The Anterior Insula and its Projection to the Prelimbic Cortex are Involved in the Regulation of 5-HT-Induced Itch / 神经科学通报·英文版

Itch is an unpleasant sensation that urges people and animals to scratch. Neuroimaging studies on itch have yielded extensive correlations with diverse cortical and subcortical regions, including the insular lobe. However, the role and functional specificity of the insular cortex (IC) and its subdivisions in itch mediation remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated by immunohistochemistry and fiber photometry tests, that neurons in both the anterior insular cortex (AIC) and the posterior insular cortex (PIC) are activated during acute itch processes. Pharmacogenetic experiments revealed that nonselective inhibition of global AIC neurons, or selective inhibition of the activity of glutaminergic neurons in the AIC, reduced the scratching behaviors induced by intradermal injection of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), but not those induced by compound 48/80. However, both nonselective inhibition of global PIC neurons and selective inhibition of glutaminergic neurons in the PIC failed to affect the itching-scratching behaviors induced by either 5-HT or compound 48/80. In addition, pharmacogenetic inhibition of AIC glutaminergic neurons effectively blocked itch-associated conditioned place aversion behavior, and inhibition of AIC glutaminergic neurons projecting to the prelimbic cortex significantly suppressed 5-HT-evoked scratching. These findings provide preliminary evidence that the AIC is involved, at least partially via aversive emotion mediation, in the regulation of 5-HT-, but not compound 48/80-induced itch.

Association of Estrogen Receptor Gene Polymorphisms and Primary Biliary Cirrhosis in a Chinese Population: A Case-Control Study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic and slowly progressive cholestatic liver disease characterized by destruction of the interlobular bile ducts and a striking female predominance. The aim of this study was to identify associations between estrogen receptor (ESR) gene polymorphisms with the risk of developing PBC and abnormal serum liver tests in a Chinese population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-six patients with PBC (case group) and 35 healthy individuals (control group) from the First Hospital of Jilin University were studied. Whole genomic DNA was extracted from all the participants. Three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (rs2234693, rs2228480, and rs3798577) from ESR1 and two (rs1256030 and rs1048315) from ESR2 were analyzed by a pyrosequencing method. Demographic data and liver biochemical data were collected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Subjects with the T allele at ESR2 rs1256030 had 1.5 times higher risk of developing PBC than those with the C allele (odds ratio [OR] = 2.1277, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.1872-4.5517). Haplotypes TGC of ESR1 rs2234693, rs2228480, and rs3798577 were risk factors for having PBC. The C allele at ESR1 rs2234693 was associated with abnormal alkaline phosphatase (OR = 5.2469, 95% CI = 1.3704-20.0895) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (OR = 3.4286, 95% CI = 1.0083-13.6578) levels in PBC patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>ESR2 rs1256030 T allele may be a significant risk factor for the development of PBC. Screening for patients with gene polymorphisms may help to make early diagnoses in patients with PBC.</p>

Preparation and anti-oxidative activity of hydroxytyrosol by alkaline hydrolysis of oleuropein / 中草药

Objective: To prepare hydroxytyrosol (HT) by alkaline hydrolysis of oleuropein and to investigate its anti-oxidative property. Methods: According to single factor experiments, four variables: temperature, sodium hydroxide concentration, time, and the ratio of solid to liquid, were selected. On the basis of single factor experiments, orthogonal tests of L9(34) were carried out. HPLC-MS method was also further applied for the qualitative analysis on HT. Under the same conditions, contrast experiments on the acid and alkaline actions were made. Finally, anti-oxidative activity of HT was evaluated. Results: The results showed that the selected variables were all highly significant. Also, the descending influence orders on HT were temperature > sodium hydroxide concentration > time > the ratio of solid to liquid. Lastly, the optimal conditions on HT yield were obtained as follow: temperature 90°C, sodium hydroxide concentration 0.2 mol/L, time 45 min, and the ratio of solid to liquid 1:15. The HPLC retention time of HT was about 10.3 min, and its relative molecular weight of fragment ion by MS was 134.8. By comparison with the acid action, it was proved that the alkaline action was better in HT yield. In addition, the anti-oxidative activity of HT was carried out on scavenging DPPH radical. The results showed that DPPH scavenging capability of HT was 2.45 times of BHT. Conclusion: HT yield is well obtained under the alkaline condition and has a good anti-oxidation.

Effects of Potassium Aspartate and Magnesium on Ventricular Arrhythmia in Ischemia-reperfusion Rabbit Heart / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Summary: The aim of this study was to determine if the potassium aspartate and magnesium (PAM) prevent reperfusion-induced ventricular arrhythmias (RIVA) in ischcmia-reperfusion (IR) rabbit heart. Thirty rabbits were randomly divided into control, ischemia and PAM groups. Arterially-perfused rabbit left ventricular preparations were made, and transmural ECG as well as action potentials from both endocardium and epicardium were simultaneously recorded in the whole process of all experiments. In control group rabbit ventricular wedge preparations were continuously perfused with Tyrode's solution, and in ischemia group and PAM groups the perfusion of Tyrode's solution was stopped for 30 min. Then the ischemia group was reperfused with Tyrode's solution and the PAM group with Tyrode's solution containing 2.42 mg/L PAM, respectively. ECG, QT interval, transmural repolarization dispersion (TDR) and action potentials from epicardium and endocardium were simultaneously recorded, and the RIVA of the wedge preparation was observed. Compared with control group, TDR and incidence of RIVA were significantly increased in ischemia group (P<0.05). The incidence of RIVA in control, ischemia and PAM group was 0/10, 9/10 and 1/10, respectively. Compared with ischemia group, TDR and incidence of RIVA were significantly reduced in PAM group (P<0.05). Potassium aspartate and magnesium significantly reduce TDR and prevent ventricular arrhythmia in ischemic rabbit heart.

Studies on the association between beta 2-glycoprotein I and hepatotropism of hepatitis B virus / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To further study the binding character of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and beta 2-glycoprotein I (beta2GP I) and to explore whether beta2GP I plays an important role in the hepatotropism of hepatitis B virus.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using Western blot technique, we observed the binding character of the HBsAg with reduced and non-reduced beta2GP I.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>rHBsAgs with reduced and non-reduced beta2GP I showed identical binding activity.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The binding activity of HBsAg is dependent on tandem residues, but not on conformational structures of beta2GP I. There is a specific binding between HBV and beta2GP I, which may play an important role in HBV infection and is one of the reasons of hepatotropism of HBV.</p>

Preparation of anti-gastric cancer monoclonal antibody with daunorubicin methotrexate conjugate and its cytotoxiciy to gastric cancer cells / 中国免疫学杂志

It is first time to use dextren T-40 oxidative method to conjugate anti-gastric cancer mono-colonal antibody(McAb)with anti-tumor medicines of daunorubicin(DNR)and methotrexate(MTX)together.Cytotoxicity of conjugates was measured by MTT method and ~3H-TdR incor-poration method respectively.Both sensitivity is similar.The results have showed that this conju-gate exhibited selective cytotoxicity on human gastric cancer cells in vitro.