Objective To screen melanocortin 4 receptor (Mc4R) gene mutation by direct DNA sequencing in order to explore the mutation situation of Mc4R gene in simple obese children in Nanjing.Methods One hundred and five simple obese children(obesity group) and 127 healthy children(healthy control group) were examined for mutations of Mc4R gene.Body mass index(BMI)cutoff points for overweight and obesity adopted Chinese children and adolescents,recommended by China Working Group of Obesity,and all children had no other hereditary and metabolic abnormality.Touch-down PCR was performed to amplify the full length Mc4R gene,then direct DNA sequencing was used to analyze the Mc4R gene.The differences of biochemical index levels between obesity group and healthy control group were analyzed ,including alanine transaminase,aspartate transaminas,total protein,albumin,globulin,albumin/globulin,triglyceride,cholesterol,high density lipoprotein,cortisol,insulin and C peptide.Results There were significant differences of biochemical index levels between obesity group and healthy control group,including triglyceride,insulin level after dining 2 h,C peptide and BMI(Pa

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are recently discovered major regulators of gene expression, which play a pivotal role in a wide spectrum of biological processes including antiviral defence. There is growing evidence that some viruses either encode their own viral miRNAs or subvert cellular miRNAs. The host-and virus-encoded miRNAs and their targets together thus form a novel regulatory layer of interactions between the host and the virus. A better understanding of host-virus interaction mediated by miRNAs would not only enable us to unravel the molecular basis of viral pathogenesis, but also enable us to develop better therapeutic strategies.

AIM:To investigate the regulatory role of hypoxia mimic reagent cobalt chloride ( CoCl2 ) on cave-olin-1 (Cav-1) generation and the influence of Cav-1 on the abilities of migration and invasion of human lung adenocarcino-ma A549 cells.METHODS:The concentrations of Cav-1 and hypoxia-inducible factor ( HIF)-1αin pleural effusion of the patients with lung cancer ( MPE) or tuberculous pleurisy ( TBPE) were detected, and the correlation was also compared. A549 cells were treated with CoCl2 at different concentrations and time in the presence or absence of HIF-1αinhibitor YC-1.The concentrations of Cav-1 and HIF-1αin the cell supernatants were measured by ELISA.The effects of Cav-1 induced by CoCl2 on the migration and invasion of A549 cells were determined by scratch test and Transwell invasion trial, respec-tively.RESULTS:The levels of Cav-1 and HIF-1αin MPE were significantly higher than those in TBPE.There was a highly positive correlation between Cav-1 and HIF-1αlevels in the pleural effusion.CoCl2 induced the generation of Cav-1 and HIF-1αin A549 cells in a concentration-and time-dependent manner, the peak occurred at 200 μmol/L or 24 h, while the concentration over 200 μmol/L or after treated over 24 h, a concentration-or time-dependent inhibition was ob-served.HIF-1αinhibitor YC-1 concentration-dependently inhibited the generation of HIF-1αand Cav-1 induced by CoCl2 in A549 cells.CoCl2 enhanced A549 cells migration and invasion, with 200 μmol/L played the strongest role, which were down-regulated significantly in the presence of YC-1.CONCLUSION:The alteration of hypoxia-induced Cav-1 generation might be involved in the migration and invasion of A549 cells.A possible role for HIF-1αis indicated in Cav-1 generation.

Objective To observe the availability and safety of ventricular septal defect (VSD) occluder in infants and young children with large patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) associated with severe pulmonary hypertension.Methods Five patients (1 male and 4 fomale) of large PDA aged 5 months to 3 years,weighted from 5.1 to 15 kg,body surface area (BSA) 0.37-0.58 m2 underwent transcathter intervention with concentric VSD occluders from June 2008 to May 2009.Arterial ducta were tube-like and their diameters were 5.7 to 8.5 mm,with ulmonary vascular resistance from 4.8 to 5.7 Wood Unit,Qp/Qs 3.4-4.6.Three patients were given Bosentan after intervention.Results The large PDAs were successfully closed with VSD occluders,including 1 concentric perimembranous VSD occluder and 4 muscular VSD occluders.They all discharged 4 to 5 days with hidrosis and weight improved.Echocardiogram indicated VSD occluder was stable,no residue shunt and no stricture of left pulmonary artery and descending aorta were found.According to tricuspid and pulmonary regurgitation,pulmonary arterial pressure decreased differently and returned to normal after 6 months follow-up.Conclusion VSD occluder is available and effective to close large PDA associated with severe pulmonary hypertension in inrants and young children,but more cases and long-term follow-up are necessary.

Objective To investigate the effects of different concentration and inhalation duration time of isoflurane on cognitive performance and the expression of GABAR1 and NMDAR2B in aged SD rat cerebral temporal lopes.Methods Aged male SD rats (9 months) were randomly divided into control group (n=10) and test group (n=80).The control group received air at room tempreture.Test groups were divided into four groups: group S1 (1.5%-2 h),group S2 (2.5%-2 h),group S3 (1.5%-4 h),group S4 (2.5%-4 h)according to isoflurane concentration and inhalation duration time.Every group was equally divided into two groups and Morris water maze test was performed day 1 and day 7 after isoflurane inhalation.Then the right temporal lobe was gathered and the mRNA transcription and protein expression of GABAR1 and NMDAR2B were detected by RT-PCR and Immunofluorescence technique.Results One day after isoflurane inhalation, accompanied with increased isoflurane concentration and inhalation duration, the spatial memory ability of every test group decreased continually, and the mRNA transcription and protein expression of GABAR1 increased and the mRNA transcription and protein expression of NMDAR2B decreased compared with control group (P<0.01).Seven days after isoflurane inhalation, the spatial memory ability of group S4 decreased, the mRNA transcription and protein expression of both GABAR1 increased, the mRNA transcription and protein expression of NMDAR2B decreased compared with control group and the other test groups (P<0.01).There was no significant difference between the control group and groups S1, S2, S3.Conclusion Continuous inhalation of isoflurane has great effects on spatial memory ability.And impaired spatial memory by isoflurane inhalation of high concentration with long duration is present in a long time.Thoses are related with the mRNA transcription and protein expressions of GABAR1 and NMDAR2B in cerebral temporal lope.

Acinetobacter baumannii ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial ; genetics ; Humans ; Phylogeny

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OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Compound Danshen Dripping Pill (CDDP) on the structure and functions of sternohyoid muscle in metabolic syndrome (MS) rats, and to study whether it has therapeutic effects on obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).

METHODSTwenty-one healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups, i.e., the normal control group (n = 6), the MS group (n = 8), and the CDDP group (n = 7). Rats in the normal control group were routinely fed. High lipid forage was given to rats in the rest two groups. Nine weeks later, CDDP (at the dose of 375 mg/kg) was additionally given to rats in the CDDP group by gastrogavage, and then rats in the CDDP group and the MS group were fed with the same high lipid forage for 12 successive weeks. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the sternohyoid muscle were detected in the three groups. The capillary density, capillary-to-fiber ratio (C/F), the section area of type I muscle fiber were detected using myosin-ATPase histochemical assay. The contractile changes of isometric stemohyoid muscles were determined under electric stimulation by different frequencies.

RESULTSThe contents of MDA were obviously lower in the CDDP group than in the MS group, while the activities of SOD, the capillary density, C/F, the section area of type I muscle fiber, the tension of stemohyoid muscle at 10 -60 Hz, and the 1-5 min tension percentages of the stemohyoid muscle were higher in the CDDP group than in the MS group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCDDP could improve oxidative stress induced intramuscularly microcirculation disturbance and changes of muscular fiber structures of the upper airway muscles, and elevate their contractile functions, thus possibly contributing to favorable effects on OSAHS.

Animals ; Capillaries ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; metabolism ; Muscle Contraction ; drug effects ; Neck Muscles ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Phenanthrolines ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To detect the immunogenicity of VirB9,a protein of type Ⅳ secretion system of Brucella.Methods Full length VirB9 gene was cloned into plasmid pET32a and expressed in Escherichia (E.) coli BL21 (DE3).Expression of recombinant protein was induced by isopropyl beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) and the recombinant fusion protein was purified by affinity chromatography on Ni2+-conjugated chelateing sepharose.The purity of the purified protein was ascertained by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(SDSPAGE) and the concentration was measured by bicinchoninic acid (BCA) protein assay kit.Animal model was established by immunizing BAL B/c mice with live vaccine strain S19 of Brucella and the mice immunized with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) as control.The blood of immunized mice was acquired after 4 weeks.Antibody against VirB9 in S19 immunized mice was detected by Rose Bengal plate agglutination test and serum tube agglutination test; IgG antibody titers against VirB9 in immunized mice were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).At the 35th day,the immunized mice and control mice were killed and spleens were collected.The splenocytes were harvested and stimulated with each of VirB9,concanvalin A(ConA) or medium in triplicate.Production of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) was determined by enzyme-linked immunospot assay (Elispot).Results The full length of VirB9 gene was cloned into pET32a.The recombinant VirB9 protein was expressed at 43 × 103 in relative molecular mass and the purity of the purified recombinant VirB9 protein was above 97％ in SDS-PAGE and the concentration was 1.6 g/L in BCA protein assay.The antibody of VirB9 was detected in all S19 immunized mice but not PBS immunized mice by Rose Bengal plate agglutination test.The antibody titer in all S19 immunized mice was ＞ 1 ∶ 800 or ＞ 1 ∶ 3200 by tube agglutination test and ELISA,respectively.Meanwhile,the protein stimulated stronger IFN-γresponse in immunized mice than that in the control mice(147 cells Vs 38 cells).Conclusion VirB9 can stimulate humoral and cellular immunity and it might be an appropriate target for developing subunit vaccine against Brucella.

AIM: Cystostomy is the traditionary method for detecting urodynamic indexes in mice, which de-stroys the continuity of the bladder, and there are significant differences between this method and the clinically used trans-urethral method.This study aims to develop an appropriate urethral catheter to investigate the advantages and application val-ue of transurethral method for urodynamic test.METHODS:A pediatric intravenous catheter was used for urethral catheter-ization on 8 female mice, and linked to connect the catheter to baroreceptor and micropump.The epidural catheter was also used as manometry tube.RESULTS:Using this method, the following urodynamic indicators has been successfully cap-tured:basal bladder pressure (BBP), bladder leak point pressure (BLPP), maximum voiding pressure (MVP), maxi-mum bladder capacity ( MBC ) , post-void residual urine volume ( PVR ) , voiding volume ( VV ) , efficiency of voiding ( EV) and bladder compliance ( BC) .CONCLUSION:This is the first successful simulation used in human body to a-chieve mouse urodynamic testing through the urethra catheter, which avoids the impact of cystostomy on urodynamics in mice, and the mice are able to keep long-term survival after tests for the follow-up molecular and genetic experiments.