Aged ; Coal Mining ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumoconiosis ; complications ; physiopathology ; Tachycardia ; etiology

A batch laboratory test was conducted to examine the effect of biological reductive dechlorination of 2,4-Dichlorophenol(2,4-DCP) by the addition of zero-valent iron(Fe0) in the anaerobic system, through inoculating the anaerobic mixed microorganism acclimated for two months. Meanwhile, several factors that affected "Fe0+ microbe" system were also being discussed. The results showed that, "Fe0+ microbe" system accelerated the biological dechlorination of 2,4-DCP effectively compared to the individual use. The opti-mum quantity of added Fe0 and inoculation was 0.5 g/L and 376.2 mgVSS/L in the combined system respec-tively. It showed the most effective transformation efficiency for 2,4-DCP when initial pH=8.0, whereas it become weaker when initial pH are keeping in acid condition. There existed a proportion between quantity of added Fe0 and inoculation. It enhanced degradable effect of 2,4-dichlorophenol when increased the quan-tity of inoculation at suitable ranges, which generated more enzyme or enzymatic series degraded pollutant.

Objective Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) plays an important role in mediating pulmonary infiltration of neutrophils .The aim of the study was to observe the expression of ICAM-1 and its potential regulators MK 2/HuR in pulmonary micro-vascular endothelial cells ( PMVEC ) in mice with acute respiratory distress syndrome ( ARDS) induced by lipopolysaccharide ( LPS) . Methods Ten 6-8 weeks old healthy C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into an LPS and a control group of equal number , the former injected intraperitoneally with LPS diluted in 100 μL PBS while the latter with PBS only , both at 5 mg per kg of the body weight .At 24 hours after injection , all the mice were sacrificed .Real-time PCR was used to determine the mRNA expressions of HuR and ICAM-1 in the PMVECs, Western bolt employed to detect the protein expressions of MK2, HuR and ICAM-1, and flow cytometry adopted to measure the ICAM-1 expression on the surface of the PMVECs and pulmonary infiltration of neutrophils . Results The W/D ratio in the lung tissue of the mice was significantly lower in the LPS than in the control group (3.61 ±0.28 vs 6.16 ±0.40, P<0.05), while the rate of neutrophil infiltration markedly higher in the former than in the latter ([13.92 ±3.23]%vs [3.24 ±1.24]%, P<0.05).The mRNA and protein expressions of ICAM-1 in the PMVECs were significantly elevated in the LPS group as compared with that in the control (P<0.05), and so was the mRNA expression of HuR (P<0.05).No remarkable changes were observed in the expressions of total MK 2 and HuR proteins, but phosphorylated MK2 (p-MK2) and cytoplasmic HuR were increased in the LPS-stimulated mice. Conclusion Specific blockage or reduction of the HuR expression in PMVECs may lower the expression of ICAM-1, reduce neutrophil infiltration , and lessen pathophysiological changes in mice with ARDS .

OBJECTIVEIn recent years, some experiments on vitamin A-deprived animals reveal a progressive and ultimately profound impairment of hippocampal CA1 area's long-term potentiation and these losses are fully reversible by dietary vitamin A replenishment in vivo. Our previous study revealed that marginal vitamin A deficiency (MVAD) beginning from embryonic period impairs learning, memory and long-term potentiation (LTP) in young rats. But the losses might not be reversible if the vitamin A supplementation is late, especially when the critical period of hippocampus development is missed. The present study aimed to observe the recovery of learning and memory in vitamin A marginally deficient young rats after early intervention with vitamin A supplementation and begin to study the mechanism.

METHODSRats were divided into control, MVAD, vitamin A intervention 1 (VAI1) and VAI2 groups in this study. In control group (10 young rats) the dams and pups were fed with normal diet (VA 6500 U/kg). In MVAD group (19 young rats) the dams and pups were fed with MVAD diet (VA 400 U/kg). In VAI1 group (10 young rats) the dams were fed with MVAD diet till day 14 of pregnancy, then were fed with normal diet and the pups were fed with normal diet. In VAI2 group (13 young rats) the dams were fed with MVAD diet till delivery, then were fed with normal diet and the pups were fed with normal diet too. All the young rats were killed at the age of 7 weeks. During the last week of the experiment, the shuttle box active avoidance reaction tests were carried out. At week 7, the hippocampal CA1 LTP was detected by electrophysiological technique. The expression of RAR-alpha, RAR-beta, RXR-beta, RXR-gamma, RC3 and tTG mRNA was detected by using semi-quantified RT-PCR in hippocampus.

RESULTS(1) The times to reach the learning standard in MVAD group (45.6 +/- 12.1) were more than those in control group (17.1 +/- 4.4) (P < 0.01), in both VAI1 group (20.8 +/- 3.1) and VAI2 group (22.1 +/- 4.0) were more than those in group MVAD (P < 0.01), and there were no significant differences among groups VAI1, VAI2 and control (P > 0.05) in active avoidance reaction tests. (2) The changes of field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSP) slope for MVAD group [(22.9 +/- 9.4)%] and VAI2 group [(39.1 +/- 4.33)%] were less than that of control group [(57.5 +/- 27.3)%], respectively (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found between VAI1 and control group (P > 0.05). (3) The expression of RAR-beta and RXR-beta mRNA decreased by 48.72% and 37.84% respectively (P < 0.05) compared with control, but the expression of RAR-beta mRNA in group VAI1 was higher than that in group MVAD (P = 0.065). The expression of RC3 mRNA in MVAD group was lower than that in control (P = 0.061) and RAR-alpha mRNA in MVAD group was higher than that in control (P = 0.061). The expression of RXR-gamma and tTG mRNA had no significant difference among different groups as determined with semi-quantified RT-PCR in hippocampus.

CONCLUSIONEarly vitamin A intervention may make the impaired learning and memory behavior due to marginal vitamin A deficiency recover to the normal level in young rats, but lip losses in group VAI2 might not be reversible. Vitamin A may modulate the expression of RC3 mRNA by affecting RAR-alpha, RAR-beta and RXR-beta to influence the LTP, learning and memory.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Animals ; CA1 Region, Hippocampal ; metabolism ; Learning ; drug effects ; Long-Term Potentiation ; drug effects ; Memory ; drug effects ; Neurogranin ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; growth & development ; Receptors, Retinoic Acid ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transglutaminases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Vitamin A ; therapeutic use ; Vitamin A Deficiency ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVEPrevious studies have demonstrated that vitamin A and its active derivatives function as essential competence factors for long-term synaptic plasticity within the adult brain. But little is known if marginal vitamin A deficiency (MVAD) beginning from embryonic period affects the brain development and the ability of learning and memory in young rats. The aim of this study was to identify the effects of MVAD and vitamin A intervention (VAI) on learning, memory and the hippocampal CA1 long-term potentiation (LTP) in young rats.

METHODSRats were divided into control, MVAD and VAI groups in this study. In control group (10 young rats) the dams and pups were fed with normal diet (VA 6500 IU/kg). In MVAD group (19 young rats) the dams and pups were fed with MVAD diet (VA 400 IU/kg). In VAI group (9 young rats) the dams were fed with MVAD diet and the pups were fed with normal diet from postnatal week 4. All the young rats were killed at the age of 7 weeks. During the last week of the experiment, the shuttle box active avoidance reaction tests were carried out. At week 7, the hippocampal CA1 LTP was detected by electrophysiological technique and relative intensity of fluorescence in cells in hippocampal slices was measured by confocal laser scanning microscopy labeled by fluo-3.

RESULTS(1) The times to reach the learning standard in both VAI group (28.8 +/- 4.1) and MVAD group (45.6 +/- 12.1) were more than control group (17.1 +/- 4.4) (P < 0.01), and that of MVAD group was more than VAI group (P < 0.05) in active avoidance reaction tests. (2) The changes of field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSP) slope for MVAD group (22.9% +/- 9.4%) and VAI group (29.5% +/- 13.7%) were less than that of control group (57.5% +/- 27.3%), respectively (P < 0.01). No significant difference was found between VAI and MVAD groups (P > 0.05). (3) No significant differences of relative intensity of fluorescence in cells were found among the three groups before the tetanus stimulation. However, the significantly low relative intensity of fluorescence in cells was seen in MVAD (65.1 +/- 17.0) and VAI (85.8 +/- 17.1) groups compared with control group (113.6 +/- 20.5) after the tetanus stimulation (P < 0.01), and that of VAI group was higher than that of MVAD group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMVAD beginning from embryonic period impairs learning, memory and LTP in young rats. But the losses might not be reversible if the vitamin A supplementation is late especially missing the critical period of hippocampus development. According to the experimental data, it is speculated that vitamin A may modulate the influx of calcium ion to influence the LTP and lead to the change of learning and memory.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Avoidance Learning ; drug effects ; CA1 Region, Hippocampal ; drug effects ; physiology ; Electrophysiology ; Female ; Long-Term Potentiation ; drug effects ; physiology ; Male ; Memory ; drug effects ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Vitamin A ; pharmacology ; Vitamin A Deficiency ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVEEpidemiologic study on the perinatal interaction of antioxidant vitamins and heavy metals on offspring's intellectual development is extremely limited. The aim of this prospective cohort study was to investigate the status of maternal and cord blood antioxidant vitamins (Vitamin A, E and C) and heavy metals (lead, cadmium and mercury) at delivery and correlations between these antioxidant vitamins or metals and neurodevelopment of early childhood, and to explore the protective effect of antioxidant vitamins against the injure of heavy metals to intellectual development in children in Tongliang, Chongqing, China.

METHODA total of 150 pairs of mothers-neonates were recruited. Serum concentrations of vitamin(V) A, vitamin E, vitamin C, lead, cadmium and mercury in maternal and cord blood after delivery were determined and intellectual development was evaluated by Gesell Development Schedule (GDS) at two years of age.

RESULTA total of 111 pairs of maternal-neonatal subjects with completed data were included into statistical analysis. After adjusting for potential confounders, cord blood mercury level was found negatively associated with all the development quotients (DQs) (β = -0.486, β = -0.716, β = -0.846, β = -0.935, β = -0.702, P < 0.05). Cord VE level was positively correlated with motor, adaptation, language and average DQ (β = 0.475, β = 0.458, β = 0.403, β = 0.395, P < 0.05). When antioxidant vitamins and heavy metals levels were all included into the multiple regression model, cord vitamin E level was statistically positively related with motor, adaptation and average DQs (β = 0.449, β = 0.412, β = 0.349, P < 0.05). While cord blood mercury level was negatively correlated with adaptation, language, social and average DQ (β = -0.397, β = -0.727, β = -0.935, β = -0.628, P < 0.05), the relationship between cord mercury level and motor DQ was not statistically significant (P = 0.0890). The motor, adaptation, language and average DQs in high cord VE group were higher than those in low VE group (t = 2.93, t = 2.06, t = 2.13, t = 2.27, P < 0.05). Social DQ in high cord lead group was significantly lower than that in low lead group (χ(2) = 5.56, P = 0.015). Cord VC level in high cadmium group was significantly lower than that in low cadmium group (χ(2) = 7.62, P = 0.006). VA placental transport ratio in high mercury group was significantly lower than those in low mercury group (χ(2) = 8.02, P = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONOur data suggested that there may be certain interaction between antioxidant vitamin A, E, C and heavy metals lead, cadmium, mercury. Antioxidant vitamins at delivery may have protective effect on the early neurodevelopment via interaction with the heavy metals.

Adult ; Antioxidants ; analysis ; Child Development ; Child, Preschool ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intelligence Tests ; Metals, Heavy ; blood ; Pregnancy ; Prospective Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Vitamins ; blood

Objective To compare the therapeutic effects and adverse reactions between intravenous and oral iron,and the effects of erythropoietin (EPO)in patients with chronic renal failure.Methods Between November,2007 and October,2008,48 patients with renal anemia were randomized into 2 groups:intravenous group and oral group,24 in each.The duration of administration lasted for 10 weeks.All patients received regular EPO,with the dose of 100U·kg~(-1),per week. If the patient's hemoglobin (Hb) was more than 100 g·L~(-1),then the dose of EPO decreased by 50%.If the patient's Hb was more than 120 g·L~(-1),then the dose decreased by 75%.The levels of Hb,hematoerit,serum ferritin,adverse reaction and dose of EPO before and 4 weeks,8 weeks and 10 weeks after the administration were observed.Results The levels of Hb,Hematocrit (Hct)and ferritin(SF)in both groups after administration increased compared with before administration;and there was significant difference between the intravenous group and the oral group(P<0.01).The dosages of EPO in both groups after administration were lower than before administration,whereas the dosage in the intravenous group decreased significantly(P<0.05).In the intravenous group,the adverse reactions were significantly lower and the effect of EPO was significantly higher than in the oral group.Conclusion The intravenous iron can not only supply the iron the patients with renal anemia needed,but also increase the effect of EPO and reduce the dosage of EPO.The adverse reactions of intravenous iron are lower and it is safe and convenient.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of the crude extracts of Dan-shen root and San-qi of different proportion on platelet aggregation and adhesion in normal rabbits.

METHODWith rabbits, ig. (4d, exsanguinated via carotid artery, percentage of platelet aggregation and adhesion was measured.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONAspirin (4.4 mg/Kg) could markedly inhibit platelet aggregation and adhesion in normal rabbit. The proportions of Dan-shen root/San-qi (10:0, 10:1, 10:3, 10:6, 1:10) could markedly inhibit platelet aggregation, among which 10:3 was the best. San-qi alone had little effect on aggregation. The proportions of Dan-shen root/San-qi (10:3, 10:6, 0:10) could markedly inhibit platelet adhesion, among which 0:10 was the best, and the proportions(10:0, 10:1, 1:10) had little effect.

Animals ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Female ; Male ; Panax ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Platelet Adhesiveness ; drug effects ; Platelet Aggregation ; drug effects ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

Haploinsuffieiency of the runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) gene is widely known to be responsible for cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD).To date,more than 190 mutations in Runx2 gene have been reported to be related to CCD.In this study,a novel mutation of Runx2 gene was observed in a female with CCD.Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral venous blood of the proband and eleven members of her family.Genetic testing on these twelve people identified a novel missense mutation (c.895T＞C,Y299H) in exon 5 of the RUNX2 gene in the proband.This mutation results in an amino acid change at codon 895 (P.Tyr 299 His.) from a tryptophan codon (TAT) to a histidine codon (CAT).Our finding may further extend the known mutation spectrum of the RUNX2 gene,and facilitate prenatal genetic diagnosis of CCD in the future.

Objective To investigate treatment effects of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) for adenomyosis with severe dysmenorrhea in a prospective cohort study. Methods From December 2006 to December 2014, patients of symptomatic adenomyosis diagnosed by transvaginal ultrasound in outpatient or inpatient clinics of Peking Union Medical College Hospital were given the treatment of LNG-IUS. Before and after placement of LNG-IUS, all the patients′parameters were recorded prospectively, including symptoms and scores of dysmenorrhea, menstruation scores, biochemical indicators, physical parameters, carrying status of LNG-IUS, menstruation patterns and adverse effects. Changes of scores and patterns of pain during follow-up were analyzed. Results Totally 1 100 women meets inclusion criteria, among which 640 cases (58.18%, 640/1 100) had severe dysmeorrhea, with median follow-up period of 35 months (range 1-60 months), and accumulative carrying rate of 65% at 60 months follow-up. After placement of LNG-IUS, scores of pain and ratio of severe dysmenorrhea had decreased significantly compared with baselines (all P<0.01), the scroes of visual analog scale (VAS) were 8.1 ± 0.9, 5.5 ± 2.4, 4.6 ± 2.4, 3.3 ± 2.2, 2.2 ± 2.1, 2.2 ± 1.8, 1.4 ± 1.6 and 1.3 ± 1.3 at 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months respectively. During 36 months after placement of LNG-IUS, scores of pain had improved significantly compared with preceding period (all P<0.01). We found no universal dependent factors predicting improvement of pain, which was neither relevant with simultaneous changes of menstruation patterns nor adverse effects (all P>0.05). Conclusion LNG-IUS is effective for adenomyosis of severe dysmenorrhea. Improvement of pain is independent on patients characters, menstruation patterns or adverse effects.