The Telomeric Repeat Amplification Protocol(TRAP)and its modified versions change the size and/or the ratio of the telomerase products in the amplification stage of the assay.Based on TRAP,a useful method was developed for detecting telomerase activity in rice.A special precursor primer and a special reverse primer and conducted two steps of PCR cycles were designed.GENE Genius? Bio-imaging System was applied for this quantitative analysis for exploring telomerase activity and its optimal reaction conditions.The method ensured that the optimal reaction conditions for the telomerase was 19℃,13minutes,at a concentration of 0.28 u g/? l.A quantitative analysis method was established for detecting telomerase activity in rice.With this method,we detected telomerase activity in roots,young leaves and young panicles of six parental lines of hybrid rice.The results show that young panicles have the highest telomerase activity,demonstrating that telomerase activity is closely related to the cell vitality in plants.

BACKGROUND:Previous studies concerning neuromechanism of acupuncture for regulating gastric function mainly focused on peripheral nerve, involving in central nervous system. In particular, there are few studies addressing higher central nervous system.
OBJECTIVE:To explore the effects of acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) and Zusanli (ST36) on gastric-related neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus.
METHODS:Using microelectrode extracellular recording technique, gastric related neurons in the paraventricular nucleus were found in gastric distension rats. Stimulation was conducted for 30 seconds by hand acupuncture at Neiguan and Zusanli. The effects of acupuncture on gastric-related neurons in the paraventricular nucleus were observed.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The discharge of 109 neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus of 60 rats was recorded. A total of 56 gastric-related neurons of the 109 neurons were observed. The number of neurons response to acupunctures at Zusanli, Neiguan, Pishu (BL20) and Weishu (BL21) were respectively 44, 47, 29, and 33, with the reaction proportion of 78.57%, 83.47%, 51.79%and 58.93%. Results suggested that there exist gastric distension stimulation and acupuncture stimulations from neurons soma to visceral reaction in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, which simultaneously participates in the regulation of acupuncture on the gastric function.

BACKGROUND:Preliminary studies of our research group mainly focus on the role of nucleus of solitary tract in gastric noxious stimulation and acupuncture point, while dorsal nucleus of vagus nerve, nucleus of solitary tract and area postrema are the necessary component for vagus nerve complex, and dorsal nucleus of vagus nerve plays a crucial role in the regulation of gastric functions. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of acupuncture at Zusanli, Neiguan, Pishu and Shenshu acupoints on the gastric-related neurons in dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve. METHODS:The gastric related neurons in dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve of gastric distension rats were identified using extracellular recording technique, according to neuroelectrophysiology method. Acupuncture stimulation was given to Zusanli, Neiguan, Pishu and Shenshu for 15 seconds. The effect of body stimulation on the gastric distension related neurons in dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve of rats was recorded. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Among the involved 24 rats, 90 neurons at paraventricular hypothalamic necleus exhibited discharge. Among the discharged neurons, 54 neurons were related to gastric distension. After acupuncture stimulation at Zusanli, Neiguan, Pishu and Shenshu, there were 44, 39, 38, 27 neurons giving a response, the reaction rate was 82%, 72%, 70%and 50%, respectively. Acupunture at different nerve segment acupoints can activate the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve to different degrees, which is involved in the regulation of gastric motility.

BACKGROUND: It is necessary to establish a high throughput screening system for anti -inflammatory drugs for rheumatoid arthritis.OBJECTIVE: To construct an eukaryotic expression vector p4CCL20-ZsGreen1-DR with the NF-kB cis-acting element 4×CCL20motif as an enhancer, SV40 as a promoter, and ZsGreen1-DR as a reporter gene.METHODS: The target fragment SV40 was PCR amplified using PGL2-control plasmid as a template. KpnⅠ/Bam HⅠ restriction sites were introduced into the flank of the target fragment. Then, pSV40-ZsGreen1-DR vector was constructed by cloning the target fragment into pZsGreen1-DR plasmid. Finally, p4CCL20-ZsGreen1-DR plasmid was constructed by cloning the double strand DNA of 4×CCL20 motif (with BglⅡ and EcoRⅠ sticky ends at the 5’ and 3’ terminus, respectively) into the corresponding restriction sites of pSV40-ZsGreen1-DR vector (upstream of SV40 promoter).RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: DNA sequencing demonstrated successful construction of p4CCL20-ZsGreen1-DR plasmid.The construction of p4CCL20-ZsGreeR plasmid might be useful to establish a high throughput screening system for anti -inflammatory drugs.

Objective　To investigate the effect of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on vascular endothelial cell injury and plasma endothelin-1 and nitric oxide equilibrium in patients undergoing cardiovascular operation with CPB. Methods　A total of 20 patients with congenital heart disease (Group Ⅰ) and 20 with valvular problem (group Ⅱ) were operated on under CPB respectively. Blood samples were collected from central vein before skin incision, before CPB, 30 min after CPB, at the end of CPB, and end of operation, the first morning and third morning after operation. The levels of plasma thrombomodulin(TM), endothelin-1(ET-1) and nitric oxide(NO) were measured. Results　The plasma TM level was significantly elevated during CPB (P<0.01, P<0.05) and 1 d after operation, reached its peak as (4.88±1.12) ng/ml in Group Ⅰand (8.34±1.84) ng/ml in group Ⅱ at the end of surgery and came back to the level as before operation. The plasma level of ET-1 was also increased significantly after CPB and reached peak as (129.04±22.29) in Group Ⅰ and (156.62±29.66) in Group Ⅱ at the end of operation. And the level was still higher than before operation in 2 groups 3 d after operation. No change was found on the level of NO in 2 groups. Conclusion　CPB may cause extensive acute endothelial cells damage for about 24-48 h and recovered about 72 h and it may also cause an imbalance of ET-1 and NO.

Animals ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Fibrosis ; Kidney ; pathology ; Kidney Tubules ; cytology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Ureteral Obstruction ; pathology

Background Experimental data have shown tnat polymorpnisms in tne angiotensm-converting en- zyme 2(ACE2)gene are related to echocardiographically determined parameters of left ventricular mass,structure or function in the general population whether ACE2 genotype influences the effect of angi0tensin Ⅱ receptor blocker which improve left ventricular remodeling and function is unknown.Objective To investigate the association be- tween ACE2 gene G9570A polymorphism and the effect of irbesartan on left ventricular structure and function in hy- pertensive patients.Methods Two hundred and five male patients and 190 female patients who were preliminaryly diagnosised with mild and moderate essential hypertension were treated with irbesartan for 48 weeks with initial dose of 150 mg/d and titrated to 300 mg/d to reach the targed BP.Gene polymorphisms of ACE2 G9570A were detected by PCR-RFLP methods.The association between changes in the SBP,DBP,parameters of left ventricular struc- ture and function and genotypes of the ACE2 gene locus were analyzed.Results Irbesartan reducted in blood pres- sure in all patients(P

Objective:To compare and explore the effects of needling acupoints at different nerve segmentson the oxytocin (OT) neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus (PVN) and the intragastric pressure, and discuss the possible mechanisms. Methods: Thirty-two healthy adult Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were numbered and divided into 4 groups according to the random number table, a Zusanli (ST 36) group, a Neiguan (PC 6) group, a Weishu (BL 21) group and a control group, with 8 rats in each group. Except the control group, rats in the other three groups received acupuncture at the corresponding acupoints. To observe the differences in double-labeled OT neurons and c-fos neurons of the hypothalamic PVN and the intragastric pressure after acupuncture among the three groups of needling acupoints at different nerve segments. Results:Compared with the control group, the numbers of double-labeled cells in the PVN of the Zusanli (ST 36) group and the Neiguan (PC 6) group decreased significantly, while the intragastric pressure increased significantly (allP<0.05), and the inter-group differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The intragastric pressure in the Weishu (BL 21) group decreased significantly, and the inter-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Compared with the Weishu (BL 21) group, the numbers of OT/c-fos double-labeled cells in PVN of the Zusanli (ST 36) group and the Neiguan (PC 6) group decreased significantly, and the intragastric pressure increased significantly, the inter-group differences were statistically significant (allP<0.01). Conclusion:Acupoints at different nerve segments have different regulation effects on intragastric pressure. The difference may be related to the different nerve conduction pathways by acupoints at different nerve segments in regulating the intragastric pressure. The PVN may be one common integration center for the regulation of gastric function in the three acupoints [Zusanli (ST 36), Neiguan (PC 6) and Weishu (BL 21)] at different nerve segments.

China ; Humans ; Pneumoconiosis ; diagnosis

Objective: To analyze the features of Norovirus outbreaks in schools and kindergartens and the associated factors in Chengdu, 2017, and to provide the scientific basis for Norovious outbreaks prevention and control. Methods: A total of 75 schools and kindergartens in Chengdu of 2017 participated in the study about Norovirus outbreaks. ANOVA and binary Logistic regression models were used to analyze the influencing factors and duration of Norovirus outbreaks. Results: Overall 710 cases were included. There was an average of 9.47 cases and 27.52 hours for each outbreak,decreasing by 1.06 cases and 10.56 hours compared with those of 2016. Most outbreaks happened in kindergartens and in the firstlevel economy regions from January to March, with GII type as the main outbreak. Compared with the first case of vomiting at home, vomiting in public area (OR=11.76, 95%CI=1.63-84.69) was much more serious, and compared with the active report of school/ community, being informed of the outbreak passively (OR=4.09，95%CI=1.04-16.03) was positively associated with outbreak severity. Conclusion To prevent Norovirus infection, specific development and training of dealing with vomiting and feces should be introduced, and measures to increase the ability to surveil and report Norovirus outbreaks should be enhanced.