Screening ferroptosis related genes influencing prognosis of colon cancer through bioinformatics analysis / 解剖学报

Objective To explore ferroptosis-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) with prognostic significance in colon cancer (CC), and then construct a prognosis-related predictive scoring model. To search for ferroptosis-related differential expressed genes co-expressed with prognosis-related lncRNAs. Methods Ferroptosis-related genes (FGs) were downloaded from FerrDb database; The expression data of 41 adjacent normal tissues and 473 tumor tissues, and clinical data of 452 patients were successfully downloaded. Co-expression and differential expression analysis was performed to identify differentially expressed ferroptosis-related lncRNAs (DEFlncRNAs), and univariate Cox regression analysis was used to screen statistically significant prognosis-related DEFlncRNAs, and then multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to construct a prognostic model, calculate risk score among CC patients and divide patients by the median risk score. Kaplan-Meier curves, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, and receiver operationg characteristic(ROC) curve were used to reveale great accuracy of the model. Then, a nomogram was drawed to predict the survival among CC patients. Finally, the differentially expressed ferroptosis-related genes regulating DEFlncRNAs were found by co-expression analysis, and the different expression was verified by immunohistochemical experiments. Result Expression and clinical data among colon cancer (CC) patients were downloaded from TCGA database. A risk prognostic model containing 28 lncRNAs to predict the prognosis among CC patients was successfully constructed. An effective clinical nomogram for predicting the overall survival of CC patients was successfully constructed. Finally, the co-expression analysis of DEFlncRNAs and differentially expressed ferroptosis-related genes (DEFGs) was preformed to obtain a co-expression network, including17 key DEFGs, with the correlation coefficient filter criteria (| corFilter |) > 0.4 and P value filter criteria (P value filter) < 0.05. Immunohistochemical experiments confirmed ANGPTL7 was highly expressed in the adjacent tissues among CC patients. Conclusion Successfully constructed a prognostic-related model among CC patients containing 28 DEFlncRNAs, and 17 DEFGs was finally obtained.

Treatment of cervical spodylotic radiculopathy with posterior intervertebral foraminal discectomy via Delta channel / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the clinical efficacy and safety of posterior intervertebral foraminal discectomy via Delta channel for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy in the early phase.@*METHODS@#From September 2017 to July 2018, 10 patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy underwent posterior intervertebral foraminal discectomy via Delta channel. There were 6 males and 4 females, aged from 30 to 62 years old with an average of (41.5±4.3) years old. All of them had unilateral symptoms caused by cervical nerve root compression, including 2 cases of C, 5 cases of C and 3 cases of C. CT and MRI examination of all the patients did not show ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament or calcification of ligamentum flavum, and no cervical spine instability was present in dynamic radiographs. The clinical outcome was poor after more than 6 weeks of systematic non-surgical treatment. The VAS score, JOA score, NDI score, the cervical spine physiological curvature, and the height and stability of the compressed cervical vertebrae were measured before operation and at the latest follow-up.@*RESULTS@#All patients successfully completed the surgeries without any spinal cord, nerve root or major blood vessel injury. The operation time was 70 to 120 min with an average of 90 min. Intraoperative blood loss ranged from 30 to 90 ml with an average of 40 ml. All the 10 patients were followed up for 6 to 14 months with an average of 9 months. Postoperative nerve root pain got relievd and nerve function was improved in all patients. VAS score decreased from 7.15±2.01 before surgery to 1.59±0.83 at the latest follow-up;JOA score increased from 12.57±1.24 before surgery to 16.42±0.58 at the latest follow-up;NDI score increased from 41.82±4.71 before surgery to 9.59±3.52 at the latest follow-up. All the results above presented significant difference between latest follow-up and preoperative (0.05). At the latest follow-up, no cervical instability was observed on dynamic radiographs.@*CONCLUSION@#Treatment of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy by posterior intervertebral foraminal discectomy via Delta channel can obtain a satisfactory clinical outcome without affecting the stability of cervical vertebra. The surgery is safe, reliable and worthy of clinical application.

Correlation analysis of platelet-lymphocyte ratio with system involvement and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis / 医学研究生学报

ObjectiveIt is very important to monitor the disease activity and complications of patients in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this paper, we evaluated the level of platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) of peripheral blood in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and discussed the relationship between PLR and the system involvement, laboratory indexes, and disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.MethodsFrom September 2013 to May 2017, 123 patients with rheumatoid arthritis who were first diagnosed in the General Hospital of Eastern Theater Command were analyzed retrospectively. 123 healthy persons(healthy control group) and 123 patients with other autoimmune diseases(disease control group) were matched according to the sex and age in a ratio of 1:1. According to the disease activity score 28 joints C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP), RA patients were divided into the high activity group and the low activity group, and the PLR levels of high-activity and low-activity patients, healthy control group and disease control group were compared, respectively. To evaluate the relationship between system involvement and PLR level in RA patients; to analyze the correlation between PLR and DAS28-CRP and traditional inflammatory indexes by Spearman; to evaluate the application effect of receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC) in the diagnosis of RA and the differentiation of disease activity of RA patients.ResultsThe PLR level of RA patients was significantly higher than that of healthy people [133.63 (103.17, 140.99)] and disease control group [159.83(104.22, 203.55)], and the difference was statistically significant(P0.05]. There was a significant positive correlation between PLR and DAS28 CRP, C-reactive protein (CRP), ESR (r=0.433, 0.501, 0.592, P all <0.01）. The AUC of PLR in diagnosing RA and evaluating RA was 0.68 and 0.73 respectively. When cut off value was 134.47 and 147.61 respectively, sensitivity was 74.8% and 77.5%, specificity was 56.5% and 63.2%.ConclusionThe level of PLR of peripheral blood in patients with RA is increased, especially in patients with circulatory system involvement, infectious diseases or RF positive, and related to disease activity. PLR is expected to be an effective supplement for RA disease diagnosis and disease activity assessment and has potential application value.

A novel splicing mutation identified in a Chinese family with Alport syndrome and analysis of its pathogenicity / 医学研究生学报

Objective The purpose of this study was to identify a pathogenic variant in a Chinese family with Alport syndrome and analyze the pathogenicity of the variant. Methods Using targeted region capture and high-throughput sequencing technology, we identified the genetic variant of the proband with Alport syndrome, verified the variant in the family members by Sanger sequencing, and analyzed its influence on the pre-mRNA splicing process by in vitro minigene assay. Results A heterozygous variant c.2767G>T (p.Gly923Cys) was identified as a novel variant in exon 32 of the COL4A5 gene in the proband, which was confirmed by Sanger sequencing to be cosegregated with disease in the family. The minigene assay demonstrated that the c.2767G>T variant induced deletion of exon 32 of the COL4A5 gene. Conclusion A novel COL4A5 mutation was identified by targeted region capture and high-throughput sequencing, which has enriched the gene mutation spectrum of Alport syndrome. The exonic mutation c.2767G>T confirmed to be a splicing mutation by in vitro minigene assay, which may lead to a deeper insight into the molecular pathogenesis of Alport syndrome.

Chemical constituents from stems of Acanthopanax henryi / 中草药

Objective To study the chemical constituents from stems of Acanthopanax henryi based on LPS-induced macrophages RAW264.7 and microglia BV2 as the bioactivity guided model. Methods The compounds were isolated and purified by silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, as well as Prep-TLC and recrystallization methods. Their structures were identified on the basis of their physicochemical properties and spectroscopic data. Results Eighteen compounds were obtained from A. henryi and their chemical structures were identified as p-hydroxybenzoic acid (1), trans-p-hydroxycinnamic acid (2), (E)-caffeic acid methyl ester (3), caffeic acid (4), trans-coniferyl aldehyde (5), syringaldehyde (6), vanillin (7), 6-methoxy-7-hydroxycoumarin (8), trans-sinapaldehyde (9), undecane-1,11-dioic acid monomethyl ester (10), (-)-sesamin (11), 3-O-caffeoyl-quinic acid (12), 5-O-caffeoyl-quinic acid (13), 1,3-di-O-caffeoyl-quinic acid (14), 1,4-di-O-caffeoyl-quinic acid (15), 1,5-di-O-caffeoyl-quinic acid (16), stigmasterol (17), and β-sitosterol (18), respectively. Conclusion To the best of our knowledge, compound 10 was isolated from Araliaceae for the first time. Except compounds 12, 14, 17, and 18, all of other compounds were obtained from this species for the first time.

Recent advances of exosome in autoimmune diseases / 医学研究生学报

Exosomes are multivesicular bodies ( 70120nm), and can be released by any type of cells after fusion with cell membranes. Exosomes mediate intercellular communication via transport proteins and nucleic acids, participating in a variety of physiological and pathological processes. According to the originated cells and target cells, exosomes play an important role in immunoregulation, serve as a biomarker for disease, a carrier for drug delivery,target of the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases and immunotherapy. In this review, we will summarize current research advances of exosomes in immunoregulation, pathogenesis, diagnosis and therapeutics of autoimmune diseases.

Duplex PCR for rapid detection of the drug-resistant genes KPC and NDM / 医学研究生学报

ObjectiveThe nucleic acid technology for detecting drug-resistant genes has become one of the powerful tools for monitoring and controlling the spreading of drug-resistant bacteria. This study was to establish a method for rapid detection of the drug-resistant genes KPC and NDM and provide some guidance in clinical drug use and monitoring the prevalence of drug-resistant bacteria in the hospital.MethodsAccording to the conserved regions of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) and New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM), we designed the primers of duplex PCR, optimized the amplification system and established a method for simultaneous detection of the drug-resistant genes KPC and NDM. Then, we analyzed the sensitivity and specificity of the method and applied it to the detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae.ResultsThe sequences of KPC and NDM exhibited a 100% consistency with those of the original ones. Target fragments of the desired size of 151 bp were detected in the KPC-2 positive standard and Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC BAA 1705 standard strains, and those of the desired size of 261 bp were observed in the NDM-2 positive standard strain and NDM-positive pneumococcal bacteria, neither with non-specific amplification. Sequencing of the PCR products showed a 100% consistency between the sequences of the products and those of the drug-resistant genes KPC-2 and NDM-1. The detectable limits of KPC and NDM for duplex PCR were 7×102 and 5×102 copies per reaction respectively. Drug-resistant genes were detected in 12 (92.3%) of the 13 carbapenems-resistant strains, including 10 KPC-positive (83.3%) and 2 NDM positive ones (16.7%), but neither KPC nor NDM in the other 10 carbapenems-sensitive strains. In the 13 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, KPC was detected in 2 (33.3%) of the 6 carbapenems-resistant ones, but neither KPC nor NDM in the other 7.ConclusionThe duplex PCR method can be used for rapid and effective detection of the drug-resistance genes KPC and NDM, with the advantages of high sensitivity and specificity, and is therefore of great significance for guiding clinical drug use and monitoring the spreading of carbapenems-resistant bacteria in the hospital.

Chemical Constituents from Leaves of Pileostegia viburnoides Hook.f.et Thoms

Phytochemical investigation on the leaves of Pileostegia viburnoides Hook.f.et Thoms led to the isolation of twenty-five compounds, and their structures were identified as n-dotriacontane (1), taraxeryl acetate (2), friedelin (3), epifriedelinol (4), canophyllal (5), stigmast-4-en-3-one (6), stigmasterol (7), (24R)-5A-stigmastane-3,6-dione (8), ursolic acid (9), pomolic acid (10), umbelliferone (11), 4-epifriedelin (12), n-octatriacontanol (13), β-amyrin (14), α-amyrin (15), taraxerol (16), nonadecanol (17), friedelane (18), arachic acid (19), protocatechuic acid (20), n-pentatriacontanol (21), hexadecanoic acid (22), vincosamide (23), daucosterol (24), and skimming (25), respectively. To our best knowledge, compounds 1, 2, 12, 13, 17 - 19 and 21-23 were new within Saxifragaceae family. Compounds 15, 16, and 20 were produced from this genus for the first time. Compounds 4, 14 and 25 were first obtained from species P. viburnoides and compounds 3, 5 - 11, and 24 were achieved from the leaves of P. viburnoides for the first time. Furthermore, the anti-neuroinflammatory activity of these isolates was evaluated.

Leptin: a potential anxiolytic by facilitation of fear extinction.

