Objective In order to offer scientific evidence for prevention and therapy of Lyme disease, we had investigated the natural infection of lyme disease Borrelia burgdorferi(Bb) of 4 ticks in Diebu and Huajian areas of Gansu province. MethodsEpidemiology detection of natural infection of lyme disease Bb was accomplished for four dominant tick ( Dermacetor silvarum , Dermacentor nuttalli , Haemaphysalis Japonica and Ixodes Crenulatus ) at Diebu, Diebu forest zone(Qin mountain), north of Min Mountains of Huajian region and Huajian forest zone, north of Qilian Mountains of Sunan region, Gansu, from March to June, 2010. The methods of dispersion of clamp every 10 m which was put in the morning and retrieved at night were used to capture rodent animal and gnawer retrorse hair inspection insect methods were used to collect parasitic tick. Flagging methods were used to collect free tick.Four kinds of live adult ticks were dissected after cleaning and disinfection. Intestinal contents were smeared, lyme disease Bb was observed under dark-field microscope. Etiological agent was cultivated and separated. Separated spirochete was confirmed by spirochete monoclonal and polyclonal antibody. Results The ticks collected were classified as 2 families, 8 genera, 36 species, i.e. Ixodidae 6 genera, 33 species and Argasidae 2 genera, 3 species. The method of dark-field microscope was used to detect the lyme disease spirochete in 201 ticks intestines after dissection of Dermacentor silvarum, Dermacentor nuttalli, Haemaphysalis Japonica and Ixodes Crenulatus, the lyme disease Bb-positive were 25 with positive rate of 12.44％(25/201). The lyme disease Bb was cultivated and separated from 12 ticks with the positive rate of 18.46％(12/65) after inoculation and cultivation of 3 species, 65 ticks of Dermacentor silvarum, Dermacentor nuttalli and Haemaphysalis Japonica. ConclusionsDermacentor silvarum,Dermacentor nuttalli and Haemaphysalis Japonica have different degrees of natural infection of lyme disease Bb.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the abnormal change of immune function in patients with Pi-Qi deficiency Syndrome, and to explore the genomic mechanism of its genesis by cDNA chip techniques.

METHODSThe cross probe was made by extracting and microamplifying the total RNA and mRNA of peripheral white blood cells (WBC) in healthy subjects and patients with chronic gastritis and ulcerative colitis, which were labeled by Cy3 and Cy5 respectively. Then equal quantity of the two labeled probes were mixed and hybridized with cDNA chip, fluorescent signal of the chips were scanned with scanner. Data obtained were analyzed for comparing the difference of the expressive levels of immune associated genome in peripheral WBC in healthy subjects with those in patients.

RESULTSExpressions of CD9, CD164, PF4 and RARB gene in WBC of patients, both gastritis and colitis, were down-regulated while those of IGKC, DEFA1 and GNLY were up-regulated.

CONCLUSIONThe genesis of Pi-Qi deficiency syndrome has its immune associated genomic basis, and the immune functions are disordered in patients with that syndrome.

Adult ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; genetics ; immunology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Gastritis ; genetics ; immunology ; Genome ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Qi ; Splenic Diseases ; genetics ; immunology ; Yang Deficiency ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of nimesulide, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, on cell viability, telomerase and PKB activities in human gastric cancer cell line SGC7901 and to explore its molecular mechanism of selective growth inhibition.

METHODSMTT assay was used to determine cell viability after incubation for 0, 12, 24, and 48 h in different concentrations (0, 25, 50, 100, 200 micro mol/L) of nimesulide and/or okadaic acid (300 nmol/L). Telomerase and protein kinase B (PKB) activities were detected using TRAP PCR-ELISA and nonradioactive IP-kinase assay.

RESULTSNimsulide caused a time and dose-dependent reduction of cell numbers of SGC7901. The telomerase and PKB activities were significantly inhibited, and the inhibition of telomerase activity was partly associated with decrease in PKB activity.

CONCLUSIONSelective COX-2 inhibitor nimesulide inhibits telomerase activity of gastric cancer cells by partly blocking the activation of protein kinase B. The results suggest an additional signaling pathway underlying the anti-cancer effect of COX-2 inhibitor.

Adenocarcinoma ; enzymology ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Enzyme Activation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; Stomach Neoplasms ; enzymology ; pathology ; Sulfonamides ; pharmacology ; Telomerase ; metabolism ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effectiveness of sleeve circumcision of prepuce and coronary sulcus skin in the treatment of patients with multiple condyloma acuminatum (CA) of coronary sulcus of penis.

METHODSIn a randomized clinical control study, 35 patients were randomized to the treatment group and received sleeve circumcision of prepuce and coronary sulcus skin. 34 patients were randomized to the control group, received electric cauterization of verrucae plus the general circumcision. The recurrence of CA was evaluated in follow-up visit within three months after the treatment.

RESULTSThe stitches were taken out 10.2 days after operation in the treatment group, and 8.1 days in the control group. There were no complication in the treatment group, the average healing time of electric cauterization wound was 19.4 days in the control group. There was a statistically significant difference in the recurrence rate of CA between the treatment group and the control group (5.7% vs 26.5% , P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe sleeve circumcision of prepuce and coronary sulcus skin is more effective than electric cauterization of verrucae plus the general circumcision in the treatment of patients with multiple condyloma acuminatum of coronary sulcus of penis.

Adult ; Circumcision, Male ; methods ; Condylomata Acuminata ; surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Penile Diseases ; surgery ; virology ; Prospective Studies

Objective To establish a quantitative RT-PCR method with self-quenched fluorogenic probe for detection of bcr/abl mRNA in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia for providing a useful tool for diagnosis of CML,evaluation of therapeutic effect and monitoring of minimal residual disease(MRD). Methods bcr/abl gene from cultured K562 cells was amplified by conventional RT-PCR.The standard quantitative plasmid was constructed by A-T clone method.The self-quenched fluorogenic quantitative RT- PCR method(FQ-RT-PCR)for determination of bcr/abl mRNA was established successfully using the ABI PRISM 7000 PCR Detector.The linear range,sensitivity,stability,and repetitiveness of the method were determined.The marrow samples from 25 CML patients and 3 ALL patients were assessed.Results The sensitivity of the FQ-RT-PCR was 10 copies/?l recombined plasmid,and bcr/abl mRNA can be detected from 1 K562 cell in 10~5 normal cells.The linear range was 10~2-10~9 copies/?l recombined plasmid.The coefficient variation(CV)value was 2.1% in intra-assay and 6.1% in inter-assay.The median ber/abl mRNA expression level was 4.50?10~4 copies/?g RNA [(0.45-89.00)?10~4],5.45?10~4 copies/?g RNA [(2.95-19.30)?10~4 ],13.00?10~4 copies/?g RNA [(4.10-89.00)?10~4] and 2.35?10~4 copies/?g RNA [(0.45-5.12)?10~4] in 25 CML patients,11 patients in the incipient chronic phase,6 patients in blastic crisis,8 patients in chronic period after treatment,respectively.The bcr/abl mRNA level in blastic crisis was significantly higher than that in chronic phase(q= 3.41,P

Objective: To observe the effects of laurocapram and borneol as transdermal penetration enhancers applied to herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion on liver lipids, hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase in hyperlipidemia rabbits.Methods: Forty New-Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups using the random number table method, with 8 rats in each group. Rabbits in the blank group were fed routinely with a normal diet; rabbits in the other groups were fed with high-fat diet for 12 weeks to establish the hyperlipidemia model. Rabbits in the blank and the model groups were not given any intervention. After the model was prepared successfully, rabbits in the non-transdermal penetration enhancer group received herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion without transdermal penetration enhancers; rabbits in the laurocapram group and the borneol group received herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion with laurocapram or borneol respectively. After 4 weeks of treatment, the serum was isolated and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied for the detection of HSL and HMG-CoA reductase. The liver tissues were isolated, and total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) were measured by enzymatic methods. One-step method was applied for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) detection, and transmission turbidimetry was for apolipoprotein A1 (Apo-A1) and apolipoprotein B (Apo-B) detection. Results: The serum concentrations of the drugs in the laurocapram and the borneol groups were significantly higher than those in the non-transdermal penetration enhancer group (both P<0.05); all drug penetrations in the borneol group were significantly higher than those in the laurocapram group (both P<0.05), except for tanshinone ⅡA. Compared with the non-transdermal penetration enhancer group, the HSL was significantly increased while the HMG-CoA reductase was significantly decreased in the laurocapram and the borneol groups (both P<0.05); between groups, the HSL in the borneol group was significantly higher than that in the laurocapram group (P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, the levels of LDL-C, TG, TC and Apo-B in rabbit liver were significantly increased in the model group (P<0.05); compared with the model group, the levels of LDL-C, TG, TC and Apo-B in the non-transdermal penetration enhancer, the laurocapram, and the borneol groups were significantly decreased (all P<0.05); between groups, the TG and TC in the laurocapram group and the LDL-C, TG, TC and Apo-B in the borneol group were significantly lower than those in the non-transdermal penetration enhancer group (all P<0.05), and the TG, LDL-C and Apo-B in the borneol group were significantly lower than those in the laurocapram group (all P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, the HDL-C and Apo-A1 were significantly decreased in the model group (both P<0.05), while compared with the model group, the HDL-C and Apo-A1 were significantly increased in the non-transdermal penetration enhancer, the laurocapram, and the borneol groups (all P<0.05). Between groups, the Apo-A1 in the laurocapram group, the HDL-C and Apo-A1 in the borneol group were significantly higher than those in the non-transdermal penetration enhancer group (all P<0.05).Conclusion: The application of laurocapram and borneol, as transdermal penetration enhancers, in herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion can promote the penetration of the drugs in the herbal cake, increase the levels of HDL-C and Apo-A1, improve the metabolism of HSL and HMG-CoA reductase, and also simultaneously reduce the levels of TC, TG, LDL-C and Apo-B in the liver. The transdermal penetration enhancement effect of borneol is slightly better than or equivalent to that of laurocapram.

OBJECTIVETo measure the expression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (PKB) in liver tissue among low-birth-weight newborn rats treated with L-arginine (L-Arg) in early life, and to investigate the effect of L-Arg on insulin resistance.

METHODSEighteen pregnant rats were randomly divided into three groups: control, model and intervention (n=6 each). The control group was fed with normal protein feed (protein content=21%) during pregnancy to establish a normal-birth-weight newborn rat model, and the model and intervention groups were fed with low-protein feed (protein content=10%) during pregnancy to establish a low-birth-weight newborn rat model. Newborn rats from the three pregnant rat groups were also assigned to control, model and intervention groups. During 21 days of lactation, maternal rats in the control and model groups were fed with normal protein feed and normal drinking water, while maternal rats in the intervention group were fed with normal protein feed and drinking water rich in L-Arg (200 mg/kg·d). After ablactation, the three groups of newborn rats were fed with normal protein feed and normal drinking water. Liver tissue samples were collected from these newborn rats at 1, 3 and 8 weeks after birth. Protein expression of PI3K and PKB in liver tissue was measured by Western blot.

RESULTSAt 1 week after birth, the newborn rats in the intervention group had significantly higher protein expression of PI3K than in the model group (P=0.045), but there was no significant difference when compared with the control group (P=0.503). At 8 weeks after birth, the newborn rats in the intervention group had significantly higher protein expression of PKB than the model group (P=0.039), but there was no significant difference when compared with the control group (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSA supplement of L-Arg in early life can boost protein synthesis, increase protein expression of PI3K and PKB in liver tissue, promote insulin signaling and reduce insulin resistance.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Arginine ; pharmacology ; Birth Weight ; Female ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; genetics ; Phosphorylation ; Pregnancy ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of protective effect of oral L-arginine (L-Arg) on the intestine after scald injury in rats.

METHODSSixty-six Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three groups: i.e. normal control (N, n = 6, without treatment), oral L-arginine group (A, n = 30, with 1 ml 70 g/L of L-Arg per os 2 times a day from 2 post scald hour (PSH)) on with normal enteral feeding and group B (n = 30, with oral feeding of cold boiled water after scald). The changes in the content of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), endothelin (ET), ET/NO ratio in the intestine and the level of plasma endotoxin (LPS) in portal vein were assessed at 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 PSH. Ileum tissue samples were harvested for pathological examination.

RESULTSThe ET content in the intestinal tissue in A group at 6, 12 and 24 PSH (0.80 +/- 0.26 ng/g, 0.75 +/- 0.30 ng/g, 0.63 +/- 0.22 ng/g) was obviously lower than that in B group (1.26 +/- 0.38 ng/g, 1.34 +/- 0.37 ng/g, 0.97 +/- 0.19 ng/g, P < 0.05), but the NO contents in the intestine in A group at the same time points were significantly higher than that in B group (P < 0.01). The ET/NO ratio and the level of plasma endotoxin in A group were significantly lower than those in B group at each time point (P < 0.05 or 0.01). Pathological examination showed that the intestinal mucosal injury in the A group was obviously milder than that in the B group.

CONCLUSIONOral L-arginine was shown to have the effects to ameliorate ischemia reperfusion injury of the intestine and to protect the barrier function of the intestinal mucosa. This might be related to an increase in the NO level in intestinal mucosa resulting in maintenance of a stable ET/NO ratio.

Animals ; Arginine ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Burns ; metabolism ; therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Endothelins ; metabolism ; Feeding Methods ; Intestinal Mucosa ; physiopathology ; Intestines ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene transfection on the proliferation of human embryonic fibroblasts (hEF).

METHODShEFs were cultured in vitro. Sense recombinant eukaryotic plasmid (pIRES2-EGFP-hTERT) and pIRES2-EGFP vacant vector were transfected into hEF respectively with Lipofectin reagent, and were named as hEF-hTERT and hEF-EGFP. The hTERT, Id1, PCNA and I, III type collagen expression in these cells were detected by Western blot. Then the cell cycle and growth curve were measured and plotted with flow cytometry and MTT method, respectively.

RESULTS1. The expression of hTERT, Id1, PCNA, type I and III collagen in hEF-hTERT were much higher than that in hEF and hEF-EGFP. 2. As shown in the growth curve, the OD value of hEF-hTERT at 4 to 6 days after culture was obviously higher than that of hEF and hEF-EGFP (P < 0.05), while no difference existed between hEF and hEF-EGFP from 1 to 6 days after culture (P > 0.05). 3. The cell number in G0/G1 phase in hEF-hTERT was less than that in hEF and hEF-EGFP. The cell number of hEF-hTERT in S and G2/M phase and its proliferation index (57.47%) increased when compared with that in hEF-EGFP (13.13%) and hEF (17.38%), but there was no difference between hEF and hEF-EGFP.

CONCLUSIONExogenous hTERT gene transfection could promote the proliferative capacity of hEF.

Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; Humans ; Telomerase ; genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVEThis study was to investigate the association of Bisphenol A and unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion.

METHODSA hospital-based 1:1 matched case-control study was conducted. Sixty patients with unexplained recurrent abortion were included. Each case was matched with one normal control by age (± 2 years), living district and the same gestational age. The levels of Bisphenol A in urine for 60 cases and 60 controls were detected using high performance liquid chromatography after fluorescent derivatization. The levels of urinary Bisphenol A in case was compared with that in control in education levels, occupation, smoking history. Data was analyzed by means of Wilcoxon-test, Student-Newman-Keuls after rank transform, univariate and multivariate conditional Logistic regression analysis. The software used was SAS 9.1.3.

RESULTSThe values of urinary Bisphenol A in cases and controls were (0.10 ± 0.21) µg/ml, (0.03 ± 0.08) µg/ml, respectively. The level of urinary Bisphenol A in cases was significantly higher than that in controls (Z = 3.988, P < 0.0001). The urinary Bisphenol A levels in cases were significant higher than those in controls from senior middle school (the levels were 0.10, 0.06 µg/ml respectively, Z = 1.996, P = 0.0459), college (the levels were 0.14, 0.03 µg/ml respectively, Z = 2.586, P = 0.0097), workers or farmers (the levels were 0.08, 0.03 µg/ml respectively, Z = 2.265, P = 0.0235), businessmen (the levels were 0.10, 0.03 µg/ml respectively, Z = 2.544, P = 0.0109), and no passive smokers (the levels were 0.09, 0.03 µg/ml respectively, Z = 3.767, P = 0.0002). After adjustment by age, body mass index, marital status during pregnancy and other factors, compared to Bisphenol A below 0.06 µg/ml, the adjusted OR was 4.03 (1.67 - 9.74) for Bisphenol A levels between 0.06 µg/ml and 0.20 µg/ml, and was 5.46 (1.95 - 15.27) for Bisphenol A over 0.20 µg/ml. The risk of unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion increased progressively with the growth of urinary Bisphenol A levels (χ(2) = 13.042, trend test P = 0.0003). There were significant differences on Bisphenol A among controls, two abortions, and three or more abortions (the levels were 0.03 µg/ml, 0.09 µg/ml, 0.21 µg/ml respectively, F = 9.04, P = 0.0002).

CONCLUSIONExposure to Bisphenol A may be associated with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion.

Abortion, Habitual ; etiology ; Abortion, Spontaneous ; etiology ; Adult ; Benzhydryl Compounds ; Case-Control Studies ; Causality ; Female ; Humans ; Maternal Exposure ; adverse effects ; Phenols ; urine ; Pregnancy ; Young Adult