High expression of citron kinase predicts poor prognosis of prostate cancer.

Citron kinase (CIT) is a Rho-effector protein kinase that is associated with several types of cancer. However, the role of CIT in prostate cancer (PCa) is unclear. The current study utilized microarray data obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas, which was analyzed via Biometric Research Program array tools.

Protein phosphatase 2A-B55δ enhances chemotherapy sensitivity of human hepatocellular carcinoma under the regulation of microRNA-133b.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a major public health problem worldwide. The identification of effective chemotherapeutic targets for advanced HCC patients is urgently required. In this study, we investigated the role of protein phosphatase 2A-B55δ subunit (PP2A-B55δ, encoded by the PPP2R2D gene) and related mechanisms affecting chemotherapy sensitivity of HCC.

[EMA-pCR detection of enterohemorrhagic Eschrichia coli O157:H7].

Objective: A rapid and effective method with ethidium monoazide bromide (EMA) in combination with PCR (EMA-PCR) was established to detect live Enterohemorrhagic Eschrichia Coli O157:H7.

Methods: The rfbE gene was used as the target gene for PCR detection of Eschrichia Coli O157:H7 by utilizing its pure isolates after the treatment of EMA as the template. The EMA concentration and reaction time was optimized.

Antibacterial effect of autologous platelet-rich gel derived from subjects with diabetic dermal ulcers in vitro.

Background. Autologous platelet-rich gel (APG) is an effective method to improve ulcer healing. However, the mechanisms are not clear.

Comparison of two suspension arrays for simultaneous detection of five biothreat bacterial in powder samples.

We have developed novel Bio-Plex assays for simultaneous detection of Bacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis, Brucella spp., Francisella tularensis, and Burkholderia pseudomallei. Universal primers were used to amplify highly conserved region located within the 16S rRNA amplicon, followed by hybridized to pathogen-specific probes for identification of these five organisms.

[Investigate the effects of compound radix notoginseng on renal interstitial fibrosis and kidney-targeting treatment].

Objective: Investigate the effects of compound Radix Notoginseng on renal interstitial fibrosis and kidney-targeting treatment.

Methods: 100 healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) group, sham-operation (SOR) group, Radix Notoginseng (RN) group, compound Radix Notoginseng (CRN) group and Losartan (ARB) group. After operation, RN, CRN and ARB groups were intragastric administrated with RN (3 mL/d), CRN (3 mL/d) and ARB [20 mg/(kg x d)] respectively.

Analysis of β-galactosidase production and their genes of two strains of Lactobacillus bulgaricus.

A bacterial β-galactosidase delivery system is a potential therapy for lactose intolerance. Currently, two Lactobacillus bulgaricus strains with different biological characteristics are under consideration as potential sources. However, differences in these β-galactosidase genes and their resulting production levels are poorly characterized.

[Hemagglutinin gene of influenza A (H3N2) virus from human samples in the 2009 influenza epidemic in Chengdu].

Objective: To study the antigenic and genetic characteristics of influenza A (H3N2) virus in the 2009 influenza epidemics in Chengdu.

Methods: The influenza virus strains were isolated with MDCK cells from 4869 samples taken from the sentinel surveillance in 2009 in Chengdu. Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and RT-PCR reaction tests were performed to guide the extraction of viral RNA from the culture fluid of the influenza A (H3N2) virus.

Ginsenoside Rg1 modulation on thrombospondin-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in early renal fibrogenesis in unilateral obstruction.

Renal interstitial fibrosis is the major histopathological change seen in a variety of renal disorders and is closely related to renal dysfunction. Progressive interstitial fibrosis accompanied by the loss of renal tubules and interstitial capillaries typifies all progressive renal disease. Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is a major angiogenic inhibitor.

Construction and expression of food-grade β-galactosidase gene in Lactococcus Lactis.

Recombinant Lactococcus lactis MG1363/pMG36e-lacZ exhibiting high β-galactosidase activities were constructed by us in the previous study. However, erythromycin resistance present in these recombinants restricted their practical application in food preparation. This study was conducted to delete the gene coding for erythromycin resistance present in recombinant L.

