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Objective: To observe the effects of Sijunzi Decoction on D-xylose excretion rate and ATP content in the mucosa membranes of small intestines of rats with spleen deficiency., Methods: Spleen deficiency model rats were made by reserpine injection. D-xylose excretion rate was measured with p-bromoaniline method, and the ATP content of small intestines mucosa was detected with bioluminescence method. The correlation between D-xylose excretion rate and ATP content of mucosa was also analyzed., Results: Rats' body weight and D-xylose excretion rate decreased after reserpine injection (P < 0.01, vs control group), but increased after treated with Sijunzi Decoction (P < 0.05, vs model group). The ATP content of mucosa showed no significant difference between model group and control group. There was obviously positive correlation between the change of urine's D-xylose excretion rate and mucosa ATP content., Conclusion: Sijunzi Decoction has the activity of improving xylose absorption in spleen deficiency rats, but no obvious effect on their mucosa ATP content. The reducing of urine's D-xylose excretion rate in spleen deficiency rats is accompanied with the decrease of mucosa ATP content.

Objective: To prepare follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) polypeptide modified nanoparticles (NP) in order to achieve specific ovarian tumor targeting., Methods: Expression of FSH receptor protein in human liver cancer and ovarian cancer cell lines BEL-7402, SKOV-3 and Caov-3 was detected by immunocytochemistry. The polypeptide fragment of FSH beta 81-95 amino acids (FSHL81-95) was synthesized and covalently coupled to NP. The specific binding of FSHL81-95 and FSHL81-95-NP was examined by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry., Results: BEL-7402 and SKOV-3 cells were negative for FSH receptor staining, while Caov-3 cells were positive. The diameters of NP were about 100 nm, with a Zeta potential of -25 mV or so. Caov-3 cells showed a more specific interaction with FSHL81-95-NP than SKOV-3 cells (4.17 +/- 0.86 and 2.30 +/- 0.21; P < 0.05). The uptake of FSHL81-95-NP was more than NP in Caov-3 cells (4.17 +/- 0.86 and 0.41 +/- 0.32; P < 0.05). FSHL81-95-NP showed a selective targeting at Caov-3 cells compared with control NP., Conclusion: FSH polypeptide modified NP could selectively target ovarian cancer cells expressing FSH receptor, which might contribute to specific endocytosis mediated by FSH receptor.

Objective: To explore the relationship between genetic polymorphisms of CYP-1A1 and CYP2D6 and risks of chronic benzene poisoning (BP)., Methods: A case control study was conducted. 152 BP patients and 152 workers occupationally exposed to benzene without poisoning manifestations were involved. Polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technology was used for detecting the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of MspI in the non-coding region of CYP-1A1 gene and c.188, g.212 position in the first extron of CYP2D6 gene., Results: The individuals with CYP1A1 MspI T/T genotype had a 1.32 times (95% CI: 1.05 approximately 1.65, P = 0.02) increased risk of BP compared with those carrying T/C and C/C genotypes. In no-smoking population, there was a 1.56 times (95% CI: 1.15 approximately 2.12, P = 0.003) increased risk of BP for subjects carrying CYP1A1 MspIT/T genotype compared with those carrying T/C and C/C genotypes. The individuals carrying CYP2D6 c.188 C/C or C/T genotype had a 1.23 times (95% CI: 1.05 approximately 1.42, P = 0.01) increased risk compared with those carrying T/T genotypes. In no-smoking population, there was a 1.23 times (95% CI: 1.04 approximately 1.47, P = 0.01) increased risk of BP for subjects carrying CYP2D6 c.188 C/C or C/T genotypes compared with those carrying T/T genotype. The single nucleotide polymorphism of g.212 position in the first extron of CYP2D6 gene had not been validated., Conclusion: The individuals with CYP2D6 c.188 C/C, CYP2D6 c.188 C/T and CYP1A1 MspIT/T genotypes tend to be more susceptible to benzene toxicity.

Objective: To study the effects of caesarean section on breastfeeding., Methods: Six hundred and two [301 cases was caesarean section (caesarean section group) and 301 cases was vaginal delivery (vaginal delivery group)] nulliparas were interviewed face-to-face at antepartum and postpartum in an indication-matched prospective study., Results: There was a significantly lower postpartum prolactin (PRL) level in the caesarean section group (8.48 nmol/L, 95% CI: 7.80 - 9.21 nmol/L) compared with vaginal delivery group (9.61 nmol/L, 95% CI: 8.99 - 10.26 nmol/L) during 6 - 24 hours in the daytime after delivery. The median time of breastfeeding initiation was 12 hours and 2 hours after birth for caesarean section and vaginal delivery groups respectively. Caesarean section was an important hazard for a shorter duration of breastfeeding (RR = 1.21; 95% CI: 1.10 - 1.33) within one year after childbirth., Conclusions: Caesarean section is associated with significantly lower postpartum PRL, which is in line with the longer breastfeeding initiation and lower rate of successful breastfeeding. Necessary measures including promoting the secretion of postpartum PRL such as early contact, early sucking and analgesic method should be taken to improve the successful breastfeeding rate.

