AIM: To explore the mechanism of apoptosis in pulmonary arterial vascular smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) induced by nitric oxide (NO). METHODS: Wistar rat PASMCs were isolated from explants from the intrapulmonary, incubated with NO donor, sodium nitroprussid (SNP) under 12 or 24 hour normoxic and hypoxic conditions. The cell cycle progression and sub-G 1 of PASMC were analyzed via flow cytometric staining of propidium iodide, and the expression of nuclear transcription factor NF-?B and pro-apoptotic factors caspase-3 were detected using immunochemistry staining. Meanwhile gel electrophoresis of extracted DNA by PASMC was performed. RESULTS: SNP induced PASMC apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner ( P

?AlM: To investigate theprotective effect of melatonin against hydrogen peroxide ( H2 O2 )-induced oxidative damage to human lens epithelial cells.
?METHODS: Sub-culture human lens epithelial cells preprocessed with different concentrations of melatonin for 12h and then 100 μmol/L H2 O2 for 24h. The impact of melatonin on H2 O2-induced lens epithelial cell viability was detected by MTT assay, rate of apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry instrument and activity of apoptosis-related factors, Caspase-3 and Caspase-9, were detected by colorimetric method.
?RESULTS: MTT assay showed that melatonin had no effect on the activity of lens epithelial cells, and the drug can inhibit the decrease of H2 O2-induced cell activity, as well as flow cytometry showed that melatonin can inhibit H2 O2-induced apoptosis. ln addition, melatonin can also reduce H2 O2-induced Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 activity in lens epithelial cells, and their activity decreased with effect of melatonin along with extending time.
?CONCLUSlON: Melatonin can obviously inhibit H2 O2 -induced apoptosis of human lens epithelial cells, which provide reliable experimental basis for drug on treatment of cataract.

Objective To study metabolism of polyunsantured fatty acid (PUFA) and to investigate the relationship between different PUFA compositions and △6 desaturase (D6D) activity in colorectal carcinoma (CRC).Methods Fresh frozen malignant CRC tissues were obtained from 61 patients and blood samples were detected in 38 patients.The PUFA composition in these samples was determined by gas-liquid chromatography on a capillary column.The fatty acid product-to-precursor ratios in blood and tissue as estimates of desaturase activity (D6D activity index),and its relationship with the ratios between different PUFA compositions were investigated.Results Metabolism of ω-6 PUFA dominated in PUFA metabolism path.The ratio of ω-6/ω-3 PUFA was 4.89 in blood samples and 10.15 in tissues.The ratio of LA/ALA was 101.92 in blood samples and 86.16 in tissues.The ratio of ω-6/ω-3 LC-PUFA was 2.86 in blood samples and 4.51 in tissues.The D6D activity index in ω-6 PUFA metabolic processes both in tissues (t =1 1.609,P =0.00) and blood samples (t =-9.151,P =0.00) were higher than that in ω-3 PUFA.Conclusion In colorectal carcinoma,the ω-6 PUFA metabolic not only plays an important role in the metabolism of PUFA,but also is more active than the ω-3 PUFA metabolic,and in some way links to the development of tumorigenesis in CRC.

Adult ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Melanosis ; pathology ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; pathology

Subtelomeric rearrangements contribute to idiopathic mental retardation (MR), but most children with idiopathic MR do not show any chromosome abnormalities with standard cytogenetic analysis. The primed in situ labeling (PRINS) technique, using an oligonucleotide primer complementary to the telemetric repeat sequences (TTAGGG), can identify chromosome telomeric abnormality (deletion) in idiopathic MR children. In this study, seventy children with idiopathic MR were enrolled and subjected to PRINS. The results showed normal karyotype in all the children, subtelomeric rearrangements (1q del and 4q del) in 2 cases, which was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). It was concluded that PRINS is effective for the detection of subtelomeric rearrangements and may become a routine technique for cytogenetical abnormality screening.

Objective To evaluate the role of oxidation reaction in the decrease in the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the diaphragm of rats with sepsis.Methods Thirty pathogen-free healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 220-260 g,were divided into 3 groups using a random number table:sham operation group (group S,n=8),sepsis group (group Sep,n =12) and antioxidant group (group Ant,n=10).Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture.Group S underwent simple laparotomy.N-acetylcystein 20 mg/kg was injected subcutaneously at 3,6,12 and 18 h after operation,and deferoxamine 20 mg/kg was injected subcutaneously at 3 h after operation in group Ant,while the equal volume of normal saline was given instead in S and Sep groups.At 24 h after operation,the surviving rats were sacrificed,and the diaphragm was removed for determination of the malondialdehyde (MDA) content and activities of AChE,myeloperoxidase (MPO),superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT).SOD/CAT ratio was calculated.Results Compared with group S,the AChE activity was significantly decreased,and MPO and SOD activities were increased in Sep and Ant groups,the MDA content and SOD/CAT ratio were significantly increased,and the CAT activity was decreased in group Sep,and the CAT activity was significantly increased in group Ant (P＜0.05).Compared with group Sep,the AChE and CAT activities were significantly increased,and the MDA content,MPO and SOD activities and SOD/CAT ratio were decreased in group Ant (P＜0.05).Conclusion Oxidation reaction is partially involved in the decrease in the activity of AChE in the diaphragm of rats with sepsis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Zige lyophilized powder for injection in improving the acute cerebral microcirculation disturbance in rats.

METHODWindow craniotomy was performed for rats after the drug administration for 14 days. The experimental microcirculation disturbance model was duplicated with high molecule dextran. After the drug administration, the micro-vein diameters of cerebral pla mater of various groups were observed and recorded under the biological microscope. The blood flow volume was monitored by laser Doppler flow-meter. HCT was measured by the electric resistance method. The hemorheological indexes were detected by the auto-hemorheological instrument.

RESULTZige lyophilized powder for injection (16.40, 32.70, 65.40 mg x kg(-1)) could significantly expand the micro-vein diameter of cerebral pla mater, improve the downward trend of the blood flow volume, and reduce the various hemorheological indexes.

CONCLUSIONZige lyophilized powder for injection shows the effect in improving the cerebral microcirculation.

Animals ; Brain ; blood supply ; drug effects ; Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Powders ; administration & dosage ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUND: Low back pain and low limb disability are classical symptoms of patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis who are often treated with operative internal fixation.OBJECTIVE: To observe the improvement of low-back pain and low-limbs disability of patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis following the treatment with general spine system(GSS).DESIGN: Self control clinical study with patients as subjects.SETTING: Department of Orthopaedics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital.PARTICIPANTS: Sixteen patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis combined with lumbar stenosis, including 10 males and 6 females with the average age of 58.5 years(ranged from 42 to 72 years) received treatment in our hospital between September 2001 and December 2001. Patients with low back pain were found in 16 cases and low-limb claudication in 15cases; preoperative spondylolisthesis of grade I was observed in 10 cases and grade Ⅱ in 6 cases.METHODS: After receiving lumbar canal decompression by spinal process and GSS for restoring spondylolisthetic vertebra, as well as internalfixation and lumbar fusion operation, patients were followed up at postoperative week 2 and month 1,3,6,12,18,24 for assessing the low-back pain and low-limb disability and meanwhile preoperative spondylolisthesis and postoperative restroration were also assessed with X-ray.RESULTS: Totally 16 patients were followed up for an average of21.2appeared in 15 out of 16 patients, and intermittent claudication resumed to time of follow-up revealed that all spondylolisthetic vertebra were restored with restoring rate of 100% (16/16).CONCLUSION: GSS was proved of satisfactory therapeutic effect in patients with spondylolisthesis by obviously improving their low-back pain and intermittent claudication.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Choristoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Encephalocele ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; metabolism ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Meningocele ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Neuroglia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Nose Diseases ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Vimentin ; metabolism ; Young Adult

Objective To learn the prevalence and trends of Brucella disease in Ningxia, in order to provide scientific basis for effective control of the disease. Methods Data of Brucella cases reported through city network from 2004 to 2009 in Yinchuan city, Shizuishan city, Wuzhong city, Guyuan city and Zhongwei city of Ningxia were reviewed and retrospectively analyzed. The data included demographic characteristics, treatment conditions and medical history so on related information. Analytical indicators include reported incidence;with patients' gender, age, regional distribution, urban and rural distribution;become chronic and associated factors;distribution of the cases reporting unit and so on. Results From 2004 to 2009, Ningxia had reported 349 cases of Brucellosis, no deaths, the annual incidence rates reported were 0.017/10 million, 0.543/10 million, 0.151/101 (295/54);The proportion of 34- to 40-year-old age group was higher than other age groups(27.5%, 96/349);Occupational distribution of patients was mainly farmers and herdsmen(70.2% ,245/349), in regional distribution of the patients, the highest percentage was Wuzhong city(61.9%,216/349), followed by Yinchuan city(22.9%,80/349);The proportion of patients in rural areas(97.4% ,340/349) was higher than urban(2.6% ,9/349);the proportion of patients converted to chronic was 11.2% (39/349). With age, the chance of patients converted to chronic was in a decreasing trend(odds ratio was 0.966);cases reported by Centre for Disease Control and Prevention accounted for 74.8%(261/349), by hospital accounted for 25.2%(88/349). Conclusions The reported incidence of Brucellosis in Ningxia is in a rapid upward trend year by year, the patients is mainly young men, the rate of converted to chronic is higher and the ability of hospital in founding and reporting of the cases is weaker.Comprehensive measures should be taken to increase funding, strengthen monitoring, and continuously improve the level of awareness and diagnosis of medical personnel for further strengthen the prevention and control of Brucellosis.