[Antibacterial effect of autologous platelet-rich gel derived from health volunteers in vitro].

Objective: The use of autologous platelet-rich gel (APG) is a relatively new technology and a promising treatment method for infections, which is currently being used by a variety of surgical specialties. The mechanism of antibacterial effect of APG is not yet fully discovered. Subsequent evidence suggests that platelets have multiple functional attributes in antimicrobial host defense (including the capacity to generate antimicrobial oxygen metabolites and the antimicrobial peptides) and interact directly with microorganisms, contribute to clearance of pathogens from the blood.

LSKL, a peptide antagonist of thrombospondin-1, attenuates renal interstitial fibrosis in rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction.

The effects of LSKL, the peptide antagonist of thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), on renal interstitial fibrosis in rats subjected to unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) were investigated. Rats were divided randomly into three groups (n = 20 each): UUO group, sham-operation group and UUO plus LSKL treatment group. Collagen deposition was studied using histopathology and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis (RT-PCR).

[Development of a universal primers PCR-coupled liquid bead array to detect biothreat bacteria].

Objective: To develop a fast, high-throughput screening method with suspension array technique for simultaneous detection of biothreat bacteria.

Methods: 16 S rDNA universal primers for Bacillus anthracis, Francisella tularensis, Yersinia pestis, Brucella spp.and Burkholderia pseudomallei were selected to amplify corresponding regions and the genus-specific or species-specific probes were designed.

[Optimization of the REP-PCR molecular classification method of Salmonella and its application in drug-resistant strains].

Objective: To optimize the reaction conditions of REP-PCR molecular classification method of Salmonella; primarily apply it in drug-resistant strains, and supply data to a system of Salmonella homology tracing.

Methods: Genomic DNA of Salmonella enteritidis 510041 was used as the template for PCR. Target sequences in 510041 genomic DNA were amplified with the primers designed according to the references.

[Carrying rate of Neissria meningitides in a healthy population in the Mianzhu post-earthquake residential area].

Objective: To predict the possibility of epidemic outbreak of meningitis by testing Neissria Meningitides in a healthy population in the Mianzhu post-earthquake residential area.

Methods: A simple random sampling strategy was adopted to collect 887 throat swabs from a healthy population in the Mainzhu post-earthquake residential area. The TaqMan assay were performed to detect Neissria Meningitides.

[Development of a multiplex PCR-suspension array for simultaneous detection of five bioterrorism bacteria].

Objective: To develop a rapid, high-throughput screening method of gene suspension array technique to simultaneously detect five bioterrorism bacteria: Bacillus anthracis, Francisella tularensis, Yersinia pestis, Brucella spp. and Burkholderia pseudomallei.

Methods: Highly validated specific primers were used to amplify diagnostic regions unique to each pathogen.

Ginsenoside Rb1, a panoxadiol saponin against oxidative damage and renal interstitial fibrosis in rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction.

Objective: To investigate the possible protective effect and mechanism of ginsenoside Rb1 against oxidative damage and renal interstitial fibrosis on rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO).

Methods: In total, 80 male rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, 20 in each group: the sham operated group (SOR), UUO group, UUO with ginsenoside Rb1 treatment group (treated with intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/ kg daily) and UUO with Losartan treatment group (as the positive control, treated with 20 mg/kg by gastrogavage per day). The rats were randomly sacrificed on day 3, 7 and 14 after surgery, respectively.

[Effects of ginsenoside Rb1 on TGF-beta1 induced p47phox expression and extracellular matrix accumulation in rat renal tubular epethelial cells].

Objective: To investigate the effects of Ginsenoside Rb1 (G-Rb1) on the oxidative damage and extracellular matrix accumulation in rat renal tubular epethelial cells induced by transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1).

Methods: Cultured normal rat renal tubular epethelial cells (NRK-52E) were divided into control group, 10 ng/mL TGF-beta1-induced group, G-Rb1 treated groups in which rat renal tubular epethelial cells were treated with different concentration of G-Rb1 (10 ng/mL, 20 ng/mL, 40 ng/mL) after TGF-beta1 induction, G-Rb1 40 ng/mL group and 100 nmol/L DPI(diphenyleneiodonium, an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase) group. Intracellular reactive oxidative species (ROS) level was measured by flowcytometry.

