[Study on the clinical significance and correlation of arginase-1 and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in hepatocellular carcinoma]

Objective: To investigate the clinical significance and correlation of arginase 1 (Arg-1) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: The expression of Arg-1and iNOS in 146 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and corresponding adjacent tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. The clinicopathological characteristics and the correlation between the expressions and prognosis were determined by chi square test, Spearman's rank correlation, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression analysis. Results: The positive rates of Arg-1 and iNOS were 18.7% (23/123) and 37.0% (54/146), respectively, which was significantly lower than the adjacent tissues [100%(146/146) and 93.8% (137/146)] and the difference was statistically significant (χ (2) = 212.521, P < 0.01, χ (2) = 104.276, P < 0.01). There was a positive correlation between the both expression (r = 0.331, P < 0.01). Arg-1 low expression was correlated with preoperative serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level, tumor size, differentiation degree, histological types and Edmondson's grade. iNOS low expression was correlated with the differentiation degree and Edmondson's grade (P < 0.05). Kaplan Meier survival analysis showed that in patients with recurrence-free survival (RFs), Arg-1 (+) group > Arg-1 (-) group and Arg-1 (+) iNOS (+) group > Arg-1 (+) iNOS (-) group > Arg-1 (-) iNOS (-) group (P < 0.05). Cox multivariate analysis showed that age, tumor size, Edmondson's grade, vascular tumor emboli were significantly correlated with RFs (P < 0.05). Conclusion: There is a positive correlation between Arg-1 and iNOS expressions in HCC, and both may reflect the HCC malignant degree. The reduced/absent expression of both may participate in the occurrence and development of HCC. The combined detection of Arg-1 and iNOS on HCC may have certain significance for the judgment of differentiation degree and prognosis.

[Clinical application value of combined detection of serum miR-378 and miR-21 in gastric cancer]

Objective: To investigate the clinical value of combined detection of serum miR-378 and miR-21 in gastric cancer (GC). Methods: Eighty-seven patients with GC and 78 patients with colorectal cancer(CRC) from National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences were selected, 83 individuals undergoing healthy physical examination were selected as the healthy controls. The levels of serum miR-378 and miR-21 were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) (result data were transformed as log2 for analysis). Results: Relative expression levels of miR-378 in the serum were -1.24, -3.25 and -2.73 in healthy controls, GC and CRC patients, respectively. Compared with the healthy controls, the levels of serum miR-378 were significantly decreased in GC and CRC patients (both P<0.05). Relative expression levels of miR-21 in the serum were 0.11, 2.34 and 2.47 in healthy controls, GC and CRC patients, respectively. Compared with the healthy controls, the levels of serum miR-21 were significantly up-regulated in GC and CRC patients (both P<0.05). Moreover, the serum level of miR-378 in GC patients was inversely associated with tumor clinical stage (P<0.05). However, the level of miR-21 showed no significant differences among patients with different clinical and pathological characteristics (all P>0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity and specificity of miRNA-378 to diagnose GC was 0.770, 82.0% and 66.0%, respectively, and were 0.900, 85.0%, and 88.0% of miR-21, respectively. The AUC, sensitivity and specificity of combined detection of serum miR-378 and miR-21 to diagnose GC were 0.930, 92.0% and 87.0%, respectively, while the AUC of combined detection of serum CEA and CA-199 was 0.767, the AUC of combined all of the four factors was 0.946. Conclusion: The combined detection of serum miR-378 and miR-21 have a certain effect on diagnosis of GC.

Spectrophotometric study on the supramolecular interactions of nile blue sulphate with nucleic acids

The supramolecular interaction of nile blue sulphate (NBS) with nucleic acids was studied by investigating the characteristics of the interaction absorption spectra on the basis of the drug binding process in organic system in which small amount of drug interacting with large amount of biological macromolecules involves, and an accordingly binding model for organic dyes with large amount of macromolecules was established. At pH 7.40 and ionic strength 0.004, the H-aggregation of NBS occurs with increasing NBS concentration. The NBS aggregates can be bound to both calf thymus DNA and fish sperm DNA by the ratio of each nucleotide residue with a molecule of NBS if the concentration of DNAs is more than 15-fold excessive. The corresponding binding constant for the interaction of NBS with DNAs is about 10(3) order, with which thermodynamic parameters for the interactions, such as the change of free energy, enthalpy and entropy at 25 degrees C, were calculated. It was found that the binding of NBS with thermally denatured DNA is similar to that with native yeast RNA, which indicates H-aggregation of NBS can be encouraged by single stranded nucleic acids.

RETRACTED: Isolation, characterization and expression of a gene from Brassica napus encoding a LIM-domain protein

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Determination of proteins by their enhancement of resonance light scattering by fuchsine acid

Based on the measurement of the enhancement of resonance light scattering (RLS) of fuchsine acid (FSA) by proteins, a novel sensitive assay of proteins in body fluid samples has been developed. Proteins, including bovine serum albumin (BSA), human serum albumin (HSA), pepsin (Pep), alpha-chymotrypsin (Chy), lysozyme (Lys), and cellulase (Cel), can bind to fuchsine acid (FSA), resulting in enhanced RLS signals at 277.0 nm. Linear relationships between the enhanced RLS intensity and the protein concentration were measured at different concentration of FSA, and the limits of detection for BSA, HSA, and Lys were found to lie in the nanogram range.

[Impact of AFP promoter on the expressions of GFP in tumor cells]

OBJECTIVE

To study the impact of AFP 5'flanking promoter (enhancer) on the expression of GFP in hepatocarcinoma cell.

METHODS

Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) reporter gene expression plasmid pcDNA3-GFP-AFP-w under the direction of AFP 5' flanking promoter (enhancer) was constructed by recombinant DNA technology and confirmed by restriction analyses. pcDNA3-GFP-AFP-w, pcDNA3-GFP and pcDNA3 were transfected into Hela and Bel7402 cells by lipofectin and selected by G418 respectively, after amplification of the positive cell clones, expression of GFP was detected by Western blotting and quantitatively analysed by GEL Doc 2000 digital image systems.

RESULTS

The expression of GFP was lower in Bel-GFP-AFP-w than in Bel-GFP but was significantly higher than in Hela-GFP-AFP-w.

CONCLUSION

GFP reporter gene plasmid pcDNA3-GFP-AFP-w under the direction of the 3.1 kb AFP 5'flanking promoter (enhancer) can be expressed in HCC Bel7402 cell definitely and specifically.

Anodization in oligo(ethylene glycol) as an initial derivatization tool for preparing glassy carbon electrodes covalently modified with amino compounds: effective access to a 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-1-oxyl (TEMPO)-modified glassy carbon electrode

Anodization in HO(CH2CH2O)nH (1a, n=2; 1b, n=3; 1c, n=4) as an initial derivatization tool for preparing glassy carbon (GC) electrodes covalently modified with amino compounds was explored. As an amino compound to be immobilized, 4-amino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-1-oxyl (4-amino-TEMPO) was selected. When GC electrodes anodized at 2.0 V vs. Ag wire coated with AgCl in 1 containing RCH2CH2SO3Na (2a, R=H; 2b, R=OH) were treated with a N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) or CH2Cl2 solution of 4-amino-TEMPO and 1,3-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC), TEMPO-modified GC electrodes were afforded. Coverage (gammaTEMPO) of the electrode surfaces by TEMPO was estimated by cyclic voltammetry in CH3CN containing NaClO4. A TEMPO-modified GC electrode with the best gammaTEMPO (1.36 x 10(-10) mol/cm2) was obtained by anodization in 1b containing 2a at the expense of 3.0 C followed by amidization in DMF for 7 d. On cyclic voltammetry, the TEMPO-modified GC electrode showed good and stable electrocatalytic ability for oxidation of allyl alcohol in the presence of 2,6-lutidine.

Total internal reflected resonance light scattering determination of chlortetracycline in body fluid with the complex cation of chlortetracycline-europium-trioctyl phosphine oxide at the water/tetrachloromethane interface

A highly selective method of chlortetracycline (CTC) is proposed on the basis of the measurements of total internal reflected resonance light scattering (TMR-RLS) at water/tetrachloromethane (H20/CCl4) interfaces. In the pH range of 7.54-8.14, the interaction of the binary complex of Eu(III)/CTC in the presence of trioctyl phosphine oxide (TOPO) occurs at the H20/CCl4 interface, resulting in greatly enhanced TIR-RLS signals with the maximum peak located at 340 nm. The enhanced TIR-RLS intensity is in proportion to the CTC concentration in the range 0.98 to approximately 20.0 x 10(-7) mol/L. The limit of detection is 9.8 x 10(-9) mol/L. Synthetic samples and body fluid samples including human urine, human serum, and fresh milk were determined with the recovery of 95.4-106.4% and RSD of 2.9-3.9%.

[Detection of serum Lp(a) level of coronary heart disease and its clinical significance]

OBJECTIVE

To study the association of human serum Lp(a) level and coronary heart diseases.

METHODS

Objects examined were conposed of 2 groups: CHD (39 cases) and healthy controls (52 cases). Lp (a), TC, HDL-C, TG, apoB of two groups were determined and the results were done with statistic analysis.

RESULTS

The mean serum Lp(a) concentrations (mg.L-1) in coronary heart disease group were shown higher significantly than that in the control group (P < 0.01). However, there were no significant correlation between the mean serum Lp(a) and the mean serum TC, HDL-C, TG, spoAI and aopB.(P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Serum Lp(a) level is closely related to the occurrence of coronary heart disease. Lp(a) is a single risk factor for coronary heart disease. Detecting the determination of serum Lp(a) is extremely valuable to the clinical prediction and diagnosis of CHD.

Determination of DNA with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide by the measurement of Resonance Light Scattering

A simple assay of DNA was developed based on the measurements of enhanced signals of Resonance Light Scattering (RLS) of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTMAB) by DNA. The enhanced RLS signals, measured by simultaneously scanning the excitation and emission monochromators of a common spectrofluorometer with lambda ex = lambda em, was optimized for the DNA assay with CTMAB. On the conditions of pH 2.21 and ionic strength 0.002, the enhanced RLS intensity at 470.0 nm, delta I, was found to be proportional to the concentration of DNA in the range 0-2.5 micrograms/ml if 1.5 x 10(-5) M CTMAB was used. Limits of determination for calf thymus DNA and fish sperm DNA were 4.9 ng/ml and 9.2 ng/ml, respectively. Synthetic samples were determined with the recovery ratio ranging from 93.2% to 105.1%, and the RSD is lower than 2.7%.

Biodegradation of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol in the presence of primary substrate by immobilized pure culture bacteria

In this study, pure strains that are capable of utilizing 2,4,6-trichlorophenol have been isolated from the mixed culture grown on substrates containing chlorophenolic compounds. Studies have been carried out on the capability of these isolated pure strains in suspended and immobilized forms to decompose 2,4,6-trichlorophenol. Additionally, the influence of primary substrates (e.g., phenol, 2-chlorophenol, 3-chlorophenol, 4-chlorophenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol) on the decomposition of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol by the isolated pure strains grown in immobilized form is also investigated. The results are: Through bacterial isolation and identification, three pure strains have been obtained: Pseudomonas spp. strain 01, Pseudomonas spp. strain 02 and Agrobacterium spp. Whether in suspended or immobilized forms, all strains have poor removal efficiencies of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol. However, addition of 200 mg/l phenol will enable the immobilized Pseudomonas spp. strain 01, and Pseudomonas spp. strain 02 to achieve 65% and 48% removal of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, respectively. Addition of phenol will assist the immobilized Pseudomonas spp. strain 02 in achieving removal of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol but the removal efficiency is not good if the phenol concentration is too low. The optimum phenol concentration should be between 200 and 400 mg/l.

Interactions of Janus Green B with double stranded DNA and the determination of DNA based on the measurement of enhanced resonance light scattering

A novel assay of DNA with a sensitivity at the nanogram level is proposed based on the measurement of enhanced resonance light scattering (RLS) signals resulting from the interaction of Janus Green B (JGB) with DNA. At pH 6.37 and ionic strength < 0.20, the RLS signals of JGB were greatly enhanced by DNA in the region of 300-650 nm characterized by three peaks at 416.0, 452.0 and 469.2 nm. The binding properties were examined using a Scatchard plot based on the measurement of the enhanced RLS data at 416.0 nm at a high JGB: DNA molar ratio (R > 2.22), and an aggregation mechanism of JGB in the presence of DNA at the nanogram level is proposed. Linear relationships can be established between the enhanced RLS intensity and DNA concentration in the range 0-3.5 micrograms ml-1 for both calf thymus DNA (ctDNA) and fish sperm DNA (fsDNA) if 2.0 x 10(-5) M JGB is employed. The limits of determination were 8.7 ng ml-1 for ctDNA and 9.9 ng ml-1 for fsDNA, respectively. Synthetic samples were analysed satisfactorily.

Determination of nanograms of nucleic acids by their enhancement effect on the resonance light scattering of the cobalt(II)/4-[(5-chloro-2-pyridyl)azo]-1,3-diaminobenzene complex

Using a common spectrofluorometer to measure the intensity of resonance light-scattering, a method for determination of nucleic acids in the nanogram range has been developed. In the pH range 11.5-12.0, the resonance light-scattering of the binary complex of cobalt(II)/ 4-[(5-chloro-2-pyridyl)azo]-1,3-diaminobenzene (5-Cl-PADAB) is greatly enhanced by nucleic acids, with the maximum scattering peak located at 547.0 nm. The enhanced intensity of resonance light-scattering is in proportion to the concentration of calf thymus DNA in the range 0-400 ng/mL and to that of fish sperm DNA and yeast RNA in the range 0-300 ng/mL. The limits of detection are 1.4 ng/mL for calf thymus DNA, 0.8 ng/ mL for fish sperm DNA, and 1.3 ng/mL for yeast RNA. Precision at 200 ng/mL for the three nucleic acids is 1.9%, 2.0%, and 0.8%, respectively. Six synthetic samples were determined satisfactorily. Mechanism studies showed that the nature of the reaction is that the binary complex of Co(II)/5-Cl -PADAB reacts with single-stranded nucleic acid, and the enhancement effect of nucleic acids on the resonance light scattering of the binary complex is due to the stacking of the binary complex on nucleic acids, which act as a template.

Determination of nucleic acids by a resonance light-scattering technique with alpha, beta, gamma, delta-tetrakis[4-(trimethylammoniumyl)phenyl]porphine

The resonance light-scattering technique, using a spectrofluorometer, was first developed as a sensitive instrumental analysis method. At pH 7.48 and ionic strength 0.004, the extent of light-scattering of alpha, beta, gamma, delta-tetrakis[4-(trimethylammoniumyl)phenyl]porphine (TAPP) is enhanced by nucleic acids near 432 nm. There are linear relationships between the enhanced extents of light-scattering and the concentrations of nucleic acids in the range of 1.8 x 10(-7)-10.8 x 10(-7) M for calf thymus and fish sperm DNA and in the range of 1.8 x 10(-7)-1.8 x 10(-6) M for yeast RNA. The limit of determination (3 sigma) is 4.1 x 10(-8) M for calf thymus DNA, 4.6 x 10(-8) M for fish sperm DNA, and 6.7 x 10(-8) M for yeast RNA. Mechanism study indicates that nucleic acids react with the title porphyrin in two modes, depending on the concentrations of nucleic acids. When the molar ratio of nucleic acids to TAPP is smaller than 4:1, the hypochromicity and fluorescence quenching of TAPP by nucleic acids appear, and the enhancement of resonance light-scattering can be observed. When the molar ratio of nucleic acids to TAPP is larger than 4:1, a new fluorescent complex is formed.

[The effect of RET's group learning program on irrational beliefs and health condition of the elderly]

This study was to explore the effect of RET's group learning program on improving irrational beliefs and the health condition of the elderly people. There were three major purposes: (1) design a set of group learning programs which are suitable for the native elderly; (2) explore the treatment effect of group learning program on improving their irrational beliefs and health; and verify the effect of the group learning program; and (3) explore the follow-up effect of the group learning program on their rational beliefs and health. The subjects were 51 elderly (66-80 years old), divided into treatment group A (Taiwanese), treatment group B (Mandarin) and control group. There were 17 subjects in each group. Instruments used in the study were the irrational Belief Scale, the Mental Health Scale, and the Life Satisfaction Scale, the Coping Strategies Scale, the Disease Checklist and Symptom Checklist. After pretesting treatment groups A and B were instructed in the group learning program twelve times in a period of six weeks. Then the treatment groups were given the post-test with the same instruments. After another six weeks, all subjects were given a follow-up tests. Data were analyzed by dependent sample t-test, repeated measure two-way ANOVA and one-way ANOVA. The main finding were as follow: 1. treatment effect (1) After the treatment of the group learning program, the elderly in groups A and B had a significant improvement (P < .001) with 14 items for irrational belief, mental health, life satisfaction, coping strategies, physical disease and physical symptom. (2) The difference of treatment effect between treatment groups was not significant (P > .05). This result shows that the language mode in which the learning program was presented was not a significant factor. 2. follow-up effect The 12 items of irrational belief, mental health, physical disease, and physical symptoms of the treatment groups were significantly better than in the control group except the factor of reproaching badness. There was no difference among the three groups in life satisfaction and coping strategies. This study affirmed the effect of the group learning program on improving irrational beliefs and health condition of the elderly.

A preliminary report on the intervention trials of primary liver cancer in high-risk populations with nutritional supplementation of selenium in China

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of selenium (Se) in the prevention of human primary liver cancer. Three intervention trials were conducted among the residents at high risk to primary liver cancer (PLC) in Qidong county, Jiang-su province, the People's Republic of China. This area has the second highest rate of PLC in China. One trial was undertaken among the general population in a township with supplement of table salt fortified with 15 ppm anhydrous sodium selenite (Se-salt) for 5 y and the other four townships with similar PLC incidence rate served as the controls using normal table salt. The second trial was undertaken among hepatitis B virus surface antigen carriers (HBVsAg+) receiving supplement of 200 micrograms Se in form of selenized yeast (Se-yeast) daily vs placebo for 4 y. The third trial was carried out in members of families with high PLC incidence using Se-yeast (200 micrograms of Se daily) vs placebo for 2 y. The results showed that nutritional supplement of Se could reduce the PLC incidence significantly.

Intervention trial with selenium for the prevention of lung cancer among tin miners in Yunnan, China. A pilot study

This pilot study evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of conducting a double-blind clinical trial for the prevention of lung cancer with selenium (Se) in Yunnan Tin Corporation, the People's Republic of China, where the incidence rates of lung cancer are extraordinarily high among the miners. Forty healthy miners were randomized to either 300 micrograms of Se in high Se malt cakes or an identical placebo of malt cakes daily for one year. Subjects consumed their usual daily diet. The low Se concentrations in plasma (0.05 +/- 0.008 microgram/mL) and hair (0.442 +/- 0.085 microgram/g) reflected their low dietary Se intake in the control subjects. In Se-supplemented group, the Se status was increased by 178% for serum and 194.8% for hair. The serum GSHpx activity was increased by 155.7%, whereas the lipid peroxide level was reduced by 74.5% compared to the placebo. The results of UDS assay indicated that the lymphocyte DNA damage induced by ultraviolet irradiation and carcinogen 3,4-benzpyrene could be protected by Se supplementation. Se-supplementation did not affect the liver function test (SGPT), as well as the concentrations of hemoglobin, albumin, and cholesterol. Thus, daily intake of 300 micrograms Se in form of Se-malt as a chemopreventive measure is safe and effective to humans with low Se status.

[A study of chronic schizophrenic patients on the attention tests]

Three groups of people--schizophrenic (26 patients), affective disorder (23 patients), and normal (27 persons) were administered two attention tests--Tai Ta Attention Test and Kraepelin Test. The results indicate that the speed and duration of attention of schizophrenic patients are poorer than those of normal persons. And the attention deficit is not much different between the two psychotic group patients. This study finds that the main attention problem of schizophrenic patients is their deficit of duration of attention.

A monoclonal antibody (HO-No-1) with specificity for a human nucleolar protein

A murine monoclonal antibody (named HO-No-1) which specifically reacts with a target antigen of 72,000 mol. wt (p72) in the nucleoli of human cells, has been isolated. Using an avidin-biotin peroxidase immunoperoxidase method, it was found that this antibody stains exclusively the nucleolus and not other portions of the nucleus and cytoplasm. This reaction pattern was observed consistently, although to different degrees in 14 human normal tissues and human malignant cell lines. However, after pretreatment with actinomycin D (250 ng/ml) for 2 h, the antibody stains the nucleoplasm uniformly. Thus this study demonstrates evidence for an antibody which reacts specifically with human nucleoli to a protein which could play an important role in rRNA synthesis.