Opioid μ receptors mediate the stress-induced spatial reference memory impairment / 生理学报

Learning/memory impairment is one of the most serious problems induced by stress, and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Opiates and opioid receptors are implicated in multiple physiological functions including learning and memory. However, there is no clear evidence whether the endogenous opioid system is involved in the formation of the stress-induced spatial reference memory impairment. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of μ opioid receptor in the stress-induced spatial reference memory impairment by means of Morris water maze (MWM) test in a mouse elevated platform stress model. The mice were trained in the MWM for four trials a session for 4 consecutive days after receiving the elevated platform stress, and intracerebroventricular injection of μ opioid receptor agonist DAMGO, antagonist CTAP or saline. Retention of the spatial training was assessed 24 h after the last training session with a 60-s free-swim probe trial using a new starting position. The results showed that intracerebroventricular injection of μ opioid receptor agonist DAMGO but not antagonist CTAP before MWM training impaired the memory retrieval of mice. Elevated platform stress before MWM training also impaired memory retrieval, which could be reversed by pre-injection of CTAP, and aggravated by DAMGO. These results suggest that endogenous opioid system may play a crucial role in the formation of the stress-induced memory impairment.

Expression of EVEC in ovarian carcinoma and its biological significance / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of EVEC in ovarian carcinoma and explore its biological significance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expression of EVEC in 22 specimens of normal ovarian tissues and 63 specimens of ovarian cancers was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>RT-PCR showed that the expression level of EVEC in stage I-II ovarian cancer (0.199 ± 0.014) was significantly higher than that in stage III-IV ovarian cancer (0.155 ± 0.015, P < 0.05), and significantly lower than that in normal ovarian tissues (0.415 ± 0.055, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the expression levels of EVEC in primary sites and that in corresponding metastatic sites of ovarian cancer (P > 0.05). Furthermore, the results of Western blot also showed that the protein expression level of EVEC in stage I-II ovarian cancer was also significantly lower than that in normal ovarian tissues (0.179 ± 0.026 vs. 0.543 ± 0.032, P < 0.05), and higher than that in stage III-IV ovarian cancer (0.179 ± 0.026 vs. 0.115 ± 0.023, P < 0.05). The EVEC expression level in the epiploic metastasis of stage I-II ovarian cancer was significantly higher than that of stage III-IV ovarian cancer (0.201 ± 0.028 vs. 0.101 ± 0.037, P < 0.05). The expression of EVEC in ovarian carcinoma had no correlation with age, pathologic classification and histological grade (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>EVEC is closely related with carcinoma metastasis. The expression of EVEC in ovarian cancer and its metastatic sites was remarkably decreased. EVEC may play a negative role in the development and metastasis of ovarian cancer and may be a valuable marker in estimation of the prognosis for patients.</p>

Proteomic study of paclitaxel on human cervical carcinoma HCE1 / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the mechanism of paclitaxel on the protein expression of human cervical carcinoma cell line HCE1.@*METHODS@#The total proteins extracted from paclitaxel-treated HCE1 cells were analyzed by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE), and compared with those from untreated HCE1 cells. The differential proteins were identified by mass spectrometry. Western blot was used to determine the differential expression levels of the 2 proteins.@*RESULTS@#At 24 hour after paclitaxel (0.05 mumol/L) treatment, 2-DE images of paclitaxel-treated and paclitaxel-untreated cells were analyzed. Forty-two differential proteins were found. Twenty-one differential proteins among 42 proteins were analyzed by mass spectrometry, among which 15 proteins were identified, including peptidyl-prolylisomerases A (PPIase A),alpha-enolase,keratin 8,heat shock protein 90, eukaryotic translation initiation factor 1A, and so on.@*CONCLUSION@#Fifteen proteins in human cervical carcinoma cells paclitaxel-treated and paclitaxel-untreated are found by proteomic techniques. These proteins may be involved in the proliferation inhibition of human cervical carcinoma cells by paclitaxel.

Surgical pattern of radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection for patients with cervical cancer / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the probability of improving radical surgery to resect uterus thoroughly and to decrease various complications after the surgery.@*METHODS@#We compared the clinical effect of reformed radical hysterectomy for 79 patients with the effect of tradition radical hysterectomy for 60 patients. Reformed surgery had the following features: We firstly resected the uterus and then dissected the pelvic lymph node. Urinary bladder gap and rectum gap were opened. After exposing the route of ureter, we excised the uterus artery at the point between the ureter and the uterus artery. Cardinal ligament and uterosacral ligament were cut off by electric knives. The pelvic lymph node was dissected with a titanium pinch.@*RESULTS@#The average operation time and the time of keeping uterine pipe were shortened. Bleeding during the operation was reduced. No complication was observed. All patients were followed up for 11 to 20 months and no patient died. One patient recurred.@*CONCLUSION@#Reformed surgery can resect the uterus, dissect the pelvic lymph node thoroughly, and reduce various complications. The reformed surgery can not only ensure the curative effect, but also benefit patient's recovery and life quality.