RhoA, a small GTPase, is involved in a wide array of cellular functions in the central nervous system, such as cell motility, cytoskeleton rearrangement, transcriptional regulation, phagocytosis and cell growth. It is not known how spinal cord injury (SCI) affects the expression of RhoA in different nerve cells. In the present study, we investigated the changes of RhoA expression in remote areas of the injury at the 3rd, 7th and 30th day after SCI, which was established by T10 contusion method. Moreover, we examine its expression profile in neurons, astrocytes and microglia. RhoA was found to be weakly expressed in these nerve cells in normal spinal cord. Western blotting showed that, after SCI, the total RhoA expression was up-regulated, and the RhoA expression was increased and peaked at the 7th day. Double immunostaining revealed specific and temporal expression patterns of RhoA in different nerve cells. The expression of RhoA in neurons started to increase at day 3, peaked at day 7 and then decreased slightly at day 30. Expression of RhoA in astrocytes increased moderately after SCI and peaked at day 7. There was no obvious change in RhoA expression in microglia after SCI in remote areas. This study demonstrated that, after SCI, RhoA expression exhibited different patterns with different nerve cells of spinal cord. RhoA expression patterns also changed with time after SCI, and among different nerve cells in the injured spinal cord. These findings can help us better understand the roles of RhoA in SCI.

Objective To improve the knowledge of paediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH) and to elevate the level of early diagnosis and treatment.Methods The clinical data of 45 PAH patients admitted in Shanghai Children's Hospital from Jan.2006 to Dec.2012 were reviewed,including clinical manifestation,laboratory examination,diagnosis,treatment and prognosis.Results Of the 45 PAH patients,21 cases (46.7％) were male and 24 cases (53.3 ％) were female,with an average age of 2.5 years old.Among them idiopathic PAH was in 24 cases (53.3 ％) and secondary PAH was in 21 cases [including interstitial lung disease in 4 cases,upper airway obstruction in 3 cases,systemic lupus erythematosus in 3 cases,hepatic disease in 3 cases,including hepatic hemangioma 1 case,liver cirrhosis portal hypertension 1 case and autoimmune hepatic sarcoidosis 1 case,tachycardia induced cardiomyopathy in 2 cases,extensive pulmonary small artery stenosis in 2 cases,human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in 1 case,hypothyroidism in 1 case,and familial PAH in 2 cases].Main clinical manifestations were anhelation after exercise (71.1％),fatigue (68.9％),cough (48.9％),chest tightness (26.7％),chest pain (33.3％),syncope (8.9％),et al.The most common physical signs were splitting of the second sound in pulmonary valve area (93.3％),followed by tricuspid murmur (77.8％),cyanosis (53.3％),hepatomegaly (42.2％),hydropericardium (28.9％),and oedema (11.1％),et al.Twenty-seven cases did cardiac catheterization,compared with idiopathic PAH and secondary PAH,pulmonary artery systolic pressure,mean pulmonary artery pressure,pulmonary capillary wedge pressure,pulmonary arteriolar resistance index had significant difference(P ＜ 0.05).Thirty-one cases' condition improved after treatment,11 cases without any improvement and 3 cases died during follow-up visit.Conclusions PAH is a rare disease with no specific symptom and can be easily misdiagnosed in children.Ultrasonic cardiogram and cardiac catheterization are helpful in diagnosis.Actively looking for the cause can improve the prognosis.

Objectives To explore the effect of mibefradil, a kind of novel calcium channel antagonists, on proliferation of human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (HPASMCs) induced by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). MethodsHPASMCs were culturedin vitro, and randomly divided into control group, PDGF group, Mib group, and PDGF+Mib group. The PDGF group was stimulated by 25 ng/ml of PDGF. Mib group was intervented by 10 μmol/L of Mib. PDGF+Mib group was treated by PDGF and Mib. The reproduction rate in 48 hours and 72 hours were detected by MMT. Cell cycle was detected by lfow cytometry. The expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was observed by immunolfuorescence staining (IFS).ResultsThere were statistical differences among four groups in both 48 hours and 72 hours (P all??0.05). There were statistically differences of G0/G1 phase and S phase among four groups (P?

Objective To evaluate the role of 1-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway in nerve growth factor-beta (NGF-β)-produced mitigation of cell apoptosis induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress during hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) in rat cardiomyocytes.Methods H9c2 cells were seeded in 96-well plates at a density of 5× 105 cells/ml (100 μl/well).The wells were randomly divided into 5 groups (n =15 each) using a random number table: control group (group C);group H/R;NGF-β group (group N);NGF-β+NGF receptor trkA antagonist K252a group (group N+K);NGF-β+ PI3K inhibitor LY294002 group (group N+L).The cells were exposed to 95％ N2-5％ CO2 for 4 h in an anaerobic incubator, followed by reoxygenation in a standard incubator for 4 h in H/R, N, N+K and N+L groups.In addition, the cells in N, N + K and N + L groups were incubated in a standard incubator containing NGF-β, the mixture of NGF-β and K252a and the mixture of NGF-β and LY294002, respectively, during reoxygenation, and the final concentrations of NGF-β , K252a and LY294002 were 50 ng/ml, 100 nmol/L and 50 μmol/L, respectively.The cell viability was detected by using CCK-8 assay, and the cell survival rate was calculated.The cell apoptosis was examined by flow cytometry, and apoptosis rate was calculated.The expression of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), caspase-12, Akt and phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) was detected by Western blot.The ratio of p-Akt to Akt was calculated.Results Compared with group C, the cell survival rate was significantly decreased, and the apoptosis rate was increased in H/R and N groups, and the expression of GRP78, CHOP and caspase-12 was significantly up-regulated in group H/R, and p-Akt/Akt was significantly increased in group N (P＜0.05).Compared with group H/R, the cell survival rate was significantly increased, the apoptosis rate was decreased, the expression of GRP78, CHOP and caspase-12 was up-regulated, and p-Akt/Akt was increased in group N (P＜0.05), and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in N+K and N+L groups (P＞0.05).Compared with group N, the cell survival rate was significantly decreased, the apoptosis rate was increased, the expression of GRP78, CHOP and caspase-12 was up-regulated, and p-Akt/Akt was decreased in N+K and N+L groups (P＜0.05).Conclusion NGF-β can mitigate the cell apoptosis induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress during H/R, and activation of PI3K signaling pathway is involved in the mechanism.

Objective To evaluate the effects of nerve growth factor-beta (NGF-β) pretreatment on cell apoptosis induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress during ischemia-reperfusion in isolated rat hearts.Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 180-220 g,were anesthetized with intraperitoneal 10％ chloral hydrate 300 mg/kg.The hearts were excised and perfused in a Langendorff apparatus with K-H solution aerated with 95％ O2 and 5％ CO2 at 37 ℃.Thirty-two isolated rat hearts were randomly divided into 4 groups (n =8 each) using a random number table:control group (group C),I/R group,NGF-β pretreatment group (group N) and NGF-β combined with K252a (trkA receptor antagonist) pretreatment group (group N + K).In group C,the hearts were continuously perfused with K-H solution for 195 min.The hearts were perfused with K-H solution for 45 min in group I/R.In N and N + K groups,the hearts were perfused with K-H solution for 15 min,and then with K-H solution containing 0.1 μg/ml NGF-β and 0.1 μg/ml NGF-β mixed with 100 nmol/L K252a,respectively,for 30 min.The perfusion was suspended for 30 min followed by 120 min of reperfusion with K-H solution in I/R,N and N + K groups.HR,left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP),left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) and + dp/dtmax were measured at the end of 15 min equilibration (baseline) and at 5,30,60 and 120 min of reperfusion.Myocardial specimens were obtained at 120 min of reperfusion for detection of myocardial apoptosis (by TUNEL) and expression of glucose-related protein 78 (GRP78),CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP),and caspase-12 (by Western blot analysis).Apoptosis index was calculated.Results Compared with group C,HR,LVDP and + dp/dtmax were significantly decreased,and LVEDP,apoptosis index and expression of GRP78 and CHOP were increased in I/R and N groups,and the expression of caspase-12 was upregulated in I/R group.Compared with group I/R,HR,LVDP,and + dp/dtmax were significantly increased,and LVEDP,apoptosis index and expression of GRP78,CHOP and caspase-12 were decreased in group N,and the expression of GRP78 was down-regulated in group N + K.There was no significant difference in cardiac function indexes between group I/R and N + K.Compared with group N,HR,LVDP and + dp/dtmax were significantly decreased,and LVEDP,apoptosis index,and expression of GRP78,CHOP and caspase-12 were increased in group N + K.Conclusion NGF-β pretreatment can protect the isolated rat hearts against ischemia-reperfusion injury,and inhibition of the endoplasmic reticulum stress-triggered cell apoptosis after activating trkA receptors is involved in the mechanism.

Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect and the effect on cell proliferation and apoptosis of artemether(ART) on human gastric adenocarcinoma cell lines and pancreatic cancer cell lines in vitro. Methods The inhibitory effect of ART on human gastric cancer cell lines(SGC-7901 and MKN-45) and human pancreatic cancer cell lines(SW-1990 and BXPC-3) were detected by MTT assay,and the effect on cell cycle and apoptosis were evaluated by flow cytometry. Results It was indicated by MTT assay that the killing effect of ART on the cancer cell lines were positively correlated to time and dosage(P

Aim To investigate the effect of ketamine plus fluoxetine on depressed behavior and the expres-sion of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS)and CA-PON in prefrontal lobe of mentally depressed rats at different time points,so as to study the possible mecha-nism of ketamine plus fluoxetine inducing antidepres-sant behavior.Methods Healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley rats,aged 2.5 ~3 months,weighing 220 ~270 g,were induced as the rodent model of depression by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS).After the models of depression were established,96 of CUMS modeling successfully depressed rats were selected. Then they were randomly divided into four groups (n =24 each):the depressed group (group D,untreated group),ketamine group (group K,treated with intrap-eritoneal injection of ketamine 1 0 mg·kg -1 once a day for 3 days or 7 days),fluoxetine group (group F,trea-ted with gavage of fluoxetine 1 .8 mg·kg -1 once a day for 3 days or 7 days),or ketamine plus fluoxetine group (group KF,treated with intraperitoneal injection of ketamine 1 0 mg·kg -1 plus gavage of fluoxetine 1 .8 mg·kg -1 once a day for 3 days or 7 days).Open field test and sucrose preference test were performed 1 day before depression model was established,and 1 day before and after treatment.The rats were sacrificed 1 day after the last test for determination of the expres-sion of nNOS and CAPON protein (using immuno-his-tochemisity)and mRNA (by RT-PCR)in the prefron-tal lobe.Results After the models of depression were established,the total distance,rearing number and the sucrose preference percentage (SPP)were decreased significantly compared with those before (P <0.05). There was no significant difference among all groups in the total distance,rearing number and the SPP before treatment (P >0.05 ).Compared with groups D and F,the total distance was prolonged,the number of rea-ring and SPP were significantly increased,the expres-sion of nNOS protein and mRNA was down-regulated and the expression of CAPON protein and mRNA was up-regulated in groups K and KF,with 3 days’treat-ment (P <0.05).Compared with group D,the total distance was prolonged,the number of rearing and SPP were significantly increased,the expression of nNOS protein and mRNA was down-regulated and the expres-sion of CAPON protein and mRNA was up-regulated in groups K,F and KF with 7 days’treatment (P <0.05).Compared with group F,the total distance was prolonged,the number of rearing and SPP were signifi-cantly increased,the expression of nNOS protein and mRNA was down-regulated and the expression of CA-PON protein and mRNA was up-regulated in group KF with 7 days’treatment (P <0.05).Conclusion Co-administration of antidepressant fluoxetine with ket-amine may induce a more pronounced antidepressant activity than treatment with each antidepressant alone and it can shorten the time to improve the depressive state through promoting the expression of CAPON and inhibiting nNOS activity in the prefrontal lobe of men-tally depressed rats.

Objective To investigate the association between serum homocysteine (Hcy) level and oxidative stress in elderly patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). Methods The 123 patients from January 2007 to June 2010 were recruited and divided into the elderly OSAHS group (n=55) and the non-elderly OSAHS group (n=68). One hundred healthy subjects were selected and divided into the elderly control group (n=52) and the non-elderly control group (n=48). The PSG variables were recorded and the levels of Hcy, malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) were detected after sleep in all subjects. Serum Hcy level was measured by cyclophorase, MDA and GSH levels were measured by spectrophotometer. Results There were statistical differences in Hcy concentration between four groups (F=28.26, P=0.000). The Hcy concentration was higher in elderly OSAHS group than in other groups, and was higher in elderly control group than in non-elderly control group, and was higher in non-elderly OSAHS group than in non-elderly control group. There were statistical differences in MDA and GSH concentrations between the four groups (F=5.56, P=0.002;F=4.79, P=0.004). The concentrations of MDA and GSH were higher in elderly OSAHS group than in other groups. Multiple regression analysis indicated a statistically significant relationship of Hcy concentration with age, MDA, GSH and AHI (β=0.07, 0.50, 0.23 and 2.00). Conclusions The concentration of Hcy increases and oxidative stress enhances with aging, especially in the elderly patients with OSAHS. The mechanism of high level of serum Hcy in elderly patients with OSAHS may be the high oxidative stress.

Objective To investigate the effects of T-type calcium channel inhibitors (ProTx-1,micromolar Ni2+ and Mibefradil) on Monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in rats.Methods Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups:normal control group,MCT group,ProTx-1 group,micromolar Ni2+ group and Mibefradil group (8 cases in each group).The right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP),the right ventricular hypertrophy index (RVHI),and the index of pulmonary vascular remodeling(MA％) were measured on day 28 after MCT-treatment.Western blot was used to detect the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) and Cleaved Caspase-3 in pulmonary artery.Results (1)RVSP and RVHI in MCT group were significandy higher than those in the other 4 groups (F =21.55,P ＜ 0.01;F =15.63,P ＜ 0.01).The two indexes in 3 intervention groups were higher than those in normal control group (all P ＜ 0.05),nevertheless,significantly lower than those in MCT group,and 3 intervention groups showed no significant differences (all P ＞ 0.05).(2) MA％ in normal control group [(23.43 ± 1.95) ％] was lower than that in MCT group [(80.42 ± 4.30) ％],ProTx-1 group [(60.35 ± 3.83)％],micromolar Ni2+ group[(62.44 ± 3.81)％] and Mibefradil group[(58.66 ± 4.23)％] (F =216.2,P ＜ 0.01);3 intervention groups showed no significant differences (all P ＞ 0.05),however,they were all significantly lower than that in MCT group.(3) The expression of PCNA in MCT group was higher than that in normal control group,meanwhile,3 intervention groups were significantly lower than that in MCT group.The expression of Cleaved Caspase-3 in MCT group was higher than that in normal control group,nevertheless,3 intervention groups showed no significant changes compared with MCT group,respectively.Conclusions T-type calcium channel inhibitors could ameliorate the progression of MCT-PAH in rats,mainly through suppressing the proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells.

Objective To construct a voxel mouse model combining with Monte Carlo method used for radiation dose calculation.Methods A set of slice images obtained from a nude male mouse (28 g) was utilized, all slice images were registered,some organs or tissues were identified, segmented and filled with specific color, and finally the physical property was defined by MCNP application.Results A mouse model with a voxel size of 0.2 mm×0.2 mm×0.2 mm, consisting of 14 organs or tissues,was constructed, which could satisfy the requirement of precision for radiation dose distribution calculation and moderate computing time.Conclusion The voxel mouse model can be used to calculate the quantity of ionization radiation dosimetry in related areas including radiological medicine, nuclear medicine and space radiation medicine.