BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide (NO) is synthesized by catalysis of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Three distinct isoforms of NOS have been detected in different structures of the guinea pig cochlea. However, there are still rather controversies about the definite localization and expression of NOS isoforms in guinea pig cochlea.OBJECTIVE: To investigate localization and expression of three NOS isoforms in the cochlea of guinea pigs, and to explore the effect of NO on auditory physiology and pathophysiology of inner ear.DESIGN: An observed and controlled study.SETTING: Department of Physiology, Jinzhou Medical College; Department of Orthopedics, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Jinzhou Central Hospital.MATERIALS: The study was performed in Hearing Research Laboratory of China Medical University from May to November 2000. Ten healthy male albino guinea pigs, with body mass of 250-300 g, with sensitive Preyer's reflexes and normal drum membrane and external auditory canal,were selected.METHODS: After anesthesia, guinea pigs were decapitated and the temporal bones were removed immediately. The round and oval windows were opened, perfused with 40 g/L paraformaldehyde, and the specimens were immersed in the same fixative solution for 2 hours. Decalcification of the cochleae was performed in 100 g/L EDTA solution for 1 week. Then the specimens were placed in 250 g/L sucrose solution overnight and embedded in OCT. Cryostat (20 μm) sections were prepared for immunohistochemistry.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Localization and expression of three NOS isoforms in the cochlea of guinea pigs.RESULTS: All data of ten guinea pigs was entered the final analysis without any loss. [1] Neuronal-type nNOS and endothelial-type eNOS immunoreactivity were localized in inner and outer hair cells of the organ of Corti, as well as in spiral ganglion cells. In addition, staining for nNOS and eNOS were also seen in the marginal cells of stria vascularis, spiral ligament cells, and in nerve fibers. [2] Inducible-type iNOS immunoreactivity was also detected in above each structure of the guinea pig cochlea under physiological conditions.CONCLUSION:NO may play an important role in neurotransmission,blood flow regulation, and cytotoxicity.

ThemagneticFe3O4nanoparticlesweresynthesizedbyco-precipitationmethod,andthenmagnetic Fe3 O4@Au nanoparticle was synthesized to improve the affinity of particle surface. L-Cys-GA3 was grafted on the surface of gold clad by self-assembly method, and then dropped it on glassy carbon electrode, for further manufacture of MIP/Fe3 O4@Au by using electropolymerzation L-Cys. The surface morphology and particle size distribution of Fe3 O4@Au were studied by TEM. The structure and composition of gibberellins A3, MIP and nMIP were studied by IR. The test system was optimized, and the results showed that when the cycles of electropolymerization was 30, acetic acid:methanol (1:8, V/V) was chosen as eluent, elution time was optimized for 5 min and rebinding time for 7 min, the sensor got a high stability and good recognition ability for gibberellins A3 . The concentration of gibberellins A3 in the range of 1 . 0 × 10-11-1 . 0 × 10-8 mol/L had a relationship with the oxidation peak current of probe, with the detection limit of 2. 57×10-12 mol/L. The sensor was successfully used for the determination of GA3 in beer sample.

Objective To explore the correlation among serum total bilirubin (TBil) , invasive hemodynamic parameters, plasma N-terminal proBNP (NT-preBNP) and C reactive protain (CRP)in patients with heart failure. Methods Invasive hemodynamic parameters derived from Swan-Ganz catheter, TBil, plasma NT-proBNP and CRP within 12 hours after hospital admission were analyzed in 130 patients with chronic heart failure [Now York Heart Association (NYHA) class Ⅱ -Ⅳ]. Results Compared with those in non-hyperbilirubinemia group, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), NT-proBNP and left ventriculure ejection fraction were different significantly in total hyperbilirubinemia group [(26. 09 vs 16.00) mm Hg(1 mm Hg =0. 133 kPa), (3.36 vs2.91) pmol/L, (34. 12 vs 28.92)%, P<0. 05]. The serum TBil increased significantly in higher PCWP, right atrial pressure and NT-proBNP groups than those in lower level groups [(32. 22 vs 24. 17), (37.52 vs 24. 19), (32. 14 vs 16. 74) pmol/L, P < 0.05]. Partial correlation analysis showed serum TBil was associated with PCWP, right atrial pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance index and NT-proBNP respectively (r = 0. 21, P = 0. 02; r = 0. 33, P < 0. 01 ; r = 0. 20, P =0. 04;r = 0. 37, P <0. 01, respectively). Multiple linear regression analysis showed both right atrial pressure and NT-proBNP correlated independently with serum TBil(β= 0. 39, P < 0. 01 ;β = 0. 29,P = 0. 01, respectively). Conclusion For patients with heart failure, serum TBil correlated well with right atrial pressure, PCWP and NT-proBNP; it is a reliable indicator for exact clinical evaluation of heart failure.

Objective To investigate the influence of the lymph node micrometastasis and its clinicopathological features on postoperative disease-free survival rate for patients with gastric cancer.Methods The study included 120 patients with pT1-3NoMo gastric cancer. The relationships between clinicopathological features or carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) positive expression and postoperative disease-free survival rate were analyzed. Results In clinicopathological factors, multivariate analysis identified CEA positive expression was significantly correlated with tumor diameter (P = 0.011 ),depth of tumor invasion (P= 0.027) and lymphatic vessel invasion (P= 0.001 ) in lymph node positively. The average postoperative follow-up was (53.14 ± 16.75) months. There was statistical correlation between the tumor diameter( P = 0.018 ) or depth of tumor invasion ( P = 0.015 ) and postoperative disease-free survival rate. The disease-free survival rate was 90.91% ( 80/88 ), 86.36% ( 19/22 )and 40.00% (4/10) for the lymph node CEA negative,isolated tumor cells (IT Cs) and micrometastasis,respectively. There was significant difference between micrometastasis and the lymph node CEA negative (P= 0.000) or ITCs (P = 0.009), however, the lymph node CEA negative and ITCs was no significant difference (P = 0.438 ). Lymph node micrometastssis of gastric cancer was detected in 10 patients who should belong to stage pN1,the restage rate was 8.33%(10/120). Conclusions If the patients were found micrometastasis in lymph node with high-risk stage pT1-3NoMo gastric cancer for whom chemotherapy may be recommended,because of its high recurrence and poor prognosis.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of the method of soothing the liver and regulating qi on expression of gastrin and somatostatin in hypothalamus and gastric antrum of functional dyspepsia model rats.

METHODThe 32 rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, Chaihu Shugansan group and domperidone group (n = 8). The functional dyspepsia model was established by constantly squeezing their tails and mean while saline, Chaihu Shugansan decoction and domperidone suspension were administered respectively to 4 groups by gavage. The expression of gastrin and somatostatin in hypothalamus and gastric antrum of rats by immunohistochemical were detected 3 weeks later.

RESULTThe expression of GAS in the hypothalamus and gastric antrum of model group were less than those of normal group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), while the expression of SS in the hypothalamus and gastric antrum in Model group were significantly increased than those of normal group (P < 0.01). The expression of GAS and SS in gastric antrum of Chaihu Shugansan group and domperidone group were increased and decreased respectively, and the differences were significant (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There were no obvious difference about expression of GAS, SS in the hypothalamus between domperidone group and model group. GAS expression in hypothalamus of Chaihu Shugansan group were increased than those of normal group but there was no obvious difference in SS expression in hypothalamus between Chaihu Shugansan group and model group.

CONCLUSIONThe method of soothing the liver and regulating qi can increase GAS expression in central and peripheral and decrease SS expression in peripheral gastric antrum, which may be one of its therapeutic mechanisms on functional dyspepsia.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Dyspepsia ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Gastrins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Hypothalamus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Pyloric Antrum ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Qi ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Somatostatin ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo extract and purify of solamargine from Solanum nigrum, and to research its antineoplastic effects.

METHODS. nigrum was extracted refluently with 80% alcohol, solamargine was purified with silica gel column chromatography and recrystallization, and then conducted its structure identification and purity checks. Screened the effect on human tumor cell groth inhibition in vitro by MTT assay, and researched on the features in mice with H22 liver cancer or Ehrlich ascites tumor of solamargine.

RESULTThe concent of solamargine reached 97.9%. Solamargine had significantly inhibition on 6 tumor cells in vitro, and it had significantly inhibition on mice with H22 liver cancer or ehrlich ascites tumor in the 2.4 mg x kg(-1) dose of i.v.

CONCLUSIONSolamargine have the antineoplastic effect.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; isolation & purification ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Solanaceous Alkaloids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of composite grinding dusts on rat respiratory system.

METHODSRats were administrated with grinding dusts by intratracheal injection. After 2 weeks, the total numbers of cells, the percentage of differential cell, the survival rate of cell, and the activity of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) and alkaline phosphatase(ALP) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were analyzed.

RESULTSAlong with increasing concentration of grinding dusts, the total number of cells in lavage also increased, and was more than that in quartz group. Compared with control group, the percentage of neutrophil in lavage of rats treated with grinding dust and quartz significantly increased and meanwhile that of macrophage significantly decreased[PMN: quartz group (33.83 +/- 4.54)%; grinding dusts group (26.50 +/- 3.99)%, (36.00 +/- 3.58)%, (38.00 +/- 2.10)% at 10, 25, 50 mg/ml respectively. Macrophages: quartz group (62.17 +/- 4.54)%; grinding dusts group (70.83 +/- 3.66)%, (60.83 +/- 2.14)%, (58.17 +/- 2.48)%] while those in control group were (2.83 +/- 0.75)%, (95.67 +/- 1.21)% respectively. The cell survival rate in lavage in control group was 80%, but that in grinding dust and TiO2 group significantly decreased(P < 0.01). The activity of LDH and ALP in all rats treated with dusts obviously increased, and there was significant difference compared with control group(P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Furthermore, there was significant difference between grinding dust group and quartz group, and between grinding dust group and TiO2 group respectively.

CONCLUSIONMetal grinding dust is very harmful to rat's lung cells and may cause fibrogenesis in the lungs.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; cytology ; Dust ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Lung ; pathology ; Metals ; Rats

OBJECTIVE: To analyze gene variants in a Chinese pedigree with oculocutaneous albinism (OCA). METHODS: Gene sequencing of the proband and his parents was performed using chip capture high-throughput sequencing and Sanger sequencing techniques, and PolyPhen-2, SIFT, MutationTaster, and FATHMM software were used to predict the function of new variants. At the same time,the pedigree and variant genes of 4 albinism patients from this pedigree were analyzed. RESULTS: Sequencing results showed that the proband's TYR gene (NM_000372) has c.230G>A (p.Arg77Gln) and c.120_121insG (p.Asp42GlyfsTer35) compound heterozygous variants. The proband's father carries c.230G>A heterozygous variant, and the mother carries c.120_121insG heterozygous variant, indicating that the proband's two variants are from his father and mother. The former is a known missense variant, which can cause abnormal or loss of the original function of the protein polypeptide chain. The latter c.120_121insG(p.Asp42GlyfsTer35) is an unreported frameshift variant of the TYR gene subregion (EX1; CDS1). PolyPhen-2, SIFT, MutationTaster and FATHMM predictions are all prompted as "harmful variants". This variant caused the amino acid encoded protein to terminate prematurely, producing a truncated protein, which eventually formed a 76-amino acid short-type TYR protein instead of the 529-amino acid wild-type TYR protein. Through the pedigree analysis, the four patients in the pedigree are all of the same type of compound heterozygous variants, and the disease-causing genes are all from the patient's parents. They belong to a special form of consanguineous marriage within 5 generations. CONCLUSION The compound heterozygous variants of c.230G>A (p.Arg77Gln) and c.120_121insG (p.Asp42GlyfsTer35) of the TYR gene may underlie the disease in this pedigree. The gene sequencing results enrich the variant spectrum of the TYR gene, and has facilitated molecular diagnosis for the patient.
Albinism, Oculocutaneous/genetics* ; Consanguinity ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Mutation ; Pedigree

