[Time comparison of artificial airway establishment in operating room and on slope using endotracheal intubation and laryngeal mask].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the completion time of endotracheal intubation and laryngeal mask implantation in operating room and on slope of ski resort, and to discuss the optimal method of estab-lishing artificial airway on slope of ski resort. METHODS: The simulator was placed with the head under the feet on slope of ski resort. The artificial airway was established by tracheal intubation assisted by video laryngoscope (endotracheal intubation group) and laryngeal mask placement (laryngeal mask group) respectively by an anesthesiologist who wore full set of ski suits, helmets, goggles, gloves and ski boots. Each method was repeated 5 times, and the operation time of artificial airway establishment was recorded. While the simulated human was placed flat on the operating table in an operating room of a hospital, and the artificial airway was established by the same anesthesiologist using the same methods. Time was recorded and repeated for 5 times. The completion time of endotracheal intubation and laryngeal mask placement in the operating room and on the ski slope were compared. RESULTS: The operating time of tracheal intubation in the operating room was longer than that of laryngeal mask placement [(79.8±10.4) s vs. (53.4±2.7) s, P=0.005], and the operating time of endotracheal intubation on the ski slope was longer than that of laryngeal mask placement [(209.2±32.7) s vs. (72.2±3.1) s, P=0.001]. The time of endotracheal intubation group on the slope of the ski resort was longer than that in the opera-ting room(t=-7.851, P=0.001). The time of laryngeal mask group on the slope was longer than that in the operating room (t=-19.391, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: On ski slope, both of tracheal intubation assisted by video laryngoscope and laryngeal mask placement can quickly complete the establishment of artificial airway, but the time required is longer than that in the operating room. The time of laryngeal mask placement to establish artificial airway is shorter than that of tracheal intubation assisted video laryngoscope, which may have a certain advantage in ski rescue.

TRIM31 is upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma and promotes disease progression by inducing ubiquitination of TSC1-TSC2 complex.

Tripartite motif (TRIM) 31 is a member of the tripartite motif-containing protein family, and TRIM family proteins are involved in a broad range of biological and pathological processes. However, the role of TRIM31 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression is not known. Here we demonstrated that TRIM31 expression was significantly upregulated in liver cancer tissues compared with paired distal non-cancerous liver tissues from HCC patients, and its overexpression was significantly correlated with advanced disease status. Both gain and loss of function assay verified that TRIM31 promoted the malignant behaviors of HCC cells through overactivation of mammalian target of rapamycin complex1 (mTORC1) pathway. We further demonstrated that TRIM31 exerted its oncogenic effect by directly interacting with the tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) 1 and TSC2 complex, the upstream suppressor of mTORC1 pathway, and promoting the E3 ligase-mediated K48-linked ubiquitination and degradation of this complex. In conclusion, this study demonstrated TRIM31 could promote HCC progression by targeting TSC1-TSC2 complex for degradation and further overactivating mTORC1 pathway. Thus, it revealed a novel molecular mechanism of HCC progression and indicated a potential therapeutic strategy against HCC by targeting TRIM31.

Population genetic differentiation of the black locust gall midge Obolodiplosis robiniae (Haldeman) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae): a North American pest invading Asia.

Obolodiplosis robiniae is native to North America and is an important introduced insect pest that forms leaf margin roll galls on species of genus Robinia (Fabaceae) in China. It was first detected in China in 2004, but subsequently spread and provoked local outbreaks. An analysis of a 676-bp sequence of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase subunit I was conducted in 560 individuals from 28 populations, in order to (1) assess population genetic structuring and (2) explore possible explanations for the rapid spread and invasion success of O. robiniae. Yet, only four haplotypes were identified and the nucleotide diversity was low (π = 0.00005) and among the 560 specimens studied, only ten showed haplotypic variation involving no more than three substitutions. The result showed a low degree of genetic diversity among populations of the successful invasive gall midge, which suggested that the pest experienced a severe genetic bottleneck and a loss of genetic diversity after its introduction. The successful establishment and spread of O. robiniae in China is attributed to the wide distribution of its host plant, thus allowing ample opportunities for gene flow in the pest species, and to the advantageous life history characteristics of O. robiniae.

GSK3ß negatively regulates LPS-induced osteopontin expression via inhibiting its transcription.

Osteopontin (OPN) is expressed by a variety of immune cells and is critical for both innate and adaptive immune responses. The expression status of OPN might be tightly regulated to maintain immune homeostasis. However, the mechanisms by which OPN is negatively regulated in LPS-stimulated macrophages remain largely unknown. In this study, we showed that glycogen synthase kinase 3ß (GSK3ß) inhibitors - SB216763, LiCl and azakenpaullone - enhanced LPS-induced OPN expression in mouse peritoneal macrophages. GSK3ß knock-down had the similar effects. Furthermore, we found that GSK3ß inhibitors and GSK3ß knock-down both increased the activity of OPN promoter in LPS-stimulated macrophages. GSK3ß inhibitor-mediated enhancement of LPS-induced OPN promoter activity was abrogated in GSK3ß siRNA-treated macrophages. Therefore, we identified GSK3ß as a negative regulator of OPN expression and suggest GSK3ß as a potential therapeutic target for the intervention of diseases with uncontrolled OPN production.

[Cloning and expression of D-arabitol dehydrogenase gene from Acetobacter suboxydans in Escherichia coli].

The partial genomic library of Acetobacter suboxydans was constructed using Yeast-E. coli shuttle plasmid YEp352 as vector. Two positive transformants, designated as DH5 alpha(pAD91) and DH5 alpha(pAD98), were obtained by screening the growth of transformants on the agar plate in which D-arabitol was used as the sole carbon source. The results of Southern blot and restriction endonuclease analysis showed that the two recombinants are identical. The insert is about 2.3 kb. Arabitol dehydrogenase activity assay indicated that the transformants could produce D-xylulose-forming D-arabitol dehydrogenase. Hence, the gene encoding D-arabitol dehydrogenase exists in the cloned DNA fragment.

[Cloning and expression of metallothionein gene of Bombyx mori].

Yeast MTI gene from vector pCMI-1 was used as a probe. It appeared strong hybridization signals when the total DNA of Bombyx mori Huishu eggs hybridizes with the probe. The 1-6 kb DNA fragments were isolated from the EcoR I digested total DNA of Bombyx mori Huishu eggs and ligated with M13- vector digested by restriction EcoR I. The ligation mixtures were used to transform E. coli DH5 alpha. blue/White colonies selection was used to identify colonies with insert. Approximately 4000 white colonies were selected, so the part genomic library of Bombyx mori was constructed. Three positive colonies were gained from the genomic library by southern blotting analysis, designated T1 (pZHC-1), T5 (pZHC-5), T7 (pZHC-7). Digesting the recombinant plasmid pZHC-5 with 12 restriction enzymes, the results suggested that the inserted fragment was about 1.2 kb and there was only a Hind III site. The experiment of resistant to CuSO4 proved that the DH5 alpha cells contain recombinant plasmids were more resistance than the recepient DH5 alpha cells. According to these results, the inserted fragment possibly contains the gene encoding Metallothionein of Bombyx mori. The sequence analysis of the inserted fragment and its high-expressions in E. coli are in progress.

Acquisition of two endogenous ecotropic murine leukemia viruses in distinct Asian wild mouse populations.

Wild mouse DNAs were analyzed for two types of endogenous ecotropic murine leukemia viruses (MuLVs), Akv and Fv-4r-associated MuLV. Endogenous Akv viruses were found only in northern Chinese mice, Korean mice, and Japanese (Mus musculus molossinus) mice. The Fv-4r gene, which is a truncated endogenous MuLV with ecotropic interference properties, was carried by Southeast Asian (M. m. castaneus) mice, Korean mice, and M. m. molossinus. Sequences related to Fv-4r MuLV env were found only in M. m. castaneus. These findings suggest that endogenous Akv viruses were acquired by northern Chinese mice and that the Fv-4r gene or its related endogenous MuLVs were acquired independently by M. m. castaneus. The Fv-4r gene appears to have been generated hundreds of thousands of years ago, before the amplification of the Fv-4r-related endogenous MuLVs in M. m. castaneus. The coexistence of Akv viruses and the Fv-4r gene in M. m. molossinus may be explained by the hybrid origin of M. m. molossinus in crosses between northern Chinese mice and M. m. castaneus, as described in other articles. The absence of the Fv-4r-related endogenous MuLVs in M. m. molossinus may indicate that the ancestral mice of this subspecies either were an ancient type of M. m. castaneus that had acquired the Fv-4r gene but had not yet acquired the Fv-4r-related endogenous MuLVs or were a rare fraction of a mixed population of M. m. castaneus and northern Chinese mice.