AIM To investigate the neuroprotective effects and possible mechanisms of saponins from Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bge. (SAaB) on neuronal damage induced by amyloid β-protein fragments 25-35 (Aβ25-35). METHODS Cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages were stimulated with Aβ25-35 (20 μmol·L-1) for 0.5, 1, 2 and 6 h or preincubated with SAaB (10, 30 and 100 μmol·L-1)for 10 min or mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) specific inhibitors (p38 MAPK inhibitor SB 203580 and MEK specific inhibitor PD98059) for 30 min prior to the addition of Aβ25-35(20 μmol·L-1). After stimulation with Aβ25-35 for the indicated times, total cellular extracts were prepared for Western blotting of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 MAPK. After stimulation with Aβ25-35 for 48 h, the supernatants of cultured macrophages were collected for quantification of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and nitric oxide (NO) and protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in macrophages was determined by immunocytochemical staining. To determine whether SAaB has protective effect against neuronal apoptosis mediated by Aβ25-35-induced macrophages activation, macrophages were stimulated with Aβ25-35 in the presence or absence of SAaB (10, 30 and 100 μmol·L-1) for 48 h and then the cell-free supernatant of Aβ25-35-stimulated macrophages was transferred to the culture of cerebellar granule neurons for 72 h. Neuronal apoptosis was quantitated by scoring the percentage of cells with apoptotic nuclear morphology after Hoechst 33258 staining. RESULTS Aβ25-35(20 μmol·L-1) significantly induced increase in phospho-ERK1/2 and phospho-p38 MAPK protein expression without affecting total protein levels and in the production of TNF-α and NO in cultured macrophages. Aβ25-35-induced increase of TNF-α production in macrophages involved activation of ERK1/2 signal pathway. Importantly, TNF-α and NO generated by cultured macrophages after Aβ25-35 stimulation may be responsible for the majority of the neuronal apoptosis. SAaB (30 and 100 μmol·L-1) significantly suppressed Aβ25-35-induced increase in phospho-ERK1/2 and phospho-p38 MAPK protein. In addition, SAaB (10, 30 and 100 μmol·L-1) also decreased the level of TNF-α and NO in supernatants of cultured macrophage and inhibited Aβ25-35-induced increase in iNOS protein expression of macrophages. Neuronal apoptosis mediated by Aβ25-35-induced macrophage activation was also significantly attenuated by treatment with SAaB (10, 30 and 100 μmol·L-1). CONCLUSION SAaB protects neurons against the neuronal cell death induced by Aβ25-35. The beneficial effects of SAaB may be related to the reduction of TNF-α and NO from activated macrophage induced by Aβ25-35.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of PerkinElmer Genetic Screening Processor(GSP) in the application of newborn screening for congenital hypothyroidism (CH) and congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) by detecting thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and 17-OH-progesterone(17-OHP).Methods The dried-blood spots specimens from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) and the quality control in the reagent kit were detected and the accuracy,precision and linearity were calculated.A total of 1 012 samples of TSH(60 of positive and 952 negative samples) and 991 samples of 17-0HP(34 positive and 957 negative samples)were detected.The initial cut-off value was determined by ROC curve determined.The consistency between the results from GSP and clinical diagnosis was analyzed.Results The average of within-run coefficient of variation(CV) of TSH and 17-OHP were 6.69％ to 12.6％ and 7.52％ to 9.29％,and the average of between-run CV were 6.91％ to 10.96％ and 6.86％ to 12.36％,respectively.The average of bias of TSH and 170HP were-14.28％ to-0.74％ and-0.45％ to 12.54％.The linearity of GSP detection was fine.The initial cut-off values were 23.43 U/mL(TSH) and 21.42 ng/mL(17-OHP).The sensitivity of GSP detection was 100％ and the specificity of TSH and 17-OHP were 98.11％ and 99.58 ％ respectively.The results of GSP detection showed good consistency with clinical diagnosis.Conclusion As the first real automatic fluorescence immunoassay analyzer,GSP could be used in routine clinical diagnosis for CH and CAH.

Objective To establish the quality standard for Sanyuan Rupixiao Gel Paste. Methods Sparganii Rhizoma, Gleditsiae Sinensis Fructus, Cyperi Rhizoma and Impatientis Semen were identified by TLC method. The content of tetrahydropalmatine was determined by HPLC. Waters symmetry column was used with the mobile phase of acetonitrile-0.1% phosphatic acid in a gradient manner (pH was adjusted to 6.4 by triethylamine) (55:45) at the detection wavelength of 280 nm. The flow rate was 1.0 mL/min at the column temperature of 30 ℃. Results The spots in TLC were clear without any interference;tetrahydropalmatine showed a good linear relation in the range of 0.092–1.84 μg;the average recovery was 100.15%with RSD of 1.58%(n=6). Conclusion The method is simple and accurate with high reproducibility, which can be used for the quality control of Sanyuan Rupixiao Gel Paste.

A rapid gas chromatography method was developed for determination of lipase activity using tributyrin as substrate. The standard curves of butyric acid hydrolyzed from tributyrin were linear in the range of 0.11-11.35 mmol L(-1). The recoveries of low, moderate and high concentrations of tributyrin were 90.3%, 104.6%, 89.4% with RSD of 3.01%, 4.50%, 6.64%, respectively. The incubation time was only 5 minutes which was less than with the half time of the conventional titrimetry and spectrophotometry. The optimum pH value was 7.5 and the optimum temperature was 32 degrees C. Based on the Lineweaver-Burk plots, the Michaelis-Menten constant was 0.25 mmol mL(-1). The effect of orlistat on the enzyme inhibiting activity was studied to prove the accuracy of this method. It was found that the half-inhibition concentration (IC50) of orlistat was 0.0485 mg mL(-1). The small total reaction volume, the simple treating procedures, the high accuracy and precision present the advantages of the new method.
Chromatography, Gas ; methods ; Lipase ; analysis ; metabolism ; Triglycerides ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the antigenic properties of mutant hepatitis B virus surface antigen, to understand the sensitivity of the commercially available HBsAg assays to the variants and to reduce the undetectability of the variants.

METHODSRecombinant eukaryotic expression plasmids for HBsAg. The recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmids pSS1adr, pSS1adw2, pSS1adw2- 145Arg, pSS1adr-126 Asn and pSS1adr-126Ser were transfected into COS-7 cells. HBsAg in the supernatants of transfected cells was detected by using different commercial ELISA kits.

RESULTSThe absorbance value of pSS1adr-126 Asn and pSS1adr-126Ser plasmids were similar to that of the wild type HBsAg, the absorbance value of pSS1adw2-145Arg plasmids was lower than that of the wild type HBsAg.

CONCLUSIONIt is estimated that the antigenicity of HBsAg mainly depended on the amino acid sequence of "a" antigen determinant and its conformation, so 145 amino acid substitutions led to the change of conformation and the antigenicity of variant HBsAg was lower than that of the wild type.

Animals ; COS Cells ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; analysis ; genetics ; immunology ; Mutation ; Transfection ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo clone human PD-1 gene, construct a prokaryotic expression plasmid and express in E. coli.

METHODSThe human PD-1 cDNA was cloned by RT-PCR from the total RNA, which was extracted from peripheral blood lymphocyte cell of the patient with chronic hepatitis B. Recombinant PD-1 protein was been expressed and purified after the prokaryotic expression plasmid had been constructed. It was identified by SDS-PAGE, DNA sequencing and amino acid sequencing.

RESULTSThe PD-1 gene was cloned and confirmed by DNA sequencing. The recombinant protein was expressed in E. coli. The purified protein was obtained, then been confirmed by amino acid sequencing.

CONCLUSIONThe human PD-1 gene was successfully cloned and expressed in E. coli, which lays the foundation for further study on the function and application of PD-1.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Antigens, CD ; biosynthesis ; chemistry ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; biosynthesis ; chemistry ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Cloning, Molecular ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor ; Prokaryotic Cells ; metabolism ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

Objective To construct virus-like particles of hepatitis B core antigen, with HBsAg "a" epitope exposed on the surface. Methods Hepatitis B surface antigen "a" epitope were inserted into the Hepatitis B core antigen, between the 78th (Asp) and the 79th (Pro) amino acids. The gene was synthesized after the codon optimized, then it was ligated to the express vector after been enzyme digest. The virus-like particles were observed by electron microscope and detected by ELISA after been expressed and purified. Immune the rabbits by the VLPs, then detect the antibody. Result The virus-like particles were confirmed by electron microscope. Its antigenicity and immunogenicity were identified by ELISA. Conclusion The prokaryotic express plasmid with the fusion gene has been constructed successfully. The virus-like particles have been expressed, purified and identified, which lays the foundation for its application in the further.

Objective Obtain the hepatitis C virus high purified subunit fusion protein and detect its immunogenicity.Methods With the vector of pET-11d,fusion protein was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) after induced by IPTG.The protein was then purified by DEAE negative ion exchange chromatography and Ni2+ affinity chromatography.Western Blot analysis was used to detect the antigenicity of the fusion protein.At the same time,the sera were collected and prepared from the immunized experimental animals in order to investigate the immunogenicity of the protein by EIA.Results High purified hepatitis C virus subunit fusion protein was obtained successfully.The EIA indicated that the fusion protein could elicit specific antibodies in the animals with very high titers.Conclusion The hepatitis C virus subunit fusion protein expressed in prokaryotic system was proved to have strong immunogenicity.It could provide some helpful and useful information to the hepatitis C virus prophylactic and therapeutic vaccine development.

OBJECTIVETo obtain recombinant human interleukin 12 by genetic engineering, and to explore possibility of its clinical application in treatment of tumor and chronic hepatitis.

METHODSBicistronic expression vector P35-IRES-P40 was constructed for the simultaneous translation of IL-12 p35 and p40 cDNA subunit through internal ribosomal entry sites (IRES). pCI-dhfr-P35-IRES-P40 vector was constructed for expression in CHO-DHFR- cells. Positively cloned cells were screened by means of ELISA. Pools of clones with increased expression of IL-12 could be generated by selection in methotrexate. To determine the biological activities of rhIL-12, PHA-activated lymphoblasts proliferation assay and IFN-gamma induction assay were used in this study.

RESULTSGenetically engineered cells expressing hIl-12 were obtained and all the cell lines showed the stabile expression of rhIL-12 in high efficiency and good growth properties.

CONCLUSIONrhIL-12 have good biological activities, it can stimulate activation and proliferation of T cells and induce production of IFN-gamma.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; CHO Cells ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; Interleukin-12 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Transfection

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEThe most effective therapy against renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is surgical treatment; however, there have been few large-scale studies that focused on the oncological outcome of this disease in China. The aim of the current study was to report the clinicopathological results and cancer-specific survival (CSS) rate in RCC patients after surgical treatment in our center.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological data of 336 RCC patients who underwent radical or partial nephrectomy between 1999 and 2006. Of the 336 patients, 226 were male and 110 were female; the median age was 51 years. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify the independent prognostic predictors for this cohort of RCC patients.

RESULTSDuring follow-up, the overall 5-year CSS rate was 81.4%. The 5-year CSS rates for patients with stage-I, -II, -III, and -IV RCC were 94.7%, 88.9%, 68.8%, and 19.3%, respectively. The patients with T1N0M0 (T1) and T2N0M0 (T2) tumors had similar survival curves. For patients with T1 category tumor, the survival rate did not differ significantly between the radical nephrectomy and nephron-sparing surgery groups. For the 21 patients with metastasis confined to the local lymph nodes, the 5-year survival rate was 31.6% after radical nephrectomy and lymph node dissection. For the 15 patients with vena caval tumor thrombus, the 5-year survival rate was 52.5% after radical nephrectomy and tumor thrombus extirpation. Multivariate Cox regression showed that stage was an independent predictor for CSS (hazard ratio, 3.359; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSFor localized RCC, the oncological outcome of this cohort is comparable to that reported in the Western literature. For some patients with locally advanced RCC, aggressive surgical treatment can lead to better long-term survival. However, the prognosis of the patients with metastasis still needs to be improved.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; pathology ; surgery ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating ; Nephrectomy ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult