OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of exogenous carbon monoxide (CO) in protection of rat hearts from ischemia/reperfusion injury and its underlying mechanisms.

METHODSCardiac contractility, lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), creatine kinase(CK) and infarct area were analyzed by the Langendorff isolated rat hearts. All isolated hearts were subjected to 30 min of ischemia followed by 120 min of reperfusion.

RESULTSPerfusion with 25 micromol/L of CORM-2 (an exogenous CO releaser) during the first 10 min of reperfusion prevented the increase in LVEDP and decrease in LVDP, +dp/dt(max) in isolated ischemia/reperfusion hearts. CORM-2(25 micromol/L) had no effect on the changes of coronary flow, but it really inhibited the release of LDH and CK, and also reduced the infarct size. Perfusion with 10 micromol/L of CORM-2 decreased the LDH, CK and infarct size, but it did not improve the contractility of ischemia/reperfusion hearts. However, perfusion with 100 micromol/L of CORM-2 exacerbated the injury induced by ischemia/reperfusion. Pretreatment of a NOS inhibitor L-NAME and a HO-1 inhibitor ZnPP partly abolished the protection effect of CORM-2(25 micromol/L) on LVEDP, and L-NAME and a GC inhibitor methylene blue could also cancel the enhance of LVDP and +dp/dt(max) incuced by CORM-2. All of the inhibitor (methylene blue, L-NAME, a mitoK(ATP )channel blocker 5-HD and ZnPP) could partly enlarge infarct area compared with CORM-2 treatment.

CONCLUSIONSExogenous CO could protect heart from ischemia/reperfusion injury. The cardiac protection of CO might be through NOS-cGMP and HO-1 pathway, and the activation of mitoK(ATP)channel might be also involved in.

Animals ; Carbon Monoxide ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Cardiotonic Agents ; pharmacology ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Myocardial Contraction ; drug effects ; Myocardial Ischemia ; physiopathology ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; Organometallic Compounds ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the possibility of dissemination of lung cancer cells through blood during the operation for lung cancer.

METHODSThe blood samples were taken from 52 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and 5 patients with benign lung diseases at four different intervals during the operation. The transcription of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) messenger ribonucleic acid was assayed by means of nested reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). A549 (a human adenocarcinoma cell line) served as positive control. The sensitivity has been tested using quantificationally diluted A549 cells.

RESULTSThe CEA mRNA positive rates of all four time spots are as follows: 31% (16/52) at beginning of the operation (sample taken from peripheral vein), 54% (28/52) at ligating the pulmonary vein (peripheral vein), 54% (28/52) at ligating the pulmonary vein (pulmonary vein) and 54% (28/52) at 1 hour after ligating the pulmonary vein (peripheral vein). There is no relationship between the tumor identity and the positive rate of CEA mRNA. The positive rate of CEA mRNA is higher in patients with centrally located lung cancer than that in patients with peripherally located lung cancer, similar phenomenon is also found between patients with advanced lung cancer and the patients with early stage of lung cancer. No negative control samples was found to be positive for CEA mRNA, the sensitivity of our test was 1 x 10(-6).

CONCLUSIONSThe cancer cell dissemination during operation was demonstrated indirectly in our study, the time of pulmonary vein ligation (later or earlier) may affect the quantity of tumor cells released into circulation. Patients with lung cancer of central type and late TNM stage have more possibility of cancer cell dissemination during operation. More effective means may be needed to avoid the dissemination of cancer cells.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; blood ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Seeding ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating ; RNA, Messenger ; blood ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sensitivity and Specificity

In order to produce relatively large amounts of recombinant human intestinal trefoil factor and assess its biological activity. The expression plasmid pPIC9-hITF containing AOX1 promotor and the sequences of secreting signal peptides was transformed into the yeast cells. Then through selection, positive transformants were cultivated in fermentation basal salts medium in a 5L fermenter to obtain large amount product with low cost. The secreted peptides were then purified by a combination of ionic exchange chromatography and molecular sieve. To verify the product, electrospray mass spectrometry analyses was used to determine the structure of rhITF and Western Blotting was performed to test the immunological activity. Furthermore, the biological activity of the peptide was examined by experiments from cell to tissue. The nucleotide sequence of rhITF was the same as expected. With a 5-L fermenter, 253mg of hITF was isolated at the purity of 96% from 3.5 L of yeast fermentation broth. The expression level for recombinant human ITF in this yeast system was 73.33mg/L. In our study, we provided a way to gain a production among milligram to gram of recombinant human ITF by the use of a yeast expression system. As human ITF are difficult to purify in any significant amount from tissue extraction, the way described may become a valuable tool in obtaining pure peptide for further studies of trefoil peptide function.
Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Fermentation ; Humans ; Intestine, Small ; cytology ; Peptides ; genetics ; metabolism ; Pichia ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Trefoil Factor-2

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathological and immunohistochemical features of primary malignant tumor of the appendix.

METHODSThe clinical data were reviewed; and histopathological and immunohistochemical features were analyzed in 22 cases with primary malignant tumor of the appendix.

RESULTIn 22 cases of primary malignant tumor of the appendix, 19 cases were carcinoid and 3 were adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemistry showed that the carcinoid was positively reacted to the neuroendocrine markers, and the adenocarcinoma was negatively reacted to the neuroendocrine markers.

CONCLUSIONImmunohistochemistry is useful in diagnosis of primary malignant tumor of the appendix, a rare type of cancer.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Appendiceal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoid Tumor ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; isolation & purification ; Hodgkin Disease ; classification ; metabolism ; pathology ; virology ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; PAX5 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; RNA, Viral ; metabolism ; Trans-Activators ; metabolism ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the distribution of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index and its influencing factorsamong middle and old aged people with normal glucose and to provide the basis for early screening and prevention of type 2diabetes. Methods A total of 229 residents were selected with health records showed normal blood glucose (fasting bloodglucose < 7.0mmol/L, postprandial 2h blood glucose<11.1 mmol/L) and more than 40 years old from July, 2012 to June,2015. Height, weight, waist and hip circumference, and the fasting plasma glucose (FPG), insulin (FINS), lowdensity lipoprotein (LDL), uric acid, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin -6 (IL-6) were recorded to analyzethe distribution of HOMA-IR and its influencing factors. Results Totally 229 people were included, of which 113 were male(49.34%), 116 female(50.66%) . The average age was(63.58 + 8.85) years old. The average HOMA-IR index was 0.94(1.08) and there were 21 people that HOMA-IR exceed the standard (HOMA-IR≥2.68), accounting for 9.17%.TheHOMA-IR index of different gender, age, waist circumference, hip circumference, uric acid in the elderly had significantdifference (P < 0.05) .Multiple linear regression analysis showed that HOMA-IR index was positively correlated withfemale, waist circumference and IL-6 and was negatively correlated with age. Conclusion The possibility of IR was higherin women with relatively low age, female, central obesity and high IL-6 levels among the middle and old aged people withnormal blood glucose.

BACKGROUNDUnderstanding the characteristics of Chinese dialysis patients and the current practice trends is the first step to evaluate the association between practice pattern and outcome in these populations. In the present study, we evaluated the status of medical treatment and characteristic features of chronic dialysis patients in China.

METHODSThrough a clustering sampling, we selected 9 centers from the largest dialysis facilities in 6 cities around China. All adult undergoing dialysis in the selected units were screened. A total of 2388 (1775 on hemodialysis (HD) and 613 on peritoneal dialysis (PD)) patients were finally enrolled. All data were collected at enrollment on the bases of review of medical records.

RESULTSIn this cohort, 1313 (55.0%) were male. The mean age was 54 years old. The median time for dialysis was 26 months (12 - 51 months). Seventy-five percent of patients were on HD and 25.0% on PD. Among PD patients, about 21% patients did not receive dialysis adequacy. For HD patients, about 14.0% of them did not achieve dialysis adequacy when the target of kt/V was set as 1.2. Only 44.7% of patients achieved blood pressure target of 140/90 mmHg. About 60% of patients did not reach the hemoglobin target of 110 g/L even though 85.0% of them were treated with erythropoietin. In addition, 48.5% of the patients had uncontrolled mineral metabolism revealed by the high calcium-phosphate product. Compared with HD patients, higher level of serum glucose, triglyceride, and total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol were more common in PD patients.

CONCLUSIONSThis observational study suggests that many Chinese dialysis patients did not achieve the therapeutic target, particularly in blood pressure control, anemia correction, and mineral balance. PD patients were more likely to suffer metabolic disturbance.

Adult ; Aged ; Anemia ; physiopathology ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Renal Dialysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate gene mutations of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and K-RAS in Chinese non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs).

METHODSMutations of exons 18, 19 and 21 of the EGFR and codons 12, 13 of the K-RAS in 101 NSCLCs were detected by PCR-amplifying and gene sequencing, and the relationship between mutations and clinical characters of NSCLCs and response to gefitinib were analyzed.

RESULTSOverall, 26 EGFR mutations (25.7%), 3 K-RAS mutations (2.9%) were detected, and EGFR mutation frequencies in adenocarcinomas, nonsmoker and female were found to be high (44.2%, 65.7% and 48.3% respectively). Nine out of 10 gefitinib treated patients with disease control was found with EGFR mutation.

CONCLUSIONThe data suggest that mutation frequency of EGFR in NSCLCs from Chinese patients is higher than that of western ethnicities, such mutations are well correlated with tumor response to gefitinib, and gefitinib is more fit for Chinese NSCLC patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Genes, ras ; genetics ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Quinazolines ; therapeutic use ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; genetics

BACKGROUNDTo study the molecular mechanism of interferon alpha2b(IFNalpha2b) inhibiting the SARS virus replication. SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS virus) cDNA chip was developed and applied to detect the virus RNA transcription levels in the interferon-treated and untreated cell cultures, and the mechanism of anti-SARS virus activity of interferon alpha2b in cell culture system was explored.

METHODSSARS virus cDNA chip was prepared by comparing the published SARS virus genome sequence, and the cDNA chip was used to study the interferon alpha2b function during SARS virus replication.

RESULTSSARS virus cDNA chip was successfully prepared by using PCR method. The results showed that the cDNA chip could be used to detect the viral RNA transcription level. Interferon alpha2b could inhibit almost all the SARS virus gene transcription. An unknown gene at the position 28130-28426 bp, named as U gene, may play an important role during the viral replication.

CONCLUSIONA SARS virus whole genome cDNA chip was established. It could be used to study the virus molecular biology and antiviral drug screening. The results also showed that interferon alpha2b could inhibit almost the whole virus gene transcription by using the cDNA chip.

Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; pharmacology ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; methods ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; SARS Virus ; drug effects ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; virology ; Virus Replication ; drug effects

In the long-term evolution, microbes and hosts coexist widely, forming a symbiotic microecosystem and resulting the complex interactions of the metabolism. With the application of microecological theory in Chinese materia medica science, two main points have been accepted gradually. On the one hand, the prevention and treatment of human diseases by traditional Chinese medicines can be achieved through the correction and adjustment of the imbalance of the human microecosystem. On the other hand, the microecosystem can regulate the quality of traditional Chinese medicines in real time, and further affect their curative effect. Thus, a new discipline, Traditional Chinese Medical Microecology, has been gradually established. In this review, the background, theoretical structure, research directions, key problems and the relationship with human microecology of Traditional Chinese Medical Microecology were systematically summarized and prospected for promoting its development. Moreover, this review provides a reference protocol for further discoursing the microecological mechanism involving the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicines.