OBJECTIVETo determine the role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase--protein kinase B (PI3K-Akt) signaling pathway in the pro- tective effect of aerobic endurance training on the skeletal muscular mitochondria.

METHODSThirty-six rats were randomly divided into three groups( n = 12): control group, aerobic endurance training group and one-time exhaustive group. After the intervention, the quadriceps femoris muscle sample was obtained to detect the mitochondrial membrane potential( MMP), the activities of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and cy- tochrome coxidase (COX), and the protein levels of p-PI3K and p-Akt.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the levels of mitochondrial membrane potential, the activities of succinate dehydrogenase and cytochrome coxidase, and the protein levels of p-PI3K and p-Akt were all significantly decreased in the one-time exhaustive group (P < 0.05). However, all the above was partially reversed in the endurance training group (P < 0.05), and there was no obvious difference with the control group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAerobic endurance training plays an important role in the protective effect on the skeletal muscular mitochondria, the mechanism may be related to activation PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.

Animals ; Electron Transport Complex IV ; metabolism ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; Mitochondria ; physiology ; Muscle, Skeletal ; physiology ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; metabolism ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Rats ; Signal Transduction ; Succinate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the possible damaging effect of infrasound on ultrastructure and permeability of rats′ blood retinal barrier (BRB). Methods Twenty mature male rats, averagely divided into 5 groups according to the exposure duration, were exposed to infrasound at a 16 Hz frequency and 130 dB sound pressure level in a pressure chamber for 2 hours per day. After exposed for 0, 1 day, 7, 14, and 21 days respectively, ultrastructural changes of rats′ BRB were observed through injection of lanthanum (La) nitrate solution, which was used as a tracer to demonstrate the breakdown of the BRB. Results With prolonging the duration of infrasound exposure, BRB structure lesion, chondriosome tumefaction, endoplasmic reticulum expandedness, membrane disc damage, retinal pigment epithelial cells distortion and putrescence, karyotheca expandedness, and La leakage on each level of retina aggravated gradually. Conclusion Infrasound may cause the breakdown of BRB, and the lesions aggravated with prolonged infrasound exposure time.

Objective To detect the impact of reactive oxygen species ( ROS) on mitochondrial morphology and distri-bution during mitosis.Methods A viral vector in which the fluorescence gene was specifically under the control of mito-chondrial promoter was constructed and confirmed through DNA sequencing and Western blotting.After transfecting HeLa s3 cell with packaged virus, the HeLa s3-COX4tp-EGFP cell line stably expressing the mitochondrial fluorescence signal was obtained.With immunofluorescent staining, the impact of ROS on the morphology and distribution of mitochondria dur-ing mitosis was inspected.Result The cell line constantly expressing mitochondrial fluorescence signals was successfully constructed.Meanwhile,it was found that H2 O2 treatment could significantly change the morphology and distribution of mi-tochondria during mitosis by confocal microscopy.Conclusion Our study demonstrates that ROS can affect the morphology and distribution of mitochondria during mitosis.This research help study the relationship between the mitochondrial function and the regulation of mitosis in the future.

Objective To investigate the perioperative characteristics and changing trends of gastric electrical activity of thoracic (tube) stomach in patients with esophageal cancer.Methods The clinical data of 30 patients with esophageal cancer who were admitted to the Sichuan Cancer Hospital between March 2013 and November 2013 were prospectively analyzed.All the eligible patients underwent esophageal cancer resection by Ivor-Lewis according to the inclusion criteria.The electrogastrograms of patients were recorded at preoperative day 1 and at postoperative day 3,7, 11 and 30.The electrogastrograms of patients at preoperative day 1 were used as the control.The parameters of electrogastrogram were analyzed including main frequency, coefficient of dominant frequency instablility, main power, postprandial/preprandial power ratio, percentage of normal gastric slow wave,percentage of slow gastric slow wave and percentage of tachycardia gastric slow wave.Measurement data with normal distritution were presented as x ± s, and measurement data with skew distritution were presented as M (Qn).The postoperative time and pre-and post-prandial electrogastrograms were compared by the repeated measures two-way ANOVA.The comparison between groups were evaluated with the LSD test and analysis of variance.Results Thirty patients were screened for eligibility with a mean age of 62 years (range, 49-75 years), including 26 males and 4 females.The pre-and post-prandial main frequencies were changed from 2.83 ± 0.13 and 3.01 ± 0.17 before operation to 2.66 ± 0.10 and 2.82 ± 0.10 at postoperative day 30 with coherent changing trend.The main frequencies at postoperative each time points were significantly lower than those before operation while postprandial above indicators were higher than preprandial those, showing a significant increasing trend with the passage of postoperative time (F =285.62, P ＜ 0.05).There was no interaction between the time and meal (F =0.22, P ＞ 0.05).The pre-and post-prandial coefficients of dominant frequency instablility were changed from 0.133 ±0.031 and 0.045 ±0.019 before operation to 0.150 ±0.043 and 0.115 ±0.010 at postoperative day 30 with coherent changing trend, and coefficients of dominant frequency instablility at postoperative each time points were significantly higher than those before operation while postprandial above indicators were lower than preprandial those, showing a significant reducing trend with the passage of postoperative time (F =16.51, P ＜ 0.05).The pre-and post-prandial main powers were changed from (85 ± 15) μV and (149 ± 23) μV before operation to (74 ± 9) μμV and (98 ± 10) μV at postoperative day 30, and main powers at postoperative each time points were significantly lower than those before operation, showing a significant increasing trend with the passage of postoperative time (F =48.45, P ＜ 0.05).There was interaction between the time and meal (F =7.39, P ＜ 0.05).The postprandial/preprandial power ratio was changed from 3.00 ± 0.35 before operation to 2.52 ± 0.25 at postoperative day 30, and postprandial/preprandial power ratios at postoperative each time points were significantly lower than those before operation, showing a significant increasing trend with the passage of postoperative time (F =26.66, P ＜ 0.05).The pre-and post-prandial percentages of normal gastric slow wave were changed from 81％ ± 6％ and 94％ ± 5％ before operation to 57％ ± 5％ and 70％ ± 5％ at postoperative day 30 with coherent changing trend, and percentages of normal gastric slow wave at postoperative each time points were significantly lower than those before operation while postprandial above indicators was lower than preprandial those, showing a significant increasing trend with the passage of postoperative time (F =49.36,P ＜0.05).There was no interaction between the time and meal (F =0.24, P ＞ 0.05).The pre-and postprandial percentages of slow gastric slow wave were changed from 17％ ± 7％ and 4％ ± 4％ before operation to 32％±4％ and 21％±4％ at postoperative day 30 with coherent changing trend, and percentages of slow gastric slow wave at postoperative each time points were significantly higher than those before operation while preprandial above indicators were higher than postprandial those, showing a significant reducing trend with the passage of postoperative time (F =46.54, P ＜ 0.05).There was interaction between the time and meal (F =18.12, P ＜ 0.05).The pre-and post-prandial tachycardia gastric slow wave percentages were changed from 1.55％ (1.04％,2.21％) and 1.95％ (1.74％, 4.22％) before operation to 8.97％ (5.76％, 12.02％) and 12.41％ (8.04％,16.85％) at postoperative day 30 without completely coherent changing trend, and percentages of tachycardia gastric slow wave at postoperative each time points were significantly higher than those before operation while postprandial above indicators were higher than preprandial those, showing a significant difference between before operation and postoperative day 3 (Z =11.47, 13.28, P ＜ 0.05) and no significant difference among the postoperative day 7, 11, 30 (Z =1.88, 0.31, 0.03, P ＞ 0.05).There was no interaction between the time and meal (F=0.85, P＜0.05).Conclusions After the esophagectomy, gastric electrical activity of thoracic (tube) stomach is also retained before and after the meal.There are significant differences among the main frequency, main power, coefficients of dominant frequency instablility, postprandial/preprandial power ratio,percentage of normal gastric slow wave, percentage of slow gastric slow wave, percentage of tachycardia gastric slow wave of thoracis (tube) stomach, they have changed dynamically in the perioperative period.

Objective To investigate the effect of long-term high-fat diet on insulin resistance and the morphology and function of islets in rats and the relationship between them.Methods Thirty normal male Wistar rats (8 weeks old) were divided into two groups and fed either with normal chow (NC,n=15),or high-caloric and high-fat diet (HF,n=15).Insulin resistance was assessed by euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp technique. The insulin secretory function of islets was evaluated by intravenous insulin releasing test.Morphological and quantitative analysis of pancreatic tissues was performed by double-label insulin and glucagon immunohistochemistry.Proinsulin mRNA was detected by RT-PCR.Results The glucose infusion rate (GIR) in HF rats was significandy lower than that in NC rats [(5.83?0.79)mg?kg~(-1)?min~(-1) vs (7.60?1.29)mg?kg~(-1)?min~(-1),P＜0.05].Immunohistochemistry showed that HF rats had larger islet size [(15168?1327)?m~2 vs (6264?1840)?m~2,P＜0.01] and significantly reduced insulin relative concentration of?cells[(-5.15?0.03) vs (-4.81?0.17),P＜0.01],as compared with NC rats.The islet relative?cell volume was decreased signifieandy (P＜0.01),whereas the relative?cell volume was increased (P＜0.01).So the ratio of?to?were lower in HF [(4.68?1.01) vs (11.84?3.82),P＜0.05].The peak of insulin secretion in intravenous insulin releasing test in HF was at 10 min,whereas that in NC rats was at 5 min.AUC (area under curve) 10-60 rain of insulin in HF was higher than that in NC rats [(152.51?34.53)mIU?L~(-1)?min~(-1) vs (86.40?21.21) mIU?L~(-1)?min~(-1),P＜0.01].There was no difference in proinsulin mRNA levels between two groups. Conclusion Long-term high-caloric and high-fat diet results in early impairment of islet morphology and function, as well as significant insulin resistance,suggesting that the compensation ability of islets has already been impaired in the early course of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVEAdrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare but highly malignant tumor, and its diagnosis is mostly delayed and prognosis is poor. We report estrogen receptor (ER) expression in this tumor and our clinical experiences with 17 ACC cases.

METHODSThe data of the 17 patients (9 females and 8 males, age range from 16 to 69 years, mean age of 42.6 years) with ACC were reviewed, and symptoms, diagnostic procedures, treatment, and results of follow-up were evaluated. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect ER expression in tumor samples from the 17 patients.

RESULTSAt the time of diagnosis, 4 tumors were classified as Stage I, 4 as Stage II, 3 as Stage III, and 6 as Stage IV. Eight patients demonstrated positive nuclear immunostaining of ER. The prognosis of patients with ER positive was significantly better (P<0.05) than that of patients with ER negative, with 1- and 5-year survival rates at 86% and 60% for ER-positive patients, and 38% and 0% for ER-negative patients, respectively.

CONCLUSIONER-positivity may be one of the factors associated with a worse prognosis of ACC.

Adolescent ; Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; mortality ; Adrenocortical Carcinoma ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; mortality ; Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; analysis ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; analysis ; Receptors, Estrogen ; analysis ; Risk Assessment ; methods ; Risk Factors ; Survival Analysis ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult

The aim of this study was to investigate how the killer immune globulin-like inhibition receptor (KIR) in match with HLA-Cw impacts on NK cell activity. Mononuclear cells were isolated in 20 ml peripheral blood from 27 healthy persons by Ficoll-Hypaque and purified by NK cell isolation kit. Target cells were mononuclear cells isolated from bone marrow of 30 de novo AML patients. The KIR expression were detected by flow cytometry with antibodies against CD158a, CD158b. The 2 ml of peripheral blood from healthy persons and AML patients were collected, the DNA was extracted by using PROTRANS method, the HLA-Cw and KIR gene were detected by PCR-SSP typing with sequence specific primers. The NK cell cytotoxicity against AML cells was determined by MTT after combination of KIR with HLA-Cw gene. The results indicated that the purity of NK cells was (90.8 +/- 6.08)%. The less the KIR/HLA-Cw matched, the more activity was shown in NK cells. When no match of NK cell/target cell (KIR/HLA-Cw) there was, the cytotoxicity was (50.66 +/- 8.40)%, 1 or 2 matches showed cytotoxicity of (38.28 +/- 6.71)% and (19.74 +/- 4.15)% (p < 0.001). Expression level of KIRs on NK cells also was related with cytotoxicity level (p < 0.001). It is concluded that the interaction between inhibitory KIR and HLA ligands, and also expression level of KIRs on NK cells both impact significantly on NK cell function, that the less match of KIR/HLA-Cw, and the less expression of KIRs on NK cells result in the stronger NK cell cytotoxicity.
Adult ; Female ; Genotype ; HLA-C Antigens ; genetics ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; metabolism ; Male ; Receptors, KIR ; genetics

The study was aimed to investigate the effect of quercetin, flavonoid molecules on reversing leukemia multidrug resistance and its mechanism. K562/A cells were cultured in vitro with different concentrations of quercetin. Cell growth inhibition and adriamycin (ADR) sensitivity were detected by MTT method. Intracellular ADR concentration was determined by flow cytometry. Cell apoptosis was assayed by Annexin V/PI staining method. The expressions of drug transporter and apoptosis related genes were measured by real-time PCR array. The results indicated that quercetin inhibited the proliferation of K562 and K562/A in 5-160 µmol/L and with dose-dependent manner. Quercetin increased the sensitivity of K562/A cells to ADR in a low toxicity concentration. Flow cytometry showed that the quercetin increased the accumulation of ADR in K562/A cells when cells were co-cultured with 5 µmol/L ADR for 2 hours. Quercetin could induce the apoptosis of K562 and K562/A cells with dose dependent manner. Furthermore, some drug transport related genes such as ATP-binding cassette (ABC) and solute carrier (SLC) and some apoptosis-related genes such as BCL-2, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) families were down-regulated by quercetin. It is concluded that quercetin reverses MDR of leukemic cells by multiple mechanisms and the reversing effect is positively related to drug concentration.
Drug Resistance, Multiple ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Quercetin ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical efficacy in the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR) of lung qi deficiency and cold syndrome between Jin's three-needle therapy and western medication.

METHODSSixty-six patients were randomized into an acupuncture group and a western medication group, 33 cases in each one. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied at three-nose points [Yingxiang (LI 20), Shangyingxiang (EX-HN 8) and Yintang (GV 29); Cuanzhu (BL 2) was added for frontal headache] and three-back points [Dazhu (BL 11), Fengmen (BL 12) and Feishu (BL 13)], once every day. Ten treatments made one session. Two sessions of treatment were required. In the western medication group, desloratadine oral suspension was prescribed, 5 mg each time, once a day, for 20 days. The scores of the symptoms and physical signs in AR patients as well as the clinical efficacy were observed between the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 93.9% (31/33) in the acupuncture group, which was better than 72.7% (24/33) in the western medication group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the scores of AR symptoms and physical signs as well as the total score were all reduced compared with those before treatment in the two groups (all P < 0.01). The score of every item in the acupuncture group was lower than that in the western medication group after treatment (score of symptoms: 4.70 +/- 2.07 vs 6.55 +/- 2. 69, score of physical signs: 0.85 +/- 0.67 vs 1.45 +/- +0.62, total score: 5.36 +/- 2.70 vs 8.00 +/- 2.91, all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONJin's three-needle therapy achieves superior efficacy on AR of lung-qi deficiency and cold syndrome, which is better than desloratadine oral suspension.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Needles ; Qi ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo determine the classification of masticatory myospasm by analyzing characteristics of clinical appearances.

METHODSThirty-six cases of masticatory myospasm from 2000 to 2010 were included. The clinical data of these patients were analyzed, including patient information, patient history, clinical characteristics, severity and the frequency of myospasmodic movement, electromyogram (EMG), and the efficacy of botulinum toxin injection treatment.

RESULTSThere were 11 males and 25 females, aged from 15 to 71. According to the clinical manifestation and EMG findings, patients could be divided into two groups: 18 cases were classified as jaw closing type which involved masseter and/or temporalis muscles presenting as trismus and acute pain, the other 18 cases were jaw opening type which involved lateral pterygoid muscles complaining difficulty in jaw closing and teeth clenching. The jaw closing type was often seen in patients of 20 to 50 years old, the jaw opening was frequently seen in patients over 50 years old. Jaw closing type was attacked intermittently and unilaterally, but jaw opening was often attacked continually and bilaterally. The rating scale of the severity of spasmodic movement was not different between the two types, but the frequency of spasmodic attack was much higher for jaw opening type (P < 0.05). The EMG of jaw closing type was classified into persistent, rhythmic and irregular type. The EMG of jaw opening type was classified into spontaneous and exercise-induced type. Twelve cases were treated by botulinum toxin injection that could significantly relieve symptoms.

CONCLUSIONSMasticatory myospasm can be classified into jaw closing and jaw opening types. Jaw closing type involves masseter and/or temporalis muscles and jaw opening type involves lateral pterygoid muscles. Botulinum toxin injection was the most effective therapy for the masticatory myospasm.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Botulinum Toxins, Type A ; therapeutic use ; Electromyography ; Female ; Humans ; Jaw ; physiopathology ; Male ; Masseter Muscle ; physiopathology ; Masticatory Muscles ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Pterygoid Muscles ; physiopathology ; Spasm ; classification ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Temporal Muscle ; physiopathology ; Young Adult