Research status and prospect on the cerebral vision in myopic patients / 中华实验眼科杂志

The visual signal generated by the eye receiving external light stimulation reaches the visual center through the visual pathway and is processed and integrated by the visual center to form a subjective sensation called cerebral vision.Cerebral vision reflects the function of the whole visual nervous system from the retina to the visual cortex.Abnormal cerebral vision has been found in myopes using electrophysiology, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The abnormal electrophysiological results are mainly found in patients with high myopia and pathological myopia.MRI shows abnormal changes in the structure and function of several vision-related brain regions in patients with high myopia.Recently, by applying near-infrared brain function imaging technology combined with self-developed equipment, our team conducted a series of studies on the brain function of myopic patients and found that adult patients with moderate myopia and patients with pathological myopia have the abnormal cerebral vision.The mechanism of neural regulation of eye accommodation in myopic children needs further investigation.In this article, we reviewed the current status and outlook of myopic brain vision research in terms of myopia classification, myopic brain vision research methods, and myopic visual electrophysiology, MRI, and fNIRS studies.

Effect of malleostapedotomy procedure on 17 cases of congenital middle ear malformation / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective: To conclude the clinical features and the postoperative efficacy of congenital middle ear malformation treated with Malleostapedotomy (MS), and to explore the security and effectiveness of MS surgery. Methods: The clinical data of 17 patients (18 ears) with congenital middle ear malformation undergoing MS procedure were analyzed. There were 10 males (11 ears) and 7 females (7 ears), aged from 7 to 48 years. The imaging examination, pure-tone audiometry, intraoperative findings and postoperative hearing improvement of these patients were analyzed and summarized, and software SPSS23.0 was used for statistical analysis. Rusults All the 17 patients (18 ears) presented with hearing loss since childhood on the affected sides. Preoperative high resolution CT (HRCT) of the temporal bone revealed definite malformations in 9 ears (6 ears with incus long process dysplasia and 3 ears with anterior and posterior crus dysplasia). Before surgery, the mean bone conductive hearing threshold at 500, 1 000, 2 000 and 4 000 Hz was (15.6±10.2) dB HL, the mean air conductive hearing threshold was (60.6±9.7) dB HL, and the mean air-bone gap was (45.0±8.9) dB. During the surgery, all 18 ears were found to be accompanied by absence or hypoplasia of incus long process. 12 ears had stapes fixation, 6 ears had oval window atresia. All patients were treated with MS procedure by using Piston. The patients were followed up for 3 months to 1 year. The mean bone conductive hearing threshold was (14.7±8.8) dB HL. The mean air conductive hearing threshold was (37.7±11.6) dB HL, and the mean air-bone gap was (23.0±8.0) dB. There were statistically significant differences in the mean air conductive hearing threshold and mean air-bone gap before and after surgery (P<0.05). While there were no statistically significant differences in the mean bone conductive hearing threshold before and after surgery (P=0.550). Conclusions: MS procedure is safe and reliable in patients with congenital middle ear malformation of incus long process dysplasia, stapes fixation or oval window atresia. HRCT is useful in evaluating the major deformity of ossicular chain and facial nerve deformity. However, it is not enough to evaluate the joint of incus-stapes and oval window atresia. MS surgery in middle ear malformation requires advanced surgical experience and skills. The hearing improvement can be significant, even though some air-bone gap after surgery exist.

Clinical management strategies of pulsatile tinnitus with transverse sinus stenosis / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective: To study the clinical diagnosis and treatment strategies for vein-related pulsatile tinnitus patients with transverse sinus stenosis. Methods: The clinical data of patients with vein-related pulsatile tinnitus, from January 2015 to August 2019, were collected,whose digital subtraction angiography showing transverse sinus stenosis. Taking December 2019 as the last follow-up time, we analyzed the clinical characteristics, CT angiography and digital subtraction angiography results, lumbar puncture pressure and cerebrospinal fluid composition, and other auxiliary examination results (pure tone audiometry, fundus examination of papilledema, carotid ultrasonography, bone density screening, endocrinous test), as well as tinnitus handicap inventory, treatment options and follow-up results. Results: 83 patients were enrolled with female of 89.2% (74/83) and male of 10.8%(9/83); 65.1% (54/83) with right tinnitus, 31.3% (26/83) with left tinnitus, and 3.6% (3/83) with bilateral tinnitus; 67.5% (56/83) with right dominant sinus, 19.3% (16/83) with left dominant sinus, 13.3% (11/83) with bilateral equalization; Bilateral and ipsilateral stenosis accounted for 55.4% and 44.6% respectively; BMI was overweight or obese in 41 cases (49.4%, 41/83). Patients with tinnitus handicap inventory level three or above accounted for 79.5% (66/83). Eventually, 33 patients chose conservative observation (39.8%, 33/83), 40 patients (48.2%), 8 patients (9.6%) and 2 patients (2.4%) received sigmoid sinus-related surgery, interventional surgery, or emissary vein occlusion respectively. The mean follow-up time of 74 patients was 26.2 months. The data of 48 surgery patients showed that the pressure differences of venous sinus among the recurrent patients were more obvious; Interventional surgery with simultaneous stenting placement was effective. Tinnitus did not decrease in two patients with emissary vein occlusion. Analysis of 26 patients with lumbar puncture revealed eight cases of normal cranial pressure and 18 cases of high cranial pressure. The sinus pressure difference between the two groups was different (P=0.025), but the difference of age of onset, concomitant symptoms, BMI, proportion of empty sella or papilledema was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusions: The evaluation of patients with vein-related pulsatile tinnitus requires a standardized procedure. Papilledema cannot be used as a sensitive indicator in patients with early intracranial hypertension. Venous sinus pressure difference may be one of the indicators of intracranial hypertension, and the lumbar puncture is the gold standard for the diagnosis. Weight loss can be used as a conservative treatment during the observation period. Significant sinus stenosis is a risk factor for recurrence in patients undergoing sigmoid sinus surgery. Interventional stenting is an effective treatment for tinnitus secondary to transverse sinus stenosis.

Influence of Age-related Functional Hearing Loss on Memory / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective:To study the influence of age-related functional hearing loss on memory ability. Methods:From January to October, 2018, 30 patients aged 52 to 76 years visiting otolaryngology were screened hearing using a computer aided platform, and then were divided into two groups according to the results. Those with good speech recognition in noise (SIN < -2.63 dB) were in L group (n = 15) and those with poor speech recognition in noise (SIN > -2.63 db) were in H group (n = 15). They were assessed with Paired Associates Learning (PAL) and Spatial Working Memory (SWM) of Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery in loading of four, six and eight models. Results:The amount of errors of both PAL and SWM increased with the loading in both groups (χ2 > 28.182, P < 0.001). The amount of errors of PAL was less in L group than in H group under any loading (U < 53.5, P < 0.05), while the amount of errors of SWM only less under loading of six models (U = 55.0, P < 0.05). There was no significant interaction between hearing and loading (F < 1.680, P > 0.05). Conclusion:Age-related functional hearing loss tend to impair episodic memory rather than working memory, whatever the impacts of memory load.

Surgical treatment of chest wall tuberculosis / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To investigate the effect of surgical treatment on chest wall tuberculosis. Methods    A total of 407 patients with chest wall tuberculosis who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria from April 2008 to December 2017 in Chengdu Public Health Clinical Medical Center were enrolled. They were divided into two groups according to the time of admission: a control group (203 patients admitted from April 2008 to December 2012) treated with traditional focus debridement, including 135 males and 68 females, with an average age of 40.65±4.68 years, and an observation group (204 patients admitted from 2013 to 2017) undergoing complete focus debridement, including 139 males and 65 females, with an average age of 40.73±4.72 years. The general clinical data, perioperative related indexes, incision healing, incidence of complications and recurrence between the two groups were compared. Results    There was no significant difference in general clinical data, operation time, postoperative pain time, extubation time, hospital stay or recurrence rate between the two groups (P>0.05), but compared with the control group the grade A healing rate in the observation group was significantly higher and incidence of complications was significantly lower (P<0.05). Conclusion    Thorough debridement can achieve a better effect in the treatment of chest wall tuberculosis, and help to reduce complications and promote wound healing. It is suitable for clinical application.

Relationship among Speech Perception in Noise, Age-related Hearing Loss and Cognition in Putonghua / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective:To explore the relationship between age-related hearing loss, cognitive level and speech perception in noise in Putonghua. Methods:From January to October 2018, 31 outpatients who visited the department of otolaryngology (aged 52-75) were divided into hearing normal (HN) group and hearing loss (HL) group according to the results of the average threshold measured with pure-tone audiometry. They were assessed with the computer-aided Chinese Speech Test Platform and the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery, which respectively evaluated the speech perception ability in noise, and the episodic memory, working memory and executive ability under non-verbal stimulation. Results:There were significant differences in speech perception ability, episodic memory and executive ability between the two groups (U < 68, P < 0.05). The hearing level correlated to the speech perception in noise, whatever the speech and noise were separated, as well as the episodic memory, working memory and executive ability (r > 0.360, P < 0.05). The more difficult the speech perception task was, the more significant the correlation between signal-noise ratio and cognitive ability was. Conclusion:Under the condition of Putonghua, age-related hearing loss is one of the main reasons for the decline of speech perception in noise in the old adults. Hearing loss leads to the decline of episodic memory and executive ability, which in turn affects speech perception in noise. The more difficulty it is to recognize speech in noise, the greater the dependence on cognitive level.

Factors Influencing Speech Perception in Noise, and Auditory and Cognitive Training in the Elderly (review) / 中国康复理论与实践

The elderly are more likely to have difficulty in communicating in noise, regardless of hearing loss. The decline of speech perception ability in noise is the main manifestation of the decline of central auditory processing ability. Hearing and cognition are significantly correlated with central auditory processing. The mechanisms of interaction among them are common cause, reduction-compensation hypothesis, information degradation hypothesis, sensory deprivation hypothesis and cognitive load hypothesis. In short, central auditory processing is clearly related with cognition, which decreases with age. The sensory input of degradation (hearing loss or communication in noise) brings more loads to the cognitive system, occupies more cognitive resources and affects the immediate processing of cognition. Over time, chronic sensory deprivation causes an overall decline in cognitive ability. Cognitive decline in turn affects the compensatory effect on perception from top to down, thereby affecting central auditory processing ability. After confirming the mutual relations between them, the effects of auditory and cognitive training on speech resolution in noise were explored. A number of studies have confirmed that the hearing training programs can improve central auditory processing and cognitive function in patients with hearing loss, and cognitive training can be trained part of the cognitive domain (memory) to improve cognition and auditory perception.

Effect of autophagy inhibitor chloroquine on acute alcoholinduced liver disease / 中国应用生理学杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To investigate the role of autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (CQ) in acute ethanol-induced liver injury and its mechenism.@*METHODS@#Twenty-one C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into three groups:control group, ethanol group, CQ + ethanol group (=7). Mice in ethanol group were administered 33% (v/v) ethanol at a dose of 4.5 g/kg body weight. Ethanol-induced liver steatosis in each group was detected by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Hepatic lipid accumulation was detected by staining with Oil red O. Hepatic tissue triglyceride (TG) levels, serum aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and alanine aminotransferase(ALT) were determined by biochemical assays. Protein expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3) and nuclear factorκB p65(NF-κB p65) were measured by Western blot and immunofluorescence. Pro-inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)、interleukin 6(IL-6) were detected by ELISA.@*RESULTS@#Compared with control group, ethanol induced liver injury proved by accumulation of hepatic lipids, TG levels, AST and ALT activities were significantly increased by ethanol, protein expression of LC3-Ⅱ was also markedly increased by ethanol. Compared with ethanol group, addition of CQ increased furtherthe level of LC3-Ⅱexpression, and TG amount, serum AST and ALT activities, and the expression of NF-κB p65, TNF-αand IL-6.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Acute ethanol-intake could induce liver steatosis and inflammation, and autophagy inhibitor CQ exacerbatedethanol-induced liver injury, suggested that autophagy might be protective effect in acute ethanol-induced liver disease.

