Associations Between the Metabolic Score for Insulin Resistance Index and the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Among Non-Obese Adults: Insights from a Population-Based Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: The metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR) index is an emerging surrogate predictor of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study aimed to evaluate the association between the METS-IR index and the risk of T2DM in non-obese Japanese adults. METHODS: A total of 12,290 non-obese participants were selected from the NAGALA prospective cohort study conducted from 2004 to 2015. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the association between the baseline METS-IR index and risk of T2DM. Generalized additive models were used to identify nonlinear relationships. In addition, we performed subgroup analyses and interaction tests. Results were expressed as hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 2050 days, 176 (1.43%) incident T2DM occurred. The fully adjusted HR (95% CI) for the incidence of T2DM in non-obese adults was 1.17 (HR=1.17, 95% CI: 1.09-1.27, P<0.001) for every 1-unit increase in the METS-IR index. The risk of developing T2DM increased with the quartile of change in the METS-IR index, after adjustment for multiple potential confounding, the HRs for the Q4 group versus the Q1 group was 4.01 (95% CI, 1.39-11.57). Generalized additive models also showed a cumulative increase in the risk of T2DM with increasing the METS-IR index. Time-dependent receiver operating curve suggested helpful discriminative power of the METS-IR index for T2DM. The C-statistics by the clinical risk factors significantly improve with the addition of the METS-IR index (from 0.862 to 0.875, P = 0.035); the discriminatory power and risk reclassification also appeared to be substantially better, with the category-free NRI of 0.216, and the IDI of 0.011. CONCLUSION: The METS-IR index was a significant and independent predictor for future T2DM development in non-obese adults. The METS-IR index may have clinical significance in identifying groups at high risk of T2DM.

MitoQ inhibits hepatic stellate cell activation and liver fibrosis by enhancing PINK1/parkin-mediated mitophagy.

Mitophagy affects the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Mitochondria-targeted ubiquinone (MitoQ) is a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant that reduces the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, its relationship with mitophagy remains unclear. This study evaluated mitophagy during HSC activation and the effects of MitoQ on mitophagy in cell culture and in an animal model of the activation of HSCs. We found that MitoQ reduced the activation of HSCs and alleviated hepatic fibrosis. PINK1 (PTEN-induced putative kinase 1) is a putative serine/threonine kinase located in the mitochondria's outer membrane. While the activation of primary HSCs or LX-2 cells was associated with reduced PINK1/parkin-mediated mitophagy, MitoQ reduced intracellular ROS levels, enhanced PINK1/parkin-mediated mitophagy, and inhibited the activation of HSCs. After knocking down the key mitophagy-related protein, PINK1, in LX-2 cells to block mitophagy, MitoQ intervention failed to inhibit HSC activation. Our results showed that MitoQ inhibited the activation of HSCs and alleviated hepatic fibrosis by enhancing PINK1/parkin-mediated mitophagy.

Expression of Versican and Its Related Molecules in Patient with Multiple Myeloma and Its Clinical Significance / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the expression and clinical significant of VCAN and its related molecules in patients with MM.@*METHODS@#Ficoll density gradient centrifugation method was used to speared the bone marrow mononuclear cell in 25 cases of MM before and after treatment, the relative mRNA expression of VCAN and their related molecules (FAK, FN, MK, and HAS) in bone marrow was detected by real-time quantitative PCR, and their protein expression was determined by Western bolt.@*RESULTS@#The expression of VCAN, FK and FN in the effective group after treatment was significantly lower than that before treatment (P＜0.05), however, the expression of MK and HAS showed no statistically significantly different before and after treatment (P＜0.05). The expression of VCAN of patients in non remission group was significantly higher than that in control group (P＜0.05). The expression of FAK and FN of patients in no remission group was significant increased as compared with the patients in newly diagnosed group (P＜0.05). The relative expression of VCAN mRNA in the patients at 3rd stage was significantly higher than those at the 1st stage (P＜0.05) and control group but showed no significant difference to the patients at 2nd stage (P＜0.05). The expression of VCAN and its related proteins (FAK, MK, FN) showed positively correlation in bone marrow mononuclear cells of MM patients (P＜0.05). The correlation between VCAN and HAS was not statistically significant (r=0.259，P＞0.05). Survival analysis showed that the relative expression of VCAN mRNA was associated with OS (P=0.049) and PFS (P=0.041) in MM patients.@*CONCLUSION@#VCAN and its related molecules are highly expressed in MM patients; VCAN may act as potential biomarker in the development of multiple myeloma.

Clinical Significance of Platelet Closure Time in Patients with Multiple Myeloma / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the clinical significance of platelet closure time (PCT) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM).@*METHODS@#Peripheral blood samples of 50 newly diagnosed MM patients treated in our hospital from July 2018 to November 2019 and 34 healthy persons underuent physical at the same time were collected. PCT induced by collagen/epinephrine (CEPI) and collagen/adenosinediphosphate (CADP) in peripheral blood were detected by PFA-200，and the clinical data included age, sex, leukocyte count, hemoglobin level, platelet count and level of serum creatinine, cystatin c, blood calcium, β-microglobulin (β-MG), bone marrow plasma cells, light chain protein, as well as the MM types, ISS stage of patients were collected.@*RESULTS@#The level of PCT in MM patients was significantly higher than that in healthy persons; the level of PCT were significantly increased with the increasing of ISS stage in newly diagnosed MM patients; After chemotherapy with bortezomib/dexamethasone (BD), the level of PCT in 15 patients who were responded to the treatment was significantly lower than those before treatment.@*CONCLUSION@#The platelet closure time is abnormal in MM patients, moreover, relates to the progress of the disease. It has an important clinical significance for the evaluation of diagnostic stage and therapeutic efficacy evaluation of MM patients.

Echocardiographic strain in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy.

BACKGROUND: The myocardial structure differs between secondary left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). We investigated left ventricular function of these two types of hypertrophy using multilayer strain analysis with two-dimensional echocardiography. METHODS: Transthoracic echocardiography (Vivid-E9) was performed in 240 patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF ≥50%) and with either HCM (n = 80, 63 men, age 49.8 ± 14.1 years), hypertensive LVH (n = 80, 63 men, age 51.4 ± 13.3 years) or normal blood pressure and left ventricular structure (n = 80, 63 men, 50.8 ± 12.4 years). Quantitative multilayer longitudinal strain (LS), circumferential strain (CS), and radial strain (RS) were analyzed. The ratio of endo-/epi-myocardial strain was calculated. RESULTS: Longitudinal strain was significantly (P < 0.001) lower in HCM patients than normal controls (15.2 ± 4.2% vs 23.1 ± 2.7%), especially in hypertrophic segments (14.5 ± 4.4% vs 17.2 ± 3.2% in nonhypertrophic segments, P < 0.01). LS was lower in patients with hypertensive LVH, similarly in all left ventricular segments (20.7 ± 3.7%, P < 0.001 vs controls). CS was lower in the mid- and epicardium (P < 0.01), but not endocardium in HCM (P = 0.4), and preserved in all myocardial layers in hypertensive LVH. The endo-/epi-myocardial ratios of both LS and CS were higher in HCM than hypertensive LVH (P < 0.01). RS was higher (P < 0.01) in HCM than hypertensive LVH and controls. Endocardial CS and global RS were correlated with LVEF (r ≥ 0.32, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients had marked reductions in LS and CS, whereas patients with hypertensive LVH had less reduction in LS and preserved CS. The increased endo-/epi-myocardial ratios of LS and CS may be useful in differentiating HCM from hypertensive LVH.

Prognostic Significance of CD45CD117 Cells in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia after Complete Remission / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the predictive value of CD45CD117 phenotype-abnormal cells (hereinafter referred to as "abnormal cells") for relapse and prognosis in adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) within 2 weeks after the first complete remission (CR1).@*METHODS@#The clinical data of patients with newly diagnosed AML (non-acute promyelocytic leukemia) admitted in our department from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2017 were analyzed retrospectively, and the relationship between clinical features at the initial diagnosis and the abnormal phenotype cells of CD45CD117 within 2 weeks after CR1 with the prognosis were analyzed.@*RESULTS@#A total of 91 patients with CD45CD117 abnormal cells were detected. The median age was 51 years old, the median WBC count was 11.60×109/L, and the median ratio of bone marrow blast cells was 0.35 at initial diagnosis. According to the FAB classification, 1 (1.1%), 7 (7.7%), 38 (41.7%), 20 (22.0%), 21 (23.1%) and 4 (4.4%) patients were classifice as M0, M1, M2, M4, M5, and M6, respectively. According to the NCCN risk stratification, 30 (33.0%), 51 (56.0%), and 10 (11.0%) patients were determined as good, moderate, and poor prognosis, respectively. The median ratio of abnormal cells within 2 weeks after CR1 was 1.8500 (0.0236-8.0000)%. The median time from initiation of induction therapy to the acquisition of CR was 46 days, median recurrence-free survival time was 319 days, and median overall survival time was 352 days. A total of 45 patients relapsed, of which 14 died; 46 patients did not relapse, of which 3 died. The cutoff of abnormal cells by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was 2.055% (Se=0.733，Sp=0.761). The abnormal cell ratio was＞2.055% in 44 patients, the median ratio of abnormal cells was 3.075%, among which 33 patients relapsed and 12 patients died; the abnormal cell ratio was ＜2.055% in 47 patients, the median ratio of abnormal cells was 1.150%, 12 patients relapsed and 5 patients died. Regression analysis showed that WBC count＞50×10/L and abnormal cell ratio＞2.055% were independent risk factors for recurrence. The abnormal cell ratio＞2.055% group had a 2-year RFS rate of 54.3% and a 2-year OS rate of 52.8%. The abnormal cell ratio＜2.055% group had a 2-year RFS rate of 86.6% (P=0.018), and a 2-year OS rate of 85.3% (P＜0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#For adult AML patients, CD45CD117 phenotypical abnormal cells ratio＞2.055% within 2 weeks after CR1 is an independent risk factor for recurrence, which also is an dverse factor for RFS and OS.

Curative Efficacy of Rituximab for ITP Patients with Different Sensitivity to Hormone / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigatc the curative efficacy of low dose rituximab for glucocorticoid ineffective on dependent ITP patients and its relation with sensitivity to glucocorticoid so as to provide reference basis for rational use of drugs in clinical treatmant.@*METHODS@#Seventy-ninth ITP patients enrolled in this study included the glucocorticoid-ineffective patients (19 cases) and glucocorticoid-dependent patients (60 cases). All ITP patients were treated with regimen consisted of high dose dexamethasone plus low dose rituximab (dexal-methasone 40 mg/d for 4 days per os, ritaximab 100 mg by intravenous infusion at D7, 14, 21 and 28 respectively). The patients after treatment were followed-up for 12 month, and the relation of patients sensitivity to glucocorticoid with therapentic response of rituximab was analyzed. The changes of Treg cell ratio and BAFF, IL-2 and sCD40L levels before and after treatment were detected by flow cytometry and ELISA respectively.@*RESULTS@#The overall response rate (ORR) of patients treated with above- mentioned regemen at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment was 79.7% (63/79), 69.6% (55/79), 63.3% (50/79) and 60.8% (48/79) respectivcly, out of which the ORR of glucocorticoid ineffective and glucocorticoid-dependent ITP patients treated with above-mentioned regimen at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment was 47.4% (9/19) vs 90.0% (54/60), 36.8% (7/19) vs 80.0% (48/60), 21.1% (4/19) vs 76.7% (46/60), 21.1% (4/19) vs 73.3% (44/60), and the difference between 2 groups was statistically significant. The detection of T reg cell showed that the T reg cell ratio in glucocorticoid- ineffective and dependent patients at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment was (1.70±0.43)% vs (3.47±0.72)%, (1.66±0.33)% vs (4.29±0.91)%, (1.71±0.37)% vs (4.44±0.97)%, (3.36±0.54)% vs (4.29±1.04)%, respectively. The detection of cytokines showed that the levels of BAFF, IL-2 and sCD40L in plasma of glucocorticoid-dependent patients at 1 month after treatment significanlly decreased (P＜0.05), the levels of BAFF, IL-2 and sCD40L in plasma of glucocorticoid-ineffective patients although decreased at 1 mouth after treatment, but there was no statistical difference as compared with glucocosticoid-depenment patients.@*CONCLUSION@#The treatment of glucocorticoid-dependent ITP patients with rituximab is more effective. The regulatory effect of rituximab on the T-reg cells, BAFF, IL-2 and sCD40L may be one of its mechanisms.

Risk Factors and Prognosis of Hepatic cGVHD after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the risk factors and prognosis of hepatic chronic GVHD after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 147 patients undergoing allo-HSCT from January 2013 to December 2016 were analyzed, the correlation between recipient age and sex, disease state, matched degree of HLA, donor sex, stem cell sources, ATG in GVHD prophylaxis, liver dysfunction during conditioning period, pre-transplant HBsAg, prior aGVHD and hepatic cGVHD were studied, and the correlation between hepatic cGVHD and prognosis were analysed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Thirty-two patients had hepatic cGVHD, cumulative incidence of 26.4%. In univariate analysis, pre-transplant HBsAgand liver dysfunction during conditioning period were not significantly related with hepatic cGVHD (P>0.05). In multivariate analysis, prior acute GVHD (HR=2.087, P=0.045) was the independent risk factor for hepatic cGVHD, ATG (HR=0.231, P=0.000) was significantly related with a lower incidence of hepatic cGVHD. In univariate analysis, patients with hepatic cGVHD had a lower 2 years relapse rate (P=0.038).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Prior acute GVHD is the independent risk factor for hepatic cGVHD, the ATG can significantly reduce the incidence of hepatic cGVHD. Hepatic cGVHD has been found to relate with a lower 2 years relapse rate.</p>

Size-Tunable Low Molecular Weight Pectin-Based Electrospun Nanofibers Blended with Low Content of Poly(ethylene oxide).

Pectin, a natural plant polysaccharide, holds great potential for biomedicine. Developing low molecular weight (Mw) pectin-based nanofibers is desirable for biomedical applications in which fast degradation and elimination of polymer from the body are required. Here, we report the first work on fabricating low Mw pectin-based nanofibers through electrospinning, among which the content of carrier polymer, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), can be minimized to 10%. Surfactant (Triton X-100), high polymer concentration and cosolvent were essential to electrospin bead-free nanofibers at low PEO content. The size of pectin nanofibers was dependent on polymer concentration and cosolvent. The presence of cosolvent inhibited the crystallization of PEO, but enhanced the crystallization of pectin. Meanwhile, glycerol as cosolvent could lead to phase separation of polymers. This work provides a new prospective for the fabrication of low Mw pectin nanofibers suitable for in vivo applications with the demand of fast degradation.

Effect of Interfering the ADAM10 by Lentivirul Vector-Mediated shRNA on Multiple Myeloma MM.1S Cell Proliferation / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of interfering ADAM10 on proliferation and apoptosis of multiple myeloma MM.1S cells, and its possible mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Four pairs of shRNA-coding sequences directed against different sites of ADAM10 mRNA were designed and inserted into lentiviral vector plasimd pLVshRNA-EGFP(2A) Puro for constructing the sh/ADAM10-1, sh/ADAM10-2, sh/ADAM10-3, sh/ADAM10-4 and sh/Con. These plasmids and lentiviral packaging plasmids were co-transfected into the packaging cells 293FT, then the virus particles were collected and the viral titer was assayed after concentration, and these viral particles were transfected to MM.1S cells. The flow cytometry was used to sort GFPcells. Real-time quantitative PCR, and Western blot were used to detect the effect of interfering the ADAM10 gene by lentiviral vector mediated shRNA. The proliferation-inhibition curve was plotted by CCK-8 method, the cell viability and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry with Annexin V and 7-AAD staining, the transcripts of pro-apoptosis gene BAD, BAK, BIK, anti-apoptotic genes BCL-2, c-Myc and Notch1 target gene Hes-1 were detected by real-time PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Lentivirus vector was successfully constructed, that could specifically interfere ADAM10 expression. Interfering ADAM10 gene could inhibit the MM.1S cell proliferation and induce apoptosis. After the interferencing ADAM10 gene the mRNA levels of pro-apoptosis gene BAD, BAK and BIK were increased, and the mRNA levels of anti-apoptotic genes BCL-2 and c-Myc were reduced. Q-PCR results showed that the mRNA level of Notch1 were increased, but that of Hes-1 were reduced.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Down-regulated ADAM10 expression can significantly inhibit multiple myeloma MM.1S cell proliferation and promote the apotosis. Its mechanism may be related to Notch1 signaling pathways.</p>

The clinical value of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in differential diagnosis of malignant and benign ovarian lesions.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) is widely used in preoperative diagnosis of various tumors. We investigated the clinical value of DCE-MRI in differential diagnosis of malignant and benign ovarian lesions. The study involved 48 subjects with surgical pathology-confirmed ovarian tumors with solid components. Early dynamic phase enhancement performances of the ovarian lesions in patients were assessed, including the enhancement pattern, time-signal intensity curve (TIC), signal intensity rate at the initial 60 s (SI60), time to peak within 200 s (TTP200), and slope ratio. There were significant differences in enhancement patterns between benign and malignant ovarian tumors (P < .05). A total of 30 malignant tumors (30/31) displayed type I TIC, 8 benign tumors (8/13) showed type III TIC, and significant differences were found in TIC type between malignant and benign ovarian lesions (P < 0.01). Benign ovarian tumors showed lower SI60 (%) and slope ratio, as well as significantly prolonged TTP20, compared to malignant ovarian tumors (all P < 0.01). The microvessel count (MVC) of malignant tumors was significantly higher than that of benign tumors (P < 0.05). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses revealed that DCE-MRI provided an optimal diagnostic performance with threshold values of SI60 at 83.40 %, TTP200 at 77.65 s, and slope ratio at 4.12. These findings revealed that DCE-MRI provides critical information required for differential diagnosis of malignant and benign ovarian lesions.

Effect of ADAM10 Inhibitor GI254023X on Proliferation and Apoptosis of Multiple Myeloma H929 Cells and Its Possible Mechanisms / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of ADAM10 inhibitor GI254023X on the proliferation and apoptosis of multiple myeloma H929 cell line and its mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>H929 cells were treated with different concentrations of GI254023X, the proliferation-inhibitive curve was assayed and plotted by CCK-8 method, the cell viability and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry with Annexin V/7-AAD double staining. The cleavage of Notch1 protein (cleaved notch1) was determined by Western blot. The transcripts of Notch1 target gene Hes-1 were detected by real-time PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The GI254023X inhibited the proliferation of H929 cells in the time- and dose- dependent manners. As compared with the control group, the apoptosis of cells increased along with enhancement of GI254023X concentration; The expression of cleaved Notch1 was down-regulated after the treatment with GI254023X. The levels of Hes-1 mRNA transcripts in H929 cells was reduced in GI254023X treated group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>GI254023X can remarkably inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of H929 cells. Its mechanism may be associated with inbihition of Notch1 activation.</p>

Blockage of Th17 cells differentiation exacerbated mouse acute intestine graft-versus-host disease following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the role of Th17 cells in acute intestine graft-versus-host disease following allogenetic bone marrow transplantation(allo-BMT).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Mice were split randomly into five groups: normal control, irradiated, allo-BMT, allo-BMT + DMSO and allo-BMT + Halofuginone (HF) groups. HF was given intraperitoneally at a dose of 5 µg per mouse from -1 d to 10 d after allo-BMT. aGVHD symptoms were followed-up to perform clinical and pathogenic scores. The levels of Th1/Th17, interleukin-17 and interferon-γ were measured by flow cytometry at day 7 d. mRNA expressions of T-bet, RORγT, CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11 and CCL20 in intestine were evaluated by real-time PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Intestinal damages in allo-BMT-HF mice was more serious than in normal control and allo-BMT groups at day 14 after transplantation. At day 7, Th17 ratio in allo-BMT + HF group was significantly lower than in allo-BMT group. IL-17A was not detected, but Th1 ratio was higher in allo-BMT + HF. There was a similar increment in the relative expressions of T-bet in both allo-BMT and allo-BMT + HF groups. Expressions of CXCL9 and CXCL10 elevated in allo-BMT + HF group, which were significantly higher than those in allo-BMT group (P < 0.01). CCL20 expression significantly increased in allo-BMT group, but it was not detected in allo-BMT + HF group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Blockage of th17 cells differentiation exacerbated acute intestine graft versus-host disease.</p>

[Association of the genetic variations of bone morphogenetic protein 7 gene with diabetes and insulin resistance in Xinjiang Uygur population].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between the genetic variations of the functional region in bone morphogenetic protein gene (BMP7) with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Chinese Uygur individuals. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted based on epidemiological investigation. A total of 717 Uygur subjects (276 males and 441 females) were selected and divided into two groups: diabetes mellitus group (n = 502, 191 males and 311 females) and control group (n = 215, 85 males and 130 females). All exons, flanking introns and the promoter regions of (BMP7) gene were sequenced in 48 Uygur diabetics. Representative variations were selected according to the minor allele frequency (MAF) and linkage disequilibrium and genotyped using the TaqMan polymerase chain reaction method in 717 Uygur individuals, a relatively isolated general population in a relatively homogeneous environment and a case-control study was conducted to test the association between the genetic variations of (BMP7) gene and type 2 diabetes mellitus. RESULTS: Five novel and 8 known variations in the (BMP7) gene were identified. All genotype distributions were tested for deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P> 0.05). There was significant difference of genotype distribution of rs6025422 between type 2 diabetes mellitus and control groups in the male population (P< 0.05, P adjusted > 0.05), but there was no difference in total and female population (P> 0.05). And the means of fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin and HOMA-index significantly decreased in individuals with AA, AG and GG genotypes of rs6025422 in male population (P< 0.05), but not in total and female population (P> 0.05). The logistic regression analysis showed that GG genotype of rs6025422 variation might be a protective factor for diabetes in male (OR= 0.637, 95% confidence interval 0.439-0.923, P< 0.05). CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that the rs6025422 polymorphism in (BMP7) gene may be associated with diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance in Uygur men.

[Expression of nuclear factor kappaB and tumor necrosis factor α in lung tissue of paraquat poisoned rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kgr;B) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in lung tissue of acute paraquat poisoned rats. METHODS: 68 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: the control group (n = 8), the intoxication group (n = 60). On the 1st, the 3rd, the 7th, the 14th and the 28th day after intoxication, the expression of NF-κB p65 and TNF-α in lung tissue were detected by LSAB immunohistochemistry (IH) staining. Meanwhile, the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in plasma, and lung homogenate, the content of malondialdehyde (HPY) in lung homogenate were detected. RESULTS: The levels of MDA in plasma on the 1st, the 3rd, the 7th day and in lung homogenate on the 1st, the 3rd day of the intoxication group [in plasma: (10.15 ± 3.15), (6.97 ± 1.65) and (5.44 ± 0.66) nmol/ml; in lung homogenate: (10.20 ± 2.43), (10.71 ± 171) nmol/ml] were significantly higher than that of the control group [in plasma: (3.84 ± 1.04) nmol/ml, in lung homogenate: (7.66 ± 0.66) nmol/ml]. The content of HPY in lung homogenate on the 14th and the 28th day after intoxication [(19.98 ± 2.86), (26.06 ± 4.06) µg/0.1 g lung homogenate] were higher than that of the control group [(8.80 ± 1.26) µg/0.1 g lung homogenate] significantly. The expression of NF-κB p65 and TNF-α in lung tissue were both significantly increased on the first day and the 3rd day of the intoxication group compared with the control group and weakened obviously after the 7th day. CONCLUSION: Acute paraquat poisoning can induce increased expression of both NF-κB p65 and TNF-α in lung tissue; the enhanced activity of NF-κB may take part in the process of pulmonary injury in PQ poisoning.

[Etiology analysis for hospitalized hypertensive patients: 10 years report from the department of hypertension (1999 - 2008)].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze etiology of hospitalized hypertensive patients in the department of hypertension from 1999 to 2008. METHODS: This retrospective study was performed to analyze the etiology of hospitalized hypertensive patients in department of hypertension and to show the distribution change of hypertension from 1999 to 2008. RESULTS: (1) There were 5867 (75.1%) patients with essential hypertension and 1942 (24.9%) patients with secondary hypertension (SH). (2) The prevalence rate of SH increased significantly during the 10 years (χ(2) = 387.621, P < 0.001) and was higher in 2008 than in 1999 (39.3% vs. 9.5%, P < 0.05). The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and primary aldosteronism (PA) in 2008 increased 38.3 and 1.8 times respectively than in 1999 (χ(2) = 304.025, P < 0.001; χ(2) = 42.845, P < 0.001) and other SH remained unchanged. (3) The prevalence of PA complicated with OSAS increased significantly in recent five years (χ(2) = 26.376, P < 0.001). Incidence of OSAS was 23.9% in PA patients and incidence of PA was 6.7% in OSAS patients. CONCLUSIONS: With the insights gained on hypertension mechanism and the development of new diagnostic technology, percent of diagnosed SH increased remarkably in recent years in hospitalized hypertensive patients in our department of hypertension. OSAS and PA are the leading causes of SH.

[Induced RAS association domain family gene 1A gene expression by arsenic trioxide in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) on expression of anti-oncogene RAS association domain family gene 1A(RASSF1A) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE-2Z. METHODS: CNE-2Z cells were treated with various concentrations of As2O3 for different times. The IC(50) values were detected by trypan blue stain assay. Cell cycle redistribution was analyzed by flow cytometry. The final concentration 2 micromol/L, 1 micromol/L, 0.5 micromol/L of As2O3 was added to CNE-2Z cell for succedent experiments. The controls and no drugs of CNE-2Z cells were cultivated for 48 h. Methylation specific PCR was used to detect the change of methylation status of RASSF1A gene. The expression of RASSF1A gene was detected by reverse transcription PCR and Western blot at mRNA and protein level. RESULTS: The suppression of cell proliferation by As2O3 was time and dose-dependent. After being treated with As2O3, the IC(50) values of As2O3 were (1.50 +/- 0.05), (1.09 +/- 0.13), (0.65 +/- 0.04) micromol/L at 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. As2O3 also arrested CNE-2Z cells in G2/M phase of cell cycle. After the effect of As2O3, the methylation of RASSF1A gene became weaker by increasing the concentration of As2O3; and the expression of RASSF1A gene became stronger at mRNA and protein level. Between different concentration of As2O3 group and no drugs group, the differences had statistical significance (P < 0.05). Along with increasing the concentration of As2O3, the expression of RASSF1A gene became stronger at mRNA and protein level, the methylation of RASSF1A gene became weaker and weaker. CONCLUSIONS: As2O3 can activate the expression of RASSF1A gene to inhibit the cell cycle progress of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line.

[Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal effects on wheat growth in response to elevated tropospheric O3 concentration].

A FACE (Free-air component enrichment) system in a rice/wheat rotation field was used to investigate the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) inoculation on wheat growth and soil microbial biomass under elevated tropospheric O3 concentration. The elevated O3 concentration tended to increase AM colonization of wheat seedling and bate plant growth during the booting period, then significantly (p < 0.05) reduced aerial biomass, individual yield and kernel weight by 22%, 29% and 9%, respectively, and decreased soil microbial biomass N by 37% after wheat harvesting. However, the total N content in wheat grain significantly (p < 0.05) increased from 2.2% to 2.6%. Under elevated O3 concentration, AMF inoculation accelerated AM colonization successfully, and improved colonization rate and aerial biomass significantly (p < 0.05) during the booting period, thus reduced the damage of aerial biomass by 50% when harvesting, and increased soil microbial biomass N significantly (p < 0.05) related to the noninoculated treatment. Although wheat yield didn't increase, the total N content in grain decreased to the same level of that of the control wheat. It suggested that higher AM colonization is the resistance behavior of wheat in response to O3 intimidation, and AMF inoculation can accelerate wheat growth, increase root exudates and soil microbial biomass subsequencely.

[Spatiotemporal evolvement of soil microbiological characteristics in upland fields with different utilization duration in Cixi, Zhejiang Province].

The microbial number, microbial biomass, and enzymatic activities in five upland soils under agricultural utilization for 50-700 years were determined, with the correlations between soil microbiological characteristics and agricultural utilization duration analyzed. In the meantime, the functional diversity of microbes in soils having been utilized for 50, 100, and 700 years were investigated. The results showed that at the early stage (< 100 years) of agricultural utilization, the number of soil fungi (F) had a slight increase, while the bacterial number (B), B/F ratio, microbial biomass C (C(mic)), microbial biomass N (N(mic)), and the activities of catalase, invertase and urease all decreased markedly. After utilized for more than 100 years, the F decreased significantly, while the B, B/F ratio, C(mic), N(mic), and the activities of test enzymes all tended to increase. During the whole utilization period from 50 to 700 years, the C(mic)/N(mic) ratio had a significant increase with year. The Shannon, Simpson, and McIntosh indices of soil microbial community had the same responses to the agricultural utilization duration as the bacterial number, microbial biomass, and enzymatic activities. All of these indicated that in the upland fields in Cixi of Zhejiang Province, shifts of soil microbial community occurred with increasing agricultural utilization duration, and soil microbiological quality had an overall increase after 100 years agricultural utilization.