AIM: To investigate changes of Ca 2+ activated potassium channels (K Ca) in autogenous vein grafts. METHODS: The contraction of venous ring was measured by means of perfusion in vitro. The intimal proliferation and proliferation of cultured smooth muscle cells (vascular smooth muscle cells, VSMCs) were observed by the means of computerised image analysis and MTT method, respectively. Furthermore, whole cell mode of patch clamp was used to record K Ca of VSMCs isolated from autogenous vein grafts. RESULTS: 1 week after transplantation there were no significant differences of contraction and intimal relative thickness between autogenous vein grafts and control. Contraction and intimal relative thickness of autogenous vein graft were significantly increased 2 weeks after transplantation (P

Objective To investigate abnormal protein expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in human gastric adenoearcinoma, and further reveal the clinical significance. Method The MMP-9, VEGF and PCNA proteins expression was determined by immunohistochemistry staining in 45 gastric adenocarcinoma tissues, 45 adjacent specimens and 10 normal gastric mucosa tissues via tissue arrays accordingly. The relationship of these protein expression with differentiation degree, development and progression of gastric adenocarcinoma were also analyzed. Results Positive rates of MMP-9, VEGF and PCNA in gastric adenocarcinoma, adjacent specimens and gastric normal mucosa were as follows: MMP-9, 82.2%(37/45), 64.4% (29/45), 30.0% (3/10) (P=0.019); VEGF, 73.3% (33/45), 62.2% (28/45), 30. 0% (3/10) (P=0.029); PCNA,84.4% (38/45), 71.1% (32/45), 10.0% (1/10) ,there were statistically significant difference (P = 0. 001). The positive rates of MMP-9, VEGF and PCNA in well-differentiated adenocarcinoma, moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma were as follows: MMP-9,70.0%(7/10), 80. 0% (8/10), 88.0%(22/25), there were statistically significant difference (P=0.015);VEGF, 50.0%(5/10), 60.0% (6/10), 88.0% (22/25), there were statistically significant difference (P =0.000);PCNA, 60.0% (6/10) ,90.0% (9/10) ,92.0% (23/25) ,the difference is significant statistically (P = 0.004). The expression of MMP-9, VEGF and PCNA showed positive relationship with each other by rank correlation analysis (P < 0. 05). Conclusion Tissue arrays technology is effective tool to analyze the expression of cancer related proteins in gastric adenocarcinoma. The expression of MMP-9, VEGF and PCNA proteins participates in the tumorigenesis and development process of gastric adenocarcinoma, and these can be used as indexes to evaluate prognosis in clinical.

OBJECTIVEThis study further explores the stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1)/chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) signaling axis mechanism in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (OA) by detecting the changes in CXCR4, interleukin (IL)-6, and collagen X expression in the ATDC5 cell line stimulated by the cyclic tensile strain and SDF-1.

METHODSInsulin-transferrin-selenium (ITS) was used to induce ATDC5 cells to differentiate into chondrocyte-like cells. After three weeks, the cells were divided into two groups: those with and without cyclic tensile strain. These groups were further divided into the negative control and SDF-1 groups. Strain force of 20% was applied. After 12 h, the total proteins were extracted from cells of the four groups, and Western blot analysis was used to detect the changes in CXCR4, IL-6, and collagen X expression.

RESULTSSDF-1 could enhance CXCR4, IL-6, and collagen X expressions in the chondrocytes, and 20% tensile strain force could further upregulate the three factors.

CONCLUSIONUnder abnormal tensile force, SDF-1 can upregulate its specific receptor CXCR4, thus increasing its-binding efficiency and resulting in the activation of the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis. This condition enhances the expressions of IL-6 and other inflammatory factors and directly damages to cartilage tissue. Such damage directly promotes chondrocyte hypertrophy, which enhances collagen X expression.

Cell Differentiation ; Cell Line ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; Collagen ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; Receptors, CXCR4 ; Signal Transduction ; Stromal Cells

Objective To explore the the expression of Klotho mRNA and protein in placenta of macrosomia and its relationship with the birth weight of neonates. Methods The cases were from November 2014 to March 2015 in Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, divided into 4 groups:the gestational diabetes with macrosomia group (GM), the gestational diabetes with normal birth weight group (GN), the normal pregnancy with macrosomia group (NM) and the normal pregnancy with normal birth weight group (NN). Klotho mRNA and protein expression in the placenta were detected by immunohistochemistry SP method, real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and western blot, respectively, and were compared among the 4 groups. Results (1) Immunohistochemical detection showed the positive rate of Klotho protein was significantly higher in the placenta of GM (93%,28/30) than in the GN (73%,22/30;P<0.05). The positive rate was significantly higher in the placenta of NM (97%,29/30) than in the NN (80%,24/30;P<0.05). (2) Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR showed the Klotho mRNA expression was significantly higher in the placenta of GM (4.3 ± 3.1) than in the GN (2.1 ± 2.4;P<0.05). The Klotho mRNA expression was also significantly higher in the placenta of NM (4.8 ± 3.4) than in the NN (2.6 ± 3.3;P<0.05). (3) Western blot showed the Klotho protein expression was significantly higher in the placenta of GM (1.27±0.90) than in the GN (0.64±0.24;P<0.05). It was also significantly higher in the placenta of NM (2.51±3.52) than in the NN (0.77±0.37;P<0.05). (4) There were no significant differences in the expression of Klotho mRNA and protein between GM and NM, GN and NN (P>0.05). Conclusions The up-regulation of Klotho gene may be associated with macrosomia. The relationship is not affected by the complication of gestational diabetes.

Objective To investigate the relationship between phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase catalytic subunit α(PIK3CA) expression and the incidence and different pathological grade of gastric cancer, and the mechanism thereof. Meth-ods The expressions of PIK3CA, serine/threonine protein kinase (pAkt) and cell proliferation associated nuclear antigen (ki-67) in gastric carcinoma and adjacent tissues and normal gastric mucosa were detected by immunohistochemical method. The relationship between expressions of PIK3CA, pAkt and ki-67 and tumorigenesis was analyzed. The expressions of PIK3CA, pAkt and ki-67 in different pathological conditions of gastric tissues were analyzed. The relationship between tu-mor pathologic classification and differentiation were analyzed too. Results There were significantly higher expressions of PIK3CA, pAkt and ki-67 in gastric cancer (P＜0.05), which were the highest in the poorly differentiated gastric adenocarci-noma (P＜0.05). There were a positive correlation between expressions of PIK3CA, pAkt and ki-67 and different pathologi-cal levels of gastric carcinoma and adjacent tissues and normal gastric tissues (P＜0.05). Conclusion PIK3CA may be the initiating factor of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, which induced phosphorylation of Akt and activation PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, promoting the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of gastric adenocarcinoma.

Objective To evaluate the relationship between placental expression of Gab1 and neonatal birth weight in mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).Methods From the singleton and full-term cesarean delivered women in Shengjing Hospital Affiliated to China Medical University between October 2014 and May 2015,30 macrosomia babies with maternal GDM were selected as GDM macrosomia group,30 cases of GDM with normal neonatal birth weight as GDM normal group,30 cases without GDM but with macrosomia as normal macrosomia group,and 30 cases without GDM and with normal neonatal birth weight as the normal control group.Gab1 protein and mRNA expression in placentas were detected using immunohistochemistry,Western blot and real-time quantitative-polymerase chain reaction.Analysis of variance,LSD,Dunnett's T3,Chi-square test and Pearson's correlation analysis were used for statistical analysis.Results (1) Gab 1 protein location and positive expression rate:Gab 1 protein expression in human placenta tissue was located in the nucleus.The positive epression rate of Gab 1 protein in the GDM macrosomia group was higher than in the GDM normal group and normal macrosomia group [93％(28/30),73％(22/30) vs 73％(22/30)] and those in the normal macrosomia group and GDM normal group were higher than in the normal control group[47％(14/30)](x2=4.320,4.320,4.444 and 4.444,all P＜0.05).(2) The expression levels of Gabl protein and mRNA:The expression level of Gab1 protein in the GDM macrosomia group was higher than in the GDM normal group and normal macrosomia group (1.43 ± 0.58 vs 1.05 ± 0.67 and 0.95± 0.59),and that in the normal macrosomia group and GDM normal group were higher than in the normal control group (0.64±0.38) (LSD test,all P＜0.05).The expression levels of Gab1 mRNA showed the same trend as the expression levels of Gab1 protein in the four groups.(3) Gab 1 protein expression level was positively associated with neonatal birth weight (r=0.320,P=0.320).Conclusions The expression of Gab1 in placenta is involved in the regulation of birth weight in GDM mothers.

Objective To explore SIRT4 gene expression in tumor tissue and investigate the clinicol-pathological features in osteosarcoma .Methods In this study ,SIRT4 protein expression was detected in 106 os-teosarcoma tissues and 36 paired neighboring non -tumorous tissues by immunohistochemistry and determined the correlation between the SIRT 4 expression and the clinicopathological features .Results SIRT4 protein was dra-matically decreased in osteosarcoma cells compared with neighboring non -tumorous bone cells .The low expres-sion of SIRT4 was notably associated with a poor overall survival and disease -free survival in osteosarcoma pa-tients.By using univariate and multivariate analyses ,we confirmed that the increased SIRT 4 expression was an in-dependent factor in predicting better prognosis for patients .Conclu is on SIRT4 expression might be an inde-pendent biomarker for prognostic evaluation of osteosarcoma .

Objective To study the chemical components from Dryopteris fragrans and their biological activities.Methods By means of HPLC and other column chromatography,the chemical components were isolated from D.fragrans and their chemical structures were identified by spectral and chemical tests in accordance with their physicochemical characteristics.Furthermore,the cytotoxicity of the chemical components for Bel-7402,HCT-8,and A-549 cells was measured by MTT method.Results Four compounds,geniposide(Ⅰ),3S,5R,6R,7E,9S-megastigman-7-ene-3,5,6,9-tetrol-3-O-?-D-glucopyranoside(Ⅱ),(6S,9R)-3-oxo-?-ionol-9-O-?-D-glucopyranoside(Ⅲ),and fragranoside a(Ⅳ) were iso-lated and identified.Conclusion Compound Ⅳ is a new compound.And all the other three compounds Ⅰ-Ⅲ are found in plants of Dryopteris Adanson for the first time.The results of pharmacological experiments indicate that compounds Ⅰ and Ⅲ show strong cytotoxicity.

Objective To investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms in the intron 1 of thyroid stimnulating hormone receptor gene (TSHR) and Graves' disease (GD) in the Chinese Han population from Linyi city,Shandong Province.Methods A total of 1759 GD patients and 1740 control subjects were recruited for genotyping in TSHR intron 1 with genome-wide association study (GWAS) and Taqman probe technique.At the same time,serum thyroid hormone and TSH receptor antibody (TRAb) levels of patients were determined.Results Five SNPs were selected for further replication.The rs12101261 _T was significantly associated with GD risk ( OR=1.257,95％CI 1.137-1.390,P =8.23 × 10-6 ). Logistic regression identified that rs12101261 was an independent susceptibility locus of GD ( P=1.61 × 10-3 ).Furthermore,rs12101261 _T was strongly associated with GD ( OR =1.317,95％ CI 1.171-1.481,P=4.14× 10-4 ) in TRAb positive patients,but no association in TRAb negative patients ( OR=1.056,95％ CI 0.892-1.251,P=0.524 ).Serum TRAb concentration showed remarkable difference among three genotype groups of rs12101261.Conclusions Five SNPs in TSHR intron 1 are associated with GD.rs12101261 contributes to increased GD risk independently and is associated with serum TRAb level.

OBJECTIVETo identify the clinical predictors of atrial fibrillation (AF) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

METHODS322 consecutive patients who had undergone isolated CABG were reviewed. Preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative data were collected. Patients were grouped according to whether AF appeared postoperatively.

RESULTSAF occurred in 75 patients (23.3%). Most cases of AF (85.6%) appeared on or before the third postoperative day. The mean age for patients with AF was 62.5 years compared with 56.7 years for patients without AF (P < 0.05). The mean aortic crossclamp time for patients with AF was 67 min compared with 60.3 min for patients without AF (P < 0.05). The mean duration of cardiopulmonary bypass for patients with AF was 109.6 min compared with 97.3 min for patients without AF (P < 0.05). The mean duration of mechanical ventilation for patients with AF was 19.1 h compared with 15.7 h for patients without AF (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the following independent predictors of postoperative AF (P < 0.05): age > or = 65 years (OR 2.7; 95% CI 1.5 to 5.1), lesions in the right coronary artery (OR 2.5; 95% CI 1.4 to 4.5), and early postoperative withdrawal of beta blocker (OR 3.9; 95% CI 2.1 to 7.7).

CONCLUSIONSAF remains the most common complication after CABG. Age and lesions in the right coronary artery can influence the incidence of AF, and beta blocker and magnesium may be the most economical and effective prevention for AF early after CABG.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; adverse effects ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Postoperative Complications ; Prognosis