Adult ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Hygiene ; standards ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Health ; statistics & numerical data ; Occupational Health Services ; standards ; Young Adult

Acoustic Stimulation ; adverse effects ; Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Female ; Hypothalamus ; metabolism ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

In this paper, the effect of 5% (V/V) n-alkanes (e.g, n-Heptane, n-Octane, n-Decane, n-Dodecanen-Tetradecane and n-Hexadecane) on the growth and protease production of organic-solvent-tolerant- bacte-rium Bacillus licheniformis YP1 was studied. 5%(V/V) n-alkanes had no effect on the stability of YP1 prote-ase. 5% (V/V) n-alkanes had no notable influence on the yield of strain YP1 but dramatically affected theprotease production. The presence of n-Heptane, n-Octane and n-Decane deeply repressed the protease pro-duction; however n-Dodecane, n-Tetradecane and n-Hexadecane enhanced the protease production promi-nencely. The concentration of n-Tetradecane (1%-8%, V/V) had a direct ration with the protease production.The detailed experiments showed that the notable increase of protease activity appeared at the late logarithmof cultivation compared with the blank. The cell shape of YP1 strain remarkably decreased when grown inthe presence of n-Tetradecane. This is the first report about the effect of n-alkanes on the protease productionby the solvent tolerant bacterium.

OBJECTIVETo prospectively compare the rates of gastroesophageal variceal rebleeding in patients underwent TIPS alone and TIPS combined with embolization of gastric coronary veins.

METHODSAccording to the bleeding state within one week before the shunt placement, 122 patients with hepatic cirrhosis indicated for the secondary prevention of gastroesophageal variceal rebleeding were allocated to the shunt group (n = 44, treated with TIPS alone) and the shunt plus embolization group (n = 78, treated with TIPS combined with embolization of gastric coronary veins). All the patients were followed up for 1 year, and the 1-year cumulative rates of rebleeding, shunt patency and mortality were compared.

RESULTSThe basic characteristics of patients in the two groups were comparable (P is more than 0.05). The 1-year cumulative re-bleeding rates were 41.5% in the shunt group and 19.5% in the shunt combined with embolization group (x2 = 6.320, P = 0.012). The differences of 1-year cumulative rates of shunt patency and mortality between the two groups were not significant (P is more than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTIPS combined with embolization of gastric coronary veins could reduce significantly the rate of rebleeding in 1 year after the shunt placement as compared with TIPS alone.

Adult ; Aged ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; surgery ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic ; Stomach ; blood supply

Objective To develop a novel strategy for separation and purification of target protein by magnetic molecularly imprinted nanoparticles . Methods Fe3 O4 nanoparticles were synthesized through a hydrothermal method .A sol-gel technique was adopted to prepare imprinting layers .The adsorption capability of magnetic molecularly imprinted nanoparticles was investigated by kinetic , isothermal , and selective binding experiments .Results The imprinted nanomaterials could reach equilibrium within 30 min . The adsorption capacity was 44 .51 mg/g .The imprinting factor and selectivity coefficient were 3 .50 and 2 .92 ,respectively .The resulting imprinted polymers could selectively separate and enrich bovine hemoglobin from a bovine blood sample . Conclusion The prepared imprinted nanomaterials with good specific adsoprtion ability can provide an effective strategy for separation and purification of target protein .

OBJECTIVETo identify the enhancers of human lung specific X protein (LUNX) and their regulation at the transcription level in vitro.

METHODSThree enhancer fragments (E1:+3770~+3959bp; E2: +6454~+6555bp; E3: +14553~+14652 bp) predicted by bioinformatics software were isolated from the human genomic DNA by PCR amplification. Luciferase assay was performed to detect the activities of the enhancers in transcriptional regulation.

RESULTSPCR products were confirmed by DNA sequencing. The amplified enhancers digested by Kpn I/Xho I and BamH I/Sal I, to generate the sticky-end fragments were inserted into PGL3-promoter in a reporter vector, and 6 luciferase expression vectors were obtained. All the reporter plasmids and pGL3-promoter were transiently transfected into HEK293 cells with an internal control of pSV-β-Galactosidase reporter vector. The enhancer activity of each construct was evaluated by luciferase assay of the cell extracts after transfection for 48 h. The results showed that the 3 fragments, when located upstream, did not increase transcription of reporter gene, but when at the downstream, E1 and E3 increased the transcription by 2.83 and 1.59 folds of that of pGL3-promoter, respectively.

CONCLUSIONLUNX gene sequences from +3770 to +3959 bp and +14553 to +14652 bp possess the capacity to enhance gene transcription.

Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Enhancer Elements, Genetic ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Glycoproteins ; genetics ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phosphoproteins ; genetics ; Transcription, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of arctiin on advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP)-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in tubular cells and explore the mechanisms underlying this effect.

METHODSHuman proximal tubular cells (HK-2 cells) were treated with bovine serum albumin (BSA) or AOPPs in the presence or absence of arctiin. The expressions of E-cadherin, vimentin, and GRP78 at the protein and mRNA levels in the cells were examined using Western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured by flow cytometry with DCFH-DA as the fluorescent probe.

RESULTSCompared with BSA-treated cells, the cells treated with AOPPs showed decreased expression of epithelial cell marker E-cadherin and overexpression of mesenchymal marker vimentin and endoplasmic reticulum stress marker GRP78 with an increased ROS level. These changes induced by AOPPs were partly inhibited by arctiin.

CONCLUSIONArctiin can ameliorate AOPP-induced EMT in tubular cells by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress, and oxidative stress response may participate in this process.

Advanced Oxidation Protein Products ; adverse effects ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Furans ; pharmacology ; Glucosides ; pharmacology ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Kidney Tubules ; cytology ; drug effects ; Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Vimentin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of lithium chloride (LiCl) on cell cycle of HK-2 cells and explore the possible pathways involved.

METHODSHK-2 cells were treated with LiCl at different concentrations (5, 12.5, 20, and 25 mmol/L) for 12, 24, 48, or 72 h, and the changes in cell cycle and viability were detected using flow cytometry and CCK-8 assay, respectively. Western blotting was used to analyze the changes in the expressions of cyclin B1 and CDK1 (the two G2 phase-related proteins) and those of AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway-related proteins in the treated cells.

RESULTSLiCl treatment time- and concentration-dependently increased HK-2 cell percentage in G2 phase and decreased the cell vitality. The expressions of cyclin B1, CDK1, p-GSK-3β, and β-catenin increased and the expression of p-AKT decreased significantly in the cells as LiCl treatment time and concentration increased.

CONCLUSIONLiCl may cause HK-2 cell cycle arrest in G2 phase through activation of the AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway.

BACKGROUNDTo investigate the clinical features of hepatitis A in 1 629 children under 14 years of age treated in our department at various periods of time.

METHODSThe patients were divided into two groups: 1. Group A consisted of 883 patients treated from January 1984 to December 1990; 2. Group B consisted of 746 patients treated from January 1991 to December 2000. The clinical data of all the patients were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS1. The average age was 7.17+/-3.27 and 8.78+/- 3.28 years (chi2=0.54, P>0.05) and the mean course of disease 26.25+/-16.96 and 25.65+/-12.58 days (chi2=0.29, P>0.05). 2. Double peak or multi-peak serum ALT was found in 89 patients. Four peaks of serum ALT was found in one patient. 3. HBsAg was found positive in 143 patients (8.80%). The mean course of disease was 34.40+/-25.86 and 25.20+/-15.43 days (chi2=146.5, P<0.001) in HBsAg positive and negative patients, respectively. 4. Liver puncture biopsy in 26 patients with hepatitis A showed that there was piecemeal necrosis in 2 patients.

CONCLUSIONS1. There was no significant delay in age of children with HAV infection in 1990s. There was no marked difference in the course of disease between the patients simultaneously receiving various drugs and those receiving one or two drugs. 2. The double peak or multi-peak of serum ALT in patients with hepatitis A might be related to liver damage caused by HAV and immune mechanism. 3. The major type of virus for combined infection in patients with hepatitis A is HBV. The course of disease was prolonged with combined infection of HBV. 4. Piecemeal necrosis might be seen in the liver of a small proportion of patients with hepatitis A alone, which may not be enough to suggest chronicity.

Adolescent ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Hepatitis A ; diagnosis ; therapy ; virology ; Hepatitis B ; virology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Humans ; Infant ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Superinfection

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of COX-2 and pregnancy associate plasma protein A (PAPP-A) in coronary arteries and their relationship with acute coronary syndrome.

METHODSTwenty-one autopsy cases with acute coronary syndrome encountered during the period from 2002 to 2007 were enrolled into the study. Another 21 autopsy cases without evidence of acute coronary syndrome were used as the controls. The right and left coronary arteries of each group were dissected, embedded and processed as paraffin sections. Immunohistochemical study for CD68 and alpha-actin was performed to highlight the presence of macrophages and smooth muscle cells, respectively. The expression of COX-2 and PAPP-A was evaluated.

RESULTSIn the acute coronary syndrome group, COX-2 was localized mainly in the cytoplasm of endothelial cells, macrophages and smooth muscle cells. COX-2 expression in the cytoplasm of smooth muscle cells (28.60%) was significantly higher than that in the control group (4.76%, chi(2) = 14.13, P< 0.05). There was a positive correlation on COX-2 and PAPP-A expression in smooth muscle cells of the media layer of coronary arteries in acute coronary syndrome group (r = 0.88, P < 0.05). The expression of PAPP-A in smooth muscle cells of the media layer in coronary arteries not associated with plaque formation, was higher than that when there were atherosclerotic plaques (chi(2) = 10.36, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIn coronary arteries, COX-2 and PAPP-A play certain roles in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndrome.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Autopsy ; Coronary Vessels ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; metabolism ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A ; metabolism ; Young Adult