Differential gene expression associated with inflammation in peripheral blood cells of patients with pneumoconiosis.

Objectives: To study expression changes in inflammation-related genes in peripheral blood of patients with pneumoconiosis and to explore the possibility of these genes as pneumoconiosis biomarkers.

Methods: Peripheral blood samples of patients with pneumoconiosis patients and controls were collected, and total RNA of the blood cells were extracted and reverse transcribed to cDNA. Screenings of deferentially expressed genes associated with inflammation between patients with pneumoconiosis and controls were performed using real-time quantitative PCR array and the expressions of the three most upregulated genes were confirmed by real-time PCR.

Cytogenetic analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes, many years after exposure of workers to low-dose ionizing radiation.

The present study aims to measure chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei in peripheral blood lymphocytes from 25 subjects exposed to 0.10-0.33 Gy external or internal irradiation 32-41 years ago using conventional cytogenetic analysis methods.

Assessment of retrospective dose estimation, with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), of six victims previously exposed to accidental ionizing radiation.

The present study aims to evaluate the use of the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) translocation assay for retrospective dose estimation of acute accidental exposure to radiation in the past. Reciprocal translocation analysis by FISH with three whole-chromosome probes was performed on normal peripheral blood samples. Samples were irradiated with 0-5Gy (60)Co γ-rays in vitro, and dose-effect curves were established.

[Serum levels of CC-Chemokine ligand 18 in the patients with pneumoconiosis].

Objective: To measure the peripheral serum levels of CC-chemokine ligand-18 (CCL-18) in patients with pneumoconiosis, and to investigate the feasibility of the index asa potential biomarker for pneumoconiosis.

Methods: Seventy-seven male patients with pneumoconiosis (stage 1:40 cases, stage 2:22 cases, stage 3:15 cases), including 42 cases of silicosis and 35 cases of coal worker pneumoconiosis, were enrolled as subjects, and 162 healthy male physical examinees in our hospital were used as controls. A fasting blood sample (3 ml) was collected from the peripheral venous blood of each patient or control.

[The endoscopic and clinical features of Indigo Naturalis-associated ischemic lesions of colonic mucosa].

Objective: By analysing the clinical features of Indigo Naturalis-associated ischemic lesion of colon mucosa to improve the precautionary and therapeutic level of the disease.

Methods: Thirteen patients diagnosed as Indigo Naturalis-associated ischemic lesion of colon mucosa in Peking University Third Hospital from 2005 to 2010 were reviewed. The endoscopic and clinical features were analysed.

[Biological dose assessment by the analyses of chromosomal aberrations and CB micronuclei in two victims accidentally exposed to 60Co gamma-rays].

Biological doses were estimated by using the yields of dicentrics plus rings(dic+r) and cytokinesis-block micronuclei (CBMN) for two victims of the accident radiation occurred on Mar 6,2000 in the City of Xuchang(victim A), and Jun 26,2000 in the City of Kaifeng(victim B), Henan Province,respectively. The results indicated that the equvalent whole body doses based on the standard dose-response curves established by the analyses of dic+r and CBMN were estimated to be 1.44Gy and 1.

The actin gene promoter-driven bar as a dominant selectable marker for nuclear transformation of Dunaliella salina.

A 5'-flanking region of an actin gene from the green unicellular alga Dunaliella salina (D. salina) was cloned using a genome-walking method by PCR and its structural features were characterized. Two repetitive sequences found, over 75 bp in length each, were located at position -573 and -424 bp,respectively, relative to the AUG codon.

[Expression of calprotectin in colon mucosa and fecal of patients with ulcerative colitis].

Objective: To investigate the correlation between the disease activity of ulcerative colitis (UC) and the immunohistochemical distribution of calprotectin in colon mucosa,as well as the levels of calprotectin in fecal.

Methods: Monoclonal antibody against calprotectin was used to investigate the distribution of these proteins in colon mucosa from 42 patients with ulcerative colitis and 20 healthy controls. ELISA assay was used to measure the concentrations of calprotectin in fecal.

Characteristics and therapeutic efficacy of sulfasalazine in patients with mildly and moderately active ulcerative colitis.

Aim: To investigate the characteristics and short-term efficacy of sulfasalazine (SASP) in patients with mildly and moderately active ulcerative colitis (UC).

Methods: Two hundred and twenty-eight patients with mildly and moderately active UC were recruited, 106 patients in 1993-1995, and 122 patients in 2000-2002, they were assigned as the 1990s group (n = 106) and the 2000s group (n = 122), prospectively. The general characteristics, clinical manifestations, colonoscopic and histological data were compared between the two groups.

[Cloning and characterization of Hsp70a cDNA fragment of Dunaliella salina].

The present study is to obtain heat shock protein 70a cDNA fragment from Dunaliella salina. Two pairs of degenerate primers were designed according to conserved motifs of DIDLGTT,DQGNRTTP,PAYFNDS and ATKDAG of the homologous amino acid sequences and used to amplify hsp70a cDNA fragment from heat-shock-treated Dunaliella salina by nest PCR technique. The resulting PCR products were inserted into T-vector then transformed into JM109.

Effects and mechanism of the selective COX-2 inhibitor, celecoxib, on rat colitis induced by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid.

Objective: To investigate the action of celecoxib (a selective COX-2 inhibitor) in a rat model of colitis induced by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS).

Methods: Rats were randomized into four groups. Colitis was induced in groups 1 and 2 by intracolonic administration of TNBS (25 mg/mL) in 50% ethanol (0.

[Cloning and functional analyses of promoters of two carbonic anhydrase genes from Dunaliella salina].

The cloning vectors pMD-DCA1 and pMD-CA containing the promoters of duplicated carbonic anhydrase 1 (DCA1) and carbonic anhydrase (CA) genes, respectively, from Dunaliella salina, and expression vector pDM307 containing bar-NOS polyA fragment were digested with EcoR I. The bar-NOS polyA fragment was fused, respectively, to the fragments of the vectors pMD-DCA1 and pMD-CA to form transgenic D. salina expression vectors pMDDC-B and pMDC-B.

[Clinical characteristics of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs associated gastroduodenal ulcer bleeding].

Objective: To study the clinical characteristics of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) associated gastroduodenal ulcer bleeding.

Methods: Patients who were hospitalized in our ward because of gastroduodenal bleeding from Jan, 1997 to Dec, 2001 were divided into two groups according to consumption of NSAIDs or not in the week previous to the onset of bleeding.

Results: 446 patients were investigated with 86 in NSAIDs group and 360 in non-NSAIDs group.