Role of autophagy in quercetin-induced apoptosis in human bladder carcinoma BIU-87 cells / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the role of autophagy in quercetin (Que)-induced apoptosis in human bladder carcinoma BIU-87 cells in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>To determine the proliferative inhibition by MTT colorimetric assay after treating BIU-87 cells with quercetin at various concentrations. To identify autophagy and apoptosis in the BIU-87 cells after Que treatment by monodansylcadaverin (MDC) and Hoechst 33258 fluorescent staining, respectively. To examine the cytotoxic effect of Que and influence of autophagy on apoptosis by studying LDH leakage rate and flow cytometry, after blocking the autophagy with 3-methlyadenine (3-MA), a specific autophagy inhibitor.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was an obvious inhibitory effect of Que on the proliferation of BIU-87 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The inhibition rate of BIU-87 cells after 200 µmol/L Que treatment for 72 hours was 89.2%. Autophagy and apoptosis were induced and detected in Que-treated BIU-87 cells and autophagy occurred earlier than apoptosis. The apoptosis peak became much higher after the autophagy was blocked. Whenever the autophagy was blocked before or after Que treatment, the Que-induced cytotoxicity in BIU-87 cells was enhanced.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Quercetin significantly inhibits the proliferation of BIU-87 cells, and the autophagy is induced earlier than apoptosis. In the process of Que-induced apoptosis of BIU-87 cells, autophagy may play a protective role at the initiation phase, delay apoptosis and reduce the Que-induced death of BIU-87 cells.</p>

Analysis on influencing factors for stunting and underweight among children aged 3-6 years in 15 counties of Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To analyze the influencing factors for stunting and underweight among children aged 3-6 years in 15 counties of Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces so as to provide reference for enhancing growth level among preschool children. Methods Data was from the 183 295 records of Children Follow-up Study Project carried out by the Institute of Reproductive and Child Heath of Peking University and the records of related perinatal health care surveillance system in rural areas of 15 counties/cities of Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. WHO-NCHS standard was used to assess the childhood physical level of growth. Data of children's birth and their mothers' perinatal health were correlated to determine influencing factors for childhood stunting and underweight. Results The average stunting rate was 7.95% and underweight rate was 1.55%. Sex, birth weight, preterm birth as well as maternal height, maternal BMI at the first prenatal visit, maternal education and occupation were significantly related to childhood stunting and underweight. Birth weight was the most important influencing factor for childhood underweight. For the groups whose birth weights were ＜2500 g and ≥2500 g, the rates of underweight were 7.77% and 1.46% respectively. Children with low birth weight were at higher risk for underweight (OR=3.68,95% CI: 3.11-4.37). Maternal height was the most important influencing factor for childhood stunting. For the groups whose mothers' heights were ＜155 cm, 155-160 cm, 160-165 cm and ≥165 cm, the stunting rates were 13.01%, 8.76%,6.21% and 4.14% respectively. Compared with the ≥165 cm group, the ＜155 cm group was at higher risk for stunting (OR=3.08, 95% CI: 2.82-3.37). Conclusion Birth weight and maternal height were key factors influencing the growth of children. Perinatal health care and the nutrition starus of pregnant mothers should be improved to promote the growth level of preschool children.

Effect of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on T lymphocyte killing K562 cells / 中国实验血液学杂志

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on T lymphocyte killing K562 cells. MSCs were isolated from bone marrow and cultured, T cells were harvested by using nylon column method from peripheral blood. The T cells were co-cultured with MSCs, the phenotype expressions of T cell subsets were detected by flow cytometry. Killing effects of T cells (culture alone and co-culture with MSCs) on K562 cells were detected by LDH, expressions of IFN-gamma and IL-4 were detected by ELISA. The results showed that after T cells were co-cultured with MSCs for three days, the proportion of CD4+ and CD4+CD25+ T cells raised significantly (p<0.05) as compared with group of culture alone, but the proportion of CD8+ T cell were not significantly changed (p>0.05). In group of T cells co-cultured with MSCs, killing effects of T cells on K562 cells weakened, at the same time, expression of IFN-gamma decreased while expression of IL-4 increased. It is concluded that the MSCs weaken killing effects of T cells on K562 cells, which associates with increase of CD4+CD25+ T cell subsets and changes of IFN-gamma and IL-4 levels.