Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cells, Cultured ; Cryopreservation ; Male ; Mice ; Spermatogonia ; cytology ; Stem Cells ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo study the impact of the chloride channel dysfunction of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) on the cytoskeleton of Sertoli cells in the mouse.

METHODSTM4 Sertoli cells were cultured and treated with CFTR(inh)-172 at the concentrations of 1, 5, 10 and 20 μmol/L for 48 hours. Then the cytotoxicity of CFT(inh)-172 was assessed by CCK-8 assay, the expressions of F-actin and Ac-tub in the TM4 Sertoli cells detected by immunofluorescence assay, and those of N-cadherin, vimentin and vinculin determined by qPCR.

RESULTSCFTR(inh)-172 produced cytotoxicity to the TM4 Sertoli cells at the concentration of 20 μmol/L. The expressions of F-actin and Ac-tub were decreased gradually in the TM4 Sertoli cells with the prolonging of treatment time and increasing concentration of CFTR(inh)-172 (P < 0.05). The results of qPCR showed that different concentrations of CFTR(inh)-172 worked no significant influence on the mRNA expressions of N-cadherin, vimentin and vinculin in the Sertoli cells.

CONCLUSIONThe CFTR chloride channel plays an important role in maintaining the normal cytoskeleton of Sertoli cells. The reduced function and expression of the CFTR chloride channel may affect the function of Sertoli cells and consequently spermatogenesis of the testis.

Actins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Benzoates ; pharmacology ; Chloride Channels ; physiology ; Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Cytoskeleton ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Sertoli Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Spermatogenesis ; Thiazolidines ; pharmacology ; Time Factors

This paper expounds how the tractor for the fracture reduction works. The clinical results show that the traction apparatus is a labour-saving and time-saving orthopedic device with simple operation and few suffering to patients.
Arm Injuries ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Equipment Design ; Fracture Fixation ; instrumentation ; methods ; Fractures, Bone ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Humans ; Leg Injuries ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Radiography ; Traction ; instrumentation ; methods

BACKGROUNDFractalkine is an important chemokine mediating local monocyte accumulation and inflammatory reactions in the vascular wall. Aspirin inhibits inflammatory cytokine expression closely related to atherosclerosis through the way independent of platelet and cyclooxygenase (COX). There has been no report about the effect of aspirin on fractalkine expression. We aimed to determine the fractalkine expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) stimulated by tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and the effect of aspirin intervention.

METHODSSix of 8 HUVEC groups received either different concentrations of aspirin (0.02, 0.2, 1.0, 5.0 mmol/L) or 40 micromol/L pyrrolidinecarbodithioc acid (PDTC) or 0.5 micromol/L NS-398. The other two groups were negative control and positive control (TNF-alpha-stimulated). After being incubated for 24 hours, cells of the 8 groups except the negative control one were stimulated with TNF-alpha (4 ng/ml) for another 24 hours. After that, the cells were collected for RNA isolation and protein extraction.

RESULTSBoth mRNA and protein expressions of fractalkine in HUVEC were upregulated by 4 ng/ml TNF-alpha stimulation. Aspirin inhibited fractalkine expression in a dose-dependent manner at mRNA and protein levels. Nuclear factor-kappa B inhibitor, PDTC, effectively decreased the fractalkine expression. Fractalkine expression was not influenced by COX-2 selective inhibitor NS-398. COX-1 protein expression was not changed by either TNF-alpha stimulation or aspirin, PDTC, NS-398 intervention. Both mRNA and protein expression of COX-2 in HUVEC were upregulated by 4 ng/ml TNF-alpha stimulation. Aspirin decreased COX-2 expression in a dose-dependent manner at mRNA and protein levels.

CONCLUSIONSTNF-alpha-stimulated fractalkine expression is suppressed by aspirin in a dose-dependent manner through the nuclear factor-kappa B p65 pathway.

Aspirin ; pharmacology ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line ; Chemokine CX3CL1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology

Background: The common reference intervals (RIs) for thyroid hormones currently used in China are provided by equipment manufacturers. This study aimed to establish thyroid hormone RIs in the population of Lanzhou, a city in the subplateau region of northwest China, and compare them with previous reports and manufacturer-provided values. Methods: In total, 3,123 individuals (1,680 men, 1,443 women) from Lanzhou, an iodine-adequate area of China, perceived as healthy were selected. The Abbott Architect analyzer was used to determine the serum concentration of thyroid hormones. The 95% RI was estimated using the 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles as the lower and upper reference limits, respectively. Results: The serum levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), total triiodothyronine (TT3), antithyroglobulin (ATG) antibody, and antithyroid peroxidase (ATPO) antibody levels were significantly correlated with sex (P<0.05). TSH, total thyroxine (TT4), and ATPO levels were significantly correlated with age (P<0.05). The serum levels of TSH, ATG, and ATPO in men were significantly lower than in women; in contrast, the serum TT3 level was significantly higher in men than in women (P<0.05). Serum TSH, TT3, TT4, and ATG levels differed across age groups (P<0.05), but no such variation was observed for ATG levels (P>0.05). The established RIs of TSH, ATG, and ATPO in this study differed between sexes (P<0.05). The thyroid hormone RIs established herein were inconsistent with the manufacturer-provided values. Conclusion The RIs of thyroid hormones in the healthy population of Lanzhou were inconsistent with those in the manufacturer’s manual. Validated sex-specific values are required for diagnosing thyroid diseases.

OBJECTIVETo study osteoblastic phenotype expression of New Zealand rabbit skin fibroblasts transfected with mouse core binding factor a1/osteoblast specific transplanting factor-2 gene (Cbfa1/Osf2).

METHODSCbfa1/Osf2 gene, engineered into eukaryotic expression vector pSG5, was introduced into New Zealand rabbit skin fibroblasts with catholyte liposomes-Lipofectamine 2000. Meanwhile, those transfected pSG5 and un-transfected were set the control groups. The expression of Cbfa1 gene, osteocalcin (OCN) gene, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) gene and pre-peptide 2 alpha gene of collagen type I were detected by RT-PCR assay. Cbfa1 protein was detected by Western-Blot assay, in-cell ALP activity by p-nitrophenyl phosphate (PNPP) assay and OCN content in the supernatant by radio-immunity method. The ossification nodules was detected by Alizarin-Red staining and scanning electron microscope.

RESULTSCbfa 1mRNA and Cbfa1 protein were expressed in New Zealand rabbit skin fibroblasts transfected with pSG5-Cbfa1/Osf2 from the first day to the fifth day, but they were not detected in the control groups. In the pSG5-Cbfa1/Osf2 transfected group, the expression of ALP gene and OCN gene were respectively induced from the third day and the forth day, pre-peptide 2 alpha gene of collagen type I was enhanced from the third day. From the sixth day, ALP activity greatly increased, OCN strongly secreted, and they were maintained at a high level for about 4 weeks, and the difference was significant compared with the control group (P < 0.05). On the forty-second day, ossification nodules were found on the surface of pSG5-Cbfa1/Osf2 gene transfected cells.

CONCLUSIONSNew Zealand rabbit skin fibroblasts transfected with pSG5-Cbfa1/Osf2 can express osteogenesis-related genes and proteins, and form ossification nodules on their surface.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Animals ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cells, Cultured ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; physiology ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; Mice ; Osteocalcin ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Osteogenesis ; genetics ; physiology ; Rabbits ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo explore the molecular mechanism via which the chemotherapeutic drug hydroxyurea (HU) enhances K562 cell apoptosis induced by tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL).

METHODSChronic myelogenous leukemia-derived K562 and SVT-35 cells were treated with recombinant soluble TRAIL (rsTRAIL) alone or combined with HU for a time course, and the cell viability was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-4-sulfophenyl-2H-tetrazolium-phenazine methosulphate assay. Western blot was performed to analyze the activation of apoptosis-related protein kinases and the expression of apoptosis inhibitor molecules.

RESULTSThe survival rates of SVT-35 and K562 cells treated with 1 μg/ml rsTRAIL for 24 hours were 32% and 93%, respectively. HU significantly increased the sensitivity of K562 cells to rsTRAIL cytotoxicity. Combination of rsTRAIL and HU resulted in the phosphorylation of rat sarcoma (RAS), mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase (MEK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase and in the significant reduction of apoptosis-inhibited molecule Fas associated death domain protein-like interleukin-1 beta-convening enzyme inhibitory protein and cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein-1 in K562 cells.

CONCLUSIONSHU enhanced K562 cell sensitivity to rsTRAIL is mediated by Ras-MEK-ERK signaling pathway. Expression of antiapoptotic proteins cellular Fas associated death domain protein-like interleukin-1 beta-convening enzyme inhibitory protein and cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein-1 is also down-regulated during this process. These results may through light on the therapeutic study of human chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; physiology ; CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hydroxyurea ; pharmacology ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; metabolism ; K562 Cells ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand ; pharmacology

China ; epidemiology ; Congenital Hypothyroidism ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Neonatal Screening

OBJECTIVETo compare the serum levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol in Kazaks and Mongolians from Xinjiang pastoral area.

METHODSA randomized cluster sampling was performed to obtain a representative sample of population in Xinjiang Hefeng pastoral area. Blood was taken from 632 individuals aged 30 and older for measurements of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) by automatic biochemical analyzer. The serum levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was calculated according to the formula.

RESULTSThe mean serum level of LDL-C was significantly higher in Kazaks [(3.68 +/- 1.16) mmol/L] than that in Mongolians [(3.29 +/- 1.23) mmol/L, P < 0.001]. The serum levels of LDL-C in Kazaks were significantly associated with mean artery pressure. The serum levels of LDL-C in Mongolians were significantly associated with body mass index.

CONCLUSIONThe serum levels of LDL-C were higher in Kazaks compared that in Mongolians in Xinjiang pastoral area.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; ethnology ; prevention & control ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sampling Studies ; Triglycerides ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the structure and function of the N-terminal region (NTR) of death receptor 5 (DR5).

METHODSA series of deletions of the DR5 extracellular domain (DR5-ECD) proteins were expressed in E.coli. and purified by affinity chromatography. The binding ability of these deletant proteins to AD5-10, a mouse anti-human DR5 monoclonal antibody, was evaluated by immunoblotting and ELISA.

RESULTSRecombinant DR5-ECD proteins containing the NTR were recognized and bound by AD5-10, while the other deletant proteins without the NTR failed to interact with AD5-10.

CONCLUSIONThere is an AD5-10 targeting site in the NTR of DR5, which may play a role in developing novel immunotherapies for cancers.

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; chemistry ; Binding Sites ; Gene Deletion ; Genetic Engineering ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Mice ; Protein Binding ; Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism