Relationship between the Expression of RASSF1A Protein and Promoter Hypermethylation of RASSF1A Gene in Bladder Tumor

To investigate the relationship between the expression of RASSF1A protein and promoter hypermethylation of RASSF1A gene, RASSF1A protein expression was measured by Western blotting in 10 specimens of normal bladder tissues and 23 specimens of bladder transitional cell carcinoma （BTCC）. The promoter methylation in BTCC and normal bladder tissues was detected by methylation-specific PCR （MSP）. The results showed that the expression level of RASSF1A protein was significantly lower in BTCC tissues than that in normal bladder tissues. However, it was not correlated with its clinical stages and pathological grades. The frequency of promoter methylation of RASSF1A gene was higher in BTCC tissues than that in normal bladder tissues. In 14 patients with the aberrant promoter methylation, 13 showed loss or low expression of RASSF 1A protein. It is concluded that RASSF1A gene promoter methylation may contribute to the low level or loss of RASSF1A protein expression, the inactivation of RASSF1A gene and the genesis of BTCC. But, it may bear no correlation with its clinical stages and pathological grades.     

A Comparative Study on Serum PreS2 and Polymerized Human Serum Albumin Binding Activity in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection

Antiserum against PreS2 peptide was raised with a synthetic polypeptide from the rabbits.The anti-preS2 antibody and polymerized human serum albumin were used as reagents in aradioimmunoassay to detect preS2 and polymerized human serum albumin bindingactivity respectively. Both were absent in patients with hepatitis A or HBsAg negative chronic liver di-seases. In biopsy - proven patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH)B, prevalences of bothmarkers were significantly higher at exacerbation that at remission stage of the disease, and so werein CAH than in chronic asymptomatic HBV carrier (AsC) with normal histology. Besides, the pre-valences were significantly higher in HBeAg positive group than in anti-HBe positive group.However, the polymerized human serum albumin binding activity and the preS2 were undoubtedlynot the same, as the prevalence of the latter was only 56.7% of the former.     

Relationship between the Changes of VEGF Level and Dendritic Cells in Peripheral Blood of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization

In order to investigate the relationship between the VEGF level and the counts of den-dritic cells (DCs) in peripheral blood of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) before and af-ter transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), the peripheral blood was obtained from 37 pa-tients with HCC who treated by TACE. The blood was obtained on the day before TACE, the first day, the 7th day and the 15th day after TACE respectively. The counts of DCs were quantified by flow cytometry. The plasma VEGF level was measured by ELESA kit. It was shown after TACE, the counts of DCs in peripheral blood were decreased significantly (P<0.05), and the VEGF level in pe-ripheral blood was increased significantly (P<0.05). The counts of DCs in peripheral blood had an inverse correlation with the plasma VEGF level (r=-0.57, P<0.05) after TACE. It was concluded that in patients with HCC after TACE, the increased plasma VEGF level appeared to have the effect to suppress the maturation of DCs, which may contribute to reduction of the body's anti-tumor im-munity effect, with a consequence of recur and metastasis of tumor.     

Methylation of RAR-β2, RASSF1A, and CDKN2A Genes Induced by Nickel Subsulfide and Nickel-carcinogenesis in Rats

Objective To investigate the expression variation of RAR‐β2, RASSF1A, and CDKN2A gene in the process of nickel‐induced carcinogenesis. Methods Nickel subsulfide (Ni 3 S 2 ) at dose of 10 mg was given to Wistar rats by intramuscular injection. The mRNA expression of the three genes in induced tumors and their lung metastasis were examined by Real‐time PCR. The methylation status of the 5’ region of these genes were detected by Quantitative Real‐time methylation specific PCR. Results The mRNA expressions of t...     

Association of SelS mRNA expression in omental adipose tissue with Homa-IR and serum amyloid A in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background Tanis was reported as a putative receptor for serum amyloid A （SAA） involving glucose regulated protein in insulin regulated resistance. It was found to be dysregulated in diabetic rats （Psammomys obesus, Israeli sand rat） and its homologue for humans is SelS/AD-015. The present study analyzed mRNA expression of SelS in omental adipose tissue biopsies from patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM）, and age- and weight-matched nondiabetic patients, the relationship of SelS mRNA with Homa-IR and serum SAA level.
Methods Human omental adipose tissues from ten cases of type 2 diabetic patients and twelve cases of nondiabetic individuals were analyzed for the expression level of SelS mRNA by semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction （PCR）, Homa-IR estimated by standard formula and SAA level by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）.
Results SelS mRNA expression, Homa-IR and serum SAA were higher in T2DM sufferers than in nondiabetic control group. SelS mRNA level was positively correlated with Homa-IR and SAA level in each group.
Conclusions SelS protein may be involved in insulin resistance in Chinese with T2DM by acting as the SAA receptor, thus playing an important role in the development of T2DM and atherosclerosis.     

Correlation between the Expression of Fas, Bcl-2 in Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes and the LeveL of IFN-γ,IL-4 in Serum of Patients with Condyloma Acuminata

Condylomaacuminata (CA)isakindofsexuallytransmitteddiseasecausedbyhumanpapillomavirus(HPV) .Theoccurrence ,progressandresolutionofCAiscloselyrelatedwithimmunologicalfunctionofbody ,especiallycellularimmunologicalfunctionofboby .Theimmunologicalfunctionoft…     

Effect of Kang''''ai Injection(康艾注射液) on Serum Level of Soluble Interleukin-2 Receptor and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Patients with Esophageal Carcinoma during Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy(RT)is an important ap-proach for treatment of esophageal carcinoma(EC),especially for patients who have missedthe chance of surgical section.The efficacy ofRTis not satisfactory for its1-year,3-year and5-year survival rates being merely50%,20%,and10%respectively(1).Researches in recent years showed thatbetter efficacy can be obtained by combiningRTwith Chinese herbal medicines for EC thatincapable to be resected.Kang ai Injection(康艾注射液,KAI)is a Chinese herbal prep-arati…     

Qushi Huayu Decoction (祛湿化瘀方) Inhibits Protein and Gene Expression of Cathepsin B in HepG2 Cells Induced by Free Fatty Acids

Objective: To study the experimental efficacy of Qushi Huayu Decoction (祛湿化瘀方,QHD) on protein and gene expression of cathepsin B (ctsb) in HepG2 cells induced by free fatty acids (FFAs).Methods: The model of HepG2 steatosis and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) secretion was induced by long-chain FFAs.HepG2 cells were divided into 4 groups: control group (group C),model group (group M),low-dose QHD group (group L) and high-dose QHD group (group H ).Long-chain FFAs were added to groups M,L and H.The 10% blank-control serum was added to group C and M,while 5% and 10% QHD-containing sera were added to group L and H,respectively.The levels of serum TNF-α and cellular triglyceride (TG) were detected.Cellular p-IκB and ctsb expression were detected using Western blot and PCR.The expression and distribution of ctsb were observed by immunofluorescence.Results: After incubating with FFA for 24 h,TG deposition in HepG2,TNF-α content in cell supernatant,the protein expression of cellular ctsb and P-IκB,as well as mRNA expression of ctsb increased markedly in group M compared with group C (P0.05,P0.01).Compared with group M,TG deposition,the expression of cellular ctsb,P-IκB and ctsb mRNA in groups L and H,as well as TNF-α content in group H,decreased significantly (P0.05).Cell immunochemical fluorescence studies showed that ctsb was released from lysosomes and distributed in the cytoplasm extensively and diffusedly after being stimulated with FFA.In this study,these above-mentioned changes were inhibited markedly in groups L and H.Conclusion: QHD might have a direct inhibitory effect on the ctsb target in the FFA-ctsb-TNFα pathway of hepatic lipotoxicity.     

Association of variations of NAb 2F5 and 4E10 epitopes and disease progression in Chinese antiretroviral treatment-naïve patients infected with HIV-1 clade B’

Background Studies on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 （HIV-1） vaccines have recently focused on targeting the conserved neutralizing epitopes 2F5 and 4E10, and hence it is important to understand the extent of mutations in these two viral epitopes. Here, we investigated the amino acid mutations in epitopes of 2F5 （ELDKWA, HIV-1 HXB2 env 662-667 aa） and 4E10 （NWFDIT, HIV-1 HXB2 env 671-676 aa） in the membrane proximal-external region of gp41 from clade B＇ HIV-1-infected individuals living in Henan province, China. We also examined the frequency of a mutation and its relation to disease progression.Methods A cohort of 54 treatment-na（i）ve HIV-1-infected individuals was recruited in this study, and 16 individuals were selected for a short-term longitudinal study on sequence evolution. The HIV-1 env gp41 gene was amplified, cloned, and sequenced, and predicted amino acid sequences were aligned for analysis.Results The mutations E662A and K665E on the 2F5 epitope and N671S and T676S on the 4E10 epitope were seen.Simultaneous RNA sequencing showed some discrepancies with proviral DNA sequences. In our longitudinal study,mutation levels of these two neutralizing epitopes were low but diverse and persistent. The frequencies of mutations within the 4E10 peptide NWFDIT in slow progressors were noticeably lower than those in AIDS patients （P ＜0.05）.Conclusions Antigenic variation of the neutralizing epitopes 2F5 and 4E10 is limited in subtype B＇ infection, and that 4E10 peptide mutation is correlated with disease progression. Monitoring epitope mutations will offer useful data for development of the candidate 2F5-like and 4E10-like antibodies to prevent and treat AIDS.