Objective To study the relationships between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the polymorphisms,promoter methylation,and expression of glutathione S-transferases P1 gene (GST) P1 gene.Methods Using methylation-special PCR (MSP),the methylated status of CpG islands of GSTP1 gene in tumor tissues of 53 HCC and its adjacent nontumor tissues were studied.The enzyme activities of GSTP1 were evaluated by ultraviolet colormetry.And using PCR-RFLP,the genetic polymorphisms of the GSTP1 genes of 74 healthy controls and 53 HCC patients were studied.Results The diffe-rences of the frequency of GSTP1 Ile/Ile,Ile/Val and Val/Val genotypes between HCC patients and the normal controls did not reach statistical significance (X~2=0.84,v=2,P=0.656).The frequency of methyla- tion of CpG islands of GSTP1 gene was significantly higher among the HCC tumor tissues when com- pared to the corresponding nontumor tissues (X~2=19.08,P＜0.001),and significantly higher in stageⅢ-Ⅳcases when compared to the stageⅠ-Ⅱcases (X~2=4.84,P=0.028).GSTP1 enzyme activities of cytoplasm in tumor cells were lower significantly than that in the adjacent nontumor tissues (t=2.49, P=0.014),and significantly higher in stageⅠ-Ⅱcases when compared to the stageⅢ-Ⅳcases (t= 2.31,P=0.025).On the other hand,the GSTP1 enzyme activities of cytoplasm in tumor cells with methylated status of GSTP1 gene were significantly lower than that in tumor cells with unmethylation (t=3.50,P=0.001).Conclusion GSTP1 inactivation via CpG island hypermethylation may contrib- ute to the pathogenesis of HCC.

AIM:To discuss Daidzein intravitreal injection whether has protective and recovery effects on acute nerve damages.
METHODS:After the crush models of acute optic nerve were set up, 72 males SD rats were divided into 4 groups randomly as common group without surgery, FBS negative control group, Daidzein treatment group ( 10μmol/L, 100μmol/L, 1000μmol/L ) and positive control group using rats nerve growth factor ( mNGF, 100ng/mL ). Three days after interference, all experimental animals were executed. HE staining was used to evaluate morphologic change of the retina, immunohisochemical staining and western-blot tests for identifying and quantifying the distinct expression of Caspase-3 and GAP-43 among the groups.
RESULTS: Compared with the normal group and negative control group, retinal morphology of different concentrations of each Daidzein treatment group and positive control group was more complete, the expression of Caspase-3 protein was relatively lower, the expression of GAP-43 protein was relatively higher, the differences have statistically significance (P<0. 05).CONCLUSION: Daizein injection in the vitreous cavity has the capacity of protection and restoration in rat's acute nerve damages.

Aortic valve calcification (AVC) is a pathological process correlated with multiple disease causes and actively regulated by cardiac valve cells. In this study, porcine aortic valve myofibroblasts cultured in vitro were treated with 50 μg z L(-1) of pathological factor tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Tanshinone II A (TSN) with the concentration of 50 mg x L(-1) and TNF-α were combined in incubating cells for 72 h (3 d) and 120 h (5 d). The Western blotting and Real-time PCR were adopted to detect the changes in smooth muscle α actin (α-SMA), bone morphogenetic protein 2 ( BMP2), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in cells, and expressions of key effect proteins GSK-3β and β-catenin on Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway. According to the findings, TNF-α can significantly increase the expression of myofibroblasts α-SMA and add the transformation activity to them, with nearly no expression of BMP2, ALP and mRNA in the control group and the TSN group but significant increase in their expressions in the TNF-α group (P < 0.01), which showed osteoblast-like phenotype. Moreover, TNF-α down-regulated the expression of up-streaming regulator GSK-3β and mRNA expression (P < 0. 01) , notably increased the expression of key effect protein β-catenin, but with no significant difference in mRNA with the control group and the TSN group. The result demonstrated that TSN showed a certain inhibitory effect on TNF-α's pathological impact (P < 0.05) in a time-dependent manner. Inflammatory factor TNF-α may promote the transformation of aortic valvular myofibroblasts to osteoblast-like phenotype by activating Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway in aortic valvular myofibroblasts, so as to cause AVC. Tanshinone II A can have a preventive effect in AVC by activating GSK-3β proteins and regulating signal transduction of Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway.
Animals ; Aortic Valve ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Myofibroblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Swine ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism ; beta Catenin ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the effects of mycoplasma pneumoniae(MP)infection on the exhaled nitric oxide level and lung function in asthmatic children,analyze the correlation between exhaled nitric oxide level and lung function and to provide reference for the treatment and monitoring of asthmatic children.Methods Sixty-eight children aged from 5 to 13 years old with mild or moderate asthma during June 2011 to January 2013 were collected.MP-IgG antibody,MP-IgM antibody,MP-DNA,total serum IgE,FeNO measurement and spirometry were examined on the next day morning.They were divided into two groups according to the pathogen:ashtma with MP group and ashtma without MP group.Then the levels of nitric oxide level and lung function indicators between the two groups were analyzed.Results The FeNO level in ashtma with MP group was significantly higher(P<0.05).There were no differences between two groups in lung function parameters such as FVC,FEV1,FEV1 / Vcmax,MEF25 and MEF50(P>0.05),but differnces were found in MEF75 and PEF(P<0.05).No correlation was found between FeNO levels and lung function parameters(FVC,FEV1,FEV1/Vcmax,MEF50,MEF25,MEF75 and PEF).Conclusion In asthma children with MP infection,the FeNO level was significantly increased and no correlation was found between FeNO levels and lung function.

A research combined trickling filter system and active sludge aeration system was applied in the treatment of industrial wastewater from gas-generating with heavy oil. The wastewater contained both high contents of NH+4-N and mixed hydrocarbons including various PAHs. Its BOD5/COD ratio was less than 0.3 and belongs to recalcitrant, toxic wastewater. The results showed a touch-growth biofilms system was formed on the porous packing material and it played a key role in the decrease of toxicity of the influent. It could also improve the biodegradability of the wastewater.

The macroscopic characteristics, tissue, caterpillar body wall and powder of Ophiocordyceps xuefengensis in different batch numbers were observed and researched by the macroscopic and microscopic identification methods. The result shows that the morphology, size, abdominal annulations of caterpillar, etc. of 0. xuefengensis are the macroscopic identification characteristics, the caterpillar body surface mycelium, body wall sculpture and crochets on abdominal legs are the microscopic identification characteristics. These characters are stable and regular discriminant features, which are proved to be the identification basis of O. xuefengensis. In addition, The characters such as crochets on abdominal legs arrange in two parallel ellipse rings, the inner crochets are long strip, and the external toes are unciform, are specific.
Animals ; Hypocreales ; cytology ; Moths ; anatomy & histology ; cytology ; microbiology

This article reviewed pharmacological study development of Punica granatum L. both at home and abroad in recent years. P. granatum has a long medical usage history. Different parts of P. granatum have wide applications in both traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and other ethnic medicine. Its main chemical compositions were tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids and organic acids. It has obvious pharmacological activities. In recent years, the pharmacological research progress on P. granatum in terms of antibacterial, antiviral, hypoglycemic, antitumor, adjusting blood lipids, antioxidant, and immunoregulation has rapid development. The scientific collection and analysis on effects and new pharmacological research results of P. granatum are hoped to provide references for the study, clinical application, development and utilization of P. granatum and its products.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of tight junction protein Claudin-1 and Claudin-4 in colorectal cancer tissues and its clinical significance.

METHODSImmunohistochemical staining detected the expression of tight junction protein Claudin-1 and Claudin-4 in 60 cases of colorectal cancer and 20 normal colorectal mucosa tissue. The clinical significance was analyzed.

RESULTSThe positive rates of Claudin-1 and Claudin-4 in colorectal cancer tissues were 76.6%(46/60) and 85.0%(51/60), significantly higher than 20.0% (4/20) and 30.0%(6/20) in the normal colorectal mucosa(both P<0.01). The positive rates of Claudin-1 and Claudin-4 were associated with tumor differentiation degree, lymph node metastasis and TNM staging(all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe high expression of the Claudin-1 and Claudin-4 may play a promoting role in colorectal cancer development and progression. Claudin-1 and Claudin-4 may become prognostic markers of colorectal cancer.

Claudin-1 ; analysis ; Claudin-4 ; analysis ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; chemistry ; Disease Progression ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging

WRKY transcription factors are novel transcriptional regulatory factors, which play an important role in regulating plant development, metabolism and other physiological processes. In this study, a new Dendrobium officinale WRKY transcription factor, designated as DoWRKY1 was cloned by using RT-PCR and RACE (GenBank Accession No. KF953910). Bioinformatic analysis demonstrated that, the full-length cDNA of DoWRKY1 was 1,704 bp. And DoWRKY1 contained a 1,629 bp open reading frame (ORF) that encoding a peptide of 542 amino acid residues. The putative DoWRKY1 protein contained two conserved WRKY domains and it belonged to the group I WRKY family protein. Yeast one-hybrid experiment showed that DoWRKY1 had transcriptional activation ability in yeast, and it could activate the expression of downstream report genes (His3 and Ade2). Semi-quantitative RT-PCR experiment showed that DoWRKY1 expressed in roots, stems, leaves and protocorm-like bodies. Real-time qRT-PCR proved that DoWRKY1 could be induced by methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and chitosan (Chitosan), and the expression level of this gene can reach the expression peak at 2 h and 1 h, respectively. These results are useful for further determination of the regulation function of this gene in secondary metabolism of D. officinale.
Cloning, Molecular ; Dendrobium ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; Transcription Factors ; genetics

Background Human paired box gene 6 (PAX6)encodes a transcriptional regulator.It is essential for eye and brain morphogenesis.Mutation of PAX6 gene isresponsible for many congenital ocular malformations,such as aniridia.Aniridia is a autosomal dominant inheritance mode.Objective In this study,PAX6 gene mutation was analyzed in three Chinese families with aniridia through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing.Methods The blood specimens were collected from 5 suffers and normal individuals of 3 aniridia families to extract DNA.The sequences of extron 4-13 were designed based on PAX6 gene.The primer was amplified by PCR and sequenced and compared with the known PAX6 gene sequence.This study complied with Declaration of Helsinki and approved by ethic committee of Sichuan University.Written informed consent was obtained from each individual before any medial examination.ResultsThere were 5 suffers in the 3 families.A heterozygous mutation (c.718 C＞T) in PAX6 gene was identified in 2 patients of family A.This mutation caused an amino acid substitution of arginine to termination codon at position 240 ( p.Arg240X) of PAX6 protein.No similar change in the normal families.No any the alteration of PAX6 gene was detected in family B whatever suffers and normal individuals.In family C,a deletion mutation of c.331 delG ( p.Val111 SerfsX13 ) in PAX6 gene was found.The deletion of one base caused frame shift mutation of PAX6 protein,and no such mutation was seen in other families.Conclusions Mutation of PAX6 gene appeares to be causative mutations of the disease in family A and C.