The value of CXorf67 and H3K27me3 for diagnosing germ cell tumors in central nervous system / 中华病理学杂志

Objective: To investigate immunohistochemical patterns of CXorf67 and H3K27me3 proteins in central nervous system germ cell tumors (GCTs) and to assess their values in both diagnosis and differential diagnosis. Methods: A total of 370 cases of central nervous system GCTs were collected from 2013 to 2020 at Huashan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China. The expression of CXorf67, H3K27me3 and commonly-used GCT markers including OCT4, PLAP, CD117, D2-40, and CD30 by immunohistochemistry (EnVision method) was examined in different subtypes of central nervous system GCTs. The sensitivity and specificity of each marker were compared by contingency table and area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: Of the 370 cases there were 282 males and 88 females with a mean age of 19 years and a median age of 17 years (range, 2-57 years). Among the GCTs with germinoma, the proportions of male patients and the patients with GCT located in sellar region were both higher than those of GCTs without germinoma (P<0.05), respectively. CXorf67 was present in the nuclei of germinoma and normal germ cells, but not in other subtypes of GCT. H3K27me3 was negative in germinoma, but positive in the nuclei of surrounding normal cells and GCTs other than germinoma. In the 283 GCTs with germinoma components, the expression rate of CXorf67 was 90.5% (256/283), but no cases were positive for H3K27me3. There was also an inverse correlation between them (r2=-0.831, P<0.01). The expression rates of PLAP, OCT4, CD117 and D2-40 were 81.2% (231/283), 89.4% (253/283), 73.9% (209/283) and 88.3% (250/283), respectively. In 63 mixed GCTs with germinoma components, the expression rate of CXorf67 was 84.1% (53/63), while all cases were negative for H3K27me3. The expression rates of PLAP, OCT4, CD117 and D2-40 were 79.4% (50/63), 79.4% (50/63), 66.7% (42/63) and 87.3% (55/63), respectively. The 6 markers with largest area under ROC curve in ranking order were H3K27me3, CXorf67, D2-40, OCT4, PLAP and CD117 (P<0.05). Conclusions: CXorf67 and H3K27me3 have high sensitivity and high specificity in diagnosing germinoma. There is a significant inverse correlation between them. Therefore, they can both be used as new specific immunohistochemical markers for the diagnosis of GCTs.

Unique characteristics of "the second brain" - The enteric nervous system / 生理学报

Enteric nervous system (ENS) is composed of intestinal submucosal and myenteric plexuses. ENS may independently regulate intestinal digestive and absorptive function, and it is also known as "the second brain" or gut brain. ENS has significant specificity relative to central nervous system (CNS) in properties and functional activities of neurons and neural circuits. ENS is connected with CNS through the feedback pathway (brain-gut-axis) of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves and peripheral primary sensory afferent nerves to form the bidirectional brain-gut-axis, which may affect emotion, appetite and behavioral states of individuals. Gastrointestinal functional disorder (GIFD) induced by ENS dysfunction may not only cause abnormal gastrointestinal function but also has been implicated in cognitive and mood disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). GIFD would influence deeply the quality of life in patients. Nevertheless, in the worldwide, ENS has so far received much less attention as compared with CNS. The depth of research and scale of investment in ENS studies have been much lower than those in CNS studies. The situation in China is even more evident. From ENS research history, an outstanding problem is to ignore largely the unique properties of ENS and apply mechanically the hypotheses formed in CNS studies to ENS researches. In this review, the structure and function of ENS are briefly introduced, and the importance of extraordinary characteristics of ENS is illustrated by the problems encountered in our studies.

Effect of Quyu Chencuo Formula () on Renal Fibrosis in Obstructive Nephropathy Rats / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of Quyu Chencuo Formula (, QCF) on renal fibrosis in rats with obstructive nephropathy.@*METHODS@#Twenty-four rats were randomly divided into three groups, 4 for sham operation as the control group, 10 for unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model group, and the rest 10 for QCF treating UUO model group. All rats were sacrificed under 3% pentobarbital (50 mg/kg) anesthesia on the 14th day after surgery, then the right kidney samples of rats were harvested for hematoxylin eosin (HE) staining and Masson staining to observe the renal pathological changes. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were used to examine the expression of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was employed to examine the expressions of TGF-β1, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and E-cadherin mRNA.@*RESULTS@#HE and Masson staining showed that the renal interstitial of the rats in the control group had no significant fibrotic lesion; in the model group, there were obvious interstitial fibrosis; for the QCF group, there were epithelial cell necrosis, infiltration of lymphocytes and mononuclear cells, aggravated interstitial fibrosis in varied degrees, but the pathological changes were less in the QCF group than in the model group. The immunohistochemistry and Western blotting results showed that the TGF-β1 expression was increased significantly in the model group, while decreased significantly in the QCF group (P<0.05); RT-PCR showed that the mRNA expression of α-SMA and TGF-β1 increased significantly in the model group, while both were significantly decreased in the QCF group compared with the model group (P<0.05). The mRNA expression of E-cadherin was decreased significantly in the model group, and it was significantly increased in the QCF group as compared with the model group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#QCF may improve renal fibrosis by regulating the expressions of TGF-β1, α-SMA and E-cadherin, and prevent the progress of kidney fibrosis.

Effects of capsaicin on cognitive function and expression of TRPV1 protein in hippocampus of rats with chronic cerebral hypoperfusion / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of capsaicin on cognitive function and the expression of TRPV1 protein in hippocampus of rats with chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH).Methods 60 SD rats were randomly divided into control group (SHAM group),chronic cerebral hypoperfusion group (CCH group),placebo control group(PC group) and capsaicin group(CAP group) with 15 in each group.The chronic cerebral hypoperfusion rat model was established by permanent bilateral common carotid artery occlusion.The rats in CAP group and PC group were given capsaicin and saline respectively by intraperitoneal injection,twice a week.The spatial learning and memory ability and emotion of rats were observed by Morris water maze test and open field test,and the expression of TRPV1 in the hippocampus of rats was detected by Western blot.Results (1) In the open field experiment,compared with the SHAM group (22.60±4.60),the standing times of the CCH group(12.10±2.80) decreased (P＜0.01),but the standing times of CAP group (19.30± 4.16) increased compared with that of h PC group(12.50 ±2.68) (P＜0.01).(2) In Morris water maze test,positioning navigation experiment showed that compared with the SHAM group,the escape latency of the CCH group and the PC group increased (P＜0.05),while the escape latency of CAP group was shorter than that of the PC group (P＜ 0.05).And in the space exploration experiment,compared with the SHAM group (1.87 ± 0.64),the times of crossing the platform in CCH group (0.75 ± 0.89) and the PC group (1.00± 0.93) decreased,while the latency of crossing the platform increased (P＜0.01).And the times of crossing the platform in CAP group((2.38±0.74) increased compared with that of PC group,and the latency of crossing the platform of CAP group decreased compared with that of PC group (P＜0.01).(3) Results of Western blot showed that compared with the SHAM group,the level of TRPV1 in rat hippocampus of CCH group was down regulated (P＜0.05),and the expression of TRPV1 in CAP group was higher than that of PC group (P＜0.05).Conclusion Capsaicin can effectively improve cognitive impairment in rats with chronic cerebral hypoperfusion,which may be related to the up-regulation of TRPV1 protein expression in hippocampal tissues.

Comparison of clinical outcomes in elderly stroke patients with LAA and those with cardiogenic embolism-induced LVO / 中华老年心脑血管病杂志

Objective To compare the clinical outcomes in elderly stroke patients with large artery atheroclerosis (LAA) and those with cardiogenic embolism (CE)-induced large vessel occlusion (LVO).Methods One hundred and twenty-two ≥65 years old sroke patients with LVO who underwent CT angiography or MR angiography in our hospital from June 2013 to June 2017 were divided into LAA group (n=62) and CE-induced LVO group (n =60) according to the TOAST Classification.Their NIHSS scores on admission and after discharge,good outcome after 3 months of stroke,recurrence rate and mortality of stroke were recorded and compared.Results No significant difference was found in the recurrence rate and mortality of stroke between the two groups (P＞0.05).The good outcome rate was significantly higher while the NIHSS score at discharge was significantly lower in CE-induced LVO group than in LAA group (33.33％ vs 17.74％,P=0.048;10.50±1.24 vs 11.83±1.53,P=0.001).No significant difference was found in the occlusion sites between the two groups (P＞0.05).Conclusion The recovery of neurological function is poorer in stroke patients with LVO than in those with CE-induced LVO.However,no significant difference can be found in the recurrence rate and mortality of stroke between the two groups.

