Objective To investigate the effects of cobalt chloride(COCl2)induced rat alveolar epithelial cell apoptosis and the significance of related apoptosis protein hypoxia inducible factor-lalpha(HIF-1 a)expression. Methods Alveolar epithelial cells were cultured in vitro and divided into four groups with 6 samples in each.Hypoxia 4 h group:added 500μmol/L COCl2 for 4 hours inducing alveolar epithelial cell hypoxia;hypoxia 24 h group:co-cultured with COCl2 for 24 hours;hypoxia 48 h group:co-cultured with CoCl2 for 48 hours;control group:no CoCl2 added.The apoptosis rates were detected by fluorescent microscope and flow cytometry.The apoptosis morphological changes of the cell were observed by transmission electron microscopy.The protein expression of HIF-la was detected bv Western Blot. Results (1)Fluorescent microscope results showed that apoptosis rate in hypoxia 4 h、24 h、48 h group[(5.83±0.76)%,(15.00±3.28)%and(51.50±3.00)%],were higher than control group[(1.50±0.50)%](P＜0.05).(2)Flow cytometry analysis reached the same results as with fluorescent microscope.(3)Typical morphological changes of apoptosis were observed in hypoxia 24 h group.(4)HIF-1α expression in hypoxia 4 h、24 h and 48 h groups[0.69±0.035,1.02±0.044 and 0.71±0.046],were higher than control group(0.21±0.026)(P＜0.01).(5)Positive correlations were found between relative amount of HIF-1αprotein and apoptosis rate by fluorescent microscope and flow cytometry analysis(r=0.484,P=0.016;r=0.713,P=0.009).Conclusions Hypoxia could induce apoptosis of alveolar epithelial cells,which may participate in the pathogenesis of hypoxia-induced lung injury.

Coal Mining ; Humans ; Occupational Diseases ; prevention & control ; Occupational Health ; Tuberculosis ; prevention & control

Objective To investigate the effect of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) on the degranulation of mast cells and the permeability of gastric mucosa in BALB/c mice, in order to provide further evidence for the important role of Hp in the pathogenesis of chronic urticaria (CU). Methods Seventy healthy BALB/c mice were randomly classified into 3 different groups, namely, Hp group (n = 30), fed with Hp liquid once every 3 days for a total of 7 times, and two control groups, alcohol group (n = 20) fed with 45 percent alcohol solution, and bovine serum albumin (BSA) group (n = 20) fed with BSA 2% solution. Alteration in the blood sucrose level was used to assess the permeability of gastric mucosa. Toluidine blue staining of gastric mucosa was used to assess the total number of mast cells, the amount of degranulated mast cells and the per-centage of degranulated cells after feeding. Results There was a statistically significant difference between the total number of mast cells (F = 207.59, P < 0.01 ) and the percentage of degranulated mast cells (F = 108.16, P <0.01 ) among the three groups, with the highest number and percentage observed in the Hp group followed by the alcohol group. In both groups, the concentration of blood sucrose was increased after feed-ing, with a higher increase in the alcohol group; no significant change occurred in the concentration of blood sucrose in the BSA group (F = -4.06, P > 0.05 ), which differed significantly from the other two groups (F =277.03, P< 0.01 ). Conclusions Hp infection could increase the number and degranulation of mast cells in gastric mucosa, resulting in the release of histamines and vasoactive mediators, which may be related to the manifestation of urticaria.

Objective To explore the correlation between endothelia cells activation and cytokines (ET-1, NO) levels in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH), and to discuss their roles in the development of PH. Methods Twenty patients with simple ventricular septal defect (VSD) were chosen as controls, and 30 patients with PH were studied. Plasma levels of ET-1 and NO were measured by radioimmunoassay or colorimetric method. Before cardiopulmonary bypass was established, the specimens from right lung were fixed with formaldehyde solution, embedded with paraffin and stained by SP immunohistochemistry. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression was measured through the determination of the light density with computer imaging technology. Results Compared with that of the patients with simple VSD, the light density of ICAM-1 and plasma level of ET-1 increased in patients with PH; but plasma level of NO decreased (P<0.05). Positive correlation was observed between ICAM-1 and ET-1/NO (P<0.05). Conclusion Endothelia cells activation and imbalance of ET-1/NO might play an important role in the development of PH.

Objective To explore the effects of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)on the ratio of CD4+CD25+Treg/CD4+T cell and the expression of TGF-β1 in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE)rats. Methods We randomly divided 60 healthy female Wistar rats into normal control group,EAE control group,VIP low-dose group and VIP high-dose group.We used myelin basic protein (MBP)+ complete adjuvant (CFA)to establish EAE model. Since the day of model construction, the low- and high-dose VIP groups received intraperitoneal injection of 4 nmol/kg (0.2 mL)and 16 nmol/kg (0.8 mL)of VIP every other day,respectively;normal control group and EAE group received injection of saline of 0.8 mL for 10 days in a row.We recorded the peak of neurological dysfunction score (NDS)changes in the rats,observed the pathological changes and GFAP+astrocyte activation in the brain at the morbidity peak of rats with HE staining,and detected the ratio of CD4+CD25+Treg/CD4+T in the spleen with FACS and TGF-β1 cytokine level in brain tissue with ELISA.Results The peak nerve dysfunction score was decreased in each VIP dose group.In normal control group,there were decreased inflammatory cell infiltration and decreased number of active astrocytes in the brain tissue.The degree of infiltration of inflammatory cells and astrocyte activation in VIP control groups were significantly lower than those in EAE group.The CD4+CD25+Treg/CD4+T cell ratio of the spleen tissue in each dose VIP treated group rats was higher than that in EAE control group.The cytokine level of TGF-β1 in the brain tissue increased in each VIP dose group in the dose-dependent manner.Conclusion Through up-regulating the ratio of CD4+CD25+Treg/CD4+T cell in the spleen tissue,increasing TGF-β1 content in brain tissue,and inhibiting the infiltration of inflammatory cells and the astrocyte activation,VIP plays an important role in prevention and control of EAE.

Objective To investigate the relationship between cerebral white matter fractional anisotropy(FA)and metabolite con-centrations measured by 1 H magnetic resonance spectroscopy(1 H-MRS)in healthy adults.Methods Diffusion tensor imaging(DTI) and 1 H-MRS were acquired from thirty-one healthy adults at 3.0 T MR system.The concentrations of N-acetylaspartate(NAA), choline(Cho),creatine(Cr),the ratios of NAA/Cr and FA values of DTI were measured in 353 voxels,covering the bilateral medium corona radiata.According to the age,all voxels were divided into two groups:the senior group (mean age=29 years),and the senior group(mean age=5 6 years).The correlations between FA values and age were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficients.The correlations between FA values and metabolite concentrations were estimated using partial correlations test controlling for the age re-lated bias.Results Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed a negative correlation between FA values and age in 353 voxels(r=-0.146,P<0.05),senior group(r=-0.204,P<0.05)and senior group(r=-0.162,P<0.05).Only the correlation between NAA and FA values were significant(r=0.339,P<0.05;r=0.213,P<0.05;r=0.430,P<0.05).There were positive relation-ships between FA values and NAA/Cr among 353 voxels (r=0.166,P<0.05)and senior group(r=0.305,P<0.05).Conclusion There are correlations between cerebral white matter FA values and metabolite concentrations measured by 1 H-MRS .Combining 1 H-MRS with DTI can reveal the relationship between microscopic white matter integrity and metabolic characteristics of the white matter.

AIM: To investigate the feasibility and its mechanisms of improving therapeutic effect by antisense gene therapy combined with chemotherapy in osteosarcoma. METHODS: The human osteosarcoma implanted tumor model in the nude mice was established. By intratumoral injection and abdominal cavity administration, the tumor bearing mice were treated with survivin ASODN in combination with diamminedichloroplatinum (DDP) for a week. Comparison with each single - agent therapy and control group was performed in aspects such as tumor growth condition, pathological changes of tumor tissues; survivin protein expression in tumor tissues by immunohistochemistry, survivin mRNA expression levels by RT -PCR method and tumor apoptosis by Tdt -mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). RESULTS: All nude mice survived the therapy. As compared with the control group, the antisense gene therapy group presented synchronous decrease in survivin mRNA and protein expression; all therapy group displayed tumor growth inhibition and cell apoptosis with different extent; while in contrast to single - agent therapy group, the combined therapy group showed stronger inhibition of tumor growth and abundant tumor cell apoptosis with the highest apoptotic rate. CONCLUSION: Synergistic effect was achieved by combination of DDP with ASODN that may overcome drug resistant of DDP and the combined strategy may shed new light on the cancer therapy.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the capability of semi-quantitative and quantitative parameters of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) to predict the response to concurrent chemoradiotherapy( CCRT) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSA total of 24 patients with stage III or IIIB NSCLC, who underwent 3.0T DCE-MRI before CCRT, were enrolled in this study. Semi-quantitative and quantitative parameters were calculated by Funtool and Omnikinetics software. The relationship between these obtained parameters and tumor response was evaluated by Spearmen' s correlation analysis. The patients were classified into two groups according to the tumor regression rate after treatment, as response group (group A) and non-response group ( group B). Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the parameters of responders and non-responders. The value of the parameters on predicting response was calculated by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC).

RESULTSThe tumor regression rate after treatment was negatively correlated with time to peak (TTP) and the extravascular-extracellular volume fraction (Ve), and was positively correlated with signal enhancement ratio (SERmax) and volume transfer constant (Ktrans) (P < 0.05 for all). Statistical significant differences were found between group A and group B both in semi-quantitative and quantitative parameters (P < 0.05). Group A had a lower TTP value [(34.66 ± 16.37) s vs. (44.09 ± 17.41) s] and Ve value [(0.19 ± 0.03) vs. (0.25 ± 0.05)] than group B, whereas group A had a higher SERmax [(166.50 ± 44.95)% vs. (113.57 ± 46.62)%] and Ktrans [(0.41 ± 0.17) min(-1) vs. (0.28 ± 0.12) min(-1)] than group B (P < 0.05 for all). The ROC analysis indicated that when setting the threshold of Ve on ≤ 0.21 for predicting response, the specificity, sensitivity and accuracy were 85.7%, 80.0% and 83.3%, respectively, with an area under curve of 0.875 (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSBoth the semi-quantitative and quantitative DCE-MRI parameters are helpful for predicting the response after CCRT of NSCLC. Quantitative parameters seem to be more meaningful than semi-quantitative parameters.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; pathology ; therapy ; Chemoradiotherapy ; methods ; Contrast Media ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; ROC Curve ; Remission Induction ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Time Factors

BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (MRDTI) may non-wounded detect damage of fiber in white matter and becomes an effectively way to evaluate upper motor neuron(UMN) impairments.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical significance of MRDTI on amyotrophic lateral selerosis(ALS).DESIGN: Case contrast observation.SETTING: Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University.PARTICIPANTS: Twenty ALS patients were selected from Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from April to December 2005. There were 11 males and 9 females, and their ages ranged from 33 to 73 years with the mean age of (51±10) years. All subjects met the diagnostic criteria of ALS set by World Neurology League.Other 15 healthy subjects were collected as control group. There were 8 males and 7 females, and their ages ranged from 31 to 73 years with mean age of (50±11) years. All subjects provided the confirm consent.METHODS: Based on level of upper and lower motor neuron impairments, ALS patients were divided into UMN impairment group (n =16) and lower motor neuron group (n =4). Functional scores of ALS, illness developing velocity and pyramidal sign scores were performed, respectively. All subjects were scanned with DTI at axial view. Regions of interest [subcortical white matter of precentral gyrul and postcentral gyrul (Pre-CG/Post-CG), centrum semiovale and frontal white matter (CS/FWM), peripheral lateral cerebral ventricle, posterior limb of internal capsule (PIC), cerebral peduncle (CP), genu corpus callosum and splenium corpus callosum (GCC/SCC) and dorsal thalamus (DT)] were selected to measure fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Correlations among FA, ADC, functional score of ALS, illness developing velocity and pyramidal sign scores.RESULTS: Twenty patients and 15 subjects in the control group were involved in the final analysis. ① FA was reduced and ADC increased in the posterior limb of the internal capsule in patients with UMN signs compared to healthy volunteers (t =3.452, 2.670; P ＜ 0.01, 0.05). Nonparametric tests revealed that there was a trend toward reduced FA in the posterior limb of the internal capsule in B group compared to controls (U =11, P =0.057). ② In UMN impairment group, FA in the posterior limb of the internal capsule was positively correlated with the ALS rating scale (r =0.577, P ＜0.05) and negatively correlated with pyramidalsign scores (r = -0.789, P ＜ 0.01 ),CONCLUSION : The impairment of pyramidal tracts can be noninvasively evaluated by diffusion tensor MR in vivo, thus providing useful information in diagnosing and further understanding MND.

ObjectiveTo study the Electrocardiogram (ECG) changes in AIDS patients at different age grades. MethodsThe ECG of 400 AIDS patients at different age were analyzed retrospectively. Results(①)The rate of abnormal ECG in the age group of 46 ～50 years was significantly higher than 11 ～ 15(P =0. 008) ,21 ～25( P = 0. 041 ),31 ～ 35 ( P = 0. 022 ),41 ～ 45 ( P = 0. 001 ) and 51 ～ 55 ( P = 0. 047 ) years groups respectively. (②)The rate of bradyarrhythmia in the age group of 46 ～ 50 years was significantly higher than 31 ～ 35 (U = 2. 44) ,36 -40( U = 2. 18 ) ,41 ～ 45 ( U = 2. 57 ) years groups ( P ＜ 0. 05 respectively. (③)The rate of left atrial and ventricular hypertrophy in 11 ～ 15 years group was significantly lower than the age groups older than 46 (except for 51 ～ 55years group) ;those aged ＞60 had higher atrial and ventricular hypertrophy rate than 36 ～40,41 ～45 and 51 ～55years groups ( P ＜ 0. 05 respectively). ConclusionsAIDS patients at all ages may present abnormal ECG, which is positively correlated with age.