Detection of ETV6 gene rearrangements in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

ETV6 is an important hematopoietic regulatory factor and ETV6 gene rearrangement is involved in a wide variety of hematological malignancies. In this study, we sought to investigate the incidence of ETV6-associated fusion genes in B- and T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) by multiplex-nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 176 adult ALL patients. Total RNA was extracted from bone marrow samples of ALL patients including 136 B- and 40 T-lineage ALL, and ETV6 fusion genes were detected by multiplex-nested RT-PCR.

Efficacy of gemifloxacin for the treatment of experimental Staphylococcus aureus keratitis.

Purpose: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of topically applied gemifloxacin for the treatment of experimental Staphylococcus aureus keratitis in a rabbit model.

Methods: Rabbit corneas were intrastromally injected with ~100 colony-forming units (CFU) of S. aureus ATCC25923.

Effects of growth environments and two environmental endocrine disruptors on children with idiopathic precocious puberty.

Objective: The incidence of idiopathic precocious puberty (IPP) might have an increasing trend. But the causes and risk factors of IPP are unknown. The objective of our study is to evaluate the effects of growth environments and two environmental endocrine disruptors (EDCs), zearalenone (ZEA), and 1,1-dichloro-2,2,bisethylene (p,p'-DDE), on patients with IPP.

[Application of multiplex nested RT-PCR for fast detection of PDGFRα fusion gene in myeloproliferative neoplasms].

This study was aimed to explore the applicable value of multiplex nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (multiplex nested RT-PCR)for the detection of platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRα) fusion gene in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). Bone marrow or peripheral blood samples from 146 patients with MPN were analyzed by using a novel multiplex nested RT-PCR. The result showed that PDGFRα fusion gene was found in 6 out of the 146 bone marrow or peripheral blood samples, the positive rate was 4.

[Application of reverse transcription-multiplex nested PCR to detect PDGFRB gene rearrangement in myeloproliferative disorders].

In order to explore the value of reverse transcription(RT)-multiplex nested PCR for detecting PDGFRB gene rearrangement in myeloproliferative disorders (MPD), the PDGFRB rearrangement was detected qualitatively in 146 MPD cases by reverse transcription multiplex nested PCR. The results showed that 8 cases with PDGFRB fusion gene were found in 146 cases, the positive rate was 5.5%.

Knockdown of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) expression diminishes radiosensitivity of glioma cells.

Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) has been shown to play an important role in the promotion of glioma. In this study, we investigated the effects of downregulated SPARC expression on the radiosensitivity of human glioma U-87MG cells and its possible mechanism. With a small-interfering RNA (siRNA) expression plasmid vector targeting SPARC, we obtained the stably transfected cells in which the expression of SPARC was successfully downregulated.

Extensive, clustered parental imprinting of protein-coding and noncoding RNAs in developing maize endosperm.

Although genetic imprinting was discovered in maize 40 years ago, its exact extent in the triploid endosperm remains unknown. Here, we have analyzed global patterns of allelic gene expression in developing maize endosperms from reciprocal crosses between inbreds B73 and Mo17. We have defined an imprinted gene as one in which the relative expression of the maternal and paternal alleles differ at least fivefold in both hybrids of the reciprocal crosses.

Prophylactic effect of topical fluoroquinolones in a rabbit model of Staphylococcus aureus endophthalmitis.

Purpose: To evaluate the prophylactic effects of topical gemifloxacin, pazufloxacin, moxifloxacin, and levofloxacin for experimental Staphylococcus aureus endophthalmitis in a rabbit model.

Methods: Rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups with 14 rabbits each. The control group received balanced salt solution (BSS); the other 4 groups received 1 drop of gemifloxacin, pazufloxacin, moxifloxacin, or levofloxacin ophthalmic solution, respectively, in the left eye at each of the following time points: 60, 45, 30, and 15 min before infection, immediately after infection, and then 6, 12, 18, and 24 h postinfection.

Periconceptional folic acid supplementation among women attending antenatal clinic in Anhui, China: data from a population-based cohort study.

