Child ; Humans ; Liver Failure ; therapy ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Plasma Exchange

Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; pharmacology ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Proteomics

Objective To investigate the effects of gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRH- a) and antagonist (GnRH-ant) on cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced ovarian damage in rats.Methods Seventy-two Sprague-Dawley female rats were divided randomly into six groups,which received normal saline (NS),CTX,GnRH-a+NS,GnRH-a+CTX,GnRH-ant+NS,and GnRH-ant+CTX respectively.Levels of serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH),luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol (E_2) were measured successively by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method,and half of the rats were killed in the first week and between the fourth and the fifth week after stop of medication,respectively to compare the weight of the ovaries and the number of the primordial follicles and the growth follicles.Results (1) Throughout experiment,the serum levels of FSH,LH and E_2 of the control group fluctuated slightly,while those in the CTX group kept rising.During medication treatment,compared with the control group[(118?16) ?g/L, (350?35) ?g/L] and the CTX group[(113?15) ?g/L,(289?42) ?g/L],the concentrations of LH [(42 ?8)-(47?7) ?g/L,(31?5)-(36?7) ?g/L] and FSH [(124?45)-(136?32)?g/L,(178 ?54)-(198+27)?g/L] in the GnRH-a groups and the GnRH-ant groups were maintained at low levels significantly and the levels of LH in the GnRH-ant groups were significantly lower than that in the GnRH-a groups,but the levels of FSH in the GnRH-ant groups were significantly higher than that in the GnRH-a groups(P0.05),but the levels of FSH,LH and E_2 of the GnRH-ant+CTX group rose obviously and were similar to the levels of the CTX group,especially the FSH,and the levels of LH and FSH of the GnRH- ant + CTX group [(156?12) ?g/L,(520?44) ?g/L] and the CTX group [(178?18) ?g/L,(546?36) ?g/L] were significantly higher than that of the other four groups [(121?15)-(132?13) ?g/L,(335 ?35)-(359?26) ?g/L] at the 4~(th)-5~(th) week after stop of treatment(P0.05),but the number of all kinds of follicles declined significantly in the GnRH-ant+CTX group[(195?15),(36?12)] and the CTX group [(212?11),(36?9)] compared to the other four groups[(302?15)-(690?43),(44?12)-(58?11),P

Many recent studies have proved that ubiquitin-like with PHD and RING finger domains 1 (UHRF1) is an important nuclear protein associated with tumorigenesis,which plays a significant role in epigenetic regulation,especially in DNA methylation and histone methylation.For its particular domains,UHRF1 plays a critical role in biological behaviors including cell proliferation,cell cycle,and apoptosis.Overexpression of UHRF1 in various tumors is closely associated with the angiogenesis in tumors.This paper will provide a review of the regulation of UHRF1 in DNA methylation and histone methylation,and discuss the potential epigenetic role of UHRF1 in angiogenesis.

OBJECTIVETo study the molecular types of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from a severe food-poisoning and to trace the possible strains.

METHODSReal-time PCR was applied to detect nuc gene as a specific marker for S. aureus, mecA gene encoding methicillin resistance and 5 other genes encoding staphylococcal enterotoxins (sea, seb, see, sed, see). Isolates were also performed with 16S rRNA oligonucleotide sequence analyzing by DNAStar MegAlign 5.0 software and pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) by BioNumerics Version 4.0 software.

RESULTSThe nuc gene was detected from the 10 isolated strains, sea and seb genes were detected from 7 strains. There were 4 16 S rRNA types and 5 PFGE types found from all the strains.

CONCLUSIONSThree relative S. aureus strains were involved in the severe food-poisoning at least. Molecular subtyping might give a molecular epidemiological evidence and support the source tracing of an outbreak.

Bacterial Typing Techniques ; China ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Enterotoxins ; Humans ; Staphylococcal Food Poisoning ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Staphylococcus aureus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; diagnosis ; etiology ; genetics ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Models, Statistical ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo investigate ovarian follicular damage induced by chemotherapeutic agents and gonadotropin- releasing hormone receptor (GnRHR) expression in the damaged ovaries in rats.

METHODSTwo groups of adult SD rats were subjected to intraperitoneal injection of a single-dose cyclophosphamide and saline, respectively, and 8 weeks later, the ovaries were taken for observing the ovarian damages. The distribution of GnRHR was detected with immunohistochemistry, and RT-PCR was used to determine the expression of GnRHR mRNA in the rat ovaries.

RESULTSMassive primordial follicular loss occurred in the ovaries of rats exposed to cyclophosphamide with also evident stromal ovarian blood vessel damages and focal fibrosis. Both the protein and mRNA expressions of GnRHR were detected in normal rat ovaries, but in rats exposed to cyclophosphamide, the expressions were significantly lowered in the ovaries (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONLow-level GnRHR expressions in the ovaries of rats with cyclophosphamide exposure suggest microenvironment disturbances in the damaged rat ovaries in advanced stage of chemotherapy.

Animals ; Cyclophosphamide ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Ovary ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, LHRH ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo apply multiplex polymerase chain reaction (MPCR) assay and sequencing in study of the carrying status of four pathogenicity-related genes of Vibrio cholerae (V.cholerae) and the variation of ctxA.

METHODSPrimers targeting cholera toxin sub-unit A gene (ctxA), toxin-coregulated pilus gene (tcpA), accessory cholera enterotoxin gene (ace), zonula occludens toxin gene (zot) were designed and the MPCR method was applied to detect the pathogenicity-related genes of 276 strains of V.cholerae isolates. The amplified fragments of ctxA gene were sequenced and the genetic homology of the amplified fragments of ctxA was analyzed.

RESULTSOf the 276 strains of V.cholerae, 93.9% strains from human sources belong to the pathogenicity-related genes type A (ctxA(+)tcpA(+)ace(+)zot(+) type) and 6.1% belong to pathogenicity-related genes type C (ctxA(-)tcpA(-)ace(-)zot(-) type). Type A strains from clinical sources were isolated from patients with mild to severe symptom and carriers, among which 68.5% were isolated from patients with mild symptom and 21.9% from carriers. All 63.6% of type C strains from clinical sources were isolated from patients with mild symptom and 36.4% from carriers. The proportion of type C strains that caused mild symptom was higher than that of type A strains. Of the 78 strains isolated from the environment, 9.0% strains belong to pathogenicity-related type A and 35.9% belong to the pathogenicity-related genes type B (ctxA(-)tcpA(-)ace(+)zot(+) type), while 55.1% belong to pathogenicity-related genes type C. The sequencing results showed little genetic variation among the amplified fragments for ctxA.

CONCLUSIONMPCR disclosed the polymorphic status of pathogenicity-related gene patterns in V.cholerae isolates of Guangzhou, providing effective means for further study on evolution of pathogenicity-related genes among V.cholerae isolates from human and environmental sources. This study also offers significant guidance for effective prevention, control and warning against cholera epidemic in local area.

China ; Cholera Toxin ; genetics ; DNA, Bacterial ; Genes, Bacterial ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis ; Vibrio cholerae ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo investigate the possible pathways for ovarian injury after administration of cyclophosphamide in rats.

METHODSAdult SD rats received a single injection of saline vehicle or chemotherapeutic agent cyclophosphamide, and 8 weeks later, the ovaries were removed, fixed and serially sectioned for pathological examination and ovarian follicle counting. The expression of stem cell factor (SCF) protein was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and immunoreactive score, and SCF mRNA expression determined by RT-PCR in rat ovaries.

RESULTSCyclophosphamide had a detrimental effect on ovarian stromal function and lead to primordial follicle loss. Immunoreactive SCF antigens were expressed on the oocytes in the primordial and primary follicles of rat ovaries, and also in the granulosa cells of the secondary follicles and early antral follicles. There was a higher granulosa SCF, lower oocyte SCF and higher SCF mRNA level in the ovaries of the rats exposed to cyclophosphamide as compared with those in control rat ovaries (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONAltered SCF expression in the ovaries of rats exposed to cyclophosphamide can be helpful for understanding the mechanisms for chemotherapeutic drug-induced ovarian damage.

Animals ; Cyclophosphamide ; adverse effects ; Female ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Granulosa Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Ovary ; cytology ; drug effects ; injuries ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stem Cell Factor ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the correlation between the lactate in artery blood and lactate clearance rate and prognosis in patients with septic shock in intensive care unit (ICU).

METHODSProspectively studied 221 consecutive patients with septic shock from December 2005 to December 2007, the diagnosis of septic shock was made based on the criteria of 2001 ACCP/SCCM. For inclusion in the study, we required admission of the patients within 24 h of septic shock diagnosed. The criteria for exclusion from the study were an age of less than 18 years, pregnancy, serious inadequacy of liver and renal, needing blood purification, or acidosis result of biguanides drugs, or do-not-resuscitate. The eligible patients assigned to early goal-directed therapy. The 6-, 24- and 72-hour lactate clearance rate were calculated, the relationship between the level of lactate, lactate clearance rate, the APACHE II score, the number of failed organ and the 28-day mortality were evaluated.

RESULTSOne hundred and five patients with septic shock were admitted, 74 male and 31 female, the mean age was 70 +/- 12 years. The 28-day mortality was 54.3%. The average APACHE II score at baseline was 20 +/- 8, the number of failed organs was 3.0 +/- 1.1 and the average concentration of lactate in artery blood at baseline was (3.8 +/- 3.6) mmol/L. Significant differences of the lactate at 0-, 6-, 24- and 72-hour were found between death group and survival group. There were 69 patients whose lactate in artery blood at baseline was > 2 mmol/L, 24 survived. The lactate clearance rate of 6- and 24-hour in survival group were significantly higher than death group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05, respectively), but the lactate clearance rate of 72-hour was not (P > 0.05). By using a multivariate logistic regression analysis, it showed that the lactate clearance rate of 6-hour was the independent predictive factor of survival. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was 0.564, 0.649, 0.754, 0.784, respectively according to the level of the lactate at 0-, 6-, 24-hour and the 6-hour lactate clearance rate. The cutoff of 6-hour lactate clearance rate was >or= 30.0%, resulting in a sensitivity of 60.0% and a specificity of 77.3%.

CONCLUSIONSDynamic observation of lactate level is very important for the survival in the patients with septic shock. Patients with elevated lactate and not decreased rapidly have a worse outcome. The 6-hour lactate clearance rate might be the indicator for predicting the prognosis of patients with septic shock.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Lactic Acid ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monitoring, Ambulatory ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Shock, Septic ; blood ; Young Adult