[en] In the report DNA strand breaks in V79 cells caused by γ-rays and the protective effect of total flavonoids of astragalus mongholicus Bunge (TFA) have been studied by fluorometric assay of DNA unwinding. The results indicated that the rate of DNA strand break increased with the increase of γ-ray doses. Even when the concentration of TFA was as low as 0.6 mg/ml, it still showed some protective effect on DNA strand breaks. When its concentration was up to 1.2 mg/ml, TFA could effectively protect DNA from radiation damage

[en] To evaluate the effects of turtle oil on insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism in an insulin-resistant (IR) cell model which was established by the way of high concentration of insulin induction with HepG₂ cell in vitro culture. The IR cells were treated by turtle oil, the glucose consumption and ³H-D-glucose incorporation rate in IR cells were detected by the way of glucose oxidase and ³H-D-glucose incorporation assay respectively. The state of cell proliferation was tested by MTT method. The results showed that the incorporation rate of ³H-D-glucose in IR cells was significantly lower than that in the control cells(P<0.05). The ³H-D-glucose incorporation rate in either IR cells or control cells was increased with the increase of insulin concentration. Moreover, the ³H-D-glucose incorporation rate of IR cells increased slower than that of control cells. The MTT assay showed that turtle oil can promote the proliferation of IR cell and control cell. The glucose uptake and glucose consumption in IR cell which treated with turtle oil was significantly increase than that in the control cells (P<0.05). Turtle oil can improve the insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism in the IR cell model. (authors)

[en] The anti-radiation effectiveness of total flavonoids of astragalus mongholicus Bunge (TFA) has been studied with the model of intraoperative radiotherapy of imitative lung cancer. The results showed that some tissues have been protected from damage by intravenous administration of TFA before radiotherapy. The malonyldialdebyde concentration decreased in tissue homogenate, while the superoxide dismutase activity did not fall. The results also show that the intraoperative radiotherapy may generate a large number of free radicals, which induce tissue and cell damage not only at the place of direct irradiation, but also at the remote places. It is suggested that the TFA has the effect of anti-radiation. The mechanism may be related to TFA properties such as anti-oxidation and scavenging of free radicals

[en] To investigate the levels of 11 trace elements in serum of healthy old people to provide scientific basis for prevention and treatment of geriatric diseases, the serum were separated from blood samples according to standard procedure. The serum samples were underwent digestion, elimination of nitric acid, volume fixation and then assayed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The results showed that the contents of Al in elderly people's serum is higher than those in young people (P<0.01), while the contents of V, Cr, Cu and Se in elderly people's serum were lower than those in young people (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in other trace elements between two groups. The contents of some trace elements in elderly people's serum changed significantly. (authors)

[en] Objective: To determine the independent predictors of common carotid intima-media thickness (CC-IMT) and to establish the optimum binary classification equation of CC-IMT in males with metabolic syndrome (MS). Methods: The study retrospectively analyzed some indexes of 153 male adults (109 patients with MS and 44 healthy controls) who underwent the B-mode ultrasonography test. Results: The level of lumen Diameter of common carotid artery was significantly increased (P<0.05), while the V_mean of common carotid artery reduced remarkably (P<0.01). HDL-C was negatively correlated with BMI and WHR. BMI had the highest correlation with the MS (r=0.646, P<0.01); DBP and LDL-C were independent predictors of CC-IMT. SBP, DBP and V_mean entered the optimum binary classification equation. Conclusion: The components of MS, especially BMI, can thicken CC-IMT and slow down Vmean. (authors)

[en] Objective: To study the clinical features of skin metastatic carcinoma, and to provide the reference for its diagnosis and treatment. Methods: The clinical materials of one case of cutaneous metastases complicated with herpes zoster were analyzed and the related literatures were reviewed. The right chest wall in the patient appeared erythema and blisters with pain 4 months ago; in the local hospital the patient was diagnosed as herpes zoster and received relevant treatment; the pain was improved, but there were still erythema, papules and nodules in the local area. The skin lesions were erosive, expanded and deepened rapidly 20 days ago, and the pathological examination, lung CT, abdominal CT and other assistant examinations were performed in our hospital. Results: The lesion biopsy results showed invasive carcinoma with extensive infarction. The results of lung CT, abdominal CT and other assistant examinations showed the right breast occupying lesions complicated with cervical lymph nodes, liver, pleural and bone metastases. The skin lesions were improved after local treatment and 2 courses of chemotherapy (docetaxel combined with trastuzumab), but failed to heal completely. Conclusion: Skin metastatic carcinoma is rare, and its clinical manifestations are different. The clinicians should master the regularity of the disease, timely conduct the histopathological examination and the related examination in the other parts to reduce the incidence of misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis. (authors)

[en] Objective: To set up a diagnostic model of gastric cancer by using biomarkers for differential diagnosis of early gastric cancer through statistics and bioinformatics technologies. Methods: We used retrospective cohort study to screening 179 cases of gastric associated diseases. 139 cases of gastric cancer and 40 cases of atypical hyperplasia were separated by the diagnosis of gastroscopy. The serological parameter differences were analyzed by statistical multi-parameter analysis between gastric cancer and atypical hyperplasia. SPSS18.0 software was adopted for analysis of tumor markers cytokines and biochemical indicators in two groups to set up a diagnostic model. Results There were significant difference in 20 parameters between gastric cancer and atypical hyperplasia (P < 0.05). The diagnosis accuracy of single marker was low. The diagnosis horizontal of the IL-6 and CEA were highest. The AUC was 0.824 and 0.721, respectively .The results of logistic regression analysis showed CEA, CA72-4, IL-6, IMA, SOD and ApoA1 had significant differences in the differential diagnosis for gastric cancer, and the prediction accuracy of two groups was 85.3%. Conclusion: This study provides a promising strategy for differential diagnosis of gastric cancer with statistics software. The parameters of CEA, CA72-4, IMA, SOD and ApoA1 may have important roles in the predicted classification of gastric cancer and atypical hyperplasia with linear pattern. (authors)

[en] Voltammetric detection of the K-ras gene fragment was accomplished through the combined application of (a) a switchable DNA nanostructure, (b) the use of hairpin probe and exonuclease III (Exo III)-assisted signal amplification, (c) a split G-quadruplex, and (d) by exploiting the redox activity of DNAzyme. Three assistant oligonucleotides were designed to construct a DNA tweezer on a gold electrode. It is in “open state” in the absence of K-ras DNA. Then, a hairpin probe was introduced, whose stem-loop structure can be opened through hybridization with the K-ras DNA. Exo III is added which hydrolyzes the complementary region of the hairpin sequence to release a single-stranded rest fragment. The ssDNA hybridizes with the DNA tweezer on the electrode which thereby is switched to the “closed state”. This leads to the formation of G-quadruplex due to the shortened distance of the split G-quadruplex-forming sequences in the tweezer. The voltammetric signal of the G-quadruplex-hemin complex, with a peak near −0.3 V vs. Ag/AgCl, is used as the signal output. Under the optimal conditions, the current response in differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) increases linearly with the concentration of K-ras DNA in the range of 0.01–1000 pM, and the detection limit is 2.4 fM. The assay can clearly discriminate K-ras DNA from a single-base mutation. The method has excellent selectivity and was applied to the determination of K-ras DNA in (spiked) serum samples.

[en] A fluorescent aptasensor for Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is designed, which takes advantage of strand displacement amplification (SDA) technology and unique self-assembled DNA hexagonal structure. In the presence of S. aureus, a partially complementary strand of S. aureus aptamer (cDNA) is competitively released from cDNA/aptamer duplex immobilized on magnetic beads due to the affinity of the aptamer for S. aureus. The addition of primer starts the SDA reaction. With the catalysis of Bsm DNA polymerase and Nb.bpu10I endonuclease, a large number of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) is produced, which induces the opening of a hairpin probe and the subsequent self-assembly to form a hexagonal structure. The staining of the DNA hexagon with SYBR Green I excites the fluorescence signal, which is used for detection. The aptasensor exhibits a broad linear range from 7 to 7 × 10⁷ CFU/mL, with a detection limit of 1.7 CFU/mL for S. aureus. The sensor shows negligible responses to other bacteria. Moreover, the aptasensor has been applied to detect S. aureus in milk samples, and the results demonstrate the general applicability of the sensor and its prospect in systematic detection of S. aureus in food safety control and medicine-related fields.

[en] Highlights: • A fluorescent detection of S. aureus based on a functional chimera and a molecular beacon. • High sensitive detection was achieved through strand displacement target recycling. • The detection can easily discriminate S. aureus from other bacteria. • The method was applied in detection of the target in environment water samples. -- Abstract: A fluorescent detection of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is established based on a finely designed functional chimera sequence, a molecular beacon (MB), and strand displacement target recycling. The chimera sequence, which consists of the aptamer sequence of S. aureus and the complementary sequence of MB, can form a hairpin structure due to the existence of intramolecular complementary regions. When S. aureus is present, it binds to the aptamer region of the chimera, opens the hairpin and unlocks the complementary sequence of MB. Subsequently, the MB is opened and intensive fluorescence signal is restored. To increase the sensitivity of the detection, signal amplification is achieved through strand displacement-based target recycling. With the catalysis of Nb. Bpu10I nicking endonuclease and Bsm DNA polymerase, the MB sequence can be cleaved and then elongated to form a complete duplex with the chimera, during which S. aureus is displaced from the chimera and proceeded to the next round of the reaction. This assay displays a linear correlation between the fluorescence intensity and the logarithm of the concentration of S. aureus within a broad concentration range from 80 CFU/mL to 8 × 10⁶ CFU/mL. The detection limit of 39 CFU/mL can be derived. The assay was applied to detect S. aureus in different water samples, and satisfactory recovery and repeatability were achieved. Hence the designed chimera sequence and established assay have potential application in environmental pollution monitoring.