[en] Objective: To explore the relationship between the plasma homocysteine (HCY) level and the development of cardio-vascular complication in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients on hemodialysis. Methods: Plasma HCY levels were measured in 38 renal failure patients on hemodialysis both before and after 8 weeks oral administration of folic acid (5 mg tid) and VitB₁₂ (500 μg tid) as well as in 40 controls. Results: The plasma levels of HCY in CRF patients on dialysis before taking folic acid and VitB₁₂ (25.12 ± 12.51 μmol/L) were significantly higher than those in controls (8.2 ± 4.5 μmol/L) (P<0.01). Among the patients, levels in the subjects with cardio-vascular complications (36.8 ± 15.64 μmol/L) were significantly higher than those in the subjects without cardio-vascular complications (P<0.01). The values after 8 weeks treatment with folic acid and VitB₁₂ were significantly lowered (13.2 ± 5.74 μmol/L, vs before treatment, P<0.01). Conclusion: Abnormal high levels of plasma homocysteine is an independent risk factor for the development of cardio-vascular complications in CRF patients on hemodialysis. Treatment with folic acid and VitB₁₂ might be beneficial in lessening the complications. (authors)

[en] The effects of whole body X-irradiation (WBI) with low and high doses on Cyclin B₁ and p34^cdc2 protein expression in the thymocytes of mice were studied using immunohistochemistry. The results showed that comparing the control group Cyclin B₁ protein expression increased at 8 h after WBI with 75 mGy, reaching its peak at 12 h followed by its return to normal level at 48 h. Cyclin B₁ protein expression decreased at 4 h after WBI with 2 Gy, reaching its lowest level at 12 h, followed by a return to the control level at 48 h. At the same time, the changes of p34^cdc2 protein expression were observed. Comparing the control group, there were no changes in p34^cdc2 protein expression after WBI with 75 mGy, the time course of p34^cdc2 protein expression after WBI with 2 Gy was the same as Cyclin B₁ after the same dose. The results indicated that low dose irradiation could induce the increase of Cyclin B₁ protein expression accompanied with acceleration of cell cycle progression. In contrast, high dose irradiation could induce a decrease of expression of both proteins finally results in G₂ arrest

[en] Graphical abstract: Zeta potential of oil-wet quartz powder treated with different surfactants at different concentrations. - Highlights: • Mechanisms of wettability alteration during surfactant flooding were studied. • Different analytical instruments were used to study sandstone wettability alteration. • Surfactants’ structure plays a great role in wettability alteration of solid surface. • CTAB irreversibly desorbs carboxylic acid from solid surface by ionic interaction. • Cationic surfactant is more effective in wettability alteration of sandstone surface. - Abstract: Different analytical methods including Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), atomic force microscopy (AFM), zeta potential measurements, contact angle measurements and spontaneous imbibition tests were utilized to make clear the mechanism for wettability alteration of oil-wet sandstone surface using different surfactants. Results show that among three types of surfactants including cationic surfactants, anionic surfactants and nonionic surfactants, the cationic surfactant CTAB demonstrates the best effect on the wettability alteration of oil-wet sandstone surface. The positively charged head groups of CTAB molecules and carboxylic acid groups from crude oil could interact to form ion pairs, which could be desorbed from the solid surface and solubilized into the micelle formed by CTAB. Thus, the water-wetness of the solid surface is improved. Nonionic surfactant TX-100 could be adsorbed on oil-wet sandstone surface through hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interaction to alter the wettability of oil-wet solid surface. The wettability alteration of oil-wet sandstone surface using the anionic surfactant POE(1) is caused by hydrophobic interaction. Due to the electrostatic repulsion between the anionic surfactant and the negatively charged surface, POE(1) shows less effect on the wettability alteration of oil-wet sandstone surface

[en] Objective: To investigate the clinical significance of changes of peripheral blood TXA₂, PGI₂, TNF-α levels on assessment of the severity and prognosis of patients with acute pancreatitis (AP). Methods: Peripheral blood levels of TXA₂, PGI₂ (plasma with RIA) and TNF-α (serum with ELISA) were detected in 30 patients with severe AP (SAP group), 56 patients with mild AP(MAP group) and 40 controls. Results: The peripheral blood levels of TXA₂, TNF-α in the SAP group were significantly higher than those in the MAP group (P<0.05), while the PGI₂ levels were significantly lower (P<0.05). The hospitalization time in the MAP group (6.1±1.8 d) was significantly less than that in the SAP group (17.2±3.6 d, P<0.01). The mortality in the MAP and SAP group was 0 and 7 respectively, with significant difference (P<0.05). Conclusion: The blood TXA₂, PGI₂ and TNF-α levels were closely related to the severity and prognosis of AP and were important clinical indicators. (authors)

[en] The male mice were given ip AEHM 5 mg/kg, wt/d before irradiation with 2.0 Gy X-rays for 3 days, and the changes of several immunological indexes were observed 24 h after X-irradiation. The results showed that AEHM significantly increased the numbers of splenocytes and thymocytes, the reaction of splenocytes to ConA and the spontaneous proliferation of thymocytes in irradiated mice, and decreased the fall of spleen and thymus. In addition, a tendency of the increases in the above indexes in the intact mice treated with AEHM was observed. Meanwhile, AEHM possessed similar radioprotective effect on immunological functions to polysaccharides of Ginseng. The results suggest that AEHM has not only a radioprotective effect on immunological functions in the irradiated mice, but also an enhancing effect on the defence functions in the intact mice. It is very hopeful that AEHM acted as immune-enhanced drug should be used in the clinic

