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Background: There have been limited data on molecular epidemiology of syphilis in China. This study aimed to analyze strain type distribution of Treponema pallidum causing early syphilis across geographic areas in China using an enhanced method., Methods: Genital samples were collected from patients in East, South, and North China. Positive DNA of T. pallidum was analyzed by arp, tpr, and tp0548 genes., Results: Sufficient DNA for full molecular typing existed in 197 of 324 samples, and 27 strain types were identified. A range of 3 to 20 repeats (except 4, 11, and 19 repeats) and 25 repeats were found for the 60-bp tandem repeats of the arp gene. This was the first time the 9 and 25 repeats were detected. For the RFLP analysis of the tpr genes, patterns a, d, h, j, and l were identified. This was the first time the h, j, and l patterns were observed in China. For the sequence analysis of the tp0548 gene, sequences c, e, and f were identified. Strain type distribution was significantly different across geographic areas (χ² = 20.6, P = 0.006). Overall, 14d/f was most predominant (39% of fully typed samples, 95% CI = 32%-46%); 13d/f, 15d/f, and 16d/f were next most common (each 13% of fully typed samples, 95% CI = 9%-18%)., Conclusions: There is substantial genetic diversity of T. pallidum in China. The broad and ununiform distribution of strain types may reflect differences in regional sexual network patterns. Predominance of few strain types may indicate a linked transmission.

Objective: To explore the feasibility of detecting vimentin, oncostatin M receptor (OMSR) and tissue factor pathway inhibitor 2 (TFPI2) gene methylation status in stool samples as a noninvasive screening tool for colorectal cancer and precancerous lesions., Methods: Stool samples were collected from 60 patients with colorectal cancer, 17 patients with adenoma and 30 normal volunteers. And fecal DNA was extracted and vimentin, OMSR and TFPI2 gene methylation status was analyzed by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP)., Results: The methylated vimentin, OMSR and TFPI2 was detected in 53.3% (32/60), 68.3% (41/60) and 75.0% (45/60) of colorectal cancer, and 5, 7 and 11 cases of colorectal adenoma respectively. The sensitivities of combined study, using three markers for the detection of colorectal cancer and colorectal adenomas, were 86.7% (26/30) and 76.5% (13/17) respectively. And the specificity was 86.7% (52/60)., Conclusion: As a feasible epigenetic marker, promoter hypermethylation for vimentin, OMSR and TFPI2 in stool samples is a sensitive, specific and noninvasive alternative for colorectal cancer screening.

The present paper put forward a new method, named one step method, to design concave holographic grating for a monochromator. This new method is simple and direct and easy to understand. Additionally, in this new method, we can control the whole aberrations of concave grating very well. Genetic algorithm was applied to optimize the objective function of this new method for its strong ability to search the extremum of nonlinear functions and a comparison was made between this new method and the classical method. The result shows that, for coma correction or astigmatism correction, the imaging properties of the concave grating designed by the new method is much better than the grating designed by the classical method.

Objective: To investigate the different effects of Shengmai injection on testicular injury after testis torsion/detorsion in rats of different ages., Methods: Sixteen healthy male SD rats aged 3, 6 and 12 weeks were equally randomized into an experimental group (testicular torsion/detorsion plus Shengmai injection) and a control group (testicular torsion/detorsion plus saline). The rat models of testicular torsion were killed 24 h after surgery for the measurement of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the testis., Results: Compared with the controls, the 3- and 6-week-old rats of the experimental group showed no significant changes in T-AOC, SOD activity and MDA content (P > 0.05), while the 12-week-old experimental rats exhibited a remarkable increase in SOD and T-AOC and an obvious decrease in MDA content (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Shengmai injection has a protective effect against acute ischemia-reperfusion testicular injury after torsion/detorsion in rats, but the effect varies with the age, more obvious in older ones.

Objective: To establish immortalized lymphoblastoid cell lines of a Miao core pedigree with Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS), in order to provide a long-term source of material for research., Methods: With Epstein-Barr virus transformation of B cells and addition of cyclosporine A to inhibit the activity of T cells, fresh anticoagulated blood samples with heparin were collected from 12 members of the core pedigree, and were used to establish the immortalized lymphoblastoid cell lines of B lymphocytes., Results: Twelve immortalized lymphoblastoid cell lines of the core BBS pedigree were obtained successfully., Conclusion: The immortalized B lymphoblastoid cell lines of the Miao pedigree with BBS can preserve the whole genome information and provide long-term research materials for BBS study.

The plasma emission spectra generated during the deposition process of Si-based thin films by radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering using Cu and Al targets in an argon atmosphere were acquired by the plasma analysis system, which consists of a magnetron sputtering apparatus, an Omni-lambda300 series grating spectrometer, a CCD data acquisition system and an optical fiber transmission system. The variation in Cu and Al plasma emission spectra intensity depending on sputtering conditions, such as sputtering time, sputtering power, the target-to-substrate distance and deposition pressure, was studied by using the analysis lines Cu I 324. 754 nm, Cu I 327. 396 nm, Cu I 333. 784 nm, Cu I 353. 039 nm, Al I 394. 403 nm and Al I 396. 153 nm. Compared with the option of experimental parameters of thin films deposited by RF magnetron sputtering, it was shown that emission spectra analysis methods play a guiding role in optimizing the deposition conditions of thin films in RF magnetron sputtering.

Objective: To investigate the role of homeobox gene Nkx2-5 in cardiac myogenesis., Methods: Two P19 cell lines, namely cells transfected with exogenous expression of Nkx2-5 gene and non-transfected cells, were cultured in suspension for 4 days to induce cell aggregation, and the cell aggregates were transferred to the Petri dish for further adherent culture. On days 4, 8, 12 and 16 of adherent culture, the expressions of α-sarcomeric actin (α-SA) and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) protein were detected by immunocytochemistry, and the mRNA expressions of GATA-4, α-myosin heavy chain (α-MHC) and atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) genes by RT-PCR., Results: In the transfected cells, α-SA and cTnT protein expressions were detected on days 8, 12 and 16 of adhere culture, and their expressions increased gradually with time. α-SA and cTnT expression was significantly higher on day 16 than on day 8 of culture (P<0.01). RT-PCR analysis of the transfected cell showed the presence of GATA-4 expression on day 4 of adherent culture, and the expression increased on days 8 and 12 but decreased on day 16. ANF and α-MHC expressions were found on days 8, 12, and 16, increasing gradually over time and showing significant differences from those on day 4 (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The expression of α-MHC was significantly higher on days 12 and 16 than on day 8 (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and ANF expression was significantly higher on day 16 than on days 8 and 12 (P<0.01). The non-transfected cells were negative for the expressions of all these genes., Conclusion: Exogenous expression of Nkx2-5 gene can induce P19 cells to express cardiac markers in vitro.

The present review covers the latest progress in instruments and methodology of analytical atomic spectrometry in the areas, such as atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), atomic emission spectrometry (AES), atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS), laser induced breakdown spectrometry (LIBS) and atomic mass spectrometry (AMS). The emphasis has focused in the fields of food, medicine and their relevant. The Lab-on-chips and microplasmas are emerged in recent years, which have facilitated the development of miniaturization of analytical atomic instruments. The applications of laser and hyphenaed techniques continue in popularity for speciation studies.

Objective: To observe the effects of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) on cell proliferation, cell cycles, apoptosis and invasive capacity of gastric cancer cell lines SGC-7901 and BGC-823 and detect the methylation status and expression of c-myc and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA)., Methods: The effect of SAM on proliferation of SGC-7901 and BGC-823 cells were determined by MTT assay. SGC-7901 and BGC-823 cells were treated with different concentrations of SAM (0, 2, 4 mmol/L) for 72 h. Then flow cytometry was used to detect the change of cell cycles and apoptosis; Transwell assay to detect the invasion; RT-PCR and Western blot to detect the expression of c-myc and uPA; and MSP to detect the methylation of c-myc and uPA., Results: SAM displayed a growth-inhibiting effect on SGC-7901 and BGC-823 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner after exposure to SAM at different concentrations (0.5 - 32 mmol/L) for 24, 48 and 72 h, cell proliferation were significantly restrained (all P < 0.05); 72 h IC50 SGC-7901 5.40 mmol/L and BGC-823 4.01 mmol/L. After treating SGC-7901 and BGC-823 with different concentrations of SAM, the cell percentages of G0/G1 phase significantly increased (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01) while the cell proliferation indices significantly decreased (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). Compared with control group (0.33 +/- 0.09), the cell apoptosis of 2 mmol/L (5.79 +/- 0.75) and 4 mmol/L groups (10.19 +/- 0.60) of SGC-7901 were obviously reduced (all P < 0.01). Compared with control group (0.95 +/- 0.19), the cell apoptosis of 2 mmol/L (6.23 +/- 0.75) and 4 mmol/L groups (11.82 +/- 1.14) of BGC-823 were obviously reduced (all P < 0.01). The cell invasive capacity were significantly restrained (P < 0.01). The invasion inhibition ratio of 2 mmol/L and 4 mmol/L groups of SGC-7901 were 51.07% and 80.69% respectively. The invasion inhibition ratio of 2 mmol/L and 4 mmol/L groups of BGC-823 were 48.57% and 84.10% respectively. The expressions of c-myc and uPA significantly decreased (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). There was no expression of c-myc in 2 mmol/L group of BGC-823. The methylation of c-myc and uPA genes in two cell lines were reversed after SAM treatment., Conclusions: SAM can induce the apoptosis of SGC-7901 and BGC-823, block the cell cycles at G0/G1 phase and suppress the proliferation and invasion of these two cell lines. SAM can reverse the methylation of c-myc and uPA in these two cell lines and reduce their expression. SAM may act as a methyl donor to restrain the development and progression of tumor when hypomethylation is widely present in cancer.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of fluconazole in prophylaxis of fungal infection in very low birth weight infants., Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, Ovid, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Vip Chinese Periodical Database, Wanfang Chinese Periodical Database and Chinese Bio-medicine Database were searched for the case-control study on the effect of fluconazole in prophylaxis of fungal infection in very low birth weight infants from Jan. 1994 to Jan. 2009. Articles were evaluated according to inclusion criteria. Poor-quality studies were excluded, and RevMan 4.22 software was applied for investigating the heterogeneity among individual studies and calculating the pooled risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI)., Results: Five eligible randomized clinical trials were included. Four studies were graded as "A" and one study was graded "B". Meta-analysis based on the included studies showed that the prophylactic fluconazole could significantly reduce the fungal colonization (RR: 0.32 and 95% CI: 0.23 to 0.44, P < 0.00001); and infections (RR: 0.44 and 95% CI: 0.29 to 0.65, P < 0.0001) in very low birth weight neonates. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the infants treated and not treated with prophylactic fluconazole in the neonatal mortality (RR: 0.68 and 95% CI: 0.43 to 1.07, P = 0.09) and the prophylactic use of fluconazole did not show any side-effects on the liver and bilirubin. None of the studies found any significant changes in the minimal inhibitory concentration of fluconazole in fungal isolates during the study period. There were different results about the emergence of resistance to fluconazole., Conclusions: Meta-analysis of five randomized controlled trials suggest that prophylactic fluconazole reduces the incidence of fungal colonization and invasive fungal infection in very low birth weight infants. Further trials are needed to provide more precise evaluation on efficacy, and to assess the effect on mortality, neurodevelopment and the emergence of resistance to antifungal agents. Different NICU should have different policy on prophylactic fluconazole and also adjust the policy at different time according to the incidence of fungal infection and antifungal drug resistance.

The plasma radiant intensity was investigated by a laser micro-plasma spectral analysis system. The system consists of an YJG-II laser micro-spectral analyzer and a CCD data acquisition and processing system. National standard soil samples were studied in the experiment under different ambient atmosphere with argon, helium and the mixture of argon and helium by using the analysis lines, Ca II 393.367 nm and Ca II 396.847 nm. The results of this research suggest that both the time of plasma illumination and the radiant intensity of plasma in an atmosphere of helium-argon mixture were better than that in pure helium or argon gas. The plasma radiant intensity was obviously enhanced when the proportion of helium and argon was 66.7% and 33.3%, respectively. Under these conditions, the influence of the height of auxiliary electrode on laser micro-plasma radiant intensity was also investigated. The maximum laser micro-plasma radiant intensity was reached when the height of auxiliary electrode was 3 mm.

Objective: To explore the patterns of Cx43 and Pax3 protein expressions in the small intestinal muscular layers of human embryo during early development., Methods: Immunohistochemistry with SABC method was employed to examine the expression of Cx43 and Pax3 proteins in the muscular layers of the small intestine in early human embryos in the second to fourth months of gestation., Results: In the second month of gestation, the muscle layer of the small intestine was negative for Cx43 and Pax3 protein expressions. In the third month, Cx43 and Pax3 expressions were negative in the inner circular muscle layer, but some positive cells were found in the longitudinal muscle layer and the myenteric plexus. In the fourth month, positive expression of Cx43 and Pax3 proteins were seen in the entire muscle layer., Conclusion: Cx43 and Pax3 proteins are closely related to the growth and development of the cells and tissues in the small intestinal muscle layer in human embryos.

Objective: To perform an comparative proteome analysis of human papillomavirus-infected cervical specimens and to investigate different expressions between high- and low-risk genotypes., Methods: The cervical specimens were divided into two groups (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia group and condyloma acuminatum group) according to their genotypes. Using comparative proteome technology, high-risk human papillomavirus-infected cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, low-risk human papillomavirus-infected condyloma acuminatum, and normal cervical intraepithelial tissue were compared. The differential expression protein spots were identified by mass spectrometry., Results: Totally 26 differential spots were selected and analyzed, and 22 peptide mass fingerprints (PMF) maps were obtained by MALDI-TOF-MS. Eighteen proteins were preliminarily identified after searching the NCBInr database. The function information of these 18 proteins mainly involved cell metabolism, signal transduction, cell secretion, cell cytoskeleton construction, cell proliferation, and apoptosis., Conclusion: The proteomic expressions after the cervical infection of high- or low-risk genotype of human papillomavirus are obviously different.

The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Visible), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR) and TG analysis were used to study the oxidation of corn stover lignin by chloride dioxide and subsequently modified by furfuryl alcohol. The results were as following: The selective oxidation of lignin by chlorine dioxide was obtained by spectroscopy study. FTIR showed that the characteristic absorbance peaks of aromatic units were decreased after chloride dioxide oxidation. The increased absorbance for the band around 1720 cm(-1) corresponding to carbonyl stretching was achieved in the oxidized lignin and the lignin modified with furfuryl alcohol. The ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy showed that the absorbance around 280 nm was largely reduced after the lignin was oxidized. The 1H NMR spectroscopy also showed the decrease of aromatic units and methoxyl group in the oxidized lignin. All these indicated the formation of muconic acid and ester, or quinone derivatives when the lignin was selectively oxidized by chloride dioxide. The modification by furfuryl alcohol made the oxidized lignin more thermally stable.

Potassium triborate was synthesized with potassium carbonate and boric acid by controlling suitable feed mixture ratio, reaction temperature and dehydration temperature in the self-designed boiling reactor. According to chemical analysis, the formula of the synthetics was monohydrate potassium triborate (KB3O5 x H2O). It's structure was characterized by XRD, FTIR, Raman and TG, and it was found by XRD analysis that the synthetics was amorphous solid. FTIR and Raman spectroscopy anal-ysis show that three coordination B(3) -O bond, four coordination B(4) -O bond, and hydroxy and triborate anions existed in the formula of the synthetics. Thermogravimetric (TG) analysis show that the groups which can lose mono-water existed in the formula of the synthetics, and structural formula of the synthetics was deduced as K[B3O4 (OH)2]. Vibration spectra of the synthetics were studied, including FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. Vibration absorption peaks of some main groups of the synthetics were investigated, including three coordination B(3) -O bond and four coordination B(4) -O bond that are the main existing forms of boron atoms in the synthetics as well as other groups, and each vibration absorption peak was assigned.

The contents of trace elements of Zn, Mg, Mn, Sr, Fe, Pb, Cu and Se in the corncob collected from Beijing, Shan-dong, Jilin, Yunnan, Xinjiang, Gansu, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Jiangsu, Neimeng in China were determined by ICP-AES using microwave digestion. The optimum condition of digesting the corncob was: put 1.5 mL of 68% nitric acid and 0.5 mL of hydrofluoric acid in the pot, then digested the sample with 3 steps under the 400 W power in the microwave oven. This digesting procedure could completely and quickly digest the sample. The relative standard deviations and recovery yield are 0.72%-4.16% and 95.5%-104.5% for Zn, 1.58-3.66% and 98.2%-103.5% for Mg, 0.19%-4.58% and 97.0%-103.2% for Mn, 1.31%-4.90% and 95.7%-104.1% for Sr, 1.40%-4.01% and 95.9%-104.6% for Fe, 1.55%-4.28% and 95.1%-104.5% for Pb, 2.16%-5.00% and 96.4%-103.5% for Cu, and 2.00%-4.99% and 95.1%-101.3% for Se, respectively. The analysis of the trace metals by the method of ICP-AES using the method of microwave digestion proved to be easily operational, rapid, highly sensitive, and accurate. It could be adopted as the method of determining many elements simultaneously.

Objective: To study the efficacy and safety of extended-release metformin and Glucophage in treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus., Methods: 150 out-patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus visiting 3 hospitals in Beijing were randomly divided into two equal groups: study group treated with extended-release metformin 1500 mg qd for 12 weeks, and control group treated with Glucophage (tablet of metformin, 500 mg, tid) and in for 12 weeks. The levels of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), plasma glucose 2 h after meal (2 hPG), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were examined before and 12 weeks after treatment. Plasma insulin was detected by radioimmunoassay., Results: Completed study had been obtained in 140 patients, 71 in the control group and 69 in the study group. 12 weeks after treatment there was no significant difference in the FPG level between these two groups (P = 0.07), the postprandial plasma glucose level decreased by 0.4 (-1.4 approximately 1.7) mmol/L in the control group and increased slightly in the study group (P = 0.002), however, the levels plasma glucose area under curve 2 hours after meal in these 2 groups did not changed significantly (P = 0.64). HbA1c decreased in both groups and there was not significant difference between these two groups (P = 0.73). The adverse event rates of the study and control groups were 10.8% and 4.3% respectively (P = 0.21), and the main adverse events were gastrointestinal side effects. No serious adverse events were found in both groups, and no patient was withdrawn due to adverse events of medication., Conclusion: The efficacy and safety of extended-release metformin within 12 week treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus is comparable to those of Glucophage treatment with good compliance and mild adverse side effects.

The UV-Vis spectroscopic characterization of Sudan I, Sudan III and Sudan IV in nonpolar solvent ligarine, polar solvent acetonitrile, and acetonitrile-water mixture was studied. The characteristic absorption peaks of sudan series were a little red shifted in polar solvent compared to that in nonpolar solvent. In acetonitrile-water mixture the red shift of characteristic absorption peaks of sudan I and sudan III is respectively 13 and 8 nm, but the characteristic absorption peaks of sudan IV are red shifted before blue shifted. The increased adsorption strength of Sudan I, Sudan III and Sudan IV is 34.5%, 11% and 2.5% respectively. For these, the important reason is that the destroyed intramolecular hydrogen bond in Sudan series enlarges the scope of the pi delocalized bond in polar solvent.

Oyster reef ecosystem is a natural decontamination plant of estuarine environment. This paper analyzed the bioaccumulation of heavy metals by Crassostrea sp. population at the dams of Yangtze River estuary, with its purification capacity and ecological services value assessed. The results indicated that Crassostrea sp. had a high capacity in bio-accumulating Cu, Zn and Cd, with the bio-concentration factor (BCF) and biota-sediment accumulation factor (BSAF) being (14.28 +/- 2.41) x 10(3), (12.75 +/- 2.02) x 10(3) and (14.51 +/- 3.71) x 10(3), and 26.78 +/- 4.53, 23.24 +/- 3.69 and 16.62 +/- 4.25, respectively. The bioaccumulation capacity decreased in the order of Cu > Zn > Cd > As > Pb > Hg. The total weight and fresh meat weight of the oyster at the dams of Yangtze River estuary were about 1.07 x 10(6) t and 1.75 x 10(5) t, respectively, and the total storage of nutrients and heavy metals were 1.462 x 10(6) kg N, 1 x 10(5) kg P, 24 745 kg Cu, 58 257 kg Zn, 609 kg Pb, 254 kg Cd, 0.18 kg Hg and 329 kg As. The total ecological services value of the oyster reef was estimated at about 8.27 x 10(6) RMB x a(-1), including habitat value of about 5.10 x 10(6) RMB x a(-1) and environmental value of about 3.17 x 10(6) RMB x a(-1). Such an environmental value was equivalent to the value of treating about 7.31 x 10(6) t combined sewage each year, and corresponded to a large municipal sewage plant with a treatment capacity about 20 000 t d(-1).

The contents of trace elements of Zn, Mg, Mn, Sr, Fe, Co, Ni and Se in the corn stover collected from Shanxi, Beijing, Xinjiang, Shandong, Neimeng, Gansu, Shaanxi, Jilin, Yunnan and Jiangsu, 10 different provinces in China, were determined by ICP-AES using nitrifying method of high pressure nitrifying pot. This method proved to be easily operational, rapid, highly sensitive, and accurate, and can be adopted as the method of determining many elements simultaneously. The recovery yields of Zn, Mg, Mn, Sr, Fe, Co, Ni and Se are 96.55%-103.8%, 98.0%-102.5%, 95.7%-104.1%, 97.1%-103.2%, 95.1%-101.3%, 95.1%-104.5%, 97.0%-103.5% and 95.9%-104.6%, respectively, and the relative standard deviation of all the elements is all below 5.00%.

Objectives: Neonates are vulnerable to various infections because of their immature immune responses. Toll-like receptors could induce immune responses, both the innate and the acquired immune responses. The aim of the present study was to investigate the changes of TLR2 and TLR4 in neonatal infections, and to determine their roles in anti-infection immune reaction., Methods: A total of 200 infants were divided into six groups: sepsis group (n = 21), bacterial pneumonia group (n = 70), bacterial meningitis group (n = 17), urinary tract infection group (n = 38), congenital syphilis group (n = 11) and non-infection group (n = 48). The TLR mRNA was determined by RT-PCR. The protein expression of TLR and the percentage of TLR positive cells were evaluated through flow cytometric analysis., Results: 1. The TLR2 mRNA expression increased significantly in the sepsis group (6.14 +/- 0.80), most significantly in the Gram positive sepsis group (6.43 +/- 0.74). TLR2 mRNA expression was also significantly higher in the bacterial pneumonia group (5.49 +/- 0.62), the bacterial meningitis group (5.61 +/- 0.60) and the congenital syphilis group (5.89 +/- 0.38). TLR2 protein expression was the highest in the sepsis group and significantly increased in the bacterial pneumonia group, bacterial meningitis group and the congenital syphilis groups as well, all were higher than the TLR2 protein expression of the non-infectious group (1.27 +/- 0.75). The TLR2 protein expression in the Gram positive bacterial sepsis group was 2.54 +/- 0.68, that of Gram negative bacterial sepsis group was 1.25 +/- 0.51 (P < 0.05). The percentage of TLR2 positive cells in the neonatal infection group was (70.95 +/- 20.15)%, which did not differ significantly from that of non-infection group. 2. The mRNA expression of TLR4 was the highest in the sepsis group (6.20 +/- 1.59), while that in the Gram negative bacterial sepsis group was 6.78 +/- 1.79, higher than that of the Gram positive bacterial sepsis group, 5.39 +/- 0.78, (t = 2.29, P = 0.037). TLR4 mRNA expression increased significantly in the bacterial pneumonia group (5.33 +/- 1.07), the bacterial meningitis group (5.87 +/- 0.70) and the urinary tract infection group (5.38 +/- 0.91). There were no significant differences in TLR4 protein expression among these groups. The percentage of TLR4 positive cells in the neonatal infection groups was (0.71 +/- 0.31)%, higher than that of non- infection group (0.29 +/- 0.36)%. 3. In the Gram positive bacterial sepsis group, the mRNA expression of TLR2 (6.43 +/- 0.74) was higher than the mRNA expression of TLR4 (5.39 +/- 0.78), (t = 1.56, P = 0.024). In the Gram negative bacterial sepsis group, the mRNA expression of TLR4 (6.78 +/- 0.79) was significantly higher than the mRNA expression of TLR2 (5.64 +/- 0.68) (t = 2.63, P = 0.011). In the sepsis group, the TLR2 protein expression was significantly higher than the expression of TLR4 (t = 1.06, P = 0.044). The percentage of TLR4 positive cells was lower than the percentage of TLR2 positive cells among all these groups, P < 0.01. 4. Correlation analysis on gestational age and the mRNA expression, the protein expression and the percentage of TLR2 and TLR4 positive cells among all these groups did not show any statistical significance., Conclusions: The mRNA and the protein expression of TLR2 and the mRNA expression of TLR2 increased significantly in the studied neonatal infection groups, especially in the severe sepsis groups. The mRNA expression of TLR2 increased mainly in the Gram positive bacterial infection groups, and the mRNA expression of TLR4 increased in the Gram negative bacterial infection groups, suggesting that both the TLR2 and TLR4 signal pathway took part in the immune mechanism of neonatal infection, providing new idea and experimental basis for further understanding of immune mechanism of neonatal infection.

Objective: To determine the inhibitory effects of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) on cell growth, cell cycle and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in the human gastric cancer cell line BGC-823 in vitro., Methods: Human gastric cancer BGC-823 cells were treated with various concentrations of ATRA and the cell growth was then determined using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide viability assay. The cell cycle distribution was analyzed using a flow cytometer. The VEGF mRNA and protein expression were analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively., Results: ATRA at concentrations of 0.1-10 micromol/L inhibited the growth of BGC-823 cells grown in culture; a time- and dose-dependent inhibitory influence was found. ATRA arrested BGC-823 cells at the G0/G1 phase in a dose-dependent way. Both VEGF mRNA and protein were decreased by ATRA in a dose-dependent way., Conclusion: The anti-tumor effects of ATRA on human gastric cancer cells are associated with G0/G1 phase arrest and decreased VEGF expression.

Ultraviolet-visible absorption spectral properties of Sudan III in different solvents were studied. The results show that the main absorption peaks are located in 200-230 nm, 340-360 nm and 490-510 nm. When Sudan III is in polar solvent, two absorption peaks appear in the mid-ultraviolet region, 200-230 nm. And when it is in nonpolar solvent, the absorption changes from two peaks to one peak with the concentration of Sudan III increasing. When it is in composite solvent, the two absorption peaks disappear, but one absorption peak appears at 310 nm. Molar absorptivities of Sudan III in the five solvents were determined, whose order of magnitude was 10(4).

The effect of water vapor on the structure of anhydrous potassium pentaborate was studied at high temperature by self-designed reactor in the present paper. The vibration spectra of anhydrous potassium pentaborate crystal at high temperature were analyzed by X-ray diffraction spectrum(XRD), infrared spectrum (IR) and Raman spectrum. The ratio of B2O3 to K2O in potassium pentaborate was diminished by reacting with water vapor. XRD analysis shows that K5B19O31 exists inpotassium pentaborate crystal at 750 degrees C, while IR and Raman analysis show that some triangular structure units(B(3)--O) are changed to tetrahedral structure units(B(4)-O) in the crystal. The content of tetrahedral structure unit(Br(4) -O) increases and the network configuration between boron and oxygen is farther broken.

To address the hypothesis that reactive astrocytes in the basal ganglia of an animal model of Parkinson's disease serve neurotrophic roles, we studied the expression pattern of neurotrophic factors in the basal ganglia of C57/Bl mice that had been treated with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) to induce the degeneration of nigral dopamine neurons and parkinsonism. MPTP induced significant neuronal degeneration in the substantia nigra pars compacta as detected with Fluoro-Jade B staining, and this was accompanied by an increase in nestin-expressing astrocytes within the caudate-putamen. The number of nestin-positive reactive astrocytes in the caudate-putamen peaked within 3-5 days following MPTP treatment and then declined progressively toward the basal level by 21 days after treatment. Immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy confirmed coexpression of nestin or Ki-67 (cell proliferation marker) in glial fibrillary acid protein-positive astrocytes in the caudate-putamen. Double immunolabeling further revealed immunoreactivities for nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin-3 (NT3), and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in nestin-positive reactive astrocytes. Semiquantification of data obtained from mice 5 days after MPTP injection indicated that the majority of nestin-expressing cells expressed NGF (92%), NT3 (90%), or GDNF (86%). Our results present novel evidence of neurotrophic features among reactive astrocytes in the dopamine-depleted striatum. These nestin-expressing reactive astrocytes may therefore play neurotrophic roles in neural remodeling of the basal ganglia in Parkinson's disease., (2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Aim: To investigate the neuroprotective effect of learning on glutamate-induced neuronal damage., Methods: SD rats were intraperitoneally injected with monosodium glutamate (MSG) during the period of 3-9 days after born, and were trained to find their food by light-dark discrimination at 1 month old or 2 months old. At 3 months old, all rats were killed and their brains were taken out and cut into sections and ultrathin sections. The survival neurons in hippocampus were counted under light microscope, and under electric microscope, the ultrastructure, the numbers of synapses and the length of synaptic active zone in fields CA1 of hippocampus were observed., Results: The survival neurons in field CA3 and CA4, the number of synapses and the length of synaptic active zone in field CA1 of hippocampus increased in learning group than non-learning group., Conclusion: These finding indicate that discriminative learning can alleviate neuronal injury of hippocampus induced by MSG.

Objective: To screen the differentially expressed genes in human colorectal cancer (CRC) tissue., Methods: Affymetrix oligonucleotide microarrays HG-U133 representing 32,264 human genes including 19,308 known genes and 12,956 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were used to detect the gene expressions of CRC tissue paired with normal mucosa tissue. The microarray findings were confirmed by real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (FQ-PCR). The gene expression profiles were analyzed by intersection and complement, rank sum test and t test., Results: Totally 3,125 genes and ESTs expressed differentially were detected in normal and cancer tissues, consisting of 974 up-regulated and 2,151 down-regulated genes with 247 ESTs present in CRC tissue and absent in normal mucosa and 162 ESTs absent in CRC tissue but present in normal mucosa. A percent of 80.1% of the differentially expressed genes were not reported in the literatures., Conclusion: The strategy of data mining provides a foundation for filtering molecular markers and interpreting molecular carcinogenesis of CRC.

A method for the determination of Eu in Long-aferglow of the SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+ phospher samples by laser microemission spectral analysis was developed. And the accuracy of this method was studied. Analyses of Eu in Long-aferglow of the SrA1204: Eu2+, Dy3+ phospher samples, using the Eu (11) line at 412.973 nm, show that RSD of relative intensity of spectral lines is 4.3%, RSD of quantitative analysis is 7.4%, the average of quantitative analysis is 2.13%. Compared with the content before samples synthesized, it can be concluded that the content of Eu in the SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+ phospher samples synthesized by high temperature solid phase reaction has an obvious increase.

Objective: To investigate the role of CXCR4 in the metastasis of human lung cancer and its possible mechanism., Methods: Lung cancer cells of the lines 95C and 95D with high or low metastatic potential were transfeted with CXCR4 antisense plasmid pcDNA-ASX4, whole length eukaryotic expression plasmid pcDNA-CXCR4 (95D-ASX4 and 95C-X4 cell lines), and corresponding plasmid pcDNA3 (95C-pC and 95D-pC cell lines). 95C, 95C-pC, 95C-X4, 95D, and 95D-pC cells were injected subcutaneously into Balb/c nu/nu mice, 4 approximately 5 mice in a group. The mice were observed twice a week. Ten weeks later the mice were killed and the tumor in situ and the lungs were taken out to undergo histological examination. The effect of CXCR4 expression on the cell migration, MMP-2 activity, adhesion and GRO-a expression of lung cancer cells were detected by chemotaxis and chemoinvasion assay, zymography, adhesion assay and RT-PCR respectively. The polymerization of F-actin was measured by FACS and confocal microcopy. Western blotting was used to detect the phospharylation of ERK1/2 in 85D cells, Results: Metastasis was not found in the mice injected with 95C and 95C-pC cells, and was seen in 2/5 of the mice injected with 95C-X4 cells, 3/4 of the mice injected with 95D and 95D-pC cells, 2/5 of the mice injected with 95D-ASX4 cells, however, the number of metastatic nodes in the lungs of 95D-ASX4 group was significantly less than those in the 95D and 95D-pC groups (P = 0.044). SDF-1a, a CXCR4 specific ligand, induced the migratory response and F-actin polymerization in the lung cancer cells; SDF-1a promoted the MMP-2 activity, the adhesion to vascular endothelial cells and GRO-a expression; and neutralizing CXCR4 antibody inhibited these effects to some degree. Moreover, SDF-1a induced the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in human lung cancer cells., Conclusion: Metastasis of human lung cancer depends on, to some degree, the interaction of CXCR4 and SDF-1 that are involved in this process by regulating the active locomotion, MMP-2 activity, adhesion ability or GRO-a expression.

To enhance the efficiency of the expression of target gene in eukaryotic cells, one of the strongest prokaryotic expression systems, the T7 RNA polymerase and T7 promoter, was introduced into eukaryotic cells. A duel-plasmid gene expression system of T7 bacteriophage components was developed; one containing the T7 phage RNA polymerase gene under the control of eukaryotic promoter CMV (pCMV-T7pol) and the other (pT7IRES) containing the T7 promoter and T7 terminator as well as EMCV IRES. To test the feasibility of this plasmid system for eukaryotic expression, hepatitis B virus envelop HBV preS2/S was used to construct pT7IRES-HBs. The target genes were expressed efficiently by the eukaryonized prokaryotic expression system in a variety of the cells indicating C2C12, SP2/0, NIH3T3 and BALB/c 3T3, suggesting the potential applications of the expression system in gene therapy and gene immunization.

According to mathematic statistics, data for laser microemission spectroscopic analysis were selected, which were collected with the use of CCD (charge-coupled device) in arg on atmosphere at reduced pressure. By selection, the effects of some factors, such as the difference of bore ablated on the sample surface by the laser, the distribution nonuniformity of element in the sample, and the fluctuation of output energy of the laser, etc. were reduced. The method that improves analytic precision of laser microemission spectroscopic analysis was studied. And quantitative analysis of Cu, Zn and Mg in aluminum alloy standard samples was performed, using the Cu (I) line at 324.7 nm, the Zn (I) line at 334.5 nm, and the Mg (I) line at 383.8 nm. The results show that the RSDs of relative intensity of the spectral lines of Cu, Zn, Mg are 1.80%, 4.35% and 6.29% respectively, and the RSDs of quantitative analysis of them are 10.1%, 6.98% and 8.17% respectively. The relative errors of the average of analysis of them are -3.76%, 3.62% and -1.62% respectively.

Objective: To investigate effects of anti-dsDNA autoantibodies on growth of tumor in vitro and in vivo., Methods: BALB/c mice were inoculated with inactivated tumor cells and challenged s.c. with SP 2/0 and Wehi 164 tumor cells four weeks after the last inoculation. The naïve mice were inoculated with SP 2/0 tumor cells immediately after incubating with sera derived from the immunized mice at week 6. Then the tumor size was examined. In vitro, the cytotoxicity of anti-dsDNA autoantibodies to tumor cells was analysed. Furthermore, apoptosis of SP 2/0 and Wehi 164 tumor cells induced by anti-dsDNA autoantibodies was examined by FACS., Results: In vivo study showed that the growth of SP 2/0 and Wehi 164 tumors were inhibited in mice with anti-dsDNA autoantibodies, but not in mice lack of anti-dsDNA autoantibodies. In vitro, apoptosis of SP 2/0 and Wehi 164 tumor cells was induced when the tumor cells were incubated with the sera containing anti-dsDNA autoantibodies. Statistical analysis showed that the ability of anti-dsDNA autoantibodies to induce apoptosis of SP 2/0 and Wehi 164 tumor cells was significantly correlated with affinity (r = 0.990, P < 0.01 and r = 0.901, P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Anti-dsDNA autoantibodies have inhibitory effect on tumor cells via inducing apoptosis.

Objective: To investigate whether C3d can enhance the immune response to HBV-preS2/S induced by direct injecting naked plasmid containing three copies of C3d and HBV-preS2/S in fusion form., Methods: HBV-preS2/S coding sequence was introduced into the eukaryotic expression vectors TR421 and TR421-C3d3 containing 3 copies of C3d respectively. PCR was used to identify the direction of insertion, DNA sequencing analysis was used on the positive clones. The recombinant plasmids TR421-preS2/S and TR421-preS2/S-C3d3 were transfected into the human breast cancer cells of the line 4T1 as a transient expression system. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of HBV-preS2/S protein. TR421-preS2/S and TR421-preS2/S-C3d3 were injected into the anterior tibial muscles of female BALB/c mice, 6 in each group, 3 times at an interval of 3 weeks. Six mice were injected with blank plasmid TR421 as controls. The total blood was collected from the mice. ELISA was used to detect the level of specific anti-HBs antibody. The splenocytes of the immunized mice were collected and stimulated with HbsAg protein and then harvested to analyze the specific lympho-proliferative response by (3)H-thymidine incorporation assay. CR2 positive Raji cells were added with plasmid transfected and mouse anti-HBs serum. Flow cytometry was used to detect the integration of preS2/S-C3d3 fusion protein., Results: The 4T1 cells transfected with TR421-preS2/S and TR421-preS2/S-C3d3 effectively expressed HBV-preS2/S, with the expression level of TR421-preS2/S-C3d3 lower by 15.25% than that of TR421-preS2/S. Twelve weeks after immunization, the specific anti-HBs-IgG level (A(490nm)) was 0.81 +/- 0.09 in the TR421-preS2/S primed mice, significantly higher than that in the blank plasmid injected mice (0.49 +/- 0.02, P < 0.05); and the specific anti-HBs-IgG level (A(490nm)) was 1.24 +/- 0.29 in the TR421-preS2/S-C3d3 immunized mice, significantly higher than that of the TR421-preS2/S primed mice (P < 0.001). The lympho-proliferative response of the TR421-preS2/S primed mice was significantly stronger than that of the blank plasmid injected mice (P < 0.05) and the lympho-proliferative response of the TR421-preS2/S-C3d3 primed mice was significantly stronger than that of the TR421-preS2/S primed mice (P < 0.05). Surface binding of protein could be detected only in the TR421-preS2/S-C3d3 transfected supernatant. About 43.19% of the CR2 positive Raji cells integrated C3d fusion protein. TR421-preS2/S transfected supernatant and negative control did not show obvious integration., Conclusion: C3d enhances the humoral and cell-mediated immune responses against HBV induced by gene immunization.

Objectives: To study the correlation and effect of smoking on the semen quality of men., Methods: 61 men, non-smoker, who had one or more children as normal fertility control group and adult males attending the infertility clinic, including 110 non-smokers and 191 smokers, were recruited for the study. The smokers were divided into subgroups according to the amount and duration of smoking. Semen parameters(volume, sperm density, viability, motility and morphology) were examined and seminal plasma contents of Zn, Cu and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined., Results: The semen volume, pH, sperm density, viability and forward progression, as well as the seminal plasma contents of Zn, Cu and SOD were much lower in the medium, heavy and long-term smokers than in the non-smokers(P < 0.01). The sperm density, viability and forward progression, and the seminal plasma Zn, Cu and SOD levels were negatively correlation with the amount and duration of cigarette smoking(P < 0.001)., Conclusions: The effect of smoking on semen parameters of infertile men were dose-effect and time-effect relationship. Medium, heavy and long-term smoking adversely affected the semen quality in a population of men visiting the infertility clinic.