The effect of post-pyloric feeding on the prognosis of critically ill patients with acute gastrointestinal injury grade II / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective:To explore the effect of post-pyloric feeding by spiral nasoenteric tubes on the prognosis of critically ill patients with acute gastrointestinal injury (AGI) grade Ⅱ.Methods:A retrospective study was performed to analyze the clinical data of critically ill adult patients with AGI grade Ⅱ, who were enrolled in three randomized controlled trials conducted by Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital for post-pyloric tube placement between April 2012 and May 2019. Data including demographic characteristics, serological indicators of nutrition, the tube tip position confirmed by abdominal X-ray 24 h after tube insertion, and intensive care unit (ICU), 28-day and hospital mortality were collected. Patients were divided into the post-pyloric feeding group and gastric feeding group according to the tube tip position. Propensity score matching method was used to perform 1:1 matching, and the differences of each index between the two groups were compared after matching. Then the influencing factors of P<0.1 were included in multivariate logistic regression analysis to investigate the potential ICU mortality risk factors of critically ill patients with AGI gradeⅡ. Factors with 0.1 level of significance from the univariate analysis were considered in the multivariate analysis. Results:There were 90 patients in post-pyloric feeding group and 90 patients in the gastric feeding group. Demographics and clinical characteristics of study population were well balanced between the two groups after matching. ICU, 28-day and hospital mortality in the post-pyloric feeding group were significantly lower than those in the gastric feeding group (4.4% vs 15.6%, 14.4% vs 27.8%, 6.7% vs 17.8%, all P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that post-pyloric feeding was an independent protective factor [odds ratio ( OR)=0.295, 95% confidence internal (95% CI): 0.091-0.959, P=0.042] and APACHEⅡ score was an independent risk factor ( OR=1.111, 95% CI: 1.025-1.203, P=0.010) for ICU mortality of critically ill patients with AGI gradeⅡ. Conclusions:Post-pyloric feeding for critically ill patients with AGI grade Ⅱ could decrease ICU mortality and is an independent protective factor against mortality.

Mechanisms of sodium butyrate inhibition of microglia inflammatory activation in hippocampus via Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-κB p65 pathway / 中华危重病急救医学

Objective:To investigate the effects of sodium butyrate (NaB) on long-term anxiety like behavior and inflammatory activation of microglia in the hippocampus of sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) mice.Methods:① Animal experiment: fifty C57BL/6 mice aged 6-8 weeks were randomly divided into Sham group (only the cecum was found by laparotomy without perforation or ligation), and SAE model group caused by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP; SAE model group, the cecum was found by laparotomy and perforated after ligation. The open field test indicated that the ability of independent exploration decreased and showed anxiety like behavior, which proved that the SAE model was successfully replicated) and NaB pretreatment group was established (NaB was administered at a dose of 500 mg·kg -1·d -1 for 3 days before modeling, and the same dose once a day for 3 days after modeling). Open field test was used to detect the anxiety like behavior of mice at 7 days. The protein expressions and content changes of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in hippocampus of mice at 1 day and 3 days after operation were detected by Western blotting and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Immunofluorescence staining was used to observe microglia labeled protein ionized calcium bindingadaptor molecule-1 (Iba-1) and TNF-α protein co localization. ② Cell experiment: mouse microglia cell line BV-2 microglia were divided into blank control group, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group (cells were treated with 1 mg/L LPS), and NaB treatment group (cells were treated with 1 mg/L LPS+5 mmol/L NaB). The protein expressions of IL-1β, TNF-α, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), phosphorylated nuclear factor-κB p65 (p-NF-κB p65), nuclear factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65) and NF-κB inhibitor protein-α (IκB-α) were detected by Western blotting. The expressions of Iba-1 and TNF-α in each group were observed by immunofluorescence. Results:① Animal experiment: compared with the Sham group, the distance and duration of movement in the central area, the total distance moved of mice decreased 7 days after the establishment of SAE model group were decreased [distance of movement in the central area (mm): 13.45±3.97 vs. 161.44±27.00, duration of movement in the central area (s): 1.82±0.58 vs. 13.45±2.17, the total distance moved (mm): 835.01±669.67 vs. 2 254.51±213.45, all P < 0.05]. In the hippocampus tissues of mice, a large number of nerve nuclei were pyknotic and deeply stained, and the arrangement of nerve cells was disordered. The cell bodies of microglia in mouse hippocampus increased significantly. The number of positive cells of Iba-1/TNF-α (Iba-1 +/TNF-α +) increased significantly. The contents and protein expression of proinflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-1β in hippocampal homogenate supernatant 3 days after operation in SAE model group were significantly higher than those in Sham group [TNF-α (ng/L): 119.17±18.40 vs. 90.18±21.17, IL-1β (ng/L): 407.89±70.64 vs. 313.69±34.63; TNF-α/GAPDH: 1.42±0.50 vs. 0.80±0.08, IL-1β/GAPDH: 1.27±0.22 vs. 0.85±0.25, all P < 0.05]. After intragastric administration of NaB, the distance and duration of movement in the central area of mice were significantly higher than those in SAE model group [distance of movement in the central area (mm): 47.39±15.63 vs. 13.45±3.97, duration of movement in the central area (s): 6.12±1.87 vs. 1.82±0.58, all P < 0.05]. There was no significant change in the total distance moved (mm: 1 550.59±1 004.10 vs. 835.01±669.67, P > 0.05). The pyknosis and deep staining of nerve nuclei in mice were significantly less than those in SAE model group. The number of Iba-1 +/TNF-α + positive cells decreased significantly. The contents and protein expression levels of proinflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-1β in hippocampal homogenate supernatant 3 days after operation were significantly lower than those in SAE model group [TNF-α (ng/L): 64.95±9.10 vs. 119.17±18.40, IL-1β (ng/L): 311.94±69.92 vs. 407.89±70.64; TNF-α/GAPDH: 1.02±0.36 vs. 1.42±0.50, IL-1β/GAPDH: 0.86±0.20 vs. 1.27±0.22, all P < 0.05]. ② Cell experiment: after LPS intervention, the fluorescence intensity of TNF-α in BV-2 cells was significantly enhanced, the protein expression levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, TLR4 and p-NF-κB p65 protein increased (TNF-α/GAPDH: 0.39±0.06 vs. 0.20±0.02, IL-1β/GAPDH: 0.27±0.03 vs. 0.19±0.01, TLR4/GAPDH: 0.55±0.12 vs. 0.33±0.09, p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65: 0.55±0.05 vs. 0.29±0.04, all P < 0.05), the expression level of IκB-α was lower than that in the control group(IκB-α/GAPDH: 0.54±0.06 vs. 0.81±0.03, P < 0.05). After NaB treatment, the fluorescence intensity of TNF-α in BV-2 cells was decreased. The protein expression levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, TLR4 and p-NF-κB p65 protein were significantly lower than that of LPS model group (TNF-α/GAPDH: 0.26±0.02 vs. 0.39±0.06, IL-1β/GAPDH: 0.11±0.04 vs. 0.27±0.03, TLR4/GAPDH: 0.28±0.14 vs. 0.55±0.12, p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65: 0.29±0.01 vs. 0.55±0.05, all P < 0.05), the protein expression level of IκB-α was significantly higher than that in the LPS group (IκB-α/GAPDH: 0.75±0.01 vs. 0.54±0.06, P < 0.05). Conclusion:NaB could antagonism the TLR4 activation induced by LPS, thus inhibiting p-NF-κB p65 nuclear transcription and IκB-α degradation. It can reduce microglia activation and secretion of inflammatory factors, and finally improve the inflammation in the hippocampus of septic mice and long-term anxiety like behavior.

Chromosomal aberrations detection in chronic lymphocytic leukemia by conventional cytogenetics using DSP30 and IL-2 / 中华血液学杂志

Objective: To study the value of unmethylated cytosine guanine dinucleotide oligodeoxynucleotide (DSP30) and IL-2 in the conventional cytogenetic (CA) detection of the chromosomal aberrations in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) . Methods: Bone marrow or peripheral blood cells of CLL patients were cultured with DSP30 plus IL-2 for 72 h, following which R-banding analysis was conducted. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed in 85 patients. CA results were compared with data obtained by FISH. Results: Among 89 CLL patients, the success rate of chromosome analysis was 94.38% (84/89) . Clonal aberrations were detected in 51 patients (51/84, 60.71%) . Of them, 27 (27/51, 52.94%) were complex karyotype. Among 85 CLL patients tested by FISH, chromosomal abnormalities were detected in 74 (74/85, 87.06%) patients, of which 2 (2/74) patients were complex karyotypes, accounting for 2.70%. Of the 85 CLL patients examined by FISH, 50 had abnormal karyotype analysis, 30 had normal karyotype, 5 failed to have chromosome analysis. Among them, 25 cases showed clonal aberrations by FISH assay but normal by CA, and 4 cases were normal by FISH but displayed aberrations in chromosome analysis, and totally 78 (91.76%) cases with abnormality detected by the combination of the two methods. The frequency of 13q- abnormality detected by FISH was significantly higher than that by CA analysis (69.41%vs 16.67%, P<0.001) , while the frequency of 11q-,+12 and 17p- detected by two methods showed no significant difference (P>0.05) . The detection rate of complex abnormalities in conventional karyotype analysis was higher than that in FISH (50.98%vs 2.70%) . In addition, 11 low-risk and 9 intermediate-risk patients according to FISH results showed complex karyotype by cytogenetics, and were classified into high-risk cytogenetic subgroup. Conclusion: DSP30 and IL-2 are effective in improving the detection rate of CA in CLL patients (60.71%) and CA is more effective to detect complex karyotype. However, FISH had a higher overall abnormality detection rate (87.06%) than CA, especially for 13q-. The combination of CA and FISH not only enhanced the detection rate of clonal aberrations to 91.76%, but also provided more precise prognosis stratification for CLL patients, thus to provide more information for clinical implication.

Differential expression of transcription factors in three generations of excised roots of Aquilaria sinensis under salt stress / 中草药

Objective: To study the expression patterns and levels of transcription factors (TFs) in three generations of excised roots of Aquilaria sinensis under salt stress, and analyze the variation of TFs family genes in each generation in response to salt stress. Methods The excised roots of A. sinensis were used as experimental material, using highthroughput sequencing technology (Illumina Hiseq4000), all the unigene sequences were compared with the plant transcription factor database (PlantTFDB), and the three generation differential expressed TFs between the treated and the control group were analyzed. Results:A total of 48 286 Unigenes were obtained by de novo splicing from three generation of excised roots of A. sinensis, containing 1 156 potential TFs distributed in 54 TF families. Among them, bHLH, ERF, and NAC were the three most enriched families. Totally, 290, 277, and 349 differentially expressed TFs were respectively screened in three successive generations, which were mainly down-regulated. The expression induced by salt stress were different in each TF family, the numbers of up-regulated DEGs increased in NAC, MYB, and WRKY families, and decreased in GRAS family with the increase of stressed generations. There were 70 common TFs differentially expressed in three generations, and the down-regulated expression multiples of eight genes increased with the increase of salt stress generations. Conclusion:The effect of salt stress on the expression of TFs was mainly down-regulatied. The number of differential expressed TFs in the treated and control group increased with the increase of salt stress generations. The expression of different TF family genes was different under salt stress, and some genes might be involved in the transmission of stressful memory. This study is helpful to understand the expression characteristics of TFs at the whole level and provide a reference for further study on the stressful memories and the molecular mechanism of the salt stress response.

Develop a 3D neurological disease model of human cortical glutamatergic neurons using micropillar-based scaffolds

Establishing an effective three-dimensional (3D) culture system to better model human neurological diseases is desirable, since the human brain is a 3D structure. Here, we demonstrated the development of a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) pillar-based 3D scaffold that mimicked the 3D microenvironment of the brain. We utilized this scaffold for the growth of human cortical glutamatergic neurons that were differentiated from human pluripotent stem cells. In comparison with the 2D culture, we demonstrated that the developed 3D culture promoted the maturation of human cortical glutamatergic neurons by showing significantly more MAP2 and less Ki67 expression. Based on this 3D culture system, we further developed an disease-like model of traumatic brain injury (TBI), which showed a robust increase of glutamate-release from the neurons, in response to mechanical impacts, recapitulating the critical pathology of TBI. The increased glutamate-release from our 3D culture model was attenuated by the treatment of neural protective drugs, memantine or nimodipine. The established 3D human neural culture system and TBI-like model may be used to facilitate mechanistic studies and drug screening for neurotrauma or other neurological diseases.

Effect of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonist on heart of rabbits with acute myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury

OBJECTIVE@#To explore protective effect of rosiglitazone on myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury.@*METHODS@#A total of 48 male SD rats were randomly divided into control group (A), I/R group(B), high dose of rosiglitazone (C), low dose of rosiglitazone (D). Plasm concentration of creatine kinase (CK), CK-MB, hsCRP, Superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin (ET) were measured 1 h later after I/R. 24 h after I/R hearts were harvested to observe pathological and ultrastructural changes. Immunohistochemistry and western blotting was used to test CD40 expression in myocardial tissue. Area of myocardial infarction were tested, arrhythmia rate during I/R was recorded.@*RESULTS@#Plasm concentration of creatine kinase (CK), CK-MB, hsCRP, NO, MDA and ET were decreased in group C, D compared with group B. Plasm concentration of T-SOD and GSH-Px was increased significantly in group C, D compared with group B. Compared with group B, pathological and ultrastructural changes in group C, D were slightly. Myocardial infarction area and arrhythmia rate were lower in group C, D compare with group B.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Rosiglitazone can protect myocardium from I/R injury by enhancing T-SOD and GSH-Px concentration, inhibit inflammatory reaction, improve endothelial function, reduce oxidative stress and calcium overload.

Study on Volatile Ingredient and GC-MS Fingerprint of Bu-yang Huan-wu Decoction / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

This study was aimed to establish GC-MS fingerprint of Bu-yang Huan-wu (BYHW) decoction. The 5HP-MS quartz capillary column was used. The temperature program carrier gas was He. The velocity was 1.0 mL·min-1. The injection volume was 1 μL. The split ratio was 1:20. The MS conditions were electron impact (EI) ion source with the transmission line temperature at 280oC, ion source temperature at 230oC, and quadrupole temperature at 150oC. The mass scan range was m/z 50~550. And the results were contrasted with ChemStation and NIST 05a. The results showed that nine common peaks were obtained in the fingerprint of eleven batches of BYHW decoction by peaks matched with the Similarity Evaluation System for Chromatographic Fingerprint (2004 A Version). The similari-ty of fingerprints was calculated more than 0.93. It was concluded that fingerprinting can be used as a method of quality control and provide evidence for the research of volatile ingredient of BYHW decoction.

Combined therapy with methylprednisolone and ulinastatin in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Our previous study had demonstrated that ulinastatin (UTI) had a neuroprotective effect in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Methylprednisolone has been recommended to be a standard drug in multiple sclerosis (MS) therapies. The present study was to investigate the protective effects of UTI combined methylprednisolone in EAE.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Mice were divided into a UTI treatment group, a methylprednisolone treatment group, a combined treatment group with UTI and methylprednisolone, a normal saline treatment group, and a normal control group. EAE mice were induced in groups receiving different combined treatments, or respective monotherapies. Demyelination was evaluated by Solochrome cyanin staining. 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNP)/ myelin basic protein (MBP)/ the precursor form of nerve growth factor (proNGF)/p75/ inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) proteins in cerebral cortex of EAE were detected by Western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The combined treatment group had a lower clinical score (0.61 ± 0.06) and demyelinating score (1.33 ± 0.33) than the groups with normal saline (clinical score: 1.39 ± 0.08, P < 0.001; demyelinating score: 2.75 ± 0.49, P < 0.05) or monotheraphies. Compared with the saline treated EAE group, UTI combined methylprednisolone significantly increased expressions of CNP (1.14 ± 0.06 vs. 0.65 ± 0.04, P < 0.001), MBP (1.28 ± 0.14 vs. 0.44 ± 0.17, P < 0.001), and decreased expressions of proNGF (1.08 ± 0.10 vs. 2.32 ± 0.12, P < 0.001), p75 (1.13 ± 0.13 vs. 2.33 ± 0.17, P < 0.001), and iNOS (1.05 ± 0.31 vs. 2.17 ± 0.13, P < 0.001) proteins in EAE. Furthermore, UTI combined methylprednisolone could significantly upregulate MBP (1.28 ± 0.14 vs. 1.01 ± 0.15, P < 0.05) expression and downregulate iNOS (1.05 ± 0.31 vs. 1.35 ± 0.14, P < 0.05) expression compared to methylprednisolone treatment EAE group. And proNGF expression was significantly lower in combined treatment (1.08 ± 0.10) than that in UTI (1.51 ± 0.24, P < 0.05) or methylprednisolone (1.31 ± 0.04, P < 0.05) treatment group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Combination treatment of UTI with methylprednisolone was shown to protect EAE, suggesting that combination therapy is a potential novel treatment in MS.</p>

Proteomic study on serum of asymptomatic children with Wilson's disease / 中华神经医学杂志

[Objective]To search the serum specific biomarkers in asymptomatic patients with Wilson's disease (WD).[Methods]Twenty asymptomatic children with WD,admitted to our hospital from July 2006 to October 2011,and 13 healthy controls were chosen in our study;redundant proteins in the serum of these patients were dislodged by multiple affinity removal colunms (MARC);using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and auxiliary laser desorption matrix ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS),we compared the serum protein profiles;Western blotting was employed to detect the expression of differentially expressed proteins.[Results] Fourteen spots (5 up-regulated ones:spots 4-7 and spot 9,and 9 down-regulated ones:spots 1-3,spot 8 and spots 10-14) in WD patients were differentially expressed as compared with those in normal controls on 2-DE.Among them,spots 1 and 3,spot 8 and spot 11 were down-regulated in both male and female WD;and MS/MS analysis revealed that spot 2,sopts 1 and 3,and spot 1 1 were complement component C3,complement factor B and alpha-2 macroglobulin,respectively;Western blotting indicated that the expressions of complement component C3,complement factor B and alpha-2 macroglobulin in WD patients were decreased as compared with those in the controls.[Conclusion] Complement component C3,complement factor B and alpha-2 macroglobulin might turn out to be good candidates for novel diagnostic biomarkers for early stages of WD.

Relationship between levels of Annexin A1, lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 and Bax and human carotid atherosclerotic plaques / 中华神经医学杂志

Objective To investigate the correlation between levels of Annexin A1,Bax and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) and both formation and stability of human carotid atherosclerotic plaques.Methods Forty-five specimens from patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaques (test group,group A),admitted to our hospital from May 2010 to June 2011 and performed carotid endarterectomy (CEA),and 20 specimens from patients with mesenteric artery and 20 healthy subjects (control groups,group B and group C,respectively) were collected in our study.The carotid atherosclerotic plaque specimens were divided into soft plaque group A1 (n=15),mixed plaque group A2 (n=15) and hard plaque group A3 (n=15) according to the results of carotid artery ultrasound.The Lp-PLA2 level in group A and group C was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA),and the mRNA and protein expressions of Annexin A1 and Bax in group A and group B were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting.Results The level of Lp-PLA2 in all patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaques was significantly increased as compared with that in group C (P＜0.05); that in group A1 was significantly higher than that in group A3 (P＜0.05).The mRNA and protein expressions of Annexin A1 and Bax in all patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaques were significantly increased as compared with those in group B (P＜0.05); group A1 exhibited lower mRNA and protein expressions of Annexin A1 than group A3 (P＜0.05),while group A1 exhibited higher mRNA and protein expressions of Bax than group A3 (P＜0.05).Conclusion Annexin A1,Lp-PLA2 and Bax participate in the formation and stability of human carotid atherosclerotic plaques.

Reduced Ca2+ current in rat cardiomyocytes transfected with troponin I R145W mutation gene / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of cardiac troponin I R145W mutation, detected in Chinese patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, on Ca(2+) current modulation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>R146W mutation (resemble R145W in human) was introduced into rat cardiac troponin I cDNA by site-directed mutagenesis. With EGFP as a reporter gene, replication-defective adenovirus containing the wild or mutant cTnI gene was constructed. Adult rat cardiomyocytes, were isolated by Langendorff perfusion and cultured with serum-free medium and transduced with the recombinant adenoviruses. Western blot was used to determine the recombinant proteins. Whole cell patch clamp was employed to record L-type Ca(2+) currents on cultured myocytes. Intracellular free Ca(2+) and caffeine-induced sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca(2+) release were determined after the cells incubated with Fura-2/AM.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>DNA sequencing confirmed that R146W mutation was generated in rat cTnI cDNA. Bright green fluorescence was observed in the cultured cardiomyocytes at 48 h after transduction. The recombinant proteins could be identified with cTnI or GFP monoclonal antibody. The peak current of L-type Ca(2+) channel in cells transduced with cTnI R146W was significantly decreased compared to control cells and cells transfected with wild cTnI. Intracellular free Ca(2+) concentrations and caffeine-induced SR Ca(2+) release determined by Fura-2/AM were similar among various cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Reduced peak current of L-type Ca(2+) channel in cells transduced with cTnI R146W might contribute to the disease-causing mechanism of this mutation in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.</p>

Association between cardiac troponin I phosphorylation/degradation and cardiomyopathies / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association between cTnI phosphorylation/degradation and cardiomyopathies in extransplanted myocardium.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>cTnI phosphorylation and degradation as well as PKC (beta1, beta2) expressions were determined in extransplanted hearts from patients with cardiomyopathies (n = 8) and from traffic accidents (n = 6) by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cTnI bands were observed in LV myocardium of cardiomyopathy patients and normal myocardium while and cTnI degradation bands were only detected in LV myocardium from patients with cardiomyopathies. The phosphorylated cTnI bands were significantly upregulated in LV myocardium of cardiomyopathy patients compared to normal myocardium (P < 0.05). There was no myocardial PKCbeta1, PKCbeta2 expression in all examined hearts.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The cTnI degradation products and increased phosphorylated cTnI expression are likely involved in the pathogenesis and development of cardiomyopathy.</p>

COX-2 and mPGES-1 expression in carotid atherosclerotic plaques / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the changes in the expressions of inducible cyclooxygenase type 2 (COX-2) and membrane associated prostaglandin E-1(mPGES-1) in human carotid atherosclerotic plaques and to explore possible mechanisms of inflammatory process involved in plaque stability.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The mRNA and protein levels of COX-2 and mPGES-1 were compared between minimally and grossly atherosclerotic arterial tissues. COX-2 and mPGES-1 gene expression were established by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 10 mesenchymal artery controls and 24 atherosclerotic specimens. Presence of COX-2 and mPGES-1 protein was assessed by Western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Immunohistochemical staining showed that the COX-2 and mPGES-1 immunoreactive substances were present in the cytoplasm of smooth muscle cell. Compared with the control group, immunostaining positive cells increased in carotid atherosclerotic plaque group. COX-2 and mPGES-1 gene expression was significantly elevated in atherosclerotic plaques (P< 0.05, respectively). The increased mRNA and protein levels of COX-2 and mPGES-1 were correlated in atherosclerotic tissue (P< 0.05). The mRNA and protein levels of COX-2 and mPGES-1 related to degree of pathological damage in atherosclerotic tissue (P< 0.05). COX-2 and mPGES-1 were not found in the control group (mesenteric vascular walls).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>COX-2 and mPGES-1 expression in plaques is significantly higher than that in the control group. These findings suggests that COX-2 and mPGES-1 might play a role in pathogenesis of atheroscleros and modulation of inflammatory process involved in plaque stability, and COX-2 may have proinflammatory enzyme properties.</p>

