Aim To study the expression of caspase-12 mRNA and protein following focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rats,and explore the effect of endoplasmic reticulum pathway on neuronal apoptosis.Methods 60 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group and ischemic group.The middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)models were established by using the intraluminal suture occlusion method,neuronal apoptosis was detected by TUNEL staining,the expression of caspase-12 protein was detected by immunohistochemical staining,the expression of caspase-12 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR method.Results In ischemic group,the number of apoptotic cells and the expression of caspase-12 mRNA and protein were gradually increased following prolonged cerebral reperfusion,reached the peak at 24 h.The number of apoptotic cells and the expression of caspase-12 mRNA and protein in ischemic group were significantly less than those of sham-operated group at all times(P

Aortic Valve Stenosis ; complications ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Syncope ; diagnosis ; etiology

Objective To understand the drug resistance and antibiotic resistance mechanism ofβ-lactam antibiotics of invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from Shanghai Children′s Hospital, provides the reference for the rational use of antimicrobial agents.Methods This study is based on the research of the mechanism of drug resistance.62 isolates of invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae were collected from Shanghai Children′s Hospital from January 2005 to December 2011.Minimum inhibitory concentrations ( MIC) of strains to 9 antimicrobial agents were determined by E-test method.The penicillin binding protein coding genes pbp2x, pbp2b, and pbp1a of Streptococcus pneumoniae were amplified by PCR.Then, the correlation between the gene mutation andβ-lactam antibiotics resistant level were analyzed.The murM gene of Streptococcus pneumoniae was amplified by PCR and the correlation of mutation and β-lactam antibiotics resistant level was analyzed.Results Out of 62 strains of invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae from children, the detection rate of penicillin resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae was 43.6% (27/62).Between penicillin intermediate Streptococcus pneumoniae ( PISP ) ( 100%, 25/25 ) and penicillin sensitive Streptococcus pneumoniae (PSSP) (3/10), the difference of gene mutation rate near the pbp2b conserved sequence was statistically significant (χ2 =21.875, P<0.01).The same situation occurred between penicillin resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (PRSP)(100%, 27/27)and PSSP (3/10) (χ2 =23.310, P<0.01).Also the difference of gene mutation rate of PISP (84%, 21/25) vs PSSP (0) and PSSP (0) vs PRSP (85.2%, 23/27) near or in the pbp2x conserved sequence were statistically significant (χ2 =21.000, P <0.01;χ2 =22.513,P<0.01).The difference of gene mutation rate near the pbp1a conserved sequence and Insertion sequence, which were statistically significant, occurred between PISP and PSSP (χ2 =13.22,P<0.01), between PRSP and PSSP (χ2 =37.000,P<0.01), between PISP and PRSP (χ2 =10.211,P=0.001). MurM gene mutation rate was statistically significant different between the 2 group penicillin MIC≥8 mg/L or ceftriaxone MIC≥2 mg/L group (95.8%, 23/24) and penicillin MIC<8 mg/L or ceftriaxone MIC<2 mg/L group (0) (χ2 =56.2,P =0.002 6).Conclusions The resistance phenomenon of invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae in Shanghai Children′s Hospital is serious.The gene mutations of pbps and murM play a role in amide in the beta of antibiotic resistance, and there is a certain correlation with the antibiotic resistance level.

Objective To investigate the expression of human macrophage metalloelastase(HME) both in gastric cancer cell lines and gastric cancer tissues,and to find the role of HME in gastric carcino genesis.Methods Fifty eight patients who were operated in our hospital during April to Aug.2003 were enrolled.The samples taken from cancer,paracancer or normal tissues of these patients and cancer cell lines(MGC-803,SGC-7901,AGS)were detected for HME protein and HME mRNA expressions by Western blot and immunohistochemistry,RT-PCR and fluorescence quantitative PCR,respectively. Results Both HME mRNA and HME protein expressions were found in all three gastric cancer cell lines.The expressions of HME mRNA and HME protein in gastric cancer tissues was increased signifi- cantly compared with that in normal tissues(P0.05).Conclusions The increased HME expression in gastric cancer tissures compared with normal tissue indicate that HME may be a potential tumor marker for gastric cancer.

Objective To study the antitumor effect of toremifene on MCF7 cell lines,and investigate the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Methods Inhibitory effect of toremifene alone or combined with MEK inhibitor PD98059 on MCF7 cells was measured by SRB test,and that on phosphorylated ERK was detected by Western blotting.Results Toremifene exhibited a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on the activity of MCF7 cells.Phosphorylated ERK was significantly inhibited by 5,10 and 20 mmol/L toremifene.Combined with PD98059,toremifene had a significantly enhanced cytotoxity effect,which exceeded that of application alone. Conclusion Mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway may play an important role in the antitumor effect of toremifene which is independent of estrogens.Combined with PD98059,the antitumor effect of toremifene can be reinforced,indicating a synergistic effect of these two drugs.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlations of 24 biochemical markers in the seminal plasma with routine semen parameters.

METHODSAccording to the WHO5 standards, we analyzed the routine semen parameters of 66 subfertile men, including the semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, sperm motility, and the percentage of progressively motile sperm (PR). Based on the calibration and quality control measures and using an automatic biochemistry analyzer or electrolyte analyzer, we detected 24 biochemical markers in the seminal plasma of the patients, including total protein (TP), albumin (Alb), globulin (Glb), uric acid (UA), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), alpha hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (αHBDH), adenosine deaminase (ADA), glucose (Glu), triglyeride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), urea nitrogen (UN), creatinine (Cr), high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), K+, Na+, Cl- , Ca, Mg, and phosphorus (P). Then we analyzed the correlations of the 24 biochemical markers with routine semen parameters.

RESULTSThe levels of the TP, Alb, and Glb proteins in the seminal plasma were positively correlated with sperm concentration, so was that of Alb with the total sperm count, and the AST and LDH activities with sperm concentration and total sperm count. The AKP activity in the seminal plasma was correlated negatively with the semen volume, but positively with sperm motility. The αHBDH activity exhibited a positive correlation with both sperm concentration and total sperm count, with a coefficient of correlation (r) above 0.7. The UN level was correlated negatively with the semen volume, so was the Cr level with the semen volume, sperm concentration, and total sperm count, and the Glu level with sperm concentration and total sperm count. The TG level was correlated positively with the semen volume, but negatively with sperm motility. The levels of seminal plasma ALT, GGT, ADA, UA, TC, CK, and hsCRP showed no correlation with the above-mentioned semen parameters. None of the seminal plasma K+, Na+, Ca, Mg, and P levels was found correlated with semen parameters except the Cl- level, which was negatively correlated with the semen volume.

CONCLUSIONMany biochemical markers in the seminal plasma are closely related to routine semen parameters, indicating that these biochemical components may play roles in spermatogenesis, sperm maturation, and physiological metabolism.

Child, Preschool ; Epilepsies, Myoclonic ; Humans ; Male

Acid Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Carcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology