OBJECTIVETo assess the regulating effects of interleukin-1 (IL-1) on gene expression of cartilage specificity gene Sox9 and type II collagen mRNA in the human intervertebral discs.

METHODSRT-PCR were used to investigate the effects of IL-1 on gene expression of Sox9 and type II collagen mRNA in intervertebral discs cells cultures of embryo.

RESULTSThe Sox9 and type II collagen mRNA in intervertebral discs were decreased progressively along with the addition concentrations of IL-1 than the controls. And the mRNA of Sox9 and type II collagen also markedly decreased with the time of culture.

CONCLUSIONSIL-1 could cause dose-dependent and time-dependent inhibition effects on Sox9 and type II collagen gene expression in human intervertebral discs.

Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type II ; genetics ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; High Mobility Group Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Interleukin-1 ; pharmacology ; Intervertebral Disc ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; SOX9 Transcription Factor ; Time Factors ; Transcription Factors ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo establish gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer cell strain and study the role of thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) in drug-resistant process.

METHODSGemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer cell strain SW1990/GZ was induced by increasing drug dosage intermittently, then the changes of its biological features and the activity of TrxR were examined.

RESULTSStable drug-resistant SW1990/GZ cell strain was established by culturing with gemcitabine for 9 months. The morphology and growth characteristics of the cell strain changed remarkably. The cells shrunk and became rounder; its endoplasm expanded; granular substances increased; and the doubling-time was prolonged. Resistance of the cell line to gemcitabine, fluorouracil, adriamycin, and mitomycin significantly increased. The TrxR activity of the drug-resistant cells was increased markedly.

CONCLUSIONSW1990/GZ has certain multidrug resistance to some chemotherapy drugs, and TrxR plays a role in the drug-resistant process.

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Deoxycytidine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Humans ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; enzymology ; pathology ; Thioredoxin-Disulfide Reductase ; drug effects ; metabolism

OBJECTIVESTo construct and screen a primarily phage display library of HCV C and E1 genes evolved with an artificial pattern.

METHODSTwo genes of about 1 kb with different genotypes were evolved by DNA shuffling. The re-assembled HCV C and E1 genes were cloned into a phage vector. After being rescued with helper phage M13KO7, a phage display library was constructed. Then the library was screened with anti-C and E1 McAb. Double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) was carried out on twenty individual phage clones selected randomly to detect their binding and reactive activity with high-titer HCV-positive sera. Normal sera were used as controls.

RESULTSThe phage display library of HCV C and E1 genes which evolved with an artificial pattern was constructed. Their capacity amounted to 1.64 x 10(6), and 86 percent of the clones contained C and E1 genes. After four rounds of panning, the phage library was specifically enriched. Twelve positive clones were successfully screened.

CONCLUSIONThe capacity and diversity of the constructed library are enough for screening. The results demonstrate the superiority of the specific binding and reactive activity and affinity of the 12 phage clones from the HCV positive sera.

DNA, Viral ; genetics ; Gene Library ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; Peptide Library ; Viral Core Proteins ; genetics ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; genetics

Objective To investigate antibiotics resistance of Proteus mirabilis isolated from stools of patients with acute diarrhea for the prevention and treatment of its infection and the rational use of antibiotics. Methods Stool samples of acute diarrhea patients were collected in the diarrhea outpatient clinic of the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University and Tianjin Medical University General Hospital from 2013 to 2014. Enrichment culture and biochemical identification were used to isolate and identify Proteus mirabilis, which were further performed antimicrobial susceptibility testing and class 1 integron detection. Extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) phenotype and ESBLs genes (TEM, OXA and CTX-M) were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and sequencing were carried on in parts of suspected isolates. ESBLs-positive strains were analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Results A total of 277 strains of non-repetitive Proteus mirabilis were isolated, and 268 of them were performed antimicrobial susceptibility testing (the remaining 9 strains failed to recover). Relative higher resistant rates were trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (30.2%), ampicillin (25.4%), nalidixic acid (25.7%), streptomycin (21.6%) and chloramphenicol (21.3%). The multiple drug resistance rate was 24.6% (66/268). The positive rate of class 1 integron was 22.8%(61/268). Resistance rates to third-generation cephalosporin, ciprofloxacin and imipenem were less than 10%, but 4 isolates were resistant to imipenem, third-generation cephalosporin, fluoroquinolones, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and chloramphenicol simultaneously. Three cefotaxime-resistant strains (1062, 1505 and 1650) were positive for ESBLs phenotype and harbored CTX-M extended-spectrum β-lactamase genes, among them 2 strains also carried TEM and/or OXA β-lactamase genes. The clustering analysis of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) displayed that the similarities between 1505 and 1650 were 85.7%, and the similarity with 1062 was 58.1%. Conclusion Proteus mirabilis isolated from patients with acute diarrhea in our city show significant multidrug resistance, high positive rate of class 1 integron, and emergence of ESBLs-positive strains resistant to imipenem and fluoroquinolones, which pose a threat to public health. Rational use of antibiotics is important in both clinical and nonclinical settings.

BACKGROUNDThe most significant biological change in intervertebral disc degeneration is the decrease of chondrocyte specific gene and protein expression of Sox9 and collagen type II. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is not expressed in the normal intervertebral disc tissue but increases in the degenerated intervertebral disc tissue. This suggests that IL-1 may play a role in regulation of the expression of Sox9 and collagen type II.

METHODSHuman intervertebral disc cells were isolated and cultured. Sox9 and collagen type II expression during treatment with IL-1, with or without the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activity inhibitor curcumin, were detected by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting, and the activity of the NF-kappaB signaling pathway was detected by the electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA).

RESULTSIL-1 lowered the mRNA level and protein expression of Sox9 and collagen type II in the cultured intervertebral disc cells in a dose dependent manner (P < 0.05), and this effect was attenuated by curcumin. Curcumin alone had no effect on Sox9 and collagen type II expression (P > 0.05). IL-1 at concentrations of 0.1 ng/ml, 1 ng/ml and 10 ng/ml could stimulate the activity of NF-kappaB in the intervertebral disc cells in a dose dependent manner (P < 0.05) that was inhibited by curcumin.

CONCLUSIONSWe demonstrated the previously unknown function of IL-1 in inhibiting Sox9 and collagen type II via NF-kappaB in the intervertebral disc cells. This inhibition can be attenuated by curcumin, which is an effective NF-kappaB activity inhibitor.

Adult ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type II ; genetics ; metabolism ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Humans ; Immunoblotting ; Interleukin-1 ; pharmacology ; Intervertebral Disc ; cytology ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; SOX9 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDNon-cement femoral stems are recognized in clinical use, but there are still some problems. The aim of this research was to make non-cement femoral stems to be press-fit with the medullary cavity.

METHODSTwenty-four healthy adult mongrel dogs were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. In the right hip joint, an artificial femoral bone replacement surgery was conducted. For the experimental group, the replacement surgery of hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated femoral stems was done, while autogeneous morselized bone was implanted into the medullary cavity. For the control group, morselized bone was not implanted. At postoperative 1, 3, 6 months, a test for interfacial shear characteristics was conducted in the MTS810 Tester. The comparison between the two groups' bone-prostheses in shear strength for their interface from shearing destruction was made. A histological observation to check prosthesis-bone interface contact ratios and bone growth was carried out.

RESULTSFor the experimental group, shear strength was 0.317 MPa in 1 month, 1.447 MPa in 3 months, and 1.621 MPa in 6 months. For the control group, shear strength was 0.195 MPa in 1 month, 1.023 MPa in 3 months, and 1.483 MPa in 6 months. The difference was statistically significant. Stereomicroscope-based observation showed that the number of trabecular bones in the experimental group was larger than that of the control group, and bone growth of the former group was better than that of the latter group. Inverted microscopic observation showed that the binding degree between the prosthesis and trabecular bone of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group. Comparatively, the experimental group's trabecular bone had more stromal cells.

CONCLUSIONSThe morselized bones can effectively improve the biological bonding strength and bone-contact ratios in the short term for the HA-coated femoral stem and accelerate the bonding process. The use of morselized autogenous bones played a good role in bone in-growth of the femoral bone stem surface.

Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Coated Materials, Biocompatible ; chemistry ; Dogs ; Durapatite ; chemistry ; Female ; Femur ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Osseointegration ; Random Allocation ; Shear Strength

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of the drug resistance on the radioresistance in human pancreatic cancer cell lines.

METHODSThree drug resistant pancreatic cancer cell sublines induced by fluorouracil (5-FU), adriamycin (ADM) and gemcitabine respectively, SW1990/FU, SW1990/ADM and SW1990/Gz, were tested for the cell cycle and radio-sensitivity with flow cytometry and clonogenic assay.

RESULTSCompared with SW1990, the cell cycle assay indicated higher G(0)/G(1) period percentage in SW1990/FU and SW1990/Gz, but the G(2)/M period percentage decreased; SW1990/FU had the same while SW1990/Gz had lower S period percentage. SW1990/ADM almost had a similar cell cycle with SW1990. Clonogenic assay showed both SW1990/FU and SW1990/Gz had greater survival fraction (SF(2)) than SW1990, but SW1990/ADM had seemingly similar SF(2) as SW1990.

CONCLUSIONDrug resistant pancreatic cancer cell lines have reduced G(2)/M period percentage and increased radioresistance.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Deoxycytidine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; genetics ; Fluorouracil ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Radiation Tolerance ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo explore a more effective therapy for retention of urine induced by spinal cord injury.

METHODSEighty-four cases were randomly divided into a treatment group of 46 cases and a control group of 38 cases. The treatment group were treated with electroacupuncture at Baliao and Huiyang (BL 35), and the control group with electroacupuncture at acupoints routinely selected.

RESULTSThe total effective rate and the cured rate were 82.6% and 43.5% in the treatment group and 63.2% and 23.7% in the control group respectively, with a very significant difference between the two groups (P < 0. 01).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture at Baliao and Huiyang (BL 35) has obvious therapeutic effect on retention of urine induced by spinal cord injury.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; complications ; Urinary Retention ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between heavy metals exposure and neurobehavioral function impairment in welders.

METHODSThe metals exposure in 82 welders and 51 operators were investigated with blood Pb, Cd and Mn via AAS, and the nervous impairment was evaluated with neurobehavioral core test battery (NCTB).

RESULTSPb [(115.49 +/- 79.22) microg/L] and Cd [(3.67 +/- 3.19) microg/L] in welders were significantly higher than operators [(69.32 +/- 50.79) and (0.83 +/- 0.76) microg/L respectively] (P < 0.05). Welders had worse standard scores of NCTB 13 items such as depression-dejection than non-welders (P < 0.05). Significant difference of confusion-bewilderment and forward digit span in welders only existed in different groups of Pb and Mn, respectively. A dose-effect relationship was found between forward digit span and serum Mn level in welders. General linear regression analysis indicated that Pb exposure, Mn exposure and alcohol consume had negative relation with the loss of nervous system function.

CONCLUSIONThe nervous impairment in welders is attributed to occupational exposure to Pb and Mn, concomitantly.

Adult ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; adverse effects ; Central Nervous System Diseases ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Metals, Heavy ; adverse effects ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Welding ; Young Adult

Objective To explore features and clinic values of LNR anatomy with multiple planar reconstruction techniques with 16-slice spiral CT at the same slice.Methods The lumbar vertebrae with normal adults of 55 cases and 23 cases with abnormal ENR caused by 8 cases with protrusion of lumbar disc, 5 cases with spinal stenosis,4 cases with malignant tumor,5 cases with trauma and 1 case with lumbar TB confirmed by operation were scanned with 16-slice spiral CT made in American GE company in routine posture of the lumbar vertebrae,reconstructed LNR with UNIX system in workstation (ADW 4.1),and analyzed their normal and abnormal anatomic manifestations at the same slice.Results All of LNR can symmetrically showed on oblique and coronal planes according to different segments:one segment from L1 to L5(55,100% ),two segments: from L1 to L2,L2 to L3 and L3 to L4(55,100% ),three segments: from L1 to L3 (49,88%),from L2to L4(46,84% )and from L3 to L5(20,36% ),four segments: from L1 to L4 (15,27% )and five segments:(8,15% ),respectively.Each LNR,including their whole shapes of passage from starting to end,direction,size,shape,tension and peripheral relationship and so on can showed clearly on oblique and coronal planes and on other planes. However,the later planes can increase LNR but decreasing numbers of LNR and especially increase very long one LNR reconstruction.Primary manifestation of all diseases can be showed on oppressing along its walking line,meanwhile,20 cases with adhesion, 14 cases with displacement,13 cases atrophy and 9 cases with increasing diameter.Conclusions Image anatomy features of full LNR with 16-slice spiral CT with the multiple plane reconstruction techniques is very ideal ways at the same slice.It is a very valuable way to make diagnosis and treatment of LNR diseases.The concept of"road sing"and showing"at the same slice"of LNR are tried to rise from in order to make foundation for studying their image.