Objective:To construct and express the fusion protein between ZZ affinity peptide and alkaline phosphatase and examine its biological activities.Methods:The alkaline phosphatase gene was cloned into pEZZ 18 vector containing ZZ peptide gene resulted in the pEZZ-AP recombinant vector.Then the vector was transformed and expressed in E.coli DH5α.And HisTrap affinity chromatography was employed to separate and purify the target protein.After analyzed by Western blot , ZZ-AP fusion protein was applied to immunocytochemistry as an alterative second antibody.Results:The result of SDS-PAGE showed that the fusion protein with a relative molecular weight was consistent with the theoretical values (62 kD).The fusion protein has rabbit IgG-binding ability and en-zymatic activity of alkaline phosphatase ,those were validated in Western blot;and it produced a good signal that was comparable in its staining pattern to that generated with goat anti-rabbit IgG-AP in immunocytochemistry.Conclusion: The ZZ-AP fusion protein was constructed successfully ,it has rabbit IgG-binding ability and enzymatic activity of alkaline phosphatase.We anticipate that the ZZ-AP fusion protein has a potential application in immunoassay field.

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

Objective To investigate the emotional memory impairment in patients with primary insomnia (PI) and explore the neurobiological mechanisms underlying primary insomnia through emotional memory tasks involving different valance of emotional pictures.Methods Thirty patients with primary insomnia(PI group) and twenty healthy controls(HC group) were given emotional memory tasks using positive,neutral and negative valence images.The emotional memory was evaluated by the recognition of emotional pictures.Results Compared with healthy controls (positive (11.60±4.00) , neutral (11.05± 3.73) and negative (12.60± 2.06) , respectively), patients with PI (positive (11.30±3.75),neutral (11.47±3.21) and negative (11.43±4.12) ,respectively) showed no significant difference in appraisal of the emotional pictures (P＞0.05).Compared with healthy controls (43.40± 4.88) for the emotional images memorizing task,patients with PI (39.40±6.43) exhibited evident deficit of all emotional images (P＜0.05).Furthermore, the accuracy in recognizing both positive (12.60± 2.42) and neutral (12.87±3.18) valence pictures were significantly lower in patients with P1 than those in healthy controls(positive (14.05±2.19) and neutral (14.75± 1.80)) (P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in negative stimulus between PI group(13.93±1.76) and HC group(14.70±1.59) (P＞0.05).Conclusion The results suggest thant emotional memory is impaired in patients with PI.Moreover,the emotional memory for positive and neutral vanlence pictures is impaired but the emotional memory for negative is relatively spared in patients with primary insomnia.The results also indicate that impaired emotional memory with different valences may relate with distinct neuromechanisms.

Objective To investigate the molecular mechanisms of PLCεin regulating the invasion and migration of human bladder cancer cells in vitro.Methods After cells treated with recombinant adenovirus , the migratory/in-vasive abilities of T24 cells were explored by wound healing and Transwell chamber cell migration and invasion as -say;RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA levels of PLCε;The protein levels of PLCε,PKCα,PKCβ, TBX3 and E-cadherin were determined by Western blot;QRT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA levels of TBX3 and E-cad-herin.Results It was confirmed by digesting and sequencing that the recombinant adenovirus had been constructed successfully .The expression of PLCε mRNA and PLCε protein were both decreased after the infection of Ad-shPLCε.Wound healing and Transwell chamber cell migration/invasion assay showed that Ad-shPLCε treatment could inhibit the migratory and invasive activity of bladder cancer cells(P<0.05).The results of Western blot indicated that the expression of PKCα/βin membrane decreased ( P<0.05 ) , and phosphorylation level of PKCαand PKCβwas reduced .QRT-PCR and Western blot analysis demonstrated that the expression level of TBX 3 de-creased , but the expression level of E-cadherin increased .Conclusions PLCε shRNA can inhibit migratory and invasive ability of bladder cancer cells through PKCα/β/TBX3/E-cadherin pathway .

Objective To evaluate the outcomes of mature B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia(mature B-ALL) and to assess the safety and efficacy of the treatment protocol.Methods From February of 2003 to December of 2012,15 children were diagnosed as mature B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma possible (mature B-ALL/NHLp) in Shanghai Children's Medical Center(SCMC) were enrolled,and they were treated with SCMC-mature B-ALL/NHLp-2003 protocol.All of the clinical characteristics,therapeutic effects and long-term outcomes were analyzed.The statistical data were processed by SPSS 21.0.Results The median age on diagnosis was 8.7 years (1 year and 5 months to 14 years and 4 months).Among them,4 cases presented with local mass including maxillofacial tumors,neck and abdominal mass.The others had systemic manifestations such as fever and pale face.These neoplastic cells retained the expressions of surface membrane immunoglobulin M,terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase,Cμ,CD10,CD19,cCD79 a differently.Follow-up was updated to November 30,2013.The median follow-up period was 80 months (39-128 months).Theestimated 5-year event free survival rate was (80.0 ± 10.3) ％.According to univariate analysis,increased lactate dehydrogenase level (＞ 4-times the normal value),increased serum ferritin level (＞ 2-times the normal value),no small residual disease markers were indepen-dent poor prognostic factors(x2 =5.49,4.89,5.49,all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions SCMC-mature B-NHL/ALLp-2003 protocol is feasible and safe for children with mature B-ALL/NHLp,but more sample cases need to be investigated.

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this survey was to obtain some information of the prevalence of dental caries in the youth aged 12, 15 and 18 years of Sichuan province.

METHODSBased on WHO and national oral health survey standards, dental caries prevalence and treatment needs were investigated randomly in selected young individuals of Sichuan province in 1995.

RESULTSThe prevalent rates of caries of 12-, 15-, and 18-year-old adolescents were 28.47% and 36.40% and 39.54% respectively. The mean DMFT of 12-, 15- and 18-year-old were 0.52, 0.81, and 0.99. There are more pit and fissure caries than smooth caries in the young of 12-year-old than those of 15- and 18-year-old.

CONCLUSIONDespite improvement can be seen in adolescents' oral health in Sichuan, there remains a proportion of active untreated decays. Some simple prevention programs are needed to stabilize the caries.

Adolescent ; Age Factors ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; DMF Index ; Dental Caries ; epidemiology ; Dental Health Surveys ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence ; Sampling Studies ; Sex Factors

Moderate drought stress has been found to promote the accumulation of active ingredients in Glycyrrhiza uralensis root and hence improve the medicinal quality. In this study, the transcriptomes of 6-month-old moderate drought stressed and control G. uralensis root (the relative water content in soil was 40%-45% and 70%-75%, respectively) were sequenced using Illumina HiSeq 2000. A total of 80,490 490 and 82 588 278 clean reads, 94,828 and 305,100 unigenes with N50 sequence of 1,007 and 1,125 nt were obtained in drought treated and control transcriptome, respectively. Differentially expressed genes analysis revealed that the genes of some cell wall enzymes such as β-xylosidase, legumain and GDP-L-fucose synthase were down-regulated indicating that moderate drought stress might inhibit the primary cell wall degradation and programmed cell death in root cells. The genes of some key enzymes involved in terpenoid and flavonoid biosynthesis were up-regulated by moderate drought stress might be the reason for the enhancement for the active ingredients accumulation in G. uralensis root. The promotion of the biosynthesis and signal transduction of auxin, ethylene and cytokinins by moderate drought stress might enhance the root formation and cell proliferation. The promotion of the biosynthesis and signal transduction of abscisic acid and jasmonic acid by moderate drought stress might enhance the drought stress tolerance in G. uralensis. The inhibition of the biosynthesis and signal transduction of gibberellin and brassinolide by moderate drought stress might retard the shoot growth in G. uralensis.
Droughts ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; genetics ; Plant Roots ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Stress, Physiological ; Transcriptome

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Jinwu Jiangu Recipe (JJR) on the expression of synovial cells' nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and serum interleukin 17 (IL-17) in collagen induced arthritis (CIA) rats.

METHODSTotally 60 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, i.e., the blank control group, the model group, high, middle, and low dose JJR treatment groups, and the tripterygium control group, 10 in each group. Except rats in the blank control group, CIA model was established in rats of the rest 5 groups. Then they were treated from the 7th day of modeling. After 4 weeks of medication they were sacrificed, serum collected, and synovium of joints were isolated. The expression of serum IL-17 was detected in synovium of joints by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). And the expression of NF-kappaB/P65, Ikappabetaalpha and NF-KappaB/P50 were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, the serum IL-17 level increased in the model group (P <0. 01). Compared with the model group, the serum IL-17 level obviously decreased in high and middle dose JJR groups and the tripterygium control group (P < 0.01). Results of Western blot showed, when compared with the blank control group, protein activities of NF-kappaB/P65 and NF-kappaB/P50 were significantly enhanced in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, protein activities of NF-kappaB/P65 and NF-kappaB/P50 significantly decreased in high and middle dose JJR groups and the tripterygium control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). All indices mentioned above were higher in the low dose JJR group than in the tripterygium control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONJJR could lower the expression of serum IL-17 in CIA model rats, and inhibit protein activities of NF-kappaB/P65 and NF-kappaB/P50.

Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Interleukin-17 ; blood ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Synovial Membrane ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Tripterygium ; chemistry

AIM: To investigate therapeutic efficiency of amniotic extraction on dry eye in rabbit model induced by topical benzalkonium chloride (BAC).
METHODS: Totally 26 rabbits (26 right eyes) with dry eye model were studied and divided into two groups:group A (control group with PBS eye drops, n = 13) and group B ( amniotic extraction group, n = 13). Another two rabbits were chosen as normal control. The SchirmerⅠ tests ( S Ⅰ t) and corneal fluorescein staining ( FL) were made, and the tear total protein content, amylase activity, lactoferrin, lysozyme contents, goblet cell density were performed in two groups before treatment and 1, 2, 4 and 8 wk after treatment.
RESULTS: There were significant differences in SIT, FL scores, lysozyme activity and goblet cell density among different groups at different time points (P<0. 05). But, there was no significant differences in SⅠt, FL scores, lysozyme activity and goblet cell density between two groups before treatment (P>0. 05). After 8wks' treatment with PBS, the mean differences of the group A showed great changes in SⅠt, lysozyme and goblet cell density compared with those before treatment ( P < 0. 05); but there was no significant differences in FL scores compared with those before treatment (P>0. 05). As for group B, 8wks after treatment, there were statistical changes in SⅠt, FL, lysozyme (P<0. 05); but there was no significant differences in goblet cell density compared with those before treatment ( P > 0. 05). It was evident that statistical differences were observed in S Ⅰ t, FL scores, lysozyme activity and goblet cell density between two groups at each time point (P<0. 05). However, there were no significant differences in total protein, lactoferrin, amylase activity at different time points (P>0. 05). Meanwhile there was no significant differences in total protein, lactoferrin, amylase activity between two groups before treatment ( P > 0. 05 ). But there were significant differences in total protein, lactoferrin, amylase activity between two groups after 4 and 8 wks'treatment (P<0. 05).
CONCLUSION: Amniotic extraction has significant therapeutic effect on the dry eye in rabbit model.

Objectives To evaluate the long-term outcomes of childhood low-or intermediate-risk neuroblastoma (NB) and their relevant prognostic factors. Methods A total of 70 new cases of low-or intermediate-risk NB diagnosed and treated by NB-99 protocol between 1999 and 2008 were analyzed retrospectively. Results Of these 70 NB patients, fourteen patients were in low-risk group and 56 were in intermediate-risk group. Sixty-seven patients reached complete remission (CR) or very good partial remission and 3 (5%) achieved partial remission. Ten patients relapsed. One patient occured second malignant neo-plasm. No patients died of chemotherapy-related adverse events or infections. The 5 year overall survival rate was 85.9%, event-free survival rate was 81.0%. Bone marrow infiltration, age at diagnosis, stage, lactate dehydrogenase level had a significant effect on prognosis. Conclusion Develop cytogenetic and molecular biology tests and pretreatment risk stratification are im-portant for further improvement of treatment protocol.