AIM:To establish a HPLC fingerprint of Stellera chamaejasme L. from Inner Mongolia Region. METHODS: The RP-HPLC method was used with Akzonobel Kromasil C_ 18 (250 mm?4.6 mm, 5 ?m) the acetonitrile-0.5% phosphoric acid (gradient elution) was used as mobile phase, analytic time was 60 min, and detective wavelength was at 297 nm, the column temperature of 15℃ were adopted. RESULTS: The HPLC fingerprint of Stellera chamaejasme L. set up showed that 14 peaks were co-possessing in different sources. The results of method validation met technical standard of fingerprint, the similarities of Stellera chamaejasme L. were 0.9 to 1.0. CONCLUSION: The method is stable and reliable with a good reproducibility and provides a reference standard for the quality control of Stellera chamaejasme L. from Inner Mongolia Region.

Objective To determine potential gene-gene interactions of TNF-? and VDR loci with outcomes of hepatitis B virus(HBV) infection.Methods A total of 391 chronic hepatitis B(HB) patients as a case group and 212 HBV self-limited infected subjects as a control group were recruited to conduct a case-control study.TNF-?-238G/A,-857C/T,-863C/A,VDR-TaqⅠT/C and FokⅠC/T gene polymorphisms were examined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP).The interactions between TNF-? and VDR genes were analyzed by multiple model.Results There were positive gene-gene interactions between TNF-?-238 GA and FokⅠ CT/CC(ORint=4.04),between-863 CC and-857 CC(ORint=1.26) and between-857 CC and FokⅠ CT/CC(ORint=1.37),respectively,which increase the risk of chronic hepatitis B.There were negative gene-gene interactions between TNF-?-238 GA and-857 CC(ORint=0.92)and between FokⅠ CT/CC and TNF-?-863 CC(ORint=0.95),which decrease the risk of chronic hepatitis B.Conclusion Interaction between TNF-? loci and VDR loci potentially increase the risk of chronic hepatitis B after HBV infection.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the performance of computer-assisted imaging system in the detection of cervical squamous intraepithelial lesion and quality-assurance.

METHODSManual PAP screening (n = 140 580) and image-assisted screening (n = 32 885) were compared for the detection rates of squamous cell abnormalities, the atypical squamous cells (ASC) to squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) ratio, the positive rates of high risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) test in the case of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US), and the correlation between cytopathology and histopathology.

RESULTSCompared with manual screening, computer-assisted imaging system showed increased overall positive detection by 0.32%, decreased detection of ASC by 0.21%, increased detection of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) by 0.22%, increased detection of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion or worse (HSIL) by 0.31%, and decreased ASC to SIL ratio from 2.59 to 1.60. Computer-assisted imaging system did not change the HR-HPV positive rate of the patients who were ASC-US, or the coincidence rate between cytopathology and histopathology. Moreover, the productivity of the laboratory operation increased 58.33%.

CONCLUSIONComputer-assisted imaging system significantly increases the overall positive detection rate of cervical SIL, improves accuracy and work efficiency of screening, decreases the ASC/SIL rate, and strengths the quality-assurance of laboratory testing.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; Papillomaviridae ; isolation & purification ; Papillomavirus Infections ; pathology ; Uterine Cervical Dysplasia ; pathology ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; pathology ; Vaginal Smears ; methods

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of scalp electroacupuncture on Parkinson disease (PD) of grade 1.5-3.0 on Hoehn-Yahr scale.

METHODSThirty patients with Parkinson disease were randomized equally into the treatment group and control group. Patients in the treatment group were treated by scalp eletroacupuncture at the contralateral points of MS6, MS4, MS8, MS9 and MS14 in cases of unilateral lesions or at the bilateral points for bilateral lesions, with also medication with Madopar. The patients in the control group were given Madopar only. The scores of Webster scale and the motor function of United Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) were used to for assessment before and after the therapeutic course (6 weeks).

RESULTSTremor, rigidity and bradykinesia were obviously improved in both the groups (P<0.05). The difference in the score of Webster scale was not significant between the two groups (P>0.05), but the treatment group showed greater improvement in motor functions than the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONScalp electroacupuncture is effective and safe for therapy of Parkinson disease.

Aged ; Electroacupuncture ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parkinson Disease ; therapy ; Scalp

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical features, diagnosis and therapy of hydroa vacciniforme-like cutaneous T cell lymphoma.

METHODSThe clinical presentations and the findings of laboratory examinations and skin biopsy of affected tissue in a child with hydroa vacciniforme-like cutaneous T cell lymphoma were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTSThe child manifested as rash, fever and lymph node intumesce. Rash was pantomorphia, including edematous erythema, vesicles, crusts, necrosis and depressed scar, and it was mild in winter and severe in summer, mainly involving in the face and extremities. Epstein-Barre virus (EBV)-IgM was positive. Histopathological findings revealed focal lymphocyte invasion in subcutaneous panniculus adiposus, mainly surrounding the blood vessels. Immunohistochemistry showed CD3 (+), CD43 (+), CD20 (-), pax-5 (-), TIA (+), CD5 (+), CD8 (+), Granmye (+) and CD4 (-). The clinical symptoms were improved after glucocorticoid treatment in this child.

CONCLUSIONSHydroa vacciniforme-like cutaneous T cell lymphoma has special clinical manifestations. This disorder may be definitely diagnosed by skin biopsy of affected tissue and immunohistochemistry assay. Glucocorticoid treatment is effective. EBV infection may be related to the development of this disorder.

Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Hydroa Vacciniforme ; pathology ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous ; drug therapy ; immunology ; pathology ; Skin ; pathology ; Skin Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; immunology ; pathology

Synthetic biology aims to design and build new biological systems with desirable properties, providing the foundation for the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. The most prominent representation of synthetic biology has been used in microbial engineering by recombinant DNA technology. However, there are advantages of using a deleted host, and therefore an increasing number of biotechnology studies follow similar strategies to dissect cellular networks and construct genome-reduced microbes. This review will give an overview of the strategies used for constructing and engineering reduced-genome factories by synthetic biology to improve production of secondary metabolites.
Biosynthetic Pathways ; genetics ; Cephamycins ; biosynthesis ; Epoxy Compounds ; metabolism ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Genetic Engineering ; methods ; Genetics, Microbial ; Genome ; Sesquiterpenes ; metabolism ; Streptomyces ; genetics ; metabolism ; Streptomycin ; biosynthesis ; Synthetic Biology

OBJECTIVESTo determine whether -238G/A and -857C/T polymorphisms of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) gene promoter were associated with outcomes of hepatitis B virus infection.

METHODSA total of 246 HBV self-limited infected subjects and 443 chronic hepatitis B (HB) patients were recruited in this case-control study. TNF-alpha-238G/A and -857C/T gene promoter polymorphisms were examined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).

RESULTSThe frequency of TNF-alpha-238 GG (90.7%) in chronic HB group was significantly lower than that (95.1%) in self-limited group (P = 0.041). The frequency of TNF-alpha-857 CC (79.7%) in chronic HB patients was significantly higher than that (70.9%) in self-limited infected subjects (P = 0.021). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that both TNF-alpha-238GA and -857CC were independently associated with chronic HB.

CONCLUSIONSTNF-alpha promoter variants are likely to play a substantial role in influencing the outcomes of HBV infection.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Haplotypes ; Hepatitis B ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Hepatitis B virus ; pathogenicity ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting survivin on adhesion and invasion of human colon carcinoma cell line SW480 in vitro.

METHODSAccording to the sequence of the coding region of survivin gene, two strings of 19 nucleotides of inverted sequence flanking the loop sequence of two complementary 9-base oligonucleotides were designed and synthesized to prepare the hairpin construct as the DNA templates for the target shRNA. The shRNA templates were cloned into shRNA expression vector pRNAT-U6.1/Neo, and the resulted vector pRNAT-U6.1/Neo-survivin was transfected into SW480 cells using Lipofectamine 2000. Western blotting was performed to evaluate survivin gene silencing induced by shRNA transfection at the protein level, and the biological behaviors of the SW480 cells were investigated by cell-matrix adhesion, invasion and gelatin-zymography assays.

RESULTSWestern blotting revealed significantly lowered survivin protein expression in transfected SW480 cells, and survivin gene silencing induced by shRNA significantly suppressed the metastatic potential of SW480 cells in association with suppressed MMPs activity.

CONCLUSIONSSurvivin may play an important role in modulating human colorectal carcinoma cell invasion and metastasis, and survivin gene silencing can inhibit human colorectal cancer cell invasion and the production of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Survivin may affect invasion and metastasis of human colorectal carcinoma cells via regulating the production of MMPs.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Colonic Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Gene Silencing ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Inverted Repeat Sequences ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; secretion ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; deficiency ; genetics ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; genetics ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo probe the mechanism of electro-scalp acupuncture in treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) by single photon emission computer tomography (SPECT).

METHODSFive cases of PD received electro-scalp acupuncture at Dingnie Qianxiexian (MS 6), Epangxian III (MS 4), Dingpangxian I (MS 8), Dingpangxian II (MS 9) and Zhenxia Pangxian (MS 14). Contralateral points were selected for pathologic change on one side and bilateral points were selected for pathologic lesion on both sides. All the patients received 99mTc-TRODAT-1 SPECT examination before and after acupuncture treatment of 6 weeks. And activities of dopamine transporter (DAT) were analyzed by the ratio of striatum/occipital lobe (ST/OC), which was evaluated by means of technique of regional of interesting (ROI).

RESULTSThe ratio of ST/OC on the same side of the affected extremity before and after treatment were 1.19 +/- 0.15 and 1.24 +/- 0.31 respectively. And on the other side were 0.90 +/- 0.12 and 0.95 +/- 0.25 respectively. They were increased after treatment (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONElectro-scalp acupuncture can decrease the loss of DAT and improve the activities of DAT in the striatum of the patient of PD.

Aged ; Corpus Striatum ; chemistry ; Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; analysis ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parkinson Disease ; metabolism ; therapy ; Scalp ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, treatment and prognosis of patients with hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS).

METHODSA retrospective study was carried out to analyze the underlying disease, clinical characteristics, laboratory findings and outcomes of 46 patients with HPS.

RESULTSThis cohort included 19 cases of HPS secondary to cancer, 11 cases of HPS secondary to infection, 10 cases of suspected malignant lymphoma based on PET-CT findings (without biopsy), and 6 cases of unknown etiology. The coincidence rate of the clinical characteristics of the patients with the indices listed in HPS-2004 criteria were: fever (100%), elevated serum ferritin (100%), cytopenias (93.48%), splenomegaly (91.30%), hemophagocytosis in the bone marrow, spleen or lymph nodes (84.78%), hypofibrinogenemia (67.39%), and hypertriglyceridemia (54.05%). The cases of cancer, infections and unknown etiology showed significant differences in serum levels of ferritin and β2MG (P<0.05), and significant differences were found in triglycerides, LDH, and fibrinogenemia between the nonfatal and fatal cases (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONHPS can be secondary to various underlying diseases, many associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection. Cancer, especially NK/T-cell lymphoma, is the main cause of HPS. Persistent fever, elevated serum ferritin level and cytopenias are the most sensitive indicators for diagnosis of HPS, and early diagnosis and treatment are critical to lower the mortality rate of this disease.