Isocitrate lyase (ICL) which plays a pivotal role in the glyoxylate cycle of mycobacterium tuberculosis(MTB) could be a potential target against mycobacterium tuberculosis.Deoxyribozyme(DRz) is a small single-strand,enzymatic DNA molecule.Assistant by sketch of secondary structure,appropriate and not appropriate target sequences of MTB ICL mRNA were predicted.Two DRzs were designed targeting above sequences respectively.To affirm feasibility of this kind of prediction,in vitro cleavage of MTB ICL mRNA segment by DRz-ICLcf and DRz-ICLcj were performed.The results showed that sketch of secondary structure could indeed predict potential target of DRz.This research will provide basis for developing DRz as a novel antimicrobial agent against MTB.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Dust ; Humans ; Iron ; Male ; Metallurgy ; Occupational Exposure ; Pneumoconiosis ; diagnostic imaging ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Radiography ; Risk Factors ; Steel ; Welding

Objective To explore the effect of ca se-teaching applied to the classes of practical training of parasitology. Methods The case-teaching was tentatively performed in a part of the undergraduates in our school during their parasitology practical training classe s.Results The effect of case-teaching was obviously superior t o the traditional one. The total scores,the theory examination and the specimen recognition scores were all higher in the class which employed the case-teachin g than in the control ones (P

To explore the protective effect of sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate (STS) on microcirculatory disturbance of small intestine in rats with sepsis, and the possible mechanism, a rat model of sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham operated group (S), sepsis group (CLP) and STS treatment group (STS). STS (1 mg/kg) was slowly injected through the right external jugular vein after CLP. The histopathologic changes in the intestinal tissue and changes of mesenteric microcirculation were observed. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the intestinal tissue were determined by using enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in the intestinal tissue was detected by using immunohistochemisty and Western blot, that of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and tissue factor (TF) by using Western blot, and the levels of NF-κB mRNA expression by using RT-PCR respectively. The microcirculatory disturbance of the intestine was aggravated after CLP. The injury of the intestinal tissues was obviously aggravated in CLP group as compared with S group. The expression levels of NF-κB p65, ICAM-1, TF and TNF-α were upregulaed after CLP (P<0.01). STS post-treatment could ameliorate the microcirculatory disturbance, attenuate the injury of the intestinal tissues induced by CLP, and decrease the levels of NF-κB, ICAM-1, TF and TNF-α (P<0.01). It is suggested that STS can ameliorate the microcirculatory disturbance of the small intestine in rats with sepsis, and the mechanism may be associated with the inhibition of inflammatory responses and amelioration of coagulation abnormality.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Animals ; Bone Marrow ; metabolism ; Brain ; metabolism ; Brain Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; CDC2 Protein Kinase ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Glioma ; classification ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; metabolism ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the role of miR-223 in the pathogenesis of acute gouty inflammation.Methods The subjects were divided into 3 groups:65 acute gout patients (AG),50 inter-critical gout patients (IG),and 45 healthy controls (HC).The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the clinical laboratory parameters were all collected.The expression of miR-223 in the PBMCs was detected using realtime fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) (TaqMan probe).The PBMCs of 5 healthy people were stimulated with monosodium urate (MSU) (100 μg/ml) for 12 h,and then,miR-223,NLRP3 mRNA and IL-1β production were all measured using RT-qPCR and ELISA respectively.All data were analyzed by SPSS 17.0 statistical software,Wilcoxon rank sum test,t test and Spearman's correlations analysis were used for statistical analysis.Results ① The expression of miR-223 in AG and IG groups was both significantly decreased than that in the HC group (8±17 vs 26±76,P＜0.05;9±17 vs 26±76,P＜0.05;respectively),AG group was significantly decreased than that in the IG group [8(17) vs 9(17),Z=11.387,P＜0.01].② After stimulated with MSU in healthy controls,IL-1β production and NLRP3 mRNA were both significantly increased [(86±5) pg/ml vs (13±6) pg/ml,t=21.042,P＜0.01;5.2±0.4 vs 1.2±0.4,t=14.640,P＜0.01;respectively],while the expression of miR-223 was significantly decreased (0.34±0.20 vs 1.05±0.24,t=-5.164,P＜0.01).Conclusion The data suggests that miR-223 might be involved in the patho-genesis of spontaneous regulation,but further study is needed to discover the exact mechanism.

AIM To study the effects of coadministration of berberine chloride(Ber) with cyclosporin (CsA) on liver microsomal cytochrome P450 isoenzyme and multi drug resistance gene in rats. METHODS The activities of liver microsomal erythromycin demethylase(ERD) and aminopyrence N demethylase(ADM) were determined. The levels of mRNA expression of CYP3A1, CYP1A1, CYP2E1, mdr1a and mdr1b were assayed with RT PCR. RESULTS After administration for 6 days, all treatment groups except Ber at 100 mg?kg -1 exhibited inhibitory action on ERD activity in rats. ERD activity markedly decreased in all drug treatment groups after taking drug for 12 days. After administration for 6 days, 45 mg?kg -1 CsA, 100 mg?kg -1 Ber coadministrated with 45 mg?kg -1 CsA and 200 mg?kg -1 Ber plus 45 mg?kg -1 CsA had significant inhibitory effects on ADM activity in rats. All groups except 100 mg?kg -1 Ber and 150 mg?kg -1 ketoconazole had the same effects on ADM activity after treatment for 12 days. Again, after 12 days, all drug treatment groups except 100 mg?kg -1 Ber group was found of remarkable inhibition of the mRNA expression of CYP3A1, CYP2E1, mdr1a and mdr1b. The CYP1A1 gene was not detected in all groups. CONCLUSION The mechanism of Ber to increase CsA concentration is that Ber decreases the expression of CYP3A, mdr1a and mdr1b thereby reduces the metabolism and elimination of CsA by liver.

To evaluate the automated segmentation algorithm for detection of intra - retinal layers to process images obtained from ultra- high resolution optical coherence tomography ( OCT ) . Graph theory and the shortest path search based on dynamic programming were applied to automatically segment the 8 intra - retinal layers. We experimentally verified the accuracy and reliability of the algorithm. The results showed that the intra-retinal layer boundaries between automated and manual segmentations matched well. The algorithm successfully segmented the intra- retinal layers in glaucoma, high myopia, and retinitis pigmentosa patients. The proposed automatic segmentation for intra-retinal layers provides a promising tool for quantitative analysis in clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Adult male Kunming mice were divided into normal control group,propylthiouracil(PTU) treated group and PTU+T_4 treated group.Neurogranin(Ng)protein expression in the hippocampus after 8 weeks was assayed by Western blotting and immunohistochemical method.Results showed that Ng protein was decreased in the hippocampus of male mice with adult-onset hypothyroidism,suggesting that decreased Ng,which is correctable by T_4,is involved in cognitive dysfunction in adult-onset hypothyroid male mice.

OBJECTIVETo explore the antitumoral effect of indirubin on androgen-independent prostate cancer PC-3 cells and its possible mechanisms.

METHODSWe measured the inhibitory effect of indirubin on the proliferation of prostate cancer PC-3 cells using MTT assay, detected their cell cycles by flow cytometry, and determined the expressions of the cell cycle regulatory protein cyclin D1 and its related downstream gene c-myc by Western blot.

RESULTSThe viability of the PC-3 cells was significantly decreased by indirubin in a concentration-dependent manner, reduced to 52. 2% and 13. 6% at 5 and 10 µmol/L, respectively. The cell cycle of the PC-3 cells was markedly inhibited by indirubin at 5 µmol/L, with the cells remarkably increased in the G0 and G1 phases and decreased in the S and G2/M phases. Meanwhile, indirubin also inhibited the expressions of cyclin D1 and c-myc in the Wnt signaling pathway.

CONCLUSIONIndirubin can suppress the proliferation of androgen-independent prostate cancer PC-3 cells, which may be associated with its inhibitory effect on the cell cycle and Wnt signaling pathway.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Coloring Agents ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Genes, myc ; Humans ; Indoles ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc ; metabolism ; Tetrazolium Salts ; Thiazoles