OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of electric acupuncture (EA) on the Nogo receptors (NgR) protein expression in the cerebral cortex, the medulla oblongata, and the spinal cord of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) stroke-prone renovascular hypertensive rats (RHRSP) with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) at different time points, and to investigate its possible mechanisms for remote-organ injury of acute cerebral infarction (ACI).

METHODSThe RHRSP model was duplicated in male SPF grade SD rats. Then the MCAO model was prepared by a thread stringing method. Rats were divided into the hypertension group,the sham-operation group, the MCAO group, the EA group, and the sham-acupoint group by random number table method, 60 in each group. Rats in the MCAO group only received MCAO reperfusion treatment. Those in the sham-operation group only received surgical trauma. Baihui (DU20) and Dazhui (DU14) were needled in the EA group, once daily for a total of 28 days.The needles were acupunctured at the skin one cun distant from Baihui (DU20) and Dazhui (DU14) and then the same EA treatment was performed in the sham-acupoint group. At day 1, 7, 14, 28 after treatment, six rats were executed from each group, and their right cortex and medulla oblongata, and the left spinal cord were isolated. The infarct volume was detected by Nissl's staining method. The NgR expression was detect by Western blot.

RESULTS(1) In the cortex area: compared with the hypertension group,the NgR expression increased in the MCAO group at day 1,7,14,and 28 after MCAO (P < 0.05). Compared with the MCAO group, the NgR expression of the EA group and the sham-acupoint group were equivalent at 1 day af ter MCAO (P > 0.05). At day 7, 14,and 28 after MCAO, the NgR expression decreased in the EA group (P < 0.05), it was quite similar to that in the sham-acupoint group (P > 0.05). (2) In the medulla oblongata area: compared with the hypertension group, the NgR expression was equivalent in the sham-operation group. the MCAO group,the EA group, and the sham-acupoint group at 1 day after MCAO (P > 0.05). At day 7.14, and 28 after MCAO, the NgR expression increased in the MCAO group (P < 0.05). Compared with the MCAO group,the NgR expression decreased in the EA group at day 7, 14, and 28 after MCAO (P < 0.05), whereas it was similar in the sham-acupoint group (P > 0.05). (3) In the spinal cord area: compared with the hypertension group, the NgR expression was equivalent in the sham-operation group, the MCAO group,the EA group, and the sham-acupoint group at day 1 and 7 after MCAO (P > 0.05). At day 14 and 28 after MCAO, the NgR expression increased in the MCAO group (P < 0.05). Compared with the MCAO group, the NgR expression decreased in the EA group at day 14 and 28 after MCAO (P < 0.05), whereas it was equivalent in the sham-acupoint group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIncreased NgR expression in the cerebral cortex, the medulla oblongata, and the spinal cord of cerebral infarct rats was an important reason for involving remote-organ injury of ACI. The protective effect of EA on hypertensive I/R cerebral injury rats might be closely related to down-regulating central nervous system myelin growth inhibition mediated factors Nogo-A receptor NgR protein expression.

Animals ; Cerebral Infarction ; metabolism ; therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Electroacupuncture ; GPI-Linked Proteins ; metabolism ; Hypertension, Renal ; metabolism ; therapy ; Male ; Medulla Oblongata ; metabolism ; Myelin Proteins ; metabolism ; Nogo Receptor 1 ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; metabolism ; Spinal Cord ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the sub-acute oral effect of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles on the oxidation/antioxidation biomarkers and inflammatory cytokines in blood, liver, intestine, and colon in rats. METHODS: Twenty four 4-week-old clean-grade Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly devided into 4 groups by body weight (n=6, control, low, middle, and high), in which the rats were orally exposed to TiO₂ nanoparticles at doses of 0, 2, 10 and 50 mg/kg body weight/day for 28 consecutive days separately. Food intake, body weight and abnormal behaviors during the experiment were recorded. The rats were euthanized on the 29th day. The blood was collected via abdominal aortic method and centrifuged to collect the serum. Tissues from liver, intestine and colon were collected and homogenated. Then enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and microwell plate methods were used to detect oxidation/antioxidation biomarkers including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), total mercapto (T-SH), glutathione disulfide (GSSG), malomdialdehvde (MDA) and inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the serum, liver, intestine and colon in the rats. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, no significant differences in body weight, food intake and organ coefficients were observed in all the three groups after TiO₂ gavage. No significant changes in GSH, GSH-Px, T-SH, and IL-6 were observed. Compared with the control group, significant increase of SOD activity in serum in high dose group, signi-ficant increase of GSSG concentration in intestine in middle and high dose group and significant increase of MDA concentration in liver in low and high dose group were observed. Compared with the control group, a significant increase of TNF-α in liver in middle and high dose group was observed. CONCLUSION TiO₂ nanoparticle can increase antioxidant enzymes activities in blood, increase oxidative biomarkers in liver and intestine, increase inflammatory cytokines in liver in rats after a 28-day sub-acute orally administration. Among blood, liver, intestine, and colon, liver is most sensitive to the toxicity induced by TiO₂ nanoparticles, followed by intestine, blood, and colon in sequence.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; Biomarkers ; Cytokines ; Nanoparticles ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Titanium

Objective To explore the correct treatment methods after indwelling catheter incarceration in burn children.Methods Twenty-six burn children with indwelling catheter were analyzed according to their conditions and locations of incarceration,classified and treated effectively.The two cases catheterization incarcerated in the membranous urethra,twenty-two cases incarcerated in the bladder and two cases incarcerated in the internal orifice of urethra.The different catheter incarcerations were respectively handled with guide wire penetration method,acupuncture and surgical operation method.Results Twenty-six burn children could removed catheter after treatment,among them,nineteen cases with guide wire penetration method,four cases with acupuncture,three cases with surgical operation method which was removed of foreign body through perineal urethrotomy.Twenty-six burn children were better recovery after operation.Again indwelling catheter happened in one patient after operation,indwelling catheter was removed after two weeks,and the patient was discharged.Conclusions Nursing staff should skillfully master physiological and anatomical characteristics of male patients,the structure,know performance,operation and notes of balloon urethral catheter,and correctly grasp the decannulation method of the balloon catheter.

Objective To explore pefioperative nursing for patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia who received greenlight photoselective vaporization.Methods Totals of 160 cases patients with BPH underwent PVP treatment were recruited.Before operation,the nursing plan and mental nursing were finished.During and after the operation,the condition changes of patients were carefully observed,and complications prevention and nursing were well done.Results The patients' preoperative emotion was stable,and all operations went smoothly and successfully.And no obvious complications was found and all patients were cured.Conclusions The good perioperative nursing care can ensure the success of operation and promote the rehabilitation of patients.

OBJECTIVETo study the genetic aberrations of ocular extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphomas of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) type occurring in patients from southern China.

METHODSFifty seven paraffin-embedded ocular MALT lymphoma specimens from patients in southern China were studied by interphase fluorescence-in-situ hybridization (FISH) for genetic aberrations including t(11;18)(q21;q21)/API2-MALT1, t(1;14)(p22;q32)/IgH-bcl-10, t(14;18) (q32;q21)/IgH-MALT1 and bcl-6/FOXP1 gene translocations.

RESULTSAmongst the 57 cases studied, 9 cases (15.8%) showed chromosome translocations, including 4 cases (7.0%) of t(11;18)(q21;q21)/API2-MALT1, 1 case (1.8%) of t(14;18) (q32;q21)/IgH-MALT1, 1 case (1.8%) of bcl-6 gene-related chromosome translocation and 3 cases (5.3%) of IgH-unknown translocation partner. FISH revealed 17 cases (29.8%) with 3 copies of bcl-6 gene, 21 cases (36.8%) with 3 copies of MALT1 gene and 12 cases (21.1%) with 3 copies of both genes.

CONCLUSIONSThe MALT lymphoma-associated chromosome translocations t(11;18)(q21;q21)/API2-MALT1 and t(14;18) (q32;q21)/IgH-MALT1 are demonstrated in ocular MALT lymphomas of southern Chinese patients. The prevalence is significantly different from that reported in northern Chinese and northern American patients, indicating a geographic heterogeneity in the MALT lymphoma-associated genetic aberrations. The presence of 3 copies of bcl-6 and MALT1 genes is the commonest genetic abnormalities observed in ocular MALT lymphomas, suggesting a possible role in MALT lymphomagenesis.

Caspases ; genetics ; metabolism ; China ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11 ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14 ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18 ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3 ; genetics ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Eye Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma Translocation 1 Protein ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6 ; Translocation, Genetic ; Trisomy

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and the phosphorylation status of AKT, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), 4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) and ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K) and their interrelationships and clinical pathological significance in anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) patients.

METHODSImmunohistochemical and EnVision methods were used to detect the expression of ALK, p-AKT, p-mTOR, p-4E-BP1 and p-p70S6K.

RESULTSAmong the 81 ALCL patients, 51 (63.0%) expressed ALK, whereas the other 30 (37.0%) did not. Patients with ALK(+) ALCL had a better prognosis than those with ALK-ALCL (P < 0.05). Out of the 71 ALCL samples studied, p-AKT was detected in 54 (76.1%) samples and its phosphorylation was correlated with ALK expression (P < 0.05); p-mTOR was detected in 57 (80.3%) samples and its expression was correlated with both ALK and p-AKT (P < 0.05); p-4E-BP1 and p-p70S6K were detected in 64 (90.1%) and 66 (93.0%) samples respectively, and their expressions were related with p-mTOR (P < 0.05), but not with ALK or p-AKT (P > 0.05). COX Proportional Hazard Model analysis showed that both the expression of ALK and the B symptoms affected the prognosis (P < 0.05), moreover, the former had greater impact than the later.

CONCLUSIONExpressions of p-AKT, p-mTOR, p-4E-BP1 and p-p70S6K are detected in ALCL, while ALK(+) cases have higher incidence than those with ALK(-) cases. Phosphorylation of AKT and mTOR is correlated with ALK expression, suggesting that there is an activated pathway of AKT/mTOR in patients with ALK(+) ALCL, but the activation have no obvious prognostic significance.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; metabolism ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; metabolism ; Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphoproteins ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo compare the leukemia-associated immunophenotypes (LAIP) in patients with B lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) at diagnosis and relapse, and investigate its implications for minimal residual disease (MRD) detection.

METHODSThe immunophenotype of leukemia cells from 410 newly diagnosed and 6 relapsed patients with B-ALL were detected by four to six antibody combination, mainly CD34/CD10/CD45/CD19 of 4-color CD45/SSC gating flow cytometry (FCM).

RESULTSThe proportion of CD45 under-expressed or negative in relapsed patients was much higher than that in newly diagnosed patients, being 69.2% and 37.8% respectively. Immunophenotypic changes occurred in 9 relapsed patients (including 8 hematological relapse and 1 central nerves system relapse) when analyzed by paired samples analysis at diagnosis vs at relapse: 4 cases showed CD45 down-modulation and 2 up-modulation; 4 CD34 down-modulation and 2 CD10 up-modulation, while the expression of CD19 remained no change. MRD was observed in all 7 cases of hematological relapse 2 - 4 months before relapse, and the immunophenotype of MRD cells was the same as that in relapse.

CONCLUSIONA high frequency of immunophenotypic changes occurred at relapse and even in MRD before relapse, however the accuracy of MRD monitoring seemed not affected by the FCM strategy used in this investigation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antigens, CD19 ; immunology ; Antigens, CD34 ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; methods ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; methods ; Leukocyte Common Antigens ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm, Residual ; diagnosis ; immunology ; pathology ; Neprilysin ; immunology ; Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; diagnosis ; immunology ; pathology ; Recurrence ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical significance for minimal residual disease (MRD) detection by 4 color flow cytometry in B lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL).

METHODSMRD was analyzed and followed up by using two panels of 4 color antibodies, mainly CD34/CD10/CD45/CD19, in 671 consecutive bone marrow specimens and 1 cerebrospinal fluid from 98 B-ALL patients. In 26 cases of them the immunophenotyping informations at diagnosis were not available.

RESULTSOf 671 bone marrow samples, 579 were MRD negative with leukemic cells below 0.0001 and 93 were MRD positive with leukemic cells over 0.0001. Of 93 MRD positive samples, leukemic cells below 0.05 were found in 64 bone marrow samples, meanwhile in the other 29 samples leukemic cells were over 0.05. Twenty patients relapsed, 19 were bone marrow relapse and one center nerves system. Fifteen of them were found MRD positive 7 - 17 weeks before relapse including 6 patients having no immunophenotyping data at diagnosis. The percentages of leukemia cells in these 15 patients were all over 0.0001. Two relapsed patients were MRD negative in 3 and 9 months before relapse, respectively. Two relapsed after MRD monitoring stopped. If MRD level was > 0.0001 at the end of induction chemotherapy and 12 weeks of treatment, the rate of relapse was 50% (6/12), while, it was 7.5% (3/40) in MRD negative patients (P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONRelapses can be predicted by MRD monitoring, if MRD was positive in the early phase of treatment, the risk of relapse was higher. Based on the characteristics of B cells ontogeny, MRD detection can be done independently of immunophenotypic information at diagnosis.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, CD19 ; immunology ; Antigens, CD34 ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; methods ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Leukocyte Common Antigens ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm, Residual ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Neprilysin ; immunology ; Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Young Adult

The cDNA of human FGF-21 was subcloned into the pSUMO expression vector and the fusion protein was induced to express in Escherichia coli Rosetta (DE3). The recombinant hFGF-21 was expressed in soluble form in the pSUMO expression system. The recombinant fusion protein was purified by Ni-NTA column. The purified recombinant protein was dialyzed against PBS for re-nature. To obtain pure and active recombinant protein, the fusion protein was subjected to cleavage with SUMO protease I. To examine glucose regulation activity of hFGF-21, 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes were differentiated into adipocytes, glucose up-take activity of hFGF-21 was examined by glucose oxidase and peroxidase (GOD-POD) assay. Compared with no stimulation control, the recombinant hFGF-21 treatment led to a significant increase in glucose consumption of adipocytes and a significant decrease in concentration of glucose in the medium (P < 0.05, P < 0.001).
3T3-L1 Cells ; Adipocytes ; metabolism ; Animals ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Fibroblast Growth Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Humans ; Mice ; Plasmids ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Solubility

The gene encoding amorpha-4, 11-diene synthase was cloned from Artemisia annua L. Other two genes encoding the FPP synthase (FPPS) and HMG-CoA reductase (HMGR) were cloned from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The cloned cDNAs were confirmed by DNA sequencing. Two expression vectors were constructed, one is named pGBT9/A/HMG/FPP harboring genes for HMG-CoA reductase and FPP synthase and the other is pYeDP60/G/AS, containing the gene encoding amorpha-4,11-diene synthase. Two kinds of engineered yeast were constructed: the first was named WHT [AS], which contained the plasmid pYeDP60/G/AS; the second was WHT [HMG + FPP + AS], in which the vectors pGBT9/A/ HMG/FPP and pYeDP60/G/AS were introduced by cotransformation mediated with LiOAc and PEG4000. The positive clones were identified for further fermentations. The samples from fermentations were analyzed by GC-MS for amorpha-4,11-diene. The results show that engineered yeasts could produce amorpha-4,11-diene. Moreover, the amorpha-4,11-diene production of WHT[ HMG + FPP + AS] and WHT[ AS] were 23.6 mg x L(-1) and 10 microg x L(-1), respectively. Its concentrations were reported as equivalents of valencene. The results showed the copy number increase of HMGR and FPPS genes can improve the production of amorpha-4, 11-diene in the fermentation of engineered yeasts.
Alkyl and Aryl Transferases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Artemisia annua ; enzymology ; genetics ; Fermentation ; Gene Dosage ; Genes, Plant ; Genetic Engineering ; methods ; Genetic Vectors ; Geranyltranstransferase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Sesquiterpenes ; metabolism