Aged ; Anthracosis ; complications ; Catheterization ; Drainage ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pleural Effusion ; etiology ; therapy ; Pneumothorax ; etiology ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies

Animals ; Brain Diseases ; parasitology ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Sparganosis ; Sparganum

Our previous results have demonstrated that insulin reduces myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury and increases the postischemic myocardial functions via activating the cellular survival signaling, i.e., phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K)-Akt-endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)-nitric oxide (NO) cascade. However, it remains largely controversial whether c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) is involved in the effects of insulin on MI/R injury. Therefore, the aims of the present study were to investigate the role of JNK, especially the cross-talk between JNK and previously expatiated Akt signaling, in the protective effect of insulin on I/R myocardium. Isolated hearts from adult Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 30 min of regional ischemia and followed by 2 or 4 h of reperfusion (n=6). The hearts were pretreated with PI3-K inhibitor LY294002, or phosphorylated-JNK inhibitor SP600125, respectively, then perfused retrogradely with insulin, and the mechanical functions of hearts, including the heart rate (HR), left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) and instantaneous first derivation of left ventricular pressure (+/-LVdp/dt(max)) were measured. At the end of reperfusion, the infarct size (IS) and apoptotic index (AI) were examined. MI/R caused significant cardiac dysfunction and myocardial apoptosis (strong TUNEL-positive staining). Compared with the control group, insulin treatment in MI/R rats exerted protective effects as evidenced by reduced myocardial IS [(28.9 +/- 2.0)% vs (45.0 +/- 4.0) %, n=6, P<0.01], inhibited cardiomyocyte apoptosis [decreased AI: (16.0 +/- 0.7) % vs (27.6 +/- 1.3) %, n=6, P<0.01] and improved recovery of cardiac systolic/diastolic function (including LVDP and +/-LVdp/dt(max)) at the end of reperfusion. Moreover, insulin resulted in 1.7-fold and 1.5-fold increases in Akt and JNK phosphorylation in I/R myocardium, respectively (n=6, P<0.05). Inhibition of Akt activation with LY294002 abolished, and inhibition of JNK activation with SP600125 enhanced the cardioprotection by insulin, respectively. And the abolishment by LY294002 could be partly converted by SP600125 pretreatment. In addition, SP600125 also decreased the Akt phosphorylation (n=6, P<0.05). These results demonstrate that insulin simultaneously activates both Akt and JNK, and the latter further increases the phosphorylation of Akt which attenuates MI/R injury and improves heart function; this cross-talk between Akt and JNK in the insulin signaling is involved in insulin-induced cardioprotective effect.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Heart ; Insulin ; metabolism ; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; Myocardium ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase ; metabolism ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; Signal Transduction

Benzoxazinoids (BXs) are important secondary metabolites in plants.There has been a wide range of attention and research of them because of their role in defensive and allelopathy.With the development of genomics and molecular biology,the BXs biosynthesis and other molecular areas research has made great progress.The BXs profile,the function of BXs,the genetic basis of BXs biosynthesis and expression regulation were briefly introduced.

Animals ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; metabolism ; Hypothalamus ; metabolism ; Male ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the applicability of immune-related response criteria (irRC) in treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by Chinese medicine (CM).

METHODSTotally 97 stage III a-IV NSCLC patients were predominantly treated with comprehensive CM. Curative effects were evaluated by three methods such as Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST), Oncologic Curative Effect Evaluation Criteria of Chinese Medicine in Solid Tumor (draft, abbreviated as CM criteria), and irRC. The correspondency and consistency between irRC, RECIST and CM criteria were analyzed and compared. The objectivity of irRC in evaluating curative effect of Chinese medical treatment for NSCLC was assessed.

RESULTSThe correspondency rate of irRC to RECIST was 59. 79% with Kappa value of 0. 379 (U test, P <0. 01). The two criteria had certain correspondence, but with an unsatisfactory consistency. The correspondency rate of irRC to CM criteria rate was 83. 51% with Kappa value of 0.751 (U test, P <0. 01). The two criteria had good correspondence and consistency.

CONCLUSIONSCM criteria had good consistency with CM criteria in evaluating curative effect for Chinese medical treatment of advanced NSCLC. Its results could objectively reflect features and advantages of CM for treating advanced NSCLC.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; standards ; Treatment Outcome

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Free running EMG and stimulus triggered EMG, including time, frequency, amplitude, muscle group were observed and recorded simultaneously. Never root functional injury and restoration after surgery were detected.RESULTS: 378 pedicle screws in 74 patients were monitored intraoperatively, and only 3 pedicle screw malposition (2 of L_4, 1 of L_5) was detected and then replaced with the help of C-arm fluoroscopic examination. Myoelectricity appeared when the current intensity was less than 10 mA. The correct rate of implantation was 99.2%. Nerve root impingement was found in two cases during laminectomy for L_5 and S_1 decompression and never root solution, which alerted the surgical team of critical neural structures. Nerve symptoms of the lower limb were aggravated after surgery and restored following 2-4 weeks of conventional treatment. The error injury rate of nerve root was 2.7%. In all reported cases, no irreversible neurological deficit was observed 2-4 weeks after operation.CONCLUSION: Intraoperative EMG monitoring can find improperly placed screws and detect impending nerve root injury promptly. Combined EMG and 3-D imaging modality monitoring is a reliable and practicable method that can be used to protect neural structures during complex lumbosacral surgery.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; virology ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; pathogenicity ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; virology ; Receptors, Virus ; metabolism ; Virus Integration

Objective To identify a unique protein as a novel genetic marker for rapid molecular typing of Mycobacteriutn tuberculosis Beijing genotype strains by comparing the proteome of Beijing genotype strains with non-Beijing strains.Methods Fifty-six clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuber- culosis were analyzed by spoligotyping to determine genotypes.The two-dimensional electrophoresis (2 DE)was used to compare the global protein patterns between Beijing genotype strains and non Bei jing strains.Differential expressed proteins were measured by matrix assisted laser desorption ioniza tion lime of flight mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF-MS).The data obtained from peptide mass fingerprinting were compared in protein database.The genes encoding differential expressed proteins and their upstream were sequenced.Results Forty nine of the 56 isolates were Beijing genotype strains and 7 isolates were non-Beijing strains.A unique protein Rv0927c was identified,which is absent in Beijing genotype strains compared with 7 non Beijing strains and H37Rv.There were two characteristic mutations in Beijing genotype strains,a deletion of AGC at nucleotide position 421 of Rv0927c and a 127 G→A muta- tion in the upstream of Rv0927c.but not in non Beijing strains and H37Rv.Conclusion Characteris tic mutations of Rv0927c in Beijing genotype strains can be used as a novel genetic marker for rapid molecular typing of Mycobacteriuln tuberculosis Beijing genotype strains and non Beijing strains.

AIMSingle cardiomyocytes were isolated from adult rat hearts and myocyte contraction was recorded by a video-based motion edge-detection system.

METHODSSingle ventricular myocytes were enzymatically isolated, loaded with fura-2/AM (0.5 micromol/L) for 30 min in dark at room temperature and field-stimulated (0.5 Hz, 5 ms), and both myocyte contraction and intracellular fluorescence intensity were simultaneously assessed by a video-based motion edge-detection system.

RESULTSUsing the video-based motion edge-detection system, one may real-time beat-to-beat observe and record the amplitude, duration and velocity of both myocyte shortening/ relengthening and intracellular calcium transient, and then directly describe the change of isolated ventricular myocyte mechanics.

CONCLUSIONDirect measurement of isolated ventricular myocyte mechanics using the video-based motion edge-detection system is an increasingly important technique in cardiac physiology that provides fundamental information on myogenic and excitation-contraction coupling of the heart in drug intervention and gene manipulation.

Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytological Techniques ; Heart Ventricles ; cytology ; Myocardial Contraction ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Single-Cell Analysis ; Video Recording ; instrumentation