Changes of apoE protein expression in lung of mice with hypoxic pulmonary arterial hypertension / 中国应用生理学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the changes of apolipoprotein E (apoE) protein expression of pulmonary tissue in mice with pulmonary hypertension induced by hypoxia.@*METHODS@#The animal model of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension was established by exposing the mice to isobaric hypoxic chamber for 3 weeks (23 h/d, regular chow feed).Twenty male wild type (WT) C57BL/6 mice and twenty apoE gene knockout (apoE-KO) mice were randomly divided into normoxia group and hypoxia group. The plasma concentrations of low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and total cholesterol were detected by ELISA method. The protein expression of apoE in lung and liver, and peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) in lung were measured by Western blot.@*RESULTS@#①In WT mice, the right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) and the weight ratio of right ventricle (RV) to left ventricle plus septum (LV+S) of hypoxia group were significantly higher than those of normoxia group by 68% and 59% (<0.05), respectively. The plasma concentration of HDL and HDL/LDL of hypoxia group were significantly lower than those of normoxia group by 17% and 40% (<0.05), respectively.The protein expression of apoE in lung and in liver of hypoxia group were significantly down-regulated than those of normoxia group by 48% and 52% (<0.05), respectively.The protein expression of PPARγ in lung was significantly down-regulated than that of normoxia group by 37%(<0.05).RVSP were significantly negative correlated with the protein levels of apoE and PPARγ in lung (<0.01).② In apoE-KO mice, RVSP and the weight ratio of RV to LV+S of hypoxia group were significantly higher than those of normoxia group by 96% and 86% (<0.05), respectively.RVSP and RV to (LV+S) of hypoxia group in apoE-KO mice were significantly higher than those of hypoxia group in WT mice by 29% and 24% (<0.05), respectively.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Down-regulated expression of apoE in lung tissue participates in the pathological proceeding of pulmonary hypertension induced by hypoxia.

Netrin-1: The new tumor markers in renal clear cell carcinoma

Objective: To explore the expression of Netrin-1 protein in human renal clear cell carcinoma (RCCC) and the relationships between Netrin-1, pathology and prognosis. Methods: 72 cases of RCCC admitted in our hospital from 2008 June to 2009 June and their adjacent tissues were selected for study. They included 30 cases in stage I-II, 42 cases in stage III-IV; 9 cases in grade I, 9 cases in grade II, 40 cases in grade III and 14 cases in grade IV. All cases were followed up for more than 5 years. Survival analysis lines were made by Kaplan-Meier method and the difference between groups was tested by the Log-rank test. The expression of Netrin-1 protein was detected by immunohistochemistry staining and its clinical significance was analyzed. Results: Renal clear cell carcinoma: 51 cases in high expression of Netrin-1 and 21 cases in low expression, normal tissues: 12 cases in high expression of Netrin-1 and 60 cases in low expression, the difference between the two groups is significant (χ2=42.921, P2=8.000, χ2=6.203; P2=1.360, P=0.245). Conclusions: Netrin-1 protein plays an important role in the development of RCCC. It might be a new specific tumor marker of RCCC, and might become a new target in treatment of RCCC.

Netrin-1: The new tumor markers in renal clear cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the expression of Netrin-1 protein in human renal clear cell carcinoma (RCCC) and the relationships between Netrin-1, pathology and prognosis.@*METHODS@#72 cases of RCCC admitted in our hospital from 2008 June to 2009 June and their adjacent tissues were selected for study. They included 30 cases in stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ, 42 cases in stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ; 9 cases in grade Ⅰ, 9 cases in grade Ⅱ, 40 cases in grade Ⅲ and 14 cases in grade Ⅳ. All cases were followed up for more than 5 years. Survival analysis lines were made by Kaplan-Meier method and the difference between groups was tested by the Log-rank test. The expression of Netrin-1 protein was detected by immunohistochemistry staining and its clinical significance was analyzed.@*RESULTS@#Renal clear cell carcinoma: 51 cases in high expression of Netrin-1 and 21 cases in low expression, normal tissues: 12 cases in high expression of Netrin-1 and 60 cases in low expression, the difference between the two groups is significant (χ(2) = 42.921, P ＜ 0.01). The difference of the expression of Netrin-1in Fuhrman grade and AJCC clinical stage is significant (χ(2) = 8.000, χ(2) = 6.203; P＜0.05). The 5-year survival rate in low protein expression group and in high protein expression group was 79％ (17/21) and 62％ (32/51). The survival curve had different trend, with no significant difference between groups ((χ(2) = 1.360, P = 0.245).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Netrin-1 protein plays an important role in the development of RCCC. It might be a new specific tumor marker of RCCC, and might become a new target in treatment of RCCC.

Excitotoxic effects of glutamate on cochlear organotypic cultures / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Glutamate (Glu) is the major afferent excitatory neurotransmitter in the auditory system, and excessive Glu may play an important role in cochlear dysfunction. It is unclear how excessive Glu plays roles in cochlear dysfunction in cochlear organotypic cultures. In this study neonatal rat cochlear organotypic cultures were prepared, and then the cochlear tissues were incubated with a new medium containing specific concentrations of Glu (0.1, 0.5, 1, 10 or 20 mmol/L) for 24 h, or incubated with the medium containing a concentration of 20 mmol/L Glu for 6, 12, 24 or 72 h, respectively. It was found that when the cochlear tissues were cultured for 24 h, the inner hair cells (IHCs) were damaged at the concentration of 0.5 mmol/L Glu, and with the increases of the concentrations, the injury was gradually aggravated, and 20 mmol/L Glu resulted in the significant loss of IHCs. In the 20 mmol/L Glu groups, the stereocilia bundles were missing or disarrayed on a few IHCs after culture for 6 h and the damage effect was time-dependent. The missing of IHCs was more significant in the basal turn of the cochlea than in the middle turn of the cochlea under the same concentration of Glu exposure. These results suggest that excessive exogenous Glu affects the morphology of IHCs, but not affects the outer hair cells (OHCs) in cochlear organotypic cultures, and the excitotoxic effects are different on IHCs of different parts of the cochlea under the same concentration of Glu exposure.

Transmastoid approach for resurfacing the superior semicircular canal dehiscence with a dumpling structure / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD) is gradually recognized by otologists in recent years. The patients with SSCD have a syndrome comprising a series of vestibular symptoms and hearing function disorders which can be cured by the operation. In this study, we evaluated the characteristics of patients with SSCD and determined the effectiveness of treating this syndrome by resurfacing the canal via the transmastoid approach using a dumpling structure.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Patients with SSCD, confirmed by high-resolution computed tomography and hospitalized at Beijing Tongren Hospital between November 2009 and October 2012, were included in the study. All of the patients underwent the unilateral transmastoid approach for resurfacing the canal, and received regular follow-up after surgery. Data from preoperative medical records and postoperative follow-up were comparatively analyzed to evaluate the effect of surgery.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In total, 10 patients and 13 ears (three left ears, four right ears, three bilateral ears) were evaluated in the study, which included 7 men and 3 women. Different symptoms and distinctive manifestations of vestibular evoked myogenic potential were found in these patients. After surgery, 4 patients had complete resolution, 5 had partial resolution, and 1 patient, with bilateral SSCD, had aggravation. None of the patients suffered from serious complications such as sensorineural hearing loss, facial paralysis, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, or intracranial hypertension.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In patients with unilateral SSCD, resurfacing the canal via the transmastoid approach using a dumpling structure is an effective and safe technique. However, more consideration is needed for patients with bilateral SSCD.</p>

Excitotoxic effects of glutamate on cochlear organotypic cultures / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Glutamate (Glu) is the major afferent excitatory neurotransmitter in the auditory system, and excessive Glu may play an important role in cochlear dysfunction. It is unclear how excessive Glu plays roles in cochlear dysfunction in cochlear organotypic cultures. In this study neonatal rat cochlear organotypic cultures were prepared, and then the cochlear tissues were incubated with a new medium containing specific concentrations of Glu (0.1, 0.5, 1, 10 or 20 mmol/L) for 24 h, or incubated with the medium containing a concentration of 20 mmol/L Glu for 6, 12, 24 or 72 h, respectively. It was found that when the cochlear tissues were cultured for 24 h, the inner hair cells (IHCs) were damaged at the concentration of 0.5 mmol/L Glu, and with the increases of the concentrations, the injury was gradually aggravated, and 20 mmol/L Glu resulted in the significant loss of IHCs. In the 20 mmol/L Glu groups, the stereocilia bundles were missing or disarrayed on a few IHCs after culture for 6 h and the damage effect was time-dependent. The missing of IHCs was more significant in the basal turn of the cochlea than in the middle turn of the cochlea under the same concentration of Glu exposure. These results suggest that excessive exogenous Glu affects the morphology of IHCs, but not affects the outer hair cells (OHCs) in cochlear organotypic cultures, and the excitotoxic effects are different on IHCs of different parts of the cochlea under the same concentration of Glu exposure.

