Should we perform sigmoidoscopy for colorectal cancer screening in people under 45 years?

Background: The strategy for preventing colorectal cancer is screening by colonoscopy, which offers a direct way for detection and removal of adenomatous polyps (APs). American College of Gastroenterology guidelines recommend that people aged ≥ 45 years should undergo colonoscopy; however, how to deal with people aged ≤ 45 years is still unknown.

Aim: To compare the prevalence of APs and high-grade neoplasia between the left and right colon in patients ≤ 45 years.

Acute Nitrite Exposure Induces Dysfunction and Oxidative Damage in Grass Carp Isolated Hemocytes.

To evaluate the effects of nitrite on the oxidative damage of blood cells of Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella, the isolated hemocytes were exposed to nitrite (0, 1, 10, or 100 mg/L) for up to 24 h. Hemoglobin (Hb) and methemoglobin (MetHb) concentrations, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, mitochondrial membrane potential (∆Ψm), and antioxidant enzyme activity were assayed to assess hematological parameters and the antioxidant defense mechanism. Results showed a remarkable decrease in Hb concentration with increasing nitrite concentration after a 24-h exposure, while the MetHb concentration increased significantly in nitrite exposure groups.

Growth arrest-specific gene 2 suppresses hepatocarcinogenesis by intervention of cell cycle and p53-dependent apoptosis.

Background: Growth arrest-specific gene 2 (GAS2) plays a role in modulating in reversible growth arrest cell cycle, apoptosis, and cell survival. GAS2 protein is universally expressed in most normal tissues, particularly in the liver, but is depleted in some tumor tissues. However, the functional mechanisms of GAS2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are not fully defined.

[Physiological responses of tubificidae to heavy metal chromium stress].

Tubificidae is now used in the wastewater treatment systems to successfully minimize the sludge production, which has been proved an effective, economical and sustainable technology. But the excess sludge inevitably contains a variety of heavy metals, especially the sludge from industrial wastewater treatment plant. In order to apply tubificidae to these systems, Chromium was selected as pollutant object and the physiological responses of tubificidae to Chromium were studied in this paper.

GPC3 fused to an alpha epitope of HBsAg acts as an immune target against hepatocellular carcinoma associated with hepatitis B virus.

Background: The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in China is closely related to the population infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). HCC cells with HBV secrete soluble HBsAg into blood but do not express it on the cell membrane. This study aimed to construct and investigate a new glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein (GPC3+alpha+EGFP) as a DNA vaccine against HCC associated with HBV.

Effect of zoledronate on oral wound healing in rats.

Purpose: Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is a growing concern in patients who receive bisphosphonates that target osteoclasts. As osteoclasts play multifunctional roles in the bone marrow, their suppression likely affects bone homeostasis and alters wound healing of the jaw. The objective was to delineate the impact of osteoclast suppression in the bone marrow and wound healing of the jaw.

[Expression and localization of strong epitope hAFP(542-550); on eukaryotic cytoplasmic membrane].

Aim: To construct the recombinant plasmid of pGPC3-EGFP containing human AFP(542-550) gene, EGFP gene and GPC3 gene to express fusion protein GPC3-hAFP(542-550)-EGFP and to discover its localization on cytoplasmic membrane.

Methods: GPC3 gene was obtained from total RNA of human placental tissues by RT-PCR; After the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene was amplified from pEGFP-N1 plasmid and the gene segment of-KOZAK-GPCN + afp(542-550)-was chemically synthesized, the recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1(+)/GPCN+afp(542-550)-EGFP-GPCC (pGPC3-EGFP) containing three chimeric genes of strong epitope hAFP(542-550), GPI-anchored protein GPC3 and EGFP was constructed.

Role of Bcl2 in osteoclastogenesis and PTH anabolic actions in bone.

Introduction: B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (Bcl2) is a proto-oncogene best known for its ability to suppress cell death. However, the role of Bcl2 in the skeletal system is unknown. Bcl2 has been hypothesized to play an important anti-apoptotic role in osteoblasts during anabolic actions of PTH.

Targeting specificity and pharmacokinetics of asialoorosomucoid, a specific ligand for asialglycoprotein receptor on hepatocyte.

Objective: To testify that the asialoorosomucoid (ASOR) prepared by us has liver-targeting specificity and to investigate its pharmacokinetic characteristics.

Methods: The distribution of 125I-ASOR in vivo was determined by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and immunohistochemical technique after 125I-ASOR was injected into Sprague-Dawley (S-D) rats through their caudal veins. In vitro, different doses of pEGFP-N1 plasmid were transfected into both HepG2 cells and HT1080 cells with the use of ASOR-poly-L-lysine.

Primary shunt hyperbilirubinaemia in a large four-generation family confirming autosomal dominant genetic disorder.

Aim: To describe the pattern of inheritance and confirm the diagnostic criteria of primary shunt hyperbilirubinaemia (PSH).

Methods: Forty members of a family pedigree across four generations were included in this study. All family members were interviewed and investigated by physical examination, hematology and liver function test and the pattern of inheritance was analyzed.

[Construction of eukaryotic expression vector of mouse alpha-fetoprotein cDNA and its expression in dendritic cells and in vitro antitumor effect on hepatoma].

Background & Objective: Studying the mechanism of why the abnormal protein coded by mutant gene of hepatoma carcinoma cell possesses potential antigenicity, but can not form effective immunogen, searching for specific antigen of hepatoma, and developing DNA vaccine for hepatoma treatment will have active impact on the immunotherapy of hepatoma. This study was to construct fluorescent eukaryotic expression vector of mouse alpha fetoprotein (AFP) cDNA fragment with or without the secretory signal peptide (termed AFP1 cDNA and AFP2 cDNA), and observe its expression in mouse dendritic cells (DCs) and in vitro antitumor effect on hepatoma.

Methods: AFP1 cDNA and AFP2 cDNA were amplified from mouse hepatoma cell line H22 by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and cloned into eukaryotic expression vector PEGF-N3 to form the recombinant PEGF-N3/AFP1 and PEGF-N3/AFP2.

[Study on identification of wild and cultirated Radix Scutellariae in different growing years].

Objective: To identify Radix Scutellariae (Huangqin) of different growth years, to distinguish whether it's wild or cultivated and to provide useful information for the quality control of Huangqin crude drug.

Method: By using morphological and histological methods, we studied 87 individuals of 45 specimens from 12 habitats of 5 provinces of China, which grew wild or were cultivated in different growing years. Moreover, 22 commercial samples of Huangqin from 7 provinces were also investigated.

Modulation of the molecular conformation of a hepatocyte-targeting gene drug in order to improve its expression efficiency in vitro.

Aim: To construct different conformations of a plasmid DNA/vector complex (pcDNA3.1/IFN-gamma-ASOR-PLL) and transfect cells of the hepatoma cell line BEL7402 to investigate the optimal conformation of the complex for improved expression efficiency in the target cell.

Methods: Double-distilled water and adjuvant were added to the naked pcDNA3.

Proteomics to display tissue repair opposing injury response to LPS-induced liver injury.

Aim: To examine the protein expression alterations in liver injury/repair network regulation as a response to gut-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment, in order to anticipate the possible signal molecules or biomarkers in signaling LPS-related liver injury.

Methods: Male BALB/c mice were treated with intra-peritoneal (i.p.

Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) analyses of medicinally used Rheum species and their application for identification of Rhei Rhizoma.

Previously, we have determined marker nucleotides on the chloroplast matK gene to identify Rheum palmatum, R. tanguticum and R. officinale used as Rhei Rhizoma officially.

Molecular analysis of Rheum species used as Rhei Rhizoma based on the chloroplast matK gene sequence and its application for identification.

Rhei Rhizoma (Dahuang in Chinese) is widely known as a purgative and antiinflammatory agent. In the Japanese Pharmacopoeia, Rhei Rhizoma is prescribed for four Rheum species, Rheum palmatum, R. tanguticum, R.

[Construction of double-subunit co-expression eukaryotic vector of human interleukin 12].

Objective: To construct the double-subunit co-expression plasmid P(+)/IL-12 to fulfill the gene therapy.

Methods: The full length cDNAs of P40 and P35, two subunits of hIL12, were amplified from the reverse transcription production of human embryo kidney using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and respectively cloned into eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1(+/-) to construct the single-subunit plasmids--P(+)/P40 and P(-)/P35.

Study on relationship between expression level and molecular conformations of gene drugs targeting to hepatoma cells in vitro.

Aim: To increase exogenous gene expression level by modulating molecular conformations of targeting gene drugs.

Methods: The full length cDNAs of both P(40) and P(35) subunits of human interleukin 12 were amplified through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cloned into eukaryotic expressing vectors pcDNA3.1(+/-) to construct plasmids of P(+)/IL-12, P(+)/P(40) and P(-)/P(35).

[Distribution and metabodynamics of hepatocyte targeting vector molecules in vivo].

Objective: To testify whether asiaorosomucoid (ASOR), the ligamental molecule of specific hepatocyte receptor prepared in our laboratory, can be used as a delivery drug vector for targeting hepatocyte.

Methods: ASOR molecules marked with isotope 125I were injected into Strague-Dawley rats, and the distribution of ASOR on both organ and cellular levels was detected.

Results: ASOR could only combine with hepatocyte and distribute in the liver.

Evaluation of variation of acteoside and three major flavonoids in wild and cultivated Scutellaria baicalensis roots by micellar electrokinetic chromatography.

Micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) conditions were developed to analyze the constituents of Scutellariae Radix (SR) and Scutellaria baicalensis roots. Using the MEKC method, the major flavonoid constituents of baicalin, baicalein and wogonin of wild and cultivated S. baicalensis roots were compared.