Clinical efficacy of sclerotonyxis for acute angle-closure glaucoma with persistent high intraocular pressure

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to investigate the clinical effectiveness and safety of sclerotonyxis in acute angle-closure glaucoma (ACG) with persistent high intraocular pressure (IOP).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The clinical data of 50 eyes from 50 patients (mean age: 68.9±7.19 years) with acute ACG and persistently high IOP who were admitted to our department between January 2012 and January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients who were administered the maximum dose of systemic and topical anti-glaucoma drugs and still had an IOP of >40 mmHg 24 hours after admission underwent sclerotonyxis. After the IOP control, an individualized phase II treatment plan was designed according to the patient's ocular condition.

RESULTS

Forty-eight patients showed improvement in their visual acuity 6 months postoperatively compared to their preoperative values. The mean IOPs were 54.84±7.82 mmHg and 21.34±7.81 mmHg 24 hours pre and postoperatively, respectively. The mean anterior chamber depth showed statistically significant differences pre and postoperatively (1.75±0.16 mm and 1.84±0.17 mm, respectively) (p<0.05). After IOP stabilized, four patients underwent YAG laser peripheral iridectomy, 18 underwent simple cataract phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, 21 underwent cataract phacoemulsification combined with IOL implantation and goniosynechialysis under a gonioscope, and 7 patients underwent combined surgery of glaucoma and cataract. The mean IOPs were 15.94±3.3 mmHg and 15.64±2.99 mmHg 1 week and 6 months after stage II surgery, respectively. Moreover, 42 eyes (84%) attained complete success and 8 eyes (16%) attained conditional success 6 months postoperatively. No serious complications, such as corneal endothelial decompensation, malignant glaucoma, vitreous or eruptive choroidal hemorrhage, and retinal detachment, were observed intraoperatively or postoperatively in both procedures.

CONCLUSIONS

Sclerotonyxis can rapidly lower IOP, release the pupillary blockage, reconstruct the anterior chamber, and reduce systemic complications caused by long-term high-dose antiglaucoma drugs. Thus, it normalizes the IOP and provides a safe operating space for stage II surgery, effectively reducing complications in patients in a persistent high IOP state.

[A study of the relationships between occupational stress career calling and occupational burnout among primary teachers]

Objective: To discuss the relationships between occupational stress, career calling and occupational burnout among primary school teachers, and test whether career calling moderates the relationship between occupational stress and occupational burnout. Methods: 399 teachers from public primary schools were recruited as participant. Their occupational stress and burnout, and career calling were assessed via online questionnaire in the period between March and August 2018. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to test the moderating role of career calling. Results: The score of occupational stress was (3.59±0.85) , the score of career calling was (3.15±0.69) and the score of occupational was (3.26±0.88) . Occupational stress was significantly and positively related to occupational burnout (r=0.42, P<0.01) , while career calling was significantly and negatively related to occupational stress (r=-0.30, P<0.01) and occupational burnout (r=-0.32, P<0.01) . Career calling moderated the relationship between occupational stress and occupational burnout. Conclusion: Career calling as a personal resource buffers the positive relationship between occupational stress and occupational burnout. School leaders can promote teachers' career calling by endowing educational work with more meaning, which leading to lower level of occupational burnout.

Therapeutic effects of long-term continuous positive airway pressure treatment on improving leptomeningeal collateral circulation in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patients

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to use methods of scoring collaterals on CT angiography to analyze changes in collateral circulation in untreated patients with moderate and severe OSAS before and after nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Ninety-eight moderate and severe OSAS patients treated with nasal CPAP and seventy-four controls that weren't treated with CPAP, were involved in this study. Two independent neuroradiologists evaluated intracranial collaterals by using Miteff scale, modified Tan scale. Intracranial collaterals differences were compared between OSAS group (before and after treated) and control group. Correlations between intracranial collaterals and clinical parameters were analyzed.

RESULTS

Compared with pre-therapy of moderate and severe groups, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), oxygen desaturation index (ODI), epworth sleepness scale (ESS) were lower after treatment. The lowest oxygen saturation, average blood oxygen saturation, Miterff scale, modified Tan scale in moderate and severe groups were significantly increased after treatment. We documented significant decrease of Miterff scale after two years in moderate and severe OSAS group without CPAP therapy (n = 32, p < 0.01). Conversely, mild OSAS group without CPAP therapy did not change Miterff scale after two years (n = 32, p > 0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that AHI had significant impact on Miterff scale and modified Tan scale. Severe OSAS were independently related with Miterff scale (odds ratio 0.343, 95% confidence interval 0.301-0.391, p < 0.01) and modified Tan scale (odds ratio 0.267, 95% confidence interval 0.095-0.754, p = 0.013).

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term CPAP treatment is a viable therapeutic choice for improving leptomeningeal collateral circulation in OSAS patients.

[An analysis of the current state of nurses' career satisfaction and its relationship to career calling in the tertiary hospitals]

Objective: To know about the current state of nurses' career satisfaction in the tertiary hospital, and explore the relationship between career calling and career satisfaction. Methods: From September 2017 to December, using convenience sampling, 483 nurses distributed eight tertiary hospitals were selected to complete career satisfaction scale and career calling scale. Results: The total score of nurses' career satisfaction was (2.81+0.65) , four factors were rowed from low to high in order: financial success, power and status, employability, knowledge and skill development (2.29±0.98, 2.64±0.87, 3.10±0.69, 3.20±0.71) . There were significant differences existed in different genders, marital status, educational backgrounds, working lives and positional titles (t=2.51, -1.96, -3.59; F=7.92, 8.83, P<0.05) . The score of nurses' career calling was (3.21±0.81) . There were significant differences existed in different genders, educational backgrounds, working lives and positional titles (t=5.87, -1.96; F=5.60, 11.13, P<0.05) . Career calling is positively related to career satisfaction (r=0.528, P<0.05) . Conclusion: Overall, the level of career satisfaction of nurses is low, especially the financial success. Hospital human resource management should endow more values and meanings on nursing posts, in turn enhance nurses' career calling and career satisfaction.

Effects of diets with different energy and bile acids levels on growth performance and lipid metabolism in broilers

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of bile acids (BAs) on the growth performance and lipid metabolism of broilers fed with different energy level diets. 480 one-day-old Arbor Acres broilers (45.01 ± 0.26 g) were allotted to a 2 × 2 factorial design with 2 levels of energy (basal or high-energy level) and 2 levels of BAs (with or without BAs supplementation), resulting in 4 groups of 8 replicates; the experiment lasted 42 d. High-energy diets decreased the feed/gain ratio (F/G) from 1 to 21 d (P < 0.05), and increased the liver index and abdominal fat percentage at 42 d (P < 0.05). The serum total triglyceride (TG) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol at 42 d were increased by high-energy diets (P < 0.05), while the hepatic lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity at 21 and 42 d was decreased (P < 0.05). BAs supplementation increased the body weight at 21 d and decreased the F/G during entire period (P < 0.05), as well as improved the carcass quality reflected by decreased abdominal fat percentage at 42 d and increased breast muscle percentage at 21 and 42 d (P < 0.05). The serum TG at 21 and 42 d were decreased by BAs (P < 0.05), and the hepatic LPL activity at 42 d was increased (P < 0.05). In addition, high-energy diets increased the expression of sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and fatty acid synthase (P < 0.05), while BAs diets decreased these genes expression (P < 0.05). Moreover, BAs supplementation also increased the expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (P < 0.05), which was increased in high-energy groups (P < 0.05). In conclusion, BAs supplementation could increase growth performance, elevate carcass quality, and improve lipid metabolism in broilers.