[en] The effect of whole body irradiation (WBI) with various doses on cell cycle progression of splenocytes in mice was investigated using flow cytometry. The results showed that DNA synthesis was stimulated within 12∼72 h after 75 mGy irradiation, reaching the level of sham-irradiated group on day 7. Meanwhile, after WBI with 2.0 Gy X-rays DNA synthesis was suppressed with significant G₂ block beginning from 8h, and retuned the level of sham-irradiated group on day 7. The study of dose-effect relationship showed that DNA synthesis was enhanced 24 h after 50 and 75 mGy X-rays, and G₁ block occurred after WBI with 100 and 200 mGy, but DNA synthesis was suppressed with G₂ block and cell division delay 24 h after WBI with 0.5∼4.0 Gy

[en] The changes in cyclin B₁ and cdc₂ transcription level of splenocytes in mice were observed after WBI with low and high doses of X rays. The results showed that cyclin B₁ mRNA expression slightly increased at 2h and 12-24 h after 75 mGy X rays, being 1.25, 1.27 and 1.22 times of sham-irradiated group, returning to sham-irradiated level at 48 h. However, cyclin B₁ mRNA began to decrease at 4h after irradiation with 2.0 Gy X rays, reaching its lowest level at 12h, with a decrease of 39%, and returning to the level of sham-irradiated control. In addition, the authors observed the time course of cdc2 mRNA expression. The results showed that there were no changes in cdc2 mRNA expression at 2-48 h after 75 mGy WBI, but the time course of cdc2 mRNA expression with 2.0 Gy WBI was the same as cyclin B₁ after the same dose. The results indicated that low dose irradiation could induce an increase in cyclin B₁ transcription level, accelerating the progression of cell cycle, but did not affect the expression of cdc2 gene. In contrast, high dose irradiation could induce the decrease of above two factors, with marked G₂ arrest

[en] Objective: To observe the effect of different doses of X-rays on cell cycle progression of synchronized HeLaS₃ cells. Methods: Using a double block method with thymidine and flow cytometric analysis, the changes in cell cycle progression of synchronized HeLaS₃ cells were examined after 75 mGy and 2.0 Gy X-irradiation in G₀/G₁, S and G₂ + M phases respectively, and the dose-response relationship given in G₂/M phase was analyzed after irradiation. Results: The S and G₂ phases occurred late 9-15 h after the releasing point regardless of whether HeLaS₃ cells were irradiated with 2 Gy in G₀/G₁, S or G₂ + M phases. HeLaS₃ cells underwent a G₂ arrest 9 and 12 h after the releasing point when 75 mGy irradiation was administered in G₀/G₁ and G₂ + M phases, and this delay skipped completely at 12 and 15 h, respectively. Moreover, the cell cycle progression was accelerated. However, there was no G₂ delay at 9 and 11 h when the cells were irradiated with 75 mGy in S phase, and in this case the cell cycle progression from G₂/M to G₀/G₁ phase was accelerated. A study on the dose-effect relationship showed that the number of G₀/G₁ phase cells decreased, and G₂ delayed after 0.025-2.0 Gy irradiation given in G₂/M phase, and the delay was dose-dependent. However, the changes in the number of S phase cells were different between low (0.025-0.1 Gy) and higher (0.5-2.0 Gy) doses. Conclusion: G₂ delay is a very radiosensitive parameter, which occurs in HeLaS₃ cells after X-ray irradiation with a dose as low as 25 mGy when administered in G₀/G₁ and G₂ + M phases, but this delay only occurs with doses above 0.1 Gy when the cells are irradiated in S phase

[en] The effects of whole body X-irradiation (WBI) with various doses on cell cycle progression of thymocytes in mice were investigated using flow cytometry. The results show that DNA synthesis was stimulated at 24-72 h after 75 mGy irradiation, reaching the level of sham-irradiated group on day 7. Meanwhile, after WBI with 2.0 Gy X-rays DNA synthesis was suppressed with significant G₂ block beginning from 4 h and reaching its peak at 12 h, but the cell cycle progression was accelerated at 72 h and returned to the level of sham-irradiated group on day 7. After WBI with 50 mGy X-rays, the progression of cell cycle of thymocytes from G₀/G₁ to S was promoted and DNA synthesis was enhanced. However, G₁ block began to occur with 100 mGy. The number of S phase thymocytes decreased in a dose-dependent manner and the number of G₀/G₁ phase cells increased after WBI with 0.5-0.4 Gy. In the same dose range, the number of G₂/M phase cells increased in a dose-dependent manner. These data suggest that DNA synthesis is suppressed with occurrence of both G₁ and G₂ block. The study shows that the threshold dose for G₁ block was 0.1 Gy in thymocytes after WBI and that for G₂ block was 1 Gy

[en] The analysis technique of the agrochemical residue by isotopic tracer is significantly increased, and obtained substantial development. The progress of the isotopic analysis in four kinds of sulfonylurea herbicide residues was reviewed in this paper. (authors)