Seasonal concentrations, contamination levels, and health risk assessment of arsenic and heavy metals in the suspended particulate matter from an urban household environment in a metropolitan city, Beijing, China

The levels and health risks of arsenic and heavy metals (As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in the suspended particulate matter (SPM) collected from an urban household environment in Beijing of China for 12 months were investigated. The mean concentrations of the studied toxic elements were higher and lower than crustal abundance and PM2.5 in the urban outdoors of Beijing. The concentrations of the studied elements displayed significant seasonality. The highest concentrations of the total elements occurred in winter, followed by autumn, while the lowest concentrations were recorded in summer. Based on the calculated values of enrichment factor (EF) and geoaccumulation index (Igeo), the levels for As and Cu were heavily contaminated, while those for Cd, Pb, and Zn were extremely contaminated. As and Pb might pose risks to children and adults via ingestion exposure. The accumulative risks of multi-elements resulted from dermal contact and inhalation exposures were not negligible. More attention should be paid to reducing the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks posed by the toxic elements bound to urban household SPM particles via ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact exposure.

Detection of a novel single nucleotide polymorphism and imprinted status analysis of the Ras protein-specific guanine nucleotide-releasing factor 1 gene in domestic pigs

The aim of this study was to determine the imprinting status of the Ras protein-specific guanine nucleotide-releasing factor 1 (Rasgrf1) gene in domestic pigs. In this study, a 228-bp partial sequence located in exon 14 and a 193-bp partial sequence located in exon 1 of the Rasgrf1 gene in domestic pigs were obtained. A novel single nucleotide polymorphism, a G/A transition, was identified in Rasgrf1 exon 14, and then the reciprocal Berkshire x Wannan black F1 hybrid model and the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method were used to detect the imprinting status of the porcine Rasgrf1 gene at the 1-day-old developmental stage. Imprinting analysis showed that, compared to the imprinted expression of the Rasgrf1 gene in mouse and rat, a variable imprinting status was observed in domestic pigs. In principle, the porcine Rasgrf1 gene was maternally expressed in the liver and small intestine, paternally expressed in the lung, and biallelically expressed in brain, heart, spleen, kidney, stomach, pancreas, fat, testis, ovary, longissimus dorsi, and pituitary tissues. In conclusion, our results indicated that the Rasgrf1 gene shows both species- and tissue-specific variation in imprinted expression.

[Effect of bear bile powder on STAT3 pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma xenograft]

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effect of bear bile powder (BBP) on the STAT3 pathway and its downstream target genes of nude mice hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) xenograft, and to explore its mechanism for treating HCC.

METHODS

The subcutaneous xenograft model was established using HepG2 cells. When the subcutaneous transplanted tumor was formed, naked mice were randomly divided into two groups, the BBP group and the control group. Mice in the BBP group were administered with BBP by gastrogavage, once daily for 3 consecutive weeks, while mice in the control group were administered with normal saline by gastrogavage, once daily for 3 consecutive weeks. The body weight and the tumor volume were measured once per week. By the end of medication, the tumor weight was weighed and the tumor inhibition ratio calculated. The apoptosis of the tumor tissue was detected by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). The expression of Bcl2-associated X protein (Bax), B cell lymphoma/eukemina-2 (Bcl-2), cyclin-dependent protein kinase (CDK4), cyclinD1 were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The protein expression levels of signal transducers and transcription activators 3 (p-STAT3), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Bax, Bcl-2, CDK4, and cyclinD1 were determined by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

BBP could inhibit the tumor volume and tumor weight, showing statistical difference when compared with the control group (P < 0.01). Results of TUNEL showed that BBP could significantly induce the apoptosis of hepatoma carcinoma cells. Results of RT-PCR showed that BBP could up-regulate the expression of Bax and down-regulate mRNA expression of Bcl-2, CDK4, and cyclinD1. Immunohistochemical results showed that BBP could up-regulate the expression of Bax and inhibit the protein expression of p-STAT3, PCNA, Bcl-2, CDK4, and cyclinD1.

CONCLUSION

BBP could induce the apoptosis of hepatoma carcinoma cells and inhibit their proliferation by regulating STAT3 pathway.

Effects of sheng hua tang on uterine involution and ovarian activity in postpartum dairy cows

The effects of Sheng Hua Tang (SHT) on uterine involution and ovarian activity were investigated in postpartum dairy cows. SHT (70 g) was given to dairy cows (n = 10) to evaluate its effects for five days from the first postpartum day. Postpartum cows fed with a basal diet without SHT were used as the control group (n = 10). Ultrasounds and blood tests were recorded for four weeks from postpartum day seven with a 3-d interval. The results showed that the areas and diameters of endometria were significantly (p<0.01) reduced in the group that received SHT compared to the control group on the seventh postpartum day. The group that received SHT had an intrauterine fluid volume mean of 1.2±0.6 cm(3), which was significantly lower than that of the control group, 2.3±0.8 cm(3) (p<0.01) on the 13th postpartum day. In addition, the uterine tension score was a mean of 1.0±0.0 in the group that received SHT, which was also significantly lower than that of the control group, 1.5±0.5 (p<0.01) on the 19th postpartum day. Taken together, the Chinese herbal medicine remedy, SHT, promoted uterine involution and ovarian activity in postpartum dairy cows.

Ethanol extract of Cirsium japonicum attenuates hepatic lipid accumulation via AMPK activation in human HepG2 cells

One of the most common causes of chronic liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is strongly associated with obesity and dysregulated insulin action in the liver. However, there are no pharmacological agents currently established for the treatment of NAFLD. A flowering plant in the Asteraceae family, Cirsium japonicum (CJ), exhibits a variety of pharmacological and antioxidative properties that promote hepatoprotection. In the present study, CJ ethanol extract was shown to reduce hepatic triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol accumulation. CJ significantly increased AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation in HepG2 hepatocytes and downregulated the level of the target genes, acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthase. In addition, CJ upregulated the expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1, which is involved in fatty acid oxidation. The results of the present study indicated that the positive effects of CJ extract on high-fat diet-induced hepatic TG accumulation were mediated via the AMPK signaling pathway, indicating a potential target for the preventative treatment of NAFLD.

Cephalochromin induces G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in A549 human non-small-cell lung cancer cells by inflicting mitochondrial disruption

The fungus-derived compound cephalochromin, isolated from the fermented broth of Cosmospora vilior YMJ89051501, shows growth-inhibitory and apoptotic activity against human lung cancer A549 cells in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC50 value of 2.8 μM at 48 h. Cephalochromin induced cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase through down-regulation of cyclin D1, cyclin E, Cdk 2, and Cdk 4 expressions. Cephalochromin markedly increased the hypodiploid sub-G1 phase (apoptosis) of the cell cycle at 48 h as measured by flow cytometric analysis. Reactive oxygen species generation and loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were also markedly induced by cephalochromin. Moreover, the immunoblotting assays showed that cephalochromin reduced survivin and Bcl-xL expression and induced the activation of caspase-8, -9, and -3 and the cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, indicating the involvement of a caspase signaling cascade. The caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-fmk significantly suppressed cephalochromin-induced apoptosis. Cephalochromin also triggered LC3 II, autophagic marker, expression. Taken together, this is the first report that cephalochromin induced an antiproliferative effect on human lung cancer cells through mitochondrial disruption and down-regulation of survivin, leading to cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase, loss of MMP, and subsequently apoptotic cell death.

Prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in mainland of China: a meta-analysis of published studies

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming an increasingly important health issue. However, there are no data on the change in prevalence of NAFLD within a population over time, especially in the mainland of China. The goal of this study was to estimate the pooled prevalence of NAFLD in the mainland of China.

METHODS

Systematic literature searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Knowledge, Chinese Web of Knowledge, Wangfang, Weipu, and SinoMed databases, as well as relevant articles published from 1997 to 2013, reporting prevalence estimates of NAFLD in the mainland of China. Summary estimates of prevalence were calculated with a random effects model. The effects of research methodology on the prevalence estimates were assessed using a meta-regression model.

RESULTS

Forty-eight studies were identified with of a total of 356 367 subjects. The overall pooled prevalence of NAFLD was 20.09% (17.95-22.31%). Subgroup analyses showed the following results: male: 24.81% (21.88-27.87%), female: 13.16% (11.33-15.11%), for 18-30: 9.22% (6.93-11.81%), for 40: 16.77% (13.22-20.66%), for 50: 23.50% (19.57-27.66%), for 60: 26.89% (21.11-33.09%), for urban: 21.83% (18.00-25.92%), for rural: 20.43% (8.01-36.74%); study years in 2000-2006: 18.22% (14.32-22.48%), 20.00% (16.84-23.36%) for 2007-2009, and 18.93% (15.41-22.72%) for 2010-2013.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of NAFLD is lower than the estimates from developed countries. But it still reaches the epidemic proportions, and its prevalence is increasing. Meanwhile, a nationwide prevalence investigation should be conducted to confirm the estimates and determine more accurate rates for specific populations.

Defining the anti-inflammatory activity of a potent myxomaviral chemokine modulating protein, M-T7, through site directed mutagenesis

Viral chemokine modulating proteins provide new and extensive sources for therapeutics. Purified M-T7, a poxvirus-derived secreted immunomodulatory protein, reduces mononuclear cell invasion and atheroma in rodent models of angioplasty injury as well as aortic and renal transplant, improving renal allograft survival. M-T7 is a rabbit species-specific interferon gamma receptor (IFNγR) homolog, but also inhibits chemokine/glycosaminoglycan (GAG) interactions for C, CC and CXC chemokines, with cross-species specific inhibitory activity. M-T7 anti-atheroma activity is blunted in GAG deficient mouse aortic transplants, but not in CC chemokine receptor deficient transplants, supporting M-T7 interference in chemokine/GAG interactions as the basis of the atheroma-inhibitory activity. We have assessed point mutants of M-T7 both in vivo in a mouse angioplasty model and in vitro in tissue culture and binding assays, in order to better define the primary mechanism of anti-atheroma activity. Of these M-T7 mutants, the R(171)E and E(209)I M-T7 mutants lost inhibitory activity for plaque growth in hyperlipidemic ApoE(-/-) mice after angioplasty injury and R(171)E, moreover, greatly exacerbated plaque growth and inflammation. F(137)D retained some inhibitory activity for plaque growth. In contrast, for cell migration assays, M-T7-His6X, F(137)D, R(171)E, and E(209)I all inhibited CC chemokine (RANTES) mediated cell migration. For the ligand binding assays, R(171)E and E(209)I had significantly reduced binding to RANTES and IFNγ, whereas F(137)D retained wild-type binding activity. Heparin treatment further reduced RANTES binding of all three M-T7 mutants. In summary, point mutations of M-T7, R(171)E and E(209)I, exhibited reduced anti-inflammatory properties in vivo after mouse angioplasty with a loss of in vitro binding to RANTES and IFNγ, indicating these point mutations partially disrupt M-T7 ligand-binding activities. Unexpectedly, the M-T7 mutants all retained inhibitory activity for human monocyte THP-1 cell migration ex vivo, suggesting additional inhibitory properties against human monocyte THP-1 cells that are independent of chemokine inhibition.

MECP2 promotes cell proliferation by activating ERK1/2 and inhibiting p38 activity in human hepatocellular carcinoma HEPG2 cells

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide and currently represents the leading cause of death amongst cirrhotic patients, but the mechanisms remain unknown. In this experiment, we investigated the expression of Methyl CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) in HCC, the effect of MeCP2 on the proliferation of human HCC HepG2 cells, and the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signaling pathways. The results showed that MeCP2 expression levels was higher in human HCC tissue than normal hepatocellular tissue, and MeCP2 siRNA reduced the proliferation of HCC HepG2 cells by decreasing cell activity and cell division in vitro. After MeCP2 siRNA treatment, the proportion of G1/G0 phase cells increased, but the proportion of S and G2/M phase cells decreased, indicative of G1/G0 cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, the proportions of early and late apoptosis in HCC HepG2 cells were enhanced after MeCP2 siRNA treatment. It was also found that activation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) and p38 signaling pathways were involved in the proliferation of HepG2 cells. After MeCP2 siRNA treatment, p-ERK1/2 levels decreased, but p-p38 levels increased. Our findings demonstrated that MeCP2 promoted the proliferation of human HCC HepG2 cells with activation of ERK1/2 signaling pathways, suggesting a novel mechanism for pharmacological study of treatment for human HCC.

The effect of dietary protein levels on the expression of genes coding for four selected protein translation initiation factors in muscle tissue of Wujin pig

The objective of this study was to investigate the regulatory mechanism underlying the increased muscle protein accumulation in pigs while were fed a high protein diet. The eukaryotic initiation factors (eIFs) have been reported to involve in muscle protein synthesis. We investigated the mRNA and protein expression levels of eIF2B1, 4A1, 4B and 4E in Wujin pigs fed either a high protein (HP: 18%) or a low protein (LP: 14%) diet at 30, 60 or 100 kg body weight, based on real-time PCR and western blotting analyses. Our results indicated that the expression levels of eIF2B1 mRNA and protein were increased by HP diet at all body weight. The HP diet showed higher mRNA and protein levels of eIF4B gene at 60 and 100 kg. The protein expression of eIF4E phosphorylation was increased by HP diet only at 30 kg. These data suggested that the HP diet promoted porcine muscle protein accumulation mainly by up-regulating eIF2B1, 4B and 4E rather than 4A1 expression along the growth stages.

Quantitative assessment of late lumen loss after biodegradable polymer and permanent polymer sirolimus-eluting stents implantation

BACKGROUND

Sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) are reported to be associated with reduced late lumen loss (LLL), resulting in less frequent restenosis when compared to bare-metal stent. The current study aimed to assess the difference in LLL between SES with biodegradable and with permanent polymer.

METHODS

From March 2010 to June 2011, 300 consecutive patients having only biodegradable polymers or permanent polymer SES for all diseased vessels were included. Serial quantitative coronary analysis was performed on both the "in-stent" and "segment" area, including the stented segment, as well as both five mm margins proximal and distal to the stent. The primary endpoint was the LLL defined as the minimal lumen diameter (MLD) post-stenting minus the MLD at nine-month after the indexed procedure.

RESULTS

LLL was comparable between the two stents. Importantly, LLL for the distal segment (median 0.05 mm, interquartile 0 to 0.09 mm) was less severe compared with in-stent (median 0.13 mm, interquartile 0.08 to 0.18 mm) and proximal segment LLL (median 0.12 mm, interquartile 0.06 to 0.14 mm, all P < 0.001). In general, the LLL was associated with the post-procedure MLD (b = 0.28, P = 0.002), hyperlipidemia (b = 0.14, P = 0.021), and calcified lesions (b = 0.58, P = 0.001). The R(2) and Radj of the multiple regression model were 0.651 and 0.625, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

SES with either biodegradable or permanent polymer had lower value of LLL. The small amount of LLL at the distal segment possibly contributed to the less distal edge stenosis.

Optical control of surface anchoring and reorientation of liquid crystals via a plasmon-enhanced local field

Gold nanoparticles deposited on the windows of a liquid crystal (LC) cell were found to be able to reduce the surface anchoring energy of the LC, and hence the threshold for its reorientation phase transition, by 1 to 2 orders of magnitude when a cw pump light was used to excite the local plasmon resonance of the nanoparticles. The effect was due to the disorientation of LC molecules between nanoparticles by the plasmon-enhanced local field that softens the effective surface anchoring. A light-controlled variation of surface anchoring energy could provide new opportunities for optoelectronic applications of a LC.

[Construction of groundwater contamination prevention mapping system]

Groundwater contamination prevention mapping is an important component of groundwater contamination geological survey and assessment work, which could provide the basis for making and implementing groundwater contamination prevention planning. A groundwater contamination prevention mapping system was constructed in view of the synthetic consideration on nature perspective derived from groundwater contamination sources and aquifer itself, social-economic perspective, policy perspective derived from outside. During the system construction process, analytic hierarchy process and relevant overlaying principles were used to couple groundwater contamination risk assessment, groundwater value as well as wellhead protection area zoning. Data processing and visualization of mapping results were achieved in the GIS environment. The research on groundwater contamination prevention mapping in Beijing Plain indicated that the final groundwater prevention map was in accordance with the actual conditions and well reflected the priorities of groundwater prevention, which could play a guidance role in designing and implementing further practical prevention and supervision measures. Besides, because of the dynamical properties of the system components, it was suggested to analyze the update frequency of the mapping.

[Uncertainty analysis of groundwater protection and control zoning in Beijing plain]

Groundwater pollution prevention mapping has important meaning to groundwater protection, pollution prevention and effective management. A mapping method was built through combining groundwater pollution risk assessment, groundwater value and wellhead protection area zoning. To make the method more accurate, two series of uncertainty analysis were performed and discussed. One was performed by changing the weights of the toxicity, mobility and degradation of pollutants, and the other was by changing the weights of groundwater pollution risk, groundwater value and wellhead protection area zoning. The results showed that the weights of groundwater pollution risk, groundwater value and wellhead protection area zoning were more sensitive than the weights of toxicity, mobility and degradation of pollutants.

[Quantitative method of representative contaminants in groundwater pollution risk assessment]

In the light of the problem that stress vulnerability assessment in groundwater pollution risk assessment is lack of an effective quantitative system, a new system was proposed based on representative contaminants and corresponding emission quantities through the analysis of groundwater pollution sources. And quantitative method of the representative contaminants in this system was established by analyzing the three properties of representative contaminants and determining the research emphasis using analytic hierarchy process. The method had been applied to the assessment of Beijing groundwater pollution risk. The results demonstrated that the representative contaminants hazards greatly depended on different research emphasizes. There were also differences between the sequence of three representative contaminants hazards and their corresponding properties. It suggested that subjective tendency of the research emphasis had a decisive impact on calculation results. In addition, by the means of sequence to normalize the three properties and to unify the quantified properties results would zoom in or out of the relative properties characteristic of different representative contaminants.

Observation of large-scale density cavities and parametric-decay instabilities in the high-altitude discrete auroral ionosphere under pulsed electromagnetic radiation

A large density cavity that measured 2000 km across and 500 km in height was observed by DEMETER and Formosat/COSMIC satellites in temporal and spatial relation to a new mode of propagation of electromagnetic (em) pulses between discrete magnetic field-aligned auroral plasmas to high altitudes. Recorded positive plasma potential from satellite probes is consistent with the expulsion of electrons in the creation of density cavities. High-frequency decay spectra support the concept of parametric instabilities fed by free energy sources.

Treatment of respiratory tract infections with moxifloxacin: results of postmarketing surveillance in China

AIM AND METHODS

Data were collected from 3814 patients in this postmarketing surveillance study to assess the efficacy and tolerability of moxifloxacin.

RESULTS

Improvement was observed in 69.1% of the patients after 3 days of moxifloxacin treatment and in 90.4% after 5 days. Full recovery had occurred in 71.3% by 7 days and in 86.8% by 10 days. A total of 129 adverse events occurred in 74 (1.9%) patients and mainly involved either the gastrointestinal or nervous system. All events were mild or moderate, and most resolved or improved after stopping treatment. Physicians rated moxifloxacin as 'good' or 'very good' in 92% of patients for efficacy and in 90.8% of the patients for tolerability. Of the 936 patients who completed a questionnaire, 94.7% stated that moxifloxacin had helped them, 95.5% reported an improvement in symptoms after 5 days and 97.7% reported symptom improvement after 10 days.

CONCLUSIONS

Moxifloxacin performs well in the 'real world', and is acceptable to both patients and physicians.

Expression, Purification, Characterization of Amphioxus Insulin-like Peptide and Preparation of Polyclonal Antibody to It

To elucidate the origination and evolution as well as structure-function relationship of insulin and IGF-1, the gene of amphioxus insulin-like peptide (ILP), a common ancestor of insulin and IGF-1, was chemically synthesized and cloned into the expression vector pVT102-U. In the recombinant ILP, the C-terminus of B-domain and the N-terminus of A-domain of amphioxus ILP deduced from cDNA were linked together by a tripeptide, Ala-Ala-Lys, and its B28Arg residue was also replaced by Lys to facilitate its conversion to a double-chain form by Lys-C cleavage. The expression vector was transformed into yeast cells and the recombinant ILP was expressed efficiently. The purified single-chain and double-chain ILP was obtained by fermentation, purification and enzymatic cleavage. Molecular weight measurement and amino acid composition analysis showed that the primary structure of ILP was correct. Circular dichroism analysis showed that the secondary and tertiary structure of double-chain ILP was similar to that of insulin, while double-chain ILP had no measurable insulin activity in insulin receptor binding assay. Additionally, New Zealand Rabbits were immunized with single-chain ILP and high titre polyclonal antibody was obtained. This work was important for further investigating the molecular evolution of insulin and IGF-1 and the distribution and existence of ILP in amphioxus.

The detection of the HLA-B27 antigen by immunomagnetic separation and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-comparison with a flow cytometric procedure

The HLA-B27 antigen is an important genetic marker in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods for the detection of B27 include the microlymphocytotoxicity test and, more recently, flowcytometry (FC). Here, we describe a new method, IMS-ELISA, for measuring the B27-antigen. It combines immunomagnetic separation (IMS), to obtain B27-positive cells from whole blood samples, with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as a read-out. IMS-ELISA was tested on 367 samples obtained from five different hospitals in Taiwan. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the method were compared with FC. Any conflicting data between IMS-ELISA and FC was confirmed by HLA-DNA typing via PCR-SSP (polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primers). Overall, the results for sensitivity, specificity and accuracy obtained by IMS-ELISA and FC did not show any significant difference (p>0.05). However, when considering laboratory time, cost, ease of operation and the screening of large samples for HLA-B27, the IMS-ELISA was superior to the FC method. We conclude that IMS-ELISA may be used as a fast screening method for HLA B27 detection.

The relationship of sputum eosinophilia and sputum cell generation of IL-5

BACKGROUND

Eosinophil recruitment to the airway after antigen challenge is regulated by many factors, including airway cell generation of cytokines.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between sputum cell generation of IL-5 and the appearance of eosinophils in the sputum after antigen challenge.

METHODS

Sputum samples from 11 allergic subjects were collected before and again 4 and 24 hours after antigen challenge. In 6 of these subjects, induced sputum samples were also obtained 48 hours and 7 days after challenge. Sputum leukocyte differential and cell counts and eosinophil-derived neurotoxin levels were determined. Sputum cells were then cultured with PHA (10 microg/mL) to stimulate IL-5 and IFN-gamma, which were measured in culture supernatants.

RESULTS

An increase in sputum eosinophils and eosinophil-derived neurotoxin levels was detected at 4 hours after antigen challenge, with peak values at 24 hours. In contrast, significant increases in ex vivo generation of IL-5 by sputum cells was not seen until 24 hours after challenge. At 24 hours, PHA-induced IL-5 correlated with airspace eosinophil values (r (s) = 0.78, P <.01). In addition, the ratio of IFN-gamma/IL-5 decreased at 24 hours (P <.05) and had an inverse correlation with sputum eosinophils (r (s)= -0.68, P <.05).

CONCLUSION

Although eosinophils are increased in the airway lumen as early as 4 hours, the ex vivo generation of IL-5 by sputum cells is first noted in samples obtained 24 hours after antigen challenge. This suggests that the early (4 hours) recruitment of eosinophils to the airway lumen may be regulated by factors other than IL-5 or that mucosal cells (rather than airspace cells) contribute to the IL-5 generation at this time point. Furthermore, IL-5 generation by airspace cells may be more responsible for either eosinophil recruitment or retention at later time points.

Loss of heterozygosity at chromosome 13q in hepatocellular carcinoma: identification of three independent regions

Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 13q is one of the most common genetic alterations in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and might be involved in liver cancer development through inactivation of tumour suppressor genes. In order to narrow down the region of 13q loss, we examined the pattern of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in tumours from 88 HCC patients, using 18 microsatellite markers on 13q. Thirty-eight of the 88 tumours (43%) showed LOH for at least one marker. Of these, two tumours (5%) showed 13q whole arm allelic loss, while the remaining 36 tumours (95%) had partial allelic loss. The LOH pattern defined by the 36 tumours suggested the existence of at least three different smallest common deleted regions which might be involved in the carcinogenesis of HCC. The first, the most centromeric in the 13q12.3 is, close to the BRCA2 gene, defined by D13S171; the second, the most telomeric region in the 13q31-32 band, is defined by D13S154 and D13S157; the third, the intermediate region at 13q14.3, which is near the RB gene, is defined by loci D13S268. The rate of LOH at 13q31-32 was significantly higher in Hepatitis B-surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive patients than HBsAg-negative HCC patients, pointing to a candidate gene related to the development of HBsAg-positive HCCs.

Atherosclerosis in Marek's disease virus infected hypercholesterolemic roosters is reduced by HMGCoA reductase and ACE inhibitor therapy

OBJECTIVES

Accelerated atherosclerosis is associated with herpesviral infection both in transplant patients and after balloon angioplasty. Marek's disease virus (MDV) is a herpesvirus that induces accelerated atherosclerosis associated with the development of an invasive lymphoma in hyperlipemic roosters. We have examined the effects of pravastatin, a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMGCoA) reductase inhibitor and quinapril, an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, on atherosclerosis development in MDV infected, cholesterol fed rooster chicks.

METHODS

The effects of these drugs on plaque growth after MDV infection were examined in two studies. In Study 1, MDV infected White Leghorn rooster chicks were divided into 4 groups assigned to normal or high cholesterol diet, and treated at three months of age with either pravastatin or saline. In Study 2, cholesterol fed rooster chicks infected with MDV were divided into 3 groups for treatment with either pravastatin, quinapril, or saline control.

RESULTS

A significant decrease in plaque area was detected after 60 days of treatment with both pravastatin and quinapril in cholesterol fed chicks (P < 0.001). Lymphocyte infiltration into the arterial wall or target organs was not inhibited by treatment with either drug.

CONCLUSIONS

(1) HMGCoA reductase inhibitor and ACE inhibitor therapy reduce atherosclerosis induced by virus infection and cholesterol diet, but this decrease in plaque growth is not due to a reduction in lymphocyte invasion. (2) MDV infection in cholesterol fed roosters provides a model for virus-induced arterial injury in atherogenesis.

A survey on the treatment strategy of patent ductus arteriosus in very low-birth-weight infants

This study is a retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 67 very low birth weight infants (VLBWI) with symptomatic patent ductus arteriosus (PDA); all were admitted to four neonatal intensive care units (NICU) from January 1, 1996 through December 31, 1996. The mean gestational age was 27.9 +/- 2.4 weeks, the mean birth weight was 1078 +/- 193 g. Fifty-six infants (83.6%) had RDS, and 53 infants (79%) received artificial surfactant. The NICU at a regional hospital used CVD score > or =3 as the sole criteria and the remaining three NICUs used color Doppler echocardiogram to confirm a symptomatic PDA and to treat it; sometimes LA/AO > or = 1.3 was used as the criteria for indomethacin treatment. Two of these three hospitals sometimes used the pulsed Doppler echocardiogram as well as color Doppler examination as the treatment criteria. Seven infants (10.5%) had contraindication for indomethacin treatment; four of them closed after conservative treatment, and another three were subjected to surgical ligation. Of the remaining 60 infants, 3 were treated with oral indomethacin and 57 were treated with intravenous indomethacin. The mean age when initial treatment given was 3.8 +/- 1.5 days (range, 8 hours approximately 20 days). Among them 10 (16.7%) were within 24 hours after birth, 25 (41.7%) were between 24 and 48 hours, and 25 (41.7%) were beyond 48 hours. The dosage of indomethacin was 0.2 mg/kg per dose intravenously every 12 to 24 hours for three doses as a full course, if not contraindicated. The mean dose of indomethacin was 2.8 +/- 1.5; 10 infants (16.7%) received 1 dose, 15 (25%) received 2 doses, 27 (45%) received 3 doses, 3 (5%) received 4 doses and 5 (8.3%) received 6 doses. Among them, 51 infants (85%) PDA closed (including 2 treated with oral indomethacin), 9 (15%) failed to close and 6 of them received surgical ligation (including 1 treated with oral indomethacin). The complications associated with indomethacin treatment were hypoglycemia (52%), decreased urine output (42%) and gastrointestinal hemorrhage (32%). The infants with RDS had an earlier mean age of initial treatment than non-RDS infants (3.3 +/- 2.5 vs. 7.6 +/- 5.6 days; p < 0.05), and also had a higher closure rate (89% vs. 57%; p < 0.05). There was a closure rate of 85% in this multicenter retrospective analysis. Even though the infants received only one or two doses, they still had a good chance of ductal closure (21/25, 84%). To minimize the complications associated with indomethacin treatment in VLBWI, the protocol of indomethacin treatment should be re-evaluated.