Effect of High-Concentration Uric Acid on Nitric Oxide / 中国医学科学院学报

Uric acid (UA) is the final product of purine metabolism in human body,and its metabolic disorder will induce hyperuricemia (HUA).The occurrence and development of HUA are associated with a variety of pathological mechanisms such as oxidative stress injury,activation of inflammatory cytokines,and activation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.These mechanisms directly or indirectly affect the bioavailability of endogenous nitric oxide (NO).The decrease in NO bioavailability is common in the diseases with high concentration of UA as an independent risk factor.In this review,we summarize the mechanisms by which high concentrations of UA affect the endogenous NO bioavailability,with a focus on the mechanisms of high-concentration UA in decreasing the synthesis and/or increasing the consumption of NO.This review aims to provide references for alleviating the multisystem symptoms and improving the prognosis of HUA,and lay a theoretical foundation for in-depth study of the correlations between HUA and other metabolic diseases.

Mechanism of Cinnamaldehyde Promoting the Apoptosis of RL95-2 Cells in Endometrial Carcinoma / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

@#【Objective】To investigate the effect of cinnamaldehyde on the apoptosis of RL95- 2 cell in endometrial carcinoma. 【Methods】 Endometrial carcinoma RL95- 2 cells were treated with cinnamaldehyde，and the proliferation activity and IC50 of endometrial carcinoma RL95-2 cells were detected by MTT colorimetry assay. Apoptotic morphology was observed after Hoechst 33258 staining. The percentage of apoptosis in RL95-2 cells was measured by flow cytometry. Western blot analysis was used to test the effect of cinnamaldehyde on the expression of Cleaved caspase- 3，caspase-3， NF-κB·p65，IL-6 and IGF-R in RL95-2 cells.【Results】Cinnamaldehyde can reduce the viability rate of endometrial cancer RL95- 2 cells，which is related to the treatment duration and concentration. Compared with the solvent control group， the apoptosis percentage of RL95- 2 cells in the cinnamaldehyde group （0.29， 0.59， 1.20 mg/mL） was significantly increased after 48 hours（P < 0.01），typical apoptotic bodies were found ，and the expression of Cleaved caspase-3 protein was significantly increased（P < 0.01），there was no significant change in the expression of Caspase 3 protein（P > 0.05），while the expression of NF- κB · p65，IL- 6 and IGF- R protein were significantly increased（P <0.05）.【Conclusion】Cinnamaldehyde can reduce the expression of NF-κB·p65，IL-6 and IGF-R proteins in RL95-2 cells and promote the apoptosis of RL95-2 cells，thus playing an anti-endometrial cancer role.

Expressions of HO-2 and CO in the corpus cavernosum of castrated rats / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the expressions of HO-2 and CO in the corpus cavernosum of castrated rats in order to further study the pathogenesis of erectile dysfunction (ED).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We randomly divided 72 male SD rats into four groups: normal control, sham operation, castration, and castration + ZnPP. We detected intracavernous pressure (ICP) and penile erection in the basic condition and after apomorphine (APO) induction, determined the expression of the HO-2 protein in the corpus cavernosum by laser scanning confocal microscopy, and measured the level of CO by spectrophotometry during different periods of penile erection.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The ICP in the basic condition and that after APO induction and the rate of penile erection were decreased significantly in the castration group ([11.68 ± 0.69] mmHg, [54.81 ± 3.86] mmHg, and 33.3%) and the castration + ZnPP group ([11.20 ± 0.71] mmHg, [41.17 ± 5.41] mmHg, and 22.2%) as compared with the normal control ([22.83 ± 2.66] mmHg, [66.92 ± 7.77] mm-Hg, and 100%) and the sham operation group ([23.35 ±2.22] mmHg, [70.43 ?7. 22] mmHg, and 100%) (all P <0. 01). After APO induction, ICP in the castration + ZnPP group was remarkably reduced in comparison with that in the castration group (P < 0.01), and so was the expression of the HO-2 protein before and during penile erection in the castration (445.4 ± 23.7 and 847.4 ± 35.0) and the castration + ZnPP group (390.1 ± 29.7 and 526.0 ± 52.5) compared with the normal control (512.7 ±57.4 and 1145.2 ± 89.8) and the sham operation group (583.7 ± 8.0 and 1016.3 ± 79.8), the expression of the HO-2 protein significantly decreased in the castration group (445.4 ± 23.7 and 847.4 ± 35.0) (P < 0.05 or 0.01), markedly lower in the castration + ZnPP than in the castration group during penile erection (P < 0.01) but with no significant differences among the four groups after it. Before, during and after penile erection, the levels of CO were remarkably decreased in the castration ([20.59 ± 1.01], [32.53 ± 1.26], and [18.71 ± 1.22] x 10(-7) nmol/L) and the castration +ZnPP group ([12.52 ± 1.05], [21.90 ± 1.02], and [16.56 ± 0.55] x 10(-7) nmol/L) as compared with the normal control ([26.76 ± 1.41], [48.25 ± 1.01], and [27.10 ± 1.58 ] x 10(-7) nmol/L) and the sham operation group ([25.41 ± 2.09], [ 47.90 ± 1.22], and [25.67 ± 1.20] x 10(-7) nmol/L) (P < 0.05 or 0.01), significantly lower in the castration + ZnPP than in the castration group during penile erection (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Decreased expressions of HO-2 and CO may correlate with erectile dysfunction in castrated rats.</p>

A preliminary study of plasma microRNA levels in children with methylmalonic acidemia / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To screen out differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) in the plasma of children with methylmalonic acidemia (MMA), to determine the expression of miR-9-1 in plasma and to preliminarily evaluate the significance of miR-9-1 as a biomarker in MMA.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Plasma was obtained from 17 MMA children, 10 hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) children without MMA (HHcy group), and 10 normal controls. Of 17 MMA children, 12 had HHcy (MMA+HHcy group), and 5 had no HHcy (MMA group). The differentially expressed miRNAs were screened out by miRNA microarray. Differentially expressed miR-9-1 was selected, and plasma miR-9-1 levels were determined by RT-PCR. Urine was collected from MMA patients who received vitamin B12 treatment, and plasma miR-9-1 levels were determined by RT-PCR after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The miRNA microarray analysis showed that 26 miRNAs were differentially expressed, among which 16 miRNAs (including miR-9-1) were down-regulated over 2 times, while 10 miRNAs were up-regulated over 2 times. The MMA+HHcy , MMA and HHcy groups had significantly down-regulated miR-9-1 compared with the normal control group (P<0.01). The patients who showed a good response to vitamin B12 treatment had significantly increased plasma miR-9-1 levels, without significant difference compared with the normal control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Plasma miR-9-1 is significantly down-regulated in MMA patients, but it is significantly up-regulated after vitamin B12 treatment, suggesting that miR-9-1 may act as a biomarker in monitoring the progression of MMA.</p>