Mini review: immunologic functions of dual oxidases in mucosal systems of vertebrates / Minirrevisão: funções imunológicas de oxidases duplas em sistemas mucosos de vertebrados

Abstract Mucosal epithelial cells act as the first immunologic barrier of organisms, and contact directly with pathogens. Therefore, hosts must have differential strategies to combat pathogens efficiently. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), as a kind of oxidizing agents, participates in the early stage of killing pathogens quickly. Recent reports have revealed that dual oxidase (DUOX) plays a key role in mucosal immunity. And the DUOX is a transmembrane protein which produces ROS as their primary enzymatic products. This process is an important pattern for eliminating pathogens. In this review, we highlight the DUOX immunologic functions in the respiratory and digestive tract of vertebrates.

Resumo As células epiteliais da mucosa atuam como a primeira barreira imunológica dos organismos e entram em contato direto com os patógenos. Portanto, os hospedeiros devem ter estratégias diferenciadas para combater os patógenos de forma eficiente. Trabalhos recentes revelaram que a oxidase dupla (DUOX) desempenha um papel fundamental para a imunidade da mucosa. A DUOX é uma proteína transmembrana geradora de espécies reativas de oxigênio (EROs) como seus principais produtos enzimáticos. Nesta revisão, apresentaremos as funções imunológicas da DUOX no trato respiratório e digestivo dos vertebrados.

Mini review: immunologic functions of dual oxidases in mucosal systems of vertebrates

Abstract Mucosal epithelial cells act as the first immunologic barrier of organisms, and contact directly with pathogens. Therefore, hosts must have differential strategies to combat pathogens efficiently. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), as a kind of oxidizing agents, participates in the early stage of killing pathogens quickly. Recent reports have revealed that dual oxidase (DUOX) plays a key role in mucosal immunity. And the DUOX is a transmembrane protein which produces ROS as their primary enzymatic products. This process is an important pattern for eliminating pathogens. In this review, we highlight the DUOX immunologic functions in the respiratory and digestive tract of vertebrates.

Resumo As células epiteliais da mucosa atuam como a primeira barreira imunológica dos organismos e entram em contato direto com os patógenos. Portanto, os hospedeiros devem ter estratégias diferenciadas para combater os patógenos de forma eficiente. Trabalhos recentes revelaram que a oxidase dupla (DUOX) desempenha um papel fundamental para a imunidade da mucosa. A DUOX é uma proteína transmembrana geradora de espécies reativas de oxigênio (EROs) como seus principais produtos enzimáticos. Nesta revisão, apresentaremos as funções imunológicas da DUOX no trato respiratório e digestivo dos vertebrados.

Differences of ventricular late potential between acute STEMI and NSTEMI patients / Diferencias del potencial tardío ventricular entre pacientes con infartos agudos STEMI y NSTEMI

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the positive rate of ventricular late potential (VLP) between patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and patients with acute non NSTEMI. METHODS: One hundred and sixty-three cases of acute myocardial infarction (90 patients with STEMI and 73 with NSTEMI), admitted to the first hospital of China Medical University between June 2011 and August 2011, underwent VLP examination. RESULTS: The VLP positive rate of the STEMI group was 54.4%, while that of the NSTEMI group was 38.4%, and the differences have statistical meaning (χ2 = 4.186, p < 0.05). The occurrence rate of ventricular arrhythmia in VLP positive patients was 11.7%, while in VLP negative patients it was 3.5% (χ2 = 4.005, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The VLP positive rate of the STEMI group is higher than that of the NSTEMI group.

OBJETIVO: Analizar la tasa positiva del potencial tardío ventricular (PTV) entre pacientes con infarto agudo del miocardio sin elevación del segmento ST (NSTEMI por sus siglas en inglés) y el infarto agudo del miocardio con elevación del segmento ST (STEMI por sus siglas en inglés). MÉTODOS: Ciento sesenta y tres casos de infarto agudo de miocardio (90pacientes con STEMI) y 73 con NSTEMI, ingresados en la Universidad primer hospital de Medicina China entre junio y agosto de 2011, fueron sometidos a examen de PTV. RESULTADOS: La tasa positiva PVT del grupo STEMI fue 54.4%, mientras que la del grupo NSTEMI fue 38.4%, y las diferencias tienen significado estadístico (χ² = 4.186, p < 0.05). La tasa de ocurrencia de arritmia ventricular en pacientes PVTpositivos fue 11.7%, mientras que en los pacientes PVT negativos fue 3.5% (χ² = 4.005, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIÓN: La tasa PTV positiva del grupo STEMI es mayor que la del grupo NSTEMI.

Apigenin inhibits cell migration through MAPK pathways in human bladder smooth muscle cells

Apigenin, a nonmutagenic flavonoid, has been shown to possess free radical scavenging activities, anticarcinogenic properties, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Recently, apigenin was reported to cause gastric relaxation in murine. To assess possible effects of apigenin on migration of bladder smooth muscle (SM) cell, we isolated SM cells from peri-cancer tissue of human bladder and established a cell model that was capable to overexpress transiently MEKK1 (MEK kinase 1). Results showed that overexpression of active human MEKK1 by adenoviruses infection induced migration of human bladder smooth muscle (hBSM) cells and phosphorylation of MAPKs, ERK, JNK and p38, which are the downstream molecules of MEKK1. Then, hBSM cell overexpressing MEKK1 were exposed to apigenin (50 microM). Our data indicated that apigenin inhibited significantly activation/phosphorylation of MAPKs and migration of hBSM cells induced by MEKK1 overexpression. Besides, apigenin inhibited actin polymerization, which underlines muscle contraction and cell migration. The results suggest that apigenin inhibits activation of MAPKs and thereby the cell migration. The mechanism might be that apigenin blocks signal transmission from MEKK1 to MAPKs.

The application of C12 biochip in the diagnosis and monitoring of colorectal cancer: systematic evaluation and suggestion for improvement.

BACKGROUND: The 12 tumor markers' (TMs) biochip diagnostic (C12) system has been proven useful in some previous studies but its value for colorectal cancer (CRC) only was not systematically investigated. AIMS: To evaluate the value of C12 system for CRC. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The associations between TMs and clinicopathological characteristics were evaluated. The most relevant TMs, the most useful combinations, and the correlations between TM levels were assessed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The TMs detected by the C12 system in the sera of 170 pathologically confirmed CRC patients were analyzed. One or more TMs higher than or equal to reference value were defined as positive. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Chi-square test, Spearman rank correlation test and Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used for the analysis. RESULTS: The overall positive rate was 41.76%, and was low in stage 0-I (12.90%). Carcinoembryonic cantigen (CEA) had the highest positive rate of 36.47%. The positive rates were significantly correlated to clinical stages and lymph node status, but not to age, sex, tumor location and pathological types. Any combinations of the five highest positive TMs did not have significantly improvements. The levels of three most related TMs (CEA, CA19-9, CA242) of CRC had positive correlation with each other. CA242 and beta-HCG levels were associated with lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: C12 system has some value in advanced CRC, but not in early CRC.

Acetylcholine receptor antibody in patients with myasthenia gravis.

The determination of acetylcholine receptor antibody (AChR Ab) titer by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in patients with myasthenia gravis was introduced. The optimal conditions were determined by chequerboard determination. The specificity was confirmed by inhibition tests. The sensitivity is 9 p mole. The comparison of AChR Ab titers among 49 myasthenic patients, 19 non-myasthenic neurological patients and 20 healthy blood donors has shown that it is a highly sensitive, specific, reproducible, rapid, simple and inexpensive method for determining AChR Ab and that it is highly valuable for the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis.