Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Health ; statistics & numerical data ; Regression Analysis ; Risk Factors ; Stress, Psychological ; psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Workplace ; psychology

The effect of agmatine (Agm) on the carotid baroreceptor activity was examined in 24 anesthetized rats with perfused isolated carotid sinus by recording sinus nerve afferent discharges. The results are as follows. (1) By perfusing with 1 mmol/L Agm, the functional curve for the intrasinus pressure (ISP)integral of sinus nerve activiy (ISNA) relation was shifted to the right and downward with decreases in peak slope (PS) and peak integral value of carotid sinus afferent discharge (PIV). By perfusing with high concentrations of Agm (5 and 10 mmol/L), the curves were shifted to the right and downward further with marked decreases of PS and PIV. These results showed that Agm exerted an inhibitory action on the baroreceptor activity in a dose-dependent manner. (2) The Agm-induced decrease in sinus nerve afferent activity was eliminated by pretreatment with IR and α2-AR blocker idazoxan (0.1 mmol/L). (3) Selective α2-AR blocker yohimbine (15 μmol/L) partly abolished the inhibitory effect of Agm on baroreceptor. (4) Preperfusing with Bay K 8644 (500 nmol/L), an agonist of calcium channels, also eliminated the effect of Agm on carotid baroreceptor activity. These results indicate that Agm exerts an inhibitory action on carotid baroreceptor and such an action may be attributed to the reduction in calcium influx in carotid baroreceptor, which is mediated by IR and α2-AR.

To investigate the method of RNA isolation from human embryonic tissues and the factors influencing the quality of RNA, the RNA from human embryonic tissues obtained with drug-induced labor or non-drug induced labor were isolated by using grind with liquid nitrogen or homogenizer without liquid nitrogen. The results showed that the positive rates of RNA integrity in grind with liquid nitrogen group and in homogenizer without liquid nitrogen group were 68.42% and 29.79% respectively, and there was significant difference between these two groups; however, there was no statistic difference in positive rate of RNA integrity, OD(260)/OD(280) ratio and beta-actin gene expression level between the drug-induced labor group and non-drug induced labor group. It is concluded that pulverize of tissue in liquid nitrogen remains the integrity of RNA isolated and may be applied for RNA isolation from human embryonic tissues. The quality of RNA is not affected by different methods of induction of maternal labor.
Embryo, Mammalian ; metabolism ; Freezing ; Humans ; Nitrogen ; pharmacology ; RNA ; isolation & purification ; RNA Stability ; drug effects

As a neuropeptide, neurotensin (NTS) is widely expressed in central and peripheral nervous system, which is mainly mediated byneurotensin receptor1 (NTSR1) to activate the related downstream signaling pathways. After summarized the function and mechanism of NTS/NTSR1 in various malignant tumors, we found that NTS/NTSR1 played essential roles during tumor initiation and development. NTS/NTSR1 regulates tumor initiation, proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis and differentiation mainly through three pathways, including IP3/Ca2+ /PKC/MAPKs pathway, MMPs/EGFR/MAPKs (PI3K/Akt) pathway, or Rho-GTPsaes and non-receptor tyrosine kinase pathway. Besides, NTS/NTSR1 is also regulated by some upstream pathways and some traditional Chinese medicine preparations and traditional Chinese medicine therapies. In this article, we summarized the function of NTS/NTSR1 and its mechanisms, and discussed the prospective in its application to clinical diagnosis and drugs targeting.
Animals ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Neoplasms ; etiology ; Neurotensin ; chemistry ; physiology ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; physiology ; Receptors, Neurotensin ; chemistry ; physiology ; Signal Transduction ; physiology ; rhoA GTP-Binding Protein ; physiology

Objective To evaluate the relationship between endometriosis fertility index (EFI) and pregnancies after laparoscopic surgery in endometriosis-associated infertility.Methods From Jan.2005 to Jan.2010,medical documents of 350 infertile patients due to endometriosis undergoing laparoscopic surgery were studied retrospectively.Pregnancy outcomes were followed up by telephone.EFI was calculated by history factors,least function score and some aspects of the revised American Fertility Society (r-AFS) endometriosis stage.The cumulative pregnancy rate was calculated and compared by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.Results Within 3 years after surgery,the cumulative pregnancy rates among patients with EFI score 8,9,10 were 62.5％,69.8％ and 81.1％,respectively.There was no significant difference in pregnancy rates among those three groups of patients ( P =0.24 ).The cumulative pregnancy rates among patients with EFI score 5,6,7 were 49.8％,43.9％ and 41.6％,respectively,which did not reach statistical difference ( P =0.83 ).The cumulative pregnancy rates of EFI score 8 - 10 was significantly higher than that of EFI score 5 -7 (71.8％ vs.44.4％,P =0.000).The patients with EFI score 0 -4 was quite small with only 33 cases,among which 15 cases were pregnant.Conclusions There is relationship between EFI and pregnancy in patients with endometriosis-associated infertility.EFI is meaningful to guide post surgical treatment.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of c-met ribozyme transfection on biological behavior of gastric carcinoma cells.

METHODSU1/met292 plasmid containing c-met ribozyme gene was transfected into L2 subline of SGC-7901 gastric cell line, and the proliferative ability, distribution of cell cycle, protein expression of VEGF and c-met, as well as the potential of liver metastasis of the transfected subline were determined.

RESULTSThere were no significant difference in proliferative ability, distribution of cell cycle between the transfected cells and the control cells. The protein expression of VEGF and c-met, as well as the liver metastatic potential significantly decreased in the transfected cells than those in the control cells (P< 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe liver metastatic potential of c-met positive gastric cancer cells may be prevented by inhibiting c-met expression.

Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Plasmids ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met ; genetics ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transfection ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

AIMTo study the effects of the 50 Hz-filter circuit in a microelectrode amplifier on cardiac action potential waveform and parameters.

METHODSCardiac action potential signals were fed into a microcomputer through a glass microelectrode, a microelectrode amplifier, a differentiator and A/D converter. The cardiac action potential signals were recorded and analyzed with 50 Hz-filter circuit and without it, and the frequency spectrum in the signals was analyzed with the fast Fourier transformation.

RESULTSWhen the 50 Hz-filter circuit was used, the phase 0 of the potential waveform was seriously distorted and prolonged. The maximal rate of depolarization at the phase 0 was cut down, while the other parameters were not effected.

CONCLUSIONThere has already been much 50 Hz element in the action potential waveform. During amplifying the cardiac action potential signal, the 50 Hz-filter circuit should not be turned on. Otherwise, the experiment results will be effected.

Action Potentials ; physiology ; Amplifiers, Electronic ; Animals ; Guinea Pigs ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; physiology ; Papillary Muscles ; cytology ; physiology

This case report describes a 44-year-old woman with primary spinal cord malignant melanoma localized in the lumbar region. This is a very rare lesion. The patient presented with back pain and slight weakness in her lower extremities. Magnetic resonance imaging showed hyperintense signals on T1-weighted images and hypointense signals on T2-weighted images. The entire tumor was removed surgically. The patient's postoperative clinical examination revealed mild neurological improvements. Histopathological investigations confirmed the tumor was a malignant melanoma. When treating common lesions of the lumbar spinal cord with a benign appearance, surgeons should be aware of the potential for malignant tumors.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Melanoma ; diagnosis ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms ; diagnosis

The cardiac electrophysiological effects of genistein (GST) were examined in guinea pig papillary muscle using intracellular microelectrode technique. The results obtained are as follows. (1) Duration of action potential (APD) in normal papillary muscles was decreased by GST (10 100 micromol/L) in a concentration-dependent manner. (2) In partially depolarized papillary muscles, 50 micromol/L GST not only reduced APD, but also decreased the amplitude of action potential, overshoot and maximal velocity of phase 0 depolarization. (3) Pretreatment with N( )-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA, 5 mmol/L) failed to affect the above effects of GST (50 micromol/L)on papillary muscles. (4) 17beta-estradiol (E(2), 5 micromol/L) or GST (10 micromol/L) alone did not affect action potential, while GST combined with E(2) at the same doses shortened APD significantly. All these results indicate that the effects of GST on papillary muscles are likely due to a decrease of calcium inflow which is not mediated by NO and that GST has a facilitative or synergetic action with E(2).
Action Potentials ; drug effects ; Agmatine ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Synergism ; Electrophysiology ; Estradiol ; pharmacology ; Estrogens, Non-Steroidal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Genistein ; pharmacology ; Guinea Pigs ; Isoflavones ; Male ; Papillary Muscles ; drug effects ; physiology ; Phytoestrogens ; Plant Preparations

Objective To explore the detection methods for cognitive dysfunction of the major depression in Elderly and analyze their clinical significance.Methods Using matched-pairs study,42 patients with seniie de- pressive disorders(experimental group)and 42 normal aged people(control group)were examined with auditory e- voked potential P300(event related potential,ERP-P300)and SECF,respectively.Results It was found that the scores with registration,span,recall,classification and total score of the subjects in the experimental group were sig- nificantly lower than those in the control group(P