Objective To observe the activities of serum peroxidase capacity,and lipid peroxidation of children from Kaschin-Beck disease (KBD) areas of Xinghai county in Qinhai province,and to explore the relationship between antioxidant capacity and KBD.Methods Sixty four KBD and forty six health subjects without KBD were chosen from KBD endemic areas,which included primary schools of Tangnaihai,Xialujuan and Qushian of Xinghai county in Qinghai province,and fifty nine age-matched healthy control subjects without KBD were from a non-KBD endemic area,Nanfan primary school of Chang'an county in Shaanxi province.Twenty patients with KBD and twenty control subjects from KBD areas and non-KBD area were extracted by simple random sampling method.2,3-DAN fluorescence technique was used to test the hair and blood selenium.The biochemical techniques were used to test the indicators of oxidative stress including malondialdehyde(MDA),antioxidant enzyme activities,total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC),serum superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT) and glutathione peroxidase(GSHPx).ResultsAll patients with KBD had significantly lower serum GSH-Px activities[ (59.53 ± 25.23)kU/L] and selenium levels in hair[ (67.64 ± 17.28)μg/L] and blood[(36.27 ± 13.29)μg/L],respectively,than that of control subjects from KBD areas [ ( 91.88 ± 22.99 ) kU/L,( 153.32 ± 24.31 ) μg/L,( 63.06 ± 13.66) μg/L ] and nonKBD areas[ ( 122.68 ± 41.74)kU/L,(242.35 ± 38.56)μg/L,(98.93 ± 17.18)μg/L,all P ＜ 0.05].Serum MDA levels in KBD patients[ (4.64 ± 1.11 )μmol/L] were significantly higher than that in control subjects from KBD [(3.31 ± 1.22)μmol/L] and non-KBD areas[ (3.43 ± 1.29)μmol/L,all P ＜ 0.05].On the other hand,T-AOC,SOD and CAT activities were significantly higher in both KBD[(19.80 ± 6.64),(55.80 ± 8.14),(16.45 ± 5.61 ) kU/L] and control subjects[ (21.71 ± 8.82),(57.45 ± 6.96),(15.63 ± 9.18)kU/L] from KBD areas than that of control subjects from non-KBD area[ (13.56 ± 5.38),(42.79 ± 8.10),(6.05 ± 2.71 )kU/L,all P ＜ 0.05 ].Hair selenium levels,blood selenium levels and GSH-Px activity of control subjects from KBD areas were,respectively,significantly lower than that in control subjects from non-KBD area(all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions These findings strongly confirm the evidence that KBD patients are susceptible to oxidative stress.The results also show the increase in antioxidant enzymes,which could probably be due to adaptive response to pro-oxidant in KBD state.Hence,there seems to be an imbalance between oxidant and antioxidant systems in KBD patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; methods ; Pulmonary Embolism ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Venous Thrombosis ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Young Adult

