AIM: To investigate the effects of Src family kinases (SFKs) on adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP)-induced long-term potentiation (LTP) in the spinal dorsal horn. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (250-280 g) were used in the experiments. Western blotting, electrophysiological recording in spinal dorsal horn in vivo and immunohistochemistry were used in the study. The C-fiber-evoked field potentials were recorded at the superficial layers of spinal dorsal horn at the lumbar enlargement and the phosphorylation level and location of SFKs in spinal dorsal horn were examined by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Thirty min and 60 min after ATP application, the levels of phosphorylated SFKs (p-SFKs) were significantly increased.The p-SFKs were expressed in microglia, but not in astrocytes or neurons. Spinal application of SFK inhibitors prevented ATP-induced LTP. CONCLUSION: Microglial SFKs may play an important role in ATP-induced LTP of C-fiber evoked field potentials in the spinal dorsal horn.

Objective To test reliability and validity of a verbal behavior assessment scale (VerBAS). Methods The VerBAS was used to evaluate 20 patients with speech disorder repeatedly by the same investigator with a two week interval to assess its reliability. The construct validity of the VerBAS was evaluated by using it to evaluate 235 patients with speech disorder. Results The test-retest correlation coefficient γ was 0.723,which was significant at the 5% confidence level. Cronbach'a a=0.819. Three distinct factors were identified: receptive speech,communicative speech and delineative speech;and their accumulated variance contribution was 83%. Conclusion The Verbal Behavior Assessment Scale had satisfactory reliability and validity, It can be used to evaluate the patients with speech disorder and could provide a reference for speech rehabilitation training.

Objective To identify human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-A* 0201-restricted hepatitis C virus (HCV)-cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes. Methods Based on the prediction results of RANKpep and SYFPEITHI prediction programs, six candidate CTL epitopes were selected and synthesized. The affinity of candidate CTL epitopes to HLA-A* 0201 molecules of T2 cells was explored. Subsequently, enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) assay and intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) were utilized to determine whether candidate CTL epitopes could induce the recall positive response in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of HLA-A* 0201 positive HCV-1b-infected patients. Results Among six candidate CTL epitopes, peptides C_181(LLSCLTTPV) and NS2_172 (VLQAGLIRV) had high affinity to HLA-A* 0201 molecules. Moreover, the affinity was proportional to the concentration of peptide. Furthermore, among ten HLA-A* 0201 positive HCV-1b-infected patients, the frequencies of C_181 and NS2_172-specific interferon (IFN)-γ-producing cells were 0-19 spots forming cells (SFC)/1 × 105 PBMC and 0-20 SFC/1 × 105 PBMC, respectively.The percentages of C_ 181 and NS2_172-specific IFN-γ+ CD8+ T lymphocytes in total CD8+ T lymphocytes were 0.006%-0.065% and 0.005%-0.080%, respectively. Conclusion Peptides C_181 (LLSCLTTPV) and NS2_172 (VLQAGLIRV) are identified as novel HLA-A* 0201-restricted HCV-CTL epitopes.

Objective To explore the roles of spinal microglial Src-family kinases (SFKs) in diabetic neuropathic pain. Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 200 ~ 220 g, were used in the experiments. The level of p-SFKs in spinal dorsal horn was detected by single immunofluorescence staining on day 7th , 14th and 28th after intraperitoneally injection of Streptozotocin (STZ) and its location was detected by double immunofluorescence staining. The changes of 50% paw-withdrawal thresholds of rat were detected by behavioral tests when PP2 , a specific inhibitor of SFKs , was intrathecally administered before intraperitoneally injection of STZ. Results Compared with vehicle group, the blood glucose level increased on day 1 (P < 0.001) and the hyperglycemia persisted at least for 28 days (P < 0.001) after intraperitoneally administered of STZ (50 mg/kg). Paw-withdrawal threshold (PWT) decreased gradually from day 1 (P < 0.05) and reached the minimum on day 28 (P < 0.001) after STZ administration. Meanwhile, the expression of p-SFKs in spinal dorsal horn markedly increased on day 7 (P < 0.01), day 14 (P < 0.01) and day 28 (P < 0.01). The p-SFKs was mainly co-localized only with microglia , but not with neurons or with astrocytes. Intrathecally administered of PP2 before STZ reversed STZ-induced mechanical hyperalgesia. Conclusion Microglial SFKs in spinal dorsal horn maybe play a pivotal role in diabetic neuropathic pain.

Objective To investigate the relationship of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on FTO gene rs9939609 with metabolism index and obesity in children. Methods One hundred and fifty-three children (age 7-11 year) were recruited in this study, 102 of them were obese and 51 of them were overweight. One hundred and sixty children with normal body weight were recruited as control. Height, weight and biochemical indicator of liver function were measured. PCR and direct sequence were applied to detect the polymorphism of rs9939609, and the frequency of the allele was calculated. Results TT or TA/AA genotype frequency on FTOgene rs9939609 was significantly different among overweight group, obesity group and normal con-trol group (χ2=23.01, P<0.001);TA/AA genotype frequency in overweight and obesity group was significant higher than that in the control group(P<0.014). The frequencies of T and A allele in overweight group, obesity group and control group was 96.25%and 3.75%, 85.29%and 14.71%, 85.78%and 14.22%respectively. There was significant difference of allelic frequency among overweight group, obesity group and control group (χ2=21.72, P<0.001). The frequency of A allele in overweight and obe-sity group was higher than that in control group (P'<0.014). Subjects with TA/AA allele had significantly higher BMI compared with subjects with TT allele. Conclusions rs9939609 of FTO gene is associated with obesity in children, and allele A on this spot may raise BMI and leads to overweight and obesity.

AIM:To investigate the effects of P2X4 receptor on peri-sciatic administration of recombinant rat TNF-α(rrTNF)-induced mechanical allodynia.METHODS:Male Sprague-Dawley rats (180~200 g) were used in the experiments.The levels of P2X4 receptor on day 3, day 7 and day 14 after peri-sciatic administration of rrTNF were exam-ined by Western blot, and the location of P2X4 receptor in the spinal dorsal horn was observed by double immunofluores-cence staining.The changes of 50%paw-withdrawal thresholds of the rat were detected by behavioral test, and the level of TNF-αin the spinal dorsal horn was also examined by Western blot when TNP-ATP was intrathecally injected before the ad-ministration of rrTNF.RESULTS:Compared with control group, the expression of P2X4 receptor in the spinal dorsal horn on the ipsilateral side significantly increased on day 3, day 7 and day 14 (P<0.01) after rrTNF (100 ng/L) administra-tion.P2X4 receptor was co-localized only with microglia, but not with neurons or astrocytes.Intrathecal injection of TNP-ATP before rrTNF administration prevented mechanical allodynia induced by rrTNF and inhibited the upregulation of TNF-αin the spinal dorsal horn.CONCLUSION:P2X4 receptors in microglia may be involved in rrTNF-induced mechanical allodynia by the upregulation of TNF-αin the spinal dorsal horn.