Apart from few early biophysical studies, the relative thermal instability of HbE has been only shown by clinical investigations. We have compared in vitro thermal stability of HbE with HbA2 and HbA using optical spectroscopy. From absorption measurements in the soret region, synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering experiments, we have found thermal stability of the t...

BACKGROUND The Gγ-158(C→T) polymorphism plays important function in the clinical variability of HbE/β-thalassemia. There is little known about Gγ-158(C→T) polymorphism in HbE/β-thalassemia major in Southern China. This study aimed to explore the association between HbE/β-thalassemia major and this polymorphism in Southern China. METHODS AND RESULTS The frequency of the Gγ-158(C→T) polymorphis...

The increased expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 significantly enhances carcinogenesis and inflammatory reactions, and its regulation may be a reasonable target for cancer chemoprevention. We demonstrated previously that deguelin inhibits proliferation of premalignant human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells, such as 1799 cells and squamous HBE cells, by regulating phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase...

High level expression of hepatitis C virus core protein (HCV-C) was detected in hilar cholangiocarcinoma tissues in our previous studies. This protein played an important role in the process of cancer cell inversion and proliferation, by some direct and indirect effects on certain genes. Based on this observation, we investigated the effect of HCV-C on human normal biliary epithelial (hBE) cell...

PURPOSE We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of the heart block with electron compensation (HBE) technique, based on three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) in left-sided breast cancer patients with underlying cardiac or pulmonary disease. METHODS Twenty patients with left-sided breast cancer who were treated with whole breast radiotherapy (WBRT) were included in this study. Intensi...

Results Of the 128 test serum samples screened, 53.1% were positive for HBsAg, 15.62% were positive for HEV IgM and 3.25% were positive for HAV IgM. None of them were positive for Anti-HCV & Anti-HDV. Among the 68 HBsAg positive pregnant women, the prevalence of HBeAg, anti-HBe, and anti-HBc were 54%, 45.6% and 89%, respectively. Of the 31, HBeAg negative women, 11 had only anti-HBe, 9 were pos...

Recent immigrants from Southeast Asia were screened for hematologic abnormalities using a multichannel cell counter (Coulter S), peripheral smear, free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP), isoelectric focusing, and a qualitative screen for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. Hematologic abnormalities were further defined by hemoglobin electrophoresis, globin electrophoresis, HbA2 levels,...

Chronic exposure to particulate pollution is suspected to exacerbate inflammatory respiratory diseases such as asthma characterized by an airway remodelling involving fibrosis. Our study aims to investigate whether the secretome from human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells exposed to fine particulate matter (PM) induces fibroblast proliferation. Primary HBE cells grown on air liquid interface we...

In a study of 105 asymptomatic HBsAg positive blood donors, 9 (8.6%) were found to have HBeAg, 38 (36.2%) anti-HBe, and the remaining 58 (55.2%) neither marker detectable by gel diffusion. There was no correlation between HBeAg/anti-HBe status and HBsAg sub-types, Glm allotypes, the presence of anti-Gm, red cell antibodies, or rheumatoid factor. Rheumatoid factor activity could be removed from ...

BACKGROUND Because lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death, new approaches for preventing and controlling the disease are needed. Chemoprevention approaches are both feasible and effective. We evaluated the potential of deguelin, a natural plant product, as a lung cancer chemopreventive agent and investigated its mechanism of action. METHODS The effects of deguelin on prolife...