Heart fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) is supposed to be the most sensitive biomarker of early acute myocardial infarction (AMI). To evaluate the diagnostic value of H-FABP for AMI in the early stage, the plasma levels of H-FABP were measured by sandwich ELISA in 93 patients with suspected AMI at admission within 6 h after onset of chest pain and 69 normal healthy subjects. The plasma concentrations of cardiac troponin-I (cTnI), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) and myoglobin (Mb) were assayed at the same time by using corpuscle chemiluminescence for those patients. The patients were classified as AMI group (n=32) and non-AMI group (n=61) retrospectively. The diagnostic validity was evaluated in terms of sensitivity, specificity and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The results showed the cutoff value of H-FABP for AMI was 16.8 ng/ml, and its diagnostic sensitivity for AMI was 64.29% within 3 h and 84.38% within 6 h after onset of chest pain, and the diagnostic specificity for non-AMI was 100% within 3 h and 91.8% within 6 h. H-FABP had higher sensitivity than that of cTnI and CK-MB at all time points (P<0.05), whereas there was no significant difference in specificity among the four markers. But the area under the ROC curve of H-FABP was significantly greater than that of cTnI, CK-MB and Mb within 3 h. These results revealed that H-FABP possessed high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for AMI in early stage, especially within 3 h after onset of persistent angina pectoris. In conclusion, H-FABP can be used as a sensitive marker for AMI in the early stage.
Angina Pectoris ; blood ; diagnosis ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Creatine Kinase, MB Form ; blood ; Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; blood ; diagnosis ; Myoglobin ; blood ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Time Factors ; Troponin I ; blood

To investigate the effects of L-Tetrahydropalmatine (L-THP) on the expressions of bcl-2, bax and neuronal apoptosis after cerebral ischemia and reperfusion, 60 Wistars rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham-operation group (group S, n = 20), ischemic-reperfusion group treated with saline (group I, n = 20) and ischemia-reperfusion group treated with L-THP (group T, n = 20). The rat model of global cerebral ischemia and reperfusion was induced by Pulsinelli's four-vessel occlusion method. The expression of bcl-2 and bax mRNA was detected by in situ hybridization and reverse transcriptional polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The number of apoptotic neurons was examined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl-transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) method. Compared with group S, the expression of bcl-2 and bax mRNA in group I was increased significantly (P<0.01), and the number of apoptotic neurons increased either (P< 0.01). After L-THP treatment, the expression of bcl-2 mRNA was up-regulated (P< 0.01) and that of bax mRNA was down-regulated (P<0.01); the number of apoptotic neurons was decreased (P<0.01). Our results indicated that bcl-2 may suppress apoptosis and bax promote apoptosis after cerebral ischemia and reperfusion. L-THP could ameliorate cerebral ischemia and reperfusion damage by reducing the apoptosis through regulating bcl-2 and bax.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Berberine Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; Brain Ischemia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neurons ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; pathology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; biosynthesis ; genetics

To investigate the role of mitochondria in neuronal apoptosis, ischemia-reperfusion mediated neuronal cell injury model was established by depriving of glucose, serum and oxygen in media. DNA fragmentation, cell viability, cytochrome C releasing, caspase3 activity and mitochondrial transmembrane potential were observed after N2a cells suffered the insults. The results showed that N2a cells in ischemic territory exhibited survival damage, classical cell apoptosis change, DNA ladder and activation of caspase3. Apoptosis-related alterations in mitochondrial functions, including release of cytochrome C and depression of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (deltapsim) were testified in N2a cells after mimic ischemia-reperfusion. Moreover, activation of caspase3 occurred following the release of cytochrome C. However, the inhibitor of caspase3, Ac-DEVD-CHO, couldn't completely rescue N2a cells from apoptosis. Administration of cyclosporine A, an inhibitor of mitochondria permeability transition pore only partly inhibited caspase3 activity and reduced DNA damage. Interestingly, treatment of Z-IETD-FMK, an inhibitor of caspase8 could completely reverse DNA fragmentation, but can't completely inhibit caspase3 activity. It was concluded that there were caspase3 dependent and independent cellular apoptosis pathways in N2a cells suffering ischemia-reperfusion insults. Mitochondria dysfunction may early trigger apoptosis and amplify apoptosis signal.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Caspase 3 ; Caspases ; biosynthesis ; Cytochromes c ; biosynthesis ; Mice ; Mitochondria ; physiology ; Neuroblastoma ; pathology ; Neurons ; pathology ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

The transmural heterogeneous changes of transient outward potassium currents (Ito) in rabbit hypertrophic cardiaomyocytes and the effects of long-term prophylactic treatment with volsartan were investigated. Rabbits were divided into hypertrophy group (left ventricular hypertrophy induced by partial ligation of abdominal aorta), vol-treated group (volsartan was administrated after the ligation), and control group (sham operated). Myocytes were isolated by a two-step enzymatical method. The sub-endocardial (Endo) and sub-epicardium (Epi) tissues were separated from midmyocardium (Mid) with a razor. Whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used to record potassium currents. The results showed that membrane capacitance was larger in hypertrophic cells than those in control and vol-treated cells (P<0.01 vs control cells, n=30). The densities of Ito in hypertrophic cells were reduced by sub-epicardium (Epi) (27.8 +/- 2.9) %, midmyocardium (Mid) (41.0+/-4.7) %, and sub-endocardium (Endo) (20.3 +/- 3.4) % compared with those in control cells. The decrease of Ito density was more pronounced in Mid than in Epi and Endo (P<0.01 vs Epi or Endo). There were no significant differences in Ito densities between vol-treated group and control group in three layers separately. In conclusion, volsartan can inhibit the transmural heterogeneous changes of Ito in left ventricular hypertrophic cardiomyocytes in rabbit.
Animals ; Antihypertensive Agents ; pharmacology ; Biological Transport, Active ; drug effects ; Female ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Male ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; pathology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Potassium Channels ; drug effects ; Rabbits ; Tetrazoles ; pharmacology ; Valine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Valsartan

The protective effect of carvedilol on abnormality of L-type calcium current induced by oxygen free radical in single guinea pig ventricular myocytes was studied. Whole-cell patch clamp technique was used to study the effect of H2O2 (0.5 mmol/L) on L-type calcium current in single guinea pig ventricular myocytes and the action of pretreatment with carvedilol (0.5 micromol/L). 0.5 micromol/L carvedilol had no significant effect on ICa,L and its channel dynamics. In the presence of 0.5 mmol/L H2O2, peak current of ICa,L was reduced significantly (P<0.001), the I-V curve of ICa,L was shifted upward, steady-state activation curve and steady-state deactivation curve of ICa,L were shifted left and recovery time of ICa,L was delayed significantly (P<0.001). 0.5 micromol/L carvedilol significantly alleviated the inhibitory effect of H2O2 on ICa,L as compared with that in H2O2 group (P<0.01). In addition, carvedilol reversed the changes of dynamics of ICa,L induced by H2O2. It was concluded that carvedilol could alleviate the abnormality of L-type calcium current induced by oxygen free radical in cardiomyocytes. It shows partly the possible mechanism of the special availability of carvedilol in chronic heart failure.
Adrenergic beta-Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Calcium Channels, L-Type ; metabolism ; Carbazoles ; pharmacology ; Female ; Free Radicals ; adverse effects ; Guinea Pigs ; Heart Ventricles ; cytology ; Male ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; pathology ; Oxidative Stress ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Propanolamines ; pharmacology

The expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in the pathogenesis of heroin-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in rats was investigated. The model of ALI was established by intravenous injection of heroin into tail vein in rats. Thirty-six rats were randomly divided into heroin-treated groups (1 h, 2 h, 4 h, 6 h and 24 h) and normal control group. Changes in histopathologic morphology and biological markers of ALI were measured. The expression of ICAM-1 in lung tissue was detected by using immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. The results showed that the W/D ratio and protein contents in BALF of the heroin-treated groups were significantly higher than that of the, control group (P<0.01). The histopathological changes in the lung tissue were more obvious in heroin-treated groups. The ICAM-1 protein and mRNA expression in the lung tissue of heroin-treated groups were significantly increased as compared with that of the control group (P<0.01), and correlated with the ALI parameters in a time-dependent manner. Increasing of ICAM-1 expression was involved in the formation of heroin-induced lung injury. Furthermore, the level of expression was positively correlated with the severity of lung injury.
Animals ; Heroin ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology

In order to investigate the impact of fulvic acid (FA) on the hydroxylysyl glycosylation in collagen bio-synthesis, 40 NMRI mice were divided into two groups (n = 20 in each group, consisting 10 females and 10 males). The animal was maintained for two generations by different diets: control group with normal water and food and study group with water containing 30 mg/L FA and normal food. The second generation of the animal was slaughtered, and the biochemical parameters of collagen content and the degree of collagen hydroxylysyl glycosylation in skin, rib and tibia were detected by biochemical methods. The mean value of collagen in the study group was increased slightly, and no significant difference between study group and control group was found (P > 0.05), but the content of glucose-glactose-hydroxylysine (GGH) was significantly decreased in the study group in comparison with the control group (P<0.01). It was suggested that through the decrease of GGH 30 mg/L FA could inhibit the activity of galactosyl-hydroxylysylglucosyl-transferase and further disturb the post-translational modification of collagen intracellularly.
Animals ; Benzopyrans ; pharmacology ; Bone Development ; Bone and Bones ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Collagen ; biosynthesis ; Female ; Glycosylation ; Hydroxylysine ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Osteoarthritis ; etiology ; Selenium ; deficiency

By using Fura-2/AM, the effects of magnesium (Mg2+) on the glutamate-induced increase of intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) in the cultured hippocampal neurons and the features were investigated by integrated photoelectric detecting system. The experiments were designed to three groups (The drug was spit to the cells for 20 s): Group A receiving 1 x 10(-5) mol/L glutamate; Group B receiving 1 x 10(-5) mol/L glutamate and 1 x 10(-5) mol/L Mg2+ simultaneously; Group C receiving 1 x 10(-5) mol/L glutamate again after [Ca2+]i in group B back to the baseline. The results showed that in group A, [Ca2+]i was obviously increased. In group B, the changes in [Ca+] i and the peak value were significantly decreased. Moreover, the elevation of Phase 1 was slowed down and Phase 2 was shortened to some extent, and the plateau phase between them was relatively prolonged. In group C, calcium oscillation similar to that in group A occurred, but both the Phase 1 and Phase 2 were shortened and the delta[Ca2+]i was slightly decreased. It was suggested that Mg2+ could quickly inhibit the rise of [Ca2+]i induced by glutamate in the cultured hippocampal neurons in rats.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Biological Transport, Active ; drug effects ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Fura-2 ; pharmacology ; Glutamates ; pharmacology ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; metabolism ; Magnesium ; pharmacology ; Neurons ; cytology ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

The effects of retinoic acid on the beta-catenin/TCF pathway in cultured porcine tracheobronchial epithelial cells (TBEC) were investigated. After TBEC were treated with retinoic acid at various concentrations, mRNA and protein changes of beta-catenin in cytoplasm, nucleus and whole cell of the TBEC were observed by immunocytochemical stain, RT-PCR and Western blotting. And the changes of the target gene cyclinD1 of beta-catenin/TCF pathway were also observed. It was found that there was no significant difference in beta-cat mRNA level after retinoic acid treatment. However, the expression of beta-catenin in the whole cell and cytoplasm was elevated with the increase of retinoic acid concentration (P<0. 01). The nuclear protein beta-catenin and target gene cyclinD1 of beta-catenin/TCF pathway was decreased (P<0.05). It was indicated that retinoic acid could increase beta-catenin level of the whole cell protein and decrease nuclear beta-catenin, downregulating beta-cat/TCF signaling activity and reducing target gene cyclinD1 protein level. As a result, retinoic acid can downregulate beta-catenin/TCF pathway in porcine tracheobronchial epithelial cell, suggesting that retinoic acid can inhibit the proliferation and accelerate differentiation of tracheobronchial epithelial cells.
Animals ; Bronchi ; cytology ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Cyclin D1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Signal Transduction ; Swine ; TCF Transcription Factors ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Trachea ; cytology ; metabolism ; Tretinoin ; pharmacology ; beta Catenin ; biosynthesis ; genetics

In order to provide a rational research basis for clinical detection and genetic engineering vaccine, plasmid pET-28a (+) encoding both Porin gene PIA and PIB of Neisseria gonorrhoeae was constructed and a fusion protein in E. coli DE3 expressed. The fragments of PIA and PIB gene of Neisseria gonorrhoeae were amplified and cloned into prokaryotic expression plasmid pET-28a (+) with double restriction endonuclease cut to construct recombinant pET-PIB-PIA. The recombinant was verified with restriction endonuclease and sequenced and transformed into E. coli DE3 to express the fusion protein PIB-PIA after induced with IPTG. The results showed PIA-PIB fusion DNA fragment was proved correct through sequencing. A 67 kD (1 kD= 0.992 1 ku) fusion protein had been detected by SDS-PAGE. It was concluded that the fusion protein was successively expressed.
Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Neisseria gonorrhoeae ; genetics ; Plasmids ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Porins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Prokaryotic Cells ; metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transfection ; Vaccines, Synthetic