Double-balloon enteroscopy in diagnosis of small intestinal disease / 中国内镜杂志

Objective To explore the clinical value of double-balloon enterocopy (DBE) in diagnosis of small intestinal diseases. Methods The clinical and endoscope image data of 231 patients with suspected small bowel disease who underwent DBE from January 2008 to May 2016 were analyzed. Result 231 patients received 257 times of DBE examination, 112 of them were performed by oral and 93 by anal route, 26 patients were underwent by both approaches. The detection rate of intestine diseases was 64.9% (150/231), include 33 cases (14.3%) of nonspecific enteritis, 27 cases (11.7%) of crohn's disease, 19 cases (8.2%) of ulcer, 13 cases (5.6%) of intestinal vascular malformation, 12 cases (5.2%) of small intestinal stromal tumor. The lesion detection rate in obscure abdominal pain and obscure gastrointestinal bleeding were 59.6% (62/104) and 67.0% (63/94). In all patients, there were 1 case of small bowel perforation, the remaining patients had no serious complications such as bleeding and perforation. Conclusion The positive detection rate of double-balloon enteroscopy examination is high, and the double-balloon enteroscopy examination is relatively safe. So, double-balloon enterscopy examination has high diagnostic value for detecting small intestine diseases.

Double-balloon enteroscopy in diagnosis of small intestinal disease / 中国内镜杂志

Objective To explore the clinical value of double-balloon enterocopy (DBE) in diagnosis of small intestinal diseases. Methods The clinical and endoscope image data of 231 patients with suspected small bowel disease who underwent DBE from January 2008 to May 2016 were analyzed. Result 231 patients received 257 times of DBE examination, 112 of them were performed by oral and 93 by anal route, 26 patients were underwent by both approaches. The detection rate of intestine diseases was 64.9% (150/231), include 33 cases (14.3%) of nonspecific enteritis, 27 cases (11.7%) of crohn's disease, 19 cases (8.2%) of ulcer, 13 cases (5.6%) of intestinal vascular malformation, 12 cases (5.2%) of small intestinal stromal tumor. The lesion detection rate in obscure abdominal pain and obscure gastrointestinal bleeding were 59.6% (62/104) and 67.0% (63/94). In all patients, there were 1 case of small bowel perforation, the remaining patients had no serious complications such as bleeding and perforation. Conclusion The positive detection rate of double-balloon enteroscopy examination is high, and the double-balloon enteroscopy examination is relatively safe. So, double-balloon enterscopy examination has high diagnostic value for detecting small intestine diseases.

Dietary Glutamate: Interactions With the Enteric Nervous System

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Digestion of dietary protein elevates intraluminal concentrations of glutamate in the small intestine, some of which gain access to the enteric nervous system (ENS). Glutamate, in the central nervous system (CNS), is an excitatory neurotransmitter. A dogma that glutamatergic neurophysiology in the ENS recapitulates CNS glutamatergic function persists. We reassessed the premise that glutamatergic signaling in the ENS recapitulates its neurotransmitter role in the CNS. METHODS: Pharmacological analysis of actions of receptor agonists and antagonists in concert with immunohistochemical localization of glutamate transporters and receptors was used. Analysis focused on intracellularly-recorded electrical and synaptic behavior of ENS neurons, on stimulation of mucosal secretion by secretomotor neurons in the submucosal plexus and on muscle contractile behavior mediated by musculomotor neurons in the myenteric plexus. RESULTS: Immunoreactivity for glutamate was expressed in ENS neurons. ENS neurons expressed immunoreactivity for the EAAC-1 glutamate transporter. Neither L-glutamate nor glutamatergic receptor agonists had excitatory actions on ENS neurons. Metabotropic glutamatergic receptor agonists did not directly stimulate neurogenic mucosal chloride secretion. Neither L-glutamate nor the metabotropic glutamatergic receptor agonist, aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (ACPD), changed the mean amplitude of spontaneously occurring contractions in circular or longitudinal strips of intestinal wall from either guinea pig or human small intestinal preparations. CONCLUSIONS: Early discoveries, for excitatory glutamatergic neurotransmission in the CNS, inspired enthusiasm that investigation in the ENS would yield discoveries recapitulating the CNS glutamatergic story. We found this not to be the case.

Investigation of replantation of thumb rotation avulsion injury / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate replantation methods and clinical outcomes of thumb rotation avulsion injury,and to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each procedure.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From Feburary 2009 to March 2012, 21 thumbs suffered from rotation avulsion injuries and replanted by different methods, including 16 males and 5 females with an average age of 32 years old ranging from 16 to 45 years old. Diffierent methods were chosen according to the traumatic condition. And the survival condition and function of the thumbs after replantation were observed and evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among them, 19 replanted figers were survival, 2 cases failed. The mean follow-up period was 8 months (ranged from 3 to 14 months). According to the criteria for function assement of amputated finger issued by the Branch of Hand Surgery of Chinese Medicine Association, the results were excellent in 13 cases, good in 5, and poor in 1.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>According to the traumatic condition to choose various approach in replantation of thumb with rotation avulsion, leading to a higher success rate, and provide the patients with a more aesthetic appearance and satisfied function.</p>

Intervention of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation cycle by Chinese medical herbs for Shen tonifying, blood nourishing and activating: a randomized clinical trial / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of Chinese medical herbs for Shen tonifying, blood nourishing and activating (CMHSTBNA) on the cycle of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) of assisted reproductive technique (ART).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A large sample randomized control trial was performed. Infertility women patients, younger than 42 years (infertility due to tubal factor and/or male factor) were randomly assigned to the CMHSTBNA intervention group (abbreviated as the treated group) and the control group, 184 cases in each group. All underwent COH. Those in the treated group received assist therapy of CMHSTBNA from the menstrual period day 2 -3 of COH to the day of oocytes retrieved. The serum hormone level [including estrogen (E2), progesterone(P), luteal hormone (LH) on the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) administration], the medication days and dosage of gonadotropin (Gn), the number of oocytes retrieved, the fertilization rate, and the good-quality embryo rate were observed and compared with the control group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The endometrial thickness on the day of oocytes retrieved was 10.85 +/- 1.63 mm in the treated group, larger than that in the control group (10.50 +/- 1.49 mm) (P <0.05). The good-quality embryo rate and the frozen rate were 48. 9% and 39. 7% respectively in the treated group, superior to those of the control group (45. 4% and 35. 8% respectively), showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). On the day of hCG administration, favorable tendency was shown in the serum levels of estradial (E2), progesterone (P), luteinizing hormone (LH), the medication days and dosage of Gn, the number of oocytes retrieved, the fertilization rate, and the cleavage rate, showing no statistical difference when compared with the control group (P >0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The combined application of CMHSTBNA and gonado-trophic hormones in COH cycle could elevate the embryo quality, improve the endometrial state, thus laying foundation for successful in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm embryo transfer.</p>

Sphingosine kinase 1 enhances the proliferation and invasion of human colon cancer LoVo cells through up-regulating FAK pathway and the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) on the proliferation, migration and invasion of human colon cancer LoVo cells, and to explore the related mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Human colon cancer LoVo cells were divided into three groups: phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) was used to induce the activation of SphK1 in the PMA group, N,N-dimethylsphingosine (DMS) used to suppress the activity of SphK1 in DMS group, and the cells treated with equal amount of 0.9 % NaCl instead of drugs served as the control group. The activity of SphK1 was assayed by autoradiography, the cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay, cell migration and invasion were examined by Boyden chamber assay, concentrations of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were assayed by ELISA, and RT-PCR and Western blot were used to evaluate the mRNA and protein expression in the cells.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The activity of SphK1 was efficiently induced by PMA and significantly suppressed by DMS. PMA induced cell proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. On the contrast, DMS suppressed cell proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. After treating with PMA, the number of migrating and invasing cells were increased to 143.36 ± 8.73 and 118.46 ± 6.25, significantly higher than those of the control group (75.48 ± 6.12 and 64.19 ± 5.36). After treating with DMS, the number of migrating and invasing cells were decreased to 38.57 ± 3.24 and 32.48 ± 4.27, significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.01). The relative expression levels of FAK, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 mRNA in the PMA group were 0.82 ± 0.06, 0.74 ± 0.05 and 0.89 ± 0.09, and those in the DMS group were 0.23 ± 0.02, 0.26 ± 0.03 and 0.37 ± 0.04, with significant differences between the PMA, DMS and control groups (P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, the relative expression levels of FAK and p-FAK proteins in the PMA group (0.52 ± 0.06 and 0.51 ± 0.06) were significantly elevated, and those of the DMS group (0.20 ± 0.03 and 0.09 ± 0.02) were significantly decreased. In addition, the concentrations of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were significantly elevated with the activation of SphK1. On the contrary, those of the DMS group were significantly reduced with the suppression of SphK1 (Both P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>SphK1 may enhance the proliferation, migration and invasion of colon cancer LoVo cells through activating FAK pathway and up-regulating the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1.</p>

