The protective effect of nitronyl nitroxide radical on peroxidation of A549 cell damaged by iron overload.

Particulate pollution in the air has strong links with increased morbidity of cardiopulmonary diseases. Iron is one of the major carcinogens in air pollution and can produce hydroxyl radical which induce oxidative stress, lead to cell damage and even to cancer. In this work, a novel nitronyl nitroxide radical NITPh(OMe)2 (2-(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl) -4,4,5,5- tetramethylimidazoline- 1- oxyl-3- oxide) was prepared and characterized by electron spin-resonance spectroscopy (ESR), X-ray crystal diffraction, Fourier transform infrared (IR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), elemental analysis, ultraviolet and visible spectra (UV-Vis), and the electronic transition processes was also calculated by time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) to analysis UV-Vis spectrum. In vitro cell model of oxidative damage was established by ferric ammonium citrate (FAC) overload, and NITPh(OMe)2 was studied as a free radical scavenger to protect peroxidation of A549 cells. Results showed that NITPh(OMe)2 could significantly alleviate the damage of A549 cells by iron overload in cell morphology, cell viability, cell proliferation and cell apoptosis. The apoptotic signaling pathway of A549 cells induced by FAC and the protection mechanism of NITPh(OMe)2 were all discussed through the expression of three relating proteins, Bcl-2, Bax and DDIT3. This work confirms that nitroxide radicals are effective antioxidants, and have potential application in clinical practice as therapeutic agents.

Preparation, characterization and properties of four new trivalent lanthanide complexes constructed using 2-bromine-5-methoxybenzoic acid and 1,10-phenanthroline.

Four dinuclear trivalent lanthanide complexes of the general formula [Ln2(2-Br-5-MOBA)6(phen)2] (Ln = Nd(), Sm(), Ho(), Er(); 2-Br-5-MOBA = 2-bromine-5-methoxybenzoate, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) were prepared and structurally characterized. The complexes to are isostructural with a coordination number of nine. The carboxylic acid ligands adopt bridging, bidentate chelating, and tridentate chelating bridging modes to coordinate with Ln(iii) ions. The structures of the complexes were confirmed on the basis of elemental analysis, molar conductance, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and IR and UV spectra. The heat capacities and thermal circulating processes of the prepared complexes were performed on a differential scanning calorimeter under a nitrogen atmosphere. Two remarkable solid-solid phase transitions existed both in the heat capacities and thermal circulating processes. The bacteriostatic activities of the complexes were evaluated against Candida albicans, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Besides, the luminescent property of complex was also investigated, and the magnetic properties of complexes and were also discussed in detail.

Effectiveness of combining plasma exchange with plasma perfusion in acute fatty liver of pregnancy: a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) is a severe liver failure condition that has limited therapeutic approaches. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of combining plasma exchange (PE) and plasma perfusion (PP) with conventional therapy for the treatment of AFLP using a retrospective analysis. METHODS: Among 22 patients with AFLP, 16 cases were treated with conventional treatment (CT group), while the other 6 cases were treated with PE and PP in addition to conventional therapy (CT+PE+PP group). Treatment efficacy was based primarily on survival and secondarily on liver and kidney functions 2 weeks after treatment. Adverse effects were also assessed at the same time point. RESULTS: In the CT+PE+PP group, 5 (83.3%) patients improved, while 1 (16.7%) patient died of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. In the CT group, 3 (18.75%) patients improved, while 13 (81.2%) patients died of complications. Liver and kidney functions and survival were significantly improved in the CT+PE+PP group (p < 0.05) compared to the CT group. CONCLUSIONS: Timely application of PE and PP in the early phase of AFLP may be a promising treatment to halt or reverse the progression of AFLP.

[Influence of EphA2 siRNA transfection on the biological behavior of human ovarian carcinoma cell].

OBJECTIVE: To explore EphA2 siRNA transfection and its influence on the biological behavior of human ovarian carcinoma cells. METHODS: One pairs of siRNA was synthesized and transfected into the human ovarian carcinoma cell line SKOV3. Observation of the transfection efficiency through the fluorescence inverted microscope was followed by the evaluation of expression of EphA2 protein using Western blot. The effects of EphA2 siRNA on proliferation of SKOV3 cells were observed by drawing cell growth curves and measuring cloning efficiency, and the adhesion and invasion of SKOV3 were detected by cell adhesion assay and Matrigel-boyden chamber method respectively. RESULTS: After successful transfection, a large number of fluorescent particles were observed under the fluorescence inverted microscope. The expression of EphA2 protein was obviously suppressed by EphA2 siRNA (P < 0.05). The cell proliferation, adhesiveness and invasiveness were significantly inhibited (P < 0.05). However, no changes in colony-forming efficiency were observed (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Down-regulation of EphA2 gene by EphA2 siRNA in SKOV3 cell line showed retardation of cell growth, proliferation and partial reversion of the malignant phenotype, including the ability of adhesion and invasion. EphA2 may be a new and potent target of gene therapy in ovarian carcinoma.

[Suitable oxygen concentration for rat model's hypoxic preconditioning].

OBJECTIVE: To study the suitable oxygen concentration in hypoxic preconditioning. METHODS: Short-term and long-term intermittent hypoxia modes were designed and the effects of various oxygen concentrations on body weight, blood oxygen saturation, swimming capability were analyzed. RESULTS: The rate of body weight gain in rat model decreased gradually when exposed to hypoxia environment for long time. When the concentration of oxygen changed from 15% to 8%, accompanied with the decreasing of oxygen concentration, a platform was observed in blood oxygen saturation of rat model after hypoxic preconditioning training. Rat swimming capability improved significantly. After trained in 10% hypoxia environment, the swimming capability of kunming mice improved obviously. CONCLUSION: Proper level of hypoxic preconditioning training could improve hypoxia tolerance and enhance the rat sport capability significantly. 15%-10% oxygen concentration range could be regarded as a helpful effective area for hypoxic preconditioning, 10% oxygen concentration might be the eligible concentration for hypoxic preconditioning training.

HLA class I (ABC) upregulation on peripheral blood CD3+/CD8+ T lymphocyte surface is a potential predictor of acute rejection in renal transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Renal transplantation is currently the prevalent therapy for most patients with end-stage renal disease. No clinical markers for such rejection have been universally accepted. We aimed to investigate the possibility of use of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I (ABC) on peripheral blood CD3+/CD8+ T lymphocytes as a marker of acute rejection. METHODS: For recipients undergoing renal transplantation from September 2007 to November 2008, peripheral blood samples were obtained pretransplantation and at days 3 and 7 posttransplantation when the patients were still hospitalized and at weeks 2 and 3 and months 1, 2, 3, and 6 posttransplantation. For patients with fever, lumbodynia, gross hematuria, or oliguria after transplantation, blood samples were collected immediately before and at days 3 and 7 after the administration of anti-inflammatory regents. The level of HLA class I (ABC) on peripheral-blood CD3+/CD8+ T lymphocytes was measured on flow cytometry. RESULTS: For the 79 transplant recipients, the level of HLA class I (ABC) on peripheral-blood CD3+/CD8+ T lymphocytes was consistently elevated during the first 3 weeks after transplantation, declined gradually to pretransplantation levels, then tapered off and remained stable. Patients experiencing acute rejection (AR) or not after transplantation did not differ in level of HLA class I (ABC) up to 6-month follow-up, except at days 14 and 21 after transplantation, when the level was higher for patients experiencing AR (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Upregulation of HLA class I (ABC) on peripheral-blood CD3+/CD8+ T lymphocytes could be used as an accurate and reliable predictor of AR after renal transplantation.