Head ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; therapy ; Humans ; Otolaryngology ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Reading ; United States

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of zinc finger E-box binding homebox 1 (ZEB1) in the prepuce of hypospadias children and its relationship to the incidence of hypospadias.

METHODSPrepuce tissues were collected from 37 children aged 6-15 months undergoing hypospadias repair and 11 age-matched controls receiving circumcision. Based on the position of the urethral meatus, the hypospadias cases were classified as severe (n = 13) and mild-moderate (n = 24). The mRNA and protein expressions of ZEB1 were determined by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe expression of the ZEB1 protein was remarkably higher in the severe (100% [13/13]) and mild-moderate hypospadias patients (75.0% [18/24]) than in the controls (9.1% [1/11]), with statistically significant differences between any two groups (P < 0.05). RT-PCR showed the integrated density value (IDV) of the ZEB1 mRNA expression to be (0.67 ± 0.21), (0.81 ± 0.24), and (1.55 ± 0.29) in the control, mild-moderate, and severe hypospadias patients, respectively, significantly higher in the severe hypospadias than in the control and mild-moderate hypospadias groups (P < 0.05), but with no significant difference between the latter two (P = 0.64).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of ZEB1 is significantly increased in hypospadias patients, and its upregulation is positively correlated with the severity of hypospadias, which suggests that the overexpression of ZEB1 may contribute to the development of hypospadias.

Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Circumcision, Male ; Foreskin ; metabolism ; Homeodomain Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypospadias ; classification ; etiology ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Infant ; Male ; Penis ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation ; Urethra ; Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1

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

Heavy metal leftover on farm and stock products has become a big threat to human. It is necessary to develop some fast and efficient detection methods. Heavy metal immunoassays are new methods for detection of heavy metal ions. Compared to the traditional chemical methods, immunoassays are not only fast, cheap, simple, but also reasonably portable, highly sensitive and selective. It can be used as preliminary screening for rapid determination of heavy metal ions. Except chemical chelators, phytochelatin and metallothionein can also be used for preparing immunogen, both of them can chelate heavy metal ions to carrier protein. There are two prototype assays: polyclonal antibody immunoassay and monoclonal antibody immunoassay. The former includes fluorescence polarization immunoassay; the latter includes indirectly competitive ELISA, one-step competitive immunoassay and KinExA immunoassay. Among these assays, indirectly competitive ELISA which was used for determining heavy metal ions in the early days was easy to be interfered and showed false positive. Fluorescence polarization immunoassay which used polyclonal antibody for determining heavy metal ions was simple and cheap. KinExA instrument could be functioned as an immunosensor for environmental samples. One-step immunoassay which avoided to the addition of second antibody and chromogenic substrate was simple and sensitive. Colloidal gold enhanced immunochromatography assay is a semi-quantitation for determining heavy metal ions. As an adjunctive way for chemical methods, it has the potential application in rapid determination of heavy metal ions.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; immunology ; Gold ; chemistry ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; methods ; Metals, Heavy ; analysis ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the early and mid-term outcome of surgical repair for post-ductal coarctation of the aorta (CoA) under normothermia without cardiopulmonary bypass.

METHODSClinical data from 15 patients (11 males, 4 females, mean age 18 +/- 10 years) undergoing surgical repair for post-ductal CoA under normothermia without cardiopulmonary bypass between January 1999 and December 2004 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 7 isolated cases, 7 cases associated with patent ductus arterious (PDA), 1 case with PDA and ventricular septal defects. Operation was performed under normothermia with partial cross-clamping of descending aorta in 8 cases, compete cross-clamping in 6 cases and temporary shunt in 1 case. Operative techniques adopted prosthetic bypass graft in 9 cases, Gore-Tex patch graft aortoplasty in 4 cases and stenosis resection with end-to-end anastomosis in 2 cases. PDA was ligated at single-stage in 8 cases. Ventricular septal defect was repaired at second stage in 1 case.

RESULTSNo early and late death. Hypertension occurred in 9 cases during early postoperative period but was normalized gradually in 5 cases without medication during follow-up period, from 6 months to 5 years. The arterial blood pressure of lower extremities increased significantly and no hoarseness, paraplegia occurred after operation. No recoarctation and aneurysm formation were found during follow-up.

CONCLUSIONSurgical repair of post-ductal CoA under normothermia without cardiopulmonary bypass is safe and effective, which is a procedure of choice for patients with isolated CoA, CoA associated with PDA, or with other intracardiac anomalies that are ready to be repaired at second-stage.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aortic Coarctation ; surgery ; Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Temperature ; Treatment Outcome

AIMTo study the effect of uvarigrin on mitochondrial dependent pathway during the apoptosis induced by it in MDR KBv200 cells and their parental sensitive KB cells.

METHODSMTT assay was used to detect the cytotoxic effect of uvarigrin on KBv200 and KB cells. Annexin V FITC staining identified uvarigrin-induced apoptosis in KBv200 and KB cells. These cells underwent incubation with DCFH-DA, or DiOC6, followed by flowcytometry for the measurement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential (deltapsim), respectively. The Western blotting analysis was performed on Caspase-9 activation.

RESULTSUvarigrin inhibited the growth of KBv200 cells and KB cells in vitro. Most of the uvarigrin-induced cells death was found to be due to apoptosis, as determined by Annexin V FITC staining. During the apoptosis, the level of ROS increased while the level of deltapsim decreased in a time-dependent manner. Uvarigrin triggered Caspase-9 activation.

CONCLUSIONUvarigrin induced apoptosis in KBv200 cells and KB cells probably through a mitochondria-dependent pathway.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 9 ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Furans ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; KB Cells ; Lactones ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Membrane Potentials ; drug effects ; Mitochondria ; physiology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Uvaria ; chemistry

Redox electrode was used to control redox potential at four different levels (-50 mV, -100 mV, -150 mV, - 230mV) for the study of ethanol fermentation. The result showed that there was notably influence on the yield of ethanol, the formation of glycerol, the secretion of organic acid, biomass and the death of cell by controlling redox potential at different levels. For example: the biomass of ORP at -50 mV was 1.26, 1.86, 2.59 times higher than ORP at -100 mV, -150 mV, -230 mV respectively, the final glycerol concentration was 1.2, 1.1, 1.7 times higher but final ethanol concentration was 0.87, 0.49, 0.51 times lower compared to the latest three ORP control level. And take biomass, ethanol yield, glycerol concentration, and unconsumed glucose into consider, we get the conclusion that it is very favorable for ethanol fermentation by control ORP at 150 mV. So it give us a apocalypse that we can use redox electrode to control the ethanol fermentation exactly on bioreactor scale.
Electrodes ; Ethanol ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; Industrial Microbiology ; methods ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; growth & development ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the safety and immunogenicity of the Bilive combined hepatitis A and B vaccine produced by Sinovac Biotech Co., Ltd.

METHODSSamples were selected from first year students of a senior high school (adults group) and first to fifth grade 1-5 students of 3 primary schools (children group). Those who were susceptible to both hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV), HAV only or HBV only were assigned to group AB, A and B respectively and were vaccinated with three doses (0, 1 and 6 month schedule) of Bilive combined hepatitis A and B vaccine, inactivated hepatitis A vaccine and recombined hepatitis B vaccine respectively. The dosage for adult group was 500 U hepatitis A antigen and/or 10 micro g hepatitis B surface antigen and the dosage for children group was half the dosage of adult group. The potential adverse effects were observed within 72 hours after vaccination. Serum samples were collected for testing anti-HAV and anti-HBs at month 2 and 7 after the initial dose.

RESULTSThe rates of local adverse effects were 0.58% and 2.56% in children AB group and adults AB group and the general adverse effects rates were 9.88% and 5.45% respectively. Both local and general adverse effect rates were not significantly different to the control group. The sero-conversion rate of anti-HAV in children and adults AB group reached 100%, one month after 3 doses. The geometric mean titer (GMTs) reached 33,910 mIU/ml and 23,435 mIU/ml respectively, significant higher than that in control group (group A). The sero-conversion rates of anti-HBs were 97.30% and 96.63%, and GMTs were 103 mIU/ml and 102 mIU/ml in children and adults AB group respectively. No significant difference on sero-conversion and GMT was observed when compared with control group.

CONCLUSIONThe Bilive combined hepatitis A and B vaccine had good safety profile, and the immunogenicity both on anti-HAV and anti-HBs was similar to that of separated components.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Hepatitis A ; prevention & control ; Hepatitis A Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis A Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; immunology ; Hepatitis Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis B ; prevention & control ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Safety ; Vaccines, Combined ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; immunology ; Vaccines, Synthetic ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of coronary microemboliation (CME) on coronary microvascular injury and myocardial endothelin-1 (ET-1) level.

METHODSCME was induced in 10 miniswines by selective infusion of microspheres (45 microm) into left anterior descending artery (LAD). The ET-1 level in coronary sinus was measured with radioimmunoassay. The microvascular integrity indicator CFR was measured by Doppler flow wire in LAD at baseline and after infusion of microspheres.

RESULTCompared to the baseline, CFR decreased significantly with different doses of microspheres. ET-1 level increased significantly with doses of 5 x 10(4) and peaked with 10 x 10(4), and progressively decreased from doses of 12 x 10(4) to 15 x 10(4) microspheres. There was negative correlation between ET-1 and CFR (r=-0.31, P=0.02).

CONCLUSIONThe extent of microvascular injury is not linearly related to the extent of microembolization, but it is closely associated with myocardial ET-1 level.

Animals ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Embolism ; Endothelin-1 ; blood ; Female ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; blood ; pathology ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature

OBJECTIVESTo study the effects of tumor suppressor in lung cancer-1 (TSLC1) on human hepatocyte carcinoma cell line HepG2.

METHODSA full length of TSLC1 cDNA was amplified from RNA of normal human liver cells by RT-PCR, and it was cloned into a pCI-neo expression vector and transfected into human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2. The HepG2 cells transfected with this plasmid (experimental group) and those treated with pCI-neo vector (control group) and without any treatment (blank group) were compared. Cell morphology was studied microscopically and cell growth was analyzed with MTT assay. FACSort flow cytometry analysis was performed to assess the cell cycle distribution and apoptosis.

RESULTSA stable cell line expressing TSLC1 protein was successfully established. Morphologically, cells of the experimental group were tightly aggregated when compared with those of the control and blank groups. The growth of TSLC1-transfected cells was significantly suppressed in vitro compared with those of the control and blank groups. The amount of G0-G1 cells was 63.66%+/-3.83% (P less than 0.01) in the experimental group, while those of the control and blank groups were 47.45%+/-0.91% and 54.47%+/-0.96% respectively. The amount of S phase cells in the experimental group, 22.90%+/-6.04%, was significantly lower (P less than 0.05) than that of the control group (36.58%+/-0.61%) and the blank group (33.61%+/-2.99%), which suggested a G0-G1 cell cycle arresting. The number of cells in early and late phase apoptosis (17.09%+/-0.20% and 16.11%+/-0.40% respectively) were significantly higher than those of the control and blank groups (P less than 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSTSLC1 strongly inhibits the growth of HepG2 cells in vitro and induces apoptosis of the cells, suggesting that TSLC1 may have a tumor suppressor function in HCC.

Apoptosis ; genetics ; Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; Cell Proliferation ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; genetics ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Transfection ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics