Extending the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): The GRADE-TCM.

Aim: To extend and form the "Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation in Traditional Chinese Medicine" (GRADE-TCM).

Methods: Methodologies were systematically reviewed and analyzed concerning evidence-based TCM guidelines worldwide. A survey questionnaire was developed based on the literature review and open-end expert interviews.

Polymorphisms and AR: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an especially common disorder associated with both environmental and genetic factors, and a lot of researchers have attempted to find polymorphisms which predisposed to the disease. We conducted a meta-analysis of the most frequently researched polymorphisms to find those genes which may be susceptible to AR and then may be of value in diagnosis. Pubmed and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases were searched to screen out eligible studies focusing on the correlation between polymorphisms and AR susceptibility, and then polymorphisms cited in at least 3 studies were selected.

GRP78 mediates radiation resistance of a stem cell-like subpopulation within the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line.

Emerging evidence indicates that breast cancer-initiating cells (CICs) are relatively resistant to radiotherapy; however, the critical mechanisms determining breast CIC resistance to radiation remain elusive. In the present study, a subpopulation of cells displaying characteristics generally attributed to stem cells was identified within the breast cancer cell line MCF-7. This subpopulation displays cancer stem cell features characterized by overexpression of embryonic stem cell markers, high tumorigenic potential following transplantation into BALB/c-nu mice, self-renewal capacity and resistance to ionizing radiation (IR).

Mechanism underlying carbon tetrachloride-inhibited protein synthesis in liver.

Aim: To study the mechanism underlying carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) -induced alterations of protein synthesis in liver.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were given CCl(4) (1 mL/100 g body weight) and (3)H-leucine incorporation. Malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the liver, in vitro response of hepatocyte nuclei nucleotide triphosphatase (NTPase) to free radicals, and nuclear export of total mRNA with 3'-poly A(+) were measured respectively.

[Glucose regulated protein 78 kD].

One of the most important chaperones located on endoplasmic reticulum, GRP78, referred as BiP (immunoglobulin heavy chain binding protein), belongs to heat shock protein 70 family. GRP78 exists conservatively among a wide variety of biological species, and acts as a central regulator of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) functions, participating in ER protein folding and assembly process, and maintaining ER Ca2+ homeostasis, unfolded protein response and specific anti-apoptotic actions. Specific regulatory cis-elements such as ER stress response element (ERSE) and cAMP response element (CRE) were identified on the promoter of GRP78.

Tunicamycin suppresses cisplatin-induced HepG2 cell apoptosis via enhancing p53 protein nuclear export.

Cisplatin is a widely used anticancer drug; however, resistance to cisplatin-based chemotherapy is a major cause of treatment failure in patients with tumors. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether and how endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress initiated by tunicamycin, which inhibits glycosylation, influences cisplatin-induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells. Pretreatment of HepG2 cells with ER stress inducers brought about a decrease in both cisplatin-induced cytotoxic effects and apoptosis.

[Twin study on serum leptin and soluble leptin receptor in pubertal girls].

Objective: To explore the changes of serum leptin, soluble leptin receptor (SOB-R) concentrations and free leptin index (FLI) throughout the puberty in females, and estimate the effects of genetic and environmental factors on these indices.

Methods: The population studied consists of 180 pairs of twins in 6 to 18 years old: 132 pairs of monozygotic twins and 48 pairs of dizygotic twins, who were all from Qingdao city, Shandong Province. Anthropometric and sexual characteristics were examined, fasting serum leptin and SOB-R contents were assayed by immunoradiometric assay and ELISA respectively.

[Twin study of free insulin-like growth factor-1 on female pubertal development].

Objective: To explore the effect of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) on female pubertal development and estimate heritability of the serum free IGF-1.

Methods: The study population consisted of 427 girls aged 6 to 18 years: 132 pairs monozygotic twins, 48 pairs same-sex dizygotic twins and 67 girls with opposite-sex twin, who were all from Qingdao city, Shan-dong province. Their breast development were examined by Tanner standard and fast serum free IGF-1 contents were assayed by immunoradiometric assay (IRMA).

[Heritability analysis of insulin sensitivity and the effect of age and sex: a twin study in Chinese aged 5-18].

Objective: To study the contribution of genes and environment to the variation of insulin sensitivity, and the effect of body mass index (BMI), age and sex.

Methods: A total of 296 healthy same-sex twin pairs were studied, including 223 monozygotic (MZ) and 73 dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs aged 5-18(mean age, 12+/-4 years). Microsatellite polymorphism (STR) was used to diagnose zygosity of twins.