Abdominal random single pedicled flap of three leaves for the treatment of multiple finger skin defects / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the effect of abdominal random single pedicled flap of three leaves for skin defects construction of the ends of several fingers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From March 2005 to October 2010, 30 patients (90 fingers) with skin defects of the ends of several fingers were treated by abdominal random single pedicled flap of three leaves, including 20 males (60 fingers) and 10 females (30 fingers) with an average age of 36 years old ranging from 15 to 56 years. The degloving injury or transverse defect of distal phalanx were treated with abdominal random single pedicled flap of three leaves. Postoperative survival of skin flap, flap shape, complications were observed, and the static two-point discrimination of flap were determined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All patients were followed up for 12.6 mouths in average. All the flaps survived. The color, texture and shape of the flaps were good. The static two-point discrimination was 5 to 10 mm. The function of the hands recovered satisfactory.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The method of abdominal random single pedicled flap of three leaves has the advantages of simple, safe and less trauma for the donor site. The effect is satisfatory for skin defects construction of the ends of several fingers.</p>

Retroperitoneal hemangiopericytoma: case report and literature review / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

Retroperitoneal hemangiopericytoma is a kind of uncommon tumor. We report a case of 41-year-old man who was diagnosed retroperitoneal tumor without significant symptoms by abdominal ultrasonography. Abdominal CT and MRI scans show a 6 cm × 5 cm solid tumor delineated clearly from adjacent organs. Excision of the tumor was performed and the histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of hemangiopericytoma.

Effect of sphingosine kinase 1 on the apoptosis, migration and invasion of colon cancer HT-29 cells and its molecular mechanisms / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) on the proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion of colon cancer TH-29 cells and to explore its molecular mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) was used to induce the activity of SphK1 and N, N-dimethylsphingosine (DMS) was used to suppress the activity of SphK1. Cell prolieration and apoptosis were detected by MTT assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The migration and invasion capabilities of the cells were assessed in Transwell chambers. The activity of SphK1 was assayed by autoradiography. Western blot was used to evaluate the protein expression of SphK1, p38, phosphorylated p38 (p-p38) and SAPK/JNK.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>PMA and DMS were able to induce and suppress the activity and protein expression of SphK1 in a time-dependent manner, respectively. PMA enhanced and DMS suppressed the cell viability in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Being treated with 100 nmol/L PMA or 50 µmol/L DMS for 0, 6, 12, 24 h, the cell apoptosis rates of PMA group were (9.35 ± 0.84)%, (7.61 ± 0.48)%, (5.53 ± 0.76)% and (0.56 ± 0.33)%, contrastly, that of DMS group were (9.18 ± 0.94)%, (12.06 ± 1.41)%, (19.80 ± 2.36)% and (31.85 ± 3.60)%, respectively. Compared with the control group, the cell migration and invasion capabilities of the PMA group were significantly enhanced, and that of the DMS group were significantly suppressed. The migration cell number of control, PMA and DMS groups were 68.75 ± 6.15, 109.33 ± 11.63 and 10.83 ± 2.48, the invasion cell number of control, PMA and DMS groups were 55.42 ± 4.50, 90.58 ± 7.06 and 9.58 ± 2.39, respectively. With the elevating activity and expression of SphK1, the protein expressions of p38, p-p38 and SAPK/JNK were strikingly suppressed. On the contrary, after treating with DMS the protein expressions of p38, p-p38 and SAPK/JNK were enhanced.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>SphK1 potently enhances the prolieration, migration and invasion of colon cancer HT-29 cells, meanwhile suppresses the cell apoptosis. The suppressing of the p38 and SAPK/JNK signalling pathways may be one of its molecular mechanisms.</p>

