Concentration level and characteristics of indoor particle matter ≤ 2.5 µm in aerodynamic diameter under extreme weather condition in Beijing winter in 2013 / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the concentration level and characteristics of indoor particle matter ≤ 2.5 µm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) under extreme weather condition.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>During the period of haze in January 2013 and the fireworks and firecracker setting off in the Spring Festival of February 2013, three monitoring sites located indoor and outdoor were respectively selected by Beijing CDC, considering the vertical and horizontal distance, windows tightness and human activity indoor. PM2.5 samples were collected by filters and measured by laboratory weight method. At the same time, the meteorological data was also collected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The median (quartiles) of overall concentration level of indoor PM2.5 was 87.76 µg/m(3) (52.05-174.48 µg/m(3)) and was lower than that of outdoor PM2.5 (128.79 µg/m(3), 95.14-221.88 µg/m(3); Z = -4.13, P < 0.01). The concentration of three indoor monitoring sites was different (χ(2) = 23.09, P < 0.01). The PM2.5 concentrations of monitoring point B in poor sealing window was the highest (94.05 µg/m(3); 63.46-189.17 µg/m(3)) and point C in sealed and less human activity, which was the lowest (77.89 µg/m(3), 51.19-144.40 µg/m(3)). The concentration level of indoor PM2.5 in the haze period (273.22 µg/m(3), 223.44-308.47 µg/m(3)) was higher than the overall concentration level of indoor PM2.5 (Z = -5.20, P < 0.01). The concentration level of indoor PM2.5 in the fireworks and firecracker period (167.90 µg/m(3), 129.15-187.90 µg/m(3)) was higher than that in the Spring Festival period (7 days, 72.76 µg/m(3), 36.97-145.30 µg/m(3), Z = -2.34, P < 0.05) and the overall concentration level of indoor PM2.5 (Z = -1.98, P < 0.05); however, it was lower than the concentration level of indoor PM2.5 in the haze period (Z = -3.43, P < 0.01). The I/O ratio (indoor concentration/outdoor concentration) was all less than 1.00 except 4, which was between 1.00-1.09. The mean I/O ratio in monitoring site B, monitoring site A and monitoring site C was 0.69 ± 0.21, 0.64 ± 0.23 and 0.58 ± 0.18, respectively, show significant bias (F = 22.85, P < 0.01). During the period of haze, the fireworks and firecracker and fine weather (when ambient PM2.5 concentration was lower than the standard value of 75 µg/m(3)), the mean I/O ratio was 0.87 ± 0.14, 0.68 ± 0.08 and 0.51 ± 0.18, respectively, showing significant bias (F = 29.88, P < 0.05). Under conditions of snow and high wind speed ( ≥ 3.4 m/s), PM2.5 concentration decreased to the valley point. The valley value of I/O ratio only occurred after several days of high windy weather. Moreover, the PM2.5 concentration level of indoor air showed a delayed 1-2 days after the haze weakened or disappeared.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Mass concentration of indoor PM2.5 increased significantly with increases of outdoor concentration. Haze and setting off fireworks/firecracker could lead to a serious decline of indoor air quality (IAQ), and the improvement of IAQ was lagging behind the outdoor changes.</p>

Monitoring CML28 mRNA levels in patients before and after HSCT by real-time quantitative RT-PCR / 中国实验血液学杂志

The purpose of this study was to establish a SYBR Green I real-time quantitative RT-PCR method for investigating the correlation between CML28 mRNA expression levels and relapse of leukemia after allo-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). pcDNA3.1HisA-CML28 plasmid had been constructed as the standard template. Serial monitoring of CML28 mRNA levels by SYBR Green I real-time quantitative RT-PCR technique was performed in 14 patients, including 10 patients with CML and 3 patients with AML, 1 patient with Ph(+) ALL. The results showed that the sensitivity of the established method was at 10(-4) (0.05 ng) level, with interassay variation and intraassay variation of standard samples both below 10%. The CML28 was highly expressed in AML and CML-BP or AP. CML28 level in newly diagnosed group was (6.58 +/- 2.34) x 10(-2), in pre-conditioning regimen group was (2.19 +/- 0.32) x 10(-2), in group that 1 month after HSCT was (1.35 +/- 1.28) x 10(-2), in group that 3 months after HSCT was (4.57 +/- 6.39) x 10(-3). CML28 can be detected 3 months after HSCT in 1 patient with CML-CP and 3 patients with CML-AP or BC. 2 of them with low level (<2 x 10(-2)) survived without relapse, the other 2 case with high level (>2 x 10(-2)) relapsed within one year, 1 case died and 1 case received the second time HSCT, CML28 level decreased rapidly after HSCT, but still higher than 2 x 10(-2) and relapse has taken place. The conclusions was made that CML28 mRNA level is obviously correlated with the development of leukemia. Serial quantification of CML28 mRNA levels are necessary for HSCT recipients, and more informative than a single detection. Using of this assay to evaluate MRD in the patients received HSCT is helpful for prediction of relapse.

Inhibition of NF-kappaB by mutant IkappaBalpha enhances TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells by controlling bcl-xL expression / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The aim of this study was to explore whether the inhibition of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation by mutant IkappaBalpha (S32, 36-->A) can enhance TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis of leukemia cells and to investigate the possible mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The mutant IkappaBalpha gene was transfected into HL-60 cells by liposome-mediated techniques. G418 resistant clones stably expressing mutant IkappaBalpha were obtained by the limiting dilution method. TNF-alpha-induced NF-kappaB activation was measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). The expression of bcl-xL was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot after 4 hours exposure of parental HL-60 and transfected HL-60 cells to a variety of concentrations of TNF-alpha. The percentage of apoptotic leukemia cells was evaluated by flow cytometry (FCM).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Mutant IkappaBalpha protein was confirmed to exist by Western blot. The results of EMSA showed that NF-kappaB activation by TNF-alpha in HL-60 cells was induced in a dose-dependent manner, but was almost completely inhibited by mutant IkappaBalpha repressor in transfected cells. The levels of bcl-xL mRNA and protein in HL-60 cells increased after exposure to TNF-alpha, but changed very little in transfected HL-60 cells. The inhibition of NF-kappaB activation by mutant IkappaBalpha enhanced TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis. The cytotoxic effects of TNF-alpha were amplified in a time- and dose-dependent manner.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>NF-kappaB activation plays an important role in the resistance to TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis. The inhibition of NF-kappaB by mutant IkappaBalpha could provide a new approach that may enhance the anti-leukemia effects of TNF-alpha or even of other cytotoxic agents.</p>

Regulative function of extracelluar regulated protein kinases and telomerase in apoptosis of hepatocarcinomatous cell SMMC-7721 / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the changes of telomerase activity and protein expression of phosphorylated (activated) extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK1 and ERK2) in the course of inhibiting hepatocarcinomatous cell proliferation and inducing cell apoptosis by three kinds of chemotherapy drugs: Harringtonine (HRT), Vincristine (VCR), and Etoposide (Vp16). To discuss the regulative function to hepatocarcinomatous cell apoptosis and interrelation of telomerase and ERK.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Cytotoxicity assay, flow cytometry analysis, telomerase repeat amplification protocol assay (TRAP), bioluminescence analysis, and western blot were used in this experiment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HRT, VCR, and Vp16 could inhibit cell proliferation (0.28% 0.08%, 0.25% 0.16%, 0.24% 0.11%), induce apoptosis (21.12%, 28.83%, 12.30%), inhibit telomerase activity, and down-regulate the protein expression of phosphorylated ERK.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>It might be through ERK signal transduction pathways that chemotherapy drugs down-regulate telomerase activity and induce apoptosis.</p>

Antisense Oligodeoxynucleotide Directed to NF-kappaB-RelA Down-Regulates bcl-x(L) mRNA in Drug-Resistant Leukemia Cell Line HL-60/E6 / 中国实验血液学杂志

In order to explore the effect of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) on bcl-x gene transcrtiption in drug-resistant leukemia cell line HL-60/E6, first of all, drug-resistant subline HL-60/E6 was derived by intermittently exposing HL-60 cells to 6 ng/ml epirubicin, and then bcl-x(L) mRNA levels were detected by RT-PCR after exposing HL-60/E6 cells to 5 micro mol/L AS-PS-ODN-RelA at different times. Morever, indirect immuno-fluorescence and FCM were used to demonstrate the location of NF-kappaB-RelA in HL-60/E6 cells and the efficiency of liposome-mediated ODN transfection. The results showed that RelA kept active and located at the nuclei of HL-60/E6 cells, and the efficiency of liposome-mediated ODN transfection was significantly higher than that of null ODN (P < 0.01 in 4, 6 and 12 h). Exposure of HL-60/E6 cells to 5 micro mol/L AS-PS-ODN-RelA led to a maximal 40% decline of bcl-x(L) mRNA levels. No significant change of bcl-x(L) mRNA level occurred in control group. It was concluded that NF-kappaB was involved in regulating bcl-x transcription. Suppressing NF-kappaB-RelA by antisense technology may down-regulate level of bcl-x(L) mRNA.