BACKGROUND: Similar to other prosthesis, metal-metal prosthesis would produce plenty of wear particles and metal ions, mainly presented as cobalt (Co~(2+)) and chromium (Cr~(3+)), which can lead to osteolysis, eventually, result in aseptic loosening. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Co~(2+) and Cr~(3+) ions on the cells viability and expression of RANK in rats m0nocyte-macrophage cells (RAW264.7) in vitro. METHODS: Monocyte-macrophage cells (RAW264.7) were cultured in vitro, and then the cells were exposed to Co~(2+) and Cr~(3+) ions. The cell viability was assured by MTT test and the level of RANK Mrna was detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR at different times. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared to the control group, MTT test demonstrated that Co~(2+) and Cr~(3+)ions could decrease the cell activity of monocyte-macrophage cells obviously. When the cells were exposed to Co~(2+) Cr~(3+) ions, compared to the control group, the Mrna expression of RANK of the metal ions group was increased at 12 hours (P < 0.05), reached its peak level at 24 hours (P < 0.05), and decreased at 48 hours than that of 24 hours (P < 0.05). The results revealed that metal ions have a cytotoxic effect on monocyte-macrophage cells, stimulate the expression of RANK, and have the potential of facilitating monocyte-macrophages cells transform into osteoclast-like cells.

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between the serum concentration of IL-6,S100β,NT-3 and the cognitive functions in first-episode schizophrenia characterized by positive or negative symptoms.Methods44 first-episode schizophrenic patients characterized by positive symptoms (positive group),36 first-episode schizophrenic patients characterized by negative symptoms (negative group) and 50 healthy controls (controls) were collected.The serum levels of IL-6,S100β and NT-3 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The systematic evaluation tool-MCCB was applied to assess cognitive function in patients and controls.ResultsNT-3 serum levels in positive or negative groups were lower than those in controls and the differences were significant((118.39±37.50) ng/L,(112.55±32.29) ng/L vs (141.18±29.67) ng/L) (P<0.01).IL-6 and S100β serum levels in positive or negative groups were higher than those in controls and the differences were statistically significant((5.74±1.00)ng/L,(5.07±1.17)ng/L vs (4.23±0.91)ng/L),((132.98±46.71)ng/L,(124.99±43.14)ng/L vs (103.63±31.57)ng/L)(P<0.01).IL-6 serum levels in the positive group ((5.07±1.17)ng/L) were lower than those in the negative group ((5.74±0.99)ng/L) and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).In MCCB test,the TMT scores in patients characterize by positive symptoms or patients characterize by negative symptoms were higher than those in healthy control group (P<0.01).BACS SC,HVLT-R WMS-Ⅲ,SS,NAB,BVMT-R,CF in patients characterize by positive symptoms or by negative symptoms were lower than those in healthy control group(P<0.01).There were no statistical difference in the MCCB scores between the patients with positive symptoms and negative symptoms.In positive group,there was a positive correlation between the IL-6 serum concentration and the general symptom scores in PANSS (P<0.05).In positive group,NT-3 serum concentration was positively correlated with the general symptom scores or total scores of PANSS (P<0.05).BVMT-R scores in MCCB were also positively correlated with IL-6 or NT-3 serum concentration in positive group (P<0.05).ConclusionThe impairment of part of cognitive functions for schizophrenic patients may be related to the serum protein factors.There may be different in pathophysiology between the first-episode schizophrenic patients characterized by positive symptoms and those characterized by negative symptoms.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the dynamic expression and role of SENP1 (SUMO-specific proteases-1) in the pulmonary vascular wall of rat during the development of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH).

METHODSForty adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 8), and exposed to normoxia (Control group) or exposed to hypoxia for 3, 7, 14 or 21 d, respectively. The HPH models were established by normobaric intermittent hypoxia. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP), right ventricle hypertrophy index (RVHI), and vessel morphometry were measured. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and in situ hybridization were used to determine the mRNA expression of SENP1. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to determine the protein expression of SENP1.

RESULTSThe hypoxic rats developed pulmonary vascular remodeling in pulmonary arterioles after 7 d of hypoxia exposure. Pulmonary vascular remodeling in pulmonary arterioles significantly increased after 14 d of hypoxia. The level of mPAP in hypoxic rats increased significantly after 7 d of hypoxia, reached its peak after 14 d of hypoxic exposure. RVHI was markedly increased after 14 d of hypoxia. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analysis showed that SENP1 mRNA and protein were positively stained in control. SENP1 mRNA expression had little changes after exposure to hypoxia compared with the control, however, SENP1 protein expression was declined gradually after 7 d of hypoxia. The results of RT-PCR and Western blot showed that the same dynamic expression of SENP1 mRNA and protein in lung tissues of rats. Linear correlation analysis showed that SENP1 protein were negatively correlated with mPAP, pulmonary vascular remodeling index and RVHI.

CONCLUSIONUnder chronic hypoxia, SENP1 protein can be degradated. The dynamic expression of SENP1 protein may play a role in implicating in the development of HPH.

