China ; Food Safety ; Risk Assessment

Aged ; Anthracosis ; physiopathology ; Autonomic Nervous System ; physiopathology ; Death, Sudden ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

By non-steady method,the effective diffusivity of ferrous sulphate within alginate calcium gel entrapped without bacteria was measured.Meanwhile the oxidation ability of entrapped bacteria was analyzed.Experimental results showed that the effective diffusion coefficient of ferrous sulphate decreased with the increase of alginate concentration,the optimum alginate concentration is 2%(W/V).The effect of calcium chloride on the effective diffusivity was neglectable.The incubation of ferrooxidans would pass through 10 hours,and the diffusion coefficient within gel entrapped Thiobacillus ferrooxidans cells was less remarkably than that of ferrous sulphate without entrapped cells.For the entrapped cells,the absolute oxidation time was shortest and the rate change was fastest with the initial Fe concentration 5g/L.The absolute oxidation time was same when the initial Fe concentration was 8g/L and 10g/L.

Objective:To study the enhancing effect of bFGF-targeted antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotide (APO)on the chemosensitivity of human laryngeal squamous carcinoma cell line Hep2 to Doxorubicin,5-Fluorouracil, and Cisplatin.Methods:bFGF-specific APO was designed,constructed and transfected into Hep2 cells with jetPEI (polyethyleneimine).Expression of bFGF mRNA was evaluated by semi-quantitative RT-PCR after transfection;immuno- cytochemical method was used to examine the expression of bEGF expression before and after transfection of Hep2;the in- duction of cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry;cell proliferation was then analYzed by MTT assay after treatment with bFGF-specific APO or chemotherapeutic drugs,or a combination of both.Results:bFGF-specific APO inhibited the growth of Hep2 cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner,with the peak inhibitory rate being 25.5%.The expression of bFGF mRNA and protein decreased by 52.0% and 41.1%,respectively.The apoptosis rate of Hep2 cells was 20.5% after transfection,bFGF-specifie APO reduced the 50% inhibitory concentration of Doxorubicin,5-Fluorouracil,and Cis- platin in Hep2 cells by 75.5%,83.5% and 65.4%,respectively.Conclusion:bFGF-specific APO can enhance the chemosensitivity of Hep2 cells,which paves a new way for potential biologic chemotherapy of laryngeal squamous carcino- ma.

AlM: To analyze personality traits in preoperative patients who undergolaser in situ keratomileusis ( LASlK) and to provide psychological basis for the selection of refractive surgery.
METHODS: Eligible patientswere seeking customized LASlK (group A n=53), conventional LASlK(group B n=75)and non-operation patients with ametropia (group C n=71 ) , who completed 16 personality factor questionnaires (16PF). Statistical analyses were performed with one-way ANOVA by SPSS11. 0 software package.
RESULTS: Compared to group C, patients in group A scored high on dominance and tension levels, and low on emotional stability level(P<0. 05), while patients in group B were more venturesome and more experimenting, but were less vigilant ( P<0. 05 ). Additionally, there were statistical differences between group A and group B on dominance, gallantry and vigilance respectively(P<0. 05). CONCLUSlON: The data indicates that personality profiles of LASlK patients with refractive error influence their decision for correction. Patients need suitable psychological assessment before surgery who actively chose customized LASlK seem to be more assertive and suspicious.

Objective To explore the predictive value of neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL) for contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) after emergency percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in patients with relative normal renal function.Methods A total of 73 patients with relative normal renal function undergoing PCI were enrolled in this prospective multicenter clinical study.Serum NGAL was measured by point-of-care test.Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the diagnostic value of NGAL for CI-AKI.Results CI-AKI occurred in 5 patients (6.85％).The concentration of NGAL was higher in the CI-AKI group than in the non-CI-AKI group.ROC curve indicated that the area under the receiver operating characteristic was 0.755,0.761 and 0.809,respectively.Conclusions Serum NGAL at baseline,4 h and 8 h after procedure are served as a good biomarker for early diagnosis of CI-AKI after PCI.Therefore,NGAL might become an early and quick marker for CI-AKI in the future.

OBJECTIVETo detect cadmium in environmental and food samples by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICPAES).

METHODSAn indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (IC-ELISA) was developed based on a cadmium-specific monoclonal antibody. IC-ELISA for cadmium in environmental and food samples was evaluated.

RESULTSIC-ELISA showed an IC50 of 45.6 microg/L with a detection limit of 1.95 microg/L for cadmium, and showed a mean recovery ranging 97.67%-107.08%. The coefficient of variations for intra- and interassay was 3.41%-6.61% and 4.70%-9.21%, respectively. The correlation coefficient between IC-ELISA and GFAAS was 0.998.

CONCLUSIONIC-ELISA can detect and quantify cadmium residue in environmental or food samples.

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Cadmium ; chemistry ; Environmental Pollutants ; chemistry ; Food Contamination ; analysis ; Immunoassay ; methods ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo determine the characteristics of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in different human prostate cancer cell lines and explore the molecular mechanisms of bone metastatic potentials.

METHODSExpressions of E-cadherin, N-cadherin and Vimentin in several prostate cancer cell lines (LNCaP, C4, C4-2, IF11, IA8, Du145 and PC-3) with different metastatic potentials were detected by Western blotting.

RESULTSThere was remarkable difference in the expressions of E-cadherin, N-cadherin and Vimentin between these cell lines. As one of the adhesion associated proteins, E-cadherin was detected with high expression in LNCaP, C4, C4-2 and PC-3, whereas with a low expression in IF11, IA8 and Du145. However, as one of the mesenchymal proteins, N-cadherin was shown to be completely different from Vimentin expression profile in these cell lines.

CONCLUSIONThere is actual difference in the EMT phenotypes among cell lines with different metastatic potentials. LNCaP, C4, C4-2 and PC-3 are cells without EMT change, while IF11, IA8 and Du145 are positive for EMT. The expressions of EMT associated proteins play important roles in promoting and repressing the metastasis of prostate cancer.

Blotting, Western ; Bone Neoplasms ; secondary ; Cadherins ; biosynthesis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Epithelial Cells ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Vimentin ; biosynthesis

To explore the angiotensin peptide [Ang (1-7)]-mediated inhibition of Ang II in human hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and determine the involvement of the ACE2-Ang (1-7)-Mas axis. The human HSC line, LX2, was used in all experiments, and divided into control (unstimulated) and Ang II-stimulated (10-6 mol/L) groups. The Ang II-stimulated cells were further divided among several pre-treatment (prior to Ang II) groups: ROCK-inhibited (Y27632 blocking agent, 10-6 mol/L); irbesartan-inhibited (AT-1 receptor antagonist, 10-6 mol/L); and Mas receptor-inhibited (A779 Mas receptor antagonist, 10-6 mol/L). To explore the potential inhibitory effects of various Ang family members, the Ang II-stimulated and pre-treated LX2 cells were exposed to Ang (1-7) (10-6 mol/L) for 24 h. Western blot, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and QuantiGene assay were used to assess changes in protein and mRNA expression levels of RhoA, ROCK, and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). Compared with the control group, Ang II-stimulated cells showed significantly increased levels of RhoA protein (0.337+/-0.074 vs. 0.870+/-0.093), ROCK2 mRNA (0.747+/-0.061 vs. 0.368+/-0.023), and CTGF mRNA (0.262+/-0.007 vs. 0.578+/-0.028) (all, P less than 0.01). Pre-treatment with irbesartan or Y27632 eliminated these responses. Ang (1-7) inhibited the Ang II-stimulated up-regulation of RhoA, ROCK, and CTGF. Ang (1-7) can inhibit the Ang II-stimulated up-regulation of RhoA, ROCK and CTGF in hepatic stellate cells, indicating that the ACE2-Ang (1-7)-Mas axis, an important branch of the renin-Ang-aldosterone system is involved in the occurrence and development of liver fibrosis.
Angiotensin I ; pharmacology ; Angiotensin II ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Peptide Fragments ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Signal Transduction ; rho-Associated Kinases ; metabolism ; rhoA GTP-Binding Protein ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDHypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) is a transcriptional factor that could improve the stimulation of angiogenesis and the metabolic adaptation of tumor cells to hypoxia. A recent study showed that HIF-1alpha could induce colon cancer cells epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, no evidence indicates a similar correlation in human prostate cancer cells. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of HIF-1alpha over-expression on the EMT in human prostate cancer cells.

METHODSWe selected the appropriate cell line for HIF-1alpha induction from those EMT negative prostate cell lines through vimentin gene detection by RT-PCR. As the result, LNCaP cell line is the best one for further experiment. LNCaP cells were transfected with recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1 (-)/HIF-1alpha and pcDNA3.1 (-) control vector by Lipofectamine 2000 system. The positive cell colonies were confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence labeling. Then Transwell polycarbonate filter was used to analyze the invasive potency. The expression of EMT associated proteins, E-cadherin and vimentin, was detected by Western blotting.

RESULTSAmong four of the EMT negative cell lines, LNCaP was the only one expressed the vimentin gene but not the associated protein. The expression level of HIF-1alpha in LNCaP/HIF-1alpha was distinctly higher than that in LNCaP/pcDNA3.1 and LNCaP. The cell numbers of LNCaP/HIF-1alpha that penetrated through the Transwell filter were higher than that of LNCaP/pcDNA3.1 and LNCaP. Compared with the LNCaP/pcDNA3.1 and LNCaP cells, the expression of vimentin was up-regulated in LNCaP/HIF-1alpha, whereas the expression of E-cadherin was down-regulated.

CONCLUSIONSOver-expression of HIF-1alpha stimulates the invasion potency of human prostate carcinoma cells through EMT pathway. The expression of E-cadherin and vimentin, playing established roles in EMT, could be regulated by HIF-1alpha in human prostate cancer cell line.

Cadherins ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Epithelial Cells ; chemistry ; pathology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; physiology ; Male ; Mesoderm ; pathology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Vimentin ; genetics