AIM: To examine the effects of hydrogen peroxide on intracellular free calcium concentration([Ca~(2+)]i) in cardiomyocytes and its antagonism by taurine. METHODS: A cell culture model of neonatal rat cardiac myocytes was used. There were four groups, control group, hydrogen peroxide (H_2O_2) group, H_2O_2+taurine (simultaneously) group,and H_2O_2+taurine (in sequence) group. Confocal microscope was used with Fluo-3/AM as calcium indicator to detect changes of [Ca~(2+)]i immediately and 15 minutes after H_2O_2 intervention, respectively. RESULTS:The intracellular fluoresence intensity of singular cardiomyocyte in H_2O_2 group was significantly higher than the control group 15 minutes after intervention (P

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The nuclear transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) plays a crucial role in maintaining cellular redox homeostasis. The aberrant NRF2 signaling confers enhanced antioxidant capacity, which is linked to tumor progression and therapeutic resistance. The current study investigates the biological effects and molecular mechanism of tribbles homolog 3 (TRIB3), a stress-induced protein, in regulating cell survival and apoptosis in lung cancer. This study first performed the RNA sequencing data analysis with 576 lung adenocarcinoma patients from the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) database. The NRF2- antioxidant response element (ARE) signature was enriched in patients with high TRIB3 expression. Dual-luciferase reporter assay and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to confirm the effect of TRIB3 on the kelch-like ECH-associated protein-1 (KEAP1)-NRF2 pathway. Abrogation of TRIB3 impaired NRF2 transcriptional activity and reduced the expression of its target genes. Moreover, TRIB3 enhanced NRF2 stability via blocking KEAP1-NRF2 interaction. TRIB3-depletion promoted reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, restrained cell proliferation, and enhanced carboplatin-induced apoptosis. In addition, NRF2 overexpression recovered the tumor inhibition effect of TRIB3-depletion. Consistently, TRIB3 failed to modulate apoptosis in NRF2 depletion cells. In summary, this study shows that TRIB3 inhibits the KEAP1-NRF2 interaction and upregulates the transcriptional activity of NRF2, thereby promoting lung cancer cell proliferation and reducing the sensitivity to chemotherapy. Targeting the TRIB3-NRF2 signal axis may become a new strategy for ROS homeostasis and lung cancer treatment.

Objective To retrospectively analyze the effect of three-dimensional radiotherapy on the survival of patients with stage Ⅳ squamous cell lung cancer.Methods Of the 101 patients collected from two prospective phase Ⅱ studies, 88 were part of the per-protocol set.All patients received platinum-doublet chemotherapy with concurrent radiation to the primary tumor.Primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).Survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier estimator, and univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using the log-rank test and Cox model, respectively.Results The 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates of the 88 patients were 42.2%, 13.6%, 8.7%, and 3.1%, respectively, and the median survival time (MST) was 10 months.The 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year OS and MST at PTV dose ≥63 Gy were 45.7%, 25.7%, 17.1%, 7.1%, and 11 months, respectively, whereas the 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year OS and MST at PTV dose<63 Gy were 39.6%, 4.5%, 2.8%, 0%, and 10 months, respectively (P=0.007).The median PFS at ≥63 Gy and<63 Gy were 9 months and 7 months, respectively (P=0.032).The 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year OS and PFS of patients who received 4 cycles of chemotherapy at a PTV dose of ≥63 Gy were 51.9%, 29.6%, 18.5%, 9.9%, and 9 months, respectively (P=0.001 and P=0.012), which were significantly prolonged compared with other treatment modalities.Multivariate analysis showed that PTV ≥63 Gy may be influence the OS of patients (P=0.080).Conclusions Three-dimensional radiotherapy can prolong the survival of patients with stage ⅠV squamous cell lung cancer, as demonstrated by the gradual improvement in OS and PFS following the increase in the intensity of concurrent chemotherapy and radiation therapy.A PTV dose of ≥63 Gy may be influence the OS.

This article introduces a novel scavenger for waste anesthetic gas which makes use of negative pressure in operating room. This setting can scavenge the exhaust gas absolutely without affection the normal work of anaesthesia.
Anesthetics ; Gas Scavengers ; Operating Rooms

OBJECTIVETo analyze the secular changes of physical growth in 7-17 year old students of Zang-tribe in Tibet during 1965-2004, and to make suggestions for further improvement.

METHODSThe data collected by local government in 1965 and Chinese national survey on students' physical fitness and health in 1985, 1995 and 2004 were used to analyze and find out the differences from the students' stature, body weight, chest girth, and BMI in different years, and to compare the increasing rate per 10 years in different periods of time.

RESULTSLevels on stature, body weight and chest girth were increased significantly among 7-17 year-old students of Zang-tribe in Tibet during 1965-2004. From 1965 to 1985, the levels of stature and body weight were increased 11.4 cm and 5.0 kg respectively among male Zang-tribe students, 9.1 cm and 3.9 kg among the female. During 1985-2004, stature levels of Zang-tribe students was kept rising in much less extent, while average levels of body weight were reaching up remarkably, especially in 1995-2004, in which the average increasing rate per 10 years had achieved 14.8% and 13.4% among the male and female students aged 7-17 years old respectively. Levels of chest girth were increased rapidly in 1965-1985, showing a higher increasing rate in male students (2.7%) than in female students (1.9%). In 1985-2004, the increasing rates fell obviously both in male and female students, but there existed a higher rate in 1995-2004 than in 1995-1985, especially for females (4.0%). Upon the secular changes of stature and body weight, the levels of BMI were decreased in 1985 as comparing to those in 1965, then increased rapidly in 1985-2004, especially in 1995-2004, having an increasing rate up to 12.6% and 12.4% respectively in male and female students.

CONCLUSIONSecular changes on physical growth among 7-17 year-old students of Zang-tribe in Tibet were paralleled with the economic progress in 1965-2004, giving active effects by economic progress and nutrition improvements to the physical growth of children and adolescents.

Adolescent ; Body Height ; physiology ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; physiology ; Child ; Female ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Male ; Students ; statistics & numerical data ; Tibet

Objective To observe the effects of standardized three stage rehabilitation treatment on the neu- rological deficit scores (NDS) and ADL performance of ischemic stroke patients.Methods A total of 164 ischemic stroke patients were recruited and randomly divided into a rehabilitation group and a control group.The neurological function and ADL performance of the patients were assessed by using NDS and Modified Barthcl Index (MBI) at the admission,at the end of 1st,3rd and 6th months post stroke.Results No significant differences were found be- tween the rehabilitative and the control groups with regard to NDS and MBI at admission.The NDS demonstrated a decreasing tendency,while the MBI score an increasing tendency in both groups.In the control group,significant difference of NDS was found between admission and the end of 1st month as well as between the end of the 1 st and the 3rd months.In rehabilitation group,significant difference was revealed between all the time points with regard to NDS and MBI scores.At the end of the 1st,3rd and 6th months,the MBI scores of the rehabilitation group were signifi- cantly higher than those of the control group,indicating that the ADL performance of those treated with standardized three-stage rehabilitation protocol was improved quicker than those without the protocol.Conclusion Standardized three-stage rehabilitation treatment could improve the neurological function and ADL performance of the ischemic stroke patients.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of MR angiogrphy(MRA) for detecting cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrage(SAH) and compare it with spiral CT angiography(CTA).Methods Ten patients with SAH under MRA and CTA studies were performed within 24 hours after MRA,which was performed 5 to 10 days after SAH.Maximum intensity projection(MIP) images were produced for MRA and CTA studies.Five arterial locations were examined for spasm:the suprasellar internal carotid artery(ICA),the M1 and M2 segments of the middle cerebral artery(MCA),the A1 and A2 segments of the anterior cerebral artery(ACA).Vasospasm was cate- gorized as none,mild(50 % reduction).Results The overall correlation between MRA and CTA was 82 %(r=0.76),but it was better for proximal than distal lo- cations vessels.Agreement between MRA and CTA was greater for no spasm(89%) and severe spasm(100%)(r= 0.85～0.91)than for mild(56%)or moderate(67%)spasm(r=0.21～0.51).Conclusion MRA is highly accu- rate in the detecting no spasm or severe cerebral vasospasm in proximal arterial locations vessels;it is less accurate in detecting mild and moderate spasm in distal locations vessels.

OBJECTIVE: To study the distribution and proportion of neuropeptide containing nervers in the sinus node in cases of sudden manhood death syndrome (SMDS) and to explore the mechanism of SMDS. METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining and quantitative analysis of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP) in the sinus node in 6 cases of SMDS and in 12 cases of non-cardiac death(control group) were achieved by LSAB method and computerized image system. RESULTS: As for NPY positive materials, VIP positive materials and the ratio of VIP/NPY in the sinus nodes, there were no significant difference between the control group and SMDS group. CONCLUSION The mechanism of SMDS and the abnormality of autonomic nervous innervation in the sinoatrial nodes maybe incorrelation.
Adult ; Autonomic Nervous System/physiology* ; Death, Sudden/pathology* ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Myocardium/metabolism* ; Neuropeptide Y/metabolism* ; Sinoatrial Node/innervation* ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide/metabolism*

Objective Thin endometrium affects embryo implantation and the existing clinical options are rather limited for its treatment.This paper aims to investigate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) transplantation in the treatment of thin endometrium and their possible mechanisms.Methods Fifty adult female SD rats were randomly divided into five groups of equal number:normal control,model control,BMSC,EA,and BMSC+EA,and the thin endometrial model was established by intrauterine injection of 95％ ethanol in the estrous cycle in the latter three groups of animals.The model controis were injected with PBS solution,the rats of the BMSC group injected with stem cell suspension,those of the EA group treated by daily electroacupuncture at the acupoints of Guan Yuan,Sanyinjiao and Zigong from the second day after modeling,and those of the BMSC+EA group treated by both injection of stem cell suspension and daily electroacupuncture.At the fourth estrous cycle after modeling,endometrial tissues were collected from the rats for observation of their morphological changes by HE staining,measurement of the endometrial thickness,count of the vascular glands,and determination of the expressions of vimentin and cytokeratin by immunohistochemistry and those of LIF and HOXA10 by Western blot.Results Compared with the model controls,the rats of the BMSC,EA,and BMSC+EA groups showed significant thickening of the endometrium (P＜0.05) and the endometrial thickness of the BMSC+EA group was the closest to that of the normal control.The numbers of endometrial blood vessels and vascular glands were remarkably increased in the three treatment groups as compared with the model controls (P＜0.01),with complete and regenerated endometrial tissues.The expressions of vimentin and cytokeratin were the highest in the normal control,the lowest in the model control group,and increased sequentially in the EA,BMSC and BMSC+EA groups (P＜0.05).The expression of LIF and HOXA10 were significantly higher in the BMSC,EA and BMSC+EA groups than in the model control (P＜0.01),the highest in the BMSC+EA group,which was closest to that of the normal control (P＜0.05).Conclusion Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation and electroacupuncture can both promote the regeneration and repair of thin endometrium in rats,and the combination of two strategies produces an even better effect.