OBJECTIVETo study the diagnostic method for early renal injury in the workers exposed to mercury (Hg).

METHODSThe contents of urinary Hg were determined by chemical method. Urinary microalbumin (mALB), beta(2)-microglodulin (beta(2)-MG) and retinol binding protein (RBP) levels were measured with total quantitative enzyme immunoassay. The activities of urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma-GT) were determined by rate methods. Urinary creatinine (Cr) was measured by using picric acid method.

RESULTSThe levels of urinary BRP, beta(2)-MG, NAG and gamma-GT in exposed workers [(439.7 +/- 201.4), (141.4 +/- 56.3) micro g/g Cr and (12.3 +/- 5.7), (60.3 +/- 18.5) U/g Cr respectively] were significantly higher than those in controls (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The levels were increased gradually with the increasing contents of urinary Hg. The positive detection rate for single or two combined indexes was rather lower whereas that for 4 combined indexes was as high as 85.5%. A positive correlation was noted between the contents of urinary Hg and urinary BRP, beta(2)-MG, NAG and gamma-GT (r: 0.466, 0.379, 0.323, 0.311, P < 0.05). Urinary RBP was correlated to urinary beta(2)-MG, NAG and gamma-GT (r: 0.362, 0.354, 0.332, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCombined detection of urinary RBP, beta(2)-MG, NAG and gamma-GT is a sensitive method for the diagnosis of early renal injury in the workers exposed to Hg.

Acetylglucosaminidase ; urine ; Adult ; Albuminuria ; urine ; Creatinine ; urine ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; injuries ; physiopathology ; Kidney Diseases ; etiology ; urine ; Male ; Mercury Poisoning ; complications ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Retinol-Binding Proteins ; urine ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; urine

OBJECTIVETo explore the anatomic features of mesoesophagus in combined thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy with three-fields lymphadenectomy.

METHODSClinical data of 67 patients undergoing thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy with three-fields lymphadenectomy from July 2011 to September 2012 were analyzed retrospectively. All the patients underwent three-fields lymphadenectomy. Proper surgical planes were selected according to anatomy of mesoesophagus. Thoracoscopic surgical space was bounded on azygotic vein and divided into upper and low esophageal triangle. Pancreas was the key anatomical mark for laparoscopic gastric dissection, and peripancreatic space was the natural laparoscopic surgical plane. Prevertebral fascia was bottom surface of neck dissection and carotid sheath was the boundary of two sides.

RESULTSThe median operative time was 251.6 min (range, 220 to 320 min). The median operative blood loss was 105.6 ml (range, 40 to 320 ml). The median number of lymph nodes dissected was 29.1 (range, 13 to 46, totally 1949). There was no perioperative death. Sixty-six patients were followed up with a mean follow-up time of 8.2 months (range, 2 to 14 months). Postoperative complications included reflux esophagitis in 10 and anastomotic stenosis in 3 cases.

CONCLUSIONIt is safe and more radical for minimally invasive esophagectomy that overall concept of minimally invasive anatomy of mesoesophagus is applied to identify the anatomic plane and landmark during operation.

Aged ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; Esophagus ; anatomy & histology ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo clone the human tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (hTFPI-2) gene and express it by using prokaryotic expression system.

METHODSThe hTFPI-2 coding region was obtained by RT-PCR from human placenta total RNA. The coding fragment was then inserted into prokaryotic expression vector pET19b and expressed in E. coli BL21 by IPTG induction. The produced inclusion bodies were dissolved by denaturalizing chemicals, purified by ion exchange chromatograph, and refolded in air to form proper disulfide bonds. Chromogenic and gelatin zymography methods were used to evaluate the inhibiting effects of hTFPI-2 on trypsin, plasmin and MMPs individually. The inhibitory activity of hTFPI-2 on fabrisarcoma was investigated by matrigel.

RESULTSThe coding fragment of hTFPI-2 was cloned successfully and the protein was expressed as inclusion bodies which account for 20% - 30% of total host protein. The refolded hTFPI-2 could inhibit the invasive ability of fibrisarcoma HT-1080 as well as activity of plasmin, trypsin and MMPs.

CONCLUSIONSThe activated hTFPI-2 is obtained by using prokaryotic expressed system effectively.

Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Glycoproteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Humans ; Placenta ; cytology ; RNA ; isolation & purification ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship of gene polymorphisms of programmed cell death 1 gene (PDCD1) and ultraviolet history with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) among the Han population in the southern region of yangtze river in China.

METHODSWith a case control design, a total of 159 SLE cases and 159 controls were enrolled in this study, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the PDCD1 gene were determined by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). With the aid of the logistic regression model, the effect of gene polymorphism, environmental factor and the interaction between gene and environment were fitted under the recessive, dominant, additive and codominant mode, respectively.

RESULTSThree models were screened as the optimal models under the additive mode and one model under the dominant mode, according to the lowest value of Akaike's Information Criteria (AIC). After the control of age and gender, it was found that the frequency of ultraviolet exposure was higher in cases than in controls with significant difference under all models (P<0.05). For the haplotypes composed of the alleles of PD1.2, PD1.5 and PD1.6, there was significantly higher frequency of G-T-A haplotype (0.1196 vs 0.0363) and lower frequency of A-C-A haplotype (0.4746 vs 0.5399) in cases than that in controls (P<0.05) under the additive mode, and the G-T-A haplotype was associated with an increased risk for SLE (OR=4.319), while A-C-A haplotype was shown as a protective factor for SLE (OR=0.571). Moreover, interaction between A-C-G haplotype and ultraviolet exposure, which was related to an increased risk for SLE (beta5=1.182, Z=2.2898, P<0.05, OR=3.261), was also found under this mode. Additionally, the frequency of G-C-G haplotype was higher in cases than that in controls (0.1287 vs 0.0361) under the dominant mode with statistically significant difference (P<0.05, OR=4.332).

CONCLUSIONAuthors' results indicate that ultraviolet exposure, G-T-A or G-C-G haplotype and interaction between A-C-G and ultraviolet exposure may be associated with genetic susceptibility to SLE in Han population in the southern region of yangtze river in China under certain genetic modes.

Alleles ; Antigens, CD ; genetics ; Apoptosis ; genetics ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; genetics ; China ; Gene Frequency ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; epidemiology ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the chromium (Cr) levels in blood and urine among general population in China between 2009 and 2010, and thereby to analyze its prevalent features.

METHODSFrom year 2009 to 2010, a total of 11 983 subjects of general population aged between 6 and 60 year-old were recruited from 24 districts in 8 provinces in eastern, central and western China mainland, by cluster random sampling method. The information about their living environment and health status were collected by questionnaire, and 11 983 blood samples and 11 853 urine samples were also collected. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was applied to test the Cr level both in blood and urine; and the Cr distribution in blood and urine among groups of population in different ages, genders and districts, were then analyzed.

RESULTSAmong general population in China, the geometric mean (GM) of Cr concentration in blood was 1.19 µg/L, with median at 1.74 µg /L and 95% percentile at 5.59 µg/L. The Cr concentration in blood among males and females were separately 1.18 µg/L and 1.20 µg/L(P > 0.05); while its GM in the groups of population aged 6 - 12, 12 - 16, 16 - 20, 20 - 30, 30 - 45 and 45 - 60 years old were 1.00, 1.22, 1.01, 1.40, 1.27 and 1.30 µg/L (P < 0.01), respectively; and the figures in populations from eastern, central and western China were 1.00, 1.70 and 1.98 µg/L (P < 0.01), respectively. Among general population, the GM of Cr concentration in urine was 0.53 µg/L, with median was lower than 0.42 µg/L and 95% percentile at 3.53 µg/L. The Cr concentration in urine among males and females were separately 0.52 µg/L and 0.53 µg/L (P > 0.05);while its GM in the groups of population aged 6 - 12, 12 - 16, 16 - 20, 20 - 30, 30 - 45 and 45 - 60 years old were 0.56, 0.60, 0.52, 0.50, 0.52 and 0.46 µg/L (P < 0.01), respectively;and the figures in populations from eastern, central and western China were 0.58, < 0.42 and 0.60 µg/L (P < 0.01), respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe study reported the Cr levels in blood and urine among general population in China, and thereby provided basic data evidence for the following Cr biological monitoring studies in near future.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; China ; Chromium ; blood ; urine ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Population Surveillance ; Young Adult

This study identified the anti-depression targets of Kaixin San(KXS) in the brain tissue with "target fishing" strategy, and explored the target-associated pharmacological signaling pathways to reveal the anti-depression molecular mechanism of KXS. The Balb/c mouse model of depression was established by chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS) and the anti-depression effect of KXS was evaluated by forced swimming test and sucrose preference test. KXS active components were bonded to the benzophenone-modified magnetic nanoparticles by photocrosslinking reaction for capturing target proteins from cortex, thalamus and hippocampus of depressive mice. The target proteins were identified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS). The enrichment analysis on signaling pathways was performed by Cytoscape. The potential biological functions of targets were verified by immunohistochemistry and Western blot assay. The results showed that KXS significantly improved the behavioral indexes. There were 64, 91, and 44 potential targets of KXS identified in cortex, thalamus, and hippocampus, respectively, according to the target identification experiment. The functions of these targets were mainly associated with vasopressin-regulated water reabsorption, salmonella infection, thyroid hormone synthesis, and other signaling pathways. Besides, the results of immunohistochemistry and Western blot showed that KXS up-regulated the expressions of argipressine(AVP) in the cortex, heat shock protein 60(HSP60), cytochrome C oxidase 4(COX4), and thyrotropin-releasing hormone(TRH) in the thalamus, and down-regulated the expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB) p65 in the thalamus. Therefore, KXS may exert anti-depression effect through regulating vasopressin signaling pathway in the cortex and inflammation, energy metabolism, and thyroid hormone signaling pathways in the thalamus, and the effect of KXS on hippocampus is not significant.
Animals ; Mice ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Hippocampus ; Stress, Psychological/drug therapy* ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Depression/drug therapy*

Objective: Present study investigated the mechanism of heart failure associated with coronavirus infection and predicted potential effective therapeutic drugs against heart failure associated with coronavirus infection. Methods: Coronavirus and heart failure were searched in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and omics data were selected to meet experimental requirements. Differentially expressed genes were analyzed using the Limma package in R language to screen for differentially expressed genes. The two sets of differential genes were introduced into the R language cluster Profiler package for gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto gene and genome encyclopedia (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. Two sets of intersections were taken. A protein interaction network was constructed for all differentially expressed genes using STRING database and core genes were screened. Finally, the apparently accurate treatment prediction platform (EpiMed) independently developed by the team was used to predict the therapeutic drug. Results: The GSE59185 coronavirus data set was searched and screened in the GEO database, and divided into wt group, ΔE group, Δ3 group, Δ5 group according to different subtypes, and compared with control group. After the difference analysis, 191 up-regulated genes and 18 down-regulated genes were defined. The GEO126062 heart failure data set was retrieved and screened from the GEO database. A total of 495 differentially expressed genes were screened, of which 165 were up-regulated and 330 were down-regulated. Correlation analysis of differentially expressed genes between coronavirus and heart failure was performed. After cross processing, there were 20 GO entries, which were mainly enriched in virus response, virus defense response, type Ⅰ interferon response, γ interferon regulation, innate immune response regulation, negative regulation of virus life cycle, replication regulation of viral genome, etc. There were 5 KEGG pathways, mainly interacting with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway, interleukin (IL)-17 signaling pathway, cytokine and receptor interaction, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, human giant cells viral infection related. All differentially expressed genes were introduced into the STRING online analysis website for protein interaction network analysis, and core genes such as signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, IL-10, IL17, TNF, interferon regulatory factor 9, 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase 1, mitogen-activated protein kinase 3, radical s-adenosyl methionine domain containing 2, c-x-c motif chemokine ligand 10, caspase 3 and other genes were screened. The drugs predicted by EpiMed's apparent precision treatment prediction platform for disease-drug association analysis were mainly TNF-α inhibitors, resveratrol, ritonavir, paeony, retinoic acid, forsythia, and houttuynia cordata. Conclusions: The abnormal activation of multiple inflammatory pathways may be the cause of heart failure in patients after coronavirus infection. Resveratrol, ritonavir, retinoic acid, amaranth, forsythia, houttuynia may have therapeutic effects. Future basic and clinical research is warranted to validate present results and hypothesis.
Betacoronavirus ; COVID-19 ; Computational Biology ; Coronavirus Infections/complications* ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Ontology ; Heart Failure/virology* ; Humans ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral/complications* ; SARS-CoV-2

OBJECTIVE: To screen the prognostic biomarkers of metabolic genes in patients with multiple myeloma (MM), and construct a prognostic model of metabolic genes. METHODS: The histological database related to MM patients was searched. Data from MM patients and healthy controls with complete clinical information were selected for analysis.The second generation sequencing data and clinical information of bone marrow tissue of MM patients and healthy controls were collected from human protein atlas (HPA) and multiple myeloma research foundation (MMRF) databases. The gene set of metabolism-related pathways was extracted from Molecular Signatures Database (MSigDB) by Perl language. The biomarkers related to MM metabolism were screened by difference analysis, univariate Cox risk regression analysis and LASSO regression analysis, and the risk prognostic model and Nomogram were constructed. Risk curve and survival curve were used to verify the grouping effect of the model. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to study the difference of biological pathway enrichment between high risk group and low risk group. Multivariate Cox risk regression analysis was used to verify the independent prognostic ability of risk score. RESULTS: A total of 8 mRNAs which were significantly related to the survival and prognosis of MM patients were obtained (P<0.01). As molecular markers, MM patients could be divided into high-risk group and low-risk group. Survival curve and risk curve showed that the overall survival time of patients in the low-risk group was significantly better than that in the high risk group (P<0.001). GSEA results showed that signal pathways related to basic metabolism, cell differentiation and cell cycle were significantly enriched in the high-risk group, while ribosome and N polysaccharide biosynthesis signaling pathway were more enriched in the low-risk group. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the risk score composed of the eight metabolism-related genes could be used as an independent risk factor for the prognosis of MM patients, and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) showed that the molecular signatures of metabolism-related genes had the best predictive effect. CONCLUSION Metabolism-related pathways play an important role in the pathogenesis and prognosis of patients with MM. The clinical significance of the risk assessment model for patients with MM constructed based on eight metabolism-related core genes needs to be confirmed by further clinical studies.
Humans ; Cell Cycle ; Multiple Myeloma/genetics* ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors