Objective To investigate the cellular localization of aquaporins(AQPs) and its significance in various subregions of the cochlea and endolymphatic sac of guinea pig.Methods Adult guinea pigs were used and the expression patterns of AQP1,2,3 and 4 in the cochlea and endolymphatic sac were studied immunocytochemically. Paraffin- embedded sections were labeled with the specific polyclonal rabbit antibodies against the rat AQP1, 2, 3, and 4.Results In the cochlea, AQP1, 3, 4 were widely distributed in various subregions including the stria vascularis, spiral ligament, organ of Corti and spiral ganglion in the similar patterns except that AQP3 in the stria vascularis was weaker than AQP1 and AQP4. AQP2 was labeled only in the Reissner's membrane. In the endolymphatic sac, AQP1, AQP3 and AQP4 were strongly expressed in the epithelial cells and subepithelial cells with the exception that AQP3 was a little weaker than AQP1 and AQP4. No AQP2 immunoreactivity was detected in the endolymphatic sac.Conclusion Our immunohistochemical results suggest that different members of AQPs family in labyrinth may work in concert to regulate endolymph and to maintain homeostasis in the inner ear.

ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of asubunit isforms of Na,K-ATPase in stria vascularis of guinea pig, and the effect of gentamicin on it. MethodsThe expression of a subunit isoforms of Na, K-ATPase in stria vascualris of guinea pig and its change after gentamicin exposure were identified immunocytochemically using the specific mouse antibodies a gainst the α1 ,α2 and α3 subunits of rat Na,K-ATPase. ResultsAll marginal cells,intermediate cells and basal cells of stria vas cualris showed positive expression of α1 isoform and negative expression of α2 and α3 isoforms. The immunostaining of α1 isform was attenuated significantly after gentamicin esposture. ConclusionGentamicin significantly inhibits the expression of Na, K-ATPase α1 subunit isoform of the stria vascularis, sequentially inhibits the activity of Na,K-ATPase.

Objective To investigate the cellular localization of the neural precursor cell-expressed, developmentally downregulated isoforms(Nedd4), Nedd4- 1/2 and Nedd4- 2, and the serum glucocorticoid- inducible kinasel(SGK1) in various subregions of the rat cochlea. Methods The expression patterns of Nedd4-1/2, Nedd42 and SGK1 in the cochlea of rat were studied by immunohistochemistry with the specific polyclonal rabbit antibodies against the rat Nedd4-1/2, Nedd4-2 and SGK1. Results All three proteins were extensively expressed in various regions of the rat cochlea. They were found in the stria vascularis, spiral ligament, organ of Corti, spiral limbus, spiral ganglion and Reissner's membrane. Conclusion Our findings suggest that there exists a Na+ transport system in the cochlea consisting of SGK1, Nedd4 isoforms and ENaC, which may work in concert to transport Na+ and to maintain homeostasis in the inner ear as they do in other tight epithelia.

Objective To investigate the distribution and its significance of ? subunit isoforms of Na,K-ATPase in the inner ear of guinea pig.Methods The expression of ? subunit isoforms of Na,K-ATPase in labyrinth was studied immunocytochemically with the specific mouse antibodies against the ? 1?? 2 and ? 3 subunits of rat Na,K-ATPase.Results The expression of Na,K-ATPase ? subunit isoforms varied among different cell regions of the inner ear. The ? 1 subunit isoform was widely distributed in almost all regions, and was most abundant in the stria vascularis, sensory cells of the crista ampullaris and macula of the saccule, and the spiral ganglion cells, while the ? 2 and ? 3 subunit isoforms were present primarily in the spiral ganglion cells,the organ of Corti and stria vascularis.Conclusion The differential expression of Na,K-ATPase subunit isoforms presumably reflects different K + and Na + transport capacities among inner ear cells which, working in concert, serve to maintain homeostasis in inner ear.

[ABSTRACT]OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of combined oral and intratympanic glucocorticoids treatment for severe to profound sudden sensorineural hearing loss(SSNHL).METHODSFifty-four patients with severe to profound SSNHL were retrospectively studied. They were treated with oral steroids, vasodilators, anticoagulants. The patients who accepted intratympanic methylprednisolone sodium succinate were included the therapy group, the others were included in the control group. Hearing improvements were analyzed respectively after two weeks.RESULTSHearing in both groups were improved significantly after treatment(P<0.01), but there was no difference in hearing improvements between two groups(P=0.194). The efficacy for severe SSNHL patients in therapy group was equal to those who were in control group (P=0.251), so was the efficacy for profound SSNHL patients in both groups(P=0.380).CONCLUSIONThe combined systemic and intratympanic glucocorticoids treatment was effective for patients with severe to profound SSNHL, but while with no better efficacy than oral glucocorticoid alone.

Objective: To study the effects of basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF) on promoting new bone formation in repairing mandibular defects.Methods: 15 mm?6 mm bilateral mandibular periosteum bone defects were made surgically in 18 adult New Zealand rabbits, the right defects were repaired with natural non organic bone (NNB) combined with bFGF at 40 ng/mm 3, the left defects were repaired with NNB. Specimens were obtained 3, 6, 12 weeks after operation respectively. The effects were evaluated with toluidine blue stain observation, tetracycline fluorescent microscopic examination and computerized quantity analysis. Results: More chondrocytes were observed in the right defects 3 weeks after operation. 3, 6, 12 weeks after operation the new bone formation (?m 2) in the right defects was 66.092?6.379, 130.198?13.213 and 235.374?16.773 respectively; that in the left defects 21.844? 7.731 , 62.694?10.389 and 160.184?14.793 respectively( P

AIM：To study the effects of citicoline in treating neuroleptic-induced extrapyramidal side effect (EPS)．　METHODS：Seventy-five patients were divided into two groups：citicoline group of 38 patients ( M25，F13；age 28 a±s 9 a) received citicoline injection 0.5 g.d-1，in 5 % glucose injection 500 mL，iv，drip，qd ，for 14 d and control group of 37 patients ( M23，F14；age 27 a±6 a) received 5 % glucose injection 500 mL，iv, drip, qd，for 14 d．　RESULTS: The total efficacy of citicoline or control group was 92 % and 11 % (P＜0.05 ), respectively．The tremour, muscular rigidity, gait and muscle dystonia were better in citicoline group than in control group. No side effects were found. 　CONCLUSION: Citicoline is effective for neuroleptic-induced EPS.

The size of the non-sampling error is directly related to the accuracy and reliability of the sampling survey result. This paper studied the non-sampling errors generated during the sampling process of the China National Human Biomonitoring Program(CNBP), mainly including the sampling frame error, non-response error and measurement error. The program reduced the influence of the non-sampling error on the quality of the survey effectively by scientifically designing the sampling scheme and questionnaire, strengthening investigator trainings and standardizing the data review, which could be used to provide reference for the control of non-sampling errors in public health monitoring projects in China.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of colon cancer cell-derived interleukin-1α on the migration and proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells as well as the role of IL-1α and IL-1ra in the angiogenesis process.

METHODSWestern blot was used to detect the expression of IL-1α and IL-1R1 protein in the colon cancer cell lines with different liver metastatic potential. We also examined how IL-1α and IL-1ra influence the proliferation and migration of umbilical vascular endothelial cells assessed by PreMix WST-1 assay and migration assay, respectively. Double layer culture technique was used to detect the effect of IL-1α on the proliferation and migration of vascular endothelial cells and the effect of IL-1ra on the vascular endothelial cells.

RESULTSWestern blot analysis showed that IL-1α protein was only detected in highly metastatic colon cancer HT-29 and WiDr cells, but not in the lowly metastatic CaCo-2 and CoLo320 cells.Migration assay showed that there were significant differences in the number of penetrated cells between the control (17.9±3.6) and 1 ng/ml rIL-1α group (23.2±4.2), 10 ng/ml rIL-1α group (31.7±4.5), and 100 ng/ml rIL-1α group (38.6±4.9), showing that it was positively correlated with the increasing concentration of rIL-1α (P<0.01 for all). The proliferation assay showed that the absorbance values were 1.37±0.18 in the control group, and 1.79±0.14 in the 1 ng/ml rIL-1α group, 2.14±0.17 in the 10 ng/ml rIL-1α group, and 2.21±0.23 in the 100 ng/ml rIL-1α group, showing a positive correlation with the increasing concentration of rIL-1α(P<0.01 for all). IL-1ra significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of vascular endothelial cells (P<0.01). The levels of VEGF protein were (1.697±0.072) ng/ml, (3.507±0.064)ng/ml and (4.139±0.039)ng/ml in the control, HUVECs+ IL-1α and HUVECs+ HT-29 co-culture system groups, respectively, showing a significant difference between the control and HUVECs+ 10 pg/ml rIL-1α groups and between the control and HUVECs+ HT-29 groups (P<0.01 for both).

CONCLUSIONSOur findings indicate that colon cancer cell-derived IL-1α plays an important role in the liver metastasis of colon cancer through increased VEGF level of the colon cancer cells and enhanced vascular endothelial cells proliferation, migration and angiogenesis, while IL-1ra can suppress the effect of IL-1α and inhibit the angiogenesis in colon cancer.

Blotting, Western ; Caco-2 Cells ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; physiology ; Cell Proliferation ; physiology ; Coculture Techniques ; Colonic Neoplasms ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein ; metabolism ; physiology ; Interleukin-1alpha ; metabolism ; physiology ; Liver Neoplasms ; secondary ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; etiology

Objective:To investigate the effects of hepatitis B virus X (HBx) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) proliferation, invasion, and sorafenib resistance.Methods:HepG2 cell line infected with HBx ORF lentivirus was set as the HBx high expression group and infected with empty vector was set as the negative control group. The interference group was infected with the HBx siRNA virus based on the HBx high expression group to reduce HBx expression. Interference control group as interference group but with infected empty vector virus. Western blotting was used to measure the protein level of HBx. Cell proliferation, invasion ability, and sorafenib semi-inhibitory concentration (IC50) of HCC cells under different HBx expression levels were respectively detected by cell proliferation assay kit, Transwell invasion assay, and cell titer-glo kit.Results:Western blotting showed that the stable cell lines were successfully established. Cell proliferation of the HBx high expression group was better than that of the blank control and negative control groups, and the cell proliferation of the interference group was lower than that of the interference control and HBx high expression groups, and the differences were all statistically significant ( P<0.05). The number of cells crossing Matrigel gel was (46.2±4.1), (50.7±5.1) and (48.2±5.2) in the blank control group, negative control group, and interference group, respectively. The number of cells crossing Matrigel gel in the HBx high expression group (124.2±8.3) and the interference control group (117.2±7.5) were higher than the above three groups, respectively, and the differences were all statistically significant ( P<0.05). The IC50 of cells in the HBx high expression group and the interference control group were (5.36±0.31) μmol/L and (5.48±0.20) μmol/L, respectively, which were higher than those in the blank control group, the negative control group, and the interference group (4.75±0.22) μmol/L, (4.60±0.14) μmol/L and (3.98±0.03) μmol/L. The differences were all statistically significant ( P<0.05). Conclusion:HBx promoted the tumor proliferation and invasion of HepG2 HCC cells, enhanced the ability to sorafenib resistance, and inhibited apoptosis.