Assessment of cardiac structure and function by echocardiographic values for male Balb/c mice / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>AIM</b>To assess the parameters of cardiac structure and function of male Balb/c mice by the echocardiography.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 27 male Balb/c mice (from five to seven week old) were examined with a 13-MHz transthoracic linear-array transducer, hearts were removed from mice anesthetized with Nembutal, and the left ventricular (LV) mass were weighed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Complete 2-dimensional echocardiography for cardiac structure and function were obtained. Hemodynamic parameters were recorded. A correlation existed between LV weight (x) and echocardiographic LV mass (y) with the 2D) guided M-mode method: y = 1.15x + 3.26, (r = 0.80).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Echocardiography appears to be a promising approach for noninvasively assessing LV mass and function in mice.</p>

Lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase gene 608C/T polymorphism associated with atherosclerotic cerebral infarction / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the distribution of lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase gene (LCAT) 608C/T polymorphism in Chinese Han population and the relationship of the polymorphism association with the occurrence of atherosclerotic cerebral infarction.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase gene 608C/T polymorphism is identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP)and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) in 150 patients with ACI and 122 healthy controls matching age and sex.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The distribution of LCAT 608C/T gene polymorphism was in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The CT genotype frequency (14.0%) and T allele frequency (7.0%) in ACI group were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.05). The concentration of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in 608CC subgroups were significantly higher than those in 608CT subgroups both in ACI group and in control group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The LCAT 608C/T polymorphism is possibly a predisposing factor in ACI happening of Chinese Han population. T allele frequency is possibly concerned with the metabolism of HDL-C.</p>

Expression of Metabolic Pattern Glutamic Acid Receptor in Hippocampus of Juvenile Rat Model of Epilepsy / 实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To investigate the changes and possible mechanisms of the expressions of metabolic pattern glutamic acid receptor 1(mGluR1) and mGluR3 in hippocampus of juvenile rats submitted to lithium chloride-pilocarpine induced model of epilepsy in 6 h,5 d,60 d after status epilepticus(SE) onset.Methods Seizures were induced in the juvenile rats with lithium and pilocarpine injected intraperito-neally,and behavioral changes and EEG were observed.Eighteen SD juvenile rats with SE were randomly divided into following groups: groupⅠ,in which the rats were killed at 6 h after SE onset(6 h SE),group Ⅱ,in which the animals were killed during the seizure-free period(5 days after SE onset),and group Ⅲ,in which the animals were killed in 60 days after SE induction(period of spontaneous recurrent seizures).And intraperitoneal injection of saline water control groups were divided into: groupⅠa,group Ⅱa and group Ⅲa.The hippocampus tissues after the rats were put to death were collected,the expressions of mGluR1 and mGluR3 mRNA were detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) in the hippocampus of juvenile rats.Results EEG of rats in group Ⅰ were abnormal,but normal in groupⅡ,and 5(83%) cases of the juvenile rats in group Ⅲ manifested dissemination of sharp waves,spikes or spike wave.The saline control group did not spontaneously attack.There was more significant upregulation of mGluR1 mRNA expression(Pa0.05).The expressional levels of mGluR3 mRNA were upregulated in groupⅠ,group Ⅱ and group Ⅲ(Pa

Relation between ABCA1 expression and carotid atherosclerotic plaques / 中华神经科杂志

Objective To investigate the changes of the expressions of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1(ABCA1)and the retinoid X receptor(RXR?in human carotid atherosclerotic plaques and to explore the possible mechanisms by which ABCA1 affects the formation of carotid atherosclerosis(CAS). Methods 24 carotid atherosclerotic plaque and 10 intestinal artery specimens were respectively collected to compared the expression levels of ABCA1 mRNA.RXR?mRNA and those protein,ABCA1 and RXR?gene expressions were determined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)in the specimens,meanwhile the presence of ABCAI and RXRcprotein was assessed by Western blot.Results ABCA1(0.79?0.04)and RXR?(0.73?0.04)gene expression were significantly elevated in carotid atherosclerotic plaques(P