The impact of environmental regulations on export trade at provincial level in China: evidence from panel quantile regression

Based on panel data from 30 provinces in China from 2008 to 2017, this paper constructs a quantile regression econometric model to analyze whether China's environmental regulation has an impact on export trade and to verify whether the Porter hypothesis has been valid in China in recent years. The results show that in the short term, environmental regulations have a restraining effect on export trade, while in the long run, due to the existence of innovation efficiency, environmental regulations will change from having a restraining effect to a promoting effect on export trade. Strict environmental regulations will reduce the production cost of Chinese products, further improve the export competitiveness of Chinese enterprises, and promote export trade. The empirical results verify the conclusion that the Porter hypothesis is confirmed in China. The following three suggestions are proposed for China's exports to promote the win-win of China's green development and export trade: promote the realization of international and domestic double circulation, avoid becoming "pollution shelters" and support technological innovation in environmental protection industries.

[Effect of high glucose condition on the secretion of TGF beta by cultured macrovascular endothelial cells of the diabetic rat]

OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to examine the secretion of TGF-beta by cultured rat thoracic aortic endothelial cells of the diabetic rats under high gluocose condition.

METHODS

First we created diabetic rat models, then the thoracic aortic endothelial cells of the diabetic rats were isolated and cultured in 10% FBS-RPMI 1640 media with various high glucose concentrations (12.5 mmol/L, 25 mmol/L or 50 mmol/L D-glucose), high glucose and TNF-alpha or high glucose and insulin for 48 hours, and the supernatant obtained from the cultured aortic endothelial cells was collected. The level of TGF-beta 1 in the supernatant was measured using a standard bioassay, which utilizes the TGF-beta 1 sensitive Mv1Lu (CLL-64) Mink lung epithelial cell line, and the production of endothelin (ET) in the supernatant was also assessed by RIA (radio immol/Lunoassay).

RESULTS

Both total TGF-beta 1 (406 +/- 29 vs 189 +/- 23 pg/ml, P < 0.05) and active TGF-beta 1 (161 +/- 24 vs 39.5 +/- 8 pg/ml) secreted by the cultured aortic endothelial cells under high glucose condition (25 mmol/L) were significantly increased as compared with control. TNF-alpha could enhance the effect of high glucose on the secretion of TGF-beta 1, whereas insulin could inhibit it. With various high glucose concentrations, the levels of ET were increased. Also TNF-alpha enhanced it and insulin inhibited it.

CONCLUSION

TGF-beta 1 may be involved in the development of diabetic macrovascular complication.

[Regulative effects pentagastrin and somatostatin on growth of human gastric cancer cells in vitro]

In order to observe the regulative effects of pentagastrin (PG) and somatostatin (SS) on the growth of two human gastric cancer cell lines (HGC803 and HGC823) in vitro, we observed the effects of PG and SS on proliferation of human gastric cancer cells by means of MTT. The contents such as gastrin, insulin, and glucagon were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA), and the hexosamine content was determined by Neuhaus' method. The results showed that the growth of the two human gastric cancer cell lines were obviously promoted by PG. On the contrary, the growth and secretion of gastrin and glucagon were inhibited by SS. In addition, the hexosamine content of human gastric cancer cells was significantly increased by PG (7.58 +/- 0.66 versus 4.20 +/- 0.39 pg/cell, (P < 0.05). But the hexosamine content was decreased by SS (2.62 +/- 0.29 versus 4.20 +/- 0.39 pg/cell, P < 0.05). These findings indicate that the growth of gastric cancer cells is regulated by PG and SS, nevertheless a host of problems need to be elucidated.

[Effects of tumor necrosis factor alpha on the expression of connective tissue growth factor in hepatic stellate cells]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) on the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in rat hepatic stellate cells (HSC) in vitro.

METHODS

HSCs were prepared from SD rats by in situ perfusion and single-step Nycodenz gradient, and were treated with TNF-alpha and TGF-beta 1. The expression of CTGF in HSC was assessed using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTS

Both TNF-alpha and TGF-beta 1 could stimulate the expression of CTGF mRNA in HSC. The expression of CTGF was not found in HSC after treatment with TNF-alpha(10microgram/L) for 6 hours, but was observed after TNF-alpha treatment for 24 and 48 hours. TGF-beta1 could induce the mRNA expression for CTGF just after 6 hours of treatment at 1microgram/L concentration.

CONCLUSIONS

TNF-alpha is able to induce the expression of CTGF in HSC, and this may be one of the mechanisms for TNF-alpha involving in the liver fibrosis.

[Preliminary study on apoptosis and expression of apoptosis-related genes in peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus]

This study was conducted to explore the clinical implication of the relationship between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) apoptosis and apoptosis-related gene expression. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated nick end labelling technique and flow cytometry were used to detect the apoptotic cell; immunohistochemistry ABC was used to detect the expressions of bcl-2 and Fas in 29 cases of SLE. The results showed that the rate of apoptosis of PBL in SLE patients was significantly higher than that in normal control (P < 0.001), and that in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (P < 0.001). After 48 hour's culture, the apoptotic rate further increased in SLE patients (33.44%). There was a significant correlation between the SLE activity and the rate of apoptosis in vitro (r = 0.86, P < 0.001). The rate of apoptosis of PBL in SLE-nephritis patients was higher than that in non-SLE-nephritis patients (P < 0.01). Before and after the culture, the expressions of bcl-2 and Fas in PBL of patients with SLE were higher than those in normal control (P < 0.01, P < 0.001). So the authors suggest that increased rate of apoptosis may be used as an index for evaluating the severity of SLE cases.

[The effects of lipoproteins on human vascular endothelial gap junctional intercellular communication]

The effects of HDL, LDL and ascorbic acid on cultured human vascular endothelial gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) were observed using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching assay under confocal laser scanning microscopy in this study. The results showed that in culture, human vascular endothelial cells could produce functional gap junctions. The fluorescence recovery rates of the LDL group were 6.691 +/- 2.634, 4.153 +/- 2.125 and 2.441 +/- 0.720 respectively; when these rates were compared with the control and with each other, significant differences were found(P < 0.05). When the fluorescence recovery rates of the HDL group and Vitamin C group were compared with the control, no significant differences were found(P > 0.05). The fluorescence recovery rates of the LDL + HDL group were 3.500 +/- 0.890, 4.339 +/- 1.126 and 5.243 +/- 1.278(n = 15) respectively, when these rates were compared with the control and with each other, significant differences were found (P < 0.05). These suggested that LDL should be able to inhibit GJIC in human vascular endothelial cells, and the inhibition could be diminished by HDL or ascorbic acid. Inhibition of vascular endothelial GJIC may be one of the atherosclerogenic mechanisms of LDL, whereas HDL and ascorbic acid may be conducive to the improvement of endothelial GJIC. But it may also be only a compensatory behavior of endothelial cells to injuries.

Body composition and inflammation variables as the potential prognostic factors in epithelial ovarian cancer treated with Olaparib

Background

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is a significant cause of mortality among gynecological cancers. While Olaparib, a PARP inhibitor, has demonstrated efficacy in EOC maintenance therapy, individual responses vary. This study aims to assess the prognostic significance of body composition and systemic inflammation markers in EOC patients undergoing initial Olaparib treatment.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 133 EOC patients initiating Olaparib therapy. Progression-free survival (PFS) was assessed through Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression. Pre-treatment computed tomography images were utilized to evaluate body composition parameters including subcutaneous adipose tissue index (SATI), visceral adipose tissue index (VATI), skeletal muscle area index (SMI), and body mineral density (BMD). Inflammatory markers, such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), serum albumin, and hemoglobin levels, were also measured.

Results

The median follow-up duration was 16 months (range: 5-49 months). Survival analysis indicated that high SATI, high VATI, high SMI, high BMD, low NLR, and low PLR were associated with decreased risk of disease progression (all p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis identified several factors independently associated with poor PFS, including second or further lines of therapy (HR = 2.16; 95% CI = 1.09-4.27, p = 0.027), low VATI (HR = 3.79; 95% CI = 1.48-9.70, p = 0.005), low SMI (HR = 2.52; 95% CI = 1.11-5.72, p = 0.027), low BMD (HR = 2.36; 95% CI = 1.22-4.54, p = 0.010), and high NLR (HR = 0.31; 95% CI = 0.14-0.69, p = 0.004). Subgroup analysis in serous adenocarcinoma patients revealed distinct prognostic capabilities of SATI, VATI, SMI, PLR, and NLR.

Conclusion

Body composition and inflammation variables hold promise as predictors of therapeutic response to Olaparib in EOC patients. Understanding their prognostic significance could facilitate tailored treatment strategies, potentially improving patient outcomes.

[Inflammatory mediator in patients with obstructive jaundice and its effect on renal function]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of inflammatory transmitter on renal function in obstructive jaundice.

METHODS

15 patients with obstructive jaundice (OJ) as the experimental group and 15 non-joundiced patients as the control group were involved in this study. The plasma ET, LPS, TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8 and urine REP, TFR, ALB were measured in 15 patients with OJ before and 1, 4, 7 days after surgery and in 15 patients without jaundice as controls.

RESULTS

The levels of plasma ET, LPS, TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8 and urine RBP, TFR, ALB increased significantly at multiple time points as compared with those in the non-OJ patients (P < 0.05), and the changes of plasma ET, LPS, TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8 are the same as those of urine RBP, TFR, ALB.

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that there is interaction between ET, LPS, TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8 and the damage to renal function with OJ after surgery.

[Alterations in the level of calcitonin gene related peptide and endothelin-1 in the cirrhotic rat heart]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role of calcitonin gene related peptide(CGRP) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) in cirrhotic cardiomyopathy (CCM).

METHODS

We measured the level of CGRP and ET-1 in the samples of rat heart collected from 15 liver cirrhosis rats and 15 controls by using radio immunoassay.

RESULTS

The data showed that the levels of CGRP (74.2130 +/- 10.3776 pg/mg protein) and ET-1 level (1.4780 +/- 0.9235 pg/mg protein) were significantly higher in the cirrhotic rat hearts than those in controls (P < 0.05). The increase of ET-1 in the cirrhotic rat hearts was closely associated with the severity of liver cirrhosis (P = 0.004); whereas no significant association was seen between the CGRP concentration and the severity of liver cirrhosis (P = 0.307).

CONCLUSION

We infer that the increasing of CGRP level in the cirrhotic rat heart may be a protective or antagonistic reaction to ET-1 or other pathogenic factors for cardiac dysfunction. The disturbance of the balance between CGRP and ET-1 in the liver cirrhosis rat hearts may contribute to the pathologic process of CCM.

[Role of sera from peptic ulcer patients in cell proliferation of human gastric carcinoma]

This study aimed at the relationship of helicobacter pylori infection to gastric carcinoma pathogenesis. Forty-nine serum samples from patients with gastric and duodenal ulcer and 20 serum sample from normal subjects were collected for the assessment of serum gastrin by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and serum IgG, IgA and IgM antibodies against H. pylori by ELISA respectively. The patients, serum samples were divided into four groups for observations on whether the sera would affect the cell proliferation of HAC803 derived from human gastric carcinoma and of HT29 from human colonic carcinoma cultured in vitro. The cell proliferation was determined by MIT assay. The results showed that the level of serogastrin in gastric and duodenal ulcer was significantly higher than that in normal control (139.6 +/- 38.17 pg/ml vs 63.12 +/- 28.7 pg/ml, P < 0.01). As for the sera of ulcer subjects, the highest anti-HpIgG group (group A) and the highest anti-Hp IgA group (group B) displayed a significantly enhanced cell proliferation of human gastric carcinoma (P < 0.05), especially group B. But all the four groups had less significant increase in cell proliferation of human colonic carcinoma (P > 0.05). These findings indicate that, in the highest anti-HpIgG group and the highest IgA group of the peptic ulcer subjects infected by H. pylori, the sera can enhance cell proliferation of gastric carcinoma, however the role is less associated with serum gastrin.

[TGF beta 1 and ET-1 expression in the peripheral blood of patients with cirrhosis]

OBJECTIVE

The aims of this study were to determine 1. the variation of blood TGF beta 1 and ET-1 in patients with liver cirrhosis; 2. the relationship of the blood TGF beta 1 and ET-1 with Child degree of liver function and the severity of esophageal varices.

METHODS

Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 72 patients and 24 normal controls. The blood levels of TGF beta 1 and ET-1 were measured by using a standard bioassay and the radioimmunoassay.

RESULTS

TGF beta 1 level (11.77 +/- 1.32 ng/ml) and ET-1 level (78.37 +/- 17.54 pg/ml) were significantly higher in the patients than those in controls(P < 0.05). The increase of the ET-1 in the patients is closely associated with Child degree of liver function (r = 0.94) and the severity of esophageal varices(r = 0.87). TGF beta 1 concentration is not associated with Child degree of liver function (r = 0.11) and the severity of esophageal varices (r = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

TGF beta 1 and ET-1 may play an important role in the pathophysiologic process of cirrhosis. ET-1 concentration may reflect portal hypertension development.

[Inhibition of the activation and collagen production of cultured rat hepatic stellate cells by antisense oligonucleotides against transforming growth factor-beta 1]

In order to investigate whether the antisense oligonucleotides (ASON) against TGF beta 1 inhibit the activation and collagen production of cultured rat hepatic stellate cells, the authors synthesized two 20-mer phosphorothioate antisense oligonucleotides and their sense or missense oligonucleotides, and then treated the rat hepatic stellate cells (HSC) with these oligonucleotides at different concentrations respectively. HSC activation was assessed by the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), and TGF beta 1 level was determined by a standard bioassay. The production of collagen was measured by the incorporation of 3H-Proline into cultured rat HSCs. The results showed that the ASON against the translation initiation region of TGF beta 1 at a final concentration of 10 mumol/L could inhibit the HSCs activation, the secretion of TGF beta 1 and the production of collagen in HSCs significantly (P < 0.05), whereas the controls (sense or missense oligonucleotides) had no effect at the same concentration. All of the oligonucleotides had no cytoxicity to HSCs. These findings suggested that TGF beta 1 ASON might be useful for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis.