Objective To detect the expression of BAT2L protein in developmental brain of rats.Methods Expression,distribution and location of BAT2L protein in developmental brain rats on embryonic day 18,postnatal days 1,7 and 15 and in adult at different time points were detected by Western blotting analysis,immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence,respectively.Results Western blotting showed that the BAT2L protein expression level was higher in brain of rats on embryonic day 18,postnatal days 1 and 7 than on postnatal day 15 and in brain of adult rats.Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence showed that the BAT2L protein was distributed and located in cell membrane and cytoplasm of neurons but not in nuclei and extra-cellular space.Positive neurons were widely distributed in cerebral and cerebellar cortex,hippocampus and cerebral ganglion.The morphology of neurons was significantly different in newborn and adult rats.Positive prominences and branches of certain neurons were found in brain tissues of newborn rats but hardly in those of adult rats.Conclusion BAT2L protein is specifically expressed in cell body,membrane and prominence of neurons in brain of rats.

Objective To evaluate the correlation between plasma high sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) level and global registry of acute coronary events (GRACE) scores,and its predictive value for long-term (5 years) cardiovascular events in middle-aged and elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).Methods 138 middle aged and elderly patients with ACS were divided into three groups according to GRACE scores:low risk group,middle risk group,high risk group.And based on quartiles of hs-CRP levels,subjects were segregated into 4 groups (Q1 to Q4).All subjects were followed up for about 5 years and adverse cardiovascular disease events were recorded.Results The hs-CRP level was gradually increased along with increasing risk according to GRACE risk stratification (hs-CRP low risk group,0.09 ± 0.22 ; middle risk group,0.21 ± 0.04 ;high risk group,0.43±0.23,P＜0.001).Meantime,GRACE risk scores were gradually increased along with increasing hs-CRP levels from Q1 to Q4 (Q1:133.0 ± 43.6; Q2:161.9 ± 60.2; Q3:169.3±52.6; Q4:188.4±47.5; all P＜0.001).Regression analysis showed that hs-CRP level was positively correlated with GRACE risk scores (r=0.576,P＜0.001).During a follow-up period of about 5 years,96 cardiovascular events were recorded.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve analysis showed that area under the ROC curve (AUC) of hs-CRP was 0.821 (95 ％CI:0.749-0.892,P＜0.001) and AUC of GRACE risk score was 0.869 (95％CI:0.801 0.938,P＜0.001) in the evaluation of the long-term risk of incident cardiovascular events.The differences in prediction of long-term cardiovascular events in middle-aged and elderly patients with ACS were not significant (P =0.237) between GRACE risk score and hs CRP level.Conclusions Plasma hs-CRP level is positively associated with GRACE score.Both of them can predict long-term adverse cardiovascular events in middle-aged and elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Objective　To investigate the expression of HGF and TGF-α and their receptor, Met (HGF receptor) and EGFR (TGF-αreceptor) mRNA, in the regenerative liver/hepatocytes after 70% partial hepatectomy (70% PH) in noncirrhotic biliary obstruction rats. Methods　Wistar rats were divided randomly into N-PH group, BDO-RBF-PH group and BDO-RBF group. The expression of HGF/Met mRNA and TGF-α/EGFR mRNA was measured by RT-PCR in the liver/hepatocytes at the time point of 0, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h after 70% PH or RBF. Results　In N-PH group, the expression of HGF/Met mRNA increased sharply and peaked at 6 h, and maintained at a high level until 24 h after 70% PH. In BDO-RBF-PH group however, the expression of HGF/Met mRNA increased slowly and peaked at 12 h after 70% PH. The peak level was lower in BDO-RBF-PH group than in N-PH one. The expression of TGF-α/EGFR mRNA increased sharply and peaked at 24 h after 70% PH in N-PH group. However, the expression of TGF-α/EGFR mRNA elevated slowly and peaked at 48 h after 70% PH in BDO-RBF-PH group with a lower peak level than that in N-PH group. Conclusion　The expression of HGF/Met mRNA and TGF-α/EGFR mRNA in the regenerative liver/hepatocytes after 70% PH decreases significantly in noncirrhotic biliary duct obstruction rats. There is a tendency that the expression of HGF mRNA and TGF-α mRNA is less than Met mRNA and EGFR mRNA.

Objective To investigate the removal effect of immunoadsorption (IA) on associated antibodies and the efficacy in late-onset myasthenia gravis (MG). Methods A total of 25 late-onset MG patients were randomly selected to enroll in this study. IA therapy was given to 10 patients (IA group), while immunoglobin (0.4 g·kg-1·d-1) was administrated to the other 15 patients for 5 days(Ig group). The titers of Titin antibody (Titin-ab), acetylcholine receptor antibody (AchR-ab) and presynaptic membrane antibody (PrsmR-ab) were detected before and after the treatment. Quantitive MG (QMG) score was assessed before and immediately after the entire course of treatment. The clinical efficacy, the duration of respiratory support and in-hospital were compared between two groups. The correlation between three antibodies and QMG score was also analyzed. Results Compared with that before treatment, the Titin-ab PIN values, the AchR-ab PIN values, and the PrsmR-ab P/N values of IA group were all decreased significantly after treatment (P<0.05, respectively). The P/N value of Titin-ab in IA group was decreased by 54.7%～3.5%, which was significantly higher than that in Ig group(19.9%±3.1%) (P<0.01). QMG score reduced by 42.4%± 4.2% and 23.8%±3.7% in IA group and Ig group respectively (P<0.01, respectively). Symptoms were effectively ameliorated by both treatments, but the effective power of IA group was higher than that of Ig group (70% vs 40%, P<0.05). Remission time of IA group was significantly shorter than that of Ig group [(5.38±0.42) d vs (8.4±1.54) d, P=0.008), so was the duration of in-hospital [(13.50±0.50) d vs (16.50±0.50) d, P<0.05). The number of respiratory support in IA group was less than that in Ig group (1/10 vs 6/15, P<0.05). By the Pearson correlation analysis, the decrease of Titin-ab showed a better longitudinal correlation with the decrease of QMG score than the other two antibodies (r=0.6315, P<0.01). Conclusion IA can rapidly and effectively clear the pathogenic antibodies of late-onset MG patients and its short-term clinical efficacy is better than immunoglobin.

Objective To investigate the value of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) combined with high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) for prognosis of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).Methods One hundred and eighteen patients with ACS were selected from July 2011 to December 2012.According to the clinical feature,they were divided into unstable angina pectoris (UAP) group (38 cases),non ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) group (38 cases) and ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) group(42 cases).They were followed up for 3 months,and the incidence of cardiovascular events and cardiac death was observed.Twenty healthy people were selected as control group.Results The serum level of hs-CRP on admission in UAP group,STEMI group,NSTEMI group was higher than that in control group,and NSTEMI group was highest.And there was significant difference between NSTEMI group and STEMI group,and also between NSTEMI group and control group (P ＜ 0.05).The serum level of hs-cTnI was increased in STEMI group and NSTEMI group.The increased degree in STEMI group was higher than that in NSTEMI group,and there was significant difference (P ＜0.05).The incidence of cardiovascular events and cardiac death within 3 months after discharge in patients with the serum level of hs-CRP ≥ 3 mg/L on admission in UAP group and NSTEMI group,STEMI group was 6/11,40.0％ (12/30),46.4％ (13/28),which was higher than that in patients with the serum level of hs-CRP ＜ 3 mg/L[11.1％(3/27),3/8,5/14],and there was significant difference(P＜ 0.05).The incidence of cardiovascular events and cardiac death within 3 months after discharge in patients with the serum level of hs-cTnT≥ 1.0 μ g/L on admission in NSTEMI group and STEMI group was 16.7％(5/30) and 18.4％(7/38),which was higher than that in patients with the serum level of hs-cTnT ＜ 1.0 μ g/L (1/8,1/4),and there was significant difference (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Significantly increased hs-CRP is an important predictor of poor prognosis of ACS patients.hs-CRP combined with hs-cTnT is helpful in early identification of high-risk patients.Giving intensive treatment to these patients in time and monitoring closely after discharge can reduce the happening of cardiovascular events.

Objective To understand the distribution of Oncomelania hupensis snails in source areas of the east route of Southto-North Warter Diversion Project and evaluate the effects of the snails on the safety of water transfer.Methods The investigation of snail distribution was carried out in the source areas of the east route of South-to-North Warter Diversion Project every spring.The method of the random sample combined with environmental sample was used for the field investigation.The beach land in the stilling pool of Jiangdu Pumping Station was selected as a surveillance site to observe the snail spread.Results The areas of the snail habitats and infected snails were 256.11,184.55,164.92,121.16 hm~2 and 8.27,1.0,1.0,0 hm~2 respectively in the source areas of the east route of South-to-North Wafter Diversion Project from 2006 to 2009.The densities of living snails had a downtrend,too.Google Earth showed that the areas of snail habitats distributed mainly in the Jiajiang River and Mangdao River in the source areas.The snail habitats were detected in the beach land in the stilling pool of Jiangdu Pumping Station.The research results showed that the snail spread related to the wastes from the river of drawing water.Conclusion There are the risks of snail spread in the source areas of the east route of South-to-North Wafter Diversion Project,so that the long-term surveillance and control on the snails is very necessary.

OBJECTIVETo study the phosphorylation activity of mitochondrial signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in the myocardium of rats with selenium deficiency and its association with myocardial injury.

METHODSThirty-six rats were randomized into normal control group (n=18) and selenium deficiency model group (n=18) for feeding with normal and low-selenium chow, respectively, for 20, 30 and 40 weeks. The cardiac function of the rats was evaluated by carotid artery intubation, and the damage of cardiac mitochondria was observed under electron microscopy. The cardiac mitochondria were extracted for assessing succinate dehydrogenase and cytochrome C oxidase activities, and the protein expressions of phosphorylated and total STAT3 were detected.

RESULTSCompared with the corresponding control groups, the rats in the model group showed significantly decreased cardiac function with obvious structural and functional damage of the cardiac mitochondria (P<0.05), which aggravated as the low-selenium feeding time extended (P<0.05). The rats in the model group also showed significantly decreased mitochondrial STAT3 activity (p-STAT3/STAT3) in the myocardium as the low-selenium feeding time prolonged (P<0.05). Pearson linear correlation analysis showed that the activity of cardiac mitochondrial STAT3 had positive correlations with the left ventricular systolic pressure, maximal increased rate of the left ventricular pressure, and the activities of succinate dehydrogenase and cytochrome C oxidase (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSelenium deficiency down-regulates the activity of mitochondrial STAT3 in rat heart to contribute to cardiac mitochondrial injury and the progression of heart failure.

Animals ; Diet ; Electron Transport Complex IV ; metabolism ; Female ; Heart Injuries ; metabolism ; Male ; Mitochondria, Heart ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Selenium ; deficiency ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; Succinate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the meaning of the mutation screening, prevalence, inheritance and the intervention or the prevention for the specific drugs in 10 families with non-syndrome hearing loss in Yunnan Province, China. METHOD: To do a questionnaire about the cases of ten families with non-syndrome hearing loss and to draw a detailed matriarchal family tree detailed. Following that, the A1555G mutation-positive individuals were detected and confirmed using DNA extracting, PCR amplification and sequencing for family volunteer. RESULT: There are 96 members have attended the blood collection in these ten families. Thirty-six of them had the normal hearing and 60 of them had the sensory neural hearing loss. However, 4 out of those had no A1555G point mutation, and 92 had A1555G point mutation (95.8%). While 7 of those were Heterogeneity, the rest were all homogeneous mutation. There were also 73 patients who had amino glycoside antibiotic medication history. However all the rest cases had a history of amino glycoside antibiotic medication were not clear yet. CONCLUSION The proportion of patients with drug-induced deafness is high in Yunnan province and the mutation rate of mitochondrial DNA A1555G is also high. It is worthy to do DNA 12SrRNA A1555G mutation screening for drug intervention and prevention.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Deafness ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pedigree ; Point Mutation ; RNA, Ribosomal ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of ATP-binding cassette transporter G1 (ABCG1) in endothelial dysfunction induced by high glucose.

METHODSHuman aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) were incubated in the presence of 5.6 or 30 mmol/L glucose for 24-72 h with or without a 2-h pretreatment with the LXR agonist 22(R)-hydroxycholesterol. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were used to measure the mRNA and protein expressions of ABCG1; the intracellular cholesterol efflux and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity were measured by scintillation counting.

RESULTSHigh glucose time-dependently suppressed ABCG1 expression and cholesterol efflux to HDL in HAECs. High glucose also decreased eNOS activity. ABCG1 down-regulation induced by high glucose, along with decreased cholesterol efflux and eNOS activity, was abolished by treatment of the cells with the LXR agonist.

CONCLUSIONEndothelial dysfunction induced by high glucose is associated with decreased ABCG1 expression.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family G, Member 1 ; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters ; genetics ; metabolism ; Aorta ; cytology ; Cell Line ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; physiology ; Glucose ; pharmacology ; Humans

The ultrasonic manifestations of benign and malignant breast imaging-reporting and data system(BI-RADS)4 lesions overlap in some degrees,is able to result in unnecessary biopsy or untimely therapy.Accurate classifying the nature of BI-RADS 4 breast lesions can provide reliable references for clinical decision-making.The progresses of application of new ultrasonic technologies,including automated breast volume scanner,superb micro-vascular imaging,elastography,contrast-enhanced ultrasound and artificial intelligence for assisting diagnosis of BI-RADS 4 lesions were reviewed in this article.