AIM:To observe the role of calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) in the regulation of pulmonary artery tension.METHODS:The intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) was detected by laser-scanning confocal micros-copy, and the pulmonary artery tension was determined by the pulmonary arterial ring technique .RESULTS: Increased levels of [Ca2+]o or Gd3+(an agonist of CaSR) induced the increase in [Ca2+]i and pulmonary artery constriction in a concentration-dependent manner.Additionally, the effects of Ca2+and Gd3+were inhibited by U73122 and D609 (specific inhibitor of PLC), and 2-APB and heparin (specific antagonist of IP3 receptor).However, U73343 (U73122 inactive ana-logue) did not take effect.CONCLUSION: CaSR may be involved in the regulation of pulmonary artery tension by in-creasing [Ca2+]i through G-protein-PLC-IP3 pathway.

Objective To analyse the relationship between cytochrome C release and the opening degree of the permeability transition pore (PTP) during in post cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR) rats. Method Adult male Sprague Dawley (SD)rats were randomly (random number ) divided into a surgical sham group (no CA/CPR) ( n = 8) and CA/CPR group ( n = 48). Animals in CA/CPR group was induced by asphyxiation and icecold 0.5 mmol/L KCI and killed by decapitation and processed for isolation of brain cortex mitochondria at 3 h,6 h,12 h,24 h,48 h,72 h after restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). MPTP opening degree was based on the absorbance changes of the mitochondrial suspension at 540 nm. Western blot analysed the release of CytC from mitochondrial to cytoplast. Results Neural cells MPTP always remained opening post ROSC. The opening degree of MPTP was not reaching the peak instantly. While its' change depended on time: remaining low level within 6 h post ROSC,then rapidly opening, till 12 h reaching the largest degree,and at 24 h post ROSC slightly shrunken. All these suggested that mitochondria started to shink. While at 48 h the opening degree largen again, shrunken once more at 72 h,but not reaching the normal level ( P ＜ 0.05 or P ＜ 0.01). Cytochrome C could not be detected in the cytosol in the earlier phases of the sham-operated brain samples but appeared in the mitochondria.The amount of cytochrome C released was proportional after restoration of spontaneous circulation 3 h and 24 h,failed to detect the enzyme in the mitochondria fraction. Conclusions We draw the conclusion MPTP plays a key role in neurocyte apoptosis after CA/CPR, which leads to mitochondria release CytC.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic effect of acupuncture for treatment of simple obesity, and to analyze the current situation of clinical studies.

METHODSRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving acupuncture treatment for simple obesity were searched from PubMed (1979-2008), OVID (1979-2008), EBSCO (1973-2008), Cochrane Library (Issue 2, 2008), CBM (1978-2008), CNKI (1979-2008), VIP (1989-2008) and WanFang Database (1998-2008). Literatures were enrolled focusing on RCTs related to acupuncture treatment for simple obesity; the quality of literatures were evaluated by two evaluators unaidedly. Meta-analyses were conducted with the Cochrane Collaboration's RevMan 4.2.8 software.

RESULTSEight papers including 1,017 cases, conformed with the enrolled criteria. Meta-analyses showed that there were significant difference between acupuncture groups and western medicine groups in the effective rate [combined RR (fixed effects model) = 1.11, 95% CI (1.05, 1.18), P=0.0006]. There was a significant difference between acupuncture and Sibutramine in the body mass [combined WMD (fixed effects model) = 1.94, 95%CI (1.73, 2.16), P<0.00001] and body mass index (BMI) [combined WMD (fixed effects model) = 0.52, 95% CI (0.33, 0.70), P<0.00001]. However, acupuncture was not superior to Sibutramine in hip circumference (HC) [combined WMD (fixed effects model) = -0.35, 95% CI (-0.56, -0.15), P<0.0007].

CONCLUSIONFor treating simple obesity, besides reasonable diet and exercise, acupuncture is safe and effective, which may be more effective than routine western medicine. The quantity of literature was limited and the quality of some literatures was low. Thus, more high-quality and large-scale of RCTs are needed.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Obesity ; therapy ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Treatment Outcome

Adult ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Benzene ; poisoning ; Biomarkers ; analysis ; Bone Marrow Cells ; drug effects ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; drug effects ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis

BACKGROUNDThe relationship between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and coronary artery disease (CAD) remains largely unknown. This study aimed to explore the association of COPD with CAD, especially with multi-vessel disease (VD).

METHODSThe data of 354 patients who underwent multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) for suspected CAD were analyzed. Luminal narrowing was defined as at least one lesion 50% or greater stenosis. The analysis of serum biochemistry profile and spirometry were performed on all eligible patients, and the diagnosis of COPD was defined as the criteria of Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease.

RESULTSPatients with CAD had a significantly higher complication of COPD than those without CAD (11.8% vs. 3.7%, P < 0.001). Comparing with patients without COPD, those with COPD were more likely to have multi-VD, proportion of smoking and high C-reactive protein (CRP) (P < 0.001). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that the multi-VD was significantly correlated with COPD (P=0.012) and CRP (P=0.015).

CONCLUSIONSThere was a high complication of COPD in patients with CAD, and COPD may be a critical risk factor for CAD, especially for multi-VD. CAD and COPD were closely associated and the interplay of systemic inflammation might in part explain the relationship between them.

Coronary Artery Disease ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; Humans ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; Radiography ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo construct the nemo-like kinase (NLK) gene recombinant adenovirus vector.

METHODSThe AdEasy system was used to construct the recombinant adenovirus vector. Using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the full-length gene of NLK and its mutants (K155M, T286V, and C425Y) were amplified from HEK293 cells. The FLAG tag was appended at the C-terminal of NLK. After ligation and transformation, the NLK gene and its mutants were cloned into the pAdTrack-CMV vector. It was detected by PCR, sequencing, and Western blot analysis. Using DNA recombination and homogenous recombination, the normally expressed plasmids were linearized by the restriction enzyme-PmeI and PacI, then the enzyme-digested products were recycled by using ethanol precipitation. The purified product was transfected to HEK293A packaging cells with FuGENE HD transfection reagent. After amplification of the recombinant adenovirus, Western blot analysis was performed to detect the expression of NLK gene and its mutants.

RESULTSThe successful construction of pAdtrack-CMV-NLK (and mutants) was confirmed by PCR and sequencing. Western blot analysis showed that the target genes and the recombinant adenovirus were obtained. This recombinant virus was able to express NLK protein and its mutants correctly in HCT 116 cells.

CONCLUSIONThe NLK gene recombinant adenovirus vector was successfully constructed and identified.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; Transfection

Objective To study the expression level of cathepsin S in elderly patients with different degree of coronary heart disease(CHD),and to evaluate the correlation between cathepsin S level and the severity of CHD.Methods A total of 126 elderly patients with CHD were enrolled,including 36 cases with acute myocardial infarction(group AMI),48 cases with unstable angina(group UAP),and 42 cases with stable angina(group SAP).During the same period,40 healthy subjects were selected as controls.Venous blood was collected immediately after admission.Arterial blood was taken through radial/femoral artery sheath in AMI patients who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention,and coronary arterial blood was taken in AMI patients undergoing intracoronary thrombus aspiration.SYNTAX score was assessed in patients undergoing coronary angiography.Serum levels of high sensitivity C reactive protein(hs-CRP),matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and cathepsin S were determined in all specimens and compared between groups.Results Serum levels of cathepsin S,MMP-9 and hs-CRP were higher in CHD patients than in the control group(P＜0.05).Among CHD patients,group AMI had the highest serum levels of cathepsin S,MMP-9 and hs-CRP,followed by group UAP and group SAP(F =106.830,197.035 and 310.442,all P =0.000).Spearman's rank correlation test suggested that cathepsin S level was positively correlated with serum levels of MMP-9 (r=0.816,P =0.000)and hs-CRP(r =0.827,P =0.000).SYNTAX score was positively correlated with serum levels of cathepsin S(r=0.581,P=0.000),MMP-9(r=0.511,P=0.000),and hs-CRP (r=0.557,P =0.000).Among the 24 patients with AMI who underwent intracoronary thrombus aspiration,the levels of cathepsin S,MMP-9 and hs-CRP were higher in coronary artery blood than in peripheral artery blood (t =217.288,3.177 and 681.479,all P =0.000).Cathepsin S and hs-CRP levels in peripheral arterial blood had positive correlations with those in coronary arterial blood respectively(r =0.962 and 0.494,P =0.000 and 0.014),but such correlation between in peripheral arterial blood versus in coronary artery blood was not found in MMP-9 levels (r =-0.188,P =0.380).Conclusions Serum cathepsin S level is higher in elderly CHD patients than in healthy people,increases along with the increased severity of CHD,and positively correlates with the degree of coronary stenosis.

OBJECTIVETo study the genetic polymorphisms of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region in Chengdu Han population.

METHODSSequence polymorphisms of the mtDNA control region, hypervariable regions I and II from 100 unrelated Chinese Hans were determined by PCR and direct sequencing.

RESULTSSequences of 404 nucleotides for hypervariable region I and 379 nucleotides for region II were obtained. Ninety-two and fifty variable sites were revealed in region I and region II respectively as compared to the reference sequence, and a total of 97 different genetic patterns from both the regions I and II were determined. The probability of identity was estimated at 1.84% for region I, 1.94% for region II, and 1.18% for both the regions.

CONCLUSIONThese results suggest that sequence polymorphism of mtDNA control region would be very useful in forensic practice as a marker for individual identification.

Base Sequence ; China ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; chemistry ; Genetics, Population ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Polymorphism, Genetic

The descriptive cross sectional surveys were carried out among the outstanding clinical physicians in the field of acupuncture and moxibustion by using the survey sampling. The fuzzy comprehensive evaluation techniques was applied to evaluate the opinions of clinical experts in the field of acupuncture and moxibustion in order to classify the spectrum of diseases related to the musculoskeletal and connective tissue. After the statistical analysis on sixty-four diseases with 104 subtypes, the spectrum of diseases were determined as grade I spectrum of diseases with 13 subtypes of diseases, grade II spectrum of diseases with 51 subtypes of diseases, grade III spectrum of diseases with 10 subtypes of diseases, and grade IV spectrum of diseases with 30 subtypes of diseases. The outcomes reveal that acupuncture and moxibustion therapy have been applied widely for musculoskeletal diseases and connective tissue related diseases.
Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Bone Diseases ; therapy ; Connective Tissue Diseases ; therapy ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; methods ; Muscular Diseases ; therapy ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUNDThe evidence for non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) used in patients with severe stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is insufficient. The aim of the meta-analysis was to assess the treatment effects of long-term NIPPV on gas change, lung function, health-related quality of life (HRQL), survival and mortality in severe stable COPD patients.

METHODSRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) and crossover studies comparing the treatment effects of NIPPV with conventional therapy were identified from electronic databases and reference lists from January 1995 to August 2010. Two reviewers independently assessed study quality. Data were combined using Review Manager 5.0. Both pooled effects and 95% confidence intervals were calculated.

RESULTSFive RCTs and one randomized crossover study with a total of 383 severe stable COPD patients were included. NIPPV improved gas change significantly when using a higher inspiratory positive airway pressures. The weighted mean difference (WMD) for the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in artery (PaCO2) was -3.52 (-5.26, -1.77) mmHg and for the partial pressure of oxygen in artery (PaO2) 2.84 (0.23, 5.44) mmHg. There were significant improvements in dyspnea and sleep quality, but gained no benefits on lung function. The standardized mean difference (SMD) for the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)) was 0.00 (0.29, 0.29). And the benefits for exercise tolerance, mood, survival and mortality remained unclear.

CONCLUSIONSPatients with severe stable COPD can gain some substantial treatment benefits when using NIPPV, especially improvements in gas change, dyspnea and sleep quality. Studies of high methodological quality with large population, especially those based on a higher inspiratory positive airway pressures are required to provide more evidences.

Aged ; Humans ; Positive-Pressure Respiration ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; therapy