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Polylactic acid (PLA)/wood flour composites were prepared by fused deposition modeling (FDM). The effects of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) -g-maleic anhydride (PBAT-g-MAH) on mechanical properties, processing fluidity, crystallinity and thermal stability of composites were investigated. The results show that PBAT-g-MAH has a toughening effect on composites. When PLA/wood flour/PBAT-g-MAH is 90/10/9, tensile strength and impact strength of composite are 45.52 MPa and 15.80 kJ/m². Compared with composite without PBAT-g-MAH, tensile strength of composite is increased by 5.9% and impact strength is increased by 34.46%. The addition of PBAT-g-MAH increases melt flow rate of composites, decreases the glass transition temperature, and has little effect on the crystallinity. The addition of PBAT-g-MAH increases thermal stability of composites. The addition of PBAT-g-MAH makes the bonding between PLA matrix and wood flour more closely, and the exposed wood flour is significantly reduced. When the PLA/wood flour/PBAT-g-MAH is 90/10/9, comprehensive performance of composites is better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A research was performed on the numerical simulation and design of cold -formed steel oval hollow section compression members to investigate the applicability of existing design specification to the new section. A non-linear finite element model was developed using Abaqus. The numerical results were compared with the test results and it is shown that the numerical model accurately predicted the structural behavior of the compression members. Parametric study was performed using the verified model including 100 members with different cross -section dimensions and lengths. The test and numerical strengths were compared with the design strengths calculated using the current Chinese Code and direct strength method, which is included by the North American Specification for cold - formed steel structures. It is shown that the direct strength method can be used for the design of cold - formed steel oval hollow section members under axial compression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore the treatment of difficult-to-wean patients with glycogen storage disease type Ⅱ (GSDⅡ) complicated with respiratory failure. Methods A total of 6 patients with GSDⅡ (3 children and 3 infants) who were admitted due to weak respiratory muscle and had difficulty in weaning off ventilator were treated in our hospital from October 2015 to September 2017. They received comprehensive treatment of antibiotics for ventilator-associated pneumonia, encouraging voluntary expectoration, respiratory muscle exercises, nutrition strengthening, psychological support, and enzyme replacement treatment (ERT) by using recombinant human acid α-glucosidase [rhGAA, 20 mg/(kg·time), once/biweekly]. These patients gradually transformed from invasive ventilator at biphasic positive airway pressure (BiPAP) mode and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) mode to non-invasive ventilator and high flow oxygen therapy. Results The respiratory function and limb muscle strength of all patients were improved after ERT and sequential weaning. With comprehensive treatment, 3 patients weaned off ventilator, one patient underwent endotracheal intubation, and 2 patients died. Conclusions With comprehensive treatment of preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia, respiratory muscle exercises, nutrition strengthening, and ERT using rhGAA, the respiratory function and limb muscle strength were improved in GSD Ⅱ patients. Programmed weaning procedure increases the treatment success rate of difficult-to-wean patients. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2019.06.004

Jilin Province is an important ecological security barrier in Northeast China as it is located at the junction of the Northeast forest belts and the northern sand prevention belts. In recent years, Jilin Province has actively carried out ecological protection and restoration projects, resulting in a continuous improvement trend for the overall ecological environment. However, the evolution patterns and mechanisms of habitat quality are largely unkown. We applied the InVEST model and geographic detector method to analyze the changes in habitat quality and evaluate the main driving factors from 2000 to 2020. The results showed that the average habitat quality in Jilin Province showed a slight downward trend, and that the spatial heterogeneity characteristics of habitat quality in east and west gradually increased. The degree of habitat degradation presented a single nuclear radiation pattern centered on Changchun City. Vegetation factors and terrain factors were the first and secondary causes of spatial heterogeneity of habitat quality, respectively. The average habitat quality within the eco-redline of Jilin Province was showing an increasing trend year by year, which was consistent with the overall distribution of regions with extremely high habitat quality levels. There was a local spatial dislocation (the phenomenon of extremely high habitat quality levels not within the eco-redline) in the eastern part of Jilin Province. Our results could provide reference basis for ecosystem protection and the spatial pattern optimization.

The present study was aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of glutaminolysis of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) in hypertension-induced myocardial fibrosis. C57BL/6J mice were administered with a chronic infusion of angiotensin II (Ang II, 1.6 mg/kg per d) with a micro-osmotic pump to induce myocardial fibrosis. Masson staining was used to evaluate myocardial fibrosis. The mice were intraperitoneally injected with BPTES (12.5 mg/kg), a glutaminase 1 (GLS1)-specific inhibitor, to inhibit glutaminolysis simultaneously. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to detect protein expression levels of GLS1, Collagen I and Collagen III in cardiac tissue. Neonatal Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat CFs were treated with 4 mmol/L glutamine (Gln) or BPTES (5 μmol/L) with or without Ang II (0.4 μmol/L) stimulation. The CFs were also treated with 2 mmol/L α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) under the stimulation of Ang II and BPTES. Wound healing test and CCK-8 were used to detect CFs migration and proliferation respectively. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect mRNA and protein expression levels of GLS1, Collagen I and Collagen III. The results showed that blood pressure, heart weight and myocardial fibrosis were increased in Ang II-treated mice, and GLS1 expression in cardiac tissue was also significantly up-regulated. Gln significantly promoted the proliferation, migration, mRNA and protein expression of GLS1, Collagen I and Collagen III in the CFs with or without Ang II stimulation, whereas BPTES significantly decreased the above indices in the CFs. α-KG supplementation reversed the inhibitory effect of BPTES on the CFs under Ang II stimulation. Furthermore, in vivo intraperitoneal injection of BPTES alleviated cardiac fibrosis of Ang II-treated mice. In conclusion, glutaminolysis plays an important role in the process of cardiac fibrosis induced by Ang II. Targeted inhibition of glutaminolysis may be a new strategy for the treatment of myocardial fibrosis.

Heat shock transcription factors (HSFs) are involved in the regulation of plant growth and development. Furthermore, HSFs regulate the expression of a series of genes related to various abiotic stress adaptations. HSFs usually form homotrimers to activate their transcriptional activity and function. Here, we review the basic structure, subcellular localization, transcriptional regulation, functional diversity of HSFs, and their roles in plant adaptation to abiotic stresses, such as extreme temperature, salinity, drought, strong light and oxidative stress, etc . HSFs are high-quality candidate genes for improving the resistance of higher plants to multiple stresses. Studies of HSFs have important application value. In the future, using HSFs to improve the resistance of various crops through genetic engineering would be prospects of development.

To explore the mechanism of Solanum lycopersicum rootstock function in enhancing salt tolerance of grafted seedlings, we examined the growth, Na + accumulation, amino acid contents and active oxygen metabolism (ROS) in three grafted seedlings treated with and without 175 mmol·L -1 NaCl conditions. RS grafted seedlings were formed by split grafting using salt-sensitive variety 'Zhongza 9'(S) as scion and salt-tolerant variety 'OZ-006'(R) as rootstock, while the other two experiment materials were the scion self-grafted (SS) and rootstock self-grafted (RR) seedlings. The results showed that NaCl stress significantly increased the salt damage index and Na + content, concomitantly with substantial decrease in growth rate and chlorophyll content of seedlings. More-over, there were significant differences among the grafting combinations, with an order of SS>RS>RR. NaCl stress significantly increased total amino acid content in the leaves and roots of the grafted seedlings. The amino acid contents were significantly higher than those in the control. There were 9 kinds of amino acid in RR and RS leaves, and 8 kinds in RR and RS roots, with the most significant change in proline. Only 2 and 4 kinds of amino acids in leaves and roots of SS were significantly higher than those in control, respectively. Amino acid contents among three grafted seedlings showed RR>RS>SS under NaCl stress. The contents of amino acid in RR and RS leaves increased by 32.8% and 16.6% compared with SS, and those in RR and RS roots increased by 53.1% and 32.5%, respectively. The changes of ROS were caused by NaCl stress, which enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes, the production rate of O 2 -· and MDA content in both leaves and roots. Among different grafted seedlings, RR had the most prominent increase of antioxidant enzymes activities in leaves and roots, followed by RS, and SS showed the smallest. The active oxygen levels among the three grafted seedlings were show as SS>RS>RR. In summary, rootstock alleviated salt damage of grafted seedlings by inhibiting Na + transport upward, enhancing amino acid content and antioxidant enzyme activities. The salt tolerance ability showed remarkable difference among three different combinations of rootstock and scion, with a order of RR>RS>SS. Our results suggested that salt tolerance of S. lycopersicum grafted seedlings was mainly affected by the ability of rootstock salt tolerance, followed by scion, and also closely related to the regulation of both amino acid and active oxygen metabolism in seedlings.

To investigate the pollution characteristics and sources of organic aerosols at a background site of the Yangtze River Delta, day- and night- PM 2.5 samples were collected from May 30 th to August 15 th , 2018 in Chongming Island, China and measured for their normal alkanes ( n -alkanes) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) content employing a GC-MS technique. Concentrations of PM 2.5 , n -alkanes, and PAHs during the entire sampling period were (33±21) μg·m -3 , (26±44) ng·m -3 , and (0.76±1.0) ng·m -3 , respectively. During the entire campaign, 35% of the collected PM 2.5 samples were of a particle loading larger than the first grade of the China National Air Quality Standard (35 μg·m -3 ), suggesting that further mitigation with respect to air pollution in Chongming Island remains imperative. In the period with a PM 2.5 concentration higher than 35 μg·m -3 , which was classified as the pollution period, concentrations of n -alkanes and PAHs were one order of magnitude higher than those in the period with PM 2.5 less than 15 μg·m -3 , which was classified as the clean period. During the entire campaign, OC was higher in the daytime than in the nighttime, mainly due to the daytime photooxidation that enhanced the formation of secondary organic aerosols. During the pollution period, concentrations of EC and other pollutants were higher in the nighttime than in daytime, mainly due to the transport of the inland pollutants by the nighttime land breeze. Such a diurnal difference was not observed for the pollutants in clean periods, mainly due to the relatively clean breeze from East China Sea that diluted the air pollution. Diagnostic ratios showed that 67% of n -alkanes in PM 2.5 was derived from fossil fuel combustion. PMF analysis further showed that during the pollution period, vehicle exhausts and industrial emissions were the largest sources of PAHs, both accounting for 51% of the total in PM 2.5 . In contrast, during the clean periods ship emissions were the largest source, contributing about 45% of the total PAHs, exceeding the sum (38%) of vehicle and industrial emissions.

To investigate the diurnal variations and sources of water-soluble compounds in Liaocheng City, PM 2.5 samples were collected between January and February 2017. The PM 2.5 samples were analyzed for the compositions, concentrations, and sources of water-soluble inorganic ions, oxalic acid, and levoglucosan. The sources of these chemical compound were investigated using principal component analysis (PCA) and multiple linear regression (MLR) modeling. The results showed that the mass concentrations of PM 2.5 during the nighttime were higher than those during the daytime, and the average concentrations exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (GB 3095-2012) by more than 1.8 times. Moreover, atmospheric pollution was worse during the day than during the night. SNA (SO 4 2- , NO 3 - , and NH 4 + ) were the dominant species among the inorganic ions, the relative abundance of which with respect to the total concentrations of inorganic ions was 73.4% and 77.1% during the daytime and nighttime, respectively. The ratios of anion to cation equivalents (AE/CE) were less than one, suggesting that the PM 2.5 was slightly alkaline, and the degree of acidity at night was stronger than during the day. The results of the correlation analyses suggested that aqueous-phase oxidation was the major formation pathway of oxalic acid, which is driven by acid-catalyzed oxidation. The oxalic acid was mainly influenced by biomass burning during the winter in Liaocheng City. The results of the PCA-MLR model suggested that water-soluble compounds in Liaocheng City were mostly from vehicular emissions and secondary oxidation, biomass burning, while the impacts of mineral dust and coal burning were relatively minor.

Purpose: To explore the possible relationship between recurrent aphthous ulcer (RAU) and nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway., Methods: A total of 124 RAU patients were recruited for this study. The control group consisted of 133 healthy subjects. Serum NFκBp50, NFκBp65, IκBα and IKK concentration were detected by ELISA.NFκB-94 ins/del ATTG sites were detected by restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction (RFLP-PCR). Relative risk ratios were estimated by odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 20.0 software package., Results: Serum NFκBp50, NFκBp65 and IKK levels in RAU patients were significantly lower than those of the controls (P<0.05). Serum IκBα level in RAU patients was significantly higher than those of the controls (P<0.05). Significant differences were found in the genotype frequencies or allele frequencies of NFκB-94 ins/del ATTG sites between RAU patients and controls (P<0.05). ID genotype（OR=3.073，95%CI=1.557-6.067）, DD genotype (OR=4.851，95%CI=2.264-10.393), and D allele （OR=2.079，95%CI=1.462-2.957） at NFκB-94 ins/del ATTG site exhibited high risks of RAU., Conclusions: NF kappa B signaling pathway is associated with RAU.NFκB-94 ins/del ATTG sites are associated with higher risk of RAU. NFκB-94 ins/del ATTG D allele may serve as genetic determinants for RAU.

Objective: To observe the effect of RITA, a small molecule that targets p53, combined with temozolomide (TMZ) on proliferation, colony formation and apoptosis of human glioblastoma U87 cells and explore the underlying mechanism., Methods: Cultured U87 cells were treated with RITA (1, 5, 10, 20 µmol/L), TMZ, or RITA+TMZ (half dose) for 24, 48 or 72 h. MTS assay were used to detect the cell proliferation, and the cell proliferation rate and inhibitory rate were calculated. The effect of combined treatments was evaluated by the q value. The expressions of p53, p21 and other apoptosis-associated genes were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blotting; cell apoptosis was assayed using flow cytometry with Annexin V/PI double staining; colony formation of the cells was detected with crystal violet staining., Results: MTS assay showed that RITA at the 4 doses more potently inhibited U87 cell viability than TMZ at 72 h (P=0.000) with inhibitory rates of 25.94%-41.38% and 3.84%-8.20%, respectively. RITA combined with TMZ caused a more significant inhibition of U87 cells (29.21%-52.11%) than RITA (P<0.01) and TMZ (P=0.000) alone. At the doses above 5 µmol/L, the combined treatments with RITA+TMZ for 48 h resulted in q values exceeding 1.2 and showed an obvious synergistic effect of the drugs. Both RITA and TMZ, especially the latter, significantly increased the expressions of p53, p21, puma, and other apoptosis-associated genes to accelerate apoptosis and inhibit the growth and colony formation of U87 cells, and the effect was more obvious with a combined treatment., Conclusion: RITA inhibits the growth of human glioblastoma cells and enhance their sensitivity to TMZ by up-regulating p53 expression, and when combined, RITA and TMZ show a synergistic effect to cause a stronger cell inhibition.

Pineapple (Ananas comosus) leaves contain mainly phenolic components with antioxidant and hypolipidemic effects. One of the principle components is p-coumaric acid. In this study, the transport behavior of p-coumaric acid, was observed after the administration of pineapple leaf phenols in vitro. Simultaneously, the effect of the phenols on glucose, total cholesterol and triglycerides transportation and metabolism in HepG2 cells was also observed. The results showed that the phenols had good transport characteristics. 5 min after the administration, p-coumaric acid of the phenols could be detected, and the content of p-coumaric acid reached the peak concentration after 60 min of the administration. p-coumaric acid of phenols have time-and dose-dependent manner. While promoting glucose transporter (GLUT4) and low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) expression, the phenols decreased intracellular lipid content. This reduction of intracellular lipid content was highly correlated with the promotion of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic triglyceride lipase (HTGL) expression, while the reduction of intracellular glucose levels was correlated with glycogen synthesis in the cells.

Objective: To compare the contents of stilbenes in different parts and axial root bark of mulberry, and study their correlation., Method: The contents of 3 major stilbenes, mulberroside A, oxyresveratrol, and resveratrol in different parts of mulberry were determined by HPLC. The correlation and regression analysis between the contents of stilbenes in the different parts and axial root bark was carried out., Result: The contents of stilbenes in most different parts of mulberry showed significant correlation. Between the contents of stilbenes in the different parts and axial root bark, oxyresveratrol showed significant correlation among all different parts, resveratrol showed significant correlation except in spinal cord of annual branch, mulberroside A showed significant correlation between bark of annual branch, lateral root and axial root bark. The results of the correlation and regression analysis indicated that the contents of mulberroside A, oxyresveratrol, resveratrol in different parts and axial root bark were significant positively correlated., Conclusion: The contents of stilbenes are significant correlation distributed in different parts and axial root bark of mulberry. The contents of stilbenes in different parts could be used to estimate the content of the axial root bark. The result could be useful for breeding and preserving excellent germplasm at the system breed process for mulberry of rich in stilbenes.

The zonal characteristics and cultivated types difference of functional components in brown rice of 907 accessions for primary core collection for rice landrace from 16 prefectures of five rice regions in Yunnan Province were determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometry of DU640 type from BECKMAN. The analytical results showed that the contents mg x (100 g)(-1) of total flavone in brown rice is 306.98 +/- 192.75, the content of upland (341.74 +/- 185.11) is the most significantly higher than that of lowland (290.41 +/- 193.72), that of the glutinous (315.54 +/- 197.64) is significantly higher than non-glutinous (171.68 +/- 11.76), that of early-mid (318.25 +/- 197.93) is the most significantly higher than late (282.12 +/- 178.11), that of red rice (379.22 +/- 197.70) and purple rice (365.61 +/- 195.44) are the most significantly higher than white rice (216.96 +/- 142.11), and that of nuda (332.68 +/- 196.22) is significantly higher than non-nuda (300. 48 +/- 191.14). Among five rice regions, in turn III (327.13) > LL (324.23) > IV (273.11) > V (270.16) > I (258.26), namely it is the most significantly highest (p < 0.01) for contents of total flavone from South Yunnan (II, III) than that of middle Yunnan; It is the most significantly highest from Simao prefecture than that of 8 prefectures, but it is the most significantly low from Baoshan prefecture than that of 7 prefectures. The contents mg x (100 g)(-1) of g-amino butyric acid (GABA) in brown rice is 7.43 +/- 2.53, the content of lowland (7.59 +/- 2. 56) is the most significantly higher than that of upland (7.09 +/- 2.45), that of non-glutinous (8.55 +/- 2.88) is the most significantly higher than glutinous (7.10 +/- 2.32), that of late (7.88 +/- 2.64) is the most significantly higher than early-mid (7.23 +/- 2.45), that of white rice (8.38 +/- 2.66) is the most significantly higher than red rice (6.63 +/- 2.14) and purple rice (7.34 +/- 2.18); Among five rice regions in turn II (7.69) > I (7.40) > IV (7.39) > III (7.33) > V (6.64), viz. the content of GABA from South Yunnan single/double cropping rice region is clearly higher than that of Northwest Yunnan cold highland japonica rice region; It is significant difference of GABA content in brown rice for that Simao prefecture South Yunnan and Yuxi as well as Baoshan prefecture, at least than that of 5 prefectures. The contents (%) of resistant starch in brown rice is 0.75 +/- 0.29, the contents of indica (0.78 +/- 0.35) is significantly higher than japonica (0.74 +/- 0.24), that of glutinous (0.78 +/- 0.31) is the most significantly higher than non-glutinous (0. 67 +/- 0.22), that of late (0.77 +/- 0. 35) is the most significantly higher than early-mid (0.75 +/- 0.26), that of red rice (0.81 +/- 0.30) and purple rice (0.70 +/- 0.30) is the most significantly higher than white rice (0.69 +/- 0.27); Among five rice regions in turn I (0.83) > II (0.79) > III (0.76) > V (0. 55) > IV (0.50), namely it is the highest (p < 0.01) for contents of resistant starch from the middle and South Yunnan province (I, II, III) than that of northern rice regions (V, IV), and the lowest for contents of resistant starch of Lijiang prefecture of northwestern and Zaotong of northeastern in this province compared to that of 13 prefectures except Diqing prefectures. These results not only reveal the most significant difference between lowland versus upland, glutinous versus nonglutinous, early/mid rice and red/purple versus white rice based on the contents of total flavone and resistant starch as well as g-amino butyric acid (GABA) in brown rice (p < 0.01), and no significant difference between indica and japonica, awn and no-awn, and common rice and aromatic/soft rice, but also elucidate obvious zonal characteristics of three functional components in brown rice of Yunnan rice. The above results provided theory bases for the genetic breeding and production of functional rice and solve the problems of chronic for human being.

Objective: To detect the changes in intestinal mucosal permeation in rats with methotrexate-induced small intestinal damage and investigate the protective effects of Changyanqing decoction., Methods: Rat enteritis model was established by methotrexate (MTX) and sodium chloride. The rats were randomly divided into normal control group, model group, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) group and Changyanqing decoction group, and Changyanqing decoction (100 mg/kg) or saline was administered daily in the corresponding groups by gastric irrigation for 6 days. The disease activity index (DAI), colonic mucosal damage index (CMDI) and histological score (HS) of the rats were observed and evaluated. The levels of mRNA expressions of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta were detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The expression of IL-10 was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, and IkappaB expression was determined with Western blotting., Results: Compared with the normal control group, the model group showed significantly increased DAI, CMDI and HS. The DAI, CMDI, and HS in rats treated with Changyanqing decoction were significantly decreased in comparison with those in the model group (P<0.01). The expressions of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta were significantly higher in MTX-treated group than in the control group. The expression of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta mRNA in the Changyanqing group and NAC group were significantly lower, but IL-10 significantly higher than those of the MTX group. In MTX group, obvious NF-kappaB activation was observed, whose expression was significantly stronger in the cell nuclei, and the IkappaB in the cytoplasm was markedly degraded., Conclusion: Changyanqing decoction offers protection on intestinal mucosa by inhibiting NF-kappaB activation to reduce TNF-alpha and IL-1beta mRNA expressions and increase IL-10 expression.

Objective: To observe the safety of recombinant B-subunit/inactivated whole cell (rBS/WC) oral cholera vaccine among non-infected population., Method: A method of double-blind and case control was conducted randomly. 3041 non-infected persons who aged from 5- to 60-years-old were divided randomly into 3 groups, including 2 vaccine groups and 1 placebo group. The vaccine and placebo were taken respectively by vaccine groups and placebo group on the 1st, 7th and 28th day in every months of sequential 3 months. The adverse reaction was observed in sequential 3 days after intaking orally. The follow-up interviews were conducted in 1, 2, 3 months., Results: No severe adverse reaction was occurred. The rate of adverse reaction was 1.70% in vaccine groups, 1.74% in placebo group. There was no statistically significant difference between two groups (chi2=0.013, P=0.909). The adverse reaction were mainly abdominal pain, diarrhea, partly anaphylaxis, and the others of dizziness, fatigue, weakness. Most people recovered within short time without any medical treatment. The adverse reactions might be related to psychogenic reaction., Conclusion: The safety of oral rBS/WC cholera vaccine among non-infected population was pretty good.

Objective: To investigate the machinability of a novel dental mica glass-ceramic and analyze the effect of heat-treatment on its ductile machinable behavior., Methods: The drilling and turning experiment were used to measure the machinabilities of the control group (feldspar ceramic: Vita Mark II) and 7 experiment groups treated with different crystallization techniques. The microstructures were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD)., Results: The average drilling depths in 30 s of the experimental groups ranged from (0.5 +/- 0.1) mm to (7.1 +/- 0.8) mm. There were significant differences between the control [(0.8 +/- 0.1) mm] and the experimental groups (P < 0.05) except the group crystallized at 740 degrees C for 60 min. When crystallized at 650 degrees C (60 min), continuous band chips could formed in machining at a high velocity and cut depth. The crystal portion of this group is only about 40%., Conclusions: This material has a satisfactory machinability. The mechanism could be attributed to a combination of the interlocked structure of mica crystals and the low viscosity of glassy phase.

Objective: To evaluate the value of serum prostate specific antigen (PSA), free PSA (FPSA) and PSA density (PSAD) in early diagnosis of prostatic cancer., Methods: Sixty-eight patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), 28 with prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) without canceration, and 32 with prostatic cancer, all diagnosed by prostatic biopsy, were enrolled in this study. Serum PSA and FPSA were measured and FPSA/PSA ratio and PSAD calculated for each patient, and the data analyzed to explore the association of these indices with prostatic cancer., Results: Serum PSA level and PSAD were markedly different between the cancer patients and non-cancer patients (P<0.001 and P<0.01, respectively). FPSA/PSA ratio also differed between them (P<0.05). The same results were also found between BPH and cancer patients. Significant difference was noted in serum PSA and PSAD between PIN and cancer patients (P<0.01), but not in FPSA/PSA ratio (P>0.05). No marked difference was observed in serum PSA, FPSA/PSA ratio and PSAD between BPH and PIN patients., Conclusion: Serum PSA provides a very important clue for early diagnosis of prostatic cancer, and more accurate diagnosis can be obtained by considering also FPSA/PSA ratio. PSAD may also assist in the early diagnosis of prostatic cancer.

Objective: To investigate the frequencies of three point mutations, CGT52TGT, GGC54GAC and GGA57GAA, in exon 1 of mannan-binding lectin (MBL) structural gene in Chinese Uyghur population., Methods: Blood samples were collected from a Uyghur population in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and the genomic DNA was extracted from the leucocytes and the target gene fragment amplified by PCR. The three point mutations in exon 1 of MBL gene were detected by fluorogenic probe hybridization technique with visual monitoring., Results: In 95 Uyghur individuals, 2 were identified as homozygous for codon 54 mutations, 28 were heterozygous for codon 54 mutation, and no CGT52TGT and GGA57GAA point mutations were found., Conclusion: The frequencies of CGT52TGT, GGC54GAC and GGA57GAA mutant alleles in exon 1 of MBL structural gene are 0, 0.168 and 0 respectively in the Chinese Uyghur population.

Objective: To construct the standard recombinant plasmids for 7 common haplotypes of mannan-binding lectin (MBL) gene., Methods: The DNA samples with known haplotypes and genotypes of MBL gene were used as the templates for amplifying the fragments of MBL gene haplotypes including the promoter region and exon 1 with sequence-specific primer-polymerase chain reaction (SSP-PCR) method. The amplified fragments were cloned into T vector and the bases located at codon 52 and codon 57 of exon 1 in MBL gene were mutated respectively by site-directed mutagenesis. All the 7 recombinant plasmids were identified by PCR and direct sequence analysis., Results: From the DNA samples with known haplotypes and genotypes of MBL gene, the standard plasmids of haplotypes HYPA, LXPA, LYQA, LYPA and LYPB of MBL gene were constructed by SSP-PCR and molecular cloning technique. From the recombinant plasmids of HYPA and LYQA, the standard plasmids of haplotypes HYPD and LYQC of MBL gene were constructed by site-directed mutagenesis, respectively., Conclusion: The constructed standard plasmids of haplotypes HYPA, LXPA, LYQA, LYPA, LYPB, HYPD and LYQC of MBL gene provide standard controls for detecting the SNPs, haplotypes and genotypes of MBL gene with such genotyping methods us SSP-PCR and real-time PCR.