Objective To determine whether Fudenine is a novel membrane protein. Methods Green fluorescence protein(GFP)was used to localize Fudenine in vivo. GFP, as a control, was targeted to cytoplasm.Epithelial cell, CBRH7919, and non-epithelial cell, L-6TG, were cultured and transiently transfected by using the lipofectamine reagent. After 48 h, intact cells were examined with fluorescence microscope for Fudenine. Results Reporter plasmid pEGFP-N1, as a control , was expressed and localized to cytoplasm. But Fudenine, driven by the cytomegalovirus promoterenhancer contained in the pEGFP-N1 vector, was overexpressed and targeted to cellular membrane. Conclusions Fudenine is a novel membrane protein. It may play the similar role with its homologues AC133 antigen and prominin in human and mouse.respectively. It might be involved in signaling transduction and regulate blood glucose metabolism in vivo.

Objective To investigate plasma levels of total carnitine (TC) and free camitine (FC) in patients undergoing hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.Methods 200 cases of normal group came from physical examination in this hospital,all testing cases were the in-hospital patients in the department of nephropathy.TC and FC were determined by use of an enzymatic cycle assay on Hitachi 7170 automatic biochemical analyzer.Results In 200 cases of normal group,TC level was (56.52?9.61) ?mol/L,and FC was (46.60?8.23) ?mol/L.In 37 hemodialysis patients,TC and FC levels were (41.47?13.22) ?mol/L and (24.58?8.91)?mol/L before dialysis,a statistic difference was observed against the control group (P0.05).Conclusions Carnitine deficiency was seen in most patients undergoing hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.Furthermore,the deficiency status got worse along with the dialysis course in hemodialysis patients.Carnitine infusion can effectively improve the status of these patients.

Objective To improve the conventional method of quantitative assessment of regional cerebral blood flows(rCBF)by a perfusion CT study based on maximal slope model at the general infusion rate(

Objective To investigate the changes of early and delayed washout rates of 99Tcm-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) in ischemic heart disease (IHD), and to explore the value of 99Tcm-MIBI SPECT in evaluating impairment of ischemic myocardial cells. Methods Patients diagnosed of IHD with three-vessel stenosis ( ≥50% ) without myocardial infarction based on angiography (CAG) underwent 99Tcm-MIBI static planar and gated SPECT imaging. The early (90 min after the intravenous injection) and delayed (4 h after the intravenous injection) washout rates of 99Tcm-MIBI and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of IHD patients and normal subjects were compared using t-test. Linear correlation analysis was performed between the early, delayed washout rates and LVEF measured by gated SPECT. Results Statistically significant lower early washout rate of 99Tcm-MIBI was observed in IHD group than control group: (13.44 ± 2.87 )%vs ( 17.32 ± 4.92) %, t = 2.384, P ＜ 0.05, but higher delayed washout rate of 99Tcm-MIBI was observed in IHD group than control group: (19.24 ±4.71)% vs (15.23 ±3.81)%, t= -2.246, P＜0.05. LVEF in IHD group was significantly lower than that in control group: (55.71 ±7.97)% vs (67.75 ±5.43)%, t =-4.418, P ＜0.01. There were no correlations between the early/delayed washout rates and LVEF, respectively in IHD patients (r = -0.212, P ＞ 0.05; r =0.352, P ＞ 0.05, respectively). Conclusion 99Tcm-MIBI washout rate may reflect myocardial cell impairment due to IHD.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; physiology ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-6 ; physiology ; Multiple Myeloma ; pathology ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; physiology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; physiology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo study osteoblastic phenotype expression of New Zealand rabbit skin fibroblasts transfected with mouse core binding factor a1/osteoblast specific transplanting factor-2 gene (Cbfa1/Osf2).

METHODSCbfa1/Osf2 gene, engineered into eukaryotic expression vector pSG5, was introduced into New Zealand rabbit skin fibroblasts with catholyte liposomes-Lipofectamine 2000. Meanwhile, those transfected pSG5 and un-transfected were set the control groups. The expression of Cbfa1 gene, osteocalcin (OCN) gene, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) gene and pre-peptide 2 alpha gene of collagen type I were detected by RT-PCR assay. Cbfa1 protein was detected by Western-Blot assay, in-cell ALP activity by p-nitrophenyl phosphate (PNPP) assay and OCN content in the supernatant by radio-immunity method. The ossification nodules was detected by Alizarin-Red staining and scanning electron microscope.

RESULTSCbfa 1mRNA and Cbfa1 protein were expressed in New Zealand rabbit skin fibroblasts transfected with pSG5-Cbfa1/Osf2 from the first day to the fifth day, but they were not detected in the control groups. In the pSG5-Cbfa1/Osf2 transfected group, the expression of ALP gene and OCN gene were respectively induced from the third day and the forth day, pre-peptide 2 alpha gene of collagen type I was enhanced from the third day. From the sixth day, ALP activity greatly increased, OCN strongly secreted, and they were maintained at a high level for about 4 weeks, and the difference was significant compared with the control group (P < 0.05). On the forty-second day, ossification nodules were found on the surface of pSG5-Cbfa1/Osf2 gene transfected cells.

CONCLUSIONSNew Zealand rabbit skin fibroblasts transfected with pSG5-Cbfa1/Osf2 can express osteogenesis-related genes and proteins, and form ossification nodules on their surface.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Animals ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cells, Cultured ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; physiology ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; Mice ; Osteocalcin ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Osteogenesis ; genetics ; physiology ; Rabbits ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo define the differences in gene expression patterns between glycidyl methacrylate (GMA)-transformed human lung fibroblast cells (2BS cells) and controls.

METHODSThe mRNA differential display polymerase chain reaction (DD-PCR) technique was used. cDNAs were synthesized by reverse transcription and amplified by PCR using 30 primer combinations. After being screened by dot blot analysis, differentially expressed cDNAs were cloned, sequenced and confirmed by Northern blot analysis.

RESULTSEighteen differentially expressed cDNAs were cloned and sequenced, of which 17 were highly homologous to known genes (homology = 89%-100%) and one was an unknown gene. Northern blot analysis confirmed that eight genes encoding human zinc finger protein 217 (ZNF217), mixed-lineage kinase 3 (MLK-3), ribosomal protein (RP) L15, RPL41, RPS 16, TBX3, stanniocalcin 2 (STC2) and mouse ubiquitin conjugating enzyme (UBC), respectively, were up-regulated, and three genes including human transforming growth factor beta inducible gene (Betaig-h3), alpha-1,2-mannosidase 1A2 (MAN 1A2) gene and an unknown gene were down-regulated in the GMA-transformed cells.

CONCLUSIONAnalysis of the potential function of these genes suggest that they may be possibly linked to a variety of cellular processes such as transcription, signal transduction, protein synthesis and growth, and that their differential expression could contribute to the GMA-induced neoplastic transformation.

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; toxicity ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; pathology ; Cell Line, Transformed ; Epoxy Compounds ; toxicity ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lung ; cytology ; Male ; Mannosidases ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Methacrylates ; toxicity ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Ribosomal Proteins ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; genetics ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Ubiquitins ; metabolism ; Zinc Fingers ; drug effects ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the genotoxic and nongenotoxic effects of short-term exposure to glycidyl mathacrylate (GMA) on human lung fibroblast cells (2BS cells) in vitro.

METHODSDNA strand breakage was determined by single cell gel electrophoresis, and DNA ladder formation assay and flow cytometric analysis were carried out to detect apoptic responses of cells to GMA exposure. The HPRT gene mutation assay was used to evaluate the mutagenicity, and the effect of GMA on gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) in the exposed cells was examined with the scrape loading/dye transfer technique. The ability of GMA to transform 2BS cells was also tested by an in vitro cell transformation assay.

RESULTSExposure to GMA resulted in a dose-dependent increase in DNA strand breaks but not apoptic responses. GMA was also shown to significantly induce HPRT gene mutations and morphological transformation in 2BS cells in vitro. In contrast, GMA produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of GJIC.

CONCLUSIONSGMA elicits both genotoxic and nongenotoxic effects on 2BS cells in vitro. The induction of DNA damage and gene mutations and inhibition of GJIC by GMA may casually contribute to GMA-induced cell transformation.

Cell Communication ; Cell Differentiation ; Comet Assay ; DNA Damage ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Epoxy Compounds ; toxicity ; Fibroblasts ; Gap Junctions ; Humans ; Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase ; genetics ; Lung ; cytology ; Methacrylates ; toxicity

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical value of ultrasonic surface localization in internal jugular vein catheterization.

METHODSTotally 150 patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I -III who were planning to receive elective surgeries were randomized into anatomical landmark group, ultrasonic surface positioning group, and ultrasound-guided group using computed random table, with 50 cases in each group. The right internal jugular vein catheterization was performed after tracheal intubation. In the anatomic landmark group, patients were punctured using surface marks through central approach. In ultrasonic surface positioning group and ultrasound-guided group, patients were punctured with ultrasonic localization and guidance through central approach. The relationship between internal jugular vein and carotid artery, the position of the needle into the vein, the success rate of puncture, the change times of puncture point, and the complications were recorded.

RESULTSUltrasound scan revealed that the relationship between the right internal jugular vein and the right common carotid artery could be divided into three types: parallel (12.7%), partial overlapping (69.3%), and complete overlapping (18.0%). The average "safety distance" of jugular vein puncture was (1.15 +/- 0.47) cm. The success rate of the first puncture attempt in ultrasonic surface positioning group and ultrasound-guided group were 78.0% and 82.0%, respectively, which was significantly higher than that in anatomic landmark group (22.0%) (P < 0.05), whereas the complication incidence in anatomic landmark group (12.0%) were significantly higher than those in ultrasonic surface positioning group (0) and ultrasound-guided group (0) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSUltrasonic surface positioning applied during internal jugular vein catheterization is helpful to reveal the inner diameters as well as the origin and course of arteries and veins in the puncture and identify the abnormalities as early as possible. As a simple support technique for internal jugular vein puncture, it is suitable for clinical application.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Catheterization, Central Venous ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Jugular Veins ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence and potential risk factors of dentine hypersensitivity of adults in rural of Sichuan province.

METHODSAll representative samples, including 630 adults living in rural of Sichuan Province, were selected by multi-stage, stratified and random sampling. The dentine hypersensitivity of all 630 cases was surveyed with questionnaire and oral clinical examination. SPSS 18.0 software was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS27.9% of all subjects were suffered from dentine hypersensitivity, sour was the most common stimulus of dentine hypersensitivity. The first premolar was the most common tooth with dentine hypersensitive, which occupied 27.4% of the total affected teeth. Female, acid regurgitation symptom, low frequency of toothbrush replacement (over 3 months), high tooth-brushing force and frequency of fresh fruits consumption (over 2 times per week) probably were high risk factors of dentine hypersensitivity.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of dentine hypersensitivity occurs in rural of Sichuan province is high, thus for future the publicity and education on dentine hypersensitivity preventive should be strengthened.

Adult ; Bicuspid ; Dentin ; Dentin Sensitivity ; Female ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Toothbrushing