Objective To analyze ex vivo samples of colorectal cancers by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and magnetic resonance spectrometry,and to explore the feasibility to diagnose the tumor by using the methods in clinic.Methods From March 2007 to April 2008,fresh samples colorectal mucosa and carcinoma were obtained from 47 patients.The regimens were examined pathologically and then analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and magnetic resonance spectrometry.The accuracy of the spectrometrical results was determined by comparing with the pathological results.Results The accuracy of the Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and magnetic resonance spectrometry was 94.7%(89/94)and 97.8%(45/46),respectively,while the sensitivity was 93.6%(44/47)and 100%(23/23),specificity was 95.7%(45/47)and 95.7%(22/23),false positive rate was 4.3%(2/47)and 4.3%(1/23),false negative rate was 6.4%(3/47)and 0%(0/23),positive prognostic value was 95.7%(44/46)and 95.8%(23/24),and the negative prognostic value was 93.8%(45/48)and 100%(22/22).ConclusionsBenign and malignant colorectal tissues can be identified quickly and accurately by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and magnetic resonance spectrometry.The methods,which are minimally invasive,could be a potential diagnosing tool for colorectal cancer at an early stage.

Objective To investigate the effect of all-trans retinoic acid (at-RA) on fetal alveolar epithelial type Ⅱ cells (fAEC Ⅱ s) proliferation and the expression of pulmonary surfactant C (SPC) as well as aquaporin 5 (AQP5).Methods fAEC Ⅱ s were isolated and purified from fetal lung of pregnant SD rats (19 days).After being cultured for 1 day,and the fAEC Ⅱ s were interfered by at-RA for 1,2 and 3 days.Cell proliferation,viability as well as growth state,expressions of SPC mRNA as well as AQP5 mRNA and expressions of protein SPC as well as AQP5 were respectively detected by using 4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT),inverted microscope,real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-PCR) and Western blot.Results (1) When fAEC Ⅱ s were treated with at-RA for 1 day,and the cell proliferation and viability did not change (P ＞ 0.05),while the proliferation and viability were significantly improved in 2 days (P ＜ 0.05),and the difference was the most obvious (P ＜ 0.05) at 3 days.(2)Compared with the control group,the cell growth state was better,and the cell adherence was tighter and the refraction was higher in at-RA group.(3) Compared with the control group,at-RA up-regulated the expressions of AQP5 mRNA and AQP5 protein(t =-19.58,-10.44,-16.01,-46.25,-12.79,-27.96,all P ＜ 0.05),and the percentages of control group were 281.07％,766.67％,1 163.33％ and 792.65％,1 310.52％,1 561.56％ in 1,2 and 3 days respectively.(4) Compared with control group,the expressions of SP-C mRNA and SPC protein were up regulated when cells were exposed to at-RA for 1 and 3 d,but while they were down-regulated at 2 days(protein:the percentages of control group were 615.480％,369.450％ and 11.269％,respectively ; mRNA:728.33 ％,400.83 ％,66.57％,respectively)(t=-26.34,-25.26,13.80,-25.25,-31.71,9.12,all P＜0.05).Conclusions at-RA can promote the proliferation and differentiation of fAEC Ⅱs,enhance the fAEC Ⅱ s viability,and improve the expression of SPC and AQP5.

Aim To observe the protective effect of quercetin on rat cardiomyocyte apoptosis induced by adriamycin and explore its possible mechanism.Methods Cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were randomly divided into six groups:normal control group, adriamycin group,quercetin control group, adriamycin+quercetin(25,50,100 ?mol?L-1)groups. The activity of LDH was detected by chromatometry, the cardiomyocyte viability was measured by MTT, the ultrastructure of cardiomyocyte was observed by electron microscope, the expression of protein Bcl-2 and Bax was analyzed by immunocytochemical, and the mRNA and protein of caspase-3 were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot respectively.Results Compared with the control group, the activity of LDH was increased but the viability of cardiomyocyte was decreased; the expression of Bax and caspase-3 was up-regulated while Bcl-2 was down-regulated in ADR group.Compared with ADR group, the above changes were lightened in adriamycin+quercetin groups. But the quercetin control group, in which cultured myocardial cells only exposed to quercetin without ADR, had no obvious changes.Conclusions Quercetin significantly inhibits the apoptosis induced by ADR in the cultured myocardial cells. Its mechanism is involved in the apoptosis-related pathways, including caspase-3, Bax and Bcl-2.

Objective To study the effects of the Notch ligands Dlk1 and recombinant human nucleu factorκB (Jagged1) on the proliferation and transdifferentiation of the type Ⅱ alveolar epithelial cells when the Notch signaling pathway activated.Methods The primary type Ⅱ alveolar epithelial cells (AEC Ⅱ) cultured with recombinant protein Dlk1 and recombinant human nucleu factor-κB (rhNF-κB) (activator of Jagged1),respectively,and then cultured with DMEM (containing 120 mL/L FBS) as controls.Proliferation and differentiation conditions of the AEC Ⅱ were observed at 48 h,72 h,96 h time point by the light microscope and electron microscopes separately.Cell number was counted with hemacytometer; the proliferation rate was measured by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) ; Immunofluorescence double standard method was used to detect the AEC Ⅱ specific surfactant protein C (SP-C) and AEC Ⅰ specific protein aquaporin5 (AQPS) ;the expression of SP-C,AQPS,Dlk1,Jagged1,Notch1 and Hes1 mRNA were detected by real time-PCR.Results The cell population and proliferation:compared with control group,AEC Ⅱ proliferation was promoted in the Dlk1 group [cell numbers (× 109/L) 9.05 ± 0.45 vs 7.95 ± 0.65,11.68 ± 0.43 vs 8.68 ± 0.52,11.55 ± 0.17 vs 8.73 ± 0.48,all P ＜ 0.05 ; MTT results (value A) 0.699 ± 0.050 vs 0.462 ± 0.080,0.912 ± 0.080 vs 0.535 ±0.040,0.726 ±0.050 vs 0.540 ±0.020,all P ＜0.05] and decelerated AEC Ⅱ transdifferentiation into AEC Ⅰ ; while AEC Ⅱ proliferation was inhibited in rhNF-κB group [cell numbers (× 109/L) 4.95 ± 0.33 vs 7.95 ± 0.65,4.73 ±0.71 vs 8.68 ± 0.52,4.04 ± 0.11 vs 8.73 ± 0.48,all P ＜ 0.05; MTT results (value A) 0.398 ± 0.030 vs 0.462 ± 0.080,0.402 ± 0.070 vs 0.535 ± 0.040,0.380 ± 0.110 vs 0.540 ± 0.020,all P ＜ 0.05] and accelerated AEC Ⅱ transdifferentiation into AEC Ⅰ.One-Way ANOVA showed that the difference among the 3 groups had statistical significance (cell numbers:F =486.73,P =0.02; cell proliferation:F =37.16,P =0.02).The mRNA expression:compared with control group,the expression of SP-C mRNA of Dlk1 group was significantly higher (P ＜ 0.05) while the expression of AQP5 mRNA was remarkably lower and delayed (P ＜ 0.05),the expression of Jagged1 mRNA was weak or little,Dlk1 and Notch1 mRNA were up-regulated (P ＜ 0.05),and the Hes1 mRNA was reduced (P ＜ 0.05) ; the expression of SP-C mRNA of rhNF-κB group was significantly reduced (P ＜ 0.05),while the AQP5 mRNA expressed ahead of time and increased (P ＜ 0.05),Jagged1,Hes1 and Notch1 mRNA were higher (P ＜ 0.05),and the Dlk1 mRNA was weak.One-Way ANOVA showed that the difference in the expressions of SP-C,AQP5,D1k1,Jagged1,Hes1 and Notch1 mRNA among the 3 groups had staistical significance (F =96.80,P =0.01 ; F =82.55,P =0.01 ; F =269.80,P=0.00;F =312.34,P =0.00;F =169.17,P =0.01;F =19.85,P =0.02).Conclusions There are varied effects on proliferation and differentiation of the AEC Ⅱ when the Notch signaling is activated by different ligands:Dlk1 promoted proliferation and inhibited differentiation,while Jagged1 inhibited proliferation and promoted transdifferentiation.

AIM:To observe the expression of calcium-sensing receptor(CaSR) of rat cardiomyocytes in anoxia-reoxygenation(A/R) injury and CaSR-induced changes of intracellular calcium;involvement of CaSR in apoptosis and relevant signaling transduction pathway.METHODS:The A/R injury was remodeled in vitro;CaSR,caspase 3 and caspase 9 were deteced by Western blotting.LSCM was used to observe changes of intracellular calcium during reperfusion with or without CaSR agonist.Morphological changes in different groups were observed by light microscopes.Apoptotic cells were measured by TUNEL assay.RESULTS:By LSCM,it was found that the intracellular calcium was significantly increased during reperfusion both in A/R and activator group.Severe injury was found by HE staining in the above two groups,the number of apoptotic cells was significantly increased according to TUNEL assay.The expression of CaSR,caspase 3 and caspase 9 was significantly increased in A/R group and activator group compared with control.CONCLUSION:CaSR is involved in intracellular calcium overload in A/R cardiomyocyte,which can accelerate apoptosis during A/R.

Objective To evaluate the correlation between diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)measurements,fiber tracking(FT)and the clinical symptoms in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy.Methods According to the Japanese orthopaedics association score(JOA),104 patients with cervical spondylopathy were divided into 4 groups:mild in 31 patients with 13-16 scores,moderate in 27 with 9-12 scores,severe in 25 with 5-8 scores,and serious in 21 with 0-4 scores.According to the lesion signal characters,all patients were divided into 3 groups:Group A with normal signal in both T1 WI and T2WI in 33 patients,Group B with normal signal in T1WI but high signal in T2WI in 30 patients,and Group C with low signal in T1 WI and high signal in T2WI in 41 patients.Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC),fractional anisotropy(FA),λ1,λ2,λ3 were measured in the spinal cord at the serious pressed section,and fiber tractography was performed.The Spearman correlation analyses was used to correlate each of the DTI measurement with JOA score.Group difference was tested with one-way ANOVA method.Results High quality of DTI was acquired in all patients.The FA values in the mild,moderate,severe,and serious groups were respectively 0.69 ±0.13,0.58 ±0.03,0.46 ±0.08,and 0.37 ±0.11 and significant difference was found in different groups(F =100.59,P ＜ 0.05)and positively correlated with JOA scores (r =0.883,P ＜ 0.05).There was no statistical significance between JOA scores and ADC,λ1,λ2,λ3(r=0.232,0.217,0.113,0.127,P ＞0.05).The FA values in group A,B,and C were respectively 0.67 ±0.33,0.51 ±0.21,0.38 ±0.03,and significant difference was found among different groups(F =50.05,P ＜ 0.05).Decrease of JOA score and high signal in T2 companied with decrease of FA value.Decrease of FA values was found associated with increase of fiber bundle damage.The ADC,λ2,λ3 but not λ1 were significantly different among the JOA groups and the group A,B,and C.Conclusions The FA values are positively correlated with clinical symptoms.Decrease of FA values is found associated with increase of fiber bundle damage.DTI can show the severity and extent of damage of spinal cord in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy.