A Novel External Quality Assessment of Chromosomal Karyotype Analysis Based on Chimera Image Assembly.

Objective: This study aimed to establish a new external quality assessment (EQA) of chromosomal karyotype analysis.

Methods: Chimeric assembly A1 was established by collecting chimeric chromosome images prepared artificially from chromosomally abnormal amniocytes remaining after prenatal diagnosis. Chimeric assembly B1 and nonchimeric assembly C1 were constructed through the collection of chimeric and nonchimeric chromosome images from prenatal diagnosis, respectively.

A Quality Assurance Scheme for Prenatal Detection of Aneuploidy Based on Developing Chimeric Quality-Control Cells.

Background: The shortage of quality-control materials caused by non-renewable utilization of rare disease samples is the key factor to limit the quality control of prenatal molecular diagnosis. This study aimed to prepare aneuploid amniocyte lines for the development of quality control cells for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)-mediated detection of aneuploidy.

Methods: Recombinant SV40LTag-pcDNA3.

A mouse radiation-induced liver disease model for stereotactic body radiation therapy validated in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: Lower radiation tolerance of the whole liver hinders dose escalations of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment. This study was conducted to define the exact doses that result in radiation-induced liver disease (RILD) as well as to determine dose constraints for the critical organs at risk (OARs) in mice; these parameters are still undefined in HCC SBRT.

Methods: This study consisted of two phases.

MicroRNA-486-5p, which is downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma, suppresses tumor growth by targeting PIK3R1.

Deregulated microRNAs and their roles in carcinogenesis and cancer progression have attracted much attention. In previous studies conducted in our laboratory, the Illumina Solexa massively parallel signature sequencing of miRNomes in nontumor and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues revealed that miR-486-5p was significantly downregulated in HCC, but its role in HCC development remains unknown. In this study, miR-486-5p levels in HCC tissues and matched control tissues, and in seven HCC cell lines (QGY-7701, QGY-7703, QGY-7404, SMMC-7721, Huh7, HepG2, and PCL/PRF/5) and human normal liver cells (HL-7702), were tested by real-time quantitative RT-PCR.

Anti-cocaine antibody and butyrylcholinesterase-derived cocaine hydrolase exert cooperative effects on cocaine pharmacokinetics and cocaine-induced locomotor activity in mice.

We are investigating treatments for cocaine abuse based on viral gene transfer of a cocaine hydrolase (CocH) derived from human butyrylcholinesterase, which can reduce cocaine-stimulated locomotion and cocaine-primed reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior in rats for many months. Here, in mice, we explored the possibility that anti-cocaine antibodies can complement the actions of CocH to reduce cocaine uptake in brain and block centrally-evoked locomotor stimulation. Direct injections of test proteins showed that CocH (0.

Suppression of allograft rejection by Tim-1-Fc through cross-linking with a novel Tim-1 binding partner on T cells.

Engagement of T-cell immunoglobulin mucin (Tim)-1 on T cells with its ligand, Tim-4, on antigen presenting cells delivers positive costimulatory signals to T cells. However, the molecular mechanisms for Tim-1-mediated regulation of T-cell activation and differentiation are relatively poorly understood. Here we investigated the role of Tim-1 in T-cell responses and allograft rejection using recombinant human Tim-1 extracellular domain and IgG1-Fc fusion proteins (Tim-1-Fc).

[Effects of astilbin on maturation and immunologic function of mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells].

Objective: To explore the effects of astilbin on the maturation and immunologic function of mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DCs).

Methods: Mouse bone marrow cells were cultured with recombinant mouse granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-4 (IL-4) for 5 days to get immature DCs (imDCs), then the imDCs was cultured in the presence of 1 microg/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or LPS (1 microg/mL) plus astilbin (25, 50, 100 microg/mL) for 48 h. Then, the cells were harvested, and the apoptosis, immunophenotypes and antigen phagocytosis capability of imDCs in LPS, and low-, medium- and high-dose astilbin groups were analyzed by flow cytometry.

[Protective effects of astilbin on renal ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats].

Objective: To investigate the protective effects of astilbin on renal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in rats.

Methods: Twenty-four male SD rats, two months old, were randomly allocated into three groups: sham-operated group (n=8), untreated group (n=8) and astilbin group (n=8). Rats in the untreated group and the astilbin group underwent temporary renal artery occlusion to induce IR injury.

Copper deficiency in yaks on pasture in western China.

The clinical signs of a disorder in yaks (Bos grunniens), known locally as "swayback ailment," in the Qing Hai-Tibetan Plateau are described. The purpose of this study is to investigate the possibility that swayback ailment is iron (Fe)-induced copper (Cu) deficiency. The mean concentrations of Cu in soil and forage from affected areas and unaffected areas are similar and within the normal ranges.

Studies of a naturally occurring molybdenum-induced copper deficiency in the yak.

The clinical signs of a disorder known locally as "shakeback disease" in yaks in the North of the Qing Hai-Tibetan Plateau of China were defined: they included emaciation, unsteady gait, a 'shivering' back and deprived appetites. Coat colour was not affected. The mineral composition of soil and forages, and samples of blood and hair from yaks in affected ranches in this region were compared with those of 20 samples from unaffected areas.

[Effects of kaempferol and quercetin on cytochrome 450 activities in primarily cultured rat hepatocytes].

Objective: To observe the effects of kaempferol and quercetin on the activity of cytochrome P450 in rat hepatocytes.

Methods: Primarily cultured rat hepatocytes were exposed to kaempferol or quercetin in concentrations of 0.1, 1, 10 micromol/L for 12 h, 24 h and 48 h.

Alterations in mitochondrial and apoptosis-regulating gene expression in photodynamic therapy-resistant variants of HT29 colon carcinoma cells.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a novel cancer therapy inducing irreversible photodamage to tumor tissue via photosensitizer-mediated oxidative cytotoxicity. The cellular and molecular responses associated with PDT are only partially understood. We have reported previously the generation of several photosensitizer-specific PDT-resistant cell variants of HT29 human colon adenocarcinoma cells by selecting cells from sequential PDT treatment using different photosensitizers.