Advanced oxidation protein products accelerate renal fibrosis in a remnant kidney model.

Accumulation of plasma advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) has been found in patients with chronic kidney disease. However, the biologic consequences of AOPP consumption on progression of renal disease still are unclear. For testing of the hypothesis that AOPP accelerate progression of chronic kidney disease, Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to five-sixths nephrectomy (5/6 Nx) or to sham operation.

[Effects of hydraulic retention time (HRT) on nitrification performance and microbial community of conventional activated sludge (CAS)].

A conventional activated sludge system was used to treat the ammonium-bearing inorganic wastewater for 260 days under decreased HRTs. When treating 500 mg x L(-1) NH4+ -N wastewater, over 98% ammonia removal could be obtained at HRT > or =20 h. Sharp washout of biomass occurred when HRT was further decreased, resulting in the accumulation of ammonium and nitrite.

Level of asymmetric dimethylarginine and carotid atherosclerosis in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Objective: To determine the association between asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthase, with atherosclerosis in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: One hundred thirty-eight CKD patients were enrolled in this study. Serum levels of L-arginine, ADMA, and SDMA were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

[Effect of carbon coating on radiation intensity of laser-induced metal plasmas].

In order to reduce the reflectance of laser beam on sample surface and enhance the radiation intensities of laser-induced metal plasma, a means has been studied for carbon coating on the surface of steel sample. The experimental results showed that the line intensities of the laser plasma formed when a high-energy neodymium glass laser (approximately 25 J) was used to generate the plasma in air at atmospheric pressure increased by a factor in the range of 10%-28% for the steel sample with the carbon coating. The excitation temperature of laser plasma was measured to explain the mechanism that the line intensities increase.

[Clinical significance of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in patients with lupus nephritis].

Objective: To analyze the clinical features of patients with lupus nephritis positive for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) and explore the clinical implications of ANCA detection.

Methods: Totally 261 patients with lupus nephritis were enrolled in this study, including 53 ANCA-positive and 208 ANCA-negative ones. The clinical data of the patients pertaining to the disease history, physical examination, laboratory examinations and pathological inspection were retrospectively analyzed.

[Clinical observation on acupoint catgut embedding therapy for treatment of ulcerative colitis].

Objective: To compare therapeutic effects of acupoint catgut embedding therapy and western medicine on ulcerative colitis.

Methods: One hundred and sixteen cases of ulcerative colitis were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group. The treatment group of 56 cases were treated with catgut embedding at Dachangshu (BL 25), Zusanli (ST 36), Shangjuxu (ST 37) and other points, and the control group with oral administration of salicylazosul-fapyridine, 4-6 g/day.

FGF8, Wnt8 and Myf5 are target genes of Tbx6 during anteroposterior specification in Xenopus embryo.

The T-box transcription factor Tbx6 is required for somite formation and loss-of-function or reduced activity of Tbx6 result in absence of posterior paraxial mesoderm or disorganized somites, but how it is involved in a regulatory hierarchy during Xenopus early development is not clear. We show here that Tbx6 is expressed in the lateral and ventral mesoderm of early gastrula, and it is necessary and sufficient to directly and indirectly regulate the expression of a subset of early mesodermal and endodermal genes. Ectopic expression of Tbx6 inhibits early neuroectodermal gene expression by strongly inducing the expression of posterior mesodermal genes, and expands the mesoderm territory at the expense of neuroectoderm.

Synthesis and antitumor activity of simplified ecteinascidin-saframycin analogs.

Two series of simplified analogs of the ecteinascidin-saframycin type alkaloids were prepared from l-DOPA. Their in vitro antitumor activity was tested against three human cancer cell lines (HCT-8 colon carcinoma, Bel-7402 liver carcinoma, and BGC-823 gastric carcinoma). Among these compounds, the ester analogs have stronger activities than those of amide analogs in general.

Characterization and expression of AmphiARF gene encoding a new member of ARF family from amphioxus Branchiostoma belcheri tsingtauense.