AIMS: Anxiety disorders are characterized by a deficient extinction of fear memory. Evidence is growing that leptin influences numerous neuronal functions. The aims of this study were to investigate the effects and the mechanism of leptin on fear extinction. METHODS AND RESULTS: Leptin (1 mg/kg, i.p) was applied to evaluate the anxiolytic effect in rat behavioral tests. Field potentials recording were used to investigate the changes in synaptic transmission in the thalamic-lateral amygadala (LA) pathway of rat. We found that leptin produced strong anxiolytic effects under basal condition and after acute stress. Systemic administration and intra-LA infusions of leptin facilitated extinction of conditioned fear responses. The antagonist of NMDA receptor, MK-801, blocked the effect of leptin on fear extinction completely. Furthermore, these effects of leptin on fear extinction were accompanied by a reversal of conditioning-induced synaptic potentiation in the LA. Leptin facilitated NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission, and reversed amygdala long-term potentiation (LTP) in a dose-dependent manner in vitro, and this LTP depotentiation effect was mediated by NMDA receptor and MAPK signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: These results identify a key role of leptin in dampening fear conditioning-induced synaptic potentiation in the LA through NMDA receptor and indicate a new strategy for treating anxiety disorders.

Effect of tianma gouteng decoction on the endothelial function and the renal protein expression in spontaneously hypertensive rats / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of tianma gouteng decoction (TGD) on the endothelial function and the renal protein expression of spontaneously hypertensive rats, and to analyze its possible mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 18 6-week-old SHR were randomly divided into 3 groups according to randomized block design, the SHR control group, the TGD group, and the captopril group, 6 in each group. Meanwhile, Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats of the same age were recruited as a WKY control group. Rats in the TGD group were administered with TGD at the daily dose of 10. 260 g/kg. Rats in the captopril group were administered with captopril at the daily dose of 3. 375 g/kg. 2 mL/100 g distilled water was administered to rats in the SHR control group and the WKY control group. All medication was performed by gastrogavage once per day till rats were 24 weeks old. Changes of blood pressure were measured once per two weeks. The relaxation of the thoracic aorta and the superior mesenteric artery was determined by vascular ring in vitro to reflect the endothelial function. The total renal protein was separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE). The significantly deviated protein was verified by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Compared with the SHR control group, blood pressure was significantly lowered in rats (10 - 24 weeks old) of the captopril group (P <0.01, P <0.05). The hypotensive effect of TGD was obvious at the beginning of hypertension (10 -12 weeks) (P <0. 01). But along with the progression of hypertension, its hypotensive effect was not obvious (P>0. 05). (2) Compared with the SHR control group, the relaxation of the superior mesenteric artery was obviously improved in the TGD group (P <0. 05); the relaxation of the thoracic aorta and the superior mesenteric artery was obviously superior in the WKY control group (P <0. 01, P <0. 05). But there was no statistical difference in each relaxation index between the captopril group and the SHR control group (P >0. 05).(3) RESULTS: of 2-DE found 16 significantly differential renal protein, mainly involved nitric oxide (NO) system, oxidative stress, and cytoskeleton-related proteins. Results of Western blot showed that TGD could significantly improve expressions of Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD), N(G, N(G)-dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 2 (DDAH2), and pterin-4-alpha-carbinolamine dehydratase 1 (PCBD1) (P <0. 05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>GTD could protect the endothelial function of the superior mesenteric artery in SHR, and its intervention mechanism of hypertension induced early renal injury might be relevant to regulating the NO system and antioxidative stress.</p>

Chemical Constituents from Leaves of Acanthopanax henryi (II)

Nineteen compounds, including one organic acid (1), one anthraquinone (2), one amide (3), and sixteen triterpenoid saponins (4 - 19) were isolated from the leaves of Acanthopanax henryi (Oliv.) Harms (Araliaceae). Their structures were determined on the basis of physicochemical properties and spectral analyses (HR-MS and NMR). Among them, compounds 2, 3, 7, 12 and 19 were new within Araliaceae. Compounds 4, 5, 9 - 11, 13, 14, 16 and 18 were reported for the first time from the Acanthopanax genus. Except for compounds 4 and 9, other compounds were isolated from A. henryi (Oliv.) Harms for the first time. The rare anthraquinone, compound 2, significantly decreased the production of NO and the levels of other inflammatory factors, such as TNF-alpha and IL-6, in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. This is the first time to report anti-inflammatory effect of this compound.

Anti-inflammatory Activities of Lupane-triterpenoids In Vitro and Their Phytochemical Fingerprinting from Leaves of Acanthopanax gracilistylus

The activities on the inhibition of NO on LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages were investigated in this work. A simple and sensitive method has been developed and validated for fingerprinting analysis of leaves of Acanthopanax gracilistylus W.W. Smith (AGS). The cytotoxicity and inhibition of NO on LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells of the extract and triterpenoids were determined. Optimal conditions of HPLC analysis were established as follows. The separation was performed with an ODS-C18 column at 30 degrees C, the detected wavelength was 210 nm, the flow rate was 1 mL/min, and the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile (0.05% phosphoric acid) -0.05% phosphoric acid solution with gradient elution. Our results showed that impressic acid and acankoreaogenin was more effective on the inhibition of NO than the methanol extract and other compounds. There were seventeen peaks coexisted with similarities above 0.95 and nine lupane-triterpenoids including acankoreaogenin and impressic acid detected and identified. The result of anti-inflammatory activities provides a potential explanation for the use of AGS leaves as a herbal medicine in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Our results also show that acankoreanogenin and impressic acid may be potentially useful in developing new anti-inflammatory agents. In addition, the fingerprint chromatography clearly illustrated and confirmed the material basis for the anti-inflammatory activities of this plant.

E-cadherin expression and CDH1 promoter methylation in sporadic and hereditary gastric cancer / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the role of E-cadherin (E-cad) and CDH1 gene encoding E-cad in the occurrence of sporadic or hereditary gastric cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Nineteen normal gastric mucosal issue specimens, 19 specimens of hereditary gastric cancer (diagnosed according to ICG-HGC criteria), and 19 specimens of sporadic gastric cancer examined for E-cad expression and CDH1 promoter methylation using immunohistochemistry and methylation-specific PCR (MSP).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The protein expression of E-cad were significantly reduced in both of the cancer tissues (P<0.001) compared with that in the normal gastric mucosal tissues, and showed no significant difference between the two cancers (P=0.84). CDH1 promoter hypermethylation was found in 10 out of the 19 hereditary gastric cancer tissues, a rate significantly higher than that in sporadic gastric cancer tissues (3/19, P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CDH1 promoter hypermethylation is probably an important factor contributing to reduced E-cad expression in sporadic gastric cancer but not in hereditary gastric cancer.</p>

SKF83959 produces antidepressant effects in a chronic social defeat stress model of depression through BDNF-TrkB pathway.

BACKGROUND: SKF83959 stimulates the phospholipase Cß/inositol phosphate 3 pathway, resulting in the activation of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent kinase IIα, which affects the synthesis of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a neurotrophic factor critical for the pathophysiology of depression. Previous reports showed that SKF83959 elicited antidepressant activity in the forced swim test and tail suspension test as a novel triple reuptake inhibitor. However, there are no studies showing the effects of SKF83959 in a chronic stress model of depression and the role of phospholipase C/inositol phosphate 3/calmodulin-dependent kinase IIα/brain-derived neurotrophic factor pathway in SKF83959-mediated antidepressant effects. METHODS: In this study, SKF83959 was firstly investigated in the chronic social defeat stress model of depression. The changes in hippocampal neurogenesis, dendrite spine density, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor signaling pathway after chronic social defeat stress and SKF83959 treatment were then investigated. Pharmacological inhibitors and small interfering RNA/short hairpin RNA methods were further used to explore the antidepressive mechanisms of SKF83959. RESULTS: We found that SKF83959 produced antidepressant effects in the chronic social defeat stress model and also restored the chronic social defeat stress-induced decrease in hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor signaling pathway, dendritic spine density, and neurogenesis. By using various inhibitors and siRNA/shRNA methods, we further demonstrated that the hippocampal dopamine D5 receptor, phospholipase C/inositol phosphate 3/ calmodulin-dependent kinase IIα pathway, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor system are all necessary for the SKF83959 effects. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that SKF83959 can be developed as a novel antidepressant and produces antidepressant effects via the hippocampal D5/ phospholipase C/inositol phosphate 3/calmodulin-dependent kinase IIα/brain-derived neurotrophic factor pathway.

Chemical constituents from leaves of Acanthopanax evodiaefolius / 中草药

Objective: To study the chemical constituents from the leaves of Acanthopanax evodiaefolius. Methods: The compounds were isolated and purified by silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. Their structures were identified on the basis of their physicochemical properties and spectroscopic data. Results: Thirteen compounds were isolated from the methanol extract of A. evodiaefolius and their structures were identified as heptadecanoic acid (1), heptacosanol (2), trans-cinnamic acid (3), ursolic acid (4), oleanolic acid (5), betulinic acid (6), corosolic acid (7), apigenin (8), naringenin (9), maltol (10), syringic acid (11), stigmasterol (12), and daucosterol (13), respectively. Conclusion: Compounds 1-3 and 7-10 are obtained from the plans in genus Acanthopanax Miq. for the first time and all the compounds are obtained from A. evodiaefolius for the first time.

Chemical constituents from cane of Pileostegia viburnoides / 中草药

Objective: To study the chemical constituents from the cane of Pileostegia viburnoides. Methods: The compounds were isolated and purified by silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. Their structures were identified on the basis of their physicochemical properties and spectroscopic data. Results: Thirteen compounds were isolated from the cane of P. viburnoides and their structures were identified as friedelin (1), 3-oxo-nofriedelin-28-al (2), stigmast-4-en-3-one (3), stigmasterol (4), (24R)-5A- stigmastane-3, 6-dione (5), tetracosyl amine (6), ursolic acid (7), pomolic acid (8), oleanolic acid (9), umbelliferone (10), 4-hydroxymellein (11), cleomiscosin A (12), and daucosterol (13), respectively. Conclusion: Compound 6 is obtained as a natural product for the first time; Compounds 2-5, 7-9, 11, and 12 are obtained from this genus for the first time and all the compounds are obtained from P. viburnoides for the first time.

The stability of NR2B in the nucleus accumbens controls behavioral and synaptic adaptations to chronic stress.

BACKGROUND: The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is closely correlated with depression. It has been demonstrated that the glutamatergic system in NAc plays an important role in the reward pathway, dysfunction of which would cause anhedonia, a core symptom of depression. We therefore tested whether N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors and the synaptic plasticity in the NAc are regulated by chronic stress and the relevance to depression. METHODS: We applied behavioral tests (n = 12, each group) of social interaction and sucrose preference tests to identify the susceptibility of mice to chronic social defeat stress. We then tested N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-long-term depression at cortico-accumbal synapse to determine the relationship between the susceptibility and changes in synaptic plasticity (n = 8, each group). We further investigated whether restoration of these changes could produce antidepressant effects (n = 10). RESULTS: We found that chronic stress induced selective downregulation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor NR2B subunits in the confined surface membrane pool of NAc neurons. Remarkably, the loss of synaptic NR2B was a long-lived event and further translated to the significant modulation of synaptic plasticity in the form of long-term depression. We further observed that the stress-induced changes were restored by fluoxetine and that resilient mice-those resistant to chronic stress-showed patterns of molecular regulation in the NAc that overlapped dramatically with those seen with fluoxetine treatment. Behaviorally, restoration of NR2B loss prevented the behavioral sensitization of mice to chronic stress. CONCLUSIONS: Our results identify NR2B in the NAc as a key regulator in the modulation of persistent psychomotor plasticity in response to chronic stress.

E-cadherin expression and CDH1 promoter methylation in sporadic and hereditary gastric cancer / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the role of E-cadherin (E-cad) and CDH1 gene encoding E-cad in the occurrence of sporadic or hereditary gastric cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Nineteen normal gastric mucosal issue specimens, 19 specimens of hereditary gastric cancer (diagnosed according to ICG-HGC criteria), and 19 specimens of sporadic gastric cancer examined for E-cad expression and CDH1 promoter methylation using immunohistochemistry and methylation-specific PCR (MSP).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The protein expression of E-cad were significantly reduced in both of the cancer tissues (P<0.001) compared with that in the normal gastric mucosal tissues, and showed no significant difference between the two cancers (P=0.84). CDH1 promoter hypermethylation was found in 10 out of the 19 hereditary gastric cancer tissues, a rate significantly higher than that in sporadic gastric cancer tissues (3/19, P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CDH1 promoter hypermethylation is probably an important factor contributing to reduced E-cad expression in sporadic gastric cancer but not in hereditary gastric cancer.</p>

Influence of serum storage on the laboratory results of prostate-specific antigen / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the influence of serum storage on the laboratory results of serum T-PSA, F-PSA and FPSA%.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using automated chemiluminescence, we detected and compared the values of serum T-PSA, F-PSA and F-PSA% in the serum stored in different conditions.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>When the serum was stored at 4 degrees C or at the room temperature (22 - 26 degrees C), FPSA was unstable as compared with T-PSA. Compared with the initial value, after 4 hours at the room temperature, F-PSA was decreased to (0.392 +/- 0.246) microg/L (P < 0.01), while T-PSA and F-PSA% to (1.522 +/- 1.085) microg/L and (25.03 +/- 5.94)%, respectively, with no significant difference; after 8 hours at the room temperature, T-PSA and F-PSA were reduced to (1.513 +/- 1.083) and (0.389 +/- 0.247) microg/L (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). At 4 degrees C, T-PSA, F-PSA and F-PSA% were decreased to (9.418 +/- 7.965) microg/L, (2.168 +/- 1.558) micro/L and (26.6 +/- 6.63)%, respectively, after 2 days (P < 0.05), and to (9.203 +/- 7.736) microg/L, (2.047 +/- 1.478) microg/L and (25.64 +/- 6.56)% after 1 week (P < 0.01). At -40 degrees C, T-PSA, F-PSA and F-PSA% were (4.532 +/- 4.393) microg/L, (1.178 +/- 1.034) microg/L and (24.45 +/- 8.81)% after 4 weeks. When the serum was stored at -40 degrees C and after 3 freeze-thaws, F-PSA and T-PSA were (5.982 +/- 5.314) and (1.341 +/- 1.029) microg/L, respectively, with no significant difference from the initial values.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Different conditions of serum storage have different influences on the laboratory results of serum TPSA, F-PSA and F-PSA%, more on F-PSA than on T-PSA, while F-PSA% is relatively stable. At -40 degrees C, T-PSA and F-PSA may remain stable for a month at least. Repeated freeze-thaws of the serum do not affect the laboratory results of F-PSA and T-PSA.</p>

Effect of San-huang-sheng-fu oil on wounds of full-thickness scald in rabbits / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of San-huang-sheng-fu oil on wounds of full-thickness scald in rabbits.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Full-thickness scald wounds with area of 6 cm(2) were reproduced on both sides of the back in 9 experimental rabbits by water vapor. These rabbits were divided into sesame oil (S1), San-huang-sheng-fu oil (S2), and mupirocin ointment (M) groups according to the random number table, with 3 rabbits (6 wounds) in each group. Two wounds of each rabbit in the three groups were respectively treated with sesame oil, San-huang-sheng-fu oil, and mupirocin ointment, in a dose of 0.15 mL/cm(2), 2-3 times per day. The general condition of wounds was observed on post scald day (PSD) 1, 11, 22, and 45. The wound healing time was recorded. The wound healing rate was calculated on PSD 5, 11, 15, and 22. All the rabbits were sacrificed on PSD 45, and wound tissues were subjected to histomorphological study with HE staining. The protein expressions of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were observed with immunofluorescence staining for the other part of wound tissues. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance or LSD-t test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The wound healing quality of rabbits in S2 group was better than that in the other two groups. (2) The wound healing time of rabbits in S2 group [(11.2 ± 2.3) d] was significantly shorter than that in S1 group [(21.2 ± 3.1) d, t = 2.591, P < 0.05]. (3) The wound healing rate of rabbit in each group was increased gradually on PSD 5-22. The wound healing rates of rabbits in S2 group on PSD 5-22 were significantly higher than those in S1 group (with t values from 3.920 to 8.605, P values all below 0.05). (4) Histomorphological observation showed that the structure of wound tissues in S2 group was in much better integrity than that in the other two groups, including regenerated hair follicles in the corium layer and regularly arranged collagen fibers. The protein expressions of TGF-β1, bFGF, and VEGF in S2 group were all higher than those in the other two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>San-huang-sheng-fu oil can up-regulate the protein expressions of TGF-β1, bFGF, and VEGF, induce vascular regeneration, promote wound healing, and shorten wound healing time.</p>