AIM: To investigate the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis and to elucidate the apoptosis signaling pathway triggered by etoposide in Jurkat human leukemia cells. METHODS: Apoptosis was detected using annexin V - FITC and propidium iodide (PI) staining, respectively, and annexin V - FITC positive cells and hypodiploid cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. Mitochondrial membrane potential (△Ψm) was detected using 3,3' - dihexyloxycarbocyanine iodide [ DiOC6 (3)] staining and △Ψm low cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. Preparation of cytosolic extracts and isolation of mitochondria were completed by centrifugation. Western blotting analysis was used to evaluate the level of cytochrome c, caspase - 3, and poly ( ADP - ribose) polymerase (PARP) expression. RESULTS: Etoposide induced apoptosis showing phosphatidylserine externalization and DNA fragmentation in a time - dependent manner and the apoptosis could be inhibited by a broad caspase inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl - Val - Ala - Asp - fluoromethylketone ( zVAD. fmk). Collapse of △Ψm induced by etoposide preceded DNA fragmentation and phosphatidylserine externalization. In contrast, it was not blocked by zVAD. fmk. Etoposide caused cytochrome c release from mitochondria into cytosol, subsequent activation of caspase-3 (32 kD) presented with an intermediate (20 kD) and its active product (17kD), and cleavage of full- length PARP (116 kD) into the so- called apoptotic 85 kD fragment. CONCLUSION:Etoposide - induced Jurkat cell apoptosis is initiated through mitochondria signaling pathway with cytochrome c release into cytoplasm and caspase is the ultimate executioner of cell apoptosis.

Free amino acids were analysed in 90 human milk samples during the first 6 weeks of lactation in Nanjin city. Glutatnic acid was the most and taurine was the second abundant component of the free amino acids in human milk. The free essential amino acids were highest in colostral milk and declined with advancing lactation. The possible roles of free amino acids in human milk for feeding infant in the first stage was discussed. The results of this study support that breast milk is beneficial for infants and suggest that the formulas should be supplemented with taurine.

Objective To explore expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and change of peripheral blood dendritic cells(DCs) surface. Methods The expression of NF-κB and DCs in kidney of 40 LN cases were measured,by ALP-anti-ALP mice immune complex law(APAAP) and density gradient separation centrifugal meth-ods. Results kidney tissue of LN patients, NF-κB in the glomeruli and tubules showed a high level of expression ; CD80+ ,CD86+, HLA-DR+ expression decreasedtacrolimus group than the control group Division before and after the shape of the DCs had no effect on tacrolimus after the DCs could inhibit the proliferation of T cells and T cells to Th2 cell transformation. Conclusinn In vitro Tacrolimus inhibits the DCs mature in LN patients, NF-κB in LN kidney LN local expression and the occurrence and development of related.

Objective: To examine the association between neonatal birth weight and maternal type 2 diabetes (T2DM), so as to provide insights into the formulation of the early T2DM prevention and improvements of maternal and children health. Methods: Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were collected from two genome-wide association studies (GWAS) that examined the association between neonatal birth weight and maternal T2DM. Inverse variance weighted method was employed for forward Mendelian randomization with 26 birth weight-associated SNPs as instrumental variables and maternal T2DM as the study outcome and for reverse Mendelian randomization with 18 maternal T2DM-associated SNPs as instrumental variables and maternal effects of neonatal birth weight as the study outcome. The heterogeneity was examined using Cochran's Q test, and the pleiotropy was evaluated using MR-Egger regression, while the robustness of the results was evaluated using leave-one-out test. Results: Cochran's Q test detected heterogeneity across two studies (P=0.019, 0.038), and random effect models were employed. Mendelian randomization showed that an increase in neonatal birth weight by per standard error (approximately 488 g) resulted a 29.9% reduction in the risk of maternal T2DM (OR=0.701, 95%CI: 0.547-0.899), and maternal T2DM increased the neonatal birth weight by 0.074 standard errors (OR=1.074, 95%CI: 1.043-1.106). No horizontal pleiotropy was seen for instrumental variables (P=0.241, 0.188). With each SNP excluded in turn, the results of Mendelian randomization study were robust. Conclusion There are bidirectional associations between neonatal birth weight and risk of maternal T2DM.

OBJECTIVEThe cochlear nucleus (CN) neurons show 3 principal response patterns to short tone bursts, namely the primary-like, chopper and onset response patterns. We previously established an excitatory model to simulate the response patterns of CN neurons to stimuli. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of excitatory intensity on the CN neuron response patterns and explore the role of inhibitory inputs under normal physiological conditions.

METHODSBased on the platform of Matlab and the excitatory model derived from the integrate-and-fire model, we altered the intensity of excitatory inputs in dB range and obtained the histograms to analyze the changes in the response patterns of the neurons using OriginPro 7.5 data analysis software.

RESULTSThe original primary-like response pattern of the neurons did not vary significantly while the chopper and onset response patterns changed into primary-like responses with the increase of the excitatory input intensity. But this response pattern alteration as a result of excitatory input intensity changes was rarely observed under normal physiological conditions.

CONCLUSIONSThe CN neurons receive balanced excitatory and inhibitory inputs, which stabilize the neuronal membrane potential within a limited range. The balanced inhibitory inputs decide the response pattern of a given neuron.

Objective To review the experience of treatment for prosthetic valve endocarditis(PVE)after mitral valve replacement(MVR)in 16 cases.Methods From September 1979 to December 2010,16 patients were diagnosed as PVE after MVR by modified Duke University diagnostic criteria.There were 10 males and 6 females.Their ages ranged from 19 to 55 years old(mean 28 years old).The incidence of PVE was 0.97％(16/1657)after MVR.Blood culture positive was in 5 cases.Medical treatment alone was performed in 10 patients who were treated by using Penicillin or Vancomycin with other broad-spectrum antibiotics,using Fluconazole and Amphotericin if necessary.Combined medical and surgical management were performed in 6 cases.One emergency case was operated because of obstinate heart failure.Five cases underwent operation after adequate antibiotics treatment and general condition improvement.The infective tissue and vegetation were aggressively debrided after the infective prosthetic valve removed.Before the new valve was replaced paravalvular tissue must be flushed with diluted iodine solution and large quantities of normal saline.Tricuspid valve repair (TVR)was performed during the same period in 3 cases.Results Hospital death occurred in 8 patients and only 2 patients were recovery in group with medical treatment only.The main reasons of death were infective shock and cardiac failure in 4 patients,cerebral complications(embolism or bleeding)and multiple organs failure in 4 cases.While 6 patients cured after combined medical and surgical management.Follow-up had been carried out in 8 cases for 1.7 to 15 years(mean 5.1 years).Eight years later one patient was re-operated because of severe tricuspid regurgitation and paravalvular leak.There was no PVE recurrence in others.Conclusion Combined medical and surgical management for PVE get a better result than medical treatment alone.Good prognosis lies in timely diagnosis,adequate antibiotics,aggressive debridement of infective tissue and better myocardium protection during operation.

Objective To retrospectively analyse the clinical data of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting surgery(OPCAB)in our department and summarize the clinical experience of peri-operative management.Methods From January 2007 to May 2008,253 patients underwent OPCAB.Seventy-six cases with left main disease(including 18 cases of single left main lesion and 58 cases of complex lesion);13 cases had single vessel disease;32 cases had double vessels disease and 190 cases had triple vessels disease.Eighteen cases received emergency OPCAB.All vessel anastomosis were performed with coronary artery stablizer and shunt through median sternotomy.Resuits Three cases died after operation(1.2%).Intra-aortic balloon pump was used in 11 cases.Mechanical ventilation time was 3-168 h[(24.1±22.3)h],and ICU stay time was 1-14 day[(2.8±2.0)d].Postoperative hospital stay time was 8-42 days[(15.6±6.3)d].Conclusion OPCAB is reliable for most bypass cases.With appropilate peri-operative management,a satisfied result will be acceptable.

Objective To summarize the clinical experiences of 1386 patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting(OPCAB)during Jan 2002 to Mar 2008.Methods OPCAB was done through midsternumtomy under ordinary-temperature anesthesia after radial artery,left breast artery and vena saphena magna were taken.Patients over 70 years old accounted for 32.35%,and the oldest was 99 years old.Emergency and subemergency OPCAB was done in 111 cases,re-do CABG with off-pump technique was done in 52 patients.Results 24 cases died during perioperation,with mortality of 1.73%and all other patients discharged from the hospital.Following operation,the symptoms of angina pectoris were relieved and the life quality was much beaer than that before operation.Conclusion OPCAB is feasible for older patients,who are complicated with other chronic diseases for elder patients.Skillful technique of surgeon,right indications for OPCAB and management of peri-and postoperation are key to success of operation.

Objective To investigate the effect of PDLIM4 (PDZ and LIM domain 4) gene on the prognosis and radiosensitivity of glioma. Methods The differentially expressed genes were analyzed by bioinformatics technique using GSE53733 gene chip. The expression of PDLIM4 protein was detected by Western blot. The effects of PDLIM4 gene on glioma prognosis and glioma cell radiosensitivity were studied by using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, siRNA, MTT and cell flow cytometry assays. Results PDLIM4 gene had the most significant differential expression in the chip (logFC=1. 055897, P<0. 05). The PCR assay of 40 glioma cases in our hospital confirmed that expression of PDLIM4 showed obvious difference between high- and low-grade gliomas (t =4. 44, P <0. 05), which was correlated with the survival of patients (χ2 =5. 52, P<0. 05). Moreover, PDLIM4 gene was involved in radioresistance of glioma cells (t = 35.99, P < 0.05). Conclusions PDLIM4 gene expression level correlates with malignant degree and prognosis of glioma and also contributes to cell radioresistance.

Objective To investigate the effect of micro RNA (miR)-125a-3p on proliferation and apoptosis of glioma cells and its role in MAPK signaling pathway. Methods (1) The miR-microarray data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA, https:// cancergenome.nih.gov/) database were downloaded, and the miR-125a-3p expressions in 565 gliomas tissues and 10 normal brain tissues were compared. (2) Clinical collection of 30 glioma specimens surgically resected in our hospital from April 2015 to April 2018, was performed, including 7 of low-grade glioma and 23 of high-grade glioma;8 normal brain tissues needed craniocerebral trauma excision were collected at the same time period;reverse transcription (RT)-real-time quantitative (q) PCR was used to detect the miR-125a-3p expressions in glioma tissues and normal brain tissues. (3) The normal brain glial cells HA1800 and glioma cells (U251, U138, U87, U373, and T98G) were routinely cultured in vitro; RT-qPCR was used to detect the miR-125a-3p expression in normal brain glial cells and glioma cell lines. (4) The cultured glioma cell lines U251 and U373 at logarithmic phase were divided into miR-125a-3p group and negative control group;and miR-125a-3p mimic or nonsense sequence were transfected using LipofectamineTM 2000;72 h after transfection, the miR-125a-3p expression was detected by RT-qPCR; the proliferation rate was detected by clone formation after transfection; the apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry 72 h after transfection; the cleaved-caspase-3, cleaved-caspase-9, cleaved-caspase-7, P38 and P-P38/MAPK protein expressions were detected by Western blotting. Results (1) In TCGA database, the miR-125a-3p expression in glioma brain tissues was statistically lower as compared with that in normal brain tissues (P<0.05). (2) The miR-125a-3p expressions in clinically collected normal brain tissues, low-grade glioma specimens and high-grade glioma specimens were decreased successively, enjoying statistically significant differences (P<0.05). (3) As compared with normal glial cells, the miR-125a-3p expressions in glioma cell lines were significantly lower (P<0.05), of which, U251 and U373 enjoyed the most obvious decrement. (4) As compared with the blank control group, the miR-125a-3p group had significantly increased miR-125a-3p expression, significantly decreased colony forming efficiency, significantly increased proliferation rate, significantly increased expressions of apoptosis-related proteins cleaved-caspase-3, cleaved-caspase-9, and cleaved-caspase-7, and statistically increased phosphorylated-P38/MAPK expressions (P<0.05). Conclusion The miR-125a-3p expression is low in glioma tissues and cells; miR-125a-3p over-expression can inhibit the proliferation of glioma cells and promote apoptosis through MAPK signaling pathway, which may provide a new potential target for treatment of glioma.