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Potential protection against the neurotoxic damages of high levels of fluoride on rats and SH-SY5Y cells by extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves, as well as underlying mechanisms, were examined.The rats were divided randomly into 4 groups, i.e., control, treatment with the extract (100 mg/kg body weight, gavage once daily), treatment with fluoride (50 ppm FThe rats with prolong treatment of fluoride exhibited dental fluorosis, the increased contents of fluoride in brains and urine and the declined ability of learning and memory. In the hippocampus of the rats and SH-SY5Y cells exposed to fluoride, the levels of ROS, MDA, apoptosis, 8-OHdG and the protein expressions of histone H2A.XGinkgo biloba extract attenuated neurotoxic damages induced by fluoride exposure to rats and SH-SY5Y cells and the underlying mechanism might involve the inhibition of PARP-1 and the promotion of SIRT1.

To analyze the correlation ofIn 76 cases of colorectal cancer tissues, the mutation rate of

To compare the in vitro killing effects of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) induced by dendritic cells(DCs) that modified with 4 different specific hAFP-derived peptides.DCs derived from normal human peripheral monocytes were activated by GM-CSF and IL-4. MTT assay was applied to analyse the proliferation activities of the DCs. To induce the specific CTLs, DCs modified with four immunodominant epitopes from alpha fetoprotein (AFP) were cocultured with MNC derived CD8+ lymphocytes. The acquired specific CTLs were cocultured with SMMC-7721 cells at different dilutions, and the killing effects were detected by flow-cytometry and Non-Radioactive Cytotoxity kit.The CTLs stimulated by DCs modified with the four immunodominant epitopes from alpha fetoprotein (AFP) had specific killing activities on the SMMC-7721 cells. And statistical differences of the killing effects existed between the hAFP(158-166) (FMNKFIYEI) group and the other three groups.CTLs induced by the DCs modified with the four immunodominant peptides had significant killing effects on the hepatocellular cancer cells in vitro. The hAFP(158-166) (FMNKFIYEI) peptide had a relatively higher efficiency in inducing DCs and stimulating specific CTLs.

Two new phenols, 6'- O-vanilloylisotachioside ( 1) and 6'- O-vanilloyltachioside ( 2), together with nine known compounds, were isolated from the leaves of Baccaurea ramiflora (Euphorbiaceae). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated mainly by analysis of physical and spectroscopic data. Compounds 1 - 10 were tested for antioxidant activities by using MTT and DPPH assays. Seven compounds, 1, 2, and 4 - 8, revealed potent antioxidant activities against H (2)O (2)-induced impairment in PC12 cells, and exhibited significant DPPH radical-scavenging activities with IC (50) values of 86.9, 142.9, 15.2, 37.6, 35.9, 30.2, and 79.8 microM, respectively.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the most common causes of death in the world. Some studies suggested that CHD begins in childhood. Obesity and dyslipidemia are important risk factors of coronary heart disease. Apolipoprotein (apo)E gene associated with dyslipidemia and coronary heart disease. The present study was designed to investigate the expression status of apoE gene in peripheral blood monocyte and association of apoE gene expression with lipids in children with obesity.Among 32 children with obesity and 32 healthy children without obesity or overweight, ApoE gene expressions were determined by competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in peripheral blood monocyte. The concentrations of plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, lipoprotein(a), apoA I, apoB(100) and apoE were measured.Expression of apoE gene was detected in peripheral blood monocyte. Expression of apoE gene was significantly reduced in children with obesity as compared with control group (0.29 +/- 0.14 moles/mole GAPDH mRNA vs. 0.36 +/- 0.10 moles/mole GAPDH mRNA, t = 2.15, P0.05). The more severe was the degree of obesity, the more significantly reduced the expression of apoE gene; the degree of obesity was negatively correlated with the levels of expression of apoE gene (correlation coefficient = -0.40, P0.05). Compared with control group, the levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and apoB(100) were higher, and those of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, apoA I and apoE were lower in children with obesity [(1.68 +/- 0.50) mmol/L vs. (0.99 +/- 0.54) mmol/L, (4.47 +/- 0.91) mmol/L vs. (3.33 +/- 0.90) mmol/L, (2.23 +/- 0.71) mmol/L vs. (1.13 +/- 0.96) mmol/L, (94.48 +/- 9.97) mg/dl vs. (83.81 +/- 15.64) mg/dl, (1.47 +/- 0.39) mmol/L vs. (1.73 +/- 0.36) mmol/L, (112.71 +/- 27.86) mg/dl vs. (134.80 +/- 45.36) mg/dl, (24.50 +/- 10.92) mg/L vs.(35.07 +/- 9.79) mg/L, respectively, P0.05]. ApoE gene expression was associated with plasma lipids metabolism in children with obesity. The quantity of apoE gene expression was inversely associated with low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, positively correlated with apoE (correlation coefficient = -0.33, 0.35, respectively, P0.05). The quantity of apoE gene expression was not associated with total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, lipoprotein(a), apoA I, and apoB(100) (correlation coefficient = -0.19, -0.11, 0.16, 0.09, 0.18, 0.22, P0.05).Expression of apoE gene was significantly reduced in peripheral blood monocyte in children with obesity. The quantity of apoE gene expression was associated with degree of obesity and abnormality of blood lipids.

To develop an efficient, rapid and reliable method for sex determination in preimplantation genetic diagnosis.Nested PCR and fluorescent PCR were used to amplify amelogenin and IL-3 genes from human single lymphocytes and blastomeres.The amplification efficiencies of nested PCR and fluorescent PCR of man single lymphocyte/woman single lymphocyte/blastomere were 64.7%/65%/85.7%, and 72%/76%/86.9% respectively. The PCR products of the lymphocyte were exactly the same as those of the donor gDNA. The PCR products of blastomeres coming from the same embryo were all identical.The amplification efficiencies of nested PCR and fluorescent PCR are similar while fluorescent PCR is more conventional, time sparing and sensitive.

To set up a highly efficient cell lysis system to increase the efficiency of single cell polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD).First we picked up one single lymphocyte or blastomere and lysed it in alkaline lysis buffer (ALB), proteinase K buffer (PK) and a new proteinase K lysis buffer compounded by ourselves. Then we amplified the 3rd exon of Gene ALD using nested PCR and compared the amplification efficiencies.The amplification efficiencies of the single lymphocyte in ALB, PK and the lysis buffer compounded by ourselves were 90%, 74%, and 87%; those of the single blastomere were 98%, 77%, and 96%.ALB and the lysis buffer compounded by ourselves are superior to PK in the lysis of cells in clinical PGD.