Inducible co-stimulatory molecules participate in mesenteric vascular endothelial-mesenchymal transition and sclerosis of mesenteric vessels in spontaneously hypertensive rats / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the correlation of inducible co-stimulatory molecules (ICOS) with mesenteric vascular endothelial- mesenchymal transition (EndMT) and sclerosis in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).@*METHODS@#Twenty 4-week-old WKY rats and 20 SHRs of the same strain were both randomly divided into 4 groups for observation at 4, 6, 10 and 30 weeks of age. ICOS expression frequency in rat spleen CD4+T cells was analyzed using flow cytometry, and the expressions of ICOS, VE-cad, α-SMA and Col3 mRNA in rat mesentery were detected by RT-PCR. The distributions of ICOS, IL-17A and TGF-β in rat mesentery were detected by immunohistochemistry. The levels of IL-17A and TGF-β in rat plasma were measured using ELISA. The morphological changes of rat mesenteric vessels were observed with Masson staining. Spearman or Pearson correlation analyses were used to evaluate the correlation between ICOS expression and the expressions of the markers of vascular EndMT and sclerosis.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the control WKY rats, the SHRs began to show significantly increased systolic blood pressure and ICOS expression frequency on CD4+T cells at 6 weeks of age (P < 0.05). In the SHRs, the mRNA and protein expressions of ICOS, α-SMA, Col3, IL-17A and TGF-β in the mesentery were significantly higher than those in control group (P < 0.05), while the mRNA and protein expressions of VE-cad started to reduce significantly at 10 weeks of age (P < 0.05). The plasma levels of IL-17A and TGF-β were significantly increased in SHRs since 6 weeks of age (P < 0.05) with progressive worsening of mesenteric vascular sclerosis (P < 0.05). ICOS mRNA and protein expression levels in the mesenteric tissues of SHRs began to show positive correlations with α-SMA and Col3 expression levels and the severity of vascular sclerosis at 6 weeks of age (P < 0.05) and a negative correlation with VE-cad expression level at 10 weeks (P < 0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#ICOS play an important pathogenic role in EndMT and sclerosis of mesenteric vessels in essential hypertension by mediating related immune responses.

Interleukin-17A is closely correlated with the progression of renal epithelial-mesenchymal transition in spontaneously hypertensive rats / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the role of interleukin-17A (IL-17A) in renal epithelial- mesenchymal transition (EMT) in essential hypertensive nephropathy.@*METHODS@#Four-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats (control group) were both randomized into 4 groups (n=5) for observation at 4, 6, 10 and 30 weeks of age. Blood pressure of the rats was monitored using a noninvasive tail artery blood pressure measurement instrument. The percentage of Th17 cells in the splenocytes was analyzed using flow cytometry. The mRNA and protein expression levels of IL-17A, iNOS, Arg-1, E-cadherin, and α-SMA in the kidneys of the rats were detected using RT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining, respectively, and plasma levels of IL-17A were regularly detected using ELISA.@*RESULTS@#At the age of 6 weeks, the SHRs began to show significantly higher blood pressure with greater Th17 cell percentage in the splenocytes and high renal expression and plasma level of IL-17A than WKY rats (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). At 30 weeks, renal expression of E-cadherin mRNA and protein was significantly lower and the expression of Arg-1 mRNA and protein was significantly higher in SHR than in WKY rats (P < 0.01). Compared with the WKY rats, the SHRs showed significantly higher mRNA and protein expressions of iNOS at 6 and 10 weeks (P < 0.05 or 0.01) and higher α-SMA mRNA and protein expressions since 10 weeks of age (P < 0.05 or 0.01). In SHRs older than 10 weeks, renal IL-17A mRNA and protein expression levels were negatively correlated with those of E-cadherin (r=-0.731, P < 0.05; r=-0.827, P < 0.01) and positively correlated with those of α-SMA (r=0.658, P < 0.05; r=0.968, P < 0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#IL-17A is closely correlated with the progression of renal EMT in SHR and plays its role possibly by mediating M1/M2 polarization of renal infiltrating macrophages.

Training model construction and education reform exploration of eight-year medical education / 上海第二医科大学学报

Objective To construct and implement the training model of eight-year medical education with characteristics of Shanghai Jiaotong University. Methods Based on survey,discussion and consultation,the experiences of long schooling medical education in Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine were summarized.Training plan and education reform scheme were established. Results Training objective,guideline and major reform measures had been clarified.The training plan and reform scheme were under process of implementation. Conclusion The training objective of eight-year medical education should be further confirmed.The curriculum should be in accordance with the training objective,and education reform is important and necessary for the eight-year medical education.

Establishment of a new model of medical humanity education / 上海第二医科大学学报

Objective To explore a new model of medical humanity education in new situation. Methods Extensive survey was carried out among medical students,and discussion and consultation were hold to faculty and education administers.A new teaching model was established. Results A curriculum system with 1 or 2 core courses supported by some elective courses and social practice is under the process of implementation and achieved preliminary success.Conclusion The medical humanity education should pay attention to the development of connotation instead of pursuing the extension of quantity blindly,which means that students' school work must be eased by focusing on self-study and self-education.Medical students'life path with high-minded personality training should be strengthened.

The effect of LPC on the pacemaker current I(f) in ischemic myocardium and the influence of ISO on it / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>AIM</b>To observe the effect of LPC on the pacemaker current I(f) in ischemic myocardium and if the effect could be reversed by ISO.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>By using two microelectrode voltage clamp technique to measure and compare the amplitude of I(f) of ischemic myocardium in the presence of LPC and LPC add ISO.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Ischemia decreased the amplitude of I(f) at all membrane potential levels. Adding LPC 2 x 10(-5) mol/L to the ischemia-like solution, the amplitude of I(f) decreased further (n = 5, P < 0.05), it means that LPC aggravated the inhibitory effect of "ischemia" on the pacemaker activity. Adding LPC 2 x 10(-5) mol/L and ISO 1 x 10(-6) mol/L together to the ischemia-like solution, the amplitude of I(f) increased significantly at membrane potential -90 mV to - 120 mV (n = 8, P < 0.05) compared with ischemia condition, but still did not reach the levels before ischemia.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In acute myocardial ischemia condition, toxic metabolite LPC accentuated its inhibitory effect on pacemaker current I(f), a local release and accumulation of catecholamine could not completely reverse their inhibitory effect.</p>