Objective:To compare the advantages of high or low inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) ligation in laparoscopic anterior resection of rectum based on CT precise guidance.Methods:One hundred and twenty patients with rectal cancer who underwent laparoscopic anterior resection of rectum in Shanghai Sixth People′s Hospital South Campus from January 2016 to June 2020 were selected. Surgical protocol was selected according to the principle of voluntariness. Sixty-eight cases underwent high IMA ligation (high IMA ligation group), and 52 cases underwent low IMA ligation (low IMA ligation group). The perioperative conditions (operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative anal exhaust time, abdominal drainage, hospitalization time and ileostomy), postoperative pathological data (proximal margin distance, distal margin distance, total number of dissected lymph nodes and number of positive lymph nodes) and postoperative recovery (anastomotic stoma fistula, urinary retention, sexual dysfunction and daily number of defecation) were recorded. The quality of life 6 months after surgery was evaluated by the quality of life instruments for colorectal cancer scale (QLQ-CR38). Patients were followed up for 6 to 36 months, and the local recurrence and distant metastasis were recorded.Results:The postoperative anal exhaust time in low IMA ligation group was significantly shorter than that in high IMA ligation group: (2.87 ± 1.04) d vs. (3.26 ± 1.00) d, and there was statistical difference ( P<0.05); there were no statistical differences in operative time, intraoperative blood loss, abdominal drainage, hospitalization time and rate of ileostomy between 2 groups ( P>0.05). There were no statistical difference in proximal margin distance, distal margin distance, total number of dissected lymph nodes and number of positive lymph nodes between 2 groups ( P>0.05). The incidences of anastomotic stoma fistula, urinary retention and sexual dysfunction in low IMA ligation group were significantly lower than those in high ligation group: 3.85% (2/52) vs. 13.24% (9/68), 3.85% (2/52) vs. 11.76% (8/68) and 5.77% (3/52) vs. 14.71% (10/68), the daily number of defecation was significantly less than that in high ligation group: (2.87 ± 0.98) times vs. (4.05 ± 1.56) times, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.05 or <0.01). The functional dimension, symptom dimension and aggregate score of QLQ-CR38 in low IMA ligation group were significantly higher than those in high ligation group: (15.46 ± 4.22) scores vs. (13.68 ± 3.56) scores, (51.82 ± 13.54) scores vs. (45.65 ± 12.42) scores and (67.28 ± 14.28) scores vs. (59.33 ± 12.85) scores, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.05 or <0.01). There were no statistical difference in the rates of local recurrence and distant metastasis between 2 groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:The application of low IMA ligation based on CT precise guidance in laparoscopic anterior resection of rectum can obtain the same surgical effect as the high IMA ligation. It can promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function after surgery, reduce the risk of complications, have less effect on the defecation function, which can improve the life quality after the surgery.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: A variety of immunomodulators can improve the efficacy of low-dose chemotherapeutics. Active hexose correlated compound (AHCC), a mushroom mycelia extract, has been shown to be a strong immunomodulator. Whether AHCC could enhance the antitumor effect of low-dose 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) via regulation of host immunity is unknown. MATERIALS/METHODS: In the current study Hepatoma 22 (H22) tumor-bearing mice were treated with PBS, 5-FU (10 mg.kg-1.d-1, i.p), or AHCC (360 mg.kg-1.d-1, i.g) plus 5-FU, respectively, for 5 d. CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and NK in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry. ALT, AST, BUN, and Cr levels were measured by biochemical assay. IL-2 and TNFalpha in serum were measured using the RIA kit and apoptosis of tumor was detected by TUNEL staining. Bax, Bcl-2, and TS protein levels were measured by immunohistochemical staining and mRNA level was evaluated by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Diet consumption and body weight showed that AHCC had no apparent toxicity. AHCC could reverse liver injury and myelosuppression induced by 5-FU (P < 0.05). Compared to mice treated with 5-FU, mice treated with AHCC plus 5-FU had higher thymus index, percentages of CD3+, CD4+, and NK cells (P < 0.01), and ratio of CD4+/CD8+ (P < 0.01) in peripheral blood. Radioimmunoassay showed that mice treated with AHCC plus 5-FU had the highest serum levels of IL-2 and TNFalpha compared with the vehicle group and 5-FU group. More importantly, the combination of AHCC and 5-FU produced a more potent antitumor effect (P < 0.05) and caused more severe apoptosis in tumor tissue (P < 0.05) compared with the 5-FU group. In addition, the combination of AHCC and 5-FU further up-regulated the expression of Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax) (P < 0.01), while it down-regulated the expression of B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These results support the claim that AHCC might be beneficial for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.
Agaricales ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Body Weight ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Diet ; Drug Therapy ; Flow Cytometry ; Fluorouracil* ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Interleukin-2 ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Liver ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Mice* ; Radioimmunoassay ; RNA, Messenger ; Thymus Gland ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha