Aim To establish a screening system of orphan G protein-coupled receptors (oGPCRs) for their ligands based on monitoring [Ca 2+]_i in engineered cells. Methods The whole ORF of a member of human oGPCR, designated human G-protein-coupled receptor c (hGPCRc), was amplified by RT-PCR from human colon tissue and its structure was analyzed with softwares. CHO-K_1 cells were transfected with the recombinant pcDNA 3.1(+)-hGPCRc to obtain engineered CHO-hGPCRc cells. As fluorescence probe, Fluo-3 was used in assaying the [Ca 2+]_i changes induced by different compounds in the CHO- hGPCRc cells.Results Bioinformatic analysis showed that hGPCRc was localized at 13q32.2, and its corresponding amino acids formed seven-transmembrane domains and was close to human P2Y_1 receptor. It was indicated that hGPCRc was a new member of human GPCR. CHO- hGPCRc cells expressing hGPCRc were obtained successfully but no one was able to activate hGPCRc among the tested compounds indicated by the [Ca 2+]_i changes. Conclusion Although hGPCRc was even though close to human P2Y_1 receptor, it can not be activated by the known compounds which activate the P2Y_1 receptor. hGPCRc might be a new member of purine receptor family but dose not belong to P2Y_1 subfamily.

BACKGROUND: During vascular dementia, ischemia, hypoxia, energy expenditure, abnormal metabolism of neurons, decrease of generation of Adenosine Triphosphate and disorder of ionic environment in and out of cells are observed in brain tissue, which can cause abnormal release of monoamine transmitter.OBJECTIVE: To probe into effect of shenma yizhi capsule on content of monoamine transmitter in brain tissue of rat models with vascular dementia induced by multiple cerebral infarction.DESIGN: Randomized controlled study.SETTING: Pathological and Physiological Department o Liaoning Basic Medical Institute.MATERIALS: Totally 96 Wistar rats of either gender,aged 8-12 months, weighing 270-500 g, were selected. METHODS: The experiment was completed in the Pathological and Physiological Department of Vocational-technical College, Liaoning College of Traditional Chinese Medicine from April to July 2001. All rats of either gender were divided into 6 groups with 16 in each group. Wistar rats in 5 groups were injected with cruor embolus in internal carotid artery to make animal model of vascular dementia induced by multiple cerebral infarction.After modeling, rats were randomly divided into 3.2 g/kg, 1.6 g/kg and 0.8 g/kg shenma yizhi capsule groups (shenma yizhi capsule was extracted from ginseng and tall gastrodia tuber with 2.7 g raw materials and provide by Xiyuan Hospital of Chinese Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine),positive control group and dementia control group. Animals without modeling were regarded as normal control group. Rats in each dosage group were perfused with the corresponding dosage of shenma yizhi capsule; rats in positive control group were perfused with 1 mg/kg hydergine dihydroergotoxine; rats in dementia control group and normal control group were perfused with the same volume of saline solution. One week after modeling, rats were medicated once a day for 6 weeks. Content of monoamine transmitter was measured with high performance liquid chromatograpy.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Content of monoamine transmitter such as levarterenol, adnephrin, dopamine, indoleacetic acid, homovanillic acid and 5-serotonin.RESULTS: Nine rats died because of self-body quality and environmental change, and totally 87 animals entered the final analysis. Content of levarterenol of rats in dementia control group was lower than that in normal control group [(0.40±0.23), (0.70±0.14) ng/g, t=2.712, P ＜ 0.01]; content of levarterenol of rats of 3.2 and 1.6 g/kg dosage groups was higher than that of dementia control group [(0.57±0.09), (0.58±0.19), (0.40±0.23) ng/g,t=2.211, P ＜ 0.05], but was lower than that of normal control group. Content of levarterenol of rats of 0.8 g/kg dosage group was lower than that of normal control group [(0.48±0.23) ng/g, t=2.213, P ＜ 0.05], but was higher than that of dementia control group and positive control group [(0.41 ±0.19) ng/g]. Differences of other neurotransmitters were not significant.CONCLUSION: Content of levarterenol in brain tissue of rats of dementia control group is decreased obviously, but shenma yizhi capsule can increase content of levarterenol in brain tissue of rats. The mechanism of shenma yizhi capsule on treating vascular dementia is possibly related with increasing content of levarterenol in brain tissue.

Five population groups, including farmers living in Veining (a cold hilly southern county), farmers and labourers in Shijiazhuang (a northern district), coastal fishermen in Zhoushan and "Yi" nationality farmers in Veining (where the incidence of hypertension is very low in China) were selected randomly (467 male subjects, 40-59 years old) to explore nutritional parameters-BP relationships. The results showed; (1) Pulse rate, QI and BP were lowest in Veining "Han" and "Yi" nationality groups. (2) Values of blood and urine nutritional parameters were in close accord with the diet customs of the different population groups. (3) Urine Na, Ca, Ca/Mg, urea nitrogen and serum cholesterol, total protein, albumin, uric acid were higher, while urine K was lower in hypertensives. (4) Urine Na, Na/K, Ca/ Mg and serum albumin, total protein, cholesterol, triglyceride, uric acid levels correlated positively, while K inversely with BP on multivariate stepwise regression and/or discrimination analyses. These results suggested high Na (Ca)-intake might be hypertensive, while high K(Mg)-intake an-tihypertensive, the serum protein - BP relationship could not be ascribed as a secondary effect of hemoconcentration in hypertension; a high protein intake, regardless of nature, could be hypertensionogenic; hyperlipidemia seemed to be a risk factor of hypertension, not being the secondary consequence to high BP. In designing a strategic protocol for primary prevention of hypertension, the above should be given due consideration.

Eight populations including 4 Chinese districts and 4 nationalities 484 subjects (male, 40~59 years) were conducted for exploring amino acid (22 sorts)-BP relationship by multi-variate regression and discrimination analyses. Results showed:(1)The different amino acid levels found among "Ka-zak", "Han" and "Uygur" nationalities living in one of the same Xinjiang region might be a reflection of their diverse dietary patterns; while the difference seen between "Han" and "Yi" nationalities living in one of the same Quizhou area, taking similar diet, might be due to the inherited metabolic influence. (2) The levels of aspartic and (or) glutamic acids were the the highest in the Quizhou "Han" and "Yi" groups living in cold hilly area, while other amino acids were comparatively lower, in keeping with their BP, Quetelet's indices and serum urea levels to be the lowest, tentatively denoting that the tissue metabolic turnover rate might be also lower as well in these groups. (3) The serum levels of sulfur containing amino acids in those populations taking much animal foods, were all higher, therefor ethe lower incidences of cardio-cerebro-vascular diseases seen in fishmen can not be thus wholly ascribed to the high intake of fish meat rich in sulfur containing amino acids. (4) From BP regression equations, valine, cysteine, alanine, threonine were found to be the prohypertensives while glycine, leucine, methionine and phenylalanine,the antihypertensives.

Men aged 40-59 years (325 subjects) from 4 districts, 6 populations, 3 nationalities were investigated to explore the relationship between element and blood pressure (BP) . Fe, Mo, Ni, Pb, Si, Sn, Sr, V, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Zn, Ca, and Mg -were measured by ion coupled plasma spectroscopy, Se by catalytic pulse polarography. Results showed; (1) The element levels were different among districts and nationalities. (2) The correlation coefficients among serum Pb, Ni, Si, Sn, V, Cd, Cr were rather high, while Sr behaved relatively independently. (3)Using multivariant stepwise regression and discrimination analysis, serum Sr was found to associate positively with BP in normotensive and hypertensive and total pooled groups without exce-piton. (4) Serum Ca (Ca/Mg), Fe, Co were positively associated, while Cr, Sn inversely associated with BP. (5) The harmful element Cd was unexpectedly found to be inversely associated with BP and it was lower in those populations with high BP levels, which might be ascribed to the non-parallel distribution of certain elements in body tissues and blood. Results also indicated; (1) The levels of essential element Ni, V, Co, Cr were lower in hypertensive group. (2) Serum Ca and urinary Ca were non-parallel, and the former could not accurately reflect Ca-intake. In short, the relationship between element and BP still remains to be elucidated.

OBJECTIVETo verify the linkage of the candidate regions identified in a previous study (markers D2S168, D2S151, D2S142 on chromosome 2) with hypertension in Chinese families.

METHODSA genetic linkage study focused on chromosome 2 was performed on 240 Chinese families containing 856 patients with essential hypertension. A total of 1080 individuals were genotyped using 9 highly polymorphic microsatellite markers around the candidate regions on chromosome 2 with an average spacing of 5 cM. Non-parametric linkage (NPL), parametric linkage analysis and transmission-disequilibrium test (TDT) with the GENEHUNTER software were used to assess evidence for linkage.

RESULTSLinkage of a region on chromosome 2 around D2S151 and D2S142 with hypertension was confirmed by different statistical methods (NPL, LOD score and TDT). However, the linkage of D2S168 could not be replicated in this extension study.

CONCLUSIONSThe data suggest that a region on chromosome 2 at or near the loci of D2S142 and D2S151 may harbor genes responsible for the development of essential hypertension in Chinese.

Alleles ; China ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 2 ; genetics ; Family Health ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Linkage ; Humans ; Hypertension ; genetics ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility, safety, and preliminary technical experience of single incision plus one port laparoscopic total gastrectomy combined with π-shaped esophagojejunal anastomosis (SILT-π) in the surgical treatment of gastric cancer.

METHODSClinical data of 5 gastric cancer patients undergoing SILT-π operation at the Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of the Army Medical University from August to October 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. A 2.5-3.0 cm incision around the umbilicus was made for placing the gloveport as the passage for the lens, and the instruments of the surgeon and the assistant. Another operative port was placed in the left upper quadrant with a 12-mm Trocar for the passage of the energy device, the endoscopic cutting closure, as well as the postoperative drainage tube. A D2 lymph node (LNs) dissection was regularly conducted. After the abdominal esophagus was routinely mobilized, a side-to-side esophagus-jejunum anastomosis was made through a gastric pre-pulling esophagojejunal π-shaped anastomosis. The transection was then performed with a ligation on the cardia (or esophagus above the upper margin of the tumor) using a sterilized hemp rope in order to better expose the abdominal esophagus. Throughout the course of reconstruction, the ligature rope was held by the assistant to hold down the esophagus to allow easier esophagojejunal anastomosis. A hole was then made on the posterior wall of the esophagus, between 2 cm and 3 cm above the ligature rope, and another hole was made at the anti-mesenteric border of the jejunum 40 cm distal to the Treitz ligament. A side-to-side esophagojejunal π-shaped anastomosis was performed through two holes. An entry hole was formed after the anastomosis. After checking the anastomosis, this entry hole was closed through an intestinal mesenteric hole pre-made on its opposite side. The resected esophagus and stomach, together with the afferent loop jejunum, were simultaneously transected above the level of the entry hole by a stapler from the Trocar of the left upper abdominal quadrant. After the gloveport was closed, a side-to-side jejunojejunostomy anastomosis applied with another two staples was performed between the afferent loop stump and the roux limb 30 cm below the esophagojejunal anastomosis.

RESULTSThese five patients were all male, and aged (56.8±8.2) years with preoperative clinical stage cT2-4N0-2M0. All the 5 patients underwent SILT-π operation successfully. The average length of surgical incision was (2.9±0.2) cm. The average operation time was (396.0±36.1) minutes. The intraoperative blood loss was (140.0±66.7) ml. Postoperative pathology showed proximal and distal margins were (2.6±1.1) cm and (8.7±2.5) cm apart respectively, and the average number of retrieved lymph node was 25.8±7.2. Perioperative management was based on enhanced recovery following surgical (ERAS) principles. The average time to the first flatus was (2.6±0.5) days, and the average time to defecation was (3.6±0.5) days. The pain score on postoperative day 1 was 1-2, and the average postoperative hospital stay was (7.0±0.7) days. No perioperative complications occurred.

CONCLUSIONSSILT-π procedure is safe and feasible for patients with gastric cancer, and has positive short-term outcomes, satisfactory cosmetic abdominal incision, light postoperative abdominal pain and rapid postoperative recovery. Preliminary observations show that SILT-π procedure has good potential for clinical application in future.

Aged ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; Esophagus ; surgery ; Gastrectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Jejunum ; surgery ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery