OBJECTIVETo observe the dynamic expression changes of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK), nucler facter kappa B (NF-κB) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in myocardial tissue after an exhausted exercise and study the impact of p38MAPK, NF-κB and COX-2 on its myocardial damage.

METHODSSixty Wister male rats were randomly divided into the control group (n = 10) and the exhausted exercise group (n = 50). Then the exhausted exercise group was further divided into 5 subgroups, namely 0 h, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h after an exhausted exercise (n = 10). The myocardial injury animal model was set up by using an exhausted swimming exercise and the expression of p-p38MAPK, NF-κB and COX-2 were examined by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the expression of p-p38MAPK were increased significantly (P < 0.01) in all the groups and the 3 h group was the highest( P < 0.01); The expression of NF-κB were increased significantly (P < 0.05) in all the groups but 0 h P > 0.05) and the 6h group was increased significantly compared with the other groups( P < 0.05); The expression of COX-2 were increased significantly( P < 0.05) in all the groups but 0 h and the 24 h groups was increased significantly compared with the other groups(P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONp38MAPK was activated in an acute exhausted exercise, p-p38MAPK may play an important role in modulating NF-κB and COX-2 expression and mediating the exhausted exercise induced myocardial damage.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; metabolism ; Fatigue ; Male ; Myocardium ; pathology ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Swimming ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects and mechanisms of high glucose on the phenotype transformation of rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).

METHODSVSMCs ere isolated from rat thoracic aorta and the 3rd-5th VSMCs were incubated with normal glucose (5.5 mmol/L), high glucose (25 mmol/L), or high glucose (25 mmol/L) + P38 inhibitor (25 mmol/L +SB203580) for another 24 hours. Then the gene expression of osteopontin (OPN), alpha smooth-actin (alpha-SMA), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9) were assayed by real time RT-PCR, the protein expression of P38 were assayed by Western blot.

RESULTS(1) High glucose promoted the phenotype transformation of VSMCs and up-regulated the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9. (2) High glucose promoted the phosphorylation of P38. (3) SB203580, the inhibitor of P38/MAPK signal pathway, inhibited the effects of high glucose on phenotype transformation and expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9.

CONCLUSIONHigh glucose may promote phenotype transformation of VSMCs via the signal pathway of P38/MAPK.

Actins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; cytology ; Blotting, Western ; Cells, Cultured ; Glucose ; pharmacology ; Imidazoles ; pharmacology ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; drug effects ; Osteopontin ; metabolism ; Phenotype ; Pyridines ; pharmacology ; Rats ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

Adult ; Amphotericin B ; therapeutic use ; Cryptococcosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Fungal ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography, Thoracic

Objective To explore the changes of plasma angiotensinⅡ (AngⅡ) and cardiac function,and the curative effect of children with acute viral myocarditis (VMC) treated with captopril(CAP).Methods Concentrations of plasma AngⅡ were measured with radio-immunity and cardiac function was detected by Doppler echocardiography for the VMC group (n=60) before and after treatment [the CAP group (n=30), the routine group (n=30) and the control group (n=30)].Results 1. The level of plasma AngⅡ significantly increased and the contractive and diastolic function obviously declined in children with acute VMC. There was a significant difference between VMC group and control group, with a significant correlation between the level of AngⅡand the contractive diastolic function.2. Compared with the level before treatment, the level of AngⅡ decreased and the contractive function obviously ameliorated in two groups; the diastolic function obviously ameliorated in the CAP group and did not ameliorate in the routine group after treatment. In CAP group the level of AngⅡ and the cardiac function significantly improved; there were statistical differences between the two groups after treatment.Conclusions 1.The increase of the plasma AngⅡ was an important factor for decrements of the contractive and diastolic function in acute viral myocarditis.2.It could decrease the concentration of plasma AngⅡ and ameliorate cardiac function in children with acute VMC treated with captopril,which was an effective therapy for acute VMC.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution of babA2 cagA and vacA genotypes of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) in chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer and to discuss the relationship between babA2, cagA and vacA genotypes of Hp and chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer.

METHODSbabA2, cagA genotypes and vacA subtype of 58 Hp strains isolated from patients of Zhejiang province with chronic gastritis or peptic ulcer were tested by polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSThe positive rates of babA2, cagA, vacAs1a, vacA m1 and vacA m2 of 58 Hp strains were 87.9%, 100%, 93.1%, 1.7% and 65.5%, respectively. There were no significant differences between the positive rates of babA2, vacA s1a and vacA m2 genes of Hp strains isolated from patients with chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer.

CONCLUSIONThe genotypes of Hp isolated from patients of Zhejiang province were predominatly babA2 positive, cagA positive and vacA s1a/m2. The relationships between babA2, cagA and vacA genotypes of Hp and chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer can not be identified.

Adhesins, Bacterial ; Antigens, Bacterial ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; Chronic Disease ; Gastritis ; microbiology ; Genotype ; Helicobacter pylori ; genetics ; Humans ; Peptic Ulcer ; microbiology

Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Lung ; pathology ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To study the bone biomechanics of the rabbit osteoporosis models induced by dexamethasone sodium phosphate injection (DX) using a combined treatment modality of 99Tc-MDP and GuKangLing.Methods Rabbits were intramuscularly injected with DX (2 mg/kg) twice a week for 6 weeks.The animal osteoporosis model group (Group C) and normal group (Group A) were compared to confirm the model was available.Another control group (Group B),the osteoporosis control group (Group D) were set for the comparison at the end of the experiment.The 99Tc-MDP therapy group (Group E),GuKangLing therapy group (Group F) and 99Tc-MDP plus GuKangLing therapy group (Group G) were included in the study.The treatment lasted for 16 weeks.The bone biomechanics,cytopathology bone histomorphology,bone mineral density (BMD),X-ray,CT,bone scintigraphy and serum bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP)and P (bone gla protein) were chosen as the markers or methods to evaluate the treatment results (excellent,effective and invalid).The analysis of variance (ANOVA) and t-test were used for group comparison analysis.Results Cytopathology result indicated that there was no bone trabecula destruction in Group A.However,there was distinct bone destruction in Group C.The bone biomechanics (left femur head (265.914 ±52.773) N,L4(369.671 ±94.919) N),BMD(left femur (0.238 ±0.016) g/cm2,L4(0.236 ±0.016) g/cm2)and bone histomorphology ( (66.230 ± 10.848) ％ ) in Group C reduced clearly as compared with Group A ((405.343±55.410) N,(750.870±53.718) N,(0.294±0.017) g/cm2,(0.302±0.023) g/cm2,( 131.500 ± 21.846) ％ ) ( t ≥4.550,all P ＜ 0.01 ).Radionuclide bone scan also showed that the uptake of tracers was higher by the main arthrosis in Group C than that in Group A.Vertebra was not clearly visualized on bone scan image.There were significant differences between Group A and Group C in serum BALP and P ((45.000±7.303) vs (12.485 ±1.512) U/L,(0.168±0.018) vs (0.115 ±0.017) μg/L,t =4.126,5.476,both P ＜ 0.01 ),which indicated that the animal osteoporosis model was available.The pathological results showed an improved recovery of bone structure and trabecular in Groups E and G,but a worse recovery in Group F.Biomechanics result in Groups E and G (left femur head (386.457 ±77.077) N and (432.771 ± 17.525) N,L4(649.550 ± 126.859) N and (655.443 ±76.555) N) improved apparently,which were similar to Group B.The radiotracer uptake in Group F was lower than that in group D.The bone biomechanics,bone histomorphology,BMD,serum BALP and P after the treatment showed significant differences in Groups E,F and G (F:8.556 - 31.608,all P＜0.01 ),and the bone biomechanics result in Group G was a little better than that in Group E (t =2.625,P ＜ 0.05 ).The results of Group G and E were considered as excellent,and Group F was considered as effective.Conclusions The treatment of 99Tc-MDP combined with GuKangLing could improve the bone biomechanics of rabbit osteoporosis models and may be a potential method to increase the bone strength for resisting external force.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the association between two single nucleotide polymorphisms located in the promoter of transforming growth factor-β1 receptor 2 (TGFBR2) gene and hypertension in Han Chinese population.

METHODSThe subjects were recruited from the population of cluster sampling survey for essential hypertension (EH) in two townships of Yixing city, Jiangsu province in 2009. Overall, 2012 patients with hypertension and 2116 age (± 2 years) and sex-matched unrelated controls were selected. Epidemiological data, physical measurements results and serum glucose and lipid biomarker were collected and detected. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis were applied and two tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (tagSNP) in 5' upstream of TGFBR2 gene (rs6785358, -3779A/G; rs764522, -1444C/G) were selected for genotyping and analyzing for the association with hypertension.

RESULTSThe frequencies of AA, AG, GG in case and control of rs6785358 were 1455 (72.3%), 517 (25.7%), 40 (2.0%) and 1582 (74.8%), 490 (23.2%), 43 (2.0%) respectively, and CC, CG, GG of rs764522 were 1524 (75.7%), 464 (23.1%), 24 (1.2%) and 1654 (78.2%), 436 (20.6%), 26 (1.2%) respectively. SNP rs764522 was significantly associated with EH and OR (95%CI) were 1.17 (1.01 - 1.36) (P < 0.05) in dominant model after adjustment for confounding factors such as age, sex, glucose, lipids, smoking and alcohol drinking. Further stratification analysis by age, sex, smoking and alcohol drinking indicated that individuals carrying G allele (CG/GG genotype) of SNP rs764522 had higher susceptibility to EH than CC genotype (OR = 1.21, 95%CI: 1.01 - 1.45) (P < 0.05) in ≥ 55 years group. No statistical significance was detected in the distribution of genotypes and allele frequencies for SNP rs6785358 between cases and controls (P > 0.05). Haplotype analysis showed that no significant frequency difference of haplotype structured by rs6785358 and rs764522 was found between cases and controls (P > 0.05), and no significant blood pressure change was found between genotype variations of rs6785358 and rs764522 (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSNP rs764522 of TGFBR2 gene is associated with increased risk of EH in elderly Han Chinese population.

Aged ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics ; Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta ; genetics

Genes encoding nucleocaspid (N) and membrane (M) protein of SARS coronavirus were obtained by RT-PCR and were cloned into expression vector pET22b and pBV222. DNA sequencing showed that the genes cloned from a patient in Beijing were identical to the gene sequences from reported Toronto strain. The genes were over-expressed in E. coli either as inclusion body or as soluble form. The recombinant proteins were purified by ion-exchange, or ion-exchange followed by metal chelate affinity chromatography. The recombinant N protein was demonstrated highly antigenic and could be employed as antigen to detect SARS antibodies in ELISA system for SARS diagnosis.
Chromatography, Affinity ; Chromatography, Ion Exchange ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Nucleocapsid Proteins ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; SARS Virus ; genetics ; metabolism ; Viral Structural Proteins ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism