Objective To investigate the dynamic changes of glutamic acid(Glu) levels,ATP levels,free calcium ion,mitochondrial membrane potential,apoptosis related to mitochondrial pathways of apoptosis and Na+-K+-ATPase activity,and explore the mechanism of mitochondrial pathways of apoptosis in neuron injury of rats with kainite acid(KA)-induced epilepsy.Methods KA-induced epilepsy model was induced by injection of KA into the hippocampus.Forty SD rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: control group(n=8)and KA group(6 h,1 d,3 d,7 d,n=8).The concentration of Glu in hippocampus CA3 area was detected by high performance liquid chromatography.The apoptosis of hippocampus neurons and the concentration of Ca2+ were assayed by flow cytometry.The mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by JC-1.The Na+-K+-ATPase activity was examined.Results 1.The concentration of Glu in hippocampus increased at 3 d after KA injection and reached the peak after 7 d injection.2.The concentration of Ca2+ level,mitochondrial membrane potential,and the number of apoptosis neurons were significantly increased,wherase the mitochondrial membrane potential decreased after 6 h of KA injection,7 d after KA injection,and the changes were more severe.3.In the hippocampus,the activities of the Na+-K+-ATPase significantly decreased at 1 d after KA injection,and they decreased more over at 7 d after KA injection.4.The levels of ATP,mitochondrial membrane potential,and the activity of the Na+-K+-ATPase were negatively correlated with the neuron apoptosis(Pa

Objective To explore the changes of contents of glutamate (Glu) and aspartate (Asp) in hippocampus formation and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in kainite acid(KA) induced epilepsy rats.Methods SD rats(n=40) were divided into 2 groups randomly:the KA group [intracerebroventricular injection(icv) of KA, 2 ?g/kg] and control group(icv of NS). KA group were divided into 4 groups at 6 h,1,3 and 7 d,each group 8 rats.High pressure liquid chromatgraphy(HPLC) was used to assess the concentrations of Glu and Asp in hippocampus formation and CSF.Results In the hippocampus, the contents of Glu and Asp increased continuously 1 d after seizure , but not different from those of control group.Three days later, only Glu became significantly different from control group. However, the contents of Glu and Asp in the CSF were significantly different from the control 6 h after seizure.Conclusion The contents of excite amino acid (especially Glu)in CSF increase immediately after KA injection, which are earlier than those in hippocampus formation.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of different methods of semen preservation and processing on sperm DNA integrity.

METHODSWe collected semen samples from 100 normozoospermic male volunteers and, following homogeneous mixing, preserved them by means of snap freezing, slow freezing, or at the room temperature for 4 and 24 hours. Meanwhile we processed the semen by washing, swim-up, and density gradient centrifugation (DGC). Then we obtained the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) by sperm chromatin dispersion test and measured total sperm motility and DFI after cultured for 24 hours following processing.

RESULTSThe sperm DFIs after 4 hours of preservation by snap freezing, slow freezing, and at the room temperature were (27.3 ± 6.4)%, (26.9 ± 6.1)%, and (24.7 ± 6.8)%, respectively, and that after preserved at the room temperature for 24 hours was (35.6 ± 9.0)%, with statistically significant differences between the first three and the 24-hour room temperature preservation groups (P < 0.05) but not among the former three groups (P > 0.05). The sperm DFI was significantly higher in the samples processed by washing ([13.7 ± 2.0]%) than in those processed by swim-up ([9.1 ± 1.3]%) and DGC ([8.0 ± 2.5]%) (P < 0.05), and it was the lowest in the DGC group after 24-hour culture ([11.5 ± 4.2]%) as compared with the other groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSperm DNA integrity is influenced by different semen preservation conditions and processing methods.

Centrifugation, Density Gradient ; DNA Fragmentation ; Humans ; Male ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Semen Preservation ; methods ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; cytology

Objective To analyze the species of the antibody and immune responsibility in pneumonic plague patients in order to pave the way to screen the new sub-unit of the vaccine to provide the experimental basis. Methods Using the virulence-related protein microarray containing 149 proteins of Yersinia pestis (Y.pestis), the species of the antibody and immune responsibility were analyzed in serum of two pneumonic plague patients in six months after onset. Results Eighty-eight gene coded proteins were detected out the related antibodies except YPMT1.23c, YPMT1.86, YPO0406 and YPO1071 in patient 1. Forty-three antibodies from gene coded protein were analyzed, other forty-nine had not been identified in patient 2. Thirty-nine antibodies were detected in both patients. The proteins YPMT1.81c, YPMT1.84, YPCD1.31c, rw10, YPCD1.28, YPCD1.58, YPMT1.62c, YPO3247-related antibodies increased significantly by 109.96,176.4 ;20.64,17.73 ;16.50,7.16 ;23.51,7.65 ;46.00,25.61 ;4.50,8.24 ;5.98,5.08 ;23.98,4.76 folds, respectively. Conclusions The study on the antibody in pneumonic plague patients helps us to select the potential vaccine candidates, which reveals that eight proteins are the immunity diagnosis targets and the research key of sub-unit vaccine.

OBJECTIVETo examine the recent incidences and trends of childhood malignant solid tumors in Shanghai.

METHODData from the population-based Shanghai Cancer Registry and related retrospective survey were used to analyze the patterns of incidence and trends of malignant solid tumors diagnosed between 2002 and 2010 in children aged 0-14 years. The distributions of incidences were described according to gender, age and cancer types which were classified according to International Classification of Childhood Cancer (ICCC). Annual age-standardized rates (ASRs) were adjusted by the world standard population. Approximate confidence intervals for standardized rate ratios (SRR) based Poisson distribution test-based methods were used to assess changes in incidence over the period 2002 - 2006 and 2007 - 2010.

RESULT(1)A total of 868 cases of childhood malignant solid tumors were diagnosed in Shanghai during 2002 - 2010, accounting for 65.8% of all childhood cancers. The ASR of 2002 - 2010 was 80.2 per million for all solid tumors. (2) The ASR was higher in boys (86.3 per million) than in girls (73.8 per million) with SRR 1.2 (95%CI 1.0 - 1.3). Incidence rate was the highest in the first five years of life with 93.4 per million. The age-specific incidence rates in 5 - 9 and 10 - 14 age groups were 65.2 and 79.3 per million, respectively. (3) CNS tumors, lymphomas, germ cell tumors, neuroblastoma, and soft tissue sarcomas were the top 5 most common solid tumors in children, with the incidence rate of 23.8, 11.0, 7.8, 7.7 and 6.8 per million, respectively. The patterns of subgroups varied in different age groups. Blastomas, such as neuroblastoma, retinoblastoma, were more common in the children aged 0 - 4 years, whereas epithelial carcinomas and bone tumors developed more frequently in elder children aged 10 - 14 years. (4) Compared with the ASR in 2002 - 2006, the ASR for both genders in 2007 - 2010 had no substantial changes (78.7 per million in 2002 - 2006 and 82.9 per million in 2007 - 2010). However, among boys, the incidence rate in 2007 - 2010 was significantly higher than that in 2002 - 2006 with SRR 1.2 (95%CI: 1.0 - 1.4). For specific subgroups of cancer, there were no substantial changes. Some cautions should be taken when interpreting results involving a small number of cases per year and those with wide 95% confidence intervals.

CONCLUSIONThe incidence rate of pediatric malignant solid tumors among males was higher than females during 2002 - 2010, and it differed among different age groups with the highest in the first five years of life. CNS tumor was the most common type of solid tumors in children. This was a unique characteristics comparing with adult reflected in disease spectrum and age of onset. The patterns of incidence and its trends for childhood malignant solid tumors in Shanghai could provide a basis for etiologic research and preventive interventions. The findings also suggest an urgent need for longer population-based surveillance to verify the pattern and changing trends.

Adolescent ; Age Distribution ; Central Nervous System Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; pathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Germinoma ; epidemiology ; pathology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Lymphoma ; epidemiology ; pathology ; Male ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neoplasms ; classification ; epidemiology ; pathology ; Registries ; Risk Factors ; Sex Distribution ; Time Factors ; Urban Population

OBJECTIVETo discover BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitors through structure based virtual screening.

METHODSDocking screening against the distinctive inactive conformation of the catalytic domain of BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase was performed on 3D database. The MTT assay was performed to assess the viability of the tumor cells treated with selected compounds. The amount and kinase activity of BCR-ABL protein were detected in the presence of compounds by Western blot analysis and immunoprecipitation.

RESULTSFrom the top 1,000 compounds with the best DOCK energy score, 15 compounds were selected for biological assay. Eight out of 15 compounds showed notable inhibitory activity against Ph+ human K562 cells with IC50 values ranging from 10 to 200 micromol/L. In cell-based assays of ABL tyrosine phosphorylation, the ability of two kinds of novel, structurally diverse, lead compounds to inhibit ABL kinase activity was observed. However, no significant differences in the amount of BCR-ABL protein were noted on the ABL immunoblot in the presence of these lead compounds.

CONCLUSIONSTwo promising lead compounds were discovered to inhibit BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase activity. Virtual screening technique has been proven to narrow down the size of screening compound libraries to the most prospective drug candidates with high success rates.

Computer Simulation ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; chemical synthesis ; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Conformation ; Phosphorylation ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; chemistry ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Triptolide (TL) on the growth of prostate carcinoma cell line, and analyze its function and mechanism in anti-prostate cancer.

METHODSMTT experiments were performed to examine the inhibiting effect of TL on the proliferation of RM-1 cells, cell morphological changes observed by acridine staining, cellular cycles and apoptosis peak analyzed by flow cytometry, the apoptosis fracture zone investigated with DNA electrophoresis, and the expressions of caspase-3 and bcl-2 mRNA in RM-1 cells examined by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe results of MTT experiments showed that after the treatment of TL (5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 ng/ml), the RM-1 cell proliferation inhibition rates were 9.8%, 25.1%, 39.2%, 48.8% and 53.2% respectively; 12, 24, 36 and 48 hours after the treatment of TL (10 and 20 ng/ml), the cell proliferation inhibition rates were 8.4%, 25.1%, 36.1%, 42.4% and 10.2%, 39.2%, 50.2% and 58.5% respectively. Acridine staining after the TL treatment revealed nucleus condensation, cell membrane invagination, irregular orange particles in the cells and apoptosis morphological changes; flow cytometry tests showed that 48 hours after the TL treatment (10, 20 ng/ml) of RM-1 cells, an obvious apoptosis peak appeared before the G1 stage; 24, 36 and 48 hours after it, DNA "trapezoid" strips could be seen; the caspase-3 mRNA expression in the TL treated cells was higher, and the bcl-2 mRNA expression was lower than in the controls.

CONCLUSIONTL can decrease bcl-2 expression, increase caspase-3 expression, induce apoptosis of prostate carcinoma cells, and consequently inhibit the proliferation of RM-1 cells in mice.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; biosynthesis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Diterpenes ; pharmacology ; Epoxy Compounds ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Phenanthrenes ; pharmacology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; biosynthesis ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo determine the biomechanical characteristics of mandibular fractures in different site.

METHODSNine adult mandibular specimens were measured precisely. The data was used to establish a three-dimensional model. When mandibular was under functional loading, the bending and torsion moment as well as shear force of angle, body and symphyseal fracture was calculated. The data were analyzed by Origin 6.0 software.

RESULTSAngle fracture had relatively high positive bending moment and high shear force. Body fracture had positive as well as negative bending moment and the highest torsion moments. Symphyseal fracture had only negative bending moment and relatively low shear force.

CONCLUSIONAngle, body and symphyseal fractures each have a biomechanics characteristic. These biomechanics characteristic should have an important meaning in the treatment of mandibular fractures and instructing patient how to bite correctly.

Adult ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Humans ; Mandible ; Mandibular Fractures

OBJECTIVETo study the contribution of executive function to abnormal recognition of facial expressions of emotion in schizophrenia patients.

METHODSAbnormal recognition of facial expressions of emotion was assayed according to Japanese and Caucasian facial expressions of emotion (JACFEE), Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST), positive and negative symptom scale, and Hamilton anxiety and depression scale, respectively, in 88 paranoid schizophrenia patients and 75 healthy volunteers.

RESULTSPatients scored higher on the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale and the Hamilton Anxiety and Depression Scales, displayed lower JACFEE recognition accuracies and poorer WCST performances. The JACFEE recognition accuracy of contempt and disgust was negatively correlated with the negative symptom scale score while the recognition accuracy of fear was positively with the positive symptom scale score and the recognition accuracy of surprise was negatively with the general psychopathology score in patients. Moreover, the WCST could predict the JACFEE recognition accuracy of contempt, disgust, and sadness in patients, and the perseverative errors negatively predicted the recognition accuracy of sadness in healthy volunteers. The JACFEE recognition accuracy of sadness could predict the WCST categories in paranoid schizophrenia patients.

CONCLUSIONRecognition accuracy of social-/moral emotions, such as contempt, disgust and sadness is related to the executive function in paranoid schizophrenia patients, especially when regarding sadness.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; European Continental Ancestry Group ; Executive Function ; Facial Expression ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Schizophrenia, Paranoid ; psychology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the characteristics of genotype spectrum and hematologic parameters in children with HbH disease in the North Guangxi region.

METHODSHbH disease was identified by clinical manifestations, routine blood tests and hemoglobin electrophoresis in 166 children who came form the North Guangxi region. Genotypes were determined by Multi-PCR combined with PCR reverse dot blot. DNA sequencing was used when the genotype could not be identified by regular methods.

RESULTSOf the 166 children with HbH disease, 8 genotypes were identified: --SEA/-α3.7 (82 cases), --SEA/-α4.2 (40 cases), --SEA/αCSα (38 cases), --SEA/αQSα (1 case), --SEA/αWSα (1 case), --SEA/αCD43/44 (-C) α (1 case), --SEA/-α3.7 plus CD17 (A→T) (1 case) and --SEA/-α4.2 plus CD41-42(-TTCT) (1 case). One case was confirmed as the heterozygote of --SEA and an unknown mutation. In the 134 cases with complete medical data, 2 had normal hemoglobin levels, 36 manifested mild anemia, 90 manifested moderate anemia, and 6 (genotype: --SEA/αCSα) showed severe anemia because of the coexistence of infection. Children with the genotype of --SEA/-α3.7 (69 cases), --SEA/-α4.2 (31 cases) and --SEA/αCSα (34 cases) had hemoglobin levels of 62-120, 69-127 and 34-110 g/L respectively. The hemoglobin level in the --SEA/αCSα group was significantly lower than in the deletional HbH disease group (genotypes: --SEA/-α3.7 and --SEA/-α4.2 ) (P<0.05). In contrast, MCV levels in the --SEA/αCSα group were significantly higher than in the deletional HbH disease group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe genotype spectrum of HbH disease is diverse in the North Guangxi region. Deletional genotype is prevalent. The disease is heterogeneous. The children with --SEA/αCSα HbH disease have severer anemia and higher MCV levels than those with deletional HbH disease.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Genetics, Population ; Genotype ; Hemoglobin H ; genetics ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mutation ; alpha-Thalassemia ; blood ; genetics