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The edible fungi have both edible and medicinal functions, in which terpenoids are one of the most important active ingredients. Terpenoids possess a wide range of biological activities and show great potential in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. In this review, the diverse biological activities of edible fungi terpenoids were summarized with emphasis on the mechanism of anti-cancer and anti-inflammation. Subsequently, this review focuses on advances in knowledge and understanding of the biosynthesis of terpenoids in edible fungi, especially in the generation of sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, and triterpenes. This paper is aim to provide an overview of biological functions and biosynthesis developed for utilizing the terpenoids in edible fungi.

Amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) is an intriguing mineral phase of calcium phosphate in its own right, in addition to its relevance in biomineralization. We hereby demonstrate that ACPs prepared by different synthetic routes such as the crosslinking of inorganic oligomers and polymer-induced liquid precursors have distinctive relative compositions of orthophosphate and hydrogen phosphate, and the extent of their hydrogen bonding with water. For all the ACPs or ACP-derived materials studied in this work, the species of hydrogen phosphate is the most important structural element. Depending on the synthetic pathways, orthophosphate and water, as well as their associated hydrogen bonds, may also play a role in the structural formation of ACPs.

Nanograins of Mg-containing amorphous calcium carbonate were prepared in an l-α-lecithin solution from which spherulitic crystallites of high-Mg calcite were subsequently formed. The structures of ...

Cordyceps militaris carotenoids are widely used as food additives, animal feed supplements, and so on. However, the biosynthetic pathway of carotenoids in C. militaris is still obscure. In this paper, changes of mycelial morphology and carotenoid accumulation of C. militaris were investigated under oxidative (KMnO4) and osmotic stress (NaCl). Subsequently, qRT-PCR was employed to detect the expression levels of genes related to carotenogenesis to explore the mechanism of adaptation to abiotic stress. When the concentrations of KMnO4 and NaCl were respectively 0.4 g/L and 2 g/L, carotenoid accumulation reached a maximum of 6616.82 ± 666.43 μg/g and 6416.77 ± 537.02 μg/g. Under the oxidative stress condition of KMnO4, the expressions of psy and hsp70 increased significantly compared with control. Besides, the genes fus3 and hog1 were significantly enriched in the MAPK signal pathway. Compared with the control group, there was no significant difference in expression of psy in the NaCl group. Moreover, the accumulation of triacylglycerols may contribute significantly to the increase in carotenoid accumulation. The increased accumulation of antioxidant carotenoids induced under environmental stress is to resist oxidative conditions. Fus3 and Hog1 signaling in the MAPK pathway was activated and subsequently take effects on the resistance of oxidative condition by regulating related metabolic processes. C. militaris resist the stress of high oxygen by producing a large amount of glycerol and carotenoids when this fungus is cultured in a saline environment for a long time.

A star-shape benzothiazole-based molecule TBB , obtained through a simple condensation reaction of 2-aminothiophenol with 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid in the presence of available catalyst polyphosphoric acid (PPA), has been exploited as a highly selective fluorescent Fe 3+ probe over other metal ions in aqueous media (H 2 O/THF, v/v = 4/6). For this fast-response probe with a response time of 50 s, its quenching mechanism involving in the combination of static and dynamic quenching is confirmed by the test of time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) experiments. Noticeably, the probe TBB is suitable for Fe 3+ detection in a wide pH range (3–12) of aqueous solution, and it can be successfully applied for Fe 3+ quantitative measurement in real water samples.

A novel benzimidazole-naphthalene conjugate molecule has been successfully designed and applied as a colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent sensor for direct visual detection of F − with high selectivity over other anions. Addition of F − to the sensor resulted in an obvious color change from colorless to pale green under ambient light and blue to green under 365 nm UV light, respectively. 1 H NMR and DFT calculations studies confirm that the recognition towards F − is due to the formation of an N H⋯F hydrogen bond and subsequent deprotonation. In addition, the sensor can be reversible and reusable for sensing fluoride ion in the presence of H + , thus it can be developed as an INHIBIT type logic gate at molecular level. Moreover, the sensor with high sensitivity and fast response has also been successfully applied to the detection of F − from inorganic origins and in the solid state.

Psychological contract exists in the interior of organization as well as between them, when the formal contract between the logistics management department and the social service organization is established, the psychological contract is also established. The functions of psychological contract in socialization management of university logistics are as follows: adjust your mindset, straighten out the relationship, give play to the expected effect, and stimulate service enthusiasm. It needs the university logistics management department to optimizes the psychological contract in its own organization, strengthen the awareness of contracts between organizations, guide positively, pay attention to the contingency, and perform contract seriously and honestly to practice the psychological contract theory of logistics socialization management in Universities, improve management level, and realize the goal of servicing and educating people for logistics department.

To explore the element pollution characteristics and sources of road dust fall, road dust fall samples were collected during spring in Tianjin and suspended to obtain PM

Eight new species presented are Calostoma areolatum collected in Wuyishan National Park (China), Crinipellis bidens from Hubei Province (China), Lactifluus sainii from Himalayan India, Inocybe elata from Yunnan (China), Inocybe himalayensis from Pakistan. Specimens previously identified as Massalongia carnosa represent a new species, namely M. patagonica restricted to southern South America. Saprolegnia maragheica is a new oomycete species of fresh water in Maraghe (Iran). Uncispora wuzhishanensis is a new aquatic hyphomycete species. A type specimen of Raddetes turkestanicus was studied and based on this the new combination Conocybe turkestanica, is proposed. Argyranthemum frutescens is a new host for Alternaria alternata and Syzygium cumini for Phyllosticta capitalensis in India. Crepidotus ehrendorferi is confirmed for Hungary and Pluteus leucoborealis for Central Europe, and for the phytogeographical region of Carpaticum. Pseudopithomyces palmicola is shown to occur on grapevine and it is validated by adding a unique identifier. Terfezia fanfani is reported first from Algeria.

Along with the new reform of the governance system in universities, the audit works of university leaders’ economic responsibility become normalization. The traditional audit idea of economic responsibility has many disadvantages and can’t adapt the rules of the new normal, so it needs a totally new audit idea of economic responsibility objectively. The essence of audit works in university leaders’ economic responsibility is internally united with the systematic, balance and concept of sustainable development that ecology advocates, that makes possible the establishment of the audit ecology concept. The structure and connotation of audit ecology concept include open, successive audit ecosystem, balance concept of economic responsibility, sustainable development concept, etc.

The micrographs and optical properties of Al-doped ZnO (AZO) films deposited by radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering are presented in this paper. The AZO films termed as films I, II and III were sputtered on glass substrates heating at 300C, 400C and 500C, respectively. The micrographs, crystal structures and optical properties of AZO thin films were analyzed by using scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) images, X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern, optical transmission and reflection spectra ranging from 350 to 1000 nm. As the substrate temperature increases to 500C, the film III exhibits a better flatness surface and a larger grain size of ~25nm with a stronger c-axis orientation. The film II has a high transmittance of greater than 92% in the visible light region. We also show that the films II and III have significant red-shift band gap ~3.00 and ~3.13eV, respectively, in comparison with that of the film I (3.31eV). This might be due to the increasing doped Al atoms which do not activate due to segregation at the grain boundaries.

Northern China in the 2015 winter months of November and December has witnessed the most severe air pollution phenomena since the 2013 winter haze events occurred, which triggered the first ever Red Alert in the air pollution control history of Beijing, with an instantaneous PM2.5 concentration over 1 mg m−3. Analysis and modeling results show that the worsening meteorology conditions are the main reason behind this unusual increase of air pollutant concentrations and the emission control measures taken during this period of time have contributed to mitigate the air pollution in the region. This work provides a scientific insight of the emission control measures vs. meteorology impacts for the period.

Cold-rolled steel sheets in automotive applications require an excellent deep draw ability, which is characterized by the Lankford value (r-value). In this study, a correlation was identified between r-value and pancake-shaped grain flatness which is indicated as the ratio of grain diameter in the rolling direction (RD) and normal direction (ND) of sheets (d r/d n). A mathematical model $$\left( {r = e^{0.345\left( {d_n^{ - 1/2} - d_r^{ - 1/2} } \right)} } \right)$$ was developed to calculate r-value by the microstructure of steel sheets hot-rolled by compact strip production (CSP). It is shown that the r-value is higher, if the microstructure of steel sheet is of pancake-shaped grains elongated in the rolling direction. The calculated r-value is confirmed to fit exactly to the measured one from the large-scale production.

A new phenolic compound, clinopodphenol A (1), together with six known ones, was isolated from the whole plant of Clinopodium urticifolium. The structure of 1 was elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including extensive 1D- and 2D NMR techniques. The anti-HIV-1 activity and cytotoxicity were evaluated for compound 1. It showed significant potential cytotoxic ability and moderate anti-HIV-1 activity.

The grain refining of C-Mn steel on CSP line was investigated in this paper. The grain size was about 100μm after rolling by stand F1 and then decreased all the way of the rolling process(stands F2-F6) to 15μm. The strengthening mechanisms, grain refinement strengthening, solution strengthening, precipitation strengthening and dislocation strengthening, were figured out to develop a physical metallurgy model for prediction of the properties. It was noted that there is an agreement between the predicted properties and the measured ones of the steel.

A new sesquiterpenoid, 8α-hydroxy-6β-methoxy-1-oxoeremophila-7 (11), 9 (10) -diene-12, 8-olide (1) and five known compounds, petasin (2), caffeic acid (3), hepta-cosanol (4), β-sitosterol (5) and β-daucosterol (6) have been isolated from the roots of Ligularia intermedia. The compounds were isolated by column chromatography on silica gel and Sephadex LH-20, and identified based on spectral analyses (MS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR).

A new eremophilane derivative, (3aR,4R,5S,7S,7aS)-2-acetyl-7,7a-dihydroxy-3a,4-dimethyl-3a,4,5,6,7,7a-hexahydro-3H-inden-5-yl acetate (1) and three known compounds, 10beta-hydroxy-eremophil-7 (11)-en-12,8alpha-olide(2), beta-sitosterol (3) and beta-daucosterol(4) have been isolated from Ligularia intermedia. The compounds were isolated by column chromatography on silica gel and Sephadex LH-20,and identified on the basis of spectral analyses (MS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR).

Humans, in contrast to animals, have a complex expression of metallothionein (MT) genes which involves many MT isoforms encoded by a family of genes containing an upper limit of 12 possible functional genes. It is unknown if these human isoforms of MT have distinct functions or if they simply represent a non-essential duplication of gene function. In the present study, MT protein and mRNA for the MT-2A, MT-1A, B, E, F, and G genes was determined for 3 isolates of human proximal tubule (HPT) cells having distinct sensitivities to cadmium. For all 3 HPT isolates, the expression of MT protein and mRNA for the MT-2A, MT-1E, MT-1F and MT-1G isoforms was similar among the isolates and demonstrated no correlation to lethality. However, each isoform mRNA was expressed at different levels when compared to one another. In contrast, the expression of MT-1A mRNA differed in expression and correlated with the differing lethalities displayed by each isolate. The finding of different profiles of mRNA expression provides evidence that the MT isoforms may have unique functions and that mRNA for the MT-1A gene could be a potential marker for heavy metal exposure and/or toxicity.

Feddeiphenol A (Ia) and B (Ib), and the new neolignan, feddeiphenol C (II), are isolated from the leaves and stems along with 8 known constituents.

Two new secolignans and one new neolignan, named feddeiphenols A—C (1—3), together with eight known compounds (4—11), were isolated from the leaves and stems of Daphne feddei. Their structures were established on the base of spectroscopic methods, mainly extensive NMR, UV spectroscopy, and MS spectrometry. Compounds 1—11 were tested for their anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 activity and cytotoxicity. The results revealed that compounds 1, 2, 3, 7, and 9 showed therapeutic index (TI) values above 30, respectively, and the other compounds also showed weak anti-HIV-1 activity. Compound 1 showed modest cytotoxic activity. The other compounds also showed weak cytotoxic activity.

To investigate the relationship between the method of administration of lamivudine and the therapeutic effect of the treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.One hundred and seventy-nine patients were given lamivudine 100 mg daily for 1 to 3 years. The relationships of the therapeutic effect and the early response, YMDD mutants and duration of treatment were analyzed.Alanine aminotransferase normalization rate, the negativity rate of HBV DNA and HBeAg, and HBeAg sero-conversion all were increased gradually with prolonged treatment. At the end of 1 year, HBV DNA negativity rate (57.0%) reached its peak, HBeAg negativity rate (39.7%) and HBeAg sero-conversion rate (16.8%) were higher than those at the end of 3 months (chi2 = 28.489, 33.238, 12.690, P0.01). The lower the HBV DNA level was at the end of 3 months, the higher the HBV DNA negativity and HBeAg sero-conversion rates were at the end of 52 weeks and at the end of the 6 months follow-up. When the duration of treatment reached 1 year and 1.5 years, HBV DNA rebound rate in the patients (40.0% and 40.0% respectively) with HBeAg sero-conversion was obviously less (chi2 = 12.424, 10.237, P0.01) than in those without sero-conversion (88.2% and 85.0% respectively).Lamivudine therapy for HBV infection is safe and effective. The optimal duration of treatment was 1.5 years. The early responders had better therapeutic effects. HBV DNA positivity persisting at the end of 3 months medication or no HBeAg sero-conversion in 1 year predicts poor therapeutic effects.

To establish hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected cell model which is similar to the infection in vivo and can support HCV to replicate for a long time.After infected with HCV-positive serum, Hep G2 cells were cultured for 60 days. Nested RT-PCR was used to detect plus and minus HCV RNA in cultured cells and supernatants.Plus HCV RNA was detected intermittently in Hep G2 cells during 2-30 days, minus HCV RNA was detected during 3-30 days after infection, the detection rate was similar to plus HCV RNA. Plus and minus HCV RNA can be still intermittently detected during 31-60 days after infection. However, the detection rate gradually declined. Plus HCV RNA was also found intermittently positive in the supernatant, and the detection rate was consistent to that in cells. Minus HCV RNA was not detected in the supernatant.Hep G2 cells were susceptible to HCV, and could support HCV to replicate for a relatively long time. Hep G2 is an ideal HCV infection cell model.

Different methods of processing Radix Polygoni Multiflori and the change of chemical components including emodin, physcion, 2,3,5,4'-stilbene glucoside, and tannin were investigated. The dried roots of polygoni were processed in different ways, such as, steamed with black bean sauce, steamed with water, stewed with black bean sauce, and stewed with black bean sauce at high pressure, for h and 36 h, respectively. The process stewing with black bean sauce was also investigated for 12, 24, 36 h, and 48 h, respectively. The results indicated that 2,3,5,4'-stilbene glucoside and total free anthraquinones varied in different processes. In the process of black bean sauce stewing, the content of 2,3,5,4'-stilbene glucoside decreased with processing time, reached 17% of original at 48 h. The content of tannin and combined and free anthraquinones also decreased with processing time. It was concluded, therefore, that the processing of Radix Polygoni Multiflori should be standardized to avoid significant variation of chemical contents.

To establish a new and efficient method(IEDA) for detection of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome virus (HFRSV) antigen.An immune enzyme dot assay (IEDA) with mixture of three sorts anti-HFRSV-IgG, which was obtained from rabbit vaccinated with EHFV R22, Chen and Hubei strain was employed to detect HFRSV antigen in serum and urine from epidemic hemorrhagic fever (EHF) patients, and compared with indirect immune fluorescence assay (I-IFA), 76 serum samples and 40 urine samples were detected in this study.The results showed that the total positive rate of HFRSV antigen detected by IEDA was 73.68% in serum and 65.00% in urine, while that detected by I-IFA was 75.00% and 70.00%, respectively. The positive rate in primary phase (within 5 days) of HFRSV antigen detected by IEDA was 94.34% in serum and 83.33% in urine, while that detected by I-IFA was 64.42% and 55.56%, respectively, there was significant difference in both serum and urine detections. Correlation study showed a high correlation in the result of IEDA and I-IFA.The results of this study suggested that the IEDA, as compared with I-IFA, was a more specific, sensitive, rapid and simple method with higher positive rate in primary phase. IEDA could be widely used for early diagnosis of HFRS in hospital at grassroots level.

To investigate the effects of autoantibodies against beta(1)-adrenoceptor in hepatitis virus myocarditis on action potential and L-type Ca(2+) currents.Fifteen samples of autoantibodies against beta(1)-adrenoceptor positive sera of patients with hepatitis virus myocarditis were obtained and IgGs were purified by octanoic acid extraction. Binding of autoantibodies against beta(1)-adrenoceptor to guinea pig cardiac myocytes was examined by immunofluorescence. Using the patch clamp technique, the effects on the action potential and I(Ca-L) of guinea pig cardiac myocytes caused by autoantibodies against beta(1)-adrenoceptor in the absence and presence of metoprolol were investigated. Cell toxicity was examined by observing cell morphology and permeability of cardiac myocytes to trypan blue.The specific binding of autoantibodies against beta(1)-adrenoceptor to guinea pig cardiomyocytes was observed. Autoantibodies against beta(1)-adrenoceptor diluted at 1:80 prolonged APD(20), APD(50) and APD(90) by 39.2%, 29.1% and 15.2% respectively, and only by 7.2%, 5.3% and 4.1% correspondingly in the presence of 1 micromol/L metoprolol. Autoantibodies against beta(1)-adrenoceptor diluted at 1:80, 1:100 and 1:120 significantly increased the I(Ca-L) peak current amplitude at 0 mV by 55.87+/-4.39%, 46.33+/-5.01% and 29.29+/-4.97% in a concentration-dependent manner. In contrast, after blocking of beta(1)-adrenoceptors (1 micromol/L metoprolol), autoantibodies against beta(1)-adrenoceptor diluted at 1:80 induced a slight increase of I(Ca-L) peak amplitude only by 6.81+/-1.61%. A large number of cardiac myocytes exposed to high concentrations of autoantibodies against beta(1)-adrenoceptor (1:80 and 1:100) were turned into rounded cells highly permeable to trypan blue.Autoantibodies against beta(1)-adrenoceptor may result in arrhythmias and/or impairment of myocardiums in HVM, which would be mediated by the enhancement of I(Ca-L).

To detect the expression of IL-2 and TNF-alpha in the liver at different period postinfection of Schistosoma japonicum and their effect on liver fibrosis after supplementary injection of these cytokines.Mice were infected with schistosome cercariae and divided into 3 groups. Two groups were injected (i.p.) every other day with IL-2 and TNF-alpha respectively for consecutive 4 wk. The third group and an uninfected group of normal mice were regarded as control. The ABC immunohistochemistry and pathologic image multimedia quantification system were applied to detect activity of IL-2 and TNF-alpha.The level of IL-2 and TNF-alpha in the liver in infected but untreated group slowly decreased (from 8, 11, 14 to 18 wk). The supplementary injection of the cytokines at 6 wk postinfection in the two groups increased the cytokines significantly, the level of IL-2 or TNF-alpha was higher at 1-8 wk after the last injection than that of both infected and uninfected control groups (P0.01). The granulomatous inflammation and fibrosis in the livers of the two groups were slighter than that of the control.At the 6th wk postinfection with egg deposition, exogenous supplementation with TNF-alpha or IL-2 induces enhanced expression of the two kinds of cytokines, corresponding to a diminished degree of the liver granulomatous inflammation and fibrosis.

To study the effect of pentoxifylline (PTX) on the content of hepatic TGF-beta 1, type I and type III collagen in schistosome-infected mice with liver fibrosis.Forty mice with schistosomiasis were divided into four groups: one group as control without any treatment, other three were treated with praziquantel 500 mg/(kg.d) for 2 d, high dose PTX 360 mg/(kg.d) for 8 wk, and low dose PTX 180 mg/(kg.d) for 8 wk respectively. Immunohistochemical technique and multimedia color pathographic analysis system were applied to observe the content of hepatic TGF-beta 1, type I and type III collagen in mice infected with S. japonicum before and after treatment.The effect of PTX on the content of hepatic TGF-beta 1, type I and type III collagen in mice was related to the dosage of PTX. High dose PTX treatment significantly reduced the content of TGF-beta 1, type I and type III collagen compared to the control (P0.01), whereas no difference was found between the group of low dose PTX treatment and control (P0.05).High dose PTX treatment could reduce the content of hepatic TGF-beta 1, type I and type III collagen significantly in schistosome-infected mice with liver fibrosis.

AIM: To explore the relationship between endoinfection caused by intestinal flora translocation and multiple organ dysfunction in hepatic failure. METHODS: By using the quantitative bacteria culture, bacteria colony was counted in GI tract, bile duct and mesenteric lymphonodus in rat hepatic failure model. RESULTS: Intestinal flora migrated up to the upper GI tract and overgrew in stomach and jejunum in rats with hepatic failure. The number of bacteria colonies in the specimens of stomach, jejunum and ileum were 4.7 × 104/m L, 2.1 × 105/mL, 5.5 × 106/mL in experiment group and 4.6 × 102/mL, 6.1 × 101/mL, 2.4 × 103/mL in control group respectively (P < 0.05). Bacteria in bile duct and mesenteric lymphonodus of hepatic failure rats were also cultured. Extensive damages of gastrointestinal mucosa caused by bacterial overgrowth were observed. CONCLUSION: Intestinal flora translocation and overgrowth in stomach and jejunum formed an endoinfectious source and caused obvious pathologic al injury of gastrointestinal mucosa, which play a very important role in developing abdominal distension, toxic intestinal expansion, alimentary tract haemorrh age and endotoxemia in patients with hepatic failure.

We have previously shown, by immunofluorescence of fixed cells, that bcl-2 is found only in mitotic chromosomes in KB cultured human tumor cells expressing low levels of this oncoprotein. However, other studies showed that bcl-2 did not change its levels during the cell cycle when analyzed using Western blots. In this study we analyzed the distribution of bcl-2 during interphase, the point at which it is undetectable by immunofluorescence, using biochemical extraction, immunoprecipitation, and cell fractionation with Western blots. Interestingly, when carefully examined by immunofluorescence in fixed cells, the earliest point in the cell cycle showing bcl-2 localization was early G2, in which bcl-2 could be found within the intact nucleus. In spite of showing no immunofluorescence reaction in fixed interphase cells, immunoprecipitation of gentle detergent extracts showed that bcl-2 from interphase cells reacted readily with the antibody used (#124) after extraction. However, immunoprecipitation using anti-bcl-2 followed by Western blots using anti-Bax showed that, unlike overexpressing cells, this bcl-2 was not complexed with Bax. Classical cell fractionation methods were used to separate nuclei from cytosol and cell membranes. Surprisingly, these experiments clearly showed that essentially all of the bcl-2 in interphase KB cells was present in the nucleus. Therefore, the lack of reaction in fixed cells with anti-bcl-2 antibody reflects either a masking or a conformational change of the reactive epitope in bcl-2 present within the nucleus. By correlation, this change may be related to the phosphorylation of bcl-2 that occurs just before mitosis. The nature of this novel yet highly conserved nuclear form of bcl-2 and the understanding of its function will require further study.

Bcl-2 is present in a cytoplasmic distribution in cells that express high levels of this oncoprotein. In contrast, using immunocytochemistry in cells expressing low levels of bcl-2, such as KB human carcinoma cells, we and others have shown that bcl-2 is present on the surface of mitotic chromosomes. However, monoclonal antibodies reactive with an epitope representing amino acids 41-54 of the bcl-2 sequence did not detect bcl-2 in other phases of the cell cycle. This study extended those earlier findings to determine if bcl-2 was expressed as a cyclin or if this pattern was an artifact of immunocytochemistry. Immunofluorescence studies in several other human cell lines showed the same mitotic distribution of bcl-2. Other studies using flow cytometry also showed selective mitotic phase detection of bcl-2. A comparison of available commercial antibodies showed that, in spite of reactivity with denatured bcl-2 on Western blots, clear reactivity with bcl-2 in fixed cells was found only with those reactive with the (a.a. 41-54) epitope. With RNase protection and Western blot analyses, cells synchronized at various stages of the cell cycle showed constant levels of bcl-2 mRNA and protein. Analysis of bcl-2 using Western blots showed a band with the same apparent molecular weight as that seen in comparison with authentic bcl-2 overexpressed in the cytoplasm. The retention of bcl-2 on chromosomes in unfixed, permeabilized preparations was influenced by protease treatment, phosphate, and pH. Studies using isolated chromosomes showed that much of the bcl-2 in these cells was attached to chromosomes in mitosis, had the expected molecular weight, and was phosphorylated in the same manner as that seen in whole-cell extracts. These results show that bcl-2 is not a cyclin and that the bcl-2 localized on chromosomes is the same molecule seen by immunoblotting. These results suggest that the reactive (a.a. 41-54) epitope present in bcl-2 is somehow modified or masked in interphase.

A 26-YEAR-OLD WOMAN PRESENTS WITH5WEEKS OF VULVAR SWELLING,PRURITUS, and progressively enlarging vulvar plaque accompanied by 2 months of occasional constipation and recurrent bloody, mucoid diarrhea. She has no history of anogenital warts and is monogamous with her husband. She has had no bloodtransfusions, contactwith trichloroaceticacid, spermicides,oranyother toxic agents or irritants. Physical examination reveals bilateral purple swelling of the labium majora and multiple moist, edematous, 1to 8-mm wart-like skin nodules on the perineal and perianal surfaces (FIGURE 1). A 2-mm ulcer is observed inside the right labium minus. Digital rectal examination shows bloody mucus mixed with loose stool. White blood cell count is normal (4 10/L), as is neutrophil count (2.07 10/L);hemoglobin level is slightlydecreased(10.2g/dL).Erythrocyte sedimentation rate is 71 mm/h (reference range, 0-20 mm/h), and C-reactive protein level is 28 mg/L (reference range, 0-5 mg/L). Bacterial and fungal swab cultures from the ulceration are negative. Vaginal and urethral swabs are negative, with moderately increased polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Results of serologic testing for Treponema pallidum and human immunodeficiency virus are negative. What Would You Do Next?

Humans have a complex expression of metallothionein (MT) genes which involves many MT isoforms encoded by a family of genes containing an upper limit of 12 possible functional genes, in contrast to most animals which have one or two functional MT genes. In the present study, human proximal tubule (HPT) cells were exposed to cadmium (Cd) to determine if these cultures might serve as a model system to study MT gene expression in the renal proximal tubule. Three independent isolates of HPT cells were shown to repeatably induce MT protein when exposed continually to a non-toxic dose of 1 microgram/ml of Cd administered as CdCl2. Accumulation of MT protein was noted within 3 h and persisted over the 16-day time course. The expression of mRNA for the MT-IIA, MT-IA, B, E, F and G genes was also assessed through 16 days of exposure to 1 microgram/ml of Cd versus control media. Of these, the mRNA for the MT-IIA, MT-IE, MT-IF and MT-IG genes were detected in the cells exposed to 1 microgram/ml of Cd. Overall, the results were supportive that the HPT cells can provide a valuable model system to study the regulation of MT gene expression as it applies to the human renal proximal tubule.