Association between serum trace elements and dyslipidemia： a community-based cross-sectional study / 上海预防医学

Objective:To investigate the association between serum trace elements and dyslipidemia in Pudong New Area. Methods:A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out. A stratified， cluster sampling approach was used for sampling. In total 1 814 community residents aged above 35 years old were recruited in Pudong New Area， Shanghai. A face-to-face investigation was conducted and blood samples were collected. Serum levels of 16 trace elements， including boron， vanadium， chromium， manganese， iron， cobalt， nickel， copper， zinc， arsenic， selenium， strontium， molybdenum， tin， antimony， and barium were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry （ICP-MS）. The relationship between serum trace elements and dyslipidemia was analyzed with single and multiple Logistic regression models. Results:Prevalence of dyslipidemia is higher among participants of more than 45 years old with high BMI， hypertension or diabetes．Serum iron leveled the highest， followed by copper， zinc， selenium， strontium， boron and other trace elements. After adjusting for potential confounders， the odds ratios of dyslipidemia associated with the highest quartile of trace elements concentrations were 1.41 （95%CI： 1.12-1.78）， 0.77 （95%CI： 0.61-0.96）， 1.65 （95%CI： 1.31-2.09）， 1.27 （95%CI： 1.02-1.58）， and 1.32 （95%CI： 1.06-1.66） for chromium， cobalt， zinc， arsenic， and tin， respectively， compared with that associated with the other three quartiles. Conclusion:Some serum trace elements are potentially associated with dyslipidemia in community residents.

Association between sleep quality and risk of acute exacerbation of mild and moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease： a community-based prospective study / 上海预防医学

Objective:To investigate the association between sleep quality and the risk of acute exacerbation in mild and moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD） patients in Pudong New Area of Shanghai. Methods:This was a prospective study involving eligible mild and moderate COPD patients from 10 communities randomly selected in Pudong New District of Shanghai. A structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic characteristics， clinical information and information on acute exacerbation. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index （PSQI） in Chinese. Multiple negative binomial regression was used to estimate the association between sleep quality and risk of exacerbation. Results:Altogether 212 mild/moderate COPD patients participated and completed the entire survey， of whom the majority （95.8%） were mild COPD patients， 110 persons female and over half （54.2%） over 65 years old. 32.9% of the patients had poorer sleep quality at baseline. 18.9% of the patients reported exacerbation over the past year during follow-ups. Multiple negative binomial regression suggested that increased PSQI was related to higher risk of exacerbation （RRad=1.12， 95%CI：1.02-1.24）， and patients with poorer sleep efficiency had a higher risk of exacerbation （RRad=1.66， 95%CI：1.17-5.43）. Conclusion:Poorer sleep quality is associated with a higher risk of exacerbation in community mild/moderate COPD patients， especially in those with problem of sleep efficiency. More attention to sleep disorders is warranted in community management or self-management of patients with COPD.

Sclerodermatous chronic graft-versus-host disease after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: incidence, clinical characteristics and risk factors / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the incidence and risk factors of sclerodermatous chronic graft-versus-host disease (ScGVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 259 patients undergoing allo-HSCT in Nanfang Hospital between January, 2012 and December, 2014 were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Chronic GVHD following allo-HSCT occurred in 134 (51.7%) cases, among whom 22 patients showed sclerodermatous features at a median of 12.5 months (range 4-28 months) after the transplantation. The overall incidence of ScGVHD was 8.49% (22/259) in the recipients and 16.4% (22/134) in those with cGVHD. Univariate analysis showed that the conditioning regimen with total body irradiation (P=0.031), GVHD prophylaxis with MMF (P=0.046), presence of chronic GVHD (P=0.008), and donor lymphocyte infusion (P=0.001) were all closely associated with the occurrence of ScGVHD. Multivariate analysis identified chronic GVHD (RR=3.512, 95%CI: 1.235-9.987, P=0.018) and donor lymphocyte infusion (RR=5.217, 95%CI: 1.698-16.029, P=0.004) as the independent risk factors of ScGVHD.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ScGVHD following allo-HSCT is not a common complication, and cGVHD and donor lymphocyte infusion are the independent risk factors for ScGVHD.</p>

Effects of hydroxyl acetylated curcumin induced sonodynamic therapy on viability, apoptosis and necrosis of THP-1 macrophages / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>We aim to investigate the sonodynamic effect induced by hydroxyl acetylated curcumin (HAC) on THP-1 macrophages.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>THP-1 derived macrophages (1 x 10(5) per milliliter) were cultured with HAC at a concentration of 5 µg/mL for 4 h and then exposed to pulse ultrasound treatment (0.5 W/cm2) for 5 min. Six hours later, cell viability analysis was performed with CCK-8 assay, apoptosis and necrosis analysis were detected with Annexin V/PI staining by flow cytometery.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cell viability of THP-1 macrophage decreased significantly in the group treated with the combination of HAC and ultrasound (P < 0.01), and HAC-SDT induced both apoptosis and necrosis in THP-1 macrophages, the apoptotic rate was higher than the necrotic rate with appropriate conditions, the maximum apoptosis/necrosis ratio was detected in sonodynamic therapy (SDT) group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>hAC-SDT was effective to induce THP-1 macrophages apoptosis.</p>

Preliminary study on synthesis of novel amphiphilic molecules and their application as drug vectors / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To synthesize three amphiphilic molecules (TEG-R1, TEG-R2, TEG-R3), with branched oligo polyethylene glycol as hydrophilic fractions and aliphatic chains (containing six, eight and twelve carbon atoms respectively) as hydrophobic fractions, and study them as insoluble drug vectors.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Three compounds were successfully through acylation, substitution reaction, reduction reaction and esterification. Their structures were verified by NMR analysis; and the critical micelle concentrations (CMC) of TEG-R1, TEG-R2, TEG-R3 were determined by pyrene fluorescence probe spectrometry. Transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) photos displayed the state of the aqueous solution. The self-assembly solution evaporation method was adopted to prepare drug loading podophyllotoxin micelles, and characterize their grain size, in order to detect the hemolysis of the three amphiphilic molecules.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Nuclear magnetism showed the successful synthesis of three amphiphilic molecules, with critical micelle concentrations of TEG-R1, TEG-R2, TEG-R3 of 50, 50, 10 mg x L(1), respectively. Transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) photos displayed a spherical-like state, with diameter of 20-50 nm. All of the three amphiphilic molecules could be prepared into drug-loading micelles, with the range of grain sizes between 100-200 nm. Hemdytic experiment showed that, among the amphiphilic molecules of the graft six-carbon aliphatic chain, TEG-R1 could not cause hemolysis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>All of the three amphiphilic molecules are micellized in water solution, and can be used as insoluble drug vectors. Among them, TEG-R1 could not cause hemolysis, and is expected to become a new-type drug vector.</p>

Changes of centrosome and related protein in malignant transformation of BEAS-2B cell induced by coal tar pitch smoke extracts / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the centrosome abnormalities in the malignant transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) induced by coal tar pitch smoke extracts and to investigate the role and action mechanism of centrosome in the lung cancer induced by coal tar pitch.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Medium-temperature coal tar pitch smoke extracts were used to treat immortalized human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) and establish a malignant transformation model. The treated BEAS-2B cells were used as exposure group, and solvent control group and normal control group were also set for passage culture. The changes of centrosome in BEAS-2B cells seeded on coverslips were evaluated by indirect immunofluorescence assay. The mRNA expression of p53, p21, and cyclin E in BEAS-2B cells was measured by real-time quantitative RT-PCR, and their protein levels in BEAS-2B cells seeded on coverslips were measured by semiquantitative immunohistochemical analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The overall rate of centrosome abnormalities in BEAS-2B cells at passage 20 was 6.56±1.01% in the exposure group, significantly higher than those in the normal control group (3.40±0.86%) and solvent control group (3.14±0.59%) (P < 0.05). In addition, the exposure group had a significantly higher overall rate of centrosome abnormalities in BEAS-2B cells at passage 30 compared with the normal control group and solvent control group (22.39±9.5% vs 4.34±1.04%, P < 0.05; 22.39±9.5% vs 4.33±1.20%, P < 0.05). Compared with the normal control group and solvent control group, the exposure group had significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression of p53 and significantly increased mRNA and protein expression of cyclin E in BEAS-2B cells at passages 20 and 30 (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Centrosome abnormalities occur before the malignant transformation in BEAS-2B cells treated with coal tar pitch smoke extracts, and they may be mediated by the p53/p21/cyclin E signaling pathway.</p>

The change of telomere protein in BEAS-2B malignant transformation cell induced by coal tar pitch smoke extracts / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>By testing the changes of telomere binding protein in malignant transformation BEAS-2B cells induced by coal tar pitch smoke extracts, to study the role of protection of telomeres 1 (POT1), telomeric repeat binding factor 1 (TRF1) and TRF2 in tumorgenesis that contact with coal tar pitch.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The BEAS-2B cells were induced by coal tar pitch smoke extracts to form malignant transformation cell model in vitro. The gene expression levels of mRNA were assessed by real-time quantitative RT-PCR, the protein expression variations were determined by cell culture overslip of immunohistochemical methods.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In malignant transformation cells, the mRNA expression level (POT1: 0.63 ± 0.04, TRF1: 0.36 ± 0.01) and the protein expression level (POT1: 0.36 ± 0.05, TRF1: 0.09 ± 0.03) of POT1 and TRF1 was statistically significant decreased compared to that of BEAS-2B group (mRNA: POT1: 1.00 ± 0.04, TRF1: 1.01 ± 0.16; protein: POT1: 0.55 ± 0.07, TRF1: 0.27 ± 0.07) and DMSO group (mRNA: POT1: 0.89 ± 0.12, TRF1: 0.90 ± 0.08; protein: POT1: 0.55 ± 0.10, TRF1: 0.26 ± 0.04) (P < 0.05); mRNA expression level (1.45 ± 0.07) and the protein expression level (0.88 ± 0.06) of TRF2 was increased compared to that of BEAS-2B group (mRNA: 1.00 ± 0.07, protein: 0.48 ± 0.06) and DMSO group (mRNA: 1.00 ± 0.06, protein: 0.50 ± 0.06) (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The change of gene and protein expression level in POT1, TRF1, and TRF2 involved in the process that evolved into malignant transformation in bronchial epithelial cells BEAS-2B induced by coal tar pitch smoke extracts.</p>

Alterations of peripheral blood T cell subsets in patients with sepsis and the clinical implications / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the dynamic changes of CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of patients with sepsis and discuss the clinical significance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-four patients admitted in the Emergency Center and Emergency Intensive Care Unit of the Second Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University between August, 2007 and July, 2009 were enrolled in this study. CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry on days 1, 7 and 14 after admission, and the results were compared between the patients with improvement of the condition and those without improvement, with 20 healthy subjects as the control group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>On day 1 after admission, CD3+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes and CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio were obviously lower in the 2 groups of patients with sepsis than in the control group (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found in CD8+ T lymphocytes. The sepsis patients with clinical improvement showed significant higher CD3+ and CD4+ T lymphocyte percentages and CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio than those without improvement on day 1. In the patients with clinical improvement, CD3+ and CD4+T lymphocytes and CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio increased gradually with time and till day 14, they were comparable with the control levels; in the patients without improvement, CD3+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes and CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio showed no obvious alterations in the course of observation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Immune imbalance occurs in patients with sepsis represented by lowered CD3+ and CD4+T lymphocyte percentages and CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio in relation to the severity of the condition. CD3+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes and CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio can be used as the indicators for assessing the severity of sepsis.</p>

Change of structural maintenance of chromosome (SMC)1, SMC3, Separase and Securin expression in BEAS-2B malignant transformation cell induced by coal tar pitch smoke extracts / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>to study the role of structural maintenance of chromosome (SMC)1, SMC3, Separase and Securin in tumorgenesis that contact with coal tar pitch.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>the BEAS-2B cells was induced by coal tar pitch smoke extracts to form malignant transformation cell model in vitro. The gene expression levels of mRNA were assessed by real-time quantitative RT-PCR, and the protein expression variation were determined by cell culture overslip of immunohistochemical methods.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>in malignant transformation cells, the mRNA and the protein expression level of SMC1 gene was not statistically significantly different compared with the BEAS-2B group and DMSO group (P > 0.05); SMC3 and Separase was increased and Securin was decreased (P < 0.05), while the difference between other two control groups was not significant (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>the up expression level of SMC3 and Separase and the down expression level of Securin are involved in the process that evolves into malignant transformation in bronchial epithelial cells BEAS-2B induced by coal tar pitch smoke extracts.</p>

Relationship between apnea and hyperbilirubinemia in premature infants / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the association between hyperbilirubinemia and apnea in premature infants.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Premature infants with apnea and birth weight >1500 g were tested for the heart rate, serum level of bilirubin, saturation of blood oxygen (SO₂) and partial pressure of oxygen (PO₂) before and after treatment, with term infants serving as the control. A comparative analyses of the serum level of bilirubin, SO₂ and PO₂ were carried out in the premature infants with birth weight <1500 g suffering apneic syndrome or not on the first and third days after birth.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the premature and term infants with apnea and birth weight <1500 g, 92.5% and 70.00% showed increased serum level of indirect bilirubin (IBIL), respectively. The infants with birth weight <1500 g who presented the syndrome of apnea on the first day after birth had significantly higher levels of IBIL than those without an apparent syndrome of apnea. A three-day conventional therapy resulted in an obvious improvement of apneic syndrome and lowered bilirubin level.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Increased bilirubin level can be one of the reasons for the development of apnea in premature infants, and therapies for reducing bilirubin level can ameliorate the syndrome of apnea.</p>

The cloning expression, purification and activity of human angiostatin K (1-3) gene / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To clone the sequence of human Angiostatin cDNA and obtain the protein of recombinant angiostatin for further development.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fresh human liver tissue was used for the extraction of total RNA and amplified the Angiostatin cDNA through RT-PCR method . After the recombinant plasmid pET30a-Angiostatin was constructed and confirmed, it was transduced into Rosetta (DE3). Then the transformation was used for fermentation and induced expression. The protein was identified by Western Blot and purified by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The sequence of human Angiostatin cDNA was identical with genebank. Angiostatin (K1-3) was expressed and purified. The target protein made up 30% of the total bacterial protein. The purity is above 90%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Angiostatin K (1-3) can be reached using fusion vector pET30a. The product have the biological activity.</p>

Preliminary study of p53 gene promoter binding site of activator protein-1 in A549 cell lines by chromatin immunoprecipitation / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect and verify activator protein-1 (AP-1) binding to p53 gene promoter region in A549 cell lines in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>AP-1 binding to p53 gene promoter region was detected by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay using c-jun specific antibody, and PCR amplified its gene specific DNA fragment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The p53 gene specific fragment was found in the DNA fragment immunoprecipitated by c-jun antibody.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>AP-1 binds to p53 gene promoter region in A549 cells, and regulates its expression.</p>

Establishment of a fluorescent quantitative PCR detection method for rabies virus and preparation of RNA positive controls / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Establish the fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR detection method for rabies virus (RV) and construct RNase-resistant virus-like particles as positive controls.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Analyze the database in GenBank, the probe and the primers were designed in the conservative region of N gene of rabies virus and the method of real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was obtained; On the basis of MS2 phage, with the technology of gene recombination, prepare the RNase-resistant virus-like particles for RV positive controls;</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>RNase-resistant virus-like particles were obtained after prokaryotic expression in E. coli. The designed primers and probe were confirmed to be very specific and conservative, and be sensitive to-concentration of 15 copies/microl.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Established the method of detecting rabies virus by reverse transcription real-time quantitative PCR,obtained the RNase-resistant and no infectivity virus-like particles as positive controls of rabies virus.</p>

Determination of SARS-CoV by simplified nested fluorescent RT-PCR / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a simple rapid and sensitive nested RT-PCR method for detection of SARS coronavirus RNA by designing the specific primers for SARS and optimizing the parameters for PCR.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Primers and fluorescent probes were designed according to the sequences of SARS coronavirus genes available from GenBank. The optimization of the parameters for PCR was performed in PE 7700 thermal cycle. The 36 serum samples and 40 mouthwash of SARS patients and 80 samples of healthy people were tested.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The positive rate of patient serum and mouthwash was 33.6%, (12/36) and 67.5%, (27/40), respectively, while the positive rate of healthy people was zero (0/160).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The simple nested RT-PCR method was a rapid, efficient and sensitive one for SARS early diagnosis.</p>

Coxsackie virus B types were discriminated by RT-PCR / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To develop a method for detection of coxsackie B virus type 1-6 by RT-PCR.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A pair of primers were designed to amplify all types of coxsackie B virus 1-6 efficiently. The PCR product was hybridized in micro-wells in which 6 type specific oligonucleotide probes had been coated respectively, colorimetric detection was performed to discriminate the types of coxsackie B virus.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>This method was shown to be concordant with the IgM ELISA, 71.7% of anti-coxsackie B positive cases could be detected by RT-PCR.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The RT-PCR method can type coxsackie B virus efficiently and provides a tool for clinical diagnosis and epidemiological investigation.</p>