Using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a model animal for assessing the toxicity induced by microcystin-LR.

Among more than 75 variants of microcystin (MC), microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is one of the most common toxins. In this study, the feasibility of using Caenorhabditis elegans to evaluate MC-LR toxicity was studied. C.

Analysis and estimates of the attributable risk for environmental and genetic risk factors in gastric cancer in a Chinese population.

Development of gastric cancer is a multistage, multifactorial process. This study determined the population attributable risk for environmental and genetic risk factors in development of gastric cancer. A 1:1 cancer case-control study was undertaken in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.

Evaluation of pesticide toxicities with differing mechanisms using Caenorhabditis elegans.

The aim of this study was to (1) determine whether model organism Caenorhabditis elegans was sensitive to pesticides at the maximum concentration limits regulated by national agency standards, and (2) examine the multi-biological toxicities occurring as a result of exposure to pesticides. Five pesticides, namely, chlorpyrifos, imibacloprid, buprofezin, cyhalothrin, and glyphosate, with four different mechanisms of action were selected for the investigation. In accordance with national agency requirements, 4 exposed groups were used for each tested pesticide with the concentration scales ranging from 1.

Meta- and pooled analysis of GSTP1 polymorphism and lung cancer: a HuGE-GSEC review.

Lung cancer is the most common cancer worldwide. Polymorphisms in genes associated with carcinogen metabolism may modulate risk of disease. Glutathione S-transferase pi (GSTP1) detoxifies polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons found in cigarette smoke and is the most highly expressed glutathione S-transferase in lung tissue.

The false-positive and false-negative predictive value of HIV antibody test in the Chinese population.

Objectives: To analyse the relationship between the false-positive/false-negative predictive value (FPPV/FNPV) of the HIV-antibody (HIV-Ab) test and prevalence in different Chinese population groups.

Methods: HIV prevalence among different population groups was obtained by a screening survey of blood donors and the national HIV/AIDS surveillance programme in China. Given the sensitivity and specificity of a test kit and the prevalence of HIV infection, the estimated values of FPPV/FNPV were calculated using Bayes' formula.

Association of combined CYP2E1 gene polymorphism with the risk for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in Huai'an population, China.

Background: Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) has an important role in the metabolic activation of precarcinogens such as N-nitrosoamines and other low relative molecular mass, organic compounds. This study examined whether CYP2E1 RsaI and DraI polymorphism are associated with susceptibility to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and the correlation between the genotypes and expression levels of CYP2E1 mRNA.

Methods: Seventy-seven patients with newly diagnosed, untreated esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and 79 healthy controls matched in age, gender and residence were recruited for the control study.

Reduced expression of human DNA repair genes in esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma in china.

Epidemiological studies indicated that the incidence of esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma (ESCC) is associated with exposure to a variety of environmental factors. To determine whether the baseline expression of genes involved in DNA damage and repair induced by these carcinogens is associated with higher risk for ESCC, a case-control study was undertaken and the relative expression levels of six DNA repair genes (MGMT, hOGG1, XRCC1, XPD, hMLH1, and hMSH2) were determined in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). One hundred patients with newly diagnosed, untreated ESCC and 117 healthy controls matched for age, gender, and residence were recruited.

Analysis of multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of myeloperoxidase (MPO) to screen for genetic markers associated with acute leukemia in Chinese Han population.

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is an important metabolizing enzyme involved in oxidative stress responses to some environmental carcinogens including benzene, a chemical associated with bone marrow toxicity and leukemia. A novel multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique based on adapter-ligation mediated allele-specific amplification (ALM-ASA) is simple, inexpensive and especially useful for multiplex single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) genotyping. The purpose of this study was to examine the genetic markers associated with acute leukemia from multiple SNPs of MPO found in Chinese Han population.

[In vivo degradation and tissue compatibility of poly-L-lactide/beta-tricalcium phosphate composite rods for internal fixation of bone fractures].

Abstract Poly-l-lactide/beta-tricalcium phosphate (PLLA/betaTCP) composite was obtained by combining ground beta-TCP with PLLA, and absorbable rods were prepared by injection moulding. Degradations of the rods were investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM), mass loss, molecular weight and bending strength changes. At the beginning of in vivo degradation of the rods, the molecular weight of PLLA decreases sharply with the less mass losses of the rods.

[Relationship between quinone oxidoreductase1 gene ns-cSNP and genetic susceptibility of esophageal cancer].

Objective: To explore the relationship between quinone oxidoreductase1 (NQO1) gene nonsynonymous cSNP and the genetic susceptibility of esophageal cancer.

Methods: Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and Allele-Specific PCR (AS-PCR) were employed to assess the polymorphism of NQO1 genes both in 106 patients with esophageal cancer and control subjects matched by age, gender and origin.

Results: It was shown that no C/C genotype was found at 406 of NQO1.

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated in Jiangsu Province, China, with a focus on fluoroquinolone resistance.

In this study, the phenotypic and genotypic resistance to fluoroquinolones in Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated in Jiangsu Province, China, was analysed. In vitro susceptibility testing of eight antimicrobial agents, including ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin, against 95 clinical isolates was carried out. Detection of mutations in the gyrA and parC genes was performed by sequence analysis.

[A study on the repair of bone defects with deproteinized bone surrounded by titanium mesh and osteoblasts].

To investigate the ability of composite graft of osteobalsts and deproteinized bone-titanium mesh (DPB-TM) scaffold to repair cranial bone defect. 30 rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups. The passage 3 fetal rabbit osteoblasts were seeded into porous DPB-TM scaffolds at the density of 5 x 10(6) ml(-1) as the experimental group.

[Observation of the grafting of platelet-derived growth factor gene-modified artificial composite skin on rat wounds].

Objective: To observe the effects of the grafting of a platelet-derived growth factor gene-modified artificial composite skin on rat wounds with full thickness defect.

Methods: Platelet derived growth factor-B (PDGF-B) eukaryotic expression plasmid was constructed, and the fibroblasts were transfected with it by liposome mediation. Artificial composite skins 1 and 2 were constructed respectively.

[Interaction of beta-carotene on lipid peroxidation induced by cigarette smoke].

Objective: To study the interaction of beta-carotene on lipid peroxidation induced by the smoke of cigarette.

Methods: Rat type II pneumocytes were isolated, cultured and then exposed to particles extracted from cigarette smoke and/or beta-carotene for 24 h. Malondialdehyde (MDA) in the cells was measured by TBA method.

[Oxidative stress of cooking oil fume on rat type II lung cells].

The relationship between the oxidative stress and damages in rat type II lung cells exposed to cooking oil fume (COF) was studied. The cytotoxicity, DNA cross-links and DNA single strand breaks could be observed in the cells exposed to COF. The contents of MDA were increased and GSH were decreased significantly with exposure doses of COF and with time dependence.