[Effect of leader-member exchange on nurses'sense of calling in workplace]

Objective: To investigate the effect of leader-member exchange on nurses'sense of calling in workplace based on self-determination theory. Methods: A total of 381 nurses were randomly selected from five tertiary general hospitals in Zhejiang province, China from October to December, 2016. They were subjected to a survey using the Leader-Member Exchange Scale, Job Autonomy Scale, Core Self-Evaluation Scale, and Calling Scale. The mediating effect was used to test the procedures and the data were subjected to hierarchical regression analysis. Results: The leader-member exchange was positively correlated with job autonomy, core self-evaluation, and sense of calling (r=0.471, P<0.001; r=0.373, P<0.001; r=0.475, P<0.001) ; the leader-member exchange had a positive predictive effect on job autonomy and sense of calling (β= 0.47, P<0.001; β=0.48, P<0.001) ; the job autonomy had a partial mediating effect on the relationship between leader-member exchange and sense of calling (F=66.50, P<0.001) ; the core self-evaluation negatively adjusted the positive relationship between leader-member exchange and job autonomy (F=27.81, P<0.001) . Conclusion: High-quality leader-member exchange enhances the sense of calling by improving staffs' job autonomy and the core self-evaluation reduces the positive relationship between leader-member exchange and job autonomy.

Prevalence of pathogenicity island ETT2 in Escherichia coli isolated from piglets with diarrhea in northeast of China

Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of the pathogenicity island ETT2 and to examine the relationship between the ETT2 locus and other virulence factors in Escherichia coli (E. coli) isolated from piglets with diarrhea. A total of 354 E. coli strains isolated from scouring piglets were tested using PCR for the presence of the ETT2 locus. The E. coli strains were also analyzed for enterotoxins, fimbriae, non-fimbrial adhesin, Shiga toxins, pathogenicity islands, α-haemolysin (hlyA), afa8 gene cluster and autotransporter protease (sepA) genes. The results showed that 215 (60.7%) of the isolates possessed the ETT2 island. In 215 ETT2-positive E. coli strains, the virulence genes found were EAST1 (27.0%), irp2 (18.6%), paa (15.4%), STb (7.9%), LT (6.5%), ler (4.7%), hlyA (3.7%), AIDA-I (3.7%), K88 (3.7%), eae (3.3%), STa (2.8%), afaD (1.4%), afaE (1.4%), K99 (0.9%) and sepA (0.47%), respectively, and the isolates could be assigned into 25 different virulence factor patterns. In 139 ETT2-negative E. coli strains, the virulence genes detected were EAST1 (38.9%), paa (14.4%), STb (11.5%), AIDA-I (10.1%), irp2 (7.9%), sepA (2.16%), LT (0.7%), STa (0.7%), eae (0.7%), ler (0.7%), hlyA (0.7%) and K88 (0.7%), respectively, and the isolates could be classified into 13 different virulence factor patterns. Moreover, the occurrence of LT gene of ETT2-positive E. coli strains was far more than that of ETT2-negative E. coli strains.

[Effect of occupational exposure on job burnout in nurses]

Objective: To investigate the effect of occupational exposure on job burnout in nurses, and to analyze the mediating effect of negative emotion between occupational exposure and job burnout and the regulatory effect of supervisor support on occupational exposure and negative emotion. Methods: From September to December, 2015, simple random sampling was used to select 543 nurses from six tertiary hospitals in Zhejiang Province, China. The questionnaires consisted of occupational exposure risk questionnaire, negative emotion questionnaire, supervisor support questionnaire, and job burnout questionnaire. Results: The total score of occupational exposure risk in nurses was 11.43±7.19; the score of emotional exhaustion was 3.19±1.24, the score of low sense of personal accomplishment was 3.02±1.21, and the score of sense of working indifference was 2.24±1.06. There were significant differences in occupational exposure score between nurses with different sexes (t=2.61, P<0.01) and working years (F=4.49, P<0.01) . There were significant differences in the scores of emotional exhaustion and low sense of personal accomplishment in nurses with different sexes (t=5.25, P<0.001) and working years (t=-3.48, P<0.01) . Occupational exposure had positive effects on negative emotion (β=0.41, P<0.05) , emotional exhaustion (β=0.47, P<0.05) , sense of working indifference (β=0.42, P<0.05) , and low sense of personal accomplishment (β=0.17, P<0.05) . Negative emotion had a partial mediating effect between occupational exposure and emotional exhaustion (total effect size 30.5%, P<0.05) and between occupational exposure and sense of working indifference (total effect size 37.1%, P<0.05) . Negative emotion had a complete mediating effect between occupational exposure and low sense of personal accomplishment (β=0.08, P>0.05) . Supervisor support negatively regulate the effects of occupational exposure and negative emotion (F=21.73, P<0.001) . Conclusion: In nurses, occupational exposure has a direct positive effect on job burnout and indirectly influences job burnout via negative emotion. Supervisor support can reduce the negative impact of occupational exposure on negative emotion.

[Artemisinin inhibits proliferation of gallbladder cancer cell lines through triggering cell cycle arrest and apoptosis]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of artemisinin on proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis of gallbladder cancer cells.

METHODS

Gallbladder carcinoma cell lines(GBC-SD and NOZ)were cultured in vitro. The effects of artemisinin in different concentration on proliferation of the two cell lines in vitro were examined using MTT assay. The cell cycle distribution of GBC-SD and NOZ cells 24 h after treatments with artemisinin(20 μmol/L) were examined using flow cytometry. The apoptosis of GBC-SD and NOZ cells 24 h after treatments with artemisinin (20 μmol/L) were examined using Annexin V/PI staining.The expressions of p-ERK1/2, CDK4, cyclin D1, p16, cytochrome C and caspase-3 were examined by Western blot assay. t-test and one way ANOVA were used to evaluate the differences between two groups and more than two groups, respectively.

RESULTS

The cell proliferation was significantly inhibited by artemisinin, the IC50 of artemisinin against GBC-SD and NOZ cells were 14.05 μmol/L and 12.42 μmol/L, respectively.Artemisinin induced cycle arrest, and G1 population of GBC-SD and NOZ cells increased to 74.60% and 78.86%. Cell apoptosis and apoptotic population of GBC-SD and NOZ cells were increased to 15.67% and 16.51% after dealt with artemisinin, respectively. In addition, expression of p16 was increased, and expressions of p-ERK1/2, CDK4 and cyclin D1 were down-regulated by artemisinin(all P<0.05). Cytochrome C was released from mitochondria to cytoplasm leading to the activation of caspase-3 and PARP after dealt with artemisinin(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

The inhibition effect of artemisinin on the proliferation gallbladder cancer cells is accompanied by down-regulation of ERK1/2 signaling pathway, G1 phase arrest and triggering caspase-3-mediate apoptosis.

Influence of interleukin-17 gene polymorphisms on the development of pulmonary tuberculosis

We conducted a case-control study in a Chinese population to examine the correlations between interleukin (IL)-17 gene polymorphisms and tuberculosis (TB) development. The study population included 336 TB subjects and 351 control subjects who were enrolled between June 2012 and June 2014. Genotyping analyses of IL-17A rs2275913 and rs3748067 and IL-17F rs763780 were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length of polymorphism. The genotype distributions of IL-17 rs2275913 were found to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in the controls, while the IL-17 rs3748067 and rs763780 were not. Based on unconditional logistic regression, individuals carrying the AA genotype and GA + AA genotype of rs2275913 were more likely to have a significantly increased risk of TB compared to subjects with the GG genotype. The ORs (95%CI) for the AA genotype and GA + AA genotype were 2.20 (1.35-3.60) and 1.52 (1.11-2.09), respectively. The CC genotype and TC + CC genotype of rs763780 were associated with increased risk of TB when compared with the TT genotype. The ORs (95%CI) for the CC genotype and TC + CC genotype were 1.99 (1.05-3.87) and 1.58 (1.07-2.33), respectively. In conclusion, rs763780 may play a critical role in the etiology of TB.

Analysis of the genetic diversity of Chinese native Cannabis sativa cultivars by using ISSR and chromosome markers

Hemp (Cannabis sativa) is an important fiber crop, and native cultivars exist widely throughout China. In the present study, we analyzed the genetic diversity of 27 important Chinese native hemp cultivars, by using inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) and chromosome markers. We determined the following chromosome formulas: 2n = 20 = 14m + 6sm; 2n = 20 = 20m; 2n = 20 = 18m + 2sm; 2n = 20 = 16m + 4sm; and 2n = 20 = 12m + 8sm. The results of our ISSR analysis revealed the genetic relationships among the 27 cultivars; these relationships were analyzed by using the unweighted pair-group method based on DNA polymorphism. Our results revealed that all of the native cultivars showed considerable genetic diversity. At a genetic distance of 0.324, the 27 varieties could be classified into five categories; this grouping corresponded well with the chromosome formulas. All of the investigated hemp cultivars represent relatively primitive types; moreover, the genetic distances show a geographical distribution, with a small amount of regional hybridity.

Identification of sequence-related amplified polymorphism and insertion-deletion markers linked to the male fertility restorer gene of pol-like CMS06J45 in heading Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa subsp pekinensis)

In order to map the restorer gene BrRfp of the polima (pol)-like cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) 06J45 line in heading Chinese cabbage, an F2 segregating population with 258 individuals of CMS06J45 and the restorer line 01S325 were tested by sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) and insertion-deletion (InDel) technologies combined with the bulked segregant analysis method. As a result, two SRAP markers, me3em3.366 and pm88bg5.263, that were linked with the BrRfp gene were identified from 463 SRAP primer pairs. By cloning, sequencing, and basic local alignment search tool analysis, the two markers were targeted to the BGIScaffold000053 of Brassica rapa in the Brassica database. Using the BGIScaffold000053 sequence, four InDel primer pairs were designed and identified to be linked with the BrRfp gene in this population. Linkage analysis showed that these markers were distributed on both sides of the BrRfp gene, the linkage distances of two nearest markers InDel878.1125 and InDel920.713 were 0.82 and 0.46 cM, respectively, and the BrRfp gene was restricted to a 243-kb genomic region of B. rapa. These specific markers provided basic information for map-based cloning of the BrRfp gene and will be very valuable for the marker-assisted selection of a new restorer line in heading Chinese cabbage.

Molecular cloning and expression of the male sterility-related CtYABBY1 gene in flowering Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp chinensis var. parachinensis)

Expression of the YABBY gene family in the abaxial surface of lateral plant organs determines abaxial destiny of cells, enhances growth and expansion of lateral organs, and plays an important role in polar establishment of lateral organs. However, the YABBY gene has not been studied in male sterility and fertility restoration. We homologously cloned the CtYABBY1 gene of male-sterile TC1 in Brassica campestris L. ssp chinensis var. parachinensis; its expression was analyzed by real-time PCR. A 937-bp sequence was cloned from TC1 and named CtYABBY1. The ORF of this gene has 702 bp, contains a "C2C2 zinc finger" motif at the N-terminal end, and a "YABBY" structural domain at the C-terminal end. This gene had the highest homology with DBC43-3-2 gene in B. campetris ssp pekinensis. Expression of CtYABBY1 gene has a wide range of functions. It is involved in growth and development of lateral organs, such as leaves and flowers, enhancing expansion of the area and volume of young organs. CtYABBY1 is a gene that promotes thermo-sensitive fertility restoration. At room temperature, expression level of this gene was found to be lower in the stamens of sterile flowers. After treating TC1 at a low temperature of 2°-6°C for 20 days, expression of this gene was upregulated in the stamen of fertile flowers. We conclude that male sterility in TC1 is negatively regulated by this gene, which facilitates transition from male sterility to fertility.

The diagnostic value of serum procalcitonin, IL-10 and C-reactive protein in community acquired pneumonia and tuberculosis

AIM

To explore the diagnostic value of serum procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin-10 (IL-10), C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in community acquired pneumonia (CAP) and tuberculosis (PTB).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

113 CAP cases patients and 78 PTB cases were enrolled from May 2011 to March 2012. Routine blood test, serum PCT, CRP, IL-10 and ESR of patients within 24 hours were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS

The serum concentrations of PCT, IL-10, CRP and ESR in CAP patients with CAP were 0.35±0.017 mg/mL, 0.095±0.004 mg/L, 59.80±5.12 mg/L and 35.00±4.81 mm/1h, respectively, significantly higher than patients with PTB (p < 0.01); According to the result of ROC curve analysis in CAP and PTB, the PTC area under ROC curve is 0.715 (95% CI 0.647-0.782), the sensitivity and specific degree of serum PTC were significant better than CRP and IL10 (p < 0.05). In tuberculosis sputum culture, the serum concentrations of IL-10 and ESR in TB positive group were 0.045±0.013 mg/L and 62.50±8.69 mm/1h, significantly higher than that of TB negative group (p < 0.05); whereas, the concentrations of serum PCT and CRP in TB positive and negative groups had no significant difference (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The levels of serum PCT, IL-10, CRP and ESR in CAP patients are higher than that in PTB patients. Therefore, the serum PCT, IL10, CRP and ESR level is benefit to distinguish between CAP and PTB. This could provide a comprehensible evidence for both diagnosis and prognosis.

Analysis of differential gene expression during floral bud abortion in radish (Raphanus sativus L.)

Radish floral bud abortion (FBA) is an adverse biological phenomenon that occurs during reproduction. Although FBA occurs frequently, its mechanism remains unknown. To elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying FBA, we detected gene expression differences between aborted and normal buds of radish using cDNA-amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR). A total of 221 differentially expressed transcript-derived fragments (TDFs) were detected by 256 cDNA-AFLP primer combinations, of which 114 were upregulated and 107 were downregulated in the aborted buds. A total of 54 TDFs were cloned and sequenced. A BLAST search revealed that all TDFs have homologous sequences and 29 of these corresponded to known genes, whose functions were mainly related to metabolism, stimulus response, transcriptional regulation, and transportation. Expressions of 6 TDFs with different functions were further analyzed by real-time PCR yielding expression profiling results consistent with the cDNA-AFLP analysis. Our results indicated that radish FBA is related to abnormalities in various physiological and biochemical plant processes.

Congenital dermal sinus of the cervical spine: clinical characteristics and management

Congenital dermal sinus (CDS) in the cervical region is extremely rare with only few cases reported in the literature. This study reports a young case of CDS, by which we demonstrate the clinical characteristics and management of cervical CDS, particularly in kids. A 2-year and 7-month-old male child who presented with a one-year history of difficulty in holding objects by hands was diagnosed to have harbored a CDS in the cervical spine since birth. Neurological examination demonstrated mild weakness in both hands and also atrophy in intrinsic hand muscles. Surgery was performed right after diagnosis. Intraoperatively, the sinus tract was totally excised, and untethering was performed. No complications were found after operation. Histopathological examination suggested dorsal dermal sinus. During the follow-up of three years, the patient presented a stable neurologic deficit but did not suffer from an aggravation or improvement of nervous symptoms. At three-year follow-up, the patient was a stable neurologic deficit, and MRI revealed no evidence of the untethered cervical spinal cord and dermal sinus tract. The management strategies of CDS are early surgical treatment to prevent the development of neurological defects.

Involvement of the mitochondrial pathway in p53-independent apoptosis induced by p28GANK knockdown in Hep3B cells

It is well known that TP53 may mediate apoptosis triggered by anticancer drugs. However, accumulating evidence indicates that TP53 may be inactivated by mutations and/or deletions in about 50% of human cancers and, as such, may lead to pronounced resistance to therapeutic agents. Thus, the development of new approaches to improve the efficiency of therapeutic agents in cancer cells harboring mutant TP53 may have a significant impact on cancer treatment. It has been reported that knockdown by RNA interference (RNAi) of p28GANK (an alias of the gene PSMD10), a novel oncogene over-expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), can induce apoptosis in HepG2, a TP53-intact HCC cell line. Because of the high frequency TP53 mutations in HCC, it is relevant to know whether p28GANK knockdown-induced apoptosis is also operational in TP53-negative HCC cells. Here, we investigated Adsip28GANK-induced apoptosis in the TP53-negative HCC cell line Hep3B. Our results indicate that p28GANK-knockdown induces the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which in turn activates p38. Since p38 can signal to Bax, its activation may lead to mitochondrial transmembrane potential (Delta psi m) loss, cytochrome c release from mitochondria to cytosol, and caspase-9 activation, eventually triggering the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis.

[Expression of extracellular domain of VEGF receptor KDR with recombinant AAV]

New vessel formation plays a key role in tumor growth and transforming, and the Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the most important factor inducing tumor vessel formation. The cDNA of extracellular domain of VEGF receptor KDR was cloned from primary cultured HUVEC by RT-PCR and subcloned into AAV vector pSNAV. Recombinant AAV was obtained from BHK cells transformed with pSNAV/KDR after adding helper virus. The recombinant AAV expressing soluble KDR that can bind to VEGF. In vivo experiment demonstrated that the recombinant virus can inhibit the new vessel formation of melanoma in C57 mice model.

[Cloning of VEGF receptor KDR and its expression in insect cells]

The cDNA fragment of the first 3 loops of VEGF receptor, KDR, was cloned by PCR and inserted into a baculovirus expression plasmid pFASTBACI. The competent E. coli DH10BAC cell, which contain another plasmid with baculovirus genome in it, was transformed with pFASTBACI-KDRn3. Homologous recombination in the prokaryotic cells resulted in a recombinant plasmid containing KDRn3 in baculovirus genome. Transfection of the insect cell SF-9 with above plasmid generated a recombinant baculorvirus contain target gene fragment. SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis of the supernatant of the infected SF-9 cell showed that KDRn3 was secreted in the medium. The recombinant protein was verified with Western blot and tested for their binding activity with VEGF. Its anti-angiogenic activity was assayed on chorionic allantoic membrane(CAM) of fertilized egg. The results showed that the recombinant protein could inhibit new vessel formation on CAM of fertilized eggs.

[A study on the chemical components of essential oil of oak moss concrete by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry]

The essential oil of oak moss concrete was extracted by volatile oil content equipment. The chemical compositions and their relative contents were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. A Supelco-5 fused silica capillary column (30 m x 0.32 mm i.d.; 0.25 micron thickness) and a flame ionization detector (FID) were employed in GC analysis. The temperature program included temperature increase of 4 degrees C/min from 50 degrees C to 250 degrees C, and a 10 min isothermal period at 250 degrees C. Mass spectra were obtained by electron impact at 70 eV and a source temperature of 170 degrees C. Twenty-four volatile compounds of oak mass concrete were identified, which comprised more than 83% of volatile fraction. The major components were diethyl phthalate, alpha-terpineol, cedrane and linalool.

Relation between weight and body fat's distribution and ambulatory blood pressure in Chinese elderly

Ninety-five subjects aged 60 years and over underwent casual and ambulatory blood pressure (BP) measurements as well as weight, height, both waist and hip circumferences and both upper arm and thigh circumferences. Most anthropometric variables were significantly correlated with measures of BP. One stepwise regression analysis was applied to reveal that among measures of BP, 24-hour systolic BP had the strongest correlation with waist/hip ratio and awaking diastolic BP the strongest correlation with weight, both waist and hip circumferences and body mass index. Another was used to show that waist/hip ratio was the best overall predictor of systolic BP and weight the best overall predictor of diastolic BP. We suggest that (1) ambulatory BP be superior to casual BP in evaluating effect of weight and body fat's distribution on BP and (2) waist/hip ratio more important than weight in the hypertensive target organ damage and the prognosis of hypertension in Chinese elderly population.

Abnormal renal function in isolated systolic hypertension correlation with ambulatory blood pressure

Does ambulatory blood pressure correlate with the renal function damage better than clinic blood pressure in isolated systolic hypertension, as has been reported in other target organ involvement in combined systolic/diastolic hypertension? We investigated the correlation of serum beta-2 microglobulin concentration and both 24-h urine beta-2 microglobulin concentration and excretion as measures (suggestive) of glomerular filtration rate and tubular reabsorption, respectively with both ambulatory and clinic blood pressure in 19 health normotensive (68 +/- 4.9 years) and 50 isolated systolic hypertensive elderly individuals (69 +/- 5.4 years). Serum beta-2 microglobulin concentration and 24-h urine beta-2 microglobulin concentration and excretion were higher in the isolated systolic hypertension than in the normotensive group (P < 0.05). In isolated systolic hypertensive patients, 24-h urine beta-2 microglobulin concentration and excretion were related to ambulatory blood pressure (r = 0.32-0.40, P < 0.05), but not to clinic blood pressure; waking systolic blood pressure had the strongest correlation with both 24-h urine beta-2 microglobulin concentration and excretion among derivatives of ambulatory blood pressure (r = 0.35 and 0.40, P < 0.05). We conclude that ambulatory blood pressure, especially waking systolic blood pressure, is superior to clinical blood pressure in predicting renal function impairment, in isolated systolic hypertensive patients.

Prospective studies on nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Epstein-Barr virus IgA/VCA antibody-positive persons in Wuzhou City, China

A serological mass survey was carried out in Wuzhou City in 1980, 1,136 IgA/VCA-positive persons being followed up for 4 years. Altogether 35 NPC cases were detected, of which 15 (43%) were in stage I and 17 (48.5%) in stage II, early cases (I + II) thus amounting to 91.5%. The detection rate of early cases was 2.9 times higher than in our outpatient clinic. IgA/VCA antibody could be detected 16-41 months prior to clinical diagnosis of NPC. We conclude that, if IgA/VCA-positive individuals are examined routinely once a year, NPC can be detected in the early stages of evolution. The annual detection rate of NPC in IgA/VCA antibody-positive individuals was 31.7 times higher than that of the annual incidence of NPC in the general population in the same age group, while during the 4-year follow-up period the incidence was 7.5 times higher than in the general population for the same age group. These results further indicate that EB virus plays an important role in the development of NPC, and that serological screening and follow-up studies are valuable for the early detection of NPC.

Detection of Epstein-Barr virus IgA/EA antibody for diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma by immunoautoradiography

An immunoautoradiographic method was used for the detection of EB virus IgA/EA antibody in sera from NPC patients and other control groups. Ninety-six percent of NPC patients had IgA/EA antibody with a high titer of GMT. The positive rates of IgA/EA antibody in patients with malignant tumours other than NPC and in normal individuals were only 4% and 0%, respectively. Eleven patients histologically diagnosed as having a chronic inflammation and who showed positive for IgA/EA antibody by immunoautoradiography were rebiopsied; six of them were discovered to have squamous cell carcinoma. Fourteen NPC patients had no IgA/EA antibody detected by immunofluorescence and immunoenzymatic testing, but 11 and six of them had IgA/VCA and IgA/EA antibodies detected by immunoautoradiography, respectively. These data indicate that the immunoautoradiographic method is more sensitive than either the immunofluorescence or immunoenzymatic test for the detection of IgA/EA antibody, and can be used for the detection of NPC in the early stages of development.

Serological mass survey for early detection of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Wuzhou City, China

A serological mass survey was carried out in Wuzhou City of the Guangxi Autonomous Region, China. Sera were collected from 12,932 persons between the ages of 40 and 59. The positive rate of VCA/IgA antibody-positive person was 5.3%, but no EA/IgA antibody was found in sera from VCA/Iga-negative persons. Thirteen and nine nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients were detected from the VCA/Iga and EA/IgA antibody-positive persons, respectively. With the present combination method the detection rate of NPC for 12,932 persons was 100.5/100,000 and for 680 VCA/IgA antibody-positive persons it was 1,900/100,000. Thus, the rate was twice and 37 times higher, respectively, than the annual incidence rate of NPC in persons of the same age group from 1975-1978 in Wuzhou City. Of 13 NPC patients, 9 were in stage I (70%) and 4 in stage II (30%). Therefore, it is possible to reduce the mortality rate of NPC in Wuzhou City by radiotherapy of NPC patients in the early stage of the disease. The present results further suggest that EB virus is closely associated with NPC.