Animals ; Cognition ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Heart ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Phytotherapy ; methods

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between the polymorphism of genotype of site-1296 in alpha2A-AR receptor gene and the susceptibility of vestibular function. METHOD: Ninety-four blood samples were collected from pilot cadets, consisting of susceptible and tolerance groups to vestibular function. Genomic DNA was isolated, and the coding region of alpha2A-AR receptor gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR products were analyzed by gene sequencing. Gene frequency was calculated, and, the coincidence between the polymorphism of alpha2A-AR receptor gene in the groups and Hardy-Weinberg balance was evaluated. The allele frequency of the two groups was compared by Chi square test. RESULT: G/C polymorphism was existed in Site-1296 of alpha2A-AR gene regulation zone, including GG, GC, CC. The express of GG Genotype in susceptible group exceeded that of the other group. There were significance differences in both genotype constituent ratio and alleles frequency of the two groups. CONCLUSION The polymorphism of genotype of site-1296 in alpha2A-AR receptor gene is possibly correlated with the susceptibility to vestibular function.
Adult ; Alleles ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 ; genetics ; Vestibular Function Tests ; Vestibule, Labyrinth ; physiology ; Young Adult

Objective:To investigate the whole genome characteristics of coxsackievirus A4 (CVA4) circulating in Qingdao city.Methods:Four CVA4 isolates circulating in Qingdao city during 2013 to 2015 were selected. Whole genome sequences of these strains were amplified by one-step reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis were performed using MEGA7.0 software package. Genetic recombination analysis was performed using similarity plots 3.5.1 software package.Results:Phylogenetic analysis showed that based on the sequences of the whole genome and P1, P2 and P3 regions, HS312/QD/CHN/2013 and HS605/QD/CHN/2014 strains together with the early domestic isolates belonged to the same clade, while FY218/QD/CHN/2015 strain and CV-A4/P1033/2013/China strain collected in Wenzhou in 2013 formed another clade in each phylogenetic tree. HS144/QD/CHN/2014 strain belonged to the same clade as HS312/QD/CHN/2014, HS605/QD/CHN/2014 and the early domestic CVA4 isolates in the phylogenetic tree based on the P1 region, but formed a separate clade in the phylogenetic trees based on the whole genome, P2 region and P3 region. Genetic recombination analysis revealed that there was genetic recombination between HS144/QD/CHN/2014 strain and the CVA2 strain of CV-A2/P373/2013/China isolated in mainland China in 2013 in the region of 2C-3D (5 081-7 301); FY218/QD/CHN/2015 and CV-A4/P1033/2013/China strains were highly homologous and recombination signal sequences were detected in the region of 2A-2B (3 821-4 161) between the two strains and the CVA2 strain of CV-A2/P373/2013/China.Conclusions:The CVA4 isolates circulating in Qingdao city presented obvious genetic diversity at the genome-wide level.

AIMTo observe the injured effect of homocysteine (HCY) on cardiomyocytes and investigate its signal transduction mechanism as well as the key regulatory link.

METHODSCardiomyocytes were isolated from neonatal Wistar rats. After incubation with HCY, the survival rate of cardiomyocytes was determined by trypan blue stained assay, while the apoptosis rate was measured by TUNEL and FCM. Western blot and EMSA were used to tested ERK2 protein phosphorylation and NF-kappaB active expression in cardiomyocytes, respectively.

RESULTSThe survival rate of cardiomyocytes treated with HCY was reduced significantly in dose- and time- dependent manner. It was found that 10(-3) mol/L HCY could increase the apoptosis rate of cardiomyocytes to the peak (7.65%) at 4 h stress. Several HCY levels revealed the strong inhibitory effect on ERK2 protein phosphorylation, especially, 10(-3) mol/L HCY decreased the level of active ERK2 expression to 3.04% of control at 4 h (P < 0.01). NF-kappaB activation was also inhibited significantly by several HCY level for different time in cardiomyocytes.

CONCLUSIONHCY plays an important role in injury of cardiomyocytes and apoptosis is a form of HCY-induced injury to cardiomyocytes. HCY can block ERK2 protein phosphorylation and NF-kappaB activation, which contribute to the injury of cardiomyocytes.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Homocysteine ; pharmacology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Signal Transduction

AIMTo probe the related proteins to stress-induced myocardium injury.

METHODSAfter establishment of a myocardium injury model induced by restraint stress in rats, myocardium proteins of restraint stress-treated and untreated rats were extracted, and the two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-DE) maps of the extracted proteins were established by using the immobilized pH gradient (IPG) and SDS-PAGE two-dimensional electrophoresis respectively. The alterative protein spots were analyzed by Image Master 3.01 software and identified with assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and database searching.

RESULTSProteomics analysis showed that there were 10 proteins were significantly influenced by restraint stress in rat myocardium. After stress, proteins, including cardiac myosin heavy chain, dihydrolipoamide succinyltransferase component of 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex, similar to dihydrolipoamide S-succinyltransferase, mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase, H (+)-transporting ATP synthase, albumin, myosin heavy chain and apolipoprotein A-I precursor showed increased expression. Mitochondrial aconitase and uncoupling protein UCP-3 showed decreased expression.

CONCLUSIONThese differential expressive proteins might be involved in stress-induced injury to myocardium.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Proteomics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Restraint, Physical ; Stress, Physiological

Objective To evaluate the impact of breathing motion on target volume and the factors influencing the set-up errors during tangential whole breast irradiation.Methods From Jan 2003 to Dec 2003,patients with early-stage breast cancer after breast conserving surgery,were selected to be eligible for the study.All patients were immobilized in treatment position by breast beard of Med-Tec 250.The motion of the breast treatment volume was observed on a fluoroscope in different directions under free breathing in 16 patients.The set-up errors in different dimensions during irradiation were measured by weekly portal films (PF) in comparison with digital reconstructed radiographs (DRR) in 11 patients.Results The central lung distance (CLD) variation during free breathing was (2.1?1.2) mm which is greater than the motion to- wards the other directions.By comparing the PF and DRR,the systemic error,random error and overall er- ror in the outer,inner and cranio-caudal directions was 1.9,1.6,2.5 and 2.4,1.7,3.1 and 2.6,2.3, 3.5 mm,respectively.In addition,the discrepancy of the treatment position in cranio-caudal direction and breast volume was most obvious at the beginning 2 weeks with the peak of breast volume at the second week. It decreased gradually during the following 3 weeks.Conclusions This study suggests that the mean value of the motion of the breast target volume during one breathing cycle is less than 2 mm.The set-up errors dur- ing irradiation is the greatest in cranio-caudal direction,suggesting that the fixing precision of the breast board should be further improved.The set-up error during irradiation are most obvious at the beginning two weeks,with the peak of the breast volume in the second week.

Recent studies indicated that interleukin (IL)-17, growth-related oncogene (GRO)-α and IL-8 play an important role in the pathogenesis of nasal polyps. However, the effects of the increased amount of IL-17 and the production of GRO-α and IL-8 in human nasal polyp fibroblasts are not completely understood. This study aimed to determine the effects of the increased IL-17 on the changes of GRO-α and IL-8 expression in human nasal polyp fibroblasts and further investigate the mechanism of neutrophil infiltration in nasal polyps. Nasal polyp fibroblasts were isolated from six cases of human nasal polyps, and the cells were stimulated with five different concentrations of IL-17. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression of GRO-α and IL-8. The mRNA of GRO-α and IL-8 was expressed in unstimulated controls and remarkably increased by stimulation with IL-17. Moreover, the levels of GRO-α and IL-8 produced by fibroblasts were increased gradually with the increases in IL-17 concentrations. The present study showed that nasal fibroblasts can produce GRO-α and IL-8, and their production is remarkably enhanced by IL-17 stimulation, thereby clarifying the mechanism of the IL-17 mediated neutrophil infiltration in nasal polyps. These findings might provide a rationale for using IL-17 inhibitors as a treatment for nasal inflammatory diseases such as nasal polyps.

Kidney injury and decreased chemosensitivity of tumor cells are obstacles with cisplatin (CDDP) chemotherapy. Down-regulation of the organic cation transporter 2 (OCT2) and multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2) is a key means to alleviate CDDP-induced kidney injury and increase chemosensitivity. Astragaloside IV (AS IV) is obtained from the well-known traditional Chinese herb Astragalus membranaceus. This study explored the role of AS IV in preventing kidney injury and enhancing the antitumor effect of CDDP by suppressing OCT2 expression in kidney and MRP2 in tumors. This project was reviewed and approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of the First Hospital of Jilin University. The effects of AS IV on CDDP inhibition of tumor growth and promotion of apoptosis were assessed in Lewis lung tumor (LLC)-bearing mice by H&E and TUNEL staining. Kidney injury was assessed by serum biochemical parameters and H&E staining. We used Western blotting and immunohistochemistry assays to detect OCT2 and MRP2 expression in kidney and tumor. The concentration of CDDP in kidney and tumor was measured by HPLC-MS/MS. AS IV enhanced CDDP chemosensitivity by increasing tumor cell apoptosis and slowing tumor growth, and decreased kidney injury as evidenced by lower blood creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Co-administration of AS IV suppressed MRP2 overexpression induced by CDDP in tumor tissues and may be an important mechanism for enhancing CDDP chemosensitivity. Moreover, AS IV reduced CDDP-induced kidney injury in mice along with suppression of OCT2 expression in kidney. The concentration of CDDP was increased in tumor but decreased in kidney. In total, AS IV not only enhanced the antitumor effect of CDDP by suppressing MRP2 expression in tumor cells, but also decreased kidney injury induced by CDDP. The results provide new insight into the combined use of a chemotherapy drug and natural ingredients to treat cancer.

OBJECTIVETo explore whether X-irradiation can enhance the functional and structural recovery of the injured spinal cord of rats.

METHODSSeventy Sprague-Dawley rats received spinal cord injury by clip compression at the T2 level were randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group received X-irradiation at 14 days after injury, the control group did not receive X-irradiation. The functional tests were performed at day 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 after irradiation including open field movement, inclined plane and pain withdrawal test. All injured rats were sacrificed at 43 days after injury and the injured spinal cords were taken out for histological tests.

RESULTSSixty-two rats met the experimental requirements among 70 injured rats, 32 rats in experimental group and 30 rats in control group. Statistically significant difference was achieved between two groups in open field movement and inclined plane (P < 0.01), but not for the pain withdrawal test. The edema and necrosis area of injured spinal cords of experimental group were less than those in control group, and the number of axons of experimental group were more than those in control group.

CONCLUSIONSX-irradiation can enhance the functional recovery by improving and restoring structural integrity of the injured spinal cord.

Animals ; Axons ; pathology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recovery of Function ; Spinal Cord ; pathology ; physiopathology ; radiation effects ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; pathology ; physiopathology ; radiotherapy

OBJECTIVETo explore the genesis of the oval cells in hepatic tissue and relationship between the hepatic oval cells and the primary hepatocarcinoma.

METHODSSixty SD rats were divided into normal group (20 cases) and experimental group (40 cases). C-kit and PCNA were continuously detected by immunohistochemistry and the liver pathologic changes were observed by optical microscope in the different period.

RESULTSThe hepatical surface was lubricous and the histological morpha was normal in the normal group, and the positive cells of C-kit and PCNA were found on occasion. In the experimental group, the oval cells which express C-kit and PCNA were firstly discovered in the periportal regions in the second weeks, and these cells proliferate in turn and rangely in the bile duct epithelium. With the hepatic injury becoming more serious, the oval cells extended into the centrilobular regions from periportal regions. When HCC occurred, the oval cells were found in the cancer nodule and in the margin. In this period, the most of positive cells of C-kit still located in the periportal regions, while the PCNA cells were found in and out of the cancer nodule.

CONCLUSIONSThe oval cells originate from bile duct of the periportal regions. The oval cells play an important role in the process of hepatocarcinogenesis.

Animals ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver ; chemistry ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; analysis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stem Cells ; chemistry ; pathology