Objectives: to examine the rate of periconceptional and optimal folic acid supplementation, and to characterise their patterns and determinants among antenatal women in central China.

Design: data from 4290 women in the Anhui Birth Defects and Child Development Cohort Study recruited between October 2008 and September 2009 were analysed.

Setting: seven Maternal and Child Health Centres of two cities (Hefei and Maanshan) in Anhui province of central China.

Arsenicosis history and research progress in Mainland China.

This article provides the history of arsenicosis in Mainland China and the research situation in the recent 10 years. The first large area of arsenicosis caused by high levels of arsenic in drinking water in Mainland China was discovered in Kuitun, Xinjiang Province, in 1983. The government attached great importance to arsenicosis and finally regarded it as the epidemic disease throughout the nation in 1994.

Sodium arsenite induced reactive oxygen species generation, nuclear factor (erythroid-2 related) factor 2 activation, heme oxygenase-1 expression, and glutathione elevation in Chang human hepatocytes.

Liver is one of the major target organs of arsenic toxicity and carcinogenesis. Nuclear factor (erythroid-2 related) factor 2 (Nrf2) is a redox-sensitive transcription factor, regulating critically cellular defense responses against the toxic metallic arsenic in many cell types and tissues. This study was conducted to evaluate the hepato-cellular Nrf2 and Nrf2-regulated antioxidant reactions of sodium arsenite exposure in Chang human hepatocytes.

Simulation and assay of protein biotinylation with electrochemical technique.

Protein biotinylation plays an important role in metabolism and transcription regulation, so study of protein biotinylation has received more and more interests. In this work, the bifunctional Escherichia coli biotin-inducible repressor protein A (BirA) and its substrate for protein biotinylation, a unique peptide with a specific sequence, are introduced as a model to electrochemically simulate the committed step in fatty acid biosynthesis. With the help of gold nanoparticles and peroxidase-labeled streptavidin involved in the electrochemical system, protein biotinylation is achieved on the surface of the working electrode, and the process of protein biotinylation can be electrochemically assayed by the obtained electrochemical response.

Serum HER2 level measured by dot blot: a valid and inexpensive assay for monitoring breast cancer progression.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is one of the most important prognostic and predictive factors for breast cancer patients. Recently, serum HER2 ECD level of patients detected by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) has been shown to predict tumor HER2 status and reveal its association with tumor progression, recurrence and poor prognosis. In this study, we established a new method, dot blot assay, to measure the serum HER2 level in breast cancer patients and further to evaluate the clinical value for monitoring breast cancer progression.

Gold nanoparticles based colorimetric assay of protein poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation.

A new method to assay protein poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation was proposed based on the interaction between the substrate of poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and gold nanoparticles, which needed no coupled enzymes or other modified catalytic substrate.

Activation of focal adhesion kinase enhances the adhesion of Fusarium solani to human corneal epithelial cells via the tyrosine-specific protein kinase signaling pathway.

Purpose: To determine the role of the integrin-FAK signaling pathway triggered by the adherence of F. solani to human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs).

Methods: After pretreatment with/without genistein, HCECs were incubated with F.

Construction and characterization of a cDNA library from shark regenerated hepatic tissue.

Sharks are a type of fish with a full cartilaginous skeleton and have big livers. To better understand liver regeneration in sharks and screening for the important genes participated in disease-defense, in this study, a cDNA library of regenerated liver tissues of shark, Chiloscyllium plagiosum, was constructed. A total of 2103 expressed sequence tags (ESTs), which represents 997 unique genes, were sequenced.

Engineering an antiplatelet adhesion layer on an electrospun scaffold using porcine endothelial progenitor cells.

In coronary artery bypass graft interventions, luminal thrombosis is one of the greatest challenges for polymeric grafts with a luminal diameter less than 4 mm. Previously, we reported the fabrication of a highly porous micro/nanofibrous electrospun scaffold and demonstrated the excellent biocompatibility of the scaffolding materials with human endothelial cells. In this study, we explored the engineering of an antithrombotic layer on the scaffold's lumen within 48 h, using peripheral blood-derived porcine endothelial progentior cells (EPC).

Mesenchymal stem cell responses to bone-mimetic electrospun matrices composed of polycaprolactone, collagen I and nanoparticulate hydroxyapatite.

The performance of biomaterials designed for bone repair depends, in part, on the ability of the material to support the adhesion and survival of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). In this study, a nanofibrous bone-mimicking scaffold was electrospun from a mixture of polycaprolactone (PCL), collagen I, and hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles with a dry weight ratio of 50/30/20 respectively (PCL/col/HA). The cytocompatibility of this tri-component scaffold was compared with three other scaffold formulations: 100% PCL (PCL), 100% collagen I (col), and a bi-component scaffold containing 80% PCL/20% HA (PCL/HA).

A Chinese experience of fractional ultrapulsed CO₂laser for skin rejuvenation.

Background And Objectives: The ablative fractional CO₂ laser has been successfully used in treating photoaged skin in the Caucasian population. However, its application in Asian skin has not been widely reported. The purpose of this study is to observe the efficacy and safety of the protocol 'ActiveFX' for photodamaged facial skin in Chinese patients.

[Detection of bone marrow involvement by lymphoma cells in patients with B-NHL by using flow cytometry analysis].

This study was purposed to investigate the significance of using (FCM) flow cytometry for detection bone marrow involvement by lymphoma cells in untreated patients with B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL). Bone marrow samples of 54 patients with B-NHL were analyzed by flow cytometry, morphological method and molecular biology technique. Bone marrow involvement was diagnosed based on the results of morphology, FCM and molecular biology.

[Impact of stressful life event, weight gain during pregnancy and mode of delivery on the delayed onset of lactation in primiparas].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of severe life events at first, second and third trimester, excessive weight gain during pregnancy and caesarean section on the delayed onset of lactation.

Methods: The effect of life stressful event during different gestational age in a total of 2017 parturient women giving birth in hospitals was assessed with reliable questionnaires. Demographic characteristics, history of pregnancy, BMI at early pregnancy and antepartum and the delivery outcomes including gestational age at birth, mode of delivery and the condition of babies were collected by interviewing or from medical charts.

Combination of enzyme catalysis and electrocatalysis for biosensor fabrication: application to assay the activity of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygensae.

A new strategy to fabricate electrochemical biosensor is reported in this paper based on the selective combination of enzyme catalysis and electorcatalysis, thus an electrochemical method to assay the activity of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygensae (IDO) is proposed. Tryptophan, the substrate of IDO, is firstly covalently immobilized on a gold electrode surface. Oxidation of the tryptophan residue catalyzed by IDO and the subsequent hydrolyzation of the product by acetic acid may yield kynurenine, which may induce the immobilization of dithiobis [succinimidylpropionate] (DSP)-modified platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) onto the surface of the gold electrode.

[Study on application of CPP-ACP on tooth mineralization during orthodontic treatment with fixed appliance].

Purpose: To determine the value of clinical application of CPP-ACP during orthodontic treatment with fixed appliance.

Methods: Seventy-five subjects were divided randomly into three groups, the control group, experimental group A and experimental group B. The control group were emphasized on daily oral hygiene.

[Toxic effects of fluoride on rat cerebral cortex astrocytes in vitro].

Objective: To study astrocytes cellular cycle and the activities of SDH, 5'-NT and ACP in rat cerebral cortex astrocytes by NaF in vitro.

Methods: Astrocytes of rat cerebral cortex were purified and cultured in vitro to obtain the highly purified cells (identified by immunochemistry of anti-GFAP). The constituent ratio of cell cycle was analyzed by FCM after the cells were cultured with different levels of NaF for different time span.

Functional characterization of the recombinant human C1 inhibitor serpin domain: insights into heparin binding.

Variants of the human C1 inhibitor serpin domain containing three N-linked carbohydrates at positions 216, 231, and 330 (C1inhDelta97), a single carbohydrate at position 330 (C1inhDelta97DM), or no carbohydrate were produced in a baculovirus/insect cells system. An N-terminally His-tagged C1inhDelta97 variant was also produced. Removal of the oligosaccharide at position 330 dramatically decreased expression, precluding further analysis.