Objective To investigate a method for the purification of the N?terminal peptide fragment(NT)of the myocardial calcium channel Cav1.2,and characterize its interaction with calmodulin(CaM). Methods EscherichiacoliBL?21 cells were transformed with plasmid pGEX?6p?3/NT harboring the NT?GST fusion gene. The cells harboring pGEX?6p?3/NT were cultured and protein expression was induced with isopropyl?β?D?thiogalactoside(IPTG). Then,the GST?NT fusion protein was purified by using glutathione Sepharose 4B(GS?4B)beads. GST was cleaved off with the PreScission protease,and SDS?PAGE was performed to detect the purity and relative molecular weight of the purified peptide. Further, GST pull?down assay was performed to characterize the interaction of the NT peptide with CaM. Results SDS?PAGE analysis showed that the NT peptide was successfully purified,with high purity. Results of the GST pull?down assay showed that the NT peptide could interact with CaM. Conclusion This study establishes a method for the purification of the NT peptide and lays the foundation for further research on the interaction partners and biological functions of NT.

This article makes a pilot study on the key points of the quality management system of in-vitro diagnostic reagents by analyzing the technical characteristics and production methods of these products as well as the status in quo, and problems the in-vitro diagnostic reagent industry in China is facing nowadays. It can serve as a reference to the supervision departments and the manufacturers in this field which are establishing and running the quality management system.
China ; Equipment and Supplies ; standards ; Humans ; Indicators and Reagents ; chemistry ; standards ; Pilot Projects ; Quality Assurance, Health Care ; organization & administration ; Quality Control ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; standards ; Safety Management ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; organization & administration ; standards ; Total Quality Management

This article introduces the definition, classification, premarket admission and other administering specialities about In-Vitro Diagnostic Reagents in the U.S.A. and China. And by analyzing manufacture and administration of In-Vitro Diagnostic Reagents in our country, It is pointed out that a suitable administering model in accordance with the characteristics of In-Vitro Diagnostic Reagents should be adopted to perfect the administration.
China ; Device Approval ; Indicators and Reagents ; classification ; standards ; Quality Control ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; classification ; standards ; United States ; United States Food and Drug Administration

The purpose of this study is to investigate the activity and mechanism of a new anti-tumor agent T03. MTT and colony formation assay were performed to determine anti-proliferation activity of T03 in vitro. Antitumor activity was observed by Renca xenograft model in vivo. The effect of T03 on cell cycle and apoptosis were measured by FCM analysis. Western blotting was performed to investigate the expression level of proteins in HepG2 cell lines treated with T03. T03 had anti-tumor activity by inhibiting tumor cell growth and colony formation in vitro, especially on hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HCC). At the concentration of 10 micromol x L(-1), T03 induced cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in HCC. Moreover, it proved that T03 reduced the tumor weight with the rate of 42.30% without any obviously side effect in Renca xenograft model. At the concentration of 2.0 micromol x L(-1), T03 was able to reduce the level of p-c-Raf (Ser259), and thus blocked Raf/MEK/ERK and AKT signaling in HepG2 cell lines. The result suggested that T03 has the potential to inhibit cell proliferation and induce cell apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo, particularly active against HCC, indicating T03 and its analogues may serve as a new anti-cancer drug against hepatocellular carcinoma.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Hep G2 Cells ; drug effects ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Objective To investigate the factors associated with the occurrence of pulmonary complication in patients with cervical spine fiactures and concurrent cervical cord injury in Wenchuan earthquake. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted among the 9 patients with cervical spine fractures and cervical cord injuries treated in our department between May 12 to August 6, 2008. Results All the patients received surgical treatment for cervical spine fractures and cervical cord injuries. Six of the patients developed pulmonary complications 5 days after the injury, including 3 patients with pneumonia, 2 with ventilation disorder, and 1 with lung edema and hemopnenmothorax. Aggressive respiratory management was administered in these patients, and the pulmonary complications were effectively controlled. Conclusion Patients with cervical spine fractures and concurrent cervical cord injury often experience severe pulmonary complications during the acute phase (<5 days), which can be more likely in patients with high level injury, chest trauma, old age, preexisting pulmonary illnesses or smoking history. Early detection of the complications results in better therapeutic effect with conservative therapy.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the current smoking regulations and their impacts on the environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) levels inside restaurants and bars in Beijing.

METHODSTelephone survey was used to investigate the smoking regulations. TSI Sidepak AM510 was used to measure the level of fine particles less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5) in restaurants and bars. Analysis of variance and non-parametric rank tests were used to examine the association between indoor and outdoor PM2.5 levels and (1) smoking regulations; and (2) types of restaurants and bars.

RESULTSOf the 305 restaurants and bars surveyed, 27.9% had complete or partial smoking prohibiting rules. The average indoor PM2.5, level of the 92 restaurants and bars was 253.08 microg/m3 , 102.37% higher than the outdoor level. The average indoor and outdoor PM2.5 levels in the restaurants and bars with smoking ban regulations were 93.10 microg/m3 and 110.33 microg/m3 whole 289.34 microg/m3 and 128.40 microg/m3 in those without, respectively. The average indoor and outdoor PM2.5 levels of bars were 413.46 microg/m3 and 190.62 microg/m3, respectively, while in the western fast-food restaurants, they were 83.86 microg/m3 and 104.77 microg/m3, respectively. The outdoor PM2.5 levels were higher than the indoor levels in different classes of restaurants and bars. Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation between PM2.5 levels and the number of smokers per cube meters (r = 0.47, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSmoking regulations could effectively reduce the ETS level in restaurants and bars.

Air Pollution, Indoor ; analysis ; legislation & jurisprudence ; China ; Environmental Monitoring ; Particulate Matter ; analysis ; Restaurants ; Smoking ; legislation & jurisprudence ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution ; analysis ; legislation & jurisprudence

OBJECTIVETo describe the epidemiological characteristics of overweight and obesity among people aged 18 and over in Guangdong province in 2002, and to identify the populations and regions under high risk.

METHODSCross-sectional survey was used through sampling on multi-stage randomized clusters. Data of socialeconomic status were collected by face-to-face interview. Data on weight and height was obtained through physical check-ups.

RESULTSA sample size of 15 130 people and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 22.03 +/- 3.38 with no significant difference between males and females. However the significant difference was seen between cities and rural areas. The crude prevalence rate of overweight and obesity were 16.8% and 1.8%, and the age-adjusted rate were 15.0% and 1.7%, respectively. The crude rate of overweight in cities (24.8%) and males (17.5%) were higher than that in rural areas (9.4%) and females (16.2%). The crude rate of obesity in cities was seen higher than that in the rural areas, but not significantly different between females and males. The results of logistic regression analysis showed that the major risk factors influencing overweight would include household income, age, gender, smoking habits, physical exercises and location of residence.

CONCLUSIONAbout one sixth of the citizens in Guangdong province were considered to be overweighted and obesive had become an important public health problem. Integrated measures must be taken for prevention and control.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Body Mass Index ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diet ; Exercise ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; Overweight ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Sampling Studies ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 1 gene -519A/G polymorphism and the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in Northern Chinese Han population.

METHODSA total of 517 patients with CHD and 380 healthy adults diagnosed by coronary angiography were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism and DNA sequence technology for the -519A/G polymorphism in MMP1 gene.

RESULTS(1) The frequency of AA genotype was significantly higher in patients with CHD than that in controls [67.70% (350/517) vs. 40.26% (153/380), OR = 1.64, P < 0.001, 95%CI: 1.44 - 1.86]. People carrying A allele had increased risk for CHD (OR = 1.49, P < 0.001, 95%CI: 1.33 - 1.69). (2) The frequency of AA genotype was higher in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) than patients with stable angina pectoris [68.81% (278/404) vs. 51.76% (44/85), P < 0.01, 95%CI: 1.04 - 1.27]. The A allele carriers were more likely to develop ACS (OR = 1.11, 95%CI: 1.01 - 1.21, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOur data shows MMP1 gene -519A/G polymorphism is associated with the risk of CHD, and A allele carriers are more susceptible for CHD in Northern Chinese Han population.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Coronary Disease ; ethnology ; etiology ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

Objective?To compare the clinical effects of domestic video intubationscope (VIS) versus fiberoptic bronchoscope (FOB) for difficult nasotracheal intubation.?Methods?60 ASA Ⅰ or Ⅱ elective patients with difficult airway, Mallampati class Ⅲ or Ⅳ, aged 22 ～ 68 years, weight 53 ～ 82 kg, were randomly divided into domestic video intubationscope group (group V) and fiber bronchoscope group (group F), 30 cases in each group. The nasotracheal intubation was respectively guided by VIS in group V and FOB in group F. Tracheal intubation time, success rate of tracheal intubation and complications of tracheal intubation were recorded. MAP, HR and SpO2 were recorded at before anesthesia induction (T0), after anesthesia induction (T1), at glottic exposure (T2), at intubation (T3).?Results?Compared with T0, MAP and HR were significantly decreased in both groups at T1(P < 0.05). MAP and HR were significantly increased in both groups at T3 than those at T1(P < 0.05), and there were no significant differences between the two groups (P > 0.05). SpO2 during tracheal intubation was no significantly reduced in both groups. The tracheal intubation time were respectively (76.0 ± 18.0) s and (80.0 ± 20.0) s in group V and group F, and the one-time success rate of intubation in group V and group F were respectively 96.7% and 93.3%, but there were no significant differences between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of tracheal intubation complications between the two groups (P > 0.05).?Conclusions?Compared with FOB, difficult nasotracheal intubation guided by domestic VIS also is a safe and reliable, fast and effective method with high intubation success rate and less complications of tracheal intubation.

OBJECTIVETo study hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission through different modes of sharing injection equipment and sexual behavior among injecting drug users (IDUs) in Liangshan of Sichuan province.

METHODSA community-based survey was conducted to investigate past and current demographic data, injection equipment sharing patterns and sexual behavior of IDUs. Blood samples were also taken to test for HCV. The survey was conducted between Nov 8 and Nov 29, 2002. 379 subjects were screened through outreach recruitment and peer informing. SPSS (11.5) was used for data analysis.

RESULTSHCV prevalence was 71.0% (269/379). Needles or syringes sharing in the past three months and past syphilis infection were strongly associated with HCV transmission after univariate analysis using chi-square test. Trend analysis indicated that HCV infection rate increased along with the increase of needles or syringes sharing, sharing of rinse water and the number of peers sharing the equipments. Data from multivariate logistic regression showed that sharing of needles or syringes and history of syphilis infection were significantly associated with HCV transmission. No significant difference was found between HCV infection and sexual behavior after univariate analysis using chi-square test.

CONCLUSIONFurther sero-epidemiological prospective cohort studies should be conducted to clarify the relationship between different modes of sharing injection equipment, sexual behavior and HCV infection.

Adult ; China ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Hepacivirus ; immunology ; Hepatitis C ; blood ; transmission ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; adverse effects ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Needle Sharing ; adverse effects ; Sexual Behavior ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral ; blood ; Surveys and Questionnaires