This study is to report the study of protective effects of myricitrin against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells and the investigation of the possible mechanisms of action of myricitrin. The model of H2O2-induced apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells was used to determine the protective effects of myricitrin. The levels of LDH, MDA and the activities of SOD, NO were measured using the respective kits. The H2O2-induced apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells was detected using MTT reduction, TUNEL assay, JC-1 and ROS staining. The activation of Caspase-3 was also measured by fluorometry. The expression of apoptosis-related proteins was determined with Western blotting assay. Myricitrin had significant protective effects against H2O2-induced apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The results show that myricitrin could attenuate H2O2-induced decrease in the activities of SOD (P < 0.01). Myricitrin could decrease the levels of LDH, MDA and increase cell viability and the mitochondrial membrane potential (P < 0.01). Myricitrin had protective effects in a dose-dependent manner between 32 micromol x L(-1) to 64 micromol x L(-1). Myricitrin pretreatment could attenuate H2O2-induced increase of p-ERK. Moreover, myricitrin pretreatment could up-regulate the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, down-regulate the expression of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax, and decrease the expression of Caspase-3, 9. In conclusion, myricitrin had significant protective effects against H2O2-induced apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells. Myricitrin can enhance the activities of anti-oxidative enzymes and decrease the production of free radicals. The possible mechanisms of action of myricitrin are due to myricitrin-mediated inhibition of phosphorylation of the apoptosis signaling pathways-related kinase ERK, up-regulation of the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein, and down-regulation of the expression of the pro-apoptotic protein.

Objective To investigate the prevalence and attitude of smoking and its influencing factors among residents in Hongkou District of Shanghai,so as to provide evidence for tobacco control. Methods Nine hundred and sixty residents in Hongkou District of Shanghai aged 15 to 69 years were selected by multi-level random sampling,among whom 958 completed the investigations on smoking status. Results The smoking rate and standardized smoking rate were 20.04% and 18.73%,respectively.The smoking rate and standardized smoking rate of males were 41.05% and 30.07%,and those of females were 0.80% and 1.70%,respectively.The smoking rate of males was higher than that of females(RR=0.02,95%CI: 0.01-0.03).The smoking rates of age groups of 25 years old and over were higher than those of 15 to 24 years old,and the smoking rate of subjects with or above junior college education was lower than that of subjects with or below middle school education(RR=0.45,95%CI: 0.25-0.79).Subjects who drank alcohol smoked more than those did not(RR=2.68,95%CI: 1.76-4.09).Lower annual per capita income and higher knowledge on smoking hazard led to more tendance to object to smoking and agree with anti-smoking. Conclusion The prevalence of smoking of residents aged 15 to 69 years in Hongkou District of Shanghai was relatively lower.Age,gender,education status and alcohol drinking were influencing factors of smoking.Education on tobacco control among subjects aged more than 35 years should be strengthened,and more attention should be paid to those with lower education.Besides,education on alcohol control should be managed together with tobacco control.

Humans ; Diverticulum, Colon/surgery* ; Cholecystectomy/adverse effects* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo investigate the function of hepatitis B virus polymerase (HBV Pol) in the viral life cycle by screening the proteins interacting with HBV polymerase.

METHODSThe HBV Pol gene was constructed into the pGBKT7 vector. GAL4 yeast two-hybrid system was used to screen the human liver cDNA library to obtain proteins which interacted with HBV Pol. GST-pull down assay was applied to confirm the protein interactions.

RESULTSUbiquitously expressed transcript (UXT) was selected by the yeast two-hybrid system. GST-pull down assay confirmed the in vitro interaction between HBV Pol and UXT.

CONCLUSIONSUXT is a potential interactor of HBV Pol, and this protein interaction may provide clues of the function of HBV Pol in HBV life cycle.

Gene Products, pol ; metabolism ; Hepatitis B virus ; enzymology ; Humans ; Neoplasm Proteins ; metabolism ; Protein Interaction Mapping ; Two-Hybrid System Techniques ; Virus Replication

Objective To explore the content change of glutamic acid ( Glu) , aspartic acid ( Asp) , glycine acid ( Gly) ,γ-aminobutyric acid ( GABA) , tumor necrosis factor -α( TNF-α) following a cerebral is-chemic preconditioning ( CIP) and its function.Methods A total of 90 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:normal group ( n=30 ) , sham group ( n=30 ) and experiment group ( n=30 ).The three groups were divided into hour -1, hour -3, hour -6, hour-12 , hour -24 subgroups ( 6 in each subgroup ).The content of brain Glu, Asp, GABA, Gly were detected by HPLC.And TNF-αwas detected spectrophotography in rats with the ischemic preconditioning and sham operation at different times (1, 3, 6, 12, 24 h).Results Com-pared with those in the corresponding sham subgroups , the content of Glu, Asp, GABA, Gly began to significant increase at 1 h (P<0.05 or P<0.01 ) , peaked at 1 h or 3 h and decreased to basal at 3 h or 6 h After CIP.the content of TNF-αbegan to increase at 1 h ( P<0.05 ) , peaked at 6 h and not decreased to basal at 24 h After CIP.Conclusion A moderate increase in Glu, Asp, GABA, Gly, TNF-αafter CIP might play a important role in the induction of the early brain ischemic tolerance mechanism.

Objective To study the value of diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DT-MRI) in evaluating traumatic optic neuropathy. Methods DT-MRI data of bilateral optic nerve were acquired in 6 patients with unilateral traumatic optic neuropathy. Volume One 1.44 and DTV2 softwares were employed to measure the fraction anisotropy (FA) and average apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and to self-compare between the injured and intact optic nerves. The architecture of the optic radiation fiber tracts were displayed with the software of diffusion tensor fiber tracking. Results All of the infraorbital segments of optic nerves were well demonstrated, with suboptimal intracanalicular portion in 2 patients. The average FA of intraorbital optic nerve in 6 patients: the injured side was 0.244±0.067 and the uninjured side was 0.452±0.053 (P=0.000);FA of the injured side obviously decreased. The average value of ADC: the injured side was (1.417±0.121)×10<'-3> mm<'2>/s and the uninjured side was (1.087±0.118)×10<'3> mm<'2>/s (P=0.003);the value of ADC of the injured side obviously increased. Statistically significant differences were noted between the injured side and the uninjured side. The spacial integralities and connected situations of the nerves could be obtained in 4 patients with significant differences between the injured and the uninjured sides. Conclusion DT-MRI can provide useful pathological information in evaluating traumatic optic neuropathy.

This study is to report the study of protective effects of myricitrin against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells and the investigation of the possible mechanisms of action of myricitrin. The model of H2O2-induced apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells was used to determine the protective effects of myricitrin. The levels of LDH, MDA and the activities of SOD, NO were measured using the respective kits. The H2O2-induced apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells was detected using MTT reduction, TUNEL assay, JC-1 and ROS staining. The activation of Caspase-3 was also measured by fluorometry. The expression of apoptosis-related proteins was determined with Western blotting assay. Myricitrin had significant protective effects against H2O2-induced apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The results show that myricitrin could attenuate H2O2-induced decrease in the activities of SOD (P < 0.01). Myricitrin could decrease the levels of LDH, MDA and increase cell viability and the mitochondrial membrane potential (P < 0.01). Myricitrin had protective effects in a dose-dependent manner between 32 micromol x L(-1) to 64 micromol x L(-1). Myricitrin pretreatment could attenuate H2O2-induced increase of p-ERK. Moreover, myricitrin pretreatment could up-regulate the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, down-regulate the expression of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax, and decrease the expression of Caspase-3, 9. In conclusion, myricitrin had significant protective effects against H2O2-induced apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells. Myricitrin can enhance the activities of anti-oxidative enzymes and decrease the production of free radicals. The possible mechanisms of action of myricitrin are due to myricitrin-mediated inhibition of phosphorylation of the apoptosis signaling pathways-related kinase ERK, up-regulation of the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein, and down-regulation of the expression of the pro-apoptotic protein.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Caspase 9 ; metabolism ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Flavonoids ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; toxicity ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Protective Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDBudd-Chiari syndrome with hepatic vein occlusion (HVBCS) can induce severe portal hypertension and liver damage. We retrospectively analyzed hepatic CT features of HVBCS and evaluated the usefulness of triphasic enhancement of CT examinations and CT angiography (CTA) in its diagnosis.

METHODSTwenty-five cases with HVBCS, confirmed by digital subtraction angiography (DSA), received a triphasic enhancement CT scan within one week before DSA. The CTA images of the relevant blood vessels were reconstructed with maximum intensity projection, volume rendering and oblique reformat techniques.

RESULTSCompared with DSA, the detection rate of transverse CT and CTA images for abnormal hepatic vein were 81.7% (58/71) and 95.8% (68/71) (chi(2) = 7.044, P = 0.008), for membranous obstruction were 47.4% (9/19) and 84.2% (16/19) respectively (chi(2) = 5.729, P = 0.017), for segmental obstruction were 88.0% (22/25) and 100% (25/25) respectively (chi(2) = 1.418, P = 0.234). The detection rates for hepatic vein stenosis were 100% with each method. Diffuse hepatomegaly was found in all 6 cases in acute phase and 3 of 19 cases in chronic phase who had severe obstruction of three hepatic veins without patent intrahepatic collaterals. The other 16 cases in chronic phase had hepatatrophia to different extents related to the obstructed hepatic vein. All in acute phase and 15 in chronic phase presented typical patchy enhancement initially in caudate lobe and perihilar areas and enlarged with time delay. In all cases, parenchyma areas with atrophy, necrosis and congestion demonstrated lower and later enhancement. In all the parts, which had normal enhancement at least one patent outflow hepatic vein, accessory hepatic vein or collateral vessel was detected.

CONCLUSIONDynamic enhancement CT examination by multislice spiral CT not only could improve the diagnosis of HVBCS by CTA technique, but also could noninvasively provide anatomical information and reveal damage to the hepatic parenchyma.

Adult ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Budd-Chiari Syndrome ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and insulin resistance(IR) in non-diabetic normal-weight individuals and investigate how this association differs between male and femalesubjects.

METHODSFrom June to October, 2012, we performed a cross-sectional survey among 2142 community-based non-diabetic Chinese participants, who were divided into 4 groups according to the gender-specific quartiles of WHR. Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), calculated as the product of fasting plasma glucose (mmol/L) and fasting insulin (mU/L) divided by 22.5, was used as the indicator of insulin resistance. Logistic regression models were used to explore the association of WHR with IR in these subjects.

RESULTSIn the unadjusted model, WHR was significantly associated with IR in women (OR=6.60, 95%CI: 2.86-15.26, P<0.001); the association was still significant (OR=3.28, 95%CI: 1.34-8.04, P=0.009) after adjustment for the potential confounders including the history of hypertension, coronary heartdisease, current smoker, physical inactivity, and body mass index.

CONCLUSIONWHR is independently associated with IR in non-diabetic Chinese women with normal body weight.

OBJECTIVETo study the application value of normal sperm morphology on the outcomes of classic in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

METHODSThis study included 659 infertile couples admitted to our center for IVF-ET. Based on the percentage of morphologically normal sperm (MNS), we divided the patients into groups A (n = 112, MNS < 2%), B (n = 180, MNS > or = 2 - < 4%), C (n = 74, MNS > or = 4 - < 5%), and D (n = 293, MNS > or = 5%), and compared the rates of fertilization, normal fertilization, embryos obtained, biochemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, implantation, and live birth among different groups.

RESULTSThe mean fertilization rate was significantly higher in groups C (71.90%) and D (72.89%) than in A (57.97%) and B (63.29%) (P < 0.05), with no remarkable differences either between A and B (P > 0.05) or between C and D (P > 0.05). The normal fertilization rate was also significantly higher in group D (57.16%) than in A (46.52%) and B (50.89%) (both P < 0.05) as well as in C (54.67%) than in A (P < 0.05). The rate of embryos obtained, too, was markedly higher in group D (55.62%) than in B (45.75%) (P < 0.05), but none with remarkable difference from other groups (all P > 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences among the four groups in the rates of biochemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, implantation, abortion, and live birth (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe rate of MNS had some influence on IVF-ET, and 5% MNS exhibited a higher value than 4% MNS in predicting the outcomes of IVF.

Adult ; Embryo Implantation ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Retrospective Studies ; Spermatozoa ; cytology