A3G-induced mutations show a low prevalence and exhibit plus-strand regional distribution in hepatitis B virus DNA from patients with non-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and HCC.

APOBEC3G (A3G) cytidine deaminase is an innate immune restriction factor that can edit and inhibit hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication. The preferred target of A3G is deamination of the third cytosine of 5'CCC to form a mutant marker 5'CC C → K. However, the distribution of A3G-induced mutations on HBV DNA during infection is not well characterized.

Preclinical safety evaluation of body protective compound-157, a potential drug for treating various wounds.

BPC157 displays protective activity in various organs and tissues. This report presents preclinical toxicity studies with BPC157 in mice, rats, rabbits and dogs. The single-dose toxicity study did not show any test-related effects that could be attributed to the test article.

Distribution and difference of APOBEC-induced mutations in the TpCpW context of HBV DNA between HCC and non-HCC.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA is vulnerable to editing by human apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide-like (APOBEC) cytidine deaminases. However, the distribution of APOBEC-induced mutations on HBV DNA is not well characterized. To this end, we obtained the HBV DNA sequence of HBV-infected individuals with and without hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC and non-HCC groups, respectively) from NCBI database and calculated the r values of APOBEC-induced TpCpW→TpKpW mutation prevalence in HBV DNA.

Hyaluronic acid and glucosamine sulfate for adult Kashin-Beck disease: a cluster-randomized, placebo-controlled study.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of hyaluronic acid (HA) and glucosamine sulfate (GS) in alleviating symptoms and improving function of Kashin-Beck disease (KBD). A cluster-randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in 150 patients with KBD. Participants were randomly allocated to receive intra-articular injection hyaluronic acid (IAHA) for 4 weeks, oral GS for 12 weeks, or oral placebo for 12 weeks.

[Transmission disequilibrium test for 15 short tandem repeat loci in Kashin-Beck disease and their interaction with low selenium].

Objective: To identify the genetic susceptibility to Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) and explore the interaction between low selenium (Se) and the susceptibility gene loci in KBD.

Methods: The DNA samples collected from 23 KBD nuclear families were analyzed using PCR and GeneScan Analysis 3.7 and Genotyper3.

[Association of genetic polymorphism of 14 STR loci on chromosome 2 with Kashin-Beck disease].

Objective: To analyze the differences of genetic polymorphism of 14 STR loci on chromosome 2 between KBD patients and controls living in and outside of KBD catchment areas.

Methods: Blood samples anticoagulated with EDTA were collected from 135 unrelated individuals of Han population in Shaanxi Province, which included 45 samples from KBD patients, 45 from normal residents living in the KBD catchment areas, and 45 from normal residents outside of the KBD catchment areas. The DNA was extracted from the blood samples for PCR amplification of relevant fragments.

[Effects of selenium and/or iodine deficiency on chondrocyte apoptosis in rats].

Objective: To explore the effects of selenium and/or iodine deficiency on chondrocyte apoptosis in articular cartilage in rats.

Methods: Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into selenium deficiency group, iodine deficiency group, combined selenium and iodine deficiency group, and control group. Chondrocyte apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotin-dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) method, and Bcl-2 and Bax in articular cartilage were stained by immunohistochemistry in F3 generation of rats.

Features of intervertebral disc degeneration in rat's aging process.

Objective: The age-related change is important part of degenerative disc disease. However, no appropriate animal model or objective evaluation index is available. This study aimed to investigate the features of intervertebral disc degeneration in aging process of rats.

[Familial aggregation and sibling heritability in Kashin-Beck disease].

Objective: To explore the family aggregation and the role of hereditary factors in the pathogenesis of Kashin-Beck disease (KBD).

Methods: With a stratified sampling method, the general population of 14 villages of Linyou County were studied, from whom 225 KBD probands were selected using systematic sampling at the rate of (1/2). A total of 304 siblings of the probands were ascertained, and in these sibling pairs, the segregation ratio, heritability in different age groups and weighted mean heritability of the siblings were estimated using the methods of Li-Mantel-Grart and Falconer.

[Genetic polymorphism of 15 STR on chromosome 2 and 11 in Shaanxi Han people in China].

Objective: To investigate the genetic polymorphism of 15 short tandem repeat(STR)loci on chromosome 2 and chromosome 11 in Shaanxi Han people in China.

Methods: Fluorescence-based gene scan technique was used to examine the genetic polymorphism of 15 STR loci in 175 unrelated individuals from Chinese Han population in Shannxi province.

Results: The number of alleles D2S335, D2S396, D2S338, D2S2382, D2S305, D2S151, D2S2368, D2S391,D11S912, D11S4090, D11S4147, D11S4190, D11S4149, D11S4126, and D11S4094 was 11,11,11,10,8,8,9,12 ,7,11,8,10,5,5, and 6.

[Genetic polymorphism analysis of 8 short tandem repeat loci on chromosome 2 in Chinese Han population in Shaanxi Province].

Objective: To analyze the genetic polymorphism of 8 short tandem repeat (STR) loci on human chromosome 2 in Chinese Han population in Shaanxi Province.

Methods: Blood samples anticoagulated with EDTA were collected from 176 unrelated Chinese Han individuals in Shaanxi Province. The DNA was extracted for PCR amplification of the relevant fragments, and the amplified products were analyzed using the ABI 3730 Genetic Analyzer.

[Butenolide induces apoptosis of cultured chondrocytes: study of its mechanism].

Objective: To observe cell apoptosis and Bcl-2 and Bax expression changes of chondrocytes induced by butenolide (BUT) and the inhibitory effect of selenium against BUT-induced chondrcyte apoptosis, to gain insights into the mechanism by which BUT induces chondrcyte apoptosis.

Methods: Cartilage tissue reestablished from human fetal articular chondrocytes in vitro were treated with BUT at the concentrations of 0.1, 1.

[Mechanism of chondrocyte apoptosis in Kashin-Beck disease and primary osteoarthritis: a comparative study].

Objective: To investigate chondrocyte apoptosis and the expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, Fas and iNOS in the articular cartilage between Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) and primary osteoarthritis (OA) and explore the difference in pathogenesis between the two diseases.

Methods: The articular cartilage specimens were collected from 15 normal human subjects, 15 adult patients with KBD and 15 with OA. Chondrocyte apoptosis was detected by TUNEL method, and the expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, Fas and iNOS in articular cartilage were examined with B-SA immunohistochemistry.

[Comparison of apoptosis of articular chondrocytes in the pathogenesis of Kashin-beck disease and primary osteoarthritis].

Objective: To investigate chondrocyte apoptosis and expression of Fas and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in articular cartilage in the pathogenesis of Kashin-beck disease (KBD) and primary osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: The collected samples of articular cartilage were divided into three groups: normal control (15 cases), KBD adults (15 cases) and OA (15 cases). Chondrocyte apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotin-dUTP nick end labeling method, and Fas and iNOS in articular cartilage were stained by immunohistochemistry.