Relationship between breast cancer molecular subtypes with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>This study try to subclassify breast cancer into different prognostic subgroups according to immunohistochemical algorithm and discuss the relationship between subtypes and biological and clinical behavior and prognosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twenty-eight cases of infiltrative ductal carcinoma were studied using immunohistochemical staining with an antibody panel of ER, PR, HER2 and CK5/6 and subclassified referring to previous reports, and the 9 cases of HER2 positive subtype were tested using FISH.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of ER, PR, HER2, and CK5/6 was detected in 67%, 45%, 27% and 27% cases, respectively. All cases were subclassified into five subgroups, with luminal A (55%), luminal B (20%), HER2 positive (7%), basal-like (10%) and unclassified cases (8%). Nine HER2 positive cases all showed amplification of HER2 gene. It was demonstrated that the luminal A group was associated with the best prognosis but the basal-like group worst by univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that both the clinical stage and immunohistochemical subtypes of tumor were related to overall survival. Menses status were different among these subtypes.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>According to the expression of ER, PR, HER2 and CK5/6, infiltrative ductal carcinoma could be subclassified into five subgroups with different biological features and outcome, having a role in evaluating the prognosis and guiding the clinical treatment.</p>

Potential mechanisms involved in ceramide-induced apoptosis in human colon cancer HT29 cells / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the potential mechanisms of cell death after the treatment with ceramide.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>MTT assay, DNA ladder, reporter assay, FACS and Western blot assay were employed to investigate the potential mechanisms of cell death after the treatment with C2-ceramide.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A short-time treatment with C2-ceramide induced cell death, which was associated with p38 MAP kinase activation, but had no links with typical caspase activation or PARP degradation. Rather than caspase inhibitor, Inhibitor of p38 MAP kinase blocked cell death induced by a short-time treatment with ceramide (<12 h). However, inhibition of p38 MAP kinase could not block cell death induced by a prolonged treatment with ceramide (>12 h). Moreover, incubation of cells with ceramide for a long time (>12 h) increased subG1, but reduced S phase accompanied by caspase-dependent and caspase-independent changes including NFkappaB activation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ceramide-induced cell apoptosis involves both caspase-dependent and -independent signaling pathway. Caspase-independent cell death occurring in a relatively early stage, which is mediated via p38 MAP kinase, can progress into a stage involving both caspase-dependent and -independent mechanisms accompanied by cell signaling of MAPKs and NFkappaB.</p>

Vasoactive intestinal peptide expression and its clinical significance in gastric adenocarcinoma / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in gastric adenocarcinoma, and to evaluate the correlation of VIP level with clinical pathologic parameters.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The level of VIP in sera from gastric adenocarcinoma patients and healthy people was investigated by ELISA. Moreover, the differential gene expression between gastric adenocarcinoma, gastric dysplasia, and the corresponding normal gastric mucosa were determined by RT-PCR. Western Blot was also used to measure the expression of VIP in the gastric adenocarcinoma and the normal gastric mucosa.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The serum level of VIP was (5.794 +/- 0.014) ng/ ml in normal control and was (14.437 +/- 0.825) ng/ml in gastric adenocarcinoma patients, showing significant difference (P < 0.05). Meanwhile,the V/B of gastric adenocarcinoma tissues was greater than that of gastric dysplasia and the corresponding normal gastric mucosa (P <0.01), the values of V/B were 1.5261 +/- 0.3028, 0.9334 +/- 0.2872,and 0.9051 +/- 0.2794, respectively. The values of V/B between normal gastric mucosa and gastric dysplasia were not different significantly (P > 0.05). There were significantly negative correlation between the VIP mRNA expression of the differentiation degree of tumor (P < 0.05). The VIP mRNA expression was higher in gastric adenocarcinoma with lymph node metastasis than that without lymph node matastsis (P < 0.05). The VIP protein expression of the gastric adenocarcinoma tissues was greater than that of normal control.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This findings provide a direct evidence to support the possibility that VIP play a cofactor role in the pathogenesis of gastric adenocarcinoma.</p>

Forebrain NMDA receptors contribute to neuronal spike responses in adult mice / 生理学报

Glutamate is the major fast excitatory transmitter in the central nervous system. While normal synaptic transmission is mediated by alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) and kainate receptors, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are thought to selectively contribute to plasticity. Genetically enhancing NMDA receptor functions enhances animal behavior in normal physiological learning and enhances their sensitivity in the case of tissue injury. One major mechanism for NMDA receptors is synaptic long-term potentiation (LTP). Here we present evidence that NMDA receptors not only contribute to normal synaptic responses induced by stimulation of local layer V or white matters, but also contribute to generation of action potentials induced by a depolarizing step applied to the soma. Calcium-calmodulin sensitive adenylyl cyclase 1 and cAMP signal pathways likely mediate these effects. Considering the importance of cingulate neurons in nociception and pain, our results provide a new mechanism for NMDA receptor contributing to neuronal synaptic transmission, spiking properties in forebrains, and possible forebrain-related behavioral nociceptive responses and pain.

Drug resistance analysis of staphylococcus infection in our hospital from 2003 to 2005 / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the change in mobility of staphylococcus and its drug resistance etiology investigation and clinical treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The routine biochemical identification was used for staphylococcus differentiation. Minimal inhibitory concentrations was used for drug-resistance determination. Some drug-resistance determination were detected by K-B method. The inducible resistance of erythromycin to clindamycin was checked by D-test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Staphylococcus was in the first place in the hospital infection. The rates of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus were 54.1%. The drug-resistance rates of staphylococcus to penicillin, oxacillin, erythromycin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, clindamycin, SMZCO, chloramphenicol, vancomycin, teicoplanin antibacterials were 93.2%, 54.1%, 85.1%, 56.7%, 45.9%, 48.6%, 58.1%. 45.9%, 31.1%, 0%, 0%. D-test positive rate was 37.9%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The results are helpful in study of pathogenic bacteria and drug resistance characteristics in staphylococcus infection.</p>

Early change of pulmonary ventilation in new coal miners / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the early effects of coal dust on lung function in new underground coal miners.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two hundred and eighty-seven male miners were selected from new employees at the Xuzhou Mining Group Company as study group, and 132 male students at a mining technical school were selected as control. Data collection included: individual demographic parameters, family medical history, occupational history, and smoking history, measurement of dust concentrations in work areas, and lung function tests. This prospective cohort study took place over 3 years during which time total dust and respirable dust concentrations in the new coal miners' work areas were measured twice each month. For both miner and student groups, FVC and FEV(1) were tested initially before dust exposure, and then 15 times over the 3 years.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average total dust and respirable dust concentrations in the miners' work areas were 23.8 mg/m(3) and 8.9 mg/m(3) respectively, which greatly exceeded national health criteria. During the first year of dust exposure, the miners's average FVC was higher than that of the controls (5.19 L vs 4.92 L, P < 0.01). During the 2nd and 3rd year the difference in average FVC between miners and control group was not significant (5.14 L vs 5.12 L, P > 0.05). Before dust exposure, the miners' FEV(1) was significantly higher than that of the control group (4.48 L vs 4.28 L). In the miners group, FEV(1) declined rapidly during the first year following dust exposure (from 4.48 L to 4.25 L), and in the 2nd and the 3rd year the average FEV(1) of the miners was significantly lower than that of controls (4.34 L vs 4.56 L, P < 0.01), although there were some fluctuations during the follow-up period. Overall, the average FEV(1) of miners group showed a significant decline during the study. There were significant correlations between FVC or FEV(1) and age, height, weight, and smoking. The three-year total loss of FVC and FEV(1) in smoking miners (154 ml, 184 ml) were greater than in non-smoking miners (83 ml, 91 ml).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There are apparent effects of coal dust on lung function in new underground coal miners, with FEV(1) being more impacted than FVC. Smoking may aggravate the effect of dust exposure on reducing lung function.</p>