Nuclear Factor-κB Signaling Mediates Antimony-induced Astrocyte Activation / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

Objective@#Antimony (Sb) has recently been identified as a novel nerve poison, although the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying its neurotoxicity remain unclear. This study aimed to assess the effects of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway on antimony-induced astrocyte activation.@*Methods@#Protein expression levels were detected by Western blotting. Immunofluorescence, cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions separation were used to assess the distribution of p65. The expression of protein in brain tissue sections was detected by immunohistochemistry. The levels of mRNAs were detected by Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).@*Results@#Antimony exposure triggered astrocyte proliferation and increased the expression of two critical protein markers of reactive astrogliosis, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), indicating that antimony induced astrocyte activation @*Conclusion@#Antimony activated astrocytes by activating the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Prediction of Hidden Blood Loss During Posterior Spinal Surgery / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

Objective Identification of the risk factors for extraordinary hidden blood loss (HBL) could clarify the underlying causes and provide more appropriate management. This study aims to identify the predictors of HBL in spinal surgery.Methods Medical records were retrospectively retrieved to collect the data of patients who undergoing posterior thoracic and lumbar fusion surgery or scoliosis surgery. Demographic information, perioperative visible blood loss volume, as well as laboratory results were recorded. The patients receiving fusion surgery or scoliosis surgery were further divided into the HBL positive subgroup and the HBL negative subgroup. Differences in the variables between the groups were then analyzed. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to determine independent risk factors associated with HBL.Results For patients undergoing posterior spinal surgery, the independent risk factors associated with HBL were autologous transfusion (for fusion surgery P=0.011, OR: 2.627, 95%CI: 1.574-2.782; for scoliosis surgery P<0.001, OR: 2.268, 95%CI: 2.143-2.504) and allogeneic transfusion (for fusion surgeryP<0.001, OR: 6.487, 95%CI: 2.349-17.915; for scoliosis surgery P<0.001, OR: 3.636, 95%CI: 2.389-5.231).Conclusions Intraoperative blood transfusion might be an early-warning indicator for perioperative HBL.

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin Promotes Proliferation of Astrocyte Cells via the Akt/STAT3/Cyclin D1 Pathway / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

OBJECTIVE@#The compound 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), a persistent organic pollutant, is harmful to the nervous system, but its effects on the brain are still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of TCDD on astrocytes proliferation and underlying molecular mechanism.@*METHODS@#The cell proliferation was measured by EdU-based proliferation assay and PI staining by flow cytometry. Protein expression levels were detected by Western blotting. Immunofluorescence, cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions separation were used to assess the distribution of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3).@*RESULTS@#C6 cells treated with 10 and 50 nmol/L TCDD for 24 h showed significant promotion of the proliferation of. The exposure to TCDD resulted in the upregulation in the expression levels of phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-Akt), phosphorylated STAT3, and cyclin D1 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The inhibition of Akt expression with LY294002 or STAT3 expression with AG490 abolished the TCDD-induced cyclin D1 upregulation and cell proliferation. Furthermore, LY294002 suppressed the activation of STAT3. Finally, TCDD promoted the translocation of STAT3 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, and LY294002 treatment blocked this effect.@*CONCLUSION@#TCDD exposure promotes the proliferation of astrocyte cells via the Akt/STAT3/cyclin D1 pathway, leading to astrogliosis.

Influence of Sex on Remifentanil's Cough-prevention Effect during Anesthetic Emergence / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the influence of sex on the cough-preventing effect of target-controlled infusion(TCI)of remifentanil during anesthetic emergence.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 25 female(group F)and 25 male(group M)patients undergoing thyroidectomy were recruited in the current study. Anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane and remifentanil TCI.At the end of the surgery,inhalational anesthetics were discontinued,and remifentanil TCI at an effect-site concentration(Ce)of 2.0 ng/ml was maintained during emergence until extubation. The cough score,blood pressure,and heart rate(HR)during peri-extubation period as well as the respiratory rate,calm score,and sore throat score after extubation were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>During extubation,the proportion of patients with no cough or just a single cough was significantly higher in group F than in group M(88% vs. 64%,P=0.047). Mean arterial pressure(P=0.025,P=0.037)and HR(P=0.035)were significantly increased during extubation compared with preoperative levels in group M.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Sex may influence the cough-preventing effect of remifentanil TCI during anesthetic emergence. At a Ce of 2.0 ng/ml,remifentanil has better cough-preventing effect and more stable hemodynamic status in females than in males.</p>

The roles of PPAR-gamma/PGC-1alpha to Nrf2/gamma-GCS-h in lung of guinea pigs with bronchial asthma / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expressions of PPAR-gamma/PGC-1alpha and Nrf2/gamma-GCS-h in lung of guinea pigs with bronchial asthma, and to explore the roles of them.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty adult male guinea pigs were randomly divided into 4 groups: the control group (group A), asthmatic group ( group B), dexamethasone group (group C) and rogridone group (group D), 10 guinea pigs in each group. The asthmatic model was established by the ovalbumin challenge method. Expressions of PPAR-gamma/PGC-1alpha and Nrf2/gamma-GCS-h mRNA in lung tissue were assayed by in situ hybridization. Expressions of PPAR-gamma/PGC-1alpha and Nrf2/gamma-GCS-h protein were detected by immunohischemistry and by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In situ hybridization showed that the expressions of PPAR-gamma/PGC-1alpha and Nrf2/gamma-GCS-h mRNA in lung tissue were the lowest in group B and the comparison among groups showed statistical significant (all P < 0.01). Immunohistochemistry and Western blot indicated that the value of PPAR-gamma/PGC-1alpha and Nrf2/gamma-GCS-h protein in lung tissue were the lowest in group B, and expressed primarily in nucleus, the differences being statistically significant (all P < 0.01). There was positive correlation between PPAR-gamma and PGC-1. gamma-GCS-h mRNA also positively correlated between PPAR-gamma/PGC-1alpha and Nrf2 in nucleus, and the expression of Nrf2 was also positively correlated with PPAR-gamma/ PGC-1alpha.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In acute asthmatic models induced by ovalbumin, the expressions of PPAR-alpha/PGC-1alpha and Nrf2/gamma-GCS-h were decreased, and PPARgamma/PGC-1alpha could up-regulate the expressions of Nrf2/gamma-GCS-h to increase the antioxidant defense of tissues, thus being implicated that PPARgamma/PGC-1alpha might play important roles in the pathogenesis and prevention of asthma.</p>

Obesity and diseases in the elderly inpatient / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the obesity distribution in old people and the relation between senile obesity and health.@*METHODS@#First, a questionnaire was designed which included chronic disease history, body mass index (BMI), physiological value, biochemistry index, anti-oxidation index, diagnosis of diseases, etc. Second, the measure and detection methods were unified; and the last, the investigation was made along with daily clinical work by clinicians.@*RESULTS@#We received 391 questionnaires. The overweight rate was 36.1% and the obesity rate was 7.9% . Total anti-oxidation activity in serum (TAS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) decreased with body mass index (BMI), and the value in the obesity group was the lowest; Malonaldehyde (MDA) of overweight obesity was the largest. The mean blood pressure, blood fat, and blood glucose as well as the prevalence of cardiovascular disease, hyperlipemia, and glycuresis increased with BMI; and the value in the obesity group was the largest.@*CONCLUSION@#The prevalence of the senile obesity was below the average and the senile obesity complications were various and serious, and perhaps related to imbalance of free radical's production and cleanup, so the senile obesity seriously harmed old people's health.