles and respiratory bronchioles, respectively) (P < 0.05). No significant difference was observed in GSH level ((181 +/- 26) nmol/L in the control group vs. (170 +/- 18) nmol/L in the CS group) between the two groups. After treatment with NAC, the pathologic score of small airways (24.1 +/- 17.5) decreased (P < 0.05). Clara cell particles in cytoplasm of Clara cells increased and GSH level in plasma ((213 +/- 40) nmol/L vs. (170 +/- 18) nmol/L in the CS group) increased too (P < 0.05), while the increase in the proportions of CC16 positive cells in bronchioles (30.1 +/- 6.4 and 34.3 +/- 6.3 in terminal bronchioles and respiratory bronchioles, respectively) did not reach the statistical significance (P > 0.05). No significant difference was found in the expression of CC16 mRNA among the three groups. Correlation analysis indicated that the percentage of CC16-positive cells in bronchioles negatively correlated with the pathologic score of small airways (r = -0.592, P < 0.05), but not with GSH level.

CONCLUSIONSOne-week CS exposure decreased the number of Clara cells and the expression of CC16 in bronchioles in rats. NAC might provide protection of the Clara cells from oxidative damage and possibly through the elevation of the synthesis and secretion of CC16. These data indicate that NAC decreases airway inflammation induced by CS via induction of CC16.

Acetylcysteine ; metabolism ; Animals ; Bronchioles ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Fluorometry ; Glutathione ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Uteroglobin ; genetics ; metabolism

Adult ; Convergence, Ocular ; physiology ; Eyeglasses ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Myopia ; physiopathology ; Vision, Binocular ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the seasonal influenza spilt vaccine's immunogenicity and the 50% effective dose (ED50a) of hemagglutin (HA) that can make 50% of the mice hemagglutination inhibition antibody (HI) titers to 40.

METHODSThe 2008-2009 seasonal influenza spilt vaccine's two components, with HA from H1N1 and H3N2 influenza virus respectively, were used as a model. Mice were immunized once or twice with different doses, and the HI antibody titers were tested to determine the immunization procedure and to evaluate the immugenicity of seasonal influenza spilt vaccine in mice; Consequently, HI antibody response kinetics of the two components were observed to determine the time point when the HI antibody titer reached the peak point; Finally, mice were immunized with different doses of HA to evaluate the ED50a that can make 50% of mice HI titers reach 40.

RESULTSImmunization procedures study showed that one-dose of seasonal influenza vaccine induced the HI antibody titers ranged from 10 to 120, while two-dose of influenza vaccine improved the HI antibody titer 10-100 times as compared with one dose; antibody kinetics study suggested that the time point of HI antibody produced to peak is 28-35 days post one dose immunization; and the ED50a detection results indicated that one dose of 1.5 microg HA could make 50% of the mice HI antibody titer reach 40.

CONCLUSIONSeasonal influenza spilt vaccine is very immunogenic in mouse; the time point of HI antibody produced to peak is 28-35 days post one dose immunization; and the ED50a of HA is 1.5 microg, which can make 50% of the mice HI titer reach 40. The experimental results provided foundation for the establishment of influenza vaccine evaluation system based on seasonal influenza vaccine.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests ; Hemagglutinins, Viral ; administration & dosage ; immunology ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; immunology ; Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype ; immunology ; Influenza Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; immunology ; Influenza, Human ; immunology ; prevention & control ; virology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Seasons

OBJECTIVETo prepare Form A and Form B of benazepril hydrochloride and to compare the differences in spectrums, thermodynamics and crystal structure between two polymorphic forms.

METHODSForm A and Form B of benazepril hydrochloride were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (IR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), powder x-ray diffraction (PXRD) and single crystal x-ray diffraction (SCXRD).

RESULTSPreparation method, crystal structure and polymorphic stability of Form A and Form B of benazepril hydrochloride were obtained. Based on the analysis of crystal structure of both polymorphs, Form A belonged to monoclone space group P2(1) with a=7.8655(4)Å, b= 11.7700(6)Å, c= 13.5560(7)Å, β= 102.9470(10)°, V=1223.07 (11)Å(3) and Z=2, while Form B belonged to orthorhombic space group P212121, with a=7.9353(8)Å, b=11.6654(11)Å, c=26.6453(16)Å, V=2466.5(4)Å(3) and Z=4. From the DSC and XRD results, Form B of benazepril hydrochloride could be transformed into Form A after heating treatment.

CONCLUSIONForm A and Form B of benazepril hydrochloride are both anhydrous and displayed different polymorphs due to different molecular configuration. Furthermore, Form A exhibits more stable than Form B at high temperatures.

Benzazepines ; chemistry ; Crystallization ; Drug Stability ; Molecular Conformation

OBJECTIVETo clarify the gene type of Orientia tsutsugamushi (Ot) from Shandong province.

METHODSNested-polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) was used to identify the gene type of 23 isolated Ot strains, 2 pools of homogenized leptotrombidium (L.) scutellare, 10 blood specimens of scrub typhus patients, and at the same time to compare with the international reference strains Gilliam, Karp, Kato. Sequencing analysis of the Sta56 gene was also used to further identify the precise gene types.

RESULTSOf the 35 samples, 33 had the same products in the amplification of template Ot-DNA. They all belonged to Kawasaki strains endemic in Japan while 2 (FXS4 and LHGM2 strain) belonged to Karp strains. The Sta56 gene sequence homologies to Japan Kawasaki strain of the 2 representative strains (B-16 and FXS2 strain) of the 33 samples were 94.22%, 95.21% respectively, but they were less than 75.87% to other prototype strains; The homologies to Karp strain of FXS4 and LHGM2 strain were 83.03%, 96.45% respectively. B-16 and FXS2 strain were designated as of types strain Japan Kawasaki, FXS4 and LHGM2 as Karp strain.

CONCLUSIONThe results indicated that the dominant Ot strains in Shandong Province were similar to Kawasaki strains, but Karp strains also existed.

Animals ; DNA, Bacterial ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Mice ; Orientia tsutsugamushi ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Scrub Typhus ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Sequence Homology ; Serotyping

OBJECTIVETo rapidly and sensitively detect the four virulence-associated factors of Streptococcus suis, a multiplex PCR was developed.

METHODSIn the process of this reaction, four distinct DNA targets were amplified. One target was based on the serotype 2 (and 1/2) specific cps gene and the others were based on Streptococcus suis mrp, epf (epf*) and sly gene, encoding the MRP, EF(EF*) and Sly proteins of Streptococcus suis. 72 isolates, which including 48 strains of Streptococcus suis and 24 strains of negative control, and 49 clinical specimens were detected by the multiplex PCR assay.

RESULTSAll PCR products were detected by electrophoresis on 1.2% agarose gels. With the 48 Streptococcus suis strains, the positive detection rates of cps2+, mrp+, epf+, epf*+ and sly+ were 16/48, 14/48, 12/48, 3/48 and 26/48,respectively. The results were confirmed by bacteriological examination. There were no specific amplification products including 49 clinical specimens and 24 negative control strains.

CONCLUSIONThe results demonstrated that multiplex PCR was a highly specific and sensitive diagnostic tool for the detection of virulence-associated factors of streptococcus suis.

Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Streptococcus suis ; genetics ; pathogenicity ; Virulence Factors ; genetics