Activating transcription factor 4 ( ATF4),one of the activating transcription factors,belongs to the cyclic AMP response element binding protein family.The expression of ATF4 is up-regulated by tumor micro-environmental factors.And ATF4 regulates the processes of tumor growth,infiltration,metastasis,apoptosis and drug resistance.Therefore,ATF4 might serve as a potential therapeutic target in cancer.

Objective To investigate the levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein 4 (MCP-4), macrophage derived chemokine (MDC) and cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs) in serum of children with mycoplasma pneumonia (MP). Methods Serum levels of MCP-4, MDC and CysLTs measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay were analyzed in 60 children with MP including 36 children with wheezing (MP wheezing group) and 24 children without wheezing (MP non-wheezing group), 30 children with pneumonia but not infected with mycoplasma pneumonia (NMP group), 35 children with acute asthma exacerbation (asthma group), and 25 health children (control group). Results Serum levels of MCP-4, CysLTs and MDC were found markedly elevated in asthma group. The serum levels of MCP-4 and MDC showed signiifcant difference between each of the groups (all P<0.01) except that between non-wheezing group and NMP group (P>0.05). As for serum level of CysLTs, no signiifcant differences were found between asthma group and MP wheezing group, NMP group and MP-non-wheezing group (all P>0.05). The serum levels of MCP-4, MCD and CysLTs in children with MP were positively correlated with one another. Conclusions MCP-4, MDC and CysLTs play important roles in pathogenesis of MP and are the major causes of wheezing in MP.

Objective To assess the potential of whole blood IFN-γassay for diagnosing mycobacterium in rhesus macaques.Methods Firstly, basic serum IFN-γconcentrations of TST-negative and -positive rhesus macaques were detected.Then, heparinized whole blood from TST-negative and-positive rhesus macaques was incubated with PBS and 200 IU bovine-PPD ( tuberculin purified protein derivative ) for about 24 h, respectively.The supernatant plasma were harvested and used to determine the concentrations of IFN-γ.The results of plasma IFN-γconcentrations and stimulation index ( SI) were used to analyze the diagnostic potential of the whole blood IFN-γassay.Results The basic serum concentrations of IFN-γfor the TST-positive monkeys were significantly higher than that of the TST-negative macaques, showing a high coefficient of variation.There was no significant effect on the production of IFN-γin the TST-negative macaques.While significantly elevation of IFN-γconcentrations was found in stimulated plasma of TST-positive macaques (P<0.01).The SI of TST-positive macaques was significantly higher than the TST-negative ones.ROC curve analysis revealed that IFN-γconcentrations and SI could be used as evaluation index of whole blood IFN-γassay.Conclusions Based on a small sample experiment we have demonstrated that whole blood IFN-γassay may be one possible auxiliary diagnostic method for tuberculin skin test.

Background Clinical work found that triamcinolone acetonide (TA)bleeding during vitrectomy in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR),but its mechanism is not clear.Objective This study was to explore the anastalsis of TA in vitrectomy for PDR.Methods A prospective study was performed.Twelve eyes of 12 patients who received vitrectomy combined with the intraocular use of TA for PDR were in cluded in Tianjin Medical University General Hospital from 2011 to 2014 and served as TA group.Thirty-two eyes of 32 patients who underwent vitrectomy for epimacular membrane or macular hole were enrolled as control group.The vitreous specimens of 0.6 ～0.8 ml was collected during the surgery.The concentrations of urokinase plasminogen activator (u-PA),tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitors 1 (PAI-1) in vatreous were measured by ELISA.Results The mean contents u-PA,t-PA and PAI-1 in the vatreous were 25.45,127.44 and 0.42 ng/ml respectively in the TA group,and those the mean contents in the control group were 22.94,142.37 and 0.27 ng/ml respectively,shouwing a significant difference between the TA group and the control group (Z=-2.268,P＜0.05).NO significant difference was found in vitreous t-PA and PAI-1 between TA and control groups (Z =-0.092,-1.847,both at P＞0.05).Conclusions Vitreous u-PA content is increased in PDR eyes,which is more likely to lead bleeding.Anastalsis of TA during vitrectomy for PDR may be relatived to decreasing vitreous t-PA and u-PA contents as well as increasing PAI-1 contents.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of a comprehensive hypertension management. Methods Hypertensive patients aged≥35 years in the Zhengfei community of Zhengzhou were selected. The patients were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups. Those in intervention group received comprehensive hypertension management from October 2015 to September 2016,whereas those in the control group received the original management mode. Scales to assess blood pressure control, biochemical indexes, unhealthy lifestyle, and cardiovascular disease associated risk level were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the management modes.Results Each study groups had 1 051 patients.There were no significant differences in the baseline data of the two groups (P>0.05). At the end of 1 year of receiving the respective hypertension management modes, each group had 941 patients. Findings revealed that after receiving the comprehensive hypertension management mode, the systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the intervention group decreased by(9.87±7.38)mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa)and(6.33±4.14) mmHg,respectively.Those in the control group decreased by(7.01±6.02)mmHg and(4.52±3.59)mmHg, respectively,statistically significant differences in the extent of reduction of blood pressure between the two groups (P<0.05). Further, the fasting plasma glucose, postprandial blood glucose, low density lipoprotein, serum creatinine,and microalbuminuria levels in the intervention group were significantly lower than those in the control group(all P<0.05).However,the intervention group exhibited a significant increase in the high density lipoprotein level as compared to the control group(P<0.05).There were no significant differences in the total cholesterol,triglyceride,urinary creatinine levels,and body mass index between the two groups(P>0.05), although they had decreased in both groups. After the 1-year management, these proportions of smoking,heavy drinking,high salt diet and need to exercise were 10.0%,3.7%,20.1%,and 48.9% in the intervention group, and 15.3%, 10.0%, 29.0%, and 54.3% in the control group. The proportions were significantly different between the two groups (P<0.05). After the 1-year management, these proportions of low,moderate,and high risk of cardiovascular disease were 13.3%,33.5%,and 53.2% in the intervention group, and 11.2%, 30.1%, and 58.8% in the control group, respectively, with statistically significant differences between the two groups (P< 0.05). After the 1-year management, the proportion of treated, controlled, and control-treated hypertension using medication was 100%, 65.1%, and 75.3% in the intervention group, and 39.5%, 60.3%, and 70.0% in the control group, respectively, with statistically significant differences between the two groups (P< 0.05). Conclusion The comprehensive hypertension management mode was effective in significantly improving the blood pressure and health condition of hypertensive patients.

Cultivating salt-alkali tolerant rice varieties is one of the important ways to meet the increasing food demand of growing global population. In this study, twenty-one rice germplasms with different salt-alkali tolerance were treated with six salt-alkali concentrations at germination and seedling stages. The germination potential, germination rate, shoot length, root length, root number, fresh weight of shoot and seedlings were measured. The average value of salt damage rate was used to evaluate the salt-alkali tolerance. As the salt-alkali concentration increases, the inhibition on seed germination and growth became more obvious. Upon treatment with 1% NaCl plus 0.25% NaHCO₃, the salt damage rate of germination rate has the largest variation, ranging from 0% to 89.80%. The salt damage rate of each trait shows a similar trend at all concentrations. Four germplasm resources with strong salt-alkali tolerance (Dajiugu, Nippobare, Mowanggu and 02428) and 7 sensitive germplasms were screened. The salt-tolerant gene sequence of 4 salt-alkali tolerant varieties and 3 sensitive germplasms were analyzed. OSHAL3 and OsRR22 were identical among the 7 germplasms, but SKC1 and DST showed clear variations between the salt-alkali tolerant and sensitive germplasms. Besides the salt-alkali tolerant germplasm resources, this study can also serve as a reference for mining of genes involved in salt-alkali tolerance and breeding of salt-alkali tolerant rice varieties.
Alkalies ; Germination ; Oryza/genetics* ; Plant Breeding ; Seedlings/genetics*