The expression of heat shock proteins(HSPs) can protect against acute lung injury(ALI).However,HSPs are restrained from clinical application due to the toxicity of most of the former inductors.Glutamine,which also has the ability to induce the expression of HSPs,can protect against ALI and sepsis,and may serve as a candidate for clinical application.

Objective To investigate the in vivo effects of glutamine(Gln) on inflammatory cytokine release in murine peritoneal macrophages during sepsis. Methods Sixty Kunming mice were randomly divided into sham-operation group(Sham group,n=20),operation control group(Con group,n=20) and Gln-treatment group(Gln group,n=20).Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture in Gln group and Con group,and Gln(0.75 g/kg) or saline was immediately administered via single tail vein injection.Serum was collected and macrophages were harvested from peritoneal lavage at 6 h in these three groups.Intracellular and serum cytokines of tumor necrosis factor-?(TNF-?),interleukin(IL)-6 and IL-10 were detected by ELISA.The expression of TNF-? mRNA in macrophages was analyzed by RT-PCR,and the expression of heat shock protein(HSP) 72 in macrophages was evaluated by Western blotting. Results Gln group demonstrated significantly lower intracellular TNF-? and IL-6 levels than Con group(P0.05).The serum TNF-? level was significantly lower in Gln group than in Con group(P

ObjeCtive To investigate the value of protein biochip in the diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis. Methods The serum IgM and IgG antibodies against flagellin were detected by flagellin coated-and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) modified-biochips in 82 patients with neuroborreliosis (NB),35 patients with erythema migrans (EM) and 44 normal controls.The results were compared with those from enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and Western blot.Results The levels of both IgM and IgG antibodies were significantly higher in the NB patients than those in the normal controls (P

Objective To discuss the frequent etiology of spontaneous sub-cortical hemorrhage and its diag- nosis.Methods The clinical materials of 79 cases of spontaneous sub-cortical hemorrhage were analyzed.Results 56% of the hemorrhage was caused by arterial-venous malformation.48% of the hemorrhage was caused by occult AVM.Conclusion AVM is the most frequent etiology of spontaneous sub-cortical hemorrhage.CTA plays a special role in its diagnosis.

Objective To investigate the assoiation between rheumatoid arthritis(RA)and the pres- ence of the shared epitope(SE)of HLA-DRBI gene in Han nationality of Neimenggu population.Methods The method of DNA amplification with sequence-specific primers(PCR-SSP)was used to determine 17 alleles of HLA-DRB1*01,*04,*10 genotypes in 80 RA patients and 110 healthy controls from the Han nationality population in Neimenggu.Results The frequencies of SE were significantly increased in RA patiens com- pared with controls(48.8%:20%,P＜0.01).Epitope analysis revealed that the most predominant allele subtype of DR4(*0405)was usceptible sequence in Neimenggu patients with RA(28.8%:12%,P＜0.01).No statisticall significant difference of other subtypes of DR1,DR4 nd DR10 was noted including DRB1*0101(2.5%:0.9%), *0102(2.5%:0),*0103(1.25%:0.9%),*0104(2.5%:0),*0401(6.25:1.8%),*0402(3.75%:0.9%),*0403 (1.25%:1.8%),*0404(2.5%:1.8%),*0406(2.5%:2.7%),*0407(1.25%:0.9%),*0408(3.75 %:0.9%),*0409 (1.25%:0),*0410(2.5%:0.9%),*0411(0:0)and *1001(8.75%:4.5%)respectively.Logistic regression analy- sis showed that the disease of patients with SE homozgote was more severe than that of patients with heterozy- gote(P＜0.01).Conclusion The results suggest that there is an association between SE of HLA-DRBI gene and susceptibility and severity of RA,especially,HLA-DR4 subtypes are strongly associated with RA in Han nationality in Neimenggu population.

AIM:To study the visual acuity and refractive status of students pupils and middle school students in Shenzhen, and to provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of myopia.
METHODS:A cluster sampling method was used to select five primary school students(6 737) and three junior middle school students(1 925) from Shenzhen. The visual acuity, anterior segment, fundus, eye position, and refractive status were measured. Information on associated factors for poor vision were also obtained using a questionaire. The risk factors of poor vision and the rate of myopia between grade or gender were analysed by Chi-square test.
RESULTS:The rate of poor vision was 67. 0%. Female, family history of high myopia, long time of continuous look near, short time of outdoor activities were the main risk factors. The rate of emmetropia, hyperopia, astigmatism and myopia were 15. 1%, 11. 3%, 11. 0% and 62. 6% respectively. Emmetropia, hyperopia and astigmatism incidenece rate decreased with age growing, but myopia incidence rate was increased. There were significant differences between adjacent two grades in myopia(χ2=7. 338-45. 018, P<0. 05 ) except the primary grade six and the junior grade one. There were significant differences between boys ( 61. 0%) and girls ( 65. 5%) in myopia(χ2=17. 180, P<0. 05).
CONCLUSION:The rate of poor vison is pretty high in students of Shenzhen aged between 5 to 16 years old, and myopia is the main reason. The development rate of myopia is increased with age. Early management of myopia may play an important role in controlling poor vision in students.

A novel member of extremely halophilic archaea, strain AJ2, was isolated from Ayakekum Lake located in Altun Mountain National Nature Reserve of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in China. The strain AJ2 requires at least 10% (w/v) NaCl and grows 10% to 30% (optimum at 20%). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rDNA sequence comparison revealed that strain AJ2 clustered to three Natrinema species with less than 97.7% sequence similarities, suggesting AJ2 is a novel member of Natrinema. A bacteriorhodopsin-encoding (bop) gene was subsequently detected in the AJ2 genome using the polymerase chain reaction technique. The cloning and sequencing of a 401 base pairs fragment indicated the deduced amino acid sequence of bop from AJ2 is different from that reported for bacteriorhodopsins. This is the first reported detection of a bop gene in Natrinema.
Bacteriorhodopsins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genome, Archaeal ; Halobacteriaceae ; classification ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity

A novel member of extremely halophilic archaea, strain AJ2, was isolated from Ayakekum Lake located in Altun Mountain National Nature Reserve of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in China. The strain A J2 requires at least 10% (w/v)NaCl and grows 10% to 30% (optimum at 20%). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rDNA sequence comparison revealed that strain A J2 clustered to three Natrinema species with less than 97.7% sequence similarities, suggesting A J2 is a novel member of Natrinema. A bacteriorhodopsin-encoding (bop) gene was subsequently detected in the A J2 genome using the polymerase chain reaction technique. The cloning and sequencing of a 401 base pairs fragment indicated the deduced amino acid sequence of bop from A J2 is different from that reported for bacteriorhodopsins. This is the first reported detection of a bop gene in Natrinema.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Lignum Sappan (LS) containing serum on the proliferation cycle arrest of human lung cancer cell line PG and its molecular mechanism.

METHODSThe lung cancer PG cells were divided into four groups, i.e., the blank control group, the LS group, the LS plus cisplatin group, and the cisplatin group. They were cultured by RPMI-1640 with 20% blank serum, RPMI-1640 with 20% LS containing serum, RPMI-1640 with 20% LS containing serum plus 1 microg/mL cisplatin, and RPMI-1640 with 20% blank serum plus 1 microg/mL cisplatin, respectively. The morphology of PG cells was observed using light microscope and laser scanning confocal microscope in each group. The cell cycle arrest was observed using flow cytometry. The expression of P16 and Rb1 mRNA was tested by PCR method.

RESULTSUnder the light microscope and laser scanning confocal microscope, the apoptosis degree of PG cells in the LS group was significant, but less than that of the LS plus cisplatin group as well as the cisplatin group. Compared with the blank control group, the proportion of PG cells increased at G0/ G1 and S phases (P < 0.05) and decreased at G2/M phase (P < 0.01) in the LS group; The proportion of PG cells increased at G2/M and S phases (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) and decreased at G0/G1 phase (P < 0.01) in the LS plus cisplatin group as well as the cisplatin group. Compared with the LS group, the proportion of PG cells increased at G2/M and S phases (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) and decreased at G0/G1 phase (P < 0.01) in the LS plus cisplatin group as well as the cisplatin group. There was no statistical difference in PG cells at each phase between the cisplatin group and the LS plus cisplatin group (P > 0.05). The expression of P16 and Rb1 mRNA increased in the LS group, when compared with the blank control group. They also increased in the cisplatin group and the LS plus cisplatin group, higher than that of the LS group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the expression of P16 and Rb1 mRNA between the cisplatin group and the LS plus cisplatin group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLS containing serum induced PG cell apoptosis by up-regulating the mRNA transcription levels of P16 and Rb1, thus resulting in PG cell arrest at G0/G1 and S phases, which was different from the manner of cisplatin (achieved by arresting PG cells at G2/M and S phases through regulating cyclinB1 mRNA transcription).

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology

OBJECTIVEThe effect of EGCG on the invasion of HepG2 cells in vitro was studied.

METHODSThe expressions of MUC1 in HepG2 cells before and after they were treated with EGCG were studied with immunohistochemistry. The effects of EGCG on the invasion of HepG2 cells were evaluated using Transwell chambers attached with polycarbonate filters and reconstituted basement membranes (Matrigel). Gelatin zymography was performed to detect the secretion of MMP-2 and MMP-9.

RESULTSEGCG reduced the expression of MUC1, suppressed significantly the invasion of tumor cells into the basement membranes (P < 0.01) and reduced the secretion of MMP-2, MMP-9.

CONCLUSIONEGCG has anti-invasion effects on HepG2 cells.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Catechin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Survival ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology