[Evaluation of the effect of internet-based dietary self-management on blood pressure in high-risk population of hypertension in Haikou City community]

To explore the effect of Internet+diet self-management intervention technology on the blood pressure control of hypertension high-risk population through the intervention of hypertension high-risk population in Haikou City community, so as to provide scientific evidence for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The multi-stage cluster sampling method was used, and 295 hypertension high-risk participants were recruited from 15 communities in Haikou City from July to December 2021. The 15 communities were randomly divided into three groups: blank group, traditional group and Internet plus group by random number table method. The blank group referred to the group (99 participants) that did not take special intervention measures but the routine interventions in accordance with the "National Basic Public Health Service Standards (the Third Edition) Health Education Service Standards". On the basis of the blank group, the traditional group (95 participants) was intervened by giving additional traditional methods such as holding lectures and distributing popular science books. The Internet plus group (101 participants) was given additional Internet measures on the basis of the intervention of the traditional group. After 6 months, questionnaires, laboratory biochemical tests, and physical measurements were conducted. SPSS 25.0 software was applied for data analysis. Measurement data that followed normal distribution were statistically described by using mean±standard deviation, analysis of variance was used for inter group comparisons before intervention, analysis of covariance was used for inter group comparisons after intervention, and Bonferroni adjustment was used for pairwise comparisons between groups. Measurement data that did not follow the Normal distribution were represented by M (Q1, Q3). The rank sum test was used for inter group comparison. The k sample Kruskal Wallis single factor ANOVA was used to compare the distribution between different groups. Counting data were described by composition ratio or rate. Under the premise of balanced comparison between groups before intervention, Chi-squared test was used for inter group comparison after intervention, and Bonferroni adjustment method was used for pairwise comparison between groups. The results showed that a total of 295 participants were included, with males accounting for 35.6% (105) and females accounting for 64.4% (190). The age ranged from 55 to 74 years old, with an average age of (64.69±5.73) years. The number of married accounted for 95.6% (282 participants). There were no statistically significant differences in gender, age, family history, education level, occupation, marital status, drinking habits, regular exercise, dietary status, SBP (systolic blood pressure), DBP (diastolic blood pressure), pulse pressure difference, BMI (body mass index), folic acid, and 24-hour urine sodium among the three groups upon enrollment (P values>0.05). After the intervention, the drinking rate was as follows: Internet plus group (29, 28.7%) Collapse

Key Words Collapse

MESH Headings

• Male
• Female
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Aged
• Blood Pressure
• Self-Management
• Hypertension/epidemiology
• Hypertension/prevention & control
• Cardiovascular Diseases/prevention & control
• Diet
• Sodium
• Internet
• Folic Acid

Collapse

Grants

• 81860577 National Natural Science Foundation of China
• 2017YFC0907104 National Key Research and Development Program of China

Collapse

Affiliation(s)

L M He Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, International School of Public Health and One Health, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China
Y X Yan Department of Public Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou 570102, China
C J Zhao Department of Health Statistics, International School of Public Health and One Health, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China
X L Zhu Department of Public Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou 570102, China
B F Liang Department of Public Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou 570102, China
G T Lin Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, International School of Public Health and One Health, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China
J C Chen Immunisation Programme Division, Haikou Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Haikou 570312, China
F Zhang Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, International School of Public Health and One Health, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China

Collapse

[Research progress of FAPI PET/CT in the diagnosis of malignant liver tumors]

Malignant liver tumors have a high incidence and mortality rate. Therefore, it is of great significance to promptly learn about tumor advancement status through relevant examinations for patients' follow-up, diagnosis, and therapy as well as the improvement of the five-year survival rate. The primary lesions and intrahepatic metastases of malignant liver tumors have been better demonstrated in the clinical study with the use of various isotope-labeled fibroblast activating protein inhibitors because of their low uptake in liver tissues and high tumor/background ratio, which provides a new method for early diagnosis, precise staging, and radionuclide therapy. In light of this context, a review of the research progress of fibroblast-activating protein inhibitors for the diagnosis of liver malignant tumors is presented.

[Analysis of current status and influencing factors of inflammatory factors among electrical workers in Hainan province]

Objective: To analyze the level and influence factors of inflammatory factors among electrical workers in Hainan Province. Methods: A total of 509 electrical workers were selected as the research subjects with random cluster sampling in September 2020. Basic information was collected by questionnaire, the serum IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α levels of the subjects were detected by Luminex.Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-wallis H test were used for univariate analysis. Ordinal logistic regression analysis was used for potential influencing factors of the level of inflammatory factors. Results: The median concentrations of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α in serum were 2.78, 9.77 and 8.18 pg/ml. Compared with women, male was a risk factor for the increase of IL-6 levels (OR=1.80, 95%CI: 1.08~3.00, P=0.024) . Compared with 51-60 years old, 21-31 years old (OR=0.27, 95%CI: 0.18~0.42, P<0.001) , 31-41 years old (OR=0.27, 95%CI: 0.17~0.43, P<0.001) and 41-51 years old (OR=0.64, 95%CI: 0.41~0.99, P=0.043) were protective factors for the increase of IL-8 level. Compared with day shift workers, shift work was a risk factor for the increase of IL-8 level (OR=1.73, 95%CI: 1.21~2.48, P=0.003) . Compared with women, male was a risk factor for the increase of TNF-α levels (OR=2.87, 95%CI: 1.70~4.86, P<0.001) . Compared with workers who exposed to 7 or more occupational hazard factors, exposed to 1~3 (OR=0.53, 95%CI: 0.30~0.92, P=0.024) occupational hazard factors were protective factors for the increase of TNF-α levels. Conclusion: The level of inflammatory factors was related to sex, age, work system and occupational environment, which can provide basic data for follow-up research on occupational population.

Optimal FSH usage in revascularization of allotransplanted ovarian tissue in mice

Backgroud

Ovarian transplantation is a useful method for preserving the fertility of young women with cancer who undergo radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is use to protect transplanted ovarian tissues from ischemia injury through promoting revascularization after transplantation, but the side effect of high level FSH is ovarian overstimulation leading to substantial follicular loss. In this study, we investigated the optimal usage of FSH on revascularization in the in vitro cultured ovarian tissues before and after transplantation.

Results

FSH mainly exhibited an additive response in the gene and protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) with its raised concentrations (0.15 IU/ml, 0.30 IU/ml and 0.60 IU/ml) and prolonged treatment (3 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h). The concentrations with 0.60 IU/ml FSH could obviously promoted the expression of VEGF, bFGF and FSHR, but under this concentration FSH could also overstimulated the ovarian tissue leading to follicular loss. With the increase of culture time, the gene and protein expression of VEGF and bFGF both were up-regulated in all of the FSH added groups, but FSHR expression decreased when culture time exceeded 12 h. So we chose 0.30 IU/ml FSH added concentration and 6 h culture time as the FSH usage condition in functional revascularization verification experiment, and found that under this condition FSH promoted 2.5 times increase of vascular density in treated group than in control group after ovarian tissues transplantation.

Conclusion

Ovarian intervention with 0.30 IU/ml FSH for 6 h is an optimal FSH usage condition which could accelerate the revascularization in the allotransplanted ovarian tissue and can not produce ovarian overstimulation.

Antinociceptive effects of gentiopicroside on neuropathic pain induced by chronic constriction injury in mice: a behavioral and electrophysiological study

Gentiopicroside (Gent) is promising as an important protective secoiridoid compound against pain. The present study was designed to investigate whether administration of Gent would alleviate the expression of nociceptive behaviors and whether it would cause the relevant electrophysiological changes in a chronic constriction injury (CCI) model of neuropathic pain in mice. Gent was administered from the seventh day after surgery for 8 consecutive days. Behavioral parameters and sciatic functional index were assessed immediately before surgery and on days 7, 8, 10, 12, and 14 post-CCI, and electrophysiological activities of sciatic nerve were recorded immediately after the behavioral test on the last day. The present study has shown that administration of Gent (at a dose of 50 and 100 mg/kg) increased behavioral parameters from day 8 compared with the CCI-NS group. Electrophysiological data indicated that CCI caused a significant reduction in nerve conduction velocities in the sciatic nerves and the amplitudes of compound action potential, while Gent at a dose of 50 or 100 mg/kg caused a significant recovery of electrophysiological changes induced by CCI. Our data indicated that Gent has antinociceptive effects on neuropathic pain induced by CCI.

Oxysophocarpine Ameliorates Carrageenan-induced Inflammatory Pain via Inhibiting Expressions of Prostaglandin E2 and Cytokines in Mice

Oxysophocarpine is an alkaloid extracted from Sophora alopecuroides. We investigated the analgesic effect of oxysophocarpine on carrageenan-induced inflammatory pain in mice, in order to explore its possible mechanisms. Mouse ear swelling tests and carrageenan-induced paw edema tests were used to investigate the effects of oxysophocarpine on inflammatory pain in mice. Morphological changes on inflamed paw sections were measured by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The mRNA and protein expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, cyclooxygenase-2, tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6 and prostaglandin E2 were investigated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, western-blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In our results, oxysophocarpine shows a significant anti-inflammatory effect in the mouse ear swelling test. Oxysophocarpine also significantly reduced the paw edema volume and improved mechanical allodynia threshold value on carrageenan-induced inflammatory pain, as well as relieved paw tissues inflammatory damage and reduced the numbers of neutrophils in mice. Oxysophocarpine significantly suppressed over-expression of cyclooxygenase-2, tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6 and prostaglandin E2, and inhibited the over-phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2. Based on these findings we propose that oxysophocarpine attenuates inflammatory pain by suppressing the levels of phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, cyclooxygenase-2, prostaglandin E2, tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-6.

Association between β1 adrenergic receptor gene Arg389Gly polymorphism and risk of heart failure: a meta-analysis

Numerous studies have evaluated the association between Arg389Gly polymorphism in the β1 adrenergic receptor gene and heart failure risk. However, the specific association is still controversial. We performed a meta-analysis of all case-control studies that evaluated the association between Arg389Gly polymorphism and heart failure in humans. Studies were identified in the PubMed, Embase, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases. Two reviewers independently assessed the studies. Six case-control studies with a total of 1736 participants were included in the meta-analysis, including 882 cases with heart failure and 854 controls, and our results showed no association between the Arg389Gly polymorphism and heart failure [ArgArg vs GlyGly: odds ratio (OR) = 0.84, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.59-1.20; ArgArg vs ArgGly: OR = 0.95, 95%CI 0.78-1.16; dominant model: OR = 1.08, 95%CI 0.89-1.31; recessive model: OR = 0.96, 95%CI 0.69-1.35]. No publication bias was found in the present study (all P values > 0.05). In conclusion, the β1 adrenergic receptor gene Arg389Gly polymorphism might not be associated with heart failure risk. Further large and well-designed studies are needed to confirm this conclusion.

Broadband nonlinear optical response in multi-layer black phosphorus: an emerging infrared and mid-infrared optical material

Black phosphorous (BP), the most thermodynamically stable allotrope of phosphorus, is a high-mobility layered semiconductor with direct band-gap determined by the number of layers from 0.3 eV (bulk) to 2.0 eV (single layer). Therefore, BP is considered as a natural candidate for broadband optical applications, particularly in the infrared (IR) and mid-IR part of the spectrum. The strong light-matter interaction, narrow direct band-gap, and wide range of tunable optical response make BP as a promising nonlinear optical material, particularly with great potentials for infrared and mid-infrared opto-electronics. Herein, we experimentally verified its broadband and enhanced saturable absorption of multi-layer BP (with a thickness of ~10 nm) by wide-band Z-scan measurement technique, and anticipated that multi-layer BPs could be developed as another new type of two-dimensional saturable absorber with operation bandwidth ranging from the visible (400 nm) towards mid-IR (at least 1930 nm). Our results might suggest that ultra-thin multi-layer BP films could be potentially developed as broadband ultra-fast photonics devices, such as passive Q-switcher, mode-locker, optical switcher etc.

Structural analysis of a 4414-bp element in Drosophila melanogaster

We cloned a 4414-bp element from a mutant of Drosophila melanogaster. Its insertion site was 18,929,626 bp. Analysis of the nucleotide and amino acid sequences demonstrated that the element is homologous to Pifo_I, first obtained from D. yabuka, which belongs to the gypsy/Ty3 subfamily. We also obtained a 3754-bp length element from a wild-type fly by PCR, with a pair of primers designed from the conserved region of the 4414-bp length element. The two elements included a pair of long terminal repeats and part of the GAG and ENV proteins, but the POL protein was completely lost. This element is found in the subgenus of D. melanogaster, but it is a degenerate type of Pifo_I and is not infective. Also, a 714-bp region structured in 5.0 tandem repeats of 143 bp each was found in the 5'UTR of the degenerate element; these could interact with transcription factor CF2. Phylogenetic analysis and alignment of amino acids indicated that the Pifo_I element was closer to the ZAM retrotransposon, which gave us some clues to their functional similarity. Based on these data, we propose that there is a relationship between the degenerate element and the mutant phenotype, which would provide a foundation for further research.

Characterization and optical transition in tb-doped 12CaO x 7Al2O3 powders

Tb-doped 12CaO x 7Al2O3 (C12A7:Tb3+) powders with strong green emission were prepared using the sol-gel method. X-ray diffraction, micro-Raman spectra, scanning electron microscopy and absorption spectra showed that C12A7:Tb3+ powders with grain size of 200-300 nm were synthesized. Porous powders could be formed as the concentration of Tb3+ was 5 at%. The absorption band around 209 nm was attributed to the host lattice absorption, and the bands around 255 nm and 274 nm were related to the 4f-5d transitions of Tb3+. The absorption intensity of the visible region was enhanced due to the presence of one 100 nm-diameter hole in every grain of C12A7:Tb3+ powders. The emission spectra showed noticeable influence of Tb-Tb cross relaxation, which favored the green photoluminescence (PL) over the blue PL. The study on the concentration quenching indicated that the energy transfers depopulating the 5D3 and 5D4 levels were assigned to the mechanisms of electric dipole-dipole and exchange interaction, respectively.

Highly efficient dissociation of oxygen from hemoglobin in Tibetan chicken embryos compared with lowland chicken embryos incubated in hypoxia

Oxygen is one of the critical determinants for normal embryonic and fetal development. In avian embryos, lack of oxygen will lead to high fetal mortality, heteroplasia, and cardiovascular dysfunction. Tibetan chicken is a breed native to Tibet that could survive and keep higher hatchability regardless of negative effects of hypoxia. Generally, adaptive animals in high altitudes are characterized by higher hemoglobin concentrations and oxygen affinity. In the present study, the capacity of oxygen supply in late chick embryo (including d 17, 19, and 21) was compared between Tibetan chicken and a lowland breed, Dwarf White chicken, by determining the hemoglobin concentrations and oxygen equilibrium curves in both hypoxic (13% O(2)) and normoxic (21% O(2)) conditions. The results showed that a higher level of hemoglobin concentration was induced by hypoxia in Tibetan chicken embryos, and the hemoglobin could perform with better cooperativity and deliver oxygen to tissues more easily. Further investigation revealed that the carbonic anhydrase II mRNA in red blood cells of Tibetan chicken was increasingly induced to a higher level in hypoxia than that of the lowland breed. These results suggested that the stronger capacity of oxygen dissociation was an important characteristic of Tibetan chicken embryo to survive in hypoxia and the upregulating mode of carbonic anhydrase II mRNA might assist this dissociation. Therefore, for avian at high altitudes, the efficient dissociation of oxygen might reveal another aspect associated with the hypoxia adaptability.

Neuronal Ca2+ sensor VILIP-1 leads to the upregulation of functional alpha4beta2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in hippocampal neurons

The neuronal Ca2+-sensor protein VILIP-1, known to affect clathrin-dependent receptor trafficking, has been shown to interact with the cytoplasmic loop of the alpha4-subunit of the alpha4beta2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR), which is the most abundant nAChR subtype with high-affinity for nicotine in the brain. The alpha4beta2 nAChR is crucial for nicotine addiction and the beneficial effects of nicotine on cognition. Its dysfunction has been implicated in frontal lobe epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. Here we report that overexpression of VILIP-1 enhances ACh responsiveness, whereas siRNA against VILIP-1 reduces alpha4beta2 nAChR currents of hippocampal neurons. The underlying molecular mechanism likely involves enhanced constitutive exocytosis of alpha4beta2 nAChRs mediated by VILIP-1. The two interaction partners co-localize in a Ca2+-dependent manner with syntaxin-6, a Golgi-SNARE protein involved in trans-Golgi membrane trafficking. Thus, we speculate that regulation of VILIP-1-expression might modulate surface expression of ligand-gated ion channels, such as the alpha4beta2 nAChRs, possibly comprising a novel form of physiological up-regulation of ligand-gated ion channels.

A Comparison of Mitochondrial Respiratory Function of Tibet Chicken and Silky Chicken Embryonic Brain

The Tibet chicken lives in high altitude and has adapted itself well to hypoxia. The Silky chicken is a lowland chicken from Jiangxi province of China. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether there were any differences in brain mitochondrial respiratory function between Tibet chicken and Silky chicken embryos incubated in a normoxic (21% oxygen concentration) or simulated hypoxic (13% O(2)) hatchibator. Brain mitochondria of chicken embryos were prepared by differential centrifugation on d 16 of incubation. The respiratory control ratio (RCR) and the adenosine 5'-diphosphate: oxygen ratio (ADP/O) were determined polarographically. The complex I activity was measured with an ultraviolet spectrophotometer by following the oxidation of the reduced state of beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. Under the normoxic incubation condition, there were no significant differences in the RCR, the ADP/O, and the activity of complex I between embryonic brain mitochondria of the 2 breeds. Under the hypoxic incubation condition, the ADP/O in brain mitochondria of embryos from the 2 breeds were identical. Also under hypoxic conditions the RCR in brain mitochondria of Tibet chicken embryos was higher (P < 0.05) than in Silky chicken embryos when brain mitochondria were provided with glutamate-malate, but no significant difference was found in the RCR with succinate as an energy substrate. The complex I activity of Silky chicken embryos was higher than that of Tibet chicken embryos when they were incubated in the hypoxic hatchibator (P < 0.01). In conclusion, the results show that under simulated hypoxic incubation conditions electron transport in brain mitochondria of Tibet chicken embryos was more tightly coupled than that of lowland chicken (Silky chicken) embryos with glutamate-malate as energy substrate, which was associated with the difference in the activity of complex I between embryonic brains of the 2 breeds. This work will provide reference for future studies on the association of mitochondrial respiratory function with the adaptation to hypoxia.

Association of MT-ND5 gene variation with mitochondrial respiratory control ratio and NADH dehydrogenase activity in Tibet chicken embryos

NADH dehydrogenase (complex I) couples the oxidation of NADH for the reduction of ubiquinone with the generation of a proton gradient that can be used for the synthesis of ATP. We have found a missense mutation in the MT-ND5 subunit of NADH dehydrogenase in the Tibet chicken breed. In the present study, the mitochondrial respiratory control ratio (RCR) and NADH dehydrogenase activity in Tibet chicken embryonic brain with different genotypes were measured. Significant differences between animals carrying mitochondria with the EF493865.1:m.1627A vs. EF493865.1:m.1627C alleles were observed for RCR and enzyme activity.

Molecular and cytogenetic paternity testing of a male offspring of a hinny

An alleged male foal of a female mule, whose sire and grandparents were unknown, was identified for its pedigree. Parentage testing was conducted by comparing polymorphism of 12 microsatellite DNA sites and mitochondrial D-loop sequences of the male foal and the female mule. Both the sequence analysis of species-specific DNA fragments and a cytogenetic analysis were performed to identify the species of the foal and its parents. The results showed that the alleged female mule is actually a hinny, and the male foal, which possesses 62 chromosomes, qualifies as an offspring of the female hinny and a jack donkey.

Identification of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in 5' end and exons of the PRKAG3 gene in Hubbard White broiler, Leghorn layer, and three Chinese indigenous chicken breeds

5'-AMP-activated protein kinase plays an important role in regulating the level of ATP in the presence of metabolic stress. Previous studies revealed that polymorphisms in 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase gamma 3 subunit (PRKAG3) gene are associated with meat quality in pigs. In the present study, single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 5'-end and exons of chicken PRKAG3 gene were identified with the method of single-strand conformation polymorphism in Hubbard ISA White broiler, Leghorn layer, and three Chinese indigenous chicken breeds, Tibet Chicken, Shouguang Chicken and Beijing Yellow Chicken. Two SNPs in the 5'-end of the gene and 10 SNPs in exons 3, 4, 9 and 11, of which three caused amino acid substitutions, were identified in the PRKAG3 gene of the five chicken breeds. The results will facilitate further study on the association between the mutations of PRKAG3 and chicken meat quality.

Differentiating among horse (Equus caballus), donkey (Equus asinus) and their hybrids with combined analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial gene polymorphism

A novel and brief method of differentiating among horse (Equus caballus) and donkey (Equus asinus) and their hybrids (mule, E. asinus x E. caballus and hinny, E. caballus x E. asinus) with combined analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial gene polymorphism (CANMGP) was reported in the present report. A nuclear gene, protamine P1 gene of donkey was sequenced and compared with the known horse sequence from GenBank while a published equid mitochondrial gene, cytochrome b gene of donkey was compared with that of horse. In each of the two genes, a fixed nucleotide substitution within an exon that could be recognized by Dpn II restriction enzyme was found between the two species. Two pairs of primers were designed for amplifying the fragments within the two genes containing the informative nucleotide positions in 65 horses and 41 donkeys and 38 hybrids and conditions of polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis were optimized. Horse, donkey and mule and hinny had their own specific cleavage patterns after the PCR-RFLP analysis was performed, which made it very easy to identify them from each other. As multiplex PCR can be conducted with the two pairs of primers and only one restriction enzyme is involved in PCR-RFLP analysis, the method described in the present study is a convenient way to identify horse and donkey and their hybrids. The idea involved in the method of CANMGP can be also used to differentiate other animal species or breeds and their hybrids.

Cloning and functional analysis of cDNAs with open reading frames for 300 previously undefined genes expressed in CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells

Three hundred cDNAs containing putatively entire open reading frames (ORFs) for previously undefined genes were obtained from CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs), based on EST cataloging, clone sequencing, in silico cloning, and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The cDNA sizes ranged from 360 to 3496 bp and their ORFs coded for peptides of 58-752 amino acids. Public database search indicated that 225 cDNAs exhibited sequence similarities to genes identified across a variety of species. Homology analysis led to the recognition of 50 basic structural motifs/domains among these cDNAs. Genomic exon-intron organization could be established in 243 genes by integration of cDNA data with genome sequence information. Interestingly, a new gene named as HSPC070 on 3p was found to share a sequence of 105bp in 3' UTR with RAF gene in reversed transcription orientation. Chromosomal localizations were obtained using electronic mapping for 192 genes and with radiation hybrid (RH) for 38 genes. Macroarray technique was applied to screen the gene expression patterns in five hematopoietic cell lines (NB4, HL60, U937, K562, and Jurkat) and a number of genes with differential expression were found. The resource work has provided a wide range of information useful not only for expression genomics and annotation of genomic DNA sequence, but also for further research on the function of genes involved in hematopoietic development and differentiation.

Gene expression networks underlying retinoic acid-induced differentiation of acute promyelocytic leukemia cells

To elucidate the molecular mechanism of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA)-induced differentiation of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cells, the gene expression patterns in the APL cell line NB(4) before and after ATRA treatment were analyzed using complementary DNA array, suppression-subtractive hybridization, and differential-display-polymerase chain reaction. A total of 169 genes, including 8 novel ones, were modulated by ATRA. The ATRA-induced gene expression profiles were in high accord with the differentiation and proliferation status of the NB(4) cells. The time courses of their modulation were interesting. Among the 100 up-regulated genes, the induction of expression occurred most frequently 12-48 hours after ATRA treatment, while 59 of 69 down-regulated genes found their expression suppressed within 8 hours. The transcriptional regulation of 8 induced and 24 repressed genes was not blocked by cycloheximide, which suggests that these genes may be direct targets of the ATRA signaling pathway. A balanced functional network seemed to emerge, and it formed the foundation of decreased cellular proliferation, maintenance of cell viability, increased protein modulation, and promotion of granulocytic maturation. Several cytosolic signaling pathways, including JAKs/STAT and MAPK, may also be implicated in the symphony of differentiation. (Blood. 2000;96:1496-1504)

Purification and characterization of iron-containing urethanase from Bacillus licheniformis

Urethane is potentially carcinogenic and teratogenic to human and has been reported to be a contaminant of various kinds of alcoholic beverages. Enzymatic removal of urethane is one possible approach to remove this cancer-causing chemical from alcoholic beverages. Among Bacillus licheniformis strains, IFO 12107 showed the highest urethane hydrolyzing activity when cultivated in a urethane-containing white medium. The enzyme was purified about 300-fold by means of several chromatographic steps to homogeneity. The enzyme activity was strongly inhibited by batho- and o-phenanthroline. The complete loss of enzyme activity following treatment with bathophenanthroline was fully restored by the addition of Fe3+ at a ratio of 4 iron atoms to 1 mol apoenzyme. This result was obtained by the incorporation of 59Fe3+ into apourethanase. ESR spectroscopy showed that the enzyme contained a typical high-spin Fe3+. The urethanase hydrolyzed carbamyl ester derivatives more rapidly than amide derivatives. The molecular weight of the native enzyme was about 160 kDa (gel-filtration), and that of the subunit was 42 kDa (sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, SDS-PAGE). This shows the enzyme to be a homotetramer. The pI and Km values were 5.5 and 0.17 mM, respectively. The enzyme was considerably resistant to high concentrations of ethanol, which is a great advantage for the industrial removal of urethane from alcoholic beverages.

Urethanase in rat tissues

Urethane-hydrolyzing activity (urethanase) was found in the homogenates of liver, kidney, and lung of rats. The activity was significantly higher at acidic condition (pH 5.0) than that at neutral condition (pH 7.0) in every case. The highest activity among them was observed in a kidney homogenate preparation. The activities increased slightly with treatment by Triton X-100. Intracellular distribution of urethanase in rat kidney was examined and found that the enzyme activity located mainly in the lysosomal fraction. The optimal pH was found to be 5.0. The enzyme activity was strongly inhibited by EDTA, whose 50% inhibitory concentration was 7.4 x 10(-7) M. Complete loss of the enzyme activity by the addition of EDTA was fully recovered by the addition of Zn2+, which suggested that urethanase belongs to the category of Zn enzyme.

Urethanase of Bacillus licheniformis sp. isolated from mouse gastrointestine

Trace levels of urethane, a cancer causing chemical, were detected in many kinds of wine, sherry, whisky, brandy and sake. Urethane formation from urea and ethanol in sake can be prevented by the treatment of acid urease, which is produced by Lactobacillus fermentum, but urethane, once formed, is very difficult to decompose. In order to keep the safety of alcoholic beverages, enzymatic removal of urethane has become an urgent problem. We found that Bacillus licheniformis sp., isolated from mouse gastrointestine, decomposed urethane to ethanol and ammonia. The enzyme showed higher urethanase activity at an acidic condition than at a neutral condition, and was resistant against ethyl alcohol of high concentrations. However, the enzyme had a low affinity to urethane for the industrial removal of the compound from alcoholic beverages.

[Studies on new triterpenoids of Tripterygium regelii]

Four triterpenoids were isolated from the root of Tripterygium regelii collected in Fusong Prefecture, Jilin Province. III was confirmed as methyl 3-oxo-22 alpha-acetoxy-23-hydroxy-urs-12-ene-30-oate, named regelin C, V and VI were a pair of isomers identified as methyl 3 beta, 22 alpha-dihydroxy-urs-12-ene-30-oate and methyl 3 beta, 22 alpha-dihydroxy-olean-12-ene-29-oate, named regelindiol A and regelindiol B respectively. VII was represented as methyl 3-oxo-22 alpha-hydroxy-olean-12-ene-29-oate, named regelin D. III, V and VII were new compounds, and VI was isolated for the first time as a natural compound.