Objective: Our aim was to investigate the effects of phenylephrine (PH) and angiotensin Ⅱ (AT) on reperfusion arrhythmias in the isolated rat heart and its mechanism. Methods: Isolated rat hearts were subjected to dual coronary perfusion. After 15 minutes of aerobic perfusion of both coronary beds, flow to the left coronary bed infused selectively into that bed. Ventricular tachycardia (VT) and fibrillation (VF) were analyzed 5 minutes after reperfusion. Results: The reperfusion arrhythmias was significantly exacerbated by PH; however, AT alone did not have the same effect. The selective Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) inhibitor, HOE642, which was infused along with PH, reversed the proarrhythmic effects of PH. The specific protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor GF109203X (GF) infused along with PH can only partially reverse the proarrhythmic effect of PH. The AT2 receptor inhibitor PD123319 (PD) alone increased the incidence of reperfusion-induced arrhythmias. However, no statistical significance showed. Combination of PD and AT significantly increased the incidence of reperfusion-induced arrhythmias. Conclusion: Activation of α1-adrenoceptor can exacerbate reperfusion-induced arrhythmias. The AT1 receptor activated by AT can exacerbate reperfusion-induced arrhythmias. The activation of AT2 receptor may reduce reperfusion-induced arrhythmias.

12E7 Antigen ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Brain Neoplasms ; secondary ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; metabolism ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Extremities ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Infant ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Male ; Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive ; metabolism ; pathology ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; metabolism ; Repressor Proteins ; metabolism ; Sarcoma, Ewing ; metabolism ; pathology ; Sarcoma, Synovial ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Vimentin ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEChimeric human/bovine immunodeficiency virus (HBIV) cDNA was constructed by replacing HIV tat and LTR with bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV) tat and LTR to study the activity of BIV tat and LTR in the chimerae.

METHODSThe target fragments of BIV tat, LTR and HIV gag, pol, env were respectively amplified by using PCR and sequentially inserted into pBluescript SK(+) vector. The chimeric clone was transfected into human MT4 cells. The transcript and gene expression of the HBIV chimeric virus were detected by using RT-PCR and a reverse transcriptase assay, respectively.

RESULTSBIV tat mRNA and HIV gag mRNA were detected. The reverse transcriptase activity of the chimeric virus was analyzed in the fluctuation curve.

CONCLUSIONSIn chimeric HBIV cDNA transfected MT?4 cells, BIV tat and HIV gag were transcripted. The reverse transcriptase of the chimeric virus had biological activity. These data suggest that in MT4 cells, BIV LTR had promoter activity and BIV tat had the function of transactivation in the chimeric virus. The study of the chimeric virus with infectivity is in progress.

AIDS Vaccines ; Animals ; Cattle ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; DNA, Viral ; genetics ; Genes, gag ; genetics ; Genes, pol ; genetics ; Genes, tat ; genetics ; HIV-1 ; genetics ; Humans ; Immunodeficiency Virus, Bovine ; genetics ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic ; Transcriptional Activation ; Transfection ; Virus Replication

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of miR-23a and metastasis suppressor 1 (MTSS1) and their clinical significance in colon carcinoma.

METHODSA total of 92 cases of colon carcinomas were collected with both the tumor and paired normal tissue samples for the study. The miR-23a targeting MTSS1 was evaluated by luciferase reporter vector. Cell invasion potential was evaluated by trans-well invasion assay. In-situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were used to detect miR-23a and MTSS1 expression.

RESULTSMiR-23a downregulated the expression of MTSS protein and enhanced the invasiveness of colon carcinoma. The expression rates of miR-23a and MTSS1 were 87.0% (80/92) and 17.4% (16/92) in colon carcinoma cases, respectively (P < 0.01). The up-regulation of miR-23a expression was associated with an advanced clinical stage (P = 0.029) and depth of invasion (P = 0.000). The expression of miR-23a was higher in the tumors with lymph node metastasis than those without (P = 0.041). Down-regulation of MTSS1 expression was associated with an advanced clinical stage (P = 0.027) and depth of invasion (P = 0.017). The expression of MTSS1 was lower in the tumors with lymph node metastasis than those without (P = 0.009). The expression of miR-23a had significantly negative correlation with that of MTSS1 (r = -0.594, P = 0.013).

CONCLUSIONSMiR-23a expression promotes colon carcinoma cell growth, invasion and metastasis through inhibition of MTSS gene. Both the low expression of MTSS1 and high expression of miR-23a may serve as important biological markers for the malignant phenotypes of colon cancer, such as invasion and metastasis.

Adult ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Colonic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; metabolism ; Microfilament Proteins ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Proteins ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Staging

OBJECTIVETo investigate the genotypic profiles of Candida albicans isolates from erosive oral lichen planus (OLP) and nonerosive OLP, and then to compare the results with their virulence attributes.

METHODSA total of 112 isolates from healthy control (26), erosive OLP (62) and nonerosive OLP (24) were screened for genotypic profiles by using the randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assay. In addition, adhesion to buccal epithelial cells assay and phospholipase activity assay were used to evaluate the virulence attributes of these isolates.

RESULTSRAPD analyses with some random primer revealed 4 different genotypes among all isolates, and there was significant difference in the geneotypic constitution between every two groups. Statistically, in healthy group the major type was B and D, however, the major type in erosive OLP was A and C, and the major type in nonerosive OLP was A and D. The isolates with genotype A had the strongest adherence among 4 genotypes. The phospholipase activity of the isolates with genotype A and C were higher than that with genotype B and D.

CONCLUSIONSSome Candida albicans isolates with special genotypic profiles and virulence attributes may contribute to the development and progression of OLP.

Adhesiveness ; Candida albicans ; classification ; enzymology ; physiology ; Genotype ; Humans ; Lichen Planus, Oral ; microbiology ; Phospholipases ; metabolism ; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique

OBJECTIVETo investigate the adhesion to buccal epithelial cells of Candida albicans isolates from erosive oral lichen planus (OLP) and nonerosive OLP, and its role in the development of OLP.

METHODSA total of 112 isolates, comprising healthy control (26), erosive OLP (62) and nonerosive OLP (24), were screened for the adhesion by using buccal epithelial cell (BEC) assay.

RESULTSThe adhesion to buccal epithelial cells of the isolates from erosive OLP group was stronger than that of those from healthy control.

CONCLUSIONCandida albicans, some isolates with a special virulence attribute may contribute to the occurrence and progression of erosive OLP.

Candida albicans ; Cell Adhesion ; Epithelial Cells ; Humans ; Lichen Planus, Oral

OBJECTIVETo report the outcome of surgical treatment of tarsometatarsal joint complex injury.

METHODSIn the period from January 2003 to December 2008, 167 cases of closed tarsometatarsal joint injury were treated, including 35 cases of tarsometatarsal joint complex injury. Diagnosis was made by X-ray examination or/and CT scan. Either close or open reduction was performed and followed by internal fixation with screw or/and plate. X-ray examination was done in the regular follow-up and functional evaluation was carried out by AOFAS midfoot score system.

RESULTSIn this series 135 cases got a mean follow-up of 48 months, ranging from 12 to 75 months. Therein the 26 cases of tarsometatarsal joint complex injury had a mean postoperative AOFAS midfoot score of 67 (ranging from 48 to 75), and secondary post-traumatic arthritis in 16 cases, 12 of which had arthrodesis as a result of severe pain. The 109 cases of pure tarsometatarsal joint injury had a mean postoperative AOFAS midfoot score of 82 (ranging from 70 to 95), and secondary post-traumatic arthritis in 17 cases, only 5 of which had arthrodesis finally. Those cases of pure tarsometatarsal joint injury treated by close reduction and internal fixation with percutaneous screw got a mean postoperative AOFAS midfoot score of 87 (ranging from 82 to 95), demonstrating a significant deference (t = 2.651, P < 0.05) when compared with that of metatarsal joint complex injury.

CONCLUSIONThe tarsometatarsal joint complex injury has a prognosis inferior to that of the pure tarsometatarsal joint injury, and the keys to its successful treatment are appropriate diagnosis, anatomical reduction and secure fixation of all the components of the complex.

Follow-Up Studies ; Foot Injuries ; surgery ; Foot Joints ; injuries ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To observe the expression of autophagy-related genes and proteins in the smooth bladder muscle of rats after spinal cord injury (SPI).Methods Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly and evenly divided into a model group and a control group.The model group had SPI induced using the modified Allen's method,while the control group was only given laminectomy.Six hours after the operation,the Basso Beattle Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor rating scale was used to evaluate the rats' hindlimb locomotor function.Nissl staining was used to observe the morphological changes in their spinal cords,while Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining were employed to assess the expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) and protein 62 (P62).The expression of autography gene Beclin1 mRNA was determined using a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Results The average BBB score in the model group was significantly lower than in the control group.After Nissl's staining,a decreased number of neurons and Nissl bodies was observed.Western blotting showed that the expression of LC3-Ⅱ had increased significantly and that of P62 had decreased significantly in the model group compared with the control group.The immunofluorescence staining showed LC3 and P62 dots in the bladders' smooth muscle cells.RT-PCR detected significantly higher LC3 and Beclinl mRNA levels in the model group than in the control group;in contrast the average P62 mRNA level was significantly lower.Conclusions Autophagy was activated in rats' bladder muscles after SPI.That may be related to the pathogenesis of a neurogenic bladder after spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether there is gender difference in the incidence and severity of tinnitus in medical staff (including doctors, nurses, and technicians). METHOD: A total of 354 people (all are medial stuff from hospitals in Guangzhou) were invited to be involved in the investigation and granted a self-reported questionnaire of tinnitus (designed by the authors; based on the scoring method of severity of tinnitus (Liu et al.). Statistical analysis on the data was performed using SPSS Statistics 17.0. RESULT: (1) The incidence of tinnitus of the sample was 43.22%, with that in female higher than in male (P < 0.05), and that in nurses higher than in doctors or technicians (P < 0.01). (2) The effect of working position factor on the incidence of prolonged tinnitus was significant (P < 0.01). However, no statistically significant gender difference was detected in the incidence of prolonged tinnitus. (3) There was no statistically significant difference of tinnitus severity scores between different genders or among different positions (P > 0.05). (4) There was statistically significant difference among the four sub-items of the questionnaire (P < 0.01), with the mean score of "occurred environment" higher than "the impact on sleeping", "the impact on everyday life", and "the impact on emotion". CONCLUSION (1) The effort-reward imbalance might be the key factor of the gender difference in the incidence of tinnitus. (2) For patients of tinnitus, improving the knowledge about their symptoms as well as levels of psychological resilience would be helpful to relieve the mental impairment of tinnitus.
Adult ; Emotions ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Medical Staff ; Middle Aged ; Sex Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tinnitus ; epidemiology ; psychology

Objective To assess the heritability of serum uric acid in adult,using the classic twin design.Methods Adult Twins were recruited from the Qingdao Twin Registry.Uric acid,height,weight were measured.Zygosity in all the same-sex twin pairs was determined by 16 polymorphic markers.Heritability was assessed by structural equation models,with age,gender and body mass index(BMI) included as covariates.Results In total,687 twin pairs were available for data analyses,including 420 pairs of monozygotic and 267 pairs of dizygotic twins.After logarithm transformed,uric acid in males ( 17.47±1.91 ) was significantly higher than in females ( 15.22±1.70,P＜0.0001 ).After adjustment on age,sex and BMI,intraclass correlations for uric acid were 0.70 for monozygotic twins and 0.40 for dizygotic twins.The sex-limitation AE model,combining additive genetic and unique environmental factors,could produce the best fit for the data.Heritability estimate for uric acid was 70.5% (95% CI:65.9-74.6),with the proportion of unique environmental effects as 29.5%(95%CI:25.4-34.2).Conclusion Additive genetic effects appeared to be the major contributor to the variation of uric acid in this twins sample being studied.