[Construction and property study of recombinant Lactococcus lactis with non-fusion expressing of beta-galactosidase].

Objective: To construct recombinant Lactococcus lactis strains exhibiting high beta-galactosidase activity in non-fusion way, and study their enzyme activities and enzyme secretion rates.

Methods: The recombinant plasmids pMG36e-lacZ 1.1480 and pMG36e-lacZ wch9901 which could express beta-galactosidase from Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp.

Association between TCF7L2 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to type 2 diabetes mellitus: a large Human Genome Epidemiology (HuGE) review and meta-analysis.

Background: Transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) has been shown to be associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2MD) in multiple ethnic groups in the past two years, but, contradictory results were reported for Chinese and Pima Indian populations. The authors then performed a large meta-analysis of 36 studies examining the association of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with polymorphisms in the TCF7L2 gene in various ethnicities, containing rs7903146 C-to-T (IVS3C>T), rs7901695 T-to-C (IVS3T>C), a rs12255372 G-to-T (IVS4G>T), and rs11196205 G-to-C (IVS4G>C) polymorphisms and to evaluate the size of gene effect and the possible genetic mode of action.

Methods: Literature-based searching was conducted to collect data and three methods, that is, fixed-effects, random-effects and Bayesian multivariate mete-analysis, were performed to pool the odds ratio (OR).

Non-fusion and fusion expression of beta-galactosidase from Lactobacillus bulgaricus in Lactococcus lactis.

Objective: To construct four recombinant Lactococcus lactis strains exhibiting high beta-galactosidase activity in fusion or non-fusion ways, and to study the influence factors for their protein expression and secretion.

Methods: The gene fragments encoding beta-galactosidase from two strains of Lactobacillus bulgaricus, wch9901 isolated from yogurt and 1.1480 purchased from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, were amplified and inserted into lactococcal expression vector pMG36e.

Ginsenoside Rg1, a major active component isolated from Panax notoginseng, restrains tubular epithelial to myofibroblast transition in vitro.

The medicinal herb, Panax notoginseng, has been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine and possesses anti-fibrosis properties. Epithelial-myofibroblast transition (EMT) plays an important role in renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis. The present study was designed to examine whether ginsenoside Rg1, a major active component isolated from Panax notoginseng, has an ability to block this phenotypic transition in rat renal tubular epithelial cells (NRK-52E) induced by transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1).

[Optimization and primary application of one molecular typing method of Salmonella, enterobacteia repetitive intergenic consensus sequences-based PCR in Salmonella].

Objective: To optimize the reaction conditions of enterobacteia repetitive intergenic consensus sequences-based PCR (ERIC-PCR), a molecular typing method of Salmonella, study the genomic DNA ERIC-PCR fingerprint maps of Salmonella standard strains and epidemic isolates, and supply data for a system of Salmonella epidemiology investigation and homology tracing.

Methods: Genomic DNA of S. typhimurium was abstracted and used as the template for PCR.

[Ginsenoside R(g1) inhibit transdifferentiation in rat renal tubular epethelial cells induced by TGF-beta1].

Objective: To investigate the effects of ginsenoside R(g1) on the transdifferentiation of rat renal tubular epethelial cells induced by transforming growth factor-beta1, (TGF-beta1).

Method: Cultured normal rat renal tubular epethelial cells (NRK-52E) were divided into control group, TGF-beta1-induced group and treated with ginsenoside R(g1) at different concentration (10, 20, 40 mg x L(-1)) group. The morphology of tubular epithelial-myofibroblast transdifferentiation induced by TGF-beta1 was observed through light microscope.

[Development of a molecular beacon real-time PCR for the rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis].

Objective: To develop a molecular beacon real-time PCR for rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Method: One set of primers was selected from the IS6110 gene in GenBank and the corresponding molecular beacon probe was designed. The specificity and sensitivity of the developed method were evaluated by tested with 10 different bacteria species.