The cDNA AmphiARF, encoding a novel member of ARF family was for the first time identified from the gut cDNA library of amphioxus Branchiostoma becheri tsingtauense. The deduced amino acid sequence includes the motifs involved in GTP binding (DVGG, NKQD and SAK) and hydrolysis (GXDXXGK), and a glycine at position 2 for N-terminal myristoylation, which are all characteristic of ARFs. However, it has a 46 amino acid C-terminal extension (positions 183-227), which was not found in any ARF family previously described including ARF-like proteins.

Antagonistic interaction between IGF and Wnt/JNK signaling in convergent extension in Xenopus embryo.

The homeobox gene Otx2 is expressed during gastrulation in the anterior domain of the vertebrate embryo and is involved in neural and head induction during Xenopus early development. It also prevents convergent extension movements in trunk and posterior mesoderm. Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) were shown to have similar function.

[Comparison of esomeprazole- and omeprazole-based triple therapy regimens for duodenal ulcer with Helicobacter pylori infection].

Objective: To investigate the effect of esomeprazole- and omeprazole-based triple therapy regimens in the treatment of duodenal ulcer with Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection.

Methods: Totally 104 patients with duodenal ulcer and Hp infection were randomly divided into group A (52 cases) treated with esomeprazole (20 mg), amoxicillin (1000 mg) and clarithromycin (500 mg) twice daily and group B (52 cases) treated with omeprazole (20 mg), amoxicillin (1000 mg) and clarithromycin (500 mg) twice daily. The treatment lasted for 7 days, after which abdominal pain relief rate, ulcer healing rate and eradication rate of Hp as well as adverse effects of the medication were evaluated and compared.

Ribosomal protein genes S23 and L35 from amphioxus Branchiostoma belcheri tsingtauense: identification and copy number.

The complete cDNA and deduced amino acid sequences of the ribosomal proteins S23 (AmphiS23) and L35 (AmphiL35) from amphioxus Branchiostoma belcheri tsingtauense were identified in this study. AmphiS23 cDNA is 546 bp long and encodes a protein of 143 amino acids. It has a predicted molecular mass of 15,851 Da and a pI of 10.

[Activity of nitrifiers and metabolized products in a membrane bioreactor MBR under the condition of non-sludge discharge].

A membrane bioreactor fed with synthetic ammonium bearing inorganic wastewater was operated under the following conditions: HRT, from 30 h to 7 h; influent NH4+ -N, 500 mg/L; non-discharge of sludge. Formation of extra-cellular polymers (ECP) and their influence on the activity of nitrifiers in the membrane bioreactor was investigated. Over the whole experimental period of 200 d, the activity of nitrifiers in terms of overall ammonium-oxidizing rate decreased from 2.

[Study of diffusion of muscone in different inclusion complexes and liposome through mouse (correction of rat) skin in vitro].

Objective: To compare the penetrating rate of muscone in different inclusion complexes and liposome.

Method: The transdermal effect of muscone in different inclusion complexes and liposome was studied comparatively on mouse [corrected] skin with 40% EtOH as the absorption solution and with an improved Franz diffuse cell.

Result: Among the different inclusion complexes and liposome, the penetrating rate of muscone in the HP-beta-cyclodextrin inclusion and the liposome were higher than muscone, and that of muscone in the beta-cyclodextrin inclusion is the lowest.

[Synthesis and in vitro antitumor activity of multi-methoxyl carbazole analogues].

Aim: To design and synthesize new methoxyl carbazole analogues as antitumor compounds.

Methods: Methoxyl-nitrobiphenyls (3a-3c) were prepared through the Ullmann reaction of 4,5-dimethoxyl-2-bromonitrobenzene and methoxyl-iodobenzene compounds with the catalysis of copper powder, and then reduced by P(EtO)3 to obtain methoxyl carbazoles 4a-4c. The modification at 9-position of the methoxyl carbazoles (4a-4c) gives 16 carbazole derivatives (5a-5p).

[Studies on the infectivity by porcine endogenous retrovirus with porcine skin fibroblast in vitro and in vivo].

To understand the infectivity by porcine endogenous retrovirus with porcine skin fibroblast cell in vitro and in vivo, porcine skin fibroblast cell established by our laboratory were co-cultured with neo/HEK293 cell for the infection of PERV in vitro, and were subcutaneously transplantated to SCID (severe combined immuno-deficiency) mice for the infection of PERV in vivo, laying the foundation for valuation of biologic safety of xenotransplantation. The event of neo/HEK293 cells infected by PERV occurred during co-culture of porcine skin fibroblast cells with neo/HEK293 cells, expanding the rang of the infection of porcine endogenous retrovirus. After pig cells transplantated subcutaneously in SCID mice, the microchimerism (78.

Identification of distinct genes with restricted expression in the somitic mesoderm in Xenopus embryo.

We have used whole-mount in situ hybridisation to identify genes expressed in the somitic mesoderm during Xenopus early development. We report here the analysis of eight genes whose expression pattern has not been described previously. They include the Xenopus homologues of eukaryotic initiation factor 2beta, methionine adenosyltransferase II, serine dehydratase, alpha-adducin, oxoglutarate dehydrogenase, fragile X mental retardation syndrome related protein 1, monocarboxylate transporter and voltage-dependent anion channel 1.

Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting versus on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting: which is better in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?

To evaluate the clinic outcome of off-pump coronary bypass grafting (OPCABG) of patients with coronary heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, we collected and analyzed 1998-2002 data on 28 patients with these two diseases who had received off-pump coronary bypass operation in our hospital, and compared with data on those who also had the same two diseases but received on-pump coronary artery bypass at same time. There were no operation-related death; one died of respiratory failure 14 days after operation while staying in hospital; there were more respiratory complications in the conventional coronary artery bypass grafting group (CCABG) than in the OPCABG group; and the PaO2/FiO2 in the CCABG group was higher than that in the OPCABG group during operation because of CPB, but lower than that in the OPCABG group 6-12 hours after operation. OPCABG seemed more suitable than CCABG for coronary artery disease patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease due to less damage to their oxygen-exchange capability and the fewer respiratory complications.

Identification of ubiquinones and menaquinones in activated sludge by liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry.

A sensitive analytical method has been developed for identification of ubiquinones (UQ-n(Hx)) and menaquinones (MK-n(Hx)) in activated sludge by liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry in negative mode (LC-NI-APCI-MS). Extraction and clean-up of samples were carried out on Sep-Pak Plus Silica solid-phase extraction cartridges. Complete separation of quinones was achieved with an ODS analytical column and using isopropyl ether-methanol (17:83, v/v) as the mobile phase.

[Effect of alpha-difluoromethylornithine on growth characteristics and expression of ALT-04ag gene of human lung carcinoma cells].

Objective: To study the effect of polyamine biosynthesis inhibition on growth characteristics of human lung carcinoma cells and its correlation with the expression of human lung carcinoma associated antigen ALT-04ag gene.

Methods: The gene expression was detected by RT-PCR and immunocytochemical tests. The cell growth characteristics were studied by cell growth curves, morphological observation, FCM analysis and DNA electrophoresis.

[Neurogranin: a brain-specific protein].

Neurogranin (Ng) is a newly discovered brain-specific protein composed of 78 amino acid residues, which mainly located postsynaptically in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and olfactory bulb in adult human or animals. As a member of calpacitin family, Ng is a protein kinase C (PKC) substrate and calmodulin (CaM) reservoir. In the physiological conditions, Ng forms a complex with CaM, and its CaM-binding affinity was modulated by phosphorylation, oxidation and glutathiolation under the activation of PKC or oxidant stress, which may be involved in the regulation of CaM and CaM-activated proteins, such as CaM-dependent nitric oxide synthase (NOS), CaM-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and CaM-dependent adenylate cyclase (AC).

[Studies on antitumor activity of rhEndostatin].

Aim: To investigate the inhibitory effect of recombinant human endostatin (rhEndostatin) on endothelia cell proliferation and tumor growth.

Methods: MTT assay was applied to examine the anti-proliferation of rhEndostatin on human embryo umbilical cord vascular endothelial cell ECV304 and human cancer cell HCT-8, BGC803 and EJ. Xenotrasplanted nude mice models with human cancer and experimental implanted tumor mice model were used to evaluate rhEndostatin's antitumor activity.