Our study investigated the neurotoxicity of quinolinic acid (QA) to spiral ganglion cells (SGCs), observed the protective effects of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist MK-801 and magnesium ions on the QA-induced injury to SGCs, and analyzed the role of QA in otitis media with effusion (OME)-induced sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). After culture in vitro for 72 h, SGCs were exposed to different media and divided into 4 groups: the blank control group, the QA injury group, the MK-801 treatment group, and the MgCl(2) protection group. The apoptosis rate of SGCs was analyzed by Annexin V and PI double staining under the fluorescence microscopy 24 h later. SGCs were cultured in vitro for 72 h and divided into four groups: the low concentration QA group, the high concentration QA group, the MK-801 group, the MgCl(2) group. The transient changes of intracellular calcium concentration were observed by the laser scanning confocal microscopy. Apoptosis rate in QA injury group was higher than that in blank control group and MgCl(2) protection group (both P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between MK-801 treatment group and blank control group (P>0.05). In high concentration QA group, there was an obvious increase of the intracellular calcium concentration in SGCs, which didn't present in low concentration QA group. In MgCl(2) group, the peak values of the intracellular calcium concentration in SGCs were reduced and the duration was shortened, but the intracellular calcium concentration in SGCs had no significant change in MK-801 group. It was concluded that QA could injure SGCs by excessively activating NMDA receptors on the cell membrane, which might be the mechanism by which OME induced SNHL, while Mg(2+) could protect the SCGs from the neurotoxicity of QA.

Ultrasonic microbubbles were used to open blood-brain barriers (BBB) with a reversed and limited behavior feature in the study, which could improve the brain-targeted delivery of anti-tumor drugs. The glioma rat model was prepared. Low-frequency ultrasound was combined with microbubbles to affect the permeability of BBB compared with the permeability of independently administered Evans blue (EB) crossing BBB. Time point and length of ultrasound were investigated whether they affect the permeability of BBB and the damage of brain tissue. The effect of the growth time of glioma on BBB permeability was explored. Only glioma had a very little impact on BBB permeability. However, ultrasonic microbubbles opened the BBB with the features of temporary, limited and reversed behavior and improved EB and magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent penetrating BBB. A length of 30 s ultrasound is appropriate for opening BBB and no damage of brain tissue. Drugs should be injected before ultrasound so that they enter into brain as BBB opening. Ultrasonic microbubbles can open BBB effectively and safely, which improve drugs penetrating BBB under proper time point and length.
Animals ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; Contrast Media ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Glioma ; drug therapy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Microbubbles ; Permeability ; Rats ; Ultrasonics

Objective To investigate the expression of bone morphogenetic protein-7(BMP-7)in the tissue of prostate cancer(PCa). Methods The pathological samples of 87 cases of PCa were collected.The average age was 66(59-78)years,preoperative of t-PSA was 45.7(2.4-138.2)ng/ml.Gleason score:37 cases were≤6,18 cases were 7,32 cases were≥8.Stages:stage I(T1aN0M0)+stageⅡ(T1bN0M0,T1cN0M0,T2N0M0)20 cases;StageⅢ(T3N0M0)20;Stage Ⅳ(T4N0 M0,TxN1 M0,TxN0 M1)47 cases.According to bone scan or positron emission computed tomography-CT test results,patients were divided into PCa without bone metastasis,42 cases and PCa with bone metastasis,45 cases.Thirty cases of BPH were set as controls.BMP-7 in the PCa and BPH were detected by PV immunohistochemical study.Statistical analysis was done between two groups to compare the differential expression of BMP-7 and serum t-PSA in PCa, and BPH tissues.Results BMP-7 expression in the absorbance A value in benign prostatic hyperplasia was 70.55±5.41, in prostate cancer tissue 70.47± 6.18, no significant differences between the 2 groups(P>0.05).BMP-7 expression in the absorbance A value in prostate cancer without bone metastasis was 65.94 ± 1.76, but with bone metastasis 74.80±5.76.There was a significant difference (P<0.05).Gleason score≤6 absorbance A value was 65.96 ± 1.56, Gleason 7 absorbance A value 65.83 ± 2.75,≥8 absorbance A value 78.06±1.39.Compared with Gleason score≥8, BMP-7 expression in the absorbance A value were significantly lower than the latter (P<0.05).Clinical stage grouping of BMP-7 expression in the absorbance A value: Stage Ⅰ + Ⅱ 65.86±1.72, Stage Ⅲ 65.87±1.85, Stage 74.49±5.83.There was a significant difference (P<0.05).In PCa tissues, BMP-7 of the absorbance A value and the serum t-PSA values showed a positive correlation (r=0.77,P,<0.05). Conelusions The expression level of BMP-7 has occurred in the high pathological Gleason score, late clinical stage, particularly in bone metastasis cases.The expression level of BMP-7 and serum t-PSA have a positive correlation.

Objective To study the association between functional genetic polymorphisms of IL-1B(T-31C,C-511T),IL-1RN and the susceptibility to gastric cancers. Methods A case-control study was conducted in 180 gastric cancer cases and 308 age-and sex-matched cancer-free controls.Genotypes were detected by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP) assays,and association between genotypes,environmental factors and risk of gastric cancers were determined. Results IL-1B T-31C was in strong linkage disequilibrium with IL-1B C-511T(D'=0.862,R2= 0.721,P=0.000).Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the variant genotypes of IL-1B T-31C and C-511T were not significantly associated with risks for gastric cancers(adjusted OR,0.95 and 95% CI,0.62-1.47 for IL-1B T-31C;and adjusted OR,0.85 and 95% CI,0.55-1.31 for IL-1B C-511T).The variant genotypes(1/2,2/2) in IL-1RN were associated with a non-significantly increased risks for gastric cancers(adjusted OR,1.32 and 95% CI,0.71-2.36) in all subjects and with a significantly increased risks for gastric cancers in subjects with H.pylori infection(adjusted OR,2.03 and 95%CI,1.02-4.80).Conclusion The functional genetic polymorphisms of IL-1RN may contribute to the risks of gastric cancers in high-risk population,particularly in those with H.pylori infection.

AIM: To investigate the biocolonization of poly 2-hydroxyethy methacrylate (PHEMA) sponge with cornea tissue and evaluate the therapeutic effects of modified porous poly 2-hydroxyethy methacrylate-Polymethyl met-hacrylate (PHEMA-PMMA) Keratoprostheses (KPro) on rabbit and monkey corneas. METHODS:The KPro were made using two-stage polymerization combined with mechanical cutting. The experiment was divided into two groups. In the control group, ten normal rabbit eyes received lamellar implanta-tion of PHEMA sponges. The sponges were obtained 2 weeks, 1,2,3 and 4 months after operation. The cell proliferation and neovascularization inside the sponges were observed using light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and immunohistochemistry. In the experimental group, the porous PHEMA-PMMA KPros were inserted into the lamellar pockets of eight rabbit corneas and two monkey corneas (stage I operation). The healing process was investigated by slit-lamp microscopy. The anterior lamellar cornea tissues were removed 3 months after surgery, exposing the under-neath transparent core (stage II operation). The operated eyes were then followed up for 3-6 months.light microscope, fibroblasts started to grow into the cornea 2 weeks after operation; lots of cells, accompanied with new blood vessels, invaded into the cornea 2-3 months after surgery. Invading cells of sponge, as well as keratocytes, were positive for vimentin. Under the electron microscope, the invading cells looked healthy and were surrounded by extracellular matrix and collagen. In 8 rabbit eyes which received KPro implantation, anterior lamellar cornea melting happened in two eyes after the stage II operation. The remaining 6 corneas retained their central cores during observation after the stage II operation.Two monkey operated eyes were found no complication thoughout the whole follow-up.cornea. The modified PHEMA-PMMA KPros have obtained a relatively stable results after implantation into animal corneas.

Objective To investigate the correlation between serum amyloid A (SAA) and disease activity (DAS28) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods Forty-four patients with RA, 35 patients with systemic lupus erythe-matosus (SLE), 18 patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and 30 healthy controls (HC) were enrolled in this study. The levels of SAA were measured by ELISA. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was measured by the Westergren method. The value of serum C reactive protein (CRP) was examined by immunonephelometry assay. The correlation between SAA and DAS 28, ESR and CRP was assessed, respectively. Results The SAA levels were significantly higher in RA group than those of SLE, OA, and HC groups (P<0.05). The serum ESR and CRP levels were both higher in RA group than those of OA and HC groups (P>0.05), but there was no significant difference between RA group and SLE group. There was positive correlation between SAA and DAS28, ESR, and CRP levels (rs=0.790, P<0.001;rs=0.674, P<0.001;rs=0.679, P=0.004), respective-ly. Conclusion SAA may be a new serological marker to assess disease activity in RA.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of protocatechuic acid(PCA)on the PC12 cell model of Alzheimer’s disease(AD)and to explore its mechanism . Methods Amyloid beta peptide 1-42(Aβ1-42)fiber polymers were identified by immunofluorescence. After PC12 cells were stimulated with the Aβ1-42 fiber polymers, the cellular morphology was observed at different time points of hour 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24 , and the cellular viability was tested by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT)assay to monitor the modeling condition. The effect of PCA on PC12 cells was detected after PC12 cells were pretreated with the different contentions of PCA. Autophagy-related marker Beclin1 protein level was detected by Western blotting method to investigate the protective mechanism of PCA. Results Aggregated white Aβ1-42 mass was stable at hour 12 and 24, and showed no significant difference between the two time points, the cell damage rate being 40%. Therefore, we defined culturing time being 12 and 24 hours as the modeling condition of AD model. The cell viability was increased with 200-800 μmol/L of PCA after culturing for 24 hours(P<0.01) , and the Western blotting results showed that the Beclin1 protein expression was up-regulated by PCA. Conclusion PCA prevents PC12 cells from Aβ1-42-induced toxicity, the mechanism being related with the increase of cellular autophagy.

Objective:To discuss the clinical feature, diagnosis, and treatment course of pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (ACC) to guide clinical practice and improve prognosis of patients. Methods:Clinical data of 15 patients with pathologically confirmed pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma between December 1994 and March 2014 in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital were retro-spectively studied. Results:The patients include eight males and seven females with a median age of 44. Tumors in these patients appeared in different parts of the pancreas. Eight patients had tumor in the head, six in the body and tail, and one in the uncinate process. The tumor size ranged from 3 cm to 18 cm, with an average diameter of 6.67 cm. The patients presented less jaundice and the tumor markers remained constant, specifically, no increase was reported. Six patients had metastasis before their operation. Twelve patients received radical resection, while the other three received palliative treatment. The preoperative and intraoperative diagnoses were not exact. The final diagnosis depended on pathologic confirmation after surgery or puncture. The immunohistochemical results of trypsin and chymotrypsin were positive in the patients who were examined. The postoperative chemotherapy was usually based on gemcitabine. The average survival time was 20.6 months. Conclusion:Pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma has special clinical features, and clinicians tend to regard it as low-grade malignancy. The attitude towards ACC should be positive.

This study is to investigate the mechanism of human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells proliferation induced by alteronol in vitro. Human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells cultured in vitro were treated with different concentrations of alteronol. Inhibition rate was detected by SRB assay. Cellular morphological changes were observed by Hoechst and AO/EB (acridine orange/ethidium bromide dye) staining. The apoptosis rate was determined by Annexin V-FITC/PI assay. Cell cycle distribution was determined by flow cytometry. Western blotting analysis was carried out to determine the cell cycle related proteins. The proliferation of HL-60 cells treated with alteronol was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner. Based on cell viability assay, observation on cell morphology and apoptosis rate, it confirmed that alteronol played an obvious role in proliferation inhibition of human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells, but it did not induce apoptosis in human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells in different concentrations groups. Alteronol could effectively inhibit the proliferation of human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells inducing cell cycle arrest at G1 phase, as well as, alteration expression of cell cycle proteins level of CyclinD1 and pRb.

Objective To explore the value of lipidic degradation in puparium cases of C.megacephala during weathering in postmortem interval estimation. Methods The puparium cases of reared C.megacephala were collected, and laid outdoor. They were taken back 5 days and 10 days later, and then be stored at -20℃. The samples of control group were cleaned and cryopreserved immediately. The spectra were collected and preprocessed. The peak position and peak height were read and performed statistical analysis by SPSS 19.0 software. Results Compared to control group, the positions of Vas CH3 band showed no shift, and the Vas CH2 band showed blue shift, meanwhile, the Vs CH2 band disappeared in both experimental groups, moreover, the Vs CH3 band showed red shift only in 10d group;except of the Vs CH3 band in 5d group, the intensities of both the other two lipidic bands reduced in both experimental groups. Compared with 5day group, the Vs CH3 band showed red shift in 10d group, meanwhile, the differences of all the lipidic bands had statistical signiifcance. Conclusion Detection of lipidic degradation in puparium cases of C. megacephala during weathering by micro-FTIR provides a novel way to estimate postmortem interval and performs its potential for forensic applications.