DREB transcription factor is a dehydration responsive element (DRE) binding protein. It can specifically interact with the dehydration-responsive element/C-repeat (DRE/CRT) cis-acting element contained in the promoter region of many stress-inducible genes, and can therefore control the expression of many stress-inducible genes in plant and increase strong tolerance to drought, low temperature and high salt. In this paper we described the relation between DREB transcription factor and DRE/CRT cis-acting element, the functional and structural character, and expression and regulation of DREB. We also briefly introduced the progress of research on DREB gene cloning and identification. DREB transcription factor plays an important role in the expression of many stress-inducible genes in plant, so it thus shows a very broad application future in aspect of increasing strong tolerance to stress. At the same time, we described the DREB complexity in signal transduction and the mechanism for action and expression of gene.

Objective: To investigate the Toxoplasma gondii (TOX) infection in males with sterility and the effect of the infection on the reproductive function of males., Methods: Enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect TOX-CAg, TOX-IgG and TOX-IgM in the peripheral blood of male patients with sterility., Results: Among 100 cases of male sterility, 7 were TOX-IgG positive (7%), 16 TOX-IgM positive (16%) and 13 TOX-CAg positive (13%). Among 100 normal males, 7 were TOX-IgG positive (7%), 3 TOX-IgM positive (3%) and 1 TOX-CAg positive (1%)., Conclusion: TOX infection may affect the fertility of males and cause male sterility. For this reason, males should prevent themselves from TOX infection.

Objective: To investigate the anti-HBV effect of fusion protein thymosin alpha1-interferon alpha (TA1-IFN) in vitro and to compare its effect with a combination of interferon alpha and thymosin alpha1., Methods: After 2.2.15 cells were seeded for 24 hours, drugs of five serial concentrations (8000, 4000, 2000, 1000, 500 U/ml) were added to the wells, then the medium was changed every three days. After 2.2.15 cells were treated with drugs for 6 days, the medium was collected. The inhibitory rates on HBsAg and HBeAg were determined using Abbot kit, and the cytotoxicity of different drugs by means of MTT colorimetric assays was also observed., Results: The inhibitory rate of fusion protein on HBsAg, HBeAg was dose-dependent and reached the maximum at 8000 U/ml concentration. In the meantime, the inhibitory rates of fusion protein on HBsAg and HBeAg were 72.2% +/- 0.8% and 60.4% +/- 1.1% respectively, and the cell survival rate was 85.2% +/- 2.0%; In the corresponding concentration, the inhibitory rates of combination thymosin alpha 1 and interferon alpha on HBsAg and HBeAg were 40.0% +/- 0.7%, 34.5% +/- 3.2% respectively. The results showed significant statistical differences between them; cell survival rate 70.0% +/- 1.9%, and the difference of the results was also significant. Cytotoxicity of fusion protein was weaker than a combination of thymosin alpha 1 and interferon alpha., Conclusion: Fusion protein TA1-IFN exerted stronger anti-HBV effects in vitro. Its anti-HBV effects in vitro were stronger than the combination of thymosin alpha and interferon alpha, and its cytotoxicity was weaker than the combination of thymosin alpha and interferon alpha. Our studies provided important evidence for clinical research on TA1-IFN, and also brought new hope for hepatitis B therapy.

Objective: To study the relationship between the TCM Syndrome Differentiation-types of congestive heart failure (CHF) and thyroid hormones, including triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), as well as cardiac function parameters, including left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), mean velocity of circumferentid fiber shortening (mVcf) and A peak/E peak (A/E)., Methods: One hundred patients with CHF were divided into 4 Syndrome Differentiation-type groups, their cardiac function parameters, ANP and thyroid hormones were determined and compared with those in the 23 subjects in the control group., Results: In CHF patients with edema and blood stasis Syndrome type, the level of plasma ANP was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05); level of T3 was significantly lower than that in the control group and in CHF patients of other three (Xin-qi deficiency, Yin-deficiency and blood stasis) Syndrome groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01); levels of LVEF and mVcf were significantly lower than those in the other three Syndrome groups (all P < 0.01). Level of T4 in other three Syndrome groups significantly increased than that in the edema and blood stasis Syndrome type. A/E value showed a higher level in patients of all TCM type than that in the control (P < 0.01). Correlation analysis showed that T3 was positively correlated with LVEF and T4 (r = 0.200, P < 0.05, and r = 0.293, P < 0.01), and negatively correlated with ANP (r = -0.263, P < 0.01); T4 was negatively correlated with A/E (r = -0.226, P < 0.05)., Conclusion: The lowering of T3 and T4 and increasing of ANP may be one of the important reasons for lowering of LVEF in CHF patients with edema and blood stasis Syndrome-type. The decrease of T4 may be one of the important reasons for elevation of A/E and aggravation of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in CHF patients of all the 4 TCM Syndrome-types.