Objective To investigate the role of directly constitutive activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases(p38MAPKs)signaling in ?-globin gene expression and fetal hemoglobin(HbF)induction,and provide direct data for the relationship between phosphorylation of p38 and erythroid differentiation of human K562 erythroleukemia cells.Methods The human K562 erythroleukemia cells were transfected with pCDNA 3.1-MKK3(Glu)and pCDNA 3.1-MKK3(Ala)recombinant plasmids by lipofectamineTM 2000.Then,the stable cell lines overexpressing constitutively active p38 and constitutively inhibitive p38 activation were established by the addition of G418 to select single cell G418-resistant clones and identification with reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-RCR)and Western blot assays,named K562-MKK3(Glu)and K562-MKK3(Ala)cells,respectively.Furthermore,the direct effects of constitutively active p38 on the ?-globin gene expression and HbF induction were analyzed by RT-PCR and benzidine staining,respectively.Results The results of RT-PCR and Western blot showed that there were no evident changes in the mRNA and protein levels of p38 for various cell models,but compared with K562,K562-vect,and K562-MKK3(Ala)cells,the phosphorylation of p38 and expression of ?-globin levels in K562-MKK3(Glu)cells were significantly up-regulated.The results of benzidine staining displayed that the mean percentages of positive cells stained by benzidine in K562,K562-vect,K562-MKK3(Ala),K562-MKK3(Glu)cells,and K562-MKK3(Glu)cells treated with SB203580 were(3.2?1.4)%,(3.7?1.2)%,(2.8?0.9)%,(32.6?5.3)%,and(7.8? 2.3)%(q = 7.56 P

1)which represented 340 genes and 171 down-regulated(SLR

BACKGROUND: Paraquat (PQ) is a world-wide used herbicide and also a type of common poison for suicide and accidental poisoning. Numerous studies have proved that the concentration of serum PQ plays an important role in prognosis. Spectrophotometry, including common spectrophotometry and second-derivative spectrophotometry, is commonly used for PQ detection in primary hospitals. So far, lack of systematic research on the reliability of the method and the correlation between clinical features of patients with PQ poisoning and the test results has restricted the clinical use of spectrophotometry. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and value of spectrophotometry in detecting the concentration of serum PQ. METHODS: The wavelengths for detecting the concentration of serum PQ by common and second-derivative spectrophotometry were determined. Second-derivative spectrophotometry was applied to detect the concentration of serum PQ. The linear range and precision for detection of PQ concentration by this method were confirmed. The concentration of serum PQ shown by second-derivative spectrophotometry and HPLC were compared in 8 patients with PQ poisoning. Altogether 21 patients with acute poisoning 4 hours after PQ ingestion treated in the period of October 2008 to September 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into higher and lower than 1.8 μg/mL groups based on their concentrations of serum PQ measured by second-derivative spectrophotometry on admission. The severity of clinical manifestations between the two groups were analyzed with Student's t test or Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: The absorption peak of 257 nm could not be found when common spectrophotometry was used to detect the PQ concentration in serum. The calibration curve in the 0.4–8.0 μg/mL range for PQ concentration shown by second-derivative spectrophotometry obeyed Beer's law with r=0.996. The average recovery rates of PQ were within a range of 95.0％ to 99.5％, relative standard deviation (RSD) was within 1.35％ to 5.41％ (n=6), and the lower detection limit was 0.05 μg/mL. The PQ concentrations in serum of 8 patients with PQ poisoning shown by second-derivative spectrophotometry were consistent with the quantitative determinations by HPLC (r=0.995, P<0.0001). The survival rate was 22.2％ in patients whose PQ concentration in serum was more than 1.8 μg/mL, and the incidences of acidosis, oliguria and pneumomediastinum in these patients were 55.6％, 55.6％and 77.8％, respectively. These clinical manifestations were different significantly from those of the patients whose PQ concentration in serum was less than 1.8 μg/mL (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: For common spectrophotometry, the wavelength at 257 nm was not suitable for detecting serum PQ as no absorbance was shown. Second-derivative spectrophotometry was reliable for detecting serum paraquat concentration. Serum PQ concentration detected by second-derivative spectrophotometry could be used to predict the severity of clinical manifestations of patients with PQ poisoning, and PQ content higher than 1.8 μg/mL 4 hours after ingestion could be an important predictive factor for poor prognosis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the value of estimating chronologic age based on the grades of mandibular third molar development. To evaluate whether mandibular third molar could be used as an indicator for estimating the age under or over 18 years. METHODS: The mineralization status of mandibular third molar of 1 845 individuals aged 10 - 30 was graded and marked based on Demirjian's classification of grades reformed by Orhan. Gender difference was examined by t-test. A cubic regression model was established to analyze the correlation between third molar and chronologic age. Each grade of age cumulative distribution diagram and ROC curve was respectively performed to evaluate the relationship between third molar and the age of 18. Using Bayes discriminant analysis, an equation was established for estimating the age of 18. RESULTS: The inner-rater reliability was 0.903. Statistical analysis showed a moderate correlation between age and grade. Significant differences of both genders were found only in grade D and H (P < 0.05). Males at the grades from 1 to D and females at the grades from 1 to C were under 18 years old, and both males and females at grade H were over 18 years old. The area under the ROC curve was 0.797 (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Third molar development shows a high correlation with age, and combined with other indicators, it can be used to estimate the age of 18.
Age Determination by Teeth/methods* ; Asian People ; Bayes Theorem ; China ; Female ; Forensic Dentistry ; Humans ; Male ; Molar, Third/diagnostic imaging* ; Radiography, Panoramic ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sex Characteristics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of total flavonoids of propolis (TFP) on apoptosis of myocardial cells of chronic heart failure and its possible mechanism in rats.

METHODSSix male SD rats were randomly selected as normal control group, the remaining rats were made as chronic heart failure (CHF) model by intraperitoneal injection of adriamycin. The rats in the successful model were randomly divided into five groups (n = 6): CHF group, total flavonoids of propolis low dose group (LD group), total flavonoids of propolis middle dose group (MD group), total flavonoids of propolis high dose group (HD group), digoxin group (DIG group). After six week treatment, cardiac function indexes of rats were recorded by signal acquisition system; brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) content in plasma were detected; Myocardial morphological changes and collagen fiber hyperplasia by HE and Masson staining were observed; Myocardial apoptosis was detected with TUNEL method and protein connexin 43(P-Cx43) expression was detected by Western blot method.

RESULTSCompared with NC group, left ventricular systolic pressure(LVSP) and maximal rise/fall velocity of left ventriculad pressure (± dP/dt(max)) absolute value in CHF group were significantly lowered (P < 0.01) while left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was increased significantly (P < 0.01); Contents of plasma BNP, cTnI, TNF-α and IL-6 in the CHF group were significantly improved (P < 0.01). Compared with CHF group, LVSP, ± dP/dt(max) absolute value in MD and HD groups were increased (P < 0.05), and LVEDP was significantly lowered (P < 0.01); LVEDP in LD group was significantly lowered (P < 0.01), changes in LVSP and ± dp/dt(max) absolue value were not obvious (P > 0.05). BNP, cTnI, TNF-α and IL-6 contents in MD and HD groups were significantly reduced (P < 0.01), but those plasma indicator changes were not obvious in LD group (P > 0.05). Western blot showed that P-Cx43 expression in CHF group was significantly higher than that in NC group (P < 0.01) and that in all TFP treatment groups it was decreased compared with CHF group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), among which pairwise comparisons also showed differences (P < 0.05), myocardial apoptosis index (%)(22.62 ± 3.39) in CHF group was higher than that in NC group( 1.12 ± 0.24) (P < 0.01); compared with CHF group, the apoptosis index of myocardial cells (%) in LD,MD and HD groups, (15.79 + 2.8), (9.28 + 2.1) and (4.73 + 1.14) respectively, were significantly lower than those in the CHF group( P < 0.01). The expression level of P-Cx43 positively correlated with the apoptotic index (r = 0. 861, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONTotal flavonaids of propolis have inhibitory effect on apoptosis of myocardial cells of chronic heart failure induced by adriamycin in rats, and the mechanism may be closely related to the regulation of Cx43 expression, especially the regulatory phosphorylation status.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Chronic Disease ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Doxorubicin ; adverse effects ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Phosphorylation ; Propolis ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Troponin I ; blood ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

AIMTo establish a new and simple flow injection method for the rapid determination of acetylspiramycin (ASPM).

METHODSASPM was determined by chemiluminescence (CL) method combined with flow injection (FI) technology, which was based on the inhibitive effect of ASPM on the chemiluminescence reaction of the luminol-K3Fe (CN)6 system.

RESULTSThe decrease of chemiluminescence intensity was proportional to the logarithm of ASPM concentration (0.1-100) microgram.L-1, the detection limit was 40 ng.L-1 (3 sigma). The whole process, including sampling and washing, could be completed in 0.5 min with a RSD less than 3.0% (n = 5).

CONCLUSIONThe FI-CL method is of both high sensitivity and good selectivity giving a throughput of 120 h-1. The proposed method was applied successfully to the determination of ASPM in pharmaceutical preparations and human urine without any pre-treatment. It was found that the ASPM concentration reached its maximum after being orally administrated for two hours.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; analysis ; blood ; urine ; Flow Injection Analysis ; Humans ; Luminescent Measurements ; Luminol ; chemistry ; Male ; Microchemistry ; Spiramycin ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; blood ; urine

No abstract available.
Angiotensin II* ; Angiotensins* ; Hydrocortisone* ; Insulin*

No abstract available.
Gastrins*

Objective To investigate the curative effect of modified tracheal catheter in acute respiratory failure caused by central airway stenosis.Methods 16 cases inpatient with acute respiratory failure caused by central airway stenosis were involved.Found out the position and range of stenosis of central airway by X-ray and CT of chest and fiberbronchoscope,chose the suitable silicon suction tube and cut it to make a tracheal catheter,then guided the catheter through the stenosis by fiberbronchoscope to construct artificial airway.Results The dyspnea of all 16 cases of acute respiratory failure caused by central airway stenosis could by relieved in short time,the PaO_2 raised from(39?12)mm Hg to(72?10)mm Hg,SaO_2 raised from(75?13)% to(93?3)%,PaCO_2 dropped from(102?21)mm Hg to(62?13)mm Hg after therapy.The effective rate is 100%.There was no other serious complication except for 2 cases of little amount of bleeding in trachea.15 cases survived and one died of serious muhisystem organ failure.Conclusions The use of modified tracheal catheter in treatment of acute respiratory failure caused by central airway stenosis can relieve the acute dyspnea in short time,it also can dilate central airway,save the cost of tracheal balloon dilatation for the follow-up therapy.

Objective To discuss the feasibility and curative effect of broncho-alveolar lavage(BAL)through bronchofiberscope in the treatment of severe toxic pulmonary edema caused by irritative gas.Methods 16 cases se- vere toxic pulmonary edema caused by irritative gas were performed BAL through bronchofiberseope.The index of oxygen in arterial blood,clinical and radiological changes before,during and 2 hours after BAL were observed.Results 2 hours after BAL through bronchofiberscope,the partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood(PaO2)obviously in- creased,the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood(PaCO_2)did not change much.PaO_2 and PaCO_2 had no obvious change before and during BAL.The shadow area in the X-ray film of chest obviously decreased 24 hours af- ter BAL.In all 16 cases,13 cases were cured,1 case got improvement,and 2 cases died.The curative rate was 81%. Conclusion BAL through bronchofiberscope could clear the noxious substance in airway and improve the ventilation function.It was safe and had confirmed curative effect.