OBJECTIVEIn recent years, abnormal changes in the endocannabinoid system have been found in schizophrenia. The superior temporal gyrus (STG) is strongly implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, particularly with regards to auditory hallucinations. In this study, we investigated the binding density of cannabinoid CB1 receptors in the STG of schizophrenia patients compared to control subjects.

METHODSQuantitative autoradiography was used to investigate the binding densities of [(3)H]SR141716A (a selective antagonist) and [(3)H]CP-55940 (an agonist) to the CB1 receptors in the STG. Post-mortem brain tissue was obtained from the NSW Tissue Resource Centre (Australia).

RESULTSContrasting to previous findings in the alterations of CB1 receptor densities in the prefrontal, anterior and posterior cingulate cortex of schizophrenia, which were suggested to be associated to impairment of cognition function, no significant difference was found between the schizophrenia and control cases in both [(3)H]SR141716A and [(3)H]CP-55940 binding.

CONCLUSIONWe suggest that CB1 receptors in the STG are not involved in the pathology of schizophrenia and the auditory hallucination symptom of this disease.

Adult ; Aged ; Autoradiography ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 ; agonists ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Reference Values ; Schizophrenia ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Temporal Lobe ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of THY1 protein expression in epithelial ovarian cancer.

METHODSImmunohistochemistry (IHC) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) staining were used to detect the protein expression of THY1, Ki67 and cell apoptosis in 76 epithelial ovarian cancers by tissue microarray. The correlation between THY1 expression and patients' clinical features was analyzed.

RESULTSOf the 76 epithelial ovarian cancer samples, 64 were informative for IHC and TUNEL assays and 42 (65.6%) among them showed down-regulated/loss expression of THY1 protein. A significant positive correlation of THY1 protein expression with clinical stage and distant metastasis was observed in this ovarian cancer cohort (P < 0.05). The more advanced the tumor stage, the more frequency of loss expression of THY1 protein. In addition, the mean positive rate of Ki67 staining in tumors with down-regulated/loss expression of THY1 was 33.7% +/- 3.5%, significantly higher than that in the tumors with normal expression of THY1 (17.3% +/- 6.1%, P = 0.0027). However, no significant correlation was observed between THY1 protein expression and tumor cell apoptosis as well as patients' survival in this series (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDown-regulated/loss expression of THY1 protein in epithelial ovarian cancer is significantly correlated with cancer cell proliferation and metastasis in the epithelial ovarian cancer, and it may be used as one of the new molecular biomarkers to predict the disease progression in patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Apoptosis ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous ; metabolism ; pathology ; Down-Regulation ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Survival Rate ; Thy-1 Antigens ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the impact of neonatal bacillus Calmette-Guerin(BCG) vaccination on lung Th17 cells and IL-17 in murine asthma model.

METHODSNeonatal BALB/c mice were divided into three groups: control, OVA and BCG/OVA groups. BCG was administerd in the BCG/OVA group on postnatal day 2 or 3. Except the control group, the mice in the other two groups were sensitized and undergone OVA challenge. Inflammatory cell numbers and morphological identification of leucocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured by light microscopy. Cytokine IFN-gamma and IL-17 levels in BALF were measured using ELISA. The percentage of lung Th17 cells were assayed by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThere was significantly larger number of total cells, lymphocytes, eosinophils and neutrophils in BALF in the OVA and BCG/OVA groups compared with the control group. The number or percentage of those cells in the BCG/OVA group was lower than that in the OVA group. The level of IL-17 in BALF was significantly higher in the OVA and the BCG/OVA groups compared with the control group, while the level of IFN-gamma was lower. The OVA group had higher level of IL-17 than the BCG/OVA group. The mice in the OVA and the BCG/OVA groups had a higher percentage of Th17 cells in lungs compared with the control group, but there were no significant differences in the percentage of Th17 cells between the OVA and the BCG/OVA groups.

