PADI4 polymorphisms and susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis: a meta-analysis

The objective of the study was to investigate the association between peptidylarginine deiminase 4 (PADI4) polymorphism and susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). An electronic searching strategy was employed to collect relevant studies on the association between PADI4 polymorphism and susceptibility to RA. The odds ratio (OR) with the 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI) was used to evaluate the RA risk presented by PADI4 polymorphism. Fixed or random effects models were selected based on heterogeneity. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plots, Begg’s test, and Egger’s test. A total of 27 studies from 21 articles were included. Six gene loci (padi4_94, 104, 92, 90, 89, and 100) were chosen for the meta-analysis. The pooled ORs (95 % CI) for allele 2 versus 1 were 1.08 (1.05–1.12), 1.17 (1.12–1.23), 1.26 (1.18–1.36), 1.17 (1.10–1.24), 1.30 (1.17–1.44), and 1.25 (1.11–1.40), respectively. All six SNPs were significantly associated with RA in Asian populations. Three SNPs (PADI4_104, 90, 89) showed significant associations, while the other three SNPs (PADI4_94, 92, 100) exhibited no associations in the European population. A dose–response relationship between allele 2 of PADI4 and the risk of RA was also identified. In conclusion, this meta-analysis suggests that PADI4 polymorphisms represent a significant risk factor for RA, especially in Asians.     

白细胞介素18和前列腺素E2与骨关节炎

目的：回顾近年来国内外有关白细胞介素18和前列腺素E2在骨关节炎发病机制中作用的研究，分析白细胞介素18和前列腺素E2在骨关节炎发病机制中的作用进展。 资料来源：应用计算机检索Medline 1995—01／2005—02相关白细胞介素18和前列腺素E2与骨关节炎的文献，检索词“Interleukin-18，prostaglandin E2，cytokines，Osteoarthritis”，并限定文献语言种类为English．同时计算机检索清华同方中国医院1995—01／2005—02相关自细胞介素18和前列腺素E2与骨关节炎，部分为细胞因子与骨关节炎的文献，检索词为“白细胞介素18，前列腺素E2，细胞因子，骨关节炎”。 资料选择：对资料进行初选，选取包含白细胞介素18、前列腺素E2、细胞因子与骨关节炎的文献，开始查找摘要与全文。纳入标准：①自细胞介素18与骨关节炎。②前列腺素E2与骨关节炎。③细胞因子与骨关节炎。④白细胞介素18，前列腺素E2与骨关节炎。排除标准：①细胞因子，炎症介质与类风湿性、风湿性关节炎。②骨关节炎的治疗。③重复的综述文献与研究．Meta分析类文章。 资料提炼：共收集了有关白细胞介素18和前列腺素E2与骨关节炎，部分为细胞因子与骨关节炎的文献212篇，纳入65篇。其中2篇阐述了白细胞介素18和前列腺素E2在骨关节炎中的共同作用。将文献进行综合评价。 资料综合：骨关节炎是人体活动关节中最常见的一种疼痛和退行性变疾病，其发病机制尚未完全阐明。其中细胞因子和炎症介质起着重要作用。新发现致炎因子自细胞介素18是骨关节炎发病机制中重要的一种炎症前因子，能诱导炎症介质前列腺素E2的产生。从免疫、病理、动物试验进行研究，揭示白细胞介素18，前列腺素E2在骨关节炎发病机制中的作用。结论：自细胞介素18与前列腺素E2参与了骨关节炎的发病机制，自细胞介素18的增高可能引起前列腺素E2含量的增高，从而在骨关节炎的发病机制中发挥重要作用。     

高效液相色谱法快速测定氨基酸类神经递质

目的建立一种同时快速测定大鼠纹状体中谷氨酸(G lu)、天冬氨酸(Asp)、γ-氨基丁酸(GABA)、甘氨酸(G ly)、牛磺酸(Tau)5种氨基酸类神经递质的高效液相色谱法。方法采用Krom asil C18(4.6×250 mm,5μm)为色谱柱,丹酰氯为柱前衍生试剂,以曲唑酮为内标,以0.1 mol/L醋酸钠缓冲液∶甲醇=58∶42、14 mmol/L庚烷磺酸钠为流动相等度洗脱。结果在1~200 mg/L范围内,各组分线性关系良好(r=0.999)。各氨基酸的平均回收率为79.1%~92.9%。结论本方法简便、快速、准确,可用于临床大样本测定和研究神经及精神疾病氨基酸类神经递质的改变。     

高同型半胱氨酸血症研究的文献计量分析

目的：了解最近10年对高同型半胱氨酸血症的研究现状和发展趋势。 方法：利用生物医学光盘数据库及Pubmed网络，分别采用中、英文主题词“（高）同型半胱氨酸（homoeysteine，Hey）”检索出1995／2005—06国内、外发表有关高同型半胱氨酸血症的文献，应用文献计量学的方法对其进行统计分析研究。 结果：检出国外论文5574篇，国内886篇，文献呈逐年增长趋势；国内文献涉及12个相关学科；并列出了近10年国内、外同型半胱氨酸研究的前9个热点；中国高同型半胱氨酸血症研究的科研力量主要分布在北京。上海、江苏及天津等地区。 结论：近10年来中国高同型半胱氨酸血症研究方向与国外接近；但个别方向稍滞后；高同型半胱氨酸血症的研究与6个学科密切相关。高同型半胱氨酸血症有很好的研究前景。     

转化生长因子β1在大鼠纤维化腹膜组织中的表达及作用

目的:检测转化生长因子β1在腹膜透析大鼠腹膜内表达,并探讨其在腹膜纤维化中的意义。方法:实验于2005-06/2006-03在中南大学湘雅二医院肾内科实验室完成。①实验材料:雄性SD大鼠,体质量180～240g,由中南大学湘雅二医院动物实验中心提供。②实验方法:将28只大鼠按随机数字表随机分为4组,每组7只。正常对照组不予任何干预;生理盐水组腹腔注射20mL生理盐水;低糖透析液组腹腔注射20mL1.5%葡萄糖透析液;高糖透析液组腹腔注射20mL4.25%葡萄糖透析液,均为1次/d。4周后,向大鼠腹腔注射4.25%葡萄糖腹膜透析液20mL,4h后于大鼠右下腹缓慢插入带有多个侧孔的10号静脉留置针,缓慢低位引流腹透液,量取引流液。③实验评估:取大鼠壁层腹膜组织,以苏木素-伊红染色,镜下测量腹膜厚度,采用免疫组织化学方法检测大鼠腹膜中转化生长因子β1及纤连蛋白。结果:28只大鼠均进入结果分析。①高糖透析液组、低糖透析液组超滤量均明显低于正常对照组与生理盐水组,并且高糖透析液组超滤量明显少于低糖透析液组(P均<0.05)。②高糖透析液组腹膜明显增厚,表面粗糙,间皮细胞肿胀,脱落,间皮下有大量血管生成以及胶原纤维沉积,还可见单核细胞等炎症细胞浸润,与其他组比较,腹膜厚度明显增加(P<0.05)。③高糖透析液组转化生长因子β1、纤连蛋白表达量均明显高于其他组;低糖透析液组转化生长因子β1、纤连蛋白表达量均明显高于正常对照组与生理盐水组(P<0.05)。④大鼠腹膜组织转化生长因子β1蛋白与纤连蛋白表达量、腹膜厚度之间呈明显的正相关(r=0.86,0.83,P<0.05)。结论:葡萄糖透析液可诱导腹膜组织转化生长因子β1明显上调,腹膜转化生长因子β1高表达与腹膜透析腹膜纤维化密切相关。     

SULF1 Inhibits Proliferation and Invasion of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells by Decreasing Heparin-Binding Growth Factor Signaling

Background

Heparin-binding growth factor signaling is involved in the pathogenesis and development of human cancers. It can be regulated by sulfation of cell-surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG). SULF1 is a heparin-degrading endosulfatase which can modulate the sulfation of HSPGs.

Aim

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the role of SULF1 in modulating proliferation and invasion of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) by decreasing heparin-binding growth factor signaling.

Methods

We restored SULF1 expression in the ESCC cell line KYSE150, and examined the effects of SULF1 expression on the proliferation and invasion of KYSE150 cells. In addition, we investigated the expression of SULF1 in human ESCC tissues and analyzed the correlation of SULF1 expression with clinicopathologic characteristics of ESCC.

Results

Our study shows that re-expression of SULF1 in ESCC cell line results in the downregulation of hepatocyte growth factor-mediated activation of MAPK pathways with a resultant decrease in cell invasiveness. Cell proliferation was also inhibited in SULF1-transfected KYSE150 cells. Immunohistochemical assays reveal that SULF1 is expressed in nearly half of the human ESCC tissues but not in normal esophageal epithelial cells. SULF1 expression in human ESCC tissues is negatively correlated with tumor size and tumor invasion.

Conclusion

This study identified that SULF1 inhibits proliferation and invasion of ESCC by decreasing heparin-binding growth factor signaling and suggested that SULF1 plays an inhibiting role in the pathogenesis of ESCC.     

硫化氢/胱硫醚-γ-裂解酶在内毒素性急性肺损伤发生中的作用

目的 探讨硫化氢/胱硫醚-γ-裂解酶(H2S/CSE)体系在内毒素所致大鼠急性肺损伤(ALI)中的作用并初探其机制.方法 将64只SD大鼠随机分为对照组、ALl组(经气管内滴注脂多糖(LPS)复制ALI模型]、硫氢化钠(NaHS)组和炔丙基甘氨酸(PPG)组,各组再分为给药后4 h和8 h亚组,每个亚组8只.于各时间点处死动物,光镜下观察肺组织病理学改变;化学法检测血浆H2S、一氧化氮(NO)和一氧化碳(CO)含量、肺组织丙二醛(MDA)含量、髓过氧化物酶(MPO)、CSE、诱生型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)和血红素加氧酶(HO)活性;放射免疫法检测肺组织P-选择素含量,用免疫组化法检测肺组织iNOS、HO-1的蛋白表达.结果 气管内滴注LPS可引起肺组织明显的病理学改变;肺组织MDA含量、MPO活性和P-选择素水平升高,血浆iNOS、HO活性和肺组织iNOS、HO-1蛋白表达增强,血浆NO、CO含量增加,血浆H2S含量和肺组织CSE活性下降(P<0.05或P<0.01).预先给予NaHS可显著减轻内毒素所致上述指标的改变;而预先给予PPG可加重内毒素所致肺损伤,使肺组织MDA含量、MPO活性、P-选择素水平,血浆NO含量,肺组织iNOS活性和iNOS蛋白表达进一步增加,但对血浆CO含量、肺组织HO活性和HO-1蛋白表达无明显影响.结论 H2S/CSE体系的下调在内毒素所致大鼠ALI的发病学中有一定作用,内、外源性H2S具有抗内毒素所致ALI的作用,该作用可能与其抗氧化效应、减轻中性粒细胞所致肺过度的炎症反应以及下调NO/iNOS体系、上调CO/HO-1体系有一定关系.     

Rice yields decline with higher night temperature from global warming

The impact of projected global warming on crop yields has been evaluated by indirect methods using simulation models. Direct studies on the effects of observed climate change on crop growth and yield could provide more accurate information for assessing the impact of climate change on crop production. We analyzed weather data at the International Rice Research Institute Farm from 1979 to 2003 to examine temperature trends and the relationship between rice yield and temperature by using data from irrigated field experiments conducted at the International Rice Research Institute Farm from 1992 to 2003. Here we report that annual mean maximum and minimum temperatures have increased by 0.35 degrees C and 1.13 degrees C, respectively, for the period 1979-2003 and a close linkage between rice grain yield and mean minimum temperature during the dry cropping season (January to April). Grain yield declined by 10% for each 1 degrees C increase in growing-season minimum temperature in the dry season, whereas the effect of maximum temperature on crop yield was insignificant. This report provides a direct evidence of decreased rice yields from increased nighttime temperature associated with global warming.