Objective To determine effects of T-2 toxin and selenium on expression of aggrecanase in human chondrocyte.Methods Human chondrocytes were treated with T-2 toxin(0,1,10,20 μg/L),and/or sodium selenite(final concentration of selenium 0,0.1 mg/L) for 5 days.Aggrecan expression was determined by Western blotting,aggrecanase-1 and aggrecanase-2 mRNA levels were measured by RT-PCR.ResultsSelenium and T-2 toxin had effects on both aggrecan protein levels and its aggrecanases(include aggrecanase-1 and aggrecanase-2 ) mRNA levels(F =0.294,27.71 for aggrecan,F =107.45,362.25 for aggrecanase-l,F =34.68,22.26 for aggrecanase-2,respectively,all P ＜ 0.05),and there was interaction between selenium and T-2 toxin on aggrecan,aggrecanase-1 and aggrecanase-2 expression(F =79.99,230.76,388.33,all P ＜ 0.05).Furthermore,selenium presented significant antagonism to T-2 toxin on aggrecan,aggrecanase-1 and aggrecanase-2 expression.Aggrecan expression levels(0.278 ± 0.015,0.235 ± 0.029,0.195 ± 0.028,0.399 ± 0.028,0.299 ± 0.020,0.263 ±0.019) induced by both 1,10,20 μg/L T-2 toxin and 0,0.1 mg/L selenium were significantly decreased than the levels(0.472 ± 0.0358,0.197 ± 0.018,all P ＜ 0.05) in control group(0 mg/L toxin).Selenium partially blocked the effects induced by 1,10,and 20 μg/L T-2 toxin(all P＜ 0.05).One,10,20 μg/L T-2 toxin and 0,0.1 mg/L selenium increased both aggrecanase-1 mRNA levels(0.535 ± 0.033,1.071 ± 0.043,1.454 ± 0.058,1.057 ±0.048,0.555 ± 0.036,0.902 ± 0.045) and aggrecanase-2 mRNA levels(0.596 ± 0.038,0.656 ± 0.033,0.949 ±0.049,0.600 ± 0.040,0.453 ± 0.031,0.164 ± 0.011),when compared with control(0.481 ± 0.023,0.346 ±0.020 for aggrecanase-1 and 0.387 ± 0.020,1.021 ± 0.046 for aggrecanase-2,respectively,all P ＜ 0.05).Selenium partially blocked 10,20 μg/L T-2 toxins induced upregulation of aggrecanase-1 (all P ＜ 0.05) and aggrecanase-2 (all P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusions These data suggest a possible molecular mechanism that T-2 toxin could induce cartilage matrix degradation through the upregulation of aggrecanases expression and enzyme activities.Trace element selenium has some protective effect on cartilage proteoglycan degradation induced by T-2 toxins.

Aqueous dispersion and stability of Fe3O4 nanoparticles remain an issue unresolved since aggregation of naked iron nanoparticles in water. In this study, we successfully synthesized different Fe3O4 super-paramagnetic nanoparticles which were modified by three kinds of materials [DSPE-MPEG2000, TiO2 and poly acrylic acid (PAA)] and further detected their characteristics. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) clearly showed sizes and morphology of the four kinds of nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction (XRD) proved successfully coating of the three kinds of nanoparticles and their structures were maintained. Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) verified that their magnetic properties fitted for the super-paramagnetic function. More importantly, the particle size analysis indicated that Fe3O4@PAA had a better size distribution, biocompatibility, stability and dispersion than the other two kinds of nanoparticles. In addition, using CNE2 cells as a model, we found that all nanoparticles were nontoxic. Taken together, our data suggest that Fe3O4@PAA nanoaparticles are superior in the application of biomedical field among the four kinds of Fe3O4 nanoparticles in the future.

To investigate the role and mechanism of ceramide (Cer) regulation in alcohol-induced neuronal proliferation and the newborn neurons formation, we used sphingomyelin synthase 2 (predominant enzyme of Cer metabolism) knockout (SMS2(-/-)) and wild type (WT) female mice to establish the model of prenatal alcohol exposure. In 24 h after being given birth (postnatal day 0, P0), the offspring of model mice received blood sphingomyelin (SM) measurement with enzymatic method. On P0, P7, P14 and P30, the proliferation of granule cells in the dentate gyrus and newborn neurons were investigated with immunofluorescent labeling. The expression of protein kinase Cα (PKCα) in the hippocampus was tested with Western blot analysis. The results showed that the SM level of blood in SMS2(-/-) pups was significantly lower than that in WT pups. No matter in SMS2(-/-) or WT mice, the prenatal alcohol exposure down-regulated the SM levels in pups with dose-dependency. In both SMS2(-/-) and WT pups, the number of proliferative neurons and newborn neurons in the dentate gyrus gradually decreased with the growing age. Compared with the WT pups, SMS2(-/-) pups showed significantly more proliferative neurons and newborn neurons in the dentate gyrus. Notably, prenatal alcohol exposure dose-dependently increased proliferative neurons and newborn neurons in the dentate gyrus in both WT and SMS2(-/-) pups. The hippocampal expression of PKCα protein in SMS2(-/-) mice was lower than that in WT mice, and prenatal alcohol exposure could up-regulate the PKCα protein expression in both WT and SMS2(-/-) mice with dose dependency. These results suggest that alcohol exposure during pregnancy can induce the compensatory neural cell proliferation and the production of newborn neurons in offspring, and the Cer-ceramide-1-phosphate (C1P) pathway is involved in alcohol-induced neural cell proliferation. The activation of PKCα may be a key step to start the Cer-C1P pathway and up-regulate the alcohol-induced neural cell proliferation and the newborn neurons formation.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Ceramides ; metabolism ; Dentate Gyrus ; cytology ; Ethanol ; toxicity ; Female ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Neurons ; cytology ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ; physiopathology ; Protein Kinase C-alpha ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transferases (Other Substituted Phosphate Groups) ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the bioaffinity between 8 bufadienolides(Bu) and tumor cells and analyze the correlation between the bioaffinity and the anti-tumor activities of Bu.

METHODMix and cultivate the chloroform extract of Chansu and MGC-803. Measure the content of 8 Bu in supernatant and cells using HPLC and calculate their affinity rate.

RESULTThe coefficient correlation between the decrease of Bu in cell supernatant after affinity and its MGC-803 restrictive activities, and between the cotent percentage of the free Bu in free cells with its MGC-803 restrictive activities, and between the difference between the decrease and the percentage and its MGC-803 restrictive activities is r = 0.82 (P < 0.05), r = -0.04 and r = 0.83 (P < 0.05) respectively.

CONCLUSIONEight Bu have different levels of affinity with MGC-803 which correlate with their anti-tumor activities.

Amphibian Venoms ; chemistry ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Anura ; Bufanolides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy

Aqueous dispersion and stability of Fe3O4 nanoparticles remain an issue unresolved since aggregation of naked iron nanoparticles in water. In this study, we successfully synthesized different Fe3O4 super-paramagnetic nanoparticles which were modified by three kinds of materials [DSPE-MPEG2000, TiO2 and poly acrylic acid (PAA)] and further detected their characteristics. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) clearly showed sizes and morphology of the four kinds of nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction (XRD) proved successfully coating of the three kinds of nanoparticles and their structures were maintained. Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) verified that their magnetic properties fitted for the super-paramagnetic function. More importantly, the particle size analysis indicated that Fe3O4@PAA had a better size distribution, biocompatibility, stability and dispersion than the other two kinds of nanoparticles. In addition, using CNE2 cells as a model, we found that all nanoparticles were nontoxic. Taken together, our data suggest that Fe3O4@PAA nanoaparticles are superior in the application of biomedical field among the four kinds of Fe3O4 nanoparticles in the future.
Ferric Compounds ; chemistry ; Magnetite Nanoparticles ; chemistry ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; Surface Properties ; Water ; chemistry ; X-Ray Diffraction

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of oblique-sagittal black-blood contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (OB-CEMRI) in atherosclerotic carotid artery (CA) assessment before carotid endarterectomy (CEA).

METHODSTwenty-five patients with symptomatic atherosclerotic stenosis in the carotid artery (involving 26 arteries) were scheduled for CEA. OB-CEMRI and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) were conducted within 1 week prior to CEA, and two radiologists independently assessed the location of maximal lumen stenosis, plaque rupture, degree of maximal lumen stenosis and plaque involvement on DSA and OB-CEMRI images. The differences of DSA and the OB-CEMRI in analyzing the plaque conditions were assessed in comparison with matched histological sections of the excised specimens.

RESULTSCompared with the corresponding histological specimens, both DSA (κ=0.807) and OB-CEMRI (κ=0.812) showed a good consistency in defining the location of the maximal lumen stenosis. OB-CEMRI showed a better performance in detecting plaque rupture with higher sensitivity (90.0%) and specificity (83.3%) than DSA (40.0% and 66.7%, respectively). No significant difference was found between DSA and the OB-CEMRI in evaluating the degree of maximal lumen stenosis [(77.33∓3.79)% vs (76.02∓3.95)%, P=0.648]. Compared with the histological examination, OB-CEMRI appeared to underestimate the stenosis. The plaque extent on OB-CEMRI was larger than that on DSA (18.96∓4.96 mm vs 14.80∓3.78 mm, P=0.004), and similar to that by histological examination (18.13∓4.57 mm, P=0.506).

CONCLUSIONSOB-CEMRI allows noninvasive and objective detection of the location of the maximal lumen stenosis, plaque rupture, and plaque extent, though with a lower accuracy than DSA in the assessment of the maximal lumen stenosis. OB-CEMRI combined with DSA offers a more reliable means for preoperative evaluation of the carotid artery plaques for CEA.

Aged ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; pathology ; Carotid Stenosis ; Endarterectomy, Carotid ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To explore the risk factors for intracranial infection in patients after neurosurgery,con-struct and validate a Nomogram prediction model.Methods Data of 978 patients who underwent neurosurgery in a hospital in Nanjing from January 1,2019 to December 31,2022 were retrospectively analyzed.Independent risk fac-tors were screened through logistic univariate and multivariate analyses.Modeling variables were screened through Lasso regression.A Nomogram model was constructed and internally validated by logistic regression.Effectiveness of the model was evaluated with receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve,calibration curve and decision curve.Results Among 978 patients underwent neurosurgery,293 had postoperative intracranial infection,with an inci-dence of healthcare-associated infection of 29.96％.There was no significant difference in age,gender,proportion of coronary heart disease,cerebral infarction,diabetes and hypertension between the infected group and the non-in-fected group(all P＞0.05).Multivariate logistic analysis showed that postoperative intracranial hypertension,fe-ver,increased neutrophil percentage in blood routine examination,turbid cerebrospinal fluid,positive Pan's test,decreased glucose concentration,abnormal ratio of cerebrospinal fluid/serum glucose,positive microbial culture,absence of indwelling external ventricular drainage tubes,presence of indwelling lumbar cistern drainage tubes,use of immunosuppressive agents,and long duration of surgery were independent risk factors for postoperative intracra-nial infection in patients who underwent neurosurgery(all P＜0.05).Fifteen variables were screened out through Lasso regression.Fourteen variables were finally included for modeling after collinear screening,missing data impu-tation(random forest method)and checking pairwise interaction items.A Nomogram prediction model was con-structed,with the area under ROC curve,sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy of 0.885,0.578,0.896,and 0.704,respectively.Internal validation of the model was conducted.The modeling and validation groups presented similar effects.The calibration curve and decision curve also indicated that the model had good predictive efficacy.Conclusion The constructed Nomogram prediction model for postoperative intracranial infection after neurosurgery is scientific,and the prediction indicators are easy to obtain.The model presents with high stability,reliability,and application value,thus can provide reference for the assessment of postoperative intracranial infection after neuro-surgery.

Objective To screen the anti-Helicobacter pylori gastritis active components of the ethyl acetate extract of Alpinia officinarum Hance.Methods The"knock-out"strategy combined with high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)detection was developed to separate the components of the ethyl acetate extract of A.officinarum while obtaining the negative samples without the components.A human gastric epithelial cell(GES-1)model of H.pylori gastritis was established,and the levels of interleukin-6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-8(IL-8)and interleukin-1β(IL-1β)in the supernatant of the cells were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results The total flavonoid fraction,the negative fraction without total diphenylheptanoids,the negative fraction without 5-hydroxy-7-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-3-heptanone(DHPA),and galangin significantly reduced IL-6 levels in the supernatant of H.pylori infected GES-1 cells at a concentration of 8 μg·mL-1 with 24 h incubation.The total flavonoid fraction strongly inhibited the release of IL-6,TNF-α,IL-8,and IL-1β from H.pylori gastritis GES-1 cells at a concentration of 16 μg·mL-1.Conclusions The total flavonoid fraction is the major anti-H.pylori gastritis active component of the ethyl acetate extract of A.officinarum.The results lay the foundation for further elucidation of the material basis of A.officnarum against H.pylori gastritis.