Objective To investigate the expression and correlation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1?(HIF-1?),vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)and sFlt-1 in the preeclampsia placenta,and discuss their significance in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.Methods Placentas were collected from 20 pregnant women with preeclampsia as study group and 15 normal pregnant women as control group.The expressions of HIF-1?,VEGF and sFlt-1 protein were semi-quantitatively analyzed with immunohistochemical assay and mRNA level was determined using reverse transcription polymerasc chain reaction(RT-PCR)technique. Results(1)the expression of HIF-1?and sFlt-1 protein in preeclampsia group obviously increased.Strong (+++)positive expression was observed in 9 and 11 cases respectively,significantly higher than in control group(2 and 3 cases)(P＜0.05),however,VEGF expression obviously reduced in preeclampsia group(P＜0.01).(2)the level of HIF-1?and sFlt-1 mRNA in preeclamptic placenta was 0.604?0.013, 0.898?0.041,significantly higher than 0.208?0.007 and 0.559?0.244 in normal placenta(P＜0.05). Although the level of VEGF mRNA increased in preeclampsia placenta,it was not significantly different from that in normal placenta(P＞0.05).The ratio of VEGF mRNA/sFlt-1 mRNA obviously reduced in preeclampsia group and was significantly lower than in control group(P＜0.05).(3)in preeclampsia group,HIF-1?mRNA expression was positively correlated with the expression of sFlt-1 mRNA(r=0.577, P＜0.05),and negatively correlated with the ratio of VEGF mRNA/sFlt-1 mRNA(r=-0.376,P＜0.05).Conclusion Abnormal high HIF-1?expression in preeclampsia placenta indicates that HIF-1?might play an important role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia,possibly through affecting the cytotrophoblastic invasion and placental vascular reconstruction via the modulation of VEGF and sFlt-1 gene transcription.

Objective To investigate the clinical and molecular pathological features of dysferlinopathy in China.Methods Four patients with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy2B(LGMD2B)and 4 patients with Miyoshi-type distal muscular dystrophy(MMD)were clinically analyzed, their skeletal muscle were biopsied and immunohistochemical stained.Four cases of each Duchenne-Aran muscular atrophy and myotis were served as controls.Results The clinical situation of dysferlinopathy was characterized by progressive muscle weakness and atrophy, consistent with progressive muscular dystrophy.Histochemical staining revealed muscle fibers degenerating, regenerating and necrosis in a varying degree.Connective tissue was seen proliferated and inflammatory cells infiltrated in the majority of cases.Immunohistochemical staining with anti-dysferlin monoclonal antibody identified the deficiency of dysferlin on the sarcolemma and in the sarcoplasm of 8 cases with dysferlinopathy.Conclusions(1)The clinical and pathological characters of dysferlinopathy are consistent with progressive muscular dystrophy;(2)Anti-dysferlin monoclonal antibody immunohistochemical staining is a reliable method to diagnose dysferlinopathy, which is worth of wide application in clinic.

Objective To investigate the health status and nutrition-related diseases of residents in Pudong New Area,Shanghai and provide information for shaping the relevant national policies and guiding the people''s health dietary.Methods By means of a stratified multi-stage cluster random household sampling survey were performed questionnaire,physical examination and laboratory assay for 737 residents above the age of 15.Results The mean±standard deviation of the men''s height was (168.79±6.81) cm,and the women''s mean height (157.47±6.53) cm.And the rates of malnourishment,overweight,obesity and central obesity were 4.37%,48.91%,14.48% and 49.25%,and the prevalence rate of hypertension was 45.18%.Among residents above 18 years old,the abnormal rate of total cholesterol and triglycerides were 28.69% and 23.50%.Conclusion Nutrition-related chronic diseases will be an important public health problem in Pudong New Area.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of forearms devascularization on the volt-ampere (V-A) characteristics of Neiguan (PC 6) and Taiyuan (LU 9) so as to investigate the relationship among functions of acupoints, qi and blood in human body and V-A characteristics of acupoints.

METHODSEither forearms of 23 healthy volunteers were devascularized and the changes of V-A characteristics in ipsilateral Neiguan (PC 6) and Taiyuan (LU 9) in normal and devascularization statuses were detected by home-made intelligent V-A detecting system.

RESULTSCompared with the normal status, both range-increasing and range-decreasing V-A areas of Neiguan (PC 6) and Taiyuan (LU 9) were significantly increased in devascularization status (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and the change rates of these two V-A areas of Neiguan (PC 6) were larger than those of Taiyuan (LU 9) (both P < 0.05). The inertia areas of Neiguan (PC 6) but not Taiyuan (LU 9) became significantly larger after devascularization (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe changes in V-A characteristics of Neiguan (PC 6) and Taiyuan (LU 9) can reflect the alteration of local blood supply, and Neiguan (PC 6) is more sensitive to changes of blood flow than Taiyuan (LU 9).

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Blood Circulation ; Electrophysiology ; Female ; Forearm ; blood supply ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study source apportionment of atmospheric PM10 (particle matter ≤ 10 µm in aerodynamic diameter) and PM2.5 (particle matter ≤ 2.5 µm in aerodynamic diameter) in Beijing,Urumqi and Qingdao, China.

METHODSThe atmospheric particle samples of PM10 and PM2.5 collected from Beijing between May 17th and June 18th, 2005, from Urumqi between April 20th and June 1st, 2006 and from Qingdao between April 4th and May 15th, 2005, were detected to trace the source apportionment by factor analysis and enrichment factor methods.

RESULTSIn Beijing, the source apportionment results derived from factor analysis model for PM10 were construction dust and soil sand dust (contributing rate of variance at 45.35%), industry dust, coal-combusted smoke and vehicle emissions (contributing rate at 31.83%), and biomass burning dust (13.57%). The main pollution element was Pb, while the content (median (minimum value-maximum value)was 0.216 (0.040-0.795) µg/m(3)) . As for PM2.5, the sources were construction dust and soil sand dust (38.86%), industry dust, coal-combusted smoke and vehicle emissions (25.73%), biomass burning dust (13.10%) and burning oil dust (11.92%). The main pollution element was Zn (0.365(0.126-0.808) µg/m(3)).In Urumqi, source apportionment results for PM10 were soil sand dust and coal-combusted dust(49.75%), industry dust, vehicle emissions and secondary particles dust (30.65%). The main characteristic pollution element was Cd (0.463(0.033-1.351) ng/m(3)). As for PM2.5, the sources were soil sand dust and coal-combusted dust (43.26%), secondary particles dust (22.29%), industry dust and vehicle emissions (20.50%). The main characteristic pollution element was As (14.599 (1.696-36.741) µg/m(3)).In Qingdao, source apportionment results for PM10 were construction dust (30.91%), vehicle emissions and industry dust (29.65%) and secondary particles dust (28.99%). The main characteristic pollution element was Pb (64.071 (5.846-346.831) µg/m(3)). As for PM2.5, the sources were secondary particles dust, industry dust and vehicle emissions (49.82%) and construction dust (33.71%). The main characteristic pollution element was Pb(57.340 (5.004-241.559) µg/m(3)).Enrichment factors of Zn, Pb, As and Cd in PM2.5 were higher than those in PM10 both in Beijing and Urumqi.

CONCLUSIONThe major sources of the atmospheric particles PM10 and PM2.5 in Beijing were cement dust from construction sites and sand dust from soil; while the major sources of those in Urumqi were pollution by smoke and sand dust from burning coal. The major sources of the atmospheric particles PM10 in Qingdao were cement dust from construction sites; however, the major sources of PM2.5 there were secondary particles dust, industry dust and vehicle emissions. According to our study, the heavy metal elements were likely to gather in PM2.5.

Air Pollutants ; analysis ; China ; Cities ; Dust ; analysis ; Environmental Monitoring ; methods ; Particle Size ; Seasons ; Vehicle Emissions ; analysis

Female ; Gastroscopy ; Humans ; Infant ; Intestinal Obstruction ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical, pathological and genetic characteristics in a family with autosomal dominant Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (AD-EDMD).

METHODSClinical data and skeletal muscle specimens were collected from two patients (the proband and her daughter) for pathological analysis. DNA samples of the proband and her family members (7 persons from 3 generations) were obtained for PCR amplification and direct DNA sequencing of the lamin A/C (LMNA) gene. Haplotype analysis was performed after the identification of mutation.

RESULTSThe proband had typical clinical manifestation of EDMD: joint contracture, progressive muscle weakness and atrophy and cardiac conduction dysfunction. Muscular pathology revealed myopathic changes combined with slight neuropathic changes. A heterozygous missense mutation 1583 (C to G)(T528R) was identified in exon 9 of the LMNA gene in the two patients, but not in other family members. Haplotype analysis indicated that the proband and her daughter shared the same causative haplotype.

CONCLUSIONThis is the first report of the phenotype and genotype of AD-EDMD in Chinese.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Child ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Haplotypes ; genetics ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Muscular Dystrophy, Emery-Dreifuss ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Phenotype

OBJECTIVE To investigate the regulation of{O2 (2,4-dinitrophenyl)1-[(4-ethoxycarbonyl) piperazin-1-yl] diazen-1-ium-1, 2-diolate} (JS-K), a nitric oxide donor, on tumor energy metabolism in H22 tumor-bearing mice. METHODS The hepatoma animal model in BALB/c mice was established with H22 cell line. The inoculated mice were randomly divided into four groups. The JS-K group and model group received JS-K (0.75 and 1.50 mg?kg-1) and saline via tail the vein intravenously once every 3 d for 14 d, and 5 injections, respectively. The fluorouracil (5-FU) group received 5-FU 20 mg·kg-1 by intra-peritoneal injection once a day for 14 d. On the 15th day after the first administration, mice were sacri-ficed and the tumor, thymus and spleen were isolated and weighed immediately. The tumor growth inhibitory rate and organ index were calculated. The activities of hexokinase (HK), phosphofructokinase (PFK), pyruvate kinase (PK), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase), and the levels of lactic acid (LD) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in tumor tissues were determined by colorimetric method. The expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) and hexokinaseⅡ(HKⅡ) in the tumor tissue was analyzed by Western blotting. RESULTS Compared with model group, the tumor mass of JS-K 0.75 and 1.50 mg · kg-1 groups was significantly reduced (P<0.01), and the tumor growth inhibitory rate was 23.9%and 50.3%, respectively. There was no diffrence in thymic and splenic indexes between JS-K group and model group. The activity of HK, PFK, SDH, PK and ATPase of tumor tissue in model group was 22.6±3.7, 14.4±2.6, (10.5±2.6) U·g-1protein, (12.9±3.2) kU·g-1 protein and (0.70 ± 0.10) mmolPi · g-1protein · h-1, respectively, which dropped by 42.0%, 26.6%, 22.7%, 23.3%and 21.7%respectively (P<0.01, P<0.05) in JS-K 1.50 mg?kg-1 group. Compared with the model group, the level of ATP of tumor tissue in JS-K 1.50 mg?kg-1 groups dropped by 16.6%(P<0.01) and the level of LD in JS-K 0.75 and 1.50 mg?kg-1 groups dropped by 38.7%and 59.4%(P<0.01), respectively. In addi-tion, the expression of HIF-1αof tumor tissue in JS-K 1.50 mg?kg-1 group was decreased (P<0.01), and the expression of HKⅡ of tumor tissue in JS-K 0.75 and 1.50 mg?kg-1 groups was decreased signifi-cantly (P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSION JS-K can inhibit the growth of tumor in H22 tumor-bearing mice and its mechanism may be related to regulating the tumor energy metabolism by inhibiting glycolysis and aerobic oxidation.

Objective To investigate the expression of Toll-like receptor(TLR) 9 of circulating plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC) and analyze the frequency and interferon (IFN)-?production of circulating pDC during hepatitis B virus(HBV) infection.Methods Peripheral blood was collected from 69 HBV-infected patients,including 14 cases of asymptomatie HBV infection,30 cases of chro- nic hepatitis B(CHB),25 cases of HBV-related liver cirrhosis,and 21 healthy blood donors as con- trols.Flow cytometry was used to analyze the frequency of circulating pDC and the mean fluorescence intensity(MFI) of TLR9.Fresh peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC) were stimulated by CpG ODN 2216 for 24 h in vitro.IFN-?in the supernatant was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) to analyze the frequency and IFN-?production of pDC during HBV in- fection.Data were analyzed with SPSS 13.0 for windows.Results Compared with healthy controls (62.6?10.7),the MFI of TLR9 of patients with asymptomatic HBV infection,those of CHB and HBV-related cirrhosis were significantly reduced (P

OBJECTIVETo provide materials for the study of the function of ESC42 protein specifically expressed in the human epididymis.

METHODSThe ESC42 gene was amplified from the human epididymis cDNA library by PCR and then cloned into prokaryotic expression vector pGEX-4T-1, expressed and purified by recombinant DNA techniques. The specificity of ESC42 protein was identified by Western blot and MALDI-TOF-MS. The database was searched by Ms-Fit.

RESULTSThe recombinant plasmid expressed a Mr 38 x 10(3) fusion protein in E. coli at a level of 30% of the total protein, and the purity was as high as 99%. The ESC42 protein was identified by ESC42 monoclonal antibody and its molecular weight was 11 978.12, tested by MALDI-TOF-MS. The peptide mass fingerprint analysis showed that the coverage rate of the sequence reached 48% with 100% matching. The motif scan in Prosite database reveal that ESC42 belonged to the beta-defensin family and had antibacterial activity.

CONCLUSIONObtaining high purity of rhESC42 protein may lay a foundation for the study of its functions.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; immunology ; Cloning, Molecular ; Defensins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Epididymis ; metabolism ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Gene Library ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; immunology