The role of sex hormones on ion channels of drug-induced long QT syndromes / 天津医药

Female gender is an independent risk factor for the development of torsade de pointes (TdP) arrhythmias not only in congenital long QT syndromes(LQTs)but also in acquired long QT syndromes. Clinical evidences imply that sex steroid hormones appear to play important roles in gender differences by affecting the cardiac repolarization process of action potential. This review summarizes the effects of sex hormones on cardiac ion channel currents and the effects of gender differences on drug-induced long QT syndromes, and reveals the mechanism of sex hormone induced arrhythmia by computer simulation

The progress of interrelationship between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and sudden cardiac death / 天津医药

Both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and sudden cardiac death (SCD) are major health burdens.In conclusion,cumulating evidence associates COPD with an increased risk of SCD.First,it is found that asystole and pulseless electric activity(PEA)are more common than ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation(VT/VF)in deaths associated with COPD in studying interrelationship between COPD and ventricul ararrhythmias and cardiac arrest. The underlying mechanism explaining this association requires further investigation.Second,it is found that COPD is associated with a prolonged and shortened QT interval in studying the role of ECG markers between SCD and COPD.Finally,studies of the potential impact of respiratory treatment on the occurrence of SCD showed conflicting results.Accurate prediction of SCD in the general population is still a challenge. The risk assessment of SCD might be guided by studying the link between COPD and SCD.

Decreased expression of Cx32 and Cx43 and their function of gap junction intercellular communication in gastric cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of connexin (Cx) and the function of gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) in the carcinogenesis, progression and metastasis of gastric cancers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of Cx32 and Cx43 proteins in tissue samples. Indirect immunofluorescence assay was used to investigate the expression of Cx32 and Cx43 proteins in several gastric cancer lines of various differentiation grades. The expression of Cx43 in samples of gastric cancer tissue, adjacent normal tissue and in the gastric cancer cell lines of various differentiation grades was detected by Western blot. Scrape-loading dye transfer (SLDT) technique was used to detect the function of gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) in the various cell lines.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the normal gastric mucosa the expression rates of both Cx32 and Cx43 were 100%. In gastric cancers, the expression rates of Cx32 andCx43 were 49.5% (55/111) and 39.6% (44/111), respectively. There was a significant difference between their expression in normal and cancer tissues (P < 0.05). Age of the patients was not significantly correlated with the expression level of Cx32 and Cx43 (P > 0.05). Cx43 expression was significantly associated with the TMN stage, histological type, depth of infiltration and distant metastasis (P < 0.05), but Cx32 expression was not significantly correlated with depth of infiltration ( P > 0.05). In the cancer cell lines, a positive expression of Cx32 and Cx43 was detected in transfected human stomach mucosal cell line (CES-1) and human well differentiated stomach cancer cell line (N87), but negative in the poorly differentiated stomach cancer cell line (BGC-823) at all. Both Cx32 and Cx43 expression rates were 100% in the cell line GES-1. Cx32 expression rate was 49.0% and Cx43 expression rate was 55.0% in the cell line N87. But in the poorly differentiated cancer cell line BGC-823 both Cx32 and Cx43 expression was negative. GJIC function detection showed: GES-1 showed well GIJC function but no GIJC function in the cell lines N87 and BGC-823. The intensity of fluorescence was gradually decreasing from GES-1 cells to N87 cells and almost no fluorescence in BGC-823 cells. Western blotting showed that Cx43 expression in normal tissue was higher than that in gastric cancer tissue, and in the cell lines GES-1, N87 and BGC-823, the bands seemed decreasing progressively. There was very low expression in BGC-823 cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The decreasing expression of connexin Cx32 and Cx43 is obviously correlated with the occurrence, development and metastatic potential of stomach cancers.</p>

Effects of temperature on the kinetics and level of energy charge and oxidation-reduction state in pyruvate biosynthesis / 生物工程学报

Temperature plays an important role in pyruvate biosynthesis by Torulopsis glabrata 620. The effects of temperature on the substrate consumption, cell growth, pyruvate biosynthesis and level of energy charge and oxidation-reduction state have been investigated. During the constant temperature fermentation, higher temperature can enhance the rate of glucose consumption, cell growth and pyruvate production. However, it also leads to higher energy charge in the prophase of fermentation, too much consumption of glucose by cell and deficient throughput of pyruvate in the anaphase of fermentation, which brings on decrease of pyruvate yield. Oppositely, maintaining lower temperature during the fermentation can offer constant production capacity of pyruvate in the anaphase of fermentation. But the disadvantages are lower cell growth and higher level of NADH/NAD+ in vivo during the anaphase of fermentation, which leads to lower productivity inevitably. Disaccords above-mentioned indicate that the higher production, higher yield and higher productivity cannot be achieved at one time during a constant temperature fermentation.

Analysis of mood factors in prostatitis and Molida therapy / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To analyze the mood factors in prostatitis and evaluate the effects of Molida psychological therapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two hundred and thirty-six chronic prostatitis patients were divided according to the course of disease into above 6 months group (n = 31) and below 6 months group(n = 205) as well as into sexual disease group(n = 25) and non-sexual disease group(n = 211). An investigation was made by self-rating method on the basis of the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index(NIH-CPSI) and Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) and 56 cases were rated again after Molida therapy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>1. The scores of SCL-90 in 236 prostatitis patients were significantly higher than normal(P < 0.01). The factor scores of SCL-90 showed one-item positive in 107 patients (45.2%), of whom 27 (25.2%) had depressive disorder and 80(74.77%) had anxiety (23 with significant compulsion). Thirty-eight cases(16.1%) were two items positive. 2. The scores of SCL-90 were significantly higher in the > 6 months group of history and the sexual disease group than in the control group (P < 0.01). 3. The scores of NIH-CPSI showed a positive correlation with those of SCL-90 and both scores in 43/56 cases were significantly decreased after psychological treatment (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The mood factor plays an important role in aggravating symptoms in chronic prostatis patients and causes difficulty for management. Molida may significantly improve the mood and symptoms of the chronic prostatitis patient.</p>