Robust humoral and cellular immune responses induced by novel DNA vaccine against West Nile virusin in mice / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

Objective:To evaluate the immunological efficacy of a novel DNA vaccine against West Nile virus (WNV) in a mouse model.Methods:A DNA vaccine VRC-prME expressing the precursor membrane (prM) and envelope protein (E) of WNV Xinjiang strain (XJ11129-3) was constructed and its ability to express virus-like particles was verified in vitro. C57BL/6 mice were immunized twice with VRC-prME via intramuscular injection combined with electroporation with an interval of four weeks. Enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) was used to detect serum antibodies after immunization. WNV (NY99 strain) single-round infectious particles were used to detect neutralizing antibodies. Cellular immune responses were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunoblot assay (ELISPOT) and intracellular cytokine staining (ICS). Results:VRC-prME induced a strong Th1-biased antibody response in mice that could cross-neutralize the WNV (NY99 strain) single-round infectious particles two weeks after the boost immunization. Moreover, the vaccine also elicited antigen-specific multifunctional CD8 + T cell responses (IFN-γ, IL-2, TNF-α). Conclusions:The novel DNA vaccine prepared in this study, expressing the prME protein of WNV XJ11129-3 strain, could induce stronger humoral and cellular immune responses in mice, which was worthy of further research and development for the prevention of WNV infection in China.

Paeoniflorin inhibits functional responses of rat cerebellar Purkinje cells to acute hypoxia insult / 中国病理生理杂志

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the effects of paeoniflorin ( Pae) on the functional responses induced by acute hypoxic insult in the rat cerebellar Purkinje cells ( PCs) .METHODS:The whole-cell patch clamp was used for the intra-cellular recording of PCs in the rat cerebellar slices to evaluate the changes of membrane potential, the excitability of PCs, and the parallel fibre ( PF)-PC excitatory postsynaptic currents ( EPSCs) upon acute hypoxic insult alone or with the pre-sence of Pae.RESULTS:PCs showed an initial hyperpolarization followed by brief depolarization and long lasting post-hy-poxia hyperpolarization after hypoxia exposure.Pae completely blocked hypoxia-induced hyperpolarization and decreased the amplitude and the duration of hypoxic depolarization.Hypoxia up-regulated the excitability of rat PCs.Pae didn’t show any significant effect on the hypoxia-induced hyperexcitability in PCs.Acute hypoxia induced long-term depression ( LTD) in rat cerebellar PF-PC EPSCs, and Pae partially reversed hypoxia-induced depression in PF-PC EPSCs.CONCLUSION:Pae significantly suppresses hypoxia-induced responses in rat PCs and probably increases the tolerance of rat PCs to acute hypoxia.

Curcumin promoted the apoptosis of cisplain-resistant human lung carcinoma cells A549/DDP through down-regulating miR-186* / 中国肺癌杂志

<p><b>BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE</b>Curcumin, a natural compound, is derived from the rthizom of Curcuma longa. In vitro and in vivo preclinical studies have shown its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer activities and so on. miR-186*, which was found by microarray technology, was highly expressed in lung carcinoma cells A549/DDP. The aim of this study is to illustrate whether Curcumin could promote the apoptosis of A549/DDP cells through regulating the expression of miR-186*.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>An oligonucleotide microarray chip was used to profile microRNA (miRNA) expressions in A549/DDP cells treated with and without Curcumin. The significantly differentially expressed miRNA, which was selected from microarray chip, validated by quantitative real-time PCR. Ultimately, the remarkably expressed miRNA modulated the apoptosis assaying by flow cytometry expriments and the survival rate was measured by MTT method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The microarray chip results demonstrated: Curcumin altered the expression level of miRNAs compared with untreated control in A549/DDP cell line, miR-186* was significantly down-regulated after Curcumin treatment, which confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR. Down-regulation of miR-186* expression by curcumin elevated the apoptosis, and the survival rate of A549/DDP cells decreased; but up-regulation of miR-186* expression by transfection its mimics restrained the apoptosis, the survival rate of A549/DDP cells increased, which were assayed by flow cytometry expriments and MTT method.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Modulation of miRNAs expression may be an important mechanism underlying the biological roles of Curcumin.</p>

Retrospective analysis of 118 death cases with acute myocardial infarction / 中国综合临床

Objective To analyze causes of death and risk factors of acute myocardial infarction(AMI)、Methotis 118 AMI patients who died f selected from 1252 hospitalized patients with AMI from January 2003 to June 2008)were retrospectively enrolled for analysis of risk factors and death causes.Resuits The overall mortality of hospitalized patients with AMI was 9.42%(118/1252).The mortality rate in the males was 8.91%(84/943)while in the females was 11.00%(34/309)which was higher than the males but there was no statistical difieFence (P=0.2739).Mortality rate rose along with age and showed significant statistical difference(P＜0.0001)among different age group[＜40 yrs:6.45%(2/31),40～54:2.56%(6/234),55～64:5.11%(16/313),≥65:13.95%(94/674)].Pump failure occurred in 77 cases(65.25%)which was the main cause of death,cardiac arrest occurred in 21 cases(17.80%)and heart rupture in 13 cases(11.02%).There existed other causes of death including cerebral hemorrhage.digestive tract bleeding and pneumonia in 7 cases(5.93%).The mortality of patients with PCI was 4.24%(39/920)while23.80%(79/332)of those witbout PCI(P＜0.0001).Rate of cardiac rupture was 1.04%(13/1252),2.91%(9/309)in females and 0.42%(4/943)in males(P＜0.0001).The time was＜24 h(23.72%.28/118)when death occurred from onset,24 h～1 week(55.93%,66/118)and 1～4 week (20.34%,24/118).There was no statistical difference of mortality related to different infarction locations[antior 12.47%(59/473),anteroseptal 9.23%(12/130),inferior 6.73%(28/416),lateral 8.70%(4/46),ventricle postwall 5.97%(4/67),and ST-segmental elevated myocardial infarction 9.17%(11/120)(P=0.0852)].Conclusions There is a high mortality in aged patients with AMl with heart failure as the most common cause of death which usually occurs at early stage of AMI.The females have more cardiac ruptures than the males.PCI significantly decreases rates of mortality and cardiac rupture.Moreover.gender and location of AMI might be another important risk factor which affect mortality.

Clinical effects of lyophilize recombinant human brain natriuretie peptide in patients with refractory heart failure caused by coronary artery disease / 中国综合临床

Objective To examine the clinical effects of intravenous lyophilize recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide (rhBNP) in patients with refractory heart failure caused by coronary artery disease.Methods Seven patients with refractory heart failure caused by coronary artery disease were treated with rhBNP.The rhBNP nea grade,symptoms and signs,24 hours urine output,heart rate,blood pressure and central venous pressure were evaluated at 0,15,30 min and 1,2,4,8,12,24,and 48 h.Serum potassium,sodium,creatinine and plasma BNP before and after treatment were measured.Results After rhBNP therapy,dyspnea grade were improved in 5 patients.Symptoms and signs got better in 6 patients.Systolic blood pressure at 15 min of treatment distolic blood pressure was decreased slightly from (112.00±10.42) mm Hg to (105.14±7.76) mm Hg (P＜0.05) and became (108.71±6.63)mm Hg at 30 rain which was the same with that before treatment.There was no statistical significance in heart beat[ ( 88.57±16.92 ) vs.( 86.00±16.21 ) ] beat/min,serum sodium [ ( 133.57±5,38 ) mmol/Lvs.( 133.57±8.16) mmol/L ],serum potassium [ (3.83±0.37) mmol/L vs.(4.19±0.58 ) mmol/L ],ereatinine [ (93.11±27.90) μmol/L vs ( 123.01±93.01 ) μmol/L ] before and after treatment,and BNP[ ( 1218.43±847.83) vs.(1433.71±676.08)ng/L] before treatment and at24 h treatment,as well as urine output [(2329±1573 ) vs.(2126±1074) ml ] ( P ＞ 0.05 ).Urine output was increased during the treatment,but the usage of diuretic was remarkably decreased.Central venous pressure was gradually decreased from 30 rain to 48 h( P ＜ 0.05 ).Condusion rhBNP can decrease central venous pressure and increase urine output with exerts little side effects on electrolytes and renal function.Therefore rhBNP has positive clinical effects on refractory heart failure which is caused by coronary artery disease.

The difference of urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase and retinol binding protein before and after coronary angingraphy and their predictive values in contrast induced nephropaty / 中国综合临床

Objective To prospectively study the difference of urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase( UN-AG) and retinol binding protein(URBP) in contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). Methods The clinical data of 150 patients undergoing coronary angiography were documented. The urine and blood samples before,24 hours after and 48～72 hours after the procedure were collected;Serum creatinine (SCr) and urinary ereatinine (UCr)were tested by enzymic method. UNAG and URBP were tested by ELISA in CIN and control group. CIN was defined as an increase in SCr of ≥44 μmol/L or >25% from baseline 48 ～72 h after the procedure. 27 age- , sex- , results of coro-nary angiography-matched cases were taken as control group. Results CIN was diagnosed in 13 of 150 patients (8.7%). In CIN group, UNAG/UCr were significantly higher than that in control group[ 1.97 (1.06,2.64) U/mmol vs 1.07 (0, 68,1.88 ) U/mmol, Z = 2.076, P = 0.039 ] before ;24 hours after the procedure, UNAG/UCr was signifi-cantly up-regulated in CIN group from baseline level [ 2.82 ( 1.88 ,4.26) U/mmol vs 1.97 (1.06,2.64) U/mmol, Z =2.607,P =0. 009]. ROC curve analysis showed that baseline UNAG could be used as an early predictor for CIN, the AUC =0. 776 ,P =0.023 ;when cut off value = 8.08 U/L,the sensitivity and specificity of UNAG were 0. 771 and 0. 713 respectively. The percentage of patients of UNAG over 8.08 U/L in CIN group was significantly higher than that in control group[77.1% (10/13) vs 29.6% (8/27) ,Z =2. 564,P =0. 011 ] ,the related risk factor is 5.58,95% CI was 1.24 ～ 25.08. Conclusion UNAG could be used as a predictor of CIN before the procedure and its postprocedure 24 h level maybe useful in early diagnosis after the procedure.

Expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin in renal tubulointerstitium in patients with kidney collateral stasis / 中西医结合学报

To investigate the expression of alpha-smooth muscle action (alpha-SMA) in the renal tubulointerstitium in patients with kidney collateral stasis.

Effects of total anthraquinone in rheum on aquaporin 2,4 expression in rat kindney / 中华肾脏病杂志

Objective To investigate the effects of total anthraquinone in rheum on aquaporin 2 and aquaporin 4 expression in rat kidney and explore its diuresis mechanism.Methods Thirty-two SD rats were randomly divided into control group,low dose group,medium dose group and high dose group.Total anthraquinone in rheum was administered to rats at different doses.Urinary volume of 24 h,Na+ concentration and osmolality were detected.Rats were sacrificed 5 days later.Blood samples were taken from the abdominal aorta to detect blood biochemical indicators. Kidneys of rats were removed to detect AQP2, AQP4 expression through immunohistochemistry,Western blot,and RT-PCR. Results Compared with control group,there were significantly increased 24 h urine output of rats in medium and high dose group[(16.21±1.96),(18.16±1.8) ml vs(13.85±1.25)ml,P＜0.05].24 h urine output in low-dose group did not change significantly.AQP2 protein and mRNA expression were significantly decreased in rats'kidneys of medium and high dose group (P＜0.01),The AQP4 protein and mRNA expression was significantly down-regulated in high dose group (P＜0.01).In medium does group,the AQP4 protein expression was down-regulated (P＜0.01),without significant decrease in the mRNA expression.Protein and mRNA expression of AQP2 and AQP4 did not significantly change in low dose group.Conclusion Total anthraquinone in rheum can reduce the expression level of AQP2 and AQP4 in rat kidney,which is probably one mechanism of diuresis caused by rheum.

Effects of Baobaole oral liquid on neuron excitability of feeding center in anorectic rats / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Baobaole oral liquid on neuronal excitability in lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) and ventromedial hypothalamic nuclear (VMN) in anorectic rats. METHODS: The anorectic rat model was established by feeding with special prepared forage for a week, and then Baobaole oral liquid, a liquid extract of a compound traditional Chinese medicine for activating spleen, was administered once a day for 3 weeks. Finally, extracellular recording from LHA and VMN neurons in rats were made in order to characterize their responses to gastric vagal nerve stimulation and intravenous injection of glucose in the normal, untreated, and Baobaole-treated groups. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in response characteristics of LHA neurons to gastric vagal stimulation among 3 groups. The duration of VMN neuron excitation response to gastric vagal nerve stimulation in the untreated group was significantly longer than that of the normal control group (P<0.01), while the required stimulation intensity was significantly decreased (P<0.01). Moreover, among the neurons responding to the gastric vagal stimulation in the untreated group, the number of glycemia-sensitive neurons decreased in LHA and increased in VMN (P<0.01). The gastric vagal stimulation induced neuron responses in LHA and VMN of the Baobaole-treated group were not significantly changed as compared with the normal control group (P<0.01), and neither were the intravenous injection of glucose induced responses. CONCLUSION: Baobaole oral liquid can modulate the sensitivity of LHA and VMN neurons to the peripheral signal and make the coordination between LHA and VMN neurons in order to improve the appetite of anorectic rats.