Environmental Pollutants ; toxicity ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 ; metabolism

Objective To explore the predictive value of serum soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and vascular endothelia growth factor (VEGF) levels in preeclampsia at second trimester. Methods Serum sFlt-1,VEGF concentrations were determined in 172 initial normal pregnant women at 26-28 gestation week.The outcomes of pregnancies were followed.In a cohort of 172 pregnant women, 16 cases of preeclampsia were developed (preeclampsia group),and 156 cases were with no complication (control group).Results The serum levels of sFlt-1 in preeclampsia group (11.4?6.2)?g/L were significantly higher than that in control group(4.5?2.1)?g/L(P＜0.01).The serum levels of sFlt-1 in precelampsia women with the onset before 32 gestation week and fetal growth retardation,(14.0?6.8)?g/L,(14.4?6.7)?g/L were significantly higher than that in women with the onset after 32 gestation week and with no fetal growth retardation (9.0?4.1)?g/L,(8.9?4.0)?g/L,respectively (P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the serum levels of VEGF between preeclampsia group and control group.A sFlt-1 cutoff value of 8.75?g/L at 26-28 gestation week yielded a sensitivity of 87.5%,specificity of 97.4%,positive predictive value of 80.0%,negative predictive value of 88.5%,respectively,for subsequent onset of preeclampsia.Conclusion Maternal serum sFlt-1 concentration at second trimester can be used as an early predictive marker of preeclampsia.

AIM: To investigate the expression of MAT1 protein in pancreatic cancers and the relationship between MAT1 and clinicopathological features of pancreatic cancers. METHODS: 94 surgical specimens, including 70 pancreatic cancers, 10 pancreatic benign tumors, 14 chronic pancreatitis and 10 autopsy normal pancreas tissues, were analyzed immunohistochemically, and then MAT1 expression and clinicopathological features were compared. RESULTS: MAT1 was expressed mainly in the cancer cells,and also in the fibroblasts, where it was localized within the cytoplasm and nuclear envelope. MAT1 expression was found in 75.7% (53/70) of the cancers, but not detected or weakly expressed in control tissues. There was a significant difference in expression of MAT1 among the above four tissues (P

High resolution melting (HRM), an important technology for genotyping and mutation scanning, has broad prospects in the authentification of traditional Chinese medicine. This paper selected universal trnH-psbA primers and used HRM to establish a new methods for identification of Akebia herbs. PCR was conduct at the annealing temperature of 58 degrees C and 35 cycles. The range of the DNA template concentration, the primer concentration and the Mg2+ ion concentration were further analyzed. The results showed the Tm values of Caulis Akebiae was (81.84 ± 0.16), (85.28 ± 0.16) degrees C and Caulis Clematidis Armandii was (83.22 ± 0.19) degrees C and Caulis Aristolochiae manshuriensis was (81.67 ± 0.14) degrees C, (84.24 ± 0.10) degrees C with 5-125 mg - L-' DNA template, 0.4 μmol x L(-1) primer, 2.0 mmol x L(-1) Mg2+. This method can achieve the authentification of Akebia herbs and is simple, fast, high-throughput, visual.
Chemistry Techniques, Analytical ; methods ; DNA, Plant ; chemistry ; genetics ; Genotype ; Magnoliopsida ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Transition Temperature

Listeria monocytogenes(L.monocytogenes)is an important human foodborne pathogen responsible for listeriosis.It is one of the hot topics in food safety area on how to detect L.monocytogenes rapidly and effectively.In recent years,its detection assays have a rapid development.The purpose is to summarize the culture-dependent enrichment,immunoassay-based and nucleic acid-based methods for detection of L.monocytogenes at present.Lastly,the review introduced the new strategy of detection assays.

Objective To investigate the protective effects of atorvastatin on hyperphosphate-induced rat vascular smooth muscle ceils (RVSMCs) calcification and to discuss the mechanism. Methods RVSMCs were placed in various culture media, including normal phosphate medium, high phosphate medium, ZVAD-FMK medium and atorvastatin medium.Calcium content and cell protein content were quantified by the o-cresolphthalein complexone method and BCA protein assay respectively. Calcification was visualized by yon Kossa staining. And cell apoptosis was quantified by ELISA. Results (1)At day 3, 6, 9, RVSMCs calcification occurred more frequently in high phosphate medium than that in normal phosphate medium (P<0.05). (2)At day 6, RVSMCs calcification was significantly inhibited in 1.0 μmol/L and 2.0 μmol/LZVAD-FMK medium (P<0.05). And in 10 nmol/L and I00 nmol/L statin medium, RVSMCscalcium deposition significantly decreased (P<0.05). (3)RVSMCs apoptosis and calcification occurredfrequently in high phosphate medium. And atorvastatin significantly inhibited RVSMCs apoptosisboth in long-term and short-term (P<0.05). Conclusions Hyperphosphate can induce the calcium deposition of RVSMCs in vitro. Atorvastatin protects RVSMCs from phosphate-induced calcification by inhibiting apoptosis.

Objective To evaluate the effect of parathyroid hormone (PTH) on the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in human renal tubular epithelial cells, and to explore the role of MAPK signaling pathway. Methods Real time RT-PCR, Western blot, and reporter gene assay were employed to detect PTH-induced CTGF expression in HK-2 cells. Inhibitors (PD98059 and U0126) of MAPK signaling pathway were used to confirm involved signal pathway. Results HK-2 cells had basic expression level of CTGF mRNA and protein, which were increased significantly after treatment with PTH. The luciferase activity was up-regulated to a higher level as compared with control group after treatment with 10-10 mol/L PTH for 12 h [(1.8884±0.0780) vs (0.9891±0.0300) A, P<0.01]. Moreover, a small amount of p-ERK1/2 was detected in normal HK-2 cells, but it was increased significantly in response to PTH activation, most remarkably when treated with 10-10 mol/L PTH for 30 min. Inhibitors of MAPK signaling pathway, PD98059 and U0126, noticeably inhibited the expression of CTGF mRNA and protein as well as gene promoters in HK-2 cells. Conclusion PTH can induce higher expression of CTGF in HK-2 cells probably via MAPK signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the effect of parathyroid hormone (PTH) on the transition and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression of human renal proximal tubular epithelial cell line HK-2 . Methods The expression of CTGF mRNA and protein of HK-2 cells were measured by real time RT-PCR and Western blot respectively . The effect of PTH on the phenotypic transformation of HK-2 cells was examined by light microscopy . The expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in HK-2 cells was detected by immunofluorescence . Results Basal level of CTGF mRNA and the protein expression were detected in HK-2 ceils . PTH upregulated the expression of CTGF mRNA and protein with the maximal response at the concentration of 10-10 mol/L and the best stimulating time was at 72 h . After exposure to PTH (10-10tool/L) for 12 hours, the highest level of luciferase activity was 1 .96 fold as compared to control (1 .888±0 .078 vs 0 .989±0 .030, P＜0 .01 ) . Untreated cells showed negligible expression of ±-SMA,whereas ±-SMA expression was significantly increased in cells treated with PTH . Conclusion PTH up-regulates CTGF expression and induces transition of HK-2 cells .

Objective To investigate the effect and mechnism of preptin on connect tissue growth factor (CTGF) in human osteoblasts. Methods Recombinant human preptin was used to treat primary human osteoblasts, and Western blot was used to detect CTGF protein level. Mitogen-activated protein kinase p38(p38MAPK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2), c-jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK), and their phosphorylation levels were also detected by Western blot. MAPK inhibitors (PD98059, SP600125, or SB203580)were used to elucidate the mechnism of preptin induced expression of CTGF in human osteoblasts. Results Treatment of human osteoblasts with preptin caused a time and dose-dependent increase in CTGF secretion. Preptin induced activation of ERK, but not p38MAPK or JNK in human osteoblasts. Furhermore, pretreatment of human osteoblasts with the ERK inhibitor PD98059 abolished the preptin-induced CTGF secretion. Conclusion Preptin induces CTGF expression in human osteoblasts by means of ERK/MAPK pathway.

Objective:To screen antigen of Helicobacter pylori outer membrane proteins by murine infection model.Methods:Parallel two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2D) of outer membrane proteins extracted from Helicobacter pylori strain SS1 was performed.Western blot of a duplicate 2D gel hybridized with serum from H.pylori-infected murine was employed.Immunogenic H.pylori proteins identified in this way were digested in gel by trypsin and the mass of generated peptides were measured by matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS).The data obtained from peptide mass finger-printing (PMF) were searched using the internet available database.Results:32 proteins were identified and they are in good agreement with typical protective antigens which reacted with serum from H.pylori-infected patients.Conclusion:The results suggest that murine model of H.pylori may be valid to screen antigens for human vaccination and the proteins identified in this paper are valuable for the selection of H.pylori protective antigens as well.