Objective To study the impact of adenoviral short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5 shRNA) on myo-cardial cells apoptosis at early stage post -myocardial infarction ( MI ).Methods MI was induced in mice by left coronary artery ligation.Mice were randomly assigned to test group [ n=10 , adenoviral vectors inserted with shRNA sequence for the inhibition of phosphodiesterase 5 ( PDE5 ) were injected intramyocardially to infarcted and border area ] and control group ( n =10 , injection with adenoviral vectors without therapeutic PDE5 shRNA ).One week post -MI, apoptosis was evaluated by TdT-mediated dUTP nick -end labeling ( TUNEL ) , proteins were extracted from the left ventricular of heart , level of PDE5 expression was detected using Western Bloting , the level of guanosine 3′, 5′-cyclic phosphate ( cGMP) or protein kinase G ( PKG) activity in the left ven-tricular of heart was evaluated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results One week post -MI, compared to control group, test group had reduced number of apoptotic cells in infarct and periinfarct areas, and significantly reduced cardiomyocytes apoptosis in the periinfarct regions ( P<0.05 ).Compared to control group , the level of PDE5 was significantly decreased and the levels of cGMP and PKG were significantly increased in the test group ( P <0.05 ).Conclusion It the PDE5 shRNA has protective effect on acute myocardial infarction and significantly inhibit the apopto -sis of myocardial cell which may be closely related to the increased expression of cGMP and PKG .

Cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) releases Ca²⁺ from ryanodine receptor (RyR)-sensitive calcium pools in various cell types. In cardiac myocytes, the physiological levels of cADPR transiently increase the amplitude and frequency of Ca²⁺ (that is, a rapid increase and decrease of calcium within one second) during the cardiac action potential. In this study, we demonstrated that cADPR levels higher than physiological levels induce a slow and gradual increase in the resting intracellular Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺](i)) level over 10 min by inhibiting the sarcoendoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ ATPase (SERCA). Higher cADPR levels mediate the tyrosine-dephosphorylation of α-actin by protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) present in the endoplasmic reticulum. The tyrosine dephosphorylation of α-actin dissociates phospholamban, the key regulator of SERCA, from α-actin and results in SERCA inhibition. The disruption of the integrity of α-actin by cytochalasin B and the inhibition of α-actin tyrosine dephosphorylation by a PTP1B inhibitor block cADPR-mediated Ca²⁺ increase. Our results suggest that levels of cADPR that are relatively higher than normal physiological levels modify calcium homeostasis through the dephosphorylation of α-actin by PTB1B and the subsequent inhibition of SERCA in cardiac myocytes.
Action Potentials ; Adenosine Diphosphate* ; Adenosine Triphosphatases ; Calcium ; Cyclic ADP-Ribose ; Cytochalasin B ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; Homeostasis ; Muscle Cells* ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 1* ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases* ; Reticulum ; Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel ; Tyrosine

The identification of five marine-derived shell traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia were studied. Using near infrared technology (NIR) combined with principal component analysis (PCA) methods, Ostreae Concha, Haliotidis Concha, and Margaritifera Concha could be efficiently distinguished from Meretricis Concha together with Arcae Concha. In the first principal components, Ostreae Concha exhibited obvious differences with high loadings in 4 236, 5 263, 7 142 cm(-1) concerning to the contents of CaCO3 and H2O in the samples. Arcae Concha and Meretricis Concha displayed significant differences with others in the second principal components, which can be illustrated by high loadings in 5 000 -4 430 cm(-1) areas. It is indicated that the second principal components might be related to organics which contained NH and CH groups, for example proteins. Meanwhile, our data showed a correlation between the function of these shell TCM and their distribution in the PCA plot. These results suggested that organic components in marine-derived shell TCM could not be neglected for their quality control.
Animal Shells ; chemistry ; Animals ; Calcium Carbonate ; analysis ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Mollusca ; chemistry ; classification ; Principal Component Analysis ; Seawater ; Species Specificity ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical, pathological and genetic characteristics in a family with autosomal dominant Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (AD-EDMD).

METHODSClinical data and skeletal muscle specimens were collected from two patients (the proband and her daughter) for pathological analysis. DNA samples of the proband and her family members (7 persons from 3 generations) were obtained for PCR amplification and direct DNA sequencing of the lamin A/C (LMNA) gene. Haplotype analysis was performed after the identification of mutation.

RESULTSThe proband had typical clinical manifestation of EDMD: joint contracture, progressive muscle weakness and atrophy and cardiac conduction dysfunction. Muscular pathology revealed myopathic changes combined with slight neuropathic changes. A heterozygous missense mutation 1583 (C to G)(T528R) was identified in exon 9 of the LMNA gene in the two patients, but not in other family members. Haplotype analysis indicated that the proband and her daughter shared the same causative haplotype.

CONCLUSIONThis is the first report of the phenotype and genotype of AD-EDMD in Chinese.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Child ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Haplotypes ; genetics ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Muscular Dystrophy, Emery-Dreifuss ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Phenotype

OBJECTIVEThe effect of vascular endothelial growth factor(165) (VEGF(165)) on intracellular free magnesium ([Mg(2+)](i)) and the relationship between Mg(2+) and angiogenesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were investigated in this study.

METHODS[Mg(2+)](i) in HUVECs loaded with fluorescent magnesium indicator mag-fura-2 were quantitatively detected with the use of intracellular cation measurement system. HUVECs were obtained from normal fetus and cultured in M199 with 0.2 fetal bovine serum. The angiogenesis effects of VEGF(165) were observed in presence of 0 mmol/L, 1 mmol/L or 2 mmol/L of extracellular Mg(2+).

RESULTSVEGF(165) significantly increased [Mg(2+)](i) in a dose-dependent manner independent of extracellular Mg(2+), Na(+) and Ca(2+) and this effect could be blocked by pretreatment with VEGF(165) receptor-2 (KDR) inhibitor (SU1498). The angiogenesis induced by VEGF(165) was significantly inhibited cells with 0 mmol/L extracellular Mg(2+), the angiogenesis effects of VEGF(165) were similar in cells with 1 mmol/L and 2 mmol/L extracellular Mg(2+) and these effects could be blocked by SU1498.

CONCLUSIONSThese results suggest that the [Mg(2+)](i) increase induced by VEGF(165) originates from intracellular Mg(2+) pools and promotes angiogenesis via KDR-dependent signaling pathways.

Cations, Divalent ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Humans ; Magnesium ; metabolism ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; Signal Transduction ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of electrothermal acupuncture plus joint mobilization in treating knee osteoarthritis.Methods One hundred patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomized to treatment and control groups, 50 cases each. The control group received Maitland's technique and the treatment group, electrothermal acupuncture in addition. The Osteoarthritis Index score was recorded and cytokines (IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α) contents were measured in the two groups before and after four weeks of treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups.Results The total efficacy rate was 91.5％ in the treatment group and 80.0％ in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in the WOMAC score and cytokines in the two groups (P<0.01,P<0.05). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in the WOMAC score and cytokines between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05).Conclusion Electrothermal acupuncture plus joint mobilization is an effective way to treat knee osteoarthritis.

Objective To study the protective effects of phosphodies terase 5 shRNA [PDE5shRNA] on doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiomyopathy in mice.Methods A single intraperitoneal injection of doxorubicin 15 mg · kg-1 to induce cardiomyopathy to establish model.Male 10-week-old C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to three groups:model group (n =16);experimental group(DOX + PDE5shRNA,n =16):a single intraperitoneal injection of same dose of doxorubicin and being simultaneously treated with a single myocardial injection of PDE5shRNA 1 x 1010 particles;Normal group (n =10):a single intraperitoneal injection of same volume of saline.After two weeks of administration,left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD),left ventricular end-distolic diameter (LVEDD),left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and percent fractional shortening (％ FS) were evaluated by echocardiography.Cardiac specimens were then subjected for HE (Hematoxyum Eosin),Masson staining,computing for each group of cardiac cell size and fibrosis area.Levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and protein kinase G (PKG) in the myocardium were assayed by ELISA.The expression of myosin heavy chain (MHC),Troponin I and Desmin were evaluated by Western blot.Results Two weeks later of administration,indicators in experimental group and model group were as follows:LVESD were(2.13 ±0.10),(2.75 ±0.12)mm;LVEDD were(2.98 ± 0.10),(3.42 ± 0.12) mm;LVEF were (58.74 ± 1.40)％,(48.53 ± 1.50)％;％ FS were (28.52 ± 2.10) ％,(19.59 ± 1.67) ％;the transverse diameter of cardiomyocytes were (14.68 ± 0.42),(13.75 ±0.38)μm;cardiac fibrosis were (2.28 ±0.20)％,(5.10 ±0.35)％;the levels of cGMP expression were (0.23 ± 0.02),(0.06 ± 0.01) pg · mg-1;the levels of PKG were (0.21 ± 0.02),(0.10 ± 0.01) pg · mg-1;the myocardial expression of MHC were 1.55 ± 0.16,1.15 ± 0.22;the expression of troponin I were 1.32 ± 0.08,0.88 ±0.08;the expression of Desmin were 1.327 ± 0.512,1.103 ± 0.038;all the above data were significantly different compared between two groups (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The protective effects of PDE 5shRNA on doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy,mitigatting doxorubicin-induced impairment of cardiac function in mice,significantly attenuatting doxorubicin-induced atrophic degeneration of cardiomyocyte and myocardial fibrosis through possible activating cGMP/PKG signaling pathway.

AIMThe mechanism of vascular endothelial growth factor165 (VEGF165) on intracellular free magnesium ([Mg2+]i) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was investigated.

METHODS[Mg2+]i in HUVECs loaded with fluorescent magnesium indicator mag-fura-2 were quantitatively detected the use of intracellular cation measurement system.

RESULTSVEGF165 significantly increased [Mg2+]i in the extracellular Mg2+ and this effect could be blocked by pretreatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (tyrphostin A23 and genistein), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors (wortmannin and LY294002) and phospholipase Cgamma (PLCgamma) inhibitor (U73122). In contrast, phospholipase Cgamma (PLCgamma) inhibitor analog (U73343), mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors (SB202190 and PD98059) had no effect on the VEGF165-induced [Mg2+]i increase.

CONCLUSIONThe increase of [Mg2+]i by VEGF165 originates from intracellular Mg2+ pool through tyrosine kinase/ PI3K/PLCgamma-dependent signaling pathways.

Cells, Cultured ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; physiology ; Humans ; Magnesium ; metabolism ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; metabolism ; Phospholipase C gamma ; metabolism ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo analyze the spatial distribution of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Haidian district, Beijing and to explore the geographical characteristics of HFRS in highly endemic areas.

METHODSAdministration boundary layer was established under the background of 1:100,000 map in the ArcInfo 8.1 software. The HFRS cases from 1997 to 2002 were positioned on the map. Highly endemic areas were identified by spatial cluster analysis using SaTScan 3.0 software. Distribution of HFRS cases was shown in different colors and contours by spatial analysis of geographic information system (GIS).

RESULTSSpatial Cluster Analysis of confirmed cases of HFRS identified in 1997 - 2002 in Haidian district showed that HFRS patients were not randomly distributed. The highly endemic areas were founded in Sujiatuo township, Yongfeng township, Shangzhuang township, Wenquan town and Bei'anhe township (relative risk = 4.43, P = 0.001). A thematic map of HFRS in haidian district was set up.

CONCLUSIONHFRS infections were not randomly distributed, since the distribution was related to geographic-environmental factors.

China ; epidemiology ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Urban Health ; statistics & numerical data ; Urbanization

Gap junction protein, connexin, is expressed in endothelial cells of vessels, glomerulus, and renin secreting cells of the kidney. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of gap junction in renin secretion and its underlying mechanisms using As 4.1 cell line, a renin-expressing clonal cell line. Renin release was increased proportionately to incubation time. The specific gap junction inhibitor, 18-beta glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) increased renin release in dose-dependent and time- dependent manners. Heptanol and octanol, gap junction blockers, also increased renin release, which were less potent than GA. GA-stimulated renin release was attenuated by pretreatment of the cells with amiloride, nifedipine, ryanodine, and thapsigargin. GA dose-dependently increased intracellular Ca2+ concentration, which was attenuated by nifedipine, nimodipine, ryanodine, and thapsigargin. However, RP-cAMP, chelerythrine, tyrphostin A23, or phenylarsine oxide did not induced any significant change in GA-stimulated increase of intracellular Ca2+ concentration. These results suggest that gap junction plays an important role on the regulation of renin release and intracellular Ca2+ concentration in As 4.1 cells.
Amiloride ; Calcium* ; Cell Line* ; Connexins ; Endothelial Cells ; Gap Junctions* ; Glycyrrhetinic Acid ; Heptanol ; Kidney ; Nifedipine ; Nimodipine ; Renin* ; Ryanodine ; Thapsigargin