Mounting evidence has shown that side population (SP) cells are enriched for cancer stem cells (CSCs) responsible for cancer malignancy. In this study, SP technology was used to isolate a small subpopulation of SP cells in human gallbladder cancer cell line GBC-SD, and SP cells which had superior potential for proliferation in vitro and tumorigenesis in vivo were identified. Importantly, the abundance of GBC-SD SP cells was increased by a transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and this effect was accompanied with a strong up-regulation of ABCG2 mRNA expression, and a decreased sensitivity to mitoxantrone. SP cells were restored upon the removal of TGF-β and the reversion of the cells to an epithelial phenotype, and smad3-specific siRNA reduced SP abundance in response to TGF-β. In conclusion, TGF-β-induced EMT by smad-dependent signaling pathway promotes cancer development and anti-cancer drug resistant phenotype by augmenting the abundance of GBC-SD SP cells, and a better understanding of mechanisms involved in TGF-β-induced EMT may provide a novel strategy for preventing cancer progression.

AIMTo investigate antimalarial mechanism of Qinghaosu ( QHS) and its derivatives.

METHODSThe electronic structure of QHS and its derivatives were completely optimized and calculated at B3LYP/6-31G * level, while the route was at HF/STO-3G level.

RESULTSThe peroxide bridge is the active center of QHS and induced by ferrous iron to produce cyclic product.

CONCLUSIONHeme can link with QHS derivatives.

Antimalarials ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Artemisia ; chemistry ; Artemisinins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Electron Transport ; Free Radicals ; chemistry ; Heme ; chemistry ; Models, Chemical ; Peroxides ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quantum Theory

This study was aimed to reveal how the swelling properties and release behavior of a model drug from pectin gel beads were influenced by its crosslinking with different metal ions. Coomassie Brilliant Blue G-250 was chosen as the model drug. Pectinate beads were prepared by the dropping method and crosslinked with Ca2+, Fe3+, Zn2+, Ba2+, respectively. The release behavior and swelling properties were investigated. The results showed that there were significant differences between the pectinate beads that were crosslinked with different ions. Pectinate gel beads, as a potential cell microencapsulation and drug vehicle, could be acquired for different release profile by crosslinking with different ions.
Calcium ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cross-Linking Reagents ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Ferric Compounds ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Gels ; chemistry ; Metals ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Microspheres ; Pectins ; chemistry

Forkhead box (Fox) proteins play critical roles in the regulation of differentiation, proliferation, immunity and aging of cells. Most studies on Fox proteins are limited to cultured cells and rodent. The aim of the current study is to detect by immunohistrochemistry whether FoxO1, FoxO3a and FoxO4 proteins are localized in the stomach and intestine of the pig. The results showed that FoxO4 exists in the mucosa in all parts of the stomach and intestine; FoxO3a exists mainly in the lamina propria and muscularis of some parts. However, FoxO1 is not detectable in all parts of the stomach and intestine. Collectively, the results of the present study indicate that there exists a distinct expression pattern of Fox proteins, and that FoxO4 is a primary forkhead transcriptional factor localized in the gastrointestinal tracts of the pig.
Animals ; Female ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Sus scrofa ; metabolism ; Tissue Distribution

Objective To investigate the risk factors of schistosomiasis transmission in Jingmen City. Methods The Onco-melania hupensis snails,the wild animal feces,and infection source were selected as the monitoring objects to carry out the schistosomiasis risk monitoring. I-III levels of risk environments were treated with appropriate measures. Results A total of 52 environments and three water systems were monitored and 1542 snails were dissected but no Schistosoma infected snails were found. Nine fecal samples were collected from the areas with snails,and no eggs of Schistosoma were found. Eighty-nine samples of cattle/sheep faces,and mice and dogs were collected,and three samples of cattle feces were found with Schistosoma eggs. Five environments were assessed as Grade II,and 48 environments were assessed as Grade III,and 2 environments were as-sessed as no risk of schistosomiasis transmission. Conclusions In Jingmen City,the mollusciciding work from May to June could decrease the density of snails and the risk of schistosomiasis transmission efficiently. The schistosome-infected cattle were the main infection source,and therefore,the cattle and snails should be administrated simultaneously.

To study the pathogenic spectrum of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) and the molecular characterizations of human enteroviruses 71 (HEV71) isolated from the clinical specimens of HFMD patients in Inner Mongolia in 2010. A total of 921 clinical specimens including stools and throat swabs were collected from HFMD patients in outpatient service in Inner Mongolia and then viral isolation was performed, the positive viral isolates were identified by using the real-time PCR method (detecting EV, HEV71 and CVA16 in a single tube), and VP4 and VP1 coding region amplification and sequencing was performed with the viral isolates that were identified as non-HEV71, non-CVA16 HEVs. A total of 153 viruses were isolated form 921 clinical specimens, the positive rate was 16.61%, of which 61 (39.87%) were HEV71, 82 (53.59%) were CVA16, 7 (6.53%) were other HEVs(6 were CVB4 and 1 was polio vaccine virus type II) and 3 (1.96%) were adenoviruses. Nine viruses were isolated from severe cases, of which 6 were HEV71 and 3 were CVA16. Thirty two HEV71 isolates were selected from the patients presenting mild symptoms and the patients presenting severe symptoms randomly, and the VP1 coding regions of represented HEV71 isolates were amplified and sequenced. Finally the phylogenetic tree was constructed among the VP1 coding regions of the different genotypes and subgenotypes of HEV71 strains. The nucleotide acid and amino acid of 32 represented HEV71 strains in Inner Mongolia were closed to HEV71 strains isolated from mainland China since 2007, especially from Beijing in 2008, and it showed that all HEV71 strains clustered within the C4a evolution branch of C4 subgenotype. There was slight difference in the nucleotide and the amino acid sequence in VP1 region among the 32 Inner Mongolia HEV71 strains, the identity were 96.4%-100% and 98.14%-100%, respectively, and there was a little difference in the nucleotide acid sequence between the HEV71 strains from Inner Mongolia in 2010 and in 2007, the identity was from 96.95% to 97.87%. Thirty two HEV71 strains were in different lineages in the phylogenetic tree, and it indicated that these strains belonged to many different viral transmission chains. HEV71 and CVA16 were the main pathogens of HFMD in Inner Mongolia in 2010 and most severe cases were caused by HEV71. All the HEV71 strains circulated in Inner Mongolia belonged to C4a evolution branch within C4 subgenotype. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 2010 Inner Mongolia HEV71 strains were located in different lineages, and had more nucleotide identity with 2008 Beijing HEV71 strains than with 2007 Inner Mongolia HEV71 strains. This indicated that Inner Mongolia HEV71 strains had not evolved independently, but co-evolved with the HEV71 strains in other provinces in mainland China.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Enterovirus A, Human ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; pathogenicity ; Female ; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease ; virology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the expression of LRG1 (Leucine－rich alpha－2－glycoprotein 1) and CD105 (Endoglin) in normal cervical tissues , cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)Ⅱ－ Ⅲ and cervical carcinoma. Furthermore, to explore the function of LRG1 in cervical carcinoma pathogenesis and the relationship between LRG1 and microvessel density.Methods The expression levels of LRG1 and CD105 were detected by immunohistochemistry in 40 cervical carcinoma tissues, 20 CINⅡ－ Ⅲ tissues and 20 normal cervical tissues. Results Compared to the normal cervix, the expression of LRG1 in CINⅡ－ Ⅲ and cervical squamous cell carcinoma was significantly increased (P＜0.05).LRG1expression was correlated to clinical stage and lymph node metastasis (P＜0.05) . But there was no correlation between LRG1 expression and age, the size of tumor, pathologic grades and depth of invasion (P＞0.05).With the deepening of cervical lesions, CD105－MVD (X± s) increasedsignificantly (P＜0.05).The expression of CD105－MVD in cervical carcinomawas related to clinical stage, lymph node metastasis and the size of tumor. The difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05) . There was no correlation between CD105－MVD and age, pathologic grades and depth of invasion (P＞0.05).Positive correlation was found between the expression of LRG1 and CD105－MVD (r=0.944,P＜0.05).Conclusions The expression of LRG1 and CD105－MVD is up－regulated and shows a positive correlation, which suggests that the abnormal expression of LRG1 and CD105－MVD may involve in the occurrence and development of cervical squamous carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a new animal model of grading skeletal muscle contusions that could be controllable and repetitive. METHODS: The rats' gastrocnemius was injured by a new weight-dropping device designed. The force acting on gastrocnemius with a comparatively constant duration and inducing elastic deformation of the gastrocnemius was expressed with velocity (v) and deformation (DF). Instant velocity was changed to create gastrocnemius contusions. Pathological changes of gastrocnemius were graded by the gross and histological examinations of 39 rats. RESULTS: At low level of impact (v: 2 m/s, DF: 5.5 mm), mild injuries were detected in epimysium and superficial layer of gastrocnemius. At moderate level of impact (v: 2.5 m/s, DF: 6.5 mm), the injuries were observed in epimysium and whole gastrocnemius. At high level of impact (v: 3 m/s, DF: 7.5 mm), severe injuries were seen deeper to soleus with more extensive skeletal muscle damage. CONCLUSION Grading of skeletal muscle blunt force contusion is created by parameter of velocity and muscle deformation. The model could be used for further research on skeletal muscle contusions.
Animals ; Contusions/classification* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Forensic Pathology ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal/injuries* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Wounds, Nonpenetrating

OBJECTIVETo establish an efflux pump inhibitor screening model with the out-membrane protein OprM in Pseudomonas aeruginosa efflux pump system as the target point.

METHODSEfflux pump out-membrane protein gene oprM was obtained from standard Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01 strain. Expression of OprM protein was induced in E. coli strain HS151 with T-easy vector as the cloning vector, and pMMB67EH as the expression vector. In order to evaluate the function of OprM protein, we measured intracellular tetracycline concentrations with liquid scintillation counter, measured the diameters of bacteriostatic circles with paper disc, and then established a screening model accordingly.

RESULTSOprM protein was highly expressed. Using Pseudomonas aeruginosa as the main detecting bacteria, we established a drug screening model acting on OprM. A total of 1 600 microbial fermentation samples were screened with this model, among which 56 positive strains were found, with a positive rate of 3.5%.

CONCLUSIONOprM plays an important role in drug efflux. The established model has good specificity and maneuverability.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins ; biosynthesis ; drug effects ; genetics ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; methods ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; genetics ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Humans ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; biosynthesis ; drug effects ; genetics ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; drug effects ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo measure the energy expenditure of reading and watching TV for young women.

METHODSAll 30 girls in the college were selected according to questionnaire, medical examination, blood test, liver function and thyroid gland level. Energy expenditure of reading and watching TV was measured respectively by the Cosmid K4b2 portable gas analysis system from Italy. Basic metabolic rate (BMR) and resting metabolic rate (RMR) were measured as to analyzing results conveniently.

RESULTSThe energy expenditure in reading was (226.35 +/- 56.07) kJ/h and the heart rate was (69 +/- 5) bmp. For watching TV it was (220.79 +/- 65.69) kJ/h and the heart rate was (68 +/- 5) bmp. BMR was (178.53 +/- 53.51) kJ/h and the heart rate was (62 +/- 6) bmp. RMR was (214.76 +/- 44.56) kJ/h and the heart rate was (65 +/- 6) bpm.

CONCLUSIONSThe energy expenditure in reading should be higher than that of watching TV, however, the difference was not obvious. The expenditure rates might get closer to those of RMR. It might be regarded as an expenditure of very light physical active in Chinese.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Basal Metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Reading ; Rest ; physiology ; Television