Animals ; Endopeptidases ; metabolism ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; etiology ; metabolism ; Hypoxia ; complications ; metabolism ; Male ; Pulmonary Artery ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathological features of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and elucidate its diagnosis and differential diagnosis.

METHODSLiver biopsy tissues and clinical data of 32 patients with NASH were collected and the clinicopathological findings by HE and Masson staining were evaluated for NASH grading.

RESULTSBallooning degeneration of the liver cells and fibrosis around hepatic sinusoid was scarce in mild NASH cases and increased in moderate to severe cases. Steatotic and inflammatory cells in the liver lobes decrease in liver cirrhosis related to seatohepatitis.

CONCLUSIONBallooning degeneration of the liver cells and fibrosis around the hepatic sinusoid have important value in differential diagnosis of mild from moderate to severe NASH, and correct histological grading benefits clinical intervention and prognostic evaluation of NASH.

Adult ; Biopsy, Needle ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fatty Liver ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; Liver ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis

Authors raised that staging based strategies and practice of integrative medicine (IM) by combining syndrome typing and disease identification, and choosing suitable measures in accordance with different persons and seasonal conditions after more than ten years' clinical practice and researches. Radical operation as prior (as evil eliminating) and strengthening vital qi in perioerative period are best strategy for promoting rapid rehabilitation of early stage prostate cancer patients. Strengthening body resistance to eliminate evil was used in treating advanced prostate cancer patients. For example, a comprehensive treatment program for hormone-dependent patients was combined with endocrinotherapy and Chinese herbs for synergisic efficacy-enhancing actions. In this way, these patients' quality of life (QOL) were improved and time to castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) was delayed, even some patients were clinically cured. There are lack of effective medicines and methods for CRPC patients. Greatly tonifying original qi is mainly used for improving their clinical symptoms and prolonging survivals. Practice has proved staging based strategies and practice of IM has favorable advantages in treating prostate cancer, especially showing prospect in prolonging survival and postponing progression of advanced prostate cancer patients. Besides, it also could provide beneficial considerations and inspiration for combination of syndrome typing and disease identification.
Disease Progression ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant ; diagnosis ; Quality of Life

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of lung Krüppel-like transcription factor (KLF2/LKLF) in lung tissues of rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the relationship between KLF2 and NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and make further explore the effects of KLF2 on the expression of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gamma-GCS).

METHODSTwenty-two male SD rats were randomly divided into a COPD group (n = 10) and a normal control group (n = 11). The rat model of COPD established by cigarette smoking and intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and lung tissues were obtained. The expressions of KLF2, Nrf2, gamma-GCS mRNA and protein in lung tissues were measured by immunohistochemistry (IHC), Western blot, in situ hybridization (ISH) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). To explore the relationship between KLF2 and Nrf2 protein,we utilize the method of co-immunoprecipitation (CO-IP).

RESULTSIHC and Western blot showed that protein expressions of KLF2, Nrf2, gamma-GCS were higher in the lung tissues from rats with COPD than those in the control groups (all P < 0.05). The levels of KLF2, gamma-GCS mRNA were markedly increased in the COPD group (all P < 0.01) while Nrf2 mRNA expression in COPD group had no significant difference with that in control group ( P > 0.05). CO-IP result showed that KLF2 were obviously present in immunoprecipitates of Nrf2 (P < 0.01) . Linear correlation analysis showed that the level of KLF2 protein was positively correlated with the level of Nrf2 protein (P < 0.05), and KLF2, Nrf2 proteins were positively correlated with gamma-GCS mRNA and protein (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of KLF2 is significantly up-regulated in COPD, which maybe up-regulate gamma-GCS mRNA expression by increasing Nrf2 expression and nuclear translocation against oxidative stress.

Animals ; Dipeptides ; metabolism ; Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Lung ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUNDAmide proton transfer (APT) imaging has recently emerged as an important contrast mechanism for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the field of molecular and cellular imaging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of APT imaging to detect cerebral abnormality in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) at 3.0 Tesla.

METHODSTwenty AD patients (9 men and 11 women; age range, 67-83 years) and 20 age-matched normal controls (11 men and 9 women; age range, 63-82 years) underwent APT and traditional MRI examination on a 3.0 Tesla MRI system. The magnetic resonance ratio asymmetry (MTR asym ) values at 3.5 ppm of bilateral hippocampi (Hc), temporal white matter regions, occipital white matter regions, and cerebral peduncles were measured on oblique axial APT images. MTR asym (3.5 ppm) values of the cerebral structures between AD patients and control subjects were compared with independent samples t-test. Controlling for age, partial correlation analysis was used to investigate the associations between mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and the various MRI measures among AD patients.

RESULTSCompared with normal controls, MTR asym (3.5 ppm) values of bilateral Hc were significantly increased in AD patients (right 1.24% ± 0.21% vs. 0.83% ± 0.19%, left 1.18% ± 0.18% vs. 0.80%± 0.17%, t = 3.039, 3.328, P = 0.004, 0.002, respectively). MTR asym (3.5 ppm) values of bilateral Hc were significantly negatively correlated with MMSE (right r = -0.559, P = 0.013; left r = -0.461, P = 0.047).

CONCLUSIONSIncreased MTR asym (3.5 ppm) values of bilateral Hc in AD patients and its strong correlations with MMSE suggest that APT imaging could potentially provide imaging biomarkers for the noninvasive molecular diagnosis of AD.

Aged ; Alzheimer Disease ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male

Objective To explore the plague epidemical trend of nearly a 10 years data in Qinghai province to provide basis for making the prevention and control measures. Method The regional distribution and time distribution of animal and human plague, monitoring and plague foci of survey data in Qinghai from 2001 to 2010 were analyzed with Excel software 2003. Results In Qinghai province, a total of 167 strains of Yersinia pestis were isolated from infected animals and insects in 10 years. Yersinia pestis was mainly distributed in Wulan,Delinha, Geermu, and Tianjun, along the Qinghai-Xizang railway. Human plague was occurred every year from 2001 to 2010 except 2002, 2007, 2008, and 2010. In the 10 years, there were 37 plague cases and 16 of these cases died, the mortality was 43.24％. The plague cases were mainly distributed in Nangqian, Qumalai, Chenduo,Zhiduo, Xinghai, Tongde, Tianjun, Wulan and Qilian. And these cases were found mostly in the period from May to October, especially in the period from August to October. Major clinical type of the plague cases was lung-type (62.16％,23/37). Conclusions The plague epidemic situation in Qinghai province is still severe, animal plague occurred year after year, and human plague outbreaks occasionally. Monitoring and early warning in the key areas should be strengthened, and the comprehensive measures of plague prevention and control should be carried out to reduce the incidence and prevalence of plague.

Objective To observe the expressions of multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) 1 in the hippocampus of the rat models with chronic epilepsy,and to explore whether antiepileptic drug oxcarbazepine(OXC) affects the expression of MRP1.Methods One hundred rats of 14 days old were randomly divided into model group(n =52) and the control group(n =48).The model group received intraperitoneal injection of kainic acid(KA) 1 mg/kg (0.5 g/L) to induce seizures,and the control group rats were injected the same dose of 9 g/L chloride.According to Lado standard classification of seizures,the young rats whose seizure degree was beyond 5 and became status epilepticus after intraperitoneal injection used as successful seizure models if they caught the spontaneous seizures after 2 weeks.When spontaneous seizures were developed,48 surviving KA rats were divided into KA group and KA + OXC group.Rats in the control group were divided into NS group and NS + OXC group.After spontaneous recurrent seizures,the treatment groups began to take drugs.Each group started to be sacrificed from the beginning of drug perfusion at different times and they were divided into the 4th week group,the 6th week group and the 8th week group.The expression of MRP1 in hippocampus(CA3 area) was detected by immunohistochemistry methods.Results 1.Epileptic performance:all rats injected with NS had no epileptic performance.In the chronic epilepsy,Ⅰ-Ⅴ Racine grade of spontaneous recurrent seizures were found in all rats with KA.The rats in KA group had higher epilepsy seizure frequency than those in KA + OXC group (P ＜ 0.05).2.The rats in NS group and NS + OXC group had fewer MRP1 positive cells,and there was no significant difference at all time points between NS group and NS + OXC group (P ＞ 0.05).The trend of expression in KA group and KA + OXC group gradually increased.The MRP1 positive cells in KA + OXC group compared with those in the KA group was significantly different in the 8th week(P ＜0.05),while there was no significant difference in the 4th week and the 6th week(all P ＞0.05).And there was a significant difference in the positive cells in KA group compared with those of KA group(P ＜0.05).The expression of MRP1 positive cells in KA + OXC group increased significantly compared with those in NA + OXC group(all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions MRP1 plays an important role in resistance mechanisms of refractory epilepsy,while the expression of MRP1 can be induced by using OXC in a long term.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of air pollution on respiratory health in school-aged children in the main urban area of Chongqing, China.

METHODSThe main urban area of Chongqing was divided into polluted area and clean area according to the air pollution data shown on the Environmental Protection Agency Website of Chongqing between 2010 and 2015. A cluster sampling method was used to select 695 third- or fourth-grade children from 2 primary schools in the clean or polluted area as study subjects, with 313 children from the clean area and 382 children from the polluted area. Pulmonary function was examined for all children and a standard American epidemiological questionnaire (ATS-DLD-78-C) was used to investigate the prevalence of respiratory diseases and symptoms.

RESULTSCompared with the clean area, the polluted area had significantly higher concentrations of inhalable particles (PM), fine particulate matter (PM), and nitric oxide (NO) (P<0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed after adjustment for confounding factors, and the results showed that compared with those in the clean area, the children in the polluted area had significantly higher risks of cough (OR=1.644), cough during cold (OR=1.596), expectoration during cold (OR=2.196), persistent expectoration (OR=1.802), and wheezing (OR=2.415). The boys and girls in the clean area had significantly higher forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in one second than those in the polluted area (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAir pollution in the main urban area of Chongqing is associated with the increased prevalence of respiratory symptoms in school-aged children and has certain effect on children's pulmonary function.

Air Pollution ; adverse effects ; Child ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Respiratory Tract Diseases ; etiology ; Vital Capacity