OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of genistein on cell proliferation and apoptosis in human laryngeal carcinoma cell line Hep-2. METHOD: Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to measure the 50% inhibiting concentration (IC50) value of genistein; cell apoptosis rate and the distribution changes of cell cycle were determined with flow cytometry assay after treatment by gensitein. The morphological changes of tumor cells were evaluated by inverted phase contrast mircroscopy. RESULT: The IC50 of geniste responses to Hep-2 cells for 24 h was 23.64 µg/ml. The apoptotic rates of Hep-2 cells treated by genistein for 24 h were 22.40% ± 1. 65% (at 12 µg/ml genistein) and 30.64% ± 2.94% (at 24 µg/ml genistein) respectively, significantly statistical differences were foundbetween above threated groups and the control group (P < 0.05); the apoptotic rates of Hep-2 cells treated by genistein for 48 h were 30.55% ± 0.72%(at 12 µg/ml genistein) and 48.69% ± 1.06% (at 24 µg/ml genistein) respectively, significantly statistical differences were found between above threated groups and the control group (P < 0.05). When Hep-2 cells exposed to the same concentration of genistein for 24 h, 48 h respectively, the difference in apoptotic rate was statistically significant. CONCLUSION Genistein inhibited Hep-2 cells growth obviously, meanwhile it could induced apoptosis of Hep-2 cells, the apoptotic rate was increasing with the increase of the time and dose of genistein.
Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; Flow Cytometry ; Genistein ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; pathology

Chongqing Medical University selected some five-year clinical medical undergradu-ates to set up the pilot class which was called 'clinician excellent class' and implemented the 'organ-systems-based curriculum' (OSBC) integration teaching reform on them. The OSBC teaching of the cardiovascular system breaks the traditional pattern, and carries on the comprehensive reorganization to the curriculum contents and the teaching personnel, and emphasizes the collective preparation, the new teaching method and the reasonable evaluation system. Although OSBC teaching of the cardiovas-cular system has made some achievements, but there are still many deficiencies need to reflect on and improve.

BACKGROUNDEpisodic memory includes information about item memory and source memory. Many researches support the hypothesis that these two memory systems are implemented by different brain structures. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of item memory and source memory processing in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), and to further verify the hypothesis of dual-process model of source and item memory.

METHODSWe established a neuropsychological battery to measure the performance of item memory and source memory. Totally 35 PD individuals and 35 matched healthy controls (HC) were administrated with the battery. Item memory task consists of the learning and recognition of high-frequency national Chinese characters; source memory task consists of the learning and recognition of three modes (character, picture, and image) of objects.

RESULTSCompared with the controls, the idiopathic PD patients have been impaired source memory (PD vs. HC: 0.65 ± 0.06 vs. 0.72 ± 0.09, P = 0.001), but not impaired in item memory (PD vs. HC: 0.65 ± 0.07 vs. 0.67 ± 0.08, P = 0.240).

CONCLUSIONSThe present experiment provides evidence for dissociation between item and source memory in PD patients, thereby strengthening the claim that the item or source memory rely on different brain structures. PD patients show poor source memory, in which dopamine plays a critical role.

Aged ; Cognition ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Memory ; physiology ; Middle Aged ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Parkinson Disease ; physiopathology

【Objective】 To investigate the relationship of miRNA gene polymorphisms with blood pressure (BP) responses to the sodium and potassium diet intervention. 【Methods】 In 2004, we recruited 514 participants from 124 families in seven villages of Baoji, Shaanxi Province, China. All subjects were given a three-day normal diet, followed by a seven-day low-salt diet, a seven-day high-salt diet, and finally a seven-day high-salt and potassium supplementation. A total of 19 miRNA single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected for analysis. 【Results】 Throughout the sodium-potassium dietary intervention, the BP of the subjects fluctuated across all phases, showing a decrease during the low-salt period and an increase during the high-salt period, followed by a reduction in BP subsequent to potassium supplementation during the high-salt diet. MiR-210-3p SNP rs12364149 was significantly associated with systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) responses to low-salt diet. MiR-4638-3p SNP rs6601178 was significantly associated with SBP while miR-26b-3p SNP rs115254818 was significantly associated with MAP responses to low-salt intervention. In addition, miR-26b-3p SNP rs115254818 was significantly correlated with SBP, DBP and MAP responses to high-salt intervention. MiR-1307-5p SNPs rs11191676 and rs2292807 were associated with SBP and MAP responses to high-salt diet. MiR-4638-3p SNP rs6601178, miR-210-3p SNP rs12364149, miR-382-5p SNP rs4906032 and rs4143957 were significantly associated with SBP response to high-salt diet. In addition, miR-26b-3p SNP rs115254818 was significantly associated with SBP, DBP and MAP responses to potassium supplementation. MiR-1307-5p SNPs rs11191676, rs2292807, and miR-19a-3p SNP rs4284505 were significantly associated with SBP responses to high-salt and potassium supplementation. 【Conclusion】 miRNA gene polymorphisms are associated with BP response to sodium and potassium, suggesting that miRNA genes may be involved in the pathophysiological process of salt sensitivity and potassium sensitivity.

【Objective】 Corin, a transmembrane serine protease that can cleave atrial natriuretic peptide precursor (pro-ANP) into atrial natriuretic peptide with smaller bioactive molecules, participates in the pathophysiological process of hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship of Corin gene variation with blood pressure responses to sodium and potassium dietary interventions. 【Methods】 In 2004, we recruited 514 participants from 124 families in 7 villages of Baoji, Shaanxi Province, China. All the subjects received a 3-day normal diet, a 7-day low-salt diet, a 7-day high-salt diet, and finally a 7-day high-salt and potassium supplementation. Fifteen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of Corin gene were selected for final analysis. 【Results】 SNPs rs12509275 were significantly associated with diastolic blood pressure (DBP) response to low-salt diet, while rs3749584 was associated with pulse pressure (PP) response to low-salt diet.SNP rs3749584 and rs10517195 were significantly associated with PP response to high-salt diet. In addition,rs17654278 were significantly associated with systolic blood pressure (SBP) response to high-salt and potassium supplementation, rs2271037 was significantly correlated with DBP responses to high-salt and potassium supplementation, and rs4695253, rs12509275, rs2351783, rs36090894 were significantly associated with PP response to high-salt and potassium supplementation. 【Conclusion】 Corin gene polymorphisms were associated with blood pressure response to sodium and potassium, suggesting that Corin gene may be involved in pathophysiological process of salt sensitivity and potassium sensitivity.