[Relationship between cadmium exposure and pulmonary function level and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Objective: To analyze the levels and distribution characteristics of blood cadmium and urinary cadmium in American adults, to analyze the relationship between blood cadmium and urinary cadmium and pulmonary function dose response, and to explore the effect of this index on the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Methods: In March 2022, 3785 patients from 2007 to 2012 in NHANES database were selected as the subjects. Collect demography data such as gender and age, and test data such as lung function, blood cadmium concentration and Urine cadimium concentration. The relationship between blood and urine cadmium levels and lung function and pulmonary function and chronic obstructive pulmonary diease (COPD) was analyzed by Mann-Whitney U test or Kruskal-Wallis H test, multivariate linear regression and restricted cubic spline method. Results: The geometric mean of blood cadmium and urine cadmium in American adults was 0.37 g/L and 0.28 g/L, FEV(1) and FEV(1)/FVC among different cadmium exposure groups was statistically significant, and there was a negative linear dose-response relationship between serum Cd and urine Cd concentrations and FEV(1)/FVC levels (P(overall)<0.001, P(non-linear)=0.152; P(overall)<0.001, P(non-linear)=0.926). Compared with the lowest quartile concentration (Q1), the highest quartile blood cadmium concentration (Q4) (OR=1.934, P(trend)=0.000) and urinary cadmium concentration (OR=1.683, P(trend)=0.000) may increased the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Conclusion: There is a negative correlation between blood cadmium, urinary cadmium levels and lung function in American adults, and cadmium may increase the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Characterisation of the complete mitochondrial genome, genetic diversity and maternal origin of Huainan Partridge chicken.

1. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the complete mitochondrial genome, genetic diversity and maternal origin of Huainan Partridge chicken (HPC).2. One complete mitochondrial genome and 37 complete D-loop regions of HPC were sequenced. Moreover, 400 mitochondrial genome D-loop sequences of Chinese native chicken were downloaded from the National Centre for Biotechnology Information database.3. The complete HPC genome was 16,785 bp in size, including 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes and one non-coding control region. The haplotype diversity and nucleotide diversity of HPC were 0.964, and 0.00615, respectively. Twenty-three variable sites defining 22 haplotypes were identified, and the 22 haplotypes were distributed into three haplogroups (A, B, and C).4. In conclusion, HPC has a typical vertebrate mitochondrial genome, relatively high haplotype diversity, relatively low nucleotide diversity, and potentially three maternal lineages. HPC showed considerable genetic information exchange with Southwest Chinese chicken populations and had not admixed with European commercial breeds in the course of domestication.

[RNA Enhancement by lncRNA Promotes Translation Through Recruitment of ILF3 and EIF4A1 to the Target Mammalian mRNAs].

The previously developed technology RNA enhancement (RNAe) is reported to increase specific gene expression at post-transcriptional level via a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA). The mechanism for SINEB2-dependent enhancement of translation remains not well understood. Here we present the result of experiments with the folded states of IncRNA in doubly deionized water obtained by slowcool method. These IncRNA were used in RNA pull-down assay that yielded six IncRNA-binding proteins potentially involved in RNAe. The direct interactions of IncRNA with interleukin enhancer-binding factor 3 (ILF3) and eukaryotic initiation factor 4A-I (eIF4Al) in vivo and in vitro were confirmed in RNA-binding protein affinity experiment and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), respectively. These observations could explain RNAe phenomenon through IncRNA-dependent guiding of ILF3 protein, which, in turn, recruits polysomes or the factors for translation initiation, and attracting eIF4Al proteins accelerating the unwinding of the secondary structure at the 5'-end of mRNA during translation initiation. Therefore, the hypothetical mechanism through which IncRNAs may regulate the translation of a specific mRNA is proposed.

UTE-ΔR2 -ΔR2 * combined MR whole-brain angiogram using dual-contrast superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles.

The ability to visualize whole-brain vasculature is important for quantitative in vivo investigation of vascular malfunctions in cerebral small vessel diseases, including cancer, stroke and neurodegeneration. Transverse relaxation-based ΔR2 and ΔR2 * MR angiography (MRA) provides improved vessel-tissue contrast in animal deep brain with the aid of intravascular contrast agents; however, it is susceptible to orientation dependence, air-tissue interface artifacts and vessel size overestimation. Dual-mode MRA acquisition with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) provides a unique opportunity to systematically compare and synergistically combine both longitudinal (R1 ) and transverse (ΔR2 and ΔR2 *) relaxation-based MRA. Through Monte Carlo (MC) simulation and MRA experiments in normal and tumor-bearing animals with intravascular SPION, we show that ultrashort TE (UTE) MRA acquires well-defined vascularization on the brain surface, minimizing air-tissue artifacts, and combined ΔR2 and ΔR2 * MRA simultaneously improves the sensitivity to intracortical penetrating vessels and reduces vessel size overestimation. Consequently, UTE-ΔR2 -ΔR2 * combined MRA complements the shortcomings of individual angiograms and provides a strategy to synergistically merge longitudinal and transverse relaxation effects to generate more robust in vivo whole-brain micro-MRA. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Isolation and characterization of human mesenchymal stem cells from gingival connective tissue.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The main purpose of this study was to isolate and characterize gingival connective tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs). The secondary purpose was to present a modified isolation method for the GMSCs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Collected healthy gingival tissue samples were de-epithelialized and minced into small fragments. The tissues were digested by dispase and collagenase IV for 30 min. The first digested cell suspension was discarded, and then additional digestion was performed to the remaining cells in the same solution for 90 min. The isolated cells from gingiva was incubated in 37°C humidified condition and observed by inverted microscope. Cytoskeletal morphology was evaluated by phalloidin immunofluorescence. Potency of the cells was tested by colony-forming unit fibroblast assay. GMSCs were characterized by osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic differentiation, and flow cytometric, immunofluorescence analysis. RESULTS: GMSCs showed spindle-shaped, fibroblast-like morphology, colony-forming abilities, adherence to plastic and multilineage differentiation (osteogenic, adipogenic, chondrogenic) potency. GMSCs expressed CD44, CD73, CD90 and CD105, but did not express CD14, CD45, CD34 and CD19 in flow cytometry. Expression of stem cell markers (SSEA-4, STRO-1, CD146, CD166 and CD271) and a mesenchymal marker (vimentin) were observed by immunofluorescence. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, we isolated and characterized stem cells from human gingival connective tissue with modified protocol. GMSCs showed multipotency with high proliferation and characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells. GMSCs are promising sources for tissue engineering and may be obtained during routine procedures under local anesthesia. Further research is needed to evaluate the potential of GSMCs' proliferation and cryopreservation.

Outcomes after combined laparoscopic gastrectomy and laparoscopic cholecystectomy in gastric cancer patients.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of performing laparoscopic cholecystectomy on patients undergoing laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy for gastric cancer. METHODS: This single center study involved a retrospective review of a database of 400 patients who underwent consecutive laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy for early gastric cancer from June 2003 to July 2007. Outcomes in 26 patients who underwent both laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy and laparoscopic cholecystectomy were compared with outcomes from 364 patients who underwent laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy without laparoscopic cholecystectomy. RESULTS: There were no postoperative 30-day mortalities in the combined cholecystectomy group. The mean surgery duration, time to first flatus and postoperative hospital stay for the laparoscopic gastric resection without combined operation were 181.7 min, 2.7 days and 9.7 days, respectively, and 196.7 min, 2.6 days and 8.8 days, respectively, for the combined cholecystectomy group. None of the postoperative complications was related to combined cholecystectomy. CONCLUSION: Performing a combined cholecystectomy prolonged the mean surgery duration by approximately 15 min, but had no effect on surgical outcomes. It appears that performing a cholecystectomy at the same time as laparoscopic gastric resection is safe and feasible in patients with both early gastric cancer and gallbladder disease.

Cloning and identification of a novel sperm binding protein, HEL-75, with antibacterial activity and expressed in the human epididymis.

BACKGROUND: The HEL-75 protein is a beta-defensin that was identified by analyzing a human epididymis cDNA library. Studying its function may not only elucidate the mechanisms of host defense, but may also provide new alternatives for novel therapeutic drugs for reproductive tract infections. METHODS: The HEL-75 gene was amplified by PCR, and its structure and function were predicted and analyzed with bioinformatics tools. Polyclonal serum was raised against recombinant HEL (rHEL)-75 protein. The gene expression pattern was analyzed with RT-PCR and immunofluorescent staining. Finally, the antimicrobial activity and function during fertilization of HEL-75 were analyzed using a colony-forming unit assay and IVF, respectively. RESULTS: The human HEL-75 gene is located on chromosome 20p13 and encodes a 95 amino acid protein with a predicted N-terminal signal peptide of 22 amino acids. The protein has six conserved cysteine residues, characteristic of members of the beta-defensin superfamily, as well as several potential post-translational modification sites. At the transcriptional level, HEL-75 was expressed in the epididymis and lung, but only in the epididymis at the translational level. Immunofluorescent staining showed that HEL-75 protein bound spermatozoa in the epididymis. RHEL-75 protein could kill Escherichia coli in vitro in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. However, no effect was observed on sperm motility nor fertilization when spermatozoa were blocked with anti-rHEL-75 polyclonal serum. CONCLUSION: HEL-75 is a new beta-defensin expressed in the epididymis and on sperm; it may play an important role in host defense.

The role of psychological factors in the development of burning mouth syndrome.

The psychiatric profiles of 50 patients diagnosed with burning mouth syndrome (BMS) were compared to those of 50 age- and sex-matched individuals as the control group. The Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) questionnaire was used to evaluate the role of psychological factors in the development of BMS. Somatization, obsessive-compulsive, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety, psychoticism, global severity index (GSI), positive symptom total (PST), and positive symptom distress index (PSDI) scores were significantly higher in the patients with BMS than in the control group. In a subgroup analysis according to sex, women with BMS had higher T-scores for somatization, obsessive-compulsive, paranoid ideation, GSI, PST, and PSDI than women in the control group. In contrast, only the PSDI score was significantly higher in men with BMS compared to men in the control group. There was a significant difference in the T-scores for somatization, psychoticism, and GSI between the three age subgroups (≤50, 51-65, and ≥66 years). The obsessive-compulsive and PSDI scores were significantly higher in patients with BMS who also had at least one chronic disease than in patients with BMS who had no chronic disease. In conclusion, psychological factors are correlated with BMS.

Resveratrol alleviates heat stress-induced impairment of intestinal morphology, microflora, and barrier integrity in broilers.

This study was to investigate the effect of resveratrol on intestinal morphology, microfloras, and barrier integrity of broilers subjected to heat stress. Two-hundred-seventy 21-day-old Cobb male broilers were randomly allocated to 3 treatment groups, each of which included 6 replicates with 15 birds per replicate. The 3 treatment groups were as follows: the control group, in which birds were exposed to thermoneutral condition (22 ± 1°C), and the heat stress group and heat stress + resveratrol (400 mg/kg) group, in which birds were exposed to cyclic heat stress (33 ± 1°C for 10 h/d from 0800 to 1800 h and 22 ± 1°C for the remaining time. Compared with birds in the control group, birds in the heat stress group exhibited decreased (P < 0.05) final body weight, average daily gain, average daily feed intake, villus height, villus height to crypt depth ratio, goblet cells numbers, populations of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, and mRNA levels of mucin-2, claudin-1, occludin, zona occludens-1, and E-cadherin, and increased (P < 0.05) crypt depth, serum D-lactic acid and fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran contents and diamine oxidase activity, and populations of Salmonella, Escherichia coli, and Clostridium. Compared with birds in the heat stress group, birds in the heat stress + resveratrol group exhibited decreased (P < 0.05) crypt depth, serum D-lactic acid and fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran contents, and populations of Escherichia coli, and increased (P < 0.05) final body weight, villus height, villus height to crypt depth ratio, goblet cells numbers, populations of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, and mRNA levels of mucin-2, claudin-1, occludin, and E-cadherin. Taken together, these results indicated for the first time that dietary addition of resveratrol was effective in partially ameliorating the adverse effects of heat stress on intestinal barrier function in broilers by restoring the impaired villus-crypt structure, modifying the profiles of intestinal microfloras, and altering the mRNA expression of intestinal tight junctions- and adherence junctions-related genes.

Effect of basiliximab on renal allograft rejection within 1 year after transplantation.

Basiliximab is widely used in clinical practice for initial immunosuppressive treatment of renal transplant recipients, seeking to reduce the incidence of acute rejection episodes without adverse events. This retrospective study included 123 renal allograft recipients transplanted at a single center. All were followed for longer than 1 year after transplantation and treated with calcineurin inhibitor and steroid (methylprednisolone) for prophylactic immunosuppression, but basiliximab and mycophenolate mofetil were optional. We compared the outcomes of renal transplant recipients who were versus treated were not with basiliximab as initial immunosuppressive therapy. Basiliximab was used for initial immunosuppression in 42 patients. Their maintenance immunosuppressive treatment included triple (n = 44) or double (n = 79) regimens, including a calcineurin inhibitor (cyclosporine [n = 87] or tacrolimus [n = 36]), methylprednisolone with or without mycophenolate mofetil. Twenty-six (21.1%) patients had a rejection episode within 1 year after transplantation and 22 (17.9%) had infections. Within the first year after transplantation the patients who were treated with basiliximab showed fewer rejection episodes (n = 6, 14.3%) than the patients without this therapy (n = 20, 24.7%), which was not statistically significant (P = .245). However, basiliximab significantly affected the occurrence of rejection episodes among the double immunosuppressive regimen group (P = .006), but not the triple regimen group (P = .098) without an impact on infection episodes (P value of double, triple = .291, .414) within 1 year after transplantation. We concluded that basiliximab was more useful for the recipients treated with double immunosuppression with a calcineurin inhibitor and steroid than for those on a triple regimen including mycophenolate mofetil.

Cyclic AMP response element-binding protein is required for normal maternal nurturing behavior.

Analysis of mice with targeted disruptions of fosB or the gene encoding dopamine beta-hydroxylase suggests that FosB and adrenergic signaling play critical roles in maternal nurturing behavior. The majority of neonates born to null females from either mutation fail to thrive, and virgin mutant females of both lines exhibit impaired pup retrieval. Considering whether FosB and adrenergic signaling might share a signaling pathway important for maternal behavior, we examined the role of a potential intermediary, cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB). Here we report that approximately 40% of neonates (all heterozygous) born to mice lacking the major isoforms of CREB (Creb-alphaDelta-/-) died within several days of birth. In contrast, heterozygotes born to Creb-alphaDelta+/- females thrived. Cross-fostering demonstrated that neonates born to Creb-alphaDelta(-/dagger/-) females thrived when reared by wild-type females, and that Creb-alphaDelta-/- females were capable of rearing neonates whose maternal care was initiated by wild-type females. Further, virgin Creb-alphaDelta-/- females were deficient in pup retrieval despite exhibiting normal investigation of pups and of novel objects. No maternal behavior phenotype was present in mice with a null mutation of the cyclic AMP response element modulator (Crem) gene. Interestingly, the number of cells immunostaining for phospho-CREB (on Ser(133)) in the medial preoptic area of the hypothalamus, a key region for the expression of maternal behavior, increased nearly three-fold in wild-type mice following exposure to pups but not to novel objects. On the other hand, basal expression and induction of FosB in response to pup exposure appeared to be independent of CREB because levels were equivalent between wild-type and Creb-alphaDelta-/- females. These results implicate CREB in maternal nurturing behavior and suggest that CREB is not critical for expression or induction of FosB in adult virgin female mice.

Ruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva in a patient with Behçet's disease.

The vast majority of sinus of Valsalva aneurysm originated from a localized congenital defect of the aortic media and less frequently from infections or degenerative processes affecting the aortic wall. But aneurysm of sinus of Valsalva has not been reported up to the present in a patient with Behçet's disease. We report a 39-year-old woman presenting ruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva and Behçet's disease.

New scoring system using tumor markers in diagnosing patients with moderate pericardial effusions.

We performed diagnostic and therapeutic pericardiostomy with drainage and biopsy in 51 patients with moderate to large pericardial effusions of different etiologies from August 1991 to July 1995. Patients were divided into 4 groups (group 1, tuberculous pericarditis; group 2, suspected tuberculous pericarditis; group 3, acute pericarditis; group 4, malignancy). The pericardial fluid adenosine deaminase level in tuberculosis (87 +/- 10 U/l) was significantly higher than that in malignancy or acute pericarditis (21 +/- 4 U/l, 23 +/- 7 U/l, respectively) (P = 0.0001). The mean pericardial fluid carcinoembryonic antigen level (1.8 +/- 0.3 ng/ml) in benign disease was significantly lower than that (170.7 +/- 46.4 ng/ml) in malignant disease (P = 0.0001). Follow-up study has been done. With a new scoring system (each score 1 for adenosine deaminase > or = 40 U/l, or carcinoembryonic antigen < or = 5 ng/ml) in 25 patients since November 1993, we could diagnose 5 among 7 patients (71%) with tuberculosis, 11 among 13 patients (85%) with malignancy (adenosine deaminase < or = 40 U/l, or carcinoembryonic antigen > or = 5 ng/ml) and 5 among 5 patients (100%) with acute pericarditis (adenosine deaminase < or = 40 U/l, or carcinoembryonic antigen < or = 5 ng/ml), respectively. Our long-term follow-up study suggests that with the new scoring system we can decrease complications or avoid unnecessary procedures or treatments of patients.

Korean red ginseng saponins with low ratios of protopanaxadiol and protopanaxatriol saponin improve scopolamine-induced learning disability and spatial working memory in mice.

The effects of two ginseng saponins having a different ratio of protopanaxadiol (PD) and protopanaxatriol saponins (PT) on the learning impairment induced by scopolamine, and learning and memory in mice were investigated in a passive avoidance task and a Morris water maze task. The ratio of PD and PT was 1.24 and 1.46, respectively. Before training, the ginseng saponins were administered intraperitoneally at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg. The two saponins improved the scopolamine-induced learning impairment at different dosages in mice, 50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively. However, the two saponins did not show a favorable effect on learning and memory in normal mice. Korean red ginseng saponin with a low PD/PT ratio had an improving effect on spatial working memory, but the saponin with a high PD/PT ratio did not. This finding suggests that the PD/PT ratio of the ginseng saponins may be an important factor in the pharmacological role of red ginseng as a medicinal herb.

Differential expression of protein kinase C subtypes during ginsenoside Rh2-lnduced apoptosis in SK-N-BE(2) and C6Bu-1 cells.

We examined the modulation of protein kinase C (PKC) subtypes during apoptosis induced by ginsenoside Rh2 (G-Rh2) in human neuroblastoma SK-N-BE(2) and rat glioma C6Bu-1 cells. Apoptosis induced by G-Rh2 in both cell lines was confirmed, as indicated by DNA fragmentation and in situ strand breaks, and characteristic morphological changes. During apoptosis induced by G-Rh2 in SK-N-BE(2) cells, PKC subtypes alpha, beta and gamma were progressively increased with prolonged treatment, whereas PKC delta increased transiently at 3 and 6 h and PKC epsilon was gradually down-regulated after 6 h following the treatment. On the other hand, PKC subtype zeta markedly increased at 24 h when maximal apoptosis was achieved. In C6Bu-1 cells, no significant changes in PKC subtypes alpha, gamma, delta, epsilon and zeta were observed during apoptosis induced by G-Rh2. These results suggest the evidence for a possible role of PKC subtype in apoptosis induced by G-Rh2 in SK-N-BE(2) cells but not in C6Bu-1 cells, and raise the possibility that G-Rh2 may induce apoptosis via different pathways interacting with or without PKC in different cell types.

Ginsenoside Rh2 induces apoptosis independently of Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, or Bax in C6Bu-1 cells.

In ginsenoside Rh2-treated rat glioma C6Bu-1 cells, apoptotic morphological changes, such as cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation and pyknosis were confirmed by means of electron microscopy. To evaluate whether induction of apoptosis by ginsenoside Rh2 is mediated by the members of Bcl-2 family, we first established C6Bu-1 cells overexpressing Bcl-2. It was demonstrated that the expression of Bcl-2, Bcl-xL and Bax was not altered in ginsenoside Rh2-treated C6Bu-1 cells. Bcl-2 overexpressing C6Bu-1 cells failed to prevent from ginsenoside Rh2-induced cell death. These results suggest the existence of other apoptotic pathway that requires induction of apoptosis by ginsenoside Rh2 rather than the pathway through Bcl-2, Bcl-xL or Bax in C6Bu-1 cells.

[Interaction of human embryo cells derived from different tissues with lymphoblastoid cell lines].

Cells from skin and muscle of two month human embryo and from nasopharynx, tonsil, lung and kidney of four month human embryo were cocultivated with lymphoblastoid cells--B95-8 and Raji. It is found that all the epithelial cells, such as the focal growth of epithelioid cells from the tonsil and nasopharynx as well as kidney cells from the human embryo can not adhere to any kind of lymphoblastoid cells; but fibroblasts from muscle and skin of two month embryo or from nasopharynx, tonsil and lung of four month embryo have the ability of sticking to lymphoblastoid cells. However, only the fibroblastoid cells from the nasopharynx of human embryo have the ability to stick and to fuse with lymphoblastoid cells--B95-8 in cocultivation and to activate the EBV production. The mechanism of this phenomenon and its biological functions will be studied in detail.

[Studies on sultamicillin hydrolysis].

Sultamicillin is an oral mutual pro-drug composed of double esters of formaldehyde hydrate in which one of the hydroxyl groups is esterified with ampicillin and the other with sulbactam. It is hydrolyzed fast in neutral or weakly alkaline condition. When hydrolyzed, it forms ampicillin and hydroxylmethyl sulbactam or sulbactam and hydroxylmethyl ampicillin by different routes. Usually, the former has priority as the two ester bonds have different activities. The ratio of ampicillin to sulbactam in the products is about 3:1. Both the hydroxylmethyl sulbactam and the hydroxylmethyl ampicillin can be further catalyzed by esterase to produce formaldehyde.