Biliary Cast Syndrome: Hepatic Artery Resistance Index, Pathological Changes, Morphology and Endoscopic Therapy / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Biliary cast syndrome (BCS) was a postoperative complication of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), and the reason for BSC was considered to relate with ischemic type biliary lesions. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between BCS following OLT and the hepatic artery resistance index (HARI), and to observe pathological changes and morphology of biliary casts.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally, 18 patients were diagnosed with BCS by cholangiography following OLT using choledochoscope or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. In addition, 36 patients who did not present with BCS in the corresponding period had detectable postoperative HARI on weeks 1, 2, 3 shown by color Doppler flow imaging. The compositions of biliary casts were analyzed by pathological examination and scanning electron microscopy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HARI values of the BCS group were significantly decreased as compared with the non-BCS group on postoperative weeks 2 and 3 (P < 0.05). Odds ratio (OR) analysis of HARI 1, HARI 2, HARI 3 following the operation was >1 (OR = 1.300; 1.223; and 1.889, respectively). The OR of HARI 3 was statistically significant (OR = 1.889; 95% confidence interval = 1.166-7.490; P = 0.024). The compositions of biliary casts were different when bile duct stones were present. Furthermore, vascular epithelial cells were found by pathological examination in biliary casts.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>HARI may possibly serve as an independent risk factor and early predictive factor of BCS. Components and formation of biliary casts and bile duct stones are different.</p>

Effects of curcumin on sodium currents of dorsal root ganglion neurons in type 2 diabetic neuropathic pain rats / 中国应用生理学杂志

Along with the development of economy and society, type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) has become one of the most common diseases at the global level. As one of the complications of T2DM, diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) stubbornly and chronically affects the health and life of human beings. In the pain field, dorsal root ganglion (DRG) is generally considered as the first stage of the sensory pathway where the hyperexcitability of injured neurons is associated with different kinds of peripheral neuropathic pains. The abnormal electrophysiology is mainly due to the changed properties of voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) and the increased sodium currents (I(Na)). Curcumin is an active ingredient extracted from turmeric and has been demonstrated to ameliorate T2DM and its various complications including DNP effectively. The present study demonstrates that the I(Na) of small-sized DRG neurons are significantly increased with the abnormal electrophysiological characteristics of VGSCs in type 2 diabetic neuropathic pain rats. And these abnormalities can be ameliorated efficaciously by a period of treatment with curcumin.

Effect of autophagy inhibitor chloroquine on the proliferation of PASMCs induced by hypoxia / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (CQ) in the proliferation of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) in hypoxia conditions.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The following groups in this study were set up: control group, hypoxia group, 50 micromol/L CQ + hypoxia group, 50 micromol/L CQ group. The viability of PASMCs in every group was detected by MTT assay. Autophagic vacuoles in the cells were observed by MDC staining. Protein expression of microtubule associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) was measured by Western blot. Migration of PASMCs was detected by wound healing assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with control group, no effect on the viability of PASMCs was observed treated by CQ alone. In 1% hypoxia group, cell viability increased significantly compared with that in control group. The number of autophagic vacuoles and the rate of cell migration and also protein expression of LC3-II were also markedly increased. Compared with hypoxia group, addition of CQ increased the number of autophagic vacuoles and the levels of LC3-II protein, but decreased the proliferation and migration of PASMCs.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Hypoxia could activates autophagy and contributes to proliferation and migration of PASMCs, and autophagy inhibitor CQ could decrease the effect of hypoxia on PASMCs through inhibiting autophagy process.</p>

Migratory properties of vascular smooth muscle cells on extracellular matrix: a study on inverted coverslip migration assay / 生理学报

Migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is involved in vascular development and various vascular diseases; however, the molecular mechanisms of VSMC migration remain unclear. In this study, we established an inverted coverslip migration assay to study the migratory properties of cultured VSMCs on extracellular matrix. Pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) from rats were cultured and identified by immunocytochemistry. Each coverslip with a confluent monolayer of PASMCs was inverted to a larger coverslip which was coated with phosphate buffered saline (PBS, as a control), poly-D-lysine hydrobromide (PDL), laminin or Matrigel. After 24 h of migration over the larger coverslip, PASMCs were fixed, and reliably quantified. The roles and mechanisms of extracellular matrix in PASMC migration were further studied by wound-healing assay and immunocytochemistry. The results showed that: (1) The purity of the cultured PASMCs was (97 ± 3)%. (2) The number of PASMCs on laminin or Matrigel migrating out from the inverted coverslip was significantly increased compared with that on PBS or PDL, and the migratory distance of PASMCs on laminin or Matrigel was significantly farther than that on PBS or PDL. (3) The motility of PASMCs on laminin or Matrigel was significantly higher than that on PBS at 8 h, 12 h and 24 h after wounding, respectively. (4) F-actin staining showed that F-actin was congregated along the brim of the migrating cells from the inverted coverslip, and vinculin (a cell marker of focal adhesion) staining showed that the distribution of vinculin in PASMCs plated on laminin or Matrigel was significantly lower than that on PBS or PDL. These results suggest that the inverted coverslip migration assay is suitable to study VSMC migration, and laminin and Matrigel substrates may promote VSMC migration through inhibiting the formation of focal adhesion and regulating the cytoskeletal proteins.

Changes of apelin and its receptor in lung tissue of rats with pulmonary hypertension induced by monocrotaline / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the change of apelin and its receptor (APJ) in the lung tissue of rats with pulmonary hypertension induced by monocrotaline and to explore its significance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-five male SD rats were randomly divided into control group (n = 10) and monocrotaline group (n = 15). On the twenty-first day after the rats were intraperitoneally injected 60 mg/kg monocrotaline for monocrotaline group or equal volume vehicle for control group, the mean pulmonary artery pressure was measured by right heart catheterization. Histopathological study of lung tissue was done with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson's trichrome staining. The concentration of apelin in the plasma was measured by radioimmunoassay. The expressions of apelin/APJ proteins and genes in lung tissue were measured respectively by Western blot and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean pulmonary arterial pressure, right ventricular hypertrophy, pulmonary vascular remodeling index, content of apelin protein in lung tissue of monocrotaline group were higher than those in control group. APJ protein and gene expression in monocrotaline group were significantly lower than those in control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), but apelin gene expression in the lung tissue between the two groups had no significant difference.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Endogenous apelin/APJ dysfunction may play an important role in the development of pulmonary hypertension induced by monocrotaline.</p>

Mitochondrial modulation of apoptosis induced by low-dose radiation in mouse testicular cells / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate whether apoptosis induced by low-dose radiation (LDR) is regulated by mitochondrial pathways in testicular cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Male mice were exposed to whole-body LDR, and changes in mitochondrial function and in expression of apoptotic factors were analyzed in the testicular cells as follows. Total nitric-oxide synthase (T-NOS) and Na+/K+ ATPase activities were biochemically assayed. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) were determined by flow cytometry using fluorescent probes. Levels of mRNAs encoding cytochrome c (Cyt c) and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) were quantified by real-time reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR). Expression of Cyt c, AIF, caspase-9, and caspase-3 at the protein level was assessed by western blotting and immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>LDR induced an increase in T-NOS activity and ROS levels, and a decrease in Na+/K+ ATPase activity and mitochondrial Δψm, in the testicular cells. The intensity of these effects increased with time after irradiation and with dose. The cells showed remarkable swelling and vacuolization of mitochondria, and displayed a time- and dose-dependent increase in the expression of Cyt c, AIF, procaspase-9, and procaspase-3. Activation of the two procaspases was confirmed by detection of the cleaved caspases. The changes in expression of the four apoptotic factors were mostly limited to spermatogonia and spermatocytes.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>LDR can induce testicular cell apoptosis through mitochondrial signaling pathways.</p>