CONCLUSIONSTh17 cells and IL-17 play roles in the pathogenesis of asthma. BCG vaccination can reduce the level of IL-17 in BALF and the reduced IL-17 may be mainly from other IL-17-producing cells in the lungs, not Th17 cells.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Asthma ; immunology ; BCG Vaccine ; immunology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Interferon-gamma ; analysis ; Interleukin-17 ; analysis ; Lung ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Ovalbumin ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer ; immunology ; Vaccination

BACKGROUNDThe molecular mechanisms underlying the endometriosis are still not completely understood. In order to test the hypothesis that the approaches in phosphoproteomics might contribute to the identification of key biomarkers to assess disease pathogenesis and drug targets, we carried out a phosphoproteomics analysis of human endometrium.

METHODSA large-scale differential phosphoproteome analysis, using peptide enrichment of titanium dioxide purify and sequential elution from immobilized metal affinity chromatography with linear trap quadrupole-tandem mass spectrometry, was performed in endometrium tissues from 8 women with or without endometriosis.

RESULTSThe phosphorylation profiling of endometrium from endometriosis patients had been obtained, and found that identified 516 proteins were modified at phosphorylation level during endometriosis. Gene ontology annotation analysis showed that these proteins were enriched in cellular processes of binding and catalytic activity. Further pathway analysis showed that ribosome pathway and focal adhesion pathway were the top two pathways, which might be deregulated during the development of endometriosis.

CONCLUSIONSThat large-scale phosphoproteome quantification has been successfully identified in endometrium tissues of women with or without endometriosis will provide new insights to understand the molecular mechanisms of the development of endometriosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Chromatography, Affinity ; Endometriosis ; metabolism ; Endometrium ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Phosphoproteins ; analysis ; Phosphorylation ; Proteomics ; methods ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the genetic polymorphism and intraspecific genetic differentiation of different populations of Pogostemon cablin, and find out the effective method to distinguish DNA fingerprint of different populations of P. cablin.

METHODFive plant populations of P. cablin were analyzed by RAPD markers. PopGen 32 software for clustering analysis and calculating. Fourteen of the 80 random primers were tested to possess the stronger detecting effect of polymorphous character.

RESULTA total of 84 bands was amplified by the 10 primers, among them 17 bands were monomorphic. 67 of them were polymorphic. The results indicated that the genetic variations existed within the different plant populations of the same species.

CONCLUSIONIt is feasible by RAPD technique with specifically primer to analyze the genetic diversity and identify 5 plant populations of P. cablin. RAPD technique has provided a new path for identification and classification of P. cablin genetic germplasm.

China ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA Fingerprinting ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Ecosystem ; Lamiaceae ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plants, Medicinal ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique

This study was purposed to investigate the inhibitory effect, apoptosis, Bcl-2 and P-gp expression of K562/AO2 cells by hyperthermia combined with adriamycin. The working concentration of adriamycin against K562/AO2 was determined by MTT assay. The hyperthermia and chemotherapy were used alone or in combination, then the cell survival rate was detected at 48 hours. The inhibitory effect was evaluated by MTT assay. The apoptosis rate, Bcl-2 and P-gp expression of K562/AO2 were determined by flow cytometry. The concentration of adriamycin in the experiment was defined as its IC(50) at 48 hours action. The results indicated that the hyperthermia at 40, 41 and 42 degrees C for 60 minutes showed obvious inhibitory effect on K562/AO2 cells (p < 0.01). Adriamycin chemotherapy combined with hyperthermia showed more obvious inhibitory effect on K562/AO2. According to flow cytometric analysis, the hyperthermia and adriamycin used alone or in combination could obviously increase the apoptosis rate and down-regulate Bcl-2 and P-gp expression of K562/AO2 cells (p < 0.01). It is concluded that the adriamycin chemotherapy combined with hyperthermia for 60 minutes shows obvious inhibitory effect on K562/AO2 cells, which increases the apoptosis rate and down-regulates expression of Bcl-2 and P-gp.
ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; metabolism ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Hyperthermia, Induced ; K562 Cells ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism

Adult ; CD5 Antigens ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Choristoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Hamartoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; metabolism ; Thymoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Thymus Gland ; pathology ; Thymus Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Thyroidectomy ; methods

Aim To determine the effect of exosomes from lipopolysaccharide-treated human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on proportion of Ly6Chigh and Ly6Clow monocytes/macrophages in inflammatory micro- environment. Methods BMSCs were obtained by gra-dient centrifugation, identified and then treated with li-popolysaccharide for 48 h. The exosomes were purified from conditional medium with or without LPS treatment and identified by CD63 protein using Western blot and transmission electron microscope. The diameters and concentration were detected by Nanoparticle Trafficking Analysis ( NTA ) . The monocytes/macrophages were sorted from bone marrow of the mice by magnetic beads. Cells were co-cultured with exosomes for 24 hours, and then treated with LPS for 48 hours. The proportion of Ly6C monocytes/macrophages was detec-ted by flow cytometry. Inflammatory cytokines in cell supernatant were investigated using ELISA. Results BMSCs surface markers CD44, CD90 were positively detected, but CD34, CD45 were not expressed. BM-SCs presented adipogenic differentiation ability. Exo-somes were positively expressing CD63 protein, and NTA showed that the diameters of exosomes were up to (82.4 ± 3.7 ) nm. BMSCs stimulated by LPS pro- duced more exosomes ( P < 0.01 ) . Exosomes from BMSCs with or without LPS treatment could increase the ratio of Ly6Chigh monocytes (P<0.01) and down-regulate the ratio of Ly6Chigh macrophages (P<0.05), and the effect of LPS treated-exosomes was more signif-icant than untreated-exosomes (P<0.05). Moreover, the concentration of IL-6 was also elevated under exo-somes treatment ( P <0.05 ) . Conclusions Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes contribute to the regulation of Ly6Chigh monocytes/mac-rophages, indicating that they could be involved in the therapeutic treatment of inflammatory diseases.

BACKGROUNDArrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is one of the leading causes of sudden cardiac death. Recent studies have shown that ARVC, which is an inheritable genetic change, results from mutations in genes encoding desmosomal proteins. Plakophilin-2 is an important component of the desmosome. Because the full range of genetic variations related to ARVC is unknown and no related studies of the Chinese population have been reported, we aimed to investigate the genetic variation of plakophilin-2 in ARVC patients from the Southern Region of China.

METHODSGenomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood samples of all 34 ARVC patients, who were screened through a clinical evaluation. They were used to detect variations in the sequences of the plakophilin-2 genes by polymerase chain reaction amplification in combination with direct sequencing.

RESULTSIn exon-1 of the plakophilin-2 gene, a deletion mutation (c.145_148 del GACA) was found in one family pedigree. The mutation was also found in exon-2, 4, and 11 of the plakophilin-2 gene. The QT interval dispersion of the ECG was considerably longer in the mutation group than in the non-mutation group of ARVC patients, and this result was statistically significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONWe discovered a plakophilin-2 mutation that prolongs the QT interval dispersion in the southern Chinese ARVC population.

Adult ; Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Child ; China ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Plakophilins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo assess the prevalence of serum anti-F in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and the distribution of anti-F.

METHODSThe recombinant protein (HCV-F/GST) was coated onto micro titer plates as antigen. Sera of 120 patients with hepatitis C virus infection, 15 patients with hepatitis B, 3 patients with hepatitis E and 10 normal sera were tested by indirect ELISA for detecting anti-F.

RESULTS82 samples out of the 120 (68%) HCV infected patients exhibited a positive anti-F reaction, showing significant difference from the controls with no HCV infection (P < 0.01). Data from logistic analysis showed that the positive rate of anti-F was higher in patients over 50 year olds (OR = 6.675, 95% CI: 2.407-19.071). Patients of midrange, severe phase and hepatic cirrhosis had higher rate than the others (OR = 2.749, 95% CI: 1.470-5.141).

CONCLUSIONPrevalence and distribution of anti-F in Yixing hepatitis C patients was reported and which might be related to the progression of HCV infection.

Adult ; China ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Hepacivirus ; immunology ; Hepatitis Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis C ; immunology ; Hepatitis C Antigens ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Viral Core Proteins ; immunology ; Young Adult