Comparison of Thyroglobulin and Thyroid Function in Pregnant Women between Counties with a Median Urinary Iodine Concentration of 100-149 µg/L and 150-249 µg/L.

Objective: This study explored whether thyroglobulin and thyroid disease prevalence rates were higher in pregnant Chinese women with a median urinary iodine concentration of 100-149 µg/L, compared with those with a median urinary iodine concentration of 150-249 µg/L maintained through sustainable universal salt iodization. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which 812 healthy pregnant women were enrolled to collect samples of their household edible salt, urine, and blood during their routine antenatal care in the 18 counties in Fujian Province, China. The levels of salt iodine concentration, urinary iodine concentration (UIC), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroid hormone (FT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroglobulin (Tg), thyroid peroxidase antibody and thyroglobulin antibody were assessed during the routine antenatal care visits. Results: The median UIC (mUIC) in pregnant women was 130.8 µg/L (interquartile range = 91.5-198.1 µg/L) in the counties with an mUIC of 100-149 µg/L (Group I), and 172.0 µg/L (interquartile range = 123.5-244.4 µg/L) in the counties with an mUIC of 150-249 µg/L (Group II). Goiter prevalence and thyroid nodule detection rates showed no difference between Group I and Group II ( P > 0.05). Except for FT4 values, the TSH, FT4, FT3, Tg and Tg values > 40 (µg/L) and the thyroid diseases prevalence rate (TDR) showed no significant differences between Group I and Group II ( P > 0.05), whether or not iodine supplementation measures were taken. Conclusion: Compared with an mUIC of 150-249 µg/L, not only there was no difference in thyroid morphology, but also the Tg value, rate of Tg values > 40 µg/L, and TDR were not higher in pregnant women in the counties with an mUIC of 100-149 µg/L achieved through sustainable universal salt iodization in Fujian Province, China.

Comparison of Thyroglobulin and Thyroid Function in Pregnant Women between Counties with a Median Urinary Iodine Concentration of 100-149 µg/L and 150-249 µg/L / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

OBJECTIVE@#This study explored whether thyroglobulin and thyroid disease prevalence rates were higher in pregnant Chinese women with a median urinary iodine concentration of 100-149 µg/L, compared with those with a median urinary iodine concentration of 150-249 μg/L maintained through sustainable universal salt iodization.@*METHODS@#This was a cross-sectional study in which 812 healthy pregnant women were enrolled to collect samples of their household edible salt, urine, and blood during their routine antenatal care in the 18 counties in Fujian Province, China. The levels of salt iodine concentration, urinary iodine concentration (UIC), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroid hormone (FT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroglobulin (Tg), thyroid peroxidase antibody and thyroglobulin antibody were assessed during the routine antenatal care visits.@*RESULTS@#The median UIC (mUIC) in pregnant women was 130.8 μg/L (interquartile range = 91.5-198.1 μg/L) in the counties with an mUIC of 100-149 μg/L (Group I), and 172.0 μg/L (interquartile range = 123.5-244.4 μg/L) in the counties with an mUIC of 150-249 μg/L (Group II). Goiter prevalence and thyroid nodule detection rates showed no difference between Group I and Group II ( P > 0.05). Except for FT4 values, the TSH, FT4, FT3, Tg and Tg values > 40 (μg/L) and the thyroid diseases prevalence rate (TDR) showed no significant differences between Group I and Group II ( P > 0.05), whether or not iodine supplementation measures were taken.@*CONCLUSION@#Compared with an mUIC of 150-249 μg/L, not only there was no difference in thyroid morphology, but also the Tg value, rate of Tg values > 40 µg/L, and TDR were not higher in pregnant women in the counties with an mUIC of 100-149 μg/L achieved through sustainable universal salt iodization in Fujian Province, China.

OTX2 is a therapeutic target for retinoblastoma and may function as a common factor between C-MYC, CRX, and phosphorylated RB pathways.

The homeobox transcription factor orthodenticle homeobox 2 (OTX2) plays a critical role in very early neurogenesis, but can become oncogenic when aberrantly expressed later in life. We previously discovered its novel oncogenic role in the malignant childhood brain tumor medulloblastoma and hypothesize an oncogenic role in retinoblastoma. Primary retinoblastoma tumors and cell lines were analyzed by quantitative-PCR, immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry for OTX2. The effect of modulating OTX2 expression on tumorigenesis was tested pharmacologically and by siRNA. A lentiviral shRNA-engineered vector was used for conditional knockdown studies on tumor growth in vivo. A luciferase reporter assay was used to analyze ATRA's effect on OTX2's promoter. In this study on retinoblastoma, OTX2 was frequently amplified and/or overexpressed in primary tumors and cell lines. Knockdown of OTX2 expression by siRNA or pharmacologic inhibition by all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) repressed OTX2 expression and cell proliferation and significantly decreased tumor growth in vivo. Loss of OTX2 expression also resulted in decreased expression of C-MYC and CRX, genes previously implicated in retinoblastoma tumorigenesis. Loss of OTX2 expression increased the phosphorylation of RB, a potential mechanism of modulating cell proliferation. Aberrant expression of OTX2 may contribute to the development of retinoblastoma. OTX2 may serve as a common transcription factor that interlinks multiple tumor-driving pathways. These results also show that OTX2 can be genetically and pharmacologically targeted, providing an exciting new therapeutic option that may be less toxic and more efficacious than current treatments.

Impaired cross-activation of ß3 integrin and VEGFR-2 on endothelial progenitor cells with aging decreases angiogenesis in response to hypoxia.

BACKGROUND: The mechanism by which vascular regeneration declines with aging is not fully understood. An interaction between integrin and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) plays a substantial role in angiogenesis. Here, we investigated whether aging impairs this interaction in endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) under hypoxia. METHODS AND RESULTS: Aging reduced the blood flow and vessel density in ischemic muscles in mice. Levels of phosphorylated Src (p-Src), p-ß3, and p-VEGFR-2 in acute ischemia were reduced in the muscles of aged mice compared to young mice. The hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α stabilizer deferoxamine improved the age-related impairment of angiogenesis, but this effect was diminished by LY290004, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. Deferoxamine improved the reduction in chronic ischemia-induced ß3-integrin and VEGFR-2 phosphorylation in the muscles of aged mice; this effect was also diminished by LY290004. In EPCs, we identified the molecular requirements for VEGF-mediated ß3-integrin and VEGFR-2 cross-activation in vitronectin-induced cell adhesion under acute hypoxia. We demonstrated that c-Src controlled the adhesion- and VEGF-induced ß3 tyrosine phosphorylation in hypoxia. Aging enhanced the hypoxia-induced EPC apoptosis and impaired several c-Src-related VEGF-induced receptor events, including ß3 tyrosine activation, ligand binding, cell adhesion, and tubulogenesis in cultured EPCs of animals and those of humans. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the aging-related decline in angiogenic action in response to ischemia is mediated by the impairment of cross-activation between ß3 and VEGFR-2 in EPCs, which is partially associated with decreased HIF-1α stability.

NEDD9 rs760678 polymorphism and the risk of Alzheimer's disease: a meta-analysis.

The NEDD9 rs760678 polymorphism has been extensively investigated for association to Alzheimer's disease (AD), however, results of different studies have been inconsistent. The objective of this study is to assess the relationship of NEDD9 rs760678 polymorphism and AD risk by using meta-analysis. Systematic searches of electronic databases Pubmed and Embase, as well as hand searching of the references of identified articles were performed. Statistical analyses were performed using software Revman 4.2 and STATA 11.0. A total of 4436 cases and 4420 controls in 11 case-control studies were included. The results indicated that the homozygote GG had a 13% decreased risk of AD, when compared with the C allele carriers (CC+CG) (OR=0.87, 95%CI=0.77-0.99, P=0.04 for GG vs. CG+CC). In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, significant decreased risk was associated with homozygote GG or G allele carriers in Caucasians (OR=0.84, 95%CI=0.74-0.96, P=0.008 for GG vs. CG+CC; OR=0.79, 95%CI=0.69-0.91, P=0.001 for GG vs. CC; OR=0.90, 95%CI=0.84-0.96, P=0.002 for G vs. C), but not in Asians. This meta-analysis suggests that the GG genotype of NEDD9 rs760678 polymorphism would be a protective factor for AD in Caucasians but not in Asians. To further evaluate the effect of gene-gene and gene-environmental interactions between NEDD9 rs760678 polymorphism and the risk of AD, more studies with larger number of subjects are required.

Exercise training stimulates ischemia-induced neovascularization via phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt-dependent hypoxia-induced factor-1 alpha reactivation in mice of advanced age.

BACKGROUND: Exercise stimulates the vascular response in pathological conditions, including ischemia; however, the molecular mechanisms by which exercise improves the impaired hypoxia-induced factor (HIF)-1 alpha-mediated response to hypoxia associated with aging are poorly understood. Here, we report that swimming training (ST) modulates the vascular response to ischemia in aged (24-month-old) mice. METHODS AND RESULTS: Aged wild-type mice (MMP-2(+/+)) that maintained ST (swimming 1 h/d) from day 1 after surgery were randomly assigned to 4 groups that were treated with either vehicle, LY294002, or deferoxamine for 14 days. Mice that were maintained in a sedentary condition served as controls. ST increased blood flow, capillary density, and levels of p-Akt, HIF-1 alpha, vascular endothelial growth factor, Fit-1, and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in MMP-2(+/+) mice. ST also increased the numbers of circulating endothelial progenitor cells and their function associated with activation of HIF-1 alpha. All of these effects were diminished by LY294002, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; enhanced by deferoxamine, an HIF-1 alpha stabilizer; and impaired by knockout of MMP-2. Finally, bone marrow transplantation confirmed that ST enhanced endothelial progenitor cell homing to ischemic sites in aged mice. CONCLUSIONS: ST can improve neovascularization in response to hypoxia via a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent mechanism that is mediated by the HIF-1 alpha/vascular endothelial growth factor/MMP-2 pathway in advanced age.

ABL-N-induced apoptosis in human breast cancer cells is partially mediated by c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase activation.

INTRODUCTION: The present study was designed to determine the possibility of acetylbritannilactone (ABL) derivative 5-(5-(ethylperoxy)pentan-2-yl)-6-methyl-3-methylene-2-oxo-2,3,3a,4,7,7a-hexahydrobenzofuran-4-yl 2-(6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)propanoate (ABL-N) as a novel therapeutic agent in human breast cancers. METHODS: We investigated the effects of ABL-N on the induction of apoptosis in human breast cancer cells and further examined the underlying mechanisms. Moreover, tumor growth inhibition of ABL-N was done in xenograft models. RESULTS: ABL-N induced the activation of caspase-3 in estrogen receptor (ER)-negative cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468, as evidenced by the cleavage of endogenous substrate Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Pretreatment of cells with pan-caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk or caspase-3-specific inhibitor z-DEVD-fmk inhibited ABL-N-induced apoptosis. ABL-N treatment also resulted in an increase in the expression of pro-apoptotic members (Bax and Bad) with a concomitant decrease in Bcl-2. Furthermore, c-Jun-NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase (p38) were activated in the apoptosis induced by ABL-N and JNK-specific inhibitor SP600125 and JNK small interfering RNA (siRNA) antagonized ABL-N-mediated apoptosis. However, the p38-specific inhibitor SB203580 had no effect upon these processes. Moreover, neither of the caspase inhibitors prevented ABL-N-induced JNK activation, indicating that JNK is upstream of caspases in ABL-N-initiated apoptosis. Additionally, in a nude mice xenograft experiment, ABL-N significantly inhibited the tumor growth of MDA-MB-231 cells. CONCLUSIONS: ABL-N induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells through the activation of caspases and JNK signaling pathways. Moreover, ABL-N treatment causes a significant inhibition of tumor growth in vivo. Therefore, it is thought that ABL-N might be a potential drug for use in breast cancer prevention and intervention.

1,6-O,O-diacetylbritannilactones inhibits IkappaB kinase beta-dependent NF-kappaB activation.

To determine the chemical constituents responsible for pharmacological effects of Inula britannica-F., three specific sesquiterpene lactones in Inula britannica were isolated from chloroform extract and identified, including britannilactone (BL), 1-O-acetylbritannilactone (ABLO), and 1,6-O,O-diacetylbritannilactone (ABLOO). Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) was performed to detect the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) p65. The expressions of IkappaBalpha, pIkappaBalpha, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), IkappaB kinase alpha/beta (IKKalpha/beta) and NF-kappaB kinase (NIK) were detected by Western blot and RT-PCR. We found that acetyl side groups enhanced the inhibitory action of the agents on LPS/IFN-gamma-induced iNOS and COX-2 expression. Their inhibiting activity was positive correlation with the acetyl side group number. The effects of LPS/IFN-gamma were reversed by ABLOO, and BL without acetyl side groups showed only a weak inhibitory action. Further study indicated that ABLOO markedly inhibited the phosphorylation of IKKbeta down to based level, but not IKKalpha, corresponding with decreased in IkappaBalpha degradation and phosphorylation induced by LPS/IFN-gamma, resulting in the suppression of NF-kappaB nuclear translocation and activity. These results suggest that the acetyl moieties add to the lipophilicity, and consequently enhance cellular penetration, so that ABLOO possess the most anti-inflammatory effect and may be a potent lead structure for the development of therapeutic and cytokine-suppressing remedies valuable for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases.

Acetylbritannilactone suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced vascular smooth muscle cell inflammatory response.

To investigate the mechanism of action by which a new anti-inflammatory active compound, 1-O-acetylbritannilactone (ABL) isolated from Inula britannica-F., inhibits inflammatory responses in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Enzyme immunoassay was used to measure the levels of prostandin E(2) (PGE(2)) production. Immunocytochemistry staining and Western blot analysis were performed to detect the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) p65 and the expression of IkappaB-alpha, pIkappaB-alpha and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) were used to detect DNA-binding activity of NF-kappaB in VSMCs. ABL (5, 10, 20 micrommol/l) had several concentration-dependent effects, including inhibition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced PGE(2) production and COX-2 expression, and blockade of NF-kappaB activation and translocation. These effects were owing to reductions in IkappaB-alpha phosphorylation and degradation induced by LPS. In addition, ABL directly inhibited the binding of active NF-kappaB to specific DNA cis-element. These results indicate that ABL is a potent inhibitor of LPS-stimulated VSMC inflammatory responses through blockade of NF-kappaB activity and inhibition of inflammatory gene COX-2 expression.

[Contents comparison of resveratrol and polydatin in the wild Polygonum cuspidatum plant and its tissue cultures].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the contents of resveratrol and polydatin in some materials of Polygonum cuspidatum from various sources, so to screen and obtain the suitable cultures for the following metabolism regulation study. METHOD: RP-HPLC method was applied to simultaneously assay resveratrol and polydatin in different samples. RESULT: By the modified methods of extraction and determination, large amount of materials were screened. The results indicated that the contents of resveratrol and polydatin in root and rhizome were evidently higher than those in the leave and stems. The content of polydatin in the seedlings cultured indoor for three months was 1.27% and showed a 1.25-time increse than that in the wild plants, while the content of resveratrol (0.401%) approached that in the wild plants. Both of resveratrol and polydatin could be examined from different tissue cultures of P. cuspidatum, such as the sterile seedlings, callus, suspended cells and hairy roots, and the levels of them were closely related to the growth speed, physiological status and developmental phase. Hairy roots had the highest potentiality in several tested cultures and the increase rate of dry weight was 8.29 when cultured in vitro for 30 days, and showed a 8.4-fold and a 192.8-fold increase compared with those of natural roots and suspended cells, respectively. The content of polydatin in the hairy roots was up to 0.037% and that of resveratrol was 0.007%. CONCLUSION: The established analysis method is rapid, simple and accurate, especially adapted to the simultaneous determination of resveratrol and polydatin in massive biological samples. Hairy-root cultures have the superiority among the tested materials of P. cuspidatum and are suitable for the large-scale biomass and consistent production of efficient constituents.

Localization of cysteine protease, cathepsin S, to the surface of vascular smooth muscle cells by association with integrin alphanubeta3.

Smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration from the tunica media to the intima, a key event in neointimal formation, requires proteolytic degradation of elastin-rich extracellular matrix barriers. Although cathepsin S (Cat S) is overexpressed in atherosclerotic and neointimal lesions, its exact role in SMC behavior remains primarily unresolved. We examined the involvement of Cat S on SMC migration through an extracellular matrix barrier and its localization in SMCs. A selective Cat S inhibitor and the endogenous inhibitor cystatin C significantly attenuated SMC invasion across elastin gel. Western blotting and cell surface biotinylation analysis demonstrated localization of the 28-kd active form of Cat S on the SMC surface, consistent with its role in the proteolysis of subcellular matrices. Treatment with interferon-gamma or interleukin-beta1 significantly augmented the ability of SMC membranes to degrade elastin along with a significant increase in the level of active Cat S compared with controls. Immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy showed a punctuated pattern of Cat S clusters at the periphery of SMCs; further studies demonstrated partial co-localization of Cat S and integrin alphanubeta3 at the cell surfaces. These findings demonstrate that active Cat S co-localizes with integrin alphanubeta3 as a receptor on the SMC surface, playing an important role in the invasive behavior of SMCs.

Simple analysis of four bisphosphonates simultaneously by reverse phase liquid chromatography using n-amylamine as volatile ion-pairing agent.

Volatile organic amine was used as the mobile phase addictive during the separation of four bisphosphonates (alendronate, pamidronate, zoledronic acid and etidronate). An isocratic liquid chromatography method with evaporative light-scattering detection (ELSD) was developed for these bisphosphonates which are not retained on non-polar column and lack chromophore for detection. The analytes have sufficiently separated from each other on a Phenomenex C18 column. The effects of mobile phase composition and instrumental parameters of ELSD were studied. This newly developed method enables direct measurement for analysis of bisphosphonates without the need of derivatization. This developed method provides high separation and specificity to bisphosphonate analysis. In quantitative analysis, the method showed satisfactory precision (less than 2.8%) and accuracy (higher than 94.4%), good linearity (r=0.9991-0.9997) and sufficient sensitivity (15-18 microg/ml). It can be easily and conveniently adopted for the routine quality control analysis.

Contents comparison of resveratrol and polydatin in the wild Polygonum cuspidatum plant and its tissue cultures / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the contents of resveratrol and polydatin in some materials of Polygonum cuspidatum from various sources, so to screen and obtain the suitable cultures for the following metabolism regulation study.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>RP-HPLC method was applied to simultaneously assay resveratrol and polydatin in different samples.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>By the modified methods of extraction and determination, large amount of materials were screened. The results indicated that the contents of resveratrol and polydatin in root and rhizome were evidently higher than those in the leave and stems. The content of polydatin in the seedlings cultured indoor for three months was 1.27% and showed a 1.25-time increse than that in the wild plants, while the content of resveratrol (0.401%) approached that in the wild plants. Both of resveratrol and polydatin could be examined from different tissue cultures of P. cuspidatum, such as the sterile seedlings, callus, suspended cells and hairy roots, and the levels of them were closely related to the growth speed, physiological status and developmental phase. Hairy roots had the highest potentiality in several tested cultures and the increase rate of dry weight was 8.29 when cultured in vitro for 30 days, and showed a 8.4-fold and a 192.8-fold increase compared with those of natural roots and suspended cells, respectively. The content of polydatin in the hairy roots was up to 0.037% and that of resveratrol was 0.007%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The established analysis method is rapid, simple and accurate, especially adapted to the simultaneous determination of resveratrol and polydatin in massive biological samples. Hairy-root cultures have the superiority among the tested materials of P. cuspidatum and are suitable for the large-scale biomass and consistent production of efficient constituents.</p>

Mechanisms of the inhibitory effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate on cultured human vascular smooth muscle cell invasion.

OBJECTIVE: Although we recently showed that the administration of catechins reduced the neointimal formation in a rat balloon-injury model, the precise molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. In the present study, we tried to determine these mechanisms using an in vitro SMC invasion system. METHODS AND RESULTS: Boyden chamber assay was used to examine the effect of catechins on the invasive behavior of SMCs. The invasive activity of SMCs through collagen gel was restrained by EGCG in a concentration-dependent manner. The data from gelatin and collagen zymography and Western blot revealed that EGCG blocks the activation of pro-matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 during an invasion assay and in the conditioned medium of cultured SMCs as well as the activities of MMP-2 and membrane type 1-MMP (MT1-MMP) even at 0.1 to 0.3 micromol/L of EGCG. EGCG was found to restrain MT1-MMPcat-dependent pro-MMP-2 activation. EGCG upregulated the expression of tissue inhibitor of MMP-2 (TIMP-2) protein. Reverse zymography showed that the increased TIMP-2 to expression was validated by an increased activity. The data from decreased TIMP-2 activity using its siRNA suggested that upregulation of TIMP-2 expression may be one of the major mechanisms for inhibition of SMC invasion by EGCG. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that EGCG targets multiple MMP-mediated SMC cellular events and provides a new major mechanism for the SMC invasion through upregulation of TIMP-2 expression to modulate MMP activity.

Acetylbritannilatone suppresses NO and PGE2 synthesis in RAW 264.7 macrophages through the inhibition of iNOS and COX-2 gene expression.

In order to elucidate the mechanism of anti-inflammatory effect of 1-o-acetylbritannilatone (ABL) isolated from Inula Britannica-F, we investigated ABL for its ability to inhibit the inflammatory factor production in RAW 264.7 macrophages. The studies showed that ABL not only inhibited LPS/IFN-gamma-mediated nitric oxide (NO) production and inducible nitric synthase (iNOS) expression, but also decreased LPS/IFN-gamma-induced prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production and cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in a concentration-dependent manner. EMSA demonstrated that ABL inhibited effectively the association of NF-kappaB, which is necessary for the expression of iNOS and COX-2, with its binding motif in the promoter of target genes. These data suggest that ABL suppress NO and PGE2 synthesis in RAW 264.7 macrophages through the inhibition of iNOS and COX-2 gene expression, respectively. The anti-inflammatory effect of ABL involves blocking the binding of NF-kappaB to the promoter in the target genes and inhibiting the expression of iNOS and COX-2.