Tau-Induced Ca/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase-IV Activation Aggravates Nuclear Tau Hyperphosphorylation / 神经科学通报·英文版

Hyperphosphorylated tau is the major protein component of neurofibrillary tangles in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the mechanism underlying tau hyperphosphorylation is not fully understood. Here, we demonstrated that exogenously expressed wild-type human tau40 was detectable in the phosphorylated form at multiple AD-associated sites in cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions from HEK293 cells. Among these sites, tau phosphorylated at Thr205 and Ser214 was almost exclusively found in the nuclear fraction at the conditions used in the present study. With the intracellular tau accumulation, the Ca concentration was significantly increased in both cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions. Further studies using site-specific mutagenesis and pharmacological treatment demonstrated that phosphorylation of tau at Thr205 increased nuclear Ca concentration with a simultaneous increase in the phosphorylation of Ca/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV (CaMKIV) at Ser196. On the other hand, phosphorylation of tau at Ser214 did not significantly change the nuclear Ca/CaMKIV signaling. Finally, expressing calmodulin-binding protein-4 that disrupts formation of the Ca/calmodulin complex abolished the okadaic acid-induced tau hyperphosphorylation in the nuclear fraction. We conclude that the intracellular accumulation of phosphorylated tau, as detected in the brains of AD patients, can trigger nuclear Ca/CaMKIV signaling, which in turn aggravates tau hyperphosphorylation. Our findings provide new insights for tauopathies: hyperphosphorylation of intracellular tau and an increased Ca concentration may induce a self-perpetuating harmful loop to promote neurodegeneration.

Analysis on relationship between serum anti-desmoglein antibodies and disease in patients with pemphigus / 重庆医学

Objective To investigate the application value of ELISA for detecting the serum anti desmoglein (Dsg) 1 and Dsg 3 in the diagnosis and treatment of pemphigus .Methods Forty‐seven patients with pemphigus in our hospital from January to De‐cember 2014 were selected as the observation group and contemporaneous 52 patients with excluding pemphigus were selected as the control group .The Dsg antibodies were detected by using indirect immunofluorescence method and Dsg 1 and Dsg3 were deter‐mined by ELISA ;their correlation with pemphigus characteristics was analyzed .Results The sensitivity and specificity of ELISA for detecting anti‐Dsg antibodies were 95 .74% and 92 .31% respectively ,while which of IIF were 93 .62% and 86 .54% respective‐ly ,showing no statistically significant difference between the two test methods (P>0 .05) .In 30 cases of pemphigus vulgaris ,16 ca‐ses (16/30) were positive Dsg1 and Dsg 3 ,8 cases of pemphigus erythematosus and 5 cases pemphigus foliaceus were positive Dsg1 only ,and 2 cases of pemphigus vegetans were both positive Dsgl and Dsg3 .The Dsgl and Dsg3 titers of pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus vegetans were 130 .85 ± 86 and 112 .30 ± 85 .05 ,respectively ,and the disease activity score was (5 .10 ± 1 .86) points ,the correlation coefficient(r)=0 .476(P=0 .008) ,r=0 .816(P=0 .001) ,respectively .The Dsgl titer of pemphigus erythematosus and pemphigus foliaceus were 142 .59 ± 78 .52 ,and the disease activity score was (2 .77 ± 0 .92) points(r=0 .800 ,P=0 .001) .Conclu‐sion ELISA for detecting Dsg1 and Dsg3 has high sensitivity and specificity ,and is conducive to the diagnosis of pemphigus and e‐valuation of disease severity .

A multicenter study of fracture in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in China / 中华风湿病学杂志

ObjectiveTo examine the clinical features of fractures and related risk factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA) in China.MethodsSix hundred and eighty-one RA patients were randomly selected from department of rheumatology of 18 hospitals of China.Data were obtained from the questionnaire,including age,sex,disease duration,the involvement of joints,treatment regimen,features of fractures etc.The possible risk factors of fracture in patients with RA were analyzed with a multi-variate Logistic regression analysis.Results① In 681 RA patients of the survey,48 patients had 54 fractures,and the incidence of fractures was about 8％.② Fractures occurred at various sites.Foot/ankle,femur,spine and wrist were the mostfrequent sites.③ The Logistic regression analysis showed that several factors increased the risk of fracture in RA patients,including long disease duration (OR:1.245,95％CI:0.987-1.570,P=0.065),male gender(OR:0.433,95％CI:0.199-0.942,P=0.035),more deformed joints(OR:1.042,95％CI:1.006-1.079,P=0.023),family history of RA (OR:2.201,95％CI:0.984-4.923,P=0.055),and high scores of SF-36(OR:1.017,95％CI:1.002-1.033,P=0.028).④ According to the degree of correlation from strong to weak,the risk factors of fracture were disease duration,SF-36,sex,number of deformed joints and family history of rheumatoid arthritis.ConclusionThe incidence of fracture is high in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Several factors could increase the risk of fractures in RA patients,including long disease duration,male gender,more deformed joints,and family history of RA.In order to prevent the occurrence of fractures,cautions should be taken to prevent the development of fractures and treat the disease aggressively to suppress the disease activity of RA.

A multicenter study of costs of drugs in rheumatoid arthritis in China / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective To describe the distribution of medication costs of rheumatoid arthritis patients, and to analyze the factors that may affect the costs. Methods Data were obtained from a 12-month retrospective investigation of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) across China. Department of Rheuma-tology of 18 hospitals were randomly selected. The data about their social conditions, clinical conditions, medications associated with RA such as disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), non -steroidal anti -inflammtory drugs (NSAIDs), steroids, biologic agents were collected, and the costs of drugs were calculated. A non-parameter test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed. Results Six hundred and forty six patients were enrolled into the study, 435 completed data were chosen for analysis. The results demonstrated that the average costs per patient for medications in the past year was 8018 . The total medication costs were further subdivided into the following parts: DMARDs, (represented 20% of the total costs), biologic drugs (49%), NSAIDs (4%), herbal drugs (22%), steroids (1%). Data analysis showed that patients with higher education and higher incomes, with medical insurance,better health function status and outpatients paid more on DMARDs. Extra-articular manifestations increased the odds of the high-cost group (OR: 2.180, 95%CI: 1.335～3.558, P=0.002), while poor health function status increased the probability of paying high costs (OR: 1.373, 95%CI: 1.012～1.863, P=0.041). Conclusion High medication costs in RA do exist in RA patients. The costs of medication is associated with health function status and the presence of extra-articular manifestations.

Relationship between atrial fibroblast proliferation/fibrosis and atrial fibrillation in patients with rheumatic heart disease / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association between gene expressions of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), smooth muscle alpha-actin (alpha-SMA) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and atrial fibrosis in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The right atrial tissue samples were taken from 75 patients with rheumatic heart disease underwent heart valve replacement surgery (34 patients with sinus rhythm, 11 patients with paroxysmal AF and 30 patients with persistent AF) and stained with picrosirius red for quantitative analysis of collagen accumulation. The mRNA and protein levels of bFGF, alpha-SMA and PCNA were detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical technique, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The percent volume fraction of collagen (CVF) was the highest in persistent AF group and the lowest in the sinus rhythm group (all P < 0.01). CVF significantly correlated with AF duration (r = 0.390, P = 0.010) and left atria (LA) dimension (r = 0.320, P = 0.005). The mRNA and protein levels of bFGF, alpha-SMA and PCNA were significantly higher in the persistent AF group than those in the paroxysmal AF group (all P < 0.05) and significantly higher in both AF groups than those in the sinus rhythm group (P < 0.05-0.01). The mRNA and protein levels of bFGF were positively correlated with CVF (r = 0.330, P = 0.004 and r = 0.292, P = 0.013, respectively), AF duration (r = 0.330, P = 0.005 and r = 0.299, P = 0.010, respectively) and left atrial dimension (r = 0.342, P = 0.003 and r = 0.285, P = 0.015, respectively).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The increased gene expressions of bFGF, alpha-SMA and PCNA in atrium during AF may contribute to atrial fibrosis by promoting fibroblast proliferation in AF patients.</p>

The clinical observation and nursing about therapy of chronic eczema with point-mounting method / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective To investigate the therapy of chronic eczema patient by mounting method withshen que point,and its effect to relieve itch fast and increase the comfort and contentment of patients.Meth-otis 68 caiges of chronic eczema were randomly enrolled into the experimental gttmp(38 cases)and the controlgroup(30 cases).The experimental group added mounting method with shen ClUe point to normal therapy in-observed the beginning time of itch remission and the therapeutic effect of two groups after 14 days.ResultsCompared with the control group,We found that itch remission in the experimental group wok effect earlier thanthat of the control group,P<0.05.and the therapeutic effect in the experimental group wag significantly differ-ent from that ofthe control group after 14 days.P<0.05.Conclusions The mounting method with sben quepoint can relieve pruritus of patients with chrunie eczema effectively and promote therapeutic effect.

Pre-treatment with melatonin inhibits oleic acid-induced acute lung injury in rats / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM:To assess the protective role of melatonin(MEL)in a rat model of oleic-induced acute lung injury.METHODS:Twenty-four rats were randomly allocated to three groups as follows:saline(NS)injection group,oleic acid(OA)injection group and MEL plus OA injection group,the lavage protein,lung wet-to-dry weight ratio,malondialdehyde(MDA)content,superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity and lung histopathology were examined.RESULTS:(1)Injection 0.15 mL/kg of OA led to a severe acute lung injury(ALI),characterized by significantly increasing in lavage protein,lung coefficient(P＜0.01),and by histopathological alterations which presented hemorrhage,edema.thickened alveolar septum and the existence of inflammatory cells in alveolar spaces;(2)Infusion of MEL(20 mg/kg,intraperitoneally for 60 min before the oleic acid)markedly alleviated above-mentioned symptom induced by OA,consistent with decrease of MDA level(P＜0.01) and the increase of SOD activty(P＜0.01).CONCLUSION:Pre-treatment with MEL can attenuate the OA -induced ALI in rats via cleaning and preventing the formation of free radicals and further lessening the increase of alveolocapillary membrane permeability,these data suggest that MEL may be effective in the prevention of ALI.

Changes in gelatinases expression and activity in human atria during atrial fibrillation / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine whether expression and activity of atrial gelatinases are altered in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The right atrial tissue samples were taken from 75 patients with rheumatic heart disease who underwent heart valve replacement surgery. 34 patients were in sinus rhythm, 11 patients had paroxysmal AF and 30 patients had persistent AF. The mRNA and protein level of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, TIMP-2 were measured by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western-blotting analysis respectively. The activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was measured by zymographic analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The mRNA level of MMP-2 increased significantly in the persistent AF group followed by the paroxysmal AF group compared with the sinus rhythm group (P < 0.01, respectively). MMP-9 mRNA expression remained compatible within groups (P > 0.05). MMP-2 and MMP-9 protein expression was prominent in the persistent AF group compared with the sinus rhythm and paroxysmal AF groups (P < 0.01), the significant difference was also observed between the paroxysmal AF and sinus groups (P < 0.05). (2) TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 expression at mRNA and protein level were all down-regulated in the persistent AF group compared with the sinus rhythm group (P < 0.05), however, the trends of reduction did not reach statistical significance in the paroxysmal AF group (P > 0.05) except that of the mRNA level of TIMP-2 (P < 0.05). (3) The activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 significantly increased in both paroxysmal AF and persistent AF groups compared with the sinus rhythm group (P < 0.05). The significant difference in MMP-9 was also observed between the persistent AF and paroxysmal AF groups (P < 0.01). (4) MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression at mRNA and protein level were positively correlated with left atrial dimension and AF duration (P < 0.05) and were negatively correlated with the mRNA and protein level of TIMP-2 and TIMP-1 respectively (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The upregulation of MMP-2,9 gene expression and activity, along with the selective downregulation of TIMP-1,2 may have contributed to the atrial structural remodeling during AF through influencing collagen metabolism.</p>

Clinical on molecular basis of atrial fibrosis in patients with atrial fibrillation investigation / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the molecular mechanisms involved in atrial fibrosis which occurs in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and to investigate their effects on the initiation and maintenance of AF.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The right atrial tissue samples were taken from 73 patients with rheumatic heart disease who underwent heart valve replacement surgery. 34 patients had no history of AF (sinus rhythm group), 9 patients had paroxysmal AF and 30 patients had persistent AF. The mRNA content of collagen type I, collagen type III, MMP-2, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, TIMP-3 and TIMP-4 was measured by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and normalized to beta-actin or GAPDH.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared to sinus rhythm group, the mRNA of collagen type I and MMP-2 increased significantly in the persistent AF group (all, P < 0.01), followed by the paroxysmal AF group (all, P < 0.05). The mRNA of collagen type III was slightly higher in both AF groups than in the sinus rhythm group, but the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The mRNA of TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and TIMP-3 was down-regulated in the persistent AF group (all, P < 0.01, respectively), however, the trends of reduction did not reach statistical significance in the paroxysmal AF group (P > 0.05). The mRNA of TIMP-4 remained compatible in each group. The mRNA of collagen type I was significantly correlated with left atrial dimension (r = 0.336, P = 0.004) and AF duration (r = 0.339, P = 0.003). The mRNA of MMP-2 was significantly correlated with the mRNA of TIMP-2 (r = -0.326, P = 0.006), the mRNA of collagen type I (r = 0.322, P = 0.006), left atrial dimension (r = 0.300, P = 0.011) and AF duration (r = 0.300, P = 0.010).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The increased level of collagen type I associated with selective downregulation of TIMP-2 and upregulation of MMP-2 gene expression in atrium could be one of the molecular mechanisms of atrial fibrosis during atrial fibrillation, which correlates with the initiation and maintenance of AF.</p>

Hypoxia Down-regulates Secretion of MMP-2, MMP-9 in Porcine Pulmonary Artery Endothelial and Smooth Muscle Cells and the Role of HIF-1 / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Primary cell culture, techniques of gene transfection, gelatin zymography, and Western blot were used to investigate the effect of hypoxia on the secretion of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAEC) and smooth muscle cells (PASMC), and the role of HIF-1. Our results showed that (1) after exposure to hypoxia for 24 h, the protein content and activity of MMP-2 in the PAEC medium as well as these of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in PASMC medium (P<0.01) decreased significantly in contrast to those in normoxic group (P<0.05); (2) after transfection of wild type EPO3'-enhancer, a HIF-1 decoy, the content and activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in hypoxic mediums became higher than those in normoxic group (P<0.01), while transfection of mutant EPO3'-enhancer didn't affect the hypoxia-induced down-regulation. It is concluded that hypoxia could inhibit the secretion and activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in PAEC and PASMC, which could be mitigated by the transfection of EPO3'-enhancer and that HIF-1 pathway might contribute to hypoxia-induced down-regulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9.

Proliferation of cultured skin fibroblast after low intensity pulsed ultrasound exposure / 重庆医科大学学报

Objective:To observe the effects of different low intensity pulsed ultrasound(LIPUS) on proliferation of fibroblast and to screen out the optimum parameters of LIPUS.Methods:LIPUS of different frequency(1?1.2?1.7MHz)and different intensity was used to stimulate the cultured human fibroblast cells for 5 min,10 min,20 min and 30min,respectively,and examination of cell proliferation by MTT after 24h.Results:①Optical absorption value of cell activity in MTT assay increased significantly in the cell culture with LIPUS of different frequency(1?1.2?1.7MHz) and four intensity of each frequency treatment for 5,10 minutes,as compared with the control group(P

Effect of chronic cigarette smoking on BK_(Ca) and Kv1.5 expression in rat pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM:To investigate the role of potassium channel expression alteration in chronic cigarette smoking-induced increase in pulmonary vascular responsiveness,the effect of chronic cigarette smoking on large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channel(BKCa) and voltage-dependent delayed rectifier potassium channel(Kv1.5) expression in rat pulmonary smooth muscle cells were investigated in vivo.METHODS: HE staining,immuno-histochemistry and in situ hybridization techniques were used.RESULTS:(1) Chronic cigarette smoking downregulates the protein and mRNA expression of BKCa in pulmonary arterial smooth muscles.(2) Chronic cigarette smoking downregulated the protein and mRNA expression of Kv1.5 in pulmonary arterial smooth muscles.(3) In big artery,BKCa decreased more makedly than Kv1.5,but in small artery,both of them decreased equally.CONCLUSION: Chronic cigarette smoking downregulates the levels of BKCa and Kv1.5 in rat pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells in vivo,which maybe contribute to the mechanism of cigarette smoking-induced increase in pulmonary vascular responsiveness.